Chapter 1552 (2/2)
Just tell me what I need to do to fix this fucking Skill...
Either way, a current of rising power had gushed forth from within the Shelly Kingdom. In addition, the advent of Class Lighthouses, another concept from this world that mystified DiOrtho, seemed to favor the Shelly Kingdom. The locations of this world’s version of the System Village were unfairly distributed to the North and East parts of the continent.
In order to combat this rising combat potential, the Armgrast Empire was forced to make several political sacrifices to control a significant portion of the large mountain range the formed the lion’s share of the border between those two political States. This area was the primary source of Netherite, a powerful and dangerous mineral that appeared to truly just be steel that was infused with Nether.
Within the past six months, things had settled into an uneasy truce as both sides settled on cultivating their newfound resources. It was a race to see which could weaponize their advantage fastest.
This, at least, DiOrtho understood implicitly. A similar phenomenon happened when two rival demon tribes agreed to a temporary truce to each attack other factions. Both sides knew that the peace would end quickly: it was a matter of who was willing to take the gamble first.
Initiative was important, but so was having the conviction to follow through with the strike.
During the lecture, DiOrtho had been shocked at the way that Raymund Ballast had simply nodded and accepted everything that the spider Overseer had been saying. The stupid fox didn’t question a single strange fact about this world. Classes from lighthouses? No fear from Calamities or history of dealing with the Calamities? Nether was a part of the mineral composition on this planet?
Unless this planet was testing a new arrangement of the System… most of these facts seemed simply to have been invented by Overseer Muareth. It went against every established and uniform custom of the Nexus.
Yet now, as DiOrtho looked down over the city below, he could feel the truth of those facts in the surrounding air. Nether swirled in thick currents above them. As he pushed his Perception to the limit, he could feel areas where a dominant, yet somehow inert image held sway in the larger world; these would be the Class lighthouses.
“Any questions before I give you the mission, recruits?” Overseer Helen said. “Because afterward, the twenty-four-hour time limit will begin and you will receive no further help from me.”
DiOrtho suppressed his instinct to observe that the Overseer had provided no help at all thus far anyway. Then, just as quickly as he backed down, the muscles of his shoulders tightened in self-hatred that he had been so easily cowed. His eyes narrowed. He was about to open his mouth and spew verbal bile when Raymund spoke in a careful voice. “No images or Skills, correct…? But I must inquire, how would you rate the capability of this world?”
“If you were allowed to fight at your full strength… perhaps there are one or two individuals present that could rival you…? Which is why you are restricted to solely your physical force. Demonstrate the results of your training over the past ten days.” Overseer Helen said. Then she folded her arms. “Anything else?”
“What happens when we crush this ‘task’ you keep teasing us with?” DiOrtho growled.
Overseer Helen’s mouth twitched. “I’m so glad you asked. There is one other fact you need to know about this world… there are demi-gods running much of the normal System behind the scenes. A hybrid position between Village Spirits and the Nexus technicians that handle the finer points of Skills and Paths. In fact, your ‘client’ for this mission is-”
“Me.”
Despite himself, DiOrtho Vant took a sharp step to the side as an image abruptly manifested. A horrifying avatar of ash and self-immolation spoke up behind him. He whirled around and lowered himself into a fighting stance. This figure radiated woe and regrets so deeply that the ground underneath her feet began to shiver and crack. Her body seemed to be burning itself from the inside out, fueled by a horrible hunger for destruction.
The Machine Horror in DiOrtho’s chest stirred. Within that glowing figure, it recognized a kindred spirit. It clicked its mandibles excitedly.
But then that inner fire flickered and died, revealing a rather young looking humanoid woman who studied DiOrtho with interest. Then she looked to the side at Raymund and smirked. “If you manage to complete my mission, I’ll assemble a personalized Path for each of you. I hope you’ve been saving your PP, because my product will definitely be more lucrative than your usual Path.”
Her gaze lingered on Raymund for several more seconds. “For you, the Path will be a key to open up the darkness in your heart. And for you…” The woman’s eyes flicked to DiOrtho. For a split second, they glowed red-orange, like the dying embers of a fire. “For you… you don’t need the key, your darkness is already rampant. But you need the courage to face it.”
“You think-” DiOrtho took a half step forward, but Overseer Helen blurred into motion. Despite his improvements, DiOrtho was unable to respond before the Overseer had speared his thigh from behind, pinning him to the ground with her weapon. As his body shuddered in pain, more and more of the thick muscles of his leg were torn open.
Just as quickly, Overseer Helen removed her spear and spun it, flicking away DiOrtho’s blood. “No more questions, recruits. It’s time to start. Alta here will be providing you with further instructions when you finish the first task, but for now… you are here to kidnap the princess of the Shelly Kingdom. Good luck. Oh, and one more thing… no killing. If you take anyone’s life, you are immediately disqualified.”
While DiOrtho was staggering and putting his hand over the wound, Overseer Helen jabbed him in the back with the butt of her weapon. “That means you, Vant. Play nicely with the locals, okay? Or I’ll bury you here myself. And enjoy it.”