Chapter 342 (2/2)

Jemma gasped, looking up at Randidly with tear filled eyes. “Mr… David….? Where-”

“It’s okay, you are safe now.” Randidly said, his hands curling into fists, a beast composed of fury forming in his chest as he thought of how the Wild Rider had allowed this to happen. Encouraged, even. But… why…? Was it really just to escape her fate, as Lucretia suspected? Or-

So many secrets and motives, Randidly couldn’t keep track of them all. But for now, protecting her was something that he could do. “We need to-”

But she interrupted him. “Where- where is Rhaidon? He’s wounded, I can feel him near… He’s in so much pain, surrounded by darkness…. He….”

But then she trailed off, pressing her eyes shut. Randidly berated himself for not thinking about this, and glanced around. Mostly he could just see intimidated skeletons eyeing them up, and other skeletons being slaughtered by Neveah. As for where that metallic dog could be…

‘Decklan? Scout the area. Look for a large metallic dog. It should have been captured by this group, perhaps they stashed it somewhere on the way.”

“Got it.” And the man slipped away, moving with such stealth that even Randidly couldn’t help but be impressed. The speed and suddenness of that departure were almost Batman levels.

But then Randidly felt something ripple, and his hackles rose. Of course it would be like this. His attention flowed inward, and he communicated briefly with Lucretia, before straightening and looking at the person in front of him.

“It’s been a while,” Lyra said, her smile wide and kind. It almost broke his heart, how hard it hit him, the memory of his strange emotions in regards to her, whether real or caused by the System. These 6 months had done a lot for her, and her face had matured, growing into her sharp cheekbones, her sharp nose fitting her face. Where she had previously been lovely, now she was stunning, and her smile made every other source of light flutter and dim.

All of this, without any skills. Just pure, blessed genetics. But of course, that was not her wearing that face.

After the amount of time Randidly had been gone… Lyra would not have kindness in her eyes.

Further proving that this was not the human this purported to be was the fact it was holding the huge, metallic dog by the scruff of the neck, the creature struggling feebly, but largely slumped to the side.

“Creature.” Randidly said simply, glaring at it. It smiled widely, giving up Lyra’s bright grin for something more like the Cheshire Cat turned serial killer.

“Ah… there’s that fire… But honestly, why do you hate me so? I’ve always wanted what was best for you humans, and you keep just… refusing to listen to me. Down this path only lies Calamity, and it will break you, like it has broken all other planets before yours.”

“I will not sell our freedom to you for a false peace. Now return Lyra, before I-”

“Before you…. What?” The Creature asked, clearly amused. Lyra’s eyes crinkled as it waited for his answer. But something else distracted him.

‘Randidly...you know…’ Lucretia’s voice was soft, almost in awe, but she hesitated for a moment, before saying. ‘That thing… is completely made up of Aether. She has no physical substance.’

Randidly kept his face blank. ‘And that means….’

‘Well…’ Lucretia seemed stumped by that question. It honestly felt good, to have the sadistic woman who had caused him so much trouble to be completely lost for words. ‘Well… what can you use to destroy Aether? Basically nothing, I suppose…. But-’

The Creature laughed aloud. “Is this it, then? Silence and stubbornness? What a weapon you have found. How do you expect to beat the Calamity, if I am too much for you to handle? Hand over the Regalia. I give you my word that my actions will provide humanity with the salvation that you are incapable of.”

Randidly ground his teeth in frustration, and remained silent. But more than that….

Wasn’t the Creature… acting extremely strangely today…? She had always been on about protecting humanity, and using his Soul Skill for it previously, but she had been meticulous and brutal, trapping him and isolating his power, leaving him practically helpless. If not for the Aether Crossroads in his chest, he really would have fallen that day.

And yet here she was, monologuing like a bad supervillain. It almost reminded him of Ace’s antics. What was going on that he was missing…? She was-

‘Stalling.’ Lucretia whispered. ‘But it helps us too. Because I figured it out; although we can’t destroy Aether… the one thing you can do with it is dirty it. If you use the spear-’

The Creature flashed out of existence, and in her wake stepped a tall skeleton, swinging a sword that would have bisected Lyra in half. The metallic dog dropped to the ground, whimpering.

The Skeleton Knight looked around, lines of his frown clear on his face. Randidly locked eyes with the thing, for the second time this day. Was the Creature’s goal really so simple as to allow the Skeleton Knight to win? But, no, then why-

“Well, it appears that all that remains…” The Skeleton Knight said slowly, looking around again, finding nothing, and regarding Randidly directly. “...is to settle this like men. Let us duel, Mr. Ghosthound.”