The sun sank in the west.
Like a festering wound, it oozed a dark crimson glow across the horizon.
A dilapidated Saint Maria Church stood amidst the overgrown weeds, its rusty steeple cross tilting askew above it.
The light striking it was not a warm gold, but a rust-like, brownish-red hue.
It was like a patch of dried blood smeared across the church's mottled gray walls.
Lev adjusted his earpiece, his gaze fixed on the church entrance not far ahead.
The church door was half-open, offering a faint glimpse of the scene inside.
However, the poor light made everything hazy and indistinct.
In the sunset's afterglow, the shadows of the surrounding trees stretched long, like distorted tentacles creeping across the ground.
At this sight, the muscles under Lev's tan protective suit tensed slightly.
It betrayed his inner tension.
"Command Center, this is Cleaner D-Level Squad 17. We've reached the target location and are preparing to enter."
