LoRG 5

Congratulations Your Skill Wrathful Calamity Rends has grown to Level 971

Congratulations Your Skill Wrathful Calamity Rends has grown to Level 985

The void shattered as all the emotional force contained with him exploded outward He needed the power he could earn in this third impossible attempt by fixing and evolving his Class It became its own sort of overwhelming imperative that crushed the resistance in front of him

With the addition of Yggdrasil’s stationary force it was barely a contest

I canÆt waste anymore time on you RandidlyÆs expression darkened as Elhume spat out a globule of blood took an unsteady step backward but then appeared to be about to grit his teeth and endure the fallout Fiero foolishly continued to grasp onto the Songstress of Absence so Randidly once more relied on the Yggdrasil that had manifested so effectively

The light of that golden sun faded Dusk came to the skyisland and a grinning carrion rammed her hand through ElhumeÆs chest cavity A split second later Devick stabbed her talons through ElhumeÆs lower back squeezing a gasp out of him

But she only tskÆd A split second too late huh Ah damnit

Randidly took a step forward and stood by ElhumeÆs side He wavered for a second between throwing a more final strike but opted instead to simply pinch his foe’s shoulder with enough force to shatter his collarbone In the end he still possessed the possibility of reaching the Pinnacle

If you try to interfere again Randidly said I will kill you

Almost hoping that Elhume would return as a refined element ready to create a miracle Randidly tossed his foe off the edge of a Skyisland A sharpened root to FieroÆs chest knocked loose his grip on the Songstress and also sent his bloody form tumbling over the edge Then Randidly could turn to the milky sky and activate his Engraving in earnest

Let’s tear apart the rest of this memory to find themiracle

Chapter 2317

Impressions flashed past the Patron of Feathers as her bodily functions began to fail Her consciousness would snag on portions of the memories before the increasingly common blackouts dragged her down into delirium for an indeterminate amount of time She sawù

Her hands covered in blood when they assisted in the coup of Malloon The disappointment she felt when her father was the best in a long list of bad choices to rule the city

The joy she felt as they began to accumulate other Patrons Each became an integral part of the family contributing legitimate accomplishments with her own Skills And as their numbers expanded so did the scope of their operations With power came ambition and each step forward forced the group to sharpen their blades so they could withstand their growing responsibility

She saw the training room they developed She felt her own sweat drying on her skin

She saw darkness Days of sparring and toil blurred past

Most of all like an ice pick through the heart each time the Patron of Feathers remembered the look on FieroÆs face half seen through a crack in the door as he said From now on wouldnÆt it be easier if you were all mine

The memories trembled and scattered blown away by a sudden gale She sank into the unconscious darkness tiptoeing between life and death before she popped back into the memories with a gasp She saw Fiero just a manifestation of Wild Energy floating in that clearing She felt dread knowing what was to come

She could watch but she couldnÆt halt the tragedy

The Patron of Feathers swam through her small loves her favorite meals her fondest memories All those moments of stunned embarrassment the lingering moments of personal shame the trembling admittances of weakness she had to endure Yet none of them could grant her any succor The demands of her weakened limbs the last gasps of her sputtering organs kept pulling her out of the memories and announcing a bleak truth

She would soon die

Tears glittered in the Patron of Feather’s eyes Her joints ached In the end the only memory that could screen her from the truth was

FieroÆs sharp eyes the malicious smile

wouldnÆt it be easier if you were all mine

She dove into darkness She emerged dizzy an eternity later Fiero smiled

All mine

The Patron of Feathers gasped as something shifted The memories abruptly faded and left her in the dark room sitting on the patterns drawn by her father Around her were the dried and crusted remnants of bile and blood she hadnÆt even noticed she had been leaking She sat hunched forward partially collapsed in on herself Yet not a single muscle remained to shift her weight

No wonder her organs had failed she had been squeezing them for the last however long she had been here

So here in the quiet is how I will die More peaceful than I expected The Patron of Feathers could barely manage a small wheeze at the prospect She looked around at the small room wishing she wasnÆt here alone More than that she wished she could have changed the outcome of her life She wished she hadnÆt been so cowardly as to consider no method to change her situation other than running away And then she wished she hadnÆt simply allowed the Patron of the Borrowed to take more and more from those two good people untilù

The door opened bringing with it blinding light The Patron of Feathers shivered realizing that the illumination from the room’s mechanisms had gone dark A figure moved through the blinding revelation and stood by her side He patted her head his alabaster feathers glittering You have done well my daughter

Of course I sincerely doubt it will be this easy forever Randidly remarked His Fateset twitched and flared seemingly annoyed that he would say such an unlucky thing But Randidly just flashed his teeth and continued to work His Fateset didnÆt truly think independently of him it was just a matter of perspective And he didnÆt mind his more suspicious side rearing its head like this in a harmless manner

Grab twisted hold strum release Another blast of accelerated time dyed the sky a soft golden color before the flow of night and day ripped new channels through the color

Congratulations Your Skill the Wrathful Calamity Rends has grown to Level 994

With the task in front of him requiring so little most of RandidlyÆs attention flowed through to his emotional sea He sank into its depths feeling the churning currents of power lurking beneath the surface Most of the sea had been completely emptied in the first impossible task smashing against the flow of time but now that it had recovered the deepest portions had burrowed into even deeper trenches A horrifying whirlwind of emotions shredded in the deepest corner of that sea creating a growing whirlpool of irresistible force

Randidly reached out a mental finger and ran it along the churning edge of the vortex The depth of determination he found there made him smile

His attention flicked back to the surface Below he could feel reverberations blasting out from the confrontation between Aether and Nether clearly Deganawidah had lost his temper with the Cult of the Savior But unless they tried to ascend and stop Randidly he would leave them be He focused on the process

Activate Engraving strum time release and watch the colors ripple

Congratulations Your Skill the Wrathful Calamity Rends has grown to Level 995

Again and again Randidly repeated these movements carefully honing the small gestures to eliminate any wasted energy Grasp hold strum release

Grasp hold strum release

Congratulations Your Skill the Wrathful Calamity Rends has grown to Level 996

Momentum began to build up in the accelerated time bouncing off the remnants of previous waves that still lingered The bleeding of colors grew more stark and overwhelming Randidly observed with narrowed eyes adjusting his methodology to create more of these rebounding effects Very clearly they would thrust him even faster toward the future

Congratulations Your Skill Motif of Unimagined Tolls has grown to Level 1099

Congratulations Your Skill the Wrathful Calamity Rends has grown to Level 997

While time whirled forward inside the Upper Sonora Randidly peered through the gaps and saw the core of history that they followed Honestly if this hadnÆt been a constructed memory Randidly suspected this brute force method wouldnÆt have worked nearly as well His Acute Nether Nose allowed him to peer down the trackÆ they followed witnessing just a fraction of the glorious Pinnacle even at the end As he considered the area in front of him

Randidly clicked his tongue Of course itÆs this again

Already he could see how even the beginning descent of a Pinnacle event would tear through the essence of the memory and leave him with nothing but charred scraps of Aether So he would need to perform some renovations so he could afford to host such a prestigious guest

Alright letÆs see if we can add a bit of extra strain on top RandidlyÆs eyes twinkled One half of him continued the temporal process grasp hold strum release The rest of his attention went to his fingers which burned with Mana

For the second time today he began to Engrave

He wrote into existence the foundations of a Miracle his Fateset singing as it worked

Chapter 2318

RandidlyÆs Engravings spread out from his skyisland to hang in space like luminous butterfly wings The strummed time continued to warp the memory but the sphere of stability around RandidlyÆs position spread outward

Preparing for the finale was important but he also couldnÆt overlook the necessities of getting there

As he pulled the threads of energy together to create that rarified foundation a grin stretched across RandidlyÆs face The more he worked the clearer he could feel the approaching threats beyond the potency of the Pinnacle event The air practically hummed with it the shadow of the imperative of possibleÆ He gazed up searching for additional interference from Elhume massing outside the Dungeon

Even after several seconds of intense focus he could only click his tongue and shift back to the work For better or worse the solidified Dungeon exterior prevented Randidly from sensing anything in particular outside of the memory Then he gazed down at the confrontation between Aether and Nether the Prophet had manifested his weird light and fought against Deganawidah Yet even that didnÆt seem particularly close to spilling up and affecting Randidly

Where will you come from Randidly muttered He flexed his hands poised with gleaming threads of Mana waiting to be woven

But the universe didnÆt answer He could only shake his head and continue to work The movements he made created blinding rainbows as he continued to sew the foundation He stood in the middle of a massive network of connections keying their positing into Yggdrasil and by extension his own body

I can start to see the shape RandidlyÆs wicked grin spread out as he looked at the flow of significance Once IÆm locked into position then you will start bringing the threats Well letÆs see what youÆve got left after IÆve established myself

At my age IÆm not afraid of a slugfest with just about anyone

Congratulations Your Skill Architecture of the Primordial Ways has grown to Level 1031

Congratulations Your Skill Conviction of the Celestial Cataclysm has grown to Level 1060

Ideally Randidly wouldnÆt need to affix himself and his image in place in order to host the Pinnacle event But already bits of the memory began to tear at his rather rough temporal acceleration When the implied power of the Pinnacle began crackling around the damage would worsen Even with DeganawidahÆs significance working as a counterweight the memory would be in danger The only material that Randidly knew would be able to withstand the strain was his body

The Engravings tightened around his position Overlapping halos of Mana settled into place putting him in the middle of dozens of complex runic rings Energy channels flickered outward from his limbs sinking into the skyisland Those butterfly esque patterns that kept the skyisland protected grew more brilliant with each passing second

Randidly took a deep breath and looked up at one particular spot

A shiver ran through existence Then right on cue a presence forcefully ripped its way through the edge of the Dungeon and crashed into the memory A massive swirling image ripped through the surrounding sky like a greedy tornado Next to him Devick hissed and manifested her malicious image around her body However even the crimson haired womanÆs antagonism rapidly faded as the powerful reverberations of that image expanded

RandidlyÆs eyes widened in alarm as he looked at the forceful entry they hadnÆt reinforced the edges of the Dungeon but even Neveah believed that hadnÆt needed to Dungeons possessed enough natural defenses once established due to the energy and temporal differential between the inside and outside If Elhume planned on steamrolling the construction

If she had simply stayed back Randidly would have likely had to make some cutting sacrifices in order to restart the process But with every moment Mae drifted closer She followed in the footsteps of her Monarch of Karma

Why have you come Mae Myrna Randidly called out He observed the Monarch of Karma closely noticing the flickering distortions around his armored limbs as space couldnÆt quite suppress the being He had his suspicions who was within the armor but that was less important than figuring out how powerful this being was currently

In the original timeline it had taken Elhume the Patron of the Borrowed and the Patron of Feathers to defeat this monster and that had only been accomplished with the Hierarchy of Karma

However revisiting that information made the hairs on the back of RandidlyÆs neck tingle He pressed his lips together I know that is what they claimed happened but did the Patron of the Borrowed really die fighting against Mae Myrna Thenù

Did we deserve to be tossed aside and left in isolated space Randidly Ghosthound While hovering in the abyss between life and death did we deserve to have time drawn out so it seemed like we floated there for an agonizing eternity Which sickened god would consider this fate justice if you name them I will slay them before your eyes Mae MyrnaÆs voice retained the resonant quality she possessed that first time the two had met when Randidly had stumbled across the Cult of the Savior for the first time

Yet now all of the liveliness and hope and been hammered out of her She became a tool of her image a host more than anything else

Even still Randidly had to wince IÆm sorry Outside forces invaded the area and I had very little choice

I do not blame you for your resistance of the invaders Obviously to repel an unwanted intruder is necessary No Nether King Hungry Eye what I resent is your methods The two new arrivals continued their slow stroll across the sky As they neared Randidly could see that as the Monarch of Karma stepped bits of stone and debris rushed up and formed into steps beneath his feet which immediately began to degrade as he moved forward Just like these invaders you transgress the natural order You believe you are a better wielder of their fell tactics but do you not pollute the world in the same way No the problem is not who grips the handle the problem is the fickle existence that permits such horrifying outcomes Such tools should not be raised so easily

RandidlyÆs gaze flickered The world state image had spread throughout the sky and now it began to grind directly against Yggdrasil MaeÆs creed might be a world state image but RandidlyÆs image could support a whole world Quickly the twoÆs energies began to spit and bubble Proximity and the volume of energy behind it forced the two together but they were like oil and water To be forced together would only destabilize the area with no common point on which to settle

Once the boundaries between the two were set significance began to flow along the battle lines Randidly observed the clashing currents His Nether Core drew power from the rapid accumulation of history With gritted teeth he forced his temporal accelerations back up to about half of its previous speed What you suggest requires too high a price

Justice is a reward not a price Mae Myrna said

The two descended moving from one step to the other out of the sky RandidlyÆs gaze moved to the visored face of the Monarch of Karma Even from her he could feel how much this insidious image had been compacted and stuffed into his frame And what about you What do you think

I think A manÆs voice came out of the helmet stuttering as though he had just woken from a long sleep The Monarch of KarmaÆs shoulders shifted slightly You transgress Therefore all you deserve is death

He raised his hands and conjured a massive sword of energy Pure Aether all humming with the insidious world state image

Randidly flashed his teeth As always he felt much more comfortable once the opposite drew their weapon Alright then come see if you can claim my life Because I have a few more transgressions left on my to do list

Chapter 2319

When the sword wielded by the Monarch of Karma first manifested Randidly felt quite confident in a direct clash However with each second that passed with more energy congregating above his raised hands the sword swelled It first stood as high as a flag pole then as a building then as a mountain

Each passing second saw MaeÆs image pulse Every particle of matter and air that had been covered with that image fed into the sword wielded by the Monarch of Karma It was one existence untied by the image feeding into its rapid growth RandidlyÆs eyes widened as the sword continued to swell First it simply towered high enough to rival Yggdrasil but with the accumulation of power it came to dwarf the World Tree

Holy fucking shit Devick muttered next to Randidly Even her vicious red hare image seemed solemn Randidly could only nod in agreement as he looked up at the blade turned against him

Do you see Mae called pride clear in her voice even as she seemed possessed by that fatal sort of exhaustion This this is what we could have With this blade need we fear the trespasses of singular entities We will smite them as they deserve Then once cowed they can be shown the illuminating truths

You mean to brainwash those you defeat Randidly said My my seems like most of your morals have withered during your meditation time

How can our ideal world persist if it doesnÆt strengthen itself enough to endure the constant tide of threats Mae countered Besides accepting a more orderly existence will only bring benefits in the end Our existence is enviable

ItÆs barely existence Randidly observed as he looked at the Monarch of Karma Rather than a person what he fought now was just a body acting as a conduit of a womanÆs desperate dream And while he could empathize with the desperation he couldnÆt forgive the unapologetic elimination of self determinism

No this is just another Narrow Path Randidly thought with genuine venom Fatia Cerulean would certainly be proud

The sword stretched to the point that the concept of a bladeÆ became irrelevant It was simply a towering pillar of violent energy reaching so far into the sky that it seemed to tickle the hanging sphere of Pine Aether crackled and spat so pressurized the sky seemed ready to slow The Monarch of KarmaÆs arms began to move The blow crashed down seeking to fell the World Tree

RandidlyÆs eyes widened and his pupils dilated He felt all the energy poured into a singular purpose He could sense how a pillar running the length of the sword had condensed to liquid Aether due to the immense concentration And there were some ominous places of superior cohesion where crystalline chips of Aether had solidified

His instincts warned him of the force wielded by this foe This much raw power wasnÆt about the sophistication of an image just the accumulation of energy by weaponizing the world state Yet that only perked him up He spoke to Devick as he settled into a battle stance Acri flowed out into his spear form Stand behind me

How forward Usually I wait until the third date before allowing a man to see my vulnerable side Devick fluttered her lashes but quickly shifted so Randidly stood between her and the approaching threat

After such a poor showing from Elhume RandidlyÆs eyes glittered in anticipation He spun the spear in his hands and then tightened his grip on the weapon until his knuckles popped Sulfur and Acri both hummed in pleasure Well all I can say is I hope you donÆt disappoint me too Mae

Marred Yet Reliable Foundation of Yggdrasil HumunculiÆs Monstrous Tenacity SirenÆs Dirge of Bottomless Taking

The Monarch of Karma slashed with his sword Acri began to vibrate in RandidlyÆs hands as he unleashed a vicious song from the Songstress of Absence The vast emptiness she wielded carved a Path out through his arms his hands into the spear YggdrasilÆs canopy rustled with the hints of that music resonating down through the trunk and into RandidlyÆs upright stance

This Monarch was just a conduit but Randidly possessed a great deal of forces to corral too And he would teach them that brute force would never be enough to overwhelm him

Congratulations Your Skill HumunculiÆs Monstrous Tenacity has grown to Level 1015

It always seems I fight against those who bring a unilateral mandate Randidly began to laugh as the second extended conflict ended still in a draw The Monarch of Karma lifted his weapon The color of the light it released changed from a gold white to a cooler almost silver color

Perhaps it is simply proof you offer the world nothing Your promises would build a ruin on top of civilization Mae said

The Monarch of Karma swung his sword that sought to cut perfectly through the transgressor executing its particular justice Randidly flexed his toes digging into the mistreated skyisland beneath his feet for better leverage Abruptly he recalled when he had been labeled a Heretic by the System He almost felt nostalgic

The Songstress raised her voice to a crescendo and he thrust in response Dust and pebbles poofed out away from his position due to the eruption of force Lanced with veins of Nether the near spear phantom crashed against the descending judgment

Congratulations Your Skill Conviction of the Celestial Cataclysm has grown to Level 1069

You know what I think Randidly panted his arms trembling from the strain of resisting the enemy’s massive pillar of energy He twisted his spear nudging the MonarchÆs attack to the side His spear retreated and in an instant the massive black spear of absence he produced vanished along with it slithering out of existence As the ungainly pillar of energy rumbled sideways off its target Randidly thrust again a new blast of absence spiraling together into a spear thrust aimed at Mae Myrna I think you are all afraid of a very simple truth In the end every Path could lead you to the Pinnacle if you followed it faithfully

As the MonarchÆs sword fell the unfortunate stretch of the Badlands beneath it first vaporized from high heat then cracked from the impact of liquid Aether But as a wave of annihilation swept out some of the swordÆs light dimmed at the same moment a powerful shield blinked into existence in front of Mae

The spear strike cracked open the shield and Mae ducked receiving only a small cut on her cheek Randidly clicked his tongue in disappointment The second strike like that would likely be a lot less effective than the first

As the Monarch lifted his sword Mae glared at Randidly Nether King Hungry Eye we are aware that theoretically all Paths end in the same place Why would that information cause me to feel any trepidation

Because of that one word theoretically Randidly shook his head Because what is implied there is that most circumstances arenÆt ideal What you are telling yourself is all the compromises you have made especially with aspects like needing to brainwash your enemies were necessary Were unavoidable due to circumstance You could never have neared the Pinnacle otherwise without those adjustments And that is just cowardly ego soothing

You you dare call me a coward Mae said You are so proud spouting your own reassurances By your own admission you have no plan A life without compromise Is that truly your agenda for the Nexus You grasp at impossibilities and ignore realities Nether King You are irresponsible and deluded

