My Infinite Mana System

The forest was quiet, the echoes of the battle with the Void Titan fading into the early morning air. Despite their victory, an unsettling tension lingered as the trio gathered their thoughts. The Arbiter's warning played in Allen's mind like a broken record: The void retaliates. The balance must be restored.

Allen stood, brushing off dirt from his jacket. His hand instinctively rested on Stormfang, now pulsing faintly with energy from the Riftweaver's power. "We can't waste time. If more rifts are opening, they'll bring destruction to other regions. We need to find the Nexus."

Emma raised an eyebrow as she adjusted her staff on her back. "And where exactly is the Nexus? The Arbiter wasn't big on specifics."

Kael groaned as he sheathed his blade. "Let me guess another dungeon, another cryptic clue, and another giant monster trying to kill us?"

Allen sighed. "Probably. But we've got to start somewhere. Let's head back to the city. The Guild might have intel on new rifts appearing."

The city of Xiangyu bustled with life as the trio entered its gates. Hunters roamed the streets, showing off trophies from their recent conquests, while vendors hawked potions, weapons, and talismans. Despite the lively atmosphere, there was an undercurrent of fear.

Posters lined the walls, each depicting warnings of unstable rifts and monstrous sightings. The news of rising chaos was spreading fast.

Emma's eyes darted toward one of the posters. "Looks like we're not the only ones noticing the void's influence. Even the Guild seems on edge."

Kael snorted. "The Guild's always on edge. But if we're lucky, they've got something useful for once."

They made their way to the Hunter's Guild, a massive stone building that served as the hub for all ranked hunters in the region. Inside, the air buzzed with activity as hunters argued over quests, checked rift charts, and traded information.

At the far end of the hall stood Mei, the Guild's ranking officer. She was a no-nonsense hunter who'd retired from active duty after losing an arm in a high-level dungeon. Despite her injury, she commanded respect and fear from everyone who crossed her path.

Mei looked up as the trio approached, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Allen. Emma. Kael. Heard you've been stirring up trouble again."

Kael grinned. "Only the usual. You know, entering dungeons and stuff like that."

Mei rolled her eyes. "Spare me a break. I assume you're here because of the rift activity. You're not the only ones who've noticed things getting worse. We've had reports of rifts appearing in clusters and not just the usual dungeons. These are warping reality itself."

Allen frowned. "Clusters? That doesn't sound normal. Do you have locations?"

Mei slid a map across the counter. Several points were marked in red, each one labeled with reports of increasing void energy.

"The worst one is here," she said, pointing to a mark deep in the mountains. "We've been getting reports of hunters disappearing near this rift. No one's made it back alive, and those who do… they're not the same."

Emma leaned closer. "Not the same how?"

Mei's expression darkened. "Corrupted. Their systems malfunction, and their abilities turn against them. Whatever's in that rift is unlike anything we've seen before."

The journey to the mountains took the better part of the day. As they climbed higher, the air grew colder, and the landscape became eerily silent. No birds, no animals just an oppressive stillness that made their footsteps seem deafening.

The rift came into view just as the sun dipped below the horizon. It was massive, easily three times the size of the one they had encountered in the forest. The air around it shimmered with distorted energy, and the ground was cracked and blackened.

Allen activated Riftweaver, feeling the rift's chaotic pull. The energy was stronger here, more volatile. "This is it. The Nexus might be tied to rifts like this one."

Emma glanced at him, worry etched on her face. "Are we even ready for this? If hunters stronger than us didn't make it back…"

"We don't have a choice," Allen said firmly. "If we don't stop this, the void will consume reality, the world and including us."

Kael cracked his knuckles. "Then let's get to it. No point in standing around waiting for it to swallow us."

As they stepped through the portal, they were immediately assaulted by a wave of nausea. The inside of the rift was disorienting, a swirling maelstrom of shattered landscapes and floating debris. Time and space seemed meaningless here.

The System chimed:

[System Alert: Entering Rift – Corruption Zone Detected. Synchronization with System Reduced by 30%.]

Kael stumbled, clutching his head. "Damn… feels like my brain's being squeezed."

Emma cast a small spell to stabilize their footing, her face pale. "Stay close. This place is a death trap."

Ahead of them, a massive creature loomed. It was unlike the Void Titan, its form more grotesque and unstable, as if it were barely holding itself together.

[Enemy Encounter: Rift Abomination – Level 34. Warning: High Corruption Field.]

The creature lunged at them, its amorphous body splitting into tendrils that lashed out. Allen reacted instantly, activating Harmonized Rift to teleport above the creature. He slammed down with Stormfang, releasing a burst of lightning and void energy.

The Abomination roared, swiping at him with a massive tendril. Emma cast a barrier to intercept the blow, but the force sent her staggering.

"Focus fire on its core!" Allen shouted.

Kael charged in, his blade glowing as Emma amplified it with Radiant Empowerment. He slashed at the creature's center, but the Abomination shifted, splitting its body to avoid the attack.

"This thing's a damn nightmare!" Kael yelled, narrowly dodging another tendril.

Allen closed his eyes, focusing on the Riftweaver's energy. He could feel the balance of the creature's unstable form. If he could disrupt it…

"Keep it distracted!" Allen called.

As Kael and Emma worked to occupy the Abomination, Allen channeled Riftweaver into a focused pulse of energy. The golden-black sphere shimmered in his hands before he hurled it at the creature.

The sphere struck its core, destabilizing the void energy within. The Abomination convulsed, its body collapsing in on itself before erupting in a burst of light.

[Enemy Defeated: 18,000 EXP Gained.]

As the creature dissolved, a glowing shard appeared where its core had been. Allen approached cautiously, picking it up.

The System chimed:

[Void Fragment Acquired. Unlocking New Data…]

A vision flooded Allen's mind a massive structure surrounded by swirling void energy. The Nexus of Realms.

Allen staggered back, his eyes wide. "I saw it. The Nexus. It's real."

Emma steadied him, her expression worried. "Where is it?"

"In the northern tundra," Allen said, his voice steady. "We'll need to prepare. Whatever's guarding it is far stronger than anything we've faced."

Kael smirked, though his face was pale. "Then let's gear up. No way we're backing out now."