Life in the jungle had become routine for Rahul—an exhausting, uncomfortable routine.Each day, he wandered deeper into the wilderness in search of a way out.But like everything in life, survival had its pros and cons.
Mosquito bites were so frequent that he began fearing malaria. Sleeping on the hard, uneven ground left his back sore each morning. Defecating in the open without any bathroom privacy was awkward. Even the food—bland and repetitive—felt like a punishment. Piece by piece, the jungle was breaking him down from the inside.
Then one day, luck smiled upon him.
He noticed something different on his mini map—three dots: green, yellow, and red. At first, he thought they were animals, but their size was much larger than anything he'd seen before.
"Could it be... people?" he whispered to himself.
Without wasting a moment, he moved toward the marked positions.
Meanwhile...
Revatibala had never known hardship growing up. As the cherished daughter of a well-off family, she lived a comfortable life—until she fell in love with Bhandhari Munda of the Onga tribe.
Eloping with him had seemed romantic once. But when Bhandhari was killed by an apex predator during a hunt, her world collapsed. Alone and widowed, she refused to return to her parents' home. She held on to her hope—stubborn, yet kind-hearted. She believed that things would turn around.
It was a typical morning. Revati was finishing her chores and preparing to eat leftovers from the previous night. Life had become difficult without Bhandhari, but she managed.
Then came Madan Mohan Banerjee, the dark omen riding on the back of doom.
His coarse voice and lecherous eyes were unmistakable.
"Where are you, my dear?" he called out. "It's been so long. Don't hide that sweet face. Come out, my honeypot…"
Revati stiffened. Her hand reached for an old cleaver, which she hid beneath her saree. She knew this man well—a vulture in human skin.
Cautiously, she stepped out of her thatched hut.
It wasn't surprising that Madan lusted after her. Even in mourning, Revatibala was stunning. Her white sari clung tightly to her curvaceous body—full breasts, wide hips, and a face that could melt even the coldest heart. But today, her beauty felt like a curse.
Madan, the local landlord's accountant, came once a month to collect taxes.
Revati lowered her eyes and spoke, "These days… hunting and foraging haven't been fruitful, milord."
Madan's expression sharpened. "So you're saying you can't pay the tax again? Last month, too. That makes it five silver coins total now."
She bowed slightly, offering what little she had. "Merciful lord, I have 25 copper coins. I'll pay the rest soon."
Madan let out a cold laugh. "Do I look like your father's servant? That I'll take whatever scraps you toss?"
Revati's lips parted to respond, but she bit back her words. The odds were against her.
"Well," Madan said, smirking, "I'm not heartless. Offer something worth 1 silver and 75 copper coins. Goods will do, if not currency. The rest—next month."
Her face fell. "Milord, I would offer it if I had anything left of value."
Madan's eyes dropped to her breast. "Who said you have nothing?" he said darkly.
Revati's shame turned to fury. Her grip on the cleaver tightened beneath her saree.
She sensed something bad was about to happen—and she was right.
Madan had come with four armed guards. At a slight nod from him, two approached her.
Revati lashed out with the cleaver, but she was no match for them. They disarmed her with ease and held her tightly. Madan walked forward like a predator approaching his prey.
Revati struggled. She pleaded. She screamed and prayed to every god she knew, hoping someone—anyone—would stop this monster.
But Madan's ears were deaf to mercy.
CRACK! CRACK!
Two gunshots shattered the moment. One guard dropped like a felled tree, a hole torn clean through his spine. The second clutched his chest, blood spraying like a fountain as he collapsed—eyes wide with terror.
➖ Ping ➖
[Earned 500 EXP + 125 Soul Points for killing Lordship's Guard]
[Earned 392 EXP + 97 Soul Points for killing Lordship's Guard]
Killing humans was different. Their XP varied—likely depending on their level. These guards wore simple leather armor, nothing the Kar98k rifle couldn't pierce. Metal armor might be another story... for another day.
The woman—Revati—picked up a bloodied double-barrel shotgun from one of the fallen guards. With a trembling grip and blazing fury, she fired.
The first shot hit a guard dead on. The second grazed another. The main target—Madan—hid behind his men like a coward, using their bodies as shields.
At such close range—just 20 to 25 meters—any decent shooter could land a fatal hit. But Madan was a cunning rat.
Rahul watched from the brush, heart pounding. He'd wanted to help, but now the woman was stealing all the XP. He slung the Kar98k over his shoulder and drew his Browning pistol.
One guard, already wounded by the shotgun blast, limped away—trying to escape.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Rahul fired three or four shots. That was enough to silence the bugger permanently.
Another notification chimed, but he ignored it. His focus was on the scene ahead.
The middle-aged man—Madan—was now cowering on the ground, eyes wide as Rahul emerged from the jungle. He had no idea what kind of firearm Rahul carried, but he knew it was deadly... and so was the man holding it.
Then came something unexpected.
Madan spoke in Bengali.
Rahul's mind lit up. Bengali? That means… this is India. I'm in Bengal!
Madan spat venom through his pain. "Do you know whose men you've killed? You'll suffer a death worse than hell itself!"
Rahul sighed. Classic villain dialogue. Finally, something familiar.
He shot the man in the leg to stop his rant.
Madan shrieked in agony.
Rahul stepped closer, gun still raised. "Strip."
The man hesitated. Two warning shots near his groin changed his mind quickly.
Soon, Madan stood half-naked, clutching a tree trunk with fury in his eyes.
Rahul's voice was calm but firm. "Now scram. Don't ever come back. If you do, it'll be the last mistake you make."
In the lawless jungle, power made the rules—and Rahul was the strongest here.
Madan understood. He scoffed once at Rahul and Revati, then limped away into the woods.
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🔜 Coming Up Next – Chapter 4: Spoils, Secrets, and the Trader of Death
As the smoke clears and bodies grow cold, Rahul is left with more than just corpses—he's left with questions.Who were these men? What kind of Bengal has he stumbled into? And why would someone pay a fortune for the dead?
With danger neutralized and a new ally stepping from the shadows, Rahul begins to carve out his place in this strange world. But every answer leads to another unsettling truth:This world may be real—but it's not right.
❤️ Enjoying the journey? Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow!📘 Chapter 4 drops soon. Stay tuned.