Chapter 924 (2/2)

In a similar way, all those individuals never spoke much about Randidly Ghosthound. And when they did speak, it was never casual. His was a name that none of the original inhabitants of Donnyton would willingly bring up. Most of the new members were either obsessed or dismissive of him, thinking that his exploits had been exaggerated.

Neither of these attitudes was enough to draw more than an expression of respect out of the original members.

Isabella hated it. She hated that she felt excluded because of something she couldn't’ control. She hated that the original people of Donnyton treated Randidly like some secret that needed to be kept. She hated how, to them, he was something more than a human.

He was a man, just like everyone else. So Isabella had pushed and prodded until she found a man willing to speak at length about Randidly Ghosthound. His name was Stan, and he was the elected commander of Donnyton’s army based on his tactical acumen.

And all she had managed to get from Stan was the urging to stay away from Randidly Ghosthound, and the following few sentences: “He’s not a fraud; everything you’ve heard is real. In fact, I bet that bastard is twice the monster that people say. But always remember this: his favor is just as dangerous as his ire. The people who interact with him never come away unscathed.”

Which, of course, was endlessly infuriating to Isabella. Yet now, facing him, she understood why the people who had seen Randidly Ghosthound fight didn’t want to speak about it.

To know him was to face your own weakness. And before him, she was just-

“Bella! Get your shield up,” Pan said, smacking her back. By instincts, her left leg pivoted backward and she kept her right arm up as the only exposed portion of her body. Randidly’s attack smashed her backward, sending her sprawling.

Daggers spun in Pan’s hands as he rushed to strike in the opening that Isabella created. Scrambling to her feet, Isabella righted herself just in time to see Pan cursing and cutting away at the ashen blades that cut at him from the sides. All of the attacks concentrated on his legs, seeking to seal Pan’s mobility.

Isabella roared and rushed toward Randidly, but he disappeared and reappeared behind Pan.

Quicker than Isabella could believe, Pan performed a backflip to avoid the spear thrust and flung something down at Randidly. A blade of ash cut the projectile out of the air just before it was going to hit Randidly’s eyes.

To Isabella’s shock, Randidly was grinning at the still midair Pan. “You cut your own arm to get blood to blind me?”

Pan smiled uneasily at Randidly as he twisted through the air. “Well, I haven’t been able to get any of your blood, so…”

Grunting, Randidly gestured and produced thick spikes of plant matter that rushed up toward Pan. Because Isabella could sense the roots and vines that ripped through the warriors that rushed to assist them, she knew that no one would be able to get there in time.

Sibling Bond gave her the burst of speed she needed, closing the distance to Pan in a split second. Two of the spikes she blocked with her shield, while she was forced to slow the others by allowing them to pierce her side and thigh.

Quick as a flash, Pan spun and landed on her upturned stomach, avoiding the spikes. Then he pulverized her organs as he leapt forward toward Randidly, who was only a meter away. Go for it, little brother.

An ashen blade shot out to stop Pan’s thrust, but his Aura Shield emerged and reduced the strength of the attack enough that his arm was just laid bare to the bone, rather than severed.

A sense of elation filled Isabella as she saw Pan’s dagger stab into Randidly’s shoulder. But that feeling of pride was quickly transformed into confusion as both Pan and Randidly stayed very still, allowing Pan’s Stamina Syphon to work.

“...how?” Pan finally asked.

“You can drain me up to your Stamina pool, right? Well, just this little amount… I can eat the cost.”

His spear cut Pan open, blood filling the air in a wide arc. Slowly, Pan toppled over backward. Randidly looked down at them for a second, considering. Finally, he said. “Before you get Level 50… find Nathan.”

Then Isabella passed out. When she awoke, she was told that they hadn’t managed to beat the previous team's record of lasting against Randidly Ghosthound.