Rahul sat in the corner of the craft, his repaired suit gleaming. Though physically ready, his mind was a storm of doubt and determination. Across from him, Rohan was briefing the team, his voice steady and confident.

"This isn’t like Kolkata," Rohan said, his eyes scanning the faces of his teammates. "Class A Mrityudoots are smarter, faster, and more coordinated. They’ll try to outthink us as much as overpower us. Stick to your formations, protect each other, and don’t let your guard down."

Rahul clenched his fists. He wasn’t part of the core strategy group. As always, he was just another cog in the machine—dispensable.

The blue-haired Sentinel—her name was Arya, as he’d learned—gave him a nudge. "Don’t look so grim, soldier. You’ll be fine."

Rahul forced a weak smile. "If I make it out alive."

"You will," she said, smirking. "I’ll make sure of it."

---

The Gate’s Guardians

Jaipur was chaos. The streets were eerily quiet, save for the distant cries of those still trapped within the city. Buildings lay in ruins, their structures twisted by the gate’s radiation. As the Sentinels approached, the ground trembled, and the first wave of creatures emerged.

Beast-forms and Shadow-forms moved in unison, their glowing red eyes cutting through the smoky haze. Leading them was a massive Stone-form Mrityudoot, its body composed of jagged, blackened rock that seemed impervious to normal attacks.

"Team Alpha, engage the Stone-form!" Rohan commanded. "Omega, cover the flanks and protect the civilians!"

Rahul followed Arya and the others as they moved toward the residential zone. The civilians were huddled in basements and under makeshift shelters, their fear palpable.

"Rahul, cover me!" Arya shouted as she moved to pull a child from a collapsed building.

Rahul nodded, his suit’s AI locking onto an approaching Shadow-form. The creature darted toward them, its form flickering like smoke. Rahul swung his blade, but the creature evaded, slipping past his defenses.

"Focus, Rahul!" Arya yelled, her whip lashing out and dispersing the Shadow-form before it could strike.

Rahul cursed under his breath. He wasn’t fast enough.

---

A Lone Gamble

Meanwhile, at the center of the city, Rohan and his team faced the Stone-form. Its attacks were relentless, each strike causing shockwaves that forced the Sentinels to scatter. Despite their combined efforts, their attacks barely scratched its rocky hide.

"This isn’t working!" one Sentinel shouted.

"We need to hit it at its core!" Rohan replied. He turned to the team’s mage, a young man capable of manipulating earth. "Can you crack its armor?"

"I can try," the mage said, summoning a tremor that destabilized the creature. For a moment, its movements faltered, exposing a glowing fissure in its chest.

"Now!" Rohan commanded, rushing forward with his energy blades.

But before he could strike, a second wave of Mrityudoots emerged from the gate—Beast-forms and Elementals. The Sentinels found themselves outnumbered and overwhelmed.

---

Rahul’s Moment

Back at the residential zone, Arya and Rahul faced their own crisis. A Beast-form had cornered a group of civilians, its jaws snapping as it advanced.

"I’ll distract it!" Arya shouted.

"No," Rahul said, surprising himself. "I’ve got this."

Ignoring the AI’s warnings, he activated his suit’s thrusters, propelling himself toward the creature. The Beast-form lunged, but Rahul ducked under its massive claws, landing a strike on its side. The blade didn’t penetrate deeply, but it was enough to get its attention.

The creature turned on Rahul, growling as it prepared to strike. But Rahul was ready. Using the environment to his advantage, he led the Beast-form into a narrow alley, limiting its movements. As it lunged again, Rahul activated his suit’s energy core, channeling its power into his blade.

"Come on," he muttered, steadying his aim.

When the Beast-form attacked, Rahul drove the blade into its mouth, the energy slicing through its head. The creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing.

Rahul stumbled back, breathing heavily. He’d done it—on his own.

Arya appeared at the alley’s entrance, a mix of surprise and approval on her face. "Not bad, rookie."

---

A New Threat

Just as the Sentinels began to regroup, the ground trembled violently. From the gate emerged a massive Void-form Mrityudoot, its body an ethereal mass of darkness that