The silence following the collapse of the rift portal was heavy, but not entirely peaceful. Jonas could still feel the lingering traces of energy pulsing beneath his skin. The power of the Gatebreaker bloodline hummed within him, new and strange, but not overwhelming—at least not yet. He had barely tapped into it, closing the portal without fully understanding what he had done.
The forest around them was quiet, the Riftspawn nest now seemingly dormant, but Jonas knew this was just the beginning of his connection to the rift and the bloodline he had awakened.
"Jonas," Elara said, her voice breaking the silence. "That ability... it's like nothing I’ve ever seen before."
"Yeah," Branwen added, her eyes wide. "It’s like ye’ve got the power of the rift itself, but ye’re controllin’ it. That’s bloody impressive."
Jonas nodded, still trying to wrap his mind around what had just happened. He could feel the Gatebreaker abilities inside him, waiting to be called upon again, but there was something else—something deeper. As he had drawn on the rift’s power, he had felt a drain, not just physical but something more... magical. Mana. A force that had fueled his ability to close the rift and control the energy swirling around him.
"I think... I used mana to activate the abilities," Jonas murmured, thinking aloud. "It’s like casting magic, but tied directly to the rift."
Daria raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Mana manipulation tied to rifts? That’s... dangerous. But useful. You’ll need to master it if you want to control that power."
Jonas agreed. The power of the Gatebreaker bloodline was vast, but it was tied to something even more fundamental than the rift: mana. Without control over that, the power could easily spiral out of control.
Elara stepped closer, her violet eyes narrowing with thought. "You need to practice. It’s clear the Gatebreaker bloodline isn’t just about rift manipulation—it’s tied to your ability to harness and use mana. We should find a place where you can train."
Jonas clenched his fists, feeling the energy still tingling in his veins. "We should head back to camp. I need to understand this better."
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BACK AT THE CAMP
The sun was setting by the time they returned to their makeshift camp. The fire crackled softly as the group gathered around, each lost in their own thoughts about what had transpired. Jonas sat slightly apart from the others, feeling the weight of the new abilities inside him. The Gatebreaker bloodline had given him immense potential, but he could already feel the strain it placed on his mana reserves. He had felt a significant drain when he closed the rift, and now that drain had left him feeling... depleted.
"I need to try again," Jonas said, standing up. "I need to test these abilities and understand the limits of my mana."
Grimm raised an eyebrow. "Yer still lookin' worn out from earlier. You sure you're up for it?"
"I have to be," Jonas replied, determination in his voice. "I need to figure out how this power works before we face anything worse."
Elara nodded in agreement. "You should practice while we’re here. This is a safe place to test the limits of your mana manipulation."
Jonas stepped a little farther from the camp, positioning himself in an open space where he wouldn’t risk harming anyone. His mind focused on the pulse of mana within him—he could feel it now, like a pool of energy waiting to be tapped into. The Gatebreaker abilities, linked so closely to the rift, seemed to draw heavily on this source, more so than any magic he had learned with Elara.
He raised his hand, feeling the pull of the rift energy as he called upon one of his new abilities.
Rift Surge.
The mana inside him flared, surging through his veins as he activated the ability. His muscles tightened, his vision sharpened, and for a brief moment, he felt invincible. The boost to his stats was immediate—a 10% increase in his strength, speed, and awareness. But as the power flowed through him, he could feel the mana draining quickly, faster than he had expected. He gritted his teeth, maintaining control over the surge of power.
When the effect wore off, he lowered his hand, breathing heavily. He had used a significant portion of his mana to activate Rift Surge, but the boost had been worth it. Still, the toll it took on his body was clear.
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"How does it feel?" Elara asked, watching closely.
"Strong," Jonas replied, still catching his breath. "But it drains mana quickly. I need to learn to manage it better."
Elara nodded, her expression thoughtful. "We can work on that. You’ll need to develop your mana pool and refine your control over it if you’re going to use the Gatebreaker abilities effectively."
