The sky cracked again.

  A second rift had opened.

  Derukan stood still, his mechanical arm thrumming with energy from the locket. Around him, the remains of battle smoked. The Ranked Players watched cautiously.

  From the new rift… people started falling out. Not monsters—players. Survivors. Fighters. Stragglers. Each one carried energy signatures from different realms.

  One by one, they gathered.

  ---

  New Characters Introduced:

  Vilo – The Annoying Genius.

  A tech specialist with a sharp tongue and no filter. Constantly mocks Derukan’s “edgy brooding,” but secretly respects him. Carries a hoverboard and throws plasma grenades mid-rant.

  Lirien – The Holy Enchantress.

  Radiates divine light. Speaks in riddles. Can purify corrupted monsters. Trusted by many, but she’s hiding a tragic past involving a failed prophecy.

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  Grax – The Friendly Giant.

  A muscular warrior with a warm smile and a heart for kittens. Loves cooking and hugs—unless someone threatens his team, then he becomes unstoppable.

  Zyne – The Trustworthy Shadow.

  A rogue-like scout who speaks little, moves fast, and always has Derukan’s back. Rumor has it he was once a royal assassin… until he vanished from history.

  Nairu – The Evil Charmer.

  A manipulator with a silver tongue and unmatched magical power. Claims to be an ally, but there's a darkness in his eyes. Smirks too much. Trust him? Maybe. Probably not.

  Tess – The Support Specialist.

  Small but fierce. Runs the portable base camp with high-tech gadgets, drones, and healing systems. Keeps the team alive and fed.

  ---

  As the team gathers, Derukan doesn't trust them yet. He doesn't know who sent them. He doesn't know who’s real.

  But the system keeps changing.

  > [New Team Formed: Riftbound Alliance]

  [System Warning: A Tier-Surge Event is approaching.]

  Suddenly, the sky turns black. From the rift, a monstrous chimeric beast steps out, stitched from dragon scales, demon fangs, and machine parts. Its presence warps gravity.

  Vilo: “You’ve got to be kidding me. Who stitched together hell and a scrapyard?!”

  Lirien whispers: “It’s a Reaver-Class… the kind that ends worlds.”

  Grax cracks his knuckles. “Alright… time for a warm-up.”

  Derukan’s mechanical arm glows as the locket syncs further. His eye flickers white—revealing stats, weak points, fears, lies of everyone around him.

  > “Scan complete,” he mutters.

  “Time to see who’s worth trusting.”

  ---

  To be continued…

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