Chapter 815 (2/2)

But the Oracle’s faux-young face held no answer. So after hesitating for a few moments, Randidly nodded slowly. “Fine then. Let’s go retrieve my equipment.”

“We can leave immediately.” The Oracle announced. Then she turned and walked out of the room.

Gritting his teeth, Randidly said. “I would really prefer that we wait for some time. I must make arrangements for my absence-.”

The Oracle glanced at him over her shoulder. “Did I not already tell you? Your Master is in danger. Due to this… unpredictable event, that window has opened once more; you may return in time save him. But you will need your equipment. That is why I have come. Or would you rather wait here and handle your… business first?”

When she said business, the Oracle’s nose wrinkled like she was talking about Randidly masturbating. But she had a point. Randidly’s lips pressed into a thin line. He really wanted to stop and understand what was going on with his Soulskill. Now that it was a part of him rather than a projection of him, it was governed by the System. There were strange implications there. Ones that he would like to investigate.

In addition, the people Randidly had saved were separated by the chaos of the transition and on a rather small continent that was surrounded by huge banks of mist. And Randidly genuinely had no idea what lay on the other side of that mist. Even his powerful Perception was helpless before it. He had the intuitive feeling that he couldn’t extend the world, only the people over there could. By exploring.

So in effect, he had both combined himself with a world and dropped thousands of refugees into the countryside without any food or shelter. At least this land hadn’t been pillaged, and when the golden egg that had been his charred Skills hatched to form the world, Randidly had sensed how vibrant and abundant the natural resources were.

But honestly, this wasn’t a great start to his new Soulskill.

Everything has a price.

“Fine,” Randidly said lightly. Even if he had to leave his army behind, he would travel quickly to get Acri and Sulfur and then return. It shouldn’t take more than a day. And then, once he had determined the situation around Shal, he could deal with his Soulskill.

Time was now equal between himself and his Soulskill, and these people would be resourceful enough to survive for a day without him babying them. Besides, without Progenitor’s Influence, what could he do?

Plant crops for them? Erect a longhouse?

After nodding, the Oracle began to walk down the hill. Randidly followed. When they reached the bottom, the Oracle began to jog, and then run. Randidly’s eyebrows rose; for all her small stature, she had serious wheels on her.

Very quickly, the countryside was zipping past them as they crossed the mist covered Death School. Randidly was honestly surprised how barren the land was; apparently, the austere personality of those from the Death School was mostly upbringing. The stone studded highlands were just the right kind of combination of monotony and danger to raise spear users that largely hated fun and innovation.

The Oracle glanced over at Randidly. “Is this your top speed?”

Randidly grinned awkwardly. They both accelerated, but Randidly felt the strain more than the Oracle did. It was clear that the Oracle was tapping into some image of wind to increase her speed, but Randidly didn’t really have any images relating to straight-line speed. In addition, his most relevant Skill was Yyrwood Body of Yggdrasil that gave him a physical boost, and that was currently being repaired. He would rather give it a break in a situation like this, and let his pride suffer.

Plus, running without activating the Skill was a strange experience. It was easy to forget how far they had come with the System. Which then made Randidly wonder how the surviving denizens of his Soulskill would handle the System.

The fact that the System would now affect them directly had been an unpleasant surprise. It seemed that the circumstances confused the System, but it also might mean that monsters would soon begin to appear, and not of the racial variety. Goblins. Minotaurs. Evil Spirits.

Still, where there was darkness there was light. Even before he left, Rejt was laughing uproariously as he unlocked the Clever Quip Skill and was pestering Allica to engage in dialogue with him so he could increase its Level.

For her, Randidly felt only pity.

“We are here,” The Oracle announced. Randidly slowed down and looked up at the rather cliche castle built into the side of a mountain. The only things missing were the black rain clouds and ominous bare trees.

After exchanging a glance, the two continued inside. There they wound their way through guard houses with slumped Wight bodies and a grand hall that was barren of even a table. As they walked through the wide room, their footsteps echoed.

They eventually proceeded upward, racing up stone stairs until they reached what must have been a sunroom. The main feature of the room was the wide openings that likely once held windows; now they were shattered and empty, looking strangely like the maw of a dead swamp monster. Without the glass, mist flowed in through the windows and pooled on the ground like.

In the center of the room was a table where Acri and Sulfur were strapped down with thick leather bindings. When Randidly arrived, they squirmed in excitement.

Beside the table was a chair in which a man sat.

“Mr. Ghosthound, pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Versault. I believe it’s time for us to have a talk.”