The university library hummed with the low murmur of survivors—some whispering in huddled groups, others pacing nervously, their eyes darting to the barricaded windows. Angelus sat on a creaky chair, his pipe resting across his knees, while Sticky the goblin rifled through a pile of discarded backpacks, his tiny hands snatching anything shiny. Mr. Smashypants, the troll, loomed nearby, scratching his head as he stared at a world map on the wall, probably wondering if it was edible.
Lily perched on a stack of encyclopedias, swinging her legs. “Do you think the monsters are scared of us too?” she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and forced bravery.
Angelus forced a smile. “Maybe. But with Mr. Smashypants around, they’d be dumb not to be.”
Marcus snorted from his spot on the couch, flipping through a dog-eared comic book. “Yeah, nothing says ‘fear me’ like a troll who trips over his own feet.”
As if on cue, Mr. Smashypants took a step and stumbled over a stray book, nearly toppling a shelf. Angelus winced. “Point taken.”
But beneath the banter, unease gnawed at him. The rift’s purple glow pulsed through the window, a constant reminder that safety was temporary. His new skill, Rift Sense, tingled at the edge of his mind like an itch he couldn’t scratch. He closed his eyes, focusing on the faint pull. A notification flickered:
[Rift energy detected. Surge imminent. Location: 200 meters northeast.]
Angelus’s stomach dropped. “Guys, something’s coming. The rift’s about to spit out more monsters—close by.”
Tara, the brawler with the baseball bat, overheard and strode over. “How do you know?”
“New skill,” Angelus said, tapping his temple. “Rift Sense. There’s a surge northeast, probably near the quad.”
Tara’s jaw tightened. “We need to check it out. If it’s a big wave, we’re sitting ducks here.”
Angelus nodded, standing. “I’ll go. Marcus, you with me?”
Marcus tossed the comic aside. “Do I have a choice?”
“Not really,” Angelus said with a grin. He turned to Lily, who was already on her feet. “Lil, you stay here. It’s safer.”
Her face fell. “But I want to help!”
“You are helping,” he said gently. “Keep an eye on the others, make sure Sticky doesn’t rob anyone blind.”
Sticky, who’d just pocketed a stapler, froze mid-theft, feigning innocence.
Lily sighed but nodded. “Fine. But you owe me a story when you get back.”
“Deal,” Angelus said, ruffling her hair.
The quad was a warzone—benches splintered, grass scorched, and the rift’s energy crackling in the air like static before a storm. Angelus, Marcus, and the summons crept along the edge, sticking to the shadows of the science building. Sticky scampered ahead, sniffing the air, while Mr. Smashypants lumbered behind, his club dragging on the pavement.
Angelus activated Rift Sense again—[Mana: 27/50]—and the pull sharpened, zeroing in on a glowing crack in the ground near the fountain. “There,” he whispered. “That’s the surge point.”
Before they could get closer, the crack widened, and a pack of [Rift Hounds: 60/60 HP] burst forth—sleek, shadow-clad beasts with eyes like burning coals. Behind them, a hulking [Rift Ogre: 150/150 HP] emerged, its fists crackling with dark energy.
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“Oh, come on,” Marcus groaned. “An ogre? What’s next, a dragon?”
“Don’t jinx it,” Angelus muttered. “Legion Command: Attack the hounds!”
Sticky and Mr. Smashypants charged—or rather, Sticky darted forward while Mr. Smashypants tripped over a bench, face-planting with a thud. The hounds pounced, one sinking its teeth into the troll’s arm—[Troll Summon: 180/200 HP]—but Mr. Smashypants roared, flinging it off—[Rift Hound: 40/60 HP].
Angelus swung his pipe at another hound—[Rift Hound: 50/60 HP]—while Marcus landed a solid hit with his pipe—[Rift Hound: 45/60 HP]. Sticky, true to form, leapt onto a hound’s back and started gnawing on its ear—[Rift Hound: 55/60 HP]—more annoyance than damage.
“Sticky, aim for the throat, not the ear!” Angelus shouted, exasperated.
The goblin huffed, switching tactics and clawing at the hound’s eyes—[Rift Hound: 45/60 HP]. Better.
