"Now or never."
"Hey, Uncle… I know we need to leave," I started, keeping my voice even. "But do you think I have time to head to the park? I need to say goodbye to Vallen and the team."
Uncle Jamie paused mid-motion, throwing me a sidelong glance. His expression was unreadable, but I could see the gears turning in his head. Calculating. Measuring the risk.
"Tch." He exhaled through his nose, standing up straight, looking at his watch. "1 hour."
I blinked.
"Wait?"
"I said 1. That's it."
I nodded quickly, already stepping back toward the sidewalk. "Thanks."
"Lucian."
I froze. His voice had that edge to it.
"Be smart."
I nodded again, but I didn't say anything. I just turned and walked.
The night air was crisp, the wind carrying the scent of damp earth and distant street food. The city still hummed with life, but here, in the quieter districts, the neon lights of Vesperia barely reached past the high-rise buildings.
I pulled out my phone, shooting a quick message.
Me: Yo, you at the park?
The reply was almost instant.
Vallen: Duh. Thought you dipped already, traitor.
Me: Shut up. Be there in five.
I sighed, shoving my phone back into my pocket. I was running out of time. This was it—the last goodbye before everything changed.
The park wasn't far. Just a few blocks down. But with each step, a weird weight settled in my chest.
A feeling.
Like I was walking toward something bigger than just a simple farewell.
Like this moment… was the last quiet one I'd get for a long time.
And I had no idea why.
But I didn't stop walking.
The clearing was bathed in the soft, flickering glow of a lantern. Standing beside it was Vallen Rooke, his figure a familiar anchor in the chaotic sea that had become my life. His wild, fiery curls caught the light, making him look like he was born from the flames themselves. He noticed me approaching and gave a nod, his usual cocky smirk already in place.
"Finally," he said, voice dripping with impatience and excitement. "I was starting to think you chickened out."
I rolled my eyes, stepping into the clearing. "Please. If anything, I should be the one worried about you keeping up."
As I got closer, I caught sight of Lilith, leaning against a tree at the edge of the lantern's glow. Arms crossed, gaze sharp, expression unreadable. She always carried herself like she was three steps ahead of the rest of us. A silent observer, calculating, waiting. Her locs framed her face perfectly, the flickering light catching the golden rings woven into them. Her eyes met mine, studying, analyzing.
"Nice of you to join us, Lucian," she said, voice smooth as ever. "You sure you're up for this after today?"
I shrugged, keeping my tone casual. "I'll live. Rion and his crew? They're the least of my worries right now."
Vallen let out a low whistle. "Yeah, I heard you wrecked him. Word's already spreading. I'm surprised you're even standing after that fight."
"Guess I'm tougher than I look," I replied with a smirk, though deep down, I couldn't shake the unease still coiled in my gut.
Lilith raised an eyebrow. "You always did have a knack for attracting chaos."
"Comes with the territory," I muttered, glancing around. "Where's Nico?"
Before anyone could answer, the shadows at the edge of the clearing rippled—a presence, silent, creeping.
Then, Nico and Luca stepped out of the darkness.
Nico Malin moved like a ghost, footsteps soundless, his form barely disrupting the space around him. His presence wasn't loud, but it was impossible to ignore. His intense, dark eyes locked onto mine, searching, always searching.
He was fairly attractive nonetheless, of Latin descent with long hair partially in a ponytail and some resting on his shoulders, toned but slender, he was built for quick and decisive battles. He had a lot more about him, but he kept his past to himself. He was running from something, though.
Luca Raikō, on the other hand, was impossible to miss. A Jaguar Beast-Man with spotted white ears flicking against his brown skin, his locs tied back but still wild. He was built for power and speed, and even in the dim light, he looked dangerously comfortable in his skin.
And, well… Luca looked good.
"Right here," Nico said, his voice cool and enigmatic. "Been waiting for you."
Luca flashed a sharp grin, his golden-feline eyes gleaming in the low light. "Yeah, Luci, what took ya so long? You know I don't have much time to hang… I mean, we."
I couldn't help but feel a flicker of relief seeing them all together. Luca, ever the wildcard, reckless but reliable in his way. Nico, usually shrouded in mystery but always steady when it mattered most.
