Chapter 5
The dim light of dawn bathed Imphal in muted hues of orange and gray, but Ajit barely noticed. His muscles ached from the night’s fight, and the shallow wound on his side stung with every step. He pulled his hoodie tighter around him as he slipped through the quiet streets, heading for the small safehouse Rajesh had set up.
The city, still waking up, was blissfully unaware of the chaos that had unfolded just hours ago. But Ajit’s mind churned, replaying Karkota’s words.
“Prakash will—”
What had he been about to say? What was the Asura’s rise?
He rounded the corner to the safehouse, a modest room above a bakery Rajesh frequented. The smell of fresh bread wafted through the air, a brief comfort amidst the turmoil.
Rajesh opened the door before Ajit could knock, his face pale and his glasses slightly askew. “You look like hell,” he said, stepping aside to let Ajit in.
“Feel worse,” Ajit muttered, dropping into the worn armchair in the corner.
Rajesh set a steaming cup of chai on the side table before settling at his desk, where multiple monitors displayed a mix of news feeds, encrypted files, and lines of code.
“Any updates?” Ajit asked, taking a cautious sip of the chai.
Rajesh sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “The news hasn’t caught wind of the explosion yet, but they’re buzzing about you.”
“Me?”
Rajesh spun one of the monitors toward Ajit. The screen displayed grainy footage of the plaza fight with Karkota, captured by a student’s phone. The headline below the video read:
“The Return of Nagaman? Mysterious Hero Battles Serpent-Like Villain.”
Ajit frowned. “Nagaman? Who came up with that?”
“Probably the same people who decided all superheroes need catchy names,” Rajesh said, smirking. “It’s been trending since your first big save at the construction site last year. You really haven’t been keeping up?”
“I’ve been a little busy,” Ajit said, his tone dry.
“Well, congratulations. You’re officially a local legend,” Rajesh said, leaning back in his chair. “The enemies you’re making probably know the name too by now. It’s not like Karkota called you ‘Ajit’ when he was trying to claw your face off.”
Ajit rubbed his temples, the weight of it all pressing down on him. “I didn’t ask for this.”
“No one asks to be a superhero,” Rajesh said, his voice softer. “But you’re good at it. And right now, people need someone like Nagaman—whether you like the name or not.”
Ajit exhaled, letting the thought sink in. He couldn’t deny it anymore. The city wasn’t just talking about him—they were counting on him.
“Alright,” he said finally. “What else do you have?”
Rajesh straightened, his smirk fading. “I pulled the data from the drones you took out. Most of it’s encrypted, but there’s one thing that stood out.”
He clicked a few keys, bringing up a blueprint on the monitor. It showed a sleek, advanced device labeled “Project Asura – Neural Interface Prototype.”
“This is what Prakash is building,” Rajesh said, his tone grim. “It’s a neural interface—some kind of control system. It’s designed to sync directly with the brain.”
Ajit leaned forward, studying the diagram. “Control what?”
“Anything,” Rajesh said. “Machines, drones, even people. If Prakash completes this, he could turn anyone into a weapon.”
Ajit clenched his fists, the image of Karkota’s glowing eyes flashing in his mind. “We have to stop him.”
Rajesh nodded. “I’ve traced the funding and supply routes. There’s another lab just outside the city—an old factory he’s been using for experiments.”
“Then that’s our next target,” Ajit said, standing.
Rajesh grabbed his arm, his expression serious. “You barely made it out last time. If you go in there like this, you’re toast.”
“I don’t have a choice,” Ajit said, pulling free. “If Prakash finishes this project, it’s over for all of us.”
Rajesh hesitated, then sighed. “Fine. But at least let me patch you up first. You’re no good to anyone if you can’t stand.”
Ajit smirked faintly, sitting back down. “Thanks, Doc.”
As Rajesh rummaged through a first aid kit, Ajit’s thoughts drifted to Karkota and the weight of the name Nagaman. The enemies he faced didn’t just see him as a hero—they saw him as a rival.
And that made him more dangerous than he’d ever realized.
