The knight commander immediately turned toward the remaining knights.
"Don't get anywhere near the core!"
His voice thundered across the battlefield.
"Stay away from the remains!"
The knights quickly adjusted their positions, widening the distance between themselves and the crimson crystal.
The Rift Breaker roared.
**ROOOOOAAARRR—!!**
It charged forward.
One of the knights raised his sword.
"Brace!"
The creature's massive fist came crashing down.
**BOOOOOOM!**
Several knights scattered in different directions.
The ground shattered beneath the impact, sending chunks of stone flying through the air.
The commander dashed sideways, his eyes remaining fixed on the crimson core.
*...The core is releasing Abyssal mana.*
*...And it's spreading throughout the battlefield.*
His gaze shifted toward the knight who had been struck earlier.
The knight slowly pushed himself out of the rubble.
His armor was badly damaged.
Crimson corruption had spread even farther across the runes.
The commander narrowed his eyes.
"...How bad?"
The knight gritted his teeth.
"...My wounds have healed after I drank a healing potion, but my body feels heavier."
He looked down at his armor.
"...The runes aren't responding properly."
The commander immediately understood.
"...Remove the armor."
The knight froze.
"...Sir?"
"Remove it!"
The knight quickly began tearing away the corrupted pieces.
As soon as the armor was removed—
the crimson corruption stopped spreading.
The commander stared at the discarded armor.
*...So the Abyssal mana can be absorbed through enchanted objects as well.*
His expression became grim.
He immediately turned toward the others.
"...Everyone!"
The knights looked toward him.
"Do not allow the Abyssal mana to touch your equipment."
He pointed toward the corrupted armor.
"...If your armor or weapons begin showing any signs of corruption, discard them immediately."
"...Don't take any chances."
The knights answered simultaneously.
"YES, COMMANDER!"
The Rift Breaker suddenly lunged.
The commander raised his sword.
**CLANG!**
His blade collided with the creature's fist.
The impact sent him sliding backward.
His boots carved long lines into the shattered ground.
He gritted his teeth.
"...Strong."
The Rift Breaker swung again.
The commander ducked beneath the strike.
The massive fist swept over his head.
A knight rushed in from the side.
His sword pierced the creature's thigh.
**SHHK!**
Black blood sprayed across the ground.
The Rift Breaker roared and immediately turned toward him.
"Move!"
The knight quickly pulled his sword free and retreated.
The commander stepped forward.
"...Keep attacking."
"...Don't let it focus on a single target."
The knights spread out.
They attacked from different directions, forcing the Rift Breaker to constantly turn.
One struck its leg.
Another slashed across its side.
Two more attacked from opposite directions.
The creature struggled to keep track of them.
But—
the crimson core continued glowing behind them.
**THUMP.**
Another wave of Abyssal mana spread across the battlefield.
The commander felt the pressure wash over his body.
His eyes narrowed.
*...If this continues...*
*...the entire area will become corrupted.*
His gaze shifted toward the core.
*...We have to destroy that thing.*
Then—
the Rift Breaker suddenly stopped.
Its head slowly turned toward the crimson crystal.
The commander noticed.
"...What?"
The creature stared at the core.
For several seconds—
it remained completely still.
Then—
it began walking toward it.
The commander's expression changed.
He immediately realized what it was doing.
"...It's going for the core!"
He raised his sword.
"STOP IT!"
The knights charged.
But the Rift Breaker suddenly roared and swung both arms.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The knights were forced backward.
Several stumbled across the shattered ground.
The creature continued toward the crimson glow.
The commander gritted his teeth.
"...Damn it."
He lowered his stance.
Mana surged through his body.
"...Then I'll get there first."
The commander stared at the Rift Breaker.
It continued moving toward the crimson core.
His expression became increasingly serious.
*...I was hoping it wouldn't reach the second stage.*
*...Just like the report warned.*
His grip tightened around his sword.
*...But now it's heading toward the core of the one we just killed.*
His eyes shifted toward the crimson crystal.
