The morning after the last wave, Greenglade was quieter than usual. The villagers moved with a sense of purpose, but their voices were hushed, as if the rift's presence demanded reverence. Orin Voss felt the tension in the air as he walked the perimeter, his system window flickering with new urgency.
[Quest Update: Rift Investigation – 85% Complete]
[New Objective: Approach the rift's core. Uncover its secrets.]
[Reward: ???]
He found Mira near the north barricade, sharpening her hammer's edge. She looked up, concern etched on her face. "You're up early."
Orin nodded, glancing at the sky. The rift's violet wound was wider than ever, its light pulsing in slow, steady waves. "The system wants me to get closer. I think it's time to see what's really inside."
Mira's eyes widened. "You're not going alone, are you?"
He hesitated. "I want you with me. But if it's too dangerous—"
She cut him off with a shake of her head. "We face it together. Always."
They gathered a small group: Mira, Lysa, Tomas, and Joren. Each carried a weapon, but their faces betrayed more curiosity than fear. The rift had become a part of their lives, but none had ever dared approach its heart.
As they crossed the fields, the air grew colder, the grass brittle beneath their boots. The rift's glow painted their shadows long and strange. Orin's system window pulsed.
[Warning: Rift energy at maximum. Unpredictable effects possible.]
They reached the rift's edge, where the earth was cracked and blackened. Strange symbols shimmered in the soil, shifting as if alive. The rift itself was a swirling vortex of violet and indigo, its center impossible to focus on.
Orin stepped forward, feeling the system's pull. The others hung back, uncertain.
"Let's try together," Mira said, taking his hand.
Orin nodded, and together they approached the rift. As they neared, a wall of invisible force pressed against them. Orin felt a tingling in his skin, a pressure in his chest. Mira's grip tightened, but she couldn't move forward.
"It's like… something's pushing me back," she said, straining.
Lysa and Tomas tried as well, but the result was the same. The rift repelled them, a gentle but unyielding barrier.
Orin's system window flashed.
[System Notice: Only the Origin Protocol user may enter the rift.]
[Objective: Enter the rift alone.]
He turned to the others, frustration and fear warring in his chest. "It won't let you through. The system says I have to go alone."
Mira's jaw clenched. "That's not fair. What if something happens to you?"
He tried to smile, but it felt thin. "I'll be careful. If I'm not back by sunset, get everyone to safety."
Joren stepped forward, his voice low. "We'll wait here. If you need help, shout."
Orin nodded, then turned to face the rift. The barrier parted for him, the air growing colder as he stepped forward. The world behind him faded, the voices of his friends muffled by the rift's hum.
He paused at the threshold, glancing back. Mira stood at the edge, her eyes fierce. "Come back to us, Orin."
He nodded, then stepped into the rift.
The world changed instantly. The air was thick, electric, filled with the scent of ozone and something older, wilder. Orin's vision swam with color—violet, indigo, flashes of silver. The ground beneath his feet was solid, but it pulsed with energy, alive and shifting.
His system window expanded, filling his vision.
[Entering Rift Core…]
[Warning: Unknown environment. System support active.]
He moved forward, senses heightened. The rift's interior was a labyrinth of light and shadow, corridors twisting in impossible directions. Orin felt the system guiding him, subtle nudges in his mind.
He passed through a tunnel of swirling mist, the walls alive with shifting symbols. Voices whispered at the edge of hearing—words in a language he almost understood.
At the heart of the rift, the air grew still. A platform of black stone floated above a chasm of swirling energy. Orin stepped onto it, his heart pounding.
A figure waited for him—tall, cloaked in shadow, its face hidden beneath a hood. Its eyes glowed with the same violet light as the rift. It was just like the previous messenger.
"You are the one chosen by the Origin Protocol," the figure intoned, its voice echoing in Orin's mind.
Orin swallowed warily. "Who are you?"
The figure tilted its head. "A guardian. A remnant of what came before. You have crossed the threshold. Few have done so."
Orin's system window flickered.
[New Quest: Speak with the Rift Guardian]
[Reward: System Upgrade, Knowledge Unlocked]
He took a step closer. "Why me? Why this village?"
The guardian's eyes narrowed. "The rift seeks balance. It tests, it changes, it chooses. You are the first to adapt, to survive. The system is your guide, but it is also your burden."
Orin felt a chill. "What happens if I fail?"
The guardian's voice was soft. "Then the rift will consume. It will spread, seeking another to challenge. But you have a choice, Orin Voss. You can shape what comes next."
The platform trembled. Images flashed in Orin's mind—visions of Greenglade thriving, or burning; of villagers changed beyond recognition; of the rift closing, or growing wider.
He steadied himself. "What do I have to do?"
The guardian extended a hand, palm glowing with energy. "Accept the next stage of the Origin Protocol. Face the rift's heart. Only then will you understand."
Orin hesitated, then reached out. The moment their hands touched, a surge of power rushed through him. His system window exploded with new information.
[System Upgrade: Origin Protocol – Stage Two Unlocked]
[New Abilities Available. New Quests Unlocked.]
The world spun. Orin staggered, the platform dissolving beneath his feet. The guardian's voice echoed as he fell.
"Remember, Orin Voss. The rift is not your enemy. It is your test."
He landed hard, the air knocked from his lungs. When he opened his eyes, he was back at the rift's edge, the village visible through the swirling light.
Mira rushed to him, catching him as he stumbled. "Orin! Are you all right?"
He nodded, breathless. "I… I saw something. Someone. The rift has a guardian. It gave me new abilities and new quests."
Lysa and Tomas crowded close, their faces anxious. "What did you see?" Lysa asked.
Orin shook his head, still dazed. "Visions. Choices. The rift can be closed, but only if I pass its test."
Mira squeezed his hand. "Then we'll help you. Whatever it takes."
He smiled, grateful for her strength. "I'm not alone. Not really."
His system window hovered at the edge of his vision, filled with new icons and quests.
[New Quest: Face the Rift's Heart]
[Objective: Prepare for the final trial. Gather allies. Uncover the rift's true purpose.]
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Orin looked at his friends, at the village beyond. The rift was still a threat, but now he understood: it was also an opportunity. A test of strength, of will, of hope.
He squared his shoulders, ready for what came next.