Chapter 187: Arriving at the Combat Zone

Lydia arrived first.

The wind battered her small slime body as she flew through the sky at full speed.

She had used her Shapeshifter abilities.

She hadn’t managed to completely transform into an eagle.

Her body was still that of a small slime, but two enormous feather-covered wings had appeared on her sides.

Each flap carried her several meters forward.

’This is amazing!’

Lydia tilted slightly in midair.

For a moment, she lost her balance.

’Ah!’

One of her wings folded.

Her body began to fall.

[Burst]

A gust of wind slowed her descent.

Lydia regained her balance.

’I definitely still need to practice.’

In the distance, she could see smoke rising between the buildings.

The area had been evacuated.

But explosions could still be heard.

Lydia accelerated.

When she reached the combat zone, she saw several hunters fighting a huge creature.

Tim’s squad.

And they were having trouble.

The creature was different from the one Liam’s squad had fought inside the dungeon.

Its body was dark, but several violet lines ran across its skin.

Every time it struck the ground, small amounts of energy were absorbed into its body.

Lydia descended.

’Watch out!’

One of Tim’s hunters was about to be hit.

Lydia used a small burst of wind.

The hunter was sent flying to the side, avoiding the attack.

"What was that?"

Lydia landed on a nearby building.

The hunter stared at her in confusion.

"A slime?"

Lydia raised a small tentacle shaped like a hand as she took on her human form.

"Hello."

The hunter fell silent.

"Did that slime just talk?"

Lydia didn’t have time to answer.

The creature raised its head, its violet eyes locking onto her.

For a moment...

The creature became completely motionless.

Lydia felt a chill run down her body.

"You can feel it too..."

The creature roared and charged toward her.

[Burst]

Lydia shot into the sky.

The creature destroyed the building where she had been just a second earlier.

Lydia flew around it.

She couldn’t defeat it, but she could distract it.

"Hey!"

The creature looked up again.

Lydia smiled.

"That’s it. Follow me."

◇◆◇

A few minutes later, Liam and the rest of the squad arrived at the area.

The vehicle came to a sudden stop.

Liam got out first.

"Where’s Tim?"

James had sent them the exact coordinates.

But before he could get an answer...

Something flew over them.

Liam looked up.

"What...?"

A small slime flew across the sky.

Two enormous eagle wings protruded from its body.

Liam’s eyes widened.

"Lydia!"

The small creature landed in front of him, and the wings slowly disappeared.

Liam ran toward her.

"What are you doing here?"

"[Lydia: I got here first.]"

"I can see that."

Liam lifted her into his hands.

"But how?"

Lydia seemed proud of herself.

"[Lydia: By flying.]"

Liam looked at her disappearing wings.

It took him a few seconds to process it.

"Can you use your abilities now?"

Lydia shook her head as she took her human form again.

"Not completely."

The small wings reappeared on her back.

"I only managed to make the wings appear."

Liam let out a small laugh.

"Then you’re not an eagle."

"But I can fly!"

Lydia looked quite proud of herself.

Then Lydia’s small copy slipped out of Liam’s hands.

Pop.

It slowly made its way toward her main body.

"Lydia..."

The copy touched Lydia’s body.

A violet light appeared.

And the small mass of slime began merging with her.

Liam watched in silence.

The copy disappeared inside his wife’s body.

For a few seconds, Lydia remained motionless.

Then she opened her eyes.

"I remember everything now."

Liam stepped closer.

"Everything?"

Lydia nodded.

"Yes."

She had seen the fight.

She had felt the evolution.

She had used the dimensional energy.

And she had also felt the moment when she managed to steal all the energy from that creature.

Liam smiled.

"So it really was you."

Lydia nodded.

"I guess it was."

A voice came from behind them.

"Liam!"

Tim ran toward them.

His uniform was covered in dust, and he had several superficial wounds.

"I’m glad you made it."

Liam looked toward the creature.

"How long have you been fighting?"

"Too long."

Tim took a deep breath.

"That creature... it won’t stop absorbing energy from its surroundings."

Liam frowned.

He looked at Lydia and then at the creature.

It was exactly what they had seen inside the dungeon.

"It’s just like the other one."

A system message appeared in front of Liam.

[Pix: Yes...]

The small pixie analyzed the creature.

[Pix: It’s using the energy of this dimension to recover.]

Lydia stepped forward.

"I can take that energy away from it."

Liam looked at her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Lydia raised a hand.

A small violet light appeared over her body.

"I can do it now."

Pix responded immediately.

[Pix: Liam...]

"What?"

[Pix: Energy Slime.]

Liam remembered the system message.

[Lydia Davis — Energy Slime Level 70]

Pix continued.

[Pix: Her new ability allows her to absorb energy directly.]

Liam smiled and looked at his wife.

"Then you can use energy without weakening the others."

"Exactly."

Chloe stepped closer.

"That could be really useful."

Lydia nodded.

"I can also give it back."

Pix looked fascinated.

"That means Lydia can function as an energy storage system."

Liam immediately understood the possibilities.

But they didn’t have time to continue talking.

The creature roared, and its body began emitting an intense violet light.

Lydia froze.

"It can sense my energy."

Pix’s eyes widened.

"Yes."

The creature fixed its eyes on Lydia.

It seemed to recognize something it had felt before.

The dimensional energy Lydia had absorbed.

Liam stepped in front of her.

"Everyone, get ready."

Jordan stepped forward.

"I thought we had just gotten out of a dungeon."

Chuck pulled out a piece of gum.

"Me too."

Zayn smiled tiredly.

"I guess the day isn’t over yet."

Nora summoned several shadow creatures.

Ray placed a hand on the ground.

Lena raised her carbon sword.

Chloe prepared to establish her connections.

Tim looked at Liam.

"Do you have a plan?"

Liam watched the creature.

Then he looked at Lydia.

"First, we have to stop it from absorbing any more energy."

Lydia raised her small wings.

"And then..."

A smile appeared on her face.

"...I’ll take it away from it."

The creature roared...

And charged straight toward them.