Chapter 4
The storage facility loomed like a silent sentinel at the edge of the city, its corrugated metal walls tarnished by years of neglect. The streetlights around it flickered weakly, casting fractured shadows across the cracked pavement. Ajit crouched behind a stack of rusted barrels, his snake sense humming faintly as he studied the building.
“Rajesh, you in position?” he whispered, tapping his earpiece.
A burst of static crackled before Rajesh’s voice came through. “I’m here. My van’s parked a block away, and I’ve got eyes on the exterior cameras. It’s quiet… too quiet.”
Ajit’s lips pressed into a thin line. “They’re in there. Trust me.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of,” Rajesh muttered.
Ajit scanned the perimeter again. The building had one obvious entrance—a rusted sliding door reinforced with heavy locks. Two cameras were mounted above it, their lenses glinting faintly in the dim light.
“You sure you can loop those feeds?” Ajit asked.
“Please,” Rajesh scoffed. “You wound me. Give me thirty seconds.”
Ajit smirked faintly, staying low as he crept closer. The faint hum of his snake sense grew stronger with each step, a warning he’d learned never to ignore.
“Alright, feeds are looping,” Rajesh said. “You’re clear.”
Ajit moved swiftly, his enhanced reflexes carrying him to the door without a sound. He examined the lock—a heavy-duty padlock that looked more for show than security.
“Old-school,” he muttered, pulling a small multitool from his jacket.
“You’re seriously picking the lock?” Rajesh asked, his tone incredulous. “What happened to just ripping it off?”
“Quiet is better,” Ajit said, his fingers working deftly. “Besides, I’m trying to be professional.”
The lock clicked open, and Ajit slid the door aside just enough to slip inside. The air within was cooler, tinged with the faint scent of oil and metal. He paused, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness.
“Rajesh,” he whispered, “what’s the interior layout look like?”
A brief pause, then Rajesh replied, “I’m pulling the schematics now. Looks like two main rooms—an open floor with storage racks and a smaller back room. Probably an office or lab space.”
Ajit nodded, his snake sense pulling him toward the larger room. He moved silently, weaving between rows of towering shelves cluttered with dusty crates and rusted machinery.
As he neared the center of the room, he froze. The faint hum in his senses sharpened into a sudden jolt.
“Something’s wrong,” he murmured.
“Define ‘wrong,’” Rajesh said, his voice tinged with unease.
Before Ajit could respond, a soft hiss echoed through the space. He turned sharply, his enhanced vision catching the faint outline of movement above him.
A shadow dropped from the rafters—a humanoid figure with serpentine features, its glowing green eyes cutting through the darkness.
“Welcome,” the figure said, its voice low and sibilant. “We’ve been expecting you.”
Ajit didn’t hesitate. He leaped backward just as the figure lunged, its claws slashing through the air where he’d been standing.
“Karkota,” Ajit said, his voice steady despite the surge of adrenaline.
The serpent-man straightened, his lips curling into a smile. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that. But your meddling ends here.”
Ajit’s fists clenched, venom pooling at his fingertips. “We’ll see about that.”
Karkota hissed, his body coiling unnaturally as he lunged again. This time, Ajit was ready. He ducked beneath the strike and countered with a venom spray aimed at Karkota’s face.
The serpent-man twisted mid-air, the venom splattering harmlessly against a nearby crate. He landed with inhuman grace, his glowing eyes narrowing.
“Impressive,” Karkota said. “But you’ll need more than tricks to stop me.”
Ajit smirked, circling him. “Good thing I’ve got more than tricks.”
The two clashed in a blur of movement, their strikes and counters echoing through the space. Karkota’s claws slashed at Ajit’s defenses, each swipe faster and more precise than the last. Ajit retaliated with calculated strikes, using his enhanced agility to stay one step ahead.
The fight shifted across the room, knocking over crates and scattering debris. Ajit’s snake sense flared again, warning him of a new threat.
“Karkota’s not alone,” Rajesh said in his ear. “I’m picking up movement in the back room. Reinforcements incoming.”
“Great,” Ajit muttered, sidestepping another attack.
Karkota’s smile widened, as though he’d heard the exchange. “You should’ve stayed away, little snake.”
Ajit’s eyes narrowed. “Not a chance.”
Ajit dodged another strike, Karkota’s claws slicing cleanly through a steel support beam as though it were paper. The serpent-man’s strength was unreal, his every movement honed for destruction.
