The Riftborn roared as it charged, its massive claws tearing into the ground, leaving deep gouges in the cobblestones. Its glowing violet eyes locked onto Reyn's unconscious body, sprawled on the bloodied street like a motionless target. The beast's frenzied, uneven steps shook the earth with every pound of its jagged limbs, its guttural growls reverberating through the suffocating air.
It was close now. Too close.
And then, a beam of ethereal light erupted.
The piercing light came not from the sky, but from one of the four figures standing on the ruined street the Rift Walkers. The one holding a massive bow released the shot, the weapon glowing faintly with an otherworldly energy as the beam streaked through the air. The light struck the Riftborn mid-lunge with the precision of a predator, carving a searing hole clean through the beast's head. The wound burned with an intensity that turned flesh to ash, the edges glowing red-hot as the Riftborn's roar twisted into a gurgling snarl. Its massive form crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
The beam didn't stop there. Its devastating force surged onward, crashing through several houses before finally dissipating, leaving a scarred trail of destruction in its wake. Dust and debris filled the air, the sharp crackle of collapsing structures echoing through the ruined slums. The Riftborn's headless body lay still, the faint glow of its remaining limbs flickering out like dying embers.
From the shadows of the chaotic battlefield, four Rift Walkers emerged.
Their movements were precise, calculated, and unyielding. Each wielded weapons etched with intricate patterns that pulsed with energy spears, bows, swords all honed for one purpose: the destruction of the Riftborn. Their sleek armor, dark and imposing, was designed for both protection and agility, each piece moving fluidly with the figures as they advanced toward the rift.
The bow-wielding Rift Walker stepped forward, lowering their shimmering weapon and surveying the scene. Their helmet obscured their face, but the authority in their stance was unmistakable. "Subjugate the rift," they commanded, their voice sharp and unwavering.
The second Rift Walker, armed with a spear that crackled with electric energy, charged into the fray. Their movements blurred with speed as the spear slashed through the nearest Riftborn, carving its monstrous form in two. The third Rift Walker, wielding twin swords glowing with molten heat, joined the battle with a deadly grace, their blades slicing effortlessly through the enemies that dared to approach.
The fourth Rift Walker carried a massive greatsword, its edges glowing faintly with a bluish light. They swung the weapon with a thunderous crash, its sheer force cleaving through multiple Riftborn in a single blow. The creatures disintegrated into ash, their guttural growls turning to silence as they fell under the Rift Walkers' assault.
The Riftborn had no time to react, no time to retreat. Their wild, frenzied attacks were useless against the Rift Walkers, who moved with an unrelenting efficiency that turned the battlefield into a slaughter. Each attack, each strike, each swing of their weapons was devastating, leaving the Riftborn unable to regroup, unable to survive.
Yet the rift remained open, its jagged edges swirling ominously as more Riftborn clawed their way through. The Rift Walkers showed no hesitation as they continued their assault, their focus unyielding. The streets that had been consumed by terror and despair now became a scene of calculated destruction, the Rift Walkers cutting through the Riftborn with ruthless precision.
Amid the chaos, Reyn lay unconscious, oblivious to the battle raging around him. The surge of power that had erupted from him his desperate attempt to survive had left him utterly spent. The mini explosion that saved his life had drained every ounce of strength from his body, leaving him limp and defenseless on the bloodied street.
Even in his unconscious state, the faintest whisper echoed in his mind:
"You have been accepted by the rift."
Reyn's eyelids fluttered open, though what greeted him wasn't anything he could comprehend. He gasped as he found himself standing or perhaps floating in an endless expanse of stars. The space was vast and infinite, its shimmering lights stretching into eternity. Colors swirled and blended together blues, purples, and silvers creating a mesmerizing, otherworldly beauty that felt simultaneously calming and electrifying.
"What the hell…?" Reyn muttered, his voice echoing faintly in the void. His body still felt heavy, exhaustion clinging to him like a second skin. Yet he wasn't lying down anymore; his legs were beneath him, though they felt like they could give out at any moment.
He tried to move, but the space around him seemed to resist, as if it had its own weight, its own will. A faint hum filled his ears, soothing yet eerily unnatural. He spun slowly in place, his sharp gray eyes scanning the vast emptiness for anything familiar. But there was nothing only the endless stars and the quiet, all-encompassing hum.
Suddenly, the hum deepened, growing louder and resonating in his chest. A faint glow appeared in front of him, shimmering and flickering until it solidified into what looked like a screen of pure light. Reyn blinked, stunned as the words materialized on the glowing surface.
Name: Reyn Ashford Status: Active Gift: Space Weaver Rank: Godlike Rift Scar: Uncontrollable Commentary Titles: Riftbound Attributes: Phase Instinct, Spatial focus
His sharp gray eyes locked onto the word Godlike, and the realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. "No way… This has to be a mistake." His voice trembled slightly, but as he read the words again, a grin broke across his face. The uncertainty vanished, replaced by exhilaration. "It's real. This is real!"
His excitement bubbled over, and he let out a triumphant laugh that echoed through the starry expanse. "Godlike! I awakened a Godlike Gift! That's… that's insane!" Reyn paced or floated in the strange space, his mind racing to process what this meant. Reyn didn't know much, but he at least knew about the ranks, he remembered hearing some information about it a couple of years back. But this? This was beyond belief.
"I've never heard of anyone having a Godlike Gift," he muttered to himself, his eyes flicking back to the screen. His grin widened as the thought settled in his mind. "What if I'm the only one? The only person in the world with a Gift like this? The rift chose me for this power. Me. Reyn Ashford of the slums."
The words on the screen flickered slightly, and the rank Godlike seemed to shine brighter as if emphasizing its significance. Reyn's chest swelled with pride, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Space Weaver. Even the name of his Gift resonated with power, its implications thrilling him.
The system of Gift ranks was something everyone understood, but never like this:
The ranks, as defined by the Rift Walkers, were as follows:
Corebound.
Primed
Ascendant
Exalted
Mythic
Godlike
"Godlike…" Reyn muttered again, this time savoring the word. "That's me. That's who I am now." He clenched his fists, his sharp gray eyes gleaming with determination. "This is my chance. My Gift. My life. It's actually going to change."