Defiance of the Fall

Zac hurried through the entrance with his head lowered , taking one last look around to make sure that no one saw him enter . The moment he entered he immediately changed directions toward the elders trying to make his hair shroud his face for as long as possible . But the elder seemed to realize something was wrong , and a frown immediately adorned her face .

Wha- - was all the elder had time to say before Zac was upon her with a monstrous momentum from activating Loamwalker] .

However , she clearly was no slouch as a thick wall of ice immediately appeared in front of her as she started to fade away . Zac saw she was using some movement skill , and he knew he couldn’t let her escape . The wall looked extremely sturdy , and it was empowered by some Dao , but Zac barreled into it like a bull with the help of the Dao of Heaviness .

Zac felt like some bones in his arm would break from the impact , but they held while the wall cracked . But Zac wasn’t completely unscathed as a layer of frost completely covered him and hindered his movements . It seemed to be the effect of a Dao , and Zac wasn’t able to simply shrug it off .

But he was already in melee range , and his fist slammed straight toward the elder guardian before she could completely escape . He was still imbued with the Dao of Heaviness , and the fist slammed into her midriff like a wrecking ball .

The fist connected and forced her back into a completely corporeal form , and she was slammed back into the wall behind her , causing widespread cracks . However , his hand felt like it was frozen solid from the hit , and before Zac even had time to follow up with another strike to knock her out he was pelted by dozens of extremely sharp icicles .

He managed to dodge a few and endure a few others , but he knew he couldn’t take too many of these strikes . A couple of them managed to hit his body before he had time to activate Nature’s Barrier] and it felt like they contained some sort of cold poison .

If he didn’t end the fight quickly he would be turned into a popsicle , so he forced his stiff body to move , and he landed another slam straight in her face . Blood spurted everywhere and her face was almost caved in from the force of the punch .

She was pushed back into the frozen wall , and this time she didn’t get up again . A few twitches was the only sign that she was still alive , and Zac quickly moved his attention toward the dozen flowers in the garden .

He knew he was out of time . There was no way that the battle hadn’t been heard from the outside even though it was over in just a few seconds . Worse yet he saw that some of the icicles had flown straight out of the cave mouth , likely alerting everyone in the area .

He ignored the elder and immediately flashed over to the closest flower and dug it out of the ground . There was already a cold-attributed storage box in his Cosmos Sack , and he quickly placed it inside before he put it back into his pouch . A glance in the quest menu showed that the progress of the quest had changed to (1/2) .

Zac sighed in relief but he knew his difficulties had only started . He could hear the subdued shuffling of feet outside , yet no one entered . There was no doubt an ambush waiting outside , but Zac hoped that it couldn’t be too organized since only a couple of seconds had passed . It was likely only the first responders to the scene .

If he could break out of the encirclement before the elders could wake up from their closed-door cultivation he had confidence he would be able to escape . The powerhouses were mostly in deep meditation from what he understood , and they couldn't simply wake up and be fight-ready in the blink of an eye . That was the only reason he dared to break in like this .

Zac activated Nature’s Barrier] again and imbued it with the Dao of Trees . He even imbued himself with the Dao when he noticed that it seemed to have a small restraining effect on the frost that still covered parts of his body . One of his insights was based on resilience against the elements after all , the ability to survive in any climate .

Wasting no more time , Zac rushed outside with his axe at the ready . The reason he didn’t use it before was that he wanted to give himself a small window where the elder was confused due to how he looked . But if he sported a large barbaric axe when he entered the cave he would have no doubt have been immediately discovered , foiling his ambush .

He flashed out with his movement skill , and as he suspected he was immediately met with a barrage of ice-attributed attacks . Zac growled and launched five fractal edges imbued with the Dao of Heaviness to crush any incoming ice . Frigid winds were trying to root him in place , but his blood pumped through his body due to his high Vitality , allowing him to keep running .

His fractal edges were extremely powerful and destroyed everything in their path before they kept moving toward the horrified disciples . But two strong auras erupted from two women who looked to be in their mid-thirties , and they quickly moved to intercept the strikes .

Luckily these elders were amongst the weaker ones as well , likely barely past level 80 , and it took all they had to intercept the five massive blades of death coming for their disciples . Zac took the chance and immediately activated Loamwalker] , escaping the same path that he entered .

Stop! Thief! - an enraged shout echoed behind him .

Elder Gemoa is badly hurt! - another voice echoed with a tinge of panic .

Some worry started to rise in Zac's heart as he sensed one dangerous aura after another waking up , each more powerful than the last . Zac quickly took out a small pill from his pouch and ate it as he kept utilizing Loamwalker] . The pill was a low-grade Blood Boil Pill that gave a temporary boost to Cosmic Energy and power , though using them too often would harm one's foundations .

But since Zac was just in a dreamscape he didn't care about that and used every tool in his toolbox . Since he no longer cared about stealth the way that took him minutes before only took him a few seconds . Zac saw the air shimmer above the wall , and he unhesitantly launched one Chop] after another , each imbued with either the Dao of Sharpness or Hardness .

As he suspected a shield had been erected , though it seemed that it mainly was used to protect from attacks from the outside . It only took 3 strikes to cause a large crack , and another strike to blast open a temporary hole for Zac to jump through without losing any speed . However , just as he was about to exit the shield a massive ice boulder slammed into him out of nowhere , making him cough up a mouthful of blood .

He landed face-first into the snow outside , but immediately sprung to his feet and kept pushing Cosmic Energy through his legs as he sped out of the valley . Zac ignored his ragged state as he pushed himself toward the mountain in the distance . Hot on his heels were hundreds of women , each more beautiful than the last .

The only problem was that they all looked completely enraged , like they couldn’t wait to tear Zac apart .

Now and then everything from large icicles to huge snowballs sailed toward him to slow him down . A few of the Profound Yin Disciples that seemed to focus on cold-attributed combat classes even ripped out trees from the ground and hurled them at him . But thanks to the distance Zac had no problem avoiding them , often without even having to waste Cosmic Energy .

After almost a day of running more and more female disciples started to fall behind , and after another day only those that were at least late F-Grade could keep up . However , the E-Grade elders that he sensed in the dwindling group did not seem inclined to push ahead of the disciples .

Perhaps they wanted Zac to lead them to a supposed leader , or perhaps they had already realized where Zac was headed and wanted to escalate the conflict . He even considered that they wanted to kill him in full view of the Everlasting Yang sect to show what happens to those who encroached on their bottom line .

Whichever case was right , Zac felt more than happy to play along as he lugged toward the Everlasting Yang sect . He could actually speed up himself and lose most of those behind him , but he opted to conserve his Cosmic Energy instead .

Besides , he was afraid that if he sped up to a pace that only the elders could endure they would immediately pounce on him . So he leisurely ran forward while dodging the occasional icicle as he tried to figure out his next move . He already knew that his original plan likely wouldn’t work with the Profound Yin sect hot on his heel . However , he felt it would be possible to sow some chaos and use that chaos to fish in muddied waters .

Finally , after another 4 hours , he was closing in on the Everlasting Yang sect . Even Zac was starting to get winded by this point , whereas the remaining disciples who were still at F-Grade were deathly pale , while others were actually carried by their elders . Perhaps they wanted to retain a certain number of experts for whatever would happen next .

Luckily he wouldn’t have to scale the whole volcano , since the sect was cut into the mountain , starting at the foot and going roughly halfway up . He also knew from memories that they had carved paths all the way to the magma inside , and the elites cultivated as close to the magma as possible since it emitted Fire-attuned energies .

As Zac started to close in on the gates leading up to the sect he started to sense that his pursuers started to slow down . That wasn’t good news for his plan so he needed to improvise a bit . He took a deep breath and infused his lungs with Cosmic Energy .

THE PROFOUND YIN SECT IS ATTACKING! - he roared on top of his lungs , his energy-empowered volume enough to push away the snow around him .

The shout had a pronounced effect as in seconds a stream of red-robed disciples started to appear on the wall as the sounds of heavy drums echoed across the Volcano .

Chapter 287 - Subterfuge

Zac didn’t stop running even if the wall was quickly filling up with somber-looking warriors , all of them looking ready to fight . However , a huge fireball ripped toward him , forcing him to a screeching halt as it slammed down in front of him , causing a large scorch mark .

Help! I wish to join your great sect , but these crazy women want to stop me , - Zac shouted as he stood right between the Profound Yin cultivators and the wall .

The cultivators from the Profound Yin Sect had also stopped their pursuit by now , but they seemed unwilling to let things go as they were . They seemed more than ready for a fight even though quite a few of them were pretty spent from the ultra marathon . But the disciples still in F-Grade all ate some pill that seemed to perk them right up .

Hand this man over to us and we will not take this issue further , - one of the elders said with a somber face .

There was only silence for a few seconds until the large gates suddenly rumbled as they opened , and a small group of cultivators walked out . They seemed to be roughly the same number as his pursuers , and Zac started to wonder if there were some unspoken rules between the two sects .

Perhaps they kept their clashes to a certain number to avoid too large losses . With their accumulated enmity it wouldn't be surprising if they would launch an all-out war , but it would at best result in a pyrrhic victory . These two sects weren’t the only forces in the area , and such an action would surely lead to the downfall of both sects .

You will not take things further , you say? - a robust man with bulging muscles said with a teasing face . - I wonder what a couple of birds so far from home would do if we don’t comply . -

Romi , are you truly planning on testing our patience in the middle of winter? We are taking this man back either alive or in pieces . He grievously wounded Gemoa . A price must be paid , - another of the Yin elders growled .

It might be winter , but in this area the Yin is always suppressed , - the man called Romi scoffed before he turned to Zac . - Young man , you managed to hurt that bitch? Very impressive . Too bad you look a little girly . -

Zac quickly tried to find a good course of action , and his face started to change . It was no longer the slightly feminine youngster with long hair standing in front of them , but rather a man in his 40s with a masculine face .

Zaq tied up his hair as he forcibly stopped his face from grimacing from the pain from changing appearance . He had decided to utilize Thousand Faces] once more to become less threatening to the Everlasting Yang Sect . A middle-aged man defeating an elder was much more believable compared to a youngster . Perhaps they would think he was part of some other force otherwise .

I managed to ambush her , but she was unfortunately too strong so I couldn’t kill her , - Zac said with a gravelly voice . - I changed my face to sneak inside and get this . -

The next moment he held up the box , and he quickly opened it to show the orchid . He held the box so that both parties would see the orchid within , and their expressions proved he was on the right track .

I wanted to present this to your great sect as proof of my sincerity , - Zac said as he threw a scathing glance at the profound yin elders . - Who would have known that these bitches couldn’t get enough of my handsome face and chased me for three straight days? -

The members of the Everlasting Yang Sect only gaped at Zac in surprise , whereas the Profound Yin sect members looked like they would explode in anger . Another of the Yang elders quickly noticed an opportunity to further piss off their enemies , and he looked over at the women with a sneer .

A profound yin orchid! A fine offering indeed . It’s useless for us , but perhaps we could plant them and feed them to our cattle , - he laughed .

That comment was the last spark needed to start a conflagration , and one of the female disciples screamed in anger as she launched a blade of ice right at the elder . However , he was somewhere in the middle of the E-Grade and with a laugh easily melted it , causing a mist to rise around him .

The two sects needed very little encouragement as the next moment over ten attacks sailed through the air between the two sides . One of the elders even turned her eyes toward Zac in rage , and a crystalline bird appeared out of nowhere as it flew toward him with a screech .

Zac screamed in alarm , only half-faking it , and ran toward the members of the Everlasting Yang sect . But the bird was extraordinarily fast and its beak pierced him in his back . Zack fell over and spat out a mouthful blood that immediately froze into sanguine crystals .

Protect that man! - Romi shouted as a lance of fire erupted from his hand , shooting straight toward the elder who attacked Zac from the other side .

Zac’s pathetic state wasn’t fully a ruse , as the peck from the bird had contained a massive amount of frigid energies that rampaged through his body . He desperately circled his Cosmic Energy along with the Dao of Trees to slowly grind away at it , but doing so left him almost unable to move .

Luckily two disciples quickly ran over and lifted him up , and one of them even infused him with some fiery energy that helped combat the cold . However , the second one did not seem to be as benevolent , and Zac noticed a pair of greedy eyes looking at his Cosmos Sack .

What are you doing? Get him inside the gate! - Romi shouted as two more molten streams erupted from his hands to intercept the disciples who tried to approach Zac .

Seeing that Zac was being taken away caused the brawl to turn into an all-out conflict , and soon the whole area had turned into a haze from the mix of water vapors and smoke from fires . Constant explosions and screams could be heard though , and Zac couldn’t help but shake his head in bafflement . They had been all too ready to go to war with each other .

Zac heavily hung on the disciple’s arm as he pretended to be extremely weakened by the strike . In reality , his eyes were scanning the rampart in front of him , until he finally found who he was looking for . A man in his late twenties or early thirties stood on top of the wall not too far from the gate , sporting a large sword fashioned from reddish stone on his back .

This was the core disciple that Yrial had fought in the real world , and Zac’s theatrics was a bid to get closer to him . There was no way that he dared to infiltrate this sect as well with the commotion that he had caused , so he needed to take one of the rubies that had already been harvested .

The core disciple had taken the ruby out of his Cosmos Sack when taunted by Yrial in his memories , and he hadn’t needed to get it from anywhere . Since he was at peak F-Grade he was likely preparing to use it and then evolve to E-Grade , though Yrial threw a wrench in those plans .

Just sit down and rest , - the man who helped him combat the frigid energies in his body said to Zac after they entered the sect . - The yin-energies can leave hidden wounds if not properly dispelled . -

Thank you . I’ll focus on recuperation , - Zac simply said as he sat down and closed his eyes .

The battle was still raging outside , and the two disciples who had helped him back to the sect hurried back outside to join their brothers , and Zac was left largely alone . Almost all of the other sect members had their focus on the battle outside their walls , and it almost seemed like they were watching a play .

Elder Romi’s Molten Burst] is powerful as ever , it’s even able to melt a hole straight through the Ice Bulwark] of Tylaena , - one of them muttered from atop the rampart .

Zac shook his head in wonder . The disciples even knew their enemies by first-name basis , showing how often they clashed with each other . If they just put their differences aside they would have been able to create a great sect with complementing strength , just as Yrial’s two attributes complemented each other .

But who knew if these sects even still existed in the real world . From what he had heard the average sect only lasted between 5 and 20 generations , which meant for an E-Grade sect 2 500 to 10 000 years . Between natural disasters , declining talents , and calamities thrown at them by the System there was no such thing as a permanent force .

Since millions of years had likely passed since Yrial’s feat took place these two forces were most likely long gone and forgotten , their endless conflict not even mentioned in the ancient history books . Zac sighed with some melancholy as he opened his eyes and looked around . These projections all represented people with dreams and ambitions .

But Zac soon snapped out of it as he silently got to his feet . A few disciples looked over at him , but they didn’t have time to do anything before Zac exploded into action . The ground beneath his feet cracked as he pounced right at the disciple who possessed the ruby he was after .

The core disciple barely had time to turn his head before Zac was upon him from behind . But the disciple was clearly a battle-hardened warrior , as his hand was immediately gripping the large rock-sword on his back . He quickly raised it slightly to protect his head from Zac’s incoming fist .

But even though he was a core disciple of the Everlasting Yang Sect he was completely unable to endure the fist that was empowered with a high mastery Dao and almost 600 Strength . The sword slammed into the back of his head and he was thrown forward , landing in a heap outside the sect .

Zac didn’t give him a chance to gather his wits before he followed . He jumped down from the wall walk and landed right on top of the poor man , imbued with the Dao of Heaviness . Large cracks in the ground spread beneath the disciple and his face turned green until he emptied his stomach .

Some of it splashed straight in Zac’s face but he reined in his disgust as he ripped the disciple’s Cosmos Sack from his side . He gave the puking man another stomp for good measure as he scoured the inside of the Sack for his target .

Traitor! - a disciple screamed , and a few enraged disciples started to prepare attacks .

However , Zac’s display of might made all of them hesitant to go first , allowing Zac to snatch the large red ruby before putting it away in his own sack . A quick glance confirmed his quest was (2/2) .

But Zac’s brows furrowed when he was still standing on top of the core disciple after a few seconds . Was something missing from the quest? However his danger sense started going off , and he unhesitantly moved away with Loamwalker] a moment before Romi’s Molten Burst] ripped through the air where he stood .

You have guts , thief! - Romi roared , completely enraged .

He was bleeding from his mouth and his right shoulder was frozen solid from ice , but his aura was still stable , meaning he hadn’t been critically wounded .

You try to play our sects while stealing our treasures? - he growled . - You can forget about leaving this area alive! -

The fighting had already subsided and the haze that covered the pitched battle between the two sects was quickly dissipating . Soon all the disciples and elders were in full view , and all of them sported various degrees of wounds . Some even lay unmoving on the ground , their fate unknown .

One thing that seemed to unite both camps was their seething hatred for Zac though , and they all looked at him with burning eyes .

I’m happy to see you guys finally get along , - Zac sighed before he immediately sped away with his movement skill .

Quite a few dangerous auras were waking up inside the sect as well , and Zac knew he couldn’t stay any longer . He unhesitantly fled into the forests with members of both sects in tow . This time however the elders were quickly outpacing their disciples , and Zac was forced to go all out .

Luckily endurance was Zac’s strong suit , and neither sect seemed to excel at speed . So Zac simply switched between Loamwalker] and high speed running for 6 hours until he finally had lost the last of the elders .

It was one of the elders from the Profound Yin sect , and she screamed in frustration into the air when she finally gave up on the chase . Zac only shook his head with a wry smile as he kept running for another two hours . He found a secluded spot and sat down to wait out the clock .

When the quest timer hit zero the world blurred , and the next moment he found himself lying in a patch of flowers with a large moon shining down on him .

You’re back , as expected of my disciple . How about it , wasn’t your master dashing back in the day? - Yrial's voice floated over from the pond .

Zac slowly got up to his feet , relieved to see that only 6 hours had passed since he got put under , meaning time passed 20 times faster inside the dreamscape .

You’re something , alright , - Zac said with a shake of his head as he turned toward his new teacher . - I wonder how you escaped the pursuit of two rabid sects back then? -

Chapter 288 - A Flower of Fire and Ice

How would some backwater elders catch up to the great Lord of Cycles? - Yrial laughed from his recliner by the pond . - What about it , is your master not amazing? I played those two sects like a fiddle . And that was in the real world where one could actually die . -

The next moment Zac was once again grabbed by an unseen force and placed on a mat not far from the pond .

I wasn’t actually at risk for dying? - Zac said through grit teeth . - I ran my ass off to avoid getting my soul torn to shreds . -

Well , there was still danger . If you died inside your soul would be hurt and you would have to trade some of your credits for soul-healing pills , - Yrial said with a smile . - Those things are pretty expensive . -

That quickly calmed Zac down , and he thanked the gods that he hadn’t taken anything for granted in the dreamscape . Clearly , the trial was mostly a veiled attempt to show off his own feats , but it looked like the old ghost was finally about to hold up his end of the bargain .

