SICARII

The father had vanished from the cave moments after he killed Rico. No one had seen him since, his disappearance as sudden and bewildering as his brutal act. It left the Beast Squad stunned, their leader gone without a trace, as if swallowed by the shadows of the cave. But there was no time to process the shock—there were still enemies to face, and vengeance to be had.

Jag, their most formidable foe, was weakening with every blow. What had once been a deadly 4-on-1 battle now seemed almost winnable. Jag, once brimming with dark energy and terrifying strength, staggered under the relentless assault from the squad. The air was thick with the scent of blood and the sound of clashing steel. The remaining members of the squad fought in grim silence, their minds fixed on avenging their fallen comrades and the mystery of their father's disappearance.

Taizen could feel Jag's energy fading fast. The mighty leader who had once seemed invincible was now barely standing, his strength draining with every second. "Let me end him," Taizen said, his voice cold and sharp, like the edge of his katana.

Riona glanced at him, her face marked with concern. "Are you sure?"

Without responding, Taizen surged forward, his blade flashing as he moved with the speed of lightning. In a single fluid motion, he swung his katana, and before anyone could blink, Jag's head rolled across the cave floor. A moment of eerie stillness followed, but it was quickly shattered. There were still twelve enemies left, and the battle was far from over.

The squad split up without a word, each member squaring off against two enemies. There was no other way to finish this.

Nana, quiet and composed as ever, dove into his battle with ruthless efficiency. His fists were armed with knuckle dusters, and every punch he threw was powered by the force of his inner energy, wind whipping around his strikes. One of the enemies charged at him, but Nana effortlessly dodged, landing a blow that sent the attacker crashing into the cave wall with a sickening thud. The body slumped lifeless to the ground.

His second opponent came at him with more speed, slicing across Nana's arm with a sharp blade before he could react. Nana winced, pain flashing across his face, but his expression quickly hardened. He grabbed his opponent's arm and twisted, a crack echoing in the cave as the enemy's arm dislocated. As the attacker screamed in agony, Nana delivered a brutal punch to the face, knocking him unconscious.

Elsewhere, Fiona and Riona fought with their usual deadly grace. Their claws gleamed in the dim light as they struck with precision and speed, every movement calculated, every attack lethal. Taizen, meanwhile, moved with a cold efficiency, his katana a blur as he dispatched his opponents one by one, his face emotionless.

Fee, another of the remaining agents, fought like a beast unleashed. A warrior from Delria, Fee had the power to transform into a rhino-man, her massive form giving her incredible strength and resilience. She charged at her first opponent, her thick, armored hide absorbing the enemy's blows with ease. With a single thrust of her horn, she sent the enemy flying, their body crumpling upon impact with the ground.

But Fee's second opponent was quicker. As she turned to face him, he struck with precision, his blade slicing into her flank. Fee grunted in pain, her rhino form wavering for a moment as the wound cut deep. But she wasn't one to back down. With a ferocious roar, she charged again, her horn lowered. The enemy, caught off guard by her sudden fury, hesitated. Fee took advantage of the pause, dodging his next strike and impaling him through the chest with her horn. He dropped to the ground, lifeless.

Fee, panting and bleeding from her wound, glanced at the remaining enemy who had recovered from her earlier attack. She wasn't done yet. With a burst of energy, she lifted the enemy off the ground and slammed him down with brutal force, the sound of bones breaking echoing through the cave. It was over.

As the battle wore on, the last of the enemies fell, their bodies littering the ground. The Beast Squad had won, but the victory was hollow. The cost had been high—too many comrades had been lost, and the father's disappearance still hung over them like a dark cloud.

Once the dust had settled, Riona and Fiona led the solemn task of retrieving their fallen comrades. With careful hands and heavy hearts, they carried the bodies out of the cave. The rest of the squad followed silently, each lost in their own thoughts, the weight of their losses pressing heavily on them.

Outside, Riona gathered the remaining squad members. "This is just the beginning," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the grief. "There will be more battles ahead. We must be prepared."

Fiona nodded, her face grim. "We've lost many, but our mission is far from over. We're professionals, and we will finish what we started."

The squad buried their comrades in a quiet spot not far from the cave, each paying their respects with a moment of silence. "They fight for the Gods now," they said in unison as they laid their fallen brothers and sisters to rest.

As they walked away from the graves, they knew their journey was far from over. The father's disappearance still lingered in their minds, and they would not rest until they found out what had happened to him. But for now, they needed rest. The battle had taken everything out of them—physically, emotionally, and mentally.

The sun was beginning to set, casting the sky in hues of orange and pink as the squad set up camp near the cave entrance. Taizen sat down beside Mionara, wiping sweat from his brow.

"That was a brutal fight," he muttered, staring out at the fading light. "I'm just glad it's over."

Mionara, sitting beside him, nodded slowly. "It's never easy losing comrades," he said quietly. "But we keep moving forward. We have no choice."

Taizen glanced at him, a strange look crossing his face. "Do you ever feel a thrill in battle?" he asked quietly, his voice hesitant.

Mionara turned to him, eyebrows raised. "What do you mean?"

"I mean… when you're fighting. Do you ever feel like there's a rush—like it's more than just survival?" Taizen clarified, his voice low.

Mionara thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't think about it much. We have a mission. That's what drives me."

Taizen nodded, though he seemed deep in thought. "I don't know… sometimes I feel it. Like a strange excitement."

Mionara's gaze sharpened, and she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Be careful with that," she warned softly. "We're here to complete our tasks, not to kill for the thrill of it. There's a difference."

Taizen nodded slowly, looking slightly abashed. "You're right. I just… sometimes it's hard to separate the two."

Mionara gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Focus on the mission. That's all that matters."

Taizen smiled faintly, the tension easing. "Thanks. I needed that."

As the night deepened and the squad rested by the fire, as they waited for reinforcements before being escorted back to HQ.