The hum of Rajesh’s monitors filled the room as Ajit winced, pressing a hand to the fresh bandage wrapped around his side. Rajesh stepped back, his expression part triumphant and part concerned.
“There,” Rajesh said, snapping the first-aid kit shut. “Not my finest medical work, but you won’t bleed out on me. At least, not right away.”
Ajit smirked faintly. “Good to know I’m in capable hands.”
Rajesh rolled his eyes and plopped back into his chair, swiveling to face the monitors. “Alright, let’s talk strategy. This factory Prakash is using? It’s a fortress. High fences, patrol drones, the whole nine yards. You’re not exactly sneaking in undetected.”
“Then I won’t,” Ajit said, his tone calm. “If Karkota’s there, they’re expecting me. No point pretending otherwise.”
Rajesh raised an eyebrow. “You’re just gonna walk into their lair? Bold. Suicidal, but bold.”
“Not walk,” Ajit corrected, standing and stretching cautiously. “I’ll move fast, keep them on the defensive. If we hit them hard enough, they won’t have time to counter.”
Rajesh frowned, pulling up a map of the factory on one of the monitors. “There’s a lot of ground to cover. Main lab’s in the center, but there’s storage rooms, backup generators, and a control center scattered throughout. If Prakash is there, he’ll be holed up somewhere secure.”
Ajit studied the map, his snake sense already stirring faintly at the sight of the factory’s layout. “I’ll start with the lab. If Prakash isn’t there, I’ll improvise.”
“Improvise,” Rajesh repeated, deadpan. “Your favorite plan.”
“Got any better ideas?”
Rajesh sighed, spinning his chair back to his keyboard. “Not really. But I’ll run interference from here. I can loop their camera feeds and mess with their internal comms. Might buy you a few minutes before they realize you’re inside.”
“Perfect,” Ajit said, pulling on his jacket.
Rajesh swiveled back around, his expression serious. “Ajit… be careful. You’ve got a lot of eyes on you now. If this goes sideways—”
“It won’t,” Ajit interrupted, his voice steady. “I’ve got this.”
Rajesh didn’t look convinced but nodded anyway. “Alright. I’ll ping you if I spot anything.”
Ajit stepped toward the door, his mind already focused on the mission ahead. But as he reached for the handle, Rajesh called out.
“Hey, Nagaman,” he said, a faint grin tugging at his lips. “Don’t let them underestimate you.”
Ajit paused, glancing over his shoulder. “They don’t. That’s why they’re scared.”
The factory loomed on the outskirts of the city, its massive structure bathed in the cold light of nearby floodlights. The perimeter fence buzzed faintly with electricity, a clear warning to anyone who dared get too close.
Ajit crouched behind a row of shipping containers, his snake sense tingling with the hum of drones patrolling the area. The faint red glow of their sensors swept rhythmically across the yard.
“Rajesh,” he whispered into his earpiece.
“Yeah, yeah, I see them,” Rajesh replied. “Three patrol drones, moving in a triangular pattern. You’ve got a gap on the west side if you’re quick.”
Ajit nodded, his eyes tracking the nearest drone. Timing his movements, he sprinted low across the open space, his enhanced agility carrying him to the fence just as the drone’s sensor swept past.
“I’m at the fence,” Ajit said. “What’s the voltage?”
“High enough to ruin your day,” Rajesh replied. “But there’s a maintenance hatch about ten feet to your right. Shouldn’t be electrified.”
Ajit shifted along the fence, finding the small hatch hidden behind overgrown grass. With careful movements, he pried it open, sliding through to the other side.
Inside the perimeter, the factory was eerily quiet. The hum of machinery echoed faintly from within, and the faint glow of windows cast long shadows across the yard.
“Rajesh, loop the cameras,” Ajit said, moving toward the main entrance.
“Already on it,” Rajesh said. “You’ve got about five minutes before the system pings them for a manual override.”
“More than enough,” Ajit muttered.
