The Infinite Genesis System

Chapter 6: T. I.G.S: The Rift Bridge.

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"Some doors are opened by men. Others open by themselves. The World Scar belongs to neither. It opens only when it hungers."

_Chronicles of the World Scar:Chapter 6_

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Rift Bridges, more commonly known throughout Elyndra as the Connection, were catastrophic phenomena that linked their world to the countless realms hidden within the World Scar.

Whenever one appeared, it brought only one thing: chaos.

It had all begun three hundred years ago. On the day the World Scar first tore open, a Rift Bridge descended upon Elyndra without warning. From its fractured skies poured foreign entities from unknown worlds, leaving devastation in their wake. Cities burned. Families were torn apart. Humanity stood on the brink of extinction.

Then... the first human awakened a Genesis.

That single miracle became humanity's turning point. One by one, more people awakened. The tide of despair slowly reversed, and after countless sacrifices, order was finally restored.

As the centuries passed, humanity uncovered a terrifying truth: a Rift Bridge could not simply be sealed. The only way to prevent a connected world from invading Elyndra was to venture into that world, conquer it, and permanently claim it in humanity's name.

Yet even then... variables remained. No one could predict when another Rift Bridge would appear. No one could choose which world it would connect to. The Connection answered only to itself.

Ashvale Village, nestled beneath the towering Ashveil Mountains with the World Scar looming silently beyond them, had always lived under that unseen threat.

And today... the World Scar had remembered them.

The sound came first. Not another roar. Not an explosion.

A heartbeat.

THUMP!

It echoed across the entirety of Ashvale. Every window rattled, trees bent beneath an unseen pressure, and dark clouds swallowed the sky, blanketing the village in an unnatural twilight.

The temperature plummeted so suddenly that everyone felt the icy sting crawl across their skin. People shivered instinctively. One after another, their eyes rose toward the bleeding wound spreading across the heavens.

Then... it came again.

THUMP!

Kalexi felt it inside his chest. His own heartbeat unconsciously fell into the exact same rhythm.

Around him, the once lively streets dissolved into complete panic as the reality of what was happening finally struck everyone.

"Run!"

"It's another Rift Bridge!"

"Get the children!"

Merchants abandoned their stalls without a second thought. Mothers swept crying children into trembling arms. The festive atmosphere that had filled Ashvale only moments ago vanished completely, replaced by raw, instinctive survival.

Tucked beside a small shop, a teenage boy stood motionless, his gaze never leaving the bleeding wound in the sky. The panic around him no longer seemed to exist.

His eyes lingered on the impossible scar with a mixture of longing and unanswered curiosity. Ever since he was a child, he had heard stories about the World Scar—tales of unimaginable dangers, forgotten worlds, and treasures and powers beyond human comprehension.

A part of him had always wanted to see it for himself... to explore what lay beyond that endless darkness.

But reality slowly caught up with him. The excitement faded, and the truth stung. He lowered his head with a bitter smile.

"...There's no point anymore, Nathan," he whispered to himself. "I'm already a failure."

Without another glance at the heavens, he turned and quietly disappeared into the crowd.

Kalexi hurried alongside his father, his eyes darting frantically from one terrified face to another. Only minutes ago, these same streets had been overflowing with celebration. Now, fear ruled every expression.

"Dad..."

Daren's grip around his wrist tightened. "We're leaving."

"But what about everyone else?"

"The Watch will handle it."

Almost as though the world had answered him, a horn suddenly echoed from the academy.

BWOOOOOOO!

A deep, commanding note rolled across the village, followed instantly by another.

BWOOOOOOO!

High above the academy walls, figures shot into the sky. Dozens of Vessels... each mounted upon their Genesis. Massive hawks spread wings wider than wagons, Storm Eagles crackled with arcs of blue lightning, and a pair of Crimson Wyverns roared as flames escaped their jaws.

One after another, they soared toward the fractured heavens.

The sight stole Kalexi's breath. "...They're incredible."

For a brief moment, he forgot the fear, forgot the Rift Bridge, and forgot even his own failed awakening. He could only watch in silent admiration.

Daren, however, never looked away from the World Scar, his expression grim. "The pressure coming from within..." he spoke almost to himself. "...It's immense."

A dark shadow crossed his face. "I just hope... it isn't a High World Bridge."

The fear in his voice sent an uneasy chill through Kalexi. His father wasn't a man who frightened easily. If even Daren sounded this worried, then whatever waited beyond that crack was something humanity truly feared.

The ground shook again—this time, much harder. A jagged crack raced across the stone road, splitting it apart with a deafening rumble.

The sudden quake threw people off balance. Shouts erupted, bodies collided, and amidst the chaos, a little girl fell. She landed hard against the stone pavement, frozen in terror as the panicked crowd surged around her.

