Cleared for Duty

The cafe door chimed as Grace burst in, her eyes scanning the room before she found the team. Alice was on her feet instantly, arms wrapping around Grace before she could say a word. Mei and Penny crowded close, their faces full of concern that melted into relief.

"Is it done?" Mei asked, her voice tight.

Grace nodded, still reaching out to the others as she spoke. "They got him."

Ethan exhaled sharply, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. His phone buzzed again—a message from Guildmaster Thompson confirming Marcus had been detained and was being transported for processing. The weight of the last few days seemed to lift, if only a little.

"He saw me when they were coming from him," Grace spoke, a chill running through her as she recounted Marcus's words. "Even as they were taking him, he was yelling about helping me get home."

"He's not going to be able to help anyone, let alone himself. Let's get out of here," Ethan said, ushering them toward the door. "We need to debrief with the Guildmaster."

---

The Minnesota Guild headquarters towered ahead, its design radiating strength. Inside, they reached Director Wray’s office—a spacious room with high ceilings, intricate moldings, and guild insignias. Wray sat behind a polished desk flanked by two leather chairs holding Guildmasters Thompson and Warren.

"Welcome, please, take a seat," Director Wray stood as the team entered the room, gesturing to a seating area with several couches and chairs. "Grace," he began, his voice steady and calm. "I want you to know that the Guild has opened a full formal investigation into Marcus Hale’s actions. We’ve petitioned and been granted a temporary restraining order that requires him to avoid you and your team."

Grace sat up straighter, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "What does that mean for us?"

Wray leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the desk. "It means he’s not getting anywhere near you. The administrative meddling has been resolved—all shifts, arena slots, and resources have been cleared and secured. You’ve been fully cleared for D-ranked response missions."

Alice let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. "So we’re back on track?"

Wray nodded. "Yes. But I want you all to be aware that this isn’t over. Marcus’s father still holds significant influence, and there may be fallout. We’ll do everything in our power to isolate you from him, but nothing is foolproof. Men like Tony Hale can be creative when they become vindictive."

Ethan clenched his jaw. "What about Marcus? What happens to him now?"

"He’ll face disciplinary action," Warren said, joining the conversation. "Given the evidence we’ve gathered—stalking, administrative interference, and attempted intimidation—the Guild has **** but to act. He’s being held pending further investigation, and if the findings support our case, he’ll be expelled from the guild."

Grace swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around each other. "And his father?"

Warren's expression darkened slightly. "His father is another matter. He’s been put on administrative leave while an internal audit is conducted. If we find evidence of his involvement, he’ll face consequences as well."

Mei crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "What kind of consequences?"

"Disciplinary action up to and including expulsion," Wray said firmly. "The Guild doesn’t tolerate this kind of behavior. We’re here to protect our members, not enable **** of power."

Penny let out a slow breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "So what do we do now?"

Thompson leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the team. "You get back to work. You’ve been through a lot, but you’re ready for D-ranked missions. We need you out there, doing what you do best."

Ethan nodded, determination hardening his features. "We won’t let you down."

Thompson smiled slightly. "I know you won’t. Dismissed."

As they left the office, the weight of the last few days seemed to lift even more. The team walked in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.

Grace stopped, causing the others to pause and look towards her. She finally spoke up, breaking the quiet with a gentle but firm tone. "Thank you. All of you. I don’t know what I would have done without you."

Alice slipped an arm around Grace’s shoulders, pulling her close. "You never have to find out. We’re a team. We stick together."

Ethan nodded in agreement, his hand finding Penny’s as they walked. Mei fell into step beside them, her usual calm demeanor returning.

"Let's eat out, somewhere fancy," Penny said with a broad smile. "We deserve it after all this, and we’ve got our first full shift on deck tomorrow."

---

The team stepped through the heavy doors of the Response Station, greeted by the hum of activity and the scent of burnt coffee. They had their gear stowed and readied in record time, happy to be back on duty. The station commander, a woman with sharp features and a no-nonsense demeanor, looked up from her position at the podium and nodded as they filed into the briefing room.

