Defiance of the Fall

Enter , inheritor , - one of the old men said , each of his words echoing with the Dao itself .

Zac was starting to be unsure whether this was actually a vision , or if the system had sent his consciousness to this place . Was it the same with the desolate world only housing the enormous axe back then?

But he felt this wasn't the place to ask , so after bowing once more he passed by the two old men who once again closed their eyes . Anticipation was rising as Zac entered the structure . Just how powerful would one have to have been to have cultivators that were at least C-Grade sit in vigil over one’s gravesite?

Zac reverentially held his breath as he looked around the mausoleum , but it was surprisingly simple . The insides were lit up by six braziers that burned along the sides , though interestingly enough they didn’t emit any smoke . Apart from the sources of light only two more things were housed in the building . The first was a tomb wrought out of the same type of marble the square was made off .

The second was a shield that emitted an immense aura . It was almost shaped like a coffin , and it was mostly unadorned apart from a blue fractal that was the source of the aura . It felt like the shield would be able to protect him even it the sky collapsed , and Zac immediately understood it was a supreme treasure at least at the level of the axe he saw in the other vision .

In front of the tomb was a simple plaque that only said three words .

Eternal and Unbroken .

There was no mention of whose resting place this was , or what sort of thing he or she had accomplished . Then again it didn’t seem it was necessary , going by the constant stream of pilgrims that found their way here .

After silently looking at the plaque for a minute Zac finally walked over toward the shield .

Death loomed as he roused himself with some effort . Murky eyes that hadn’t opened for tens of thousands of years gazed at the richly decked man kneeling in front of him with a face marred by worries .

Shield , - he said with a raspy voice , and soon after five men entered from a passage .

Every one of them emitted auras powerful enough to subdue the heavens , but their faces were red with strain as they had to cooperate to carry an object covered in dusty cloth . They finally arrived in front of him , and when they placed down the item the would building shook from the weight .

His decrepit hand slowly reached forward , and the cloth disintegrated as his old companion rose toward him . As he looked at the blue fractal on the shield he felt as though he was back on the battlefield those millions of years ago , but this time he didn’t he didn’t fasten it to his arm .

This is goodbye , old friend , - he said with a sigh .

A smile adorned his face as he slowly caressed the edge of his shield , and it hummed with sorrow as he rose to his feet . He walked outside his small palace and rose into the skies , the six hegemons silently following behind .

Outside the town , a sea of people silently stood waiting , millions upon millions of them .

Grand Protector , - they immediately shouted , kneeling in reverence .

He never had any family , but he saw all these people as his children . He had watched over this world for innumerable years , seeing it grow to the beacon of freedom and enlightenment it was today . He had staved off countless attacks from those who had wanted to take their land and wealth .

But he knew he was needed one final time as he looked up at the skies . The beautiful blue sky was replaced by a dizzying blur of all colors of the spectrum as rampant energies clashed . Most of the smaller worlds had already been destroyed , ripped into nothingness by the primordial chaos .

The death of a universe .

The next moment his old and hunched-over body released enough power to blot out the skies as he rose to meet the incoming chaos . Space itself was cracking , but he didn’t even notice the void edges that pelted his body . They were simply pushed away by the force of his latent will .

In just a second he left the atmosphere , and he looked down on the massive continent beneath . There had once been tens of thousands of worlds circulating around it , but now only a scant few survived , protected by immense arrays .

Eternal and unbroken , - he said , his voice carrying across the countless miles .

The next moment his body started to shine brighter and brighter , and soon it far eclipsed any star in the universe . The golden shine quickly expanded and formed a shield that encapsulated the whole continent and its trillions of inhabitants .

The next moment the chaotic energies and spatial tears slammed into the shield with enough power to rip even the Dao to shreds , but the shield didn’t even shudder . His consciousness slowly faded as he became one with the shield .

Countless years passed as the universe faded , the continent set adrift in the chaotic spatial folds between realities . But the shield held true , protecting its inhabitant from the endless void . Forever .

For he was Immutable .

Chapter 242 - Chains of Fate

Zac sat completely immobile for hours even after the vision ended . He thought that he had gotten accustomed to the new reality by now , but he was once again completely awed by the power some individuals held . Seeing the death of a universe was also something that he would never forget .

The prowess in that golden shield was mind-bending , to the point that Zac felt the Grand Protector was a being that was a notch above both the unnamed ax-man and The Lifebringer . The ax-man held monstrous power and was able to kill a whole planet with a swing , but that was still a lesser feat compared to what the Grand Protector did .

The old man managed to shield a land-mass of unfathomable size against the very fabric of reality ripping to shreds . Furthermore , the shield he erected stood strong for who knows how long , protecting the continent from the void outside .

The power of the protagonist wasn't the only superior thing from the vision , making Zac wonder if it was the benefit of having an Epic Class . When he occupied the ax-man he was only a spectator , but he became the Grand Protector for a bit . He still remembered scenes from the ancient man’s earlier life , though there were only small snippets .

He had felt how the old man’s very body was tempered with the Dao itself , impregnable and immutable . While Zac was grasping at thin strands of a larger fabric the old man forced the Dao to follow his will .

Zac could only imagine that such a being was at least A-rank , perhaps even higher . The demons believed there were cultivators higher than A-Grade , but they barely had any information about C-Grade warriors , let alone lofty beings above that . If those beings existed or not was shrouded in mystery .

The extremely clear vision he had also given him an unprecedented harvest , and he was elated as he looked at the Dao Screen in front of him .

Hardness (Middle) : Endurance +25 , Wisdom +5 .

Sanctuary (Early) : Endurance +5 , Wisdom +10 .

He had not gained one new seed , but two of them , from the vision . Even more impressively he had even gained two stages to the first of them , Hardness . This time he wasn’t disappointed that he didn’t attain the same Dao as the old man since he understood that he was millennia away from grasping those concepts .

He guessed that the Grand Protector possessed something that could be called the Dao of Immutability . The vision ended after he had integrated with the golden shield , but Zac had some time to feel its marvelous effects , and it truly contained myriad concepts .

Two notable additions were the Daos of both Time and Space , two extremely high-tiered concepts that were out of reach for warriors at his class as far as he knew . The Dao of Immutability forced space itself to bend to its will , and the protection it provided lasted over the eons .

It was truly a top tier Dao , and the Dao of Hardness was just one small part of it . His insights were based around two things ; the massive aura of the shield itself and the hardness the old man’s will that forced even the tears in space to be unable to reach his body .

The shield held the weight of a planet which resonated with Zac’s earlier insights into heaviness , so gaining a snippet of the Dao of Hardness felt pretty natural . The second piece was a mental component of hardness , and it reminded Zac of the upgrade he got of the Dao of Heaviness back at the auction .

In fact , Zac believed gaining his second Dao Seed , the Dao of Sanctuary , was closely related to that insight back then . He had gained a mental component of heaviness due to the immense weight of responsibilities pressing down on him at that time .

He had been in the middle of the beast hordes and his sister was still unaccounted for . The Dao insight could be seen as a result of being overwhelmed , but by now he had found his bearings in life . Over the past weeks , he had seen just how much his town had grown , from a small dented camper into a flourishing kingdom .

That’s why the old man in the vision had resonated with him . The Grand Protector had watched over his continent for countless years , seeing the rise of civilization . With his power he could have easily become a supreme emperor , but he was content to simply watch from the shadows and protect the place from unseen threats .

Zac very well understood that sense of wanting to protect those around him . It was the very reason he desperately tried to get stronger . Initially , it was just for himself and his sister , but the circle of people he wanted to protect had slowly expanded as he saw his island come to life .

Both of the Dao Seeds he gained were on the defensive side , but Zac knew that they were meant for different things . The Dao of Hardness was mostly for personal defense . He could imbue himself or his shield with it , and from there endure stronger strikes .

But the Dao of Sanctuary was based on protection . He currently wasn’t sure if he had any skills that could benefit from it , but he felt its purpose was to help protect others rather than himself . Nature’s Barrier] might be a possible candidate , though that skill already benefitted from infusing it with Dao of Trees .

In any case , he knew his survivability had increased by a notch , both from a huge influx of points into Endurance , but also being able to empower himself further with new Dao Seeds . He had used Dao of Trees as a defensive skill until now , but it wasn’t a purely defensive Dao like the Dao of Sharpness was purely offensive .

Besides , the Dao of Trees was inconvenient for him to use for various reasons . First of all , it contained the breath of life , which essentially was poison for him in his Draugr-form . It also wasn’t possible to infuse non-living things with that Dao , so strengthening his metallic shield was impossible .

However , the happy surprises didn’t end there . He actually had gained another title .

Scion of Dao : Attain five different Dao Seeds while still at F-Grade Reward : All stats +5]

This title wasn’t listed in the booklet he got from Brazla , meaning it was likely pretty rare , and Zac could understand why . Most people had tremendous trouble attaining Dao Seeds on their own , and no classes gave five Dao Seeds as far as he knew .

It was the same with Zac himself , all five of his seeds could be linked to the three visions he had seen . The Dao of Sharpness might have come later , but it was only due to forming the foundation after seeing the Dao of Axe that he managed to attain it .

His latest gains had also pushed not only Wisdom but even Luck past one hundred points . That only left Intelligence that was still below that level , currently sitting at 97 . But Zac chose to not put any of his free points into Intelligence even though he was so close .

He hadn’t heard of any benefits of having all attributes over one hundred , and besides , he would likely gain a couple of more titles before reaching level 75 . He didn’t want to waste his precious free points into an attribute with limited benefits to his classes .

In the end , he put all his six points into Strength , pushing it 429 . He was mostly done , but there was one final thing he wanted to do before checking in on his axe . It was with some anticipation he opened the Dao Ladder , but he could only wryly smile after seeing Abbot Everlasting Peace still sitting on top .

By now Zac felt pretty much certain that the old man had actually attained the Dao of Karma rather than some lower component . He had asked Alyn about it when he visited the Academy , but she knew nothing about it , apart from some rumors .

It was an extremely rare Dao , and those who grasped it were revered as great sages . It was supremely powerful since it was said that a person with a high command of the Dao of Karma could not only see into the future , but he could even tamper with fate itself . He could bring calamity onto his enemies from the other side of the universe if he wanted .

Zac felt a bit helpless , and he had a feeling that passing that old man on the Dao Ladder would be even harder than clearing out the incursions . But Zac didn’t begrudge the old man his opportunities and instead focused on the things at hand .

It was time to check on his axe .

The last of the cursed rats fell , and the abyssal shriek from the escaping specter barely registered as Thea sat down with a groan . She was hurting all over , but she was determined to last the final ten days . So many were counting on her , and the very fate of her planet still hung in the balance .

Meeting that Dominator had been a true wake-up call . Her grandpa had always told her to never get complacent , there were always bigger fish to fry , and she wished that he wasn't correct for once . They couldn't even escape that monster , forcing her to use her final measures .

The side-effects of using her ultimate retreat were even worse than she had imagined , and she internally swore for the hundredth time at the Tutorial Pixies . She already knew that using that skill meant losing levels , but the pixies never said anything about losing even more levels from consecutive uses .

When she used it the first time in the mountains back home she lost a level , and while it was regrettable it was better than dying . But this time she actually lost three levels , making her wonder just how many levels she would lose the next time she was forced to activate it .

Then again , the cost of using Heaven's Ward] might rather be related to the damage that was blocked than the number of uses . She had been forced to block over a dozen of those chains after Zac was knocked unconscious after all , and that should have required immense energies . Even that man was barely able to block a handful of them .

The thought of him made her once again open up the hunter ladder , and she was happy to notice that she had finally broken into the top ten of the ladder . The unceasing beast waves that had been ravaging across the mountains the past days had been a perfect opportunity for her since her Petal Storm] was extremely suited for large numbers of weaker enemies .

In fact , she had even gained a full two levels the past days , a feat that would have been impossible back home . After a brief stop at her own rank , she quickly moved down to the 400-rankings to check Zac’s status , but her heart tightened when his name was nowhere to be found .

She kept moving further and further down the list but he was nowhere to be seen , so she quickly opened up the Power ladder from back home . Thea breathed out in relief when she saw that Zac still held a commanding lead in the front , but she quickly returned to the hunter ladder .

Finally , she found out what was going on . He had moved all the way up to the 46th position in a few hours , once again showcasing his power . Her mouth curved upwards as she gazed up at the skies .

Nothing would stop that man .

Screams echoed across the cliffs as she slowly ripped the limbs from the human , one by one . Anytime she saw the sigil of the Medhin Empire resentment rose in her heart , and she couldn’t stop herself from tormenting those people a bit .

She knew that the real family members were off-limits , even though she wasn't thrilled about it . But those rules didn’t exist for their subjects . They were just fated to become fuel anyway , and a cruel smile adorned Inevitability's face as she ripped off another arm of the Medhin General .

Finally the screams abated , and the whole mountain became deathly silent . Everything in the surroundings had already been purged by her Chains of Fate] , leaving just herself on this mountain .

This small distraction , unfortunately , didn’t lessen the frustration that had been building in Inevitability’s heart over the months . This wasn’t how it was supposed to go . The world had finally changed , allowing them to move into the sunlight . But it came too soon , and they weren’t ready . The world welcomed the Incursions , forcing them on the passive .

Not only that , but some insane human somehow managed to go and become an in-name disciple of their master . Forget about becoming official disciples themselves , by now they could consider themselves lucky if their souls weren't ripped out from their bodies when he arrived .

Their ancestors had already failed their tasks , and they had failed as well when the integration finally arrived . Their very existences were hanging by the barest of threads , and her actions the last week had almost closed the last door of salvation .

That beastman was also a decent candidate , but he was below that human that almost managed to kill her in the end . They truly needed this Zachary Atwood to fulfill their goal . But finally , there was some good news . The human was fine , and steadily climbing the kill-ladder .

Void’s plan might work out after all . She was sure he had already finished his tasks back in the real world . He never messed around , and he likely set out the minute the trial started . Inevitability once again looked up at the skies , and they didn’t seem as bleary this time .

They might just survive the arrival of The Great Redeemer after all .

Chapter 243 - Gold and Bones

Zac was about to walk out of his hiding spot , but he suddenly realized something . He was almost completely naked . His brows rose in surprise , but as he looked at the ground he understood what had happened .

Scraps from his former robes lay around him , corroded and discolored . It almost looked like he had molted a layer of skin , and Zac couldn't help but frown in disgust . He had expected the robes to have repaired themselves while he meditated , but he was dead wrong on that point .

The rat vomit must have overtaxed the robes and destroyed the inscriptions . It was regrettable since it was a very convenient item , but Zac wasn't overly saddened by it . The clothes had lost their usefulness to a large degree already . The shields it could summon simply weren’t strong enough to protect him against threats anymore .

Besides , he had gained a huge amount of Endurance since he got his second class . In fact , he had more than doubled his Endurance in just a few short weeks . It was to the point that he hadn’t really acclimatized to the huge improvements and he still avoided strikes that wouldn’t be unable to hurt him .

It became readily apparent during his fight with the rats . He had taken thousands of strikes from the frenzied beasts but he walked away from the battle with only surface wounds that had bled a bit . If he had taken those kinds of strikes during the beast waves he would have been out of commission in no time .

So the loss of the defensive option wasn’t really an issue , but Zac would miss the fact that he never needed to change or clean the clothes . It seemed that he would have to go back to his old style of wearing whatever , and he started scouring the mountains of loot in his cosmic sack for anything serviceable .

Finally , he decked himself in the gaudy robes of Tyrbat Medhin , the royal he killed during the first day of the hunt . The robe hadn’t displayed any real defensive properties during the fight , but Zac chose it for another reason .

He had decapitated the former owner , drenching the robes in blood , but when he found it in his Cosmos Sack it was completely spotless . This could only mean that it had the cleaning-feature since Zac sure as hell hadn't done a wash during the hunt . Judging by how the man fought , having multiple rings with impressive defensive properties , that also wasn’t the only benefit of the robes .

A warm sensation spread through his body the moment he put it on , and he was surprised to see that grime that had set in his hair was turning into steam . In just a minute he was completely spotless like he had taken a proper bath .

The effect was amazing , and the inscriptions must have been designed by a neat-freak . But Zac still didn’t like the overly gaudy design , and he felt like Brazla while wearing the clothes . He chose to don a dark brown cloak that covered most of the gold , and since he was dressed he could finally leave his hiding spot .

Zac was filled with anticipation as he walked over toward where he hid the crimson crystal containing Verun’s Bite] . He first scanned the vicinity , but thankfully nothing had changed while he was busy with his vision . There was only a sea of rat carcasses all around him .

He also realized that the miasmic field that he generated with Fields of Despair] was completely gone from the rat den , and not a smidgeon of miasma remained in the atmosphere . It looked like the skill's effects were temporary , meaning that he couldn’t use it to terraform his surroundings to become death-attuned .

A full six hours had passed since he hid the crystal , but when he moved the carcasses blocking it not much had changed . The only difference was that the crystal now was almost completely opaque . Zac barely managed to make out the silhouette of something inside , but he couldn’t tell if anything had changed about the axe .

Zac was a bit stumped when he gazed at the huge crystal . It still emanated no energy fluctuations , and it might just as well be a large rock if he didn’t know what it contained . But he had no idea what to do with it now . The time on his hands was limited , and he had no idea how long it would take for his weapon to finish its evolution .

He had hoped that it would be done by the time Zac had gained his Dao seeds , but he had no such luck . He also wasn’t comfortable putting the crystal into his Cosmos Sack , since he had no idea whether that would somehow interrupt or affect the evolution .

Quite some time passed as Zac stared at the crystal , his frown deepening by the minutes . Finally , after staring intently at the crystal for almost half an hour he gave up and instead took out his shield . He didn't dare to destroy the crystal , so he would have to occupy himself with something else . He had only checked on one of the benefits from finishing his quest , and this was as good a time as any to check out the other .

The shield looked a bit worse for wear , but it wasn’t beyond redemption . But it would need to be worked by a blacksmith as soon as he got back to Port Atwood . The first thing he did after equipping the shield was to imbue it with the Dao of Hardness .

He would have thought some change would take place after the infusion , like how his fractal blades changed colors by which Dao they were infused with , but the shield looked just the same . There were no extra layers of protection forming above it either , and if Zac wasn't the one pushing the energies into the shield he wouldn't know it was there .

But he still knew that the Dao worked , since he could feel how it reinforced the whole shield from within . He tried slamming the shield with his fist to test the effect , and there was a clear improvement . He couldn’t even leave a dent in the shield after using over half his force , showing just how powerful the middle stage Dao Seed was . Of course , he still knew that he could break the shield if he truly exerted his full force .

