The announcer's voice crackled through the chamber. "Congratulations on not dying, cadets." A pause. "Your performances were noted by the higher-ups… and a few of you impressed them." A soft mechanical chime echoed. "Welcome to your new rank. You are officially Shadows." Silence fell over the room. "Now let's see how you fare in the real world.
Weeks passed.
Routine returned.
Lessons. Combat drills. Squad synchronization. Conditioning. Tactical simulations. And nights training with Hades. Then Lambda summoned them.
"Gather up."
She tossed a photo onto the table.
The Prime Minister.
"He's moving through high-risk districts during a peace campaign. Your job is simple." Another image slid across the table. A man's blurred face. A strange symbol drawn over it. "If you see this symbol anywhere kill on sight." Her gaze hardened. "Minimize civilian casualties. Minimize property damage. Kill only when necessary." She looked directly at Alpha. "You're leading." The helicopter engines roared to life. Theta checked gear straps methodically. "If we're doing this, we're doing it right," he said calmly. "First mission. No mistakes." He turned to them. "Beta, you work the shadows." "Gamma, Zeta you're closest to the Prime Minister. Gamma, you pass as adult security. Zeta, you're his assistant third layer." "Omega and I blend into the crowd. Supporters and protesters will flood the area. We scan for anomalies and track the marked target." He tapped the image. "If he shows up, we end it." The helicopter descended. Gamma and Zeta exited first already in disguise. They were ushered into an armored SUV with official security. Alpha, Omega, and Beta vanished into their roles.
The city was loud.
Crowded.
Unstable.
They secured an abandoned building for temporary surveillance and scouted vantage points overnight. By dawn, the park was packed. Police lines stretched across streets. Supporters chanted. Protesters shouted. Tension simmered just beneath the surface. Beta dissolved into her shadow. Omega and Alpha merged into the crowd, faces partially covered. Alpha made a small slit across his palm. Just enough. Gamma's voice crackled through comms. "Alpha. Grey beanie. Blue polo. Gun tucked in sleeve." A pause. "Omega, follow his line of sight. He's scanning buildings. Check the two on the left. I'll monitor the right." Alpha brushed past the suspect casually. A slight bump. Blood transferred. Marked. "Alpha, five more moving toward the stage. Fast. Hostile intent confirmed." Alpha shifted direction smoothly, weaving through civilians. He tapped the first target lightly. Precise nerve strike. The man froze mid-step. Alpha smeared blood across his face. It flowed through nostrils silently.
He kept walking.
Second target.
Pulled into a friendly embrace. Pressure point. Out cold. Third and fourth same precision. No panic. No scene. Just quiet eliminations. He moved toward the final suspect an officer stepped in front of him. Blocking his path. Alpha adjusted. The suspect reached the stage perimeter. Screams erupted. The man pulled a gun.
"TO HELL WITH YOU ALL"
He stopped mid-shout.
Coughed.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
His eyes turned crimson. He collapsed, convulsing. Foam and blood mixed at his lips. Crowd panic ignited instantly. Omega was already inside the adjacent building. Flowing through hallways like mist. Suppressing snipers before they could fire. "Building clear. Beta?" From the shadows, tendrils erupted. They pierced the remaining snipers silently and dragged them into darkness. No bodies left. No evidence. Two officers near the stage suddenly began convulsing. Their eyes darkened. Purple veins cracked outward from their sockets in symmetrical patterns. They launched forward unnaturally. Bullets tore through them. They did not stop. Gamma exhaled. From his back pouch, a weapon materialized formed by will. His right eye glowed gold. Two shots. Two headshots. Both officers dropped instantly. The purple glow evaporated. Their bodies shriveled into dry husks. The park dissolved into chaos.
People ran.
Screamed.
Cried.
The Prime Minister was rushed away under heavy guard. Mission objective intact. Omega and Beta disappeared long before authorities could process what happened. Alpha slipped free during the confusion Then collided with someone. A girl. Oversized hoodie. Arms wrapped tightly in bandages. A faint purple glow pulsed beneath the fabric. She looked up. Just for a second. Then vanished into the fleeing crowd. Alpha froze. On her sleeve the symbol. The exact one Lambda had drawn. Silence settled in his mind. This wasn't random. This wasn't a failed assassination. It was a message. And she wanted him to see it.