Chaotic Existance

I started to get annoyed… aggravated… piss off is the better term. These people were fuckingidiotss. Have you all ever played a PvP game like Rival Heros or MOBAs and your team just kept throwing their lives away… That's these dumb fucks. 

"Hey Idris, what's going on? You're missing shots, and you're already low on arrows! Cut it out or fall back," Vael shouted.

"Listen you berserker feather brain fuck where in extreme circumstances and we're all running low on stamina not just me. Ask your mage to do more attack spells and fuck off," Idris spat back while taking out three arrows and shooting all three of them with 2 landing their marks.

"Still wasted one trying to prove a point idiot," I said lifting my hand out creating a pillar of water conjuring a quiver of arrows, and reloading Idris. 

"If you miss now, I'll kill you myself," I continued to conjure weapon repairs for the front line. At the moment, I can only conjure weapons of, I'd say, D to very low C rank after I use Osmosis on them. 

"You can do this? What is your class?" Mara asked.

"I'm an Archmage…that's it that's all," I replied.

"Archmahge is more of the term used for a team mage who's an all-rounder or specializes in more than one position. What I mean to say is what's your Gift called? Do you know what god gave it to you?" she questioned again.

"Fuck the gods, I have no such things but my Arts. My "Gift" is not a "Gift" because I made my power what it is. My "Trait" is called the 'Great Sea of Creation'.

"How could you say that about the gods? Especially while in a rift this is practically their domain. We're about to fight the boss and you say that you bastard," Mara turningrnign red.

"If the gods heard you, they'd strike you down on the spot." She continued.

"Aww babes Let them try. Maybe I'll return the favor." I said.

 "You think now the time to be a fucking moron? Pay attention to the raid. YYou'reliterally here from one of the top Support Syndicates and I'm seeing a lot of people getting hurt and not healed by you," I continued sending a thin water fog around each party team.

"Rapu," The fog starts to heal those who it touched recovering their stamina and restarting their aether regeneration. 

"This kind of power…Are you an Avatar? Or Blessed? You have a lot of power and skills for someone with 'Just water Manipulation' there has to be something. On top of that with power like this, how have you not gotten noticed by any Syndicate yet?" Astra asked.

"You're an anomaly, Delmar. People like you don't just exist without the gods noticing. So how are you still here?" She continued.

 "The gods didn't give me this power. They've taken enough from all of us. If I have to burn their altars to ash to fix this world, so be it. And you people ask a lot of questions for people who should be raiding. On top of that the time dilation thing is false for every hour outside is 1 day in here that's the rule foreveryy rift," I said.

"You're so confident for someone who pretends not to care. I don't know if that makes you brilliant or just insane." Astra said.

"Both," I replied.

"How do you know this?" Caelus asked.

"Do you know how many people die in rifts? How many of them were researchers, scientists, archeologists…? I've found a lot of their research while raid rifts and they all had the same conclusion. So I'll go with field data." I replied.

"Anyways thiwaterfallll is pretty steep and phantasm waves spawn in every 15 minutes. Given that the last waves had the same pattern." Caelus said.

"So then like Raziel said go up in strong groups of threes and two," Vael said.

"Alright every pair up and get ready to climb all those who can fly do so and try to keep any aerial phantasms at bay. Raziel thanks for the refresh but do you have enough aether for this? You used a lot of big moves and even constructed weapons and armor. That has to have taken a lot of aether so I think you should sit back for this." Caelus told me.

"Thank and don't you worry pal I was going to do exactly that. Yall have fun though." I repactivatingaitng Genesis Dive and swim back into the air this time concealing my presence.

This may sound bad but I am using them right now. That quiver I gave Idris I gave the auto replicate function I analyzed from a Druid's Bow. They were able to continuously make arrows so long as the aether around them was dense enough. Luckily this rift is the ideal place for that. I also added a regen effect on the armors but it's a very weak version so I say it'll only save them from about three fatal blows. Lastly, I applied Osmosis to every construct then Genesis Stack so I could stack the osmosis on the phantasms as they fight. 

