Alex's head snapped to the left as chaotic sounds of combat erupted around the bend.

He stood overhead, frozen for a long moment of indecision. The unexpected element had thrown off his plan, and he watched as his window of opportunity closed beneath him.

Angela, James, Byron, and their armored fourth member roused themselves from various tasks and lounging positions to focus on the distant Rift.

Whatever was happening was enough to put them on their guard, however. They readied themselves, but didn't immediately move toward the portal. Moving with care, their formation faced the bend and waited a few feet from the small crosswalk that led across the running sewage below.

From above, Alex could see that it was a tactically sound decision. It would allow them to use the crosswalk as a choke point, as long as those coming at them were walking and not using movement skills to cross the four-foot gap.

Alex looked up at his left hand, still gripping the pipe, intending to burst it.

He reassessed quickly and found the enemy's new position to actually be more beneficial than if they were in their camped positions as before. Now, they were ready for a fight, but were clustered and still unaware of his position.

Waiting seemed the best option, so he looked over his shoulder to the bend, eager to see the result of the combat beyond.

Tense moments passed as everyone except those in the cell below listened as the combat sounds gradually faded.

Even when the sounds of clashing swords and smacking of flesh on flesh ceased, several grunts and panting could be heard.

Quick, clipped conversation could barely be heard, though it cut off quickly as James called out. The man called an odd phrase, voice tense.

No response phrase came, though after another long pause, five individuals slowly made their way into view.

Alex's immediate assessment of the group was that they were all fighters. Three of the five were injured, but all of them moved with a grace and confidence that he'd come to recognize.

The frontman wore golden armor that appeared to be made of a shiny, jagged stone. While he bled from a cut on his head, he seemed the least bothered by his injury. He faced Angela's group calmly, though as he saw them, his shoulders shifted, and to Alex, he seemed immensely tired.

Scanning the man revealed his name to be Robert Mercer. Alex was impressed with his class and level. The System status readout indicated he was a level 38 Steelguard.

Behind him, he scanned the others. A lithe man in his young twenties was helping another brown-haired man who seemed to be in his forties. The older man was injured in two spots, but seemed more frustrated with the group they now faced than with the bodily injury.

A quick scan revealed their names and classes. The younger man was named Luis Ortega and had the class of Pit Fighter, with a level slightly lower than Robert's. The injured man was named Anthony Russo, a Duelist, which immediately sparked something in Alex's memory.

The fourth member was a woman who stepped confidently to the front of the group next to Robert. Aisha Davis had an extreme agility-focused class called Blade Dancer and seemed much more confident than her other female combatant she was with. The final member of the group was a Shiv named Danae Whitaker.

Despite their worn and injured appearances, it meant something to Alex that they were the ones to have stepped out around the bend.

Flicking his eyes toward Angela's group, he saw most of them relax their postures when they saw the ragtag group appear.

The armored mage went as far as to laugh and cover his face before saying, "C'mon. Back into the Rift, little exp-bags. We're really going to earn some points today."

James's small smile didn't go unnoticed, nor did the subtle nod he gave to Angela.

"We won't go back," Robert said seriously. His voice carried effortlessly across the open space between them as he adjusted his left arm, armored in metal from shoulder to knuckles. His right arm was bare except for the lighter-looking gauntlet he wore. Both seemed to shine in the strange amber light that came with the rest of his armor.

Next to him, Aisha raised her daggers. The smile she wore made her look crazed to Alex.

Even the injured of the group stood their ground and drew weapons.

"Fuck me," Alex said quietly. He looked up at the pipes overhead and knew that it was now or never. He altered his plan slightly, now concerned for another group of innocents that he had no way to protect.

Dismissing Mage, he felt his stats rise and the second consciousness flow through him. With the additional mind, he was able to maintain a hold on his currently formed spell and layer his final circle over it for an augmented effect.

With everything in place and no time to spare, he yanked hard on the pipe and twisted it at the joint. The metal screeched as the pipe turned, the harsh sound echoing through the chamber. He squeezed hard on the edge and watched as the bursting jet of water quickly changed to a spraying mist that spread over the space below.

The sound more than the water drew the attention of Angela's team. Aisha let out a cry and lunged forward to cross the gap on the distracted opponents.

Alex couldn't pay her any mind, activating the full effects of his trap. Both of the layered spell circles activated where they hung horizontally overhead. The area lightning spell generated a skin-crawling crackle of static as electricity branched through the air. The second circle, positioned just above it, activated and sent jagged bolts of lightning arcing downward in rapid succession.

