The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound

The rather morbid notification left Randidly with more worries than he had anticipated, but it wasn’t like he could do much about the strangeness of content right now. In the future, he would be careful about the mental attacks, but for now he didn’t see any reason to focus a significant amount of his attention on the issue.

Although, this mental attack was really poorly matched against me, Randidly thought grimly. Perhaps in the future, resisting it won’t be so simple…

Nor would he refuse the change to Visualization. As Randidly looked as his newly created Conviction of the Smiling Horror, he couldn’t help but grin. The image for the evolved Class Skill was mostly based on the Grim Chimera, but there were also elements of the Stillborn Phoenix in it. That sense of bleak obsession…

The result was a good one and a timely boost to Randidly’s strength. In addition, it was a small step toward his images working together. That alone was cause for celebration.

Still, only one step forward. Still a lot of improving to do. Clicking his tongue, Randidly opened up his Path menu once more. He still had 464 PP, so he could push a significant chunk of the way through another Path. Perhaps because it was due to the Grim Chimera that he so easily disposed of the mental attack, Randidly chose to go with the Monstrosity’s Growth Path.

464 PP was only enough to get a little less than halfway through the Path, but every 50 PP did reward Randidly with 1 Vit, End, and Nether Brawn. Still a pretty low-yield result, but enough that Randidly’s stats slowly crept upward. His body began to shift toward an even more powerful form.

There was also a new notification that Randidly received as he was steadily feeding PP into the Path. When his Figure of the Alpha Cosmos Soulskill reached 25000, he received a notification that he would receive his next tithe from the Alpha Cosmos at Level 27500. Randidly felt somewhat sour that such a reward would require him to gather another 2500 PP on his own, but he knew that it was just a matter of time with his large number of Skills.

Hopefully I could get 1/5th of that in this next journey into the Dungeon...

All in all, Randidly grinned after feeling the changes to his power. In addition, Randidly hadn’t yet spent the free Stats he had obtained after killing Kaan Swacc. So with all the gathered free Stats, he was able to push both his Reaction and Resistance to over 1000. Plus, Endurance was creeping upward at a steady pace. With the Endurance he got from Monstrosity’s Growth, he was only 33 away from another Stat reaching 1000.

After the two Stats reached 1000 in quick succession, Randidly was briefly overwhelmed by the prickling sensation of change across his body. If his Grim Intuition and Control hadn’t already been at 1000, he likely would have been lost in the clashing sensations that overwhelmed him. But with a fine and practiced touch, Randidly could trace the different sorts of responses that struck him simultaneously.

Randidly’s newly improved Reaction seemed to sweep across his body, activating all of his nerve endings to a painful degree. In a very visceral way, it felt like the previous wiring was being ripped out so the entire electric system could be revamped. Randidly leaned forward and gritted his teeth as the pathways between the nerves became increasingly steady and secure.

The process felt like forcing needles down his spinal column, but the effect was good. Information could move from his body to his brain and back again just a sliver more quickly. In terms of sensitivity, Randidly’s skin evolved to be much more discerning. Those small hairs that covered the human body now seemed hard-wired to trigger his nerves when they sensed something.

Of course, considering Randidly’s current ability to react, even a sliver of time decrease was very significant in dangerous fights. It was with those sorts of impossible moves that Randidly had been able to physically suppress Kaan Swacc, even without using his combined images.

In addition to his inflamed spine, there were also especially concentrated pains in Randidly’s elbows and knees. When he investigated the sensation further, Randidly discovered that a growing mass of nerve endings and brain cells were weaving themselves into the tendons and muscles of the joints. In essence, Randidly was developing ‘mini-brains’ that could independently react to external stimuli. Although he wasn’t yet sure how well they would function, Randidly savored the strange, super smooth sensation of movement as he straightened his bent form as the pain faded.

The change in his Resistance was more subtle. But Randidly felt that as he stood, whole and uninjured, there was an extra, intangible... something to his defenses. It was a strange impression, but it felt like it would be quite difficult for an opponent to inflict their first wound on Randidly.

It was almost an image. So by the same token, it was half a Skill. But when Randidly focused on it, it was difficult to pin down the source. Just… something vital appeared to have changed in Randidly’s body. In its base state, he had achieved some equilibrium. As such, there was a certain… inertia keeping him at equilibrium.

After that balance was broken, his defenses would return to their prior state. But by reaching 1000, his Resistance had a qualitative change that would shield him from the first batch of harm.

Nodding to himself, Randidly looked at the whole of his Stat sheet.

