Chapter 1516 (2/2)

For a second, Benjamin trailed off. But then he raised his gaze and looked directly forward through the mist-covered, idyllic gardens in front of them. “...to one individual in particular. And then the Nether spreads out and starts the process all over again. Everything is gradually funneled inward, then dispersed.”

Charlotte pressed her lips together. The few people like her were truly unfortunate. But above them, one recruit clearly received the most agonizing Ghosthound’s Favor, his episodes lasting for a full five minutes before he was released from the Ghosthound’s cruel grip. And no one who was near enough to experience the thunderous reverberations of the Nether’s arrival would deny that even the worst episode another experienced was only half as violent as his.

They arrived at his shabby shelter to find Raymund Ballast sitting up and panting. There were no real walls to the building; it was just a slanted roof on stilts to keep the rain from soaking him. Currently, the framing of the shelter just added the vulpine’s pathetic appearance. His luscious auburn fur was matted with sweat. The ground nearby was covered with deep claw marks, likely inflicted while he was in the worst of the Ghosthound’s favor.

Raymund glanced upward as the duo approached and shook himself to wakefulness. His movements were still slow and seemed clumsy. Charlotte and Raymund were not close, but both appreciated the company of Benjamin Rex, although clearly for different reasons. But Charlotte was willing to get used to the Vulpine’s presence, if only just because Raymund Ballast was another individual who didn’t partake in the politicking of the training camp.

Benjamin glanced at Charlotte, as though apologizing for this different variety of companionship that required verbal interaction which he shared with Raymund, and then looked back at Foxman. “It seems like the… episodes are getting worse.”

“True,” Raymund Ballast stood. His two tails, once bushy and lively, now hung limply behind his body. They twitched as Raymund stretched. “It honestly feels like the Nether is… it’s going to sound weird, but digging something inside of me. Like its a construction crew blasting apart something inside of me in order to create a tunnel through a mountain. My Overseer Advisor says that once I have grown accustomed to what the Nether is doing, it won’t be so… troublesome.”

That caused Charlotte to frown and enter into the conversation. “Do you… like your Overseer Advisor? Allowing the Nether to adjust your body might be...”

Raymund’s expression brightened and he stretched out his arms toward the sky; it seemed clear that he welcomed the change in conversation topic. “Oh, yes. I actually think she’s the first Overseer to actually listen to what I am saying about my image… I want to be stronger, but there are some things I am just… unwilling to do.”

Meanwhile, Charlotte warily watched the Foxman move. Although he looked somewhat bedraggled at the moment, he was still one of the most physically intimidating individuals in the training camp. He was three meters tall and his forearms and shoulders were thick with cords of muscle. The Nether training might be extracting a brutal toll on him, but the physical training was polishing his already significant gifts in that regard.

Before she had witnessed Overseer Helen, Raymund Ballast was the sort of aggressive, physically impressive male that Charlotte had believed she would eventually mate with. Assuming they were compatible, his offspring would possess many desirable traits.

“Oh, she doesn’t think you should change your image?” Benjamin asked, pulling Charlotte’s focus back to the present.

Raymund’s bright expression faded somewhat. “Well… she still insists I should change my mindset. But she says I don’t need to change in any particular direction. Just that… my image growth is clearly weak, so it’s obvious that it’s not an effective image…”

The three stood awkwardly at that. Despite the fact that Raymund had been the only recruit to make it to this elite group purely on merit, and his initial capability was very impressive, his growth since then had been rather mediocre. At the moment, Charlotte suspected he was still one of the twenty strongest recruits, but others were swiftly catching up. It was an abrupt fall from his status as fifth in the initial tournament.

Again, Benjamin glanced at Charlotte before he broke his silence. “Hum. Well, it’s good that you found a good match. I, too, enjoy my Overseer Advisor. He is… surprisingly observant. And recently, he has been teaching me a strange game from the Ghosthound’s homeworld called bowling. It apparently assists with focus and image control.”

“Wait,” Charlotte blinked in shock. “You like your Overseer Advisor too?”

Raymund and Benjamin glanced at Charlotte while her features were marred by confusion. Eventually, Raymund scratched his cheek awkwardly. “You… don’t like yours?”

Raymund’s disbelief somehow left Charlotte speechless. Her tongue moved in her mouth for a few seconds, gathering her thoughts. “He… sometimes just…. Doesn’t seem very reliable…”

Two days ago, every recruit had been assigned a personal Overseer Advisor. Their training still involved a slew of Assistant Overseers that would spar with the recruits, but these new Advisors were specifically individuals they would never fight with. Instead, these individuals would serve as mentors, interacting with the recruits during their meditation hours or time within the bamboo forest. In addition, they would provide recommendations as to methods to improve the recruit's images.

During the few interactions between Charlotte and her Overseer Advisor… she had left the meeting with a bit of a headache. Her Advisor was… verbose, to say the least. And seemed much more concerned with his own heroic escapades than assisting with her image.

“Well anyway,” Benjamin said, sensing Charlotte’s sour mood. He looked again at Raymund. “Are you prepared for this?”

Raymund grimaced. “Ugh, of all of the individuals to be the first one to get a Darkstar Coin, why did it have to be that dog… but I guess I can bear it since we are getting free time to watch the redemption. Have the Overseers announced what he will receive for the Darkstar Coin?”

“Yes.” Benjamin smiled and Charlotte found the expression from the slender humanoid slightly creepy. “Vizzeret Clamman will be joining the Overseers for a training exercise. He can select any five Overseers to assist him… and then they will then protect Vizzeret for ten minutes. From the Ghosthound himself, who will be trying to kill him.”