Chapter 782: New Information
Orion clenched his fists, willing the trembling to stop, but the subtle tremor persisted. It wasn’t fear that made his hands shake; it was the aftershock of exerting control over a force that could easily turn the tables if given the chance. The elf had been a formidable opponent, and while Orion had managed to subdue him, he knew deep down that it had been a close call.
He hadn’t backed down because of mercy; mercy had nothing to do with it. No, Orion had relented because he wasn’t entirely sure if he could defeat the elf in a full-blown confrontation. The man was strong—far stronger than he had initially appeared—and Orion couldn’t afford to engage in a battle where the outcome was uncertain. The trembling in his hands was a stark reminder of that uncertainty.
But it wasn’t just caution that had stayed Orion’s hand. As he stared at the faint tremor, his mind began to turn over the possibilities. The elf’s hatred, and his determination to eradicate dark elves, could be a powerful tool if wielded correctly. Orion had seen that burning conviction in the elf’s eyes, and he knew that such a force could be directed, manipulated, and turned to his advantage.
Orion’s hands gradually steadied as his thoughts took on a sharper focus. He had let the transgression slide, not out of weakness, but out of strategy. The elf could be useful in the future—an ally or, at the very least, a pawn in whatever game Orion decided to play.
As the trembling subsided, Orion’s gaze grew colder, more calculating. He would keep a close eye on the elf, biding his time until the moment came to turn that hatred to his own ends. For now, he would let it go, but only for a moment.
...
The next morning, a faint light filtered through the cracks in the stone walls of the prison, marking the start of another day in the trolls’ den. Orion’s group stirred from their rest, gathering themselves in the corner as the guards handed out their usual rations—coarse bread and water, nothing more. The air was thick with the musty scent of the underground, and the sounds of chains clinking and groans of other prisoners echoed throughout the cavernous room.
Despite the bleak surroundings, the group sat down to eat, quietly discussing their next steps. They hadn’t forgotten their situation, but the tension from the previous night had subsided. Orion, as always, kept his calm demeanor, already thinking ahead, while Luna, Aisa, and Findir shared a few light-hearted exchanges to lift the mood.
After they finished their meager meal, the group decided to check their statuses. It had become a daily routine since they had been captured, a way to monitor their health and capabilities after being weakened by the trolls’ suppression. As each of them focused inward, accessing their personal screens, their eyes widened in surprise—what they saw was nothing short of miraculous.
"Wait..." Aisa blinked, her fingers hovering in the air. "Is it just me, or...?"
Findir, who had been rubbing his neck, suddenly froze. His sharp white eyes scanned his status screen before he broke into a wide grin. "I’m getting my mana back! It’s slow, but it’s definitely returning!"
Luna, usually composed, couldn’t hide the joy in her voice. "My illusion magic—it’s not as restricted as before. I think we’re recovering faster than we expected."
Orion, his brows furrowed, quickly flipped through his own status. It was subtle, but his strength, agility, and mana reserves were indeed creeping back up to their original state. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Looks like we’re on the mend."
The group shared a collective sigh of relief. Days of being at the mercy of the trolls had left them feeling powerless, their once formidable abilities reduced to nearly nothing. But now, with their statuses slowly but surely returning to normal, a spark of hope reignited in each of them.
"We’re not back to full strength yet, but this is a good sign," Orion noted, his voice measured but optimistic. "We need to keep our heads down, bide our time, and keep recovering. Once we’re back to full power, we’ll have options."
Luna nodded, her violet eyes gleaming with renewed confidence. "They won’t see it coming."
Findir stretched, feeling the strength returning to his limbs. "It’s only a matter of time before we turn the tables."
Aisa punched the air. "About time we got some good news!"
『Status』
[Name: Findir Adthana]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Windwalker]
[Title: Conquerer of Senselessness]
[Level: 3/100] (20/100) XP Needed
[HP: 200/200 MP: 100/100 SP: 150/150] - Above Human
[Strength: 125] - Above Human
[Defense: 105] - Above Human
[Magic: 145] - Above Human
[Speed: 200] - Above Human
[Skills: [Void Dagger Coating] [Haste] [Empower] [Eagle Eye] [Silent Flight] [Wind Manipulation] [Abyssal Assassination Presence] [Assassination Breath and Nature Assimilation]
[Passive Skills: [Dark Elven Nature Affinity] [Iron Speech] [Potion Organs] [Windborne Resilience]
[Equipment: [Wind Dagger] [Basic Armor]
...
『Status』
[Name: Cy Benoit]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Warrior of the Abyss]
[Title: King of Burden]
[Level: 1/100] (10/100) XP Needed
[HP: 300/300 MP: 150/150 SP: 200/200] - Above Human
[Strength: 200] - Above Human
[Defense: 175] - Above Human
[Magic: 115] - Above Human
[Speed: 125] - Above Human
[Skills: [Spear Coating] [Haste] [Empower] [Shadow Strike] [Abyssal Shield] [Complete Shadow Magic] [Wave of Darkness]
[Passive Skills: [Iron Speech] [Potion Organs] [Water Affinity]
[Equipment: [Basic Spear] [Armor of the Abyss]
...
