### **Chapter 14: Kabir Sinha**
After leaving Arvind Rao's office, **Vivaan Sharma** glanced at the time. The morning had passed faster than expected, and though his thoughts still lingered on the strange silver-winged ant from the game, he forced himself to focus on reality. Arvind Rao had asked him to meet someone important that afternoon—someone who could influence his future in the upcoming combat test.
A silver ant that could fly… it had to be a **Legendary-tier Dimensional Creature**, Vivaan reasoned. But for now, he couldn't afford to be late. As much as he wanted to dive back into the mysterious phone game, he locked the screen, exhaled, and stepped out of the dormitory.
By noon, Arvind Rao's car pulled up outside the **Guide High Institute** gates. Vivaan climbed in silently. The older man's composed face reflected in the tinted window as the car glided through the streets of **Guide City**.
"Vivaan," Arvind Rao began after a short silence, "the person you're about to meet—**Kabir Sinha**—has a rather flamboyant temperament. He enjoys luxury, attention, and… well, indulgence. But don't mistake him for shallow. He's capable. And more importantly, he's not a bad person at heart. Still, try to keep things professional. You're there for the test—don't let anything else distract you."
Vivaan nodded calmly. "Don't worry, sir. I know how to keep my head down."
"Good," Arvind Rao said with a faint smile. "If Kabir likes you, he'll take you along for the combat test without issue. But if he doesn't… he might make things difficult."
The car stopped in front of a sleek, marble-walled private club on the **Eastern Mainland** side of the city—far from the quiet, modest neighborhoods Vivaan was used to. The building screamed money and exclusivity. Arvind Rao led him inside, where uniformed attendants bowed deeply as they passed.
They arrived at an opulent private room filled with laughter, perfume, and music. The air smelled faintly of alcohol and roses.
Lounging on a massive velvet sofa, surrounded by a few women dressed in designer outfits, was a boy around Vivaan's age—sixteen or seventeen, maybe. His shirt was unbuttoned halfway, revealing a gold chain and a careless grin. He radiated confidence, the kind that came from being born into privilege.
"Ah, Arvind Rao!" he called out, raising a glass of amber liquor with a grin. "Come, have a drink with me!"
"There's no need," Arvind Rao said mildly, used to this sort of scene. "I still have classes this afternoon." He gestured toward Vivaan. "This is **Vivaan Sharma**—the student I mentioned. He's quite capable. He should be of help to you during the combat test."
Kabir tilted his head, giving Vivaan a quick glance—half amusement, half curiosity. Then, with a smirk, he said, "On your word, Arvind sir, I'll let him tag along. Getting a decent result shouldn't be a problem."
"Hearing you say that puts me at ease," Arvind Rao said. "I'll leave the rest to you two. Vivaan, stay here a few days and get familiar with Kabir and the others. It'll help your coordination when the test begins."
Vivaan nodded respectfully. "Thank you, sir."
"By working hard and securing a place in a top academy, you'll repay both me and the late principal who believed in you," Arvind Rao said with a gentle smile, patting his shoulder. Then, with a small nod to Kabir, he excused himself.
As the door shut, the atmosphere shifted. Music filled the silence again, and the room seemed to grow louder with laughter. **Kabir Sinha** leaned back on the couch, swirling his glass lazily as two girls leaned close to him. His eyes met Vivaan's, sharp and amused.
"So you're the so-called prodigy of **Guide High Institute**," Kabir said. "I've heard about you. Number one student, best performance in the simulator. Impressive."
Vivaan shook his head slightly. "Just some exaggerated rumors."
Kabir chuckled, tilting his drink. "Right. In a place like Guide City, they call anyone a genius. But if you were truly one, you wouldn't have been taken down by **Reva Rathore** in a single strike, would you?"
Vivaan said nothing. His calm expression neither flinched nor faltered.
Kabir smirked. "Relax. I'm not mocking you. I just don't believe in stories. Anyway, I'm only letting you join my team because of Arvind Rao. When the test begins, stay out of trouble. Don't expect me to hold your hand."
"That works," Vivaan said simply.
Kabir raised a brow. "You're easygoing. I like that." Then, he reached for a new bottle of liquor and set it in front of Vivaan. "Do you drink?"
Vivaan glanced at the bottle. "No."
