The Rift didn't welcome them.
It resisted.
The moment Kael stepped through, the air pressed in again—thicker than outside, heavier than before. Not as suffocating as the academy Rift, but enough to slow everything just a little.
Behind him, Liora stepped in—
and immediately stiffened.
"…it's worse than I thought."
Kael didn't look back.
"Stay behind me."
This time—
she didn't argue.
The ground stretched unevenly ahead, fractured and dimly lit by a dull glow beneath the surface. The space felt unstable, like it could shift at any moment.
And then—
movement.
Three figures emerged from the distortion.
Not large.
Not slow.
Fast.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…different."
They didn't hesitate.
They lunged.
All at once.
Kael moved.
Step—
turn—
strike—
The dagger cut clean—
Pulse—
The first creature staggered—
but didn't fall.
Stronger than expected.
The second one was already there.
Too fast.
Kael shifted—
barely avoiding the strike as it tore past his shoulder—
Too close.
Behind him—
Liora reacted.
A sudden burst of light flared from her hands, unstable but powerful, forcing one of the creatures back just enough to break its momentum.
Kael noticed.
"…so she can fight."
Good.
But not enough.
The third one came low.
Kael moved to intercept—
but the angle was wrong.
Too late.
The strike was going to land.
Then—
something changed.
Not outside.
Inside.
A sharp shift in perception.
The world didn't slow—
It stretched.
Kael's body moved before the thought finished forming.
Not Burst Step.
Different.
Shorter.
Sharper.
He vanished—
and reappeared just outside the strike's path.
Clean.
Too clean.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…what—"
No time.
The creatures were still moving.
He stepped again—
that same motion—
that same shift—
Faster than before.
More controlled.
He slipped between them—
The dagger moved—
Pulse—
One down.
He turned—
Another step—
That same movement again—
He appeared behind the second creature—
Strike—
Pulse—
It dropped.
Silence broke for a second.
Then—
the third one roared—
And charged.
Kael moved to meet it—
That motion again—
But this time—
his body lagged.
Just slightly.
The shift didn't complete cleanly.
The creature's strike clipped him.
Kael staggered back.
"…inconsistent."
The technique wasn't stable.
Not yet.
The creature pressed forward.
Kael adjusted.
No rushing.
No panic.
He waited—
Watched—
Then moved—
A cleaner step this time—
The shift happened again—
Short distance.
Precise.
He appeared just inside the creature's reach—
Too close to react—
The dagger drove forward—
Pulse—
The creature dropped.
Silence.
Real silence.
Kael stood still.
Breathing steady—
but deeper now.
Behind him—
Liora exhaled.
"…what was that?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Because he didn't know.
The system flickered.
[New Movement Pattern Detected][Skill Acquired: Phase Step – Lv.1]
Kael's eyes focused.
"…Phase Step."
Not as fast as Burst Step.
But tighter.
More controlled.
Short-range.
Efficient.
"…useful."
Liora stepped closer, still watching him carefully.
"That didn't look normal."
Kael glanced at her.
"…none of this is."
She frowned slightly.
"…fair."
A pause.
Then—
the ground shifted.
Hard.
Both of them reacted instantly.
The Rift pulsed.
Violently.
Something deeper inside—
moved.
Not small.
Not fast.
Heavy.
Kael's grip on the dagger tightened.
"…so this is the real problem."
Liora looked toward the distortion ahead.
"…we're not leaving, are we?"
Kael stepped forward.
No hesitation.
"No."
Because now—
he had something new.
Not mastered.
Not stable.
But enough.
And whatever was coming—
was exactly what he needed.