Angelus tightened his grip on his pipe, its Rift Fang Edges gleaming faintly in the dim light. His heart hammered against his ribs, but he forced his voice to remain steady as he rallied his team. “This is it,” he said, glancing at each of them. “We end this here.”
Behind him, Marcus stood ready, his spear glowing with the crimson aura of a Rift Warrior, his jaw set in grim determination. Tara, ever the brawler, hefted her bat onto her shoulder, her eyes alight with a mix of excitement and defiance despite the blood trickling from a cut on her cheek. Lyra clutched her staff, its tip shimmering with rift magic, her face pale but resolute—she’d come too far to falter now. Angelus’s summons flanked them: Sticky, the wiry goblin, twitching with nervous energy; Mr. Smashypants, the hulking troll, growling low; Sparky, the rift hound, snapping his jaws with arcs of electricity; and the Rift Drake, coiled in the tattoo on Angelus’s arm, waiting to be unleashed.
A quick glance at his status screen grounded him:
[Name: Angelus, Level 16, Class: Legion Master]
[Health: 50/100]
[Mana: 30/60]
[Attributes:]
- Strength: 25
- Agility: 20
- Intellect: 30
- Vitality: 25
[Skills: Legion Command, Power Strike, Summoner’s Fury, Legion’s Wrath, Master Summoner, Summon Storage Tattoo, Legion’s Rally, Rift Mastery]
[Equipment: Pipe (Rift Fang Edges: +10 Attack), Behemoth Gauntlets (Summons +15% Attack), Riftweaver’s Spiked Mantle (+25 Defense, +15 Mana), Riftweaver’s Amulet (+20 Intellect, +10 Mana Regeneration)]
[Summons: Sticky (Goblin), Mr. Smashypants (Troll), Sparky (Rift Hound), Rift Drake]
The Rift Titan reared back, its roar shaking the chamber walls, sending shards of stone raining down. “Mortals,” it boomed, its voice a guttural rumble that seemed to come from the rift itself, “you trespass in a realm beyond your ken. I am your end.”
Angelus smirked, masking his unease. “We’ve heard that before. Let’s prove it wrong—together.” He raised his pipe. “Legion Command: Full Assault!”
The battle erupted in chaos.
Sticky darted forward, his small frame a blur as he slashed at the Titan’s clawed foot with his claws—[Rift Titan: 990/1000 HP]. The damage was negligible, but it drew the Titan’s ire, its massive tail whipping toward the goblin. Sticky rolled aside—[Miss]—his Agility saving him as the tail smashed the floor where he’d stood.
Mr. Smashypants charged, his club swinging with brute force toward the Titan’s knee. The impact echoed like thunder—[Rift Titan: 970/1000 HP]—cracking a scale but barely slowing the beast. The Titan retaliated, its claw slashing down. Mr. Smashypants took the hit, his thick hide absorbing the blow—[Mr. Smashypants: 180/200 HP]—and roared back defiantly.
Sparky leaped into the fray, his teeth sinking into the Titan’s ankle, electricity surging through his bite—[Rift Titan: 960/1000 HP]. The Titan snarled, shaking its leg, but Sparky clung on, his jaws locked tight.
Tara sprinted forward, weaving through the chaos with her bat raised. She ducked under a sweeping claw—[Miss]—and slammed her weapon into the Titan’s foot—[Rift Titan: 950/1000 HP]. The Titan’s eyes flared, and it unleashed a [Rift Shockwave], a pulse of energy that blasted outward. Tara was hurled back, skidding across the floor—[Tara: 35/90 HP]—but she pushed herself up, spitting blood and grinning. “That all you got?”
Marcus moved with precision, his spear glowing as he activated Rift Strike. He drove it into the same leg Sticky had targeted, the crimson energy piercing deeper—[Rift Titan: 920/1000 HP]. The Titan swiped at him, but Marcus rolled away—[Miss]—his training keeping him one step ahead.
Lyra, positioned at the rear, channeled her staff, casting [Rift Bind]. Tendrils of rift energy snaked around the Titan’s legs, attempting to pin it. The Titan strained against them, its Strength slowly snapping the bonds, but it gave the team a brief respite.