But that didn’t mean that the Dao of Hardness was sub-par , but rather that the shield wasn’t anything special apart from being a high-quality product . It wasn't a Spiritual Treasure like Verun's Bite] , but something along the lines of the robes he just lost .

He also tried to infuse the shield with the Dao of Sanctuary , but the Dao wouldn’t enter it , just like how his Dao of Trees initially wouldn’t enter his axe . He also tried to infuse his body and his clothes , but nothing worked .

For now , it looked like the second Dao Seed would have to be a passive attribute boost since he couldn’t figure out a way to use it in battle . Then again , the power of an early-stage Seed was limited , and not something he would bring out in a battle with his current power .

Next , he started up Bulwark Mastery] , and as he expected there was a guidance system showing him how to work the shield . He had already found out that this type of skill was extremely common , and most classes had a similar one . The difference was that both his mastery skills also provided Dao Visions , whereas the equivalent skills for lower-grade classes just provided the guidance system .

Interestingly enough this guidance system didn’t only show him the illuminated paths on how to move his shield , but it also simulated attackers who he had to block .

With Zac’s ample combat experience he had no problem to quickly learn the basic steps and movements . It also showed some offensive moves , such as bashing the shield forward , ramming , and pinning down opponents . It even showed how to punch forward and use the lower edge of the shield as a weapon .

Since the skill only was at early mastery it didn’t incorporate any of his Daos , and Zac soon stopped training with the skill . He knew that he would be able to advance Bulwark Mastery] with just a day or so of training since the only thing required to advance the mastery to middle was to fully learn all the moves .

But now was not the time for that . Almost a whole day had passed between the battle and his meditation , leaving just 9 more days to reclaim his placements . His position on the hunter ladder had improved quite a bit , but he knew that it would likely get harder and harder to keep gaining positions .

He returned to the side of Verun’s Bite] , but nothing had changed since his last check . Finally , he took out some ropes from his sack and started fastening them around the crystal . He decided that he would simply bring the thing on his back as he explored the tunnels .

However , he only managed to walk fifty meters in the direction of the exit before he could hear ominous crackling sounds from the crystal , and he hurriedly put it down . He noticed a large crack running all along the thing , and he wanted to slap himself for his impatience .

The cracks only got worse and spread all over the thing , and Zac could only look on in dismay . But the moment the whole thing shattered a massive aura exploded out from the crystal , forcing Zac a few steps back . Zac's hopes reignited as he looked at the scene from afar .

A large projection suddenly appeared where the crystal once was , reaching over five meters in height . It was Verun , but its appearance had changed a bit . The most obvious change was the increase in size , with its wither height increasing from roughly 1 . 5 meters to its current size .

Its maw was still an oversized vortex of gristly fangs , making its head just enormous by now . But its body was more proportional , and it rippled with sleek muscles . It felt like a true predator and was felt far more nimble than the stocky barghest , but far more powerful than the agile Gwyllgi .

A shockingly powerful roar emitted out from the specter , and suddenly all the carcasses of the largest rats burst open and blood streamed toward it from all directions . Meanwhile , the actual axe rose from the ground , but before Zac could get a proper look it was covered by the incoming blood .

Thankfully it didn't form yet another crystal though , and after just a few seconds the blood was gone . Verun slowly dissipated , turning into motes of light that entered the axe as it fell down on the ground .

As Zac walked over to the axe he still felt some power undulations from it , but it had mostly calmed down by now . There were some noticeable changes to the axe , the foremost being the head . It was made by some dark metal before , but now it looked greyish-white and seemed to be actually created from an enormous tooth .

Its edge was still curved , but it was slightly larger compared to before , almost reaching half a meter by now . Its edge was a bit uneven as well , and his thoughts still went to Orc Chieftains when he looked at Verun's Bite] .

Zac hesitantly dragged his finger along the edge and he immediately felt a sharp pain as blood started to flow freely from his finger . Even after he imbued his hand with the Dao of Hardness it took a bit of strength to once again cut through his skin , which made it very telling just how sharp the edge was .

There were still a few smaller teeth fastened to the back of the head , but now there was one that was far larger than the others . It almost formed a counterweight and formed a sharp spike that pushed out from the back of the axe-head . Its needlepoint looked extremely sharp , and Zac knew that it should have extreme piercing power if he needed it .

The handle was still wrought of some wood , though it looked a bit more greyish compared to before . But more interestingly five fractals ran all along the handle . The one closest to the end of the haft was glistening with a crimson red , whereas the others were pitch black .

Zac couldn’t be sure , but he felt as though there was a meaning to the colors . He had fed the axe enormous amounts of blood to help it evolve , and the first fractal shone with that very same color . Perhaps he would need to keep feeding it even more blood to light up the other fractals as well .

However , the changed appearance was not the only thing different about it . It also emitted a brutal and unrestrained aura and looking at it felt like staring at a prehistoric beast . Zac couldn’t be sure , but it felt that this aura would be even stronger in battle , and it might even possess the ability to suppress his enemies .

The final difference became apparent when he gripped the wooden handle . The moment he touched the haft he immediately sensed another presence in his mind . However , it wasn’t at all like the intrusion of the specters he had felt earlier .

It was like he shared a mental connection with another being , and he immediately understood that the connection was to Verun itself . The link even allowed him to communicate in a way , though Verun wasn’t sapient like Brazla , at least not yet .

The moment the link was established Zac felt a rapid stream of emotions . Exultation and pride . Recognition and kinship . Tiredness . Not long after the link weakened , and no more emotions were transmitted . However , Zac understood that the link wasn’t just a temporary thing , but it was rather temporarily weakened due to Verun being tired out from the evolution .

Finally , he was done with the cave , and Zac effortlessly threw away the carcasses blocking the exit . He took one last look at the cavern that had provided him with so many benefits before entering the tunnel with newfound confidence .

Chapter 244 - Immutable Bulwark

Zac couldn’t help being in a great mood as he walked through the winding pathways of the tunnel . He had gotten a slew of power-ups , and even his main weapon had received an evolution . Even better , at the end of the road there was a mountain of treasure waiting for him . Falling into the ravine was starting to turn out all right .

But his mod was quickly getting dampened as he walked . First of all the tunnels felt almost endless , and he started to worry just how long the passages were . Perhaps he wouldn't even reach the inheritance before the time was up . But more importantly , the aura of darkness in the tunnel was slowly increasing , making the air oppressive .

He had no idea what the old Array Spirit had prepared , or whether it even had any control over the situation . But he feared the old spirit was leading him toward the source of the darkness to kill the enemies of his fallen sect . Or perhaps the truth was something completely different .

The words of the old man echoed in his mind , and he had started to form a hypothesis about what happened here . Anzonil had said that everything was ruined by one mistake . Not long ago Ogras told him that countless people in the multiverse had turned to monsters in their pursuit of power , and Zac believed that might have been the case with this place .

They had either created or come in contact with the mysterious aura of darkness and sought to control it . It was undeniable that the darkness made people stronger , but they also turned into raving lunatics when they were infected . The specters had a humanoid form when they attacked him and Thea on the mountain peak . What if they were the former sect-members? Perhaps Anzonil wanted him to kill the specters not out of hatred , but out of mercy .

But it was a moot point since Zac had no method of killing them unless they were susceptible to the Dao of Hardness for some reason . So it was with some trepidation that he stopped when the tunnel once again exited into a large den . This time there was no ocean of rats , but instead a sea of insects that most resembled ants .

They were more uniform in size compared to the rats , and there were four types . The largest was a huge blob of an ant in the middle of the den , and it was easily over fifteen meters across . Judging by the short withered legs Zac suspected it was unable to move and relied on the smaller ones to bring it food .

Surrounding what was clearly the queen were a few elite guards that were around three meters each , each emanating powers close to that of E-Rank . Finally were the common ants , and they came in two sizes ; medium and large . The whole scene reminded him of the Ayr Hive back on his island , though the ants in front of him looked far more similar compared to the extremely diverse shapes of Ayr insectoids . But there was one more difference .

These things were obviously infected by the darkness . Frenzied battles were taking place all among the smaller ants , and the large queen was currently feasting on one of the worker ants . The whole hive emitted a type of insanity and chaos that was very different from the cooperation that usually characterized ant species .

Zac briefly wondered if he would have to cut his way through all manner of creepy crawlies to get to the treasure as he prepared himself for battle . But he didn’t really mind since his level was still pretty low , and he would be able to quickly gain some more levels this way .

His thirst for power was at an all-time high since his meeting with Inevitability , and he knew there was no time to waste . This time he didn't opt to stay hidden and spectate and instead jumped straight into the fray with his axe at the ready .

Clattering from thousands of agitated ants echoed through the caverns , drowning out all other sounds , but Zac simply ignored it as he started killing ants with breakneck speed with his axe . The gloomy transformation of the area from Fields of Despair] had already taken place , and Deathwish] was also activated .

Since he had gained the skills already he was using his axe from the start . He wanted to increase his speed as much as possible on his way to the Inheritance . The ants had thick plating to protect themselves , but the upgraded Verun’s Bite] cut through them like they were paper , and his speed of killing was unprecedented in his undead form .

However , he was a bit disappointed to notice that Deathwish] wasn’t very effective against these beasts . The defense was clearly higher than the offense of the ants , and even though the specters kept appearing around him to reflect the bites they mostly harmlessly hit the chitinous shells .

Zac soon decided to completely abandon the skill since it was just a waste of miasma . Instead , he started work his way around in a circle of the outer area of the cavern . The queen was simply sitting there in the middle , and her bodyguards hadn't moved . Perhaps the queen wasn't even a combat class , but rather a being that solely focused on birthing more ants to protect the hive .

He wanted to kill all these ants first for the experience and ladder placements , and he was worried that if he killed the boss first the other ants would flee . This cavern was different from the last one , it contained tens of small tunnels leading god knows where , and Zac wouldn’t be able to block them all to keep his prey inside .

Suddenly his danger sense rang in his mind , but no matter where he looked he couldn't see anything . But a second later an unseen force slammed into his mind , and he couldn’t help himself from falling over with a groan . If he was human he would likely have emptied his stomach by now , but instead the miasma in his body was going haywire .

He couldn’t see straight , and it was like his body didn’t understand the commands he sent . But a few piercing stabs of pain cut straight through the confusion . It was two of the larger ants that had taken the opportunity to attack , and each had bit into his torso with their large pincers .

Black ichor was slowly dripping out of the wounds , making Zac groan in pain . But his almost five hundred Endurance wasn’t just for show , and he got to his feet with a roar . The two large ants tried to distance themselves from him but they were quickly bisected by two swings empowered by the Dao of Sharpness .

They were extremely quick , and Zac held nothing back in his attacks so that they wouldn’t have time to flee . He didn’t have access to Loamwalker] in his current form so he needed to make sure to quickly kill the speedier targets .

Zac took a few steadying breaths to calm the miasma that was still not fully under control inside his body and looked over at the queen . The air around her shuddered with power , making Zac frown . It had likely shot out some mental attack that briefly rendered him immobile .

Unfortunately , he didn’t have access Mental Fortress] as an undead either , and he could only try to fortify his mind with the help of the Dao of Hardness . One of the insights he got into it was a mental resilience , and it should provide some protection against psychic attacks . But the queen was an E-Grade being and Zac had a feeling that a middle stage Dao Seed wouldn't be enough to completely block its attacks .

He quickly popped a healing pill into his mouth as he kept killing the frenzied ants around him , and he was quickly forming a small hill of corpses . It looked like he couldn’t ignore the fat blob as he killed its subjects . He would have to hope that the darkness in the smaller ants would make them crazed enough to keep fighting even after their queen died .

He had lost some of his power due to the four gristly puncture wounds , but it wasn’t all bad news . The attack from the queen was the third and final strike he needed to endure to complete his quest for Immutable bulwark] . Now was as good a time as any to test it out , and he quickly activated the skill as he rushed toward the center of the cave .

A huge Fractal shield that was over two meters tall and four meters wide appeared in front of him as he ran . It had the turquoise color of miasma , and fractals formed some sort of pattern in the center of it . But the thing that truly drew Zac's attention was the huge sinister spikes covering the shield . The skill wasn't purely defensive .

In just a few seconds he had mowed down over a hundred ants from his charge , and his killing efficiency was even better than when using his axe . The speed of killing beasts was still worse compared to the carnage he could unleash when using Chop] , but it was a clear step up from waiting for his enemies to kill themselves from Deathwish] .

Zac reactivated Deathwish] as a precaution as was approaching the stronger ants and the queen . Since the bodyguards could pierce his body with their pincers they should be able to hurt themselves as well , and perhaps the skill also worked against mental attacks . To his surprise , almost ten specters immediately appeared in front of the shield , and he quickly realized was going on .

There was a synergy between Deathwish] and Immutable Bulwark] . He had been worried before about the contradictory nature of his first offensive skill . He was a class that focused on blocking , but his skill required him to get hit to hurt his enemies .

He already knew that Deathwish] didn’t activate when he used his shield , but that changed the moment he activated his new skill . Any ant that tried to bite their way through the fractal shield was immediately attacked by spectral copies of themselves , proving that an attack on his bulwark was counted as an attack on himself .

The only downside was that both the power and energy consumption seemed worse compared to when he used his own body as the punching-board .

Still , this was an enormous upgrade as Zac saw it , and it would allow him to avoid any damage while simply pushing forward with his new fractal bulwark . The enemies would be gored by the spikes if they didn’t dodge quick enough , and if they tried to cut their way through they would be just harming themselves .

Soon he arrived at the encirclement of the larger ants that guarded the queen , and he unhesitantly pushed forward like a runaway train . He even imbued his new defense with the Dao of Hardness as he closed in on the last distance .

But just a few moments before he would slam into the final barrier of ants between himself and the queen another wave of the mental attack hit him . He had already fortified his mind with the Dao of Hardness , but the power in that attack was just massive .

He couldn’t stop himself from falling over yet again as miasma was once again going out of control . But the protection of the Dao Seed helped him at least keep his consciousness through the attack , and he quickly placed the shield right above himself for protection . Just a second later he sensed a large stream of energy entering him , proving that at least one of the larger ants had just killed himself on his improvised turtle shell .

He wondered if he would be able to stay beneath his shield while all the ants killed themselves upon it , but the queen soon made herself reminded with another mental blast that shocked Zac’s system .

The time between the attacks was far shorter this time , making Zac wonder if proximity was a factor in the attack . In any case , it meant he couldn’t stay beneath his shield . The three strikes had drained a large amount of his mental energy , and combined with his Dao usage his head was starting to hurt a bit .

If he kept getting blasted he might fry his brain , and he had a feeling that his Duplicity Core couldn’t help him with that . His danger sense was already ringing in his mind , so Zac quickly got on his feet to make a final charge at the queen .

But the moment he got up on his feet he saw an incoming enormous ball of chaotic energies . Zac wanted to move out of the way , but he knew he didn’t possess the speed with his current class . He had no choice but to brave it , so he pushed a huge amount of miasma into Immutable Bulwark] as he imbued it with the Dao of Hardness .

A huge explosion rocked the whole cave and Zac couldn’t stop himself from being pushed back over fifty meters . His arms shook from the force of the impact , but he was mostly fine . However , the same couldn’t be said of the queen .

A large burn-mark adorned her enormous gut , and the thick shell even had some cracks that leaked blue blood . The attack had completely backfired on her , and Zac wanted to take the opportunity to finish her off .

There was only one thought running through his mind as he once again ran toward the shrieking hive queen ; this new skill was right up his alley .

Chapter 245 - Indomitable

The miasma was roiling inside his body as Zac surveyed the battleground . Broken carapaces and shells were strewn all over , and it was impossible to take a step without putting his feet in a blue puddle of ant blood .

He made a cursory check for anything of value as he walked toward the only passage that didn’t seem to be created by tunneling ants . After he had managed to reflect some of the ultimate attack of the hive queen the fight was mostly over .

She seemed to be afraid to attack him again , and that hesitation allowed him to get close enough to finish the fight with his axe . A few quick chops and she was dead . Luckily killing the queen had the effect he hoped for , and the rest of the ants had turned completely insane in their anger , desperately trying to kill him .

He had made a few discoveries during this battle that helped him understand the strength and shortcomings of his new skill . The good was that the defensive properties of Immutable Bulwark] were extremely high .

It also seemed to differ from how Chop] worked . That skill was based on the actual weapon he used , so when he changed weapons so did the strength of the fractal edge change . But his new defensive skill was different . It didn’t look anything like his shield , and his actual shield took no damage when Immutable Bulwark] was attacked . He was , however , unable to summon the skill if he didn’t have a shield equipped , so they were connected somehow .

Zac guessed that the power was based on his Endurance , like Nature’s Barrier] , since it wasn’t based on his actual weapon . The miasma consumption was also based on how much the shield was attacked , just like an array .

He had also learned some new things about Deathwish] . It did not appear that it worked on mental skills since the queen had no reaction after attacking him multiple times with the mental waves . This was something Zac had seen as a possibility before .

In fact , there were multiple means of attack where he suspected the skill wouldn’t work . Illusions and poison were two other examples . It appeared that there needed to be a kinetic component to the attack , such as a punch or a fireball for there to be anything to reflect .

The battle had also given him three new levels , two of which came from killing the queen . It was crazy to think he had gained ten levels in just one day , but he also noted that the speed was already slowing down markedly .

He almost wished there would be a few more rooms like this before he got to the treasure . There was no real threat to him , and he could generally treat it as rooms full of experience points . However , his worry grew as the corruption in the atmosphere around him kept increasing .

Even the flora in the tunnel he was starting to become twisted and odd , even though the corruption in the tunnels was far lower compared to the caverns for some reason . Perhaps the array screens that hid the tunnels he used also stopped some of the darkness from passing through .

But even then the effect on the plant life was noticeable . Some of them even produced an odd black substance , and Zac collected some of it in case it could be useful or valuable . However , there was clearly something wrong with the black liquid . He accidentally got a few drops on his hand while he was collecting it , and in just moments he felt rage bubbling up inside him .

It was only a few minutes later that the urge to go crazy and destroy everything around him subsided and Zac was shocked by the effect . Just what would happen if some beast ate these plants on a daily basis?

Zac’s wish for more beasts to kill were soon fulfilled as he came to yet another cavern , this one occupied by things that looked like fuzzy scorpions . The battle took around two hours , and he almost got himself killed due to carelessness .

There had actually been a boss hiding beneath the ground all the time , and Zac only realized his mistake when his danger sense warned him of the incoming enormous stinger . He had barely managed to swirl around and block the strike in time .

