She paused, then added, "It''s a relatively small area compared to some larger Rifts, but the mountain itself seems like a massive cluster. If we go deeper, the stronger monsters will likely be concentrated there."

    Leon nodded again, digesting the information. "Alright. It seems manageable for now. Let''s clear the area around the Rift first before we decide whether to explore it further," he said decisively.

    Roselia nodded, gripping her dark blade. "Understood. Let''s move."

    "Let''s go in, but first, let me claim ownership of this Rift," Leon said, pulling out his Ascender card. He pointed it at the Rift, activating the card to scan it. The card emitted a faint hum as it began the process.

    Leon waited patiently, observing the Rift as the scan completed. Moments later, a series of notifications flashed across his card.

    { Congratulations, Ascender! You have gained ownership of Rift A209. }

    { The Rift''s maximum level is Level 350. }

    { Challenge is assessed as extreme. Exercise caution. }

    { Rift A209 now belongs to Ascender Fang. You can now close the Rift and transport it to any location after clearing the level where the Rift entrance is. }

    { Good luck, Ascender Fang! }

    Leon smirked as he lowered the card. "Looks like it''s ours now," he said confidently. "Let''s clean up this level and then decide what to do with it."

    Roselia nodded, gripping her weapon tightly. "Understood. Let''s get to work."

    With the Rift now under Leon''s ownership, the duo prepared to enter and face whatever challenges awaited them inside.

    As they stepped into the Rift, Leon and Roselia found themselves in a dark, enclosed cave. The visibility was nonexistent, but thankfully, Leon''s Sage Eyes remained unaffected, and Roselia''s Demon Eyes allowed her to see clearly as well. Both scanned the surroundings cautiously, their senses heightened.

    "It appears we''ve landed at a dead end," Roselia remarked, her voice low and steady. "At least we won''t have to worry about an ambush from behind."

    Leon nodded, but his expression remained serious. "True, but since this is a cave system within the mountains, we can''t rule out surprises ahead. Stay alert."

    "Agreed," Roselia replied, gripping her weapon firmly.

    Leon sighed lightly and adjusted his staff. "Well, let''s clear this level and seal off the Rift. The sooner we''re done, the better."

    With that, they began to move. Roselia took point, her steps silent as a shadow, while Leon cast a minor spell to muffle their movements. The echo of their footsteps, which would have otherwise resounded through the cave, was reduced to an almost imperceptible whisper.

    The air was damp and heavy, and each step felt like walking into the unknown. The oppressive silence of the cave weighed on them, yet neither faltered, their focus unwavering.

    Since this was a cave system, they knew the layout would be unpredictable, filled with branching tunnels and potential ambush points. Every step was taken with caution as they ventured further into the unknown.

    As they ventured further, the atmosphere grew heavier, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed through the cave. Leon''s eyes scanned the path ahead, his Sage Eyes piercing through the darkness, while Roselia''s Demon Eyes glowed faintly, detecting subtle shifts in energy.

    "This place reeks of danger," Roselia murmured, her hand resting on the hilt of her weapon.

    Leon nodded. "The monsters we''ve encountered so far are just the tip of the iceberg. The stronger ones are likely deeper in."

    "But since it''s only first level, maybe it''s just around Level 50 or such" he said as Roselia nodded.

    They moved cautiously, avoiding unnecessary noise. Suddenly, Roselia halted, her eyes narrowing. "There''s movement ahead," she whispered.

    Leon activated a spell, summoning a small, glowing orb of light that hovered silently at his side, illuminating the path just enough for them to see without drawing too much attention.

    A low growl echoed from the shadows. Emerging from the darkness were three massive Dire Wolves, their eyes glowing with an unnatural red light. These wolves were unlike the ones they had encountered outside the rift—they were larger, their fur matted and bristling with dark energy.

    "Corrupted Dire Wolves," Leon muttered. "They must''ve absorbed energy from the Mountains."

    Roselia smirked, drawing her blade. "They don''t seem too happy to see us."

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    The wolves didn''t wait for an invitation, lunging forward with a ferocity that shook the cave floor. Leon raised his staff, casting a barrier that deflected the first wolf''s claws, while Roselia sidestepped another and retaliated with a swift slash that sent sparks flying.

    "Keep them off me for a moment," Leon called out as he began chanting a spell.

    Roselia nodded, her movements fluid as she engaged the wolves. Her blade danced through the air, leaving trails of demonic energy that burned into the wolves'' thick hides. One wolf howled in pain, but it was relentless, pressing its attack with savage determination.

    Leon''s chant reached its peak. "Bursting Flame Cascade!" he shouted, releasing a wave of fiery projectiles that arced through the air and struck the wolves with explosive force. The cave lit up briefly with the fiery bursts, and when the smoke cleared, the wolves lay motionless on the ground.

    "That was close," Roselia said, brushing dirt off her armor.

    Leon lowered his staff, inspecting the area. "This rift''s energy is amplifying the monsters. We''ll need to be careful moving forward."

    Roselia nodded. "Let''s finish exploring this cave and clear this level."

    "Yeah, I''m already exhausted. Let''s clear this and go," Leon said with a tired nod as they continued onward.

    For another three hours, they fought their way through hordes of Dire Wolves, bats, and other lesser monsters. As Leon had suspected, this was only the lower level of the rift, so they didn''t encounter any particularly powerful monsters.