The path away from Revner's quarters led Val and his team back into the dark embrace of the Aegis Mountains.

The silence was heavy, but there was an unspoken readiness simmering between them—a collective understanding that their mission was far from over.

Val's last words echoed in their minds, setting the tone for what lay ahead: there was still a traitor to unmask and eliminate.

As they moved deeper into the mountain's shadowed expanse, Val maintained his high vantage, the faint rustling of his cloak blending seamlessly into the night. His mind raced through the faces of every officer he'd seen in the last briefing, recalling details with a precision that only came from years of rigorous training and heightened perception.

After reaching a secure point further down the mountain, Val opened the Mind Link, his voice a low, controlled whisper that seemed to seep through the silence.

Frost, Aura, Terra… reconvene. This next phase will require precision and absolute trust.

The team shifted into position, moving with the same silent grace as before, until they formed a tight circle around Val. They could sense the weight of what was coming, the knowledge that they were not just targeting an enemy, but rooting out a betrayal from within.

Bo was the first to speak, his voice hushed but sharp. So, this traitor… got any idea who we're dealing with, Val?

Val's gaze remained fixed on the distant lights of the mountain's lower fortifications, the faint outlines of hidden patrols skirting along the perimeter.

Yes, he responded, his voice cool and detached. But we need to confirm it first. We'll head to the traitor's last known location and see if the pieces fall into place.

Fon clicked his tongue again, clearly irritated at the idea of someone within their own ranks working with the enemy. Whoever it is, they're in for hell. Traitor or not, they'll regret siding with Black Lotus.

Val's silence remained absolute, as if every word spoken only strengthened his resolve. He knew that, unlike previous missions, this one carried a personal weight.

It wasn't just about loyalty or duty; it was a matter of principle. Someone had betrayed the very organization they had sworn to protect, and Val would make sure they understood the consequences.

They moved through the mountains, navigating trails known only to those who had trained for years to master the terrain.

At the edge of the main outpost, Val stopped, signaling for them to wait. He scanned the area, his heightened senses detecting the faint hum of technology—a subtle vibration that hinted at nearby comms equipment, likely their traitor's setup to relay information back to Black Lotus.

There, Val gestured silently to a narrow, dimly lit path leading deeper into a grove of dark pines. The trees stood like silent sentinels, their branches casting twisted shadows across the rocky ground. As they approached, the soft, murmured sound of a voice reached their ears.

Riggs leaned in, whispering through the link, Looks like our 'friend' is having a chat. I'll give him something to remember.

Val raised a hand to halt Riggs. Not yet. We're not exposing ourselves until we know what's being discussed.

They advanced carefully, each of them slipping into shadow, hidden from view as they edged closer to the source of the voice.

Val and his team kept their watch on the commander from an allied nation. The air in the room was thick with anticipation as they observed his movements through a concealed feed.

The screen showed the commander pacing back and forth, his eyes darting toward a comm device in his hand. His nervous energy was evident in his clenched fists and the constant glances he threw over his shoulder. Every so often, he would mutter to himself, as if in conflict, but whatever inner turmoil he faced, he was committed.

Look at him, Bo muttered over the mind link, his tone carrying a quiet intensity. Sweating like he's got a bounty on his head.

Fon leaned closer, narrowing his gaze. Bet he didn't think we'd be watching his every move.

The commander seemed to finally steady himself, and he pressed a button on his comm device. His voice, low but determined, came through the speakers in the team's Mind Link, and live feed underneath their masks.

"The operation's success is non-negotiable," he said, his tone tinged with desperation. "Revner may have fallen, but I have my contacts within Clareo. Just provide the weapons you promised, and we'll ensure the ARM user remains distracted."

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At that moment, a soft ping alerted him to a message on his screen. The commander's face darkened as he read, his lips tightening with a mixture of fear and anger.

Val's gaze sharpened as he watched the scene unfold, every instinct confirming what Ember had warned him about. This was no hesitant conspirator; this man was embedded deep enough in Black Lotus's schemes to jeopardize Clareo's security.

They continued watching as the commander finally ended his call, pocketing the device. He scanned the empty hallway, then slipped into a darkened room down the corridor, unaware that every step he took was being recorded.

Riggs exhaled sharply, his voice laced with contempt. This isn't just a coward. He's a full-fledged traitor, sold out to Black Lotus.

Val's response was cold and controlled, the anger kept under tight restraint. We needed proof. Now we have it.

Minutes later, Val and his team were ready. They moved silently through the corridors, approaching the room where the commander was holed up. The door was slightly ajar, and faint muttering came from within. The commander was still reviewing information on a tablet, his attention focused entirely on the screen. His unease was palpable, yet he didn't seem to sense the shadowy presence approaching.

Val stepped into the room, his gaze hard as steel. The commander looked up, his eyes widening as he recognized the figures standing before him. His face went pale, his fingers frozen over the tablet.

