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That complicates things.

Nothing worse than innocents caught in the crossfire.

I follow Fenrir's team through the darkness, moving low and fast across the frozen field.

The cold ground crunches under our boots, each step seeming too loud in the quiet night.

The house looms ahead, windows glowing.

I can see shadows moving inside—they know we're coming.

"Team one in position," Fenrir whispers.

"Two is in position," Tor confirms from the outbuildings.

Runes grits out through our comms, "Go!"

The night explodes.

Flash-bangs through windows, the sharp crack of breaching their safe space.

I'm through the front door behind Kraken, gun up, muscle memory taking over.

The pungent smell of explosives fills my nostrils, mixed with cordite and sweat.

There’s movement on my left—I pivot and fire.

My target drops so I push forward, slice the pie around the corner.

Another hostile, weapon raising—Magnus drops him before I can fire.

Emil shouts from the kitchen. "Clear!"

Oskar's voice, followed by the distinctive chatter of his automatic. "More at the back!"

I spin, see two more hostiles pushing through the back door.

They're trying to flank us, but we've done this dance before.

Kraken and I move as one, creating a crossfire that drops them in the doorway.

"Upstairs!" Fenrir orders.

I take point on the stairs, each step a potential kill zone.

The wallpaper's peeling, covered in what looks like old water damage.

Mold smell mixing with gunpowder.

Halfway up, automatic fire erupts from above, splinters raining down.

I hug the wall, return fire to keep their heads down while Kraken moves up the other side.

A door slams somewhere above.

They're barricading.

"Rati, get up here with the breacher," Kraken calls.