Chapter 2163

Chapter 2163

Devick couldn’t stop sobbing until the moment the Nether King wrapped his heavy arms around her. When they were apart, she simply sank into her emotions. The darkness drew a curtain between herself and the rest of the world. Yet then the Nether King stepped forward and reminded her he was there. The gesture possessed very little intimacy or desire, which made Devick disappointed, but his limbs were long, solid, and warm. A part of her relaxed into him, just leaning against his body.

The Nether King smelled like fresh cut grass and aged lumber. His robe had been woven from high quality silk. Devick attempted to marshal her features into a cute crying motion, but it just made the next sob into a hopefully charming hiccup. A flush crept across her face, some less high-minded emotions creeping into the forefront of her mind.

After only a few seconds, she stepped away from the Nether King and sucked in huge gasps of air. Her heart remained bleeding, the vision of Toll twitching in his sleep haunting her. Yet she had already resolved herself. She had come to get even with Larson Cerulean. For the woman she had allowed to plot against her for several matches, believing herself to be above her petty tricks.

What made it worse was Devick hadn’t been wrong. She had never had to foot the bill for allowing Larson to prod at her. Someone else simply had to pay the price. A friend-

“Now what?” The Nether King asked just in time to prevent her from spiraling away.

Devick nodded several times in quick succession to get her thoughts in order. They bounced around her head, again resulting in her sadness and grief landing on top of the pile, but she could rummage through them and grab what she needed. “Now we attend a party. You brought your gift?” The Nether King nodded. Devick breathed out through her nose. “Alright, so my plan is based on Larson being predictable. When we were younger, she always made fun of me for-”

Nether King Hungry Eye raised a hand to stop her. “Opening up and trusting your companions is good. But I’ll be honest, I don’t really care. If all I need to do is give you an impressive gift, we can leave it at that. I trust you to sweep up the remnants of this Larson girl, after you are done with her.”

For several seconds, Devick simply goggled at the Nether King. The faith felt good, almost too good. It took a great effort to find her voice. “You aren’t even slightly interested in what I intend to do?”

Congratulations! Your Skill Methodical Recalibration (Ru) has grown to Level 311!

“No.”

Congratulations! Your Skill Methodical Recalibration (Ru) has grown to Level 312!

So Devick nursed her stifled desire to monologue and huffed into the building. She would just need to make the process so inevitably dramatic that a pre-briefing was unnecessary. They rode up the strange levitation platform in silence. Gentleman that he was, the Nether King offered Devick his arm when they arrived at the top floor. So they arrived almost as a couple to the party thrown by Larson Cerulean.

Touching the Nether King again did a lot to improve her mood. Which she needed, because when the doors were thrown open to the party, Devick had to forcibly repress a scowl. At least there is no need to worry that Larson doesn’t remember what she used to tease me.

Valuable minerals have been embedded in the metal of the accessory, grounding the Engraving and Nether Ritual that are present. The two differing systems of energy intersect, but the result is harmonious. Unless the individual is a master of energy equivalent to Randidly Ghosthound, it is impossible to destabilize these effects. At the moment both are tied into a ‘Skill’ based in the Clasp that possesses the ability to Level. Health +50, Mana +200, Willpower +30. Otherworldly Materials VI. Priceless Gift V. Tailored Union of Aether and Nether VIII.

Otherworldly Materials VI: Notes of the Alpha Cosmos cling to some of the materials used in the Clasp. While wearing the item, it is slightly easier to learn new Skills and very marginally easier to gain Skill Levels. Wisdom +20.

Priceless Gift V: The Clasp of Lunacy draws a portion of its power from the wearer. As such, attacks that would not kill the wearer will not be able to damage the Clasp of Lunacy. As the wearer’s power grows, so does the Clasp’s threshold of invulnerability.

Tailored Union of Aether and Nether VIII: Understanding forged across a thousand battlefields has been incorporated into this object. Not only that, but the craftsman Randidly Ghosthound has stood before the heights of both Aether and Nether forces, surviving and learning through the process. The ability to accumulate energy into a shape and also the ability to gather significance into weight have been incorporated into the object. In addition, a scaffolding designed specifically for Devick means that when she uses the equipment, the Skill will grow at double the pace of any other user. Wielder gains the Skill Frolic of the Needle-Toothed Hare (L)(U)!

Frolic of the Needle-Toothed Hare (L)(U): The cavorting movement style of a trickster god. Able to affect conversation and attacks, however primarily concerned with the movement of the user through the world. Sharp movements can become smooth and flowing movements reveal their jagged edges. Once the Skill is activated, user will tumble down the rabbit hole. Skill can allow the user to transgress the natural laws of the world. Slightly increases speed and unpredictability of movement. Causes a very small decrease in Stamina consumption. Simply maintaining the Skill will cause a small amount of damage to all hostile entities in the surrounding area. Skill will draw energy from the array stitched into the gemstones, meaning the user will not require a Class to support its growth. Skill will gather significance naturally with use in historic moments, naturally causing the Rarity and effects of the Skill to rise. The potency of all described effects increases with Skill Level.

“Oh wow,” Devick drew her pointer finger across the choker. Already, she could feel a buzzing spark of energy sitting within the core of the item. She could activate it at any time, triggering this... Frolic of the Needle-Toothed Hare. Was it really possible to include a Skill within an item? Plus all the extra Stats?! “Hungry Eye, I don’t know what to say. Such a gift... such a gift is priceless.”

His lips twitched as he looked at her. “It’s just what you deserve. In the end, a tool can only be as effective as you use it to be.”

Despite Devick repeatedly trying to temper her expectations, her whole being glowed with pride at the gift. She wished there was a mirror in the room, to see how it looked around her neck. She scanned through the description one more time and saw those hints that the Nether King possessed a deeper understanding of Devick than should be possible. Heat flushed through her cheeks.

“This... certainly it possesses some... rough, homemade charm,” Larson Cerulean finally reintroduced herself into the conversation. The smile on her face seemed carved and lifeless, made of shaped stone and arrogance. “The works of the Nether people are unique. However, the gift I prepared-”

“The piece of equipment comes with a Skill built into it. Isn’t that positively spectacular?” Devick drawled. Larson’s eyes flashed. Devick savored the notes of desperation she sensed. Yes, now that you realize what sort of gift I’ve received-

In a single moment, the entire taste of the air changed. Devick froze as a strange rumble spread through the hotel around them. Even Larson caught the words she had intended to spit out, likely moving Devick’s plan to the third stage. A few seconds later, a second rumble jarred most of the individuals in the room into scrambling to stay on their feet. A tray of tiny fish bites crashed to the ground. Several appalled lizardpeople rushed forward to clean up the debris.

Next to Devick, the Nether King grinned. “About damned time.”

He pursed his lips at the room as the skyisland recovered from whatever impact had shaken it and looked at Devick. “Stay alive, yea? This part is going to be rough.”