Chapter 159 (2/2)

Randidly groaned softly, his body betraying him as his Battle Intent was chewed to ribbons by the waves of powerful imagery that were surging from the small diary in his hands. His eyes went so blurry that he wasn’t able to read any further than the first line, but the image of the robed Death grew stronger and stronger.

And, to Randidly’s horror, Death paused, and slowly began to turn.

With a snap, Randidly closed the book and backed away, his chest heaving. Like a power plant shutting down, the howling in the air didn’t disperse immediately. It just gradually grew more dim, as more and more of the machinery of it disengaged. It took a long time for the tent to seem completely silent, long enough for Randidly’s breath to finally return to him.

Although he had been filled with fear in that moment, now Randidly was simply solemn; the book seemed to be covered with remnants of that ominous image. The leather was worn, but seemed to curl up like dead skin. The thin book contained unimaginable weight.

As Randidly was staring at the book, Shal returned.

“Why?” Randidly asked simply.

Shal’s response was to grin, so it seemed he understood. “....Yes, you saw it didn’t you? The edge of him. The presence of the Spear Phantom. You ask why, but…”

Turning away, Shal walked over to the far edge of the tent, and touched the closed and locked chest. “All the rest I can teach you. But those 5th and 6th stances… Although I struggled…”

Shal’s hand tightened on the lock. “...I am unable to master them. When I see the Spear Phantom’s image… when I see my father’s face…. I am filled with rage. With fury over his foolishness. I cannot bare to be- heh, well, it is not important.”

Turning back around, Shal gave Randidly a meaningful glance. “Although this is my Style… I have no pride for it. But the weight of responsibility has snuck on me. To have you immediately start with the 5th move… is to see if you can ever inherit that man’s mantle. For it is a thing that I do not want.”

Then Shal stalked passed Randidly out of the tent, leaving him speechless.

Time continued relentlessly forward, and Randidly’s training broadened and became more universally exhausting. Time with the diary, then sparring training with Shal, then challenges against those spear users that had stopped him previously, then resting and training his spells, in a continuous cycle that left him empty and thoughtless from exertion.

Once more Engraving fell to the side, but Randidly couldn’t be concerned about it. He no longer knew how long he would remain here. The still air and heat of the badlands began to seem like home. Shal seemed continuously unsatisfied with his performance, even as he slowly was able to beat those previously insurmountable spear users. If Shal’s criticism wasn’t enough, it still remained comically easy for Marco to predict and foil Randidly’s every attack and movement.

After being in the prison for almost a year, Randidly had finally reached a decision that he had been dreading for a long time. He had gained quite a bit of PP, and it was enough to push him up to finishing the Path of Carnage VI.

Congratulations! You have completed the Path of Carnage VI. The wild expanse has been endless around you, but although you have found no reward you continue forward. The wind whispers of death, while the ground sucks up any sweat or blood you shed. Before you lies a mountain to your right. Ahead of you the path continues, but is shrouded in a mist of blood. You sense your hands are not so bloodied that you can survive the path through the blood mist. Shall you ascend to the summit of the mountain? Shall you head further into the wilderness? You have encountered an Extending Path! Continue, or recieve your current reward?

Randidly frowned. It really did seem like he could see what the path reward was describing. But not only was there a blood red mist in front of him blocking his path…

There was also a golden gate, upon which stood a tinkling bell. In addition, there was a sign, with an arrow, that pointed up towards the mountain. While frowning, Randidly reached out his metaphysical hand, and touched the gates.

A shock smashed into him knocking his physical body, as well as his metaphysical one, several meters back. Annoyed, but very used to being injured by now, Randidly stood back up and glared at the gate that glowed serenely. He took several breaths to calm himself.

Not only Shal and Marco… but now Path rewards even thought they could bully him…? What in the actual fuck…