Preview: His movements were strange but seemed skilled. It was as though the person was tapping the keyboard of a computer slowly despite there being none.

Herundira started warily at the enemy opposite him. He just managed to throw him away and he’s no longer sure if he can kill them.

“Everyone! Try your best to find their weakness!” He was aware of the weakness being a strand of hair but he did not know where it could possibly be located.

Both sides were equally tough and resilient as they stared at their opponents hatefully.

Suddenly, one of the Tikbalangs movements became stiff and slow as though losing lube on his joints. The Tikbalang that was about to raise its arms to throw out a punch could only do its actions midway before it was stopped.

“Heh, you really think we ruled the Lava Swamps for decades without trump cards and tricks?”

Herundira sneered as the majority of the Tikbalangs they were fighting slowly had their movements stiffen until they became immobilized.

The illusory and invisible steams that their skin releases had managed to drill into their pores and bound itself to the muscles and joints of the Tikbalangs.

Although they could hardly kill or damage the Tikbalangs, that did not mean they could not throw a CC and immobilize them.

The Tikbalangs were filled with confusion and fear as they couldn’t understand what was happening.

They have been rulers of this forest for a long time and they don't like going out. They have already managed to form a unique ecosystem and they could hunt for their prey inside the forest without messing up the food chain. In short, they were self-sufficient.

It was their first time fighting outsiders like Ketus and meeting their strange and unorthodox abilities.

The Tikbalang’s abilities mainly came from the fact that they have an absolute advantage in forest-like places. Because unlike normal horses that rule the plains, they were bipedal and humanoid. They had superhuman agility, strength, defense and of course, recovery.

They relied on such features to rule this place and secure their position for decades. And the environment of the forest made it so that most creatures here evolved similarly in their direction.

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Therefore, the types of prey they had encountered and hunted before were mostly extremely agile, strong in defense, recovery or strength.

But the opponent in front had such strange methods and for a moment, they didn’t know how to deal with it. The other Tikbalangs that only waited at the periphery paused and observed. They didn’t want to be rash and mess up the whole operation of their tribe.

Herundira was overjoyed as he watched all of this take place. He was originally having a headache on how to deal with the Tikbalang’s ridiculous recovery speed when he discovered that their innate abilities coincidentally countered them.

Thankfully, they didn’t ask for reinforcements from their master prematurely and embarrass themselves.

“Kekeke, surrender to the Lords now and join us in this conquest. That way, many of you will be able to preserve your lives and serve under the Lords in peak condition.”

While the enemy were down, he tried to persuade because this was the only chance he could have a breather.

The Tikbalangs finally understood what was going on as they all looked at each other.

. . .

“UOOOOOH!!” shouts came out from my throat as I watched the surrounding Tikbalangs encircle me. Heh, they aren’t even aware that I have a trick up my sleeve.

The hot energy that Magma Golems usually emanate from their skin was absorbed into Zenolith’s core and the heat on the surface of his body disappeared.

It was compressed to the point of almost exploding.

When Zenolith was about to be drowned out by the Tikbalangs, he suddenly released the control he had over his core.

The heat burst out from his body abruptly as it spread to the air in ultra high-speed and caused friction. The friction from heat caused the molecules to rub each other fiercely as the air ignited and burned the surrounding Tikbalangs.

“MWAHAHAHAHA! YOU DIDN’T EXPECT THAT, DID YOU!?” Zenolith felt smug from his unique innovation and use of power as he watched the Tikbalangs burn.

Although they had tough and resilient bodies, fire was their weakness. Especially one that traveled through air and did not discriminate. It burned the especially flammable parts of their bodies, like their hairs.

Screams and neighs mixed and rang out as the Tikbalangs tumbled and fell back. Their bodies and hairs burned, causing massive damage. Their defenses lowered tremendously and their illogical recovery ability stopped working temporarily.

It was as if a computer was overloaded with heat and thus stopped working.

The place where Zenolith was suddenly opened up, allowing the others to see him.

When they saw that Zenolith was safe and sound, they were overjoyed and immediately came over happily.

“UOOOH! CHARGE! FOLLOW OUR CHIEF!!” they lunged towards the falling and retreating Tikbalangs as they brandished their slow-moving arms that resembled pillars, blazing pillars.

The heat from their pillars struck the Tikbalangs hard and caused them to fly. Scorching marks appeared on their bodies, different from before. They didn’t recover immediately as wounds finally appeared and accumulated.

“MWAHAHAHA! JUST SURRENDER TO THE LORDS AND YOU’LL BE GIVEN HONOR AND POWER!” Zenolith did not attribute his innovation of power to himself. He believed it was because he was lucky enough to sense his master undergo a phase of metamorphosis, changing her energy structure and integrating it into her body.

This gave him some inspiration and ideas as he tried doing something similar. Something they Magma Golems never thought of doing. To control and make use of the hot energy contained in their bodies.

And fortunately, he succeeded and the results are positive.

He was glad that he tried as he eagerly looked at the fellows opposite him for a response and reaction.

Their battles took a pause as the Tikbalangs revealed thoughtful expressions from the declarations they received.

Lords..? Same thoughts appeared in all of their minds at the same time as they imagined terrifying legends about such creatures. For a moment, their hearts wavered and they didn’t know how to react.