The morning after the encounter in the science lab, Axton barely slept. The remnants of the Wraith still haunted his thoughts, its soulless eyes, the way it twisted the air around it. The System had only sealed the Rift fragment temporarily, and he knew that wouldn't hold for long. Riftborn weren't the kind of enemy you could keep locked away with makeshift measures.
His phone buzzed.
[Quest Updated: Close the Rift (Secondary Objective)]
Main Quest: Secure Your Class Evolution
Objective: Unlock Your Class and Power Set
Time Limit: 48 Hours
Reward: Class Evolution Token | Ability Unlocks | Unknown Bonus
Axton frowned. The System was pushing him again — but he knew the importance. Every time he unlocked a new feature, a new power, it meant one thing: he was getting closer to the truth about why he was sent here. Why this world was tethered to his old one.
---
By the time Axton met up with Rei and Kenji after school, a sense of urgency hung in the air. They were both waiting outside the gates, tense but determined. Rei had brought a few things — some snacks, a flashlight, and a backpack full of what looked like random tools.
"Here's the plan," Axton said, pulling up his status screen again. "We need to clear the Rift fragments and get a better hold on our abilities. I've been given the chance to 'evolve' into a class, and I need your help to make sure we can fight whatever's next."
Kenji crossed his arms. "A class? Like a... job or something?"
"Exactly," Axton said, narrowing his eyes. "I've got two days to pick. After that, I'll get access to stronger powers. But we have to take action now, before the next Riftborn comes through."
Rei raised an eyebrow. "So, you're telling me we're like... a team now?"
Axton smiled, the corners of his mouth tugging up slightly. "Looks like it."
---
[Class Evolution Available]
Current Progress: 12%
Class Options:
1. Swordmaster (Offensive) – Master of blade combat. Bonus: High Strength, Dexterity.
2. Mage (Arcane) – Wielder of pure mana. Bonus: High Intelligence, Wisdom.
3. Sentinel (Defensive) – Protector of allies. Bonus: High Charisma, Wisdom.
4. Warden (Hybrid) – Balanced fighter and magic user. Bonus: Average Strength, Intelligence, and Charisma.
5. Riftborn (Special) – Manipulator of dimensional forces. Bonus: Unstable, High Risk/High Reward.
---
Axton stared at the list of options. His heart raced as he weighed each choice. Swordmaster? That was familiar, but... he'd always been more than just a fighter. Mage? It felt tempting to regain some of the magic he'd lost. But Riftborn... was that a joke?
[Class Progress: 13%]
[Warning: Riftborn Class Requires Risk Evaluation]
[Riftborn Class Activated – Temporary Status Effect: Unstable Dimensional Resonance]
[Additional Warning: Potential Side Effects: Unpredictable Power Fluctuations]
"I'll take the Riftborn," Axton muttered, feeling the weight of the decision.
---
Suddenly, the air around him crackled. Rei and Kenji stepped back as a wave of energy washed over Axton. His vision blurred. The ground beneath him pulsed with a deep, unsettling hum.
[Class Evolution Successful: Riftborn – Dimensional Adept]
[Skill Unlocked: Dimensional Shift (Active)]
[Skill Unlocked: Rift Tear (Active)]
[Passive Skill Unlocked: Anomaly Sense]
Axton gasped as a flood of new sensations bombarded him. He felt everything — the ripples in the air, the fluctuations of the world's fabric, the faintest shifts in reality.
Kenji's eyes widened. "Axton... your eyes. They're glowing!"
Rei was already reaching for her phone, snapping pictures. "You seriously just... went full anime protagonist on us."
Axton took a shaky breath. "We have no time for jokes. Something's coming through the Rift again."
[Dimensional Rift Detected – Distance: 2km]
[Entity: Unknown – Class: C+]
[Rift Seal Status: Failing]
Objective: Investigate the Source
Axton felt the pull of the Rift, distant but growing stronger.
"We need to move," Axton said, his voice steady despite the surge of power coursing through him. "This time, we fight."
---
The trio headed out, their steps swift and determined. The city's quiet streets faded as they approached a more industrial area, the buildings taller, darker, and far more deserted. Axton's senses tingled, his Anomaly Sense detecting a faint pulse in the air.
Suddenly, the ground cracked beneath their feet, and from the rift that formed in the middle of the street, something stepped out.
It wasn't human. It wasn't even close.
It was a massive, towering figure with shifting, translucent limbs. Its body was a bizarre combination of steel and shadow, constantly shifting as if it were both part of the city and something else entirely.
[Entity Detected: Riftborn Colossus – Class A]
[Warning: Entity is outside acceptable threat level for current party. Immediate retreat advised.]
Rei's face turned pale. "That thing is... we're screwed."
Kenji grabbed Axton's arm. "We need a plan. Fast."
Axton's heart pounded, but his mind raced faster. With his new abilities, he felt the world around him bend and shift like a living thing. He could control it — at least, for a moment.
[Skill Activated: Dimensional Shift – Location: Riftborn Colossus]
[Cooldown: 30 Minutes]
The world warped as Axton leaped forward, his body phasing through space itself. He landed behind the Colossus, eyes glowing with the power of the Rift. He reached out, his hands trembling, and tore at the fabric of space.
[Skill Activated: Rift Tear – Critical Damage]
A tear in reality opened, destabilizing the Colossus' form. Its body wavered, then collapsed into itself with a deafening roar, the dimensional rift consuming it entirely.
[Entity Defeated]
[Bonus Reward: +3 Levels | +1 Dimensional Control]
[Skill Unlocked: Rift Stabilization (Passive)]
---
The streets were quiet again, the rift sealed, the Colossus gone.
Axton staggered, breathing heavily. Kenji and Rei were still staring, wide-eyed.
"Axton... you're insane," Rei said, a grin creeping onto her face.
Kenji nodded, his voice shaky but proud. "But... that was awesome."
Axton wiped his brow. "We're not done yet. The Rift is still open. And this is just the beginning."