Chapter: The Rising Threat
The Mission Board glowed brighter than usual.
Red alerts.
High-priority missions.
The entire city perimeter marked in flashing lines.
Ayu stood in the center of the room.
Shadow, Kaito, Miko, Milosevic, and Yoi gathered around.
The hum of the screens filled the silence.
Ayu pointed at the largest flashing marker.
"This isn't a normal threat."
Milosevic leaned closer. "Judging by the scale… it's spreading fast."
Kaito frowned. "How fast?"
Ayu tapped a few commands.
"Entire Sector 7 compromised in under an hour. Reports of civilians trapped, some injured. No clear pattern of attack."
Miko's eyes widened. "That sounds… big."
Yoi smirked. "Finally. Something worth our time."
Shadow's gaze remained calm. "Worth our lives, maybe."
Ayu turned to them.
"This mission will test everything we've learned."
He gestured at the screen again.
"They are calling it 'The Corrupted Signal.'"
Kaito blinked. "Corrupted what?"
Ayu's expression hardened. "A coordinated assault. Unknown enemy. Multiple locations. Casualties expected if we're late."
Milosevic muttered, "Not just one opponent… many."
Miko swallowed. "Are we ready?"
Ayu looked at each of them in turn.
Shadow, calm and focused.
Kaito, restless and eager.
Miko, worried but determined.
Milosevic, calculating.
Yoi, cocky but ready.
Ayu nodded slowly.
"This is bigger than Death Blower. Bigger than anything we've faced."
He turned to the screen.
"Coordinates uploaded. We move in five minutes."
The team exchanged glances.
No words needed.
They already knew.
This would push them further than ever before.
Ayu clenched his fist.
"Remember… it's not just about fighting. It's about surviving. Protecting. Controlling."
Shadow's eyes flickered toward the city map.
Kaito grinned. "Finally… a real mission."
Miko stayed quiet, holding her hands together.
Milosevic already calculated trajectories in his mind.
Yoi loaded his guns slowly, smirk returning.
Ayu took a deep breath.
"This is it. The mission that will define us."
The Mission Board flashed once more.
Red. Dangerous. Deadly.
The countdown began.
Five minutes to move.
And the city waited.