Chapter 37 · Then keep hold of me

The cannon locked onto them.

Raven covered her hand with his burning one.

"Then keep hold of me."

Her fingers closed around his.

The skill activated.

Black ash exploded from Raven's body and flooded through Judicator's chest. The titan jerked upright. Its armor split from shoulder to waist. The red eye went white.

The machine's voice screamed through the vault speakers.

"CONDEMNED ASH-BEARER IDENTIFIED. RAVEN THORNE. PROPERTY OF THE HIGH SEAT."

Seraphina stared at him. "Thorne?"

Raven's jaw tightened. "Not now."

"Your name was erased from the execution record. You said you were never—"

"Not now!"

The ash reached the core chamber.

Raven ripped the remaining crystal matter out through the titan's exposed chest. The black heart came free in his fist. Judicator's armor plates peeled apart. Pistons snapped. Steam erupted through the cracks.

[HEARTBREAKER COMPLETE] [TARGET CORE DESTROYED] [LEVEL INCREASE: 10] [NEW TITLE ACQUIRED: IRON-BREAKER] [DETONATION IN 8 SECONDS]

"We need to go!" Seraphina shouted.

"Eight seconds?"

"That is not enough!"

"You wanted me to come back.