Freedom Jumper-Chapter 82: Prideful Rematch

Communication was unable to be made without pendants, so both Elijah and Niko had just hoped Alexia and Novius succeeded with the capturing of a crystal.

Instead of running on the bare and boring ground, they both chose the scenic and challenging route of running across swaying bridges, hopping across stone pedestals, and climbing over steep stone arches that gave them an amazing view of the area close to them. Lots of contestants were seen running through the darkness. Vibrations and lights from a multitude of different elements were popping in and out of their view. The hawks are looking for their next meal...

"There!"

Elijah pointed down to the ground where two mages were running while covering their chest. From Elijah's point of view it was obvious they were tightly holding onto the crystals they likely stole with the strings of their life.

As if monkey's in their natural habitat, Elijah and Niko used all four to expertly climb down multiple ledges and piles of rocks with a focus of keeping themselves light on their feet. Using both arms as levers and their feet as propellers, they were able to scale a seventy foot vertical within twenty one seconds!

"They are running through the bottom layer, we have to chase them!"

Just when Elijah and Niko had thought they had caught up to them, a single leg was kicked out from the wall that tripped Elijah while a metal casing that enveloped Niko simultaneously. Elijah felt a hard smack to the back of his head that he blunted with water magic. A distraction was made when his crystal was thrown out in the open. The pressure on the back of his head from a foot was just slightly lifted, and when Elijah swept the foot of his predator, a familiar and angry face was seen.

"Of course it's you Bell! You were probably watching me this whole time right?"

"You are right Elijah. While this was not planned, I decided to act on the opportunity when it came. This will be your end in this tournament!" Bell seemed like his normal self which was a good sign, and very quickly began throwing wind blades from a point blank range.

While Elijah was using a life-sized water barrier to block Bell's attacks, he noticed vibrations coming from the metal encasing surrounding Niko. The man responsible was occupied keeping its integrity because if he didn't, Niko would burn straight through the basic understanding of metal. The two runners were now coming towards him with what looks like two crystals laying on the floor behind them. This team had the exact same strategy as Elijah, but instead of splitting off, they decided to stick together and overpower everyone with sheer numbers.

'What can I do here?!'

Several possibilities came into Elijah's mind. However, while a single one did stick out from the rest, a possibility that would bring him the greatest feeling of them all—he knew that it was possibly damning.

'Fuck it...'

Sporadically, a torrent of water that slightly lifted Elijah off of the ground spread everywhere while knocking everyone off balance. The spells from the earth and fire mages who were just about to join in on what they thought to be the easiest fight of their lives, were sorely disappointed when they saw a pearlescent and translucent rimmed oval showing the back of their bodies.

Bam Bam!

'Hopefully they don't remember this...'

While Bell did not see his actions of violently slamming the back of their heads with his sword and almost literally teleporting to a different location, the metal mage named Travisk did. "H-He's to your left!!" Contrary to Travisk's beliefs, he felt a very hard punch to the front of his face the moment he got distracted. His mana stopped circulating for just a single second, which allowed Niko to jump and roll out of his above-ground coffin. Niko's clothes were badly burnt, but still he was moving without hesitation.

"Looks like it's only you, Bell. Do you have anything to say before I knock you out?"

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"All I am trying to do is prove I am strong, prove I can be on the frontlines. Please stop getting in my way..." Bell was talking in a monotone voice while slowly bringing himself to stand. The words surprised both Elijah and Niko, but they both knew this guy was still the same Bell. While his intentions are to become strong, his reasons are misguided, and by everyone around him without a doubt.

"I feel sorry for you Bell. So I hope you realize that you don't need to prove anything to anyone. You are very strong, and hopefully this final match between us will let you in on the secret of strength." Elijah was only partially lying through his teeth to resonate with the same kind of emotions coming from Bell.

A torrent of wind slowly began to surround Bell, and what came with it was the water in the surrounding area that was slowly draining into the "natural" earth. Before Elijah unleashed his single attack that would sway the motion of this fight in his favor, he saw a smile appear on Bell's face. A feeling of comfort hit Elijah as he realized once again how someone who seemed to hate him with the simple trope of noble versus commoner, began to show their true self. All it took was a conversation full of emotion, and anyone he talked to unconsciously became a sponge to anything Elijah was saying, or rather slowly wiped off the unnecessary hate.

Rotating, twisting, and pulsating was a growing ball of water with a predetermined motion. Streaks of water began to fly not just everywhere around Elijah, but also in the face of Elijah. By controlling the creation of his spell, Elijah was able to create his own whirlpool that sat comfortably on the tips of his fingers. By the time it had become the size of half his body in diameter, it was spinning violently, and when released, collided with the miniature hurricane.

An explosion of opposite forces and directions blew both Elijah, Bell, and even Niko backwards. Bell crashed into a wall, Elijah was thrown down the dark corridor of stone, and Niko was thrown into the light. All of which were met with the currents of water and air that pushed against each other causing everyone in the area to be violently thrown away.

Elijah had wanted to use the same abilities he used during their one versus one spar besides his flight ability. He wanted to beat Bell with the power he knew well.

A sophisticated imagination.

Slap Slap** "Elijah! Wake up! Quick!"

"Did I win?" Elijah began with a few coughs, then asked the first question that came to mind.

"Technically speaking, yes. But since you are the first to wake up besides me, I would give myself the win." Niko had a wide smile on his face as grabbed the hand of Elijah.

After standing up and drying his body with some of Niko's fire magic, Elijah noticed how low his mana reserves were. And very quickly, they both began searching for the three crystals that should be within the area. The first one was very close to Elijah, which was very likely the same one he had stolen. However, the other two were very spread apart and close to Bell and his comrades that had been thrown around by the opposing currents.

Stepping over the bodies of the people he defeated did not necessarily feel good, but made him feel powerful. This world had broadened his methods for achieving freedom while also broadening what freedom meant for him. A life that at first he never understood, quickly became something worth fighting for.