The fractured terrain stretched endlessly before Kei, its jagged rocks and shimmering fissures creating an alien yet eerily familiar landscape. Each step sent vibrations echoing into the world, revealing a picture in his mind of the dangerous path ahead.
> System Notification: Zone Survival Progress: 40%
Kei paused, leaning against a boulder to catch his breath. The Crag Eel had pushed him to his limit, and though his victory earned him progress and the Earthshard Fragment, the effort had left his stamina dangerously low. He retrieved a small canister from his satchel, one of the rations supplied when the trial began.
“Still tastes like dirt,” Kei muttered, grimacing as he gulped down the energy drink. He wiped his mouth and stood, gripping the Fang Dagger tightly. “Alright, time to move.”
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THE RIFT’S EDGE
Kei’s path led to the edge of a massive rift splitting the Zone in two. The chasm yawned before him, its depths shrouded in a faint, shifting mist. He sent out a pulse of resonance, and the vibrations revealed uneven walls descending into darkness. Far below, something stirred—a faint ripple that sent a shiver down his spine.
A notification blinked into view:
> System Notification: Zone Event Detected: The Rift’s Trial Objective: Cross the rift and secure the Shard of Renewal. Reward: Major Stat Boost and New Skill Unlock
Kei crouched at the edge, scanning the far side of the chasm. The only visible way across was a series of unstable stone pillars, their surfaces jagged and uneven.
“Figures,” he muttered. “Nothing’s ever easy.”
He sent another pulse of resonance, focusing on the pillars. The vibrations revealed faint cracks running through them, but they seemed stable enough to hold his weight—if he moved quickly.
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CROSSING THE RIFT
Kei inhaled deeply and stepped onto the first pillar. The stone shifted slightly under his weight, but he maintained his balance. He moved cautiously, leaping to the next pillar and landing with a soft thud. Below, the mist swirled, hiding whatever lurked in the depths.
Halfway across, a low growl echoed from the chasm. Kei froze, his pulse quickening. He sent out another pulse of resonance, and the vibrations revealed something large climbing the rift wall. Its movements were deliberate, its claws scraping against the stone.
> System Notification: Beast Encounter: Rift Stalker Level: 8
> Affinity: Darkness
> Recommended Strategy: Maintain high ground and attack from range.
“High ground? Sure, let me just build a tower,” Kei muttered, gripping the Fang Dagger tightly.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The Rift Stalker emerged from the mist, a sleek, panther-like creature with glowing red eyes and shadowy tendrils trailing from its body. It crouched on a nearby pillar, its gaze fixed on Kei.
“Of course you can jump,” Kei said, his voice laced with sarcasm.
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THE BATTLE ON THE EDGE
The Rift Stalker lunged, its claws slicing through the air. Kei leapt to the next pillar, barely avoiding the attack. The creature’s claws struck the stone, sending cracks spidering through the surface.
“This is bad,” Kei muttered, sending out a quick pulse of resonance. The vibrations revealed the pillar’s imminent collapse. He jumped again, landing on a larger, more stable platform.
The Stalker followed, its shadowy tendrils lashing out. Kei activated [Harmonic Pulse], sending a concentrated wave of resonance toward the creature. The sound struck it head-on, causing it to stagger and let out an ear-piercing screech.
Seizing the opportunity, Kei hurled the Fang Dagger at the Stalker’s chest. The blade struck true, embedding itself in the creature’s side. The Stalker roared in pain, its tendrils flailing wildly. The pillar beneath it crumbled, and the beast leapt to another, its movements more erratic.
Kei recalled the Fang Dagger, catching it deftly. He sent out another pulse of resonance, this time focusing on the creature’s movements. The vibrations revealed its injured side, a weak point he could exploit.
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THE FINAL LEAP
The Rift Stalker crouched, preparing for another lunge. Kei timed his move carefully, jumping to a nearby pillar just as the creature attacked. The beast’s claws raked the air where he’d been moments before, its momentum carrying it dangerously close to the edge.
Kei activated [Precision Throwing], aiming for the Stalker’s weak point. The Fang Dagger flew, striking the creature’s injured side once more. The Stalker let out a final, guttural growl before losing its grip and plunging into the misty depths below.
A notification appeared as the beast disappeared into the chasm:
> Beast Defeated: Rift Stalker
> Reward: +150 Experience Points, +4 Agility, +3 Perception
Kei exhaled sharply, his body trembling from the adrenaline. He glanced at the far side of the rift, now just a few leaps away. Summoning the last of his strength, he made the final jumps, landing safely on solid ground.
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THE SHARD OF RENEWAL
The far side of the rift was marked by a pedestal, atop which rested a glowing shard. The Shard of Renewal pulsed with a soothing light, its energy washing over Kei as he approached.
> System Notification: Item Acquired: Shard of Renewal
> Effect: Restores stamina and grants a permanent boost to agility and perception.
> Skill Unlocked: [Renewal Pulse]
> Description: Emit a wave of restorative energy, healing minor wounds and revitalizing stamina.
Kei placed the shard into his satchel, feeling its energy integrate with his own. He checked his updated stats:
> Status Update:
> Name: Kei
> Level: 5
> Health: 120/120
> Stamina: 70/70
> Stats:
>
> * Strength: 11
>
> * Agility: 16
>
> * Intelligence: 6
>
> * Endurance: 8
>
> * Perception: 12
> Skills:
>
> * [Basic Throwing] (Proficiency: 90%)
>
> * [Precision Throwing] (Proficiency: 50%)
>
> * [Harmonic Pulse] (Proficiency: 40%)
>
> * [Renewal Pulse] (Proficiency: 10%)
Kei sat on the edge of the rift, staring at the shimmering horizon. The challenges were growing more intense, but so was his resolve. With the Shard of Renewal in hand and new skills at his disposal, he felt ready for whatever came next.
“One step at a time,” he said, a faint smile on his lips. The journey was far from over, but for the first time, he felt like he was truly making progress.