Team Unknown staggered into HQ's main corridor, their steps heavy and shoulders weighed down by exhaustion.

Masks still intact, their black hooded cloaks clung to them like shadows, testament to the relentless pace of back-to-back missions. Dust, blood, and fatigue lined each fold, and beneath, their stances betrayed the toll of a night without rest.

Val kept a steady hand on the fourth ruin stone, its muted glow safely encased but humming faintly with energy. Though his movements were controlled, the energy drain from his battle with the Black Lotus enforcer and the Guardian was evident.

As they entered the debriefing chamber, HQ staff exchanged glances, some visibly surprised to see the elite team return in such a battered state. Dr. Lewis and General Luis were waiting, watching the team's every move as they settled around the room, each of them slumping in an almost synchronized release of pent-up tension.

"Glad to see you're still standing, Team Unknown," General Luis said, a hint of pride softening his typically stern gaze. "I know it's been a grueling pace, but your swift action prevented Black Lotus from pursuing the ruin stone any further."

Val gave a slight nod, his voice hoarse from the strain. "We intercepted them, but it seems they're more invested in tracking this stone's energy than we anticipated."

Dr. Lewis's gaze flicked to the stone in Val's hand, his expression a mix of concern and intrigue.

"If they're sensing its energy signature, it might be time to consider alternative ways to mask it. The more they pick up on its presence, the more they'll escalate."

Val glanced down at the stone, the faint aura almost throbbing in sync with his heartbeat. "Masking the stone… would be ideal."

He paused, feeling an odd tug at his consciousness—Deleo's presence. It was stronger than usual, edging into the forefront of his mind with an unusual urgency.

"Val," Deleo's voice echoed internally, his tone contemplative. "There may be someone here… an unexpected ally who could serve as a temporary buffer for the stone's energy. Perhaps a decoy."

Val's brow furrowed under his mask as he listened, processing the suggestion with a flicker of surprise. "A decoy? Who?"

Deleo's tone was laced with intrigue. "Corporal Reyes. Despite his… unique spiritual makeup, he could obscure the Void's presence. Call it an instinct, but I sense something significant about him."

Val paused, slightly stunned by the suggestion. "Corporal Reyes?"

The young corporal wasn't exactly known for his combat prowess, nor his deep spiritual awareness—if anything, his energy was practically a brick wall. But with Black Lotus closing in, any method of misdirection was worth exploring.

"General," Val began, his voice steady though tinged with curiosity. "We may have a way to use the stone's energy against Black Lotus, at least temporarily."

Dr. Lewis raised an eyebrow. "And how would that work, precisely?"

Val looked between Dr. Lewis and General Luis, choosing his words carefully. "A decoy. Someone to carry the stone's aura or stay in its proximity to throw Black Lotus off."

He hesitated, then added, "Corporal Reyes comes to mind. He's low-profile, not a direct target, and Deleo has an instinct… he could be an energy buffer."

Dr. Lewis exchanged a look with General Luis, visibly intrigued by the idea. "Corporal Reyes… interesting. His spiritual awareness is indeed, extraordinarily low, almost as if his presence is dulled. It could be precisely what we need."

General Luis rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "This might buy us time to strategize a more permanent way to mask the stone's energy. Reyes might be unaware, but his lack of spiritual resonance could make him the perfect temporary shield."

Deleo's voice chimed in once more, a note of amusement coloring his words. "Let him carry the stone's aura, Val, and see what unfolds. There are mysteries even I can't quite see in him."

Val gave a faint smile beneath his mask, appreciating Deleo's subtle humor amid the tension.

"If it diverts Black Lotus long enough, it's worth the risk. We'll keep Reyes in a secured section of HQ, brief him, and monitor for any Void response."

General Luis nodded firmly, his mind already on the logistics. "Then we proceed. Dr. Lewis, prepare a secure location and have Reyes brought in. We'll monitor his proximity to the stone to see if he can shield its signature."

Val's team, though visibly drained, exchanged glances, understanding the weight of the decision.

Val, Bo's voice came through the Mind Link, laced with fatigue but resolute. If that corporal is on board, we'll keep him safe. The less he knows about the Void, the better.

Riggs added, This buys us time to rest and recalibrate. Not the strangest tactic we've used, and if it works, we get the advantage.

Fon sighed, though a hint of humor softened his tone. At this point, I'd take any backup, even if it's a clueless corporal. We need the breather.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Val inclined his head, feeling a flicker of relief as they rose.

Just as they left the debriefing room, the door opened to reveal Corporal Reyes, escorted in by a junior officer.

The young corporal's wide-eyed look suggested he was already on edge, and when his gaze settled on Team Unknown's masked, cloaked figures, a flash of recognition sparked—and an unmistakable hint of horror.

"Oh… no…" Reyes whispered, just loud enough for them to catch. His hand rose instinctively to his mouth, stifling a groan. "Not… not again. Not the vehicle people."

The whole team stopped in their tracks, trying to keep their composure. Riggs choked back a laugh, while Fon turned his head slightly, and Val could almost feel the smirk behind his mask.

Val stepped forward, his imposing black hooded cloak casting a deep shadow over Corporal Reyes. His mask hid all but the faintest glint of his eyes, and though fatigue weighed on him, there was an undercurrent of dark amusement as he asked, "Is there a problem, Corporal?"

Reyes blinked up at Val, his gaze flickering nervously over the tall figure before him.

The deep, unmistakable voice from within the mask hit him like a blast from a nightmare, dredging up a half-buried memory of his encounter with the ARM user in the vehicle. His eyes widened as the puzzle pieces clicked into place, a chill creeping down his spine.

