Chapter 4 – Fractured Shadows
The morning mist was thick in Duskreach, almost alive as it snaked around the metal and down the tight alleys. Lex Veylan and Kira hunkered down on top of a busted ventilation shaft. The city was a maze of steel and blinking lights. The faint shimmer in the air – a sign of the Rift – was stronger now. Lex could feel it on his skin, like a whisper that something was coming.
This is it, Kira said, her breath showing in the cold. The rogue Rift. It's not stable so don't trigger unless you're ready to go all in.
Lex touched his gauntlet. It hummed softly and he felt it in his chest. He could sense the layers of reality pushing against each other, but he couldn't read the rhythm. Somewhere in that mess was the answer he needed – why his Trigger was so much stronger than it should be.
Below, they heard something moving. Shadows flickered in the alleys, darker and stranger than usual. Lex narrowed his eyes. He knew that feeling – something dimensional, alive.
It's here, he whispered.
## First Contact
The thing came out of the Rift slowly, its shape all messed up and changing. One second it looked like a dog, then a bird, then just a pile of black smoke with sharp limbs. The air around it got weird, bending streetlights and signs all crazy.
Lex felt the pull, the Trigger telling him to go. He clenched his fists, trying to stay calm. The alley seemed to stretch out, the walls getting longer, doors popping up where they shouldn't be.
Lex, don't! Kira yelled. You're not ready to fight it at full power!
But he was already moving. Frame Step kicked in without him thinking, his body jumping between moments. He ended up behind the thing, his gauntlet glowing. It reacted, twisting into a bunch of shapes at once. It was almost impossible to follow.
Lex focused. Dimensional Shackles!
A shimmer locked around one of the thing's limbs. It fought, but it got through the shackle pretty easily, twisting reality and knocking Lex back.
## The Battle Escalates
Kira jumped down, her scarf flying out behind her. Rift Barrage! she shouted. Portals opened up all over the alley, shooting energy at the thing. It twisted and dodged, but Lex saw it was moving slower, like echoes of itself were messing it up.
Now, Frame Step! Lex yelled. He moved, leaving a faint copy of himself behind. The thing reacted even slower this time. Lex hit it with a blast of Trigger energy. The alley seemed to shake as the thing made a sound that wasn't normal – a mix of a screech and something twisting.
Kira landed next to him, breathing hard. It's feeding off the Rift! she said. If we don't stop it, it'll pull the whole block into its dimension.
Lex clenched his jaw. He could feel it – his energy being drained, his head buzzing, like gravity was off. Everything in him was screaming. If he didn't act, the thing would get away, and the Rift could mess everything up.
## Unlikely Allies
A light flashed in the alley, and someone landed from the roof. Bronze skin, metal arm, and a scar he knew – Varren Skell. I was hoping you'd screw this up, he said, spinning a small gauntlet and firing a pulse that stopped the thing for a second.
Varren? Lex said, surprised. Why are you here?
Just doing my job, Varren said. Rogue Rifts are bad for business. And you look like you need help.
The three of them fought together. Lex's Dimensional Doppelganger came out of a portal – a delayed copy of him. Kira's portals shot out energy, working with Varren's traps.
The thing screamed, the sound echoing strangely, like it was coming from everywhere. Time seemed to slow down. Lex could see the alley folding over itself, different versions all in one place. He took a deep breath.
Phase Shift! he shouted, and his body disappeared for a second. The thing swung at him, but it went right through. Lex reappeared behind it. Now, Dimensional Shackles – full bind!
The restraints snapped into place, and the thing became solid for the first time. Kira's portals grabbed the extra energy, trapping it. Varren landed next to Lex. Not bad, rookie, he said. But you almost got yourself killed.
Lex wiped his forehead, his heart racing. I didn't think it would be so strong.
It's feeding off you, too, Kira said. Your Trigger makes it stronger. You need to learn how to control it before you hurt yourself – or the city.
## Aftermath
The Rifts closed slowly, leaving the alley quiet. The walls and puddles shimmered, a reminder that reality had almost broken.
Lex sat down, worn out. His gauntlet hummed softly, almost dead. I didn't know I could do that, he said.
You're getting stronger fast, Kira said, sitting next to him. But don't think you're ready for anything. That thing was just a scout.
Varren nodded. And scouts always come before the army.
Lex's stomach dropped. The city was in worse shape than he thought. I get it, he said. I need to train more. I need to get control of this.
Kira put her hand on his shoulder. Then we start tonight. You'll learn to fight, but you'll also learn to feel the Veins under reality and move without breaking yourself.
Lex nodded, feeling determined. The Dimensional Trigger wasn't just something cool – it was a job. And the city needed him to learn, fast.
## Shadow
Up on the rooftops, someone in armor watched. Blue lenses followed Lex, recording his every move.
Confirmed, the figure whispered. Subject 47-V is active. We should watch him closer. Dimensional issues detected.
A distorted voice answered. Not yet. Get ready. We need him alive.
The hum of distant Rifts vibrated in Lex's ears. Somewhere in Duskreach, reality was bending again. And Lex was going to be right in the middle of it.