Chapter 73: Into the Rift

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Into the Rift

Monday morning, the Mission Plaza was bustling. Hundreds of heroes moved across the concrete grounds, transports arrived and departed, holographic boards flashed mana levels and gate coordinates, and squads gathered around their leaders to double-check their equipment.

Aria’s team stood near the center staging bay, listening to their field briefing.

"Your unit has an A-rank rift," the operations officer said, pointing at the tablet. "Scans confirm dense packs of beasts and multiple A-rank boss signatures."

Kael groaned, slumping where he stood. "Of course. Can’t we just get a nice, easy field of slimes for once?"

Lena sneered. "Stop whining. We’re already geared up."

Darius chuckled into his beard, leaning on his heavy warhammer. Ryan adjusted his tactical harness, Mira quietly reviewed the terrain map, and Orion stood a couple of steps back, scanning the crowd.

Seraphina stood beside them in standard Association tactical gear. Her posture was relaxed, her expression cool and still.

"You’re deploying with Felix today?" Aria asked her.

"Yes," Seraphina replied without missing a beat.

"Lucky," Kael muttered, catching her flat stare and immediately coughing into his fist.

"I mean...good for you! Great company!"

Aria sighed, shaking her head. "His clearance came through this morning. You, Felix, and the new girl will be clearing a B-rank rift on the eastern ridge."

Seraphina offered a polite nod. She wasn’t paying attention to the terrain specs or the monster types. The only detail that mattered was that Felix would be there beside her.

Darius looked up at the glowing mission terminal. "Still feels weird, though."

"What does?" Ryan asked.

"Stepping into an A-rank gate without Felix."

The entire squad quieted down, even Kael losing his usual smirk. Leaving the base without Felix felt off.

He wasn’t just their support; he was a powerhouse who could trade blows on the front lines with high-ranking threats and knit shattered bones together in the middle of a clash.

His Association ID still said A-rank, but everyone who fought beside him knew the truth: in raw combat instincts and endurance, he was closer to peak S-rank. Add in his ability to reverse fatal wounds on the spot, and he was basically a one-man safety net.

"Good healers are just too rare," Aria noted softly.

Healing-type Awakened were the rarest class in the world. Most squads had to dive into high-grade gates without any medical support at all, relying on expensive potions, barrier talismans, or emergency extraction beacons if things went south.

That scarcity was why high-tier gates had such brutal mortality rates: crushed organs, shredded mana channels, severed limbs, and third-degree elemental burns were manageable if a healer was on hand, but fatal without one.

"The Association spends billions trying to recruit and train healers every year," Darius said. "Still never enough to cover the rosters."

"Not even close," Aria agreed.

Kael sighed dramatically. "So what you’re saying is, Felix spoiled us into bad habits."

"Terrible habits," Mira agreed, smiling.

"Guess we get to remember how normal hunters fight today," Ryan said, checking his bowstring.

Aria glanced toward their designated shuttle.

"We’ll manage. Stay sharp, watch your spacing, and don’t take stupid risks."

She sounded confident, and they were all capable, seasoned veterans, yet they all knew Felix had been the anchor who let them fight without looking over their shoulders.

Today, they would have to be their own safety net.

Seraphina listened without saying a word, her eyes fixed entirely on the plaza’s main entrance.

A couple of minutes later, Mira raised a hand.

"He’s here."

Felix was walking through the gate security arch and trailing right behind him was someone practically trying to become invisible.

A petite girl with pale pink hair and wide pink eyes clutched a fistful of his jacket sleeve, hiding half her face behind his arm and taking small, nervous steps.

"Liora, you don’t have to glue yourself to my back," Felix murmured, glancing down.

"I-I know," she whispered, instantly shrinking another half-step behind him anyway.

Felix chuckled.

Kael blinked, tilting his head. "Wait. Is that the other patient?"

"Yep," Felix said, stopping in front of Aria’s circle. Liora peeked out from behind his shoulder, caught seven pairs of eyes looking at her, and immediately ducked back. "Everyone, this is Liora Morven."

