Riko had little time to react to the searing pain in his arm before the giant's shadow fell over him once more. The creature towered over the destroyed gym, digital glitches streaming from its joints like escaping vapor. Its massive arms, each as thick as a pillar, morphed and reshaped, polygons snapping into place like a corrupt file during a game. The electricity Luna had blasted into its face still crackled, making the giant vibrate with a deeper sound, as if it had found a new power mode.
Kaze, wiping dust off his face, narrowed his eyes. It's getting quicker at changing tactics," he said.
Riko didn't answer. He couldn't. His arm felt like it was on fire. The Level Screen on his wrist flickered, symbols spinning into gibberish. The pain spread to his shoulder.
The giant noticed.
It turned its head slowly, its empty eye sockets fixing on Riko. A distorted growl rumbled out, not from its mouth, but from its core, shaking the air. Riko stumbled back.
Kaze grabbed his hoodie. "Don't lose focus."
Riko glared. "I'm not.
"Then move, Kaze said.
He shoved Riko aside as the giant's right hand rose. It was charging something. The air tightened, bending like heat waves. Pieces of the broken floor floated up, drawn toward its palm as if caught in a digital black hole. The giant's fingers folded and shifted, locking into a misshapen form that looked like a giant hammer head, damaged and huge.
A glitch hammer.
And it was aimed right at them.
Kaze's face turned serious. "It's learned to put out the most hurting power. This is going to be bad.
He didn't finish his sentence. The giant was too fast.
Its arm swung upward, gathering speed, sending waves through the area. Pieces of broken seats bounced on the floor. Lights fell from the ceiling. The lines on the gym floor twisted as the giant's power grew.
"Riko, MOVE!" Luna screamed from behind a fallen pillar.
Riko tried. His legs moved, but the pain in his arm flared up. He stumbled, clutching his wrist, gasping for air.
Kaze stepped in front of him, ready to fight. "Fine. I'll hit it before it hits us.
"Kaze, you can't just attack it head-on!" Riko yelled.
Kaze didn't seem to care.
He ran forward, fast and precise. The floor splintered beneath his feet. He charged straight for the giant's center, fists ready to strike at the core he had been aiming for.
But the giant saw him coming.
The glitch hammer stopped in mid-air, defying gravity, stopping its code instantly. Then, without warning, it turned downward, changing targets.
Straight for Kaze.
Kaze's eyes widened just before the hit. "Tch—"
Riko lunged toward him. "Get out of the way!"
But the monster was faster.
The giant swung down.
Kaze barely dodged as the hammer smashed into the spot where he had been standing. The force was huge. A shockwave exploded outward, sending dust and debris flying.
Riko was thrown backward, hitting a bent locker door. Pain shot across his back. His vision blurred.
The giant straightened, its arms shifting, glitches racing across its frame. It focused on Riko again, as if sensing the system inside him struggling.
Luna ran along the sidelines, grabbing pipes, then dropping them when she realized they were useless. "Riko! Your arm—what's happening?!"
"I don't know!" Riko shouted back.
The Level Screen sparked, casting blue streaks across his face. Error messages flashed.
<< WARNING: USER LIMIT >>
<< CRITICAL OVERRIDE FAILURE >>
<< SYSTEM UNSTABLE >>
The messages flashed too fast to read.
Kaze landed beside Riko, gasping. "Your arm is about to break.
Riko gritted his teeth. "Thanks."
The giant took a step forward.
The floor shook.
Kaze shoved Riko toward the bleachers. "If your system breaks, you're done. Understand?"
"Yeah, but we can't run forever!" Riko said.
The giant raised its hammer-hand again.
This time, the gym creaked like the building was scared.
Riko stood up, holding his burning arm. The pain crawled to his neck. His muscles twitched.
He tried to breathe.
He tried to make the system work.
He tried to move faster.
But nothing worked.
Kaze stood between him and the giant, fists up. "It'll come after you again. I'll stop it.
"No," Riko growled, stepping forward. "I'm not letting you take all the hits.
Kaze didn't look back. "You can barely stand."
"Still not giving up."
Kaze sighed. "You're crazy."
"And you're annoying."
Luna yelled, "Guys! Later! It's about to swing!"
The giant's arm rose higher.
The air tightened until Riko felt his lungs burn.
He knew that if this hit landed, the school was done. Maybe all of them.
The hammer hummed, pulling debris, growing heavier, bigger, with each passing second.
Riko's arm pulsed.
A line flashed across the screen:
<< USER… DANGER… >>
He swallowed, heart pounding, eyes on the monster.
Then—
The giant swung downward.
Full force.
Full power.
The ground shattered before the hammer hit, cracks spreading like lightning.
The world stopped for a second.
Riko couldn't hear his heart.
He couldn't hear Luna scream.
He couldn't even see Kaze move.
All he saw was the huge weapon falling.
Then—
The giant slams the ground — and the entire school floor fell apart.