Chapter 105: Chapter 100: The Archive Breaker
The giant’s fist descended.
It was like watching a mountain fall.
Golden energy swirled around the crystal arm as it smashed toward the center of the chamber.
"Scatter!"
Aerion’s voice echoed through the hall.
The expedition moved instantly.
The fist struck the floor.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The entire chamber shook violently.
Crystal tiles exploded upward, becoming deadly shards that shot across the room.
Several dwarven warriors raised their shields just in time.
The impacts rang like hammer strikes against steel.
Even then, the force pushed them backward.
Dust filled the chamber.
The Archive Breaker slowly lifted its arm from the crater it had created.
Its expression remained emotionless.
Cold.
Mechanical.
As though the people before it were nothing more than obstacles in the execution of its orders.
John launched forward.
Dark mana erupted around his claws.
He crossed the distance in seconds.
His right claw slashed across the giant’s wrist.
**CRAAAAACK!**
Black crystal fractured.
Golden sparks flew through the air.
The enormous arm shifted slightly from the impact.
But only slightly.
The giant immediately retaliated.
Its other hand swung toward John with terrifying speed.
John folded one wing around his body and blocked.
The collision echoed throughout the tower.
His feet carved deep trenches across the crystal floor as he slid backward.
The impact sent waves of pain through his muscles.
Tier Ten.
Even after defeating the Abyss Guardian and the Archive Sentinel, facing another creature of this level remained overwhelming.
The giant took another step.
Each movement shook the chamber.
The mechanical voice echoed once more.
"Archive integrity at risk."
"Hostile priority remains unchanged."
"Protect the Core."
The ancient constructs answered immediately.
More than fifty guardians charged at once.
Their crystal spears glowed blue.
The first construct struck the giant’s leg.
The spear pierced several centimeters before stopping.
The second struck.
Then the third.
For a moment, it seemed the coordinated assault might work.
Then the giant moved.
Its foot slammed against the ground.
A wave of golden energy erupted outward.
The constructs shattered.
One after another.
Their crystal bodies broke apart into countless fragments that scattered across the hall.
Lythriel stared.
"...I liked those guys."
Aerion stepped beside her.
"They bought us time."
The elf twirled her spear.
"Then let’s not waste it."
She vanished.
The next instant she appeared atop the giant’s shoulder.
Her spear glowed brilliantly.
"Sky Piercer!"
The attack struck the giant’s neck.
The crystal cracked.
Thin fractures spread outward.
The giant tilted its head.
Then reached upward.
Its massive hand grabbed Lythriel before she could escape.
Her eyes widened.
"...Well."
"This is bad."
The giant squeezed.
Cracks spread across the mana barrier surrounding her body.
John’s pupils narrowed.
Dark flames erupted around his wings.
He shot forward like a black comet.
"Abyssal Lance!"
Compressed darkness erupted from his claws.
The beam struck the giant’s elbow.
The crystal exploded.
The giant’s arm jerked sideways.
Its grip loosened.
Lythriel immediately kicked free and leaped into the air.
She landed beside Sylvara, breathing heavily.
The mage looked worried.
"You alright?"
Lythriel smiled weakly.
"I’ve had worse."
A pause.
"...Actually no."
"That was pretty awful."
Despite the situation, Sylvara laughed.
Only briefly.
Because the battle had already resumed.
The Archive Breaker ignored its damaged arm.
Golden energy flowed through the cracks.
The shattered crystal slowly repaired itself.
John frowned.
"It regenerates."
The system answered immediately.
**[Adaptive Crystal Regeneration Confirmed]**
John clicked his tongue.
That complicated things.
Aerion stepped forward.
"There has to be a core."
"There always is."
John nodded.
"The chest."
The rotating crystal remained visible beneath layers of black armor.
It pulsed steadily.
Every pulse restored damaged sections of the giant’s body.
Destroy the core.
End the fight.
Simple.
Reaching it would be another matter.
Thargrum raised his axe.
His deep voice echoed across the chamber.
"Dwarves!"
Every surviving warrior looked toward him.
"Break its legs!"
A roar answered him.
The dwarves charged.
Heavy shields formed a wedge.
Runes ignited across their armor.
Axes slammed repeatedly into the giant’s ankles.
Each strike left shallow cracks.
The giant looked downward.
Then lifted one foot.
It stomped.
The impact shattered the floor.
Dozens of dwarves were thrown backward.
Some rolled across broken crystal.
Others struck pillars hard enough to crack stone.
Yet none retreated.
They stood again.
Axes raised.
Ready for another charge.
John respected them for that.
Sylvara lifted her staff high.
Green mana spread through the chamber.
Roots burst from cracks in the floor.
Unlike ordinary vines, these glowed with ancient runes copied from the tower itself.
The roots wrapped around the giant’s legs.
Layer after layer.
The creature struggled.
Its movements slowed.
Sylvara clenched her teeth.
"I can’t hold it long!"
Sweat rolled down her forehead.
The roots trembled violently.
Several snapped.
More replaced them.
John saw the opening.
He looked toward Aerion.
The swordsman nodded.
No words were needed.
Aerion vanished.
Silver light streaked across the battlefield.
His sword struck dozens of times in a single breath.
Thin lines appeared across the giant’s chest armor.
John inhaled deeply.
Darkness gathered around his body.
The mana surrounding him became so dense that nearby crystal lights dimmed.
Lythriel stepped beside him.
She twirled her spear once.
"You blast."
"I stab."
John smiled.
"Deal."
The giant broke one root.
Then another.
The restraints would not last.
Sylvara’s knees nearly buckled.
"Hurry!"
John spread his wings.
Dark mana compressed into a single point between his claws.
The surrounding air distorted.
Even the system remained silent.
Everything depended on this attack.
"Abyssal Lance."
The beam erupted.
Not wide.
Not explosive.
Pure piercing power.
At the same instant, Lythriel leaped.
Her spear shone brighter than the chamber itself.
"Sky Piercer!"
The two attacks struck simultaneously.
The chest armor exploded.
Crystal fragments scattered everywhere.
The rotating core became visible.
Golden light poured from within.
The giant let out its first roar.
It sounded almost human.
Pain.
For the first time, the Archive Breaker felt pain.
The beam continued pushing forward.
Lythriel’s spear pierced deeper.
Cracks spread across the core.
The giant staggered.
The entire tower trembled.
The mechanical voice echoed urgently.
"Archive stability decreasing."
"Structural integrity compromised."
John’s eyes widened.
Destroying the giant completely might collapse the tower itself.
The realization came too late.
A deep rumble echoed from somewhere far below.
Something beneath the tower had awakened.
The floor cracked.
Golden light burst upward through ancient seams in the crystal.
Every person in the chamber looked downward.
Even the Archive Breaker stopped moving.
For several long seconds, nobody spoke.
Then a distant roar echoed from the depths beneath the tower.
It was older than the city.
Older than the archive.
Older than memory itself.
And somehow...
John felt that roar resonate within his own blood.
The battle had only been the beginning.
Something far greater was rising from the darkness below.
---
100 ps = 1 extra Chapter
200 ps = 2 Extra Chapter
1 Golden ticket = 3 Extra Chapter
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