Meanwhile—
High above the city—
Several military airships hovered in formation.
Their massive cannons rotated downward.
The crews remained focused on the Rift Breaker below.
One officer lowered his hand.
"...Target locked."
Another checked the readings on his console.
"...All cannons ready."
The captain stared through the viewing window.
Below—
The creature continued moving through the ruined district.
Its enormous body towered over the surrounding buildings.
Smoke and dust swirled around its feet.
The captain's expression hardened.
"...Fire."
**BOOOOOOM—!!**
Multiple cannons fired simultaneously.
Streams of condensed mana tore through the air.
They struck the Rift Breaker directly.
**KRAKOOOOOM!!**
The entire area disappeared beneath a massive explosion.
A shockwave expanded across the streets.
Dust and debris were thrown in every direction.
Several nearby buildings collapsed beneath the force.
Inside the lead airship—
The officers watched the explosion in silence.
One slowly lowered his weapon.
"...Direct hit."
Another stared at the burning crater.
"...At that range..."
His eyes remained fixed on the flames.
"...There's no way it survived that."
The captain narrowed his eyes.
"...Wait."
A low vibration suddenly traveled through the ship.
**RUMBLE...**
Everyone froze.
Then—
A roar erupted from within the smoke.
**ROOOOOOOOAAARRR—!!**
The officers' expressions changed.
"...What?"
The smoke suddenly exploded outward.
**BOOM!**
The Rift Breaker burst through the flames.
Its body was covered in wounds.
Chunks of its armor were missing.
Black blood streamed down its enormous frame.
Yet—
The injuries were already beginning to close.
Broken flesh twisted back together.
Cracked armor slowly regenerated.
Its crimson fissures burned brighter than before.
The creature slowly lifted its head.
Its molten eyes locked directly onto the nearest airship.
One officer's voice trembled.
"...It's looking at us."
The captain's face went pale.
The Rift Breaker crouched.
Its enormous muscles tightened across its massive frame.
The ground beneath its feet cracked.
The captain immediately shouted—
"Pilot!"
"Move this ship!"
The pilot grabbed the controls.
"Yes, Captain!"
The airship's mana engines roared.
**WHOOOOOSH!**
The vessel began accelerating.
But—
The Rift Breaker had already launched itself.
**BOOOOOOM!!**
Its enormous body shot upward like a projectile.
The officers stared in horror as it rapidly closed the distance.
"Faster!"
"I'm trying!"
"Turn!"
The airship began banking sharply.
The Rift Breaker's massive hand reached toward the vessel.
The captain's eyes widened.
"...Too late."
**CRAAAAASH!!**
Its enormous hand slammed into the side of the airship.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The entire vessel lurched violently.
Metal screamed.
The hull buckled inward beneath the creature's grip.
Inside—
Soldiers were thrown from their seats.
Some crashed against the walls.
Others desperately grabbed onto anything they could find.
"...What the hell was that?!"
The captain was thrown against his command console.
He grabbed the edge and forced himself upright.
"Keep the ship steady!"
The pilot desperately pulled the controls.
"I-I can't!"
His eyes darted across the instruments.
"The left engine is damaged!"
The Rift Breaker's fingers dug deeper into the hull.
**CRRRRACK!**
A section of the ship's armor tore away.
Several soldiers stared through the opening in horror.
The creature's enormous crimson eyes appeared on the other side.
It opened its mouth.
A deep growl reverberated through the vessel.
The soldiers froze.
The captain immediately snapped out of it.
"...Fire!"
He pointed toward the creature.
"FIRE EVERYTHING!"
The remaining cannons rotated toward the Rift Breaker.
**BOOM!**
**BOOM!**
**BOOM!**
Mana shells slammed into its body at point-blank range.
Explosions swallowed its upper body.
For a brief moment—
Its grip loosened.
The captain's eyes widened.
"Did we—"
The creature's hand tightened again.
"...No."
Its claws pierced through the hull.
The captain's face went pale.
The Rift Breaker pulled.
**RRRRRIP—!!**
The airship was violently torn sideways.
Metal screamed as the creature ripped an entire section of the vessel apart.
The ship immediately began losing altitude.
Warning alarms blared throughout the interior.
"WE'RE GOING DOWN!"
"GET THE EMERGENCY SYSTEMS!"
"THE ENGINE'S FAILING!"
The captain looked toward the shattered side of the ship.
The Rift Breaker was already climbing onto the vessel.
Its massive body rose above the deck.
Its claws dug into the metal plating.
The soldiers froze.
The creature slowly raised one enormous fist.
The captain's face went pale.
"...Everyone!"
His voice cracked.
"JUMP!"
The fist descended.
**BOOOOOOOM!**
The airship exploded apart.
Flames erupted across the sky.
Fragments of metal and shattered mana crystals scattered in every direction.
The shockwave spread through the surrounding clouds.
Burning debris rained toward the ruined city below.
The Rift Breaker emerged from the explosion.
It remained suspended in the air for a brief moment—
Then began falling back toward the city.
Below—
Soldiers and adventurers looked upward.
Everyone saw the burning wreckage descending from the sky.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then—
Someone whispered.
"...It destroyed an airship."
Another soldier stared in disbelief.
"...An entire airship..."
His voice trembled.
"...Just like that..."
Lady Onoria's expression hardened.
Her long pink hair whipped violently in the wind.
"...That thing isn't an ordinary Rift Breaker anymore."
The lightning-marked demi-human beside her narrowed her eyes.
Her mouse-like ears flattened against her head.
"...Second Stage."
The green-haired woman tightened her grip around her crystal staff.
Her eyes remained fixed upon the towering creature.
"...Then this city is in serious trouble."
The three exchanged no further words.
There was nothing left to say.
The situation had already escalated far beyond what they had anticipated.
---
On the rooftop nearby—
Hannah and Illyria watched the burning wreckage descend from the sky.
Hannah's blue eyes widened.
"...It destroyed the airship."
Illyria's expression remained grim.
"...And that was after they struck it directly."
Her gaze followed the towering creature.
The Rift Breaker's crimson fissures continued glowing across its body.
A suffocating pressure radiated from it.
Illyria's eyes narrowed.
"...If it continues like this..."
She paused.
Her voice became quieter.
"...A lot of lives will be lost before they manage to kill it."
Hannah remained silent.
Her gaze stayed fixed on the battlefield below.
The burning remains of the airship continued falling through the sky.
And beneath them—
The second-stage Rift Breaker roared once again.