Chapter 625 (2/2)

For a second, before the voice spoke, Randidly had seen something. It was difficult to describe in words. When Randidly was a child, he often played with tape measures. It was a fun game to see how long you could stretch it out from the base before the weight of it was enough to overcome the crease of the tape. But at that moment, the weight became too much, and the tape would collapse to the ground, all sense of structure and shape was lost.

It was a sudden shift that reminded Randidly of the evolutions of his image for As the Sun Stills.

But here, it was his view of the world that collapsed. The flattened and monochrome’d world seemed to struggle for a second, and then it crumbled like paper. And then-

If this world is naught but ashes… what happens when those ashes fall away? There is only memory and loss. Sit in the lonliness and you will feel it breath.

Everything became agony. It was raw and present in a way that Randidly could only compare to those times he had received dental work in the past life. Sometimes, a nerve was exposed. It wasn’t pain because something bad was truly happening perhaps, but it was so much unknown and overwhelming information the nerve had never experienced. The body had no way to understand what was happening except pain.

This was the spiritual version of that-

Return.

And just like that, Randidly was back, sitting on the ground with sweat pouring down his brow. In front of him, a dozen or so notifications blinked, informing him that he had gains in both Nether Resistance and Pain Resistance.

Then a powerful presence pressed down on him. It was a familiar one too; it was the stony-faced Patron of Ash.

Do not attempt that again. Take it slow. Soon, you will be on the Path to becoming Chosen, and then you will find answers. Until them… don’t casually waste a life that belongs to me. Don't you desire to become my vessel?

For some reason, Randidly’s limbs weren’t working correctly, and he collapsed back on his back. The domes of moss around them trembled and began to sag. Desperately Randidly reached for his Skills, but he still felt strangely numb and disconnected from everything. For the first time in a long time, Randidly felt deeply nervous. In those first moments of pain… he had completely lost himself. He was unconscious within a second. If he had stayed in that strange-

Randidly coughed out a fat wad of phlegm and then gasped in several batches of air. Within a few seconds, the numbness began to recede, and there was a strange mental tingling that afflicted Randidly. Still, that was much preferable to the numbness. Finally, he was able to grip his Skills and stop the domes from collapsing.

He leaned his head against the ground and said a silent thank you to the Patron of Ash. Then more notifications forced Randidly’s eyes open.

Congratulations! Due to a successful resonance, a change has appeared amongst the involved Skills! Your understanding of the Skill “Ashes to Ashes” has deepened. Although you do not yet truly understand, the dangers present have become known to you. From this point on, the cost of the Skill is decreased by a small margin. Effect increases with Skill Level. In addition, there is a small chance of an accident while utilizing Ashes to Ashes.

Randidly swore quietly. That… was not a trade worth making. Such a risk was impossible to calculate. But before he could think too deeply on that, the notifications continued.

Your Skill Scarlet Burst has taken on some of the characteristics of Ashes to Ashes! It has evolved into the Skill-

Before that notification could complete, Randidly felt something click into place inside of him. A whooshing noise filled his ears, and abruptly Aether rushed out of him to form something in his core. Normally, Randidly could have easily handled all of these sudden changes and acted accordingly. But at the moment, the strange prickling continued. The numbness hadn’t quite fully departed. Effectively, Randidly was at the mercy of the System at the moment, and he didn’t appreciate it one bit.

Warning, addition resonance has been detected! Synchronicity-

Congratulations! Your Skill Scarlet Burst has been consumed by a newly created Skill. Due to the replacement effect, a Skill slot will not be occupied by the new Skill. Skill Level will be retained.

Congratulations! You have created the Third Kata of the Ashen Spear! You have gained the Skill “When a Shadow Departs, Fireflies Dance”!