The Rift Management Center hummed with the quiet efficiency of critical infrastructure—a stark contrast to the chaos it regularly dispatched raiders into. I stood before the holographic display terminals, studying the rotating three-dimensional projections of active rifts, each labeled with tier designations and hazard assessments.
The main hall buzzed with the subdued activity of other raiders—mostly D-tiers checking assignments or C-tiers in corporate uniforms coordinating group strategies. They moved with professional precision, rarely speaking above murmurs, as if excess noise might somehow disturb the delicate dimensional calibrations occurring throughout the facility.
I scrolled through the available rifts within the 100-kilometer radius, marveling briefly at the technology that made this possible. The Direct Dimensional Interface—DDI for short—represented one of humanity's few genuine post-Devastation technological leaps forward rather than desperate recovery.
Each projected rift wasn't merely a map coordinate or data representation—it was a live connection, a real-time dimensional thread that could be instantly transformed into a physical portal. The implications were staggering; without this technology, raiders would need to physically travel to each rift location, dramatically reducing our effectiveness and survival rates.
According to Network archives, the DDI system had been designed by an S-tier Crafter named Lumina Vex after the Second Dimensional Collapse. The materials list alone was classified beyond even E-tier access. Rumor held that many components could only be harvested from rifts so dangerous that only the Emperor himself—the sole level 100 raider in known existence—could retrieve them.
I studied the board with analytical detachment. C+ tier rifts dominated the upper sections, their hazard warnings glowing with ominous red warnings: "Extreme Monster Density," "Reality Corruption Field," "Dimensional Cascade Potential." Most showed zero filled slots despite substantial rewards.
I'd read reports that higher-tier rifts typically had their slots purchased in bulk by corporations, which then assigned them to their raiders through internal systems. This prevented random high-tier raiders from stumbling into coordinated operations.
Corporate raiding operated with mathematical precision—each team carefully balanced with complementary traits, abilities and equipment specifications. They trained together in simulations, memorized hundreds of monster-type responses, and executed pre-planned hazard mitigation strategies.
I allowed myself a small smile at the thought. Their efficiency was admirable, but wasted on my approach. Other raiders inevitably became obstacles in my path—potential collateral damage from my speed-focused strategies. I'd spend half my attention making sure I didn't accidentally compress a teammate into a quantum singularity, I simply didn’t want to invest so much time and effort finding other E-tiers to work with.
Scrolling down to the E-tier offerings, I found three options currently available:
[E-TIER: WHISPERING CAVERNS]
Base Requirement: Locate and destroy the Echo Nest
Scout Notes: Extensive underground network with acoustic anomalies that disorient and mislead. High probability of sound-sensitive predators.
[E-TIER: SHATTER PLAINS]
Base Requirement: Reach and secure the Fractal Monument
Scout Notes: Extremely unstable terrain. Crystalline formations that fragment unpredictably. Monsters with mirror-based camouflage.
[E-TIER: VOIDMIST BASIN]
Base Requirement: Drain the corrupted resonance pool
Scout Notes: Heavy fog throughout. Visibility reduced to 5 meters maximum. Temporal anomalies detected. Monsters show unusual sensory adaptation.
The Voidmist Basin appealed immediately. Poor visibility would be largely irrelevant with my hazard detection range, and temporal anomalies offered interesting manipulation opportunities. Most raiders would avoid it—precisely why it suited me perfectly.
I selected the rift and input my purchase request: 10 SLOTS (ALL AVAILABLE). Cost calculation appeared instantly:
10 E-TIER RAID PASSES: 10,000 CREDITS (1,000 CR EACH)
CONFIRM? Y/N
Without hesitation, I confirmed the transaction.
ERROR: PARTIAL TRANSACTION COMPLETE
9 E-TIER RAID PASSES PURCHASED: 9,000 CREDITS
SLOTS REMAINING: 0
The notification jolted me from my planning, and I recoiled so fast I nearly face-swapped with a passing raider. I stared at the error message, momentarily unable to process what had happened. My fingers moved automatically, checking the transaction logs. The system confirmed: another raider had purchased the final slot at the exact moment I attempted to secure all ten.
