Liberation of The Slaves Chapter 139 – Earth Element

As the days drifted quietly past since our encounter with the frostwing falcons, the journey settled into an almost tranquil rhythm, untouched by danger or surprise. The world stretched wide beneath us as we advanced, carried effortlessly by the steady currents supporting my wind platform.

What once had been a taxing ability that drained within hours had now beco sothing far more reliable. Through constant practice and careful control, I could sustain our flight for more than half a day without faltering. Each mont in the air beca another opportunity to refine myself, weaving magic into motion as I practiced mid-air maneuvers with my sword. According to Aza, such training was indispensable if I were to survive battles fought above the ground. Still, despite her insistence, I had yet to test those skills in a real fight.

As the sun began its descent, painting the sky in deep crimson and soft gold, I turned my gaze toward Len, who stood calmly beside , her silver hair gently swaying in the wind.

"It's getting late. Where should we camp for the night?" I asked.

Len narrowed her golden eyes slightly as she scanned the horizon, her gaze sharp and deliberate as it swept across the land below.

"Not far from here, if mory serves right."

"What are you searching for?"

"It's a ro—Ah. There."

Her voice cut off mid-sentence as her expression shifted, and she raised her hand to point ahead. Following the direction of her finger, I spotted it soon after. Amidst the lush greenery lay a stretch of rugged terrain, where scattered boulders of various sizes broke the natural flow of the forest.

With a small nod from Len, I adjusted our course and guided the wind platform downward, descending smoothly until our feet touched the uneven rocky ground.

"We can rest here."

She said as she stepped off lightly.

The area felt strangely barren compared to the forests we had grown accustod to. Massive stones lay scattered across the land like remnants of so ancient upheaval, creating a harsh yet oddly quiet atmosphere.

"It feels a bit strange, camping in a place like this after spending so much ti surrounded by trees."

I remarked as I reached into my storage and began taking out our supplies.

Len glanced at briefly before shifting her attention toward the surrounding boulders.

"You were asked to learn the earth elent from a sizable boulder, weren't you? This place should have plenty of suitable ones. I'll prepare the al, so you can focus on searching."

Her words brought the task rushing back into my mind, one I had nearly let slip away amidst our travels.

Right. To obtain an earth elent, I needed to shatter a large boulder that contained no trace of mana or aura. A simple condition in theory, yet frustratingly vague in practice, since I still had no clear idea how large it actually needed to be.

Still, this place seed perfect for it.

"Okay."

I replied, giving her a small nod as I turned my gaze toward the field of stone, ready to begin my search.

—————

As twilight slowly draped its darkening veil over the rocky expanse, the land grew quieter, swallowed by lengthening shadows that stretched between the scattered boulders. The faint warmth of the sun faded, replaced by the cool breath of night as I stepped forward, beginning my search in earnest.

Before long, I stopped in front of a boulder roughly my height, its rough surface dimly illuminated by the last traces of dusk.

I asked inwardly, my gaze fixed on the stone.

【I don't know. You can try it, Master. If it's not enough, then simply find a larger one.】

Drawing in a deep breath, I tightened my fist and focused my strength into a single point before swinging forward with force.

"Haaaa!"

The impact rang out sharply.

Whack!

The boulder shattered instantly, collapsing into fragnts beneath my strike as if it had been nothing more than brittle clay.

I froze for a mont, staring at the scattered debris beneath my feet.

I murmured inwardly.

【It's only natural. Your equipnt enhances your physical strength quite significantly.】

【If you’re that desperate for praise, go ask your girlfriend instead.】

【Not yet. It seems this boulder was still too small.】

Without hesitation, I moved on, stepping deeper into the rocky field in search of larger targets.

Another boulder ca into view.

"Haa!"

Whack!

Once again, it shattered effortlessly.

【It seems you still need sothing larger.】

I continued, undeterred, moving from one rock to another, each one larger than the last.

Whack!

【Still not enough.】

Whack!

【Nope.】

Whack!

Whack!

Whack!

【Still too small. You need sothing bigger.】

Fragnts of stone littered the ground around as the once-quiet terrain turned into a field of broken debris. Yet no matter how many boulders I destroyed, the result remained the sa.

Nothing.

Eventually, I ca to a halt before a massive boulder, one that towered like a tree, its sheer size casting a long shadow over .

"This one is as tall as a tree." I muttered.

Drawing in another breath, I stepped forward and struck with everything I had.

"Haaaa!"

Whack!

Even that enormous mass crumbled beneath my blow, collapsing into rubble just like the rest.

【...Still not enough.】

Aza’s voice ca without hesitation, extinguishing the faint hope I had.

I stared at the remains, a small frown forming.

【Yes, Master.】

Aza gave no answer. A quiet sigh escaped as I ran a hand through my hair, glancing up at the now fully darkened sky.

