Eric's world had been turned upside down. In that moment, his breath was stolen by the darkness, and his body seemed to fall into an endless abyss. He tried to open his eyes, but all he could feel was the emptiness and cold around him—a cold that pierced deep into his soul, making him tremble. His thoughts were chaotic, but a voice suddenly echoed from the void. The voice was both familiar and strange, as if it carried endless sorrow and mockery.
"Eric... you're late."
The voice sent a shock through his body, and immediately, Lia's face appeared in his mind. He wanted to scream, but his throat felt constricted, unable to make a sound. Just when he was about to break, a blinding blue light exploded ahead of him, cutting through the boundless darkness like a blade. The light hurt his eyes but also pulled him back, dragging him out of the abyss and into reality.
Eric crashed heavily onto the ground, his lungs gasping for cold air that carried a strong metallic and sulfurous scent—sharp and unsettling. He looked up, and the sight before him froze him in place.
This land was a broken world. The cracked earth stretched in all directions, with deep fissures emitting eerie blue light, like wounds that went on forever. Mountains hung upside down in the sky, and broken walls and pillars floated like ruins in midair, as if time and space had lost all meaning here. In the distance, a towering gray tower loomed on the horizon, its top obscured by thick clouds, like an indifferent eye watching over the land.
Eric struggled to his feet, his legs still trembling. His first thought was, *Where is this place?* But a stronger emotion quickly followed—fear, and a sense of obsession. He knew there was no turning back. The strangeness and the unknown of this world were suffocating, yet he could not retreat. Because Lia was surely here, and he had to find her.
"Lia!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the vast, shattered land, but there was no response. His footsteps reverberated on the broken earth, each step cautious. He looked up toward the tall tower, faintly sensing that something awaited him.
However, just as he took a few steps, a deep, heavy footstep sounded from behind him. The sound was like metal scraping against the ground, each step carrying a heavy sense of pressure. Eric's heartbeat quickened, and he turned around suddenly, the sight before him causing him to step back involuntarily.
A tall figure clad in worn armor was approaching. The figure seemed like a moving iron tower. The armor was battered, covered with sword marks and scorch marks. Beneath the helmet, the eyes emitted a ghostly blue light, a cold gaze as if seeing through everything. The figure wielded a heavy spear, its tip glinting with a cold light, swaying slightly with each step, carrying a deadly threat.
"Mortal," the figure's voice was deep like thunder, filled with suppressed anger and disdain. "This is not your place."
Instinctively, Eric wanted to retreat, but his feet felt as though they were nailed to the ground. He struggled to steady his breath and managed to speak, "I'm not here to cause trouble. I... I'm looking for my sister. She might be here!"
"Sister?" The warrior sneered, lowering the tip of the spear slightly but not moving away. "Souls in the Rift no longer belong to themselves. Are you still so deluded?"
Eric's heart churned. He couldn't accept this answer, but the warrior's tone seemed as if he had already seen through everything. He clenched his fists, trying to steady his voice, "I don't believe it! She's still alive, she's waiting for me to save her!"
The warrior fell silent for a moment, then raised his spear, pointing towards the distant tower. "If you want the truth, go to the top of the tower and find the Lord of the Rift. He controls everything here, including the fate of your sister."
Eric's gaze followed the tip of the spear. The shadow of the tower seemed even darker than before, and the mist at its peak grew thicker. A sharp pain spread across his chest, not from fear, but from an overwhelming pressure that seemed impossible to shake.
"What is the Lord of the Rift?" he asked in a low, trembling voice.
The warrior didn't answer. He turned and walked slowly toward a nearby crack. His footsteps grew fainter, eventually disappearing into the boundless shadows. Only the brief glint of the spear's cold light remained in the air, like some kind of warning.
Eric braced himself against his knees, took a few breaths, and slowly stood up. His hands trembled as he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. His unease only strengthened his resolve. He knew that whatever lay within the tower, he had to go in.
The wind in the Rift began to grow sharp and biting, like an invisible blade cutting across his face. He took step after step towards the tower, feeling the ground tremble faintly beneath him, as if the land itself was groaning with every footstep he took.
In the distance, the tower stood like an insurmountable barrier on the horizon, but Eric knew that only by crossing this barrier could he possibly find Lia. The shadow of the tower deepened, while the blue light from the cracks beneath his feet grew more brilliant, as if reminding him—nothing here was as simple as he imagined.
