The conference hall fell into silence.
No one spoke of Ceduz's fall again.
The tragedy had already been laid bare.
Now, only one question remained.
How would they take it back?
Captain Rowan spread a new map across the conference table.
Unlike the previous reports, this one detailed the assault itself.
Ceduz had been divided into twelve operational sectors.
Each street, district, and major structure had been marked with meticulous precision.
Marcus leaned closer.
"So this is the assault plan."
Rowan nodded.
"The operation has been named Operation Nightfall."
Juno placed several carved markers onto the map.
Five black markers.
Dozens of smaller white ones.
"The black markers represent the Five Elite Exploration Teams."
"The white markers represent the academy forces."
Marcus immediately noticed the arrangement.
"The students aren't being concentrated."
"No."
Eva shook her head.
"They'll be embedded with veteran explorers."
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"No student will operate independently."
Rowan pointed toward the outer districts.
"The first objective is to reclaim Ceduz one sector at a time."
"The graduating students from both academies will assist with civilian rescue, perimeter security, communication, and extermination support."
Marcus nodded approvingly.
"Slow and methodical."
"We can't afford to rush."
Rowan replied.
"If we lose control of even one sector, the entire operation becomes chaotic."
Marcus' eyes drifted toward the center of the town.
One district stood untouched.
No markers.
No routes.
No assigned units.
Only a single word had been written across it.
Cathedral District
"...Why is this sector empty?"
Juno quietly slid several charcoal sketches across the table.
The cathedral still stood at the heart of Ceduz.
But it no longer resembled a place of worship.
The great wooden doors had been reinforced from the inside with wagons, broken beams, and shattered stone.
Every stained-glass window had been destroyed.
Dark crimson stains covered the walls surrounding the entrance.
"It has become their stronghold."
Eva said.
Marcus continued studying the sketches.
"There are no defensive structures."
"No."
Rowan answered.
"They don't need them."
He pointed toward another report.
"Our reconnaissance teams confirmed that captured civilians are being taken inside."
Marcus frowned.
"...To feed the King?"
"Some."
Eva answered quietly.
"The rest undergo Yanggaw."
The unfamiliar word lingered in the room.
Gareth looked toward Rowan.
"The transformation."
Rowan nodded.
"An Aswang doesn't need to kill to multiply."
"It creates more of its own."
He opened a medical report recovered from the Northwest Branch.
"Some species force victims to consume their flesh."
"Others contaminate food or water with their saliva."
Juno turned another page.
"The most disturbing method..."
"...is through the ear."
She pointed to an anatomical illustration.
"While the victim sleeps, an Aswang allows its saliva to enter the ear canal."
"The process is known as Yanggaw."
Marcus silently read the accompanying notes.
"The victim doesn't transform immediately."
Eva nodded.
"The early symptoms are almost impossible to distinguish from ordinary illness."
"Fever."
"Fatigue."
"Loss of appetite."
"Then..."
"The cravings begin."
Rowan finished the explanation.
"By the time the transformation becomes obvious..."
"...the victim is rarely recoverable."
Silence settled over the room.
Marcus finally understood why the Guild had quarantined the entire town.
Anyone rescued from Ceduz might already be infected.
Every survivor had to be examined.
Every evacuation had to be controlled.
One mistake...
Would spread the nightmare beyond the barriers.
Marcus looked back toward the cathedral.
"So the Ancient King isn't simply feeding."
"It's building an army."
The conference hall fell into silence once again.