Chapter 1384 (1/2)

The flying serpent curled around Randidly’s island and rested its head on the edge of the stone ground, allowing the three people on its head to step off onto the island. Up close, the serpent truly just looked like an enormous adder, with a triangular head and diamond patterns in silver and blue across its body. It was long enough that it wrapped three times around Randidly’s rather sizable floating island. Although there was no image from it, Randidly could recognize the significant physical power that it possessed.

Since Randidly had experienced the limit imposed by the System, he could see that this massive serpent was pressing up against that veil of physical strength. To see such a powerful being acting so docilely said a lot about the people riding it. So Randidly shifted his attention to the three figures that hopped down off of the adder’s head.

The first was the familiar form of Octavius Shrike with his straight back and prominent rhino’s head. Following him was a humanoid with grey skin that Randidly initially interpreted as being quite young but after looking at the strangeness of his features for a while Randidly wasn’t so sure whether his initial impression was correct. The man might just be wrinkleless, not young. It reminded him disturbingly of Ileot Swacc.

But quickly Randidly’s attention moved past them both to the figure that leisurely strolled forward behind them. The first thing that Randidly noticed was that he couldn’t seem to catch any sight of the final figure’s body; every location that skin should have been located was releasing a constant buffer of steam that shrouded his physical form. As soon as it left his body, the steam dissipated into nothing, but more was produced to keep him shrouded.

Of course, the steam might just be his body, Randidly thought to himself. And I guess the Smog Clan is this man being cute.

Aside from the steam he released, the figure was wrapped in a dark khaki trench coat. He also wore a hat that somehow combined a masquerade mask, a visor, and a bandana. It had sharp corners in the front but was loose in the back. Portions of its fabric fell down to cover what normally would be someone’s ears, but it only veiled more steam.

Octavius turned to the steaming individual and gestured back toward Randidly. “Captain Quill, this is Randidly Ghosthound, the Commander I was telling you about.”

“Indeed? He truly is as… singular as the rumors have said. Truly, a specimen worth developing…” Captain Quill said, considering Randidly. His ‘look’ was intense; the being’s focus had a palpable presence.

For a few seconds, Randidly felt a chill as the gaze of that misty man looked at him, but then he received a message from Octavius that calmed him down. Relax. He’s just complimenting you because he doesn’t remember who you are. Remember, your greatest weapon during this investigation is the fact that the Xyrt Brigade is very sure of its own superiority. Don’t give him reason to reconsider that.

While Randidly was reading the message, Captain Quill glanced around. “Whose island is this? I quite like it. The ambiance… mmm. Oh, are these energy life forms intelligent?”

Captain Quill extended an arm and a mist-shrouded limb reached upward toward the moonlight spirits that were hovering nearby. After a second of hesitation, they floated down and began to dance through the Captain’s mist freely. Gradually, more and more flowed downward when it was clear Captain Quill wasn’t a threat.

Seeing no negative reaction from the moonlight spirits, Randidly released a low breath. “It’s my island, Captain Quill.”

“Indeed? Well, I hope you won’t mind if I set up a temporary command center here while we handle the clean up on this planet. Thank you for your assistance.”

That earned an annoyed twitch from Randidly, but ultimately, he supposed it was more convenient for him if he knew where the Xyrt Brigade members were while on Earth. Still playing with the moonlight spirits, Captain Quill reached into one of the pockets of his trenchcoat and produced a curved pipe that was such a dark brown that it appeared almost black in the dim light of the night.

He shook it lightly and a small ember appeared to light the pipe. The being of mist moved the pipe to the place where a human would have the mouth and very obviously took a long drag. The ember flared briefly brighter as Captain Quill pulled oxygen through the flame. Then he moved the pipe away, ruminated for several seconds, and blew out several impeccable smoke rings. The moonlight spirits found it delightful and began to zoom through the rings as fast as they could.

Randidly just blinked.

Captain Quill twisted his torso and Randidly had the distinct impression the misty man was smirking at him. “I know what you are thinking. ‘Why smoke…?’” Captain Quill took another deep pull from the pipe. This time when he blew out the smoke, Randidly could feel him use his image to nudge the smoke, causing it to come out in the form of a falcon.

Not willing to be outdone, a hundred moonlight spirits formed together and transformed into an eagle that was just a little bit larger than the falcon. The moonlight eagle surged forward, talons raised in challenge.

The smoke falcon beat it’s nonliving wings and was eviscerated by the moonlight eagle. Captain Quill chuckled. “For the irony.”

Then he glanced around at Randidly’s island and pointed to a spot near to where Randidly was standing. “Wuva, what is that?”

The young-looking being with grey skin stepped forward and peered at what his Captain indicated. The ‘what’ in question was the pile of shattered training spears that still was covered by an ambient cloud of Mana from the failed Living Engravings. For several seconds, he very seriously studied the broken weapons on the ground.

Then he turned back to his Captain. “It appears to be the shattered byproducts from some very sophisticated if clumsily made, Engravings.”

“Indeed? Mr. Ghosthound let me give you a word of advice.” Captain Quill turned his head to look at Randidly. And again, Randidly felt the slightest bit of a chill. He had never thought to ask whether such Engravings would attract attention from the Xyrt Brigade.

Clapping his very real feeling hand on Randidly’s shoulder, Captain Quill spoke in a gentle voice. “The quality of a man can be determined by his home. A messy home… well, you don’t need me to elaborate, right? Just a few minutes each day builds a lifetime of habit. Oh, Wuva, what is that over there?”