CHAPTER 174: WORRY FREE

The air felt heavy with the weight of unspoken truths.

Elius stood on the rooftop, the city sprawled beneath his boots like a reflection of his inner chaos. The wind tousled his dark hair as he leaned on the railing, holding the communicator to his ear. Radiant Man’s voice buzzed through the device, stiff with tension, yet laced with disbelief.

"You said... his hair turned gold?" Radiant Man’s voice trembled, a crack in the usual heroic timbre that carried so many weighty declarations in the past. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but Elius caught it—because he had been waiting for it.

"Yes," Elius answered flatly. "It shimmered, bright, brilliant. A beam of light erupted around him when the control broke. His aura flared. And just like that, his hair turned gold."

He said it not just to report it, but to press down on something—to twist the blade into whatever suspicion Radiant Man had kept buried.

A long silence followed.

Then, Elius chuckled, soft but sharp. "Is that important? You seem awfully rattled."

"I... I’m just surprised," Radiant Man muttered, trying to regain composure.

Elius didn’t let up. His tone turned mocking. "What is it? Gold hair? Divine energy? Or the fact that the boy you labeled a villain now glows like the sun? Should I keep going? Should I mention the surge in spiritual Qi when he shouted for freedom? Or maybe that his glare almost looked like yours? Or is it the jawline that scares you?"

"Enough." Radiant Man’s voice cracked like thunder across the sky.

But Elius was already in motion. He began pacing, speaking with measured rhythm, like each step summoned more pressure. "Why are you so fixated on him, huh? You’ve never paid that much attention to anyone else. Not even me. You act like he’s some threat, or... someone you can’t ignore. It’s strange, really."

"I’m not—"

"Is he your other son?" Elius said suddenly.

Silence.

"Say it," Elius pressed.

"No," Radiant Man replied at last, his voice unusually cold. "He’s not."

But Elius smiled bitterly, his gaze sharp as a blade. "You’re lying."

"I said no."

"You’re lying," Elius repeated, slower this time, more deliberate. "You can’t fool me. Not after everything. The way you looked at him. The tremble in your voice. You don’t shake easily, Radiant Man. You didn’t even flinch when the Sovereign Terror burned down half a continent. But this... this rattles you."

Radiant Man said nothing, but Elius wasn’t finished.

"If he is your son," Elius said, his voice rising, "you don’t have to hide it from me. You can train him instead. Give him your shadow to live under, because I’m not interested in it. You want a golden-haired heir with a blaze in his chest? You can have him. I don’t need your spotlight. I’ll carve my own path. I’ll grow strong without your lectures, your oversight, your stupid legacy."

There was a sudden gust of wind through the speaker, and Radiant Man’s voice returned, now lower, heavier.

"You still don’t understand, Elius. I chose you because—"

"No," Elius interrupted. "You didn’t choose me. You tested me. You tormented me. You played games with my public image, manipulated every breath I took in that academy. You made everyone see me as your golden goose. Do you think I wanted that?"

"You were born with potential," Radiant Man said, trying to sound noble, but the words felt empty.

"So was Keith."

Radiant Man flinched on the other end.

Elius leaned on the railing again, calm returning to his face, though his heart still thundered. "You know, the funny thing is, I never hated Keith. Not even when I knew he was strong. Not even when you ignored me for him without realizing. I saw his strength and thought... maybe he deserves a chance. So I used him, sure. I admit that. But only to give him purpose. Not to destroy him."

He paused, giving the silence room to breathe.

"You always wanted me to be the best," Elius continued. "But I never wanted to be your best. I wanted to be free. You asked me why I accepted the rank drop. Why I protected Keith. Why I lied about knowing who he was. Because I don’t owe you honesty. Not anymore."

Another pause. A heavier one.

"You still want to test me?" Elius asked, staring at the clouds above.

Radiant Man’s voice returned, calm but with a simmer beneath. "Yes."

"No powers," Elius said immediately. "You and me. Hand to hand. No glowing, no flight, no energy blasts, no light-speed punches. You keep your heroic aura in check, and I’ll keep my swords down. Just fists. Just bone and muscle. Just you and me."

Radiant Man’s response was a slow, amused hum. "You’d lose."

"I probably would," Elius admitted, smirking. "But at least I’d know I bled honestly. You see, I don’t need to win to prove myself to you anymore."

Radiant Man didn’t answer right away. The silence stretched, bending like a bowstring.

Then, at last, his voice returned. "I’ll be back."

Elius didn’t move. He stood still under the sky, letting the words hang. He listened to the static click as the call ended.

He placed the communicator into his pocket and let out a long sigh.

Far below, the city continued in its usual hum. Lights blinked, traffic droned, people moved about their lives with no idea of the tension hanging in the heavens above them.

Elius clenched his fists, feeling the bones shift and pop.

"I’ll be ready," he murmured to the wind. "Whether you come to train me... or stop me."

Then, he stepped away from the edge of the rooftop, walking into the shadows without looking back.

The city sprawled beneath him like a tapestry of lights and life.

Elius would mumble, "what should I do now? My plan worked and now, I am a free man from worrying about my stupid father? Should splurge myself today?"

The recent conversation with Radiant Man echoed in his mind, but instead of the usual weight, he felt a surprising lightness. For the first time in a long while, the burden of expectations seemed to lift.

"He’s finally focusing on Keith," Elius murmured to himself, a smirk playing on his lips. "That means I can breathe."

With a newfound sense of freedom, Elius decided to indulge in a simple pleasure he’d long denied himself—a food tour across the city. It wasn’t just about the food; it was a celebration of autonomy, a silent toast to the path he was carving for himself.

---

His first stop was a modest noodle shop tucked away in a narrow alley. The aroma of rich broth and fresh herbs wafted through the air, drawing him in. He ordered a bowl of spicy ramen, the heat of the chili warming him from the inside out. The noodles were perfectly chewy, the broth a harmonious blend of flavors that danced on his tongue. As he ate, he chatted with the elderly owner, who shared stories of the shop’s history and the secret to their signature dish.

Next, he wandered into a bustling street market, the vibrant stalls offering a kaleidoscope of culinary delights. He sampled skewers of grilled meats, their smoky aroma irresistible. A vendor handed him a piece of honey-glazed pastry, the sweetness melting in his mouth. Children ran past him, laughing, their joy infectious. Elius found himself smiling, the simple pleasures grounding him in the present.

At a quaint café, he sipped on a cup of rich, dark coffee, its bitterness balanced by a hint of chocolate. The barista, a young woman with a passion for latte art, crafted a delicate leaf atop his drink. They exchanged stories, laughter bubbling between them. For a moment, Elius wasn’t a cultivator or a hero; he was just a man enjoying a cup of coffee and good company.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Elius found himself at a rooftop bar. The city lights twinkled below, mirroring the stars above. He raised a glass of sparkling water, toasting to the night, to freedom, to the journey ahead.

Throughout his culinary adventure, Elius met people from all walks of life—chefs passionate about their craft, vendors proud of their heritage, strangers who became friends over shared meals. Each interaction added a layer to his experience, enriching his understanding of the world beyond battles and power struggles.

As the night deepened, a gentle breeze rustled his hair, and a sense of contentment settled over him. He looked out over the city, its heartbeat steady and strong.

"I should probably go back now," he whispered, the words carrying a mix of reluctance and readiness. The night had been a respite, a reminder of the simple joys that life offered. With a final glance at the cityscape, Elius turned, the echoes of laughter and the taste of shared meals accompanying him as he stepped back into the path he had chosen.