Chapter 6: Mongoose’s Vendetta
The Imphal railway yard was eerily silent at night, its sprawling expanse dotted with abandoned freight cars and stacks of rusting metal. The air smelled of damp iron and oil, a faint mist clinging to the ground.
Ajit perched atop a cargo container, his glowing tendrils coiled loosely around his arms. His snake sense hummed faintly, guiding his gaze toward the far end of the yard. Ravana’s name had surfaced again, this time tied to a shipment of illegal tech arriving in secret.
“Alright,” Ajit muttered, crouching low. “Let’s see what you’re hiding this time.”
Near the center of the yard, a group of men unloaded crates from a black van, their movements hurried and tense. Floodlights cast sharp shadows across the scene, highlighting the contents of the crates—sleek weapons etched with serpentine designs.
Ajit’s snake sense buzzed sharply. The weapons weren’t just advanced—they were infused with the same energy he’d felt from the Serpent Idol.
“Ravana’s upgrading his arsenal,” Ajit murmured, his tendrils snapping into position.
Before he could move, a deep, guttural growl echoed through the yard. The sound was unnatural, low and rumbling, like a predator stalking its prey.
Ajit froze, his snake sense flaring wildly.
From the shadows emerged a hulking figure, its sheer size dwarfing the men around it. Mongoose.
He was an amalgamation of muscle and metal, his bioengineered frame covered in segmented armor that gleamed faintly under the lights. His head was elongated and angular, resembling the predator he was named after. Clawed hands flexed with a metallic hiss as he moved, his movements unnervingly smooth for something so massive.
“Load faster,” Mongoose growled, his voice gravelly and distorted. “I don’t like wasting time.”
One of the men hesitated, his hands trembling as he fumbled with a crate.
“Now!” Mongoose barked, his claws slamming into the crate, splintering it. The man jumped, scrambling to obey.
Ajit’s eyes narrowed as he watched. Mongoose wasn’t just a henchman—he was a weapon.
“This just got interesting,” Ajit said under his breath.
Mongoose sniffed the air suddenly, his head snapping toward Ajit’s position.
“I smell something,” he rumbled, his glowing eyes scanning the darkness. “Something… reptilian.”
Ajit cursed under his breath. His snake sense warned him to stay hidden, but Mongoose’s keen senses were already zeroing in.
“Find it,” Mongoose ordered, his claws flexing. “I hate snakes.”
The men spread out, their weapons raised. Ajit moved silently, weaving through the shadows as he positioned himself closer to the crates.
If he could destroy the shipment, it might slow Ravana’s plans.
As the men searched, Ajit’s tendrils lashed out, disarming two of them before they could react.
“What the—” one of them shouted, his weapon clattering to the ground.
Ajit dropped from above, landing silently behind them. His venom sprayed from his hands, corroding the lock on one of the crates. He shoved it open, revealing more of the serpent-etched weapons inside.
Mongoose turned sharply, his glowing eyes locking onto Ajit.
“There you are,” he growled, his claws digging into the ground as he charged.
Ajit leapt onto a nearby stack of crates, narrowly avoiding Mongoose’s crushing strike. The force of the blow shattered the container, sending splinters flying.
“You’re faster than I expected,” Mongoose said, his voice tinged with amusement. “Good. I like a challenge.”
Ajit’s tendrils lashed out, aiming for Mongoose’s arm. But the bioengineered beast caught them mid-air, his claws slicing through the spectral energy.
“Nice try,” Mongoose sneered, lunging again.
Ajit dodged, his snake sense guiding him as he countered with a venomous strike to Mongoose’s chest. The venom sizzled against the armor but failed to penetrate.
“You’re going to have to do better than that,” Mongoose taunted, swinging a massive fist.
Ajit’s mind raced as he dodged, searching for an opening. Mongoose was stronger, more durable, and relentless.
But Ajit had something Mongoose didn’t—adaptability.
As the battle raged on, Ajit felt a strange surge of energy coursing through him. His snake sense sharpened, his vision shifting to a heat-sensitive view that revealed the weak points in Mongoose’s armor.
“Interesting,” Ajit muttered, a grin tugging at his lips.
He moved faster now, using his newfound vision to target the joints and seams in Mongoose’s armor. Each strike landed with precision, forcing Mongoose to stagger.
“You’re annoying,” Mongoose growled, his frustration evident.
“And you’re predictable,” Ajit shot back, leaping onto a high beam.
Mongoose roared, charging blindly.
Ajit smirked, his tendrils snapping out to grab a suspended crate. With a sharp pull, he released the crate, sending it crashing down onto Mongoose.
