The frost-streaked memory of their first Rift mission lingered in the back of Jin’s mind. The Tier-2 Feralis shouldn’t have been there, and the implications gnawed at him. If the Rifts were growing more unstable, their training might not be enough.

Two days after their return, the academy buzzed with whispers. Jin sat with Ryen, Lira, and Corin in the dining hall, their trays of food mostly untouched.

“I’m telling you, it doesn’t make sense,” Ryen said, stabbing his fork into a piece of roasted meat. “The instructors are too quiet about what happened. They’re hiding something.”

“Maybe they don’t want us to panic,” Corin suggested, balancing a bread roll on his fingertip. “A Tier-2 showing up in a low-tier Rift? That’s not exactly comforting.”

Jin glanced at Lira, who had been uncharacteristically quiet. “What do you think?”

She hesitated, then spoke in a low voice. “It’s not just about the Feralis. Did anyone else notice the energy around the Rift? It felt… different. More volatile.”

Jin nodded, his memory flashing back to the cracks in the ground and the icy energy. “You think it means something?”

Lira’s gaze was steady. “I don’t know yet. But if the Rifts are changing, we need to be prepared.”

Before anyone could respond, the dining hall doors swung open with a creak. A hush fell over the room as Lady Ilaris entered, flanked by Captain Varok and two other Rift Hunters. The headmistress’s expression was unreadable, her commanding presence silencing the murmurs.

“All recruits are to report to the Grand Hall immediately,” she announced. “No exceptions.”

The gravity of her tone sent a chill through Jin.

The Grand Hall felt even more imposing than usual, its high arches casting long shadows over the gathered recruits. Lady Ilaris stood at the podium, her hands resting on its polished surface. Behind her, a glowing map of the region shimmered, displaying areas marked by red and yellow dots.

“As you are all aware,” she began, her voice carrying over the crowd, “the Rift activity in recent weeks has been… unusual. Our first investigation into these anomalies revealed an unexpected escalation in Feralis activity and instability within the Rifts themselves.”

She gestured to one of the red dots on the map. “This is where the team led by Captain Varok encountered a Tier-2 Feralis in what was classified as a Tier-1 Rift. Similar anomalies have been reported in other regions.”

Murmurs rippled through the hall. Jin exchanged a worried glance with Ryen.

“We suspect this is the result of a phenomenon known as Rift Convergence,” Lady Ilaris continued. “It occurs when multiple Rifts begin to merge, increasing their strength and altering their behavior. The cause is still unknown, but the consequences could be catastrophic.”

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The room fell silent.

“To address this threat, we are deploying advanced teams of recruits and Hunters to investigate and contain these Rifts. This will be dangerous work, but it is necessary.”

Captain Varok stepped forward. “The next mission will take place in the Blackwood region, where the largest convergence has been detected. The team will include myself and six recruits. The names will be announced tomorrow. Dismissed.”

As the recruits filed out of the hall, the air buzzed with tension. Jin felt the weight of the announcement pressing down on him.

Back in their dormitory, Jin, Ryen, Lira, and Corin gathered to discuss the news. The usually relaxed atmosphere was replaced by a tense energy.

“Rift Convergence,” Corin said, pacing the room. “Just the name sounds like something out of a nightmare.”

“It’s worse than that,” Lira said. “If Rifts are merging, the creatures inside could grow exponentially stronger. We might not even be able to predict what comes out.”

Ryen frowned. “Do you think they’ll send us again? We just got back from the last one.”

Jin hesitated. “If they do… we’ll handle it.”

Lira gave him a sharp look. “Jin, this isn’t like before. If the convergence is as bad as they say, we might not come back.”

The room fell silent, her words hanging heavily in the air.

The next morning, the recruits gathered in the central courtyard under a gray, overcast sky. Captain Varok stood before them, a scroll in hand.

“The following recruits have been selected for the Blackwood mission,” he announced. His voice was steady, unyielding. “Jin, Lira, Ryen, Corin, Kaela, and Doran.”

Jin’s stomach clenched as his name was called. Around him, whispers of surprise and concern rippled through the crowd.

“You will have twenty-four hours to prepare,” Varok said. “Dismissed.”

As the group dispersed, Jin caught up with Lira, who walked with a purposeful stride.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She stopped and turned to him, her expression unreadable. “I don’t know. But we don’t have a choice, do we?”

“We’ll make it through,” Jin said, trying to sound confident. “We always do.”

Lira’s gaze softened slightly. “I hope you’re right.”

The Blackwood was unlike any place Jin had seen. The forest was dense, its gnarled trees casting twisted shadows on the ground. The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves.

Captain Varok led the team through the woods, his movements precise and deliberate. Jin stayed close to Lira, his senses on high alert.

“We’re approaching the Rift,” Varok said after hours of walking. “Stay together. This area is highly unstable.”

The ground beneath their feet began to crackle with energy, faint blue lines spreading like veins. The Rift itself came into view—a swirling vortex of dark energy, larger and more chaotic than the one they had encountered before.

Varok stopped and raised a hand. “Scout the perimeter. Report anything unusual.”

Jin and Lira moved to the left, their steps careful. The air grew colder, each breath visible in the chill.

“I don’t like this,” Lira said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Me neither,” Jin admitted. “But we—”

A sudden growl cut him off. From the shadows emerged a creature unlike any Feralis they had faced. Its body was twisted, a grotesque amalgamation of features—claws, wings, and glowing red eyes. It let out a guttural roar, its presence radiating malice.

“Fall back!” Lira shouted, summoning a barrier of water as the creature lunged.

Jin drew his blade, his heart racing. The battle was chaotic, the creature’s movements erratic and unpredictable. Each strike felt like a desperate attempt to survive.

The rest of the team arrived moments later, their combined efforts turning the tide. Varok delivered the killing blow, his blade piercing the creature’s core.

As the Feralis dissolved into smoke, Varok turned to the group. “This is just the beginning. The Rift is unstable, and more creatures will emerge. We need to seal it—now.”

To be continued…