I exhaled. At least this night wouldn't be completely unbearable.
"So this is it?" My gaze locked onto the Rift's shifting spiral.
Nico nodded, his usual easygoing demeanor shadowed by something more serious. "Yeah. Did some recon earlier. It's a Tier 6. Should be manageable, but… something's off about it."
Lilith frowned, crossing her arms. "'Off' how?"
Nico's gaze flickered to the Rift's entrance, his sharp eyes narrowing. "The energy inside is shifting. Subtle, but it's there. And it's not just normal Aether flow—something else is mixed in."
I exchanged a look with Lilith, who already looked annoyed. Not because she didn't believe him—because she did.
"You think it's safe to go in?" I asked, already feeling the prickle of unease creeping up my spine.
"We'll be fine," Vallen cut in, rolling his shoulders. "We've handled worse. Besides, we got the whole squad here."
Lilith didn't even hesitate—she smacked him upside the head. "Dumbass, don't jinx it."
Vallen winced, rubbing the back of his head. "Damn, Lilith. You could've just said 'be careful' like a normal person."
"I could've," she said, deadpan. "But you're not normal, so why should I be?"
Nico chuckled, shaking his head before continuing. "Anyway, expect to see Giant Venomous spiders, Giant, Corrupted Animals, Several giant Man-Eating Plants, and a Living Forest at least. I didn't stay in long due to the weird feeling I was getting, so reconnaissance was limited."
I raised a brow. "And the problem?"
His expression darkened slightly. "There's something else. Stronger. I couldn't get a good read, but it felt… unstable."
Vallen grinned, cracking his knuckles like this was a PvP match instead of a Rift. "Sounds like a fun time."
"For you, maybe," Lilith grumbled, "but I'd rather not die before breakfast."
"Let's just stay sharp," she added, more seriously now, glancing between us. "If Nico's instincts are flaring up, we should trust them."
Luca stretched, his feline ears flicking as he yawned. "Sooo, are we going in, or is this just a dramatic storytelling session? Because I'm itching to throw hands with something that isn't Lucian."
I rolled my eyes, grinning despite myself.
The group fell into a brief silence as we all looked at the Rift.
Despite the light banter, a heavy tension lingered beneath our words. This wasn't just another adventure. It was the unknown.
And we all knew things could go very wrong, very quickly.
I inhaled deeply, letting the cool air steady my nerves.
"Alright then," I said, voice firm. "Let's do this."
We moved as one, stepping toward the crack in reality. The moment my foot crossed the threshold, the air shifted—a barely perceptible change, but enough to send a shiver down my spine.
Lilith and I exchanged a look.
We both felt it.
"Stay close," Nico whispered, his voice barely more than a breath.
We entered the Rift.
The moment we fully crossed over, the world around us shifted. Towering trees, their canopies stretching like a cathedral, loomed over us. Their gnarled, ancient trunks twisted with veins of glowing blue Aether. The air was thick and humid, heavy with the scent of earth and foliage.
A jungle.
But not like anything I had ever seen. The ground pulsed beneath my boots, uneven terrain split by massive roots that snaked out like limbs of buried titans. Some of the flowers shimmered, petals shifting colors like oil on water. Others looked like they were watching us.
We moved carefully. Even Vallen, usually the first to charge in blind, took a second to take it all in.
A jungle like this should've been alive with sound. But there was nothing. Silence.
Something was off.
That's when Vallen broke formation. Without warning, he rushed ahead, his excitement getting the better of him. His boots crunched too loudly against the forest floor.
The air shifted. A ripple of movement.
Lilith tensed. I tensed.
Something was here.
"VALLEN, WAIT—!" Too late.
The first Phantasms emerged from the shadows. The creatures moved like insects—chitinous armor, segmented limbs, and too many eyes. But they weren't just insects. They were wrong. Their humanoid shapes twisted at the joints, their movements jerky, unnatural—like puppets on invisible strings.
Their soulless black eyes locked onto Vallen first. Their mandibles clicked.
And then, they swarmed.
