Rowan Mercer's fingers drummed against the console, eyes scanning the blinking readouts on the screen in front of him. Lucian's condition had been unpredictable over the last few days—fluctuations in his power, increasing instability, and moments of terrifying strength. It had been difficult to get a clear reading, and they needed answers. Fast.
"Ready to go?" Rowan asked, his voice steady despite the unease creeping up his spine. He glanced over at Lucian, who was standing by the door, his usual guarded expression in place.
Lucian nodded silently, but his eyes betrayed something else—tension. The powerful esper knew something was wrong with him, and it was only a matter of time before it all came to a head. Rowan felt frustrated seeing him this way—conflicted and dangerous, but his responsibility as Lucian's guide kept him focused.
Together, they left the apartment, heading toward Zarek Technologies, the cutting-edge company that dealt with all things rift-related. They were going there for a check-in—Lucian's health had deteriorated further, and if they didn't act fast, it could put not only Lucian in danger but everyone around him as well.
Zarek Technologies was a massive complex situated in the heart of the city, a sleek, modern building that looked as if it had been sculpted from steel and glass. As Rowan and Lucian entered the lobby, they were greeted by the cold, sterile environment that characterized the facility. The sharp scent of antiseptic hung in the air, a reminder of how serious this place was. There were no casual conversations here. Everything was business.
Rowan led Lucian through the facility, his mind running over the potential tests that would be performed. Evelyn Zarek was at the heart of this organization, and she had requested their presence today for an important check-in. Evelyn was an A-class esper—one of the most powerful women in the world—and her expertise in rift management and combat technology was unrivaled.
As they reached the medical bay, they were met by Evelyn herself, her silver-blue eyes assessing them immediately. She was standing next to a tall woman with long braided blonde hair—a striking figure who had an air of authority about her. The woman's calm expression shifted just slightly when she caught sight of Lucian, though she didn't speak a word.
"Rowan, Lucian," Evelyn greeted them, her voice as steady and unyielding as ever. She gave Rowan a curt nod and then turned to Lucian, her gaze softening, though only for a fraction of a second. "Lucian. You've been looking... rough."
"I've been worse," Lucian muttered, his arms folded as he met her gaze.
Evelyn tilted her head. "I'm sure. But I'm not here for pleasantries. We need to assess your power levels, and quickly." Her sharp gaze flicked to the woman standing beside her. "This is my wife, Ava. She's an A-class Guide, and she's been helping me analyze these situations for a long time. She'll assist with the evaluation."
Lucian's eyes lingered on Ava for a moment before he nodded, his posture rigid. He wasn't particularly fond of guides—they were supposed to calm espers like him, to keep them under control. He didn't like the idea of someone taming his power. But if Ava could help, he was willing to put aside his reservations.
"I'll get straight to the point," Evelyn continued. "Lucian, we've been monitoring your energy surges, and the situation is deteriorating faster than we anticipated. Your powers are destabilizing in ways that are difficult to predict. This isn't normal, and we need to find out why."
Rowan took a step forward. "What do you mean, 'not normal'? Could this be another rift-related issue?"
Evelyn nodded. "Yes. We believe it's tied to your connection to the rifts. Espers like you, Lucian, are at risk when rifts begin to expand uncontrollably. Your power draws from them, and when the rifts become unstable, so do you. But it's more than that. There's something deeper going on inside you." She met Lucian's eyes again. "Something that we need to get under control before it spirals completely out of hand."
Rowan glanced at Lucian, concern flickering in his expression. "Is it possible that the instability in Lucian's powers is connected to a rift explosion?"
Evelyn didn't answer immediately. She walked over to a console in the corner, typing rapidly. "The rift's fluctuations are more intense lately," she said, her voice focused. "Lucian's energy is reacting in sync with them, but it's unpredictable. We need to stabilize him before we lose control entirely."
Ava stepped forward then, her eyes soft but serious. "Lucian, if you'd be willing to undergo an energy scan, we may be able to get more precise readings. I know it's not ideal, but it's the only way we can assess the full extent of the issue."
