The aftermath of the battle was still fresh in Axton's mind as he stood in the middle of the shattered plaza. The Rift above them flickered erratically, as if it was trying to stabilize itself, but the energy radiating from it felt volatile, dangerous. He could sense the distortions growing stronger with every passing second.
Rei and Kenji were scanning the area, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Rei's eyes were sharp, constantly moving, as if she expected another attack at any moment. Kenji, on the other hand, was examining his device, his brow furrowed in deep concentration.
"The Sentries are gone, but the Rift is still open," Axton said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion pulling at his limbs. He could feel the strain of the Dimensional Flux ability taking its toll. His body felt drained, and his mind was foggy, but the urgency of the situation kept him grounded. "We need to find the source of this breach and close it for good."
Kenji looked up from his device, his expression grim. "The energy readings are still spiking. Whatever's causing this is tethered to the Rift itself. It's not some random event—this is intentional. Someone's behind this."
Rei stepped forward, her voice low. "But who? And why are they opening the Rift again and again? This isn't just some rogue Riftborn."
Axton turned to look at the Rift. His mind raced. There has to be a pattern. The Sentries had appeared in waves, each one stronger than the last. The Rift was feeding off something—maybe a person, or a force, or even something deeper. He knew one thing for sure: Whoever or whatever was behind this, they were pulling the strings.
---
[Quest Update: Investigate the Heart of the Rift]
Objective: Locate the Source of the Disturbance
Time Limit: 48 Hours
Reward: Riftborn Essence | Class Evolution Opportunity (Advanced)
---
"The heart of the Rift," Axton murmured. "That's where we need to go."
Kenji raised an eyebrow. "The heart of the Rift? You mean we're actually going into it? That's... insane. If we do that, we might never come back."
Rei frowned but nodded in agreement. "He's right. If the Rift is feeding off the city's energy, we need to figure out how to stop it from expanding. But going in? That's dangerous."
Axton squared his shoulders, determination burning in his chest. "We don't have a choice. If we don't stop this now, it will tear everything apart. I'm not going to let that happen."
Kenji sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright. But we need a plan. We're going to need supplies, and we should figure out how to navigate the Rift safely. If it's anything like the Riftborn we've already faced, we'll be dealing with more than just monsters."
Rei nodded. "I'll gather what we need. You two figure out how we're getting in there."
---
The next few hours were spent preparing. Rei gathered supplies: flashlights, first aid kits, a portable barrier generator Kenji had designed to counteract dimensional anomalies, and a small but powerful EMP device that could disrupt any Riftborn entities they encountered. Kenji, in the meantime, worked on modifying his tracking device to detect fluctuations in the Rift's energy, trying to create a map of its unstable zones.
By the time they were ready, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the city. The area around the Rift was dark, the faint hum of the rift's energy the only sound as it pulsed in the air like a heartbeat. It felt alive, like it was waiting for something—or someone.
Axton's heart raced in anticipation. The source of the disturbance was close, and he could feel it in his bones. He activated his Anomaly Sense, feeling the subtle tremors of the world around him. The rift felt more tangible now, its edges fraying with each passing second.
"This is it," Axton said. "The heart of the Rift. Let's move."
---
The team made their way toward the Rift, staying as close to the buildings as possible to avoid being seen. The streets were eerily quiet, the usual buzz of the city replaced by an unsettling stillness. It felt as if the very air was holding its breath.
Kenji's device pinged. "We're getting closer. The energy readings are off the charts now. This isn't just a breach; it's a summoning."
Axton frowned. "A summoning?"
"Yeah," Kenji said. "Someone's trying to open the Rift deliberately. They're pulling in power from all over the city to strengthen it. If this continues, the Rift will destabilize entirely."
"Then we need to hurry," Rei said, her voice sharp. "I don't like the way this is going."
---
They reached the plaza where the Rift had torn open the fabric of reality. Axton could see now that the Rift was different from before. It was no longer a simple tear in the air—it was expanding outward, a massive, twisting vortex that pulsed with dark energy.
In the center of the Rift stood a figure, cloaked in shadow, its form flickering in and out of existence as if it was part of the Rift itself. It was a being of strange power, something Axton had never encountered before. This wasn't a Riftborn.
This was something else entirely.
---
[Entity Detected: Unknown – Class: S (Dimensional Sovereign)]
[Warning: Entity is the Catalyst of the Rift Disturbance]
Objective: Confront and Defeat the Dimensional Sovereign]
Time Limit: 24 Hours
Reward: Dimensional Sovereign's Essence (Rare) | Class Evolution Opportunity (Advanced)
---
Axton's eyes widened. Dimensional Sovereign?
The figure's voice echoed through the air, distorted and cold. "You think you can stop me? Foolish mortals. The Rift is mine to command. You will never understand the forces you meddle with."
Axton stepped forward, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his energy blade. "You're the one causing all of this, aren't you?"
The figure's form shimmered, the rift swirling around it. "I am the Harbinger of the End. I will usher in a new age. One where the barriers between worlds are shattered. And you—" The figure's gaze locked onto Axton. "—you are the key to my ascension."
Axton's blood ran cold. He felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him. This was no mere Riftborn. This was something far more dangerous, something that had the power to destroy everything Axton had fought to protect.
"We'll stop you," Axton said, his voice steely. "You won't get away with this."
The Dimensional Sovereign smiled, its form rippling like a shifting shadow. "We shall see."
---
The battle was about to begin.