The sky shattered.
A thunderous crack split the air as the rift above expanded, its jagged edges rippling with blinding light. From its depths emerged a torrent of Riftborn, their forms twisting and writhing as they poured into the world.
Kiran and Drayk stood frozen, their earlier duel forgotten as the ground beneath them quaked. The forest around them groaned and splintered, the glowing trees bending unnaturally as if bowing to the chaos above.
"Stay close, kid!" Drayk barked, raising his massive blade. "You've got the Key—they'll come for you first!"
"I figured that out already!" Kiran snapped, the sigil on his wrist flaring brightly.
The first wave of Riftborn hit like a storm. Creatures with razor-sharp limbs and glowing eyes charged from the shadows, their guttural shrieks echoing through the clearing. Drayk moved like a whirlwind, his blade cleaving through them with brutal efficiency.
Kiran wasn't so lucky. He swung his machete wildly, the energy crackling along its edge barely managing to fend off the onslaught. A smaller Riftborn lunged at him, its jagged claws slashing at his shield. The barrier held, but the impact sent him sprawling.
"Focus!" Drayk shouted, slamming his foot down on a Riftborn's head and crushing it. "That sigil isn't just for show—use it!"
"I'm trying!" Kiran yelled back, scrambling to his feet.
He concentrated on the sigil, willing the energy to respond. This time, the power surged more willingly, flowing into his machete and forming an arc of crackling energy. He swung it in a wide arc, the strike releasing a burst of light that disintegrated the nearest creatures.
"Not bad," Drayk grunted, dispatching another Riftborn. "But you'll need more than that to survive."
The ground shook again, more violently this time. From the rift above, something massive began to descend—a hulking form shrouded in shadow, its eyes burning like twin suns. The very air seemed to tremble in its presence.
"Is that…?" Kiran began, his voice faltering.
"A Rift Titan," Drayk finished grimly. "We're in deep now."
The Titan's roar was deafening, a sound that seemed to pierce straight into Kiran's soul. It towered over the forest, its form shifting and unstable, as if reality itself was struggling to contain it.
"Fall back!" Drayk ordered, grabbing Kiran's arm and pulling him toward the edge of the clearing. "We can't fight that thing head-on!"
Kiran stumbled after him, his legs barely keeping up. "What are we supposed to do?!"
"Survive," Drayk said bluntly.
The Titan's massive limbs slammed into the ground, sending shockwaves rippling outward. Trees shattered like glass, and the air filled with debris. Kiran and Drayk dove behind a cluster of rocks as the ground cracked and heaved beneath them.
The sigil on Kiran's wrist pulsed urgently, and the mechanical voice returned.
"Critical anomaly detected. Rift Key synchronization required. Stabilization imperative."
"What does that mean?!" Kiran shouted over the chaos.
"It means you're the only one who can stop this!" Drayk growled, shoving him forward. "The Key is tied to the rift—it's your job to stabilize it!"
"I don't know how!"
"Figure it out!"
Kiran clenched his fists, his heart pounding. He didn't want this responsibility—he'd never asked for it. But as the Titan roared again, its glowing eyes locking onto him, he realized he didn't have a choice.
The sigil flared, and he felt the energy surge through him once more. This time, it was stronger, almost overwhelming. Images flooded his mind—fractured glimpses of other worlds, each one teetering on the brink of collapse.
The rift above pulsed in time with the sigil, and Kiran understood. The Key wasn't just a weapon; it was a conduit.
"Okay," he muttered, gripping his machete tightly. "Let's do this."
He stepped out from behind the rocks, ignoring Drayk's shouted protests. The Titan's gaze fixed on him, its massive form shifting as it prepared to attack.
Kiran raised his arm, the sigil blazing like a beacon. He focused on the rift, willing the energy to flow. The air around him crackled with power, and the Titan hesitated, as if sensing the shift.
"Come on," Kiran whispered. "Work with me."
The energy built to a crescendo, and Kiran felt something click. A beam of light shot from the sigil, connecting him to the rift above. The swirling chaos began to stabilize, the jagged edges smoothing out as the Titan let out an earsplitting roar.
For a moment, Kiran thought it was working.
Then the sigil flared violently, and a searing pain shot through his arm. He cried out, collapsing to his knees as the energy spiraled out of control. The rift pulsed erratically, the Titan thrashing in response.
"Kiran!" Drayk shouted, rushing to his side.
"I… I can't hold it!" Kiran gasped, his vision blurring.
Drayk grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him. "Listen to me, kid! You're not alone in this. The Key chose you for a reason—use it!"
Kiran clenched his teeth, forcing himself to focus. He reached deeper into the sigil's power, past the pain and fear. The energy responded, coalescing into a steady flow.
The Titan roared one final time as the rift above contracted, its light dimming. The massive creature dissolved into particles, swept away by the stabilizing force.
And then, silence.
Kiran collapsed, the sigil on his wrist dimming to a faint glow. He barely registered Drayk catching him before he hit the ground.
"You did it," Drayk said, his voice almost impressed.
Kiran managed a weak smile. "Yeah… great."
As darkness claimed him, he heard the faint whisper of the rift, a promise of more challenges to come.