The city of Clareo was a sleeping giant, its towering skyline shrouded in the muted glow of streetlights. The industrial zones, marked by rusted warehouses and silent factories, cast looming shadows under the moonlight. It was well past midnight, and the air was laced with the weight of unease.

Inside a discreet hotel near the industrial district, Team Unknown prepared to move. Their disguises were discarded, replaced by their iconic black hooded cloaks and masks. The quiet tension in the room spoke volumes as they synced up their Mind Link.

Reyes remained at the window with his sniper rifle secured and ready. The faint hum of his scope cut through the silence as he scanned the darkened rooftops of the target zone. His voice, steady and precise, broke through the link.

Overwatch ready. No movement on my end so far.

Exeo adjusted his cloak, his commanding presence filling the room. His tone was calm but decisive.

Copy that, Eagle. Maintain your position and report any changes immediately. Team, move out.

Val gave a subtle nod to Exeo, his cloak settling as he stepped forward.

HQ command connected?

The familiar voice of General Luis came through the link, calm and sharp as ever.

You're live. We're monitoring your feed and movement. Stay sharp.

At HQ Command, General Luis stood at the center of a bustling command room, the holoscreen displaying the industrial zones with glowing red markers indicating Void-tainted activity. Analysts worked silently, feeding General Luis updates while the team's live feeds streamed in from their masks.

"Sol, you're green-lit. Begin the operation."

Exeo's voice came through the link, carrying the authority of a seasoned leader.

You know your roles. Frost, take the east perimeter. Terra, south. Aura, west. Umbra, Lux, and I will advance through the main zone. Eagle, maintain high ground. Maintain silence unless necessary.

The team moved out, their movements synchronized and precise.

East Perimeter

Bo moved like a shadow along the cracked concrete paths. His gloved hands emitted a faint icy mist, suppressing any noise his footsteps might have made. Frost crystals formed briefly on the ground behind him before fading into nothingness.

East perimeter clear. No signs of movement. Advancing to my next position.

At HQ, an analyst leaned toward General Luis, "Frost's area showing no significant Void-tainted energy fluctuations."

General Luis gave a brief nod but didn't relax his posture.

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South Perimeter

Fon moved with quiet precision, his connection to the earth giving him an unparalleled awareness of his surroundings. Every vibration in the ground fed him information, allowing him to sense movement before it surfaced.

Slight disturbances underground. Could be Void-tainted constructs tunneling, but nothing active on the surface yet.

General Luis's voice came through the link, calm but firm.

Noted. We'll monitor for spikes. Continue your sweep, Terra.

West Perimeter

Riggs moved like a ghost, his energy-sensing abilities probing the environment for disturbances. His raised his gloved hand, emitting slight gusts of wind as he mapped out Void-tainted energy signatures.

West perimeter stable. No anomalies detected.

Exeo's voice came through, concise and commanding.

Hold position. Report any changes immediately.

Inside the Zone

Exeo led Val and Ember through the labyrinth of warehouses. The industrial district was eerily quiet, the only sounds coming from the distant hum of machinery left to rust.

Umbra, Lux, keep your senses sharp. HQ reports spikes in Void-tainted energy could occur at any moment.

Ember walked with calculated precision, his every step deliberate.

No hostiles in sight yet, but this area has the markings of an ambush zone. They're here. They're just waiting.

Val's voice followed, cold and measured, as his Void-enhanced senses probed the shadows.

Agreed. The shadows are wrong here—too heavy. They're masking something.

Back at HQ, Luis's tone carried an edge of concern. "Proceed with extreme caution. We're seeing subtle Void-tainted energy fluctuations across multiple sectors."

At the hotel, Reyes's sharp eyes scanned the rooftops. The faintest flicker of movement caught his attention—a distortion that was almost imperceptible. His voice came through the link, calm but urgent.

Movement near south quadrant. Confirmed Void-tainted construct, medium-sized. Terra, it's heading your way.

Fon's response was immediate.

Acknowledged. I'll intercept if it surfaces.

As Terra prepared to engage, the ground near his position shifted violently. A Void-tainted construct burst from the earth, its grotesque form illuminated by the faint glow of streetlights.

Contact. One construct, medium size. Engaging.

Fon's hands shot out, the earth responding to his call as jagged spikes erupted from the ground, impaling the creature before it could fully emerge.

Target neutralized. No additional movement detected underground.

General Luis's voice came through.

Good work, Terra. Maintain your position.

The team converged at the center of the industrial zone, where faint Void-tainted energy fluctuations continued to ripple through the air. Another Void-tainted construct emerged from the shadows, larger and more grotesque than the last.

Exeo's voice carried authority.

Hostile confirmed. Frost, Aura, cut off its escape routes. Umbra, Lux, neutralize it.

Bo's icy mist froze the ground around the construct's feet, immobilizing it, while Riggs's wind ability formed barriers to block potential exits.

Val stepped forward, shadows coiling around his form as he unleashed a pulse of Void energy. The construct's movements slowed, its body writhing as the shadows crushed its core.

Ember followed up with precision, his Purple Fire coated in the weapon, making it more deadly is slicing through the construct's weakened defenses.

Target neutralized. Area is clear for now.

General Luis's voice came through, steady but approving.

Good work. Return to base. We'll analyze the data from your feeds and determine our next steps.

The team moved swiftly and silently toward the extraction point, their mission successful, but their senses heightened for any lingering threats.

At HQ Command, General Luis turned to the analysts.

"Prepare the results for report. I'll debrief the team as soon as they return. We need to know exactly what we're dealing with."

As the team are going back to the hotel, Reyes's voice came through the link.

Overwatch clear. Returning to base.

The Void-tainted threat had been subdued for the night, but the shadows of Clareo whispered of a growing storm, and Team Unknown stood ready to face whatever lay ahead.