the rift of awakening
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Chapter 15 – The Rift of Awakening
The silence in Lucian's room was shattered by the voice of the book.
"The time has come. You've unlocked the path."
Lucian blinked. "Huh? That's it? No lightning bolt? No dramatic music?"
Riv, sitting nearby on the floor in a makeshift blanket fortress, mimicked him, standing with arms crossed and her lips puffed in mock seriousness. "Huh? That's it?" she repeated, voice squeaky and proud.
Lucian smirked. "You little echo machine…"
Suddenly, the book's pages glowed, crackling with black and gold energy. The air around Lucian twisted as if reality itself was folding. The butler stepped into the room, unusually quiet. In his pale hand, he held a black stone. It shimmered with a strange glow.
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "You bringing me rocks now?"
The butler bowed slightly. "This stone will help suppress the madness. Where you're about to go… sanity is a luxury."
That caught Lucian's attention. The book began floating, pages flipping violently before landing on a blank spread that inked itself with foreign glyphs. Then, a swirling portal cracked into existence beside it—a rift, chaotic and whispering with distorted echoes.
[Secret Realm: Rift of Enlightenment – Do you wish to enter?]
Lucian hesitated for only a second. "Plot armor, don't fail me now," he muttered—and stepped in.
---
Lucian's body felt like it shattered and reformed mid-air. He landed in a desolate world, colorless and humming with cosmic pressure. There were no stars, no sky—only endless gray. Floating obelisks whispered forgotten truths.
Before him hovered three items:
Enlightened Grip (Restricted Skill)
Warrior's Eye (Restricted Skill)
Fragmented Will (Classified Item: ???)
He reached out instinctively.
Each item pulsed once—then blasted him with energy. His body twisted, bones cracking, muscles tearing then reforging. Visions flooded his head: battles across galaxies, fallen warriors, cries of forgotten gods.
Lucian screamed—then stood.
"I feel… like a cosmic blender chewed me up and spit me out."
---
Back in his room, Riv tried to climb the couch and mimic Lucian's stance from earlier. She puffed out her chest and shouted, "Enlightened GRIP!" and fell backwards.
Neo walked in, paused, looked at her on the floor, and muttered, "Definitely his kid."
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Inside the secret realm, Lucian stood on a newly formed platform. The book opened again midair.
[Special Bonus Quest: Duel Invitation – Unknown Challenger Awaiting at Level ???]
A black envelope materialized and floated down to him. He caught it. It read:
> "When power comes too fast, it shatters the weak. Let's see if you're worth the price of your ascension. Midnight. No mercy."
Lucian folded the note with a grin.
"Let 'em come."
Suddenly, hundreds of shadowy figures emerged. Each one wore a distorted version of Lucian's old self—weak, afraid, aimless.
"This realm… it's forcing me to fight… myself?"
They attacked without mercy.
Lucian activated Enlightened Grip—his hands glowing with radiant chains. With a flick, he shattered illusions.
He blinked—and was behind them.
Warrior's Eye activated. His perception sharpened—he could see flaws in the enemy's stances, even predict the next few moves like reading a page ahead in a book.
But the shadows kept coming.
Then came the real fight.
One stepped forward—fully formed, armored in darkness. His own face stared back at him.
The Fragmented Will pulsed inside Lucian's chest.
"I am who you were supposed to be," it snarled.
Lucian breathed heavily. "Good. Then I know exactly how to beat you."
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Outside the realm, time passed differently. Neo stared at the book floating in Lucian's room. The butler stood beside him, watching with narrowed eyes.
"He's... in pain, isn't he?" Neo whispered.
The butler didn't answer.
---
Inside, Lucian collapsed to one knee, blood dripping from his arm.
But the memory of Riv's laughter… Neo's ridiculous ramblings… even the butler's cold yet reliable presence…
He gritted his teeth.
"I'm not dying here. I haven't even made my guild yet."
"I am the Fallen Creator. And I rise now."
He used the Enlightened Grip to wrap his essence around his enemy, pulled his fragmented self in—and crushed it.
Light exploded from the platform.
---
Lucian awoke.
In his room. Neo asleep on the floor. Riv drooling on his pillow. The book closed but glowing faintly.
The butler stood by the window.
Lucian stood up. His body ached. But he felt it—power humming in his fingertips.
"Welcome back," the butler said. "What did you find in the Rift?"
Lucian looked out the window.
"A war. With myself. But I won."
He smiled.
And the wind whispered: Midnight is coming.
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End of Chapter 15
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