He gripped the key tightly in his hand, the only thing that provided him any warmth. Its cold touch seemed to remind him that on the other side of the door, the truth might not be what he expected. Every step was filled with struggle, but he wouldn't stop. Only one voice echoed in his mind, *"Lia, wait for me."*
Each of Eric's steps felt like he was crossing an invisible barrier. The ground beneath his feet radiated warmth, creating a strange contrast with the icy wind. His boots occasionally stuck to something like molten metal, making a chilling hissing sound. Even so, his gaze remained fixed on the distant tower, unable to look away.
The tower seemed to be more than just a building. It felt alive, exuding a suffocating presence. Eric had a strange feeling: the tower was watching him. Every stone, every crack in its structure, seemed like cold, indifferent eyes, observing this trespassing mortal.
He tried to ignore the sensation, but the unease in his heart surged like a tidal wave. He touched the key at his waist, its cold metal slightly calming his tension. This key was his only clue, his last remaining hope.
The air in the Rift became thicker, each breath he took felt like inhaling thorned mist, burning his lungs. He began to hear more sounds—subtle whispers that were no longer vague wind noises, but distinct words. He could hear the cries of people, the desperate pleas of some, and among them, Lia's voice, mingled with the rest.
"Eric... Save me..."
He stopped abruptly, trembling all over. The voice was so close, as if Lia was right beside him. He quickly looked around, but all he could see was the endless wasteland and floating ruins suspended in mid-air.
"Lia!" he shouted, his voice trembling with desperation. But all that responded was a deep hum coming from the far-off tower, like some great machine slowly grinding into motion.
He continued forward, walking faster. The scenery of the Rift grew even more bizarre, the floating mountains above began to twist, as though being distorted by some unseen force. The suspended buildings began to drip a dark red liquid, emitting a nauseating, rotting stench.
Finally, he arrived at the edge of an unfathomable chasm. On the other side of the chasm was the tower. However, the only way across was a rickety suspension bridge. The ropes had long been worn down, and the gaps between the planks were wide enough for someone to easily fall through. Below was an endless abyss of blue light, moving like some kind of living creature, as if waiting for something.
Eric's heart raced, and he had to admit that he was afraid. His hand lightly touched the ropes of the bridge, feeling how brittle they had become from the passage of time. He gritted his teeth and told himself that he could not turn back. Slowly, he stepped onto the bridge, each step creaking loudly, as though mocking his fear.
The bridge swayed more and more violently. Eric had to grasp the ropes tightly with both hands. He kept his eyes fixed forward, refusing to look down. However, just as he was nearing the other side, a powerful tremor shook from beneath his feet.
He looked up and saw a massive figure standing on the other side of the chasm. It was a monster, or perhaps some kind of humanoid beast. It wore a tattered cloak, and its body was as rough as stone, with purple flames burning in its eyes. It held a pair of serrated large knives, dripping with thick black liquid that emitted a foul stench.
Eric's heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, he took a step back, but the bridge swayed more violently, nearly making him lose his balance. He knew there was no way out.
The monster didn't immediately attack. It simply stood on the other end of the bridge, letting out a deep roar, as if to intimidate him. Eric took a deep breath and forced himself to stay calm. He gripped the short sword at his waist, even though it seemed almost useless against the monster. It was his only weapon.
"Get out of my way!" Eric shouted, trying to muster courage with his voice. But the monster paid no attention and slowly began to march forward, each step causing the bridge to sway violently.
Eric's mind raced. He knew he had to act before the monster got too close. His gaze swept over the bridge, and he suddenly noticed the ropes beneath the planks—though worn, they still connected the two ends of the bridge. A flash of inspiration struck him, and he quickly tore off a cloth strip from his body and secured the short sword to his wrist.
"You want to stop me? Come and try!" he muttered under his breath, his voice filled with resolve. He quickly crouched down, slashing the ropes at several points. The bridge began to creak ominously.
The monster seemed to sense his intention and let out a furious roar, quickening its pace. Eric's hands trembled, but he gritted his teeth and cut the last rope. In the moment the bridge began to collapse, he jumped forward with all his strength, tumbling onto the ground on the other side.
The monster's roar echoed from below, but it was soon swallowed by the blue light. Eric panted heavily, his palms bleeding from the rope burns, but he had no time to worry about that. He lifted his head and looked once more at the towering structure in the distance.
The tower still stood silently, waiting for his arrival.
Eric wiped the sweat from his forehead, stood up, and walked toward the tower door. His steps were heavy, but each one was filled with determination. He knew this was just the beginning—the true test awaited him inside the tower.
