The rift shimmered like a tear in reality— jagged, unstable, and pulsing with spiritual energy. In front of it stood Sylar, flanked by Yue, the Ice Warrior, and Lin, the Flame Strategist.
They had prepared for this. But the unknown was always hungry.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice calm.
Yue merely nodded, drawing her frost-touched spear.
Lin cracked her knuckles. "Let's stir some chaos."
With a step forward, the three vanished into the rift.
🌌 Inside the Minor Spatial Rift – Wildbone Expanse
The world on the other side was harsh. Jagged cliffs jutted out like fangs. Spiritual beasts prowled in packs. The sky above was cracked and glowing red.
But what caught Sylar's attention were the cultivators already inside. A group of six, clearly a team, clad in white and gold robes of the Verdant Heaven Sect.
And at the center of them stood a cocky youth with sun-kissed hair and a burning aura. He was Ren Hai, a secondary protagonist—one with a mid-grade Flame Root and an arrogant mouth.
"Looks like someone wandered into our hunting ground," Ren said, brushing back his hair. "Leave your treasures and crawl out. We might let you keep your limbs."
Lin stepped beside Sylar and whispered, "He's strong. Foundation Establishment, early stage. The others are at Body Tempering peak. Should I?"
Sylar smirked. "Let's test our blades."
âś… System NotificationNew Sub-Mission: Defeat Minor Protagonist "Ren Hai"Bonus Reward: Summon Token (x1) + Partial Inheritance of his Flame Root
Warning: Protagonist Luck Buff active — probability manipulation may occur. Counter with superior tactics or brute force.
⚔️ The Clash Begins
"Yue," Sylar said. "Cut the two on the left. Lin, contain the rear. Leave Ren to me."
Yue moved like a ghost.
Her spear glinted under the fractured light, freezing the air as she slashed downward.
SHIIING!
The first disciple raised his sword—but it shattered mid-block, ice crawling up his veins before he could scream. A kick to the chest sent him flying into a cliff wall.
The second didn't last much longer. His protective talisman glowed—only for Lin to unleash a wave of fire that shattered it with ease.
BOOOOM!
Flames and frost met, locking down the enemy formation within seconds.
Ren Hai snarled. "You dare?!"
He drew his dual sabers, both engulfed in crimson flames. "I'll show you the wrath of the Crimson Phoenix Style!"
He charged at Sylar.
🩸 Blade Against Blade
Sylar didn't back down. He summoned his Command Blade—a system-forged weapon that grew in strength with every battle.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew.
Ren's sabers danced like wildfire, attacking from unpredictable angles. Sylar moved with cold precision—his high IQ allowing him to read patterns mid-fight. For every slash, he deflected with just the right angle, minimizing energy loss.
But Ren's protagonist luck was no joke.
Just as Sylar was about to counter, Ren's saber twisted in a way that shouldn't be physically possible, slicing through Sylar's left arm sleeve, drawing blood.
You've been struck by a Luck-Driven Technique. Calculated Damage Mitigated.
Sylar grinned. "So, it's like cheating."
"Call it what you want," Ren smirked. "But you're not the hero of this story."
Sylar activated Shared Battle Resonance.
Yue froze two more enemies. Lin summoned a glyph under Ren's feet—a fire trap that burst upward in a tower of flames.
Ren yelped, rolling out—but the distraction was enough.
Sylar stepped in and brought his Command Blade down, slamming it against Ren's chestplate with a booming crash.
CRACK!
The armor fractured.
Sylar's blade slipped through and drove into Ren's shoulder.
✅ System Sync: Flame Strategist Lin—+10% Damage Amplified✅ Enemy's Luck Distorted — Fire Trap Success Rate Surged
Ren gasped. "How… how are you keeping up…?!"
Sylar's eyes burned with killing intent. "Because this isn't a story where you win."
He twisted the blade.
Blood splashed across the cracked stones.
Ren crumpled to the ground, coughing up spiritual blood.
âś… Protagonist Defeated
Ren Hai's Flame Root has been absorbed into system cache.+1 Summon Token Gained.+Advanced Fire Combat Pattern Unlocked.
Remaining Subordinates: 0
Would you like to summon Ren's Flame Partner "Xia Yuna" as a subordinate?Loyalty Potential: Low (System will adjust.)
Sylar exhaled.
"Do it."
đź’‹ Aftermath
Xia Yuna was pulled through a portal moments later—her body trembling with spiritual chains around her. She had long black hair, dressed in a red flowery dress, and tears in her eyes.
"You… you killed Ren…"
"No," Sylar said, stepping toward her. "He challenged me. He lost."
"I'll never forgive you—"
✅ System Compatibility Adjusting…Resistance Level Detected: High
Activating Conversion Protocol via Physical Contact Channel (Locked until relationship level increases)
He stepped close, leaned in, and whispered, "Then don't forgive me. Serve me."
Yuna's eyes widened—part fury, part fear, and part something else.
She didn't answer—but she didn't resist either.
Xia Yuna added to potential subordinate list. Loyalty Growth Pending.
đź‘‘ Back at the Guild Hall
The moment Sylar returned, the hall pulsed brighter than before. His cultivation had spiked again—half a step away from Foundation Establishment.
And more importantly, he now had two elite soldiers and one hostile flower soon to bloom.
He stood on the central dais and looked at the map of the realm projected by the system.
So many rifts. So many factions. So many beautiful, talented pieces waiting to be claimed.
His voice echoed through the chamber.
"Let the world know. A new guild has been born—one not of virtue, but of victory."
Next Chapter Preview:Sylar meets the daughter of a fallen clan leader, discovers a mysterious dragon egg in the rift ruins, and realizes some of the protagonists he's about to face… aren't entirely human.