From the trees, vine-covered Phantasms unfurled from the jungle canopy. Their twisted, plant-like forms mimicked human silhouettes—arms of tangled roots, hollow faces blooming like petals, glowing eyes flickering with malice. They moved like dancers, limbs bending in unnatural, fluid movements as they slid toward us.
Vallen had fucked up. And now? They were coming for us.
"Get ready! Moss Specters, Great Venom Mantis, and Blood bats! I'm guessing about 50 each! " I shouted.
The first wave hit like a tidal surge. The Venom Manti lunged first—chitinous bodies blurring forward with terrifying speed. Their claws glinted, slicing through the air as they closed in. Laced with neurotoxins on the blades.
Lilith was already moving. She slid in low, dodging the first strike, then snapped out her leg in a brutal sweep.
Crack. The thing's knee bent backward, unnaturally. It didn't scream. Didn't react. It just kept coming.
Vallen roared, slamming his fists together. Aether surged as his body burst with energy, the familiar glow of his Flow Fighter Techniques activating.
I moved. Faster than I should've.
The Sea whispered. "Take. Adapt. Evolve."
Something in my body shifted. But right now? There was no time to think.
I fought to win.
The jungle erupted into chaos. Phantasms swarmed from every direction, their insectoid bodies skittering over roots, chitinous armor gleaming in the eerie glow of the Rift's energy. The plant-like creatures slithered through the air unnaturally, their vines reaching for us like living whips.
I reacted on instinct.
Vallen moved first—because, of course, he did. 🔥 Vallen - Flow Fighter (Genesis Core: Fire & Energy) Vallen wasn't just fast—he was a damn comet. The moment the first Phantasm lunged at him, his fists ignited, and boom—he drove his knuckles into the creature's chest, sending an explosion of fire through its torso. It shrieked, flailing backward, but Vallen didn't stop. He kept pushing forward, full offense, burning everything in his path.
"You ugly bastards want some? COME GET IT!"
A burst of energy surged from his core, fueling his strikes as he shattered through carapace and bone. But I knew the issue already—he wasn't thinking. He never thought. He just hit harder.
Another Phantasm came from the side, fast—Vallen twisted too late, and the creature's claws raked across his arm, drawing blood. He gritted his teeth, retaliating with a blast of condensed energy, but I could tell—he underestimated them. Again.
⚫ Nico - Striker (Artistic Swordsman, Darkness Element). Nico, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. While Vallen burned through enemies, Nico flowed around them.
His sword was silent, the only sound being the whisper of air as it cut through flesh and shadow. One. Two. Three. Dead.
His blade blurred, glowing with an inky blackness that absorbed the Rift's unnatural light. Where he struck, dark tendrils erupted, devouring pieces of his enemies like starving beasts.
Then, without a word, he vanished. Literally.
A flicker—his body melting into shadow, shifting behind the next Phantasm. His sword pierced through the back of its skull before it even realized he was there.
"You guys should probably stop playing around," he said, his voice smooth as ever, as he sidestepped another attack.
⚡ Luca - Flow Fighter (Beastmen, Quantum-Type Electromagnetism/Force)
Luca fought like he'd been engineered for war. Because he had.
From the moment the first wave struck, he was already in motion—a blur of muscle, precision, and momentum. Phantasm claws sliced toward him—he wasn't there. A second lunged—he ducked, fluid as water, slid inside its reach, and shattered its leg with one clean strike that echoed with force.
Where Vallen fought with overwhelming fire and Nico with deadly grace, Luca was all instinct and kinetic mastery. And unlike Vallen, he never wasted a single move.
Electricity crackled down his limbs, surging into the ground. A shockwave burst outward from the impact of his foot hitting the jungle floor—Phantasms were launched like ragdolls, slamming into trees, dazed or broken.
Claws of raw force tore through chitin. Every motion had a purpose. His strikes were efficient, brutal, and seamless. No hesitation. No theatrics. Only results.
I barely had time to take it in before—
☄ Lilith - Flow Artist (Mage Sub-Striker, Quantum-Type Space/Gravity, Psychic, & Life)
—Reality bent.
The air around us pulsed, heavy with potential. And then the battlefield folded.
