Global rift
[System: You've entered the [Global rift] unlike any normal rift this one is connected throughout the world. This place is vast and the monster which lurked is nothing compared to the average rift. Even after more than two decades, this hasn't yet been disclosed for quite a long time]
"I can't believe that card made us pass... What the heck did you do, Neon? I've heard that only the authorities and other personnel can access a rift on lockdown," Tanya was amazed upon seeing the vast world within the rifts for the very first time
It was the same as the others after they'd gazed upon a place completed with all sorts of necessities to produce life. Air, vegetation, water, and everything in between, the rifts possess everything for the existence of its denizens. But there's one particular thing that made this place incapable of prolonging an outsider's life monsters
They roam these lands daily, and a whole variety of beasts and many ways for one to meet their end. Poison, traps, territory, etc. This place had every single piece of its fiber focused on ending the lives of any unlucky visitors from afar. But before they could start their hunt and increase their levels along with testing their newly acquired gear
His group's first objective was to lay all of their tents in a spot where it's mostly isolated from the denizens of this realm
'I've never thought I'd set foot on the Global rift once more, this place hasn't changed much since I died. Normally rifts would disappear from the world after a total number of monsters have been slaughtered. But there are a few special cases, rifts that possess a quest, and in the end, are rewards and a way to close this hellhole for good,'
'Even for two decades and a half, it hasn't changed a single bit... Apart from the quest, this place is intertwined with the rest of the reigning countries that earth has to offer. They mostly called this place the MMORPG of the guardians, you can even meet some people from different countries. But that only happens if you stray away from the vicinity of the gate your country possesses,'
"Whew! Finally, we finished setting up our camp... I didn't think it'll be that hard to find an isolated area, but I beg to differ from the experience we gained. This place is crawling with tons of monsters! How the hell can anyone survive such a place filled with all sorts of deadly monsters!!?"
Zane was the one who'd mostly drawn the attention of the monsters to attack. No matter how much he'd tried to hide his mana, it was too much for him to handle. As a result, it draws the attention of countless critters, and he spent most of his day drained of all his excess mana. In his frustrations, he was given a potion to quench his thirst and alleviate his fatigue
"I think I remember telling you that the rifts are unforgiving to those who aren't well prepared... Drink this, it's a stamina recovery potion, im only giving you one since the taste is quite addictive. Now that you've learned your lesson, wear this robe, and don't even bother complaining if it's tattered. That's a mana concealment cloak good for rift exhibitions and such," Once he gave the cloak to their mage in need, he gathered the rest in the middle of their campfire
"Yawn!!! What's the big idea? I was having a wonderful nap and you interrupted me, do you wanna get wrecked!!? Since it's already evening you better make it quick, I won't make any promises I'll sleep when I get bored," Tanya awakened in such an awful mood and she didn't waste any time and joined their discussion
"Isn't it too early...! We've just got here and the first thing your think about is sleep, aren't you forgetting where we are...? Master Neon assembled us all for a reason, so there's gotta be something wrong. Believe me when I'd say it's better to follow his lead when we're staying inside the rifts. Is it that time already? Do you want me to scout the premises?" Alex asked him with his eyes meeting his own and a voice filled with joy
"Not today... This whole trip was to strengthen each other's trust and to create a bond filled with blood and sweat. But enough with the theatrical performance, im not someone who fancies such poetic words to encourage my team," He packed a meal for his own, and a few of the potions they have in their hands, and prepared for his departure
"Make sure the four of you can bond with one another before I return, also don't think of sleeping... This place we've set foot in is a place continuously sprouting some sleeping pollens. Tanya is the one who's mostly affected by this occurrence, once I get back I'll prepare an incense to draw them away," When they heard of the reason for their fatigued they became wary of their surroundings
Even though the pollens aren't anywhere dangerous and they drove away any possible threats. Neon couldn't resist and tricked his disciples and his teammates into the delusion he planted in their minds. But his reasoning wasn't something as simple as a ploy and he only prepared them for the worst
"Finally, I've reached this place," He came back to the very place they ventured in their search for their destined base
[Alert: The guardian has entered the edge of the Blood-stained ruins!!!
Warning: Your level is far below the required level for you to leave with all of your limbs intact. At your current level, it'll be suicidal if you pursue to continue and venture deeper into these ruins. Most of the monsters dwelling in this place are said to possess thrice the amount of your health
[Blood-stained ruins]: This territory is home to a variety of warmongering monsters!!! They rule their territory with all of their might and equipped themselves with the weapon of their hunted prey. These monsters were said to be unforgiving to those who dares trespass on their property. They'll mutilate anything who opposes their might and brutally torture those who they captured as their own]
They could've been ambushed a while back but he sent his minions beforehand and they safely escape their grasp. These monsters piqued his interest when he's yet to hear of his missing troops and he ventures deeper to investigate. But in his search, he never once found anything out of the blue and most of the places were filled with traces of an ongoing fight
'These footprints, they're similar to the shape and size of my minions aren't far off. They've been smudged by another pawprint, I wonder what kind of monster it is...? Even if they're overwhelmed by numbers they wouldn't ignore me and call for my aide. Even in front of my eyes, this pawprint doesn't even jog any set of memory in my head. Perhaps, is this a new species...?'
His nose wasn't able to track their next location which was an anomaly in itself, but his eyes never deceived him. This prints he saw with his own, it was the same as his minions and yet he couldn't track their sent with his eyes or nose. Before he attempts to call them back, he felt a vibration and it grew stronger by the second
'It's an earthquake...?'
When he gazes down below he saw his minions battling a beast clad in armor in a place hidden from the normal eye. Each stomp and attack they've made within that hole were transmitted to the surface area where he stood. His minions were slowly losing their strength and before they met their end, he joins the fray
[System: The host has activated one of the skills of the [The golden eyes of abyssal tiger]
[Abyssal leap]: The host can phase through any physical form and become one with the abyss. In this state, he's neither shackled by gravity, nor time and his body will become capable of traveling in the abyss
Rank: Catastrophic
Attribute: Dark element
Cost: 100 mana/chi
Duration: 15 minutes
Special effect: Whilst the host remains in this state, he's incapable of being targeted but this will lessen the duration of the skill per minute]
"The hell are you doing with my minions!!!" After a long time came to pass, his body phased through the thickness of these hidden ruins and arrived near their final hours
In the span of his skill, he phases throughout the battlefield appearing and displaying whilst he left his mark in a form of slashes. His sword which he engulfed in darkness sliced through the monster's thick and durable armor and he continued his slaughter. Since his state wasn't bound by gravity not time itself, he pushes through at record speed and left a trail of slashes
"Master you arrived!!!" Glutton and the rest greeted him but that wasn't his greatest concern. Their current location, this place was something he'd never imagined finding such a mysterious habitat. When he asked his minions they could only answer we're a few words which baffle him the most
[Status: The lesser homunculus have retreated in the main body!!! They'll now be healed of all their injuries as of now]
'Since I've found you all here I guess you already have an idea of what im about to ask you, Glutton. What exactly happened and what is this place, I've never heard of a hidden structure thats within the Global rifts. Tell me everything you know, I want to hear your story from start to finish,'
(We heard a voice amidst our hunt and when we came to our senses we arrived to find ourselves in this place. We weren't able to contact you and the enemy waves kept ok appearing after we cleared another. I don't know who called here, but there's one thing we thought you'd like to know. The voice... It said something which you always whispered in your sleep 'Transcender' the voice said)