Turns out we just canÆt get along Randidly poured more and more emotional sea into his images until the image physicalizations glittered and settled around his shoulders But you know there is one other aspect of your philosophy that bothers me Paths donÆt just end at the Pinnacle

In his chest the Dread Homunculus smiled His other two images exploded out of his body rising to support Yggdrasil

Hungry Eyes Hollow Heart Cadence of Tragedy Motif of Unimagined Tolls NyxÆs Successor Births Fate

Congratulations Your Skill Hungry Eyes Hollow Heart Cadence of Tragedy has grown to Level 1039

Congratulations Your Skill Motif of Unimagined Tolls has grown to Level 1100

Congratulations Your Skill NyxÆs Successor Births Fate has grown to Level 1070

Chapter 2320

Devick crawled on the ground like a bug deciding that no matter how humiliating it was to move like this it was better than being knocked back for a third time even while being protected So she kept her head low wrapped her body tightly with Malice Merry Consort of Perdition and tried her best to witness Nether King Hungry Eye in all his searing glory

Hungry EyeÆs body exploded with layered force as his images flowed together in complex combinations The most obvious was the rapid expansion of his spear with each gesture the powerful spear he wielded swelled into a swirling inflated mixture of Aether and Nether that clashed against the pillar of light in the sky Next came Hungry EyeÆs Yggdrasil image standing tall in the face of the opponentÆs suppression Last but not least the area around Hungry Eye burned with spectral grey flames Even his Nether fought fiercely spreading out in flickering waves to cover the skyisland

Despite all that Devick felt a sinking feeling in her chest as the conflict continued Bits of rock hopped and jumped in front of her nose animated by the powerful reverberations Hungry Eye might be strong but there was something unnatural about the image wielded by that armored figure in the sky

She had obviously encountered world state images before but none possessed the sort of relentless self perpetuation she now witnessed It wasnÆt an exaggeration to say that in front of this image she felt the most genuine fear she had experienced in a long time

The blinding sword toward pillar of light crashed down Hungry Eye thrust his spear forward to meet the attack In the air above the skyisland all within the shadow of the World Tree the two forces met with a grinding roar Devick could only hunch down and avoid the worst of the reverberations Images from both sides were torn and destroyed by the impact Yet when the two weapons parted and the combatants prepared for another strike Devick felt the way the world state image managed to grab a little bit more leverage in the confrontation

Even with MaliceÆs enhanced senses the truth of the fight blurred above her Because Hungry Eye didnÆt leave the clash without his own benefits The shockwaves released by the two powerful images smashing against one another came clearly to his side A swirling maelstrom of force formed around his body reinforcing the defensive barrier of Nether flames around the skyisland

Yet while Hungry Eye took the kinetic force the world state plundered something perhaps a bit more valuable

Again both struck Devick blinked as the distant impact slapped her face Strange eddies of wind filled the surrounding ground The stone beneath Hungry EyeÆs feet crackled with static discharge the Nether King clearly reinforced the ground in his area to prevent it from collapsing but already those efforts seemed to be weakening

When the two weapons parted both pulled from the air The expression on Hungry EyeÆs face betrayed no worry Devick could only see determination If anything he seemed excited to continue fighting like this Above the armored figure reached out and infected the soul of existence The fundamental truth in the world

When the pillar of light swung downward its light became just a little brighter

The two combatants moved quickly Black Nether wrought spear and the cataclysm of light smashed together over and over again Both possessed energy reinforced by the wielders so potent that corrosions visible to even DevickÆs limited capability were soon visible The Nether Spear had to be reinforced with newly refined significance after every impact The Sword of light needed that brief reprieve to cleanse itself before it descended with vicious intentions once more

They are almost entirely equal Devick thought in awe First came a sort of envy wondering when she would be able to rival this sort of overwhelming display At this point Hungry Eye and even the armored fellow moved before simply images their perceptions became worlds which now rammed against one another over and over again Then came pride even as she could only cower behind Hungry Eye because they were bonded in a way that was difficult to describe but impossible to ignore Her skin tingled with the close proximity of danger DevickÆs senses sharpened themselves her Willpower being tempered by the dire situation

Meanwhile Hungry Eye continued to fight tirelessly The radiance from the sword of light was the most eye catching shift in the struggle but his YggdrasilÆs details continued to sharpen The liquid cohesiveness of the swirling spear he unleashed became unnaturally lithe and graceful The storm orbiting his body gathered up more and more momentum feeding additional power into each stroke

You should be able to clearly see the difference between the two of you So why do you continue to cling to him The other Devick tilted her head to the side In the end a connection between the two of you is a figment of your imagination Just let go with those rotten and greedy fingers and face the truth

Devick didnÆt like hearing those words said aloud but she managed to shoot the fake her a dismissive look Now thatÆs certainly not true We have a connection

One where he coddles you The fake Devick shivered as though this prospect was the most unpleasant thing in the world One where you refuse to acknowledge reality you refuse to admit the truth of your existence one where you continue to indulge in the sort of dangerous irresponsible day dreaming that got Toll injured

Now his back is obviously a bit broader The mistakes for which he can compensate are indeed great Fake Devick glanced over toward Hungry Eye Yet still ah well I suppose there is no accounting for a desperate womanÆs shamelessness Even the greatest heroes have limits That is the nature of our world Persisting past this is impossible

Devick felt a stifling feeling in her chest hearing her strange doppelganger say those words More than that she felt worried as Malice hissed in greater and greater alarm this manifestation was not normal A weird weight settled across her limbs Devick found even just lingering there was exhausting The next few clashes blasted past with enough force to ruffle her hair into a haphazard mane Devick bit her lip

What Are you really just going to lie there and die Well at least do it quickly

Somehow it seemed this brazen infuriating manifestation was some product of the opponentÆs image Yet even though Devick wanted to oppose its every word she couldnÆt help but at least feel that the specter had a good point She raised her gaze and looked at Hungry EyeÆs back The world shattering weapons kissed and ground against one another for several long seconds The sky bled and rippled space and time becoming unmoored between the two powerful forces

Each time the sword fell the distance it had been diverted by Hungry EyeÆs strike grew smaller Methodically the armored figure refined the sword of light into a vicious weapon to wield Hungry Eye didnÆt seem perturbed but the combination of his images his Nether and his spear mastery didnÆt seem able to hold off the opponent forever

The World state image spread and spread turning existence against him

Because of the confusion in her heart Devick ignored the doppelganger as best she could She raised her head as high as she dared and cleared her throat Because no matter else what she wasnÆt sure she knew that they were working together She shouldnÆt simply make a unilateral decision Hungry Eye Iù

The words were more difficult to produce than she had thought Devick gulped down a breath ignoring the doppelganger who shook her head in an exaggeratedly disappointed manner Hungry Eye should I retreat If you keep needing to cover for me

No His voice was calm and confident Where you are is right where I need you And when I open up a Path strike at the Patron of Truth would you I donÆt like the way she just keeps staring at me

Chapter 2321

Randidly kept his breathing even as his heartbeat quickened from the familiar thrill of conflict He ignored the shifts happening in the environment as the World State image began to seep beneath his own images and influence the surrounding space He balanced on a precipice as he met the descending judgment from the Monarch of Karma both with kinetic force and his images He carefully plucked the tools he needed and fought against the rare force manifested in the sky in the form of a sword of light

Randidly looked up with a pained expression at the most recent clash His muscles had begun to ache he might regret his bold statement that he feared no slugging matches Not only was the grind of Nether against Aether uncomfortable but he couldnÆt figure out any other way for his images to efficiently become involved It was aggravating but Mae MyrnaÆs concept of deserveÆ and RandidlyÆs Yggdrasil didnÆt have a great matchup against one another

Yes the World Tree towered powerfully in the space around the skyisland Because of its dominance there even as more and more tiny chips of crystalized Aether appeared in the sword of light wielded by the Monarch of Karma Randidly held its own by utilizing the overwhelming Status of his body and his exceedingly dense Nether Yet at the same time while Yggdrasil stretched toward the sky and cast a longer shadow the world state image slid underneath the area of RandidlyÆs influence trying to shift the fabric of existence

Even now Randidly didnÆt have a particularly deep understanding of world state images He had assisted Mae Myrna in creating this monstrosity albeit without thinking too much about the process at the time but mostly he helped create a pattern it could use to propagate But the principles and narcissism required to make use of them remained a mystery So as the Monarch of Karma adjusted the world Randidly did the only thing he could

He advanced although in a very particular fashion

The roots of the World Tree dug even more deeply into existence avoiding the surface layers adjusted by the foe If this world began to change its face Randidly would sink down toward its core to drink pure energy

Congratulations Your Skill the World Tree Sips from Every Realm has grown to Level 1065

Congratulations Your Skill the World Tree Sips from Every Realm has grown to Level 1091

He watched his opponent with sharp eyes waiting for an opening With the partially restarted temporal acceleration in the area Randidly at least was still making progress on his challenge against the impossible But an already daunting task would become pure torture if Randidly didnÆt manage to quell the world state image before the Pinancle event occurred Without a concrete opponentÆs image for his images to attack he could only observe and hone his execution

ItÆs possible that perhaps using either Seize or Intangible Burial will be necessary Randidly calculated as he thrust out his spear But will it truly end with just these two

In response to his most recent attack the Monarch of Karma swung his sword while trying to advance the influence of deservingÆ The two combatants fought like this both deepening the influence of their images both gathering more momentum to their prowess for almost a full minute without any notable changes In a high speed clash like this one a world wrenching crash had exploded out thirty seven times

The surrounding sky still both forced into acceleration by RandidlyÆs strumming and frozen back toward properÆ time by MaeÆs image became thick and calcified Despite that the sheer force of the images on display cracked and sundered the sky in multiple directions so wide chasms of the abyss opened up in the previous milky vistas

Congratulations Your Skill the World Tree Sips from Every Realm has grown to Level 1101

Devick looked at him for a long second He had to turn away focusing all his intent on the foe in front of him His Nether Core roared filled to bursting with significance as currents of Nether flowed outward through his veins All that potential exploded out of his body through his limbs and into Acri A massive spear ripped upward and deflected the Monarch of KarmaÆs attack

When he turned back Devick squinted at him Are you making fun of me Launch an attack on the Patron of Truth IÆd break my fist punching her stomach Even I can see that

Randidly could only chuckle as his attention swiveled back to the blow from the Monarch of Karma This time when he thrust out Acri in response he moved Nether in two directions creating an inner rotation and outer rotation Significance seethed and sparked along the boundary between those energies and conveying an overwhelming aura of Nether Weight to the strike His spear rushed up and impacted the descending blade

For the first time in the last dozen exchanges the power of the MonarchÆs Aether stuttered before RandidlyÆs strike His smile widened and he looked back at Devick He didnÆt linger on the physical but observed the flow of energy through her body Should I tell her No probably the effect would be lessened if she didnÆt take action based on faith

Yggdrasil released waves of roots to dig down through the layers of existence and pull energy but as time went on more and more of those roots began to spiral toward DevickÆs position They formed an interchange of energy right below where she squatted with gossamer thin golden threads stretching out to connect to her body Due to her presence Yggdrasil had a slightly easier time

And Randidly vaguely understood why His Fateset in setting its direction he had purposefully acknowledged that he was one who would open a Path to the impossible but he didnÆt intend to do it alone

His smile widened as he looked at Devick trying to reassure her Normally you are right but Well let me put it this way You seem to be thinking that your shameless request to be here and your ridiculous sense of entitlement are a problem okay also they arenÆt necessarily ideal traits However for meù

Randidly needed to pause and unleash another powerful blow at the Monarch of Karma His power had grown a bit more difficult to deal with as the world state image deepened in the surrounding area With gritted teeth he still managed to again repel the opponentÆs strike and then speak For me the reason you fit so well by my side is exactly because of how unreasonable you are Devick You were right when you said my Path is nonsense earlier But I promise this Path can really take us where we want to go So long as you donÆt let what is possible what you think you deserve hold you back

When it comes to this strike against Mae Myrna it can only be you Devick

Their eyes met for several seconds

Whatever she saw in him Devick smiled She crawled forward like a bug to hunch almost directly against his ankles Okay okay Tch since you asked so nicely IÆll do my best Just promise me one thing

What is it Randidly straightened against gathering more refined Nether inside of his body Considering the effectiveness of the two counter rotations within the energy he had a few ideas of how to improve

If I d die at least once Devick licked her lips t try to wake me up with a kiss Like a princess

Randidly blinked He shook his head but not in rejection Just because sometimes he really couldnÆt follow DevickÆs train of thought Which in its own way was quite exciting

Chapter 2322

RandidlyÆs Nether spun together in complex patterns The energies joined together without any waste His spear blazed with significance as he raised it When he thrust the weapon upward toward the Monarch of Karma he flashed a grin of triumph as the dense energy expanded it also corroded the world state image just slightly

Congratulations Your Skill Yearnings of the Nether Heir has grown to Level 1183

Congratulations Your Skill ErebusÆs Baleful Waltz has grown to Level 1079

The spear blast impacted the descending sword A split second later the impact blasted back to him The skyislandÆs Engravings flickered and RandidlyÆs joints ached His smile stretched so far it seemed painful yet he couldnÆt deny the raw joy he felt in these clashes But now that he had DevickÆs agreement he admitted he couldnÆt just let the Monarch of Karma continue to build up momentum

Every second he wasted was a slight increase in the chance that she wouldnÆt be able to endure the forces at play before she struck

Randidly shifted his grip on Acri He wove four streams of Nether together through the spear preparing to create an even more overwhelming pattern with the thrust The kinetic storm he had gathered roared in approval as it sensed that his intention had finally shifted Randidly spoke over his shoulder After the third strike thatÆs when you will have your chance Beù

Randidly paused He almost said be careful But that couldnÆt capture what he wanted from Devick And he didnÆt want caution to be her dominant emotion He needed the wildness he had seen from her at her height He met her eyes be overwhelming At that moment every eye will be on you

Almost in a trance she nodded Around her body that crimson cloak of Malice glittered with intensity responding to his request with might Devick might be weak at the moment but her image possessed an aspect that Randidly couldnÆt rival the trait of infectiousness In the present she used it associated with her madness and bindings But with the changes that Randidly had caused he believed she would find a new shape for her prodigious talent

Above the burning sword of light began to fall It now possessed a slender crystalline core that hurt to examine for too long Waves of crackling discharge heated the surrounding air to the point that it became plasma leading to the faint existence of a true flame wrapped around this massive hunk of Aether It seemed the Monarch of Karma had come to the same conclusion They now moved decisively to break the other

LetÆs check your resolve you bastard Randidly showed his teeth

Like a billion times before in his life Randidly thrust his spear

What made this thrust different were the layers that went into it layers he had spent his life discovering and mastering and refining and mixing Yggdrasil gifted resiliency the Dread Homunculus imparted raw intensity and the Songstress of Absence crooned a song of annihilation His emotional sea responded to his desires flooding the thrust with all of the searing intensity he had absorbed from the Alpha Cosmos His physical body withstood the rushing destruction of all these forces pouring them into a honed thrust More and more physical force poured through his muscles and joints runoff energy from the kinetic storm he wielded

Acri provided the peerless tip

The bow on top of the attack was the Nether four corkscrewing flows of energy forming the core Two rushed upward two downward Along the friction points of these interlocking flows a monstrously dense significance gleamed

Randidly thrustù

Congratulations Your Skill Yearnings of the Nether Heir has grown to Level 1190

Congratulations Your Skill NyxÆs Successor Births Fate has grown to Level 1080

The world tore His Skyisland flickered again this time from the eruption of oblivion he unleashed An inky black river expanded into a deluge of force and smashed into the sword of light Aether and Nether grappled with one another in the sky Even through the cataclysmic impacts Randidly saw Mae MyrnaÆs eyes widening in shock

You She trembled as she glared down at Randidly Her hands tightened into fists But she had given up control of her image and could only watch

Instead of overwhelming streams of forceful Nether he had wielded previously Randidly drew out nine threads of Nether These were the purest he could manage Nether Weight forged and hammered and flattened and rolled and compacted until they were the gleaming essence of darkness threads that could have been woven into his Cloak of Utter Night and not weakened its defensive abilities

Nine threads spiraled together The core he created was so solid that Randidly completely depleted the storm of kinetic force around him pouring all that potency into the attack A thin spear of oblivion shot upward toward the Monarch of KarmaÆs Sword

Congratulations Your Skill Yearnings of the Nether Heir has grown to Level 1199

Congratulations Your Skill From the Chaotic Sea Abrupt Reverberation has grown to Level 932

Completing the movement Randidly found his surroundings oddly still Not even a breath of wind remained on the skyisland

Shit shit shit Devick hopped up as soon as Randidly thrust before the two attacks met in the sky and landed on AcriÆs shaft She kicked off and began to dash up the stretching attack showing complete faith in RandidlyÆs words despite her swearing

Randidly watched her assent with glittering eyes The roots that Yggdrasil had routed through the image around her body still moved with her His three images drifted up and settled across her body preparing to join with her strike to give it teeth

A grand artist drew a singular black line rising toward the climax

Spear and sword met in the sky The memory tore under the impact A yawning gulf opened and destructive radiation blasted out in every direction

Randidly gritted his teeth and raised a hand 4% of his Nether Core shifted into motion The First Authority Seize

His Nether Core whined under the strain but the Authority activated Randidly grabbed the edges of the tear and slammed them back into place stabilizing the memory If the way he dispersed the dangerous energy ripples was directly toward the Monarch of Karma wellù that was his prerogative The canopy of the World Tree rustled and the energy behaved meekly before him

Congratulations Your Skill the First Tree Suffers Only Fealty has grown to Level 1009

Congratulations Your Skill Gospel within the Seething Torrent has grown to Level 1025

Spear and sword met for the third time part deux as proper reality was strengthened to the point it could host such an impact A low note of strain rumbled down across the skyland buzzing through RandidlyÆs marrow With the additional strain of the universe radiation the crystalized Aether core of the sword snapped

Devick bounded up along the spear thrust The victory of RandidlyÆs attack was so overwhelming that most of the resulting blast shot up into the sky but still she wobbled Her crimson energy flashed but she did not fall And as the Monarch of Karma stumbled backward she bounced off the black shaft and cavorted back and forth through the air

She arrived in front of Mae Myrna clearly hyperventilating

In what world could you have touched me girl Mae gestured The world rose in support of this claim It prepared to smash down the challenger with impunity Devick did not deserve to be able to bridge the gap

RandidlyÆs Fateset stirred RandidlyÆs images followed

A crimson hare condensed around DevickÆs body as she raised a hand to slash Yggdrasil became the hareÆs muscles and veins The Dread Homunculus became her sharpened claws The Songstress of Absence became her Hungry Eyes as Malice looked upon her next meal

None but this one Devick replied As she slashed her infectious crimson energy blend out into the surrounding space

Chapter 2323

A powerful shout pulled RandidlyÆs attention downward even as Devick dazzled as the centerpiece of his three images What he saw there made him blink Fiero the Patron of the Borrowed his body riddled with wounds bounded up off the edge of the skyisland His hands were outstretched desperation clear in his posture His image grasped trying to lock onto Devick as she attacked Mae

