SLASH! HISSS!
The Riftlord's hollow corpse steamed as it hit the ground, lifeless.
Jaemin was moving lightning fast, darting around like he was in some twisted playpen game of tag—except the monsters were running, and he was it. Getting caught meant instant death.
He'd spent serious time honing his powers. Thanks to the Warden's guidance, he could conjure things no one else could—no one. Weapons, potions, armour—all summoned on the fly. Not spammable, but crazy useful when the battle heat was at its peak.
With his mind calm, Jaemin didn't need to mutter spells anymore. Every skill was silently incanted inside his head and executed like clockwork.
Even though he could summon different weapons now, he stuck to his favourites—the Binary Stars. Those twin daggers weren't just tools to him. They were pure OP.
Jaemin sliced through the monsters with brutal efficiency—each cut was a clean, one-shot kill. No matter the beast, they didn't stand a chance. For good measure, all their Rift raids hovered around Tier 3 or 4, not pushing into the suicidal Tier 5 zone.
"When did Hyung-nim get this strong?"
Taeha thought, eyes glued to Jaemin's fluid movements.
"No, he was always strong… but these techniques? I had no clue."
From the moment Taeha laid eyes on Jaemin, something about him stood out. Despite Jaemin's cold, unwelcoming vibe, Taeha made a choice to be his friend. Yet, the walls Jaemin built weren't easy to break. Taeha sighed. "When will we be close like friends, not just partners?"
But Jaemin kept his distance, the scars of an unimaginable past locking him tight.
Meanwhile, Taeha crouched over a patch of shimmering Rift crystals. He mined them carefully—Rift crystals formed when a Rift closed, heated Rift dust condensing into these rare gems. Sometimes, a Rift left behind crystals already grown, a blessing that this one had in spades.
Taeha's job was simple—mine crystals. But the work drained him. Physically, he was strong, sure. But he was nowhere near being a proper Coreborn, let alone matching Jaemin's level.
Still, he pushed on.
"HYUCK!"
Taeha gritted his teeth, swinging the pickaxe down hard on a stubborn Rift crystal. The strike splintered against his arms—too much force.
"Shit!"
He muttered, eyes darting back to Jaemin, who was deep in battle, slicing monsters like they were nothing.
"Thank god"
Taeha breathed quietly, not wanting Jaemin to catch him struggling. The pickaxe was jammed tight in the crystal, refusing to budge, and now his hand throbbed with pain.
He exhaled slowly, bracing himself to pull it free despite the sting.
CLINK.
The pickaxe came loose easily, almost like it obeyed Jaemin's silent hand.
Taeha blinked and glanced to his side.
"Here."
Jaemin's voice was calm, almost effortless, as he reached out and removed the pickaxe with one hand, as if it weighed nothing.
"Thank you... hyung-nim."
Taeha said, smiling widely, but inside a tight knot of shame and awe twisted in his gut. To him, it felt like Jaemin was carrying the whole damn team.
Jaemin turned back to the fray, thoughts slipping into focus.
Conjuration.
In an instant, a small bronze pitcher appeared in his hands, its mouth covered with a cloth. The liquid inside shimmered, clear and sparkling—like distilled power.
Taeha watched him, heart pounding. Every subtle movement Jaemin made—the way his eyes narrowed, how his fingers flexed to summon something out of thin air—made Taeha feel a weird warmth, a buzzing admiration. He wanted to be like him, to earn that calm, that control, that raw skill.
Around Jaemin, the world seemed sharper, brighter, like everything else faded into the background.
"Damn, how does he do this?"
Taeha thought, grinning like a kid with a secret crush. Just being near him made Taeha feel alive. Happy. Like he'd finally found someone worth following.
Jaemin turned around and reached for Taeha's injured hand. Carefully, he poured the sparkling liquid from the small bronze pitcher onto the wound. Almost instantly, the splinter dissolved and the skin knit back together, neat and smooth.
Taeha stared in disbelief.
"Hyung-nim, where did you get this potion?"
Jaemin's expression remained calm.
"Open your mouth."
Without hesitation, Taeha obeyed. Jaemin poured a small amount of the liquid inside.
Almost immediately, Taeha felt a surge of energy flood through him.
