Kiran barely had time to react as the creature lunged, its glowing eyes locked onto him. Instinct took over, and he swung his machete in a wide arc. The blade struck the creature's flank, but instead of slicing through, it bounced off with a shower of sparks.
"Seriously?!" Kiran shouted, stumbling backward. The creature snarled, its tail whipping through the air and narrowly missing his head.
He darted to the side, adrenaline surging. The dense forest didn't leave much room to maneuver, but Kiran's scavenger instincts kicked in. He scanned his surroundings, searching for anything he could use to his advantage.
The creature lunged again, its claws raking the air inches from his chest. Kiran rolled to avoid the attack, his mind racing.
"Think, Kiran, think!" he muttered.
Then he remembered the sigil on his wrist. Elyra had said it connected him to the Rift. Maybe…
He held up his arm, focusing on the glowing mark. "If you can hear me—do something!"
The sigil flared with light, and a surge of energy shot through his body. Kiran staggered as a translucent shield materialized around him, just as the creature pounced. Its claws struck the barrier with a deafening crack, sending it reeling backward.
"Okay, that's new," Kiran said, staring at the shield in awe.
The creature recovered quickly, circling him with a low growl. Kiran felt the sigil pulse again, as if urging him to act. Without thinking, he extended his hand toward the creature.
A burst of energy erupted from his palm, striking the beast square in the chest. It let out a shriek, its body dissolving into shimmering particles that faded into the air.
Kiran stood frozen, his heart pounding. "Did I just… do that?"
The sigil dimmed, its glow fading to a faint pulse. Kiran looked down at his hand, flexing his fingers. The power had felt alien yet strangely natural, as if it had always been there, waiting to be unlocked.
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice—mechanical and cold, yet unmistakably clear.
"Anomaly neutralized. Rift stabilization at 23%. Warning: further anomalies detected."
Kiran groaned. "Great. More of them?"
He turned in a slow circle, scanning the forest. The glowing trees cast long shadows, and every rustle of leaves sent his nerves on edge.
Then, from behind him, came a sharp crack.
Kiran whirled around, raising his machete instinctively. A figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, armored man with a jagged scar running across his face. He carried a massive blade strapped to his back and moved with the confidence of someone who had seen too many battles and survived them all.
"Well, well," the man said, his voice gravelly. "Looks like I found the Rift Wielder."
Kiran tensed. "Who are you?"
The man smirked. "Name's Drayk. And I've been hunting Rift Keys longer than you've been alive."
"Let me guess," Kiran said, gripping his weapon tightly. "You're not here to help."
Drayk chuckled. "Smart kid. No, I'm here to take that Key off your hands. You're dangerous, and from the looks of you, you have no idea how to control it."
"I didn't ask for this!" Kiran shot back.
"Doesn't matter," Drayk said, stepping closer. "That thing on your wrist is a beacon. It'll attract Riftborn, mercenaries, and worse. You're a walking disaster, kid. Hand it over, and I'll make sure it doesn't tear this world apart."
Kiran hesitated. Drayk's words hit uncomfortably close to home. He didn't want this power—he didn't even know how to use it. But Elyra's voice echoed in his mind: The Rift Key chose you.
"No," Kiran said firmly, stepping back. "I don't know why it chose me, but I'm not giving it up. Not to you, not to anyone."
Drayk's smirk faded. "Wrong answer."
He drew his massive blade, the metal humming with energy. "Don't make this harder than it has to be, kid."
Kiran raised his arm, the sigil glowing faintly. "I don't want to fight you."
"Too bad," Drayk growled. "Because you don't have a choice."
He lunged, his blade cutting through the air with terrifying speed. Kiran barely managed to raise his shield, the blade striking it with a thunderous impact that sent him staggering.
Drayk was relentless, attacking with a precision and strength that left Kiran scrambling to defend himself. Each blow chipped away at his shield, the sigil's light flickering dangerously.
"You're out of your depth," Drayk said, his voice cold. "Surrender before I put you down."
Kiran gritted his teeth, refusing to back down. He focused on the sigil, willing it to respond. The energy surged again, and he felt it flow into his machete. The blade glowed faintly, crackling with Rift energy.
"Let's see how you handle this," Kiran muttered, charging forward.
Their blades clashed, the impact sending a shockwave through the forest. Kiran fought with everything he had, his newfound power giving him just enough speed and strength to hold his own. But Drayk was a seasoned fighter, and it was clear he was toying with him.
"You've got potential, kid," Drayk said, deflecting a strike. "But potential won't save you."
As Kiran stumbled back, gasping for breath, a sudden burst of light filled the clearing. Both men froze as the rift above pulsed violently, casting strange shadows over the forest.
"What the hell is that?" Drayk muttered, lowering his blade.
Kiran's sigil flared again, and the mechanical voice returned.
"Unstable Rift activity detected. Large-scale anomaly incoming. Prepare for impact."
The ground trembled, and Kiran felt a chill run down his spine. Whatever was coming, it wasn't good.
Drayk glanced at Kiran, his expression grim. "Looks like we've got bigger problems. Don't die, kid—I'm not done with you yet."
And as the rift tore open above them, spilling chaos into the world, Kiran realized this fight was only the beginning.