The Author's Viewpoint-Chapter 90 - Unstable Grounds

"So you got the access?"

That was Lily’s first response as she and Tave sat at the dinner table a few days after he secured his place on the expedition.

Tave exhaled slowly. There was no use pretending. He couldn’t hide it anymore. Especially now that the team roster had been officially registered for the Rift Expedition, including knights from Deadbay City.

He had wanted the news to come from him, from his own voice, not whispers or announcements. But between the lack of time, the lack of chances, and maybe... a lack of courage, he hadn’t managed to say it sooner.

"Yes... it’s Rift Tier 4," he admitted.

Even though the listing had only shown team members, not the Rift classification, anyone who saw a group made entirely of Gaia Masters could easily assume the level they were aiming for.

There was a pause. Brief, quiet.

"Take care of yourself," he said softly, the words slipping out without much thought.

"I’m not weak," Lily replied, still eating, not even glancing his way.

Tave knew that. And yet, she was one of the reasons this decision weighed so heavily. With their father currently stationed at the capital, Lily was left completely alone.

Still... It was true. No matter how rough things might be here, being in the city was far safer than the madness Tave was walking into.

"You should be careful too." Lily added quietly.

"You..." she started to say more but let the sentence trail off.

Tave had already finished his meal. He wiped his mouth, then reached across the table and gently placed a hand on her head.

"I’ll be careful. And I’ll do my very best. I promise."

Lily immediately pulled her head back, refusing to let her big brother mess up her hair.

Tave helped clear the table, moving quietly, his mind already drifting to what lay ahead. Once finished, he returned to his room to double-check everything. His gear, supplies, plans.

He had only two days left before the expedition began. And he had made sure, every preparation was locked in and solid.

He had packed carefully for the unknown, accounting for every possibility he could predict.

The Rift they would enter had a high concentration of Air and Earth elements. That meant terrain with towering cliffs, maybe mountainous areas riddled with unstable ground, and almost certainly flying monsters.

He imagined the layout. Narrow ledges. Sudden drops. Hidden enemies with aerial advantage.

A nightmare for melee fighters, unless properly supported.

Thankfully, their team had a balanced composition. A good mix of close-range fighters and long-range combatants, which gave them versatility. If they worked together, they could adapt to whatever came at them.

Tave had also upgraded his armor. It wasn’t anything special, just a well-crafted, reinforced set, but it fit his style better. It was lighter, more flexible, and allowed him to move freely in combat.

He packed backup gear, a variety of potions, tools, everything he might need.

And in the process, he had spent almost all the money he had.

No holding back. No saving for later. He’d either succeed spectacularly... or die trying. That was the harsh truth of any Rift Expedition.

He exhaled.

But even with all of that. He had one major advantage. A jackpot. One that came just a day ago.

An item that might change everything. The one crafted by Fokil!

Tave raised his right hand, palm facing upward. A shimmer of energy flickered from his storage ring, and something began to materialize above his hand.

A mask. Flat in shape, colored in deep, muted tones, with only two clean slits for the eyes.

At first glance, it seemed unassuming, until you knew what it was.

Tier 3. Epic-grade. And yes, this was no joke. This was Epic-grade gear.

That’s how insane Fokil’s talent truly was. To forge something of this caliber... and then, to sell it at a price that felt laughably cheap, even considering the high-quality materials Tave had provided, and the Soul Stone he’d offered.

But this wasn’t just any mask.

This was a Relic.

Another freaking Relic.

Forged and embedded with the spirit of a Shadow Wolf, this was no ordinary item. It radiated a dormant power. Subtle. Cold. Waiting.

Tave now had two Relics, Fire and Shadow.

This one, however, was still... silent. Unbound. Unresponsive.

He hadn’t managed to connect with it yet. The spirit within had not acknowledged him. It had not awakened. And as such, the mask’s true abilities were still completely unknown to him.

Two Relics. Two elements. Fire and Shadow.

He couldn’t ask for more.

The only thing left now... Was to bond with this new Relic. To claim it fully. And when that happened?

Two Relics. One wielder. Tave would no longer just be rising.

He’d be unstoppable.

Haha!

***

The long-awaited day had finally arrived.

Tave, along with nine others, stood ready as they stepped down from the carriage and approached the massive Rift portal, suspended like a shimmering wound above the desert plains on the outskirts of Deadbay City.

Each of them wore gear suited perfectly to their roles. Four forest elves and six humans, outfitted for war, precision, and survival.

They came to a halt just before the Rift. At the head of the group stood a tall, long-haired elf man. White-haired, composed, and easily the tallest of them all. He turned to face the others, his expression calm, but commanding.

He was their team leader. A forest elf fighter whose level was already brushing the edge of Gaia Grand Master. He looked no older than his late twenties, yet his eyes held the depth of centuries. His name was Velion.

He took a step forward and addressed the team:

"Allow me to remind you once more. This expedition will not be kind. Every challenge, every threat, every risk within the Rift will fall to us. There will be no rescue. No second chance. Our lives and this mission are now one and the same. So whatever doubts you hold, leave them behind now. We walk forward not just as warriors, but as one unit. One force."

Everyone listened in silence, the gravity of his words sinking in.

Then, with a confident stride, another figure stepped forward. A male elf clad in deep black armor that gleamed like polished obsidian. He grinned wide, his voice echoing as he let out a loud laugh.

"Let’s enjoy this expedition, everyone! Hahaha!"

A roar of confidence, not arrogance. He was the wall of their group, the one who would take the brunt of every blow. A defender, battle-forged and built to protect. His name was Darian.

It was reassuring. Knowing that a forest elf held the frontline role gave everyone a layer of safety no equipment could provide.

Their formation was solid. Panpan, the archer, sharp-eyed and deadly from range. Their leader, a magic sword fighter. The black-armored defender. And then, another presence among the elves.

A woman, her blonde hair cropped short, clad in a flowing blue robe. Quiet, and observant. She was their magic caster. Her name was Elowen.

Panpan, Velion, Darian, and Elowen, the four forest elves who formed the backbone of the team. The remaining members were the Deadbay City knights, most of whom Tave had only gotten to know during the preparations leading up to this expedition.

Each of them had taken on a distinct role, frontline, support, long-range, magic, scout. And though they hadn’t yet faced real combat together, a quiet bond had started to form. Trust was being built. And in a Rift Expedition like this, trust and unity were always the first, and deadliest challenge.

Velion gave a respectful nod, then motioned with a graceful gesture of his hand, signaling for the team to begin entry.

Darian was the first, stepping forward confidently and disappearing into the swirling light of the portal. Elowen followed next, silent and focused, her long robe trailing as she vanished into the Rift. One by one, the human knights followed suit, their armor catching the shimmer of the portal as they stepped through.

Then Panpan turned to Tave. She smiled at him, and with that, she leapt gracefully into the light.

Velion was the last to glance back. He gave Tave a small nod, then motioned for him to go.

Tave exhaled, clenched his fists, and nodded in return. No hesitation. No fear.

He stepped forward. And jumped straight into the Rift.

That familiar pull surged through Tave’s body as he was drawn into the portal. A sudden rush, like falling without falling, pressure folding and twisting space around him. Then, just as quickly as it began, light flooded his vision.

His feet hadn’t even fully touched the ground when a sharp chime echoed in his ears and glowing text appeared in front of him:

[ Rift instability detected. Anomalous Gaia Force activity registered. ]

[ Difficulty level increased. ]

[ This Rift has been reclassified as a Tier 4 Emergency Rift. ]

[ Environmental hazards and monster aggression elevated. ]

Wait?!

WAIT!!