<h2> </h2>


    From the dust and debris of the shattered doorway, Aria stepped forward, her presence unmistakable, commanding yet calm. Behind her, her team flanked her: Leira, with her fiery hair and determined expression; Elyndra, her violet eyes scanning the surroundings; and two figures Kaelen didn’t recognize, their postures tense but ready.


    Kaelen’s eyes lingered on Aria for a moment longer than he intended. He hadn’t seen her in two weeks, but with everything that had happened, it felt like months. Her presence stirred something familiar within him, something unsettling yet steady.


    Lyrian stepped forward, his brows furrowing as he took in the sight. "Great. Just what we needed," he muttered sarcastically, his voice carrying a hint of both relief and annoyance.


    "Kaelen," Aria’s voice cut through the tension, soft yet firm. She looked at him with the intensity he knew too well, her eyes meeting his with the same unspoken understanding they always shared. The weight of their past missions hung in the air between them.


    Kaelen’s response was instinctive, almost a reflex. “Aria. I didn’t expect to see you here.” His voice was low, a mix of surprise and something unspoken that neither of them would admit aloud.


    Before Aria could respond, Andras stepped forward, his face a mask of cold authority. “This is Core territory,” he stated, his voice sharp. “Whatever you think you’re here for, it’s not yours to take.”


    Aria’s expression didn’t falter, but her voice carried a quiet defiance. “The artifact inside this depot belongs to Aether. It’s not a matter of territory, Commander. It’s about the balance.”


    Andras’s jaw tightened, and Kaelen could feel the tension rising between them. He knew this was coming—a clash of worlds, of beliefs, of the delicate balance that held Aether and Core together in their fragile alliance.


    Lyrian, always one to break the tension, let out a half-laugh, though it carried no humor. “So, what now? We fight over who gets to take home the shiny object?”


    Aria’s eyes flickered with irritation, but her attention remained on Andras. “This is bigger than Core and Aether. That artifact, whatever it is, is radiating magic—something dangerous. If we don’t secure it—”


    Andras cut her off, stepping closer, his towering figure imposing. “And who decides what’s dangerous? Your Council? Or maybe you think you’re the only ones who can handle it.”


    Kaelen watched, his muscles tensed, ready to intervene if things escalated further. Aria was not one to back down, and Andras… he’d never been the kind to let go of a fight once it started.


    “You can’t just walk into Core territory and claim what you want,” Andras continued, his voice hard, unwavering. “We’re here to secure this depot and whatever lies within. You and your team have no jurisdiction here.”


    Leira, always the one to push back, took a step forward, her hands igniting with a faint glow of fire. “We’re not here to take orders from you, Commander.”


    “Leira,” Aria warned, her voice cutting through the tension before it could spiral out of control. She turned back to Andras, her tone measured, diplomatic. “This depot—this artifact—was lost to both our worlds. But now, it’s resurfaced, and it’s calling out to both Core and Aether. We can’t let it fall into the wrong hands.”


    Andras’s eyes darkened, his stance growing more rigid. “The wrong hands? You mean anyone but you?”


    Kaelen, sensing the growing hostility, stepped forward. “Commander, this isn’t the time to fight over who gets credit. Something’s off here, and we all know it. We can feel it.”


    Andras glanced at Kaelen, his expression unreadable, before returning his gaze to Aria. “We’ll handle this. Core doesn’t need interference from Aether.”


    Aria’s response was immediate. “And Aether doesn’t need Core meddling in things it doesn’t understand.”


    Lyrian crossed his arms, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, this is going great. Should we grab some popcorn and let them have at it?”


    Before anyone could escalate the argument further, a loud crash reverberated through the abandoned depot, followed by the unmistakable screech of metal grinding against metal. The sound ripped through the tense silence, causing both teams to instinctively reach for their weapons.


    Jax, who had been observing the argument from a distance with his typical smirk, cursed under his breath. "What now?"


    Suddenly, the walls of the depot shook violently. The team spun around, weapons raised, just in time to see dark figures darting through the shadows.