Lucian hesitated, the thought of surrendering control over his powers clearly unsettling. But after a long moment, he nodded. "Fine. Let's do it."
As the scan began, Lucian stood rigidly under the glowing light of the diagnostics machine. His eyes were fixed ahead, jaw clenched as his energy levels were measured. Rowan stood beside him, watching with quiet concern, though he couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
Evelyn and Ava stood at the console, monitoring the data that was being gathered. Rowan could see the slight flicker of unease in Evelyn's expression, though she kept it carefully masked.
After a few tense minutes, the scan concluded, and Evelyn turned to Lucian with a grave expression. "Your energy is… off the charts," she said quietly. "It's more intense than I've ever seen, even for someone at your level. And it's not just about your power. There's a corruption in it—a lingering instability that's getting worse."
Lucian's face hardened. "I've been trying to keep it under control."
"I know," Evelyn replied. "But this isn't something you can fix on your own. We'll have to take more aggressive measures if we want to stop it from escalating."
Rowan's stomach churned. The situation was worse than he'd thought. They needed to act fast.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled with a low, guttural rumble. The entire facility shook, and alarms blared to life, filling the room with the sound of impending disaster.
"What the hell?" Lucian's voice was low, his gaze flashing toward Evelyn.
Evelyn's eyes narrowed. "A rift explosion. We don't have time to waste. Everyone, gear up. We're heading out now."
Ava moved toward the door, her movements calm and collected. "I'll handle the stabilization efforts here then regroup with you guys to take care of the rift."
Rowan and Lucian exchanged a glance, both of them feeling the weight of the situation. They had no choice but to fight, but with Lucian's instability, it was going to be a dangerous mission.
"Let's go," Lucian said, his voice determined, though there was a clear edge to it. Rowan could feel the undercurrent of tension in him, but there was no time to dwell on it now.
Outside, the streets were chaos. People were running in every direction, fleeing from the rapidly expanding rift. The monstrous creatures spilling out were like nothing Rowan had ever seen—twisted, horrifying aberrations of the rift's power, their bodies shifting and writhing in unnatural ways.
Evelyn, Ava, and the rest of the team—who had appeared with a flash of urgency—were already organizing a defense. The battle had already begun.
Rowan's eyes narrowed as he scanned the area, looking for the source of the rift's instability. He felt the familiar hum of his own energy as he prepared to fight, but his gaze was still fixed on Lucian. They needed to be strategic about this. If Lucian's power went out of control again, they could lose everything.
And then he saw them. Two figures moving through the chaos with unnatural speed—one tall and broad-shouldered, the other lean and sharp-eyed. They were headed straight toward the heart of the battle.
"Alex," Evelyn muttered under her breath, a mix of relief and caution in her voice. "We're going to need them."
Rowan's eyes widened as the two newcomers—Alexander Hawke and Juno Fletcher—engaged the rift monsters with deadly precision.
Alexander Hawke was a seasoned veteran, a powerful A-class esper who had seen his fair share of battle. He wielded his abilities with terrifying efficiency, his massive frame a force of nature as he tore through the monsters.
Juno Fletcher, on the other hand, was a rookie—but she moved with an ambition that made her dangerous. Her power wasn't as refined, but it was raw and untapped. The two worked seamlessly together, each covering the other's weaknesses.
As the chaos erupted around them, Rowan felt a surge of adrenaline course through his veins. This was the battlefield—this was the true test.
He glanced at Lucian. "Ready?"
Lucian's eyes were locked on the rift, his energy already surging out of control. "Let's end this."
And with that, the battle began.
The fight that ensued was a brutal, violent clash—a whirlwind of power and desperation. Monsters from the rift surged forward, their twisted bodies creating a nightmare of terror.
Lucian's power flared again, unstable but devastating. Rowan kept close to him, using his guiding abilities to stabilize Lucian's energy just enough to keep him from losing control completely.
Evelyn and Ava fought alongside them, their movements calculated and lethal, while Alexander and Juno held the front line, cutting down monster after monster with swift, decisive strikes. It was chaos—utter chaos—but through it all, they fought as one.
But the rift's power was growing, intensifying with every passing second. And they were running out of time.