MM Racing Chapter 273: The True Intention of the Rift
Chapter 273: The True Intention of the Rift
When the white light dissipated, Ares, Selena, and Wagner found themselves in a completely unfamiliar space. There were no clear boundaries, only an endless white void. Their feet seemed to be on solid ground, but every step felt like floating.
"Where is this place?" Wagner swung his battle axe, trying to strike the ground, but there was no echo. "Didn't we destroy all the nodes? Why were we teleported here?"
“This is clearly a rift design.” Selena looked around, her sniper rifle already loaded, her eyes alert. “It doesn’t want us to win easily. This place is more like a trial, or… a trap.”
Ares gripped the rune sword tightly, his gaze fixed intently ahead. He felt the sword resonate more strongly than ever before; the tremor seemed to remind him that the core of the rift lay deep within this void of white space.
“We have no way back, we can only move forward,” Ares said in a low voice. “The rift has not completely collapsed because of the destruction of the nodes; its core is still trying to buy time. We must find its true form and solve the problem completely.”
The three exchanged glances, finally nodded, and took a step forward simultaneously. Their footsteps sounded exceptionally lonely in this empty white space, each step seeming as if they were challenging an unknown abyss.
As they continued to move forward, a deep sound gradually filled the air, an echo that seemed to come from all directions, yet struck straight to the depths of the soul.
"Why do you resist an inevitable fate?" the Rift's voice was low and mocking. "The rules of the universe are inherently flawed, and you are merely the repairmen of those flaws. True balance has never existed, and your efforts are in vain."
Wagner snorted and swung his battle axe at the air. "Don't try to sway us with your nonsense! Your fate is to be destroyed by us!"
Selena gripped her sniper rifle tightly, saying in a low voice, "Be careful, it's not just talking, it's trying to disrupt our will."
Ares closed his eyes, focusing his attention on every detail of the whispers within the rift. He discovered that these whispers were not merely provocations, but rather a form of guidance, a means of trying to lead them in a certain direction.
“It’s manipulating us.” Ares’ eyes snapped open. “These words are meant to make us question our mission, to distract us. Don’t listen to it, keep moving forward!”
As they ventured deeper, the illusory white space began to change. The once flat ground gradually cracked open, suspended fragments floated in the air, and countless intricately intersecting bridges of light appeared in the distance. Each bridge of light connected to a blurry portal, emanating different lights, but none led to a definite destination.
“This is forcing us to choose a path,” Selena analyzed. Her scanner couldn’t pinpoint the true target of any of the portals. “Every path here could be a trap.”
Wagner grinned. "Then let's go all out and charge at it. Whatever it is, as long as we're fast enough, it can't stop us."
“Too reckless,” Selena shook her head. “This place isn’t just a physical labyrinth, it’s a mental labyrinth. It’s trying to make us lose our way.”
Ares gazed at the runes on the bridge of light. He noticed they were similar to the previous node runes, but more complex. "These runes might be the key," he said. "If we can decipher them, we can find the right path."
Selena immediately crouched down to analyze the pattern of the runes. After a brief calculation, she pointed to a portal that was shimmering with blue light. "The rune arrangement of this one matches the core guidance of the star chart. We should choose this path."
"Let's go!" Wagner swung his battle axe and was the first to rush toward the blue light portal.
As the three passed through the blue portal, they found themselves in a region filled with rift energy. The environment here was completely different from the previous white space; all around them was a deep purple vortex, and the energy fluctuations were so intense they were suffocating.
At the center of the vortex floated a group of enormous Rift Guardians. Their appearance was extremely terrifying, each one seemingly pieced together from countless shattered dimensions, with blinding energy flowing across their bodies.
“Finally, we’ve met a real enemy.” Wagner sneered, swinging his battle axe. “Come on, let’s see just how strong you really are!”
The Rift Guardians let out a piercing shriek, and several beams of energy shot out from their bodies, heading straight for the Guardians. Wagner blocked one of the beams with his battle axe, but the powerful impact forced him back several steps.
"These things have an energy output far exceeding that of the previous variants!" Selena dodged and fired at the same time, but her bullets could only slightly weaken the enemy's armor and could not cause them fatal damage.
Ares raised the rune sword, its blade emitting a dazzling light. He concentrated his power, spreading the rune sword's light into a shield, temporarily blocking the guards' attacks. "We must find their weakness!"
Selena quickly analyzed the enemy's structure and soon discovered a clearly unstable energy flowing in the core area at the center of their bodies. "Their core is in their chest! But the armor is too thick; ordinary attacks can't penetrate it!"
"Then it's up to me!" Wagner roared, charging towards the nearest Rift Guardian. He channeled all his strength into his battle axe and slammed it into the guard's chest. Although he himself was knocked back by the impact, a crack was smashed into the guard's armor.
“Excellent!” Ares quickly filled in, plunging his rune sword into the crack and channeling energy into the guardian’s core. The guardian let out a piercing scream before its body exploded.
With the destruction of the first Rift Guardian, the attacks from the other guards intensified. The Guardians worked together to defeat them one by one, but this also expended a great deal of their stamina and energy.
“These are just appetizers,” Selena said breathlessly. “The true form of the rift hasn’t appeared yet, but it definitely knows we’re here.”
Just as she finished speaking, a burst of intense light suddenly erupted from the center of the vortex. A massive, phantom-like rift appeared, its shape constantly shifting, as if it were the embodiment of energy from the entire dimension.
"It is indeed surprising that you have managed to get this far," the phantom's voice was deep and majestic. "But your struggles are futile. The rules will eventually shatter, and I will become the starting point of a new universe."
“You are nothing but an anomaly,” Ares said coldly, raising his rune sword with a fighting spirit in his eyes. “No matter how you change, we will destroy you completely.”
"Then let's give it a try." The illusory figure in the rift chuckled, and then the entire space began to collapse, with countless energies transforming into sharp blades that attacked the guardians.
The three fought valiantly against the phantom's attacks, but its power far surpassed any enemy they had ever encountered before. Ares's rune sword gradually dimmed, Selena's bullets were running low, and Wagner, though covered in wounds, gritted his teeth and persevered.
“We still have a chance,” Ares said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over the core area of the phantom. “Its power is concentrated in that area. If we can concentrate our firepower, we might be able to break it in one blow.”
"Then let's move!" Wagner roared as he charged toward the phantom, drawing its attention.
Selena quickly adjusted her position and aimed her sniper rifle at the core of the phantom.
Ares channeled his last bit of energy into the rune sword, knowing this strike would be crucial to victory. He closed his eyes, sensing the resonance between the rune sword and the star map, then suddenly opened them, letting out a roar as he transformed the sword light into a beam that pierced the heavens and earth, striking directly at the core of the phantom.
The moment the light pierced the phantom, the entire space was enveloped in dazzling brilliance, and the whispers of the rift gradually dissipated.