The air around the rift crackled with residual energy, and the faint black mist left by the Rift Spawn began to dissipate. Ryn stood in silence, his knife still clutched tightly in his hand as he stared at the swirling vortex ahead. Even from a distance, the rift's pull was almost physical, tugging at the edges of his thoughts.
The Spirit Fox stood by his side, its fur glowing faintly as its breathing steadied. The bond pulsed softly, still strong but tinged with unease.
"That thing almost killed us," Jek said, breaking the silence as he leaned against a jagged boulder. He twirled his remaining dagger absently, his smirk absent for once. "What do you think the rift's hiding if that was just its guard dog?"
"Nothing good," Mira muttered, slinging her bow over her shoulder. "If the energy's this strong out here, it's going to be ten times worse once we're inside."
"If we go inside," Bryn said, his voice sharp. He was still standing near the Rift Spawn's remains, his sword resting on his shoulder. His scarred face was set in a grim frown, his gaze fixed on the rift.
"What do you mean 'if'?" Ryn asked, narrowing his eyes. "We've come this far. We can't stop now."
Bryn turned to face him, his tone blunt. "We don't know what's waiting for us in there. Charging in without a plan is suicide."
"So what's your plan?" Ryn shot back, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Sit here and hope the corruption fixes itself?"
Mira stepped between them, her hands raised. "Enough," she said. "Arguing won't help. If we're going to do this, we need to think it through."
"The kid's right about one thing," Jek said, gesturing toward the rift with his dagger. "We didn't come all this way just to turn back."
As the group spoke, a low hum began to emanate from the rift, growing louder with each passing moment. The swirling energy seemed to pulse rhythmically, the vibrations coursing through the ground and into Ryn's chest.
The Spirit Fox stiffened, its glowing eyes locked on the rift.
"What now?" Mira asked, her hand going to her bow.
"I don't know," Bryn said, gripping his sword tightly. "Stay alert."
The pulse intensified, the air growing colder as the rift's energy flared. The bond between Ryn and the Spirit Fox pulsed sharply, filling his mind with a strange, almost dizzying warmth.
Then the world shifted.
Ryn stumbled as the landscape around him blurred, the jagged terrain fading into a swirling void of green and black. He looked around wildly, his heart pounding. The others were gone.
"Hello?" he called, his voice echoing in the emptiness.
The Spirit Fox appeared beside him, its glow steady and reassuring. The bond pulsed faintly, grounding him as he tried to steady his breathing.
"What is this?" Ryn muttered, glancing at the fox.
Before the fox could respond, the void around them shifted again. Images flickered in the darkness—fragmented and distorted, like pieces of a broken mirror.
Ryn saw glimpses of a world before the corruption: lush forests, sparkling rivers, and beasts moving peacefully through the Wildlands. He saw figures—humanoid but indistinct—standing at the center of it all, their hands outstretched as they shaped the land with glowing crystals.
"The Codex," Ryn murmured.
The images shifted again, and the once-pristine landscapes began to crack and blacken. The glowing crystals fractured, their energy spilling out uncontrollably. Beasts twisted and warped into monstrous forms, their eyes glowing with green fire. The figures disappeared, their forms consumed by the chaos.
A voice echoed through the void, deep and resonant.
"The Codex was never meant to last."
Ryn froze, his fists clenching. "Who are you?"
The voice ignored his question, continuing as though it hadn't heard him.
"It was a crutch, a bandage for a broken world. But the balance has shifted. The corruption is not a disease—it is the cure."
"That's not true," Ryn said, his voice trembling. "The corruption destroys everything it touches!"
"Destruction is evolution. Change cannot come without sacrifice."
Ryn shook his head, his mind racing. The Spirit Fox pressed against his leg, its presence grounding him as the bond pulsed warmly.
"You're wrong," Ryn said, his voice steadying. "The Codex might be broken, but the corruption isn't the answer. There's another way."
The voice fell silent for a moment, and the void seemed to ripple around him.
"You are bound to the Spirit. You are part of this. But you cannot stop what is already in motion."
The images faded, and the void began to collapse around Ryn.
He gasped as he was pulled back into the real world, stumbling as the bond flared sharply. The Spirit Fox let out a sharp cry, its fur glowing brighter than ever as it pressed against him.
"Ryn!" Mira's voice broke through his daze. "Are you okay?"
"I..." Ryn blinked, his breathing uneven as he looked around. The group was exactly where he'd left them, but the rift's energy was still pulsing, and the air felt heavier than before.
"What happened?" Bryn demanded.
Ryn shook his head, trying to make sense of what he'd seen. "I... I saw something. The rift, the Codex—it's all connected. The corruption isn't just spreading randomly. It's trying to... change something."
"Change what?" Mira asked, her voice tight.
"I don't know," Ryn admitted, his gaze shifting to the Spirit Fox. "But I think the fox and I are part of it."
Bryn frowned, his grip tightening on his sword. "Then we need to figure out what that means. Fast."
The Spirit Fox let out a soft chirp, its glowing eyes fixed on the rift. The bond pulsed faintly, and Ryn could feel its determination.
"We're not done yet," Ryn said quietly, his voice filled with resolve.
The rift pulsed again, its energy crackling as the group prepared to move closer.