The surge didn't stay contained.
Outside the rift, the air twisted violently, reacting to the same chaotic force that had just erupted from within. The portal churned faster, its edges tearing wider as unstable essence spilled outward in thick, visible waves.
Then it broke.
The rift ruptured with a thunderous crack, releasing a flood of corrupted essence that slammed into the surrounding area. The ground shook under the pressure, and the waiting martial artists tensed as the breach fully opened.
They didn't have to wait long.
Zombies poured out in waves, rushing forward without hesitation. Their movements were erratic, violent, and far more aggressive than anything seen from a standard level 5 extinction rift before.
Francis stood at the front line, unmoving as he observed the incoming horde. Martial artists from multiple nearby sectors had gathered behind him, their presence forming a defensive wall around the rift's exit point.
This wasn't just Tristan's problem anymore.
