RNP Chapter 305: The Reopening of the Star Ring Rift
Chapter 305: The Reopening of the Star Ring Rift
With the power of the Lord of the Star Abyss utterly destroyed, Ares, Selena, and Wagner finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, just as they were preparing to set sail and leave the Star Abyss, Selena's control panel emitted another piercing alarm.
“Ares, you’d better take a look at this.” Selena’s voice was low and tense as a new energy fluctuation point appeared on the star map projected onto the center of the spaceship’s control panel.
“What is this?” Wagner frowned, already beginning to feel uneasy.
Selena's fingers flew across the control panel, her face growing paler: "Star Ring Rift, activated."
Ares's gaze instantly sharpened like a knife as he calmly asked, "Wasn't the Star Ring Rift already sealed? Who can restart it?"
Selena looked up, her eyes filled with unprecedented fear: "There is only one possibility... the remnants of the Star Abyss Lord's will, or worse, a traitor within the Star Ring."
Wagner gripped his battle axe and growled, "I knew it, none of those guys are easy to deal with."
Ares did not hesitate, his voice firm as iron: "We must return to the Star Ring immediately and stop the rift from expanding. Otherwise, this catastrophe will far surpass anything we have faced before."
The spaceship activated its warp drive and headed straight for the Guardians' headquarters—Ring City. This space station, once a symbol of cosmic order and peace, was now facing an unprecedented crisis.
As they approached Star Ring City, the sight before them instantly alarmed the three—the city's outer defense system was completely paralyzed, and the once-brilliant interstellar shield hung suspended in the void like shattered glass. The light within the city flickered, as if an uncontrollable chaos was unfolding inside.
"Defense system collapsed, energy core is experiencing abnormal fluctuations." Selena read the data rapidly, her voice growing increasingly urgent. "The energy fluctuations from the Star Ring Rift are devouring the entire city's infrastructure!"
Wagner gripped his battle axe, his face grim: "It seems we'll have to clean house again."
Ares remained calm and collected: "We must find Kane and Sophia and confirm their safety. Then, go directly into the rift control room and shut down the energy channels."
The spaceship slowly landed on the main platform of Star Ring City. The three quickly put on their combat gear and stepped into this city that was once familiar but is now strange.
The interior of Star Ring City was a scene of utter devastation, with corridors littered with charred remains and the wreckage of collapsed structures. The air was thick with the stench of burning and decay, as if the entire city were being devoured by some unseen force.
“This is no ordinary destruction,” Selena said in a low voice as she analyzed the energy marks on the wall. “It’s an erosion of dimensional energy. The Star Ring Rift has not only restarted, but it has also introduced forces from another dimension.”
Wagner glanced around warily and muttered, "This place is worse than I thought. We'd better find someone soon, or else..."
Before he could finish speaking, a familiar voice came from ahead: "Ares! Selena! Wagner!"
The three turned sharply and saw Sophia and Kane appear at the end of the corridor with several guardians. They were covered in the marks of battle, clearly having experienced a fierce resistance.
“You’re finally back!” Sophia strode forward, her face showing exhaustion but determination. “Ring City has been overrun by internal traitors. They’ve restarted the Ring Rift, attempting to introduce extradimensional power and reshape the cosmic order.”
Ares frowned: "Who's pulling the strings behind the scenes?"
Kane's face was grim, his voice as cold and hard as ice: "The remnants of the Arbiters. They believe the universe needs a complete reboot, and the Ring Rift is the key to achieving it."
Wagner sneered, twirling his battle axe in his hand: "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go in and twist their heads off!"
Sophia stopped Wagner's impulsive act, her gaze serious: "It's not that simple. The energy from the rift has already begun to affect the core structure of Star Ring City, and any rash action could trigger a dimensional collapse."
Ares pondered for a moment, his eyes gleaming: "We must find the control core of the rift and shut down the energy flow. Kane, Sophia, lead the remaining Guardians to clear the perimeter, and we'll head straight for the core."
Under the cover of Sophia and Kane, Ares, Selena, and Wagner broke through the defenses and finally arrived at the control room of the Star Ring Rift. This place was once the core area of the Guardian Alliance, but now it has been completely corrupted by extradimensional energy. Strange black runes are spread across the walls and the ground, and the air is filled with a suffocating pressure.
A massive rift, resembling a twisted black hole, floated in the center of the control room, radiating an irresistible gravitational pull. Within the rift, glimpses of another dimension could be seen—a world filled with chaos and destruction, as if the abyss of the universe was baring its fangs at them.
“This is worse than I thought,” Selena said softly, a look of shock in her eyes. “The energy of the rift has completely spiraled out of control; it is expanding on its own, trying to devour our universe.”
Just then, a cold laugh echoed in the control room: "Ares, you've finally arrived."
The three turned around abruptly and saw the Arbiter slowly emerge from the rift. His body had been modified by extradimensional energy, his eyes flashed with a mad light, and he exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.
"You're still alive." Ares gripped the rune sword, his voice calm and firm.
The Arbiter grinned, his voice laced with undisguised madness: "I am not only alive, but I have transcended your understanding of existence. The Star Ring Rift has granted me the power of rebirth, and I will guide the universe into a new order."
Wagner roared, raising his battle axe high: "Enough with the nonsense! Today is your death day!"
The battle erupted in an instant. Ares, Selena, and Wagner engaged in a life-or-death struggle with the Arbiter, who was enhanced by extradimensional energy. Each clash triggered violent energy fluctuations, as if the entire Ring City trembled in the battle.
The Arbiter's power was beyond imagination; he could manipulate the energy of the Star Ring Rift, tearing space into fragments and altering the flow of time at will. Ares's rune sword proved extremely difficult to use against him, Selena's energy attacks were repeatedly neutralized, and Wagner's brute force could hardly break through his defenses.
"His power is too great!" Selena shouted, panting. "We must sever his connection to the rift, otherwise we simply cannot defeat him!"
Ares took a deep breath and focused his mind on sensing the energy fluctuations around him. Suddenly, he discovered a faint energy vein inside the rift, the very source of the Arbiter's power.
"Selena, Wagner, cover me! I'm going to destroy the rift's energy core directly!" Ares roared.