Ken arrived at the bustling area where Lex was orchestrating his team's efforts. The air was charged with a palpable sense of urgency as he turned around, catching Lex's focused gaze. "Ken, we've compiled the list of essential data that you need to collect for us. Ensure its return if feasible, or at least secure the memory core," Lex instructed, his finger subtly underlining the importance of the drone's core.

Ken offered a firm nod, his silhouette casting a long shadow in the dim light of the command center. "Understood. I take it you'll be handling the teleportation to the rift's coordinates?"

"Yup. I'll be at your side. It's crucial we test the communication network to facilitate uninterrupted dialogue and bolster our data acquisition," Lex elaborated, his voice steady amidst the ambient hum of machinery.

"Sounds good." Ken's ring glowed faintly as he activated it, the sleek armor encasing him in a symphony of mechanical precision. I look so cool, he mused, the reflection in the glass panel affirming his battle-readiness.

"Are you prepared? Let's proceed," Lex said with a sense of urgency. He slung a hefty bag over his shoulder, its contents clinking softly, and strode toward the teleportation ring. Ken followed suit, noting the drone's silent hover just behind Lex.

Upon their synchronized step onto the pad, they were enveloped in a swirl of light and energy. After a moment that stretched like eternity, Ken and Lex found themselves standing on a compact teleportation pad, the air tasting of ozone.

"We've made it," Lex declared, his eyes scanning the horizon with practiced ease.

"And this location is?" Ken inquired, his curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar surroundings.

"We're within a secluded research area, near the kingdom's southern peninsulas," Lex replied, his hands deftly preparing the equipment with an artisan's touch.

A rift in the fabric of space, stark against the serene backdrop, drew Ken's attention. It hummed with a rhythm that was almost musical, yet tinged with an undercurrent of danger. "Has it been traversed by anyone?"

"Not to date. Its emergence is recent. We've sent drones to scout, although they were unable to return." Lex said, his adjustments to the drone's settings accompanied by a series of confirming beeps.

The drone came to life, its sensors casting a grid over Ken. "Ken recognized," it announced, its voice devoid of inflection yet somehow reassuring.

With the drone calibrated, Lex continued, "Our next objective is to deploy a communication field. Venture into the rift and position these rods strategically upon the terrain. Our approach will be methodical, unveiling the rift's secrets one layer at a time."

Ken felt a surge of anticipation, tempered by the weight of responsibility. Caution is merely a companion, not a constraint, he reflected. "Going in," he stated with a blend of resolve, his steps toward the rift measured and deliberate.

----

Ken felt the world invert as he plunged towards the sky, the drone trailing behind him like a faithful shadow. Time seemed to fold upon itself, the wind's howl falling silent. He gazed upwards, or was it downwards now?

This must be why the drones never returned, Ken realized, his eyes locked on the colossal maw suspended in the void above—an abyssal worm with rows of serrated teeth, devouring the oceanic realm below. With a swift motion, he secured the drone.

Guided by instinct, he navigated back to the rift's location and slipped through the dimensional tear once more.

"You've returned," Lex observed, his tone a mixture of surprise and relief.

Handing over the drone, Ken reported, "There's a gargantuan entity out there, consuming everything in its path."

Lex's expression morphed into one of shock as he hastily extracted the recordings from the drone, projecting the images onto a nearby screen.

"It's as I witnessed," Ken affirmed, the drone's visual feed mirroring his own encounter.

"That's alarming. It's no mystery why we lost the others; the entity's pull is too potent for escape," Lex mused, his brow furrowed in thought.

"Do you think it is the ruler of this rift?" Ken pondered aloud.

"Uncertain. The energy fluctuations will reveal more if we manage to neutralize it," Lex conjectured, his gaze returning to the screen.

"Then tether the drone to me. I can maneuver with ease." Ken suggested, readying himself for another delves.

"Anything else of note?" Lex inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"Just the sky-beast. And Lex, you might have mentioned this, but is the world within the rift part of our universe?"

"Doubtful. The rifts are resource conduits, resetting with each stabilization," Lex explained, his hands busy at work on the drone's mechanisms.

"Understood. I'm heading back in. Secure the drone to me, let it just observe". Ken declared, determination etched in his features.

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---

Ken was being drawn inexorably towards the gargantuan entity, its sharp teeth a stark contrast against the void. As he looked around, the horizon seemed to stretch infinitely; no land in sight, only the vast expanse of an oceanic world slowly succumbing to the creature’s insatiable hunger.

He angled his body towards the entity, and time seemed to dilate, stretching into eternity. The absence of friction left him adrift, his thoughts turning to the creature’s possible intelligence. Drawn by curiosity, Ken approached the leviathan, the sky darkening around him as if entering the depths of space itself. The creature was immense, worm-like, its pale color almost glowing in the void.

Below him, the world appeared as a tiny orb, its resources being drained away by the monstrous entity.

“I should try to communicate with it,” Ken mused, feeling time snap back into focus as he propelled himself towards the creature.

“Hello!” he called out. The entity shifted, and suddenly, eyes sprouted across its pale skin, fixing their gaze on Ken.

The creature spoke, its voice not heard but felt within Ken’s mind. “Little one, why do you intrude upon my feast? I am consuming this universe. It is to be my final resting place. Depart from here.”

