Defiance of the Fall

Zac nodded with a frown . Just like Nexus Crystal mines sometimes could produce Attuned Crystals or higher-grade ones , so could metal deposit contains small amounts of extremely valuable materials . It was on his radar to scan all his reserves for such items , but he sorely lacked the manpower for such a task .

He hadn’t even fully mapped out his own Crystal Mine as its tunnels stretched kilometer after kilometer below ground , seemingly neverending pathways that kept turning and branching . He still only had an inkling of what all his conquered towns could provide .

The problem was how quickly things had transpired . It should take a few hours to reach those places from any other settlement even if you had some good movement method , and from there you would have to enter the depths to extract that precious ore . Zac would have needed almost a whole day to travel to those three locations , even if he only gave himself an hour per mine and used the Flying Treasure .

Do we have other places that fit the description? - he asked .

There’s just the one , - Ilvere slowly said . - Site 16 . -

Zac immediately remembered the place he was referring to . It was the incursion with the birdmen , that one placed on top of a mountain .

Good . If the last town was lost just a few minutes ago , then we have a few hours if things will progress as before , - Zac muttered . - Traveling to that place will take time even if it’s Void’s Disciple . Stay here , I need to speak to the Zhix . -

The other nodded and Zac descended the mountain , walking straight toward the battlefield a hundred meters per step . The war was over , but a subdued silence stretched across the whole basin . Groups of warriors walked across the fields to retrieve the fallen , but most simply sat down , many with tears streaming down their cheeks .

Those worst off were actually the Anointed , all of them sitting in prayer , tear-streaked blood covering their faces . Even the three great Anointed hadn’t walked out of the war unscathed , and Vanexis had even lost a hand . It went to show how massive groups of weaker cultivators could take out much stronger opponents if they were willing to sacrifice enough lives .

He found Rhubat sitting at the center of the army , and he was relieved to see a bloodied but living Nonet not far away . He had lost track of Nonet during his epiphany , but it appeared that Hive Kundevi thankfully was not one of the Hives targeted by the elite executioner squads .

Congratulations on your victory , - Zac said as he turned back to Rhubat . - I’m sorry to interrupt , something urgent has come up . -

This is not a victory , Warmaster , - Rhubat sighed , its enormous face a mask of pain and sorrow . - There are no victors today . We’ve lost half our children this day , yet the war is not over . -

That is why I’ve come . I won’t be able to stay with you on the way back . Someone has attacked three of my settlements while you fought , it seems the person can move extremely quickly , - Zac said . - I need to go before more of my towns are destroyed . -

Do you suspect the Dominators? - Rhubat said , and the other Anointed in the vicinity perked up from their desolate states .

I do , - Zac said . - Void seems to have some method to move about somewhat freely . -

What are you planning? -

If it’s really Void I’m thinking we should launch an ambush . We need to hit hard and quick because he’s so slippery , - Zac said . - We have located the next place we believe he’ll target , I’m heading there now . -

Good , agreed . Vanexis and Raja will oversee the rites , - Rhubat said as the giant got to its feet . - Six councilors will come with me . Any more will likely just be a hindrance this time . Our old methods will not work in this scenario . -

A few of the largest Zhix roused themselves and got to their feet with solemn expressions , joining Zac as they returned up the mountain . Zac wasted no time before he found a hidden cave large enough to house his group plus the Anointed . He erected an illusion array at the door before a pile of materials emerged from his cosmos sack .

His hands turned to a blur next as a crude but functional teleportation array was erected in minutes .

How is this possible? - Thea muttered with incomprehension as she looked down at the newly created array . - There’s no town for hours . Can you actually create arrays like this? -

No . At least not that I know of . I was given this ability as a reward when the final incursion was closed , - Zac shrugged . - Perhaps the System knew I would be running around all over . There are some limitations though . Only I can activate it and it is only usable once . -

Zac didn’t explain the other details of his array though , letting them form their own hypotheses . He didn’t even need to take out the bracelet hidden beneath his bracer for his Spatial Gate Array] to work . He just needed to infuse it with Cosmic Energy and a connection was formed between the bracelet and the array . Zac's best guess was that the bracelet contained some sort of spatial energy , and it infused it into Zac's previously dead array to give it enough power to work just once .

It was intentional that he did things this way . This meant that both the Zhix and the Marshall Clan would know that he could plop down an array at any time , anywhere . Such an ability was pretty scary and would make his force almost unassailable .

Port Atwood and these forces had a harmonious cooperation right now , and this display would hopefully help quash any contrary thoughts while he was off cultivating or looking for resources in the future .

Can you place one inside the Mystic Realm later? - Thea suddenly asked . - In case we need to send out things or people . -

Teleportation arrays doesn’t work inside Mystic Realms , - Ogras said with a lazy expression . - At least not conventional ones . Something about a different sort of space . Now , let’s go before the next Site disappears from the Teleportation Array . -

Zac nodded and the group flashed over , appearing in Site 16 a moment later . Their appearance caused some confusion among the stationed troops , and the confusion only increased when Joanna ordered them back to Port Atwood immediately .

After conferring with the Zhix for a bit they quickly learned that if it really was Void’s Disciple that was attacking them , then he should come from the south . An enemy hive was in that direction , and it was one of the closest settlements as well . The problem was whether they should set out from the town , or just sit around here while waiting for someone to show up .

In the end only Zac , Ogras , the Anointed , and Janos stayed . They would form a squad that would patrol the area toward the north . The rest were sent back as well as there simply wasn’t enough room on the flying leaf . He was able to increase and decrease its size to some degree , but the Anointed would be still be packed like sardines . It was clearly not a tool to transport armies , but rather a private treasure for a wealthy scion .

Thea wasn't all too happy about the arrangement , but Zac felt that Janos might be better to bring . They had a lot of fire-power between himself and the others , but Janos provided something unique . If he could trap or at least weaken the Dominators with illusions his value would be extremely high in the battle .

The group flew back and forth at the foot of the mountain , looking for any sign of invaders . However , three hours passed without anything to show for it . Honestly , that was fine by Zac . Only 7 hours had passed since he was sapped by that terrifying Tribulation lightning , and the longer that things dragged on , the more he would be able to recuperate . Certainly , he was in good enough a state to fight , but he wasn't in peak condition .

Over there , - Rhubat suddenly said as it pointed toward the forest . - An odd corruption suddenly appeared in that direction . It might be worth investigating . -

Zac nodded and changed course , knowing already that the Zhix were able to sense Cosmic Energy to a far greater degree than humans . A few seconds later he understood what the Anointed was talking about as his Cosmic Gaze] picked up something odd as well . A small spatial disturbance had appeared in the middle of a secluded glade , and it was steadily growing .

Zac landed right in front of it , and he quickly summoned Triv from his pagoda .

Hide some distance away from here , - Zac said as he took out the jammer . - Activate it the moment someone appears . -

The ghost nodded and stowed away the jammer , immediately flying into the dense bushes and disappearing from sight .

The Anointed murmured in a mix of shock and disgust when they saw Triv , but they didn’t comment on it as their focus was all on the anomaly . They only needed to wait for ten more seconds before the gate rapidly changed , forming a proper portal , and Zac couldn’t help his heartbeat speeding up when he saw a familiar figure emerging the next second .

It’s you after all , - Zac said with a frown as he mentally prepared for one of the toughest battles of his life .

Shocking energies started to radiate from the bodies of the Anointed as well , and they glared at the much smaller Zhix that had appeared with seething hatred in their eyes .

Betrayer , it turns the deeds of your kin wasn’t even for yourselves in the end? We hear your kin betrayed the Zhix for an outsider? Why? Power? Power is available for everyone . There is no need to go so far - Rhubat rumbled as a dense killing intent blanketed the field . - You were the Great Sage . You were supposed to help the Zhix move forward , not destroy us . -

And perhaps I would have if the Integration waited for a few generations , - Void’s Disciple said with a hollow smile before he shot a dark look at Zac . - You killed my son . -

Death is unavoidable in war . Is that why you attacked some random settlements? - Zac retorted .

Just releasing some tension before the real battle , - Void’s disciple said as a savage grin spread across his face .

Zac had seen a glimpse of that madness once before , and he quickly activated Hatchetman’s Spirit] and Nature’s Barrier] .

Don’t worry . There will be a reckoning , but not today , - Void’s disciple laughed as his face returned to its original form . - You know where our fates will clash . Only one faction will gain the Dimensional Seed . -

Dimensional Seed? That’s the name of the treasure?’ Zac thought , but he still kept his face neutral .

That is not up to you betrayer , - Rhubat rumbled , and the auras of the seven Anointed exploded out with enough power to even make the nearby trees sway .

Their lifeforce shone like radiant beacons as crude patterns lit up across their bodies . Zac’s eyes widened at the sight , guessing that this was the true form of the Crusade . But if they would die in a year just from being in their normal state , how long would they be able to fight like this? And would they even be able to return?

You lunatics have really entered the Crusade , and you have even learned some new tricks since you embraced the truth of Cosmic Energy . However , it is still just a lamentable corruption of a true path , - Void’s Disciple said with a shake of his head , and Zac was almost certain he could see some pity in his eyes . - No matter . -

It’s active , - Triv whispered in his mind , meaning that the jammer was activated .

Zac inwardly nodded . This was an opportunity of sorts . An opportunity to see how Void Disciple's mysterious skills worked , and what they could do to restrain them . He had personally seen Void’s Disciple open tears in space twice now , simply disappearing or appearing where he wanted . Such a skill was even more annoying to deal with than his own Spatial Gate Array] . A lot of people had thought long and hard to combat such a skill , and the first idea that was brought forward was the jammer .

It worked on Teleportation Arrays , so why not on normal teleportation?

Four balls actually flew out of Void’s Disciple's own shadow the next moment , and each of them exploded and caused intense spatial distortions . Zac recognized the items at a glance as he had used that kind of offensive treasure before . They were not Void Balls] , but rather the same sort of spatial disruption balls he used to block arrays in the Underworld .

Ogras had launched the first blow against the Dominator , and the rest were quick on the uptake . Zac's aura exploded outward as well as determination shone in his eyes . Verun's Bite] was already in his hand and the Spirit Tool keened with bloodlust .

It was time to see whether he or Void’s Disciple was the strongest warrior of Earth .

Chapter 559 : Void

Hiring , or perhaps it was more accurate to say capturing , Smaug had proven extremely beneficial since Calrin was still unable to procure these types of offensive treasures , let alone more powerful ones like Void Balls] . Void’s Disciple frowned and seemed to prepare something to deal with the twisting air around him , but he suddenly got a blank look on his face as Janos fell down on his knees .

The illusionist had actually managed to trap the Dominator in an illusion or something similar , but the power gap between the two was just too great . The effect broke in less than a breath’s time , and blood flowed out of Janos’ ears and nose from the backlash . Zac frowned when he saw it as he quickly could make some guesses from the way things played out .

Void's Disciple didn’t completely block the strike , which meant that he didn’t have a top-tier mental protection treasure or skill . For example , Janos was able to break through Mental Fortress] on his human side , but not Indomitable] when Zac was a Draugr . But the fact that the Dominator was able to almost instantly break out of the mental trap meant that he likely had both a lot of Wisdom and an extremely strong mentality .

Then again , the latter was expected considering his identity . Void’s Disciple’s very existence had been taboo most of his life , yet he had not only taken two disciples , but he had even made a name for himself in Zhix society . He had walked among his enemies for decades , not rousing any suspicion even though everyone was on the look-out for the slightest hint of corruption .

Such a feat shouldn't be possible without an extremely sturdy psyche .

However , Janos’ attempt did slow Void’s Disciple down long enough for the spatial chaos to envelop him completely before blending into the air and disappearing , which hopefully meant that the Dominator had been a bit restricted . But Zac also didn’t dare to put all his hopes on these offensive treasures . They were essentially array breakers that targeted Teleportation Arrays , and there was no telling just how effective they were against a spatial warrior .

Of course , Zac and the Anointed weren’t just sitting around either , and a probing fractal blade was already flying toward the Dominator as Love’s Bond] had moved to his back . Two chains soundlessly slithered down his back and into the underbrush as they stealthily made their way toward the Zhix as well , while the seven Anointed were directly rushing toward Void’s Disciple without any regard for their safety .

The Dominator didn’t seem phased by the situation at all though . Their assault mostly seemed to infuriate Void’s Disciple , and his visage once more turned into that of a frenzied murderer before it smoothed out again . However , Zac could still see the murder in his eyes as the Dominator stared back at him . A terrifying aura spread out , but he didn’t lash out like some sort of berserker . He instead blocked Zac’s Axe-infused fractal blade with just the palm of his left hand , and the edge actually shattered without even managing to draw blood .

