Chapter Thirty

Silence stretched into minutes as Elysia and her family stood their ground against the earth elemental.

Suddenly, the elemental glanced at the audience before erecting a wall of stone with a flick of her wrist. Elysia and her family moved to escape but before they could take a step, the walls were a dozen meters high. Ione tried to dig her claws in to gain purchase to climb, but the perfectly smooth and dense stone resisted her efforts.

Trapped, the trio turned back to the earth elemental, finding the elemental cut herself off from her entourage as if confident she could handle all three of them on her own. Arms relaxed at her sides, she stared at the trio with curiosity sparking in her deep brown eyes.

The humidity skyrocketed as static sparked off Elysia’s body. A whip uncoiled itself as Sereia glared at the arrogant earth elemental, while Elysia’s ring glowed supercharged with lightning. Ione blurred in front of her mother and aunt, ears back, eyes glowing as she crouched low, ready to pounce.

The elemental simply smiled, then the elemental energy spiked, sending Elysia and her family into motion. Ione blurred forward as a lightning bolt from Elysia streaked overhead.

Before either could reach their target, a wall of earth exploded upward, blocking the lightning bolt. A rumbling growl escaped Ione as she leaped into the air, easily clearing the wall.

Unfortunately, just as she cleared the wall, it came to life. Like a net made of stone, it encapsulated the feline who was helpless to dodge it stuck in midair.

In a blink, a stone orb dropped to the ground with a thud, Ione trapped inside. Just then, a tidal wave of water crashed down on the earth elemental, but yet again a stone wall blocked the water like it was nothing.

Another lightning bolt streaked toward the earth elemental woman, only this time it was much bigger, accompanied by dozens of ball bearings. Before the lightning bolt could even start jumping, it veered toward the ground and dissipated.

Suddenly, the orb encapsulating Ione shot toward Elysia and Sereia, who glowed brightly, eyes filled with rage. Elysia released a lightning bolt directed at the sphere, hoping to divert its path, knowing she wouldn’t harm Ione still trapped within. Like all her previous attacks, the lightning bolt harmlessly grounded out on the stone, failing to affect the sphere.

A jet of water impacted the sphere a moment later, this time pushing it to the right out of the path of the duo. The victory was short-lived as it diverted back on target, this time much faster than before. It easily overpowered the jet of water as if it was only a trickle, not a deadly jet of water capable of cutting to steel as a blurred toward them faster than a human could follow.

Their sphere eyes widened as they dove to the side, only to meet walls boxing them in. In the next moment, the sphere smashed into both of them like they were bowling pins, crushing them both into the wall. When the sphere rolled back, it revealed two unconscious elementals.

While shaking her head in disappointment, the earth elemental flicked her wrist, retracting the sphere encapsulating Ione, who immediately collapsed to the ground, too disoriented to stand, let alone fight back.

She strode toward the defeated trio, releasing a wave of potent elemental energy which sunk into each of them, snapping all three awake. Elysia and Sereia shot to their feet joined by Ione, who lowered herself ready to pounce just like last time.

Before any of them could attack elemental energy so thick it felt solid crashed into all three of them, smothering any violence.

That didn’t mean they submitted. Divine energy cycled through them as they pushed back against the smothering presence. Yet every time they made ground, the earth elemental simply ratcheted up her essence as if she was toying with them, which going by how easily she defeated the trio she probably was.

The earth elemental strode toward them, smile growing as the trio withstood stronger and stronger forces enough to squash most within moments. Unfortunat9ely, just because they could withstand the smothering presence that didn’t mean they could fight back. The best they could do was remain standing as they cycled their essence as fast as they could.

Elysia briefly considered releasing a divine lightning bolt, but a glance at her rapidly depleting charge squashed the impulse. Even if she succeeded, she doubted her family would escape with her as a deadweight.

Were they really this weak? She gritted her teeth. No elemental was just too strong. This being could rival Urus. As much as her instincts screamed at her that she was a supreme being, she was far too young to stand up to this monster. Still, she would fight to the very last moment.

Any further thoughts ceased as she put her all into defending against the presence, only growing stronger with each passing second. It was like a standing under an industrial press, no matter how much she resisted, the press only pushed harder, inevitably wearing her down.

The first to fall was Ione. She collapsed to the ground with a whimper but instead of crushing the twin’s spirit it only galvanized them.

As if walking through molasses, they pushed forward and stood in front of Ione. Though the gesture was mostly useless as the presence hit them all equally. Still, even grasping at useless straws gave them a much-needed surge.

If looks could kill, the earth elemental would turn to dust. Unfortunately, all they received was a smile as the presence suddenly skyrocketed, sending both to their knees before they knew what happened. Then, just as suddenly, the presence vanished altogether.

Too exhausted to fight back, the trio remained on the ground as the earth elemental strode toward them, brown dress swooshing with each step. “Young and foolish, but filled with potential, just like Urus said. If you are good little elementals, we will give you some help with your Elemental Council problem.” A toothy smile spread. “For a price.”