Elhume you bastard you even had Fiero borrow your emotions Another piece clicked into place in RandidlyÆs mind Then all those times when the Patron of the Borrowed had those strange monologues

Words that Elhume could never have spoken originally because he had given them away A regret of emotions buried and cast aside This tomb this memory this impossible second chance Randidly eyes narrowed in contempt for several reasons First because FieroÆs wounded form couldnÆt even cover half of the distance from skyisland to where Mae and Devick were No matter who held all the feelings of dissatisfaction nothing could be done about it Second the horrifying impact between spear and sword muddied the energy around their bodies blocking the vulpineÆs image from interfering

Third because Elhume was an even larger coward than he thought

Almost on cue the memory flickered and FieroÆs mouth opened speaking words with no bearing on the current situation Do we truly need to utilize the Hierarchy of Karma against her Is the world she would create truly so vile Why not give her a chance

No one acknowledged the question DevickÆs claw strengthened by RandidlyÆs images slashed out cutting through the suppression of the world state image and sinking into MaeÆs shoulder The woman stumbled back her expression crumbling

Randidly grinned Gotcha

As DevickÆs image penetrated into MaeÆs body the world state image weakened An echo of that attack manifested in the sky as the grey stasis began to corrode The Dread Homunculus wove together all the disparate strands of energy released by the earlier impact YggdrasilÆs roots flowed quickly up from DevickÆs body to sew together the edges of this manifestation The Survivor of the Inhospitable Abyss breathed out pure craving and power to fill it with power

A chimera was born of the three images It ripped down with vicious claws targeting not MaeÆs body but the wound in the world state image DevickÆs act of faith had inserted a little bit of uncertainty into the opposing image and Randidly could grip that flaw and pry everything open

DevickÆs image sank into MaeÆs body The replicating nature of the world state image the same reason it possessed such power meant that the added flaw quickly exploded outward from just the Patron of TruthÆs body and infested the whole of her surroundings All the restrictions the image had impressed on the surroundings began to weaken RandidlyÆs temporal accelerations began to push back the breaks

At the same time Mae pressed her lips together Power gathered in her clenched fists You have no idea what you have done

IÆve been undeniable Devick smirked her cheeks flushed and her eyes triumphant

Before Mae could smash DevickÆs head into paste Yggdrasil shrugged the roots that had buried beneath the fabric of reality to establish itself here The layers left by the world state image flaked and cracked DevickÆs capriciousness added variation to the world state image which led to weakness Mae would be able to purify it with some time and effort but Randidly had no intention of giving that to her now

A root encircled DevickÆs waist and pulled her away from a counterattack Mae took a half step forward and then mastered her fury She reached out and grabbed the Monarch of Karma Randidly opened his mouth and released a booming voice Monarch of Karma Now that the image has been broken what is it you desire

To die He said His voice was painfully clear

Randidly felt a chill honestly he hadnÆt expected such a direct response He looked to Mae Myrna but she met him with a burning gaze that didnÆt back down Is that such a strange desire We as the population of this twisted world isnÆt that what we deserve To be consigned to oblivion

She turned away Randidly felt a sinking feeling in his stomach Have my actions really put her on such a dark path

In ElhumeÆs eyes were nothing but the brush of what he could be The first stirrings of that perfection that captured an entire moment The resonance between Elhume and Fiero grew stronger Metaphorically a door opened Through that threshold Randidly could feel the powerful stirrings of the energy he had sought to reinvigorate his Class and regain the use of his Attribute MuseÆs Reverie

But all that was for later For now Elhume punched and the memory shuddered

They hadnÆt merged yet to form the perfection needed to dominate the moment but ElhumeÆs shape of annihilation had been polished to the point of being blinding A blast of force shot forward beyond the limits of even crystallized Aether That black line that had overwhelmed Mae and her world state image even slightly weakened by the destabilization in the memory was erased by ElhumeÆs punch

Yggdrasil roared in denial Space rumbled as its roots took umbrage with this offense It raised its canopy with the inviolable aura of a god and demanded obedience

Congratulations Your Skill the First Tree Suffers Only Fealty has grown to Level 1020

When that failed the powerful runic symbols across its trunk began to glow All the depth it had achieved by sinking its roots into this area was brought to bear Practically holding hands the light of Dawn and Dusk cleaved downward and cut into the attack With the combined effort of all those energies a small portion of ElhumeÆs punch was chipped away

Congratulations Your Skill Dawn Opens the Sky and Reality Stirs has grown to Level 1009

Congratulations Your Skill Dusk Withers the Horizon and the Waiting Carrion Grins has grown to Level 1008

Congratulations Your Skill Dusk Withers the Horizon and the Waiting Carrion Grins has grown to Level 1025

RandidlyÆs expression sunk With very little other choices Yggdrasil ripped all its carefully established roots out of the environment and wrapped them around the forceful blast It acted as a dragnet slowing down the attack any way it could

Congratulations Your Skill Marred Yet Reliable Foundation of Yggdrasil has grown to Level 1053

As they burned and disintegrated before that overwhelming punch the roots bled off energy and fed it back to Randidly His emerald eyes burned as his massive Yggdrasil image bought him time to gather his momentum

Congratulations Your Skill Aureate Arteries of Yggdrasil has grown to Level 1011

Congratulations Your Skill The World Tree Sips from Every Realm has grown to Level 1111

Congratulations Your Skill Marred Yet Reliable Foundation of Yggdrasil has grown to Level 1070

Congratulations Your Skill Aureate Arteries of Yggdrasil has grown to Level 1033

Chapter 2324

Above RandidlyÆs head Yggdrasil burned Leaves fell down as smoldering bits of wreckage lending an apocalyptic backdrop to his struggle

Even delaying the near perfect image of annihilation that Elhume now wielded meant YggdrasilÆs veins ruptured with white fire All the dangerous force he needed to wield in resistance crashed into RandidlyÆs body but he ignored the mounting damage His muscles writhed and agony seemed to course through him as much as blood did He tightened his grip on Acri He stared fixedly ahead at the giant pale fist of annihilation He prepared to thrust

He observed the flow of significance He felt the strain on the memory and did some mental calculations

Six seconds maybe seven seconds As long as I hold out that long Randidly could feel the growing note of resonance between Fiero and Elhume as they neared their dual Pinnacle moment Beneath his feet the skyisland cracked and its Engravings began to fail The Pinnacle event will occur and all the energy I need will be released

In the meantimeù letÆs tear the understanding of possible to shreds

Randidly faced the punch of Elhume With YggdrasilÆs image intensity essentially spent the Songstress of Absence stepped forward with her arms wide She was two beings the finned mermaid creature but she was also an event horizon And in the face of this attack her body disappeared and an eye of absence opened The energy around her turned milky with electromagnetic discharge shattered light radiation the chilling hand of entropy physical collapse and spatial daggers radiating out from her form She was a true rip in the universe rumbling forward to gobble up ElhumeÆs punch

They smashed against one another and devoured Their hues might be different but their power was similar And to RandidlyÆs horror the fist resisted the hunger of the void and shoved its way forward in a raw battle of momentum

Congratulations Your Skill Hungry Eyes Hollow Heart Cadence of Tragedy has grown to Level 1043

Congratulations Your Skill Absolute Insight of the Smoldering Abyss has grown to Level 1039

Congratulations Your Skill Hungry Eyes Hollow Heart Cadence of Tragedy has grown to Level 1062

Randidly narrowed his eyes as his second image was pushed back by this single display of power A second ticked by while the Songstress struggled but that was it The edge of the event horizon shattered underneath the knuckles of the opposition The Hungry Eye began to shrink The burden of a hole in the universe was steamrolled by ElhumeÆs punch without even any apparent effort

Behind Randidly Devick peered over his shoulder She loosed a low whistle is that really the guy you were smacking around earlier

Yes unfortunately Randidly clicked his tongue He had split his images up into three waves in order to buy more time but now he regretted not meeting the attack with the whole of his capabilities Well part of that was that he had already unleashed his thrust before he had understood just how close to the Pinnacle Elhume had come

Either way it was too late for regrets for nowù Randidly paused as he was about to mobilize his Dread Homunculus image because two sudden specters appeared around the vanishing event horizon The two ugly ghosts that he had obtained on the Mountain flared to life They swelled to a massive size ignoring the dangerous energy discharge and spreading their arms wide They looked like crooked featured versions of Boo

Randidly Ghosthound Nether King Hungry Eye toiling in a memory in order to understand and prepare for the present slashed

Congratulations Your Skill the Wrathful Calamity Rends has grown to Level 1005

Congratulations Your Skill (Domain) HelenÆs Sea Cradle of Unlikely Lives has grown to Level 1163

Congratulations The aspects and authorities gathered together with your Domain Skill have merged together to form a singular attack Congratulations you have activated Ghosthound Shreds the Shroud of Erebus to Bare Chaos Due to power Skill Level manifests at 2000

Congratulations You have broken the previously held record for Skill Levels Congratulations due to your actions you have been rewarded with the Miracle Maker 0/10000 Path Calculating additional rewards

You are the first in the history of the Nexus to have pushed a Skill to Level 2000 A Mille Deux has been achieved for the first time With each step you have moved closer to the Pinnacle Echoes from this event will rebound throughout the Nexus What an Incredible Accomplishment

While shocking notifications flashed in front of RandidlyÆs eyes his left hand moved through space and left wreckage in its wake His hand crashed against ElhumeÆs fist There was a moment of struggle An image met against the combined force of HelenÆs legacy But despite the ambiguous nature of Skill Levels the outcome was decisive

Randidly overwhelmed ElhumeÆs punch Annihilation shuddered and collapsed

All the force thrown out by a being on the cusp of the Pinnacle vanished The air crackled hollow and dangerously close to an implosion The strain Randidly felt from supporting the memory with his body increased Yet he had made it to the time limit

A single second to go He raised his glittering eyes and grinned at the blank face of Elhume At least I can say this for your current selfù you handle your losses a lot better than you have in the past

Yet that moment became two Fiero finally flew up and arrived at Mae MyrnaÆs side She looked at him with bitter eyes her gaze cutting from the Vulpine to Elhume With a shake of her head she turned and flew away taking the Monarch of Karma to rest on a nearby ridge From her reaction she also was aware of what Fiero and Elhume had done

But whatÆs this Randidly frowned He felt several fluttering pulses that he couldnÆt really understand from ElhumeÆs image The second passed and then another arrived yet the Pinnacle event didnÆt begin It lingered on the cusp The doors had been thrown wide but nothing crossed the threshold And while it waited in the wings of the present his body continued to deteriorate Underneath the additional strain of this burden the wounds he had gained blocking ElhumeÆs strike couldnÆt heal

For the first time in years his reformed body began to break down

ItÆs not enough for the image to be ready RandidlyÆs eyes widened in recognition As Don Beigon said you need three elements A shape a foundation and a moment Right now my presence here my images prevent them from possessing a moment His expression sank further Do I really need to just completely pull back my images and allow it to happen But then

What will Elhume do with his power once he reaches the Pinnacle

Chapter 2325

Randidly could feel the mandate of possibility looming over this particular inflection point but this was not yet his limit Gritting his teeth he allowed his racing mind to rip through all the possibilities available to him Suddenly he felt torn If Elhume were allowed to reach the Pinnacle there would be consequences But maybe as long as he could figure out a way to disguise his images

Elhume punched for the second time once more unleashing a blast of force that could drill down to the core of the Nexus and leave this place an annihilated husk His expression was solemn as he watched that roaring pyre of annihilation manifest All three of RandidlyÆs images were mostly exhausted from the previous conflict SulfurÆs spikes had grown dim there would be no more massive strike from HelenÆs Domain The physical strain continued to tighten around his body

To put it simply the situation seemed hopeless

It always ends up like this doesnÆt it Randidly muttered

Still crouching behind him Devick snorted You spent a minute lecturing me earlier about how great it is to be unreasonable DonÆt go soft on me now Hungry Eye Become the monster youÆve always been and devour all the benefits for yourself

Heh Not all of the benefits Randidly sniffed He settled down into a crouch His heartbeat quickened For the second blow he didnÆt intend to meet it directly But he called on his exhausted images building a defensive combination

With hopefully a bonus result at the end

At first Randidly still felt worried looking at that blast of pure annihilation Elhume unleashed but it passed through the area that had been affected by HelenÆs Domain Skill and abruptly slowed Randidly could only shake his head in wonder not only had that Level 2000 Skill completely demolished the power of the opposition but it had left in its wake an intractable sort of Aether that slowed even ElhumeÆs near Pinnacle punch It was a slight weakening but Randidly believed it to be enough

Before he could decide what to do about an Elhume at the Pinnacle he needed to make it through this next attack

Absolute Insight of the Smoldering Abyss Aureate Arteries of Yggdrasil Cloak of Utter Night

Congratulations Your Skill Absolute Insight of the Smoldering Abyss has grown to Level 1042

Congratulations Your Skill Cloak of Utter Night has grown to Level 1093

A vast curtain of darkness settled across RandidlyÆs body He looked out from within the defensive barrier with the vicious survival instincts the Songstress of Absence had used to claw her way out of the Abyss Thick veins donated by Yggdrasil created a framework of energy transference that stabilized around his body

Even though Randidly could not move he stood tall and endured

Congratulations Your Skill Cloak of Utter Night has grown to Level 1095

Congratulations Your Skill Aureate Arteries of Yggdrasil has grown to Level 1046

The waves of force slammed against the Cloak of Utter Night but it was a Skill borrowed from one of the statues in that strange sea Randidly had discovered It could not be easily penetrated not by this force just beneath the preeminence of the Pinnacle And as each wave crashed against RandidlyÆs defensive line he made minute adjustments to the flow of energy He borrowed lessons from Yystrix to shape Aether to make other Aether miss it The rebounding waves of force began to resemble other shapes

In particular Aether Engravings designed to hide from Elhume

A muscle in RandidlyÆs leg twitched He worked his jaw slowly If I push myself now if I utilize Aether and Nether to the fullest I still have a bit more left I could test the limits of my GhosthoundÆs Deviation Rarity Perhaps perhaps if I perfectly unify three images I can rival the Pinnacle

Perhaps Neveah said

He rubbed his thumb against the reassuring presence of Acri in his hands but you think that is not a good choice

I do not think it is the best one Neveah answered We can define Ghasthund now and move on Because do you want to be unconscious for the next several hours after you manage to tear these benefits away The memory will collapse soon so we need to move quickly Both to settle matters with the Nether Arbiter and to prepare for what waits outside

Randidly held so much tension in his body he shook with it It was hard harder than most decisions he had faced Because previously he had only needed to push himself forward Difficult as taking that path might be it was at least simple And now he needed to let go He needed to trust Neveah and Lucretia

He needed to trust that the alchemy he could create with help would be superior to what he did on his own

When framed like that it was actually quite an easy decision But it required Randidly Ghosthound to set aside his pride No matter how powerful he had become letting go of control did not magically become easy

After a hesitation Devick reached up and put her hand on RandidlyÆs shoulder Hungry Eye you are bleeding For now isnÆt this enough So long as we survive we can always come back and get them next time

youÆre right Randidly relaxed These people had trusted him for so long it was time to reciprocate that faith He released a breath and ceased keeping the skyisland beneath his feet together The last sputtering of his Engravings vanished Almost immediately they began to hurtle toward the ground There is always next time

Elhume watched their fall with glowing eyes He raised his arm At the moment he punched the resonance would reach a crescendo The Pinnacle would expand and dominate the entire moment across the Nexus

All steps lead toward your Ghasthund Randidly grunted He felt the world around him shiver almost in pleasure as this long awaited definition occurred But he had one last job before he could completely let go As he pulled away from supporting the memory it began to tear underneath the strain but it also freed up his Nether

His Nether Core whirled The Third Authority Intangible Burial

Normally affecting a rising Pinnacle event like this would be impossible But this was an event built between two Randidly targeted not them but their resonance His significance exploded outward and smothered the resonance Very abruptly the light of the Pinnacle died

Randidly fell downward in darkness wind whistling past him In that darkness the notifications began to arrive

Congratulations You have defined your special term Ghasthund

Examining usage

Ghasthund The doom of your own making The hell you have earned

Incredible accomplishment You have achieved twenty five Milles before defining your term A Hierarchy of Ghasthund has condensed within the Nexus

Unsurpassed accomplishment You have achieved thirty two Milles and one Mille Deux before defining your term Your Sixth Fatepiece has reacted to the extra power Congratulations You have obtained your Sixth Fatepiece Keystone of the First Ghasthund Lvl 1

Keystone of the First Ghasthund A relic of immense power created due to the diabolical efforts of Randidly Ghosthound within his birth universe Such was his dedication that even the Sea of Statues quivered as he brought his term into being The Keystone of the First Ghasthund is a sadistic implement Can be used to forgiveÆ an antagonistic being allowing both you and your opponent to travel slightly back in time All non experiential aspects of user and the forgiven will be reset to their previous values Length of time possible to be forgiven increases with Skill Level Number of forgiven individuals increases with Skill Level Unreasonability of the forgiveness increases with Skill Level Activate the Fatepiece with the consent of a foe to increase Skill Level

Allow them to drown in their own regrets For them a slow descent into their Ghasthund is inevitable

Chapter 2326

The Keystone of the First Ghasthund looked like a misty sphere in RandidlyÆs hand A grand collapse occurred as all that force building up around Elhume was prematurely activated A shockwave ripped toward cracking open the skyisland and shooting the participants in every direction Randidly barely had time to reach out and send Devick into the Alpha Cosmos before he was knocked away

He fell through the sky with the wreckage of his skyisland around him just gripping his Sixth Fatepiece He smiled This is the beginning isnÆt it Because after this

His march toward the final confrontation felt like it had begun to gather momentum Evolution of his Class Refinement of his Nether Creation of a Penance and Fate Marshaling all the forces at his disposal to meet Elhume directly Overthrow the leader of the Nexus

Win Create a universe where the weak arenÆt used as fertilizer

For now the Keystone of the First Ghasthund sat at Level 1 But it hinted at a future

Randidly crashed into the ground almost losing his grip on his Fatepiece Bits of cracked stone impacted his body as several large boulders crashed into the ground around him and burst Gradually the dust and debris faded leaving Randidly staring up into the sky The milky patterns of manipulated time began to fray and fall apart A massive grey dome had spread across the area that Randidly had concentrated on but now the barrier tore open revealing a vast night sky Countless stars twinkled through the widening gap

Randidly breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth WhatÆs next

You need to give up the extra benefit you earned for the Mille Deux but it only really manifested within the memory so itÆs not much of a sacrifice Neveah answered Others have greater Skill Level achievement in the wider Nexus As for the rest of it heh Obviously we are going to try and strike as vicious a blow we can manage now that youÆve defined Ghasthund

RandidlyÆs lips quirked up The sky above was beautiful but he felt an emotion swinging between bemusement and annoyance I can tell how smug you are Alright whatÆs your trick Neveah

Let me ask you this Randidly Ghosthound Neveah chuckled WhatÆs the easiest way to escape a Dungeon

Lowanna had been surprised when the Nether forces crumbled so quickly underneath the concerted onslaught from Aether She watched the crush of bodies her wrists aching from the heavy bindings of black wicker around them Some warriors from Homewell were involved in the blitzkrieg offense but the Nether Arbiter had stood in the core of their camp and seen the wicked shadows that slew her people Fury bubbled in her chest but she bided her time waiting for Cult of the SaviorÆs Scythe to carve a path toward its own doom

