Chapter 1673 (2/2)

Congratulations! Your Skill Scrawl of the Ghosthound (L) has grown to Level 124!

The activation for this Skill was actually quite interesting. A nucleus of energy was created that latched like a parasite onto the material. With its core’s unique structure, it was comically easy for a Scrawl Mark to hack into an Engraving. Of course, a powerful Engraving couldn’t have its course shifted by a weak Scrawl Mark. But it did make Randidly realize that there were some latent flaws in his Kharon Engine.

That thought made Randidly frown. It would be hard for anyone now to gather enough power to take control of my city. But in another ten or twenty years…?

“Ah!”

Todd’s scream had Randidly spin around, looking for a threat. But his Grim Intuition faithfully reported that there was no danger in the surrounding trees, just other groups of children. Randidly tilted his head and looked at Todd, who had fallen on his butt and was pointing behind Randidly. Faithfully, the student turned to look at the source of his shock.

A moss spirit giant, composed of perhaps a thousand of the friendly sprites, was crouching behind Randidly, watching him work on his Scrawl. Randidly had noticed the observation earlier and allowed the moss spirits to gather and watch his work. He had idly wondered whether the moss spirits would be able to learn Engraving. And in a way, it would address the problem of some powerful Scrawler hijacking Kharon, so Randidly had been slowly demonstrating for the moss giant.

“You… how are you so popular with the moss spirits…?” Todd blinked several and then hopped to his feet. Then he swaggered confidently over and poked his hand into the warm body of the moss spirits. Always willing to put on a show, the moss spirits around Todd’s hand exploded in a flurry of light and color. Todd nodded in satisfaction. “You must have lived in Kharon for a long time.”

“Well… Kharon’s my home,” Randidly said slowly. He sighed as he looked at the enthusiastic moss spirits continuing to play with Todd. “But… I guess I’ve been away for a while. And pretty soon, I’ll have to leave again.”

The moss spirits visibly dimmed at Randidly’s admission, but Todd nodded sagely. “Kharon’s just one city, right? It’s the best city in the world definitely… but we can’t just stay here! There is a whole world to explore! There is the Great Enemy that waits in the darkness! If we don’t work hard and just laze around here, we won’t be able to protect Kharon when that foe shows up.”

Randidly quirked an eyebrow upward as he snapped off another branch and began showing the moss giant how to use Scrawl. “The Great Enemy?”

“Yes, the Great Enemy! I’m not surprised you haven’t heard; it's a secret only know to the true patriots of Kharon,” Todd said seriously. Then he coughed into his hand and his expression changed to a worshipful look. “Randidly Ghosthound could not stay in Kharon… and most people just say that he went up to the Nexus and leave it at that. But have you wondered why Expira’s greatest hero would leave his home planet behind? Leave behind the city that he exhausted himself to build? It’s because of the Great Enemy!

“The Ghosthound was the only one on Expira powerful enough to contend with these dangerous existences. Anyone else would be annihilated when they faced these individuals!” Todd was building up some momentum now. His eyes shined with excitement. “But the Ghosthound didn’t falter, even though he had to fight these foes alone! Even now, he’s out there training tirelessly to protect us! That’s why we cannot waver in our dedication. Because he is not perfect. And when he eventually needs help… when that mysterious Great Enemy finally makes their way to Expira… we need to be ready.”

Influence +7!

At that moment, Todd burned as brightly as a beacon with the spirit of Kharon. Randidly’s chest felt warm. His expression as he looked at Todd was gentle. “...thank you. You do a great service to your world, Todd.”

“Hmph, of course. Who do you think your Sensei is?!?” Todd puffed out his chest and adjusted his glasses. But no sooner did he struck a pose than laughter drifted out of the surrounding trees.

“What a joke.” A teenage girl with long blonde hair stepped out of the treeline and crossed her arms. “Someone like you will never be able to help the Ghosthound, Toddler.”

Todd squinted at the girl behind his heavy glasses. His hands balled into fists.“Eileen Krouse…! My eternal rival!”

”Heh, us, rivals? Don't make me laugh.” Eileen Krouse raised her hand and put it in front of her mouth, affecting a high-pitched and very fake chortle. ”But you have been a thorn in my side for far too long, Toddler. Which is why I've brought Superman Bennio this time to tie you up! There is no way I'll allow you to steal that from me at the Under-Auction!”

Nearer to Randidly and Todd, a sixteen-year-old boy who was not wearing a shirt stepped out of the treeline. He looked lazily at the two of them and flexed his shirtless torso. Eileen laughed again, but Todd's eyes flashed.

”Student, you won't be a match for Superman Bennio. Distract them and then we can flee!”

Almost helplessly, Randidly curled a finger. His fleet of Scrawl marked sticks twisted around midair and shot toward the muscular teenager. The teenager seemed to realize what was happening and bounded forward, but Randidly expertly guided the various sticks to hit the boy's joints and adjust his center of balance.

While Todd was frantically putting a scrawl on a large carpet he had pulled from his interspatial ring, this Superman Bennio stumbled and roared. ”Goddamnit, just fight fairly, you old piece of shit!”

Randidly's mouth twitched. Believe me, you really don't want that.