The trek through the dense, cold forest continued under the thin light of dawn. Erik Heller led the group, maintaining a steady pace, but Arthur and Hanna's senses were on edge. The elimination of the first reconnaissance squad wouldn't go unnoticed for long; CIA headquarters would learn of the loss of contact and activate the open field sweep protocol.
"They're going to change tactics," Erik whispered without stopping, glancing briefly behind him. "They're going to stop sending lone men. They're going to use tracking units with dogs and low-flying thermal drones."
Before they could advance another hundred meters, a subtle, sharp, mechanical hum cut through the sound of the wind in the pine tree tops. A CIA reconnaissance drone flew low, scanning the forest canopy with a thermal scanning camera.
"Cover, now!" Erik ordered, throwing himself under the thick foliage of a fallen pine tree.
Hanna rolled nimbly into a hollow among deep roots. But the drone made a sharp turn, directing its beam of light straight toward the clearing where Arthur stood.
"He saw us!" thought Arthur, hearing the drone's target confirmation beep.
Two armed agents jumped from a ledge just above the hill, opening suppressive fire with automatic carbines. The shots shattered the tree trunks around Arthur.
Hanna saw the danger before Erik could react. Without hesitation, she left her cover, throwing a throwing knife with surgical precision toward the drone, embedding the blade in the propeller and knocking the device to the ground. But the movement left her exposed to the crossfire of the agents descending the slope.
One of the soldiers redirected his rifle straight at Hanna.
Arthur's realization flashed in his mind like lightning. With his reflexes heightened, he advanced like a bolt of lightning, crossing the space between them. Using his advanced body skills, he intercepted the trajectory of the shot, pulling Hanna to the ground and rotating his body to use the butt of his own weapon to disarm the shooter in a single fluid movement.
[Dynamic confrontation under aerial and crossfire threat completed.] Proficiency gained: +5. [100x Multiplier Talent Activated!] Proficiency gained: +500!
[Evolved Skill: Firearms Mastery (Rank C) ➔ Evolved to (Rank C+)] (Effect: Refined tactical precision, absolute recoil control, and predictive shots in rapid motion.)
The smoke from the shot quickly dissipated into the cold air. Arthur dropped to his knees beside Hanna, checking if she was injured. The girl looked at him, her blue eyes wide for a fraction of a second—not out of fear of the enemy, but from the evident realization that he had thrown himself into the line of fire to protect her in a completely selfless way. Hanna extended her firm hand and grasped Arthur's forearm, rising with him in a synchronized movement. The final barrier of distrust that remained in her gaze completely evaporated. There was no longer the isolated she-wolf; there was an unbreakable partnership.
"The second flank is coming!" warned Erik, firing a precise suppressive shot that neutralized the last remaining agent on the hill.
"Let's move now before the alert signal brings the rest of the troop," said Arthur, changing the magazine of his pistol with extreme ease.
Hanna gave a slight nod, tightening her grip on her weapon. This time, as she ran through the dark forest trails, she wasn't going ahead ignoring the rear; she adjusted her pace to run side-by-side with Arthur, covering his blind spots with pinpoint accuracy.