"I get to replenish my aether and they get to clear the rift. Nice compromise I would say." I sat myself self watched them climb waterfall fall. 

"We're pawns, but even pawns deserve better than the games the gods play with us. That's why I have to win—so no one else gets stuck in this cycle. Their struggle is my gain. Every Phantasm they fight feeds the Sea, strengthening me for the battles that ratter."

They're pawns, yes, but pawns are still people. People with lives, dreams, and fears. If I use them, am I any different from the gods I hate? The thought stung, but I shoved it aside. Survival first. Regrets later.

Looking at the tthey'reantasms thtor starting to learn more. The Rift wasn't just alive—it thrived on our failures. Like the Syndicates, like the gods. Everything here was designed to remind us how powerless we were. In the face of them if we can't even surmount them how can we face the gods?

The way the Aether twisted and surged wasn't random. It felt... deliberate. Like something was watching, waiting for us to break. As I watch the team, the Sea whispers again, louder this time. A voice cuts through the sound of rushing water, echoing in my mind:

"You're not just a pawn, child of the Sea. You're a player. But every player faces the board—and the gods never lose."

 As the voice faded, the sound of rushing water grew louder, drowning out everything else. My eyes locked on the shifting shapes in the mist above. "We'll see about that," I muttered, even as the chill in my spine warned me that the gods weren't just watching—they were waiting.

The air buzzed with static, each step up the waterfall feeling heavier as if the Rift itself wanted to drag them down. Shadows rippled in the mist, their shapes shifting just out of sight. 

The climb began like all things in Rifts: chaotic. The roar of the waterfall grew deafening as the team ascended, its spray soaking the terrain and turning every step into a precarious gamble. The oppressive presence of Genesis energy only made it worse, gnawing at their stamina with every passing second.

The first wave came almost immediately. Kappas, humanoid figures with amphibian skin and shells shimmering with Aether, emerged from the cascading water. Their movements were erratic, the energy warping their forms into grotesque shapes with elongated limbs and glowing eyes.

"Contact!" Vael roared, raising his sword as the first Kappa lunged toward him. The creature moved faster than expected, claws swiping in a blur of motion. Vael blocked just in time, his blade sparking as it clashed with the creature's Aether-enhanced strength.

Idris loosed a volley of arrows from behind, each one ricocheting off the Kappa's toughened shell before finding a weak spot near its neck. "Aim for the joints!" he shouted, already nocking another arrow. "These things are armored to hell!"

Astra threw up a barrier as more Kappas appeared, crawling out of the waterfall like grotesque spiders. The barrier shimmered under their relentless assault, cracks forming as claws and tails struck with unrelenting force.

"This is only the first wave?" Mara growled, her vines lashing out to ensnare two Kappas. They screeched, struggling against the constricting tendrils before being crushed into the ground. "It's like they're made of pure Aether!"

From my vantage point, I observed the chaos with a detached smirk. They were struggling, sure, but not enough to warrant intervention just yet. "Keep going," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to them. The Sea churned within me, each kill below adding to the stacks of Genesis energy I'd been carefully accumulating.

As the second wave emerged, I decided to give them a nudge. Raising my hand, I called out, "Needle Rain."

Thin needles of water materialized in the air, shimmering with a faint blue glow. They shot down in a deadly barrage, piercing through the exposed joints and weak points of the Kappas swarming the front line. The creatures screeched as they dissolved into puddles of unstable Aether, their forms unraveling under the relentless assault.

"Finally decided to help?" Idris snapped, his bow still singing as he fired shot after shot. He was visibly fatigued, his movements growing slower with each passing second.

"Help?" I echoed y tone light and mocking. "You're mistaken. This is me keeping you from embarrassing yourselves."

The third wave came with a roar, a mix of larger Kappas and serpent-like Phantasms that slithered through the water with terrifying speed. Their scales shimmered like liquid metal, deflecting weaker attacks and making direct hits nearly impossible.

"Here they come!" Vael shouted, holding the line with Garath as the serpents lunged. One wrapped around Garath's shield, its coils tightening with enough force to crack the reinforced metal.