The impact shook the ground, and for a moment, all was silent.
Ajit landed lightly beside the wreckage, his tendrils coiling defensively as he approached.
Mongoose growled, shoving the crate off him with a snarl. His armor was dented, but his rage was undiminished.
“This isn’t over,” Mongoose said, his glowing eyes narrowing. “You’ll regret crossing Ravana.”
Before Ajit could respond, Mongoose disappeared into the shadows, his movements unnervingly swift for his size.
Ajit exhaled heavily, his body aching from the fight. The shipment was destroyed, but Mongoose’s escape left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He glanced at the wreckage, the serpent-etched weapons glowing faintly. Ravana’s plans were escalating, and the stakes were higher than ever.
“This is just the beginning,” Ajit murmured, his fists clenching.
The streets of Imphal buzzed with unease. By day, the city seemed its usual lively self, bustling markets and honking rickshaws filling the air with a cacophony of activity. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, a sense of dread took its place.
Something—or someone—was hunting.
Ajit stood atop a water tower on the edge of the city, his gaze scanning the skyline. His snake sense buzzed faintly, a subtle pulse in the back of his mind, warning him that Mongoose was still out there.
He’d spent the past few nights patrolling the city, searching for any trace of Ravana’s enforcer. But Mongoose was clever, moving swiftly and striking only where it would hurt the most.
“He’s drawing me out,” Ajit murmured, his tendrils coiling restlessly.
Below, a police siren wailed, cutting through the night. Ajit’s eyes narrowed as his snake sense flared sharply.
“There you are.”
On the streets below, chaos reigned. A sleek black SUV lay overturned, its windows shattered and its tires still spinning. Civilians screamed as a hulking figure tore through a row of parked cars, his claws ripping through metal like paper.
“Mongoose,” Ajit said, swinging into action.
He landed on a nearby lamppost, his tendrils snapping out to steady him. Mongoose stood in the center of the carnage, his armored frame glinting under the streetlights.
“Come out, Naga Man!” Mongoose roared, his voice echoing through the narrow street. “Or do you only fight when it’s easy?”
Ajit’s jaw tightened. He leapt from the lamppost, landing lightly on the roof of the overturned SUV.
“Looking for me?”
Mongoose turned, his glowing eyes narrowing. “There you are. Took you long enough.”
Ajit’s tendrils snapped into position, glowing faintly in the darkness. “You really need a new hobby.”
Mongoose smirked, his claws flexing. “Hurting you is hobby enough.”
The battle erupted with ferocious intensity. Mongoose lunged, his massive claws swiping at Ajit with brutal speed.
Ajit dodged, his snake sense guiding him as he countered with a venom spray to Mongoose’s exposed joints. The venom hissed against the armor, eating away at the seams, but Mongoose seemed unfazed.
“You’re persistent,” Mongoose growled, delivering a powerful kick that sent Ajit skidding across the pavement.
Ajit rolled to his feet, his glowing eyes locked onto Mongoose. “And you’re predictable.”
He swung onto a nearby building, using the height to his advantage as he lashed out with his tendrils. They coiled around Mongoose’s arm, pulling him off balance.
Mongoose snarled, tearing free with brute strength. “I’m not like the others you’ve fought,” he said, his voice dripping with malice. “I was built to kill.”
Ajit smirked, leaping over Mongoose’s next strike. “And yet, here I am.”
The fight moved through the streets, their clash leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Mongoose tore through obstacles with ease, his strength unmatched. But Ajit’s agility and reflexes allowed him to stay one step ahead, weaving through the chaos like a shadow.
As the battle raged on, Ajit’s snake sense flared again—this time with a sharper urgency. He twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding a blast of energy from Mongoose’s hidden weapon.
“New tricks?” Ajit taunted, landing on a lamppost. “I’m flattered.”
Mongoose smirked, raising a device embedded in his armor. “Ravana sends his regards.”
The device emitted a high-pitched whine, and a shockwave of energy erupted, sending Ajit crashing into a parked car.
Ajit groaned, his vision swimming as he struggled to his feet. Mongoose approached, his claws gleaming in the dim light.
“You’re outmatched, snake boy,” Mongoose said, his voice low and menacing. “Just give up.”
Ajit’s fists clenched, his tendrils sparking with renewed energy. “Not a chance.”
He leapt forward, his body moving with serpentine precision as he struck at Mongoose’s exposed joints. Each hit chipped away at the armor, slowing the behemoth’s movements.
Mongoose roared in frustration, his attacks growing more erratic.
“You’re making this too easy,” Ajit said, dodging a wild swing.