The statistical improbability was staggering—millisecond-precise simultaneity resulting in a split purchase. Either an extraordinary coincidence or a Network glitch in transaction sequencing. Regardless, the result was the same: I would not be raiding alone.
I exhaled slowly, recalculating my approach. The 10× solo bonus would have yielded approximately 100,000 credits based on similar rift clearance values. Now, the maximum potential return would be reduced to perhaps 20,000-30,000 credits depending on contribution percentages—a substantial difference.
My immediate impulse was to abandon the raid and forfeit the 9,000 credits already spent. However, Stability took tier assignment seriously; deliberately abandoning purchased slots was a big no-no. The primary purpose of raiding, after all, was to close to close the rifts and if you didn’t do it they would have to dispatch a team which was a limited resource.
I checked the roster to identify my unexpected companion. The name registered with a brief designation:
SEHRA (E-TIER)
Status: CONFIRMED
No guild affiliation. No additional information. Just another E-tier raider who had, through astronomical coincidence, collided with my carefully isolated operational approach.
I closed the interface with resigned efficiency. Nine thousand credits committed. One unknown variable introduced. The Voidmist Basin would be cleared regardless—I would simply need to accommodate the disruption.
Perhaps they would at least have the sense to stay out of my way.
The portal before me pulsed with swirling tendrils of dark violet energy, its surface rippling like disturbed water. I rolled my shoulders, feeling the reinforced mesh suit flex with my movements. After the transaction debacle at the Rift Management Center, I'd spent the last hour mentally recalculating optimal clearance strategies for a two-person rift—all useless if my unwanted companion didn't show.
"Let's see what we're dealing with," I muttered, stepping through the threshold.
The transition hit like a wall of pressure. Cool, heavy mist enveloped me instantly, reducing visibility to mere meters. I materialized on what felt like solid ground but looked like nothing—a featureless gray platform suspended in swirling fog. The air tasted metallic, charged with dimensional energy that made my skin prickle.
[E-TIER RIFT: VOIDMIST BASIN]
Base Requirement: Drain the corrupted resonance pool
Alternative Path: None
My Domain Engine's Hazard Sense immediately highlighted multiple environmental dangers within my 50-meter detection radius:
Temporal distortion zones—patches where time flowed at different rates, creating potential desynchronization between body systems.
Void pockets—areas of absolute nothingness that would erase matter on contact.
Resonance wells—concentrated pools of corrupted dimensional energy that caused molecular destabilization.
Gravity inversions—regions where gravitational pull suddenly reversed or shifted direction.
Echo chambers—spaces where sound amplified exponentially, potentially causing physical damage through vibration.
Mist densification zones—areas where the mist solidified enough to restrict movement or breathing.
I cataloged each hazard, mapping their positions relative to my starting point. The corrupted resonance pool—my primary objective—pulsed somewhere beyond my detection range.
Movement to my right caught my attention—a human silhouette materializing from the same portal.
The figure stepped forward, fog swirling around a female form in what appeared to be heavily modified armor plating. Her status badge glowed with an intensity that cut through the mist:
SEHRA (E-TIER, LVL 19) SIEGE PLATFORM (CURSED)
I froze, processing the information. Level 19? More importantly she had a cursed trait.
Our eyes met briefly across the fog—hers unnervingly calm, analyzing. Before I could speak, she activated something on her wrist interface. Her form shimmered, then vanished completely—not just obscured by fog but utterly removed from visual detection.
"What the—" I pivoted in a defensive stance, Supershock Baton raised. My Domain Engine detected no movement in the immediate vicinity, no displacement of the mist that would indicate a nearby presence.
The implications crystallized rapidly: an E-tier with invisibility capabilities and a cursed trait marked "SIEGE PLATFORM." One slot purchased. The conclusion was obvious—contribution theft. She was intending to let me clear the rift while remaining hidden, then emerge at the end to steal my contribution.
Not happening.
I sprinted forward, plunging deeper into the mist. I had to complete this rift as fast as possible, I had no idea what her trait did, but the name was telling. My DOMAIN ENGINE continued mapping hazards as I moved, building a mental topography of safe paths through the dangerous terrain.