Zac’s eyes widened at the sight , unable to comprehend how he could avoid getting injured at all . The basic skill Chop] couldn’t really keep up with the latest improvements of Verun’s Bite] , but it still had a terrifying cutting power between the Fragment of the Axe and the skill itself . Even Zac would receive a deep cut if he hit himself with such a swing .

Just how sturdy was this guy?

The movements of Void’s Disciple were short and concise , and he gave Zac the impression of a Martial Arts-master who wasted no movement when delivering his strikes . Almost at the same time as he blocked Zac’s attack , a parchment scroll appeared in his other hand , and he unfurled it toward the two closest Anointed . Zac first thought it was a huge talisman , but it was oddly enough just painted black from top to bottom without any inscriptions or fractals at all .

However , a mysterious energy radiated from within the darkness . It was completely different from the darkness Zac conjured with Rapturous Divide] though , and Zac felt he was looking up at the night sky for some reason . His danger sense woke up by the scene too even if he wasn’t the target , and he immediately got a bad feeling .

Watch out! - Zac shouted , but it was too late .

The two had Anointed seemed to sense the threat as well , but they showed no indication of backing down as the darkness of the scroll rippled forward until a star-studded barrier appeared right in front of them . It was like Void’s Disciple had summoned a piece of the cosmos itself , and Zac could see both stars and nebulae in the depths of that wall .

A shockingly explosive power streamed into the ceremonial knives they each held , and they actually exploded into metallic shards that shot everywhere . However , a set of new golden energy blades had taken their place , and Zac shuddered when he felt the extremely condensed belief gathered within . It was just like the rune that the cultists had nurtured , only with a different flavor .

Each of them struck at the wall as the runes of their arms lit up , meaning the two were holding nothing back in their desire to break the first line of defenses and opening a path for their allies . But Zac still hadn’t expected what happened next as the two actually fell into darkness and disappeared . The night-sky receded back into the scroll in an instant and the next moment both the two Anointed and the darkness was gone .

Zac’s eyes were wide in shock . He had seen over a hundred types of defensive barriers during his battles , everything from his emerald leaves to celestial deities appearing to block his strikes . They all worked essentially the same way though , but this was something else entirely . Had Void's Disciple actually created a portal to space? However , that should be impossible , at least from what they had gathered .

Information on the Dao of Space was limited in the Zecia sector , but they had managed to make some deductions from what they managed to find out . First of all , there was no Fragment of Space , meaning that Void’s Disciple should be controlling some related subordinate fragment rather than the real thing . Just like Zac was currently in control of the Fragment of the Coffin rather than the Fragment of Death .

Secondly , there should be limits on distance . Zac could only move 100 meters with Loamwalker] , and Ogras a few times that distance if he pushed himself with his shadow warp skill . Void’s Disciple was able to move a lot further through his portal skill , but it shouldn’t be strong to the point that he could open a gate to outer space . An E-Grade warrior simply didn’t have the Cosmic Energy needed to create such a long-distance portal .

You would need at least a D-Grade Hegemon’s Cultivator Core to sustain that kind of massive drain .

It's not teleportation . That scroll is some sort of trapping treasure , - Ogras muttered with a frown from the side . - We might be able to get them back out again if we snatch it . -

Zac’s eyes immediately turned to the scroll in the man’s hand , also feeling that it was the most logical conclusion . The Dominator thankfully didn’t activate the scroll again , but rather just punched out toward his next target . It was another one of the Anointed , and it roared in defiance as its whole body lit up , conjuring an enormous lance of fire that shot straight toward the much smaller Zhix .

The first looked like a simple training punch , but the air twisted and contracted as some invisible force pushed outward , shattering the beam of flames in instant before slamming into the gargantuan Zhix . Crushing sounds echoed out as the Anointed was shot backward , and Zac didn’t know whether the warrior was alive or dead as it flew into the distance .

Rhubat roared in anger when it saw the exchange , and Zac almost fell off his feet when the giant stomped down on the ground with terrifying force . Trees were uprooted and thrown aside for over a hundred meters in each direction as the ground heaved . But Zac quickly realized that the stomp wasn’t just an outburst of fury as he saw dense brownish energies appear in the oddly symmetrical cracks around Rhubat’s foot .

It was clearly some sort of Earth-attuned Dao , and a Fragment at that . It looked like height wasn’t the only way that Rhubat excelled if it had managed to reach such an accomplishment without either visiting the Tower of Eternity or partaking in opening the Dao Funnel .

Something shot out of the ground where the attuned energies were the densest the next moment , and it had such speed that even Zac only could see a blur as it hurtled toward the Dominator . Void's Disciple seemed ready though , and what looked like a fisherman’s net made from black silk appeared in his hands as he stretched it in front of him . A multicolored shimmer enveloped him the next moment , making Zac realize it was some sort of defensive treasure .

The projectile hit the net , and Zac subconsciously held his breath in anticipation to see if the greatest Anointed was enough to harm the most powerful Dominator . Zac could immediately sense that Rhubat’s attack held a force many times greater than what Ilvere could produce with his Dao of Momentum , even when using Cyclic Strike] to push his force even further . Not only that , but Zac could also sense that the attack contained a terrifying amount of belief , far greater than what the two energy knives earlier contained .

The air itself seemed to cry before it exploded the instant the net and the projectile collided , but the black threads of the net actually held against the attack . The force in Rhubat’s attack had been strong enough to rip apart the air as it shot out of the ground , but it looked like Void’s Disciple managed to trap the projectile in one go , forcing it to a stop just a few centimeters away from his chest .

Only then did Zac see what the projectile actually was . It was a perfectly spherical stone that was absolutely covered in extremely dense fractals . It actually reminded Zac of his own Duplicity core , though this stone was brownish grey . It had a diameter of around 30 centimeters but the impression Zac got from it was that it was as heavy as a mountain . As for whether it was a skill or some sort of treasure , Zac actually had no idea .

It was instilled with a terrifying amount of energy , yet Void’s Disciple had somehow managed to block it with the net . But it was not without effort as he had been forced to take two steps back . Zac also noticed a minute tremor in his left hand , proving that he wasn’t some invincible monster . The strike might not have been enough to harm him , but it had given a hint to the limits of his strength .

However , Rhubat was actually not done as the energies inside the ball increased exponentially for an instant before it exploded in a terrifying eruption of stone splinters . Almost all of them shot toward Void’s Disciple as though they were guided by the huge amount of faith within , but a few flew in Zac’s direction as well . His arm turned to a blur as he blocked the three incoming shards with his axe , each of them looking like a 10-centimeter stone nail , and he was shocked at how much force they contained .

Even Zac felt some pain in his wrist after forcibly blocking the three strikes , which was all he needed to know about the power of the seemingly unassuming needles . Massive craters exploded all over the area , and a few sturdy tree trunks were turned to dust in an instant as the nails shot straight through them with the force of a rocket before continuing to wreak even more havoc upon the forest .

Zac was finally hopeful that something had worked against the immensely powerful Dominator . Even he had felt some pressure from three needles , but Void’s Disciple had been drowned in over 50 of them at point-blank range while he was clearly the target of the zealous faith-based energy within . The situation was completely obfuscated by the chaotic energies in the air and the massive dust clouds , but Zac’s brows furrowed when a wave of danger once more perked up in his mind .

A storm of emerald leaves infused with the Fragment of the Bodhi covered their whole side as Zac also activated Hatchetman's Spirit] . Rhubat reacted almost as quickly as he knelt down and pushed both his hands against the ground , erecting ten sturdy walls that were covered in motifs of warriors holding different types of shields .

Zac only felt a shudder in the air as his mind screamed , and space split apart the next second . The consecutive walls fell apart like butter , and a terrifying slash almost bisected Rhubat while another councilor lost his legs . The dust and chaotic energies that had blocked Zac's sight was blown away as well , exposing a still-standing Void’s Disciple within .

Over a dozen spikes were embedded in his small frame , and his face was covered in blood as he stood panting over twenty meters from his original position . Judging by the deep gouges in the ground he had been unable to contain the strike and had been pushed backward . However , Zac frowned when he sensed that his aura was just as strong and stable as before . As for that invisible cut , it seemed to have been launched by a small , unassuming dagger in his hand . The attack had contained shocking power , but Zac knew it wouldn't impact the Dominator much .

Only a few seconds had passed since Ogras threw the spatial disruption spheres , but over half of the Anointed were already taken out of commission . They had already agreed that the group of Anointed launch the first strike if it really was the Dominators they were up against , but it didn’t have the desired effect . They had hoped to at least wound him and make him expose some of his hidden cards .

Or at least anger him to the point that he was less likely to escape in case things turned dire .

But it didn't really feel like Void’s Disciple was going all out at all , but rather toying with the far larger targets . The chaos in space seemed to have barely affected him either , as both his offensive and defensive means seemed to carry a hint of space inside . He needed to do something before the Anointed were all killed , but he was still waiting for the right opportunity to burst out one massive strike aimed to kill .

And that opportunity presented itself the next moment as the two chains had finally made their way to their target .

Chapter 560 : Pressure

The two chains of Love’s Bond] had finally reached their target . However , Void’s Disciple , or rather Adcarkas , only snorted as he swung his dagger at the two metallic snakes approaching him . Another invisible attack shot out , and an extremely deep scar appeared in the ground . The cut was laser-sharp , but it exploded as it had created some sort of vacuum , causing dust and stones to shoot in all directions .

The power in the strike was shocking even when the Zhix clearly wasn't going all out , and Zac knew that most weapons would be ruined by such an attack . Then again , Love’s Bond] was no normal weapon . Not even Void’s Disciple should be able to comprehend the value of the coffin on Zac’s back , what kind of unique treasures and materials went into its creation .

White scars appeared on the two chains where Adcarkas struck , but they didn’t even crack from the swing . Void’s Disciple eyes widened in surprise , as this was the first time in the battle things didn’t go exactly his way . The Zhix reacted instantaneously though as he tried to move away , but the two chains gained a burst of speed allowing one to catch his ankle before he got away .

This was exactly what Zac had been waiting for , and huge amounts of his corrosive Dao flooded the two chains as he stomped down into the ground , flashing forward with Loamwalker] .

He didn’t actually think that the Dao Fragment would be able to harm the Dominator , but Zac hoped that it would restrict him like it did with Ogras when he tried to meld with the shadows . Even if that didn’t work , they were still physically bound to each other . He didn’t have access to Profane Seal] in his current form , but this wasn’t a bad substitute . There would be no escape , only a brutal melee ; just what Zac excelled at .

But Zac had also seen just how powerful Void was , and more surprisingly , just how many treasures he possessed . Something unexpected could happen in a drawn-out fight , so he needed to go hard from the start . Exposing all his ultimate cards this early would spell disaster if he failed , but he knew that he needed to use some of his aces in this fight .

A storm was kicked up as Zac appeared right in front of Void’s Disciple , and both himself and his Tool Spirit were radiating a mesmerizing glow . He had activated not only the second rune on his axe , but also Hatchetman’s Rage] to push his power to the next level . Doing so essentially put a timer on the fight , but he didn’t expect the battle to last very long with the intensity it had until now .

So you found your courage after all . I might not be allowed to kill you , but I can make you suffer , - the dominator said as fury burned in his eyes , and he turned into a blur the next moment as his dagger shot straight toward Zac's kidneys .

Zac quickly pivoted while simultaneously swinging down his axe and Verun’s Bite] fell in a vertical swoop toward Adcarkas . Zac also activated True Strike] , trying to split the Dominator's attention by making him think someone was attacking him from behind , but the Dominator just snorted in derision at the ploy as he continued his stab . The chains of Love’s Bond] also make Void's Disciple's lose his balance , but it was as though Zac was trying to move a mountain with the chain while Void’s Disciple stood unmoving like a towering tree .

The dagger barely missed Zac’s body , but he still felt a searing pain as a deep wound still opened up somehow , and blood streamed down his left leg . Just dodging that dagger wasn’t enough , it had to be covered in some invisible energy . Zac was unfortunately completely incapable of spotting it though . Was it because Cosmic Gaze] was still stuck at Early Proficiency? No matter how much he strained his eyes he hadn’t been able to see the attunement of any of the skills Void’s Disciple used , only the destruction they caused .

But Zac suddenly felt a pop as the strain on his eyes lessened , and hazy energies appeared around Void’s Disciple the next moment . Zac felt a surge of confidence as he realized that his ocular skill had actually evolved mid-battle . Had he finally found the key to upgrading this skill ; spotting invisible energies?