What’s credits? - Zac asked , holding back any complaints or comments that might derail Yrial from handing over the inheritance treasures .

When I needed to create this inheritance I simply threw a bunch of stuff that would be valuable for young cultivators and attached a price according to its value . For passing the first trial you get between 1000 and 10000 credits , depending on how I feel . For also becoming my disciple you get double , - Yrial explained . - What you choose to use those points for is up to you . -

The next moment he fished out a crystal from his sleeve and threw it over to Zac who caught it . Zac knew it was an information crystal from a first look , and he guessed that the stored items were listed inside .

So how many points do I get? - Zac asked with anticipation

Well , since you’re my terminal disciple I guess you’ll start at maximum credits , ten thousand , - Yrial said , but he continued before Zac could get excited . - However , I’ll have to detract a thousand points for your face . Being a barbarian is no excuse for skipping proper skincare . I’ll also deduct a thousand for the way you defeated the construct . So eight thousand times two . -

Zac was already starting to become immune to Yrial’s comments about his looks , and he felt that the deduction for how he finished the first trial was fair enough . It still left him with 16 000 credits to spend , and he eagerly infused some Cosmic Energy into the information crystal .

A long list of items lit up in front of him , and he was surprised to see that Yrial had stashed over two hundred items that were exchangeable after finishing the first trial . Most of the items were priced between one to two thousand credits , meaning one would usually walk away with five items or so . However , there were a few items that were much more expensive .

Ultimate treasure – Lock of hair : 10 000 Credits]

Lock of hair? - Zac read out loud and looked up at Yrial with confusion . - What’s that? -

You are my disciple after all! Impeccable taste . That item is a true lock of hair from my real body . Now that I’m dead its value is truly priceless , - Yrial said with a sagely nod .

Your hair? - Zac exclaimed , not being able to hide his disgust . - What would I do with that? -

Yrial's face immediately scrunched up in anger , and the air around him seemed to freeze for a second before he took a deep breath to calm himself .

What you would do with that? Gaze upon it in awe and wonder of course . Hair from my head is an item of unlimited artistic beauty , the physical manifestation of perfection . How about it? You would still have a lot of points over if you bought it , - Yrial said with anticipation .

Zac only snorted and kept looking , drawing another glare from Yrial . In reality , the item might not actually be as useless as Yrial described . Yrial was a high or peak C-Grade hegemon when he cut that lock of hair , and Zac suspected its strength would be extraordinary . If he used the hair for crafting he would likely be able to make an extremely sturdy item .

However , he wasn’t keen on wearing an armor made out of human hair , and he had no one who could craft using such high-grade materials . He instead looked for items that could give immediate boosts to his power , or at least assist in the coming battle with the Dominators .

The lock of hair wasn’t the only suspicious item in the list . In fact , almost a quarter of the treasures were vanity items that related to the Lord of Cycles . There was everything from paintings to collections of his poetry . One item was just called - My 5th favorite scarf’ . But there were a lot of good things inside as well , almost to the point it was shocking .

He did find the soul-mending panacea , costing a whopping 1500 points , more than any of the attribute fruits or even most of the Dao Treasures . However , Zac wasn't surprised since he knew just how troubling soul wounds were . If the wound passed a certain degree the soul would just keep disintegrating , and almost nothing could help . That's why he was so careful about overtaxing his Dao .

There were also over a dozen Spirit Tools , each of them seeming to be of extremely high quality . When he focused on those entries he could see them , and they all emitted a far greater aura compared to the tools he brought back from the Eastern Trigram Sect .

Part of it could be explained with superior craftsmanship , but the biggest reason was the grade of the tools . Zac was shocked to see that all of the Spirit Tools were E-Grade except for a few , making them better than almost any weapon currently on earth . And they weren’t even that expensive .

All of the tools cost around two thousand , apart from the two robes that both cost 3750 credits . One was a robe in the same vein as the robes he received from the system long ago , with the difference of it being a Spirit Tool . It was mostly white though , with details in red and blue .

It was likely something Yrial used until he switched to something better , or perhaps simply something he kept because he liked the colors . It seemed perfect for Zac , but he held back on an impulse buy so that he could go through everything . The other robe was a more gender-neutral robe , that might almost be considered a dress on Earth , so it wasn’t as tempting for Zac .

There was also a Spiritual Ship that seemed far supreme compared to the disk he gained from the Eastern Trigram Sect , but Zac knew he couldn’t afford it at the moment . It was a luxury item that he couldn’t prioritize as things stood .

I’m your terminal disciple , why don’t you simply give me all of this stuff? - Zac ventured .

I only made a deduction for your face , but I could also make a deduction for your attitude , - Yrial snorted as he once again ran his fingers through the lake . - Don't be greedy . -

Brazla set some ground rules . I needed to put in enough treasures for at least 25 inheritors at F-Grade , 10 at E-Grade , 3 at D-grade , and one C-Grade inheritance . But if you pass the final trial everything is yours , - the ghost added after a brief pause .

Zac quickly looked down , afraid to say anything that would make him lose any more credits , and continued to look through the list . Treasures were not the only things on the list , there were also quite a few skills and five cultivation manuals .

There were also almost thirty items that Zac didn’t recognize , and he had no idea what they were used for . Some were natural treasures , and a few of them cost well over five thousand points . But they didn’t seem to be either Dao Treasures or Attribute fruits , making Zac unsure of their usage .

It was a huge amount compared to the Dao Fruits which only cost between 800 and 2000 . But that only meant that they might be extremely good items that would be impossible for Zac to get his hands on normally .

Could you recommend any items that would suit me? - Zac asked before he decided to throw in some flattery . - You know my situation and you are far more talented and experienced than me . -

I’m not as easily persuaded as that little Tool Spirit , - Yrial snorted . - But perhaps if you bought a memento to remember your Dear Master by when you leave , I might be inclined to give a few tips . -

Zac grit his teeth , and with great reluctance he bought one of the cheapest ones , a portrait of Yrial sitting in a meadow of flowers , half of which were a fiery red and the other an azure blue . It cost him 500 Credits though , making Zac thoroughly annoyed .

’A flower of fire and ice’ . An excellent choice . I had a great artist create this to commemorate me breaking through to D-Grade . If you hang it in your home you will not only raise the grade of your interiors by multiple levels but meditating on this picture will even help improve elemental Daos , - Yrial nodded , clearly looking pleased .

So , advice? - Zac sighed as he placed the large painting in his Cosmos Sack .

Well , first of all , you should buy Eye of Har’Teriam] , - Yrial said without hesitation . - It’s simply the best thing available , apart from the lock of hair . -

Zac quickly looked through the list and found it was the second most expensive item available . This one cost a whopping 9500 credits . Zac’s eyes drifted toward all the other treasures he knew would help , but in the end he grit his teeth and bought the thing . From what he could tell the costs were very accurate in relation to value , except for the vanity items .

So should I eat it immediately? - Zac asked .

No , wait until you have broken through to E-Grade , - Yrial said with a shake of his head .

I can’t use it now? - Zac said with exasperation . - You know how bad the situation is on Earth . -

Well , just flee if it gets too bad , - Yrial said without concern . - You can even buy the teleportation token if you feel it’s too dangerous . -

The token he mentioned was a random-teleportation token that would allow him to go to a random D-Grade world . Zac was honestly contemplating buying it since it only cost 1000 Credits . It would be a final life-line and something that could at least give his sister a chance at survival if everything turned to shit on Earth .

So , what does this Eye do? - Zac asked .

It is guaranteed to open one of your hidden nodes , though which one can’t be controlled , - Yrial said with a smug grin .

Zac whistled in surprise , and he wasn’t too miffed about paying through his nose for the item . From all accounts , the hidden nodes were all good things that were like free permanent power boosts . Getting the first one immediately was sure to be helpful , especially if he decided to evolve before turning his attention toward the Dominators .

But clearly Zac’s reaction wasn’t enough for Yrial , and he tsked unhappily .

Ugly and stupid . The Eye of Har’Teriam] is a treasure that never appears on baby worlds , and not something that the System rewards for any quests . It’s only found in a few C-Grade Mystic realms containing the remains of a long-collapsed universe , - Yrial said . - Your master almost paid with his life to get it . -

If it’s so good , why didn’t you use it yourself? - Zac skeptically asked .

You can only use it in E-Grade , and I couldn’t sell it . Every time I tried I was almost hunted down and killed by a couple of greedy sects . I had to run for hundreds of years to get away , - he muttered , clearly still annoyed by the situation .

So what makes this item so special? - Zac probed .

It is one of the few items that can guarantee the opening of a Hidden Node no matter who eats it . Not only that , it will even give you a clue of where your other nodes are hidden , which will make it infinitely easier to burst them open later as well , - Yrial huffed .

Do you know how you normally find where your nodes are hidden? You use your Cultivation Manual and your inner eye to meticulously scour your body . Sometimes it takes a few months , sometimes it takes decades . For most , it never happens because they can't form a resonation with the nodes . It's exceedingly hard , and not even one in a million can open a single node , let alone multiple .

For you , it would normally be completely impossible . Mortals have no conventional methods to create a resonance with their hidden nodes , so they would never be able to break them open by conventional means .

As far as I know there are less than 30 treasures for someone like you to have a chance to open your Hidden Nodes , and this is one of the better ones . It’s completely impossible to buy , and can only be found by chance , - Yrial finished his diatribe and took a deep breath for air . - Now , is your master amazing or what? -

But wait , - Zac suddenly said . - With my . . . Special constitution , do I even have hidden nodes? -

The blustering ghost suddenly froze , and his brows slowly started to contract into a frown .

Chapter 289 - Setting a Course

Yrial's features smoothed out and he adopted his lazy expression once again .

No , that shouldn’t be the case . There is no connection between talent and the number of hidden nodes , talent only affects the ease of breaking them open . So you should be fine . Everyone possesses at least the three gates unless their race gives them something similar , - he said with a dismissive wave .

The Three Gates? - Zac asked .

The Gate of Truth , the Spirit Gate and the Gate of Flesh , - Yrial explained . - These are the three foundational nodes that most possess . One increase your connection with the boundless Dao , one expands your mind and one tempers your flesh . All of them are pretty good , though the best ones are usually the special hidden nodes , and those vary from person to person . -

Zac slowly nodded , remembering Ylvas' mention of bloodlines and constitutions . At least it seemed that no matter how bad his constitution was he would still possess some Nodes to open up .

So how do I open the other nodes after the first one? - Zac asked after sighing in relief .

There are two aspects to bursting open the hidden nodes , - Yrial said . - The first is to locate them . This is normally impossible for mortals , so pay close attention to every feeling when you eat this treasure . Don’t let anyone disturb you , - Yrial said . - The second part is to force them open . Various treasures can do that , though they are always extremely rare as well . -

Sometimes the nodes even burst open due to special encounters . You might get a sense after an intense battle , and might be able to open up a hidden node through resonance . But that is extraordinarily rare , - Yrial said .

Hidden nodes is about chance and fate . For most people , especially mortals , it’s impossible to force . So don’t fret if you can’t open as many as you aim for . There are other opportunities to make you stronger apart from bursting up all your nodes , - Yrial said .

Zac agreed and kept going through the list to spend his remaining 6000 credits . After buying the Eye he also bought the robe , leaving him with only 2250 points . The treasures inside were mainly geared for either boosting one’s achievements at the peak of the F-Grade or give a good start right after breaking through the bottleneck . So after some hesitation he bought a natural treasure that would give a significant boost to his Race after evolving .

It wouldn't be enough to push him all the way to D-Grade , but it was a good start . He knew that the attribute cap was quite high , but so were the attribute gains in the E-Grade . He did not want to encounter the same issue as he did with his Strength last time . The natural treasure would get the ball rolling , and for the rest he would have to use medicinal baths like most people .

The Fruit of Rebirth] only cost 500 credits , as body tempering seldom was the hard part of progressing . Zac still had some problems deciding what to do with the rest of the points . He couldn't afford the top tier items , but he also felt that the other items couldn't help him too much in the short run . He also bought the teleportation talisman for a 1000 credits in the end .

You should buy Cyclic Strike] as well , - Yrial suddenly said from the sidelines .

Zac quickly glanced through the list of treasures to find that it was an offensive skill that would cost him his remaining credits .

Is it strong? What's it good for? - Zac asked .

I wouldn't say it's a too strong an attack , that's why it's so cheap . But it will help you progress , - Yrial said , making Zac a bit confused . - I noticed that your utilization of Dao is still a bit clumsy . It's not too surprising since such a short time has passed since the Integration of your world , but if you plan on walking the path of duality this is something you need to improve before you advance . -

How come? - Zac probed with some lingering confusion .

To start creating a system , and have your classes reflect your long term goals , - Yrial explained . - Cyclic Strike] isn't a particularly amazing attack , but it requires two opposing Daos to work . So you will need to learn to combine your Dao of Rot and Dao of Trees to channel it . It will be a good lesson for you to learn to control your specialty core as well . -

Zac noticed that Yrial was actually doing his job as a teacher , and he memorized every word the ghost said . Yrial seemed pretty happy with the attention he was getting , and a satisfied grin started to appear on his face .

In fact , take this as the first lesson of your master . After looking through your situation I understand that your current goal is something that has been born from a series of coincidences rather than a strict vision from your path of progression . You even learned the accompanying Dao inside my trial , - Yrial said .

Zac slowly nodded in agreement . What he said was true . He had no goal of walking a path of life and death in the beginning . He had only wanted to gain the Dao of Axes and perhaps use the Dao of trees to heal and protect himself somewhat . But one thing after another led to his current situation .

There is nothing wrong with that , - Yrial said with a nod . - Searching for your path , or being able to adapt it due to circumstances is a good thing . But now that you have started to crystallize your path you need to formalize it . -

What does that mean? - Zac asked .

Your two classes are not moving in the same direction at the moment , - Yrial said . - But you can force them to align with the help of your Dao . The biggest problem is , in fact , your epic class . I am pretty sure I understand your reasoning for choosing it , but getting classes with complementing attributes isn't as important as complementing Daos . You need to force your classes into a new direction . -

Change direction? Can I even control that? - Zac asked with bewilderment .

Dao fusion is the easiest way , - Yrial said with a nod .

Zac suddenly understood what Yrial was getting at . His Undying Bulwark was currently based on the Dao of Hardness and the Dao of Sanctuary , exemplified by the vision of the ancestral protector . What would happen if he modified those Daos? Yrial nodded when he saw Zac's thoughtful expression .

It seems you understand . You have various options , but if you would listen to my opinion I would recommend that you fuse your Dao of Sanctuary with your Dao of Trees , and your Dao of Rot with your Dao of Hardness . It is still worthwhile to pursue your Dao of Axe since it would work as the delivery method for your cycle of life and death , - Yrial proposed .

Zac's brows furrowed when he heard Yrial's idea . Honestly , the Dao of Trees and the Dao of Sanctuary together didn't seem like a bad idea . He could envision a large tree providing shade and protection , meaning it shouldn't be too hard to fuse the two . But the Dao of Hardness and the Dao of Rot?

Are the Dao of Rot and the Dao of Hardness even possible to fuse? - Zac asked with hesitation . - And wouldn't that risk cutting off my path of progression? And also , how do you know of all my Daos? I never mentioned them and I haven't used Dao of Sanctuary since I entered . -

Well , first of all , I'm your master so how can't I know your situation? - Yrial said and waved his hand , causing a slightly modified version of Zac's status screen to pop up . - And I have to say that your situation is a bit disgusting . If I had this many titles with my supreme talent and beauty I would have become a Divine Monarch by now . -

As for the other parts , it seems you have a too reductionist understanding of the boundless Dao . That is usually the case with lower worlds . Dao Seeds are not small isolated nuggets of truth , but part of an endless fabric , - Yrial added and pointed at Zac with his finger .

Zac's vision once again started to change , making him worry that Yrial was once again sending him into a dreamscape . But the scenery soon changed and he wasn't looking upon some new world , but rather an enormous fractal . It reminded him of the first vision he had when he had an epiphany on the Dao of Heaviness .

The fractal in front of him was far more supreme though like it contained all the secrets of the universe . At first he thought it was Yrial's Dao , but he couldn't be sure because to his surprise he sensed the familiar auras from his own Daos in different parts of the fractal .

As far as he could tell all his Daos were represented to some degree in the fractal , though they were only a small part of the tapestry . Zac tried to remember as many details as possible , but the esoteric knowledge hidden in the vision immediately slipped out of his hands . Soon the vision shattered and Zac was back on the floating island again .

Did you understand? Everything is part of something bigger . Those kernels of truth you have grasped aren't really the truth of Trees or truths of Hardness . They are simply truths that the System has packaged in an easy to digest manner . But it is within your purview to repackage them to something that suits your path better . It requires talent and a high understanding of your Daos though , so it is not something done in a day , - Yrial said .

It simply seems a lot harder to fuse the Dao of Hardness with the Dao of Rot , though , - Zac said . - What Dao could I even strive for? -

Well , the Dao of Corpses comes to mind , and it would be easy to upgrade to Death . But there are other alternatives as well I'm sure . In any case , it will allow your next class to not be so unbalanced , - Yrial added .

Unbalanced? My Undying Bulwark class is pretty damn strong , - Zac retorted .

It is , but much of its utility is lost on you . It's a class meant for an undead champion , leading legions of the dead into war . Is that a future you see for yourself? - Yrial probed .

Zac unhesitantly shook his head . He wasn't even sure he'd ever visit the Undead Empire , and he had no plans to keep the undead on Earth .

I have a feeling that you walk a solitary path , just like I did . Your classes need to reflect that better . Your other class is much better in that regard , it boosts a little bit of everything , and its weaknesses are easily shored up , - Yrial said .

It was a sobering realization for Zac . He had felt that his second class was almost a cheat , but in Yrial's eyes it was barely serviceable . And what he said about solitary was true . He was so far ahead of the others on Earth that it might even restrict his progress to travel in groups . Perhaps a small group of elites would work , but not armies .

So why incorporate the Dao of Sanctuary into Dao of Trees? - Zac asked .

For one it's to not leave any Dao lying around that might affect your class choices negatively . Having too many Daos will cause your path to be crooked , so don't get lured in by the bonus attributes . Every Dao must have a purpose , so you need to categorize your Daos into three groups .

One for life , one for death , and one for attacks . Both your life and death groups will also help your defense as well due to the nature of your insights . It will cause a balance that will make your progression smoother . Being a super trash will already make your path of cultivation extremely arduous , there's no need to complicate it further , - Yrial said .

Another alternative is to have four groups , with one for Defense as well . In that case , you should not fuse your Daos as I recommended , - the spirit then added after some thought .