"Good morning," she acknowledged, her voice firm yet carrying an undercurrent of warmth. "Glad to have you back."

Ethan returned her nod, his expression serious. "Thanks for having us, Commander."

The commander leaned forward, hands braced on either side of the podium. "Before we begin, I want to address the elephant in the room." She glanced at Grace, then back at Ethan. "I won’t pretend I don’t know what you’ve been through. The double booking was a mistake—one that shouldn’t have happened. For my part in it, I apologize."

Grace offered a smile, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Thank you, Commander. We’re just here and happy to be able to do our jobs."

The commander nodded appreciatively, eyes flicking to the doorway as other teams began to filter into the room. "Good. Now, let’s get down to business."

"Alright, listen up," the commander began, her voice cutting through the chatter. "We’ve had a quiet few days, but that’s going to change." She tapped a button on the table, highlighting a specific area on the map. "We’ve had remarkably low activity in sector 7, and the numbers indicate we'll see an incursion there today."

As the commander finished speaking the alarm blared through the station, its shrill tone cutting through the hum of activity. The team snapped into action, their training kicking in as they moved with practiced efficiency.

"D-ranked dungeon confirmed in Sector Seven," a voice echoed over the intercom.

The commander looked at the team, giving them a sharp nod. "Get to it."

Ethan led the way to the armory, where they geared up quickly. Grace strapped on her heavy armor, her expression focused. Alice checked her blade in its sheath, ensuring it was free. Penny summoned her shadow minion, its form solidifying beside her. Mei ignited a small flame in her palm, testing her firebolts.

"Let’s move," Ethan commanded, his voice steady and sure.

They boarded the transport vehicle, its engine roaring to life as it sped toward Sector Seven. The city blurred past them, the skyline giving way to the industrial district where the dungeon had formed.

As they approached the site, the air grew heavy with an unsettling energy. The transport came to a halt, and the team disembarked, heading for the command vehicle. The incursion site commander, a burly man with a no-nonsense attitude, greeted them.

"Confirm raider team arrival," he acknowledged to this staff, his gaze sweeping over them. "You’re just in time. Techs are confirming the rating now, should be finished any moment."

Ethan nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "We’re ready."

The team followed the incursion site commander to the breach, stepping over sprawling cables that stretched from vehicles to sensor equipment surrounding the portal. As they approached, the glow of the portal to the dungeon lit their faces blue in the dark morning.

"D-ranked rating confirmed, sir," One of the techs called out from behind a portable scanner.

"D-ranked rating confirmed," the site commander verified for the record. He turned to the team next. "You're clear for entry, god speed."

Ethan gave a decisive nod. "Understood. Raider team entry clearance confirmed. D-ranked dungeon."

Here we go," Ethan muttered, unlimbering his mace and shield. He turned and saw each of his team doing last moment checks of their gear. He locked eyes with them, confirming they were ready.

The dungeon yawned before them, its dark maw pulsating with an eerie light. The team exchanged determined glances, their resolve unwavering.

"Stay sharp," Ethan ordered. "We take this one step at a time."

Together, they stepped into the darkness.

The dungeon portal spat them out into an abandoned industrial park that looked like it had been frozen in time decades ago and left to decay. The grey, washed out sky cast a gloom over the buildings surrounding them. Metal frameworks and catwalks crisscrossed open areas between dilapidated buildings, connecting nothing to anything. Sheet metal siding peeled back like rotting bark on a tree. Large metal tanks stood still, their surfaces pockmarked with age and neglect.

The area was clean of anything that wasn't bolted down. No vehicles, pallets of materials, trash. It made the area feel wrong. Not hazardous, but eerily disconcerting, as if the location had been crafted by someone who only knew factories through secondhand accounts.

Ethan's eyes scanned the area as he took in the scene. "This place... it's not right," he muttered, his grip tightening on his mace.

Alice stepped forward, her rapier gleaming in contrast with the run down environment. "Stay alert," she warned, her voice steady despite the unsettling atmosphere. "Urban dungeons are some of the most dangerous, too many places to hide. We don't know what we're dealing with here."

