He offered the watching curiosity in the core of the Grand Pattern storm a wicked smile I suppose the only way to go is up LetÆs see if I can improve more quickly than you can kill me
Chapter 1803
The disciples that followed the great personage who created the Grand Pattern gave up their names because their existence outside of the mountain had come to an end They resolved themselves to either comprehend the entirety or die trying Ultimately their identities mattered less than their attainments within the Grand Pattern
That sort of resolve paid dividends the official disciples were extremely powerful They controlled most of the core areas of the mountain always attempting to climb higher to comprehend one more secret of the Grand Pattern That became their entire reason for existence
Thus they referred to each other by number Not by seniority but by power which was the only truth that mattered in the Nexus
It was with great trepidation that Number One leaned against his cane and ascended the stone stairs to the Upper Summit Room Such was the reach of his influence that the torches flickered in time with his steps His face was unreadable due to both wrinkles and the rotating shadows He gathered momentum as he ascended ready for what was to come
Right above the Upper Summit Room was where the early disciples from before Number OneÆs time on the mountain carved veinsÆ through the interior of the mountain channeling some of the deadlier energies down from the Grand Pattern to create the web of tests that tortured the newer disciples and forced some of them to struggle along the surface to avoid the worst of the traps
Privately Number One believed this was not to assist in the training of the new arrivals but in fact to cull their numbers As he agreed with this principle Number One had taken care to stamp out all talk of removing the veins
Which only makes my current predicament more pathetic The lines on Number OneÆs face deepened ally he wouldnÆt care about the training camp at all However he had made a special invitation to an individual albeit before the chaotic rumblings in the Nexus His name was associated with the eventual outcomes of Randidly Ghosthound because he had extended the invitation and brought him to the mountain Considering the young manÆs talents Number One had been confident of him excelling through the trials of life and death that he and the other direct disciples had planned to amuse themselves But considering the unexpected interference
The perfect fuse to ignite Number OneÆs temper and competitiveness He ground his teeth enjoying the strained force in his jaw
Long ago during a time when their master had spoken to them freely and Number One struggled along as Number Seven the profound individual had sighed and shaken his head Number Seven why must you hold on to your pride so tightly It digs its spurs into your side constantly urging you forward when better judgment would reflect Someday it will dig your grave and lead you right into it
Although he had flushed and bowed his head to be reprimanded even then Number One had known the truth
Even if my pride may someday doom me it is only because of my pride that I push myself to the limits No power comes freely in the Nexus And this is the power that I have chosen
After firmly planting his cane on the ground Number One waved a hand and blasted open the high door to the Upper Summit Room The soft whistling music and the sounds of conversation stopped dead as Number One glared about at the weaklings arrayed in front of him
The hundred odd contestants for the training camp flinched back from his gaze lowering their eyes to the food and drink that the disciples provided to soften up those of weak heart A drunk trainee was one of the most amusing deaths Yet at the moment Number One couldnÆt care less about entertainment he wanted an explanation
The wide and spacious Upper Summit Room glittered with finery the wind veins engineered through the roof obstructed for the day and the patterns on the floor inert Having above a hundred participate was a problem but not one that the mountain didnÆt know how to deal with plenty would die in those first days to bring their numbers down to acceptable levels
But Number One had nothing to say to these ugly caterpillars He thumped forward the crowd clearing a path for him and approached the antechamber where the other disciples waited
Number One thrust aside a curtain and snarled immediately driven by righteous anger What is the meaning of this
Several figures in the low smoky room turned to face him The other Numbers hid smiles and acted like they didnÆt know why he would be so furious As though they didnÆt gossip about his pride every time he left the room His gaze was intense but none of them caved and responded for several seconds This didnÆt surprise Number One he was used to this band of fools playing dumb about the true moves they made
Randidly wiped the sweat from his brow and sat down cross legged on the stone path Occasionally wind blades cut sideways at him but they smashed against his body and disintegrated he now sat directly below the threshold to the second tier A few more steps and he would rise into an area dominated by the Grand Pattern that could actually damage him Not seriously but enough wind blades would break through his high Endurance and Uncommon Metabolism
His heartbeat quickened in anticipation But for now he swallowed that rising excitement and focused on his body
Specifically he looked at small spectral bits of light that floated toward him and settled on his image physicalizations Like looked like bits of ash drifting from a campfire except their glow was a cool blue As he absorbed more and more with his new Marred Yet Reliable Foundation of Yggdrasil he could feel the condensed Aether sharpening and assuming more and more of the flavor of his images
A wind black cracked against his right shoulder splintering off bits of the black lacquer armor he received from the Grey Creature Almost instantly the flow of these strange drifting bits of glow accelerated toward the broken place to remake it in a superior fashion Randidly pursed his lips If Helen were here heh I wouldnÆt be able to deny that IÆm a bit of a masochist Even my body wants to be brutalized in order to grow stronger
Congratulations Your Skill Conviction of the Celestial Cataclysm has grown to Level 567
Congratulations Your Skill Marred Yet Reliable Foundation of Yggdrasil has grown to Level 502
Randidly had been confused at first where these pieces of energy came from because they clearly improved his image physicalizations But then he realized that he was the source his own expansive consciousness and Willpower influenced the surroundings naturally From those influenced surroundings when flaws in his image physicalizations presented themselves these small notes volunteered themselves to improve him
Efficiently channel energy indeed
Luckily for me all that natural force above hits even harder The more I absorb the stronger the physicalizations will become Randidly muttered to himself as he glanced upward into the churning grey storm He felt the pseudo consciousness watching him steadily losing patience as Randidly dithered right at the edge Great wheels and gears of air curled in on themselves as the next stage of this testÆ readied itself
Excitement and responsibility warred inside RandidlyÆs heart Some part of him wished to pull out his PhilosopherÆs Key to confirm it could take him from this place should the danger of this test continue to rise as he ascended the mountain but the consciousness watched him closely enough that it would likely sense something from his Fatepiece And once he truly angered it he would not be able to remain here any longer
And thereÆs so much more growing to do RandidlyÆs eyes were bright IsnÆt this why I came here To push myself I thought I would focus on the Grand Pattern and my understanding and anticipation but look the Mountain generously decided to help me train my physical body and my understanding of Cutting Tides of Amenonuhoko at the same time It would be rude to run away before sampling the feast my host has provided