Chapter 140 Cost to Save Someone

Zila took him to her house. Her house was fairly good. It had two floors and was nicely painted with yellow color. The main door took them to the living room where she had lots of bookshelves, truly lots of books.

When James entered the room, he almost didn’t think her to be such a bookworm. He hasn’t seen so many books even with Brian. And, Brian was the smartest guy he knows.

“Sorry about those books! I love to read and learn more about the world. Since you will be staying here, you can read those books or maybe you should try preparing yourself for the battle.”

“Since your strength isn’t high, it would be hard for you to win. I will get a form for you tonight.”

Saying so, Zila didn’t stick there longer. She had a whole month in her hands. So, she wanted to take it slow, or else she was afraid that James might find out something.

James on the other hand was completely clueless. After she left, he walked around the house and found an empty room. He walked inside that room and sat down.

He closed his eyes and focused on his mana. He wanted to comprehend the Mana Domain but after training for the entire day, he realized that he couldn’t comprehend anything at all.

Even though one day in this world was equal to seven days on earth. He spent hours but didn’t get to any solid conclusion.

“James, I’m home!”

A voice from the living room and James walked out of that room.

“I found that room was empty so I decided to train there.” James pointed his hand as he spoke.

“It’s okay. I brought some food. By the way, I brought some extra. Do you want to take these to your friends?” Zila said as she showed him a bag filled with food.

“Really? Isn’t it hard for you if you do this?” James felt a little skeptical as he asked.

“Well, even if you might not win the competition, as long as you perform better, you can obviously earn a lot of money and then pay me back. Also, you have the motivation to win the first position, so let’s just say I am betting on you.” Zila explained the explanation that she had prepared for him.

“Alright!” James nodded his head.

“That being said, I still want to test you. You said your friends are at the top of the hill, right? Let’s run to them. If you manage to stay close to me, I will continue helping you. Do you agree?” Zila asked.

“Of course, I am.” James excitedly replied as he smashed his hands together.

The next moment, a few drops of water landed on the ground as Zila disappeared in front of him.

“Hey, wait! You didn’t even start it.” James shouted but he quickly chased after her. He released his King Rank strength and used his speed to its fullest. He couldn’t use his bloodline here so he had to rely on something else.

While running toward the hill, James didn’t even see her. He couldn’t help but clench his fist.

‘No! I can’t lose to her. I must prove myself to get a chance to enter that competition. I must win.’

He closed his eyes for a moment and the next moment, his mana burst into the sole of his shoes. The air beneath his feet started vibrating, releasing circular wind disks towards his feet.

But, those wind disks weren’t enough to lift him. Instead, they kept vibrating and striking his foot so much that when James pushed his fist against those vibrations with all of his strength, he got bounced back.

In an instant, his body traveled several meters.

“Storm Steps”

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

His feet were literally kicking the vibration of air that was pushing him even faster than the last step. In less than ten seconds, he finally saw the shadow of a figure whose legs were covered in water.

She seemed like floating over the ground. Her water boots were letting her slide on the ground like a river. Except this river was going up toward the hill.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The sound of vibration reached her ears. Zila turned around and saw James chasing after her. His speed was increasing at a great pace but at the same time, his mana was being constantly used to keep the vibration.

Zila smirked at him and continued to maintain her pace. She knew James would soon run out of fuel and that would be the end of the competition.

‘No way! No way! I can’t win against her like this.’ James also realized his situation. Now, they were still very far from the top so he couldn’t reach there without losing all of his mana.

Now, he had to choose one of two ideas. Continue using the storm steps to use something new that even surpasses Storm Steps.

In the blink of an eye, he came to a conclusion as he opened his eyes. A spark of lightning appeared around his body as a memory flashed in front of him.

………..

“No! No! I am not going to help you with this stupid, reckless idea. Daddy won’t be happy if you do this.” Julia shook her head frantically and denied it.

“Julia, I really need this. I must have this. I don’t want to end up like last time. If we are in trouble, I will naturally do anything to keep him alive. So, you got to help me with this.” James continued to persuade her as he almost begged her as well.

“No means no! Do you even understand the science behind the power you are asking for? That’s the most dangerous power in this world. It will destroy you. Yes, you do have a great physique and your defensive power is strong but this is not something that you can simply tank with your physique.”

“You need regeneration, mass control/gravity control. If you run wild with this power, you can even destroy the earth while destroying yourself. Please understand this, uncle. I can’t help you with that because I know the consequences.” Julia shook her head and tried to persuade him as well.

James got silent for a moment. He walked closer to her and stretched out his hand. She tried to dodge it but he quickly put his hand on her head.

She knew he would start an emotional drama. That’s why she wanted to dodge it but now, she had to listen to his drama.

James crouched down as he sat in a lotus position next to her. She was tiny. But, his hand were still raised. Julia reluctantly sat down on his lap.

“I know you have more knowledge of science than me. You are a thousand times smarter than me.”

“Million times!” Julia interrupted.

James smiled and rubbed her cheek.

“Yes, yes, you are a million times smarter than me. But, do you know what else is different between us?” James asked.

“Are you talking physically or mentally?” Julia asked.

“Well, physically,” James replied.

“Age!” Julia answered the first thing that came to her mind.

“Yes, I am your senior in age while you are my junior. And, do you know what this difference impacts in our life with Brian?” James asked.

“You live as his friend and I live as his daughter.” Julia answered.

“It is indeed correct but there is a slight misunderstanding. You live as his joy while I live as his friend. You live to make him happy while I live him to give him company.”

“But, there are other people who can do this as well and it includes your mother. Yes, I am important but my importance is nothing compared to yours. Yes, Brian wouldn’t agree to this but this is my decision.”

“I am his friend, not a servant. What I want to do has can’t be dictated by him. That’s what being friends means. That’s why I want you to help me get that element.”

“Because the next time, I will get him out of trouble no matter whom we are against. I will run away with him so far that nobody would be able to chase us. And, only you can help me get this power.” James held her hand and looked at her eyes with an earnest gaze.

Julia bit her lips as her eyes turned red.

“I never found you in my life. You were his best friend but I never knew about you. But, I know how much he means to you… I will help you but I will give you the warning once again.”

“Once you use this power, you will practically move at the speed of lightning. Although it wouldn’t be the speed of light at once even the speed that you will get from the start can easily burn your body.”

“The air pressure against you will be so powerful that it could possibly knock out towns and cities. More importantly, it consumes a tremendous amount of mana. Without regeneration powers, I really don’t want you to have this power.”

James patted her head and smiled “But, this is the power that I want. Give me the code so I can start using it.”

………..

James’s entire body turned into lightning as he snapped toward the peak of the hill in less than a few seconds.

[Lightning Flash]

When he reached there though, he instantly fell. His body was burning with his cells being constantly destroyed. Only a few sparks of lightning remained on his body as he slowly opened his mouth.

“I… won.”