Freedom Jumper-Chapter 110: Lightseekers II

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"ELIJAH! ELIJAH!" Niko saw everything from afar, and once the impact of destruction occurred, he went running only to trip and roll down a small portion of rubble. His attack was borderline suicidal and the only thought going through Niko's head was if he had just lost his friend – a friend who understood everything he was going through.

Laying calmly in the midst of the rubble – over fifty feet below – was Elijah while a body of water coalesced around his body. The transfer of affinities had been instant, and the thought of why never seemed to cross his mind.

Five minutes, ten minutes, and even twenty minutes was how long Niko had been peering over the edge – staring and begging for Elijah to move even an inch. Who knew if there were more beasts, or worse, more judges coming to return them to an eternal sleep. Ever since the conversation with Elijah – being told he could choose any path he wanted – a part of him he had lost had awoken again. Of course, the control and deep desires still lingered, but Niko had something he wanted to do no matter what.

See what life was like outside these walls. Just maybe... It would be something worth living for.

"ELIJAH! ElIjah... Please..."

The lukewarm that had created a cocoon of life around Elijah slowly faded into the cracks of stone and debris underneath him while his eyes slowly opened. "We did it... Niko. Now we can finally leave..." Elijah's voice was shallow with the sensation of laziness.

Multiple pairs of footsteps were heard coming from the entrance to the underground ravine. "Well, well, well... I hate to admit it guys. But I think I might be afraid to face whoever killed Rafe."

"ELIJAH NOW!! FLY US INTO FREEDOM!!!"

The only words that could've struck Elijah's cold heart were the words of his ultimate desire. A desire that would always be chased with a never-ending goal. Elijah bursted into the air with speed while shuttling small amounts of water magic into his body to null the pain of his organs being shifted to such a high degree. His legs were still severely injured, but the bones, ligaments, tissue, and most of the muscle tissue had been repaired in their natural spots besides the fact that everything that had healed was attached to each other by threads. Everything that related to magic was only possible with the mana still inside the affinity – a pulsating orb of water with no specific pattern, but random motion.

Elijah grabbed a hold of Niko and took him to the top of the mound of debris. "I have one last thing to do before we go, Niko. Please hold onto me, I don't think I can stand on my own."

"Oh-okay."

"Stand down boys. I don't think he actually wants to attack us." Rodrick said while walking forward.

"Stop!" Elijah pulled back out his black short sword and pointed it at Rodrick and his crew of hunters. "I-I will kill you someday Rodrick. I swear by it!"

"Oh yea! And what is stopping me from killing you right now?" Rodrick said while taking a couple more steps forward.

"This." Niko was holding Elijah's left side up to relieve the pressure, but was let go from aiding Elijah as he began levitating just above the mound. From the tips of his fingers spread an ethereal glow that covered his entire arms. It was the only place of light besides Rodrick's glowing spear of lava. Elijah's fist winded back while holding the sword in place, and when contact was made, the sword practically disintegrated from the force.

In reality, the sword had split into miniscule pieces that were not visible to the eye, and shot at lightning speed into the group of 15 hunters. Rodrick instinctively crested a shield of bubbling lava that instantly turned solid while keeping its temperature relative to that of a volcano. His hunter squad however, stood completely still as if bushes inside a windless grassland.

"GO! Kill them!"

There was not a single response from any member of his team. Only until small droplets of blood began dripping out of their pores did he realize what had happened.

"H-how! How did you do that?!!" Rodrick looked back towards Elijah, and saw only the wisps of dust that softly settled onto the mountain of debris. Rodrick would have chased after him, but his affinity granted him not a single aspect related to speed.

Elijah and Niko had escaped because of the perfect execution and imagination that had yet to see its peak. Although, Elijah had intended to deal a killing blow to Rodrick after he had clearly said he would not kill him. Fortunately it had ended up with new information about a devastating and invisible attack that would be near impossible to dodge if one did not know of the extremities that lie in such an attack. However, would the same occurrence happen with every punch to a knife, or was the power and strength just perfectly right?

Niko was struggling to breath as Elijah carried him through cave after cave. The memories of his path were beginning to come back while taking note of the sharp engravings on the ceiling that led them to the light.

It wasn't until twenty minutes of flying and passing by a select few beasts did they make it to the familiar boulder that had been slightly shifted. It was as if something had intentionally dug a hole on the left side to escape.

"Niko, I think there might be a number of beasts outside this hole. We should rest and recuperate as much mana as possible. Can you keep an eye on the surroundings while I focus on absorbing mana?" Elijah asked while nearing the exit small space where a fountain of light shot into the inclined tunnel cavern.

"Yea, I'll do that. But I think we should take a look outside if you aren't planning to do so."

"Yea... I guess you're right. Just make sure to squint your eyes. The sun will be blinding." Elijah's voice was slightly erratic from the expectation of the outside world, but also sad from having no one besides Niko. Although, it could be worse. But even being alone might be better than having to fly someone to safety...

Instantly, when the rays of sunlight hit the eyelids of Elijah and Niko, there was a feeling of comfort and relief – relief of finally giving themselves the potential to create a life on their own terms. Directly straight ahead was a barren wasteland with black and dark gray rocks and rubble that covered what used to be a floristry filled grass land littered with inanimate objects. Small and large rocks, bones, and entrances to cave systems that led deep within The Catacombs. Straight ahead was the direction of west, which was signified by the bright star the Kingdom of Astraea looked to for direction. To the North was the start of a towering mountain range that curved around the entire north side of the kingdom. Optimally, the council could eventually build a new wall between the mountain ranges on the west and east side giving them space that wouldn't even be filled with the next ten thousand years. To the left – where the southern mountain range began – was what looked like an upside down ribcage of some horrid and towering beast.

Elijah and Niko had adjusted to the light while sticking their heads out from the ground, and began developing the optimal route. Unfortunately, a great number of different types of beasts were loitering outside the walls as if waiting for something. This included the familiar and dreadful bone walkers that meandered in between the abominable tentacle beasts. The beast that took a great amount of effort between three cyan core mages to defeat even a single one. A tall and towering forest of trees that bore too many branches and leaves that they dropped to the floor was seen in the distance and would be the first biome they would come into contact with. Although, the northern half of the forest was burned and covered with ash and rocks – likely from the volcanic explosion. This was their first goal. Reach the forest while staying high within the overgrown branches as cover. And decide on whether they should fly high into the sky to reach Gion, or fly between the trees slowly while taking their time.

"What do you think, Elijah?" Niko asked with a straight and worried face.

"I think if we don't play this right. We will be welcomed with a painful death..."