Zac slowly nodded . It felt like a shroud over his eyes had been lifted , and he was finally seeing the path he should take . It truly helped to have an experienced master . Just a few small pointers would make his life a lot easier in the future . What was even more shocking was that the annoying narcissist in front of him was such a good teacher .

How do I fuse Dao seeds though? - Zac asked . - I have only heard that it is possible , but not how you would actually do it . -

First of all both need to reach the peak , so you have some work to do . After that you need to merge the two Dao seeds within your body while focusing on the way you want them to fuse . If you succeed you will have a new Dao Fragment , a piece of Dao that is no longer a seed , - Yrial said .

What happens if I fail? - Zac asked .

Then you’ll receive a pretty monstrous backlash . Some die , others get their brains turned into soup . But with your constitution you’ll likely be fine after a few months of recuperation , - Yrial said .

Is it as risky to simply upgrade your Dao? - Zac probed with some hesitation .

No , but it’s a lot harder instead , - Yrial said . - You need one piece of insight per stage to evolve a Dao Seed , apart from the peak where you need two . But to Evolve a Dao Seed into a Dao Fragment you would need to attain the equivalent of five insights in one go . -

It’s not really hard for someone in the D-Grade , but it’s extremely hard for someone in F-Grade , - the ghost continued .

So by when should I have fused a Dao? - Zac asked .

You have no choice , you need to do it before you evolve . For one it’s a minimum requirement to have a Dao Fragment to get an Epic E-Grade Class . But you should do it in any case if you’re planning on getting a Class that suits your path , - Yrial explained .

Chapter 290 - Impartment

Zac frowned hesitantly when he heard that . He was extremely far from getting to the point of possessing four peak Dao Seeds . The Dao of Sanctuary and Rot were only at the early stage , and he had no idea when he would be able to push them all the way to the peak . Yrial seemed to understand what Zac was thinking and snorted .

You're lucky to have such a magnanimous teacher . I will help you out a bit , though most of the work will depend on yourself , - Yrial said as he got up from his lazy position by the pond .

What do you mean? - Zac said hesitantly .

As my terminal , and only , disciple I will give you additional two gifts before you leave here , - he said , and the next moment his aura exploded outward .

Immense powers radiated outward from Yrial as he floated up into the air . The islands beneath fractured and disappeared , its debris swallowed into a huge circle of energy that appeared behind him . Torrential amounts of energy ran through the circle , and it was as though it constantly changed its nature . The main two elements were those of fire and ice , and the debris was constantly remolded by these two forces .

Sometimes the circle gave Zac the impression of a cold asteroid belt and the next moment it was scorching hot plasma . It was both , and it was neither . Zac realized the difference between the C and D-Grade for the first time , and any last doubt that The Great Redeemer was actually a C-Grade powerhouse disappeared when he sensed the all-consuming aura of his master .

For over two hundred thousand years I walked my path , never looking back , - Yrial said , his voice completely different compared to the one earlier .

It contained endless strength and conviction . Gone was the lazy youth who loved to see his reflection in the pond , and replaced with a powerhouse who had walked over mountains of corpses to reach his station .

I impart my path of Cyclic Supremacy to you , in hopes you will reach the grand terminus , - he said next , his words echoing like thunder in Zac's mind .

Zac looked up with somber eyes , seeing the enormous circle of untold power slowly shrink and condense until it only had a diameter of two centimeters . It still contained the massive amounts of energies , and it shone like a sun as it flew straight into Zac's forehead , forcing him down on his knees . The next moment he found himself in the miraculous space in front of the huge fractal once again .

The enormous fractal lit up with boundless luster , and it caused stars to light up in the pitch-black expanse around it . Each star felt ancient , as though it had existed since the beginning of time . Thousands upon thousands of them appeared , each of them containing boundless knowledge and power .

Zac was completely frozen by the sight , but an enormous snap shocked him awake . It was the large fractal that had suddenly gained a massive crack that covered a large part of it . Zac didn't know why , but he instinctively knew that it was putting an extreme strain on the fractal to summon those mysterious stars .

Zac quickly looked around for what to do , since he knew this was something extremely important . Was he supposed to fix the fractal somehow? He prepared to move toward it , but the next moment he felt a dozen tendrils approach him . He couldn't see them with his eyes , but his Dao Seeds strongly resonated with them .

They were the pure unadulterated Dao , and he felt that he could gain a new seed by just grabbing one of the tendrils and absorb its knowledge . But he held himself back as he remembered Yrial's words . Gaining random Dao Seeds could hamper one's growth rather than helping , so he focused on the tendril that most strongly resonated with his Dao Seeds .

He wasn't sure how long this magical state would last , seeing the worsening state of the fractal . So he hurriedly focused his soul toward one of the tendrils , one teeming with life and vitality . He knew it wasn't the Dao of Trees , but rather something much grander . Not even the Dao of Life inside the construct was more than a shadow compared to what this tendril represented , and it was as though Zac was mesmerized as he approached it .

The moment his soul connected with the tendril the world changed again . He was once again the Lifebringer with its inexhaustible lifeforce , continuously growing and expanding . Everything could be a source of growth and empowerment , no matter if it was the planet , the air , or the universe itself . Even traveling through the boundless void could provide it with the sustenance it required .

A warm exuberance spread through his body , and Zac almost felt he would be able to live forever as long as he had access to Cosmic Energy . But he soon calmed down as his connection with the tendril ended , and he saw that it was slowly returning to its star in the distance .

Another crack in the fractal reminded him of the urgency of the situation , and he immediately pushed his soul toward another tendril , this one containing boundless darkness and desolation . Zac stabilized his mind and connected with it as well , and once again the world changed .

He once again saw the Lifebringer , but this time it didn't shine with boundless vitality . The gargantuan tree still floated through the boundless expanse , but its leaves were no longer emerald crystals . They were shrunken and graying , and some sections of the enormous canopy were completely barren .

Nothing lasted forever . Life would inevitably give way to decay , and even the Tree of Life was no exception . Its trunk was mostly hollowed out , and massive lifeforce was leaking out in a slow death . Rot spread from within , and soon there would be nothing left .

Zac shuddered as the connection with the tendril broke , and he brought some of the death with him . He had no idea whether what he saw was true , or whether it was an adaptation to fit his own Dao . But in either case , he felt that his newly acquired seed had grown substantially in its space in his mind .

By this point the whole space was shaking , and Zac quickly moved on to the next tendril that resonated with him . It gave him a feeling of piety , of self-sacrifice and that everything in the universe was connected . He felt it was strongly connected with his Dao of Sanctuary , and he quickly connected with it . He was suddenly standing next to millions of people , looking up at the ancient protector , seeing the gentle smile on his face as he turned to face the end of the universe .

But Zac had no time to glean anything as the vision shuddered and broke apart . The insight slipped out of his grasp , and he once again saw the large fractal . This time it was illusory , and in just a few seconds it was completely gone . The next moment the stars in the universe reseeded , taking their boundless knowledge with them .

The vision ended and he was once again standing on the last intact island .

Zac immediately sat down with his eyes closed , ruminating on the massive gains he had just received . It was only thirty minutes later he once again opened his eyes . The first thing he noticed was that Yrial's form had grown dim , no longer exhibiting the boundless power as before . Zac had a feeling that imparting Zac with these massive Dao insights didn't come without a steep cost .

This gift is immense , - Zac finally said as he opened his eyes . - Is there anything I can do in return? -

What could you do , little brat? - Yrial said with a snort . - Who knows how long I've been dead? Just be thankful that I didn't waste my impartment on someone else after I created this place . -

What do you mean? - Zac asked with confusion as he got up to his feet .

What I gave you was a Dao Impartment . Most can only do that once in one’s lifetime , and only after you have formalized your path , - Yrial explained . - The cost is also massive , and very few are willing to pay the price . But then again , it does not really matter seeing as I am dead . -

I'll remember this , - Zac said with a nod .

He remembered the massive fractal and realized that was likely a representation of Yrial's understanding of the Dao . It had taken serious damage to summon those mysterious stars , meaning that Imparting the Dao like that would likely cause massive damage to one's foundation .

Don't be so serious , - Yrial said with a wave as he produced a crystal .

This is my second gift to you , - he said . - I took the liberty of studying your core a bit more while you were walking in your master's shoes . It is marvelous , but it seems to come with a drawback . It is pretty arduous to change your race , no? - Yrial said .

Zac hurriedly nodded in agreement . The issue of changing between his two races was a constant annoyance . He hated the feeling of dying , and he was worried that something disastrous would sooner or later happen while he was out cold while he changed form .

I need to essentially die to change class . Or at least I haven't found a better method , - Zac said .

I figured as much , - Yrial nodded . - The two sides are almost completely separated , which isn't the case with the normal Duplicity Core . This crystal contains a skill that you can learn as both an undead and as a human . It will start the transformation for you without having to die . There is still a limit though , there is simply too little interconnectivity in your Node , a proper cycle isn't formed . So it will still take roughly 10 to 15 seconds , and you will be quite weakened during that time . -

That's still a lot better compared to the old method , I was out cold for minutes there , - Zac eagerly said as he accepted the crystal .

It might still be pretty risky to use it in battle , but it was far better than before .

Don't worry too much . The time needed to change class should drastically decrease when your core upgrades to the next rank , - Yrial said . - I believe the skill should still be usable as well . If not I'll just modify it when you come back . -

How do I upgrade it? - Zac probed .

I would guess that you need to feed it a higher grade of life and death , - Yrial said . - A great treasure representing each half of the whole . That and a lot of energy . -

As he held the crystal in his hand he was amazed at the means of Yrial . In just the few hours while he was undergoing the trial Yrial had managed to get a grasp of Zac's odd core and design a Skill that worked with both his classes to better utilize it . Not only that , but he also had time to inscribe it into a crystal , something that he had heard was normally extremely hard .

Meanwhile , he hadn't even taken the first step toward creating a skill of his own , something he knew was important in the future . From what he understood every stage came with less handholding from the system .

He knew he would still receive a few skills in the E-Grade , but he was also expected to create new ones himself , or at least get his hands on them some other way . At least he had gained Cyclic Strike] that might help him take the first step in that direction . Zac immediately infused some energy into the crystal , but suddenly his face got odd as he looked up at his master with a helpless look .

What? Is something the matter? - he asked with innocent eyes .

No . . . It's nothing , - Zac sighed as he looked at the name of his new skill . - It's perfect . -

Beauty Yrial's Great Transformation Skill]

That's fine then , - Yrial nodded . - With this , the first trial is over . You will not be able to enter this place again within 10 years . Before you come back you should at least have reached level 140 and have pushed your three Dao Groupings to High Fragments . Otherwise , you might not survive the trial . And even if you do I'll just deduct credits because you cannot follow instructions . -

Ten years? - Zac blurted out , but he suddenly took another look at Yrial's faded form .

The impartment had no doubt drained the spirit quite a bit , and perhaps he needed to rest for a decade to restore his form . He was only a fragment of a soul after all , and the might he released for that instant was massive .

Now , don't disappoint me . If you ever doubt yourself because your unremarkable looks or shitty aptitude remember this ; The great Lord of Cycles took you in , so you cannot be a complete waste of a human being , - Yrial said with a wave , and the next moment the air started to shimmer and distort .

Zac was about to give one final thanks , but Yrial’s voice once echoed out through the area before he was completely ejected . This time it held a majesty that reminded Zac of the great power he emitted right before the impartment .

The path you have chosen is even harder than mine . Many will tell you to give it up , to not bite off more than you can chew . Ignore them , they are condemned for mediocrity . Only when you walk your own truth will you be free . -

He once again found himself inside the grandiose hallway of the Towers of Myriad Dao , and Zac looked up at the ten-meter high statue with mixed emotions . There was no denying that Yrial was a bit annoying and a true narcissist , but the help and gifts he had provided might last Zac a lifetime .

Yrial had taken Zac’s formless idea and turned it into a reality . Zac now knew exactly where he was at and what steps he needed to take to truly walk upon the path of Life and Death . But it had also made him realize just how much he needed to improve before he could evolve to E-Grade .

Luckily Yrial had provided him with an extremely valuable kick-start to get him going .

Chapter 291 - Return

Zac finally opened his menu to properly check the result of the impartment . He was eager to see what his actual gains were . But before he could take a proper look he noticed some movement in his periphery .

Thank god you are okay , - Kenzie's voice suddenly sounded , and Zac saw her get up from a sofa not far from his statue . - We were worried when the hours kept passing . -

Brazla sat in an opulent throne next to the sofa , and he looked over at Zac with disinterest .

You took quite some time . It can't have been easy to pry treasures out of Lord Yrial's hands with that face of yours , - the Tool Spirit snickered .

It worked out fine in the end , - Zac said with a sigh . - If you knew about Yrial’s disposition , why didn't you warn me? -

It's not for me to decide your path . Worst case you die and your sister inherits the towers , - Brazla snorted .

Zac shook his head and ignored the annoying Tool Spirit .

Give me a second , I need to go over my gains , - Zac said to Kenzie as he once again opened his menu .

Name

Zachary Atwood

Level

74

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 , Omnidextrous , Eastern Trigram Hunt - 1st , Tyrannic Force , Achievement Hunter

Limited Titles

-

Dao

Seed of Heaviness - High , Seed of Trees - Peak , Seed of Sharpness - Middle , Seed of Hardness - Middle , Seed of Sanctuary - Middle , Seed of Rot - High

Core

F] Duplicity

Strength

587 Increase : 60% . Efficiency : 134%]

Dexterity

290 Increase : 45% . Efficiency : 134%]

Endurance

742 Increase : 71% . Efficiency : 134%]

Vitality

433 Increase : 61% . Efficiency : 134%]

Intelligence

160 Increase : 45% . Efficiency : 134%]

Wisdom

219 Increase : 45% . Efficiency : 134%]

Luck

132 Increase : 65% . Efficiency : 134%]

Free Points

3

Nexus Coins

F] 296 516 043

The improvements were pretty noticeable all around , but Zac was most interested in the advancements of his Daos . He quickly opened his Dao screen and took a proper look at the changes .

Trees (Peak) : Endurance +20 , Vitality +90 , Intelligence +5 , Wisdom +5]

Rot (High) : Endurance +5 , Wisdom +45 , Intelligence +10

Sanctuary (Middle) : Endurance +5 , Intelligence +10 , Wisdom +15

Not only had his Dao of Trees reached the peak , but his Dao of Rot had also completely skipped one stage and reached a high mastery . It truly made him want to quickly learn Cyclic Strike] . An attack utilizing two Daos where the worst one was high mastery could only be extremely powerful .

He surprisingly enough also managed to upgrade the Seed of Sanctuary as well , but he only been had been shown a small glimpse of the vision , so it only reached the Middle stage . But he knew that wasn’t the extent of the Dao impartment .

He still remembered the boundless insights in the stars , and he knew that connecting with those tendrils would make his progression on those particular Daos a lot smoother compared to others . Such a boon was extremely great for someone like him who lacked any affinities .

Truth be told Zac was still pretty unsure what that actually meant since he felt he could advance his Dao just fine up until now . He was even on the second spot on the ladder , only being trumped by the Abbot . But perhaps the difference would make itself clearer as he progressed further .

Zac closed the Dao screen and looked over his other gains . He was a bit disappointed that the attributes he gained wouldn't provide him with too many benefits , but it was better than nothing . He already knew that would likely be the case when he chose the two tendrils representing life and death over those that could improve his Dao of Heaviness and Sharpness .

Surprisingly he had gained not one but two titles in the trial as well . The had finally passed the 2500 attribute barrier , providing him with another title . Better yet , it was a special title that gave attribute effect .

Tyrannic Force : First to attain 2500 Attribute Points in world . Reward : Effect of Attributes +5%]

Achievement Hunter : Gain 25 Titles while in F-Grade . Reward : Effect of Attributes +5%]

He already knew about this title , but the one he saw in the Title Booklet instead provided 5% to all attributes . It seemed that being the first to gain this one gave him a slightly better version . The other one was a complete surprise though . He had no idea there was a title for gaining titles .

Zac understood why it was a high-tiered title though . If he looked at most of his titles they were things that almost no one would gain . He guessed that most would end their stint in the F-grade with between 5 and 10 titles . Elites might even pass 15 , but 25 was something that perhaps only a progenitor could get .

The effect of the high tiered titles was really starting to stack up , and by now it would completely cancel out even the best boosts that proper cultivators could get from their cultivation manuals .

Apart from that , there was nothing to note . His Nexus Coins remained the same , meaning that none of his kills inside the trial provided Nexus Coins . He wasn’t surprised about the beasts he killed in the Dreamscape , but he was a bit confused about the Dao Construct .

But by now he was so used to not understanding how things worked so he simply shrugged it off . He put his free points into Strength before he turned toward his sister again .

How did it go for Ogras , he should be out by now right? - Zac asked .

It only took him three hours , but he left immediately afterward . He said he needed to enter seclusion to incorporate his gains , - Kenzie said before she lowered her voice . - I don't know , he didn't look too happy about the results . But he seemed fine . -

Zac frowned when he heard that Ogras' experience wasn't without its own tribulations . He threw another gaze at the Tool Spirit . Were all the inheritances made by troubling individuals whose personalities had turned them into pariahs? As long as Ogras was fine he wouldn't pry , but it made Zac a bit leery about letting others risk their lives in the remaining trials .

Did he say whether he was coming to Westfort? - Zac asked , making Kenzie shake her head .

Zac slowly nodded as he started to walk out of the trial with his sister in tow . He actually wanted to enter seclusion himself to incorporate the massive gains he received from Yrial's impartment , but he simply didn't have time . Besides , he wasn't someone who had relied on meditation thus far , and he felt it would be more effective to get accustomed to his improved Dao seeds in the heat of battle .

What about the others , have they already left for the Marshall Clan? - Zac asked .

No , they're still here . Emily was about ready to break into the trial ground and drag you out , - Kenzie responded with a smile . - We sent a representative to relay that you're running late though . -

Okay . Apart from Nonet and Emily , has anyone else said they want to come with? -

Well , Calrin wants to go , - Emily noted . - The negotiations for setting up a branch has hit a snag . However , Julia came by earlier . It seems she doesn't want to go after all . -

Zac wasn't overly surprised by that , seeing how strong Emma's hatred for the New World Government was . It was pretty hard to defend one's employer when there were so many shady dealings going on . Zac also had a somewhat bad feeling about Thomas Fisher . How had he gotten so strong so quickly? What was the government up to?

That's fine , I guess . Our dealings with the New World Government can go through the Marshall Clan for now , - Zac said .

There's also Lyla and Olivia , - Kenzie added after some hesitation . - They both kind of want to go back to Greenworth to look for their families , if only just to bring them here . -

I'm honestly not sure how I would accomplish that , - Zac hesitantly said . - Their teleportation network is closed . -

Well just ask around while you're over there , - Kenzie said before an impish smile started to spread on her face . - So , are you excited about seeing Thea? -

Zac almost missed his step before he quickly found his bearing .

