The Path Of A True King.
Chapter 53: New Skills And Abilities

Chapter 53: New Skills And Abilities

Chapter 92

Elijah sat quietly inside the black, heavily tinted car, its engine humming softly beneath him as the city passed in a blur beyond the windows.

Rain drizzled lightly outside, misting the glass with a silvery sheen.

He wore a tailored black suit with a long coat draped over his shoulders, the collar turned up against the cold.

Despite the faint bruising still clinging to his skin, he looked more refined than ever.

His sharp black hair was brushed back, and his crimson eyes shimmered with quiet focus—eyes that had seen too much and wanted more.

His fingers tapped rhythmically against his knee as he stared out at the glowing skyline. Skyscrapers flickered with neon, but his mind wasn’t on the view.

It had only been two days since the battle—one that left him reminded of his weakness.

The pain hadn’t fully subsided, but neither had the anger.

Elijah clenched his jaw.

He needed to get stronger.

There was no other path forward.

At the rate their gang was going, trying to go head-to-head with the Stray Dogs would be suicide.

No planning, no restraint—just chaos. His gang wouldn’t survive the next confrontation unless something changed.

First step: breakthrough to Advanced Knight.

But that came with a list of requirements And right now, he had more problems than solutions.

His System had restricted his Red King Sword, sealing it for reasons he couldn’t fully grasp.

Even when he tried to study the Book inside his Mind Space—his so-called Soul Dimension, where Alter Elijah lurked—it was like trying to read a locked diary written in a foreign tongue.

Pages that refused to open. Knowledge that refused to come.

Another complication.

And then there was her.

His grandmother.

The woman who, somehow, seemed tied to everything—his bloodline, his cursed gift, his locked potential.

Seeing her had become its own quest within the System, a glowing notification that pulsed like a quiet reminder every time he closed his eyes.

He sighed and opened the System interface in his mind.

A familiar blue screen blinked to life.

[System Points: 50,000 SP]

"Still not enough," he muttered.

15,000 of those points came from defeating Xiniz.

The rest, he’d earned through smaller daily objectives—grinding his way back piece by piece.

He spoke inwardly, voice calm but firm.

’Give me the Elemental Cultivation and Control Technique, along with Stage 3 Farming Breathing and Stage 3 Corp Breathing techniques.’

[20,000 SP used]

The data flowed into his mind like a rush of cold water.

Elijah winced slightly as the influx of information hit him, nerves tingling under his skin as breathing methods and cultivation paths etched themselves into his memory.

"That’s better," he whispered. "Now..."

His eyes narrowed, remembering the last time he’d spent hours scrolling through pages of Techniques. He had no time or patience for that again.

"I need a technique and an ability—each worth 5,000 SP. And I want them to be usable now."

The System flickered, sorting options.

A new list materialized in front of him.

Technique Skills:

{(Tier 3) Blood Shield} – Reinforced shield made from your own blood. Can withstand two full-power attacks from an Advanced Stage opponent. Cost: 2,500 SP

{(Tier 3) Iron Body} – A defensive technique that increases body durability by 30%. An upgraded version of your existing Tier 2 Iron Body. Can now be used in motion. Cost: 1,000 SP

{(Tier 3) Crimson Arrow} – Creates a blood-forged arrow capable of piercing any opponent below the Advanced Stage. Cost: 2,500 SP

{(Tier 3) Wind Walk} – Boosts movement speed by 30% using Ki to propel wind beneath your feet. Usable once per dash before requiring reactivation.Cost: 1,500 SP(Discounted due to mastery of Tier 1 Flash Step.)

Elijah stared, his expression wavering.

"All of these... I could use all of them."

And for once, he didn’t hesitate.

He knew his weaknesses too well.

He needed options—for both offense and defense, movement and escape.

If he wanted to stay alive, he couldn’t afford to limit himself anymore.

[7,500 SP used]

"That leaves just the abilities now." He exhaled, closing his eyes. "They shouldn’t be too alluring, right?"

A fresh list appeared.

Abilities:

[Counter]

[Regeneration] – Grants rapid regeneration from any injury. Scars vanish, limbs regrow, stamina refills near-limitlessly.Cost: 5,000 SP(Discounted from 20,000 due to your innate regenerative bloodline.)

[Telekinesis] – Grants mental control over physical objects. Strength scales with mental energy. Cost: 5,000 SP

Elijah blinked twice.

Then laughed quietly to himself.

"Damn... even the System thinks my regeneration is ridiculous... just like Kai."

He looked at the list one last time, then nodded.

"Just give me all of them."

[15,000 SP used]

[7,500 SP remaining]

"I’ll save them for later."

