Chapter 1344 (2/2)

And at the same time, Randidly sensed that Nether would deeply influence this image. Perhaps even more so than it had touched the Grim Chimera with Nether Brawn. Despite the danger, some things should be hidden from the System. Especially if Kaan Swacc was already on the planet and observing him.

Randidly opened his eyes and looked into the void around him, but he wasn’t actually looking. He was seeing the journey of this image. His inspiration came from the line of the Yggdrasil Skillset: The Universe that was First a Tree.

Breathing in, Randidly followed the thread of this new image.

The folding egg of negative emotions. Of a desire that had brought about the destruction of what it cared about most. Of a fall from grace. Of a half-existence that continued to cause that same terrible destruction that it had long sought to avoid. Of the tragic paradox of its continued power and influence.

In its new form, that terrible hunger didn’t cease. It only grew more unrestrained and desperate. It was the sister that consumed until she had regained her full soul.

Yet toward this terrible egg, there was also a strange sense of longing, hope, and wonder. Humanity fixated on it. It was the distant, last frontier that had fascinated the imaginations of people for generations. It represented insights into gravity, space, matter, and time that just theorizing about had completely changed science forever. It was the tantalizing oblivion of space, concentrated.

It could be anything.

It was the Star that Prayed it Would be Reborn. It was a Black Hole, the Egg of a Stillborn Phoenix. And suddenly, Randidly could see it.

That Aether that had been steadily gathered immediately rushed toward Randidly’s chest as the Skills began to change. They were like dominos, shifting to greater and lesser degrees as the changes started to stack on top of one another. And in his mind’s eye, Randidly’s new image made itself known.

Of all the images he had created thus far, this one was the most domineering. Because it came subtly at first, as a small fist of darkness floating in front of him-

But even before that, what mattered with this small mass of darkness was the density. This core used to be an entire star that had supplied light and energy to dozens of planets. Earth’s sun was about 100 times the size of Earth itself but weighed almost 300,000 times as much. That extra density was what those terrible emotions of Illym longed for.

The source had once been those two tongues of flame, emerald and orange, but the sun had pursued that light and heat for far too long. Such humble origins led directly to the current state of affairs.

It craved completion. Wholeness. It chased that sensation and collapsed in on itself, becoming a dark core of immense power. The colors were lost as the colors began to matter less to the sun than its desire.

-But back to the image of that core… simply that small spot of blackness. But the longer it manifested, the more that it would seem to grow. Light warped as it neared Randidly’s image, beginning to flow like liquid. That captured light spiraled around the exterior until it was peeled away and absorbed, layer by layer, into the darkness. First the light, then the nearby space and time, and then anything and everything. That craving and horror that Illym gave Randidly never stopped, no matter what.

It couldn’t stop. It wasn’t in its nature.

It’s a dangerous image, Randidly thought as he released another breath and considered the swelling darkness in front of him. More and more Aether rushed inward, stabilizing the transformation. Yet at its core, it was Nether that outlined the shape of what this image would become. Randidly’s Soulspace shuddered to withstand the force of this image’s pull.

Yet Randidly just barred his teeth. But it’s still young, right guys? Do you fear your new brother?

The Grim Chimera chuckled. Far too many had attempted to kill and consume him in the past for this to be a problem. There was no moment that survival wasn’t always in jeopardy. What would one more foe mean?

Yggdrasil smiled indulgently. The stabilizing influence of its thick roots and broad branches easily suppressed the pulling hunger of the black hole that Randidly now carried. Randidly’s inner space once more settled back down to a peaceful stillness.

Randidly allowed his Nether to fade and returned to space and time. In an instant, he was soaked by the continuing rain. But most of his attention was focused on the notifications waiting for him.

Congratulations! You have created the Pinnacle Skillset “The Stillborn Phoenix: A Star that Prayed it would be Reborn”.

Phoenix-Slaying Bolt (Ru) has evolved into Piercing Gaze of the Egg (L)! Skill Levels will be maintained. New Skill has been added to the Skillset!

Firebird’s Lament (A) has evolved into The Tug of Tragic Silence (A)! Skill Levels will be maintained. New Skill has been added to the Skillset!

Nether’s Caress (M) and Authority of the Burning Heart (A) have combined! The combined Skill has evolved into Hallucination of the Bloodless Heart (T)! New Skill Level set at 201. New Skill has been added to the Skillset!

Talon of the Restless Immortal (L) has evolved into Tide of the Void (L)! Skill Levels will be maintained. New Skill has been added to the Skillset!

Stigma of the Lifeless Phoenix (L) has evolved into Stigma of the Stillborn Phoenix (L)! Skill Levels will be maintained. New Skill has been added to the Skillset!

Innate Violence (Ru) has evolved into Cosmic Necessity (M)! Skill Levels will be maintained. New Skill has been added to the Skillset!

Ignition of the Emerald Essence (L) has evolved into Revelation of the Atramentous Threshold (T)! Skill Levels will be maintained. New Skill has been added to the Skillset.