Gatebreaker

The journey back through the dark forest was tense and quiet. Grimm’s brow was furrowed, her muscles still twitching from the strain of battle. Daria, walking gracefully at the front, hummed softly, satisfied with the events. And Jonas? He was still processing the power he had accepted, the dark energy thrumming through his veins, the corruption he could feel at the edges of his consciousness. It was subtle now, but it was there.

He couldn’t shake the feeling of unease—knowing that in gaining power, he might have lost something more important. The weight of that decision hung over him, and it wasn’t just his own fate he had to worry about. Grimm had been affected, and Daria… well, she seemed to revel in this.

By the time they reached the village, Jonas’s body was aching with exhaustion. His muscles burned, and the strain of channeling the rift’s power was beginning to wear on him. After a brief exchange of words with Grimm and Daria, Jonas made his way to his tent, grateful for the moment of solitude.

As he lay down on the simple cot, his mind raced with everything that had happened. The fight, the power, the darkness. Sleep came slowly, but eventually, exhaustion won out, and Jonas drifted into a fitful slumber.

Character Status: Jonas Hawke

Level: 4

XP: 3400/6000

Stat Points Available: 5

Skills:

Sword Mastery (Level 2)

Rift Sense (Level 2)

Analysis (Level 2 → Level 3)

Rift Infusion (Level 1)

Jonas found himself in the familiar void of the system interface, hovering in a dreamlike state. The system always felt more alive when he was asleep, as if this was the time it chose to truly communicate with him. He hadn’t allocated his stat points from his recent level-up yet, and now, the prompt was right there, waiting.

Stat Allocation

Strength: 9

Dexterity: 6

Intelligence: 3

Endurance: 8

Charisma: 3

Luck: 2

Jonas considered his options. The last battle had shown him that he needed more resilience, especially when fighting creatures as strong as the Rift Knight. His agility had saved him multiple times, but his strength and endurance were becoming just as crucial.

Allocate Stat Points:

+2 Strength

+2 Endurance

+1 Dexterity

As soon as the points were locked in, Jonas felt the familiar surge of power flood his body—his muscles tensed and then relaxed, the strength and resilience settling in. But this time, something else came with it. There was a strange, almost cold sensation, like a dark current running just beneath the surface of his skin.

And then, the system chimed again, bringing up something he hadn’t seen before.

New System Unlocked: Morality and Title System

The power of the rift has introduced a new path for you. The choices you make will now be tracked, shaping your morality and the titles you acquire. Your alignment will shift based on your actions, and your titles will reflect your growing influence in Ilvorya.

Current Alignment: Neutral, leaning toward Corruption

Title Earned: Rift-Touched

Jonas blinked as the message hovered in his mind. Morality and Titles—a new layer of the system he hadn’t even known existed. The rift’s power had triggered it, and now every decision he made would affect not just his abilities, but how the world saw him. The idea of being Rift-Touched sent a chill down his spine. Was he already falling under its influence?

He couldn’t ignore the implications. His actions would shape his path—and the paths of those around him. If the corruption spread too far, it wouldn’t just be him who suffered. It would be Grimm, Daria, and any others he brought into his circle.

New Title: Rift-Touched

Description: You have absorbed the dark power of the rift. This title marks you as one who has tasted corruption, though it remains subtle for now. Others who sense the rift’s influence may react differently to you, and your choices will lead you further into light or darkness.

Alignment: Neutral, leaning toward Corruption.

The title seemed to hang over him like a shadow, but there was more to it than just that. As Jonas stared at the system interface, a new realization dawned on him—he could feel it. The rift’s power hadn’t just granted him new abilities; it was changing him. And with those changes came new challenges, and new consequences.

Analysis - Skill Level Up! (Level 3)

Description: Provides detailed information on creatures, people, and objects. At higher levels, can sense hidden traits and moral alignments.

New Ability: Corruption Detection – Can now sense corruption in others.

Jonas blinked as the new skill details appeared before him. Corruption Detection. The rift’s power was spreading more than he realized, and now he had the ability to track it—not just in the world around him, but in the people closest to him.

When Jonas woke the next morning, he felt... different. There was a new weight on his shoulders, something that hadn’t been there before. The title of Rift-Touched lingered in his mind, and the memory of the cold power from the rift still pulsed faintly in his veins. His muscles felt stronger, and his endurance had definitely improved, but beneath it all was that creeping darkness.

He stood up from the cot, stretched, and made his way out of the tent. The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the ground. He spotted Grimm near the edge of the clearing, sharpening her axe. She hadn’t noticed him yet, but there was a tension in her movements—a stiffness that hadn’t been there before.

Jonas activated Analysis, focusing on Grimm.

Analysis - Grimm (Updated)

Race: Orc

Class: Berserker (Level 7)

Notable Traits:

Enhanced Strength

Confident in Physical Appearance (Naked)

Enjoys Sensation of Neck Bites

Berserker’s Rage: Increases attack power but becomes harder to control in corrupted spaces.

Corrupted by the Rift: Subtle. Grimm’s mental state is becoming more erratic, her aggression heightened.

Current Alignment: Neutral, leaning toward Corruption.

Jonas felt a cold shiver as the results settled in his mind. The rift’s corruption had already started to take hold of her, just like it had with him. It was subtle for now—just a slight shift in her behavior—but it was there, and if it continued unchecked, he knew it would get worse.

Grimm looked up and caught his gaze, her brow furrowing slightly. "What’s the look for?" she asked, her voice gruff but with a hint of concern.

Jonas shook his head. "Just... thinking."

Grimm grunted and went back to sharpening her axe. "Don’t think too hard. We’ve got more training today. You’ll need your strength."

Jonas nodded, though his mind was still racing. The corruption was spreading, and it wasn’t just Grimm. He needed to figure out how deep this went—and fast.

As he turned to leave, he felt a familiar presence behind him. Daria stood a few feet away, leaning casually against a tree, her violet eyes glinting with amusement. "I can see it in you," she said softly, her voice smooth as silk. "The rift... it’s starting to shape you."

Jonas frowned, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. "And what about you?"

Daria smiled, stepping closer. "Oh, I’ve already embraced it. The question is, how far will you let it go?"

Jonas remained silent, the weight of the choices ahead of him heavier than ever.

Character Prompt: Will you confront the growing corruption in Grimm and yourself, or follow Daria’s path deeper into the rift’s power?

The darkness was creeping closer, but Jonas knew that every decision from now on would push him further down one path or the other.