It was his attempt to imitate his combination attack with Valtherion, and while the lightning itself wasn't as strong as the storm Valtherion could make with his [Mana Breath], the mist and puddling water below amplified the attack tenfold.

The only member of Angela's party to react in time was James. The Gladiator raised his arm with the same buckler in hand that had absorbed Mage's attack on the roofs. However, the lightning storm raining down on him quickly overwhelmed whatever enchantment was on the gear, leaving him convulsing on the ground with the others.

Four seconds passed before the storm subsided. Alex's ears were ringing from the high-pitched sounds and constant reverberation from the tight space they were in. He flexed his jaw several times while looking across the small gap.

All five of the bloodied fighters looked at the figures as they stopped twitching, their postures frozen.

Robert had been actively holding Aisha back, though Anthony looked like he'd pass out any moment.

His attention was drawn to blue windows appearing in his vision.

You have slain Human - Level 34 You have slain Human - Level 35 You have slain Human - Level 46 You have slain Human - Level 42

"Shit," he breathed while closing his eyes.

Groaning, he looked over at the group that was quickly recovering its wits and looking around for the source of the powerful lightning. His mind rapidly ran through how he should best introduce himself to the skittish fighters.

Using [Feather Step], he stepped from the large pipe and drifted to land in the midst of the dead kidnappers.

Looking up, Alex raised his hands and gestured at the cell.

"There are some injured people in there. Kidnapped by these four. I'm going to give them a potion." He looked pointedly at Anthony before producing a potion in his hand from his spatial ring and tossing it to Robert. "Make him drink it. If you want a few minutes, I can help you guys."

Warrior and Scout approached from behind him, both still wearing their mana-silk masks. The appearance of two more people caused Robert's group to tense, but Alex waved them down.

"This is my group. They're just going to check the bodies," with that, Alex turned and made his way to the cell where Mage had been broken and battered. The woman and her daughter were still there, as was the man. He no longer held his wife's head in his lap, though she did lie near him on her back, arms folded on her chest. The man stared ahead, despite everything that had just happened.

"Hello," Alex said quietly. Both women looked at him with wide, wary eyes. "I'm here to help you get out of here. Those people won't hurt you anymore. My friends cast the magic shield that was just protecting you."

None of the three said anything. He tried again.

"Do you want to get out of here? Go somewhere else?"

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The young girl, the daughter, spoke up first. "Yes— yes, please." She was crying before she'd even finished her sentence.

"Okay, good. My friend is going to come back over here in a minute and get you out of there and make sure you don't have any injuries. Then we'll connect you with people who can help and ensure your safety. Does that sound good?"

The girl nodded, but she just moved closer to her mom. The older woman wasn't as despondent as the man in shock, though she didn't speak up, only clutching at her daughter and bringing her closer.

Alex stood, hearing Warrior's footsteps approaching from behind. They didn't need to say anything, easily switching places with one another. The clone spoke in a soft tone, looking around the edge of the cell for a way to let them out.

Meanwhile, Alex stepped further away from the group and pulled his phone from his pocket. He quickly dialed the number for Director Matthews once more. When the answering machine picked up after a few rings, he clicked his tongue before texting Sarah an update and telling her more information would follow.

Not wanting to let the injured group sit idle for too long, he pocketed his phone and approached Scout, who still stood with the bodies of Angela's team between the cell and the other group. He watched them as he spoke to Scout.

"Did they have any kind of identification on them? Or any way we can prove they were who I scanned them as?"

"Yeah, they had registered cards in their spatial items. But the info is wrong. Their classes seem way more mundane, and their levels are a lot lower." Scout held out his hand. "Toss me one of the sacks you've got and I'll scoop up the spatial items at least."

Alex glanced over at the people being held in the cell. "All right. Just be discreet about it." He tossed his clone a canvas sack with a tie attached from his bracer. "Watch my back. I'm going to go talk with this group. Just have a Swift Spell ready in case I need you over there."

"Got it." Scout accepted the bag and returned to what he was doing.

Alex tilted back his hat and scratched his head before letting out a sigh. He walked over the small crosswalk that connected the two stone platforms. Behind Robert's group, the blue light of the portal called to him.

"Hey," he called out with plenty of distance between them.

The group was close together, with Anthony seated on the ground between them. As he approached, it wasn't hard to hear the harsh whispers being shared.

