Chapter 635 (1/2)

After the week of battle to make it to this point and meet Sergeant Platton, the next two weeks were relatively tame and nonviolent. With Sergeant Platton and his team recovered, the focus once more shifted to reconnaissance. Slowly, the group worked its way circuitously back towards the central island around which the Wight activity centered.

They couldn’t be too active, so Randidly couldn’t practice actual spear moves all that much. Even using Plant Dominance to make an avatar out of kelp underwater wasn’t very effective. Instead, he focused his efforts on the image battles with Azriel and Skarch as well as on his spells.

Due to that, Randidly earned almost 50 PP. Most of the gains came from the previously unused Sneak Skill and the continually triggered Child of Rain. Luckily, it appeared that the long storm was finally ending. A low mist sat over the islands instead, allowing the group to paddle silently in their canoe.

A cry went up among the Wights and there was a burst of noise nearby in the darkness. All 10 of their group were currently together in the canoe, but the feeling was still tense. Sergeant Platton turned and inclined his head to Randidly.

Grinning, Randidly spread his fingers. Several Phantom Lanterns popped into being and zoomed off into the mist around them. This was the reason that Sergeant Platton had finally ordered them to move forward. Randidly’s ability to distract with the Phantom Lanterns was unmatched. In the thick mist, they were just dim enough that a scout might doubt themselves when they chased after the light only to find nothing.

But they were currently using the lanterns very aggressively in order to clear a path. After two weeks of planning and stalling, now was the time to move. The goal was to get their eyes onto the Poison Maw the Wights were constructing. Only with proof of his obsession could Sergeant Platton bear to leave.

It was strange, but the more Randidly spent time with Sergeant Platton, the more he believed they shared some similar traits. Sergeant Platton was a man who had started as a common footsoldier on the front lines and basically survived long enough to finally be promoted. Randidly was somewhat unsurprised to learn that despite the nature of this world, people with connections were generally those who were promoted.

Still, some of the scars from the frontline remained. Even Sergeant Platton’s squad joked about how Sergeant Platton was considered an odd duck by his superiors. He wasn’t one to socialize much, and he gave respect only to those who gave it. For that reason, he remained a Sergeant, despite significant capabilities.

A friendship slowly blossomed. Well, perhaps that was too much. It was naught but a kinship through small grunts and pointing. But Randidly felt strangely impressed by the unassuming and no-nonsense demeanor that the Sergeant displayed. More than anything else, he willingly became silent when it became clear that the other party understood him. It was a few blessed moments of silence after spending so many weeks with Silo.

Their boat ran aground. Everyone grew tense and looked to Skarch. Strangely, the woman had a Skill that made a perfect map of the area in her mind. She could absolutely pinpoint where they were based upon this powerful image she held in her mind constantly. After struggling against her so long in the image games, Randidly could appreciate just how talented she was.

Skarch opened her eyes and nodded. Sergeant Platton signaled rapidly, and the group crept out of the canoe as silently as possible.

Then, as one, they began to move forward. But just as quickly, Randidly grabbed onto Sergeant Platton’s shoulder and stopped the other man from advancing. Frowning, Randidly shook his head. There was grass on this island, so Randidly could feel the Wights around them. And there were thousands. In front of them… there were far too many to sneak past.

Platton signaled back. Is there a way around?

Randidly shook his head. Platton’s breath came out in a sharp huff. But at that moment, Silo stepped forward.

Randidly eyed the other man carefully. Strangely, Silo had become sulky when Randidly and Sergeant Platton recognized a kindred spirit in each other. It was clearly jealousy, but Randidly was slightly mystified as to why it happened. Now, he worried somewhat that Silo would do something dumb that would invalidate all the effort they spent getting here stealthily.

Silo’s hand moved rapidly. Randidly saw the movements, but he wasn’t familiar with the military hand language here and couldn’t follow. Gritting his teeth, Sergeant Platton responded even more quickly.

Randidly looked at Azriel. She shrugged and silently drew her spear. Whatever it was, it was not a good sign. Randidly could sense the coverage going forward, and very quickly they would be on something that seemed filled with people.

On unspoken agreement, Randidly and Azriel raised the spears and touched the bladed ends. Their eyes locked.

For glory, Azriel’s blazing crimson eyes seemed to say.