I guess , she's still holding on to a lot of treasure I lent her , - Zac nodded , evading the real meaning of the question .

He , of course , knew what his sister was getting at , but he honestly didn’t know how he felt about it . He did enjoy the two weeks that he traveled the Eastern Trigram Sect with Thea , but he wouldn’t go so far as to say there was love . He had somewhat shut down on that department since Hannah stabbed him . Kenzie only snorted with a roll of her eyes , but she didn't stress the issue .

You sure you don't want to come with? - Zac asked .

No , I feel I am pretty close to gaining another Dao Seed , I want to focus on that instead , - Kenzie said . - I want to be able to protect myself , but I'm still too weak . -

Finally , I was going crazy! - a shout echoed through the forest as Emily rushed toward the two the moment they entered Zac's compound . - And that big one is no fun . -

To Zac's surprise , he saw that Emily was still slightly covered in dirt and war-paint . Had she put it on purpose? Zac mutely gazed on her face for a bit until it dawned on him . Was she trying to hide her childish features by obscuring them?

Where is Nonet? - Zac asked .

It's meditating in that courtyard over there , - Emily said and pointed at one of the buildings that were usually empty . - Are we going now? -

In a bit . Someone get Adran as well , I'll be needing his assistance for this trip , - Zac said as he walked toward the courtyard .

He felt it wasn't enough to only bring a teenager , a gnome and an Anointed with him . The Marshall Clan was filled with wily old businessmen and politicians , and Zac was in no mood to handle those types on his own . Normally he would have brought Mr . Trang as a buffer , but he had taken up as the Admiral of his burgeoning Naval Force .

He was likely on his way back to the other continent to set up a base camp at this moment . Ogras was another candidate , but he was a bit unreliable , and with his history with the Marshalls , he might rather become a liability . That left Adran and Abby , and it felt like Adran was the best choice .

Zac entered the courtyard and immediately saw Nonet sit in the center of it . He was once again reminded just how massive these guys were , and it even looked like Nonet had grown at least half a meter since they met last time . Did they keep growing as their levels increased?

Long time no see , - Zac said with a smile as he sat down . - How is Hive Kundevi? -

Hive is thriving now that our tunnels are restored . My warriors were getting restless though , but the eradication project in your mines have kept them busy . The hatred of corruption is slowly disappearing . It gives us peace , but it also leaves us without purpose , - Nonet said .

Your power keeps growing , Lord Atwood . I can no longer sense the limits of your Strength , - Nonet added after looking him up and down . - It will be needed against the Dominators , especially with their recent boost in power . -

Zac sighed with a nod .

I encountered Inevitability in the hunt , - Zac said with a helpless grimace . - They are extremely strong . I am not confident in defeating them unless I evolve first . -

Do not forget , you do not stand alone , - Nonet said . - That is why I am coming with you . I need to discuss our response with my people . -

I heard something . . . from Inevitability . About the Anointed , - Zac hesitantly said .

That we will not be able to advance to what the system calls E-Grade? - Nonet said . - We know . I already feel I am approaching the limits of my body . That is why I wish to join you in this venture . The age of the Anointed is coming to an end , but we have one final task to complete . I cannot rest easy knowing the Dominators still are out there . The Cosmic Energy might not be corruption after all , but that group still brings about the corruption of the soul . -

Zac nodded and retold what he had learned about the Dominators in the hunt , about the Great Redeemer and the connections that he found .

The Great Redeemer . . . - Nonet muttered and clenched its fist . - There were always rumors of a great leader pushing the Dominators forward . To think it was like this . Selling out their own planet and people for strength . They are true abominations! -

Zac nodded in agreement . It took a special kind of callousness to condemn your whole planet for a shot at getting stronger . Especially when that wasn't the only method of gaining strength . They could just have progressed on their own like the rest , but instead chose such a sinister path .

Well , I have already met one more Anointed who spoke of a council . They are preparing for battle , - Zac said . - I hope you can get in touch with them through the hive near Westfort . -

The two discussed things some more , where Nonet confirmed some details about human culture . This was the first time it properly left its Hive it seemed , and it wanted to avoid causing trouble . It seemed Ibtep would also join , though Zac was unsure whether that special Zhix would really lessen any potential confusion .

In the end , they decided that Zac would join Nonet at the hive two days after he arrived unless they came back first . The two got up and met up with the impatient teenager outside .

It was time to go to Westfort .

Chapter 292 - Westfort

It's almost night already , - Emily huffed . - We're so late! -

Ibtep tells me this one is neither your progeny nor your mate , - Nonet said as it looked down at Emily with curiosity . - What purpose does she serve? Is she a warrior slave from a vanquished hive? Zhix slaves are seldom accorded such freedom of speech . -

Emily stopped in her tracks and gaped up at Nonet , who calmly returned her gaze . Zac coughed as he shot a gaze at the teenager . It honestly was a good question . Just what was Emily to him? In a sense , he had picked up her in the spur of the moment , and he knew he had somewhat used her as a temporary replacement for Kenzie , like an emotional binky . But now he wasn't sure .

I guess she's a mascot? - Zac hesitantly said after a bit , drawing an enraged glare from Emily .

I'm battle support! I can make anyone stronger! I just had a late start , - she said grumpily before she turned toward the teleporter and walked away in a huff .

The young can be capricious , - Nonet said with a nod . - We usually send them into the deep caverns to learn survival and moderation . Is human childrearing the same? -

Zac was about to say no , but he wasn't sure if that was true any longer with Alyn in charge . They did send the students to battle beasts as soon as they were strong enough . He also remembered Abby saying that making a beginner zone was already underway .

Well , we do something similar with our Academy here I guess . But now we have adapted to teach more about Cosmic Energy , - Zac said .

Would it be possible to send a few of our young to this Academy of yours? - Nonet asked .

Sure , - Zac said with a shrug , as he was sure Alyn wouldn't mind a couple of war crazy students to increase the competitiveness . - It's getting late , let's go . -

Wait , let me come with , - a light voice suddenly resounded , making Zac look over with a slight frown .

Alea was walking over , wearing one of her battledresses that contained defensive charges . Zac was unsure what to say when he saw her approach with Calrin in tow , as the two hadn't spoken since Zac told her off .

She had avoided him since the incident , even skipping out on meetings in favor of cultivating at the odd poison-tree in the mountains , and Zac didn't really know where he stood with her . However , the thought of bringing a slightly unstable poison mistress to the Marshall Clan made Zac's hair stand on end .

Why do you want to go? - Zac hesitantly asked .

To provide back-up . Adran and Calrin will likely be busy in meetings all day , but the Marshall Clan has so many people . You need someone who will be able to keep the bureaucrats at bay while you focus on the library and other more pressing matters , - Alea said . - Ogras said I should go . Janos won't be any help and Ilvere is a meathead . -

You should understand why I'm reluctant to bring you , - Zac said .

Alea slightly frowned for a few seconds before she suddenly looked up at Zac with a determined look . The next moment she started to change , growing into a horrifying swamp monster that was as tall as Nonet . Zac took a step back in surprise , and a knife appeared in Nonet's hand as though from nowhere . However , the large monster didn't attack anyone , and it soon started to shrink again , turning into a conspicuously naked Alea . Zac's eye widened a bit before he forced himself to look away .

Before I arrived at this planet I tried to force a change in my constitution to one that would better suit my skills , - Alea said , as she unhurriedly dressed herself again . - My heritage is incomplete , and some critical details were missing . It went awry and that form was the result of it . It has also caused some internal imbalances that made me . . . impulsive . -

Zac looked over at Alea who looked straight back at him .

But the past month I've made tremendous progress by cultivating beneath the tree of Toxic Ascension . My body is still slightly impacted , but I have at least driven out the toxins out of my mind , - she said .

… Fine , let’s go . -

Zac honestly wasn’t sure about his decision as he walked with the others in tow toward his teleporter , but he felt this trip could be used as an experiment . Alea was extremely powerful , and would likely be more helpful than anyone else in the upcoming battles , apart from Ogras .

If she could prove herself that she could be trusted and work in a group again it would be for the best . Then he could slowly return various responsibilities to her . And truth be told , he simply missed having her around . And he didn’t believe she would cause too many problems , especially not after what happened the last time .

But I’ll make it clear . No poisons anything like that unless we are attacked , got it? These people are our most important allies for the upcoming battles , - Zac said .

I know what to do , - Alea simply nodded .

Soon they arrived at the teleportation platform , and the group found Ibtep , and Adran waiting along with Emily . Zac internally sighed again as he felt this would be like a repeat of his motley crew when he went to the auction .

Only this time the ratio of Aliens to Humans was even worse .

Eh , Alea is coming as well? - Emily gaped from her spot next to the teleporter before she gave Zac an odd glance . - You are pretty gutsy . -

What? - Zac asked with a frown .

Nothing , - Emily said with a giggle . - Let's go! -

The next moment the teleporter lit up , and the group walked inside one by one . The group soon found themselves in a modern lobby . Zac didn't know why , but he had for some reason expected to arrive at some old Gaelic fortress or something of the kind .

Thea hadn't talked a lot about her heritage , but from what he had pieced together the Marshall Clan was practically ancient , with over one thousand years of history . But the surroundings reminded Zac of the lobby in New Washington , looking a lot like a terminal .

However , there were signs of the new reality they lived in as well , as large fractals covered both the walls and the roof . They were pretty crude compared to what he had seen in other places , but it clearly showed that the Marshalls might put even more effort into inscriptions than Port Atwood did . He remembered the homemade tools Thea used for example , such as the hazmat suit and the tent .

Unsurprisingly the group consisting of beings of all shapes and sizes garnered quite a bit of attention , but people were more prepared this time . Roland Marshal had clearly been waiting as he was snoozing in a comfortable sofa . But when their group arrived he quickly perked up and hurried over .

Lord Atwood , I am happy you were able to make it after all . I must say , only a few days have passed and your aura has become even more formidable . As expected of Earth's greatest powerhouse , - he shot off in quick succession as he got a proper look at the group . - I see that you've brought a larger retinue this time . -

As you know my city is on an island , - Zac said with a small smile . - A few people wanted to come with to stretch their legs . -

Of course , - Rolan said with a nod , as though bringing this odd group was completely normal .

Zac introduced them one by one , though Roland clearly knew of Ibtep and Calrin from before due to their appearance at the Auction . The impatient Sky Gnome immediately tried to glean why he hadn't been able to set up a branch in Westfort , but Roland expertly dodged the question .

We will have time to go through all these matters , but if you all would follow me first . All visitors must receive their tags . It is a security measure to combat infiltration by invaders or other hostile forces , - Rolan said as he ushered them toward a manned counter .

Zac and the others simply followed along , and each got a small metallic disk . Surprisingly enough there was a small engraving on it .

This seems to be a tracking rune that is used in conjunction with an array , - Calrin said as he glanced up at Roland . - In most societies , this level of monitoring would be considered rude . -

I do apologize . However , war calls for desperate measures . We are limited in our methods compared to the established forces of the Incursions , and have to use a somewhat heavy hand to protect our interests , - Rolan said with an apologetic smile .

It's fine , - Zac said with a disinterested shrug , as they had no plans to do anything untoward at Westfort .

Excellent . If you would follow me to the West Compound . It is the inner area of Westfort where the main clan resides and does its business . A small welcoming dinner is prepared , and I am sure Thea would be happy to see you again , - Roland said .

Zac nodded but remembered his company and threw Alea a sneaky glance to make sure she wouldn't cause any trouble . She caught his glimpse and only rolled her eyes in response . The group was shown to a series of cars , and Zac noticed that even the car windows had engravings on them . Just how many inscribers had these people employed?

The town was larger than Zac had expected , and he suspected that well over a million people could live here provided that the buildings they passed were occupied . But he noticed that most of the structures were recent additions . In fact , Zac realized Westfort might contain more recently built structures than Port Atwood .

There was not much traffic though , and they soon arrived at a manned wall . It didn't seem to protect the core of the town , but rather a side-section much like his own inner wall . Roland flashed a badge and their convoy passed through the heavily armed gates without issue . They found themselves in a large neighborhood with a mix of large mansions . If Westfort wasn't a small town he would have guessed that they were embassies by their varied designs .

While the marshall clan maintained larger offices in London before the integration , much of our business was still handled right here in Westfort . These buildings were both residences and offices for family members holding various positions in our conglomerate , - Roland explained when he noticed Zac's interest .

Just how many family members do the Marshall Clan have? - Zac asked .

It's hard to say , really , - Roland said . - The core family has around two hundred members , but we also have thousands of branch family members . Some branches are a proper part of the family and worked within our businesses before the integration , but many also paved their own path . -

Zac nodded in understanding , but he wasn't nearly as impressed as he would have been before the integration . A family consisting of thousands of members was extremely uncommon in the old world , but in the Multiverse it could barely be considered a clan .

With the increased lifespans families could grow extremely large , and many dynasties had hundreds of millions of members according to Alyn . Even Clan Azh'Rezak had almost a million family members all told , and it was considered a small and newly established group . It would have gotten even more out of control if it wasn't for the fact that it apparently became harder to conceive a child the stronger one got .

We're still some ways away , - Roland added . - We're heading to the old homestead . It is where the Marshall clan was founded , and parts of its structures can be traced back all the way to the 9th century . -

Zac whistled , suitably impressed , though Calrin and the Demons seemed a bit confused .

Our history is extremely short and our technology has pushed us forward . Finding a structure over a hundred years old is pretty impressive , let alone one over a thousand years old , - Zac explained .

Soon the mansions gave way to large fields , and they drove on a solitary road toward a huge sprawling mansion in the distance . As they approached it he started to wonder how a palace like this could be called a homestead .

It was a huge Palladian mansion that should have been built a few hundred years ago . Just a glance would tell anyone that it was thousands of square meters large , and Zac wouldn't have been surprised if someone had told him it was a summer castle for the British Royals back in the day .

However , there were also some new additions to the mansion . Three large side-structures in matching design seemed to have been added quite recently , and one of them was still not quite finished . There was also a massive building to the side that looked like a gargantuan spiraled seashell . It rose well over a hundred meters into the air , and Zac had a strong suspicion that this was the library that Thea received .

Another small wall had been erected some distance from the compound , and it encompassed all the structures along with a sizeable garden . The wall wasn't even two meters tall , but Zac knew that it wasn't just decorative as he could see a shimmer in the air above it . There was likely at least one array protecting the area , perhaps a full set of them .

I think we might have a different definition of a homestead , - Zac said to Roland , who shrugged with a smile .

Chapter 293 - Different Choices

Our founder , the first Baron Marshall , called his small manor the Old Homestead . Through the centuries our family grew , and many expansions and remodels took place , but the name always stuck with us . The manor gained its current form in the late 18th century , though we have added quite a bit real estate since the integration . Our family was spread all over the globe before the world changed , but we have worked hard to bring as many as possible home , - Roland explained .

When Emily heard his explanation she immediately perked up .

Have you mapped out the world by now? Do you know where all the cultivators from Allentown appeared? - she hurriedly asked before Zac could rein her in .

It wasn't that he didn't want Emily to find her two siblings , but rather that he didn't want to give the Marshall Clan too much information . His relations with Thea didn't necessarily extend to the rest of the family , and he didn't want Emily's brother and sister to end up as potential pawns in some political game .

We looked around the area of the town , but that group seems to have been teleported to somewhere else on earth , - Zac added calmly to explain what she meant .

I can't say that we have a full grasp of our new world so far , but we have successfully mapped out almost our supercontinent . However , according to our astronomers our planet is enormous , with a diameter of at least twenty times that of our old World , - Roland explained . - And according to our calculations , Pangea takes up only around 20% of the total surface . -

Zac was pretty shocked by the sheer size of their new planet . He knew that Pangea was simply massive . The Undead Incursion was as large as the former United States , but it was only a small section of the massive continent . To think that such a huge chunk of land was only twenty percent of the total .

But it also made Zac more certain that the other landmass was another continent rather than a large island . Zac had even thought it possible that they simply had reached Pangea from both ends , but that one of the coasts was uninhabited .

We have reason to believe that our continent isn't the only one , though we still haven't heard any news about another . Perhaps it's simply a massive ocean , - Roland said , almost confirming Zac's thoughts . - But mapping the great beyond has proven difficult . Our drones get taken down by huge birds and our ship destroyed by frenzied sealife . In general , the Cosmic Energy causes great disturbance to transmitted signals . -

After asking a few questions to make sure he understood which city Emily was referring to he tapped it into some app . But he didn't speak for a few seconds and Zac started to frown when he noticed his face . He quickly placed a hand on Emily's arm for support .

What is it? - Zac asked .

Unfortunately . . . It seems they belong to one of the lost groups . . . - he hesitantly said before he looked up at Emily . - Young lady , do not give up hope though . We still do not know the fate of the lost groups , and they may be alive and well . -

Lost groups? - Zac said after seeing Emily being stunned silent . - What do you mean? -

By now we have mapped out roughly 98 percent of all tutorial groups in the civilized world . That does not include regions with weak censuses though where we can't make accurate assumptions . Of the thousands of groups we and the New World Government has mapped , 29% are missing , - Roland said as he showed a graph on the tablet .

We believe a few percents are missing due to the Zhix . We know for a fact that many groups with large Zhix presences were completely annihilated . Some made it with just a handful of survivors who managed to hide from the Zhix rampage during the quests , - Roland explained .

But for the most part we believe the missing groups be to related to the fourth race , - Roland said and threw an odd look at Alea . - So we believe that a quarter of the tutorial groups have been moved to wherever the inhabitants of the fourth world reside , though their fates are unknown . -

Zac sighed and nodded in confirmation . He understood that look very well . The first time he introduced the Demons he said they were the fourth race to avoid trouble . But with the hunt , most of the larger organizations should have realized that the fourth race was the molemen living in the underworld .

Zac hadn't met any humans from the underworld in the hunt , but between the molemen and other hunters there should have been hundreds of them appearing , and the information should have quickly spread .

Perhaps the Marshall clan and the government were already trying to get in contact with the underworld to liberate the people or claim the riches . Still , since they were almost at the mansion he didn't bring up the subject and instead turned to Emily .

Don't worry , we will keep looking . Nothing is certain yet , - Zac said , and Emily somberly nodded her head .

Not long after they passed the manned gates as the two cars stopped right outside the doors . It was getting late , but floodlights kept the whole square in front of the manor completely lit , and multiple guards were making rounds .

Zac felt a bit out of place in this sort of luxurious environment , but being a top powerhouse instilled him with an air of confidence as they followed Roland inside . The others had much more varied expressions as they ranged from slightly bored to gaping and loudly exclaiming at the opulence inside .

