On the other hand Randidly grimaced at Drake The second unpredictable element is becoming troublesome There was a thick aura of blood that filled the air around Drake It wasnÆt present at the beginning likely because of RoyÆs suppression of his ability to sense another But now that Drake was focusing his will for violence upon Randidly it was starting to show real fangs
It was an image for sure and a dangerous one even at this amorphous stage There were similarities in it that brought Silo to mind But while Silo possessed the chaotic violence of battle and glory DrakeÆs was a quieter sort of pain It was resentment and aging rust colored blood and self pity There was something deeply wrong and dangerously flawed inside of Drake And perhaps that was exactly why Randidly was wary of the image that animated him
Drake can you hear me Randidly said slowly Not that he couldnÆt see the maroon crystal covering the manÆs ears but it wasnÆt a mistake to take to test the veracity of RoyÆs words And Skills could compensate for almost anything But DrakeÆs focused intensity didnÆt waver at all
Randidly tried to recall his time spent with Drake and produce something that he could say that would give the other man pause if he could hear the words But before he could land on an answer that horrible rust colored violence exploded in a wave
The ground in front of Randidly rippled and then dozens of bone spikes shot upwards to impale his feet It was such a novel sight that Randidly froze for a split second before laughed aloud With Grasp of the World Seed to feel every bit of bone that slid up through the plant matter in the ground it was easy to avoid the bones trying to stab him Drake this is a bad idea Even if your Intelligence and Control is tripled well let me just show you
For all RandidlyÆs teasing a good fifty meters of ground was densely packed with sharp protrusions of bone But RandidlyÆs eyes burned emerald as the ground in an almost one hundred meter circle aside from a small area left so Shual and his basket wouldnÆt be burnt to a crisp exploded in a series of tightly packed Eruption of the Blazing Leylines
It took almost half of RandidlyÆs Mana pool but it was worth it That thick emerald fire wrapped up around Drake and caused him to raise his head and spread his mouth wide as if to whistle But when the bit of crystal in his mouth bobbed up and down there was no noise The dismal rain turned to steam and the grey world was dyed a deep green for several seconds
Before Drake could recover Randidly followed up with Reach of the Jade Slag but Drake was done messing around apparently that last wave of spells did enough damage for him to give Randidly the acknowledgment of being a true opponent
Without even seeming to see the Skills Drake sidestepped through a slim gap in the jade claws and gathered a thick rust colored aura around his sword Randidly bared his teeth in response even as Crown of Upheaval and Gloom Deific Mien of Yggdrasil and Cruel Indignation of Yggdrasil surged to life The arm warped and rumbled small imperfections emerging in the world as his three auras blasted outward
That tower specter of the World Tree that Randidly had planted as he had rushed across the marsh rustled in pleasure sending thick tendrils of power down to Randidly Even then Randidly pressed harder his Willpower sharpening those images into a blade that he raised as Drake advanced
As that rust colored light gathered around Drake Randidly could feel it sucking the life and Vitality out of everything in the nearby area It was a self destructive vicious power As one who wielded Cruel Indignation of Yggdrasil he recognized a kindred spirit in that image that Drake held
Which was why Randidly rushed forward without a second thought Sometimes the best message was beating someone at their own game Acri sang in the air thrusting forward to meet DrakeÆs chest Drake brought his bastard sword down to deflect the strike and Randidly twisted his spear and pulled it back
DrakeÆs slash turned into a lunge and RandidlyÆs pullback turned into a sidestep The two combatants passed within a hair of each other and at that moment both gazes studied the other Their images clashed the weight of those destructive ideologies grinding against each other and physically churning up the marsh with their presence
But RandidlyÆs expression darkened It was a strange feeling but he was abruptly reminded of his image practice with Skarch Yet instead of himself he was now playing the role of Skarch DrakeÆs image was amorphous and poorly defined but Randidly could tell that the man who still lived believed extremely deeply in it Meanwhile RandidlyÆs image was well established and strong
Still that image that wafted toward Randidly was overwhelming in its tenacity Randidly didnÆt want to acknowledge it but the image that Drake had resonated with his Fate and seemed to multiply the substance of what it was
Were those images the role of the Fates then Which was why the System interfered so directly because of its strange fixation upon images
But those were thoughts for later For now Randidly needed to beat Drake Honestly everything Drake was doing right now reminded Randidly
Of what I would do if I faced a stronger foe Randidly thought Which means what comes next would be
DrakeÆs figure blurred as he launched himself forward and cut toward RandidlyÆs chest Almost lazily Randidly brought his spear up and blocked the blow Immediately Drake lowered his shoulders and began to press downward on Randidly
a direct contest of Strength Randidly thought as he gritted his teeth and resisted the push Yet Randidly found himself almost hopelessly overmatched in the Strength department It seemed that Endurance wasnÆt the only stat that Drake had poured his points into before he multiplied his Stats But Randidly wasnÆt going to be outdone
Stalemate Breaker brought them both to a stalemate Randidly on his back foot and almost off his stance altogether The Skill devoured his Stamina but the sudden resistance brought a little bit of uncertainty to DrakeÆs pressure The pressure eased somewhat and Randidly began to push back So you are conscious in there arenÆt you Drake Is it strange To know the heights of your stats and then to meet someone who exceeds you
Acri twisted up and seized one of DrakeÆs legs Before Randidly completely ran out of gas a sharp yank destroyed DrakeÆs stance and let Randidly push past the attack The bastard sword smashed into his shoulder but Sulfur could handle a deflection of that level
The first Raucous PhantomÆs Finale Randidly used was once more a hit to the face But Randidly had noticed that these didnÆt seem to phase Drake much He followed up with two more in quick succession depleting quite a bit of the energy stored in the Engraving Both smashed into DrakeÆs collarbone The first staggering him and the second knocking Drake to the ground
You know what the difference between us is Drake Randidly asked rhetorically His eyes flicked sideways to the mass of roots still restraining Roy by continuing to grind his bones to nothing then back at Drake It didnÆt matter if Roy heard this Randidly used the Inevitable Phantom Arrives to send a powerful blow crashing like a freight train into DrakeÆs collar bone then grimaced as he didnÆt get the response he wanted
We might fight the same such stubborn boldness But it’s the opponents we’ve been facing are what make us And while have been struggling for my life on Tellus This time Randidly activated Yyrwood Body of Yggdrasil and Spear Advances Ash Trails point blank The blow sent Drake tumbling backward
But the fucker hopped up to his feet in a split second raising his bastard sword in preparation Another Raucous PhantomÆs Finale knocked the sword away and allowed the giant fist of roots that Randidly had conjured to forcibly smash Drake into the ground No matter how much Strength he had he wasnÆt ready for the sheer mass that crashed into him
And yet even as his body bounced and it was clear even through his gruesome and warped face that he was stunned Drake managed to land on both feet and stare uncannily at Randidly Tenacity and determination burned in those still sockets