9:00 PM – Abandoned Industrial Sector
The warehouse district of Zone 9 had been cordoned off for months. Officially, it was "under renovation."
Unofficially, it was a Rift Hub.
Lin Xuan stood before a reinforced blast door half-buried under rusted scaffolding. His Reality Interface flickered with warnings.
[New Rift Detected – Type: Suppression Vault]
[Danger Level: A-Class (Recommended Party: 5+)]
[Status: Unstable Breach Imminent]
"Party of five, huh?" Lin Xuan smirked. "Guess I count as six now."
He tapped the panel.
The door screamed open.
Inside: darkness. The kind that felt alive.
[You Have Entered: Rift – The Suppression Vault]
[Special Condition: No Portals – No Escape]
[All Loot Locked Until Boss Defeat]
As he stepped in, the door sealed behind him.
Suddenly—
A burst of white flame lit the chamber.
And standing in the middle was a towering figure in obsidian armor, flames licking off its body like a curse.
[Mini-Boss Identified: Pyrelord Aegis – Vault Sentinel]
HP: 12,000
Abilities: Flame Ward, Molten Nova, Ashen Chains
Weakness: Cryo-based Attacks
The creature pointed its halberd at Lin Xuan. No words. Just war.
"Let's dance, toaster."
[Combat Initiated]
Lin Xuan kicked off the ground—
And vanished.
[Skill: Precision Rush – Enhanced]
He reappeared behind the Pyrelord, slicing at the flame vents beneath its armor.
-547 HP
[Weak Point Hit!]
The Pyrelord spun, fire exploding in a circle.
[Molten Nova Activated!]
Lin Xuan dropped low, slid beneath the blast, then lobbed a cryo grenade from his belt.
FSSSSHH—
The explosion of cold air froze the Pyrelord's right leg.
He moved in, slashing upward—
-1,203 HP [Critical!]
[Flame Ward Disabled Temporarily]
"Down you go."
Ten seconds later, the Pyrelord collapsed, its halberd melting into the ground.
Lin Xuan exhaled.
[Mini-Boss Defeated: Pyrelord Aegis]
[Loot Locked – Vault Core Not Yet Claimed]
Suddenly—
A new alert appeared.
[Warning: Suppression Core Detected – Guarded by Rift Lord]
He followed the map deeper into the vault, stepping over fallen scaffolds and scorched machinery.
A gate loomed ahead—sealed by six rotating locks, each glowing with arcane symbols.
Lin Xuan placed a hand on the gate.
[Your Presence Has Been Detected]
The floor trembled.
Then—
The gate opened on its own.
Inside was a throne room of steel and shadows. At its center sat a man—no, a monster.
Human-shaped, dressed in formal robes that shimmered like glass, but his face…
Was a perfect mirror.
[Boss Identified: The Hollow Heir – Rift Lord of Reflection]
HP: 25,000
Unique Trait: Copies One Skill from Opponent Every 60 Seconds
Known Abilities: Mirror Slash, Phantom Guard, Reality Flicker
"I've seen you," the creature said in a voice like Lin Xuan's own. "You bend the world like code."
"Then let's see if you can keep up."
[Boss Fight Initiated – Phase I]
The Heir dashed forward—blindingly fast.
Their blades clashed, sparks flying.
Lin Xuan grinned. This wasn't just a fight.
This was a test.
And he never failed tests.