Chapter 1286 (1/2)

After experiencing the rapid rise in Skill Level and the evolution of the image, Randidly meditated for several hours in order to evaluate the process. The sun slowly set and a wide sky of stars stretched above him. His first excited thought was to try and spread this method more widely as a way for people to develop rapidly. And as this was just a method, it wouldn’t have even a whiff of his own image when it helped the Earth grow more powerful. But after checking himself, Randidly realized that would be impossible.

Because, honestly, he was exhausted; if Randidly Ghosthound was exhausted by something, it was not an easy thing. It turned out that forcefully adjusting the image while Leveling it had three problems that would likely make it impossible to be done by the general population: first, you had to already be able to utilize powerful images. It was only with a strong mental hand that the growth could be induced and controlled.

Second, changing the baseline image of the Skill seemed that it rapidly became more difficult the higher the Skill Level was. Perhaps around a Level as low as ten, it would become aggravating to start the process.In his already drained state, Randidly didn’t make the attempt, but he could see that there would be a small window of activity even at the best of times.

Perhaps most importantly… Randidly discovered that shifting the image so drastically consumed something vital in the process. It was to a significantly lesser degree, but Randidly found that it required the same emotional energy that could be used to condense a drop of liquid Aether. Perhaps the entire reason it could occur was that the preset image, while nacient in a low-Level Skill, was pressured into a semi-liquid and malleable state.

Randidly would need to observe someone else attempting it to know for sure, but his excitement quickly disappeared. For normal people the process was almost impossible; this was not an unasked for solution that fell into his lap. And even for Randidly, he would likely need to take a nap to recover his mental energy after improving himself.

All for around 100 PP and an improved Skill that he didn’t really need. He was on the fence about whether it was worth it.

...rather than improving the version of the Skill I have, might be better to first start thinking about Ignition Essence and what I’m going to do with that image… Randidly rubbed his forehead. With a flick of the wrist, he produced his Philosopher’s Key and teleported back to his ominous floating island. He felt somewhat bad for leaving the valley looking like it had been sacked by a hurricane, but with so many people killed by the System, the world was almost too vast to explore once more. It was very likely that by the time this destruction was discovered, the land would have begun to normalize.

Giving in to his exhaustion, Randidly found a spot beneath a tree and laid down for a nap. Although the moon above was bright, the mist around his island served excellently as curtains. A few hours later, Randidly’s eyes snapped open. Dawn was peaking over the horizon, also largely screened off by the omnipresent mist.

Then Randidly shifted into a meditative posture and began to think about the image of Ignition Essence and how it would incorporate all the images that were slowly convalescing around it.

Of his three images, Ignition Essence’s source was the most nebulous. It had come into existence based on necessity and because of his powerful fire Skills that he had utilized while fighting against the System. Convenience appeared to have been the dominant influence over its current shape.

Meanwhile, the Grim Chimera was the combination of the Spear Phantom and ash. It had been heavily influenced by his time on Tellus. Yggdrasil came from Randidly’s first self-created Skill and the heavy influence that his early plant-based Skills had on his development. They reflected his two sources of power from his earliest days in the System. Ignition Essence was a little bit like the odd man out.

In addition, Ignition Essence now housed the mostly dormant power of Illym, the above-average child. Her vicious image had largely been incorporated successfully, yet remained inert. And Randidly knew that part of the problem was that he wasn’t fully capturing the essence of Illym. When she had become a part of him truly, all his Skills had evolved to form new, phoenix themed Skills.

Everything except Ignition Essence itself. Without that core idea that would define the image, it remained in its prior form.

So Randidly sat with the dim glow of the rising sun through mist and carefully examined the sensations of his Ignition Essence Skills. He also examined some of his other ancillary Skills that he didn’t use much, considering the ways those Skill could combine to form a coherent whole. What he needed was a strong, immediate image that could bring it all together…

Congratulations! Your Skill Absolute Timing (Ru) has grown to Level 117!

But very quickly, Randidly was distracted from his meditation. With a sigh, he stood. Although Ignition Essence was important, some other things couldn’t wait. He had another visit to make before he could really focus on his training.

*****

“Oh please, the fact that I’ve stayed well behaved in bed for two days should already be enough,” Kiersty complained as she swung her legs down from the high standing bed and stood. She scratched her legs, glad to be done with the rather stiff green sheets. “With the System, most wounds heal within a few hours. And my Health is back to full, so tell me, doctor, why would you try to keep me here?”

“I-” The doctor looked at Kiersty helplessly, then gave Tykes a long look as though he was asking an expert for assistance.

Tykes chuckled and folded his arms “Most people don’t heal as quickly as you, so the staff is a bit surprised. You were very close to your Health bottoming out, Kiersty. There’s nothing wrong with taking some time to get back on your feet after that.”