The business the weaker crab replied rather listlessly but the more dominant figure simply clomped onto the otherÆs claw and dragged it the rest of the way out of its rock pile Then it excitedly led the other up to the surface dweller statue and climbed up onto the highest point to show off its view
The weaker crab experimentally lowered its claw and pinched the surface of the edifice Its claws could rip away some scrap material likely accumulated detritus from its sinking into the sea that the leader Crab intended to clean later but the main material it couldnÆt damage at all Despite its earlier unwillingness he got caught up in the failure of their claws How is this possible Why is it so powerful that I cannot squeeze it
Yes well We all have certain immutable deficiencies The leader crab said airly It seemed unnecessary to bring up that it also couldnÆt pinch this edifice Instead it gestured with its claw But please feel free to stay as long as you like and admire the view IÆll be back presently I have a few more individuals IÆd like to invite to see my new home
RandidlyÆs attention remained focused inward scanning himself with a fervent dedication that he hadnÆt previously possessed He could feel himself practically humming along with the task Of course the irony was that he was currently trying to understand the evolution to Exquisite Piety which had previously been Focus so the whole hearted intensity he now possessed attempted to fold its function processes around to get a good look at itself
It was the zeal and religious associations discussed in the notification that left Randidly somewhat confused and suspicious Why had the System judged his recent associations with Moirae of Ripples to be vaguely religious
His Nether Core spun creating a dense network of the energy of connections that allowed him to follow and trace the influences that helped shape this new Stat And Randidly couldnÆt deny that his new Focus was extremely helpful for gathering and categorizing information The fanaticism with which he pursued his goal felt somewhat frightful
Congratulations Resistance and Willpower +50 The efficacy of the Skill Cursed Fate of the Unborn Duo is slightly increased It is slightly easier for the projections to achieve a corporeal form
He didnÆt hesitate
Congratulations You have completed the Long Shadow of Accumulating Tragedy IV Path Mud water and chill have risen to engulf the whole of your experience Sloshing forward becomes the only sort of movement available You may forge a Path but no obvious answer remains for how to proceed You lean forward and brave the violent elements Again you feel yourself being tested by the horrifying forces around you
This time as he completed the fourth Path Randidly very literally felt the System examining his body as he received the notification A ghost of a frown drifted across his face Would the reward be different if I didnÆt have this powerful body Or is it a matter of significance that protects me
Either way Randidly seemed to pass with flying colors and the next portion of the notification revealed itself to him
Congratulations You have forced your way forward The ground rises beneath you and you near the edge of the horizon behind which the source of the tragedy lurks You feel the fear coming from the Unborn Duo When the reward from reaching this point comes to you there is a choice shall you absorb the reward yourself or donate it to the Unborn Duo
You have chosen to donate the reward to the spirits you harbor Congratulations +5 to All Stats Continue to advance at your own risk because you will soon come face to face with a great danger
The Long Shadow of Accumulating Tragedy V Path cost 1000 PP but Randidly didnÆt mind He had donated the reward to the spirits in hopes that the final result would be for the best Before he poured away this last chunk of PP he stirred his Nether Core and wove especially thick Nether from the significance he had received from Neshamah At the very least he wanted to be prepared for another test from the System
Considering the specter of Devick lay across this Path he didnÆt dare underestimate it
Congratulations You have completed the Long Shadow of Accumulating Tragedy V Path Your feet have carried you through bogs mires blizzards lakes seas and the deep shadow You crest the horizon and look over into the darkness that waits beyond all thresholds Of course to glimpse the tragedy is to have the tragedy glimpse you
It smiles in anticipation
Randidly gritted his teeth and shook feeling a physical impact as some foreign influence slammed into his body It wasnÆt significance per se and it wasnÆt a physical attack but it incorporated elements of both to pressure even him to the point that he was helpless The pressure continued to build and Randidly heard the loud pounding of his heart in his ears
However just as the grasp of that shadow seemed ready to pop Randidly the two unborn slugs within him began to swell in response They still appeared mishappen and poorly formed their bodies like rotting sacks of grain and their eyes and mouth jagged and triangular but they expended themselves bitterly to defend him
Observing them Randidly was oddly touched Then he mobilized his preprepared Nether joining in the fight against the test of this Path Under the combined assault of him and the two spirits they soon banished the invasion into his person The shadow snarled and howled but was forced to recede
Chapter 1878
Congratulations You have overcome the tragedy that lurked beyond the horizon at least for the moment It has withdrawn fled once more to the edge of the world an even deeper depth from which it may accumulate more sinister significance But let it never be said that surviving and continuing further down the Path hasnÆt been rewarded You have triumphed and therefore will grow
Congratulations Willpower and Resistance +300 Congratulations Your Skill Cursed Fate of the Unborn Duo has evolved into The Twin Lingering Shadows of Misfortune Skill Levels will be maintained The capabilities of the Skill projections are greatly increased The bad luck you accumulate by hosting them is slightly increased but the spirits may much more actively devour that bad luck for you The spirits may more easily devour other strange forces to grow more powerful
Randidly released a breath and relaxed The reward in terms of Stats was massive but Randidly could also feel how much more freely the Unborn spirits could move They manifested on his lower back seeming to celebrate their newfound physicality
His mouth twisted as he opened his eyes Why the hell are they still gnawing on my skin
An additional surprise waited for him as Randidly came back to awareness of his undersea location There was a Level 58 crab sitting on his shoulder which looked at him with increasing alarm as he moved Shaking his head Randidly brushed the crab off him and then launched himself upward with his power it felt like bullying to crush the small crab
He erupted from the water expecting to be able to dry himself off once he left the ocean but the storm continued to rage above the surface His mouth curling into a displeased line arch Randidly produced the PhilosopherÆs Key and opened a portal to his skyisland above Kharon There he proceeded directly to the bathroom and treated himself with a scalding shower For several minutes he simply leaned against the wall and allowed the near boiling heat to blur the line between body water and steam
Afterward Randidly dressed in some spare clothes Tatiana stored in the closets for just such an occasion and spent several minutes roasting some vaguely pork looking meat that had been preserved in his interspatial ring He made a bonfire in front of his mansion grinning at the moonlight spirits that tumbled around in front of him The first bite was juicy and flavorful making him wish he spent more time cooking
Feeling warm full and thoroughly relax Randidly produced his Philosopher’s Key once more and opened a portal into the depths of the shaft It was time for his final preparations