We open in Nova Roma as Shatterstar teleports into the forest surrounding the city. He apologizes as that is as close as he can get the team.
"... Selene has made quite the psychic dead zone of Nova Roma's perimeter." Betsy continues saying Selene's defenses make it challenging for her to contact X-Corps island as well. Dani says Nova Roma citizens have suffered far too much as she reminds everyone (and you the reader) about the cruelty unleashed on them by Barrington (in New Mutants 8-12.) She says it's unthinkable that Selene would corrupt the city again and that this is Selene's final act. They need to make sure of that.
As they work their way through the forest Rictor says he's surprised that Magma is sitting this one out. Dani says Magma's has her part to play after they play theirs. Thunderbird is lifting trees and what not out of the way, getting antsy for a fight. A red bird flies overhead and then in front of them. Shatterstar stops Thunderbird, telling him to look at the bird. It flies into a forcefield which is invisible to the team. Thankfully the bird is visible so seeing it hit the forcefield and fall to the ground just did them a favor. Dani uses her empathic connection abilities to determine that the bird is thankfully just dazed, not dead, and that the forcefield is not a typical field. Betsy says it's magic, noting there's a lot of powers at play here: Selene's psychic firewall and witchcraft, Saul's sorcery, and whatever they're doing to Tempo to bend time for their rite of ascension.
The bird flies away and thanks to Dani touching the bird's mind Betsy is able to help them all psychically "see" the barrier.
I love him. Turns out the whole dang city is covered by the forcefield. Thunderbird wants to start beating the forcefield until they get inside. Rictor says he can't punch away magic but Thunderbird says if you hit a magnet hard enough, it ain't magnetic anymore. Shatterstar is about to attempt a teleport into the forcefield when suddenly an opening appears seemingly on its own. They know better though and Dani tells them everyone to guard up and brace themselves. Turns out she was right.
Rictor successfully blocks the fire blast but the team fall off the pillar he erected. As the team shakes it off bone pieces fire at them, one slicing Dani's shoulder. Absalom and Nicodemus appear ready to throw down. They talk smack back and forth with X-Corps until a darkened figure approaches. Speaking to Absalom and Nicodemus he says, "Patience, my youthful associates. We're in this together..."