“You’re quick,” Karkota hissed, circling Ajit with a predator’s patience. “But speed won’t save you.”
Ajit adjusted his stance, his snake sense buzzing erratically. He could feel Karkota’s confidence, the deliberate way he moved, testing for weaknesses.
“I don’t need saving,” Ajit said, his voice calm.
Karkota lunged again, and Ajit twisted, catching the serpent-man’s arm mid-strike. With a burst of strength, he threw Karkota into a stack of crates, the wood splintering on impact.
The serpent-man rose with a low growl, brushing off the debris like dust. His glowing eyes burned brighter, and his scaled body rippled unnaturally as he stepped forward.
“You’ve trained,” Karkota said, his tone almost approving. “Good. It’ll make crushing you all the more satisfying.”
Before Ajit could reply, his snake sense flared again, sharper this time. He turned his head just in time to see a second figure emerging from the shadows—a humanoid drone with sleek, black armor and glowing red eyes.
“Rajesh,” Ajit muttered, backing away as the drone stepped closer.
“Yeah, I see it,” Rajesh’s voice crackled in his ear. “And you’re not gonna like this—they’ve got more. Three more drones just powered up in the back room.”
Ajit exhaled sharply, his mind racing. Fighting Karkota alone had been challenging enough, but adding drones to the mix? This wasn’t just a fight—it was a death trap.
“I can take down the cameras,” Rajesh offered, his tone tense. “Maybe buy you some confusion.”
“No,” Ajit said quickly. “They’ll know I’m onto them. I’ll handle it.”
“Handle it?” Rajesh repeated, incredulous. “You’re outnumbered!”
“Just keep feeding me intel,” Ajit said, shifting his focus to the approaching drone.
The machine moved with unnerving precision, its footsteps echoing through the cavernous room. Karkota watched from the sidelines, his arms crossed, a smug expression on his face.
The drone raised its arm, a compartment sliding open to reveal a small cannon. Ajit’s snake sense flared, and he dove to the side as a burst of energy shot past him, scorching the wall.
He rolled to his feet, narrowly avoiding a second blast. The drone moved fast, its targeting systems adjusting with every miss. Ajit countered with a venom spray aimed at the machine’s joints, but the liquid slid off harmlessly, sizzling against the reinforced metal.
“Rajesh,” Ajit said through gritted teeth, “what’s its weak point?”
“Working on it!” Rajesh said, the sound of frantic typing in the background. “But I can tell you this—it’s adapting to your movements. You’ll need to outthink it.”
“Easier said than done,” Ajit muttered, dodging another energy blast.
Karkota laughed from the sidelines, clearly enjoying the show. “Struggling already? How disappointing.”
Ajit ignored him, focusing on the drone. It was fast, but its movements were predictable—a slight delay in its targeting as it recalibrated after each missed shot.
He moved erratically, zigzagging across the floor to confuse its sensors. When the drone hesitated, Ajit lunged forward, grabbing a discarded steel rod from the debris. He swung it with all his strength, striking the drone’s arm cannon.
The impact jarred the cannon loose, sparks flying as the weapon fell to the floor. The drone staggered, its systems glitching momentarily.
“Nice!” Rajesh said. “Now hit the joints! They’re vulnerable when the system resets!”
Ajit didn’t hesitate. He leaped onto the drone’s back, his enhanced strength allowing him to tear into its shoulder joint. The machine convulsed, its movements growing erratic as Ajit ripped out a cluster of exposed wires.
With a final, sputtering whine, the drone collapsed, its red eyes dimming.
Ajit jumped clear, landing in a crouch. He turned to face Karkota, whose smug expression had darkened.
“Well,” Karkota said, his voice low and dangerous. “It seems I underestimated you.”
Ajit smirked, raising his fists. “Happens a lot.”
Karkota hissed, his body coiling as he prepared to strike. “This ends now, little snake.”
Ajit braced himself, his snake sense buzzing louder than ever. This wasn’t just a fight—it was a test. And he wasn’t about to fail.
Karkota lunged, his body twisting mid-air like a coiled spring snapping loose. His claws raked the air where Ajit had stood a second earlier, the force of his attack carving deep gouges into the concrete floor.
Ajit darted to the side, his movements fluid and calculated. His snake sense buzzed incessantly, guiding him through Karkota’s relentless barrage of strikes. Each swing was faster, more precise, forcing Ajit to rely on every ounce of his reflexes.
