chapter 84: breach

City Zero, once a bastion of peace, now trembled on the precipice of chaos. The air crackled with tension as Cyrus and his vanguard prepared to face the monstrous threat that loomed before them. With a sharp intake of breath, Cyrus sprang into action, his body a blur of motion as he launched himself into the void.

Behind him, the vanguard followed suit, their movements a synchronized dance of determination and fear. Eldor, his face set in grim concentration, summoned his arcane powers. The air around him shimmered and coalesced, forming an ethereal belt that writhed like living tendrils. With a gesture, he extended his magic, ensnaring each member of the vanguard by their waists, creating an invisible lifeline in the emptiness of space.

"We count on you," Cyrus called out, his voice steady despite the gravity of their situation. As if summoned by his words, the first karmic monster materialized before them. Its head, wreathed in eerie purple flames, was a nightmarish visage that sent shivers down the spines of even the bravest warriors. The creature's fingers, dry and skeletal, lashed out into the void, seeking to rend and destroy.

Cyrus, now mirorror of an acrobat, flipped gracefully in midair. His magic coalesced in his grip, forming a gleaming blue sword that hummed with power. With unerring precision, he glided along the monster's outstretched arm, his blade singing as it sought the creature's neck.

A sickening crack echoed through the air as the karmic monster retaliated, its massive palm sweeping towards Cyrus. But Eldor was ready. With a wave of his hand, the wind robe at his waist propelled Cyrus to safety, narrowly avoiding the monster's grasp. In the same fluid motion, Eldor redirected another vanguard member, their lance piercing deep into the creature's flesh.

Fury radiated from the karmic monsters, but Cyrus felt a glimmer of hope. This was the crux of their strategy, the reason he believed they stood a chance against these otherworldly horrors. With Eldor manipulating the void around them, the vanguard could focus solely on offense, pushing their agility and striking power to unprecedented levels.

As they pressed deeper into the city's heart, the battle intensified. Cyrus found himself hurled into a building, sliding down behind its pillars for momentary cover. The karmic monster pursued, its massive head forcing its way inside. The stench that emanated from its maw was overwhelming, threatening to overcome Cyrus with nausea. Purple flames erupted from the creature's throat, instantly turning the room into an inferno.

Acting on pure instinct, Cyrus smashed the floor beneath him, creating an escape route to the level below. He dropped down just as the flames roared overhead, singeing the air mere inches from his skin. Without missing a beat, he rolled to his feet and sprinted towards the glass windows, once again launching himself into the void.

His body twisted and turned in a breathtaking display of aerial prowess, bringing his sword to bear against the karmic monster. But as the blade connected, Cyrus felt a jolt of dismay. It was like striking solid stone, not even leaving a scratch on the creature's hide. "Damn," he cursed, his frustration palpable. The monster's retaliatory slap sent him hurtling back towards the street below.

As he plummeted like a falling star, Cyrus saw the karmic monsters turn their attention towards him, their maws gaping wide. Purple flames erupted from every direction, threatening to engulf him. His heart raced, adrenaline surging through his veins as he cast a levitation spell, narrowly avoiding incineration.

In a flash, Cyrus drew his mustang, the weapon gleaming as it discharged a dazzling arc of energy. The blast struck the karmic monster squarely, causing it to convulse violently. Eldor's magic yanked Cyrus forward, reuniting him with the vanguard. Together, they maneuvered through the void, striking and retreating, drawing the monsters' attention and ire.

Behind them, the wall began to advance under Leora and Marko's command. The sky lit up with magical blasts, the impacts creating a deafening cacophony that shook the very foundations City Zero. Buildings crumbled, and blood spattered the once-pristine streets as the two forces clashed in a brutal confrontation.

Far behind the front lines, Jelly and the students moved cautiously through the ruins, searching for and aiding any civilians who had been unable to escape the conflict.

Cyrus landed atop a shopping mall, taking a moment to assess the situation. He could see the wall struggling to contain the karmic monsters, but he had to trust in Leora's abilities. Their priority now was to draw the attention of as many creatures as possible.