Thirty meters ahead, a temporal distortion zone pulsed with rhythmic energy—a patch where time flowed approximately 75% slower than normal surroundings. Perfect for creating distance.
"Amplify Hazard," I commanded, focusing on the temporal distortion. The zone tripled in intensity, expanding from five meters to fifteen in diameter. Time within it slowed to approximately 25% of normal flow. First Fracture Charge accumulated, triggering Reactive Fracture Tether.
My Speed surged by 50%, the world seeming to slow as my perception sharpened. The hazard detection range doubled, revealing additional dangers previously outside my awareness—including a massive void pocket hovering twenty meters to my left, its absolute nothingness swallowing even the mist itself.
With enhanced speed, I navigated around the amplified temporal zone, covering ground rapidly while any pursuer would need to either waste time circumventing it or become caught in extreme time dilation. The three-second boost ended as I reached what appeared to be a cliff edge—though the mist made it impossible to gauge its height.
A sound like cracking glass echoed through the fog, followed by chittering noises that raised the hairs on my neck.
The nearest creatures emerged from the mist—Voidmist Skitters, insectoid beings with translucent exoskeletons that seemed partially phased into another dimension. They moved with unnatural speed, six legs propelling them forward while crystalline mandibles clicked eagerly.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
I counted seventeen within attack range, with more approaching. No time for finesse.
My Supershock Baton had charged. I aimed at the densest cluster and triggered a discharge—a targeted lightning strike that arced fifteen meters to hit them. The electricity chained between five Skitters, their translucent bodies lighting up like bizarre lanterns before exploding into mist particles.
The remaining Skitters hesitated only momentarily before continuing their advance. A larger shape moved behind them—a Voidmist Hulk, its massive form barely visible through the fog. Three times my height, with limbs like twisted tree trunks and a body comprised of densified mist given physical form.
"Create Hazard," I called out, manifesting a gravity inversion directly beneath the approaching Skitters. Gravity reversed instantly in a ten-meter radius, sending a dozen creatures flying upward into the mist with startled chittering sounds. Second Fracture Charge accumulated, refreshing my speed boost.
With enhanced speed, I sprinted along the cliff edge, scanning for a path downward. The Hulk roared, unaffected by the gravity inversion due to its mass and connection to the environment. It charged forward, each step creating shockwaves that distorted the mist.
I detected a resonance well thirty meters ahead—a pool of corrupted dimensional energy that would cause molecular destabilization on contact. An ordinary raider would avoid it; I saw opportunity.
"Hazard Conduit," I commanded, focusing on the resonance well.
STAMINA: 100 → 50
The sensation was immediate and disorienting—like having my atoms individually pulled apart then poorly reassembled. The resonance energy detached from its original position and attached itself to me, creating a visible aura of purple-black energy approximately ten meters in diameter. The hazard's non-damaging effects were reduced by 90% my Resilience and Ability working overtime, but I could still feel a constant drain against my health.
HP: 100 → 96
The Hulk entered my resonance aura and immediately began to destabilize, its densified mist form unable to maintain cohesion under the corrupting energy. It roared in what sounded like pain, its massive body developing rippling distortions as molecular bonds weakened.
I circled the creature, my resonance aura eating away at its form like acid. The remaining Skitters wouldn't approach, instinctively repelled by the corrupting energy. The Hulk swung a massive arm in desperation, the limb passing through my shoulder despite my attempt to dodge.
HP: 79
Pain blossomed from the impact point, spreading like fire through my nervous system. The mesh suit had absorbed some damage, but the Hulk's strength was substantial. I rolled with the momentum, putting distance between us while maintaining the aura's effect.
EXHAUSTION: 15
The cliff edge finally revealed a path downward—a natural slope leading toward what appeared to be a basin floor. My objective likely waited below. I descended rapidly, the resonance aura continuing to provide protection from smaller creatures while damaging me steadily.
