Defiance of the Fall

Chop - Proficiency : Late . There is greatness in simplicity .

Forester's Constitution - Proficiency : Middle . Man and Nature One Entity . Upgradeable .

Loamwalker - Proficiency : Middle . Trod the unbroken path . Upgradeable .

Nature's Punishment - Proficiency : Early . Awaken the wrath of the world . Upgradeable .

He possessed most types of skills now . The only thing he felt he was missing was another attack skill . Chop] was still good for weaker targets , but his only good attack for stronger enemies was Nature’s Punishment] . The problem with that skill was that it cost such a huge amount of energy , only allowing him to use it once in a fight .

Still , Zac didn’t worry overly much as he was only one level away from 60 and he was somewhat certain he’d gain another skill at that point . Therefore he didn’t avoid any towns or cities either as he pushed straight his destination , trying to find targets to kill along the way .

Unfortunately he realized he wouldn’t gain his level before he arrived at Kingsbury , as there simply were almost no zombies around . He was closing in on the edge of the Dead Zone and the towns he passed through were completely raided .

At first there were some scattered zombies left , but after another half day of traveling there wasn’t a single one in sight . Zac didn’t really care though as there would always be opportunities to get the level at a later point .

Another day passed as Zac kept moving , finally exiting the Dead Zone proper . Kingsbury wasn’t a real frontier town , but rather some distance further away . It only took an hour for him to reach the town though with the help of his Automatic Map .

The town was of decent size , at least comparable to what was left of Greenworth . However , he didn’t recognize any of the structures , so Zac suspected that only the cultivators got dropped off here . The other parts of Greenworth likely ended up somewhere else .

The order in the town seemed quite a bit better than most places as the guards didn’t exhort him for a bribe when he tried to enter . He’d already changed his face with Thousand Faces] again , not wanting to let anyone know about his presence before he found out about the fate and whereabouts of his sister .

This time he didn’t accept when the prompt that showed up as he entered , not wanting to make his presence known . He had asked the Abbot about the prompt , and the old man hadn’t heard about that function either , telling Zac it likely was unique to Lords .

He still didn't understand how it worked , as he didn't get the prompt in the beginning after becoming a lord . Zac guessed that only the monastery was run by someone powerful enough , and the system gave him an option to give due respect and announce himself .

As for Kingsbury , he soon realized it was due to it having come under the control of the government , another powerful entity .

After having entered the town proper Zac did what he used to do for information and simply entered the first restaurant he saw . He was surprised to find that the inside smelled of stale alcohol apart from just food .

He looked around and saw that people were drinking something , though they didn’t really seem to be enjoying the taste .

He sat down at a counter and simply ordered the drink the others forced down the throat .

Don’t recognize you , new in town? - the man asked with some disinterest as he poured a glass .

Yeah . I heard a bunch of cultivators from Greenworth are here? Is that true? - Zac answered , trying to sound casual as he took a swig . - Heurk , is this gasoline? -

It’s Kingsbury moonshine , kicks a punch doesn’t it? - the bartender said with a laugh . - Yeah , they’re here , though maybe only 2000 of them are left alive . Dangerous on the frontier , - the bartender said with a shrug .

How would I go about finding an old friend? - Zac asked with a wheeze , his throat feeling like it was on fire .

Government taking a census now that they’re in control , could ask them? But it’s a bit chaotic with the trials coming up , - the bartender answered .

Trials? - Zac asked with a sinking feeling .

Yeah , some government hotshots are holding it . -

What did the people do? - Zac asked

Well , all kinds of things it seems , - the bartender hesitantly answered .

It’s bullshit! - a drunken man from some distance away suddenly shouted . - They are just rounding up people they don’t like and slap bullshit charges on them . -

Jeez calm down , you’ll get yourself into trouble , - another man said as he dragged the drunkard out of the tavern .

No point in staying here if the government is going to get involved , there are tons of frontier towns welcoming able fighters , - another man muttered .

From there the discussion devolved into a debate into whether it was better to live in a government or an unaffiliated town , not giving Zac much more pertinent information .

I know a few people who might live here , how do I know if they got arrested? - Zac asked , tryting to steer the conversation into a better direction .

Well , there’s a list at the town square . They’re making a production of the whole thing , - a man answered with a shrug .

Zac forced himself to stay a bit longer before he stood up and rushed to the town square . In front of a statue in the middle of the square a huge signpost was erected , and there was a group of people standing in front of it .

Zac pushed himself to the front and saw it was a printed list of names and the crimes they had committed . His heart started to pound faster and faster as he scoured the list name by name .

A chaotic jumble of emotions exploded in his mind when he suddenly he saw his sister’s name on the list . Her name being present meant that she was still alive . The largest worry in Zac’s heart since Greenworth was that she’d already perished in the Dead Zone .

But she had survived after all . That she was apprehended as a criminal by the New World Government wasn’t great , but it was far preferable to being dead . This situation was something he could deal with , either through diplomacy or violence .

The fact that she was on trial for attempted murder didn’t matter to Zac . As he saw it she either was innocent or she wasn’t . If she was innocent he'd save her . If not , he was sure Kenzie had a good reason . These times were brutal , especially to a young girl . Depending on what happened he might help her finish the job .

Since he knew what was going on he simply needed to find the prisoners and take it from there . However , an hour later he sat down on a park bench with a frown , unsure what to do next . The government had hidden away those who would stand trial , and no one knew where they were being kept .

Most believed they weren’t even in Kingsbury , but teleported in through the newly added teleporter in order to avoid a prison break . That meant that Zac couldn’t simply bust her out even if he wanted to .

Furthermore , he didn’t dare to walk up to the government’s office to demand to see her . It might backfire , resulting in her disappearing out of reach forever .

According to the sign in the square there were two days until the time of Kenzies trial , and Zac decided to simply wait until that time . He found a place to stay during the wait , and simply sat down in his room , trying to figure out his next move .

As he sat there the relief of finding out his sister was alive was slowly being replaced by a feeling of helplessness and worry . Who knew what was happening to his sister while he sat and waited .

Until now he’d blocked out any and all speculations about the fact that something might have happened to her , but it wasn’t possible any longer as he was so close now .

Various thoughts or worst-case scenarios kept whirling in his head , and the worry started to change into something more primal .

It was slowly turning into anger , a wave of burning anger that threatened to set the whole town ablaze .

Chapter 184 - Trial

A pang of hunger woke MacKenzie up , though she would prefer to stay asleep . She hurt all over from the beating yesterday . These government workers were lunatics . One of them simply walked into her cell and started swinging at her until he had been forcefully dragged away . If she hadn't been taught to minimize the damage taken she might have actually died then and there .

She really started to believe the rumors that her brother was on the outs with them . She slowly sat up with a groan and closed her eyes to meditate , as it helped block out the pain and the depressing surroundings a bit .

What did they do to you? - an angered voice suddenly said outside the cells , and Kenzie’s heartbeat sped up when she recognized the voice .

They finally caught you as well? Good riddance , - she said with disgust , as she balefully glared at the obese old man outside the bars .

I told them you belong to me , yet they damaged you like this? - the old continued , ignoring Kenzie’s remark . - Someone will pay for damaging my property . -

What do you even want with me? Everyone already knows that little thing of yours doesn’t work , - she said with ridicule .

You little slut , - Harold growled , anger smoldering in his eyes . - Just wait until this farce is over . The government judicators won’t stay here for long . Then you’ll know punishment . -

She threw the disgusting old man a disdainful glance before she once again looked away .

I’m stuck here now , but sooner or later you will be the one judged , - she retorted .

The old man guffawed , making his chins jiggle . Kenzie couldn’t believe that there actually were a few women in her age that went to him willingly just for protection . She’d rather eat zombie meat than go that far .

This new world loves the strong . The government doesn’t care about Kingsbury . They care about the power of the council , and mainly me . They’ll look the other way if I take home a girl or two because they need our strength for the fight against the invasions . You’re just a dime a dozen , no value . I’ll be just fine . -

Kenzie wanted to retort something but knew there was no point . What Harold said was true . She knew that some of these trials were just for show . If the government really cared about justice they would have locked up Harold long ago . Yet he was fine , even able to come and go at this prison just to taunt her and Lyla .

Still , she knew judgment was coming for Harold . Zac was still out there , hopefully looking for her . She just hoped he would arrive sooner than later .

Finally , after having calmed down after a while Zac started to plan his next move . There was no point in letting anger take over , at least not yet . He also wasn’t ready to just sit around for two days doing nothing .

The first thing he did was to take out the corpse of the Undead Lord along with his cosmos sack . There honestly wasn’t much remaining of the man , as the huge wooden hand had completely destroyed his body . Zac took the corpse in case there was some good gear to salvage , but there simply was nothing that was still intact .

With some disappointment he threw back the corpse into a sack , instead focusing on the pouch of the undead . Zac knew the man should be rich , but the wealth inside made even Zac’s eyes widen . The undead empire really was on another level .

The most promising sight was a mountain of Nexus Crystals , even eclipsing the ones he found in Rydel’s pouch . However , Zac quickly realized something was off with the crystals . They held a tinge of turquoise rather than the normal white sheen .

He quickly took one out and was surprised that it actually contained pure miasma rather than Cosmic Energy . Zac then figured out it was nothing odd about it , as the undead couldn't cultivate using normal crystals .

If Zac had to guess there had to be at least 100 000 crystals in the pouch neatly stacked . Even better , there were actually over 100 crystals that held a far stronger sheen . Since he’d used E-Grade crystals before it didn’t take long for him to realize that these were E-Grade Miasma Crystals .

At first Zac felt he had been handed a mountain of garbage , but soon realized that these crystals might be just what he needed if he wanted to keep growing his Core . Just because he had reached equilibrium didn’t mean the Core was completely formed .

However , he still didn’t have any source that could complement these death-attuned Crystals . The energy left in the seed was limited , and he didn’t want to completely exhaust it .

Since there were crystals that contained miasmic energies , perhaps there were ones containing life-attuned energy as well . Zac would have to check with Calrin when he went back to the island later .

There were all kinds of things apart from the crystals . Zac found a whole arsenal of what could only be torture devices , and there were also quite a few books and crystals containing information . There were also various gadgets and tools , though most didn’t seem very useful to Zac .

Zac actually had problems to get many of the tools working as he tested them one by one , and he could only guess that it was because they required death-attuned energy to use . While Zac had a lot of it in his core he still wasn’t able to harness that power , so he could only helplessly put the tools back one by one .

However , a few of the items ran on normal energy rather than miasma . Perhaps they were trinkets the undead gave to living servants , or just spoils of war . One bracelet , in particular , seemed quite useful as it could create a sturdy shield around the wearer .

It needed to get socketed with a crystal , but its effect was quite strong when augmented with one’s personal Cosmic Energy . It wouldn’t stop people like Zac , but it should be strong enough to ward off bullets until it ran out of energy .

It wasn’t really useful to him with his endurance and defensive skill , but for people without any good skills to protect themselves , it would come quite handy .

There were also quite a few weapons , though almost all of them held uncomfortable sinister energy , especially the bone scythe that likely was the Corpse Lord’s main weapon . It was extremely durable , but Zac was loath to give it to someone , afraid it would corrupt them .

As for the various notepads , books , and information crystals , there was nothing much of use to Zac at the moment . There likely were valuable knowledge inside , but it was all in a script that Zac didn’t recognize .

He knew that the undead possessed their private language , and all the text was in that script . Even the crystals didn't contain a translation function . While the Book of Babel] skill could translate speech quite well there were severe limitations to written text , so Zac would have to get it all translated somehow before researching the contents .

Over the next two days , Zac went around Kingsbury to piece together the situation bit by bit . The government had arrived at the town roughly two weeks ago , and after just a short meeting with the ruling council , it was announced that the town of Kingsbury would integrate into the New World Government .

This was good news to Zac , as the town got integrated almost at the same time as the Auction was held , which meant that the government’s presence likely wasn’t a direct result of his actions over in New Washington .

The proclamation had generally been met with a positive attitude , as life was tough this close to the Incursion . The hope was that the government would provide food and security , both of which were currently lacking in the area . There were a few grumbles amongst the Zombie Hunters though , as they had grown accustomed to the wild west-like lifestyle close to the Dead Zone .

However , there were rumors of large-scale movements in the Dead Zone , and many felt a storm was brewing on the horizon . Zac could only silently agree after having witnessed the events in the incursion as well .

The undead were starting to organize . Zac didn’t know when they would explode into action , but it didn’t feel like they would wait until the leaders got their limiters removed and advanced to E-Grade . The presence of a teleporter with access to multiple government towns was a lifeline for the citizens in case something happened .

The subsequent events were met with a far more tepid response though . Great chaos erupted during a night , with two of the four councilors mysteriously dying . It was generally believed that they were against the integration with the government , though people talked in hushed tones about the matter .

As soon as the two leaders died multiple places were raided , one person after another being captured . There had been quite a few deaths and destruction as some wouldn’t let themselves get captured without a fight . The government said they were capturing all criminals in the town to improve safety .

For the most part , they were right . Quite a few bad apples were rounded up , both cultivators and mortals . There were gangsters , murderers and rapists that got captured or killed one after another . Streets that were extremely dangerous to walk before became safe overnight .

However , many got arrested for no apparent reason , and the only charge given was - threatening security - . A theory that Zac only learned of by listening in on a conversation between two drunk patrons was that many of those who got captured arbitrarily either were cultivators from Greenworth or leaders of hunting parties .

The men who spoke about the matter concluded that the government was trying to pilfer the riches of successful cultivators and zombie hunters to pay for the expansion , but Zac had another guess . People from Greenworth might have been caught in order to find out more about him and his sister .

As for Kenzie , Zac learned the charge of attempted murder was likely real . Zac almost went on a rampage when he learned about one of the councilors called Harold . It looked like that the one Kenzie had attacked was this very man , but her power wasn’t enough so she failed .

It wasn’t very hard to find out that information , as Harold's actions were well known in the city . The night the councilors died , two women who worked under one of the killed councilors were seen fighting against Harold in the middle of the streets .

Some said they fought because the two wanted revenge for their killed leader , others said that they tried to escape capture .

The more Zac learned about the man the angrier he got . The old pig was the same as the leaders of Greenworth . The only reason that old man wasn’t turned into mangled clumps of flesh yet was simply that Zac couldn’t find him , even after breaking into his mansion with the help of Thousand Faces] .

Zac still hadn’t figured out whether this all was an elaborate trap for himself , or whether it was just an odd coincidence , even after two days of sleuthing . He had tried searching for any hidden forces or weaponry while he waited , but couldn’t find anything . If the government was planning something they were keeping it close to their vest .

Of course , that wasn’t to say that he didn’t have a few aces up his sleeve . While he didn’t find Harold in his mansion , he did find the Nexus Node for Kingsbury . That gave him a few options that might come in handy depending on how things played out .

But the only real solution for the situation he could find was to stay put in his disguise as long as possible , trying to find out any clues by observing the trial . He’d only move when he knew what was going on . He still had a small hope that the government would do the right thing and mete out proper justice . If the whole town knew Harold was guilty , then so should they .

Zac sat on the bleachers of a stadium , looking down at the spectacle on the field . The government had refitted a small arena into a courtroom and even allowed the public to spectate .

It appeared that the government wanted to show both their prowess and that the rule of law existed even in their frontier towns . Of course , Zac was also very aware that this might all be an elaborate trap for himself .

Zac suddenly sensed a weak disturbance in the energy beneath the stadium and looked down with a small smile . The teleportation array was actually placed right beneath the arena somewhere . It made things quite simple .

Finally , after what felt like an eternity a group of government officials entered the field from a side-door and took a seat at the judge’s table prepared . Zac scrutinized each and every one of them , but he couldn’t recognize any of them from his visits to New Washington .

At the same time , a few other people entered the stadium , and Zac’s pupils narrowed when he saw a fat man in his 60’s in the front of the group . Zac was sure it was Harold , the most likely suspect for the untimely deaths of the other two councilors . And more importantly , the likely culprit behind Kenzie’s apprehension .

It took all of Zac’s self-control to not go over right then and there as it would mess up his rescue . However , all self-control was quickly crumbling when he saw the state of the prisoners as they were led out in a long line . He completely exploded in rage when he saw his sister walk with a limp dressed in rags , with a black eye and her hair in grimy stripes .

Today heads would roll .

Chapter 185 - Reunion

Zac’s plan to adopt a wait-and-see approach was completely thrown into the back of his mind and was quickly being replaced with far more violent solutions . The stands around Zac started to ominously creak as the air around him distorted , prompting those around him to move away with fear in their eyes .

Zac was unable to control his rage after seeing his brutalized sister . The seat he sat at exploded into splinters as Zac pushed forward , catapulting himself down to the field .

Hey! You can’t go down here! - one of the guards standing along the stands shouted as the whole squad pointed their guns at Zac .

Zac only threw a glance at them as his aura rolled out like a tidal wave , drowning the guards in it . His aura was now empowered by his Dao of Heaviness , which didn’t only empower it , but also allowed him to control its spread .

The huge discrepancy in power between Zac and the guards and the empowerment of the Dao had turned his aura into a proper attack though it wasn’t a skill . The eyes of the guards quickly rolled up in their heads as they slumped down on the ground unconscious .

Chaos erupted on the stands , and a group of guards came running into the arena , but Zac didn’t care . He activated Loamwalker] and with two instantaneous steps he found himself standing in front of Kenzie , and a storm of emerald leaves started to whirl around the two .

A few soldiers with hair-trigger temperaments fired a few shots at the storm of leaves , but they were immediately neutralized . Furthermore , every attack was met with a stone ripping through the air and turning into deadly projectiles , instantly killing people . In seconds no one dared to attack , and instead turning to their superiors for orders .

Zac’s eyes reddened as he looked down at the marred face of his little sister , but he knew he couldn’t relax just yet . MacKenzie opened her mouth to speak , but with lightning-speed he pushed a few pieces of Springroot into her mouth .

She swallowed the herbs with surprise , and Zac scoured her face and mannerism for anything off as he used his observation skill on her . His sister’s appearance had thoroughly pissed him off , but he had to make sure this wasn’t another situation like the one with Janos .

MacKenzie Atwood – Human . Level 33 – XXXXX]

Zac’s brows lifted in surprise , both at her level and at the fact that the line showcasing her highest attribute was blocked . Very few people were able to block that attribute from his tests back in Port Atwood , and it likely meant that her Intelligence or Wisdom attributes should be quite high .

Between the fact that she was fine after swallowing the root and the skill he was mostly satisfied , but he needed to make sure .

Who are you ? What did you feed me? - she hesitantly asked , but was unable to back away due to the leaves whirling around the two . - You need to leave , the guards are coming . -

Zac quickly looked back at the guards who surrounded the two with their guns at the ready , but he didn’t care . He was pushing his Nature’s Barrier] skill to the limit , and unless powerhouses like the Corpse Lord showed up they could forget about getting through in the short run .

