Liberation of The Slaves

Chapter 140 – Earth Element (Part 2)

The ground shattered beneath the immense force of the golem’s swing, the impact tearing through the earth and sending waves of dust and shattered stone roaring into the air like a violent storm.

“Cough… cough… that was too close!”

I gasped, my chest tightening as the thick dust clawed at my lungs and blurred my vision.

The moment I heard those familiar voices echo within me, I instinctively released my grip on the Flamedawn Blade and forced my body backward. Yet the aftermath of the golem’s strike surged outward like a shockwave, catching me mid-motion and hurling me across the ground before I could fully regain my balance.

“Fia, Nyx… was that you?”

I called out, relief rising within me despite the lingering danger.

{“Yes, it was us, big brother Freed!”}

Fia’s voice chimed brightly, filled with unmistakable excitement. Nyx’s tone followed, steady and sharp, carrying a quiet but undeniable reprimand.

{“You need to be more cautious, big brother Freed.”}

“Haha… sorry, sorry.” I replied with a sheepish laugh, pushing myself up as I brushed the dirt from my clothes. “I got too absorbed in the sword and didn’t notice the golem’s attack at all.”

It had already been more than two years since their souls began residing within my body. Back then, their presence was vague, limited to faint emotions and subtle intentions that brushed against my mind. But now, their voices rang clearly, vivid and alive, as if they stood right beside me.

Rumble!

The ground trembled once more, low and ominous, as the cloud of dust slowly parted. Through the thinning haze, the towering figure of the golem emerged again, its massive form advancing with relentless intent. Its earlier strike had narrowly missed the Flamedawn Blade, leaving the weapon still embedded deep within its rocky leg like a glowing thorn.

“I was hoping to celebrate your new ability to speak,” I muttered, narrowing my eyes as I tracked its movements, “but it looks like that will have to wait.”

With my hand now empty, the situation quickly laid out my choices before me. I could retrieve the Flamedawn Blade and regain my advantage. I could face the creature bare-handed and test my limits. Or I could retreat and regroup at Len’s side.

{“You’ve got this, big brother Freed!”}

Fia cheered, her voice brimming with unwavering confidence. A faint smile tugged at my lips.

Running away now would be pathetic, isn’t it?

There was no way I would turn my back while someone was cheering for me like that.

{“If you want to celebrate for us. Try destroying it without using your aura or mana, big brother Freed.”}

Nyx added suddenly, her tone turning thoughtful yet challenging. But Fia protested immediately.

{“That’s reckless, Nyx! Didn’t you just tell him to be more careful?”}

{“But the golem is made of rocks, Sis Fia. Maybe big brother Freed can obtain the earth element if he destroys it.”}

Their bickering echoed within me, oddly warm and familiar, stirring memories I hadn’t expected.

Celes… Sissy…

For a brief moment, my thoughts drifted far away from the battlefield.

I wonder… have they already been reincarnated by Libertas?

A quiet chuckle slipped from my lips as I steadied my stance, my gaze sharpening once more toward the approaching golem.

Well then… let’s see how far I can go.

<“What do you think, Aza? Can I pull this off?”>

I asked, my eyes fixed on the towering golem as I weighed the madness of facing it with nothing but my fists.

A soft pause followed, then her familiar voice echoed calmly within my mind.

【Let me calculate the probabilities first.】

Rumble!

The ground shook again as the golem continued its relentless march forward, each step heavy enough to rattle my bones. Dust still lingered in the air, curling around its massive frame like a cloak of destruction.

A few seconds passed.

【Finished.】

By the time Aza spoke again, the golem had already raised its colossal fist high above its head, its shadow swallowing me whole as it prepared to strike.

BAM!

The impact slammed into the earth with terrifying force, sending another violent wave of dust and shattered stone bursting outward.

【There is a ninety percent chance that its limbs will be destroyed if you attack with your bare fists.】

【However, if your goal is the earth element, then targeting its magic stone would be more optimal. I cannot guarantee acquisition.】

“That’s a pretty good chance…” I muttered, narrowing my eyes as I scanned the golem’s body through the fading dust.

<“Where’s the magic stone? In its chest?”>

【Yes. It is the most durable section, functioning as both armor and a protective barrier for its core. Even so, there is approximately a sixty percent chance you can destroy it with your bare fists.】

Sixty percent. Not bad.

But there was a bigger problem.

How the hell am I supposed to reach that?

The golem towered over me like an ancient tree, its chest far above my natural reach. Jumping without using aura was possible, but delivering enough power mid-air to break through that defense…

Yeah. That’s not happening.

As I mulled over my options, the dust finally cleared, revealing the golem’s massive body as it struggled to rise again, its movements slightly slower than before.

I narrowed my eyes.

Wait… maybe there is a way.

Instead of retreating, I held my ground and waited.

The moment the golem drew close enough, it raised its fist once more and brought it crashing down toward me.

BAM!

At the last instant, I sidestepped instead of backing away, the impact shaking the ground right beside me.

Without hesitation, I leaped.

My feet landed on its massive hand the moment it struck the earth, and I immediately sprinted upward along its arm, using the rough, jagged surface as my path.

“Ha! You’re too slow!”

