The Aegis Mountains loomed around them, jagged peaks and darkened ridges casting long shadows across the terrain. Val's team moved like phantoms through the rugged landscape, every step muffled, every breath measured, each cloaked in the anonymity demanded by their mission.

Without the distinctive pins that usually marked their ranks, they were shadows with no allegiance, figures that could have belonged to any silent storm sweeping through the underworld. They left no traces, just echoes of their presence in the gusts of mountain wind.

Val's voice came over the mind link, his tone a low, calculated whisper.

Phase one, disable all perimeter defenses. Frost, focus on freezing out the electricals. Terra, keep the ground unstable to slow down patrols. Aura, ensure no one sees you before they're down.

The group moved to their respective tasks, the weight of the mountainous night pressing upon them. Each step was precise, their movements synchronized in eerie silence, the only sounds the occasional crunch of gravel underfoot and the distant hum of electrical fences.

As Bo slid up to the first generator, he held his hand over the casing, allowing frost to seep into the circuits, the ice creeping up like frostbitten ivy. The electrical hum sputtered, then died, the lights along the south perimeter flickering out in a quiet submission to the chill.

South generator down, Bo confirmed, his voice low.

Val acknowledged it with a quick command. Move to the next one. Keep it quiet.

Riggs shifted through the shadows near the western ridge, where surveillance cameras dotted the cliff edges. He moved with practiced stealth, blending into the dark, his silhouette nearly invisible.

As he passed each camera, he disabled them with a quick twist of his knife, severing the cables in silent succession. He felt a slight satisfaction with each cut, the soft hiss of wires snapping under his blade.

Western surveillance, offline, Riggs reported.

Fon had his own approach, carving subtle ruts in the terrain where guards would pass, creating unstable footing that would buy them precious seconds if things turned sour. His affinity for the earth made it natural, almost effortless, as he shifted the ground with a slight tremor beneath his feet.

Exits prepared on the east, Fon said, his tone tinged with quiet satisfaction.

From his vantage point high above, Val observed the stronghold and his team's progression. His heightened perception allowed him to sense movement even at this distance, the faint vibrations of guards pacing in search of a threat they could not see.

The mind link remained silent until he issued the next command.

Second phase. Enter the inner perimeter, eliminate targets with no witnesses. Frost, take the east entry. Aura, intercept any patrols along the north ridge. Terra, watch for reinforcements from the western slope.

The team moved seamlessly into their assigned roles, each step designed to unravel the defenses around Revner's stronghold. They were relentless yet silent, assassins slipping into position like blades through the dark.

Bo spotted two guards at the east entry, their footsteps a rhythmic crunch against gravel. In one fluid motion, he drew his knife, his breath steady. The first guard never saw him coming—Bo's blade found its mark quickly, slicing through the man's throat in a swift, soundless cut.

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Blood spurted out in a crimson arc, splattering against the wall as the guard's body crumpled, twitching, eyes wide in shock even as life left him.

The second guard whirled around, eyes widening at the sight of his comrade's lifeless form slumping to the ground. But Bo was faster, grabbing the man's jaw and wrenching it back with a sickening snap before driving his blade up into the soft underside of his chin. The guard's body spasmed, blood spilling over Bo's gloved hand as he held the man's limp form until it stilled.

East entry secured, Bo murmured, stepping over the bodies, barely sparing them a glance.

Riggs faced a group of three patrolling the northern ridge. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a gust that carried pebbles and grit, blinding them momentarily.

By the time they recovered, Riggs had slipped in, his knife flashing as he drove it into the first guard's kidney, twisting with a force that sent a spray of blood onto the stone.

The second guard stumbled back, clawing at his eyes as Riggs closed in, driving his knee into the man's ribs with a sickening crack before slicing the knife across his throat, his wind-enhanced strength sending the severed head lolling back. The third guard froze in horror, only to have Riggs's blade find his heart, sinking deep with a brutal precision.

North ridge, clear, Riggs reported, his voice as cold as the mountain air.

Fon lie low, his hands pressed against the earth, feeling the slight tremors of reinforcements approaching the western slope.

Four approaching. I'll handle them, he reported through the link.

With a subtle shift, he caused a section of the slope to crumble just as the guards passed over it. They tumbled down in a cloud of dust and dirt, their cries smothered as jagged rocks tore into their flesh.

Fon felt the satisfying crunch of bones shattering as he shifted the earth again, burying the guards under a blanket of sharp, unyielding rock.

Western slope, cleared, Fon said, satisfaction lacing his voice.

As each guard fell, Val monitored their movements from above, every strike furthering their infiltration. His senses remained heightened, his pulse steady, but there was a tension simmering within him—a reminder of Ember's warning, the vision of the traitor among their ranks gnawing at the edges of his concentration.

Finally, they converged at the heart of the stronghold, where the lights were dimmed, casting an eerie glow over the fortified structure. The heavy silence weighed upon them, the air thick with anticipation. Somewhere inside, Revner awaited his end, likely unaware of the phantoms encircling him.

Val scanned the building, identifying Revner's location in the upper levels. This is it. Revner's room is dead ahead, second floor.

A pause, then Fon's voice cut through the link, a sly grin audible in his tone. Race to the top?

Before Val could respond, Bo chimed in, sarcasm dripping from his words. Only if Terra promises not to trip and blow our cover.

Fon scoffed, a hint of laughter breaking the tense silence. I'll beat you all there, just wait and see.

Val's voice broke through the banter, his tone carrying a blend of exasperation and humor. Focus. We're here to make this quick and clean.

From the HQ, Dr. Lewis's sigh echoed through the link, accompanied by General Luis's chuckle. "Maybe we should let them race, just to get it out of their system," Dr. Lewis muttered.

General Luis's response carried a hint of amusement. "They'll do their jobs. Just… in their own way."

Back in the field, the team steeled themselves, the humor fading as they crept toward the entrance. Val's voice, calm yet commanding, drifted through the mind link. Let's go. No mistakes.

Bo reached the door first, his movements precise as he slipped inside, followed closely by Riggs and Fon.

They moved as one, clearing each room swiftly, each guard's life extinguished without a sound.

In the dimly lit corridors, Val sensed a faint pulse in his chest—a reminder of the vision, the knowledge of a traitor somewhere within their ranks. He pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task, but the determination simmered within him, each step leading him closer to a reckoning.

They reached the second floor, silent as shadows, and positioned themselves outside Revner's quarters. The final confrontation lay just beyond the door, and with a nod from Val, they prepared to breach.

Remember, Val's voice cut through the silence, low and steady, this isn't just an assassination. It's a message.

With that, they moved, slipping into the room with lethal grace, the weight of the mission settling upon them as they confronted the target at last.