CHAPTER 75: SHEDDING SPACE FABRICS

Liam drove his sword, Darktitan, into the concrete rooftop, the weapon’s serrated edge carving through stone easily. He then interlocked his fingers and stretched his arms forward until his knuckles cracked. Rolling his neck from side to side, he worked out the tension with audible snaps

Helda watched from above the battlefield, her dragon and Balrog flanking her like twin harbingers of destruction. She scoffed at his theatrical display. "What do you think you’re doing?" she called out, her voice filled with disdain. "You’ve used up your mana. Your summons are gone. This is over."

Liam’s only response was to wrench the Darktitan free from the concrete, sending fragments of stone cascading around him. Then he began walking forward, each step measured; One step. Two steps. Three—

BOOM!

The rooftop exploded behind him as he launched himself forward in a sonic boom that shattered windows in the buildings below. Dust and debris erupted from the crater where he’d stood, and he soared through the air toward Helda.

The Balrog reacted instantly as the demon surged forward to intercept Liam’s trajectory, its flaming sword raised high. The two blades met in midair, serrated dark steel against molten flame, and the collision sent a shockwave rippling across the rooftop that made the entire building groan beneath them. Liam hung suspended in the air, his teeth gritted as he matched the demon’s strength.

But the Balrog suddenly pulled back and rose higher, creating an opening for Helda’s dragon to strike. Its massive tail whipped through the air at high-speeds, and Liam’s eyes widened as he saw the attack coming. With no mana left for flight to maneuver himself around it, he had no choice but to raise the Darktitan defensively.

The dragon’s tail struck the blade with tremendous force, sending him plummeting back to the rooftop in an explosion of dust and concrete debris. Through the settling dust, Helda’s laughter rang out. "Is that all you—"

Her words died in her throat as Liam emerged from the destruction, his face a mask of barely contained fury, with his eyes locked onto the dragon with predatory intensity. Without warning, he blurred forward again, moving so fast that he seemed to have instantly appeared beneath the massive beast.

He drove his fist upward into the dragon’s jaw with the force of a cannonball, causing an impact that sent the creature staggering backward, its massive form struggling to maintain balance as it fought against the unexpected blow.

"How?" Helda whispered, her composure was cracking. Without magic enhancement, he should have been drastically weakened. Yet his physical prowess seemed unchanged.

The Balrog recovered and dove toward Liam with its flaming sword raised in a devastating overhead strike. Liam sidestepped from the attack fluidly, with his own blade already moving in a horizontal arc. The Darktitan caught the demon in its flank, sending it flying across the rooftop to crash through the elevator doors in a shower of sparks and twisted metal.

Liam allowed himself a brief smile. "Guess all those push-ups weren’t for nothing," he muttered under his breath. The dragon had recovered at this point and opened its maw, gathering flames in its throat. Then a concentrated stream of fire erupted toward Liam, the heat so intense it warped the air around it.

Liam spun the Darktitan in his hands before bringing it crashing down in front of him with tremendous force. The impact created a shockwave that split the stream of fire, sending flames cascading harmlessly to either side of him like a parted river.

The Balrog came flying back, both hands gripping its flaming sword as it prepared to bring the weapon down in a crushing blow. Without breaking stride, Liam spun to face it, with his fist already moving upward. His punch connected with the demon’s chest just as its arms descended, the force of the impact launching it clean off the rooftop. "Fuck off!" Liam roared as the Balrog flew off.

Helda stared in disbelief. "How is this possible?" she demanded. "You should be weakened without your magic!"

Liam turned his attention back to her, but the dragon standing closely was gathering another blast of fire in its throat. Then he sprinted forward, his speed creating small sonic booms with each step. The dragon released its first beam of fire, and Liam leaped to the side, the flames passing so close they singed his pants. A second beam followed, and Liam launched himself skyward in a tremendous jump that carried him above the dragon’s head.

The beast tried to crane its neck upward to follow him, flames building in its throat for another blast. But Liam was already falling, with the Darktitan gripped in both hands as he drove it down with all his might; and for the first time in their battle, something pierced the dragon’s seemingly impenetrable hide.

The blade sank deep through the roof of the creature’s mouth, and the dragon’s roar of pain shook the very foundations of the building. The wounded beast thrashed wildly, swinging its head from side to side as it tried to dislodge its tormentor.

Liam held on grimly, with his blade buried to the hilt in the dragon’s mouth, until finally the creature’s violent movements flung him clear. He then landed in a perfect fluid crouch.

Blood streamed from the dragon’s mouth, a proper given wound. Liam straightened slowly, his breathing heavy but controlled,

sfx: Huff... Huff

But despite his exhaustion, his eyes remained fixed on his true target: Helda herself.

...

Meanwhile on Nacht’s part of the field...

Quinn stood behind Nacht as he raised his katana skyward, with energy gathering along the blade’s edge, but she could see the massive destructive force bearing down on them from above. Whatever Nacht was planning, it would need every advantage she could provide.

Her eyes began to glow with an inner light as her ability activated. "Amp Max!" she shouted, extending her hand toward the faction president. Her power, which could enhance an S-tier warrior by thirty percent, would only boost someone of Nacht’s level by fifteen percent—but even that small increase could make the difference between victory and annihilation.