Chapter 46

Cyrus Pov

With my breathing labored and forced, and the raw intent of the Hydra spilling out as it stared me down, I let myself become consumed by my deep inhales and exhales. Each cycle gradually reduced the frantic anxiety that had taken control of every facet of my thoughts. Like I had done in the Void, I expelled cosmic energy from my core, weaving it outward like a web. Staying focused on expanding my senses, I closed my eyes, knowing this might be a misstep given the nature of my opponent.

Deep in this meditative state, I once again felt the gravitational fields of everything around me. I sensed the subtle pull of the blades of grass, the way they altered the space around them. I detected the weight of the boulders as my outreaching cosmic energy was slowly drawn toward them. But two entities stood out among the rest—the first was the Hydra, and the second was the Rift's core, from which the beast was actively drawing power.

In this heightened state, I could feel it—how the astral behemoth was forcibly siphoning cosmic energy from the core. The interaction between the cosmic energy and the gravitational distortions in the environment made it clear.

"So, if I cut you off from that, you're finished," I thought, sifting through the flood of information my senses were receiving. Processing everything put an immense strain on my mind, but it was worth it—especially if it meant getting out of here alive. I was willing to endure anything.

After a few moments, as I adjusted to the mental burden, I allowed my mind and soul to meld deeper into one, losing myself in the depths of my meditation. With my eyes closed and my breathing steady, my body moved instinctively toward the Hydra. I heard the beast snort, acknowledging my intent to continue the battle.

Within my cosmic web, I sensed the shifts and distortions in the creature's gravitational field as it redistributed its mass, preparing to lunge.

Though my eyes remained shut, I didn't need to see—I could feel it. The moment the behemoth initiated its maneuver, I predicted the attack and evaded with minimal use of my cosmic energy.

I heard the beast's frustration as the wind rushed past me, the force of its failed strike stirring the air. A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. I understood the breakthrough I had just made. With this ability, I could negate the behemoth's speed advantage, but it all depended on how well I could maintain this deep meditative state despite the constant depletion of my core.

Suppressing my cocky thoughts, I sank further into my meditation. I sensed the gravitational distortions once more—signals that the behemoth was preparing another explosive leap.

Hearing the thunderous impact as it launched itself, I estimated that I had roughly a second to react. As I sidestepped to the left, I detected another distortion originating from where its heads would be.

This one was greater.

It felt like the buildup of coiled muscles—a massive store of potential energy—but it was more than that. In the fleeting moment I had, I felt the gravity warping around four distinct objects, each radiating increasing heat.

"Damn, it's going to fire another blast," I realized.

Instantly, I pushed cosmic energy into my astral tattoo. With my field of influence active, I felt my presence diminish the Hydra's gravitational field.

Taking advantage of the moment, I forced my battered body to move, gripping my horn fragment sword tightly as I slashed through all four of the creature's legs, severing them cleanly.

At this point, it didn't matter that my ability had worn off—the behemoth was now immobilized, unable to move until it regenerated its limbs. I didn't waste time. Ignoring its agonized wails, I leapt onto its fallen form, making a direct path for its heads.

I knew this was my moment.

I was nearing my mental limit, struggling to actively process the gravitational fields around me. I had to make every second count. As I reached the Hydra's heads, I activated my ability once more, slowing their frantic movements just enough to land clean strikes on all four.

I knew they would regenerate.

But that was exactly what I needed to happen.

As I delivered the final slash to the fourth head, I felt a massive shift in the atmosphere. The Rift's core was releasing a surge of cosmic energy, funneling it toward the Hydra. With such a large amount of energy leaving the core, I could feel the gravitational fields around it weakening drastically—its mass had decreased significantly.

Beneath me, I sensed a deep rumbling—the Hydra was regaining consciousness.

That was my cue.

I had reached my mental limit, and as my cosmic web dissipated, along with my deep meditative state. With my advantage gone, I knew I had only one course of action left.

I had to destroy the core.

That was the only way to end this nightmare.

With three uses of my ability remaining, I decided to do one last petty thing.

Activating my ability once again, I sliced off all of the Hydra's legs a second time—then immediately broke into a full sprint toward the core.

This served two purposes.

One, it gave me a head start against a much faster opponent.

Two, it made the core even smaller, making it easier to deal a decisive blow.