Chapter 295 (1/2)

Thea Glasshammer saluted to the Executive Directors of Star Crossing.

“Report,” Andre said, the tall, African-American man who had seized the golden coin to found the town and established himself as chairman of the village.

“The Wild Rider… actually thinks the Skeleton Knight is losing the war against the villages to the South, based on his movements.” Thea said with a frown.

“This is a bad thing?” Denise, a thin Asian woman, interjected.

“From what the Wild Rider says… yes.” Thea confirmed. “Although they can decimate his forces, it would be a miracle if they managed to kill him. His stats are just too much higher than even their best. Meanwhile, the more pressure he’s under-”

“The faster he grows. That’s how the Champions work,” Cale drawled, the final member of the Executive Board, a slightly overweight man who had been a baker before the change.

“Exactly,” Thea confirmed.

“And the Wild Rider remains…. unwilling to act?” Andre asked, frowning.

“Yes. According to…. them, the way this should have played out was the Skeleton Knight expanding, hunting for the Wild Rider. Meanwhile, the Wild Rider would be running and hiding, waiting for his Ivory Stag to grow up from an infant. It would be a race; would the Skeleton Knight catch the Wild Rider in his net, or would the stag grow powerful enough to turn the tide.” Thea said. “The pressure from the chase would be important, because it would hasten the growth. As it is…”

“So because it is safe, the growth is slow?” Cale said, shaking his head. “Which is terrible news for us.”

“Worse news for the Southern Villages.” Denise commented. She turned to Andre. “Has the Southern Boogeyman shown up? Or are they still fighting on their own?”

Andre was still frowning when he spoke. “It is possible, but… based on what our scouts have said, the Ghosthound is still missing. Which is a blessing and a curse, if what is stated about his powers are to be believed. Either way, his actions jump started those Villages to the point they don’t need him to go toe to toe with the skeleton army.”

Thea kept her mouth shut for this part of the conversation, even though she had so many questions to ask. She had, of course, heard of the Ghosthound, a man who had started the first village in their Zone, shaped and protected the second, planted a tree and started a cult, and then abruptly disappeared, right when the Tier III Raid Boss arrived.

But everyone agreed: he was the most powerful individual they had ever seen. And the rumor was that he didn’t even have a Class.

Which was… a crazy prospect. Thea knew that logically, most Classes didn’t add THAT much extra stats per level, but the bonuses to Health, Mana, and Stamina alone were enough to make the difference in a fight, in most cases. How could a Classless person hope to match that with just what he received for finishing paths…? The more well received theory was that he had a Soul Skill, but that was even more troubling. Aside from the 4 people he had given Soul Skills to, and the Village Founders Soul Skill, none others were known.

The fact he had done this much on his own...

“So people, focus,” Andre said, his hands spreading out on the wood of the table. “What do we do? What does the Wild Rider want?”

“They definitely want to do something,” Thea supplied, shrugging. “The problem will only be exacerbated if we allow the conflict with the Southern Villages to buoy the Skeleton Knight’s strength, without getting the Wild Rider involved. But all of the options are bad ones…”

“If it’s a matter of-” Cale began, leaning forward, but Andre gave him a look. They all three fell silent, and Thea felt inwardly furiously. The leaders of Star Crossing were hiding things from her, simply because she had pledged to the Wild Rider. Although most of the people had pledged, there was something about the situation holding the Executive Board back.

They were unwilling to fully trust the Champion that had descended to their world, even though the alternative was so abhorrent. Perhaps it was only because the Skeleton Knight’s reign was such a far cry from the freedom these people desired that the Executive Board kept her around in such a high position at all.

Either way, it rankled. Through her mental connection to Chrysanthemum, Thea felt her companion’s emotion turn angry, as her own emotions bled over. Quickly, she schooled herself as best she could, keeping her face impassive.

“There is another reason we called you here,” Denise said, turning to Thea. “Those two you brought in? One of them was given a Class. We’d like it if you could assist in his early leveling. He also expressed interest in the Wild Rider, so….”