The days after the battle with the Warden passed in a blur. Rin's body slowly healed, but the events in the rift weighed heavily on his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed, something deeper than just closing a rift.
The city was still reeling from the sudden invasion of Rift Beasts, and though the authorities had managed to restore order, rumors were spreading. People whispered about the mysterious boy who had taken on the Rift Beasts and even closed the rift himself.
But Rin wasn't ready to face the attention. Not yet.
Instead, he focused on training. His new ability, **Rift Cloak**, was unlike anything he had ever felt before. It allowed him to slip into a space between dimensions, effectively hiding him from view for short periods. It was perfect for evading enemies—or launching surprise attacks.
But something else had been bothering him.
Ever since he had returned from the rift, Rin had felt a strange presence lingering in the back of his mind. It was faint, barely noticeable, but it was there—a cold, distant whisper that sent chills down his spine.
He had tried to ignore it, but as the days passed, the presence grew stronger.
And then, one night, it spoke.
*"You've tasted the power of the rift. Now you must face its true master."*
Rin bolted upright in his bed, his heart racing. The voice had been clear, as if someone had spoken directly into his mind.
Before he could even process what was happening, a familiar notification appeared before him.
**Quest Update: Investigate the Source of the Rift.
New Objective: Survive the Rift Master's Trial.**
Rin's blood ran cold.
The Rift Master. Whoever—or whatever—that was, it had taken notice of him. And now, it was coming for him.
Without warning, a pulse of energy rippled through the city, and Rin's apartment shook violently. He rushed to the window and looked up at the sky.
A new rift was forming, larger and darker than any he had ever seen.
And this time, it wasn't just Rift Beasts pouring through.
Far above, silhouetted against the swirling void, Rin saw it—the Rift Master. Its form was cloaked in shadow, towering and menacing, its eyes glowing with a terrifying intelligence.
The whisper returned, colder than before.
*"You are not ready."*
Rin clenched his fists, the fear in his chest giving way to determination. He had faced impossible odds before. He had survived the Warden, destroyed the rift, and unlocked powers he had never dreamed of.
He wasn't going to back down now.
*"We'll see about that,"* Rin muttered under his breath, as he stepped out into the night, ready to face the next challenge.
The Rift Master had come.
And Rin knew this was only the beginning.