blogombal Chapter 285: The Trial of the Rift Core
Chapter 285: The Trial of the Rift Core
In the core area of the Nameless Realm, a life-or-death battle is unfolding. The light of the Rift Core shines like a distorted star, pouring out endless energy fluctuations. A phantom, with its massive body, stands in front of the core, the Rift Runes surrounding it surging and releasing powerful energy shocks, attempting to force the three back.
"It's strengthening the barrier!" Selena shouted, firing her sniper rifle in rapid succession, but the bullets were deflected by the runes' defensive power. "These runes are healing; we don't have much time left!"
"Then let's finish this with speed!" Wagner roared as he charged forward, swinging his battle axe to smash the phantom's left arm. Despite the force of his attack, it only managed to leave a faint crack in the phantom's runic armor.
"Focus your attacks on the rune nodes!" Ares shouted as he swung his sword to block the incoming fissure tentacles. "Its power comes from these runes. Once the nodes are broken, the barrier will collapse!"
Selena swiftly locked onto a core rune on the phantom's chest and adjusted her firing angle. She held her breath, pulled the trigger, and the bullet struck the center of the rune precisely. A small crack appeared in the rune, but at the same time, the phantom let out an angry roar, releasing an energy wave that sent Selena flying back several meters.
"This guy's defense is too strong!" Wagner gritted his teeth and blocked the phantom's counterattack. "Even if we shatter the rune, it can continue to regenerate."
“It’s not invincible.” Ares’s eyes were sharp as he stared at the light of the rune sword. “The rune sword can neutralize the energy of the rift. We must work together to completely destroy its defenses.”
Ares's suggestion prompted the three to quickly adjust their tactics. He was tasked with drawing the phantom's fire, Wagner used powerful attacks to weaken the rune's outer shell, and Selena used precise shots to lock onto the rune's core. A coordinated yet thrilling battle ensued.
The phantom sensed the Guardians' plan. Its body suddenly expanded, and the rift energy transformed into countless blades, attacking the three from all directions. Ares swept his rune sword, shattering some of the energy blades, but more attacks continued relentlessly.
"Hurry!" Ares gritted his teeth, blocking a fatal attack from the phantom with his sword, and shouted to Wagner and Selena, "It's stalling for time. Once the barrier is fully restored, we'll have no chance!"
Wagner roared and swung his axe with all his might. His battle axe finally cleaved through a rune on the phantom's left arm. The rune burst forth with a blinding light before shattering and disappearing. The phantom's movements paused slightly, and the defensive barrier on its chest weakened as a result.
"Well done! Keep going!" Ares seized the opportunity to leap up, his rune sword aimed directly at the phantom's chest. His sword energy swept across the sky, striking another rune node. The phantom let out a shrill scream as its rune defenses completely collapsed, revealing its true core.
"The core has been exposed!" Selena quickly aimed at the Rift Core and fired her sniper rifle several times, but found that the bullets were deflected by an invisible barrier the moment they approached the core.
"Its core is protected by an independent defense mechanism!" Selena frowned as she analyzed. "We must destroy the barrier surrounding it!"
The Rift Core seemed to sense the danger and began releasing complex rune projections. These projections, like giant chains, tightly enveloped the core, simultaneously generating an energy vortex that pulled the three of them into it.
"What is this?" Wagner felt his body sink, and he found that his movements had become sluggish, and even lifting the battle axe required a great deal of effort.
"It's a time lock!" Selena exclaimed. "It's manipulating the flow of time, slowing us down!"
“This is the trial of the Rift.” Ares took a deep breath, and the light of the rune sword gradually intensified. “It wants to use the distortion of the rules to undermine our will, but we will not yield!”
The three were trapped in an illusion created by the Rift Core. The illusion was composed of their deepest fears and regrets, and every step felt like stepping into an endless abyss.
Ares saw his burning homeland, his friends and comrades calling his name amidst the flames. A sharp pain shot through his chest; the past defeats were tearing at his heart like a knife.
Selena was consumed by her deepest regret. The lives lost in the failed experiments flashed before her eyes, their gazes filled with reproach, as if accusing her of incompetence.
Wagner's vision is an endless battlefield, where his comrades fall one by one, and he is powerless to save anyone. Each time he raises his battle axe, it is accompanied by even greater sacrifices.
"This isn't reality!" Ares gritted his teeth and swung his sword, cleaving the flames in the illusion. "The rift is trying to exploit our weaknesses! Wake up, don't be fooled!"
His voice, like a sharp blade, pierced through Selena and Wagner's confusion. The three gradually broke free from the illusion and returned to reality.
After escaping the illusion, the three looked at the Rift Core before them. Its defensive barrier was still functioning, but it had clearly weakened.
“This is our last chance.” Ares raised the rune sword above his head, its blade radiating a dazzling light. “I need you to cover me and destroy the core with all your might.”
Selena and Wagner nodded, simultaneously channeling all their remaining energy. They charged towards the rift core from the left and right, relentlessly attacking the barrier's weak points. Each swing of Wagner's battle axe produced a deafening roar, while Selena's bullets precisely struck the barrier's joints, gradually tearing it apart.
“Now!” Selena shouted.
Ares leaped into the air, plunging the runic sword into the heart of the Rift Core. The light emanating from the sword shot straight into the sky, illuminating the entire Nameless Realm.
The true core emitted a piercing shriek, and the surrounding runes and barriers gradually crumbled, with endless rift energy dissipating like a tide. The entire Nameless Realm trembled violently, the ground began to crack, and huge fissures appeared in the sky.
"Get out of here!" Wagner pulled Ares up, and the three of them rushed towards the spaceship. At the last moment, the spaceship jumped out of the collapsed area and returned to the safety of space.
Inside the spaceship, the three sat wearily in their seats, their chests heaving. They stared at the nameless realm displayed on the screen; it had completely collapsed and vanished from the universe.
“We succeeded,” Selena said softly, but a hint of unease lingered in her eyes. “However, is it really over?”
Ares gripped the rune sword tightly, his eyes deep. "The true core of the rift has been destroyed, but its will has not been completely extinguished. It is still looking for the next opportunity."
Wagner sighed heavily. "Then let's make sure it never has a chance."
The spaceship travels through space, and the star map ahead gradually reveals new targets. The battle in the Rift may not be over yet, and the Guardians' belief will be the universe's last hope.