Time started to blur and hours turned to days as Zac cleansed one cave after another . Zac started to worry that the old array spirit was taking him on a tour in a circle that spanned the whole mountain range . Or perhaps he was walking straight toward the edge that the System had imposed on the hunt .

The darkness was also ever-present around him , and it even started to affect his mood to a slight degree . He found himself constantly harboring murderous impulses that he had to forcibly push down . Only entering a tunnel after a cavern gave his mind some reprieve , as the arrays truly seemed to be darkness filters .

The critters he killed were also turning increasingly insane , and they also started to exhibit various deformities from the corruption . Zac was currently fighting against the patriarch of a cavern that was inhabited by roughly a hundred huge lizards .

Each one of them was close to the E-Grade , but they looked like they were barely alive since they were covered in grisly scars and pus-filled tumors . Some had grown odd appendages and others seemed barely coherent enough to take care of itself .

Zac finally felled the beast , and a surge of Cosmic Energy brought him to level 48 . He was only twelve levels away from his main class now , and it proved just how efficient it was to hunt E-Grade beasts to level .

Just the past two days he had killed more E-Grade beings than he had during the first six months of the integration which had skyrocketed his levels . However , the things he had encountered could barely be counted as E-Grade , provided far less Cosmic Energy than the Star Ox for example .

He felt that the speed of gaining levels was slowing down , just like it had with his main class . But he still was extremely satisfied with the result . His time down in the tunnels had also proven an extremely efficient way to grind his position on the hunter ladder , and he had already back jumped up to the 6th position .

His gatherer ladder was steady dropping though , and he was down at the 9th position now . He had seen multiple names in the top 50 disappear , likely meaning desperate battles were taking place aboveground which was quickly consolidating the wealth .

There was nothing of value down here , and he could only pin his hope to Anzonil’s treasure trove . Zac took a last look around the cavern for anything that might be of value , but as usual it was just disgusting carcasses .

But his brows furrowed when he saw that the leader lizard suddenly started shaking , and the next moment a ghastly specter shot out of it with a screech . It made a beeline for Zac , its claws already poised to strike .

Zac readied his axe to meet the incoming ghost , but at the last moment , he had an idea . He quickly moved his axe as he infused himself with the Dao of Hardness . The ghost unhesitantly tried to rake his chest , but it suddenly shrieked in anger and pain when a copy of itself suddenly attacked it .

It tried to swing right back , but the moment after the spectral projection from Deathwish] had attacked it turned to nothingness . The specter seemed completely enraged and tried venting its anger on Zac .

It quickly unleashed a barrage of attacks on Zac , but between his robes , his Endurance , and his Dao it only felt like someone was scratching him . But the same couldn’t be said about the specter . It howled in pain with every strike , and the pain seemed to make it even more desperate as it even tried to bite Zac’s head .

Zac had to force himself to stay still , and a small stream of cosmic energy the next moment told him his gambit had been a success . He already knew that Deathwish] returned the same type of energy as the original attack , though it was formed by miasma , so he surmised that if specters could kill themselves then so could he with the skill .

It turned out he was correct , and it was as though a stone had lifted from his chest . If he could actually kill the ghosts by just standing still then he didn’t really have much to worry about unless there were some stronger ghosts that they hadn’t encountered aboveground .

The piercing wail came to mind , for example . Zac had no doubt that being was E-Graded , and he did not want to test whether his endurance or that thing’s power was greater . It had managed to scramble his brains momentarily from god knows what distance , so he couldn’t imagine a battle in melee range going his way .

Still , it was with newfound vigor he pushed toward the next cave , and the persistent aura of darkness didn’t feel as oppressive any longer . However , more and more ghosts started to appear in the caves , all of them hiding in the stronger beasts .

Zac surmised that they perhaps were draining the energy of those they possessed , and used the powerful animals as personal feeding grounds . He already knew that they were in need of Cosmic Energy to survive going by the thousands of ghosts that had assailed him on the mountain top .

The more frequently appearing ghosts proved they weren’t all harmless to him as well . One had managed to slink into his mind just like the last time , and he barely was able to force it out by madly channeling the Dao of Hardness .

It was lucky too , as the ghost had unhesitantly tried to use Zac arm to sever his own legs with Verun’s Bite] . It was by the hair that he managed to stop himself from amputating his leg , and sweat was running down his forehead from the close call .

After that he no longer dared to let the ghosts freely have at him , and instead had his eyes peeled in case they tried to possess him again . The moment he suspected that was what one of the ghosts planned he immediately slashed it with his axe , briefly scattering it and enraging it .

But that also drastically slowed down his speed of killing the things , and it was quickly getting hard to keep track of all the ghosts as they grew more numerous in the caverns . So worry started to grow as the situation was growing more and more strained .

Finally it got so bad that he started wondering whether he even dared to keep going . Dozens of ghosts were wailing in the cave that once housed yet another rat den . They were frenziedly trying to get at him , and Zac had to keep running as he sorted out which ones were attacking and which ones tried to possess him .

He already knew that putting his back against a wall had no effect , the ghosts could easily pass through them . Even his newly attained defensive skill proved useless against the spectral beings , and they simply flew right around it without being impeded .

But suddenly he gained a surge of energy as yet another ghost killed itself by clawing his chest , and Zac opened up his menu like a drowning man . The surge of power in his body told him that he had finally reached level 50 , which meant that he should have gotten a new class quest .

What type of skill he attained and how easily he could complete the quest would dictate whether he would keep going or not . At this rate , he might get possessed at any moment , as there already had been a few close calls the last caverns .

Indomitable (Class) : Attain a high stage defensive Dao Seed . Reward : Indomitable (1/1)

Zac couldn’t help but get his hopes up when he saw the name , but he refocused on the ghosts and slowly whittled them down so that he could focus on the new skill uninterrupted . He still waited on a second Dao Vision , since he still had only got the one .

Alyn had told him that higher rarity classes got more Dao visions , but Zac guessed reality might not be that simple when he noted that Indomitable was yet another normal class quest . Perhaps he had gained one higher-grade vision that awarded multiple seeds rather than multiple weaker ones .

That would in a sense ensure that the seeds he gained would have a good synergy since they came from the same individual . But whether he was correct or not wasn’t important at the moment , and instead he focused on the skill . Luckily the quest seemed to count Seed of Trees as a defensive Dao since the quest was already considered finished . He quickly accepted it and he felt a new fractal taking place in his mind .

Zac was elated since the placement was almost exactly identical to the one of Mental Fortress] , which together with its name gave a pretty clear indication of what type of skill it was .

It seemed his luck had pulled through for him once again .

Chapter 246 - Core of Darkness

It was already in the next cave that Indomitable] proved it’s worth . It was as though the ghosts hit a brick wall when they tried to enter his mind and were then unceremoniously thrown out . That in turn just enranged them even further , and they immediately tried to tear him to shreds in their anger .

Unfortunately Deathwish] did not work in synergy with Indomitable] as it did with Immutable Defense] . The ghosts were rebuffed when they tried to possess him but they weren’t hurt in the slightest . It was a bit of a shame , but still , the mental defense was what he was after at the moment . And it seemed to be even sturdier than to Mental Fortress] even though that skill was at late mastery .

It allowed him to keep pushing through the caverns , and Zac had a feeling he was nearing the end of the subterranean system on his sixth day in the tunnels . Almost all of the beasts in the dens he visited were possessed by now , and animals were hardly more than lifeless husks that housed the spirits within .

Killing the animals barely provided any energies at all , but it at least forced the ghosts out of the bodies . But the specters were changing a bit as well , and he noticed that some were larger and emitted more chaotic energies .

A few of them also possessed a minor version of the piercing wail , but Indomitable] blocked out most of the effect from those attacks as well . But the increasing strength of the ghosts also meant that his time wasn’t as relaxed as he had hoped . He still needed to be careful about some of the stronger specters , since they could actually harm him with their physical attacks .

It was somewhere late on the sixth day that there finally was a change in the endlessly repetitive pattern of the cavern . It felt like Zac had walked a whole continent cross-country in the tunnels , and he missed the sight of the sun even in his undead form .

The cavern in front of him hinted at change , but he didn’t heedlessly head into it and instead opted to properly check it out first . It was simply enormous , at least ten times the size of the dens he had rampaged through before this . It was also the first cave that seemed to house not a single beast .

Instead , the floor was covered with huge pillars that seemed to be made from onyx or some black crystal . Zac couldn't tell whether they were naturally formed or if they were somehow crafted . But they looked too even and sculpted to be a natural mineral , having perfectly even sides as they rose up to ten meters into the air .

There were thousands of them , and if they held value like normal Nexus Crystals then he might have a chance to jump straight to the first placement on the Gatherer ladder . However , his eyes barely glanced over the forest of crystals before they found themselves glued at the center of the cave .

Another crystal could be seen there as well , but it was completely different from all the others . It actually floated in the air , and it emitted such an enticing surge of power that he almost heedlessly ran over to it by instinct .

It felt like the stone had some sort of hypnotic power since his eyes kept returning to it after moving away . But Zac knew it wasn’t actual hypnosis , but rather his body craving the power the stone contained just like when he saw the Fruit of Ascension the first time .

The power it emitted eclipsed any treasure he had ever encountered , even the lotus that Abbot Everlasting Peace used . It felt like it held untold secrets , and that if he could just possess it he would explode in power . He would be able to sweep away the Dominators and the Incursions alike , and finally make Earth a safe haven .

But there was a problem . The crystal emitted an extremely dense amount of the insidious aura , and it was to the point that the crystal itself might be the source of the darkness . He had a feeling that if he didn’t have access to his new skill that protected his mental state he would have already fallen to madness just by being in this proximity .

However , he still didn’t believe his body was lying to him . That thing was truly a grand treasure , and Zac had a feeling that his suspicions about the Eastern Trigram Sect to be true . If they found that thing they would likely do anything in their power to utilize the mysterious power it contained , though it had obviously backfired .

Zac wasn’t foolish enough to think that he had what it took to control it if an ancient sect failed , but he was also reluctant to just leave it behind . It was no doubt a treasure that even eclipsed the D-Grade , and even if he couldn’t use it he could sell it or save it until he was powerful enough .

But if this was the source of the darkness then it was odd that there was no protection here . Not a single ghost or possessed beast could be seen , and the tall pillars were the only things around it . But Zac was still wary , and he stayed still and observed the surroundings for two hours .

It cost him quite a bit miasma just to stay close to the cave , and he needed to keep a Miasma Crystal in his hands to counteract the loss . He was forced to continuously imbue Indomitable] with more energy to counteract the lure of the Core of Darkness , which was what he decided to call the treasure in the center of the cave .

At least nothing had moved in the slightest as he observed the cave , and he had already made a few plans as he waited . He had made up his mind ; he would snatch that thing . Of course , if things turned south he would have to let it go , but he refused to leave behind such a treasure without giving it a try .

He had already spotted the exit on the opposite side of the cavern , so he knew where he needed to go . But before he did anything he put on an amulet . Luckily he had brought the amulet that hid his presence from the undead that he got from Ogras , and he hoped that it would at least have some effect in case the ghosts rested inside of the crystals . He also imbued his mental skill with the Dao of Hardness to improve efficiency .

This time he didn’t jump down the five meters from his vantage in the tunnel , but instead silently climbed down the wall , careful not to make a sound . The moment he exited the protective array of the mouth of the tunnel he immediately heard a low humming sound .

It wasn’t from a person , but rather a sound of all the pillars vibrating . Zac had no idea what that could mean , but he was happy if that was the only sound . It could have been a bunch of ghosts wailing instead , but not a ghost was in sight even after he had climbed down the wall .

He didn’t move for a few seconds , afraid he would trigger something , but the droning sound was the only thing that could be heard . So Zac started to silently move toward the Core of Darkness , careful to stay to his pre-plotted path . He was afraid that getting to close to the pillars might trigger something , so he had carefully mapped out the path that would take him to the Core of Darkness while maintaining the highest distance from the crystals as possible .

It was pretty disconcerting to walk between the towering pillars , and it almost felt like he was inside some cursed forest . The darkness both in the atmosphere and the crystal pillars were palpable , and Zac couldn’t help but increase his speed somewhat .

He was loath to stay in this cursed place longer than he had to , so he was almost running as he got closer and closer to the Core . But his fears were suddenly realized as a ghost emerged from one of the crystals close to him . Zac immediately disintegrated it with a quick swing of his axe , but its appearance proved that he wasn’t alone in the cavern .

Destroying the ghost that way only bought him a few seconds , so he immediately started rushing toward the Core , no longer caring about avoiding making any sounds . Two seconds later an enraged wail echoed through the chamber , and that wail brought with it pandemonium .

Innumerable ghosts rose from the pillars , and soon the whole ceiling was blotted out by the specters . There were thousands of them , many emitting even stronger auras than any specter Zac had encountered so far . The worst-case scenario was true ; The pillars housed the ghosts like the possessed beasts .

Zac was full of alarm as he rushed toward the Core of Darkness as fast as his legs could take him , and he even pushed miasma into his legs to increase his speed . Luckily he had managed to pass most of the pillars already , and only a few hundred meters remained .

But a storm of ghosts was rapidly descending on him , and Zac immediately equipped his shield and summoned Immutable Bulwark] and his two passive skills . He held the shield right above his head as he imbued it with the Seed of Hardness .

The ghosts could pass straight through the fractal shield normally , but they were unable to do the same when the shield was empowered by a Dao . They could still pass around it and attack him from the other sides , but it at least lessened the attacks on him a bit .

A few of the larger ghosts were almost immediately upon him , and his miasma was rapidly getting expanded to protect himself from tries to possess him . But not long after Zac started to gain streams of miasma from the ghosts who finally had killed themselves in their frenzied attempts to stop his advance .

But the miasma he gained from Fields of Despair] was far below what was expended to continuously defend , and Zac knew that he wouldn’t be able to slowly grind these ghosts to death with Deathwish] .

The large ghosts were far too strong . Not only did they manage to rend gashes on his skin that started to bleed the black ichor , but their attempts to possess him also forced him to expend a large amount of miasma . Had it only been the basic ones it would have been a different story , but this seemed to be the place where the strongest ghosts gathered .

He kept putting one leg in front of the other as he ran , and suddenly he was completely unencumbered by any attacking ghosts . Zac looked up with some confusion and found himself staring straight at the Core of Darkness . Desire to touch it almost blocked out everything else in his mind , and his hand even reached toward the shining crystal . But Zac forcibly moved his hand away and quickly averted his gaze with trepidation . That had been too close .

He quickly shot a gaze behind him to find that the ghosts were loath to approach any further . Suddenly one of the smaller ghosts wailed in rage and flew forward to bite Zac . However , it didn’t even get halfway to him before it suddenly disintegrated , and its particles were sucked into the crystal .

Zac was surprised since he wasn’t expecting it to feed on the ghosts . He even started to consider carrying it in his arms as he fled to the exit of the cave . It would keep even the largest ghosts at bay , providing with safe passage . But he shook his mind after a bit . He didn’t dare to actually touch that thing since he had no idea what would happen .

This thing might be the source of downfall of a sect , and running around with it in his hands was tantamount to suicide . He quickly took out a chest wrought of some unknown metal instead . It was pretty large and could contain at least two cubic meters . Inscriptions covered most of the thing and it weighed almost half a ton from his approximation .

It was something he had looted from one of the summit palaces . A bunch of valuables that emitted strong energies had been stored inside it , but before he opened it he didn’t sense the slightest fluctuations . So Zac hoped it would be able to contain at least some of the aura of the Core of Darkness , giving him enough time to stow it away into his Cosmos Sack . Since that place was a separate space he didn't think it would be able to cause any problems as long as he stored it .

He ignored the increasingly enraged screeches and wails of the ghosts as he lifted the chest , carefully maneuvering it to enclose the Core . The moment it was fully encapsulated Zac quickly snapped the thick lid shut , but before he could put the chest into his Cosmos Sack a wave of some unknown force cascaded out from the Core of Darkness and passed right through the chest .

Zac only sensed Indomitable] activate , and immediately fail , before his vision turned black .

Chapter 247 - Heart of Oblivion

A slow but steady heartbeat echoed out into the void , each thump vibrating with the primordial Dao . For untold ages the Heart of Oblivion] grew , it’s tendrils reaching further and further . But suddenly its sanctuary was encroached upon .

His eyes were the stars and his hand was the sky , and when he moved the Dao shied away . He gripped the heart and clenched with enough force to tear the fabric of reality to shreds . The shockwaves shattered the black hole that the heart hid inside , the explosion destroying innumerable planets .

Unwillingness . Desperation . Hatred . The heart shattered , its remnants fleeing to all corners of the myriad planes . One day it would return .

A tower reached toward the stars , thrumming with dark powers . It was completely black and charred , as though it had been struck by an endless number of lightning bolts , and millions upon millions of bodies hung from varying weapons that had been slammed into its rough exteriors . Darkness slowly swirled around it , a testament to the owner within .

Thousands of warriors desperately fought against a tide of frenzied and putrefied beasts , the wide plains they stood on already covered with the fallen . In the background a towering roc stood perched on a hill , its eyes radiating boundless darkness .

The ghost slumbered deep within the earth , only occasionally waking up in a bout of frenzied mania to wreak havoc upon its former home . A wail containing its self-hatred and desperation couldn’t help escaping its incorporeal maw before the darkness once again shrouded its mind .

The young beggar could only look up at the floating palaces in the sky and dream of a better life . But fate had abandoned him , straddling him with a weak body unable to cultivate . He was trash , forever relegated to the lowest rungs of society . But a whispering beckon called to him , and he crawled deeper and deeper into the sewers until he found the pitch-black gemstone that would change his fate .

The scenes kept changing in a dizzying array , and Zac had almost lost all sense of reasoning by now . But one thing in the scenes was constant ; the Darkness . Each vision only lasted for a few seconds , but what he had seen was enough to scar him for a lifetime .

Luckily many of the visions were not as bad as the ones filled with unrelenting carnage . Most of the visions were of hidden pockets of the multiverse , where the splinters of darkness drifted about unchecked and unencumbered . The visions kept sweeping him away , but suddenly they stopped as he found himself in front of a woman sitting in a lotus position in a vast cave .

Her skin was as white as death and she wore robes that were completely black apart from the occasional silver details . While her features were unblemished and perfect it was impossible to feel a sense of beauty , and Zac rather only got a feeling of desolation and death from her .

An ocean of miasma slowly swirled around her , its density thick enough to turn the energy into a liquid . Suddenly the woman opened her eyes , and Zac found himself staring into two pitch-black orbs of the abyss .

Child of Draug , you have stepped on the path of Oblivion? - she sighed as she looked down at her hands . - Is it fate? -

The flurry of visions had stopped , but Zac still had no idea what was going on . Was he teleported , or was this all an illusion? He desperately tried to utilize any method he had learned during his entrapment in the corridor , but there were no clues on how to get out .