The last line of defense had been several of DeganawidahÆs powerful Nether Warriors all elites that had severed the Thrice Drowned for at least a century Their weapons gleamed with polished significance Yet even they quickly fell before the concentrated strikes

They could not speak so she could only ask questions with her eyes He avoided her gaze but his massive fingers brushed her manacles as though measuring their heft When he lifted his gaze to meet hers Deganawidah seemed strangely happy His lips moved and his significance surged just briefly knocking the Vigil askew

Lowanna read his lips as he carefully intoned a phrase Thrice Drowned Once Martyred

DeganawidahÆs hands twisted He snapped her black wicker manacles in a sudden burst of violence The shattered bits crumbled and fell to the ground More importantly Lowanna felt the shift in her Nether Core a much more relevant change compared to the manacles The breaking of the manacles had now actual meaning but simultaneously all the Phaea she had been given flaked and faded away

Be burdened no longer Deganawidah stepped to the side with that ambiguous phrase LowannaÆs body boiled barely able to comprehend the situation One fact became obvious she no longer received energy flowing into her body due to Phaea but all the energy she had accumulated remained under her control Somehow she could sense her people hadnÆt been harmed by the process She took a step forward and the ground shook

She felt free

She felt powerful

The Nether Arbiter pointed and the Scythe erupted from EnmyaÆs body Mid silent shout Enmya deactivated his Vigil and the ScytheÆs keening wail could be heard But even louder was the follow up laughter from the Prophet

That smug bastard with two mouths for eyes and a bulging eyeball for a mouth spread his arms wide So finally you couldnÆt take it any longer eh How does it feel to reap the lives of your people and for it to feel so easy They are all fuel on your pyre Nether Arbiter Embrace it It will make this process much much easier

LowannaÆs finger twitched A massive blast of significance curled in from the side and knocked aside the pesky Turtline forces out of the way Nether Warriors surged around surrounding the two Cult of the Savior representatives There was a slight change in the ProphetÆs expression but he didnÆt back down No probably to him the fact she acted was definitely a positive sign You know I had imagined we would need to torture you Heh maybe just to satiate the Scythe a bit but also to warp your perspective Then the real trick would be bringing a few of your Nether subordinates and killing them extremely slowly in front of you But ha None of that ended up being necessary You all on your own

Lowanna thrust her hands forward At first she had believed that Hungry EyeÆs interference had simply moved when this confrontation happened but now she understood it was more than that It also meant Deganawidah was present during this moment of tension He could take his martyring action proactively rather than reacting to her suddenly drawing on her people’s debt

So she knew exactly what she needed to do

For a second the Prophet seemed confused Then he looked down at the hole in his chest ripped open by a powerful explosion of significance The small eye mouths opened and closed You what Really Without a hint of remorse

I do not act casually Lowanna hissed Then she raised her hands the conductor finally freed from her constraints Once I have made a decision I do not waste time regretting it

Chapter 2327

Lowanna felt a thrill run through her stomach as her Nether splashed playfully within her body The ripples did not tug on the strings of life any longer The interactions and currents of energy she hosted were beautiful She hated the Prophet for his words but it wasnÆt wrong that after so long wielding her Nether was immensely pleasurable

She wanted to open her arms and unleash lovely black winds into the sky She wanted the world to witness the depth and character of her people She wanted to remind them how irreplaceable each life was

But for now she had more practical concerns

With a twist of the wrist she withdrew the significance that had punched a hole in the ProphetÆs ribcage because the Phaea feeding her energy had vanished she wanted to conserve as much Nether as possible The wounded Prophet took several small steps backward still too stunned to understand his situation Lowanna raised her hand and chopped A blade of Nether descended from the sky to finish the job

A wave of light spread out from the Prophet to defend against her attack With a twist she adjusted the angle of her blade of Nether and cracked open the shield But with that small delay the Prophet leaped backward He pressed a hand to his stomach trying to keep his blood from pumping out onto the dirt His one single eye reddened as he examined Lowanna What has changed Another flaw in the foretold path Is it that damnable Hungry Eye isnÆt it He has perverted existence Look at this unholy sky that he has painted over existence At the same time the lie of this place has been laid bare No definitely my hypothesis is correct

Finish him before any more of his image can manifest A flower of inky death blossomed around Lowanna Curls of significance softened the air around her like petals of dusk She almost didnÆt know how to utilize all the Nether that seethed through her body Had it not been for her little spars with Hungry Eye she might have been frozen by the scope of the energy she could contain As it was she simply did one of the actions she had in their duels and added some extra oomph to each motion

She struck with simple patterns and the depths of significance she possessed made it overwhelming

New ideas for patterns of attack came for her but she could sharpen her control later Now she gathered all the significance she could contain and hammered down at the Prophet

However again her unfamiliarity with her power provided time for the Prophet to take a breath By the time LowannaÆs follow up ripped toward him he raised a blood covered arm Strange symbols burned their way into his skin In a split second a new wave of light burst out from his body even more intense than the previous effort His image forced back all other energies in the area Lowanna frowned and smashed it three times very quickly with Nether but that persistent light barely managed to endure

A crazed look had seized the Prophet If this is a false universe if the Prophecy had been subverted so long as I draw the gaze of the great El Kedec to the site of the transgression Profane though this action may be there is no other way to eradicate the deviation And this timeline as well will fall under the lightÆs grace

The eye quivered and shifted to Lowanna The skin of his arm began to shred and bubble unable to withstand the energies he producedù Lowanna couldnÆt even believe the power she felt It rivaled the energies clashing above where Hungry Eye continued his strange ritual Underneath the overwhelming power of my god even you are minuscule Whatever resistance you might mount will be annihilated Prepare to cease

LowannaÆs significance began to churn and flow along new pathways She didnÆt waste time while this idiot ranted She saw larger patterns more overwhelming forces still while keeping her efficiency high Little tendrils of light wiggled out from the ProphetÆs arm as his beacon began to gather momentum Powerful though it may be Lowanna believed she could snuff it out before the light became too bright

Huh The Prophet for the second time seemed completely stunned by a development His eye quivered as it looked at his severed wrist The light of the beacon died The energy dissipated His hand plopped onto the ground

What have you done The Prophet shouted Honestly Lowanna empathized She had a hard time understanding why the allies would turn against each other

The Scythe that creature of shadow shook his head sadly at the disturbed cry Tch did we not discuss the dangers of blaspheming Prophet I had thought you had quelled your doubts Yet now I see that you consider the Prophecy to be but a guideline Your vanity has inflated you to the point you would transgress even the wisdom of the highest power As such I had a duty to silence you before your unworthy self drew the attention of El Kedec

Can you not see how blind The Scythe swung its brutal weapon again and the Prophet jerked his head backward in order to avoid being decapitated You spineless cretin After serving together for so long you would truly just kill me without even listening to my words

We are not perfect Both of us have failed in various ways But we survive So long as we grow the past transgressions can be forgiven And for now we should not discuss it further Because enemies remain

The Prophet had managed to gather another strange brand of light on his body Lowanna raised her hand to thrust a spike of pure Nether through the ProphetÆs head but then another heavy blow fell from above The world shook A new sort of annihilation reared its head so powerful that it seemed that it could tear through existence by simply being Thankfully Hungry Eye moved for the third time extinguishing the seed of destruction before it could grow

Yet this victory came with fallout a different sort of fallout the even pendulum of the forces was obliterated The floating island exploded sending bits of molten debris in every direction The weakened barrier collapsed entirely huge temporal distortions ripping up the ground The powerful energies that Hungry Eye wielded began to fade Remnant pieces of his architecture cracked and fell down crashing into the ground

This particular clash might have been much weaker than the previous ones but no longer did the consequences mostly stay up above

Powerful Nether Warriors barked out orders and the army began to form up pushing back the sortie from Homewell Aftershock blasts rattled the ground and threw up huge clouds of dust Through all that Lowanna attempted to follow the Prophet but

Worry not Nether Arbiter I would not allow this one to run free

Lowanna pivoted and saw Neveah her eyes transformed into a murderous reptilianÆs with vertical pupils Her right hand squeezed the back of the ProphetÆs neck as he squirmed and his lifeblood continued to pump out of his body In addition a dense halo of Engravings floated around his unsevered arm where a new burning brand of light had started to develop

Arbiter no longer Deganawidah took that weight from me Lowanna replied She pressed her lips together as she observed Neveah She could feel the monstrous dragon residing within the woman as well as the sweaty fear of the Prophet that she turned against him and bound him Based on your grip you intend to keep the Prophet alive Why

We will discuss the details later but it relates to what we have discussed before The world you know is a reflection of a deeper world which Hungry Eye and I are from And this strange brand well enemies will be waiting for us when we return to our version of the Nexus This can probably threaten even them

Allowing this snake to exist is a constant danger Enmya interjected

NeveahÆs smile seemed apologetic You are correct And considering how fraught the next ten minutes is likely to be it is possible he will escape So if you insist if you want justice for what was done to Wyndaos I will turn him over to you to be handled as you see fit

Lowanna closed her eyes The past few months had been so chaotic it was entirely possible to consciously ignore her time in Wyndaos That foreknowledge of the Cult of the SaviorÆs attack that had weighed against her heart for years How every warm smile from an aspiring Nether Warrior had sunk a needle into her heart until she felt numbed and hollow How she had sent as many as she could away but still walked away from her people

On the one hand she wanted vengeance She would feel catharsis to have the Prophet die by her hand On the other

Perhaps I donÆt yet deserve it Lowanna sighed She waved a hand and Neveah bowed When the other woman remained still dragging the feeble Prophet Lowanna raised an eyebrow Ah of course We approach the end of this reflectionÆ yes

Indeed We need to secure one more piece but it is now time for you to discuss the hopes you have for the Nether People with Hungry Eye

Lowanna smirked and put a hand on her hip Just the Nether People

No To create a miracle Lowanna Hungry Eye would like to borrow that power you now freely wield

Chapter 2328

Ten years had passed since the Patron of FeathersÆ father had completed his grand weapon and she had emerged from the Dungeon on the cusp of death It had been a triumphant affair for all her suffering However when they had moved South to reinforce Homewell WestrisserÆs forces found an immense barrier bisecting the Aetherlands

All attacks harmlessly sank into the wall Some scouts were sent through but none returned

At first the remnant Aether armies had feared that this was some grand new Nether ploy but the Nether forces on this side seemed even more confused than the armies of Malloon Most of the data WestrisserÆs people gathered on the barrier was from the crazed intensity that the Nether had assaulted it to no avail Both set up camps on nearby hills waiting for the purpose of this event to become known Aether and Nether existed in an uneasy peace broken by infrequent skirmishes between the two sides to expel the tension Eventually they settled into a new normal with a huge chunk of the known lands vanished But both sides posted forces nearby watching the barrier

And ten years later word came The barrier had begun to crumble

The Patron of Feathers stood on the highest Skyisland in MalloonÆs airspace looking at the small detachment of forces hurrying South The technology might have originated from Nether King Hungry Eye but for the crowded city of Malloon it seemed only natural that they had engineered their own knockoff versions And Faelmac Westrisser would always take the highest throne for himself

She a minor character in her fatherÆs life was allowed begrudging squatterÆs rights

The Patron of Feathers found it strange at first that her father didnÆt react with more vigor to the news but the more she thought about it the more she understood his tepid response First the success of WestrisserÆs great weapon only invigorated his lust for research Especially when the weapon could not be utilized The fact that it wasnÆt possible to test was a taboo subject at the few strained Westrisser family dinners instead of facing this issue he redoubled his efforts to duplicate the process although it just led to a dozen of his subordinates going insane during the long isolation

Also Faelmac Westrisser was cautious Without knowing what lurked beyond the barrier he would not commit a significant force to its location The war between Aether and Nether was far from the minds of the people with the main leaderships of both sides having vanished But if the barrier came down and the leaders returned

The Patron of Feathers blinked slowly In the end it was difficult to care about her foolish father Because she had begun to drift It was difficult to articulate the constant pressure she felt while moving through daily life As though her thoughts were liquid and a certain amount drained away each moment So if she wasnÆt careful she might slip reflexively back into memories without even noticing

Sometimes the Patron of Feathers couldnÆt tell if she was in the past or present She might have survived the process of creating the unused weapon but she did not escape deep scars across her psyche

Like now she blinked several timesù Nether King Hungry Eye stood next to her admiring the view

You The Patron of Feathers said cautiously She racked her mind different images sloshing around But she couldnÆt seem to recall a time in the past when she had stood like this with the Nether King

A Nether King who should be locked behind the barrier Yet now she supposed it had collapsed truly After ten years of being paused the world began to spin once again

Patron of Feathers I have several matters to discuss with you Nether King Hungry Eye said His aura seemed different from when she had last seen him so different the gap was apparent after ten years More vast More exhausted Yet his irises shined with an intense emerald radiance that was difficult to ignore I believe I have some answers as to your current suffering However perhaps that should wait until later If we do not act soon this world will collapse For now I need your help

What do you need The Patron of the Feathers felt serene If anything the prospect of the world ending almost felt like a relief At least then the strangeness would cease But also that light in his eyes stirred something in her

Lowanna nodded All that beauty comes not from the images and Nether that have been scattered up there but from the useless sludge generated when Aether and Nether are forced together Yet my heart is a simple one I see it and think beautifulÆ For that at least I am thankful

They sat there and stared up at the brilliant failure until Nether King Hungry Eye finally returned

Enmya stood as they approached he recognized quite a few of the people Hungry Eye appeared with including Hungry EyeÆs strange companion Neveah and some of his followers including the gunslinger who had joined the conflict on the side of the Nether forces Yet one figure in particular made his skin crawl His fingers tightened into fists and his chest heaved with fury Why is he here

Faelmac Westrisser his alabaster feathers glittering snorted and looked up to the sky without responding to him Nether King Hungry Eye nodded slowly More than anyone else Faelmac Westrisser set aside his morals during the lead up to this war I understand your anger I empathize

Yet you work with him Nether King Hungry Eye Lowanna stood Her voice contained less heat than EnmyaÆs but Enmya could tell by the set of her shoulders that she was just as mad Enmya felt a strange thrill of triumph this false Nether King had likely harmed his chances of any joint attempt You come here hoping for my power aiming for cooperation between our peoples Yet if that plan requires us to cooperate with Westrisser I do not believe our goals are aligned

Hungry Eye rather than seeming defensive scratched his cheek let me clarify I have taken away the temporal weapon of Faelmac Westrisser when he refused to be reasonable Ever since he has followed me and pestered me Even I have difficulty understanding how he has kept up with my movements Whatever business you have with him feel free to engage in it He is a nuisance

Everyone turned to Westrisser The Feathered Serpent crossed his arms Tch you bastard I simply wished for time to review the offer you had made before I accepted

We did not have time for negotiating tactics Hungry Eye said I believe I made that quite clear

Still the responsibilities of a city ruler mean that I need to consult the Council

When have you ever cared about your subordinates Hungry Eye snorted Even your own daughter you treat like a resource to be spent for your own gain

How dare you WestrisserÆs eyes widened

Enmya gazed between them trying to decide how to respond to this news But next to him Lowanna just chuckled Well I suppose that is acceptable I am willing to stay justice for now so we can try Westrisser in an appropriate forum Now I suppose we need to make our deal donÆt we In the spirit of time let me be blunt There are only three conditions for me to assist in this crazed plan of yours

First you must promise you will do your utmost to ensure my people will live free of tyranny and oppression Second the offer to join your other world it must be an offer If my people do not wish to leave this place doomed reflection it may be they must have the right to linger here for as long as it lasts

And finally the old balance of the Nether people must be restored Phaea Toosah and Maala Lowanna said each bond label with love Her yearning for the stability of the old Nether people was clear in her tone We have discussed the general shape before you will have Maala with your followers Another individual will give Phaea to all people And the two of you will have Toosah between you signaling equality The universal ruler and servant made even I wish to add one more small detail Your equal must be him

Eh Enmya blinked as LowannaÆs finger pointed toward his chest

Chapter 2329

Devick felt her pulse thundering in her wrists her neck her chest She sat on the broken stone and listened as carefully as she could to Hungry EyeÆs words He spoke with a hypnotizing focus his gaze toward the horizon as he reflected on his life In his own particular way he tried to encourage her

The trick is finding the right sort of opportunity When you have fewer resources itÆs mostly a matter of luck You need an opportunity involving a series of very specific requirements that you fit ThatÆs the key Each individually doesnÆt need to lead only to you but in aggregate Suddenly there is a hole in existence that only you can fill You open up the possibilities of the future by finding such passages You slip through the cracks of circumstance over and over again scratching through the tight walls and dangerous threats Because the truth is power in small amounts might even cause you to get too caught up in the moment to notice in the opportunity You misjudge the opening relative to your power You clip your edges forcing your way through So rather than finding the spaces you are too big for you begin to gravitate to those that you need to stretch a bit in order to complete

Not just once but twice three times you know what the System sometimes says the Path goes ever onward That is how I grew to reach this point By learning to contort By sharpening my senses and understanding the environment By leaping through cracks that would at least give me the possibility of survival After surviving for so long well you get a sense for these things For the conflux of possibilities for how small details can accumulate and cause big changes Those tumbling details you see what they could mean even before the dust has settled

You mean you got a sense for this Devick said slowly

Hungry Eye rolled his eyes and nodded We all have our particular areas of specialty Mine well I have a few

She appreciated that he took the time to break the tension Although chaotic energies massed in the sky although the armies of both Aether and Nether were growing restless around them although some strange being appeared to be massing a dangerous image beyond the edge of the sky he sat close to her and looked at her He didnÆt rush past her worries He didnÆt look at the other group gathered around waiting impatiently for their stages of the mad plan

Devick knew part of the consideration was because of how much had come to pivot on her due to circumstance But she appreciated his time all the same

A bit embarassing but isnÆt it sorta hot to have all his attention while everyone else watches

And you are saying this is my chance to grow strong Devick whispered trying to keep her mind focused Malice flicked her ears still almost disbelieving of the request Hungry Eye had made of her Rather than respond Hungry Eye offered her a small dagger shaped object on his palm DevickÆs senses turned fuzzy when she looked at it for too long so she simply looked at his emerald eyes

I want that You know how badly I want to catch up to you But this Devick couldnÆt believe herself the situation had become so ridiculous that she had become the voice of reason In her imagination she had always been a corrupting influence on him not the other way around IsnÆt this a bit large of an opportunity Based on your method shouldnÆt I have started with a more reasonable chance

What have you been doing for the past several hours other than barely surviving and growing Hungry Eye clicked his tongue in mock disappointment This is the chance in front of you Devick All you need to do is say yes I canÆt quite predict what benefits you will earn but it will be a lot And it has to be you

She considered but only for a few moments

Laughing Devick took the time dagger from Nether King Hungry Eye She no longer suppressed the true source of her wild pulse Joy surged through her body At the prospect of wielding power enough to end the world her main thought was glee Her eyes blazed Malice shivered in anticipation