I taunted, a grin tugging at my lips.

The golem reacted, its other arm lifting to strike me down. But its movement lagged behind mine. By the time its counterattack began, I was already halfway up its arm. Its posture was still bent forward from the previous strike. And that brought me close enough.

I clenched my fist.

With a powerful stomp, I crushed part of its arm beneath my feet and launched myself upward toward its chest.

“Haaaaa!”

My fist drove forward with everything I had.

BAAAMMM!

The impact echoed like thunder as my punch slammed into its chest, shattering the hardened rock layer and sending fragments flying in all directions. The resistance was immense, but I forced my arm deeper, pushing past the broken exterior until… There.

A five-pointed brown magic stone gleamed within the fractured core, pulsing faintly like a buried heart.

Without hesitation, I grabbed it.

Using the broken debris as a foothold, I kicked off and propelled myself backward, creating distance in a single fluid motion.

Mid-air, I activated air steps, twisting my body to face the golem.

Its glowing eyes flickered.

Then dimmed.

Rumble!

Its massive body collapsed, crashing into the ground like a falling mountain.

“Ow, ow, ow! Heal!”

Pain surged through my hand, the recoil from that strike finally catching up to me. I quickly channeled healing magic, watching as the damage mended itself while I steadied my breathing.

…That actually worked.

【You have obtained the earth element, Master!】

Aza’s voice rang out, unable to hide her excitement.

“Really? But… I didn’t destroy a big rock,”

I replied, frowning slightly as I glanced at the shattered remains of the golem.

Compared to the massive boulders I had broken before, the portion I destroyed just now felt… insignificant.

【It appears that not only size matters, but also endurance.】

Ah. That made sense.

The golem’s chest was far denser and tougher than any ordinary rock I had encountered. Breaking something like that must have met the requirement.

“Well… that’s a relief.”

I let out a quiet breath. Now that I had the earth element, there was no point overthinking the details.

{“Congratulations, big brother Freed!”}

{“You did well, big brother Freed.”}

Their voices overlapped, warm and sincere, filling my chest with a strange sense of comfort.

<“Thank you… and Nyx, especially. That idea was brilliant.”>

{“Hehe…”}

Nyx giggled bashfully. Without her suggestion, I would have never considered taking down that monster with my bare hands alone.

It was time to return. Len was undoubtedly awaiting my return.

“Oh, damn it!”

“My sword!”

In the heat of the fight, I had completely forgotten about the Flamedawn Blade.

Without wasting another second, I rushed back toward the fallen golem’s leg, where the blade still remained embedded deep within the cracked stone.

As I approached, I clenched my fist and focused on trying my new element.

I imagined it not as something loose and brittle, but as something dense, unyielding, and immovable.

A moment later, a brown aura wrapped around my hand, steady and heavy, like compressed stone given form.

So this is the earth element…

Without hesitation, I swung my fist down.

BAM!

The golem’s leg shattered apart instantly, breaking into chunks as if it had lost all resistance.

I reached in and pulled the Flamedawn Blade free.

“I’m glad it’s still intact… I seriously wouldn’t know how to explain losing this to Len.”

I muttered, inspecting the blade for any damage.

“You need not explain anything.” A familiar voice drifted from above. “I witnessed everything.”

I looked up.

There she was.

Len sat casually atop a nearby boulder, a bowl in her hands as she calmly ate, as if she had been watching nothing more than a leisurely performance.

“Since when were you there?” I asked, walking closer.

“Since the moment you encountered the golem.”

…So she watched the entire thing!

“Then why didn’t you help?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“Because I wished to observe my student’s growth. Watching it while enjoying a meal made it even more worthwhile.”

She treated it like entertainment…

“Your ‘student’ almost died back there.”

“You cannot call yourself my student if you cannot avoid such a slow attack on your own.”

“I couldn’t have dodged that alone.” I admitted honestly. “Fia and Nyx helped me.”

“Yes, I heard,” she said, setting her bowl aside. “They can speak now, correct?”

Before I could respond, her voice shifted.

(“Congratulations, Fia and Nyx!”)

Her tone softened completely, warm and gentle in a way I had never heard directed at me.

{“Thank you, big sis Len!”}

Their voices answered in perfect unison.

I stared at her.

…What is this difference in treatment?!

As if sensing my thoughts, Len’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“You would not have avoided that sluggish golem on your own. Prepare yourself. I will now train you the same way my master trained me.”

A chill ran down my spine.

“Y-Yes… Master…” I replied, my voice betraying me slightly.

She let out a soft laugh before hopping down from the boulder. Her bowl was now empty. For a brief moment, her expression returned to normal, and I felt a small sense of relief.

“First, eat,” she said, pulling out food from her magic bag. “Savor it as if it were your last peaceful meal.”

Why does that sound like a threat?!

“Y-Yeah… thanks.”

Rumble!

The ground trembled once more. Len glanced off into the distance, then shrugged lightly.

“Too bad. It seems you won’t even get that luxury.”

“Fifty C-rank monsters and one B-rank.” She said casually. “Handle them yourself.”

“…What?” My mind went blank.

“Ah, and do not use your aura or mana.”

She’s insane! She’s a true princess of madness!