Chapter 1509 (1/2)

Randidly looked out the window of the residential building and cast his gaze toward the pit filled area to the South. From his perspective, he couldn’t really see the duels with his eyes, but Grim Intuition gave him plenty of information regarding the messy results. The recruits were about halfway through the tournament and it was already clear that there was a stark divide amongst the recruits regarding their capabilities.

About half of them clearly were overwhelmed by the suppression formation, quickly running out of steam after a single, slightly stiff-jointed fight. Those lucky enough to win those horrid martial showings, despite their flagging capabilities, were then crushed by the group that was able to adapt quickly. It was clear that their image hadn’t been trained for this, but about 60% of the recruits were capable of fighting solely with their images.

It was amongst those 60% that the true competition could begin and where the power of their images began to matter more and more.

Randidly idly rubbed his chin. The 40% that couldn’t keep their images active for even a few fights would go to Helen and a few of her chosen subordinates to force them to develop a concrete image. Against the Nether, ambiguous or vast images would quickly be corrupted. And Randidly knew first hand that the impending threat of violence from Helen was a powerful motivator.

These weaker trainees would also be supplemented with healing energy more frequently, without having to spend their Tree Coins. They were essentially seeds that would be thrown in a garden full of fertilizer and then forgotten about for a week. They needed to show their ability to sprout before they would earn serious attention.

Heiffal would take the lead on the other 60%, fine-tuning their individual needs for violence, precision, and mindfulness which corresponded to the areas of the pits, the bamboo forest, and the gardens respectively. This would also be the time where most of the information regarding the recruits was gathered. Then there would also be group image endurance training which Heiffal would oversee directly and small rests arranged in between the larger training exercises.

Currently, Heiffal and Helen had cooked up some war games they wanted to play, but first, they would have to select and group the recruits into twenty ten-person squads. Randidly had suggested some strategies on how the squads should be grouped just from watching the recruits arrive and struggle with the suppression Engraving. However, Muareth had made the good point that Randidly’s initial impressions would effectively gather all of the strongest individual in three of the squads, which would certainly create elite squads, but it would leave the rest as relatively unimpressive groups.

Randidly released a sigh and rubbed his forehead. Even with hundreds of subordinates, he somehow felt exhausted with the task of training these recruits. In addition, he became quite aware of the ways that this process of extreme image training could go badly. Both for the recruits, and for Randidly himself. Already, the Earth Golem at the entrance to Randidly’s training area had reported that almost a dozen more scrolls had arrived for him from various individuals in the Nexus; it seemed the recruits had tattled about Randidly’s extreme training methods.

But for now, as long as they stuck to just sending scrolls, Randidly was content with just ignoring all outside influences. Results would speak for themselves when the time came.

It was just a matter of getting those results.

While the tournament finished up, Randidly looked to the East, toward the entrance to the main entrance to the area he had claimed. Specifically, he looked at the physical limit that was becoming a rapidly noticeable boundary on the Fifth Cohort Rally Station. The very air was beginning to polarize there. Previously, Randidly had wondered about the physical spread of images in space, but he had never thought about it too deeply. But with the added emotional information, Randidly finally had the capacity to see and understand what was happening.

One important aspect of emotion as a part of the image was gracing them with a unique, almost electric charge. So instead of mixing freely with other images, an image with a strong emotion would push other images away, like the same two sides of a magnet. As this gradual ionization occurred over time, naturally insulating itself against outside influences, the boundaries would become increasingly stark.

Even now, Randidly watched as the air along the boundary gradually shifted. Within became increasingly lively and energizing. Breezes began to gradually stir the growing bamboo forest as the area dominated by his Yggdrasil image developed a primitive climate. Meanwhile, the air outside remained dead, with the buzzing edge of Yggdrasil keeping these two areas from mixing.

Humming to himself, Randidly turned his attention back to Octavius’ recent message.

I’m in the process of investigating the backgrounds of all of your recruits. I should have the information shortly. Please refrain from offending any factions until we understand who we are dealing with.

Randidly didn’t bother to keep himself from rolling his eyes, but he did only think his response and refrained from replying to the message. Just like you explained to me what I would be doing in the Nexus prior to my arrival…? I basically had no idea what was happening until I showed up… Your reports move at a glacial pace.

But even if the speed of his investigation was relatively unsatisfactory, Randidly couldn’t deny that he was certainly an extremely fastidious information-gatherer. Therefore, it was best to just leave the Overseer to his work.

Besides, Randidly had other concerns. One of Superintendent Xeruth’s subordinates had arrived at the edge of his land, informing Randidly by proxy that the plan had been for his elite squad to take part in the larger skirmishes. However, the sweating guard had stressed, the Superintendent was willing to adjust the schedule if Randidly believed it was best for ‘the long term potential of the many talented individuals that he was instructing’.

Considering the fact that Commandant Wick had somehow gotten the Superintendent’s son assigned to Randidly’s command, Randidly felt somewhat awkward at the deferential and very obviously fearful treatment he was receiving from the man. But Randidly hardened his heart. I won’t actually be punishing the son for the father’s behavior. He will be given the same opportunity to improve as everyone else. Which will undoubtedly benefit him. Although… considering the intensity of the training Helen is cooking up… it might seem somewhat abusive to a concerned and already stressed father…

Well anyway, I might as well take advantage of my freedom while I have it. The first skirmish is in a week… it would be my elite two hundred against a full thousand… Heh, that’s just enough to make sure the recruits struggle…

Just as Randidly began to hammer out the details of how he wanted to exhaust the recruits before that fight, Helen sent him a message. The tournament had finished: it was now time for the recruits to meet Randidly Ghosthound.