The dawn broke rudely.
Mosquitoes had waged full-scale war the night before, and now the Shadow Division looked like they’d fought through a wasp-infested apocalypse.
“I swear,” Veer groaned, scratching his entire arm, “I look like a cursed pomegranate.”
“I haven’t slept,” Saira muttered, slapping a welt on her cheek. “I’ve just… suffered.”
“I counted 43 bites on one leg,” Ishaan added, dead-eyed. “At this point, I’m donating blood to the ecosystem.”
Dev, ever helpful, said, “At least we didn’t die. Yet.”
Avni emerged from the tarp they'd fashioned as a roof. Her hair was a tangled mess, eyes bloodshot. “I hope whoever dropped us here gets fleas. Nuclear fleas.”
Lev rubbed his temple, watching as Luce stretched like he’d just woken from a spa nap. “You seem… disgustingly well-rested.”
“That’s because I’m disgustingly well-bred,” Luce replied, flipping his hair. “My blood repels mediocrity. And mosquitoes.”
Sayaka side-eyed him. “You’re literally covered in bites.”
“Fashionable ones,” he replied. “Organic accessories.”
“God, just shut up,” Avni snapped.
“Good morning to you too, ray of sunshine.” Luce gave a bow. “Now—mission time.”
SCOUTING STRATEGY
It was 6:00 AM. The squad circled around a rough map Luce had etched into the dirt with a stick. Caelthorn was larger than they thought — dense with trees, uneven terrain, and thick fog that rolled in like a curse.
“So we agree,” Lev said, pointing at the map. “First we search this quadrant. We find signs of the missing two, then move east.”
“What if they’re not here?” Sayaka asked.
“They might be in Valgrave Island,” Avni replied. “Or Umbra or Astrynox.”
“Which means they could be anywhere,” Saira muttered.
“We have to start somewhere,” Luce said. “And we’re already in Caelthorn. Not using that is just stupid.”
“Like you?” Avni grinned.
He gasped, clutching his chest. “You wound me.”
“Not yet. But I’m close.”
Lev cleared his throat. “Focus. We move as one. No splitting. No drama.”
Everyone turned to stare at him.
“…No more drama,” he corrected.
Ishaan sighed. “Man, I just wanted to become a mafia king. Attend a few lectures. Threaten a few enemies. Maybe extort a politician.”
“And now?” Veer asked.
“I’m auditioning for Bear Grylls: Criminal Edition.”
JUNGLE MADNESS
By 8:00 AM, the crew began moving through Caelthorn’s jungle.
It was... not ideal.
Thorny plants, hidden pits, and at least one giant snake that looked a little too sentient.
They nearly lost Dev to a pit trap. Lev pulled him out last-second.
“Do these people want us dead-dead or just emotionally broken?” Dev asked, panting.
“Yes,” Sayaka replied.
They found a torn sleeve near a stream — likely from one of the missing teammates.
Avni picked it up. “This is Juno’s. She was with us in the Shadow orientation.”
“So she might be close,” Luce said, scanning the trees. “Or she’s been eaten.”
“Thanks for the positivity,” Erik muttered.
A roar echoed in the distance — not quite an animal. Not quite human.
Everyone froze.
“Okay,” Ishaan whispered. “New priority: Not dying before lunch.”
ANNOUNCEMENT
At that moment, a holographic projection flickered to life in the sky above them.
A mechanical voice rang out:
“Reminder: Two members of the Shadow Division are missing.
You have one month to locate both and retrieve classified packages from Umbra and Astrynox Islands.
If either of the two dies… the entire Shadow Division will be terminated.”
Silence.
Then:
“Are we on Delulu Island?” Veer asked.
“Clearly,” Luce replied. “Next we’ll be asked to swim through lava and play poker with assassins.”
“We already do that,” Saira said.
“No—literal lava.”
PLAN FORWARD
They regrouped around a ridge as fog thickened.
Lev’s face was tense. “We keep scouting Caelthorn for two more days. If nothing, we move toward Valgrave.”
“What about Umbra and Astrynox?” Dev asked.
“One mission at a time,” Sayaka said.
“We find the two,” Avni added. “Then we talk islands.”
Saira looked up at the treeline. “You feel it?”
“Feel what?” Ishaan asked.
“This place. It’s not just wild. It’s… watching.”
Everyone fell quiet.
Luce nodded once. “Good. Then we’ll give it something worth watching.”
ns216.73.216.139da2
and then Add to home screen.