Strangely, after Randidly returned to his inn, he found Bertarn already waiting for him. In the wake of his concession, Bertarn had slipped away, the man with the towering body covered in muscles moving surprisingly quietly, fading away. His Style was aghast and furious, and the crowd was raving.
After all, Randidly had worked himself into a rather popular position, simply by his identity of a participant not affiliated with the larger Styles. This, combined with Claptrap’s subt...
2017-09-11 03:33:37 +0000 UTC
View Post
Randidly’s spear blurred as he thrust it forward, aiming for the center of Bertarn’s mass. Although he couldn’t out endure Bertarn, if he could give his Flesh Eating Virus a chance to do his work, it would make his long term viability much more realistic.
Unfortunately, although Bertarn was caught off guard, he hadn’t totally lost his focus, and was able to bring up the shaft of his spear, knocking the thrust away. So Randidly simply raised his hand and pointed, undeterred...
2017-09-11 03:33:01 +0000 UTC
View Post
After the discussion with Aiden Darke, Randidly’s expression was frosty. Darke had insisted on Randidly revealing where he had obtained the Engraved equipment from. Not for a second did Darke seem to have any suspicion that Randidly himself had produced them, but they knew that the equipment flowed through Randidly.
And after the earlier display of strength, Randidly had no qualms with keeping silent about the true culprit at all.
Randidly briefly considered throwing Shal ...
2017-09-08 04:03:43 +0000 UTC
View Post
Finishing the Path, in addition to the benefits given to him from it, also got him over 250 in his Soul Skill, giving him another Blessing of the Cleansing Rain. But as he looked at the benefits from the notification, Randidly couldn’t help but wrinkle his brow.
Wisdom +3, Focus +7 Concentration permanently increases by 1%. Mana Regeneration increases by 16. +3 Free stats.
Didn’t the bonuses seem… slightly different than before…? His memory was very sharp from his hi...
2017-09-08 04:03:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
Perhaps he should have expected it, but there was something very different about the dangerous Randidly had been put into with Azriel, than any of the times with Marco Polo or Shal.
Mostly, Azriel wasn’t very good at actually not killing him. Her attacks were fast and direct, and she seemed to have an inordinate amount of trust that he wouldn’t let himself die just from these “training spars”.
But she didn’t pull a single punch, and aimed for weaknesses and blindsp...
2017-09-07 04:03:15 +0000 UTC
View Post
It was only a second, but second’s can cost a lot in an ambush. Luckily, Randidly wasn’t an average spear user any longer. In addition, now that he could actually wear the rare belt that had been given to him, the extra concentration made itself very useful.
After that first moment of confusion, his instincts kicked in and he spun around, producing the huge obsidian spear that smashed toward Helen’s stab. As he expected, her spear seemed to blur and twist, flowing around his...
2017-09-07 04:02:35 +0000 UTC
View Post
Author's Note: Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. Suffice to say, things haven't gone my way in terms of writing these last few weeks. I had someone staying with me while they were in between apartments, which severely cut into my ability to write.
Happily, my friend finally has a new place, so I can now write naked, as I always wanted. These problems were pretty constant for the past two months, only I had a lead in terms of chapters, to cover up most ...
2017-09-06 13:11:34 +0000 UTC
View Post
Randidly coughed awkwardly at her words. “That’s… that’s not why I’m shocked…. Why would you agree to that, for me…? I don’t understand.”
Azriel shrugged, turning back to the wilderness. “After winning the Regional Tournament, and necessarily beating me, he would use his influence to force me into it. It was a meaningless promise, and perhaps he knew it. But from his perspective, obtaining my word is much more valuable than using my Style as leverage.”
...
2017-09-01 13:03:34 +0000 UTC
View Post
Islinda, mother to Helen, watched this interaction with incredible focus. When she was younger, she too was beautiful, but nowhere near so much as Helen was. When her daughter began to blossom into her body, at an age before she could understand it, Islinda had become very adept at studying the attention that men gave Helen.
It was less a useful skill now, when Helen would scare away any halfway decent man that gave her the time of day, but…
Her eyes didn’t miss the glan...
2017-09-01 13:03:01 +0000 UTC
View Post
With his spear raised, Kanan rushed towards the male spear attendant, with his eyes bloodshot and the veins in his arm throbbing as he gripped his spear with all of his strength. Although there was some space in the stands to fight, there wasn’t much, so he quickly arrived in front of the male spear attendant, chopping down with his spear.
The male spear attendant’s spear was bobbing up and down, the drink preventing him from exercising his full control, but at the last moment...