Man , this place is creepy , - Emily muttered . - This place is haunted for sure . -

Zac coughed in embarrassment , but he inwardly had to agree . He had already met ghosts since the integration so he knew they were real . And if some existed on Earth , this old manor was a prime contender for being ghost central . The large hallway was stacked with antique relics , with everything from art to ancient weaponry and armors .

Young lady , you might in fact be on to something , - Roland said as he looked over with a smile . - Stories of hauntings in this manor have circulated for at least two hundred years . The middle ages were quite bloody , and some say resentment might have lingered . We have even brought in experts to make sure that we don't have any supernatural beings hiding in the attic now that the world is full of magic . -

Emily paled a bit as she glanced around as she walked closer to Zac . It didn't look like she had expected her random remark to have such credence .

You've made it , - a wizened voice suddenly echoed out through the doorway at the end of the hall , and when they entered they found Henry Marshall standing in front of a table laden with documents . - We were starting to worry some complications had arisen . But when we noticed you had gained another level we figured that you had found some opportunity . -

The company you keep is still quite diverse , - the Marshall patriarch noted as he looked up from the stack of papers on the table .

I haven't changed my mind on that front since we last spoke , - Zac said as he accepted a glass of champagne from a waiter that soundlessly arrived with refreshments .

There are a lot of new faces , - Henry said as he looked over the party until it stopped at Nonet . - Strength to your hive . I am Henry Marshall , leader of the Marshall clan . -

I am Nonet , Anointed of Hive Kundevi . Strength to your hive , - Nonet said with some surprise .

I assume you joined Lord Atwood to reconvene with your brethren at the nearby hive? - Henry asked , drawing a simple nod from the Anointed . - I will have my men escort you in a car at your convenience . If you could relay the message that we simply wish for peaceful co-existence I would be in your debt . Our own tries at diplomacy have proven unfruitful . -

I will relay the message to the council , - Nonet said without promising anything further .

Nonet was anxious to visit the hive , so Henry arranged for an escort for Nonet and Ibtep , and they immediately left the manor .

Thea is not coming today? - Zac suddenly asked as he looked around .

There were only Henry and a handful of family members that seemed to act as advisors and aides in the large room . Thea was nowhere in sight , and neither was Billy for that matter .

When she heard that you got delayed she decided to head into the wilderness to fight . The beasts are progressing quite rapidly and unless we regularly cull them we would risk a beast tide . But mostly it was her competitive spirit that wouldn't let her sit still while you improved , - Henry explained with a smile . - Your large friend went with her . -

Zac nodded in understanding as he sat down at a table that could seat over twenty people . For a moment he thought they tried to hide Thea to avoid returning the items he lent her , but he felt that Thea wouldn't go along with such a thing . A luxurious dinner was soon served , and the topics were kept light . The family members from the Marshall clans were great conversationalists , and it soon felt like a gathering of old friends .

Clearly , their goal was to dig out all kinds of information through the occasional and seemingly innocuous question , but everyone knew to keep quiet about sensitive matters . Besides , only Kenzie and Ogras knew of the truly sensitive intelligence on Port Atwood . Even Emily who lived on his compound had no idea about the true identity of the Creators .

After the dinner was over Zac noted that Henry gave the sign to the servants , and they all left the room in quick order . Left were only Henry , four aides , and Zac's retinue .

I hope that we will be able to forge a strong alliance between our forces during your visit , and take the first step toward purging our planet from invaders , - Henry began as his eyes swept toward Adran and Alea . - However , before that there is something that I would need clarified . I think you know what I am talking about . -

The demons? - Zac said with a smile .

As he expected the issue cropped up almost immediately .

The Demons , - Henry confirmed with a somber face .

It is as you expect , they were once part of the Incursion close to Port Atwood , - Zac said . - As you might have heard from Thea , the integration left me alone on an island along with a Demonkin Incursion .

I am not sure how clear your people are about the details , but after the conditions for closing an Incursions are met , the invading force is given a grace period to escape through their Nexus Hub , - Zac continued . - There was a group that chose to break ties with their old force , and instead join me in founding Port Atwood . -

We are aware of the mechanics , - Henry nodded . - However you must understand the risk you are putting yourself and Earth in . In one hundred years they will be able to contact their former clan , leading them back here at full force . -

The two demons at the table threw Henry cold glances , but he completely ignored them .

So what would you do if you were in my situation? - Zac asked .

We were in your situation a short time ago when we finally managed to close the Incursion that plagued the area . My granddaughter managed to assassinate a few of the leaders , allowing us to win the war . Most fled through the crystal when defeat was inevitable , but a few stayed on , - Henry explained , a ruthless glint shimmering in his eyes . - We killed them to the last man . -

Zac felt a shiver when he looked into Henry Marshall’s eyes . The old man was nowhere strong enough to be a threat to him , but Zac knew that he himself lacked such ruthlessness . Henry was ready to go to any length to protect his family and their interests , and Zac had a feeling that was what he was conveying by telling Zac about their handling of the incursion .

Well , our situations were different . I needed people and information , and the demons provided both . Besides , they would be the first to get killed by their clan if they called them over , - Zac said . - As for how I handle the other Incursions , that will depend on their actions . -

Besides , Zac already knew that the few D-Grade powerhouses Clan Azh'Rezak possessed were right at the start of the grade . They had barely managed to pass the hurdle of forming their core , but they wouldn't go any further on the path of cultivation .

Only the clan leader and the supreme elder were slightly better . There was no way that they would be able to mount an assault on Earth unless their planets for some reason became neighbors through some cosmic joke .

The atmosphere in the room started to become quite heavy , and the advisors threw Henry worried looks . They were no doubt unhappy about an escalating conflict , especially when Thea was out hunting . But suddenly Henry reclined in his chair with a shrug .

The strong make the rules . Such is our reality now , and the rest will have to accept it and adapt . This brings us to another issue , have you been able to connect with the underworld? - the old man said .

Zac was slightly thrown off by the change in subject , but the two were connected in a sense . Since Henry had stepped back on the issue of the Demons , then so would he .

No . Either their teleporters are not public or there is something else causing interference , - Zac said with a shake of his head .

He still didn't feel it was time to disclose his theory of the second continent .

You should know that most forces are currently desperately digging downward to connect with the underworld . The fact that there are massive riches has spread far and wide because of a few bigmouthed hunters , - Henry said with a sigh . - It’s a modern-day gold rush , and many are even ignoring the threats of the Incursions . -

Chapter 294 - Cultivation

No one has been able to connect to the underworld yet? - Zac asked .

Not to our knowledge , - one of the aides said with a shake of his head . - There are speculations that there is some layer far down into the ground that hinder the teleportation arrays . Others even believe that the underworld is in fact on one of the moons . -

Zac’s first looked at the man with skepticism , but upon further consideration he felt it wasn’t too far-fetched . Their new planet had three moons now , and while none of them looked like a proper planet there was nothing saying that it wasn’t possible to survive underground up there . Perhaps his theory of the underworld being beneath the other continent was completely wrong .

But something told Zac this wasn’t the case . It would be extremely odd if an incursion was placed on one of the moons . How were they supposed to close it if that was the case? His theory felt much more promising . But for now he kept his thoughts to himself . And , of course , none of his people would explain the situation either .

Henry seemed intent in sounding out Zac’s thoughts about the coming battles , but Zac still hadn’t decided on his course of action and kept his intentions vague . Besides , he did not want to make large decisions while both Thea and Billy were absent .

It was already well past midnight , and Zac was starting to feel tired since he had come here straight from the Inheritance trial . So he instead said he needed to cultivate , and he excused himself from the table . Emily had turned quieter during the evening , likely thinking about her siblings , and she excused herself as well .

No one slept a lot any more with their improved constitution , so Zac left Adran and Calrin to accompany Henry and his aides to discuss the details of their alliance instead . Alea chose to stay behind as well as a liaison for the military arm of Port Atwood . A group of maids waited outside , and Zac and Emily were shown to their rooms .

Zac's living quarters was a huge suite comprised of five rooms . There were two separate bedrooms , a living room and what seemed to be cultivation chambers . When Zac entered he was surprised to note that the density of cosmic energy was slightly higher inside compared to the outside . He also sensed that the walls were extremely thick , providing great isolation .

There even was a high-quality air control function inside that kept the air just right . The increased density didn't make any difference for a mortal like Zac , but it undoubtedly felt nicer to reside in more energy-rich areas . Zac closed the door behind him and noted with some interest there was even a Do Not Disturb-button by the door .

He had to admit that the Marshal Clan had gone a very interesting route where they combined their old lifestyle with the integration , creating something unique for themselves . That was also made apparent from their effort to incorporate inscriptions in modern items .

Port Atwood was to a far greater degree adapted to the general state of the multiverse , and Zac realized there were almost no modern items in his private courtyard anymore .

It almost felt as though he was inside a sensory deprivation chamber from the moment he closed the door , and he had no trouble to calm his mind . Zac usually preferred to sit in his courtyard to meditate while listening to nature , but this experience was nice as well .

The first problem he wanted to take a minute to ponder upon was what he should do in regards to Yrial's advice regarding his Dao .

The earlier he decided which of the paths he would take , the better . That would allow him to try to gain suitable insights for his Daos as he pushed them toward Peak mastery . As he saw it there were three alternatives to take , rather than the two Yrial mentioned . He could also go for only two Dao Groups in addition to three or four .

The final option would be where took his fusions one step further and created one group of life and defense , with the other group representing Death and Attack . That would reflect the two top tier Daos , Creation and Oblivion . But he quickly discarded his path as he took out Verun's Bite] . Zac slowly dragged his fingers across the large axhead , and he felt a small resonance in his mind .

Zac had held an axe in his hand since the integration took place , and it had become a part of him . He couldn't imagine giving up the path of the axe in favor of only focusing on the two elements of life and death , so he quickly discarded the thought of only having two Dao Groups . Besides , he felt that doing so might result in his following classes to become even more lopsided .

After some hesitation he also decided to give up on having a fourth group , one solely dedicated to defense . He didn't have any connection to a shield like he did with an axe , and pushing for that Dao wasn't something he felt being too important .

He would shore up his defense with the help of massive attributes , skills and Hybrid Daos instead . That left the original suggestion that Yrial had put forth . The Dao of Corpse didn't sound too appealing to him , but Yrial said there would be other alternatives as well .

He spent a few hours consolidating his improved Dao Seeds . He had very little experience with the Seed of Rot , and he knew that he would have to battle it out a bit while using it to test its might . He also taught himself both Cyclic Strike] and his Transformation skill .

Yrial’s transformation skill formed a layer around the core , and Zac realized he would need to either infuse it with the Dao of Trees or Dao of Rot if he wanted to change his form . Cyclic Strike] was a bit more unique though .

The skill was the first one he had encountered that was comprised of two fractals , one on each of his shoulders . He was worried for a second he would need to use both his arms for the attack , but after channeling the two Daos into their respective fractals he realized that wasn’t the case .

He did , however , realize that he was unable to completely activate the fractals . A very delicate balance was needed between the two Daos , and if Zac didn’t control his energies exactly right the skill would fizzle out immediately . This was only exacerbated by the fact that the two Dao Seeds he used weren’t of the same grade .

He frowned a bit , knowing he wouldn’t be able to use his new skill in the short run . But he understood what Yrial meant that this skill would help him improve his control of his Dao . At the moment he only pumped his attacks full of his mental energy , but this skill required far more sophistication .

Since there would be no quick results from Cyclic Strike] , Zac instead turned his attention toward the transformation skill . But before he tried to activate it he stopped himself as he looked around . He took a second look at the roof and all the corners for any hidden spying devices before sitting down again . But even then he put on a cowl to cover his face just to make sure .

Content that there was no one spying on him he infused the fractal with the Dao of Rot , and he felt a decent amount of Cosmic Energy getting dragged into the fractal as well . The next moment small lines of energies connected with the core , and Zac immediately sensed the change .

Miasma immediately started to flood his system , and he almost fell even though he was already sitting . At the same time his Cosmic energy was quickly getting absorbed by the core , and it was as though a cycle had formed where the death-attuned energy was driving all normal energy out of his body and into the Duplicity Core .

A wave of nausea hit Zac but he held on and kept infusing the skill with the Dao of Rot . Luckily Yrial’s estimations had been correct , and the change only took around ten seconds . He opened his status screen to be sure , and he had truly changed to his Draugr form .

It was the first time he had the opportunity to properly observe the transformation , and it was pretty interesting . It wasn’t only the energies that changed , but something else was dragged out of his body and pushed into his core . In its stead , his organs were filled with something else .

It was the change of this mysterious force that was the difference between vibrant red blood and the black sludge that now sat in his veins . He had no idea what it was since he couldn’t sense it properly . At least he felt it was something completely different compared to life force and miasma . In the end , he could only chalk it up to be the essence of the respective races .

Luckily there was no trouble in learning the two skills in his undead form either . The transformation skill was already adapted for his dual races by Yrial , whereas the attack was mainly powered by the Daos .

Since he was already in his undead form he decided to test something that had been on his mind for days . He quickly took out the Cultivation Manual that Mhal had left behind . Zac already had learned how to utilize a manual from listening to Alyn and his sister and knew exactly what to do to see whether he was a cultivator in this form .

Luckily it didn’t seem that the Undead manuals were any different , apart from running on miasma instead of Cosmic Energy . The first thing he did was to take out and crush a few Miasma crystals to fill the cultivation chamber with Death-Attuned energy . Next , he looked down on the manual and tried to start it up .

The first step to cultivation was slightly confusing to Zac , as it was to - connect with the universe’ as Kenzie had explained it .

By pushing his miasma in the specific pattern of the manual a rotation would be formed through his pathways . This rotation would , in turn , connect the energy outside the body with the energy inside , and as the rotation kept going some of the external energy would be dragged inside through his pores and join his internal energy .

Rotating the miasma didn’t prove difficult , as he had ample experience of moving energy though his body to utilize his skills . But no matter how many revolutions he performed following the Cultivation Manual nothing happened . His internal energy was completely cut off from the miasma in the room .

Not even holding a Miasma Crystal helped in the least , even though he had seen Thea regain her energies a lot faster that way . Zac even expelled a bunch of miasma to test whether the manual could at least help him restore his energies faster .

But Zac’s final hope was dashed when revolving his energy didn’t help in the slightest to improve his missing miasma . Some Miasma continuously seeped into his body as it always did when he wasn’t topped off , but cultivating made absolutely no difference on the rate of absorption .

Finally , he had to reluctantly give up on the rotation . If he was a cultivator he would almost immediately have started to absorb energy . There was no such thing as 'sensing the Cosmic Energy' for months until a connection could be made . It was an instant change , where the only difference over time was the amount of energy one could drag into one's body .

It looked like he wasn’t meant to cultivate even in his Draugr form . He had honestly known this was a very real possibility after meeting Yrial , but it was still a disappointment . Zac shook his head with a wry smile , realizing he might be the only Draugr in the multiverse without any inherent connection to miasma .

Since he was done with everything he wanted to check out in his undead form he decided to change back to a human . He crushed a divine crystal in the room next , making the life-attuned energies cancel out the miasma to some degree . The rest would naturally be diluted and eradicated by the ambient energies in the air .

But when Zac tried to change back he was immediately stopped .

He soon learned that the transformation skill refused to activate for almost an hour until he could change again . It appeared that freely swapping back and forth still was impossible . But with some timing and subterfuge it should at least be possible to swap once during a battle , though it couldn’t be done if he was completely exhausted since it required a decent amount of mental energy .

For the rest of the night , he kept going over his experiences and his Daos , trying to decide on the best path for himself . He only took a short nap of two hours before he resumed his meditation . He lost track of time until suddenly a subdued chime could be heard in the room , gently bringing him out of his meditation .

It seemed the Marshalls had installed a doorbell of sorts to alert the person cultivating . Zac stood up with a grunt and opened the chamber to the outside world . To his surprise he found Thea standing right outside . A quick glance at the time showed it was almost noon , making his mouth slightly widen in surprise .

You're an addict , - Thea said with a shake of her head as she pointedly looked at the unused bedrooms before a small smile spread across her face .

Chapter 295 - Perusing the Library

Aren't you the same? - Zac smiled . - I heard you went out hunting during the night? Isn’t Billy with you? -

With you gaining so many levels I can’t relax , - she said with some annoyance , though Zac knew she didn’t really mean it . - Besides , it seems the beasts are getting more aggressive . -

Billy won’t be joining us today . He heard we were going to the library and decided to sleep in . Did you know he can cultivate while sleeping? - she then added as she looked inside the cultivation chamber with a slightly confused look .

Zac guessed she sensed the odd mixture of attuned energies inside since they hadn't completely dissipated , and he hurriedly closed the door behind him . It was only after he got out he had time to digest what she said . Zac didn't know how to respond to something like that , he had never heard of anything like it . Billy was truly one of a kind .

Is that even possible? - Zac said .

Apparently , - Thea said with a shrug . - Between you and me , I think Billy might have some special constitution or bloodline . Even I could see his huge form when he smashed the array back in the hunt . -

Zac agreed with Thea’s guess , remembering Billy’s golden blood and the ancient aura he emitted in his titanic form . Bloodlines and special constitutions were things that Zac still was a bit confused about though . Could one just gain them willy-nilly?

Give me a second to change , - Zac said and hurried to the bathroom .

He felt a bit silly wearing the golden robes from Tyrbat back on Earth . It was one thing back on Port Atwood since he was usually alone cultivating or battling , but it was different here . He took a quick shower and put on his new Spirit Tool robes instead .

The clothes adjusted to fit him perfectly , and they felt extremely luxuriant . After checking himself in the mirror he had to say that he looked a lot better in the tasteful battle robes compared to the gaudy defensive suit the Medhin Royals seemed to prefer .

Zac even considered growing out the stubble on his head to a longer hairstyle like Yrial , but in the end decided against it before he got out . Thea gave him a once-over with her eyes , her brows rising slightly when she saw the intricate fractals drawn in red and blue .

Looks nice . I still have the things I owe you , but space here is a bit cramped , - she said and led him out toward a garden out back .

The two kept making some small talk while they walked until they reached a secluded garden behind the huge mansion . The moment they arrived Thea immediately summoned a small mountain of treasures , but he was a bit curious to note that they seemed to have been sorted .

Truth be told we went through the items , but I promise that not a single thing is missing . I oversaw everything , - Thea said before she looked over at a few crates . - There are a few things we would like to purchase from you that we found in this pile . -

Port Atwood is always happy to oblige in some trade , provided the price is right , - Calrin’s voice suddenly could be heard across the garden .

Zac almost jumped straight into the air in shock , since the voice had come straight out of nowhere . He quickly looked around to find Calrin standing just a few meters away . He saw Zac's shocked face and gave a small bow .

I smelled treasure , - the Sky Gnome said as he walked over to the pile that Thea had indicated . - I wonder what Miss Marshall would use in exchange for these treasures? You should know that Port Atwood currently lacks nothing apart from exotic treasures . -

What are you doing here? - Thea said as she looked down at Calrin as he started rummaging through the things they wanted to keep .

