The wasteland stretched endlessly before them, a jagged tapestry of ruins, dust, and mutated vegetation glowing faintly in the light of the rift above. Kiran's legs felt like lead, each step a struggle against exhaustion. He glanced over his shoulder and saw nothing but shadows—though the echoing screeches of Riftborn told him they weren't far behind.
Elyra was several paces ahead, moving with a practiced efficiency that made Kiran feel painfully inadequate. She hadn't even broken a sweat, while he could barely keep up.
"How much farther?" he called out, panting.
"Not far," Elyra replied without turning. "Just over that ridge. If you don't pass out first."
"Encouraging," Kiran muttered, clutching his side as a sharp cramp flared.
They crested the ridge, and Kiran's breath caught in his throat. Below them was a massive circular structure, half-buried in the cracked earth. It shimmered faintly, the same eerie light as the rift above.
"That's the gate?" Kiran asked.
"Waystation gate," Elyra confirmed. "It's one of many scattered across the Infinite Realms. They connect to other worlds, but this one's been dormant for years—until now."
"Why now?"
Elyra shot him a look. "Because you activated the Rift Key, genius. Now move."
As they descended toward the gate, Kiran felt the pull of the rift growing stronger. It was like a low hum resonating deep within him, tugging at his chest.
"Stay focused," Elyra warned, as though sensing his unease. "The Rift's energy can mess with your mind if you're not careful."
"Great," Kiran muttered. "Another thing to worry about."
They reached the base of the gate, where massive stone pillars jutted skyward, inscribed with glowing symbols similar to those on the crystal. Elyra knelt before a control console that looked like it belonged in a sci-fi movie, her fingers flying across the holographic interface.
"What are you doing?" Kiran asked, hovering nervously behind her.
"Reactivating the gate," Elyra said. "If we're lucky, I can tune it to a stable realm. Somewhere the Riftborn can't follow us."
"And if we're not lucky?"
She didn't answer.
The console flared to life, and the gate began to hum. A circle of light formed between the pillars, spinning faster and faster until it solidified into a swirling vortex of blue and white energy.
Kiran stared, equal parts awed and terrified. "That's… incredible."
"No time to admire it," Elyra said, standing. "We're not out of this yet."
A deafening roar shattered the moment. Kiran whipped around to see the Reaver cresting the ridge, its form shifting and crackling with raw energy. Behind it, more Riftborn emerged, their twisted shapes illuminated by the rift's glow.
"They're here!" Kiran shouted.
Elyra cursed under her breath. "We don't have time for this." She grabbed Kiran by the arm and pushed him toward the gate. "Go!"
"What about you?"
"I'll hold them off," she said, raising her weapon. "Just get through the gate and keep moving. I'll catch up."
"I'm not leaving you!" Kiran protested.
Elyra shot him a glare. "You don't have a choice. The Rift Key bonded to you, which means you're the only one who can stabilize the gate on the other side. If you don't go, we're both dead."
Kiran hesitated, fear and guilt warring within him.
"Go!" Elyra barked, firing a volley of energy blasts at the approaching creatures.
With a reluctant nod, Kiran turned and ran toward the swirling vortex. The pull of the rift grew stronger with every step, until it felt like his entire body was being dragged forward.
He paused at the threshold, glancing back one last time. Elyra stood her ground, her weapon blazing as the Reaver and its horde closed in.
"Don't die!" Kiran shouted, though he wasn't sure she could hear him.
And then he stepped into the gate.
The sensation was unlike anything Kiran had ever experienced. For a brief moment, he felt weightless, like he was floating in a sea of light and sound. Images flashed before his eyes—worlds he couldn't comprehend, filled with strange landscapes and impossible creatures.
And then it was over.
He stumbled out onto solid ground, collapsing to his knees. The air was cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the oppressive heat of the wastelands. Kiran looked up and found himself in a dense forest, the trees towering overhead and their leaves glowing faintly in shades of blue and green.
"Where… where am I?" he whispered.
Before he could gather his thoughts, the sigil on his wrist flared with light. A voice echoed in his mind, cold and mechanical.
"Rift Wielder detected. Stabilization protocols initializing. Stand by."
Kiran clutched his head, the words reverberating painfully. "What the hell?"
The light from the sigil spread, forming a glowing interface in midair. Symbols and diagrams flashed across it, too fast for him to understand.
Then a message appeared, clear and ominous:
"WARNING: Rift Unstable. Anomaly Detected. Prepare for Hostile Encounter."
Kiran's stomach dropped. "Hostile encounter?"
The forest around him went eerily silent. Then, from the shadows, a low growl rumbled.
Kiran turned, his machete trembling in his grip. From the darkness emerged a creature unlike any he'd seen before. Its body was sleek and reptilian, its eyes glowing with a predatory light.
"Great," Kiran muttered, backing away. "First the wastelands, now this. Can't catch a break, can I?"
The creature lunged, and Kiran raised his weapon, ready to fight for his life.