The Rift Convoy

🌌 The Sky Route to the Rift The Arcana transport cruised through the cloudline, engines humming with elemental resonance. Below them, the Rift sector stretched out — a barren expanse where the laws of nature bent and cracked, a reminder of humanity’s failure to control the elemental surge decades ago. Jade Valor sat in silence, his hand resting on the hilt of the Aether Morph. Across from him, Lira reviewed tactical schematics, and Rian bounced his lightning-charged knuckles together impatiently. “Still don’t get why they’re sending us to guard researchers,” Rian muttered. “We’re warriors, not babysitters.” Lira shot him a look. “If the Rift’s energy is spiking, even researchers need protection. It’s not just storms down there anymore.” Jade didn’t join in. His gaze lingered on the horizon — a jagged scar glowing faintly red against the clouds. The Orbit Rift. The place where everything had begun. ⚙️ Mission Brief Inside the convoy’s command bay, the ADL overseer, Lieutenant Coren, briefed them: “Our objective is simple — escort the research unit to Site Twelve, extract Rift data, and return. You are not authorized to engage unless directly attacked.” His voice carried no emotion, his eyes hidden behind a reflective visor. Jade raised a brow. “What are they researching exactly?” “Classified,” Coren replied. “We’re risking our lives. We deserve to know what’s inside the Rift,” Lira countered. Coren turned sharply. “You’ll follow orders. That’s all you need to know.” Jade’s instincts prickled. The man’s aura felt off — too cold, too controlled. ☠️ The Ambush Hours later, as the convoy neared the Rift, alarms blared. ⚠️ “Elemental interference detected — unknown readings approaching!” The clouds tore open. Out of the distortion came monsters — hulking, crystalline beings radiating corrupted energy. Their shapes were humanlike, but their faces… twisted, almost mechanical. “Form up!” Jade shouted. Squad Zero leapt into action. Rian’s fists blazed with thunder, punching through one creature’s chest in a surge of electricity. Lira summoned a spiraling typhoon to repel another wave, her movements fluid and sharp. Jade charged ahead, his Aether Morph transforming mid-strike — blade into lance, lance into bow, adapting to his shifting elements. He shot a bolt of compressed fire and lightning, obliterating one of the beasts — but as its ashes scattered, he froze. Inside its chest cavity gleamed a core bearing the same Null Order insignia. “Not again…” he muttered. Before he could process it, Lieutenant Coren stepped out from the rear transport — but instead of giving orders, he lifted his arm and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the remaining creatures stopped attacking and knelt. Lira’s eyes widened. “He’s controlling them?” Coren’s visor retracted, revealing mechanical veins beneath his skin — half of his face crystalline, half human. “The League’s leash dogs sniff too close to the truth,” he said calmly. “But the Nullborn cause doesn’t need witnesses.” Rian growled. “You’re one of them.” “No,” Coren corrected. “I’m what humanity is meant to become.” He extended his hand — the ground cracked, and from the Rift itself, a colossal creature emerged — a full-blooded Nullborn. Its body pulsed with unstable energy, each breath releasing arcs of molten lightning. Unlike the others, this one spoke. “Jade Valor… your balance reeks of the Seal.” Jade’s eyes narrowed. “You know my name?” “We all do,” the creature hissed. “Your power is not yours. It’s borrowed from the void.” ⚔️ The Rift Battle The Nullborn lunged. Jade’s instincts screamed — he raised his weapon, blocking a blow that sent shockwaves through the canyon. The impact shattered stone and ripped open the sky. Rian and Lira fought to assist, but the creature’s energy was too chaotic — lightning, fire, and gravity all fused into one. Jade countered, channeling all elements in rapid succession. Fire burst from his right arm, water condensed on his blade, lightning arced along his body. The clash became a storm — flashes of color, each collision bending reality for an instant. But with every strike, the creature’s voice echoed inside his mind: “You can’t suppress it forever… the seal was never meant to hold.” The words shook him — images flickered in his head: a broken sky, a voice calling his name long ago… “Break it, Jade…” He stumbled, his aura destabilizing. Flames and wind spiraled uncontrollably, colliding in bursts of power. “Jade!” Lira shouted, forcing water barriers to contain the blast. Jade grit his teeth, forcing his breath steady. “No… I’m in control.” He thrust his hands forward — all five elements converging into one blinding strike. The Aether Morph reshaped into a colossal greatsword of pure elemental fusion. “Rift Annihilation — Resonant Slash!” The blade tore through the Nullborn in a cataclysmic wave, splitting it apart and sealing the rift fissure in the process. Silence. Then — the creature’s dying words: “You are… the signal… the awakening begins… with you…” Its body dissolved into dust. 🌑 Aftermath The battlefield was still. Jade stood trembling, his eyes faintly glowing gold and silver — then dimmed as the Aether Morph dissolved back into its core form. Lira approached him carefully. “You okay?” He nodded weakly. “Yeah… just exhausted.” But inside, something felt wrong. He could still hear the creature’s final words echoing in his mind. When the extraction team arrived, the official report stated: “Nullborn eliminated. Lieutenant Coren missing in action.” But Jade knew what really happened. He had seen Coren’s crystalline body fade into the Rift before collapsing — not dead, but absorbed. 🩸 Return to Aethernova Back at the capital, Commander Reizan summoned Squad Zero. His expression was calm, but his tone heavy. “Your performance was exemplary. However, the Council has classified all Rift data. You are forbidden to speak of what occurred.” Rian scowled. “We almost died out there—” “You survived,” Reizan interrupted. “And that is enough.” Lira opened her mouth to protest, but Jade subtly touched her arm, stopping her. He already knew — speaking up now would only draw attention. As they left the chamber, Reizan’s voice echoed softly: “Valor. Stay a moment.” Jade turned back. Reizan regarded him in silence, then said: “You touched the Rift and lived. That should have been impossible. Tell me, Jade — what exactly are you?” Jade met his gaze evenly. “Just someone who refuses to die.” Reizan smiled faintly. “For now.” End of Chapter 4 – The Rift Convoy