"Comms check. Everyone in position?" Jason's voice buzzed low through the shared channel, clipped by static but clean enough to cut through the pounding in Jagger's ears. "Report."
"North team set." Marcus. Calm as stone.
"East ready." Jason.
"West good." Elias. Far too cheerful.
"South in place." Harith's voice rolled through the line like distant thunder.
Jagger stood at the southern edge of the hundred-meter threshold, just at the point where instinct said the hunt truly began. Behind him, Harith was already set like an anchored wall, bronze mana shimmering across the face of his shield in restless ripples. Priya stood to Jagger's left with one palm near the ground, fingers flexing once as if the earth beneath the EXPO were already listening to her. Daniel remained a step behind both of them, field kit secured, shoulders relaxed, breath steady, the sort of man who looked calm because panic had long ago become inefficient.
Jason's voice came again.
