Freedom Jumper-Chapter 167: I Chose This Path

Two choices were presented to Elijah.

Either save as many people as possible, or pursue the mystery in the far distance.

As the flaming waves were slowly being extinguished by many water-based runetec and water mages, Elijah was staring at the scene from below. Even feeling the heat that evaporated high into the air.

Trees were beginning to topple, and the sounds of violent screams from not just fellow humans, but also beasts, resounded in the vicinity.

The time that passed allowed Elijah to make his decision — all the while he couldn't help but think about Niko and Kithus.

Whoosh!

Black and brown leather clothing rustled in the wind, his thin leather chest plate slapping against his chest.

This was the perfect opportunity for Elijah to learn about the deep truths of this world. Standing silently in the wind of Godhand's Rind was a mysterious figure draped in a brown caveman-like cloak.

Upon reaching the figure — levitating just 20 feet in front of him, allowed him to make out the muscles of his abdomen that showed through the many holes in the cloak.

Long brown hair that surely hadn't been cut for a very long time was also visible, but his face was covered by a mask. Made from white bone, a singular large saber tooth reached underneath his chin while the rest of the white bone teeth covered his lower face.

"Did you cause this destruction?" Elijah touched the soft ground, his feet slightly sinking into the grass as if he was standing on an inflatable grassland.

"..."

Mysteriously, the masked man stood eerily still, as if waiting for the right moment.

Staring into the eyes of Elijah, a brown copper cross was revealed from underneath his cloak. This cross was roughly made, bent and warped in many areas. In the center was a very large rune depicting that of a sun — filled with at least hundreds of runic complications.

All it took was a few seconds for Elijah to realize he was in danger. However, even when he had looked away from the cross, the feeling of blindness took over just after he had watched a blinding light fill the sky.

A light strong enough to outshine the light of the day!

"Ahhhhh! What did... you do??!" Rubbing his eyes over and over again, Elijah tripped on the soft ground, rolling down the hill of Godhand's Rind.

Just barely, the trees and perky grass were able to be seen, but with a visual bloom that caused him to be filled with pain.

"Gon fi, sol da bran minat!" the man had spoken his first words, albeit they were words not of the Kotun language, but something else.

Words that acted as a command.

Shink!

Sinking into Elijah's lower back was a long and wrinkly finger that had silently and instantly appeared into thin air.

Elijah had first released a scream of agony. Then, while turning around, caught sight of a hairy and wrinkly Yostimime grinning in front of his face. The hot breath smelled of sour rotten flesh, and the face was that born from evil.

Knowing he had played the situation in too comfortable of a manner, Elijah began to unleash his power while waiting for his eyesight to fully return. To stare anywhere caused him not just pain, but also dizziness.

Materializing around his body was a shield of water, sticking close to his body. The plan was to create distance and heal his wound, then fly away into safety.

That was until another Yostimime had appeared out of thin air — snapped into existence by the action of the mysterious cloaked man.

Wrinkly and dry skin were creating bruises around Elijah's ankles while flying through the air. It seemed this beast either cared about its life, or desperately wanted to hold on from the master's orders.

Boom!

Elijah had enough, a single punch was all it took to blow half of the Yostimime's face off.

The abomination gave off an ear-piercing screech, comparable to a train horn. During its cry for help while dangling within the bright sky, it slowly lost its grip around Elijah.

Before seeing the beast disappear into thin air, a wrinkly and dry-lipped grin was seen, even with only half of its face present.

How abominable!

An exchange that had only lasted a few minutes instilled a fear unlike any other into his body. The unknown was terrifying, and it seemed the mysterious figure had control over it.

"That was another human underneath that mask. But... something about him was different... He didn't feel like a human, but just like another beast..." Elijah muttered to himself while slowly descending into the trees. His wounds had quickly begun to heal, except for the hole in his lower back that would require more energy.

Just to be honest, Elijah was low on mana. From the previous fights he had engaged in, flying through the air, and healing his flesh, it was to be expected.

The smart choice would've been to either kill the figure immediately, or avoid the situation entirely.

However, none of the above would net him any information, which is what he was after.

The reasons people have for their actions have to be explained, especially the war the whole world is apparently caught up in.

