Chapter 936 (2/2)

On the other hand… Twisting his mouth, Randidly looked at this offending Skill. It grew six Levels from only a single-use…

Then Randidly shook his head. Rather than finding a way to better avoid the damage, the correct path was figuring out the exact mechanism that the Skill used to accomplish that vast power Randidly had briefly felt. With a more concrete image, he would be able to offload a lot of the strain.

Although the text of the Skill was rather ambiguous, one thing was clear: the Skill allowed Randidly to briefly enjoy the benefits of Paths he had not taken. The further those Paths were from what Randidly actually had chosen, the more strain Randidly had to withstand.

From what he had felt… Randidly had gathered a vast amount of energy into his body… and then he had somehow… compressed time with himself…? Which would explain the damage he received…

“Ugh… I can’t figure it out without time to experiment.” Randidly sighed. A bloody Helen looked at him dully. The gulf of disappointment in her gaze had been present since Randidly finishing the battle before she had managed to overcome her sixteen opponents. Rather than being angry, she just seemed resigned. Bleakly, she gazed out across the arena, looking so much like a disappointed child that Randidly could barely stifle a laugh.

When Helen looked sharply up at him, the venom in her gaze abruptly restored, Randidly raised his hand to his mouth and pretended to cough. For a split second, he allowed the true damage he received from the Skill to show through.

Helen frowned at him. “Are you alright?”

“The new Skill is… strange.” Randidly admitted. Then he looked at Helen speculatively. “It… was hard for me to understand. Did you…?”

“Nah, but I felt when you used it.” Helen shook her head. “The whole arena shook. Not physically, but I felt… well, something strange through our connection.”

Randidly just grunted. Well, if I can’t figure this out, better think about how to use the other Skills…

The shift from two Skillsets into one saw some bleeding of different Skills, but after experimenting with them against Paolo and Kayle, Randidly was rather satisfied with the final result.

Cursed Appetite of the Wraith seemed to have absorbed the offensive capabilities of All is Ash and combined that with the suppression of Breath of the Spear Phantom. In addition, it gave him a passive damage boost the more attacks he avoided, likely as part of Wild Phantom’s Embrace.

As it was, Randidly could still create condensed blades and shields of the terrible hunger that he felt, as well as taking in a deep breath. This deep breath would rip the ability to breathe from people in the surrounding area, as well as stealing a small amount of Mana and Stamina. These Skills were based on ash exactly, but a sort of condensed grey emotion. A combination of despair and resentment that seemed useful at leaching away the strength of opponents.

Unfortunately, I was so shocked at the effects that I repeated the Stamina and Mana absorption several times. There is no way that Kayle missed it, Randidly thought grimly. He looked over at the tightly packed VIP box. Because it steals from each person, it would give me an even bigger edge if they send everyone against me. Still… useful for the future.

Monstrosity’s Appalling Physicality was a pure physical boost, and likely the most pedestrian of the Skills he obtained. Of course, that was just because the bonus was of a recognizable type. The magnitude of the bonus was anything but average. Likely, in terms of physical defense and recovery, Randidly’s abilities had doubled. Which, considering his already inhuman levels in those areas, was ridiculous

However, considering the strain some of the Skills put on his body, now seemed entirely necessary.

Reaper’s Mantle of Catastrophe was an evolution of Frigid Ash, Devouring Storm. Randidly also couldn’t help but notice some thematic elements that it had stolen from his Crown of Upheaval and Gloom. As it was, all people within a few meters of Randidly would find their movements restricted. If Randidly burned Mana, he could spread that area out to fifty or so meters. The longer one remained in the area, the more he or she would be afflicted.

Unfortunately, using his other Skills just seemed like such a more efficient way to spend Mana, but as the Skill Level improved, the passive effect would become more valuable.

Molten Fang of the Pariah was the baby that Randidly had received from Ulaat, Patron of Ash. It contained all of his anguish and bitterness, condensed into a brand and shaped like a spear. And also mixed with the uncanny attack speed of an Inevitable Phantom Arrives.

Man is Proud, But the Chimera Takes was the combination of Spear Advances, Ash Trails, and As the Sun Stills. While using it, Randidly would rip across the arena and gather all of his terrible hunger into a strike that would destroy anyone who dared to receive it head on.

This was another Skill that had a powerful physical toll. After using it a few times, Randidly had ceased to experiment with it against Paolo and Kayle. Paolo seemed to have some way to disperse the damage, and Kayle was able to deflect too much of it away. It wasn’t cost-effective to use it against them.

But against monsters that were less skilled at dodging...

Chimera Weeps as Man Mourns was a move that allowed Randidly to strike up rapidly for a short period of time. Although the power wasn’t that impressive, the sheer speed and wide area of effect made it a useful tool.

And the most confusing of his newly acquired Skills… honestly, Randidly hadn’t been impressed at first by Chimeric Avoidance. As it was a Skill that blended together All is Ash and When a Shadow Departs, Fireflies Dance, Randidly had high expectations. Yet the name was rather bland.

But in practice… it was even scarier than Randidly could believe.

Chimeric Avoidance (L): The uncanny ability for the chimera to avoid grave harm is its greatest strength. A portion of all damage received is always avoided. A portion of Attribute expenditures and mental strain is always avoided. In addition, the Skill can be activated to shift the physical body to a position that violates the laws of physics. With this Avoidance, even universal laws can be briefly surpassed. Effect of avoidance increases with Skill Level. Time limit of avoiding universal laws increases. Current Avoidance Percentage: 8%.

When Randidly saw that 8%, he just blinked. Did that mean… he avoided 8% of all damage that he would receive… and all Skills cost 8% less…?

And the line about avoiding universal laws…

Randidly couldn't’ help but wonder if this Skill, rather than Monstrosity’s Appalling Physicality, was the reason that using All Else Succumbs, Yet Time Whirls the Earth was possible. Somehow, he was now only bound by 92% of the limitations that covered other people.