Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Chapter 167 A solution

He swung his fists, aiming for the shadows. But every time he struck, they melted away, slipping back into the darkness like smoke, intangible and taunting.

"How the hell do I defeat these things?" Silas growled through gritted teeth, his voice edged with a volatile mix of anger and desperation.

His fists clenched tighter, the muscles straining under his skin. He knew he was running out of time—and out of options.

In the suffocating darkness, Ozivox concealed himself, his eyes glinting with cold calculation as he observed Silas's struggles. Despite landing a few successful hits, a scowl marred Ozivox's face.

"I was weak when I activated the Nightmare Shroud ability... I can't hold this much longer. And by the looks of it, I'm not even close to defeating him yet." Ozivox's thoughts swirled in a storm of frustration. His gaze remained locked on Silas, who fought desperately against the relentless onslaught of shadow creatures.

"If this wears off, I won't be able to use it again. My stamina is nearly drained. If I can't finish him off before the timer runs out, it's game over for me." Ozivox's fingers curled into tight fists, his knuckles pale. As if in response to his mounting desperation, more shadow creatures slithered into being, materializing from the gloom.

Three of the creatures surged forward, their jagged blades glinting with lethal intent. They closed in with predatory swiftness, their strikes a deadly dance. Silas's reflexes kicked in; he stepped backward, his boots sliding slightly on the shadowy ground. The blades sliced through empty space, narrowly missing their mark.

Silas took a breath—shallow and sharp—before lashing out with his scythe, the blade carving a wide arc through the darkness. But just as his strike seemed poised to connect, a cold dread prickled at his spine. He twisted, instincts screaming, and ducked just in time to avoid a blade that hissed through the air, inches above his head.

A lock of his snow-white hair fluttered to the ground, severed with surgical precision. Without hesitation, Silas planted his right hand on the ground, steadying himself. His leg shot out in a vicious kick aimed at the nearest shadow creature's chest.

But before his boot could meet flesh—or whatever substance made up these nightmares—the creature dissipated like mist. His kick sliced through nothingness. Silas straightened, a bead of sweat tracing a slow path down his temple, and sidestepped as three more blades lunged toward him, their edges shimmering with a cold menace.

Before he could draw a full breath, another shadow creature materialized behind him, its blade flashing. The steel struck home, biting deep into his back. A sickening crack echoed as his armor shattered like brittle glass. Hot pain flared, sharp and searing, as blood welled from the wound.

Silas's jaw tightened, his teeth grinding together to stifle a cry of pain.

[You have undergone a critical injury.]

[Super fast healing will now kick in.]

Warmth surged across his back, knitting torn flesh and mending broken skin. The pain ebbed, replaced by a dull throb. Silas spun, his scythe arcing through the air in a vicious counterattack. But once again, his blade struck empty space. The creature vanished before impact, leaving nothing behind but frustration.

His eyes blazed with fury, his chest heaving. "This is getting ridiculous. What kind of ability is this? Think, Silas. Think!" He dodged left, barely evading another strike, his thoughts racing through the fog of combat.

Then a flicker of realization sparked in his mind. His eyes widened, the pieces clicking into place. "Wait... when I copied his mutant-taming ability, I copied two others too: Venomous Spines... and Nightmare Shroud. This must be the Nightmare Shroud."

He leapt backward, the air slicing past his face as a blade missed him by a hair's breadth. Another attack loomed, but he twisted away, his movements fluid despite the exhaustion clawing at his limbs.

"System!" he barked, his voice sharp with urgency. "Give me more details on the Nightmare Shroud ability!"

His scythe met another strike, steel clashing with steel. But before he could counter, a shadow creature appeared behind him, its blade carving into his shoulder.

[Information about Nightmare Shroud: The Nightmare Shroud is a rare ability that allows the user to create a shadow territory. Within this territory, the user can generate nightmare creatures and illusions. Low-grade users can only frighten their opponents, while high-grade users can physically harm and even kill enemies with their nightmares.]

The notification materialized before his eyes, data scrolling past in glowing text. Silas absorbed the information even as he twisted, deflecting another barrage of strikes with gritted teeth.

"Is there a way to defeat a Nightmare Shroud user once they've created their territory?" he demanded. He flipped backward, once, twice, desperate to create space. But no matter how far he moved, the shadows clung to him, relentless and suffocating.

[A Nightmare Shroud user holds complete control within their territory. Most activate this ability only when facing imminent defeat.]

[There are two ways to defeat them:]

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[1. Wait for the territory's time limit to expire. Once it ends, the user will be weakened and vulnerable. The duration varies by user.]

[2. If the opponent is also a Nightmare Shroud user, they can activate their ability. The two territories will clash, and the stronger one will consume the weaker.]

A smirk curled Silas's lips, dark satisfaction lighting his eyes. He ducked low, evading another strike, then sprang backward, his resolve crystallizing.

As he sailed through the air, he roared, "Nightmare Shroud!"

[Nightmare Shroud skill card has been activated.]

A blast of wind erupted from the core of his being, surging through the pitch-black void. The charging shadow creatures froze in place, their forms stiff and lifeless as statues.

Silas's grin widened. "My territory overpowered his in less than a second. Now, I'm in control."

[Territory can only last for five minutes.]

The shadows pulsed in time with his heartbeat, obedient and alive. He could feel them, command them. At a mere thought, dozens of shadow creatures materialized, their eyes gleaming with cold malice.

The darkness lifted its veil. Silas could see clearly now, his gaze locking onto Ozivox, who knelt several meters away, fear and disbelief etched on his face.

"Well, well," Silas drawled, his voice dripping with sinister delight. He stepped forward, his army of shadow creatures advancing behind him like a wave of nightmares.