“You’re quick,” Karkota growled, his glowing green eyes narrowing. “But you’re only delaying the inevitable.”
“Funny,” Ajit said, dodging another swipe. “I was about to say the same thing.”
Karkota hissed in frustration, his tail whipping out like a battering ram. Ajit ducked, the wind of the strike brushing past his face. He countered with a venom-coated punch aimed at Karkota’s midsection.
The serpent-man twisted, but not fast enough. Ajit’s fist connected, the venom sizzling against Karkota’s scales. The impact sent him staggering back, his expression twisting in pain and fury.
“You’ll pay for that!” Karkota roared, his voice reverberating through the room.
Ajit didn’t give him a chance to recover. He pressed the attack, landing a series of rapid blows that kept Karkota on the defensive. Each strike was calculated, aimed at the joints and weak points in his scaled armor.
But Karkota wasn’t done yet. With a snarl, he unleashed a burst of venom from his mouth, the toxic spray arcing toward Ajit like a liquid net.
Ajit leaped back, narrowly avoiding the attack. The venom splattered against a steel support beam, eating through the metal with an ominous hiss.
“Rajesh,” Ajit muttered into his earpiece, keeping his eyes locked on Karkota. “Where are those reinforcements you mentioned?”
“About that,” Rajesh said, his voice tense. “They’re moving toward you. Two drones, maybe more. You’ve got about a minute.”
“Great,” Ajit muttered, his mind racing.
Karkota grinned, his fangs glinting in the dim light. “You’re outmatched, little snake. Why fight a battle you cannot win?”
“Maybe I like the challenge,” Ajit shot back, his tone even.
Karkota lunged again, his claws slicing through the air with deadly precision. Ajit ducked and rolled, grabbing a length of steel pipe from the debris. He swung it with all his strength, the improvised weapon connecting with Karkota’s side.
The serpent-man let out a guttural snarl, but the blow only seemed to enrage him. His tail lashed out, catching Ajit across the chest and sending him flying into a stack of crates.
Ajit hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air from his lungs. He rolled onto his side, coughing, as Karkota stalked toward him.
“Your tricks won’t save you,” Karkota said, his voice dripping with malice. “You’re nothing but a pretender to the serpent’s throne.”
Ajit pushed himself to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. “That’s the thing about me,” he said, his voice steady. “I don’t need a throne. I just need to win.”
Karkota lunged again, but this time, Ajit was ready. He sidestepped the attack and swung the steel pipe upward, catching Karkota under the jaw. The force of the blow sent the serpent-man sprawling, his claws scraping uselessly against the floor.
“Rajesh,” Ajit said, his breath ragged. “What’s the status on those drones?”
“They’re right outside,” Rajesh said. “You need to move. Now.”
Ajit glanced at the far end of the room, where the shadows deepened into a narrow hallway. If he could draw the drones away from Karkota, he might be able to turn the fight in his favor.
With one last look at the recovering serpent-man, Ajit sprinted toward the hallway, his footsteps echoing through the cavernous space.
“Running already?” Karkota called after him, his laughter cold and sharp. “How disappointing.”
Ajit ignored him, focusing on the hallway ahead. His snake sense buzzed again, warning of the drones closing in. He tightened his grip on the steel pipe, readying himself for the next round.
This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
The hallway stretched ahead, dimly lit by flickering fluorescent lights that cast uneven shadows across the cracked concrete walls. Ajit moved quickly but cautiously, his snake sense pulsing as the distant hum of mechanical servos grew louder.
The drones were close.
“Rajesh,” he whispered into his earpiece, “are you still tracking me?”
“Every step,” Rajesh replied. “Two drones heading straight for you. Their comms are encrypted, but I’m trying to jam them.”
“How long?” Ajit asked, gripping the steel pipe tightly.
Rajesh sighed. “Two minutes if I don’t mess it up. Maybe one if I’m a genius.”
“Be a genius,” Ajit said, his voice low but firm.
The hallway opened into a wide storage area cluttered with empty metal racks and broken crates. It was larger than he’d expected, the ceiling high enough to give the drones plenty of room to maneuver.
A faint red glow flickered in the shadows ahead. Ajit crouched low, using the racks for cover as he crept forward. The hum of the drones grew louder, more distinct.
They emerged from the far end of the room, their sleek black frames glinting under the weak light. Their movements were precise, almost organic, as if they could anticipate each other’s positions.
“Rajesh,” Ajit whispered, “tell me you’ve got something.”