The alabaster feathered Faelmac Westrisser moved to her side staring fixedly on the dagger in her hand Distant storm clouds rumbled but directly above the position of the group there was no cloud cover They could see straight up to the edges of this dream Now that she had agreed they were all working together for the common goal

Or perhaps even warnings about the reaction to come

Hungry EyeÆs companion Neveah stepped next to Devick She smiled at Devick warm and reassuring The preparations will soon be complete The truth is we are trying to do two things at once There is your task but we also want to imbue your action with some extra meaning you will be mirroring the path to reaching the Pinnacle

What Devick frowned That seems a bit

ItÆs just the shape Neveah waved her hands Lowanna and Hungry Eye moved a bit further away He smiled at Devick once over his shoulder then sat down on the ground Lowanna began tracing a Nether Ritual onto the ground around him For your part just strike the blow We will be handling the rest I just wanted to give you a bit of context so our actions make sense

To reach the Pinnacle you need three elements A foundation an image and a moment The foundation well thatÆs why you were chosen Hopefully your existence will be enough As you were born and lived in the memory there should be a response from above Plus your compatibility with RandidlyÆs Nether will make the rest easier

The image can just be your own so donÆt think too deeply about this Although be aware that whatever image you use will likely be marked In a manner even we arenÆt familiar with And finally Randidly will be serving you up a moment to round out the last of the requirements So like I said all you need to act as we discussed Use that dagger to carve open your own future NeveahÆs eyes were bright but the color was slightly darker than Hungry EyeÆs She maintained the same intensity in her gaze Do you have any questions

Dozens Devick admitted

Neveah chuckled She laughed like Hungry Eye too the corner of the mouth quirking up in amusement before the rest of the smile arrived on her face Their joy made DevickÆs heart squeeze Any important ones

Devick shrugged unsure where to begin Adrenaline still pumped through her The growing discomfort of gripping the dagger helped ground her somewhat but so many currents were moving at once around her Neveah had already taken the answer as acceptance and turned to a nearby individual Hank

IÆll keep her safe The man tipped his hat and crouched down next to Devick He pulled out a strange little workbench and began to tinker with a small hunk of metal

Westrisser cleared his throat and stepped forward I as well will ensure her safety

Your cooperation is appreciated Neveah nodded Then she too hurried away to join the area around Hungry Eye She quickly fell into step with Lowanna and assisted in the creation of patterns around his seated form They traced patterns out so quickly Devick could watch the arrangement around Hungry Eye grow and breathe As the two women worked flows of Nether visible to the naked eye condensed around him The energy rumbled dense and dangerous

She watched his shoulders rise and fall with his breath His veins swelled filling with as much energy as blood Devick had the impression that if Randidly lost control now the energies channeled in through his limbs would explode outward with enough force to destroy the world DevickÆs heart fluttered Seriously IÆm out of my depth and I fucking love it

Ahem girlie thereÆs one thing

Devick looked sideways at Hank He squinted up at the sky for a few seconds before continuing to speak When you make the attack say somethinÆ DonÆt let it be a silent sneak attack ya know I jusÆ have a feelinÆ it will work better that way Look your enemy in the face DonÆt flinch

Chapter 2330

Devick remained still waiting for her turn For someone who burned so hot and whose mood changed quickly it was a particular sort of torture

It took ten minutes for the hand holding the time dagger to grow numb but she didnÆt dare allow her strained forearm to fail She refused to let the weakness and nerves win

Grip grip grip grip Devick chanted mentally I just need to strike once I have plenty enough strength for that Squeeze it now and seize a future Force your way through the hole of possibility

giving that speech did Hungry Eye realize how much innuendo he was slinging at me I suppose not

Over the course of the same ten minutes the figures of Hungry Eye and Neveah became completely obscured by a massive edifice of Nether building itself up atop their bodies A monstrously large midnight snake seemed to have coiled around Hungry Eye as he began funneling more and more of the stored of significance of the former Nether Arbiter into his body It became a shadow mountain looming next to her Even with some of RandidlyÆs Nether moving through her body Devick had a hard time breathing

Lowanna had moved to the side as the Nether developed away from Devick and her two protectorsÆ Occasionally she could hear snippets of LowannaÆs conversation with Enmya over the rumble of the building potential of Nether

obviously his methodology isnÆt elegant but itÆs reliable almost to a fault With his body acting as a conduit there is minimal energy loss with no upper limit on how strong he can become In addition the simple structure means its easy to adjust as circumstances dictate

But arenÆt you trying to have me improve my own inner Nether patterns There is no point in me examining this I could construct a more efficient pattern

You are missing the point Enmya Are you being deliberately obtuse Which of you needed to bare your vulnerability in order to earn a partnership Yes constructing theoretically superior Nether Rituals is well within your ability However your comment about efficiency is completely off base Because while you are thinking about efficiency of Nether he considers the most efficient output via the available ingredients Notice how he wields his amazing pattern recognition ability in combination with his near indestructible body He doesnÆt need

The Nether building roared as the shape changed Four thick pillars of energy appeared around Hungry Eye Devick just observed the change but HankÆs eyes slid sideways to Westrisser ShouldnÆt ya go speak with yur subordinates They look itchy down there

They have received the proper training Westrisser sniffed But despite his decisive response the army lingering to their South appeared to be growing increasingly concerned by the shifts in Nether that Hungry Eye produced

Further discussion was interrupted by a sudden swell of energy in the sky Beyond the barrier created by Hungry Eye a blazing figure of energy could be seen Although the Nether wielded by Hungry Eye was the most potent force Devick had ever sensed this figureÆs aura didnÆt lose out She could only gape as the distant forces she had sensed earlier were no much more clear to her What the hell is that

My cue Hank grunted and straightened Devick had witnessed him fighting with the two small weapons strapped on either side of his waist but he pulled out a different weapon from his interspatial storage He took the small bit of metal he had been tinkering with popped open a chamber in the side of the long barreled weapon and inserted it with a flourish The weapon made a satisfying click as he snapped the opening closed and took aim upward

The aura around Hank exploded faster than Devick could believe She knew he had been powerful as a follower of Hungry Eye but she couldnÆt believe how quickly the force rolling off his body began irresistible His clothes seemed drenched in the warm orange red light of sunset Small dust devils formed on the ground and orbited his position The wind rose and rose singing a whistling song of victory

In the sky the burning energy humanoid began to rip his way through the edge of the barrier Hank squinted down the barrel Take a long ride off a short ridge ya prick

All the burning light radiating off of HankÆs person swirled together around his weapon But just as quickly as the barrel exploded and shot its brilliant shooting star of a projectile all of the energy seemed to fade his lanky frame He squatted down and then sat in the dirt setting his weapon to the side He had poured everything he possessed into that shot

The burning figure took the shot in the chest roaring with a voice thick with hate The space and time around the figure warped Two bright images clawed at each other for dominance Its power ripped through the distortions destroying the projectile’s power as quickly as soon as it manifested The more time passed the more it seemed like the burning figure could destroy the bullet had it not been encumbered Next to her Hank panted and wiped sweat from his brow Stubborn bastard

In the spirit of cooperation Westrisser raised his hands The feathers along his arms began to glow A pure white beam of illumination shot upward and crashed into the humanoid figure After a moment of titanic struggle the figure was forced back by the combined force of the two attacks The barrier around the memory rippled and began to reform as the interloper was pushed back

Hank and Westrisser exchanged a glance In the end Westrisser looked away first With a little bit of peace Devick could turn her attention back to the pulsing Nether building It had expanded during the brief invasion so she could no longer see any of Hungry EyeÆs other supporters She almost jumped when she looked because thin threads of Nether stretched out from the towering pillar of darkness toward her position

They approached in arcs along the ground first forming a circle around her and then twining slowly across the intervening distance in a curious reversal of the Nether patterns that had been drawn around Hungry Eye Both Hank and Westrisser moved back to get out of the way Westrisser bit his lip so hard it bled as he looked at the dagger in DevickÆs hand but in the end he made room without comment

With the third step Devick arrived at her destination

Malice spread out and covered her body with a few adjustments In the agonizing minutes of struggle leading up to this holding the temporal weapon had shaped her image In MaliceÆs right hand was a grey scythe that disintegrated existence just by touching it Flakes of oblivion wafted away time and space made ash by its proximity The flesh of MaliceÆs hand had rotted away revealing bone and tattered tendons Yet still she didnÆt release the weapon because she needed its hateful power

Devick felt strange moving in a world given to her A moment plucked and presented by Hungry Eye Her image the accumulation of all the experiences she had in her life And finally the foundation

It was the memory itself the identity and regret founded before it had become a pseudo Dungeon ThatÆs why it had to be someone from within the memory who struck this blow and could not be Hungry Eye himself Because she needed to believe in the place of her birth But also in the possibility of another existence

Devick raised the temporal dagger/fell scythe She didnÆt forget HankÆs advice Wake up LetÆs stop dreaming And start advancing

She cut her weapon at the blazing energy form of Pine who was the obvious choice for the Dungeon boss when Neveah had adjusted the environment and completed the barrier Even the universe soulÆs rippling energies were frozen due to the immense Nether wielded by Hungry Eye The weapon cut through the energy and struck at the core of its being

The dagger unraveled in DevickÆs numbed hands All the twisted waves ripped outward The corrosion of her image spread black corruption bubbling up the veins of MaliceÆs right arm to the shoulder Her lovely crimson furr rotted away But for the backlash to be this strong Pine absorbed an even more ominous amount of dangerously jagged time

Perhaps even then Pine could have endured it If he had wanted to But from the beginning Hungry Eye had made his plea plainly and Pine had agreed to put his thumb on the scales just slightly to help that result occur Put another way Devick herself wasnÆt truly important for the foundation that Neveah and Hungry Eye envisioned She was just an appropriate ambassador to send to the real target

Just like Hungry Eye said Devick felt surprised A shape individually the requirements didnÆt necessarily point to me But in conjunction

Pine did not resist her strike His consciousness was obliterated His body began to unravel the dangerous explosion of his ruptured existence still held at bay for the moment due to the absolute power Devick wielded in this moment

Notifications flashed in front of her eyes

Congratulations Your Grand Fate Malice Merry Bride of Perdition has grown to Level 495

Congratulations Your Grand Fate Malice Merry Bride of Perdition has grown to Level 632

Incredible achievement Pantheon Intervention Calculating rewards

Congratulations Your Grand Fate Malice Merry Bride of Perdition has grown to Level 791

Due to your actions you have unlocked the Godslayer Path 0/5000

Due to your actions you have unlocked the Reaper of the Shallah Path 0/10000

Due to your actions you have glimpsed hints about the birth of a universe All Stats +100

Congratulations Your Grand Fate Malice Merry Bride of Perdition has grown to Level 802

Due to your actions you have earned the Skill The ConsortÆs Fell Condemnation Skill Level set at 1

Chapter 2331

Randidly grimaced as he fought against existence for the second time today The pulse of time grew stronger with each wave he resisted and kept his Seize activated His Nether Core churned and chugged revving against the resistance But this time he had the weight of Lowanna and the memory behind him

He endured He grinned He triumphed for a single moment All fell within his palm

With all the power coursing through his body and his Nether Core he set the stage for another to shine And at that moment Devick answered his expectations She flew up and unleashed the horrid weapon made by Westrisser slashing the Pine the Dungeon Boss

For a few moments after the strike Randidly kept his grip on the moment absolute Devick slowly began to fall away from the location of the impact exhausted from the ordeal Her weapon flaked right out of her hands grey petals drifting away from a dying rose And when she had fallen far enough Randidly allowed the grand Nether Ritual around him to release

Neveah instantly exploded into motion flitting up grabbing Devick and escaping the area with the AlchemistÆs Passport Because when the moment passed and PineÆs body began to fail dangerous forces that Randidly had never witnessed before ripped outward from the corpse A neon orange energy that smelled sweet but shredded space images and significance like paper began ripping open the memory with jagged wires Randidly had difficulty believing what his senses told him fabricated existence was wet paper and these new forces were butcherÆs knives

Against this raw and unstable form of destruction Randidly released a low breath He gathered himself and considered He had only used about a third of LowannaÆs significance to give Devick her platform but surviving the fallout was just as important Now was not a time to skimp on energy He spoke again a different pillar burning with meaning The Fourth Authority Animation Nova

He had been planning to use Intangible Burial to clean up the apocalypse level fallout but just a single look at those bright orange waves made him understand it wouldnÆt be such a pretty clean up A burial might even be impossible Instead he poured out wave after wave of pure green life generating a dome of well being that simply existed as fodder for this rampaging destruction

The sky became a hurricane aurora as neon orange battled against the soft green of fresh cut grass Above them the burning gold eye of Pine completely closed eaten away by the lingering notes of grey

Unfortunately PineÆs complete collapse only released a nova of those frazzled orange energy waves The added pressure made his Nether Core begin to struggle

Sweat began to pour down his brow as Randidly channeled energy through his body to the limit The orange energy burned through all of the significance that Lowanna gathered leaving almost nothing behind All of the Nether people here little skimmed moments of their lives were devoured to sate the hunger of this exodus event The energy hacked downward radiating out from PineÆs position overhead and heading toward the ground

Remnant images and clouds were annihilated in searing series of expanding sweeps Even with all the significance donated to him the Animation Nova grew thin

But just barely they made it The orange energy turned sluggish and tapered away The destructive forces faded

For a moment the colors in the sky began to settle The Dungeon Barrier shivered as though balking at the prospect of what came next Aether constructs triggered and began to hum across the whole of the memory

Randidly wiped his lips with his hands And now for my final trick

The eye of Pine opened once more

After all in the Dungeons with a designated boss it needed to be revived for the next set of challengers to escape

And the birth of Pine even if just an echo of a memory flooded the air with such rich vibrant and chaotic energy that Randidly couldnÆt believe it He let out a shocked laughù exactly this result had been what he had aimed for the whole time but it was another thing entirely to experience it Especially after being denied repeatedly in his attempts He breathed in and all of the accumulated weariness the small wounds the strain on his images and Nether Core healed He felt cleansed and purified

He had failed three times today But the results of those failures had changed the environment enough to make the final result a resounding success They might not have been able to cause a Pinnacle event to occur in the present but they managed to create an echo of the original Pinnacle event that created the Nexus

Perhaps too that was an important symbol A new future could be opened reframed from a repeated beginning

The Second Authority Hollow Needle Randidly whispered drawing on the fumes of his Nether Core But he shouldnÆt need much energy for this last part He raised the implement dipped it into the thick rivers of energy flowing around in the area and began to sew his Class back together

Neveah I picked this path Randidly closed his eyes IÆm not scared of where it leads

I wish you would be She sighed The notifications for his Class evolutions finally arrived

Your Class Loyal Benefactor of the Weak is evolving

As you have grown in power the role you have taken in the lives of your followers has changed While echoes of your exploits resound throughout the Alpha Cosmos fewer and fewer have direct contact with you Despite that distance your toil ceaselessly in order to improve the situation of your people Due to your efforts the number of Paths available to the people of the Alpha Cosmos has grown

They follow your lead gladly hoping for a better future

Your Class Loyal Benefactor of the Week has evolved into Mantle of the Tireless Pathfinder

Your Skill Footsteps of a Legend has evolved into Echoes of a Living Myth In addition to previous leadership bonuses the evolved Skill will seed some of your capability amongst followers Although extremely minute there is a chance they will develop a portion of your capabilities Mutated variants are possible Skill Levels will be maintained

Your Skill SpriggitÆs Tinkering has evolved into Wake of Miracles Skill Level will be maintained You have developed a likely chance of being able to overturn expectations and make the best of bad situations While the short term effects are slightly boosted the long term effects become almost guaranteed In addition Skill Level will boost the efficacy of all regenerations

Randidly felt the shifts occurring within his body His hands moved tirelessly as the needle swam in and out of the rich energies of the rebirth of false Pine stitching them into his Class He could feel the growing roots of the changes as well He felt the vast potential held by individuals inside of the Alpha Cosmos both from the people of Expira and from the numerous other species that began to thrive

He pressed his lips together This result is exactly why I cannot slow down now I need to be unreasonable to hammer out a Path forward So these people can walk forward without fear

The Hollow Needle swam through the air The next pillar of his Class began to shift

Congratulations Your Class Lighthouse of the Boundless Worlds is evolving

Fonts of your insights have appeared within the Alpha Cosmos providing glimpses to those who seek power They function as warped mirrors granting access to an altered reflection to the viewer Not only has that feat deeply cemented your place within the hearts of those who dwell within your Alpha Cosmos but you have also begun spreading hope out into the wider Nexus The loudest echo will always now be Ghasthund but the shapes you choose leak out to affect others The radianceÆ of possibility you release grows in power and scope stretching beyond the limits of your inner world

The combination of the heritage of the Origin Beasts and your Fateset creates an ignition for all who soak in your light

Congratulations Your Class Lighthouse of the Boundless Worlds has evolved into Silver Protostar of the Alpha Cosmos Your Skills March of Ruin and Valor and Smothering Inevitability have merged and evolved into ProtostarÆs Twilight Radiance The Skill has become a passive one that is constantly active Effects will vary depending on the hostility of the affected individual But no matter what they are to you the radiation you release can only be delayed never shrugged off Skill Level will be set at 900

Your Skillset the Moirae of Minute Repercussions is reacting Your Skill From the Chaotic Sea Abrupt Reverberation has evolved into From the GhosthoundÆs Baleful Storm Howl Power speed and size of manifested attacks greatly increase Damage inflicted with energy storms will contain an extra bit of ProtostarÆs Twilight Radiance Skill Level will be maintained

Congratulations Your Class Lodestone of the Black Wanting is evolving

You have long served as the focal point of the dark energy systems flowing through the Alpha Cosmos It began with the fires of rebellion against the Nexus lit by Yystrix but now you have grown to house the dark subconscious of an entire universe You exist as an individual within the purview of both the Alpha Cosmos and the Nexus yet you have grown to become so much more than that in both The rules you have subverted the powers you have channeled have indelibly marked your body

Some more than others until your existence cannot be separated from the dangerous allies you have made

Congratulations Your Class Lodestone of the Black Wanting has evolved into Deviant Calamity Soulbound to the Carrion Dragon

Chapter 2332

Congratulations Your Class Lodestone of the Black Wanting has evolved into Deviant Calamity Soulbound to the Carrion Dragon Your Skill Conviction of the Celestial Cataclysm has evolved into Certainty of the Dread Wyrm Your obstinacy has slightly increased Your willpower now has the capability to influence those around you while manifesting your images Please note those overpowered by your certainty will suffer severe negative side effects entering into a dazed state that makes independent thought impossible Adds a small boost of power and fearful aspects to all images Effects increase with Skill Level Skill Level will be maintained

Congratulations your Skillset Dread Homunculus Nyx Reincarnated is reacting to the shift in your Class Your Skill ChimeraÆs Suffocating Rebuke has evolved into DragonÆs Fell Smite Flames of annihilation and horror will surround your limbs in battle increasing the power of all attacks Physical and mental attacks will contain traces of the deep well of existential dread that the Carrion Dragon embodies There is a small chance of causing extreme damage to your targets for no explicable reason The transfer of force within your body is now supported by unconsciously created Nether Rituals meaning the application of Nether Weight is more efficient Weaker witnesses to the Skill will lose hope of opposing you when you attack Effects increases with Skill Level Skill Level will be maintained

