The special beast squad moved with precision, weaving through the farmlands and sparsely populated villages without drawing attention. The scent of freshly tilled earth filled the air, but none of them paid it any mind—their focus was locked ahead, on the towering silhouette of the Nordian capital growing ever closer.
Rakel scoffed, still thinking about the earlier fight. "That guy was fast, but I still can't believe he got away. If he makes it to the capital before us, we're gonna have a real problem." His golden lion eyes flicked over to Cleon.
Cleon's gaze remained fixed ahead. "If he somehow beats us there, we'll be heavily compromised," he admitted. "But that doesn't change our objective. We follow this mission through—no matter what." His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind his words that kept the squad focused.
Alba, his massive Minotaur frame moving effortlessly despite his size, let out a low rumble. "Most of their strongest warriors are on the frontlines of the war. We've passed the bulk of their forces already."
Azura, who had been running in stride with Pero, nodded. "That's true. But the king still has his two personal bodyguards—rumored to be some of the strongest in Nordia. Solomon was one of them before he left, so they're likely around his level."
That statement alone made the squad pause, each of them considering what that meant. Solomon had taken out two Alpha-ranked warriors with terrifying ease. If there were two others on his level waiting at the capital…
Cleon finally spoke again, his tone unwavering. "The older royal family members too. Even though they've retired, they're still formidable. I fought multiple of them back in the day, and I know exactly what they're capable of." He exhaled sharply. "And that's not all. The king himself is a force to be reckoned with."
His eyes darkened as he continued, "He has the most powerful ancient artifact ever forged—the Blade of Cataclysm." A pause. Then, with absolute certainty, he added, "And I'm going to take it."
Silence fell over the squad for a moment. No one questioned Cleon's words. They knew him well enough to understand that when he set his mind to something, he would see it through.
They picked up their pace, each of them focused on the task ahead. As they got closer to the capital, the villages became more populated, more eyes lingering on them as they passed. But no one seemed to recognize them as threats—at least, not yet.
The capital was looming now, a massive structure of stone and steel, its high walls battered but still standing strong despite the chaos of war. Smoke still drifted from some parts of the city, remnants of the earlier attack.
They were only hours away now.
And soon, the real battle would begin.
As they neared the outskirts of the capital, the squad slowed their pace, each of them shifting back into their human forms to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. The streets were bustling with civilians and low-ranking soldiers moving supplies—Nordia was still recovering from the chaos of the recent battles.
Cleon gestured for the squad to gather in a shaded alleyway, away from prying eyes. His sharp gaze swept over each of them before he spoke.
"We're splitting up." His voice was low but firm. "If we move together, we'll be too easy to spot. Pero, Alba—you two are going to hit the Berserker HQ."
Alba grunted, cracking his knuckles. "Disrupt their forces?"
Cleon nodded. "Cause as much chaos as you can. If they're distracted, they won't reinforce the capital's defenses. But don't get reckless. If things get out of hand, retreat."
Pero smirked, adjusting the straps on his gauntlets. "Got it. In and out, make a mess, and don't die. Simple enough."
Sylve, Rakel, you're with me—we'll take the eastern entrance. No unnecessary fights. We slip in, eliminate resistance quietly, and get to the throne room before anyone knows what's happening."
Sylve gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable. Rakel cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders in anticipation. "Fine by me. Let's move."
Cleon then turned to Azura, Jade, and Maron. "You three take the western entrance. Same deal—keep it quiet if possible, but if you're spotted, remove the problem quickly. We don't have time for drawn-out fights."
Azura gave a sharp nod, her piercing gaze unwavering. Jade remained silent, focused, while Maron simply met Cleon's eyes before turning away, already mentally preparing for what lay ahead.
With that, the squad split, disappearing into the streets of Nordia's capital. The hunt had begun.
Cleon, Sylve, and Rakel slipped like shadows through the eastern quarter of the Nordia capital, each keeping to their human form. Every corner, every street was alive with movement — squads of Beserkers rushing to and from the warfront, orders barked in every direction, the scent of iron and tension heavy in the air.
Cleon's sharp eyes locked onto a towering fortress ahead, a cold gleam in his gaze.
"There," he muttered. "That's the HQ. The king's definitely inside, coordinating the war. That building's huge, sprawling — exactly what we need. The less crowded sections will be our way in. We move silently. If we're seen…" His voice darkened. "No witnesses."
Sylve and Rakel nodded without hesitation, their faces grim.
As they slipped down a narrow alleyway, fate threw them a curve — three Beserker guards rounded the corner. For an instant, time froze. Eyes locked. Muscles tensed.
Then — in a heartbeat — Cleon, Sylve, and Rakel struck.
Silent. Lethal. The guards didn't even have time to cry out before they collapsed, lifeless on the cobblestones.
Cleon crouched over one of the bodies, ripping away the bloodstained uniform.
"We just got handed a ticket inside," he said, his voice a low growl. "Get dressed."
Moments later, wearing stolen Beserker gear, the three beasts blended seamlessly into the sea of enemy soldiers. Step by step, they closed in on the HQ's eastern gate, every heartbeat bringing them closer to the true beginning of their mission.
This wasn't luck.
This was destiny sharpening its blade.