Randidly Ghosthound

Class: Lord of the Baleful Wood (x5)

Level: 62 (34%)

Health(/R per hour): 12051/12051 (4699)

Mana(/R per hour): 11198/11198 (2788)

Stam(/R per min): 8301/8708 (1761)

Vit: 1054

End: 967

Nether Brawn (A): 1009

Agi: 1187

Grim Intuition (L): 1080

Reaction: 1000

Resistance: 1014

Willpower: 1207

Intelligence: 1058

Wisdom: 744

Control: 1510

Focus: 804

Skills (Soul Skill): Figure of the Alpha Cosmos Lvl 25014

Combat: Spear Mastery Lvl 309, Heavy Blow Lvl 134, Iron Skin Lvl 47, Dodge Lvl 145, Block Lvl 77, Calculated Blow Lvl 139, Roundhouse Kick Lvl 97, Idiosyncratic Cut (Un) Lvl 126, Stalemate Breaker Lvl 142, Talon Strike Lvl 146, Counter Lvl 94, Ruinous Drive (Ru) Lvl 84

LoBW Class Skills: Spray Holy Sap (Un) Lvl 27, Sharpness Lvl 169, Earthquake (Un) Lvl 48, Invigorating Call (Humanity)(Un) Lvl 14, Erode Image (L) Lvl 100, Spriggit’s Tinkering (R) Lvl 172, Aether Understanding (A) Lvl 155, Aether Infusion Lvl 47, Volatile Ash (A) Lvl 44, Conviction of the Smiling Horror (L) Lvl 311, Fruit of the Planting of Enmity (L) Lvl 49, Absolute Timing (Ru) Lvl 140, Cycle of the Gloomy Wood (R) Lvl 45, Riders of the Baleful Court (A) Lvl 199, Lantern of Harsh Truths (R) Lvl 168, Sigil of an Approaching Fate (A) Lvl 66, Profound Influence (A) Lvl 21, Reckoning of the Bleak Dawn (L) Lvl 99

Descent of the Grim Chimera (M): Chimeric Avoidance (L) Lvl 259, Cursed Appetite of a Wraith (L) Lvl 289, Monstrosity’s Appalling Physicality (A) Lvl 307, Reaper’s Mantle of Catastrophe (L) Lvl 130, Molten Fang of the Pariah (L) Lvl 211, Man is Proud, but the Chimera Takes (L) Lvl 200, The Chimera Weeps as Man Mourns (L) Lvl 167, All Else Succombs, Yet Time Whirls the Earth (M) Lvl 179

The Stillborn Phoenix: A Star that Prayed it would be Reborn (P): Piercing Gaze of the Egg (L) Lvl 210, The Tug of Tragic Silence (A) Lvl 145, Cosmic Necessity (M) Lvl 244, Hallucination of the Bloodless Heart (T) Lvl 234, Tide of the Void (L) Lvl 205, Stigma of the Stillborn Phoenix (L) Lvl 263, Revelation of the Atramentous Threshold (T) Lvl 302

Aether Skills: Aether Detection Lvl 217, Aether Manipulation Lvl 224, Living Aether (R) Lvl 165, System Interference Lvl 88, Aether Surgeon (Ru) Lvl 104

Spells: Yggdrasil Soul Seed (R), Inspiration (R), Burning Footsteps Lvl 23

Crafting: Potion Making Lvl 73, Farming Lvl 34, Analyze Lvl 29, Refine Lvl 106, Extract Lvl 92, Architecture of the Primordial Ways (M) Lvl 279, Experienced Creator’s Ingenuity (A) Lvl 138, Touch of the Ghosthound (U)

Yggdrasil, the Universe that was First a Tree (P): Glittering Leaves of Yggdrasil (L) Lvl 196, The Golden Roots of Yggdrasil (L) Lvl 262, the Emerald Sap of Yggdrasil (L) Lvl 199, the Yyrwood Flesh of Yggdrasil (L) Lvl 269, the Inscrutable Mien of Genesis (M) Lvl 252, the Implacable Price of Exodus (M) Lvl 219, Reign of the Eidolon Crucible (L) Lvl 245, Absolute Grasp of Yggdrasil (T) Lvl 290

Auxiliary: Sneak Lvl 56, Acid Resistance Lvl 22, Poison Resistance Lvl 21, Sewing Lvl 11, Digging Lvl 9, Cooking Lvl 101, Clockwork Mastery Lvl 30, Aether Connection (A) Lvl 21, Soul Bond Lvl 155, Chef’s Palette Lvl 36, Nether Modification (U), Child of the Rain (Un) Lvl 59, Engineering Savvy (R) Lvl 192, From Darkness, Genesis (R) Lvl 17, (Domain) Crossroads of the Alpha Cosmos Lvl 199, Connection to the Alpha Cosmos (U), Nether Sensation (L) Lvl 220, Nether Ritual (A) Lvl 164

*****

“Stop right there!” Hydie yelled while trying her best to avoid the bemused pedestrians as she dashed forward down one of Kharon’s busy streets. Her boots were stained with splashes of the now-drying blood from the crime scene they had stumbled across, catching the perpetrator in the act. So despite the constant onslaught of unlucky coincidences that Hydie encountered, she dared not slow down.

Hell, she didn’t want to slow down. The sight of that pale teenager leaning up against the wall, a crimson stain slowly creeping out around his body...