But the ogre was the real problem. It lumbered toward them, each step shaking the ground. Angelus activated Power Strike, mana dropping to [Mana: 17/50], and slammed his pipe into the ogre’s knee—[Rift Ogre: 135/150 HP]. The beast barely flinched, backhanding him into a bush—[Angelus: 60/100 HP].
“Ow,” Angelus groaned, scrambling up. “That’s gonna bruise.”
Marcus dodged a hound’s lunge, pipe clanging against its skull—[Rift Hound: 30/60 HP]. “Focus, hero boy!”
Mr. Smashypants, finally on his feet, swung his club at the ogre—[Rift Ogre: 115/150 HP]—and the two titans grappled, trading blows. Sticky, meanwhile, had somehow stolen a hound’s collar and was wearing it like a trophy.
Angelus shook his head. “Legion Command: Focus on the ogre!” His summons snapped to attention, Sticky abandoning his fashion moment to claw at the ogre’s ankle—[Rift Ogre: 110/150 HP]—while Mr. Smashypants landed a solid punch—[Rift Ogre: 90/150 HP].
With a final Power Strike—[Mana: 7/50]—Angelus smashed his pipe into the ogre’s head, and it staggered, collapsing with a thunderous crash—[Rift Ogre: 0/150 HP]. The remaining hounds, seeing their leader fall, scattered back into the rift.
A warm rush filled him:
[You have defeated 1 Rift Ogre, 3 Rift Hounds. Experience gained: 600. You have reached Level 6.]
[New Skill Unlocked: Summoner’s Rally – Temporarily boost summons’ attack power by 20% for 30 seconds. Mana cost: 15.]
Angelus grinned, despite the aches. “Raise Summon,” he said, and shadows coiled around a fallen hound, raising it as [Rift Hound Summon: 60/60 HP]. The beast shook itself, then sat obediently at his side.
Marcus whistled. “Your zoo’s getting diverse.”
Meanwhile, in the library, Lily wasn’t idle. She’d befriended a shy girl named Mia—[Name: Mia, Level 2, Class: Healer]—who was nervously twisting her hair.
“Are you scared?” Lily asked, plopping down beside her.
Mia nodded. “Yeah. But you seem brave.”
Lily shrugged. “My brother’s a superhero now. He’ll fix it.”
Mia’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Well, he’s trying,” Lily said with a giggle. “He’s got a troll who trips a lot and a goblin who steals stuff. It’s like a circus.”
Mia laughed, relaxing a bit. “Sounds fun.”
Lily leaned in. “Hey, do you know anything about the rift? Like, how to close it?”
Mia bit her lip. “I overheard Ethan saying something about rift anchors—points where the energy’s strongest. Maybe if we break them…”
Lily’s eyes lit up. “That’s it! We need to tell Angelus!”
Back in the quad, Angelus examined the surge point. The crack had sealed, but a faint hum lingered. He activated Rift Sense—[Mana: 4/50]—and felt a network of energy lines beneath the ground, like veins pulsing with power.
“There’s more to this,” he said. “It’s not just random surges. There’s a pattern.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow. “You’re starting to sound like a real hero.”
Angelus chuckled. “Don’t get used to it.”
They returned to the library, where Lily practically tackled him. “Angelus! Mia says there are rift anchors—points that keep the rift open. If we break them, maybe we can close it!”
Angelus blinked. “Anchors? That makes sense. Good job, Lil.”
Mia blushed, hiding behind her hair.
Tara, overhearing, nodded. “If we can find and destroy these anchors, we might stand a chance.”
A notification flashed:
[Quest: Locate the Rift Anchors. Find and destroy 3 anchors to weaken the rift. Reward: 1000 XP, Rift-Related Skill Upgrade. Progress: 0/3]
Angelus’s resolve hardened. “Looks like we’ve got a plan.”
But doubt flickered in his mind. Could he really pull this off? With his clumsy troll, thieving goblin, and now a hound that looked like it might eat his shoes? He glanced at Lily, her eyes shining with trust, and shoved the fear aside. He had to try.
Marcus clapped him on the back. “Ready to save the world, Legion Master?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Angelus said, grinning. “Let’s go break some anchors.”