Kidnapped

The battle was finally over. Around 50,000 enemy soldiers surrendered, their weapons clattering to the ground in defeat. Smoke still lingered in the air, and the cries of the wounded echoed through the streets. Standing at the heart of the captured city of Rivenspire, Sanjay surveyed the scene with a calm yet calculating gaze.

"Execute all officers and nobles," he ordered. His voice was steady, devoid of hesitation. He knew this was necessary—if left alive, they would regroup and retaliate.

Rivenspire was no ordinary city. Built through the combined efforts of several noble families, it had strong ties to the surrounding barons. Though they resided in their respective fiefs, they weren't far. News of the city's fall would reach them soon, and when it did, another battle was inevitable.

Sanjay turned to Iris. "Send the engineering units to repair and reinforce the walls."

The builders who had once been simple laborers now bore the title of engineers, thanks to months of intense training. With the knowledge they had gained from the VR world, many possessed the experience of master builders despite their young age.

"Right away," Iris responded, relaying his command.

He had only brought a thousand engineers, just enough to make quick repairs. The men got to work immediately, layering cement and stacking heavy stone blocks to restore the fortifications. Nirav positioned machine guns along the walls, preparing for the inevitable counterattack.

While the soldiers secured the city, Sanjay focused on a different battle—the battle of survival for its people.

Over half a million civilians lived in Rivenspire, most of them too afraid to step outside. They were ordinary men, women, and children who had just witnessed their home fall into enemy hands. Many had lost everything.

Moving through the streets, Sanjay personally oversaw the distribution of food and warm clothing. Those whose homes had been destroyed were relocated to temporary camps. He saw the fear in their eyes, the uncertainty.

"Take it slow," he reminded himself. "They need time."

As dawn broke, the sun cast golden hues over the battered city, offering a fragile sense of hope. But outside Rivenspire, hope was in short supply.

Across the empire, the war raged on. The four princes clashed, their armies colliding in brutal skirmishes. By midday, rivers of blood would stain the land. This war was far from over. Each faction still had hidden aces, and the struggle would drag on for months.

But for Sanjay, another kind of battle awaited.

His exams.

Today was the first day of his board exams—an event that could determine his future. At least, that's what his parents believed. For him, it no longer felt as important in the grand scheme of things.

Still, balancing two lives was no easy task. During the day, Nirav and the AI would manage the medieval battlefield, while at night, he would return to his world, keeping both sides in check.

With the level of firepower at Nirav's disposal, Sanjay wasn't too worried. Defending the city wouldn't be difficult.

The only reason he had taken direct command of this battle was because Nirav lacked real-world experience in modern warfare. Virtual simulations weren't enough. But now, with this victory, Nirav had gained the firsthand experience he needed.

---

Sanjay's father drove him to the exam center, the car gliding through the city streets in the early morning light. The center was 10 kilometers from home, and as they approached, he saw thousands of students arriving with their parents. Some clutched their books tightly, murmuring formulas under their breath. Others looked pale, their nerves evident in the way they fidgeted. The air buzzed with tension.

After exchanging a few words of encouragement, Sanjay stepped out of the car and turned back. His father gave him a reassuring nod. "Do your best."

"I will," Sanjay said with a small smile before heading inside.

The crowd inside was thick, but he quickly spotted his friend, Sameer, standing near the entrance. The dark circles under his eyes made it clear—he hadn't slept much.

"Hey, bro, how's your preparation?" Sameer asked, forcing a tense smile. His voice had a nervous edge, and Sanjay could tell he had spent the last few nights drowning in textbooks.

Sanjay smirked. "Good. I should score well."

Sameer sighed. "Man, I wish I had your confidence."

Before they could chat any longer, the school bell rang, and students hurried to their respective exam halls. Today was the science paper. Sanjay took his seat, the wooden bench creaking slightly as he settled in. Around him, students frantically flipped through last-minute notes, whispering formulas as if memorizing them one last time would make a difference.

The invigilator entered, carrying a stack of question papers. The room fell into silence, save for the occasional shuffling of papers and the ticking of the wall clock.

Sanjay took a deep breath as the question sheet landed on his desk. He flipped it open and scanned through it.

Too easy.

His augmented mind processed the questions in an instant, retrieving answers as if they were neatly stored files in a database. Concepts, formulas, past paper patterns—it was all there, effortlessly accessible.

With a steady hand, he picked up his pen and began writing. His answers were clear, concise, and precise. While others hesitated over tricky numerical problems, Sanjay breezed through them. Out of habit, he double-checked his calculations, not out of doubt but to kill time.

Halfway through the exam, he glanced around. Some students were furiously scribbling, their brows furrowed in concentration. Others were frozen, staring blankly at their sheets as if hoping the answers would magically appear.

