The silence was deceptive.
The kind of silence where even the crows had stopped calling, and dogs had gone missing.
Arjun moved like a shadow against a dying world, his police vest torn but holding. A makeshift bandage circled his upper arm, dried blood crusted under the cloth. His eyes scanned constantly—left, right, up.
The world hadn't ended.It had been rewritten.
Twisted metal glinted under the moonlight. Downed power lines hissed like coiled serpents across the road. And in the distance, the guttural snarrrrkk of something that had forgotten how to breathe.
Every sound mattered now.Every step could be your last.
He crouched in the shadows of a shuttered auto-garage, eyes flicking across his glowing HUD.
[Stat Panel — Arjun Rathore | Level: 2]- EXP: 17 / 200- Apocalypse Coins: 4- Trait: Grit-Blooded- Passive: Police Instinct- Divine Interest: +1
Sanctum Proximity: NoneActive Mission: "Secure the Forgotten Armory"
His stomach growled again. One protein bar left.
Up ahead, a burnt-out Gurudwara van blocked the alley.
The once-white van was streaked with handprints—human, not monster. Scrawled on the side in what looked like engine grease were words in Hindi:
"Roko mat. Sab paagal ho chuke hain."Don't stop. Everyone's gone mad.
Arjun moved on.
The Jagatpuri police warehouse loomed in the distance now — five stories of reinforced concrete and old corruption. He remembered it from duty days. Broken cameras. Poor lighting. Good for hiding stolen liquor. Bad for defense.
A perfect nest for snakes.
As he drew closer, the system flared again:
Caution – Human Faction Detected
Faction Designation: "Red Right Command"Strength Estimate: 4 Armed SurvivorsBehavior Tag: Lawless Opportunists
Note: No Divine AlignmentNote: Engaged in Civilian Hostility
Recommended Action: Caution / Tactical Elimination
Arjun peered through a shattered bus shelter. He could see them now.
Four of them. Ex-cops. Thugs. Survivors who had chosen cruelty when the world collapsed.
They were stripping gear off a group of five civilians — two women, an old man, and a teenager. Hands bound. Silent. Defeated.
One of the men laughed and shoved a pistol into the old man's face.
"You think faith's gonna save you now, Panditji?"Click.Empty chamber.The thug laughed."We're the gods now."
Arjun didn't hesitate.
He scanned the street for angles.Broken scaffold to the left.Brick wall with open pipe access to the right.Low rooftop — accessible with effort.
He whispered:
"Observe. Assess. Neutralize."
The system flickered.
Tactical Overlay Unlocked – [Active Combat Mode: Tier 1]
- Displaying enemy blind spots.- Weak point highlights active.- Sound reverb zones calculated.
Arjun blinked. The world shifted.
A soft glow highlighted their necks, knees, and gun hands. A quiet hum in his eardrums indicated their alertness level.
His training, now enhanced.His instincts, now weaponized.
He moved.
The first was easy — a knife into the thigh, then a blow to the back of the head.The second saw him too late — Arjun used the baton to crack the man's wrist, grab his own sidearm, and fire once.
Suppressed 9mm: Found
- Condition: Moderate- Ammo: 5/15
The third ran.Arjun tackled him over a scooter, punched once, twice — then smashed his elbow across the jaw.
The fourth — the leader — turned, gun raised.
Police Instinct: Danger!Arjun twisted left — the bullet grazed his arm.
But he didn't slow.He closed in. Punched the gun aside. Slammed his forehead into the man's nose.One final blow to the solar plexus.
Silence.
Mission Completed: "Secure the Forgotten Armory"
- +25 EXP- +2 Apocalypse Coins- +3 Reputation (Zone: Outer Delhi)- Weapon Cache: Unlocked
Total Coins: 6Total EXP: 42 / 200
The civilians stood in stunned silence.
Arjun didn't speak. He checked the warehouse doors, kicked one open, and called them inside.
There was old food in the break room. Water drums in the basement. And most importantly — a map.
Pinned to a cork board under fluorescent flickers was a printed map of Delhi with major religious centers marked in red.
Temples. Mosques. Gurudwaras. Churches.
All unburnt. All active.
Someone — maybe an officer who hadn't made it — had written across the top:
"Only they remain. Only faith holds."
Arjun stared long and hard at it.
Then the system whispered again.
Temporary Safe Location Secured
Would you like to access your Apocalypse Coin Store?(This feature is only accessible while resting or in secured zones.)
He hesitated.Looked over his shoulder.The civilians were asleep now. One woman muttered thanks in her sleep. The teen curled up near the vending machine, clutching a dull Shivaji pendant.
"Show me," Arjun whispered.
[Apocalypse Coin Interface — Unlocked]
Apocalypse Coins: 6
Categories:
- Survival Gear
- Ammunition & Weapons
- Vehicle Blueprints
- Divine Blessings (Locked Tier)
- Shelter Tools
- Skill Catalysts (Coming Soon)
But that wasn't what caught his eye.
It was a section at the bottom, glowing faintly in saffron-red.
Pending Divine Favor Detected – Hanuman Aligned
Requirements for Blessing (Tier 0):- 1 Visit to Major Hanuman Sanctum- Reputation +10 (Current: +3)- Divine Offering (Coin Cost: 10)
Effect (Locked): Immense Physical Strength (Passive)- One-time Permanent Blessing. Costs increase by tier.
He closed the screen.
Too early. Too much unknown.
Arjun walked back to the rooftop, gazing across Outer Delhi.
The city was burning.But in pockets of stone, marble, and faith — hope still flickered.
His duty hadn't ended.
It had only just begun.