Resonance Of The Hollow-Chapter 7: NOT Crossing the Rift (Reupload)

Uncomfortable. It was disconcerting. That feeling when the metal bar crushed the skull, with each impact transferring a shock to his arms, especially the last hit when it produced a satisfying yet sickening crack. No. Hyde had already felt it from his strike on the second Phantasm.

It reminded Hyde again that he was no longer in the game.

Yes, the game—or precisely the device, simulated all five senses that felt like reality. Yes, Hyde had the sensory sensitivity all turned on max, making his gameplay immersive and not merely a virtual world simulation.

But those sensations weren't even close to what he felt right now.

In the game, the worst part had been the dying sound of his enemies. But here, it was the weight of the metal bar in his hands, the sickening resistance as the skull gave way, and the way the vibrations lingered in his bones.

"Tsk."

Hyde hated it. If it was not for the sake of survival, he wouldn't want to use blunt weapons anymore.

Calming his ragged breath and emotions, he dropped the metal bar to the floor and stepped back, sitting on the edge of one of the broken sofas in the pile.

He blankly stared at the corpse for moments before sighing and closing his eyes. Then, he flexed his fingers, trying to shake off the lingering tremor. The cold air against his sweaty palms only made the sensation worse.

Shaking his head, Hyde tried to forget the feeling.

Dwelling over how it felt when crushing a skull wouldn't increase his survival rate, after all.

'Rather than keep recalling the sensation, I'd better be thinking of what I should do next.'

Hyde recalled the pieces of information he had collected so far.

He was not at a dangerous Sector C-13 but somewhere safer and closer to the 'border,' presumably inside the Sector A area. There was a massive pit east of the building, which Hyde assumed to be a point of interest but did not particularly remember its purpose. He knew the fortress was close but was not sure where it was—Hyde had to go to the highest vantage point and scout the area. Even if it was close, it didn't mean he could reach it within a day by just walking.

Hyde had collected his thoughts and came up with two options. Should he indulge in his curiosity and check the pit or go up and scout the area for the fortress?

"I've decided."

It didn't take long for him to decide. In the first place, the answer was obvious. If there was a safer option why choose one that smelled danger?

But of course, it wouldn't be as easy as he thought.

As though the world had played with him, Hyde had arrived on the rooftop with hope, only to find what he looked for was in the direction he wanted nothing to do with.

The fortress—its silhouette, at least—was located east of the ruined city. It meant to reach there, he had to cross the massive pit.

Unfortunately, besides finding the fortress's location, Hyde also discovered that the pit wasn't as simple as it seemed; it wasn't just the road collapsing in a big circle, creating a sinkhole, but it stretched beyond what his eyes could see as if the world had been split.

A fragment of memory surfaced in his head. He remembered it now.

It was the rift that couldn't be crossed in the early game unless you were flying; violent flame would try to devour everything that dared to stand above it. It only became inactive after the Phantasm slumbering in the deep of that rift was subdued in the final fight of Chapter 2.

If Hyde had arrived in this world before that, the only way for him to get to the fortress was by taking a long detour to north or south until he found the end of the rift.

According to his memory of the map of the northern region, the rift appeared to start in the north and extend southward. Its size gradually increased as it moved south, culminating in a large crater where the slumber Phantasm was located.

As far as Hyde remembered, the south end of the rift wasn't particularly dangerous despite having a high-ranked Phantasm dwelling deep in the crater. Mainly because it was in a state of slumber.

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Hyde didn't know the details but it didn't look like it would ever wake up even if the battle didn't happen at the end of Chapter 2.

Before leaving the rooftop, Hyde glanced at the rift once again. From up there, he could see how the rift was enlarging further south yet he couldn't catch the end of it. Meanwhile, it was almost the same size further north, though unfortunately, he couldn't see more because his vision was blocked by other tall buildings.

'There are more tall buildings in the north, but less in the south. Meanwhile, the east has several kilometers before the road leaving the city toward the reformed terrains because of the Mirage's influence.

'But the size of the rift is what matters. Judging by its visible enlargement to the south, it must mean I'm closer to the south end rather than the north end... maybe.'

After affirming his thoughts, Hyde went inside the building.

He immediately went down to the first floor without scavenging, knowing there was nothing he could take. Not even a single food or drink. All of them had been rotten or expired.

Hyde stood at the entrance, looking left and right for any sign of Phantasm but finding none. With only a metal bar in his hand, Hyde began his journey to the south.

Before that, though, he walked toward the rift to confirm whether he should take a detour or find a way to cross.

Picking up a rock the size of his fist, Hyde exhaled slowly.

'Let's see...'

He maintained a safe distance from the rift as he attempted a throw that could pass the line. Each time he failed, he would take a step closer.

As the distance closed to 20 meters, Hyde swung his arm and let the rock fly.

It sailed through the air—

Losing its momentum and rolling on the ground near the edge—

And the moment it crossed the cliff and fell—

Burst—!

A surge of violet fire erupted from the depths, swallowing the rock in an instant, its height easily reaching the five-story building.

Hyde gulped, his fingers twitching.

"Shit..."

**

A young girl with a small and short stature stood at the entrance to the alleyway, blankly staring into the scenery before her.

The buildings were all constructed from metal materials and reinforced with defense mechanisms. Some had a minigun installed on the roof. Others had drones hovering around them like bouncers.

People dressed in oddly fashions, nothing like she had ever seen.

The man who had passed by her wore a thick cloak, hiding a leather breastplate beneath. Multi-pocket leather pouch strapped around his thigh. Slightly below, leather high boots stepped on a puddle, completing his looks.

Across the street, four men in dark grey coats stood around the vending machine, seemingly in conversation. A silver-threaded stripe adorned their high-collar uniforms, and half-capes draped over one shoulder, fastened with polished clips. Their boots shimmered under the neon lights from the vending machine. On their gloves, a logo of a bird wearing a crown was weaved.

They were far more familiar to the young girl than the man wearing a cloak. She felt like she had seen the uniform they wore.

Blinking, she muttered under her breath.

"Where... am I?"