The team moved cautiously through the industrial park, their steps echoing in the silence. The air was thick with an unsettling energy, and every shadow seemed to hide a potential threat.

Ethan kept his eyes peeled, his senses on high alert. This place was unlike anything he had ever seen, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

As they ventured deeper into the industrial park, the sense of unease grew stronger. The buildings loomed overhead, their broken windows like empty eye sockets staring down at them. The metal frameworks creaked and groaned in the wind, adding to the overall sense of dread.

"This place is massive," Grace commented, her eyes scanning her assigned quadrant as they moved. "I can't see any end to it."

"Rank doesn't correspond to distance, D-ranked dungeons start behaving differently than E-ranked," Mei reminded them, glancing through a rusted out opening in a wall. "As long as we keep moving, the dungeon will place monsters ahead of us.

The first monster appeared without fanfare. The sound of heavy metal on concrete drew their attention forward as a metal construct stepped out from behind a building. It moved like a puppet made of scaffolding: a tall matrix of rusted metal housing rods, pistons, and a glowing red core where its throat should have been.

Another emerged from a shattered window overhead, leaving down to the ground. It was squat and plated, like a metal bulldog bolted together from scrap metal and conveyer parts, screws welded in like teeth.

"Two targets," Ethan said calmly. "Standard opening—"

The tall one launched itself at them, crossing the distance in a heartbeat.

"Whoa—" Alice darted sideways, Surging to avoid the jagged metal arm that gouged the concrete.

Mei's hand snapped up, a concussive blast of air going off behind the construct, sending it stumbling forward off balance.

Grace arrived to finish the job, the hammer end of her halberd swinging downwards in a large overhand strike that sent the construct crashing to the ground.

The squat construct lunged at Ethan and he caught it with his shield. The jaws of the metal beast bit down on the upper edge of his shield, using its weight to drag him down to the ground.

Ethan went to one knee, not allowing it to take him off balance. Shadow Minion arrived the next moment, claws latching onto the constructs back and beginning to tear into the gaps between the armored plating.

Even with the minion on its back, the beast continued to attack, pulling hard on the shield. Claws scraped on the shield and Ethan struggled to break free from its hold on him.

A short cry of pain rang out behind him and it drove him to action, digging his heels in and shoving against the construct. He regained his feet, the jaws still clamped onto the top of his shield. He heard another grunt, the sound pushing him to deal with this construct so he could heal whoever had been hurt.

Two blows from his mace, the sound of metal on metal loud in his ears, dislodged the construct. Its upper jaws were a mess of crushed and crumpled metal as Ethan shoved it with his shield, creating space for him to stand.

Behind him, Ethan heard the sharp crack of Alice using Shock and boosted her reflexively. Twice more the Shocks rang out as he kept focus on the smaller construct, swinging again to help the Minion keep it controlled.

"It's down!" Grace called and the next moment a barrage of Shadow Bolts drilled into the side of the metal bulldog. The bolts shredded the metal plates there and Ethan took advantage of the weakness, once more striking the construct. the plating fell away and the Minion tore into the glowing core within, battering it with its claws. The red glow faded and the construct went still as it collapsed.

"Another down!" Ethan called, spinning to assess the fight around him. Grace and Alice were standing over the other construct, the glowing core visibly cracked and broken. "Everyone okay?"

"Could use a quick heal," Grace spoke up. "Thing hit a lot harder than I expected."

Ethan quickly moved to her, placing a hand on her shoulder and healing her. He felt the essence move to her shoulder and upper arm where she had taken a solid blow, strong enough to cause intense bruising through her armor.

Grace let out a relieved sigh as the heal washed away the pain. "Okay. That thing hit harder than expected."

"I thought constructs with weak points weren't common until C rank?" Penny was kneeling down next to the smaller construct, inspecting the core on its interior.

"They're not. They've been seen in D-ranked dungeons before, though." Mei answered, looking at the other dead machine. "It's not a hard rule, but I haven't seen it before."

"And you managed to lift this thing up by your shield?" Penny asked, checking the weight of the armored construct, struggling to lift it.

He shrugged. "Let's keep going."

