A burst of rift energy bled from the Riftwalker’s wound, as it stumbled and crashed onto the floor.

The man retrieved his blade, yanking it out from the Riftwalker’s back, landing gracefully before it.

“Tsk. Missed the core.”

The Riftwalker, resilient as it was, arose before the man.

The only way a Riftwalker can be terminated is to pierce and destroy its core. The position of the core varies, but for four-chambered Riftwalkers with humanoid forms, they were generally located where the human heart is on a human body; the middle of the chest. The man’s blade was mere inches off, allowing the Riftwalker to continue its regeneration process.

“Let’s wrap this up.” The man uttered, confidently.

“Equivalent Exchange!”

Rift energy began to emanate from their bodies.

“Swap our prowesses for ten seconds.”

Their rift energies sped towards each other.

Knowing he had less than ten seconds, the man wasted no time, delivering a punch of similar vigour towards the Riftwalker, landing square on the Riftwalker’s chest. The Riftwalker was launched several metres backwards.

“Why don’t ya speak up!” The man taunted, dashing at breakneck speed and sending another punch into the Riftwalker’s featureless face whilst coming to a stop. The Riftwalker, obviously unable to orate words, was powerless against the man.

Jun observed in awe. While the man’s prowess lacked the raw power Ryan’s had, it was clear that his adeptness and complete mastery of his prowess paid its dividends.

The man continued to rain a series of punches, each imbued with rift energy, on the downed Riftwalker.

In the eight seconds that the man temporarily gained Velocity Shift, he had landed ten direct hits, forcing his way through to its core. To the Riftwalker, those eight seconds were an eternity.

The core was finally exposed. The man unsheathed his blade.

Boom!

An explosion of rift energy caught the man off guard. An even more overwhelming aura emitted from the Riftwalker.

“Ugh!” The man groaned as the blast reached him.

“Shit! This much rift energy usage at this stage, its casting a Totality!”

Ryan, now relegated to the sidelines, gasped as his eyes widened in fear.

Totalities are the acme of rift energy. Less of an “ultimate move” per se, but a boost that provides the caster with boundless rift energy and improved prowess usage. To cast a Totality, one must condense a vast amount of rift energy into a point, distorting the fabrics of reality, which opens a portal into the Rift. However, a constant link must be maintained, or:

The Totality cast fails due to insufficient energy. The caster is warped by the portal due to instability, killing them.

Hence, Totalities are extremely hard to pull off, but Riftwalkers are better able to cast them than humans. Analogically, casting a Totality is akin to opening a door. Riftwalkers, as natives of the Rift, possess the key to unlock the door. However, humans have to lockpick their way to gain access, for they lack the key.

“Move away!” The man signalled to Ryan and Jun. The two retreated further down the alley.

Out of range from the man, the Riftwalker shifted into a squatting position. Now, it launched itself with both of its legs, achieving a much higher leap. Acknowledging that the fight was lost, The Riftwalker scurried across the top of the buildings. It was gone.

The man sighed, disappointed at the outcome. He whipped out his phone.

“Kae here. There’s a four-chambered Riftwalker on the loose in Katong. Send a Class 1 team, and a medic. We have casualties.”

The man hung up, sliding the phone back into his pocket.

“Are you guys alright?” The man asked, as he made his way towards Ryan and Jun.

“Had the wind knocked outta me, but that guy’s losing blood fast.” Ryan pointed at Jun.

As Jun was out of rift energy, the tongues were dispelled, leaving a large wound on Jun’s abdomen, blood trickling down it.

“I think I might need…” Jun couldn’t finish his sentence, as his consciousness escaped him yet again.