The cool night air settled around , and with it ca a dull awareness of my own fatigue.

【Yes. I’m getting hungry as well.】

Aza replied, her tone noticeably lighter at the ntion of food.

Turning away from the scattered ruins of stone, I began making my way back, leaving behind the field of shattered boulders for another day.

Rumble!

The ground suddenly trembled beneath my feet, the vibration sharp enough to snap my focus in an instant. Dust scattered as the earth shifted, and before my eyes, a massive form began to rise from the rocky terrain.

A colossal figure erged, its body ford entirely of jagged stone. Its shape twisted into sothing vaguely humanoid, with thick limbs like pillars and a head carved into a crude, nacing visage. From within its hollow sockets, two crimson lights flickered to life, glaring down at with an eerie intensity.

"A monster!?" I gasped, my voice tightening with disbelief.

【It appears your noise has awakened it, Master.】

"Does a golem even need sleep!?"

I had seen creatures like this before, not in this world, but in fragnts of my past life. Gas, ani, stories. Golems were always depicted as tireless beings, constructs that neither slept nor fatigued.

Rumble!

The creature took a step forward, and the ground groaned beneath its weight. Each movent sent vibrations rippling outward, as if the earth itself feared its presence.

I quickly cast Appraisal, focusing my senses on the towering figure before .

Na: -

Age: 3

Race: Rockbound Golem

Title: -

State: Normal

Mana: 2103/2103

Vitality: 3270

Strength: 3580

Magic Power: 2215

ntal Power: 0

Agility: 300

Dexterity: 1073

Magic Resistance: 1623

ntal Resistance: Infinite

Status Point: 0

Elent: Earth

Active Skills:

Elent ManipulationElental Blade

Passive Skills:

Mana Detection(2)

*Trust: Unavailable

*Target does not et requirent for Status Manipulation

*Target does not et requirent for Immortal Bonds

"I can’t even tell if it’s strong or weak..."

The results were... strange. Its vitality, strength, and magic power hovered around C-Rank, yet several of its other attributes dropped as low as D-Rank or even lower. But what truly stood out…

"It’s my first ti seeing a monster with infinite ntal resistance..."

【Because it lacks emotions, it cannot be affected by ntal interference.】

I clicked my tongue lightly.

"Then the trust value being unavailable... that makes sense too."

Without emotions, there was nothing to influence, nothing to connect to. Even Status Manipulation, which normally required nothing more than consent, failed entirely against such a being.

My grip tightened slightly as I stared at the golem.

What now?

Should I go back and call Len?

No.

I shook my head faintly.

"I can’t rely on Len for everything..."

Its overall status was lower than mine. On paper, I should be able to defeat it.

But that didn’t guarantee victory.

Len had drilled that lesson into countless tis. A lower status didn’t an an easy win.

As I weighed my options, sothing shifted.

Brown mana began to gather around the golem, condensing into several dense clusters.

"It’s attacking!"

Without hesitation, I drew my Fladawn Blade, my eyes locking onto the forming shapes. The mana rapidly solidified into sharp, spear-like rocks, their tips glinting with deadly intent.

Whack!

Five projectiles shot toward at once.

I twisted my body and stepped aside, barely avoiding them as they tore through the air where I had been standing just monts before.

Using that opening, I surged forward.

My blade ignited with a blazing hellfire aura, the heat distorting the air around it as I closed the distance.

The golem raised its massive arm and swung its fist downward slowly.

I slipped past its attack, circling behind it in a fluid motion. But the mont my feet touched the ground…

Rumble!

The earth shook violently.

"Whoa!"

The impact of its strike slamd into the ground, sending a shockwave through the terrain. My balance broke instantly, and I was thrown off my feet, crashing onto the rocky surface.

Before I could recover, the golem twisted its body with unnatural force, dragging its massive arm across the ground in a sweeping motion aid straight at .

I reacted imdiately.

Two translucent black barriers ford in front of , layered one over the other.

Crack!

The first barrier fractured under the sheer force, cracks spreading like a spiderweb across its surface, but it held just long enough to weaken the blow before the second barrier absorbed the remainder.

The impact still rattled my body, but I endured it.

Pushing myself up, I seized the mont and swung my blade at its leg.

Clangg!

"Huh!?"

My eyes widened. The blade barely cut into the surface. And worse… It got stuck.

"Damn it!"

The Fladawn Blade was lodged firmly within the golem’s leg, its hellfire aura flickering as it tried to burn through the dense rock. But against sothing like this, it was far too slow.

I should’ve used water aura instead...

Grinding my teeth, I grabbed the hilt and tried to pull it free while shifting the aura.

But then…

A shadow lood over .

And suddenly, two voices echoed within my mind at the sa ti.

{"Big brother Freed, watch out!"}

My heart skipped.

I looked up.

The golem’s massive fist was already descending toward , cutting through the air with terrifying speed.

BAM!