The growls deepened, the air growing thick with tension as the Riftbeasts advanced. Jonas’s heart pounded, his grip on the sword tightening. The dark shimmer of the rift behind the beasts cast eerie shadows across the village, distorting the already twisted creatures as they stalked forward. Their glowing yellow eyes fixed on him and Grimm, jaws dripping with saliva.

Grimm cracked her neck and spun her massive war axe with ease, the blade gleaming in the dimming light. "Stay close. Don’t let them surround you," she barked, though there was a hint of excitement in her voice, her eyes sharp and focused.

Jonas nodded, though his throat was dry with fear. His mind raced, remembering the brief training Grimm had given him earlier. Feet balanced, sword steady, focus on defense first. But theory was one thing—facing a horde of slavering beasts was something entirely different.

Combat Alert: Riftbeast Horde Approaching.

Objective: Defend the Village (XP Reward: 500)

Bonus Objective: Close the Rift (XP Reward: 1000)

Jonas blinked at the notification that appeared in his mind, but there was no time to dwell on it. The Riftbeasts lunged.

The first one—a twisted, hulking creature with matted black fur and far too many eyes—came at Jonas with a snarl, its claws slashing the air. He barely had time to react, throwing up his sword in a desperate block. The force of the creature’s attack sent a shockwave through his arms, nearly knocking him off balance, but he held firm.

Combat Skill: Basic Sword Mastery — Level Up! (Level 2)

The chime rang in his head just as Grimm’s voice thundered from behind him. "Keep your footing, Jonas! Strike when they’re off-balance!"

Gritting his teeth, Jonas shoved the creature back, his mind buzzing with the new skill level. His movements felt sharper, his grip more confident. He sidestepped as the beast swiped again, and this time, he retaliated with a clean downward slash.

The blade sliced through the Riftbeast’s shoulder, black blood spurting from the wound as the creature howled in pain. Jonas’s heart surged with a mix of fear and exhilaration. He could feel the difference already—the sword felt like more than just dead weight now. It was a weapon he could wield.

Before he could fully process the victory, another Riftbeast lunged at him from the side. This one was faster, smaller but more agile, with long, sinewy limbs and glowing red eyes. Jonas pivoted just in time, slashing out in a broad arc. The beast dodged, its claws grazing his arm, but he didn’t let up. He followed through with another strike, more deliberate this time, catching the creature across the snout.

It yelped and backed off, giving Jonas just enough breathing room to glance over at Grimm.

She was in her element. Her massive axe swung in brutal, precise arcs, cleaving through the Riftbeasts with an almost feral grace. Her muscles rippled with each movement, her emerald skin gleaming with sweat and blood. Her long, dark braids whipped around her face as she dodged and struck with terrifying speed. Each time her axe connected, the beasts fell in gory heaps.

Jonas couldn’t help but stare, mesmerized by her strength and intensity. She was… incredible. Fierce. Beautiful in a way that was almost overwhelming. His eyes lingered on the curve of her powerful arms, the way her body moved with a raw, primal energy. There was something about Grimm that was impossible to ignore.

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In the heat of the battle, even as he dodged another attack, Jonas felt a sudden pull toward her—an attraction that he hadn’t expected. It wasn’t just her physical presence, though that was undeniable. It was the confidence, the raw power she wielded so effortlessly. She was everything he wasn’t—strong, decisive, fearless.

Grimm, catching his gaze between strikes, gave him a fierce grin. "Eyes on the fight, not me, warrior!" she teased, her voice carrying just a hint of something softer, something amused. The sound of it sent a shiver down Jonas’s spine.

He blinked, shaking his head to refocus. Another Riftbeast charged, and this time, Jonas was ready. He parried its claws with a quick flick of his sword, then drove the blade deep into its chest. The beast convulsed and crumpled at his feet, its eyes going dim.

XP Gained: 300/1000

Bonus XP: Critical Strike (Luck Bonus Activated: +50 XP)

A rush of satisfaction filled him as the notifications blinked across his vision. He was getting the hang of it—slowly, but surely.

"Not bad, kid!" Grimm shouted as she hacked through the final Riftbeast in her path, sending it sprawling in a heap. Her axe dripped with dark blood, but she didn’t seem the least bit tired. In fact, there was a dangerous gleam in her eye, something hungry. "But we’re not done yet."

Jonas looked toward the rift. It still hung in the air, its edges pulsing and warping like a wound in reality. He could feel the malevolent energy pouring out of it, twisting the world around them.

"How do we close it?" he asked, panting.

Grimm hefted her axe onto her shoulder and strode toward the rift. "Rift Sense. You’ve got the skill, right? Focus on the energy. It’ll guide you."

Jonas swallowed, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. "Yeah, I think I’ve got it."

He closed his eyes for a moment, steadying his breathing. Rift Sense. The skill activated almost immediately, and Jonas felt a strange tingling at the base of his skull, a pull that drew him toward the rift. He could see it now—not just the tear in space, but the threads of dark energy that swirled around it like tendrils.

"I can feel it," Jonas muttered. "But what do I do?"

"Focus on severing those threads," Grimm instructed, her voice firm but encouraging. "Cut them off from this world. Use your sword—your will. The rift’s not just a hole; it’s a wound. And you’re the one who can close it."

Jonas nodded, stepping closer to the rift. The dark energy swirled more violently the nearer he got, and the pull became stronger, almost intoxicating. For a brief moment, he felt an overwhelming urge to give in—to let the rift’s power flow into him. It was seductive, whispering promises of strength, of control.

But then, he remembered Grimm’s words. Focus. Don’t let it consume you.

With a deep breath, Jonas raised his sword. He visualized the energy threads, felt their chaotic pull, and brought the blade down in a swift, decisive arc. His sword cut through the air—and the tendrils of energy snapped, vanishing into thin smoke.

The rift pulsed, flickered—and then, with a final crackling sound, collapsed in on itself, leaving only the still, darkened air behind.

Rift Closed (XP Gained: 1000)

Level Up! Novice Warrior (Level 1 → Level 2)

Stat Points: +5

Skill Upgrade Available: Rift Sense (Level 2)

Jonas gasped as the rush of power flooded him, his body tingling with the sudden boost in strength and awareness. His vision sharpened, and he felt his muscles surge with newfound energy. He had done it—his first real battle, his first victory. And the rift was gone.

Grimm approached him, her eyes filled with approval, though there was something else there as well—something warmer. "Not bad, Jonas," she said, her voice low. "You’ve got talent. And... maybe more guts than I gave you credit for."

Jonas smiled, feeling the adrenaline still pulsing in his veins. "Thanks. Couldn’t have done it without you."

Grimm’s gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary, her expression softening just slightly. "You keep fighting like that, and you’ll do just fine here. Maybe more than fine."

Jonas felt a flutter of something—an attraction that was now undeniable, mutual. Grimm wasn’t just a mentor, or a warrior. She was something... more. He cleared his throat, trying to push the thought aside. But the heat between them was hard to ignore.

"Let’s head back to the village," Grimm said, her voice a bit huskier than before. "There’s a lot more you’ve got to learn, and I’ve got plenty to teach you."

Jonas followed her, his pulse racing for reasons that had nothing to do with the fight.