The team returned to the surface and gathered near the ridge summit, hidden among boulders overlooking Gloomrest Hollow. The cavern below was concealed again by natural shadow now that the rune barrier vanished. The beasts remained inside, and the handlers who oversaw the hub would return soon. Erian knew they had little time. Vorrek’s main supply caravan could arrive by early morning if he planned to move the beasts to the southern arena by dusk.

The ridge wind carried a cold bite as night settled. The team set up a temporary base. They needed a strategy that freed the beasts without creating panic. Many of the creatures were stressed, exhausted, or weakened by suppression spells. If conflict erupted recklessly they could harm themselves or others. That was the part of the mission Erian weighed most heavily.

Rolan sat sharpening his staff spear while Selin marked routes on a parchment. Daris examined the rune fragments he removed earlier, trying to determine if the smugglers used variants that linked to other concealed hubs. Jana stood watch at the cliff edge. She had the sharpest senses and could hear movement from far off, especially on quiet nights like this.

Erian spread the documents from the Hollow across a flat rock. He studied the shipment timeline. The handlers planned to gather several more beasts and consolidate everything before dawn. That meant two waves of smugglers would likely arrive overnight. One group to check the suppression levels, the other to load crates for transport. Vorrek himself might oversee the transfer. If he did the situation could turn far more dangerous.

Selin leaned closer to examine the schedule. She pointed at one line that read “Check on collars before new moon.” The new moon approached in three nights. That meant Vorrek wanted his beasts ready early. Erian understood the implication. The smugglers would be on edge. Any disruption would provoke quick retaliation.

Jana returned from the ridge edge with news. She heard distant wheels creaking. Caravans. But far away still. Perhaps a half hour’s march. Erian nodded. They had to move fast. He outlined the plan.

They would divide into three groups.
Rolan and Jana would secure the cavern entrance and intercept handlers quietly.
Selin would oversee beast release, prioritizing those least aggressive.
Daris and Erian would disable equipment, tamper with forged documents, and disrupt transport chains.

Most important, they had to prevent any message from reaching Vorrek. If word reached him that the hub was compromised he would react harshly and possibly retreat deeper into the frontier, taking several beasts with him.

They moved as soon as night deepened. Stars scattered across a clear sky. The ridge glimmered faintly under moonlight. The team descended the slope silently. Erian felt his heartbeat steady. Not with fear. With focus. He had navigated failing systems before, but nothing compared to this. The stakes here moved, breathed, and carried scars. The system he aimed to rebuild could not begin if the beasts remained prisoners.

At the edge of the Hollow the team paused. Erian sensed faint mana in the air. Not from natural sources. From suppression stones reactivating. Handlers returned. Jana motioned quietly. Two lanterns flickered deeper inside the cavern. The smugglers were checking the cages already.

Rolan led the approach. He moved behind shadows with practiced stillness. Jana circled to the opposite side. Selin waited for Erian’s signal. When he nodded she slipped along the cavern wall and reached the beast cages. Daris joined Erian at the tables.

Inside the cavern the lantern glow revealed two handlers. They examined the collars and muttered about the need to strengthen suppression before transport. One reached for a rune plate. Jana acted swiftly. She threw a small pebble that struck the ground between them. Both looked up. Rolan stepped from behind a crate and disarmed them before alarm could rise. The fight was short. Daris bound the men with enchanted cords.

Selin unlocked the smaller cages first. She freed the Ridgehowl Wolf. It moved slowly, disoriented. She guided it to the cavern exit carefully without rushing. She repeated the process with a pair of Cinderhorn Boars. Each creature showed signs of fear but gradually settled when Selin offered calm presence.

Erian moved to the main row of documents. He found the shipment logs and sliced through key rune bindings that linked forged lineage papers to Creel’s old registry edits. Severing these links would cause the false entries to fail verification if scanned later. He took samples to bring back to the Authority.

Daris disabled the suppression runes on several collars and ensured no residue could trigger rebound effects. Rolan dragged crates away from the main path. Jana kept listening. Her posture stiffened suddenly.

Footsteps. More than two.

Erian signaled everyone to hide behind crates and rock formations. Lantern light approached from the tunnel entrance. Voices whispered sharply. A group of handlers entered carrying tools and chain lengths. Erian counted at least six. Too many for a silent takedown.

They reached the cages. One handler noticed the Ridgehowl Wolf missing. He shouted. Others rushed to search. The cavern erupted into chaotic movement.

Rolan moved first. He struck down the nearest handler. Jana neutralized another. Selin stayed near the beasts, shielding them from stray attacks. Erian joined Daris to block the entrance. They used non lethal force where possible. Many handlers dropped quickly, more startled than prepared.

But one man remained. Taller, broader, wearing reinforced leather. His presence carried authority. He drew a hooked chain and swung it forward. The chain crackled with enchantment. Erian recognized him from the ravine conversations. A senior handler. Possibly Vorrek’s lieutenant.

The man lunged. Rolan met him head on. Their clash rang through the cavern. Jana moved to flank but the lieutenant deflected her strike with surprising control. His chain lashed out at Daris, who rolled aside just in time. Erian stepped forward and raised his insignia. The lieutenant sneered and swung at him.

Erian dodged narrowly. He had no martial strength to match the man. But he had something else. He called out to Daris to disable the chain’s enchantment. Daris hurled a rune shard that struck the chain. The enchantment sputtered and died. The lieutenant hesitated. Rolan used the moment to strike the man down with a sharp, controlled blow.

Silence returned. The lieutenant fell unconscious.

Erian surveyed the cavern. The beasts remained safe. Several handlers were incapacitated. They had succeeded in the first phase.

But Jana listened again and her expression changed.

“Kysarian wheels,” she whispered. “The heavy ones. Someone important is coming down the ridge.”

Erian followed her gaze toward the tunnel leading deeper into the cliffs.

Vorrek.

They had only minutes.

“Prepare for the break,” Erian said.

Tonight the Hollow would not survive intact.

But neither would Vorrek’s hold on the frontier.