[E-TIER RIFT: ANCIENT CANOPY
BASE REQUIREMENT: ELIMINATE THE WIND SOVEREIGN
ALTERNATIVE PATH: NONE]
HP 100/100, MANA 100/100, EXHAUSTION 0/100
FRACTURE CHARGES: 0/7
The forest canopy stretched endlessly above me, a cathedral of ancient wood and emerald light. I stood on a massive branch wider than most city streets, its surface worn smooth by centuries of wind and rain. Far below, a sea of mist obscured the forest floor, while above, patches of sky peeked through the interlaced branches like scattered sapphires.
Since my successful experiment with Echo-Fusion in the Celestial Expanse, I'd been pushing through rifts at an accelerated pace, gaining experience and credits while refining my understanding of REALITY MATRIX. This would be my third rift of the day, and I was eager to test another theoretical application of my trait's capabilities.
The branch beneath my feet trembled slightly as something massive moved through the distant canopy. My Matrix Vision immediately highlighted dimensional energy pathways connecting the local hazards to their sources—glowing threads pulsing with otherworldly light. Hazard Sense expanded outward, mapping dangers within a hundred-meter radius:
Wind tunnels—narrow pathways where gale-force currents could sweep unwary travelers from their perches
Toxic spores—floating clouds of microscopic particles that attacked neural tissue
Gravity pockets—areas where normal gravitational forces inverted or multiplied unexpectedly
Carnivorous vines—animate plant-life that struck with serpentine speed
Unstable branches—sections that could collapse under even minimal weight
Dimensional rifts—small tears in reality that randomly teleported anything they touched
Sonic disruptions—zones where sound waves amplified to destructive levels
"Let's find this Wind Sovereign," I muttered, scanning the labyrinthine branches above.
Movement caught my attention—a flash of iridescent feathers through the leaves, followed by a distant cry that resonated with dimensional energy. A bird, but unlike any natural species. Through my Matrix Vision, I could track its energy signature weaving through the upper canopy with impossible speed.
"There you are," I whispered, mapping its flight pattern. The Wind Sovereign—a massive avian entity with a wingspan easily exceeding twenty meters. Its feathers shimmered with prismatic energy, and each wingbeat generated localized wind currents strong enough to bend smaller branches.
I needed a strategy. Conventional pursuit would be futile—the bird's speed and maneuverability in this vertical maze far exceeded my capabilities. I'd need to manipulate the environment, force a confrontation on my terms.
"Bend," I commanded, relocating a wind tunnel to intersect with the bird's projected path.
MANA: 100 → 90
FRACTURE CHARGES: 0 → 1
The gale-force current shifted position, but the Wind Sovereign sensed the dimensional manipulation instantly. It banked sharply, avoiding the hazard with effortless grace, then climbed higher into the canopy—a clear message that conventional tactics wouldn't work.
A toxic spore cloud drifted nearby, its particles glowing faintly in my Matrix Vision.
"Amplify," I called out, targeting the spore cloud.
HP: 100 → 90
FRACTURE CHARGES: 1 → 2
The cloud tripled in size and density, particles accelerating their movement patterns. The Wind Sovereign noticed the growing hazard and altered its course slightly, maintaining a safe distance.
"Rend," I commanded, creating a sonic disruption zone directly in the bird's new flight path.
MANA: 90 → 80
FRACTURE CHARGES: 2 → 3
The combination of Amplify (Modify Impact) followed by Rend triggered the Split Hazard combination effect. The sonic disruption I created separated into its constituent components—frequency, amplitude, and resonance—creating three distinct but interconnected hazards.
The Wind Sovereign flew directly into the split hazard before it could react. The frequency component disturbed its navigation, while the amplitude component created pressure waves that buffeted its massive form. The resonance component, most damaging of all, interfered with the dimensional energy that allowed it to maintain its enhanced speed.
The bird screeched, a sound that shook leaves from nearby branches, then dove toward a distant section of the canopy—not retreating, but repositioning.
I studied my surroundings, looking for advantageous hazard positioning. A hundred meters away, a toxic spore cloud hovered near the bird's projected path—perfect. Rather than chase directly, I needed to intercept.
"Emerge," I called out, teleporting directly to the toxic spore cloud.
HP: 90 → 80
FRACTURE CHARGES: 3 → 4
My Dimensional Feed passive activated as I materialized within the toxic spores, my first encounter with this specific hazard today.
