Chapter 428 Don’t Fight Alone

Kai drove Starbreaker into the side of a rotating ring, sending sparks across the ancient metal as he slowed his fall.

The weapon caught between two overlapping plates, allowing him to swing toward a narrow platform beneath the central structure. He landed hard, cracking the stone beneath his feet, and immediately rolled aside as a stream of blue energy swept through the space he had occupied.

Above him, the ancient entity watched from another platform.

Kai glanced at the distance separating them and frowned. The rings had shifted again, leaving him with no reliable route toward the exit.

"Lily, I need the position of the nearest stable connection," Kai said, keeping his eyes on the entity.

Lily’s voice crackled through his communicator. "The western ring should remain stable for another rotation, but I can’t guarantee the passage will still connect to the same platform."

"That’s reassuring," Kai replied as he jumped toward the ring.

He reached the connection just as the entity raised its arm. Space folded around him, pulling fragments of stone into a crushing wave.

Kai activated Distortion, changing his movement enough to slip past the attack. He landed beside a glowing conduit and drove Starbreaker through its exposed center.

The conduit shattered, and the entity’s armor immediately dimmed.

Kai rushed forward, striking its chest before the damaged plates could close. The blow sent the entity sliding backward, leaving a deep crack across its torso.

For an instant, he thought he had found the opening he needed.

Then another ring brightened.

Energy poured into the entity through a different connection, restoring the shattered plates before Kai could attack again.

Kai retreated as the entity’s next strike tore through the platform between them.

He looked toward the surrounding rings. Every time he damaged one connection, the network restored the entity through another. Meanwhile, the central structure continued drawing power from the city.

Tiamat, I can keep damaging it, but that isn’t stopping anything, Kai observed privately.

Then perhaps defeating it isn’t the only task you should be thinking about, Tiamat answered.

Kai watched another stream of energy enter the entity.

He opened the alliance channel. "I need help at the central structure. This thing is connected to the entire network, and I can’t sever the connections while keeping it occupied."

Sera answered almost immediately. "Good. I was beginning to wonder how long you’d wait before asking."

Kai smiled despite the situation. "Are you nearby?"

"Close enough to complain about your timing in person."

...

A few moments later, Sera landed on the outer platform with three Hunters.

She surveyed the broken passages, rotating rings, and enormous structure towering above them before looking toward Kai.

"You certainly found an interesting place to fight," she remarked. "Next time, try somewhere with a floor that stays beneath our feet."

"I’ll keep that in mind," Kai replied as he approached her.

Sera studied the entity while Kai explained how the network restored its damaged body.

She watched it turn toward a glowing connection just before another surge passed through the ring.

"Wait. Did you see that?" she asked.

Kai followed her gaze. "See what?"

"It turns toward the connection before the energy arrives. It isn’t simply receiving power whenever it’s damaged. It’s directing the network toward whichever route it needs."

Kai looked toward the entity again. Its attention shifted between two rings as the channels brightened.

"So we force it to choose."

Sera nodded. "You keep its attention while we threaten another connection. If it tries to protect both, there should be a moment when neither is fully defended."

Kai considered the plan before smiling. "I like it."

"Of course you do. I’m the one taking the dangerous route."

"I was going to offer to switch."

Sera gave him an amused look. "And let you ruin my plan? Absolutely not."

She signaled her Hunters toward the outer passage.

Kai advanced toward the entity, drawing its attention with a direct attack. Starbreaker struck its shoulder, forcing the ancient plates apart.

The entity raised its arm, but Kai moved inside the attack’s reach before the surrounding space could fold.

At the same time, Sera’s team reached the second connection.

"Now!" Sera shouted.

Her Hunters struck the supporting mechanisms while she drove her weapon into the exposed conduit.

The entity turned toward her.

Kai immediately struck its chest.

The impact shattered several plates, exposing the brilliant blue light beneath them. This time, the damaged armor remained open long enough for him to deliver another blow.

The entity staggered.

Sera laughed through the communicator. "That looks considerably better!"

Then the network reacted.