I’m sorry I’m late , - Zac with sad eyes said as he tousled her hair like he’d done so many times before .

Zac? - she hesitantly asked , likely having trouble reconciling the familiar voice face with the unfamiliar face .

Zac only nodded , and two tears were quickly pooling in MacKenzie's eyes , and she moved forward to hug him . However , she was held at a distance by Zac’s arm , and she looked at him once again with confusion in his eyes .

What did you draw on the wall beneath my bed when you were four years old? -

What? - MacKenzie couldn’t help blurt out . - Never mind that , we need to run . -

As if collaborating with that statement a huge slam shook the judge’s table as the judge , a somber woman in her fifties , stood up .

You are encroaching on a government trial , flaunting the rule of law . Are you making yourself an enemy of the New World Government? -

Zac barely spared the judge a glance , keeping his focus on MacKenzie .

Perhaps I am , perhaps I’m not . My comings and goings are none of your concern . If you have a problem you can report it to Thomas Fisher , - Zac tersely responded .

Loud murmurs erupted in the stands , and the judge looked enraged . However , Zac ignored all that and refocused on his sister , his eyes slowly hardening .

Answer the question . -

MacKenzie seemed to suddenly have understood something and quickly responded .

A talking poop , - she said with a slight blush .

Zac slightly smiled and nodded as he followed up with a few more questions . Kenzie was quickly answering them as she got more and more nervous , her head darting around at the troops that were amassing around them .

Zac felt it might be time to finish up as well , and finished with one last question .

When did mom die? -

Mom isn’t dead! She’s missing! - she angrily retorted as if by reflex , her head snapping back toward Zac with an angry scowl .

Zac was finally satisfied , and with deft movement put the defensive bracelet on Kenzie’s arm .

This is a defensive item that can protect you for a bit , - he quickly explained .

What are you going to do? - she nervously asked back . - We’re completely surrounded . -

Well , that’s up to them , - Zac said with a shrug as he turned back to the enraged Judge as he stepped forward , his face turning back to normal .

I am Zachary Atwood , also known as the Super Brother-Man , - he said , completely unleashing his aura .

Shouts erupted in the stadium , and multiple guards fell over or backed away from the billowing power Zac emitted . Frowns of anger or worry could be seen on the government officials as they seemed unsure what to do .

I am taking my sister with me away from here , - Zac said , disappearing in the next second .

The guards barely had time to react before Zac was back again . This time holding a squealing Harold by his neck . The old man was desperately trying to get free , his face quickly turning red .

Zac wasn't planning on doing anything to the old man just yet , but he saw him trying to slink away through an emergency exit during the commotion . He couldn't let that man get away after what he'd found out about him during the past two days .

Let me go! I am the mayor of Kingsbury , - Harold wheezed out , as he pleadingly looked at the judge who seemed to have found her bearing once again .

Everywhere I go I find that the justice and rule of law The New World Government rattle on about is relative . The rich and powerful can do whatever they want , no matter how disgusting or morally corrupt , all while the government looks the other way , - Zac said as he threw Harold down on the ground , stomping down on one of his legs .

A sickening crunch erupted as the old man screamed in pain , unable or afraid to get back up again . He only tried to slowly crawl away from Zac toward the judge's table .

I’ve only been in the area for a short time , yet it has been impossible for me to not learn about Harold's crimes against humanity . Yet he doesn’t stand shackled to be judged , but rather gets a promotion from you people . I’ll give you one chance to set things right , - Zac said , giving the judge an even stare .

We are aware of the reports but have found them unsubstantiated . While many women live at Mayor Harold’s residence they have willingly moved there . We have ascertained that after an exhaustive round of interviews . The government works by facts , not by malignant rumors . Since the government doesn’t yet have a stance on polygamy , Mayor Harold has committed no crime , - the judge answered tersely .

Snickers and murmurs erupted on the stands , and even a few of the braver souls boo’d at the judge until a few of the soldiers turned their attention to the troublemakers . Zac only shook his head in disappointment . He had a strong feeling this would happen , but it was still a let-down .

Your government still hasn’t closed a single Incursion , but you have time to shield scum like this pile of garbage . You are truly disappointing , - Zac said as reality cracked like a mirror above him .

The gargantuan hand wrought out of wood emerged as it had a few times before , radiating power and finality . Shouts could be heard from all over , as both soldiers and spectators looked at the skill with horror , hurriedly moving away from it .

Stop him! - the judge frantically shouted , her strict demeanor blown away by the terrifying power the hand emitted .

Various attacks pelted the hand , both guns and skills of magical nature . However , the attacks were as ants trying to bite an elephant to death , and the hand was barely affected . Zac simply held his hand outward , and swung it down as he gave Harold a look devoid of emotion .

No! - the old man shouted as cosmic energy gathered around him .

However , it was to no avail as the hand slammed down into the ground like slapping a mosquito . The slam created a huge shockwave that blew most of the soldiers off their feet , and even the spectators in the stands had to take cover .

The attack contained almost boundless force , as this time the hand wasn’t imbued with the Dao of Trees , but rather the Dao of Heaviness . The whole stadium shook as an enormous rumble was heard . The hand soon disappeared , leaving only a crater that made it look like a meteor had slammed right into the stadium floor .

As for the old mayor , there was not one piece of him remaining intact since the slam had completely disintegrated him . At least Zac could tell the man died due to the surge of Cosmic Energy entering his body .

Zac surveyed the destruction wrought by Nature’s Punishment] , satisfied with the result . He didn’t only do it for shock-and-awe , but also to destroy any subterranean levels of the stadium . The government had tried to be sneaky by placing the Teleportation Array somewhere hidden in the underground levels beneath the stadium , perhaps to be able to bring quick reinforcements .

However , they likely hadn’t expected the level of damage he could bring with a single attack . The force between Nature’s Punishment] and the Dao of Heaviness was even above Zac’s expectations . It would likely take hours to dig out the array , stopping any reinforcements from interfering .

Apart from the mayor everyone was largely fine , except for some broken bones and scrapes . The soldiers were scrambling to their feet , their eyes widely daring around , until they hesitantly turned to Zac who stood rooted like a tall tree , his robes still swinging by the winds his attack created . No one said a word , waiting with trepidation at Zac’s next move .

Killing the mayor had alleviated much of Zac’s fury , and he felt there was no need to keep the killing going . He knew that most of these soldiers were just normal people following orders . They weren’t aware of the shady dealings of the people at the top , or of the threat of the shapeshifters .

He was just about to announce him leaving when an extreme sense of unease filled his heart , and he unhesitantly reactivated his defensive skill as he quickly looked around for any threat . An extremely loud gunshot that was extremely familiar to Zac could suddenly be heard from the other side of the stadium .

Zac almost instinctively activated his defensive shield on his gear , but his brows rose in horror when he realized that he wasn’t the recipient of the attack . He immediately activated Loamwalker] to get back to his sister’s side , but it was too late .

The bullet from the sniper rifle slammed into the shield from the bracelet , and the shield proved insufficient as it cracked , allowing the bullet to proceed toward his sister . The brief time the shield held at least provided MacKenzie with a brief time to react , and she repositioned herself with surprising speed .

However , she didn’t have time to completely dodge the attack , and the bullet slammed into her shoulder with much of its power remaining . A fountain of blood erupted from the wound , and she fell together with a wail .

The next instant Zac flashed in front of his sister , rage filling his face . His axe was already In mid-swing , and as the edge ripped through the air a gigantic blade formed upon it . The fractal edge grew to ten meters in an instant , and it flew toward the area the sound came from with the speed of a missile .

The attack completely destroyed a large section of the arena , blowing a hole in the ceiling . In a hidden alcove in the corner a man suddenly fell down with a scream , a huge sniper rifle falling with him . The man was bleeding profusely , the huge blade likely having at least partly hit him .

The wound seemed fatal , but there was still no surge of energy after the man slammed into the ground with a wet thud . Since he looked largely incapacitated Zac instead bent down to his wounded sister .

Ouch that hurts , - she said with a groan , but Zac was relieved to see that the wound wasn't too bad .

It looked like the bullet had punched straight through , and while it bled profusely it would likely heal quickly with some help . He quickly fed Kenzie one of his strongest healing pills as he replaced the crystal on the defensive bracelet before he once again focused on the man with murder in his eyes .

A few of the soldiers hesitantly aimed their gun at him , but a look from Zac quickly quashed any thoughts of resistance from the others .

That man is not from the government! - the judge quickly shouted , perhaps afraid that they would be implicated by his actions .

Zac only snorted and flashed over to the dying man’s side , his axe at the ready . Something was off with this assailant , and Zac’s gut told him it was a shapeshifter trying to sow discord between himself and the government . He wanted to expose his identity to the world , which hopefully would be a wake-up call for everyone .

For the Red , - the man coughed with hatred in his eyes as he looked up at Zac , and cosmic energy gathered in his body .

Zac knew what those gathering energies meant and realized his plan was for naught , so he unhesitantly moved to destroy the shapeshifter’s head before he could explode . However , his axe hit nothing as the man disintegrated into a pool of goop . However , Zac knew something was wrong when he didn’t gain any cosmic energy . He looked back at his sister and found a bloody monstrosity reform closer to his sister .

It looked like a skinned human that had been left to bloat in the sun for weeks , and cosmic energy churned around it in ominous ways .

Run! - was all Zac had time to shout as he tried to get back , but it was too late as the monster exploded , golden flames blanketing the whole arena .

Chapter 186 - Return

A wave of golden flames pushed toward Zac who unhesitantly activated the shield of his robes as he punched through the fire . He was full of remorse for his lapse in judgment , leaving his sister alone like that . He’d thought the sniper was out of commission , but clearly he was wrong . Besides , he really hadn’t expected them to try to kill his sister , as it made no sense . Leverage her as a hostage , perhaps . But not this .

The scale of the explosion was far beyond that of the demons when they chose to kill themselves . He knew that the power of the bracelet was nowhere strong enough to withstand the power of that blast at such close proximity . He could only pray that she had a breath of life left , which would let him do something about it .

In no time he found himself back at Kenzie’s side , his heart beating like a drum . When he arrived at the center of the blast everything was in ruins burning pieces of flesh were strewn around , as everyone within at least 5 meters was dead without a doubt .

However , Zac breathed out in relief as there was one clear exception to the carnage . Kenzie was lying unconscious on the ground , completely unscathed apart from her earlier wound . Surrounding her was a blue shield looking a glass cube . A small blue light was hovering within the cube a few feet above his sister , and it was clear from the rays it emitted that it was the source of the protective shield .

What made Zac confused was that he couldn’t feel a trace of cosmic energy from the shield . All skills and defensive gear emitted energy signals , but the odd thing above Kenzie might as well be a normal stone from the energy it emitted . Zac looked down at his unconscious sister , wondering what sort of opportunity she’d run into to attain such a wondrous thing .

The next problem was how to get to her . He walked toward the shield and touched it , but it was completely solid . Even when he started to exert quite some force it didn’t budge in the slightest . The defensive power was clearly excellent , likely even above that of his own robes , and he was starting to worry that he wouldn’t be able to get her out .

Suddenly a red light flashed in the hovering ball above Kenzie , and a red beam hit Zac straight in his chest . Zac quickly moved back as he moved his axe to block the light , but he quickly realized the beam was harmless . Zac stopped and confusedly looked at the small ball , only to see it fly down and enter the head of his sister .

A few seconds later the shield flashed out of existence , and Zac ran over to his sister who woke up with a groan .

What happened? - she asked with some confusion as Zac helped her up .

The guy who attacked you blew himself up . You were saved by a weird ball shielding you , - Zac said

Uh , ok , - she answered with a troubled face , not meeting his eyes .

Zac frowned , but this wasn’t the time to ask what was going on . She clearly knew what he meant , but the issue didn’t seem simple . Judging from her reaction it might be a big secret , so he was thankful that the thick smoke from the fires had covered the whole area .

The magical fire soon died down , and the smoke covering the area was blown away by the wind . Zac looked around at the destruction with a grimace . There were unmoving bodies everywhere , even up on the stands . Even more were nursing various degrees of burns , and cries and groans could be heard from every direction .

From a quick glance at least 10% of the people in the arena were killed by the desperate attack by the sniper , most of them civilians . It made Zac sick to his stomach , but now wasn’t the time to mourn .

The government was quickly trying to aid those in need , seemingly having the situation under control . Zac thought about helping out , but he didn’t dare leave his sister’s side again . Instead , he threw over a bottle of pills to the judge , who caught it hesitantly .

The judge , whose hair was in disarray and covered in soot , understood what was inside and immediately passed pills to soldiers and civilians as she was shouting orders until the situation was starting to calm down .

More and more people looked over at Zac with some trepidation , unsure what would happen next . Someone had tried to murder the sister of the strongest man in the world right at a government trial . Who knew how he would react . Zac somewhat understood what was going on , and spoke up with a loud voice covering the arena .

I know that the New World Government wasn’t behind this attack and that the man who blew himself up wasn’t part of your organization . Certain forces want to create a conflict between me and you , but I am not the enemy of the New World Government . I am done with Kingsbury . If anyone has a problem with what happened , they are welcome to go to Port Atwood , - Zac said .

I will also warn everyone . Shapeshifters walk amongst us . One of the most powerful incursions on earth has sent out thousands of spies who can take anyone’s form . It is almost impossible to distinguish them from humans . We believe they are behind various events that have led to high rankers perishing , and they have infiltrated many major forces already , - he continued .

And I believe that the attack we just suffered was one of them as well . The golden flames are the calling card of the Church of Everlasting Dao , the force with the shapeshifters . -

The people in the arena looked skeptically at each other , and Zac could only shake his head as he saw their reaction . He had to get the message out , but after that everything was up to these people . He could only pray that they believed him and spread the word .

Their goal is to splinter humanity so that they can pick us off one by one , and we cannot allow that to happen . However , there is a solution . There is a cheap herb available in the general stores called Springroot . It is harmless to humans , but to these shapeshifters it’s a deadly poison . That is the only method my force has found to identify them . Everyone should carry some with them in order to expose these things , and hopefully we can stop them that way . -

With that Zac felt he was done . The multiple scares where he thought he’d lost his sister just as he found her had left him rattled , and he just wanted to get out of here before something unexpected happened again .

The government officials seemed only too happy to see the humanoid monster gone as well , and let him go without making a fuss . Kenzie was quite weak since she woke up , so Zac had her climb up on his back . He would normally have carried her but wanted his arms free in case of another attack .

Wait , we need to get Lyla . She was in prison with me , I saw she was taken here as well before it got crazy , - Kenzie weakly said as she looked around .

Uhm , - Zac could only answer as he looked around at charred body parts around him .

She was at the edge of the prisoners over there . She might be fine , hurry - she said as she pulled his robe .

Zac only shook his head and walked over to where she pointed . He had a hard time believing that any of the prisoners were alive . From how it looked the government didn’t have any means to block the cosmic energy of the prisoners , but even he wouldn’t be unscathed that close to the blast unless he used some of his defensive means .

However , to his surprise , Kenzie pointed out a girl lying unconscious close to the edge of the field . Her clothes were in tatters and she was unconscious , but she was clearly alive . She’d actually reacted much in the same way as he did when faced with a suicide bomber long ago , as a burned carcass was draped above her for protection .

Zac pushed the corpse away and poured some water in the face of the girl . With a few sputters she woke up , widely looking around . She didn’t have time to react before Zac pushed some Springroot into her mouth , making her cough . Kenzie frowned and lightly slapped him on his head when she saw the treatment of her friend .

Can’t you be gentler? - she asked unhappily as glared at Zac .

I needed to make sure , I don’t want to get stabbed again , - Zac answered with a shrug as he observed the girl’s response .

After noticing she was fine he also took out a healing pill , though one of a lower grade , and gave it to the girl who hesitantly accepted it .

It’s a healing pill , - Zac only said as he helped the girl to his feet .

Kenzie , who was still hanging on the back of Zac smiled at Lyla .

This is Zac , my big brother . He’s the Super Brother-Man , - she said happily . - I’m leaving this town . Come with me . -

Your brother is the number one ranker and you never mentioned it? - she said with a wry face as she swallowed the pill . - Where are you going? -

Kensie opened her mouth , but no words came out as she realized she didn’t know .

Port Atwood , my town , - Zac said , realizing it seemed he had to take another person with him . - You should know , if you come with me you might not be able to get to a government town in a long while . My relationship with them is… complicated . -

Ok . I don’t want to stay here anyway . What if they come for me again? Harold is probably only going to be replaced with another asshole , - she muttered as she started to walk toward the exit .

Are we in a hurry? - Kenzie suddenly asked .

Well , not really . They won’t be able to use their teleportation array for an hour at least . Why? - Zac asked as he followed the girl out of the arena .

He took one last look around at the people in the stands and the government official , most of which were silently staring back at him . He really didn’t know what he could or should do in this situation . This new life of his was just too tiring with its endless duties and expectations .

There are some things I want to get before we go , - Kenzie said , breaking his train of thought .

I went to your home and picked up your clothes and stuff like that , - Zac said .

It was true , he went over to her Kenzie’s place during the two days he waited , making sure looters didn’t steal anything important .

Really? - she asked with a smile . - But I’m not talking about that . Lyla and I hid a few things in a stash in case something happened . -

Soon they found themselves at an abandoned house at the edge of a town , and after being prompted Zac moved a bookshelf , showing a hidden entrance .

We created this place when Harold was starting to become a nuisance , in case we needed to make a quick escape . We figured we could sneak back and get our things during the night or something , - MacKenzie explained as Zac looked down into the dark cellar .

Since it was pitch black Zac took out a lantern powered by cosmic energy that gave off a warm light . He gingerly walked down the stairs , ready for any type of assault in case someone had found the stash . Even his defensive skill was activated around the two of them once again , just in case .

However , it was completely empty down there , allowing Zac to finally relax . The cellar was pretty small , but it was well organized with two small cots and a few shelves of gear and provisions .

It seemed the two did not own a Cosmos Sack , so he threw one over to his sister who had jumped down from his back .

I wish I could take a bath , I am completely sticky , - she muttered as she packed her belongings into her new pouch .

To both the girls' surprise Zac simply took out a large barrel along with a canteen that held enough water to fill it up .

It’s cold but clean . Make it quick , we need to leave soon , - he said .

He’d made sure that there was no one following him but he couldn’t be sure . They couldn’t waste too much time down here .

Well , you wanna watch you perv? - MacKenzie said with a roll of her eyes . - Go wait upstairs . It’s the only entrance so we’ll be fine . -

After some hesitation Zac acquiesced , walking towards the stairs again , but before he got up two arms embraced him from behind .