The plaza they found ahead was boxed in by large multistory buildings. The open space was a maze of catwalks that led nowhere and pipes that carried nothing. Narrowly, through the mess, they could see a smaller structure sitting in the middle.

"I think there's a door," Alice called down from up above where she had scaled a ladder part way up a building. "There are some bright markings around it I can't make out, but it's screaming boss entrance if I've ever seen one."

"Where do we think the mobs are going to come from?" Ethan said, turning to the rest of the team. "We know we're going to be attacked making our way to the door."

"Maybe they're camouflaged in with the rest of the metal? It'd be hard to notice a core until we got closer." Grace suggested. "Otherwise, from the building in the middle? Would make sense if they're defending it."

Ethan watched as Alice dropped down the last few feet to the ground. "See anything else?" She shook her head and Ethan turned towards the metal jungle. "Well, then, nothing else to it but to bait it out. We'll move slowly."

They began to make their way forward, vaulting over metal railings, ducking under pipes. Eyes constantly checking their surroundings for the expected attack.

The ambush came from below—panels in the ground sliding open with a pneumatic hiss. Three constructs rose up, spread around them. The first was serpentine, made from interlocking pipe segments with what looked like long drill bits for fangs. The next walked on three legs spread evenly around its circular body. Three arms capped with rotating saw blades. The last was a floating drone, humming with electrical energy, with no visible weaponry.

"Why do these look unique?" Mei murmured. "Dungeons are supposed to have consistent monsters."

"No time!" Ethan snapped. "Penny, lock down the floating one, I don't like the look of it. Grace, take sawblades. Everyone else, target the snake first."

Shadow Minion went bounding off, leaping across the metal to tackle the flying construct, Penny already summoning a boosted array of Shadow Bolts.

Grace positioned herself at a **** point, using the sawblade constructs size against it.

The snake construct was the closest and slid along the ground, darting underneath a mass of metal that hid it from sight. They were prepared for it, moving to meet it the moment it struck out at them.

It lunged at Ethan and he shifted, meeting its strike with his shield and deflecting it off to the side. It tried to dash away again to hide once more, only to find an Earth Wall raised up from the concrete beneath them cutting it off. Alice capitalized on the opening, touching her blade to the tail and unleashing a Boosted Shock.

The snake construct thrashed against the Earth Wall, its fangs scraping metal as it tried to find an opening. Alice pressed her advantage, driving her rapier into its side and unleashing another Shock. The construct convulsed, its movements growing erratic.

Ethan kept his shield up, blocking the serpent’s strikes while Mei’s Firebolts drilled into the pipe surrounding its core and it flickered, dimming as it took damage. Ethan spared a moment to survey the fight, turning to Grace. She was still holding off the tripod, her halberd locked against its saw blades with a steady, unyielding stance. The construct’s arms whirred, trying to find an angle to strike.

Ethan moved to finish off the serpent, but before he could reach it, the floating droid hummed closer. It launched a magnetic wave, invisible but powerful, slamming into them like a freight train. Metallic gear clattered as they were thrown off balance—Alice sent spinning by her buckler and rapier, Mei knocked down by the metal plates in her armor.

Ethan felt lucky, his shield aligned with his body to catch the attack head on. He barely caught himself before he hit the ground, his shield unsteady in his grip. The serpent took advantage of the distraction, its fangs snapping towards him. He twisted just in time, but the strike grazed his arm, sending a jolt of pain through his nerves.

Grace staggered, her halberd barely deflecting another saw blade strike as she fought to regain her footing. The tripod’s arms whirred faster, closing in on her.

Mei turned towards the drone, fingers curling into a fist as she summoned Rock Shards from the ground. The shards shot toward the floating droid, embedding themselves in its armored plating with sharp cracks. Penny’s Shadow Bolts streaked after them, both her and Mei's attacks Boosted. The bolts shredded the droid’s exterior, leaving jagged holes where they struck. It hummed louder, erratic sparks flickering along its edges as it tried to dodge.

Ethan gritted his teeth against the pain in his arm but didn’t hesitate. He lunged at the serpent, mace swinging in a wide arc to shatter one of its fangs. The construct recoiled, tail lashing out like a whip and slamming into Ethan’s leg. His knee buckled, sending him sprawling onto the concrete.