Eric stood before the towering stone gate, feeling the chill emanating from it. The gate was several stories high, adorned with ancient runes and strange totems. The patterns resembled twisted serpentine creatures, but with faint human features. The runes shimmered with an eerie blue light, pulsing in a rhythmic pattern as if the tower itself had a heartbeat.
"This is the Rift Tower?" A gravelly voice came from behind Eric.
He turned to see a short man stepping out from the shadows. He wore a tattered hood, his clothes covered in dirt and scratches, and several rusted knives hung from his belt. His eyes were sharp, filled with alertness.
"Who are you?" Eric asked, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his short sword, his tone wary.
"Relax, I'm not your enemy." The man raised his hands, signaling that he meant no harm. "Call me Roy. I see you're human, and brave enough to venture here—quite daring."
"Why are you here?" Eric frowned. He knew the Rift was no place for ordinary people.
"Like you, searching for someone," Roy's voice was calm, but a shadow crossed his eyes. "Or perhaps... looking for something I've lost."
Eric didn't press further. He understood that everyone in the Rift had their own secrets and motives. In a place this dangerous, having a companion might not be a bad thing. He released his grip on his sword and nodded. "I'm Eric. I came here to find my sister."
Roy raised an eyebrow, a smirk crossing his face. "Looking for someone? Well, you should know that things in this tower aren't so simple. Are you ready for the trials?"
Eric didn't respond right away; instead, he turned to face the tower. The stone gate emitted a deep hum as he approached, and it slowly creaked open, revealing a pitch-black abyss within.
"Then let's go together," Roy sighed, following Eric inside.
Inside the tower, both men were stunned. They had expected narrow stairs or dark corridors, but instead, they found themselves beneath a vast starry sky. The ground was smooth and reflective, like glass, casting the cold glow of distant stars. All around them was boundless darkness, with a path leading toward a distant point of light.
"Where are we?" Eric whispered. He searched for something solid beneath his feet but realized that he felt no weight, as though floating in the void.
Roy rubbed his chin, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Interesting. This doesn't look like a normal barrier. More like... a mental domain."
"A mental domain?" Eric frowned, uneasy at the term.
"Exactly. This tower seems to read our minds and create illusions based on our thoughts," Roy said with a sardonic smile. "But maybe for you, that could be a good thing."
Eric didn't reply, his focus now drawn to a figure standing in the center of the path ahead. The figure was shrouded in mist, but there was something eerily familiar about its presence.
"It's Lia!" Eric almost shouted, instinctively rushing toward the figure.
"Wait!" Roy called out, but Eric had already taken several steps forward.
The figure stood motionless until Eric was near, then slowly turned. When Eric saw her face, his steps froze, and his heart clenched in his chest.
"Lia..." her voice was soft, tinged with sadness, and yet, it carried an undeniable weariness. Her eyes were hollow, empty as stagnant water, and her body trembled as if on the verge of disintegrating.
"Lia! It's me! I've come to save you!" Eric cried out, his voice full of urgency and joy, but Lia's gaze remained unchanged.
"This isn't her!" Roy's voice came from behind, cold and warning. "Stay back, it's an illusion!"
"An illusion?" Eric paused, confused. "No, it's her! She's right here!"
"Look closer!" Roy stepped forward, pointing to Lia's figure. "Where's her shadow? Why doesn't her voice echo? You should see the details yourself!"
Eric's gaze locked on Lia's figure, and his eyes widened in horror. Sure enough, she cast no shadow. Even under the starry sky, she felt... disconnected from the world around her.
"This is the tower's illusion, designed to test your weaknesses," Roy said sternly. "Believe it, and you're lost."
Lia's figure suddenly twisted into a grotesque smile, one filled with malice and mockery. Her eyes became deep, hollow pits, and a low, mocking laugh escaped her lips. "Will you give up, Eric?"
Eric's grip tightened on his short sword, his mind in turmoil. He knew this wasn't real, but his emotions were hard to silence. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then snapped them open, aiming the blade at the illusion.
"Whatever you are, get away!" he shouted, his voice resolute.
The illusion trembled, let out a shrill scream, and then vanished into mist, dissipating into the air. The starry sky returned to calm, and the path to the distant light was once again clear.
Roy clapped Eric on the shoulder. "Looks like you've got more courage than I expected. But this is just the beginning. Worse things lie ahead."
Eric didn't reply. His eyes were fixed on the far-off light. He knew that whatever trials lay ahead in the tower, he would not stop until he had found his sister.