Unlimited Power - The Arcane Path 750 Chapter 746

"Now he sounds like a final boss, indeed," Leon frowned after hearing the monster's declaration. "I'm sort of afraid to approach it now."

Leon was a mage by training. While he had engaged in close-quarters combat numerous times before, his skill with his fists was not particularly high. Still, Leon was uncertain if he could even fashion a ranged assault using memory energy. He had successfully employed this energy within the void to locate all his allies, but it demanded immense concentration and time. Replicating this in the physical realm would be far from simple; in fact, it would be exponentially more complex. Before Leon could formulate a plan for utilizing memory energy externally, he observed the colossal monster's myriad arms commencing a peculiar series of movements. They shifted from top to bottom, then from left to right. In the subsequent moment, Leon witnessed the meager amount of mana he had managed to recuperate within his body spiraling out of control once more. However, this time, it wasn't on the verge of detonation. Instead, it began dictating Leon's physical actions from the inside out.

"What is this..." Tyrselle murmured, her arms trembling as she fought against the intrusive control.

"What do you think of my Absolute Manipulation? As the progenitor of mana, I possess the ability to siphon mana from every being across the universe, as you all are already aware. But that is far from my only capability."

Although the memory energy served as a protective shield for everyone, its function was solely against external aggressors. Furthermore, it wasn't as though everyone could simply divest themselves of their mana. At that juncture, their survival in the vacuum of space was contingent upon their mana being continuously utilized to generate breathable oxygen and to sustain a Mana Barrier enveloping their bodies.

Leon knitted his brows as he saw both of his hands drawing inexorably toward his own neck. It was abundantly clear what the monstrous entity intended. If vanquishing them was deemed a waste of its time, the beast would instead break the spirits of all the troops by compelling them toward self-destruction. Given that they were expending mana for their survival, their mana reserves were dwindling, and their endurance was limited.

"Well, it seems we're out of time for contemplation. If our arms are rendered unusable, let's resort to kicking that monster's hide," Leon declared.

"I do not believe that will be feasible."

In the ensuing moment, Leon felt his command over his legs diminish significantly. However, he also perceived another development. The monster had evidently expended nearly half of its power in its attempt to control his arms. Despite the skill's imposing moniker, no power was truly absolute. The monster relied on mana, and with the finite mana within their bodies, its dominion over them was necessarily restricted. Leon and his companions gained a fleeting reprieve, a few precious seconds, but that was the extent of it.

"So, if we cannot use our arms or legs..." Leon began, but his words were cut short as he witnessed Tyrselle execute a powerful headbutt against the massive creature. "...we can use our heads."

The monster staggered, and for a fleeting instant, the creature's grip on the mana within everyone's bodies faltered. Leon, Ilyana, and Tyrselle recognized this opportunity and resolved to exploit it. However, before they could act, they needed to understand how Tyrselle had managed to move her body when her mana control was compromised.

"Hey, Tyrselle, how did you-" Leon inquired.

"Simply will it," Tyrselle responded with an audible click of her tongue. "This energy is intrinsically ours; it bends to our every intention. Just as that repulsive mass of flesh can master all facets of mana, we can achieve anything with memory energy."

"I comprehend... so your most brilliant idea, given the circumstances, was to employ a headbutt?" Leon questioned, a frown creasing his face.

Tyrselle shot Leon a fierce glare. It was intended as a jest, perhaps a rather weak one, but it was evident that Tyrselle was not the sort to be easily embarrassed. Nevertheless, despite Tyrselle's assertion, Leon understood the inherent difficulty. Even a power developed by him required rigorous training. Since Leon lacked the luxury of time to devise something elaborate and effective, he opted for the most direct approach.

Abruptly, the very fabric of space surrounding Leon began to thrum, and the crimson aura enveloping his form intensified dramatically. Leon wasn't performing any complex maneuvers; he simply directed his memory energy to surge through his body at the highest possible velocity. The moment Leon sensed he could channel all his power into a single, decisive strike, he vanished. Concurrently with his disappearance, he reappeared, delivering a powerful headbutt to the colossal monster.

In the immediate aftermath, everyone felt a sensation of lightness return to their bodies. Leon's audacious attack had thoroughly disrupted the monster's offensive actions. Not only that, but it sent the creature hurtling backward an immeasurable distance. Judging solely by the creature's apparent reduction in size as it receded, everyone grasped the immense scale of the attack's impact. Yet, that was not the sole consequence. The sheer force of the collision had nearly obliterated Leon's head, and simultaneously, it caused thousands of the monster's eyes to burst forth in a gruesome spectacle.

Leon's form halted abruptly where it collided with the monstrous entity. Ilyana rushed forward, intent on mending his wounds, but Leon began to stir and rise before her healing touch could reach him. Though his head was grievously injured, it mended itself with unbelievable swiftness.

"As I suspected, engaging in close-quarters combat is not my forte," Leon remarked, wiping the crimson fluid from his features.

"Have you lost your mind?" Ilyana retorted. Before Leon could offer a response, her fist struck his side, expelling the air from his lungs. "Just because you've had one miraculous recovery doesn't guarantee another. I'm wagering that this time, should we falter, the beast will obliterate our very beings down to the atomic scale, and before you can possibly attempt another repair, the monster will ensure your demise."