Chapter 20: The First Battle

Chapter 20: The First Battle

The city buzzed with anticipation. Pragya had a plan—well, it was less of a plan and more of a gut feeling he hoped would work. The resistance had been infiltrating government rallies for weeks, but this one was different. It was bigger, better protected. And for some reason, it felt like the perfect time to unveil the chips' full power.

"Alright, team," Pragya said to the gathered rebels, his voice full of fake confidence. "We're going in. Remember, no one gets caught—unless they're hilarious about it. Then we'll make an exception for good material."

One of the rebels, Raj, piped up. "What about security? How do we deal with drones?"

Pragya grinned. "Simple. We use the Power Chip to hack into their system. Like an upgrade for the drones. And hey, if it works, we can even make them do a little dance. No one's ever seen a drone moonwalk."

Raj looked skeptical, but the idea of making drones dance had its charm. "Alright, boss. You're the tech guy."

They infiltrated the rally under the cover of darkness, dodging guards and sneaking through alleys, all the while Pragya's mind buzzed with data from the Memory Chip. It was as though he could feel the pulse of every system in the city. He had learned the most obscure tactics, strategies, and even the exact angle to approach the security network.

"Time to put on the show," Pragya muttered, inserting the Power Chip into his device. His body tingled as his strength and agility surged. The rebels watched as Pragya sprang into action, dodging a guard's laser shot and effortlessly taking down a drone with a single swipe. It was like watching a superhero in real life, except with less spandex and more sarcasm.

"Look, Raj! It's doing the moonwalk!" Pragya laughed as one of the drones spun in a ridiculous circle before flopping to the ground in defeat. The rebels cheered, though Pragya could tell they weren't entirely sure whether to be terrified or impressed.

But even as the drones fell, Pragya couldn't shake the feeling that the chips were beginning to take control of his mind. They weren't just unlocking power—they were changing him. He began to question whether his thoughts were his own or if they were being guided by the Earth's consciousness. The idea was unsettling, but Pragya didn't have time to dwell on it. The battle was far from over.