Jonas nodded, and as he focused inward again, he felt the familiar tingle of the system.
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XP Gained: 300 XP for Using Rift Surge
Total XP: 1300/6000 (Level 5)
Skill Progress:
* Mana Manipulation (Level 1 - New Skill): 10%
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The system prompt flickered in front of him, and Jonas frowned slightly. Mana Manipulation—it made sense that this would be tied to the abilities he had just awakened. If his Gatebreaker bloodline required mana, then mastering its manipulation would be essential to using his new powers effectively.
He turned to Elara, the most experienced magic user in their group. "I’ve unlocked a new skill—Mana Manipulation. It looks like the system is tracking how I use my mana now."
Elara nodded, unsurprised. "That’s to be expected. You’re using abilities far beyond basic magic now, and the system recognizes that. As you use more of your Gatebreaker powers, your skill with mana will improve. But be careful—if you push yourself too hard without developing your mana reserves, you could burn out."
Jonas glanced down at his hands, still buzzing with the remnants of the mana he had just used. "I’ll need to practice."
Daria, sitting nearby, gave him a sly smile. "Be careful, Jonas. The rift’s power is seductive. The more you use it, the deeper it pulls you in."
Jonas met her gaze, sensing the subtle warning behind her words. She knew the allure of dark power better than anyone, and he couldn’t ignore the fact that the rift’s energy had always carried a risk of corruption.
But the Gatebreaker bloodline wasn’t just about corruption. It was about control.
"I won’t let it control me," Jonas said firmly. "I’ll learn to master it."
Daria smiled, but there was something unreadable in her expression. "We’ll see."
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XP Gained: 100 XP for Practicing Mana Manipulation
Total XP: 1400/6000 (Level 5)
Character Sheet: Jonas Hawke
Level: 5
XP: 1400/6000
Stat Points Available: 5
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CORE STATS
These stats reflect base attributes along with boosts from titles, equipment, and the newly awakened bloodline.
Stat Base Boosts Total Strength 10 +5% from Pathwalker Title 10.5 Dexterity 9 +5% from Pathwalker Title 9.45 Intelligence 15 +5% from Pathwalker Title 15.75 Endurance 11 +5% from Pathwalker Title 11.55 Charisma 8 8 Luck 6 6
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TITLES
* Pathwalker: Grants +5% boost to Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Endurance. Increases skill learning rate by +10%.
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NEW BLOODLINE: GATEBREAKER
The Gatebreaker is the one who can control dimensional rifts. This bloodline offers immense potential but must be trained and mastered.
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SKILLS & ABILITIES
Skill Level Progress Description Sword Mastery 2 Progressing Enhances sword combat abilities and damage. Basic Magic Manipulation 1 10% Allows basic control over magical energy. As this skill evolves, Jonas will gain more precise and powerful control over mana for spells and Gatebreaker abilities. Rift Sense 2 Progressing Detects rift energy and anomalies. Rift Infusion 1 Progressing Allows temporary infusion of rift energy into attacks. Dimensional Seal 1 New Temporarily closes minor rifts. Riftwalker 1 New Allows Jonas to move through rifts without suffering corruption. Rift Surge 1 Progressing Temporarily increases all stats by 10% using rift energy.
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ABILITIES
* Dimensional Seal (Gatebreaker Ability): Temporarily closes rifts to prevent enemies from entering or leaving. Can grow in strength.
* Riftwalker (Gatebreaker Ability): Allows Jonas to pass through rifts without suffering the corrupting effects of rift energy.
* Rift Surge (Gatebreaker Ability): Temporarily boosts all stats by 10% for 30 seconds, using rift energy.
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Current Morality: Neutral, leaning toward Corruption
The rift’s power is growing, but now Jonas has the unique ability to control it, offering a chance to prevent full corruption or harness its potential for his own growth.