The serpent followed up with another strike, this time aiming for his exposed side. He barely raised his shield in time, the impact jarring through his arm as he winced, pain flaring hot in his knee.

Alice didn’t miss a beat. She stabbed her rapier into the serpent’s body near the dimming core and unleashed a Shock, the construct convulsing violently. Ethan seized the opening, rolling forward and smashing his mace into the pipe segments around its core. The metal groaned under the ****, but the serpent twisted away, fangs snapping at him again.

Shadow Minion was still tearing at the floating droid, claws digging deep into its armor. The combined barrage from Penny and Mei continued, the droid suddenly faltering as they hammered it, its humming fading as it lost altitude and crashed to the ground in a shower of sparks.

Mei didn’t waste the moment. She stepped forward, hand glowing with power as she cast Pressure Spike. A concentrated jet of water shot for the droid’s core, drilling through its armor. It began to struggle to rise again, throwing off her aim, but Penny commanded Shadow Minion to hold it steady.

The droid’s core flickered once before going dark, the Pressure Spike breaking through the armor to reach the core, its body still as it died.. A weaker magnetic wave pulsed out from it, staggering everyone slightly, but they barely flinched.

Ethan scrambled back to his feet, shield raised just in time to block another strike from the serpent. He healed himself quickly, the Essence washing away the pain in his arm and knee, leaving him steady once more.

A Water Whip shot out, grabbing onto the serpent and Ethan joined in, ramming the serpent against the Earth Wall from earlier. Pinned in place by him and Mei, Alice had a clear shot to Shock the core directly, ending the construct.

The tripod’s remaining saw blades whirred louder, the grinding noise growing more erratic with each pass. Grace held her ground, halberd locked against its damaged arm, her stance unyielding.

"Hey," she called, her voice steady but carrying a hint of strain. "Any time now!"

Ethan ran, jumping over some pipes and positioning himself to the flank of the final enemy. It whirled on him, blades screeching as he caught the blow on his shield. Another arm came in and he met it with a strike of his own, a loud grinding noise erupting from the now dented saw blade.

The construct was shoved into a large tank as Grace speared into it with a Leap Thrust, the long spike at the end of her weapon piercing into the enemy. She kept the weapon there, shifting sideways to brace at, keeping it pinned. Unable to turn, the arms began striking at her weapon, nearly tearing it from her grip.

Alice dropped down on the far side of Grace in the construct's **** flank. Her blade sneaked through an open gap in the armor and Ethan Boosted her again as she Shocked. She was **** to jump back, deflecting one of the construct’s legs with her buckler, only for Shadow Minion to appear and grab hold of the leg.

Free to attack again, Alice continued thrusting inside the construct and unleashing Shock after Shock. Each attack caused the construct to spasm, before finally its arms and legs went limp, the fourth and final Boosted Shock ending the construct.

Ethan scanned the area, his breath steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through him. The constructs lay motionless, their cores dark and lifeless.

"Clear," he confirmed, turning to Grace. "You good?"

She nodded, her halberd still locked in place, her stance unyielding even as she caught her breath. "I’m fine."

Alice stepped forward, her rapier gleaming in the washed out grey light. She flexed her wrist, wincing slightly at the pain there. "I could use a quick heal for my wrist," she admitted, her voice steady but carrying a hint of strain.

Ethan moved to her side, placing a hand on her wrist and healing her. He felt the essence move through his bond with Alice, washing away the pain in her wrist. She let out a relieved sigh as he finished, her grip tightening slightly around her rapier.

"Thanks," she muttered, her voice soft but sincere. "That thing hit harder than I expected."

Mei stepped forward, her eyes scanning the area thoughtfully. She knelt down next to one of the constructs, inspecting it closely. "This amount of variety is odd for a dungeon," she commented, her voice measured and precise.

Ethan turned towards her, his expression serious. "What do you mean?"

Mei looked up at him, her gaze steady. "Every raid I’ve been on has had consistent monster types. We’ve seen five different varieties already—this isn’t normal."