Chapter 1574 (1/2)

The only real difference in Randidly’s current training regimen after reaching Level 30 in his Fatepiece was that he needed to keep the wall within his perception at all times. Having a frame of reference kept the worst side effects of losing his sense of direction from popping up. It also prevented the inexplicable impressions of movement, that were surprisingly convincing, despite the fact that Randidly repeatedly reminded himself they were false.

Unfortunately, keeping a portion of his attention on the surroundings was rather difficult to manage during some portions of his training. Especially when his newfound forgetfulness kept making itself known.

Yet Randidly had to admit that the forgetfulness also benefited him. As had happened previously, there was a newfound purity to Randidly’s concentration that often resulted in him completely shutting out what was happening around him. So while he considered the significance of his Engraving for his Nether Core, sometimes Randidly would abrupt wake to find that he had… drifted away somewhat while he had gathered quite a few Skill Levels.

The worst part of the whole experience was that he found it very difficult to care. The goal began consuming his every waking moment, resulting in him setting aside the danger of the indulgence and simply pushing forward. This meant that his Skill Levels continued to steadily tick upward… but the observer part of Randidly was growing increasingly worried.

But at this point… I’m already in the grips of obsession… Randidly’s face contorted. With these three sacrifices, there is nowhere to go but forward.

So he kept his worries to himself and threw himself more deeply into the training. As predicted, once more possessing a second arm helped him in the efficiency of his improvement. With renewed confidence, he once more resumed combat training. Randidly was also very careful to create enormous Nether Rituals to contain his image reverberations. He had accepted that attracting the attention of the Nether Beasts was more trouble than it was worth.

Even his aggression had limits; these Nether Beasts would swarm toward him until he was exhausted.

All three of his images steadily grew in their emotional clout. He spent time developing his usage of the spear, altering his form to incorporate his increased physical power. He continued to experiment with Engravings, both related to Nether Cores and more typical Engraving projects. His senses grew even further tuned to Nether, letting him peer even more deeply into the depths.

Again, he was fascinated by the vast spaces below where he sensed Nether Beasts actively avoiding something in the depths. Considering how they behaved like drunken moths and drifted closer to him anytime he released any sort of energy, he was shocked that these Nether Beasts had some instinct that drove them away. If he could observe this phenomenon and duplicate it, his attempts to train would become much simpler.

But to his senses, he was unable to determine what caused those spaces. And Randidly still possessed enough of his caution not to force the investigation. If the Nether Beasts thought this was a source of danger, Randidly would at least tread cautiously.

Randidly trained for another month in the thick darkness, losing himself whenever he looked away from the wall. But soon, that familiar sensation manifested in his training. Randidly could sense the plateau in his growth; he had reached the limits of his current potential. Not that he wouldn’t continue growing, but the speed was beginning to drop as he trained without any pressing necessity urging him forward.

Worst of all, his understanding of his own significance still eluded him. He remained stumped.

Randidly sighed and pulled out the Visage of Obsession. His senses were steadily drawn inward and then fed into the paper. The sky had now turned completely crimson, while the ground cooled off toward a dull grey. Randidly felt like he was in the monochrome world of a vampire.

With no other choice, he began walking forward.

Congratulations! Your Fatepiece the Visage of Obsession has grown to Level 39!

After his previous experiences of wandering for a time, Randidly was rather shocked to find that he arrived almost immediately in front of Lyra. She held her basket against her hip with that same sly smile on her face. Perhaps it was an aspect of ‘losing his sense of direction’ but his sense of time completely blurred, leading him immediately to this point.

Obviously, he didn’t doubt that time had skipped forward while he was drawn into the Fatepiece. But he almost wished he could turn around inside the Fatepiece and examine the ‘space’ behind him. But the feeling of being ‘inside’ the Visage of Obsession was only an illusion. His senses couldn’t examine the Path he had taken to get here.

Randidly tilted his head to the side as he examined Lyra. There was no reason to delay since he was already here. What now?

Lyra offered him the basket and smiled. She raised her hand with a flourish. The System has been a bit distracting, don’t you think? Why don’t you get rid of its notifications?

Randidly’s expression slowly became solemn as he considered her reply. ...you don’t just mean Skill Levels.

Messages too, Came Lyra’s impish reply. Oh, and those warnings. Not that you listened anyway, but its better to rip out something like that from the roots, right?