The air was thick with tension as Section E gathered in the dimly lit, abandoned building on the outskirts of the city. Dust floated in the air, and the faint creaking of the structure made it feel like the set of some underground mafia meeting.

But tonight, this wasn’t just some meeting.

This was a declaration of war.

Jae stood in the center, arms crossed, his expression colder than ever. His usual teasing smirk was long gone, replaced by something lethal.

Eli leaned against the wall, flipping a knife between his fingers. For once, he wasn’t cracking jokes.

Kai, sitting on a broken table, was rolling his wrists, stretching as if he were preparing for a fight.

Minho was quieter than usual, his mind working like a chess player before a checkmate.

Lily and Ava were back at the hospital—Lily had refused to leave Ava’s side, knowing she would try to sneak out and join them if left alone.

Jae’s fingers twitched. The thought of Ava, hurt and bandaged, unable to be here, unable to fight back…

It made his blood boil.

“We’re not waiting around,” he announced, his voice like steel. “Whoever shot Ava is watching us. They sent a warning, and now we’re sending one back.”

Kai cracked his knuckles. “I say we break some bones.”

Eli smirked darkly. “I second that.”

Minho spoke up. “We need to be smart. Whoever is behind this has power—enough to hire someone to take a damn shot at her in broad daylight. We go in without a plan, we’re as good as dead.”

Jae nodded. “Then let’s make a plan.”

Eli finally stopped flipping his knife and pointed it at Jae. “You’re thinking of using yourself as bait, aren’t you?”

Silence.

Jae’s expression didn’t waver.

“Of course he is,” Minho muttered. “He’s a reckless idiot.”

Kai scoffed. “If we let Jae get kidnapped or shot, Ava’s gonna kill us before we even get to the real enemy.”

Jae smirked at that. “Then don’t let me get kidnapped.”

Eli groaned, rubbing his face. “This is the worst idea ever.”

Kai raised a brow. “You got a better one?”

Eli hesitated. “...No.”

Jae’s smirk faded, his expression turning sharp again. “Good. Then we go hunting.”

And as they left the abandoned building, the real game began