It appears our business interests have met a snag here in Westfort , so I had some free time to help out my good friend , - Calrin pointedly said . - Now these are some valuable items , no wonder your force would want to buy them . -

Some annoyance started to appear on Thea's face , and she turned toward Zac . However , business was business so Zac only shrugged with a small smile as he let the two battle the out . He trusted Calrin's discerning eye . The gnome would neither let a real treasure slip through his fingers nor take a loss on the items he was ready to sell off .

In the end , Calrin staunchly refused the sale of two large crates of herbs , but he was ready to haggle for the rest . Zac didn't recognize those plants at all , but they weren't bad since they emitted pretty dense energies . As for the rest , it was sold for 124 million Nexus Coins that would be paid in three installments . At this point , Zac made sure that the money would go to him rather than the insatiable little gnome since this deal did not go through the Thayer Consortia .

The price itself seemed somewhat low , but it came with some strings attached . It appeared that the Business Venture that Starlight backed was also aiming to set up a branch in Westfort , and the Marshall Clan was happy to have the two businesses duke it out and provide better benefits .

Calrin managed to get a three-month head-start through this deal , barring the Flowing Moon Corporation from doing business at all during that period . Three months wasn't too much , but it was also a critical period on Earth . Large wars would take place , and Thayer Consortia would be able to unload its enormous stockpiles of equipment to the Marshalls and their allies .

Calrin’s original intention was for commercial monopoly though , just like he enjoyed in Port Atwood , but that was staunchly refused by Thea . Zac found that she was almost a completely different person when it came to business , and she gave the little sky gnome quite the workout .

Zac was also interested to see that Thea had no problems deciding these things on the spot , meaning that she might enjoy a similar status as himself in the clan . Zac let others handle most issues , but he always had the final say . Zac had assumed that Henry was calling all the shots since the family seemed to run like in the old world , but perhaps that wasn’t completely the case .

After they were done with the negotiations Calrin dragged him to the side .

That’s a good one . Finding a wife with a talent for management will allow a man to adventure with peace of mind , - Calrin said with a satisfied nod .

Great , - Zac sighed with a roll of his eyes . - What were those herbs you kept? -

They are called Cosmic Bloodroot] and are used to improve one's constitution . Together with the Aetherbloom] we attained from New Washington and a few other ingredients we will be able to make extremely potent Medicine Baths to move constitutions toward D-Grade , - the Gnome Excitedly said .

Zac whistled in surprise . That was something that Port Atwood currently lacked . It wouldn’t be long before both himself and a handful of the Demons reached E-Grade , and having this would motivate them to contribute even harder .

After saying goodbye to Calrin he rejoined Thea as they walked toward the enormous seashell . Now that it wasn’t pitch-black outside he could see that it was a deep blue and shimmered like it was inlaid with crystals all along the surface .

It was initially built by an aquatic species , but the System remodeled it to work above-ground it seems , - Thea explained as they moved forward . - The librarian is a bit angry about it though , it does not like non-marine beings . We found that unless you are quite specific in your requests it might try to trip you up . -

Zac coughed as he threw Thea an odd glance . He was starting to form a guess about the System . It was the largest employer in the universe and had multiple sales channels . Was it awarding slightly broken or troublesome things for quests because it had trouble pawning them off to more established forces? The only exception seemed to be the Creator shipyard , though he knew that both Rahm and Karunthel seemed a bit odd even for being Creators .

As they got closer to the entrance of the library Zac spotted a familiar figure sitting on a bench nearby enjoying the sun . He felt a headache incoming but still chose to walk over with Thea curiously following in tow .

What are you doing here? - Zac asked with some helplessness .

The library sounded quite interesting . In contrast to Ogras and the others I come from humble beginnings , and never had a formal education . I wanted to see if I could join you inside , - Alea said with a smile as she looked over at Thea .

This is Alea , one of the leaders of the demons , - Zac introduced her to Thea . - Alea , this is Thea Marshall . -

Hi , if you're a friend of Zac's you're welcome to join , - Thea said with a nod .

Zac internally breathed in relief when he saw that the poison mistress wasn't here to cause any trouble and walked toward the library . The moment he stepped inside all sounds from the outside disappeared , and he was filled with a sense of tranquility as he looked around the magnificent building .

There were no ceilings in the shell and he could see up to the top of the spiral . Lining the walls were innumerable bookcases and floating crystals , and they kept going along the spirals all the way to the top . The bottom floor was also studded with reading nooks and comfortable sofas , the latter seemingly an addition of the Marshall's . Zac also noted that there was at least one shimmering partition some ways up , which slightly distorted the vision .

It seems I need to pass a certain trial to unlock the top tier information crystals , - Thea explained as she looked up at the layer . - Until then we can only browse what's beneath . -

So how do you find what you're looking for? - Zac asked as he looked around . There were hundreds of bookshelves on just the ground floor , but not a single sign anywhere .

Ask Big Blue , - Thea said .

Huh? - Zac said , but the next moment an enormous monster appeared in front of him .

It was like something wrought out of a Lovecraftian nightmare , a monstrous head with hundreds of long tentacles . Dozens of pitch-black eyes stared down at them , the largest of which as large as a beach ball . Zac immediately took out his axe in alarm , and Alea looked ready to drown the whole area in poison as she turned her eyes toward Thea .

Wait! - Thea said . - That's the librarian! -

Zac hesitantly looked up at the enormous monster reaching almost ten meters into the air , and he couldn't believe this thing was a keeper of knowledge .

New bipedals soil my sanctuary . You even bring the barbaric demonkin this time? Base creatures that only know lust and violence , - a rumbling voice echoed out through the library as the large head of the Librarian turned away in annoyance .

It has worked well for us so far , - Alea said with a smile , but there was a dangerous glint in her eyes .

I'm sorry , just ignore Big Blue . He has some personality problems , but he is very knowledgeable . Just ask him what you want to learn more about and he will get it for you , - Thea explained with a helpless smile .

Zac nodded and simply asked about the Undead Empire to start with . Zac had honestly already figured out most things that were bothering him inside the trail already , meaning this place wasn't as valuable to him anymore . But he still had a day to spend while Adran and Calrin hammered out the details of the cooperation agreements with the Marshall Clan and Nonet visited the other hive .

So he chose to shore up his knowledge of various fields during the day . He got a better understanding of how the multiverse worked for example , and he couldn't help but be shocked by the immensity of it all .

One theoretically could understand that the multiverse was boundless , but such a thing was too abstract . But when one started to get down to detail it started to get insane . For example , a single undead family could control hundreds of thousands of planets , and yet they would only be the drop in the ocean of the Undead Empire . Even an A-Grade powerhouse might die of old age before having visited every planet .

But even though the universe held boundless planets and things to see it seemed that interplanetary travel was not something that was more than a fraction of people would experience in their lifetimes . No matter if one lived at an F or D-Grade world most would never leave their planet , much less their sector . It was both an issue of danger and resources .

To travel between planets in a local cluster you needed at least a D-Grade cosmic ship unless you possessed teleportation access . Those ships could utilize the Dao of Space to move faster than light , making it possible to traverse those massive distances . But you needed higher-grade ships to travel outside of the local cluster . A C-Grade ship was needed to travel within a galaxy , and a B-Grade ship was needed to travel between galaxies and explore whole star sectors .

In the end , there were too many forces and worlds to keep proper track of everything , and the system generally clumped sectors together . For example , it turned out that all the forces invading Earth was from the same star sector , though not necessarily the same galaxy .

The author of the book theorized that the System wanted to find a balance between safety for newly integrated planets , but at the same time waste a minimal amount of energy for the trials . So it didn't want forces in too close a proximity to invade , but it also didn't want to teleport people too far .

Of course , there were some exceptions to this . Some forces were just so massive that they existed in multiple universes , having pockets of control almost everywhere . The Undead Empire was one such example , and there were a few more massive empires and alliances like that as well .

That meant that the risk of running into those forces of the Incursions in the future was a lot higher than he expected . A few of them might even come from the same galaxy their planet had been moved to .

It's shocking , isn't it? - Thea suddenly said from the side . - I read that same crystal a few days after I got this place . The scale of it all is crazy . -

Zac nodded in agreement . But what Zac really was thinking about was what would happen to him after he offended every single incursion by killing their leaders and forcing the rest to flee in shame .

Would he even be able to leave the planet in the future?

Chapter 296 - Division of Labor

Zac shook his head with a wry smile before put aside the information crystal . He would need to survive the Incursions , Dominators , and the Great Redeemer before he could worry about potential vendettas with various factions in the multiverse .

The next hours were spent with Zac going over any subject that he could think of . One small regret was that the Library was extremely old , and any information about forces would have to be taken with a grain of salt . For example , there was no mention of the Allbright Empire in the Library , though Zac didn’t know if that was due to the Empire being too young or that the Library could only hold so much information .

But the most interesting crystal he found was a bibliography of a Mortal warrior who managed to reach peak C-Grade . It mostly centered on his exploits and experiences , but some snippets gave insights into the hurdles a Defier would encounter .

As Zac suspected the general method of Galvarion , the aquatic Mortal , to break through his nodes was to force them open . It took him almost a hundred years to reach the peak E-Grade , most of it spent on a sickbed from his wounds . It had taken him another 150 years to heal his foundations until he even dared to attempt to form his core .

As he read through the history of Galvarion Zac also started to understand Alyn’s standpoint regarding Class Rarities better . Galvarion only possessed an Epic C-Grade Class , the lowest possible rarity if one wanted to progress further .

In fact , it had been the same from the start for the man . He started with a humble Warrior class at F-Grade and slowly upgraded the rarity once every Evolution . He wasn’t supremely strong for his level , though better than most through a series of fortuitous encounters and good Dao insights .

But he was still looked down at by the elite forces in the area , and a few enmities had resulted in him almost dying multiple times over . But Galvarion always remembered the grudges as he slunk away , only returning when he had become stronger .

Soon after evolving to C-Grade he completely eradicated 6 D-Grade forces that had crossed him over the past thousands of years . That went to show that the rarity of a class wasn’t nearly as important as the Grade .

The bonus attributes he got now from an Epic class wouldn’t make much difference when Zac was a D-Grade powerhouse , and Zac started to wonder if he was doing the right thing from pushing toward the peak rarity . But Yrial never mentioned anything about the subject , so he decided to stick with his gut .

He would ask the Lord of Cycles the next time they met just in case , but he knew that the extra attributes were only a small part of what the better classes brought to the table . Instead , he kept going through various information crystals to get a better basic understanding of the multiverse and cultivation in general .

It was only around 5 pm that Alea spoke up .

We have a meeting in 30 minutes , - she said . - A council for the upcoming war . -

Zac couldn’t stop a groan from escaping his lips , and Thea looked less than enthused as well . Both of them had turned to people of action from their experiences following the integration , and these meetings had turned into torture . But there was nothing to be done about it . Some big decisions needed to be made , and Zac needed to be present for them . So they simply took a small walk in the garden before entering the conference room .

Zac sat down with the other people from Port Atwood , nodding at Calrin . He knew this meeting would be a real marathon , and he got flashbacks from the monthly meetings back at the office that never led anywhere . He had shortly spoken with Adran and Alea just before entering , and the negotiations so far hadn't been without its issues .

Zac would have thought that everything would be easy sailing since his side was negotiating from a side of absolute power , but the wily diplomats had a million ways to slightly gain small advantages for themselves if his side wasn't alert .

A glance across the table told him that Thea was as bored as himself , and she even looked ready to fall asleep . But a cough from Henry woke her right up as he convened the meeting .

Welcome all . As you know the objective of today's meeting is to formalize the coming war effort . With the benefits garnered from the hunt , we will never be any more ready than now . We also know that the restrictions are rapidly weakening on the invading forces , and the amount of support they can bring through the Nexus Hubs will increase . Time is of the essence , - Henry began , drawing nods from around the table .

There is another reason for urgency , - his closest aide continued as he turned on a large monitor . - The Undead Empire is on the move . -

The screen showed aerial shots of massive hordes of undead walking through some fields . The numbers were on a completely different level compared to what Zac had encountered during his visit to the Dead Zone . The countless bodies turned the army into a sea , and it was impossible to make a correct estimation , but there were millions and millions as they stretched out toward the horizon .

Certainly , almost all of them were low-leveled Zombies , but they were still a huge threat . Even Zac would run out of steam long before he managed to grind down such a terrifying number of enemies . And others weren't like Zac with his 800 Endurance . The Zombies were extremely aggressive and one bit was all it took against most fighters . They didn't care if twenty of the Zombies were hacked to bits as long as one of them could wound a living person .

What of the Monastery of Everlasting Peace? - Zac asked as he opened his Town Menu .

He breathed out in relief as he saw the teleporter to the Monastery still being active , hopefully meaning they were fine .

For now they are only cordoned off , but we believe a siege will start in earnest sooner or later , - the man said as he pushed the button on a remote to show a few more screenshots of the armies . - The main hordes extend outward in three directions as it stands , and we believe that all of them have great powerhouses in the lead . -

One of the hordes is moving toward the reorganized strongholds of China , Korea , and India . This force could be seen as an Ally of ours , though we haven't entered official negotiations , - Henry elaborated . - They mostly started approaching us recently due to the movements of the undead . But another reason is that the New World Government has proven to be an extremely flaky ally for them . They have been promised assistance with the Incursion for months , but the Government has only made a symbolic show of effort . -

What about the other hordes? - Zac asked .

One of them is heading toward the European Heartlands , - the aide explained and opened up a map of the central region of Pangea - This horde would cause widespread damage to both the New World Government , a large number of Ishiate settlements , and many of our allies . Even Westfort would be implicated if they aren't stopped within a month or two . -

The final group is moving toward one of the Incursions , - Henry finished . - That horde we'll leave alone . Let the aliens weaken each other . But the other two hordes must be dealt with . -

So what is the plan? - Thea asked from the side , looking at the map with a frown .

The two hordes must be whittled down before we can assault the core of the Incursion , - Henry said . - Otherwise we would run the risk of getting trapped inside . There are still tens of millions of Zombies guarding the core , so we believe there will be a protracted siege to break it down . -

This is where the visible part of our operation will take place , - another aide explained . - Armies run by the Marshall Clan , Port Atwood , and our other allies will join forces to battle the enormous monster hordes that threaten native settlements . It will protect our interests , garner respect with the civilian populations , and provide our fighters with a source of Cosmic Energy . We only need a number of powerhouses to offset the danger that the more powerful undead pose . -

Zac shook his head at the cynical explanation of why they would mobilize the forces .

Do you not agree with the proposal , Lord Atwood? - the aide asked .

We are fighting for the survival of our planet , do we really need other reasons to mobilize? - Zac sighed .

The opinion of the population is very important even in our current world , - Henry said , though the demons weren't convinced either .

Zac was also slightly unconvinced , but he motioned Henry to go on with the plan .

We will use both old-world weaponry and Cosmic Energy to destroy these hordes . And if we can't completely destroy them , we will hopefully weaken them enough to stall their approach . The undead have officially been declared to be an enemy of earth , no matter their previous identities , - Henry continued . - But in the end , this war is only a diversion . -

Alea and Adran threw a glance at Zac who looked a bit confused at this point .

An all-out war is a diversion? - Zac probed .

We have to face reality . No matter how many of our ordinary warriors we throw into the midst of war these days , it doesn't matter , - Henry said . - The fate of a nation rests on the shoulders of those at the apex . -

Zac slowly nodded in agreement . Unless one could take out the leaders of a force it could always be rebuilt . If someone attacked Port Atwood he could simply retreat , and return with a vengeance whenever he was prepared . It was the same with the incursions .

They want you to close the other incursions while they fight the zombies , - Alea explained . - And they want it to be a secret operation , so no one will learn of your deeds . -

Zac looked at Henry , who made no efforts to refute Alea's claim .

That is correct . Our plan hinges on the monstrous power you have . You alone are more important than all our soldiers . There is no way for us to close any incursions without massive casualties . We would run out of manpower after just two or three of them . But you and a small support group would be able to go in , kill all the leaders , and then force the rest in retreat , - Henry said .

We would provide the logistics , and you would ideally go from incursion to incursion , destroying as many as possible before any news could spread between the Invaders . We have already set up outposts close to every single incursion by now , - another Marshall Family member added .

And guess who they want to lead the armies and win the adoration of the world? - Alea added with an acerbic tone as she turned her gaze at Thea , who frowned before looking over at her grandfather .

Thea is the best candidate for the job , - Henry said with equanimity . - One powerhouse is needed to make sure one of the Undead Empire Generals doesn't start a massacre . Your prowess is already needed with the incursion . Billy Trask Jr . is not suited for a leadership role due to his unique mental state . Enigma and Joker are suspected to be in the Underworld . Daoist Chosui and Guru Anaad Phakiwar are holding down the fort for the Sino-Indian Alliance . Silverfox is believed to be part of the New World Government . That leaves Thea . -

Zac had to admit that what Henry Said made some sense , but that still only covered one of the two armies .

The other two and I can lead the other army , - Alea suddenly said . - The three of us are far deadlier together than Ms . Marshall is alone . -

Zac immediately understood that Alea was referring to Janos and Ilvere , and he felt it wasn't a bad idea . Ilvere was a skilled commander , while Alea was just extremely effective against large groups of enemies .

Does your and Janos' skillsets work against the Undead? - Zac asked to make sure .

Janos can't do much against the brainless undead , but the leaders are the same as humans . I won't face any obstacles with either , - Alea said .

The others curiously looked at the two , hoping for an explanation .

That's fine with me , - Zac said . - Three of my generals will lead one army while Thea leads the other . That way we can properly cover both the hordes . -

Will you not need them for the Incursions? - Henry asked . - We can also provide a few elite squads to provide backup . -

That won't be needed , - Zac said with a shake of his head . - I have Ogras and my own elite soldiers for that . -

Truthfully he wouldn't have minded some backup , but Zac was planning on using his undead form when possible to grind a few levels . He didn't want a bunch of people from other forces snooping at him and reporting back .

You should bring Billy as well , - Henry said after a brief pause . - Our investigation showed that almost all of the Incursions have set up strong defensive arrays . Billy is uniquely gifted at dealing with that . -

Zac nodded in agreement . No one was as clear as himself just how powerful that strike was . Many of the details got hammered out over the following two hours , and Zac got an information package containing the gathered intelligence of the remaining Incursions . Some of them were completely unknown to Zac from before and placed in extremely remote regions of Pangea . The Marshall clan was truly thorough .

He was also happy he had some other negotiators by his side . Adran made sure that the area every single incursion that Port Atwood conquered would become part of their land , apart from the Undead Incursion . That place was too large to handle in any case , and it would perhaps take centuries for the Dead Zone to heal .

