The destruction of the hospital fragment left the team with more questions than answers. Despite their success in collapsing the core, Li Wen's data revealed a disturbing pattern: the fragments weren't dissipating—they were converging, pooling their energy into an unknown location.
As they gathered at their temporary base, Jiang Xia studied the map on Li Wen's laptop. Five fragments had been identified, and three were already destroyed. Yet the remaining two seemed to be merging with energy from the collapsed sites.
"The next fragment is in the Old Harbor District," Li Wen said, his tone grim. "But this time, the energy isn't stationary. It's moving—like it's being drawn somewhere."
Qin Chuan frowned, his rifle resting against his shoulder. "You're saying the fragments are coming together? Like a super-node?"
"Exactly," Li Wen replied. "If we don't stop this next fragment, it could pull all the energy into one place—and we'll be dealing with something far worse than the Rift anomalies we've seen so far."
Jiang Xia nodded, her jaw tightening. "Then we stop it before it merges. Let's move."
---
The Old Harbor District
The harbor had been abandoned for years, its once-bustling piers now decaying and silent. The air was thick with moisture, and a faint mist rolled in from the sea, shrouding the derelict ships and warehouses in an eerie glow. As the team approached, the faint hum of Rift energy vibrated through the ground.
"This place is a maze," Xu Min said, scanning the area with her binoculars. "The fragment could be anywhere."
"It's not hiding," Li Wen said, pointing to his scanner. "It's in the central dockyard, but the energy readings are… strange. It's like it's unstable and pulling energy from multiple sources."
"Then let's move quickly," Jiang Xia said. "Before it has a chance to stabilize."
---
The Fragment's Unstable Core
The central dockyard was a sprawling expanse of rusted containers and abandoned machinery. At its heart, the fragment hovered above the ground, a swirling vortex of light and shadow. Conduits of energy stretched outward, connecting to nearby structures and drawing power from the harbor's infrastructure.
"This one's massive," Li Wen said, setting up his disruptor. "It's feeding off the entire area. If it stabilizes, it could create a Rift node that spans miles."
"Then we shut it down," Jiang Xia said, raising her weapon. "Xu Min, cover Li Wen. Qin Chuan, you're with me."
---
The Rift's New Defense
As Li Wen approached the fragment, the conduits pulsed violently, and the air around them grew colder. Shadows coalesced into humanoid forms, but these were different from the remnants they had fought before. These creatures were larger, more solid, their forms crackling with raw energy. They moved with purpose, their attacks coordinated and relentless.
"They're evolving again!" Xu Min shouted, firing at one of the creatures as it lunged toward Li Wen.
"They're protecting the fragment," Li Wen yelled, ducking behind a container. "It's like they're part of it!"
Jiang Xia and Qin Chuan fought side by side, their movements synchronized as they held the line. Jiang Xia's blade flashed in the dim light, cutting through the creatures with precise strikes, while Qin Chuan's rifle roared, keeping the attackers at bay.
"These things are tougher than the last ones," Qin Chuan said, reloading his weapon. "They're learning."
---
A Critical Disruption
The fragment pulsed violently, sending shockwaves through the dockyard. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and the conduits glowed brighter, their energy feeding directly into the vortex.
"We're running out of time!" Xu Min shouted, taking down another creature. "Li Wen, do it now!"
"I'm trying!" Li Wen yelled, frantically typing into his tablet. "But the fragment is resisting the disruptor—it's like it knows what we're doing."
"Keep at it!" Jiang Xia shouted, her blade clashing with a creature's energy-laced claws. "We'll hold them off."
Finally, Li Wen activated the disruptor. The fragment emitted a blinding flash of light, and the creatures let out a deafening roar as they dissolved into streaks of energy. The conduits shattered, and the vortex began to collapse inward.
---
The Fragment Merges
But just as the fragment collapsed, a surge of energy erupted from its core, spiraling upward into the sky. Li Wen stared at his scanner, his face pale.
"What just happened?" Xu Min asked, her voice sharp.
"The energy… it didn't dissipate," Li Wen said, his voice shaking. "It moved. The fragments are merging—they're creating a central convergence point."
"Where?" Jiang Xia demanded.
Li Wen hesitated, his fingers flying over his keyboard. "It's… downtown. The tallest building in the city."
"The Central Spire," Qin Chuan said, his tone grim. "Of course it's there."
---
A Final Warning
As the team prepared to leave, a familiar voice echoed through the air. Gao's holographic projection appeared above the ruins of the fragment, his expression calm but cold.
"You're too late," Gao said, his voice resonating with unnatural clarity. "The fragments are no longer isolated. They've become something greater—something this world has never seen."
"You won't win, Gao," Jiang Xia snapped, her blade still in hand. "We'll stop this."
"You still don't understand," Gao replied, his smirk widening. "This isn't about winning or losing. The Rift is alive now. And when it fully awakens, nothing will stop it."
The projection flickered and disappeared, leaving the team alone with the wreckage.
---
The Convergence Point
Back at their safehouse, Li Wen pulled up the data on his laptop. "The remaining fragments are converging at the Central Spire. It's not just a building—it's a conduit for the Rift energy. If we don't stop it there…"
Jiang Xia interrupted. "We will. This ends at the Spire."
The team prepared for what they knew would be their hardest battle yet. The Rift was evolving faster than they could counter it, and Gao's words hinted at a final, catastrophic plan. But Jiang Xia's resolve was unshaken.
"No matter what it takes," she said softly, "we end this."