The transport vehicle lurched to a halt three blocks from the unstable Rift.

  Magi climbed out after his teammates, immediately noticing the difference between this deployment and their previous missions.

  Emergency lighting bathed the entire street in harsh blue. Civilians streamed away from the danger zone in orderly lines, herded by Guild security personnel.

  Above them, surveillance drones formed a protective grid, their lights blinking in synchronized patterns.

  "This is... bigger than I expected," Layla said, her usual bravado momentarily subdued.

  Magi nodded. The scale of the response indicated this wasn't just a routine containment situation. The Guild had mobilized everything.

  "Central command is that way," Marc pointed toward a hastily established operations center where team leaders were gathering. "I'll check in and get our exact assignment. The rest of you gear up."

  While Marc made his way to the command post, Magi took stock of their surroundings.

  The Foundry District had been evacuated, but the abandoned industrial buildings created a maze of potential hiding spots and ambush points. Not ideal terrain for civilian extraction.

  Eli appeared beside him, clutching her staff. "You've been in situations like this before, haven't you?" she asked quietly.

  "No," Magi replied. "But the principles remain the same. Find the task. Complete it efficiently. Avoid complications."

  "You make it sound simple."

  "The concept is simple. Execution rarely is."

  Jax adjusted his daggers, looking toward the shimmering distortion in the air that marked the Rift's location. "What's with all those secondary tears? They're like... little baby Rifts."

  "Dimensional fracturing," Magi said. "The barriers between worlds are weakening in a cascading pattern."

  "And that's bad?"

  "It means whatever comes through one tear can immediately access others. Multiple entry points. Harder to contain."

  Layla hefted her replacement greatsword, a loaner from the Guild armory until she could afford a custom weapon. "Then we kill them at the source."

  "That's not our assignment," Magi reminded her.

  Marc returned, his expression grim. "Change of plans. They're consolidating teams for a joint operation. We're being attached to the primary response unit."

  "That's A-rank territory," Jax said. "Why us?"

  "They need every available body. Something big is coming through."

  Magi frowned. "Our contract specified evacuation duty."

  "Emergency protocols override standard assignments," Marc replied. "But the pay scale remains the same."

  That was acceptable to Magi. The risk might be higher, but the compensation hadn't changed.

  They followed Marc toward the staging area, joining a growing assembly of Raiders from various teams.

  Magi counted at least forty fighters, ranging from C to A-rank. Equipment and abilities varied widely, some carried traditional weapons while others wore elaborate magical foci.

  "Organized chaos," Magi observed.

  "Joint operations usually are," Marc said. "Stay close. Follow my lead."

  A familiar voice cut through the noise. "Well, if it isn't our friends from Echo Squad."

  Keller stood at the center of the Golden Lions, his armor gleaming despite the dim light. The humiliation from the arena match was apparently still fresh, judging by his cold expression.

  "Thought you'd be on civilian duty," he continued. "This is going to get messy."

  "We go where assigned," Marc replied neutrally.

  "Under my command, as it happens." Keller smiled without warmth. "Guild leadership put the Lions in charge of the primary response. Try to keep up."

  Layla bristled, but Marc placed a restraining hand on her shoulder. "We'll do our part," he said.

  Magi studied the Golden Lions with mild interest. Their equipment had been upgraded since the arena.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Heavier armor, enhanced focus crystals, and what appeared to be Guild-issue stabilizers on their weapons. They'd clearly called in favors after their embarrassing defeat.

  A holographic display activated above the staging area, showing a three-dimensional map of the Rift and surrounding terrain. The secondary tears appeared as pulsing red dots surrounding the primary Rift.

  "Raiders," Keller addressed the assembled teams, "our objective is containment and neutralization. Intelligence suggests a horde-type incursion is building. We strike first, hit them at the source before they can establish a foothold."

  The display shifted to show enemy projections, humanoid figures with skeletal features, carrying archaic weapons. Hundreds of them.

  "Skeleton soldiers," Eli whispered. "That's unusual for this Rift type."

  Marc stepped forward. "Respectfully, a frontal assault against a horde presents significant risks. The secondary tears offer them multiple flanking opportunities."

  Keller's jaw tightened. "You suggesting an alternative, C-rank?"

  "We could use the western approach," Marc indicated on the map. "The industrial complex there funnels movement. We could establish a defensive line, force them to come to us through a controlled space."

  Several team leaders nodded in agreement, but Keller waved dismissively.

  "Defensive posture gives them time to organize. We hit hard, hit fast. The Lions will lead the charge through the central avenue. Secondary teams provide support and cover the flanks."

  Marc tried again. "The intelligence indicates archers among their forces. In open terrain—"

  "Your input is noted, Venn," Keller cut him off. "Stick to your assignment."

