Chapter 103 (1/2)

“He is not invulnerable, but he’s good at almost everything.” Decklan turned, surprised to find Lyra standing next to him. She tucked her blonde hair behind her ear in a motion that was so human that Decklan was chilled to the bone. She looked at the Ghosthound thoughtfully for several seconds, and then said. “He’s also packing a lot more firepower than he’s currently letting on, which is the real trouble with bringing him down. If you push him, he will push back, hard.”

Decklan nodded slowly, doing his best to seem casual. Everyone had heard about Lyra’s “death”, but her continued presence took the bite out of that somewhat for most people. Fortunately or unfortunately, Decklan was not most people. During the chaos of the previous day, Decklan had quietly reached Lvl 30, and earned himself another class skill: Instincts of a Killer.

And right now, all they were saying was that the thing standing next to him speaking, was dead.

“Using your new status as town Spirit to cheat?” Decklan asked, surprised by how unnerving he found her. Even a Tier II Raid Boss didn’t give him hibigeebies like she did.

“No.” Her eyes burned violet for a brief moment. “This is… an old skill.”

Decklan turned back to the arena as the aggression from Alec’s skill overpowered his caution and he charged forward, axe raised. All at once, the Ghosthound blurred, springing into motion so fast that Decklan could barely believe it. Decklan had some tricks too, and knew how to fool the eye into losing sight of him, but this…

This was a pure difference in skills.

A Roundhouse Kick struck a confused Alec in the temple knocking him senseless. The Ghosthound slowly stood, turning to the group of watchers.

“The 3rd Squad of Donnyton has fallen. Who dares fill the gap?”

There was a long silence before anyone spoke. Then tension rose, as Squad III was dragged off of the arena by the healers, and their wounds were repaired. Decklan remained still, waiting. All the defeated squads sat, looking at them with serious eyes. Although they had each individually failed against the Ghosthound, they had hope that Donnyton’s best could grasp victory. They hoped, not that their guardian angel would fall, but more that the town would succeed. That they had finally reached the point that they could stand on their own, without relying on him.

The Ghosthound waited, brooding silently. Decklan had heard Dozer and Donny’s theories about why this was happening, and perhaps there was merit to it. There could be no doubt that the Ghosthound had returned from Franksburg with more of an edge to him.

But ultimately, this was a battle that was about the fate of the town. On this day, they would decide whether they would live forever in the shadow of the Ghosthound, or... Almost on cue, Donny stepped forward, his head raised high. “The First Raid Party of Donnyton dares.”

He really had come a long way, this past month, growing into his role as leader. Only intermittently would the teen that he really was show through, and then it was only in forgivable, slightly comical doses. Gone were the days of bluster and cowardice. Now his shield was always the first thing an enemy would see before battle was joined.

With an even stride, he led the 50 individuals who would be taking part in this final battle out onto the arena. They had debated heatedly, but at the end, they reduced their squads to only the most necessary, the best of the best, in terms of stats and skill levels. Against the Ghosthound, there was nothing else they could do. He would rip through weak links.

“...Do you truly wish to come with so many?” The Ghosthound asked, seemingly bored.

Annie, stringing her bow, raised an eyebrow. “Scared?”

Everyone shifted uncomfortably, as they moved into position, as if Annie hadn’t spoken. They did feel slightly guilty throwing everything at him, but….

“Yes,” Donny answered coolly, drawing his sword. “This is Donnyton’s full strength.”

The Ghosthound just smiled.

*****

Randidly closed his eyes, breathing in and out. Although he would do his best to avoid inflicting anything that would kill any of them, he would hold nothing back. He would crush them as best he could.

They had to learn helplessness. Only then could their resolve be firmed, and they could reach forward towards strength.

Randidly opened his eyes and scanned the crowd. Donny, Dozer, and Decklan were obvious inclusions in the Raid Party. The leaders of Squad I and II were also there. Ptolemy and another healer stood at the back, surrounded by a thick wall of bodies. Annie stood at the back as well, sticking her tongue out him, which almost made Randidly grin.

Looking away, Randidly scanned the crowd. Lyra would of course be watching, but not likely somewhere he could see…

But that Randidly blinked, when he saw Lyra standing there, slender and sad looking, with her hair hanging loose down to her shoulders. Ever since becoming aware of the frigid and yet fiery energy that pulsed within him, Randidly had been cognizant that there was… something between him and Lyra. He had always been drawn to her, but now he was slowly realizing that it was related to that energy; it was more than a simple human attraction.

They were pushed, towards one another, from the very get go. That energy was guiding them towards one another. But now that she was… well, whatever she was… the connection had grown more tenuous, although it hadn’t yet frayed into oblivion. Although slowly, very slowly, it was weakening.

The whole situation was disturbing on so many levels. At the very least, once he recognized the connection as something he had been subconsciously feeling for a while, Randidly finally put all doubt to rest about who this new Village Spirit was. It was, without a doubt, Lyra.

But as he looked at her, he wondered if things would continue to change between them as the connection frayed. Their interactions had been violent, and mocking, at least for Lyra’s part, but it was… fun.

Randidly had never been one to care for respect from others, and he rather enjoyed the passionate exchanges they had. And now… now that might be ending. Had she been only drawn to him because of their connection, formed through this strange energy, this “Aether”?

And why would the system draw them together…?

For almost 30 seconds, their gazes locked.

Suddenly, they both laughed. Lyra flickered out of existence, and Randidly turned back to the raid party, smiling.

At that moment, he had no doubt that Lyra’s thoughts had almost mirrored his own. Even if they were no longer what they had been… they were still similar.