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Chapter 14 – The Growing Rift
The pale blue morning sky was now shrouded in dark violet mist. The crack in the heavens, once no more than a thin line, had widened into a gaping wound that refused to heal. From within, a pulse of violet light spilled out, bathing the forest in a sickly glow as if the world itself were trapped under the lamp of hell.
The air trembled. The earth groaned. Trees creaked and moaned, their trunks straining beneath an unseen pressure.
I, Lu Yuan, hid beneath the roots of a massive tree, my body drenched in wounds. Every breath was pain, my chest clenched as though in a vice. I knew—if I stepped forward now, I would only be a burden. For the first time, I relied entirely on my Avatar, Qin.
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Shadows from the Rift
A strange sound echoed from the fissure. At times it resembled the howl of beasts, at others the wail of humans. The vibration pierced my ears and stabbed into my chest, raising the hairs on my skin.
The first figure emerged—a tall gray humanoid, its jaw split open all the way to its ears. Its eyes glowed with eerie green light, vertical pupils glaring with hunger. In its hand, a black spear pulsed like a living thing, dripping corrosive liquid that hissed and burned holes into the earth.
Its feet did not touch the ground. It floated just above it, leaving trails of green smoke in its wake.
Before I could fully process it, another shadow crawled out. A monstrous insect, as tall as a house, with long curved scythe-like legs. Greenish fluid dripped from its mandibles, and its thin wings vibrated with a piercing shrill that stabbed straight into the skull.
I swallowed hard.
"This… is not something I can face in my condition."
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Control from Behind the Veil
"Qin," I whispered through the link of consciousness.
His cold voice answered in my mind at once. "I know. Don't move. I'll draw their attention."
I opened the status panel.
Status – Qin (Active Avatar)
Level: 3 (Foundation Realm – Early)
XP: 15 (stored)
Cultivation Path: Martial Path – Basic
Condition: Focused, Ready to fight
Status – Lu Yuan (Main Body)
Level: 3 (Foundation Realm – Early)
XP: 22 (stored)
Remaining Lifespan: -0.2 years (stable)
Condition: Severe injuries, critical stamina
The panel's glow suddenly quivered. A faint line appeared at the bottom, as if the world itself had carved words into it:
— A new rule is being planted. Prepare yourself. —
I froze. The world… was rewriting itself.
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The Battle Begins
The gray humanoid lunged first. Its spear carved through the air, unleashing a toxic green wave that sliced the shrubs to pieces. Qin raised his sword, meeting the strike head-on. The clash of steel rattled the forest.
Through the soul link, I felt the shock reverberate in his bones, but he did not falter. He staggered back a step, then leapt forward again, his blade flashing like lightning. A black arc split the air and cut across the creature's arm. A shallow wound opened, black blood dripping and evaporating into smoke.
The insect roared, its wings vibrating violently, stirring a localized storm that toppled the trees around it. Qin withdrew, spun, and faced them both without hesitation, his movements sharp and controlled.
I clenched my teeth.
"He is me… and yet not me. When I am broken, he is my blade."
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The Gleam of XP
When Qin's sword slashed across the humanoid's waist once more, faint light seeped out from its body—wisps of green mist that flowed straight into Qin's panel.
[XP +5 stored]
My eyes widened. That meant my Avatar could gather XP just like I could. No difference at all.
And then—on my main panel—the XP value flickered.
Lu Yuan's XP: 22 → 27
My breath caught.
"The XP… it's shared. Every Avatar is me, so whatever they collect… returns to me."
"Then… what about lifespan?"
I guided Qin to approach the corpse of a slain monster and attempt absorption.
[Lifespan +0.3]
Relief and ambition surged together. My body was still wracked with pain, but deep within, a small ember of hope was kindled. A path once closed had now cracked open.
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The Shadowed Main Body
I remained hidden. None of the enemies sensed me. Qin faced them in the open, his blade glinting black beneath the glow of the rift. I was only eyes, ears, and the consciousness directing his rhythm.
Yet in this position, I realized something: the world itself was stirring. The fissure continued to widen, and from within came the roars of more creatures pressing against the barrier.
A faint will seeped into my soul. No voice, no form, only a pressure that pierced to the core: the world rejected this invasion… and demanded resistance.
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End of Chapter
Qin's battle raged on, his sword dancing between spear and scythe. I held my breath in the shadows.
"If every Avatar can gather XP and lifespan for me… then I must create more. More eyes, more hands, more blades."
I gazed at the widening rift. From within, the chorus of alien cries grew louder, like an army waiting for its turn to march through.
This world might be sliding toward destruction—but within its ruin, I had found the foundation of a new path.
A path I would walk, even if it meant drowning in blood.