Chapter 345 (2/2)

Very clearly, up until this point the Creature had been very anti-System, seeking to circumvent and avoid it. Of all of the terrible traits the Creature possessed, the one thing that Randidly and it had in common was their love of freedom, and their resistance to the yoke of the System. And yet now… it was asking him to assume a role within it…?

Randidly bit his lip. With Lyra’s face, the Creature looked at him expectantly. But at the moment… he was stuck. His mind was blank. He truly, had no idea what was going on anymore.

His mind whirled as he tried to grapple with his understanding of what the Champion was, of what it would mean for him. And how would his being the Champion help the Creature…?

“You will gain power. Something close to immortality. A long awaited Class… it would give shape to your Aether…” The Creature whispered, taking another step forward. Only one more step. “Your might will be unrivaled on this world. With your strength, this world will receive a high evaluation from the Calamity. With that, I can dwell here as you serve the System for all eternity. Not free, perhaps, but finally at peace, knowing that they will not find me here. It is fair, yes? With my assistance, your skills might even-”

“No.” Randidly said shortly. He didn’t have enough facts, but there was no other answer his gut would allow him. “No.”

“You fool! Can you not see how much I sacrifice for-” The Creature said furiously, stepping forward again. Randidly dropped the Regalia and flexed his hand, the Devourer Spear appearing there, flooded with Aether.

The idea was simple; flood the Creature, a being of Aether, with low quality meaning. It was like throwing dirt into your tank along with the gas. Hopefully, the dirty and impure Aether would clog up her magic, so much so that the whole engine would cease to run, at least for a short while, as she attempted to deal with the problem.

That was Lucretia’s theory, anyway, which was the best one that Randidly had heard in a long time. Of course it was still hard to trust Lucretia, but that was an issue for another time.

But as his spear ripped forward, containing all of his will and hatred and frustration, and wild fear for the chains and control she represented, one of the bodies flashed forward, blocking the way. Randidly narrowed his eyes. Sorry Ten’Malla.

Or at least that's what his instincts told him initially, but then Randidly realized it wasn’t Ten’Malla that moved forward, but the slimy gecko, bound and gagged. Well, that was certainly… the better option…?

The spear ripped through the gecko, passing easily through its body. Its natural defenses were high, but they weren’t something that were designed to handle the Spear of the Devourer, flooded with Randidly’s pure Aether. It was naught but paper.

But then several things began to happen at once.

Randidly was frozen solid, as strange Aether reverberations emerged from the gecko’s corpse, even his Aether filled body jerking to a stop.

Congratulations! The Final Tier III Raid Boss has been slain. Upon its corpse, the site of the Raid Dungeon is now forming. The Raid Dungeon-

Randidly’s eyes were torn away from the notification as a wave of force knocked him backwards, leaving the Creature smiling at him next to the flickering and glowing ball of energy that had once been a corpse. Further, at the feet of that corpse….

The Headdress and Sword lay, the two Regalia right next to one another.

The Raid Dungeon has caused a great trial to descend upon the Zone! If the Zone has open travel, the Zone is now sealed. While the Raid Dungeon remains unbeaten, a blight will descend upon the land, and the life energy that fuels this Zone will slowly depart. After 30 days, all ambient energy in the air will be gone-

Roaring, Randidly lashed out with Aether Manipulation, trying to interfere with the process, somehow. Was it all a game then? The Creature’s pitch? A plot to confuse him, and lure him into a false sense of security, and then- Somehow cause the Aether to slowly drain from the Zone? Was she trying to blackmail him?

Trying to get him to fuel the entire Zone himself with Aether….?

His Aether Manipulation found purchase, and Randidly began to rip and tear away at what he found, but still the force pressed him backwards. In front of him, from the ball of energy, a tall tower emerged, a curving thing of twisted silver.

After 30 days, all ambient energy in the air will be gone, leaving this Zone a dead place. Before that time, a group of 10 must enter the Raid Dungeon as a party and clear the boss. Should the dungeon be cleared, the Raid Dungeon will settle down, and a surge of ambient energy will fill the Zone, fueling growth. If not… this Zone will remain sealed.

Good luck.