Gravity inverted. Space collapsed inward.
Lilith stood at the center, arms outstretched, her aura flaring with silver-blue motes of gravitational force. The Rift trembled beneath her.
A dozen Phantasms froze mid-leap. Suspended in twisted orbits around her, their limbs flailed uselessly as space warped. Some collapsed inward, crushed into compact, howling masses. Others flung backward at terminal velocity—shattered on impact with the jungle's canopy.
Her voice echoed calmly and cclearly laced with command:
"Keep fighting."
She didn't ask.
She commanded. The Rift obeyed.
And me?
I was adapting.
My body was moving faster than before—fluid, reactive. Everything felt… attuned. My breath, the tension in my muscles, the whispers from the Rift—it all aligned.
A claw lashed toward me. I dropped low, countered with a driving hook to the ribs. Something shifted.
That blue-green energy. It was everywhere.
It pulsed from the Phantasms as I struck them, swirling into me. Not like aether being drained, but something more intimate. I could feel it integrating into my limbs, threading through my veins.
I didn't know how I was doing it. But I was.
Absorbing it. Assimilating it.
Osmosis.
The name whispered across my mind like an ancient truth remembered.
And then something clicked.
⚙ Genesis Stack: Activated
The next Phantasm I hit—it changed. My strike left a faint ripple across its body, an afterimage of "Genesis Code" marking it.
A "Stack."
I hit another. The energy shifted again—another Stack. Then another. And another.
Each strike caused more than damage. It was a tether. The blue-green glow wove between them. Like I was marking them. Like I was building toward something I hadn't yet unlocked…
But instinct told me: Once I did?
It would change everything.
And then—BOOM.
The Stacks detonated.
Not like an explosion of fire or sound—but a ripple through reality. A networked chain reaction.
The Phantasms I had marked staggered in place, twitching violently as their bodies spasmed from within. My Genesis Code pulsed, and in that moment—I took from them.
Their Aether. Their rhythm. Their flow.
Stolen.
Absorbed.
Recycled into me.
It was small. Subtle. But real.
I felt it.
Clarity. Velocity. Power.
Suddenly, I was faster. Stronger. Sharper.
More.
My breath steadied. My vision narrowed. The Sea inside me stirred.
And that's when the second wave hit.
It wasn't just more Phantasms.
It was an evolution.
The air trembled with a new tension—a low-frequency hum that vibrated through the trees and into our bones.
Vallen stopped mid-strike, flames dimming slightly as his instincts flared.
Lilith's eyes narrowed, her gravitational aura shifting, adjusting.
Nico vanished without a word.
Luca cracked his knuckles, the tips of his claws sparking with electricity.
We didn't need words.
We all felt it.
This next group?
They weren't just hunting.
They were learning.
Adapting.
And they weren't going to let us keep the upper hand.
The jungle screamed.
And the second wave crashed over us like a tidal surge of nightmares.
And then—BOOM.
The Stacks detonated.
Not like an explosion of fire or sound—but a ripple through reality. A networked chain reaction.
The Phantasms I had marked staggered in place, twitching violently as their bodies spasmed from within. My Genesis Code pulsed, and in that moment—I took from them.
Their Aether. Their rhythm. Their flow.
Stolen.
Absorbed.
Recycled into me.
It was small. Subtle. But real.
I felt it.
Clarity. Velocity. Power.
Suddenly, I was faster. Stronger. Sharper.
More.
My breath steadied. My vision narrowed. The Sea inside me stirred.
And that's when the second wave hit.
It wasn't just more Phantasms.
It was an evolution.
The air trembled with a new tension—a low-frequency hum that vibrated through the trees and into our bones.
Vallen stopped mid-strike, flames dimming slightly as his instincts flared.
Lilith's eyes narrowed, her gravitational aura shifting, adjusting.
Nico vanished without a word.
Luca cracked his knuckles, the tips of his claws sparking with electricity.
We didn't need words.
We all felt it.
This next group?
They weren't just hunting.
They were learning.
Adapting.
And they weren't going to let us keep the upper hand.
The jungle screamed.
And the second wave crashed over us like a tidal surge of nightmares.