The feeling was the same as when he had his Dao visions and the fact that the woman in front of him spoke to him just like the guards indicated this all might be real . His real body was likely still back in the cavern , and god knows what was going on .

Zac was desperate since he knew just how bad the situation was . His real body might currently be exposed to the corruption of the Core of Darkness , and at such proximity , his miasma would soon be drained from the consumption to keep himself safe .

He had a strong feeling his core wouldn’t be able to help him out in this type of situation . Either the specters or the mysterious crystal itself would take possession of his body long before the process could finish .

How curious , I do not recognize your lineage , - she muttered , showing a slight change in her expression for the first time . - Karma ties us , we will meet again . But it is time for you to return . -

A crystalline hand pointed toward him , and suddenly a storm of miasma was ripped out from the ocean around them and crammed into his mind . It felt like his soul would rip to pieces until it was suddenly stabilized by some unknown force .

The next moment enough miasma to explode him a thousand times over were crammed into Indomitable] and it felt like his mind had truly become unassailable . The vision shattered around him , and the last thing he saw were those two familiar pitch-black eyes .

The next moment he found himself standing in the cavern , and to his shock , he was holding the Core of Darkness , or rather the splinter from the Heart of Oblivion] in his bare hands against his forehead . He quickly tried to throw the thing into his Cosmos Sack , but it was too late as it suddenly disappeared with a shockwave . Unfortunately , that wasn’t the end of it as he suddenly found an alien presence in his head .

The black crystal had rushed right through the defenses of Indomitable] and entered his mind , and he simply had no means of removing it . Zac was dismayed by these developments , but he had even more immediate concerns . The moment the splinter entered his mind its restrictive effect on the specters was gone .

A cacophony of wails echoed through the chambers as the specters assaulted him with enough wrath to make it seem like Zac had killed all their ancestors . He found himself in the middle of storms of rabid ghosts who completely ignored their wounds as they tried to rip him into shreds . Zac quickly oriented himself and immediately rushed toward the exit at the other end of the cavern .

Wounds were quickly accumulating on his body , and the golden robe of the Medhin Royal was completely drenched black before he had even run a third of the way . At least he was gaining a huge amount of energy from the continuous kills since the ghosts were even angry enough to attack his Dao-empowered fractal shield .

Suddenly it was as though his whole body thumped from a heartbeat , though not his own , and he couldn’t stop himself from falling over from the shock to his system . He quickly looked inward at the splinter , only to see that it had changed , and hundreds of tendrils were growing out , reaching toward his pathways from his mind .

Panic filled Zac’s heart , since between the ghosts that inhabited this mountain and the hundreds of visions he was shown he knew only too well the fate that awaited those who were corrupted by the Heart of Oblivion] .

He desperately erected as many defenses as he possibly could with Indomitable] but the black tendrils effortlessly crushed them , and Zac groaned since every defeat felt like his soul was ripped in two . But suddenly a shocking change appeared in his mind .

Archaic fractals wrought out of pure miasma appeared , forming a defense that was infinitely stronger than the one he erected himself . He was completely befuddled for a second , but his mind quickly turned to the mysterious woman in the vision .

Judging from her appearance she should be a Draugr just like him , which might be why she helped him . She also seemed to understand what was going on far better than himself , and it felt like he only kept finding more and more questions as he trudged along .

It seemed he needed to look into the heritage of his current form as soon as possible , and how he could even become a Draugr at all . His cosmos sack back home was filled by notes from Mhal , and Zac felt that it would be a good place to start looking .

But now was no time for that . The mysterious miasmic fractals had stopped the advance of the black tendrils , at least for the time being . The runes had even created something like a separate dimension that contained the splinter away from his mind and his pathways . But they hadn’t stopped the unceasing onslaught of the ghosts . Zac forced himself up to his feet and heedlessly pushed toward the tunnels .

He already used Verun’s Bite] to destroy the specters in front , but the wounds were just accumulating too quickly . His vision started to get blurry as he stumbled and almost ran straight into one of the pillars .

A new presence suddenly entered his mind , and his bleary eyes couldn’t help but turn toward his axe . It was his tool spirit that had finally awakened from its slumber . Apart from the initial communication after the evolution , it had been in hibernation the whole time .

The only time it showed any reaction had been when he killed E-Grade beasts , at which point some of its blood got absorbed into the crimson fractal on the handle . When he first upgraded the axe it had been a shimmering crimson , but the color had soon dimmed to a weak and watered down red shade .

However , with every kill the intensity of the colors had increased , like killing E-grade beasts were charging up the fractal . By the time he reached this cavern it was already shimmering in a crimson red once again . Zac didn’t know how to communicate back , so he simply spoke aloud hoping that the beast could hear him .

I need help , buddy , - Zac said with a raspy voice .

Warmth filled his heart as a roar responded in his mind , and the next moment the huge beast materialized . Another roar echoed through the cavern , and Zac suddenly got a huge surge of energy as Verun ripped dozens of ghosts to shreds with a swipe of its claws .

Pained and even scared wails echoed through the cave as the Tool Spirit almost became unhinged in his goal to destroy everything around Zac . Pillars shattered and were broken from its rampage , and Zac quickly snatched those that he could as he resumed his flight toward the tunnel .

Even though Verun had lessened his burden by a large degree he still was extremely wounded , and the Tool Spirit couldn’t block all of the thousands of ghosts . Many still managed to pass it and attacked Zac with suicidal fervor .

Zac popped his strongest healing pills as he fled , and he barely managed to reach the edge of the cavern when suddenly a terrifying sense of danger blared to life in his mind . Zac unhesitantly hunkered down behind his bulwark as he pushed as much energy as he could into Indomitable] .

The next moment an extremely piercing wail echoed through the cave , drowning out all the calls of the smaller specters . Even with his newly acquired defenses it felt like Zac was hit in the head with the sledgehammer , and he couldn’t stop himself from blanking out .

Luckily the wail had also stopped the ghosts in their tracks , and they all ignored him to instead turn toward a huge figure that had appeared sometime in the cavern . A roar echoed straight back , and Verun unhesitantly pounced on the new threat .

The indistinct figure only pointed at the tool spirit , and the next moment a deluge of darkness flooded out toward it , drowning the spectral form of the primordial beast . Zac’s eyes opened in alarm , but he soon breathed out in relief as he saw a stream of light break out and enter his axe once again .

The tool spirit had been forced to flee , and Zac truly felt it was the best course of action as he started running the last few meters toward the cavern . But his surroundings were suddenly blanketed in darkness , and the next moment the form blocked the exit in front of him .

Despair filled Zac’s heart since he already knew this thing was the leader of the ghosts , the very source of the wails that had shocked his mind the first time the darkness descended . He also sensed that this being was far beyond his power , being peak E grade at the minimum .

He knew that there was no way to beat this thing , but he refused to give up without a fight . So he readied himself for his final battle with a grim demeanor , but that specter suddenly started to shrink and transform . In just a second the faceless shape of the huge specter had changed , and in front of him stood a man in a black cultivator’s robe .

He was mostly humanoid , apart from the same type of third eye as Anzonil . He had a handsome face and he gave off a heroic disposition . But his eyes betrayed desolation , and Zac felt like he looked at someone who had lost all hope .

Zac knew that the man in front of him wasn’t alive , at least not in the same sense as himself . Even if the thing in front of him had taken a humanoid form it was still mostly translucent . It was mostly wrought from the energy from the Heart of Oblivion] , but it seemed to be clashing with some force within that shone with a silver luster .

You… Fool… . - the spectral cultivator stiltedly said with a sigh after throwing a glance at the empty center of the cavern . - Tell… . Master… . Sorry… . -

Chapter 248 - Cursed Success

Zac could only gape , and he mutely nodded his head in agreement . He hadn’t expected the ghost to speak with him , but it was a far preferable alternative to battle .

Go… - ghost responded before it turned away from Zac and disappeared .

Zac thanked his lucky stars that the ghost seemed to have regained his sanity , if only temporarily , and he started to run toward the tunnel . A jumbled chorus of screeches behind him forced some extra strength in his legs as he leaped the last few meters .

He sensed a decrease of Darkness in the atmosphere , proving that he once again had passed an array protecting the mouth of a tunnel . He quickly turned around to survey the cavern , and he exhaled in relief when he saw that the ghosts whirled around in confusion . They clearly couldn’t see where Zac had gone and frantically flew around in the cave in search of their target .

However , the larger ones seemed slightly more intelligent as they rammed their bodies at the cave opening , making Zac take a few steps back . But the ghosts simply bounced off the unseen shield and roared in rage when they couldn’t get through it .

A few of them even tried to rip the air to shreds , and even though Zac was extremely tired and wounded he felt he couldn’t stay here . He wasn’t sure if they were just unwilling to give up or whether they could sense the splinter lodged in his mind , but creating some distance from this place was probably for the best . He had no idea just how strong those arrays at the opening were , and it was a bad idea to risk it .

He kept walking for a few minutes , and as the rush from the battle waned it was replaced with extreme tiredness . His mind felt like it would explode at any moment . Between those tendrils breaking his mental defenses and the extreme consumption of mental energy his mind was exhausted to the point that his soul might be wounded .

His body wasn’t in much better shape , and he was completely covered in wounds all over . It was a good reminder that he still wasn’t invulnerable just from his high attributes . A sturdy frame wasn’t enough to completely block out the damage from the stronger ghosts who were approaching , or even reaching , the E-Grade in power .

Suddenly the dark caves gave way to light , and Zac stumbled out of the tunnels with some effort . He had walked the last bit on pure will power , but now it was as though the air went out of him . His overtaxed mind barely registered the change in the surroundings as his was vision started closing in on him .

There was only a smidgeon of miasma left in his body to barely keep it running , but Zac simply sat down with a grunt and closed his eyes without taking out a Miasma Crystal . It time to let the last of the miasma leave his body and return to his human form .

It was only hours later that he opened his eyes again and finally took a proper look around at his surroundings . It was a hallway that looked very much the same as the one he had arrived at from the ravine earlier . The walls were cut with the same precision , and the hallway was illuminated with the familiar crystals .

It gave such a sense of déjà vu that Zac had to open up his status screen to make sure that he hadn’t been stuck in an illusion the past days .

Name

Zachary Atwood

Level

62

Class

F-Rare] Hatchetman

Race

E] Human

Alignment

Earth] Port Atwood - Lord

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 , Duplicity Core , Apex Hunter , Heaven's Chosen , Scion of Dao

Dao

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

Core

F] Duplicity

Strength

451 Increase : 55% . Efficiency : 116%]

Dexterity

232 Increase : 40% . Efficiency : 116%]

Endurance

621 Increase : 60 , 5% . Efficiency : 116%]

Vitality

301 Increase : 50 , 5% . Efficiency : 116%]

Intelligence

97 Increase : 40% . Efficiency : 116%]

Wisdom

113 Increase : 40% . Efficiency : 116%]

Luck

101 Increase : 60% . Efficiency : 116%]

Free Points

3

Nexus Coins

F] 96 525 943

But the attributes and Dao Seeds remained , proving he wasn’t caught in some array . It had even increased since he now once again benefitted from the boost from Forester’s Constitution] once again .

Even before he entered the last cavern he had a free point to allocate , but now there were three . That meant that the insane onslaught of the specters at least had provided him with two levels , making his grind end at level 53 this time around . His endurance was starting to look completely monstrous , though he knew that the increase wouldn’t be as drastic going forward .

The final 22 levels of the class wouldn’t be so easy since he knew just how many kills were behind the 9 levels to 62 . And the 13 levels after that would only be worse . Zac hesitated for a bit , but he finally bit the bullet and put two points into Intelligence . Unfortunately , it wasn’t enough for the system to round up to 100 , so he put the third and last point inside as well , bringing the total to 101 .

There was a direct effect from the addition , and he sensed his power was increased throughout his body , even though his attributes remained the same . He quickly looked at the title screen to see that there was a new addition in the mix .

Omnidextrous : Attain over a hundred points in all attributes during F-Grade Reward : Effect of Attributes +5%]

It pushed his Efficiency up to 121% , and Zac felt the high tiered titles were really starting to provide a huge hidden bonus . It provided around 120 points worth of extra Endurance , and almost 100 points more in Strength , which could likely take anyone by surprise at this stage . That many points were more than many had in total , and he had that just as a hidden bonus .

He was a bit annoyed at himself for holding off on putting the points up there , but he didn’t require the extra attributes down in the caverns . The title also wasn’t listed in his little booklet of titles , but he realized that might be because extremely few should be able to bring their Luck all the way to 100 , at least this early in cultivation .

Zac also realized just how lucrative his week down in the caverns had been when he noticed he had gained roughly 50 million Nexus Coins . It might not have been as high gain per hour as the best stretches in his Hatchetman class , but he had also spent most of the time walking the endless tunnels rather than fighting .

Finally , he was hopefully done with everything here apart from picking up the treasure . After that , he would be able to join the final few days of the hunt , and he couldn’t imagine the situation up there to be anything but desperate . The new Daos and attributes would likely come in handy .

Five E-Grade powerhouses were running around up on the surface , two from his and three from the other world . There were the two Dominators , the Medhin emperor , the Medhin Crown Prince , and finally the champion of Berum , Beruv Ylvas .

One of the three Medhin Royals in the E-Grade had disappeared from the ladders three days ago , but Zac had no way to know whether he was killed or simply returned to manage the Medhin Empire . But Zac assumed he was killed since the royal was in the top ten of both ladders . Leaving just a few days before he would get both levels and a title would be crazy .

Zac was still leery about meeting any one of the remaining powerhouses after his battle with inevitability . His progress down here had given him a huge boost in survivability , but unfortunately it didn’t provide the same boost in attacking power . But that was a later problem and for now he needed to deal with his banged-up body .

Even though Zac had changed form his wounds were still there , and Zac quickly swallowed a healing pill to speed up the recovery before he took out some of the high-grade meat he had brought . He ripped into it like a starving ghost , and he hadn’t realized just how much he had missed the taste of food during the past days .

As he ate he turned his sight inward , and his eyes were immediately drawn to the mysterious black crystal still hovering silently inside his mind . Surrounding it was a string of fractals wrought from miasma , and Zac couldn’t help but feel a twang of panic upon seeing them .

He hadn’t thought about what would happen if he turned back to human , and had instinctually assumed the crystal would stay locked down behind the fractals . But those were made from miasma , and there was no guarantee they would stay in his human form . He had come very close to letting loose those dreadful tendrils by his carelessness .

But luckily no such thing happened . The miasmic fractals had turned the area with the crystal into a separate space , and it had no bearing on him as far as he could tell . Still , it felt like having a ticking time bomb inside his mind , and as he sat in the corridor he felt extreme regret over his actions .

Both the ghost and the powerful Draugr woman had seemed to think that he had done something spectacularly stupid by taking this sinister thing . And Zac was inclined to agree after being shown all those visions of other beings that had fused with a splinter . There were no happy endings in those visions .

He had been too impulsive , and his greed had made him get stuck with something that might turn out to be far more troubling than the miasmic wound that plagued him until his core was formed . He needed to quickly find a way to get rid of this thing since he had no idea how long those defensive runes would last .

As Zac looked back on his actions he couldn’t believe it was himself who acted so foolhardy . That thing screamed danger , and he knew that it might have been the cause of D-Grade powerhouses falling . To try and take it was beyond foolish , and he would normally take the long way around such an inauspicious object .

His only conclusion was that he had been manipulated somehow . He briefly considered Anzonil , but he did not think he was the source of the manipulation , though the old man should know the crystal was there . He was more inclined that it was the splinter of oblivion that had corrupted his thoughts in order to get out of that desolate cave .

But there was one good thing that had come from this ordeal . He was suddenly in the first position of the Gatherer Ladder , having passed even the Medhin Emperor . Since he hadn’t found anything else of value the past days it could only mean that the parasitic crystal was counted by the System , and it was regarded as extremely valuable .

A thought struck Zac and he got up to his feet with a grunt . Suddenly the whole hallway was filled with mounds of treasures . Zac had poured out everything that seemed to be of high value in his sack but still kept his first position . He had a feeling that even if he lost his whole pouch he would still keep his position .

The East Trigram Sect contained lots of great treasures for newly integrated worlds , but Zac estimated that it was a strong E-Grade Sect , or a weak D-Grade Sect at the best . Anzonil and perhaps a few others were the only D-Grade powerhouses .

Meanwhile , the crystal that had lodged itself in his brain seemed to be a supreme , albeit cursed , treasure that would be considered valuable even on higher-graded worlds . He became extra thankful that he possessed the bangle from Greatest . Otherwise , he might find himself in even bigger trouble from the crystal than from his Specialty Core .

Zac was still far from healed , but he didn’t want to wait any longer so he quickly retrieved all the treasure he had thrown out . He looked like he had been dipped in ink from all the ichor , but at least the golden robes were slowly healing themselves .

Zac started to walk down the hallway , and it was with some relief he saw another gate not far off that looked very similar to the last one . This time he didn’t equip his shield , but simply pushed open the doors with a grunt .

Welcome young… uh , human? Were you not a Draugr? - the familiar voice echoed through the majestic chambers .

I'm leaving for the surface soon , looking like a human is more convenient , - Zac said with a shrug as he walked inside the room , not wanting to get into specifics .

Its architecture was similar to the last one , with the pillars and beautiful sculptures , but it was far smaller than the last one . The Array Spirit had already materialized in the other end of the room , roughly twenty meters away .

How curious . If I wasn’t a ghost I’d try to get to the bottom of such a mystery , - the old man said as he stroked his long beard .

Anyway , I am here , - Zac said .

It is good to see that you passed my final trial . To see such an enticing treasure but have both the intelligence to spot the dangers and the mental fortitudes to walk away , - the old man said with an approving nod . - If we only made the same choices back in the day , so much would be different . -

Zac blankly looked at the old man for a second before he understood what was going on . The array spirit had purposefully led him to that cavern with the intent to test his character . If he was smart enough he’d leave that cursed thing alone and walk straight through the cavern to get here .

Well yes , it felt like something cursed , I am not strong enough to tangle with such a thing , - Zac said with a straight face , but he could feel his ears heating up from embarrassment .

If I may ask , those ghosts… Are they your former sect members? - Zac probed , eager to change the subject .

The old man sighed and looked at the exit with deep helplessness and sadness in his eyes .

Yes , it is true . Will you listen to this old man’s tale? - the Array Spirit said .

Zac was more interested in the treasures , but he also needed to know more about that crystal .

Please , go ahead , - Zac said .