The turning point came when Mongoose lunged too far, his claws embedding into a concrete wall. Ajit seized the opportunity, wrapping his tendrils around Mongoose’s legs and pulling with all his strength.
The armored giant crashed to the ground, his struggles shaking the pavement.
“You’re good,” Mongoose admitted, his voice strained. “But this isn’t over.”
Ajit stood over him, his tendrils coiled and ready. “Tell Ravana I’m coming for him.”
With a final burst of energy, Mongoose broke free, retreating into the shadows.
Ajit watched him go, his chest heaving. The fight had taken its toll, but he’d won—at least for now.
As the first rays of dawn broke over the city, Ajit stood atop a rooftop, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
“This isn’t just about stopping Ravana,” he said quietly. “It’s about protecting everyone he’s trying to hurt.”
He turned, disappearing into the morning light.
The sun hung low in the sky as Ajit perched on the edge of a crumbling warehouse in Imphal’s industrial zone. His chest still ached from the earlier battle, the memory of Mongoose’s strength a fresh reminder of what he was up against.
“You can’t beat him with brute force,” Ajit muttered, watching the empty streets below.
Rajesh’s voice crackled through the earpiece hidden beneath Ajit’s hood. “Yeah, no kidding. The guy’s a walking tank. Did you see the way he shrugged off that venom? You’re gonna need a game-changer.”
Ajit smirked, leaping down to a lower ledge. “That’s why you’re here, right? Find me something useful.”
Rajesh’s keyboard clicks filled the line. “Already on it. Ravana’s tech has weak points—it’s just a matter of figuring out where they are.”
“Make it quick,” Ajit said, his snake sense buzzing faintly.
The warehouse below hummed with activity. A group of Ravana’s men unloaded more crates, their movements hurried and nervous. Among them, Ajit spotted a familiar figure—Visha, barking orders as his henchmen scrambled.
“Do you think he’s here?” one of the men whispered, glancing around nervously.
“He’s watching,” Visha snapped. “He’s always watching. That’s why we need to finish this fast. Mongoose won’t be happy if we fail again.”
Ajit grinned, his tendrils glowing faintly. “They’re not wrong.”
With a flick of his wrist, Ajit swung into action. He landed silently atop a stack of crates, his glowing eyes locked onto Visha.
“Long time no see,” Ajit called, his voice echoing through the warehouse.
Visha froze, his head snapping up. “Naga Man.”
The henchmen scrambled, raising their weapons, but Ajit moved faster. His tendrils lashed out, knocking rifles from their hands and sending them scattering.
“You’re getting predictable, Visha,” Ajit said, leaping down to the floor.
Visha sneered, pulling a small device from his pocket. “You won’t be so smug when Mongoose gets here.”
Ajit’s snake sense flared sharply.
“Speaking of,” he muttered, turning just as the warehouse doors burst open.
Mongoose entered with the force of a wrecking ball, his armored frame glinting under the flickering lights. His claws flexed, scraping against the concrete as he scanned the room.
“There you are,” Mongoose growled, his glowing eyes narrowing on Ajit. “I’ve been looking forward to this.”
Ajit’s tendrils coiled defensively. “Funny, I’ve been dreading it.”
Mongoose lunged, his claws swiping with brutal speed. Ajit dodged, his snake sense guiding his movements as he countered with a venom spray to Mongoose’s exposed joints.
The venom hissed against the metal, but Mongoose barely flinched.
“Cute trick,” Mongoose said, delivering a powerful kick that sent Ajit flying into a stack of crates.
Ajit groaned, pushing himself to his feet. “I need a new plan,” he muttered.
Rajesh’s voice crackled through the earpiece. “Okay, I’ve got something. The armor’s tough, but it’s powered by a core in his chest. If you can hit it, you might be able to shut him down.”
“Easier said than done,” Ajit replied, dodging another swing.
He leapt onto a beam high above the warehouse floor, his glowing eyes locked onto Mongoose. The core pulsed faintly beneath the armor, visible only through the faint heat signature his enhanced vision detected.
“There you are,” Ajit murmured, his tendrils snapping into position.
Mongoose roared, leaping onto the beam with surprising agility. The structure groaned under his weight, the metal bending as he swung at Ajit.
Ajit ducked, his tendrils latching onto a nearby support. With a sharp pull, he swung out of Mongoose’s reach, circling around to land behind him.
“Too slow,” Ajit said, striking the core with a venom-coated punch.
Mongoose roared in pain, his movements faltering as the venom began to corrode the core’s protective casing.
“You little—” Mongoose snarled, swiping wildly.
Ajit dodged again, his tendrils coiling around Mongoose’s arm to pull him off balance.
