The next day dawned and the mission could begin. Alice gathered everyone together and headed to the underground.
The air was damp and heavy as the team descended into the city's underbelly. Rusted pipes lined the walls of the narrow tunnels, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed through the labyrinthine passages. A faint glow of bioluminescent moss clung to some sections, giving the underground a ghostly green hue.
Noah adjusted the straps of his gear pack, his nerves prickling. He hadn't forgotten his first encounter with a Rift Node down here—a chaotic mess that had nearly killed him and Alice. Now, they were diving even deeper into the subterranean network, where the stakes were far higher.
"Keep quiet," Alice whispered, leading the way. Her voice was low but commanding. "This deep underground, sound carries. We don't want to alert whatever's down here."
Dante grunted, hefting his hammer onto his shoulder. "If something's waiting for us, it'll find us soon enough."
Ezra, walking just behind him, smirked. "Good thing you're here to scare them off, big guy."
"Focus," Alice snapped, her tone silencing the banter. "We're not just here to smash Rift Nodes. We need to figure out who—or what—is opening them. This isn't random. Someone is orchestrating this."
Mira adjusted her crossbow, scanning the dimly lit tunnel. "If this is Aberration work, it's more organized than anything we've seen. Aberrations aren't exactly known for strategy."
"Which is exactly why this is worrying," Lila added softly, her sharp eyes darting to every shadow.
Noah stayed close to Alice, the memory of their last encounter with a Rift Node playing over in his mind. That time, he'd barely known how to fight. Now, with weeks of training and a team at his side, he felt more prepared—though no less nervous.
The first Rift Node was easy enough to spot. The faint distortion in the air was visible even before they entered the chamber, and the telltale hum of unstable energy grew louder with each step.
The room itself was massive, a circular chamber with a vaulted ceiling. Rusted metal beams crisscrossed above, and the floor was littered with debris. In the center of the room stood the Rift Node—a jagged, pulsating mass of black and red energy, crackling with lightning-like tendrils.
"Looks like it's already opened a small rift," Mira observed, pointing to a shimmering tear floating just above the node. Through it, Noah could see glimpses of a dark, otherworldly landscape.
"Let's take it out before anything comes through," Alice said, drawing her sword. "Standard formation. Ezra, Mira, cover us. Dante, you're on point. Noah, stay close and watch for Aberrations."
Dante grinned, stepping forward and raising his hammer. "Finally, some fun."
As the team moved into position, the rift began to ripple violently. The temperature in the room dropped, and a guttural roar echoed from within the tear.
"Too late," Lila murmured, drawing her daggers.
Three Aberrations leapt from the rift, their grotesque forms illuminated by the pulsing light of the node. One had elongated limbs and razor-sharp claws, while another was a lumbering brute with jagged, armor-like skin. The third Aberration was smaller but unnervingly fast, darting toward the team with blinding speed.
"Engage!" Alice shouted.
Dante met the brute head-on, his hammer colliding with its chest in a deafening clash. Sparks flew as the creature retaliated, its massive fists slamming into the ground where Dante had just been.
Ezra hurled a fireball at the smaller Aberration, forcing it to veer off course. Mira followed up with a crossbow bolt, which struck the creature's leg and slowed it down.
Alice and Lila flanked the clawed Aberration, their blades slicing through its defenses with precision.
Noah gripped his baton, his Grindstone glowing faintly as it synced with his combat HUD:
[Combat Parameters Updated]
Objective: Defend the team and eliminate hostiles.
Bonus Objective: Land 2 critical strikes.
Reward: Minor Skill Upgrade – Momentum Boost (Lv. 1).
"Stay sharp, Noah!" Alice called out as she dodged a swipe from the clawed Aberration.
Heart pounding, Noah moved toward Ezra and Mira, who were struggling to contain the smaller, faster Aberration. The creature lunged at Ezra, its jaws snapping dangerously close, but Noah intercepted it, landing a solid strike with his baton.
The impact sent a shockwave through the creature, and it staggered back, giving Ezra enough time to unleash another fireball that engulfed it in flames.
"Nice timing!" Ezra shouted, grinning.
Across the room, Dante delivered a crushing blow to the brute, shattering its armor-like hide. With a final swing, he brought the hammer down on its head, reducing it to black mist.
Alice and Lila dispatched the clawed Aberration with ruthless efficiency, their teamwork flawless.
As the last Aberration dissolved, the team regrouped around the Rift Node.
"Let's destroy this thing before it opens another rift," Alice said, nodding to Dante.
The towering fighter approached the node, raising his hammer high. With a powerful swing, he brought it crashing down on the pulsating mass. The node shattered with a blinding flash of light, and the rift above it collapsed into nothingness.
"That's one down," Alice said, wiping sweat from her brow.
"Any sign of who's behind this?" Mira asked, reloading her crossbow.
Alice shook her head. "Not yet. But we're going deeper. If someone or something is down here, we'll find them."
As the team moved deeper into the tunnels, the air grew colder, and the hum of unstable energy grew louder.
Noah couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into a trap. Whoever—or whatever—was orchestrating this Rift Node network wasn't going to let them destroy it without a fight.
For now, though, he pushed the thought aside and focused on the task at hand. The mission was far from over.
End of Chapter 14.