The ground shook violently as the first of the corrupted beasts lunged from the rift. Its jagged, twisted form radiated green and black energy, and its glowing eyes burned with an unnatural light.
Bryn met it head-on, his sword slicing into its side with a flash of steel. Green ichor sprayed from the wound, but the beast barely slowed, swinging its massive claw in retaliation.
"Keep it busy!" Bryn shouted, dodging the swipe as his blade carved another deep gash into its chest.
Mira loosed an arrow, her aim precise as it pierced the eye of a second beast emerging from the rift. The creature roared in pain, its movements erratic as it staggered toward her.
"Two more coming!" Jek called, his daggers flashing as he darted around the third beast. His strikes were quick and calculated, carving deep wounds that bled black mist.
Ryn tightened his grip on his knife, his heart pounding as the Spirit Fox crouched low beside him. The bond pulsed sharply, filling him with a surge of adrenaline as the fox growled fiercely, its glowing fur flaring.
"We've got this," Ryn said, his voice steady.
The Spirit Fox barked sharply, and together they charged into the fray.
The first beast lunged at Ryn, its claws slamming into the ground as he rolled to the side. The Spirit Fox darted forward, its glowing claws slashing across the beast's legs in a blur of radiant light.
The bond flared brightly, and Ryn felt the fox's energy flood through him as he drove his knife into the creature's side. The beast roared, its body twisting unnaturally as the light from the fox's attacks spread through its corrupted flesh.
"They're weaker than the ones from the last rift!" Ryn shouted, stepping back as the beast collapsed in a heap of black mist.
"Don't get cocky!" Bryn called, blocking a swipe from the first beast as it roared in defiance. "We're not done yet!"
Mira fired another arrow, striking the second beast's leg and slowing its charge toward Jek.
"Could've killed it in one shot, Mira!" Jek called, smirking as he ducked under the beast's swing and drove his daggers into its chest.
"I'm saving you the glory," Mira retorted, nocking another arrow.
The Spirit Fox barked sharply, its glowing eyes fixed on the rift. More beasts were emerging, their jagged forms shimmering with unstable energy.
Ryn clenched his fists, the bond pulsing wildly as the fox's determination surged through him.
"They're not stopping," Ryn muttered, his chest tightening.
The Spirit Fox growled, its glowing fur flaring as it crouched low, ready to strike.
Ryn felt the bond shift, a sharp jolt of energy rushing through him as the fox's presence filled his mind completely.
"Wait," Ryn said, his voice trembling. "What are you—"
Before he could finish, the fox leapt into the air, its glowing fur blazing with radiant light. The bond flared brighter than ever, and Ryn gasped as his vision blurred.
The Spirit Fox let out a sharp, piercing cry, and a wave of light erupted from its body, spreading outward in a brilliant, blinding pulse.
The corrupted beasts froze mid-charge, their jagged forms flickering as the radiant light washed over them. The energy seared through their bodies, burning away the corruption like fire consuming dry wood.
One by one, the beasts collapsed, their forms dissolving into black mist that faded into the air.
The wave of light receded, and the Spirit Fox landed gracefully, its glowing fur dimming as it turned to face Ryn.
For a moment, there was only silence.
"What... was that?" Mira asked, lowering her bow.
"Some kind of burst," Bryn said, his voice cautious. He approached slowly, his sword still in hand. "It took out all the beasts at once."
Jek let out a low whistle, sheathing his daggers. "Impressive. Terrifying, but impressive."
Ryn knelt beside the Spirit Fox, his hand resting on its side. The bond pulsed faintly, its rhythm weak but steady.
"You're okay," Ryn murmured, relief flooding his voice. "You did it."
The fox chirped softly, nuzzling against his hand.
But as the group began to relax, the ground beneath them trembled again.
"Don't tell me there's more," Jek muttered, his smirk fading.
The rift flared violently, its swirling energy crackling with unstable light.
"It's collapsing," Bryn said sharply. "Whatever the fox did—it destabilized it."
Ryn's stomach twisted. "What happens if it collapses?"
"Best case?" Mira said grimly. "It takes everything nearby with it."
"Worst case?" Jek asked.
"We don't find out," Bryn snapped. "Move!"
The group sprinted away from the rift, the ground cracking and crumbling beneath their feet. The Spirit Fox stayed close to Ryn, its glowing fur flickering weakly as it ran. The bond pulsed faintly, its energy strained but unbroken.
"Almost there!" Mira shouted, leaping over a jagged fissure.
The rift let out a deafening roar as it collapsed completely, a surge of green and black light consuming the landscape behind them.
Ryn pushed himself forward, his chest burning as he leapt across a widening crack in the ground. The Spirit Fox blinked ahead with Radiant Step, reappearing just beyond the edge of the collapse.
They barely made it out in time.
When the dust settled, the group stood on the edge of the devastation, their chests heaving as they caught their breath. The rift was gone, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air where it had been.
"That's two rifts down," Jek said, collapsing onto a rock. "Only a hundred more to go."
Bryn didn't respond. His sharp eyes were fixed on the Spirit Fox, his expression unreadable.
"That burst," Mira said, stepping closer to Ryn. "The fox—it's not just cleansing the corruption anymore. It's... changing it."
Ryn nodded slowly, his hand resting on the fox's side. The bond pulsed softly, a quiet reminder of their shared strength—and their shared burden.
"I don't know what's happening to us," Ryn admitted. "But I know one thing."
Mira raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
Ryn glanced at the faint shimmer where the rift had been, his jaw tightening.
"This isn't over."
The Spirit Fox let out a soft chirp, its glowing eyes fixed on the horizon.