The East Trigram Sect was a small sect that could barely be considered a D-Grade force on a low-tier D-Grade world . We only had half-step D-Grade cultivators , but somewhat made up for our lack of power with our insight into arrays , - the old man began .

I am sorry , half-step? - Zac asked confused .

Chapter 249 - Creation and Oblivion

The trial to reach D-Grade is to successfully form a Cultivator’s Core , also called a Cosmic Core . This is not something that happens naturally . There are various methods to do this , but they all have high requirements , and just a minuscule fraction of all E-Grade warriors manage to take that final step , - Anzonil said with longing .

If you almost succeed in forming the core but fail at the last step you have two options . You can let the core shatter and try again at a later date , but doing this will leave you seriously wounded . Even worse , every following core-forming attempt will be even harder .

The second option is to force your failed core to stay together , which stops the core from completely breaking apart . It will maintain a small part of its original function and you will see a slight boost to your longevity . But if you do that you are still not considered as D-Grade by the System , and you will cut off your path of advancement forever , - Anzonil explained .

I had already failed my evolution two times , and I knew the third try would be my last . Alas , I failed that time as well and took the second option to at least be able to protect my sect a bit longer , - the old man sighed .

In any case , there were far stronger forces all around us , and we constantly were under the threat to be swallowed whole . Luckily we suddenly saw an opportunity to rise . The son of the Sect Master was the greatest talent our sect had ever seen . He grasped not only our insights into the study of formations , but he was also an extremely adept warrior with deep insight into the Dao .

I took him as my Terminal Disciple , pooling all my efforts into turning him into a powerful pillar of the sect . We had no doubt that he would become a true D-Grade warrior in the future , and help our small sect rise given enough time . But war came to the continent , and forces like were destroyed or swallowed up one by one . -

That’s when that man arrived at our sect , - Anzonil continued , for the first time showing smoldering anger in his eyes . - That accursed man . He appeared to be a rogue cultivator and a complete lunatic . He destroyed half our sect and caused so many deaths with his sinister spells . -

Zac nodded and remembered the sword scars that covered some of the structures up on the surface .

Through our arrays and great sacrifices , we finally managed to kill him . But that wasn’t the end of it . Out of his body two crystals emerged , emitting boundless power . As you understand one of them was the one that I managed to move to the underground cavern , where it has rested since , - the old man continued .

Zac had a pretty good idea what happened to the other one , and Anzonil soon confirmed his guess .

The other one was taken by Raval , my disciple . -

Zac’s thoughts turned to the spectral cultivator who blocked his path right at the end , who asked him to apologize to his master .

After seeing the crystal with your own eyes you must think my disciple to be a brash fool . But those were desperate times . The fate of our sect was already hanging in the balance even before the arrival of that man , and we had just lost a large number of our forces and hidden cards to kill him .

The moment the surrounding sects learned what happened to us they would immediately launch a full assault . It wasn’t greed or personal gain that drove Raval , it was his wish to protect the sect he loved . As expected the surrounding sects soon arrived with their armies , but Raval exploded with never seen before prowess . He single-handedly pushed all our enemies away , killing dozens of elders and other powerhouses .

We were all elated , and I even thought of having someone else absorb the other crystal even though it emitted such ominous energies . After that battle , all the surrounding sects stayed away , but Raval started to change over the following years . He got aggressive , moody , and unstable , - Anzonil said with a shake of his head .

Finally I had to confront him , and that’s when I learned what was truly going on . That’s when he showed me the large square far beneath the surface and the massive tunnel-system he had created . In fact , those tunnels you walked were not made by me , but rather by Raval himself .

He felt himself getting corrupted by the crystal , and he had no means to remove it . It had completely fused to his very being , and it didn’t even let him kill himself . So he hatched a plan . He created an enormous circle that runs beneath the whole sect and turned that into an array whose purpose was to purify the crystal .

He circulated the dark energies through this massive array in hopes to slowly grind out the sinister and corruptive elements of the Crystal . After I learned what was going on I spent years working with him to improve the array , and initially we thought we were on the right track . Unfortunately , the power of that cursed object was just too massive , - Anzonil said . - I think you can imagine the rest . -

I was actually stopped by Raval in the last cavern , - Zac said , making the old man’s brows lift in surprise . - He asked me to relay that he was sorry . -

Sorry? - the man repeated with sadness in his eyes . - It is I who should be sorry . If I was stronger he wouldn’t be forced to infuse himself with that cursed object to protect our sect . -

The two stood in uncomfortable silence for a bit until Zac finally couldn’t stop himself from trying to gather some more information about the thing in his mind .

Did you ever learn what that crystal is? - Zac asked .

Raval called it a piece of the Heart of Oblivion] , and after expending a large portion of my wealth I learned a few things , - Anzonil nodded .

A sour feeling entered Zac’s mouth after hearing that the old ghost had actually already spent most of his money , but at this moment the knowledge might be even more important now anyway .

My research pointed me toward an extremely old scripture that described the source of Dao and the universe itself . Those things are highly debated topics , so I do not hold much faith that the old sage who wrote it got it exactly correct .

But when it spoke of the creation of the multi-verse it touched upon a subject of interest for my research . It said that in the beginning there was only Chaos , but from Chaos both Creation and Oblivion were born , the two highest Daos apart from Chaos itself .

These two Daos created the multiverse , and all the lower Daos were birthed from them . I do not know if it is true since those kinds of Supreme Daos are far beyond my understanding or reach . But I managed to confirm that the Dao of Oblivion does exist , and that it is extremely powerful , - Anzonil said with a face conflicted between hate and longing .

If what the sage said about the tiers of Daos was true , then one could say that Oblivion is the end-point of all destructive Daos . The rumors we found were that Heart of Oblivion] was born from a splinter of that pure original Dao , which makes it impossibly valuable . However , it was somehow corrupted , which created the sinister energies that permeated it .

Such power is not something that normal people can touch upon , much less control , which makes it a poison that drives men mad . That’s why great warriors sought to destroy the heart all those endless eons ago . But that thing is truly stubborn and survived , though it is now only a shadow of its former self . But just that shadow is enough to destroy all that it touches , - Anzonil sighed .

Zac thoughtfully looked inward at the trapped splinter in his mind , and a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions passed through his mind before he steadied himself . At first , he was elated that he had snatched a treasure that contained a trace of a Supreme Dao , and he couldn’t even imagine how valuable something like that was .

But that also showed just how big the trouble he was in . Raval seemed to have been in late E-Grade when he absorbed the splinter , but he went mad within a decade even though he did everything in his power to stop it . He even built an array that was as large as a country to stem the corruption , but even that only slowed down the process slightly .

If the miasma fractals in his mind broke , how long would he have until he became yet another wailing ghost himself? He would have to put his mind into figuring this out as quickly as possible , but after asking a bit more there was not much else the Array Spirit knew . It was only a shadow of its former self after all , and both its memories and knowledge were limited .

It also begged the question of just who that woman in the ocean of miasma was . Just how powerful must she be if she was able to seal such a monstrous item? And she also mentioned that she didn’t recognize his lineage , and he had no idea if that was a good or a bad thing . And just why did she help him? If there was something he knew it was that one couldn't count on benevolence of others . That was how you ended up robbed and dead .

By the way , you called my race royal , earlier . Could you explain that further? - Zac asked , trying to glean some more intelligence from the old Array Spirit .

You don’t know? - Anzonil said with surprise .

I have no connection with the Undead Empire , so my knowledge of my heritage is extremely lacking , - Zac explained .

Honestly , he hadn’t even given the subject any thought before . Whether it said Draugr or Undead in his status screen didn’t really make any difference for him , but after the vision and Anzonil’s comment he felt that he needed to know more .

Well , I do only retain a fraction of my memories in this form , so I do not remember all the details . But simply put you are a purebred undead , uniquely suited for miasmic cultivation , - the old man explained .

Almost all undead are turned species . For example , humans who have died and been infused with miasma . They are not pure undead since their original bodies were not meant for that sort of cultivation . Even their progeny who are born undead are afflicted with the same problem , - Anzonil continued .

Sorry , progeny? The undead can have children? - Zac asked with some surprise .

Of course , but not until they reach late E-grade and have awakened their bodies , - Anzonil nodded as matter of course , giving Zac another surprise .

During the past two weeks he had ample time to scour through his body , and he almost retained none of his bodily functions . His heart didn’t beat , and the black ichor in his veins was simply sitting there .

He did breathe , but he wasn’t sure if he was just going through the motions or if his body actually picked up oxygen somehow . But he did consume a small continuous amount of miasma to simply function which was different from how it was being in his human form .

In any case , this mismatch with miasma slows down cultivation and makes it far harder to break through the bottlenecks . In return , the undead has generally higher attributes and they live longer before they turn insane . So if an undead manages to break through its shackles it will likely be stronger than a human on average , - Anzonil explained .

Then what about Draugr? - Zac probed .

The Draugr is one of the five purebred undead races , - Anzonil said . - Even though they look mostly human they are not . They have no living counterparts , the same as the other four pure races . Their origin is unknown , just like the true origin of the undead in general . -

And this makes cultivation easier for us? - Zac asked .

As far as I’ve understood it . The five races have a natural connection with Miasma that other undead do not have , and their bloodlines are almost considered holy . If you walked into the capital of some planet in the Undead Empire many of the young lasses wouldn’t hesitate to procreate with you , - the old man added with a perverted grin .

Zac coughed in surprise since that change in demeanor from the old man was quite a shift from the image of kindly sage that he had mostly shown so far . Anzonil seemed to understand what Zac was thinking , and quickly continued with a cough .

But I wouldn’t recommend it . From what I’ve heard the elders of the five races aren’t big fans of their genes being wantonly spread throughout the Empire . They rely on their superior lineages to that they can maintain their power . They have built up great advantages and heritages over millions of years with the help of their natural endowments , and don’t want it spread into the public , - he added .

Zac was generally happy to learn that he had actually dodged the problem of handling miasma , something he didn’t even know existed . But it only made him more confused . These five races seemed like pretty lofty existences , they wouldn’t likely deign to invade some newly integrated planet .

And why did he become a Draugr because he was stabbed by the Corpse Lord? He was pretty sure that man wasn’t a Draugr . Mhal looked completely different from both himself and the woman in the vision , and he rather felt like something that was the result of Necromancy .

It almost felt like his confusion only increased the more answers he got .

Chapter 250 - Rewards

Even though the situation was pretty confusing to Zac he was at least right in front of someone who could help him get a better picture of what was going on .

Do all of us Draugr look the same? Or can we have red shining eyes as well? - Zac asked just to make sure that Mhal wasn't a Draugr as well .

I am not sure , but from what I understand your eyes are unique , and not something other undead possesses . Red shining eyes? The Eternal Clan , another of the five races , might sometimes have red eyes from what I understand . It is part of their blood arts , - Anzonil answered after mulling it over .

Vampires , - Zac mouthed with surprise , and he quickly asked a few follow-up questions about The Eternal Clan .

From the old man’s explanation , it really looked like they were vampires . Were the old stories from earth all true? Would he encounter dragons and werewolves as well in the future? But Zac also knew that the red eyes might just be a coincidence . The Corpse Lord neither felt like a vampire nor used any blood arts , so he was likely of some other origin .

Zac kept asking about the Undead Empire and the Draugr , but it was clear that the Array Spirit wasn’t as knowledgable about the subject as with the Darkness . He didn't even know what the other three races of purebred undead were , though he did remember one of them was of the ghost-type .

He also had no idea what different lineages could mean when Zac asked about that in a slightly roundabout way . Anzonil said that there were many old Clans among the Draugr who were considered nobility . One ancient family , in particular , was seen as the de-facto leader of the race . But most of the Draugr were simply normal cultivators , though still elites of the undead empire .

That the woman in the vision didn’t recognize his lineage might simply mean that his form wasn’t related to any of the major clans . But perhaps there was more to it that Anzonil simply didn't remember or knew . The old man was an array master after all , not an expert on undead genealogy .

Zac's intuition told him that it wasn't something so simple as him not being of noble birth . The Draugr woman had seemed surprised to not recognize him , which might mean that the secret was larger than that . In the end it came back to the notebook of Mhal . He still couldn’t read the undead script , but he would make learning it a priority when he came back .

For now , he had no clues of how to deal with the thing in his head , but the Path of Oblivion the Draugr woman mentioned was the first clue , and perhaps he could find more if he looked into the Draugr . Another potential source of information would be Thea’s Library .

It was a gift from the System just like his shipyard and repository , which meant that it was a possibility that it contained knowledge that was out of reach from even a Half-Step D-Grade cultivator . He already knew that Brazla’s creator was at least a top tier D-Grade hegemon with many powerful allies .

He also knew that the Creators was a supreme race of golems that was almost as old as the System itself . Unfortunately , it was impossible to learn things from them since they only were interested in building and selling their ships . But it proved that it wouldn't be a stretch if Thea's library was ripped from some ancient civilization that had access to all kinds of knowledge .

The only issue was how to get access to the library since knowledge was extremely valuable and Henry Marshall was a wily old man . But his rapport with Thea was pretty good , and he thought he had an idea of how to trade for access without really losing anything . So he would need to find her before the trial ended so they could make a deal .

Besides , it would be nice to see her again to make sure she was okay .

So… Uh… You mentioned some treasures earlier? - Zac finally asked when he felt he had learned all he could from the Array spirit .

Yes , of course . I apologize , I do not know how long I’ve been sitting here , so I took the opportunity to make some conversation after all these years , - the old man said with a smile .

I do not know how it works , but I could try bringing you back to my town if you want? - Zac probed .

Zac mainly asked because he felt bad about the fate of the old man and wanted to let him leave these lonely caverns . But having a sapient Array Spirit to control all his arrays would also be a huge boost for Port Atwood .

Thank you , young man , but this old man’s work is not done . The fact that Raval managed to regain his form and communicate for a bit is proof of that , - Anzonil smiled .

Zac didn’t understand what the old man was getting at until his eyes suddenly widened in understanding .

You’re still running the cleansing array , - Zac said with surprise .

Tens of Thousands of years now , - the Array Spirit nodded with a smile .

After thinking it over Zac finally had a decent picture of what was going on . He had initially seen the darkness as some sort of trial by the system , but he now realized that wasn’t the case . It was Anzonil who released the accumulated darkness from the cleansing array into the atmosphere , like opening the valves of a dam . The System simply used that fact and made it part of the trial .

He wasn’t completely sure why the ghosts only appeared at that time , but perhaps opening the seals also meant that the ghosts were able to sneak out from the caverns for a bit to feed on the dense Cosmic Energy at the summits . They then had to return before the openings down to the caverns closed .

Zac was moved by the old man's resolve . To rip out a piece of his soul and infuse it into the array just for the small hope to heal his disciple was a true show of love and dedication . He wondered how many would go so far in for someone that wasn't even family .

But suddenly he had a troubling thought .

But why is the other crystal inside the purification array? Wouldn’t that make things difficult for you? - Zac asked .

He was afraid that he had somehow ruined the array by taking the splinter of the Heart of Oblivion] , so he asked to make sure .

It’s truly an impediment to my efforts . Raval and I placed it inside the array to check on the effects of our changes into the cleansing array . But things went south too quickly , and I had no time to move it out when it all fell apart , - Anzonil sighed .

I can’t get close to it in this current form , and I think that Raval avoids it . I believe the effect of gathering multiple crystals increase your power even further , but the corruption also grows worse . The fact that Raval hasn’t touched it in all these years is proof that part of his rationality remains , - Anzonil said with a smile .

Zac started to get a sour feeling after hearing the old man’s explanation . What would happen if he left without telling the old man what truly transpired in that cave? Anzonil would probably find out soon enough that something had changed in his array , and would perhaps assume that his disciple had consumed the second splinter .

I guess I should come clean , - Zac said with a sigh and spilled the beans , only skipping over the part with the Draugr woman .

I was wondering if you would tell me , - Anzonil said with a sad smile , and the next moment a pillar with a Cosmos Sack rose from the ground next to them . - This old man might just be an Array Spirit now , but I can still sense the changes of energies inside my array . You taking that cursed object wouldn't escape my senses . -

Zac could only wryly smile in embarrassment . It seemed that the old man had been testing him once again .

But you seem in far better shape than my Disciple ever did , so I didn't stress the subject . Respecting other cultivators' secrets is important , - Anzonil added .

I have a few special means . I didn't absorb it like your Disciple . The thing is currently locked away in a separate space , - Zac only said , and it was the truth as far as he could tell . - I have no confidence in meddling with such an object with my current power . -

So you came prepared , that is good to hear . But if you would listen to this old man's advice then I urge you to discard any thought of actually using that thing . That object might be able to bring you endless power , but also endless suffering . A moment of carelessness will lead to ruin , - Anzonil said with a serious face .

Thank you . I will not do anything with that thing unless I have full confidence in succeeding . If I ever find a method to control it and help you two in the future I will do my best to find this place again , - Zac promised .

Anzonil nodded with a kindly smile before he indicated for Zac to take the Cosmic Sack . Zac looked over at it and knew that it was the promised inheritance . He couldn’t help but feel it was a bit anticlimactic when he walked over to pick up the small sack .

You expected piles of crystals and treasures? - the old man laughed when he saw Zac’s blank face .

Zac scratched his cheek in embarrassment . The old man hit bullseye , and Zac had kept throwing glances around the room to find any place that could lead to a treasure trove . He had pictured the inheritance to look somewhat like a dragon’s hoard .

But he had to admit that made no sense when there were Cosmos Sacks around , though the imagery wasn’t quite as strong this way . He went over to take it after an encouraging nod from the old man , and the moment his finger touched the sack it disintegrated into motes of light that entered his Cosmos Sack .

What a marvelous sack , I’ve never seen anything like it , - the old man muttered with interest . - The creator must have had extremely deep insight into the Dao of Space to merge separate spatial spaces like that . -

We got it from the system at the start of the hunt . Unfortunately , I do not think we will get to keep it , - Zac explained with a smile as he checked the contents of his sack .

He didn’t have high hopes since the old man already said that he spent most of his wealth trying to find means to help his disciple , but he still was positively surprised by the things that were added . There was a large stacks of E-Grade Nexus Crystals and even a few that shone with even denser energy . There was also an assortment of crystals of various elements , likely meant as energy sources for arrays .

Apart from that there were a handful of intricate boxes , and Zac knew they were meant to house Spiritual Herbs or Fruits . Between the compounding effects of staying inside a Cosmos Sack and the protective arrays of these boxes , the contents inside would stay fresh almost indefinitely . So even if they had stayed here for thousands of years most of the efficacy of the things inside should remain .

