Beyond the mission

arched down the corridor, their boots echoing against the cold f

m her desk. "Well done. Th

, her eyes scan

ere's

m fell

qu

ard, her voice bare

't make it

f the file. Her expression didn'

..what h

anks, stepped forward w

dead-because he happened." S

ollen, shook his head,

. He told me not to come, but I did

no point crying over it now. Simon's gone. We'll fil

it the room

t just 'replace' Simon. He wasn't a desk filler-he was

His voice, shaky but deter

o it... I'll

the room tu

s gone in the first place. The one person who act

ightened. He

She smiled, cruel

y them just to forget you existed-and they didn't hesit

he words stung-but no

omething inside

arkened. "That

ly looked up,

more?" He gave a small, cold laugh. "My paren

rd, meeting Ava'

who actually saw me. And yeah, I m

me an S-Rank. Not to prove it to you... but for

again-only now, it

quiet bef

r a split second... there was s

t i'd like to

ills no one his age ever dared to attempt. Eventually, he stood at the top-an S-Rank assassin, feared, respected... g

ssassin from D to S-Rank into the central hall. It was rare-unheard of even-for

orm, Raven's voice rang

ur instincts, and bleed for your progress. But today," she paused, scanning th

rprise ran thr

for a mission like no other. Complete it, and you'l

as legend. Untouchable. Rumors and whispers danced

-of c

d finally, the last name

ne Am

le

fused murmurs spr

ho

id she say

some kind

ood frozen. Her eyes w

has to be a mistake. I just got ranked last

smiled. "That'll be all," she said. "Ch

. And Daphne? She stood on shaking legs, stepping toward the unk

sins stood before her in a line. Jason, arms crossed, unreadable. The others-seasoned, focuse

the lights dimmed and a holographic projection shimmered to life

but her tone was l

name: Liam. Last name : Hugh. A

om wen

You're to infiltrate the compound, extract him alive

aling layers of security: gu

get the boy. You

d eyes wi

s not on t

ne s

ble floor. "What I'm about to assign isn't just a mission," s

-S-Rank, well-decorated, trusted. And one of you...

hers shot her a glance.

continued. "Not raw power, not experienc

an eyebrow bu

e who make it back alive...

nally looked at her-studying her-bu

darkly, "this isn't about

map. "You l

o exit, Raven ca

pau

ch h

wed slightly. "If

d," Raven finished co

chill run do

answer. He ju

nd whispered to herself, ".

y. Seraphina, one of the chosen S-Ranks, clicked her to

k on a Phantom-level mission," she scoffed. "Sh

ression, didn't even blink. "Why not just

, I've thought about it. But we'd be br

second think you're one of us. If you slow me down, I'll make sure you disappear. You're

ely a whisper. "Yes, ma'am.

. "Ugh, look at her. Shaking

off without a

nched, trying to hold herself together. That

u if you let them. I'd do it myself if it weren't against protocol. They're S-Ranks

ed down another hallway, leaving

. She turned to see Howl-another S-Rank, b

ough, no doubt... Honestly, I still don't know why Raven pick

s. "I don't even know

rong, I've got your back. I won't let a

ised. "You'd do that?

shrugged. "Some of them might

ind Jason too much. He acts like he cares, but truth i

idened. "Wait..

"Long story. Maybe you'll figure it o

er. She still didn't feel ready-but maybe, ju

the pillow like the world was ending. Her roommate, Cind

how does it feel to be famous?

kly at the ceiling. "Like I've just been

Everyone would kill to be

Yeah, and I might liter

inting mischievously. "Oka

her head, susp

ssion with Jason! You know-Jason! Y

launched a pillow at Cindy. "SHHHH! No

. "Girl, you wrote his name in your traini

m... but that was before I realized he wouldn't

ck. "You don't know that.

he might let me 'accidentally' get elim

eal talk... you don't actually

rules' bend when you hit their level. If I mysteriously trip

e slowly curl into a ball. "You're stronger than yo

ne mumbled into her bl

ext M

rt. Everyone was geared up

was auditioning for a speed-drummin

her. "Relax, Seraphina. You j

didn't show up like it's a fashionably late brunch. She

n. "Maybe she got lost

s, hair a mess, breathing like sh

orry! I swear I didn

You're here, that's what matters. Besides..." -h

e rang out from behi

s arrived!.. Sorry I'm late t

s on indoors, flipping a snack bar in one

don, there's no traffic inside a

re telling me that teleport jam at the

"Wait... is that a D-Rank? We got b

my God, Brandon, were you eve

"Mentally? No. Spi

by and sauntered over like he'd jus

ed brother in arms! Why

freeze sunlight. "I don't remember e

atically. "You wound me! Jason,

id-sentence. Conver

iosity. "Hey, real talk... that kid we're supposed to 'adopt

. The kid's got the same gloom

iam had silver hair, I'd swear J

done comparing me to a 10-year-old,

gainst the dock floor.Raven arrived, as p

n. "Well, well... if it isn't Mr.

blink. "Like a k

er. "Still shar

"Great. They're

m all like she'd stepped

ins Gon