    “Mercenaries!” Lyrian shouted, already moving into position, his rifle ready in his hands. His grin was gone, replaced by grim determination.


    Kaelen’s stomach twisted. Mercenaries? Here? His mind raced as he caught sight of the distinctive armor—Varyk’s soldiers.


    “This is an ambush!” Andras growled, his blade already drawn, the energy flickering along its edge.


    Aria’s eyes widened, her stance shifting as she prepared to summon her magic. “Everyone, defensive positions!” she called to her team. “Skarath, Elyndra, cover the flanks! Leira, with me!”


    The mercenaries attacked swiftly, their movements unnaturally quick as they closed the distance. They fired energy weapons, each shot crackling through the air with deadly precision.


    “Stay together!” Andras barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Technomancers, create a defensive barrier!”You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Rina was already on it, her fingers flying over her wrist console as she deployed a series of pulse shields. The shimmering blue barriers flickered into existence just in time, absorbing a barrage of incoming fire.


    “They’re coming in from all sides!” Jax yelled, his pulse cannon already humming with energy. He aimed and unleashed a devastating blast, sending several mercenaries flying.


    “They’ve got us surrounded!” Rina added, her calm voice cutting through the chaos as she fired quick, precise shots at the advancing mercenaries. “We need to move!”


    But Kaelen’s focus was elsewhere. His instincts were screaming at him, the shadows twisting around his feet as the pull of the Veil grew stronger. Something wasn’t right. This wasn’t just an ambush.


    “Kaelen, move!” Lyrian’s voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the battle. Kaelen shook his head, forcing himself to focus. He had no choice but to fight, even if his mind was elsewhere.


    Andras cut through a group of mercenaries with deadly efficiency, his blade absorbing their energy and turning it into a powerful counterstrike. “We need to push them back!” he ordered. “We can''t let them pin us down in here.”


    Aria was already several steps ahead, unleashing a wave of wind that swept through the mercenaries, knocking them off balance. Her team moved like a well-oiled machine, backing her up with spells and strikes as they cleared a path through the chaos.


    Suddenly, a series of explosions rocked the depot, shaking the very ground beneath them. Dust and debris filled the air, the walls of the depot groaning under the strain.


    Kaelen’s eyes darted to the source of the blast. In the confusion, several mercenaries had placed charges along the outer walls, clearly trying to bring the structure down on them.


    “Fall back!” Andras ordered, his voice sharp. “Get out of here, now!”


    “Head for the forest!” Aria shouted to her team, her voice rising above the din. “We can regroup outside!”


    Kaelen’s heart raced as he followed the others toward the exit, the mercenaries close behind them. They burst out into the cold night air, the forest looming just beyond the clearing.


    But as they stumbled into the open, Kaelen’s breath caught in his throat.


    From the treeline, dark figures emerged, moving like shadows, blending into the moonlit night. Their armor, a dark combination of magic and advanced technomancer designs, reflected none of the light. They wielded a mixture of energy weapons and enchanted blades, their glowing visors cutting through the darkness. The metallic hum of their energy rifles filled the air, cold and clinical, as they moved with terrifying efficiency.


    Kaelen’s eyes darted to the sides. They were outnumbered, but worse than that, they were surrounded.


    “Take cover!” Andras barked, his voice sharp and unyielding as he swung his blade, the energy-infused weapon humming with power as he deflected an incoming projectile. His soldiers moved like clockwork, forming a defensive line, pulse shields flickering into place to block the incoming fire from the mercenaries.


    Lyrian cursed under his breath, pulling out a gadget from his belt and throwing it to the ground. A pulse barrier shot up around him and Kaelen just in time to block another barrage of glowing projectiles. “Nyra! Drones—now!” he shouted.


    Nyra was already in motion, her wrist console lighting up as she activated her drones. Three sleek devices zipped into the sky, their metallic bodies reflecting the faint moonlight. With a few swift commands, they deployed small energy shields above the team, creating a protective dome that absorbed the deadly shots raining down on them. At the same time, three more drones launched coordinated attacks from above, firing precision blasts into the ranks of the mercenaries, forcing them to scatter.


