The Breaking Point

Zami stood in the shattered chamber, the faint glow of the crystalline walls reflecting his determined gaze. His hands, still bleeding from the previous battle, trembled as he gripped his katana tightly. Across from him, the Wailing Dread remained standing, though its body was riddled with cracks and fractures from their relentless encounters.

The Wailing Dread extended its remaining arms, crystalline scythes forming in its grasp. Chains erupted from its cape, and its distorted voice filled the chamber.

"You cannot win, mortal. Your persistence is futile."

Zami didn't respond. His silver eyes narrowed, and his grip on the katana tightened. He charged forward, using *Flow State* to close the distance.

Zami dodged the phantom serpents with precision, weaving between the chains as they lashed toward him. He deflected one of the scythes, redirecting it to sever a serpent mid-strike, and delivered a *Night Sun* strike to the Wailing Dread's torso. The repeated blows caused more fractures, sending shards of crystal scattering across the floor.

The Wailing Dread retaliated with a high-frequency soundwave, causing Zami's ears to bleed. He staggered but quickly ducked behind a fallen crystal shard, using it to deflect the destructive soundwave back toward the vessel. The redirected attack struck its chest, deepening the cracks in its core.

Zami knew this wasn't enough. His techniques, his precision, even his willpower—it would not end this battle. He needed more.

The Wailing Dread unleashed another wave of phantom serpents and spinning scythes. Zami, his body aching and bloodied, dodged and parried with every ounce of his strength. As he leapt back to avoid a scythe, an idea sparked in his mind—a desperate, reckless idea.

He channeled *Blood Cell Explosion*, but this time, he didn't ignite his blade. Instead, he focused the explosive energy inward, targeting his own flesh.

The pain was excruciating as part of his left arm ruptured, sending a crimson shockwave outward. The force caught the Wailing Dread off guard, shattering its scythes and blasting away its serpents. Blood sprayed from Zami's arm, but the attack had left the vessel staggered, its movements slowed.

Taking advantage of the moment, Zami dashed forward, his katana glowing faintly with the energy of the Bone Monarch's shard. With a powerful upward slash, he cleaved through the Wailing Dread's cape, exposing its crystalline core.

The Wailing Dread, desperate and enraged, released a torrent of chains and soundwaves. Zami, battered and broken, pushed himself forward. He deflected the chains with rapid slashes, the shards embedded in his katana glowing with dark energy.

With one final surge of strength, Zami leapt into the air. He channeled every ounce of his willpower into a devastating combo, combining *Multi-Strike* and *Blood Cell Explosion*. Each strike hit the Wailing Dread's core, the explosive energy tearing through its crystalline body.

As the final blow landed, the Wailing Dread let out a distorted scream. Its body shattered into countless fragments, the echoes of its voice fading into silence.

Zami fell to his knees, his breathing ragged, his body barely holding together. Blood pooled beneath him, but he remained upright, his katana planted firmly in the ground.

"It's done," he whispered, his voice low and steady.

The chamber grew eerily silent as the fragments of the Wailing Dread disintegrated into faint, glowing particles. The oppressive energy that had filled the room was gone, leaving behind only the faint light of the crystals embedded in the walls.

Zami, clutching his wounded arm, slowly stood. His silver eyes scanned the remains of the vessel, searching for any trace of its power. Among the crystalline fragments, a faintly glowing shard caught his attention. He reached out, picking it up with his bloodied hand.

This shard was different, its energy pulsing with a strange, otherworldly resonance. Zami tucked it into his pouch alongside the Bone Monarch's shard, his expression unreadable.

He turned toward the exit of the chamber, his body battered but his resolve unbroken.