Ex rank talent Awakening: 100% Dodge rate

Azrael stood before the assembled team, his sharp hazel eyes sweeping over the participants of the operation. The flickering torchlight of the underground chamber cast long shadows across their determined faces. Three captains—Petra, Iliac, and Vine—formed the backbone of the mission, with Scarlett's addition making them a formidable force. Each captain had handpicked ten of their elite squad members, bringing the total to forty-five—a lean, lethal unit ready to strike.

"We're hitting the Lust Province discreetly," Azrael began, his voice steady and commanding. "Our goal is simple: infiltrate, cause irreparable damage, and get out. Stay sharp—watch for traps. This isn't a drill; it's the real thing. Lives will be on the line, so keep your wits about you and support each other. Captain Iliac and his team will scout ahead, ensuring no ambushes or unbeatable foes block our path. Captain Petra follows, neutralizing any stray enemies that could compromise us—petrifying them to silence their warnings. The heart of our plan rests with Vine. She'll unleash a deadly poison or infection into the demon camp, one that spreads fast and cuts down their numbers. Finally, Scarlett and I will slip into the Lust Castle to seize anything valuable. Once your tasks are done, don't wait for us—get out to reduce the risk. We regroup in the Whispering Forest. If Scarlett and I aren't there within an hour of the mission's start, abandon us and report to Commander Aquarius. Petra takes charge then."

The team nodded, their expressions a mix of resolve and tension as they made final preparations—sharpening blades, checking gear, murmuring quiet encouragements. Azrael turned to Scarlett, his demeanor softening. He took her hands in his, the warmth of her skin grounding him. "I'm sorry for dragging you into something this dangerous," he said, his voice low with regret.

Scarlett smiled, stepping closer until she could slip into his embrace, her head resting against his chest. "It's fine. I wouldn't feel right letting you tackle this impossible mission alone. Besides, I can handle myself—I proved that to you a long time ago, didn't I?"

"Yeah," Azrael said, a faint smile breaking through his worry as he tightened his arms around her. "You saved me once. I'm counting on you to do it again." They lingered in the moment, the chaos of the mission fading briefly under the comfort of their closeness.

"Alright, this is it! Time to move!" Azrael's voice rang out, sharp and decisive, as he led the team out of the underground city. The demon realm sprawled vast and untamed beyond their hidden stronghold—larger than Earth itself, a labyrinth of jagged peaks, crimson skies, and shadowed plains. Traveling to the Lust Province was no short trek, but the underground city's mobility function made it possible. With a low rumble, the massive structure shifted, its enchanted mechanisms propelling it across the terrain at breakneck speed. It halted ten kilometers from the province's border, leaving the rest of the journey to be covered on foot.

At five hundred meters from the province, the team stopped, crouching low among the twisted roots and thorny underbrush. Their breaths were shallow, their movements silent, every sense attuned to avoid detection. "Let's go!" Iliac whispered, his lean frame barely visible as he signaled his scouting team forward. His ten elites moved like phantoms, their training evident in how they slipped past patrolling demon knights—hulking figures clad in black armor, their eyes glowing faintly in the dark. The rest of the group trailed close behind, trusting Iliac's path.

His scouting was flawless. The route he carved through the province's outer defenses was so precise that Petra, poised to eliminate stragglers, found no work to do. She walked with her squad, her dark eyes scanning the shadows, her hands ready to summon the petrifying magic that could turn flesh to stone. But the silence held—no stray demons, no alarms.

"We've infiltrated the province," Azrael whispered as they reached a fork in the path, the Lust Castle's spires looming in the distance. "This is where we split. Scarlett and I are heading to the castle to grab what we can. The rest of you, finish your parts of the plan. We meet in the Whispering Forest in one hour. Good luck." He gave a curt nod, then sprinted off, Scarlett matching his pace with effortless grace, their forms vanishing into the night.

"Wow," Vine muttered, watching them go. Her auburn hair was tied back, her sharp features softened by a flicker of envy. "He trusts her a lot, doesn't he? Melting Azrael's cold heart—I hate to admit it, but I'm jealous."

"No time for that," Petra snapped, her voice firm as she took charge. "Let's move." Assigned as the fallback leader, she was determined to execute their task flawlessly. "Vine, where's the best spot to hit them with your poison?"

"The water source," Vine replied, her mind already mapping it out. "If I can taint their supply, it'll spread fast and—urgh!" Her words cut off as she crumpled to her knees, a dagger buried in her side. Iliac stood over her, his cruel smile glinting in the moonlight.

"What the hell is this?" Petra demanded, her voice icy as she stepped forward, magic crackling at her fingertips. "Explain yourself, Iliac, or I'll put you down for treason."

"Scary lady," Iliac sneered, unfazed. "But I'm not afraid of you. I've already tipped off my allies—they're here, surrounding us. Give up any hope of leaving alive."

"Why?" Vine rasped, forcing herself to her feet, blood seeping through her fingers as she clutched her wound. "Why betray us?"

Iliac's scowl deepened, his voice thick with bitterness. "For starters, I'm sick of living like a rat—hiding in that shithole you call a city, fighting a war we can't win. Demon hunters? What a joke. We're prey pretending to be predators, and they let us play the game until they're ready to crush us. I'm done living on the edge, wondering when I'll die. So I picked the winning side—the one that promises I'll live without that constant dread."

Petra's frown tightened, her mind racing as Iliac's words painted a grim picture. The plan was a setup. Iliac's allies—likely demons—had him confident they were doomed. Worse, he'd been their scout, guiding them into this trap. If he was a traitor, the underground city itself might already be compromised. The realization chilled her to the core.

"Everyone, scatter!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the rising panic. "Protect yourselves at all costs—we'll regroup after shaking them off!" She bolted into the trees, Vine staggering behind her, the other squad members fanning out in all directions. Only Iliac and his squad remained, unmoving, their laughter echoing as the trap closed in.

"Hahahaha!" Iliac crowed, his eyes wild with glee. "They think they can escape? Track them down! Kill as many as you can—this is going to be fun!" His squad obeyed, splitting off to hunt the fleeing hunters, their footsteps pounding the earth like a drumbeat of doom.