2017-08-31 12:59:11 +0000 UTC
View Post
Randidly’s first thought, when walking back into the underground, slightly stumped, was that Azriel must have done or said something on his behalf. But when he looked around, he couldn’t locate the girl. She must be currently fighting. So he begrudgingly sat back down.
It didn’t sit well with him to own a debt to another, especially to a stranger from one of the larger Styles. HIs instincts twinged uncomfortably at the thought of oweing another. This effect was compounded af...
2017-08-30 12:43:57 +0000 UTC
View Post
Helen looked at the ceramic mug with a mixed expression. It certainly had a weight and craftsmanship to it that spoke of wealth. Claptrap seemed very excited about them, so he had given her one of the new Ghosthound mugs. His emerald and gold banner was emblazoned on the front of the cup, with his name and Style on the backside.
Helen turned it over. On the bottom of the cup was a giant C, which stood for Claptrap’s new “company”. It was ostentatious, but… Helen could some...
2017-08-29 03:54:20 +0000 UTC
View Post
Randidly sat, meditating, during the long break between the 1st and 2nd matches.
It wasn’t a difficulty of execution, it was a difficulty of balance and control. Although the skills had merged and become one larger skill, they still were activated relatively separately. He needed to focus on his movements, the image, the feints, and the mental attack all at once. It felt almost impossible on its own.
Still, every portion itself had a vastly increased effectiveness, s...
2017-08-29 03:53:39 +0000 UTC
View Post
A few hours later, Helen sat in the most prestigious area of the arena, gazing at the second arena. Based on information, that was where Randidly would be fighting his first match. But still, Helen was quite dissatisfied, because she was not the reason that they had ended up here. In fact, she was just a guest…
“Bahahaaha!” Aethon Thai thundered, slapping the male spear attendants back, who giggled childishly as he dropped the glass cups he had been juggling due ...
2017-08-29 03:44:40 +0000 UTC
View Post
At dawn, Claptrap awoke, his back still sore, and his eyes bleary. Warily, he sat up. The pounding at the door, which had awoken him in the first place, sounded again. Sighing, Claptrap got up and hobbled to the door.
The door swung open, revealing the female brewer, who had a serious expression on her face. “We don’t have enough stock, if the sales from the first day repeat. And we expect them to only increase as more people come to watch the tournament….”
Claptrap ...
2017-08-29 03:34:56 +0000 UTC
View Post
Randidly sat back on his heels, looking at the notification. Although he had expected the theme of the final Blessing, its form still had some pleasant surprises in it. But more than that… the fact that his Soul Skill appeared to be evolving was more interesting. The connection to Arbor and Thorn even more so.
Curious, he brought up his menu relating to them, and was shocked to discover that the menu was grayed out. As he focused on it, the menu displayed a tip that his co...
2017-08-25 03:16:51 +0000 UTC
View Post
Perhaps it was due to his previous matches against overwhelming individuals, but Randidly’s 4th match was somewhat of a letdown. His opponent was a woman with short brown hair and a long, flexible spear. She came at him with very efficient weaving of attacks, striking at odd angles, moving in unpredictable patterns.
But Randidly had methods of keeping her honest. With his participation in the tournament on the line, Randidly freely used his spells, using Incinerating Bolts and S...
2017-08-25 03:06:10 +0000 UTC
View Post
Randidly sat down immediately after the match started, exhausted.
His opponent raised his eyebrow. “Do you concede?”
Randidly folded his hands and closed his eyes. “No, I do not concede.”
“Then why do you sit?” His opponent said with a frown, his dark eyes crinkling.
“Because… this is the best way to win.” Randidly raised his hand and unleashed an Incinerating Bolt that rushed forward, a scarlet blur that was aimed at one of his opponent’s kne...
2017-08-25 02:57:53 +0000 UTC
View Post
Abruptly, Randidly realized that the entire crowd had fallen silent as this small girl spoke. Even the referee stood at the side differentially. And there was something in the air... a palpable energy around Azriel. Randidly couldn't find himself to disbelieve that this individual was one of the favorites to win the tournament. Her battle intent-
His eyes narrowed. THat's what this was. Artisan. An Artisan level.
Aether began to roar as it swiftly flowed through him, to his ...
2017-08-23 04:01:58 +0000 UTC
View Post
Kishta Darth was the nurtured chosen disciple of the Blooming Flower Style. This Style wasn't particularly powerful in the Northern Region, but it had affiliations with the leading Style of the Eastern Region, which was eyeing the relatively less competitive Northern Region. This Style was the first probe, and Kishta was the chosen poster child.
