Relentless Assault

The oppressive air of the Abyssal Cradle pressed down on Zami as he entered the chamber once again. His sharp silver eyes locked on the towering form of the Wailing Dread. The monstrous vessel remained as menacing as ever, its multiple arms shifting beneath its flowing pitch-black cape, blue crystal eyes glowing ominously.

"You persist," the Wailing Dread said, its distorted voice reverberating through the chamber. "But persistence alone will not save you."

Zami unsheathed his katana, its dark, ominous blade reflecting the faint glow of the chamber's crystals. The Bone Monarch's shard hummed faintly in his pouch, a reminder of its latent power.

"This time," Zami said coldly, his voice calm yet resolute, "I'm ending this."

The Wailing Dread wasted no time, its cape unfurling to release a swarm of phantom serpents. Zami dashed forward, entering *Flow State* as the world around him slowed. His focus honed in on the serpents as they lunged toward him, their glowing forms eerily fast to the untrained eye.

But to Zami, they were manageable.

With precise movements, he slashed through the serpents, his blade igniting with crimson flames as he activated *Blood Cell Explosion*. The flames roared, consuming the ethereal creatures in bursts of fiery light.

Before the Wailing Dread could retaliate, Zami closed the distance, unleashing *Night Sun*. His fists struck the creature's torso repeatedly, each punch generating shockwaves that cracked its crystalline exterior.

The Wailing Dread roared, its scythe-like arms spinning in a deadly arc. Zami anticipated the attack, sidestepping and parrying the first scythe before redirecting the second into the creature's own body. Sparks flew as the weapon collided with its crystalline arm, creating a momentary opening.

Zami seized the opportunity, combining *Stab Technique* with the power of the *Bone Monarch's Shard*. He drove his blade into the Wailing Dread's torso, the shard amplifying the strike with an eerie glow. The impact sent cracks spidering across the creature's form, eliciting a guttural scream.

The Wailing Dread retaliated with chains, the spectral links tearing through the air as they aimed to ensnare Zami. He dodged swiftly, moving behind a pillar and forcing the chains to wrap around it. With a sharp pull, the pillar crumbled, collapsing onto the creature.

But the Wailing Dread wasn't done. It unleashed a deafening sonic wave, the high-frequency sound shattering nearby crystals and causing Zami's ears to bleed.

Clutching his head, Zami gritted his teeth and forced himself to move. He spotted a crystal that had fallen during the chaos and positioned himself behind it. As the Wailing Dread released another sonic attack, the crystal refracted the sound, redirecting it back toward the creature.

The Wailing Dread staggered, its movements faltering as cracks deepened along its arms and torso.

Zami pressed his advantage, combining techniques in rapid succession. He delivered a *Hawk Drop* to the creature's knee joint, followed by a *Critical Dues* to its distorted face. The impact shattered one of its crystal eyes, causing the Wailing Dread to howl in rage.

Phantom serpents surged toward him once more, but Zami countered with *1-in Various Punch*, his singular hand delivering a rapid series of strikes that destroyed the spectral forms before they could reach him.

The Wailing Dread raised its scythes again, but Zami anticipated the attack, using *Flow State* to dodge and deflect each swing with precision.

"You're predictable," Zami muttered, his voice steady despite the strain on his body.

Activating *Blood Cell Explosion* once more, Zami unleashed a flurry of fiery slashes with *Multiple Slash*, the combination creating a whirlwind of flames that engulfed the Wailing Dread.

As the creature recoiled, Zami reached into his pouch, drawing forth the Bone Monarch's shard. The shard pulsed with dark energy, resonating with his katana.

"Let's see how you handle this," Zami said, embedding the shard into the hilt of his blade.

The katana glowed with an otherworldly light, its edge crackling with a mix of crimson fire and the shard's eerie energy. Zami dashed forward, his movements a blur as he combined *Stab Technique* with the shard's amplified power.

The strike pierced through the Wailing Dread's torso, the energy from the shard erupting in a shockwave that shattered the crystals embedded in its body.

But even as the Wailing Dread faltered, it retaliated with a desperate onslaught. Chains lashed out, phantom serpents surged, and sonic waves tore through the chamber.

Zami fought with everything he had, deflecting, parrying, and countering with relentless precision. Yet, the creature's overwhelming power began to take its toll.

Blood dripped from his wounds, his vision blurred, and his breathing grew labored.

"I'll die anyway," Zami muttered, a faint smirk crossing his lips.

Summoning the last of his strength, he delivered a final combination: *Night Sun* to its torso, followed by a *Hawk Drop** to its legs and a devastating *Critical Dues* to its head.

The Wailing Dread staggered, but it was not enough.

As the creature raised its scythes for a final strike, Zami's body gave out, and the world went dark.

When Zami opened his eyes, he was standing outside the chamber once more, his katana in hand and the Bone Monarch's shard glowing faintly in his pouch.

He exhaled slowly, his expression blank but his resolve unshaken.

"This isn't over," Zami said softly, his voice steady.

Karesh's voice echoed in his mind. "You weaken it more with each attempt. Keep going."

Zami stepped forward, ready to face the Wailing Dread once more.