The lecture hall dimmed as Professor Caelum's fingers tapped the panel, summoning a rotating 3D projection of a glowing Rift. Its unstable edges shimmered in violet pulses.
He turned to the cadets, voice even:
"Today's topic: Rift Classification and Clearance Protocols."
A hush fell over the room.
The Three Rift Types
1. Outbreak-Type Rifts
"These are spontaneous and violent. They tear through real-world space and release monsters into populated zones. There is no invitation. They do not wait for you."
A simulation of the Alaska skyline cracked open in red static, unleashing howling Riftspawn.
Outbreak Rifts remain open until manually stabilized by a Rift Anchor Team or WAA division. Closure comes first — through Rift stabilization protocols — while monster elimination remains a secondary priority. These Rifts are global-scale threats: containment is critical, and closure is mandatory."
There are currently two known methods of closing an Outbreak Rift: one, via specialized WAA procedures involving Rift Anchors and suppression fields; and two, through the sheer Desyre output of an individual Ascender — though the latter is rare and requires overwhelming emotional force, often seen only among S-rank Ascenders.
---
2. Instance-Type Rifts
"These are stable and sealed — they don't affect the outside world unless breached. Cadets or operatives enter these Rifts to clear them."
He gestured, and the hologram changed to a silver portal marked with WAA runes.
"To close an Instance Rift, there are two methods:
Eliminate the Rift Boss, which anchors the dimension.
Defeat every residing Riftspawn within."
"These are used for training, missions, or coordinated assaults. Time inside may warp slightly. Exit is only permitted after clearance or emergency recall."
--
3. Echo-Type Rifts
The lights dimmed slightly as Caelum's voice lowered.
"These are… different."
A visual appeared: a floating crack suspended in an empty sky — colorless, humming faintly.
"Echo Rifts don't pour out monsters. They leak psychic residue — fragments of despair, hatred, fear. They create mental interference, illusions, even emotion-fed Riftspawn."
"Inside, there is no boss. No guarantee of battle. Sometimes what awaits is worse."
A pause.
"An Echo Rift is only closed when its emotional anchor is broken — either by neutralizing the entity feeding on it… or resolving the emotion itself."
He let that hang.
"You don't clear Echoes by force. You clear them by enduring what they want you to remember."
No one spoke.
Rift Ranks (Based on WAA)
A six-tier scale spun into view.
D-Rank: Training-grade. Light monster presence.
C-Rank: Real-world applicable. Cadets may enter with oversight.
B-Rank: Combat-heavy. Requires squad-level clearance.
A-Rank: High-risk. Assigned to elite Ascenders or operatives.
S-Rank: Disaster-level. WAA intervention mandatory.
He closed the projection.
"You are Ascenders. This is your war."
"But never forget: Not all battles are won with strength. Especially when the Rift fights with your memories."
2 hours after that lecture....
The atmosphere in the academy's Operations Hall had shifted — no longer filled with sparring cheers or simulation data, but the quiet intensity of real-world deployment.
Ten cadets sat at the front. The Rising Ascenders Tournament candidates. The top of their year.
An overhead holo-map of Luzon flickered to life.
Three Rift markers blinked — one in the north, one central, one far south.
A WAA Operative, face sharp and uniform sharper, stepped forward.
"Congratulations. You've all been selected as Philippines representative of Rising Ascender Tournament. But before Seoul... you'll face something far more important."
"Field deployment."
He gestured. The map expanded, zooming into three active Instance-Type Rifts within Philippine territory.
"All three are under WAA containment but not yet cleared. You'll be deployed under real Ascenders and tasked with mission-critical support."
"This is not a simulation. These are live Rifts."
---
Group One – Northern Luzon Assignment
Location: Bontoc Highlands, Mountain Province
Instance Environment: Shattered forest cliff-runs and jagged ridgelines
Rift Rank: C-Class (Instance-Type)
Possible Riftspawn: Cliff-Runners, Wind Hounds, Ambush Creepers
Core Drop Estimate: 55% chance (Mostly
D-Class, possible low C-Class)
Support Team: Bravo-4
• 2 B-Rank Combat Ascenders
• 1 B-Rank Support
• 1 C-Rank Tactician
Squad:
Elise Fontaine – "France's Golden Archer"
David Ruiz – "The Iron Wall"
Enzo Rhavoz – "The Broken Strategist"
---
Elise squinted at the terrain hologram. "High-altitude fights favor range. I'll cover the vertical lanes."
David cracked his neck. "Good. I'll block anything that climbs up. Let them try."
Enzo reviewed the Riftspawn patterns. "Cliff-Runners coordinate in threes. If we collapse their sync, they break formation."
---
Group Two – Central Luzon Assignment
Location: Tarlac Industrial Ruins
Instance Environment: Collapsed factory zones and abandoned underground accessways
Rift Rank: C-Class (Instance-Type)
Possible Riftspawn: Tunnel Howlers, Scrap Drudges, Corridor Reapers
Core Drop Estimate: 60% chance (D to low C-Class)
Support Team: Tango-7
• 2 B-Rank Combat Ascenders
• 1 B-Rank Support
• 1 C-Rank Tactician
Squad:
Kael Navarro – "Walking Arsenal"
Cyrhelle Elsinora – "The Art Mage"
Julienne Arc – "The Techhead Engineer"
---
Julienne flicked her wrist, bringing up digital blueprints. "These crawlspaces are full of blind zones. I'll need drone eyes in every corner."
Cyrhelle rested her hand on the cold steel wall. "This Rift feels… off. Like it remembers who's walked here before."
Kael didn't speak, but his stare lingered on the word "Reaper." His hand hovered near the training sword at his back.
---
Group Three – Southern Luzon Assignment
Location: Quezon Lowlands
Instance Environment: Root-laced hive
tunnels and sub-tropical cavern systems
Rift Rank: C-Class (Instance-Type)
Possible Riftspawn: Swarm Fiends, Acid
Burstlings, Carapace Guards
Core Drop Estimate: 65% chance (mostly C-Class cores)
Support Team: Echo-9
• 2 B-Rank Combat Ascenders
• 1 B-Rank Support
• 1 C-Rank Tactician
Squad:
Charlotte Gravielle – "The Empath Blade"
Min-ji Lee – "Korea's Mirror Genius"
Vin Serantes – "The Wild Vanguard"
Levi Giarden – "The Loyal Pulse"
---
Min-ji bounced on her heels. "Hive tunnels! I hope they're glowing pink inside."
Vin grinned. "If they're glowing, that means they're soft. I can work with that."
Levi hugged his gear tighter. "I hate bugs. I hate crawling bugs even more."
Charlotte scanned the dark terrain ahead. "Stay close. Swarm-types test our reflexes — not our strength."
---
The WAA Officer gave a final nod.
"You deploy 2 Days from now. Briefings and loadouts are scheduled for tonight."
"Remember—this isn't a tournament yet. It's survival."
He looked around the room — eyes briefly locking with Kael, Elise, then Charlotte.
"There's no trophy for being the last one standing. But there is meaning in not falling alone."
The holograms faded.
No music. No medals. Just the quiet reality of what came next.