The night sky over District B-7 was unusually dim, as if the world itself were holding its breath.On the ruined rooftop of an abandoned warehouse, three young figures crouched low, illuminated only by the shifting violet glow pulsing from a tear in the sky.
"Energy fluctuation detected… its activity is increasing."Chu Tianxing's voice was steady, but the data streams reflected in his eyes flowed with rapid intensity—like countless lines of code running at full speed.
Lin Yufan swallowed hard. "So this is… a spatial rift? My god, it feels like it's staring at me."
Beside him, Chen Feier clasped her staff tighter, whispering a quiet prayer under her breath. The faint light at its tip trembled, betraying her nerves.
The rift hovered thirty meters overhead, widening and contracting like a beating, corrupted heart. Each pulse sent distorted ripples across the air, warping the space around it.
"It's still stable," Chu Tianxing murmured, scanning the rift with heightened Data Sensitivity. Countless invisible lines converged in his mind, forming a dynamic analysis model. "Target: low-level insectoid breach. Potential emergence: scavenger-type."
"Which means," Lin Yufan tried to steady his breathing, "it's still within our academy's trainee combat range."
"Within range doesn't mean safe." Chu Tianxing rose to his feet. "Prepare for engagement."
The other two nodded.
A gust of wind swept past, lifting debris from the ground. Then—
"Energy spike!"Chu Tianxing's eyes snapped open.
A violent shudder tore through the rift.Crimson light shot out, splitting the air with a sharp, metallic shriek—and a deformed, beetle-like creature crashed onto the cracked concrete!
Its carapace oozed with corrosive fluid, mandibles clacking in agitation. Multiple eyes rotated, searching for prey.
"Scavenger bug… Level 4." Chu Tianxing's voice turned calm, almost cold. "Yufan, approach from its blind spot at forty-five degrees. Feier, maintain healing radius at eight meters. Don't step beyond the safe zone."
The two reacted instantly.
Lin Yufan's figure flickered through the shadows, twin daggers ready.Chen Feier activated her radiance, forming a thin halo of protective light around the group.
The scavenger lunged—but Chu Tianxing had already predicted the angle of attack.
"Right side! Joint weakness, lower segment!"
His warning came the very moment its limb descended. Lin Yufan pivoted and struck precisely where instructed. A sharp crack sounded as the joint split apart.
Chen Feier's light washed over the battlefield, suppressing the creature's corrosive energy.
"All data aligned."Chu Tianxing stepped forward, his short blade gleaming faintly with spatial force.
With a single, swift motion, he pierced straight into the creature's core.
The scavenger convulsed, screeched—then collapsed.
Silence returned to the ruined site.
Lin Yufan breathed out shakily. "Old Chu… can you not be so godlike next time? You didn't even give it time to scream."
Chen Feier smiled with relief. "We did it… our first official rift battle."
Chu Tianxing wiped his blade clean, eyes lifting toward the still-pulsing tear in the sky.
"No," he said quietly."This was just the beginning."