The days following the coordinated assault on Hades' Wrath's supply chain had passed in a deceptively calm haze. Team Unknown, scattered throughout their quarters, had taken the time to regroup and recover. The air in HQ Command was tense, a calm-before-the-storm quiet that none of them could shake.

The comm silence was shattered when Dr. Lewis's voice came through their Mind Link, firm and serious.

Team Unknown, report to the briefing room immediately.

The weight in his voice was unmistakable, halting whatever the team had been doing. Val stood from where he had been meditating in the corner of his room, his cloak already half-on. Ember and Exeo exchanged a quick glance in the training bay, silently acknowledging the urgency. Bo, Riggs, Fon, and Reyes all converged in the hall, falling into step as they made their way to the briefing room.

The team filed in, their expressions immediately sharpening as their eyes landed on the holoscreen. General Luis and Dr. Lewis stood at the head of the table, watching the live feed playing on the screen. Smoke-filled skies and overturned cars dominated the frame, with civilians running for their lives. Sirens blared in the background, the chaotic symphony of a city under siege.

At the center of the destruction stood a black-hooded figure. His cloak bore the unmistakable symbol of Hades' Wrath, a mark that only Team Unknown and high-ranking military personnel would recognize.

He raised a single hand, and as if summoned by his will, Void-tainted beasts—some grotesquely mutated and far more advanced than what the team had encountered before—emerged, leaping onto abandoned vehicles and tearing through the highway's infrastructure.

"Is this live?" Fon asked, his voice uncharacteristically grim as he stared at the destruction.

Dr. Lewis's lips pressed into a thin line. "Yes. Multiple news channels are broadcasting it. Clareo PD and local emergency services are barely holding the line."

A reporter's voice crackled through the feed from a helicopter's vantage point.

"Where is Team Unknown? The people are looking to Clareo's elite for salvation, but they have yet to arrive on the scene…"

Exeo's gaze shifted from the screen to General Luis. "Has Beta Team been dispatched?"

General Luis nodded solemnly. "Yes, they're en route. They need the field experience. I know what you're all thinking, but this is a city-wide emergency. We need all hands on deck."

Ember's gaze didn't waver, still locked on the scene playing right in front of them. His voice, devoid of his usual mischief, was ice-cold. "What's the plan?"

General Luis motioned for the team to don their masks and attach their ranked pins.

"Team Unknown, you will deploy immediately. Val," his gaze locked onto the youngest Bellator brother, "your priority is to neutralize the hooded figure. We cannot allow him to continue commanding the Void-tainted forces."

Val gave a curt nod. "Understood."

General Luis's attention shifted to Exeo and Ember. "Coordinate with Beta Team. Maintain command and ensure every escaped monstrosity is obliterated. No exceptions. Reyes, take overwatch. You know what to do."

Reyes's response was crisp. "Yes, sir."

Turning to Bo, Fon, and Riggs, General Luis continued. "Your focus is on evacuation. If any Void-tainted beasts reach civilian zones, eliminate them and secure the people."

The team's collective nod was a silent acknowledgment of the gravity of their roles.

The holoscreen displayed the hooded figure once more, his sinister laughter echoing across the battlefield.

"WHERE IS YOUR SAVIOR?!" he bellowed, his voice carrying the weight of Void energy, reverberating through the air. "YOU THINK THEY CAN SAVE YOU FROM OUR WRATH?!"

His hand shot up, releasing another wave of Void-tainted energy, summoning dozens more beasts that roared and snarled as they spread through the city.

General Luis's voice cut through the chaos like a blade. "Deploy. Now."

Without hesitation, the team activated their teleportation sequence, vanishing from HQ Command.

The team reappeared in a flash of energy near the epicenter of the chaos. Smoke and ash filled the air, and the cries of panicked civilians echoed against the backdrop of snarling Void-tainted beasts.

Exeo's voice came through the Mind Link, calm but authoritative.

Positions. Eagle, take overwatch from the high rise to the east. Frost, Aura, focus on evacuation zones. Terra, secure the western perimeter. Umbra, Lux, and I will engage the main force.

Reyes sprinted toward the nearest building, scaling its fire escape with practiced ease. Within moments, he was perched on the rooftop, his sniper rifle already braced.

Overwatch in position. I have eyes on the highway. Multiple hostiles, but the cloaked target is stationary.

Bo and Riggs moved through the gridlocked streets, clearing vehicles as they searched for trapped civilians. A Void-tainted beast lunged from the shadows, its grotesque form blending with the smoke.

