Chapter 159: Overdrive
Scene: The dimly lit corridors of the Aquarian Empire tremble as a sudden surge of mana fills the air. The energy is suffocating, raw, and vicious. Eren, Rylan, and Zarek, already exhausted from battle, watch in horror as the three defeated Aquarians begin to rise again.
First Aquarian: (muttering) Enter Overdrive…
Second Aquarian: (whispering) Eliminate all threats…
Third Aquarian: (grinning, voice dark) No survivors…
Narrator: Their bodies tremble violently before twisting and contorting, the dark purple energy consuming them entirely. Their long tails vanish, their bodies becoming lean and muscular. Though they retain their blue skin, their features are now far more human. Their glowing yellow eyes pulse with rage, and their claws extend into jagged black spikes.
Commander Elara: (watching in disbelief) What… the hell is this?
Eren: (breathing heavily) They're… changing.
Rylan: (gritting his teeth) It's like they're shedding their old forms…
Narrator: The transformation ends, and a deep silence follows. The three Aquarians stand taller, their newfound forms radiating malice. The one standing in front, the strongest of the three, cracks his neck before speaking for the first time.
Lead Aquarian: (smirking) This… this is power.
Commander Elara: (demanding) What the hell did you just do?!
Lead Aquarian: (coldly) Overdrive…
Narrator: A sickening aura pulsates from them. The sheer pressure forces the heroes to take a step back.
Second Aquarian: (grinning, flexing his fingers) We are the only ones worthy of this power… And you? You will die here.
Third Aquarian: (chuckling darkly) And slowly.
Narrator: Without another word, the transformed Aquarians launch their assault. Their speed is unlike anything before. In a flash, the Lead Aquarian dashes toward Zarek and delivers a devastating punch straight to his stomach. The impact sends Zarek flying backward, smashing into a wall.
Zarek: (groaning) Nghh!
Narrator: The Second Aquarian vanishes from sight and reappears behind Rylan, wrapping his jagged claws around his throat.
Rylan: (choking) Tch—!
Narrator: Before Rylan can react, the Aquarian spins and hurls him across the battlefield like a ragdoll.
Eren: (yelling) Rylan!
Narrator: The Third Aquarian faces Eren directly, his lips curling into a twisted smile.
Third Aquarian: (mocking) What's wrong, Elf? You were so confident a moment ago…
Narrator: He lunges, slashing at Eren with his enhanced claws. Eren barely dodges, but the sheer force of the attack cuts through the ground beneath him, leaving deep trenches in the stone.
Eren: (thinking) They're way faster now… way stronger…
Narrator: Commander Elara, witnessing the brutality of the battle, clenches her fists. She starts to step forward, but Eren suddenly shouts.
Eren: (urgently) Commander, go! Find Kuzan!
Commander Elara: (hesitant) But—
Eren: (serious) Trust us. We'll handle this.
Narrator: She hesitates for a moment, but then she sees the determination in Eren's eyes. With a nod, she dashes off, disappearing into the shadows of the empire.
Lead Aquarian: (scoffing) Running away? Pathetic.
Eren: (grinning) You should be worried about us, not her.
Narrator: Eren, Rylan, and Zarek stand together, mana surging around them.
Eren: (to Rylan) We have to test if their Overdrive makes them more vulnerable to mana.
Rylan: (nodding) Let's find out.
Narrator: Rylan leaps first, drawing his Abyssal Blade and channeling his Black Arrow ability into the sword. The blade crackles with dark energy before he swings it down toward the Second Aquarian.
Rylan: (shouting) Abyssal Slash!
Narrator: The dark slash tears through the battlefield, colliding with the Aquarian. To Rylan's surprise, the attack doesn't dissolve into nothing—it actually lands, sending the Aquarian skidding backward.
Rylan: (smirking) Looks like Overdrive isn't perfect.
Eren: (nodding) Time to go all out.
Narrator: Eren summons his Scarlet Blade, its red lightning crackling intensely as he charges forward. He swings at the Third Aquarian, his blade clashing with the creature's jagged claws. Sparks fly as they exchange rapid strikes, their movements a blur.
Third Aquarian: (grinning) Impressive. But it won't be enough.
Narrator: The Lead Aquarian, still engaged with Zarek, smirks as he dodges Zarek's Heavenly Pierce at the last second, countering with a devastating Dark Spiral, a mana-infused whirlwind of purple energy that slams into Zarek and sends him crashing through a nearby wall.
Lead Aquarian: (mocking) Divine Mana? What a joke.
Zarek: (wiping blood from his mouth) We'll see who's laughing when I rip you apart.
Narrator: Zarek's patience snaps. He releases his Divine Mana in a massive burst, illuminating the area with blinding light.
Zarek: (yelling) Celestial Barrage!
Narrator: Hundreds of Holy Bombs materialize around him before firing at the Lead Aquarian at once. The battlefield is filled with explosions of golden light. But as the dust settles, the Lead Aquarian emerges, burned but very much alive.
Lead Aquarian: (mocking) Nice light show. Now let me show you real power.
Narrator: He raises both hands, his body vibrating with unstable energy. His purple aura erupts violently.
Lead Aquarian: (grinning) Abyssal Rupture!
Narrator: A massive sphere of concentrated dark mana forms between his palms before detonating, sending a shockwave that obliterates everything in its path. Eren and Rylan barely manage to avoid the explosion, but Zarek is caught in the blast.
Eren: (horrified) ZAREK!
Narrator: As the smoke clears, Zarek lies on the ground, his body battered, his Divine Mana flickering weakly.
Rylan: (clenching his fists) Damn it…
Third Aquarian: (laughing) Not so tough now, are you?
Narrator: Eren grits his teeth, his fists trembling.
Eren: (whispering) No more holding back…
Narrator: His mana surges, and for a brief moment, the battlefield is bathed in red lightning. But as the Aquarians smirk, completely unphased, the reality sets in—the heroes are losing.
The chapter ends with the three heroes beaten, exhausted, and staring down the bloodthirsty Overdrive Aquarians, their odds of survival growing thinner by the second.