Inside the sleek black SUV, the low rumble of the engine blended with the faint hum of the city beyond.

Tony sat in the driver’s seat, calm and focused on the road ahead, while Jack lounged in the backseat beside Elijah, arms crossed behind his head, staring blankly out the window.

Elijah, meanwhile, was deep in thought—his face a mix of tension and exhaustion.

The air was heavy with silence, broken only by the sound of passing vehicles and the occasional squeak of windshield wipers.

His gaze drifted outside until a flicker of realization lit in his crimson eyes.

Something wasn’t right.

They had entered the South District without issue, but the route was wrong.

Too many turns.

Too familiar.

Elijah leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing as familiar buildings came into view—but not the ones near his mother’s home.

No, this was something else.

This was their territory.

Frowning, he sat up straighter.

"Tony," Elijah said, voice low but firm. "I told you to take me home. I’ll come to the base after I’ve had some rest."

Tony didn’t flinch. He kept his hands on the wheel, eyes ahead."I am taking you home."

Elijah’s frown deepened. "That’s not what I meant, and you know it."

Before he could press the issue, Jack spoke up, a casual grin on his face as if they were discussing the weather.

"Well... after the attack two days ago, Kai decided to relocate everyone. Mai, Sylvia—even the ones in Mike’s territory. Everyone’s now in our base for safety. You know... just in case." He looked over with a shrug.

"We’re an Omega-ranked gang now, Elijah. And the Stray Dogs? They’re Omega too. Can’t take chances anymore."

Elijah leaned back into his seat slowly, the weight of that revelation settling on his shoulders. "So... my mom knows?" he asked, voice slightly tight. "She knows I’m the leader now?"

Jack raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Nope. Pretty sure she just thinks you’re part of the gang. Leading it? Not so much. But she’s not stupid, so... maybe she suspects."

That answer didn’t comfort Elijah.

His jaw clenched.

There were still things he hadn’t wanted to reveal—not yet.

But time wasn’t on his side anymore.

Sensing the mood shift, Jack cleared his throat and changed the subject. "Anyway, Tristan told me about the guy you fought. Said he was something else. Was he really that strong?"

Elijah’s lips curled slightly, a faint smirk appearing. "He was... but only when he used his element. It boosted his speed and destructive power to a ridiculous level. Without it, though? Weak. You probably could’ve dropped him easily if you used that form of yours."

Jack’s smile faded into something more thoughtful as he turned back to the window. "You know," he said quietly, "sometimes... being strong is boring."

That made Elijah laugh.

Not loud—just a small, genuine chuckle that cut through the quiet like a blade.

"What are you talking about? There are plenty of people who could give you a challenge. Me. Kai. Others out there we haven’t even seen yet."

Jack shook his head with mock disappointment. "You and Kai? Nah, I doubt it. But yeah, I know what you mean. The real monsters haven’t shown up yet."

He paused before adding, "That’s why we gotta rise fast—so we can fight those guys they call Kings."

Elijah tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Is that all you care about, Jack?"

Jack leaned back, hands behind his head again, and smirked. "Damn right."

Elijah’s amusement faded, just for a moment.

His eyes lowered slightly, the weight of recent events pulling at his chest.

"We’ll get there," he said, his voice softer.

"But tomorrow... tell Kai. Everyone needs to be present. We need time to mourn for the ones we lost. Time to breathe before we celebrate anything."

"Understood, Boss," Tony called from the front.

The SUV was slowing now, pulling into the familiar perimeter of their base.

"And also," Elijah added, "have Tristan and Dean transferred out of West District Hospital.

We need them somewhere closer—somewhere we can protect them."

"Already done," Jack said, nodding.

"Good. Let me know when they wake up."

Jack was quiet for a second, then chuckled. "Oh yeah—almost forgot."

Elijah raised an eyebrow.

"I’ll be staying with you," Jack said casually.

"...What?" Elijah blinked, confused.

"You heard me, Boss."

"Why?"

Jack leaned forward, his grin widening. "I’m your bodyguard, remember? That means protecting you, your family, and myself at the same time."

Elijah opened his mouth, but Jack held up a hand.

"Listen," he said, serious now.

"We need you, Elijah. You’re our leader. No matter how strong you think you are, don’t let it get to your head. Don’t be arrogant. Let me be the arrogant one in this gang."

He placed a hand on Elijah’s shoulder. "You just do your job—keeping us together. We’ll handle the rest."

Elijah stared at him, lips parted slightly... but no words came.

He looked away, the weight of everything pressing into him once more.

He said nothing.

He just kept his mouth shut.