Improving his sight against someone who relied on invisible skills was huge , and it would hopefully allow Zac to gain an advantage . For example , just a first look at his enemy had exposed that the small dagger the Dominator held in his hand was just a decoy . There was also an invisible weapon that was attached to his fist , and Zac suspected that this was the real weapon Void’s Disciple relied on .

Zac could only see a translucent outline , but it would appear that the weapon was some sort of bladed glove or a claw , something that a pugilist would use . Two edges stretched out on both sides of his arm , starting halfway down his forearm and ending fifteen centimeters in front of his fist where they joined together into a rounded edge .

It was no wonder he had been cut even if he dodged the knife , as he had been well within reach of the much larger hidden blade . Zac couldn’t see how the edge was attached to Void’s Disciple’s arm at all , making him believe that it might be an energy weapon like the fractal edges of his Chop] .

The wound in Zac’s gut was deep , but with his berserking skill active he barely registered it . The pain rather fueled his killing intent , and he growled in fury as he continued his own swing , trying to cut Void’s Disciple in two . The Dominator’s free hand rose to meet the blade , and Zac finally noticed that something was up with it .

There was a thin film covering the palm , and Zac barely could discern some sort of runes covering it . It turned out that it wasn’t just his palm that had been able to block his Chop] , but there was some sort of defensive layer that Zac had been unable to spot until now . Adcarkas was trying to block Zac’s attack the same way as before , probably thinking it would damage Zac’s morale if his attacks were diverted by a simple palm .

However , a physical swing by a boosted Zac and a fractal edge were two completely different concepts .

A terrifying force slammed into the barely discernible barrier , and any remaining complacency in Void Disciple’s face was gone as cracks echoed out from his arm as bones broke . Zac’s eyes lit up when he saw the scene , as this had been his goal all along . If he activated something like Deforestation] or Raputous Divide] , then the Dominator would respond in kind . But Void’s Disciple was clearly arrogant , using the bare minimum to fend off the assaults thus far , like it was an indignity for him to use proper skills against weaklings .

Zac was hoping to bank on this haughtiness to deliver a devastating blow with the help of the thee superimposed boosts of his Dao and two berserking skills . But the Zhix reacted instantaneously and moved his body in a mysterious fashion , and Zac felt the force in his strike being slowly exhausted as the Dominator pushed his hands in a spiral while slowly bending further and further down toward the ground .

Stellar Convergence , - Adcarkas growled as his purple eyes stared into Zac's , and a miniature spiral galaxy had sprung up around them the next moment .

It spread over a hundred meters around the two , and Zac could sense a shocking amount of destructive power in every single one of the stars . The others hurriedly scrambled out of the way , but Zac was caught in the heart of the galaxy , with Void's Disciple being the black hole . Zac frowned at the situation and thought to take a step back to regroup , but his mind immediately screamed of danger .

Zac quickly understood that he would have to withstand the power inside the stars if he wanted to back away , and even he would be bloodied and battered if the hundreds of lights went off simultaneously . He could only push forward , but that was his desire anyway . It seemed as though Void was trying to steal or somehow convert the force in Zac's swing , but he would still be grievously wounded if Zac managed to cut through the defenses before he was done .

It was essentially a race , so he grit his teeth as he tried to break the odd defense that Adcarkas' spinning hands continuously conjured . He could already see that the initial collision had caused fault-lines to appear all over the Dominator's hand on top of the broken bones , and Zac felt that just a little more would be needed to break through . Besides , the stalemate also gave him a chance to maneuver Love's Bond] , and the Dominator now had a fetter binding each of his limbs .

A pitch-black beam suddenly shot past straight next to Zac’s leg , expertly avoiding the rotating stars all around him . It unerringly flew toward the Dominator’s throat as he dealt with Zac’s strike . It was Ogras who had already turned into his ultimate form , but he actually had a second set of wings this time . As he pointed his newly acquired spear at the Zhix . He looked like a god of darkness , and multiple beams shot at weak spots of the zhix in short order .

A bloody gash appeared on the Zhix’s throat , but it was unfortunately not enough . Ogras’ shadowlance simply wasn’t strong enough to fatally wound someone like Void’s Disciple in one go . However , Ogras was like a mobile turret , continuously shooting out more and more lances as Zac and Void’s Disciple were locked in a stalemate where Zac couldn't retreat nor managed to push forward .

His arms were already shaking with strain , but the odd technique that the Zhix was doing kept dissipating the impact , forcing Zac to instill more and more energy into the strike to keep going . Of course , it was just a swing that utilized his physical power and Dao rather than any skills , so Zac could keep going for a good while longer .

Ten shallow gashes appeared in an instant all across the dominator’s body thanks to the demon's efforts , most of them centered at weak spots . The other Anointed seemed to be preparing something similar , but it finally looked like Adcarkas had enough as a necklace cracked . A dome that locked everyone except Zac outside appeared in an instant , locking him , Adcarkas , and his swirling galaxy inside .

Break it! - Zac heard Ogras roar from outside , but the voice was muted like he was extremely far away .

The Anointed had backed off when Rhubat was wounded , but their hulking bodies moved toward the glimmering barrier without hesitation . The runes on their body lit up as they punched on the barrier , seemingly delighted that there was finally something they could do to assist Zac .

Unfortunately , Zac's brief break in his attention to see what was going on proved to be a fatal mistake as a tremendous force surge within the Dominator’s body . The palm blocking Zac’s swing suddenly disappeared , and Zac couldn't help but lose his balance as he had been pushing with everything he had .

The Dominator had managed slightly twist himself while diffusing Zac’s swing , and with Zac's lapse of concentration he had swiveled to the point that his body wasn’t even in the trajectory of the swing any longer . The Blade of Verun’s Bite] harmlessly ripped apart the air right next to him , only cutting off a small piece of Void Disciple’s robes .

Zac knew he was in trouble , and the shield of Hatchetman’s Spirit] immediatelycovered him as the emerald leaves completely ensconced him . He was even considering activating the first skill of Love's Bond] to survive , but doing so would force him to transform the Spirit Tool to its shield form , which would free Void's Disciple of his four fetters .

He eventually decided to bet the house on him being able to withstand Void Disciple's attack , at which point he would counter .

Void’s Disciple was shockingly fast , and he had somehow transferred the force of Zac’s downward swing into a rotating momentum that turned into a mighty roundhouse kick aimed at Zac’s side . The kick immediately broke the shield and Zac was thrown away , the pain even cutting through the haze of Hatchetman’s Rage] .

However , while the kick was mighty , it wasn't the real problem .

A series of explosions rocked Zac the next moment as one star after another in the galaxy exploded , each one of them containing the force of an early E-Grade Warriors' full-powered attack . Zac desperately conjured more and more emerald leaves as they were disintegrated , and the spectral forest of Hatchetman's Spirit] disintegrated before he even landed as all the defensive charges were used up .

But he survived . A few of his ribs were definitely broken and Zac looked like a bloodied corpse , but he was still alive and in fighting condition . The kick had thrown him straight through the galaxy until he hit the barrier from inside , and a coruscating series of explosions had detonated all the stars on this side of the galaxy .

The skill dissipated the next moment , leaving just Zac , Void's Disciple , and the four chains that connected them inside the dome .

Zac spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground , and he shot the Zhix a murderous look as the Cosmic Energy in his body surged . Space split apart the next moment as the massive wooden hand appeared above the dome , but that wasn't it . Zac himself was already rushing back toward Void's Disciple as a fractal blade grew out from his axe , its gleaming edge quickly turning golden .

Void's Disciple laughed as his body transformed . He only grew a head taller , but his body turned pitch black while his eyes became burning suns . His muscles grew in size as well , and he radiated a shocking pressure that made Zac think of the Cyborg . Void's Disciple seemed to have a class that mixed the concepts of space and pugilism , and this ought to be his true fighting form .

It looked like the Dominator was finally ready to show his real cards , but it remained to see whether they were greater than the combined force of both Nature's Punishment] and Rapturous Divide] .

Chapter 561 : Liar

Void’s Disciple emitted a terrifying aura in his changed form , and Zac couldn’t help but consider taking one of his newly acquired Rageroot Oak Seeds] to push his power even further . However , he quickly decided against it and refocused on his two attacks .

The seeds belonged to the same category as Hatchetman’s Rage] , both being berserking methods . Using multiple such means at the same was the height of foolhardiness as the gain was far from multiplicative , while the dangers were exponential . He was somewhat confident that his uniquely sturdy body would allow him to survive using both at the same time , but that wasn't the only issue . He might even become weaker than his normal strength if the two rampant powers clashed .

That would put the whole group at risk , and the backlash might be so terrifying that he wouldn’t be able to use his full power for months . After all , it was important to remember that while his longevity increased as he cultivated , so did the time required for recuperation . It wasn’t unheard of for cultivators to enter seclusion for millennia in order to slowly deal with particularly nasty afflictions .

As he saw it , the item was better left for his Draugr side that lacked such abilities on its own . Of course , there was also the issue of secrecy to consider . He didn’t want to reveal cards like the seed or his second class unless he felt confident in taking out Adcarkas , and it still felt like he was peeling away one layer of another of his enemy .

His current combo wasn’t far from his peak strength though , and he was ready to make this one count . The enormous fractal appeared in the sky as the wooden hand was placed right above Void’s Disciple , the pressure caused the Dominator to sink a few centimeters into the ground . However , his back was still ramrod straight , and he didn’t try to extricate himself from either the chains or the pressure of Nature’s Punishment] .

He seemed perfectly confident in being able to rebuff whatever Zac could bring fort .

A small branch immediately started to descend from the fractal , as it didn't feel that any of the other punishments would have a particular advantage against the Zhix . The Mountain would have a similar crushing effect , but it didn't benefit from his Fragment of the Bodhi nearly as much as the tree did .

However , the whole area was covered in darkness before the sapling had time to grow into a towering tree . It wasn’t Void’s Disciple who was conjuring a counter though , but rather Ogras who had drenched the whole area in shadows . A storm of attacks slammed into the Dominator’s barrier the next moment as thousands of shadow spears rose out of the shade . The spears didn't contain a large amount of power on their own , but they were innumerable .

Ogras himself was enshrouded in extremely dense power , and he dove from the sky with shocking speed , his spear stabbing straight into the shield with enough force to cause the whole thing to wobble . It wasn't enough to completely break it , but his efforts should no doubt have pushed the barrier a lot closer to running out of steam as it didn't have a source of energy .

Rhubat and his brethren had summoned their enormous sigils as well , and they slammed into the shield from different directions to overtax the defensive shield . The sigils were a lot smaller now that they weren’t powered by the combined energy Zhix Armies , but they were still nothing to scoff at as they were powered by lifeforce instead .

The shield shook and heaved , but Zac was shocked to see that it somehow managed to stay intact . Adcarkas’ amulet must have been a real peak defensive treasure to withstand such punishment , almost rivaling the ones Zac had lifted from the mentalist's pouch .

Zac still believed it should be a peak E-Grade talisman at best though , even if Void Disciple wasn’t restricted like people were in the Tower of Eternity . The reason was simple ; activating even a low-quality D-Grade talisman was as taxing as throwing out over a hundred E-Grade talismans . Even Zac would be completely drained of Cosmic Energy before it was half-activated .

So it was with some confidence he instructed the branch to stab straight into the ceiling of the dome , and the barrier actually popped like a soap bubble . The desperate attacks of the others had exhausted the barrier enough to pave the way for Zac , and he intended to make the most of it .

The four chains grew taut as Zac tried to restrict the Zhix as much as possible , but the Dominator still managed to point his left hand toward the sky with a savage grin . Three small vortices appeared behind him the next moment , all of them hovering behind his head like a halo . They didn't look like galaxies though , but rather whirlpools with the core being a bottomless darkness like a black hole .

One of them flew up to Adcarkas' fist , and the vortex grew to over fifty meters diameter in an instant . Zac frowned when a black pillar rose out of it the next moment , rising toward the rapidly growing branch that kept gaining momentum as it pushed downward .

What were the odds that his nemesis had such a similar skill as his own?

The massive pillar collided with the tip of the blooming tree branch , and the clouds in the sky were pushed away from the tremendous shockwave . It was like space itself cried as the two strikes tried to destroy the other , but it looked like neither Void’s Disciple nor Zac could claim an advantage . Zac didn’t bother about that though as he rushed forward , and he was in front of the Dominator the next moment , both of them shrouded from the sun by the pillar above .

This close Zac actually made a new discovery . It wasn’t a black pillar that Void’s Disciple had summoned , but it was actually a massive finger over a hundred meters long . Even more shocking , not even the whole thing had emerged , making Zac wonder just how huge the being to whom the finger belonged was . But the good news was that it seemed as though Void's Disciple needed to match his finger with the skill , forcing him to keep pointing toward the sky .

