Ascension: Rebirth in a World of Powers-Chapter 32 - : The Rift Opens

Eren sat in silence, the weight of the past few days pressing down on him like an unbearable force. The confrontation with Darius, the discovery of the Shard's true potential, and the looming threat of those who would stop at nothing to claim its power—it all churned inside him. The academy had returned to an uneasy calm, but beneath the surface, tensions were rising.

Kaelena sat across from him in the dimly lit study room, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of a glass of water. "You've been quiet since the fight," she finally said. "What's going through your head?"

Eren exhaled slowly. "I don't know. Everything feels... different now. We won, but it doesn't feel like a victory."

She nodded, understanding his turmoil. "Because it's not over. Darius might be out of the picture for now, but he won't stay down forever. And even if he does, there are others watching."

That was what truly unsettled Eren. The note they had received before the fight lingered in his mind, its ominous warning refusing to be ignored. Someone was observing them, perhaps even manipulating events from the shadows.

"We need to figure out our next move," he said. "Waiting around for something to happen isn't an option."

Kaelena leaned forward, her gaze sharp. "Agreed. But first, we need to know exactly what we're up against. The Shard is powerful, but we barely understand its capabilities. And I don't think we're the only ones who have pieces of it."

The possibility sent a shiver down Eren's spine. If others had fragments of the Shard, then their fight was only just beginning. He pulled the glowing crystal from his pocket, watching as it pulsed faintly in his palm. It held secrets he couldn't yet decipher, but he was certain of one thing—it was changing him.

Kaelena seemed to sense his unease. "We should test it," she suggested. "See what it's really capable of."

Eren hesitated. The last time he had used the Shard's power, it had been in the heat of battle, an instinctive burst of energy rather than controlled use. If they wanted to harness it properly, they needed a controlled environment.

"We'll need a place where no one can see us," he said. "Somewhere safe."

Kaelena smirked. "I might have an idea."

An hour later, they found themselves in the abandoned wing of the academy, a place long forgotten by most students. Dust coated the old wooden floors, and the air smelled of age and neglect. It was perfect.

Eren took a deep breath and focused on the Shard. As he concentrated, the energy within it responded, a hum of power vibrating through his veins. A faint blue light emanated from his fingertips, flickering like an unsteady flame.

"Try channeling it," Kaelena instructed. "See if you can shape it."

He nodded and pushed the energy outward. A pulse of force rippled from his hands, sending a gust of wind through the room. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

Kaelena observed carefully. "It's raw. Unrefined. But there's potential."

Eren flexed his fingers, feeling the residual energy crackling beneath his skin. "It's like it's alive. Like it's waiting for something."

Kaelena frowned. "Or someone."

Before Eren could respond, the door creaked open. Both of them spun around, their powers ready. But instead of an enemy, it was Elara, her expression urgent.

"You need to see this," she said breathlessly. "Now."

Without hesitation, they followed her. Elara led them through the academy corridors to the rooftop, where Kain was already waiting. The usually unshaken fighter looked uneasy as he pointed toward the sky.

Eren's breath caught.

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A massive rift had opened above the city, a jagged tear in the fabric of reality. Dark energy pulsed from within, and shadowy figures lurked just beyond the veil. The sky itself seemed to ripple, like a mirage on the verge of collapse.

Kaelena's voice was barely a whisper. "What the hell is that?"

Elara's face was pale. "I don't know. But I think it's only the beginning."

The Shard in Eren's hand flared suddenly, its light intensifying. It was reacting to the rift. Or perhaps, the rift was reacting to it.

Eren clenched his fist, his mind racing. Whatever was coming through that tear in the sky, they weren't ready. Not yet.

But they would have to be.