The fight reached a fever pitch as Mongoose unleashed a desperate flurry of attacks, his strength and speed pushing Ajit to his limits. But Ajit’s snake sense guided him with precision, allowing him to land strike after strike on the core.
With a final, powerful blow, the core sputtered and dimmed, sending a surge of energy through Mongoose’s armor.
The giant staggered, his movements growing sluggish as the power drained from his suit.
“This isn’t over,” Mongoose growled, retreating toward the warehouse doors.
“Keep telling yourself that,” Ajit said, watching as the enforcer disappeared into the night.
As the warehouse fell silent, Ajit leaned against a crate, his chest heaving.
“Nice work,” Rajesh said through the earpiece. “But don’t get too comfortable. Ravana’s not going to let this slide.”
Ajit nodded, his fists clenching. “Good. I’m not done with him yet.”
The familiar hum of Rajesh’s laptop filled the dorm room as he sifted through files, his desk cluttered with research papers, printouts, and the remnants of what had once been a bag of chips. Ajit sat on the floor, his back against the bed, flexing his hands as faint, glowing tendrils coiled and uncoiled around his fingers.
“Alright,” Rajesh said, breaking the silence. “Let’s talk strategy. You managed to knock out Mongoose’s power core, but next time, he’s not going to make it that easy.”
“Wasn’t exactly easy this time,” Ajit muttered, wincing as he shifted to adjust his bruised ribs. “He’s faster than he looks. Stronger, too.”
Rajesh nodded, his gaze serious. “Which means you need to be faster and smarter. You’ve got the tools—you just need to refine them.”
Ajit smirked. “What, like a montage? Push-ups and inspirational music?”
Rajesh grinned. “Something like that. Minus the cheesy music. Now, let’s break this down.”
Shapeshifting Practice
Ajit stood in the center of the room, his breathing steady as he focused. He let his snake sense guide him, the energy in his body shifting and flowing as he attempted to morph.
The first attempt was clumsy—his arm stretched into a half-serpentine shape, the scales uneven and glowing faintly.
“Not bad,” Rajesh said, watching from his chair. “But try to even out the transformation. Think of it like flexing a muscle—control the flow.”
Ajit nodded, closing his eyes. He concentrated, visualizing the shape in his mind. This time, the transformation was smoother, his arm elongating into a sleek, scaly appendage tipped with sharp, retractable claws.
“Better,” Rajesh said, jotting notes. “But can you use it in a fight?”
Ajit grinned. “Only one way to find out.”
Combat Simulations
The pair moved to the gymnasium late that night, when the campus was quiet. Ajit set up makeshift dummies from old mats and sandbags, each one marked with weak points similar to Mongoose’s armor.
“Focus on speed and precision,” Rajesh instructed, standing to the side with a stopwatch. “Hit the target, retreat, and reset.”
Ajit nodded, his tendrils snapping into place. He darted forward, his movements fluid and serpentine, delivering a rapid series of strikes to the dummies. Each tendril lashed out like a whip, coiling around the weak points and pulling the targets apart.
“Faster,” Rajesh called, his voice steady.
Ajit pushed harder, his enhanced reflexes kicking in as he leapt, twisted, and struck with precision. The room echoed with the crack of sandbags splitting open.
“Alright, stop!” Rajesh said, raising a hand. “That’s what I’m talking about. If you can move like that against Mongoose, he won’t be able to touch you.”
Ajit exhaled heavily, his glowing eyes locked on the shredded dummies. “I’ll need more than speed. He adapts—just like me.”
Rajesh frowned. “Then it’s a race to see who evolves faster.”
Exploring the Snake Form
Back in the dorm, Ajit sat cross-legged on the floor, his snake sense buzzing faintly. He closed his eyes, letting the energy flow through him as he tapped into the deeper connection to his abilities.
The first time it happened, it was instinctive—a survival mechanism during a high-stakes battle. Now, he wanted to control it.
His breathing slowed as his body began to shift, scales forming along his arms and neck. His legs coiled together, his torso elongating as he transformed into a full snake form.
The sensation was strange but powerful, his movements faster and more fluid than ever before. He slithered across the room with astonishing speed, his glowing eyes scanning the space as his enhanced senses picked up every detail.
Rajesh watched, his jaw dropping. “Okay, that’s… terrifying. But also awesome.”
Ajit returned to his human form, his body aching slightly from the effort. “It’s harder to control than the tendrils,” he admitted. “But it’s a game-changer.”
Rajesh nodded. “No one’s going to see that coming. Just be careful—if you lose focus in that form, it could backfire.”