"Hold still!" Astra shouted, her staff glowing as she cast a binding Art. Threads of light wrapped around the serpent, forcing it to release Garath just long enough for him to cleave it in two.

Above the chaos, I watched as Genesis Stacks built across the battlefield, each kill adding to the energy coiling within the Sea. It was time to test the fruits of my strategy. Stretching out my hand, I called, "Rāpû."

The air hummed with power as threads of energy shot out from the Sea, connecting to every enemy below. The Kappas and serpents screeched in unison, their bodies spasming as the Art took hold. Their forms shimmered, destabilized, and then exploded into bursts of water and Aether, dissolving into nothingness.

The battlefield fell silent for a brief moment, the team staring in stunned silence.

"What the hell was that?" Mara demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of awe and fear.

"Efficiency," I replied coolly, letting my words hang in the air as the fourth wave began to take shape.

This time, the Phantasms emerged as hulking creatures with humanoid torsos and aquatic features. Their movements were eerily coordinated, their glowing eyes fixed on the team with unsettling intelligence.

"They're adapting again," Caelus muttered, his voice tight. "Stay focused. These aren't going to go down easily."

"Good," I said, my voice low but carrying over the battlefield. "Weak enemies are boring."

As the team braced for the assault, I activated "Nabâtu." The Sea surged within me, threads of Genesis energy snapping taut as the Art's effect rippled across the battlefield. Those Phantasms closest to the team, already high in Genesis Stacks, froze mid-charge. Their bodies shuddered violently before liquefying, collapsing into shimmering pools that were immediately absorbed into the Sea.

The silence that followed was deafening.

"You…" Astra's voice wavered as she stared at me. "You just… killed them all."

I shrugged, letting the tension linger. "You're welcome."

Before anyone could respond, the final wave emerged. These Phantasms were different—larger, faster, and brimming with raw Genesis energy. Their forms pulsed with light, each movement sending ripples through the air as they bore down on the team.

Vael stepped forward, his golden armor glowing faintly as he raised his sword. "This is it! Hold nothing back!"

As the team prepared for the onslaught, I raised my hand one final time. The Sea churned violently, its pull stronger than ever as I called out, "Balāṭu."

From the liquefied remains of the previous waves, forms began to rise. Kappas, serpents, and hulking Phantasms reconstituted themselves, their bodies now under my control. Their glowing eyes turned toward the remaining enemies, and without hesitation, they charged.

The battlefield descended into chaos, my summoned Phantasms clashing with the Rift's final wave in a storm of water and Aether.

From above, I watched with a small smile, the Sea's whispers growing louder in my mind. "Not bad," I murmured to myself. "Not bad at all."

The waterfall leveled out into a plateau, the roar of the cascading water receding into a distant rumble as we stepped onto solid ground. The air was thick with Genesis energy, shimmering faintly like a heat haze. The tension in the group was almost as palpable, their glances darting between each other—and to me.

I ignored them, leaning against a jagged rock as the Sea churned within me, its whispers more insistent now. My aether reserves had taken a hit after those Arts, but thanks to Osmosis and Genesis Stack, I wasn't running on fumes. Not yet.

Vael's heavy footsteps broke the silence. "Alright," he began, sheathing his sword with a metallic clink. "We've got a moment to regroup, but we need to keep moving. This Rift—"

"What the hell was that?" Mara interrupted, rounding on me with fire in her eyes. "You wiped out an entire wave like it was nothing, and now you're just standing there like it didn't even matter."

"Because it didn't," I replied flatly, not bothering to meet her gaze. "You were struggling. I made it easier. End of story."

"That's not the end of the story!" Astra chimed in, her voice a mix of awe and frustration. "You liquefied them, Delmar. Just… poof. Gone. That's not normal! What even are you?"

I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly as their questions began to pile on.

"Are you some kind of Avatar?" Idris pressed, leaning on his bow. "Or is this some crazy Art we've never heard of? No way you're just some random Archmage with water manipulation."

"Enough," I said, my voice low but sharp. They didn't stop.

"Seriously, though, what's your deal?" Idris continued, his tone edging into irritation. "You're pulling power moves like that and acting like it's nothing. Are you holding out on us? Are we supposed to trust you when you're hiding something?"

