The moon hung low over the Vossan Highlands, casting a ghostly glow across the landscape as Team Unknown lay in wait, hidden in the dense brush surrounding the Black Lotus compound. The facility, a fortress of steel and stone nestled deep within the forest, loomed ahead, dimly lit by intermittent spotlights that swept the perimeter in slow, methodical arcs.

Val was positioned high on a ridge, his black cloak blending seamlessly with the night. From his vantage point, he could see the entire compound below, every entry point, every guard's movement, every shadow that dared to shift. The chill of the night air settled around him, sharpening his focus as he watched his team through his HUD.

All units, prepare to engage, he murmured over the Mind Link, his voice steady, each word wrapped in the calm intensity that only came from years of command.

In their positions, Bo, Riggs, and Fon readied themselves, bodies low to the ground, every movement precise and deliberate. They were more than a team; they were a finely tuned machine. Each member's breaths synced with the mission, steady but laced with the anticipation of the violence that was to come.

The wind picked up, stirring the leaves in a restless rustle. Riggs, stationed at the eastern guard post, could feel it too—the quiet crackling tension that electrified the air just before a storm.

Copy that, Umbra, Riggs whispered, his voice barely a breath over the Mind Link.

As the signal went out, Val's instincts prickled. He focused, allowing his heightened senses to stretch out across the terrain, feeling every rustle of leaves, every shift of shadow, as though the landscape itself was breathing with him.

Bo, stationed at the south, crept forward, his HUD mapping out the exact positions of the patrolling guards. His steps were silent, precise, each one carefully calculated to avoid triggering the faintest hint of alarm. He held his ice ability just at the edge of release, ready to form barriers at a moment's notice.

Fon waited in the northern quadrant, eyes fixed on the ground ahead, which he'd subtly manipulated to prevent slipping or stumbling. The forest was still, the only sound a distant hoot of an owl and the soft crunch of soil beneath his boots as he crouched in the shadows.

Then, a shift. A flicker of movement near the western edge of the compound. Val's gaze snapped to it, his perception honing in, his pulse steady but senses on high alert. The guard—cloaked in camouflage tech that flickered intermittently—stepped out, his shadow stretching across the compound wall.

Target at four o'clock, moving westward, Val murmured. Aura, cut the lights. Frost, move in for cover.

Without a word, Riggs lifted his hand, channeling a controlled gust of wind that swept over the compound. The lights dimmed as dust swirled into the air, blotting out the harsh glare of the spotlights and plunging the compound into near darkness. He could feel the wind whipping through his fingers, an extension of his own pulse.

"Shit," Bo whispered under his breath as he edged forward, creating a low barricade of ice behind a cluster of trees, forming a secure route toward the compound. The ice glistened faintly, catching the moonlight just enough to blend in with the pale forest shadows, nearly invisible unless seen up close.

The guard froze, reaching for his communicator, but before he could press the button, Bo was on him, a quick slash of his knife across the man's throat, the faint rasp of blade on flesh a whisper in the night. The guard dropped, his body slumping to the ground with a dull thud.

Val's voice was calm, clinical. Frost, clear. Terra, your turn.

Fon, crouched low, extended his hand toward the path ahead, small roots twisting up from the ground to stabilize the loose soil, muffling any steps that might follow. He moved, swift and silent, his breaths shallow as he advanced into the heart of the compound.

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With each step, the scent of damp earth and rusted metal filled the air, mingling with the acrid tang of old machinery. His grip tightened on his blade, the worn handle rough against his palm.

HQ monitored closely, Dr. Lewis observing every movement through the live feeds, his eyes narrowed, his fingers tapping a rhythm against the console as he watched the mission unfold. Beside him, one of the analysts murmured, "They're like shadows—if I didn't know better, I'd say the feeds were on mute."

Dr. Lewis allowed himself a rare smile. "Team Unknown doesn't need noise," he replied quietly, pride evident in his tone. "They get the job done in silence."

