Chapter 1262 (2/2)

Dozer, who was standing a dozen meters farther down the slope, looked around in admirable. “A good place to train. Like having weights for your Skills and images…”

“Is that what it feels like to you all?” Randidly asked curiously. He gestured and the three slowly fell into step behind him as he proceeded toward the northern portion of the island. “It’s my energy in the air, so if anything, utilizing Skills and images is even easier for me here… but it’s good to know for sure that it has a suppression effect for other people.”

Sam’s mouth twisted. “When you speak with that tone, I’m glad that I didn’t join the Order Ducis.”

Dozer cracked his knuckles. “If you torture your Order as much as you tortured my daughter in a friendly game of hide and seek…”

Randidly growled in frustration. “Running from me in a forest is just a bad idea. Maybe the vine avatar I made was a bit… thorny for a child, but how was I supposed to know that she would start crying?”

The foursome arrived at a tall rocky outcropping at the North edge of the island that gave a good view of the surrounding area… or would have, had it not been for the omnipresent mist that shrouded the island. But as soon as the Ghosthound moved to stand on that spur of rock at the edge of his island, the genial mood between them dissipated and left only the heaviness. Strange, silvery energy began to gather at his fingers.

Perhaps the reason he interacts so casually most of the time is because of how heavy his will become when he acts as a liege. Obyrn’s eyes followed Randidly’s movements closely. Prolonged exposure to that power would eventually warp him beyond recognition, so he sets it down whenever possible.

However… is it truly so simple to avoid being changed by power?

As Randidly Ghosthound narrowed his eyes, the mist slowly parted around their corner of the island and revealed the land below. Then the whole landmass beneath them began to shiver. Obyrn could feel the ground beneath them shifting to respond to the Ghosthound’s will. The island floated forward, passing over Kharon and heading directly toward the entrance to Ogre Gorge.

However, when they arrived at the Ogre Gorge, Randidly’s face quickly twisted into a scowl. “Really…? Even this much is too big? Well, screw it then. Let’s just make a flashy entrance.”

Obyrn glanced at Dozer, who seemed completely unphased by the mutters of the Randidly. In fact, Obyrn quickly realized that Dozer was surreptitiously activating his Crushing Grip Skill at this very moment, utilizing the environment in order to train. For a second, Obyrn’s face split into a grin.

And this is why they have become strong. Because they have this spirit to always test themselves, pushing their potential to the limit. And meanwhile, I…

Obyrn noticed out of the corner of his eye that the Ghosthound had produced a key, but his attention was largely consumed by his own bitter self-mockery. If I hadn’t been long afraid of the weakness that would follow the growth of another head, perhaps I too could have reached their amount of power. But of course, because I waited, my potential is that much higher. All I need to do now is resolve myself.

There… will never be a perfect time. I simply need to be willing to seize-

Obyrn’s thoughts paused. Randidly had inserted the key into the air and it simply hung there. Which was unusual, but wouldn’t normally grab Obyrn’s attention. No, what yanked his focus over was the swirling hole in the fabric of the world that had been created in front of them, appearing a bit beyond the end of the island in the air.

And through that portal came the familiar, dead air of Obyrn’s homeworld.

Randidly Ghosthound reached forward and seized the key hanging in the air. Slowly, he began to twist the key with an expression of deep concentration. Strange energies swirled around the opening that the Ghosthound had created. But as the trio standing behind Randidly watched, the portal grew larger.

The key twisted and the opening was slowly stretched larger and larger. After about five minutes of intense effort from Randidly, the portal was large enough for their floating island. Strange winds howled around the vast rift as the rich Aether of Earth poured through the hole and into the ogre world.

Seemingly relieved, Randidly released a great sigh. Then he turned and grinned at the other three. “Since I was making the portal anyway, I just put the other end right above their base. So is everyone ready? It’s time to make an entrance.”