The collapse of the nexus had left the city reeling. For Jiang Xia, Qin Chuan, and Li Wen, it was a temporary victory—but the cost of their actions loomed heavily over them. The Rift Project wasn't over. The destruction of the backup core hadn't stopped the anomalies. Instead, it seemed to have made them worse.
Jiang Xia sat in their new hideout, staring at the flickering holographic map Li Wen had projected onto the wall. The Rift's energy signals were spiking all over the city, creating pockets of instability that defied the laws of physics. Streets folded in on themselves, buildings shimmered like mirages, and time flowed unpredictably in affected areas.
"It's spreading," Li Wen said, his voice hollow. "The more we destabilize the Rift, the harder it is to contain."
Jiang Xia rubbed her temples. "So, what's the solution? We can't just stop now."
Qin Chuan crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "The solution lies inside the Rift. If we're going to end this, we need to go in."
Jiang Xia froze, her heart skipping a beat. "Go… inside? You mean… into the Rift itself?"
"Yes," Qin Chuan replied, his tone steady. "The files hinted at something—an anchor. Something or someone that stabilizes the Rift from within. If we can find it, we can sever the connection."
"That's suicide," Li Wen interjected. "The anomalies inside the Rift will tear us apart. No one who's gone in has ever come back."
"My father went in," Jiang Xia said quietly, her voice trembling. "And if there's even a chance he's still alive in there, I have to go."
---
Preparing for the Journey
The decision to enter the Rift was made that same night. It wasn't an easy choice, but it was the only one left. With Li Wen's help, they began assembling the equipment they'd need for the mission.
"Time behaves differently inside the Rift," Li Wen explained, handing Jiang Xia a small wrist device. "This will help you track how long you've been inside. But be warned—what feels like minutes in there could be hours out here, or vice versa."
Qin Chuan inspected the gear, his expression grim. "What about the anomalies? How do we protect ourselves?"
Li Wen hesitated. "You don't. The Rift is unpredictable. The only way to survive is to stay focused and keep moving. If you stop for too long, the anomalies will consume you."
Jiang Xia strapped on the wrist device, her resolve hardening. "Then we don't stop."
---
Entering the Rift
The entrance to the Rift was located in a hidden chamber beneath the ruins of the Envision Technologies facility. The air was thick with tension as the trio descended into the darkness, their footsteps echoing off the metal walls.
The chamber was illuminated by the Rift itself—a swirling vortex of light and shadow that pulsed with a rhythm that felt almost alive. Jiang Xia felt a strange pull, as if the Rift was calling to her, whispering promises of answers and danger in equal measure.
"This is it," Qin Chuan said, his voice barely audible. "Once we step through, there's no turning back."
Jiang Xia took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "Let's end this."
Together, they stepped into the vortex.
---
The Rift
The world inside the Rift defied comprehension. The ground beneath their feet shifted with every step, a reflective surface that mirrored their movements in strange, distorted ways. The sky above them was a swirling sea of colors, constantly changing and rippling like liquid.
Fragments of memories and moments floated in the air—people, places, and events frozen in time. Jiang Xia reached out to touch one, and a wave of emotion washed over her. It was her father, smiling at her during her childhood. The memory flickered and disappeared before she could grasp it.
"This place…" she whispered. "It's like it's alive."
"It is," Li Wen said, his voice shaky. "The Rift isn't just a dimension. It's a consciousness. And it's aware of us."
As they moved deeper, the anomalies grew more intense. Time stuttered, forcing them to relive moments seconds after they'd already happened. The air grew heavier, and strange shapes flickered at the edges of their vision.
"What's that?" Jiang Xia asked, pointing to a shadowy figure in the distance.
"Don't look at them," Qin Chuan warned. "They're fragments—remnants of people who've been lost in here. If you acknowledge them, they'll come for you."
Jiang Xia tore her gaze away, her stomach churning. She gripped her weapon tightly, forcing herself to focus.
---
The Anchor
After what felt like an eternity, they reached the heart of the Rift. The landscape opened into a vast, empty expanse, with a single structure standing at its center—a monolithic tower of light and energy. The anchor.
"There it is," Qin Chuan said, his voice filled with awe. "That's what's stabilizing the Rift."
Jiang Xia's chest tightened as they approached the tower. The energy radiating from it was overwhelming, making her skin crawl. But what truly stopped her in her tracks was the figure standing at the base of the tower.
It was her father.
"Dad?" Jiang Xia whispered, her voice breaking.
Jiang Yuan turned to face her, his expression calm but distant. "Xia. You shouldn't have come here."
Tears filled Jiang Xia's eyes as she stepped closer. "You're alive. All these years… I thought you were gone."
"I'm not alive," Jiang Yuan said, his voice tinged with sadness. "Not in the way you think. The Rift took me. It made me part of itself. I am the anchor."
Jiang Xia's heart shattered. "No… no, this can't be."
"The Rift needs an anchor to remain stable," Jiang Yuan explained. "Without one, it will collapse, taking everything with it. If you destroy the anchor… you destroy the Rift."
Jiang Xia turned to Qin Chuan and Li Wen, her mind racing. "There has to be another way. We can't just… kill him."
"There is no other way," Jiang Yuan said gently. "This is my fate. But you can end this. You can stop the Rift from consuming more lives."
---
A Heartbreaking Choice
Tears streamed down Jiang Xia's face as she raised her weapon, her hands trembling. "I can't do this," she whispered. "I can't…"
"You have to," Qin Chuan said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's the only way."
Jiang Yuan stepped closer, his eyes filled with love and sorrow. "Xia, you've grown into a strong, brave woman. I'm proud of you. But you must let me go."
Jiang Xia's fingers tightened around the trigger. Her mind screamed at her to stop, but her father's words gave her strength. With a cry of anguish, she pulled the trigger.
The tower shattered, its light exploding outward in a blinding wave. The ground beneath them trembled, and the Rift began to collapse.
---
Escape
"Run!" Qin Chuan shouted, grabbing Jiang Xia's arm.
The trio sprinted back the way they came, the Rift collapsing around them. The fragments of memories and moments shattered like glass, and the ground crumbled beneath their feet.
Jiang Xia's lungs burned as she ran, her father's face etched into her mind. The Rift screamed, a sound that echoed with pain and rage, but she pushed forward, refusing to stop.
They reached the vortex just as the Rift collapsed completely, throwing them back into the real world. The chamber was silent, the air still.
---
Aftermath
Jiang Xia sat on the floor, her body trembling. The Rift was gone, and with it, her father. She felt hollow, as if a piece of her had been ripped away.
Qin Chuan placed a hand on her shoulder. "You did what you had to do."
Jiang Xia nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "But at what cost?"
Li Wen approached, his expression somber. "The Rift is gone, but its effects will linger. There's still work to be done."
Jiang Xia wiped her tears, determination returning to her eyes. "Then we'll finish what we started. For him."