My Supershock Baton had recharged. I aimed at a cluster of Skitters that had found courage to approach and triggered another discharge. The lightning strike vaporized three instantly, while two more collapsed with severely damaged exoskeletons.
As I reached the basin floor, the mist briefly thinned, providing a momentary glimpse of my surroundings. A massive pool of black liquid dominated the center—the corrupted resonance pool I needed to drain. Surrounding it were strange crystalline structures that pulsed with the same rhythm as temporal distortion zones.
"Invert Hazard," I commanded, targeting an echo chamber near the pool's edge. The hazard reversed its properties, changing from sound amplification to complete sound absorption. Third Fracture Charge accumulated.
Reality fractured as three charges consumed themselves. The air split with a deafening crack as something utterly incongruous appeared—a miniature sun. A sphere of nuclear fusion, roughly three meters in diameter, materialized twenty meters above the basin, bathing everything in blinding light and searing heat.
The mist evaporated instantly within a hundred-meter radius, revealing the full extent of the basin—a massive crater filled with crystalline formations and the corrupted resonance pool at its center. The sudden illumination exposed dozens more Skitters and several Hulks around the perimeter, all momentarily stunned by the abrupt environmental change.
The heat was so intense it accelerated my health loss; the ambient temperature was raised massively. Water began to form at the basin's edges as voidmist particles condensed in the thermal gradient between the miniature sun and the cooler surroundings.
EXHAUSTION: 30
My resonance aura continued ticking away at my health, but with the improved visibility, I could now navigate more effectively. I sprinted toward the corrupted resonance pool, noting four major hazards surrounding it:
A void pocket hovering directly above, absorbing light from the miniature sun
Temporal distortion zones at each cardinal direction, pulsing with increased frequency
Gravity inversions at irregular intervals, creating unpredictable movement challenges
Mist densification zones reforming despite the heat, creating pockets of near-solid fog
HP: 39
"This is going to be tricky," I muttered, analyzing the pool's structure. The corrupted resonance appeared to be flowing into the pool from underground channels, while crystalline formations at the edges prevented natural drainage. Breaking these formations would likely trigger the drainage process.
My Supershock Baton had recharged. I aimed at the nearest crystalline formation and triggered a discharge. The lightning strike shattered it instantly, causing a section of the pool to begin draining with a sound like screaming wind.
One down, three to go.
A movement flicker caught my attention—a barely perceptible distortion in the air near the opposite side of the pool. Sehra, still invisible but momentarily detectable due to the miniature sun's intense light refracting around her form. She was positioning herself near another crystalline formation.
"Not happening," I growled, pushing myself to maximum speed. I needed to break the remaining formations before she could steal my contribution.
EXHAUSTION: 45
A pair of Voidmist Hulks had noticed my activity and converged on my position. Their massive forms moved with surprising speed, seemingly unaffected by my resonance aura now that they had adapted to its energy signature.
"Consume Hazard," I commanded, absorbing the resonance aura. The hazard dissipated as its energy flowed into me, restoring vital resources and reducing Exhaustion. First Fracture Charge accumulated, triggering Reactive Fracture Tether.
HP: 64
With enhanced speed, I darted between the approaching Hulks, reaching the second crystalline formation. The Supershock Baton wasn't recharged yet, but physical force would work too. I slammed the baton into the crystal repeatedly, feeling it crack under the impacts.
The formation shattered, triggering a second drainage point. The corrupted resonance pool's level dropped visibly, exposing strange artifacts embedded in its depths. The pool itself seemed to react defensively, tendrils of black liquid rising like serpents and striking toward me.
I rolled backward, narrowly avoiding a tendril that melted through stone where it struck. The miniature sun had begun descending slowly, approaching the pool's surface. Whatever fusion reaction powered it was clearly unstable in this dimension, its light flickering erratically.
I saw a gravity inversion directly in my path to the third formation. Rather than avoid it, I charged straight through, timing my jump to coincide with the gravitational shift. The inversion caught me perfectly, launching me upward then forward as I exited its field, my trajectory carrying me directly to my target.
One of the Hulks attempted to intercept, its massive arm sweeping through the air toward me. I tucked into a roll that barely carried me beneath the strike, feeling the air displacement ruffle my hair.