The outer ring suddenly rotated, dragging Sera’s platform away from the passage. Her Hunters jumped toward the nearest stable surface, but Sera was left standing beside the damaged conduit.

Kai looked toward her. "Sera, get away from that ring!"

"I’m working on it!"

The platform tilted, and the entity raised its arm toward her.

Before it could attack, a tremendous impact shook the entire structure.

...

A section of the outer machinery exploded, sending ancient metal scattering through the air.

Raze landed on the platform above Sera, his damaged armor scraping against the stone.

He looked down at the entity and grinned. "So this is the thing causing everyone trouble?"

Kai glanced at him. "Raze, don’t attack it yet. Its body is connected to the surrounding rings."

Raze looked toward the glowing conduits. "So I hit the things feeding it."

"If Lily identifies the right ones," Kai answered.

"Good. I was worried this would get complicated."

Sera looked up at him. "Would you mind helping me before you start enjoying yourself?"

Raze glanced toward the gap separating her platform from the passage. "You should’ve said something."

He struck the supporting mechanism above her, knocking a suspended section of metal into position between the two platforms.

Sera immediately crossed it with her Hunters.

She landed beside him and gave the improvised bridge a skeptical glance. "You could have warned me before dropping that thing."

"You wanted a way across."

"I wanted one that didn’t nearly hit me."

Raze laughed before turning toward his accompanying Hunters. His armor was still cracked from the control chamber mission, and the injured member of his earlier team had remained with the medical personnel.

"Secure the outer connections. Nobody attacks until we know which ones to break."

Lily’s voice entered the channel. "I’ve identified two conduits that appear to feed the entity directly. The first is above Raze’s position, and the second is attached to the eastern ring."

Raze looked toward the first connection. "Finally."

"Wait," Lily warned. "Don’t strike the central support. Only the smaller conduit running beneath it."

Raze adjusted his position and drove his weapon into the exposed channel.

The connection broke with a thunderous crack.

The entity’s armor opened along one arm, and its movements slowed.

Kai immediately pressed the advantage, forcing it backward with a series of strikes.

However, the surrounding rings began accelerating.

Aren’s voice suddenly entered the conversation.

"Everyone, stop attacking the next connection!"

Raze froze with his weapon raised. "You’ve got terrible timing."

"I’m trying to prevent you from bringing the entire structure down on us," Aren replied.

...

Aren arrived on an adjoining platform with several ruin hunters, carrying updated structural readings from Lily.

He studied the rotating mechanisms before pointing toward three connections surrounding the entity.

"The rings are moving through protective positions. Every time you break one connection, the next ring shifts to replace it."

Lily examined the readings. "That explains why the network keeps restoring the entity. We’ve been attacking whichever conduit becomes visible instead of interrupting the sequence."

Aren nodded. "Exactly. We need to break the connections in the order they activate."

Raze glanced toward the moving rings. "Then give me the order."

Aren pointed toward the western conduit. "First, the lower western connection. Then the upper eastern ring, followed by the central support."

Lily suddenly interrupted. "No, the second connection is wrong. The eastern ring is carrying structural power right now. If we break it before the inner conduit shifts, we’ll destabilize the platform beneath Kai."

Aren checked his readings again.

He frowned, then nodded. "You’re right. The sequence changed when Raze broke the first conduit."

Lily smiled faintly. "You can thank me later."

"I was going to say you were unusually useful."

"That’s a terrible way to thank someone."

Kai watched the entity turn toward another connection.

"Can we continue this conversation after we’ve stopped it?"

Aren immediately raised his hand. "Lower western conduit first. Wait for the inner ring to rotate, then strike the exposed channel beneath it. The eastern connection comes last."

Raze grinned. "Now that’s an instruction I can follow."

His Hunters moved toward the first position.

Sera intercepted the entity as it attempted to approach them, forcing it away from the connections.

Kai joined her, and together they drove it toward the opposite side of the platform.

"Your left!" Sera called as the entity extended its arm.

Kai ducked beneath the distorted strike while Sera attacked the exposed joint.