I knew you’d come , - MacKenzie murmured with a low voice .

Of course , I’m the Super Brother-Man , after all , - Zac smiled as he walked up the stairs .

Soon he heard splashing and subdued talk downstairs , so Zac simply took out a chair and sat down with a sigh . His heart was finally calm , far calmer than it had been in a long , long time .

Report , my child , - the voice on the other side of the communication crystal said after the static died down .

The Super Brother-Man showed up as we guessed , Father . Unfortunately , it did not go as planned . The sniper failed to kill the sister , - the acolyte Terzun answered .

So the mission failed? - the voice said with some displeasure .

It is Unclear . The Monarch-Select still killed the newly appointed mayor , and quite a few people perished when the sacrifice used The Ultimate Sacrifice] . The target did not , however , conquer the town , and instead left soon after . I believe he’s heading either toward the sect inside the Undead Empire or another town . -

… Very well . It’s an acceptable result . The sacrfice was simply a local forcefully injected with The Purity of the Boundless Heavens . He would soon expire in any case , - the priest said .

Our resources are quite limited so far from our own Incursion . We will fan the flames from our side . Clean things up on your side , make sure all mentions of the sister’s name is absent from all reports . Otherwise it will be hard to explain it as simple incompetence , - the voice continued after a brief pause .

Did the government’s plan fail as well? -

No , I made sure to plant a spy next to the monarch-select as well , - Terzun quickly answered .

Good . Try to find out the next move of the monarch-select . Report to me if he returns . But remember , this isn’t your true mission . Keep monitoring the unholy beings , they are our real enemy . -

I understand… - Terzun said with some hesitation in his voice .

What? -

With respect Father , is all this subterfuge really necessary? Why aren’t we simply purifying these humans? None of the Human Empires has claimed this planet , and while the Monarch-Select showed great power , he is not a match for the High Vicar . -

Only silence came from the crystals , making Terzun believe the priest on the other side had disconnected , but after a while he spoke up again .

Something is odd about this planet . The bishops want to understand what’s going on before we start the great purge . -

Something odd? Terzun thought with confusion . Since when did the Church of the Everlasting Dao care about such things?

Chapter 187 - Hatchetman's Rage

As Zac drove the car through the Dead Zone Kenzie told him much about what happened to her during the six months since they last saw each other . As for Zac , he was a bit hesitant to speak about his experiences , as there were two others in the car .

Lyla was obviously one of them , but before they left Kenzie was approached by one more person . The other girl was Olivia , and he actually somewhat recognized her . She was one of Kenzie’s old friends , and he had met her a few times before the fall . Apparently , the two only found each other again a month ago , and Kenzie invited her as well to Port Atwood .

Her story was pretty impressive , as she’d done something similar to himself . It turned out Olivia had been traveling just like him when the fall happened , and she got randomized to a town a month’s travel away from Kingsbury . Just like Emily and her parents did , Olivia almost immediately set out on a journey to find her way home until she heard about the cultivators in Kingsbury .

Unfortunately , none of her family were cultivators , so they were likely either back at Greenworth , or wherever the other parts of the city had ended up . Since she met Kenzie she decided to stay put for the time being . Zac was a bit surprised she tagged along , as it would likely be easier to get back to Greenworth if she stayed in the town .

Then again he realized it might be his fault , as anyone even slightly related to him might get into trouble as a result of his actions . Perhaps he could send her back with Julia later , so Olivia could hopefully find her way back to her family .

Kenzie clearly trusted them , but Zac had learned to be cautious so he spoke very little about what he’d been through . He only explained that he found himself on an island and through a lot of battle managed to create a town .

The two in the back seat seemed a bit wary of him still , and he couldn’t blame them after his display yesterday . They mostly sat quietly in the back seat , only responding when talked to .

It took two days until they got back to Mount Everlasting Peace , and Zac was relieved to see that nothing had changed since he was here a week ago . He had been afraid that an undead attack was imminent due to the movements he saw , but the monastery was as tranquil as usual .

As they arrived the same old monk who led him up the stairs the last time walked forward .

Amithaba patron . The Abbot sends his regards , - the old man said , placing his hands together .

Greetings venerable , - Zac said with a small bow as he put his car into a Cosmos Sack .

He had been a bit embarrassed as he didn’t know how to address the monks in his earlier visit , so he also looked it up while he waited for the trial to start . There were still a lot of things he didn’t know about Buddhist conduct , but at least he shouldn’t disrespect the monks by mistake .

I guess patron wishes to use the teleportation array? -

Yes , - Zac said . - I am staying here for a while though . -

You’re not coming with us? - Kenzie asked with some confusion .

Not just yet . I need to head into the Dead Zone for a few days , - Zac answered .

This was something he’d decided on earlier . There really wasn’t much for him to do back home in Port Atwood . His next goal was the Hegemon quest , but there were a few weeks left before its time limit was up , and it was the same with the Treasure Hunt .

Since Kenzie was safe he could finally breathe easily , but it also meant he needed to look forward . He was currently only one level to level 60 , which hopefully would provide him with a skill that increased his overall power .

Besides , he hoped he could cull the numbers of the undead horde a bit , which hopefully would give the monks more time to prepare themselves . It was the least he could do from how much they had helped him .

He wasn’t comfortable with taking the three with him since he was heading toward the core , and who knew what would happen . Now that his wound was healed and his bead was under control he felt much more confident and wasn’t afraid to cause some havoc . He was pretty confident in his ability to keep himself alive , but the same couldn’t be said for the girls .

He’d already used his inspection skill on the three as part of him making sure they were not shapeshifters , and both Kenzie and Lyla were level 33 , which was quite impressive . It seemed they’d pushed themselves pretty hard since Harold had been lusting after them for months .

Olivia was almost as impressive , reaching level 32 without having access to an incursion for a long time . Those who traveled were constantly put in harm’s way , so it wasn’t too surprising that they gained power quickly .

Oh , and I brought a lot of Springroot as well . You should have everyone coming to your monastery eat this . It is not dangerous to humans , but to certain invaders it's deadly , - Zac said .

Amithaba . Patron needs not to worry about the lizard people . Their disguises cannot block the sight of the Abbot , as karma is not something that can be hidden behind a transformation skill , - the old monk said with a laugh . - One of them tried to infiltrate the monastery some time ago with no success . -

Zac could only gape in response , throwing a glance up at the mountain top . The old Abbot was truly full of mysterious means . It also meant that the Abbot was only humoring when Zac told him about the shapeshifters earlier , as he already knew about it .

Give people this when you go through , - Zac said as he handed his sister an envelope . - There are a lot of knowledgable people at Port Atwood . Go find Alyn if you want to become stronger . -

You’re dumping me here and immediately go on an adventure? Are you already tired of us? - MacKenzie said with a snort as she turned to the old monk . - Can you believe this guy? -

Zac only shook his head with a smile , as he knew she was just joking around . Soon he’d opened the teleporter leading to his town , and saw the three off . After saying his farewells to the old monk he set out toward the core of the Dead Zone .

The next few days Zac kept a frantic pace as he scouted out the inner area of the Incursion . On the second day , he found a zombie horde quite similar to the one he got the quest for earlier . There were around 150 000 Zombies , all stumbling toward the center like the horde before it .

It made Zac realize the horde from earlier wasn’t an isolated incident . The undead were truly gathering . It filled him with some hopelessness , as there were just too many zombies in the Dead Zone . Conservatively counting there should be at least a billion people who were turned . Even if Zac kept swinging away for years there would still be plenty of them to go around .

The only good news was that he still hadn’t spotted a single high tier undead at least during the last two days , meaning they likely had receded back toward the core again . He didn’t know if it was thanks to him killing the Corpse Lord , but in any case , it was good news .

Still , Zac didn’t hesitate to head down and start cutting them down by the dozens . He didn’t need to keep a frantic pace since he had no time limit this time to hound him . Therefore he simply summoned a large fractal edge from Chop] that he kept attached as he methodically kept swinging away .

Large amounts of nexus energy kept entering him , and as before it was joined by large amounts of miasma . However , Zac was happy to note that even though the bead still accepted the deathly energy it wasn’t going out of control this time .

It took far less miasma from each Zombie , and the large amounts of life-attuned energy in the core kept the balance even though the miasma was increasing at a steady pace . Only when roughly 60% of the core was made from deathly energy did he feel that the core started showing signs of instability .

By this point he’d mowed down at least 20 000 zombies , bringing him closer to the next level . However , not wanting to cause a scene again he stopped his rampage and quickly distanced himself from the furious zombies .

When he’d created some distance he quickly took out the seed from the lotus flower and sat down for two hours to restore balance . Only when he was back at an even split did he once again get to his feet . It wasn’t difficult to find the zombie horde again as they didn’t move too quickly , and Zac once again went to work .

He repeated the process a few times until he finally sensed he passed the boundary and reached level 60 . Not wanting to waste more time on these weak targets he quickly distanced himself one final time and took up his status screen .

Name

Zachary Atwood

Level

60

Class

Hatchetman (F)

Race

Human (E)

Alignment

Port Atwood - Lord (Earth)

Titles

Born for Carnage , Ultimate Reaper , Luck of the Draw , Giantsbane , Disciple of David , Overpowered , Slayer of Leviathans , Adventurer , Demon Slayer I , Full of Class , Rarified Being , Trailblazer , Child of Dao , The Big 500 , Planetary Aegis , One Against Many , Butcher , Progenitor Hegemon , Core

Dao

Seed of Heaviness - Middle , Seed of Trees - High , Seed of Sharpness - Early

Strength

329

Dexterity

162

Endurance

230

Vitality

197

Intelligence

90

Wisdom

85

Luck

93

Free Points

3

Nexus Coins

57 703 653

Zas he looked at his screen he couldn’t help wonder what others would say if they found out he made 7 million nexus coins from one day of grinding . Of course , it was only possible since the Zombies were gathering up into large clumps .

For once Zac hoped that he could count on humanity’s greed and that there were tens of thousands of zombie hunters out at the moment desperately killing zombies for the almost free money .

Zac put his 3 points into vitality , bringing it past 200 as well . By now he started to feel a bit set with that attribute , making him think of what to focus on next . He would have to talk with Ogras or Alyn about it , but perhaps it would be prudent to put some more points into his last two attributes , Intelligence , and Wisdom , as both were starting to severely lag behind .

However , that wasn’t what he was interested in at the moment , so instead , he quickly brought up his quest panel . He wasn’t surprised there was a new quest on the screen , but he was quite surprised when he saw the progress .

Hatchetman's Rage (Class) : Earn - Butcher - Title . Reward : Hatchetman's Rage skill (1/1) COMPLETE]

Zac couldn’t help but sardonically smile when he saw the class content . Perhaps it was quite a number for normal cultivators to kill 100 000 creatures , but he passed number that a long time ago . It was pretty clear it was an offensive skill judging by the name of the skill and how to complete the quest . This suited Zac just fine , and he only hoped it would be good for single targets .

Since the quest was marked as complete he only needed to get back to his Nexus Crystal to turn it in . With that he closed the screens and refocused on what to do next . He knew that he hadn’t really accomplished much apart from lining his own pockets , but then again he simply couldn’t find more valuable targets to kill .

He had been traveling for two days already and was some distance into the core zone . If he kept going he was afraid he’d end up in the headquarters , facing more than he could handle at the moment .

The incursions had stabilized long ago , which meant that they had some more functions . They were able to set up certain arrays for example , and Zac wasn’t knowledgeable enough in that regard to dare get too close . The undead were extremely wealthy , and he was afraid he’d get trapped in an illusion array or something similar , becoming a sitting duck .

Since there was not much else to do he simply turned back toward the mountain . When he finally came back to Mount Everlasting Peace he initially wanted to say goodbye to the Abbot but was disappointed to find he was in seclusion . With nothing else to do he headed toward the teleporter .

The array was actually down at the foot of the mountain , rather than up in the temple , which had surprised Zac a bit .

I hope I’ll see you all again , - Zac said . - Remember , if things get out of hand here you can always come to Port Atwood . Even if the mountain is lost we can reclaim it . -

If heavens wills it , we will meet again patron , - the old man said with a kind smile as the portal flashed to life .

Here is a small offering to your temple . I hope it will come to use , - Zac said and handed over a pouch .

It contained a wide variety of pills and a large pile of Nexus Crystals . Zac hoped it would help their war efforts in case they got attacked again , at least to the point they managed to evacuate .

Thank you , patron . The Abbot is currently unavailable , but he asked me to convey a message . - To forgive is not to condone other’s actions , it is to bring peace to your heart’ . Safe travels patron , - the monk said and once again put his hands together .

Zac didn’t say anything as he left with a nod , the portal flashing shut behind him .

Chapter 188 - Secrets

After a brief moment of darkness , Zac once again exited , but the unfamiliar sight gave him a start . It almost looked as he was standing inside a world tree , as the walls were living trees sprouting leaves around them . However , they were far taller than the usual ones he’d seen so far , reaching for the skies . There was also a good deal of holes in the structure at strategic places , flooding the floor in natural light .

The demons had been busy , as they’d grown a structure around the array . Zac noticed the design was slightly reminiscent of how it looked in New Washington , though the teleportation lobby was built with the signature Demonic architecture .

Zac suddenly felt there was a group of eyes upon him and guessed there were defenders hidden up amongst the branches in the air . It proved there were also proper protocols in place to make sure nothing untoward happened at this important location .

He was quite happy with the transformation and full of anticipation to see what else had changed in the weeks since he set out on his journey . There was only one exit in the building , and Zac eagerly moved toward it .

You can’t just leave! You must register yourself first , - young woman nervously standing behind a counter said with a shaky voice , piquing Zac’s interest .

Register? - Zac asked , but before the receptionist could answer three demon guards jumped down from the tree crowns .

Lord Atwood , - they all said with a small salute , and Zac nodded back .

Lord? I’m sorry! - the girl quickly exclaimed , but it was quickly waved away by Zac .

What’s going on here? - Zac asked the demons who appeared .

Administrator Adran has set up routines for visitors . Due to many people coming and going nowadays , a system to know who’s here has been put into place , - the demon , whose name Zac remembered being Yuruf , answered .

There’s traffic in the teleporter? - Zac asked confused as the teleporter was still set to trusted .

Only between the internal array system , - the Yuruf answered . - There are currently 12 arrays active in the archipelago . -

I understand . My sister and two of her friends should have arrived some time ago . Are they settled okay? - Zac asked .

Yes , we followed the instructions in the letter . Your sister is currently living in your compound . The other two have been provided houses in the residential district . They are spending most of their time at the academy improving their power , - the demon answered .

There were too many things within his compound that would be hard to explain , so he didn’t wish two strangers to stay there . It was better to make clear from the beginning , which is why he had them stay in the residential area from the start .

Good . Have there been any trouble in the town while I was gone? - he asked .

Nothing much . A few hotheads acting up , but nothing that we couldn’t handle . There also have been some disputes amongst the craftsmen , but the Administrators would know more about that , - Yuruf responded .

I’ll visit them later . One last thing , are the fighters back from the fight in the other Incursion? - he asked .

They returned some time ago . The mission was a success , though there were some casualties , - the demon nodded .

I understand , keep up the good work , - Zac said as he headed toward the exit .

He didn’t actually register himself in the end . It wasn’t because he felt himself above it , but since it was a matter of security . Powerhouses like himself were the biggest deterrence from attacking a town , and if people didn’t know where he was , they would likely be less likely to cause trouble .

Satisfied Zac walked toward the exit , but before he left the large lobby Zac couldn’t help notice the large sign hanging by the exit .

Welcome to Port Atwood , the home of the Towers of Myriad Dao!

Don’t cause trouble .

Don’t enter the restricted areas .

Don’t forget to shop at The Thayer Consortia , the best deals on Earth!

Uh , - Zac couldn’t help say as he looked back on the demon guards . - Towers of Myriad Dao? -

Yuruf scratched his chin as he looked at the gaudy lettering of the slogan , looking a bit embarrassed , before explaining the situation .

The castellan of the Towers somehow found out about this sign . It felt… very strongly… that its grandeur should be advertised to all visitors immediately upon arrival . When Administrator Adran refused , citing security concerns , it wasn’t happy . A sign large enough to block out the suns that advertised the Towers appeared over the town . Thus the sign here . -

Zac could only groan and exit , inwardly complaining about the insane Tool Spirit .

It only took a minute of walking before the trees gave way to the town proper , as quite a bit of the forest had been cut down . At first look , Zac had a hard time believing the sight that met his eyes .

A proper town with a wide array of buildings sprawled out in front of him . The town wasn’t like anything he’d seen before , but rather a mix of various styles and concepts . Buildings wrought from living trees stood wall to wall with modern buildings that could fit right into some trendy affluent district .

The new Port Atwood felt very refreshing , with large amounts of nature being mixed with the structures . It was a far better place to work on one’s Dao or cultivation than the dirty and run-down towns on the mainland , and Zac had no difficulty believing that many would wish to move here if given the opportunity .

There was still a lot to be done though . There was no sort of pavement on the roads , and construction was taking place all over . People , a lot of whom Zac didn't recognize , kept scurrying back and forth , many carrying lumber or tools meant for construction .

Zac decided to head straight for his private area after a bit of hesitation , moving straight toward a large gate in the wall separating his private district with the newly emerging town .

He noted that the wall was manned by a few demons and Valkyries , who perked up when they saw his approach . However , with his robe and shiny bald head he was easily recognizable and the warriors hurriedly opened the gates for him .

Welcome back , - one of the Valkyries said with a small bow .

Zac didn’t know how he felt about the bows and curtsies the population was starting to perform . He would have to talk with Ogras later to see whether he was responsible for it .

Thank you . Is my sister at home? - he asked .

She left for the Academy some time ago , - the guard answered .

Could you have someone call her over , - Zac said .

Of course , - she said with a nod , and one of the Valkyries immediately ran toward the direction of the Academy .

Zac simply thanked the guard , and soon found himself back in his familiar courtyard , relaxing and enjoying a bottle of whiskey he had saved for himself for some time .

Some noise from the outside half an hour later told him that his sister was back , and he shouted out to let her know which building he stayed at .

I still can’t believe that this whole place yours . You’ve gotten an expensive taste , - Kenzie said as she walked into the beautiful courtyards with widened eyes .

Well , Emily lives here as well . I assume you’ve met her by now? And sometimes I have guests . You can take whatever building you like if you haven't already , - Zac explained as he indicated for her to sit down .

Was this place really just an uninhabited island before? - she curiously asked .

Yeah , in the beginning it was just me and a bunch of barghest on the island , - Zac said with a shake of his head .

What about Hannah? - she asked with a weird face .

Kenzie knew that he was away on vacation with his girlfriend when the integration took place .

All of them turned out to be cultivators . What are the odds? - Zac said with a sardonic smile . - I still don’t know where they ended up . -

What would you do if you found her? Would she live here as well? - she asked .

