"Haha…"

I observed the relentless demise of the Gifted Alliance's General Team with a malevolent smile, savoring the sight of their ultimate defeat.

The open field, once a place of organized defense, had transformed into a chaotic battleground. The air was thick with the echoes of desperate combat and the sickening crunch of bones breaking.

"Look at them," I muttered under my breath, "powerless and defeated."

My careful planning had paid off, and my decision to don the guise of Luke, one of the team leaders, had proven to be a masterstroke.

The absence of the Gifted Alliance's strongest members, aside from the Elite Team, was a testament to the success of my cunning subterfuge.

'Well, it's not like their presence would matter much, but still…'

The only problem was Paul, and that was due to his relationship with those so-called Administrators.

'In due time, I guess…'

As the General Team was systematically eradicated, one member after another, I couldn't help but wonder how Paul, their revered Guildmaster, would react when he discovered the extent of the betrayal.

How would he face the grim reality of his loyal comrades' annihilation? The thought brought a wicked grin to my face.

"Paul," I whispered, "I suppose it'll soon be time for another reunion."

My uncontrollable laughter echoed through the chamber, mingling with the mangled noises of battle and the Demons' cruel roars.

As I witnessed the final struggles of the humans beneath me, I received a notification in the form of a System Window.

[Notice!]

<I Am Done On My End>

I instantly knew what that meant.

"Ah, Sariel," I mused, "It seems she is done with her task already. It's almost time to proceed to the next phase of the plan."

Currently, the Elite Team was attempting to solve the first mystery of the first misery—that is, defeat the Boss of this week.

It wasn't all that complicated, especially if you were in a Party.

'And, of course, there's a good chance that they succeed…' Despite that possibility, I was grinning from ear to ear.

Perhaps it was because I knew what awaited them at the end of their arduous journey. The surroundings added to the sinister atmosphere, bathed in the dim, eerie light of the chasm. The debris of battle and the grotesque remains of both Demons and Gifteds littered the world, a fitting backdrop to my malevolent scheme.

As I continued to watch the aftermath of the battle, a sense of satisfaction welled up within me.

The first strike had been executed flawlessly, and the Gifted Alliance's hope was slowly but surely being extinguished.

This was only the beginning, and there was no turning back now.

'I suppose they now understand what it feels like… for the rest of humanity that didn't follow Paul.'

In the end, whether they belonged to the Alliance or not… humans were disposable resources for the Demons anyway.

'I just have to use them in a way that works for me.'

********

The Elite Team, led by Paul, cautiously ventured deeper into the ominous underground cavern, the faint glow of the molten rock casting eerie shadows on the rough, uneven walls.

The air was thick with the acrid scent of sulfur, and the distant echoes of their footsteps reverberated through the chamber, creating an unsettling symphony of unease.

As they continued their descent, Paul's senses suddenly seized upon a wave of devastation that rippled through his consciousness.

"Keuk!" He let out in shock, halting instantly.

The companions with him stopped instantly, all looking at their reliable Guildmaster who appeared to be in some sort of pain.

They did not know what to say, since it was rare—if not impossible—to see him this way.

"G-Guildmaster?!" Were the only words they could let out.

Unfortunately, their voices were drowned by the overwhelming sensations that currently plagued Paul.

It was a visceral blow, as if the ground had crumbled beneath his feet, leaving him reeling in the chasm of despair.

The life signals of the General Team, one after another, flickered and then vanished into the abyss of silence.

A strangled gasp escaped Paul's lips as he staggered backward, his hands instinctively grasping at the jagged rock wall for support.

The realization of the loss crashed over him like a tsunami, threatening to drown him in an ocean of grief and fury. His mind raced, trying to grasp the enormity of the betrayal and the sheer magnitude of the tragedy.

"How could this have happened?" he whispered, his voice barely audible against the rumbling of the cavern.

"We planned meticulously, we scouted the terrain, and yet..." His words faltered, his anguish palpable in the air.

He still couldn't believe it, his hands now covering his mouth as he croaked. Lisa, her brow furrowed with concern, stepped forward, her hand outstretched as if to steady him.

"Guildmaster, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice laced with worry and confusion.

Paul straightened himself, his jaw clenched with determination.

"We've been played," he declared, his voice resonating with a steely resolve.

At this point, he had to tell everyone else what happened.

As one would expect, none of their reactions were positive. A good number of members of the General Team were friends of the Team Leaders.

Not only were they reliable and powerful, but they were also very kind.

It pained him to see his subordinates show such sad emotions, but Paul also recognized he could use this to his advantage.

And so he did!

"Jeremy has to be the one behind this. He's close, and we need to reach the Boss before he does. We owe it to those who have fallen by his treacherous hands."

Nye's eyes narrowed with a simmering rage, his fists tightening at his sides.

"He'll pay for this," he vowed, his voice low and intense. "We won't let him get away with such treachery."

Tia's gaze blazed with a fierce determination as she nodded in agreement. "For our fallen comrades, we'll make sure justice is served."

The surroundings, though ethereally captivating with their fiery luminescence and ominous shadows, seemed to mirror the turmoil within the hearts of the Elite Team.

The cavern, with its molten rivers and jagged rock formations, became an ever-present reminder of the daunting path ahead, filled with the weight of vengeance and the need to confront the source of their anguish.

With that in mind, all the members of the Elite Team quickened their pace to reach their target destination.

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[A/N]

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