Soon, the helicopters and trucks began to depart, beginning the mission. After a few minutes in the air.

“Stabilized!” said Kay, as she poured another cup of coffee.

“I wish I had some of that calm!” commented Thais, amazed.

“Would you like some?” offered Kay, handing her the coffee.

“That’s not what I’m talking about!” replied Thais, smiling nervously.

Yumi looked at him and asked:

“Why didn’t you bring your staff?”

“The staff is effective against twenty ghouls, at most. But with more than two hundred around, I thought the firearm and the sword would be better.” Kay replied calmly.

“Two hundred?!” exclaimed the recruits, frightened.

“The dynasty is the largest kingdom in this country and, therefore, it was the first to fall. Those two hundred are the estimated number of ghouls inside the wall. The number increases if we count the ones outside!” explained Yumi.

Kay adjusted the mask on her face.

— Are you really going to fight wearing that? — Mira asked, with a curious expression.

— I told you, Mira, it's part of the costume! — Kay replied.

— Very cool, Kay! — Yumi said, smiling.

— Now... it's time for a real extermination! — Kay said, with a fierce glint in her eyes.

— Preparing for landing! — the pilot announced.

Everyone got ready, with their hands firmly on their weapons, ready to face the battle that awaited them. The helicopter landed.

The helicopters landed. There were already soldiers waiting with trucks.

— What's the situation? — Nina exclaimed, getting out of the helicopter.

— No ghouls have come near — one of the soldiers replied.

— Good job! — Yumi said.

— There's only one cup, but if you don't mind, have some coffee! — Kay said, serving the drink.

— Thank you! — the soldiers said.

— The bottle is full, keep it until everyone drinks — Kay added.

"Kay, you've grown so much!" Mira thought, excited and proud.

— Give the bottle back later, when everyone finishes drinking! — Kay added.

— Sure! — the soldier replied.

— Kay, shall we go? — Yumi called.

— Lock your weapons. I want the people who use firearms prepared for possible attacks! — Nina ordered.

— Okay! — the soldiers replied.

— Hey, honey, after this mission, are we going out to eat? — Kay said casually.

— We're in another division, we can't go out while we're under their supervision! — Mira replied.

— Don't you want to? — Kay insisted.

— I want to, but it's just that... — Mira stopped, confused. — Wait, Kay... what did you call me? — she exclaimed, surprised.

— Stop stalling, you two, and get in now! — Yumi said, already in the first truck with the recruits.

— We're going to make the first advance. We better go! — Kay said.

"Did he call me love or was it my imagination?" thought Mira, still surprised.

They got in the truck, and the driver started it up.

— Wait for the first truck to get some distance and then you can go — Nina said to the driver of the second truck.

— Okay! — he replied.

— Was that part of the plan? — Raven asked, confused.

— This wind will mess with my sense of smell. Sitting here in the front, if there's any sign of a ghoul, I'll let you know!" — Kay said, settling herself on top of the driver's cabin.

— Don't distract him! And you guys focus on your instincts to locate the ghouls — Yumi ordered.

Kay put on her mask.

“What a beautiful sky!” Kay said.

“Indeed! Today is a beautiful day!” Yumi replied, smiling.

“That’s why it’s a waste…” Kay commented. “Sarah, I’ll leave the sky to you!” he instructed.

“What the hell is this?” Fiona exclaimed, surprised.

“This one came higher than the previous ones!” Yumi said.

“What a beautiful sky!” Kay commented, her voice carrying an unexpected calm.

Yumi replied, showing a slight smile despite the situation:

“Indeed! Today is a beautiful day!” Kay looked at the ghoul falling quickly and muttered:

“That’s why it’s a waste…” Sarah, the sky is yours.

Sarah, who was already alert, stood up with her rifle in her hands, positioning herself and trying to aim at the target in mid-flight.

“It’s still too high, and the aim is unstable with the vehicle moving!” she muttered, adjusting her position.

Kay picked up the radio and, in a firm tone, reported:

— Ghoul spotted in the sky, right above us. We will eliminate him. Wait for confirmation to move forward!

The answer came quickly from the other end of the line.

— Understood! — Nina replied.

Yumi, calculating the ghoul's fall, looked at Kay and informed:

— He's in free fall. From the direction and speed, if we continue, he'll fall right in front of us.

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Kay signaled to the driver and gave Sarah a confident look.

— Slow down and keep going. Sarah, don't miss, or we'll have to fight here!

Sarah took a deep breath, adjusting her rifle to compensate for the movement of the vehicle and the wind that whipped in her face.

— I know! — she said, with determination.

