Senior Operator Vance adjusted his headset and leaned closer to the monitor bank.

  The observation room hummed with activity as technicians maintained surveillance on Rift-AZ457, currently active in the Northwestern Quadrant of Kylan City, over three hundred miles from where Magi's Echo Squad operated.

  "Hammer Team is in position," reported a coordinator from the second row of consoles.

  Vance nodded, checking the seven different camera angles showing the golden-armored figures positioned around the wavering blue tear in reality. "Confirm operation parameters."

  "Standard rift neutralization protocol. Hammer Team has full clearance to engage at maximum capacity."

  The observation room quieted as Administrator Curtis entered, tablet in hand. Her crisp uniform and severe expression commanded immediate attention.

  "This is our control scenario," she announced, scanning the room. "Science Division has requested comparative data on rift neutralization techniques. Hammer Team has been instructed to deploy all available offensive capabilities without restriction."

  A technician raised her hand. "Ma'am, isn't that contrary to standard energy conservation protocols?"

  "That's precisely the point." Curtis's voice remained neutral. "We're gathering data on different methodologies."

  Vance understood the subtext. This was about the anomalies appearing in Echo Squad's missions, the rifts that closed themselves without standard energy dispersion patterns.

  "Hammer Team has been fully briefed," Curtis continued. "They understand the parameters and have agreed to participate. Begin recording all metrics."

  On the screens, the golden-armored team took formation. Unlike Echo Squad's balanced approach, Hammer Team consisted of six specialized operatives, each optimized for maximum damage output.

  Their leader, Commander Ryker, stood at the center. His armor more ornate than the others, emblazoned with achievement markings.

  "Commencing operation in three, two, one..." Vance announced.

  The screens flickered with multicolored energy as Hammer Team attacked the rift.

  ***

  Unlike Magi's methodical approach to problem-solving, Hammer Team moved with brutal efficiency.

  Their Fire Specialist unleashed not a basic flame but a named technique "Hellfire Cascade" that lit up the monitoring equipment. The inferno enveloped the first wave of emerging creatures, turning them to ash before they fully materialized.

  "Energy output exceeding standard parameters by 340%," reported a technician.

  Curtis nodded, making notes. "As expected."

  The Earth Specialist pounded the ground, activating "Tectonic Rupture." Stone spikes erupted in perfect formation, impaling a second wave of monsters as they appeared. The coordinated assault left nothing to chance, no monster survived more than seconds after emerging.

  "Impressive," murmured one of the newer technicians.

  "Too impressive," Vance replied quietly.

  On the primary monitor, the rift's energy signature began to fluctuate, its edges pulsing with increasing frequency. The readings on the dimensional stability chart began to shift toward yellow.

  "Sir, energy feedback detected within the rift," called out the lead technician. "We're seeing dimensional compression patterns."

  Ryker's voice came through the comms: "Resistance minimal. Proceeding to phase two."

  Before Vance could suggest caution, Hammer Team's Water and Wind specialists combined their advanced techniques, creating a swirling vortex that tore through another wave of emerging creatures.

  "Frost Hurricane!" shouted the Wind Specialist, naming the combined technique as ice shards sliced through the air.

  The monitoring equipment spiked again. The rift's energy signature shifted from yellow to orange.

  "We're detecting dimensional thinning," reported a technician. "The rift boundary is becoming permeable."

  Curtis frowned. "That's unexpected."

  "Is it?" Vance glanced at her. "Too much force applied too quickly."

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  On the screens, Hammer Team continued their assault, seemingly oblivious to the changing rift dynamics. Their Lightning Specialist unleashed "Chain Judgment," creating a network of blue-white energy that reduced monsters to smoking husks.

  "Sir," called the dimensional analyst, concern evident in her voice, "the rift is expanding beyond the containment zone."

  The data confirmed what they could all now see. The neat, controlled tear was widening, its edges becoming ragged. The energy signature had turned deep red.

  "Hammer Team," Vance spoke into the comms, "we're detecting rift destabilization. Recommend immediate power reduction."

  Ryker's response came through clearly: "Negative. We've nearly completed neutralization. Proceeding to final phase."

  Curtis stepped forward. "Commander Ryker, this is Administrator Curtis. Your operation is causing unexpected dimensional feedback. Reduce power output immediately."

  "With all due respect, Administrator," came the reply, "we've handled dozens of rifts with this approach. Hammer Team doesn't retreat."

  The monitors showed Ryker raising his massive two-handed sword, which began glowing with accumulated energy. Around him, his team fell into supporting positions, channeling their remaining power into his weapon.

  "Ultimate technique: Sundering Heaven," Ryker announced.

  "All personnel, brace for energy surge," Vance warned the observation room.