    “We can’t hold this position!” Nyra called out, her calm demeanor wavering just slightly as she fired off several rounds from her pulse pistol, each shot hitting its mark with unnerving precision.


    Kaelen ducked as another volley of energy blasts flew over his head, his pulse quickening. The air was thick with tension, the sounds of battle mingling with the hum of energy shields and the metallic clang of weapons. He could feel the pull of the shadows again, stronger this time, urging him to act. But he couldn’t afford to lose control. Not here. Not now.


    “They’re closing in from the west!” Jax shouted, his pulse cannon charging up as he took aim at a group of mercenaries flanking them. The blast was deafening, and the shockwave sent several mercenaries flying, their armor crackling as it absorbed the energy.


    Kaelen’s eyes darted around, searching for a way out. They were pinned, surrounded by Varyk’s mercenaries, and their escape options were dwindling by the second.


    “We need to break through their line,” Aria’s voice cut through the chaos, calm yet commanding. She stood in the center of her team, her hands glowing faintly as she summoned a gust of wind, forcing the mercenaries to stagger back momentarily. “Leira, give me some cover!”


    With a sharp, focused motion, Leira unleashed a torrent of bright orange flames toward the treeline, the fire spreading wide and fierce, forcing the mercenaries to scatter in retreat. The ground sizzled under the intensity of her flames, creating a wall of heat that gave their team precious moments to regroup.


    “That won’t hold them for long,” Aria muttered, her brow furrowing as she glanced toward Andras. “We need to push through before they regroup.”


    Andras nodded curtly. “Form up on me,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Arcanists, you lead the charge. Techomancers, cover their flanks. We’re breaking through.”


    The two teams moved in unison, years of training kicking in despite the distrust between them. Kaelen stayed close to Lyrian, his mind racing as he tried to anticipate their next move.


    Just as they began their push, a series of explosions erupted around them. The ground shook violently, and the air filled with smoke and dust. The mercenaries had deployed explosives along the treeline, trying to trap them in.


    Kaelen staggered as the shockwave hit, but his instincts kicked in. “Move!” he shouted, grabbing Lyrian by the arm and pulling him toward the treeline. They fired back at the mercenaries as they moved, energy blasts cutting through the smoke. “We have to get out of the open!” Kaelen urged, his shots precise, forcing the enemy to take cover as they dashed for safety.


    But as they raced for cover, a mercenary appeared in their path, weapon raised. Kaelen’s hand instinctively reached for the shadows, the darkness swirling around his fingers as he summoned them to his will.


    The mercenary hesitated for a fraction of a second, his visor reflecting the tendrils of darkness coiling around Kaelen’s hand. It was all the opening Kaelen needed. With a sharp twist of his wrist, the shadows lashed out, knocking the weapon from the mercenary’s hand and sending him stumbling back.


    Lyrian’s eyes widened as he watched, but he didn’t say a word. There wasn’t time for questions.


    “Keep moving!” Kaelen urged, his voice strained as he fought to keep the shadows under control.


    Behind them, Aria and her team were holding their own, their combined magic and tactics keeping the mercenaries at bay. But it was clear they couldn’t hold out much longer.


    “We’re being overrun!” Leira shouted, her voice barely audible over the sound of gunfire and explosions. She unleashed a blast of fire, sending a group of mercenaries flying, but there were more coming. Too many.


    “Commander!” Rina called out from the back. “We need to retreat! They’re closing in from all sides!”


    Andras cursed under his breath, his blade slicing through another mercenary as he fought to keep his team together. “Fall back!” he ordered, his voice tight with frustration. “We can’t win this fight out here!”


    But just as they began to pull back toward the forest, another explosion ripped through the clearing.


    And then, from the smoke, the mercenaries surged forward again—relentless, unstoppable.


    Kaelen’s pulse quickened as the shadows around him stirred. The Veil was closer than ever. He could feel it.


    And somewhere, watching from the treeline, was someone else.