CHAPTER 202: CHAPTER 202: INTO THE RIFT

’The targets carried out a terrorist attack on the city, killing fifteen civilians and four hunters, and injuring several others.’

’Their goal?’

’We don’t know—not that we ever did. While they were running, they left a trail of destruction in their wake. Our squad chased them all the way until they vanished into the rift two days ago.’

’Why did they run into the rift?’

’Who knows? All that matters now is that they’ve been targeted for elimination—and that’s your job this time.’

Lake slowly opened his eyes, finishing the recollection of the mission details.

His steel-blue eyes stared coldly at the swirling vortex of mana ahead. His hands repeatedly clenched and relaxed, his breathing slow and heavy.

Standing alone amid the gathering hunters, everyone instinctively kept a wide berth around him. The oppressive aura radiating from him unconsciously drove them away.

***

’What’s his deal?’

Gwen’s eyes settled on the cloaked figure who had arrived alongside her brother. His rough breathing and murderous aura put everyone on edge—including her—and it was starting to tick her off.

With a sigh, she shot one last glance at him before turning away.

’I hope he won’t be a problem...’

Honestly, she had been somewhat surprised when her brother showed up, but she quickly reasoned it out. With her brother here, it finally made sense why the academy had permitted them to join this rift exploration.

’At least we won’t have to worry about safety.’

Still, Gwen couldn’t figure out why he had brought along such a dangerous person. She threw another wary glance at the cloaked man.

"Moving out in one more minute!" Liam’s shout echoed across the field, his tone vibrant and jubilant as always, as if he were organizing another school trip.

The other hunters made their final preparations, checking their gear and supplies. Once inside the rift, they wouldn’t be able to leave until it was cleared, so everyone packed an abundance of food and materials—everyone except their group.

Gwen watched her team lounging around even during this critical moment of preparation and sighed. Due to the short notice from the academy, and their limited resources, all they had managed to bring were their weapons and some basic gear.

They had no extra provisions like the rest of the hunters.

From the corner of her eye, she even caught a few seasoned hunters exchanging pitying glances at their half-prepared group. Her eyes twitched slightly in response, a wry smile crossing her face.

Soon, a minute passed, and everyone gathered around the rift.

Liam stood at the front, squinting slightly as he gave the group a final once-over.

"Alright, its time to move out! I’ll head in first and secure the perimeter. Everyone else, move in one group at a time after!" Liam’s voice rang out again, filled with his usual carefree energy.

As he finished, his gaze lingered for a moment on the cloaked man. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at Liam’s lips. If Gwen hadn’t known her brother so well, she might have missed it entirely.

The cloaked man gave a brief nod in response, his fists clenching tighter than ever, the cold killing intent around him solidifying into a suffocating aura.

Gwen trembled slightly, a cold bead of sweat sliding down her forehead.

She tried to calm the nerves that had gone on high alert because of the cloaked man, but before she could fully regain her composure, she saw Liam lean back as if performing a trust fall—then he was suddenly pulled into the rift, vanishing into its depths.

His casual entrance stunned the gathered hunters. But before anyone could react, the cloaked man dashed after him, diving into the rift without a second thought.

The decisiveness of the two men quickly snapped the others out of their daze. Regaining their composure, the hunters began entering the rift one group at a time.

Soon, it was Gwen’s turn. Together with the rest of her team, she crossed the portal into the unknown.

***

Lake landed lightly on the other side of the rift, knees bending to absorb the force. Almost immediately, a wave of nausea twisted through his gut.

Surprisingly, Lake did not panic and held on for a few seconds.

After going through this unpleasant experience several times, he had finally devised a strategy to combat his abnormal rift sickness.

Without moving a muscle, a soft, almost imperceptible ripple of mana passed through his body, dulling the sickness before it could impair him further. His breathing eased and the discomfort in his mind faded.

Delayed Casting.

This was the solution Lake had created to combat his rift sickness. Usually, when he goes through a portal or anything of the like, he would be too overwhelmed by nausea to cast a spell, turning into a vomiting mess.