Whether the mysterious figure was on his own side of the war had to be answered. As of right now, that man had single handedly laid waste to a large portion of the forest. Killing many prominent figures in the process.

All of it stemmed from the ability that is likely related to controlling beasts. An assumption Elijah had made using his imagination, which was now beginning to store dozens of possible theoretical powers the Monolith of Power would be able to bestow.

Continuously, burnt trees without a shred of green fell to the floor — creating a gust of ash that forced everyone nearby to temporarily hold their breaths.

Within the forest, embers were still blazing, but being managed by the many runic pieces that countered the flames. Being that the only water mages were medic's who stayed at the camp, they had only brought two and were forced to expend all of their mana instead of healing the survivors who were badly burnt. freёnovelkiss.com

Elijah's footsteps were soft, coming from the far back line that he had entered from as to not garner suspicions. Niko and Kithus were seen with a few burns on their bodies being patched up by non-magical medic's, and the magnetic Ronny Dayman whose eyes were nothing short of perfect.

Other people around them were not so fortunate. Dead and charred bodies that had yet to be covered were laying soundlessly in a pile next to a couple of reinforced carriages.

Such a cruel fate that not a single person would expect to befall.

Naturally, the chaos had not stopped as there were many beasts still running through the trees, all of which were being cut down by a group of six men.

Of course, these weren't the only people who were valiantly shielding the injured, but the main force of defense that allowed only small scraps to get by with their branded weapons.

There was one man who stood tall among the rest, unwavered by the lingering ash in the air. A man destined to reach the heights of physical strength.

Carodoc Hallowdane, a Peacekeeper General who has consistently been refusing a title of leadership. One that would lessen his dangerous engagements...

Massive gauntlets made from black and silver metals continued to smash any beast unfortunate enough to receive a blow into pieces. Sparks of metal colliding and flashes of embers were released with every strike, amplifying the already destructive power. Carodoc's pure strength was not a power gained from the Monolith, but a flaw that had caused him intense amounts of pain and regret – ultimately turning him into a machine. A flaw with a good and bad side.

Mostly when it comes to women...

Everytime a goblin lord, kobold king, or a towering bear would get close, he would block the elemental attack with an impenetrable shield that was just barely visible. It looked like an application of space magic if Elijah were to still have his affinity, but had a slightly different look.

Standing staggered was a king kobold, ripping currents of air around his scaled and clawed fists. Saliva was dripping down the corners of its maw, revealing white triangle-shaped razors suited for shredding.

Splat!

Carodoc had just thrown the blood off his gauntlet – naturally pissed that some slipped between the steel slatts allowing it to conform to pressure.

Huff! "That's why I don't hold back..."

Intently staring at the tornado being thrown in his direction, Carodoc tightened his fist – releasing mana into the rune of combustion that lay neatly on the reinforced metal knuckles.

Beneath his feet, the ground struggled to keep its form, and made way for the giant's feet to create a lasting impression. As soon as the tornado fizzled around his protected body, the barrier that had been blocking out even the noise was released.

However, this was not the only thing released during this moment. Timing it perfectly, Carodoc's fist tore through the air, and blew every piece of living matter into the skies.

BOOM!

The punch behind the blast created such power he had no reason to be point blank to his target. While the king kobold had been closing the distance, it was still eleven feet away.

"Oh MY!" Elijah, who was watching from the southwest, felt his black oily hair be thrown by a small gust of wind. This was not surprising considering the power had even caused the trees to tremble.

"That... could be me!"

This scene allowed Elijah to realize that everything supernatural is connected in some way. There may be other powers just like the power Carodoc possessed that was similar to a specific application of an affinity, or at least used a part of it in the process.

Coincidently, it also allowed him to see a path forward, just when he needed it the most. A cherry on top to add to the changes he was already going to implement.

Up until now, Elijah had been at a standstill with everything in his life. Mental health was up and down, and all because he had yet to truly start his journey of strength. It was not just the anticipation that was tearing away at him, but the discomfort from moving in no clear direction.

Life felt dull whenever the chase was paused...

Not everything could be self-taught, especially when something like physical combat exists.

The only class Elijah had a worry for...