I opened my eyes, glaring at him. "You're asking the wrong questions, bow boy."

Vael stepped forward, his expression was as grim as ever. "Delmar, they have a right to know. After what you just did, we need answers."

I pushed off the rock, my patience fraying. "You want answers?" I said, my voice rising slightly. "Here's one: If you don't shut up, I'll drown all of you right here and now."

The group fell silent, the weight of my words hanging in the air like a storm cloud. I let it linger for a moment, then sighed and raised my hand.

"Slim."

A thin mist enveloped the group, cool and soothing as it seeped into their skin. Cuts sealed, bruises faded, and their breaths came easier as their stamina and aether reserves were restored.

"There. Happy?" I said, my tone sharp. "You're healed, you're refreshed, and you're still alive. Now, unless you want to add to my already short fuse, shut up and let me work."

I turned my attention to the equipment I'd created earlier. The armor and weapons were battered but intact, their Genesis Stack and Osmosis effects still active. With a flick of my wrist, I reinforced them, reapplying the enhancements.

"You should be good for another few waves," I muttered, more to myself than to them. The familiar pull of the Sea tightened in my chest as I worked, each adjustment draining a little more of my reserves. By the time I finished, I was down to about 35%. Enough to stay in the fight, but not enough to carry them through it.

Mara broke the silence, her voice quieter now. "Why are you even here, Delmar? You act like you don't care, but you keep saving us. Why?"

I didn't answer right away. Part of me wanted to lash out, to remind them that their survival wasn't my problem. But another part—the part I hated acknowledging—knew that wasn't entirely true.

"Because you're useful," I said finally, my tone cold. "That's all. Don't read into it."

She didn't look convinced, but before she could press further, Vael cleared his throat. "Enough. We need to move. The Rift isn't going to wait for us."

The group fell into an uneasy silence as we resumed our climb. The air grew heavier with each step, the Aether density thickening until it felt like we were wading through syrup. The plateau ended at another steep incline, the roar of the waterfall louder than ever as we neared the top.

Then we saw it—the Rift Core.

It floated in the air, a pulsating sphere of violet light encased in tendrils of pure Genesis energy. The ground around it was jagged and unstable, cracks spidering out from the core and radiating an unnatural glow. The air buzzed with power, each pulse of the core sending ripples through the surrounding Aether.

"That's… not normal," Astra said, her voice barely above a whisper. "An Orange Rift shouldn't have a core like that. That's Violet Nexus energy."

"It means the Aether density in this Rift is almost B rank," Caelus said grimly. "That's far too high for this level."

Vael's jaw tightened. "Which means the boss is going to be stronger than we thought."

As if on cue, the ground trembled, a low rumble echoing through the air. From the shadows around the core, shapes began to emerge—hulking figures with glowing eyes and twisted forms. The first of the remaining waves.

Vael unsheathed his sword, his golden armor gleaming faintly in the violet light. "Form up. We'll take them in shifts. Delmar, stay back and conserve your strength."

I smirked, leaning against a nearby rock as the first wave began to charge. "Don't worry about me, feather boy. I'll jump in when it gets interesting."

As the team clashed with the Phantasms, the Sea's pull grew stronger, its whispers louder. The Rift wasn't just reacting to our presence—it was adapting, and evolving. And it wasn't going to make this easy.

The first wave hit harder than expected. The Phantasms were larger, faster, and brimming with Genesis energy, their forms rippling like mirages as they charged. Vael and Garath held the front line, their strikes precise but strained against the unrelenting tide. Astra's barriers shimmered under the onslaught, cracks forming as claws and tendrils slammed into them.

Mara's vines lashed out, entangling a hulking Kappa, but its strength was monstrous. It tore through the restraints, lunging at her. Idris intercepted with a perfectly placed shot, the arrow piercing the creature's glowing eye and sending it sprawling.

"Focus your attacks on their cores!" Vael barked, cleaving through another Phantasm. "They're too durable otherwise!"