The enormous branch was infused with the wrath of nature and his own Dao though , so even this massive poke wasn’t able to eradicate it . Cracks and explosions kept appearing across the trunk as the finger was infused with whatever Dao the Dominator utilized , but the branch quickly regrew and shot more and more branches into the finger to whittle it down . If Nature’s Punishment] actually broke through right now Zac would harm himself as well , but he had a plan for that .

The radiant luster on both the wooden hand and the branch suddenly dimmed as Zac retracted the Fragment of the Bodhi , but his fractal edge lit up like a beacon instead . He had transferred his Dao infusion to his second strike , and the branch was quickly being dismantled as the finger pushed upward . That was fine by Zac though , as Nature's Punishment] was meant to create an opening and restrain the Zhix even further .

A puff of golden clouds swallowed them both as Zac slammed his axe in a downward motion aimed to cut the Zhix from shoulder to hip , but another of the vortices had appeared in front of Void Disciple’s free palm . It actually swallowed a good deal of the golden clouds , but Zac still knew he had succeeded as his target was illuminated in a golden sheen . Rapturous Divide] was his only E-Grade skill in this class , and it wasn't as easy to counter .

However , Zac needed to get the second strike in as well , and fast . His skill in the sky was on the verge of falling apart , and Void Disciple’s other hand would be freed in a second . He activated True Strike] a second time , pushing all of his killing intent into creating a believable illusion of a fatal attack . The Zhix had impeccable instincts though and ignored the feeling , but both Zac and he were surprised to see a familiar spear stabbing the Dominator from behind .

It was obviously Ogras who had taken the opportunity to launch a hidden strike from the large swathes of shadows that Void's Disciple had created with his finger .

The wound barely drew blood , but Adcarkas briefly lost his concentration from the surprise and pain , and Zac reacted by instinct . His fractal edge bloomed with the sinister power of both the second half or Rapturous Divide] and the Fragment of the Coffin as Zac swung Verun’s Bite] with both urgency and force . Void Disciple’s eyes widened in alarm and the last vortex started to expand with an explosive speed .

However , it was too late .

The two shrouds had come in contact , and the divide between Heaven and Hell was drawn . A smooth line appeared across Void Disciple’s torso before his body fell apart . The spatial divide had completely bisected the Dominator , and the angle should have destroyed lungs , heart , and most of his innards in one go .

Jubilation filled Zac’s heart , but his mind suddenly screamed of mortal danger . There was no hesitation as he flashed away with Loamwalker] . Ogras , true to form , had already receded into the shadows once more , which was lucky as the three vortices simultaneously imploded . The was a bit similar to when he used his Bronze flash on Harbinger , but not quite as final .

A huge crack in space appeared whey they had fought , swallowing everything from Zac's branch to tons and tons of soil before the scar closed . Zac had no idea where that scar led , but his instincts told him that his odds of survival would have been zero if he had been caught up in that blast .

Good attempt , - a snort echoed out from every direction the next moment though , and Zac’s elation was quenched in an instant .

There had been no surge of Cosmic Energy when Zac killed the Dominator!

Void Disciple had appeared once more standing exactly where he stood earlier , or rather in the bottom of the crater he had created . Unscathed . The fatal wound was gone , and even the fetters of Love’s Bond] lay down at the ground covered in cracks . His face wasn’t a mask of fury either , but one of ridicule as he stomped down on the ground with a force that matched Rhubat’s earlier efforts .

A wail echoed out the next moment as Ogras was somehow forced out of the shadows . The demon desperately tried to escape , but he was punched in his chest with enough force to be thrown over a hundred meters away . A huge amount of blood splashed in every direction until Ogras haplessly fell on the ground . He rolled for over a dozen meters more before he finally lay there , unmoving .

Horror and confusion plagued Zac’s mind , but there was no time to see if his companion was alive .

I have to admit , I underestimated you . It is no disgrace that my son fell to your hands , - Adcarkas said as he surveyed the battlefield . - I can’t help but wonder what else you have in store . But no matter . My intuition tells me we will have a chance to find out in the future , if you can make it to the heart of the Mystic Realm that is . -

A token appeared in his hand the next moment , and he crushed it before Zac had a chance to respond . A bright flash obscured the crater for an instant , and when the light disappeared the Dominator was gone , not leaving a single clue as to where he had disappeared to .

They had failed .

Shock filled Zac’s heart , and he flashed over to Ogras’ unmoving form instead of trying to find the fleeing Dominator . Not that Zac felt he had any chance of catching up in either case . He didn't have a clue where the Zhix had gone . Even his upgraded Cosmic Gaze] could only see a yellow glow at the spot he crushed the talisman .

It was some sort of escape treasure , but not one dependent on the Dao of Space .

But Zac didn’t care about that right now as the demon released a racking cough before he weakly looked around . Zac's eyes were trained on Ogras though , or rather the enormous hole in his torso where his heart should have been .

Did we get him? - the demon weakly asked , his voice barely a whisper .

We got him , - Zac said with red-rimmed eyes .

What a shitty liar , - Ogras smiled as he closed his eyes .

Chapter 562 : Back Again

A deluge of sorrow and self-blame had turned Zac's mind into mush as he stared down at the unmoving form of Ogras . Countless what-ifs swirled in his mind , ways that he could have prevented this from happening . But he still couldn't comprehend how these latest events came to be . He had seen Void's Disciple die , he just knew it wasn't some sort of illusion that he cut the man apart .

However , things had gone out of hand too fast , even if you discounted the Dominator's miraculous recovery by the end . They had scrambled to get back in control since the moment two of the Anointed were swallowed by that scroll , but things had only got worse instead . It wasn't completely unexpected though , they had only learned of the situation less than an hour ago , and there had been no time for proper preparation .

The turbulence in his mind finally gave way to a bleak desolation . He had worked so hard , pushed himself beyond what he thought possible in his efforts to become stronger . Yet the ones he fought for kept falling one after another . First Alea , then Ogras . Would even more of his companions join the two when they set out for the Mystic Realm? The situation was almost as bad with the Anointed . The fight had lasted less than a minute , but Zac didn't doubt that the group of seven had burned a significant portion of their already limited lifespan .

Even more frustratingly , there was nothing he could do to remedy the situation . He still needed to enter the abandoned Research Base , and he still needed to fight Void's Disciple again , along with Inevitability and whoever else proved to be a threat to Earth . They had paid such a huge price just now , but they got almost nothing in return .

However , a sudden change startled Zac out of his self-reproach as the previously unmoving body of Ogras started to shudder and spasm . His skin turned pitch-black the next moment , and the instantaneously turned into shadows only to be reformed once more . His limbs twitched and kicked as well , but it didn't look like natural movements at all . It was more like a powerful electric current made him twitch uncontrollably .

Zac was aghast as he witnessed the macabre spectacle , but there was also a tinge of hope in the back of his mind .

If there was one thing that the demon excelled at , then it was keeping himself alive by any means . Had he actually found a way to defy death itself and bring himself back , just like Void's Disciple himself? However , Zac’s anticipation was soon poisoned with suspicion . A minute passed while the cycle between demon and shadow kept repeating , and Zac could see that something was off .

The energy signatures the demon was emitting were wrong . They felt alien , sinister . Like a devil had taken the opportunity to possess Ogras’ body when his own soul left it . However , Zac couldn’t bring himself to nip this potential threat in the bud . He could only shake his head in an effort to clear his muddled thoughts , preparing for the worst .

If something really had possessed the demon , then he could only pray it wasn’t a strong one as he had already entered his weakened state after using Hatchetman's Rage] .

The odd fluctuations finally ended , but Zac’s heart was still hammering as he stood vigil in front of the body . He had clearly seen what had the transformations had done . Ogras had cycled between shadow and flesh over and over , but a small change had taken place between each revolution .

The gaping hole in his chest grew a little smaller from each cycle , but not through flesh regrowing like how the Shard of Creation had healed his own mortal wounds . Missing flesh had instead been replaced with congealed shadows , shadows that had regrown the demon’s missing organs bit by bit . An indistinct heart had formed from darkness itself , and Zac had felt its beat when it was fully formed .

The only sign of Ogras even being wounded in the end was the copious amount of blood around him , and the fact that the recreated skin on his chest was dark grey . Zac wasn’t sure what to do , but the demon made the decision for him as he suddenly coughed and woke up , his eyes blearily looking around . Zac was relieved to see that Ogras’ gaze looked the same , but he still could feel that sinister aura emanating from his body .

Urh? Ah? I’m alive? - Ogras wheezed with confusion , but Zac wasn’t in any state to answer him .

What’s the first thing you ever said to me? - Zac asked as Verun’s Bite] materialized in his right hand .

What? - Ogras sputtered , clearly having some trouble understanding what was going on .

Answer me , - Zac said , the grip on his axe tightening . - What was the first thing you ever said to me? -

I said - You natives are barbarians , so aggressive . ’ You were wearing a dress at the time . Now what the hell is going on? - the demon sighed .

You're emitting some pretty sinister energies , - Zac said as he relaxed slightly , though not completely .

Well , I can’t seem to move . I need some healing , - Ogras eventually said after a brief pause .

Zac hesitated for a second , but he eventually took out one of his best healing pills and shoved it into Ogras mouth as he infused the demon's body with the Fragment of the Bodhi . Only then did he realize how bad a state the demon was in , even after having reformed the hole in his torso . His spiritual sense couldn't see what was going on in the shadow-part of Ogras' body at all , but countless small scars covered the rest of his insides .

Worse yet , healing them with his Dao Fragment seemed to barely have any effect . The demon wasn’t really at any risk of dying as far as Zac could tell , but it would no doubt be a long road of recovery , even provided that the demon's new heart worked as intended .

What the hell happened at the end? - Ogras asked . - I remember escaping into the shadows when those vortices destabilized , and then waking up with your ugly face scowling down on me . -

Zac sighed before he sat down himself , and he retold the final events without missing anything while simultaneously trying to gauge the demon's thoughts . However , the demon didn't let on anything , he just silently listened to the series of events with a small frown on his face .

Well , people often say that I am heartless , I guess they were right , - Ogras eventually said with a weak smile , but Zac felt that he could hear some confusion and perhaps even fear in his voice .

It wasn't you who did this? - Zac asked . - I thought it might be the skill you got at E-Grade or something . -

A skill that could allow me to walk away after getting a netherblasted hole in my chest? I wish . This must have been Leech . Can you take off my cast? - the demon said .

Zac nodded and he gingerly took off the metal arm that usually held the congealed shadows . He was ready to blast out with a Verun's Bite] in case of an ambush , but his brows rose when the cast opened and nothing was there apart from Ogras' stump . He turned to Ogras , but he saw that the demon wasn't all that surprised by the disappearance of his shadow tentacle .

I guess that I can't call that bast- , I mean little buddy , Leech any longer . How about Spare? If he's going to turn into spare organs for me in the future , - Ogras grinned , still lying sprawled on the ground .

Zac wryly smiled , but there was still worry in his heart . Ogras seemed to want to pretend it was all under his control , but he had definitely cut it close just now . His pale was completely pallid , and his hand shook noticeably . And who knew what the future ramifications would be for something like this? Getting possessed and having your body turned into a vessel wasn't unheard of in the multiverse .

Well , I'm glad you can laugh about this , - Zac snorted as he glanced at the destruction around them .

It looked like Ogras had cheated death this time once more , but the others weren't so lucky . The two unscathed Anointed had just returned with the body of the one who was flung away , and he really had perished from the Dominator's strike . With Void's Disciple having escaped there was probably no chance of saving the ones trapped in the scroll either , if that was even possible in the first case .

It was a poignant reminder of how cheap life was in the multiverse .

This was such a shitshow , - Zac muttered with a shake of his head .

It looked like the universe agreed as a massive explosion erupted far in the distance , in the direction of Site 16 .

The displacement had caused more damage to Void Disciple’s already harried constitution , and waves of all-consuming pain buffeted him until he finally couldn't take it any longer . The only way for him to withstand the chaotic storm in his mind had been to unleash his might once more , destroying parts of the town around him .

Sweat trailed down his face as he started running , unhesitantly abandoning his original goal . It was regrettable , but he had already found most of what he needed . The enormous surplus of foul Karma gathered from the Zhix Wars would hopefully be able to substitute what was missing . The notion made him start , and he quickly shook his head to refocus his straying thoughts .

He wasn’t in the Mystic Realm right now , he couldn’t let his minds wander so freely out here .

