Lost In Chaos

Kaz's sword sliced cleanly through the eyeless creature, splitting it in half. Its lifeless body crumpled to the ground, oozing a dark, viscous substance that painted the sand crimson. Nearby, another beast met its end, smashed brutally into the dirt. The scene was a grisly tapestry of survival.

Wiping blood from his blade, Kaz felt a surge of power ripple through his body. With every kill, he could feel himself growing stronger, as if his very being absorbed the essence of his fallen enemies. Yet, a persistent thought nagged at him—how much stronger was he really getting?

As if reading his mind, Ryuma called out from a short distance away, his blade cleaving through another lesser aberration. "Hey, Kaz!" He tossed something through the air.

Instinctively, Kaz caught it—a small device that glinted in the moonlight. It was a sleek wristwatch.

"That's a System Watch," Ryuma said between labored breaths, slicing another creature with a swift, practiced motion. "It tracks everything—your talismans, weapons, kills, and more. I had a spare in case mine broke, so consider it a gift."

Kaz spared a brief glance at Ryuma, who offered a lopsided grin before engaging another foe. Without hesitation, Kaz strapped the watch onto his wrist. The moment it clicked into place, it emitted a faint purple glow before vanishing entirely. Kaz froze, staring at his wrist in confusion.

"What the…?" he muttered.

Ryuma's voice rang out again, his tone tinged with amusement. "Looks like it integrated with your Sanctuary. That means it's now part of your system—customized just for you."

Kaz barely had time to process the information before another aberration lunged at him. His reflexes took over, and with a swift strike, he brought the creature down. As its lifeless body hit the ground, a calm, human-like AI voice echoed in his mind.

"You have slain a lesser aberration. Your power grows."

The announcement was unnerving, but it lit a fire within Kaz. He struck down another beast, then another, each kill accompanied by the same voice:

"You have grown. You have grown. You have grown stronger, stronger, stronger."

The consistent reminders pushed him forward, even as his muscles screamed in protest and his bones ached from exertion. He lost track of time, his focus narrowing to the task at hand. Slash. Dodge. Kill. The rhythm became second nature.

By the time the last aberration fell, the night had fully embraced the world. The once-warm sand was now cold beneath Kaz as he collapsed onto it, kicking up dust as he fell flat on his back. His chest heaved with each breath, the adrenaline slowly fading.

The silence was broken by a sharp chime in his ear.

"You have obtained a talisman."

Curiosity stirred Kaz from his daze. He opened his scripts, skipping over the feature details and heading straight for the talisman section. Two items caught his eye:

Stingpoint Armor – Grants poison resistance and a thorny trait. Any creature that touches the armor is poisoned for a short duration.Eyeless Sense – Bestows an enhanced sensory ability. Even in total darkness, you can perceive energy clearly, akin to echolocation.

Kaz stared at the second talisman in awe. He activated it experimentally, and the world around him shifted. Even with his eyes closed, he could sense the faint hum of energy emanating from Ryuma nearby, the slow pulse of the Rift's essence beneath the sand, and even the far-off whisper of the wind.

He opened his eyes, glancing at Ryuma, who sat cross-legged a few feet away, staring blankly at the starry sky. His expression was serene, but the faint glow of his wrist told Kaz he was checking his scripts too. After a moment, Ryuma broke into a bright smile, his usual energy returning as he held up a talisman for Kaz to see.

"It's shaped like a dragon," Ryuma said, his excitement barely contained. "I got this talisman called Lord's Strength. It's Rift-bound, so it connects directly to my features and traits."

Kaz raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What does it do?"

Ryuma's grin widened, though his eyes flickered with something more serious beneath his excitement. "It boosts my strength by absorbing the hatred of others around me—enemies, allies, anyone feeling malice. The stronger the hate, the more power it gives me."

Kaz tilted his head, frowning slightly. "That's… intense. Is there a catch?"

Ryuma nodded, his expression sobering. "Yeah. Over time, it builds a kind of pressure. The more hatred I absorb, the more I feel this... urge. It pushes me to seek out stronger opponents, to fight and test myself. If I don't, it's like an itch I can't scratch. It's risky, but the boost is worth it."

Kaz considered this for a moment, noting the faint flicker of unease in Ryuma's usually confident demeanor. "You sure you can handle it?"

Ryuma's grin returned, though it felt more forced this time. "I'll manage. I've always loved a good fight, anyway. Might as well lean into it."

Kaz couldn't help but smirk. "Just don't let it get you killed, alright?"

Ryuma laughed, his usual bravado shining through. "No promises. But hey, if it gets too bad, you can always knock some sense into me."

Kaz rolled his eyes, but the banter helped dispel the lingering tension. As the two of them sat beneath the vast expanse of stars, the weight of their recent battle began to lift. The Rift was still a harsh and unforgiving place, but with every fight, they grew stronger—and with these new talismans, they were more prepared than ever for the challenges ahead.