Bo's hand shot out, an icy mist engulfing the creature's legs, freezing it in place. Riggs followed with a precise gust of wind, shattering its immobilized form into pieces.

"Clear the next block," Bo called, his voice steady.

Riggs nodded. "Got it. Civilians are being escorted back toward the emergency barricade."

Fon's voice came through the link.

Western perimeter secure. No breaches yet, but I'm picking up underground movement. Could be more constructs burrowing.

Exeo's tone was sharp.

Hold position, Terra. Neutralize any threats that surface.

Exeo, Ember, and Val advanced toward the black-hooded figure, their movements fluid and precise. The figure turned slowly, his hand raising once more as another wave of Void-tainted beasts surged forward.

Ember's purple fire ignited along his blade, its ethereal glow cutting through the smoke. He moved with lethal grace, slicing through the constructs as the flames consumed their corrupted energy.

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Val unleashed a controlled pulse of Void energy, his shadows coiling and striking down two beasts simultaneously. His voice was calm but focused.

They're not slowing down. He's summoning them faster than we can cut through.

Reyes's voice came through the link, calm but urgent.

Target is charging something. Looks like a concentrated energy blast. Umbra, get ready for contact.

Exeo's blade flared with purple fire as he charged forward, striking down the last of the beasts standing between him and the hooded figure.

Focus on the target. Disrupt him before he can release that energy.

Back in HQ Command, General Luis stood over the holoscreen, watching the live feeds as analysts reported on the team's progress.

"Void-tainted energy levels are spiking near the epicenter, sir," one analyst reported.

General Luis's jaw tightened. "They need to neutralize him now."

Back on the highway, the hooded figure's laughter echoed as the Void energy in his palm swirled into a violent maelstrom.

"You think you can stop us? Your city will fall!"

Val stepped forward, his shadows coiling menacingly as his voice cut through the Mind Link.

I'll engage. You need this finished fast, then I'll take the rein.

Before the team could respond, an unnatural chill swept across the battlefield. The air thickened, each breath colder than the last, as the temperature plummeted to a bone-chilling degree. The ground itself seemed to darken, an eerie shadow stretching unnaturally beneath Val's feet.

Dark smoke swirled around him, rising like a living storm. Shadowy tendrils emerged, curling and writhing at his feet, their movement almost serpentine.

The Void energy in the air twisted violently, as though recoiling from the presence that now emanated from Val.

The black-hooded man faltered, his outstretched hand trembling slightly. The Void-tainted energy he had been conjuring dimmed, flickering like a dying flame. He stepped back instinctively, his voice trembling.

"What… is this?"

The Void-tainted constructs, snarling and feral just moments ago, froze in place. Their guttural growls turned to whimpers as they shivered, their monstrous forms visibly recoiling from the encroaching shadow.

In the Mind Link, Ember's voice was sharp.

Deleo's taking over. Exeo, we need to act fast.

Exeo's response was immediate and decisive.

Understood. Let him handle the cloaked target. Umbra, you're clear to unleash.

At that moment, Val's head tilted slightly, a subtle but ominous gesture.

His voice, layered with a guttural resonance that wasn't entirely his own, echoed through the battlefield.

"You dare wield my power, your insolence know no bounds. That is your final mistake."

The black-hooded man's eyes widened as the figure before him—an ARM user now shrouded in Deleo's primordial presence—stepped forward. The tendrils at Val's feet lashed out, striking the ground with enough force to send cracks rippling through the pavement.

The news helicopter circling above zoomed in on the scene, its cameras capturing the ARM user cloaked in shadow. Reporters, watching the live feed, gasped audibly.

"This… this is Team Unknown's ARM user. But… what is that power? It's like the shadows themselves are alive!"

The black-hooded man raised his hand desperately, summoning a horde of Void-tainted beasts to shield him. They charged toward Val, their roars reverberating through the air.

Deleo—using Val's body—didn't flinch. Instead, he extended his hand, the tendrils of shadow surging forward like a tidal wave. They pierced through the constructs with brutal precision, shredding them apart. Black blood splattered across the pavement as the constructs disintegrated, their forms unraveling under the relentless assault.

One construct, larger and more grotesque than the others, lunged at Val, its claws extended.

Deleo caught it midair with a tendril, slamming it into the ground with a sickening crunch. The shadow tightened around its body, crushing it until it burst, splattering the area with Void-tainted remains.

The black-hooded man shouted desperately, summoning another wave of Void-tainted energy to shield himself. But Deleo was already upon him.

Deleo's voice, layered with fury and disdain, echoed ominously.

"Fool. I will show you the price of desecration."

