As the evening sun painted the skies with hues of amber, Zelene cautiously approached a middle-aged man who stood on the rooftop of the nearby building, scanning the vicinity with a watchful eye.

His attire marked him as a warrior, and the emblem of his mercenary guild was proudly displayed on his shoulder.

This Fifth Order Warrior was the squad leader of the group that had been observing the prison.

With a nod of acknowledgment, Zelene initiated the conversation, "You seem to be keeping a close eye on this place."

The middle-aged warrior turned toward Zelene, his expression firm but not hostile. "Indeed, we are. We're here to gather information about the Abyssal Order's activities. But it appears you are doing the same, given your presence."

Zelene relaxed slightly, realizing that this group was not an immediate threat to her team. “I suppose introductions are due. I am Zelene, and I am the Squad Leader of my team. My team and I are part of the Iron Wolves Mercenary Guild. We came here to investigate the operations of the Abyssal Order and to find their hideout in Alveron."

The squad leader's eyes gleamed with recognition, and he offered a friendly handshake. "I see, you must be Captain Zelene, the Aqua Sonic. I have heard much about you and also about your Team Seahorse. We're members of the Crimson Serpents. My name is Rhys, and I am the Squad Leader of my team."

Zelene shook his hand with a polite smile, "Pleasure to meet you, Rhys. Your information comes as a relief; we weren't sure what to expect when we saw your group."

Rhys grinned, "No harm done. We're all here for the same reason, it seems. Word has spread that the Abyssal Order's influence has seeped into Alveron, and we couldn't ignore the call to action."

As they conversed, Rhys shared additional details that raised Zelene's concern. "We aren't the only ones here. Many other mercenary groups have arrived in Alveron to address the Abyssal Order's growing threat. And I've got some contacts in the government. The situation is more complicated than we initially thought."

Zelene's worry deepened as she contemplated her subordinate's welfare. "We have a member, Taron, who is posing as a new recruit and has just been led into the prison, which is most likely the hideout of the Abyssal Order. We were following him and planned to save him.”

Rhys frowned while letting out a sigh, "I see. I did hear of him, and my team decided to keep an eye out for him because he was behaving as one of those rascals who really do wish to join the Abyssal Order.”

Zelene nodded gravely, "I hope he's alright. We need to find a way to rescue Taron.”

Rhys spoke up at this moment, “…This isn’t a good time to rescue him. Actually, the other mercenary groups that I am in contact with are prepping themselves for an attack on this branch of the Abyssal Order. They have more or less scanned the entire place with their magical artifacts. It should take them just three more days. The reinforcements from their base have already arrived, and they are raring to go raid this hideout of the Abyssal Order and demolish it.”

Zelene couldn't shake her nervousness, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Taron's safety.

Rhys noticed her unease and offered some comforting words, "I understand your concern for your comrade. Rest assured, the reinforcements coming are well prepared. Our combined forces should be able to handle the Abyssal Order's branch, ensuring that no harm comes to your friend."

Zelene, though still anxious, felt a measure of relief at Rhys' reassurance. "Thank you, Rhys. We're grateful for your support. We'll stay cautious and wait for your signal to act.”

Rhys nodded with a reassuring smile, "We're in this together, Zelene. In three days, we'll put an end to the Abyssal Order's presence in Alveron once and for all."

As Zelene and her Team Seahorse parted ways with Rhys and his squad, they retreated to a safe distance before activating the unique communication method they had devised to contact Tavon without arousing suspicion.

Tavon had a pair of boots equipped with specific enchantments that allowed them to transmit coded vibrations through the ground. Zelene had trained Tavon to use these boots as an alternative means of communication. The team had devised a code system, utilizing rhythmic vibrations for simple messages. They had decided that Tavon would only respond after nightfall to avoid detection.

Zelene activated her magical abilities, sensing the vibrations from the earth as they resonated from Tavon's boots. As she felt the distinctive pattern she was waiting for, relief washed over her. Tavon had successfully infiltrated the Abyssal Order's hideout.

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In response, Zelene unleashed a series of carefully calibrated vibrations, ensuring that Tavon received the message loud and clear. The code indicated that he should hold out for three days.

Tavon understood the signal and replied affirmatively through his vibrations. The plan was set, and Team Seahorse could now focus on their next steps.

With their communication established, the team set off on their way back to the inn, walking and discussing their roles in the upcoming operation.

Lily and Selena remained by Adrian’s side as they talked to him.

Lily batted her eyelashes and said with a mischievous grin, "Adrian, promise us you'll protect us during the operation against the Abyssal Order's experts. As you know, we are mages, and we need a warrior to protect us while we are chanting spells."

Selena chimed in, equally playfully, "Yes, Adrian. If it’s possible, just stay by my side at all times. You know that I am just a support mage with very low offensive strength. I need a warrior like you by my side to protect me from all threats.”

Adrian chuckled at their humorous antics. "Well, I'll do my best to keep you both safe."

Meanwhile, Allan and Zelene were engaged in a more serious conversation about their participation in the impending attack.

Allan turned to Zelene, voicing his concerns, "Are we sure about joining this attack with the other mercenary groups? What if we wait for reinforcements from our headquarters? We might have a better chance with more numbers."

