"Agh…. Hot!"
"Relax. Stand still and don't move. It really shouldn't hurt at all," she complained.
Julian felt a burning sensation surge through his body.
"Wh-what is this?" Julian groaned, his eyes closing tightly. He winced in pain.
"I'm transferring mana into your Velian. All of your casts will be amplified, and you'll be able to perform much better…"
What if I don't have… whatever a Velian is! I can't store mana! Where will it go?"
"… since my mana is incredibly potent and all," she bragged, with a smirk. Finally, she released her palm.
His skin reddened. Steam started to release, the pressure and heat melted holes into his shirt until it was reduced to nothing.
"J-Julian..?" Umilythe became startled.
Julian responded, very sternly, "Get on my back."
With how sure he sounded, she got on his back. Hot. But bearable. She closed her eyes and began the process.
The distance from the slave camp was far.
The muscles underneath my skin, I can feel them burning. But it doesn't hurt too much.
Julian bent a knee.
Fwsh!
He cut through the air, covering a lot of distance in a single leap. When he landed, in front of him were three guards. Armored, holding halberds.
"So that's where the slave went."
"And he's knocked out the head slave master's personal slave?!"
"Don't kill him, boys. If we capture him, we'll definitely be handsomely rewarded-"
Julian sprinted at the first one.
"Flying Dragon Kick!"
Gathering momentum with a spin, he struck the guard. Shattering his helmet, sending him into a nearby tree. Rendering him immobile.
"!"
"Th-that technique. Steaming, red skin. Flying dragon kick… I've only heard of it in the fairy tales my father told me. That's the Ancient Heavenly Dragon!"
Ancient Heavenly Dragon? I was just bullshitting, though.
Julian walked over toward the body of the first guard, grabbing the sword he wielded.
"Prepare yourself."
Fwsh!
Clang!
The second guard was barely able to keep up with Julian's speed. He managed to block with the wooden part of his halberd.
Cr…ck!
Unfortunately, the wooden splintered.
The third guard came just in time, preparing an attack.
"Haagh!"
Have my senses sharpened as well?
He threw a horizontal strike.
Julian ducked. He spun around, slashing the third guard's abdomen.
"Keuk!-"
Julian then grabbed his arm, digging a knee into his chest.
The third guard was rendered immobile.
"I-I surrender!"
Julian did not listen.
He drove his foot into the man's face. Sending him to the ground.
As if nothing happened, Julian continued.
. . .
. .
"Have you guys seen Julian?" Veind asked.
Glasses, Oscar, Veind, and Elyse all slept pretty close to each other. Close enough that they could chat quietly without disturbing others. It was planned for them to sleep together this night instead of going to the shed.
"He's not here?" Oscar asked.
"Obviously," Glasses said.
"He probably forgot. I think he'll be fine."
"No, he didn't forget," Oscar quickly reaffirmed. Everyone was confused.
"How do you know?" Veind asked the question they were all thinking.
"He's out there. To my surprise. Although it might not look like I'm surprised."
Oscar jumped off the bed.
"That dumbass. He went and got himself killed, didn't he?" Glasses sighed.
"Did he tell you guys something he didn't tell Veind and me?" Elyse asked.
"Have a little hope, Glasses. It wouldn't hurt."
"No way, Oscar. You're… serious? You believed in that scrawny fool?"
"…"
Oscar stepped out of the bunk bed area. Into the midnight scenery. The cold air blew silently.
Rumble!
His neck snapped toward the sound. A loud explosion at the gate. The roars of soldiers. Immediately, slavers and guards alike flooded out of rooms.
"..."
For the first time, Oscar felt a smirk tugging his cheek. At this moment, people were already leaving their beds to see what the commotion was.
Oscar grabbed the shackle at his neck, ripping it in half.
[Cast: Verglas Rising Pillar]
The floor in front of him grew cold and pale.
Fwsh!
From the ground, a thick rectangular pillar of ice was erected, shooting toward the sky.
The display of power was baffling. To every slave.
For a slave to be able to touch the sky. What does that mean for the rest of them?
The silence that constantly filled Oscar's head slowly chipped away.
"Everyone, fight!" Oscar yelled.
In that camp, there was an invisible veil. One that every slave was accustomed to. An underlying acceptance of the state they're in. But it was suddenly ripped. It had been a long time since they had seen the use of mana.
An array of casts were performed!
Bsh!