“Working on it,” Rajesh said. “But here’s the bad news—these drones are built for combat. Reinforced plating, adaptive AI, and their targeting systems are scary accurate.”
“Great,” Ajit muttered, his mind racing.
The first drone’s head swiveled, its red eyes locking onto his position. It raised its arm, a small barrel extending from its forearm.
Ajit dove to the side just as the drone fired, the energy blast scorching the ground where he’d been crouching. He rolled behind a stack of crates, the heat of the shot still prickling his skin.
“Rajesh,” he hissed, “I’m running out of places to hide here!”
“Okay, okay,” Rajesh said, his fingers flying across his keyboard. “The joints! Aim for the joints—knees, elbows, shoulders. It’s their weak point.”
Ajit smirked grimly. “You’re full of great news today.”
The second drone moved to flank him, its movements fluid and calculated. Ajit sprang from cover, his enhanced agility allowing him to leap over the racks. He landed in a crouch, the steel pipe clutched tightly in his hand.
The first drone fired again, the blast barely missing as Ajit ducked low. He surged forward, closing the gap between him and the machine. With a grunt, he swung the steel pipe at its knee joint.
The impact sent sparks flying, and the drone staggered, its leg jerking as its systems tried to compensate. Ajit didn’t let up. He struck again, this time at its shoulder, the blow sending a cluster of wires and shards of metal scattering across the floor.
The drone collapsed to one knee, its targeting system faltering. But before Ajit could finish it off, the second drone fired, forcing him to leap backward.
The energy blast grazed his arm, and he winced as a sharp pain shot through him. The heat of the shot had burned through his jacket, leaving an angry red mark on his skin.
“Ajit!” Rajesh’s voice crackled in his ear. “Are you okay?”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Ajit said through gritted teeth.
The second drone advanced, its arm-mounted cannon glowing ominously. Ajit’s snake sense flared, warning him of another shot. He waited until the last second, then rolled to the side as the blast obliterated a section of the floor.
He sprang to his feet, rushing toward the damaged first drone. Grabbing a piece of debris, he jammed it into the machine’s exposed wiring. Sparks erupted, and the drone collapsed with a mechanical whine, its red eyes flickering out.
One down.
The second drone adjusted its stance, its targeting system recalibrating. Ajit’s muscles burned with effort, but he forced himself to keep moving, weaving through the racks as the drone pursued him.
“Rajesh!” he shouted.
“I’m jamming its comms now!” Rajesh replied, his voice frantic. “Just buy me ten more seconds!”
Ajit’s snake sense pulsed again, and he leaped over another energy blast. He landed hard, his knees protesting the impact, but he didn’t stop. Grabbing a loose length of chain from the floor, he spun and hurled it at the drone’s legs.
The chain wrapped around the machine’s joints, tangling its movements. The drone stumbled, its arm cannon firing wildly as it struggled to stay upright.
“Now, Rajesh!” Ajit shouted.
“I’m in!” Rajesh said.
The drone froze mid-step, its systems locking up as Rajesh’s override took effect. Ajit wasted no time. He grabbed the steel pipe and swung it with all his strength, smashing the drone’s head.
The machine toppled, its red eyes dimming as its power faded.
Ajit stood over the wreckage, his chest heaving. His snake sense had quieted, the immediate danger gone.
“Nice work,” Rajesh said in his ear. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
Ajit smirked faintly, wiping sweat from his brow. “Just keep me alive, and we’re good.”
But even as he spoke, his mind raced. Karkota was still out there, and this was only a fraction of Prakash’s forces.
This was just the beginning.
The metallic scent of scorched circuits and oil hung in the air as Ajit stood amidst the wreckage of the drones. His grip on the steel pipe tightened, the adrenaline still coursing through him. The storage facility was silent now, but his snake sense continued to hum faintly—a whisper of danger that refused to dissipate.
“Karkota’s still here,” Ajit muttered into his earpiece.
“Figures,” Rajesh replied, the sound of typing in the background. “He’s not the ‘cut-and-run’ type. I’m picking up faint heat signatures moving toward the back room. Could be him.”
Ajit exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders to shake off the fatigue. “I’m heading there.”
“Careful,” Rajesh warned. “That guy’s more venom than man, and you’ve already taken a few hits.”
Ajit smirked faintly. “You sound worried.”
“Worried? Nah. I’m just saying I’d rather not explain to Padmini why you didn’t make it back.”
