Chapter 23: Team C

The elevator doors slid open to reveal Serafina’s penthouse suite, its floor-to-ceiling curved windows showcasing a sweeping view of Detroit’s skyline. The contemporary space flowed seamlessly from the living area to the bedroom beyond, warm wood accents and ambient lighting creating an atmosphere of sophisticated urban luxury.

Several members of the Dallas Grizzlies followed her inside, their heavy footsteps muffled by the geometric area rug beneath the sleek black coffee table. Serafina’s phone buzzed insistently. She snatched it up, her expression darkening as she listened. “What the hell?” Her voice cut through the suite’s tranquil atmosphere. “What do you mean we can’t fly tonight?”

The inaudible chatter from the other end only seemed to fuel her irritation. Without a word of farewell, she ended the call and whirled toward the group of men behind her. “Looks like we’ll have to be in this shithole state another night,” she announced with a bitter sigh. Her gaze fell on one of her subordinates. “You, go speak with the manager. Tell him we’ll need more rooms.” The man nodded curtly and departed immediately.

Ray stood behind a small cluster of the other men, processing what he’d just heard. Another night in Michigan. His palm slowly clenched into a fist as a dark thought crossed his mind: “It looks like the universe is trying to deliver you into my hands. The image of Liam flashed in his memory.

Back at USOV headquarters, the day dragged along slowly. Most breach incidents were being handled by other factions, leaving the agents with support duties—evacuations, perimeter control, keeping civilians away from danger zones. It was necessary work, but hardly any adrenaline-pumping action. Liam, Sarah, Elaine, and Amir trudged through the main building’s entrance after yet another evacuation mission.

Sarah broke the comfortable silence between them. “Liam, just a thought, aren’t you supposed to be a special agent or something? Shouldn’t you be on highly classified missions like Quinn and the others?”

Liam shrugged, offering a tired smile. “I don’t really know how it works around here. Maybe fighting monsters is my own special mission.”

Amir scoffed. “You can’t be serious, man.” Before the banter could continue, the alarm buzzers went off in shrieks. This was another breach, and this one was practically on their doorstep, just a few blocks from USOV headquarters. All agents instinctively touched their earpieces as command transmitted the details- Threat level: A-class. Status: Breach forming.

If they moved fast enough, they could evacuate civilians and contain whatever emerged. “Agent Elaine and Team C requesting permission to engage,” Elaine spoke into her comm.

Grey’s voice crackled back from the command center: “Permission granted, Agent.”

USOV’s field agents operated in teams of three to four, designated alphabetically based on performance metrics. Team C wasn’t the elite Team A, but their track record earned them respect and autonomy for situations like this.

Amir turned to Liam. “You’re coming too, right?” Liam nodded affirmatively.

“Alright, guys, let’s head out!” Elaine’s golden energy flared as she tightened her grip on her sword, preparing for flight. Sarah and Amir jogged toward their SUV while Elaine and Liam prepared to take to the air. Sarah slid behind the wheel, Amir claiming the passenger seat.

[Skill Active → Sovereign Hands]

Liam activated his skill and a wave of force lifted him off the ground, and telekinetically launched skyward alongside Elaine. They flew above several structures and reached the breach location within minutes.

The scene below was pandemonium incarnate. Space itself had torn open, revealing a jagged portal crackling with mystical energy, that hovered just above ground level. No creature had emerged yet, but the mere presence of the breach had sent the city into hysteria. Pedestrians who moments before had been crossing in orderly lines now scattered like startled birds. A woman in heels stumbled, kicked off her shoes, and continued running barefoot. Business suits mixed with tourists as everyone became united in their desperate flight.

Cars screeched into frantic U-turns, drivers abandoning traffic laws as they mounted sidewalks and threw vehicles into reverse. Horns blared in panic while motorcycles weaved between the traffic mess. The street went from calm traffic to total panic.

Streaks of silvery-blue light surged through Liam as he vanished and reappeared across multiple locations almost simultaneously, grabbing civilians and ferrying them to safety and away from the breach’s immediate danger zone. Elaine hovered above, trying to track his movements as her eyes darted frantically from place to place. It was impossible to follow his speed, but she focused on her own role, using her flight advantage to guide panicked crowds toward safety.

Five minutes later, Sarah and Amir’s SUV drifted around the corner, tyres screeching and coming to a stop in the evacuation zone. They stepped out calmly, walking steadily toward the chaos as civilians fled in the opposite direction.

As if triggered by the rest of the team’s arrival, a massive forelimb emerged from the portal, placing itself firmly on the asphalt. Another followed, and slowly, a complete monstrosity materialized. It was a wolf-like beast with midnight fur crackling with malevolent blue energy. Razor-sharp fangs gleamed beneath eyes that burned like cold stars, while sinister glowing patterns writhed across its massive frame. Electric currents of azure light pulsed through its body. Its low, resounding growl filled the atmosphere with dread. The creature was a living nightmare of fang and fury

A notification screen materialized before Liam’s eyes:

[A Lycan creature has appeared before you]

Sarah approached where Liam and Elaine now stood, roughly forty meters from the beast. “Might want to sit this one out, buddy.”

Liam shrugged with a knowing smile, vanished, and reappeared atop a nearby skyscraper to observe from a distance. Amir took his position alongside his teammates, all now in full battle gear. He spoke into his comm: “Director, we have visual confirmation. It’s a Dark Hound.”

Grey’s voice responded from the command center: “Godspeed, Team C.”

Elaine’s expression hardened with complete focus. “Ready to go, boys?” The others nodded, weapons at the ready.

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