Finally , there were ten information crystals that looked like the one that he found the first day . They were conveniently placed in a stand , and Zac quickly glanced that 8 of them contained information about arrays .

One of them was a copy of the one he owned , but the other seven broached other subjects in the study of arrays . Zac knew just how much information that first crystal contained , and with seven more of them he essentially had a full heritage to nurture powerful array masters .

The final two crystals were on another subject , inscriptions . This was knowledge that was extremely valuable to Port Atwood since inscriptions were a part of almost all craftsman classes . Not just Array Masters could benefit from these two crystals , but everything from blacksmiths to alchemists would as well .

I would suggest not trying to use the D-Grade crystals while still in F-Grade . It might burn your pathways clean , - the old man said . - Then again I guess you rather use Miasma crystals anyway? -

It is still a great treasure , and I can always trade it , - Zac said , not explaining his situation .

He felt the old man was trustworthy , but he wouldn’t divulge his situation to anyone apart from his closest circle . You never knew how it might return to bite you in the ass . The fact that Thea knew about it couldn't be helped since he had turned in front of her due to his wounds .

That’s true . The ten information crystals contain the crystallized knowledge in the art of formations that our Eastern Trigram Sect accumulated over the millennia . I hope that you find a way to learn or give those out to someone worthy so that our knowledge lives on , - Anzonil said .

I will make sure that this knowledge is not lost , - Zac promised .

He wasn't completely sure whether if he would have time to learn about arrays himself since there were so many things on his plate already . But he was interested in finding a side-profession when things were less hectic , and Arrays was a good option that could help him broaden his skillset .

His current fighting styles were pretty simple and straight forward in both his classes , but adding some arrays into the mix might both catch people unaware and make him more flexible . Some knowledge in arrays was also extremely beneficial while adventuring since he could turn any place into a fortress with the help of some defensive and slaughter arrays .

Best of luck young Draugr , - Anzonil said as he pointed at Zac . - I hope we will see each other again . -

The next moment Zac was pushed backward like last time , and the next moment he found himself standing on a secluded cliff overlooking the mountains of the Eastern Trigram Sect .

He was finally back on the surface .

Chapter 251 - Family Drama

Three men were kneeling on the ground of the large luxurious tent . They were shaking in fright , but not one of them dared to either move or speak up to break the suffocating silence .

So none of you have found that man after three long days? - the middle-aged man on the throne said with a voice devoid of emotion as he stared down at his subjects .

He had a short beard that was perfectly trimmed , and his black hair was held back in a knot by a jade diadem that was covered in dense fractals . In fact , a casual glance would be enough to spot over ten treasures that would cause a storm of bloodshed if they were placed on the streets of Medhin . But of course no one would even dare dream of taking them from this man .

He was decked in a golden robe with large red fractals . Everything about him screamed of opulence , but no one would ever think the man was anything but a warrior . Part because of the large spear that was never further from him than arm’s reach , but mostly due to the suffocating power that naturally radiated from him .

Emperor Nenothep was nothing like some of the extended family , wastrels who lived a life of luxury while barely contributing to the Grand Undertaking . The core of the family was a ruthless competition of resources and advantages , or at least it had been until the Grand Undertaking was finally coming to fruition .

Nenothep had killed at eight of his siblings and cousins in his quest for the throne and imprisoned another 14 . He was ruthless to others but more so toward himself . He pushed his forces hard , but he had been balancing on the edge of life and death since he was a child , all in order to push himself further on the path of cultivation .

Now that the world was finally flooded with both Cosmic Energy and fortuitous encounters he had exploded in power and had ransacked the whole empire for any benefit that could be seized .

Three days . Hundreds of men , - Nenothep continued with his even voice as he looked down on his three generals . - Yet the killer of my son eludes you . Do I need to make changes to my ranks? -

The three started shaking even worse since there was no such thing as a demotion , only decapitation , and substitution .

Witness accounts clearly indicated that Repubat managed to grievously injure Beruv Ylvas before he fell , and we saw the direction he fled . Yet he is allowed to recuperate in peace , making us look like fools , - Nenothep continued , his massive aura causing the throne beneath him to creak from the pressure .

Lord Emperor , please give us a bit more time , - the man in the middle pleaded without daring to raise his head . - We have found some clues and are pursuing them to the fullest . However , our resources were partly diverted to find this Zachary Atwood . -

Nenothep grunted in displeasure , but he had to admit that he was the one that gave that order just half a day ago . That otherworlder had been his greatest adversary for the treasures of this dead world , and he had once again been overtaken .

He had been shocked to find that this Zachary Atwood , or Super Brother-Man as the ladder called him , was a lone wolf without a support system . He himself had scoured summit after summit , but he also had thousands of soldiers to pick the mountains clean for him .

Yet this man had been stiff competition relying only on himself , and perhaps a handful of helpers . The only answer he could find was that Zachary Atwood possessed a supreme skillset for sniffing out grand treasures , likely combined with a very high Luck-attribute .

Less than four days remained of the hunt , and he couldn’t solely rely on himself and his soldiers to accumulate more treasures . Even if he passed Zachary Atwood again he could lose his position at moment's notice . He needed to kill that man as well , even more than finding Repubat's killer .

Perhaps I can help in that regard , - a golden robed man said as he entered the tent , dragging a shackled woman with him .

Emperor Nenothep looked over at the person who entered his tent with mixed emotions . It was his fifth son , Vasidas Medhin . On one hand he felt pride that he had birthed such a genius , and the man was such a clear successor that he didn’t have to worry about the future of his lineage . If the integration hadn't happened he would be a great source of joy .

But now there was also worry , and to certain extent jealousy , in his heart as he gazed at his successor . When The Great Redeemer arrived to their planet the Medhin family would be rewarded from their millennia of efforts and then relocated to their new home .

But there was also a chance to be taken as a disciple by the Great Lord himself , and that had been the goal of Nenothep since the moment he learned his planet was finally being integrated . But his son was simply too stellar and was quickly inching in on him even though he had five decades of a headstart on the road of cultivation .

That in of itself was a problem . Nenothep was already closing in on 80 years old even though he barely looked to be forty , whereas his son was only 28 . While Nenothep would still be considered a child of the younger generation in the multiverse it was undeniable it was better to take in as young disciples as possible .

Would The Great Redeemer even look his way when there was another with at least the same proficiency but far younger? Some killing intent was hidden in his heart , but he still hadn’t decided on his course of action .

It wasn’t due to familial ties , but rather due to caution . Vasidas was no fool , but rather the opposite . He was definitely ready for a strike , and he was likely even planning an attack of his own . So they smiled and lived in harmony as they danced their dance of death .

This is why Nenothep was a bit suspicious about the motives of the young man , and his eyes turned toward the young woman who glared back at him with her piercing blue eyes .

I still haven’t found the man who killed second brother , but I might have found a way to get to Zachary Atwood , - Vasidas said . - This is Thea Marshall , an offworlder who was seen traveling with Zachary Atwood for the first two weeks . Perhaps she would be useful in luring him out . -

Nenothep’s heartbeat couldn’t help speed up when he understood the opportunity that was in front of him . Zachary Atwood had been simply impossible to locate during the past weeks , but he obviously kept getting treasure after treasure while also killing thousands of cultivators and beasts .

But he hesitated as he looked at the captive . Gaining the first position on the Gatherer ladder would be a great win for Nenothep , but he held no delusions his son would help out of the goodness of his heart .

Just what was Vasidas planning this time?

Zac stretched a bit as he got up to his feet . Since both his body and mind were still hurt from the cavern earlier he opted to rest for a few hours once he had returned to the surface . As he waited for his body to heal his mind couldn’t help but going toward the Splinter of Oblivion in his mind .

It was still stuck in the separate space along with the miasmic fractals , though that didn’t do much for lowering his stress . Even after asking Anzonil there were many unanswered questions , but he was forced to put them aside for now . The space seemed completely steady , and it was even to the point that he was barely able to see what was going on inside .

But he had other pressing concerns . He needed to figure out what to do for the last days . He was already top-dog on the gatherer ladder , and the top Title was as good as his as long as he didn’t get himself killed . But he still was far off his original goal for the hunter ladder .

He had only gained one more position during the past days , putting him in the 5th position . He had passed one of the E-Grade powerhouses from his final clash with the ghosts , but he was unsure how long he would be able to maintain that lead .

The two names in the lead were Inevitability and Harbinger , which wasn’t too surprising . The third was Nenothep Medhin , and the fourth spot was Vasidas Medhin . The Medhin royal who had disappeared and helped Zac gain a spot was Repubat Medhin .

Zac honestly had no confidence in being able to pass the two Dominators after having fought one of them , and outright killing them was out of the question . However , his eyes couldn’t help but toward the two Medhin royals .

Almost a month had passed since he saw the other world's ladder , but at that time Nenothep Medhin was level 89 , whereas Vasidas was at level 78 . He couldn’t be completely sure , but he had some confidence in killing Vasidas , or at least surviving if he failed .

But at the same time he wasn’t sure if it was worth it . It didn’t matter if he improved his position to 4th spot on the Hunter ladder since the 4th to 10th positions gave the same rewards , 3 levels and 50 million nexus Coins .

He needed to either defeat pass not only the crown prince but also the emperor himself to get the 3rd reward spot and instead gain 5 levels . But he wasn’t as confident against Emperor Nenothep . He couldn’t be considered recently evolved , and that wasn’t the only danger with those royals .

The real problem came with the War Arrays they seemed to possess . He could only imagine that the force that the emperor himself surrounded himself with would far surpass that of Tyrbat who he killed with Thea earlier .

There was also the issue of his token . Unfortunately , there was no function where it automatically returned after a while , so he still had no option to retreat if needed . So if he decided to assault the Medhin Royals his venues of retreat would be limited .

So assaulting the royals was a high-risk gambit with limited rewards . Certainly , they both possessed huge amounts of wealth . The Emperor had even more treasure than himself if he discounted the Heart of Oblivion] . But what he had gained thus far already far surpassed what he had dreamed of , and he didn't want to get greedy .

He also didn’t know if Inevitability was still after his head , so any large-scale activities might get the attention of the people he least wanted to meet .

In any case , he needed more information . He was pretty sure something had changed up here during his time in the tunnels , judging by the number of points others had gathered . Perhaps there would be some way for him to move up the ladder without having to duke it out with the Medhin Emperor .

The mountain he was dropped off on was one of the decorative mountains with engravings and a large pillar at the summit . However , now he had a feeling that these things were actually disguised components of the massive array running beneath the mountains .

Since there was nothing of interest on the mountain Zac started to make his way down the mountain . He kept his eyes peeled for any signs of cultivators or fighting as he descended , but the area seemed pretty quiet at the moment .

He had quickly noted that the stage had shrunk even further during his time below , and he was a bit too close to the edge for comfort . He hastened his steps as he rounded the mountain so that he'd descend in the direction of what seemed to be the core of the remaining hunting grounds .

But at least it didn’t seem that the System would force everyone into a desperate melee at the end of the hunt . The area was still plenty large , and Zac didn’t think he would be able to reach the other side even if he tried . Reaching the core shouldn't be a problem though if he skipped ascending the summits .

As he descended toward the valleys between the mountains he quickly realized his assumption from before was correct . The System must have unleashed hordes of beasts into the trial since the foot of the mountain was practically teeming with animals .

There had already been a lot of them at the start of the hunt , but now it was bedlam as packs of animals were fighting no matter where he turned his eyes . The forests were filled with a deafening cacophony of calls , to the point that Zac could barely hear him think .

A new way for him to not only gain a bunch of points but also work on his levels quickly made itself apparent . Why should he risk his life to fight some E-Grade monsters when millions of beasts were waiting to be turned into Nexus Coins and experience?

The hunting grounds had truly become a paradise to grind levels and points .

Chapter 252 - Hunter's Paradise

Zac wasn’t annoyed by the ruckus in the forest . If the whole hunting ground was like this it would drown out the sounds of battle , which would allow Zac to act more freely without the risk of drawing the attention from the Dominators .

Zac took out his axe and for the first time in a while summoned the oversized edge of Chop] . As he suspected the edge had changed slightly to accommodate the new form of his axe . After testing the sharpness with his finger and on a few rocks he was happy to see that the edge was far sharper compared to before .

His skill had no problem adapting to the increased quality of the axe , making him wonder if there was any limit to how strong Chop] could become . The skill wasn’t upgradeable unlike most of his other ones , and he had worried about what he would do about it . But perhaps there was no need to worry . He only needed to upgrade his axe and the skill would follow suit .

He did however notice that the energy consumption had drastically increased to accommodate the increased power of the fractal edge . Luckily his energy reserves had gained a huge boost lately , allowing him to use the skill even in prolonged battles .

Zac was eager to both gain points and to properly test the might of his new axe and he wasted no time to unleash a storm of violence at the wildlife in the valleys . He flashed back and forth between the packs with Loamwalker] , and his fractal edges were half-moons of death as they effortlessly bisected animals by the dozen with every swing .

There was no contest , his speed of killing was far superior in his human form , and both points and Nexus Coins kept streaming in . Unfortunately , the monsters weren't very strong here and he was hit with the same reduction in rewarded energy as he got when killing Barghest nowadays .

But he wouldn't stop just because of that , and as he kept killing his way toward the next mountain he also started performing various tests with his new Daos . He found that the improved Chop] was almost as lethal as when he imbued the edge with the Dao of Sharpness before his axe upgraded , and when he imbued the upgraded edge it emitted a terrifying aura , like it would almost cut space itself .

He also found that he could imbue his edge with the Dao of Hardness without a problem , though the effect seemed quite limited . Perhaps it would be good when hitting things that would harm his axe otherwise . The Dao of Sanctuary couldn’t be infused though , but Zac wasn’t surprised by that .

He also summoned Nature’s Barrier] and he was happy to see that he finally found a use for his new Dao . The skill had a pretty surprising change when it was infused with the Dao of Sanctuary . Zac had always been able to change the size of the area the swirling leaves protected to a certain degree , but after he infused it he could almost extend the area by almost ten times compared to before .

Even better , as the size increased the number of leaves increased as well , so the actual strength of the barrier didn’t decrease with the increased area protected . However , such a large sphere of protection consumed a huge amount of cosmic energy , so Zac quickly removed his Dao before he was drained .

He would only be able to keep that shield going for a minute tops before completely running out of energy . But that was more than enough if he needed to protect a large group from some incoming threat until it could be neutralized .

The Dao of Hardness worked as well , and it turned the leaves slightly wooden from their earlier glistening emerald . The defensive properties were clearly improved though , but he felt it wasn’t quite up to the level of the Dao of Trees . But the skill itself had also been given a huge upgrade with the help of his massive Endurance , and he felt that he wouldn’t be completely helpless against Inevitability’s chains any longer .

All in all , he had a good all-round upgrade in the cavern , where even his offensive power had taken a good leap thanks to upgrading Verun’s Bite] , so Zac had some newfound confidence as he kept moving through the sea of beasts toward the next mountain .

He wasn’t as interested in looting the summits any longer and was more interested in finding stronger beasts to fight . But even more importantly he wanted to find one of the five thousand remaining hunters so that he could get an update on what was going on .

The first mountain seemed completely deserted , and he found that the buildings close to the foot had all been looted . Since time was limited he opted to keep going toward the next one , but when he did he suddenly noticed a startling change .

It seemed that the System had somehow arranged things so that the beasts were getting stronger and provided more points when he proceeded toward the core of the hunt . Zac looked toward the core area with a frown , unsure of what to do . The density of the beasts around him was just crazy , but where he was they were pretty weak and provided very little Nexus Coins and Cosmic Energy .

He already had accepted that he wouldn’t be able to get to level 75 through the hunt rewards , but he would at least be able to gain at least another level if he moved further toward the core and fought the stronger beasts instead .

He was also more likely to find stronger cultivators further in , which might help him accomplish a task that he had almost forgotten . He needed more alliances back on earth . Partly for Calrin to expand their business , but also to move across the world to close the incursions .

He didn’t know how long the inheritances would take , but according to Ogras they usually took just a few hours tops . That meant that he would be out closing incursions in less than a week . There would be a need for infrastructure to be quickly put in place so that he wasted no time traveling between the incursions .

In the end , Zac chose to move further toward the core of the remaining area , creating huge swathes of deaths wherever he went . But the gaps were quickly filled with more beasts swarming to feast on the corpses .

He passed three mountains by as he headed further toward the core , doing a quick inspection for signs of any hunters . But it seemed the outer rim was pretty abandoned , and all the sings of activity were pretty old . But as he approached the fourth mountain he found a clue .

He noticed the grass on a large field to be glistening with blood thanks to the position of the sun , and even the ground was wet . However , there was not a single corpse to be found , meaning the battleground had been cleaned to hide the activity . This strongly indicated some cultivators had been grinding points and levels here recently and then tried to hide it .

Zac quickly scoured the area for any clues , but there was not much to go by . Finally , he chose to stalk the foot of the mountain , hoping to find the person's hideout . He caught a lucky break after twenty minutes as he noticed a man stealthily moving toward a building in the distance . Zac didn’t approach though , instead opting to check it out from the distance .

The interiors were completely shrouded in darkness , but Zac already knew his target was inside unless there were hidden exits . However , he was hesitating whether he should enter or just shout from outside . If he entered he would need to break through the array protecting the building , which might give the person inside time to flee or crush his token .

But shouting from the outside would warn the occupant , and with Zac’s ladder positions he would be a fool not to flee . In the end , Zac opted for the brute force tactic , and with a flash he slammed right into the array at the entrance with his movement skill .

He was surprised to find himself completely immobilized the moment he passed through the entrance . It was a restriction array , and he hadn’t expected such a strong one to be placed down here so close to the foot of the mountain . Zac belatedly realized this was likely the reason this hunter chose this place as a hideout .

A sudden sense of danger in his mind was all the warning Zac got before a sword swung with the intent to pierce his throat with immense speed . However , while Zac was unable to move he could still rouse his Dao Seeds , and between 642 Endurance and the Dao of Hardness the stab barely drew blood .

The next moment Zac broke the array by force and gripped the shocked man by his neck with one hand as he snatched the token with his other . It had been hanging by the man’s neck , easily accessible in case he needed to retreat quickly .

I have some questions , - Zac said to the horrified man .

Ten minutes later Zac descended from the mountain once again with a crude map in his hands . It was something John , the man from earlier , had drawn . It detailed the surrounding area of five mountains in each direction , mainly with markers where other cultivators resided and good hiding spots .

With the drastic increase in monsters a shift had taken place on the surface while Zac was stuck down below . There were very few battles now between cultivators , at least in the outer rim . The people here had simply staked out a small area for themselves and used the remaining time to farm the beasts below as hard as they could .

