Chapter 210: Combination
Adyr stood at the center of a shallow crater as heavy rain hammered the battlefield, each drop striking with sharp, metallic rhythm. The storm poured down on him, soaking his tactical gear and turning the cracked soil beneath his boots into dark, shifting mud. Yet the crater at his feet wasn’t the product of an uncontrolled impact. It was shaped by intent.
Moments before touching down, he had triggered Burst Hop, a kinetic skill from his Pulse Hopper Spark. With a sharp kick midair, he directed the remaining momentum downward, dispersing the force through the ground rather than absorbing it himself. The result was a fractured ring of earth around him, shallow but wide, already filling with rainwater.
Even with his elevated [Resilience] and [Physique], a fall from that height would have caused serious damage. But thanks to the perfectly timed skill, he landed with controlled force, unharmed, balanced, and calm.
He lifted his head, scanning his surroundings with a cold, unreadable expression. His voice was a quiet murmur, almost thoughtful.
"So, it works like this, too."
Hundreds of mutants surrounded him, grotesque and twisted creatures that had been seconds away from lunging at him. Now, they stood frozen. Not a single one moved. Their limbs trembled, their bodies locked in place as if an invisible weight held them down.
A thick, black aura rolled off Adyr’s body like smoke, coiling through the air and blanketing the battlefield in oppressive silence. It wasn’t just a visual effect—it was the fusion of two powers: Presence and Malice.
He had unleashed his Presence, laced with bloodlust, like a predator baring its soul to the weak. But with Malice woven into it, the effect transformed. The dark energy seeped into the aura like venom, corrupting it into something more than fear—something primal, instinctive. It felt as though hell itself had cracked open beneath his feet and was bleeding through his skin.
Though the outcome of the fusion was flawless, a faint frown appeared on Adyr’s face.
"We can’t go on like this," he muttered.
As he began to withdraw his Presence, the oppressive aura—now tainted by Malice—receded. In an instant, the invisible weight that had paralyzed the mutants vanished, releasing them from the grip of fear.
Adyr had come to this battlefield with two clear objectives. First, to loot the energy crystals and replenish his diminishing reserves. Second, to hone his talents through live combat. But if every enemy collapsed under pressure without even lifting a claw, that second goal would be left unmet. He needed them to fight, not freeze.