Chapter 65: ’Something’

Their banter continued for a couple more seconds before the reality of the situation overcame their pride. They were in the dungeon. Arguing and yelling meaninglessly were about the worst things one could do.

Facepalming, Ralph brought their little verbal spat to an end before it could truly begin with a curt order:

"Just shut up. Hurry up and collect the stones; we need to get out of here."

Between Ralph using Audacious Challenge and their ensuing battle, something or other was bound to have been drawn to them.

Despite not wanting to listen to a word Ralph said, Peace sifted through the pile of dead leaves and plucked out a gray stone with a hint of red.

’Hmm...’

Peace’s eyes drifted from the stone to Ralph, then back to the stone.

’I’m keepin’ it.’

Shoving it into the same secret pocket where he’d put the stimulant, Peace walked back over to the group.

Sadly, it didn’t seem he’d be able to devour their corpses. Given their size, doing so would take more time than either he or the party could afford... and, well, eating the small Larvae could be explained away under his earlier reasoning, but devouring an adult Gusto the same size as himself?

Yeah... that was bound to earn him some suspicious looks.

Peace didn’t even know where to begin explaining that one.

So, he let it go and followed Ralph and the others as they continued their march into the Bright Forest.

’Letting me keep it?’

’I was ready to argue for fair rights... or something.’

Then again, if Ralph really intended to get Peace killed, whatever Peace possessed would become his in the end.

***

Three hours passed since their run-in with the Gusto triplets.

Though the journey had been accented by near-constant skirmishes, they eventually reached what they believed was the end of the Gusto spawning zone.

Along the way, they’d killed nine more Gustos: five Larvae, three Pricklers, and one Thornthrower.

None of the battles were particularly fierce or worthy of mention, as they’d faced no more than two at a time. For the most part, Peace barely had to do anything except happily accept the free EXP.

In fact...

???

Name: [Pax Garnier]

Tier: [9]

Rank: [F] - (EXP: 50/51)

Class: [Terror]

Traits: [???]

Resonance: N/A

Item Level: 16

???

He’d collected so much EXP that he was a single point away from discovering what the hell happened when that gauge filled...

Still, he’d yet to consume another corpse, leaving his Trait counter stalled at 90; however...

Ralph crouched, poking at a white flame hovering above a pile of dead leaves.

"What, oh, what do we do about this?"

’A Wisp...’

It had come from a Gusto Larva.

’I wonder... will it behave like the Sun Drinker Wisp? Will it add to the counter?’

Or would it be different now that he was in a humanoid body?

Plus...

If he consumed the Wisp right in front of them, they’d fully expect him to become a good deal stronger and start using its Resonance. When neither happened, they might grow suspicious of his unique circumstance...

Something he didn’t want them to find out.

The last thing he needed was to give the Imperials more reasons to experiment on him.

The fewer people who knew, the better.

Volkar, practically bouncing with excitement as he danced around the flame, shouted:

"Can I have it?! Can I have it?!"

Ralph shook his head.

"It wouldn’t make sense for you, big guy. I told you, we need to find you one worthy of your awesome muscles. This one would make your muscles shrink."

Volkar suddenly fell backward, planting his palms against the ground and scrambling away.

"S-shrink?! Gah! Get that thing away!"

With that taken care of, Ralph looked back at Peace and Yulis.

"The real decision is which of you two should take it... or whether to simply leave it."

Peace narrowed his eyes at the entrancing Wisp.

"You don’t have a storage vial?"

Ralph laughed as he stood.

"Baha! Do we look like we can afford one? Besides, you’d lose money trying to sell this thing. It’s worth less than the vial itself!"

Peace looked over at Yulis, who was already watching him with a strained expression.

Sighing, Peace said:

"He can have it."

Yulis opened his mouth to respond.

"I—"

But, Ralph chuckled and cut him off:

"Oh? What makes you think the decision is yours?"

"Huh...?"

Ralph continued:

"I say you should have it. The ability it gives is good for Yulis, but he could definitely find a better one."

Peace shook his head.

"I’m afraid I’ll still have to politely decline."

"Hahaha! And I’ll have to not so politely refuse your refusal." Casting his gaze toward Volkar, Ralph ordered, "Volkar, Peace here said he wants to see your muscles up close. To feel the full force of your ’friend hug’."

The Giant peeked out from behind the tree he’d been cowering behind, a wide smile spreading across his face.

Without hesitation, Volkar bounded out and scooped Peace into a bear hug, shouting:

"Friend hug!"

Ralph clapped.

"Good, good! Now, while the Wisp would make your muscles shrink, Volkar, it will make the muscles of our friend here grow. So... throw him into it!"

Peace tried to protest, but all he managed were inarticulate gasps with his windpipe crushed against the Giant’s chest.

Still clutching Peace against him, Volkar asked:

"Is that true?"

Ralph cheered back:

"Yes, it totally is! Come on, do it for your friend!"

’Seriously?! Why is he so— oh...’

’Oh, this absolute bastard.’

While possessing a Resonance was always better than having none, one’s first Resonance dictated their Class.

The Wisp of the Gusto Larvae was a weird one...

Like many others, it could One of the two Resonances. However, unlike most, the two Resonances it had the possibility of giving were of different Classes. Meaning, if once absorbed it as their first, it was one of the few Wisps capable of granting two different Classes: a pure fifty/fifty split between Archer and Warrior.

’He’s trying to ruin my build!’

Ralph was gambling on Peace receiving the Archer Class, which clearly didn’t suit him.

’Wait... I have an idea. Why didn’t I think of that sooner?!’

It was time to show Ralph... ’something.’

Volkar swung Peace back, then forward, tossing him towards the flame.