Oblivion Hunter: Rise Across the Stars.

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A low hum filled Shelter 17's dim chamber.

Kael froze in mid-swing, wrench in hand, halfway through setting the Rift Snare trap by the entrance. Behind him, the workbench vibrated softly, the Monster Egg fragment pulsing, cracks spidering outward like thin lightning veins across its dark shell.

The System chimed, cold and precise.

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[SYSTEM NOTICE]

Beast Egg Status: Critical Incubation Threshold Reached.

Progress: 50% — Larval Form Hatching Imminent.

Form: Rift Wraith (Confirmed)

Caution: Rift Energy Flux Detected, Environmental Disturbance Possible.

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Kael's heart thudded, Mara Voss glanced up from where she was tightening her rifle's energy cell.

"Your beast," she muttered, eyes narrowing. "It's waking... early?"

Kael dropped the wrench and crossed the room in two limping steps, pain forgotten. The fragment cracked louder now, small shards flaking away. Cold void energy spilled into the air, chilling his skin.

Nyx stirred.

Kael could feel it, like a distant breath brushing his mind, curious, hungry and alive.

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[EMOTION LINK ACTIVE: Proto-Beast Link Strengthened]

"Awake...safe...warm...Kael..."

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A final sharp crack! and the fragment split apart, light flooding the room.

From the broken shell slithered a small creature, sleek, feline in form, shadow-dark with rippling Rift patterns glowing faintly beneath its semi-transparent skin. Two slitted violet eyes blinked open, locking on Kael with strange awareness. Its body shimmered, half-real, like fog caught in starlight.

Mara gasped softly "Rift Wraith... gods help us... I thought they were just Ascendancy myths..."

Kael slowly reached out, hand trembling. Nyx sniffed his fingers, then butted its head gently into his palm, purring, a sound like wind over glass.

A chime echoed in Kael's mind.

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[NEW BEAST COMPANION ACQUIRED: NYX – Larval Rift Wraith (Tier I)]

Type: Shadow-Rift Beast (Stealth-Class)

Size: Small (Feline Variant)

Status: Healthy

Link Strength: Stable (Emotion Sync: 35%)

ABILITIES UNLOCKED:

Shadow Glide:

Allows Nyx to phase partially into the Rift for 10 seconds (Cooldown: 30 sec).

Void Fang Strike:

Melee attack ignores Tier I armor; Rift damage applied.

Silent Emotion Link (Scout Mode):

Can send simple signals; danger, safety, hidden paths.

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Nyx flicked its shadow tail, sniffed the dusty shelter floor and suddenly darted toward the entrance bulkhead, ears flat, body low.

Kael straightened sharply "Nyx?"

Nyx hissed a silent, mental warning flaring through their link.

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[EMOTION WARNING: IMMEDIATE DANGER DETECTED.]

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Mara stiffened "What did it sense?"

Kael glanced at the shelter's flickering monitor.

[SYSTEM ALERT]

Rift Beast Signature Detected

Proximity: 680 meters – Closing Fast.

Type: Rift Hound Pack – Tier II (Confirmed)

Estimated Pack Size: 5–7

Recommended Action: Prepare for immediate defense or evasion.

Kael cursed...

"How the hell did they find this place so fast?"

Mara slammed a new energy cell into her rifle. "The Rift Snare... it must've spiked their senses. These low-tier bastards smell everything."

Nyx turned, tail lashing, its Rift-shadow form shimmering as it vanished briefly, gliding half into the Rift plane. When it reappeared beside Kael, he felt its silent thought.

"Hunt...danger...fight..."

The System chimed again.

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[NEW MANDATORY QUEST: FIRST DEFENSE – BEGINNING]

Objective:

1. Survive the Rift Hound Pack assault.

2. Prevent shelter breach.

3. Maintain Egg Incubation Stability.

Optional Bonus:

Eliminate entire pack: +200 EXP, Rare Core Reward.

Prevent Mara Voss from being critically injured: +Faction Relationship Bonus.

