High above the Black Lotus encampment, Val crouched silently, his black hooded cloak blending seamlessly into the night. The cloak's fabric rustled softly, settling in the breeze as his masked gaze analyzed each movement below. Torches flickered in the fog, casting twisted shadows that crawled over the encampment's tents and supplies.

Positions ready, Val's command echoed through the Mind Link, cool and calculated. The team responded swiftly, their anticipation rippling through the connection.

In position, Umbra, came Bo's reply from the shadows, his gaze locked onto the perimeter guards, his stance steady and lethal.

Aura, Val directed, weaken their defenses with a wind burst. On my mark.

Roger that, Riggs's voice came back, a dark smile audible in his tone.

In one smooth motion, Riggs unleashed a concentrated gale that roared through the encampment, tearing at loose earth, branches, and supplies. Tents whipped violently, crates overturned, and panicked shouts rose from the Black Lotus ranks as the sudden vortex battered them from every side.

Terra, destabilize, Val commanded through the link, his tone sharp.

With a crackling focus, Fon pressed his hands to the ground. A deep rumble echoed from the earth, and cracks splintered across the camp, jolting the terrain. Supplies and men alike were thrown off balance as the earth itself betrayed them, shifting and swallowing items, scattering enemies in disarray.

In HQ, the command room hummed with quiet tension as analysts watched Team Unknown's synchronized assault unfold on-screen. Dr. Lewis and General Luis exchanged murmured commentary, their expressions sharp with intensity as they watched the encampment's defenses crumble.

Then, a new, chilling energy pulsed through the air—an oppressive force that pricked at Val's senses. His eyes locked onto the source: a tall, imposing figure emerging from the camp's center, draped in shadows. The enforcer radiated a fierce Void energy, its oppressive aura coiling into the air like smoke.

We've got an enforcer in the field, Val relayed, his voice clipped, commanding. Maintain formation. I'll engage.

Roger that, Umbra, Bo replied, his voice calm. We'll hold the line.

The enforcer's gaze rose, catching Val with a sharp look that held a cruel glint. A twisted smirk flickered across their face as they summoned a sphere of darkness, the mass pulsing and expanding in their hand. With a lazy flick, they hurled it toward Val's position, the dark sphere cutting through the air with deadly speed.

Val teleported just as the attack struck the ledge, detonating with a thunderous crack. The ground shook, a spray of rubble erupted into the air, and jagged pieces of stone cascaded down the slope, leaving a crater where he had been seconds earlier. Dust billowed, and the trees swayed violently, branches snapping under the blast.

Back in HQ, Dr. Lewis's voice was low with concern as Val's feed flickered. "Stay focused, Val… don't give them an inch."

Reappearing on a nearby ledge, Val's grip tightened on his blade, its edge glinting with the Void's dark energy. The enforcer turned, tracking him with a wicked gleam, drawing a dark blade that pulsed with a fierce energy. With slow, measured steps, they advanced, their Void aura snaking around them, writhing like living shadows.

"You think you can wield the Void against me?" the enforcer sneered, their voice dripping with scorn. "You're nothing but a fool."

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Val's blade crackled in his grip, energy sparking as it resonated with the Void. "Keep talking. You might not get the chance later."

With a feral snarl, the enforcer lunged, their blade slicing through the air with a deadly hiss. Val blocked the strike, the impact of their weapons sending shockwaves through the clearing. Each clash rang out, echoing through the trees, as sparks and shadows burst between them, filling the air with raw, electric tension.

The enforcer twisted, swinging their blade at Val's shoulder. He teleported in a blink, reappearing behind them with his blade cutting a swift arc through the air. His strike connected, and dark, inky blood sprayed across the ground, splattering his cloak and mask.

"Ghh…" the enforcer snarled, stumbling but quickly regaining their balance, retaliating with brutal precision as they swung their blade again, faster and wilder.

In HQ, Dr. Lewis's gaze was riveted on the screen, his brow furrowed with worry. "He's taking heavy fire," he murmured, watching as Val and the enforcer's brutal clash filled the feed.

The enforcer's aura flared, shadows swirling around them as they extended a whip-like tendril of Void energy toward Val. The tendril snapped through the air, coiling around his ankle before he could react.

With a vicious yank, the enforcer dragged Val forward, slamming him into the ground with bone-jarring force.

"Damn it," Val cursed, the words rough through gritted teeth as pain exploded up his spine.

Umbra, you alright? Fon's voice crackled through the link, tinged with worry. Need backup?

Stay on mission, Terra, Val shot back, rolling to his feet and steadying himself as the enforcer lunged again, their blade flashing in the dim light. He dodged and parried, each impact sending a shock of force that rattled his bones.

The enforcer's laughter was a low, mocking growl. "Pretender! Is that all you've got?"

Val's response was deadly quiet, his voice a cold, razor-sharp edge. "We'll see who's left standing."

The enforcer lunged again, Void energy coiling around their weapon as they aimed for Val's chest. He met their attack head-on, his blade clashing with theirs in an explosion of sparks. Shockwaves rippled through the clearing, sending gusts of wind spiraling outward. Val's hooded cloak billowed, each gust sending it flaring behind him as they battled.

Without warning, the enforcer stepped back, gathering dark energy into their palm before launching a concentrated burst at Val. The blast struck him full force, knocking him back as dust and debris filled the air.

The HQ command room held its collective breath, analysts trading tense glances as the explosion registered on each feed.

Val's voice cut through the static, steady despite the strain. Still here.

The enforcer emerged from the dust, wounded but relentless, their eyes gleaming with fury as they raised a hand to summon another dark tendril. The energy snapped toward Val, hissing as it sliced through the air.

At the last moment, Val teleported, reappearing just behind the enforcer. With swift precision, he plunged his blade into their shoulder. The enforcer let out a strangled roar, dark blood splattering across Val's cloak. The enforcer staggered, but even in pain, they managed to draw Void energy back into their hand, gathering it for one final attack.

"This ends now," Val growled, voice a lethal snarl. Concentrating, he summoned the Void into a dense, crackling sphere in his palm. The black energy pulsed with violent intensity as he held the enforcer's gaze, his resolve unbreakable.

"You're finished."

He hurled the sphere directly at the enforcer's chest. The energy struck with a massive explosion that shook the ground, a shockwave rattling the earth and toppling nearby trees. The enforcer's body dissolved into dark, dissipating shadows, vanishing in a final, haunting wail as the last remnants of their energy dispersed into the night.

Back at HQ, a collective exhale passed through the command room as the enforcer's feed went dark. Dr. Lewis shared a look with General Luis, pride glinting in his eyes. "He's done it."

Val lowered his blade, breathing heavily as he surveyed the blood-streaked ground. The forest had grown eerily quiet, the aftermath of the clash hanging heavily in the air. His cloak, still billowing from the residual winds, settled around him as he finally sheathed his blade.

Perimeter's clear, Umbra, Bo's voice echoed over the link, calm and steady. We're good to go.

All grunts taken care of, Riggs added, satisfaction evident in his tone.

Fon chuckled through the link, relief threading through his voice. Nice to know you're still standing, Umbra. That enforcer didn't stand a chance.

Val allowed himself a faint smile behind his mask, the exhaustion pulling at his muscles. The black hooded cloak fluttered gently in the dying wind as the last echoes of the battle faded.

Good work, team, he replied. Let's regroup and head back to HQ. Mission complete.

With one last look at the remnants of the battlefield, Val led his team back through the darkness, each step heavy but resolute.