He slipped through the door, his snake sense guiding him as he navigated the dimly lit hallways. The factory’s interior was a maze of steel and concrete, with narrow corridors branching off in all directions.
As he approached the central lab, his snake sense flared sharply. A faint vibration hummed through the walls, growing stronger with each step.
“Rajesh,” Ajit said, his voice low. “Something’s here.”
“What kind of ‘something’?”
Ajit stopped at the corner, peering around to see the lab door. Two large humanoid figures stood guard, their bodies sleek and metallic, their glowing red eyes scanning the hallway.
“More drones,” Ajit said.
“Fantastic,” Rajesh replied. “And here I thought this might be easy.”
Ajit smirked faintly, crouching low. “Since when is anything ever easy?”
He flexed his fingers, venom pooling at his fingertips. Time to find out what Prakash was hiding.
Ajit crouched behind a steel support beam, his snake sense buzzing in warning. The two humanoid drones guarding the lab door stood unnervingly still, their glowing red eyes scanning the hallway in precise arcs.
“Rajesh,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “These guards—what am I dealing with?”
Rajesh’s voice crackled in his ear. “They’re not the same models as the ones from the warehouse. These are bulkier, more heavily armored. Think of them as bouncers—big, dumb, and hard to take down.”
Ajit smirked faintly. “Sounds like a challenge.”
“Yeah, sure,” Rajesh said, his tone dry. “Just don’t get turned into Nagaman purée.”
Ajit’s eyes narrowed as he studied the drones. Their movements were minimal, but the subtle rotations of their heads indicated advanced tracking systems. A direct attack would be risky, but his snake sense guided him toward the smallest gaps in their surveillance.
“Rajesh, loop their feeds,” Ajit whispered.
“Already done,” Rajesh replied. “You’ve got about two minutes before they reboot.”
Ajit nodded and moved, his steps silent as he crept closer to the drones. The steel pipe he’d carried from the safehouse felt heavy in his grip, but it would do the job.
The first drone didn’t see him coming. Ajit swung the pipe with precision, aiming for the exposed joint between its shoulder and torso. The impact sent sparks flying, and the drone staggered, its targeting systems glitching as it turned toward him.
Before it could react, Ajit struck again, this time at the back of its knee. The drone collapsed with a mechanical groan, its servos whining in protest.
The second drone moved instantly, its arm-mounted cannon humming to life as it locked onto Ajit. His snake sense flared, and he dove behind a stack of crates as the cannon fired, the energy blast searing through the air.
“Rajesh, I could use a distraction!” Ajit called out, rolling to avoid another blast.
“Working on it!” Rajesh said, the sound of furious typing in the background.
The second drone advanced, its footsteps heavy and deliberate. Ajit crouched low, his enhanced vision picking up faint heat signatures in its joints.
“Got it!” Rajesh shouted.
The lights in the hallway flickered, then went out entirely, plunging the space into darkness. The drone hesitated, its red eyes dimming momentarily as its systems recalibrated.
Ajit seized the opportunity. He sprang from his hiding spot, delivering a venom-coated punch to the drone’s torso. The venom sizzled against its plating, corroding the metal and exposing the internal circuitry.
The drone swung its arm in a desperate counterattack, but Ajit ducked, using his agility to slip behind it. With a swift strike to its neck joint, he tore out a cluster of wires.
The drone collapsed with a heavy thud, its red eyes flickering before fading entirely.
“Two for two,” Ajit muttered, stepping over the wreckage.
“Don’t get cocky,” Rajesh said. “You’re still on borrowed time. The system’s already flagging anomalies—I can’t keep them blind much longer.”
Ajit moved to the lab door, examining the keypad. “Can you unlock this?”
“Hold on,” Rajesh said. “Accessing… Got it. You’re in.”
The door slid open with a hiss, revealing the lab beyond. Ajit stepped inside, his snake sense buzzing even louder.
The room was massive, its walls lined with monitors displaying streams of data. At the center stood a large, cylindrical device encased in glass, its surface pulsing with faint blue light. The neural interface prototype.
