Chapter 1096 (2/2)
There was one problem with this choice of Fate, however. Randidly eyed the ivory lock that kept the trunk closed suspiciously. Somehow, without even trying, Randidly could sense that whatever material was used in the making of this lock was truly extraordinary. When he looked at it, he didn’t think any amount of physical strength would make a difference without the true key.
Well, that’s why I’m going to cheat and burn it open with Nether, Randidly thought with amusement. Better to wait until we are in the Great Rift though. But it’s strange… Nadia clearly saw the trunk but didn’t say anything about it. Is that a good or a bad sign…?
Either way, Randidly closed his eyes again and simply breathed. His strength slowly recovered as he could feel time passing.
Eventually, his eyes snapped open. Randidly walked out of the tent and found his three subordinates waiting for him. “Time to go. We can’t keep delaying forever.”
Zagnal’s expression amongst the three was particularly sour. “Can’t we? We will only be assigned punishments, but those won’t take effect until after the mission. Might as well savor life now.”
Randidly sighed and shook his head ruefully. “Don’t be such a piece of shit about this. That sort of attitude doesn’t help anyone.”
“...yet what other attitude can I have?” Looking sharply upward, Zagnal spat out his words at Randidly. He kept his fists at his side, but Randidly could see they were clenched. “You are naught but an image. Where does your confidence in survival come from? Even if you have obtained two old Fates, it is only a matter of time before they devour you-”
“In terms of survival, there is no one in this universe more skilled than I,” The Grim Chimera laughed. Randidly eyes flashed cruelly as he considered Zagnal. “Besides, is there any meaning to having or not having confidence? If I am finally insufficient, it will all end no matter if I worry about it or not. Then it seems foolish to waste our time worrying, doesn’t it?”
“You are deranged,” Zagnal snorted.
Randidly shrugged, unwilling to admit that this casual insult was likely the most effective of Zagnal’s verbal barbs so far. After all, he was a fragment of a personality that was becoming increasingly fragmented the more damage his image received. The connections between him, the main body, and the other images were difficult to define.
He continued to think of himself as Randidly Ghosthound, but whether that was actually the case…
Suppressing his mental doubts, Randidly moved past the bitter Zagnal and led the way back toward Lord Miln’s base. Above their heads, the strange half-light of dawn slowly filtered downward. Randidly shook his head in disgust.
An entire day, wasted. Not that I think it was worth it to antagonize Lord Miln purposefully, but making him wait is slightly amusing.
To Randidly’s relief, the journey back to the base was an easy one. In addition, they received no questions when they returned; apparently, their delay was considered par for the course for trips to the armory. Without even needing to speak to Lord Miln, they were escorted to the staging area and given the Aether Key they would use.
Even in its dormant state, Randidly couldn’t resist staring at the heavy form of the Aether Key in his hand. The power wafting off of it was palpable. So much so that Randidly felt his image body tingling just from holding the thing. In terms of power…
But Randidly’s examination would need to wait. The guards hurried them through the gate and with a nauseating twist, Randidly was once more floating amongst the blackness of the Great Rift. Randidly breathed in and out, letting the Nether sizzle against his skin. It was almost a nostalgic sensation at this point, especially because his three bubbles reduced the damage from Nether in this relatively unconcentrated form to an absolute minimum.
Randidly’s claw tightened on the Aether Key and energy surged outward like a stampede of horses. But just as quickly as it exploded outward, Randidly was there guiding the energy to swirl inward. Unlike last time, Randidly was prepared for the phenomenon and much more experienced at shaping images, especially quickly. Therefore, a relatively small and solid image appeared in the surrounding area. Rather than size, Randidly kept the energy concentrated.
In addition, with a bit of inspiration from his experience with Nether Rituals, Randidly arranged some of the lines of the Aether image into a formation that should reinforce the area against outside attacks. It was rough work without Aether Manipulation, but it would do well enough for now.
For the form, Randidly chose an old memory. It was the small wooden hut that he had stayed in at the beginning of his time on Earth after he escaped from the Dungeon. The door was slightly off-kilter, letting wind and rays of sunlight through to the small interior area. There was a cultivated patch of land nearby where Randidly farmed.
Randidly was extremely dutiful in his reproduction. He created the small dirt path that led down toward the hill of Donnyton proper, as well as the track that led out to the place where Sam had been staying with Lyra and the other actresses. The soft slope of the valley could barely be seen from the relatively small cross-section that Randidly recreated, but it felt extremely familiar to his eyes.
An old home. Randidly thought rather sadly.