The Equipment District hummed with early morning commerce as I stepped through its threshold. My status display showed a satisfying 14,900 credits—proceeds from Shattered Peaks that would transform my capabilities if spent wisely. No more minimal purchases. No more utility cutters and bargain-bin armor.
I scrolled through my mental checklist while navigating the crowded market lanes. Armored raiders with corporate insignias pushed past, while merchants hawked their wares from reinforced stalls. The air smelled of lubricant, synthetic leather, and the faint ozone tang of dimensional storage being accessed.
The high-tier equipment shops were obvious—pristine facades with energy barriers and armed guards. Not for me. Not yet. I headed toward the mid-range district where F-tier raiders with actual credits shopped. A storefront caught my eye: Raider's Edge: Quality Equipment, Reasonable Prices. The reinforced display cases showcased armor sets with colorful durability ratings floating above each piece.
"First big payday?" asked the shopkeeper, a broad-shouldered woman with augmented eyes that assessed my gear and status in one sweep. A retired raider, definitely—the fluid way she moved despite her size suggested high Force and Speed in her prime.
"Solo clear," I replied, letting a hint of pride color my voice.
Her eyebrows rose fractionally. "Impressive for your level. Looking for the full package then?"
I nodded. "Prioritizing mobility and durability."
She gestured to a private fitting area. "I have just the setup."
Three hours later, I emerged with dramatically upgraded equipment. A form-fitting Resonance Mesh bodysuit replaced my tattered jacket—specialized F-tier armor designed to distribute impact force across its entire surface rather than just at the point of contact.
RESONANCE MESH (F-TIER)
Durability: 100%
Class: Normal (1 mod)
Damage taken reduced by 10%
A pair of Gravitystep Boots with minor gravitational compensators complemented the suit perfectly:
GRAVITYSTEP BOOTS (F-TIER)
Durability: 100%
Class: Normal (1 mod)
Gravity related effects have 10% reduced effectiveness.
I replaced my utility cutter with a proper weapon—a Channel Blade for better mana sustain.
CHANNEL BLADE (F-TIER)
Durability: 100%
Class: Normal (1 mod)
Increases Mana regeneration rate by 20%.
Finally, I purchased two accessory items—a Dimensional Anchor Wristband and a basic Stabilization Pendant:
DIMENSIONAL ANCHOR WRISTBAND (F-TIER)
Durability: 100%
Class: Normal (1 mod)
Dimensional Stability +10% in immediate surrounding.
STABILIZATION PENDANT (F-TIER)
Durability: 100%
Class: Normal (1 mod)
Reduces Exhaustion accumulation by 10%
The equipment cost me nearly 6900 credits—expensive, but necessary. Another 3100 credits went toward consumables the rest I was saving for rift passes: First-Aid Nanogels for out of combat healing and a few Rejuvenators for emergency Exhaustion management, and enough Synthetic Nano-Feed to last several expeditions.
First-Aid Nanogel (F-tier)
Effect: Recover 100% Health over 60 mins (damage taken will cancel this effect)
Cooldown: 60 mins
Rejuvenator (F-tier)
Effect: Instantly reduces Exhaustion by 50. Costs 50 Stamina to use.
Cooldown: 60 mins
Synthetic Nano-Feed (F-tier)
Converts rift energy into sustenance for 60 minutes.
All regeneration effects are reduced by 50% while in effect.
Back in my unit, I laid everything out on my bed, marveling at the sudden transformation in my capabilities. I'd gone from scavenging blank to properly equipped F-tier raider in in about a month. The synergy was clear—each piece enhanced my mobility and trait management. With my Speed attribute at 3 and equipment bonuses, my movement would be nearly 30% faster than baseline.
I didn't sleep much that night. Instead, I studied the Network's F-tier rift listings, searching for optimal challenges. Three candidates emerged from the data—each matched my evolving strategy, each promised sufficient rewards to justify the risk.
The Network console pinged with confirmation as I finalized my purchases:
[F-07991: ECHO CORRIDORS]
[F-18224: ACID VEINS]
[F-32667: CLOCKWORK RUINS]
Three F-tier rifts. Three solo reservations. All raid slots purchased for each.
