Ch. 22 Why Me (Cont'd)

It's been three days since I met the first of the Dwarven race. Three days of being sent through MRI machines, CAT scans, poked, prodded and blood being drawn to try and figure out what the Rift had done to me and how I survived.

The introduction of the Dwarves had almost turned bloody until I had intervened on their behalf. I hadn't mentioned being a Herald yet, I still didn't know what that meant and I had asked the Dwarves to keep it a secret as well. They agreed without complaint.

From the little I heard about what was going on was that the head of the Association's Research and Development department had finally been able to crack the Dwarven language, which wasn't surprising once I found out his intelligence was above 80. When I heard that I just laughed 'I wonder if he's smarter than Steven Hawking.'

Lynette and the kids had been spending quite a bit of time with me while I was being checked out by all of the doctors and researchers. It felt good to know she cared that much. I know she cares about me, but to see it just reaffirms how much I love that woman of mine.

While she visited me she told me that online message boards were going crazy about the Dwarves, not to mention the news. Everyone wanted to know if this was an invasion of another race. That was even now being shut down by the Association with them telling everyone these were allies against the races that had been fighting us in and out of the Rifts.

Don't get me wrong, there were still asshats that didn't care and thought we should just kill the Dwarven invaders as they called them, but again the Association was stepping in to shut them down. My only issue was that I kind of wanted to learn more about them, but that would have to be after I wrapped my head around this whole 'Herald' thing.

I didn't get to talk with the Dwarves or have a whole lot of time to contemplate what my being a 'Herald' meant yet. There was just so much going on that I didn't and still don't have the time.

When I was finally released with a clean bill of health, my team and I were given a Rift to take out, which I needed to get to soon. I was itching to take out some frustration. Lynette argued with me for three hours about it. I told her that this was part of what I was now. I understood why she was worried, but I couldn't give up being a Rift Breaker even if I wanted to.

The thought of going back to a regular job was something that I couldn't even fathom anymore. I had the means to take care of my family and to become powerful, like I had always imagined. I don't know if it was my inner gamer that didn't want to give this up or not, but I was adamant about it. 'Ha Adamant, get it?' I laughed at my own stupid joke.

She had finally stopped arguing with me when I told her my reasoning, which was the money for our growing family. She agreed the money was good, so she told me with her pleading eyes to be careful and not do anything foolish. She also had my girls gang up on me, that wasn't fun. I did relent though and promise her I would be a good boy.

These thoughts went through my head as the girls and I pulled up to where the Rift was about half a mile from Ohio State East Hospital. The rest of the team was already there and waiting for me. I put the Jeep in park and grabbed my gear, pulling on my armor over my clothes, then made my way over to the team as I strapped my weapons on.

I finally caught up to them when Kenny called out "Hey Odellin, what took you so long?" I just chuckled as I said "The wife was arguing with me about going into any more raids."

He nodded as Felicia walked up "So how did that go?" I just shrugged "She finally relented, after making me promise to be extra careful." Felicia grinned "So basically what you're saying is we have to babysit you now?"

I laughed and responded "Just don't expect me to pay for it." Felicia and the rest of the team started laughing with me. It was cool that my team wasn't giving me too much shit for it. I liked them well enough, but I didnt know them all too well. Maybe after a few months we would all be more comfortable with each other.

I walked up to the Rift to stand before it and felt something within me begin to stir. I didn't know what it was, but I could definitely tell something was off inside of me. I was brought out of my internal musings by Felicia's voice.

"Alright boys and girls. Just like we've been practicing. Ode, Tyson, buff the team. Kenny, Matt and Tommy, to the front. Jessica, Nick and myself in the middle. Tyson, Aaron and Guy in back with Ode. Form up and let's move out."

We all got into position quickly enough as Kenny led the way into the Rift. Again that gnawing feeling inside of me started up, growing the closer we got to the Rift. As everyone started disappearing into the Rift I could feel something wasn't right.

I was just about to say something when I felt whatever was in me lash out and grab the Rift itself. It pulled me in without a single word being able to come from my lips, as it did I saw the Rift turn into a hazy foggy color, like when you fog up your mirror in the bathroom, instead of the slightly dull gray color it had been.

I knew we were screwed the second my face hit the ground in the Rift. Looking around I could see my team looking around and waiting for everyone to come through. My girls were next to me as I growled out "The Rift changed. It's at least a level 20 if not more."