Everyone looked at him warily as he approached, quickly cutting off their debate. Robert was the first to speak up.

"What group are you with?" He asked simply.

"I'm not with any group. I'm here as a favor to a friend, but I have my own house and my own friends that I'm focused on." He stopped a safe distance away and kept his hands in plain sight, though he caught Robert glancing at his ring more than once.

"We just want to leave this place. Will you try to stop us?"

The whole group seemed to tense at this question, waiting to see Alex's answer.

"Stop you? No, I came here to try and help these people get away," he said, throwing his thumb over his shoulder to gesture at the cell. "You all broke out of the Rift right before I was going to ambush the camp. I won't stop you, but I would like to at least help your friend get healed if you're willing to tell me some about what's in the Rift." He raised an eyebrow, hoping that the information wouldn't be valuable to the group.

Robert thought on the idea for a moment before making the decision. He didn't consult the group, simply nodding and stepping slightly to the side. Aisha made a tsch sound and turned away from them for a moment before watching Alex with a hard glare.

So he's the leader then?

Alex approached and took a health potion from his ring, and stopped a few steps from the group. "Give me a bit of space, please?"

They were reluctant, but gave him the space nevertheless. In less than a minute, Anthony's breathing came easier, and his leg had stopped bleeding.

Alex left a bit at the bottom of the bottle and handed it to Robert as he walked away from the group to create a bit more space from them while they spoke.

"So, can you tell me about the Rift? I haven't seen it yet. Rank, Rarity, Monsters, Quests? Anything like that?"

Robert shared a look with Luis before sighing. "The Rift is Epic Rarity and E Rank."

"Really?" Alex said in surprise. He'd expected the Rift to be D Rank based on their levels.

"There is a sentient race in the Rift. They're a tribal people, somewhat humanoid, with long limbs. They're great fighters, but are mostly a peaceful race. Humans are the problem in the Rift."

Things were starting to fall into place for Alex. "Humans took over in the Rift?"

Robert nodded, and Alex could see Luis's jaw tense and Aisha's frown deepen.

"So a group from Earth went in, took over, and what? Is dragging people into the Rift? You guys were taken in there just like these three were going to be?"

Another nod. "Yes. They force the awakened to fight. The leader gains some bonuses when people bleed or die in the arena."

"Jesus," Alex said. "How long has this been going on? How long were you in the Rift?"

"I was the first of this group in the Rift. I was their slave for seven years." Robert's voice was a mix of hollow pain and simmering anger.

Alex's jaw almost fell open.

"Seven years? That means… You were pulled in there last year. Since before Christmas?"

Robert only bobbed his head in response.

"Fuck…" The implications settled on Alex. He referenced his memories as Mage. "So if this guy— what was his name? Kinley? Has been growing stronger from people fighting and dying in his arena for seven years. He has to be huge at this point."

The idea of a fight with a powerful human intrigued him, especially knowing that the man was as sick and twisted as he was. Kidnapping, slavery, forced fights, and profiting off the lives of unwilling fighters were only the most immediate things Alex had learned.

He shook his head.

But this isn't my fight.

Alex knew he already had too much to do. Between finishing the mana battery, adding a second rune to his spell circles, practicing his runic concepts, and reverse engineering the elven ritual, he had enough on his plate.

"I'll help you guys get out of here if you want. I know someone with the Hunters Association we can call—"

"No," Aisha spoke this time. "No Hunters." She seemed to spit the term from her mouth.

Robert backed her up. "No Hunters," he agreed.

"Okay, okay. No Hunters. What do you need then? Where are you going to go?"

"Does it matter?" Anthony asked somewhat skeptically. "We appreciate your help, but we don't know you. We'd just like to get away from here and not look back at this city ever again."

Alex shrugged. "It's fine with me. I'm going to go check on the Rift and report it to my team. Are there any surprises down that way?"

Robert shook his head. "Shouldn't be. We killed the only guards that were following us, and shift change wouldn't be for several more hours."

"All right then. Best of luck to you all," he said and started to walk past.

"Wait," Robert said. He looked at the group this time, but nothing was said between them. "I'll walk with you."

He joined Alex and walked with him around the bend to the Rift.

Even before he was around the bend, he could tell something was different about the Rift. Most everything was as it should be. The light was blue and shone brightly. He approached the swirling blue doorway of magic and saw an ocean of hues in his left eye.