A platform rapidly settled down in a small empty space on the busy street a few meters ahead of Hdyie. Due to the platform’s sudden arrival, a large man stepped to the side, directly into Hydie’s Path. Her breath hissing through her teeth, Hydie hopped sideways to the side to avoid the man and caught a sharp elbow from another pedestrian for her troubles. Suppressing her annoyance, she ignored the pain and hurried forward.

The man she was chasing hopped up onto a cart of melons and then bounded to a second-story balcony. He flipped himself up from there onto a nearby roof and vanished. Hydie skidded to a stop on the street below, completely unwilling to approach the precariously balanced pile of melons. Instead, she flicked her wrist and produced a rope with a hook on the end. She tossed it up to the roof and rapidly scaled up to that level, to see the man sprinting across to another building about fifteen meters away.

Not that she needed to rely on the rope to climb, but she had learned from Derek to eliminate the effect that chance could have on her life; reliable methods were always desirable. And while Hydie had a clear line of sight on the man, Hydie’s hands twisted to form a rapid series of seals. While she could see him, two hexes shot forward and landed soundlessly on the man’s back. As they flared to life, luck in the area around him rapidly decreased.

The man then hopped down onto another street. Sighing, Hydie chased after him so she didn’t lose him in the crowd.

With the city having just settled outside of the Orchard, the entire population was out in force, ready either to do business, visit the Orchard, or entertain the inevitable throng of people that came to see Kharon for themselves.

Her quarry took a quick glance backward as he stepped into a heavily populated square, giving Hydie the impression of a sharp face and a well-trimmed goatee. Then he was around the corner and out of sight.

Huffing to herself, Hydie pumped her legs as fast as she could. As she crashed to the ground from the rooftops, she somehow landed on the tail of a cat. The creature yowled loudly, making everyone in the surrounding area turn to look at her and block her sight of the man. Goddamnit it Derek! You said you would cut him off!! You know my physical stats are-

Biting her lip, she pushed forward. Although the people’s looks were disapproving, they quickly saw her uniform and made way. As she wheeled around the corner into the alley, several bananas smashed into her face. She froze, simply by dint of how ridiculous the sudden appearance of bananas was. Some simply bounced off her forehead and cheekbones, but one was ripe and soft enough to squish messily against her glasses, spurting sugary mush everywhere.

“This damn luck!” Hydie growled. In a practiced manner, she pulled out a small cloth and began to rapidly clean her glasses before replacing them. In order to not lose the man she was chasing, she continued to sprint forward while staying in the middle of the alley to avoid the refuse bins that were pressed against the buildings. But of course, that path made her smash into the collapsed form of the target while she was distracted.

She tumbled forward for a few seconds before two warm hands grabbed her out of the air and gently settled her on her feet. Hydie blinked and looked up at Derek Moss, who gave her an amused look and then walked up to the collapsed form of the man they had been chasing. Hydie turned away to hide her blush and then rubbed her knee.

Judging by how much the joint hurt, her kneecap must have slammed directly into the back of the man’s head. Hydie inwardly hoped that his head hurt just as badly as her knee did. Derek crouched down in front of the man. “You alright?”

“Not fucking now,” the man swore. He swiped his hand sideways aggressively. Derek pulled his limb backward, letting the man flail harmlessly at air. Then he staggered to his feet and glared at them both. His hands twitched, but the man suppressed it. Two empty sheaths were at his waist. He had left his weapons at the scene of the crime.

Huh, that’s strange. Hydie frowned. Who uses sheaths these days…? Interspatial compartments are so much more convenient...

“I would advise you not to run again,” Derek said lightly as he stood to match the man. Except Derek Moss had six inches on the man and likely forty pounds of militarily built muscle. Despite the fury in the man’s expression, no one standing in the alley was in doubt who would win in a confrontation between the two of them. Then Derek tilted his head to the side. “Why did you run in the first place? We are wearing the Order Ducis uniforms.”

“Heh, I thought you were a fucking Visitor. You know how scary those fucks are? It’s like they aren’t even human.” The man shivered then shrugged and spoke in a sarcastic voice. “So my apologies for running. Just… caught me by surprise is all. So are we done here? Or does the Order Ducis like to bully-”

“I’d like to see your ID card, please,” Hydie interrupted shortly. Then she smiled at the man and produced an item from an interspatial ring. “Also… is this shortsword yours?”

The man’s face twitched and his hand stopped as he had been reaching toward his interspatial watch. “I’ve never seen that weapon before.”

“Good,” Derek rumbled. “Because we found this weapon six inches deep in a fifteen-year-old boy. He looks pretty old for his age, and he’s pretty strong, but as I’m sure you are aware… the punishment for harming anyone without a Class is vastly harsher than assaulting someone who is of age. Heh, but it looks like the idiot that’s been assaulting people around Kharon was too soaked in bloodlust to care.”

The man went white.

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