Chapter 242 (1/2)

Randidly walked slowly up onto the stage after they called his and Dian’s name, still pondering the discussion that happened earlier. Dian claimed to be an agent sent by the Styles from the Central Region to watch over Shal, who was foretold to be the next person to… do something with the Calamity. Specifically, she was going to watch out for Lucretia, and prevent the Spear Phantom Style from achieving a Top 8 finish and have it fall from grace.

As he ascended to the stage, Randidly scratched his head. He never really bothered to ask about the different strata and what they meant, aside from them being related to the colors they could use, and the strength of the founder. So Shal could no longer maintain his light blue skin if they fell from grace. But other than that, Randidly wasn’t even sure what the consequences would be.

Perhaps these actions would make more sense if he knew, because as it was… it was positively silly. Setting the issues of the arbitrary restriction on the Spear Phantom Style’s prestige, why would they place geases on Shal if they thought he would become someone who could contend with the Calamity…? Wasn’t that shooting themselves in the foot? Based on the story Dian had told, the people of this world greatly feared Lucretia, who was something of a Devil figure, but how widespread was that belief, and was she really that bad?

Well, she did spread about the rune of the Devourer, but that was another thing that Randidly didn't have much of a grasp on. There was so many different variables moving around that were difficult to pin down.

In the end though, it wasn’t something Randidly would concern himself with. He produced his spear with a flourish. The large, monstrous spear of obsidian glimmered dully in the noon sun. His fingers slid down the shaft, steadying himself. He raised his gaze and looked at Dian, who stood there, holding her whip spear, her scarlet hair falling down her face.

Seeing her here, Randidly abruptly realized he could see the lines around her eyes, the small imperfections on her skin that could only come with age, the dull cynicism in her eyes. Randidly’s eyes narrowed. Truthfully, the only limit on entering the tournament was a level cap. If she had been below Lvl 25, it didn’t matter how old she was, how long she had watching Shal…

But before Randidly arrived, and would defend the honor of the Style, they couldn’t possibly know that he would appear, he came from another Cohort. Which meant that they either needed a person under Lvl 25 for a reason Randidly didn’t understand, or… or they had one on the off chance that something similar to this would happen.

Which brought Randidly back to the relative importance of status. If there was an extra benefit associated with it, it perhaps made more sense that they would plan so comprehensively to knock down the Spear Phantom Style.

Either way, it meant that this would be a lot more difficult than Randidly would have expected. It would also explain why Dian had increased in skill so quickly, even more quickly than he had. It wasn’t that she had increased her skill so fast, but that she had that level of skill all along and was slowly revealing it.

His expression serious, Randidly lowered his spear and nodded when the referee came over to him. He had made a promise to Shal. He owed a debt that he had worked towards, slaved over for two years, and he would be damned if he let it all fall to pieces here, even faced with the twisted machinations of two strange factions he didn’t understand.

Dian’s expression was still mild. “Must you insist on this? I’m sure you have realized by now…”

“Welcome all! We have a special match for you now!” Claptrap yelled. “A personal friend of mine, Randidly Ghosthound, will now face Dian, a woman raised by Haelthing the Devourer, who was defeated by his master, Shal! This is truly a predestined battle! How do you see this one going?”

Randidly saw the male spear attendant opening his mouth to answer, but a low chuckle cut him off. “Heh… this one… even I cannot see through it.”

The man who had awarded Randidly the belt after the preliminaries leaned forward, his piercing gaze running over the two participants. “...both have been hiding their cards eh? Then this will be good. To see what we really have. I’m… looking forward to it.”

Claptrap seemed thrown off by this, and the crowd began to mutter, but Randidly just looked at Dian. Everything else was just… a distraction. A very huge, nerve inducing distraction. One that reminded Randidly so much of the very agonizing teenage years Randidly had spent absolutely stupefied by crowds. But his experiences since the System arrived had mollified that somewhat.

And what it hadn’t made him numb to, it had given him the stats to forcibly ignore it, focusing his attention on the task at hand. There could be no mistakes. Not now.

“Begin.” The referee announced.

Hissing, Randidly activated the Spear Phantom’s Embrace and blurred off to the side, because Dian was already moving, her body moving with a fluidity that he hadn’t seen before. Randidly could have lashed out with a spell, harrying her, but he suspected that was exactly what she was waiting for. While she had never shown this speed before, Randidly guessed that she wasn’t the type to go all out unless she had to.