Tick-Tock. Tick-Tock.


    The clock was ticking, and time was against them.


    After popping his head out and observing his surroundings, Lucius gave the signal, and the gang swam stealthily to the shores like crocodiles.


    Over there!


    There were still a few people on the actual shores.


    Even though there were scouts in the towering trees a little further in, the enemy also kept a ground team, perhaps to spot any enemy giants from the Coastal city trying to flee or run along the banks and shores.


    These ground scouts weren''t on the sandy shores but along the first line of trees.


    Luckily, there weren''t so many of them spotted. Presumably, most should be around the actual docks and within the forest regions themselves.


    What are the chances that the giants would pass the many Adonis guards stationed in the city and the forest before reaching these shores?


    The event might also have known the chances were low. So they had most of their ground team closest to the Giants in the cities.


    And at sea, they already had numerous Scout ships too.


    So really... Their attention wasn''t per set on the shores. And this gave Lucius'' gang all the advantage they needed.


    Good...


    Lucius nodded at the gang, and they began crawling towardsnd.


    Left elbow on the lodging forward, right elbow pushing another step forward.


    Lucius felt that another advantage of having their mission in thend of the giants was that everything was also gigantic.


    The towering trees close to the shores casted a darker shadow on the already darknds.


    The moon seemed to be just above thends, trying to run toward the direction of the seas.


    Provided they moved underneath the shadows with their usual stealth techniques, the enemy wouldn''t notice them.


    Indeed, these soaring trees had overly long shadows, which was a plus for them. Because if they were in this same predicament in any other ce, they would have to set up sniper rifles on the sandy shores and take down the enemy ground team.


    Crawling like chameleons, only 5 people, including Lucius, made their way through tond.


    They had their goggles on hand, several des, and a few special ''syringes.''


    Their guns were still zipped in therge bags. And they didn''t want any necessary sound to startle those on ground.


    Lucius'' eyes shed coldly while staring at the 5 prey scattered nearby.


    His primary goal: to kill one.


    He moved around his target''s sight, finally lying within the plush forest region.


    He didn''t dare to stand, first observing his surroundings.


    So far, only his target was in sight.


    With this, he slowly rose to his feet and propped himself against a tree.


    There were twigs everywhere. He could see the enemy arranged them.


    One false move, and he would''ve alerted them of his presence.


    ''Careful, old boy.'' Lucius told himself, dancing across the scene, unbeknownst to his prey.


    .


    Eh?


    The Adonis follower squinted hops eyes, staring at the shores deeply.


    He didn''t see anyone. So why was he feeling uneasy? Butterflies fluttered in his belly, making him wonder if it was due to hunger or something else.


    ''Am I overthinking it?''


    Observing for a while longer, he leaned behind a tree, closing his eyes and falling into meditative slumber.


    Why was it called meditative slumber? Because at this state, he could still respond to any sudden enemy attacks.


    He was asleep, but very, very, lightly.


    He closed his eyes and crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly downward.


    The. Suddenly, his eyes opened again, and his pupils dted when turning his head.<novelnext></novelnext>


    Toote!


    PUFF.


    A cold light shed from his neck before he saw his old sshing out.


    He wanted to scream but couldn''t.


    The enemy appeared like a shadow, stabbing a strange-looking needle in his left cheek that caused his entire face and mouth to feel as stiff as a stone in barely a breath.


    No!.. No!


    How could he die before seeing Adonis'' glorious day? And what sort of throwing power was that?


    F***!


    His primal warning instincts came alive even before the dagger plunged into his neck.


    The murderous aura it carried made him feel it was a godly ferocious beast, one never seen before.


    Fear had overtaken his brain as he silently prayed for a chance of survival, hoping the dagger would miss its mark.


    Sadly, luck wasn''t on his side.


    NO!!!


    The Adonis follower roared inwardly as his heart was pounding too variously, fighting for its one survival, and his body turning colder and colder.


    Why him?


    Despair... Unwillingness... Hatred... Blurriness...


    His eyes were getting blurry, and his heart suddenly slowed after its fierce fight.


    Everything happened so fast. And in the end, he couldn''t cheat his fate.


    Dead.


    The man''s eyes were now dull.


    Lucius withdrew his syringe and wiped his bloodied dagger against the man''s clothes.


    Good start.


    .


    10 minutester, all 5 enemies on ground were dead, and the gang had now gathered to suit up.


    1, 2, 3...


    Done!


    They swiftly wore their military attire as they''d practiced for the umpteenth time almost every waking morning during training.


    Boots strapped, weapons at hand... All that was left was for their faces, necks, and arms to get painted – camouge.


    They changed in batches, with some people keeping a lookout.


    And soon, their wetsuits were ced in the bag and taken away by one of the Navy pilots from the subs who followed them along.


    Unlike them, his only task was to bring the bag of wet suits, flippers, regtors, and other portable underwater back.


    Lucius opened the topyer of his ram guard, watching the ''strange stars'' above.


    "This is GT-00 to all Air Force Tower."


    Above in the skies, there was one primary air balloon acting as the air tower for issuing all major air decisions.


    [Air Tower here.] A voice replied. [Report and status.]


    "The Chicken hasid, and the path is clear..." Lucius not only reported their status but their location.


    [Roger that GT-00... We have eyes on you now. You may go in.]


    Good.


    That was all the confirmation he needed.


    He smiled mischievously, tapping his goggles to switch mode... And with his silencers at hand, Lucius was ready for the kill.


    "Move out!"