BACK TO HQ

Sky knelt down beside Reiten, gently removing the radio from his holster. She pressed the button and spoke into it, her voice steady but urgent. "This is Agent Sky. We've completed the mission. The enemies have retreated, but we need immediate medical assistance. Reiten is down and requires treatment now."

She clipped the radio back and stood up, glancing over the battlefield—the warehouse was eerily quiet now. Her eyes moved to the bodies of the fallen TAK members. The damage was brutal, and even though she and Elza hadn't seen what happened, it was obvious who was responsible.

Elza stepped up beside her, her expression conflicted as she took in the aftermath. "It's got to be Chosen's work," she said quietly, motioning toward the deep punctures and the precision of the wounds. "There's no way anyone else could've done this kind of damage ."

Sky folded her arms, her brow furrowed. "We didn't see him fight, but… this isn't the work of an amateur. He's on another level."

Ragra, leaning against his staff and catching his breath after his own grueling battle, joined them. He followed their gazes to the bodies, shaking his head. "You're right… seeing the damage left behind…" He trailed off, still trying to process it all. "I've never seen someone fight like that."

Sky nodded, looking toward Chosen, who was standing silently a short distance away, his expression unreadable as usual. "We owe him for this," she said simply. "There's no way we'd still be standing without him."

Elza glanced at Chosen, her lips curving into a small smile. "You're incredible," she called out to him. "Seriously. If you hadn't been here, we might've failed this mission entirely."

Chosen turned his head slightly at her words, his eyes briefly meeting hers, but he didn't say a word. Instead, a faint half-smile tugged at the corner of his lips before he turned his attention elsewhere, avoiding the conversation entirely.

Sky smirked at his reaction, leaning toward Elza and whispering, "I think you made him shy."

Elza chuckled softly. "I doubt that."

Ragra stepped forward, looking toward the horizon. "We might've won this time, but Tiger… that guy is another story. He was on a different level. If he was holding back… I don't even want to think about what he's truly capable of."

Sky sighed, nodding in agreement. "He said he was a former officer for the agency. Why would someone like that turn against us? Why would he join TAK?"

Elza frowned. "He said the agency is corrupt. Do you think it's true?"

Before anyone could answer, the sound of an approaching helicopter cut through the silence, and landed on the fields near the warehouse.

They stepped back as the medics arrived, rushing toward Reiten to begin treatment. The team's exhaustion hung heavy in the air, but they all knew this battle was just the beginning of something much bigger.

The medics quickly moved to Reiten, carefully lifting him onto a stretcher. He winced in pain but didn't resist as they secured him and carried him toward the helicopter. The rotor blades were loud, kicking up dust around them as the medics worked with precision.

Sky and Elza followed close behind, their injuries minor but still noticeable. A medic motioned for them to step inside the helicopter, gesturing to an open seat. "We'll treat those wounds while we're in the air," he said firmly.

Sky nodded, her usual composure intact despite the fatigue etched on her face. She glanced at Elza, who gave her a small, tired smile before climbing aboard.

Ragra, still leaning slightly on his staff, was the last to board. As he sat down, he let out a deep breath, his exhaustion catching up to him now that the danger had passed. A medic crouched beside him, checking for injuries, but Ragra waved them off. "I'm fine. Focus on Reiten," he said, his voice steady but weary.

Inside the helicopter, another medic began tending to Sky and Elza's minor wounds, carefully wrapping bandages around cuts and bruises. "You're lucky it wasn't worse," the medic said, glancing between them.

"Yeah," Sky replied, her tone distant as her mind lingered on the mission. "Lucky."

Elza sat quietly, her gaze drifting toward Reiten. He was still pale, his breathing shallow but steady as the medics worked to stabilize him. "He'll make it, right?" she asked softly.

The medic treating Reiten nodded without looking up. "We've got him stable for now. We'll get him back to HQ and into the medical bay. He's tough—he'll pull through."

Chosen sat at the far end of the helicopter, silent as ever, his guns now holstered. He stared out of the open side of the helicopter, his expression unreadable as the city skyline began to reappear in the distance.

Sky stole a glance at him, her thoughts swirling. He hadn't said a single word throughout the mission, yet his actions had spoken volumes. Elza caught her looking and nudged her lightly.

"You think he's ever going to say anything?" Elza joked, her tone light despite the tension.

Sky smirked, shaking her head. "Doubt it. But honestly, he doesn't need to. He did more than enough today."

Ragra, listening in, let out a low chuckle. "He's the quiet type, sure, but you can't deny he's dangerous"

The group lapsed into silence, the weight of the mission settling over them. The helicopter carried them back toward HQ.

It was still late at night when the helicopter landed back at HQ, the roaring blades slowly coming to a halt. The cool night air swept over the landing bay, carrying the smell of burnt fuel and sweat. Cole stood waiting near the edge of the platform, his arms crossed as the medics carefully carried Reiten out on a stretcher. They moved quickly, taking him directly to the hospital wing.

As the rest of the squad stepped off the helicopter, their exhaustion was evident. Dirt and minor scrapes covered their gear, and their faces were shadowed with fatigue. Cole approached them, his usually firm expression softening slightly.

"Well done, all of you," Cole said, his tone calm but genuine. "Completing this mission was no small feat. Seems like it was a tough one." He paused, studying their faces, then added, "Go back to your complex and get some rest. You'll be notified on your display screens when and where you'll need to give the mission report."

Sky gave a tired nod. "Understood, sir."

Elza managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Cole."

Ragra shifted his staff against his shoulder, exhaling deeply. "Glad it's over, but yeah… we'll need that rest."

Chosen remained silent, as usual, his gaze fixed ahead. Cole glanced at him for a moment, giving the slightest nod of acknowledgment, then turned back to the group.

"All right, dismissed. Get some sleep," Cole said, stepping aside as they began walking toward the residential wing.

The four of them trudged back to their rooms, the weight of the mission finally sinking in. The complex was quiet, the halls dimly lit as they reached their respective doors. Without exchanging many words, each of them entered their rooms and collapsed onto their beds.

Sleep came almost immediately, pulling them into its embrace, while the events of the mission replayed faintly in their minds. For now, they could rest, but they knew there would be more challenges waiting them in the near future.