Oblivion Hunter: Rise Across the Stars.

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Mara Voss limped beside Kael as they picked their way carefully through the darkened ruin corridors, her pulse rifle cradled in her shaking hands. Kael stayed a half-step ahead, bone knife drawn, senses sharp. The Rift storms overhead pulsed like distant thunder, their eerie glow casting flickering light down broken shafts.

"You're bleeding," Mara said flatly.

"So are you," Kael muttered without turning.

"Fair point."

For a moment, the only sound was the crunch of loose rubble and the occasional hiss of Rift static. Kael's mind buzzed—not from pain, but from Nyx. The Egg fragment nestled in his pouch pulsed with warmth, sending flickering thoughts through their growing link.

"Hunt... danger... wary..."

Even unborn, Nyx felt the tension between the two humans.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

Proto-Beast Link Active – Cognitive Imprint Strengthening.

Incubation Progress: 32%

Kael winced as another ripple of fatigue spread through his cracked ribs.

"Hey, Shard Boy," Mara called. "What's your name?"

"Kael."

"Kael what?"

"Vorrin, Scavenger... from Shelter 17."

She grunted "thought so, you stink of backwater tech and desperation."

Kael rolled his eyes "Not wrong, you Ascendancy types always this charming, or just when you're pinned under scrap metal?"

Mara smirked faintly, but her eyes stayed sharp "You don't trust me, smart. You shouldn't. The Corps hunt your kind, you know....hosts like you... they're dangerous."

Kael's grip on the knife tightened.

"I didn't ask for this System," he said softly. "It forced itself on me."

She glanced at him "They all say that and then they burn cities."

A faint ping from Kael's HUD interrupted the tension.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

Rift Surge Detected

Distance: 1.3km

Direction: Northeast

Rift Beast Signature: Unknown – Tier IV (Estimation)

Recommendation: Avoid Contact

Lethality Probability: 98%.

Kael cursed under his breath.

"Whatever that is, it's moving this way," he muttered. "We need to get back to my shelter before it smells us."

Mara frowned. "You have a base? Defensible?"

"Better than staying out here when that thing arrives."

She sighed, "Then lead on, Shard Boy, but when we get there... we talk. Full truth....About you and about that System inside you."

Kael hesitated... Nyx pulsed in warning.

But what choice did he have? His sister... the egg... the raid coming in less than nineteen hours. He needed help, even if it came with a price.

"Fine," Kael said "But only after we get to safety."

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Shelter 17 – Scavenger Zone

The heavy steel door groaned open, revealing the stale, recycled air of Kael's shelter. Inside, Lira stirred weakly in the cot, her skin pale as snow.

Mara's gaze softened for the first time "You have a sister?"

Kael nodded "Lira, fever's killing her, I scav to buy meds... when I can."

Mara reached into her field pack, pulling out a small injector vial. "Military-grade antibiotic. Good for Rift toxins and fever infections, found it in the crash." She tossed it to Kael.

He stared at her, stunned.

"Why... help me?" he asked quietly.

Mara sat heavily against the wall, sighing....."Because you saved my ass, and because your System is valuable. You're not the only one who's been... touched by the Shards."

Kael's pulse quickened. "You... know others?"

"Not many, the Corps killed most. But there are rumors... of a hidden faction. Shardborn like you, hunters, predators, Gods in human skin." She met his gaze, serious. "And if you don't master that thing inside you... you'll die, or worse you'll become one of them."

Nyx's presence flared, bristling.....angry.

Kael touched the Egg fragment gently.

"I'm not becoming anyone's monster," he muttered.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

Egg Incubation Progress: 36%

Neural Imprint: Aggressive Defense Bias Detected.

Next Milestone: 50% (Larval Hatching – Approx... 11–13 Days Remaining)

Mara watched him carefully.

"That egg... what is it?"

Kael hesitated. "A Rift Beast Companion, Linked to me" He frowned. "The System calls it Nyx."

Mara's expression darkened.

"Rift Companions are rare and dangerous. You realize the Corps would dissect you for that alone, right? Even your dead body would be valuable tech."

Kael smiled bitterly, "Add it to the list."

A distant boom shuddered through the shelter walls, dust drifting from the ceiling.

[SYSTEM ALERT]

Major Rift Event – Surface Proximity: 4.8km

Tier IV Entity Confirmed – Unknown Classification

Time Until Probable Detection: 10–12 Hours.

Kael swore. "It's getting closer."

Mara pushed herself up "We need to prep this place up, traps, defenses. Anything to slow it down. Otherwise, when the raid hits tomorrow... this shelter becomes a grave."

Kael ran a hand through his hair, staring at the screen.

[SYSTEM OPTION: Shelter Upgrade – Available]

Defense Options:

1. Auto-Turret (Salvage-Built) – Requires 2x Plasma Cells, 1x Circuit Core.

2. Reinforced Entry Lockdown – Requires 3x Structural Alloy Plates.

3. Rift Snare Trap – Requires 1x Rare Beast Core, Void Crystal Fragment.

Kael frowned. "I've got a Rare Core... could build the Rift Snare, might slow or even cripple the big one if it comes close."

Mara nodded "Do it, better to wound than die cleanly."

Kael grabbed his toolkit, setting to work while Mara checked Lira's vitals. The Egg fragment pulsed softly on the workbench...Nyx feeding on the faint Rift energies of the Void Crystal.

A sudden ping made Kael freeze.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

Beast Egg Status: Anomaly Detected.

Incubation Spike: 44% (Unexpected Acceleration).

Cause: Proximity to Tier IV Rift Energy.

Warning: Premature Hatching Possible

Risk Level: Moderate.

Kael stared, heart pounding.

"Nyx... you're waking up early..."

The Egg glowed brighter, cracks spidering across its surface.

Mara stepped beside him, eyes narrowing. "Kael... what's happening to your egg?"

"Nothing good," Kael muttered.

And somewhere outside, in the Rift-torn sky, the silhouette of something massive and winged shifted against the storm clouds.

The beast was coming.

Time... was running out...

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