Reconnaissance

The industrial park on the outskirts of town, midnight.

Hengyuan Precision Materials Processing Plant lay silent in the darkness, its walls towering beneath a few feebly glowing streetlights.

On a signal tower a kilometer away, seven figures looked down over the plant under cover of night.

One crouched, one stood: Gan Lan, the star of the show.

"Recon team: Masked Heroine, Ranger, Celestial Star."

Knight's voice was crisp and decisive.

"Everyone else, hold position and keep comms open."

"Got it." "Got it."

"Wait, wait, wait!"

Ranger raised a hand, looking indignant.

"Why do the three of us have to go?"

"Sure, Masked Heroine has ranked up, but Celestial Star and I are small, pitiful, and helpless... What if the enemy catches us?"

Love and Shen Yin exchanged a glance.

Then they silently pointed at themselves.

Pink light sparkled all over Love, and her veil and flowing hair were both longer than she was tall. Her little winged companion had to hold them up.

Why else did Love always float?

Shen Yin had the same problem. Her colors stood out far too much.

Ranger's mouth twitched. She looked over at Thousand Blades.

A dozen or so gleaming silver blades circled Thousand Blades, reflecting a chilling glint in the moonlight.

Knight rolled her shoulders.

Clack, clack...

The plates of her light armor struck each other, ringing clear and metallic in the quiet night.

"..."

Ranger fell silent.

Fair enough.

"Let's go."

Masked Heroine flicked her cape and swept down from the signal tower first.

Three figures hugged the shadows along the perimeter wall and slipped into the plant without a sound.

Security was heavy. Guards patrolled the roads and stood watch at various posts.

There were even people stationed on the rooftops.

With no other choice, the three gave up on