The entry portal into Echo Corridors deposited me in a labyrinth of smooth, pale stone. Glowing blue symbols pulsed along curved walls that rose until they disappeared into darkness above. The air vibrated with subtle energy—sound manifested as semi-physical force. My DOMAIN ENGINE immediately highlighted dozens of acoustic anomalies throughout the complex.
[F-TIER RIFT: ECHO CORRIDORS]
Base Requirement: Locate and destroy 3 Resonance Crystals
Alternative Path: None
Sound waves rippled visibly through the air—a warning sign in this dimension. Each footstep produced concentric circles of blue energy that traveled outward along floor and walls. The corridors were listening.
The first threat appeared within minutes—Echo Hounds. Wolf-like creatures with elongated, trumpet-shaped ears and mouths that could focus sonic attacks. Three emerged from adjoining corridors, their howls condensing into visible force projectiles.
I side-stepped the first blast, feeling the air pressure as it passed within centimeters of my head. The Gravitystep Boots responded beautifully, their gravitational compensators making my movements feel nearly effortless. I lunged toward the lead Hound, channeling mana through my blade.
"Invert Hazard," I muttered, targeting a nearby acoustic anomaly—a section of wall that amplified sound waves. The hazard shimmered, its nature reversing. Now instead of amplifying sound, it nullified it completely.
The first Fracture Charge accumulated, and Reactive Fracture Tether activated instantly. Energy surged through my system, boosting my Speed by 50%. The world slowed fractionally as I moved through it, acoustic hazards becoming more distinct in my perception range.
The Hounds' attacks fizzled against the inverted wall section, their howls absorbed into silence. I capitalized on their confusion, dispatching two with precise strikes before their pack-mates could reorient. The third attempted to flee, its howls distorting the corridor behind it.
"Amplify Hazard," I said, targeting the distortion. The acoustic wave doubled in strength, rebounding back toward the creature with twice the force. The Hound imploded as its own amplified howl collapsed its internal organs.
Second Fracture Charge. Another speed boost. I was learning to time these charges strategically—using each boost to cover ground or escape dangerous situations. The Dimensional Anchor Wristband pulsed gently against my skin, further reducing any negative backlash.
The first Resonance Crystal stood at the center of a vast circular chamber. Sound waves visibly radiated from its core, creating concentric rings of destructive force that would shred anything approaching directly. Several failed raiders' equipment lay scattered at various distances—evidence of direct approach attempts.
I observed for several minutes, noting the pattern of sonic pulses. There was mathematical precision to them—a rhythm I could exploit. With careful timing, I created a hazard in the brief interval between pulses—a sound vacuum that absorbed the next wave entirely. The moment it formed, I sprinted through the temporary safe passage, Resonance Mesh distributing the residual sonic pressure evenly across my body instead of puncturing my organs.
The crystal itself was vulnerable only to specific frequency attacks. I had neither the abilities nor equipment to generate such sounds. Instead, I used my understanding of the environment. Two Echo Traps—smaller crystalline formations—flanked the main crystal. With precise manipulation, I inverted one trap while amplifying the other, creating a feedback loop of resonance that shattered all three structures simultaneously.
The backlash was intense. My HP dropped by 30% despite the armor's distribution effect. Worth it for the first objective.
Two more crystals awaited in increasingly complex environments. The second crystal chamber featured shifting platforms over a bottomless chasm, each platform emitting specific tones that either strengthened or weakened nearby structures. By carefully manipulating these acoustic properties, I created a stable path.
Third Fracture Charge accumulated. Dimensional backlash was immediate—reality cracked at the edges, sound itself becoming visible as jagged, crystalline protrusions that erupted from walls and floor. These crystal formations acted as sound amplifiers, turning even my breathing into potentially deadly sound waves.
The Dimensional Stabilizer proved its worth, reducing the hazard's duration by 50%. I navigated through the crystal forest carefully, using my enhanced speed from Reactive Fracture Tether to reach the second crystal and destroy it with another hazard manipulation combination.
The final crystal was guarded by a Sonic Sentinel—an Elite monster made entirely of solidified sound waves. Its attacks phased between visible and invisible, making defense nearly impossible. I relied entirely on mobility, using my trait to create temporary sound dampening zones while looking for weaknesses in its resonance pattern.