Kabir clicked his tongue and smirked. "Up to you." He leaned back, losing interest quickly, and turned his attention to the girls. "Come on, let's enjoy the afternoon. Don't let the quiet one ruin the mood."
As laughter and music resumed, Vivaan quietly took a seat in the corner, far from the chaos. He pulled out his phone and opened the mysterious game again. The familiar hum of the digital world filled his mind as the real world faded into the background.
On the screen, his **blood-colored avatar** and **Mutated Vigor Ant** moved through the dark tunnels of the Ant Nest. He was close to the deeper section—the area where the silver-winged ant had appeared. He wanted to reach it again, to see what kind of monster it truly was.
He barely noticed the stares aimed at him from across the room.
Kabir, watching between drinks, frowned faintly. The guy's sitting here gaming while everyone's having fun? Pathetic. Arvind sir really went out of his way for this one.
Still, a mischievous idea crossed his mind. He leaned toward one of the girls beside him—a confident young woman with long hair and a teasing smile. "Hey, **Xiaoya**," he whispered with a smirk, "why don't you help me test our guest's… concentration?"
She laughed softly. "You're naughty."
"Come on, just a little fun," Kabir replied, grinning.
Xiaoya set down her drink and sauntered across the room. Every step she took was slow, deliberate, her hips swaying slightly. Vivaan, however, didn't even look up from his phone. His fingers moved in swift, precise motions as the **Mutated Vigor Ant** tore through hordes of enemies.
She stopped beside him, leaning close enough for her perfume to linger in the air. "Hey, handsome," she said in a honeyed voice, "what game is that? Looks fun."
"Yeah," Vivaan replied absently, eyes still fixed on the screen. To him, her voice was just background noise—like the music.
On-screen, his avatar was surrounded by a swarm of Vigor Ants. He needed full focus. A single mistake could mean losing progress—and a few drops of blood from his real body. He couldn't afford that. He'd already shed too much lately.
I can't die here, not before I find that silver ant again, he thought.
When Xiaoya realized he wasn't even glancing at her, a spark of irritation crossed her face. She bit her lip, leaned closer, and brushed her fingers against his cheek. "What's so interesting about a phone game?" she whispered. "Why don't you play something a little more exciting—with me?"
Kabir watched the scene unfold, amusement gleaming in his eyes. Let's see how long this little monk can hold out, he thought, raising his glass.
But Vivaan didn't move. His expression didn't even flicker. His gaze stayed locked on the phone as his fingers kept moving rhythmically. The **blood-colored avatar** leaped forward, striking another Vigor Ant with perfect precision.
Annoyed, Xiaoya pressed harder, cupping his face between her hands and forcing him to look at her. "Come on, stop gaming," she said, her tone half teasing, half challenging. "Let's have a drink."
Her touch was soft, but Vivaan's body remained unmoving, as if carved from stone. His eyes—still half-focused on the screen—didn't even reflect the girl in front of him. They were steady, detached, almost… serene.
Kabir lowered his drink, frowning slightly now. The boy's self-control was unnerving. Most guys would've melted under Xiaoya's touch, but this one… he was completely lost in his own world.
"Unbelievable," Kabir muttered under his breath.
Vivaan, meanwhile, was fighting for his life—in the game. His avatar had just reached a new tunnel, darker and wider than before. The buzzing sound of wings echoed faintly in the distance. His pulse quickened.
The **Silver-Winged Ant** was there again.
A blur of light streaked across the tunnel on the screen, faster than anything he'd seen. Before he could react, the creature swooped down. A flash of silver, a sharp hiss—and his avatar's head flew off. The game's screen went black.
Vivaan exhaled sharply. Game over.
---
He looked up at last, the world around him coming back into focus—the dim lights, the chatter, the laughter. Xiaoya was still pouting beside him, and Kabir was watching him with raised brows.
For the first time, Vivaan smiled faintly. "Guess I lost."
Kabir chuckled. "Took you long enough to notice. You really are something else, Sharma."
Vivaan slid the phone into his pocket and stood. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Kabir's grin widened, genuine now. "Maybe I misjudged you. Let's see if you're as focused in the combat test as you are in your games."
Vivaan gave a calm nod. "You'll see."
And with that, the air between them shifted—just a little. Amidst the laughter, the music, and the clinking of glasses, a quiet spark of respect flickered in **Kabir Sinha's** eyes.
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