Ajit’s smirk faded at the mention of Padmini. He pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task ahead. The back room loomed at the end of a narrow hallway, its steel door slightly ajar. Faint light spilled through the gap, casting long shadows on the walls.
His snake sense flared sharply, an unmistakable warning. Ajit approached the door cautiously, his footsteps silent on the concrete floor.
He peered through the gap, his enhanced vision cutting through the dim light. The room was larger than he’d expected, its walls lined with monitors displaying grainy security feeds. A large metal table sat in the center, cluttered with vials of venom, syringes, and what looked like advanced biomechanical components.
And standing at the far end, partially cloaked in shadow, was Karkota.
The serpent-man’s back was turned, his hands moving deftly over a control panel. He worked with an eerie precision, his movements almost hypnotic.
“Karkota,” Ajit called out, stepping into the room.
The serpent-man froze, his claws hovering over the controls. Slowly, he turned, his glowing green eyes narrowing as they locked onto Ajit.
“You’re persistent,” Karkota said, his voice dripping with disdain.
“It’s a habit,” Ajit replied, tightening his grip on the steel pipe.
Karkota stepped forward, his coiled body rippling with barely restrained power. “You should’ve stayed away, little snake. You’re meddling in forces you can’t comprehend.”
Ajit raised an eyebrow. “Forces like you? Because so far, you’re all talk.”
Karkota hissed, his fangs glinting. “You’re a fool to challenge me. But if it’s death you seek, I’ll gladly oblige.”
The serpent-man lunged, his claws outstretched. Ajit dodged to the side, swinging the steel pipe in a wide arc. The weapon connected with Karkota’s arm, the impact sending a shockwave through the room.
Karkota staggered but recovered quickly, his tail whipping toward Ajit with lightning speed. Ajit leaped over the strike, landing on the metal table and kicking a tray of vials toward Karkota.
The vials shattered against the serpent-man’s chest, the liquid inside hissing as it made contact with his scales. Karkota roared in fury, his movements growing more erratic.
“You’ll regret that,” he snarled, his voice a low growl.
Ajit dropped from the table, his feet barely touching the ground before Karkota lunged again. This time, the serpent-man’s claws grazed Ajit’s side, tearing through his jacket and leaving a shallow wound.
Ajit winced but didn’t slow down. He ducked under Karkota’s next strike and countered with a burst of venom aimed at the serpent-man’s face.
The venom struck true, sizzling against Karkota’s glowing eyes. The serpent-man howled, staggering back as he clawed at his face.
Ajit seized the opportunity, surging forward and delivering a powerful kick to Karkota’s chest. The force of the blow sent the serpent-man crashing into the control panel, sparks flying as the machinery short-circuited.
Karkota slumped against the panel, his breathing ragged. His glowing eyes dimmed slightly, but his expression twisted with rage.
“This isn’t over,” he hissed, his voice filled with venomous hatred.
Ajit stepped closer, his snake sense buzzing faintly. “You’re right,” he said, his tone firm. “It’s not over. But you’re done.”
Karkota’s lips curled into a defiant sneer. “You don’t even know what you’re fighting against. Prakash will—”
A loud beep interrupted him, followed by a mechanical voice:
“Self-destruct sequence activated. T-minus sixty seconds.”
Ajit’s eyes widened. “Rajesh, did you hear that?”
“Uh, yeah!” Rajesh shouted. “Get out of there! Now!”
Karkota’s laughter filled the room, a hollow, chilling sound. “You’ve only delayed the inevitable, little snake. The Asura’s rise cannot be stopped.”
Ajit clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. “We’ll see about that.”
Without another word, he turned and sprinted for the exit, his snake sense urging him forward as the countdown echoed through the facility.
“T-minus thirty seconds.”
The hallway shook as small explosions erupted behind him, the heat and debris nipping at his heels. Ajit pushed himself harder, his muscles screaming in protest as he neared the main entrance.
“Ten seconds.”
He dove through the sliding door just as the facility erupted in a deafening explosion, the shockwave propelling him forward. He hit the ground hard, the impact jarring every bone in his body.
When the dust settled, Ajit rolled onto his back, coughing as he stared at the darkened sky.
“Ajit!” Rajesh’s voice crackled in his ear. “You alive?”
“Barely,” Ajit muttered, sitting up.
The storage facility was gone, reduced to a smoldering ruin. But even as Ajit surveyed the destruction, he knew this wasn’t a victory.
Karkota had escaped.
And Prakash’s plans were far from finished.