His eyes landed on Sameer, who was biting his pen cap, frustration evident on his face. Sanjay smirked slightly before turning back to his own paper.

An hour later, he was done. But submitting too early would only attract unwanted attention. So, he leaned back, pretending to review his answers while his mind drifted to bigger things—his future, his technology, his second chance at life. The empire he was building in the other world.

The final bell rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. A collective sigh of relief swept through the room as students turned in their papers, stretching their stiff limbs after the intense writing session.

Sanjay submitted his paper and stepped outside, stretching his arms. The crisp air felt refreshing after the stuffy exam hall.

Sameer rushed up to him, his expression a mix of exhaustion and dread. "Bro, that was tough! How did you do?"

Sanjay chuckled. "It was fine. I think I'll score well."

Sameer groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Man, you're always so calm. I barely managed to finish."

Sanjay patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll do great."

With that, they walked toward the exit, the weight of the exam lifting off their shoulders—at least for now.

Sanjay lounged on the plush couch in his penthouse, gazing at the cityscape through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The androids moved silently around the apartment, keeping everything spotless. He had to admit—they were efficient. Almost too efficient. His home felt more like a luxury hotel than a place actually lived in.

Still, he was satisfied with them. At least he didn't have to worry about the mess.

His mind wandered to Maya. It had been a month since he last visited the future world. Too long. He had been caught up with everything in the medieval era, and now that he had a brief moment of peace, he figured it was time to check in on her.

He stretched his fingers and activated his interface, calling Maya's number.

No response.

He frowned. That was odd. He tried again.

Still nothing.

A strange unease settled in his chest. It wasn't as if they were in a serious relationship where she had to answer immediately, but something about this didn't sit right with him.

"Iris, can you find out where Maya is?"

[Sorry, host. I don't have access to her phone.]

Tch. That was annoying. Should he wait for her to call back? Maybe she was just busy.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden chime of his interface.

'Ring!'

Sanjay sat up and answered.

"Hello, Sanjay. Looking for your girlfriend?" A deep, mocking voice came from the other end.

His stomach dropped. His grip on the interface tightened. "Who is this?"

A chuckle. "Who I am doesn't matter. What does matter is where your girlfriend is. And how she's doing."

His blood ran cold. "What happened to Maya? You piece of shit—if you've hurt her, I'll skin you alive!"

The voice on the other end burst into laughter. "Wow. I'm shaking. Goosebumps and everything."

Sanjay's jaw clenched. His breath came faster, anger surging through his veins.

"Listen, kid." The voice dropped to a sinister tone. "If you want to save your girlfriend, come to the Fight Club in Sector-11. 9 PM. Don't be late. Some of my friends here are getting… impatient."

The call ended.

Sanjay sat there, heart pounding in his chest. His fingers twitched, itching to tear something apart.

Maya was in danger.

Sanjay clenched his fists, his anger simmering beneath the surface. But as the initial rage faded, worry crept in. Maya—was she okay? His eyes flicked to the clock. 5 PM. He still had four hours until the meeting at 9.

Iris wouldn't be much help in tracking the caller. If this were the modern world, things would be different. But here, in the future world's underground, the rules were different. He had no choice but to play along.

Taking a deep breath, he grabbed his jacket and strode toward his new motorbike. No time to waste.

Broom!

The engine roared as he sped through the city, weaving through traffic with practiced ease. His mind raced faster than the bike, running through possibilities. Who could be behind this? Why target Maya?

A few minutes later, he reached her shop. The sight made his stomach drop—the backdoor was broken open. 

Maya was always cautious, a smart woman who set up multiple layers of security. This wasn't a simple break-in.

"Iris, scan for blood traces."

[Analyzing… Blood detected, but it does not belong to Maya.]

Sanjay let out a breath of relief, but it didn't ease his growing unease.

Stepping through the shattered doorway, he entered the darkened shop. The place was wrecked. Bullet holes riddled the walls, dried blood stains marking the floor. According to his interface, the blood was weeks old.

His jaw tightened. Whoever had done this had been thorough. The computers were smashed beyond repair, the weapons she kept for emergencies were gone. No evidence, no leads. This wasn't just a random attack—it was the work of professionals.

A thought struck him. Raghav.

Could he be involved?

Without hesitation, he pulled up Raghav's number and called.

"The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable."

Not reachable. That wasn't a good sign.

His grip on the interface tightened. What the hell was going on?

But there was no time to dwell on it now. He had an appointment to keep.

After double-checking the shop for anything useful—and finding nothing—he swung his leg over the bike. The clock was ticking. He needed to reach the Fight Club early and scout the area. If this was a trap, he wasn't walking into it blind.

With one last glance at the ruined shop, he revved the engine and sped off into the night.

P.S.: Hi everyone, author here! Please check out my new novel as well: I Carry a World in the Zombie Apocalypse.