Present time.
The sound echoed again.
Deep. Heavy. Commanding.
Nikhil, Aditya, Janvi, Damini, Pallavi, Hemant, Jenit, and Harsh moved together, following the voice.
Stone doors opened.
They stepped inside.
---
THE ROYAL COURT – VIJAYANAGARA
A vast hall spread before them.
Massive pillars.
Golden lamps.
Royal banners hanging high.
Courtiers stood silently on both sides.
At the far end—
A throne.
Someone sat there.
Nikhil swallowed.
(Some of my classmates are here…)
(Damini talked about the system… so I'm not the only one who saw it.)
(And that announcement… Krishnadevaraya…)
(If this is real history…)
(Then this world is between 1509 and 1529.)
His eyes lifted slowly.
On the throne sat Sri Krishnadevaraya.
But—
His face was hidden.
A pillar's shadow covered it completely.
Yet the pressure,Aura ,Tense in the room—
It was overwhelming.
Nikhil felt it.
Aditya's fists clenched.
Janvi's breath grew shallow.
Hemant stiffened.
Even Harsh, calm as always, stayed silent.
It felt like—
The air itself had weight.
---
THE SKY SHAKES
Suddenly—
The lamps flickered.
The ground trembled.
A voice descended from above.
Not human.
Not divine.
Something else.
Deep. Cold. Absolute.
"Hello… dear Candidates."
Everyone froze.
"We hope you have all received your systems…"
"And checked your status."
Nikhil's heart pounded.
The voice continued.
"If you are wondering why you are here…"
"You are no longer in your original world."
The sky darkened.
"This is a different world."
"A timeline between 1509 and 1529."
Gasps echoed quietly.
"This world contains magic…"
"Zombies…"
"Bosses…"
"And creatures no normal human could ever survive."
The voice paused.
Then—
"You are here… to entertain us."
Cold fear ran through their bodies.
"We are the hosts of this ecosystem."
"You may call us… Celestial Beings."
Damini's hands trembled.
Janvi felt her knees weaken.
Nikhil clenched his teeth.
"Your task is simple."
The voice echoed louder.
"Survive the War of Candidates."
The hall shook.
"There are many Candidates like you.""Across different regions."
"Different kingdoms."
"Different countries."
A pause.
"Do not worry."
"They are all teenagers… just like you."
That didn't make it better.
"Protect your kingdom."
"Capture other kingdoms."
"Unite the land."
Silence.
Then the final words—
"The kingdom that conquers all…"
"Will return to its original world."
A faint chuckle echoed.
"Enjoy the game, Candidates."
The deep and Cold voice vanished.
The sky returned to normal.
The lamps stopped flickering.
But—
Nothing felt normal anymore.
---
Nikhil looked around.
Fear.
Confusion.
Tension.
This wasn't a dream.
This was a war.
And they were inside it.
--END OF CHAPTER 4