The sealed doors of the lab wing groaned as they slid open, revealing a cavernous space bathed in the flickering glow of an unstable anomaly. Pulses of energy arced from a massive rift in the center of the room, twisting the air into a chaotic swirl of light and shadow. The anomaly hummed like a living thing, its glow casting jagged reflections across shattered glass and toppled equipment.
Kael stepped forward, his boots crunching against shards of broken tile. His [Enhanced Perception] lit up his HUD, flagging multiple points of interest and danger. The room was a battlefield of destruction—overturned desks, gutted monitors, and scorch marks that hinted at violent conflict.
But it was the figure near the anomaly that held Kael's attention.
A towering creature, humanoid in shape but grotesquely twisted, stood at the center of the chaos. Its body was a patchwork of exposed muscle, blackened steel, and glowing veins of energy. Its eyes glowed a deep red, and its movements were unnervingly smooth as it turned to face the intruders.
[Detected Hostile: Rift Titan (Elite).
Threat Level: Extreme.]
Kael's jaw tightened as the system chimed with a warning:
[Energy Spikes Detected. Combat Imminent. Prepare for Engagement.]
"Looks like we found the source," Kael muttered, raising his shotgun.
Elara stepped beside him, her machete gleaming in the anomaly's light. "What's the plan?"
"We bring it down," Kael said, activating the [Energy Shield] on his gauntlet. "Jonas, stay back and cover us. Elara, you're with me. Hit it fast and hard."
Jonas nodded nervously, positioning himself near a broken console for cover.
The Rift Titan let out a guttural roar, the sound vibrating through the room as it charged forward.
Kael fired the first shot, the shotgun's blast echoing through the chamber as it struck the Titan's chest. The creature staggered but recovered quickly, its massive arm swinging in a wide arc.
Kael ducked, the gauntlet's [Energy Shield] flaring as the blow glanced off the barrier. "It's strong!" he shouted, rolling to the side.
Elara darted in, her machete flashing as she struck at the Titan's legs. The blade bit into the exposed muscle, black ichor spraying from the wound. The creature roared, spinning to swat at her, but Elara was already gone, moving with fluid precision.
"Keep it distracted!" Kael called, activating the [Shockwave Pulse] on his gauntlet. The concussive blast struck the Titan square in the chest, forcing it back a step.
Jonas fired from his position, his shots aimed at the glowing veins on the Titan's arms. The bullets connected, and the creature recoiled, its movements becoming more erratic.
The anomaly pulsed violently as the battle raged, its energy spikes causing arcs of electricity to lash out across the room. One struck a nearby console, sending a shower of sparks cascading over Jonas.
"Kael!" Jonas shouted, panic creeping into his voice. "The rift's going crazy!"
Kael glanced at the anomaly, his HUD highlighting its destabilizing state.
[Rift Stability: 42%]
[Warning: Critical Threshold Approaching.]
"If it collapses, we're all dead," Kael muttered. He fired another shot at the Titan, then turned to Elara. "Buy me time—I'll try to stabilize it!"
"What?!" Elara shouted, slashing at the Titan again. "You're going to mess with that thing?"
"Do you have a better idea?" Kael snapped.
Elara didn't respond, her focus returning to the Titan as it lunged at her.
Kael sprinted toward the rift, the system overlaying a complex schematic of its energy patterns. The swirling vortex of light and electricity seemed to pulse with malice, but Kael's [Gauntlet of Ascension] flared as it synced with the rift's chaotic energy.
[Stabilization Protocol Activated. Progress: 0%.]
Kael worked quickly, his gauntlet glowing brighter as he adjusted the rift's energy flow. Sparks flew as the rift resisted his efforts, and Kael gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face.
"Come on, come on…" he muttered, his hands moving with practiced precision.
Behind him, Elara and Jonas continued their assault on the Titan. Elara ducked and weaved, her machete carving deep gashes into the creature's legs, while Jonas fired carefully aimed shots at its glowing weak points.
[Stabilization Progress: 35%.]
"Kael, it's getting faster!" Jonas shouted, his voice rising in panic.
The Titan roared, its movements becoming more frenzied as the anomaly's energy fed into it. It swung wildly, forcing Elara to retreat as its massive fists smashed into the floor.
"Just hold it off a little longer!" Kael yelled, his focus never leaving the rift.
As Kael worked, the rift's glow began to soften, its chaotic pulses becoming more stable. But the Titan wasn't finished. With a deafening roar, it charged straight at Kael, its eyes blazing with fury.
"Kael, MOVE!" Elara screamed.
Kael turned just in time to see the Titan bearing down on him. He raised his gauntlet, activating the [Energy Shield], but the creature's blow shattered the barrier, sending him sprawling across the floor.
Elara leapt onto the Titan's back, driving her machete into its neck. The creature howled, flailing wildly as she held on, her teeth gritted with effort.
"Jonas, NOW!" Kael shouted.
Jonas steadied his aim, his hands trembling as he fired a single, precise shot. The bullet struck the Titan's exposed core—a glowing mass of energy in its chest.
The creature froze, a guttural roar escaping its throat as the light in its eyes flickered and died. It collapsed to the floor with a thunderous crash, its body dissolving into ash and blackened metal.
[Stabilization Complete]
Kael pushed himself to his feet, his body aching as the system chimed softly in his HUD.
[Rift Stabilized. Energy Contained.]
The anomaly's glow faded, its chaotic energy condensing into a small, pulsating core at its center. Kael approached cautiously, his gauntlet syncing with the core.
[Anomaly Core Acquired. New Blueprint Unlocked: Energy Conduit (Level 3).]
Kael exhaled slowly, his chest heaving. "It's done."
Elara slumped against a nearby console, her face streaked with sweat and grime. "Next time, warn me before you decide to mess with a glowing death vortex."
Jonas let out a shaky laugh, his pistol still clutched tightly in his hands. "Did we… did we just survive that?"
"Barely," Kael said, tucking the core into his satchel.
The group exited the facility as the sun began to rise, the wasteland bathed in a pale, gray light. The Mobile Operations Unit stood where they had left it, its engine humming softly as they climbed inside.
As they drove back to the settlement, Kael's mind raced. The Rift Titan, the unstable anomaly, the message about Gridfall—everything was connected. And whatever was happening out here, it was only getting worse.
When they reached the settlement, Bren and Mara were waiting at the gate, their relief visible as the transport rolled in.
Kael stepped out, the weight of the anomaly core heavy in his satchel. "We've got a lot to talk about," he said, his voice grim.
Elara smirked faintly. "You always say that."