Ajit approached the device cautiously, his enhanced vision picking up the intricate network of wires and conduits running through it. This was what Prakash had been building—technology designed to control minds, machines, or worse.
“Rajesh, I’ve found it,” Ajit said, his voice low.
“Describe it,” Rajesh replied.
“It’s a neural interface. Advanced. Looks like it’s designed to integrate with both organic and synthetic systems.”
Rajesh let out a low whistle. “That’s some scary tech. Can you disable it?”
Ajit studied the device, his fingers brushing over the control panel. “Maybe. But if I mess up, I could trigger a failsafe.”
“Then don’t mess up,” Rajesh said.
Ajit exhaled sharply, focusing on the controls. His snake sense flared again, sharper this time.
He froze, his eyes narrowing.
“Rajesh,” he said quietly. “Someone’s here.”
Before Rajesh could respond, a voice echoed from the shadows.
“Well, well. The infamous Nagaman, in the flesh.”
Ajit turned slowly, his fists clenched. A figure emerged from the darkness—a man with sharp features and cold, calculating eyes. His arms were clad in sleek mechanical exoskeletons, the fingers flexing with an unsettling precision.
“Dr. Prakash,” Ajit said, his voice steady.
The man smiled faintly, his mechanical arms clicking softly as he stepped closer. “I must admit, I’m impressed. Few would dare to interfere with my work. But you’ve proven to be… an exceptional annoyance.”
Ajit’s snake sense buzzed like an alarm, his body tensing. “You need to shut this down. Now.”
Prakash laughed, a hollow, mocking sound. “Shut it down? On the contrary, Nagaman. This is only the beginning.”
The mechanical arms flexed, their joints glowing faintly with energy.
“Let’s see if the serpent can stand against the Asura,” Prakash said, his smile turning into a sneer.
Ajit’s fists clenched tighter. “Let’s find out.”
Prakash’s mechanical arms clicked and whirred with a menacing rhythm, each movement precise and deliberate. The faint hum of power radiating from the joints filled the room, amplifying the tension between him and Ajit.
“I’ve been watching you,” Prakash said, his voice calm but laced with contempt. “You’re a fascinating anomaly. Organic evolution elevated by chance. But flawed.”
Ajit stepped forward, his fists clenching. “You’ve got a lot to say for someone hiding behind machines.”
Prakash smirked, the glow from his arms intensifying. “Machines are perfection, Nagaman. They don’t tire, don’t hesitate, don’t fail. Unlike you.”
Before Ajit could respond, Prakash struck. One of his mechanical arms shot forward with blinding speed, the claw-like appendage aiming for Ajit’s chest.
Ajit’s snake sense flared, and he twisted to the side just in time. The arm slammed into the ground, leaving a dent in the steel floor. Prakash wasted no time, swinging another arm in a wide arc.
Ajit ducked, rolling forward and springing to his feet behind Prakash. He lashed out with a venom-coated punch, aiming for the connection point between one of the arms and Prakash’s torso.
The venom sizzled on contact, but Prakash barely flinched. One of his arms shot backward, grabbing Ajit by the shoulder and flinging him across the room.
Ajit hit the ground hard, sliding to a stop near the edge of the lab. Pain shot through his ribs, but he forced himself to his feet, his snake sense buzzing like an alarm.
“You can’t win,” Prakash said, his tone almost pitying. “You’re fighting the inevitable. Humanity’s time has passed. It’s time for the machines to rise.”
Ajit spat to the side, blood flecking the floor. “You talk too much.”
Prakash’s smirk vanished, and he lunged, all eight arms moving in a coordinated assault. Ajit dodged and weaved, his enhanced reflexes barely keeping him ahead of the relentless strikes. Each swing of Prakash’s arms was precise, leaving no room for error.
“Rajesh,” Ajit muttered through gritted teeth, “tell me you’ve got something!”
“Still analyzing!” Rajesh replied, his voice frantic. “Those arms are built with adaptive tech. They’re learning your moves as you fight. You’ve got to switch it up!”
