After the meeting, the trio returned to the reception area and took their seats.
They had been waiting there for quite some time.
By now, night had fallen.
The operation would begin at any moment.
Outside, the Guild compound buzzed with activity.
Inside the headquarters, where they waited, Adventurers hurried through the halls, jogging back and forth as they gathered weapons, supplies, and the rest of their equipment.
As the minutes passed, the once-crowded compound gradually emptied.
One by one, the Adventurers departed for their assigned positions, moving to carry out Benjamin's plan.
"You've been waiting here for a while."
Benjamin approached, now dressed in Spinewear, the standard combat attire worn by Adventurers during missions.
Unlike ordinary clothing, Spinewear was crafted from reinforced fabric with subtle armor integrated into it. Protective vests, tightly fastened belts, shoulder drapes, and other layered pieces provided mobility without sacrificing defense.
Its most remarkable feature, however, was the Threadglass woven into the fabric.
The material was as flexible as silk during normal movement, yet hardened the instant it absorbed an impact. While it couldn't completely block powerful attacks, it was more than capable of softening lighter blows and greatly reducing the force of moderate ones.
"If you'd like," Benjamin said, looking at the trio, "I can have some Spinewear brought over for you."
"We'll pass," Boros replied as he rose to his feet.
Akeno and Kinuko stood as well.
Benjamin nodded.
"The strike team is already waiting outside the compound."
He turned toward the exit.
"Let's go meet them."
The four of them walked side by side.
As they made their way through the headquarters, Akeno couldn't help stealing glances at Benjamin's gloves.
Unlike the rest of his outfit—which consisted mostly of worn black and brown colors—the gloves were pristine white, decorated with elegant gold trim along the back of the hands.
They looked completely out of place.
Benjamin noticed.
"You've been staring at me for a while now," he said without looking back.
Akeno laughed awkwardly.
"Sorry."
"It's just..."
"Your gloves."
"They're really beautiful."
Benjamin chuckled.
"He doesn't like being called beautiful."
"He?" Kinuko repeated.
Benjamin raised one gloved hand.
"Yeah."
"This is Vyrathax."
"My Awakened Weapon."
The trio's attention immediately sharpened.
An Awakened Weapon.
Just hearing those words was enough to make them take another look at the pristine white gloves.
They had no idea what Vyrathax's abilities were, but one thing was common knowledge throughout the world.
Awakened Weapons were no joke.
Ever since leaving his own behind, Boros had constantly felt as though a part of himself was missing.
It wasn't enough to affect him in battle.
But the feeling never truly went away.
By the time the conversation ended, they had reached the front of the Guild Headquarters.
A large force of Adventurers had already assembled outside.
Boros immediately spotted Spike standing beside one of the Captains with roughly forty Adventurers lined up behind them.
Remembering the briefing, the trio headed toward Spike's group while Benjamin continued toward his own.
As they walked, they noticed something peculiar.
Aside from Benjamin and Spike, every single Adventurer wore a dark green cloak draped over their Spinewear.
The fabric shimmered beneath the moonlight, and the cloak itself was beautifully designed.
The trio simply assumed it was the Sylva Guardians' Guild uniform and thought nothing more of it.
Soon, the five strike teams stood assembled.
An uneasy silence settled over the clearing.
Even Spike, surprisingly, kept his mouth shut.
Still...
The excitement radiating from him was almost tangible.
He looked as though he was seconds away from charging into battle on his own.
Benjamin lowered his gaze to the watch on his wrist.
A moment later, he dropped his arm.
"Guardians!"
His voice echoed through the night.
"Advance!"
Whoosh!
All five strike teams burst into motion at once.
They raced through the forest at incredible speed, cloaks flowing behind them as they blended into the darkness between the trees.
No one fell behind.
Every Adventurer maintained the pace.
After putting enough distance between themselves and Tunisik, the largest of the five groups came to a halt.
Instead of continuing forward, they split apart, spreading through the surrounding forest.
According to the plan, they would serve as the final line of defense, intercepting any S-Rank Killers who attempted to escape toward the town.
Not long afterward, two more strike teams peeled away.
One headed left.
The other veered right.
Only two groups continued straight ahead.
Boros' group...
...and Benjamin's.
Beep. Beep.
A Jet Phone rang.
Benjamin flipped it open.
"The rear containment team has reached its position, sir!" a voice reported.
"Good."
"Remain in position and follow the plan."
Benjamin snapped the Jet Phone shut.
Without slowing down, he raised his voice.
"Keep moving!"
"We'll be there soon!"
"Yes, sir!"
The two groups answered in unison before pressing deeper into the forest.
Several minutes later...
The building finally came into view.
It was an old, run-down two-story structure standing alone in a clearing.
