The corrupted lunged.
Its body twisted unnaturally as black veins spread beneath its cracked skin.
Its mouth split open.
A shrill screech echoed through the ruined street.
Before it could reach the nearest soldier—
A pale blue magic circle appeared beneath its feet.
**FWOOSH—!**
Dozens of ice spears erupted from the ground.
**CRACK!**
**CRACK!**
**CRACK!**
The corrupted was instantly pierced from every direction.
Its body froze solid.
A heartbeat later—
**SHATTER!**
It exploded into countless frozen fragments.
Silence.
Everyone instinctively turned.
A young woman slowly lowered her outstretched hand.
Long pink hair fluttered gently behind her.
Her clear blue eyes calmly observed the battlefield.
Elegant silver-and-black robes bearing the insignia of the **Black Eagle Guild** swayed in the wind.
She spoke calmly.
"...The Black Eagle Guild has arrived."
From another rooftop—
**BOOM!**
A figure shot downward.
Lightning crackled wildly around her body.
She landed in a crouch beside the soldiers.
Stone shattered beneath her feet.
Tiny, mouse-like ears twitched atop her head.
Blue arcs of electricity danced across the rune engraved along her right arm.
She grinned.
"...Looks like we made it before everything went completely to hell."
More figures rapidly appeared.
One after another—
Guild members landed across nearby rooftops and streets.
Some carried swords.
Others carried bows.
Several already had magic circles forming beneath their feet.
Walking calmly through them—
A woman with long emerald-green hair stepped forward.
She carried a crystal staff nearly as tall as herself.
Its tip glowed with a gentle emerald light.
She surveyed the battlefield once.
Then—
She looked toward the city captain.
"...The Black Eagle Guild is here to assist."
She paused.
"...Please inform us of the current situation."
The captain immediately straightened.
Recognition flashed across his face.
"...Lady Onoria..."
He lowered his head respectfully.
"...Guild Master of the Black Eagle."
His expression showed a mixture of relief and urgency.
"...Your arrival couldn't have come at a better time."
Onoria gave a small nod.
"...Report."
The captain didn't waste another second.
"...According to the information relayed to me, a Rift Breaker from the Abyss emerged from beneath the city."
He glanced toward another civilian whose body had begun convulsing.
"...Alongside it..."
His expression darkened.
"...Abyssal corruption is spreading."
"...According to the information we just received..."
"...Ordinary civilians without mana are corrupted almost immediately."
"...Those with mana possess some resistance..."
His gaze shifted toward the battlefield.
"...But if Abyssal mana comes into direct contact with their own..."
"...They'll eventually suffer the same fate."
He tightened his grip around his sword.
"...We're dealing with an Abyssal disaster."
Onoria's expression became solemn.
"...Understood."
She turned toward her guild members.
Her voice immediately became sharp and authoritative.
"...Mages!"
Several spellcasters stepped forward.
"...Prioritize barrier formations around the evacuation routes."
"...Archers!"
The archers raised their weapons.
"...Target only confirmed corrupted."
"...Do not fire into civilian crowds."
Her eyes shifted toward the front lines.
"...Frontline fighters..."
She raised her staff toward the towering Rift Breaker.
"...Keep that creature occupied."
Her expression hardened.
"...No matter the cost."
Every guild member answered in unison.
"**Yes, Guild Master!**"
The captain immediately turned toward his soldiers.
"...You heard her!"
"...Escort every civilian away from this district!"
"...Anyone showing signs of corruption is to be restrained immediately!"
"...Do not engage alone!"
"...Fight in teams!"
The soldiers responded at once.
"**Yes, Captain!**"
Orders echoed throughout the ruined streets.
The military and the Black Eagle Guild instantly moved into formation.
Mages began constructing layered barriers.
Archers took positions on the rooftops.
Frontline fighters advanced toward the corrupted.
The soldiers formed defensive lines around the evacuation routes.
Above them—
The Rift Breaker slowly turned its head.
Its molten crimson eyes settled upon the gathering defenders.
It opened its enormous jaws.
A deep growl rolled across the city.
The battle for Dresvalle...