  The holographic display updated with team positions. Echo Squad was placed on the far right flank, separated from the main force.

  "Keeping us away from the action," Jax muttered.

  "Or away from the credit," Layla added.

  Magi wasn't concerned about glory. The placement actually made tactical sense, though he suspected Keller's motivations were personal rather than strategic.

  "What do you think?" Marc asked Magi quietly as the teams began to move into position.

  "I think you're right about the western approach," Magi replied. "And I think Keller knows it."

  "Then why ignore sound advice?"

  Magi watched Keller rallying his team, his gestures grand and voice carrying. "Because sound advice doesn't look as impressive as leading a charge."

  The operation began with clockwork precision despite the flawed strategy. Teams moved into their assigned positions, establishing a rough semicircle around the primary Rift.

  The Golden Lions formed the spearhead at the center, their golden armor catching the ethereal light from the dimensional tear.

  Magi stood with Echo Squad on the far right flank, observing the Rift's behavior. The secondary tears were multiplying, spreading outward in a pattern that reminded him of fractals. Not random. Deliberate.

  "Be ready," he said to his teammates. "This isn't going to go according to plan."

  "Is that your professional porter assessment?" Jax asked with a half-smile.

  "Yes," Magi answered simply.

  The Rift pulsed, its energy signature shifting from blue to an angry purple. The air grew heavy with ozone and something else. A dry, ancient smell like disturbed tombs.

  "Here they come," Marc said, readying his staff.

  The first skeletons emerged through the primary Rift, ancient warriors in rusted armor carrying swords and shields.

  They moved with unnatural coordination, forming lines as they emerged.

  Behind them came archers, their bony fingers nocking arrows to decaying bows.

  Keller raised his sword. "Golden Lions, advance!"

  The A-rank team surged forward, their weapons glowing with enhancement magic. They moved like a single organism, perfectly synchronized after years of training together.

  "That's our cue," Marc said. "Echo Squad, maintain position and—"

  He never finished the order. The secondary tears suddenly flared with activity, disgorging skeleton soldiers in numbers far greater than intelligence had suggested. Within seconds, the battlefield geometry changed completely.

  "It's a trap," Eli said, her voice steady despite the implication. "They wanted us to commit to a central attack."

  Marc's face hardened. "Echo Squad, defensive formation. Protect our sector."

  Magi watched as the Golden Lions drove deep into the central mass of skeletons, cutting a bloody swath through the front ranks. Keller's voice carried across the battlefield, shouting commands and encouragement. For a moment, it seemed the reckless strategy might work through sheer force and skill.

  Then the secondary tears widened.

  Skeleton archers poured through the smaller rifts, immediately taking positions on the abandoned factory structures surrounding the battlefield. High ground, excellent sightlines, minimal cover for the Raiders below.

  "They're going to be surrounded," Layla said, half-stepping forward as if to join the main attack.

  Marc grabbed her arm. "Hold position. We have our own sector to defend."

  The first volley of arrows arced through the air, black against the purple-tinged sky. Raiders scattered, shields raised, but the Golden Lions were committed to their charge, too deep to retreat.

  Magi observed with clinical detachment as the tactical situation deteriorated. The skeletons had clearly been waiting, organized, and prepared for this exact scenario. This was not a random Rift incursion, it was a planned invasion.

  Screams erupted from the center as arrows found gaps in armor. Three Raiders went down immediately. The Golden Lions formation broke apart as they tried to address threats from multiple directions simultaneously.

  "They need support," Layla insisted.

  "We hold our position," Marc repeated firmly. "If we abandon our sector, the entire eastern flank collapses."

  He was right, of course. The skeleton forces were already probing their section, testing for weakness. Echo Squad engaged the advancing enemies, holding their ground while chaos consumed the center of the battlefield.

  Keller's voice had gone from commanding to desperate. "Fall back! Defensive formation!"

  Too late. The Golden Lions were surrounded, skeleton soldiers closing in from all sides while archers continued to rain death from above. What had begun as a bold charge had become a slaughter.

  "This is exactly what you warned them about," Eli said to Marc as she sent a blast of wind magic into an approaching group of skeletons.

  "Being right brings no satisfaction in this case," he replied grimly.

  Magi focused on efficiency, using small bursts of fire to disable skeletons without wasting energy.

  The battle was far from over, and resource management would be critical. He glanced toward the center, calculating the declining survival probability for the trapped teams.

  A second wave of arrows darkened the sky. Most of Echo Squad was protected by their position against a wall, but a handful of projectiles found their way through.

  Magi saw the arrow an instant before anyone else, a black shaft cutting through the air directly toward Eli's exposed back as she concentrated on a spell.

  Time seemed to slow as he calculated distance, velocity, and the energy required for intervention.

  The arrow curved toward its target, silent and lethal.