The separation was instant. While Perry and Millar headed toward the rural outskirts, the high-speed transport pod carrying Team One touched down smoothly in the capital city of Iceland, Reykjavík.
As the doors slid open, exposing them to the crisp, chilly northern air, Leo looked out over the skyline.
"You were right about the coordinates, bro," Leo remarked, adjusting his gear.
Hope gave a small, confident smirk. "Always."
Leo's eyes hardened as he scanned the bustling urban grid. "Let's transform and activate our energy signatures right now."
Hope blinked, caught off guard. "Why? We haven't even found the target yet."
"Because in a high-density zone like this, you never know exactly when or where danger is going to strike," Leo explained calmly. "It's better to be weaponized before the ambush happens."
"Understood," Hope replied.
With a synchronized breath, the two soldiers initiated their combat manifestations. A sharp hum echoed through the landing zone as their power levels spiked.
Leo watched Hope closely as her aura flared to life. Her previous transformation was chaotic, Leo analyzed internally, but this time, her energy flux release is completely controlled. She's adapting fast, though she still needs plenty of improvement to perfectly stabilize it.
"Let's move into the central city," Leo ordered, dampening his visible aura to blend in.
Because the main roads were locked down, the duo set off on foot, mapping a 10 km trek through the urban paths. Along the journey, Leo kept the conversation professional, asking her tactical questions about combat situations and threat responses.
Despite the serious topic, a bright, genuine smile spread across Hope's face. For the first time in her life, she wasn't being treated like a lab experiment or a weapon—she was just talking to a guy her own age. It was a completely new, happy feeling for her.
🏡 Meanwhile: The Frozen Village
On the other side of the sector, Perry and Millar had already arrived at their designated location.
The remote Icelandic village was small, breathtakingly beautiful, and coated in a clean layer of pristine white snow. Because it was an isolated settlement, they didn't have to travel far to scout the perimeter.
The only problem? There was absolutely no sign of the Vector.
"Nothing on the thermal scanners," Perry muttered, lowering his tracker. "I think the Vector is currently deep in hibernation. They absolutely hate direct sunlight. The heat doesn't kill them, but it makes them incredibly uncomfortable, so they tend to bury themselves during peak daylight hours."
Millar sighed, leaning against a wooden fence. "You're probably right. All we can do is stake out the area and wait for nightfall. I just hope Leo and Hope are doing alright in the capital."
Perry snorted, waving his hand dismissively. "Don't sweat it. This isn't a high-difficulty mission for Leo. The guy is a machine—he's successfully cleared over 50 missions just like this in the past year alone. He knows exactly what he's doing."
"True enough," Millar agreed, settling in for the watch.
🚨 The Crime Scene on Albert Road
Back in the bright daylight of Reykjavík, Leo and Hope arrived at the regional police headquarters.
"We need to check in with the local authorities," Leo said, walking through the sliding glass doors. "They'll have the real-time casualty reports."
The moment they identified themselves as Aditya's soldiers, the chief of police pulled up a red-alert map. The chief's face was completely pale. "It's a bloodbath. The Vector has locked itself down on Albert Road. It's already wiped out 10 entire families in the residential block. Our standard units can't get anywhere near it."
"Damn it," Leo growled, his fists tightening. "The whole sector is compromised. Let's move!"
Minutes later, Leo and Hope sprinted onto Albert Road. The streets were eerily quiet, barricaded by panicked police officers.
Leo turned to the commanding officer on the scene, his voice commanding and absolute. "Tell your men to pull back and evacuate the perimeter entirely. Standard human backup won't help us here—your units will only get in the way and cause unnecessary tension. Leave this to us."
Recognizing the two heroes, the officers didn't argue. Within seconds, the police vehicles cleared out, leaving the street entirely empty.
A suffocating silence fell over Albert Road. Two minutes passed. Then three.
CRASH!
The brick wall of a nearby residential building shattered outward. Stepping through the dust was a towering, grotesque mass of volatile, mutated muscle and leaking energy.
The Vector had shown itself.
"You were right, Leo. It's here," Hope said, her eyes locking onto the beast. Her aura flared, ready to launch into a full-velocity strike.
She took three steps forward, but suddenly stopped. She looked back over her shoulder. Leo was standing completely still, his arms crossed over his chest, making zero effort to draw his weapon.
"Why aren't you coming with me?" Hope asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Leo met her gaze with a steady, unblinking look. "Because I'm not the one fighting today. The main directive of this deployment was to get you real-world experience. This monster is your trial."
Hope stared at him for a second, the weight of the moment sinking in. Then, a fearless, determined smile crossed her lips.
"Then it's ok," Hope said softly.
Turning back toward the roaring beast, Hope unleashed her full power. The ground beneath her boots shattered into dust as she lunged forward.