Episode 8: Aftermath and Reflections

Efe staggered out of the Rift, his body aching from the brutal fight. His vision blurred for a moment as the cool evening air hit him, a stark contrast to the oppressive, suffocating heat of the Rift. The metallic taste of blood lingered in his mouth, and his limbs felt like lead. He had won, but the victory had come at a cost.

The landscape outside felt strangely unfamiliar despite being home. The shrine's surroundings were quieter than usual, save for the hushed murmurs of people gathered nearby. The twilight sky above Benin City cast long shadows on the earth, painting the scene in deep hues of orange and blue. Time had passed differently inside the Rift—it had only been days for those outside, but for Efe, it had felt like weeks of struggle and survival.

The first thing he noticed was the crowd of people near the shrine's entrance. Some were local villagers, their faces etched with worry and curiosity. Others were government officials in their crisp uniforms, their sharp eyes scanning the area like hawks. His heart skipped a beat as his gaze fell on his family.

Standing at the front was his mother, Aisosa. Her hands were clasped tightly, her lips moving in silent prayer. The usually unshakable woman, known for her stern demeanor, now looked frail and vulnerable. Ifueko, his younger sister, stood beside her, her tear-streaked face betraying a mix of relief and fear.

As soon as Ifueko saw him, she let out a choked gasp and broke into a sprint. "Efe!" she cried, her voice trembling with emotion.

Efe barely managed to stay on his feet as she threw herself into his arms. He winced as her embrace pressed against the bruises and cuts on his body, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as if grounding himself in her warmth.

"You're alive!" Ifueko sobbed, her small hands clutching his torn shirt. "We thought… we thought you were gone."

Their mother approached next, her steps hesitant, her face a storm of emotions. Aisosa was a woman of few words, but the anguish in her eyes spoke volumes. When she finally reached him, she placed a trembling hand on his cheek.

"Where have you been?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Do you know how worried we were? Do you have any idea what it was like not knowing if you were dead or alive?"

Efe opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. What could he say? That he had been fighting monstrous creatures in a dimension that shouldn't exist? That he now had a system embedded in his very being, dictating his every move? The weight of his experiences threatened to crush him, and he found himself unable to meet her gaze.

Standing a little farther back was Osahon, his best friend. He stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Unlike the others, Osahon didn't rush to greet him. There was something in his eyes—an intensity, a knowing—that unsettled Efe. It was as if he could sense the changes in him, the scars that went beyond the physical.

Before Efe could say anything, the government officials began to move. Their presence, which had been background noise until now, suddenly loomed large. A tall man in a dark suit, flanked by two armed soldiers, stepped forward. His sharp features and calculated movements gave off an air of authority.

"You," the man said, pointing directly at Efe. "You were inside the Rift, weren't you?"

Efe's body stiffened. He didn't answer, but his silence was confirmation enough.

The man's expression darkened, and he gestured to the soldiers. "We need to talk. Now."

Ifueko clung to Efe's arm, her eyes wide with fear. "You're not taking him!" she cried.

The man, who introduced himself as Adewale, ignored her outburst. His focus remained solely on Efe. "You've been exposed to something very dangerous," he said, his tone measured but firm. "We're not here to harm you, but you need to cooperate with us. For your safety—and everyone else's."

Efe's instincts screamed at him not to trust this man. The government's involvement in Rift-related activities was always shrouded in secrecy and suspicion. Stories of people being taken and never seen again flashed through his mind.

"I'm not going anywhere," Efe said finally, his voice hoarse but resolute.

Adewale raised an eyebrow. "This isn't a request."

Before the situation could escalate, Osahon stepped forward, placing himself between Efe and the soldiers. His voice was calm but firm. "He just got back. He's injured and exhausted. If you really care about his safety, you'll let him rest first."

For a moment, the tension was palpable. Then Adewale sighed and signaled for his men to stand down. "Fine," he said. "But this isn't over. We'll be in touch."

As the convoy of SUVs pulled away, Efe felt the weight of their gazes linger. The crowd began to disperse, but the unease remained.

Back at home, the atmosphere was heavy. Aisosa busied herself with tending to Efe's wounds, her hands gentle but her silence deafening. Ifueko sat beside him, refusing to let go of his hand, as if afraid he might disappear again.

Osahon leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "You need to tell me what happened in there," he said quietly.

Efe hesitated. The memories of the fight, the system notifications, and the overwhelming power of the Ravager boss flashed through his mind. He wasn't ready to relive it—not yet.

"I… I need time," he said finally.

Osahon didn't push. Instead, he nodded and left the room, leaving Efe alone with his thoughts.

As the night wore on, Efe lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. His body ached, but it was the weight on his mind that truly exhausted him. The system's interface appeared before him, its glow illuminating the dark room.

STATUS WINDOW

Title: Champion of Ogun

Type: Combat

Level: 5

Affiliation: None

Strength: 18

Agility: 15

Stamina: 20

Special Stat - Divine Resonance: 12

Traits/Abilities:

 Iron Will (Passive)

Forgecraft (Beginner)

 Iron Skin (Passive)

Achievements: Defeated the Ravager Lord (+500 Points)

Remaining Stat Points: 8

As he stared at the glowing window, a sense of dread mixed with determination filled him. This wasn't over. The Rift, the government, and the power he now wielded—it was all connected.

And this was only the beginning.

The faint sound of rain tapping against the roof lulled him into a restless sleep. Outside, the world moved on, unaware of the storm brewing within Efe—and what it would soon bring.

The next morning, Efe woke to find a sealed letter on his bedside table. The seal bore the mark of Ogun.

To be continue.....