Elsewhere—
Aldric was already surrounded.
One Rift Breaker swung both fists downward.
Another charged him from the side.
A third opened its massive jaws, gathering a dense concentration of Abyssal mana within its throat.
The chamber echoed with deafening roars.
Aldric twisted beneath the descending claw.
His poleaxe flashed upward.
**SHHK!**
The blade carved across the creature's ribs.
Black blood sprayed across the shattered floor.
Aldric's crimson eyes briefly shifted upward.
One of the Rift Breakers had begun climbing toward the massive hole in the ceiling—
The opening its earlier beam had blasted through the ruins.
Beyond it—
The city waited.
A second creature was already forcing its massive body toward the same opening.
Aldric clicked his tongue.
"...I'm thinking too much."
He sidestepped another sweeping arm.
The massive fist tore through the space where his body had been a moment earlier.
Aldric spun on his heel.
"...If I'd expected this to end quickly..."
His poleaxe swung backward.
**CLANG!**
The blade slammed against the creature's forearm, knocking it off balance.
"...Then I'm a bigger idiot than I thought."
Before he could finish—
A pulse of dark light flashed from his blind side.
Aldric's pupils contracted.
"...Tch—"
**BOOOOOOOOM—!!**
A concentrated beam of Abyssal mana slammed directly into him.
The explosion swallowed his entire figure.
Stone burst apart.
The shockwave ripped through the chamber, sending fragments of rubble flying in every direction.
Dust and smoke surged outward like a violent wave.
The Rift Breaker that had fired the beam slowly lowered its head.
Smoke poured from its open jaws.
Its crimson eyes glowed through the haze.
It searched for Aldric's body.
Nothing.
---
On the opposite side of the battlefield—
Another Rift Breaker crouched beneath the massive opening in the ceiling.
It looked upward.
The city was just beyond the ruins.
Freedom was within reach.
The creature released a deafening roar.
Then—
It leaped.
Its enormous claws stretched toward the opening.
Its body rose rapidly through the air.
If it escaped—
It would reach the city above.
Its claws were only a few meters from the opening—
When—
**BOOM!!**
A figure suddenly appeared directly in front of it.
Draven.
His blood-soaked clothes fluttered violently from the force of his sudden stop.
The Rift Breaker's eyes widened.
It hadn't even seen him move.
Draven said nothing.
His crimson eyes stared directly into the monster's face.
Cold.
Empty.
His bloodied hand slowly tightened around the Abyssal Core he had just torn from the previous Rift Breaker.
The core pulsed violently in his grasp.
Dark energy leaked from its surface.
Then—
Without hesitation—
Draven drove his fist forward.
The instant he appeared—
His attack was already moving.
**BOOOOOOM—!!**
His fist slammed into the Rift Breaker's chest.
The impact distorted the creature's enormous body.
Its feet left the ground.
The monster was blasted away from the opening.
Its gigantic body crashed through a stone pillar.
**CRAAASH!!**
The pillar shattered.
The Rift Breaker continued flying backward before smashing violently into the far wall.
The entire chamber trembled.
The Abyssal Core in Draven's grasp shattered from the force of the impact.
**Crack!**
Fragments scattered through the air.
Draven's other hand was already moving.
His fingers snapped forward.
One fragment.
Then another.
Then another.
He caught the larger pieces one after another before they could hit the ground.
Without hesitation—
He shoved them into his mouth.
**Crunch.**
**Crunch.**
He swallowed.
Blood immediately spilled from the corner of his lips.
The dark energy within the fragments surged through his body.
His Folding Mesh accelerated.
The veins beneath his skin darkened.
His muscles tightened.
His breathing became heavier.
Yet—
He remained standing.
His gaze slowly lifted toward the Rift Breaker he had just sent crashing into the wall.
A faint smile appeared on his bloodied face.
*...Let's see...*
His fingers slowly curled into a fist.
*...Whether I'll break first...*
Dark purple mana began flooding through his body.
*...Or send you bastards back to hell.*
---
Elsewhere—
The smoke from the Abyssal beam slowly dispersed.
Dust drifted through the air.
Broken stones continued falling from above.
Then—
A figure stepped out of the smoke.
Aldric.
Not a single wound remained on his body.
His flesh had already regenerated completely.
The burns were gone.
The torn skin had sealed.
Only several scorched tears remained across his coat.
Aldric glanced down at the damaged fabric.
His expression darkened slightly.
"...This is only speeding up the corruption..."
He rolled one shoulder.
The joints cracked.
"...If I don't hurry."
His gaze slowly rose.
A grin spread across his face.
"...Which is why..."
His crimson eyes swept across the surrounding Rift Breakers.
"...I've changed my mind."
The creatures turned toward him.
Aldric's grin widened.
"...I'll be killing two of you now."
Dark mana erupted around his body.
**BOOOOM!!**
Blood Magic surged to life.
The blood scattered across the battlefield trembled.
Then—
It began rising into the air.
Drops of black and crimson blood floated upward.
They gathered around Aldric.
Twisting.
Compressing.
Spinning faster and faster.
The blood converged into a single point.
Within moments—
A long crimson spear formed in Aldric's left hand.
The weapon was sharp enough to make the air around its tip distort.
Aldric planted one foot firmly against the shattered ground.
His entire body twisted.
His shoulder pulled backward.
His arm tensed.
Then—
He threw.
**BOOOOOOM—!!**
The crimson spear became a streak of blood-red light.
It tore through the air.
Before the Rift Breaker could react—
**SHHK!**
The spear pierced straight through its shoulder.
Black blood exploded outward.
The monster staggered violently.
Its massive body lurched to the side.
Aldric clicked his tongue.
"...Hmm."
His eyes narrowed.
"...Just that?"
The spear remained lodged inside the creature's shoulder.
Aldric's expression became slightly more dissatisfied.
"...Won't do."
More blood gathered behind him.
The crimson liquid rose from the shattered battlefield.
It spiraled through the air.
Then—
Two additional spears rapidly took shape.
One immediately shot forward on its own.
Like an arrow released from a bow—
**SHOOOOOM!!**
The crimson spear tore through the air toward another Rift Breaker.
At the same instant—
Aldric caught the second spear.
His fingers tightened around its shaft.
Then—
**SHHHHK!**
A pair of enormous black wings burst from his back.
The sudden eruption of power sent dust and debris flying outward.
Aldric's wings spread wide.
With a single powerful beat—
**BOOM!!**
He launched himself into the air.
The shattered ground beneath his feet cracked apart.
The Rift Breakers looked up.
Their massive heads followed his movement.
Too late.
Aldric had already risen above them.
His body suddenly shifted.
He turned downward.
His black wings folded slightly behind him.
Then—
He descended.
Like a crimson meteor falling from the heavens.
His spear pointed directly toward the wounded Rift Breaker below.
The monster looked up.
Its eyes widened.
Aldric's grin widened with it.
"...Catch."