From my position at the rear, I watched the chaos unfold, the pull of the Sea gnawing at the edges of my mind. My reserves were holding, but not by much. If the waves kept escalating, this fight would be over before we even reached the boss.

Then I felt it—a ripple, faint but unmistakable, resonating deep within the Rift. It wasn't just the core's energy I was sensing. It was mine. The Genesis Energy radiating from the Rift wasn't independent; it was amplifying, feeding off the Sea within me.

The Sea's whispers grew louder, more insistent. "The Rift resonates with you, child of the Sea. Its power is yours to claim. Absorb the core. Become whole. The rifts will meet your challenge and lust for destruction. They will give you what you seek. Absorb the cores."

I clenched my fists, the weight of its words settling over me. Absorb the core? That wasn't how Rifts were supposed to work. They were meant to be purified, their energy dispersed to stabilize the Veil. But the Sea didn't care about rules—it never had.

"Delmar, we need you!" Astra shouted, her voice snapping me back to the present. Another wave was closing in, this one teeming with serpent-like Phantasms that slithered through the waterlogged terrain, their scales glinting like polished obsidian.

With a sigh, I stepped forward, the Sea stirring as I extended my hands. "Endless Requiem," I called, and the air around me shifted.

Twin pistols materialized in my grasp, their polished chrome barrels etched with glowing runes. The energy veins running along their frames pulsed faintly, reflecting the calm yet infinite power of the Sea. I aimed, the weapons humming with Genesis Energy as the first serpent lunged toward me.

Bang.

The shot echoed like a ripple through water, the bullet striking true. It didn't just pierce the Phantasm—it dissolved it, particles of light cascading in a wave-like motion as the Genesis Energy was siphoned back into me. The rush was immediate, replenishing my reserves slightly with each kill.

"Whoa," Idris muttered, pausing mid-shot to watch. "Where the hell were those hiding?"

"None of your business," I replied, firing off another round. The bullet spiraled through three smaller Phantasms in quick succession, each one dissolving into glowing fragments that fed into the Sea.

The pistols weren't without cost. Each bullet drained Genesis Energy to create, their power amplified by the stack of Osmosis and Genesis energy I'd applied. I could feel my reserves depleting with every shot, but the returns were worth it. For now.

"Stay in formation!" Vael shouted as the wave surged. "Delmar, cover the rear! Astra, barriers now!"

The team tightened their positions, fighting with grim determination as the Phantasms kept coming. My pistols sang each shot a precise note in the cacophony of battle. The Genesis stacks built quickly, each kkillsadding to the momentum.

By the time the fourth wave hit, I knew I couldn't rely on the pistols alone. With a flick of my wrist, I dismissed them, the weapons dissolving into light. I reached over my shoulder, summoning Whispering Current.

The katana appeared in my grasp, its semi-transparent blade rippling as if submerged in water. The hilt's glowing patterns pulsed faintly, responding to my intent. I stepped into the fray, the air around the blade distorting with each swing.

The first strike cleaved through a charging Kappa, its movement slowing as the current zone I created warped time. I ducked under a counterattack, the slowed flow of time giving me just enough space to retaliate with a precise upward slash.

"You're full of surprises," Caelus muttered, his strikes keeping a trio of serpents at bay. "But don't overdo it."

"Thanks for the advice, Mom," I shot back, sidestepping a lunging Phantasm. "Worry about yourself."

The fourth wave pushed us to the brink. Phantasms swarmed from all sides, their strength and coordination testing every ounce of our skill and stamina. By the time the last of them fell, the team was visibly shaken, their breaths ragged and their aether reserves dangerously low.

"We're not going to make it at this rate," Mara panted, her vines wilting slightly as she leaned against a rock. "If the boss is even stronger than this…"

"It is," I said flatly, my eyes fixed on the Rift Core. Its pulsating light had grown brighter, the energy surrounding it nearly suffocating. "And when we take it down, it's going to trigger a Berserker Wave."

"What?" Astra's eyes widened. "That's not—Orange Rifts don't do that!"

"This one does," I replied, glancing at her. "Because it's resonating with me. My Genesis Energy is amplifying it, and the Rift is responding to that. When the boss falls, the remaining Phantasms will get a massive boost."