Zac only threw an amused glance at his sister . He knew she wasn’t the biggest fan of Hannah for some reason , but he was a bit surprised she still held on to those kinds of feelings after such a long time .

I don’t know . Maybe not? - he said with a shrug .

So you’re like the king of this island? I've never been treated so well before , - she said , changing the subject .

Uh , I guess . And don't take advantage of people . I don’t really bother with all that though , I have other things to worry about , - Zac answered .

Then what do you do all day? Just sit here and drink like some hobo? - she said with a glance at the bottle of whiskey he had by his side .

Zac snorted and shook his head .

I wish . I need to get stronger , - Zac said , his face turning serious . - I promised to protect you at dad’s grave , and there are so many enemies . -

Kenzie only looked down with sad eyes . He’d told her about their father the day he saved her , not wanting to hide it from her . Though she had cried a bit she soon recovered , only mentioning that she wished to visit the grave as soon as possible .

It was a harsh reality , but most people had already come to terms with the fact that most of their friends and family had passed away . There barely were any families that had gone unscathed by the fall , and theirs wasn’t an exception .

By the way , those towers over at the entrance look so cool . You could learn a lesson or two from Brazla , - Kenzie said with shimmering eyes as she looked the towers shining in gold and white in the distance .

Due to the height of the structure and the extremely gaudy display , there were few places in Port Atwood where you couldn’t spot at least part of the building . As if by responding to her words the rainbows and celestial rays increased in intensity , almost reaching a blinding luminescence .

Living in a place like that would be like living in the middle of a Las Vegas Casino , - Zac said with a grimace . - Have you talked with the Tool Spirit? -

Yeah , he’s a nice guy . I think he’s a bit lonely , so I usually visit him once a day for a bit , - she nodded . - He says that one of the inheritances is a good fit for me . -

Oh? - Zac said , curious .

That also worked as an excellent segue into why he’d asked her to come back to their home . There were still a few questions in Zac’s mind , questions that weren’t proper to ask in front of the other two girls .

The more he thought about the weird ball that entered Kenzie’s head , the more uncomfortable he got . It was simply unnatural that something so powerful didn’t give off a single speck of energy . He wanted to get to the bottom of the matter now that they were alone , so he could help out if there was some trouble .

But before he had time to go into that issue he was interrupted by Kenzie .

I heard you’ve traveled a lot the past months . Did you find any clues about mom? - Kenzie blurted out with hopeful eyes before Zac had a chance to ask his questions .

Zac was taken by surprise by the question , as he honestly hadn't really thought about his mother since the integration .

I couldn’t even find her before the world got randomized , I wouldn’t even know where to begin to look now , - Zac answered with a shrug .

Zac saw his sister was gearing up for an argument they’d had many times before , and could only groan inwardly . However , he quickly had an idea and took out a small box from a pouch . It contained the things he brought from their home in Greenworth , and he took out the amulet his father had left .

Their father mentioned that it was a memento from their mother in his diary , and Zac thought giving it to Kenzie might pacify her a bit . But before he had time to hand over the amulet they were interrupted by two demons entering the courtyard .

So you’re back , - Ogras said with a small smile as he sauntered inside .

Don’t you ever knock? - Zac asked with some annoyance as he looked over at the demons entering the courtyard .

Get yourself an array if you want privacy , otherwise I’ll treat it as an open-door policy is in effect , - Ogras answered as he threw one of his annoying smiles toward Kenzie . - Hello again , beautiful . -

Zac’s eyes thinned as he glared toward Ogras , his aura starting to leak out a bit . Kenzie noticed her brother’s change in demeanor , and with a roll of her eyes slapped his arm .

Cut it out , - she muttered under her breath .

So sister-in-law is here as well . It is good to see you again , - Alea said as she pushed Ogras out of the way as she walked toward Kenzie with a warm smile , not even sparing Zac a glance .

Sister-in-law? - MacKenzie asked with some confusion as she let Alea hook her arm in hers .

Don’t let that human girl hear you say that , - Ogras said with a grin , drawing an angry glare from Alea .

Kenzie simply seemed amused by the chaos the two were creating and was content to be a spectator of it all .

Alea is just kidding around , - Zac said to his sister before turning to Ogras . - What human girl? -

Oh , we found a girl that claims to be your girlfriend . Hannah something , - Ogras said with a shrug .

Hannah’s here? - Zac said , his face quickly souring as he glared at his sister .

She only shrugged her shoulders with an impish smile when seeing Zac’s face . Alea’s mouth curved up in a smile as she saw Zac’s reaction , but only ushered Kenzie out of the courtyard .

Come , let’s sightsee a bit . Let those two bores talk things out . I have a great tea that I have saved for a special occasion such as this , - Alea said as she pulled Kenzie away .

Just before she exited the courtyard she threw one last look at Zac .

It’s good you’re back . -

Have fun , - Zac distractedly said as he waved the two away , a confused frown adorning his face .

Ogras snickered as he looked at a peeved Alea , who turned away with a harrumph .

However , the mirth on Ogras face quickly drained away as he saw the amulet in Zac’s hand .

Why do you have that thing? - he said with an uncommonly serious voice .

Why do you care? - Zac asked with some confusion as he looked down at the memento in his hands .

Because it is a Technocrat insignia . -

Chapter 189 - Leandra

Zac skeptically looked up at Ogras as he fiddled with the amulet in his hands .

What are you talking about? It’s impossible that this is something from the Technocrats . I picked this up on Earth years ago , - Zac said , hiding the true origins of the Amulet for now .

Trust me , I know . The demonic horde is very much in favor of The Ruthless Heavens , which makes the Technocrats one of our prime enemies . Everyone learns to identify their kind in case we run into them in mystic realms or out in the wild somewhere , - Ogras said .

What I am curious about is how it could have gotten here . It doesn’t make sense… - Ogras muttered until his eyes suddenly widened . - Unless Earth was a planet owned by the technocrats . -

What? I think we humans should have known about that? - Zac answered with some skepticism .

However , the calmness was only on the outside . His head was hammering fast as his mind was a mess . If Ogras said was true , just what did it mean? Was his mother an alien? The note left by his father said that he should use the amulet if he wanted to find her . Did his father know something as well?

The matter of Leandra , their mother , was still shrouded in mystery . She had simply disappeared not long after MacKenzie was born , and his memories of her were quite hazy by now . His father refused to talk about it , even though Kenzie repeatedly had tried to arrange a meeting with her . Their dad only responded once , saying that their mother had gone home to her family and that she wasn’t coming back .

Zac had left it at that , always bearing some resentment for her actions . He had just been a kid as well , but he still remembered the sadness that had marred their father's face as he took care of the infant MacKenzie .

However , Kenzie didn’t have that resentment and kept pestering Zac to help her find Leandra . Finally Zac relented a few years ago , even hiring a private investigator to track the woman down . Oddly enough there wasn’t a single proof of her ever even existing . Even their birth certificates didn’t mention her , only listing their father as a parent .

The only explanation that the investigator could come up with was that Leandra was an illegal immigrant , which is why there was no paper trail of her existence . Zac had to give up at that point due to a complete lack of clues , much to Kenzie’s disappointment .

But now another , far more fantastical , explanation had revealed itself . There was a possibility that she was actually an alien , as crazy as it sounded . But that possibility only led to more questions .

What was she doing on earth? Why did she leave , and why didn’t she come back? If she had to leave , why didn’t she bring her family with her? Questions whirled around in his mind until cough awoke him .

What? - Zac said , looking over at Ogras .

I said that some technocrat might have used this place as a lab for experiments . I mean , they want to remove The Ruthless Heavens right? Perhaps someone was researching a planet outside Heaven’s control , - the demon said .

That might be it . Well , it doesn’t really matter I guess , - Zac said with a shrug , as he put the amulet away . - If they were still here they should have shown themselves by now , right? Or packed up and left . -

Ogras’ eyes thinned a bit , but he didn’t push the matter any further , much to Zac’s relief .

So what’s your plan with your girl? - the demon said instead . - Want me to take care of the problem? I’m sure Alea is willing . -

A lot has changed in the six months since the fall , - Zac said with a sigh , ignoring his comment . - I am not the Zac from before , and she likely isn’t the same Hannah either . Where does that leave us? -

Well , you should probably figure it out . The girl has repeatedly asked about you , causing some ruckus . No one has dared to say no to her so far , unsure what your reaction would be , - Ogras retorted with a widening smile , likely looking forward to the coming chaos . - I haven’t let her inside the inner area though , much to her annoyance . -

Zac only shook his head , unsure how to respond . He had myriad things on his mind at the moment , and Hannah suddenly being back was truly not something he’d expected . He’d actually mostly forgotten about her , having more pressing matters on his mind until now .

So you’re back already from the rat incursion? - Zac asked , eager to change the subject .

Yeah . It was a success . It only took 2 days , wasn’t a too desperate a fight . That giant had actually exhausted their reserves quite a bit all by himself . He’d been killing Ratmen at least 18 hours a day for half a year , - Ogras said with a wry smile . - Don’t make that guy an enemy , he must have some special constitution . I’ve never met anyone having that strength at such a low level . -

What? - Zac asked with some shock . - You don’t think we’re his match? -

In a head-on confrontation? Probably not , - Ogras said . - I’d guess that mammoth has over 500 strength , and his club takes perfect advantage of that . He crushed the defensive array the Ratmen had set up with just one swing , taking half their town with it . I’m not sure I would have been able to destroy the array at all , no matter how much time I was given . -

He must have done some crazy things in the tutorial . Of course , if we wanted him dead it wouldn’t be too hard , he’s not very balanced . He needs a good support system to bring that disgusting Strength of his to full use , - Ogras added with a vicious glint .

Zac could only shake his head in disbelief . He knew that the tutorial gave out good benefits to the top cultivators , but this was above what he expected . It seemed he needed to be careful around the others as well , especially Thea and Salvation .

So what’s next? - the demon suddenly said .

What do you mean? - Zac asked .

Didn’t you fight up till this point just to find your sister and provide a place to stay? You’ve done that now , - Ogras said as he gestured at the many courtyards in the area .

Are you pushing for my retirement? - Zac asked with a small smile .

Just curious , - Ogras said with a shrug .

I have a quest , - Zac said after some hesitation . - A trial of sorts . I plan on doing it before the Treasure Hunt starts . -

I thought you were skipping the treasure hunt? - the demon asked .

Zac only sighed as he shook his head .

It’s not like I have much of a choice . I can’t stop and relax in this shitty new reality . If I do then someone will kill me . -

The will of The Ruthless Heavens , - Ogras said with a grin .

Actually , regarding that point I have a suggestion . You’re nearing the bottleneck . There are a few things that can’t be done after you evolve , - the demon continued .

Hmm? - Zac asked halfheartedly .

Well , there are two opportunities before you . The first is The Tower of Eternity . Ascending the tower can only be done before evolving . Not taking that opportunity would be a huge missed chance . Everyone who gets the chance to go there will take the trial , - the demon said .

Secondly are the inheritances . The inheritance needs to begin at F-Grade Class as well according to the Tool Spirit - , Ogras added .

Alyn mentioned the Tower some time ago as well , just what is it? - Zac asked curiously .

He didn’t mention that he stood to gain an entrance token soon , and actually was already thinking of going . He knew the demon wanted him to go for some reason , and Ogras would be more forthcoming with information if he thought he was trying to trick him into going .

It is unclear , - Ogras said , but quickly added when he saw Zac’s skeptical face . - It’s something that has just been there since the beginning of time it seems like . Some believe that it houses the Brain of the Ruthless Heavens . However , you can only get to the tower with the help of a token as it is impossible to find without them . Many extreme hegemons have scoured the multi-verse for the tower intending to make it their treasure , but it’s always eluded them . -

The tower consists of 9 floors , and each floor is demarked by 9 tiers . The further you manage to travel up the tower the greater the rewards . In theory , the highest possible grade is 81 , nine by nine . However , I’ve never heard of anyone getting that far , - Ogras continued .

So what are the rewards? - Zac probed .

The tower contains all manner of treasures , and it also provides a Title that gives stats depending on how far you reached , - Ogras simply answered .

It sounded a lot like the title that the cultivators got from the tutorial Zac realized . Perhaps pushing all the way to the 9th floor would give a huge boost to his combat power . However , Ogras next words shocked him .

If we help each other out , we stand a chance to make it to the fourth floor , perhaps even pass a few tiers there , - he said with desire in his eyes .

What? - Zac asked , shocked . - Only the fourth floor? Isn’t the towers limited to F-Grade people? -

Oh , you think you’re some hotshot because you can beat up some useless cultivators on this baby planet? You are strong , but only in the context of this planet . Don’t look down on the forces of the multi-verse . There are F-Graded people with advanced Daos and unimaginable titles , people surpassinga thousand points in a single attribute before they evolve . -

Zac’s eyes widened in shock . It was a good reminder that he couldn’t get complacent . Lately , he’d almost felt like an immortal as he met various people . But he was just a normal person who had caught a few lucky breaks when his planet got integrated . It couldn't compare to whatever the great forces of the multi-verse provided their young .

Wouldn’t that mean we’d be risking our lives going there? - Zac asked skeptically .

Well , getting stronger always comes with risks . But those kinds of monsters are rare , and people are more concerned about ascending more tiers in the tower rather than expending energy on fighting with strangers . Just keep your head down and push forward , - Ogras said without a care .

Zac felt things weren’t as simple as the demon was implying , but he knew that the Tower of Eternity wasn’t something he should ignore if he wanted an Epic Class .

Besides , we’ll be able to watch each other’s backs . We only need to get an inheritance each before we go , which would boost our survivability noticeably , - the demon concluded .

Thinks clicked in Zac’s mind as he looked over at the demon , who innocently looked back . It seemed there was an inheritance really he wanted , and Zac was pretty sure which one it was .

We need to get an inheritance? - Zac asked wryly .

Of course . You should get one as well . It might be dangerous but the opportunity outweighs the risk by far , - Ogras said . - Besides , I can undergo the test first , scout things out . So to speak . -

Zac only snorted in response . The two spoke for a bit more before the demon receded into the shadows again . He seemed a bit annoyed that Zac wouldn’t give a clear go-ahead on the inheritances , but Zac didn’t really care .

He would likely give one to the demon sooner or later . He was pretty sure Ogras wanted The Umbra inheritance , and Zac had no use for that . But he wouldn’t just give it away before thinking things through properly . They were one-time gifts , and he only had eight of them . As for himself , he was a bit unsure of what he should do . He currently felt that there were multiple interesting choices available .

His initial thought had been to go with The Titan inheritance , since he was mainly strength-based . An alternative was The Undying Fiend , which sounded to be Endurance or Vitality-based . One would improve his battle prowess and the other his survivability , and either sounded like a good option .

However , his experiences in the Dead Zone made him look at a new option , the Lord of Cycles-inheritance . While Zac couldn’t be sure , it did seem to align with his new core and new attainments into the Dao . That was provided that the cycle the inheritance spoke of was the cycle of life and death , of course .

It all came back to what he was aiming for . He still had a hard time to decide whether he should focus more on the core and Dao , or his axe-work . The largest risk as he saw it was that he might need to somehow attain another Dao Seed that could act as the opposite of the Dao of Trees .

The Sharpness and Heaviness weren’t really suited to represent the miasma-filled side of his core , making his skillset a bit mismatched . Zac had thought about the issue for days now and still couldn’t come up with a solution .

However , there was still time , so Zac once again tabled the matter as he stood up and headed toward the Nexus Crystal . He really needed to speak with his sister , but she was off god knows where with Alea , so he would have to wait .

In the meanwhile , he had a skill to attain . Soon he found himself at the crystal , and as he touched it a surge of information entered his mind as he gained a new fractal , and this time it was right on his chest .

Chapter 190 - Top Tier Cheat

Zac’s mind was filled with a burst of information told him how the skill worked , but he still chose to try it out after some hesitation . He headed over to an empty area inside his compound that was still just forest and activated the new fractal . A huge torrent of energy surged from the area and entered his body . This wasn't the same thing as absorbing energy , but rather forcefully ripping it out of the atmosphere .

Cracking sounds could be heard throughout his body as it felt like he was injected with a hundred adrenaline shots . Boundless power surged into his limbs as he took out his axe without thinking . The extreme amount of power gathering within him needed an outlet .

With a roar , he swung his axe with all his might as the innocent trees . It was as though a bomb had gone off in the forest , with decimated trees covering the area .

He felt as though he could topple mountains at the moment , but after roughly thirty seconds the feeling was gone , replaced by a sense of weakness . The skill Hatchetman’s Rage] was a boosting skill , that actually increased all his attributes by 25% for around ten seconds .

Better yet , it seemed as though the increase also worked on the attributes he gained from titles as well , as he gained over 80 points in Strength while the skill was in use . A boost of 25% was not something to scoff at going by how attributes worked .

It would increase his combat strength by quite a large margin during the effect , which would help him push him ahead in a close battle . It might even allow him to defeat a stronger opponent in a quick turn-around if he caught the enemy unaware .

However , the skill wasn’t without its drawbacks . It seemed it messed with his head a bit . When the energy entered him he felt ready , and willing , to take on the world . It also left him weakened after usage . It didn’t consume a lot of Cosmic or Mental Energy , but it was rather as though his body was overtaxed , like he might have felt after running a marathon back in the day before the integration .

He slowly headed back to his courtyard , and it took over an hour before he was back in good condition again . Clearly , he had to be careful with the skill , just like with Nature’s Punishment . He needed to end the fight by the time the effect ran out , otherwise he'd be a sitting duck .

Familiar steps could be heard after a while as he saw a flustered Kenzie run over .

What’s going on? What happened earlier , did you get into a fight with Ogras? The destruction could be seen from the town - she said as she looked around with a frown .

I only tried out a new skill of mine , - Zac said with a shrug . - Sit down , we need to talk . -

You destroyed a forest to try out a skill - ? his sister said with a shake of her head , but she still sat down next to him .

Zac suddenly had a thought and opened the Town Shop . Not long after two small arrays were erected around the courtyard . One was an E-Grade Small Scale Silencing Array] , whose job was to block any sound from escaping , and also impede any types of spying skill .

The other array was a normal illusion array that hid the interior , the very same type as he used around his camp before . It should look like the courtyard was empty from outside , from how understood it . He still had the original array somewhere , but he didn’t remember where it was anymore . Since it was quite cheap he bought an upgraded version for 250 000 Nexus Coins , making it even harder to see through .

Finally , he put up a third array , the weak defensive one he'd purchased some time ago . Wasting no more time Zac took out the amulet and handed it over to Kenzie , who accepted it with a confused glance .

What’s this? - she asked as she held up the intricately designed amulet .

