The ground cracked beneath Kiel's feet as he stepped onto the scarred soil of Sector 17 Rift Zone — a place where the laws of nature had long since bled out.
Flashes of light burst across the sky like inverted lightning. The air tasted like ozone and copper. Gravity twitched, pulsing erratically every few steps.
It was a graveyard of failed ascensions — littered with the bones of beasts, system users, and those who thought strength alone could survive the Rift.
[TRIAL INITIATED: Rift-Beast Challenge – "Ascend or Collapse"]
Objective: Eliminate Rift-Class Apex Predator
Estimated Threat Level: Tier 2 – Evolution Catalyst Host
Reward: Apex Alpha Form – Tier 1 Unlock
Time Remaining: 47:52:11
"Still think this was a good idea?" Merren asked, trailing behind them at a safe distance.
"No," Drexx said, checking the calibration on his overclock modules. "But we stopped doing 'good ideas' two evolutions ago."
Sylah cracked her neck. "I say bring it. My claws are getting bored."
Lyra sniffed the air, muscles twitching. "Something's close. Big. And angry."
Kiel stood at the center of them all, eyes glowing faint silver. His instincts were screaming. His system pulsed like a heartbeat in the back of his mind.
[ALPHA BOND ACTIVE – All Pack Members Linked]
Shared Traits:
– Razor Regeneration (Sylah)
– Overclock (Drexx)
– Pack Awareness (Lyra)
[Alpha Skill Unlocked: "Alpha Pulse" – Boost team attributes for 30 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes.]
Then the ground split.
And the Rift Beast emerged.
It was a nightmare made flesh — a centipede-dragon hybrid with layers of obsidian plates, twelve glowing eyes, and a maw that split into four fanged jaws. Rift fire spilled from its limbs with every step, and its scream warped the air like broken glass.
[TARGET: "Vrylok the Maw-Tyrant" – Rift Class]
Status: Regenerating. Immune to conventional weapons. Weak point: Core mouth.
Mutation: Consumes system traits from fallen users.
"Crap," Drexx muttered. "It's a trait-hunter. We die, it gets stronger."
"Then let's not die," Kiel said.
The fight exploded.
Sylah was first in — a blur of claws and spinning kicks. She slashed across its flank, but Vrylok's hide deflected most of the damage. It retaliated with a tail whip that cracked the earth like a whip of thunder.
Lyra leapt in from the side, biting deep into a softer joint near its legs. "Its underbelly's thinner!" she shouted.
Kiel activated Alpha Pulse.
[ALPHA PULSE: +20% Strength, +25% Reflex, +10% Resistance – Duration: 30s]
The pack surged.
Drexx launched plasma arcs from his implants, targeting Vrylok's eyes. Sparks flew. The beast howled.
Kiel leapt high, claws aimed for its main head.
But the beast was smart.
It split its jaws wide—and fired a burst of Rift energy straight at him.
Kiel slammed into the ground, smoking and bleeding. Systems flickered.
[Health: 36%]
[Instability: 29%]
[Mutation Drift: Mild – Contain or escalate?]
He stood slowly. Bones cracked back into place. His voice came out deeper than before.
"Again."
Merren watched from afar, whispering, "He's not going to stop, is he?"
"Not until something kills him," Drexx replied. "Or until he becomes what he's hunting."
The tide turned when Kiel and Lyra synchronized.
She howled — a sonic pulse that momentarily stunned Vrylok.
Kiel charged in, claws glowing with suppressed system energy.
He jumped straight into the beast's mouth.
[Critical Zone: Reached Inner Maw. Target Weak Point Visible.]
With a roar that shook the heavens, he plunged both hands into the glowing core and ripped it out.
Vrylok thrashed. Screamed. Died.
The world went still.
[TRIAL COMPLETE]
[Reward: Apex Alpha Evolution – Tier 1 UNLOCKED]
Trait Gained: "Dominion Howl" – Commands beasts below your level
Bonus: Mutation Stabilized (Temporarily)
Kiel stood in the ruin of the Rift Beast, bloodied, breathing heavily.
Then he smiled.
"I'm not done yet."