Had only just begun.
---
The airships wasted no time.
High above the ruined district—
Their formations glowed.
Mana surged through countless engraved arrays.
One of the officers lowered his arm.
"...Fire."
**BOOOOOOM—!!**
Dozens of mana cannons erupted simultaneously.
Blinding pillars of light descended from the sky.
They crashed directly into the Rift Breaker.
**BOOOOOOOOOOM—!!**
The explosion swallowed everything.
Stone vaporized.
Buildings collapsed.
A deafening shockwave swept across the district.
Smoke and dust billowed upward.
The soldiers instinctively raised their arms to shield their faces.
Several civilians cried out.
The captain narrowed his eyes.
"...Direct hit..."
Inside the lead airship—
An operator stared at the observation crystal.
His fingers trembled slightly over the controls.
"...Target confirmed."
Another officer slowly exhaled.
"...Did we get it...?"
Silence.
The smoke slowly began to disperse.
Everyone watched.
Waiting.
Then—
A massive silhouette became visible.
Standing.
Unmoving.
The Rift Breaker slowly lowered its arms.
Its body was covered in burns.
Several sections of its black armor had been blasted apart.
Cracks spread across its chest.
Black blood dripped onto the shattered streets.
For one brief moment—
Hope appeared on the soldiers' faces.
One soldier clenched his fist.
"...We got it..."
Then—
The wounds moved.
The broken flesh twisted.
Armor began regrowing.
Black scales spread across the exposed muscle.
The shattered chest rapidly knit itself back together.
**CRACK...**
**CRACK...**
Within seconds—
Every injury had vanished.
The creature stood completely unharmed.
Silence.
One soldier's rifle slowly lowered.
"...No..."
Another stared blankly.
"...It..."
His voice trembled.
"...It regenerated..."
Inside the airship—
The operator's face turned pale.
He stared at the observation crystal.
"...Damage..."
His voice nearly failed him.
"...Completely restored."
The bridge fell silent.
The commanding officer immediately reacted.
"...Recharge the cannons!"
"...Prepare a second volley!"
"...Do not give it time to—"
He stopped.
Below—
The monster slowly raised its head.
Its crimson eyes burned brighter than before.
It looked directly at the airships.
Then—
It roared.
**ROOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR—!!**
The roar shook the entire district.
The surrounding buildings trembled violently.
Windows exploded throughout the city.
Abyssal mana erupted from every fissure across the creature's body.
Like a volcano—
The dark energy exploded outward.
The black armored hide began changing.
The crimson cracks widened.
Dark energy poured from them endlessly.
The air around the monster distorted.
Its muscles expanded violently.
Jagged spikes burst through sections of its armor.
**CRACK!**
**CRACK!**
**CRACK!**
Its body continued transforming.
The pressure multiplied severalfold.
The soldiers closest to it struggled to breathe.
Several were forced to their knees.
Even the experienced adventurers felt their expressions change.
The captain's face completely changed.
"...It's evolving..."
One of the guild members stared in disbelief.
"...No..."
Her voice trembled.
"...It's entering its second stage..."
The pink-haired guild master tightened her grip on her weapon.
Her clear blue eyes narrowed.
"...Everyone..."
She raised her voice.
"...Fall back!"
The mouse-eared demi-human's ears flattened tightly against her head.
Electricity crackled violently around her body.
"...Its mana..."
She swallowed.
"...It just doubled..."
The green-haired mage gripped her staff with both hands.
Her expression had become pale.
"...No..."
She stared at the monstrous figure below.
"...Even more than that..."
High above—
The officers inside the airships felt the same suffocating pressure.
The entire bridge seemed to grow colder.
One officer swallowed hard.
"...Sir..."
His eyes remained fixed on the creature below.
"...It survived the bombardment..."
He slowly clenched his fists.
"...And became stronger..."
The commander stared silently at the monster.
His jaw tightened.
"...Recharge everything."
The officers immediately moved.
His voice remained steady.
"...We are no longer dealing with an ordinary disaster."
His eyes never left the Rift Breaker.
"...This..."
He paused.
"...Is a catastrophe."