SWNOVELXO Chapter 13: The Day of the Battle
The Day of the Battle
At both ends of a long tunnel, two gangs stood — glaring at each other as if centuries of hatred were about to find their final reckoning today.
On one side, the fighters of Gang of Hell stood in eerie silence, but their eyes blazed like burning coals. At the front was Anay Rana — tall, terrifying, unmoving. His jet-black hair swayed slightly in the tunnel's breeze. There was a dangerous glint in his deep, hollow eyes, and a smirk curled on his lips — cold and mocking. But what was most menacing... was the scar — a deep line that ran from the corner of his right eye to just below his cheek.
He wore the oversized grey hoodie of Gang of Hell, layered with a brown leather jacket that bore their fiery insignia: a scorched sword engulfed in flames. Below, he wore cargo pants and rugged brown high-top boots.
Behind him stood his right hand — Samarveer Rathore, vice president of the gang. Slightly shorter but broad and muscular. His hair was short and messily parted, his expression blank, like a tired predator waiting to strike.
Beside him stood Trishant Thakur, the gang's treasurer — medium build, golden hair gleaming under the tunnel lights, and mischief twinkling in his eyes. He flicked a spinner between his fingers — twirling so fast, it seemed invisible. His mind was probably racing faster than the spinner.
Behind the three... stood the 2000-strong force of Gang of Hell — each face wild, each breath frozen in anticipation, like wolves before the pounce.
At the other end of the tunnel — Shadow Venom.
Leading them was Izaan Singhania, flanked by Aniruddh Rana and Ved Raichand. Behind them stood all sword captains, vice-captains, and elite fighters of Shadow Venom — every member in position... every eye locked in.
Anay removed the cigarette from his lips, took a long drag, and that venomous spark returned to his eyes.
"Well, well... back to get thrashed again, little chicks?"
He tilted his head, exhaled the smoke upward like a crown of disdain.
Izaan glanced at Aniruddh — who was still glaring at Anay with the kind of fire that could have incinerated him.
Then Izaan looked ahead, drew a deep breath and said —"Anay Rana... we don't want bloodshed today. But we are no one's slaves anymore."
Anay burst out laughing — loud and cruel. He flicked his cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his boot.
"No bloodshed?" he sneered. "Seriously?"He eyed them like prey.
"What else do I expect from cowards? And you?" He pointed at Izaan."You're that runaway, aren't you? The one who ditched his own gang in the middle of a fight ten years ago... remember that, coward?"His voice turned venomous. "Today, I'll tear your pride apart... you filthy traitor—"
"RISHABH!" Aniruddh barked, seeing his rage building. "Let Izaan speak! He's the President now."
"President?" Anay mocked, almost choking with laughter."This chick? This coward who always ran from battles... this is your leader?"His eyes darkened. "Even Yug ran away like a scared dog—"
"ENOUGH!" Izaan roared.His voice echoed through the tunnel like thunder."Yug NEVER ran! Never!" His eyes burned. His heart — a furnace."And today, we'll show you who runs and who stands!"He turned to his fighters, shouting —"Everyone — get ready!"
For a beat, Shadow Venom froze — then all at once, fell into attack formation.
Anay's voice bellowed —"CHARGE!"
"LET'S CRUSH GANG OF HELL!" Izaan roared in return.
And then—
Chaos exploded.
The tunnel turned into a battlefield from hell.
Samarveer and Aniruddh clashed like titans — exchanging blows with raw fury, neither giving an inch.
Ved and Trishant's duel sparked lightning. Trishant was swift and tricky, but Ved's precise strikes kept him retreating.
In the midst of it all — Izaan was holding his ground, taking down opponent after opponent. Every move reflected the training Aniruddh had drilled into him for the past month.
Until...A shadow loomed over him.
Anay Rana.Tall. Massive. Scarred. His eyes — pure animal rage.
Without a word, he attacked.
Izaan didn't even have time to defend.Anay's kick sent him flying. His body slammed into the tunnel wall, feet off the ground.
He crashed down — choking on dust and pain.Blood trickled from his mouth, his ribs screamed."No... I can't..." he muttered, broken."Just one hit... he's too strong... it hurts so bad..."He tried to rise, trembling — but his body betrayed him.
Across the battlefield, Aniruddh saw him fall. His heart twisted.He tried to move toward him — but Samarveer's relentless blows held him back.
"RISHABH! Get to the President!" he yelled.
Rishabh, already mid-fight, obeyed immediately — but was intercepted by enemy fighters.
Anay approached Izaan — crouched beside him.
Smiling wickedly, he whispered —"What happened, chick? Not gonna fight anymore? Not gonna crush us?"
Then —He kicked Izaan in the gut, hard.
"AAAHH!!"Izaan screamed in agony.
Writhing on the ground, barely conscious...
His mind screamed louder than the pain —"No... you can't lose, Izaan...""If you fall — Shadow Venom falls... we become slaves again..."
He clenched his teeth."But... he's too strong... what do I do...?"
He looked around through blurred eyes — every scream, every strike, every brave stand... it was all riding on him.
They believed in him. They called him President. They followed him.
"No..."His breath was shattered — but his will, unbroken."I can't lose... If I fall... they'll all fall..."
He grabbed the ground, pushed himself up.
His body howled in pain — but his eyes... they burned.
"You won't stop."He told himself."Because you... are Shadow Venom."
Step by staggering step, he rose to his feet.
Anay froze — eyes wide."Impossible..." he thought.
Because Anay knew — no one stood up after his punch.
But Izaan... was staring him down — again.
Blood on his face. Breathing ragged. But eyes — unyielding.
"I won't bow today...""I won't break today..."