Creating New Limits

The physical limits of human bodies have not evolved even the slightest bit due to magic. Humans are still just as frail as someone without magic with the only difference being that wielding magic allows you to defend yourself. The only way Elijah had seen people use magic before, was by excreting it from their hands or different body parts. His feet were an example of an unorthodox way of using magic.

What would happen if the magic never left the body?

Elijah was continuing to walk forward as quickly as he could through the soft and squishy earthen floor. His party was not jumping and running through the now rocky terrain, but climbing expertly while shifting their body weight to quickly traverse the fallen ceiling. No one had any quarrels about Elijah being the first thing the supposed gorgon attacked based on his recent performance. No one could hold a candle to him when he let loose.

"What does it look like it's doing?" Novius asked.

Elijah turned his head slightly while keeping an eye on the beast. "It's observing while following behind us. Harry, can you place some metal barriers to stall its movement? All it is doing is launching itself from left to right behind cover."

"Sure, I can do that, but I won't be able to help if the beast attacks us."

"That's okay, just make sure to place the barrier in front of the cover that we are passing."

Thin metals barriers started to be placed next to rock formations vertically. While continuing to quickly walk to safety, scraping sounds were heard as the metal was completely torn apart. The barrier only seemed to anger the beast. However, this was Elijah's secret plan.

During this time, Elijah had been coursing small amounts of mana into his body that had some sort of effect on his physical body. Small pains were felt in his pelvis and thighs, which he hoped to have a boost in strength from the mana reinforcing his muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Or at least a faster range of motion.

The gorgon finally became pissed off enough that instead of hiding, it jumped into the center, about seventy feet into the distance. Elijah completely stopped, felt the strength in his legs, and prepared. His shoes were ripped apart as a small amount of water mana tore through the soles of his shoes.

The beast was lowering its body into a crunching formation like it was a living catapult.

WHOOSH!

The rocky ground beneath the four thick limbs of the beast was slaughtered, and the beast shot forward with a long tongue flying along the side of his mouth. Its limbs were behind its body, but we're slowly coming around due to the speed the beast traveled at. 

The low amount of light, and the tall ceiling did not provide much visibility, other than the bright red eyes of a beast staring into his soul.

The moment Elijah saw the beast lunge forward he shifted his weight using his hips, to his arm, then fist, which flew forward with incredible speed, and tore a hole through the small chest of the gorgon the second his punch finished its motion. Blood splattered in a circle all around Elijah, and the limbs and head continued flying at a speed unseeable to the eye. Some of them splattered against rock formations, while others tumbled across the rocky floor before hitting the wall that would grant them some amount of safety.

Elijah was not some combat genius, but someone with a vast amount of knowledge. Based on the beast's previous movements, and him taking a staggered stance in an open area, the only option for a beast was to attack what was in front of him. 

A huge and unseeable smile appeared on Elijah's face as he continued to look forward in amusement. The only surprise was how fast his fist moved to the point he was almost thrown off balance. Was it a strength increase, a speed increase, or both simply because of a strength increase.

"HOLY COW!" Novius as well as the entire party was in shock by Elijah's display of abilities.

"That was amazing Elijah! How did you do that?!" Theon asked while patting the back of Elijah only to hear and feel a cracking noise coming from his body.

"AHHHHHHH!!!"

A scream of pain suddenly erupted from Elijah as he felt the bones and muscles in his right shoulder and arm fracture with every movement.

Everyone came running towards him, with Emelia washing his body in healing water magic. The magic knew where to go, as it had a mind of its own, and dove into the shoulder and arm of Elijah. Theon and Raylen had helped Elijah slowly fall to the ground where he laid in pain with slight tremors on the right side of his body.

This was the aftermath of doing such a thing. These physical limits he so wanted to break past, broke him first.

Tears of pain were streaming down Elijah's face as he anxiously spoke. "I-I th-think k I mess-ed u-p."

"Don't worry about it. I had no idea how we were going to fight that thing. Let's just be glad there was only one. Harry! Make a bed to carry him in. This is standard practice right!" Aslan said.

"Done."

The party of eight set off while carrying Elijah as he laid on a metal sheet with four prongs on each end as handles. The hunters around Elijah had more experience than them, and even received training classes about proper strategy, and medical support.

Careful shouts were heard as the group ran through the opening that led to the cave of their first battle. The familiar sight of a tiny slit opening that wouldn't necessarily guarantee their freedom appeared in sight. However, it seemed like there were more clagmire's who were randomly roaming.

"Shit! These stupid beasts must have migrated from when the ceiling caved in! Quick use all your strength! There won't be any beasts after this battle!" Aslan set the group in motion, and instantly set Elijah down while they stayed close firing long-range spells. Theon had conjured swords of ice that easily sliced through the mud balls, and froze the small layer of water on the ground that Emelia had quickly conjured.

The battle was quick, as they knew how to easily pinpoint their weaknesses.

Theon, Raylen, Harry, and Novius picked up Elijah again, and quickly ran through the stable ground and into safety. The sides of the metal gurney were scraping against the walls, and required Harry to remove some of the metal that let Elijah's left arm and leg dangle below him.

The dark cavern came and passed quickly, and they exited into the familiar chasm with a seemingly infinite ceiling.

"CREVERON! EIGHT! MEDIC!"

Eight ziplines instantly fell from the sky, with a ninth coming down not even ten seconds later with a person attached to it.

"Quick! Get on!"

The tall man quickly and carefully took hold of Elijah, and sped off into the sky while the rest followed. However, while the rest of the group was looking down below them, they saw a horde of small rat-looking creatures funneling out of a cave nearby to the one they just came out of.

Deep and fast breaths were being taken while laying down on the comfortable wooden ground. Elijah was out of sight, probably being taken to the medical room. Looks of happiness spread through the room, along with words of gratitude.