Selene and the group moved swiftly through the labyrinth of broken hallways and collapsed walls, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. The survivors, still pale and trembling, clung close to Marcus, who led them with his weapon ready. The scientist, who introduced himself as Dr. Linton, hurriedly explained the reactor's state while occasionally glancing over his shoulder as though expecting something worse to appear.
"The containment reactor is fueled by a stabilized rift shard," Linton said, his voice shaking. "We thought we'd perfected the process, but when the rift expanded unexpectedly, the energy became unstable. The reactor started leaking power, and... the creatures started emerging."
"How do we stop it?" Selene asked, her pace steady despite the oppressive tension growing around them.
Linton hesitated before answering. "You'd need to reengage the failsafe. But—"
"But what?" Selene pressed, her eyes narrowing.
"The failsafe requires a manual override. Whoever does it has to be in the reactor chamber itself, surrounded by rift energy," Linton explained. "Even with protective measures, the exposure... it's a death sentence."
A grim silence fell over the group, broken only by the distant sound of metal groaning and the occasional growl from the shadows.
"We'll figure it out," Marcus said firmly, his eyes meeting Selene's. "We always do."
As they descended another set of stairs, Selene's system buzzed with new alerts.
> Proximity Warning: High concentration of rift energy detected ahead. Prepare for hostile engagement.
They reached the reactor chamber—a massive, cylindrical room with catwalks crisscrossing over a glowing core of unstable blue light. The rift shard pulsed at its center, encased in a fractured containment field that sparked and flickered erratically. The air was thick with energy, making it hard to breathe.
Selene stepped forward, but Marcus grabbed her arm. "This feels like a trap."
Before she could respond, a low growl echoed through the chamber, followed by heavy footsteps. Emerging from the shadows was a hulking demon unlike anything they had seen before. Its body was coated in black, chitinous armor, and its eyes glowed with an intense blue light, matching the unstable reactor. Spiked tendrils writhed along its back, and its clawed hands radiated pure energy.
> System Alert: Rift Guardian detected. Extreme threat level. Accessing abilities...
The Guardian roared, its voice shaking the entire chamber. The survivors screamed, retreating further into the stairwell. Selene tightened her grip on her weapon, her system's interface filling her mind with tactical options.
"We don't have time for this," she said, her voice steady.
"You'll need to make time," Marcus replied, raising his rifle and taking aim.
The Guardian charged, moving with terrifying speed for its massive size. Selene barely dodged its clawed swipe, rolling to the side as Marcus fired a series of shots that ricocheted harmlessly off its armored hide.
"Great, bullets don't work," Marcus muttered, diving out of the way of another attack.
Selene's system pulsed with a new alert.
> Ability Unlocked: Rift Siphon Burst
The knowledge of the ability flooded her mind—an offensive move that would channel rift energy into a devastating attack. Selene gritted her teeth, raising her hand as the energy she absorbed earlier surged through her veins.
"Keep it busy!" she shouted to Marcus.
Marcus didn't hesitate, firing at the creature's glowing eyes to distract it. The Guardian roared in frustration, swiping at him wildly, giving Selene the opening she needed. She focused, feeling the power gather in her palm, and unleashed the siphoned energy in a brilliant burst of light.
The attack struck the Guardian directly in its chest, shattering part of its armor and sending it staggering back with a deafening roar. Selene didn't let up, pushing forward with another blast, aiming for the exposed core beneath its broken armor.
The Guardian howled in agony, collapsing to one knee as its energy began to dissipate.
"Now's our chance!" Selene shouted, motioning for Marcus to help her.
Together, they charged the wounded Guardian, Selene using her system-enhanced strength to strike its core with a final, concentrated burst of energy. The creature let out a final, bone-rattling scream before disintegrating into ash, leaving behind only faint traces of blue light.
Selene collapsed to one knee, panting heavily as her system buzzed with notifications.
> Rift Guardian Defeated: Significant energy absorbed. New abilities unlocked.
"Good work," Marcus said, helping her to her feet.
Selene nodded, glancing at the reactor. "Let's finish this."
Dr. Linton cautiously emerged from the stairwell, guiding them to the failsafe controls. "It's up to you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Selene approached the console, her system already calculating the risks.
> Warning: Prolonged exposure to rift energy may result in permanent changes or death. Proceed?
She clenched her fists, determination hardening her resolve. "If I don't do this, no one makes it out of here alive."
Marcus stepped forward. "There has to be another way—"
"There isn't," Selene interrupted, giving him a small, reassuring smile. "Keep them safe, Marcus."
Before he could protest, Selene activated the console, stepping into the reactor's containment field. The energy surged around her, a whirlwind of light and heat that made her scream in pain. Her system roared to life, working to absorb and stabilize the energy flooding her body.
Through the chaos, she felt something new awaken within her—a deeper connection to the rift, a power she couldn't fully comprehend.
The reactor stabilized with a deafening hum, the light fading to a steady, calm glow. Selene staggered out of the containment field, her body trembling but alive. Marcus caught her before she could collapse.
"You're insane," he muttered, relief evident in his voice.
"Maybe," she replied weakly, managing a small smile. "But it worked."
As they regrouped with the survivors, Selene couldn't shake the feeling that her connection to the rift had deepened. Whatever changes the system hinted at, she knew her fight was far from over.