Ascension: Rebirth in a World of Powers-Chapter 33 - : The Gathering Storm

The rift loomed above the city, an ominous tear in the sky that crackled with unstable energy. Eren's grip tightened around the Shard as its glow pulsed in rhythm with the dark forces swirling beyond the veil. His instincts screamed danger, but he forced himself to remain steady. Whatever lay on the other side, it was no longer just a threat—it was a reality.

Kaelena took a cautious step forward, her sharp gaze locked onto the rift's shifting form. "This isn't just some random anomaly," she muttered. "Something—or someone—is trying to break through."

Elara shivered. "It feels... wrong. Like it's watching us."

Kain clenched his fists. "Then let's tear it down before it gets any bigger."

Eren shook his head. "No. We don't even know what we're dealing with. If we attack blindly, we might make things worse."

Kaelena nodded in agreement. "We need information. Someone in the academy must know what this is."

Eren turned away from the rooftop, heart pounding. "Then we don't waste time. Let's move."

The group made their way back through the academy halls, their urgency sharpening with each step. Most students were unaware of the growing catastrophe above them, their routines continuing as normal. But as they passed through the corridors, hushed whispers and anxious glances confirmed that rumors were already spreading.

At the library, the air was thick with tension. Ancient tomes lined the towering bookshelves, their dusty covers filled with secrets of the past. Eren scanned the room, searching for someone who could help.

"Professor Veylan," Kaelena whispered, nodding toward a hunched figure near the restricted section.

Veylan was one of the oldest faculty members at the academy, a historian specializing in lost magic. If anyone knew about the rift, it was him.

Eren approached cautiously. "Professor?"

The old man looked up, his wrinkled face pale and drawn. His weary eyes flickered to Eren, then to the Shard pulsing in his hand. A deep sigh escaped his lips.

"So, it has begun."

A chill ran down Eren's spine. "You know what this is?"

Veylan closed his book with a soft thud. "Not entirely. But I know enough." He gestured for them to sit. "That rift... it's not natural. It's a tear in the boundary between worlds, a gateway forced open by something immensely powerful."

Elara's face went pale. "A gateway to what?"

Veylan hesitated. "To a place that should remain sealed."

Eren leaned forward. "How do we stop it?"

The professor's lips thinned. "That depends. The rift is reacting to the Shard, which means the two are connected. If you want to close it, you'll need to understand the true nature of the power you carry."

Kaelena crossed her arms. "And let me guess—you won't tell us unless we do some grand test or trial?"

Veylan let out a dry chuckle. "I wish it were that simple. The Shards were never meant to be wielded by mortals, but here you are, defying fate itself." He rubbed his temples. "The only way to seal the rift is to stabilize the Shard's energy. But doing that requires a catalyst—an anchor."

Eren's pulse quickened. "An anchor?"

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Veylan met his gaze. "Something—or someone—strong enough to bind the rift's energy to this world. Without it, the tear will keep growing until it consumes everything."

Silence fell over the group.

Kain broke it first. "So, what? We need to find this anchor? Or create one?"

Veylan's expression darkened. "Either option is dangerous."

Eren exchanged a glance with Kaelena. There was no easy answer, but one thing was clear—they had little time. The rift was growing, and if they didn't act fast, the academy—and possibly the world—would be lost.

Determination hardened in Eren's chest. "Then we better start looking."

Outside, the sky had darkened. The rift pulsed ominously, casting eerie shadows over the academy grounds. Thunder rumbled in the distance, though there were no clouds in sight.

Eren turned to his team. "We split up. Kaelena, you and Elara search the archives for anything related to Shards and rifts. Kain and I will check the headmaster's records. If this has happened before, he'd know about it."

Kaelena nodded. "We'll meet back at the training hall in an hour."

They parted ways, moving with purpose through the labyrinth of halls and hidden passageways.

As Eren and Kain stepped into the headmaster's office, a sinking feeling settled in his gut. Something was off. The room was eerily quiet, the lanterns flickering despite the absence of wind.

Then he saw it.

The headmaster's desk had been overturned, papers scattered across the floor. The bookshelves were ransacked, and a faint trace of blood stained the edge of the wooden table.

Kain cursed under his breath. "Looks like someone got here first."

Eren's stomach tightened. Whoever had done this wasn't just looking for information—they had taken something.

And they weren't far ahead.

Eren clenched his fist around the Shard, feeling its energy swirl within him. The storm was gathering, and they were running out of time.