Saying that this loli jellyfish has a fast reaction speed is an understatement. As though her electric field wasn't a hindrance to begin with, her tentacles react seemingly autonomously without needing to be controlled. I've attacked her blindside numerous times, yet her tentacles kept blocking my attacks despite being out of her vision.
Is it possible that her electrical field is providing her with an additional sense? Using the field for both offence and defence, now that's just unfair. I guess she's not your typical jellyfish then. More of a hybrid between a jellyfish and an electric eel. Which means her sensory organs are my priority targets, wherever it may be inside that tiny body of hers.
Damn it, even with Inazuma being almost weightless, it's still not fast enough for me to get through those tentacles that seemingly moved in an instant. No wonder Kirin requested for Tengu-kaze to be removed since a heavier weapon stood no chance against this opponent, not to mention having the need to absorb or deflect all those electric attacks from her. Even blocking those tentacles without Inazuma might be the end of me, based on the condition of some roasted elves that decided to push their luck. May they rest in peace.
I need to react faster, much faster than what a human is capable of. Kirin had granted me some of his vision power to view electricity. I need to use it to my advantage to predict the movements of those tentacles before it moves.
I took a deep breath and calmed myself. I've already used Focused Meditation along with my agility potion, but I'm still nowhere fast enough. My brain needs to process faster in order for me to react faster. Have I actually hit the limit of what a human is capable of? Is this the fastest I can achieve?
"Perhaps, you would like to try something your father experimented before?" asked Kirin telepathically.
Something my father experimented? What do you mean, Kirin-sama? Are you saying my father had an ability that allowed him to move faster than what human could perform?
"Indeed. Why did you think your father was hailed as the fastest human alive? It was thanks to me that he achieved his fame in the first place. With his improved form, he was able to keep up with the Demon King himself. It was my proudest recommendation since it ended up working extremely well," I could hear him grinning despite speaking telepathically.
Why do I get the feeling that it's a bad idea when you phrased it that way? Ended up "working well?" What the hell did you do to my father? Did you electrocute him or something?
"Well, yes. In theory," he chuckled.
Please elaborate on that. If you're telling me that you need to electrocute me, I don't think right now is ideal time to do it. Especially when I'm in the middle of battle. I'm literally one of the few that is capable of standing and fight currently. If I'm shocked to death, who else is gonna fight this loli jellyfish?
"Your father took it like a champ in the midst of battle with the Demon King. I don't hear him complaining about it. I guess we know who's the "chad" of the family," answered Kirin with a hmph.
You must be joking. How can anyone be willing to get— shocked in the midst of battle? I need more context before I actually agree to anything. What exactly are you not telling me?
"Fine. Let me explain how it goes. What I'll be doing is basically to—jumpstart your body and replace it with my powers. I will eliminate all of your existing electrical functions and replace them with my own. Obviously, my lightning is much stronger than what your body can produce, hence, giving you the edge you need. Think of it as— breaking your limits by replacing what you cannot possibly achieve on your own. And you only need to experience this once," he explained.
So you're saying that you will be overriding all electrical pulses inside my body and replacing it with yours permanently. I'm gonna die momentarily, isn't it? What if I end up dead? How certain are you that I will survive the process?
"You are "his" son after all. I'm sure you'll be fine since he just fainted for a couple of seconds and got fully adjusted to his new form," said Kirin.
I'm— not sure, Kirin-sama. What you're proposing is something rather risky. I don't feel confident that it's gonna work on me the same way as my father.
"C'mon, you are not weaker than your father. You have accomplished more than what your father ever did. Don't you wish to get stronger? You have already achieved both States of Mind but you hit your limit in advancing further. You knew full well that you couldn't defeat that Xenos creature earlier. You knew, which was why you did not bother using your full strength when the insect showed no sign of using even a fraction of its full powers. You didn't want to trigger it. Tell me I'm wrong," answered Kirin.
Alright, fine— fine! What do I need to do before you zap me? Remove all metal objects from my body or something?
That is not needed. All you need to do is to take a deep breath.
Just— resuscitate me if I don't make Bzzzzzzzztttttttt—
***
Insolence, son of a— damn it! How long am I going to be stuck in this position? I can barely move without feeling the effects from the electrical shock earlier. Why can't my body get rid of its aftereffects? My body should have been more resistant towards lightning since I'm in the Elemental guild. For what reason am I in the same situation as the others?
I tried to move my fingers, but none of it even twitched in the slightest. Based on what I can see from my vision, which thankfully still works, most of the elves are in the same predicament as me. Anyone would think that all of us are dead when in actual fact, we just can't move any of our muscles.
But I refuse to lie down and die like this. Someone is fighting, and we should be helping them instead of sleeping on the damn ground. C'mon, move, you damn body. You had just gotten yourself an awesome legendary weapon, but all you did was just cut down a tree. Stand up and do something better!
"Talking to yourself again? You're one strange little elf," said Priflalid.
