The early m light stretched over the horizon, casting a soft, golden glow over the distant mountains. Jason stood atop a rocky outcrop, his eyes sing the barren ndscape below.

  A chill lingered in the air, but the anticipation of the mission ahead, kept him grounded. Behind him, the rest of his small, hand-picked team of League soldiers waited in sileheir faces unreadable beh their hoods.

  The vilge to the east, led at the base of a series of jagged hills, was the target. A strategically signifit outpost held by a rival fa of the League—ohat had long been a thorn in Ra’s side.

  It was said to be heavily fortified, with soldiers occupying the tral stronghold and wat posted around the perimeter. Civilians had been taken hostage, a key leverage point in this flict.

  Jason’s task was clear: liberate the vilge, but do so in a way that didn’t just rely on brute force. Ra’s had made that perfectly clear iraining session the night before.

  This wasn’t about charging in and sughtering everyone in sight; this was about tactics, and careful execution. His training was about to be tested in the most brutal ossible.

  The air smelled faintly of dust, and the wind carried with it the distant sound of a river rushing over rocks.

  To the west, a series y hills created a natural barrier, making it nearly impossible to approach the vilge from that side without being spotted.

  The terrain to the east, oher hand, was more open but still rife with potential dangers. Jason’s eyes narrowed as he assessed the ndscape, mentally calg the best approach.

  Ra’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Boy.”

  He turo face his mentor, who stood beside him, his usual calm demeanor belying the iy of the situation. Ra’s was a master of patience, but he had an unspoken expectation that Jason would succeed.

  The mission wasn’t just a test of physical strength; it was a test of leadership, deaking, and the ability to ader pressure.

  “The vilge is held by the Caliphate fa,” Ra’s tinued, his toeady. “You will find that they are not as strong as they appear. Use that to your advantage. And remember, the key to victory lies not in overwhelming force, but in how you use your resources.”

  Jason nodded, his gaze never leaving the vilge below. He could feel the weight of the task bearing down on him. This was more than just a mission; this was his proving ground. A ce to show that he was ready to take on a greater role within the League. That he wasn’t just some schizophrenibie brat, but a leader in his ht.

  “What is the pn?” Jason asked, his voice steady but eager.

  Ra’s studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. “You have the strategy from st night. You are to approach from the eastern side. There is a narrow ravihat runs along the outer perimeter of the vilge.

  Use that to move ued, but be cautious—the enemy has set traps along that route. Once you reach the edge of the vilge, you will o ralize their perimeter guards before you ehen, you will have to assess the situation inside. Remember, not every life is worth saving.”

  Jason ched his jaw, his mind w. This wouldn’t be easy. His instincts told him to rush in, to strike fast and hard, but Ra’s words echoed in his mind. “Not every life is worth saving.”

  He didn’t like that, but he k was a necessary part of this world. A soldier didn’t have the luxury of seality. It was about pleting the mission, no matter the cost.

  Ra’s gave him one final gnce before turning and walking toward the others. “You have your orders. I will be monit from here.”

  With that, Jason o his team and began the dest down the rocky outcrop. The soldiers fell in line behind him, their movements swift and synized.

  The ravine was just ahead, and the faint rustling of leaves in the wind was the only sound breaking the silence. Jason’s mind was focused, calg every step he took.

  As they approached the ravine, Jason motioned for the team to halt. He crouched low, his body pressed against the ground as he peered over the lip of the ravine.

  The vilge was still several miles away, but already Jason could see the fortified perimeter. Watchtowers rose above the rooftops, and the occasional fsh of sunlight caught on the armor of the guards statio the gates.

  The perimeter was heavily patrolled, but there were gaps iation, small windows of opportunity that Jason was traio exploit. He could see the soldiers moving iable patterns, their footsteps eg iherwise silent air.

  They were well-disciplined, but they cked the instincts that came with true bat experiehat was where Jason had the advantage.

  “Move out,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

  The team moved in tandem, weaving through the ravih the skill and precision of trained assassins. Jasohe way, his eyes stantly sing fns of danger.

