NABC Chapter 277: The Edge of the Surge of Rift
Chapter 277: The Edge of the Surge of Rift
The core of the rift in the silent void was destroyed, and the Guardians stood briefly atop the ruins. From the depths of the universe, faint energy fluctuations emanated, as if beckoning them to the next battlefield. The coordinates on the star map were updated as the rift dissipated, and several even more intense energy points appeared before the Guardians.
"Observer, where are these new coordinates?" Ares gripped the rune sword, his gaze calm yet sharp.
“These are other dimensions where rift energy is gathering.” The observer’s voice was steady, yet carried a barely perceptible urgency. “The second dimension, called the ‘Realm of Embers,’ was once a world burning with eternal flames. Now, those flames are being devoured by the rift’s chill. If you don’t arrive in time, this dimension will fall into complete stillness.”
“The Realm of Ember?” Selena quickly pulled up the star map, analyzing the characteristics of the dimension. “This is a dimension based on energy cycles. If the rift energy disrupts the fire cycle, the entire dimension will cease to have any life.”
Wagner slung his battle axe over his shoulder and grinned, saying, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's get over there and smash these rift fragments to pieces."
Ares nodded, his tone firm: "This is our mission. Let's set off."
The Guardians' ships traversed interstellar space, quickly entering the outer reaches of the Ember Realm. This dimension, which should have been brimming with vibrant life, was now shrouded in a chilling aura. The distant volcanoes no longer spewed lava; instead, they froze into ice, and the surrounding sky was a deathly gray-white.
“This place looks like it’s dead.” Wagner stood by the ship’s porthole, observing the scene below. “I thought there would be raging flames here, but now there’s only ice.”
“The energy of the rift has eroded the very essence of this place.” Selena carefully scanned the surface. “The cycle of fire has been broken, and the rift energy is attempting to replace the primal power of this dimension.”
“We must find the center of the rift energy as soon as possible.” Ares gripped the rune sword, feeling a slight tremor in the blade. “They are hidden at the source of the flames. We don’t have much time left.”
The spaceship landed on a plain covered in ice. This place had once been the life center of the Ember Realm, and withered fire trees and frozen streams of flame could be vaguely seen beneath the surrounding ice. A biting chill permeated the air, as if the entire space itself was gradually being frozen.
"This place is too quiet, so quiet it makes me uncomfortable." Wagner looked around warily, gripping his battle axe, ready for battle at any moment.
“This isn’t quiet.” Selena crouched down to examine the ice. “The power of the fissures is consuming all signs of life. The energy here is being channeled somewhere.”
Ares closed his eyes, sensing the energy fluctuations around him. He whispered, "The center of the rift lies deep within the Flame Mountains. That is the source of the Ember Realm, and they are turning the core of this dimension into their vessel."
The three headed towards the Flame Mountains, but before they had gone far, a violent tremor suddenly shook the ground. The ice layer cracked, and countless sharp spikes surged from the earth, followed by a group of rift guardians made of frost.
These frost guardians were blurry in form, seemingly creatures pieced together from countless ice crystals. Their eyes gleamed with a ghostly blue light, their movements swift and icy, each step carrying a chilling aura.
"Something finally jumped out!" Wagner roared, swinging his battle axe at the enemy. His attack was powerful and heavy, but when the battle axe struck the Frost Guardian, the ice crystals quickly reformed, causing almost no damage.
"They can repair themselves!" Selena fired quickly, bullets shattering some of the Frost Guardians' bodies, but the broken ice crystals quickly reformed and continued to rush towards them.
"Attack their core!" Ares shouted, raising his rune sword, its blade radiating intense light, and slashing directly at the chest of a Frost Guardian. As the blade pierced the core, the Frost Guardian's body instantly disintegrated, turning into countless ice crystals that vanished into the air.
"The core is the blue dot on their chests!" Ares warned. "Focus your attack there!"
Wagner adjusted his tactics, his battle axe slamming into the chest of another Frost Guardian, successfully shattering the core. Selena, meanwhile, precisely aimed her sniper rifle at the core area, taking down several Frost Guardians in succession.
Despite their large numbers, the three of them worked together to gradually clear out the Frost Guardians. Only a patch of shimmering ice crystal fragments remained on the ground.
“These guys have even stronger regenerative abilities than the previous Rift variants.” Selena surveyed the battlefield with a grave expression. “The Rift’s energy is constantly evolving, and our battle will only get harder and harder.”
“Then let it evolve even faster.” Wagner sneered, hoisting his battle axe. “If we’re fast enough, they won’t even have a chance.”
After a fierce battle, the Guardians finally reached the depths of the Flame Mountains. This place was once the most powerful energy source in the Ember Domain, but it is now covered by a purple-blue frost. The energy from the rifts converged into a massive vortex, swirling in the center of the mountains and constantly devouring the remaining flame power around it.
“This is their core.” Ares gazed at the vortex, his rune sword trembling slightly as if sensing strong resistance. “The fire energy here has been completely replaced by the rift; we must destroy it.”
“But there must be stronger guards here.” Selena quickly scanned the surroundings. “If they want to protect this core, they certainly won’t let us get close easily.”
Sure enough, just as they approached the vortex, the surrounding frost began to surge wildly, and a massive Rift Guardian emerged from the ice. It was several times larger than the previous Frost Guardian, its body covered in thick ice armor, and its core radiating a dazzling blue light.
“That thing looks intimidating,” Wagner grinned. “But the bigger it is, the more fun it is to smash!”
The colossal Rift Guardian let out a deep roar, raising its massive arm made of ice crystals and slamming it down on the guardians, bringing with it a chilling gust of wind. The three quickly scattered, dodging the giant arm's attack while searching for its weakness.
“Its core is deeper than the other guards; we must break its ice armor first!” Selena aimed her sniper rifle at the guard’s shoulder joint, attempting to weaken its mobility.
Ares and Wagner worked seamlessly together, one drawing the guard's attention while the other sought an opening to attack. Ultimately, Wagner used his battle axe to cleave the guard's ice armor, allowing Ares to seize the opportunity and plunge his rune sword into its core.
The giant guardian let out a shrill scream, its body disintegrating into countless ice crystals, and the vortex of the rift began to shake.
"Destroy the core!" Ares shouted.
The three of them combined their efforts to concentrate all their attacks on the center of the vortex. Finally, the vortex collapsed in a blinding light, and the energy in the rift completely dissipated.
As the core of the rift disappeared, the frost of the Flame Mountains began to melt, the molten lava began to flow again, and the life force of the Ember Domain reappeared. The three stood atop the mountain, looking at the scene before them, and finally showed a hint of relief.
“One dimension has been saved,” Wagner sighed, “but how many more are waiting for us?”
“No matter how many there are, we will face them.” Ares gripped his rune sword, his gaze resolute. “We must erase every trace of the rift. Until the universe is restored to balance.”
Selena nodded, pulled up the star map, and a new target awaited them.