The training grounds outside Clareo's HQ were uncharacteristically silent as the morning sun bathed the landscape in a warm, deceptive calm.

Rows of Halcyon elite forces stood at attention, their expressions stoic but tinged with faint apprehension. The memories of what they had witnessed in the viewing room were still fresh, haunting their minds like a ghost.

At the exact scheduled hour, Team Unknown emerged from the HQ, their black-clad figures cutting through the daylight.

Ember led the group, his mask hiding the simmering irritation that his morning coffee had been interrupted by "formalities." Behind him, Val walked with a predatory calm.

Bo, Riggs, and Fon followed, their steps precise but relaxed, like hunters preparing for an inevitable kill. The faint glint of their ranked pins—the gold of Aurum and the obsidian black of Umbra—was enough to make a few Halcyon soldiers shift uncomfortably in their positions.

Dr. Lewis stepped forward to address both teams, his tone clipped but professional.

"Today's training will focus on collaborative tactics and advanced combat scenarios. Team Unknown will demonstrate techniques utilized during both covert operations and large-scale conflicts. Halcyon, you'll participate alongside them, not as spectators but as allies. Understand this—this is not a competition. It's a demonstration of survival."

A murmur ran through the Halcyon soldiers, quickly silenced by Commander Elira's sharp glance. She gave Dr. Lewis a curt nod. "Understood. We're ready."

Ember tilted his head slightly, his tone dry. "Ready to survive, you mean."

Val's faint chuckle broke the tension slightly, though it only added to the unease of the Halcyon soldiers.

The first exercise began with a simulated infiltration mission. The scenario was simple: an enemy compound was rigged with sensors, traps, and fortified positions. The objective: neutralize the guards, breach the compound, and secure the central data core without alerting reinforcements.

Halcyon's team moved with precision, their movements textbook-perfect. They avoided the traps and progressed steadily through the simulated field. But when the training shifted to a competitive demonstration—with Halcyon tasked to infiltrate first, followed by Team Unknown—the stark difference in expertise became evident.

The Halcyon soldiers navigated the course efficiently but relied heavily on their advanced gear and tech. Their paths were logical but predictable, their approach methodical but uninspired.

Then came Team Unknown's turn.

It was as though shadows had come to life. The team moved fluidly, blending into their surroundings with unnerving ease. Not a single trap was triggered, not a sound was made. When they struck, it was swift and decisive, the dummy guards falling before they had time to react.

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The Halcyon elite watched the feeds on the screens set up nearby, their faces growing paler as they saw the precision and brutality of Team Unknown.

Ember's commands were short and clear, executed with synchronized efficiency. Val eliminated guards with chilling ease, his blade silent and deadly, while Fon manipulated the terrain to obscure their movements. Bo froze sensors in place while Riggs disrupted electronic signals, rendering enemy tech useless.

The compound was secured in record time, with no alarms triggered and no reinforcements alerted.

One Halcyon soldier couldn't help but whisper, "They're not human…"

By noon, the focus shifted to endurance drills. The Halcyon forces and Team Unknown were tasked with a joint operation: a simulated rescue mission that required crossing harsh terrain under constant enemy assault.

The Halcyon soldiers began with confidence, but the grueling pace set by Team Unknown quickly exposed their limits. Bo created ice platforms to cross ravines, forcing the Halcyon soldiers to follow without hesitation. Riggs summoned gusts of wind to clear paths, but the sheer force left some struggling to keep their balance.

Val's role as rear guard was especially unsettling for the Halcyon team. His silent, predatory presence ensured no one lagged behind—but it wasn't comforting.

One soldier stumbled, only to look up and find Val standing over them, donned with the mask. He said nothing, simply offering a hand, but the soldier felt an inexplicable chill as they accepted the gesture.

When simulated enemies ambushed the group, Team Unknown reacted instantly. Ember's Purple fire blazed to life, his voice sharp as he barked commands. Fon raised barriers to shield the team, while Bo immobilized the attackers with jagged spikes of ice. Val moved like a wraith, eliminating threats before they fully emerged.

The Halcyon soldiers struggled to keep up. While their gear gave them an edge in firepower, their reactions were slower, their coordination weaker. The simulated enemies overwhelmed them until Team Unknown intervened.

The exhaustion on the faces of the Halcyon forces was evident by mid-afternoon. Their perfect postures had begun to falter, their steps slower and less certain. Meanwhile, Team Unknown continued with the same relentless energy, their movements precise and unwavering.

One Halcyon soldier finally voiced what many were thinking. "Do they ever stop?"

"No," Commander Elira said quietly, her eyes fixed on the team. "They don't."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the final exercise began: a simulated urban combat scenario. The Halcyon forces and Team Unknown were divided into opposing sides, tasked with controlling key zones in a dense mock city.

Halcyon's elite moved efficiently, securing zones with their superior technology and tight formations. For a moment, it seemed as though they had the upper hand.

Then Team Unknown struck.

Like a storm, they swept through the city, dismantling Halcyon's defenses with ruthless efficiency. Ember's fire drove enemies into choke points where Fon's earth barriers trapped them. Riggs disrupted communications and visibility, while Bo's ice immobilized key positions.

Val, as always, was the most unsettling. His movements were swift and silent, his blade striking like a viper. When he activated a Void orb to disable a fortified position, the Halcyon soldiers watching from the sidelines shuddered as they remembered the footage from Clareo's borders.

Within minutes, the mock city was under Team Unknown's control. The Halcyon forces were left breathless, their discipline shaken by the sheer ferocity of their opponents.

By the end of the day, the Halcyon elite forces stood in silence, their bodies aching, their minds reeling. Commander Elira approached Dr. Lewis, her expression unreadable.

"They're not just a team," she said softly. "They're a force of nature."

Dr. Lewis's smile was faint but knowing. "Welcome to Clareo, Commander. Day one is just the beginning."

As the Halcyon forces retreated for the night, murmurs filled the air. Awe. Fear. Respect.

In the shadows, Team Unknown prepared for another grueling day. For them, this was just another mission.