Lost In Chaos

The abyssal Riftspawn lay lifeless in the sand, its blood pooling into a dark, viscous stain that shimmered faintly under the moonlight. Kaz staggered backward, his sword slipping from his fingers. He felt... strange. Not exhausted, not victorious—just wrong.

Beside him, Ryuma dropped to his knees, clutching his chest. His breaths were ragged, his face contorted in agony. "Ryuma!" Kaz called, stumbling toward his friend.

But Ryuma didn't respond. His body convulsed violently, and the air around him seemed to ripple. His chest glowed faintly as if something deep inside him was trying to burst free.

Kaz's vision blurred as his own body betrayed him. Heat surged through his veins, and his bones felt as though they were shattering and reassembling themselves all at once. His skin burned, cracking apart and reforming in layers.

A scream tore from his throat—raw, unrestrained, and primal. It echoed across the dunes, blending with Ryuma's anguished cries.

The imp, Kaz's ever-present companion, frantically tugged at his sleeve, but Kaz couldn't focus. All he could do was endure as the transformation overtook him.

Time lost all meaning. Minutes, hours—he couldn't tell. The pain was ceaseless, a tide that refused to ebb. Just as Kaz thought he might lose himself entirely, the agony began to subside.

His vision cleared, and the familiar voice of the System echoed in his ears, calm and precise despite the chaos he had just endured.

"Your trait has evolved. Your feature has evolved."

Kaz blinked, his surroundings shifting like a dream melting into reality. Gone was the harsh desert, the blood-soaked sand, and the cold bodies of Riftspawn. He stood in a room he knew intimately—a room that felt like home.

The walls were painted a deep crimson red, the floor a polished oak that gleamed in the soft light filtering through the curtains. Photographs lined the dresser, showing him and a boy, their faces frozen in carefree smiles.

Kaz's heart raced. "Am I... back?"

He reached out, touching the edge of the dresser. The wood felt solid, real. He turned slowly, taking in every detail of the room—the bed, the shelves, the faint scent of lavender that lingered in the air.

"Was it all a dream?" he whispered.

A soft tap on his shoulder made him spin around. The imp hovered beside him, its tiny wings flapping furiously. It tilted its head, as if questioning his disbelief.

So, it wasn't a dream.

Kaz exhaled, his mind racing. He needed answers. He opened his scripts, and the room shifted around him, the physical world fading into the ethereal glow of his Sanctuary.

Name: Kazeem Steel

True Name: Enemy of Order

Soul Crystal: Shard

Rank: Initiate

Flux Shard: 0/2000

Feature: [Prime] [Surpassed] [Prosper]

Trait: Son of Chaos

Talisman: Stingpoint, Eyeless Sense

True Name - Enemy of Order: You are attracted to chaos and annoyed by things that are in order.

Trait - Son of Chaos: You are imbued with the essence of chaos, thriving in tumultuous environments. Strength, speed, and perception increase with exposure to chaos. You can control fragments of chaos to your will, shaping it to your needs. Prolonged exposure to chaos may alter your thoughts, pushing you toward creating more turmoil. In times of intense chaos, you radiate a bright violet glow.

Feature - Surpassed: You have been touched by something that transcends the cosmic scale. Where stars should shine with light, you embody their voids. Where shadow resides, you manifest its unyielding depth.

Kaz's heart pounded as he read through the updates. His trait had evolved, and his feature now felt... limitless. He couldn't fully grasp the implications, but the raw power radiating within him was undeniable.

For the first time since entering the Rift, Kaz felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this new strength would be enough to tip the scales in their fight for survival.

But the thought of Ryuma sent a jolt of worry through him. Was his friend still in the desert? Had he returned to Earth as well? Kaz needed to find out.

As he closed his scripts, the world snapped back into focus. He was once again in his room, the imp still fluttering beside him. Before he could gather his thoughts, a sharp knock echoed through the house, breaking the fragile silence.

Kaz froze. His hand instinctively went to his side, but his sword wasn't there. Of course, it wasn't—this was Earth, not the desert.

The knock came again, louder this time. Kaz's pulse quickened. Living in the desert had conditioned him to expect danger behind every corner. Even now, back in the familiar safety of his home, that instinct lingered.

He approached the door cautiously, his heart pounding in his chest. The imp perched on his shoulder, its tiny claws digging into his shirt.

Kaz opened the door slowly, peering through the crack. Two men stood on the porch, dressed in black vests adorned with a strange insignia—a black flower with a crimson core.

Their expressions were unreadable, their eyes cold and calculating.

"Kazeem Steel?" one of them asked, his voice flat and formal.

Kaz hesitated, gripping the edge of the door tightly. "Who's asking?"

The man ignored the question, pulling a small device from his pocket. A holographic screen flickered to life, displaying Kaz's face alongside a string of information—his name, age, and, most concerning of all, his recent status updates from the System.

Kaz's blood ran cold.

"You've been flagged as a high-priority individual," the man continued, his tone devoid of emotion. "We're here to escort you to the nearest Rift Control Facility for assessment."

Kaz clenched his fists. He didn't know who these people were, but one thing was clear—they were trouble.

The second man stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of a sleek, futuristic baton strapped to his hip. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Mr. Steel."

Kaz's mind raced. He could feel the chaos stirring within him, a volatile energy that begged to be unleashed. But he had no idea what these men were capable of or who they worked for.

The imp hissed, its wings buzzing furiously as it prepared to defend its master.

"Stand down," the first man ordered, his gaze locking onto the imp. "We're authorized to use force if necessary."

Kaz gritted his teeth, stepping out onto the porch. He had no intention of going with them, but he needed to buy time. "What do you want with me?"

The man's expression didn't waver. "You've been identified as a potential Rift anomaly. For your safety—and the safety of others—you're to be transported to a secure facility for further study."

Kaz's anger flared. He wasn't some lab experiment to be poked and prodded. He was human—or at least, he used to be.

The chaos within him surged, and he felt the faint glow of violet light emanating from his skin. The men exchanged wary glances, their hands moving to their weapons.

Kaz smirked, the chaotic energy crackling around him. "You should've knocked on someone else's door."

The imp let out a gleeful cackle as Kaz lunged forward, his movements a blur.