Devouring Strength

The battle raged on, each strike from Azar and the heroes sending shockwaves through the rubble-strewn streets. Azar's new martial technique, honed in the secluded mountains, was unlike anything his allies had seen. His movements were unpredictable and explosive, each punch and kick carrying immense force. With a swift, calculated strike, he swung his fist and landed a blow on Melzargard's arm. A shockwave rippled outward, and the limb exploded in a burst of energy, scattering pieces of the alien creature across the battlefield.

In the aftermath of the blast, Azar's hand gripped onto something solid—a bead, the source of Melzargard's regenerative powers. Azar felt the familiar pull, the urge to use his Law of Devouring. His instincts flared, and he gave in to the sensation, channeling his Devouring ability directly into the bead. A surge of energy coursed through him as the bead was consumed, feeding him a colossal influx of power that felt on par with the boost he'd gained from devouring the Deep Sea King. His muscles surged, and a renewed sense of vitality spread through every fiber of his being. Azar could feel himself becoming stronger—much stronger.

The other heroes glanced his way, sensing his sudden spike in power. Atomic Samurai and Bang exchanged a quick nod, their focus returning to Melzargard, who was reeling from the loss of one of his regenerative cores.

Melzargard hissed, his many eyes widening in rage and confusion. But the heroes pressed on, their attacks now targeting the alien's remaining weak spots. Azar, fueled by the boost from the first bead, surged forward with renewed aggression. Each hit was a devastating blow, his Devouring Fist tearing through Melzargard's form and searching for more of the alien's hidden cores. The creature tried to counter, but Azar's power had increased to the point that Melzargard's strikes barely left a mark. His newfound resilience was astounding, and the heroes took notice.

In the midst of the chaos, Azar found himself face-to-face with another bead buried within the alien's torso. He seized it without hesitation, channeling his Devouring power again. Another surge of energy flooded through him, his strength now climbing to levels he hadn't anticipated. With each bead he consumed, his physical power was compounding, his body adapting to the vast amounts of energy coursing through him. His senses sharpened, and his resilience was rapidly evolving—wounds closed almost instantly, his endurance seeming limitless.

The heroes coordinated their strikes, each one hammering down on the alien with a relentless force. Bang's precise, forceful attacks shattered the alien's defenses, while Atomic Samurai's blade cleaved through with surgical precision. Metal Bat smashed into Melzargard's form, each hit rattling the monster's regeneration ability.

Azar continued to grab onto more of the beads as he broke down Melzargard's defenses, siphoning the energy from two additional cores as the fight progressed. His strength tripled, and his regeneration capabilities felt almost supernatural, with injuries healing nearly as fast as they were inflicted. Each absorbed bead felt like a new wellspring of power, pushing him to heights he'd only dreamed of.

Realizing the fight was turning against him, Melzargard let out a guttural, desperate scream and began backing away, his once intimidating aura now replaced by panic. He turned and tried to flee, his many eyes darting around for an escape route. But the heroes would not relent. Azar, Bang, Atomic Samurai, and Metal Bat all closed in on him, cutting off every possible exit. The alien staggered, his form torn and shredded, his regenerations slowing as his beads were systematically dismantled.

With a final surge of strength, Bang leaped forward and delivered a punishing blow that sent Melzargard's head flying, exposing the last bead hidden within. Without wasting a moment, Bang reached out, seizing the bead and crushing it in his grip, reducing it to nothing. Melzargard let out one final, despairing wail as his body crumbled, his regeneration failing at last. His form dissolved, scattering across the ground as dust.

Azar took a deep breath, feeling the lingering effects of the battle. The energy he'd gained from the four devoured beads now pulsed through him, his body buzzing with newfound strength and resilience. His senses felt heightened, and his physical power had reached levels he'd never anticipated. Even his injuries, which would have once taken time to heal, had vanished.

The heroes surveyed the battlefield, taking in the silence that followed the chaos. City A was barely recognizable, reduced to ruins, but they had stopped the alien invasion for now.