I found this amulet with a note from Dad when I visited Greenworth . The note said that it was a memento from mom , and that we might be able to use it if we wanted to find her , - Zac explained , hiding nothing .

Kenzie looked at the small amulet with marvel , as though it was a map leading to some grand treasure .

How do we use it? - she excitedly asked as she grabbed Zac’s arm .

That’s the problem . I just found out something pretty weird about that thing . It might not be from earth . Ogras said it is a Technocrat insignia , like an emblem from a Technocrat Nobleman , -

Technocrat? What’s that? - Kenzie asked with some confusion .

Zac suddenly realized that the Technocrats might not be a subject that was broached in the Tutorial , as they opposed the System .

It’s an extremely powerful force in the multi-verse . I don’t know a lot about them , apart from the fact that they are an enemy to most other forces , and that they don’t use Cosmic Energy . Instead , they use extremely advanced technology , like science fiction stuff . They are the most advanced force in the multi-verse in that sense , - Zac explained .

Kenzie’s eyes widened , until she looked down the amulet in her hands with a slight frown , saying nothing . Zac would have thought his sister would have a ton of follow-up questions , but she only silently stared at the amulet . But her silence told him that it might not be as big a shock as he expected , and soon he understood why .

What’s going on? - Zac asked . - I saw that shield around you when the guy exploded back in Kingsbury . It didn’t contain even a scrap of Cosmic Energy . And the ball flew right into your head afterward . Are you ok? -

I… I think I understand now , - she said .

When the tutorial started , I was the same as everyone else . Luckily I survived the first trials and got stronger . However , after the fifth trial , I suddenly heard a voice in my head . It wasn’t the System , but someone else , - MacKenzie began . - It told me it had finalized integration . -

Another voice? - Zac asked with some concern .

Yeah . At first I thought I had gone crazy , but the voice told me it was an assistant system . I soon figured out that it was real as it warned me of imminent attacks that I didn’t notice myself . Since then it’s helped me in various ways , and I probably wouldn't have survived the tutorial without it . It changed the way I channel my Cultivation Manual to become more efficient , it helps me in battle , and in all kinds of ways . It even modifies my skills to become stronger , - she explained .

Zac frowned as he looked at his sister , thinking of the ball in her head . From the way she explained it , it almost seemed that there was an artificial intelligence helping her . But that should be impossible , as that type of technology and the Cultivation System shouldn’t be impossible to merge .

It was one of the basic rules of the multiverse as he saw it , and the very reason that the Technocrats were so desperate to either destroy the System or create an Apostate of their own . The Dao of Technology was blocked , and merging cosmic energy and technology should be impossible . The thing in her head sounded like something impossible .

It never told me what it was , so I guessed it was some special reward I got from the system for some reason . But now I think it might have been mom who left me with this thing to protect me? - she said , her face brightening . - Perhaps she knew the integration was coming and wanted to give me something to help me survive . -

Yeah , maybe , - Zac said after a while .

However , inwardly he wasn’t as sure . Zac saw a very different scenario . He thought back to what Ogras said earlier , that Earth might be a lab for experimentation by the Technocrats . Did their mother experiment on Kenzie when she was an infant , potentially putting her in danger?

Finding ways to trick the System and integrate technology to a cultivator should be a huge goal for the technocrats , and the first step in creating an Apostate of their own . If what Kenzie said was true , the thing in her head might be a highly valuable Technocrat technology .

Still , he didn’t say these things out loud . There was no point in starting to argue about such things . And there was nothing he could do about the situation , apart from trying to get stronger in case something happened . But he knew he was just kidding himself . The Technocrats could be considered an A-Grade force .

They could incinerate this whole planet in an instant if they wished , and there was nothing he or anyone else on Earth could do about it . He could only pray that he was wrong about his speculations , or that something unexpected had happened , making the Technocrats unaware of the marvel inside Kenzie’s body .

Suddenly Kenzie handed the Amulet back to Zac , who took it with some confusion on his face .

Mom already gave me this assistant to protect me , so you should keep the amulet . It might have some method to help you as well , - she said .

Are you sure? - Zac said , but in truth he was quite happy to take back the amulet now that he knew more what was going on .

He was afraid that it might be a beacon or tracker of sorts , so he would prefer to keep it away from Kenzie if possible .

Hmm… How about this , - Zac said as he opened the Town Shop again .

Soon another box appeared in front of him , and he took out another amulet and gave it to Kenzie .

Since you don’t want that amulet , take this one instead . It was very expensive , so wear it at all times , - he said with a smile .

His sister rolled her eyes , but she still put it on with a smile .

Zac wasn’t lying when he said it was expensive . It cost 20 000 000 Nexus coins and was one of the most expensive Arrays in his Town Shop at the moment . It was called E-Grade Supreme Ward] , and was a mobile array just like his Mother-Daughter array .

However , its function was much more varied . It was a defensive talisman that protected the wearer in all kinds of ways , as long as she stayed within a certain range from Port Atwood . It was an array that many forces bought for their young to protect them from sudden assassinations .

It had a few functions . First , it had a strong shield that automatically protected from sudden attacks . It might not be necessary for Kenzie , but it was better than nothing . However , Zac bought it for its other functions . For one it protected against spying or scrying skills , making it hard to locate her or spy on any secrets inside her . It also protected against mental attacks or hypnosis .

It was the only thing he could think of right now that might keep her hidden from any potential spies of the multi-verse . He truly believed that the fact she possessed an artificial assistant must be kept a secret to protect her . That thing inside her might be even more explosive than his Creator Shipyard . Kenzie might be hunted down by the various forces of the multi-verse if they knew , and who knew what the Technocrats would do .

Does anyone else know about the assistant thing in your head? - Zac asked .

He was determined to keep this secret just between the two of them , even if he was forced to do some gruesome things .

No , I knew it was a bit odd from the start , so I never told anyone , not even Lyla , - Kenzie said with a shake of her head .

Good . Let’s keep it that way - , Zac said with relief . - I will try to look into the Technocrats some more , but we need to be careful . We don’t know what happened to mom . If she truly is a Technocrat the situation might be pretty complicated . The Technocrats have so many enemies , and we might implicate both ourselves and mom if we rush things . -

I know , - Kenzie said , not being able to hide some of her disappointment .

Hey , don’t worry . We finally have a lead for the first time ever . We’ll find her . But we need to focus on getting stronger as well , - Zac said with a smile .

I get it , I’ll be patient . -

By the way , you never told me what class you were , - Zac asked instead , changing the subject .

Well , I picked Acolyte , a Normal Grade mage class , - his sister answered . - But Jeeves , oh that’s what I call the voice , upgraded it to Elementalist , an Uncommon one . -

Zac could only speechlessly stare at Kenzie for a while . That thing in her head was truly a top tier cheat .

What about you? -

Well , it’s called Hatchetman , a Rare class , - Zac said with a shrug .

Hatchetman? How’d you get such a stupid-sounding class? - she asked with a smile .

Zac could only shake his head and tell the tale of what he was doing when the integration happened . Soon Kenzie was laughing as Zac explained how he fumbled along with his lumberjack’s hatchet , living in a dented and bloodied camper , looking like a hobo covered in strips of snake leather .

So , what are you going to do about Hannah? - she suddenly asked .

Zac grimaced at the question . With only a shake of his head he got up to his feet and wistfully looked in the direction of the town .

Some things couldn’t be prolonged any longer .

Chapter 191 - The Network

Zac still wasn’t sure what he should do with Hannah as he slowly walked toward the gate leading to the town proper . When Ogras told him she had been found he felt… nothing . Simply too much time had passed since they last were together .

The time they had spent apart was more than twice what they had actually been together , and since then Zac had experienced one life-altering event after another . And it wasn’t like they were some childhood sweethearts or soul mates . They were two lonely people who had found each other on a dating app .

Besides , the little he’d heard about her causing trouble since she arrived at his island made him quite annoyed . However , he would have to form his own opinion , as there usually was a hidden agenda behind the demon’s words . But in the end , Zac knew he was just psyching himself up with various justifications and excuses .

He almost wished that some weird void would open up and spew out a horde of monsters . He would much rather go through a deadly battle than this muddled situation .

Soon he arrived at the gate once more , and after asking the guards headed toward a certain neighborhood of the residential district . It didn’t take long to find the building , since not only was the neighborhood one of those closest to the gate leading to Zac’s area , but it was also guarded by a demon and a Valkyrie .

Zac’s brows scrunched together in displeasure as he walked up to the two guards who quickly recognized him .

Lord Atwood , - the demoness quickly said .

You two can go back to your usual duties . This place doesn’t need guards , - Zac said with a nod .

The two guards gave each other a quick glance and quickly complied and left . Zac took a deep breath and knocked on the door . It didn’t take long before he could hear hurried steps , and the door was practically thrown open as Hannah hurried to open it .

She looked as beautiful as when they first met , perhaps even more so . Say what you will about the integration , the Cosmic Energy made people look better , as long as they survived . However , to Zac’s surprise she didn’t wear normal clothes , but rather robes similar to those that Alea and Alyn wore .

There was a hint of confusion in her eyes for a second as she looked at him . Zac couldn’t blame her , as he’d truly changed a lot more than most . However , Hannah soon realized who he was and her eyes quickly filled with tears .

Zac! - she said and threw herself in his arms , her body wracked by cries . - I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again . -

I am glad you’re fine , - Zac said with a smile .

I heard that you came back , - she said after having found her bearing . - Come in . -

Zac hesitated for a second but soon followed behind her into her house . It was neat and clean inside , though the furniture was quite eclectic . He briefly wondered how she managed to get so many things on this isolated island . Then again , many of the surrounding islands had a lot of buildings that were deserted , perhaps there was a lot of it lying around .

Are the other three okay? - Zac said as he stopped in the living room .

Only David’s still alive , - Hannah said with a shake of her head . - Izzie and Tyler didn’t make it . -

Zac could only nod , not being too surprised . He knew that only two people surviving was the expected outcome , and that only half of a tutorial group dying was considered one of the best outcomes .

I wanted to find you , but we were trapped on that island , and that crazy guy messed with our heads , - Hannah said , placing her hand on his chest . - But that’s okay . We’re finally together again . -

As Zac looked down on her beautiful face he forgot about everything for a second . He remembered the awkward first date , turning into a relationship that gave respite from the bleak reality of being an adult with no real direction in life .

However , reality soon came crashing back to him , and he knew that those times would never come back . Her house might feel like a secluded enclosure hiding them from the world , but it was only a mirage . Shaking his head Zac extracted himself from Hannah with a sigh .

Hannah , we need to talk . -

Zac was still feeling sour walked into the large building that was currently the core of operations of Port Atwood , but he forced himself to regain control of his emotions . Meeting Hannah again had been a roller-coaster of emotions . But then again , most break-ups were .

He realized he had painted her as some sort of villain in his mind , desperately grasping at every negative he heard in order to make himself feel justified . But ultimately , there was only one justification . They had simply fallen out of love since the apocalypse , and their relationship died along with the fall .

Besides , he didn’t know what to believe . Ogras had insinuated that the was causing trouble , but she had looked completely baffled when he’d mentioned it . As she explained things she tried to work in the government , thinking it would help him to have people he knew and could trust there , and not only strangers with their own agendas .

Zac could somewhat understand that sentiment as he walked through the halls of the large government building . The faces he saw were mostly those of strangers , and even those he recognized he barely knew the names of . There was no one of those that ran his town that he would dare trust his life to .

That wasn’t to say that Hannah necessarily had his best in mind . While she seemed the same as the girl he dated half a year back , no one had truly gone through the integration without changing a bit . Everyone had gotten harder , more cynical . Those who didn’t were long dead .

In the end , he had promised he'd find work for her and David , but Hannah had rejected it , saying that she wanted to focus on getting stronger . She even mentioned joining the academy . Zac only acquiesced and promised he'd provide the two with resources . It was the least he could do .

Not long after Zac entered the large building a clerk that Zac didn’t recognize hurriedly ran up to him with a small bow .

Lord Atwood , - she said with some reservation in her voice . - Administrators Abby and Adran are expecting you . -

Lead the way , - Zac simply said .

He wasn’t sure how he felt about the address , as it felt odd to be called a lord by the humans . He guessed the employees had adopted the mannerisms from the demons , who had stricter hierarchies in their societies .

Soon he found himself in a meeting room with the people , or eyeballs , responsible for keeping his town running .

I am glad to hear you found your sister in good health , - Abby said as she bobbed in the air .

Thank you . How have things gone while I was away? - Zac asked .

Well , Port Atwood has advanced on various fronts . Today 83 432 citizens are within your network , - Adran began .

Network? - Zac asked .

We have started setting up various satellite facilities on neighboring islands . These settlements are equipped with F-Grade Teleportation Arrays] , and therefore can be easily accessed . We currently have five settlements , whose purposes are mainly various types of resource farms , - Abby filled in .

Five settlements? The guards at the teleporter said there’s twelve , - Zac said with some confusion .

Two teleporters lead to the larger human towns that are able to self-sustain . We saw no reason to move everyone here to drain resources , - Abby explained . - We believe that living in Port Atwood should be considered a boon , and something only for those who contribute to the faction . Therefore , when we find refugees on new islands they usually get moved to one of the other towns . -

And the other teleporters? - Zac asked .

Another two are for the beastman settlements . One leads to Azh’Rodum , and the elevenths go to the Zhix hive , - Abby said .

There’s still one more , no? - Zac said .

Yes , but it is a bit special . It leads to a small camp we placed on an extremely large island we found . It is the only island so far we’ve found that's even bigger than this one . From what we can tell the island is uninhabited , but it is teeming with strong monsters , - Adran said as he handed Zac an information crystal .

So it’s a place for our people to gain combat experience and levels? - Zac asked as he accepted the crystal .

Well partly that . But there are also energy signals that indicate that there actually might be a Mystic Realm somewhere on the island , - Abby said , once again starting to bob around in excitement .

Oh? - Zac said , somewhat unperturbed .

What’s with that reaction? That is huge news! - the Stargazer said agitatedly . - Depending on what’s inside it could be an enormous boon for Port Atwood . -

But couldn’t it just as likely be full of E-Graded monster , or even worse things? - Zac retorted .

Exploring a mystic realm was an extremely dangerous undertaking , and some forces had to sacrifice thousands and thousands of people in order to secure it . And even then , the realms might not lead to any benefits in the end .

A mystic realm was a huge gamble , and Zac wasn’t sure he had the resources to roll the dice at the moment . He only really had a few hundred combatants , far too little to venture into a dangerous place like that .

Well yes , but great rewards always come with some risk . That’s the way of the universe . Besides , we don’t need to explore it right now , apart from perhaps sending a scouting party to sound things out . If it's dangerous we’ll simply reinforce the portal , and revisit the issue when we’re stronger , - Abby explained .

Is there any risk of something emerging from the Mystic Realm to wreak havoc? - Zac asked .

It’s highly unlikely . Unless we open the vortex from our side they can’t do much . They would need to brute force it , and that would require extreme powers . If such strong beings lived inside the mystic realm , they would have broken out long ago , - Adran explained .

Well , I won’t send anyone inside there against his will , - Zac said after some deliberation . - But if someone wants to take a gamble , we can give it a try a bit later . I will visit the island and take a look for myself . But for now , I want to focus on the Incursions . -

Well , I am sure that Ogras has told you , but the Ratmen Incursion was vanquished , becoming the second incursion being closed on the planet . We also found two more potential targets while fighting over there . The residents of Billyville had allies who also live close to Incursions , - Adran said .

Oh? - Zac said . - Are they affiliated with the New World Government? -

One is unaffiliated , while we are unsure about the other . However , both of them wish to wait until after the Treasure Hunt , - Adran said .

What do you two think? - Zac asked .

The Ratmen Incursion should be considered a low tier Incursion , just like that of Clan Azh’Rezak , - Abby said , drawing a glare from Adran . - Both the incursions mentioned by the allies of Billyville sounds like medium-tier Incursions , and you would likely need to join unless you’re willing to accept mass casualties among your soldiers . As for the high-grade ones , I am not sure we’re ready to take those on at the moment . -

Zac nodded his head in thought , not too surprised . The fact that it only took a few days to eradicate the Ratmen Incursion proved they couldn't have been too strong . The easier Incursions were dealt with , leaving the harder ones . He also felt he had to agree with Abby’s assessment of their current power .

Even with 3 of the generals taken out of commission in the undead army , he wasn’t confident his side could vanquish the Incursion . There were still another 3 generals remaining along with the leader . Furthermore , they would be at the core of the incursion where the Miasma should be thickest , along with who knows what kind of Arrays .

Zac also understood why people wished to postpone attacking the incursions until after the Treasure Hunt . From how it sounded there would be quite a few power-ups waiting inside for the powerhouses of Earth , which would help immensely in the fight against the invaders .

The only question was how long the mission would last . It wouldn’t do any good if it took months to complete since that would leave most towns without proper defense from their most powerful people , while also allowing the limitations of the invaders to be removed .

The briefing went on for another hour , and it seemed everything was under control . He wasn’t really needed for anything , as he was mostly used for deterrence so that no one would act up . Besides , with the demon soldiers walking the streets people were keeping themselves in line .

Since it was getting late he soon headed back to his home to rest up . Soon after he came back Emily came by his courtyard , forcefully scampering over the decorative wall , uncaring that the gates were closed . The teenager had met up with Kenzie earlier , and from what he could tell the two had hit it off well .

It appeared she was overloaded with gossip , and a seemingly unending stream of juicy tidbits came pouring out of her mouth . It was everything from the fact that Ryan was trying to woo one of the Valkyries , to an Ishiate workshop exploding in the commercial district twice in one day .

There apparently had been a large fight between Emma and Julia as well , something about their future path . Zac could guess that while Emma wanted nothing to do with the government , Julia wasn’t so sure . He made a mental note to sit down with the government official soon .

He hadn’t really talked with her since she arrived , but the events at Kingsbury made him realize that he needed to do something about his relationship with the government before the shapeshifters ruined them from within . Turning Julia into a proper liaison for Port Atwood might not be a bad idea .

Finally , the teenager reminded him that her birthday was in a few weeks before she scampered off . Zac only smiled and shook his head , his spirits lifting somewhat . He threw the matters of Hannah and Port Atwood into the back of his head , and instead focused on what was ahead .

His next goal was the quest for hegemony , but since he didn’t know how long it would take there were still some things he needed to get done first .

Chapter 192 - Island Tour

After resting up a few hours Zac stepped through his private array , arriving at one of the first satellite towns of Port Atwood . Only a brief moment was needed to understand that this was one of the farming-villages that was created to provide the town with a steady supply of grain and vegetables .

Two Valkyries were resting by the gate , but quickly got to their feet when they saw the teleporter activating . Normally there were no guards stationed at the portal , as this place was only accessible through the main teleporter and the traffic was controlled from there .

