Chapter 21: The Rift's Price

The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the Rift zone as the battle raged on. Riku, Renji, and Takumi had just finished dealing with a small group of creatures when a loud, bone-rattling roar echoed through the air. The ground trembled beneath their feet.

"This doesn't feel right," Renji said, his voice tense. "We were supposed to be dealing with C-rank beasts, but this… this is different."

Takumi's eyes darted around, his fingers twitching as he prepared to use his Stormlash Essence. "I don't like this. We need to find Kaito and check on him."

They quickly turned to run back toward where Kaito had been battling. But before they could even make it halfway, a massive creature, at least A-rank in strength, emerged from the shadows of the Rift.

Its body was a terrifying mix of black scales and jagged, crystalline armor. It had multiple limbs, each tipped with razor-sharp claws, and a gaping maw filled with row upon row of teeth that glowed an eerie violet. The beast let out another deafening roar, causing the ground to crack and split.

"Kaito!" Takumi yelled, as he and Renji sprinted forward, their hearts pounding. They were too late. When they reached Kaito's location, they found him on the ground, blood pooling beneath him. The once-cocky warrior lay lifeless, his body battered beyond recognition.

"No... Kaito!" Renji shouted, kneeling beside him, his hand hovering over the fallen warrior's body.

Takumi was frozen, his face pale. "This… this isn't possible. He was supposed to be able to handle a C-rank fight."

But the creature was still there, looming over them like an unstoppable force. The realization set in: they were next.

"RUN!" Takumi yelled, pushing Renji away as the beast lunged forward.

Renji barely had time to react as the massive fist of the creature slammed toward him. He tried to raise his hand to block, but it was futile. They were both about to die.

Just as they were certain the beast would crush them, a flash of light appeared in front of them. A figure, blurred by speed, intercepted the incoming attack, stopping the creature's massive fist dead in its tracks.

Riku.

Without even breaking a sweat, Riku raised his palm, his face a calm, determined mask. In the blink of an eye, he released a beam of energy from his palm—one of his newly unlocked AI Techniques. The beam struck the beast's arm, creating a loud, echoing crash. The creature recoiled, screeching in pain.

Takumi and Renji stumbled back, both falling to the ground, their hearts still racing. They had been certain they were going to die, but now, with Riku standing in front of them, they realized just how much power he had gained.

Riku lowered his hand, his energy still crackling in the air as he turned to the two stunned warriors. "Get up. We need to leave the Rift before more of these things show up."

Takumi looked at Riku with wide eyes, his voice shaky. "Mr. Hayashi… thank you. I— I thought we were done for…"

Renji quickly followed, his voice full of gratitude. "Yeah, thank you, Riku. We would've been dead if you hadn't shown up."

Riku offered a small smile, though it was more out of relief than happiness. "Don't mention it. Let's go."

He extended a hand to help them both up, his actions calm and collected despite the chaos surrounding them. Takumi and Renji exchanged glances before both of them wrapped their arms around him in a grateful hug.

"Thank you," Takumi repeated, his voice cracking slightly as the adrenaline faded away.

Renji nodded, his hand on Riku's shoulder. "You really saved us, Riku. We owe you big time."

Riku's smile widened, albeit slightly. "It's not about owing someone. It's about looking out for each other. Let's get out of here."

With the creature still disoriented by Riku's attack, they turned and made their way out of the Rift zone. Riku didn't look back, his mind focused on the mission. He knew there was still much to learn and even more to overcome.

As they left the Rift, the once chaotic and dangerous environment seemed to calm, the threat temporarily neutralized. The team, though shaken, knew they had survived thanks to Riku's power.

For now, though, they were alive, and that was enough.