My eyelids slowly parted, opening now. Blinked a couple more times for great measure, but my vision was still obscured. I looked around only to find out that I was still underwater.
I flexed my fingers, then clenched my hand. Grasping onto water. Bubbles seeped out from my hand. I didn't breathe, no, my lungs are too large for that really. Not comparable to one of a human.
But…assuming I just slowly fell unconscious for the first time ever…I do wonder how my body managed to survive underwater. How long has it been really?
I slowly shake my head. My silver hair flowing along. I must've forgot I was still fighting Cloudjumper. She probably thinks the job is finished, huh?
No…no.
It wasn't.
I won't lie, or say that I was playing around earlier. I tried to restrain myself as much as I could. I don't want to go all out into a fight.
But now.
Now?
I…I don't think I care anymore.
All this power. I don't know what The Dawn did to me, but I feel my control slowly fading away. I can't restrain my strength as much as I would like to anymore. I look down, and still see the chains on my body.
But…there was one missing. There was always three loops of chains that always magically floated around me. I used to think that they were for me, but not until I realize it was for The Dawn.
I don't know how they got there in the first place, but a lot can happen within 10,000 years of apparently being a stone statue.
I floated, twisted and turned around underwater. I couldn't find the third chain anywhere. It's bad…but I feel like as if I gained access to more power. Or maybe because I frequently pull my punches and restrain my power so much I forgot what it felt like.
It's not the chilling sensation from the water, it feels…like a wave. An ongoing wave that I can't hold back anymore. When I do, it feels like I'm trying to stop myself from vomiting.
Is this down to my mana control? I would say it's pretty good…but the way my body is acting as if it never had mana control ever to begin with.
Looking up, I slowly ascended from the water. Breaking the surface and finally breathing in air. A sharp breath, nonetheless. In my line of sight, I assumed I didn't see Cloudjumper…but I still sensed her.
Above me.
Her arms were crossed over her chestplate, there's no telling how long she was remaining in the air for. Her powerful mighty wings beating to keep her afloat slowly. She didn't say anything.
I ascended more to stay on the same level, water dripping from my cloak, boots, and pants. Clenched my right hand again, it slowly vibrated with immense power. Even my own magic is affecting my physical body.
She wasn't saying anything, so I spoke first.
"I guess you knew I couldn't go out that easy, huh?" I asked. Laughed after. Cloudjumper didn't seem to relish in the joke I shared. Her eyes narrowed. Her thin and thick-scaled tail poised in the air, almost as if that too was ready to strike.
She analyzed me. As if I was an entire new being. There was no signs of shock, worry, or fear…but slight confusion. Cloudjumper came off as the type of person to never back down from a fight.
I like that.
My tail slowly swept the air. I'm still flustered about her, but for now I at least can hold simple eye contract. Her cherry eyes looked and seemed threatening. As a Crimson Dragonkin who's already fast, I wonder how fast she could truly go.
She's pretty strong, and I assumed she is nowhere near close to even warmping up. Because that's the thing—the more you fight, the more your mana and magic becomes active and volatile.
In her case, the only way to increase speed would be to depend on how much mana reserves you have. I may have larger mana reserves than her, but because she's a dragonkin, and a crimson one on top of that give her special speed benefits alongside others.
So yeah, we move fast, but the most important thing about the speed is how much mana control you actually need. Going fast doesn't save you from the laws of aerodynamics and physics, you know?
Although Cloudjumper's anatomy is far more suited for higher speeds than my body. Think of her as a jet, and I'm just a being who can bypass some laws thanks to magic. Just some. Not all.
That's when I realized it, thanks to how fast we were going you think you would hear sonic booms all over the place. Shattering sounds that break glass and rupture eardrums. But no, it just comes down to mana control.
You wouldn't even recognize it, actually. It's not something you actively have to focus, your body attunes and does it passively, but only to a certain degree, however. Learned that the hard way.
Well…that's the thing. It's a theory of mine. I would like to assume it's mana control. Either that or…our bodies are just durable to sustain high speeds. I probably went Mach 1 and never realized, really.
Because over here? Now? There's no game logic. I used to fly faster than this, but as I said before, whenever real laws and concepts, alongside physics took over…I think my speed took a hit.
Maybe this is the best I could always do even when translated into real life. But then again…I never went all out. That was always because I was afraid of my body. I still am. Probably will be for the longest.
Each action I can't help but think…I shouldn't that. I'm always looking for the safest option…but even those don't even look safe anymore.The duality of being strong…but not wanting to exercise the strength is ironic, really.
So, I guess that's why my fingers are twitching. Why I feel the mana build and bubble within me right now. I've just…restrained for so long that even my body is starting to get tired of it. Not to mention one of the chains broke as well.
But. Just for once.
I think I'm going to ease off the limiters. Not like I had a choice anyways. With the third chain gone, my ability to limit my strength is declining.
Right now? I might be around…25% of power. Usually I operated anywhere from 1% to 10%. Some spikes here and there.
I looked back at Cloudjumper, then motioned my hand.
"C'mon. Give me the best you got," I declare. Her face sharpens, and her mana signature spikes.
I could only feel a smile on my face creep in return.
This is going to be fun.