Chapter 203: The Importance of Having a Lvl.70 Slime on Our Side

The ground trembled as the six squads prepared to advance.

In the distance, columns of violet energy continued rising toward the sky, converging above the enormous dimensional rift. The invaders were still defending the remaining structures, and the hunters barely had enough strength to hold their positions.

Liam surveyed the battlefield. If they tried to advance head-on, they would end up surrounded before reaching the core.

They needed help.

Then he looked at Lydia.

"Lydia, I need you to use Split Slime to support the other squads. Distract the invaders, protect the wounded, and help them destroy the structures blocking their way."

She looked toward the rift.

"You want me to handle all of that at once?"

"Only if you can do it without exhausting yourself."

Lydia smiled.

"Then you’d better keep an eye on your wife."

◇◆◇

Lydia activated her ability.

Her body lost its consistency and turned into a mass of slime that spread across the asphalt. Then, it split into several portions, each taking on an independent form.

Within seconds, multiple copies of Lydia were ready to enter combat.

Liam activated his communicator.

"Amber, one of Lydia’s copies is heading your way. Take advantage of the distraction to attack the connections on your structure."

"Roger!" the sub-captain replied.

Liam switched channels.

"Wayne, you’ll receive support from the right flank. Don’t waste the opportunity."

"Understood!"

Lydia let out a little laugh.

"I’m part of your communication system now, too."

"And one of its most important components."

She smiled with satisfaction before focusing on her copies.

◇◆◇

The first copy reached Amber’s squad just as several invaders were trying to block their path.

The slime took on a small, agile form and rose above the enemies on her wings. From the air, she fired several acid bubbles that burst against the ground, forcing the invaders to scatter.

"Now!" Amber shouted.

Millie advanced to draw the enemies’ attention while Evan fired energy arrows at the structure’s joints.

Amber seized the opportunity to propel herself forward and strike a weakened connection.

Before the enemies could react, Lydia’s copy swooped down and trapped one of them by the legs with several tentacles.

The invader fell to the ground.

"Nice work!" Millie exclaimed.

Amber attacked another joint. With one final effort, the hunters destroyed the base of the column, which collapsed onto the asphalt.

Its violet glow disappeared.

Meanwhile, another copy had arrived alongside Wayne’s squad.

The sub-captain was using his platforms to keep his marksmen in elevated positions, but several invaders had managed to break through his defenses.

Lydia’s copy stepped into their path. Her body expanded, and several hardened tentacles struck the enemies, blocking their advance.

Wayne recognized the opportunity and closed his platforms.

The energy surfaces converged around the structure, crushing its metal connections.

The device shut down in a flash of violet light.

"Now that’s a huge help!" Wayne shouted.

The copy raised one of her tentacles in a greeting before heading toward another sector.

◇◆◇

The other copies also began intervening throughout the area.

One found two injured hunters hiding behind an overturned vehicle. The invaders were closing in, preventing them from leaving their hiding place.

The slime stepped between them and absorbed the first impacts with her expanded body. Then, she fired her laser, forcing one of the enemies to retreat.

When the others tried to surround her, she unleashed several hordes of mosquitoes that kept them at bay long enough for the wounded hunters to escape.

Another copy reached Tim’s squad.

Ruby and her teammates were trying to reach a structure while Tim held several opponents at bay.

The copy fired a laser at one of the metal joints, weakening it.

"Ruby, now!" Timothy shouted.

Ruby approached and began devouring the exposed metal. Her teammates protected her as her ability consumed the damaged connection.

This time, the structure couldn’t stop her.

The violet glow disappeared.

However, keeping so many copies active was beginning to take its toll on Lydia.

Each body required instructions, and using different abilities simultaneously demanded considerable concentration.

For a moment, one of the copies lost its consistency and nearly fell apart.

The original Lydia brought a hand to her forehead.

"Ugh... This is more complicated than it looks."

Liam noticed immediately.

"Lydia, reduce the number of abilities you’re using. You don’t need to attack every enemy. Focus on clearing paths and protecting the hunters."

"I know, sweetheart."

"And don’t try to do everything by yourself."

She smiled weakly.

"That’s pretty ironic coming from you."

Liam decided not to argue.

◇◆◇

Another violet discharge swept through the streets.

Several invaders raised their weapons and advanced to reclaim the positions they had lost. However, the hunters were no longer fighting in isolation.

Lydia’s copies appeared from different directions. Some used illusions to create false silhouettes in the smoke, confusing the invaders and forcing them to divide their forces. Others attacked weak points in their armor or blocked strikes aimed at wounded hunters.

The real Lydia also found a way to take advantage of her evolution.

When an explosion released a wave of energy, she extended her body and absorbed some of the scattered energy.

Then, she approached Chloe.

"Can you help me distribute this to those who need it most?"

Chloe understood what she meant.

"If we establish connections, I can redistribute some of your energy to our teammates. But I won’t be able to maintain too many at once."

"Then let’s do it in turns."

Chloe temporarily connected with several exhausted hunters while Lydia supplied her with some of the stored energy.

The effect didn’t eliminate their fatigue, but it allowed them to recover enough strength to keep advancing.

Jordan straightened his back.

"Now that’s helpful!"

Chuck rubbed his aching jaw.

"If you can make this pain disappear, I’ll name you my second favorite person, right after the boss."

"Try not to get hit in the face again first," Lydia replied.

Even Liam let out a brief laugh.

The hunters were regaining the initiative.

Liam watched the path opening between the enemy ranks.

"All squads, advance! Don’t stop to chase the invaders! Our target is still the core!"

Amber responded immediately.

"Understood!"

Wayne raised platforms to transport his marksmen over the rubble. Don Rouch cleared a passage by manipulating the metal debris, while Tim and his teammates protected Ruby.

From the sky, Jane unleashed a volley of energy feathers against the invaders trying to block their path.

The six squads began advancing together.

Lydia kept her copies active for a few more seconds, making sure no group was left isolated. Then, several of them returned to her original body and merged with it.

Her breathing grew heavier, but she remained standing.

Liam approached her.

"How are you feeling?"

"Tired, but fine."

"We can keep going without you maintaining so many copies."

"I know. But I can still help."

Liam nodded. He trusted her, although he would remain alert for any sign of exhaustion.

Ahead of them, the enormous structure near the rift began emitting a much more intense glow.

Lydia looked up.

"I suppose that’s our destination."

Liam tightened his grip on his weapon.

"Yeah. And this time, we’re going to reach it."

The hunters quickened their pace as the core continued accumulating energy.