Vael's expression darkened. "You knew this and didn't say anything?"

"I didn't know until now," I snapped. "But it doesn't change anything. We have to finish this. The Sea—" I stopped myself, correcting, "The Rift wants me to absorb the core. I can hear it."

The group stared at me, a mix of confusion and unease.

"You mean to destroy it," Idris said slowly, his tone laced with doubt. "Right?"

"No," I said, my voice cold. "I mean absorb it. And to do that, we need to kill the boss."

The ground trembled again, the core's light intensifying as a deep, guttural roar echoed from above. The King Karp was coming.

"Here we go," Vael muttered, raising his sword. "This is it. Everyone, get ready."

As the roar grew louder, I summoned my final weapon: Tidal Eclipse.

The scythe materialized in my hands, its dual-bladed design glowing with radiant blue on one side and shadowy black on the other. The air around it crackled with energy, a spiral of light and shadow forming as I swung it experimentally.

"You'll get your answers after this," I said, my voice low. "If you survive."

The roar of the Rift Core intensified, its pulsing light casting long, jagged shadows across the plateau. From the mist and cascading water, the next wave emerged—a tide of Phantasms even more grotesque and monstrous than before.

Kappas with jagged, crystalline shells scuttled forward, their claws dripping with acidic Aether. Serpentine creatures wove between them, their eyes glowing with predatory malice. Towering above them were humanoid figures with warped, aquatic features, their forms bristling with unstable Genesis energy.

"Here we go again," Vael muttered, raising his sword. His armor was battered, his movements slower, but his resolve hadn't faltered. "Stay sharp. This is the last wave before the boss."

"They just keep getting uglier," Idris quipped, losing a volley of arrows. The projectiles ricocheted off the crystalline shells, forcing him to adjust his aim. "And tougher,"

Astra's barriers flared to life, encasing the team in a dome of shimmering light as the wave surged forward. "I'll hold as long as I can, but we need to thin their numbers fast!"

"Leave it to me," I said, stepping forward. The Sea churned within me, the Genesis Stacks I'd accumulated nearly overwhelming in their weight. It was time to put them to use.

With a flick of my wrist, I dismissed Tidal Eclipse, summoning Endless Requiem once more. The pistols materialized in my hands, their chrome barrels gleaming in the violet light. Aiming, I fired.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Each shot was a ripple through the battlefield, bullets disintegrating into waves of light that tore through the Phantasms. Osmosis and Genesis Stack effects compounded with every hit, draining energy from the creatures and adding to the Sea's reserves.

"You're not even trying, are you?" Idris shouted over the chaos, his tone equal parts frustration and awe.

"Why waste effort when efficiency works?" I replied, spinning and firing in a seamless motion. A serpent lunged at me, its fangs bared, but I dropped low, shooting upward. The bullet pierced its core, the creature dissolving into a shower of light.

The team fought with everything they had, but the wave was relentless. The humanoid Phantasms smashed through Astra's barriers, their acidic claws leaving trails of destruction. Mara's vines lashed out, ensnaring two of the towering figures, but they broke free with terrifying ease.

"I can't hold them!" Astra shouted, her voice strained. "We need—"

"Rāpû," I intoned, my voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.

Threads of Genesis energy erupted from the Sea, weaving through the battlefield and connecting to the team. Their wounds sealed, their stamina restored, and their aether reserves replenished in an instant. The same threads reached the Phantasms, but instead of healing, they destabilized. The creatures convulsed, their forms shuddering before collapsing into pools of Genesis energy.

"You… you healed us and killed them?" Mara stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"I optimized the situation," I said, dismissing the threads as the last of the wave dissolved. "Now, stop gawking and get ready. The boss is coming."

The Genesis Stacks within the Sea had reached their limit, the weight of the energy almost unbearable. With a deep breath, I activated Osmosis, the threads of Genesis energy snapping taut as the accumulated power flooded into me. My reserves surged, and both Aether and Genesis energy were restored to full capacity.

The ground trembled beneath us, the roar of the Rift Core mingling with a deep, guttural sound that sent a shiver through the air. From the waterfall's mist, the King Karp emerged.