"I— I can't feel it," he said, more to himself than anything. Slowly, he waved his hand in the air. The telltale tingling sensation of proximity to such dense quantities of mana was absent. The area felt normal, as if the Rift weren't there at all.

"It's an item that he has," Robert said, staring at the portal without looking at Alex.

"An item?"

"He has an item that affects the Rift somehow. It makes it so that others can't find it. He loved to brag about it and taunt us with the knowledge that we'd never be found."

Alex squinted at the man. "I don't know a lot about Rifts, but I've been learning more lately. You're sure he has something in there that can affect the Rift out here?"

"I only know what he told us. So, if he was telling the truth, then I'd assume so."

"Would he have any reason to lie?" Alex asked.

"Why would he lie to dead men?"

Silence hung between them, and Alex's mind adjusted the value of the Rift. Before, he'd been seeing it as a problem for the Hunters to deal with. A large problem, but one that would net them another eight times the time dilation for training soldiers for the coming fight.

Now, however… if there was something that he could study. Something that might reveal more about how the Rifts work or how to alter them? That changed everything.

"I'm going to go in there," Alex stated plainly. "Can you give me any more information? Is there anyone in there who would help me find Kinley? In return, I can give you and the other four passage somewhere safe."

Robert closed his eyes and spoke to himself under his breath. When he opened his eyes, most of the tiredness from before seemed gone and was replaced with a fire in his eyes. "I'll take you there, as long as you let us fight."

"Us?" Alex asked.

"Aisha and Luis would come with me. Anthony and Danae will want to leave."

"You'll go back in there?" Alex asked in surprise.

"It's a different reason for each of us. But we will," he affirmed.

Alex thought it over before asking, "Why? Why escape only to turn around and return?"

"Several reasons, but the main one would be you."

"Me?"

Robert nodded and looked back at the portal. "You're strong enough to take out that team of headhunters in a single spell. Kinley is a lot stronger than they are, but if you want the Cadence Stone, you'll have to fight him for it. That works well with my goal. I think we can help each other."

"You know nothing about me, though," Alex said skeptically.

"I can recognize power. We spoke about it at length while in the Rift and assumed that almost no one would be stronger than we were when we emerged. We were forced to fight for years and had more time than most out here had. If there is someone as powerful as you here already fighting to free other innocents, I see that as a sign."

Another long silence hung between them. "Okay. I'll send one of my team back with the other two. Or if they want, they can get space from the city and camp to wait for us. Whichever they're more comfortable with. The other two members of my team will come with us in the Rift. That makes six of us. Will that be a problem?"

"I'm not sure it would matter much if you brought an army. The only reason I'm giving us any odds at making a difference is that magic I saw earlier. If you're that strong of a mage, they likely won't know how to handle your power."

Alex could tell there was more he was going to say, but didn't.

They both looked at the Rift for another few heartbeats before Alex turned around. "Let's get ready to go back in. If we're going to make an assault, we can't let that shift change figure out you made a break for it. I need to contact my team and give them an update."

Once they returned to the main chamber, Alex accepted the looted items from Scout before instructing him to check their memories. Warrior had all three captives out of the cell and would wait with them here for whoever the director sent soon.

Alex created space and tried the HA director once more, only to receive the same result. He sent Sarah an update, informing her of the Rift's Rarity and the status of the people he'd rescued. He told her of his interest and intention to enter the Rift, and instructed her to share the information only with the Director as soon as she could get in touch with him.

She and Jon confirmed they got his message, and they would continue their route north to Sarah's parents. When they were finished, Alex was surprised to get a follow-up text from Jon.

Jon: Hey. Haven't been tracking as much of what's going on lately, but I doubt they're going to be able to get a task force over to you quickly.

Alex: You don't? This is a pretty big deal.

Jon: It's big enough that they'll want to send in a team big enough and strong enough to root it out. Whatever you're willing to do to help will probably be seen as a boon.

Alex: Just to make it clear, and you can tell the director this, I'm going in for my own reasons. I will help people where I can, but this isn't me acting as the HA contractor. I've already fulfilled what was asked of me.

Jon: Understood.

Alex: If I'm risking my life, it's going to be for my own reasons. The Epic Rift should be enough to get the HA moving and motivate them to come clean this up.

Jon: Agreed. I'll pass on the word. Keep your head on a swivel.

Sarah texted him again a few minutes later.

Sarah: Be safe.

Alex put his phone away and began to review his current supplies, and consider how he was going to get the clones into the Rift without the skittish warriors noticing.

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