Gridlock: i can link with my game characters and become op in real.

The night was silent. Only the faint rustling of leaves and the distant chirp of insects broke the oppressive stillness. The dense jungle stretched endlessly, its towering trees casting jagged shadows under the dim moonlight. Somewhere ahead, buried deep within this wilderness, was their target.

Aryan a 22 old year boy recently finished his training and was his first mission outside of train and simulation. Aryan crouched low, gripping his rifle tightly, his sharp brown eyes scanning the darkness. His breathing was steady, controlled—a stark contrast to the rapid pounding of his heart. This wasn't his first mission, but it was the first real one, the first where lives, including his own, were truly at stake.

The earpiece crackled to life.

"Team Alpha, confirm position."

Aryan pressed a finger to his earpiece. "Alpha-Two in position."

Other voices followed, confirming their locations. His unit, a small but skilled team of eight, had spent the past week in the jungle, tracking an unknown organisation hidden compound. They had not enough brief about mission , but the higher-ups had deemed the mission critical.

"All units, green light. Move in."

The order came through, and Aryan's body moved on instinct. His training kicked in as he advanced alongside his squad, their movements precise, calculated. Shadows among shadows.

The compound came into view—a heavily fortified structure, hidden beneath thick foliage. Guards patrolled the perimeter, their weapons gleaming under the dim floodlights.

Aryan's grip tightened on his rifle. He took a slow breath. They had one chance to do this right.

The squad split into two teams. Aryan's group took the left flank, creeping through the underbrush until they were within striking distance. His heart pounded as he lined up his shot, waiting for the signal.

A faint whisper came through.

"Go."

Silenced gunfire hissed through the air. The guards crumpled before they could react. Within seconds, the perimeter was clear. The team moved swiftly, breaching the compound's entrance.

Inside, the air was thick with tension. The facility was dimly lit, its concrete walls lined with crates and old equipment. They moved in formation, covering each other's backs as they swept through the corridors.

A sudden shout.

Gunfire erupted.

Bullets whizzed past Aryan as he dove for cover, his heart hammering. The enemy was waiting for them. This wasn't just a hidden base—it was a trap.

The radio crackled. "Engage! Take them down!"

Chaos ensued. The narrow hallways became a war zone, flashes of gunfire illuminating the darkness. Aryan pressed against the wall, firing precise shots. One enemy dropped. Then another.

His squad pushed forward, but the resistance was stronger than expected. The enemy wasn't just defending—they were stalling.

Then Aryan saw it.

A door at the far end of the hall, slightly ajar. Something glowed faintly inside.

A soldier near him, Harris, noticed it too. "Cover me," he whispered before darting toward the door.

Aryan provided cover fire, taking down an enemy who raised his weapon. Harris slipped inside. Seconds stretched painfully long.

Then—

A deafening explosion rocked the building.

The shockwave sent Aryan crashing to the ground, his ears ringing. Dust filled the air, debris raining from the ceiling. Through the chaos, he saw Harris stumble out, clutching something in his bloodied hands.

A small, smooth stone necklace.

Harris barely made it two steps before a bullet tore through his chest.

Aryan's breath caught.

"Harris!"

The soldier collapsed, the necklace slipping from his grasp.

Time seemed to slow.

Ignoring the gunfire, Aryan lunged forward, grabbing Harris's arm. But the light in his comrade's eyes was already fading. Blood pooled beneath him.

"Take… it…" Harris gasped, his fingers brushing over the stone.

Aryan's throat tightened. He clenched his jaw, swallowing the grief that threatened to rise. With a final, pained breath, Harris went still.

The sound of approaching footsteps snapped Aryan back to reality. Enemies were closing in.

He grabbed the necklace , shoving it into his pocket.

No time to think.

No time to grieve.

"Fall back!"

Their leader's voice cut through the chaos. The mission was compromised.

They fought their way out, bullets flying in every direction. Aryan barely registered the pain when a sharp sting burned through his leg. He staggered but pushed forward. They had to get out.

The moment they reached the extraction point, helicopters roared overhead. The jungle blurred as Aryan's vision darkened.

The last thing he saw before everything went black was the stone, glinting faintly in his trembling hand.

Pain.

That was the first thing Aryan felt when he woke up. A deep, searing ache in his legs, throbbing in sync with his heartbeat. His eyelids felt heavy, his body sluggish.

A faint beeping noise filled the air. Hospital.

His fingers twitched, brushing against soft sheets. The sterile scent of antiseptics made his stomach churn.

Memories flooded back—the mission, the explosion, Harris—

His chest tightened.

A voice broke through his haze.

"You're awake."

Aryan turned his head, spotting Callum sitting beside him. He looked exhausted, his expression shadowed with something between relief and guilt.

Aryan tried to shift, but the moment he did, pain shot through his spine. His breath hitched. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to move his legs—

Nothing.

Cold dread curled in his gut.

He tried again. Harder.

Still nothing.

His heart pounded. No. No, this couldn't be happening.

"What happened?" His voice was shaking.

Callum hesitated. "You… were hit during the extraction. A bullet to the spine." He swallowed hard. "The damage was too severe. The doctors—" He exhaled shakily. "They couldn't save your legs, Aryan."

The words felt unreal. They hung in the air, suffocating, crushing.

Aryan stared at him.

His legs.

Gone.

His breath came in short, uneven bursts. He wanted to scream, to deny it, to wake up from whatever cruel nightmare this was. But the truth was right there, beneath the hospital blanket.

Callum lowered his gaze. "There's a medal ceremony this afternoon. You're getting honoured." His voice was strained, as if he knew how little it meant. "They're also giving compensation. And medical support… for life."

Aryan barely heard him.

His gaze flickered to the bedside table. His belongings were there—his uniform, his dog tags… and the necklace.

It lay there, lifeless and dull. A meaningless trinket.

He reached for it without thinking, his fingers curling around the smooth surface.

But it gave him no comfort.

Nothing did.

As Callum left the room, Aryan stared blankly at the ceiling.

The soldier he had been—the future he had envisioned—was gone.

And in its place, all that remained was a broken man.

---

**End of Chapter 1**