These people had no chance of gaining any rewards from the ladders , but the great density of evenly powered monsters had turned the zone to a leveling paradise . They had already gathered a decent chunk of wealth and felt no need to risk their lives to explore any further .

These people on the outer rim were mainly between levels 35 to 40 , and killing beasts here was extremely beneficial as long as they didn’t get overrun . And Zac was surprised to note that the levels on earth's power ladder had made a great leap .

Rank

Name

Level

1

Super Brother-Man

62

2

Salvation

58

3

Enigma

55

4

Thwonkin' Billy

54

5

Thea Marshall

54

6

Joker

54

7

Silverfox

53

8

Daoist Chosui

53

9

Guru Anaad Phakiwar

52

10

Thomas Fischer

52

. . .

100

Edmund

46

His lead wasn’t as immense anymore , with everyone in the top twenty having passed level 50 . Even though Salvation had been kicked out of the hunt pretty early he hadn't been idle , and he was now level 58 , just five levels behind himself . Thea hadn't had as impressive a performance for some reason , and she was overtaken by not one but two people .

Zac was a bit surprised since he knew just how efficient in hunting beasts she was . With the conditions as they were , Zac would have thought that Thea would not only keep up with Salvation but possibly even pass him on the ladder .

His friend the Abbot had been relegated down to the 37th position , but he was surprised to see a new familiar face at the top ten . It looked like Thomas Fisher must have somehow made a huge improvement to reach so far so quickly , since he wasn't even on the ladder before the hunt .

To reach the top 100 you needed to be at least level 46 now . He hadn’t thought about it before , but he was relieved to see that he wasn’t listed twice . That would have raised some questions he did not want to answer .

However , according to John things were likely not as calm closer to the core of the hunt . He had occasionally heard sounds of battle carrying all the way over here , most notably a massive battle taking place three days ago . John figured it was the fight that ended with Repubat Medhin disappearing from the ladder , and Zac was inclined to agree .

There had been another large battle happening just a few hours before Zac arrived as well , though John was unsure who that was between since no one disappeared from the ladder at that time . It had only lasted for less than thirty seconds though , so John thought it was a lopsided one .

But mostly there was a desperate fight for the top hundred in the gatherer ladder since that one would give out titles . Just being able to kill one or two cultivators could increase one's gathered wealth manifold , skyrocketing them up on the ladder . It was risky , but many of those remaining were willing to take that risk .

After Zac had found everything he needed he had crushed the token of John and sent him back to Earth . He didn’t feel the need to steal his treasure as well since he was almost dead last in the gatherer ladder . But Zac also wouldn't let him stay here since he had tried to kill him .

There was one danger for everyone though , not just those staying closer to the core . There were roving squads of Medhin warriors that even assaulted the outer rims in search of treasure . The Medhin Emperor was truly insatiable and had ordered his soldiers to gather everything from animal parts to looting weaker cultivators to increase his wealth .

Zac snorted when he thought about the image of the Medhin Emperor seeing himself get pushed down to 2nd spot again , being unable to regain his position . The emperor was likely even scouring the trial ground for him . But Zac had no intention of meeting that old monster .

He was simply content to hunt the stronger beasts and find cultivators from Earth .

Chapter 253 - Rats and Champions

Zac wasn’t overly worried about drawing the ire of Nenothep Medhin . Part of the strength of the Medhin Royals was their armies , and even if the Emperor might be able to keep up with him using Loamwalker] , there was no way that the normal soldiers would .

After learning more about the situation he resumed heading toward the central area . Since he wasn’t climbing the mountains to loot the summit palaces this time around he was making time , and in less than half a day he passed almost as many mountains as he visited the first two weeks in the hunt .

He was staying away from the mountains altogether now that he knew the situation , instead opting to run through the middle of the valleys between . The monsters were extremely densely grouped there and he also avoided other cultivators who were more likely to stay closer to the mountains .

Beasts were constantly pouring at him , and he had unceasingly swung his arm back and forth for hours . Zac guessed that he'd already killed more beasts since returning compared to the whole week down in the caves . He wasn’t even able to properly stop for dinner and instead kept swinging away while eating dried jerky with his free hand .

His guess had been correct about the strength of the animals . After he'd moved this far inland the average power of the beasts was 10 levels higher compared to the edge he started at . If this trend continued then the innermost part of the hunting ground should be filled with beasts close to the bottleneck , perhaps even with a few E-Grade alphas in the mix .

Zac really wanted to go there , but he also knew that was likely where the E-Grade cultivators were stationed . He wasn't ready for that sort of confrontation , so instead he started veering toward the mountains looking for people . However , this time he was looking for people to set up alliances with rather than to gather information .

The mountains this far inside were more populated , and he quickly found a couple of cultivators , sometimes even small groups of them who stayed together to more efficiently hunt the valley beasts . Not everyone could be a one-man army who could freely roam the forests below without any worries to his life .

However , finding people that filled all the criteria wasn’t quite as easy . They needed to not only be from Earth , but they also needed to be the leader of a town , unaffiliated to the New World Government , and also have a teleportation array . It was only after finding , or rather cornering , ten individuals or groups of people that he found someone who fit the bill .

It was one of the Scandinavians Zac heard about during his first visit to the New World Government , and Jonas was surprisingly enthusiastic about entering the agreement . Zac was pleasantly surprised since he had been prepared to essentially force the alliance upon people .

But it turned out there was an Incursion close by that they had a hard time keeping in check . The invading force kept growing stronger while they couldn’t improve as fast . Zac simply told him to open the Teleporter for trusted people and he would come by within a week after returning .

During the next hours he managed to find three more people who fit the bill , though two of them weren’t very close to any Incursions . But at least it would increase his options and open up possible locations for new Thayer Consortia branch stores .

When everyone heard that he could provide shops with both better equipment and lower prices than the System-run stores they were extremely enthusiastic . Good gear was still hard to come by since the stores in the system only provided extremely basic stuff and it was extremely hard to gain equipment-gaining quests .

But the next target he found was pretty surprising . It was one of those rat-like things that Salvation had caught and turned into Silver Soldiers . At that time Zac had thought they were something local , but now that he spotted a living one he saw that it possessed ladder positions .

Zac grew extremely curious and hurried over to catch it . The ratman possessed a dexterity-based class , and it desperately tried to dodge Zac's pursuit . It even used its tail to change direction mid-leaps , but in the end it wasn’t enough to escape from Loamwalker] . Finally , it took out its token , but Zac was prepared and threw a rock that smashed into its wrist , making it drop it .

Zac flashed over and immediately snatched the token before resuming the pursuit . A minute later he had cornered the ratman against a cliff wall , and when it saw there was no escape it looked at him with fear . It didn’t say anything , but instead frantically gestured at Zac , but Zac had no idea what it was trying to convey .

What are you doing? Can you speak? - Zac asked .

Oh , you’re one of the ones gifted with the language skills , - the ratman said with a decidedly feminine voice . - Please don’t kill me , your ladder position is so high , I won’t make a difference . I have people relying on me back home . -

I won’t kill you , - Zac said . - But I am curious where home is . I haven’t seen your kind before , and as far as I can tell there are only participants from two worlds . -

I am from the world with different species . Ishiate , humans , and Zhix , - the ratman quickly said . - And I know who you are . You're the human champion of our world , the Super Brother-Man -

How do you know that? - Zac asked .

Because we met the other species in the tutorial . We also got a lot of them spawning with us afterward , but most of them are dead now . . . - she said . - I know about all the ladders . -

Zac frowned as he looked at the fidgeting humanoid in front of him . It looked like the mystery of the missing people could be explained through this thing . But what did she mean by most being dead?

Did your kind kill the humans? - Zac said as he let some of his aura leak out .

No! We have lost most of our people as well! It’s the Incursion! Those crazy golems fill our tunnels and towns with magma , killing us by the millions sometimes , - she quickly said .

Explain , - Zac said with a frown .

Our kinds have lived underground before the integration . We’ve done so for thousands of years . This hunt is the first time I see the sky , - she said and quickly explained her origin .

Apparently , they truly were ratmen like Zac had initially expected . But they weren’t always burrowers in their homeworld . A long time ago their sun started heating up , making life on the surface almost impossible . Decade by decade it just got worse , and it was quickly becoming a mass extinction scenario .

First , they started to move their cities into caverns so that the mountains could shield them from the heat , but soon that wasn’t enough . They kept burrowing deeper and deeper into their planet to escape , to the point that they soon were tens of kilometers below the surface . Their bodies changed to accommodate this life , and they soon shed their fur and gained excellent night vision .

The integration was somewhat of a relief for them , because the heat from the sun had kept creeping further and further down through the tunnels , and they could only dig so far before heat started rising from below as well . By the point that the integration took place less than fifty million ratmen remained alive , and they had become a minority in their own cavernous cities .

Chaos had taken hold of the underworld , with the Zhix essentially going to war with the other species . But soon it was all moot due to the Incursion . It contained some sort of rockmen , though not the ones that assaulted Port Atwood it seemed . They all possess fire-related classes and were comfortable living underground .

For the first months , the rockmen passively defended their territory as they stripped the ground of its resources , turning into pretty lucrative hunting targets . They gave far better rewards than killing the various beasts that lived in the underground cave-systems . Killing and looting a rockman as it returned to deposit what it had mined would yield an enormous profit . No one had been interested in closing the incursion , and they only realized their mistake too late .

The fire-golems hadn’t been just mining about , but they had also been secretly digging massive tunnels all the way down to enormous pockets of lava . One day the whole world rumbled as the golems unleashed the lava upon the underground cities , causing massive casualties .

Now all four species were desperately fighting to both close the Incursion , but the lava had somehow empowered the golems , making the battle a losing one . Even now the remaining populations underground were desperately battling the golems so that they wouldn’t be able to keep building those tunnels and lead even more lava toward them .

Zac was shocked that such a thing had taken place without anyone on the surface having any idea . He was also surprised to hear that both Joker and Enigma where people from the underground , and were the leaders of the human resistance . They had been consistently at the top of the ladders since the start , but no one had known their identities until now .

But they weren't the only ones on the ladder . It turned out that the subterranean humans and ishiate were heavily overrepresented on the Wealth Ladder . Greed , Little Treasure and Smaug were all people from the underworld as well .

Why haven’t you built any Teleportation Arrays? - Zac couldn’t help asking . - It would allow you to flee up to the surface . -

We have , but we’ve never seen any arrays apart from our own . Now that I have a better picture of the situation I think that either the distance is too long or that something is blocking us . We are surrounded by pockets of Nexus Crystals and other heavy elements we haven’t seen before , perhaps that interferes somehow , - she said with a shake of her head .

Zac’s eyes widened and he couldn’t help but feel some greed . It sounded like the underground was just a treasure trove waiting to be looted . There was also an incursion down there that needed to be closed .

Hmm… I own a mine on the surface . I will see how far down it reaches , and place a teleportation array as far down as possible . Perhaps I will be able to reach you that way , - Zac finally said . - Accept the alliance , and you will see if it works within a week after this is over . -

You’re letting me go? - she hesitantly said as she quickly accepted the prompt for the alliance .

I merely wanted to speak with you from the start , but when people see my ladder positions they try to flee or crush their tokens . So I have to be a bit forceful , but I am only looking for allies right now . The Incursions have killed enough of our people . The situation on the surface isn’t much better than underground . But we will strike back as soon as this trial is over , - Zac said .

She quickly nodded in agreement .

I am Justa , I hope I will meet you again , - she said as Zac started to walk away .

Zac nodded at her before he resumed his journey . He was pretty surprised there being a fourth race on Earth , but he already knew it was a possibility since Julia told him about the missing people all those months ago . In fact , the situation might be a big opportunity for Port Atwood . If he managed to connect with the underground there was a fortune to be made .

They were clearly loaded with Crystals and precious metals underground , but they were lacking in many other things . If he could destroy the Incursion he could capitalize on the wealth , and also work as the connection between the above-ground and the underworld . He could probably make a fortune in just transportation fees .

He resumed his relentless carnage in the valleys as he moved toward the next mountain , and he soon found himself back in his routine . As he searched for allies he also encountered a few of the roving Medhin squads , but they were either quickly killed or sent back to their homeworld depending on how they acted .

Many of them had tried to quickly send off various skills into the air , and Zac guessed that the Emperor had ordered them to quickly share their location if they found him or other important targets . But every action in that direction was met with a swift and decisive swing of the axe , quickly killing them .

However , the monotony of his grind didn’t last forever . Suddenly a shape barreled toward him from the forest crowns when he was in the middle of a valley . It was the first time he’d seen a cultivator this far into the woods , with most staying close to the mountains so that they had a venue of retreat .

Zac frowned the incoming man , but since his danger sense didn’t give any signals he held off on attacking . However , he did activate both his physical and mental defensive skills to prepare for anything . He also activated Inquisitive Eye] , and while the information he received was pretty sparse it was enough to identify this stranger .

It seemed that Beruv Ylvas had some business with him .

Chapter 254 - Beruv Ylvas

Zac didn’t know what to make of the situation since the man who had stopped some distance away from him was one of the E-Grade powerhouses in the hunt , and the leader of the Resistance against the Medhin Empire . But he did not really look like a powerhouse at the moment , but rather a war-torn refugee .

I mean you no harm , - the man said with a cough .

Zac frowned and took a second look at the man in front of him . He seemed to be in his fifties , though he might be older as outward appearances weren’t the best indicator of age any longer . He had long brown hair that was slightly greying in his temples , and it was held back in a leather hoop .

It was the same with his short beard that seemed to be the result of one month without shaving rather than some permanent style . He was a handsome man , but Zac was rather interested in the reason for his current state .

There were multiple dried spots of blood on his body , and even his aura was slightly erratic , signaling serious wounds . He was also pale from blood loss , and almost a sickly sheen covered his forehead . Zac had a strong suspicion that this was the result of killing Repubat Medhin a few days ago . Only a few others should be able to harm him like this .

I am Beruv Ylvas from the planet Berum . I have been searching for you and a few others in hopes of entering an alliance against the Medhin . Judging by your clothes you have no problem killing them , - Beruv said with a pointed glance at the golden robes Zac wore .

Zac relaxed slightly since it seemed there would be no battle for now . He remembered that Beruv Ylvas was only level 80 , but he should be far stronger than the E-Grade beasts he had encountered so far . Beruv must have done something spectacular since he was the strongest person from his original planet , just like he was the strongest person on Earth .

It also meant that he likely had a handful of the frontrunner-titles such as himself , making him stronger than just his level . He would prefer to fight someone like this blind . So Zac kept his guard up in case he was planning a sneak attack for the wealth he had accumulated .

I’m sorry , I understand that you have an irreconcilable enmity , but I do not have much to gain by risking my life against Nenothep , - Zac warily said without turning off his defenses .

I understand your position , you are already first on the Gatherer Ladder and you don’t have much to gain by joining me . But I am willing to not only give up all the treasure we collect from the operation , but also half of my own , - Beruv continued .

Zac's brows rose and he had to admit he was slightly tempted . He had already made away with more treasure than he’d expected , but he was the head of a large force . Setting the foundations for a strong army and skilled craftsmen needed heavy investments , and this would be a huge help . The emperor should also hold the war arrays that he had seen everyone from Medhin use , which he really wanted to get his hands on .

I have to admit it’s tempting Mr . Berum , but why would you go so far to enlist me? You should know by now that I have not broken through to E-Grade , - Zac said .

I go by Ylvas . And I know you are not evolved , but I sense that you are far stronger than any other F-grade warrior I've met . You're likely even stronger than the two sons of Nenothep , - Ylvas said with a serious face . - My senses are telling me I might be in danger just by standing close to you . -

Zac surmised that Ylvas should have accumulated a decent chunk of luck by his comment , and he guessed what he said made sense . However , Ylvas did not say that he was stronger than the emperor , which was telling of how strong that man was .

Still , giving up that much wealth will set you back quite a bit . Why not simply take your treasure and cultivate . There will be other chances to kill the emperor , - Zac probed .

Killing Nenothep Medhin is extremely hard since either his position is unknown due to him exploring uninhabited lands , or he’s safe within his palaces . This place is the best chance for our resistance to kill him , - the man said with another cough . - But most importantly I refuse to become the fulcrum for that old goat . -

The fulcrum? - Zac said with a frown , an ominous feeling growing in his heart .

I managed to gather some intelligence when I killed Repubat Medhin . We have always wondered how the whole family could possess such power when the normal citizens of Medhin were completely unable to cultivate , - Ylvas said . - It turns out that some old monster called The Great Redeemer visited their planet thousands of years ago . -

I’m sorry , did you say The Great Redeemer? - Zac exclaimed , not able to hide his shock .

Yes . Why , do you know anything about him? - Ylvas said , his eyes thinning .

Zac hesitated for a second before he explained the events at the end of the battle with Salvation . Ylvas frowned as he listened to the story , and sighed after Zac was finished .

It might not be a coincidence that it was our two worlds that were put together on this trial . It seems we both face the same problem , - he said with a shake of his head .

Could you tell me what else you found out? - Zac asked .

The Great Redeemer set up gathering arrays and taught the Medhin cultivation . Before he left he gave them a task . They needed to completely dominate their planet before it was integrated . So the Medhin already knew about the integration and that their world would sooner or later become part of the multiverse , - Ylvas said . - For thousands of years they have waited and prepared . -

Zac , unfortunately , wasn’t too surprised when he heard the story since it was all too familiar to things on his own planet . The Dominators seemed to have the same past , with the difference that their quest for world domination failed due to the rabid resistance of the Anointed and the Zhix hordes .

But he couldn’t completely connect the dots . It seemed that it was Salvation who had the connection with The Great Redeemer , but the terms fulcrum and the similarities were with the Dominators . Were the Dominators working together with Salvation? But they shouldn’t have had any contact before the integration .

What does fulcrum mean? - Zac asked .

I am not completely sure , but it has something to do with The Redeemer’s plans . A few powerhouses seem necessary to use as focal points of arrays . I would be turned into an array flag essentially , and I would rather kill myself than see that happen . But if I die then they will choose someone else , - Ylvas said with fury smoldering in his eyes .

Turned into an array flag…? - Zac muttered with disgust .

That sounded like an extremely sinister method , and it wasn’t something that was mentioned in the array crystal in his possession . Worse yet , if that was how the arrays were created , then the array itself couldn’t be anything good either .

But that begged the question of why The Great Redeemer put all that effort . Ogras had already told him that finding inhabited planets that yet weren’t integrated was like searching for a needle in a haystack . However , The Great Redeemer had actually found at least two and initiated the same plan for both of them .