The King Karp

The creature was massive, towering at least twelve feet tall with a muscular, humanoid frame. Its head resembled a grotesque carp, its wide mouth filled with rows of jagged teeth. Scales covered its body, glinting like polished bronze, and its fins had twisted into sharp, blade-like appendages.

It stared down at us with glowing, predatory eyes, its presence radiating an overwhelming pressure. The Genesis energy around it was suffocating, a testament to its rank.

"Is that… a Karp?" Idris asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "That's what we've been climbing toward?"

"It's not just a Karp," Vael said grimly. "It's trying to ascend. That's why it's here. But it failed, and now it's keeping anyone else from climbing past it."

The King Karp let out a deafening roar, its body surging forward in a blur of motion. It was faster than anything we'd faced so far, its claws raking through the ground as it charged.

Vael met the creature head-on, his golden sword clashing against its bladed fins. Sparks flew as the two forces collided, the ground shaking under the impact.

"Keep it distracted!" I shouted, raising Endless Requiem. The pistols glowed brighter as I fired, each shot aimed at the creature's joints and core. The bullets struck true, but King Karp's scales absorbed most of the impact, the Genesis energy reinforcing its defenses.

"We can't crack its armor!" Astra yelled, throwing up a barrier as the creature's tail swung toward her. The barrier shattered on impact, the force sending her sprawling.

"It's too strong!" Mara shouted, her vines barely slowing the creature's movements.

I gritted my teeth, the Sea's whispers urging me forward. "Absorb the core. Break it. Prove your strength."

Switching tactics, I dismissed the pistols and summoned Whispering Current. The katana's blade shimmered like water, its glow intensifying as I stepped into the fray. The air distorted around me, the current zones slowing King Karp's movements just enough for the team to regroup.

"Focus on its weak points!" I shouted, dodging a swipe from the creature's claws. The slowed time gave me an opening, and I slashed upward, the blade biting into the exposed flesh beneath its scales.

The King Karp roared in pain, its movements becoming more erratic. But as its health dwindled, the air around us shifted.

"No," I muttered, realizing too late what was happening. The Genesis energy surged, the core's light flaring as the Berserker Wave activated.

The remaining Phantasms reemerged, their forms larger and more menacing. King Karp's body pulsed with energy, its wounds sealing as its strength doubled.

"Berserker Wave!" Vael shouted, his voice strained. "Brace yourselves!"

The final phase had begun. The King Karp roared, its presence overwhelming as the battle raged on.

The King Karp roared, its body pulsing with raw Genesis energy as the Berserker Wave took hold. Around us, the Rift warped. The air shimmered with oppressive heat, the ground cracked and surged with unstable Aether, and the Phantasms reemerged with terrifying new forms.

Kappas with crystalline spikes covering their bodies scuttled forward, their claws crackling with electric energy. Serpents coiled through the mist, their eyes burning with predatory intelligence. Above them, winged Phantasms emerged, their shapes shifting like living shadows, raining bolts of searing light onto the battlefield.

"Fall back!" Vael shouted, blocking a strike from King Karp. The sheer force of the impact drove him to one knee, his golden armor dented. "We need a strategy—"

"There is no strategy!" Idris yelled, firing arrow after arrow at the oncoming horde. "They just keep coming!"

Astra's barriers shattered under the assault of three Phantasms at once. She stumbled, her staff glowing faintly as she tried to cast another spell. "I can't hold them! They're too strong!"

Mara's vines lashed out, tearing through a pair of serpents, but she was barely keeping pace. "Delmar!" she shouted, her voice desperate. "We need—"

"You'll figure it out," I snapped, cutting her off. Summoning Tidal Eclipse, I leaped into the fray, the scythe's radiant blade cleaving through a group of Kappas. Each swing created spirals of light and shadow, tearing through the creatures with raw, destructive force.

But it wasn't enough.

For every Phantasm we cut down, two more seemed to take its place. The King Karp loomed above it all, directing the chaos with terrifying precision. Its eyes locked on me, its jagged teeth bared in a feral grin.

