The storm roared across the night sky, the rift's white light burning ever brighter.
The earth quaked, the air split apart, and every player's gaze locked firmly onto that growing gleam of gold.
[System Prompt]: Rift Core condensing.
[The one who seizes it will become the event's ruler—Child of the Storm]
—
For one breath, the entire plain went silent.
The next instant, killing intent erupted!
"Quick! Seize the core!"
Overlord Spear's guild master roared, heavy-armored fighters charging in, spearmen thrusting madly.
"Protect Xu Zhu!"
Skyveil's chief swordsman bellowed, silver sword formations rising, blocking Overlord Spear's first assault by force.
Hundreds of players surged at once like a tidal wave. The spectator channel lagged under the chaos.
[Holy crap! The top guilds are in full war!]
[All for the Rift Core!]
[Residual Blood Maniac's dead center!]
[He's the bound core—whoever wins has to kill him first!]
…
The golden light fully emerged—a crystalline heart floating above the rift, its thrum sending ripples that shook the very air.
Its name appeared before every eye:
[Rift Core · Unclaimed]
—
Xu Zhu locked his gaze onto the core, chest throbbing as if torn apart.
Residual Edge pulsed wildly, as though a hidden resonance linked him to the core itself.
Ling Xue caught the change, calling low: "Xu Zhu! It's responding to you!"
Fatty Third quaked: "R-responding… what's that mean? Don't tell me it's gonna blow up?!"
Xu Zhu gave no answer. Residual Edge dragged at his very mind, threatening to swallow his consciousness whole.
…
The battlefield exploded!
Overlord Spear's members hurled themselves at him in frenzy, intent on grinding Xu Zhu underfoot.
Skyveil's swordsmen fought tooth and nail to shield him, but numbers crushed them—the line began to falter.
At that moment, bands of rogue guild players charged into the fray.
"The core's ours!"
"Residual Blood Maniac is just a smokescreen—kill him!"
Shouts roared, killing cries thundered, the South Ridge plunged into utter chaos.
…
Xu Zhu shut his eyes. Residual Edge reopened.
In the chaotic battlefield, death lines crisscrossed—dense red threads flooding his sight.
The strain wrenched his throat—blood welled out from his lips.
[Warning: Residual Edge Sync Rate 78%]
[Danger: Continued use may cause permanent neural damage]
—
Then—the Rift Core shuddered, golden light surging straight into Xu Zhu!
His eyes flew open, and every deadly thread stilled at once—core resonance suppressing the chaos.
"Xu Zhu!" Ling Xue shouted, eyes locked on him. "Seize the core! This is your chance!"
Fatty Third wailed while flinging stones: "Big bro, go! Fatty's got your back!"
…
Xu Zhu clenched his teeth, stepped forward!
With Residual Edge and the core resonating, his body shot forth like lightning, lunging straight for the golden heart!
Countless eyes widened.
[Residual Blood Maniac… is going for the core?!]
[Insanity—he's only one HP!]
[But the core is answering him!]
—
Just as he was about to touch the core—
Overlord Spear's guild master's spear ripped the air, a strike brimming with annihilation!
At the same time, Skyveil's chief swordsman roared, sword flashing as he intercepted!
Boom!!!
Spear and sword clashed midair, fire erupting in a blinding shower.
Xu Zhu's figure cut through the blaze, hand seizing the golden Rift Core!
[System Prompt]: Rift Core bound—Residual Blood Maniac.
[Event Progress Update: Player Xu Zhu becomes Child of the Storm. Server-wide task advancing to Phase Two.]
—
The battlefield froze.
Then, the channels erupted into madness!
[Residual Blood Maniac bound the core!]
[Server-wide task now Phase Two!]
[He's the Child of the Storm?!]
[Who else could be the game's protagonist?!]
…
Xu Zhu panted heavily, golden radiance pulsing in his grip, his silhouette sharpened, solitary and blade-like.
But inside, he knew—this was only the beginning of the storm.
Residual Blood Maniac was no longer just a name.
He was—the key tearing open the entire world.