Kael stood on a cliff overlooking the fractured hills.

  Wind tugged at his coat.

  One of his operatives approached.

  "Injuries minimal. Containment relic expended."

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  Kael nodded once.

  "No fatalities?"

  "One."

  Kael did not react.

  "Acceptable."

  He looked toward the distant mountains where storm clouds lingered unnaturally.

  "He chose Stormbound," the operative said.

  "Yes."

  "Projection models did not account for dual resonance."

  "They do now."

  The operative hesitated.

  "Directive?"

  Kael's eyes sharpened.

  "Observation shifts to elimination threshold."

  The wind intensified.

  "Alive if possible," he continued. "Dead if required."