Chapter 107 (1/2)

Daniel sighed. “I hope this isn’t one of those situations that he will swear vengeance, go train in the woods for a month, and come back and do it again, only to gloriously succeed.”

Annie rolled her eyes, leaving to go check on the hobbling Dozer, and Mrs. Hamilton chuckled. “...I think you read too many fantasy books.”

Giving her a skeptical look, Daniel said. “Do you really want to underestimate the Ghosthound?”

“No, I think he will grow more powerful than I can understand. But it’s still a numbers game.” Mrs. Hamilton spread her hands wide. “Sure, he might grow faster than one person, but what about two people? Three people? 10 people? 50? He cannot out level an entire village. The population of Donnyton will now control the destiny of this town, although there’s no doubt that the Ghosthound will always play an important role.”

A dull bang sounded, and the talking ceased as everyone turned to look at the source of the noise, Donny. He stood tall, and now it was clear how exhausted he was, his youthful face lined with worry. But it was brightened by a joyful smile.

“Classers of Donnyton. Do not rejoice. Although we won, there is no reward; only more work. We fought the Ghosthound for the dubious honor of being the last line of defense, the ultimate shield that protects everyone who lives in Donnyton now, and will come to live here.”

“Rejoice!” He continued, eyes glittering. “We have won more work-”

“We won?!?!”

The shout came from Tykes, who had just regained consciousness, looking around wildly, his eyes wide. As Donny looked at him, although Tykes was 2 years older than him, his face softened, as if looking at a promising grandson.

“Yes, we won. Now, who’s prepared to meet with Decklan, Dozer, and I to talk about their performance in these trials? Mrs. Hamilton has apparently been taking exceedingly detailed notes.”

Mrs. Hamilton smiled kindly at them all, as the Classers turned to look at her with mounting horror. She coughed lightly. “We should start immediately. There is a LOT to go over.”

****

Randidly looked at his hands, then clenched them, gritting his teeth.

“It’s… so bitter.” He whispered. His eyes were, to his surprise, wet with tears. Randidly hadn’t cried since… since walking home from his talk from Tessa. But he had been resolved then, just like he was resolved now, although he felt slightly helpless.

Not that the loss bothered him so much.

Which, in fact, was a lie. It bothered him a lot. These people had none of the head start that he had, of that long 7 months alone with Shal, training against monsters that could kill him as quickly as looking at him. And yet already, as they grouped together after a month, they could defeat him. This was supposed to be his chance to demonstrate his superior strength, to show them how powerful one individual had been.

It was a lesson, and a small revenge, and a stress relief, and 1000 other small reasons that he wasn’t truly aware of. He was simply sure that it was something that he wanted to do.

Yet they were stronger than him, which he had never expected. Or at least strong enough push him so far that he had two choices. Either admit defeat, or….

Which was the other reason that Randidly was so upset; in that moment, after his pole broke on Dozer, he knew that struggling to fight normally would not work; he was at too much of a numerical disadvantage. If he wanted to win, he had to drop all unwillingness to kill them in order to win.

So he had raised his hand, prepared to use an Inspired Circle of Flames to wipe them away, and claim victory. When Mrs. Hamilton said, “Can you see how much they want this victory, Randidly?” what Randidly actually heard from her was slightly different.

“Can you see how much you want this victory, Randidly?”

That raw anger he had gained in Franksburg had almost driven him to kill the fruits of a month of labor; Donnyton’s finest, wiped out in a wave of fire. Who knows, too, how many other casualties they would have suffered.

And so Randidly cried hot tears, because he felt weak. He did not blame the anger; only because of it, had he fought that long against impossible odds. What he blamed was his basic skills, which were not enough to support him.

He was too weak. He had almost made a mistake, and let the anger control him.

Wiping away his tears, Randidly once more looked at his hands.

It had been such an innocuous noise, the small crack that had sounded when he used brute force to knock aside the Iron ball wielded by that brown skinned young man. A crack he had thought nothing of. Until his pole split in half, striking Dozer.

Closing his eyes, Randidly supposed that he couldn’t always be the one fighting against impossible odds, and still achieving results. That young man would be worth watching in the future.

But he would leave that to the others. Donnyton had several capable and responsible people right now. Randidly’s job was simple: to eliminate the weaknesses they hadn’t discovered, and grow strong. To prepare for the unknown. Although they didn’t know from what direction it would come, the Nexus was not a peaceful place to be.

“A spear can only advance.” Randidly muttered to himself. Then he looked at his status screen.

He had gained 3 skill Lvls in Spear Mastery, 1 in Phantom Thrust, 2 in Eyes of the Spear Phantom, 1 in Spear Phantom’s Footwork, 4 in Fighting Proficiency, 1 in Empower, 3 in Calculated Blow, 2 in Roundhouse Kick, 1 in Pierce the Skies, Shatter the Earth, 1 in the Spear Advances, Ash Trails, 1 in Spearing Roots, 2 in Root Manipulation, 2 in Pollen of the Rafflesia and Summon Pestilence, 1 in Wall of Thorns, 4 in Agony, 1 in Incinerating Bolt and Circle of Flame, 2 in Physical Fitness, 1 in Grace, 5 in Bacterial Regeneration, and 1 in Superiority.

Chuckling that he gained a point in Superiority after a lost battle, Randidly used the PP he gained to finish off the Phantom Thrust II Path.

Congratulations! You have completed the Phantom Thrust II Path! As you continue down familiar paths, you may find that you blindly passed by treasures previously. The world is wide, and the path is long, and familiar paths might still hold new surprises. Effectiveness of each skill Lvl of Phantom Thrust has increased a very small amount. Agility +3. Stamina +50. Stamina Regen +5.

Randidly sighed. No skill, but increased the effect of Phantom Thrust would be very powerful. Stamina, especially after that long battle today, seemed especially important as well.