Chapter 29 – Rift's Heart
The city had fallen into a deceptive calm. Even with hovercars gliding above and neon lights shimmering, Biro Kael felt the tension in the air—a subtle vibration only his fragment could perceive. The Moonfang hunt had strengthened his instincts, yet it was clear that was just the beginning. The fragment pulsed faintly, urging him forward, whispering of something deeper, darker: the heart of a rift.
Lyra met him at the edge of the plaza, her eyes alert and full of unspoken questions. "The readings are off the charts," she said, gesturing toward a nearby alley where a faint distortion bent the surrounding air unnaturally. "Whatever's in there… it's feeding from the rift itself. Could be a nest, could be something far worse."
Biro nodded, feeling the fragment vibrate in resonance. This was no ordinary F-level or even S-rank monster. This energy was raw, chaotic, like a heartbeat of the rift itself. He could feel it pulling at the edges of his consciousness, challenging him to adapt or perish.
They approached cautiously, steps silent on cracked pavement. Shadows pooled unnaturally as the alley seemed to stretch longer than it should. The fragment pulsed harder, and Biro instinctively extended his senses. Faint shapes shimmered ahead—monsters unlike anything he had fought before, formed from warped light and shadow, their movements almost liquid, flowing through gaps in reality.
[System Panel – Rift Core Detected]
Entity Type: Rift Wraiths (Multiple)
Power Grade: SS
Recommended Action: Extreme caution; isolate and neutralize gradually
EXP Reward: Massive
Lyra's hand brushed against his arm, grounding him. "We need a plan. Attack together, and don't let them corner us."
Biro nodded, feeling the fragment's pulse sharpen. He could sense the rift's heartbeat, its patterns, its fluctuating energy. It was as if the rift itself was alive, aware of their presence, testing their skill, probing their weaknesses. Instinct and fragment worked in harmony now, giving him a clarity that no ordinary human could ever achieve.
The wraiths struck first, fluid shadows flowing like smoke, eyes glowing with unnatural intensity. Biro reacted instinctively, moving with unnatural speed, guided by the fragment. He dodged a swipe, releasing a small pulse that disrupted the nearest wraith's cohesion. Lyra struck immediately, her orb of light slicing through the darkness, forcing the creatures to separate.
The fight was a deadly dance. Biro felt the fragment responding to every strike, every movement, amplifying his awareness. He could predict their motions before they executed, adapting mid-action, turning raw survival into a precise rhythm of attack and evasion. Lyra moved with him, their synergy seamless—a combination of power, instinct, and trust.
A particularly large wraith lunged at him, energy tendrils whipping toward his chest. The fragment surged violently, and Biro extended his hands, forming a shield of pulsating light that absorbed and redirected the strike. The creature recoiled, giving Lyra the opening to strike decisively. Each kill fed the fragment, each pulse strengthening his control, sharpening his senses, and teaching him lessons his mind could not yet fully comprehend.
As the last wraith fell, the rift pulsed violently, sending ripples of energy through the alley. Biro felt it in his chest—a pull, a challenge, a call. He closed his eyes, extending his senses, letting the fragment guide him. The heart of the rift lay just ahead, a swirling vortex of raw, chaotic energy, twisting and bending reality itself.
Lyra stepped beside him, voice steady but filled with awe. "Are you ready?"
Biro nodded. His pulse matched the fragment's rhythm, his instincts aligned with its subtle guidance. "Let's end this," he murmured. Together, they stepped into the vortex, energy twisting around them like a living storm.
The fragment flared, a surge of raw power harmonizing with Biro's instincts. Reality bent, shadows stretched and twisted, and the rift's heart began to respond to him. It was a test, a challenge not of brute force but of perception, strategy, and mastery over instinct.
The world seemed to pause around them, every pulse of energy a conversation, every shadow a threat and an opportunity. And for the first time, Biro understood that survival was no longer just reaction—it was command, control, and understanding the deeper threads of existence.
The rift pulsed again, but this time, it seemed to hesitate, as if acknowledging the presence of one who could match its chaotic rhythm. Biro's fragment hummed with approval, warmth radiating through him, whispering of new heights, new skills, and new trials.
Lyra smiled faintly, her hand brushing his arm once more, a silent acknowledgment of trust and partnership. "We're just getting started," she whispered.
Biro nodded, eyes shining with determination. "And this time… we control the game."
The rift throbbed, alive, and waiting. And Biro Kael—fragment, instinct, and primordial bloodline pulsing together—was ready.