Chapter 782 (1/2)

Randidly supposed scale was just a very specified application of efficiency, but because Domains tapped into the System, they could spread far beyond the reach of normal Skills. Randidly was already pushing the boundaries of Skills due to his high Perception, Mana Pool, and the Skill Aether Detection, but a Domain would let him expand even further.

Randidly’s goal for a Domain was to create something that he could use to empower all of Earth. A mass buff was the simplest, but that wasn’t appealing to Randidly. A mass buff could likely be accomplished by others. He had been out of touch with Donnyton for too long. Likely, another had gotten a similar Domain to lead Donnyton’s Squads in battle.

What then, was something that only Randidly could do?

Even with Ignition of the Emerald Essence sharpening his mind, Randidly was stumped by that question. Or rather than stumped, too many half-baked ideas sprang to mind. There were a lot of capabilities he had, but mostly he was an amalgamation of a fighter and a mage. There was also the growing influence of his Crown of Cataclysm and Gloom. That kingly sense of dominance and responsibility was perhaps another avenue that Randidly could pursue.

With a sigh, Randidly let those thoughts go. They could wait until later. To have these several categories was enough for now. Later he would check in on his Soulskill, but first, he wanted to proceed to the nearest colony of Wights to cut them to pieces. Not just to whittle down their numbers, but also because he wanted to use Cycle of the Gloomy Wood some to Level it up.

The only way it could grow was by gathering the energy of fallen creatures, and Randidly had largely been reaping the Wights from a distance for the past few days. Getting his hands dirty would be much more satisfying. Plus, he might Level up himself a bit as well.

Whistling softly, Randidly conjured a root spear. It was a good night for hunting. Barely light enough to see, but light enough that they would know fear when they saw the Wild Phantom scything through them.

*****

For a while, Silo just lay in the wreckage of the building and bled out. With his Corrupted Physique, there was little chance of him dying from blood loss. But he was feeling rather lightheaded.

But then again, he always felt light headed.

Rumi had left with Shal hours ago, leaving him without a word. Silo couldn’t believe it. In a way, this is how it had always been. They were twins, but Rumi was the more powerful one. She was the elder, almost a mother. But over time, in order to plant seeds that could grow, she split bits of herself off so that Tellus could once more ascend. Silo was one such seed.

Just a simple seed, Silo thought bitterly. After all I’ve done for her, is this really all I am…?

Yet even being a seed wasn’t enough. Of all the twins that were made, Silo was the only one that stayed close with Rumi to protect her. It was necessary, as she carved off chunks of her flesh in order to allow Tellus more chances. Yet the world had done nothing for her.

Silo was the runt, the last resort. He had always known that. But he had still believed he could be a hero. He still believed that his strength and light would create a world where Rumi could smile.

And yet…

Violence. Backstabbing. Fake smiles.

Those were the forces that populated the world. Silo’s first few years interacting with actual people, he tried to stick to his guns. He perfected his strength. He had preached kindness and honor. Yet at every turn, he had been dogged by those jealous of him. With influence and money, Althumber had done everything he could in order to make Silo’s life a living hell.

In spite of it all, Silo had beaten Althumber in the finals of the Regional Tournament. Which was when the problems truly started.

Oh, how far we had fallen. Silo’s mouth crept open, but it felt like his jaw was dislocated. He leered at the darkness of the rubble piled on top of him as he remembered.

Accidents like glass being found in his and Rumi’s food, strange disappearances of their friends, and messages left in blood on the walls of their house, drove the two of them out of Hastam to seek shelter in the countryside. It was only then that Silo capitulated to the elders and agreed to absorbing strength from the jewel.

There was no other way. In order to protect Rumi, Silo would even sacrifice the picturesque dreams the two had created together. So he pursued strength and found only violence.

The preliminaries to the tournament were eye-opening. His teammates’ strength…. Silo tried his best to lead them, but they were constantly snubbing him and ignoring him. Theirs was a strength that let them do what they wanted. They were selfish.

It was difficult to stomach, but Silo craved that power. And he knew he could protect them, if only he had more power…

Bitterly, Silo looked down at the stumps of his hands. In the darkness of the room he should not be able to see, but somehow the fuzzy darkness parted and let him sense it. Strangely, the blood flowing out of his body seemed to carry much of the darkness that had built up in his mind these last two months. It carried away the darkness and he could see more and more clearly, even in the near blackness.

“Which is why you have staked a claim on another, isn’t it Rumi?” Silo whispered. “Because his spear is a different spear entirely. A noble and carefree spear. A spear or responsibility, to protect… That was our dream. That should have been my-”