"I… I feel so fresh. Like I could lift fifty kilos with just one hand."
"That's the potion's effect. It rejuvenates and speeds up recovery."
Jaemin Thought.
"Get back to work. But pace yourself."
Taeha's admiration grew with every word.
"Thank you, hyung-nim. I won't let you down."
Jaemin said it without any change in expression, cool and composed as always. Taeha, on the other hand, felt his chest warm up and his spirits lift, like an excited golden retriever wagging its tail at the sight of its owner.
Without hesitation, Jaemin turned and strode toward the boss's chamber, every step purposeful. In no time, he cut through the monstrous guardian with lethal precision, ending the fight swiftly.
Taeha watched in awe as Jaemin shattered massive chunks of Rift crystals with a single powerful strike, strength and skill so far beyond what Taeha could imagine. In that moment, Jaemin's power felt like a distant dream Taeha longed to reach.
After a while, they exited the rift and moved on to the next one, repeating the same routine—Taeha mining, Jaemin killing. Taeha's breaths came heavy, sweat dripping down his face.
"HUHP!"
He grunted, bracing the pickaxe for a strike, but it wouldn't come down. Looking up, he saw Jaemin holding the pickaxe steady.
"Take some rest."
Jaemin said plainly, snatching the pickaxe and smashing all the crystals in a single hit.
"But hyung-nim... the boss?"
Taeha asked, surprised.
"Oh yeah, we'll harvest the parts later."
Jaemin replied coolly.
"But don't we have to kill the boss first? Don't tell me you want me to do it?!"
Taeha yelped.
"Relax. I already killed the boss."
Jaemin said, mining the last crystals with ease.
Taeha quickly reached into his bag and handed Jaemin a huge bottle of cold water, packed with ice.
"For me?"
Jaemin asked.
"Yes, hyung-nim. The whole thing,"
Taeha grinned.
"Thanks."
Jaemin said, chugging it down in one go.
Though tired, Jaemin masked it well. In a world like this, showing weakness was a risk — enemies lurked, pretending to be allies, waiting for the right moment to strike.
They packed up their haul and left the rift, ready for whatever came next.
Outside the rift, the scene was a chaotic mix of normal life—people pitching tents, cooking over small fires, sunbathing, catching naps, cramming for finals, even gambling to pass the time. The strange contrast of calm and tension hung in the air.
As Jaemin and Taeha stepped out of the rift, those waiting greeted them with bright, hopeful eyes.
"Give them their pay."
Jaemin said without looking back, walking off toward the van.
"As you say, hyung-nim!"
Taeha called out loud, pulling out checks for everyone, each one for six million won, crisp and real.
"Thank you!"
"Such nice people!"
"You're such a loyal assistant!"
Taeha's grin stretched wide, hearing them call him "Jaemin's assistant." The title felt like a badge of honour.
Meanwhile, Jaemin was already sunk deep into the van seat, sweat dripping, chest rising and falling heavily. The AC blasted cold air, and finally, he slipped off his jacket, letting the cool breeze hit his tight black tee, tucked in just right.
Suddenly—
SCREEECCCHH
—Jaemin's eyes snapped open as Taeha swung the van door open.
"WOAHHHH, HYUNG-NIM, YOU LOOK SO GOOD!!!"
Taeha's voice burst out, eyes wide and shining with genuine admiration. He wasn't exaggerating. Jaemin's lean but muscular physique was the product of relentless training, hard-earned and undeniable. Every inch of his body told a story of discipline, sweat, and grit.
Jaemin glanced over, raising an eyebrow.
"What do you want now, Taeha?"
He asked, slipping his jacket back on and zipping it up with calm precision.
Taeha didn't hesitate. He reached into his bag and pulled out a thick envelope, holding it out carefully.
"Here, the pay."
Curious, Jaemin took the envelope and peeled it open. Inside was a bank balance book, stamped and official, with numbers so absurd they almost didn't feel real. He squinted, the digits blazing across the page: 987,654,123,000 won. (That's around seven hundred and twenty million US dollars.) His mind wanted to freeze—this was no joke.
"Taeha, are you seriously giving me all this?"
