Ch 202.
With each passing moment, Matt felt his chances of executing the final act necessary for victory slipping away as he struggled to close the distance between himself and Spencer once more. Spencer, however, was relentless in his efforts to prevent that from happening. Not only was Matt forced to shield Rose, who lay on the ground like a broken doll, her spirit seemingly extinguished after losing her sword, but Spencer also retreated every time Matt advanced. This would have been manageable, as Matt had already severely hampered Spencer's mobility. He had even resorted to his preferred tactic of sacrificing the integrity of his own limbs, weakening them before launching an attack. Unfortunately, it seemed Spencer had adapted, mastering the art of crafting prosthetic limbs from the very earth around him.
Thus, Spencer moved with surprising agility, his arms and legs composed entirely of dirt, while unleashing a barrage of earthen projectiles aimed at Matt’s vulnerable limbs. Even when Matt braced himself for a hit to his torso or head, the dirt would disintegrate just before impact, leaving him frustrated and bewildered. After all, he couldn’t transfer injuries back to limbs that were not made of flesh, and it appeared that Spencer was now able to move even quicker with his earthen legs than he ever could with his natural ones. This left Matt with few options, forcing him to morph his arms into whip-like tentacles in a desperate attempt to reach Spencer, but each effort proved futile against Spencer’s defenses.
“You’ve lost unless your enhanced skill is superior to mine,” Spencer taunted, a cruel smile curling his lips. “If you haven’t figured it out yet, my power revolves around perfect control of soil. Had you faced me at sea, you might have stood a chance, but here on solid ground, victory is entirely out of your reach. I’ve merely been toying with you until now.”
Suddenly, Matt sensed the dust that had clung to him during the fight thickening around his limbs. A moment later, a swirling dust storm erupted from his feet, enveloping him in a chaotic cloud as he instinctively sealed every orifice on his body. This included growing a thin layer of a skin-like substance over his eyes, allowing him to perceive only vague shapes through the haze, but little more. Although this protective barrier offered minimal visibility within the swirling dust, he soon felt the gritty particles condensing around his body below his neck, weighing him down. Had it not been for the muffled sounds reaching his ears, Matt might not have even realized that Spencer was still speaking. Yet, he chose to ignore the taunts, focusing instead on remaining still and hardening his body against the relentless compressing force pressing down upon him. Each breath felt labored as he braced himself against the storm, determined to withstand the chaos swirling around him.
While Matt recognized that what he was enduring would be more than most could withstand, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his body was somewhat of a cheat. After all, while everyone had a durability stat, skin would always be less resilient than teeth. So, in essence, Matt was able to enhance the durability of his entire body simply by altering its composition. This likely left Spencer perplexed as he continued to exert pressure, attempting to crush Matt, convinced that Matt wouldn’t be able to break free. After all, escaping would require a perfect combination of strength and durability working in tandem with momentum to overcome the rocklike shell enveloping him. However, unlike a typical body, Matt possessed the ability to modify his form, allowing him to create momentum by either increasing the pressure sufficiently to shatter the shell or by contracting and then expanding parts of himself before the shell could compress fully.
The moment Spencer stepped within reach of Matt's outstretched arms, Matt executed his plan. In a swift motion, he unsealed his face and yanked Spencer closer, sinking his teeth into the flesh of his neck like a feral beast. Spencer recoiled in shock, but before either could react further, spikes erupted from the shell encasing Matt’s body, penetrating deeply into him, leaving only his head and arms untouched. Unfortunately, Matt couldn’t retreat to safety; the spikes remained embedded, preventing any chance of healing. His durability, which had once seemed an asset, faltered under the concentrated pressure, allowing the jagged points to breach his defenses. As pain coursed through him and his health points plummeted rapidly, Matt managed a grim smile, stained with blood. His objective had been fulfilled; now it was up to his other self to carry on the fight and finish what he had started.
However, that didn’t mean Matt was out of tricks just yet. With a fierce determination, he focused inward, twisting part of his belly to create just enough space for a surge of healing energy to flow through him. In an instant, Spencer shrieked as his abdomen erupted with deep, festering wounds that would take agonizingly long to mend. Enraged, Spencer unleashed a torrent of curses, his fists raining down on Matt's face, yet he remained blissfully unaware of the notification flashing before him, announcing his supposed victory in killing Matt.
At that moment, Spencer’s attention was so consumed by his fury that he failed to notice Rose slipping into the dungeon, her figure darting past him and disappearing into safety, far beyond his grasp. He understood all too well that eliminating Rose was crucial; she would undoubtedly pursue him relentlessly, warning others about his unique ability to manipulate those around him. This was a skill he had carefully concealed, even from those who had shared the tutorial experience with him.
He had only resorted to using it when absolutely necessary, ensuring his survival against those who might sacrifice him, like Song Xiang. It was Song Xiang who loomed large in Spencer's thoughts, for he planned to employ his power on him soon enough. After all, unless Song Xiang managed to reach a dungeon, Spencer was confident he should now be stronger than him. Yet, a nagging thought lingered in his mind: he wished that the potency of his skill didn’t diminish with each additional person it controlled.
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That was another reason he needed to eliminate Rose; even if her compulsion had ended, the ability still regarded her as a lingering influence. This residual effect wouldn’t impact his next target as significantly as an active one would, but Spencer was adamant that his compulsion over Song Xiang should not be even one percent weaker than its maximum potential. Therefore, regardless of the implications, Spencer settled onto the ground to heal, determined to remain in place until Rose eventually emerged or until he felt the connection he had with her fade completely.
