SICARII

The four of them finally reached the designated recon point Lino had specified, but there was no sign of him or the rest of his squad. The dimly lit tunnel felt emptier by the second as they waited, tension still lingering in the air. Rachel and Mionara took the opportunity to sit down and meditate, drawing on the silence to replenish their inner reserves. With the possibility of another battle looming, every ounce of strength mattered.

Taizen, on the other hand, remained on high alert, pacing restlessly near the tunnel entrance. He was the first to hear the faint sound of footsteps echoing from down the passageway. Instinctively, he tensed up, unsheathing his katana in a swift motion. His stance was firm, ready to face whatever was coming.

The others snapped to attention, but the tension eased as the figures came into view. It was Lino and the remaining pack members, casually walking back toward them. Taizen exhaled, lowering his blade, though his grip remained firm as a precaution.

Lino raised a hand in greeting as he approached. "Didn't come across anyone," he said, his tone neutral. "And we couldn't locate Mr. Walker's son."

It didn't take long for him to notice Ron standing among them. His brow furrowed as he looked at Rachel. "You found him?"

Rachel nodded and quickly filled him in. "The group that took him is a criminal organization called TAK. It stands for The Agent Killers. We don't know their full agenda, though—" she paused, casting a sharp look toward Mionara.

Mionara shifted uncomfortably under her glare, his eyes glued to the ground. He avoided eye contact, knowing full well the silent reprimand Rachel was delivering without words.

Clearing her throat, Rachel continued. "But we managed to recover Ron without taking any casualties or major injuries. We had to take out four of them. They were tough—some of them were Sicarii with inner abilities."

Lino let out a low whistle, his face darkening. "Damn. Sicarii, and this strong? I wonder how they've stayed under the radar for so long." He turned to Ron, extending a hand. "You alright?"

Ron nodded, shaking Lino's hand firmly. "I'm fine. Thanks for getting me out of there."

"I'm Lino, the Alpha of the pack," Lino introduced himself, his tone warm despite the tension in his posture.

Ron gave a faint smile. "I owe you."

Lino clapped him on the shoulder. " we can't waste time. Let's roll out. We've got a long journey back to Delria."

Rachel adjusted her gear as Lino continued, "The boat's waiting for us by the ocean. We'll run as far as we can and rest only when we're sure it's safe. Keep your guard up—no telling who might still be around."

The group nodded in unison, their faces resolute as they prepared to leave the darkness of the tunnels behind.

The squad climbed the ladders one by one, emerging from the suffocating darkness of the underground tunnels into the wild, open wilderness. The cool night air hit their faces as they adjusted to the pale moonlight illuminating the landscape. Lino was the first to step out, scanning the area with a trained eye as the others followed suit.

"Who's that over there?" asked Rio, one of the pack members, his voice sharp with suspicion. He pointed to a lone figure in the distance, slowly approaching with an unhurried gait.

The squad immediately fell silent, their focus snapping to the mysterious figure. Weapons were drawn as tension rippled through the group.

"That's not one of us," Lino confirmed, his tone cold and commanding. "Everyone, brace."

The figure continued its approach, closing the distance to about twenty meters. He stopped there, standing motionless. His hood obscured his face, and the moonlight glinted off the sword strapped to his back.

Ron's voice broke the uneasy silence. "It's him. That's their leader."

Lino's jaw tightened as the squad prepared for a confrontation. The figure reached up, slowly pulling back his hood, the deliberate motion adding an almost unbearable weight to the moment. When his face was revealed, the squad could see his sharp, calculating eyes and an expression of calm confidence.

No one moved. The air was electric with tension, both sides waiting for the other to make the first move.

The man spoke, his voice smooth yet laced with menace. "You must have taken out my brothers if you've made it this far with our hostage. So, I cannot underestimate your strength." He paused, letting his words hang in the air. "My name is Felix, and I am a member of TAK. You may not know us now, but you will soon. We will not lurk in the shadows much longer. We will dismantle the Agency, piece by piece, and take control of Labre. The Agency is corrupt, evil, and undeserving of its power."

Taizen, visibly bristling, gripped his katana tighter. "I'm tired of all this talk!" he growled before lunging toward Felix with blinding speed.

"Taizen, wait!" Lino shouted, but it was too late.

Felix's hands moved in a flash. He faced his palms outward, and with a sharp exhale, an enormous cloud of thick, black smoke erupted from them, engulfing the area in an instant. The squad was blinded, their vision completely obscured.

"What the—" Rachel choked, coughing against the acrid smoke.

Taizen's advance was cut short as Felix moved through the darkness with inhuman speed, his steps silent. With a devastating kick to Taizen's stomach, Felix sent him flying backward. Taizen's body crashed into the ground several meters away, the force of the blow leaving him winded.

Felix wasted no time. He turned on the rest of the squad, striking with lightning-fast punches and kicks.

Rachel staggered as a hard fist connected with her shoulder, sending her sprawling to the ground. Mionara attempted to retaliate, slashing blindly with his swords, but Felix slipped past his strikes with ease. A sharp kick to Mionara's leg swept him off his feet, leaving him gasping on the ground.

"Damn it, I can't see!" Rio shouted, swinging his weapon wildly at nothing. Felix dodged effortlessly, slamming an elbow into Rio's side and sending him reeling.

Felix moved like a shadow, striking with surgical precision. Every attack landed perfectly, leaving the squad disoriented and struggling to recover. Even Lino, the Alpha, was caught off guard, a brutal blow to his ribs forcing him to one knee.

Moments later, the smoke began to clear, and the squad scrambled to their feet, weapons ready. But Felix was gone.

Lino scanned the area, his fists clenched. His eyes dropped to the ground, his expression grim. "He's gone…" His voice was heavy with frustration. "Ron is gone. For flip's sake, he's been taken again!"

The team stood in stunned silence, the reality of their failure settling over them like a dark cloud.