Fragment of the Vacuum helped remove the space in front of him , and he pushed himself as quickly as possible to get out of the range of whatever was preventing his Cosmic Gate] from activating .

Void Disciple’s mind was filled with reproach as the surroundings flashed past him . To think that a moment of anger could cause such devastating results . He knew that he should have just left , what could those people have done to prevent it? But seeing the face of his son’s murderer had made him lose control . How could he face Harbinger in the afterlife if he didn’t exact at least a punishment that was within the bounds of his Master’s acceptance?

But the newly integrated sapling had grown into a towering tree , and Void's Disciple knew that he had barely gotten out of the situation alive .

At least he had managed to get back at that wretched demon for using Skybreaker] right in front of him . There had been no energy forthcoming from his strike , but he should at least be crippled from the punch full of spatial tears . Void's Disciple kept moving for another hour until he finally sensed that the hidden dimensions were tranquil once more , and he arduously opened a gate toward the nearest hive .

However , he barely had time to walk through the portal before the pain erupted once more , and Void Disciple helplessly fell over as he desperately clutched his head . The cost of subverting fate wasn’t an insignificant one , at least not with the treasure that his Master had provided . The timeline struggled to repair itself , and the wound spreading from his shoulder all the way to the hipbone on the opposite side deepened once more .

Having insight into a corner of space had driven home just how terrifying that final strike of Zachary Atwood was . It combined two opposing Daos to create an endlessly deep rift in space , and not even he would have survived normally . But it was also a testament to the greatness of space , the great delimiter .

The soul-shaking pain continued for a few more minutes until the bleeding finally stopped . The wounds managed to close a bit thanks to him having over 2000 Vitality running at a tremendous efficiency , but he knew that it would keep getting worse almost no matter how high the attribute was . The threads of karma surrounding the human progenitor were too strong , and subverting his deeds was far more difficult than normal .

Transferring all of it to the Karmic Subversion Effigy] was impossible , and the effect would slowly weaken over time , the damage seeping back to him .

He popped a pill into his mouth as he got back on his feet , arduously opening a portal again . He needed to get back into the Mystic Ream , to enter the healing vats they had commandeered . He had been loath to use unknown technology thus far , especially since it required the assistance of those scheming natives , but now he didn’t have too much of a choice . He would really end up bisected if he didn’t increase his rate of healing .

Of course , the physical wound was just the most immediate concern .

The Karmic Subversion Effigy] was a taboo item , and using something like that would have consequences even when not used against someone so loved by karma as the Super Brother-Man . It was one of his master’s more successful experiments into harvesting Karma on a large scale , but it was ultimately a flawed item .

His Master hadn’t mentioned anything of the sort in the scriptures he left behind , but Void’s Disciple had managed to make a few discoveries over the past centuries . Using it would allow you to live when you should have died , but that life would eventually become a curse . He could already feel the darkness spread in the depths of his mind , and he still hadn't figured out a method to counteract it .

Not yet .

He couldn’t stop now . He had a goal to accomplish , and his daughter needed him to be strong for a while longer . The loss of his necklace was a shame , but the Scroll of the Depths] would be able to be activated again as soon as it had absorbed enough energy from the stars . It should be finished well before the doors of the Mystic Realms closed .

Void's Disciple finally reached the hive , and he wordlessly activated the Teleportation Array before disappearing , his brooding aura quenching any questions from his followers . He appeared in a snow-blasted valley a minute later , the spatial tunnel just a few kilometers away . He entered the Mystic Realm after handing over the scroll to his trusted attendant , and he felt the sense of freedom once more as the darkness transferred him to a shielded subspace . Not even a brush with death and getting cursed could dampen the spirit of liberty after centuries of bondage .

Here he was Adcarkas once more .

Chapter 563 : Return

Zac looked in the direction of Site 16 with incredulity . Void’s Disciple hadn’t fled as expected , but he actually went out of his way to blow up the town even when it was uninhabited . Was there some deeper meaning to his actions , or did he feel that he hadn’t caused enough damage to their group before?

Zac personally wasn’t really feeling ready for another battle as he had already entered his weakened state . Swapping over to his Draugr form wouldn’t help against that , and he would have to use one of his very limited Rageroot Oak Seeds] just to regain his combat strength temporarily . The others looked just as worn-out too , with only two of the Anointed maintaining full combat strength .

But could they just sit still , doing nothing?

We are willing to set out if you are , Warmaster , - Rhubat rumbled as the group of Anointed walked over . - We will ignite our life-force to explode ourselves if need-be . -

… I’m sorry . I can’t . I’m in no state to fight him again , and neither are these two , - Zac eventually said as he nodded at the two demons .

Janos was sitting still not far away , his eyes closed in a slight frown . He had been knocked unconscious by the backlash , but his breathing was steady and his aura was slowly stabilizing after having meditated for a while . Zac was confident that the illusionist simply needed rest to recover . But he still couldn’t assist in another fight in this short a window . His soul might be irrevocably hurt if he did .

Do not apologize , Warmaster . Without your efforts all seven of us would have fallen , - Rhubat said , and the other Anointed nodded in agreement . - Sacrificing once life without a chance of victory isn’t noble , it’s foolishness . Especially now that doing so will empower our enemy . -

The Sage has grown so powerful . I couldn’t sense any corruption even at such close distance , - another of the Anointed said with a forlorn expression . - Three councilors lost for nothing . -

Not for nothing , - Ogras grunted as he finally managed to get up to a sitting position , though he had to lean against a rock to stay upright . - That asshole was a mystery until now . No one knew anything about him apart from his affiliation and his connection to the Dao of Space . But now we know quite a lot . We can use that next time . -

Zac nodded in agreement . The mission was a failure , but not an abject one . They had gathered a lot of intelligence , and they had exhausted some of Adcarkas’ aces . The scroll seemed very dangerous , but he still only used it once , meaning it was either a one-time thing or had other restrictions . He also shouldn’t have too many peak-grade defensive talismans , as those things simply had no supply on Earth .

Furthermore , now that Zac had calmed down from the heat of the battle he realized something . Void’s Disciple was definitely strong even though he only went all out toward the end , but his power wasn’t insurmountable . Their Attributes shouldn’t be too far from each other judging by the stalemate from their clash , and Zac was probably even ahead in Strength and Endurance .

The cracks of bones had been heard when Zac launched his attacks , and Adcarkas had been slowly pushed down in their deadlock . Part of the reason was that the Dominator was taking the momentum for himself , but part of it was definitely because Zac was simply overpowering him with the help of Hatchetman’s Rage] .

If he could make some improvements and perhaps even awaken a bloodline inside the Mystic Realm , then he would feel confident in clashing once more .

There was however the issue of the Zhix magically surviving getting bisected . It would be extremely difficult to finish off a person who not only was extremely strong but also had such a cheat-like skill . However , something so heaven-defying shouldn’t come without a price . Zac had lost decades of his lifespan because of the Shard of Creation , and who knew what complications Ogras be stuck with from getting his body fused with the shadow-creature .

Do you understand how he survived? - Zac asked as he turned back to Ogras . - I’m confident that it wasn’t an illusion . He was really split apart by my attack . How the hell did he survive that? -

Not illusion , - Janos added from the side without opening his eyes , and Zac felt that he would know if anyone .

I agree , - Ogras nodded . - There are all kinds of odd techniques and treasures in the world , but it shouldn’t have been a mirage . I was in the shadows right behind him when it happened , I saw blood rain down toward me , I could see his body splitting . I felt him die . Pretty scary skill of yours , by the way . What’s it called? -

Nevermind that . Do you think it was a skill or a treasure he used? -

I’m guessing treasure . I haven’t heard of E-Grade skills that can subvert life and death like that . I’m guessing that whatever you pulled off in the base-town should be the same? - the demon said , his eyes boring into Zac’s .

Zac slightly nodded in acquiescence , knowing that the demon was referring to the time that his chest was blown apart in front of everyone , only to have it instantly regrow with the help of the last remnants of Creation Energy in his body . Zac still hadn’t explained how he did that to the demon , not that Ogras had asked until now . He still wouldn’t tell Ogras about the Shard of Creation though , for both their sakes .

He had been reminded the hard way of the dangers of dealing with those things earlier today , and he didn’t want to bring another tribulation down on the demon’s head as well .

Is that even possible though? Where did he get something like this? He should mostly have stayed in secluded cultivation since the integration , apart from when he set out to cause some destruction , - Zac said skeptically and turned to the Anointed to see if they knew anything else .

Don’t look at me , Warmaster , - Rhubat said with embarrassment . - This is beyond our knowledge . The Dominators of old always followed one of three means of battle . Some controlled chains of enslavement . Others caused thousands of casualties with their spears . A few walked the path of pugilism as Adcarkas , rampaging through our ranks with their fists alone . However , there are no records of surviving something like this , and neither of the mystical skills of space we witnessed . -

Zac nodded in understanding . They had already gotten an information package about ancient battles against the Dominators back on the Zhix homeworld . It wasn’t much to go on though , especially as those wars took place around two thousand years ago . The Medhin Royals seemed to have followed the spear heritage as well , but Zac’s best guess was that thousands of years had caused the heritages to diverge .

You called him the Sage of the Basin earlier , - Zac asked instead , changing the topic . - What did you mean by that? What was his earlier identity? -

Zac didn’t know much about the civilian identity of Void’s Disciple from before . Even the Zhix War Council had only managed to confirm the real identities of the Dominators after Harbinger appeared . Adcarkas and his children had passed completely under the radar until the integration , and pretty much everyone who encountered them after was killed .

But perhaps they could find out some useful information by digging through their past .

Adcarkas was a great scholar and artisan , to the point that his name was known across the world . He was an expert on all kinds of topics , from painting masterworks to perfecting superior smelting techniques to create stronger metals . The Sage also invented marvelous machines that would have made the lives of our kin easier if there had been time for them to spread and become adapted , - Rhubat explained .

A few of the other Anointed had moved over by this point and added to Rhubat’s explanation . He had been a 'wanderer' , a traveling Zhix whose Hive had fallen in a war . He had taken up residence in a hive placed in the middle of an enormous basin , where he had mostly stayed to work on his projects . According to general knowledge , he should be around 50 years old , but he could be much older since he appeared out of nowhere .

It sort of sounded like Void’s Disciple had been someone like the Zhix World’s Leonardo DaVinci , a great mind that could change the course of history . Then again , Zac suspected that Void’s Disciple was quite a bit older than what was believed , and a few centuries was enough time to master all kinds of things .

He didn’t have any proof on the last guess , but he trusted his intuition . Void’s Disciple emitted a similar aura as the Demon Master he had fought during the Tower of Eternity . The aura of an old expert who had perfected his skills and combat techniques to the peak .

All those treasures though , where did he get them? - Zac muttered .

He might have made them , - Ogras ventured . - At least the weaker ones . Just think about it , he spent decades , possibly centuries , in an unintegrated world with very sparse Cosmic Energy . Cultivation would have to have been extremely slow . He might have built all those things in his search of improving his power in other ways . -

Ogras’ guess was as good as any theory they could come up with now , and the conversation eventually died out as everyone focused on recuperation . Only when an hour had passed did they begin to stir again , and Adcarkas was probably long gone by now .

The Crusade will truly move into the hidden world you spoke of after all , - Rhubat eventually sighed .

Zac understood the giant’s despondency . The Anointed were almost out of time , and who knew how long the visit to the Mystic Realm would last? The Anointed would perhaps never be able to return to their hives even if they won , provided that the supposed lockdown that Julia mentioned lasted longer than expected . No one would cherish the thought of dying in a foreign world .

I’ll look for more ways to restrain him until we set out . What will you do next? - Zac asked .

We need to finish the rites for the fallen , - Rhubat slowly said . - We will return to the Hives for now , but we will follow you into the hidden world . -

Will you be done with everything in one week? - Zac asked , and he received a nod of confirmation . - Good . We’ll try opening the pathway at that time . I’ll send someone to discuss the details , but I need to focus on getting stronger myself . I'm not sure he'll back off next time going by how much importance he places on the Spatial Artifact . -

The group set out a few minutes later , and Ogras was able to walk again by the time they reached Site 16 , albeit with the assistance of Janos . However , Ogras' aura was even weaker than a mortal's , and Zac wondered just how long it would take before he completely recovered .

The destruction of the outpost wasn’t as bad as Zac had feared , but everything within a hundred meters of the mine entrance had been reduced to rubble , including the Teleportation Array . That wasn’t a problem for Zac though as he could simply buy a new one , which made him even more confused as to why Void’s Disciple had done something so pointless .