My conscience was suddenly transported to the realm where Priflalid resides, although things looked much differently than before as the environments were lit more brightly now. Which meant I could finally see him in all his full glory. His features were certainly— different than the dragons that I commonly see. He had six legs for starters and a body that looked rather metallic in nature as opposed to the leathery hide from the common dragons. Not to mention his imposing size is so large that it dwarfs the common dragon like an adult to a child. Perhaps that is why he calls himself a primordial dragon. The question is, why is he residing inside this blade?
"Can you blame me? I had just obtained a powerful legendary weapon that all the other elves dreamt of wielding, yet here I am on the ground like some useless thing. I should be helping whomever it is fighting that massive insect, who somehow defied all odds in getting shocked like us. Sigh, I should have sliced that insect into pieces when I had the chance," I slammed my fist on the ground.
"So eager to put me to work, aren't you? Or perhaps you just want to show off in front of your brethren? Have no fear, there will be plenty of chance for you to use me in the future. Why not just take it easy and relax instead?" asked Priflalid.
"I can't do that. Not when there is an enemy threatening my people, or possibly even the whole realm. That is not something that you can just wave off when so much is at stake," I told him.
"Surprising to hear some hint of truth within those words. But be honest, you're just interested in knowing how powerful you are, now that you acquired me," spoke Priflalid bluntly.
"I won't lie, I am curious to know the extent to which Vengeful Flame is able to achieve. But you should know about my true feelings deep down, if you really can read my feelings," I confessed to him.
"I admire your sincerity in being willing to protect this realm, despite coming from an entirely different one. There is a reason why I was willing to allow you to wield me when you're so— different than your other brethren," he explained.
"Guess I have Zen to thank for that. He had always been different and I am certain it had affected me in some way. Perhaps his curse is rubbing off on me," I sighed.
"Very well, I'll shall lend you my powers. While I generally do not recommend using my powers this early when we had just assimilated not too long ago, the constitution of your body seems to be at its peak. Perhaps— you might be able to utilise my powers due to that fact. Are you willing to test it out?" asked Priflalid.
"Of course. I'll take all the help I can get. Whoever it is that is fighting will certainly need help. I'm sure I'll be able to contribute more with your powers. I, thank you, for your kindness in your willingness to lend me your powers," I bowed to him.
"Hmph, like it or not, we are going to be stuck together for a long time. No reason to be stingy to my wielder. Besides, it's been far too long since I've spoken to anyone. I look forward to your companionship, Elijah Bittersweet," he smiled at me.
I was taken aback when he called my real name. It's been ages since anyone has called me by that since I assumed my role as the Elementalist. Purple flames started swirling around me and began to engulf my entire body. I closed my eyes and allowed the powers to consume my body. Finally, I won't be useless after all.
***
My eyes were the first to gain back any sort of muscle movements, followed by the twitch of my fingers. It took some time, but I finally managed to make a fist and attempted to push myself up. I noticed some purple flames were visibly swirling around my arm but I wasn't alarmed by it. If anything, I was strangely calm. Despite being wrapped in flames, you would think that I would be hotheaded or pumped up from the heat; but I was calm, perhaps the calmest I've ever been.
I could finally stand straight, and I quickly scanned my surroundings to see what was happening. What caught me off guard was Zen being electrocuted throughout his entire body. His body was smoking when it stopped before he fell backwards and landed on the ground, seemingly dead. I immediately ran to him to check on him, but I could not check his condition or even his pulse as his body was still electrically charged, shocking my fingers before I could even touch him. How can I even help him in this condition? His body looked charred, and smoke was still rising from his body, one would certainly question whether he is actually still alive.
I glared at the enemy in question, who had the form of a young female with tentacles around her body. The funny thing was her facial expression, which appeared to be surprised at what had just happened. What is she so surprised about? That I was able to stand despite her attack earlier? She will pay for what she had done to Zen.
"You will pay with your life for killing him. I don't know how you did it, but you will be spending the rest of your life being hunted by his loved ones," I pointed Vengeful Flame at her. I am not so delusional as to think I can defeat this young female alone, despite how she looked.
"I— I did nothing of the sort! I'm as equally surprised as you about what happened to him. He just— got shocked for no reason. I did nothing to him," she folded her arms and pouted as she looked elsewhere in annoyance.
"You expect me to believe you after you incapacitated nearly everyone with a single electric attack? Save your lies, I will be his first ally to avenge him," I readied myself to attack her.
One of the elves atop a tree informed me in elvish that she had some sort of aura that disintegrates anything that got close to her within an approximate range of two feet. Interesting, will she end up burning through all of her energy reserves maintaining such a powerful aura? Or is it just a passive for her? Guess I'll have to put that to the test. Care to venture into such an undertaking, Priflalid?
My blade extended in length as though Priflalid was listening to my request. I turned my gaze towards the young female jellyfish and smirked. Time to get me some roasted kurage.