The command deck was filled with tense voices.
An officer hurried toward the captain.
"Captain!"
The captain turned sharply.
"What is it?"
The officer swallowed.
"...The creature has entered its second stage."
The captain's expression hardened.
"...Already?"
"Yes, sir."
Another officer immediately stepped forward.
"We've also received a report concerning the knights."
The captain looked toward him.
"What happened?"
"...Their equipment is being corrupted."
The captain's eyes narrowed.
"Their equipment?"
"Yes, sir."
The officer quickly continued.
"The Abyssal mana appears to be affecting the runes embedded within their armor and weapons."
Silence settled across the command deck.
The officers exchanged uneasy glances.
Then—
another officer suddenly spoke.
"Captain!"
Everyone turned toward him.
"The creature has stopped fighting the knights."
The captain frowned.
"...What is it doing?"
"It's moving toward the core."
The captain's expression changed.
"...The core of the Rift Breaker we just killed?"
"Yes, sir."
His jaw tightened.
He immediately turned toward the viewing window.
The battlefield below was still covered in smoke and dust.
Through the haze—
the remaining Rift Breaker could be seen slowly advancing toward the crimson core left behind by its fallen counterpart.
The captain's eyes narrowed.
"...How long until the cannons are ready?"
An officer immediately checked the readings.
"...They're still charging, Captain."
"How long?"
The officer hesitated.
"...They're not fully charged yet."
The captain's hand slowly tightened around the edge of the console.
*...Whatever that creature intends to do...*
*...we cannot allow it to reach that core.*
They had no idea what would happen if the creature absorbed the core.
And that uncertainty made the situation even more dangerous.
The captain turned sharply.
"Send a report to the knights."
The communication officer immediately straightened.
"Yes, sir."
"Tell them they must stop that creature from reaching the core."
"...Understood!"
The officer immediately activated the communication device and began transmitting the order.
---
Elsewhere—
Kaelira sprinted through the streets.
Her footsteps struck the stone pavement in rapid succession.
Behind her—
Ryke struggled to keep up.
His breathing had already become heavy, and sweat had begun forming across his forehead.
Pythia flew above them, effortlessly keeping pace.
She looked ahead.
"Make a left turn ahead."
Kaelira immediately adjusted her direction.
Pythia continued.
"Then take the first street on the right."
"The main road leading to the spatial port will be there."
She glanced downward.
"I'll fly ahead and wait for you there."
Pythia immediately rose higher, preparing to pass over the buildings.
Kaelira looked up.
A grin slowly appeared across her face.
"...Why should you get to take the shortcut?"
Pythia glanced down at her.
Kaelira suddenly crouched.
**BOOM!**
She launched herself upward.
Her foot struck the side of a building.
Then another.
**BOOM!**
**BOOM!**
She climbed the structure with effortless movements, her claws finding purchase against the walls as she propelled herself higher.
Within seconds—
she reached the rooftop.
Kaelira looked down toward Ryke.
Her grin widened.
"...I'll take the shortcut too."
Ryke continued running without stopping.
Kaelira turned forward.
"Pick up the pace."
She crouched again.
"You shouldn't keep them waiting..."
Her ears twitched.
"...if you know what's good for you."
**BOOM!**
Kaelira launched herself across the rooftops.
Her figure disappeared into the distance.
Ryke glanced upward for only a moment before continuing to run.
"Yeah..."
"I'll keep that in mind."
His breathing remained heavy.
*This is way too much.*
*Way more than I bargained for.*
He gritted his teeth and pushed himself harder.
*But it's not like I have much of a choice.*
After a while—
Ryke finally caught up.
He leapt over the front of an abandoned vehicle before landing on the other side.
**THUD!**
He slowed to a stop in front of Pythia and Kaelira.
Ryke bent forward slightly, placing his hands on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath.
"...Give me..."
"...a second..."
Kaelira looked at him.
"...Even after my warning..."
Her ears twitched.
"...it seems you're still pretty useless."
Ryke slowly raised his head.
"...Yeah, whatever you say."
He waved a hand dismissively.
"...Just let me catch my breath, okay?"
Pythia shook her head.
"...We don't have time to waste."
She looked ahead.
"...We need to continue."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"...But it seems that won't be easy."
The spatial port stretched ahead of them.
It was far more crowded than they had expected.
Vehicles had been abandoned throughout the surrounding streets.
Some had been left at awkward angles.
Others had been completely abandoned in the middle of the road.
Several had even collided with one another as their owners fled.
Ryke slowly straightened.
"...Yeah."
He looked around.
"...This place is packed."
His gaze moved toward the abandoned vehicles.
"...They didn't even bother parking."
He pointed toward one of them.
"...They just abandoned it in the middle of the road."
He looked toward the entrance of the spatial port.
"...Even something as valuable as a vehicle gets left behind when people are scared enough."
Ryke shook his head.
"...I'm guessing every rich bastard in the city rushed here the moment things went bad."
Kaelira glanced at him.
Ryke continued.
"...Spatial travel isn't something everyone can use."
"...And during a crisis like this..."
"...the important people are going to get priority."
He gestured toward the port.
"...The nobles, wealthy families, merchants..."
Pythia calmly interrupted him.
"...That doesn't matter."
Ryke paused.
Pythia's eyes remained fixed on the spatial port.
"...Whatever the situation is..."
"...our objective remains the same."
Ryke sighed.
"...Right."
Kaelira crossed her arms.
"...So what's the plan?"
She glanced at Ryke.
"...Or are we going with mine?"
Ryke immediately shook his head.
"...Absolutely not."
Kaelira raised an eyebrow.
"...Why?"
"I am not following any plan you come up with."
Kaelira shrugged.
"...Who cares?"
She looked toward the entrance.
"...It's not like you're going to be that useful anyway."
Ryke stared at her.
"...Ouch."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"...Was that supposed to hurt?"
Kaelira simply looked away.
Pythia ignored their exchange.
"...First, we need to know what the situation inside the spatial port is."
Ryke nodded.
"...Agreed."
Kaelira also nodded.
"...Alright."
Pythia looked toward the crowded entrance.
People were packed together near the gates, many of them arguing with the port guards while others desperately tried to push their way inside.
The atmosphere was chaotic.
Guards were shouting orders.
Merchants were demanding passage.
Children cried as their parents desperately tried to move through the crowd.
Pythia's expression remained calm.
"...Then let's find out what's happening inside."
The three turned their attention toward the spatial port.
For the first time since arriving—
none of them spoke.
They simply watched.
And from the looks of things—
getting inside would be far more difficult than they had anticipated.