The bus was moving.
The view outside was changing — the city had been left behind, now there were only roads and green trees. Inside — some players were sleeping, some were eating, some were just looking outside the window.
Viraj was looking out of the window — but he wasn't seeing.
He was thinking.
What will Tane teach us? And how? That guy was so strange — messy hair, crooked clothes — but when he spoke... there was something in his voice. Something that went straight inside.
This was the question that kept circling in his mind —
What will actually happen when we reach there?
---
The bus started slowing down.
Then it stopped.
Viraj looked outside the window — and for a moment, he said nothing.
In front of him was a big building. Not big — huge. Like a ground. And on top of it — in big letters, it was written —
"CAPE OF GOOD HOPE"
Some players read it — and laughed.
"Cape of Good Hope? That's in Africa, right?"
"Bro why is the academy's name so dramatic?"
"Maybe coach likes drama."
But Viraj said nothing. Just looked.
---
The hall inside was big.
Very big.
Around 140 students were there — all from different places, all different faces, all observing each other. There were voices, but also silence — that kind of silence that happens when people don't know what's about to happen.
Just then Tane came.
Same messy hair. Same clothes. Exactly the same — like he would never change.
"Welcome," he said — and smiled. "My dear champs."
Some players smiled. Some looked at each other.
Tane continued —
"Before going inside — let me clear a few things."
The voices stopped.
"Here, I won't teach you anything."
Silence.
"You will learn yourself. Apply yourself. Understand yourself. I will just give you the ground — the rest is your work."
---
Just then staff came — holding uniforms.
Each student got one uniform. Clean. Simple. And on the left side —
A small device. 0.1 CM thick. Completely flat. Fixed into the uniform itself.
Tane said —
"This device will show your live ranking. You can check anytime — where you stand right now."
The entire hall bent towards their devices at once.
Numbers flashed —
Someone had 43. Someone had 17. Someone had 112.
Viraj looked —
100.
For a second, he just stared.
100? Out of 140 — I'm at 100?
Something tightened inside. It didn't speed up — it tightened. That kind of tightness when someone shows you your level and you know it's wrong — but you can't prove it yet.
Not now. But it will happen.
---
"Now your rooms."
Rooms were assigned based on rank. Each room had — 7 players. And those same 7 — your team.
Tane clearly said —
"The room you get — that is your home. And those 6 people — that is your world."
---
Players started finding their rooms.
Viraj saw his room number — searched — opened the door.
Inside, there were already 6 players.
Viraj looked at everyone. "Hey."
No one replied.
Someone was looking out the window. Someone was arranging his stuff. Someone was just lying down.
Just then one guy — without looking up — casually said —
"Sit."
Viraj looked at him. Roshan. Rank 98.
Alright. So these were the people —
Viraj — 100.
Surya — 99.
Roshan — 98.
Raj — 97.
Vishal — 96.
Shubham — 95.
Vedant — 94.
The lowest team. Out of 140 — these 7 were at the very bottom.
---
Just then —
The big TV in the room turned on.
Tane was on the screen.
"How are you, my dear champs?" he said — same smile. "You must be tired. That's fine. But first — a small thing."
The entire room focused on the screen.
"Exactly 60 minutes from now — every team present here will face another team."
Viraj straightened up.
"The team that loses three times in a row — is out. Forever."
No one in the room spoke.
"But — if in a losing team, any player plays well... that player won't be eliminated. He can stay."
Tane paused for a second. Then —
"That's all."
The screen turned off.
And in its place —
A timer appeared.
60:00
And it started running.
---
Viraj's eyes were fixed on the timer.
In his mind, there was only one line —
Whatever happens. I have to survive. But not just survive — I have to win. That's the focus. Only that.
---
— End of Chapter 4 —