Felix gave her a gentle nudge. Liora managed a tiny wave, her voice barely a squeak. "H-hello."

"Nice to meet you, Liora," Aria said with a kind, reassuring smile.

"Y-yes... nice to meet you," Liora managed.

Felix pointed through the group. "Aria’s the squad leader."

Liora nodded shyly.

"That’s Darius."

"Welcome to the field, kid," the big man rumbled pleasantly.

"Ryan, our tank."

"Hey," Ryan said with an easy wave.

"Kael."

"What’s up, pinky?"

Smack.

Lena hit his shoulder. "Mind your manners."

"Ow! Why am I the only one who gets hit?!"

Liora flinched at the sudden noise, her eyes darting between them. Lena immediately softened her expression, giving her an apologetic look. "Sorry about him. He’s loud, but harmless."

Liora peeked out again. "I-it’s okay."

"That’s Mira," Felix continued.

"Good to meet you, Liora," Mira said warmly.

"And Orion."

The silent scout offered a brief nod, which Liora returned with a nervous bow of her head.

Finally, Felix turned toward the tall, silver-haired woman standing beside him. "And this is Seraphina."

Seraphina’s gaze dropped straight to Liora’s fingers, which were still tightly clutching Felix’s coat. Her expression remained completely calm, but her violet-blue eyes cooled by a noticeable degree.

"Hello," Seraphina said, her tone level and crisp.

"H-hello," Liora stammered, feeling the sharp chill in the air and instinctively pressing closer against Felix’s arm.

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed by a fraction of a millimeter.

Felix caught the sudden drop in temperature but before he could defuse it, Aria spoke up.

"Felix, are you certain she’s ready for an active gate?"

Liora’s shoulders hitched, worry flashing across her face.

"She’s ready," Felix said smoothly, resting a reassuring hand on top of Liora’s pink hair.

Under his touch, the girl’s trembling stopped, her posture easing up immediately. "She looks timid right now, but once the fighting starts, her instincts are a lot like mine."

A heavy silence dropped over the group.

Kael’s eyes went wide as saucers. "Wait. You mean..." He stared at the small, cute girl in horror. "She’s a lunatic in combat too?!"

SMACK.

Lena whacked his arm again. "Kael! Shut up!"

"I am stating facts!"

Liora looked at Kael rubbing his sore arm, then at Lena scolding him, and despite her nerves, a small, genuine giggle slipped past her lips.

Lena smiled warmly at her. "Don’t listen to him, Liora. If Felix cleared you, you’re going to do great."

"She’s right," Darius agreed, giving a firm nod.

Ryan flashed a thumbs-up. "See you back here for dinner."

"Thank you," Liora said, her voice still quiet, but steady this time.

"See? Nothing to worry about," Felix said, looking down at her.

Liora nodded happily and promptly tightened her grip on his sleeve again.

Seraphina watched the hand on his coat, her gaze freezing over like a winter pond.

Aria checked her wrist comm. "Time’s up. Move out."

The squad split up. Aria led her team toward the heavy assault hauler, while Felix, Seraphina, and Liora headed for the smaller regional transport on Platform 4.

"Hey, Felix!" Kael shouted from across the tarmac.

Felix glanced back over his shoulder. "Yeah?"

"Don’t let the little monster tear you in half!"

Felix laughed, waving him off. "I’ll keep my guard up!"

Ten minutes later, their transport hummed into the sky. Below them, the sprawling city streets gave way to dense pine forests, rugged hills, and open valleys.

Liora sat beside Felix, her hands resting on her knees, while Seraphina sat directly across the narrow aisle. Felix noticed the fine tremor in Liora’s fingers right away.

"How are you holding up?" he asked softly.

"I’m fine."

"You’re shaking."

"I’m... just a little tense."

"Take a breath," Felix said, his tone gentle.

"Don’t force yourself to act tough."

She looked out the thick glass window at the clouds rushing past. "I’ve fought in dungeons before."

"I know."

Her fingers dug into the fabric of her pants. "It’s just..."

She didn’t finish the thought, and she didn’t need to. Her first catastrophic incident had happened inside a gate just like this one: surrounded by beasts, the dark mana spiraling out of control, her mind drowning in black.

