Chapter 35: Knowledge Reigns Supreme (1/2)
No one outruns the wind.
This saying was quite common between adventurers, it was a piece of advice and a warning. Don't try to outrun against a person with elemental wind, you'll only be eating their dust.
That's why when Nikolai tried going after the monolith, Veron chased after him and caught up easily. As he was running, Nikolai felt the wind whistle behind. He threw himself forward and rolled on the ground, avoiding the wind blade easily.
”I guess your sharpshooting skills are your only trump card.” Veron aimed his blade at Nikolai, who had to admit that Veron's words were right.
His stats were lacking and his mana was element-less. He had no inherited skills or any martial arts that would give him an edge over others. The only things that he had were his sharpshooting skills and his knowledge.
”Knowledge reigns supreme.” Nikolai smiled as his muscles bulged. He jumped from the ground as a dagger appeared in his hand. With one swift motion, he stabbed toward Veron.
”Gou!” Veron shouted and a wall of wind appeared to protect him. The three oddballs' strength didn't lay in their elemental wind, but their teamwork.
Nikolai's dagger bounced off the wind wall and Kara's elemental wind arrived to lock him in place, surrounding leaving no escape for him from behind.
”Teamwork reigns supreme,” Veron said with a smile. ”Knowledge does very little when you are weak and alone.”
”I used to think the same way,” Nikolai nodded. ”But I think teammates hold you down.” He smiled. ”For example,” Nikolai sprinted toward Gou and appeared in front of him in an instant. He swung his dagger as Gou shrieked and fell backward.
His elemental wind broke apart and Nikolai slipped from the gap Gou left. He knew from before that the only reason Gou used a shield was that he was afraid of confrontations and fighting.
Nikolai ran away as Veron rushed to help Gou stand up. He glanced at three who would rather check on their friend than chase after him, even though Gou wasn't injured in any way.
'This is weakness.' Nikolai turned away from the three and ran in the direction of the Fire Class's monolith, which should be unguarded by now. 'Fighting while caring about the wellbeing of others will only drag you down.'
Teammates can support you or protect you, but they're also a weakness. This was what the Elven Princess taught him, and she was right.
Nikolai used his limit-breaking technique to sprint forward, putting great strain on his muscles. He saw the peak of the fire monolith after a few minutes.
”BASTARD!”
A roar came from behind him and Nikolai turned to see Julian, enveloped with bubbling mana. His eyes have turned red from the anger he felt as fumes of red mana left his mouth and nostrils.