An Extra's POV

Chapter 926: Mission Begins

Chapter 926: Mission Begins



"The stronghold is well-fortified, and HQ believes it may serve as a supply hub. That means it's critical to gather as much information as possible without tipping them off to our presence. Stealth and precision are the keys to success."

Tess continued, unaware of Rey's inner turmoil.

Josh nodded seriously, and the rest of the team murmured their agreement.

But Rey's frown deepened.

'Stealth and precision are fine,' he thought, 'but they're not going to make me stronger.'

Tess glanced at him, her gaze briefly lingering on his unreadable expression, but she didn't call attention to it. She continued outlining the specifics of their route, the expected challenges, and the contingency plans.

It was a well-thought out and laid out plan, showing the competence of The Resistance HQ.

But... it was problematic-especially for Rey.

'This isn't good.'

***************

As the meeting wrapped up and the team began to disperse, Rey stayed behind, his mind racing.

He wasn't upset with Tess or the mission itself-he understood the importance of reconnaissance.

But it didn't sit well with him.

'I didn't come back to this world to tiptoe around.'

He couldn't afford to.

He clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

The battle at the wreckage, the monsters he'd defeated, and the sense of power he'd felt coursing through him-it had lit a fire within him that wasn't so easily extinguished.

"Rey?"

He looked up to see Tess standing a few steps away, watching him carefully. The rest of the team had left, leaving them alone in the room.

"You looked... dissatisfied," she said cautiously.

Rey forced a small smile. "It's nothing. Just thinking."

He hadn't argued.

He understood the reasoning behind her decision. His restlessness during the last discussion had been obvious, and Tess likely feared that his impatience might jeopardize the operation.

Still, the sting of being excluded gnawed at him.

'She's probably right, at least when it involves the mission from HQ...' he thought. 'But that doesn't mean I have to sit around doing nothing.'

Rey turned back to the few team members who had stayed behind.

"I'll be training in my room," he announced, his tone even. "Don't disturb me."

They nodded without question, accustomed to his growing need for isolation when he

trained.

Once in his room, Rey locked the door and leaned against it, closing his eyes.

He murmured a chant under his breath, weaving a concealment Spell around himself. The faint shimmer of magic engulfed him, rendering him invisible to sight and detection.

With a flick of his wrist, he cast another spell, a soft glow of energy forming beneath his feet as he activated a Flight Spell. The window slid open noiselessly, and Rey slipped out into the evening sky, rising silently into the air.

His heart pounded with excitement and determination.

'Tess doesn't trust me to follow the mission's rules, so it's best I remove myself from the equation and act independently...'

He followed the team's vehicle from a safe distance, keeping his concealment spell active.

The journey took hours, the vehicle weaving through rough terrain before finally stopping near a cluster of jagged hills. From above, Rey observed as Tess, Andrew, and Dexter emerged, their silhouettes barely visible against the rocky backdrop.

Tess gathered the team and spoke in hushed tones, her hand pointing toward an opening in the ground that led to what appeared to be an underground structure.

Rey adjusted his position to get a better look.

The opening was small and partially hidden by debris, the entrance shrouded in darkness.

Tess divided the group.

She, Andrew, and Dexter would enter, relying on their unique abilities to stay hidden, while

the others kept watch outside.

Rey watched all of this with a smile, all preparations made on his own end.

'Looks like we're about to begin.'