We can sense remnants of the corruption , - Rhubat said with some surprise . - We still don't understand how they managed to hide it , but perhaps he was unable to in his current state . There’s a trail leading east from the epicenter of the attack . -

Look , - Ogras added as he pointed to the left , and Zac’s eyes lit up when he saw that one of the security cameras were still intact .

Port Atwood was still sorely lacking in personnel , but they had a huge amount of resources that they were able to use to get almost anything from the Marshall Clan . All outposts had been equipped with old-world security measures to shore up the lack of guards , so Void’s Disciple's actions might actually have been caught on film .

They hurried toward a secluded guardhouse , and Zac turned on the monitors while the giants tried to peer inside through the doorway , their bulky frames much too big to fit inside . The latest hours started to flash by on the screen as Zac fast-forwarded the film until there finally was a change .

It’s him , - Zac muttered when the familiar form appeared . - He’s actually bleeding from the wound! -

There wasn’t much else to see on the tape , but it was still good to see that Void Disciple hadn’t come out unscathed after all . It broke the illusion of them dealing with someone unkillable . And it also seemed as though he could confirm a suspicion ; he was after the mine .

The Dominator had appeared within frame as he moved toward the mine with impressive speed , but he had suddenly stopped and grasped his head . A second later the screen turned to static for a whole minute until the current scene outside appeared on the monitors , with the Dominator gone .

It seemed as though he had been planning on entering the mine , but changed his mind and left eastbound if Rhubat’s senses could be trusted .

A backlash? Something else? - Zac muttered , his eyes glistening .

Serves him right for killing me , - Ogras muttered . - Though I wish he would have looked a bit more wretched than sporting some surface wound . -

Zac wryly smiled as he stepped out of the guardhouse and bought a new Teleportation Array . There was just a week left until his sister would rip open the portal to the Mystic Realm once more , not much time for his final preparations .

Chapter 564 : Precipice

The following days passed quickly after Zac’s group returned to Port Atwood . He sent Ibtep and Joanna with the Anointed to act as liaisons to iron out the logistics of the upcoming mission . As for himself , he had been planning on dealing with all kinds of things to prepare Port Atwood for the Mystic Realm . However , Zac was quickly shown the value of a proper support system as everything was being taken care of better and more efficiently than if he had done it himself .

Triv and Abby were working in tandem to quash all sorts of issues , from designing a proper base that could hold everyone in Port Atwood , to figuring out what sorts of materials they needed to bring into the research base . The general plan was to set up a proper outpost in the garden on the other side of the portal , and then build advance posts as they reached further and further inside the Mystic Realm . This freed up most of Zac's time , allowing him to spend most of his time inside his Cultivation Cave , nursing his wounds while looking for ways to improve his power .

The brush with death had increased his desire to become stronger even further , but time was limited . The best he could come up with was to solidify his gains from the battle while trying to figure out if there was any concrete gain from his epiphany . Unfortunately , no matter how he looked or experimented he knew that he neither gained any affinity to his Daos , nor had he evolved any of them .

He had definitely taken a step in the right direction on the mountain top , but he was still very lacking if he wanted to upgrade any of his Dao Fragments to high mastery . However , he did make one interesting discovery as he searched for clues inside his body . His Void Heart] had turned inert since swallowing the tendril of Tribulation Lightning . It wouldn’t activate no matter what he did or what energies he consumed .

Zac noticed the anomaly while dealing with the wounds from the fight . His broken ribs and flesh wounds would heal by themselves thanks to the atmosphere in his cave and his high Vitality , but there were extremely stubborn pieces of foreign Dao lodged in the wounds . Both the exploding stars and Void's Disciple's kick had been infused with Daos , and different ones at that .

The one in the kick was the strongest , and Zac guessed it might even be a High-Tiered Dao . It was completely foreign as well , and not something that he had encountered in any of his other fights . The closest sensation the stubborn Dao before was when he was thrown out of the Technocrat spaceship and found himself swirling in space for a bit . It wasn't surprising considering all of Adcarkas' skills seemed to be related to space .

The wounds from the stars instead contained an energy that made him think of the sun , a fire-aspected Dao that was distinctly different from neighboring Daos such as the Seed of Tinder . It wasn’t as explosive , but it was still extremely stubborn as it smoldered in his wounds as though it would do so for billions of years . The Fragment of the Star did exist according to Big Blue , though the space octopus had no idea how to form it .

These invasive Daos didn’t really affect his combat readiness all too much after his bones had set and flesh healed , but it was still a hidden threat that he needed to deal with . Grinding them down with his own Daos was slow and arduous , which was why he thought of his Void Heart] . If it could swallow tribulation lightning , it could surely eat a little bit of foreign Dao?

The problem was that it didn’t act on the alien energies in his body , and he didn’t have any control of the Hidden Node either . Since manually activating it was out of the question , he instead thought of another way to activate it . He once more absorbed some miasma as a Human to kickstart the node , but it ended with him being nauseated for 30 minutes until he managed to disperse the chill of death inside his body .

He still didn’t know what to do with this information , but he hoped that he would get a huge surge of energy when the node was finally done digesting the purple lightning . Getting a free level or two wouldn’t be enough to defeat Void's Disciple , but it was a start .

Ogras had immediately entered seclusion as well when they returned , but the rest of Port Atwood exploded into action as every department worked around the clock to ready everything in time . His sister was one of the busiest people of all as she kept traveling between Mystic Island , Thea’s Library , and The Tower of Myriad Dao to gather as much information as she could before trying to crack open the spatial tunnel .

The elites of his army were also recalled from the zombie hunt to prepare and consolidate their gains over the following days , while the non-combatants prepared hundreds of different things that might be needed in the upcoming mission in the Mystic Realm . The settlements that Void's Disciple attacked were recaptured as well , but no one could figure out what Void's Disciple had done in those mines .

The New World Government had sent in over 50 thousand people according to Julia , so there was definitely a use of man-power inside . Zac initially felt a bit reluctant to follow suit , as he had dealt with most threats either alone or with the help of a small group . But he couldn’t run around those endless tunnels by himself in search of the Spatial Treasure , so this time he would bring a large chunk of his army . Besides , if it turned out that the excess personnel was superfluous , then he could always send them back at the last minute .

Julia tried to help out by gathering more intelligence from the New World Government , but it was slim pickings . Thomas Fischer had put in place a new set of extremely restrictive protocols to stop any further leaks , and anyone who entered the Mystic Realm had to sign a contract of confidentiality . A System-enforced contract , so there was no chance of shirking the agreement .

Ilvere suggested launching an assault , but Zac decided against it . He was afraid that the New World Government would do something drastic if he appeared at this juncture , like opening the pathways so that the natives of the Mystic Realm could escape and reach Earth . He couldn't let that happen , he didn't feel confident in leaving Earth exposed to a bunch of E-Grade aliens while he was stuck inside the mystic realm .

It wasn’t the end of the world though , as Zac doubted there was much that Thomas Fischer knew that he couldn't figure out by himself in a few days . There was no way that these so-called native allies had given the government too much intelligence on the research base , the New World Government simply wasn’t powerful enough to barter with high e-grade elders that might be over a thousand years old .

Kenzie arrived at the Cultivation Cave five days after Zac returned from Site 16 , and Zac frowned when he saw her eyes were sunken from chronic sleep deprivation . Triv was with her as well , and the ghost bowed toward Zac before it started sprucing up the place .

Don't overwork yourself , - Zac sighed as he looked at his sister with worry .

I'll be able to rest as soon as I pack things up here , - Kenzie smiled .

So it's done? - Zac asked with relief .

It's done , - Kenzie said , her smile turning into a grin . - You could start it up right now if you wanted , but it's better if you wait two days . The spatial turbulence grows weaker every day . -

That's amazing , good job , - Zac applauded . - Do you need any help here? -

No , you'll just get in the way . Triv and I can handle this , you go deal with things in Port Atwood instead . Verana has been wanting to talk with you for a while , - Kenzie said .

Fine , I'll get out of your hair , - Zac said as he stood up from his prayer mat . - What do the Tal-Eladar want? -

They want to join us in the Mystic Realm , of course . No one should have told them outright , but it is impossible to keep an expedition of this magnitude secret , - Kenzie shrugged .

Is Ogras out yet? - Zac asked .

He liked having the demon with him when dealing with Clan Tir'Emarel . Ogras couldn't help himself when he saw the beastmasters , he immediately started to annoy them by ruining their plans out of spite . That usually resulted in a better negotiation position for Zac , which was just what someone like him needed .

No , - Kenzie said with a shake of his head , her smile turning into a frown . - What happened back then? He doesn't even answer when I call . -

Void's Disciple is just as strong as we feared , - Zac sighed . - None of us got off scot-free . He was wounded , and he might be a bit depressed after taking a loss right after evolving . He'll be out for the Mystic Realm though . -

Kenzie's eyes thinned a bit in suspicion , but Zac didn't want her to know just how close to dying Ogras got . He simply flashed away the next moment and teleported over to the academy to deal with the Tal-Eladar . Zac eventually made a deal with Verana where she would send a squad of 150 experts into the Mystic Realm , focusing on cultivators excelling in scouting and healing .

Tylia was probably still the greatest healer on Earth , and having her join the mission might save a lot of lives . The keen senses of the Tal-Eladar war-beasts might be invaluable as well , so Zac relented on his stance against them for now . However , he did make sure to sign a contract with Verana that the Spatial Artifact and any D-Grade or higher treasures would go to Port Atwood .

They would be given Merit Points for turning them in though . This type of employer-employee contract was pretty common when exploring Mystic Realms , and she wasn't really surprised at all when Zac brought it up . As for E-Grade resources and lower , it was up to luck . If you found it , it was yours . That was the simplest way of encouraging people to explore the depths of the research base .

The next two days were like a blur , and more and more powerful people appeared in Port Atwood by the minute . First it was Thea along with a hundred experts and 500 support personnel of the Marshall Alliance . Then came Billy and Nigel , the latter looking less than enthused about entering such a dangerous place . However , Nigel had a rare buffing class similar to Emily's , and he would be able to singlehandedly bolster the defenses of any base .

The Underworld Council provided warriors of all four races as well , along with Gregor and five fellow councilors . The rest would stay to make sure nothing happened to their bases in their absence , just like the majority of the Port Atwood Army . Finally the Zhix arrived , and the appearance of over a hundred hulking Anointed caused quite the commotion among the citizens of Port Atwood .

In fact , a lot of people didn't even know about the existence of the Anointed since they mostly stayed in the hearts of their Hives . It caused quite some chaos , and Zac was forced to send them to Mystic Island early as to not cause a riot . Of course , it was only a day later that Zac and the others joined them .

Everyone had gathered in the central valley of Mystic Island , and Zac couldn't help but marvel as he looked back at the group of over 5000 people behind him . Most of them normal Zhix warriors and the soldiers of Port Atwood , but this was still the greatest army that Earth had ever assembled . This group would probably be able to take out the New World Government in minutes even if he didn't personally get involved .

Zac eventually turned back looked with anticipation at Kenzie and her group of craftsmen as they performed the finishing checks on the array they had drawn around the spatial tunnel . It would block out the turbulence from the Spatial Bomb that the Cultists detonated , allowing the old teleportation array to work once more .

Even Zac couldn't help but feel some butterflies in his stomach as he looked at the still inactive array . There was so much hanging on this expedition . If they won then Earth would finally be free of threats , at least for another 99 years . It would give him and everyone else a breather , an opportunity to solidify their foundations and find their bearings .

Conversely , if they failed , then that was that . The Great Redeemer would come sooner or later , and Earth would be turned into a cultivation resource . Ogras and he had even discussed giving out some of his teleportation tokens beforehand just in case , but he knew it was kind of a moot point .

Coughing up between one and ten billion Nexus Coins for the Nexus Hub activation wasn’t something that the average people could endure .

Sometimes I don’t know whether you’re my lucky star or an ill omen , - sighed echoed out from Zac's side as Ogras appeared out of nowhere . - A normal warrior would be given months to stabilize his foundation and get to understand their limits . I get time for a celebratory drink before I’m thrown at the big boss , and then I'm dragged here before I even have a chance to nurse my wounds . -

You can go on as long a vacation as you want after this is dealt with , - Zac snorted .

See , you say that , but how can that possibly be true while I am living next to a disaster magnet? If you run out of enemies , then the Ruthless Heavens will just conjure one for you , - Ogras spat .

Can't do much about that , - Zac smiled before he turned serious again . - How's your situation? -

A shroud of shadows covered the two before Ogras spoke up .