Congratulations Your Stats are reacting to the shift in Class

Your Stat EggÆs Illusory Plume has evolved into Carrion DragonÆs Carapace Vastly increased resilience to physical attacks Magical and mental attacks have a chance to disperse naturally on contact with your body Ratio of Stat amount to Health greatly increased

EggÆs Illusory Plume generated Health 33415 Recalculating

Carrion DragonÆs Carapace generates Health 65415

The shift in Classes brought along with them some itching changes in other aspects Randidly felt the muscles across his body tighten and wriggle like revolutionary worms ready to overthrow the government His tendons and flesh knitted themselves even more tightly together to form a powerful quilt across his person As an already monstrous physical specimen the change elevated his body into an almost peerless weapon

He released a steaming breath as the changes settled

At the same time the greater shift probably came from the presence of his will As his emerald eyes flicked back and forth he could feel flames of Nether Weight and a physicalized fear based energy going along with his focus The longer he looked the more he saw the target of his gaze coming under the effects The connection had magnified some of the worst aspects of the Dread Homunculus and the Songstress of the Inhospitable Depths granting him a dangerous power but while making it much more precipitous for an average person to associate with him

Neveah Randidly probed His hands continued to move as he drew more of PineÆs energy display into his body to fuel the shift but he couldnÆt help but feel wary The Carrion Dragon that would be you yes And our combination judged to be a Deviant Calamity by the Pantheon

One aimed at the entire Nexus yes Neveah confirmed A trial that will either be overcome or lead this universe toward ruin

But we

Randidly I can feel your emotional response You donÆt like how negatively we are being painted by your own Class How it hints at the harm we might inflict Neveah said But you cannot deny that itÆs true We have bought and paid for these capabilities These are the forms we have chosen the images we have embraced in order to climb to this point Most of the direction for these Classes comes from our reflection in others So look at yourself look closely Does the image you see there make you balk

Never RandidlyÆs expression softened Even with that answer he hesitated Not for himself but because he knew Neveah The Soulbond between them might currently be used to increase his own power and capability and although he didnÆt rely on Health as actively as he used to it was still a nice boost but it came at the cost of NeveahÆs harmless existence

Congratulations Your Skill Arch HereticÆs Thaumaturgy has grown to Level 36

But the name Alchemist of Constellations in the other Classes Randidly could see the aspects of what Neveah feared OthersÆ perceptions had probably altered the shape of his Class However this one was all his own He had carved out his existence and earned this moniker

All of his efforts his nudges and his growth during his time in the Upper Sonora had led to this result He had gained power sure and a not insignificant amount of personal strength but that paled in comparison to his understanding of the wider Nexus and its opportunities From world state images from some of the secrets of the past from truths about ElhumeÆs ability to reach the Pinnacle to encountering the wildness of Devick without the bitter tang of poisonous regret in the present to witnessing a knock off Pinnacle and understanding the regrets of the most powerful individual in the Nexus the memory had provided many broad perspective bonuses

Congratulations Your Skill Arch HereticÆs Thaumaturgy has grown to Level 99

Now Randidly just needed to take all those elements he encountered and weave a dangerous weapon out of them He might have defined his new word Ghasthund while examining the Elhume in the memory but it was now a concept that echoed out perhaps even beyond the limits of the Nexus

Congratulations Your Skill Arch HereticÆs Thaumaturgy has grown to Level 157

Congratulations Your Skill Arch HereticÆs Thaumaturgy has grown to Level 400

All would fall under its sway Even Randidly were he not careful

At the four hundred mark his new Skill ceased increasing its Skill Level It would probably continue jumping up once he made use of its effects but he didnÆt worry about it for now for the current Randidly what was one more Mille

Instead he focused on Neveah Just one more leg then the big shift for the Class Did you notice the way the naming convention seemed to no longer be present

ItÆs just waiting for the final shift Neveah responded The last piece settling into place

Randidly pursed his lips he could sense her tension So he pushed through to the next steps in the evolution

Congratulations Your Class Longing of the Banished Wind is evolving

Chapter 2333

The Paths you have tread are not for the faint of heart It required both focus and dedication to thrive in such environments with precipitous drops surrounding you in every direction A single mistake would have labeled your life as forfeit Some individuals take joy in such fearless journeys yet you approached them more with resignation than excitement You viewed the narrow possibility with pragmatic eyes setting down ancillary burdens in order to be able to pass the tests waiting in front of you Piece by piece you streamlined your existence until you could climb up and reach the ceiling of the world

Behind you a long path of discarded dreams gather dust

Congratulations Your Class Longing of the Banished Wind has evolved into the Myth of Deferred Dreams Your Skill Spirit Realm of Marshaled Endeavors has evolved into the Spirit Realm of Forgone Possibilities Within the mental clashes between user and the Alpha Cosmos strange and unusual monsters may appear that threaten both sides These phantasms are heavily influenced by the choices not taken in your Paths and uncompleted Paths Defeating these interlopers will draw inspiration from the choices not taken empowering whichever sides beats them Increases the efficiency of transferring mental energy between the two sides Effect increases with Skill Level Skill Level will be maintained

Congratulations Your Skill Casting Blades from Insatiable Grievances has merged with Armory of the Nether Damned and evolved into A WorldÆs Regret Begets Serrated Insurrection UserÆs emotions have become increasingly sharp the total area amount of emotion contained with the emotional sea has been expanded User can craft weapons for others directly out of the energies of his body Condensation will require a full 24 hours in order to complete Effect is slightly boosted if a powerful medium is used to contain those energies As others use these weapons they will eventually earn Unique Paths leading to aspects of Randidly GhosthoundÆs powers Effects increase with Skill Level Speed of condensation increases with Skill Level Skill Level will be set at 1000

For a long time Randidly just looked at the notifications The second Skill intrigued him he looked forward to crafting unique weapons for his powerful followers Likely due to their relationship Charlotte Wick would be the first to receive one Yet he couldnÆt miss the obvious message contained in this Class evolution

Finally RandidlyÆs fingers paused in their sewing He knew if he didnÆt speak she would Neveah you made this for me

Randidly could only sigh Are you really so afraid for what will become of me

DonÆt I need to be When have you ever given it any thought

When Randidly didnÆt respond Neveah continued No matter how many times I remind you not to completely sever your connection to humanity to weakness and relaxation you continually put yourselves in situations where you need to set down those miniscule aspects and grow into a more capable version of yourself Now IÆm quite thankful you have made these hard choices I know how much they benefit me and the people of the Alpha Cosmos But still I worry because you wonÆt And I donÆt want to lose you Randidly You not a platonic ideal of a hero wearing your face and saving us You might be the beating heart of the Alpha Cosmos you might finally overthrow the despot Elhume but you are my Soulbound My brother My other half If I lost you

I know Neveah He pressed his eyes shut His shoulders ached

He understood her emotions Yet he felt helpless before them Ideally he wouldnÆt need to sacrifice so much in order to gain power But he did The threats existed on every side Especially now after his actions in the Upper Sonora it would be impossible to avoid clashing against Elhume He had earned quite a bit of ire for his actions

Which meant he needed to be ready when this little bubble finally popped

He couldnÆt afford to slow down now No matter what the culture of his world said about deferred dreams he couldnÆt spare the attention right now He needed to advance

He felt NeveahÆs attentionù she believed he would never survive if he didnÆt start caring for himself They both looked at each other She the mother of fear the carrion dragon Him Randidly Ghosthound the Myth of Deferred Dreams

Tatiana smiled You changed my life Randidly Ghosthound

The figures began to flicker more quickly A sharply dressed woman the newly minted Mrs Moss Collins Headmistress of Kharon Academy nodded her head Your investment in the future will ensure Expira grows and prospers While others bickered over land your gaze went toward the future

You have our thanks as well You provided a lifeline to all our peoples The Winged SerpentÆs tongue flicked out of its mouth Behind it stood leaders of the other Nemesai population all united in their appreciation

They began to blur together as more and more phantasms appeared Mrs Hamilton waved her hand Annie winked Lights lit up and down the length of the tank like exterior of mobile Ghost Huang Li touched his forehead to the sword Azriel stood next to a nervous looking Monster Prince and raised a glass in acknowledgement The solemn Randy waved a shy hand Nrorce looked up from a half cooked meal and grunted Naffur Suite leader of the Order Ducis looked up from stacks of paperwork and executed a sloppy salute

Simon the man who became the Champion of Zone 32 dozed off he looked incredibly at peace as he dreamed Vye knocked her knuckles together Nathan now a young man grown into his own opened eyes that glittered with Aether Engravings and loosed a laugh of pure joy as he witnessed RandidlyÆs transforming Class

A thousand Lancers of the Baleful Crusade stood at attention their weapons raised in tribute They opened their mouth and roared

Through their messy edges the solid shouldered appearance of Sam could be seen He pressed his lips together and squinted A long time ago you stopped really needing me as much for making your equipment If IÆm being honest it hurt Both my pride and my feelings It was how I felt like I mattered to you yanno Obviously I still forged DonnytonÆs equipment and the Squad emblems for a long time but

Sam took several steps forward He reached out and tapped a finger against RandidlyÆs chest This I built with love Randidly Probably my magnum opus Got plenty of rewards including the ability to attach Class affixes to equipment I just hope it helps you reach the end of this journey touch the core of the System Go win and tear it all down

Sam Randidly didnÆt manage to express the tender feeling in his heart before the last string of notifications arrived

We will all be waiting when you win and come back to us Neveah whispered in his ear

The System has numerous methods to categorize accomplishments both in terms of their rarity and their power Numerous labels have developed over the past centuries based on impressive accomplishments Sometimes however a simple rating cannot capture the value that is provided by a particular Skill an image a possibility Randidly Ghosthound you have exceeded Rarities both literally through GhosthoundÆs Deviation and figuratively by subverting System apparati for your own ends You have sought your own Path You refuse to concede

Such an attitude when pursued with a pure heart will leave a lingering effect In the end where you go you will leave whispers of your exploits in your wake Those small seeds of possibility will be your legacy creating a particular stubborn and wondrous brand of Alchemy for decades to come

Congratulations Your Class Lord of the Baleful Wood has evolved into the Legend of Randidly Ghosthound

You will earn an additional +100 Health Mana and Stamina per Level You will earned an additional +10 to all Stats per Level

Your Skill Lancers of the Baleful Crusade has evolved into Heralds of the GhosthoundÆs Legend Individuals created with the Skill with have a greatly increased ability to handle Nether The likelihood of these individuals developing distinct personalities is increased The breadth of Skills and abilities they are able to learn is slightly increased The growth potential of these individuals is increased directly proportional with the userÆs growth Effects increase with Skill Level Skill Level will be maintained

Your Skill Architecture of the Primordial Ways has evolved into Engineering of the Enigmatic Alpha Cosmos Drawing on the natural subconscious of the Alpha Cosmos the userÆs ability to create patterns and structures is greatly increased In addition all the strange experiences of the user has vastly expanded the scope of possibilities User has a slight chance of creating schema that directly affect time User has a minute chance of corralling the energies waiting beyond the safe walls of a universe Effects increase with Skill Levels Skill Levels will be maintained

Your Skill Yearnings of the Nether Heir has merged with Left Hand of the Nether Oracle and Right Hand of the Nether Polymath to evolve into Randidly Ghosthound Executive of Nether Reborn All Skill Levels in Skills related to Nether will be more effective Both sensitivity and understanding of Nether has vastly increased Nether beings will acknowledge your words in all situations Your Nether Core has been reinforced The amount of Nether you are able to channel has increased to a ridiculous amount Your Authorities have been slightly strengthened All results involving Nether are increased Effects increase with Skill Level Skill Level set at 1500

Chapter 2334

After his Class finished evolving Randidly sat for a while on the edge of the Badlands and just stared up at the brilliant nova of light released by PineÆs rebirth The near constant wind of the expanse sat in awe leaving the world hanging in a stalled state

Here a Legend had been born After the effort of producing such a miracle the universe rested on its brilliant starburst laurels of light

Part of the reason for his stillness was the complicated well of emotions dug up over the course of the evolution Part of it was the ambiguous implications of the word LegendÆ being present in his Class while he still lived and breathed Part of it of course was the beauty of the Pinnacle event even if this was likely a diminished version of what had happened originally

But also Randidly found it fascinating that he could look at this Pine without fear that the monstrous hole the Universe Soul would someday become would notice Whatever had occurred to release that perfect pulse of energy had erased some of the reality from the memory Its connection to his present had been severed Randidly also couldnÆt sense that general intelligence he had interacted with earlier entreating the Universe Soul for help with his impossible attempts

That fragment of Pine had died had been sacrificed had been erased to open up the possibility of rebirth for the people within the memory Looking at the silvery blue rays of light giving way before the arrival of true dawn Randidly sighed

The memory Pine had trusted him No communication had been exchanged other than action Which made the imperative all the more onerous

Which eventually would propel him out of this lull

He looked down in the ground but peered through the examine the fabric of this memory His eyebrow twitched The hard edges of the Dungeon that Neveah had created had begun to crack The time difference had given them almost six months but now the collapse of the Sonora was catching up with him The doom he had brought onto this bundle of regrets had arrived Probably hastened by the strain this explosion had created

One step at a time Randidly slapped his cheeks His mind tried to catalog the tasks waiting in front of him but he couldnÆt focus for very long He kept flashing back to the appearances of all those from within the Alpha Cosmos demonstrating their support for his mission He saw the army of Lancers now Heralds with hundreds of the created beings have discovered their own individuality and evolved into different forms He felt the heat of their fierce pride being his army He felt the weight of those connections lying heavily across his arms and legs

He flexed his fingers and looked at his palm Although he had grown so much he still felt like the same individual that had woken up in the Dungeon not even realizing the world he knew had died Almost to the finish line like it or not

Randidly stood and stretched His shoulders and neck cracked whether or not it had been held consciously a lot of tension had lingered in his shoulders after the attempts and into the creation of the Class He hadnÆt handled the details but he was the one who had to shovel energy directly into the process to carry him to completion That meant he had to move constantly even if he didnÆt need to engage in any complicated activities

But compounding that base tension of motion was the constant strain on his Nether Core

Randidly rubbed the back of his neck as he scanned one last time through the list of his new Classes Reading each brought to mind various caracatures of himself versions created to fulfill particular roles

Mantle of the Tireless Pathfinder

Silver Protostar of the Alpha Cosmos

Deviant Calamity Soulbound to the Carrion Dragon

Nearby under the leafy auspicious of one of the thick roots three Homid women and one Lizakh sat in the shade and gossiped It was there favorite pass time

What a loud storm The first Homid commented She was the largest of the group and the oldest her legs withered down to twig thin wrists and strings for fingers Her arms had thickened to more than makeup for the difference She handled the detail work weaving together a silk scarf

I heard a rumor that when the Turtlelines lost the battle they tried to end the world The second Homid said Petty as usual

End the world How ridiculous The third Homid snorted She had reeds in her feet quickly bringing her limbs in circular motions to finish the outer structure of a basket The world isnÆt something that ends easily you know But definitely I felt the shift in the feel of the air Like there were times in the worst darkness thatù have I mentioned I was once an adventurer Before my husband died

YouÆve mentioned it The first Homid sniffed Next to her the Lizakh woman methodically squeezed some of the fruit harvested from the tops of the root colony The sweet smell of the rich fruit filled the area so even Charlotte could smell it The Lizakh woman then took a metal skim and drew out the pulp

Anyway you get a sense for these things important moments and what not The Homid set aside her basket and raised her foot to wag a toe purposefully at the others The sensation of a paradigm shift is unmistakable Last night the world changed That light the noises the violence well IÆm not sure what happened to the Nether army but they certainly have left the area around Homewell IsnÆt this our chance

Chance The second Homid seemed puzzled

To no longer run away from bullies To not live in fear Our sacred plant growing and protecting us is great but The third Homid had a determined look on her face Homewell has not treated us in a gracious manner It is time to be independent of them Because of the mobility of this root system isnÆt it now possible

Where would we go The first Homid looked up from her ornate scarf Charlotte speculated about their specific relationships quite a bit while sticking her shovel into the ground and prying up dirt but it was clear which held the power The other two Homids fell silent unable to provide the older woman with a satisfactory answer

In the end it was the Lizakh woman who spoke up Madam Wick do you know where we should go

Charlotte paused straightening and wiping her paw against her forehead Her thick fur only served the squeeze out the sweat hanging in her pelt into her eyes so she had to blink several times to keep them clear So long as you are willing to be patient I believe you will soon have an individual who will come and make you an offer If you accept his terms you will find the place you seek For you and for your children

CharlotteÆs heart clenched slightly as she spoke Because her thoughts turned toward the Homid girl Dattylan who had joined her in many of her projects Even if the people of this former slum agreed and decided to come join the Alpha Cosmos it would be unlikely that she would see her again Because she was a Knight of the Ghosthound and her related Skills informed her that their journeys would only become more difficult in the future

Tch So long as it is not the one they call Beigon The first Homid shook her head slowly Weaves hooks into flowers that one In a decade I have no doubt he will have a private estate out in the Badlands entrapping refugees

The nearby roots began to tremble slightly Everyone paused in their discussions and approached the roots Even Charlotte stretched up and pressed her shovel onto the root thoroughfare so she could feel the rumbling message

An individual had come to the slum to talk It was not a Turtleline but a humanoid who called herself Diane

All four individuals turned and looked at Charlotte She shook her head This was not the offer of which I spoke

Chapter 2335

Devick sat with her legs crossed and squinted at her Path screen Her stomach bubbled with excitement but also with indecision And maybe a small amount of hunger A long time ago her adopted father had told her that while minor Paths might lead to immediate benefits it was much more efficient to wait for a Path that spoke directly to you and then use your accumulated PP in order to finish it in a single stroke As such Devick had an impressive 4389 PP accumulated from the past few years

But what do I do if two Paths speak directly to me Which should I attempt Devick bit her lip Bahh

The Godslayer Path 0/5000

The Reaper of the Shallah Path 0/10000

On the one hand Devick felt very confident that slaying gods would be an activity she could grow to like Her heart still pounded thinking about the blow she had unleashed with Malice Maybe someday it would even become a fun hobby that she and Hungry Eye could do together Yet even with an ominous name such as GodslayerÆ it only required half as much PP to finish as the Reaper of the Shallah Path But the pivotal word was one she didnÆt recognize

Are the Shallah even more powerful than gods Devick frowned It was difficult to imagine Well just imagining a god left her somewhat reeling The closest she could get was Hungry Eye And that comparison did not instill confidence in their continued relations She heaved out a deep sigh Hungry Eye had given her a whole series of speeches on being unreasonable Yet it was a tortuous state to be in because Devick very obviously wanted both of these Paths

With a finite amount of PP such a desire had no basis in fact

Tch in front of the realities of PP even Hungry Eye probably has to surrender Devick sniffed She flipped her long hair over her shoulder and then crossed her arms IÆve been saving up for a long time well Hungry Eyeù indeed there is probably some age difference between us HeÆs had time to earn Skill Levels But it cannot be easy for him to obtain this much PP yes Even he has probably only managed to finish a few Paths that require ten thousand PP