Ken’s response was calm, yet firm. “I understand, but I need to close the rift that connects our worlds. Can you assist with that?”

The entity’s multitude of eyes narrowed. “Leave now. I shall consume this universe and take it with me. This is my end. Go.”

With a respectful nod, Ken replied, “Very well, I’ll leave you to your rest.” He turned and dove back towards the rift, the drone following closely behind.

Lex watched, puzzled, as Ken seemed to stare into the now-vanishing rift gate. “Well… that’s new,” Lex remarked.

“Definitely,” Ken agreed, his gaze still locked on where the rift had been.

“So, what happened?”

“I spoke with the entity. It told me to leave - I presume it ended the link to our world. And now, the rift is gone.”

Lex nearly stumbled, incredulous. “You spoke with it?”

“Yes.”

“That’s… remarkable.”

“Has anyone tried before?” Ken asked, tilting his head towards the space where the rift had been, only to see another rift burst forth, sending out waves of energy. “Either that’s a coincidence, or it’s the same rift.”

“I’m betting on the latter, since we didn't an orb from ” Lex said, tapping away at his tablet.

“What are you doing?” Ken asked, settling beside Lex, his eyes following the rhythmic waves.

“I’m reviewing the history of the rift that closed. Before you head back in, we need to understand what we’re dealing with.”

Ken nodded, pulling up his own tablet to sift through the latest news.

----

Ken's eyes flickered across the screen, the pale glow casting light on his furrowed brow. Headlines screamed of the conflict in the northern continent, each word a harbinger of chaos, driving refugees to seek sanctuary in the south. He could almost hear the distant thunder of magics and artillery, the desperate cries of those uprooted from their homes. For the first time in a long while, he was exposed to conflict outside of his birthplace, and a pang of curiosity struck him.

His focus was interrupted by Lex's voice.

"Ken, it seems the rift has been here for ages, but it was deemed cursed. Those who ventured in never returned. We should've conducted thorough research before deploying our drones. The rift is much older than we anticipated. I only discovered this now because I delved into the local cultural news and history."

"Didn't you say the emergence was recent?" Ken confused.

"We may have had picked it up when it had reset. Like now. So, we had presumed it was recent." Lex tried to answer.

"At least we have information now," Ken mused. "When you stabilized the rift, did the gate disappear and then reappear?"

"No, it simply underwent an energy shift."

"I'll go in and see for myself, if it is the same place or different" Ken declared, taking the drone.

----

With the drone in tow, Ken stepped into the alternate dimension, the same world he had previously entered. This time, however, the ocean’s level was alarmingly higher, a testament to the ever-changing nature of this parallel realm.

“It seems the rift has reset,” Ken observed, his gaze lifting to the creature above. A silent conversation unfolded between them.

“Hello!” Ken called out, his voice echoing into the silence.

After a moment, the creature responded, its voice a deep rumble that resonated through the expanse. “Little one, please leave. This is my resting spot, the end of my universe,” it spoke, its words hinting at ancient wisdom and untold stories.

“Yeah, I’ll leave… but are you aware that you are time-locked for lack of better word within this world?” Ken asked, his curiosity piqued.

“This place… it is the culmination of my existence, the final chapter in an eon-spanning tale,” the creature began, its voice a symphony of whispers in Ken’s mind. “Once, I was curious and wandering. But as I consumed worlds, I grew, and my hunger became insatiable. Now, I seek an end to the emptiness that devours me from within.”

A pang of empathy struck Ken. “Is there no other way for you to find peace?”

“The cycle of consumption is all I have known. Whatever this world is, it disturbs my slumber, a reminder of the life I once led,” the creature lamented.

Ken nodded, understanding the sentiment of the creature. “Do you know where the core is?” he asked gently.

“It is inside me.” The creature knew of it struggle.

“Shall I destroy it?" Ken offered, knowing the implication.

“Please.” The whisper of the creature was so strong, it rang loud in Ken’s mind before it succumbed to the instinct of the realm.

The ginormous creature resumed consuming what was left of the vast, oceanic realms.

Resolved, Ken allowed himself to be swallowed by the creature. Inside, he found the core—a vibrant beacon of energy. He focused, preparing to destroy the core and immediately escape. Time seemed to slow to a halt as he punched the core with his maximum strength, then propelled himself toward the rift. As time resumed, the force of his punch caused the creature to implode—a silence rang out.

“Thank you,” he heard the final thought of the creature, its emotion palpable.

Ken emerged from the consumed universe.

He turned towards the rift, which now dissipated into a small, marble-sized orb. He reached out and grasped it, feeling an unspeakable amount of energy coursing through it.

As Ken held the orb, the last vestige of a universe now silenced, he felt the weight of his actions. The creature’s final gratitude echoed in his mind, a solemn reminder of the life it once led and the peace it had sought. The rift had closed, the threat had passed, but the journey was far from over.

Lex approached, his expression a mix of awe and uncertainty.

Ken looked at the orb, its glow dimming to a soft pulse. The gravity of his decision settling in. “This power, this energy—it’s a responsibility.”

Ken turned away from where rift once was. Lex still shocked by the event that had transpired.

Ken held the orb tightly. “Shall we go back" he said, and with a final glance at the empty space where the rift had been.

All Lex could do was provide a nod.