It was not a good feeling to know that some old monster might have a vested interest in his planet . But Zac couldn’t figure out the reason . New planets certainly had a lot of valuable things , but there was simply not enough wealth to make an old monster traverse the cosmos and scheme for thousands of years .

Do you know what The Great Redeemer is planning? - Zac asked .

No idea . I don’t think even Repubat himself knew . Either Nenothep keeps that secret to himself , or perhaps none of them know what’s truly going on . The only thing Repubat knew was that The Great Redeemer called the people of the world 'fuel' , and that the Medhin would be taken to a cultivator’s paradise for fulfilling their task , - Ylvas said with a shake of his head .

Fuel? - Zac repeated with trepidation .

That obviously couldn't be good news .

Have you figured out anything to stop this? - Zac asked .

I can’t be sure , but I have formed a hypothesis . Why did The Great Redeemer visit our planets thousands of years ago? Why did he give a family cultivation manuals? I believe he has formed a Karmic Link with those who use that cultivation technique , and he now uses that link as a means to locate our planets , - Ylvas explained .

Don’t he already know where our planets are? - Zac asked skeptically . - I mean he’s already been there before . -

He only knows where the planets were previously . But the integration fused and moved them . We might not even be in the same part of space any longer , - Ylvas said with a shake of his head . - Our planets are shrouded by the system for a hundred years , but I think he has found the means to get around that . -

You’re right , - Zac said , feeling a bit stupid . - You’re thinking that if you manage to kill all the members of the Medhin Clan you will sever that Karmic Link , making The Great Redeemer lose track of your planet . -

Exactly , - Ylvas said with a nod . - I think this might be our last chance . If the Emperor is still alive when we return I will have no way to kill him . Their capital is a fortress with extremely strong arrays and legions of soldiers . That’s why I am willing to make that deal . Help me kill him and half the treasure I have accumulated is yours . I would give my points as well , but they are not transferrable , - Ylvas entreated .

Zac was pretty tempted , but he didn’t immediately reply . Beruv Ylvas was on the 5th position on the wealth ladder , so the treasures he had accumulated shouldn’t be small . But Zac needed to be alive to enjoy them . He needed to be careful . This wasn’t as simple as a 2 on 1 assault . Even discounting the Emperor’s personal guard there was also his son , another E-Grade powerhouse that had a comparable level to Beruv Ylvas .

I can sympathize with you , but I am not sure about this . It would probably not just be us versus Nenothep . There is also his son and their war arrays , - Zac said .

I believe we do not need to worry about Vasidas . Our spies indicate that the two are at odds and that Vasidas might even be planning a coup . If we assault the emperor Vasidas will likely stay on the sidelines , perhaps only appearing after his father is dead to kill us if he sees there’s an opportunity , - Ylvas said .

So we would be doing his work for him? - said with a thoughtful nod .

Also , it would not only be the two of us . I have gathered a few hundred cultivators of Berum who are currently lying in wait . They will help lessen the pressure from the army . Unfortunately , we do not possess as good war arrays , and I therefore need the assistance of another powerhouse , - Ylvas added .

My plan would be that you stay hidden inside my army , and before they realize who you are you need to strike at the Empyrean Guard and kill as many as possible . That's the elite force of Nenothep , and the source of his war array , - Ylvas said . - I will hold the focus of the emperor himself , and after the array is dealt with we will pincer him . -

Zac nodded thoughtfully . Having an army on his side would make things easier , and the plan Ylvas proposed was one where Ylvas himself did the heavy lifting . If Zac managed to get close to such an elite squad while the emperor himself was occupied he should be able to make short work of them all .

But Zac couldn’t discount the possibility that Beruv Ylvas was lying through his teeth just to enlist some help in his quest to kill his nemesis . It was worth remembering that if they managed to kill the Medhin Emperor and his son , then Beruv Ylvas would be the strongest man on their planet .

But there were two days to go , and Zac did not really have anything to do apart from grinding some beasts . He could check things out and gather intelligence to see if the plan would be viable or not .

I do not have anything against working together , - Zac finally said . - But if I feel its too dangerous to complete I will back away . I am sorry , but I’m not ready to risk it all against Medhin Nenothep . -

That’s all I can ask for , - Beruv Ylvas said with a nod of relief and stretched out his hand . - To a successful cooperation . -

Zac hesitated slightly before he turned off Nature’s Barrier] that had swirled around him all the while , and grasped the other man's hand .

To a successful cooperation . -

Chapter 255 - The E-Grade

Since the two had agreed to work together provisionally the slightly tense situation had abated somewhat at least . Zac chose to not reactivate his defensive skill , though he still kept Mental Fortress] active . However , there was one issue that was weighing on Zac as he looked at the slightly wretched form of the Berum champion .

I am sorry , but your current condition is a bit . . . Will you even be able to fight like you are now? - Zac probed .

The man truly looked worse for the wear , and he didn’t inspire much confidence as a potential combat partner .

I know my shape does not inspire much confidence at the moment . Repubat injured me in a last desperate assault , and the attack was filled with his Dao . That attack weakened me and drastically slowed my natural healing , - Ylvas said with a slightly helpless shake of his head .

Zac nodded knowingly since he had personally been on the receiving end of such an attack ; the poison wound from the Corpse Lord . That wound had refused to heal no matter how many pills he ate . Dao wounds were simply far harder to heal , and if that was what ailed Beruv Ylvas their plan might be doomed before they even started .

However , I have already pushed out the foreign Dao from my body , and my body is currently rapidly healing . My plan is for us to assault the Emperor's mountain on the last day after I’ve completely healed . Hopefully , we would be able to thin out his forces by hunting the roving squads until then . That way we would weaken their side while gathering information , - Ylvas quickly added after seeing Zac's troubled face .

Sounds good , - Zac agreed .

If what Ylvas said was true about his wound then Zac would be able to observe a rapid restoration during the next day . If he still looked wretched at that point then he was lying about his condition . Waiting a few days to assault Nenothep would also allow him to focus on his goal to hunt beasts and find more potential allies .

But one condition . I am looking for people from my world to ally with . You can’t kill them , - Zac added .

I have no interest in fighting them , especially not in my current condition , - Ylvas agreed without hesitation . - Do you think they would be amenable to working with us? -

I doubt it to be honest , - Zac admitted . - I only have a few friends strong enough that they could help out . In general , our world is far more splintered than yours seem to be . In fact , when we find people you should stay out of sight so no rumors of us working together have a chance to spread . -

Agreed , - Ylvas nodded . - I have to say I am a bit surprised you still are looking for allies when you're the strongest human on your planet . I would have expected them to approach you by now . -

Well , it's a bit complicated , - Zac said with a sigh . - For one I got randomized to an island in some remote corner of our planet . The only way for me to find other people is to use my Teleportation array , and no one keeps their arrays public when the world is in chaos . There have also been some false rumors about me floating about . -

I pray you will be able to unify your world quickly , Mr . Atwood . I have seen the aftermath of those you call the Dominators in this hunt . They are bloodthirsty and even stronger than the Medhin Clan . You will need many allies to bring them down , - Ylvas said with a serious face as he started walking toward the central area .

Zac only nodded and followed in tow . Since Ylvas was hurt he avoided battle as much as possible , leaving the task of clearing a path to Zac . Since Zac's goal was to grind beasts he didn’t mind , and he soon was back to his routine of clearing out beasts by the dozen .

However , since a stranger was traveling with him he held back his power to a pretty large degree . He didn’t use Loamwalker] , and the length of the fractal edge he displayed was only three meters long . He didn't even launch it at packs , not wanting to provide the intelligence that he could use ranged attacks . Finally , he refrained from using any Dao , not that it was really needed in any case against some random beasts .

It might have been overkill , but months of listening to tales of betrayal from Ogras it was pretty much by instinct that he tried to avoid leak any critical information about himself . Ylvas did not speak much either , apart from sometimes making some random conversation .

It turned out that the planet of Berum wasn't completely devoid of Cosmic Energy before the integration in contrast to Earth . Their world had been essentially medieval , and there had been a few people who had the 'Gift' . It wasn't nearly as pronounced as now that the world was integrated , but those with the Gift could be a few times stronger than normal people .

Beruv Ylvas was one of these people , and it seemed he had been some sort of general or royal protector in their old world , though it seemed he was unaffiliated now . Zac didn't probe into that subject though since it seemed a bit delicate . Ylvas had started at level 23 , and he received his class inside the Tutorial after only two days .

The reason Ylvas grew so strong was a mix of reasons . He had a headstart , and since he already was an experienced warrior he underwent very hard missions in the tutorial . He had then distinguished himself in the quickly escalating wars against the Medhin Empire , and he quickly became a symbol of the resistance .

Many had voluntarily provided him with treasures such as attribute fruits or Nexus Crystals in hopes that he would get powerful enough to defeat the Medhin Emperor . The world of Berum had celebrated in the streets when they learned that he was the first warrior to pass the bottleneck , which was the first step in resisting the monstrously powerful royals .

So , what’s the difference between E-Grade and F-Grade? - Zac suddenly asked after a bit .

It was a subject he was pretty interested in , especially now that he was closing in on the bottleneck himself . He actually knew less about the E-Grade compared to the D-Grade , since he at least knew that you formed a Core at that stage . He had Asked Alyn about it , but she had refused to talk about the subject , citing that one shouldn't get ahead of oneself .

Hmm… Well , most importantly you get far more attributes per level , - Ylvas said after mulling it over . - I gain almost ten times the attributes per level now . -

Zac already knew that the E-Grade provided much larger gains per level , but he was still shocked by the sheer number of attributes . It was no wonder that he had such trouble with Inevitability . Even if the Dominator only had an uncommon class he would have gained over 1500 attributes between the levels 75 and 100 .

He finally understood what Ogras meant when he said that the low tiered Titles that gave flat boosts would be mostly useless at the end of E-Grade . Even with his huge number of Titles , his accumulated bonus flat attributes were only worth something like 5 levels in the E-Grade .

But leveling is harder , - Ylvas added with a sigh .

Well , hasn’t that been the case since the start? - Zac asked as he dragged himself out of his musings . - Every level requires more Cosmic Energy . -

It’s not only that , - Ylvas said with a shake of his head . - To gain a level now it’s not enough to gather up enough Cosmic Energy through kills or cultivation . You also need to break open a Node in your body . -

A node? - Zac asked , but suddenly remembered the mention in the introduction to formations .

It had said that minor nodes existed in the body , helping the two major nodes which were the Spirit Gate and the Cosmic Core . It hadn't explained exactly what they were though , only mentioning that they contained power .

It is like a mini-bottleneck . There are spots all through your pathways that need to be awakened , and each node gives you a level . Every time that you break open a node it feels like you break a chain shackling you . Cosmic Energy flows smoother through your pathways , and your body feels lighter , - Ylvas continued . - From what I’ve gathered there are 75 ordinary Nodes , but also a few hidden ones . -

Hidden? - Zac asked with interest , even turning over toward Ylvas while he kept swinging to mow down beasts in front of them .

Yes , apparently it’s special nodes that do not give levels but instead great increases in power . The truly gifted can sometimes open one , or even a few . But it’s not needed to evolve to the next stage , - Ylvas continued . - As to the method to find and open these hidden nodes I have no idea . -

So they give free attributes like titles? - Zac asked .

No , from what I understand they give things that are harder to quantify . One might make your sight and reaction far better . Another makes you more in tune with the Dao . That’s just examples I’ve made up myself though , the Tutorial Pixies didn’t give any information , and I couldn’t afford information about those things , - Ylvas explained . - It also seems that different people have different hidden nodes . -

How come? - Zac asked confused .

Bloodlines and constitution , - Ylvas said . - This is something that does not apply to most people . But some clans and races have special bloodlines , and these bloodlines may contain special hidden nodes that give specific powers . Other people have somehow gained special constitutions that have special Nodes . A fire constitution might have a hidden node that helps the cultivator come in tune with flames for example , or even form it within one's body naturally . -

Zac nodded thoughtfully . The talk of bloodlines made his mind turn toward his own heritage . At first look it might seem pretty normal , but in truth it was anything but . His mother was a lofty Technocrat , and such a group might possess special bloodlines .

There was also his newly gained Draugr heritage , and such a species might very well have some hidden nodes to help with Miasmic Cultivation . That would explain their superior handling of the death-attuned energy . Zac's heartbeat sped up in anticipation , but he quickly cooled his mind .

Even if he might possess special nodes he had no idea how to access them . He had no connection with the Technocrats , and he was afraid to even try to contact them as things were now . If they found out about the thing inside Kenzie it might lead to untold troubles for her , so he even prayed that their existence had been forgotten by their mother and her people .

It was the same with the Draugr , and he was a bit leery about that as well after hearing Ylvas speculations regarding Karmic Links . What if the Draugr woman did not act out of benevolence , but for very different reasons? Planting those runes inside his head might be a way to form a Karmic Link , which would allow her to find the splinter from the Heart of Oblivion] .

She had mentioned that he walked on the path of oblivion , which indicated that she was familiar with the Heart of Oblivion] . And he wouldn't be taken to her place if she had no connection to a splinter since all the other visions were connected to the Heart of Oblivion] . Perhaps she was collecting splinters for herself .

But he would definitely look into these hidden Nodes when he got back since he had other avenues to find information . There were Brazla and the inheritances , both prime sources for such information . Perhaps it would be possible to buy a dossier about common hidden nodes through Calrin as well .

So the max level for E-Grade is level 150 then? - Zac asked after he had digested the information .

Yes , that’s correct , - Ylvas confirmed . - Every node is harder to open though , and from what I’ve understood most cultivators simply do not have the talent to open up all 75 of them . The majority get stuck on the road of breaking open the nodes even before reaching the real bottleneck of forming a Cultivator’s Core . -

After asking a bit more he learned that the method to open the nodes was to grind them down with the help of one’s cultivation technique and Dao . This made Zac frown with worry , since he simply had no cultivation manual to utilize , and it seemed the Dao alone wouldn't work .

Of course , there were other ways as well . Some pills and treasures could be utilized . But they often came with side effects and were generally only used when you were right at the end and just needed a final push to get to 75 nodes .

Zac frowned when he learned of the different ways to level up . The pills and treasures that could open up Nodes would likely not be too easy to come by , and such treasures usually only worked once like the Fruit of Ascension . Was there truly no way for a mortal to advance without the help of treasures though? He knew that the path of progression for mortals was harder , but it shouldn't be closed-off like that .

Is there truly no other way to open up the nodes? - Zac couldn't help asking .

Well , there is one more way , - Ylvas answered after some hesitation . - But it is a bit suicidal . -

Chapter 256 - Pits and Tracks

Suicidal wasn't really what Zac wanted to hear , but he internally sighed and indicated for Ylvas to explain what he meant .

From what I understand you can brute-force the nodes as well . That’s what some try when they are all out of options . You can see every level as an empty glass . When you cultivate or kill enemies you fill the glass with water , and you can keep doing this until it is filled , - Ylvas began .

Zac nodded since the explanation was pretty much the same as how he imagined it , though he rather saw it as an experience bar from a video game . When the bar was filled up he would need to level up . Otherwise , he wouldn't gain any more experience .

When the glass is full of water you need to open up another node , in other words get another glass to fill . Until you do the water will just spill over the edge and not stay with you . Until you break through the cosmic energy will dissipate out from your body .

But you can also forcibly trap the energy inside your body until the accumulated energy burst the Node right open by force . However , using that method is to dance with death . The more nodes you open the more energy you need , and your body might simply not be able to handle it . The glass of water would shatter from getting too much water crammed into it . In other words , your body would explode .

And even if you succeed your body will be severely wounded , and you will need to recuperate for a long time afterward . If you include the recovery period it’s likely faster to just be patient and slowly grind the Node open with your cultivation , - Ylvas added with a shake of his head . - Besides , you would need to kill an ungodly amount of beasts or waste a massive wealth on crystals to accumulate enough energy to force open the nodes , far more than just filling up the glass . -

Zac shook his head when he understood how the last method worked . It seemed inferior to the others , working more or paying a fortune for worse results . It looked like the difference between a mortal and Cultivator would start to make itself truly known in E-Grade . Zac wouldn’t be surprised if it only got worse on the higher grades as well . He really needed to figure out a way to become a cultivator himself .

But he also had to say that he felt he was pretty suited for such a method . Not only was his body extremely sturdy due to his high Endurance and Vitality , but he also had another important advantage . His body had been tempered by far worse conditions not once , but twice , before .

First was when he jumped into the Cosmic Water and ate the Fruit of Ascension , his body had been ripped to shreds and reformed countless times by the two energies within his body . The second time was when his Duplicity core was formed from killing far too many zombies . That time his body was instead ravaged by life- and death-attuned energy .

Hopefully , those two harrowing experiences would help him out as he brute-forced his nodes open because he did not see many alternatives for him to advance in the future .

The two kept moving through the forests toward the area where the Berum forces were stationed . Apparently , they were spread out and hidden in caves on four different mountains . The resistance leader had also luckily mapped out the areas with both the emperor and where the two Dominators had been seen recently .

The emperor had set up camp right in the core , claiming a handful of mountains as his own . The two Dominators seemed to move around a bit more haphazardly , though they stayed in the same general area . The two forces had also avoided each other until now , which Zac and Ylvas could explain now that they had a better picture of the situation . In a sense , they were part of the same force .

The only reason that Zac didn't turn away then and there was the fact that the Dominators didn't seem to be completely harmonious with the Medhin Empire . While the Dominators avoided the royals Ylvas seemed to be under the impression that they killed even more Medhin soldiers than they killed people from any other force . Perhaps things were a bit cut-throat between the various factions under the Great Redeemer .

They weren’t in a hurry to head right over though since Ylvas was still hurt and they needed information , so they stayed a decent distance away from the mountain grouping that the Medhin army controlled . Zac spent most of the day hunting beasts apart from when they went looking Medhin squads .

Everything went according to plan , and Zac even made two new alliances thanks to Ylvas' map and his scouting skills . However , things took a bad turn after catching a Medhin squad .

What did you say? - Zac said as he lifted the final living soldier by his throat in anger .

Crown Prince Vasidas has captured the woman called Thea Marshall , and she is now held by the side of the great Emperor Nenothep . The Emperor promises she is untouched and unspoiled , and that she will be released upon the forfeiture of your ladder position . This offer only lasts until 12 hours before the hunt ends , at which point Thea will be executed , - the soldier wheezed out , clearly having been forced to memorize that exact speech .

Zac's thoughts were in chaos and he blankly stared ahead , unsure of what he should do . Suddenly a white flash went past him and the head of the captured soldier fell to the ground with a thump . Zac frowned and looked over at Ylvas who had already sheathed the thin rapier that hung by his side .