Chapter 1213 (2/2)

“Yes, they are basic vigor crystals. They can be refined into Health and Mana potions. But although they are in a Lvl 35 dungeon, they are just the basic kind- put next to a safe room to help truly desperate individuals. I would say even a master Alchemist could only create potions that restore 100 Health or Mana from them.”

“Wonderful, wonderful! You have saved me many days in this terrible room. I shall repay you immediately- are you ready to leave the dungeon?”

That moment when Randidly had pressed his hand against the door to the Dungeon and gotten rejected by the System hung heavy in Randidly’s heart. It had been his only hope that was quickly extinguished by reality. Yet Shal had just laughed and beckoned him forward while Randidly was despairing.

“No, no, no, there are no more avenues of retreat. But you can always move forward.”

A new core formed in Randidly’s heart that was buoyed in power by the significance of those early memories of Shal. A ripple ran through Randidly’s body. More and more Nether began to flow outward, causing all the other cores that Randidly had created to slowly orbit around this new core.

A Ritual formed organically in Randidly’s chest as these cores arranged themselves in a natural pattern. The connections between them became stronger. Vast clouds of Nether flowed into that pattern and escaped as spun threads of dense energy. That dense energy transformed his inner world.

Breathing softly, Randidly allowed a new balance between Nether and Aether to be achieved in his chest. Gradually, his body acclimated to the change and the weight of the new energy Randidly possessed settled down into place, reinforcing the new equilibrium. The Nether Ritual continued to hum busily.

And since Randidly was already focused on this wondrous transformation that he could create, Randidly’s attention immediately shifted to what he could do with Aether. This time, the powerful emotions that he had gradually cultivated to try and pin down the Nether were allowed to move freely through his Aether energy.

Immediately, the Aether began to slowly gather. Righteous fury against the System, warmth and compassion for those of Kharon and the Order Ducis that followed him, a strange budding vulnerability toward Vualla’s existence… With great difficulty, Randidly released the control he held over his emotions and allowed them to freely spread out through his inner world.

Very quickly after that, however, Randidly could only grimace. The two processes were clearly different. While Nether required a certain amount of significance for each sharp step of improvement, Aether required that he slowly refine the energy with emotion over a longer period of time. A snap-change would not occur as it had with Randidly’s Nether core. It would take time and concerted effort in order to refine Aether into its liquid form.

And honestly, Randidly was short of both time and effort at this point.

Congratulations! Your Skill Absolute Timing (Ru) has grown to Level 111!

Randidly was pleased to check and find that only nine minutes had passed since he had fallen into a brief recovery coma, but that was still nine minutes on a battlefield that was fraught with danger. Especially after that last attack, Vualla…

In fact, Randidly might have forced himself out of the strange trance he now found himself in if he hadn’t sensed that Vualla had come near him to check on him before quickly departing. It was enough to know that she was at least well enough to move.

But how much longer should Randidly spend like this, creating liquid Aether?

For a few more minutes, Randidly set that question to the side and dedicated every bit of his still shaky Willpower toward the task at hand. With all of his attention continuing to feed emotion into an area rich in pure Aether, the process sped up. Gradually, he could feel the Aether change as his continued focus on emotion affected the Aether in a vital way. It shifted to become his Aether, marked forever by that image and emotion. And as it did so, the chaotic flow of the Aether changed before his eyes.

It condensed. It spiraled inward. It gradually began to move toward a shimmering, liquid drop.

It will take almost seven minutes to finish a single drop while I”m giving it my all… Randidly hesitated. ...so I will only make two. One to help me physically and mentally recover so I can return to the battlefield, and one to be an attack to help me fight beyond my actual power. Any more than that…

...plus, that completely ignores the mental toll I can already feel. Making two at a time right now might be my limit...

Fourteen minutes was already a lot. Yet Randidly had no choice. He had seen the effects that Ileot could manage when he utilized liquid Aether against the Nether; Randidly could use those same principles to help with the fight, if necessary.

If he waited any longer than fourteen minutes… Randidly shivered. He didn’t want to leave Vualla alone for too long right now. The confidence of Lord Miln, the darkness in the sky, and the strange grey flower that had bloomed within Lady Iellaya’s potential all made him extremely wary.

The faster he could be at her side, the better.