Finding the Cores came first. Fighting would come later.
The five infiltration teams were already inside.
But instead of charging straight into combat, they were deliberately creating noise, smashing walls, shouting, clashing steel against stone and bone, and using provoke skills.
It was a calculated chaos.
They weren't trying to fight yet. They were bait.
Their purpose was to pull the hive's attention so the scouts could slip through undetected. While the Brood focused on the loudest intruders, the real work was being done in silence.
And it paid off.
"Found it!" came a voice over the comms.
A few seconds later, another scout chimed in. "Found another one!"
Two scouts, one a Master-rank and the other a Champion-rank, had each located a Node Core.
Renald didn't hesitate. "Two Node Cores confirmed! Alpha, Beta, I'm sending routes now. Cut through and destroy them!"
"Roger that," came Alpha team's leader.
"Understood," said Beta's Champion calmly.