  The monitors briefly whited out as Ryker brought the sword down in a devastating arc. When the visuals cleared, the immediate area around the rift was completely devoid of monsters.

  But the rift itself had doubled in size.

  "Dimensional integrity compromised," reported the analyst. "We're detecting a secondary tear forming behind Hammer Team's position."

  Curtis stepped closer to the monitors. "Commander Ryker, evacuate immediately. The rift is destabilizing."

  For the first time, uncertainty entered Ryker's voice. "That's not possible. We eliminated all hostile entities."

  "And severely disrupted the dimensional boundary in the process," Vance replied. "Fall back now."

  The screens showed new tears forming around the primary rift. Small at first, then widening rapidly. Through these openings, larger entities began to emerge, not the standard wolf-like creatures or skeletal warriors, but massive, armored behemoths with glowing eyes.

  "What is that?" Curtis demanded.

  "Classification unknown," replied the monster analyst. "Estimated threat level: A-rank, possibly higher."

  On the screens, one of Hammer Team's members fell as a behemoth's massive claw tore through her specialized armor.

  "Hammer Team, emergency extraction protocol," Ryker ordered, his confident tone replaced with urgency. "Defensive formation, retreat to extraction point Alpha."

  The remaining team members rallied around their fallen comrade, but more behemoths were emerging every second. The primary rift continued expanding, now nearly triple its original size.

  "City-wide alerts activated," reported the communications officer. "Emergency services deploying to the Northwestern Quadrant."

  Curtis turned to Vance. "How fast can we get reinforcements to that location?"

  "Nearest response team is fifteen minutes out," he replied, watching the disaster unfold on the monitors. "But they're not equipped to handle something of this magnitude."

  "Initiate city-wide evacuation protocol," Curtis ordered. "Priority zones first, then expanding outward."

  On the screens, Hammer Team fought desperately against the behemoths as they retreated. Their specialized techniques, so effective against standard rift creatures, barely slowed these new entities.

  "We need to inform the other branches," Vance said. "This is beyond standard containment protocols."

  Curtis nodded grimly. "Agreed. Prepare a full data package. Including energy outputs, dimensional readings, entity classification attempts."

  "And the correlation study with Echo Squad's anomalous closures?"

  Curtis hesitated before answering. "Include it. Science Division needs to see the contrast."

  As evacuation sirens began wailing across Kylan City, the observation room fell into organized chaos.

  Technicians coordinated with emergency services, analysts compiled data, and communications officers reached out to nearby Guild branches for support.

  Vance found himself staring at one particular screen showing the energy distribution patterns from the rift.

  Unlike the balanced redistribution seen in Echo Squad's missions, these readings showed violent, chaotic spikes. Energy tearing through dimensional barriers rather than flowing naturally.

  "It's the opposite," he murmured.

  "What's that?" Curtis asked, pausing beside him.

  "Echo Squad's rifts close with perfect energy redistribution, like water finding its level. This..." he gestured at the screen, "this is like a dam breaking."

  Curtis studied the patterns. "Too much force applied too quickly," she repeated his earlier observation.

  "Exactly." Vance pulled up comparative data. "Echo Squad uses minimal intervention. Their energy output rarely exceeds 50% of capacity."

  "While Hammer Team consistently operates at 300-400% output levels," Curtis finished. "The Science Division will want to see this."

  A technician approached with a tablet. "Ma'am, preliminary evacuation reports. We're looking at displacement of approximately 300,000 citizens from the affected zones."

  Curtis accepted the tablet, her expression grim. "Casualties?"

  "Seventeen confirmed, hundreds injured. Numbers still coming in."

  On the main screen, three of Hammer Team's members were down. Ryker and his remaining two teammates had reached the extraction point, but the behemoths were closing in.

  The rift continued to expand, secondary tears merging with the primary opening to create a massive gateway between dimensions.

  "Extraction team is two minutes out," reported a coordinator.

  "They might not have two minutes," Vance replied.

  The observation room fell silent as they watched Ryker make his final stand, his ornate armor cracked and his energy reserves depleted. The specialized techniques that had earned him his reputation were nowhere to be seen, reduced to basic swings of his damaged sword.

  Curtis turned away from the screen. "Prepare the data package. Science Division needs this immediately."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  As the evacuation of Kylan City accelerated and Hammer Team fought for survival, Vance compiled the data into a comprehensive report.

  At the bottom, he added his own analysis note before sending it to Science Division:

  "Hypothesis confirmed. Excess force accelerates imbalance."

  The implications hung in the air, unspoken but understood by everyone in the observation room.

  If excessive force destabilized rifts, then what exactly was Echo Squad or more specifically, Magi doing to achieve the opposite effect?

  And more importantly, could it be replicated before more cities faced what Kylan City was experiencing now?