The clearing was eerily quiet after the Rift Guardian's collapse. Its massive, twisted body had dissolved into black mist, leaving only a faint hum of residual energy in the air. The green glow from the rift pulsed faintly, illuminating the jagged terrain in an unnatural light.
Ryn stood at the edge of the rift, his chest heaving as he wiped sweat from his brow. His knife was slick with black ichor, and his arms ached from the battle. The Spirit Fox sat beside him, its glowing fur flickering weakly, the effort of the fight evident in its unsteady breaths.
"Everyone okay?" Ryn asked, glancing over his shoulder.
Bryn and Mira were bruised but still standing, their weapons bloodied from the fight. Jek was leaning against a boulder, one of his daggers broken, but he gave Ryn a sharp nod.
"Barely," Mira said, her voice tight. "That thing was tougher than anything we've faced before."
"And bigger," Jek added, his smirk faint but intact. "You sure you're not bringing bad luck, kid?"
Ryn ignored the jab, his gaze returning to the rift. Its energy felt heavier now, pressing against him like an invisible force.
"Is it just me," Ryn said slowly, "or does the rift feel... stronger?"
Bryn stepped closer, his scarred face grim. "That happens when a Guardian dies. It destabilizes the rift for a while before it starts to recover. We don't have much time."
"Time for what?" Ryn asked, frowning.
"To figure out what's causing this," Bryn said. "The corruption's not just spreading on its own. Something's feeding it."
Ryn hesitated, glancing at the Spirit Fox. The bond pulsed faintly, a quiet reassurance that steadied his nerves.
"All right," Ryn said. "Where do we start?"
Mira pointed toward the rift. "There's usually something left behind when a Guardian falls. A core, a shard—something connected to the rift's energy. We need to find it."
"And if it's still dangerous?" Ryn asked.
Bryn smirked, hefting his sword. "Then we do what we do best."
They moved cautiously through the clearing, the rift's green light casting long, distorted shadows. The air grew colder as they approached, and Ryn could feel the weight of the corruption pressing harder against his chest.
The Spirit Fox growled softly, its glowing eyes scanning the ground. It sniffed at a patch of blackened earth near the rift, its tail swishing nervously.
"What is it?" Ryn asked, crouching beside the fox.
The fox chirped sharply, pawing at the ground.
Ryn followed its gaze and spotted something half-buried in the dirt—a jagged crystal, pulsing faintly with green light. Its surface was fractured, and thin tendrils of black mist coiled around it like living smoke.
"That's it," Mira said, stepping closer. Her bow was drawn, an arrow nocked as she kept her distance. "A Rift Core. Don't touch it directly—it's pure corruption."
"Then how do we deal with it?" Ryn asked, eyeing the crystal warily.
Bryn pulled a small, rune-covered container from his pack. "We seal it," he said, opening the container and holding it out toward the core. "But you'd better be ready. This part always gets messy."
The moment the container's lid opened, the Rift Core reacted violently. Its green light flared, and the black mist surrounding it surged outward, coalescing into shadowy forms.
"Here we go again," Jek muttered, flipping his remaining dagger in his hand.
The shadows lunged, their distorted shapes flickering as they charged.
"Protect Bryn!" Mira shouted, loosing an arrow that pierced one of the shadows, dispersing it into smoke.
Ryn gripped his knife tightly, stepping in front of Bryn as another shadow lunged toward him. The Spirit Fox darted forward, its glowing claws raking through the creature and leaving trails of blue light in its wake.
The bond flared, filling Ryn with a surge of adrenaline. He moved with the fox, their actions synchronized as they fought off the shadowy forms.
"These things keep coming!" Ryn shouted, slashing at a shadow that had circled around him. "How long is this going to take?"
"As long as it needs to!" Bryn snapped, his focus on sealing the core. "Just keep them off me!"
The Spirit Fox let out a sharp cry, its fur flaring brightly as it used Radiant Step to blink across the clearing, cutting down two shadows at once.
Ryn gritted his teeth, his muscles burning as he fought off another wave. The shadows were relentless, their movements chaotic and unpredictable.
Finally, Bryn snapped the container shut, and the Rift Core's light vanished. The remaining shadows dissipated instantly, their forms dissolving into wisps of smoke.
"Done," Bryn said, exhaling heavily. He held up the sealed container, its surface glowing faintly with runes. "The core's contained—for now."
"Good," Mira said, lowering her bow. "Let's get out of here before anything else shows up."
As they left the clearing, Ryn couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them. The bond pulsed faintly, the Spirit Fox's unease echoing his own.
"This isn't over," Ryn said quietly, glancing back at the now-dormant rift.
The Spirit Fox chirped softly, its glowing eyes fixed on the trail ahead.
"No," Ryn muttered. "It's just beginning."