My Shard Bearer System - Elias's Legacy
Chapter 78: A Changing Mindset

Chapter 78: A Changing Mindset

Elara was high up—about 45 feet in the air, she calculated—as she plummeted. To her disbelief, Vincent had jumped after her, aiming to slam a kick down onto her mid-fall.

Damn, this is crazy, she thought.

She had no time to think. "Alright, lend me some of your strength, Cube," she called out, her hands locking together over her chest.

Cube’s voice rang in her mind. "I’ve told you, that’s your ability, Elara!"

She glanced at her Ikona hovering beside her and smirked. "Thanks!"

In an instant, she grasped Cube, locking her hands tight around its form. A blink later, her entire body became encased in water, freezing into ice that coiled and strengthened around her like armor. Towering ice pillars spiked outward, forming a defensive barrier.

Only Cube remained exposed.

Vincent’s kick came down hard, striking Cube head-on.

A star-like explosion ignited in the sky as three pockets of clouds split apart, the shockwave sending Elara hurtling toward the ground. She crashed into the poolside, the impact shattering part of the deck and coating the surrounding area in thick ice.

She groaned as the frost slowly faded, her muscles aching from the fall. "So, Cube, how you doing?" she asked, shaking off the impact.

"Surprisingly? I don’t feel anything," Cube responded. "Actually, I feel a bit... lightheaded."

Elara glanced at Cube, frowning as a heavy blue mist poured from its form, swirling around them before slowly dissipating.

Vincent landed ten feet away, brushing off his uniform. He stretched his arms, cracking his neck. "This has been fun, but I think it’s time I rip that fancy suit off you and hand-deliver it to Silas so he can make some copies. I suppose that shard of yours will do just fine as well."

Elara’s eyes narrowed for a brief moment. Shard users and a surplus of the best combat suits? I guess it makes sense.

She jumped to her feet, her HUD flashing [Suit Integrity: 20%]. It was holding steady thanks to the ice cooling her body, but sustained recovery would be impossible the more worn down she became.

I might be lucky here, she thought. Having Cube lets me take risks most people can’t. But for now—

She cracked her knuckles, shifting into a stance.

"It’s time I do things by my books."

People screamed and backed away, panic spreading as they saw the enlarged figure with reddened fists and feet. The resort’s guards arrived, weapons raised, scanning the situation.

Elara’s earpiece crackled to life.

"Hey, what’s going on? We just saw an explosion overhead—please tell me that wasn’t you."

Yui’s voice cut through the noise as he broke through the forming crowd.

Elara opened her mouth to respond, but Vincent lunged at her, aiming for her face. She barely dodged in time, a sharp slice tearing through strands of her hair. Gritting her teeth, she dropped low, swung her leg up in a brutal kick to his chin, then spun mid-motion, driving another blow into his chest.

She pressed her earpiece. "Yui, come in. Yes, that explosion was me—but I found a breakthrough. These Ikonas are practically indestructible. I used Cube as a shield."

Her eyes flicked to a bright neon sign nearby: Waterside Buyouts & Drinks.

"Once you’ve secured Joji and his son, keep them safe until backup arrives. After that, head to my scan location —by the time you get here, I should have this wrapped up."

—

Meanwhile, Elias and Yui sprinted through a narrow alleyway.

"How is she doing?!" Elias shouted between breaths.

Yui kept his eyes forward, frustration laced in his voice. "Good as always—but we need to find this damn guy already. He keeps moving the second we get close. This is troublesome.

Elias and Yui burst into an open plaza, stopping under a massive, neon-lit sign that read:

DRINKER’S RESORT – WHERE EVERY SIP TELLS A STORY

The scanner beeped, marking the shard user inside the building.

They pushed through the entrance, stepping into a lively bar where a group of people sat around a table, knocking back colorful drinks in oddly-shaped glasses. At the center, a broad-shouldered man with a thick beard leaned back in his chair, swirling a deep amber drink in his hand.

"Something I can do for you boys?" he asked smoothly. "You look stressed. Might I suggest a Rumsickle on the rocks? Finest blend you’ll ever have—aged in frost-barrel casks and chilled to perfection."

"No, we’re just looking for someone," Yui said firmly.

Elias, however, raised a hand. "Actually, yeah—I’ll take one. But put it in a travel glass, please."

Yui shot him a sharp look. "What the hell do you think you’re doing? I didn’t take you for a drunk."

Elias gave a small smirk, eyes still scanning the room. "Trust me, I have a plan."

Yui grumbled but checked the scanner again. The shard user’s signature was directly on top of them. Elias took the drink, turning it in his hands as he spoke.

"I’m trusting my gut here," Elias muttered. "Based on our mission, I think Joji’s son has a teleportation Ikona—that would explain why he keeps moving so fast. If that’s the case, we need to keep them calm. We don’t know how easily he can jump from place to place, especially if he has the movement issue."

Yui exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Alright, then. If we can’t just knock them down, what’s your plan?"

Elias took a long sip from his drink before stepping around the table, his fingers tapping lightly against the rim.

"Dots, have you been reading the book at all?"

A small voice piped up. "I have been viewing the pages, though it’s difficult with it closed. But I’ve read the first few pages."

"Good—just curious. Can you make me a set of clothes?"

Dots hovered beside him, her tiny form shifting slightly.

"A full set? Or something simple?"

"Something that makes me blend in," Elias replied. "Make it quick."

Dots buzzed slightly, the air around her shimmering as fabric began forming in midair.