HP: 80 → 100
I now had a superior vantage point on the approaching Wind Sovereign. The bird seemed startled by my sudden appearance, banking sharply to change course.
"Shift," I commanded, moving one meter to avoid a suddenly animated carnivorous vine.
MANA: 80 → 70
FRACTURE CHARGES: 4 → 5
The combination of Emerge (Movement Impact) followed by Shift triggered the Hazard Escape combination effect. I instantly returned to my position from three seconds ago, before I had used Shift, yet I still gained the teleportation benefit from Emerge and kept the healing from Dimensional Feed.
"Interesting," I muttered, now back at the toxic spore cloud. The Wind Sovereign remained distant, circling cautiously around the upper canopy.
I needed to think differently. Standard pursuit wouldn't work. The bird had too much freedom of movement, too much space to maneuver. I needed to constrain that freedom somehow.
A gravity pocket pulsed about thirty meters to my right. That gave me an idea.
"Link," I commanded, causing the gravity pocket to connect with a nearby wind tunnel.
HP: 100 → 90
FRACTURE CHARGES: 5 → 6
"Fuse," I called out, absorbing a toxic spore cloud to restore health.
MANA: 70 → 60
FRACTURE CHARGES: 6 → 7
The combination of Link (Integration Impact) followed by Fuse triggered the Reality Pattern combination effect, which should repeat my previous combination—Hazard Escape. However, since I didn’t move in the past 3 seconds it pretty much did nothing. Waste.
"Not that simple," I noted.
Reality fractured as the Matrix Implosion triggered, consuming all seven Fracture Charges. Through the dimensional tear poured absolute darkness—not merely the absence of light, but the fundamental negation of electromagnetic radiation itself.
A thirty-meter sphere of perfect darkness expanded outward, swallowing branches, vines, and air itself. Within this void, photons ceased to exist entirely. Vision became impossible—not just for me, but for any entity that relied on light for perception.
Even with 90% reduction from Hazard Resilience, the absolute darkness hit like a physical force. My eyes strained painfully, trying to process the absence of all visual input. More disturbingly, the darkness seemed to absorb heat as well, creating a pocket of intense cold that seeped through my reinforced scout gear.
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HP: 90 → 75
EXHAUSTION: 0 → 25
The darkness bubble persisted for several seconds before collapsing. As light rushed back in, I caught a glimpse of the Wind Sovereign—the bird had flown directly into the void and become disoriented, now fluttering awkwardly as it tried to regain its bearings.
This was my chance. I needed to capitalize on the bird's momentary weakness, but I still needed a better strategy for using Reality Pattern. I needed to establish a useful combination effect first, then repeat it.
"Echo," I commanded, creating a duplicate of myself on a branch directly across from the still-recovering Wind Sovereign.
HP: 75 → 65
FRACTURE CHARGES: 0 → 1
"Bend," I called out, moving a sonic disruption zone to overlap with my Echo.
MANA: 60 → 50
FRACTURE CHARGES: 1 → 2
The combination of Echo (Creation Impact) followed by Bend triggered the Reality Fusion combination effect. My duplicate absorbed the properties of the sonic disruption, becoming a composite entity that emitted powerful sound waves.
The Wind Sovereign's head snapped toward the sonic Echo, its predatory instincts triggered by the movement and sound. It launched itself toward the duplicate, talons extended—exactly as I'd hoped.
"Shape," I commanded, transforming a nearby wind tunnel into a blade of concentrated air currents.
HP: 65 → 55
FRACTURE CHARGES: 2 → 3
"Fuse," I called out, absorbing a gravity pocket to restore health.
HP: 55 →85
MANA: 50 → 40
FRACTURE CHARGES: 3 → 4
The combination of Shape (Integration Impact) followed by Fuse triggered the Reality Pattern combination effect, repeating my previous Reality Fusion. But with no Echo present and no hazard specified, the effect fizzled without result.
"I need to be more precise about the pattern," I muttered, adjusting my approach as the Wind Sovereign shredded my sonic Echo with its talons.
The bird realized its mistake immediately, screeching in frustration as it whirled to locate me. It spotted me across the gap and launched itself in my direction, moving with blinding speed.
"Infusion," I commanded, drawing properties from a nearby gravity pocket into my wind blade just to set up the following combo I wasn’t planning on using either.
