Chapter 1487 (1/2)

Alana Donal just focused on breathing for a few seconds. She felt slightly dizzy as her brain slowly registered the reality of the situation.

The phenomenon of her person was not a physical response. Although she was bruised and battered from the intense earlier clashes, she hadn’t taken enough hits to experience dizziness. No, Alana was dizzy because her mind was buzzing. After all these arrangements, after the best that Expira could offer gathered and ambushed Randidly Ghosthound in his exhausted state, this was what they had been reduced to. She wasn’t shocked, but rather just sick to her stomach.

It was a disappointing result, to say the least.

All of this had been her brainchild, although many of the fighters had secretly harbored similar desires to understand where they stood in comparison to the Ghosthound. It had been easy to spread the word and gather support. But she was the one who breathed life into the attempt. She had called on old contacts and made the plan. She had led the simulated fight discussions. She had thrown the first attack. And all this she had done selfishly.

All to prove that she would be useful to bring to the Nexus. To give her the clout to make the request.

Lyra seemed to finish shaping her dagger and gripped the gleaming amethyst weapon backhanded. Alana could tell that the woman was more nervous than her sharp-featured face revealed. So she wasn’t surprised when Lyra hopped sideways and landed only a few meters away from Alana. Huang Li was nearby too, but he was panting and sweating. Likely the Sky-Slaying Sword had depleted a lot of his remaining energy. They were running out of usable fighters.

Alana couldn’t sense Paolo, but she knew that he would be stubbornly moving through the rocky terrain, preparing for his next strike. His continued stubborn refusal to quit was perhaps the only reason they had made it this far. If he had gone unconscious when the Ghosthound had grabbed him earlier...

Alana shook her head. Her failure to prove her strength here became a key that was steadily twisting the ignition of some engine in Alana’s mind. The process was painful and depressing. That was why she was currently buzzing. As time stretched on, that buzzing wormed its way outward. First just her neck and shoulders, but then her muscles and organs and skin were all buzzing. Her entire body was straightforwardly facing the realization that Randidly truly was on another level altogether than she was.

If she went with him, she would only hold him back. Compared to him, her fighting strength… was insignificant.

The Ghosthound, looking monstrous and proud as the Grim Chimera, twisted and cracked his back. His lower tail flicked side to side ineffectually, severed about a meter along its length from Alana’s earlier strike. It felt like that was her only contribution to the effort to defeat him. Alana licked her lips, they were dry. When she spoke through the buzzing, mostly out of the sense of responsibility that even now pushed her forward, her voice sounded distant. “The fact he didn’t attack immediately means he’s just as wounded as we are. Be careful of his ability to siphon off your energy and we can still...”

“If I’m being honest, Alana…” Lyra glanced over at her with a half-smile. “...I suspect only you and Paolo believed we could win in a direct confrontation. Fighting is Randidly’s are of expertise. He has spent all his time becoming the best at it. The rest of us just… well, we have our own reasons for the attempt.”

Then Lyra twisted around and looked back toward Huang Li. “You alright, kid?”

“I still have a little more energy… maybe one attack…” Huang Li whispered. So much sweat had dripped off of his nose that a small puddle had formed on the ground in front of him. The tip of his sword pressed against the ground. Lyra seemed to want to vocalize the clear doubts she had toward Huang Li’s abilities, Alana could read the urge on her face, but ultimately the Village Spirit thought better of it. She just turned toward the Ghosthound and raised her dagger.

We have our own reasons for the attempt, huh…? Alana reflected. The key in her head continued turning. Something settled into place and felt right. She admitted it to herself; this attempt had failed. She could not fight as well as Randidly did. Perhaps not even after training with him for several months. Where once there was an emergent buzzing, now a strange coolness spread through her head. And like the buzzing, it ran out across her shoulders and then through her whole body. That’s true… this… is Randidly’s Path…

And my Path...

Warning-

It’s been changing for a while already. It’s time to follow through that shift to the end. No more holding back.

Recalculating-

Warning! Strange fluctuations detected from your Fate-

Please see a Village Spirit immediately. Warning, failure to do so might result in sickness or death.

Alana ignored the notifications that popped frantically up in front of her. Her gaze cleared as she realized her own Path. She could not stand by his side with her spear, but there were other ways that Alana Donal could be a part of the Legend of Randidly Ghosthound. With gentle fingers, she reached up and touched the wings that grew from her Fate. Then she twisted them at the base until the wings were inverted. The dazzling white feathers faded to a metallic gold. Where the wings once beat powerfully above her head, now they stretched almost lazily downward behind her back.

WARNING-!

Raising her hand, Alana pointed in a line that passed directly through the Ghosthound. Finally, she understood her Path. “The Fourth Revelation: Divinity.”

*****

Randidly narrowed his eyes and crossed his massive left arm in front of the gaping wounds in his chest. He had seen this Skill of Alana’s in the past, and the effect was powerful. Even in her weakened state, he dare not take it lightly.