But her voice revealed a hint of concern as she continued:

— Even if I hit him, it won't be in a fatal area. He'll regenerate again.

Kay nodded, aware of the challenge.

— That’s why we’ll keep moving forward. Focus and fire when you have the right aim.

Sarah gave a slight nod.

— Understood!

Then Kay turned to the rest of the squad.

— Viviane, get up here!

Viviane, who was in the back of the vehicle, quickly climbed to the top of the cabin and lay down next to Kay, her eyes trained on the horizon.

— Given the distance until the ghoul falls, our scent will attract other ghouls from the wall. If any come, eliminate them before they reach us — Kay instructed.

“Right!” Viviane replied, her fierce eyes fixed on the surrounding area, ready to act.

The ghoul fell faster and faster, closer and closer. Sarah followed him in her sights, adjusting her rifle every second. The muscles in her arms were tense, her finger on the trigger. Adrenaline ran through the veins of every soldier in the vehicle.

— Get ready... — Kay murmured.

Sarah held her breath and locked her sights on the ghoul, who was falling from the sky like a black arrow, every detail standing out against the morning light. The conditions were not ideal—the vehicle was still moving, the wind was fierce, and the distance made targeting difficult—but Sarah focused completely, ignoring everything around her. The world seemed to narrow until it was reduced to the free-falling ghoul and the specific target she was aiming for—his chest.

In a frozen instant, Sarah pulled the trigger. The bullet left the barrel with a muffled explosion, the silencer absorbing the sound. The projectile sliced through the air, cutting through the swirling dust and wind, its path straight and determined toward the monster’s chest. The bullet’s trajectory was precise, calculated to compensate for the wind blowing sideways, the slight rocking of the vehicle, and the free fall of the ghoul himself, who moved like a blur descending from the sky.

As the projectile approached, the ghoul, his eyes fixed on the soldiers, was unaware of the imminent danger. The impact was brutal. The bullet hit the ghoul's chest directly, piercing his grotesque flesh with a muffled rip and crack. His body shook with the force of the impact, the energy of the bullet dissipating in an explosion of flesh and dark blood that spattered the air around him.

But Sarah didn't stop. With surgical precision, she adjusted her aim slightly and fired twice more in succession, each bullet tearing through the wind with a metallic hiss. The projectiles followed almost the same trajectory, piercing the ghoul's chest in different places.

Kay, next to her, watched the situation carefully.

"This one's yours, Raven. Finish him off and touch him!" Kay said, her eyes serious and determined.

Raven answered firmly: "Right!"

Raven jumped out of the truck in one swift movement, her scythe shining in the sun. The dust began to clear around the ghoul, revealing its twisted body, scarred by bullets and the impact of the fall. The creature was injured, its chest still slowly regenerating, but the damage from the shots had weakened its ability to react. Its grotesque tentacles tried to move, but they no longer had the strength or speed to pose any real threat.

With a fluid movement, Raven dodged the tentacles and made a precise leap, landing next to the ghoul's exposed chest. She raised her scythe and, with a decisive blow, brought the blade down directly on the creature's heart, piercing it with devastating force. The final blow was relentless, sinking deep into the blackened flesh and immobilizing it for good.

A final tremor ran through the ghoul's body, its tentacles falling to the ground, inert. The creature gave one last spasm, before going completely silent.

— Mission accomplished — Raven murmured, cleaning the blade of her scythe with a firm movement.

— Touch him and return! — Kay said, satisfied.

— Sarah, you did a good job! — he added, with a slight smile.

— Thank you! — Sarah said, exhaling relief as she finally calmed down.

— Those were very well executed shots! — Yumi praised, with an approving look.

— Thank you, Captain! — Sarah replied, excited by the recognition.

Raven climbed back into the truck, and the group prepared to move on.

— Keep going! — Yumi ordered the driver.

— Okay! — he replied, accelerating and resuming the route.

Kay picked up the radio and communicated the confirmation: — Ghoul eliminated, advance!

— Okay! — Nina replied over the radio.

Moments later, Viviane warned, remaining calm as she looked through the scope: — Kay, there are three ghouls coming from the direction of the wall!

Kay leaned to her side, quickly assessing the situation. — Will you need help?

Viviane adjusted the aim, calculating the next shots: — I can eliminate two, but the third will be on alert and will probably take cover.

— Sarah! — Kay called, looking at her.

— Understood! — Sarah replied, quickly climbing into the cabin.

The two positioned themselves side by side.

“I’ll take the one on the left!” — Sarah said, focused and with her weapon ready.

“Okay! I’ll take care of the other two!” — Viviane stated.

