Chapter 1195 (2/2)

Randidly glanced sideways at Abiodun, almost casually. Yet in that instant, the light of the Inscrutable Mien of Genesis shone out through the pupils of his eyes. The weight of Randidly’s full and rested Willpower fueled the image of Yggdrasil, hitting Abiodun with a physical weight. It wasn’t enough to suppress someone like Abiodun, but it was enough to silence him.

Randidly turned back forward and raised his hands. “...I’m just blowing off excess Mana right now. Otherwise, how could my Skills simply wound these small fries? Don’t worry, my edge is just as sharp as it can be. And in terms of roles… more than anyone else’s, exacting the price of hubris assembling this mass of Nether Beasts is mine. So please, leave me to my business.”

Randidly pointed across the battlefield. Lightning fast, one Phoenix-Slaying Bolt after another shot out from his fingers. They crossed the no-man’s-land around Lady Iellaya and the Nether Gatekeeper’s confrontation in an instant, piercing the unsuspecting chests of Nether Beasts. Most of them were still stunned by the many Talons of a Restless Immortal and didn’t even see the bolts coming. Without much suspense, the Nether bubbles of these relatively weak Nether Beasts were popped by the sizzling emerald/orange bolts.

Congratulations! Your Skill Phoenix-Slaying Bolt (Ru) has grown to Level 137!

Congratulations! Your Skill Phoenix-Slaying Bolt (Ru) has grown to Level 138!

Compared to the shape of the previous Ignition Bolt, the new Phoenix-Slaying Bolts were pretty similar. Aside from the addition of orange to the flaming bolt, the only real difference was a bit of tapering toward the front of the projectile. Rather than just being a solid rod, the Phoenix-Slaying Bolts possessed extremely sharp tips.

A small thing, but it meant that the defenses of these weaker Nether Beasts was almost insubstantial before Randidly’s Skills. First one bolt, then a dozen, then a hundred, then a thousand, Randidly endured the growing sense of pain in his chest from Stigma of the Lifeless Phoenix and unleashed a veritable artillery barrage upon the Nether Beasts that had been attacking Lady Iellaya’s camp.

When Nether Beasts grouped up to try and assault his position, Randidly scattered them with Talon of the Restless Immortal. When they split up and tried to flank him, Randidly picked them off steadily with Phoenix-Slaying Bolt. His Mana was being swiftly depleted, but the Nether Beasts that had been queuing up to attack the base were forced steadily back. Of course, their numbers were such that there were simply more Nether Beasts waiting to take their place. But because of the ruckus that Lady Iellaya was raising above, most Nether Beasts wouldn’t easily come forward while the Nether Gatekeepers were being suppressed.

Congratulations! You have reached Level 53! +8 Stats distributed between Vitality, Perception, Resist, Intelligence, and Control, +35 Free Stats! +1 Stat to a Mental Stat. +1 to a Physical Defense Stat. +1 to a Mental Support Stat. +2 Control. +36 Health, +45 Mana, +40 Stamina, +3.5 to all Regenerations! +1 to Health and Stamina Regeneration!

Due to Guidance of the Wraith Adder, +4 Agility and +2 Bonus Stats!

Due to the Philosopher’s Key, +3 Intelligence, Wisdom, and Focus!

Experience rolled steadily in, pushing Randidly up into Level 53 and then almost halfway to Level 54. Unlike previous instances where Randidly would mostly maim and allow Aether soldiers to finish off the job on wounded, Randidly accurately shattered the weakened cores of fallen Nether Beasts with Phoenix-Slaying Bolts. A river of fire flowed from his hands, rapidly pushing the Skill Levels of his related Skills upward. More and more PP flowed in, pushing him above 600.

Eventually, Randidly stopped firing. The flames on his hands dimmed, leaving the lower part of his arms smoldering and smoking. Practically every Nether Beast that was close to Lady Iellaya’s camp had been roasted. Their corpses were charred and scattered. Reinforcements were kept at bay by the high-level fighting going on above.

The Aether soldiers looked around in wonder as they had a genuine break from fighting.

Randidly didn’t stay still after accomplishing his goal. Instead, Randidly turned his head toward Commander Terith’s camp and moved in that direction. Abiodun watched him depart without commenting, although he did cast another warning look at Randidly’s back.

Waving a hand in recognition of that look, Randidly lowered his shoulders and shot forward. With several bounds, he slowly devoured the distance to himself and the graceful form of Vualla.

Randidly had been too distracted by his methodical grilling of Nether Beasts to notice, but it seemed that Lady Iellaya’s sudden offensive had pulled another Nether Gatekeeper from Vualla over. With only five foes against her and her constantly increasing proficiency with her new style, Vualla had since been able to kill two. Now the remaining three were rapidly retreating in the face of a near-unstoppable Vualla. It only took a single, well-timed surprised in the form of a Talon of the Restless Immortal to obstruct the Nether Gatekeepers and help Vualla finish them off.

Yet it was clear to Randidly’s eyes that Vualla was exhausted. Her face seemed so incredibly pale, her gauntlets covered in the gore of broken Nether flesh. As Randidly hurried over, Vualla groaned and used her teeth to pull on the strap to her left gauntlet. With a crash, it fell to the ground and allowed her to more easily undue her right gauntlet.

“Congratulations,” Randidly said as he arrived. He smiled at Vualla with genuine warmth as she gently massaged some feeling back into her hands. Randidly’s eyes traced the visible lines of veins that snaked across her swollen forearms. It seemed her new fighting style was not easy. “Five Nether Gatekeepers.”

Vualla looked over at Randidly with a sly smile that brought a little bit of azure color back to her eyes. “Heh. Was there ever any doubt? And I would have gotten the sixth… but these gauntlets are getting in my way.”

Tilting his head to the side, Randidly asked, “Too heavy?”

“The opposite, too light.” Vualla put her hands on her hips and shook her head in disgust as she stood over the gunk-covered gauntlets. “Feels like I have balloons tied to the tips of my fists. Extremely aggravating.”

Randidly chewed on his lip for a second. The turned and glanced toward Abiodun. Seeing no signal to return quite yet, Randidly twisted back around to Vualla. “...you know, if all you want is weight, I probably whip something up for you.”

“Really?” Vualla blinked in faux surprise. Then she unleashed an absolutely radiant smile on him. “Randidly Ghosthound, you are the most useful individual I have ever met. Meeting you has totally revived my spirit.”