Felicia's eyes went wide when I said this. "What do you mean? It's supposed to be a level 12 Rift." I nodded "Yeah, the second I stepped through I could see shadowy shapes beyond the fog, it upgraded."

Everyone groaned as I said that. "We need to get out of here, we can't survive a level 20 Rift." Jessica said as everyone began to turn around at her words. Here eyes went wide just as I was able to see where the Rift opening had been. It was gone.

"Fuck, this can't be happening." Kenny said as he walked up to where the Rift opening had been. The place we were in was a long cave like cavern, with glowing red moss dotting the walls, giving it a crimson glow all around.

That's when we began to hear noises. "Alright guys, we might not be as strong as what we are about to face, but we have to try. We can either meet them head on and fight or die like cowards. What say you?" Everyone's face hardened at Felicia's words. Their faces were resigned, but everyone knew that not everyone makes it through a Rift. I have been lucky up until now that nobody on any of my teams had died yet.

As they all began to turn back around and get into position I felt something from where the Rift opening had been. It was small, almost imperceptible, but I could feel it. "Felicia, buy me some time. I think I can get the Rift open, I can feel it there."

Everyone turned to face me, there was hope in their eyes "How much time do you need?" She asked. I shook my head "I won't know until I start working. Hold off whatever comes for as long as you can."

She nodded and turned back around "You heard the man, buff up and hold on to your butts." I almost laughed at the reference, but this was serious, I'll laugh later.

Bella and the girls are standing with the tanks, ready to tear into anything that came. I closed my eyes 'Alright you strange power, let's see if we can get out of this mess'. I begin to turn my attention inward and feel for the sensation that pulled me into the Rift.

It definitely didn't feel like any spell or power I had used before, although it'd only been about a year. It felt hungry and a little angry. I began to try and feed mana into it and it grabbed the Mana, using it to fuel itself and suck more of it than I was willing to give.

I growled in frustration, this thing was hungry and it was gonna fight me the entire way. Alright, I had a way of fighting too. I slowed my breathing and began to concentrate.

I grabbed some of my Mana and manipulate it into a hand shape inside of me. I could hear the sounds of battle in the background, muted in my concentration.

'Focus, come on' I chastised myself and grabbed onto the hand of Mana I created. Using it I began making it flow towards the hole that is the power that pulled me into the Rift. As it got closer I could see what it was. It is a swirling black and purple mass with star like dots spinning around the center like a black hole.

I wrap the Mana hand I created around it and grasp it. It pulls away from my hand, sucking the Mana out of it. 'No you don't' I reinforce my Mana hand. I hear a ding and ignore the notification. My Mana hand now looks like it has a gauntlet attached to it.

It grasped the black hole and held onto it. I squeezed and the black hole began to give. It fought back hard. It used a hand of its own to try and pry my Mana fingers loose. I reshaped the tips of my Mana hand to long claws, another ignored ding.

The claws began to sink into the black hole, a slow trickle of purple leaked out of the holes I had pierced into it with my claws. It turned from hungry and angry to afraid in the blink of an eye. I felt it surrender to my will just as my clawed fingers were about to penetrate its center.

Another ignored ding as I pushed Mana into the black swirling hole, bringing it in tune with the rest of my Mana channels. I could feel what it could do, I knew how to open the Rift. I opened my eyes and put my hands out pointing to where the Rift had been.

I reached out with my Mana, my hands shaking, beads of sweat pouring off my head like a river 'Okay maybe not a river, but it feels like it'. I grasped the hole where the Rift remains, small as a pearl.

I pushed, every bit of Mana I had comes flowing out of me. The Rift begins opening. I felt blood coming from my nose, it opened even further until it was fully opened. Another ignored ding.

As soon as it opened I yelled out "Move it now people, I can't hold it for long." I heard Felicia yelling and see six people running towards me. All my girls except Bella run though "Bella move your ass girl, I gotta hold it open, I will be right behind you".

'My stupid silly human, I know you. I am not leaving you alone here.' I growled out loud, but couldn't argue. Five of the team jumped through before Felicia stopped next to me and saw the Rift flicker. She looked at the blood running from my nose and the Rift "We will come back, I promise" I nod and she ran through.

I had no more fight in me and collapsed. Last thing I saw was what looked like a Troll standing over me and Bella jumping on his back, tearing into him as he howled in agony. Then the world turned black.