Jaemin's voice was low, mixed with disbelief and a hint of something deeper.
Taeha's eyes lit up, bubbly and honest as he asked quietly.
"Hyung-nim, can I sit beside you?"
Jaemin blinked, caught off guard.
"Sure…"
His tone was uncertain, confused by the sudden intimacy in the request.
Taeha slid in next to him, but kept a careful distance, almost shy. His gaze flickered up at Jaemin, sincere and respectful.
"All that amount is for you, hyung-nim."
He said softly.
"All the work you've been putting in—killing bosses, mining crystals—even though that's supposed to be my job. You deserve it."
Jaemin's fingers tightened around the balance book.
"Are you sure? This is… a lot."
"Of course, hyung-nim. You know I'm a man of my word."
Taeha said firmly, with that warm but steady tone. Lately, he'd been sticking closer, paying attention to every little thing Jaemin did—like he looked up to him as a strong older brother or something.
Jaemin nodded, thankful but still guarded. He wasn't one to get soft over stuff like this, but he appreciated Taeha's loyalty. That alone was enough.
Taeha smiled, just a little, watching Jaemin's eyes.
"You're the strongest person I know, hyung-nim. And I'm happy to be by your side."
Jaemin glanced over briefly, a hint of a small, genuine smile tugging at the corner of his mouth before he turned his gaze forward again. No over-the-top feelings—just a calm, steady appreciation. That was enough.
"Thanks, Taeha. I'm grateful for this… it does a lot."
Jaemin said, letting out a rare, genuine smile.
That smile alone was enough to make Taeha feel like he'd just won the lottery. His heart practically skipped. But he held it together.
"No, no, I should be the one grateful to you, hyung-nim—for helping me around so much!"
Taeha bowed slightly, his voice full of energy and honesty.
Jaemin rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, his grin shifting into something sheepish. For a second, it almost felt like he'd just given Taeha the money.
"I've just been killing Abyssals and nothing else, though."
Jaemin said, brushing it off like it was nothing.
Taeha shook his head, eyes clear.
"Well, getting an opportunity to be around you is more than enough, hyung-nim."
There was no flattery in his tone—only respect. Just real gratitude. And Jaemin saw that. He didn't say anything back, but that silence carried something heavy and whole. The kind that didn't need words.
Taeha went back to the driver's seat and started the engine. The van rolled off quietly, dust kicking up in its trail as Jaemin leaned back inside, eyes closed, arms folded. Silent.
A few minutes later, two black sedans pulled up just outside the now-closed Rift. Four men stepped out, all in sharp suits and dark sunglasses. No one spoke at first—they just watched the Rift fade behind the hills.
One of them, tall and lean with a clipped undercut, clicked off a small recorder.
"Did you get that?"
"Every word."
The shorter man beside him replied, tapping through a slate-black tablet. His name badge was barely visible under his coat—Ryu Hwan.
The tall man nodded.
"The short one. Who is he?"
Ryu Hwan didn't look up.
"Yoon Taeha. Youngest heir of Samhwa Dynamics."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"That Samhwa?"
"Clean energy, biotech, and last year they merged with RiftCore Systems—the biggest Rift-tech arms supplier on the planet."
"And the other guy?"
Ryu Hwan looked up.
"Han Jaemin."
There was a pause. A shift in tension.
"…The Multi-tier Rift survivor?"
"Only one who walked out. No data on how. No logs. Just came out alive."
The tall man—Seo Kyungmin—tapped the side of his head slowly, eyes narrowing.
"What are they doing? Burning through Tier 3s and 4s like it's routine."
"They're trying to build a Covenant."
Kyungmin let out a quiet breath.
"And it's working…"
The man leaning on the car—Park Hojin—finally spoke.
"You think they're gunning for recognition or staying off the radar?"
"They're not amateurs."
Kyungmin muttered. "That's the scary part."
Ryu Hwan powered off the tablet. "Report's almost done."
"Good. Keep watching," Kyungmin said. "No interference. Not yet."
The fourth man—Lee Sanghyun, who hadn't spoken at all—pushed his glasses up and said flatly, "Power like that never stays quiet forever."
The group got back into the sedans. Doors slammed. Engines started.