“Slayer, Dan, Mira, you’re next!” — Kay ordered, her voice firm.

“Okay!” — the three replied in unison, ready to act.

“You go under my command!” — Kay concluded, her eyes assessing the scene.

Yumi observed Kay’s precise coordination and couldn’t help but feel a growing pride. “He really took on the role of leader…” she thought, amazed by Kay’s confidence and clarity.

The truck continued its trajectory towards the wall, the noise of the engines mixed with the cutting wind. The ghouls, with their grotesque bodies and twisted tentacles, were approaching quickly. The confrontation was about to happen.

“Not yet!” — Sarah said, squinting, focused on the aim.

“I know!” — Viviane replied.

“It’s almost in range!” Sarah murmured, her fingers adjusting the grip of the gun, ready to act.

“Not yet!” — Viviane insisted, staying focused, her eyes alert to every movement of the enemies.

The ghouls were getting closer, their tentacles swinging, ready to attack. Sarah’s heart raced, but she knew she had to wait.

“They’re in my range!” Sarah exclaimed, finally getting a perfect angle. Her breathing was slow and controlled, the trigger almost being pulled.

“Not long now!” Viviane said, with a look of concern.

“It’s going to be bad if we get in range of their tentacles!” Sarah warned, the tension increasing as the distance decreased.

“They’re in range!” Viviane said, her tone deep and calm, her gaze fixed on her targets.

“Shoot!” Sarah ordered, her voice firm, no longer hesitating.

In a synchronized movement, both fired their weapons with lethal precision.

The ghouls, with their grotesque and out-of-control tentacles, tried to block the shots, raising them as improvised shields. But it was too late. The bullets cut through the air with deadly speed, passing between the twisted tentacles and hitting the monsters' vital points.

The ghouls were down, defeated before they could react properly, their tentacles now inert on the ground.

"Targets eliminated!" Viviane said, breathing calmly, sweat dripping down her forehead.

"Good job!" Sarah affirmed, her eyes still fixed on the field in front of her.

"Slayer, Dan, Mira, these are yours!" Kay ordered, her tone firm and resolute.

"Right!" the three replied in unison.

When the truck passed near the bodies of the slaughtered ghouls, Slayer, Dan and Mira jumped deftly, running towards the corpses. They bent down and touched the bodies carefully.

“Why are you doing this?” Yumi exclaimed, perplexed.

“You’ll understand later!” Kay replied enigmatically, without taking her eyes off the approaching wall.

The three of them returned to the truck quickly, without wasting any time.

“Keep going!” Kay ordered the driver.

“Okay!” the driver replied, accelerating the vehicle to get back on track.

Kay then turned to the group, her gaze intense.

“Yumi and I will go ahead. You guys stay outside and kill any ghouls that appear. There are many near the entrance inside the wall. We’ll eliminate them and open the way for you!”

“How are we going to get in without going through the passage?” Yumi asked, frowning.

“The entrance can also be opened from the outside. We have the code!” she explained.

“It takes a few seconds to open the passage, and in that time they can run away or attack our people!” — Kay said, calmly analyzing the situation.

— Yes, but how do you intend to enter without going through the main entrance? — Yumi asked again, this time with a hint of impatience.

Kay gave a mischievous smile before answering:

— The same way the ghouls could... We're going to climb.

— Climb? What? — Yumi seemed confused, but there was a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Kay then revealed:

— The suits we use are not yet in their final form. We discovered this in the tests. The Institute should announce it soon, but for now it's a secret. We can't risk someone reckless trying to recreate it and losing control.

— Final form? What are you talking about? — Yumi asked, clearly intrigued.

Kay looked at her with a mix of confidence and determination. He wrapped his arm around her waist, steadying her for what he was about to do.

— Kay! Not in front of the soldiers... Just wait a minute! — Yumi said, embarrassed, looking away.

“Yumi, you damn thing!” Mira grumbled, watching the scene with irritation.

“We’re going first!” Kay said before jumping out of the truck with Yumi in her arms.

“He can jump that high while carrying a person? Damn Kay!” Raven thought in disbelief as she watched the scene.

In the air, the wall rose like a giant before them.

“We’re high up… What now?” Yumi exclaimed, holding on tight.

“Don’t worry!” Kay said with a confident smile.

Suddenly, the tentacles of Kay’s suit manifested, extending like living blades and attaching themselves to the wall. With fluid movements, the tentacles began to pull them upwards, climbing at an impressive speed.

“Kay? What the hell is this?” Yumi exclaimed, now serious, as she watched the tentacles in action.