HP: 85→ 75
FRACTURE CHARGES: 4 → 5
"Rend," I called out, creating a wind tunnel directly in the path between me and the approaching bird.
MANA: 40 → 30
FRACTURE CHARGES: 5 → 6
The combination of Infusion (Creation Impact) followed by Rend triggered the Hazard Cascade combination effect. The wind tunnel I created amplified in intensity, while simultaneously affecting two nearby hazards—a toxic spore cloud inverted its properties, becoming a healing mist, and an unstable branch solidified into reinforced wood.
The Wind Sovereign flew directly into the amplified wind tunnel, its momentum suddenly controlled by the powerful air current. Its massive wings beat frantically as it tried to escape, but the tunnel's force temporarily overwhelmed its own considerable strength.
I had my opening. I needed to first establish a useful combination, then repeat it with Reality Pattern. I spotted an unstable branch near the trapped bird—perfect for my next move.
"Emerge," I called out, teleporting directly to the unstable branch hazard near the trapped bird, my Dimensional Feed passive activated.
HP: 75 → 85
FRACTURE CHARGES: 6 → 7
Reality fractured again as the Matrix Implosion triggered, consuming all seven Fracture Charges. This time, the dimensional tear manifested as temporal stasis—a localized bubble where time itself slowed to a crawl.
A thirty-meter sphere of altered time expanded outward. Within this zone, seconds stretched into minutes. Falling leaves paused mid-air, swaying branches became motionless sculptures, and most importantly, the Wind Sovereign's frantic wingbeats slowed to imperceptible movement.
Even with 90% hazard reduction, the temporal stasis affected me significantly. My movements became sluggish, thoughts forming and dissolving with glacial speed. It felt like moving through solid amber, each motion requiring monumental effort.
EXHAUSTION: 25 → 50
I fought through the time distortion, moving deliberately toward the Wind Sovereign.
The temporal stasis collapsed after what felt like hours but was likely only seconds in normal time. The Wind Sovereign resumed its movement, but not at full speed—the effect had disrupted its dimensional connections temporarily.
This was my moment. I needed to execute a perfect sequence.
"Negate," I commanded, nullifying a carnivorous vine that blocked my approach to the bird.
HP: 85 → 75
FRACTURE CHARGES: 0 → 1
"Bend," I called out, moving the previously created wind tunnel to position the Wind Sovereign closer to me.
MANA: 30 → 20
FRACTURE CHARGES: 1 → 2
The combination of Negate (Modify Impact) followed by Bend triggered the Compound Hazard combination effect. The wind tunnel gained additional properties—increased force, a spiral pattern that prevented escape, and dimensional weight that prevented it from being dispelled by the Wind Sovereign's abilities.
The bird screeched in fury as it found itself locked in place by the enhanced wind tunnel, its massive wings beating frantically against the spiral currents.
"Shape," I commanded, transforming a nearby sonic disruption into a spear of concentrated sound.
HP: 75 → 65
FRACTURE CHARGES: 2 → 3
"Fuse," I called out, absorbing a distant unstable branch hazard.
HP: 75 → 100
MANA: 20 → 10
FRACTURE CHARGES: 3 → 4
The combination of Shape (Integration Impact) followed by Fuse triggered the Reality Pattern combination effect, repeating my previous Compound Hazard effect. The sonic spear in my hand gained the same three enhancements—increased force, a spiral pattern, and a dimensional weight.
Now I had a weapon that matched the enhanced wind tunnel holding the Wind Sovereign in place. I leapt from my branch, aided by my enhanced Speed, and drove the sonic spear directly into the bird's chest where its dimensional core would be located.
The Wind Sovereign's screech shattered smaller branches as the weapon penetrated its iridescent feathers. Dimensional energy erupted from the wound, rippling outward in waves that distorted the fabric of the rift.
But the bird wasn't finished. It thrashed violently, breaking free from the wind tunnel despite the enhancements. I messed up and massive wing caught me squarely in the chest, sending me flying backward into the trunk of a massive tree. The damage was severe, but my armor saved me from critical injuries.
HP: 100 → 45
I barely managed to grab a vine, preventing a fall into the mist-shrouded depths below. The Wind Sovereign circled overhead, wounded but still dangerous, its movements now erratic and unpredictable.
"One more sequence," I assessed, pulling myself onto a stable branch.
"Echo," I commanded, creating a duplicate of myself directly in the bird's flight path.
