Morning light filtered through the smog and neon glow of the city, painting streets in muted gold and silver. Biro Kael moved cautiously through the narrow alleys of the old district, the fragment pulsing faintly in his chest. After the river district encounter, his senses were sharper, his instincts honed, and the bond with Lyra subtly deeper. They had survived a high-tier rift together, and the lessons lingered like an echo in his every thought.
The Forgotten Market was alive, yet eerily silent. Once a bustling hub of traders and street performers, it had decayed over decades, becoming a shadowed maze of collapsing stalls, forgotten machinery, and whispers of lost power. Only those sensitive to distortions—hunters, fragments, and rare bloodlines—could perceive the true danger hiding in plain sight.
Lyra stayed close, her eyes scanning, daggers ready. "This place… it feels wrong," she said. "Rifts don't usually linger here. Something's drawing energy, twisting it."
Biro nodded, fragment energy prickling under his skin. He could sense the subtle distortions in the air—the way shadows stretched unnaturally, the faint vibration of broken pathways, the whispers of energy flowing like a river beneath the ground. Every step was measured, calculated, yet instinct guided him faster than conscious thought.
They rounded a corner, and the air thickened. A low hum resonated through the stalls, vibrating against their bones. The fragment pulsed, warm and urgent, sensing multiple presences converging in the shadows. Shapes began to emerge—slender, humanoid figures cloaked in darkness, their eyes faintly glowing crimson. Faint "D" and "C" level indicators flickered above them, barely perceptible, but Biro could feel their power in the back of his mind.
"They're aware," Lyra whispered, voice tight. "And they're waiting."
Before he could respond, a screech echoed through the abandoned buildings. From above, a flock of shadow wraiths—flying, serpent-like creatures—descended, their translucent wings slicing the mist. Indicators hovered faintly above each: mid-B rank. The fragment pulsed violently, almost screaming with recognition. This wasn't a simple hunt—it was a coordinated test.
Biro's heart raced, but calm dominated. Reflexes guided him, fragment energy sparking subtly along his arms. He moved like water, dodging attacks, countering instinctively. Lyra mirrored his motion, throwing daggers with precision, each strike enhanced by the subtle distortions he created. The creatures' attacks became predictable under his fragment-driven analysis, gaps appearing as if reality itself obeyed his instinct.
One wraith lunged from above, teeth gleaming in spectral light. Biro extended his hand, fragment energy streaming outward, bending space slightly. The creature twisted mid-air, avoiding him but crashing into another wraith. Lyra took advantage, striking the stunned beast with a sharp twist of her blades.
The humanoid shadows below advanced cautiously, probing their defenses. Indicators above their heads flickered as if calculating, learning from Biro and Lyra's movements. He realized this was more than survival—it was strategy, perception, and adaptation. The fragment whispered possibilities: trap the enemy, exploit openings, use environment, conserve energy. Each pulse of the fragment guided subtle micro-movements, making them almost untouchable.
Minutes became an eternity as the battle unfolded, every strike and dodge teaching, shaping, refining. Biro's awareness expanded, the fragment's whispers evolving into suggestions, hints of technique he couldn't yet articulate. Lyra's movements became smoother, synchronized with his instincts, a silent partnership that went beyond words.
Finally, Biro leapt to higher ground, fragment energy cascading, creating a temporary distortion that pulled the shadow wraiths and humanoids into disarray. Lyra struck the final blow against the last humanoid, while the wraiths recoiled and vanished into the shadows. The Forgotten Market fell silent once more, but the fragment pulsed stronger than ever—its first high-B engagement complete.
Lyra exhaled, brushing sweat from her brow. "Biro… you're growing faster than I imagined. That fragment… it's not just sensing; it's guiding you."
Biro's chest heaved, yet he felt exhilarated. "It's more than power… it's learning with me. I can feel it shaping my instincts, teaching me how to read the world, anticipate, survive."
The fragment pulsed warmly, almost proud, as though acknowledging the truth. Biro glanced around at the ruined market, shadows still lingering in corners, faint traces of energy from defeated creatures. Every encounter left a mark, a lesson, a memory within the fragment.
Lyra nudged him lightly, a soft blush tinting her cheeks. "We've got a long way to go… but I trust you. Together, we can handle whatever comes next."
Biro's pulse quickened, not from fear but anticipation. The fragment thrummed, a promise, a challenge, and a guide all at once. The city whispered around them, alive, dangerous, and full of secrets yet to be uncovered. And he knew, with absolute certainty, that their journey had only just begun.