The destruction of the first spire sent ripples through the city. The ground shook, and for a brief moment, the rift above seemed to flicker, its tendrils receding slightly. But Rin knew this was far from over. The Rift Master remained untouched, and its presence loomed ever closer, its eyes burning with an eerie, silent promise.
Rin had to move quickly. He glanced at the map that had appeared in his HUD, marking the locations of the remaining spires. They were scattered across the city, each one surrounded by more Rift Beasts and crystalline structures.
His mind raced. If he pushed too hard, he'd burn through his energy reserves and collapse before he could destroy them all. But if he didn't act fast, the rift would consume the entire city—and him with it.
Without wasting any more time, Rin activated **Rift Cloak**, vanishing into the space between dimensions. The world around him blurred, the chaos of the city muffled as he slipped into the shadows. He moved swiftly through the streets, passing by the growing hordes of Rift Beasts unnoticed.
The second spire came into view, towering over a park that had been swallowed by rift energy. Dark crystals jutted from the ground, and more Rift Beasts patrolled the area, their glowing eyes scanning for intruders.
Rin deactivated **Rift Cloak** just as he reached the base of the spire, his body flickering back into reality. His hand trembled as he prepared another **Energy Strike**. He was running low, and every blast sapped more of his strength.
Before he could unleash the attack, the ground rumbled beneath him. He turned just in time to see a massive Rift Beast emerging from the shadows—a hulking creature with multiple arms and a body covered in black, spiked armor.
**Rift Beast: Goliath-Class Detected
Level: ???**
Rin's heart sank. This wasn't a fight he could win, not in his current state. But he couldn't back down.
The Goliath roared, its voice shaking the ground as it charged toward him. Rin dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the beast's massive fist as it slammed into the earth. He activated **Blink Step**, teleporting behind the creature and launching an **Energy Strike** at its exposed back.
The blast connected, but the Goliath barely flinched. Its armor absorbed the impact, and it turned on Rin with a furious snarl, swinging one of its massive arms toward him. Rin Blinked again, but the Goliath was fast—faster than he had expected. Its fist grazed his shoulder, sending him tumbling across the ground.
Pain shot through his body, and Rin struggled to get back on his feet. He couldn't keep this up. The Goliath was too strong, too resilient.
But then, an idea hit him.
The spire. The Rift Beasts were connected to the spires. If he could destroy the spire, maybe it would weaken the Goliath, just like it had with the smaller beasts.
Rin didn't have time to hesitate. Summoning the last of his strength, he Blinked toward the spire, ignoring the Goliath's enraged roars behind him. His hand glowed with light as he prepared one final **Energy Burst**, focusing all his energy into the attack.
The Goliath lunged at him just as Rin released the blast.
The explosion rocked the park, the spire shattering into a million pieces. The Goliath froze mid-charge, its body convulsing as dark energy crackled around it. With a final, deafening roar, the beast collapsed, its form dissolving into smoke.
**Rift Spire Destroyed (2/5)**
Rin collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. Two spires down. Three more to go.
But he wasn't sure how much longer he could last.
Rin leaned against a broken wall, sweat dripping from his forehead. His body screamed in protest with every breath, and his vision blurred from the exertion. The destruction of the second spire had cost him more than he had expected, and his energy reserves were dangerously low.
He couldn't stop, though. The rift was still expanding, and the Rift Master loomed over the city, watching with cold, unrelenting eyes.
He pushed himself to his feet, his legs shaking beneath him. He activated **Rift Cloak** again, slipping into the shadows as he made his way toward the third spire.
As he moved through the city, he noticed the changes that had taken place in such a short amount of time. The rift's energy had begun to warp reality itself, twisting buildings into strange, crystalline forms and turning the streets into jagged, alien landscapes. The air was thick with the stench of ozone and magic, and the cries of Rift Beasts echoed through the night.
By the time he reached the third spire, Rin was barely holding on. His body felt like it was on fire, every muscle screaming in agony. But the spire stood before him, surrounded by more Rift Beasts, and he knew he couldn't stop.