Gustavo was left speechless and the words of the enemy also confirmed what Terry had assumed... Perhaps it was more obvious than he had thought.

"I was planning to take your blood and multiply it, but it seems that the vessel is also important for the whole process," the overlord said. "It is a pity since they become less efficient, but I will have to turn you into a puppet as well."

Terry’s anger surged as the overlord’s words echoed in his mind. The sheer arrogance of those who looked down upon their defeated opponents was a burning fury within him. He understood the law of survival, the ruthless nature of competition, and even the possibility of death upon defeat. But what he couldn’t tolerate was the humiliation, the belittling of those who fought valiantly and were now being treated as mere playthings.

Fuelled by his rage, Terry charged forward without hesitation. His determination to defy the overlord’s condescension burned brightly within him. In a swift move, he activated his cloak, using its power to become nearly invisible as he moved at supersonic speeds around the towering foe. However, even as he darted about, he felt a lingering sense that the enemy’s gaze could still pierce through his concealment.

As if to confirm his suspicion, the weight of gravity suddenly intensified around him, an oppressive force that threatened to crush his resolve. Yet, even amidst this power, Terry’s will remained unyielding. With a fierce determination, he launched a flaming sword towards the overlord. The projectile streaked through the air, only to be met by the creature’s swift and precise strike, cleaving the fiery weapon apart in a violent explosion before it could reach its intended target.

"It affected its iceberg, but it didn’t affect my fire sword, huh?" Terry thought.

Vanessa’s determination was evident as she channeled her magic, summoning a crackling bolt of lightning that streaked toward the overlord. However, before the spell could find its mark, the creature wielded gravity itself as a weapon, bending the fabric of reality to its will. The lightning bolt was diverted from its course, harmlessly discharging into the surrounding air.

Gustavo, with his vast well of mana and expertise in magic, made his move to challenge the overlord’s dominance. His efforts were formidable, his power surging through his veins and resonating with the very earth beneath them. The overlord’s form quivered in response, a momentary tremor rippling through its metallic-like body. But even as Gustavo’s magic rattled its structure, the overlord demonstrated its overwhelming mana, resisting the assault with an eerie calmness.

"Oh, you are the candidate of being the first overlord from your planet, I wonder if you can accomplish that before your planet is destroyed," the overlord said. "The people of this world were way stronger than you and yet, we failed in stopping the invasions and had to accept that the majority would have to be sacrificed for the survival of the species."

Terry’s guess was right again, but he ignored that and stopped using his invisibility. The enemy wasn’t going to try hard to kill him, so that was the opportunity that he had. Still, he didn’t know what he could do...

Fernanda’s spear, a weapon renowned for its power and precision, met the overlord’s metallic form with a resounding thud. However, it was as though her efforts were futile against the impervious exterior of the creature. The spear failed to leave even a scratch, let alone pierce through its body. The realization that their conventional methods were ineffective settled like a heavy weight upon the group.

Terry’s mind worked at lightning speed, seeking a solution within the heat of battle. It dawned on him that the overlord’s ability to manipulate its form might extend to reinforcing its defense with mana. Thus, a direct confrontation of strength was unlikely to yield the desired results.

With a newfound approach in mind, Terry propelled himself into action. Charging toward the enemy, he met its towering figure head-on. As the overlord swung its formidable sword, Terry combined his speed and skill, invoking his Flame Sword technique to meet the attack. The collision sent sparks flying, and Terry’s blade held steadfast against the enemy’s strike. The unexpected resistance to its own attack caught the overlord off guard, creating a split-second opening. Taking advantage of this, Terry seamlessly transitioned into an offensive maneuver, countering with a swift and precise swing of his own weapon.

The impact of Terry’s blow resonated through the overlord’s form, leaving behind a visible dent and a ripple of disturbance. The creature trembled as though its very essence had been shaken. It was a brief but crucial moment of vulnerability, a glimmer of hope in the midst of a seemingly insurmountable challenge.

"I see now, you combined two elemental attacks to increase their magic power, you also assumed that I could increase and change my mana in my body to to increase my defenses against certain types of attacks," The overlord said. "You are very cunning for someone with so little battle experience."

"You are damn right," Terry said.

Actually, Terry didn’t think that the monster defenses worked like that.

Terry’s mind raced with a newfound clarity. He reasoned that while the overlord’s form might be malleable and responsive to its will, it likely couldn’t enhance its defenses against all elements simultaneously. This realization opened a door to potential tactics that could exploit its limitations.

The overlord’s hasty retort, seemingly in an attempt to belittle its opponents, had an unintended consequence. In revealing its vulnerability to certain elements, it unwittingly gave the group a glimmer of hope. Terry’s thoughts churned, considering how they could best utilize this knowledge to their advantage.

It was evident that the overlord possessed immense power, but its grasp on strategy and subtlety seemed lacking. This vulnerability in its understanding of its opponents provided a foothold for Terry and his allies. If they could devise a plan that capitalized on the overlord’s weaknesses and manipulated its lack of insight, they might just stand a chance against this formidable foe.