“Easier said than done,” Ajit growled, ducking under a swing that would have taken his head off.
He leaped onto one of the lab’s worktables, grabbing a loose length of steel pipe. Prakash’s arms smashed through the table, but Ajit used the momentum to vault over the mechanical onslaught, landing behind him.
Ajit swung the pipe with all his strength, striking the base of one of Prakash’s arms. Sparks flew, and the arm jerked violently before going limp.
Prakash snarled, spinning to face him. “Impressive. But I’m far from done.”
Another arm shot toward Ajit, but this time, he was ready. He caught the appendage mid-strike, using his enhanced strength to twist it at an unnatural angle. The arm’s servos screeched in protest, and Ajit ripped it free, tossing the sparking limb aside.
Prakash staggered but recovered quickly, his remaining arms moving to shield him. “You think brute force will stop me? Foolish.”
Ajit smirked, raising the steel pipe. “It’s working so far.”
Prakash roared, his mechanical arms surging forward in a coordinated attack. Ajit ducked and sidestepped, using the pipe to deflect the blows. Each strike sent vibrations up his arms, but he gritted his teeth and held firm.
He landed another venom-coated punch, this time striking Prakash’s torso directly. The venom hissed as it spread across the metal plating, corroding the surface and exposing the underlying circuits.
Prakash let out a furious growl, his movements becoming more erratic. “You’re nothing but a relic!” he shouted, his voice distorted by the strain on his systems.
“And you’re just a man hiding behind machines,” Ajit shot back.
With a final surge of effort, Ajit lunged forward, driving the steel pipe into the exposed circuitry on Prakash’s chest. Sparks erupted, and Prakash let out a howl of rage as his systems began to glitch.
The mechanical arms flailed wildly, their movements losing coordination. Ajit dodged the erratic strikes, keeping his distance as Prakash staggered backward.
“This isn’t over,” Prakash snarled, his voice crackling with static. “The Asura will rise!”
Ajit watched as Prakash’s systems overloaded, his arms sparking and jerking uncontrollably. The villain’s mechanical frame collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, smoke rising from the wreckage.
Ajit stood over him, his chest heaving. His snake sense had quieted, signaling the end of the immediate danger.
“Rajesh,” he said into his earpiece, “Prakash is down. But he’s not finished. Not yet.”
“You okay?” Rajesh asked, his voice shaky.
“Been better,” Ajit admitted, glancing at the smoldering wreckage. “But we’ve got bigger problems. Whatever the Asura project is, this was just the beginning.”
Rajesh sighed. “I’ll start digging. But you need to get out of there before reinforcements show up.”
“On it,” Ajit said, turning toward the lab’s exit.
As he stepped over the wreckage, Prakash’s voice echoed faintly behind him.
“This is only the start, Nagaman. You cannot stop progress.”
Ajit didn’t look back.
“We’ll see about that.”
Ajit slipped through the shattered lab door and into the factory’s dimly lit corridors. The echoes of his fight with Prakash still reverberated in his ears, but his snake sense remained alert. The quiet was deceptive—reinforcements could arrive at any moment.
“Rajesh,” Ajit said, keeping his voice low. “I’m moving out. Any signs of trouble?”
“Not yet,” Rajesh replied. “But don’t get comfy. I’m seeing activity on nearby comms—probably drones or guards responding to the commotion.”
Ajit gritted his teeth, jogging through the corridor. The smell of scorched metal and oil lingered in the air, mingling with the faint hum of distant machinery. His ribs ached from Prakash’s earlier strikes, and his side throbbed where Karkota had nicked him, but there was no time to dwell on the pain.
As he turned a corner, his snake sense flared. Ajit froze, listening intently. The faint whir of servos echoed down the hall, growing louder.
“Rajesh,” he whispered, “I’ve got company.”
“Drones,” Rajesh confirmed. “Three of them. You’re gonna want to move fast—they’re cutting off your exit.”
Ajit’s eyes narrowed, scanning his surroundings. A row of storage crates lined one wall, and overhead, a series of exposed beams crisscrossed the ceiling.
