Chapter 108 - Guard City (1/2)
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
” Ooop-”
' Shit!' Levi thought as his body flipped through the air.
” Ackk!” He slammed into a sturdy tree, his body bending around it.
” Uhhh!” Beads of sweat dripped from his face as propped himself up.
' Forget my legs...If I don't get this down, my whole body will be done for!' He thought.
” Hmm hum hmm~” Adam dragged a stick through the dirt as he hummed.
” Give it your best!” He smiled at Levi.
'...Ok, so, the problem here is the shattering impact when my feet hit the ground.' He thought.
' For the cloud commandment, one of the places qi would be put to use would be the feet.' He sat down in thought.
' With every step, a flow of qi through the legs would leave through the soles of the feet.'
' Before they touch the ground, this qi would cushion the impact, allowing for smooth running.' Levi paused.
' But the whole point here...is to not use qi or blood energy for these kinds of things.' He clicked his tongue.
' Think! What can be used as a replacement?...' He closed his eyes.
'...Timing!' His eyes opened in realization.
' As long as my timing is good, I should be able to use the roll of my feet to replace the use of qi!' A light flickered in his eyes.
' But...even then...' He frowned.
' To do this, I need to be able to place my heel on the ground in such a way that I won't break my ankles!'
' Which means that I have to control the movements of my legs precisely...Aghh!' He ruffled his head.
” Screw it... I think people would refuse to try this kind of thing from fear of losing the use of their legs, but...” He paused.
” In any case, practicing will let me know which parts of my feet will be strained the most. Then I just need to strengthen these places respectively...” He mumbled.
” Fuuu...” He breathed out.
' Alright!' He thought.
He could feel the muscles in his legs and back tightening as he shot off.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
His steps still exuded much power.
” Whoa-Shit!” He shouted as his body flipped through the air multiple times.
' This is going to hurt!' He thought.
” Uhh!” He groaned as he bounced on the ground.
' Sigh.' He mentally sighed.
..
In the distance.
” Again, I guess.” Levi got up.
” Surround it this time!”
” Ok!”
” Mantis cleave!”
” You're doing things on your own again!!”
” Humph! Who needs your help for just this?!”
” You! It was your fault it got away in the first place!!”
”...Huh?”
” What is it now?”
” Look...”
” What?...Hey! What the hell are you doing?! Get off of it!”
Different voices sounded.
” Huh? Why?” Adam asked.
..
' Hmm?'
' People?' Levi thought.
”...” He fell and slid on his face.
” Sigh.” He simply sighed before getting up.
” Hurry and get off of it!” A young male voice rang out.
” H-Hey, that's dangerous! Get off!” Another one shouted.
” Actually, no. Although mutated beasts, these gleaming tortoises are not dangerous, or harmful at all for that matter.” A composed voice echoed.
” Shhh! Shut up! Why would you tell him about that?!”
” Humph! Since you won't piss off, then die with this thing!” One shouted.
” Life cleaving mantis shot!” A large broadsword slashed down.
Vivivivi!
A glowing green light gleamed.
” Ugh!” The large sword was knocked back.
” Huh?” Levi arrived at the scene.
Before him was a group of people.
One on his back beside a large sword.
Another, smaller one, wearing black robes while clutching a book with both hands.
A girl with a blonde ponytail. She held a beautiful silver sword, while her body was adorned with parts of silver armor.
The last was a girl with long, straight black hair.
She wore a sleeveless robe that had pointed shoulders.
” See what kinda shit doing your own thing causes!” She looked back at Levi before shouting to the broadsword user.
” Oh! Come up!” Adam shouted with a smile.
” 'Come up' my foot! What the hell is that thing?! And why are you riding it?!” Levi shouted.
Adam sat comfortably on the back of a giant tortoise.
”...Dunno!” Adam said after a pause.
”...” Levi refused to retort.
” Hey! He is someone you know, right? Get him to get off! Otherwise, don't blame us for the consequences!” The girl in black shouted to Levi.
” No no no no no, you must have misunderstood! I don't know that fo-Ahem, that person! I will be on my way then.” Levi said as he turned.
” Don't-” Before she could finish, the only part of Levi still there was his loud steps.
” Hahaha! Come on, let's go too!” Adam pointed forward.
The tortoise continued on its way.
” Don't act like you are telling it what to do! It was already going in that direction!” The girl in black shouted.
”...That is your only issue?” The boy holding the book asked.
” Shut up, you!” She shouted in a huff.
” Dammit! The pearl under its shell can be used to make a protective charm! Why did I have to be paired up with these idiots?!” She said under her breath.
...
Late evening.
” Huff! Huff!” Levi breathed heavily as he came to a stop.
' It's a shame I can't practice without getting tired.' He thought.
” Heeeeey!” A shout sounded from the distance.
” Hm?” Levi looked back.
” Haha!” Adam waved.
”...What happened to those guys who were chasing you?” Levi asked.
” Them? They got tired and gave up! They kept attacking, but a glowing light knocked them all away. It was entertaining, though.” Adam said.
He had to consciously turn his head since the tortoise didn't stop.
” You should stop screwing with people. It will come back to bite you in the ass one day.” Levi said.
” What's going to bite me?” Adam asked.
”...When are you going to get off of that thing?” Levi asked as he walked.
” Get off? Why?” Adam asked.
” 'Cause it will draw unnecessary attention to me!” Levi said.
” Why though? I'm the one riding it?” Adam said uncertainly.
” Aghhh! Forget it, ok?!” Levi ruffled his head before screaming, as if in pain.
” Ok! Hum ha hum.” Adam hummed.
” Sigh, will I leave this place with my sanity intact? Am I even sane? Was I ever sane?” Levi mumbled as he walked.
” Hmm? You're tired, right? C'mon up.” Adam extended his arm.
” Hmm.” Levi absent-mindedly grabbed on.
” Whoa!” Adam leaned to the side.
Thump!
” Why am I not surprised...” Levi gazed at the night sky with tired eyes.
” Hurry and get off.” He said.
...
Morning.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
' Ok, with this step...'
' The first to touch the ground...my heel!'
' Then, with my ankle, roll my foot!' Levi thought.
Snap!
' Oh shit...' He felt something break.
His body leaned forward as he began falling.
A red, water-like qi seeped out from his other leg.
He moved this leg swiftly, causing it to cut through the dirt while stopping his fall.