Angelus saw his chance. “Rift Drake, go!” The tattoo on his arm flared, and the Rift Drake materialized, its wings beating as it soared above the Titan. It unleashed a [Rift Flame Breath], a torrent of violet fire that engulfed the Titan’s head—[Rift Titan: 880/1000 HP]. The Titan roared, its scales blistering, and fired a [Rift Beam] in retaliation. The beam grazed the drake’s wing—[Rift Drake: 120/150 HP]—forcing it to land with a pained screech.
Angelus cursed under his breath. They were wearing it down, but the Titan’s health was still formidable, and their own reserves were fading fast. “Lyra, can you hit its rift connection?” he shouted.
Lyra’s eyes flicked to him, uncertainty flashing across her face. “It’s a long shot—I’d have to sever its link to the rift entirely. It’ll drain me.”
“Do it,” Angelus said. “We don’t have a choice.”
The Titan turned its gaze on Lyra, sensing her intent. Its claw descended, but Marcus intercepted, deflecting it with his spear—[Marcus: 45/80 HP]. “Keep going!” he grunted, holding the line.
Tara joined him, her bat crashing into the claw—[Rift Titan: 870/1000 HP]—while Sticky and Sparky harried its legs, their attacks relentless but minor—[Rift Titan: 860/1000 HP].
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Angelus activated Legion’s Wrath, a surge of power coursing through his summons. The Rift Drake took flight again, its breath scorching the Titan’s back—[Rift Titan: 830/1000 HP]. Mr. Smashypants smashed his club into the cracked knee—[Rift Titan: 800/1000 HP]—finally drawing a bellow of pain.
Lyra’s staff glowed brighter as her chant peaked. She thrust it forward, unleashing [Rift Severance]. A wave of chaotic energy slammed into the Titan’s chest, disrupting the rift energy animating it—[Rift Titan: 740/1000 HP]. The Titan staggered, its movements slowing, but the spell took its toll—[Lyra: 10/70 Mana]—and Lyra sank to one knee, gasping.
The Titan’s eyes blazed. “You will pay!” It summoned a [Rift Nova], a spherical explosion of energy that engulfed the chamber. The blast hit everyone—[Angelus: 30/100 HP], [Tara: 20/90 HP], [Marcus: 30/80 HP], [Lyra: 25/70 HP], [Mr. Smashypants: 150/200 HP], [Sparky: 70/100 HP], [Sticky: 40/50 HP], [Rift Drake: 90/150 HP].
Angelus hit the ground hard, his vision blurring. They were barely standing, and the Titan still had [Rift Titan: 740/1000 HP]. Desperation clawed at him—until the rift portal behind the Titan flared wildly, its edges sparking uncontrollably.
The Titan hesitated, glancing back. “What… anomaly is this?”
Angelus’s mind raced. The rift was destabilizing—Lyra’s spell must have disrupted more than just the Titan. “The portal!” he yelled. “Hit it with everything we’ve got!”
Lyra, trembling, cast [Rift Disruption], sending chaotic waves into the portal. Marcus and Tara struck its edges, their weapons chipping away at its stability. Angelus directed his summons to the core, the Rift Drake’s flames and Mr. Smashypants’s club pounding it.
The Titan lunged at Angelus, its claw inches from his chest—but the portal erupted. A surge of rift energy exploded outward, wrapping around the Titan like tendrils. It roared, clawing at the ground, but the force dragged it back into the collapsing rift. With a final, deafening scream, it vanished, and the portal sealed shut.
Silence fell. Angelus dropped to his knees, his pipe slipping from his hand. “We… won?”
Marcus laughed weakly, leaning against a wall. “By the skin of our teeth.”
Tara, bloodied but grinning, nodded. “Luck. Dumb, stupid luck.”
Lyra managed a faint smile. “The rift’s collapse… it was a fluke. We got lucky.”
Sticky scampered over, tugging at Angelus’s sleeve, while Sparky and Mr. Smashypants stood watch. The Rift Drake nuzzled his hand, its loyalty unwavering. Angelus let out a shaky breath, relief washing over him—but a nagging feeling told him this was far from over.
As the team patched their wounds, a low hum filled the chamber. A figure shimmered into existence, cloaked in a robe that flickered between dimensions. Its face was hidden until it lowered its hood, revealing glowing eyes and rune-etched skin—a being both alien and commanding.
Angelus raised his pipe warily. “Who are you?”
The figure raised a hand. “Peace, Legion Master. I am a System Administrator, overseer of new worlds entering the System. Earth has been integrated.”
