I stood before the rift, just before stepping inside, sensing the Farman device fixed slightly below my neck, tightly attached to my skin. I felt a brief sting of pain—then it vanished.
The moment the device began to rotate, a strange sensation washed over me. It felt as if my body had been wrapped in an invisible layer of protection.
I could no longer feel the wind brushing against my skin, nor the movement of air around me. Everything became unnaturally still.
I was breathing through the oxygen manually produced by the device; my body no longer needed the outside air.
I stood there for a moment, processing what I was feeling, before lifting my gaze toward the rift and preparing myself to cross.
The instant I passed through it, my vision darkened for a brief moment. The sensation was completely different from what I had experienced upon entering the combat arena—each rift had its own nature, and no two were alike.
Even in the game, there had never been a proper explanation of rifts…
They were always described as graves for ancient demons.
When my feet touched the ground, I immediately felt the atmosphere around me change entirely.
The air was colder and heavier, as if it hadn't moved for countless years. As I looked around, I realized I was inside an ancient cave, time itself having carved its marks into the rough stone walls.
Deep cracks spread across the rocks, and sharp stone formations hung from the ceiling, faintly glimmering as they reflected a dim light of unknown origin.
I took another step forward into the cave.
The deeper I went, the more the faint light faded away.
—Kraaaak—
A sound came from ahead.
It was the slow scrape of something moving…
As if something massive was dragging its body across the rocks.
I stopped instantly.
I held my breath, my grip tightening without realizing it. The sound wasn't too close… but it wasn't far either.
Then I saw movement in the darkness ahead.
At first, I thought it was just a trick of my eyes—
But a second later, I realized the truth.
From the shadows emerged a massive body covered in rough black scales, as if its skin had been formed from scattered rocks. Its limbs were unnaturally long, ending in sharp claws that dug into the ground with every step.
As for its head…
That was the worst part.
A single enormous eye sat at the center of its twisted face, fitted with two strange lenses, glowing with a faint red light as it stared directly at me.
A chill ran through my entire body.
—A Rift Beast.
It slowly opened its mouth, revealing rows of black, claw-like teeth.
—Hssss—
It released a heavy breath that made the air around me tremble, dread creeping into my chest.
My mind recoiled instinctively—but my body refused to respond.
I was frozen in place by sheer fear, as if my feet had fused with the ground.
All I could do was stare at it, unable to move.
The beast took a single step forward—
Then suddenly lunged at me.
—Doooom—
It swung its massive claws straight at me.
I moved on pure instinct, leaping sideways at the very last second. Its body slammed into the spot where I had been standing just a second earlier.
—Kraaash—
Rocks flew in every direction, and the cave shook violently.
—Grrrr—
I rolled across the ground, gravel scraping against my skin, before forcing myself up while gasping for breath, the echo of the impact still ringing through the cave.
Without thinking, I raised my hand and tried to use Altaria Threads.
—Woosh—
The threads shot out from my palm, sharp as blades, slicing through the air toward it…
But they missed.
The problem wasn't the threads.
It was me.
My body was shaking violently, uncontrollably, as if fear had sunk into my very core and seized all my nerves at once. My fingers trembled relentlessly.
I tried to focus—to steady my breathing, to force my mind to calm down—but it wasn't easy. My thoughts were scattered, crashing into one another without order.
This was the first time I had ever faced something like this for real.
A real monster stood before me.
One that intended to kill me without hesitation.
I understood that with terrifying clarity.
It attacked again, not giving me even a moment to catch my breath.
—Doooom—
Its massive body charged toward me with overwhelming force. I jumped backward with everything I had, my feet slipping across the rocks as I nearly lost my balance. I grabbed onto the edge of the cave wall—
But it wasn't enough.
One of its claws scraped across my back—
—Shrrrk—
It felt as if a burning blade had torn through my flesh. A sudden heat spread across my back, followed by a searing pain that stole the air from my lungs.
I stumbled forward instinctively, gasping, blood flowing down my back.
"Damn it…!"
I turned and attacked again without giving myself time to think. There was no room for hesitation.
I raised my hand and launched Altaria Threads once more.
—Ksssh—
The threads shot forward, slicing through the air and slamming into its massive body. For a brief moment, I thought they had worked—
But the illusion shattered instantly.
They didn't pierce it.
The threads bounced off its solid black scales, deflecting aside as if they had struck polished stone. Not even a scratch remained.
A cold feeling spread through my chest.
This attack… was useless.
And before I could retreat—or even breathe—
It attacked again.
—Graaaah—
I staggered backward, my breaths breaking apart, my chest burning with every painful inhale.
My mind was in chaos, thoughts overlapping without order. I tried to think, to find a solution—any solution—but fear crushed down on my head, drowning me in suffocating confusion.
Then—
I remembered it.
Calm Analysis.
I didn't hesitate.
I activated the skill instantly, clinging to it like my last lifeline.
And in the next moment, everything changed.
The noise in my head began to fade. My heartbeat, which had been pounding in my ears, gradually slowed. My breathing became deeper, steadier.
My thoughts grew clearer…
As if the fog clouding my mind had finally lifted.
The beast attacked again.
This time…
I didn't move randomly.
I calmed myself and focused on it.
I began to notice its attack pattern.
A direct charge, always followed by lifting its right claw, then a wide side swing.
The same sequence. Every time. No variation.
And then—I saw it.
Its neck.
It wasn't covered in black scales.
There was a small gap—a strip of exposed flesh that appeared clearly every time it lunged forward.
The beast charged again.
At the last second, I slid aside, avoiding its claws—
—Whoosh—
Instead of retreating, I rushed toward it.
One step.
Two.
I was close now—close enough to smell the damp stone and earthy scent clinging to its body. I felt the weight of its presence before me, but I didn't stop.
I raised my hand.
"Now!"
I activated Altaria Threads with everything I had.
—Shhhk—
The threads burst from my palm at blinding speed, heading straight for its exposed neck.
—Kraaak—
They sliced through flesh effortlessly, severing its neck in a single clean strike.
The beast's body froze in place, as if time itself had stopped.
Its red eye widened…
Then slowly dimmed—until it went dark.
—Doooom—
Its massive body collapsed to the ground.