"Commander Renalds," Val said, his tone as cold as a blade. "It's time we talked."

Renalds's eyes darted around, searching for an escape, but the doorway was blocked by Bo, Riggs, and Fon, each radiating an unspoken threat.

"Sir… Umbra," Renalds stammered, attempting to maintain a semblance of composure. "I… I didn't expect—"

Val's voice cut through his excuses like a razor. "I've seen enough, Renalds. Black Lotus may have fallen for your lies, but I don't. Care to explain the details of your betrayal, or do I already know too much?"

Renalds swallowed, struggling to find the words. His eyes flicked to the doorway, and he seemed to weigh his options, but the look on Val's face quickly shattered any hope of escape.

"You don't understand," he began, his voice low, laced with desperation. "It was never about loyalty. It's about survival. Black Lotus… they have leverage, information that could—"

Val held up a hand, silencing him. "Leverage is one thing, commander. But selling out Clareo's security for personal gain? You crossed a line."

The commander's face twisted in anger and fear. "You think you're some hero, Umbra? You have no idea what it's like being a pawn in their game! I was just… I was securing my position, ensuring my safety—"

Val took a step forward, his tone dangerously calm. "You were securing nothing but your own downfall. You betrayed Clareo and every soldier who trusted you."

Bo's icy glare bore into Renalds underneath the mask, and his voice was cold and unforgiving. "Do you realize what you've done? Who you've put in jeopardy?"

Riggs clenched his fists, his voice low and deadly. "And all for what? Weapons, power… you think that's worth the lives of the people in Clareo?"

Renalds visibly flinched at their words, but his desperation remained. "Listen to me! Black Lotus will come for you, for all of Clareo! You can't win this alone. We needed… I needed an alliance to stand a chance—"

"An alliance?" Fon scoffed, his voice laced with contempt. "With the people who've been trying to kill us? Pathetic."

Val watched the commander, his expression unreadable. For a brief moment, he allowed a cold silence to settle, the tension in the room heavy enough to suffocate.

"You talk about survival," Val finally said, his voice steady, "but you chose fear over loyalty. And for that, there's only one outcome."

Renalds's shoulders slumped, his eyes darting between the operatives who surrounded him. He tried to summon defiance, but it quickly faltered under their unyielding gazes.

With a swift motion, Val reached into his cloak, producing a small device marked with the same symbol Fon had left on Revner's desk. He held it up, the unmistakable emblem of Clareo's retribution glinting in the dim light.

Renalds's face went white as he realized what it signified.

"No… please. There's still a chance, a way I can—"

Val shook his head, cutting him off. "You made your choice, Commander Renalds. Now you'll face the consequences."

With that, Val signaled to his team.

With a flick of his fingers, Val motioned Bo to create a thin wall of ice behind the man, ensuring no one else would enter the area unnoticed. The ice shimmered in the low moonlight, casting an eerie glow that made it seem like the forest itself was conspiring to keep the traitor trapped.

Val's voice came through the link, cold as ice. Frost, Aura—disable him. Make sure he doesn't get a single word out.

Bo moved first, his ice forming a seamless cloak around him as he advanced, becoming nothing more than a shimmer in the shadows.

The traitor's voice faltered slightly, as if sensing something, but it was too late. A sharp spike of ice jutted out from the shadows, pressing against the man's neck with unyielding force, silencing him mid-sentence.

Riggs appeared on the traitor's other side, a gust of controlled wind sweeping around him, pushing him back toward the icy spike, forcing him to remain absolutely still.

The traitor's expression twisted with a mixture of desperation and anger. "It wasn't my choice… they forced my hand… you don't know what Black Lotus is capable of!"

Val's gaze was unflinching, his voice cold and unyielding. "Neither will you for much longer."

As Val gave the final command, Riggs and Bo moved in. The traitor's voice rose, desperate pleas mixing with choked gasps as Bo's ice-bound grip tightened, and Riggs's wind swirled around his head, drowning out his cries. His end was swift but brutal, the surrounding pines bearing silent witness to the cold justice dealt upon him.

Val's voice broke the silence, addressing his team. "Clear the area. We leave nothing behind."

Fon, grumbling slightly that he hadn't been able to do more, placed another of their signature ⍉ cards on the ground near the traitor's body.

It flashed once with a dull orange glow before disintegrating to ash—a mark, a warning, a reminder of the reckoning that would follow anyone else who dared betray Clareo.

As they vanished back into the shadows, Val opened a channel to Dr. Lewis and General Luis. Target eliminated. Mission complete. Extraction ready.

Understood, Umbra, Dr. Lewis replied, a faint note of satisfaction in his voice. Return to HQ. We'll debrief upon arrival.

The mountains were silent once more, but an unspoken promise lingered in the air—a warning to Black Lotus and any others who might think of crossing Clareo again.

The darkness in Val's eyes hinted at a determination that would not be extinguished, a resolve that burned quietly but fiercely, ready to face whatever lay ahead.