The morning after Dr. Lewis sent Clareo's response to Halcyon, a formal reply came through the encrypted channels. It was brief, to the point, and carried an undertone of respect that Clareo didn't often receive from the neutral nation.

Halcyon acknowledged the security concerns of Team Unknown leaving Clareo unguarded and agreed to send their elite forces to Clareo instead.

Halcyon requested a three-day training session and confirmed their arrival in two days. The response pleased Clareo's higher-ups, who viewed the gesture as a significant diplomatic success. Dr. Lewis, however, couldn't shake the growing pile of logistical nightmares that came with hosting the elite team of a notoriously proud nation.

The Halcyon elite forces arrived in Clareo precisely on schedule. Their sleek transport landed at one of Clareo's military airstrips, a testament to Halcyon's technological prowess. As the transport's ramp lowered, a group of twenty soldiers disembarked with the precision of a marching band. Their movements were deliberate, their postures exuding discipline and professionalism.

Their commander, a tall woman with an aura of unflinching authority, led the group. Her nameplate read Commander Elira. The soldiers, clad in lightweight combat armor designed for agility and efficiency, bore no expressions as they surveyed their surroundings.

Instead of the anticipated welcome from Clareo's renowned Team Unknown, the first face to greet them was Dr. Lewis.

"Welcome to Clareo," Dr. Lewis said, his smile polite but strained, as though masking a well of irritation. "I trust your journey was smooth."

Commander Elira's sharp gaze swept the airstrip. "It was." Her voice was calm but carried a subtle edge. "We expected to meet Team Unknown upon arrival."

Dr. Lewis's smile didn't falter, though his tone gained a faint note of apology. "I'm afraid Team Unknown is currently unavailable for ceremonial welcomes." He motioned for the Halcyon elite to follow him, his steps brisk as he led them to an awaiting transport.

"Unavailable?" Commander Elira raised an eyebrow.

Dr. Lewis nodded, maintaining his professional demeanor. "Our top brass received actionable intelligence about remnants of the enemies who attacked Clareo's borders days ago, which are still operating within our borders. Team Unknown has been deployed to neutralize the threat as part of their ongoing military operations."

The Halcyon soldiers exchanged brief glances, their disciplined expressions flickering with curiosity.

"To make up for their absence," Dr. Lewis continued, gesturing toward the approaching HQ facility, "I've arranged for you to witness their current mission firsthand. It's rare to see Team Unknown in action during a covert operation, and I believe you'll find it… enlightening."

The group followed him into the HQ, through security checks and winding hallways, until they reached a viewing room overlooking the operations floor. The room was dimly lit, with large monitors displaying live feeds from multiple angles.

Each screen showed the black-clad figures of Team Unknown, their hooded masks obscuring their faces, save for the ominous glint of their ranked pins.

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Team Unknown was deep in enemy territory, moving through the shadows with the grace and precision of predators stalking their prey. Their objective: eliminate a fortified outpost harboring Void-tainted remnants of Hades' Wrath.

The Halcyon soldiers stood silently, their eyes glued to the screens as Ember's voice crackled over the link.

Positions, Ember ordered, his voice sharp and ice-cold.

The team moved in perfect unison, spreading out like a black wave. Each member carried themselves with calculated purpose, their steps silent as death itself. Ember was the focal point, his commands short and precise.

Terra, cover the west. Aura, disrupt the comms. Frost, ice wall on my mark.

Understood, each member replied, their tones clipped and calm.

Commander Elira watched, her usually stoic expression shifting slightly. "They operate like a single entity," she murmured.

Dr. Lewis, standing beside her, folded his arms. "Synchrony like that takes years of practice and a degree of trust most squads never achieve. Team Unknown isn't just a unit; they're a force."

On the screens, the feeds zoomed in on each member of the team.

Ember's fiery intensity was matched by his commanding presence as he led the group. Fon crouched by a wall, his hands pressed to the ground as the earth shifted silently under his control, creating tunnels for infiltration. Bo erected an ice barrier to obscure their movements from surveillance drones.

Riggs hovered in the background, his hands raised as wind currents disrupted the enemy's comm equipment, cutting off all communications.

Then there was Val. The feed focused on the black pin glinting faintly under the low light, a stark contrast to his dark hood, as Val moved with a predator's grace.

The Halcyon soldiers couldn't look away as the feeds began showing the actual engagement.

The team struck like a synchronized storm.

Ember led the charge, his Purple Fire erupting in a controlled wave that forced the enemy into disarray. Fon's barriers funneled the panicked remnants into choke points, where Bo's jagged ice traps immobilized them.

Riggs eliminated stragglers with sharp gusts of wind that sent enemies hurtling into walls, their cries silenced as quickly as they began.

Val, however, was the most unsettling. He moved with terrifying efficiency, his blade flashing in the darkness as he took down enemies with brutal precision. He didn't use his Void abilities at first, relying on sheer physical prowess. But when a cluster of enemies began regrouping, he raised one hand, and a single Void orb materialized.

The room seemed to hold its collective breath as Val hurled the orb into the center of the cluster. It detonated soundlessly, pulling the surrounding soldiers into a swirling abyss before vanishing, leaving only emptiness behind.

In the viewing room, the Halcyon elite forces were deathly silent. Their eyes were wide, their disciplined facades cracking as they processed the brutal efficiency and synchronization of Team Unknown.

"That…" one soldier whispered, unable to finish the thought.

Commander Elira said nothing, her hands clenched behind her back as she studied the feeds intently.

Dr. Lewis broke the silence, his tone professional but tinged with amusement. "For missions like this, they rarely rely on their abilities. Physical combat, strategic positioning, and sheer precision are more effective for covert operations. Their powers are used for this, but they only use a small part of their abilities. Instead, they reserved it for large-scale engagements, like the one you witnessed at Clareo's borders."

A younger Halcyon soldier turned to him, his face pale. "That is… them holding back?"

Dr. Lewis's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Very much so."

The mission concluded with a bone-chilling display of brutality. The final camera focused on Val as he strode through the wreckage. He paused before the last group of enemies, who had surrendered, their weapons cast aside.

There was no mercy. With a flick of his wrist, the shadows surged forward, swallowing the remaining enemies into the Void.

The screens went dark, and the viewing room sat in stunned silence.

Dr. Lewis turned to Commander Elira. "That concludes today's operation. Tomorrow, the training begins."

Commander Elira's voice was tight. "Understood."

Halcyon forces left the viewing room, their faces pale as they grapple with what they've witnessed.

For the first time, they understood why Clareo's Team Unknown—and its ARM user—were legends whispered in both awe and fear.