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The fight lasted thirteen minutes. By its end, my Resonance Mesh showed 67% durability, my HP hovered at 42%. The Sentinel finally shattered when I led it into a triple hazard interaction—a cascading sonic collapse that disrupted its frequency-based cohesion.
With all three crystals destroyed, the rift began to stabilize. Sound waves calmed, the oppressive pressure lifting as dimension barriers reinforced themselves. Extraction was smooth, depositing me back at the Rift Management Center with my rewards.
[RIFT CLEARED: ECHO CORRIDORS]
SURVIVAL RATE: 100% (SOLO)
CONTRIBUTION: VOLT (100%)
LEVEL: 3 → 4
F-tier core × 3 = 297 credits
Sonic Crystals 15 units × 40cr = 600cr
Resonant Metal 8 units × 55cr = 440cr
Echo Fragments 12 units × 25cr = 300cr
Sentinel Core 1 unit × 150cr = 150cr
SOLO BONUS (×10)
TOTAL (Network): 17870cr
The level-up notification pulsed in my status display. Without hesitation, I allocated the attribute point to Speed.
SPEED: 3 → 4 (BASELINE)
Even with just one point increase, I could feel the difference. My reactions were sharper, my movements more efficient. The synergy with Reactive Fracture Tether would be even more pronounced now. I quickly went home to recharge then it was time to go again.
Acid Veins welcomed me with toxic air and the relentless drip of corrosive liquid. The rift had formed inside a massive cave system, where luminous green acid flowed through rock channels like blood through veins. Each droplet that hit exposed stone hissed and smoked.
[F-TIER RIFT: ACID VEINS]
Base Requirement: Neutralize the Acid Source
Alternative Path: Redirect acid flow to dissolve the Corroded Gate
My environmental hazard detection immediately highlighted dangerous areas—pools of concentrated acid, vents releasing toxic gas, unstable ceiling sections weakened by corrosion. The acid itself registered as an omnipresent hazard, but one I could potentially manipulate.
I advanced carefully, testing my equipment against the environment. The Resonance Mesh resisted acid splashes admirably, though each contact reduced durability by fractions of a percent.
The denizens of this acidic hell were uniquely adapted. Corrosive Crawlers—arthropod-like creatures with acid-secreting exoskeletons—skittered along walls and ceilings. Neutralizing them required precision with the Channel Blade, avoiding acid spray while severing critical joints.
Deeper in, I encountered my first major challenge—a vast chamber where acid rained constantly from the ceiling. Direct crossing meant certain equipment failure and significant HP loss. The acid droplets fell in a pattern, however—one I could exploit.
"Create Hazard," I commanded, forming a localized wind current that diverted the acid rain from a narrow pathway. First Fracture Charge accumulated, triggering Reactive Fracture Tether. With enhanced speed, I sprinted through the temporary safe passage, covering thirty meters in seconds.
Progress through the rift required careful balancing of hazard manipulation and conservation of resources. Each manipulation brought me closer to dimensional backlash, but without them, I couldn't advance. I used my speed strategically, accumulating charges only when I needed the boost to navigate particularly dangerous sections.
The acid source was located in the rift's deepest chamber—a massive gland-like structure pulsing with toxic energy. Surrounding it were fifteen Acid Elementals—semi-solid creatures composed of living caustic solution. Their movements left smoking trails on stone, and their touches could melt equipment instantly.
Direct confrontation would be suicide. Instead, I observed the chamber from concealment, noting how acid flows converged and diverged. There was a pattern to the currents—a systemic weakness.
With careful positioning, I executed my plan. First, "Negate Hazard" on a section of acid flow, creating a stable platform I could reach with a running jump. Second Fracture Charge, another speed boost. From this position, I used "Amplify Hazard" on a secondary acid stream, doubling its corrosive properties. Third Fracture Charge—dimensional backlash imminent.
The dimensional tear pulled in something unexpected—crystalline frost that immediately began neutralizing acid wherever they touched. I hadn't anticipated this beneficial fracture, but I exploited it immediately, directing the spreading frost toward the main acid source.
