There were 2 minutes 45 seconds left on the timer.
There was silence in the room — but not the empty kind. It was a heavy silence. Of seven people — where everyone was thinking something in their own mind.
Viraj's mind was running —
How do we survive? How do we win? There are 7 people in the team — all different, all strangers. No coordination, no plan—
"We will have to play together."
Viraj looked.
Vedant was standing. Rank 94. Highest in their team.
"If we play together — we can win," he said. Straight. Confident.
Roshan looked at him — "What do you mean?"
Vedant explained —
"Every team has at least 3–4 raiders. So we also fix 3–4 raiders — they will keep going for raids again and again. Simple."
Raj immediately said — "But then defenders won't get any points?"
Vishal — "Yeah — if I'm the raider, I'm okay with it."
And then — it started.
"But what about defenders—"
"Raiders will get more points—"
"This isn't fair—"
"Then you defend, I'll raid—"
Seven people. Seven voices. One room.
---
"STOP."
Everything went quiet.
Shubham stepped forward. Rank 95. He had been silent till now — just listening. But now —
"I have a way," he said. Calm. Measured.
The room gave him space.
"We will raid according to our ranks."
He looked at everyone one by one —
"Vedant — rank 94 — first raid is yours. Then me — 95. Then Vishal — 96. Then Raj — 97. Then Roshan — 98. Then Surya — 99. And last — Viraj — 100."
"This cycle will keep repeating. Everyone raids. Everyone comes onto the field. It's fair — for everyone."
A pause.
"Do you all agree?"
One by one —
"Ok."
"Fine."
"Let's do it."
"Yeah."
"Agreed."
"Ok."
---
But Viraj said nothing.
Everyone else had settled — but his mind was still running.
If this cycle continues... my turn will come last. And if the match ends before that — I will be out without doing anything. Without making a single raid. Without proving anything.
Out. Forever.
He couldn't say this. Not now — not on the first day, in the first meeting. But inside —
He was tight.
---
In one corner, Surya was sitting.
Rank 99. One above Viraj.
During the entire discussion — he didn't say anything. Neither agreed, nor disagreed. Just sat there — completely relaxed — watching TV like a small kid. As if none of this mattered to him.
Viraj looked at him once.
What is this guy thinking?
---
BEEP.
Timer —
00:00
The screen went black.
Then — an image.
A flowchart. Clean. Simple. Every team's name — and in front — their opponent.
Viraj's eyes were fixed on the screen —
And he read —
---
@17 vs @16
---
First match.
Theirs.
---
— End of Chapter 5 —