Back in the field, Riggs noted a pair of guards on his HUD, both moving toward his position. Two targets, east, he murmured, steadying himself as he readied another wind diversion.

Val's voice came through, calm and unyielding. Eliminate them, Aura. We can't afford loose ends.

A grin tugged at Riggs's lips. With a flick of his wrist, he channeled a controlled gust, kicking up a cloud of dust and leaves, concealing his approach. The guards stumbled, their vision obscured by the sudden storm, and Riggs struck—swift, brutal. His blade cut through one guard's throat in a single, clean motion, while his other hand snapped the second guard's neck with a sickening crunch.

East side secure, Riggs confirmed, wiping his blade on his cloak.

Val's gaze scanned the compound, his heightened senses reaching beyond the immediate field, catching the subtle hum of distant machinery, the faint metallic tang of gun oil from the guards' weapons, and the muted thud of Bo's footsteps as he advanced.

Every instinct hummed with awareness, each shift in the environment feeding his focus. His own cloak billowed in the breeze as he moved to a better vantage point, his senses catching even the subtle vibrations in the air.

Frost, Aura, Terra—positions are set. Stand by for infiltration.

As the team acknowledged, Val observed the compound carefully, scanning for any hint of reinforcement or hidden threats. His fingers brushed over the customized equipment Dr. Lewis had made for him, specifically designed to resist the Void's chaotic energy. It felt reassuring, grounding.

Just then, a series of footsteps echoed faintly from the east, approaching faster than anticipated. Val's instincts flared—another patrol unit, hidden until now, each guard clad in advanced camouflage tech that flickered as they moved.

Another patrol incoming, eastern side, camo-cloaked, Val said, his voice tight with concentration. Aura, you've got three seconds.

Riggs's response was immediate, his tone darkly amused. Three seconds is all I need.

As the guards neared, Riggs moved with lethal grace, his blade flashing in the darkness as he sliced through the air. The faint metallic tang of blood filled the air, mixing with the earthy scent of damp soil as the guards fell, one by one, their bodies thudding onto the forest floor.

"Clear," Riggs muttered, breathing heavily, his gaze flicking to Val's position. He gave a brief nod, his expression one of fierce determination.

Bo took a deep breath, his grip tightening on his weapon as he watched the compound through his HUD. Ready to make some noise?

Fon grinned, his voice a low chuckle over the link. Noise? I thought we were the silent types.

Val's lips quirked in a rare smile as he refocused. All units, prepare to breach on my mark. Terra, destabilize the main gate. Frost, cover him.

Fon extended his hands toward the gate, concentrating as the ground trembled slightly beneath his feet, sending cracks spidering through the concrete. Bo positioned himself beside him, a wall of ice forming around them to shield their movements.

Three… two… one… breach.

With a violent crack, the gate buckled, the sound muffled by Bo's ice barrier. They slipped through, moving like shadows as they entered the compound's main area.

The inner courtyard was dark, lined with storage units and stacked crates that cast long shadows across the ground. Guards milled about, their movements seemingly relaxed—unaware of the deadly force that had slipped past their defenses.

Val remained perched on the ridge, his eyes sweeping the courtyard. His HUD highlighted each target, each threat, as he relayed their positions to the team.

Targets at two, five, and ten o'clock. Prioritize elimination. No survivors.

The team moved in sync, each member flowing into position as they engaged the guards with brutal efficiency. Blades glinted in the dim light, the muted sounds of impact and muffled grunts filling the air as guards fell, one after another.

From his vantage point, Val watched each movement with calculated precision. His senses were stretched to their limits, every vibration, every shift in the air feeding into his awareness. He could feel the faint tremor of footsteps on the ground below, the quiet murmur of voices in the distance, the staccato rhythm of his team's breathing.

HQ watched in silence, the live feeds capturing every moment, every kill. Dr. Lewis's gaze remained fixed on Val's screen, his expression unreadable as he monitored each detail, each calculated strike.

Back in the field, Val's voice came through the link, calm but carrying a weight of authority that left no room for