Prologue

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 17:16:20 +0000

The icy winds of Kulgam, South Kashmir howled through the streets. Major Siddharth Iyer crouched behind a crumbling stone wall as his breath came out in white wisps. The chill seeped through his gloved hands, which held the AK-203, its matte-black body slick with frost. The rifle felt heavy but familiar, the cold metal pressed against his palm like an extension of his own will. Regardless of how stiff his joints felt due to the cold, he tightened his grip on the gun.