Chapter 1438 (2/2)
The problem was that Randidly didn’t have any ideas about the basic principles that governed Nether or how it functioned. He could utilize it, but that provided little illumination to its core essence. Even in regards to Aether, Randidly’s knowledge was woefully insignificant; he only could study Engravings and hope to intuit some of its secrets in that manner.
Which was why Randidly looked helplessly at the dense Nether in his chest. He could rely on its weight to suppress others or weaken Aether, but that was about it. Essentially, Randidly was currently doing the equivalent of trying to figure out the uses and traits of water by splashing himself with it. He was clearly getting wet, but he couldn’t tell how to progress further in his understanding.
So he sat in his Nether Nebula and allowed the dense waves of energy to flow through him. More and more Nether was pulled up from his Nether Wells and surrounded his suspended consciousness. Humming softly to himself, Randidly simply existed there.
If he couldn’t find his epiphany, he would approach this problem with determination. That was how the ‘Chaotic God of War’ would grow stronger
Congratulations! Your Skill Nether Sensation (L) has grown to Level 238!
*****
Huang Li, the greatest warrior of Zone 7 and Captain of the Royal Guard, bowed lightly to the man in front of him with a genuine expression of respect on his face. Despite their differences, the man in front of him clearly possessed an image as steadfast and vast as the sea. “Grandfather, you go first.”
Haung Shou chuckled with a lightness that belied his casual strength and shook his head. “It makes no difference to me which of us goes first. And with your youth, you cannot deny that you are the more powerful-”
“Please, grandfather,” Huang Li stayed in his bent over posture without wavering. “It is a matter of prestige. There is no doubt that the people of Zone Seven will be very proud to see that you, a man who is over the age of seventy, will be participating in the first match of this tournament. Our people will raise their fists subconsciously, buoyed by the pride in their hearts.”
“What a cunning grandson I have,” Huang Shou mused, a frozen, standing foil to Huang Li remaining in his bowing position. Huang Li could feel the older man’s gaze like a physical weight on the back of his neck. “To think that even I, the man to which you owe everything, can be used as a political tool. Are those three girls truly so important to you…?”
“They are important to all of our Zone 7.” Huang Li replied. “The are the Glorious Leader.”
The elderly Huang Shou pursed his lips. “You fool, we are not just some random Zone. We are the descendants of the greatest dynasty to ever grace the surface of the Earth! Leaders such as them are as common as cabbages in the grand expanse of history. And if you think if your tiny role as Captain of the Guard gives you even the slightest ability to affect the trajectory of our world-”
“The grandfather I know would not get so emotional over a small thing,” Huang Li replied placidly. His words were like a strange catalyst that had been cast into the surroundings. Both were silenced and suppressed. That casual statement laid bare the years of abuse Huang Li had endured at the hands of Huang Shou, justified by the mandate of ‘education’. Huang Li stared at the ground, while Huang Shou looked deeply at his grandson.
Then Huang Shou smiled. “A cunning grandson indeed.”
Huang Li waited until his grandfather had walked forward into the arena and was greeted with the roaring cheers fo the crowd. Per the intentions of their glorious leader, Huang Shou was the first fighter to walk out onto the stage. Even if they didn’t want to be moved, those intractable elements within Zone 7 would still be quite pleased by this development. It was brought quite a bit of honor to their Zone to see a peer their age participating in this contest that was the apex of Earth’s power.
Huang Li straightened and followed the old man out to the arena. Huang Shou had a tight smile on his face as he glanced over toward Huang Li. Of course, the two weren’t related by blood; Huang Li had been adopted into the Huang family soon after the arrival of the System when he had demonstrated his great strength.
The two stood only two meters apart, but a gap of age and outlook became a gulf that they couldn’t cross. Their shared name was as binding as gossamer between them. If anything, the closest comparison for their strained partnership was a political marriage. Neither truly wanted to be here with each other, but for the broader good, both were willing to lower their heads.
Things weren’t exactly peaceful, however. And as such, Huang Li produced a stool from his interspatial amulet. “Grandfather, please take a seat. Allow me to handle these ruffians.”
Huang Shou’s eyebrow quirked upward, but he still took the seat. He then produced a thick walking stick and put both of his hands on its head as he serenely smiled around. Somehow, he managed to speak quietly to Huang Li without moving his mouth. “What nonsense. Do you truly intend to participate in this tournament without my assistance? Do you truly believe our terns are so insincere they cannot even be considered?”
Huang Li’s eyes were on their opponents. Both were large, muscular men carrying assault rifles. Likely they were part of Zone 1’s so-called ‘Mana Marines’. This level of foe was still within his expectations. He turned to his grandfather and bowed without acknowledging his question. “Please, grandfather, just a moment. Allow me to handle this.”
Huang Shou harrumphed. The crowd around them rapidly stilled as a great weight pressed down over them and silenced outside discussion. Then Randidly Ghosthound spoke.
“Let the tournament… begin!”