The shadowy tendrils surged forward, shattering the hooded man's Void barrier with ease. One tendril coiled around his leg, yanking him off his feet and slamming him into the pavement. Another wrapped around his wrist, twisting violently until a sickening crack echoed through the battlefield.

The man screamed, his voice a mixture of agony and terror. He clawed at the tendrils, his Void-enhanced strength useless against the primordial force that gripped him.

Deleo lifted him effortlessly, the tendrils holding him aloft like a broken marionette. The swirling black smoke condensed around Val's form, the tendrils writhing with barely-contained fury.

The black-hooded man gasped, blood dripping from his mouth as he choked out a desperate plea.

"Mercy… please…"

Deleo's response was cold, his voice devoid of emotion. "There is no mercy for those who don't know their place."

The tendrils tightened, crushing the man's chest with brutal finality. Blood spattered the ground as his body crumpled, lifeless and broken.

Silence fell over the battlefield, broken only by the faint crackle of fire and the distant wail of sirens. The Void-tainted constructs, leaderless and terrified, disintegrated one by one, their forms collapsing into nothingness.

The helicopter's camera lingered on Val—still cloaked in Deleo's presence—as he stood amidst the carnage. Reporters struggled to find words, their voices trembling.

"This… this is what it means to be an ARM user. The power… it's overwhelming."

Back at HQ Command, analysts stared in stunned silence, their monitors displaying the brutal scene. General Luis's expression was unreadable, though his grip on the table tightened.

Deleo's voice echoed in the Mind Link, his tone uncharacteristically quiet.

It's done.

The shadowy tendrils receded, the smoke dissipating as Val's form returned to normal. He swayed slightly, catching himself before he could stumble.

Ember and Exeo approached, their weapons still drawn but their postures relaxed. Ember's voice carried a faint edge of approval.

"Efficient, as always."

Exeo's voice was calm but firm.

"Team, regroup. Beta Team, sweep for stragglers. Umbra, extract us."

Val gave a subtle nod. He raised a hand, shadows swirling faintly at his feet as he activated the teleportation sequence.

The battlefield faded in a flash of Void energy, leaving behind nothing but silence and the broken remnants of the conflict. The team materialized back in HQ Command's teleportation chamber, their masks and cloaks still stained from the chaos.

Bo let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, his voice breaking the quiet. "That… was intense."

Fon nodded, his expression tense. "It's like the Void itself froze the air back there."

Riggs shivered slightly, shaking his head. "I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing Deleo take over like that."

The Bellator brothers stood silently, their expressions unreadable. Ember noticed Val was unusually still, his gaze distant as though lost in thought.

"Val," Ember called, his voice even, "you alright?"

Val blinked, snapping out of his daze. He glanced around at the team, his voice steady but softer than usual.

"I'm fine. But Eagle's still overwatch."

Exeo nodded, his tone carrying quiet approval.

"Do what you need to."

Without further words, Val activated his teleportation again, his form vanishing in a swirl of dark energy.

Reyes sat perched on the high-rise rooftop, his sniper rifle still braced as he scanned the silent streets below. The absence of movement was unsettling, his sharp eyes catching only the faint flicker of smoke from distant fires.

The sound of Val's arrival startled him slightly, the swirling shadows a stark contrast to the desolate skyline. Reyes turned to see his commanding officer stepping forward, his usual composure intact despite the toll of the battle.

"Mission's over," Val said simply, his tone calm but firm.

Reyes exhaled slowly, nodding as he began disassembling his rifle. "Understood, sir. Area's clear—no movement since you finished the target."

Val waited silently, his presence steady as Reyes packed his gear with precise efficiency. When everything was secured, Val extended a hand.

"Let's go."

With a faint shimmer of Void energy, the two vanished from the rooftop, the final trace of Team Unknown disappearing from the battlefield.

At HQ Command, Reyes and Val materialized in the teleportation chamber, rejoining the rest of the team. Exeo nodded briefly at Reyes in silent acknowledgment, while Bo and Riggs clapped him on the shoulder.

"Last man out, as always," Riggs said with a grin.

Reyes gave a faint smile, though his posture remained stiff. "It's protocol."

Fon chuckled. "You handled it well. No fainting this time."

A faint chuckle rippled through the team, even as General Luis's voice cut through the moment.

"Debrief in twenty. Dismissed."

As the team dispersed to recover and prepare, the echoes of the battle lingered in their minds. The brutal reality of what they had witnessed—and what they had unleashed—was a reminder of the stakes they faced.

Even as they left the room, one thought remained unspoken among them: the storm was far from over.