Chapter 1373 (2/2)

With his eyes closed, Randidly pressed the key forward through the air, tasting the various karmas in the universe. If no one would answer Randidly’s message to tell him what was going on, he would simply drop in on one of them and demand answers. This seemed like a time-sensitive issue; perhaps it would also give him an explanation for why Kaan Swacc was MIA.

But what Randidly felt in the surrounding air chilled him. Gradually, he opened his emerald eyes and frowned down at the Philosopher's Key. There’s something obstructing the karmic connections…? But why…

Soundlessly, Randidly shook his head. Then he closed his eyes again and focused. It was almost like those little notes of karma had become murky to Randidly’s vision. Like the presence of the Great Rift in the sky above Earth cast a long shadow across the bindings of karma. But even if they were shrouded in shadow, Randidly eventually found the connection he was looking for.

The key went partially into the groove in the air, but then it slowed and stopped as it encountered resistance. Randidly’s grip tightened on the Philosopher’s Key. His heart began to beat steadily faster. Thick veins emerged on his arms and ran up from his wrist.

Probably not something that can be solved with just physical power… but…

Congratulations! Your Skill Chimeric Avoidance (L) has grown to Level 253!

Randidly’s arm began to tremble. His images all began to manifest around him. Randidly’s skin grew pale and his veins turned gold. And in that moment of strain, an idea of how to make the image of the Stillborn Phoenix clicked into place in Randidly’s mind. He followed his instincts, and suddenly the light in his left eye dimmed.

After a blink, the emerald brightness had vanished. Randidly’s left eye became an inky black, with light in the surrounding space beginning to dissipate under its intense pull. Because of the visual distortions, a portion of his face seemed to melt and spin around that black egg that took up residence in his skull.

Congratulations! Your Skill Cosmic Necessity (M) has grown to Level 241!

BADUMP, BADUMP, BADUMP!

All three images pushed with the overwhelming potency of an image built by hand. The veil over the karmic connections groaned beneath that force and then collapsed. The Philosopher's Key engaged and built a bridge of impossibility between two distant points. Once the portal had been established, Randidly released a huge sigh. After blinking a few times, his left eye returned to normal. Only then did he step forward and walk into the office of Octavius Shrike, Overseer of the Seventh Cohort.

Randidly was rather surprised to find Octavius sitting at his desk and furiously typing away at his terminal. And whatever was consuming his attention was so pressing that it took Octavius almost five seconds to realize something had changed in his office. And when he looked up, his rhinoceros face was curled into a snarl. But when he finally recognized Randidly, his eyes widened.

“Randidly Ghosthound… how did you manage to come here…?”

Randidly awkwardly scratched the back of his head. His body was still slightly heated from activating his physical power earlier, which made him further distracted. But it was clear that Octavius at least knew something that he didn’t. “What’s going on Octavius? Why is the Great Rift in the sky over Earth?”

“We are under attack,” Octavius said grimly. “The Nether forces- wait, what did you say? You can see the Great Rift?! It’s above Earth as we speak?”

Randidly frowned. “Didn’t you just say there was an attack by Nether…?”

“There is, but we weren’t sure where Nether was focusing its offensive. I suppose Earth makes a great deal of sense…” Octavius’ eyes flicked away from Randidly and he pulled out one of the drawers on his desk and began rummaging within it. After a bit, he pulled out a scroll that was covered with complicated Aether symbols that Randidly completely was unable to understand.

Octavius looked at the scroll and clicked his tongue. “But as I was saying, the Seventh Cohort is being attacked directly. Thirty hours ago, one of our smallest frontlines was completely overwhelmed by a surprise attack of a Nether army of unknown size. Even the emergency response team from the Xyrt Brigade was slaughtered. They were reserve forces, as most of the genuine Xyrt Brigade is constantly in the field, but still, it spoke to the first loss the Nexus has had in twelve hundred years.”

“Why Earth then?” Randidly said, feeling a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as he remembered Neveah’s words. Was it really just a coincidence that the Great Rift had manifested above Earth…? “And why would the Nether Forces attack a Cohort directly? Are they trying to cut off the flow of images to the Nexus…?”

Randidly was abruptly realizing that he had misread this issue entirely. Rather than a plot by someone within the Nexus, his home planet might literally be soon overrun by a hostile Nether force.

Octavius grimaced. “No, that isn’t their goal, although they probably won’t mind doing so. But… have you ever wondered how the messaging system within the Nexus works? No, I suppose not. I sent out a System announcement about certain functions of the System might not be working for a while, but appears not even that made it out to you… the truth is, Aether isn’t capable of maintaining the huge network of the Nexus. Only Nether principles can keep us connected.

“Each Cohort, in essence, is a new expansion of that network. Therefore… each Cohort runs on the back of a subdued Nether King. We expect that this is a rescue mission for the Nether to liberate the Nether King at the core of the Seventh Cohort.”