The rift yawned like a burning maw, stretching wider beneath the night sky. Golden light and stormwinds intertwined, swallowing every sound.
Xu Zhu, Ling Xue, and Fatty Third, under Skyveil's escort, stepped into that unknown space.
——
The Rift World.
Here, the sky was pitch-black, crisscrossed with wild cracks as if it might collapse at any moment.
The ground was a shattered stone plain; every slab floated midair, flipping constantly as though lifted by invisible storms. The air was heavy—each breath burned the lungs like fire.
Fatty Third stepped onto a floating slab and nearly tumbled off. "Holy crap! This place is scarier than a haunted house!"
Ling Xue's expression remained sharp, sword in hand, eyes sweeping their surroundings. "Careful. This place isn't just scenery."
Xu Zhu gripped his staff tight. Residual Edge's sense was stronger here than ever.
Death trajectories wove like spiderwebs across his vision; each breath felt like his mind was being torn apart.
[Residual Edge Sync Rate: 83%]
[Warning: Prolonged exposure to the Rift accelerates drain.]
Xu Zhu's chest tightened—here, Residual Edge was forced into a near-constant state.
——
Sure enough, the first enemies appeared.
The wind froze—then black Rift Beasts crawled forth from the depths. Their hides were etched with storm patterns, their eyes glowed like burning brands, their claws tore rifts in the void with every strike.
"They're here!" Ling Xue hissed.
Three Rift Beasts lunged at once, fast as lightning.
Xu Zhu's Residual Edge activated—his vision flooded with red lines.
The first beast's lunge—he sidestepped, staff stabbing into its throat, pinning it to a floating stone!
The second lunged from behind—he spun, staff sweeping wide, bones cracking loud!
But the third beast twisted midair, fangs snapping straight for Fatty Third!
"Ahhh! Help me!!" Fatty Third's face went pale, swinging a stone wildly.
Smack! He somehow nailed the beast's eye, sending it howling and rolling.
Ling Xue darted like lightning, her sword cleaving down, slaying it instantly.
She turned back, eyes cold but steady. "Fatty Third, don't run around. Stand between us—neither of us will leave you behind."
Fatty Third's nose burned, nodding fiercely.
——
The brief victory left Xu Zhu's chest tight.
Residual Edge kept tugging, his mind splitting apart, shrill buzzing filling his ears.
[Residual Edge Sync Rate: 87%]
[Danger: Mental depletion too rapid. Immediate withdrawal advised.]
Blood seeped from Xu Zhu's forehead, yet his eyes stayed sharp.
"I can't retreat."
Ling Xue glanced at him, speaking calmly: "Xu Zhu, you're at the limit. But if we don't push forward… the rift will devour everyone."
For the first time, she wasn't persuading retreat—she chose to stand beside him. "I'll draw aggro, you strike."
Xu Zhu's heart gave a jolt. Ling Xue was no longer a dependent—she was shoulder to shoulder, making tactical calls.
——
A greater tremor shook the land.
From the rift's depths, a colossal beast emerged.
Its body was like a hill, storms swirling across its hide, each breath unleashing a rending gale.
The system's prompt appeared, icy:
[Rift Boss: Storm Tuskgor (Grade A)]
[Objective: Defeat the boss, stabilize the Rift Core]
The spectator channel went wild:
[Grade A! In the newbie zone?!]
[Can the Residual Blood Maniac endure this?!]
[If he kills it, he'll be a living legend!]
…
Xu Zhu's grip tightened on his staff, Residual Edge lines wrapping the monster entirely.
Pain hammered his skull, vision blacking out in waves—but within the storm, his gaze only grew sharper.
[Residual Edge Sync Rate: 89%]
——
Ling Xue leveled her blade, voice low: "This time, it's not just you."
Fatty Third's teeth chattered, but he lifted a stone with trembling hands: "I-I'll help too, big bro! Even if I die!"
Xu Zhu looked at them, his throat bobbing. Softly, he said: "Alright."
The next instant, he stamped forward—Residual Edge fully unleashed—as he charged the Storm Tuskgor!