Chapter 1127 (1/2)
The first thing Randidly noticed when he returned to his body was that Vualla was gone from her collapsed position next to him. It was honestly surprising that she had been able to get up and move without him noticing, but Randidly supposed Grim Intuition didn’t recognize her as a threat.
She did, however, leave him a note that was laying next to him. The corner of Randidly’s mouth quirked upward as he saw how messy her handwriting was. Did she not even take off her gauntlets to write this…?
Randidly,
I’m returning to Commander Terith’s camp to check-in and rest some. After I’ve recovered, I’ll return so we can talk.
Don’t disappear on me again.
-Vualla
Which at least means I have one less problem to worry about in the meantime, Randidly thought sourly as he did his best to release all of his tension with a deep sigh. Right after finding a moment of peace in that dark night while speaking to Azriel, Randidly was back with a pile of issues he needed to address.
Randidly was sitting cross-legged and trying to make a mental checklist of the order in which he needed to proceed when Salazar pushed open the tent flap and stuck his long neck into the dark interior.
“S-sir… Lady Iellaya says we need to muster. Another attack is coming f-f-from the Nether f-forces. If you are tired, Abiodun s-said-”
“Actually,” Randidly cracked his neck and stood. The runic engravings on his metallic left arm flared to life as he flexed the fingers one by one and savored the sensation. “Maybe some exercise is exactly what I need to clear my head. Is there word for how long they expect it to be until the attack?”
“A h-h-half-hour,” Salazar stuttered. Then he hesitated. “Will Z-zauna and I-”
“Yep, you’ll be coming.” Randidly chuckled at the way Salazar’s face immediately paled. “And get yourself ready in half that- I expect that the Nether attack won’t let us sit easy and calmly muster up in front of them.”
Bobbing his head wildly, Salazar pulled himself out of the tent and Randidly could hear his rapid footfalls as he hurried away. After chewing his lip for a second, Randidly turned his attention inward. Because of the intensity of his struggle against the Aether mechanisms in the pod toward the end, he hadn’t been as free to utilize his PP. So now he took the huge chunk that he had gathered and considered his options.
Still about three hundred short of the next wave of benefits from the Alpha Cosmos… Randidly rubbed his chin. But more than enough to give me an edge for the current situation.
Congratulations! You have finished the Nether Adaption III Path! Few traverse this dark and twisting path, fearing that their bodies will be corrupted by the strange energies of Nether. Yet somehow, you seem to thrive and emerge ever stronger the more that Nether becomes present in the fabric of your existence. The energies are slowly being woven together. Please know that there is a secret at the end of this Path… it is recommended that you don’t continue any farther. You have been warned.
Congratulations! Endurance and Resistance +40! Effectiveness of all Nether related Skills per Skill Level is slightly increased! Due to synchronicity, your Skill Nether Nether Acclimation ® has evolved into Nether Modification (U)! Skill Level has been lost as the Skill has become Unique!
Nether Modification (U): Your body has been so seasoned by the presence of Nether that it has developed natural resistances to its warping effects that are so strong that there are practically no negative effects that result from exposure. It might not be your natural habitat, but it will no longer slow you down.
Randidly could only sigh as he read the notifications. These ominous messages slipped into Path completions are starting to get quite old… but at least there wasn’t an overt threat included. Only an implied one…
Still, the Stats gained from the completion of the Path combined with the 1 Endurance he earned for every 10 of the 600 PP he spent on the Path meant that this Path came with a 100 strong Endurance boost. Which was nothing to sneeze at. Losing his Nether Resistance Skill as something that could Level up was somewhat annoying, but it certainly helped that he wouldn’t be oppressed by the presence of Nether any longer.
Randidly looked down at his hand in wonder. Although maybe the secret it speaks about is one that I already know… that Nether and Aether can complement each other. Yet I almost think that is too light of a truth to merit that ominous assurance of remorse should I continue…
Randidly glanced at his Path options, and there was the Nether Modification IV Path. But at 1000 PP, it would be a long time until he finished that. Or at least it would wait until he earned the 300 more PP he needed for his Alpha Cosmos to pay out a large amount of PP.
“Okay, all prepared,” Randidly spoke brightly into the air. Inside of him, his images began to stir as he gathered his power to his will. After all portions of him finally being given a rest, it was amazing how heavy and sharp his Willpower seemed to him. “Time to try something different today, eh?”
*****
BOOOOOOM!