HP: 45 → 35
FRACTURE CHARGES: 4 → 5
"Rend," I called out, creating a gravity pocket around my Echo.
MANA: 10 → 0
FRACTURE CHARGES: 5 → 6
The combination of Echo (Creation Impact) followed by Rend triggered the Hazard Cascade combination effect. The gravity pocket I created amplified in intensity, while simultaneously affecting two nearby hazards—a wind tunnel inverted its direction, pulling inward instead of pushing outward, and a sonic disruption collapsed entirely.
The Wind Sovereign, already wounded and disoriented, flew directly toward my Echo, unable to perceive the dimensional trap. As it approached, the amplified gravity pocket seized its massive form, while the inverted wind tunnel pulled it inexorably toward my duplicate.
"Phase," I commanded, going invisible for 3 seconds.
HP: 35 → 25
FRACTURE CHARGES: 6 → 7
Reality fractured as the Matrix Implosion triggered a final time, consuming all seven Fracture Charges. The dimensional tear manifested as spatial recursion—a paradoxical fold in reality where space looped back on itself infinitely.
A thirty-meter sphere of folded space expanded outward. Within this zone, distance became meaningless—every point simultaneously adjacent to and infinitely far from every other point. The Wind Sovereign, already caught in my gravity trap, suddenly found itself occupying all possible positions within the affected area simultaneously.
Even with 90% hazard reduction, the spatial recursion hit me hard. My brain struggled to process visual information as my eyes reported seeing the same objects from multiple angles simultaneously. Vertigo overwhelmed me as my inner ear failed to reconcile contradictory spatial data.
HP: 25 → 10
EXHAUSTION: 50 → 75
I fought through the disorientation, focusing on the Wind Sovereign's dimensional core, now visible through the spatial distortion as the bird existed in multiple overlapping states.
I had no MANA left for a Core Skill to complete another combination effect. But I didn't need one. Within the recursion field, the Wind Sovereign's dimensional core was simultaneously at every point in space, so I started punching everywhere.
EXHAUSTION: 75 → 90
The recursive space collapsed after several seconds, normal physics reasserting itself. The Wind Sovereign remained suspended in the gravity field, but now its iridescent feathers had dulled to gray, its dimensional core shattered by the combination of the kinetic energy generated by my punches and the paradoxical spatial effect.
[RIFT CLEARED: ANCIENT CANOPY
SURVIVAL RATE: 100% (SOLO)
CONTRIBUTION: VOLT (100%)]
[LEVEL 4 → 5]
The extraction point materialized on a nearby branch, pulsing with welcoming energy. I stepped toward it, analyzing the results of my experiment.
"Reality Pattern needs refinement," I noted, "but the potential is undeniable."
As reality shifted around me, returning me to the wasteland outside Lighthouse City, the rift dropped its rewards:
E-tier core × 1 = 999cr
Iridescent Feathers: 37 × 175cr = 6,475cr
Wind Essence: 9 × 400cr = 3,600cr
Temporal Stasis Fragment: 2 × 800cr = 1,600cr
Spatial Recursion Sample: 5 × 650cr = 3,250cr
BASE TOTAL: 15,924cr
SOLO BONUS (×10): 159,240cr
I examined the readout on my wrist display:
Name: Volt F-tier, Level 5, REALITY MATRIX
Total Credits: 485,730cr
The attribute selection screen hovered in my vision, the single point pulsing with potential.
[SPEED 4 → 5]
Over the next two days, I cleared four more E-tier rifts, each one providing valuable experience with my Reality Pattern technique. The Frost Labyrinth yielded 167,380 credits and brought me to Level 6. The Quicksilver Caves netted 172,450 credits and Level 7. The Prismatic Nexus earned me 184,920 credits and Level 8. Finally, the Thundering Abyss provided 193,750 credits and pushed me to Level 9.
Each attribute point went to Speed without hesitation or regret and my Speed hit 9.
I stood at the edge of the wasteland, looking back toward Lighthouse City as the sun set behind its towering spires. My credit balance had grown substantially:
Name: Volt F-tier, Level 9, REALITY MATRIX
Total Credits: 1,204,230cr
Level 9 was just the beginning. The real work—and my true objectives—still lay ahead. But now I had resources, experience, and most importantly, a growing mastery of the REALITY MATRIX trait. Tomorrow I would reach E-tier yet again, but for tonight, I'd earned a well-deserved rest.