No one noticed... no one except Kalexi.

"Kalexi!!" Daren shouted, but Kalexi ignored him.

He tore free from his father's grasp and sprinted forward. The little girl sat frozen in the middle of the road, tears streaming down her cheeks. She didn't know where to go while the crowd surged around her like a raging river around a single stone.

Kalexi reached her just as another tremor rippled through the village. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee and wrapped both arms around the frightened child.

"It's okay..." He forced the warmest smile he could manage despite the fear clawing at his own chest. "Everything's going to be okay."

The little girl's tiny body trembled against him. "...I fell..."

"So do I," Kalexi grinned. "All the time."

She blinked through her tears. "...Really?"

"Oh, constantly," he scratched his cheek. "Sometimes I even fall without a reason."

A tiny sniffle escaped her. "...Mama says I'm clumsy."

Kalexi nodded seriously. "My dad says I attract bad luck." He sighed dramatically. "You should see him chasing me around the house with a wooden frying pan."

The little girl blinked. Then... a tiny giggle escaped her. "...Who's always winning?"

Kalexi pretended to think. "...Honestly? I think bad luck does."

The little girl burst into laughter. For just a fleeting moment, the panic around them disappeared.

Kalexi smiled. There it was, the smile of a child who wasn't crying anymore.

He gently lifted her into his arms and hurried toward a frantic woman forcing her way through the terrified crowd.

"My daughter!" The woman snatched the little girl into a desperate embrace, holding her so tightly the child nearly began crying again. "Thank you... thank you so much!"

Kalexi simply smiled and gave a small nod. As he turned.

CRAAAAACK!!

The air behind him split apart. He froze.

A tear in space, barely two meters wide, ripped open in the middle of the marketplace. People screamed as dark violet mist poured from the opening, spilling across the streets like an invading tide.

Then... a claw emerged. Long, jet black, and far too massive to belong to any creature Kalexi had ever seen, it hooked itself onto the edges of the tear.

"KALEXI!!"

His father's voice sounded impossibly distant through the chaos.

"...A bridge..." someone whispered in horror. "...A Rift Bridge has already connected?"

Nearby, an elderly man staggered backward, his hands trembling violently. "No... no, it happened too fast... We need to leave."

"...It's already too late."

The enormous claw tightened. Then, a second claw reached through. Together, they gripped the edges of the Rift and slowly tore it open.

Beyond the widening crack lay only endless darkness as dark violet mist continued to seep into Elyndra like another world breathing through the opening.

Something pulled itself through. It stood roughly four feet tall, its body resembling twisted obsidian wrapped around pulsating crimson veins. Six burning crimson eyes slowly swept across the marketplace.

Its mouth opened, revealing rows of glistening jagged teeth, and a deep growl rolled from somewhere inside its chest.

ROOOOAAAAARRRRR!!

The monstrous roar shook the entire marketplace, announcing its arrival in Elyndra.

"A Rift Fiend!"

"Is it a Low World?"

"If it's from a High World... we're dead..."

"I don't want to die! Somebody save us!"

The creature lowered its body, its burning eyes locking onto the fleeing civilians. Then... it moved. Not toward the Vessels soaring overhead, but toward the people.

A brilliant streak of silver tore across the marketplace!

BOOOOOOM!!

The Rift Fiend vanished from where it stood, its body hurled across the street like a ragdoll before crashing into the far end of the marketplace. Dust exploded into the air as chunks of stone scattered in every direction.

Standing between the monster and the fleeing townsfolk was Cedric Valerius.

Beside him stood the Silvermane Sovereign Lion, its enormous fangs bared, radiating an overwhelming presence. Blue flames danced across its silver mane, licking the ground beneath its paws without leaving so much as a scorch mark.

Cedric's calm gaze lingered on the cloud of dust where the Rift Fiend had disappeared. Then he looked at the terrified civilians.

"Civilians," his voice wasn't loud, yet everyone heard it clearly. "Evacuate."

The dust exploded apart.

ROOOAARRR!!

The Rift Fiend charged once more, but the Silvermane Sovereign Lion needed no command. It burst forward in a streak of silver light.

The two monsters met halfway.

BOOM!

No explosion followed, yet the sheer force of their collision sent violent shockwaves ripping across the street. Windows rattled and loose tiles shattered.

The lion's massive jaws clamped around the Fiend's shoulder.

ROARRRRRRRRRRR!!

The Rift Fiend roared in pain. With terrifying strength, the Silvermane lion whipped the creature violently through the air before hurling it skyward.

Cedric moved at the exact same instant, shooting forward with breathtaking speed. Metal gauntlets now covered both of his forearms, each reinforced with vicious, pointed edges.

Reaching his Genesis in a blur, the massive lion lowered its body. Cedric stepped onto its back and launched himself into the air like an arrow.

