Damien’s team moved through the shadowed forest, the fresh silence amplifying every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs beneath their boots. Shadowpeak Pass was now behind them, but the weight of their recent battle still clung to the air. Damien glanced down at the containment shard, its faint glow pulsing rhythmically in his hand.
“Cassian,” Damien called over his shoulder. “Any signs of pursuit?”
Cassian, ever vigilant, scanned the treetops from his elevated position along a ridge. “Nothing. The Rift creatures that escaped won’t regroup this soon.”
Lyra stepped up beside Damien, her twin blades sheathed but her hand resting on the hilt of one. “That shard,” she said quietly. “It feels... wrong.”
Damien nodded. “It’s still linked to the Rift energy. We need to keep moving and get this to the Council.”
Roland let out a low chuckle from the rear. “I’m more concerned about what happens when we crack that thing open. You sure we can handle it?”
“We don’t have a choice,” Damien said. “If this shard holds the key to understanding the Rifts, it could change everything.”
----------------------------------------
A DARK REVELATION
By midday, they reached a clearing where they paused to rest. Cassian found a vantage point on a nearby boulder while the others sat in a loose circle. Damien unwrapped a simple meal, his thoughts still on the containment shard.
Lyra broke the silence. “What if the Rifts aren’t just random? What if someone—or something—is directing them?”
“Like a general commanding an army,” Roland said, rubbing his chin. “Makes sense. The creatures have been getting smarter.”
Damien held up the shard, watching its light flicker. “Whatever’s inside this will tell us. But I’ve been thinking... what if we’re not the first to try capturing one of these things?”
Cassian raised an eyebrow. “You think someone already knows what we’re dealing with?”
“Possibly,” Damien said. “The way the Rift leader reacted, it felt like it was more aware of us than the others. Almost like it was prepared.”
Lyra exchanged a glance with Roland. “If someone else has this knowledge, why haven’t they shared it?”
“Because they’re either dead,” Damien said grimly, “or they’re hiding something.”
----------------------------------------
THE RIFT STIRS
Before they could delve deeper into their theories, the ground beneath them rumbled softly. Damien was on his feet in an instant, Ebonfang drawn. The shard in his hand pulsed brighter.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
“Rift activity,” Lyra said, drawing her blades.
Cassian scanned the clearing from his vantage point. “Something’s coming. West side.”
The trees shuddered, and a chilling roar echoed through the forest. From the shadows emerged a group of Rift creatures—twisted beasts with elongated limbs and razor-sharp claws. At their center was a smaller but equally menacing creature, its eyes locked on the shard in Damien’s hand.
“They’re after the shard,” Damien said, gripping Ebonfang tighter. “Protect it at all costs.”
The team formed a defensive circle. Roland took the front, his shield raised high as the first creature lunged. The clash of steel and beast filled the air as Lyra darted between foes, her blades striking with precision.
Cassian fired arrow after arrow from his perch, each shot finding its mark. “Damien, they’re not backing off. You need to finish this fast!”
Damien faced the Rift creature leading the charge. Its smaller size belied its speed and ferocity. It lunged at him, claws slicing through the air. Damien activated Phase Step, blinking behind it and delivering a powerful Astral Slash. The energy wave struck true, but the creature barely staggered.
“It’s stronger than the others!” Damien called out.
The creature spun, its claws raking toward Damien’s chest. He parried with Ebonfang, the force of the blow sending him sliding backward. The shard in his hand pulsed violently, reacting to the creature’s proximity.
“Whatever you’re planning, do it now!” Lyra shouted as she disarmed another beast.
Damien gritted his teeth. He raised Ebonfang high, channeling its energy into the shard. The runes on the blade flared to life, casting a brilliant light across the clearing. The Rift creature hesitated, its eyes narrowing as it sensed the shift in power.
With a roar, Damien unleashed a combined Void Cleave, driving the blade’s energy directly into the shard. The light intensified, and the Rift creature let out a final, piercing screech before disintegrating into black mist.
The remaining beasts faltered, their cohesion broken. One by one, they retreated into the shadows, leaving the clearing eerily silent once more.
----------------------------------------
A FRAGILE VICTORY
Damien lowered Ebonfang, his breathing heavy. The shard in his hand dimmed but still pulsed faintly. Lyra approached, her expression a mix of relief and concern.
“That was too close,” she said. “Whatever we’re dealing with, it’s not just mindless monsters anymore.”
Roland nodded, slamming his shield into the ground. “We’ve poked the hornet’s nest.”
Cassian jumped down from his perch, retrieving his spent arrows. “We need to move. If this was a scouting party, the main force won’t be far behind.”
Damien sheathed Ebonfang, his resolve hardening. “Then we head straight to Valdris. No more stops.”
As the team set off again, Damien’s mind raced. The fight had confirmed his fears: the Rifts were evolving, and their enemies were growing more organized. The shard held answers, but unlocking its secrets would only be the beginning.
In the distance, the spires of Valdris began to rise against the horizon. The real battle was about to begin.