Chapter 98: Elijah and Kai

Chapter 98

The next day, Elijah stood at the doorway of the cabin, staring at a single bed among the others. Unlike the rest, this bed radiated a terrifying aura that could make even the bravest man falter. Kai lay on it, his swords resting on his chest.

"How's it going?" Elijah asked cautiously.

Kai's voice was weak but steady. "I'm doing better." He glanced at Elijah, standing hesitantly near the door. "Are you afraid, like everyone else?"

Elijah smirked. "Not really. I just don't want to fight you."

Kai chuckled softly. "These swords... their weight and thirst for blood have increased. Right now, it's difficult to control them, even outside of battle. When I do fight, though, it's another story. My killing intent is already reacting to them."

"Take some rest," Elijah said firmly. "Make sure you master them, Kai. Not everyone has the same strength as me."

Kai nodded, closing his eyes. Elijah left the cabin and headed to the deck.

The scene outside was chaotic. Deep slash marks marred the sails, which were barely holding together.

Adan was already climbing to repair them.

The ship itself, though damaged, was still afloat thanks to Julia's runes placed along its hull.

These runes, which utilized the ambient mana in the atmosphere, allowed the ship to heal itself slowly. However, the sails weren't reinforced in the same way.

Runes in this world were categorized by ranks and tiers, serving as a universal grading system for a wide array of items and abilities.

These included not only runes but also weapons, seals, elemental cores, and pills.

Each rank was divided into five primary tiers: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, and Tier 5. This structure allowed for a systematic evaluation of power, complexity, and effectiveness.

However, within each tier, there were additional levels of refinement and specialization, broken down into six grades: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Epic, Legendary, and Mythical.

For instance, a Tier 1 rune could range from Basic to Mythical, and the same applied to weapons, pills, and seals.

This system created a nuanced hierarchy. A Tier 1 Mythical rune was less potent than a Tier 2 Basic rune but could far surpass a Tier 1 Advanced rune in power and intricacy.

This complexity allowed rune masters, artisans, and alchemists to measure and compare their creations precisely.

Julia, while skilled, had not yet reached the level of a Tier 1 Rune Master, which limited her abilities.

All the runes she had inscribed on the ship were at the Advanced grade of Tier 1. These runes were effective for fortifying the ship and enabling it to slowly repair itself by drawing on ambient mana, but they lacked the extraordinary potency of Legendary or Mythical runes.

Seals, on the other hand, operated slightly differently. Unlike runes, which often enhanced or repaired, seals were used to contain and control.

The seals placed on Kai's weapons were crucial—they prevented the immense power of the Demon Sword and the Cursed Sword from overwhelming or killing him outright.

These seals, also graded by tier and grade, were expertly crafted but still far from fully unlocking the swords' true potential.

Elijah, meanwhile, wore gloves imbued with Tier 4 Mythical runes. These were leagues above the ship's Advanced Tier 1 runes in complexity and power.

The runes on Elijah's gloves served a critical function: they suppressed his overwhelming strength, allowing him to control his abilities without causing unintended destruction.

The gloves were so powerful that, if activated fully, they could even neutralize a black hole—a testament to their incredible design.

Yet, Elijah remained blissfully unaware of the gloves' ultimate capability. This ignorance was likely intentional, as such knowledge might tempt him to test their limits in dangerous ways.

"Yeah, this is a mess," Elijah muttered, chuckling at the state of things.

Julia approached him, exasperated. "What were you two thinking, sparring in the middle of the ocean?"

Elijah scratched his head. "It wasn't a big deal—Kai was just pushing his limits."

Julia rolled her eyes. "Anyway, how's Kai?"

"He's doing fine. If you're worried about him, go check," Elijah teased.

Julia glanced toward the cabin and hesitated. "If you think I'm scared, you're mistaken."

"Then go. The door's just behind us," Elijah said with a grin.

"Maybe later. For now, I need to make sure the ship is in good condition," Julia replied, walking away.

From above, Mike called out, "She's definitely afraid!"

"And you're not?" Stella countered.

Mike shrugged. "Who wouldn't be? Kai's strength is terrifying. Don't forget he's the one who left that scar on Elijah's chest—a wound that won't heal even with Tier-3 Advanced pills."

Julia turned back, concerned. "How's that scar, anyway?"

"It's fine," Elijah replied dismissively. "Don't worry about me."

Turning to Julia, he asked, "How long until we reach the continent?"

Julia checked her map. "Two weeks at least. But listen up—we're entering dangerous waters now. Stay alert."

"How dangerous?" Mike asked, joining the conversation.

Julia frowned. "So far, we've only encountered F-rank and E-rank sea monsters. Now, I wouldn't be surprised if D-rank monsters start showing up."

"Can you speak in a language we all understand?" Stella said, pouting.

Adan climbed down from the sails and laughed. "You're the only one who doesn't get it, Stella."

Stella pouted more, prompting Adan to explain. "What she means is, we might start encountering Emperor-tier Sea Kings in this part of the ocean."

"Oh…" Stella muttered, still confused but unwilling to ask further.

"Gaw! Gaw!" Tank the beast said suddenly, pointing to his mouth. (Translation: Mike, I'm hungry!)

"Me too," Elijah added with a grin.

Julia looked over, exasperated. "Julia, is there an island nearby?"

"Wait, is the food supply already low?" Julia asked sharply.

Mike sighed. "Yeah, I didn't expect these two to have such bottomless stomachs." He pointed at the lazy Tank and Elijah.

Julia, losing her patience, kicked Tank. "What are you two idiots doing?! Stop eating us out of supplies!"

Elijah laughed at Tank's plight, but Julia quickly turned on him, slapping him lightly on the back of the head. Her eyes burned with a fiery glare that silenced him immediately.

(Why is it always me?) Tank whined.

"Don't worry, Elijah," Julia said coldly. "Your punishment is coming once you're fully healed."

Mike interjected, "With the way we're going, the food might last three days if these two don't slow down. Maybe a week and a half with strict rationing."

Julia frowned. "That's not good. We can survive by burning mana, but Stella can't. She doesn't have that ability."

"Yay! I can survive!" Stella exclaimed happily, misinterpreting the grim situation.

Mike raised an eyebrow. "You do realize we might take up to four weeks to reach the continent, right?"

As Mike finished speaking, Elijah tried sneaking into the kitchen. Mike's leg ignited with flames as he swiftly kicked Elijah, sending him back to the deck.

"Don't move too much, or your wound will reopen," Mike warned. "And you're not getting into the kitchen."

Julia gave Mike a thumbs-up, laughing at Elijah's failed attempt.

Elijah sat on the deck, holding his chest. Pain pulsed through him, but he chuckled through gritted teeth.

Damn, what kind of weapon leaves a wound like this? He fought against the lingering mana in his body using his chi, determined to overcome it.