Inside The Rift - First Battle

Inside a massive Etherglide, a group of kids sat with pensive expressions as they gazed at the barracks in the distance.

Unconsciously, each of them gripped their weapons tightly. Their previous chatter had disappeared, their hearts pounding with nervousness.

Slowly, the Etherglide arrived at the barracks. As they stepped out, they felt an oppressive pressure weighing down on them, making their hearts race.

A male soldier approached with a stern gaze and commanded, "Follow me."

Quickly, the kids obeyed, their gazes shifting back and forth in unease.

They were led into a large room where their identities were confirmed. Once all verifications were completed, the soldier in charge addressed them.

"This is your first dive. You must be cautious of everything on the other side. Don't try to act like heroes," he warned solemnly.

"Ration your supplies carefully, and don't lose your weapon—that's the only thing keeping you alive in there.

Survive the next 24 hours and find your way out."

With that, he led them out of the room.

They walked down a long corridor before arriving at the other side of the barracks.

All the kids widened their eyes as they saw the Rift in the distance. Just staring at it made them feel as though their souls would jump out of their chests.

Dain stood at the back, his expression grave. He tore his gaze away from the Rift and observed the many soldiers guarding the barricades, their powerful constructs poised for battle.

Without waiting for the kids to collect themselves, the soldier led them forward.

"Now, off you go. Good luck."

The kid at the front looked at the soldier, took a deep breath, and rushed into the Rift. With the first one diving in, the others mustered their courage and followed.

"Don't die in there. I haven't beaten you yet," Ronan said, turning to Dain before disappearing into the Rift.

Dain watched his friend's departure, an amused smile appearing on his lips.

"You too…" he whispered before rushing in.

Whoosh!

As he entered the Rift, a wave of dizziness struck him, and his soul space trembled violently as if it were about to shatter.

Huh!

He gasped for air, trying to shake off the dizziness. Slowly, it faded, and he regained his bearings.

Opening his eyes, he found himself standing on dry ground, battle scars littering the land.

Looking up, he saw a darkened sky, void of stars.

"So this is what it feels like to be inside a Rift…" he whispered, his eyes scanning his surroundings.

Recalling his training back at the orphanage and the old grandma's teachings, he sprang into action.

He picked a direction and moved quickly. One of the golden rules for surviving in a Rift: never stay in the open.

As he rushed to find cover, he passed numerous monster skeletons, his heart pounding faster with each one.

Suddenly, his body tensed.

His instincts screamed.

Bang!

A powerful force slammed into his chest, sending him flying backward.

Ah!!

He crashed onto the ground, a miserable scream escaping his lips as he tumbled several meters before coming to a stop.

Clutching his chest, he realized he had probably broken a rib or two. But that wasn't his biggest concern.

Standing before him was a Feral Monster.

Its gleaming red eyes locked onto him, its jagged teeth bared, ready to snap him in half.

It stood on two hinged legs, resembling a giant rat, but with four eyes and four whip-like tails swaying menacingly.

Dain trembled, his heart pounding.

'Why didn't I summon my Soul Construct the moment I entered the Rift?'

'How could I make such a reckless mistake?'

'If I had my Soul Construct, I wouldn't be in this situation!'

His mind was in turmoil as he cursed himself.

Screech!

The Feral Monster let out a guttural screech and lunged at him.

This time, Dain didn't hesitate. He summoned his Soul Construct while leaping to the side to evade the attack.

But he had underestimated his enemy.

Bang!

One of the monster's tails lashed out, slamming into his leg and tearing through his flesh.

A sharp pain surged through his body.

"AHHHH!!!"

A soul-rending scream tore from his lips as he crashed onto the ground, trembling. His nerves were on fire, his breath ragged.

Whoosh!

Just then, his Soul Construct materialized, covering his body from head to toe.

Instantly, the burning pain lessened.

Huh!

He exhaled in relief, though his eyes never left the monster.

The Feral Monster snarled, its black, sickening fur bristling with rage.

[Studying…]

[Fatal Threat Detected. Advice: Use a weapon for protection.]

Dain didn't hesitate. He unsheathed his sword and assumed a basic sword stance.

Whoosh!

The Feral Monster lunged again, fangs wide open, tails sealing off his escape.

For any rookie, this would have been the end.

But Dain's Soul Construct was unlike any other.

The moment the monster attacked, his Soul Construct began collecting data.

In a microsecond, a stream of information flooded Dain's mind and he reacted instinctively, swinging his sword.

Bang!

He deflected one of the tails and retreated, parrying another.

With two successful deflections, he managed to create distance between them.

Screech!

The Feral Monster roared in frustration, unable to comprehend how a mere human child had blocked its attack.

Without hesitation, it pounced again.

Bang! Bang!

[Analyzing pattern…]

This time, Dain found it easier to counter.

The monster's attacks may have seemed too fast for the human eye, but his Soul Construct captured every subtle movement.

It allowed him to detect which attack to block first.

[Analysis complete.]

[Four weaknesses detected.]

[Reprogramming…]

[Planning counterattack…]

Locked in combat, Dain dodged and deflected each deadly strike.

Although his Construct had identified four weaknesses, the monster's speed prevented him from exploiting them.

But he didn't have to wait long.

[Counterattack created…]

A new battle strategy appeared in his mind—one focused on the monster's movements and attack patterns.

Slowly, a light smile appeared on Dain's face.

Lowering his body, he rolled forward and swung his sword.