Chapter 1079 (1/2)

Some part of Nahlun knew that he was making a mistake by putting himself into the line of fire here. But as he looked at the wretched state of Vualla and witnessed dead eyes of the soldier that managed to carry her out of the Nether hell…

Shivering, Nahlun had to look away from those eyes. Even though that individual was just an image and Nahlun possessed a body, there was a terrible intensity there that had nothing to do with power and had everything to do with determination. It was that core of steel that had allowed these two to escape where it looked like Vualla’s significant power had failed.

Yet even though they had made it to this rendezvous point, it was clear from the wrathful roars that the Nether Gatekeeper’s attention was definitely attracted in this direction. The first Squad had accomplished every task flawlessly. At this rate, there would be nothing left for the other Squads to assist with.

Perhaps even that amazing capability wouldn’t have been enough for Nahlun to expose himself to danger, due to the lack of relationship with this unknown soldier and Vualla herself if the first exhausted message of this soldier hadn’t been so breathtakingly clear.

Without any ability to say words, the soldier could only gesture. Yet that was more than enough to get his point across. ‘Please, use the Aether Key, and take our Squad Leader. She, at least, needs to survive…’

“You’ve accomplished our goal of destroying the Nether Wells, so please allow us to handle your role; we will lead the Nether Gatekeeper toward the ambush,” Nahlun said solemnly. As a veteran of fifty years on the frontlines who possessed three stars, he knew exactly how likely it was that he would die for this decision.

Yet as he said it, it was suddenly like a weight was removed from his shoulders. In his heart, Nahlun knew that this was the correct decision. They all were soldiers. And it was clear that the other squad had taken action so Nahlun’s squad wouldn’t be exposed to danger. Honor dictated that Nahlun return the favor.

Nahlun could see the hesitation and confusion in the silent soldier’s eyes. It was an image, somehow having reached the level of two stars, likely a veteran of an uncountable number of battles. The image undoubtedly knew that Nahlun’s squad would be exposing itself to unnecessary danger by giving him assistance. So when he arrived, there was a pause as the two duties warred within the image’s heart. His hesitation betrayed his kindness.

Yet even after Nahlun made the offer, the soldier hesitated. It was clear he did not want to truly expose them to this risk.

To emphasize his point, Nahlun offered the soldier the Aether Key. Torn by indecision, the soldier looked down at Vualla. That seemed to harden its heart somewhat. When he looked back up at Nahlun, the soldier took the Aether Key and disappeared back to safety.

“He didn’t even have the strength to speak,” One of Nahlun’s subordinates said softly. “What the hell did the first Squad need to go through…?”

“War,” Nahlun said shortly. “And they sacrificed seven lives to get this far. Look sharp, boys. Let’s not let their sacrifice be in vain. Let’s lead that pig of a Nether Gatekeeper to slaughter.”

Everyone nodded.

*****

”I fucking hate headaches,” Randidly spoke with such acidic vehemence that his own words woke him up from his fitful slumber. What was waiting for him was an almost reassuringly mundane ceiling of canvas. Then the thundering headache his sleeptalking had reference to made itself known and Randidly winced and pressed his eyes closed.

Even after several seconds, the pounding didn't abate. In fact, Randidly had a terrible suspicion that the pain was growing worse every second. Randidly could only forcefully release the tension he was holding in his jaw and neck to relieve some of the worst symptoms.

Congratulations! Your Skill Pain Resistance has grown to Level 108!

Great, at least this is a sort of pain that I can grow from. Randidly forcibly warped his mouth with a manic grin.

Above him, Yggdrasil chuckled dryly. ”If you truly hated headaches you wouldn’t continually put yourself in situations that result in them. You'll have to forgive us if we start to suspect that you are a masochist.

Randidly barred his teeth while keeping his eyes closed. In the brief few moments that he had his eyes open, the light raked his grey matter across a bed of coals and he was loathe to experience such a thing again. ”I'm not even sure if that's incorrect. But it's all to grow. If you know a better way of growing-”

Randidly face suddenly twisted into a scowl as pain like few feelings he had ever experienced pierced through to the very core of his being. Existence, from Randidly’s perspective, stuttered to a stop. For several seconds he couldn't even move; that pain was like a spear that pinned him to the ground while his thoughts helplessly circled him in dismay at his terrible circumstances.

Congratulations! Your Skill Pain Resistance has grown to Level 109!

Now that I think about it, why am I gaining Skill Levels? Is this not pain from Nether? Then what-

Something at his core flickered on and off, causing agonizing fluctuations to run through Randidly. Sensing the sudden shift, Yggdrasil's branches rustled down to alight on his shoulders. Warm streams of energy flowed into Randidly, attempting to address the vicious pain that was eating at his consciousness and flash freezing his thought processes. But for whatever reason, those streams of warmth seemed less potent than Randidly remembered. They seemed helpless before this pain; they could alleviate the symptoms slightly, but it wasn't affecting the broken source.

Finally, that cracked thing in Randidly core flickered for the final time and remained lit. A hissing breath escaped Randidly as he slowly relaxed, this time almost helplessly. All his Willpower drained out of whatever crack from which the pain originated.

”Fuck me,” Randidly said. Now that the central core of pain was gone, Randidly was recovering more quickly under Yggdrasil's ministrations. But he was also shaking from the aftershocks of that strange pain that had left him completely incapacitated, albeit briefly. Something old and dark from the Grim Chimera seemed to wake as Randidly tried to cope with the knowledge that he had been so helpless for a few seconds.