Chapter 1627 (2/2)

“Apparently, we don’t even exist,” DiOrtho muttered as the individuals standing behind Randidly and Claudette were completely ignored.

“Do we possess sufficient clout to merit recognition?” Raymund responded just as quietly. But on the far side of Raymund, the barbaric Narthalla looked at Raymund with obvious surprise and respect.

After most of the gathered individuals had the opportunity to enthusiastically shake Claudette’s hand and praise her ‘poise and presence,’ the boy Eashen stepped forward and spoke in an immature voice while staring at Claudette’s armored chest and blushing furiously. “Ah… Father says everything is ready. Follow me and I can take you to the battlefield.”

The strained silence as the Seeker had tested Randidly seemed to have lasted an eternity, but in truth, it had been less than a minute since the Ghosthound’s group had arrived in this isolated space. While they had conversed with the Pinnacle Seeker forces, the battle had continued to rage but hadn’t changed drastically.

On the broken ground of the basin, the forces of Military High Command and the NLC continued to struggle to retreat as they were bombarded with attacks. They had almost ascended the slope entirely, nearing the far edge of the isolated space. But unlike the usual foggy glass that refracted light, this wall was covered in a complex network of black lines. As they grew closer to the far wall, the forces of the Pinnacle Seekers mobilized their images and intensified their strikes.

Led by Eashen, their group rushed over to the far side of the battlefield where the NLC forces were stationed. Meanwhile, Seeker Thunder Wing returned to the main camp of the Pinnacle Seekers. In the depth of that grouping, Helen sensed at least two other monstrous individuals that made her feel just as fearful as Seeker Thunder Wing.

In the end, our arrival is a small matter. As long as we don’t cause trouble, we can be safely ignored. What shit. Helen pressed her lips together. Sometimes, I fucking hate the Nexus. Why does everyone else here seem to get off on making others seem powerless?

Ahead of them, Randidly spoke to Eashen. “Why are all these forces fighting here?”

“What? Ah… the Nexus people were building up fortifications to stop us from going any deeper, so of course we are gonna kill them.” Eashen said rather proudly. He snuck another glance at Claudette and blushed, before turning back to Randidly. His voice got rather high-pitched as he spoke excitedly. “Don’t worry, with my help, you won’t have any trouble killing these schmucks from the Engraving Guild. I learned my image directly from Father.”

“Perfect,” Randidly said rather dryly. Helen covered her mouth to hide another snort.

When they arrived on the side of the field dominated by the NLC, the fighting had grown increasingly intense. There simply wasn’t any more space for the orthodox forces to retreat. If they wanted to buy time and prevent the Pinnacle Seekers from reaching the spatial wall that was covered in black lines, they had to make their stand and face the Pinnacle Seekers’ images directly.

Sensing the change in the opposition’s philosophy, the Pinnacle Seekers gleefully charged forward. Part of it was the obvious joy they experienced as they battled, but it was obvious even to Helen that the black lines on the spatial wall were growing increasingly dark.

Above their heads, the thousand-armed titan continued to smash apart the Nether Rituals created by the Engraving guild. A humanoid with a smooth, featureless face turned from the fight and bowed once each to Eashen and Claudette Beigon. The being reminded Helen of one of the mannequins she had seen on Expira. “I have heard about your arrival. I am Mynway. Please follow me and we will assist you in your assault.”

Claudette nodded. “Perfect. Ah, Mr. Ghosthound, who exactly…?”

But Claudette paused in her speaking as she turned to Randidly; his eyes were so intense that it was difficult to meet his gaze. The intensity there wasn’t the same as the pressure that the Seeker Thunder Wing had unleashed, but Randidly’s ability to utilize both Aether and Nether meant that his focus demanded acknowledgment from those around him. His every aspect seemed to deepen to the point of unfathomability. Eashen and Mynway both took a half step back, shocked by the sudden change in demeanor.

Meanwhile, Helen followed Randidly’s gaze into the enemy lines and gasped; she finally understood why they had involved themselves in this strange battlefield.

Only fifty meters away, a blazing gold spear clashed against a flaming giant. The wielder spun the spear expertly and executed a flawless thrust into the flaming giant’s joint. The monster roared, but the spear wielder moved too quickly to follow. His spear struck downward with all the blinding speed of a viper to extend the wound and then the spear-user was gone streaking across the battlefield. The blue-skinned man was a golden phantom whose spear undulated like a serpent, unleashing powerful blows to the left and right, keeping the Pinnacle Seekers at bay.

“Shal,” Helen breathed out. Both DiOrtho and Raymund looked at her curiously, but it was not easy to quickly convey the significance this figure held in her and Randidly’s past. As she observed his spear usage, Helen couldn’t believe how much Shal had improved. She had understood from conversations with Randidly that the man had allowed Tellus to defeat the Second Calamity by adjusting his image at the last moment, yet it now seemed that Shal had managed to incorporate both Hero’s Spear with the Spear Phantom Style with the Serpent Spear from his childhood. And in terms of spearplay, the result was overwhelming.

Yet Helen frowned as she continued to watch. Why does Shal’s image feel so…?

Randidly completely ignored Eashen and Mynway and instead walked calmly forward on his own toward the battlelines. He flicked his wrist and produced his leafy spear Acri. Perhaps unconsciously, spectral flames surged to life up and down the Ghosthound’s limbs. His roaring fighting spirit was so condensed that Helen could feel it radiating off of him from ten meters away.

The apprentice had grown, and he was now here to show his master everything that he had learned.