Lair Assault

At dusk, the light in the mountain forest began to fade. The clouds hung low, as if rain could fall at any moment.

Everything in the camp proceeded in orderly silence. Ryan's brief dispatches sounded through the communicators, and the teams stopped talking, gearing up and setting out along their assigned routes and divisions of labor. There were no mobilization orders or slogans. Everyone took their positions in perfect understanding, like a tactical unit that had rehearsed this countless times.

Ryan and Karina set out first, circling around the north side of the camp and heading up through the forest along the mountain path. Both maintained Zetsu, their footsteps light and their communication reduced to the bare minimum. They had known from the start that this battle would come down to rhythm and timing. This was no time for shouting slogans.

The high ground on the slope was a blind spot Ryan had personally selected during his earlier reconnaissance. It offered concealment while overlooking the entire valley. The two of them hid behind a rock and reached the sniping and interference position without a hitch.

Ryan had not brought the Sniper Cannon. This battle emphasized speed, and the less noise they made, the better. He carried only a short blade, a terminal, and a few small spare Nen tools. Karina was still lightly equipped. Crouching silently beside him, she closed her eyes and began brewing her Nen waves.

The valley was gloomier than during the day. Tree shadows stretched long, while the swarms of black insects continued patrolling, circling the platform where the central individual was located. The three guards alternated in staggered shifts, each circuit precise to the second, displaying astonishing coordination.

Ryan pressed a hand to the ground, sensing the flow. He stared at the central individual. Its