The Black hole Chronicles: The Rift Awakens

The battlefield was chaos. The Rift pulsed violently above, its dark energy spilling into the world like an open wound. Kai barely had time to register his doppelgänger's smirk before the next attack came.

A shockwave rippled through the air as the doppelgänger vanished and reappeared in front of Kai, delivering a bone-crushing punch straight to his gut. Kai coughed, the force sending him skidding backward, barely catching his balance in time to avoid crashing into a collapsed structure.

Luna was already moving. Her spear crackled with energy as she aimed a precise thrust at the enemy's exposed flank. The doppelgänger twisted his body midair, catching the shaft of the spear with one hand before snapping it in half with raw force.

Luna gasped, her eyes widening. "No way…"

The enemy was faster. Stronger. Smarter.

Seraphina stepped forward, golden glyphs glowing around her hands. "You're not the only one who can use the Rift's power."

She unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, each infused with pure light, meant to counteract the dark influence of the Rift. The doppelgänger raised a single hand, absorbing the attacks as if they were nothing.

"Pathetic," he murmured before disappearing again.

Seraphina barely had time to react before the doppelgänger reappeared behind her, his fingers crackling with dark lightning. He drove an electrified strike into her side, sending her sprawling across the battlefield.

Kai forced himself to his feet, rage boiling in his veins. "That's enough!"

His aura flared. Blue energy erupted from his hands, surrounding him in crackling power. The ground beneath him cracked as he launched himself forward, swinging his blade in a wide arc.

The doppelgänger raised his own blade—an identical copy—meeting Kai's attack head-on.

The impact shattered the earth.

The force sent both warriors flying backward, but neither stayed down for long. They clashed again, blurs of light and darkness colliding midair, their strikes sending shockwaves across the battlefield.

Luna, recovering, watched the battle with wide eyes. "They're… even."

Seraphina wiped blood from the corner of her mouth. "No. Kai's holding back."

Luna turned sharply. "What?"

Seraphina's golden eyes narrowed. "If he used his full power, the Rift might react."

Luna clenched her fists. "Then we need to end this now."

With a renewed burst of determination, she charged forward, aiming for the one opening Kai couldn't take advantage of—the doppelgänger's blind spot.

The GambleLuna's spear glowed as she hurled the broken shaft forward, using it as a distraction before summoning another spear of pure energy. She lunged in, twisting mid-air, preparing to strike at the perfect angle.

But the doppelgänger was faster.

With a smirk, he pivoted sharply, grabbing the energy spear mid-flight, before hurling it straight back at Luna.

She barely managed to duck, feeling the energy singe the air above her.

Kai, seeing an opening, pushed himself forward, channeling all his power into one devastating attack. His blade ignited, glowing with unstable blue energy, as he swung downward with all his might.

The doppelgänger lifted his sword to block—

And at that moment, Seraphina appeared beside them, her hands glowing with a spell so powerful the ground beneath her cracked apart. Golden chains of pure light wrapped around the enemy's arms, locking him in place for just a second.

"Now!" she shouted.

Kai didn't hesitate. He swung his blade down with full force.

The world seemed to stop.

The impact sent out a massive shockwave, sending both fighters tumbling in opposite directions. The doppelgänger hit the ground hard, cracks spidering out from where he landed. His breath came raggedly, for the first time, showing genuine exhaustion.

Kai panted, standing tall. "Not so cocky now, are you?"

The doppelgänger sat up, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. He let out a dry chuckle. "Interesting… you're finally learning."

Luna and Seraphina rushed to Kai's side, their expressions tense.

"Is he… beaten?" Luna asked, not lowering her stance.

Kai shook his head. "Not yet. But he's not invincible."

Seraphina nodded. "Then let's finish this."

The doppelgänger's silver eyes gleamed as the Rift above them shuddered. The darkness pulsed once more.

And then—

Something else began to descend from the Rift.

The Rift's Next MoveA deep hum resonated through the battlefield as a shadow loomed overhead.

Seraphina stiffened. "Something's coming."

Kai's hands tightened around his sword. "Something worse."

The doppelgänger slowly got to his feet, smirking. "Looks like I won't have to finish you myself after all."

From the Rift, a massive figure emerged—taller, cloaked in dark energy, with multiple glowing eyes watching them from the void. Its presence alone made the air feel heavy.

Luna took a step back. "That's…"

Seraphina finished her sentence. "A Rift Titan."

Kai groaned. "Oh, come on! One problem at a time!"

The Titan's deep, rumbling growl echoed through the ruined city, and with a single step, the earth beneath them trembled.

This battle wasn't over yet.