The world around them felt eerily still after the battle. The shattered streets, the smoke lingering in the air, the faint hum of the residual Rift — everything was muted. Axton stood, still catching his breath, feeling the weight of his new powers coursing through him. He glanced at his companions. Rei had her phone out, probably snapping photos of the aftermath, while Kenji looked like he was still processing what just happened.
"That... that was insane," Kenji said, eyes wide. "You, you just... tore a hole in reality! And it… collapsed? What the hell was that?"
Axton wiped the sweat from his brow. "It's called Rift Tear. It's a high-risk move. But it worked."
Rei raised an eyebrow. "That's a bit of an understatement. You tore apart a Colossus like it was paper."
Axton glanced at the now-still Rift, the scar in reality where the Colossus had been. "Riftborn entities are more dangerous than we know. I didn't destroy it completely, though. It's still tethered to the Rift. It'll reappear if we don't deal with it properly."
Kenji frowned, looking at Axton with renewed curiosity. "So you're saying... this isn't over?"
"No," Axton said, his voice firm. "Not by a long shot. But it's not just about fighting anymore. The Rift isn't something that can be sealed permanently. Something, or someone, is opening these rifts on purpose."
A shiver ran down Rei's spine. "And we're the ones who have to stop it?"
Axton nodded. "We're the only ones who can."
The weight of those words settled between them. It was true — the Rift was a crack in reality itself, a wound that needed healing. And now, with his newly unlocked powers and the bond he'd forged with Rei and Kenji, Axton knew they were the only ones who could protect this world from whatever was waiting to come through.
---
[New Quest: Seal the Rift Permanently]
Objective: Locate the Source of Rift Disturbances
Sub-Objective: Gather Information on Riftborn Entities
Time Limit: 72 Hours
Reward: Class Evolution Option (Advanced) | Riftborn Essence (Rare)
---
The quest flashed before his eyes as the System gave him new direction. He felt the familiar hum in the back of his mind as his party members' voices brought him back to the present.
Rei grinned. "So what's the plan, then?"
Axton turned to her. "First, we need to find out who — or what — is behind this. The Rift isn't just appearing randomly. There's someone, or something, pulling the strings."
Kenji nodded. "And we need to figure out how to stop it from reaching the city. If that thing's a preview of what's coming... we'll be in real trouble."
Axton paused, then looked at his new friends, his team. They were more than just companions now. They were his anchor in this chaotic new world.
"First, we need information. I'm going to head to the library. I've got some old contacts who might know about the Rift and the entities that come through it. Rei, Kenji... you two should stay close in case anything else happens."
"Sounds like a plan," Rei said, tapping her phone. "I'll start researching online too. See if I can find any anomalies or reports of strange happenings."
Kenji adjusted his glasses, his face serious. "And I'll keep an eye on any weird signals or tech disturbances. I've got some gear I can use to track anomalies in the area."
Axton gave them a brief nod of approval before heading off. "Stay sharp."
---
The library was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Axton moved through the rows of dusty bookshelves, the air thick with the scent of old paper. He stopped in front of a row dedicated to "Mythology and Unexplained Phenomena" and pulled out an old tome. It was yellowed with age, the title barely visible.
[Analyzing... Dimensional Rift Theory – Ancient Texts]
A beam of light flashed as the System scanned the book, and then, in an instant, the page glowed with new data. Axton's eyes widened as the information flooded into his mind.
---
[Dimensional Rift Theory: Ancient Texts]
The concept of dimensional rifts is ancient. Civilizations long forgotten have written about such occurrences — these rifts connect worlds, but they are dangerous. They are the cracks through which dark forces can pass, forces that seek to warp and consume the very fabric of reality. The rifts are like scars — wounds that, if left untreated, will bleed into the world.
Riftborn entities are the vanguard of these breaches, but they are not alone. There are ancient guardians that control the rifts, keeping them sealed — but when the seal weakens, the Riftborn can emerge unchecked. These guardians are not gods, but they are powerful beyond measure.
---
Axton closed the book with a soft thud. The words of the text weighed heavily on him. There was more to the Rift than he realized, and the idea that there were guardians in charge of these breaches gave him a sliver of hope.
But the question remained: Why now?
---
[New Quest Update: Find the Guardians of the Rift]
Objective: Research the Ancient Guardians of the Rift
Sub-Objective: Determine Their Role in Protecting or Unleashing the Rift
Time Limit: 48 Hours
Reward: Guardian Lore (Rare) | New Class Evolution Option
---
Axton's pulse quickened. The next step was clear — he needed to find out more about these guardians. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that these guardians might not be benevolent protectors. They might be just as dangerous as the Riftborn.
---
As Axton turned to leave the library, the ground beneath his feet trembled. It was faint, but unmistakable. His heart skipped a beat.
[Riftborn Entity Detected – Level: C+ (Multiple Entities)]
[Warning: Dimensional Breach in Progress]
Objective: Contain the Rift and Secure the Area
Time Limit: 30 Minutes
The world had just shifted again, and this time, the Rift had opened wide.