In the center of the chaos stood the ancient Altar of Ardorr, bathed in a faint, pulsating glow. Around it, dozens of citizens lay on the cold ground, weak and shivering as the corruption drained the life from them.
Kael Relan, his body alight with azure mana, stood before the altar, his focus razor-sharp as he channeled its purifying power.
His hands trembled as tendrils of energy snaked from the altar, washing over the afflicted. Every pulse of light cleansed a fraction of the Abyss from their bodies, but it wasn't enough—there was too much corruption, too many souls to save, and Kael's reserves were dwindling
The ground shook, and from the shadows emerged the Darkspawn.
Hulking creatures twisted by Abyssal corruption, their forms shifting grotesquely with each step. They poured from the darkened streets and alleys like a tide of nightmares, their shrieks filling the air.
Alongside them marched hooded cultists, their hands raised in worship as they chanted dark hymns that made the air crackle with malevolent energy.
The Veil, a band of shadowy warriors, moved in tandem like wraiths. Clad in dark armor, they blended seamlessly into the night, their blades flashing out from the shadows to cut down the first wave of enemies.
Every movement was precise, every strike lethal. Sora, one of the Veil's finest, danced between the cultists, her dual blades singing as they found their marks.
"Keep them away from the altar!" Varin roared, charging into the fray. His blade, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and arcane power, cleaved through a Darkspawn's armor as though it were nothing.
But with every swing, he could feel his body protesting. His Rebirth Core was weakening, the strain from constant battle eroding his strength faster than he could replenish it.
The Veil fought fiercely, but the Darkspawn kept coming. Each time one fell, two more appeared in its place, surging toward the altar.
Kael's Shadow Avatar, a phantom version of himself born from the Void, darted between enemies, its movements a blur of darkness. It dispatched Darkspawns with terrifying speed, but even its power wasn't enough to stem the tide.
"They just keep coming!" Varin shouted, parrying a blow from a monstrous Darkspawn, its claws raking across his armor.
Kael, his concentration split between healing and commanding the battle, replied through gritted teeth, "We hold the line. No matter what."
But then, the air shifted.
A suffocating pressure descended on the battlefield. The temperature dropped, and a palpable darkness spread across the ground like a living thing. The Darkspawns halted, as if sensing something far greater had entered the fray. Even the cultists fell silent, their chants dying on their lips.
From the shadows stepped the Riftlord.
He towered over the battlefield, his body wreathed in an ever-shifting cloak of darkness. His eyes—burning embers of hatred—locked onto Kael, and a twisted smile spread across his face. His presence warped reality itself, the very air distorting as his power radiated outward.
Varin's voice, normally unshakable, quivered with dread. "The Riftlord..."
The Riftlord's voice was a low, malevolent growl. "We meet again boy" He chuckled, a sound like grinding stone. "I'll enjoy devouring you."
The Riftlord took a single step forward, and the ground beneath him cracked. His gaze never left Kael, hunger evident in his eyes. He raised a hand, a black tendril of energy shooting toward the altar, aimed directly at Kael's heart.
But as the attack neared, the altar reacted.
A shield of pure energy erupted around Kael and the citizens, shimmering with an ethereal glow. The Riftlord's tendril slammed against it, recoiling with a hiss. For a moment, the battlefield was silent, save for the soft hum of the shield.
The Riftlord's eyes narrowed in irritation. "Hiding behind a shield, boy? How long do you think you can keep this up?"
Kael, though exhausted, met the Riftlord's gaze with defiance. "Long enough to stop you."
Without warning, the Riftlord moved, a blur of darkness that closed the distance between them in an instant. His massive hand crashed against the shield, sending shockwaves through the air. Kael's body trembled from the force of the blow, but he didn't falter.
"Void Step," he whispered, activating one of his most powerful skills.
In an instant, Kael vanished, becoming a shadow in the Riftlord's wake. He reappeared behind the monstrous figure, his twin Void Daggers flashing through the air as he struck. But the Riftlord was fast—faster than Kael had anticipated. He spun, catching Kael's blades with a burst of dark energy, throwing him back.
"You're outmatched," the Riftlord sneered, his voice thick with amusement. "Give up, boy. Let me consume you, and this will be over quickly."
Kael wiped blood from his mouth, his eyes blazing with determination. "Not today."
He launched forward again, his movements a flurry of strikes and evasions. His Void Step allowed him to slip through the Riftlord's defenses, striking from unseen angles. But for every strike he landed, the Riftlord countered with overwhelming force. Kael could feel his strength waning, his body screaming for respite
It wasn't enough.