"Create Hazard," I called out, manifesting a temporal distortion zone directly beneath the third formation. Time slowed in a ten-meter radius, including the crystalline structure itself. Second Fracture Charge accumulated, refreshing my speed boost.
With enhanced speed, I struck the time-slowed crystal. The effect was dramatic—while the formation experienced time at 25% normal rate, my baton moved at enhanced speed. Physics dictated that force equals mass times acceleration; the temporal differential multiplied the effective force of my strike exponentially.
The crystal shattered with a delayed, drawn-out sound like distant thunder. A third drainage point opened, the corrupted resonance pool now half-empty. The remaining black liquid became increasingly agitated, more tendrils rising to defend the final formation.
My Supershock Baton had recharged. I aimed at the cluster of tendrils and triggered a discharge. The lightning strike hit with devastating effect, the electricity conducting through the liquid and temporarily disrupting the pool's defensive capabilities.
The miniature sun descended further, now only ten meters above the pool's surface. Its heat had intensified, creating shimmering air distortions that made precise movement increasingly difficult. The basin floor had begun to crack from thermal expansion, creating unstable footing.
A flash of movement caught my eye—Sehra had abandoned stealth, sprinting openly toward the final formation. Her form was still obscured by heat distortions, but I could make out heavy armor plating that seemed to unfold and reconfigure as she moved.
"Negate Hazard," I called out, targeting a void pocket between us and the final formation. The hazard collapsed instantly, its energy dissipating harmlessly. Third Fracture Charge accumulated, triggering another speed boost.
Reality fractured again as three charges consumed themselves. This time, the dimensional tear pulled through something utterly alien to the foggy environment—a trench segment. A vertical slice of deep-sea environment materialized between me and the final formation, complete with crushing pressure, near-freezing water, and bioluminescent creatures.
The water didn't spill outward as expected, instead remaining contained within its dimensional boundaries like an aquarium wall. The pressure differential created a visible distortion at the interface, while bizarre deep-sea creatures swam obliviously within their transported environment.
The oceanic trench created an impassable barrier—at least by conventional means. Sehra had stopped short, clearly calculating a new approach. I needed to find a way around or through.
The miniature sun's interaction with the oceanic trench segment created an opportunity—rapidly heating one side of the water wall, generating thermal currents within the contained environment. Physics dictated that pressure would build on the heated side.
"Amplify Hazard," I commanded, focusing on a temporal distortion zone overlapping with part of the trench segment. The zone tripled in intensity, accelerating time within that section. First Fracture Charge accumulated, triggering Reactive Fracture Tether.
With enhanced speed, I circled around the oceanic trench, racing Sehra to the final formation. The time-accelerated section of water began to boil violently, creating a pressure buildup that strained against its dimensional boundaries.
My Supershock Baton had recharged. I aimed at a Voidmist Hulk blocking my path and triggered a discharge. The lightning strike stunned it momentarily, creating an opening. I slid beneath its massive form, using the smooth basin floor for added speed, the unstable dimensional fields around me severely accelerated my Exhaustion gain.
The oceanic trench segment ruptured with explosive force, releasing a torrent of pressurized, near-freezing water into the basin. The sudden temperature differential with the miniature sun created massive steam clouds that reduced visibility once more.
I reached the final formation seconds before Sehra, our eyes meeting briefly through the steam. She stood roughly fifteen meters away, her armor reconfiguring into what appeared to be a targeting array. The plates shifted and extended, forming an intricate geometric pattern focused on a central point.
No time for finesse. I swung my baton with all available force at the crystal formation. It cracked but didn't shatter—tougher than the previous three.
A massive shape emerged from the steam—the Voidmist Tyrant, easily four times my height. Its form had evolved, incorporating crystalline elements similar to the formations protecting the pool. This wasn't just another monster; this was a rift boss.
The Voidmist Tyrant roared, the sound reverberating through the basin with physical force. It raised a massive fist, preparing to crush me against the final formation.
"Hazard Conduit," I commanded almost draining my Stamina entirely, focusing on the nearest temporal distortion zone.
