The air grew heavier with each step, the rift's pulsing energy becoming almost unbearable. Ryn could barely hear his own thoughts over the deep hum that reverberated through the glasslike ground beneath him.
The Spirit Fox's glowing fur flared and dimmed in irregular bursts, its claws scratching faint trails of light into the unstable terrain. The bond pulsed wildly, erratic and overwhelming, as though it was being pulled in multiple directions at once.
"We're close," Ryn said, his voice strained.
The fox growled softly, its tail swishing as it stepped forward cautiously.
The heart of the rift loomed ahead, a massive, swirling vortex of green and black energy that crackled with violent bursts of light. At its center hovered an enormous crystal, fractured and jagged, its surface glowing faintly with the same energy as the shard in Ryn's pack.
The shard began to pulse wildly, its energy resonating with the crystal. Ryn winced as a sharp jolt shot through the bond, nearly knocking him off his feet.
"It's reacting to the crystal," Ryn muttered, clutching his chest.
The Spirit Fox let out a sharp bark, its glowing eyes locked on the vortex.
"I know," Ryn said, steadying himself. "Something's about to happen."
The crystal's light intensified, and the swirling energy of the vortex shifted violently. The air around them trembled, and a deep, guttural roar echoed from within the rift.
Ryn tensed, his knife already in hand as he scanned the shifting shadows.
From the vortex emerged a massive figure—a being unlike anything Ryn had ever seen. Its body was composed of swirling energy and jagged, shifting shards of crystal. Its limbs were elongated and distorted, and its glowing eyes burned with an unnatural green light.
The Spirit Fox growled fiercely, its fur flaring brightly as it stepped protectively in front of Ryn. The bond pulsed sharply, filling Ryn with a surge of adrenaline.
"What is that?" Ryn whispered, his voice trembling.
The being let out a deafening roar, its form shifting as it loomed over them. Its voice echoed through the rift, deep and resonant.
"You seek to destroy what you cannot comprehend."
Ryn's fists clenched. "We're here to stop the corruption!"
"The corruption is not your enemy. It is the world's salvation. You are blind to its purpose."
The Spirit Fox barked sharply, its glowing claws flexing as it prepared to strike. The bond flared brightly, its energy flooding Ryn's mind.
"Whatever you are," Ryn said, stepping forward, "you're not going to stop us."
The being let out another roar, its massive form shifting as it charged.
"Move!" Ryn shouted.
The Spirit Fox blinked away with Radiant Step, reappearing behind the being as it slashed at its legs. Ryn darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a jagged shard of crystal that crashed into the ground where he had been standing.
The bond pulsed wildly, guiding Ryn and the fox as they moved in sync. The Spirit Fox's claws left trails of glowing light across the being's shifting form, but the wounds closed almost instantly, the energy reabsorbed into its body.
"It's healing," Ryn muttered, his grip tightening on his knife. "We need to stop it from regenerating!"
The fox growled in agreement, its fur flaring as it darted forward to strike again.
The battle raged across the rift's heart, the being's attacks shaking the unstable ground beneath them. Shards of crystal rained down, forcing Ryn and the Spirit Fox to dodge and weave as they searched for an opening.
The shard in Ryn's pack pulsed violently, and the bond flared brighter than ever. Ryn gasped as a surge of energy rushed through him, his mind flooded with fragmented images of the Spirit Fox's past evolutions.
He saw the fox's first transformation, the moment its bond with him had solidified. He saw its second evolution, when it had gained the power to cleanse corruption. And now, he saw something new—an image of the fox standing at the center of the rift, its fur blazing with radiant energy.
"It's you," Ryn whispered, his eyes widening.
The Spirit Fox let out a sharp cry, its fur glowing brighter than ever as it leapt onto the being's back. The bond pulsed violently, and Ryn felt the fox's strength surge through him.
The being roared, its form shifting wildly as it tried to shake the fox off.
"Hold on!" Ryn shouted, darting forward.
The Spirit Fox's claws drove into the being's core, the light from its attacks spreading across its body like cracks in a pane of glass.
The being let out a final, deafening roar as its form shattered, dissolving into a burst of green and white light.
Ryn collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving as the bond pulsed faintly. The Spirit Fox landed beside him, its glowing fur dimming as it nuzzled against his leg.
"You did it," Ryn said softly, his voice filled with relief.
The fox chirped weakly, its tail swishing as it rested its head on his lap.
As the light from the being faded, the crystal at the rift's center began to crack and splinter. The shard in Ryn's pack pulsed brightly, its energy resonating with the crystal as it floated out of his bag.
"What's happening?" Ryn muttered, standing slowly.
The shard hovered in front of him, its light intensifying as it merged with the crystal.
The bond flared sharply, and Ryn felt a flood of emotions—pain, fear, determination—rush through him as the Spirit Fox's energy surged.
"You're connected to this," Ryn said, his voice trembling. "Aren't you?"
The fox chirped softly, its glowing eyes meeting his. The bond pulsed warmly, a quiet reassurance that steadied his nerves.
"Then let's finish this," Ryn said, his voice filled with resolve.
The fox barked sharply, its fur blazing with radiant light as they prepared to face whatever came next.