The Taste of Freedom

"Exactly. And if you're not here when he returns, he might disappear again."

Dominic forced himself to calm his growing anxiety and decided to accept Louis's advice.

The place where Shiao Yi jumped to was the same forest where he had first appeared in this world. There was no trace left of Doshaguma, the one who had tried to attack him and was then taken down by Dominic. Most likely, some magical beast living in the forest had already devoured the body.

Even now, he could feel the presence of living creatures moving in the distance—and sometimes closer. The forest at night was a dangerous place where wild animals roamed freely.

Teleportation, as a general rule, had to target a known location or a recognized individual.

If someone tried to appear in an unknown spot, there was no telling if the place was safe to survive in—or if it might be inside another living being, inside solid ground, a rock, or a block of metal with no open space at all.

If they were lucky, the teleportation would be rejected. But if not—if their body fused with the object—there would be a huge explosion.

Not just molecular, but atomic-level fusion would occur instantly. Naturally, the teleporter's body wouldn't survive it either.

Shiao Yi remembered that some of his comrades, whose only ability was teleportation, had been used as living bombs during the final stages of the war.

He had often worked with teleporters. They would place high-powered explosives or even nuclear bombs at the target location, and he would detonate them using his telekinesis. He was the living trigger. That was why he had been so useful to them—right up until the very end. And that was how he had survived.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his left shoulder. He looked over at it. He had jumped here still shirtless.

Under the skin of his left shoulder was a recognition plate. Because of that, his location could be tracked no matter where he tried to run.

If he tried to remove it forcefully, a high-voltage current would be sent through the wide-reaching network connected to it, instantly frying him into a burnt crisp. That was the system in place.

But this world was not the one Shiao Yi came from. The network that had hunted and threatened him didn't exist here.

Shiao Yi focused his thoughts on his shoulder. From under his skin, a small plate began to push its way out. It tore through his flesh, broke through the skin, and emerged soaked in blood—red and raw.

Because of that plate, he had suffered so much humiliation. He had been forced to do countless dirty jobs.

He pushed more of his telekinetic power into it.

He compressed the plate. Made it smaller, rolled it into a ball, and then crushed it completely.

The tiny metallic fragments scattered, glittering under the moonlight as they fell to the ground.

Suddenly, Shiao Yi burst into laughter, getting caught up in an overwhelming feeling of excitement.

He was free. He had finally become free.

Grrrrrhh!

Beyond the dark treeline, he sensed the presence of magical beasts. It's most likely, they had picked up the scent of his blood and come here to check it.

One, two... and then another from the opposite direction.

Shiao Yi timed their approach and teleported up into the trees.

Theagical beasts leapt forward, crashing into each other mid-air. Without hesitation, they turned on one another and began a deadly fight.

Sitting on the high branches, Shiao Yi looked up at the sky.

One of the moons was about to dip below the horizon. The night sky was filled with stars, twinkling as if they were falling.

Maybe it was because there were no artificial lights here—the stars looked incredibly clear and beautiful.

Suddenly, tears began to spill from his eyes.

And as the tears rolled down his cheeks, he laughed.

He was crying... just because the stars were beautiful.

He realized this might be the first time in his life he had ever really looked at the night sky like this.

Since coming to this world, he had been experiencing so many new things for the first time.

Dominic.

A strange man.

Even though they had just met and barely knew each other, for some reason, Shiao Yi didn't feel the need to be on guard around him.

Shiao Yi realized he was trusting Dominic without even thinking.

He didn't want to be disliked by him.

Dominic had tried to hold him—had tried to be close to him—and yet Shiao Yi had run away.

What did Dominic think about that? Was he angry now?

Shiao Yi thought maybe being scolded by Dominic wouldn't be so bad.

If he got angry, that would mean he saw Shiao Yi as a real person. That he cared enough to be upset.

He placed a hand on the wound on his shoulder.

The bleeding had already stopped. The wound would close up soon. Thanks to the regenerative enhancements he'd received, his body healed much faster than a normal person's.

Especially those with strong powers—those ability user with single Identity numbers—were made into high-grade bio organic weapons. They were designed for survival and battle.

Even so, if all the bones in his body had been crushed and his organs torn apart, it would have been the end. Not even his fast healing would have saved him.

If Dominic hadn't used healing on him back then, Shiao Yi would definitely have died.

Dominic was the one who saved his life. Thanks to him, Shiao Yi had even gained his freedom.

No matter how much thanks he gave, it would never be enough.

Suddenly, Shiao Yi found himself wanting to see Dominic' face.

Just as Shiao Yi was about to focus on Dominic' room to teleport there, something red caught the corner of his eye.

It was a fire—on the opposite side of the fortress, beyond the forest.

Most likely near the border.

From how clearly he could see it from here, the fire had to be quite large.