Suddenly, Cyrus's battle-honed instincts screamed a warning. "Spread!" he yelled, leaping from the building's edge. Most of the vanguard reacted in time, but one was too slow. A horrifying sight met Cyrus's eyes as he saw his comrade impaled on the building's wall, a monstrous finger piercing through their head. There was no time to mourn; the sudden attack had disrupted their momentum, and they needed to recover quickly.

With Eldor's assistance, Cyrus managed to land safely on the ground. Just as he regained his footing, a thunderous impact shook the earth. Eldor's voice, heavy with dread, confirmed his worst fears: "The wall has been breached."

Cyrus felt his heart skip a beat as the implications of this development sank in. If the wall failed, their entire plan would crumble, and the vanguard would be doomed. Making a split-second decision, he shouted, "Keep moving and don't wait for me!" before casting another levitation spell.

Eldor, though shocked, didn't hesitate. Using his wind magic, he propelled Cyrus backward while continuing to maneuver the rest of the vanguard forward.

Cyrus found himself atop another building, overlooking a four-corner street where Leora and a detachment of fighters were engaged with the karmic monsters. What he saw filled him with both admiration for Leora's quick thinking and dread at the new development in the monsters' tactics.

The karmic creatures, seemingly realizing they couldn't overcome their opponents through brute force alone, had begun creating miniature versions of themselves. These smaller entities were not only more agile but also deadlier than their larger counterparts. The casualties among the wall's defenders were mounting rapidly, blood flowing like rivers through the streets. If Leora and her group hadn't broken formation to confront this new threat, the wall would have surely fallen, taking their strategy with it.

Without hesitation, Cyrus dove into the fray, his mustang blazing as he fired continuously at the miniature monsters. Their heads exploded into fragments, revealing their one weakness – they were significantly frailer than the main bodies that had spawned them.

"Leora, now!" Cyrus called out as he flipped through the air, positioning himself for their coordinated attack.

Leora nodded, her golden eyes flickering as she activated her mind control abilities. Cyrus felt her presence invade his thoughts, pushing his reflexes beyond their normal limits. He became a whirlwind of motion, dancing between the four streets with inhuman grace. His sword moved with surgical precision, annihilating enemies left and right as he slid and spun through their ranks.

The combat was intense, pushing Cyrus to his absolute limits. In a moment of distraction, he felt a sharp pain as something pierced him from behind. Glancing down, he saw a bony finger protruding from his stomach. Instinctively, he gripped it, preventing it from penetrating further. As he turned to face his attacker, he realized he had been too slow. His heart raced, sweat beading on his brow as he prepared for the worst.

But salvation came in the form of a golden rope, striking like lightning to obliterate the monster behind him. Cyrus nodded gratefully in Leora's direction before forcing himself back into motion. As he surveyed the battlefield, his eyes locked onto a karmic monster that seemed different from the others. This one appeared to be the source of the miniature creatures, marking it as an exceptionally dangerous threat.

Without wasting another moment, Cyrus pushed his levitation spell to its limits, lifting the karmic monster off the ground. "A single kill, go!" he ordered, his command instantly relayed to all combatants through Leora's mind control.

What followed was a display of firepower unlike anything Cyrus had ever witnessed. A massive blast, so enormous it filled the entire sky, zeroed in on the suspended monster. The creature's abnormally tough hide, which had resisted all previous attacks, was finally pierced. The energy continued its journey upward, disappearing into the heavens.

As the light faded, Cyrus stumbled, clutching his wounded stomach. He spat blood, shaking his head to clear the encroaching dizziness. Despite his injury, he managed to call out, "Close the breach!" Leora's abilities once again proved invaluable, transmitting his orders quickly and effectively across their forces.

The wall resumed its advance, sealing the gap left by their fallen comrades. Cyrus steeled himself, preparing to rejoin the vanguard at the forefront of the battle. But before he could move, a terrified scream cut through the chaos:

"In the sky!"

Cyrus lifted his gaze upward, and what he saw sent a chill down his spine, a new terror descending upon the already ravaged city of Zero.