An idea sparked.
“How much time do I have before they reach me?” Ajit asked, already climbing onto the nearest crate.
“Not enough for whatever crazy plan you’re cooking up,” Rajesh said.
“Good thing I’m fast,” Ajit muttered, pulling himself onto one of the beams.
From his elevated position, he had a clear view of the corridor below. The drones appeared moments later, sleek and black, their red eyes glowing ominously as they glided through the hallway in a tight formation.
Ajit crouched low, holding his breath as the drones passed directly beneath him. His snake sense buzzed faintly, warning him of the danger, but he stayed perfectly still.
When the last drone moved into position, Ajit struck. He dropped from the beam, landing squarely on the final drone’s back. The impact sent the machine careening into the floor with a screech of grinding metal.
The other drones whirled around, their arm-mounted cannons glowing as they locked onto him. Ajit leaped off the damaged drone just as the first energy blast streaked past, narrowly missing him.
He rolled to his feet, grabbing a loose piece of debris from the floor. With a quick throw, he jammed the debris into one drone’s cannon, causing it to overload and explode in a burst of sparks.
The remaining drone advanced, firing rapidly. Ajit dodged and weaved, his snake sense guiding him through the barrage of energy blasts. He closed the distance in a flash, landing a venom-coated punch to the drone’s central core.
The venom hissed as it corroded the machine’s circuits, and the drone sputtered before collapsing in a heap of smoking metal.
“Rajesh,” Ajit said, his breath ragged. “Drones are down. How’s my exit?”
“Clear for now,” Rajesh replied. “But I’m seeing heat signatures moving toward the factory. You’ve got reinforcements inbound—looks like ground troops.”
Ajit cursed under his breath, sprinting toward the nearest exit. The factory groaned around him, its aging structure protesting under the strain of the earlier explosions.
He burst through the main doors and into the open air, the cool night breeze hitting his face like a relief. But his snake sense buzzed again, sharper this time.
Floodlights snapped on, illuminating the factory yard. A squad of armed guards emerged from the shadows, their weapons trained on Ajit.
“Hands where we can see them, Nagaman!” one of the guards barked.
Ajit raised his hands slowly, his eyes scanning the area. Behind the guards, a row of transport vehicles blocked the road, cutting off his escape.
“Rajesh,” he muttered, “I could really use a distraction.”
“Give me thirty seconds,” Rajesh replied. “Hold tight.”
The guards advanced, their weapons unwavering. “You’re done,” the lead guard sneered. “Boss doesn’t care if you come back in one piece.”
Ajit smirked faintly, flexing his fingers. “Good thing I don’t take orders from your boss.”
Before the guard could respond, a deafening explosion rocked the far side of the yard. The guards turned in unison, their formation breaking as they scrambled to assess the threat.
“Your distraction, as requested,” Rajesh said, satisfaction in his tone.
Ajit moved in a blur, closing the gap between him and the nearest guard. A venom-coated strike to the chest sent the man sprawling, his weapon clattering to the ground.
The remaining guards fired, but Ajit was already weaving through their ranks, his enhanced reflexes carrying him past the hail of bullets. He disarmed two more guards in quick succession, his strikes precise and efficient.
The remaining guards hesitated, their confidence wavering.
“Don’t just stand there!” the lead guard shouted. “Take him down!”
Ajit smirked. “You’re welcome to try.”
The guards rushed him, but their movements were clumsy compared to Ajit’s speed and agility. He dispatched them one by one, his venom and strength overwhelming their defenses.
When the last guard hit the ground, Ajit turned toward the transport vehicles. His snake sense buzzed faintly—there was still danger nearby.
“Rajesh,” he said, climbing into one of the vehicles. “I’m out of here. Keep digging on Prakash and the Asura project. I want everything.”
“You got it,” Rajesh replied. “And hey—nice work, Nagaman.”
Ajit didn’t respond. He started the vehicle and drove into the night, his thoughts already on what lay ahead.
Prakash might have been down, but the fight was far from over.