He reached the airborne Fiend in a single leap, both gauntleted fists rising high above his head.

"HIAAAAA!!"

With a deafening battle cry, he brought both fists crashing into the creature's flank.

CRAAAACK!!

A sickening crack echoed throughout the marketplace as the Rift Fiend was blasted away.

Still airborne, Cedric's eyes widened. "Don't let it hit the road!"

The command had barely left his mouth.

ROOOOARRRRR!!

The Silvermane Sovereign Lion answered as blue flames erupted across its body, its mane flaring brilliantly. It dug its massive paws deep into the stone to anchor itself.

The instant the Fiend descended within reach, the lion leapt. Its enormous jaws snapped shut around the monster.

CHRRRKKK!!

The horrifying sound of tearing flesh echoed through the village. Black blood erupted across the lion's body, but the blue flames immediately consumed every drop without leaving a single stain.

Twisting its body in midair, the lion slammed the Rift Fiend into the street with overwhelming force.

BOOOOM!!

The earth shook. Before the creature could recover, one colossal paw came crashing down.

CRUNCH!!

Its skull collapsed beneath the lion's weight.

Silence. Only drifting dust remained.

Moments later, Cedric descended gracefully onto his Genesis' back. The lion let out a low rumble.

"I told you not to let it hit the road, but you did it anyway..." Cedric smiled faintly, gently patting its mane as the dancing blue flames curled harmlessly around his hand.

Kalexi stood frozen. He had witnessed the entire battle in less than a minute, his breathing unconsciously stopped. Around him, everyone else stared just as blankly.

"...So..." his voice barely escaped. "...this... is what a Vessel can do... I had heard about it, but seeing it with my eyes..."

The battle had ended almost as quickly as it had begun. For several long seconds, nobody spoke.

Then, cheers erupted from every corner of the marketplace. Some cried, others laughed in relief, and parents hugged their children. Hope had returned.

Cedric acknowledged none of it. His eyes drifted beyond Ashvale, toward the distant World Scar, his expression darkening.

"...More are coming."

Headmaster Marcus descended beside Cedric atop a majestic white Crane Genesis. The enormous bird landed gracefully despite the chaos surrounding it.

Marcus' usually composed face was marked by a deep frown. His gaze lingered briefly on the dead Rift Fiend crushed beneath the Silvermane Sovereign Lion's paw.

'A low-level Myriad Rank... good' Marcus thought.

He looked at Cedric and gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "People are still inside the academy."

Cedric nodded once. "I'll help evacuate them."

"No." Marcus' eyes never left the widening fracture hanging in the heavens. "You stay here. If any Rift Fiends break through our ranks... they must never reach the civilians."

Even Cedric's calm expression faltered. "...Is it that serious?"

"We don't know which world has connected to us yet," Marcus' voice remained steady. "But judging from the pressure... we're about to find out."

His eyes narrowed as he stared into the endless darkness beyond the Rift. 'I hope it's Aurelios...'

He simply continued watching the Rift Bridge take shape.

Meanwhile, Daren finally found Kalexi.

The moment he saw his son standing unharmed, the fear on his face melted into overwhelming relief. Before Kalexi could say a word, Daren pulled him into a fierce embrace.

"So this is where you ran."

Kalexi scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile. "...Sorry."

"I told you to stay with me."

"I know."

"You never listen."

Kalexi smiled sheepishly. "...I get that from you."

Daren opened his mouth, then stopped. After a long pause, he sighed. "...That's unfortunately true."

Despite everything happening around them, the two couldn't help smiling.

Kalexi's gaze drifted back toward Cedric, and Daren followed it, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Then, the world shook.

Not another tremor... something far worse.

The vibration rolled across Ashvale with enough force to steal everyone's balance. The distant forest simply disappeared, swallowed beneath a wall of crimson light.

Every conversation stopped. Even the Rift Fiends forcing themselves through the fractures seemed to hesitate.

Far above, the World Scar trembled as darkness spread across the heavens as though the sun itself had chosen not to shine.

Silence followed.

From within that endless abyss... something moved.

Slowly... an eye opened.

Only one. It was so unimaginably colossal that nothing else could be seen beyond the fracture—just the eye.

It looked down upon Elyndra... upon Ashvale... upon everyone. Its iris glowed with an ancient, terrifying light.

For the briefest instant, Kalexi felt something impossible. It wasn't merely looking at the village; it wasn't looking at humanity.

It... was looking at him.

His breathing stopped. His body refused to move.

Then... the eye blinked, slowly, as though time itself had slowed to witness the motion.

Across the entirety of Ashvale, not a single soul dared breathe. Everyone stood frozen, watching the impossible gaze staring down from beyond the World Scar.