The morning transfer portal at the Sector One transit station buzzed with a low, vibrating sound.
Hundreds of rankers in polished plate armor, enchanted leather coats, and heavy guild robes crowded the main stone platform. Banners from six mid-tier factions hung from the tall marble pillars lining the hall, swaying gently in the draft created by the central warp gate.
I adjusted the straps on my new black-steel shoulder guards. The dark metal sat comfortably over my leather tunic, with the refined blue weight evenly distributed across my back.
Sujin stood next to me, carrying her large diamond-patterned vanguard shield strapped to her left arm. She kept adjusting her gauntlets to test the grip on the inner handle.
"The weight is well-balanced," Sujin said, glancing down. "It feels lighter than my old iron shield, even though it's twice as thick."
