Chapter 170 (2/2)

Reaction: 90

Resistance: 74

Willpower: 115

Intelligence: 100

Wisdom: 56

Control: 185

Focus: 140

Skills (Soul Skill):  Cycle of Rot and Ash Lvl 1514

Combat: Spear Mastery Lvl 108, The Inevitable Phantom Arrives Lvl 68 (Un), Spear Phantom’s Footwork Lvl 92, Eyes of the Spear Phantom Lvl 74, Phantom Half-Step Lvl 43, Heavy Blow Lvl 59, Dagger Mastery Lvl 10, Iron Skin Lvl 47, Dodge Lvl 56, Fighting Proficiency Lvl 81, Block Lvl 45, Haste Lvl 69, Phantom Onslaught Lvl 37, Sweep Lvl 54, Spear Deflect Lvl 10, Empower Lvl 77, Calculated Blow Lvl 64, Roundhouse Kick Lvl 36, Edge of Decay Lvl 39, Idiosyncratic Cut (Un) Lvl 59, Pierce the Skies, Shatter the Earth Lvl 33, Battle Intent Lvl 61, Struggle Lvl 39, Body Control: Freeze Lvl 6, The Golden Roots of Yggdrasil (A) Lvl 4

The 7 Kata of the Ashen Spear (Ru): The Spear Advances, Ash Trails Lvl 13

Spells: Spearing Roots Lvl 32, Mana Bolt Lvl 28, Mana Shield Lvl 26, Root Control Lvl 87, Arcane Orb Lvl 22, Fireball Lvl 30, Magic Missile Lvl 4, Healing Palm Lvl 12, Pollen of the Rafflesia Lvl 20, Summon Pestilence.Lvl 53, Mana Strengthening Lvl 48, Wall of Thorns Lvl 16, Soul Seed Lvl ®, Agony Lvl 37, Inspiration ®, Incinerating Bolt Lvl 64, Circle of Flame Lvl 39, Plantomancy Lvl 29, The Weeping Cloud ® Lvl 56

Crafting: Potion Making Lvl 37, Farming Lvl 20, Plant Breeding Lvl 9, Mapmaker Lvl 7, Analyze Lvl 24, Refine Lvl 17, Extract Lvl 6, Mana Engraving Lvl 60

Auxiliary: Physical Fitness Lvl 64, Meditation Lvl 62, Running: Lvl 39,  Sprinting Lvl 19, Sneak Lvl 46, Acid Resistance Lvl 22, Poison Resistance Lvl 21, Pain Resistance Lvl 29, First Aid Lvl 16, Equip Lvl 25, Pathfinding Lvl 18, Mental Strength Lvl 17, Curse Resistance Lvl 15, Fire Resistance Lvl 14,  Sewing Lvl 11, Cutting Vegetables Lvl 2, Manual Labor Lvl 6, Digging Lvl 5, Cooking Lvl 30, Grace Lvl 39, Bacterial Regeneration Lvl 64, Superiority Lvl 18, Mental Fortitude Lvl 38, Second Wind Lvl 29, Weather Affinity Lvl 32, Clockwork Mastery Lvl 8, Rejection Lvl 11

It was hard to remember what it was like when he started out. Now, he really felt like the system was an important part of himself. It had helped him find his strength, and his relationship with the world. Slowly, he felt himself growing as a person. Again, the image of those guard’s bodies, falling below, crushed in the tower as they escaped appeared, but Randidly frowned and forced it away. Not yet.

He stood slowly, and then stretched. Now was time to find Shal. His teacher had challenged him the previous night, personally, in a way that was aimed to unravel Randidly, to get at any flaws in his character. Luckily, it hadn’t worked. But… Randidly wasn’t perfect. He wasn’t sure what to do with his talent for violence. So he could only do one thing; seek help from his elders.

****

The First Spear of Tomkat’s face was grim as he heard the news.

Most of the guards inside the prison were dead. It was confirmed that the warden had been slain, prior to the escape too, likely by Shal. In addition, a strange creature calling itself a Judgement had set up camp in the prison, and was waging a slow, cold war on the surviving prisoners, who had banded together with the guards to survive. The creature was getting pushed back, but was a powerful mage, which was making things difficult. In addition, there was a constant flood of tiny minions from its position which was complicating things greatly.

They were making headway now, but weariness was growing among the men in the prison. Although it was probably too late for the First Spear to intervene, with the time difference...

It was not an ideal scenario. The First Spear tried to remember that no matter the losses, if he had another Adept in his employ, he could recoup them. But this was progressing past a loss of face; this was a significant blow to his city in a way that didn’t make him angry, just worried.

But as he dismissed the guards, what was driving the First Spear insane was the why of the situation. Why had Shal gotten himself thrown in prison on a small matter in the first place? He had read the report, his disciple had killed a guard, a foolish move that was designed to annoy his officials, but because of the disciple’s age and strength, they found it prudent to throw them both into the prison for the 100 year term. Let them strengthen there, then come out and be miserable from Aether Starvation for several months, at which point the First Spear of Tomkat could recruit them.

Why had Shal remained a captive? The prison was not designed to hold Adepts. Adepts could attack with their images without moving. If one was an Adept, escape was child’s play; all the restraints simply blocked movement. If you were powerful without it, the cage held no meaning.

Why now? Why were they moving now?

At least for this question, the First Spear was able to obtain some answers. The Spear Phantom Style had to accomplish certain goals in the next few months in order to maintain access to the light blue color spectrum that Shal used. But of course, the youngest generation of the Style had to be the one to accomplish it. After a bit of research, it seemed that youth, a fellow called the Ghosthound, and made it through a qualifier and would be going to the Northern Regional Tournament. A top 8 finish there would be sufficient result for the honor of the Spear Phantom Style.

So perhaps the prison was chosen as a training ground in order to give the youth real battle experience against other spearman…? Which seemed like a reasonable method, if one that was extremely reckless, in that it offended the First Spear of Tomkat, a slight he would not soon forget.

But Shal’s face as he tendered his promise… this was not a reckless man. If anything… he seemed desperate.

Sighing, the First Spear beckoned over a servant. There was one thing he wanted to investigate. Although he didn’t know where the term was from, those who fought against the strange Judgement creature, testified that it kept referring to a Heretic, which stirred a half forgotten memory in the First Spear. So he would consult with his contacts in Deardun and figure this out.

Why had all of this happened to him...?

The First Spear of Tomakat’s face was grim as he stared down at the blade of his spear. His grip tightened on the shaft.