Ajit smirked. “Then I’ll have to make sure I don’t.”
As the night stretched on, Ajit and Rajesh worked tirelessly, refining techniques and brainstorming strategies. Each session brought Ajit closer to mastering his powers, his confidence growing with every success.
By dawn, Ajit stood at the window, watching the city come to life.
“Mongoose is tough,” he said quietly. “But he’s not invincible. I’ll stop him—and Ravana—no matter what it takes.”
Rajesh clapped him on the shoulder. “You’ve got this, man. Just remember—you’re not alone.”
Ajit nodded, his resolve unshaken. The next time he faced Mongoose, he’d be ready.
The air was thick with tension as Ajit crouched on a rooftop overlooking the Imphal railway yard. Below, Mongoose stood in the middle of the sprawling complex, his hulking frame illuminated by flickering floodlights. Around him, Ravana’s henchmen unloaded crates from a freight train, their movements hurried and deliberate.
“They’re making a move,” Ajit muttered, his glowing tendrils coiling and uncoiling in anticipation.
Rajesh’s voice crackled through the earpiece. “You’re sure about this? Mongoose isn’t exactly a pushover.”
Ajit smirked. “That’s why I’ve been practicing. Time to see if it pays off.”
As the men worked, Mongoose’s growl cut through the noise. “Hurry it up! We don’t have all night.”
One of the henchmen hesitated, his hands shaking as he struggled to lift a crate. Mongoose turned sharply, his claws flexing.
“Do I need to do it myself?” he snarled.
The man stammered an apology, but before Mongoose could act, a voice echoed from above.
“Maybe you should sit this one out.”
Mongoose looked up just as Ajit dropped into the clearing, landing lightly on a stack of crates.
“You again,” Mongoose growled, his glowing eyes narrowing. “You don’t know when to quit, do you?”
Ajit grinned, his tendrils snapping into position. “Guess we’ve got that in common.”
The henchmen scattered as Mongoose charged, his massive claws tearing through the crates like paper.
Ajit moved quickly, his snake sense guiding him as he dodged the onslaught. He leapt onto a nearby freight car, his tendrils latching onto a beam to pull himself higher.
“You’re faster,” Mongoose admitted, his claws sparking against the metal as he climbed after Ajit. “But you’re still just a pest.”
Ajit twisted mid-air, landing behind Mongoose. His tendrils lashed out, coiling around Mongoose’s legs and pulling him off balance.
“Then you’d better bring pest control,” Ajit shot back, spraying venom at the weak points in Mongoose’s armor.
The venom sizzled, corroding the seams, but Mongoose roared and broke free, swinging wildly.
The battle moved across the yard, their clash shaking the ground and sending sparks flying.
Mongoose’s brute strength was relentless, each swing of his claws leaving craters in the concrete. But Ajit’s agility and precision kept him one step ahead, his tendrils striking with calculated precision.
Rajesh’s voice came through the earpiece. “Remember the core! That’s your target.”
“I know,” Ajit muttered, dodging another swing.
He circled around Mongoose, his glowing eyes locking onto the faint heat signature of the power core. It pulsed faintly, protected by layers of armor.
“Time to end this,” Ajit said, his tendrils coiling tightly.
Mongoose lunged, his claws aiming for Ajit’s chest. Ajit ducked, shifting into his partial snake form as his arms transformed into scaly, elongated limbs.
The sudden change caught Mongoose off guard, and Ajit seized the opportunity. His snake-like arms coiled around Mongoose’s torso, pulling him off his feet.
Mongoose roared, thrashing violently, but Ajit held firm. With a burst of strength, he slammed Mongoose into the side of a freight car, denting the metal.
Ajit’s tendrils lashed out, striking the core repeatedly. The armor cracked, exposing the glowing energy source beneath.
“This ends now,” Ajit said, his voice steady.
With one final, powerful strike, Ajit delivered a venom-coated punch directly to the core. The energy surged, sparks flying as the armor began to collapse.
Mongoose staggered, his movements growing sluggish as the core sputtered and dimmed.
“You… can’t stop him,” Mongoose growled, his voice faltering. “Ravana’s already won.”
Ajit stepped back, his glowing eyes fixed on the fallen enforcer. “Not yet.”
Mongoose collapsed, the remnants of his armor sparking faintly.
As the dust settled, Ajit stood over Mongoose, his chest heaving. The yard was silent now, the henchmen long gone.
Rajesh’s voice broke the quiet. “You did it. Mongoose is down.”
“For now,” Ajit said, his gaze hard. “But Ravana’s still out there.”
He turned, disappearing into the shadows as the faint glow of dawn crept over the horizon.