The Ambush

On the second-floor balcony of a luxurious mansion, a sultry woman sipped red wine, leaning against the railing. Her voluptuous curves were accentuated by the way she rested her arm against her chest.

"They still think they can join the Mage Order. Just as foolish as the rest of the old world," Lady Hawthorne murmured to herself, her voice dripping with disdain.

She had just learned that morning that Zack Moore had been captured by the Exorcist Bureau, but she wasn't particularly bothered by the news.

After all, Zack was nothing more than a pawn—a disposable one at that.

"You lot, go now. Retrieve the Bull-Headed Aberration. And make sure you drop it wherever the crowds are thickest," she commanded, looking down at the shadowy garden below.

Several figures emerged from the darkness, silent and swift, bowing to Lady Hawthorne in unison before disappearing into the night.

"Two cities… two hells," Lady Hawthorne whispered as her crimson lips curled into a wicked smile. Her expression was equal parts seductive and terrifying. "That's how the world should be."

——

Liam Caine tore into his boxed meal, clearly starving. Ever since yesterday, he and the rest of his squad had been stationed at Eastlake, guarding the Bull-Headed Aberration without rest.

After hearing about their situation, their commander had sent someone to deliver food, but with manpower spread so thin across the city, it had taken all day for the provisions to arrive. By the time they finally got their dinner, it was nearly midnight, and the squad was famished.

"Here, take these snacks too," the logistics officer said as he unloaded several boxes of high-calorie food. "You'll need the extra energy."

"Thanks… just leave them there," Liam replied between bites, his mouth still full.

"We've got more deliveries to make, so we'll be off now," the logistics team, looking just as tired as the exorcists, prepared to leave. The danger of working at night in a city full of aberrations was not lost on them.

"Take care, and thanks again!" Liam called after them.

"Your meals saved our lives, man!"

"Next time it's my turn to deliver food to you guys!" the exorcists called out, grateful for the much-needed provisions.

The logistics team smiled, waved, and climbed back into their vehicle, driving off into the night.

"This has to be the best meal I've ever had," one of the older exorcists said as he devoured his food, pure satisfaction on his face.

"You're just starving. Even dog food would taste amazing right now," another exorcist teased.

"Hey, who are you calling a dog?" the older man shot back, mock-offended. Then, with a mischievous grin, he reached out with his chopsticks and snatched a piece of meat from the other exorcist's box.

"Hey! That was my last piece! I was saving that!" the younger exorcist shouted, chasing after him.

The playful banter had the whole group laughing, briefly lifting their spirits and easing some of the tension from the long, exhausting shift.

Liam chuckled to himself and continued eating. But just as he was about to spit out a spicy pepper, a sudden explosion echoed through the night, shaking the ground beneath them. It came from the direction the logistics team had just driven off to.

"Enemies… attack! Ahh—!" a distant scream rang out, cut short by a bone-chilling silence. The scream had come from one of the logistics workers—his final warning to the squad.

Instantly, everyone dropped their meals, their faces growing grim as they drew their weapons, ready to spring into action.

"Don't rush off! Everyone, stay on guard! Marco, Theo, you two are the fastest. Go check it out!" Liam barked, gripping his blade, the Sentinel. Despite the suddenness of the attack, he kept his cool, knowing the enemy was likely after the Bull-Headed Aberration.

The two exorcists Liam had called upon were ready to move. With a quick nod, they bolted into the night. One of them had incredible jumping ability, leaping several meters at a time, while the other seemed to teleport in flashes, covering distances of ten meters in the blink of an eye.

"Alert headquarters immediately! I have a feeling our attackers are no small threat," Liam ordered. His phone had been taken by the werewolf Logan, so he had to rely on another exorcist to make the call.

But as the exorcists checked their phones, their faces fell.

"Liam… there's no signal," one of them said, panic creeping into his voice.

Liam felt a chill run down his spine. His eyes snapped up to the sky, where he noticed something he hadn't before—a thick, creeping fog, barely visible in the darkness. It surrounded them on all sides, stealthy and oppressive.

It was a trap. They were completely encircled.

This was a full-scale ambush.