"I feel an enormous presence appearing out of nowhere..." Vanessa said. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The group’s collective sense of astonishment deepened as Vanessa’s words resonated. A powerful presence couldn’t emerge out of thin air; it had to be fueled by a considerable influx of energy. Vanessa’s senses left them pondering the implications of what lay ahead.

As if responding to their thoughts, the environment shifted. Lights embedded in the ceiling of the dome flickered to life, casting an illuminating glow across the surroundings. It was clear that the enemy, too, preferred not to wage their battle in darkness, revealing their strategic mindset.

The group’s eyes widened in disbelief, their mouths hanging open as their gaze settled upon the figure that had appeared roughly five hundred meters away. The sheer presence of the enemy was overwhelming, rendering them momentarily speechless.

Contrary to their expectations, this overlord took on a humanoid form, standing at a relatively modest fifty meters in height. While smaller than their previous adversary, the creature still exuded an undeniable aura of power. Its body seemed to be composed of a strange liquid metal, devoid of any distinct features—no eyes, mouth, nose, or ears adorned its form. The unsettling appearance of the creature sent a shiver down their spines, a testament to its uncanny and otherworldly nature.

"What do you think of my body? I worked for hundreds of years to build it."

"I can’t tell, I am not appreciating junk," Terry said while gripping his sword tightly.

With an eerie gesture, the overlord extended its right hand toward the group, a malevolent intent hanging in the air. In response, the ambient gravity shifted, becoming more intense and oppressive. The force was suffocating, and the group found themselves falling to their knees as their very bones seemed to creak and crack under the weight.

Just as they were grappling with this new threat, the overlord’s power manifested once again. A colossal iceberg formed in the air, its frigid mass poised to crash down upon them. Panic surged through the group as they realized the impending danger, their minds racing to find a solution. But before they could react, Terry leapt into action, using his sword to deflect the icy menace. The clang of metal meeting ice resonated, and the iceberg’s trajectory was altered, sparing them from its crushing weight.

However, the overlord’s assault was far from over. Its arm transformed into a blade of its own, gleaming with an otherworldly malevolence. With a swift, almost casual motion, it swung the sword toward Terry. The impact was tremendous, and Terry was sent hurtling through the air, the sheer force of the blow propelling him backward. As he struggled to regain his balance, it was abundantly clear that the overlord was toying with them, not unleashing its full might.

Terry’s frustration grew, mingling with determination. This enemy was unlike anything they had faced before, an enigma wrapped in darkness and power. The stakes were higher than ever, and the battle was far from over.

"We need to come up with more information about the enemy before coming up with a plan to finish that thing off," Rebecca whispered when Terry landed near them.

"It is useless to whisper, that monster can turn this whole thing into its body," Terry said. "Besides, that thing has no weakness. We won’t learn anything by fighting it."

"How can you tell that?" Rebecca asked.

Terry’s mind raced as he assessed the nature of the overlord’s body. It was a revelation he didn’t want to immediately share with his friends, for fear of alarming them further. Yet, the truth was evident - this creature’s form was malleable, almost like liquid metal. This realization held the key to a potential advantage, one that Terry had been contemplating for some time.

However, he understood that the overlords were not ignorant of such matters. After all, they had existed for centuries, amassing knowledge and strategies. It was only logical that they, too, had delved into the mechanics of the traits, possibly learning how they were formed and manipulated. Perhaps it was the culmination of mana’s touch, combined with the life experiences of the individuals, that forged these unique abilities within them.

As Terry pieced together these thoughts, he couldn’t help but share his insights with his companions. The information flowed from him, explaining the theory that had been forming in his mind. He recounted how humanity had awakened traits only after encountering other worlds and facing the challenges of monstrous foes. It was an evolution, a response to the dangers they had encountered, and it made sense that their abilities were shaped by their life experiences.

The overlord’s reaction was an enigma. It watched, its featureless form a mask for its thoughts. Perhaps it sought to confirm the extent of Terry’s knowledge, or maybe it was gauging the depth of his understanding. In the midst of battle, amidst the clash of powers and ideologies, there was an unspoken exchange of understanding, a recognition that each side held secrets and strategies that were only now beginning to be unveiled.

"Are you absolutely certain of that?" Gustavo asked. "I can’t imagine how my life experiences would let me learn Telekinesis just by entering contact with mana."

"I can explain that, if you want." The overlord said. "I am surprised that your species managed to learn this much, even though you only survived in the last thirty years. I have studied countless abilities and the memories of those that I captured, so I archived the traits that exist and how they work and could be awakened. Telekinesis is a very supernatural ability, but it is also very magical. One can learn it by knowing a lot about science, in a world where science was advanced like this, a lot of people obtained that trait. However, the feeling of absolute hopelessness can also awaken that trait. Most likely, in your early years you felt like you couldn’t do anything and wanted to obtain control of all things, that is why you are a Telekinesis user."