Chapter 871 (2/2)

Like a pool floatie with a puncture hole, Helen leaned back and sagged into the ground as she allowed her breath to seep out of her in a bitter whistle. Again, she was useless. She felt as she had before her scheming mother. A body without any redeeming qualities than bearing a name and the possibility of children. The clear blue sky above did little to soften the reality of this situation.

It wasn’t her fault-

But that didn’t really matter, did it?

Randidly looked over at Helen and chewed on his lip. “Well… it’s not like there isn’t a way to accelerate the process of the Domain… but that onus will be on you. Only you can strain the limits of the Domain. I’ve tried various methods, but developing an image for the Domain cannot be forced.”

For several long seconds, Helen just lay against the warm Earth and breathed. Underneath her, the soft carpet of grass was so cushion-y that some part of her wanted to take a nap. Around Randidly, most plants were like that, compliant and inviting. His aura vivified nature into becoming habitable for civilization.

Sometimes, Helen wished that same aura would bring some order and contentment to her life.

This was not one of those times.

Her eyes narrowed to slits as she leaned upward. “You mean…?”

“Training. Much harsher training than this. Closer to the edge of your ability to handle.” Randidly said slowly. He was studying her as if trying to understand if she would survive the path that he was offering her. She hoped that she had proved herself in their battle, despite the fact that she lost.

The image of the Hellfin Reaper came upon her. Muted as it was, it still colored the surrounding area with crimson undertones.

Randidly chuckled. “Yea, I get it. I would be chomping at the bit if I were you. Fine. On Earth, the Dungeons are much less controlled than they were on Tellus; I believe that even Donnyton has two that you can requisition to use. Or if you prefer, I-”

“No need,” Helen said coolly. Already she leaped to her feet and prepared to rush toward the Dungeon, but Randidly’s voice stopped her.

“Helen.”

She turned to face him, tilting her head up. A Crown floated above his head. The grass around Randidly Ghosthound’s feet fluttered in a nonexistent wind. “I was shaped by my experiences in a Dungeon far above my Level. I cannot deny… it is fitting, for the same to happen to you. But I was lucky. I suspect you will get the benefit of none of that luck. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.”

Helen nodded. His emerald eyes bored into her. She could tell that he understood that she had no intention of heeding his words. Still, his gaze lingered on her, searching for an answer to a question that only he understood.

There was a test in his gaze, but Helen didn’t understand the criterion.

It wasn’t that Helen wouldn’t like to stay relatively safe while she grew stronger. But they both knew that sufficient growth within controlled conditions wasn’t possible. Only exposure to the unpredictable world would encourage growth sufficient to ensure a smooth future.

At the cost of a dangerous now.

When Helen heard that Randidly had challenged the Squads to a competition to be held in two weeks, she hadn’t needed to ask why. The Squads were growing stronger, sure. Their drilling and teamwork exercises would definitely provide tangible benefits. It was that bedrock of training that had allowed Donnyton such an edge in the struggle to be the strongest in the world.

But that edge was only sharp enough to be a threat against other human organizations. The System didn’t even notice those small threats. Even the accomplishments of Earth had stalled out with this growth plan. Other than the two already cleared Danger Zones, none had even come close to being able to defeat the enemies within.

No, rather being unable to, the high-Level Classers simply hadn’t attempted it. Helen found it baffling. They concerned themselves with other things. Although they likely wouldn’t notice for a while, Helen had no doubt their growth would stagnate because of the choice to focus on economic rather than martial pursuits.

And the threats that were looming weren’t just their fellow humans. Soon, Donnyton would need to defend its title of strongest against something on the level of the Wight threat.

Suddenly, the Crown above Randidly’s head faded. “It’s just a spar, this challenge. Don’t risk yourself needlessly. Good luck.”

Although he knew she wouldn’t listen to him, Randidly still said nothing more than that. Slowly, Helen turned away and proceeded down the Path. Once she arrived in the outskirts of Donnyton, she quickly made a beeline for the Village center.

It struck her then how difficult it was for the one who wore the Crown. Randidly had his own battles to fight, so his time could not be dedicated to assisting Helen. She didn’t begrudge him that. He had marked her and ultimately, what she did with the energy he provided to her was her own business.

He could only watch and give advice that he knew wouldn’t be followed. Yet he had to give it because he knew it was the safe Path.

Yet wasn’t the whole point of this challenge to push Donnyton off of the safe path? And so he did not stop her. It was an unspoken understanding that this was the only method to climb upward in strength.

Shaking her head to dispel useless thoughts, Helen continued to the portal to the Dungeon. Toward the Level 50 Dungeon that Dozer had dismissed as more trouble than it was worth.