However, by casting the spell before he entered the rift and delaying its effects until after, he had managed to solve the problem.

Once the effects faded, he took in his surroundings with a careful, detached gaze.

A dense jungle stretched around him—towering trees, thick underbrush, and vines that sagged heavily from gnarled branches. The canopy above was so thick that only scattered beams of light broke through, painting faint patterns on the ground.

He noted every detail: the humidity, the uneven ground, the faint, almost too-quiet stillness that pressed against his ears.

Liam stood a few meters away, hands tucked behind his back, surveying the clearing with a neutral expression.

Lake shifted slightly, preparing to move forward—when his sixth sense triggered.

He halted, foot hovering an inch above the ground before settling back soundlessly.

His eyes sharpened, sweeping a broader area.

He was currently standing in the middle of a large clearing, around 50 meters wide. The clearing looked normal at a glance, but under closer inspection, anomalies surfaced. The dirt beneath his boots was bare—not a single blade of grass grew here. Shallow craters pockmarked the ground, some still fresh enough to show torn roots. Several trees surrounding the clearing bore faint marks: scars, gouges, unnatural bends that didn’t match natural growth.

Lake processed the information quickly, drawing a conclusion within seconds.

He flicked a glance at Liam.

As if sensing the look, Liam spoke without turning. His voice was light, almost amused.

"Heh. Looks like you noticed."

Lake responded with a simple nod and stepped to the side to clear a path.

Moments later, the air above the clearing twisted violently as more hunters were expelled from the rift. They landed in practiced formations, weapons already drawn, scanning their surroundings.

Unlike Lake, they didn’t have to deal with rift sickness and adapted quickly to the new environment.

The clearing filled rapidly. Hunters spread out, forming loose groups. The space grew tighter, until only a few meters separated the crowd from the jungle wall.

The clearing was just large enough to contain them all.

His gaze returned to Liam, mind ticking.

’He managed to clear the space in the short time it took for me to enter the rift...’

A sharp glint flashed across Lake’s eyes as he felt his understanding of Liam deepen.

When the final ripple of space closed with a faint snap, sealing the rift, Liam clapped his hands once for attention.

"Alright. That’s everyone," he said casually. His bright tone belied the tension knotting the air. "Good. Now we can start."

The hunters shifted restlessly. The jungle pressed around them, quiet and oppressive.

One hunter—a younger man near the edge of the clearing—drifted closer to one of the large trees, drawn by either boredom or curiosity.

Liam’s voice cut through the gathering unease, still smooth and unbothered.

"First order of business. We’re surrounded by enemies."

Murmurs rippled through the hunters as the grip on their weapons instinctively tightened.

"What do you mean?" one called out from the center. "I don’t see anything—just trees and bushes."

Liam smiled, the expression strangely pleasant.

"Better to show you than explain," he said, raising his hand and pointing.

The gesture drew every gaze to the young hunter standing near the treeline.

The man froze, confused by the sudden attention.

"What? Did I do something—?"

"Ah! Fuck!"

Before he could finish speaking, his question was cut off with a surprised yelp.

Thick vines burst from the ground beneath his feet, wrapping around his ankles with brutal speed. Before he could react, they yanked him upward, flipping him head over heels as he dangled several meters above the ground.

"What the hell—!"

Every hunter turned, weapons flashing into readiness.

From the tree the hunter had approached, the bark began to split down the middle with a deep, wet CRACK, revealing a jagged, gaping maw lined with rough, wooden fangs. Branches twisted and creaked, reshaping into long, sinewy limbs.

It had been a tree a moment ago. Now, it was a monster.

And it was not alone.

Other nearby "trees" began to tremble, roots shifting under the earth, branches snaking closer.

Liam stood calmly in the center of the clearing, smiling as if he had just announced the weather.

"Lesson number one," he said, voice carrying easily over the stunned hunters. "In this place, the trees bite back."