Chapter 426 (1/2)

Even through the mass of roots and Wall of Thorns that the Ghosthound erected, it was still possible to hear the constant roar of the monster horde that was hounding them relentlessly. Alana grimaced; honestly, she would much rather be out there than stuck in here, waiting for the time to pass-

And just as she was going to allow herself to slip down a spiraling negative hole of missed experience, a notification popped up in front of her.

Congratulations! You have successfully protected Aratta for 10 days! Your intimacy with the villagers has increased to the maximum amount! You have received 40% experience towards your next Level!

Welcome, you have reached Level 50. Processing...

Alana's glee at finally reaching 50 was swiftly cut by the strange end to the announcement. She didn't receive her normal Level Up gains but instead was simply told... processing. Before she could think about it further, a tremor ran through her, causing her to gasp.

The group was in a small cave discovered by Annie and further hollowed out by the Ghosthound. Upon entering, the Ghosthound had erected a veritable fortress of living roots and vines, blocking off all entry. They couldn't kill as many monsters this way, but everyone would get a chance to rest. Well, everyone but the Ghosthound, who sat with his usual stoic expression, eyes closed, likely focusing on repelling the monsters.

So when Alana gasped and leaned forward, almost everyone turned to look at her in the dimly lit cave. Her face flushing, Alana made to straighten, but again, her body seized, keeping her bent over, and in fact, forcing her further downward, until she was curled up in a ball. What she experienced wasn't exactly pain, per se, but just...

It was an instinctual fear.

You have become a Level 50 Sunspear of the Broken Ridge. The Reckoning of your Class has begun. Good Luck.

Alana was very clear of her inner world. She wasn’t sure what other people saw, but in her inner zone, it was a warm, red desert, completely barren. And when she had earned a Class, a spear had emerged from the ground, thrusting upwards. Slowly, as she had gained Levels, the spear had pushed itself skyward, aiming to split the world.

At the same time, a sandstorm was slowly building around the spear. The higher the spear got, the stronger the winds around it became, swirling and spiraling, drawing more and more sand into its spin. By 49, the air around the spear was thick with the sand, completely destroying any chance of seeing the spear within. It was wreathed in the strange radiation.

And there was power in that sand. Alana wasn’t sure how to describe it, but she felt… stronger, more willful, the thicker the air around the spear became. It was like that strange thickness allowed her to work her will on the world. In her heart, she suspected that this was an addition due to her constant connection with the Ghosthound, but the two didn’t seem directly connected in any way that she could see.

Now, as she reached Level 50, the sandstorm had ballooned outward, growing higher and higher. Whereas before it had been a powerful, but complimentary force, now it was… dangerous, that was what her instincts told her. It lashed outward, back and forth, striking the spear that was the representative of her Class. Those reverberations were what she was feeling, causing her to double over in agony.

Distantly, she could sense the rest of the group, coming to her side. Especially, she felt the Ghosthound’s concerned gaze as she couldn’t even get her mouth to open and speak. Every time she did, the sandstorm upped in ferocity, striking her Class. The strength of the strikes was so much that-

Crack.

A thin chip of her spear was knocked aside by the sandstorm, which instantly set the sandstorm into a frenzy. It swirled even faster, the winds spinning down to a point, which drilled towards her spear, aiming for the small weakness in it. With widening eyes, Alana could only watch, helpless, as this strange strength she previously had turned against her, aiming to destroy the Class.

Then a voice whispered in her ear. Deep and male.

Girl. Accept me and I will save you.

Alana’s fear was instantly doused by this foreign influence, and her suspicions rose.

If you do not choose to follow my shape, you will die. Do you accept?

Maybe it wasn’t smart, but…

“Fuck you.” Alana hissed.

CRACK.