Once the paperwork was completed, three new members officially joined the team, with Exeo as the leader and Ember as his right hand. The current members were Valens, Bo, and Riggs. Although the higher-ups approved the team, they assigned two specific roles that added complexity.
The first role allowed the team to decide if their targets would receive a warning before any action. The second role differentiated the team's missions into two categories: Nuntius Messor (NM), for missions where only a warning would be delivered, and Mors Messor (MM), for missions involving assassination without warning.
Exeo and Ember initially resisted this structure, arguing that warnings wouldn't always make a difference with certain targets.
However, the higher-ups wanted to avoid aggressive provocation of other nations and to make sure the team valued life. They emphasized the need to protect innocent lives, including civilians forced into crimes.
Reluctantly, Exeo and Ember agreed, and they settled on a name for their team: The Unknown. This alias would allow them to publicly undertake certain missions without exposing their true identities, while maintaining their covert operations as an elite team of assassins.
The Unknown's new headquarters was hidden in plain sight within the military compound. Instead of entering through the main building, they used a discreet back entrance that led to a facility established by the previous generation of assassins. It remained in excellent condition, fully equipped for their needs.
Today, all team members gathered in the office for a briefing. Exeo outlined the new structure and, not surprisingly, Val, Bo, and Riggs reacted much as he and Ember had upon hearing about the roles.
Exeo added, "I informed the higher-ups that we won't be taking any missions for the next two years. This time is reserved for intensive combat training, which will help us grow comfortable with each other's abilities and strengthen our teamwork. Meet here tomorrow by 0700. We'll be departing for a remote island south of Clareo."
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The following morning, the team assembled in the room, prepared for departure. Val was noticeably sleep-deprived, with dark circles under his eyes, his usual cold expression replaced by one of pure exhaustion.
Bo, standing beside him, whispered, "Didn't get any sleep?"
Val yawned and shrugged. "Yeah…too excited."
Bo raised an eyebrow, wondering how someone could look that tired from excitement alone. 'That's one way to show enthusiasm,' he thought, amused.
Exeo gathered their attention. "The chopper is ready. Dr. Lewis will be joining us for the trip. Let's head to the helipad."
All dressed in combat uniforms covered by long black cloaks, they boarded the helicopter one by one. As they ascended, the dense cityscape transformed into sprawling wilderness below.
After landing on the island, Dr. Lewis briefed them. "This is an artificial environment, so don't hold back during training. Just try not to damage the protective barriers around the island; it's designed to appear abandoned from the outside."
They nodded in understanding and proceeded into the dense forest at the island's center, arriving at a small cabin that would serve as their base for the next two years.
Thus, their intensive training began.
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Six Months Later
Explosions reverberated through the forest as the team split into two groups for combat exercises. Val and Bo were paired up against Exeo, Ember, and Riggs.
Bo and Val sprinted through the trees, earpieces in place. Val, slightly out of breath, murmured, "Bo, it looks like it might rain soon."
Bo, who'd grown more comfortable over time but still occasionally lapsed into nervousness, nodded. "Yeah, let's find cover." They spotted a cave, but quickly bypassed it, knowing it would only trap them if the others caught up. Instead, they chose to camouflage near a cliff, catching their breath as Bo placed a hand on Val's shoulder. Slowly, they blended into their surroundings.
Val whispered, "Think you can freeze the ground we just ran over?"
Bo frowned, but nodded. "It's a large area, but I'll try." He knelt, pressing his hands into the earth as a frosty mist began spreading from his palms, crawling over the forest floor and even encasing the trees in ice. The temperature plummeted.
Standing, Bo exhaled a visible breath. "Will that work?"
Val nodded, watching his own breath fog in the cold. "They're here," he whispered, listening to the faint approach of footsteps through the icy mist. Silhouettes emerged in the fog—three figures they knew well.
"ACHOO!" Ember's loud sneeze broke the silence, followed by a muttered, "Sniff…I can't stand this freezing…"
Val shared an amused look with Bo as they crouched perfectly still, hidden from view.
Nodding, Bo reached behind him, releasing an even thicker mist that swallowed the area, rendering visibility nearly zero. He leaned in close to Val and whispered, "Let's go." They slipped away through the fog, the sounds of Ember's sniffles fading as they distanced themselves.
As they neared a cave on the eastern side, Val muttered, "Block the entrance so they'll have to break through." Bo nodded, sealing the entrance with a thick layer of ice. The sounds of footsteps ceased, and the forest fell silent.
Bo settled behind a boulder as Val motioned for him to turn off his earpiece. Exeo's sharp hearing could pick up the smallest sounds, and even whispers through the earpieces might give them away. Using hand signals, Val conveyed his plan: If they break through, we split and head in opposite directions.
Moments later, a powerful crack echoed through the forest as Exeo sliced the ice block with a purple aura-infused sword. Taking this as his cue, Val and Bo sprinted in opposite directions, earpieces back on.
"Bo, stall them if you can. I'll loop around and catch up soon," Val whispered through the earpiece.
"Roger," Bo replied, darting ahead.
Not long after, Val heard footsteps behind him. Riggs is my tail, he thought, stopping abruptly and turning to face the direction of the footsteps. As Riggs neared, Val deftly stepped forward, tapped him on the shoulder, then vaulted over him with a roll, landing behind him and taking off in Bo's direction.
Regaining his bearings, Riggs muttered, "Dammit."
Val continued running until he heard familiar voices up ahead. He whispered into his earpiece, "Bo, if both Exeo and Ember are there, don't respond. If it's only one, cough once." The silence confirmed both were nearby, so Val planned his approach.
Pulling out a dagger, he launched a series of quick attacks, drawing their attention. They dodged, turning to face him, and Val shouted, "NOW, BO!"
An ice platform rose beneath Val, lifting him as Bo formed a 15-meter-wide ice wall between them and the two brothers. Val balanced himself as the platform lifted him to Bo's level, and they stood together on the other side, catching their breath.
Exeo inspected the wall with a bemused smile. "Impressive."
Ember, bundled up against the cold, just nodded, while Riggs joined them, mouth slightly open in awe.
Val knelt beside Bo, who was leaning against a rock. "Are you good?"
Bo nodded, rubbing a sore shoulder. Val extended a hand to help him up, and Bo took it, standing on wobbly legs. They exchanged a grin.
Val called out to the others, "Training over? That wall could take a while to break."
Exeo nodded, acknowledging their victory. Val smirked. "We'll head back first," he said, pulling out a small dagger. With a quick slash through the air, he created a thin slit of a dark portal, dragging Bo along as they disappeared inside.
On the other side of the portal, they stepped out into the cabin, where Val dropped a worn-out Bo onto the sofa. Val grabbed two glasses of water and offered one to Bo. "That was impressive back there," Val said, handing him the glass.
Bo, gulping the water down, gasped. "Thanks. How did you know I could pull that off?"
Val shrugged. "Didn't know for sure, but you're an ice user. Figured it was worth a shot."
Bo chuckled, shaking his head as he lay back and gradually drifted to sleep, exhausted from the day's training. Val left him to rest as Exeo, Ember, and Riggs returned shortly after, expressions impressed yet thoughtful.
Outside, the two-year journey had only begun, and inside, The Unknown was shaping up to become an unstoppable team.