Chapter 2168
Randidly’s mind stuttered for several fractured seconds, trying to understand the implications of what would happen if an area near Malloon was connected to Pine, the swirling mass of significance and images that filled the sky and functioned like a constant moon. Setting aside the very real risk that the fallen Pine would reach back and destroy the entire memory if Randidly couldn’t avoid viewing the phenomenon, he tried to look at the process from the Nether King’s point of view.
To them, Pine was the powerful core of the universe. If the Nether Ritual could bridge the gap, even for a moment before the flood of dense force caused the whole working to collapse, it would be the equivalent of a nuclear bomb dropped on pre-System Expira. The area would be leveled. Anyone not as powerful as Randidly or Westrisser would probably be wiped away.
The barrier around Malloon might resist for a bit, but the quality of energy surrounding Pine would eventually invalidate it. Everything would be annihilated.
Above the threatened city of Malloon, the storm of significance pressed even closer, almost anticipatory. From the behavior of the energy, it was clear what had happened in the original memory. Westrisser obviously escaped to finish his research into Dungeons, but Malloon would be no more.
Neveah? Randidly pulled his companion’s attention to the situation. His stubbornness began to surge through his chest. A thousand patterns spun in his eyes, showing the movement of the Nether Ritual and the supports in place to keep outside interference from being able to stop the bridge from being made. Compared to the pillar of black energy growing toward the sky, a cursed beanstalk seeking to draw the gaze of a god, even Randidly’s massive weather working was a child’s toy.
Congratulations! Your Skill Infinite Incendiary Filaments of a Dove Moirae (P) has grown to Level 1100!
Congratulations! Your Skill Yearnings of the Nether Heir (P) has grown to Level 985!
Even mentally, Randidly could feel her grimace. Well, fuck. That’s going to be a tough one, especially if your senses will be distracted. I’ll get to work trying to parse everything apart, but it looks like you’ve got problems of your own.
Randidly’s eyes refocused on the Witherballs shooting toward him. They had crossed about half of the distance between the dragon and himself while he had been distracted by the Nether Ritual. His Animation Nova continued to falter and fade as they ate through more and more of the vital energy he could project. The well ran dry. Of his Authorities, the Fourth had the shallowest foundations and it was beginning to show. Of the second wave of Witherballs, he had worn the projectiles down until only eight remained.
But those crackled unpleasantly during their approach, continuing to warp and rot every element they encountered.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com
Narrowing his eyes, Randidly pulled even more deeply from his Nether Core. The memory’s soft shudders began to occur with slightly more frequency; he wasn’t in danger of destabilizing the area quite yet, but even the foundations he built began to be shaken. He extended his left hand and unleashed a gush of life energy. The eight Witherballs began to shrink, but they forced their way through the onslaught.
Randidly’s senses were pulled in so many directions he almost felt like he floated behind his body rather than being in it. The overwhelming fight between Bleak Sky and Cerulean continued to nag at his back. He utilized a few pinches of his awareness to gather kinetic energy and build a storm. Neveah frantically tried to pierce through the Nether Workings above him. And finally, he looked forward at the Witherballs.
He pushed himself to his limit, his Fourth Authority groaning. A last nova of life energy swept through the Witherballs, eliminating three and shrinking the remainder to half the size of their original form. The dragon opposite hissed and fury and his body twisted and coiled in on itself, but luckily it also seemed like his energy was expended.
His breathing grew heavy; his Soulseed was trying to sacrifice itself to spare him pain.
His emotional sea began to churn. Almost immediately, Randidly found the perfect clarion note to harmonize with Yggdrasil. In a moment of flaring golden light, the last remnants of corrosion were banished from his body. Rapidly, his wounds began to heal.
Congratulations! Your Skill Casting Blades from Insatiable Emotional Grievances (M) has grown to Level 900!
Congratulations! Your Skill Marred Yet Reliable Foundation of Yggdrasil (T) has grown to Level 911!
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Congratulations! Your Skill Dawn Opens the Sky and Reality Stirs (T) has grown to Level 875!
The grey blob of Sulfur twisting his bulk into a ball fell toward the distant ground. After a moment of indecision, Randidly’s gaze focused to razor sharpness. He reached out with the Stillborn Phoenix and caught his long-time companion with a burst of gravity. He found himself trembling, horrified at the power of the Witherballs. “Sulfur, you don’t need-”
The Nether King dragon roared and rushed across the intervening distance. Randidly raised his head and observed the foe. His eyes were a pale green, too many emotions to count buzzing across his awareness. The pure note that harmonized so well with Yggdrasil still sang its ballad of violence. Had Randidly been himself, he would have waited another half second before lashing out. Yet to know Sulfur had been wounded by this foe made him lose his grip and slash before he could consider.
“You think you know what it is to wither?” Randidly whispered. His voice was hoarse. Specters of grey flame rose from his back, spreading into a massive shadow. “Darkness Withers the Horizon and the Watching Carrion Grins.”
Congratulations! Your Skill Darkness Withers the Horizon and the Watching Carrion Grins (T) has grown to Level 931!
One armed, Randidly Ghosthound channeled his entire emotional sea and tore at the world. Bleak Sky’s Domain shuddered, forced slightly back by his efforts. He hadn’t considered it previously, but very literally this Skill had a natural advantage against methods utilizing the horizon as a meaningful image fragment.
Second, his blow ripped through the snout and upper head of the Nether King. Had he managed to delay himself, he likely would have decapitated the foe. As it was, he dug through scales to reveal his enemy’s skull and took its eyes. The first ruptured from a scratch, sagging and bleeding. The second had been directly taken, and Randidly took great pleasure in squeezing the flesh ripped off until the remnants dribbled out through his fingers.
If this memory wanted to fucking hurt those precious to him, there would be a price.