"What should I do?" Gustavo asked. "Should I try to destroy what is inside their heads? If I have enough time to focus, that should be possible."

"What are the downsides?" Terry asked.

"... There is a high chance that an enemy capable to control this kind of life form could give them order to self destruct and cause brain damage," Gustavo said.

Gustavo’s mind churned with the weight of his words as he contemplated the potential fallout. He understood that by suggesting that the enemy could manipulate the guild masters while attempting to assist them, doubts could cast a shadow on his intentions.

If his efforts to help proved futile, it might be seen as an ulterior motive, complicating their relationship further. Terry shared this understanding, which was precisely why he had kept this information from the order for the time being. The delicate balance between trust and suspicion in such dire circumstances was not to be taken lightly.

While everyone was hesitant... all of a sudden, Vanessa felt a powerful magic vibration coming from Mary’s body.

"Look out!" Vanessa shouted.

Mary’s body vibrates once and then all of her magical energy expands beyond the limits of her body making her explode. An explosion like that was bound to cause a lot of damage if it didn’t kill the group... but before anything could happen, Gustavo used his Telekinesis to stop the expansion of Mary’s body and then crushed the worm in her head.

"... I am sorry," Gustavo lowered his head and then said it.

A somber atmosphere hung over the group as Gustavo’s explanation sank in. The weight of the situation was heavy, and the realization that there might not be a straightforward solution added to the growing tension.

Taking a deep breath, Terry felt a sense of determination settle within him. He recognized that the responsibility to take action lay heavily on his shoulders, even if it meant shouldering the consequences of his decisions alone. With a resolve in his eyes, he understood that his actions had inadvertently led to this point, and he felt compelled to face the challenges head-on.

"I will count on you to preserve their bodies, Rebecca," Terry declared.

Terry jumped backward and then equipped his sword... in the next moment, he used Magic Blade and the attack flew in a straight line and claimed the heads of Hector, Roger, Kai, Vincent, and Dean.

Vanessa’s expression shifted from surprise to shock as she witnessed the horrifying scene unfold before her. The sight of her friends, once full of life and camaraderie, being struck down by another familiar figure was a cruel blow to her emotions. Deep down, she might have known that their chances were grim, but the reality of their deaths was difficult to accept.

Her shock only intensified as she watched Terry make the grim decision to end their lives swiftly, preventing any potential explosion that could obliterate their remains. The weight of the situation settled heavily on Vanessa’s heart as she grappled with the brutal reality of the moment.

As soon as the bodies fell on the ground, Gustavo used his Telekinesis to put the parts together and Rebecca used ice magic to preserve their bodies. They at least deserved to be buried back home...

Terry began to run from one side to the other faster than anyone could see him... Fernanda thought of giving a hand, but her attacks would only cause unnecessary damage to the bodies. Terry truly was splitting them in half barely leaving any damage behind... only the blood was falling.

Terry and Rebecca thought that Gustavo and Fernanda would try to stop him, but they knew that it was useless... all those people were long gone. The harsh truth settled in the minds of the group, even as their hearts ached with sorrow and disbelief. Even Vanessa understood that even if the prisoners weren’t being directly used as a fuel source, the overlord’s cunning strategy wouldn’t leave any gaps for them to exploit.

The situation was carefully orchestrated to eliminate any chances of rescue or intervention. As painful as it was, the reality was that there was no way to save their friends. The oppressive weight of helplessness hung heavily over them, reminding them of the power and ruthlessness of the enemy they faced.

Before long, Terry finished off all the prisoners, but he only looked pissed... they posed even less of a threat than the robots and the enemy should have known that. So, Terry assumed that the enemy used them to demoralize the group.

"Interesting, I didn’t think that people like you would awaken such a trait on your tiny planet."

A mechanical and soulless voice reverberated through the area, causing everyone to tense up. The words cut through the air, like a sharp blade of cold indifference. Terry’s anger was palpable, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his teeth gritted in frustration.

The overwhelming urge to tear the fortress apart surged within him, but he restrained himself, knowing that blindly giving in to his fury would be foolish. The situation demanded careful consideration, strategic planning, and gathering as much information about their enemy as possible before making any reckless moves.

"How can you enhance your items without using any energy? I do not understand." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Show yourself and I will whisper it in your ears," Terry declared.

"I will do that, but it will be illogical to show myself without knowing how your ability works. I am willing to offer you the chances to enhance your weapons further, that should be a good enough offer."

The realization that the enemy had orchestrated all of these events just to study Terry’s unique trait ignited a fierce anger within him. The idea that he was being manipulated and used as a pawn in some twisted experiment fueled his frustration and made his blood boil. He always tried to keep his head cool, but even Terry could only take so much despite that.