The knight commander's sword descended.
**SHIIIIING—!!**
A massive arc of condensed mana tore through the air.
The Rift Breaker immediately raised its arm.
**BOOM!**
The blade collided with its hardened armor.
The impact forced the creature several meters backward.
Its enormous feet carved deep trenches through the shattered ground.
Black blood sprayed from its arm.
The commander landed several meters away.
His boots slid across the ground before he steadied himself.
He immediately shifted into a defensive stance.
"...It worked."
The Rift Breaker slowly raised its wounded arm.
Its crimson eyes burned with fury.
The deep gash across its armor began closing.
Flesh and blackened armor slowly knitted themselves back together.
The commander narrowed his eyes.
"...But not enough."
Around him—
the other knights had already reached the battlefield.
The commander raised his sword.
"ATTACK!"
Several knights surged forward simultaneously.
Their swords were coated in concentrated mana.
**CLANG!**
One blade struck the creature's leg.
Another slashed across its side.
A third knight drove his sword directly into one of the wounds created by the cannon barrage.
**SHHK!**
Black blood erupted from the opening.
The Rift Breaker threw its head back.
**ROOOOOARRR—!!**
Its massive arm suddenly swept across the battlefield.
The knights immediately scattered.
**BOOOOM!**
The creature's fist slammed into the ground.
The earth exploded beneath the impact.
Stone and debris were thrown into the air.
One knight was caught by the edge of the shockwave and hurled backward.
Another dropped low and rolled beneath the sweeping attack.
The commander stepped forward.
"...Don't let it recover!"
He raised his sword.
"Focus your attacks on the existing wounds!"
The knights immediately adjusted their formation.
They moved as a coordinated unit.
One knight drew the creature's attention.
Another attacked its legs.
Two more targeted its damaged torso.
Their blades repeatedly struck the same weakened areas.
**CLANG!**
**SHHK!**
**BOOM!**
The Rift Breaker roared as black blood continued spilling from its wounds.
Yet—
its body continued regenerating.
The commander watched the injuries slowly close.
His expression grew heavier.
*...Its regeneration is far stronger than the reports suggested.*
He tightened his grip around his sword.
*...If we don't destroy it quickly...*
The Rift Breaker suddenly stopped moving.
The commander noticed immediately.
Its crimson fissures began glowing brighter.
The Abyssal mana surrounding its body started moving.
The dark energy in the air was being pulled toward it.
**WHOOOOSH...**
Mana streamed toward the creature from every direction.
The knights froze for a fraction of a second.
The commander's eyes widened.
"...Everyone!"
His voice thundered across the battlefield.
"...GET BACK!"
The Rift Breaker slowly opened its mouth.
Dark purple mana began condensing inside its throat.
The surrounding air distorted from the pressure.
The commander's expression changed.
"...It's preparing an attack!"
The knights immediately began retreating.
But—
the Rift Breaker's head snapped toward them.
The commander recognized the enormous concentration of Abyssal mana.
His eyes narrowed.
"...Spread out!"
His voice thundered across the battlefield.
"...Don't get caught in its path!"
The knights immediately changed direction.
The commander raised his sword.
"...Activate your runes!"
One after another—
the runes engraved across the knights' armor began glowing.
**HUMMMMM...**
Mana surged through their equipment.
The markings spread with brilliant energy across their armor and weapons.
Their auras intensified.
The knights moved.
**BOOM!**
Their bodies shot across the battlefield.
Their movements blurred as they rapidly spread apart, making sure none of them remained within the creature's direct line of attack.
One knight leapt onto the roof of a nearby building.
Another dashed across the shattered street.
Several others moved in opposite directions.
The knight commander remained near the front.
His sword was still raised.
Mana flowed continuously through his body.
His eyes never left the Rift Breaker.
"...Don't let even a trace of that mana touch you."
The Rift Breaker's mouth opened wider.
The condensed Abyssal energy inside its throat grew brighter.
Dark purple light illuminated its enormous jaws.
The pressure continued increasing.
The commander narrowed his eyes.
"...Prepare yourselves."
The knights tightened their grips.
The Rift Breaker suddenly released a deafening roar.
**ROOOOOOAAARRR—!!**
Then—
the energy erupted.
**BOOOOOOOOOOM—!!**
A massive beam of Abyssal mana tore across the battlefield.
Everything in its path was swallowed by the violent torrent.
Stone melted instantly.
Buildings were ripped apart.
Entire sections of the street were carved away as the beam continued forward.
The knights moved at the last possible moment.
One leapt over the beam.
Another twisted sideways through the air.
Two knights landed on opposite rooftops.
The knight commander crossed his sword in front of his body as he moved backward.
The beam passed only a few meters away.
Even without making direct contact—
the heat and pressure slammed into him.
His boots dragged violently across the ground.
**SKRRRRRT—!**
The commander gritted his teeth.
"...Damn!"
The beam finally swept past.
For a brief moment—
silence returned.
Smoke and dust filled the battlefield.
The commander immediately looked around.
"...Report!"
One knight landed beside him.
"...I'm fine!"
Another shouted from a nearby rooftop.
"...No injuries!"
The commander nodded.
Then—
his eyes shifted toward the Rift Breaker.
The creature's enormous mouth slowly closed.
Dark Abyssal mana continued leaking between its teeth.
The commander stared at it.
"...Its attack didn't slow it down."
The wounds across its body were still healing.
The damaged armor was slowly reforming.
The knights tightened their grips.
The commander raised his sword once again.
"...Then we don't give it another chance."
He pointed his blade toward the creature.
"...Keep attacking!"
The knights immediately moved.
**BOOM!**
Several figures shot forward simultaneously.
The Rift Breaker raised both arms.
The first knight reached it.
His sword flashed.
**SHING!**
A deep cut opened across the creature's chest.
Another knight followed immediately.
His blade struck the same wound.
**CLANG!**
The creature staggered.
Before it could recover—
the commander appeared directly in front of it.
His sword was already raised.
Mana surged violently around the blade.
The air trembled beneath the pressure.
"...Third Style."
The Rift Breaker's crimson eyes locked onto him.
The commander swung.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The massive mana blade crashed into the creature's chest.
Black blood exploded outward.
The force drove the Rift Breaker backward.
Its feet tore through the ground as it was pushed several meters away.
Yet—
it remained standing.
The commander landed firmly.
His eyes narrowed as he watched the enormous wound already beginning to close.
"...Still not enough."
The Rift Breaker suddenly threw its head back.
**ROOOOOAAARRR—!!**
Its massive fist pulled backward.
The commander lowered his stance.
His sword pointed forward.
"...Then we'll keep cutting."
His eyes hardened.
"...Until it falls."