The container holding the Rift Core sat on the ground between Ryn and the Spirit Fox, pulsing faintly with green light. Its glow reflected in Ryn's eyes as he knelt, his hands hovering inches above the surface. Every instinct told him to stop, to back away from the unstable energy radiating from the core, but the faint flicker of the bond pushed him forward.
The Spirit Fox lay beside him, its glowing fur dim and its breathing shallow. Its eyes were half-closed, but its gaze never left Ryn's face. The bond pulsed faintly, fragile yet determined.
"Focus," Mira said softly, her voice steady but edged with tension. She stood a few feet away, her bow in hand, ready for anything that might go wrong. Bryn and Jek lingered farther back, their postures tense.
"You need to sync completely with the bond," Mira continued. "Feel its energy. When the core opens, guide the flow to the fox—slowly. Too much at once, and it'll overwhelm you both."
Ryn swallowed hard, nodding. His fingers trembled as he reached for the container's lid.
"Are you sure about this?" Bryn called, his voice sharp. "There's no going back if you screw this up."
"I don't have a choice," Ryn said without looking up.
The Spirit Fox let out a faint chirp, its glowing tail flicking weakly.
"That's right," Ryn murmured. "We've come too far to stop now."
With a slow, steady motion, Ryn unsealed the container. The Rift Core's green light flared brightly, and a wave of energy burst outward, rattling the nearby crates and extinguishing the campfire.
The air grew colder, heavier, as tendrils of black mist coiled around the core, twisting and writhing like living things. The Spirit Fox growled softly, its fur bristling despite its exhaustion.
"Now!" Mira shouted. "Focus on the bond!"
Ryn closed his eyes, his breathing uneven as he reached out with his mind. The bond flared to life, a fragile thread connecting him to the Spirit Fox. He could feel its exhaustion, its pain, but beneath it all was a spark of defiance—a refusal to give up.
We can do this, Ryn thought, pushing his focus deeper into the bond. I won't let this break us.
The Rift Core's energy surged, and Ryn felt a sharp jolt as the bond reacted. The Spirit Fox let out a sharp cry, its body trembling as the corruption's energy began to flow through the bond.
"It's too much!" Bryn shouted. "Shut it down!"
"No!" Ryn snapped, gritting his teeth. "We can handle it!"
The bond pulsed erratically, the energy searing through Ryn's mind like fire. He could feel the corruption's presence—a chaotic, destructive force that threatened to consume everything in its path.
But beneath the chaos, there was something else.
A voice.
"Why do you resist?"
Ryn froze, his eyes snapping open. The clearing around him blurred, the tamers and the Spirit Fox fading into shadows. He was standing in a vast, empty void, the Rift Core's green light pulsing faintly in the distance.
"Who's there?" Ryn called, his voice echoing.
The voice came again, deep and resonant, as though it was part of the air itself. "You cannot stop what has already begun. The Codex is failing. The balance is broken."
"What are you talking about?" Ryn demanded.
"The corruption is not your enemy. It is your evolution. Embrace it, or be consumed by it."
Ryn's fists clenched. "You're wrong. I've seen what the corruption does. It destroys everything it touches!"
The voice fell silent, replaced by a low, rumbling laugh. "Then prove me wrong, little tamer."
The vision shattered, and Ryn gasped as he was pulled back into the clearing. The Rift Core's energy was still surging, the bond between him and the Spirit Fox pulsing erratically.
"Ryn!" Mira shouted. "What are you doing? Stabilize it!"
"I'm trying!" Ryn yelled, forcing his focus back to the bond.
The Spirit Fox let out another cry, its glowing fur flaring brightly as the corruption's energy coursed through it. For a terrifying moment, Ryn thought the bond would snap, the fragile connection between them breaking under the strain.
But then, the Spirit Fox's energy surged. Its glow intensified, burning brighter and brighter until the corruption's green light was swallowed by its radiant blue.
The bond flared, stronger than ever, and Ryn felt the Spirit Fox's presence flood his mind—its determination, its strength, and its unyielding will to fight.
The Rift Core's energy began to fade, the black mist retreating into the container as the Spirit Fox's light overwhelmed it.
Finally, the core went dark, its light extinguished.
Ryn collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The Spirit Fox lay beside him, its fur glowing softly and its breathing steady.
"You did it," Mira said, her voice filled with cautious relief. "I can't believe that actually worked."
Ryn didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the Spirit Fox. He reached out to touch its fur, and the bond pulsed warmly, a steady rhythm that brought tears to his eyes.
"You're okay," he whispered. "You're really okay."
The fox chirped softly, nuzzling his hand.
"Not bad, kid," Jek said, leaning against a tree. "I thought you were a goner for sure."
"Don't encourage him," Bryn muttered, shaking his head. "That was reckless."
"It worked, didn't it?" Mira shot back.
Bryn grunted but didn't argue.
Ryn slowly stood, cradling the Spirit Fox in his arms. The bond was stronger than ever, but the memory of the voice lingered in his mind.
"What was that?" he murmured to himself.
The Spirit Fox chirped softly, but its glowing eyes reflected the same unease Ryn felt.
"Whatever it was," Ryn said quietly, "it's not over."