The Eternal Strive

The moment Caden's blade pierced the Riftborn's core, the battlefield was swallowed by a blinding explosion of energy. The very air cracked as waves of golden and black light surged outward, shattering the monster's unstable form.

The Riftborn screeched in agony, its massive body convulsing as cracks spread through its essence. The chaotic tendrils that had ravaged the arena disintegrated, and for the first time—true fear flickered within the shifting mass of shadows.

It was dying.

---

System Alert: Riftborn Core Destroyed!

Catastrophic Entity Eliminated.

Balance Restored (Temporary).

Warning: Unstable Rift Energy Remains!

---

Caden barely had time to process the message before the Riftborn let out a final, desperate wail. Its body began to collapse inward, its essence imploding. The energy it had devoured was now breaking free.

The sky above the ruins of Velsaria twisted violently, the massive rift beginning to close, but the unleashed force threatened to tear apart everything in its wake.

Caden gritted his teeth. If this energy isn't contained, it'll wipe out the entire battlefield.

Valerius and Seraphis, still standing on opposite ends of the battlefield, turned toward the collapsing Riftborn.

Valerius's golden spear pulsed with divine energy. "The core is gone, but the energy left behind is still too dangerous!"

Seraphis's violet flames flared higher. "Then we either control it, or let it take everything with it."

Neither Order nor Chaos could completely stop what was coming.

Caden knew what he had to do.

He reached deep within himself, channeling every ounce of power left. His Balance Strive ability pulsed, pushing his control to the absolute limit.

Contain. Stabilize. Redirect.

A new force surged within him. His All-Knowing Eye glowed, reading the chaotic energy's flow, guiding his actions with precision.

Caden raised his hands—and pulled the collapsing energy toward him.

The swirling storm of unstable power rushed into his body.

---

System Alert: Absorbing Unstable Rift Energy…

Risk Level: Extreme.

Warning: Energy must be refined or expelled!

---

Pain shot through Caden as raw chaos surged into his veins. His body screamed in protest, his soul teetering on the edge of destruction.

But he refused to let go.

The battlefield watched in stunned silence as Caden—standing alone—contained the Riftborn's death energy within himself.

The once-devastating force that could have annihilated everything now swirled inside him, waiting to be tamed… or to consume him.

The sky, once torn apart, began to calm.

The ground, once crumbling, held firm.

The war-torn battlefield fell silent.

Caden stood at the center of it all—his body trembling, his aura shifting unpredictably. He had done what neither Order nor Chaos could.

He had stopped the catastrophe.

But at what cost?