The forest floor reeked of iron and decay, a grim testament to the carnage the squad had wrought. Eight panther corpses lay sprawled amidst pools of crimson, a silent stage of victory.
The squad members, chests heaving and muscles screaming, stood in the middle of the carnage, a newfound pride etched on their faces.
"What are you waiting for?" Adrian's voice cut through the air, sharp as a honed blade. "Those cores won't harvest themselves."
Jolted from their reverie, the squad sprung into action. Kai, ever the leader, took charge, barking orders as they moved from panther to panther, extracting the pulsing blue cores.
Asyli, and orderly one, kept a mental tally. "Eight cores," she announced finally, a hint of disappointment lacing her voice.
Adrian let out a sigh that ruffled the leaves overhead. "Terribly inadequate," he muttered, his dark eyes glinting with a hint of something akin to hunger.
