Chapter 181: The Energy Thief
The roar shook the entire valley.
The black stones on the ground began to vibrate.
Some of them even rose a few inches into the air before falling back down.
Liam kept his pistol aimed at the creature.
In front of them, the enormous figure finished passing through the dimensional connection.
It was much larger than any human.
Its body was covered in a kind of dark crystal that seemed to form an armor. Its arms were long and thick, and its hands ended in enormous claws.
But what stood out the most were its eyes.
Two violet circles that glowed intensely.
The creature slowly tilted its head.
Then it roared again.
"Everyone, get back!"
Jordan stepped forward.
His body began to harden as he positioned himself in front of the group.
Carol moved beside him.
Emily let electricity course through her arms.
Chuck raised his knives.
Lena gripped her sword with both hands.
Nora summoned several shadow creatures.
Zayn disappeared.
Ray touched the ground.
Chloe moved closer to Emily.
Liam aimed directly at the creature’s chest.
"Wait."
Everyone stopped.
Liam watched the creature.
’We don’t know if it understands what we’re saying.’
The creature took a step, and the ground trembled.
Another step, bringing it closer.
Liam decided to test it.
"Can you understand me?"
The creature didn’t respond.
It simply opened its mouth.
A deep sound began to build in its throat.
"Take cover!"
The roar erupted like a shockwave.
The air exploded.
Jordan planted his feet firmly into the ground and took the impact head-on.
Carol shielded herself behind him.
Emily and Lena were pushed several yards backward.
Chuck rolled across the ground.
Nora lost control of two of her shadow creatures.
Liam had to shield his face with one arm.
The small copy of Lydia moved inside his jacket.
"Stay in there!"
The roar ended.
Jordan remained standing.
"That hurt."
Chuck slowly got back to his feet.
"Was that a roar or an attack?"
"Probably both," Carol replied.
Liam aimed again.
"Now."
Emily shot forward.
A surge of electricity coursed through her body.
She struck the creature directly in one of its legs.
The electricity spread across the dark crystal.
The creature staggered backward.
Lena took advantage of the opening and threw her sword.
The weapon pierced part of the crystal armor.
The creature roared.
"It worked!"
Lena ran to retrieve her sword.
But the creature swung one of its enormous claws.
Liam fired.
The bullet struck its arm.
The creature lost its balance for a moment.
Jordan took advantage of the opportunity and charged.
His massive body slammed into the enemy’s legs.
BOOM.
The creature fell to its knees.
"Now!"
Carol charged forward.
The texture of her body changed as her arms took on a stone-like appearance.
She punched the creature in the chest.
The crystal cracked.
But before she could attack again, the creature extended one of its arms.
Carol was sent flying.
"Carol!"
Emily ran toward her.
"I’m fine."
Carol slowly got back to her feet.
"But it’s definitely strong."
Liam watched the cracks in the crystal.
’It’s not invincible.’
But then he noticed something.
The cracks began to close.
Liam’s eyes widened.
"It’s regenerating!"
Pix appeared beside him.
"Liam, wait."
"What?"
"I’m detecting something."
Pix stared at the creature.
"It’s not using energy from its own body."
Liam frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"That creature is absorbing energy from this dimension."
Liam looked around.
The transparent plants were beginning to wither.
The enormous white sphere in the sky glowed more intensely.
"So the longer we fight, the stronger it will become."
"Exactly."
Liam gritted his teeth.
"We need to get it away from that connection."
◇◆◇
Nora sent all of her shadow creatures toward the stone rings.
The small dark forms climbed up the structure.
"Can you find a way to stop it?"
"I’ll try."
Zayn appeared beside Liam.
"There’s something behind the structure."
"What?"
"A tunnel."
Liam looked toward where he was pointing.
"Can you get there?"
"Yes."
"Then do it."
Zayn disappeared.
Liam looked back at the creature.
Jordan and Ray were trying to keep it away from the structure.
Ray touched one of its legs.
The crystal’s density increased, and the creature lost its balance.
Jordan took advantage of the opportunity and grabbed it.
"It’s incredibly heavy now!"
"Then don’t let go!"
"That’s what I’m trying to do!"
Emily unleashed another surge of electricity.
The creature roared.
But this time, the roar didn’t hit the group.
Violet energy began to rise from the ground.
The creature was absorbing it.
Pix shouted:
"Liam!"
"I know!"
The creature began to grow.
Jordan’s eyes widened.
"I don’t like this."
"Jordan, let it go!"
"With pleasure!"
Jordan pushed it backward.
The creature raised both arms.
A massive amount of energy began to gather between its claws.
Chloe ran toward Emily.
"Give me your energy!"
Emily extended a hand.
Chloe activated Resonance.
A connection formed between them.
Emily’s electricity began flowing through Chloe’s body.
Chloe gritted her teeth.
"Lena!"
Lena immediately understood.
She jumped forward and threw her sword.
Chloe transferred some of the energy she had received.
The sword began to glow.
Lena caught it in midair.
"Take this!"
The sword struck the energy the creature was gathering.
An explosion illuminated the entire valley.
The group had to retreat.
When the light disappeared, the creature was still standing.
But one of its claws had been destroyed.
Liam took a deep breath.
’We need to find a way to stop it quickly.’
Then he heard a small sound.
Plop.
Liam looked down, and his jacket moved.
"No."
It moved again.
"Lydia."
The small copy slowly emerged.
Liam picked her up.
"You can’t do the same thing again."
The slime moved.
[Lydia: Okay.]
"I mean it."
[Lydia: I know, sweetheart.]
Liam stared at her.
"Then stay with me."
The copy remained still.
Liam put her back inside his jacket.
But before he closed it, he felt something strange.
The small mass of slime was glowing.
Very faintly.
Liam frowned.
’What’s happening?’
He didn’t have time to think about it.
The creature attacked.
Liam raised his pistol.
But the creature didn’t come toward him.
It charged directly at Chloe.
"Chloe!"
Liam ran.
Emily tried to intercept it.
Jordan charged forward as well.
But none of them would make it in time.
The claw was only a few yards away from Chloe.
Then Liam’s jacket opened.
The small copy shot out.
"Lydia, no!"
The slime landed in front of Chloe.
Its body expanded.
[Harden]
A small barrier appeared.
The claw slammed into it.
BOOM.
The barrier warped, and the small copy was pushed backward.
But it didn’t disappear.
Liam immediately reached her and scooped Lydia into his hands.
"I told you not to do that!"
The small slime trembled.
[Lydia: Chloe was going to get hurt.]
Liam fell silent.
He looked at Chloe, and his expression softened.
"I know."
He put the copy back inside his jacket.
"But I don’t want you to get hurt."
[Lydia: You shouldn’t get hurt either.]
Liam closed his eyes for a moment.
’There’s definitely no arguing with her.’
Then a shadow passed over them.
Liam looked up.
The creature was standing in front of them again.
But this time, it didn’t attack.
It was staring intently at the small copy inside Liam’s jacket.
Its violet eyes began to glow.
Pix appeared beside Liam.
"Liam..."
"What is it?"
"I think it just detected something."
"Lydia?"
"No."
Pix watched the enemy.
"Her energy."
The creature took a step.
"It’s reacting to her."
Liam held his jacket tightly against his body.
"Why?"
Pix shook her head.
"I don’t know."
The creature slowly opened its mouth.
But this time, it didn’t roar.
It spoke a single word.
"Life..."
Liam froze.
The creature looked at the jacket again.
"Life..."
Pix’s eyes widened.
And Liam felt a chill run down his spine.
’What the hell is this creature detecting in Lydia?’