The word "Hollow Pact" echoed in his mind.
But it's not that word which fears him.
It's the word from one person who was supposed to be a hallucination.
The statement "Don't let Hollow Pact kill you... because I will personally kill you."
Yet he didn't care much about the words.
But what truly feared him was the existence of a person a shadow figure with a crimson radiating axe,
someone he thought was just his imagination.
A person who behaves in reality and doesn't believe in supernatural elements,
Ayaan questioned himself:
"If the Hollow Pact organization is real,
then that shadow figure with the crimson axe is also real."
But suddenly ayaan recalled his first encounter of that shadow figure during his Crowning Glory:
"
When Captain Rathore called my name at clowning Glory
when I recalled the news articles mentioning "axe marks" at Numn University. it's my first time I saw the shadow figure with crimson axe targeting president aditya , later I thought it was just an illusion "
Ayaan suddenly covered his mouth with his hand.
The sniper rifle with its shield symbol slipped slightly from his grasp.
Dev noticed immediately, reacting quickly,
catching the falling sniper with his bow-symbol gauntlets.
He shook Ayaan's shoulder and teased "Ayaan, what happened? Are you daydreaming?"
Ayaan forced a small smile and replied "No, I'm just... daydreaming."
But Dev clearly saw the sweat running down Ayaan's forehead the slight tremble in his hands.
---
At the front, Captain Rathore's sharp voice broke through the hall "Everyone, return your weapons. You will reclaim them on the day of Operation SBS."
Both Ayaan and Dev followed the instructions, returning their assigned weapons.
As they moved back, Padma approached them at first with the clear intention to scold them for disrupting Rathore's serious speech.
But when she saw Ayaan's strange pale face, she changed her behavior.
Without a word, she reached out and touched Ayaan's forehead with the back of her hand.
Both Dev and Ayaan froze in shock.
Padma coughed awkwardly and mocked Ayaan:
"Look, you hmm no it's brandless-bastard don't misunderstand.I just checked your forehead because you're shivering.I don't want my son catching your stupid fever."
Dev protested, embarrassed "Mom... come on!"
But Ayaan stood there, caught in deep thought "My body... it's shivering."
He clenched his fists quietly and asked himself "Am I shivering from the word 'Hollow Pact'...
or because of the thought of that shadow figure with the crimson axe?"
----
The thought of the shadow figure refused to leave Ayaan's mind.
He instinctively touched his chest, feeling his heartbeat racing.
At that moment, Captain Rathore's voice rang out sharply "Ayaan! Dev! Come here."
Ayaan looked up and noticed a group of people dressed in identical uniforms standing nearby.
He walked toward Rathore.
Rathore gestured toward a youth from the group and introduced "Ayaan, meet Mr. Bhairava."
Ayaan and Bhairava exchanged a small handshake.
Both Bhairava and Rathore noticed Ayaan's subtle shivering.
With a concerned and determined expression, Bhairava asked "Is something bothering you, Mr. Ayaan?"
Rathore also looked at Ayaan, waiting for a response.
Ayaan hesitated, questioning himself:
"They both look so mature... they probably won't believe me if I talk about hallucinations. That's why..."
He smiled weakly and said "No, nothing happened."
Bhavira, understanding the real meaning hidden in Ayaan's evasion, simply replied "Okay. But if anything truly worries you... share it with us. We'll take care of it."
Meanwhile, Dev observed the strange group, especially Bhairava.
He thought to himself "Who are these guys? Especially this Bhairava.He reminds me of those royal guardians in fantasy movies... loyal and serious.But why are they treating Ayaan like some king or something?
Dude, he's just a normal guy like me."
Trying to lighten the mood, Dev grabbed Ayaan's hand and said "Captain Rathore, I think Ayaan is stressed out.Maybe he bumped into someone special, you know what I mean?"
Rathore almost chuckled but managed to maintain a strict face. "Ayaan, don't lose focus on the mission."
Dev quickly pulled Ayaan away toward the entrance, teasing "Come on, man. I know someone who can cure your distraction."
They hopped onto Dev's bike.
As Dev drove, Ayaan remained lost in thought —
the shadow figure occupying his mind again.
The sound of a military truck nearby — loud and rattling like a train — triggered another memory.
Ayaan continued thinking
>"On that day, returning home...
When the train passed NSRM City,
I saw weird structures near the tracks.
I asked the Ticket Collector about them.
He said they were for some VR game project by Vikramanu Gaming Company. Later, it was my second time seeing the shadow figure.And then, I met Anaya... her song saved me that day. Yet... the memory of that shadow figure still haunts me..."
His body trembled slightly, fear curling into his chest.
Dev noticed Ayaan's distracted face again."Dude! What's wrong with you today? Why are you so lost after that meeting with Rathore, huh?"
As the bike zoomed past huge hostel-like buildings, Dev continued casually asked "Especially after Rathore told us about Hollow Pact planning the bomb blast."
The moment Dev said Hollow Pact,
Ayaan froze, the word repeating violently in his mind and more than that, the statement "Don't let Hollow Pact kill you... because I will personally kill you."
Ayaan recalled the third encounter:
> "After I met Anaya for the second time...
When I was about to enter my home,
I saw him that shadow figure standing outside the door.
He told me those terrifying words in that malice voice.
Then my mom's voice snapped me out of it..."
Today, hearing Captain Rathore's confirmation about Hollow Pact's real existence,
it connected the dots in Ayaan's mind.
"If Hollow Pact is real...
then that shadow figure is also real..."
His heart raced. His fear grew heavier.
The dark realization pushed him toward despair and isolation —
a crushing loneliness creeping inside him.
Dev glanced back at Ayaan and teased lightly "Still thinking about the mission? Or worried because your precious Anaya's gonna be at the finals?"
Suddenly, Dev spotted someone walking across the street —
a youth carrying a guitar.
In panic, Dev yelled "Yoooo!!" and slammed the brakes.
The bike screeched. The youth stumbled and fell.
Ayaan quickly jumped off the bike, rushing to help the fallen stranger.
He offered his hand.
The youth, smiling mischievously, grabbed Ayaan's hand and pulled Ayaan down onto the ground alongside him.
With a cheerful grin, the youth said "My grandfather always taught me: punish people who make mistakes!"
Dev switched off the bike, frustrated.
The youth, still smiling, offered his hand again to help Ayaan up. "Since you realize your mistake... that's why I'll forgive you."
The youth, still smiling brightly, offered his hand again to help Ayaan up.
As Ayaan hesitated, the early morning sunlight pierced through the clouds —
the rays fell warmly on their clasped hands.
At that moment, Ayaan, who had been trembling...
buried deep in fear, despair, and loneliness —
suddenly felt something shift.
The warmth of the stranger's hand — simple, steady, and strong —
lifted him from the shadows, as if pulling him back toward reality.
It wasn't just a handshake.
It was a feeling as if someone had found him while he was drowning.
Before Ayaan could say anything,
a loud thud interrupted the moment.
A bag from a group of four girls walking nearby suddenly fell onto the street, scattering its contents.
Both Ayaan and the youth instinctively turned toward the sound.