Ryke's face turned deathly pale.
He looked back toward the ritual chamber they had fled.
"...If that's the scale of the battle..."
He swallowed hard.
"...Then we need to get out of these ruins."
"...Quickly."
No one argued.
Even the remaining cultists silently agreed.
The ground continued trembling beneath their feet.
Every distant impact sent violent vibrations rippling through the ancient corridors.
---
Back inside the ritual chamber—
another Rift-Breaker collapsed.
Its colossal body crashed heavily onto the shattered floor.
**BOOM—!!**
Dark purple Abyssal mana erupted from the corpse.
Before it could disperse—
thin strands of mana extending from Draven's body seized every trace of it.
They dragged it back.
Absorbed it.
Compressed it into the endlessly folding mass within him.
At the center of the fallen monster—
Draven slowly pulled his arm free from its back.
Another Abyssal Core rested in his blood-soaked hand.
Without the slightest hesitation—
**Crack.**
He crushed it.
The fractured pieces disappeared into his mouth one after another.
He swallowed.
Dark mana surged violently through his body.
Veins bulged beneath his skin.
Several burst open—
Only to regenerate moments later.
Blood spilled from the corners of his lips.
He coughed violently.
"...Cough—!"
Another mouthful of dark blood splattered across the ruined stone floor.
His breathing grew noticeably heavier.
Blood covered him from head to toe.
His clothes had long since been stained completely crimson.
He lowered his head slightly.
"...God..."
"...Dammit..."
His vision blurred for a brief moment.
*...Feels...*
*...like I'm about to collapse.*
He spat another mouthful of blood to the side.
Then slowly lifted his gaze.
The enormous hole blasted through the ceiling remained wide open.
Faint sunlight filtered into the ruined chamber through drifting clouds of dust.
*...With that...*
*...it's only a matter of time before others arrive.*
His crimson eyes shifted.
Four Rift-Breakers remained.
Each one continued forcing more of its colossal body through the widening Breach.
*...Or...*
*...they leave first.*
The thought lingered for only an instant.
Across the chamber—
Aldric was still fighting alone.
He stood upside down against what remained of the shattered ceiling.
Dark crimson mana swirled around him.
Hundreds of blood constructs continuously formed at his side.
Spears.
Blades.
Chains.
They rained down relentlessly upon one of the Rift-Breakers.
**BOOM!**
**BOOM!**
**BOOM!**
The creature roared furiously as explosions erupted across its armored hide.
Elsewhere—
the five elders continued retreating.
They no longer attempted to hold their ground.
As they withdrew—
they unleashed spell after spell toward the advancing monsters.
Flames.
Compressed mana.
Binding chains.
Explosive sigils.
None of it slowed the creatures for more than a heartbeat.
One Rift-Breaker suddenly swung its enormous fist.
**BOOOOOOM—!!**
The corridor the elders had retreated into exploded apart.
Ancient stone walls collapsed instantly.
The entire passage disappeared beneath tons of rubble.
Dust surged throughout the chamber.
Aldric glanced sideways.
"...Those bastards..."
He clicked his tongue.
"...Couldn't even be decent distractions."
He twisted aside at the last possible moment as another massive claw swept toward him.
The attack missed by mere inches.
His crimson eyes immediately shifted toward Draven.
He saw him weaving between another Rift-Breaker's relentless attacks—
Still absorbing Abyssal mana.
Still swallowing every fragment of every core.
Still drenched in blood.
Aldric frowned.
"...Oi..."
"...You look like shit."
Another gigantic fist descended toward Draven.
The chamber shook once again.
Aldric leapt backward.
Dark mana erupted beneath his feet as he narrowly avoided another sweeping claw.
Keeping one Rift-Breaker occupied—
he looked toward Draven once more.
"...Oi."
"...How much more do you still need to eat?"
He ducked beneath another devastating punch.
"...I'm keeping my distance to avoid getting corrupted..."
"...But these things just keep crawling out."
He clicked his tongue.
"...If we don't move quickly..."
"...We're going to get overwhelmed."
Draven slipped past another descending claw.
The strands of mana extending from his body never stopped drawing Abyssal mana toward him.
"...The four cores..."
He narrowly avoided another strike.
"...Should be enough."
*...Around seventy-eight percent...*
*...Just a little more—*
His thoughts were cut short.
A massive fist suddenly filled his vision.
**BOOOOOOM—!!**
It struck him head-on.
His body shot away like a cannonball.
He tore through the air.
Then—
**CRAAASH—!!**
A hole exploded through one of the chamber walls.
Stone burst apart in every direction.
Dust swallowed everything.
Aldric's eyes narrowed.
"...Crap."
Without hesitation—
he kicked off the ground.
Ignoring the monster behind him—
he shot through the newly blasted opening.
Inside—
Draven lay buried beneath shattered stone.
Blood soaked the rubble beneath him.
Broken bones protruded through torn flesh.
His body was already regenerating.
Muscle slowly knitted together.
Bone reformed.
Skin crawled over the wounds.
Aldric landed nearby.
He looked down at him.
"...Don't tell me..."
"...You kicked the bucket from that."
Draven didn't answer.
He simply stared upward.
His crimson eyes were unfocused.
*...I feel like shit...*
*...Even when I don't move...*
*...It still hurts like hell...*
*...Every movement...*
*...Feels like I'm going to die...*
His breathing was shallow.
Blood continued flowing from his nose...
From his mouth...
From the corners of his eyes.
*...I'm sick of it...*
*...I just want to rest...*
*...Even for a moment...*
*...I just want to take a damn nap...*
His eyelids slowly began to close.
For the first time—
his consciousness started slipping away.
Then—
his lips moved.
"...Fuck..."
A brief silence.
"...Fuck..."
His fingers slowly curled.
"...Fuck this..."
"...To hell with that..."
His eyes snapped open.
Brilliant crimson.
Cold.
Violent.
"...I don't have the right..."
"...I don't want to..."
"...And I won't..."
"...Until I kill those bastards..."
His fingers dug into the shattered stone beneath him.
**CRACK!**
The rock crumbled beneath his grip.
"...Kill..."
"...Kill..."
"...Kill..."
"...Kill..."
"...Kill..."
A terrifying killing intent erupted from his body.
The surrounding rubble trembled violently.
Even Aldric's grin slowly widened.
Then—
without warning—
Draven's body was violently yanked sideways.
His pupils contracted.
A deafening hum echoed behind him.
One of the Rift-Breakers had turned toward the opening.
Its jaws were spread wide.
Dark purple mana had already condensed into a blinding sphere.
The beam erupted.
**BOOOOOOOOOOM—!!**
The place where Draven had been lying ceased to exist.
The wall behind it disintegrated instantly.
The beam continued onward—
Carving through layer after layer of ancient stone.
Everything in its path was erased.
Only a blazing tunnel of destruction remained.
Dust exploded throughout the ruins.
Aldric skidded across the broken floor, one hand gripping the back of Draven's torn clothing after dragging him clear at the very last instant.
"...Tch."
He released his grip.
"...You're welcome."
Another deafening roar shook the chamber.
The remaining Rift-Breakers continued forcing their way through the widening Breach.
One after another—
they kept coming.