The ground shook.
Not violently.
Not suddenly.
But steadily.
Like something enormous was walking… and getting closer with every step.
Danny felt it in his chest before he heard it again.
That low, unnatural sound.
Not a roar.
Not a scream.
But something deeper.
Something that didn't belong in this world.
"…Abby," he said, his voice tight, "tell me we can run from this."
A pause.
"…We can't," she replied.
Of course.
The air grew heavier.
Each breath harder than the last.
The shadows outside twisted unnaturally, stretching along the ground like they were alive.
Danny swallowed.
"…You said it only comes if it's certain…"
Abby didn't look at him.
Her gaze remained fixed ahead.
"…Yeah."
"…Certain it won't lose," Danny finished.
Silence.
That was answer enough.
Then It appeared.
Not all at once.
Not clearly.
At first, it was just a shape.
Massive.
Towering beyond the remains of nearby houses, its form barely visible in the darkness. Pieces of it flickered in and out of existence, like reality itself couldn't fully process it.
Then A limb moved.
Long.
Too long.
Touching the ground with a heavy, echoing impact.
THUD.
Danny's legs almost gave out.
"…What… is that…"
Abby's voice came quietly.
Low.
Controlled.
"A higher Rift Entity."
The name alone felt wrong.
Like it carried weight.
Like it wasn't meant to be spoken.
The creature stepped forward.
And the world reacted.
Windows shattered across nearby houses.
The ground cracked beneath its presence.
The air warped around it.
Danny couldn't breathe properly.
"…This is insane… this is actually insane…"
Abby stepped forward.
In front of him.
Her aura surged again stronger than ever, crimson energy exploding outward, pushing back against the invisible pressure.
For the first time She went all out.
Wings fully formed.
Eyes glowing brighter.
The air around her burned with power.
And yet—
Compared to that thing—
She looked small.
The creature stopped.
Not because it had to.
But because it chose to.
Its "head" slowly tilted downward.
Toward them.
Toward Danny.
A deep, resonating sound echoed again.
Then Words.
Clearer than before.
More stable.
More real.
"…Key…Located…"
Danny froze.
"…It's talking again…"
Abby's expression hardened.
"…It's confirming."
"Confirming what?!"
Before she could answer—
The creature moved.
Not fast.
Not like the others.
Just Inevitable.
It raised one massive limb.
And brought it down.
"MOVE!"
Abby grabbed Danny instantly Pulling him out of the way as the attack hit.
BOOOOOOM.
The ground exploded.
Everything within range Gone.
Erased.
Danny hit the ground hard, his ears ringing, vision blurred.
"…What… the hell was that…?!"
"That," Abby said, pulling him up quickly,
"wasn't even trying."
Danny's heart dropped.
"…You're joking."
"I wish I was."
The creature turned again.
Tracking them.
Not rushing.
Not panicking.
Just Executing.
Like this was already decided.
Danny's breathing grew uneven.
"…We can't beat that."
Abby didn't respond.
"…Abby."
Still nothing.
"…We can't beat that!"
"Then stop thinking about beating it!" she snapped suddenly.
Danny froze.
That was the first time she raised her voice.
Her eyes locked onto his.
Sharp.
Intense.
"Think about surviving."
Silence.
Then She turned back.
Facing the monster.
Her aura flaring even stronger.
Unstable now.
Pushing her limits.
"…I'll hold it off," she said.
Danny's eyes widened.
"…What?"
"You'll run."
"…No."
"Danny…"
"I said no!"
The words came out faster than he expected.
Stronger.
Abby paused.
Just slightly.
"…You think I'm just going to leave you here?" he continued. "After everything you said? After dragging me into this?"
A beat.
"…If I'm the 'Key' or whatever, then I'm part of this too."
The air around him flickered again.
That distortion.
Stronger.
More visible.
Abby noticed instantly.
"…You don't even understand what you're doing."
"Then explain it later!" he snapped.
Another step forward.
Closer to her.
Closer to the danger.
"Right now, we survive together."
Silence.
For a moment Everything paused.
Then—
Very faintly Abby smiled.
"…You're really stubborn."
"…I've been told."
A beat.
Then—
Her expression sharpened again.
Back to serious.
"Fine."
The creature moved again.
Another step.
Closer.
The ground trembled harder.
Abby raised her hand.
Crimson energy gathering rapidly.
Danny stood beside her.
His heart racing.
His body tense.
But this time He didn't freeze.
The distortion around him stabilized slightly.
Reacting.
Responding.
The creature lifted its limb again.
Preparing another strike.
Bigger.
Stronger.
Enough to wipe everything out.
Abby's voice dropped.
Calm.
Focused.
"When I move don't hesitate."
Danny nodded.
"…Got it."
A second passed.
Then She moved.
A burst of crimson Straight toward it.
Danny followed.
Instinct taking over.
The air warped around him again—
Space bending—
Reality distorting and for the first time He felt it.
That connection.
Clear.
Alive.
The creature's attack came down.
But this time—
They didn't run.
They ran into it.
The moment their powers clashed—
The world cracked.
Not just the ground.
Not just the air.
But something deeper.
Something unseen.
A fracture Forming.
Spreading.
And far above—
The sky responded.
A thin crimson line…
Reappeared.
Because this fight was never meant to happen.
To Be Continued.