Weeks of sparring in a padded room couldn’t completely wipe out that nightmare.

Felix reached over and tapped her forehead with his index finger. "Eyes here."

She turned her head, looking into his steady green eyes.

"You’re not by yourself this time," he said, voice calm and absolute. "I’m right next to you."

Liora exhaled slowly, the knot in her stomach loosening. A small, relieved smile returned to her lips. "Right. You’re with me."

Across the aisle, Seraphina watched them in silence. A sharp, cold spark flared behind her eyes. She didn’t like how easily Liora leaned on him, and she liked even less how natural Felix made it look. Still, she kept her lips pressed together.

Not yet.

An hour into the flight, the transport tilted, banking into its landing approach.

Through the front cockpit partition, the rift appeared: a massive, swirling vortex of churning blue and white energy hovering ten feet above the rocky ground.

The moment Liora saw the gate, her entire body locked up. Her breath hitched in her throat, her pupils shrank to tiny points, and the color drained from her cheeks until she looked pale as snow.

The hum of the transport engine faded from her ears.

She was right back in the blood-soaked cave. The screaming. The frantic shouts of her teammates. Elise’s terrified face. The sticky heat of blood on her palms. The suffocating feeling of the darkness ripping the steering wheel out of her hands.

Her breathing turned into rapid, panicked gasps.

"Liora."

Nothing. Her eyes were glazed over, lost in the memory.

Felix didn’t hesitate. He reached out, resting his hand on her shoulder while releasing a steady stream of his emerald healing mana.

The warm, soothing energy rolled through the small cabin like spring sunshine, breaking the icy grip of her panic.

Her ragged breathing slowed. The trembling in her fingers subsided. The terrifying memories didn’t vanish, but the sharp edges blunted, slipping back into the dark where they belonged.

She blinked, coming back to the present, and let out a shaky breath. "Thank you, Felix."

"Any time," he said with an easy smile.

From across the aisle, Seraphina broke her silence. Her voice was cool and even. "Are you frightened?"

Liora startled, turning her head. "I... no. I’m not."

"Really?"

Liora shrank back slightly under the taller woman’s cold gaze. "...A little. Maybe."

"Don’t become a burden to him out there," Seraphina said flatly.

Liora stiffened, ducking her head. "I-I won’t. I’ll do my best."

Felix pinched the bridge of his nose, shooting a warning look across the aisle. "Sera."

The change was instantaneous.

The sharp chill in Seraphina’s expression vanished like mist under the sun. Her features softened into something gentle and attentive the moment his voice carried her nickname.

"...Don’t pick on her," Felix added gently.

"I won’t," she replied, her tone completely sweet and obedient.

She turned back to Liora, her voice level. "Just make sure you watch your back."

"I will," Liora nodded quietly.

"Good," Felix said, looking out the viewport as the swirling gate grew larger. "We’re on the ground. Let’s move."

He stood up, grabbing his tactical belt. Liora stood as well, her knees steadying as she shook off the last of her nerves.

Felix placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Remember the drills."

"Control first," she recited, looking up at him.

"Exactly."

"Don’t let the power pull me along."

"Keep it tight."

Liora drew in a deep lungful of air as the transport touched down with a heavy thud. The hydraulic ramp hissed open, letting in the brisk, mountain air. The massive blue gate churned ahead of them, vibrating with raw, wild energy.

The fear was still there in her chest, but she didn’t look away from it anymore.

"Ready?" Felix asked.

She looked at him, her light pink eyes clear and focused. "Ready."

Beside them, Seraphina adjusted her gloves, her gaze shifting between Liora and Felix before settling into an easy, confident calm.

Felix stepped down the ramp first, boots crunching on the gravel. Seraphina followed half a step behind him, and Liora, taking one more steadying breath, reached out, caught a firm hold of his coat sleeve, and stepped out into the wind.

The B-rank rift waited ahead.

For Liora, a gate had once been the place where her life shattered into pieces.

Today, it was going to be the place where she took control and put herself back together.