Kaelira blinked.
"...Difficult to believe?"
She looked at the masked elder with a puzzled expression.
"...We already knew we were being watched from the very beginning."
She tilted her head.
"...Or..."
"...Didn't you all know that?"
Silence.
Several cultists exchanged awkward glances.
Ryke stared at her.
*...How...*
*How does she do that...?*
*She says exactly what's on her mind...*
*The moment she thinks it.*
*Not even a second later.*
*It's actually kind of terrifying.*
Before anyone could answer—
Aldric suddenly leapt onto the stone platform.
He landed lightly at its centre.
"...Oi."
He spread his arms.
"...Are you people going to get moving..."
"...and open the Breach..."
"...or are you planning to stand there talking all day?"
He looked around at the elders.
"...You lot really enjoy listening to yourselves."
"...It's getting old."
The masked elder remained composed.
"...We will honour our agreement."
"...The Breach shall be opened."
A brief pause.
"...As for your request—"
Aldric smiled.
"...Let me guess."
He pointed at the elder.
"...You're the leader around here."
"...Aren't you?"
The elder gave no reply.
"...Yeah."
"...Thought so."
Aldric's smile slowly disappeared.
"...I'm getting tired of this."
His crimson eyes locked onto the elder.
"...So here's a little advice."
"...One more pointless speech..."
"...One more attempt to lecture us..."
"...and you'll die."
The chamber fell completely silent.
Even the surrounding cultists lowered their eyes.
The masked elder remained unshaken.
"...Threats are unnecessary."
His aged voice remained calm.
"...I was merely informing you..."
"...that opening an Abyssal Breach is not instantaneous."
He slowly turned toward the ancient formation.
"...The ritual requires preparation."
"...The missing sections of the formation must first be completed."
"...The mana channels must be synchronised."
"...And the seal that once anchored the Abyssal Core..."
"...must be redirected."
He looked back toward Draven's group.
"...Even with five Fourth Circle mages..."
"...the process requires time."
"...To rush it..."
"...would only invite failure."
Aldric stared at him for several long seconds.
Then clicked his tongue.
"...Fine."
He waved a hand dismissively.
"...Just make sure..."
"...all that talking actually leads somewhere."
Without another word—
the masked elder stepped toward the formation.
The remaining four elders followed.
One after another—
they took their places around the massive stone platform.
The intricate runes beneath their feet gradually awakened.
Ancient inscriptions lit up one after another.
A deep hum echoed throughout the chamber.
The ritual...
Was finally about to begin.
The five elders quietly settled into position.
Each stood before a different section of the enormous formation.
Mana slowly gathered beneath their feet.
The carved runes brightened.
The chamber itself seemed to vibrate in response.
The masked elder raised one hand.
Just before he began—
Draven spoke.
"...How long."
His calm voice interrupted the silence.
The elder looked up.
Draven's crimson eyes remained fixed upon him.
"...Exactly."
A brief silence followed.
The elder considered the question.
Then answered.
"...If everything proceeds without interruption..."
"...Approximately one hour."
He looked down at the formation.
"...Perhaps slightly less."
"...Opening the Breach is not the difficult part."
"...Stabilising it is."
"...If the connection forms too quickly..."
"...it will collapse."
"...If it forms too slowly..."
"...it will become unstable."
His gaze returned to Draven.
"...Precision is essential."
Draven remained silent for a moment.
Then gave a single nod.
"...Fine."
"...Begin."
He stood before the ancient formation.
His eyes rested upon the glowing runes.
"...I'll act as the anchor."
All five elders paused.
Their attention immediately shifted toward him.
Draven continued.
"...The Breach doesn't need to be large."
His gaze remained on the formation.
"...As long as Abyssal mana can leak through..."
"...that's enough."
Silence.
One elder immediately shook his head.
"...Impossible."
Another frowned beneath his mask.
"...The moment a Breach is established..."
"...regardless of its size..."
"...the Lord of the Rift will answer."
The elder standing opposite Draven spoke calmly.
"...The Rift-Breaker."
"...Its existence is intrinsically tied to every Abyssal Breach."
"...It is always the first Named Entity to emerge."
He gestured toward the formation.
"...That is why it bears its title."
"...It tears open the boundary."
"...Expanding the Breach by force."
Another elder continued.
"...It cannot be prevented."
"...It cannot be bargained with."
"...The instant a stable connection to the Abyss is established..."
"...it will appear."
"...Whether the opening spans a hundred metres..."
"...or no wider than a finger."
The masked elder nodded.
"...A small crack..."
"...will never remain small."
"...The Rift-Breaker exists for one purpose."
"...To shatter the barrier between worlds."
"...It will force the Breach open."
"...That is an absolute certainty."
Pythia quietly added,
"...Every recorded ritual has ended the same way."
"...The instant the connection stabilises..."
"...the Rift-Breaker appears."
"...Then..."
"...it tears the opening wider."
Aldric folded his arms.
"...Sounds annoying."
The masked elder glanced at him.
"...Annoying..."
"...is one way to describe it."
A brief pause.
"...Catastrophic..."
"...would be another."
His gaze returned to Draven.
"...Once it appears..."
"...the ritual is no longer under our control."
"...The Rift-Breaker decides the size of the Breach."
"...Not us."
Silence settled over the chamber.
Draven's expression never changed.
"...Then..."
He spoke without the slightest hesitation.
"...I'll kill it."
The chamber fell silent once again.
Several cultists stared at him.
One unconsciously swallowed.
Another lowered his gaze.
The masked elder remained perfectly still.
"...You say that..."
"...as though it were simple."
Draven met his gaze.
"...It doesn't have to be simple."
A brief pause.
"...It only has to die."