Chapter 100 (2/2)

Reaction: 62

Resistance: 29

Willpower: 70

Intelligence: 96

Wisdom: 46

Control: 85

Focus: 53

Equipment: Average Leather Tunic Lvl 5: (+2 Vit), Gloves of Quickness (Vit +1. Agi +3), Necklace of the Shadow Cat Lvl 20 ®: (Vitality +1, Strength +2, Agility +7)

Skills (Soul Skill):  Cycle of Rot and Ash Lvl 51

Combat: Spear Mastery Lvl 56, Phantom Thrust Lvl 53, Spear Phantom’s Footwork Lvl 44, Eyes of the Spear Phantom Lvl 28, Phantom Half-Step Lvl 18, Heavy Blow Lvl 30, Dagger Mastery Lvl 10, Iron Skin Lvl 27, Dodge Lvl 38, Fighting Proficiency Lvl 43, Block Lvl 33, Haste Lvl 30, Phantom Onslaught Lvl 15, Sweep Lvl 34, Spear Deflect Lvl 10, Empower Lvl 32, Calculated Blow Lvl 21, Roundhouse Kick Lvl 21, Edge of Decay Lvl 23, Ghastly Slash Lvl 7, Pierce the Skies, Shatter the Earth Lvl 3

The 7 Kata of the Ashen Spear: The Spear Advances, Ash Trails Lvl 2

Spells: Spearing Roots Lvl 13, Mana Bolt Lvl 28, Mana Shield Lvl 24, Root Manipulation Lvl 28, Arcane Orb Lvl 22, Fireball Lvl 30, Magic Missile Lvl 4, Healing Palm Lvl 9, Pollen of the Rafflesia Lvl 15, Summon Pestilence.Lvl 17, Mana Strengthening Lvl 14, Wall of Thorns Lvl 7, Soul Seed Lvl ®, Agony Lvl 27, Inspiration ®, Incinerating Bolt Lvl 5, Circle of Flame Lvl 7

Crafting: Potion Making Lvl 30, Farming Lvl 20, Plant Breeding Lvl 9, Mapmaker Lvl 7, Analyze Lvl 24, Refine Lvl 12

Auxiliary: Physical Fitness Lvl 36, Meditation Lvl 35, Running: Lvl 23,  Sprinting Lvl 19, Sneak Lvl 23, Acid Resistance Lvl 22, Poison Resistance Lvl 16, Pain Resistance Lvl 20, First Aid Lvl 13, Equip Lvl 25, Pathfinding Lvl 18, Mental Strength Lvl 15, Curse Resistance Lvl 3, Fire Resistance Lvl 14,  Sewing Lvl 11, Cutting Vegetables Lvl 2, Manual Labor Lvl 3, Digging Lvl 5, Cooking Lvl 16, Grace Lvl 14, Extract Lvl 1, Bacterial Regeneration Lvl 3, Superiority Lvl 2

His skill list was truly expansive, as he began picking up more and more passive skills that gave him small bonuses. Most promising for the future were the Superiority and Bacterial Regeneration skills, which would probably give him an edge in battle that no one else would have. In addition, Randidly wasn’t sure how, but he believed that he would be able to expand his “Skill Set”. He recalled that the notification had stated he was only the second person on earth to create a skill set, so there were others out there who were strong. But it was the only Runic rarity item currently made, which gave him some confidence moving forward.

But this wasn’t enough. It wasn’t nearly enough.

After resting for a short time, Randidly stood slowly. Mana began to once more flow through his body, enabling him to use spells, which was a welcome feeling. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and turned, seeing a graceful young woman wearing a sundress, looking at him with violet eyes.

“...Did you age yourself?” Randidly asked, torn between confusion, weariness, and amused exasperation.

The young woman stuck her tongue out at him, and her dirty blonde hair, which currently fell in a cascade down her lower back, shrank upwards, to her shoulders. Her wide cheekbones narrowed somewhat, sharpening, looking younger. Her body turned from slender to skinny, regressing to that of a teenage girl.

Lyra shrugged, seeming sheepish. “I don’t know, I thought I looked pretty good.”

“You did.” Randidly said softly, meaning it.

They stared at each other for a long second. To his surprise, Randidly found himself breaking the silence. “...You make me feel… strange. Positive, but strange. But we really don’t know anything about each other. And now…. Are you even you?”

Lyra snorted. “Tell me then, oh wise Randidly. With all those skills and stats, and those… energies inside of you, ...are you still YOU?”

Randidly stilled, and then thought about it. Then he shrugged helpless. “...I suppose it doesn’t matter. But you are probably… right…”

“Obviously. So I want to say this” Lyra hesitated, giving him a sidelong glance. “If you… think I’m beautiful, and enjoy being around me…. Don’t be weird and overthink it. Just let it happen, okay?”

Grinning, Randidly shook his head. Just don’t over think it, huh…? This was no longer a world where you could survive without thinking carefully. There was too much they didn’t know, too quickly was the world becoming strange and foreign around them...

They stood in what Randidly thought was a companionable silence for several minutes, watching the sun rise over Donnyton, people rising to go about their chores. Although they had weathered one storm, more would come. That was the price you paid in this world.

But then Lyra stamped her foot. “Really? You have nothing to say?”

Randidly blinked. “Uh,”

But Lyra was already ranting, pointing her finger towards him. “I can’t even get a compliment on my looks?!?! Did you know what sort of day I had yesterday? I tracked down the Tribulation! I broke its defenses! I sacrificed my human life! I even interrupted it, right when the tribulation was going to devour Nul, absorbing them both, becoming a complete VIllage Spirit! And you have nothing to say.”

Randidly scratched his head. “Well I didn’t really know all that…”

She gave him a withering look. “Did you think the problems just solved themselves when you came back to the village? I don’t know why I bother with you.”

Lyra stomped away.

Randidly hid his grin, knowing that it was only partially true anger. She was only doing it to make him relax. And it had worked. Randidly breathed deeply, readying himself for the day, his gaze sharpening. There really were somethings that didn’t need to be thought about too deeply, he supposed.

Although it was a hassle, Randidly would start the villagers on the path of strength. They needed it, or else they would soon die, devoured by what was coming from the Nexus.

****

Lyra’s existence was… strange.

She had obtained Nul’s access to the Village Spirit controls, but she had also gotten Kimmy’s ability to shift her form. She had some very amusing ideas of how to abuse this skill, but something more pressing was holding her current attention.

After she had cheered Randidly up, and gone looking for Daniel, so the village could spend the significant SP they had gained by defeating the Tribulation and her Raid Bosses. But she received a strange notification that was not a notification. Sorting through the memories of the rules inherited from Nul, she realized it was a missive from… the powers that be, that arranged for Village Spirits.

Dear Sir or Madam,

Two individuals, Nul and Kim-Lath, have filed formal complaints against you for usurping control of the VIllage in which they had vested interests. This situation falls outside of the purview of the normal Code, so the matter has been submitted to Conduit review for final judgement.

Your presence is required at the hearing. Please prepare to testify as to the truth, and to swear on the very Aether that gives you life.

The hearing will be in 24 hours. Please make preparations for your affairs to be handled during your brief absence.

Sincerely

Octavius Shrike, Overseer of the 7th Cohort to the Nexus

Lyra wanted to vomit. What a hassle. Not only was she forced to interact with Daniel out of necessity to spend the SP, but she had to attend a hearing tomorrow…?

….Couldn’t she send a representative…..?

Then she hesitated, calculating.

No… that wouldn’t do… what if they were providing a meal? Alien food sounded pretty good right now.