Beyond the open ground surrounding it, the forest stretched in every direction.
The strike teams immediately separated into their assigned positions.
The left and right teams disappeared into the trees.
Benjamin's group circled around with the team assigned to the right before breaking off, eventually reaching the rear of the facility.
Within moments...
The building had been completely surrounded.
The forest fell silent.
Everyone knew their approach hadn't gone unnoticed.
With dozens of Adventurers crashing through trees, snapping branches, and trampling leaves, anyone inside would've heard them long ago.
Suppressing their Nexus wouldn't hide that.
Benjamin stepped forward.
His voice boomed across the clearing.
"I am Benjamin Stark, Guildmaster of the Sylva Guardians!"
"Release every captive you're holding and come out with your hands above your heads."
"If you surrender..."
"...I'll make your deaths quick."
His eyes narrowed.
"If you refuse..."
"...I'll make sure you beg for death."
Silence answered him.
Then—
Beep! Beep!
Benjamin's Jet Phone rang again.
He answered immediately.
"Sir!"
Explosions thundered through the speaker.
"Sir!"
"Report," Benjamin said calmly.
The voice on the other end trembled.
"Two of the decoy teams..."
"...have been completely wiped out!"
The Jet Phone's speaker was loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
The forest grew deathly quiet.
"Vice Guildmaster Jake arrived a few minutes ago and drew the stronger enemies away from the area," the Adventurer continued.
Benjamin silently clenched his fists.
His eyes burned with restrained fury.
Without another word, he snapped the Jet Phone shut.
"...Guardians."
"Sir!"
"Proceed with the operation."
The next instant—
"CHARGE!"
With a furious roar, Benjamin's group and Boros' group burst from the forest and stormed the building.
Weapons ready...
Prepared to tear apart whatever waited inside.
But the moment they entered...
They stopped.
The first floor resembled nothing more than an abandoned warehouse.
A sickening stench of decaying flesh filled the air.
At the center of the room sat a lone figure.
Benjamin slowly approached.
As he drew closer...
His expression darkened.
It was a man.
His hands were bound behind his back.
His head...
...was gone.
The warehouse was otherwise empty.
Along one side of the room, a metal staircase climbed toward the second floor.
Benjamin quietly closed his eyes.
'I can feel several Nexus signatures above us.'
He looked over his shoulder.
"Spike."
"The White Tigers."
"The Captains."
"You stay."
His gaze shifted to everyone else.
"The rest of you..."
"...wait outside."
"Yes, sir!"
The Adventurers immediately withdrew from the warehouse.
As the remaining group approached Benjamin, Spike spat onto the floor.
"These bastards are sick."
Kinuko frowned at the corpse.
"...This is beyond cruel."
"Yeah," Akeno agreed quietly.
Benjamin stared toward the ceiling.
"It's almost like they're trying to lure us in."
Boros glanced around the warehouse.
"That's why you sent everyone else outside."
Benjamin nodded.
"We can all feel it..."
"...can't we?"
The moment Boros finished speaking...
Every one of them looked up.
"There's people upstairs," Akeno said.
"There are," Benjamin replied.
He exhaled slowly.
"I should've introduced everyone earlier."
He gestured toward the four Captains.
"Calvin Stone."
"Dusk James."
"Randy Keith."
"Alex White."
The four men acknowledged the trio with brief nods.
It wasn't the ideal time for introductions.
But they'd have to make do.
Benjamin rested a hand on the railing leading upstairs.
"...Let's go meet our hosts."
No one objected.
Together, they climbed the metal staircase.
The moment they reached the second floor...
They sensed them.
Eight Nexus signatures.
Six stood hidden within the darkness, their faces concealed.
Only two stood beneath a shaft of moonlight pouring through a crack in the roof.
One was a giant of a man.
The other...
...was small, frail, and desperately clinging to the giant's leg.
"They're here! They're here!"
He screamed in panic.
"They're really here!"
The giant sighed and rubbed a hand across his face.
"Calm down, Klaus."
"B-B-B-B-B-B—"
Before Klaus could finish, the giant smacked him across the head.
Instantly...
His stuttering disappeared.
"But they look strong, Daemon!"
"As strong as you guys!"
He pointed frantically toward the Adventurers.
Dark bags hung beneath Daemon's tired eyes.
Without responding, he rested a hand on the long wooden box standing beside him, nearly as tall as he was.
"Klaus."
"Do your job."
"And get us out of here."
"B-B-B-B-B—"
Smack!
"But it hurts whenever I use my power!" Klaus cried.
Daemon grabbed him by the face with one massive hand.
"I'll kill you..."
"...if you don't."
He released him.
The instant he did...
Klaus' eyes glowed a brilliant blue.
And in the blink of an eye...
Every person inside the room vanished.