The entity staggered, giving Raze the opening he needed.

He shattered the first conduit.

Aren watched the rings rotate. "Wait for the inner channel. It’s almost in position."

The ring moved, revealing a narrow opening beneath the central platform.

"Now!"

Raze struck.

The second connection exploded, sending a wave of blue light through the surrounding machinery.

The entity suddenly dropped to one knee.

Its damaged armor remained open.

Kai stared at the exposed channels beneath its chest.

For the first time, the network had failed to restore them.

...

The central structure responded by accelerating every remaining ring.

The platform beneath Raze’s Hunters began cracking, while the passage connecting them to Kai tilted toward the enormous shaft below.

Gabriel arrived with several Church support personnel just as the first section collapsed.

He immediately raised his staff, extending a radiant barrier beneath the damaged passage. Golden light spread across the broken stone, holding the separated sections together.

"Everyone, move toward the central platform!" Gabriel ordered. "I can support this route, but not for long."

A Church healer stumbled as the barrier shook.

Gabriel steadied her with one hand while maintaining the spell with the other.

"Archbishop, the structure is pulling against the barrier!" she warned.

"I can feel it," Gabriel replied, tightening his grip on the staff. "Concentrate on reinforcing the western side. The Hunters still need that passage."

Kai looked toward him. "How much time can you give us?"

Gabriel glanced at the rapidly rotating rings. "Less than I’d like. If you have a plan, I suggest making it a good one."

Sera turned toward Kai. "I’ll draw it away from the final connection. You take the opening when Raze breaks it."

Kai nodded. "Don’t let it trap you against the rings."

She smiled. "You worry about your opponent. I’ll worry about mine."

Sera charged, attacking the entity’s exposed side.

It turned toward her, raising both arms as the surrounding space began to distort.

She slipped between the attacks, forcing it to follow her away from the eastern conduit.

Aren watched the final ring approach its designated position.

"Raze, prepare yourself!"

Raze planted his feet, ignoring the pain from his damaged armor.

"Just tell me when."

The ring rotated.

Lily checked the readings. "The structural connection has shifted. That conduit is clear!"

"Now!" Aren shouted.

Raze struck with everything he had.

The final conduit shattered, releasing a brilliant wave of energy across the platform.

The entity stopped moving.

Its glowing armor flickered, and the damaged plates along its chest began separating.

Kai immediately rushed forward.

Starbreaker cut through the exposed center, sending a powerful shockwave across the platform. The entity was thrown backward, crashing into the ancient structure behind it.

A deep crack spread across its torso.

Kai waited for the familiar surge of energy that would restore the damage.

Nothing happened.

Sera landed beside him, breathing heavily. "Please tell me that finally worked."

Kai watched the entity struggle to stand. "Its recovery has stopped."

Raze laughed from the opposite platform. "Then let me finish it!"

"Not yet," Lily warned. "The network is still active, and the remaining rings are becoming unstable."

A tremendous vibration passed through the structure.

Gabriel’s barrier began cracking as another section of the passage collapsed.

Aren looked toward the rotating machinery. "We’ve interrupted the entity’s power, but the rings are losing their alignment. We need to move before the entire route disappears."

Kai glanced toward the weakened entity.

Its armor remained damaged, but it was still moving.

He tightened his grip on Starbreaker, preparing to strike again.

Then the relic began glowing.

Several unfamiliar symbols appeared across its surface, followed by a series of thin lines extending through the surrounding rings.

Kai stared at them.

The lines resembled pathways, each passing through a different section of the ancient structure.

Most flickered and disappeared almost immediately.

Others remained visible for a moment before turning red.

Only one continued glowing.

It extended through the rotating rings toward a distant opening that Kai could not identify.

A new reading appeared before him.

[ANCIENT ROUTE DETECTED.]

[ROUTE STABILITY: UNCONFIRMED.]

[DESTINATION: UNKNOWN.]

Kai looked toward the glowing path as another section of the central platform broke away.

Starbreaker had found a route through the collapsing structure.

But he had no idea where it led.