Hours slipped by, and to his surprise, he wasn’t even fully recovered when a figure finally exited the dungeon. However, it was the last person he expected to see: Matt stood before him once again. Instantly, Spencer attempted to rise, only to find his body unresponsive. Panic surged through him as he feared he had fallen victim to a mental attack. Desperately, he tried to convince himself that everything around him was an illusion, a nightmare—anything to escape the reality of his immobilization. Unfortunately, he couldn’t even manage to move his lips. The only small comfort was that he still retained control over the soil surrounding him, and with a surge of defiance, he sent it hurtling toward Matt, hoping to regain some semblance of an upper hand.
Frowning at the unexpected attack, Matt nimbly sidestepped, only to realize that the dirt and rocks that had claimed his other self were not so easily evaded. Just then, Spencer's attention was abruptly yanked away as he felt his own hands tightening around his throat, a suffocating grip that left him gasping for breath. This moment of distraction granted Matt the opportunity to address Spencer, fully aware that his puppet was now in command of Spencer’s body.
“I really hate to do this to people,” Matt remarked with a nonchalant tone. “Hijacking their body just feels so dirty, but the deal I struck with my other self was clear: even if one of us had to die, we wanted the killing blow to belong to the one you killed. That’s right, you did kill me—one of me, at least. My enhanced skill allows me to create perfect copies of myself that can exist independently.”
Spencer yearned to scream, to shout, to unleash any form of protest, but as he soon discovered when his eyelids fluttered shut, he couldn’t even control them. Yet, his other senses remained sharp enough to track Matt's movements as he desperately attempted to ensnare this version of Matt just as he had done before. However, this time, Matt was not fighting with his hands tied behind his back; Rose was gone, and the lingering compulsion that might have affected her even after Spencer’s death had been effectively dealt with.
“You know, you didn’t have to become my enemy,” Matt taunted, a smirk playing on his lips. “My goal has always been to allow Earth to determine its own future, and I can tell that you would have made a powerful ally. Here’s the deal: if you stop trying to ensnare me with your dirt, I’ll ease up on the grip around your throat and even let you speak.”
“Fine!” Spencer shouted, the unexpected force of his voice surprising him as he felt his hands loosen, the clumps of earth he had been controlling cascading to the ground like a defeated army. “What do you want?”
“I think you are mistaken,” Matt replied with a weary sigh, his eyes glinting with mischief. “I simply believe you should have the chance to say some final words before your inevitable demise.”
“I haven’t given up yet,” Spencer retorted defiantly, his voice steady despite the fear clawing at his insides. “All I need to do is break free from your mind control and—”
“I wish you luck,” Matt interrupted smoothly, his tone dripping with mockery. “I’ve controlled someone of higher rank from across the universe for months with this ability. If you manage to escape it, then I won’t even stop you from running; at least you’ll have earned a head start.”
“You have to be lying,” Spencer shot back, his voice trembling slightly, betraying the doubt gnawing at him. “You just want me to give up.”
“Either way,” Matt continued, his expression unyielding, “if there’s anything you want to say before I command your body to claw its way into the ocean, now’s your moment.”
Matt observed the hesitation flickering across Spencer’s features, the internal battle waging behind his eyes as he grappled with the truth of Matt’s words. As his arms began to pull him forward toward the beach, terror surged within him, overpowering any lingering hope.
“Please, there must be something you want from me! You said yourself you could control me for months with this skill; surely, I can be of some use!”
“Maybe if you hadn’t forced someone I care about to cross lines they will never forgive themselves for, I might have considered it,” Matt replied, his voice cold and resolute.
Matt's words dripped with coldness as his puppet stripped Spencer of his ability to speak. Panic surged within Spencer, causing him to thrash against the invisible binds that held him captive, desperately trying to summon the soil around him to anchor his body in place. Instead, his futile efforts only prompted Matt to deliver a swift kick, launching Spencer into the air and toward the ocean's edge. With no resistance from Spencer's body and Matt easily overcoming the meager grip of the soil that had begun to encircle him, the force of the kick sent Spencer crashing into the shallow waters.
There, his body flailed against the pull of buoyancy, instinctively fighting to submerge itself, a desperate attempt to escape the nightmare unfolding above. A flicker of discomfort stirred within Matt; he felt a twinge of guilt for the ruthless tactics he employed in this confrontation. Yet, he convinced himself that it was justified. After all, he wanted the man who had likely left Rose feeling powerless for weeks to face an even more despairing end. As for any lessons he might glean from Spencer, Matt dismissed the thought entirely, his focus solely on the possibility of Rose emerging from the shadows before this grim encounter reached its conclusion. He wrestled with the dilemma of whether to reveal his survival to her; he feared that if she saw him now, it would unleash a torrent of drama he had no desire to navigate.
If things had gone according to plan, Matt’s other self should have put an end to it all when he extracted her from Scattered Stars. This moment marked the true beginning of the confrontation for Matt, who had been intently monitoring Rose’s name on the members list. With that in mind, Matt resolved to send out his daily message in the leadership chat once he successfully concluded Spencer’s life. Just as this thought crossed his mind, a sudden splash erupted from where Spencer had been thrashing moments earlier, and a massive form surged upward from the water.
Matt sighed as he took in the sight of the enormous sand golem—a desperate manifestation of Spencer’s will to survive. He felt no concern; he understood by now that his puppet was methodically shutting down Spencer’s organs, rendering him blind to the world around him. Yet, it appeared that Spencer still possessed an instinctive awareness of his surroundings, as the sand golem began to lumber toward the shore, driven by the last flickers of its creator's determination.
