The Rift pulsed with Void-tainted energy, the air humming with tension as the battlefield descended into chaos. The Beta Team clung to their positions, struggling to adapt to the relentless assault of Void-tainted constructs. The creatures moved with a predatory fluidity, their glowing veins pulsating in the mist.

Team Unknown, cloaked and masked, moved through the chaos like shadows, their precision unmatched.

Val activated his Void Projection, the shadowy figure materializing with practiced ease. It darted forward, slipping through the narrow gaps of the Rift's jagged terrain, scouting the path ahead. The tether hummed faintly in Val's mind as he focused, guiding the projection through the battlefield without engaging. This was not a weapon; it was his eyes in the unknown.

Movement, three o'clock, Val reported through the Mind Link, his voice steady. Cluster of Void constructs heading toward Beta Two. I count five.

Ember's voice cut through the link, sharp and commanding. Beta Two, hold your ground. Frost, intercept. Umbra, keep scouting.

Bo's response was immediate. On it.

Bo moved with chilling precision, his presence heralded by a mist that froze the ground in his wake. The advancing constructs faltered as ice surged up their legs, locking them in place. Bo's gloved hand extended, his power condensing the air around him into jagged shards of frost. With a swift motion, the shards launched forward, piercing the constructs' glowing cores and reducing them to crumbling husks.

Beta Two watched in stunned silence, their weapons slackening momentarily before Kieran barked an order. "Focus! We're not here to spectate—cover our six!"

Riggs' voice came through the link with his usual sardonic edge. Bet they're wishing they stayed in training now.

Ember, ever focused, cut him off. Stay sharp, Aura. Beta One, report.

Serra's voice crackled through the link, tinged with strain. We've got movement on the eastern flank—two constructs inbound. Reinforcements likely behind.

Terra, Ember ordered, disrupt their approach.

Fon, stationed near a crumbling ridge, placed his hands against the ground. The earth beneath the approaching constructs trembled before erupting into a wall of jagged stone, blocking their path. The creatures screeched, clawing at the barrier, but Fon's control was unyielding. He shifted the terrain subtly, funneling the constructs toward a narrow choke point where Riggs waited above.

"Got 'em," Riggs muttered, raising his hands. A surge of wind twisted through the air, picking up debris and forming a concentrated vortex. The whirlwind slammed into the constructs, their glowing forms torn apart by the relentless force.

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Clear, Riggs reported, his voice calm. Beta One, you're good to move.

Serra didn't hesitate, signaling her team to advance through the newly cleared path. Acknowledged. Moving forward.

Val's projection drifted deeper into the Rift, its shadowy form slipping unnoticed past Void patrols. The mist thickened, and the faint hum of energy grew louder as he approached the central ridge. Through the projection's eyes,

Val spotted a towering structure partially obscured by jagged spires of rock. Void-tainted energy pulsed faintly from its core, and distorted figures moved with mechanical precision around its perimeter.

Umbra to Lux, Val said through the link. I've got visuals on the production site. Heavy patrols and energy spikes. Sending coordinates.

Confirmed, Ember replied. Terra, Frost, regroup with me. Aura, maintain overwatch. Beta Teams, hold positions until further orders.

Val withdrew the projection, his breaths steadying as the tether dissolved. Despite the physical strain, he moved to join Ember's group, his steps silent as he navigated the treacherous terrain.

Beta Two's position was holding, but the strain was evident. Kieran's kinetic redirection ability glowed faintly around his hands as he absorbed the force of an incoming strike, redirecting it into a nearby construct. The creature stumbled, its glowing veins flickering before it collapsed.

"Keep it together!" Kieran shouted, his voice raw with effort. "We're not losing ground!"

Nearby, one of his soldiers, using mana threads, ensnared a construct's limbs, struggling to maintain control as the creature thrashed violently.

Another Beta soldier unleashed a burst of electricity, the crackling energy surging through the construct and causing it to convulse before crumpling to the ground.

Despite their efforts, it was clear Beta Two was nearing its limits. Ember's voice cut through the link, cold and precise.

Beta Two, fallback point, is five meters east. Hold there. Frost, assist.

Bo arrived in a flash of icy mist, his calm presence a stark contrast to the chaos. Move, he ordered Kieran, freezing a cluster of constructs that were pressing too close. We'll cover you.

Kieran hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. Understood. Fall back!

As Beta Two repositioned, Bo stayed at the rear, his ice carving a path of destruction through the pursuing constructs. One lunged at him, its claws glowing with Void-tainted energy, but Bo sidestepped effortlessly, a shard of ice impaling the creature mid-leap.

Clear, Bo reported, his tone steady.

Meanwhile, Ember, Val, and Fon approached the central structure, their movements synchronized. The air grew heavier with each step, the Void energy so thick it felt like a physical weight pressing down on them.

Perimeter defenses are active, Val noted, his eyes narrowing beneath his mask. Turrets on the west side, automated patrols circling every two minutes.

Ember didn't hesitate. Terra, disrupt the turrets. Umbra, scout the interior once we breach.

Fon placed his hands on the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth. The ground beneath the turrets shifted violently, throwing their aim off and rendering them useless.

Val activated his projection again, the shadowy figure slipping past the patrols and into the structure's shadowed interior.

Through the projection, Val saw rows of pods lining the walls, each containing half-formed Void-tainted constructs suspended in viscous liquid. The energy pulsing from the structure's core was deafening through the projection's senses, a sickening rhythm that reverberated through the air.

Production confirmed, Val reported. This is the heart of it.

Ember's voice was cold. Then we end it. Prepare for breach.

The mission was far from over, but every step brought them closer to dismantling Hades' Wrath's operations.

The Rift pulsed with energy, the tension mounting as Team Unknown prepared to strike the heart of the enemy's stronghold.