Chapter 204: The Path to the Rift

The thunder of weapons echoed through the streets as the six squads advanced toward the dimensional rift.

With Lydia’s support, the hunters had managed to break through several defensive lines. However, the invaders had no intention of letting them approach the enormous core standing in front of the portal.

Every time a group managed to advance, more enemies emerged from between the buildings to block their path.

Liam studied the map James had transmitted to his communicator.

“We have three streets leading directly to the core, but the invaders are concentrating their forces on the two main ones.”

“What about the third?” Lydia asked as she walked beside him.

“It’s narrower and full of rubble. If we can clear it, we’ll be able to bypass part of their defenses.”

Lydia smiled.

“Then let’s do that.”

Liam activated his communicator.

“Wayne, I need a platform that will let us cross the collapsed buildings. Don, prepare a route through the side street. Everyone else, keep the pressure on the invaders.”

“Understood!” several sub-captains replied.

Liam looked at Lydia.

“Can you still maintain a few copies?”

“Yes. But this time, I’ll use them to distract the enemies instead of fighting them all.”

“Perfect. We don’t need to defeat everyone. We just need to reach the core.”

◇◆◇

Wayne extended a hand and created several energy platforms above the rubble.

The hunters began crossing them while their teammates fired at the invaders attempting to intercept them.

Archie took a blow to the shoulder and staggered backward, absorbing some of the impact’s energy into his body.

“Wayne, I can’t keep them occupied forever!” he shouted.

“I wouldn’t ask you to if it weren’t necessary, kid!”

Archie snorted and threw a punch at the nearest invader. The accumulated energy erupted with devastating force, hurling the enemy into a wall.

On the other side, Don Rouch extended both hands toward the metallic wreckage of a destroyed vehicle.

The metal twisted and transformed into several elongated bars. Don hurled them at the invaders blocking the side street, forcing them to retreat.

Duncan seized the opportunity to punch his way through, while Ivy extended roots that ensnared the enemies’ legs.

“The route is clear!” Don announced.

Liam relayed the information to the other squads.

“Advance through the side street! Stay with your teammates!”

Wayne’s platforms allowed the hunters to cross the last of the rubble. For the first time, all six squads began converging along the same route.

But the invaders reacted quickly.

A formation of soldiers emerged from a nearby building and charged at the hunters leading the advance.

Amber was the first to intercept them.

She concentrated energy in her muscles and lunged forward, striking two enemies before they could raise their weapons.

Millie used her ability to draw the attention of the others, while Evan fired energy arrows from the rear.

“Don’t stop!” Amber shouted.

The hunters took advantage of the opening and continued advancing.

◇◆◇

Farther ahead, the path was blocked once again.

A metallic structure stood between the buildings, surrounded by numerous invaders. Its violet symbols glowed more intensely than those on the previous devices.

Liam studied the obstacle.

“We can’t go around it. It’s too close to the main route.”

“Then we’ll have to fight our way through,” Lydia replied.

Several of her copies separated from the group.

One of them took on a small, winged form and rose above the invaders. From the air, it created illusions of hunters approaching from different directions.

The enemies split their forces to respond to the false threats.

Another copy fired a laser at one of the structure’s joints, while a third used hardened tentacles to hold back the defenders.

“Now!” Liam ordered.

Tim charged forward with his muscular body, knocking down the enemies attempting to regain their positions.

Maya manipulated nearby metal fragments and hurled them at the enemy defenses. Protected by her teammates, Ruby reached one of the exposed connections and began devouring it.

The structure unleashed a burst of violet energy, but Ruby endured it long enough to finish the job.

The device lost its glow.

“We did it!” Timothy shouted.

“Don’t get too excited!” Liam replied over the communicator.

“We still have a long way to go.”

◇◆◇

The battle intensified as they approached the rift.

The invaders seemed to realize that the hunters were about to reach something important. Their attacks grew more aggressive, and they stopped worrying about protecting their own positions.

Jane descended from the sky with her energy wings spread wide.

A volley of glowing feathers pierced the enemy formation, forcing several soldiers to shield themselves.

“I can keep them occupied!” Jane shouted.

“Keep moving!”

Her teammates protected the flanks while she attacked the invaders attempting to surround the group.

On the ground, Carol and Emily combined their abilities once again. Carol’s arm took on the properties of the material in her gemstone, while Emily channeled electricity to enhance her attacks.

The resulting blow knocked down a heavily armored enemy.

However, both women were exhausted.

Chloe approached and established a temporary connection with them, redistributing some of their available energy to help them keep moving.

“Thanks,” Emily murmured.

“Don’t waste it,” Chloe replied, equally exhausted.

Liam watched his teammates.

Everyone was injured. Some were struggling to walk, while others could barely keep their abilities active.

But not a single one of them stopped.

Lydia, who had reduced the number of her copies to conserve energy, returned to Liam’s side.

“I think we’re close.”

Liam looked up.

Beyond the destroyed buildings, the enormous central structure stood beside the dimensional rift.

It was far larger than any of the devices they had destroyed. Several metal conduits connected its base to other structures, and its violet symbols pulsed in rhythm with the columns of energy streaking across the sky.

James spoke through the communicator.

“Liam, that’s the structure we detected! All the readings point toward it. It’s very likely the core of the entire system!”

Liam clenched his fists.

“Then that’s our target.”

◇◆◇

The hunters reached a wide avenue from which they had a direct view of the rift.

The portal occupied an enormous portion of the sky, its surface churning like an ocean of violet energy.

Beneath it, the core glowed with terrifying intensity.

A chill ran down Liam’s spine.

He didn’t know what would happen if the structure finished activating, but he was certain they couldn’t allow it.

“All squads, prepare yourselves!” he ordered.

“We’re attacking the core!”

Amber took position on his left. Wayne raised several platforms to position his ranged fighters, while Don Rouch prepared to manipulate the metal connections.

Timothy moved ahead with his teammates. Jane remained airborne, watching the enemy’s movements.

Lydia stood beside Liam.

“Ready, honey?”

He nodded.

“More than ever.”

But before they could give the order to advance, a powerful wave of energy swept across the battlefield.

The core blazed with light.

At the other end of the avenue, the invader leader halted his battle against Armstrong.

His eyes fixed on the hunters who had just reached the position.

“So, you’ve finally made it here.”

Armstrong took advantage of the moment to adjust his stance and raise his sword.

“Concerned?”

The leader slowly turned his gaze back toward him.

Violet energy began enveloping his body, spreading along the lines of his armor.

“I no longer need to hold back.”

Armstrong’s expression hardened.

And as the leader unleashed a pressure far more intense than before, the six squads prepared for the battle that would decide the fate of their world.