That was the last thing the trio heard as their world turned dark, but not because they fell unconscious. Instead, stone formed around them, creating a circular space just barely big enough to fit the trio, then they sunk into the ground then began traveling.

Fortunately, they didn’t need to breathe, not that it made the process any less uncomfortable. After a few seconds, they regained enough awareness to prod at their prison. Sereia sent a waterjet at the wall, but it’s simply bounced off.

Likewise, Ione scratched at the stone with her claws, but all she gained was more frustration. Her unparalleled claws failed her. They never failed her before. Was she truly so weak? Her ears and tail drooped as she curled into a ball, hiding her head. Depression radiated through her bonds as she curled tighter.

Elysia didn’t bother trying to blast her way out. It was obvious the earth elemental reinforced the walls. As much as it infuriated her, there was nothing they could do but go along with the ride. At least that monster didn’t kill us. She probably just wanted to prove her superiority.

Oddly, that didn’t bother her as much as she thought it would. Not that she would forgive the elemental easily for endangering her family.

With a sigh, Elysia sat cross-legged, then glanced inward. One thing that became obvious was their one-dimensional ness. They needed something to fight back when the enemy countered their elements. Just because nothing stood up to their magic until now, that didn’t mean no one could.

She couldn’t rely on her divine lightning as an Insta kill nuke. Something told her even her divine lightning wouldn’t be enough to strike down the earth elemental. Even if it was, that would come out on the losing end. Just like if she somehow killed Urus while on her shell. The boss wasn’t the only danger.

The beat down was probably as much a lesson as an act of dominance. At least that was what it seemed like, based on what she said. Or maybe those were empty words.

Maybe the price was their freedom. Lightning sparked in her eyes as her fists clenched. If the price was their freedom, she refused to pay it. Just because she couldn’t fight the boss, that didn’t mean she couldn’t do damage on her way down.

Of course, the elemental probably knew that and took countermeasures. Still, no matter what, she wouldn’t give up her freedom or endanger her family just to spank some annoying elementals.

Her stance solidified just as their mobile prison jerked upward, then opened to reveal a lavishly decorated, polished granite room.

Before she could investigate further, something snapped around her right wrist, causing her head to jerk down. A metallic bracelet with a clear crystal inset on the back and circled her wrist.

She grabbed at it, trying to rip it off, but it refused to budge. Next, she sent a strand of lightning toward it, hoping to blow it off, but all that accomplished was turning the crystal violet as it absorbed the lightning.

Elysia shot to her feet, veins shining as she searched for the culprit but found no one aside from her family each wearing a similar piece of jewelry. Sereia had a bracelet almost identical to hers on her left wrist, though it glowed bluish green instead. The feline still curled into a ball had a collar encircling her neck, though, unlike the twins, it didn’t shine with any color showing Ione didn’t even attempt to break it.

Any thoughts of her own well-being vanished as she bent down and hugged Ione, then stroked her between her ears. Other than a few twitches, she didn’t receive any reaction.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t comfort her bond any further as a clap drew their attention. Both Sereia and Elysia spun toward the sound, veins glowing brightly only for a sudden wave of weakness to hit them, sending them crashing to the floor.

A flashback to the lightning absorbing cuffs sent a spike of rage propelling her back to her feet soon joined by an unsteady Sereia. Instead of calling upon her lightning, she palmed two throwing knives and raised them toward the intruder.

The intruder who turned out to be another elemental. At least she thought he was. He was hard to make out through distortions in the air. It didn’t help that whatever the bracelet was, it muddled her magical senses.

The man nodded his head. “Good, at least two of you still have some fight left. You will need it if you want to beat those little devices. Your control over your elements is pitiful. Our magic isn’t a toy. It must be respected and used properly. If you were raised like a proper elemental, you would know this, but fortunately you weren’t, giving us this opportunity.”

Elysia’s instincts screamed at her to stay back. Even with her senses muddled, something told her this man was far too strong for her. Maybe even as strong as the earth elemental. Sereia seemed to come to the same realization as she remained at her side, though her hand clenched around her whip as she glared daggers at him.

After several seconds of silence, the man smiled, though with the distortions it was hard to tell. “Good. One must know when to back down. As a reward, we will send someone to plan out the commission of your little boat. If everything goes according to plan, you will need such a vessel for the coming challenges. For now, focus on beating those little devices. Because I’m nice, I’ll give you a hint. Your divine gifts won’t help you. At least not in the way you may think.”

The intruder vanished a moment later, as if he was never there. Though a chill running through Elysia told her he was still watching them. Her hands clenched around her knives as she glared at the spot where he stood moments before.

Elysia and Sereia locked eyes, sending both irritation at their situation and encouragement to one another.

As long as she had her family, they would find a way out. Some stupid bracelets won’t stop them from getting their revenge. Just because the elementals were stronger, that didn’t mean they were unbeatable. She and her family just needed to improve to match them.

Elysia’s eyes traveled down to the bracelet locked around her wrist. For now, they would need to play the elemental games, but the moment the chance presented itself, they would take it.