However , Valkyries and freshly recruited warriors were sent out to all the satellite towns en masse to clean out the islands . There would always be a need for some warriors to safeguard the area from beasts in the future , but the manpower needed would be drastically reduced if all dangerous wildlife was culled first like on the main island .

Zac nodded to the two resting Valkyries before he headed out toward the fields . This personal inspection was something he had decided to do before he left for the Hegemon mission . For one he was still feeling a bit emotionally unsettled from yesterday , and he didn’t want to undergo the trial when he wasn’t in peak mental condition .

But more importantly , he felt the need to show his face a bit more , and make sure that everything was running smoothly . Hannah’s words struck a chord with him , reminding him that he couldn’t entrust everything to others .

He generally believed the demons and Abby the eye were working with his best interest in mind , but he also knew that both Abby and Ogras sometimes fudged the truth in order to reach their goals . The only people on the island he felt he could truly trust were Sap Trang and Kenzie , but both were focusing on improving their power .

Showing his face would give the population a reminder who was the true leader of Port Atwood .

The fields were abuzz with activity , where demons and humans worked together to get production going . The fields still looked mostly barren , apart from a few places having sprouts emerging from the soil . Most of the work still consisted of clearing out the area of trees and stone , turning the island into proper arable land .

After looking around he spotted a familiar face . It was the demon who was in charge of Agriculture for clan Azh’Rezak .

How are things progressing? - Zac asked as he walked up to the demon

He looked over at Zac with some surprise but quickly found his bearings .

Lord Atwood , I didn’t expect to see you here today , - he said . - Things are progressing just fine . It might not look like much at the moment , but I believe we will have our first harvest within two months . Of course , it’s all mortal-graded seeds we’re planting . -

Mortal-grade was what things below F-Grade ranked was called , and another name for it was unranked . The normal grain and vegetables were all unranked as they didn’t naturally contain any Cosmic Energy .

The thick Cosmic Energy in the atmosphere might imbue the vegetables with some energy , but it was negligible . You would have to eat an insane amount of tomatoes or wheat grown from mortal seeds to gain a power-up .

Sounds good . Have you procured any spiritual seeds yet? - Zac asked .

We have bought some , though it might take a few years until production is to a point that it can feed the upper echelon of the island , - the old demonic farmer said with a shrug . - We have planted a few small fields on the main island for those things , and we should start to see results within a year . -

How come you didn’t plant everything on the main island? God knows we have a lot of free space , - Zac said .

It was true , as his main island was enormous . Even with his speed , it took hours to cross the whole thing , and it would be possible to fill the large empty areas with fields . Currently , 99% of the island was just forest where barghest roamed . That would allow the crops to benefit from the even denser energy in the atmosphere of the main island .

The old farmer’s eyes lit up , but soon he shook his head .

Actually , farmland absorbs a huge amount of Cosmic Energy , especially Spiritual Herbs . If we planted too much on the main island you’d soon notice that the density of energy in the air would get worse . That’s why forces’ herb farms are in Mystic Realms , as their towns would turn into energy-starved ghettos otherwise , - the demon said .

It wouldn’t be a problem in the short run as the population is still quite small , but as the citizens grow more numerous and more powerful , the energy consumption will increase . It’s better that we already have a proper infrastructure before reaching that point . And it’s not like it is a problem that these crops take a few weeks longer to grow due to the sparser energy , everyone will be fed , - the farmer continued .

Understanding the balance between the energy in the heavens and the earth with your farmland is something every farmer needs to understand . If you get too greedy and plant too valuable things , you’ll likely lose the harvest . -

Zac finally understood why the plan had been to farm on other islands from the start . He completely agreed with the farmer’s sentiment . The Vein beneath the island could only produce so much energy per hour , and it was better that energy went to his citizens and creating more Nexus Crystals first hand .

Besides , since the island was quite close to his own the Cosmic Energy in the area was still pretty dense , making it a great place for farming . Zac stayed on for a bit and talked about the plans for the island with the various farmers until he bade farewell and moved to the next one .

The next island he visited was a mining encampment , and the foreman to the shaft did not share the farmer’s view on balance . His eyes glistened when he talked about the treasures of the deep , seemingly itching to go down there and hunt for treasures .

The man might as well have been a dwarf going by the greedy gleam in his eyes . It was only after talking with a few of the other miners that Zac found out the foreman didn’t care about the treasures , and only cared about the thrill of the hunt .

This mining encampment was not mining for crystals like the mine at Azh’Rodum , but rather for various metals . It was placed on an island with a mountain with a reddish hue . The foreman explained that while they had only encountered mortal grade metals for now , they might encounter F-Graded materials as they dug deeper .

Zac was a bit disappointed that there were only ordinary resources here , but then again only normal materials were needed to produce all kinds of things for the town .

Like this Zac went from satellite village to satellite village seeing how things were going . He was happy to see that there weren’t really any problems so far for the Demons and Humans working together . Actually he heard of a few couples having formed already . He’d been afraid the vastly different societies the demons and humans came from would cause some friction , but humans were flexible if anything .

After he was done making rounds he left for his final destination , the mysterious island that held the potential entrance to the Mystic Realm . The scene when he stepped out from the teleporter was quite different from the others .

There were only a guardhouse and a few tents , with four demon guards sitting around a concealed fire having supper . They quickly got to their feet when they noticed Zac’s arrival , but quickly calmed down when they noticed it was only Zac .

Where’s the Mystic Realm entrance? - Zac asked after greeting the guards .

It should be a couple of hours of travel north , - one of the guards answered . - The teleporter was placed close to the edge of the island to give us some room in case something happened . -

Like what? - Zac asked with a frown .

There’s a risk of the teleporter getting interference from the entrance before its properly stabilized . If it burst some extra amounts of energy everyone would be stuck here until rescue came by boat , - another demon explained . - Also , it’s just too dangerous further in . We can only handle the beasts at the edge . -

Strong beasts? - Zac mumbled , taking another look around as he left the camp in the direction the demons indicated .

He finally realized that the camp was mostly hidden within a small crevice of some small hill , secluding it from three directions . Furthermore , when he turned around after walking a bit he noticed to his surprise that the camp was completely gone , making him finally realize where his old illusion array had gone .

This was a completely different setup compared to the ones he’d seen on the other islands so far . The Stargazer had mentioned that there were strong beasts on this island , and it seemed that might have been an understatement if the demon guards had to be that careful .

He wanted to have a proper look for himself about what was going on with this island . He was afraid that Abby was downplaying the dangers to his town for the chance of a large payday . He didn’t delude himself that the well-being of the humans in the town was her main priority . Besides , there was something else he wanted to test while he was here .

The forest had a more tropical feeling compared to the one on his own island , though the level of mutation seemed largely the same . As he walked through the woods he concealed his aura tightly , and it didn’t take long until he was accosted by a beast .

Crazed Lemur – Level 58 – Strength]

The level of the beast made Zac’s brows rise . It was almost the same as his own , and it was just the first thing he met on the island . Zac took out his axe and swung it at the primate , but it deftly dodged as it almost flew into a tree nearby .

Before it even landed it pushed away from the trunk , causing cracks on the tree from the force , instantly rebounding toward Zac with a screech . This time Zac focused properly and swung his axe once again with lightning speed .

A torrent of blood splashed the ground , as the primate lifelessly fell to the ground . Zac frowned as he looked down on the beast , the blood quickly slouching off from his robes . The strength of the animal wasn’t what bothered him , even though it likely was a match for most of the demonic warriors .

It was the fact that the core in his body hadn’t absorbed a smidgeon of Cosmic Energy from the kill . Zac had hoped that he would be able to keep improving his core by using normal kills , where the neutral energy would fill into both sides of it . Since the core had formed he’d only killed the undead , making him unsure of how it worked .

Unfortunately , the core stayed completely inert as a surge of Cosmic Energy entered Zac’s body . He already knew that this was a distinct possibility , as he knew that the Core didn’t care about the energy from normal Nexus Crystals . He did , however , know that the Miasma Crystals were effective since he’d briefly tried it while waiting for Kenzie in Kingsbury .

Zac shook his head as he kept moving deeper into the jungle . It appeared that he would have to visit the Sky Gnome and open his wallet after all . The core hadn’t shown any indication of how much energy it needed to be completed , and feeding it might turn him into a pauper .

While a couple of million nexus coins was quite decent , he knew that in terms of wealth in the multi-verse it was nothing . Zac knew that to simplify things the system actually graded Nexus Coins , just like with crystals .

A thousand Nexus Coins was worth one Nexus Coin (E) , which meant that he had roughly 30 Nexus Coins (D) . The system hadn’t even bothered to convert the coins to higher tiers since his wealth was just too low to make it worth it .

Still , he’d have to check with Calrin before he started to despair . The mining operations were proceeding smoothly in his crystal mine , and he might be actually able to do a straight trade between Life-Attuned Crystals and neutral ones , not spending a single coin .

Zac instead kept pushing toward the center of the island and noticed that the energy in the atmosphere kept growing . Furthermore , the closer to the core of the island he got , the stronger the animals became . It appeared the island had built a strict hierarchy , where the stronger beasts got to have territories with denser energy .

To his delight , he noticed there was another boon to coming to this island , apart from the Nexus Coins and high-grade meat . The beasts might not have been able to improve his core , but something else was gleefully feeding as the beasts fell one by one . Verun’s Bite] was turning the excursion into an all-you-can-eat buffet .

Chapter 193 - Merit and Debt

As soon as his targets were above level 60 Verun’s Bite] started to absorb blood again , just like it did with the mink he killed long ago . Zac was delighted , as he hadn’t found anything that it wanted apart from blood and the stone .

As he kept going toward the core of the island the fights got more intense , creating widespread destruction in the area . After an hour Zac started to imbue his strikes with his Dao to end the battles quickly . After having walked for two hours he’d killed well over a hundred strong beasts , and his Cosmos Sack was quickly filling up with high-level carcasses .

He also made some interesting discoveries about his axe . It appeared that it didn’t just take any type of blood . Every time he killed a beast it took a small amount of its blood , but far from all of it . Furthermore , it only took blood from each type of beast once . Zac ran into a pair of leopards for example , and the axe only absorbed blood from the first kill .

It almost felt like the axe was taking trophies in the form of blood from the various types of beasts it killed . Zac started to hypothesize that perhaps the method to upgrade his axe was to collect enough types of blood .

That realization made him stop for a second , making him wonder if the types of beasts he killed had any impact on how the Axe would turn out when it upgraded . Perhaps feeding it with inferior blood would result in an inferior upgrade .

However , now was not the time to worry about such things . Everything was still a hypothesis . And besides , if the axe followed convention it would require a few types of E-Grade blood to evolve . If the blood had an impact on the upgrade , then the E-Grade kills would likely be far more important than the F-grade blood .

With that in mind , he kept cutting a path straight toward the core of the island . He was initially worried that the commotion he caused would draw attention to himself , but he soon realized he didn’t need to worry about that . Raging battles kept happening all over , with beasts fighting for territory , or just for the heck of it .

However , suddenly a primordial roar echoed through the forest , coming from somewhere close to the center of the island . Even Zac stopped and hunkered down , his body physically impacted by the reverberations it caused . It was the call of an E-Grade beast .

Zac didn’t move a muscle , instead warily looked around for a minute until he got up to his feet again . After the powerful roar there was no follow-up , perhaps meaning that it was simply a reminder of who was the king of the jungle .

It appeared that the other beasts in the area came to the same conclusion , and soon the forest was filled with the roars of various beasts once again . Zac hesitated a bit but decided to keep going . He really understood why Abby and Adran had no idea whether there actually was a Mystic Realm here or not .

Unless Ogras personally entered the fray , anyone else would simply throw their life away heading to the core of the island . Zac knew he wasn’t immortal either , and started to keep going more carefully , not wanting to lure whatever was the source of the animal cry earlier .

He was pretty confident that he would be able to defeat a normal E-Grade beast , as he’d gotten quite a bit stronger since he fought the Fiend Wolf . However , there were many unknowns in this forest . For one , being a beast that had already evolved told Zac it was no average animal , but it likely had its own lucky encounters .

Furthermore , there was nothing that said that there was only one of them at the core of the island . Who knew , there might be dozens of E-Ranked beasts idling about , and that would likely be too much even for Zac .

He kept sneaking forward , now starting to avoid battles . The closer he got to the core of the island the calmer it was . There likely weren’t as many beasts in the top tier of power , and the fights for territory might not happen as often . Any battle here would likely garner quite a bit of attention , something Zac really didn’t want at the moment .

After a while , Zac finally stopped , as he’d reached an edge leading to an abrupt cliff . He quickly got down on his knees and looked around , and realized he was next to a huge crater . Just a quick glance around told him that it was over a hundred meters deep , and at least a few kilometers across .

The bottom was covered with another forest , with huge trees fighting for space . He got a sense of foreboding as he looked down at the dense forest , hesitant whether he should actually head down or not . Before deciding anything further he instead took out a pair of binoculars , trying to glean anything of importance .

It was with some relief he realized that he wouldn’t have to go down after all , after seeing what was going on in the core of the crater . There was an area of a few hundred meters where nothing grew , creating a stark contrast to the lush surroundings .

In the middle of the desolate field , something that could best be described as an anomaly was flittering about . It reminded Zac a bit of the phenomenon that occurred when he used Nature’s Punishment] as it looked like cracks in reality .

However , the center of the anomaly was far more chaotic , looking like a large hole that phased in and out of reality . Zac pretty much knew he was looking at a wild unstabilized entrance to a Mystic Realm , even though he’d never seen one before . He simply couldn’t imagine it being anything else .

That at least proved that there wasn’t a supreme treasure in the center of the island causing the high density of the energy the beasts enjoyed . He took out a crystal that recorded the scene in front of him before he started to move backward .

Judging by the high density in the area the Mystic Realm likely had a quite high density of energy as well , rather than being a desolate pocket of subspace . Zac saw no point in going down into the crater to investigate further at this time . The crater was likely home to the most powerful beasts , including the E-ranked one that roared earlier .

He started making his way back toward the secluded camp , going in a slightly different direction . The fights with the elite monsters on the island didn’t hold him up much but provided both a good deal of experience and Nexus Coins .

When he reached the camp he told the demons about his findings , and they looked quite excited by the Mystic Realm . Zac realized he likely wouldn’t have any trouble finding volunteers for exploring the realm in the future , going by the demonic guards in front of him .

He stepped through the teleporter , this time finding himself in the main arrival lobby . From there he walked to the commercial district for the first time since coming back .

Before he left the district had simply been former battlefields and forests , with the only exception being the Thayer Consortia Headquarters . But as he walked he saw that the district had changed much in the same way as the residential district .

The square that would be the core of the district stood finished , and there actually were a few hawkers having set up stalls . From what he could tell they mainly sold daily necessities for now , but Zac was sure that it would improve in the future .

The plots of land surrounding the square was still mostly empty as they were earmarked for special buildings . One exception was that the Thayer Consortia owned a satellite store placed right next to the future placement of the bank .

It was time to enact some things that they had decided upon in the meeting earlier , so Zac brought up his menu and started to browse structures to purchase . Since he’d become a Lord and Port Atwood was deigned a World Town more structures had become available for purchase . Of course , the drastic increase in population helped as well .

Most of the structures still were locked out though , as it seemed that a pretty basic requirement of most structures was to have a population of 1 million , which Port Atwood wasn’t even close to . He wasn’t sure how he’d get there in the short run , as the archipelago he controlled simply wasn’t very populated .

Even when they found people on an island there was usually only something like a hundred of them . The upside was that the average strength of these people was far higher compared to those who were safe within large towns on the mainland . There were barely any people below level 15 in Port Atwood , a sight that was quite common in places like New Washington .

Soon he found the structure he’d agreed upon yesterday with Abby , but before he was able to buy it he was interrupted by a familiar figure walking up to him .

What are you doing here? - Zac asked as Alea walked up to him with a smile .

I was bored , so I was thinking of having tea with the Sky Gnome , - Alea said , as she looked at the empty plot Zac had been focusing on . - But this seemed more interesting . What are you doing? -

I’m getting the Contribution Store we talked about some time ago , - Zac answered as he made the purchase .

A large building was quickly materializing in one of the empty plots close to the square . It looked like a large box with huge rectangular windows letting light in . Otherwise the building was completely unadorned , apart from a large sign hanging above the 4-meter tall doors .

Merit Exchange]

Golems and their sense of beauty , - Alea said with a shake of her head as she surveyed the contribution center before she turned back to Zac .

So , are there any benefits to being friends with the big boss himself? Do you provide any good discounts? - she said as she hooked her arm in his with a wink .

Zac smiled a bit at the quip and was about to answer , but his smile froze when he saw a familiar face in the distance .

It was Hannah who was holding a leather armor that seemed to be one of the latest creations by the inscriptionists . She was mutely staring at Zac and Alea , who were likely looking like they were in the middle of a romantic outing from how Alea acted .

Zac wanted to say something but Hannah simply turned around and walked away with hurried steps . Zac extricated himself from Alea with a sigh , but as he did he noticed a small smirk on Alea's face that was quickly erased . However , it was too late to hide and Zac felt rage build up inside him . Alea had played him , probably in order to hurt Hannah , who she saw as her competition .

Never do something like that again , - Zac said with a growl , his words punctuated with a wave of a brutal aura that pushed Alea back and drained the color from her face .

Zac’s mood had been completely soured by Alea’s ploy , but he would have to set things right later . With a face that made the citizens quickly and quietly leave the area he entered his newly purchased building .

Humiliation rushed through Hannah as she hurriedly walked toward her home . David had told her she was being delusional , but she had refused to believe the rumors . She thought she knew Zachary , and that he wouldn’t do something like that .

Scenes of sneering glances by the citizens the past week flashed by in her mind one by one as hurried down the streets . It almost felt like everyone that she passed was laughing at her , and her folly .

How could she have been so stupid? People must have been thinking she was a gold digger , trying to curry favor in order to gain some benefits from the big boss . Was that to be her fate , to live in the shadows of her former lover and his new mistress?

Finally she was back home , forcefully slamming the door behind her as she entered her little sancturary . The walls shielded her from the stares of the world , and she breathed out in relief .

The exhale seemed to have drained her energy as well , as her legs slowly gave out , and she found herself sitting down on the floor . Two streams of tears couldn’t help but emerge as the suffocating feelings from yesterday exploded in her chest .

She was truly a fool . She had thought herself like the princess in some fairytale . Not only did Zac’s army save her and everyone else from the lunatic that kept them prisoners for months , but he also turned out to be a real prince . The real protagonist of the new world they lived in .

But clearly she was no princess . Even after yesterday she hadn’t given up , instead hurrying over to the merchants to get some gear . She needed to get stronger so that she could stand next to Zac with her head held high . But the prince had already found a new princess , shattering her dreams .