The interaction was violently exothermic. Acid and frost collided, creating explosions of steam and crystallized residue. The Acid Elementals shrieked as their physical forms began to destabilize, drawn toward the chemical reaction. Within minutes, the chain reaction reached the central acid gland, neutralizing its caustic output.
As the acid source destabilized, the surrounding cave system began to collapse. I sprinted toward the exit, Reactive Fracture Tether's speed boost allowing me to outpace falling debris. My Exhaustion had reached 49% despite the Rejuvenator—the toxic atmosphere taking its toll despite my precautions.
I emerged into a extraction zone just as the protocols activated, the rift collapsed behind me as I materialized in the Rift Management Center.
[RIFT CLEARED: ACID VEINS]
SURVIVAL RATE: 100% (SOLO)
CONTRIBUTION: VOLT (100%)
LEVEL: 4 → 5
F-tier core × 2 = 198 credits
Neutralized Acid Crystal 10 units × 65cr = 650cr
Corrosive Residue 18 units × 30cr = 540cr
Elemental Essence 5 units × 80cr = 400cr
Purified Cave Stone 14 units × 35cr = 490cr
SOLO BONUS (×10)
TOTAL (Network): 22780cr
Another level, another attribute point allocated to Speed without hesitation.
SPEED: 4 → 5 (BASELINE)
My strategy was proving itself repeatedly. With each Speed increase, my ability to navigate hazards improved exponentially when combined with Reactive Fracture Tether. My credit balance now exceeded 40,000—a small fortune for a new F-tier raider.
Clockwork Ruins presented an entirely different challenge. The moment I stepped through the portal, I was struck by the mechanical precision of this dimension. Bronze and copper gears of varying sizes interlocked in intricate patterns, forming surfaces that were constantly in motion. The sky above was a mass of turning cogs and spinning wheels, casting rhythmic shadows across the landscape.
[F-TIER RIFT: CLOCKWORK RUINS]
Base Requirement: Defeat the Chronos Arbiter
Alternative Path: None
My trait detected hundreds of temporal anomalies scattered throughout the ruins—pockets where time flowed faster, slower, or sometimes backward. These hazards weren't immediately visible, but my DOMAIN ENGINE rendered them as shimmering distortions in the air.
The mechanical denizens noticed me immediately. Timepiece Sentinels—humanoid constructs with clock faces instead of heads—began converging on my position. Their movements were unnaturally precise, each step occurring at exact one-second intervals.
I drew my Channel Blade and assessed my options. Direct combat against multiple Sentinels would be risky. Instead, I manipulated a nearby temporal anomaly—a bubble where time flowed at half-speed.
"Invert Hazard," I commanded. The temporal bubble reversed its properties, now accelerating time within its radius. First Fracture Charge accumulated, Reactive Fracture Tether activating instantly. I lured three Sentinels into the inverted hazard, watching as they accelerated to twice normal speed.
The trap worked—but not as expected. The Sentinels' internal mechanisms weren't designed for accelerated operation. Within seconds, their gears began grinding against each other, joints sparking as metal scraped metal. Two collapsed entirely, their clock-face heads shattering. The third adapted, its mechanisms recalibrating to the new temporal conditions.
With enhanced speed from Reactive Fracture Tether, I closed the distance and dispatched the remaining Sentinel before it could complete its adaptation.
The Clockwork Ruins operated on strict principles of cause and effect. Each action produced a predictable reaction, which I exploited as I navigated deeper into the complex. Temporal anomalies became both hazards and tools—I consumed slower time bubbles to reduce my Exhaustion, amplified faster ones to disable mechanical opponents, and inverted reversal fields to restore damaged equipment.
At the heart of the ruins stood an immense clocktower—a structure that extended beyond visible limits in both directions. Inside lurked the Chronos Arbiter, an Elite clock-like entity that controlled the dimension's temporal flow.
According to information scanned from fallen machinery, the Arbiter could manipulate time in its immediate vicinity—accelerating its own movements while slowing opponents. Direct confrontation would put me at severe disadvantage.
The coming battle would require precise timing and maximum mobility. With careful preparation, I manipulated three temporal anomalies around the tower's entrance, creating a complex interaction of time fields that would hopefully disrupt the Arbiter's control.
