Chapter 707 (2/2)

Don’t psych yourself out, Helen chided herself as he produced her spear. Randidly did the same, as well as allowing that strange, grey-black armor to climb across his body and settle across him. It mostly covered his torso, shoulders, and arms, but Helen didn’t miss the thin layer that settled on his upper thighs.

Narrowing her eyes, Helen speculated on the weak points of Randidly, and where she should strike for the best effect. Ultimately though, she had to admit that he would be a tough nut to crack. That was the rough of Randidly Ghosthound. He wasn’t a defensive specialist, or a spear specialist, or even a speed specialist. He just did it all so well that he could endure what you were good at, and strike where you were weak.

“Let the match… begin!”

****

Even as the referee/announcer signaled the start of the fight, Randidly shivered. This fucking cold…! It was with an extremely uncomfortable expression that he regarded Helen before him, who instantly began spinning her spear. Although it didn’t seem like much, Randidly could sense that she was utilizing a Skill she had used previously to create strange currents of force in the air. If he wasn’t careful, it would easy to be bound by them.

In spite of the seriousness of the occasion, Randidly sneezed. As if on cue, Helen surged into motion, her body blurring strangely as she cut towards him. Even forcefully pumping energy into Chosen of Ash did little to dispel the deep cold that was afflicting him. In truth, it didn’t affect his movements or thoughts anymore. He had checked his physical condition, and it honestly seemed to have improved somewhat. But it was a constant source of discomfort, to feel as though warmth was impossible.

The feel of it was not something he had experienced until now, and it was taking away a little bit of his edge.

Helen’s spear was quick and already Randidly felt the small tugs of those currents of air. But Acri sprung out in an Idiosyncratic Cut, aiming to meet Helen directly. Of course, as soon as Randidly moved, she shifted.

With a quick spin, her slash turned into a feint and now she stepped beyond Randidly’s guard. In a blindingly quick movement, she lowered her spear and thrust toward his exposed side. Hissing between chattering teeth, Randidly leaned to the side. The strike skittered off of Sulfur harmlessly. Taking advantage of the moment, Randidly smashed down toward Helen with Acri.

To his surprise, or perhaps not, Helen didn’t retreat at all and simply planted her left foot. In a single movement, Helen shot past him and his strike. Randidly instantly slowed the slash and turned to regard Helen. Their eyes met.

In her eyes was a challenge: Was this really all he had?

Randidly chuckled. It’s not like Helen came out so hot in that exchange herself. Strikes of that caliber he could endure all day.

But she was right that this wasn’t enough strength to overcome the enemies that waited on the grander stage. Time to up the ante.

For good luck, and to get rid of some of the tingling numbness in his legs, Randidly stamped his foot. Once more, Helen came forward with admirable sharpness, spear raised.

Breath of the Spear Phantom might have been effective, but it seemed like that wasn’t the point, to Randidly. That was relying on a single Skill to suppress Helen. His goal was to prove to her, and to himself, that he had the qualifications to reach to the next tier of fighters. He needed to prove he had the strength to alter the fate of a nation. He was more than this.

The Crown of Cataclysm and Gloom condensed above his head, instantly sharpening Randidly’s vision. The Wild Phantom’s Embrace began to hum as Randidly moved forward to meet Helen.

As they approached, Randidly felt the pulling currents of a wild river with incredible strength. Wincing, he ripped forcibly through the restraints. This might be a problem eventually if she could stack them infinitely. But her eyes twitched slightly as Randidly did so, which was slightly gratifying.

Instantly, her body contorted as she swayed out of the way and struck at him once more from the side. But toward this attack, Randidly only grinned; as the binding forces that he had ripped through caught up to him, he followed their pull. Like a phantom, he slid backward away from Helen’s attack without moving a muscle. Randidly wished he could see what it looked like.

Her eyes narrowed in fury. With an even higher level of acceleration, Helen surged forward. Randidly bent his knees and pressed forward to meet the attack. The spear stab flicked past his face and clanged off one of Sulfur’s shoulder guards. But all the while, Randidly’s gaze didn’t waver. With a short breath, Randidly expelled as much of the cold in his heart that he could manage into the surrounding air.

Helen paled somewhat, but her spear slithered back into a defensive position faster than an adder. Even so, she was forced to take the force of the Inevitable Phantom Arrives directly.

Clanggggg.