There's both good and bad news , - the demon shrugged . - I won't be able to fight for at least a month , perhaps even longer . There are some complications on top of the wounds . -

Anything I can do to help? - Zac frowned . - I have a lot of pills . -

No , I think that I need to wait this out , - Ogras said with a frown , and he hesitated a bit before he kept going . - Spare is redrawing my pathways . -

What?! - Zac blurted . - Is that even possible? -

Apparently , - the demon grimaced . - I don't think it's too bad though . The changes are small , and they seem to be improvements . Even better , my affinity to the Dao of Shadows has taken a huge leap forward . I was a genius before , but now I'm simply a heaven-defying scion . -

Zac only rolled his eyes in response , but he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy upon hearing about the affinity . Then again , Ogras had literally died to gain this lucky opportunity . And judging by the demon's face , it wasn't as simple as he let on . There were definitely dangers that accompanied this sudden windfall .

Well , it's good that you’re up and runn- - Zac responded , but he drifted off when he saw that Kenzie had stood up and waved at him .

Everything was ready .

Do it , - Zac nodded , his heart rapidly beating as he prepared for disaster .

Chapter 565 : Convictions

There was no time to lose now that everything was dealt with . They were already running behind the others who had spent weeks , even months inside the Mystic Realm already , and they needed to catch up .

Kenzie immediately started drawing the final inscriptions that would complete the outer array since Zac had given the go-ahead . The assistants had already moved away just in case , with only Kenzie staying next to the array . The final touches only took a few minutes , and Zac saw the air all around them shudder for a few seconds before it returned to normal .

It worked! - Kenzie exclaimed a few seconds later as the inner array lit up as well .

Uh , it did? - Zac asked , feeling there was some lack of payoff .

He had almost expected a massive tear in space to appear , only for Kenzie's array to beat it back after a herculean effort . Zac obviously wasn’t the only one feeling this way either . Ogras looked at the array with a visible disappointment , and Thea was looking at Kenzie with confusion .

That’s it , - Kenzie snorted , clearly a bit miffed about everyone’s reactions . - I can add some fireworks to the next array if you want . -

Just thought there would be some spatial rifts or something , - Zac sheepishly smiled before he refocused . - I’ll go first to make sure it’s safe . -

I’m coming with , I know the place best after all , - Ogras said . - I’ve also been inside enough to be able to tell if the array works as intended . -

What? In your condition? - Zac frowned as he asked with a low voice . - What's your goal? Last time we almost had to drag you through the teleporter . -

I figure I’m better off on the other side in case this thing breaks down after one use , - Ogras shrugged with a grin . - I'll just hide in your shadows and reap the rewards . -

Well , fine , - Zac said as he turned to Thea and the other leaders . - I’ll send a message back through the portal in a minute at most . You can begin the transfer as soon as I’ve done so , provided Kenzie gives the go-ahead . -

Thea looked reluctant at being left behind , but Billy didn’t care in the slightest . Nigel on the other hand looked like he was praying for the thing to fail so that he could stay behind . As for the Zhix , they stoically stood in vigil , their facial expressions unreadable .

What should we do if this thing breaks after you enter , Warmaster? - Rhubat eventually rumbled . - The enemies of the Zhix are on the other side . -

If this thing really breaks down after we go through , have Kenzie fix it . If she’s unable to… Enter through the New World Government’s tunnel . Thea can show you the way , - Zac said without hesitation .

This was something he had about before , and he eventually decided to sacrifice the New World Government if it came to that . The survival of Earth was more important than anything else , and they simply didn't have any other options . He had sent out dozens of squads in search of other tunnels , including to the uncharted continent . But they hadn't found anything , meaning the New World Government tunnel was the only other one remaining .

Of course , following the Dominators through their own tunnel would have been the best option , but no one had been able to figure out where it was . Void's Disciple must have tracked down a pathway as secluded as the one on Mystic Island .

Be careful around the New World Government though . The tunnel would be filled with traps . And be careful as to not let anything dangerous reach Earth . -

You won’t mind if we oust your kind? - Rhubat asked curiously .

They’re not my kind , - Zac shrugged . - But try a non-violent approach if possible , no matter if we meet them inside or outside . We’re all part of this planet after all . -

The Anointed nodded in agreement , and Zac stepped onto the array with the demon following close behind . The darkness lasted just an instant until he appeared in a familiar room , a wave of relief washing over him when he could confirm that the array worked just fine . He didn’t even realize that he had been holding his breath as he stepped through , and his hands were clammy as well .

Getting almost killed while teleporting once had undeniably left a shadow in his mind .

Ah! - a scream echoed out the second Zac appeared , and he spotted a young woman grasping for a spear that stood balanced against the wall . - Intruders! Wait , Lord Atwood? -

It’s me . Tina , right? - Zac smiled as he recognized the Valkyrie . - I’m sorry it took so long to reopen the entrance . Is everyone okay here? -

Ogras appeared before Tina had a chance to answer , glancing around the building before walking up next to Zac .

The array seems stable enough , - Ogras muttered after he threw the Valkyrie a glance . - I didn’t notice any differences compared to the last times . Should be fine I think? -

Good , - Zac nodded as he sent back an information crystal to the other side , telling the others that it worked .

More people are coming soon , so let’s get out of the way , - Zac said as he led the two out of the Teleportation Building .

The base camp outside looked pretty much the same as the last time Zac visited , except for a couple of new buildings having been added to the mix . The odd lines covered the sky , and the trees created a perimeter around the fields far off in the distance . Finally , there was the barely discernable wall , and Zac's heartbeat sped up at the thought of what awaited inside .

Everything seems fine here . Have there been any problems? - Zac said as soon as he could confirm that there were no immediate threats .

Nothing much has happened here apart from us going a bit stir-crazy , - Tina said as she waved at the other castaways who looked at Zac with relief in their eyes . - We have just explored the vicinity and cultivated . Those worm-things don’t attack as long as five of us travel together . We have encountered something odd though . -

Odd? What’s going on? - Zac asked as he looked around again , properly this time .

Only then did he realize that Ogras had stopped in his tracks after stepping outside the teleportation building , a deep frown adorning his face . Zac had only been here for a few short visits when he needed to talk with his sister , but he hadn’t actually left the immediate vicinity of the entrance . However , it appeared as though the demon had figured something out .

This world is growing , - the demon finally blurted out , his eyes wide with shock .

They are here , - Leviala said , her milky-white eyes opening for the first time in weeks . - The door has been reopened . -

Sorry for having you do this , child , - Uvek sighed as he hurriedly handed his granddaughter the extract before the backlash kicked in .

She drank the murky texture down with a slight frown , but she didn’t complain about the astringent taste . She never did .

It’s not more horned beings , - Leviala said . - Well , there are , but there are other races as well . Some I have never seen before . -

Any humans? - Tictus , the squirrely chief Datamancer , asked with worry in his eyes .

Yes , most , - Leviala nodded .

The eyes around the table lit up , but Uvek shook his head .

Things outside are not like in here . Our races will not bring us together . Remember , it is our clan that that needs to stand united , even against other humans , - Uvek said .

The other elders soon remembered themselves and low discussion as to what to do next appeared in the sealed Elder's Hall .

How powerful are they? - Tictus eventually asked .

I can’t see , - Leviala said with a shake of her head .

How about… - another elder muttered .

No! She cannot open the Eyes of Heaven again so soon . She had used her bloodline too much already to keep track of all the changes . It might kill her if we push even further . We need to remember our goal! These outsiders that keep pouring in are after that thing in the center , but what are we after? - Uvek said .

Freedom , - Tictus muttered .

Exactly! We need to leave here , but then what? - Uvek said as he looked across the room .

I have learned some things by speaking with Hekruv Vira of the True Sky faction . They have had ample contact with the outsiders through their terminals . If he is speaking the truth , and I believe he is , then the planet outside has changed , and it will be thrown out into the universe in one hundred years . We need to have a D-Grade warrior before then to protect us , and Leviala is our best hope! She is the first one since the ancestor to awaken Heaven's Eyes] instead of King's Eyes] or Lord's Eyes] . We can’t ruin her potential for short-term benefits! -

Do not forget Yvian , - the decrepit voice of the second elder spoke up , and Uvek forced himself to nod in acquiescence .

However , his inner thoughts weren’t quite as agreeable . It would be a disaster for Clan Cartava if that impetuous man became the next Patriarch . They had already been captured once due to their unique bloodline , and he knew they needed to keep a low profile as they stepped out into the true universe . But Yvian carried dreams of grandeur , to lead the clan to the peak .

But he didn’t understand that they were just ants in the grand scheme of things . Their ancestral homelands had been like a fortress , and their echelon elders were known across the sector for their prowess . But their sanctuary was reduced to ashes the moment the ancestor passed away , their elders slaughtered like chickens , proving they were just frogs in the bottom of the well .

Having wealth was a sin if you weren’t powerful enough to protect it .

Even then , Yvian bore a deep desire for conquest . Before he had wanted to conquer this accursed cage , but now he had turned his sights to the planet outside . He believed that it was ripe for the picking as the outsiders were pathetically weak according to the True Sky Faction . But Uvek knew better . The real powerhouses hadn't made their moves yet , or they moved in the shadows .

So what do we do? - Tictus asked .

The storms are acting up again , - Uvek muttered . - And we haven't found any terminals that can reach this new faction . -

The old patterns no longer holds , and some subsystems have completely shut down , - Tictus sighed said with a shake of his head . - A unit was caught unaware in Red-04 , only three managed to return alive . We can’t go to Section 8 at all the moment . -

We left a message where the horned one appeared , - Uvek eventually said . - We can’t go there now , but we might soon meet in the inner sections . -

What if they’re hostile? - the second elder asked with a rasping voice .

We won’t look for trouble , but we will not back away either . We will never be captives again , - Uvek said , his eyes burning with determination .

Never again , - the others echoed .

This is our edge . The outsiders are treating this as a treasure hunt . We are fighting for survival . Our convictions aren't the same . -

He’s hurt , - Yano whispered , the soulgems studding his head glimmering as his fury instilled them with power . - Another is missing , and the third is in the vat . This is our chance! -

We can’t , - Helo sighed , his own , far grander , gems instead spreading a soothing blue radiance . - Only three Masons remain , and they are badly wounded as well . And remember , they are not alone . Their armies outnumber us five to one . Those insectoids might be weaker in general , but you saw how they fought . We can’t match that suicidal ferocity . Our kin is not meant for battle like that . -

But another opportunity like this won’t come again! - Yano spat , though the red glow of his gems had clearly dimmed .

He knew the horror of their new masters better than anyone . He had seen his own parents getting ripped apart by the bare hands of the one called Void’s Disciple , their soulgems being harvested the same way the old controllers did . What had their kin done to deserve a fate such as this? Captured and experimented on for thousands of years , and when they finally saw a chance at freedom , they were slaughtered and enslaved once more .

But Helo wouldn’t give up . To many had fallen for him to give in to despair now .

We need to be patient , - Helo eventually said .

You keep saying that , but our people are dying , - Yano said , tears already streaming down his face . - Besides . If you help Void's Disciple to create that item . . . Even if you survive , you'll be cursed . Heaven's won't abide something like this . With the old Masons fallen , only you can lead us now . -

I will survive . I can't fall here , - Helo said with determination , the soothing gems flashing a sanguine red for a second before he got a hold of himself . - We must endure for another ten days . At that time the thing will be born . The elders believed that would bring about huge changes to our world , with previously inaccessible parts being forced open . -

How does that help us? - Yano asked . - Without our Masons , we are not powerful enough to compete for that thing . -

But we might be able to nudge events in our favor . Perhaps we might even be able to nudge those monsters right off a cliff . The Grand Mason told me something before he succumbed to his wounds , something that she only learned recently , - Helo said , his voice growing even lower . - The Administrator is alive . -

What? How is that even possible? The cataclysm back then- - Yano exclaimed , his gems turning grey out of fear .

I don’t understand either , - Helo said , his gems shimmering yellow in confusion . - But if these insectoids want the item , they will have to enter the Administrator’s domain . These interlopers are strong , but do you really believe they can survive such an encounter? -

Chapter 566 : Lunar Tribe

Hevastes rushed through the forest , his sharp nose all the guidance he needed to avoid his distant , and far less enlightened , cousins . A squad of silent killers followed in tow , ruthlessness gleaming in their eyes . They set out five days ago at the behest of Cervantes to find a new path to the weaklings of the Cartava Clan .

A century ago this would have been considered a suicide mission , a way to discard unwanted members of the tribe . They would most likely perish to the environment , and if they somehow survived they’d still have an impossible mission to complete .

However , things had changed . Hevastes looked up at the distant Skythreads , both excitement and trepidation filling his hearts . He remembered running through these woods just three hundred years ago as a fledgling member of his first hunting squad . The sky had been so much closer then , and the distances weren’t so insurmountable . But the world had grown , just as Hevastes himself had .