  He could feel the bloodlust stirring inside him, a dark huhat was never far from the surface. The Lazarus Pit’s influence lingered, sharpening his senses but also clouding his judgment. It was a stant battle to keep it in check, to stay focused on the mission rather thahrill of violence.

  As they he e of the vilge, Jason signaled for the team to halt once more. They were within striking distance of the first perimeter guard, a lory standing watear a crumbling stone wall.

  Jason’s heart rate quied as he assessed the situation. The guard had his back to them, oblivious to the approag assassins.

  Jason motioned for two of the soldiers to fnk the guard while he moved in closer, his steps silent on the rocky ground. He could hear the man’s breath, shallow and slow, a sign of pcy. Jason smiled darkly. This would be easy.

  He moved quickly, his body a blur of motion as he approached the guard from behind. With one swift motion, he reached out and covered the man’s mouth, stifling the surprised gasp before twisting his neck. The guard colpsed to the ground, dead before he had a ce to cry out.

  Jason straightened, wiping blood from his hands as the other soldiers moved in to secure the body. “One down,” he muttered, his voice low. “Let’s keep moving.”

  They tiheir advaaking down guards one by oh ruthless efficy. Jason’s mind was in the zone, his every move calcuted and precise.

  Adrenaline coursed through him, but he kept his focus, resisting the pull of the bloodlust that threateo e him.

  By the time they reached the inner walls of the vilge, the team had taken out the majority of the perimeter guards. Jason’s heart was still rag, but the thrill of the hunt had dulled. He could feel Ra’s watg him from afar, his presence a stant reminder of the expectations pced on him.

  “This is it,” Jason whispered. “We breach the inner gates, ralize the rest of the guards, and free the hostages.”

  The team nodded in unison, ready for the final phase of the mission. Jason gave the signal, and they moved as one, approag the heavily guarded gates. It was time to put everything they had learo the test.

  They struck quickly, their movements fluid ahal. The guards at the gates were no match for the speed and precision of the League’s assassins. Jasohe charge, his sword fshing in the sunlight as he cut down the first soldier in his path. The others followed suit, each soldier taking out their target with ruthless efficy.

  Jason’s blood pumped faster as the fight escated, his senses heightened by the thrill of bat. But this time, he was more in trol. His movements were measured, calcuted. He had learo fight with purpose, not out e. It was a difficult bance, but ohat he was starting to master.

  As the st of the guards fell, Jason turo face the vilge’s tral stronghold. The hostages were inside, waiting for him to free them. But he couldn’t afford to be reckless now. He had to think, to pn. The mission wasn’t over yet.

  “Clear the building,” Jason anded, his voice steady. “We move in together, stay sharp.”

  The soldiers heir faces masked with determination. They advanced oronghold, ready for whatever y ahead. Jason’s mind raced as he sidered the steps. They had succeeded so far, but the real test was still to e.

  Would he be able to keep his cool wheakes were at their highest? Would he make the right call when the lives of the hostages depended on him?

  The final phase of the mission had just begun.

  Jason’s eyes locked onto the stronghold ahead, the looming structure casting long shadows as the sun began to dip beh the horizon. The weight of the missioled over him as his pulse quied. He could hear the faint sounds of movement withironghold, the muffled chatter of the guards who still lingered within. Time was of the essence.

  He motioned for his team to fall into a formation, each of them instinctively aligning themselves behind him as they crept closer to the entrance of the building.

  The air was thick with tension, the cool breeze now carrying the faint st of smoke from nearby fires. Jason’s instincts hummed with anticipation, every step he took quiet and calcuted.

  The moment they ehis stronghold, they were no longer in trol. The enemy would be, and he had to be ready for whatever came .

  “Stay sharp,” Jason whispered, his voice barely audible.

  The soldiers nodded in unison, their expressions masked by the hoods of their cloaks. Jason took the lead, eyes darting from shadow to shadow, every inch of the path ahead mapped in his mind.

  His blood surged, the pull of the Lazarus Pit a stant reminder of the rage that y beh his skin, but he pushed it down, fog on the mission at hand.

  .....

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