"Extraction Team needs two more," Kaeel said. "Just Lyra's people and two others and non-combatants who can drive a wagon fast."

We grabbed two of Cipher's colleagues who'd been hovering nervously beside us.

"When we bring him out, you get him away as fast as you can, you don't need to wait for us. Understood?"

They nodded, they faces were pale but their eyes shone with a determined light.

"Questions?" I asked.

"What if they have Executors.....fighters inside?" someone asked.

Executors are like elite members of the League.

"Then we adapt to whatever we face," Victoria said coldly. "Executors bleed like anyone else, we just need to hit them hard enough for that."

"When do we move?" Adrian asked.

I checked the time and its 4:47 AM, that's almost two hours until dawn.

"Now. We hit them while it's still dark and use the shadows with the cover of the night, we move fast and get Cipher and get out."

"And if it goes wrong?" Aria asked quietly.

"Then we run," I said honestly. "No one dies for pride tonight. We're here to rescue Cipher, not prove anything. If retreat is the smart move, we retreat."

We moved out into the pre-dawn darkness. Shadow Haven district was silent and empty, almost unnaturally so, even the homeless and beggers had avoided this area as if an instinctic feeling was telling them danger lurked here.

The textile factory loomed ahead like jutting bones out of darkness, four stories of brick and broken windows. It was dark and ominous.

And somewhere inside must be Cipher.

We were just getting him back, nothing more.

We split into teams two blocks from the target.

Alpha Team of Seraphina, Adrian and Damian circled to the front entrance, while Beta Team of Kael and Lucille moved to the building adjacent, planning to jump the gap to the factory roof.

Gamma Team including me and Victoria positioned in an alley with clear sightlines to both entrances.

Support Team retreated to their designated position in a safe distance but within magical range.

Of course, all the teams had accompany members following them to work together.

I activated my communication crystal and spoke quietly. "All teams, check in now."

Alpha team; "In position at the ront entrance. Twelve guards are visible, and they've seen us so there's no point hiding anymore."

Beta; "Roof access ready. On your signal."

Gamma; "Ready."

Support; "Ready. Ravenna says she detects heavy void magic inside. It's a concealment spells. I recommend you should be even more careful."

"Copy that." I looked at Victoria. "Any last-minute wisdom?"

"Yes. Don't die."

I smiled despite the tension. "I'll do my best."

"Three. Two. One. Alpha Team—GO!"

Seraphina didn't bother with subtlety again. "Divine Charge!"

She became a golden comet as wings of light appeared behind her, then she gilded forward, only at the speed of a bullet, crashing into the factory's front entrance.

The doors thick wood reinforced with iron exploded inward with a rumbling sound.

Six guards reacted immediately, they were all wearing dark tactical gear with their faces covered and weapons drawn.

They are the Professional soldiers that are mentioned and the fight erupted instantly. Adrian engaged three guards alone with holy blade blazing. His sword work was precise and efficient with little wasted movement.

Damian faced two guards with his butler-style combat, his one-handed sword cutting the air like a whip.

Seraphina held the doorway against the remaining guard plus reinforcements that are trying to pour from inside.

The noise was incredible, of clashing steel and shouted orders, and magical detonations.

In a way, it was a perfect distraction.

On the roof.

Kaeel and Lucille shot across the gap between buildings, blurring forward and landed silently on the factory roof. The skylight was boarded up, but Lucille had lockpicks and Kaeel had shadow magic.

Thirty seconds and the boards came loose.

They peered down silently and saw the factory floor below with equipment, supplies, and... a makshift cell in the middle of the floor. And inside was Cipher, he was beaten, bloody and slumped against the bars.

But he was alive.

"Found him," Kaeel whispered into her crystal. "Second floor at the center of factory floor thare are two guards on him with more elsewhere."

"Copy," I acknowledged tersly. "Proceed with extraction."

They descended silently through the skylight. The factory had been converted into some kind of base with sleeping areas, weapon racks and supply crates.

Kael and Lucille reached the floor level silently where two guards stood watch over Cipher's cell. They made hand signals to communicate, to count of three before they start their plan.

Kael took left guard. Lucille took right.

It was a simultaneous strike, shadow blades through throats of the two of them and the guards fell as if they have never been standing before.

Kael picked the cell lock, fortunately it was a simple mechanism, designed for quick opening, before grabbed Cipher.

"Can you walk?" Lucille asked quietly.

Cipher's eyes opened in a crack and recognition flooded his face. He groaned. "You... came..."

"Of course we came. Can you walk?"

"I... I'll try..."

They got him upright.

He was weak and injured, but at least he was conscious.

"They... questioned me..." Cipher mumbled. "Didn't tell them... everything... but some names... I'm sorry..."

"Later," Kael said. "Right now, we're getting you out."

They started toward the skylight again, using the ropes they used in coming down.

But then....

The lights suddenly came on. Bright industrial floods illuminating the entire factory floor.

And standing in their path was two figures.

Lucille hissed. She recognized one of them from their intelligence. One was Razor, a speed-specialist Executor that held a high rank, but she did not know the other, a tall athletic woman with twin swords surrounded by an aura of controlled death.

"Going somewhere?" Razor asked casually.

I heard the alarm through the crystal. "Beta Team in contact! Two Executors!"

"Damn it." I looked at Victoria. "I think they're trapped."

"Alpha Team is pinned down at the entrance," Victoria said, listening to combat sounds. "Eight more guards reinforced them. Seraphina and Adrian are holding but can't advance."

Three teams had already engaged and Cipher found but extraction blocked.

Time to adapt.

"Victoria....you're our heaviest hitter. Can you break through to Beta Team?"

"Through brick walls and however many guards are between here and there? With the formations? Yes. Won't be pretty though."

"I don't need pretty. I need Cipher out."

She smiled grimly. "On it."

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