What about the New World Government? - Zac suddenly asked . - Won't they assist us? -

They are currently mobilizing their armies , but I would not count on them for the incursions , - Henry said with disdain . - Their two top powerhouses aren't strong enough to take down even the weakest the incursions now that the restrictions have become so lax . Besides , I am not sure if they even want to . -

What do you mean? - Zac asked with some confusion .

We have reason to believe that the New World Government , or at least a core group of its leaders , have allied with the so-called Dominators of the Zhix . -

Chapter 297 - Changing Course

WHAT? - Zac exclaimed with anger . - Why the hell would they do that? -

Control and self-preservation , I would guess , - Henry said . - After learning about The Great Redeemer from Thea we believe that the Dominators have promised them sanctuary in exchange for subservience . That they will be spared when that monster arrives . Either that or they simply needed strong allies against you and my granddaughter . They might not even believe The Great Redeemer to be real . -

They would have to be crazy to jump into bed with those things . Even crazier than regular Zhix , - Zac said with disbelief .

Perhaps . Or perhaps they simply feel out of options . The Dominators are already so much stronger than them . What about a peak D-Grade powerhouse? They likely believe there is no way for us to prevail , and took a desperate gamble to get a shot at surviving , - Henry said . - People will go to extraordinary lengths to survive . -

Is that why Thomas Fischer is improving so rapidly? - Zac asked .

Yes , we believe that the Dominators have provided him with some sort of opportunities . He has always been strong , but he had shown not only a rapid gain in level but also a power that belies that level lately . He also cleansed a large part of the New World Government shortly before entering the hunt . It is still officially a democratic alliance of free states , but it is more or less an autocracy by now . The official explanation was to rid the cabinet of the shapeshifters , but a fair deal of humans were put to death as well , - Henry continued .

Will they actively work against us? - Zac said .

I discussed this with your assistants yesterday . We believe , same as you , that the Dominators wish for the Incursions to be closed . So we will likely not encounter resistance at this stage . However , we should be ready for a civil war the moment the foreign threat is dealt with , - Henry said . - You have already been painted as a traitor of humanity due to the company you keep . They might launch assaults at us under the guise of emancipation from the final threat , and they would be assisted by the Zhix hordes . -

Not all of the hordes , - Zac said . - The council of the Anointed is preparing for a final Holy War against the Dominators . Where does the Ishiate stand? -

They have been neutral so far , - one of the advisors answered . - Not even Starlight seems to have a great drawing power with their people , and they generally stay in small cliques . That is why Everglade Refuge was forced to open their teleporter to the public even though they are a decent-sized settlement . -

So we are pretty much alone , - Zac sighed .

Our forces are a bit smaller , but we have more elites , - Henry said . - But it would help our side if we were the ones who discovered and liberated the Underworld . -

What about Salvation? - Zac said , changing the topic . - Do we know where the Cradle of God is located? -

It has been located , but . . . - one of the aides started . - We believe that attacking that man at the moment would be at least as dangerous as attacking one of the Top Tier Incursions . -

It doesn't matter , we need to prioritize killing him , - Zac said without hesitation . - He's turning people into weapons , and he is a real disciple of the Great Redeemer . He must be removed as quickly as possible . -

It's not that simple , - Henry said . - He has hundreds of thousands of those puppets , and he's turned the whole zone around him lifeless . It's impossible to get close without alerting him . We have tried multiple times to gain intelligence , but our scouts get killed by swarming puppets who simply explode themselves . -

Then I'll simply head straight in , - Zac said . - There must be a limit to his power . There is no way he can control hundreds of thousands at the same time . We already saw he couldn't freely control a thousand in the hunt . We were able to destroy hundreds of them without the things reacting . -

I agree , - Thea added from the side . - Killing Salvation should be a priority . He might even be able to open up a portal for the Great Redeemer . He did possess a protective talisman containing a whisp of his soul . Who knows what else he has? Perhaps he simply hasn't gathered enough sacrifices to open the portal yet . -

In the end it was decided they would attack Salvation soon after Zac had closed a few Incursions and reached level 75 . Thea would join as well in case the Undead armies stood down and returned to the Incursion . If not he would have to do things himself .

The meeting went on and one point after another was decided , and after another four hours Zac had a proper picture of how he would proceed the following weeks . There were some uncertainties , depending on things such as whether they could find the underworld and the response of the New World Government .

There were a lot of risks involved , especially to Zac himself . But if everything went according to plan earth would be free of any foreign invaders in less than two months . There was still the issue of the Dominators and the Great Redeemer , but they would have to take things one step at the time .

But just as he was about to call an end to the meeting Zac realized something odd .

Wait , what about the Church of the Everlasting Dao? - Zac exclaimed . - They're not in the information packets . -

That's the oddest thing . . . - Henry muttered . - We simply can't find them . -

How is that possible? - Zac asked with suspicion . - They are possibly the strongest force apart from the undead . How is it possible that they haven't made any waves? -

We are not sure what is going on either , - an aide said as he started typing away at his laptop .

The next moment a screen of a torched village appeared .

Up until two months ago , we could regularly find the aftermath of their crusade . They have burned hundreds of towns to the ground , leaving no survivors . The crusaders were part of a completely mobile force that never went back to their Incursion to resupply , and they had no pattern to their slaughter . In fact , we do not even know where their Incursion is located , - the aide said .

But some time before the Hunt all their activities stopped . We still do not know the reason . Some even speculate that they have left , - Henry said , though he didn't seem too hopeful about that prospect . - What we have learned about those lunatics makes that unlikely though . I fear they are planning something big . -

Zac slowly nodded , but Alea didn't seem as convinced . She touched her pouch and the next moment a piece of Springroot was thrown to every one in the room .

Eat up , - Alea said . - If not you'll be fed something far less appetizing . -

Zac frowned at her manner , but he did agree with the sentiment . He felt it was a bit odd that the Marshalls never tested them once , and he hadn't seen anyone else using Springroot either since arriving . Had the Marshall clan been infiltrated?

The tension in the room rose to an entirely new level as the two sides looked at each other in silence , and energies were swirling in the air . Finally , Thea shrugged and ate the piece of the root , and the moment she backed down so did the rest . Even Henry bit down on the root after a bit , though his facial expression wasn't great .

Happy now , miss? - he said as he turned a stern glare at Alea , who only smiled sweetly in return .

Zac felt it was lucky that no one had mentioned she was a poison user . If they knew that then the situation might have gone out of control . However , it was as though Ogras was whispering in his ear that the Marshalls weren't necessarily innocent just because they ate the springroot . They might still work with the Church .

In the end , Zac could only make a mental note of trying to gather intelligence on his own . His network wasn't anything special , but it was at least better than before the hunt . Since they were done with everything Zac exited the meeting room with great relief . Having spent most of the day in the stuffy meeting room he went out in the garden to enjoy a breath of fresh air .

Sorry , - a slightly helpless voice said from the side a few minutes later .

Zac looked over and saw Thea walk over and sit down next to him on the bench .

For what? - Zac asked with some confusion .

It feels like we're taking advantage of you . You're the one who will be risking your life over and over , while we have a much easier job . One could even say we are using the zombie hordes as an opportunity to power level our people , - Thea said . - But I honestly can't find any better ways to do it . Only you can destroy the Incursions with relative ease at the moment . Your actions against that golem incursion made that extremely clear . -

Well , that's how things are , - Zac said with a shrug .

It just pisses me off , - Thea muttered . - No one has done more for Earth than you , yet people are talking behind your back all over the world . Even some people in Westfort believe the nonsense the government is spreading . -

It's that bad? - Zac said with a grimace .

Well . . . Nevermind , - Thea said after a bit . - You know , the reason that grandpa wants me to become famous on the battlefield is not to compete with you . It’s the opposite . -

How so? - Zac asked with a skeptical look .

We decided to reorganize after the hunt . The Marshall Clan will mainly focus on business in the future , and we are looking into the means of getting hold of a Mercantile License , - she said . - But we need some renown first . We’re an old family but we have always been low-key , so very few know about us . This war is also meant to showcase our wares and set up a foundation . -

That’s why you refused to give Calrin a monopoly , - Zac realized , getting a nod in confirmation . - Why are you doing this? -

Because of you , of course , - Thea said with a shake of her head . - You are so far ahead of everyone else that it would be foolish to become a competitor in creating the World Capital . The New World Government still doesn’t understand your power , but I do . -

Zac was unsure how he felt about having forced them to reorganize like this . Would there be resentment in the future?

Don’t worry about it , - Thea said . - We were businessmen from the beginning . It was only due to the Integration grandpa saw an opportunity to become something even greater . But I think this is for the best . It makes my life easier at least . -

I can tell Calrin to stop his expansion in Westfort if you want , - Zac offered .

There’s no need . From what we understand we will not be able to get a license in the short run . It might even be good for us to see how a proper multiverse Consortium does business , - Thea explained .

I am sorry to disturb , - Alea’s voice suddenly came from behind , making the two turn around . - Nonet and Ibtep has returned . -

Zac nodded and got to his feet , but only after throwing the poison mistress a slightly suspicious look . Was she popping up when he and Thea were alone on purpose? But he could glean nothing from her face , so he only shrugged his shoulders before turning to Thea .

I’ll have to see what they found out , - Zac said .

Have fun , - Thea said with a wave , clearly intent on staying outside to enjoy the sunset .

Zac breathed out in relief when he saw the two Zhix were in mostly good condition . Nonet had a decent-sized wound in its chest , but Zac had a feeling that was due to their peculiar manner of greetings .

Did everything go well? - Zac asked when he saw them .

Hive Dahiti was luckily part of the traditional faction , allowing me to return alive , - Nonet said without any facial expression .

Zac’s eyes widened in alarm as he realized that he didn’t know whether the hive next to this place was part of the Dominator’s sphere of influence . He had simply assumed they were part of the normal Zhix since they had come to a ceasefire with the Marshall Clan .

Your meeting with Herat in the hunt was known by Hive Dahiti . Herat is a highly regarded warrior , and his word has some weight with the council . The asked me to relay the message that they are ready to join you in battle , though we should do so soon , - Nonet continued .

Is something happening? - Zac asked .

We are losing hives to the Dominators at a steady pace , - Nonet said . - All pretenses have been dropped by now , and we are at war . Dozens of hives have been eradicated in the last weeks . Just as many have chosen to join them . -

Zac nodded with weariness .

I plan on fighting it out with them as soon as the Incursions are dealt with , - Zac said , explaining the current situation to Nonet .

The large Zhix mulled over the information for a bit , until it spoke up again .

I believe I will need to visit Hive Dahiti once more , - Nonet said . - I heard of the undead from Ibtep and my warriors . They are true abominations . It will also sharpen our blades for the Holy War . The Zhix legions will want to join in this battle . -

Chapter 298 - Rot

Zac was delighted to hear Nonet’s proclamation . The Zhix were born warriors and they would be a great help against the endless zombie hordes . The Zombies were a huge problem for forces like Zac’s . His soldiers were a lot stronger than the Zombies , but there were simply too many of the undead .

Did you mention the peace with the Marshall Clan? - Zac asked .

The humans of this hive have proven to decently strong warriors , and hive Dahiti is amenable to an alliance , - Nonet nodded .

Then you can stay behind here . Bring someone from the Marshall clan with you to the hive next time . The Marshalls know a lot more about the movements of the undead armies , and they can provide good input , - Zac said .

With that , it seemed everything was dealt with . The only thing left to do was to prepare for war . Zac also wanted to experiment with his latest gains until they needed to mobilize , so he went to find the others .

Calrin was ready to go as he needed to prepare the business expansion from his end . The Thayer family was already stretching itself a bit thin at the moment , opening over ten branches in just a week . But he was still energized by the thought of the increased revenue streams .

Adran would stay behind for a bit to coordinate the war effort , which only left Emily . After asking around a bit he finally found the teenager with Billy in a lounge area . The two were in the middle of a battle in a fighting game , with around ten children excitedly cheering them on .

Billy has missed video games! - the giant said as he desperately mashed the buttons of his controller when he saw Zac enter the room .

Zac could only shake his head when he noted the five controllers next to Billy that were all crushed into scrap .

We have both video games and movies at Port Atwood , - Zac said . - We will start to battle the other ratlights in three days . Do you want to help? -

Billy will come . Billy already misses the ratlight . Gave Billy a lot of money , - the large man excitedly said , accidentally destroying yet another controller .

A maid hurriedly swapped it out with a new one that she handed Billy without an expression .

Thea’s family’s controllers are pretty weak , - Billy muttered . - Billy’s old controllers almost never broke . -

Since everything was dealt with they started to gather their things as they headed toward the courtyard where a car was waiting . By this time Thea come over , while Henry and Adran were still in the middle of a meeting . Zac felt a bit reluctant , as he had hoped he would be able to hang around a bit longer . But there was simply too much to do .

Stay safe , - Thea simply said as Zac opened the door .

You too . I’ll hopefully see you in a bit , - Zac answered with a smile as he entered the car .

The return was pretty uneventful , and Zac stepped out of the teleporter with the others just twenty minutes later . Calrin left to resume their tasks and Billy wanted to see the town , so he went with him . The giant had become exceptionally excited to hear there were hundreds of Sky Gnomes at the Thayer Consortia and wanted to check it out . Only Emily and Alea remained , and after some hesitation Emily said she was going to the Academy to train .

Wait , - Zac suddenly said as he took out the painting he bought with Credits from Yrial .

Wha- What is this? Is this your hobby now? No wonder you didn’t make a move on Thea , - Emily blurted out , a small blush spreading across her face as she gazed at Yrial’s portrait .

Zac flicked her forehead to bring her back to reality , and he started to wonder whether he was making the right move giving this thing away .

Snap out of it , - Zac said . - This is a Dao Painting of Yrial , the Lord of Cycles . -

WHAT? This guy is the Lord of Cycles? He’s too good looking . He could even become a pop star in Korea , - she squealed . - That old statue is way uglier than the real thing . -

Zac froze for a bit as he realized that what Emily said was true . The statue in the repository only looked androgynous , and it lacked the perfection of Yrial’s face . Did the Celestial Artisan intentionally make Yrial uglier out of spite? He remembered that the statue of the real Brazla was extremely dashing . But he shook his head to refocus .

Well , don’t mind that , - Zac said . - I got this from the Lord of Cycles since it can help one to improve Elemental Daos . I think it is especially effective for Daos related to Fire and Ice since they were the main paths the Lord of Cycles took . I don't walk that path so it won't really help me , but I'm sure many in the academy can benefit from it . -

So what do you want me to do with this thing? - she said , her eyes repeatedly heading over to the pristine face in the painting .

Bring it to Alyn . It might help the students progress faster in getting Dao seeds , - Zac said .

You know , my class is a bit related to the elements . You saw my burning axe . Perhaps I can keep it- , - Emily ventured .

Stop , - Zac sighed . - Just bring it to Alyn and let her decide what to do with it . -

Fine , - Emily muttered and took it before heading over to the Academy .

That left Zac alone in the compound with Alea .

Speak with Janos and Ilvere . Prepare the armies . Our enemies are weak Zombies , so bring as many as possible . Quantity seems more effective than quality against those things , - Zac said . - And send someone to the Monastery to see if they are okay or need assistance . -

It is about time we weed out the weaklings and those who only want benefits without providing anything in return , - Alea said with a nod as she walked toward the exit .

I much prefer your rugged face above that girly boy , - Alea suddenly said with a final wink before she left , leaving an embarrassed Zac behind .

Zac shook his head before a wry smile as he walked back toward the teleporter . He had to admit it was nice to at least have one person preferring him over the annoyingly handsome Yrial .

Since the operation was starting in only two days Zac immediately headed over to Mystic Island . The small camp had long been replaced with a proper settlement . However , it was completely military in nature , and mostly housed barracks and training grounds for the stronger students and warriors of the academy .

A couple of human soldiers walk back toward the barracks , all of them sporting various degrees of wounds . But they were still full of vigor , meaning their gathering trip had likely been pretty successful . Zac’s new robe was quite eye-catching , and he got a few questioning or even taunting glares from the soldiers . However , those people were quickly dragged away by horrified comrades who recognized who he was .

He didn’t mind such a thing happening . He already knew that Alyn was trying to foster a competitive and slightly ruthless environment for the Academy . As long as it didn’t cause problems he didn’t mind . They would all be tempered in the upcoming war . Standing face to face with millions of zombies would test anyone’s mettle .

Zac immediately headed to the core of the island , and he noted that the beasts had improved quite a bit since he visited the last time . He sensed multiple auras belonging to beasts at the E-Grade , though none of the auras were as strong as that of the tiger .

To gain the last levels before the assault would be impossible , so Zac instead focused his efforts on consolidating his latest gains . He would have preferred a bit stronger enemies to push himself against , but there were simply none around .

He spent the next hour testing the Seed of Rot with his various attacks , and he was quite satisfied with the result . As he expected the blade didn’t get stronger , but the attacks did gain an interesting effect .

It only took a second after wounding a beast before the wound started to look extremely infected , turning swollen and leaking pus . The animals were also noticeably weakened by the strikes , and with enough wounds they became so weak that they couldn’t even move . When it got to that stage the animals would die not much later , their carcasses completely rotted out .

This Dao was only effective when drawing blood though . He had no problems imbuing his hand with the Dao of Rot , but a punch didn’t cause the debilitating effect on the beasts . It did show some effectiveness if he hit a bleeding wound , but still not to the same degree as when imbuing his weapon .

The robes also proved to be extremely good and provided far better protection compared to the golden robes he took from Tyrbat . They even had a passive shield that continuously lessened the force of any incoming attack , though there was a limit to its effect .

It was as though there was an orb of water around him , and any attack would first have to rip through that invisible sphere . But as the defensive sphere weakened the attack , so did the defensive option weaken . After a while the passive shield would completely run out , at which point it needed to absorb energy from the atmosphere for a few minutes .

There was also a stronger active shield like the old ones , though only one charge . Finally , there was another skill , though Zac wasn’t able to activate it at the moment . It was a fractal that was engraved right over his heart , but it was completely dim just like most of the fractals on Verun’s Bite] .

The robe was the second Spirit Tool he possessed for personal use , and there was one slightly confusing difference between the two . He had tried to make contact with whatever Tool Spirit that was housed inside the robes , but he could only sense an indistinct consciousness inside . It was like a breeze touched his consciousness , without intellect or personality .

He didn’t understand why there was such a difference between the two items . The only thing he could think of was the mysterious rock from the auction that he fed Verun . It was only after he got that item that Verun started appearing in battle .

It only took another hour for him to get used to the improved power of his other Daos , leaving him ample time to work on Cyclic Strike] again . But the results weren't promising .

If it wasn’t for his new gear keeping the beasts at bay he would have looked like a beggar after a while . He had long lost count of how many times beasts had slammed into him or tried to tear him apart with their sharp claws .

He hadn’t even been able to activate the skill in a controlled environment earlier , and it had proven even harder in the middle of battle . The problem was that he needed to split his attention in two and infuse each fractal with the same amount of mental energy .

