The Riftborn Hunter

Aiden sat in his apartment, staring at the glowing status screen before him. His breath slowed, controlled, but his pulse hammered beneath the surface.

He hadn't checked in a while.

And now that he had?

It didn't make sense.

[HUNTER SYSTEM STATUS]

[Rank: D]

[Strength: 2.3]

[Agility: 3.0]

[Perception: 5.2]

[Endurance: 2.4]

[Mana: 2.2]

[Core Trait: None]

Aiden exhaled slowly, shutting the status screen. The numbers stayed burned into his mind.

His Perception was spiraling beyond everything else, his mana rising without explanation, his body adapting like it was desperately keeping up with something unseen.

But was this really him?

Aiden flexed his fingers, staring at them like they belonged to someone else.

His power wasn't just growing—it was accelerating. The gaps between each leap were getting smaller, the jumps bigger, more unnatural. His Perception alone had more than doubled in such a short span, and his body was changing to match it.

Was this what evolution was supposed to feel like?

Or was something else pushing him forward?

He clenched his fist, feeling the raw energy humming beneath his skin. It was his, wasn't it?

Weeks ago, he had barely been stronger than a civilian—possibly even weaker, given his blindness.

Now?

He had annihilated an E-Tier Rift Boss in seconds. Not just won. Overwhelmed.

Aiden exhaled sharply, shaking his head. He couldn't focus on this right now. Doubts wouldn't get him answers.

He needed more.

More fights. More data. More exposure.

The only way forward—was through.

And right on cue, the TV in his apartment flickered with breaking news.

"A D-Rank Rift has opened in the outer district," the news anchor stated. "However, Hunter officials have noted unusual fluctuations within the anomaly. While Rift distortions are common, experts have noted that this one seems to be expanding at an unpredictable rate—"

Aiden's attention sharpened.

Expanding?

His thoughts immediately snapped back to the last one.

The other anomalous gates. The ones tied to the Source.

Aiden sat up, every nerve in his body tensing.

This couldn't be a coincidence.

The news continued.

"Black Summit Mercenaries have already mobilized a team to secure the area before the Association intervenes. Citizens are urged to avoid—"

Aiden grabbed his phone and shut off the broadcast.

Black Summit.

His way in.

Aiden called the number without hesitation.

Jenna answered before the second ring.

"Aiden." There was a knowing smirk in her voice. "Didn't expect to hear from you so soon."

"I need in on the Rift operation," Aiden said, cutting straight to the point.

A beat of silence. Then, she laughed.

"And here I thought I was supposed to be recruiting you, not the other way around."

"Black Summit is moving on the Rift, right?"

"Yeah, but you're a little late. Teams are already set."

"Not my problem," Aiden said. "Find me a spot."

Jenna exhaled. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood."

From what he could tell, she was curious.

She saw him fight. She saw how he moved, how he handled himself.

And Jenna Vale didn't let things she was curious about slip away.

"This isn't a high-priority raid," Jenna warned. "We're taking in a team of rookies. I'll be leading."

Aiden frowned slightly. "Rookies?"

"Relax," Jenna said. "It's a containment mission, not a clear-out."

Aiden didn't believe that for a second.

Something was off about this Rift.

And if it was anything like the last one—he needed to be there.

Jenna sighed on the other end. "Fine. I'll get you in."

Aiden smirked. "Knew you'd come around."

"Don't make me regret it, Kain."

She hung up.

The Black Summit Mercenaries were already gathered near the Rift entrance when Aiden arrived.

The containment field hummed faintly, stabilizing the swirling mass of energy that formed the Rift's gateway. A soft, pulsing light radiated from its edges, casting an eerie glow over the assembled Hunters.

Jenna spotted him immediately.

"You took your time," she said, arms crossed over her chest. She was wearing her usual leather jacket over light combat gear, a contrast to the heavier armor some of the others had chosen.

Aiden shrugged. "Had to make sure I wasn't walking into a trap."

Jenna smirked. "Smart." She turned, motioning toward the others. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the team."

Aiden followed her toward the group, keeping his expression neutral. He could already feel a few eyes on him.

"Alright," Jenna said, stopping in front of a man leaning against a supply crate. "This is Silas."

Silas was tall and wiry, his sharp features partially obscured by a hood. A sleek crossbow rested at his side, its reinforced frame glinting under the Rift's glow. He gave Aiden a once-over, his expression unreadable.

"D-Rank soloist," he muttered. "You're either reckless or stupid."

Aiden didn't react.

Jenna grinned. "He's both." She gestured to the next person. "This is Marko."

Marko was broader, built like a brawler, his reinforced gauntlets strapped tightly over his forearms. He cracked his knuckles, sizing Aiden up.

"You don't look like much," he said.

Aiden exhaled through his nose. "Neither do you."

Silas snorted. Marko's grin widened.

"Alright, alright," Jenna said, stepping between them. "Save the bonding for later." She gestured toward a woman adjusting the straps on her combat vest. "And that's Vance."

Vance gave Aiden a nod. "Heard you work fast."

Aiden shrugged. "Something like that."

Jenna clapped her hands together. "Alright, now that we're all acquainted—let's get moving."

Aiden glanced at her. "I just have one question."

Jenna raised an eyebrow. "Just one? Shocking."

Aiden ignored her. "If the Rift is acting weird, why are you bringing rookies?"

Marko, the brawler, scoffed. "Because it's still a D-Rank. It's just throwing a tantrum."

Jenna shrugged. "The anomaly only started fluctuating after we were already assigned. If we backed out every time a Rift pulsed a little weird, we'd never get anything done."

"Besides," Silas added, adjusting his crossbow, "it's free experience for the newbies."

Aiden frowned. That wasn't wrong, but it also wasn't convincing.

"What's the official reason?" he pressed.

Jenna sighed. "The Rift distortions aren't classified as a threat. The Association's protocols mark it as a 'low-priority fluctuation'—so we're still treating it like a standard scouting op. No reason to send higher-ups in for a gate like this."

Jenna smirked. "Relax, Kain. We're not throwing you to the wolves."

Aiden said nothing.

No. He had a feeling the wolves were already inside.

The group turned and stepped into the Rift.

Aiden took a breath as he stepped forward, the swirling energy pulling at his skin as the world blurred—

And then—

They were somewhere else.

Aiden landed lightly, his boots hitting solid ground. But the moment he looked up, his stomach twisted.

This… wasn't right.

The others reacted instantly, weapons raised, scanning their surroundings.

"This is a D-Rank Rift?" Silas muttered.

Because instead of ruins or a shattered cityscape—

They were standing in a world that wasn't Earth.

The sky overhead was a deep, unnatural twilight, split by a cracked moon that pulsed faintly with a dull, blue glow. Jagged mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks flickering, shifting as if trapped between different states of existence.

And below them, flowing through the valleys—rivers of liquid silver.

The air was thick, heavy, pressing against Aiden's skin like something unseen was testing him.

His Perception flared.

This place was watching.

For a fraction of a second—the world flickered.

The sky blurred. The mountains shuddered. The rivers of silver twitched, resetting into different shapes.

Then, just as quickly—it snapped back.

Aiden tensed. He had seen something.

Far beyond the shifting terrain—on the edge of the Rift's boundary—a shadow moved.

Something that shouldn't be here.

Aiden clenched his jaw.

Jenna stepped beside him, scanning the landscape. "Alright. This is… new."

That was an understatement.

None of the others had reacted to the distortion. None of them had noticed the flicker.

But Aiden had.

His Perception was too high. He was seeing things others couldn't.

And whatever this Rift was—whatever had seen him—

It was waiting.