Chapter 988 (2/2)

Randidly rubbed his face furiously for several seconds. The Rider looked at him in silent askance. Almost helpless, Randidly waved a hand and let the aura of the Grim Chimera drop. Then he began to walk toward the crack where the guards were standing.

No matter how much he thought about it, Randidly wouldn’t be able to figure out what was occurring without either being extremely patient or investigating directly. And Randidly had learned his lesson about letting his opponents dictate the terms of their encounters from several painful failures in the past.

Plus, the first option was much less likely than the second option. If a foreign power was truly intervening, Randidly believed he would have sensed a trace of foreign Aether. But it was only his energy that filled the air.

When Randidly materialized out of the darkening night next to the guards, they jumped almost two full meters into the air. Randidly was honestly rather amused by their jumping ability as they tried to calm themselves. He kept his expression neutral and studied the way they moved and the weapons they carried. Even though it was slight, he couldn’t help but be interested to see they were using spears.

While they were pointing their weapons at him, Randidly smiled and said. “Good evening. You can understand me, right? Please, lead me to your leader. We have… business to discuss.”

Immediate understanding blossomed in their eyes, as well as a strange kind of dread. They immediately feared him. Randidly’s grin became a bit more feral. I’ve met monsters with intelligence, but… by and large they aren’t willing to negotiate with me at all. The Bone Wyrm that became a source for Neveah’s body was the notable exception. Yet these birds…

Randidly studied the Aether around their bodies as the guards led Randidly deep within the crack. Unfortunately, the Aether of the System was still a little too delicate and intricate for Randidly to get the full idea in a short amount of time. He could tell they had begun internalizing his Aether, but it was hard to see what changes that caused.

Within the ground, they quickly reached a dozen branching paths. Down some, Randidly heard the sounds of talking. Down others, Randidly saw dozens of monsters training with weapons. Down even others, Randidly could sense the presence of a growing number of foodstuffs. Clearly, whoever had created this place was preparing for a great war.

As they moved deeper, Randidly’s touch spread to more and more plants. They crept downward around the stone passageways, a constant invisible companion. Furthermore, Randidly continued to sweep the surrounding area with Aether. But the ground around him remained consistently mundane. There didn’t seem to be any sort of trap ahead of him.

Finally, they reached a large stone cavern with a tall chair at the other end. Randidly was shocked to find that someone was already waiting for him, as though they had been able to send word ahead. Had they been watched?

Or do these monsters have access to the messaging function of the System?

Large torches on the wall illuminated the cavern. A female bird monster was sitting on the throne with her scaled legs in front of her. Although she was not as tall as the guards that had brought Randidly, nor did she possess the same vicious claws as the four warriors flanking her, Randidly would have recognized her immediately without the accouterments. After all, his Crown of Upheaval and Gloom hummed in recognition of a kin as soon as their eyes met.

This one was a Queen.

The leader of the bird monsters opened her beak in what was immediately identifiable as a grim smile. “I wonder who would be so bold as to march into my territory and demand an audience. All of the remaining tribes have been brought under my banner. There is no one unaccounted for. Yet you didn’t come riding the black monstrosities… so I was curious.

“However… my advisors did point out that there was one central location between the two scourge hives that was treated with great caution. With something akin to… reverence. A residence that we have not had the opportunity to investigate.”

Her confidence was clear in her tone, although it was also clear that she was treading carefully with Randidly. The bird monster stepped down off of her throne. Her legs were long and slender, and extending for almost two-thirds of her body. In terms of form, she reminded Randidly most of a heron. Her beak gleamed dully in the low light of the room.

“My name is Ki-Kunot, War Priestess of the Silver Wings. Now head of the Jungle Survival Crusade. And you… are master of the scourges?”

Chuckling, Randidly straightened his spine. His Crown of Upheaval and Gloom immediately condensed over his head as if it had been there the whole time. The pale metal spikes gleamed darkly in the cavern as the flaming torches flickered.

But Randidly refrained from releasing his Willpower as an oppressive force in the surrounding air. He simply let a fraction of his aura permeate into the cavern, as though he were adding droplets of ink into clean water. Immediately, Ki-Kunot stopped smiling. It seemed that she was sensitive to the question of Crowns and images.

Which means I should handle this more delicately than I had planned, Randidly thought with a bit of irritation. If not with force… how should I deal with this?

Randidly blinked slowly. At that moment his eyes were completely closed, a world exploded before his eyes. His whole Soulskill expanded rapidly and then shrunk to nothing in a single heartbeat. Randidly’s eyes opened. This won’t be a test to train my power… but it will be a chance to reframe the image of my Class so I can heal the damage to it later.

“I… have been known as Progenitor. As Figure of the Alpha Cosmos. Recently, I have become Lord of the Baleful Wood, whose Riders you have fought so desperately… But I am also the Loyal Benefactor of the Weak, Lighthouse of the Boundless Worlds, Lodestone of the Black Wanting, Lesson for those of Brittle Will, and the Longing of the Banished Wind. you…”

Randidly paused and smiled widely at Ki-Kunot. “...may call me Randidly Ghosthound. I have come to accept the terms of your surrender.”