Flashback – Shortly After Yuja's First Appearance
The sun had barely set when Wick and Deep stood alone at the Shield's private training grounds, a place only trusted members knew about. The evening breeze carried a tense silence between them.
Deep crossed his arms, eyeing Wick carefully.
"You think Yuja's an imposter?" he asked.
Wick's eyes, sharp and unblinking, never left the horizon.
"I don't think, Deep," he said, voice low. "I know."
Deep frowned. "But she's harmless. Friendly to everyone."
Wick gave a small, humorless smile.
"Exactly. Too friendly. She wants to fit in too perfectly. She's hiding something."
Deep stayed silent, knowing Wick's instincts were rarely wrong.
Wick turned toward him fully now. His voice carried the edge of a sword.
"I'm planting Shristi close to her. Yuja thinks she's manipulating Shristi..." — Wick's smirk deepened — "...but it's the other way around."
Deep nodded slowly, understanding the game Wick was setting up — a web of deception built with patience and precision.
---
Flashback – The Day Vaibhav Confronted Shristi
Shristi stormed into the Shield's common room, her face flushed with anger.
Wick looked up from the table where he was reviewing intel.
Before she could speak, Vaibhav rushed in behind her, blurting out:
"Shristi's the imposter! I found proof!"
Wick's hands stilled.
There was a brief, tense silence.
Shristi's fists clenched so tight her knuckles whitened. Wick's sharp gaze flicked to her, reading her like an open book.
Shristi hissed through gritted teeth, barely containing her rage.
"I swear I'll kill that kid someday. How can someone be so dumb and stupid?"
Wick sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation.
"Shristi..." he said coolly, "we have to move to Plan Black Horse now. Because that idiot just shouted to the world that you're pretending to be the traitor."
Shristi's nostrils flared, but she took a deep breath. She understood Wick's language: time to pivot, time to turn Vaibhav's stupidity into their weapon.
Wick wasn't angry. If anything, he looked... amused.
Because he had planned for this too.
---
Meanwhile – In the Shadows, Another Game Was Being Played
Far from The Shield's territory, in the dim back room of a rundown café, three figures sat around a cracked table.
Johnson leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed with doubt.
"But... would that be a fair fight?"
Eddie, lounging lazily with a cigarette dangling from his lips, smirked without humor.
"Fair?" he echoed mockingly. "Everything's fair in love and war, Johnson."
Jimmy said nothing, simply tapping his foot anxiously.
Eddie's smile grew wider, colder.
"He saw through almost every move we made," he admitted, a grudging respect in his voice. "He caught Yuja. He caught Jimmy."
Johnson shifted uneasily. "Then why are you so calm?"
Eddie leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a cruel light.
"Because," he whispered, "Wick may have won the small battles... but he has no idea what's coming next."
In the dimness, it became clear — Eddie wasn't just another pawn.
He was the one pulling all the strings from the shadows.
And Wick... Wick hadn't yet seen the real enemy.
---
A Private Conversation
After The Shield's meeting, Vaibhav found himself pacing restlessly. His mind was a storm of thoughts, his body tense with frustration.
Annu, watching from a distance, frowned. She walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Why do you look like you're about to explode?" she asked.
Vaibhav exhaled sharply. "Because of this fight… The Demolition and The Shield are about to clash, and I can't shake this bad feeling."
Annu chuckled softly. "You're overthinking." She tilted her head. "You do realize you have some of the best fighters on your side, right? Wick, Nick, Dipanshu, Shreekant… plus members from other gangs."
Vaibhav still looked uncertain. "That doesn't mean we'll win. What if we lose?"
Annu smirked. "You seriously underestimate the Monster Trio."
Vaibhav blinked. "The Monster Trio?"
"Yeah." Annu folded her arms. "You think it's Wick, Nick, and Shreekant, don't you?"
Vaibhav hesitated. "Isn't it?"
Annu rolled her eyes. "No, you idiot. The real Monster Trio is Wick, Dipanshu, and Deep."
Vaibhav stared. "Wait—what? But Wick and Nick have the best coordination in battle."
"That's because they trained together for years," Annu explained. "But if you're talking about pure instinct and fighting synergy, Wick is closer to Dipanshu and Deep. He just doesn't show it openly."
Vaibhav was still trying to process that when Annu continued.
"Nick is a good fighter, but Wick keeps his distance from him because of… certain habits."
Vaibhav frowned. "Then why does it seem like Wick and Nick understand each other so well in battle?"
Annu smiled. "Because battle isn't just about strength—it's about trust and strategy. Wick and Nick trust each other when fighting. But if you're talking about emotional bonds… Dipanshu and Deep are Wick's closest."
Vaibhav ran a hand through his hair. "This is crazy…"
Annu smirked. "Oh, and one more thing—you know those who betray Wick?"
Vaibhav swallowed. "Yeah?"
"They always pay their debt," she said darkly. "And here's the fun part—Dipanshu is even more eager for revenge than Wick."
Vaibhav's eyes widened slightly. "What do you mean?"
"Dipanshu can fight anyone," Annu said. "But when he's fighting for Wick? He's unstoppable." She tilted her head. "Same goes for Shreekant when it comes to Nick."
Vaibhav hesitated before asking, "Then… if Dipanshu and Shreekant fought, who would win?"
Annu thought for a moment before shrugging. "Normally, it'd be an even match. But if Dipanshu is fighting for his friends… no one can stop him."
Vaibhav fell silent, his thoughts a whirlwind of realizations. After asking a few more things, he finally went back to his place to rest.
To be continued...