Chapter 1118 (2/2)

Unfortunately, the night was too soon over. Even here at the edge of the world where the very fabric of the stone ground shook from the constant, grating presence of Nether, dawn always came and Yggdrasil wearily raised his body and prepared for another day of healing. But as Yggdrasil was reaching for the tent flap to return to the horrible conditions of the camp, he felt a presence on his mind.

Be prepared, The voice of the main body whispered in his ear. Then the impression was gone, fled as quickly as it had arrived.

Yet it made all the difference.

Congratulations! Your Skill Deific Mien of Yggdrasil (L) has grown to Level 249!

“Finally,” Yggdrasil whispered as the weariness of enduring alone for the past three months fell away. Although it had been nothing but a single phrase, Yggdrasil could hear the main body’s determination. And with that reassurance, he went about his tasks with renewed vigor.

Days passed ceaselessly into each other until they became weeks. Then the weeks grouped together and became months. Even as the total time that had passed since the Grim Chimera had left with the Aether Key for the Great Rift was six months, and since Yggdrasil had heard from the main body had been three months, that hope didn’t fade or ebb.

If anything, it grew surer. Yggdrasil continued to push himself, focusing more fully on Yyrwood Body and Infinite Fingers of Yggdrasil to prepare as a return gift for the main body when he finally liberated himself. These Skills were the most difficult to practice in image form, but it also gave Yggdrasil an excuse to become more involved directly in the fighting on the frontlines. Which in turn led to him becoming even closer with Lady Iellaya and Abiodun.

Perhaps, for that reason, Yggdrasil thought nothing of it when Abiodun showed up one morning at the edge of his tent.

“The Class?” Abiodun asked shortly as he faced Yggdrasil.

Yggdrasil shook his leafy canopy. “I believe I have accurately been able to capture Lady Iellaya’s spirit. However, without the Skills of my actual body-”

“There is no more time.” Abiodun rumbled. But rather than angry, the stone man seemed deeply agitated. “Lord Miln has just announced that one of the Aether Keys… was likely defective. Its energy deteriorated faster than should be possible; significantly faster, to the point that the Aether in the area was almost completely dispersed in only six months.

“Perhaps sensing this weakness, and also motivated by that bastard Terith continuing to keep the Nether Prince alive…” Abiodun’s eyes abruptly glowed together, becoming piercingly bright as he examined Yggdrasil. Then his eyes slowly faded back to a dimmer illumination. “The Nether King broke through the blockade with his army and is proceeding directly toward the front lines. Initial estimates put his total forces at one million, with at least one hundred of those possessing the power of a Nether Gatekeeper.”

A tremor went through Yggdrasil. That was… a lot of Nether Beasts, but he doubted that Abiodun would grow so agitated from that information. “So?”

“The Aether Key that was defective… it was the one assigned to your fellow image. Lord Miln made it known to Lady Iellaya that you were to be brought to the emergency council that is being called to deal with the approaching army. After the council… he will likely demand that you be handed over to him, as per our agreement.”

In a rare display of emotion, Abiodun reached up and grabbed Yggdrasil’s shoulder. “This is why I tried to warn you. If we had insisted on another deal… but we no longer have the capital to protect you. And without you, Lady Iellaya’s dream-”

“Abiodun.” Yggdrasil cut the other man off. Although Yggdrasil was aware that most of the concern was only due to the benefit that he could bring to Lady Iellaya, it was still rather touching that the stone man displayed this much emotion. “I stand by my decision… and I suspect that when we go to this council, you will be very surprised by how this turns out. We still have the array to trace the status of images, yes?”

Abiodun looked at Yggdrasil blankly.”You believe that an image is able to survive in the Great Rift? When the army of a Nether King came marching directly overtop of where he was stationed?”

The reminder about the army made Yggdrasil wince inwardly, but he didn’t let his hesitation show. As long as the Grim Chimera didn’t get it into his head to challenge the Nether King to a direct confrontation...“Yes.”

Sighing, Abiodun shook his head. “You have a lot of faith in your fellow image.”

Yggdrasil chuckled. “Maybe so. But don’t you have faith in me for the same reason? We can help you create a Class to make sure Lady Iellaya becomes truly powerful. It is a very rare ability indeed… I suspect its why our body is being coveted, even now.”

To that, Abiodun just grunted sourly. Chuckling, Yggdrasil followed after the stone man toward headquarters.