If left alone, rifts naturally degrade over time until they disappear.

There is no final answer about why this happens, but some theories exist.

The first thing one must know is that the rank of the rift influence the time it takes for it to degrade, with the higher ranking rifts being able to resist longer than the lower ones.

With that in mind, it can be said that the first theory defends that rifts lose energy over time, and with the high-ranking ones containing more power, it makes sense that they would last longer.

This theory is the most spread one, as it can be confirmed that rifts do, in fact, lose energy over time.

But there is another widely spread theory.

This new theory doesn't deny that rifts lose energy over time, but it doesn't give it the merit for the rift's degradation. In fact, it says that the energy loss is just a side effect of the real reason for the rift's disappearance.

A similar situation has been found in most of the hundred, if not thousands, rifts that had appeared in our world since world-building arrived.

This situation was one of conflict.

In almost all rifts, one would find a region where two or more factions fought for control over the territory, and it is not uncommon to see battles between the natives of the rift.

Because of this, some defend that rifts degrade over time because the natives inside them kill each other, destroying all the resources any builder could claim.

With that being the case, the energy that leaves the rifts would be a side effect of the battles happening inside it, and when the rift runs out of resources, it will disappear as if it never existed.

—Extract from the Builder's Magazine #99, "Rifts' disappearance and their causes."

When the fire ceased, the cojoined army could relax even if they kept their shields active, as the energy they needed to maintain them drastically reduced when they didn't need to stop attacks.

While waiting, they saw how many soldiers ran around the walls.

"I managed to convince them to stop shooting at us, but they still believe we are enemies. Their leaders don't want to get near the walls because they think we will use that opportunity to try to assassinate them. That makes communication slow as I have to talk with their subordinates before passing the message to the leaders. Let's get nearer so they can get inside my communication range without revealing themselves." Azrael indicated.

Following the angel's indications, the army neared another fifty meters, positioning themselves at the same distance from the walls.

"Is this enough? If we get closer, we might have problems blocking their attacks." Nathan asked.

"Yes, it is enough." Azrael's voice replied inside his head.

After that, they stood still for the next twenty minutes while Azrael continued talking with the military.

"It's been a while already. How is everything going? Do you think they are going to help us?" Jason asked before closing his eyes." I feel they have something we are looking for inside those walls, so if they don't want to cooperate, we will have to enter by force."

"The negotiations are going on, but they don't trust us. It seems like they have been under siege for a while already, and the fact that we are strangers who have appeared out of nowhere doesn't help when it comes to building a cooperative relationship." Azrael explained.

"Do we know what has been attacking them?" Nathan asked.

"They are being pretty secretive with their information. These people are trying to see if I say something that gives us away as one of their enemies." Azrael explained.

"Well, thankfully, we are not their enemies, so there is nothing wrong you can say that gives us away," Travis said while laughing.

"Usually, the best way to befriend natives is to offer them our unconditional cooperation in exchange that they give us what we need after we finish our work. Most are incredulous at first, but after seeing how you saved their lives or destroyed their sworn enemies, they usually help you with whatever you might need." Jason explained.

"I will try then," Azrael replied.

After that, they waited for another twenty minutes while Azrael continued communicating with the military until he finally said something.

"They are still reluctant to trust us, but they have given us an opportunity." Azrael finally said.

"Really? What is it?" Nathan asked.

"They said that if we took care of the enemies coming from behind, they would share some information about the area's situation with us," Azrael said while turning around.

Hearing his words, a significant part of the army turned around to try to find the enemies the angel was referring to, only to find the burned clearing empty and the jungle behind.

"Are we supposed to see anything?" Travis asked before a surprised expression appeared on his face. "Wait a fucking second, does that tree over there just move?

Suddenly, as Travis said, one of the trees on the front moved forward. In typical situations, that wouldn't be worrying. But after that, another tree next to it moved.

And then another.

And then another.

In a few seconds, the army found that a large jungle area was moving toward them slowly but constantly.