Chapter 188: Weakening the Enemy Indirectly

The creature roared.

Its dark body tensed as the violet lines running across its skin glowed intensely.

Liam stepped forward.

"Everyone, get ready!"

The creature moved from its position.

"Here it comes!"

Jordan was the first to react.

He burned fat, and his body hardened just before the creature appeared in front of him.

The impact made the ground tremble.

Jordan was pushed back several meters, but he managed to stop the attack.

"Ray!"

"On it!"

Ray touched Jordan’s shoulder.

The density of his body immediately increased.

Jordan planted his feet firmly on the ground.

"Now."

The creature struck again.

This time, Jordan didn’t move.

The impact kicked up a cloud of dust.

Zayn took advantage of the opportunity.

"Mine!"

He disappeared from sight for an instant and appeared behind the creature.

He struck its back, causing the creature to stagger.

But before Zayn could get away, one of the monster’s limbs shot toward him.

"Zayn!"

Nora raised a hand.

Several shadow creatures emerged from the ground and bit down on the creature’s arm.

Zayn managed to escape.

"Thanks, friend."

Nora simply nodded.

"You’re welcome, friend. But be more careful next time."

The creature roared and released a wave of energy.

The shadows disintegrated.

At the same time, the nearby plants and structures began emitting small violet particles.

The creature absorbed them, and its body recovered.

Liam frowned.

"Again..."

Pix appeared beside him.

"It’s absorbing energy from its surroundings."

Liam watched the violet lines running across its body.

"Then as long as it can keep doing that, we won’t be able to defeat it."

"Correct."

Lydia stepped forward.

"I can do it, honey."

Liam looked at her.

"Lydia..."

"I want to try."

Violet energy began appearing around Lydia’s body.

She extended a small hand.

A stream of energy shot toward the creature.

The monster shuddered.

For an instant, several violet particles left its body and began moving toward Lydia.

The creature roared.

Lydia smiled.

"It’s working."

The particles entered her body.

But to everyone’s surprise, the creature didn’t seem to weaken very much.

Liam narrowed his eyes.

"Is that all?"

Lydia made a small grimace.

"I think I’m only taking a portion of it."

Pix floated around her.

"Exactly."

Liam looked at her.

"Shouldn’t it be weakening more?"

"Not necessarily."

Pix pointed at Lydia.

"Energy Slime doesn’t consume energy the same way that creature did."

Lydia closed her eyes.

She could feel that energy inside her.

It was different from the energy she had consumed before.

It wasn’t disappearing. It was simply being stored.

"It’s like..."

Lydia searched for the right words.

"Like someone lent me something."

Liam smiled.

"That explains your new ability pretty well."

Pix nodded.

"She can store energy without destroying its source."

Liam looked back at the creature.

"So the difference is that thing steals energy, draining the source. And Lydia can borrow it without harming the source she takes it from."

"Exactly."

Lydia raised both hands.

"And I can give it back."

Liam’s eyes widened.

"You can?"

Lydia nodded.

"Although I still don’t know how to do it perfectly."

"Then don’t push yourself too hard."

"Okay, honey."

The creature attacked again.

Jordan stepped in front of it.

"I’ll stop it!"

His body absorbed the impact.

Ray increased his density again.

"Jordan!"

"I’m fine!"

Chuck appeared from the side.

"Then take this!"

He threw three knives.

Their trajectories changed in midair, and all three embedded themselves in one of the creature’s limbs.

Lena took advantage of the opening.

"Good work!"

Her black sword ignited and sliced through one of the monster’s arms.

The limb fell to the ground.

But it began regenerating almost immediately.

"It’s recovering again!"

Chloe extended her hands.

"Jordan, Zayn!"

An energy connection appeared between them.

Then another extended toward Lena.

"I’ll give you whatever you need."

Zayn smiled.

"Perfect."

He moved again.

While everyone kept the creature occupied, Liam watched.

He wasn’t looking at their attacks.

He was watching the surroundings.

The violet particles weren’t appearing randomly.

There were specific points where the energy gathered before being absorbed.

"Pix."

"Yes?"

"Can you detect where that energy is coming from?"

Pix made a screen appear in front of her and began moving her fingers through the air as if she were typing on a keyboard.

A few seconds later, she pointed in several directions.

"There are several points."

Liam understood.

"It’s connected to them."

"Probably."

Liam raised his voice.

"Everyone, listen!"

The team fell back slightly.

"Don’t focus on killing it yet!"

Chuck looked at him.

"What?"

"It’s connected to several energy points! We need to cut off its supply!"

Liam pointed at Nora.

"Nora, find those connections."

The hunter nodded, and her shadows spread across the ground.

"I’ll find them, sir."

"Ray, once we find them, I want you to alter the density of anything that can block them."

"Understood."

"Chuck, Lena, destroy any of the points you can."

"Yes, Boss!"

Lena smiled.

"Now that’s something I can do."

"Zayn, move between them and keep the creature occupied."

"I’m good at that."

"Jordan, you’re staying with me."

Jordan nodded.

"Let’s go!"

The team began moving.

Nora found the first one.

"Here!"

Ray touched a massive chunk of concrete and made it extremely heavy.

Jordan struggled to lift it.

"Chuck!"

"I know!"

Chuck caught the chunk.

Thanks to his ability, he changed its trajectory.

The massive block shot forward.

It slammed into the energy point.

A violet explosion illuminated the street.

The creature roared.

"One down!"

Nora found another, and Lena ran toward it.

Her sword lit up and sliced through a structure connecting the point to the creature.

"Two!"

The creature began losing its balance.

Liam looked at Lydia.

"Now, honey."

Lydia nodded and extended her hands.

The energy began flowing toward her.

This time, it was much more intense.

Lydia absorbed a large amount of it, and her body began to glow.

"Lydia!"

"I’m fine. Don’t worry."

Another stream of energy entered her, and her body trembled.

Liam stepped forward.

"That’s enough!"

Lydia tried to stop absorbing it, but the energy kept flowing toward her.

"I can’t stop it!"

Pix’s eyes widened.

"Liam!"

The creature was trying to reclaim the energy Lydia had taken.

But Lydia wouldn’t let it return.

The energy began accumulating inside her.

Lydia took a deep breath.

"Okay..."

She closed her eyes.

"I just need to stop taking it."

Little by little, the flow decreased, and the glow around her body faded.

Lydia opened her eyes.

"I did it."

Liam sighed in relief.

"Good."

Then a strange sound filled the air.

The creature raised its head.

The violet lines across its body began concentrating in its chest.

Pix went pale.

"Liam..."

"What is it?"

"It’s gathering more energy."

"For another attack?"

"No."

Pix pointed toward the sky.

A small violet crack appeared above the creature.

Liam felt a chill.

"Is that...?"

"A dimensional connection."

The crack began to widen.

The creature roared.

And now, it seemed like it was trying to escape.

Liam gritted his teeth.

"We’re not letting it get away."

The crack continued to grow.

And something began moving behind it.