If she were able to achieve exemplary results in the tournament, the Blooming FLower Style would earn prestige, and finally be able to st...
2017-08-22 12:43:42 +0000 UTC
View Post
Author's Note: Apologies for the delays. My vacation started earlier than I thought, and I was sick at the end. I am 8 chapters behind on Patreon, and growing into more every day, hahaha. I'll work extra hard over the next few days to get those out. Thank you everyone for your continued support!
P.S. Oh, I also decided to shift the tournament to triple elimination, so as to extend the fights somewhat. It's not much, but it will give me some more room to work with.
2017-08-22 12:38:20 +0000 UTC
View Post
Shal watched as his disciple dropped the diary, huffing. His mouth twisted into a grin. “Still insufficient? You must have less talent than I had thought, to fail to improve even after all of this time with access to the diary.”
His disciple gave him a look that was more exasperated than annoyed, so Shal let it slide. Besides, although he had moved himself closer to a level of Aether that he could subsist on, the problems were completely gone away. After their spar the previou...
2017-08-14 04:19:42 +0000 UTC
View Post
Randidly smiled, even though he now only had 6 hours to gain 14 levels. Also, the second line made him roll his eyes.
Congratulations! Your own personal skill has been created. You have created the skill Flexibility of the White Hunters (R) Lvl 1. Due to proceeding to a different Cohort than your home planet to create the skill, all bonuses associated with the record of creating an Rare skill are lost.
So it seemed that the system still refused to reward him...
2017-08-14 04:19:10 +0000 UTC
View Post
Randidly found himself a corner and began to breath calmly, his attention focusing inward. He brought his consciousness down, and began to focus on his Soul Skill. His vision focused further, and images of the small creatures that were spreading to populate his world came into sharp relief.
Specifically, of all of the creatures, they ones that were the subject of Randidly’s examination were Annie’s creatures: the bug centaurs. But in addition to their insect like 4 lower legs,...
2017-08-14 04:16:10 +0000 UTC
View Post
The strange existence that had interfered with Randidly’s Paths and skill, as he referred to it “the creature”, smiled as it looked down into the reflecting pool that displayed the battle between master and disciple. But her eyes peered more deeply that the truly insignificant skills that both of them used.
“Fascinating… to think that he would transform my masterwork into a simple powerplant…” The creature muttered, its fingers stretching, lengthening until they were...
2017-08-14 04:12:00 +0000 UTC
View Post
Congratulations! You have completed the Aether Philanthropist Path! Your path begins to vere through the paths of others, and some of those you cross paths with are vastly improved by your touch. Your familiarity and experience grows in the manipulation of Aether. Your understanding of Aether greatly increased. You have learned the skill “Aether Connection (A) Lvl 1”.
Randidly breathed slowly, not really sure what to make of this. Not only the result, but also...
2017-08-14 04:09:32 +0000 UTC
View Post
The trembling swiftly became spasms, and Randidly was rolling on the floor of his dark room, his mouth twisted in a grimace. So much for resting before the second half of the preliminary…
Examining Soul Skill…. Adjusting search parameters…Expanding search scope…
Warning! Examination failed. Contacting the user’s Village Spirit…
Warning! No village spirit detected. System guidance insufficient. Recalculating…...
2017-08-11 03:17:50 +0000 UTC
View Post
Randidly raised his hands like a conductor. How did one construct a world?
One piece at a time, he supposed. The first action he did was construct the core. The creature was right about one thing; his knowledge of time was a useful base. But he didn’t want to rely on just the objective face of time, but also the subjective one. He wanted to created an interactive system of time that would function through the core.
With a pounding headache, Randidly’s hands began to move...
2017-08-11 03:17:11 +0000 UTC
View Post
“Does this change anything? If it’s a matter of power… you barely have enough for a single skill. At any point, I could crush your resistance. You think this changes anything?”
Randidly didn’t answer, savoring the feeling of absorbing power from his connections to his four blessed individuals. As his perception continued to expand, Randidly found the two connections he had Thorn and Arbor, and began a similar process, slowly pushing Aether towards them, and having the re...
2017-08-11 03:16:32 +0000 UTC
View Post
In his imagination, those lights floated slowly through these four paths towards Randidly. There was a path of cool white lights, of hot red lights, of vivifying golden lights, and reserved indigo lights. They came in large ways, floating in batches towards Randidly’s location. In his imagination, Randidly could see that the points of light floated into the hole in his Aether well, sinking slowly into him.
The hole pulsed, More Aether was produced, and a portion of that flowed i...
2017-08-10 03:19:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
