Emergency quest part-3

Arjun's heart pounded as he faced Kailash, fully aware of the danger ahead. Every fiber of his being told him this wasn't going to end well. Kailash's slow, deliberate steps toward him made Arjun's stomach churn, especially when he saw the gleam of something metallic on Kailash's hand—a silver glove that shimmered menacingly as he clenched his fist.

Arjun instinctively raised his arms in defense, his body tense, bracing for impact. Kailash moved like lightning, launching a powerful punch aimed straight at Arjun's face.

CRACK!

The blow connected with Arjun's forearms, sending shockwaves through his body. Pain surged through him, but his quick reaction had spared him from a worse injury. Still, Kailash's strength was overwhelming, and Arjun struggled to stay on his feet, feeling the sharp ache in his arms.

Kailash didn't give him a chance to recover. His next attack was quick, and Arjun barely noticed the steel necklace with finger-length pieces wrapped around Kailash's knuckles until it was too late. As he stumbled back, a screen flashed before his eyes:

HP - 90/100

The sight of his HP shocked him. He'd never paid much attention to his stats before, but now, seeing that number drop made the reality of the fight sink in. Kailash was not just a stronger opponent—he was a lethal one.

Kailash lunged again, this time swinging his steel-knuckled fist. Arjun dodged just in time, but the knuckles grazed his chest, tearing his shirt and leaving a burning line of pain across his skin. Arjun's heart raced as he narrowly avoided another punch aimed at his ribs.

The fight was relentless. Kailash's heavy body moved slower than Arjun's, but his attacks were powerful and precise. Arjun relied on his speed, ducking and weaving to dodge the barrage of blows. Every time Kailash swung, Arjun barely escaped, feeling the rush of air as the steel knuckles missed him by inches.

Kailash's frustration grew with each missed punch, and he increased the intensity of his attacks. Arjun, exhausted but focused, kept dodging, his movements quick and unpredictable. He knew one misstep would be his last.

"I have to stay on my feet," Arjun muttered under his breath, pushing through the pain and fatigue. "One wrong move, and I'm done."

Kailash growled in frustration, but Arjun's agility kept him just out of reach. He could feel his body tiring, but he knew he had to stay sharp. This fight was far from over.

Kailash, growing increasingly furious, swung a powerful uppercut at Arjun. The move was swift and menacing, and Arjun barely managed to dodge it, feeling the air move as Kailash's fist just missed his chin. Arjun's heart raced as he sidestepped, his breathing heavy and ragged.

Kailash's relentless assault showed no signs of slowing down, while Arjun could feel his own strength waning. Despite Arjun's agility, Kailash seemed to have boundless stamina, his strikes as fierce as ever. The disparity in their endurance was becoming painfully clear to Arjun.

Lost in thought about Kailash's stamina, Arjun barely registered Kailash's next move. Suddenly, Kailash's fist came at him from the side, aiming for his jaw with the intent to knock him out. Arjun's instincts kicked in, and he raised his arms to block the incoming punch.

But Kailash's power was overwhelming. The steel knuckles collided with Arjun's arm, and the force of the impact sent him sprawling across the ground. Arjun was thrown several feet away, crashing to the floor with a thud.

Groaning in pain, he struggled to get up, his body aching from the force of the blow. As he pushed himself to his feet, he felt a sharp sting on his side. Looking down, he saw that blood was seeping through his shirt, trickling from scratch marks caused by the pointed metal knuckles. The metallic parts had dug into his flesh during the impact, leaving painful marks.

A notification flashed before his eyes:

"HP - 61/100"

The sight of his dwindling HP only added to his growing sense of dread. Even though he was managing to avoid some of Kailash's blows, every defense seemed to come with its own cost. The combination of constant movement and direct hits was taking its toll on him.

Arjun took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he assessed his situation. Kailash was still advancing, his face a mask of relentless aggression. Arjun knew he needed to stay focused and find a way to turn the tide of the fight before his HP dropped any lower.

Kailash's friends stood at a distance, watching the intense battle between Arjun and Kailash. One of the boys leaned over to his friend, shaking his head in disbelief.

"It's surprising that kid is still on his feet. This fight should have been over by now," he remarked, his tone a mix of confusion and frustration.

Another boy, standing next to him, frowned. "I just don't get it. Why did our leader even order Kailash to beat him up? It doesn't make any sense to me."

The first boy sighed, glancing at the fight briefly before turning back. "You know how it is. The school leader and our leader never get along. They're always at each other's throats. This is just another one of their fights spilling over."

Convinced the fight would end soon, they became distracted by their conversation, their attention drifting away from the fight. They casually exchanged stories, unaware of what was about to happen.

One of the boys was about to say something when, out of nowhere, a knee crashed into his face with brutal force. His nose crunched under the impact, and blood started gushing out immediately. His body flew backward, hitting the ground hard as he groaned in pain.

All the boys were stunned, their eyes wide with shock. They hadn't even noticed what had hit him. Kailash's furious voice broke through their confusion, "Hey, you fools! The kid is standing right in front of you!"

Before any of them could react, another boy was struck by a powerful kick to the face. The blow was so fierce that he collapsed to the ground, instantly knocked unconscious.

Kailash muttered angrily to himself as he paced towards his friends. "I warned them to pay attention... but these idiots never listen. They can't even handle the simplest things."

Kailash sprinted toward Arjun, mumbling to himself in confusion. "I was just fighting him a second ago… how did he suddenly get over there?"

Meanwhile, Arjun caught sight of Kailash from the corner of his eye. A quick thought flashed in his mind: "He's just like me..."

With no time to waste, Arjun focused back on the fight. He moved swiftly, channeling every bit of energy into a punch aimed at one of the boys standing nearby. His fist struck the boy square in the chest, sending him flying backward.

The boy crashed into his friends. Two of them tumbled to the ground, while the boy Arjun hit lay unconscious, sprawled on the dirt.

Arjun glanced at the countdown timer flashing in front of him. A glowing blue screen hovered, displaying the remaining seconds.

"Oh no, I've only got three seconds left… I have to finish this fast!" Arjun thought, his mind racing.

He could see the timer ticking down, like a reminder of how much time he had left. But just as he prepared to knock out another opponent, his body started to give out. His muscles trembled violently, and sharp jolts of pain coursed through him. His strength was fading fast.

Before Arjun could react, Kailash reached him. He stood tall, shielding his group, and without hesitation, he swung a powerful punch into Arjun's stomach.

The impact was brutal.

Arjun was flung backward, crashing into a pile of bricks nearby. The sharp edges of the bricks dug into his back, and he gasped in pain.

His body ached, and his breathing became difficult. "What's happening to me? It's getting harder to breathe…" Arjun muttered, lying on the cold pile of bricks.

His hand throbbed in pain, and when he looked down, he saw blood dripping from his fingers. His injuries were getting worse.

Suddenly, a bright blue screen appeared in front of his eyes.

"COOL DOWN OF RAPID FIRE"

Arjun blinked, trying to focus on the words.

Before he could fully process it, another screen flashed up.

"Level 1 - RAPID FIRE SKILL"

The new screen filled his vision as the weight of the fight pressed down on him, his time running out.

End of the chapter