Frustrated Devick flung herself to her feet Rather than simply wasting away here and waffling on whether to almost finish one powerful Path or get only almost halfway on another (probably more so) powerful Path she needed to get out and work her body a bit After all the other benefit she received from this experience was a stupifying +100 to all Stats boost That extra punch would take some getting used to

Tch if only there was a Stat related to looks An extra hundred heheh even Hungry Eye would be helplessly infatuated after that sort of boost

She opened the door to her small hut and almost headbutted Hungry Eye in the chest With the extra boost of her new 100 Stat points of Reaction and Perception she noticed his presence and developed a sudden plan Mostly she wanted to cover up the fact she had just been fantasizing about him She made a fist and throw a punch trying to seem shocked and frightened by his appearance

It obviously wasnÆt a very complicated or well thought out plan

Hungry Eye caught her fist without even a ripple of shock coming across his face They stood there for a moment once her attack had been neutralized and he raised his eyebrow You missed me I see And youÆve been taking lessons in proper greeting etiquette from Elhume It was a good punch

I didnÆt even notice it was you Devick lied Perhaps my instincts are still just overly aroused from slaying a god Be careful my murder spree is only just beginning

Does that mean you mistook me for a god How flattering Hungry Eye teased and released her hand For all your ridiculousness you are a surprisingly poor liar Well anyway IÆm having a dinner tonight and I want you to attend

A date Her heart pounded but for whatever reason DevickÆs words came out fast and suspicious More than anything else she felt alarm Despite their slow well courtship was a strong word but definitely mutual fascination with one another it was hard to believe Hungry Eye would jump straight to a date

Unless the godslaying counts as our first date If we hurry maybe we can catch some of this pretty ambiance

Confirmation of disappointment came in his lopsided and somewhat awkward smile on Hungry EyeÆs face Not a date Ah or rather not a date for us IÆll be the chef and I was hoping you and Neveah could help me

Mae moved to walk around Fiero but he stepped in front of her and refused to concede Give us a chance Mae I will not toss my feelings aside I am not Elhume I wonÆt make the same mistake he did The feelings you had for each other were real and I am all the parts of him that matter He he has lost himself Let me prove it to you

Give usÆ a chance Ha You took all the inconvenient parts of him Mae corrected gently But it used the last grains of her patience to do so And it turns out for Elhume when all the inconveniences were removed nothing of worth remained Leave us

For a second he seemed stunned by her pronouncements and let her pass Then he wheeled around and shouted desperation and want animating his voice Mae

MaeÆs shoulders shook despite herself The raw emotion contained in her name acted as a spell stopping her from walking away She felt so so weak She pivoted slowly looking back at the Vulpine His tails hung limply next to his body His eyes were wide and pleadingù donÆt leave me now donÆt leave me here

It was hard to feel anything looking at him

Mae wondered if she could even find her happiness after the last few months She felt so empty right now her image broken and her worldview shaken by the powers she had witnessed Nether King Hungry Eye had shattered her plans and then ascended to fight even more powerful foes Even the hollowed out Elhume had managed to surpass her Which left her with nothing but the broken remnants of her determination

She didnÆt know if she believed in the perfect world she sought

A ripple ran through existence Another life began to overlap this one Mae bit her lip as the changes occurred furious and scared as she sucked in a breath Because it was the same knowledge that Hungry Eye utilized to defeat her she couldnÆt deny there existed a strange truth in these mirrored moments Yet her lungs filled with air and she felt a heady rush of power and that surety that came with it made her hesitate

The moment took over

She wasnÆt broken she had ascended The Monarch of Karma began to glow with force her image roaring and drawing more and more momentum into his body And next to Fiero facing her world image that gathered momentum was Elhume Elhume and Fiero held hands releasing those same pulses of power that Hungry Eye had faced down They approached the Pinnacle rushing ahead of her toward the goal of true power

The other Fiero said It does not have to be this way Step down Mae Myrna We can create your own future We just need to work together If you continue like this you will eliminate free will You will regret your actions

She ignored Fiero She looked at Elhume In this universe too his eyes were empty He had mortgaged his entire existence for power He didnÆt remember what he had lost

Scornful Mae raised her hands If she could call on the power of this other version of herself she would wield her power to destroy as much as possible It was the ending she deserved This world should suffer for birthing us

You stupid bitch

In the next instant the fakeness of the moment faltered and broke Back in the present she felt weak and depressed All of her potency drained out of her body But now the VulpineÆs eyes bulged with rage and frustration His hand stretched forward penetrating her chest the curved fingers squeezing her heart She was a single moment away from death

Mae Myrna laughed Have we plumbed the depths of your love already Fiero What a bleak bottom How quickly the facade crumbles You are an existence that cannot help but take You never knew love Even compared to an empty Elhume you fail

FieroÆs face twisted at the mention of that name His hand tightened Mae Myrna died

She didnÆt see the Vulpine turn and stare across the Badlands You This is your fault If only your life was mine

Chapter 2336

Randidly moved quickly as he made his preparations Even during his breakÆ night he didnÆt want to waste time Not when so much loomed on the horizon

Although honestly even his leisurely speed would be faster than most

For now he tried not to think about the future He tried to just exist in the moment and address the problems this new attempt would include He had become a Legend but he also had a human body and human emotions For now he wanted to concern himself with just those two facts The tension would be discarded for later

Randidly stepped and the sandy expanse of the badlands gave way to rolling foothills A wind screamed around his body with the speed of his movement Another step carried him deep within the mountains As he lowered his speed his landing cracked the ground and knocked over two unfortunate pine trees Still calling this body humanÆ might be a bit of a stretch Would simply referring to myself as a mortal be more accurate

He set those thoughts aside for now and released a soft pulse of Nether that sank into the ground

Congratulations Your Skill Randidly Ghosthound Executive of Nether Reborn has grown to Level 1501

With his new powerful unique Skill Randidly could practically taste all the history of the mountain This area had been outside of the small bubble of stable time as he tried to crank through a Pinnacle event so about thirty years had passed without much disturbance from Aether or Nether life As such the mountain had grown wild with monsters and rather unique plant life

Randidly skipped through the trees producing enough wind with his passage that several nearby sturdy pines swayed nervously He then crouched in the dirt releasing a pulse of his Songstress of Absence into the ground With a grin he crooked a beckoning finger at the dirt Several fat mushrooms were cleanly removed ugly butterflies emerging from a world sized cocoon A wave of the hand annihilated all the dirt across their length He added a secondary pulse of the SongstressÆs song in order to be sure no image lingered in the food ingredients

Congratulations Your Skill Hungry Eyes Hollow Heart Cadence of Tragedy has grown to Level 1063

One down a dozen to go

He moved sideways across the mountain having spotted some wild carrots onions and strawberries at various positions across the mountain with his Nether pulse He foraged with the speed of a sprinting ghost whipping across the ridges and elevation gain to his target removing and purifying any strange images that had sunk into the food then moving on to the next area Already the basic menu began to condense in his mind

However the process was interrupted while Randidly crouched down and picked strawberries A roar blasted across the mountain powerful enough to shake the ground Randidly quirked an eyebrow up and straightened at the sudden outburst His gaze focused on the shadowy entrance to a nearby cave With a secondary roar a massive body loped out of the cave and spat its fury

In the open the monster stood at almost four meters tall It spread its muscular arms wide and gnashed its teeth Its bushy tail whipped back and forth a testament to how it could brook no invasions onto its chosen ground

Mutated Were squirrel Overlord Lvl 100

Ah remember when Levels mattered A Level 100 foe used to be slightly scary Randidly felt nostalgic as he considered the monster He had noticed this being with his Nether pulse but had just assumed that it wouldnÆt be dumb enough to antagonize him However in the end despite the heights it had reached it was still a squirrel

Randidly reached for its nutsÆ and it came bounding out with a vengeance

Congratulations Your Skill Wake of Miracles has grown to Level 658

Congratulations Your Skill Arch HereticÆs Thaumaturgy has grown to Level 401

Congratulations Your Skill Arch HereticÆs Thaumaturgy has grown to Level 553

Congratulations Your Skill Wake of Miracles has grown to Level 708

While Skill Levels continued to accumulate the were squirrel turned and hopped away Its vague image had been broken and its muscular shoulders trembled with fear Despite its massive size its tail looked very cute as it flowed along the path its main body had taken Randidly didnÆt pursue Honestly the Skill Levels and points of MuseÆs Reverie were a nice bonus Seeing the Keystone of the First Ghasthund was the only reason he had attacked such a weak being

Humming to himself Randidly returned to his mountain plucking When he was satisfied with the vegetables he had obtained he released a deeper pulse of Nether one that traveled through almost the entirety of the Aether lands Now that he had an idea for the dishes he just needed the main ingredients

He launched himself off the mountain and headed South where a giant inland lake waited Its unsuspecting fish and shellfish population had no protection against him With just a movement of RandidlyÆs finger the currents of the lake would shift and carry his targets helplessly away bringing them to the surface without any struggle

He crouched on the edge of the lake and fish kept shooting out to flop on the sand next to him He raised his head and saw a fishing boat filled with wet skinned frogkin watching the process with wide eyes Their own fishing rods lay forgotten next to them on the boat Randidly raised his hand and waved

After a bit of hesitation the two waved back

After about twenty fish and double that amount of oysters Randidly turned again He skipped across the land in search of rice the final main ingredient he required Saffron he had within his interspatial ring although he wouldnÆt mind making an alternate version of his intended dish As he traveled the breadth of the Aetherlands he could feel the shift coming over the population Tension began to sink out of the people With Enmya at the helm the Nether armies were pulling back Homewell had vanished from the broader Aetherlands for thirty years but now word had spread that the trouble had ceased Life could return to normal

Randidly could only sigh Yet the entire world you live in will soon collapse If you donÆt believe me haah Maybe it wonÆt be a good thing that the situation seems to be improving People wonÆt be willing to let this go

He tried not to think about the disbelief that waited for him Using power to force an answer wouldnÆt be possible in this situation He also tried not to think about the problem looming before if too many people wanted to follow him out to the memory how to use his limited amount of MuseÆs Reverie to bring as much of the fakeÆ memory population with him to the Alpha Cosmos

The Keystone of the First Ghasthund was a powerful relic but it had limits

He had limits even after becoming a legend The same aspects he now indulged his humanity held him back

Randidly clenched his fist then forced himself to relax All of that is for tomorrow For tonight letÆs try and help these two find a bit of happiness

Chapter 2337

A dinner Lowanna quirked an eyebrow She couldnÆt find any sort of subterfuge on the other womanÆs face

A dinner The crimson haired Devick confirmed with a bow

Lowanna frowned at the genuine response She felt nonplussed by the situation The other woman had found some sort of frilly black and white uniform to wear Her bow was executed with an elaborate flourish And despite the fact that Devick always seemed to somewhat have very little interest in any tasks unrelated to Hungry Eye she now practically preened with excitement as she brought Lowanna an invitation to dine

Although she suspected some sort of trick Lowanna couldnÆt detect any

Is there any real need for this Lowanna asked I will of course eat with Hungry Eye but why are you dressed

Oh itÆs not Hungry Eye Devick waved both of her hands shoeing away those incorrect thoughts Her expression remained so bright it was untrustworthy He will be attending only as a chef Working behind the scenes No this invitation came from the Sovereign hum wait does he need a new name now that he is bound to Hungry Eye Anyways that other Nether fellow The moody one

Enmya He asked Hungry Eye to ask you to ask me to dine with him Lowanna felt genuinely mystified by the long chain of communications to reach this point Could her childhood friend have become shy now that he had Toosah between himself and Hungry Eye She rubbed her jaw and nodded But yes he will need to allow his significance to percolate a bit Then a Herald will view him in all his newfound splendor and announce his name

A secondary thought made Lowanna pause Perhaps the reason for the convoluted invitation was because Enmya knew he would soon be leaving moving on to work with Hungry Eye full time in the administration of the Alpha Cosmos From the significance she could sense from Hungry Eye this would not be a simple task Many thoughts and emotions flowed through him emerging from this isolated universe

Lowanna had known she would agree to accompany them to populate this new world as a show of support in front of her people but she was now just a normal Nether individual once her symbolic gesture had been completed She retained a slightly increased amount of Nether within her body and her Skill with Nether probably had few rivals but she

Lowanna felt sad Perhaps he pities me For all the power that IÆve lost now I am just a woman And he has become

Devick didnÆt appear to notice her conflicted internal monologue You have a few hours so please dress up in your best ah wait these stupid Aether fools mostly just sell robes to everyone If you wish we can go enter the Alpha Cosmos I actually have a close personal friend Tatiana inside of RandidlyÆs world who would be happy to help us find the best clothes for tonight

That Lowanna felt tired Yet her thoughts turned from this strange meeting with Enmya The prospect of entering into the Alpha Cosmos did intrigue her Soon the offer to join the world would be given to her former people more experience with what that process entailed could only be helpful So she nodded

Yes Excellent I wanted to try the Ghosthound scented soap ahem anyway we need to hurry We donÆt have much time before the dinner is supposed to start Hungry Eye is surprisingly a stickler about timing Devick became a blur of motion topped with a mop of crimson hair Lowanna allowed the other woman to latch onto her hand and pull her along

Yes How did you know Lowanna asked

Tatiana chuckled Some things donÆt come through clearly but when Randidly really wants something itÆs an itch beneath the skin And if you want to find a dress and make sure it is the correct size you are definitely late right now LetÆs hurry before all the good things are snatched up If you like wicker and beads

Tatiana stepped off the edge of the city Without thinking too much Lowanna and Devick followed her

As soon as any individual spotted Tatiana the crowd of merchants and their hanging wares surged forward trying to tie them into place by virtue of their bodies As Lowanna became rather meek in the face of these strange humanoids Tatiana smiled said no and walked forward through their ranks The merchants melted backward before her disappointed but acquiescing

Soon they waded in up to their waists Tatiana looked back over her shoulder Willing to swim a bit

Devick didnÆt even respond She just dove beneath the water Tatiana laughed and followed suit Last Lowanna shook her head slightly but dove underneath the water as well The liquid felt fresh and cool on her face All her worries about Enmya or at least the worries about the Alpha Cosmos faded away as she simply stretched out her arms and dug her fingers into the water With the three womenÆs powerful bodies they shot along into the depths of the lake quickly advancing toward their destination

The water grew cold but they continued swimming The easy physical labor almost felt pleasurable

When Tatiana began to arc up toward the surface Lowanna followed suit They shot up and burst forth arriving in a placid portion of the lakeÆs interior A few larger boats floated nearby several tanned humanoids noting their arrival When Tatiana waved a hand ropes were thrown and soon all three women had ascended onto the deck of the largest vessel

Alright do you have a favorite color Tatiana glanced sideways at Lowanna Around them clotheslines had been spread out across the deck and also fluttered from the shipÆs masts A thousand colors could be seen there seafoam lime tangerine ruby azure and emerald The clothing spread out could satisfy a thousand individuals and appeared of a much higher quality than what had been present along the shore

Yet Lowanna found herself frowning as she looked around She hesitated but trusted her instincts Black

Tatiana waved Black it is

Several of the individuals on the boat surged into action They clipped down the hanging clothes laying around them and rolled them up And in the next instant other individuals walked out unfurling strings that contained sewn together bits of obsidian dark edges seashells glittering bits of midnight silk

Lowanna pivoted and looked around in wonder Then she saw one dress Oh Oh

Tatiana smiled a wicked smile Perfect ThatÆs exactly the response you want for what you are wearing tonight Alright letÆs get it sized properly and get you ready

Chapter 2338

Randidly looked up from the paella in the large iron pan with a scowl already forming on his face Warm scents of curry and saffron drifted up from the rice and seafood He didnÆt have a large enough cooking surface on hand so he had been forced to hammer it out himself With his current physical abilities mundane materials were rather simple

Which meant it would also be easy to thoughtlessly squeeze the handle and rip it off on accident but he was managing without any incidents All his powers were locked away for tonightù he was a chef and that was enough Simply cooking was fun the sort of fun he hadnÆt experienced in a long time

All that good cheer vanished as he locked eyes at the unexpected arrival He chided himself for letting his guard down to this degree even while taking a break Such lax observation would be fatal back in the Nexus Fatia Cerulean You survived the explosion

The raptor construct chuckled A minor inconvenience nothing more Certainly very fascinating but the dangerous elements remained far from touching me And I hope you donÆt have any hard feelings about my attempt to cut into that fascinating dance Although you made use of the tools available to you I simply assumed you would prefer if these roles were taken into more reliable hands No offense was meant to that woman Devick

RandidlyÆs jaw clenched very much not having discarded his feelings when he saw Cerulean show up with its jagged teeth and threats Right before Devick had rushed up and used WestrisserÆs weapon to strike at Pine Cerulean had stepped out and confronted her Had Randidly not handed her the moment he had gathered using Seize powered by LowannaÆs Nether she would have not been able to overcome this foe And Randidly knew from experience what sort of remains Fatia Cerulean left in his wake after a victory

I heard a rather interesting rumor regarding Westrisser Do you know that madman is still frantically studying the fallout of the explosion Trying to gather more data for his next unstable attempt at capturing pure destruction The raptor construct clicked its tongue The blue aura around its body was at an all time low tide You have convinced him that this world is simply a memory a reflection of the true world And that soon the bubble will pop The only way for the people who live inside the memory to survive is if you help them You have maneuvered into an excellent position

Randidly straightened and rubbed his chin This was not a situation he had expected He had the word being spread through all peoples so he could get to work tomorrow But he had expected an unreliable element like Cerulean not to believe in the threat He prodded once more to be sure And you have discerned the truth of my words

Even if you exaggerate you are not the type to lie through your teeth regarding this matter And I am aware of the hierarchy of power between us Take me with you and you will have my undying loyalty Cerulean bowed his head just for a moment

The show of deference is nice but definitely you are the type not to mind lying through your needly teeth Randidly pursed his lips He spun the wooden spatula in his hand as he considered then scraped up the bottom of the rice and seafood in the pan then patted it down into a new flattened shape at the moment I am not sure how the process will work Assuming there arenÆt tight limitations I will consider bringing you along

Then I will leave you to your meal With those words the raptor construct flashed its teeth in satisfaction and departed Even this easy retreat felt like a surprise

Randidly had a sour feeling in his belly as he wondered what had brought on this change of heart The Pinnacle event had been wondrous but deference from the raptor construct Several complicated trains of thought writhed together in his mind until a massive knot of uncomfortable constriction remained

First compared to the average power of the Alpha Cosmos Fatia Cerulean was still an apex existence The Pantheon would be able to restrict his actions but few other individuals had yet reached that capability Even if he paid lip service to Randidly he would have an uncomfortable amount of freedom on Expira

Contrary to that first thought FatiaÆs presence would provide some benefits For one the creature was the individual who invented Fates Randidly wasnÆt exactly sure how it had died in reality but the raptor construct likely wouldnÆt cease its attempts to push the envelope if it joined the Alpha Cosmos If it could develop other sorts of abilities or special Skills the Alpha Cosmos would grow in power broadly no matter what sort of tiny dictator Fatia had become

Plus Randidly wanted the Alpha Cosmos to be exposed to some threat to spur growth He didnÆt want to helm a monolithic empire of a universe but one where different factions were allowed to flourish within reason Fatia Cerulean might actually be the perfect size to spur growth

