The skyscraper groaned under the weight of time and decay, its upper floors open to the night wind. Broken glass crunched under Renji's boots as he stepped onto the shattered rooftop. Fog coiled like smoke around steel beams, and far below, the city ruins glimmered faintly.
Then came the tremor.
The steel beneath him shook.
A massive shadow tore through the mist.
Bonebreaker emerged from a gaping hole in the rooftop structure—an apex predator draped in jagged bone plates, muscles like coiled steel cables. Its maw opened in a slow, rumbling snarl, venomous saliva dripping between teeth sharp enough to shear iron.
Renji didn't flinch. He smiled.
[Alpha Will Activated]
Effect: Enemy speed and reaction reduced by 10%. Strength, Speed, Perception +5%.
The oppressive wave of dominance surged across the rooftop like an invisible storm, rattling loose girders and broken glass. The beast froze mid-step, hackles raised.
Renji tilted his head slightly, eyes glowing faint blue.
"Bow to your king."
Bonebreaker answered with a roar that shook the skyscraper's very skeleton. Steel beams groaned. Concrete dust fell like ash.
Then—it lunged.
Not forward. Down.
The rooftop exploded in a rain of steel and glass as Bonebreaker crashed low, jaws snapping where Renji had stood.
[Serpent Shedding Activated]
An afterimage shattered into nothing as Renji reappeared near the ledge, boots grinding sparks against broken steel.
Fast. Faster than the last one.
The beast didn't pause. It zigzagged with unnatural speed, its bone-plated shoulders smashing through steel supports like paper. The skyscraper moaned louder under the carnage.
[Vibration Sense Detected: Enemy can track ground movement.]
Renji's smirk widened.
"Oh, you can feel me move?" His voice cracked into a laugh. "Then I'll make the whole damn building shake."
Viper Aura Armor ignited, a living storm wrapping around him like molten steel. His fists clenched, metal knuckles catching the pale moonlight.
Then they collided.
Bone met steel in an explosion of force that sent shockwaves rippling across the rooftop. Glass rained. A steel beam bent like clay.
Renji drove his fist into Bonebreaker's jaw with a brutal crack. Bone splintered—but the beast didn't fall. It twisted in midair, tail whipping with the weight of a wrecking ball.
WHAM!
Renji's body smashed through a skeletal wall, crashing into a rusted girder. Pain ripped through his ribs.
[HP Reduced – Warning: Severe Damage Detected]
He spat blood, coughing hard—but the grin never left his face.
Slowly, he rose. Boots grinding over steel shards. Aura surging like a beast unchained.
Then his eyes burned brighter—glowing blue fire—and his voice broke into a manic whisper that curved into laughter.
"Yeah… this is it."
Bonebreaker snarled, bone plates grinding like war drums.
Renji stepped forward, aura flaring violently, a storm of killing intent twisting around him like shadows made flesh. His grin stretched wider than ever.
"Let's see who the real king is."
[Skill Combo Activated: Dash + Alpha Aura + Viper Aura Armor]
He launched himself like a bullet—steel cracking under his feet, skyscraper trembling, fists raised for the kill.