Marcus gripped his spear. “Integrated into what?”
“The System,” the Administrator said, its voice calm but resonant. “A network spanning countless worlds, governed by rifts. It assigns classes, manages rift activity, and maintains interdimensional balance. Earth’s rifts were its initiation.”
Lyra’s breath caught. “The Riftweavers—they forced this?”
“They were tools of the Void Walkers,” the Administrator confirmed, “a faction destabilizing new worlds for power. Your victory over the Rift Titan has delayed their plans, but the System’s arrival is inevitable.”
Angelus’s gut twisted. “Is Earth safe now?”
“For now,” the Administrator replied. “You have one year before Earth officially enters the System. In that time, you must prepare for rift invasions, politics between worlds, and threats beyond your imagining.”
Tara crossed her arms. “We’ve handled rifts before. We’ll manage.”
The Administrator’s gaze was unreadable. “The Rift Titan was a mere herald. Beyond lie the Rift Lords, commanding rift-born armies; the System Enforcers, enforcing order ruthlessly; and the Void Walkers, among others. Earth’s survival depends on your readiness.”
Marcus frowned. “A year to prepare—how?”
“The System will provide resources,” the Administrator said. “Training, alliances, knowledge. But others will watch—some as predators, others as potential partners.”
Angelus squared his shoulders. “How do we start?”
A holographic map materialized, showing Earth and its dimensional neighbors. “Unite your people—New Haven, Eldermont, Portridge. Seek rift artifacts and mentors from other worlds. Forge alliances. The year will test you.”
Lyra stepped forward. “I can use my rift knowledge to help.”
The Administrator nodded. “Your skills will be vital.” Its form began to fade. “Prepare, Legion Master. The universe awaits.”
Then it was gone, leaving the team in stunned silence.
The rift portal returned them to New Haven’s library, where Lily and the survivors greeted them with cheers. But Angelus’s mind was elsewhere, replaying the Administrator’s words.
That night, the team gathered around a table, maps sprawled out. Lily sat nearby, listening intently.
Marcus broke the silence. “A year to make Earth a fortress. No pressure.”
Tara smirked. “Training, alliances, defenses—it’s a lot, but we’ve got this.”
Angelus traced the map. “We start with the cities. New Haven, Eldermont, Portridge—they’ve all faced rifts. We unite them.”
Lyra pointed to rift nodes. “These could be stabilized—used for travel or communication with other worlds.”
Marcus grinned. “A rift network? That’s a game-changer.”
“And the System’s resources,” Lyra added. “We could summon mentors, enhance our skills.”
Tara leaned back. “I want new gear. Something big.”
Angelus managed a smile. “We’ll need it all. But first, we tell the survivors what’s coming.”
Lily piped up. “Can I help?”
Angelus softened. “You already do, Lil. But yes—everyone has a role.”
Over weeks, their plan took shape:
- Uniting Cities: Angelus and Marcus would rally Eldermont and Portridge, using rift nodes for a network.
- Training: Tara and Lyra would train survivors in combat and rift magic, seeking artifacts to boost power.
- Alliances: Lyra would contact neutral factions for aid or mentorship.
- Defenses: Survivors would fortify cities with walls and rift detectors.
- Personal Goals: Marcus aimed to master his class, Tara sought gear, Lyra pursued redemption, and Angelus grew as a leader.
They dove in. Angelus and Marcus traveled, meeting leaders like Elena and Gregor, forging bonds. Tara and Lyra turned the library into a training hub, with Sticky and the summons boosting morale.
One night, Marcus joined Angelus on the roof. “Feels bigger than survival now.”
Angelus nodded. “It is. Earth’s part of something vast—but we’ll make it strong.”
Months later, cities were united, defenses built, and survivors trained. Lyra contacted the Rift Guardians, who pledged a mentor.
As the year ended, tension grew. On the final night, Angelus gathered his team. “Tomorrow, it begins. We’re ready.”
Tara raised her bat. “Let’s do this.”
Marcus nodded. “We’ve faced the worst. We’ll face more.”
Lyra’s eyes gleamed. “For Earth.”
Angelus smiled. “For Earth.”
At dawn, a rift opened in the sky, and the System’s voice rang out: “Earth, welcome to the universe.”
The adventure was just beginning.