Laying across all those concerns was the impending confrontation with Elhume it could be avoided no longer Not when he had broken ElhumeÆs little urn of regrets sitting at the top of the Sonora So while all those thoughts expressed his genuine feelings regarding Fatia they had no context Considering Randidly was about to enter into the fight he had been working toward for almost twenty years having a powerful free radical like Fatia felt like an extra risk

They stood on a dirt path that led to the quaint little cottage built by Neveah sitting atop the hill and giving a wide view of the surrounding terrain The sun sank low in the sky painting with orange gold colors and shadow to create an even more lovely vista than usual Enmya stood outside the cottage door dressed in a stiff looking robe covered in complex embroidery

Devick blinked several times as she breathed in whatever Hungry Eye was making in the house it smelled good

Lowanna you Enmya seemed to lose his breath for a second looking at LowannaÆs luminous figure wrapped in a small black silk dress with bare arms and shoulders He coughed several times into his hand to regain himself Devick suspected that was exactly the response Tatiana had been aiming for Err how about a stroll before we eat

Lowanna let out a small laugh You wish to walk with me Just like old times Yes Enmya A walk Perhaps you can explain what exactly this dinner is about

The two drifted down the sloped path their voices receding Even with the strange and precarious shoes provided by Tatiana Lowanna proceeded gracefully But while the romance seemed to swell around the other two Hungry Eye poked his head out of the door and waved an impatient hand Come on in Devick Actually this walk is good for us I have a bit of work I wanted to finish before those two return

Devick entered into the cottage and was surprised by the transformation All the extraneous furniture had been removed The bed the side tables the dressers all of it had vanished from their original positions Only the book and flower shelves remained emphasizing a small table with two elegant chairs sitting in front of the far window

Devick frowned Was the window always that big How the hell can you just snap your fingers and make a window larger Images are one thing but this is basic construction

Also she couldnÆt help but notice that the smell of the food was even more intoxicating inside the cottage She gratefully took another deep breath through her nose and almost sneezed at the intoxicating and foreign spice

Hungry Eye flitted around producing candles and placing them in various locations He put a few on the shelves snapping his fingers above the wick in order to light them He rubbed rapidly at the base of a few wax candles with his hand melting the bottoms slightly so he could stick them to the window ledge and make sure they wouldnÆt fall

As he made minute adjustments to the cutlery and the tablecloth he looked over his shoulder Can you bring out the first course Ah itÆs the big pot on the stove There should be bowls on the shelf above the oven

Devick wandered into the adjoining kitchen and loosed a loud snort if the other room had been prepped for an elegant night of dining the kitchen appeared like the hopeless remnants of a warzone Useless end pieces of mutilated vegetables lay haphazardly spread around the counter Pots sat in the soaking sink ready to be washed

She spotted the pot he had asked for and the bowls tucked away next to some cookbooks but Devick was instead drawn to the only pristine item remaining in the kitchen a silver cart topped with a gleaming covered dish Unable to restrain her curiosity she tiptoed up to the dish and removed the top She breathed deeply her eyes dancing with just a pinch of gluttony The rich and spicy scent she had been so intrigued by was the main course for the dinner

Devick found a random spoon on the counter and moved it toward the golden rice A smile pried open her mouth There is so much of it here surely they wonÆt notice a little missing

Hungry Eye materialized by her side slapping her hand Nope not for you If you want I can whip you up something later but tonight is about those two Also seriously I used that spoon to measure out cayenne pepper Anyway now

Hungry Eye Devick opened her mouth A part of her watched in horror as she spoke unable to believe this surge of bravery that filled her body Perhaps the small twinge of pain on her hand made her angry enough to just force her way through to an issue she usually danced around She pivoted on her heel She tried not to think about what she was saying She tried to channel all the most unreasonable aspects of her personality the personality that Hungry Eye had said he needed

Devick said Are we ever going to have a night like this Just for us

Chapter 2339

Devick wanted to suck in a breath and loudly gasp having so directly asked a question that had been burning in her chest for a long time She took a half step back almost flinching from her own inquiry

Or perhaps she flinched because Hungry EyeÆs face cycled through a dozen expressions very quickly Hesitation resignation compassion desire hesitation again before finally settling on affection

for now letÆs plate the bisque Hungry Eye eventually said

Devick lifted her chin She felt very proud that she didnÆt allow even a single tremor through her body Look I understand this night isnÆt about us and I donÆt even know what to call us but I deserve some clarity

I agree Hungry Eye said with an amused huff He picked up the large pot and tilted his head toward the bowls on the shelf I meant more letÆs work while we talk I doubt the walk will be that long not in dress that Lowanna was wearing

Of course that was what I meant too Devick lied

The two walked out to the main room with their respective burdens The lit candles played a tune of light setting their shadows to dancing on the walls behind them Devick laid down the bowls in the middle of the two place settings and Hungry Eye used a ladle to serve out the red liquid

Just as DevickÆs impatience was beginning to build up Hungry Eye spoke I think I would like to have a night like this about us IÆm slow to these sorts of things and a bit lackadaisical once they get going but youÆve been quite persistent and focused Maybe IÆm the weirdo for saying this but the consistency sets me at ease

Consistently crazy thatÆs me Devick let out a shaky laugh

Hungry Eye finished with the first bowl and moved on to the second But while I believe I would enjoy the process IÆm not sure we have the time Devick After leaving the memory there is a reckoning waiting outside Elhume not the one we faced but a twisted version who is but a shell of himselfù

Hungry Eye paused his eyes widening His ladle froze mid serve and some liquid splashed up onto the sides of the bowl He set the massive pot down and produce a napkin from his pocket and wiped away the extra liquid Hungry Eye chuckled Sorry about that I think I just realized something Not relevant to our current situation Well anyway that doesnÆt change the dangers circling outside of the Sonora And that includes the you of the present who well honestly the sorts of feelings are different but is similarly possessed with an obsession with owning me In a much less flattering manner She wants me to be a toy of hers a doll used to play a deviant version of house

Devick felt a flash of jealousy toward this version of herself with power enough to rival Hungry Eye but suppressed it She simply watched his face Hungry Eye finished the second bowl and straightened finally meeting her eyes He looked tired and sad She wanted to comfort him Which was ridiculous because he was essentially saying no you are not allowed to comfort me

No you are not allowed to use your ravishing body to comfort me as I have imagined you doing so many times at night DevickÆs impulse to daydream seized her In her imagination Hungry Eye no Randidly Ghosthound got down on both knees to plead His eyes were wide and so so green as they trace the curves of her body Please if you tempt me any further I will lose control

Everybody deserve a little pleasure for themselves Devick hiccuped as she wrenched herself back to the present

The corner of RandidlyÆs mouth twisted upward Sometimes especially with my new Class I feel like I am not a person at all Just a force One who would stop at nothing to protect the people of my Alpha Cosmos

It might not be tonight but Devick intended to be her own version of irresistible soon

Randidly rolled his eyes Devick snuck forward while he was distracted and tried to kiss him again but his hands on her waist held her back Outside the cottage Devick could hear the voices of Lowanna and Enmya as they approached

Randidly waved a finger at her Not now We have a date no need to spoil it by ruining the fun early IsnÆt that half the point of the date To have an event to anticipate in those days leading up to it But okay letÆs get out of here before we spoil their fun

Randidly flicked his wrist producing an item and opening up a portal As they walked into it Devick looked around Speaking of fun did you really need to remove the bed from the cottage Maybe these two will end up

Neveah is surprisingly scandalized by others using her bed Especially for sex Not that I blame her Randidly laughed and then both vanished from the cottage as the door opened For the rest of the night theirs was not the important story here

Randidly woke up the next morning refreshed and ready for work

He straightened from the pillowed pallett and rubbed his neck He would need to do quite a bit of public speaking today and wasnÆt looking forward to it He wanted to reinforce his claim that the world was ending and that he was the only one who possessed a way out Just thinking about it made him want to sigh definitely he sounded suspicious

But on the other hand the upside of Cerulean showing back up was that the average person would take his words much more seriously if the powerful individuals inside the memory seemed to believe him Doubly so when he also received the support of Westrisser Lowanna and Enmya in concert

He walked outside of the temporary lodging started a fire Soon he had some bacon happily sizzling in a frying pan and munched on some old rolls he found in his interspatial ring Based on the fact he couldnÆt remember when he had gotten them they had been sitting in the corner for a long time Maybe even from before Expira got its name Still the stasis effect of the isolated space meant they tasted delicious

What he didnÆt expect was to receive a message from Charlotte Wick

Sir I believe we have a situation Her message stated

Randidly raised her eyebrows He supposed now was as good a time as any to start putting out fires What is it

A woman approached the slum you gave the empowered plants to with an offer and a warning When I did some investigating she has been spreading word as much as she can all across the Aether lands That you and the Nether Arbiter struck an underhanded deal with Cerulean and Westrisser essentially dividing up all the power in the universe between the four of you She warned that you would appear soon prophesizing doom and gloom if others did not capitulate to your demands And that you might turn violent if you did not get your way

Randidly couldnÆt wrap his mind around the words for a moment And then it took another few seconds for him to think about what this would mean for the people in the memory His hands clenched into fists who did this

A woman I had never heard of before She simply goes by Diane Right now she is staying very publicly in Homewell

Chapter 2340

After hearing the details from Charlotte Randidly looked at the ground for almost five minutes The air seethed with the thrashing root projections of Yggdrasil with the howling rage of the Songstress with the deep contemplation of the Dread Homunculus He hadnÆt bother to hide the information about what he planned on doing because he hadnÆt assumed anyone would believe him

I should have realized the problem when Cerulean showed up Randidly clenched his jaw Because of all I accomplished two days ago the words I say are heavy Maybe its even a hidden effect from my Class

But not all legends needed to be right and just If he would have sounded extremely suspicious before now he would seem like a sleazy tyrant showing up with a lie that had been exposed before hand Those on the fence would believe the narrative they had been fed first and completely disdain his claims

Randidly released a long hiss as his blood heated up Most would likely still believe the powerful figures he would have speak for him Yet Randidly felt furious And in that moment he recognized the name Diane

Diane Beigon DonÆs dead wife Randidly blinked slowly in recognition Gradually he could begin to see the shape of what they probably planned It was obvious from their actions they didnÆt believe him but wanted to hold him hostage to whatever demands they had It made him snort bitterly

Even now the two were overly entitled They simply didnÆt know the scope of the threats they caused

He closed his eyes for several seconds frustrated But gradually those emotions disappeared The Grim Chimera settled across his body bringing with it the obvious method to advance through this impediments When Randidly Ghosthound opened his eyes his gaze had cleared But also his eyes were emerald chips of ice

He didnÆt have time for this And he also didnÆt have the patience to try and nudge them into behaving

They can choose their own fate Randidly said to the air speaking both about the people of the memory and about the Beigons Resolve slithered through his chest cooling his blood He reached into the pan and plucked up a piece of bacon He ate it quickly his gaze darkening further In the end my ability to take more people away is limited away Perhaps this is for the best

When he finished his bacon Randidly straightened Before anything else he had to eliminate this threat before any other problems occurred

Don Beigon sighed You didnÆt need to expose yourself We should have sent a proxy to make the announcement People are talking

His wife Diane let out a soft laugh She stood by the window wind fluttering the airy curtains around her She as always looked too good for this world I understand you prefer to move cautiously but you saw those powerful forces that filled the sky If we give them time they will be able to prevent us from extracting any benefits simply through raw suppression The struggle between us was already unfair Now while they are desperate I have given us leverage Whatever they are planning we will get a piece of the pie

Yet if they react badly you will be their target Don countered He raised his hands and rubbed at his temples Cerulean is a part of this cabal that raptor is a being with no compunctions about eliminating threats

Honey Don Beigon licked his lips The resignation he felt within the Nether King was vast so vast he felt almost swallowed by it It was difficult to speak He received Skill Level up notifications over and over and his Class screamed out warning bells He began to tremble HeÆs not bluffing

Diane gave him a dismissive look He had panicked in the past and she had always been unruffled Previously she had never been wrong Ah Hungry Eye please excuse me while I talk some sense into my husband Don truly are you going to lose your nerve now We have always talked about being power players in the world and this is our chance Once we examine this new space and manage to figure out

Congratulations Your Skill Intuit Hidden Intent has grown to Level 500

Diane Don practically screamed

For the first time Diane seemed to realize he wasnÆt simply losing his nerve She pivoted slowly and faced Nether King Hungry Eye her expression grave She examined him closely and from the way her face paled she could finally see it Nether King you are considering a very foolish course of action Without my word on your behalf people will not try to move to your new world Now that peace has been achieved they would be content here for the rest of their lives You are letting your anger cloud your mind Especially once I vanish

You never understood what this was about The Nether King sighed You stuck greedy fingers into the pot hoping to scoop out value and your fingers were burned Let me be frank your world will end in a week My intention was to save as many people who lived here as possible However my ability is limited It is not a problem of space but of bridging the gap between memory and reality with a little extra energy I was hesitant on what to do to make sure I could gather as many of the quality individuals as possible

What do you Diane took a half step back

In a way I suppose I should thank you But the words would leave a bitter taste in my mouth so I will not The Nether King said Now those individuals who likely would have eyed my offer as a chance like you will not be tempted at all Which was why I offered you the minute A small allowance to one who disgusts me Goodbye Diane Beigon

She streaked backward activating her Skills A golden cobra stretched up behind her body its hood spreading wide and flaring But she soon stiffened the Nether KingÆs hand driven through her chest From the ground sprung a dozen thick and thorny roots that slitherd more quickly than her cobra could rival constricting the serpent and then flexing

In a puff of gold powder her image collapsed

Don Beigon watched in horror as the life faded from her eyes However his vision soon became blurry Almost from afar new figures stood inside the room of their apartment No longer Hungry Eye but Elhume Yet to DonÆs great pain a punch even in this strange apparition scene ended his wifeÆs life

Then the dream vanished The Nether King frowned So Diane attempted a similar thing when Alymian was created using their combined abilities Honestly it feels horrible to have taken the same actions as Elhume But His eyes flicked over to Don Beigon You werenÆt there Hum So perhaps even you didnÆt know exactly the cause considering you were left alive Elhume considered you valuable enough to live But based on your plans in the present you found out didnÆt you

Well I wonÆt let you suffer for his week I donÆt know what trouble you could get up to anyway

Don didnÆt even attempt move as he died He simply stared toward his wifeÆs corpse hollow and bitter

Chapter 2341

Randidly returned to the edge of the Badlands after snuffing out the lives of the Beigons During the movement he didnÆt need to reflect on his actions But eventually he settled into stillness and considered He stood there looking at his hands It was in his nature to solve problems to the best of his ability and in this case it meant killing them

It felt oddly satisfying compared to many of the solutions that Randidly had employed in the Alpha Cosmos With a single act of will he had prevented the damage from spreading further But at the same time

There are deeper consequences to behaving like this Randidly could only sigh at his own actions At the lack of guilt that clouded his mind if necessary he would kill again Part of my lack of reaction is that they were just reflections in memories but thatÆs an insidious thought one that will make the rest of want to do here even more difficult And also I donÆt think itÆs possible to build something lasting on a foundation of rampant violence IÆm here looking for a special blend that can stand the test of time

He took several deep breaths ignoring the constant press of sand against his ankles He felt without reservation or avoidance his doubts his satisfaction his uneasiness his exhaustion all flowing through his heart

And in the end he opened his eyes and moved forward Despite the complications it might cause for the denizens of this place believing his story he would leave those problems to Lowanna and the like He had sent a letter to the leadership of Homewell Because the other spark of insight he had was that he couldnÆt force them to accept If the capability during his reverie was based vaguely on the Fatepiece his Keystone of the First Ghasthund would be a request

To that end he now wished to strengthen the effect More Levels in the Fatepiece would expand his power to save the lives of those who believed his warnings

Randidly dashed across the shifting dunes cutting through the wind and leaving tatters in his wake Almost subconsciously his newly evolved Lethal Tide of Izanami activated The scraps of wind the kinetic pops as he had shattered his way forward and the displacement that occurred across the surrounding airù all were repurposed and became part of his storm

He didnÆt attempt to utilize patterns to strengthen the gathered kinetic force if he came with the whole of his prowess Randidly doubted he would encounter any foes willing to fight him So he let the storm grow wild and unruly all on its own until the winds howled and the skies darkened The churning flows of air drilled around writhing and whistling

Congratulations Your Skill Lethal Tide of Izanami has grown to Level 1075

Obviously the force it generated was still overwhelming

He moved out past the area that had been covered in the time bubble around Homewell into the places that had apparently experienced thirty years during RandidlyÆs attempts The topography changed abruptly the ground becoming brittle and drained of all energy He could feel the built up hunger of this place gathered at the boundary in an attempt to pierce through But at this level hunger could not manage to overwhelm time

However the source of the hunger waited patiently for the first fool to walk out of the protected zone now that the wall had fallen

A massive serpent erupted out of the dull sands its jaws detaching as it executed its ambush its laughter powerful enough that the storm around Randidly faltered If nothing else this individual possessed a powerful body Without even attempting to communicate with him at all the snake swallowed him whole In the serpentÆs belly waited a rather commendable image relating to devouring It began tugging at RandidlyÆs clothes steadily disintegrating them right off of his arms and shoulders

Randidly tskÆd looking around at the fleshy pulsing walls of his current predicament Your eyes are bigger than your stomach friend

The Songstress of Absence smiled sweetly Then she began to sing of true hunger and desperation

Congratulations Your Skill SirenÆs Dirge of Bottomless Taking has grown to Level 1012

A scoop of flesh and wind vanished from existence He appeared back in the Badlands as the digestive track around him vanished Randidly fell a small distance back to the sands while stomach acid and blood sprayed around him The serpent howled in confusion and fear Landing Randidly produced the swirling sphere that was his final Fatepiece Time slowed as he offered to forgive the last few seconds Perhaps not even understanding the situation the massive serpent assented to the process

The light inside of the orb brightened Time reversed

Now whatÆs this RandidlyÆs expression brightened as he sensed the life flowing along these veins He followed them into the underground caverns beneath this area and found that each ended by impaling a Ratling a creature the size of human preteen complete with floppy ears and tails Watching the impaled being wither as the life was sucked away RandidlyÆs smile sharpened to something much more vicious

Seems like this bastard doesnÆt believe in karma

He hadnÆt been moving with any urgency but now that changed With the veins as his guide he stepped and tore through this stretch of ground He ripped up a thousand vines in his sudden movement guiding the forceful explosion around the caverns to keep the underground area from collapsing He landed and a massive venus flytrap roared at its domain being invaded It lifted the top of its pot like body revealing an ugly mixture of pink and black color very reminiscent of Thorn But none of the intelligence and discretion of his Soulseeds was present in this monster

A manifestation of the World Tree stretched up from RandidlyÆs body Just once it pulsed with a bright and imperious light RandidlyÆs veins burned as he channeled the full force of his fury through his emotional sea to empower the image

Congratulations Your Skill A WorldÆs Regrets Beget Serrated Insurrection has grown to Level 1005

Congratulations Your Skill Certainty of the Dread Wyrm has grown to Level 1089