Sadness and humiliation was quickly transformed into fury as she thought of that woman’s sneer . Hannah just knew that demoness whispered poison in her boyfriend’s ears for months , ruining everything . The anger gave her strength and she started pacing back and forth in her living room , imagining strangling Alea with each step .

Here eyes fell on the bottle of champagne she’d arduously acquired for her and Zac’s reunion , and with a snarl she hurled it into the wall , creating a fizzy explosion .

That demon bitch , - she spat out between grit teeth .

So you got kicked to the side , huh? What did I tell you? - a voice sounded from the shadows , making Hannah turn around .

Shut up , - she snarled at David , who only sardonically shook his head .

If Zac had seen the man today he would have been shocked . David had seemingly turned into a completely different person , and he radiated a sinister aura . The fall changed some far more than others .

These demons will push us out of the picture . Zac is our chance to rise , you saw those Inheritances . They are our opportunity . We need to get stronger so we can protect ourselves . Remember what happened to Izzie , - David said .

Hannah stopped her pacing , a frown emerging on her face . It was true . This life was no fairytale , and Zac was clearly no prince charming . Her eyes slowly hardened until she looked up at David with a nod . A small smile emerged on his face , and he took out a slender dagger from within his robe .

Take this . You wouldn’t belive what I had to endure to obtain this offensive array . It will be useful to us , - he said , placing the handle in Hannah’s hand before leaving the house .

The dagger felt cool to the touch like she was holding a piece of ice , and she thoughtfully looked down on it . She had waited for so long , only to be toyed with and betrayed . Just what was the debt , and who were the debtors?

New quest : The Price for Betrayal]

Chapter 194 - Savings and Expenses

Some commotion took place when people saw a building appear out of nowhere , many curiously looking at what was going on . However , no one dared to get close after seeing Zac enter looking like a stormcloud , allowing him to be undisturbed in his meeting with the Manager of the contribution manager .

Greetings Lord Atwood , - a mechanical voice sounded as soon as he entered . - Thank you for choosing the Furem Harq Merit Exchange] . -

The voice pulled Zac out of his brooding , and he put the matter of Alea and Hannah aside . He would simply have to talk to Hannah later and explain the situation . While he hadn’t done anything wrong he didn’t want Hannah to think he immediately ran to a new girl after breaking up with her .

The structure he’d purchased was a contribution management service . He’d long decided that he would purchase this service rather than trying to build a system up from scratch . There were so many things to consider , such as how to measure and grade all sorts of contributions to the town . Furem Harq was an ancient clan that had worked in this field for over a hundred million years .

That time span was mindboggling for someone who until recently had a hundred years lifespan . On earth , great dynasties were measured in thousands of years , but they were just like the blink of an eye compared to the longevity of the Furem Harq company .

The Golem-led company was on the slightly more expensive side when it came to these services , taking a larger cut , but they had many other advantages . For one they guaranteed the safety of all resources managed by them , apart from attack by a B-grade powerhouse or above .

Apparently those kinds of people were considered walking natural disasters , and no one would insure against the appearance of that kind of old monsters . Still , the policy was more than enough for an infant world like New Earth .

They also allowed a Lord to take out resources representing 25% of the deposited value at any of their subsidiaries through the multi-verse . It meant that if Zac ever got to the point that he left earth to explore other galaxies he’d have a convenient way to get some money that Port Atwood would continuously generate .

Most importantly they had a completely unblemished record even after running their business for such a long time .

Hello , welcome to Port Atwood , - Zac said , turning to the living machine that spoke earlier .

It looked quite different compared to the Creators . Rahm had looked like a faceless statue before he changed into a human shape , but the golem in front of him was a different breed .

It seemed to be created by liquid metal , forming smooth outlines that changed as the golem moved . Interestingly enough its various body parts didn’t actually connect , but were somehow held together through some invisible power .

It also had a humanoid face , though it was slightly jarring to speak to a head floating on top of the torso .

I am Khar . Please , this way , - the golem said , and walked to a large desk where they both sat down .

From there the golem asked about most aspects of Port Atwood , from what resources they possessed to what they valued and what their goals were . Zac truthfully told the golem everything , apart from mentioning the Creator Shipyard . He knew the questions were designed to find a proper contribution model , so he didn't hold back . Besides , it wasn't like the paltry wealth he'd accumulated was worth much of anything to this golem .

I would suggest we start by using model FH-83004 . It is a merit exchange designed for emerging forces such as yourself , - Khar said . - It focuses mainly on development , rather than things such as war . The merit allocation is designed to promote personal improvement in citizens , and creating new types of facilities , setting the foundations for Port Atwood to keep growing . -

What the downside? - Zac asked .

It is more expensive to run than many other models . Performing things as gaining a class , and later evolving , are rewarded with contribution points . These things are usually taken for granted in established forces . There are also - bounties - in creating facilities not yet available in the faction , or finding materials that are currently lacking . It's a method to teach the citizens how to improve by pushing them forward with money , - the golem answered .

Can it be changed later if needed? - Zac asked .

Certainly . You , or your representative , can at any point change the model or make adjustments to the current one . However , be aware that sweeping changes to contribution are often met with displeasure by citizens , - the Golem answered .

Ok , we’ll follow your suggestion . A Stargazer named Veth-Abarak , or Abby , is my administrator , and will come by and iron out details later , - Zac said as he put down a few cosmos sacks on the table . - These are the initial materials for exchange . -

The pouch contained most of the things he’d collected since the integration , most of them coming from dead Demons and the pouches of Rydel and the Corpse Lord . Of course , he’d already taken out everything that might prove useful for him in the coming months , or things he didn’t want to be sold such as the notebooks of Mhal .

For now the whole inventory can be public , - Zac added after some thought . - For the Dao repository , Abby will go over the respective prices for the skills . The skills can only be listed but not bought so far . I need to inquire about some things first . - The value of the things in the pouches was likely equivalent to well over a hundred million nexus coins , and hopefully seeing the mountains of wealth would make his people work harder , and also increase the trust in his faction .

Certainly . Going by the model and the expected revenue turnover the coming month I would project the cost to be- - the golem said , but was interrupted .

Is it possible that the Furem Harq could give the Kar’Arvadina-branch of the Iliex some face? - a lifeless voice suddenly sounded from behind , making Zac turn around .

With some surprise , Zac noticed that it was Rahm . It was a rare occasion for one of the Creators to leave their shipyard , and Zac could only guess it was due to them recognizing the force behind the Merit Exchange . Both of them were big players in the multi-verse after all .

However , Zac soon realized that he might have underestimated the Creators by quite a bit , as the branch manager practically flew out of his chair as he ran over toward the creator and almost fell down into a kneeling position in front of him .

Lord Iliex , you honor our small clan with your presence , - he hurriedly said . - We were not aware that Port Atwood was friends with a branch of your great clan . Our clan will , of course , be happy to cede our charge for the management of this branch . -

Business needs to have a price for no strings of Karma to be sown . A charge of one percent should be fine , - Rahm said .

Of course , it’s as you say . We’ll follow your instructions , - the manager quickly nodded .

Zac only gaped at the exchange . A one percent fee was the lowest the merit control center would ever go , but only huge forces with revenues millions of times larger than Port Atwood got those kinds of deals .

Good . And I count on your discretion about our presence to not inconvenience Lord Atwood . Currently , we are modeling our production after the Allbright Empire’s designs , - the Creator continued , his face still completely wooden .

It won’t leave this one’s mouth on threat of death , - the manager hurriedly assured .

The Creator nodded in affirmation before it turned to Zac .

Foreman Karunthel sends his regards , - Rahm said , before simply walking out again .

Zac added visiting the spider-boss to the list of things to do . He had just saved Zac a lot of money , and he needed to thank him personally . After the short intermission by Rahm , the foreman was quite a bit more helpful , even giving a few tips of things other successful factions had done to quickly improve their town .

The golem also heavily discounted the contribution plaques that they would distribute later . The plaques were both a wallet for the contribution points and also a recording device of sorts . It could somehow understand when people contributed to Port Atwood , and automatically awarded points according to the algorithm Zac had chosen .

Zac was astounded by the thing and wondered how such small plaques could have so many magical functions . The golem explained that the plaques were actually only subsidiary arrays to a mother-array in the branch . The mother-array in turn was just a subsidiary of an extremely powerful array in the headquarters of the Company .

After finishing his meeting with the merit exchange Zac headed toward the Thayer Consortia . Zac was happy to see that the derelict buildings on the compound had all been swapped out with new ones , giving the business a far better impression .

The inside of the store had changed as well , and the once empty stores were fully stocked with all kinds of things . However , a large section of the store was covered with leather armors . Bringing the artists and watchmaker had been a good idea it turned out , as they had changed their profession and were quickly becoming promising inscribers .

Lord Atwood , - Calrin said as he approached with a frown .

Hello , Calrin , - Zac said with a small smile as he saw the angry gnome . - You look chipper . -

I still don’t understand why you need a merit exchange . Those places are bad for business , - the gnome grumbled .

Well , they still need somewhere to spend their Nexus Coins , - Zac said with a shrug . - Besides , I heard that you’ve started opening branches? -

That perked Calrin right up , and he nodded enthusiastically .

Indeed . There are currently subsidiaries in the two human towns , and one of the beastman villages . The subsidiaries generally sell a slightly improved supply of the things you can find in a normal General Store , with extra sections containing mainly the products of Port Atwood , - he said with a smile .

However , there’s still only money coming in from our own people . I hope you’ll go out and help open branches in the mainland , - Calrin continued .

I’ll work on it , - Zac promised . - Perhaps I can get some business during the treasure hunt in a few weeks . -

Good . So what brings you here? - Calrin asked .

Let’s go somewhere more private , - Zac simply said .

Calrin only nodded and led Zac to one of the private rooms that was meant for appraisal of treasures that customers brought in . The Thayer Consortia didn’t only sell items after all , but also purchased anything that they thought they could make a profit from .

After the doors were closed Zac brought out one of the miasma crystals and placed it on the table .

A miasma Crystal? Their uses are a bit limited , so they're amongst the least valuable attuned Crystals , - Calrin said hesitantly .

I’m not selling them . I need crystals that are the opposite of miasma stones . Is there something like that? Like life-crystals? - Zac asked .

Is the wound still bothering you? - the gnome asked with a frown .

No , it’s healed by now , but I still need the crystals . Preferably on a large scale , - Zac said .

Well , there are crystals called Divine Crystals , - Calrin said after a while . - They hold lifegiving energy , though it cannot heal wounds without being processed into pills . However , there are no F-grade Crystals of that sort . Generally , Nexus Crystals with elemental affinities are usually E-Graded and up , depending on the element . Some , like Time Crystals , are at least C-Graded from what I understand . -

What about the Miasma Crystals? - Zac asked .

They’re an exception . From what I’ve heard they aren’t formed naturally , but produced through unknown means by the Undead Empire , - Calrin answered with a shrug .

So , can you get your hands on Divine Crystals? - Zac asked .

Yes , but they are not cheap , - Calrin said as he prodded the Miasma Crystal on the table a bit . - There are a lot of uses for Divine Crystals . Many powerhouses even decorate their cultivation areas with them , as they improve the ambience . They can also help prolong the life of the elderly , though the effect is somewhat limited . -

How much? - Zac could only sigh .

An E-Grade Divine Crystal is roughly 100 times the price of a Normal E-Grade Nexus Crystal , - Calrin said .

Zac could only groan at the quote , as it was even worse than he’d thought . One crystal being over a hundred times more expensive meant that each E-Grade Divine Crystal cost half a million .

Is that generally how much more expensive an elemental crystal is? - Zac couldn’t help ask .

It’s on the more expensive scale , but it’s usually 50 to 100 times more expensive . It’s simply much more beneficial to use attuned crystals to improve at higher stages . They also make Arrays and such far stronger . They are simply superior . -

Fine , - Zac said with a sigh . - Try to get 25 of them as soon as possible . -

Always a pleasure of doing business with you , - Calrin said with a widening smile .

Chapter 195 - Making Rounds

Zac could only wryly shake his head at the Gnome as he coughed up a deposit for the Crystals . At least the purchase wouldn’t completely financially ruin him .

There’s another thing , - Zac said as he took out the Lotus Seed . - This came from a lotus flower that emitted intense amounts of life-attuned energy . Do you know what this flower is? My skill couldn’t identify the flower . -

Calrin carefully took the seed and looked it over .

I can’t tell for certain , but I would guess that it’s from a D-Graded flower called Lotus of Harmony . The seed is quite drained , so it’s quite unsure whether it can germinate , but I’d give you 25 million Nexus Coins for it . -

Zac’s eyes widened at the quote , and he wondered just how much it was worth before he absorbed all the energy . His debt to the Abbot just kept growing .

I’m not selling , I want to try and plant it , - Zac said .

It was worth 50 Divine Crystals , but Zac would still much rather have a lotus , like the one Abbot Everlasting Peace had .

Hmm… - Calrin said . - Well , I’m no expert , but it just needs water and dense cosmic energy from what I know . It will slowly convert Non-attuned energy into life energy . -

Do you think it would survive being planted in the Cosmic Water at the mountain? - Zac asked .

Probably , it is a D-Grade treasure after all . But again , I’m no botanist . Don’t come crying to me if the seed gets absorbed by the pond . Besides , it might come into conflict with the Tree of Ascension if they are planted in too close proximity . Spirit Herbs are like beasts , they have territories , - Calrin explained .

Zac simply nodded with some thought . He’d already formed an idea before , and he couldn’t wait to try it anymore after Calrin said it was plausible .

After he left he quickly headed to Azh’Rodum through the teleporter , and rushed into the mountain . Soon he found one of the entrances he’d used before when he fled into the caverns . He wasn’t interested in going into the mines at this time , but he had another goal in mind .

After a dizzying number of twists and turns , he finally found himself in front of a large boulder . He was happy to see that everything looked the same as he moved the boulder out of the way .

Cosmic Energy , dense enough that it almost felt like it slapped him in the face , rushed out of the cavern as the boulder was moved . Zac quickly entered the cave and closed the boulder behind him .

The inside was similar to when he woke up here some months ago , apart from the fact that the energy seemed even denser than before . The various flowers were even lusher as well , all teeming with energy .

Zac picked a few of the various things growing in the cave , suspecting that most of the herbs and mushrooms should have evolved into graded plants by now . Perhaps they were worth some money , or at least possible to clone and farm .

But that wasn’t why he was here . He walked over the edge of the pond , and after some hesitation simply dropped the seed into the water . He could only pray that the intense energies in the pond would rekindle the spent energy of the seed , rather than destroy it .

It was a big gamble , but if it paid off his cultivation cave would kick up a notch in grade . Now he could only wait and hope for the best . There was one more thing he did before he left , which was to place multiple arrays to protect the cave .

The population on his island was growing , and it wasn’t impossible someone would stumble upon this place before the mountain had been turned into a properly restricted area . His goal was for much o the mountain peaks to be turned into large private residences for those who wanted to cultivate in peace and had the wallet to pay for such a luxury .

The valley with the tree of ascension and the pond of Cosmic Water would be his private property though , as he couldn’t risk having people ruining his tree . He still didn’t know what might come of it since its transformation , but it was still valuable .

Since he was done with the cave he left , heading up to the valley . Life was slowly coming back to the secluded spot between the peaks , as the density of energy was just too high for it to remain as desolate grounds . Grass and small shrubs had replaced the dry husks of the trees that the Tree of Ascension absorbed .

He also noted that the size of the pond had grown back , though not to its original size , which was something he hadn’t noticed from his cave . Zac was quite relieved , as it meant that his vein was creating more of the magical water .

He still didn’t have much use for it , but it was apparently a great addition to most types of crafting . For example , quenching a new sword in Cosmic Water would likely improve the quality of the weapon a grade . However , his faction could still only create low-grade things , making such a method a waste of money .

Soon he found himself in front of the tree , and to his disappointment , it looked very much the same as last time he was here . It still was weirdly mutated , but thanks to his Dao of Trees he could sense that it wasn’t dying , but rather slowly recuperating .

As he looked around he found that the area had been completely cleaned . Last time he only looted the possessions of the corpses , but now he realized he hadn’t seen a single dead demon or monkey around since he entered . Perhaps Ogras had sent someone to clean up the area .

Or it might be Alea , Zac realized , as he looked around the well-tended area in the vicinity of the Poison Tree . She might have worked hard to make sure it didn’t die . The treasure that came from it would likely either be good for a power-up of a poison user , or an ingredient for an incredible poison .

Since everything was under control Zac returned to town . After some thought Zac decided to head to the tavern . When he arrived he noticed the structure had expanded or rather been grown , by quite a decent margin . It now had multiple levels , and the base floor had swallowed a neighboring structure as well .

It was afternoon by now and Zac noticed that the place had quite a few people in it , sitting in groups with mugs in front of them . A few waitresses were scurrying around as well , placing dishes and taking orders .

When Zac entered a hush fell over the first floor , as everyone gazed upon him with a wide arrange of emotions .

Hey! What are you all staring at , - a shout came from the bar . - Have you never seen a humanoid tank before? -

Some snorts or subdued laughter could be heard , and Zac headed over to the bar with a smile .

I see you have expanded , - Zac said as he sat down on a barstool .

What can I say? The apocalypse makes people thirsty , - Ryan said with a wide grin .

What’s everyone drinking? - Zac curiously asked .

Local beer . Or mead I guess? - Ryan answered and poured a glass from a tap . - The demons almost hounded the poor brewer to death , but he managed to create the first batch in almost record time . We have two versions , a normal beer and a stronger version for the high-leveled people . -

Ryan placed it in front of him . And Zac took a swig . Objectively it didn't taste great , but it was not bad for a newly set up operation .

So what brings you here? - Ryan asked .

I have been too busy lately so I haven’t had much time to check on Port Atwood . I thought you might know how the citizens feel about their situation , - Zac explained .

Well , I think people are generally happy here . Especially now that they are good and drunk , - Ryan said , looking thoughtful .

No complaints? - Zac said skeptically .

I guess one complaint is that it’s a bit hard to level up for combat classes . The forest is full of those demon dogs , and very few can kill them . So they’re stuck as there’s no other prey , meaning they will fall further and further behind . Some even think it’s by design so that they’d be forced to join the Army to get stronger , - Ryan hesitantly said .

Hmm , - Zac said with a nod .

It wasn’t something he’d considered , but the barghest had grown pretty strong by now . He’d considered them a great tool for grinding , but that was because he had extreme attributes and that he fought them when they were affected by stronger limiters to their attributes .

If Zac looked at it as a video game , Port Atwood was the newbie village for many . But it was surrounded by a high-level zone , not letting people level up . There needed to be a clear path of progression for people , like the increasingly powerful enemies in an RPG .

