The mist hung thick and heavy as Team Unknown reassembled in a secluded part of the forest, deep within the shadows. The eerie quiet of the woods enveloped them, broken only by their muffled breaths and the soft rustle of leaves. Though they'd completed the mission, tension remained, lingering like a foreboding whisper of what was yet to come.

Val crouched, sifting through encrypted documents taken from the stronghold.

These are mostly coded, he muttered via Mind Link, his brow furrowing under the mask as he flipped through each page under the dim glow of his flashlight. Dr. Lewis will need to take a look at these once we're back. It's nothing we can break on our own.

Bo's voice cut through the silence, low and tense. Did we get anything useful?

Not immediately, but… Val hesitated, tapping one report that showed a pattern of movements near key city sectors. Something's happening soon. Hades' Wrath and Black Lotus… they're planning something big.

Fon adjusted his gloves, his eyes dark with suspicion. Whatever it is, it's bad news for us. I'd bet they're watching our every move.

Riggs gave a grim nod. They're getting bolder. So either they're ready to make a major play, or they're after something specific. He paused, his voice on the Mind Link dropping lower. And they may already know we're after them.

Val felt a stir in his consciousness, a familiar chill brushing over his thoughts. "They're after you, Val." Deleo's voice whispered, calm yet possessive. "Remember the last time when all of them went for you, which your brothers..."

Deleo was cut off by Val, "Enough. I know."

Val ignored the voice, pushing down the dark temptation to let the Void's power surface. Not yet, he thought firmly, staying focused on the team's next steps.

We'll debrief with HQ and analyze everything. But for now, let's move quietly. Val's voice carried the authority of command, though he glanced at each of them.

Bo rolled his shoulders, casting a wary look around. If we're right, and they're onto us, it means we're as much the hunted as the hunters.

With that, they set out, Val leading them through the dense foliage, his senses sharp.

The forest seemed to close in around them, the mist heavy with a silence that made every step sound too loud. But as they neared the edge of the tree line, Val's pulse quickened. The unmistakable feeling of being watched tightened his nerves, sending a prickling sensation down his spine.

Hold up, Val raised his voice on Mind Link, raising a hand. The team stopped instantly, each of them snapping into alert mode.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The silence grew more oppressive, as if the very air was waiting.

Then came a faint sound, a rustling in the trees off to their left. The barely visible outline of a figure flitted through the shadows. Val's hand drifted toward his weapon, his pulse thrumming with caution.

Multiple contacts, Riggs murmured through the Mind Link, his tone barely audible. Looks like… four, no, five. They're moving around us.

Val's gaze swept across his team. We don't know who or what we're up against. Move with caution. Avoid confrontation if possible.

But as they resumed, slipping quietly through the trees, one of the shadowy figures stepped forward, blocking their path.

He was tall, his frame cloaked, and his face mostly hidden, but Val could still make out the cold gleam of his eyes and the faint, mocking smile that curled his lips. A tattoo on his neck glinted in the dim light—a black lotus encircled by flames.

The man's voice was smooth, almost amused. "Team Unknown, I presume. You're as elusive as they say."

They had voice changes incorporated on their masks, but, even with the voice change, Val's voice was flat, his eyes narrowed under the mask. "Who are you supposed to be?"

The man tilted his head, his gaze sweeping over the team. "Just an observer." He paused, letting his words hang in the air. "Call me Malik. I'm here to deliver a message."

The rest of the team just scoffed.

Malik's smile widened, his gaze never leaving Val. "Oh, I'm not here for a negotiation. This is about survival—yours, specifically. See, Hades' Wrath and Black Lotus don't take kindly to rats. Your little operation has stirred things up."

Val took a step forward, feeling the Void's cold interest prickling at the edges of his mind. "Get to the point."

Malik's gaze darkened, a flicker of malice surfacing. "The point is, you're meddling in forces beyond your understanding. Our interests are… larger than you imagine. You're only a small part of a much grander game." His eyes lingered on Val, an almost knowing glint within them. "The Bellator bloodline, for instance."

A jolt of icy anger went through Val, but he kept his face impassive.

Malik's words, the almost casual mention of his bloodline, struck a nerve he couldn't ignore.

"Struck a nerve, did I?" Malik taunted, his voice oozing satisfaction. "I see it now—you know it too, don't you? The power flowing through their veins, the weight of a legacy far older than any of you. That's why we're interested in them. They're far more valuable alive than dead."

Val felt the Void stirring within, its voice a whisper edged with dark hunger. "This man doesn't deserve to speak. Allow me a moment, Val, and I'll quiet him for you."

"Not yet," Val replied firmly, keeping his gaze locked on Malik. He forced his tone to stay even. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Malik chuckled, a hollow sound that cut through the silence. "Oh, but I know more than you think. And I assure you, we'll be seeing each other again."

And just like that, Malik stepped back, melting into the darkness. His shadowed entourage faded as well, leaving Team Unknown alone in the thick silence of the woods.

Fon exhaled sharply, his voice tinged with anger. "That guy's trouble. The last thing we need is another enemy with an obsession over the Bellator name."

Bo shot a look at Val, his expression dark. "They're not done with us, are they? Hades' Wrath, Black Lotus… and now this Malik. What's next?"

Val's fists clenched, Malik's words echoing in his mind. It was as if every move they made only drew them deeper into a game he couldn't escape. A legacy he barely understood, yet couldn't deny.

As they moved cautiously back toward HQ, Deleo's voice lingered in Val's mind, smooth yet protective.

I won't let anything happen to you, Val. Deleo whispered, an almost possessive note in his voice.