The spear-wielding entity moved like a ghost, shifting through the battlefield with terrifying speed. Its strikes were precise, each thrust aimed to kill rather than wound.
Liam barely dodged as the spear whistled past his face, slicing a thin line across his cheek.
"This one's different," Selene warned, already moving. "It fights like a player."
Liam didn't respond. Instead, he raised his hand.
The Gatekeeper—the monstrous being he had just tamed—emerged from the shadows.
A towering figure of obsidian and metal, its eyes burning with a deep crimson glow. It wasn't just a mindless beast—it was a former guardian of the Rift, now under Liam's control.
"Let's see how you handle this," Liam muttered.
He gave the command.
The Gatekeeper roared, its voice shaking the very ground beneath them. It lunged, its massive claws clashing against the spear-wielder's weapon. Sparks flew as corrupted energy crackled in the air.
The enemy grunted, clearly caught off guard. It twisted its body, narrowly avoiding a crushing blow from the Gatekeeper's tail.
Liam took advantage of the distraction.
Override surged through his veins.
He channeled his power through his bond with the Gatekeeper, enhancing its movements. The beast's attacks became more coordinated, almost like it was an extension of Liam's will.
Clang!
The spear-wielder blocked another strike but was forced back.
Kai, watching the battle, whistled. "Okay, that thing is scary."
Selene smirked. "And now it's on our side."
Echo, analyzing the situation, spoke up. "The enemy is adapting. It will attempt a counterattack soon."
As if on cue, the spear-wielder vanished.
In an instant, it reappeared behind Liam.
Too fast!
The spear thrust forward—
—but the Gatekeeper intercepted it.
With inhuman reflexes, the beast swung its massive arm, sending the enemy flying across the battlefield. The impact shattered part of the Rift's unstable ground, causing cracks to form in reality itself.
Liam exhaled, gripping his sword. "Time to finish this."
The enemy rose again, its body flickering. But something was different—its form was unstable.
Selene narrowed her eyes. "It's...breaking apart?"
Echo confirmed. "Its data integrity is collapsing. It cannot sustain itself in this state."
Liam's eyes hardened. He didn't waste a second.
"Gatekeeper—attack."
The final blow came swiftly.
With a single massive strike, the Gatekeeper's clawed hand crushed the enemy's core.
The spear-wielder let out a final, distorted sound—then shattered into pixels.
The battle was over.
But something else was waiting for them deeper in the Rift.
And the real challenge was just beginning.
End of Chapter 21