Kael's heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel the Riftlord's power pressing down on him, a suffocating weight that threatened to crush him entirely. He was out of options—out of time.
And so, he made a choice. I have a Rebirth core. I could die and be reborn again.
Dropping his defenses, Kael allowed the Riftlord's tendrils to wrap around him. Dark energy surged through his body, and he felt the Abyssal corruption creeping into his soul. His vision blurred, his senses dimming as the Riftlord's essence began to consume him.
"Kael!" Varin's voice was distant, a faint echo in the void.
The darkness closed in, and Kael's strength ebbed away. But just as the last flicker of hope began to fade, something deep within him stirred.
A blinding light erupted from within Kael, pushing the darkness away. His Rebirth Core had activated—its failsafe triggered by the overwhelming Abyssal energy. In Kael's mind, the system's voice rang out, calm yet urgent.
Rebirth Core detected extreme Abyssal energy.
Initiating failsafe...
Aegis+ Protocol deployed.
A shockwave of pure energy burst from Kael's body, throwing the Riftlord back. Simultaneously, the Altar of Ardorr began to glow with renewed intensity, its light searing through the darkness.
The Riftlord snarled, his eyes wide with fury. "You… when did you become powerful?"
Kael, though weakened, managed a grim smile. "The moment you think I'm weak."
Kael stood before the altar, sweat dripping down his forehead, his chest heaving as his hand clutched his sword.
His sharp, intense gaze never left the Riftlord, even as his own body screamed in protest. His muscles were sore, every inch of him battered from the relentless battle that had just taken place.
The Riftlord's dark aura pressed against him, suffocating, as if the very air was alive with malevolent intent.
"Kael," Varin's voice was a rasp behind him, strained and exhausted. "If you have anything left… now's the time."
The altar behind them hummed, responding to Kael's silent command. Its stone pillars began to glow with a soft, pale light, the ancient runes etched into the surface suddenly coming to life. The energy of the altar pulsed, in sync with Kael's heartbeat.
The Riftlord snarled, baring its jagged teeth, clearly sensing the danger. Its massive claws flexed, slicing through the air as it stalked closer, eyes fixed on Kael with predatory intent.
"You think this… this trinket will save you, boy?" the creature spat, its voice like the grinding of stone. "I've consumed stronger warriors than you."
Kael's grip tightened on his sword, his knuckles white. "Maybe. But they didn't have this."
He gestured sharply, and the pillars of the altar detached from the ground, rising into the air. The Riftlord froze, its eyes widening with something Kael had never seen before—panic. Beams of ethereal light shot out from the floating pillars, encircling the creature in a glowing cage of radiant energy.
The Riftlord lashed out, a desperate roar tearing from its throat as it swung its claws at the pillars. But the beams of light struck first.
The beams didn't just wound the Riftlord; they drained him. Dark energy began seeping out of the creature's massive form, sucked into the altar's radiant beams like water pulled by a vortex.
The Riftlord's once fearsome form began to wither, its muscular frame shriveling as its strength was siphoned away.
"NO!" The Riftlord bellowed, its voice hoarse with fear and fury.
"This… this cannot be!" It lunged forward, thrashing wildly at the air, trying to break free from the grip of the altar's power.
But it was too late. The radiant beams held fast, glowing brighter with every passing moment.
Kael stepped back, his breath shallow, watching as the creature's movements grew slower, weaker.
Every roar, every scream from the Riftlord became more pitiful, more desperate. Its dark energy swirled toward the altar, fueling it with the very life force it had used to terrorize the city.
"We did it…" Kael whispered, barely audible as the reality sank in. His legs trembled with exhaustion, but a deep, unshakable satisfaction settled into his bones.
He could feel it—the power coursing through the altar was merging with his own. His veins buzzed with mana, his body alive with the sensation of leveling up.
The system chime echoed in his mind, each level-up ringing out like the toll of a victory bell:
System: "Level up: 31…32…33…34…35."
His strength surged. It was intoxicating.
Varin stumbled toward him, his sword dragging limply at his side. His face was a mix of exhaustion and triumph, but there was also a guarded wariness in his eyes.
"Kael… you actually did it." His voice was rough, thick with disbelief.
Kael glanced at him, breathless. "We did it," he corrected, though his attention was already drifting toward the horizon, where the distant echo of the Abyss still whispered in his mind. "But there's still work to be done."
Varin followed his gaze, a grim expression settling over his face. "Always is." He sheathed his sword, his body sagging slightly with the release of tension. "But first, we get these people back on their feet."