*...What happens if it gets its hands on that thing?*
He couldn't answer.
None of them could.
*...We don't know what will happen.*
His eyes hardened.
*...And that's exactly why I can't let it reach it.*
The commander lowered his stance.
Mana surged through his body.
**BOOM!**
He launched himself forward.
The Rift Breaker immediately turned toward him.
But the commander was already within striking distance.
His sword flashed.
"...Great Knight Sword Technique!"
Mana gathered along the blade.
"...Piercing Slash!"
**SHING—!!**
The sword pierced through the creature's arm before slicing across it.
Black blood erupted from the wound.
The Rift Breaker roared.
**ROOOOOAAARRR—!!**
Its wounded arm swung violently toward the commander.
The commander immediately raised his sword.
**CLANG!**
The massive fist collided with his blade.
The impact sent him flying backward.
**BOOM!**
He landed heavily and rolled across the shattered ground.
He planted his sword against the earth and forced himself to stop.
His boots carved deep lines through the stone.
"...Ghh!"
He steadied himself.
The Rift Breaker continued advancing.
The commander tightened his grip.
*...Now.*
He was about to launch himself forward again—
when something caught his attention.
His eyes dropped toward his armor.
Crimson lines had spread across the runes.
His expression changed.
*...Damn it.*
*...When did the corruption spread this far?*
He stared at the faintly glowing crimson markings.
*...I didn't even feel it.*
Before he could react—
the Rift Breaker suddenly stopped.
Its entire body began trembling.
**THUMP.**
A massive surge of Abyssal mana erupted from its body.
The commander looked up.
"...No."
The creature's crimson fissures suddenly blazed brighter.
Its muscles began expanding.
The damaged armor covering its body cracked apart.
**CRACK...**
**CRACK!**
Fragments of black armor fell away as raw Abyssal mana flooded through its body.
The surrounding air distorted beneath the overwhelming pressure.
Several knights staggered backward.
One of them stared in horror.
"...It's changing!"
Another stepped backward.
"...Second Stage..."
The commander's jaw tightened.
*...Too late.*
The Rift Breaker threw its head back.
**ROOOOOOOOOAAARRR—!!**
Its roar shook the entire battlefield.
The windows of nearby buildings shattered.
Dust rose from the ground.
Mana rapidly gathered inside its enormous mouth.
The commander immediately recognized the attack.
His eyes widened.
"...Move!"
The creature's jaws opened.
A concentrated beam of Abyssal energy erupted.
**BOOOOOOOOOOM—!!**
The commander moved.
At the final instant—
he threw himself sideways.
The beam passed directly beside him.
**SHHHHHRRRAAAAA—!!**
Everything in its path was erased.
Stone.
Buildings.
Streets.
Nothing remained in the beam's wake.
The destructive torrent continued into the distance before finally fading.
The commander landed hard.
He rolled several times across the ground before coming to a stop.
Silence followed.
He slowly pushed himself upright.
His breathing was heavy.
His armor was damaged.
A thin line of blood ran down the side of his face.
But he was alive.
His gaze shifted toward the enormous trail of destruction left behind.
*...If that had hit me...*
He didn't finish the thought.
There would have been nothing left of him.
The second-stage Rift Breaker slowly turned toward him.
Its crimson eyes burned with an entirely different intensity.
The commander tightened his grip around his sword.
"...So this is what the report meant."
The creature took a heavy step forward.
**THUD.**
The ground trembled beneath its foot.
The remaining knights stared at it.
No one spoke.
The commander slowly raised his sword.
His expression hardened.
"...Everyone."
The knights looked toward him.
He stared at the transformed Rift Breaker.
"...Forget about killing it quickly."
His grip tightened.
"...From this point on, we're fighting for our lives."
The Rift Breaker roared.
**ROOOOOAAARRR—!!**
The sound shook the battlefield once again.
The remaining knights tightened their grips.
The battle had just become far more dangerous.