The sky above Eidenweld was a soft canvas of dawn hues when Reynar and Liora emerged from the rift. The twisted, abyssal energies of the dungeon still clung faintly to their clothes and skin, as if trying to follow them into the world of light. But it was over—at least, this part of it was.
Reynar inhaled deeply. The air outside felt sharp and crisp, almost too clean after the suffocating darkness of the Void Dungeon. Every sound—the rustle of leaves, the chirping of birds, even the distant hum of village life—felt like a reminder that they'd made it out alive.
Barely.
Liora stretched her shoulders with a wince. "That… was worse than expected."
Reynar nodded silently, his thoughts caught in the fog of exhaustion and adrenaline. He hadn't forgotten how the monsters had already been damaged when they reached the inner sanctum, or how that silver-haired girl had appeared again—silent, fierce, and gone before they could even speak to her.
He didn't know what she was, or why she helped them. But he was starting to realize one thing: They weren't alone out there.
"You okay?" Liora asked, glancing at him as they walked slowly down the slope toward the hidden trail back to Eidenweld.
"I'm fine," Reynar said, though the burn in his muscles told another story. "We were lucky."
"Luck didn't get us through that fight," Liora replied. "We've both gotten stronger."
Reynar glanced at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You sound proud."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't let it go to your head."
They lapsed into a companionable silence as the trees grew thicker around them. Birds scattered above, and the faint sound of running water guided them back toward familiar territory. Reynar's thoughts wandered as they walked.
The Void Dungeon wasn't just harder—it was unnatural. That oppressive energy, the constant sense of something watching them, the whispers at the edge of hearing... and worse, the system's warning.
❖ System Alert: New Rift ClearedProgress RecordedWarning: Rift activity is accelerating near populated zones. Further incursions likely.
He hadn't told Liora everything the system revealed. He wasn't even sure how to explain it yet—only that something darker was coming. Faster than before.
As they reached the edge of the forest, Eidenweld appeared before them, bathed in morning light. But it didn't feel like the same peaceful village they had left.
Liora glanced at him, sensing his unease. "What's on your mind?"
Reynar hesitated, then finally spoke. "That wasn't the last one, was it?"
Liora's expression darkened. "No. It's only the beginning."
They reached her house not long after. The door creaked open, the scent of dried herbs and firewood grounding them in a familiar sense of safety. Liora set her bag down and stretched again, wincing at the stiffness in her arm.
"Sleep first," she muttered. "Questions later."
But Reynar couldn't rest—not yet. He sat down at the edge of the bed and opened his system screen, scrolling through the dungeon report.
And there it was.
Estimated Time Until Next Rift: 12 DaysThreat Level: UnknownProximity: CloseObjective: Survive. Protect. Advance.
Liora looked over his shoulder, reading the alert with him. Her expression hardened. "Near the village again?"
He nodded. "Too close."
Liora exhaled slowly, running a hand through her tousled hair. "The guilds won't help. They never do. And the capital… they only send forces when their own cities are threatened. Not for some 'insignificant' village like ours."
Reynar clenched his fists. "So it's just us."
"Just us," she echoed.
He glanced at her. "Then we get stronger."
Liora smiled faintly. "I thought you'd say that."
They didn't need to say more. The road ahead was uncertain, but clearer than ever. The rift may have closed—but the war was far from over.
And this time, they wouldn't just survive.They would be ready.