The temporal energy detached and surrounded me in a pulsing aura of distorted time. Within my ten-meter radius, time flowed at approximately 25% normal rate, the effect reduced for me. The monster’s attack slowed dramatically as it entered my aura, giving me precious time to react.
I struck the crystal formation again, my own movements somewhat slowed by the residual temporal effect. The crystal developed more cracks but remained intact. The Voidmist Tyrant's fist continued its glacial descent toward me.
"Invert Hazard," I called out, targeting a gravity inversion near the crystal formation. The hazard reversed its properties, changing from upward pull to increased downward force. Second Fracture Charge accumulated, with my Exhaustion at 74 it barely managed to refresh my speed boost.
With enhanced speed, I struck the crystal a third time, the increased gravitational force adding to the impact. The formation fractured significantly but still held. The Voidmist Tyrant’s fist had almost reached me, moving with increasing speed as it adapted to the temporal distortion.
My Supershock Baton had recharged. I aimed directly at the cracked formation and triggered a discharge. The lightning strike hit with perfect precision, energy coursing through the existing fractures and shattering the crystal from within.
The final drainage point opened. The corrupted resonance pool gurgled as the remaining liquid drained rapidly. The monster roared in what sounded like pain, its connection to the pool apparently vital to its existence.
I rolled away from the descending fist, my temporal aura slowing it just enough to avoid being crushed. The massive entity focused its attention fully on me now, its crystalline components glowing with increasing intensity.
Sehra's armor had completed its reconfiguration, forming what now clearly resembled a targeting array directed at the sky. She stood perfectly still, her position calculated to precise coordinates.
The miniature sun had descended to just above the emptied pool, its unstable fusion reaction creating increasingly violent energy pulses. The Voidmist Tyrant turned toward it, apparently drawn to its energy as a replacement for the drained resonance.
The sky split open without my input. A massive beam of blindingly bright energy descended from a dimensional tear blinding me momentarily for a second I thought this was it for me, but the beam concentrated, striking precisely where Sehra's targeting array pointed—directly at the boss.
The orbital strike vaporized the entity instantly, converting its massive form into superheated particles that scattered throughout the basin. The beam continued into the empty resonance pool, purifying the remaining corruption in a cascade of energy that spread outward in concentric circles.
The basin shuddered as the rift stabilized, the miniature sun collapsing inward upon itself and disappearing with a final flash of light. The orbital strike beam retracted upward, the dimensional tear sealing behind it.
In the final moment, I came to my senses and quickly discharged my aura with Consume Hazard, also dumping my three fracture charges. The last thing I saw was the dimensional barrier cracking ominously, reminding me of the disaster back when I accidentally evolved a rift. Luckily, the rift was already cleared and the tunnel was stabilized from Earth's side, and we found ourselves back in the RMC.
[RIFT CLEARED: VOIDMIST BASIN]
SURVIVAL RATE: 100% (SHARED)
CONTRIBUTION: VOLT (40%), SEHRA (60%)
Level: 12→13
The extraction point materialized beside the drained pool, pulsing with welcoming energy. Sehra's armor reconfigured to its normal state as she approached the exit without a word or glance in my direction.
I stared at the contribution percentage. The difference between 40% and 100% contribution on a 9-slot investment represented a significant credit loss. More importantly, what the hell was that?
I needed answers about Sehra and her SIEGE PLATFORM cursed trait.
My interface updated with the results:
E-tier cores × 1 = 999cr
Voidmist Essence: 12 × 200cr = 2,400cr
Temporal Crystal: 8 × 250cr = 2,000cr
Resonance Samples: 15 × 175cr = 2,625cr
Voidmist Tyrant Fragment: 0 × 1,500cr = 0cr
BASE TOTAL: 8,024cr (40% of total)
CONTRIBUTION REWARD: 32,096cr (40% of potential)
As I offloaded the items at the Stability Terminal I stared at the credit transfers, particularly at the most valuable component, entirely claimed by Sehra. I was so pissed I almost put my new attribute point into Vitality.
SPEED: 12 → 13
