"Stay back!" Rohan shouted to his team as he stepped forward. His aura burned brightly, a stark contrast to Rahul’s broken figure lying amidst the rubble.

The alpha roared, lunging at Rohan with terrifying speed. But Rohan was faster. With precise movements, he summoned lances of energy that pierced the creature’s hide, pinning it to the ground. The beast howled in pain, thrashing wildly as Rohan pressed on, his expression unyielding.

Rahul watched from the ground, his vision blurry. His brother was everything he was not—strong, confident, and admired. As the alpha writhed under Rohan’s assault, a pang of jealousy mixed with admiration surged within him.

"This is why they chose him," Rahul thought bitterly. "This is why I’ll always be in his shadow."

---

Victory and Silence

The alpha’s final roar echoed through the streets before its massive body collapsed, lifeless. The remaining Mrityudoots scattered, retreating back toward the gate as the tide of battle shifted.

The Sentinels erupted in cheers, their voices filled with relief and triumph. Rohan, breathing heavily, turned back toward Rahul. His expression softened as he ran to his brother’s side.

"Rahul!" he said, kneeling beside him. "Are you okay?"

Rahul’s suit sparked and hissed as its damaged systems struggled to function. The AI’s monotone voice echoed faintly: "Critical damage sustained. System reboot required."

"I’m fine," Rahul muttered, though every part of him ached.

"You don’t look fine." Rohan helped him to his feet, his voice tinged with worry. "Why did you activate full power mode? You could’ve been killed!"

Rahul shrugged off his brother’s hand, his frustration boiling over. "I was trying to help! I was trying to prove I’m not useless!"

The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions.

"You’re not useless," Rohan said firmly. "You just need to—"

"Enough, Rohan!" Rahul snapped. "Stop pretending like you understand what it’s like to be me. You’re perfect. You’ve always been perfect. You don’t know what it’s like to fail, to be nothing!"

Rohan stepped back, stunned by his brother’s outburst. Around them, the other Sentinels exchanged awkward glances, unsure whether to intervene.

"Rahul, that’s not fair," Rohan said quietly.

"Fair?" Rahul laughed bitterly. "What part of my life has ever been fair?"

Without waiting for a response, Rahul turned and limped away, ignoring the concerned looks of his teammates.

---

A Private Storm

Later that night, Rahul sat alone in the academy’s repair bay, watching as engineers worked to fix his suit. The room was cold and sterile, its walls lined with rows of half-constructed machines.

His mind replayed the events of the day—the battle, Rohan’s victory, and his own humiliation. He clenched his fists, the metal of his gauntlets groaning under the pressure.

"You’ve got potential, you know," a voice said from the shadows.

Rahul turned to see the blue-haired Sentinel leaning against the doorway, her electric whip coiled at her side.

"You’re the one who told me to stay out of the way," Rahul said flatly.

She smirked. "And you didn’t listen. That’s something, at least."

Rahul frowned. "What do you want?"

"To talk," she said, stepping closer. "You’re not as weak as you think, Rahul. I’ve seen people with way more power fail because they didn’t have the guts to keep fighting. You? You don’t quit, even when the odds are against you."

"Doesn’t matter," Rahul muttered. "Effort doesn’t mean anything if you’re not strong enough."

The girl crouched beside him, her expression softening. "Strength isn’t just about power. Sometimes, it’s about surviving when the world tells you to give up. You’ve got that. And someday, you’ll see it too."

Rahul didn’t respond. He didn’t know if he believed her, but her words planted a small seed of hope in the darkness.

---

A New Threat

The next morning, the academy buzzed with news of the mission’s success. Rohan’s name was on everyone’s lips, his bravery and leadership earning him widespread praise. Rahul avoided the crowds, retreating to the quieter parts of the campus.

But peace didn’t last.

During the midday briefing, the monitors flashed red once again.

"Gate activity detected. Class A Mrityudoot emerging near Jaipur. All available Sentinels, prepare for deployment."

A murmur rippled through the room. Class A gates were rare and far more dangerous than Class B. The creatures they spawned were deadlier, smarter, and capable of devastating entire cities if left unchecked.

Rahul’s heart raced. This wasn’t just another mission—this was a turning point.

As the Sentinels mobilized, the academy’s headmaster appeared on the screen. His voice was grave.

"This mission will test us all," he said. "Failure is not an option. Protect the people, close the gate, and remember—every Sentinel matters."

For the first time in years, Rahul felt a spark of determination. He wasn’t ready to give up, not yet.

"Let’s see if I can make a difference," he thought, stepping onto the hovercraft once more.

---