Chapter 1142 (2/2)

“Pah…” Zauna spat with obvious bitterness. It was clear that she was deeply agitated by how easily Randidly had suppressed her over the course of their ten-minute spar, but it wasn’t like they both didn’t know the main reason for that.

A body meant a lot.

Still, Randidly didn’t bother to say that. It was an excuse that Zauna cleared didn’t want; she had her pride. He gestured shortly back toward Lady Iellaya’s camp. “That’s probably enough for now. Thanks for the help. I was… a bit in a funk. But after that exercise… I’m feeling much better. But I do have some image training to do, so…”

When Randidly said that she had helped, he couldn’t help but notice that a lot of Zauna’s unwillingness to quit was softened away by a spark of happiness. Although it wasn’t meek, Zauna nodded shortly and began walking back toward the base without raising an objection. Leaving a slightly sweating and warmed up Randidly to finally put some attention back toward the issue of his Fate.

Randidly moved some distance away from the broken portion of the fence, heading back toward the supply caravan path. Not that he thought anyone would punish him for breaking it now that Commander Terith was apparently recuperating in the Headquarters, there was no point in attracting undue attention to his actions.

Beyond the supply track was the badlands, and it was there that Randidly finally settled into a cross-legged seated position and prepared to meditate. But before his focus turned toward his Alpha Cosmos, Randidly checked in on his Status again.

He currently had 133 PP sitting around because he hadn’t yet chosen what Path he wanted to do next. However, it was largely a moot point, because he would soon be receiving a huge chunk of PP after he had spent 300 additional PP and unlocked the next round of reward from his Soulskill.

Which meant that he only needed to gather 167 more PP… which wasn’t a small number, but it was certainly doable in a month or two. What Randidly wasn’t sure about was whether he would be able to gather that amount of PP before he needed to condense a Fate. Which likely wasn’t relevant, but as he tried to plan what Path he should take next, it felt like an issue he needed to solve.

Not because of new Skills he might obtain from his Paths, but because of the benefits from Paths like Growth of Yggdrasil III. It seemed as though finishing that path would cause his Skills to evolve to a higher rarity. Not that evolving the Skill itself would have a profound effect on Randidly’s image, but the power of image was admittedly based upon specificity. The way that the Nexus saw his image growing would give him additional bricks to create the foundation of something phenomenal.

Of course, that perspective made Randidly slightly bitter. Relying on the Nexus to predict his own growth seemed dangerous in so many ways, considering his self-stated goal of over throwing it. But… could he grow by ignoring the Nexus? And honestly, the Nexus appeared rather agnostic about its treatment of individuals; it benefits those who grew strong, no matter their goals.

Shaking his head, Randidly’s attention turned to some of the other Paths available to him. Because in addition to the Growth of Yggdrasil III Path, there were two other new arrivals that held his attention.

Search for the Akashic I 0/200, Ashes of Illym, the Above-Average Child 0/5000

In the same vein as relying on the Nexus for growth was a bad idea, Randidly knew it was foolish to be pleased that his growth was reflected by the System in his Paths. Yet as he looked at the first of the two Paths, he couldn’t help but feel slightly proud. Although he hadn’t even begun to make concrete steps toward adjusting Yggdrasil, the fact that the shifts in his image were enough to trigger this was a good sign.

As for the second Path…

Randidly’s eyes flashed. Interesting… but no reason to start down that Path before I understand more from Ignition Essence. It is a gamble I don’t need to take, for a benefit I don’t yet understand.

With at least his understanding of his Status taken care of for the short term, Randidly sat in a small shady alcove he found a short distance into the badlands and steadied his breathing. The sensation of dust on his feet, the howling cry of the wind, the warm of the daylight… they all fell away. Then he proceeded into his Soulskill.

Once more, Randidly found himself standing outside of the capital of the Armgrast Empire, right in the spot where he had parted with Azriel as she had proceeded with her dress toward whatever ruin that had been recently uncovered. Recalling that moment brought a smile to Randidly’s face.

Remembering Azriel’s determination, Randidly felt an impulse to seek her out immediately and see what she was up to. To see whether the journey she had taken ended up being worth it. Of all the people in Randidly’s life, Azriel was the one who seemed to be the steadiest sort of friend. Perhaps most embarrassing of all his thoughts, although Randidly had never done something like it before, he had not a little desire to find someone to share his newly discovered relationship with Vualla with.

And aside from Azriel… very few people would have the nerve to give Randidly their honest reaction about it. Well, Mrs. Hamilton probably would… but-

Then Randidly shook his head. His budding connection with Vualla should probably be given some time to grow before being picked incisively apart by the extremely logical Azriel. Instead, it was better by far to proceed to find Wendy immediately, so he could investigate smelting some high-quality metal with the additional boon of his empowered images. After that, he could check the fabric of this place for powerful enough memories to make something similar to a Nether Prince-

As Randidly’s Perception spread outward, he immediately froze. Slowly, he raised his gaze to the sky. Which was filled with drifting blue veins.

And the distinct tang of Nether.