Chapter 37 : The Rift's Beast

The Rift Beast roared, its twisted body shifting unnaturally as it lumbered toward Ryn and the Spirit Fox. Its claws scraped deep gouges into the shifting ground, and green energy crackled along its jagged limbs.

The Spirit Fox growled, its glowing fur flaring brightly as it darted in front of Ryn. The bond pulsed sharply, and Ryn felt a rush of adrenaline surge through him.

"It's massive," Ryn muttered, his knuckles whitening around the hilt of his knife.

The beast lunged without warning, its massive claw slamming into the ground where Ryn had been standing moments earlier. He rolled to the side, the Spirit Fox blinking out of harm's way with Radiant Step and reappearing behind the creature.

"Good move," Ryn called, getting back to his feet.

The fox slashed at the beast's hind leg, its claws glowing with radiant energy. The attack left faint trails of light across the creature's corrupted flesh, but the wound didn't seem to slow it down.

The beast turned, its glowing eyes locking onto the Spirit Fox. It swung its tail like a battering ram, forcing the fox to blink away again.

"Stay fast," Ryn said, circling around the creature. "We can't take it head-on!"

The bond flared, and the Spirit Fox barked sharply, its glowing fur intensifying as it prepared to strike again.

The battle raged across the jagged expanse, the Rift Beast's massive form dominating the broken landscape. Ryn and the Spirit Fox moved in tandem, their bond guiding them as they dodged the creature's relentless attacks.

Each strike from the fox's claws left glowing marks on the beast's flesh, but the wounds didn't close like they had with other corrupted creatures. Instead, the light seemed to spread, fracturing the beast's energy and disrupting its movements.

"It's working," Ryn realized, his heart pounding. "The light—it's breaking it apart!"

The Spirit Fox growled in response, darting forward to land another strike.

But the Rift Beast wasn't slowing down. It reared back, letting out a deafening roar that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. The ground trembled beneath Ryn's feet, and he stumbled, barely keeping his balance.

The beast lunged, its massive claws aimed directly at the Spirit Fox.

"Move!" Ryn shouted.

The fox blinked away, but the beast anticipated the movement, twisting its body unnaturally to swipe at the fox mid-step.

The Spirit Fox cried out as the attack connected, sending it sprawling across the ground.

"No!" Ryn shouted, his heart lurching.

The bond flared sharply, and Ryn felt the fox's pain ripple through him. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus.

"Get up," he said, his voice trembling. "We can't stop now!"

The Spirit Fox staggered to its feet, its glowing fur flickering but steady. It growled fiercely, its tail swishing as the bond pulsed again, stronger this time.

"That's it," Ryn said, stepping forward. "Let's finish this."

The Rift Beast roared again, charging toward them with a thunderous roar. The Spirit Fox blinked forward to meet it, its claws glowing brighter than ever as it leapt onto the creature's back.

The bond flared wildly, and Ryn felt a surge of energy course through him. He darted forward, driving his knife into the beast's leg with all his strength.

The creature bellowed in pain, its movements growing more erratic as the light from the Spirit Fox's attacks spread across its body.

The fox let out a sharp cry, and Ryn felt the bond shift—something inside it resonating with the rift's energy. The fox's glow intensified, and its claws seemed to radiate pure light as it drove them into the beast's back.

The light spread rapidly, consuming the Rift Beast's body as it let out one final, deafening roar.

Ryn stumbled back, shielding his eyes as the creature dissolved into a burst of green and white energy.

When the light faded, the Rift Beast was gone, its massive form reduced to nothing but faint wisps of mist.

The Spirit Fox landed beside Ryn, its breathing heavy and its fur flickering with residual light. The bond pulsed faintly, steady but strained, and Ryn knelt beside the fox, placing a hand on its side.

"You did it," Ryn said softly, his voice filled with relief.

The fox chirped weakly, nuzzling against his hand.

But as the mist cleared, something else caught Ryn's attention. Floating where the Rift Beast had been was a small, glowing shard, pulsing faintly with green and white light.

"What is that?" Ryn muttered, standing slowly.

The Spirit Fox growled softly, its glowing eyes fixed on the shard.

Ryn stepped closer, the bond pulsing sharply as he reached out to touch it. The moment his fingers brushed the shard, a surge of energy flooded through him, and his vision blurred.

Images flickered through his mind—fragments of memories that weren't his own. He saw the rift's creation, the corruption spreading like wildfire, and beasts twisted into monstrous forms.

But beneath it all, he felt something deeper: a presence, ancient and powerful, watching him from within the rift.

"You cannot deny your place in this," the voice echoed, deep and resonant.

Ryn gasped, his eyes snapping open as he stumbled back. The shard floated in front of him, its light pulsing faintly.

"What was that?" he murmured, his chest heaving.

The Spirit Fox chirped softly, its fur flaring as it stepped closer to the shard. The bond pulsed again, and Ryn felt a strange warmth spread through him.

"Whatever it is," Ryn said quietly, "it's connected to you. And to me."

The fox barked sharply, and the shard floated toward them, its light dimming slightly as it hovered between them.

Ryn hesitated, then reached out and grasped it firmly. The shard's energy pulsed through him, and he felt the bond flare brighter than ever.

"This isn't over," Ryn said, his voice filled with quiet determination.

The Spirit Fox growled softly, its glowing eyes locked on the horizon as the rift pulsed faintly in the distance.