"Just as easily as life can be created, it can be snuffed out."
____________
Ding!
>[RIFT TERRITORY] NIGHTFALL DOMINION
[Ruler] Vampire Lord Altherion Duskgrave
[Castle] Duskhollow Keep
The moment I stepped through the rift, a series of notification sounds bombarded my head—but I paid them little attention. Right now, they were the least of my worries.
Just like Pamela said in the first class, rifts didn't lead to dungeons. They led to whole new worlds—new territories.
This world had no sun. Only two moons circled overhead. It was always dark here, and visibility was low. A thick natural fog covered the ground, dense enough to hide our feet.
The stench of blood came from the thorned vines behind us—bloodthorns. They rose high, curling up the outer walls like a living barricade. The vines released faint red fumes, which mixed with the gray fog. It looked like the air itself was bleeding.
I was near the rear of the team, standing with the non-combat units and medicas. From here, I couldn't see what was happening up front—but I could see it.
A towering castle loomed in the distance, its spires rising into the dark. It looked like something straight out of a vampire movie. Even the fog couldn't hide its haunting beauty.
That's when the realization hit me—and my eyes widened.
We hadn't just arrived in another world.
We were standing inside someone's castle.
This had to be the territory of Vampire Lord Altherion Duskgrave—the one I was sent to kill and replace.
"This shit just keeps getting crazier," I muttered.
Then I saw something.
A humanoid figure stood by one of the tall windows. Burning red eyes stared down at us. After a second, it noticed me. Not the group—me.
My heart skipped a beat.
A chill spread down my spine as goosebumps crawled across my skin. For a moment, I was honestly spooked. But I didn't look away.
We locked eyes for several seconds before the figure turned and vanished into the darkness.
Was it a man? A woman?
Was that the lord I was meant to kill?
Ba-dum!
The sound of a heartbeat echoed through the air like a bell. A strange rattling followed. I turned to look behind me.
The bloodthorns had darkened in color, and they were now releasing more fumes—thicker, darker.
I wasn't the only one who noticed. Everyone stared as the red mist gathered around the castle.
Rumble!
The ground trembled. A red light burst from beneath the castle. Before anyone could react, a glowing blood veil rose from the earth, surrounding the entire structure.
"It's trying to keep us out," I muttered.
Or maybe... it was trying to trap us outside.
The answer came sooner than expected.
The rattling blood thorns began to untangle, recoiling like snakes ready to strike.
My eyes widened in shock as I saw hundreds of blood thorns preparing to lash at the backline. And since everyone was focused on the blood barrier forming over the castle, they didn't notice the silent movement of the enemy.
"BEHIND!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, but it was already too late.
SWOOSH!
The blood vines descended like arrows raining down on a battlefield filled with thousands. This wasn't something we could defend against—not without preparation.
"DOOOR!" I shouted, tightening my grip on Rai'ki as its edges flared with bright azure light.
[Door Activated!]
The system must've sensed the urgency. The space beneath me tore open with a sharp wail, and I fell through.
Unfortunately, I wasn't alone.
Two blood thorn vines followed right after me, slipping into the gate just a second later.
"Hmph!" I snorted, raising Rai'ki and slashing left and right with ruthless precision.
The vines were knocked aside, and the gate slammed shut, severing them from their roots.
BAM!
I hit the ground hard, landing on my back. The air rushed out of my chest, and my vision blurred. The impact left me dazed, but slowly, things came back into focus. I gasped for breath, coughing roughly as I tried to sit up.
"Aah!" I groaned, pushing myself off the padded floor with my right arm. Pain shot through it.
That's when I saw the shallow cut—blood soaking through that part of my sleeve.
"My reaction time and form were solid… but this body is still too weak." I muttered, slowly getting to my feet.
A few yards away, the severed blood thorns lay twitching on the ground like fish on dry land. Their red color faded, turning gray—until they completely withered and crumbled into ash.
The entire thing left me stunned.
"What the hell?" I muttered, backing away slowly.
Ding!
[Bloodthorn Poison Detected]
While not lethal, this poison temporarily stops blood clotting, causing victims to bleed continuously. Symptoms may include mild headaches and nausea. Effects will wear off within an hour.
"Yay. Hurray," I replied with dry sarcasm, rolling my eyes.
There were first aid kits in the van nearby. I could've patched myself up easily. But that would raise a problem—proof that I ran from the fight. That would lead to questions.
Like where I ran to.
And that would expose the fact that I could enter and exit my pocket space at will.
That would mean I lied to the U.S. government about my ability—on purpose. They'd argue that my secret could've saved lives and charge me with treason.
"I guess I'll get back out there and help," I muttered bitterly.
Returning during the chaos was the only way to slip back in unnoticed.