It was something he needed to remedy , as he wanted his citizens to become stronger . The more powerful people that lived on this island , the safer it would be from attacks . He would have to ask Abby or Adran to fix the situation somehow .

I’ll see if some islands can be turned into safer grinding areas or something , - Zac said . - By the way , do you know anyone who has worked a lot with animals before the fall? -

Worked with animals? - Ryan answered with some confusion . - Hmm , I think I heard from a customer a week ago that she worked at a pet store before the integration . -

Oh? - Zac said intrigued . - Where is she now? -

The two kept talking about various matters in the town for a few more minutes until Zac finally downed his drink and left . He walked following Ryan's directions , and soon found himself outside a building that looked like an apartment structure at the edge of the residential district .

They were structures that were being erected for the various people that didn't bring much to the table . The experts and high-level individuals usually got their own houses , whereas the refugees had to make do with apartments . Zac felt it was a bit elitist , but both Abby and Ogras was insistent that they needed to create that type of society to force more powerhouses into existence .

He found the correct number on the third floor and knocked on the door while looking around . Soon a slightly malnourished-looking girl opened up the door , looking startled upon seeing Zac's odd appearance .

Can I help you? - the girl hesitantly asked as she looked upon Zac’s unfamiliar figure .

I am Zachary Atwood . I heard that you once worked at a pet store? - Zac asked , trying to look congenial .

Atwood? Like the big boss? - she asked , her eyes widening a bit .

Yes , the pet store? - Zac prodded .

Ah? Yes , I worked at a pet store before . What’s going on? -

How would you like to get the chance to work with pets again , and even get a class for it? It would be a well-paid position as well since we need that kind of expertise , - Zac explained .

You need someone to look after your pets? I can do that , - the girl said , her face brightening .

Good , come with me , - Zac said with a smile .

Zac didn’t mention that the pets he talked about were a hive queen for an alien ant species and hyper-aggressive demon dogs . That would be a happy surprise for later . For now , he needed to get her enrolled with Alyn and undergo the training regiment she had designed to make a beastmaster out of the pet store worker .

He soon dropped off Lily , which was what the girl was called , to Alyn . The schoolmistress looked very excited to try out her hypothesis in creating a beast master class without a heritage and immediately got to work .

Before it got too late Zac also went to the port to thank Karunthel for lending some help with the negotiations . He also tried to visit Hannah to explain the misunderstanding earlier , but she wasn’t at home .

Finally , he was done with everything he needed to do at Port Atwood . There was also the issue with the Tool Spirit , but he felt he had to put that issue on hold for the moment . Partly because Brazla was just too annoying , and partly because he suspected any negotiations might go awry before he could provide it with some updates on the beautifications of its surroundings .

It was already late when he got back to his home , but he noticed that Kenzie still was out . She never mentioned anything about it , but Zac felt that her imprisonment had left a mark on her . She stayed at the academy all day , continuously sparring or meditating in the array , almost with a fanatic fervor that reminded him of the Valkyries .

It didn’t feel like a healthy way to process , but perhaps mental health would have to take a back seat for the moment . Fear and helplessness might propel her forward when she’d otherwise stop trying to improve . With the thing inside her head , she needed to get strong so she could protect herself in case he wasn't around .

Since there was nothing much else to do for him , Zac decided to finally go through with his trial for hegemony . He didn’t know how long it would take , but he had provisions for quite some time in his pouch . He also had all manners of pills and tools to help him out with most scenarios .

However , suddenly he realized a problem . How the hell did he start the trial?

Chapter 196 - The First Step of Hegemony

Zac opened his quest menu to begin with and tried to mentally command the trial to start . When that didn’t work he tried to physically press the quest , but in the end he only swiped his hands through the air .

From there he tried various things , from touching the Nexus Node to doing various things with his teleporter , but he had no luck . Finally , he remembered something that Abby said earlier . After he finished the quest his town became a World City .

One large difference between normal Cities and a World City was that the latter could provide off-world teleportations . And while his arrays were nowhere near strong enough for that at the moment , he did possess something that could do just that . The Nexus Hub .

However , that possibility gave Zac some pause . The Nexus Hub was meant for off-world transportation . If the Hub was truly the method to start the quest , it meant that he would be transported god-knows-where in the multiverse .

What would happen if he failed? Would he be stuck in some other corner of the multi-verse? He also didn't know how long these trials would take , as there was virtually no information on them .

However , Zac soon reignited his resolve . He already had made up his mind about doing it , and honestly being teleported directly by the system or through the Hub didn’t matter much in the end . Besides , he had prepared a Coward’s Escape just in case , and those pills usually threw people right out of these kinds of trials .

But still , he chose to wait before he left , not wanting to go off-world before he’d talked with his sister . She knew about the quest , but not that he would be gone for an unknown amount of time . It was almost midnight when he heard her coming back toward his mansion , and Zac was still up meditating as he only slept a few hours a day . He quickly walked over to the courtyard Kenzie had chosen , and entered after knocking .

His sister looked a bit surprised to see him but still welcomed him to sit down .

What brings you here so late? - she asked with a smile .

I’m going to do Trial quest now , and it might actually take me off-world , - Zac explained . - I just didn’t want you to worry while I’m gone . -

Off-world? - Kenzie said , actually looking a bit excited . - That’s so cool . You might become the first human to step on an alien planet . Take pictures . -

What about the tutorial? - Zac asked with a smile .

I don’t think that counts , that was a temporary space and not a real planet , - Kenzie said with a shrug .

Zac only nodded in response , looking up at the stars .

I heard a rumor you broke up with Hannah? - she hesitantly said after being silent for a bit .

Zac only nodded and briefly recounted what he’d done the past day .

I know you weren’t a big fan of her , but please make sure that no one harasses her while I’m gone . I feel bad how it went down , and I don’t want others causing trouble for her , - Zac said .

I didn’t think Alea would do something like that , - Kenzie muttered , looking a bit disappointed . - You need to talk to Hannah before you leave . Don’t be a jerk . -

Fine , - Zac said with a sigh . - I’ll leave tomorrow morning instead after I’ve talked with her . -

Good , - Kenzie said with a smile . - You’ve always been a bit awkward , but you need to talk things out properly . And don’t worry , I’ll find a new girlfriend for you while you’re away . What do you think about Lyla? She’s nice , and she’s asked about you . As for her body , I can promise that- -

Worry about yourself , - Zac interrupted while rolling his eyes , before taking out a box from his pouch . - I forgot to give you this the other day . It’s a Fruit of Ascension] . It will not only improve your race to E-grade , but apparently it will even help when upgrading your class in the future . -

Kenzie’s eyes lit up as she looked at the box , but after a brief hesitation shook her head .

I don’t need it . Jeeves helps me upgrade my Race , and says it will be done in two months . Besides , he’ll upgrade my class anyway , so the effect of this fruit is a bit wasted on me , - she said . - You should give it to someone else who has helped you a lot . -

Zac mutely stared at her for a bit , before he wryly smiled and took back the box . Some people just had it too good . The two kept talking a bit longer until Zac finally left after exhorting Kenzie to not overdo it with her training while he was gone . As for who he'd give fruit to , there was no hurry to decide .

Early the next day he got up and walked over to Hannah’s house once again . This time there were no guards outside , and Zac simply knocked on the door and waited . This time he heard sounds inside , but still no one opened the door .

Hannah , it’s me . Please open up , - he said , imbuing his voice with some cosmic power to make sure she could hear it .

The sounds inside stopped , and finally the door opened as Hannah stood there with a frown , dressed in training gear .

What do you want? - she tersely said as she looked at him .

I… I just wanted to say I’m sorry for that display yesterday . I am not dating Alea , and we haven’t done anything . She acted like that to mess with you , and I told her off for it , - Zac explained .

Ok , it’s none of my business anyway , - Hannah answered with a shrug .

I just didn’t want you to get the wrong idea . All I said yesterday was true , and Alea had no impact on us , - Zac continued .

I got it . You only broke up with me because you don’t like me . Thank you so much for clarifying it for me , - Hannah sarcastically retorted .

Zac could only sigh at the cold reception and hope that things would get better with time . He wished he knew what to say to set everything right , but perhaps it was impossible , at least this close to the break-up . At least he’d cleared the air from his side , and now it was up to Hannah to accept it or not .

As I said earlier , if you need something , just ask me or Kenzie , and we’ll do our best to help you in the future , - Zac said and walked away .

He didn’t want to prolong the uncomfortable situation any further and immediately head toward the teleportation area . If he had looked back he would have seen Hannah standing in the doorway looking at his departing figure , her eyes cold as ice .

Not wasting another moment , Zac teleported over to Azh’Rodum and quickly walked south . The huge crystal still stood on the field where the incursion once was . The small guardhouse next to the crystal was unmanned nowadays , as there was nothing anyone could do with the Hub at the moment .

The crystal still looked inert , but Zac went ahead and touched it just in case . A prompt immediately appeared , telling him that his suspicions were correct .

Start Trial?]

Kenzie already knew what he was about to do , and as for the other people , it was just as well that they didn’t know he was gone . Besides , for all he knew the trial wouldn’t take too long to complete . With determination he accepted the prompt .

The moment he accepted a blinding light flashed , forcing him to blink . When he opened them again the scenery had completely changed , and he found himself standing in a large field . When he used the teleportation arrays it usually took some time as he moved through the darkness , but the Hub seemed to use some superior technique as it only took a blink .

Zac guessed it was lucky for him , as it might take years to travel to some random planet in the same way that the teleporters used . He quickly looked and he could immediately tell that he wasn’t on earth anymore . For one the sky was almost black , and another clear indicator was that the Cosmic Energy in the atmosphere was almost nonexistent , to the point that it almost felt like earth before the integration .

His knowledge was a bit limited on this front , but Zac guessed he was either on a declining E-Grade world or even an F-Graded planet . Even amongst the same grade there could be large differences , and the better F-Graded worlds might have enough energy for people to reach the top of the F-Grade within their lifetime .

However , evolving on such a planet was likely a pipe dream unless some very special circumstances took place , like someone finding a series of lucky encounters .

However , the sky or the sparse energy wasn’t the real reason he didn’t think himself still on earth anymore . There was a medieval army consisting of odd humanoids standing around him , thousands of faces looked at him with various expressions .

The humanoids were pretty short , barely reaching Zac’s chest , with thin frames . They had a large set of eyes that were pitch black , with white sallow skin . The top of their heads had white or grey hair that generally was long and tied in various braids and knots , with colorful bands woven into it . Their hands and feet looked oversized compared to their bodies , almost to comical proportions .

Zac guessed they couldn’t weigh much more than 30 to 40 kilos , but still they wore thick metal armor and carried large grisly weapons , which told of surprising strength in their small frames . He did sense that there was some power in many of the aliens , though no one had the aura of a powerhouse .

The sense of power was most obvious in the few aliens that stood in front of him , looking at him with expectation . Zac didn’t feel any sense of danger from his sixth sense , so he didn’t believe that these things were his enemy , at least not yet . This gave him some time to try to figure out what was going on . His quest only said to complete the trial , but never explained what the trail was .

As he looked around he saw that the crystal that had transported him here didn’t follow him , but he rather found himself standing on what almost looked like a very crude fractal . He almost felt like a demon lord for a second , having been summoned by some hapless acolytes .

Lord General , what is that being? - one of the weird humanoids said as Zac looked around .

Its voice was slightly high pitched , but overall it sounded like a human’s .

The tablet only said that a powerful champion would be summoned , - a well-equipped alien hesitantly said as he held a few ancient-looking scrolls in his hands .

The first step of Hegemony . Step forward with purpose . Let nothing stand in your way

While it wasn’t exactly clear what the system wanted him to do , it appeared that the system had created a scenario for him to fulfill , almost like in a video game . What he didn’t understand was whether this was all a simulation , or whether he’d actually been thrown into a real conflict in some corner of the multi-verse .

It felt a bit coincidental that he accepted the quest the moment these things tried to summon some champion , lending some strength to the first theory . However , the multiverse was impossibly large , with a mindboggling amount of populated worlds , where most of them were these low-tiered ones .

Perhaps there was always happening things that would suit the purposes of the system’s quests , and it simply dropped him here to let him figure things out himself . The aliens seemed content in trying to understand what they had summoned , so he took the time to check up on them as well . He turned to the two aliens who spoke earlier , and used his identification skill on them .

Antaya – Solvim – Level 28– Dexterity]

Dresdo – Solvim – Level 42 – Endurance]

It appeared their species was called Solvim , and neither of them was too strong . Still , Zac was surprised they could gain levels at all with such sparse energy in the surroundings . It must have taken years , perhaps decades , of effort to get to their current point .

Hello , - Zac said after a bit . - I think I’m supposed to help you out somehow . Are you looking for a hero-for-hire? -

Zac speaking words they understood seemed to startle the group who stood in front of him , but the man with the scrolls soon regained his bearings .

Greetings Lord Champion , I am Dresdo , General of the East , - the man said . - We are on the edge of ruin , and in desperation tried the summoning the Ancients mentioned . -

Chapter 197 - Multiple Variables

It appeared the general was about to continue , but drums in the distance interrupted him . It sounded like a call to war , and Zac frowned and walked toward the source of a ruckus . The leaders of the Solvim hurriedly followed behind as he walked up a hill to get a better vantage of the situation .

As soon as he reached the crest he saw a sea of warriors neatly lined up a kilometer away from the army he apparently belonged to . Only a quick glance was needed to see that the armies weren’t evenly matched , as the enemies outnumbered them at least twice over .

These guys are your enemies? - Zac asked .

Filthy opportunists , - Dresdo spat . - They take advantage of our precarious situation , trying to mount a sneak attack while we are occupied . -

Zac frowned as he listened to the general . He wasn’t sure what to think about this situation . Judging by the sound of it , this wasn’t some battle of good versus evil , but rather a war between two nations . He had no idea what the so-called precarious situation was , he didn’t know if these aliens around him had committed some atrocities before , prompting the current response .

It put him into an ethical dilemma . Judging by the power of the troops around him , the other army couldn’t be too strong either . Otherwise , they’d already steamrolled the smaller army . If he wanted to he could simply wade into their ranks and cause utter mayhem , destroying their army within the day .

But could he conscionably do that? What would that say about him? If he went through with this he felt he be some scum who was okay with doing anything , as long as it made him more powerful . It wouldn’t be too different from starting to annihilate Ishiate , or even Human settlements just to gain experience .

Besides , it seemed too simple a scenario . Killing some weaklings wouldn’t be much of a test , and Zac felt that the System didn’t wouldn’t give him that easy of a time . Was the challenge showing the resolve to actually do anything , including killing an army of sapients that had nothing to do with him , all in the pursuit of power?

So what is the precarious situation you mentioned? - Zac asked , trying to get a clearer understanding of the situation .

The general looked a bit hesitant , until he shrugged his shoulders .

A great beast has arrived in our kingdom . It’s not something that we have ever encountered before . There are rumors that it’s arrived from the great beyond . Its powers are believed to be in the fabled Ascended rank , - Dresdo said .

Ascended rank? - Zac couldn’t help asking .

It has broken through the great barrier at level 75 and reached a higher stage of existence , - another of the aliens explained .

The Royal Family of Orrin and many of our elites are currently occupied in fighting the beast , but it’s an arduous process . These scum from the neighboring country saw our plight as an opportunity to break our bonds of friendship , not only ignoring our request for assistance but even attacking us , - the other Solvim angrily added from the side .

Zac perked up from the explanation , but he got a bit hesitant as he once again looked at the army stationed in the distance . Just what did the system want from him? Fighting an E-graded space-beast sounded much more like a trial , but if that was his job , why did he end up in front of the army instead of the beast? Zac once again opened his quest screen to take a look at the quest to find some hints of what to do .

First step of Hegemony (Unique , Limited) : Enter the first trial within a month . Defeat the challenge . Reward : Tower of Eternity] token , F-Grade Dao Treasure] (0/1)

The line didn’t update or give him any further hints after he’d arrived , leaving Zac perplexed . It was the first time a quest didn’t explicitly say what he needed to do . Did that mean that he needed to figure it out himself , as it was part of the trial? Or did it mean that there were multiple ways to complete the quest?

Zac mulled over the options for a bit until he turned toward the general .

So , what goal did you have in mind when you summoned me? -

Well… We hope that you can lead us into battle and destroy their army , - the general said as he glared at the soldiers on the other side of the field .

I thought as much , - Zac said with a sigh .

Leading soldiers into battle wasn’t something he was ready to do , as he still had no idea what he was doing . If it came to chopping , then he was their guy , but anything more complicated than that he’d just embarrass himself .

In the end , Zac decided he would just have to follow his heart . He didn’t feel right slaughtering an army that wasn’t his enemy . From the sound of it , they might be in the wrong here , but Zac didn’t feel it was his place to put his finger on the scale .

What he could do was to go over and kill the beast . Not only would it save the lives of the citizens of the kingdom , and it would also free up soldiers to push back the invaders , which meant that both objectives would be completed .

Besides , killing the beast should be the harder option , and might even give him some extra benefits compared to killing a bunch of weak warriors . Something like a hidden reward . And even if that wasn’t the case , it would still likely help him with his work with upgrading his axe . He was approaching E-Grade , and his weapon needed to match .

So , where is this beast? - Zac asked .

It’s two days march to the south , it won’t interrupt the battle here , - Dresdo dutifully answered .

If it was two days by these people’s standards , Zac should be able to get there in under a day if he pushed it .

Great , I’ll go kill the beast quickly , you just need to stall for two days , - Zac said as he turned away from the enemy army .

Err , champion , what are you doing? - the general said with alarm . - If you leave we’ll be overrun within the day . They outnumber us three to one . -

That made Zac stop in his tracks . Just what would happen if this battle was lost while he was hunting the beast? Would he automatically fail? This quest was truly starting to become a pain in the ass , throwing so many variables at him . Zac turned around and immediately walked toward the enemy army .

Wait , we should discuss a plan for this battle! - the alien shouted as he ran after him . - They have two full legions opposing us , and it consists of elites . May I ask , what level are you? -

I’m level 60 , - Zac answered with a shrug .

What? Only level 60? - the Solvim , disappointment flashing in his eyes as he stopped following . - That’s at the level of the great protector , but even he isn’t able to thwart an army on his own . -

Level isn’t everything , - Zac said . - Don’t worry , things will work out . Wait here while I go talk with their leader . -

The general did as Zac said and stopped some distance from his own army lines , looking at the back of Zac . Of course , whether he stayed behind because he believed in Zac’s words or whether he didn’t want to get himself killed was another question .

The distance between the two armies wasn’t too great , and soon Zac was only a hundred meters away from the enemy army who warily looked at the approaching figure , their weapons at the ready . Zac tried to discern anything out of place , looking through the lines of soldiers .