Zelene considered Allan's input but then emphasized their unique situation. "Allan, we don't have the luxury of time to wait for reinforcements. Tavon is already inside the Abyssal Order's hideout. Our entire plan was designed around ambushing their experts and fleeing quickly before returning a couple of weeks later with reinforcements to destroy this branch of the Abyssal Order. This alliance with the other mercenary groups and the full-scale attack on this branch just accelerates our schedule.”

Her eyes held a dreamy look as she continued, "Imagine it, Allan. The name Team Seahorse will be renowned, and the wealth and recognition that will come our way... it's worth the risk."

Allan nodded, understanding the weight of their mission. "Alright, Zelene. We'll follow your lead. Let's make sure we're prepared for the battle that awaits us."

Three days passed in tense anticipation for Team Seahorse as they prepared for the impending operation against the Abyssal Order. During this time, Tavon continued to use the vibrational coding method to reassure Zelene that he was safe inside the Abyssal Order's hideout.

According to Tavon's messages, the Abyssal Order's members kept the new recruits in specialized chambers, four to a room. They received daily rations of food and water, along with mandatory daily sparring sessions. However, Tavon had not discovered the true identities of the Abyssal Order members, as all their faces remained concealed. Judging by the numerous scars and injuries, it seemed that most of the members of the Abyssal Order had criminal backgrounds or were prisoners pressed into service.

A crucial piece of information that Tavon shared was that the majority of the Abyssal Order members were only Third Order Warriors, with a few reaching the Fourth Order rank. Rarely would someone at the Fifth Order rank make an appearance.

This revelation eased Zelene's worries about facing an expert during their forthcoming joint attack with the other mercenary groups.

Zelene relayed this information to her team, and they began to finalize their strategy for the assault on the Abyssal Order's hideout.

They knew that they had a good chance of success if the bulk of the Abyssal Order members were of someone at the same rank. This was all because of the confidence they held in their teamwork.

~~

The day of the planned attack on the Abyssal Order's hideout had finally arrived, and the time for Team Seahorse and the other mercenary groups to put their operation into action had come. However, far away in the hideout of the Abyssal Order, Tavon was making preparations of his own, aware that the joint attack was imminent.

Tavon was gearing up, mentally preparing himself to be rescued by his team and the others. He knew that the moment he had been waiting for had finally come. It was time for Team Seahorse to step in and save him.

But just as Tavon was getting ready, an unexpected turn of events unfolded. In the chamber where all the new recruits had been gathered, one of the members of the Abyssal Order stepped forward and declared, "The time has come for you, the new recruits, to prove your loyalty and dedication to the Abyssal Order."

The new recruits were shocked by this sudden announcement, their faces turning pale. Among them, only Tavon had a faint inkling of what was transpiring. He understood that the members of the Abyssal Order were aware of the impending full-scale attack planned by the various mercenary guilds.

Before Tavon could act to change the situation, the members of the Abyssal Order efficiently restrained all the new recruits.

The Abyssal Order members brought out vials of a disturbingly purple-colored serum. With calculated precision, they began to inject each recruit with this eerie substance.

As the purple serum coursed through their veins, the recruits' bodies underwent grotesque transformations. It was a horrific sight, and the chamber echoed with their terrified screams.

The purple serum that had been injected into their bodies was, in fact, demon blood, harvested from a sinister and powerful demon known as the berserker demon.

The recruits' minds and bodies were consumed by its malevolent energy, turning them into something monstrous and unhinged.

As the disturbing transformation unfolded within the chamber, Tavon found himself in a race against time. Desperation gripped him, and he resorted to tapping his feet multiple times on the ground, sending out vibrational emergency signals.

He hoped that Zelene would sense these signals and realize that something had gone terribly wrong.

Unfortunately, Zelene was not employing her spell at that moment, and she remained unaware of the desperate signals being sent by Tavon.

The moments passed swiftly, and Tavon's fate took a sinister turn.

The Abyssal Order members swiftly injected him with the purple serum, and Tavon's world was soon engulfed in agony.

He screamed loudly, but his cries fell on deaf ears.

Soon, the transformation was complete.

In place of the recruits who had once stood there were now thirty grotesque beings.

Their bodies had undergone horrific transformations, making them appear neither human nor demon. The changes were so extreme that their physical features were barely recognizable.

Limbs were elongated and twisted, and their skin had taken on a sickly, pallid hue. Some had additional appendages sprouting from their backs, resembling grotesque wings.

Their faces were contorted and nightmarish, with sharp, elongated teeth and blood-red eyes that gleamed with a malevolent light.

These beings were no longer recruits but had been twisted into something monstrous and unholy, their humanity utterly stripped away by the power of the berserker demon's blood.

"Looks like there was not a single one of them compatible with the berserker demon's blood," one of the members of the Abyssal Order let out a heavy sigh as he stared at the disappointing result.

The chamber was filled with the gruesome sight of these grotesque creations, and the silence was punctuated by the inhuman growls and hisses of the newly transformed recruits.

The other members of the Abyssal Order, while disappointed, knew that this experiment was a gamble, one that could have led to the creation of powerful minions for their organization.

The failed experiment had left the recruits in a state of perpetual torment, their minds trapped in their monstrous bodies.

The members of the Abyssal Order, however, seemed unaffected by their disappointment, carrying on with their dark agenda.

“Enforcer Dan has ordered to have all the savages fight against those fools who plan to raid this hideout,” A member of the Abyssal Order spoke.