『Status』
[Name: Bella Wony]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Flame Adept]
[Title: Promethean Sky Snatcher]
[Level: 10/100] (50/100) XP Needed
[HP: 80/80 MP: 60/60 SP: 30/30] - Above Human
[Strength: 150] - Above Human
[Defense: 65] - Above Human
[Magic: 275] - Above Human
[Speed: 75] - Above Human
[Skills: [Flame Manipulation] [Haste] [Empower] [Fireball] [Flame Shield] [Will of Flames] [Web of the Wony’s Burning Heart] [Summon: Lesser Fire Spirits]
[Passive Skills: [Iron Speech] [Potion Organs] [Heat Resistance]
[Equipment: [Basic Staff] [Flame Robes]
...
『Status』
[Name: Aisa Hayha]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Ghostly Blade]
[Title: Princess of Primordial Demon Realm]
[Level: 2/100] (30/100) XP Needed
[HP: 250/250 MP: 150/150 SP: 200/200] - Above Human
[Strength: 105] - Above Human
[Defense: 85] - Above Human
[Magic: 115] - Above Human
[Speed: 225] - Above Human
[Skills: [Dagger Coating] [Haste] [Empower] [Ghost Step] [Silent Blade] [High Ghostly Presence] [Presence Deletion] [Greater Bullet Enhancement] [Greater Gun Enhancement] [Haste] [Empower]
[Passive Skills: [Iron Speech] [Potion Organs] [Cold Affinity]
[Equipment: [Daggers] [Ghost Armor]
...
『Status』
[Name: Luna Evernight]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Illusionist of the Eternal Night]
[Title: Witness of Existence Incarnate]
[Level: 1/100] (0/100) XP Needed
[HP: 100/100 MP: 250/250 SP: 50/50] - Above Human
[Strength: 50] - Above Human
[Defense: 55] - Above Human
[Magic: 225] - Above Human
[Speed: 125] - Above Human
[Skills: [Illusory Magic] [Mirror Image] [Haste] [Mind Fog] [Nightmare Projection] [Mirror Image] [Empower] [Eagle Eye] [Deceptive Presence]
[Illusionist Skills: [Arcane Illusions] [Shadow Play]
[Passive Skills: [Mind’s Eye] [Twilight Affinity]
[Equipment: [Magic Ring] [Storage Ring] [Moonlit Staff]
...
『Status』
[Name: Orion]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Sovereign of Blood and Battle]
[Title: King of All Flesh and Blood]
[Level: 21/100] (0/500) XP Needed
[HP: 750/750MP: 500/500 SP: 500/500] - Above Human
[Strength: 245] - Above Human
[Defense: 125] - Above Human
[Magic: 175] - Above Human
[Speed: 125] - Above Human
[Skills: [Blood Manipulation] [Flesh Manipulation] [Battlefield Mastery] [Haste] [Blood Sacrifice] [Summon: Vampiric Army]
[Sovereign Skills: [Commanding Presence] [War Cry]
[Passive Skills: [Lord of War] [Warbound Vitality] [Iron Will]
[Equipment: [Magic Ring] [Storage Ring] [Warrior’s Armor]
...
"Anyways Orion, what’s the plan for today?" Cy asked, everybody else turning their heads towards him.
"Hmmmm..." Orion’s eyes scanned the ground, seemingly planning out something before turning to Findir. "Are you capable of escaping this prison now silently or should we wait another day for more of your skills to return?"
Findir’s lips curled into a confident smile as he rose from his seat, brushing the dirt from his hands. The air around him seemed to shift, a soft breeze swirling at his feet, causing his long white hair to ripple. His tall, lean frame appeared to shimmer for a moment, as though he were being absorbed by the very wind itself.
Without a word, he stepped forward toward the iron bars of the stone prison. As the wind intensified around him, his body began to blur, and within an instant, he was gone—seemingly swallowed by the gust. The others watched in awe as the wind whistled gently through the cell, slipping past the bars with ease. Findir, or rather the wind-form he had taken on, slid effortlessly between the gaps of the heavy iron bars, passing through like a breeze through an open window.
In a blink, he reappeared on the other side, his figure solidifying as he took form once more. With a quick glance over his shoulder, he smirked and gave a small wave before vanishing into the shadows, his presence melting into nothing as if he had never been there at all. Orion, Cy, and the others waited in silence, their eyes fixed on the dimly lit corridor where Findir had disappeared.
Moments passed, and the sound of heavy troll footsteps echoed in the distance, but there was no sign of Findir. Just as they began to wonder if something had gone wrong, a faint breeze brushed past them once more. Out of the shadowy corner of the prison, Findir reappeared, his smile widening as he held up a large iron key, twirling it casually around his finger.
"Got it," he whispered with a mischievous glint in his eyes, flipping the key into his palm. "One of the guards was passing by. Never even saw me."
"Man, put that shit back," Orion scoffed.
