The "mascot" narrowed her eyes, watching the faint light of dawn in the east. Over the next few days, she might not get to see a sight like this very often.
"Sister Cat's Eye, ready?" Jin Ying's voice came through the team channel.
Cat's Eye signaled for her to continue. The simple gesture, made through bloodstained Exoskeleton Armor, carried an added chill it normally would not have had.
Cat's Eye herself remained unaware of it.
She had Jin Ying spray more Odor Concealer over her, then wrap her in Optical Camouflage film, making the preparations as thorough as possible. After all, she would be the first one entering the Underground Labyrinth, not anyone else.
Jin Ying patiently continued helping her. Meanwhile, Fris, the commander of this operation, came over and dropped to one knee. He gestured for Cat's Eye to lift her feet one by one, then vigorously sprayed the metal structure beneath them to avoid leaving any flaws.
"Suddenly, I wish I had a ring in my hand." Fris never watched his mouth at times like this. "You know, before you vanish into the darkness, you're practically glowing."
"Is that a curse?"
"No... Once you enter the darkness, you'll take all the light with you."
"So it is a curse! If I die, I'll remember to haunt your dreams."
Cat's Eye was completely unmoved by his inexplicable flirting. She did not continue the exchange, merely using the team channel to confirm the route with Fris once more.
Fifteen minutes later, as sunlight on the eastern horizon spread this way along the water and mudflats, Cat's Eye made another "OK" gesture. Keeping close to the newly excavated passageway leading into the Underground Labyrinth, she slowly descended and soon disappeared from everyone else's sight.
Jin Ying followed closely behind her, carrying