I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1224: Unexpected Encounter

Northern walked through the tunnels with purpose. He had a mental map of the entire network—courtesy of his spatial awareness abilities—and knew exactly where to go.

Which made the traditional route seem… wasteful.

So instead of navigating the complicated labyrinth like some lost adventurer, he simply broke through the walls and connected point to point. The most optimal path was a straight line, after all. Plus, the rock walls crumbled so easily under his strength that it barely qualified as an obstacle.

He’d initially tried it as an efficiency measure. But over time, something unexpected happened—it became therapeutic. Fun, even. There was something satisfying about the way stone gave way beneath his fist, the clean crack of rock splitting apart, the shower of debris marking his passage.

’Stress relief with a side of efficiency. I should market this.’

From time to time, he checked on Sael’s progress. Supreme Shadow, no matter how distant, was still his. He could simply channel Eye of the Shadow through the Shadow Bow and see exactly what the Arrow Sage was seeing.

The man had encountered a survivor.

Northern had considered warning him about the person—something felt off—but he held back. Just as Sael met the stranger, the creature in the darkness struck, killing the survivor instantly. Sael, to his credit, proved quick on his feet and retreated without hesitation.

’Good instincts.’

Northern averted his focus from the battle, making a mental promise not to intervene unless Sael’s life was actually in danger. Drifters needed to grow stronger, and coddling them wouldn’t help. Besides, Northern had his own destination to reach.

He’d enjoy the walk.

After several more minutes of therapeutic wall-breaking, he finally emerged into the cavern expanse.

The sight made him pause.

Stalactites hung from the ceiling like stone chandeliers, their pointed tips reflected perfectly in the surface of a small lake that dominated the center of the wide chamber. Northern had emerged from a tunnel that opened onto an upper ledge—a natural platform that jutted out into empty air before stopping mid-level. It looked almost deliberate, like some ancient architect had designed an addressing platform specifically to overlook the stalactites, the lake, and the scattered rock formations below.

Northern exhaled slowly, gazing down at the underground ocean with a small smile.

’How undemure…’

[You are using Whispering Gale – Wind Embrace]

He stepped off the edge.

The wind caught him immediately, and he flew with the grace of a falling leaf, descending in a gentle spiral before landing softly on the surface of the lake.

Or rather, above it.

A closer inspection would reveal he wasn’t actually standing on the water at all. There was a hairsbreadth of space between his feet and the surface — so small as to be nearly invisible. The subtle ripples spreading across the lake weren’t from his landing either. Northern trusted his control implicitly.

However, Northern knew what was causing it. He knew since he stepped into the expanse.

He lowered himself, dropping into a crouch and leaning down toward the water’s surface. When he spoke, his voice carried an almost eerie calm.

“How long are you planning to stay down there?”

He paused, as if genuinely curious.

“If I decide to camp here for the next hour, are you going to keep hiding under the water until you eventually drown yourself to death?”

His tone was conversational, casual. He shook his head slowly.

“I’ve never seen an elf stoop so low… literally.”

The water erupted.

Someone burst through the surface in a spray of droplets, gasping and struggling for air. They flailed briefly, treading water, then froze when they saw Northern crouching on the surface of the lake like it was solid ground.

Their expression was priceless.

The elf had blonde hair plastered to his head and striking blue eyes. His jaw was angular, sharp, and there was a hard, veteran look in his gaze—the kind that came from surviving things that should have killed him.

Northern grabbed him by the throat before he could speak.

The elf’s eyes widened as Northern stood smoothly, lifting him clear out of the water with one hand. No effort. No strain. Just a casual display of overwhelming strength.

Northern’s gaze went cold. Dangerous.

“Who are you?”

The elf gripped Northern’s wrist with both hands, muscles straining as he tried to pry those iron fingers away from his throat. He pulled, twisted, fought with everything he had.

Northern merely stood there, expression blank.

It felt like trying to move a mountain. Like the hand around his neck had turned to stone, utterly immovable.

’Cute effort, though.’

The elf’s face reddened. Desperation crept into his eyes.

Then he screamed, voice strained and hoarse:

“Now!”

An arrow spiraled through the air with lethal intent.

Northern, still staring blankly at the elf, casually caught it behind his back with his free hand. The projectile slapped into his palm and stopped dead, its momentum killed instantly.

“Is this supposed to be your—”

Two more arrows came.

Then a fourth.

Northern didn’t even look. He shifted the first arrow in his grip, using his fingers to anchor the second and third arrivals, catching each one between his knuckles with just enough force to neutralize their killing speed. Four arrows now bristled from his hand like a macabre bouquet.

His gaze darkened.

In one smooth motion, he held all four arrows together and drove them into the elf’s right flank.

“Arghh!”

The scream was raw. Visceral. Blood bloomed across wet fabric, rich crimson mixing with lake water.

Northern’s voice cut through the echo like a blade.

“The next place I’ll be striking is his throat.”

He angled the bloodied arrows toward the elf’s neck, his tone flat and utterly serious.

“If you don’t step out now, your friend dies.”

The arrows dripped steadily, each drop hitting the water’s surface with a soft plink.

There was silence.

Then, slowly, a figure emerged from the shadows—bow in one hand, both arms raised in surrender. He stepped carefully into the dim light filtering through the cavern.

Northern could see him perfectly, of course. The darkness had never been an obstacle. He’d been tracking both of them since before he’d even landed on the water.

’Amateur hour.’

A small smile curled on his lips as he turned his attention to the elf still dangling from his grip, blood trickling down his flank.

“Well, well. What a surprise.”

His voice carried a note of dry amusement.

“Sir Alystren. And what, exactly, are you doing so far from home?”

Northern looked completely unsurprised—mainly because he wasn’t. He’d suspected their identities the moment he entered the cavern expanse. The ambush had been clumsy, desperate. Not the work of actual threats.

Just someone he knew being the usual suspicious idiot.

Alystren’s face, however, flickered with genuine shock as he took a closer look at Northern’s features. Recognition dawned, followed immediately by disbelief.

“Rian?”

His arms dropped slightly, exasperation flooding his voice.

“Aww, come on!”