Chapter 183: Chapter 183 - Power Reversal
Mateo Ward unleashed a deafening roar, discharging all the dark energy contained within his body in one explosive burst!
The temperature plummeted as boundless dark energy flooded the area!
I felt a chill run through my body as the air around us grew icy.
Mateo didn’t stop there. He continued channeling dark energy with desperate intensity until a massive shadow materialized above us!
The shadow took shape, forming an enormous skull that emanated waves of deadly menace.
I narrowed my eyes, confused by his strategy.
Mateo clearly knew about my ability to absorb dark energy. Why would he deliberately use it against me?
Wasn’t he essentially serving up power to me on a silver platter?
"Hehe..." A cold smile twisted Mateo’s face.
"Mason Raymond, this technique has been preserved by our sect for centuries! Your death under this move is inevitable!"
Beads of sweat dotted Mateo’s forehead as his vitality visibly diminished.
The technique was obviously taking a severe toll on him.
"Mason Raymond, die!" Mateo clapped his hands together, and his creation surged toward me!
The giant skull materialized directly in front of me, wielding a massive blade that slashed down viciously!
I didn’t take any chances and threw a powerful punch to block the attack!
To my astonishment, my fist passed straight through the skull as if striking empty air!
A split second later, lightning-like pain exploded in my abdomen!
"What’s happening?" I jumped back quickly, my expression turning grave.
From a distance, Mateo sneered: "This entity isn’t physical. Every strike drains your qi! Once I’ve completely absorbed your life force, your death is certain!"
The enormous skull swung its blade at me again before he finished speaking!
Its movements left blurry afterimages in the air as it moved with incredible velocity!
Even I couldn’t dodge its attacks!
Several consecutive strikes passed through my body.
With each hit, I felt my qi weakening noticeably!
"This approach isn’t sustainable. I’ll die if this continues." Seriousness flashed across my face.
I attempted to counter with qi-based attacks, but they proved completely ineffective against the skull.
Mateo’s dark energy reserves vastly exceeded my own, creating an overwhelming advantage.
"Swoosh swoosh swoosh"
The massive blade continued its assault, forcing me to retreat repeatedly!
Inside the nearby car, Jack Schultz trembled uncontrollably!
Was this really the Mateo Ward he knew?
"Blair Blake, what... what is that thing..." Jack’s voice quivered as he spoke.
Blair replied gravely, "It’s a technique from the southwest region, though I can’t identify it precisely."
"Will Mason be okay? If something happens to him, I’ll be responsible..." Jack’s face paled significantly.
If Mabel Sean held him accountable, the consequences would be severe!
"Don’t worry," Blair shook his head confidently. "Mr. Raymond will certainly pull through."
Having witnessed numerous "miracles" performed by Mason, Blair’s faith had grown substantially.
Every time death seemed imminent, Mason had defied expectations.
Blair believed this situation would prove no different.
I continued evading relentlessly. Even my spiritual fire proved useless against the skull.
"Haha, Mason Raymond, this technique renders all your attacks worthless! I’ll torture you slowly until you perish!" Nearby, Mateo’s hair whipped wildly as he roared with maniacal laughter!
I remained silent, keeping my expression neutral while dodging and contemplating my options.
Then, abruptly, I stopped moving.
Facing the skeleton’s descending broadsword, I stood motionless and closed my eyes!
"Mason Raymond stopped moving!" Jack panicked suddenly inside the car!
Even Blair jumped to his feet, staring intently through the window!
Could this truly be the end for me?
"Hehe, surrendering at last?" Mateo sneered coldly from his position.
With another furious roar, the skeleton swung its broadsword downward with tremendous force!
Surprisingly, after the blade fell, no second swing followed!
"Hm? What’s happening?" Mateo’s expression changed dramatically!
The skeleton tried repeatedly to withdraw its weapon but failed every time!
It was as if I had seized control of the broadsword!
My face remained cold as ice, my eyes firmly shut.
My previously diminishing aura began strengthening again!
Conversely, the dark energy animating the skeleton started dissipating gradually!
Mateo’s expression transformed suddenly! He sensed his own dark energy being forcibly extracted!
"You can absorb my energy, and I can do the same to you," I raised my head, a slight smirk playing at the corner of my mouth.
"This kid is counter-attacking!" Mateo’s face drained of color instantly!
The skeleton’s ability to deplete my qi worked through absorption during each strike!
Every time the sword connected, a brief pause followed.
That pause represented the energy absorption process.
Unfortunately for Mateo, I’d identified this weakness and begun exploiting it!
The skeleton’s dark energy dissipated increasingly faster, while Mateo, who had initiated the technique, felt his strength rapidly fading!
"How is this possible!" Panic consumed Mateo’s features as he realized it was too late to terminate the technique!
I consumed Mateo’s dark energy voraciously, like a man possessed!
Massive quantities of dark energy flowed through the skeleton into my body, bit by bit!
"Ahh!!"
Mateo’s body began convulsing violently as sharp pain radiated from his core!
"How could this kid...break this technique..." Cold sweat poured down Mateo’s forehead!
In all his years practicing martial arts, he’d never witnessed anyone overcome this particular technique!
"I can’t continue like this; I’ll die if this goes on!" Mateo’s expression grew desperate with mounting anxiety!
"It seems I have no choice but to abandon this body," thoughts raced through Mateo’s mind.
He had utilized this physical form for years, accumulating vast amounts of dark energy through his position at Chuzzle!
Though reluctant to surrender it, no alternatives remained!
"Kid, you haven’t seen the last of me. I’ll have my revenge!"
In the next moment, Mateo suddenly collapsed to the ground.
Black shadows fluttered from his body, disappearing into the sky.
The skeleton confronting me vanished instantly.
I opened my eyes slightly, observing the distant form of Mateo with a frown. "Just as I suspected, but he escaped."
Looking at Mateo’s fallen form, my expression remained composed.
Then, breaking into a smile, I said, "But this is enough. With this much dark energy, I should have sufficient power to reach Foundation Building Stage 3."
