Reopening the Rift

David spent days preparing himself. He didn't know how to get back to the Nexus, but he knew it had to be done. He studied everything he could find on the multiverse, on rifts and anomalies, hoping for some clue. But no book, no theory seemed to offer a clear path forward.

Then, one night, as he was staring out into the dark, the world around him began to warp. The air shimmered, bending and twisting as if the very atoms of reality were being pulled apart. He had seen this before—the signs of the rift.

Without hesitation, David stepped forward, into the heart of the distortion. The world around him rippled, and in an instant, he was no longer in his home. He was back in the barren wasteland, the same crimson sky stretching overhead.

The Nexus stood in the distance, glowing faintly, its light dimmer than before. The sight filled him with both dread and determination. He hadn't come this far just to fail.

As he approached the Nexus, the voice returned.

*"The balance has shifted. Reality is unraveling."*

David clenched his jaw. "Then tell me how to fix it."

*"You must close the rift from within. Step into the Nexus. But be warned—once you enter, there may be no return."*

David's heart pounded. He hadn't expected this. No return? He had been prepared to fix the breach, but the thought of being trapped in the multiverse forever made his stomach churn.

But what choice did he have? If he didn't act, the consequences could be catastrophic. Entire worlds could fall apart. His own existence—and the existence of those he loved—depended on him closing the rift.

Steeling himself, David approached the Nexus. The air around it buzzed with raw energy, like static electricity dancing across his skin. He took a deep breath, reached out his hand, and touched the glowing monolith.