He only managed to maintain the balance when he infused small trickles of energy into the fractals , but that was no good . It would take minutes to activate the skill in this manner , and the moment a beast attacked him he lost concentration and the skill fizzled .

Zac even swapped over to his Draugr form to test whether he had an easier time using the skill there . But he quickly discovered that his Draugr constitution did not afford him any better control over manipulating the Daos .

Perhaps this was the way that his lack of aptitude took form . He might not have a very hard time learning to utilize the Dao , but his control wasn’t very smooth instead .

Since he was already in his undead form he tried his new shield for a bit as well . It performed above expectations , and the beasts below E-Grade did not even manage to leave a scratch on it . The spikes were extremely sturdy as well , and Zac found it particularly effective to imbue them with the Dao of Rot .

One shield slam would gore a deep wound into the animal , and with the Dao Seed a festering wound would be left behind , quickly weakening the target . The active attack also performed quite well , and while it couldn’t kill an E-Grade beast it helped set up a kill with his axe . If he only got Cyclic Strike] to work as well he would gain quite a bit of lethality with is Undead Bulwark skill .

But he had remembered something in the excitement of the latest gains from the inheritance . He possessed another offensive skill to bolster his undead form .

It was Unholy Strike] , the skill that he found among Mhal's belongings .

Chapter 299 - Little Bau

Zac quickly taught himself the skill , and a fractal was formed above his navel . It only took him a few seconds to realize how it worked since it was exceedingly simple . He only needed to push miasma into the fractal , and the fractal would in turn push concentrated power into the limbs of his choice .

Zac tried pushing miasma into the arm that was holding his axe , and he quickly felt the strength in his limb increase . There was no discomfort whatsoever either , so Zac kept pushing more and more energy through the fractal . In the beginning the arm simply felt pumped up like he was in the middle of a work-out , but soon it started to grow .

By the time he started to feel some pain in his arm the circumference of his bicep had almost doubled , and it radiated extreme power . Zac remembered the strength the Corpse Lord emitted when he used this skill , and that was nowhere near the monstrous energy that was stored in his own arm at the moment . It was likely either his extremely durable constitution or his high Endurance that allowed him to push far more miasma into his attacks than was the norm .

He had lost some of the arm's dexterity due to the new bulk , but it felt as though he could punch a hole in the sky . He quickly found a small hill and slammed the axe down with ferocious force , and the explosion almost matched the power of Nature's Punishment] .

The hill was completely gone after the swing , replaced by a huge scar in the ground that reached almost a hundred meters in the distance .

The skill worked even above expectations , and it was almost perfect for the upcoming battles . It didn't provide great utility for fighting against hordes of enemies , but that also wasn't his job in this war . His enemies would be the Incursion leaders , and he had a feeling that very few of them would be able to walk away from a swing empowered by Unholy Strike] .

Zac was forced to give up on Cyclic Strike] for the moment , but he was still satisfied with the results of his experiments . He decisively headed back to Port Atwood after returning to his human form and walked toward the Academy . Perhaps Alyn knew of some method to improve the control of his Daos .

But who would have known that when he walked through the gates to the Atwood Institute he would be met by pandemonium? A few hundred people had gathered in front of a large structure Zac didn’t recognize , scuffling to get inside .

It was an all-out brawl , though luckily no one used Cosmic Energy or skills . It wasn’t only students either , as Zac spotted a few Valkyries and demons in the mix . They were the closest to the doors and were ferociously attacking each other to be the ones to step inside .

A few people sat some distance from the angry mob nursing their wounds while glaring at the people still struggling to enter . They were likely the first casualties of the curfuffle . Zac only gaped at the mayhem , wondering what was happening inside that made people so desperate to enter .

Suddenly he spotted a familiar form speeding toward him . It was Alyn , and Zac froze when he saw her facial expression .

Are you trying to tear my poor school to the ground? - the irate school mistress asked in an accusatory tone as she stopped just in front of him .

It was the first time Zac could see the annoyance on the Alyn's face , and something about her expression made Zac’s hair stand on end . She was usually the personification of grace , but Zac was once again reminded that she was meant to be a slave driver rather than an educator on earth due to her ruthlessness .

What’s going on? - Zac hesitantly asked as he secretly imbued himself with the Dao of Hardness just in case .

Between the call to war and the magical painting things have gone out of control , - Alyn said as she took out a few familiar balls and threw them at the congested areas . - You really planned this one out exquisitely , didn’t you? -

Explosions erupted one by one , and dozens of people were blasted into the air by each of the bombs . Only the Valkyries and the demon guards fared a bit better from the bombardment , but Alyn only snorted and took out a handful of them and threw them all over at the same time .

A cascade of explosions finally put an end to the melee in the academy , with Alyn singlehandedly destroying everyone’s fighting spirit . Zac could only wryly shake his head at her antics , and breathe in relief that the buildings seemed to be reinforced by arrays .

Can you tell me what’s going on now? - Zac said , deciding not to comment on the fact that Alyn maimed the people who would soon be on the battlefield .

He knew that she was a master at using those small energy bombs , and while it looked random no one was seriously hurt . They would be fine after taking a healing pill and resting for a day .

It was that painting you had Emily bring , - Alyn said with a shake of her head . - I couldn’t see what was so special about it , so I simply placed it in the public meditation room since you said it would improve one’s Dao comprehension . -

Two elemental mages sat down in front of it , and it just took them a few minutes to gain their first Dao Seeds . The news quickly spread like a wildfire and people are doing anything to get a chance to meditate in front of it before they are sent to the front lines , - Alyn continued , some wonder creeping into her eyes .

What? The painting was that effective? - Zac said with some shock .

He was just as confused as Alyn . He had looked it over when he got it , but he sensed nothing special from it . It was an exquisite painting , but that was about it .

I believe that some special energy was left behind by the painter or the previous owner that helped the first couple of people to attain the Seed . After a while most of the effects wore off , - Alyn explained . - It is still far more effective to meditate in front of it compared to without it though . -

You know how much getting a Dao seed improves one’s combat power , - Alyn said with a sigh as she kicked a few students who didn’t get up fast enough after getting blasted as they walked toward the meditation building . - I will place it in a restricted chamber instead , and one will only be able to meditate in front of it in exchange for contribution points . -

Well , I’m good it is coming to some use at least , - Zac said with a smile . - I am here for something else though . -

He proceeded to explain his problem with Cyclic Strike] , though he didn’t mention his horrible affinity .

There are trinkets that can help train one’s spirit , - Alyn said after a bit . - I don’t have any , but they should be pretty simple for Calrin to purchase . They are slightly expensive , but that shouldn’t be a problem for you by this point . Now go away , I have so much to do . -

Zac was afterward unceremoniously thrown out of the Academy , and he walked over to Calrin’s . Thirty minutes later he left with a tool that could train one's mental dexterity . It was almost like a toy , where one needed to utilize mental energy to activate the contraption in certain patterns , but the amount of energy and the direction was extremely strict .

It was just what Zac needed at the moment , and he kept trying to complete the little puzzle as he walked through the town . Finally , he gave up in frustration , and when he looked up he found himself in front of the tavern .

Our fearless leader , - Ryan smiled when Zac walked in and sat down at the same spot as last time .

There were a few people inside the bar , but it was uncharacteristically empty at the moment . A few people were sitting alone or in small groups , but they all hurriedly looked down into their drinks when Zac's eyes landed on them .

How are things here? - Zac asked as Ryan placed one of the homebrewed meads in front of him .

It was pretty calm until your people declared that Port Atwood was going to go fight a sea of Zombies , - Ryan said with a wry smile . - You know , even I have been drafted? -

You? - Zac said with surprise . - No offense , but what good are you in this war? -

Thank you for the vote of confidence , - Ryan snorted . - But it turns out I got a pretty good class , Barkeep . I can instill the drinks I serve to give small bonuses to things such as energy restoration and endurance . -

A support class? - Zac exclaimed . - That’s pretty cool . Do you get experience from serving drinks? -

I haven’t figured everything out yet , but currently I get most of my experience from tending the bar . The better my business fares , the more energy for me . But perhaps I will get Cosmic Energy for helping in the war as well , - Ryan said . - And at least I will be far from the front lines . -

Well , it’s good to have you on our team . Have you spoken with that beastmaster lately? - Zac asked .

That poor girl? - Ryan laughed . - She comes in here every other day full of scratch marks , drinking herself into oblivion while cursing your name . You’re lucky she became a beastmaster rather than a hex master . -

The two kept talking for a while longer until Zac decided to head back to his courtyard . He would be thrown into constant battle the coming weeks and needed some quiet rest before war engulfed their whole planet .

SHIT! - the sailor screamed as he almost jumped two meters straight up in the air .

A massive blue tentacle wiggled back and forth a bit behind him before it once again slunk down into the depths .

Almost scared me to death , - the man muttered as he looked down at the azure waters with some dread . - Mr . Trang , can’t you do something about your… uh… friend? -

Little Bau is just playing around a bit , - the old fisherman answered with a big toothless grin .

Four more tentacles suddenly appeared as though in response to Sap Trang’s comment , and they latched onto the large Creator Vessel . The ship immediately started to rock back and forth in an alarming manner . However , none of the sailors seemed alarmed after the initial surprise , and they went about their business as though the boat was pushing through still waters .

Little Bau , that’s enough or no treat for you , - Sap Trang laughed as he walked over and slapped one of the tentacles lightly .

The tentacles quickly released the grip on the ship , but the next moment an enormous head breached the waters , rising until two eyes as large as barn doors looked at the old Vietnamese man .

Sap Trang wasn’t alarmed in the slightest , and he only laughed once more before throwing out a whole barghest carcass with a doting smile . It splashed into the water and the next second it was gone , stuffed into a huge fanged maw beneath the surface .

That’s a good boy , - Sap Trang said as a tentacle caressed him . - Are there any dangerous beasts in the area? -

Two more tentacles started to wave in the air , and the next moment huge half-eaten shark was lifted above the surface . The shark was almost as large as the Creator vessel , but it was shrunken and withered as though it had lost all of its moisture .

Hundreds of puncture wounds were crisscrossed across its body , created from the vicious stingers that Little Bau had on a few of its tentacles . Sap still wasn’t completely sure what sort of beast he had picked up and nursed back to health .

From its tentacles , one could think that it was an enormous octopus . But it was something else entirely . It had an enormous head with a large round maw , leading to a thick torso that seldom reached above the water .

It did share some features with an octopus . For example , it did not have scales , but instead a rubbery skin that was almost impenetrable to bladed weapons . It also possessed no legs , with the torso instead ending in a dozen or so tentacles that were over twenty meters .

Interestingly enough it also had four special tentacles that grew out from the torso like arms , and those things possessed nasty stingers that could suck a huge beast dry in less than a minute . Odder still was that blood wasn’t the only thing it sucked , but it even absorbed the Cosmic Energy through the suckers .

It had been on its last breath when Sap Trang found it . It had barely won a fight against an enormous crab , but it was barely hanging on . Sap had seen an opportunity and initiated a bond with the animal through his class .

Perhaps Little Bau was unreconciled to die like that and accepted the connection even though it was far stronger than Sap himself . From there the old fisherman had poured hundreds of healing pills into its insatiable maws as he had sewed its wounds shut .

The mysterious animal had quickly healed thanks to Sap’s ministrations , and afterward it started to follow along their vessel , much to the dismay of the other sailors . But they all had to admit one thing . Ever since Little Bau joined their crew they never had to worry about what lurked in the depths .

Because whatever was foolish enough to get close to their ship soon ended up in the belly of the beast .

Just my luck , - the fisherman who had initially been spooked muttered under his breath . - I get placed on the god damn ship with a pet Kraken . -

Chapter 300 - Ready for War

A table was placed in the middle of Zac’s courtyard , and six people were sitting around it . Apart from Ogras and his three generals , there were also Joana and Alyn . This was a war council , but Zac still wanted Alyn's input since no one had a better grasp of the strength of his armies than her .

So , Alea should already have filled you all in on the general plan , - Zac said as he turned toward Alyn . - Are the armies ready to be deployed? -

Honestly? Barely , - Alyn said with some annoyance on her face . - A lot of those people are too soft . War is exactly what's needed to get a few of those people in shape . And if they die we at least save on costs . -

Zac frowned a bit at Alyn's callousness , but she was adamant .

Months and months have passed and some have never even risked their lives . Many of those who joined the army were people who had huddled in fear within walls on the various islands , and they were thirsting for power . But now that they are faced with real risks many are balking , and we have even had to publicly execute a few people who tried to cause a disturbance , - the schoolmistress continued . - There is a good core of over eight thousand men and women though , they will all be all be able to put up a fight . -

What? Eight thousand? - Zac gaped .

Only the elites are actually at the Academy by this point , - Alyn said . - Many are on other islands defending our various facilities . - In total , our armies have already passed fifteen thousand men , though we need to leave at least twenty percent to protect our interests and maintain order . -

Zac was surprised that the army had grown to such proportions , but then again new people were added to his kingdom every week due to the unceasing efforts of Mr . Trang and his fleet . By now there were over twenty ships in the armada , many of them high-grade vessels like the corvette he bought last time .

The best part was that they had been added to his naval forces without any cost to his personal fortune . Taxes from the consortia and the crystals from the mine were already providing Port Atwood with a hefty monthly income by this point , which made maintenance and expansion much smoother .

Still , eight thousand was nothing compared to a horde of tens of millions of Zombies . Even if they killed a hundred Zombies each they would barely have scratched the surface .

This will also prove as an excellent opportunity for them . It is not easy to gain experience of large scale battles , but this provides just that , - Ilvere added . - Many of our men are still quite low leveled , but an ocean of Zombies will provide an opportunity for rapid improvement . -

Well , it is settled then . Ilvere will be in charge of Port Atwood's forces . Try to cooperate with our allies and the Sino-Indian alliance , but the safety of our people comes first , - Zac said .

I understand , - Ilvere said .

Zac suddenly had an idea as he looked at Ilvere , who seemed a bit confused by the stare .

Here , take this , - Zac said as he handed him a crystal .

What's this? Cyclic Strike]? - Ilvere said with some interest .

It is a skill I received from the Lord of Cycles . It utilizes two opposite Daos to form a formidable attack . It is up to you whether you wish to learn it , - Zac said . - But if you do learn it I would like to be updated on your progress in mastering it . -

Zac had realized that Ilvere was working toward gaining both the Dao Seeds of Heaviness and Lightness . Zac wasn't sure , but perhaps the attack would work for him as well , and if he did manage to master the skill it might provide a shortcut for Zac to master it as well .

So this skill is why you came by yesterday? - Alyn said with interest . - It is a very novel concept . Combining multiple Daos in one strike at F-Grade is quite uncommon . -

Thank you , I'll learn it . I am aiming to fuse the two into the Dao Fragment of Momentum , and this skill might help me toward that end , - Ilvere said with some glee on his face . - If I learn something I will update you . -

Great , - Zac said with a nod . - Next subject . The strike force . Who apart from Ogras should take part? -

I guess I cannot opt out? - Ogras said with a grimace as he looked through the stack containing the information of the 17 incursions remaining on earth . - Some of these forces are pretty dangerous . -

You ate my food , now you need to work for it a bit , - Zac said . - So , who else? -

We have mastered the War Arrays for up to 18 people , - Joanna said , speaking up for the first time of the meeting . - Truth be told we won't be able to increase your strength by a large degree , but we will be able to form a small shield that covers our small squad . With such a small area of protection , the shield will be extremely sturdy . -

Zac nodded , feeling it was a good idea . Having that small squad with him would help protect Billy from harm .

That sounds like a plan . Your main goal should be to guard Billy from surprise attacks . He is very strong , but his defenses aren't the best , - Zac said .

I will put together a team of our strongest people , - Joanna nodded in affirmation .

You should bring the feral child as well , - Alyn suddenly added .

Who? Emelie? - Zac exclaimed . - Absolutely not . -

She is only level 31 , but her attributes are a match to many of the Valkyries , - Alea added . - Besides , she is a support class . -

I am not sure I need the boost against the Incursions , - Zac hesitantly said . - It's not worth risking her life for that . -

It's not only about that , - Alyn said . - Support classes gain Cosmic Energy by simply empowering their allies . As long as you kill someone under the effect of her axes she will gain a part of the experience . Her levels would skyrocket if she came with you . And she could stay within the shield created by the spear maidens . -

Honestly if you don't bring her she will get herself in trouble somewhere else , - Ogras said . - She has turned almost crazy in her pursuit of power the last days . She said she needs to go to the underworld . Better keep her in sight where we can protect her . And you're rich enough to deck her in enough defensive treasures to almost guarantee her life . -

Zac sighed when he heard about the teenager's situation . She was probably extremely anxious to scour the underworld for her siblings . It was the last chance for her to find anyone of her old family alive .

Fine , but keep her away from the fighting . I want her at maximum distance from me so people don't figure out she's a support , - Zac relented .

Anything else before we head out? - Zac said as he looked around the table . - Communication might be impossible for a while . -

There is the issue of the evolutions , - Ogras suddenly said .

The what? - Zac asked with confusion .

Between the Origin Dao and the ample resources provided by Port Atwood , there are a decent amount of demonkin warriors who are able to evolve by this point , - Ogras said .

So what's the problem? - Zac asked .

Most are still only able to gain a common class and are afraid we will force them to upgrade before the wars . They want to hold off on upgrading in favor of improving further before upgrading . As for the few who are able to gain an Uncommon class , they are afraid to evolve because of us , - Ogras said .

Us? Why? - Zac asked with confusion .

None of the leadership are E-Grade yet . Evolving at this stage might be seen as a power play , - Ogras explained . - It's extremely uncommon for anyone apart from the core group to hold the highest levels in a force . -

Well , our situation is a bit special , - Zac said with a shrug . - Have as many as possible evolve into Uncommon classes , we need all the help we can get . Will they be able to evolve before we head out tomorrow? -

It's only Uncommon classes , there will be no trial for them , - Ogras said with a nod . - They can join us . -

Good , I want a small elite squad to mainly support the Valkyries and contain the battle , - Zac said . - And let those who can't evolve to a decent class wait . Having them evolve into a useless class won't really strengthen us enough for it to make a difference .

Agreed , - Ogras said . - I'll handle it . -

Great . There is one more thing that those who participate in the fight need to do as well , - Zac suddenly said . - They all need to enter a contract with me . One that will last indefinitely . In return they will get a monthly stipend . -

What? - exclamations echoed across the table , with only Ogras seeming to understand what was going on .

You should all understand that my power does not only come from my levels . The details of a few of my lucky encounters will be exposed during the battles , but they can absolutely not be spread . Therefore I need to enact this protocol , - Zac explained . - The Valkyries are excluded since they are already in a contract of servitude . -

It was a measure to protect the information about his second class and race . Zac either needed to do this , or kill everyone who participated , and he was unwilling to do the latter .