The second-stage Rift Breaker slammed Aldric into the ground.
**BOOM!**
Before he could recover—
Another fist descended.
**BOOM!**
Then another.
**BOOM!**
The creature continued raining blows upon him.
Each impact shattered the stone beneath Aldric.
Dust and debris erupted into the air.
The Rift Breaker raised its fist again.
Then—
Its footing suddenly shifted.
The creature stumbled.
Its head snapped downward.
Something had caught its leg.
From within the shattered ground—
Draven's hands were buried deep into its flesh.
His fingers had pierced through the muscle and locked directly around the bone.
The Rift Breaker froze.
Its crimson eyes widened.
Before it could react—
Draven pulled.
His entire body moved backward.
The creature's enormous body lurched forward.
**CRACK!**
Stone shattered beneath Draven's feet.
His legs dug into the ground.
His jaws clenched tightly.
Veins bulged across his arms and neck.
He pulled harder.
"...Get down."
**BOOOOOOM—!!**
The Rift Breaker's entire body was ripped from the ground.
Draven swung it around.
Then—
**CRAAAAASH!!**
He slammed the creature into the floor.
A massive shockwave exploded through the chamber.
Cracks spread outward in every direction.
The entire ruin trembled.
Dust poured from the ceiling.
Several ancient pillars shook violently.
For a brief moment—
Silence followed.
The other Rift Breakers stopped.
One had already climbed through the enormous hole in the ceiling.
Several others were beginning to crawl out of the widening Breach.
But even they turned toward the impact.
Aldric slowly pushed himself upright.
His body was covered in blood.
One arm hung at an unnatural angle.
His bones shifted.
**Crack.**
The arm snapped back into place.
Another wound closed.
Then another.
His regeneration rapidly restored his body.
Aldric wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"...Damn bastard."
His crimson eyes narrowed.
Mana surged around him.
A blood weapon condensed into his hand.
The poleaxe solidified into existence.
Aldric grinned.
"...Time to die."
**BOOM!**
He launched himself forward.
The Rift Breaker was still recovering from the impact.
Aldric descended from above.
His poleaxe came crashing down.
**CRAAAAASH!!**
The blade buried itself deep into the creature's chest.
Its armored hide split apart.
Black blood sprayed across the stone.
Aldric's grin widened.
"...How does it feel?"
The creature roared.
Its massive arm swung toward him.
Aldric ripped his poleaxe free.
At the same time—
A blood spear formed beside him.
He grabbed it.
Then thrust it forward.
**SHNK!**
The spear pierced straight through the creature's body.
The Rift Breaker roared even louder.
Its arm swept toward Aldric again.
Aldric pulled his poleaxe upward.
**BOOM!**
The blade smashed into the creature's arm.
Armor shattered.
The limb was nearly severed.
Aldric continued grinning.
"...Doesn't feel too good, does it?"
Another blood spear formed.
He thrust again.
**SHNK!**
The spear drove deep into its side.
The creature's body convulsed.
Its mouth suddenly opened.
Mana began gathering inside its throat.
Aldric's grin remained.
"...I've seen this before."
His eyes narrowed.
"...Not happening again."
He raised one hand.
**SHAAAAK!**
Blood chains erupted from the ground.
They wrapped around the Rift Breaker's head.
One loop.
Then another.
Then several more.
The chains tightened around its jaws.
The creature tried to open its mouth.
The chains pulled harder.
**CRACK!**
Its jaws were forced shut.
Aldric's grin widened.
"...Go ahead."
"...Try it."
The creature's eyes burned with rage.
The accumulated mana inside its mouth violently compressed.
Then—
**BOOOOOOM!!**
The trapped energy detonated inside its sealed jaws.
The Rift Breaker's entire head jerked violently.
Black blood sprayed from between its teeth.
Aldric remained directly in front of it.
Still grinning.
"...That's better."
For a moment—
Aldric simply stared at the battlefield.
The Rift Breaker before him was still struggling against the blood chains.
Slowly—
His grin disappeared.
*...Killing them isn't easy.*
His eyes narrowed.
*...I've been pouring huge amounts of mana into every attack.*
He glanced down at his hand.
*...I'm already running low.*
His gaze moved across the chamber.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
His eyes shifted toward the massive hole in the ceiling.
Two had already climbed out.
*...Seven.*
Then—
Another claw emerged from the Breach.
Aldric's expression twitched.
"...And more are still coming."
Another massive shape crawled through.
Then another.
His eyes narrowed.
"...Like ants."
He glanced toward the widening Breach.
*...As long as that thing remains open...*
*...there's no end to them.*
His grip tightened around his weapon.
*...We just need to get what we came here for.*
*...Then leave.*
His eyes hardened.
*Let somebody else deal with this mess.*
His gaze shifted.
Draven was approaching.
Blood covered him from head to toe.
Abyssal mana continued swirling around his body.
His breathing remained heavy.
Yet his eyes were clear.
He stopped beside Aldric.
"...I'll take the remaining three cores I need."
His gaze shifted toward the surrounding Rift Breakers.
"...Take the two from the ones that are already dead."
Aldric's eyebrow twitched.
"...Me?"
Draven didn't answer.
He simply turned.
Then—
**BOOM!**
He launched himself forward.
Aldric stared after him.
"...You expect me to touch something like that?"
He looked toward the wounded Rift Breaker.
"...Not happening."
He dismissed the poleaxe.
Dark wings suddenly spread from his back.
**WHOOSH!**
Aldric shot upward.
He hovered above the battlefield.
His arms folded across his chest.
"...Come do it yourself."
A faint grin returned to his face.
"...I'll watch."
Below—
Draven disappeared into the dust.
The nearest Rift Breaker roared.
Its massive body turned toward him.
Draven's crimson eyes locked onto it.
His mana surged.
Then—
He charged.