"Oh… no… it can't be…" he muttered, as if trying to convince himself otherwise, his voice barely a whisper, "the… ARM user?"

Val stood in silence, letting the realization settle. Behind the mask, he arched a brow, his lips quirking in a faint smirk as Corporal Reyes's jaw slackened, horror dawning in his expression.

Inside Val's mind, Deleo's laughter erupted, bright and unrestrained. "Oh, this is priceless! Look at the poor lad—he's about to faint!"

Deleo's voice practically crackled with glee. "You really are his worst nightmare, Val. He might just need a new pair of boots after this."

Val stifled a chuckle, keeping his face impassive beneath the mask. The man's expression was enough to almost distract him from his own fatigue, though he had to admit, Deleo's commentary wasn't helping him keep a straight face.

"Corporal," Val said, his voice calm and steady, though he could hear the faint tremor that his tone seemed to trigger in Reyes, "whatever conclusions you're drawing… keep them to yourself. The only thing you need to worry about is following orders."

The words seemed to echo in Reyes's mind, the weight of Val's presence too much to bear. He muttered weakly, "It really is him… Oh, gods…" and then, without any further warning, his eyes rolled back, his knees buckled, and he began to crumple to the ground in a dead faint.

Val, surprised, moved instinctively, catching the corporal just before he hit the ground. He propped the Corporal up, adjusting him slightly in his grip as Reyes's head lolled to one side, completely out cold.

In the HQ command room, General Luis's eyes widened in stunned silence, while Dr. Lewis pinched the bridge of his nose, his expression a mixture of exasperation and resignation.

Deleo's laughter filled Val's mind, practically breathless from amusement. "Oh, Val, I can't—this is too good. Do you see his face? The terror, the shock—ha! I can hardly blame him, really. You're quite the ominous sight."

Val exhaled, shaking his head slightly as he glanced down at Reyes's unconscious form. Great. Just what I needed. A fainting Corporal on top of everything else, he muttered through the link, his tone a touch dry.

Fon's voice cut through the Mind Link, barely stifling a snicker. Um, Val, maybe he's a little too impressed by the ARM user…

Riggs's voice chimed in, just as amused. Think he'll come to and forget it all? Or will he be scarred for life?

Bo let out a low chuckle. At least we know he's thorough in his admiration.

Val straightened up, carefully lowering Reyes onto a nearby seat, though he could sense Deleo's lingering amusement at the entire scene.

"Let's not get too sentimental here. We've got work to do," Val muttered, but he couldn't entirely hide the faint smirk tugging at his mouth.

Back in the command room, General Luis seemed to shake himself from his surprise, glancing at Dr. Lewis, who looked entirely, thoroughly done.

Dr. Lewis sighed, rubbing his temples as he muttered under his breath, "Of course… leave it to them to leave a trail of fainting soldiers."

Val, regaining his composure, gave one final look at Reyes, who was beginning to stir, his eyelids fluttering as if waking from a nightmare. Val couldn't resist a final, quiet quip as he straightened his mask, "Welcome back, Corporal. Try not to pass out again."

Reyes blinked, his eyes wide as he focused on Val, visibly paling again. "S-Sorry, sir," he stammered, casting a quick, terrified glance at Val's team, who were all visibly stifling their amusement.

In Val's mind, Deleo chuckled one last time. "Oh, I could get used to these theatrics, Val. This is almost as entertaining as watching you handle a Guardian."

"Keep it together, Corporal," Val said coolly. "We need your help with an… unusual assignment."

Reyes paled further, his mind likely replaying the chaos and the mortifying experience in the vehicle when he'd last encountered them.

He glanced nervously at Val's team, his hands fidgeting. "S-sir, I'm… uh, willing to assist, of course. As long as… it doesn't involve… unexpected commotions," he finished awkwardly, visibly suppressing a shudder.

Fon snorted quietly over the link. This guy's practically traumatized from the last time. Poor man has no idea.

General Luis cleared his throat, giving Reyes a steady look. "Corporal Reyes, your… particular attributes make you suitable for a unique task."

He gestured toward the ruin stone in Val's hand. "We'll need you to stay in close proximity to this relic, purely to ensure its energy remains… contained."

Reyes swallowed, eyeing the stone as if it were a live grenade. "Understood, General. I'll… uh, I'll do my best," he said, his voice faltering.

Dr. Lewis, catching Reyes's trepidation, offered a reassuring nod. "It's straightforward, Corporal. We'll monitor your energy readings as you remain close to the stone—think of it as simply standing guard. And remember, Team Unknown will be nearby."

Reyes managed a nod, though his expression was a mixture of duty and visible distress as he glanced back at Val's team. "Yes… nearby. Right," he murmured, a touch of PTSD evident in his strained tone.

Val, suppressing a grin, leaned slightly toward Reyes. "You'll be just fine, Corporal. Consider it another… unique experience."

As Reyes moved to his assigned position, clearly steeling himself, Val felt Deleo's faint, knowing presence in his mind.

"Let's see how far fate carries him, Val. Every piece has a role, no matter how small."

With Reyes unwittingly placed as their decoy, Team Unknown finally dispersed for much-needed rest, leaving HQ to monitor the unusual setup.

As they walked off, each couldn't resist a final glance at the young corporal, whose face—though hidden under his mask—radiated a mix of loyalty, dread, and utter bewilderment, as though he had somehow stumbled into the strangest assignment of his career.

A faint chuckle escaped Fon as they departed. "That poor guy's going to have some serious questions if he lives through this."

Val gave a nod of agreement, a faint smile on his lips as he led his team to rest.

For now, Reyes was their unwitting decoy, a hidden pawn in the game between Clareo and Black Lotus—a gamble that might just buy them enough time to prepare for the battles ahead.