"You're not the only one who wants to evolve," I muttered, gripping the scythe tighter. "Fine. Let's see who deserves it more."

I charged, the scythe glowing as I alternated between offense and defense. Each strike tore through the Phantasms, but the energy it cost was draining fast. The King Karp intercepted, its bladed fins slashing toward me with blinding speed. I barely blocked, the impact rattling my arms.

"Is that all you've got?" I growled, slashing upward. The blade connected, creating a spiral of energy that sent King Karp staggering back. But it wasn't enough to stop it.

The ground beneath us erupted as another wave of Phantasms surged forward. The team was barely holding on, their movements sluggish and their aether reserves nearly depleted.

I gritted my teeth, the Sea's whispers pounding in my mind. "Summon them. Call your Legion."

"No," I muttered, dodging a swipe from the King Karp. "I don't need them."

But the Rift wasn't giving me a choice. The Phantasms pressed harder, their attacks more coordinated. A serpent wrapped around Astra, dragging her down as she screamed. Mara collapsed, her vines faltering as a towering Phantasm slammed her into the ground.

"Delmar!" Vael roared, his sword glowing as he struggled to hold back King Karp. "Do something!"

I clenched my fists, the scythe dissolving in a flash of light. The Sea churned violently, its pull impossible to ignore. "Fine," I spat, raising my hands. "You want a Legion? You'll get one."

"Balāṭu!"

The word echoed through the Rift, a command that reverberated with raw power. The pools of Genesis energy left behind by the fallen Phantasms began to ripple and rise. Figures emerged—Kappas, serpents, and hulking humanoids—all reconstituted and bound to me.

My Legion.

They moved as one, turning on the Berserker Phantasms with brutal efficiency. The battlefield erupted into chaos as the two forces clashed, my summons tearing through the enemies with relentless precision.

"Holy shit," Idris muttered, his voice barely audible over the cacophony. "You just—"

"Shut up and fight," I snapped, my voice colder than I intended. I could feel the toll the summoning was taking on me, my reserves dwindling as the Legion fought.

The King Karp roared again, its body glowing brighter as it surged toward me. I met its charge head-on, summoning Whispering Current in a flash. The katana's blade shimmered as I slashed upward, creating a current zone that slowed the creature's movements.

But even slowed, it was a nightmare to face. Its claws raked across the ground, sending shockwaves that threw me off balance. I dodged to the side, barely avoiding its tail as it swung toward me.

"You're a tough bastard," I muttered, my breath ragged. The Sea whispered again, urging me forward. "Absorb the core. Prove your strength."

The team regrouped, their resolve rekindled by the sight of my Legion holding the line. Vael and Garath charged King Karp, their combined strikes forcing it to divert its attention. Astra cast a barrier around Mara, giving her a moment to recover.

But it wasn't enough. King Karp's power was overwhelming, and even with the Legion, we were losing ground.

I gritted my teeth, raising Endless Requiem once more. The pistols hummed with energy as I fired, each shot draining what little Genesis energy I had left. Osmosis and Genesis Stack effects compounded with every hit, but the creature's defenses were almost impenetrable.

And then, finally, it faltered. The King Karp roared in agony, its movements slowing as its energy waned.

"This is it!" Vael shouted. "Finish it!"

I stepped forward, the Sea roaring in my mind. With a deep breath, I raised Tidal Eclipse for the final strike. The scythe's dual blades glowed with radiant blue and shadowy black energy as I swung downward.

The King Karp let out one final roar before collapsing, its body dissolving into a pool of shimmering light. The remaining Phantasms screeched as the Berserker Wave ended, their forms destabilizing and collapsing one by one.

The battlefield fell silent.

I staggered, the weight of the fight catching up to me. The Rift Core floated before me, its light pulsing with an almost hypnotic rhythm. The Sea's whispers were deafening now, urging me forward.

"Absorb it," I muttered, stepping toward the core. The team watched in stunned silence as I reached out, my hand brushing the surface of the core. The Genesis energy surged into me, the Sea roaring with triumph as the core in a blinding flash of light ejected all of us out of he rifts.

And then, everything went dark.