The confrontation began the moment I entered the tower. Time distorted immediately—my movements becoming sluggish while the Arbiter's massive pendulum arm swung at triple speed. Only my enhanced reflexes from Speed 5 allowed me to dodge the first attack.
"Amplify Hazard," I targeted a time dilation field directly behind the Arbiter, doubling its effect. Second Fracture Charge, another speed boost. The enhanced field began interfering with the Arbiter's temporal control, creating unpredictable fluctuations that affected both of us.
I dashed between massive gears and spinning mechanisms, using the clockwork itself as cover. The Arbiter pursued relentlessly, its pendulum arm shattering stone and metal with each swing. My plan was working, however—each manipulation further destabilized the tower's temporal equilibrium.
For the final manipulation, I needed perfect positioning. I climbed to a higher platform, narrowly avoiding a gear the size of a transport vehicle. With the Arbiter directly below me, I executed the last part of my strategy.
"Create Hazard," I formed a temporal loop—a small bubble where the same three seconds repeated continuously. Third Fracture Charge accumulated. The dimensional backlash was immediate and spectacular.
Reality fractured along precise mathematical lines. The tower's interior became a kaleidoscope of different time periods—sections showing the ruins brand new, others crumbling with age, still others in various states of construction or decay. The Arbiter found itself simultaneously existing in multiple temporal states, its mechanical body unable to reconcile the contradictions.
I didn't waste the opportunity. With Reactive Fracture Tether providing maximum speed, I leapt down and drove my Channel Blade into the Arbiter's central mechanism—the one point that existed consistently across all temporal fragments.
The creature's death triggered a cascading temporal collapse. Time began accelerating, slowing, and reversing randomly throughout the tower. I sprinted for the exit, consuming a Rejuvenator to counter Exhaustion accumulation from a temporal whiplash. Behind me, the clocktower imploded—not physically, but temporally—aging thousands of years in seconds before reforming and repeating the cycle.
I materialized in the Rift Management Center as the final calculations appeared:
[RIFT CLEARED: CLOCKWORK RUINS]
SURVIVAL RATE: 100% (SOLO)
CLEARANCE TIME: 11 DAYS
CONTRIBUTION: VOLT (100%)
LEVEL: 5 → 6
F-tier core × 4 = 396 credits
Temporal Gears 23 units × 50cr = 1150cr
Clockwork Mechanisms 9 units × 95cr = 855cr
Arbiter Pendulum Fragment 1 unit × 200cr = 200cr
Crystallized Time 7 units × 120cr = 840cr
SOLO BONUS (×10)
TOTAL (Network): 34410cr
With this final clear, my credits now exceeded 74,000—an almost unheard-of sum for an F-tier raider of my level. More importantly, I'd gained another level and attribute point.
SPEED: 5 → 6 (BASELINE)
Back in my unit, I examined my status display with satisfaction:
VOLT
F-TIER (LEVEL 6)
HP: 100/100
MP: 100/100
EXHAUSTION: 21/100
ATTRIBUTES: FORCE: 1 POWER: 1 SPEED: 6 VITALITY: 1 DEFENSE: 1 CONTROL: 1 MANA: 1
TRAIT: DOMAIN ENGINE (CURSED)
ABILITY: REACTIVE FRACTURE TETHER (PASSIVE)
FRACTURE CHARGES: 0/3
My strategy had proven effective beyond expectation. While conventional wisdom pushed F-tier raiders toward Force or Power attributes, my focus on Speed had created a uniquely effective synergy with my trait and ability. Each Fracture Charge now granted me a 50% boost to my already exceptional Speed, allowing me to move with precision and velocity that compensated for my limited offensive capabilities.
The Network terminal pinged with a notification—a message from Stability Administration:
[ATTENTION: RAIDER VOLT]
Performance metrics indicate unusual solo clearance pattern. Request meeting with Evaluation Department at earliest convenience.
[END TRANSMISSION]
I closed the message without responding. Their attention was inevitable but premature. I needed more data points, more clearances to refine my approach further.
I began browsing the Network for my next targets. My fingers traced the listings for more challenging F-tier rifts, my mind already calculating hazard manipulation strategies. The pattern was clear now—environmental manipulation combined with burst mobility created opportunities that direct combat builds couldn't match.