Time Until Contact: 3 minutes.

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Kael ran to the trap system "The Rift Snare's almost done, It might take out one or two."

Mara posted herself near the hatch, rifle aimed. "If they breach, fall back behind the workbench. You and that ghost-cat cover my flank, we hold or we die."

Nyx tensed, low to the ground, eyes flaring violet, teeth bared.

For the first time... Kael felt it, not fear nor panic.

Predator hunger.....through Nyx's link.

"Alright... let's see what you can do, Nyx," Kael whispered.

The door sensors flickered red.

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The shelter shook as the first beast slammed against the outer door. A jagged claw pierced the metal, scraping furrows. Another joined it, growling low and wet.

"Five... maybe six," Mara muttered.

"Let the Snare hit first," Kael said. "Then Nyx moves."

With a mechanical snap-hiss, the Rift Snare triggered....discharging a spike of void energy that exploded outward. Two Rift Hounds yelped as shadow spikes impaled them, instantly disintegrating into Rift dust.

[2 Targets Eliminated – EXP +40]

But the others leapt over the corpses slamming against the inner hatch.

CRASH!

The door buckled inward, claws tearing metal apart.

"Shit.....brace!" Mara shouted, opening fire. Blue plasma bursts lit the dark as the beasts poured in snarling, fangs dripping Rift fluid.

Nyx moved.

With a flicker of shadow, the Wraith-Beast blinked behind the first hound, sinking its Void Fangs into the beast's exposed neck. The Rift Hound spasmed violently, choking as its essence drained.

[Target Fatally Damaged – EXP +20]

Kael surged forward, slamming a sharpened steel bar into the chest of another as Mara downed a fourth with a clean headshot.

One hound remained, massive, its shoulders bristling with void-spikes.

"Alpha!" Mara warned. "Tier II, careful!"

The Alpha Rift Hound lunged, barreling straight for Nyx.

[COMBAT ADVISORY: Shadow Glide Recommended – Companion]

Kael sent the silent command through the link. "Nyx, vanish!"

Nyx flickered....vanishing into the Rift plane. The Alpha lunged past, confused...and in that moment Nyx reappeared behind its throat, Void Fangs flashing.

The beast howled, twisting to throw Nyx off, but Kael was already moving. Ignoring the screaming pain in his ribs, he plunged his bone knife into the beast's eye.

The Alpha spasmed and collapsed.

Silence fell.

Ash and Rift dust swirled gently in the dying glow of Mara's rifle barrel.

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[MANDATORY QUEST COMPLETE – SURVIVAL ACHIEVED]

Reward: EXP +150, Common Beast Core x3, Rare Beast Core x1

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Kael staggered, breathing hard. Nyx padded silently to his side, tail curling around his ankle. Its eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

Mara slowly lowered her rifle.

"You... and that thing... you killed them all."

Kael nodded, gripping the workbench for support. "They never stood a chance."

The System screen flickered again.

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[SYSTEM STATUS UPDATED]

Level: 3

EXP: 240 / 300

HP: 74 / 100

Stamina: 48 / 60

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Nyx purred a sound like distant stars whispering.

[NOTICE: Beast Companion Growth Accelerated – Rift Exposure Detected]

Current Incubation Phase: Larval (Stable)

Next Growth Milestone: 85% – Evolved Traits Available.

Kael sat heavily against the wall, sweat soaking his shirt. "Mara... thanks."

She shook her head "You saved me in the ruin, I owed you one. Now... I think I owe you more than that."

Kael frowned. "What do you mean?"

She gazed at him serious, calculating.

"I know someone who's been hunting Shard-born like you... but not to kill. To recruit, if we make it off this rock, I'll introduce you."

Kael's blood ran cold.... another faction? Another secret?

Nyx hissed softly, sensing the hidden danger in her words, and above them... the distant thunder of the Tier IV beast still rumbled in the Rift sky.

Their greatest challenge was yet to come.

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