Chapter 785 (1/2)

Randidly’s gains weren’t small, but it was still only two days worth of PP. Most of the Skill Levels he gained were concentrated around Visualization and the Ignition of the Emerald Essence Skills, but his Ashen Kata and Yggdrasil groupings also slowly ticked upward. That was part of the joy of how wide his Skill base was; over time, Randidly’s Soulskill would grow to impossible proportions. The greatest weapon he had was his potential.

Yet how short his time always seemed. Another deadline perpetually looming ahead...

Strangely, the greatest gainer was Stalemate Breaker with twelve Skill Levels. It was a Skill he had possessed for some time, but Randidly really grew to appreciate the feints it allowed him only now. Lightly tapping Helen’s spear would often cause her to lose her balance for a split second when she expected a powerful blow, and he could follow that up with a crushing power that never failed to inflict damage.

Which brought Randidly back to the speed of his own growth; the more he looked at it the more intimidated he got. Most of his Skills had just gained one or two Skill Levels, but that still brought him to 125 PP over two days. Was this just the new normal for improvements…? Randidly hoped so. Maybe reaching the end of this Path wasn’t as far away as he thought.

Yet somehow, Randidly suspected that this was a special result of the training that they were doing with Helen. Further sledding would not be so simple. Still, the gains were cumulative. The more he grew, the more capability he discovered to push practicing to a higher level. Using the multiple root avatars with images was one very effective example of that.

More concerning was the change in the messages Randidly received when he finished two steps in his Soulskill.

In the First Land, there is silence. Long ago this was a place of dreams, but it has become solely populated by nightmares. The wisdom here is twisted beyond recognition. The day of Judgement approaches. Intelligence and Reaction +30.

In the Second Land, a solitary carving of a grand figure stands on the greatest mountain the world has ever seen. No one is there to witness it. Silence pervades the land. Focus +45.

Randidly’s tongue slid back and forth like a graceful ice skater across his teeth. These were definitely not the previous notifications he received. It seemed that the gains he received from the Soulskill were also warning of a great change that would come. This, Randidly suspected, would be the last time he made it through the rotation. After this, his Soulskill would need to change. The bubbling tension would come to a head. The Procession would arrive at its destination or implode.

Honestly, Randidly now had to hope it was successful. At least on a small scale. The Procession had left a trail in devastation in its wake that would not be easy to heal. The Procession continuing to move and plundering more land was the only reason that the great costs of this endeavor hadn’t caught up to these people. And by extension, Randidly.

In addition to the Skill Level gains, Randidly also gained an actual Class Level during his Wight killing. Without the help of Acri to absorb experience, he was gathering it all for himself. Which made Randidly wonder what exactly experience was. It didn’t seem like any form of Aether, but it definitely was recognized by Aether.

Either way, Randidly looked at his new Status screen.

Randidly Ghosthound

Class: Lord of the Baleful Wood (+x5)

Level: 37 (6%)

Health(/R per hour): 3522/4589 (2487)

Mana(/R per hour): 4109/5369 (1956)

Stam(/R per min): 3211/4546 (790)

Vit: 522

End: 203

Str: 527

Agi: 574

Perception: 510

Reaction: 582

Resistance: 458

Willpower: 651

Intelligence: 620

Wisdom: 419

Control: 831

Focus: 407

Progenitor’s Influence: 31119

Combat: Spear Mastery Lvl 198, White Phantom’s Half-Step (Un) Lvl 88, Heavy Blow Lvl 111, Iron Skin Lvl 47, Dodge Lvl 109, Fighting Experience (Un) Lvl 155, Block Lvl 75, Phantom Onslaught Lvl 42, Calculated Blow Lvl 99, Roundhouse Kick Lvl 76, Idiosyncratic Cut (Un) Lvl 119, Stalemate Breaker Lvl 57, Talon Strike Lvl 89, Counter Lvl 84