It almost felt like he would leave part of himself behind when they finally left this place .

They finally reached their target location ; a seemingly insignificant corner of the forest where the wall made a slight turn . There were no signs of anything special about this place , apart from a small grate in the Memorysteel close to the ceiling .

A century ago this small vent just had a diameter of ten centimeters , but by now it was over a meter across , effortlessly providing a new point of ingress for their kin . Similar weaknesses were appearing all over the base , with new ones being discovered every week . The sanctums of the Core Sector were still unreachable , meaning it still was impossible to reach the bloodline pools freely . But it was just a matter of time by now .

Of course , the dangers had increased just like the opportunities had .

Isolating steps , - Hevastes muttered and one of his subordinates produced a series of spikes , each of them connected to a small dongle .

Hevastes took out his charger and poured some of the harvested Base Power into each spike . He couldn’t help but grimace at the expenditure , especially now that it was so hard to harvest . But times had changed , and there was no point in hoarding things that would be useless in the outer world .

Seeing that the spikes had activated properly he threw them into the wall with pinpoint precision , each of them hitting the wall with half a meter’s distance , all the way up to the grate . The spikes embedded themselves in the Memorysteel as though the wall was made of mud , and a few seconds later the fusion was complete .

The arrays on the had completely dimmed by the time that the spikes had become part of the wall , and Kato didn’t need any prompting as he climbed up along the spikes . He took out a tablet from his backpack as he carved a small groove with his special tool , allowing him to connect to the local systems through a cable .

Hevastes saw the screen light up a second later , and the whole group tensed as they prepared themselves for retaliation . However , the seconds passed without either the wall awakening or the corruption appearing , allowing them to breathe out in relief . It wasn't that they didn't trust Kato , he was one of the most skilled Datamancers in the tribe after all . But things had become too unpredictable as of late .

The grate swung up a few seconds later , and Kato jumped down to the others with a relieved look on his eyes . After all , it was usually the Datamancers who got the worst of it in case they were discovered .

Excellent job . How long? - Hevastes asked .

Sixteen hours under normal operations , - Kato said before he hesitantly added . - But the risk of anomalies is high . -

Ten hours . Everyone needs to be back here by that time in case we get split up . Any latecomers will have to return by themselves , - Hevastes eventually decided .

The rest of the squad nodded without hesitation , even though the implication was clear . Returning to the tribe without Hevastes’ source of Base Power was a suicide mission , and they were better off staying in the forest , praying that some other squad would pass by before they were discovered by the beasts .

Remember the goal . First of all , find a path to the Cartava Clan . Secondly , if an opportunity arises , capture the Grand Elder’s granddaughter . Finding information about the interlopers would be a bonus , but other squads are working on that , - Hevastes said as he looked across the group .

The group of veterans nodded , though they couldn't hide the confusion from their captain . After all , most of them had worked together for almost two centuries . But they were elite warriors that were content in following orders , which couldn't be said about the ever-curious Datamancer .

Is that brat really worth the risk? - Kato hesitantly asked when no one else would speak up . - We have already spent such a large amount of our resources on this one objective . -

Are you questioning Cervantes’ orders? - Hevastes asked cooly .

N-No , absolutely not , - Kato hurriedly said with a shake of his head , quickly realizing the folly of questioning the Alpha’s grand nephew . - I just hoped to understand the goal to better complete my mission . -

Very well . I don’t know all the details either , but my uncle said one thing that might interest you . Leviala Cartava is the key to prolonging our lifespans by many times over . Now tell me , is it worth snatching her? - Hevastes said with a cruel smile .

The eyes of even the veterans in the group widened in shock , before a red tint spread in their eyes . Hevastes knew all too well what they were thinking . The bloodline of their tribe was unmatched , and the only one in this realm solely focused on combat . Those gemlings far on the other side were only useful for creating living treasures , and the True Sky Faction had long lost their way by interbreeding .

Only the Titans and unique specimens were a match to their prowess , but the specimens were long gone while the Titans all perished when the cataclysm turned their sector into the wastelands . If it wasn’t for the unique environment , the werewolves would long have been able to dominate this whole realm .

But there was a downside to their power ; it took them too long to cultivate . They were part-beast , which had provided them with superior bodies and power . But they still had the much shorter lifespan of humans , making it almost impossible to unleash their full potential before they grew old . But what if their lifespans could be improved upon?

Hevastes could feel it . This was the era of the Lunar Tribe .

Exactly! This world is expanding! - Tina nodded with an odd face as she looked at Ogras . - It seems impossible , but this whole base seems to be growing like it was a living creature or something . It's already grown around ten percent since we were trapped here . -

Growing how? - Zac said with confusion .

The rest of the leaders had already arrived through the teleporter by this point , and they all looked at Ogras and Tina like they were crazy . How could a base grow by itself?

We first noticed it with the keypad that allows us to enter the real base . It was rising higher and higher up in the air , and now it’s 30 centimeters further up than before , - Tina said .

Is it some sort of liquid metal? - Thea asked from the side , but the Valkyries shook their heads in response .

I honestly feel like it’s some sort of magic rather than something that can be explained rationally . We first assumed that the wall was rising from the ground , but we soon realized that this affects everything except for living things , - Tina explained .

I thought this place was made for giants , but what if the whole realm started growing around the same time the Integration took place? - Ogras muttered as his eyes scanned the surroundings . - Or perhaps even sooner . -

Zac looked over with confusion before he understood what Ogras was getting at . The demon was the first one to explore the mystic realm , and he had already noted that he believed that this section was built to accommodate some sort of golem or giant species reaching 5-6 meters in height . But what if that wasn’t the case , but rather the result of the place growing?

A bunch of Cosmic Energy flooded Earth , and some of it was passed into this place? - Zac asked .

Or that the shock of integration kicked the Dimensional Seed alive , - Ogras shrugged .

We found out some of the rules by studying the trees , - another Valkyrie interjected . - They are the same as before , but they are now spaced further apart like the ground between them is expanding . -

Spatial expansion , - Thea said with wonder as she looked around .

But our people have only been trapped here for a few weeks and it’s grown by ten percent? This base should be thousands of years old , it doesn’t add up , - Joanna countered with a frown as she looked at the valkyries .

The treasure is awakening , - Zac said . - That is probably speeding up the process if it's the source . -

It’s the most likely scenario , - Ogras agreed . - But that means two things if true . First , these changes will probably only increase in severity as the treasure awakens . Second , we are just at the edge of the Mystic realm . The effect might be far worse in the core , the closer we get to the treasure itself . We already knew this place is huge , but it might have turned into a continent overnight . -

We have tried mapping the growth rate and it seems as though- , - Tina said , but he forgot herself upon seeing the form of Rhubat breaking through the roof of the teleportation house like some sort of insectoid Godzilla .

I forgot about those giants in all the excitement , - Ogras looked over with a snort .

Zac sighed and flashed over , and threw away the rubble of the teleportation house , the pieces of the building flying far out into the grassland .

Amazing . Worlds within worlds , - Rhubat said as it looked around , ignoring the mayhem its appearance had caused .

This place is extremely ancient , older than both your and our civilizations combined , - Zac said . - There will be a lot of dangers inside , I’ll be counting on you guys . -

The chief corruptor is still standing , so we will not stop either , - Rhubat agreed and moved out of the way to make room for more Anointed to enter .

Start setting everything up , - Zac instructed the logistics crew before he flashed back to the core group . - I need some more details from the scientists who have stayed here . -

The Valkyries who had been marooned in the Mystic Realm was not the only citizens caught inside when the cultists attacked . There were also a group of professors that were studying the mystic realm while Zac was busy dealing with other things .

The logistics officers got to work while Zac entered a warehouse to go over things in detail . There were proper meeting rooms as well , but they were too small to house the Anointed , and he wanted them represented .

The scientists seemed extremely uncomfortable by being stuck in a building with not only 5-meter tall giants that stared down at them as though they were snacks , but also with the most powerful people on the former Ladder . But they quickly gathered their wits and started going over the measurements they had taken since they were stuck .

The biosphere had grown just like Tina and Ogras said , by 12% to be exact . This included everything that could be considered dead , such as stones , the metal walls , and the ground itself . The odd growth also affected organic materials that weren’t alive , such as pieces of lumber . The people and the plants were completely unaffected though .

Most of that growth had happened over the last 16 days , and it seemed to be accelerating . As for the process of expansion , it couldn’t be explained by science . The first guess of the scientists was that the spatial expansion acted on an atomic level , increasing the distance between molecules in materials . But it was quickly proven to be wrong .

Matter was literally appearing out of nowhere . A piece of lumber would keep growing in volume in this realm but its density would remain constant , meaning that its weight increased . As for where the additional matter came from , the Scientist had no idea . One conjecture was that it was being absorbed from subspace or neighboring dimensions , while some simply believed it to be magic no matter how unscientific that sounded .

Isn’t this a huge opportunity? - Ogras said from the side when he heard the explanation . - Can’t we throw out everything of value and it will keep multiplying? What if we get a bunch of extremely valuable materials? Wouldn’t we literally be growing money? -

Chapter 567 : Expansion

Zac’s eyes lit up at the idea , and he could see himself throwing out his mountains of loot and watch them grow . This could be a game-changer for Port Atwood , and he immediately turned toward the scientists with fire in his eyes .

Unfortunately , no . It doesn’t work that way , - a scientist said , but he quickly shrunk back when over ten angry glares were directed his way . - Ahem . . . That is . . . This change doesn’t seem to affect items with a certain amount of energy . Nexus Crystals won’t grow in size , for example , and neither will Spiritual Materials . However , we have only been able to test this on our limited supply of materials in this short while . There might be some materials we can grow this way to great effect . -

Zac couldn’t help but feel some disappointment at losing such a good money-making opportunity before it could even start . Being able to grow things like gold and steel might sound amazing , but mortal materials were essentially worthless in the multiverse .

Even Zac could conjure a mountain out of nowhere with Nature's Punishment] , and powerful beings could harvest whole planets with a wave of their hands . Some Mystic Realms also contained shocking amounts of certain elements . You could find a world containing hundreds of billions of tonnes of purest gold , ripe for the taking .

Of course , it was still worth growing some materials since it was free . There was a large demand for construction materials to build and expand the towns of his force , and normal materials were enough to build houses .

Zac already gave up on the idea , but the demon wasn’t as easily convinced .

What about the walls of this place? - Ogras said with a frown . - That metal can’t be something common . I couldn’t even leave a lasting mark when going all out last time I was here . -

That- We are not sure how to explain the walls , but we have a conjecture? - another scientist explained as she adjusted her glasses . - We believe that the material of the base itself , while extremely high technology , is not spiritual in nature . It is some sort of advanced metallurgy that we don’t understand . Its regenerative properties are in turn powered by an external energy supply . -

Zac nodded in agreement , remembering the Technocrat vessel he visited . It was the same there . The Technocrats seemed to use advanced techniques to somehow drain high-grade materials from their spirituality , while still retaining their strength . It seemed like a waste of time to Zac , but it might be required for the materials to work with the - Dao of Technology - .

We haven’t been able to prove this though , as we’ve been unable to take samples , - she added .

They asked a few questions more about the mysterious growth , but there was only so much that the scientists had managed to find out . They neither had the tools nor the strength to get to the bottom of things , and most of what they knew was conjecture . Zac guessed that he would find out more as he ventured deeper into the Mystic Realm .

Have you encountered any living beings? - Zac asked next . - Apart from the worms . -

No , but the amount of time we spent inside the actual construct is limited . Only three of us managed to get clearance , - Tina said from the side . - We also never left the security door that protects this section , as we were afraid to open it and let the natives inside . -

It’s good that you took it safe , - Zac nodded before he asked with confusion . - But what do you mean not getting access? That console doesn’t give access to everyone? -

No , - Tina said with a shake of her head . - I think it’s bugged or something . -

Or it has some sort of requirements we don’t fully grasp just yet , - the head scientist added . - There seem to be some requirements though , the main being a minimum power . All the people with access are over level 50 . -

Anything else? - Zac asked .

Two are mortals , one is a cultivator . So spirituality might not actually be a boon but a hindrance , - a scientist hesitantly said . - But it’s too early to tell with such a small sample . -

Also , we only managed to get Tier-2 clearance , which only let us travel a very limited section outside . Only some doors opened for us . We might not even have been able to open that security door even if we tried , - Tina said .

Maybe I had beginner’s luck? Or maybe I’m just that handsome? - Ogras grinned from the side , drawing multiple eye-rolls in response .

It would be a problem though if only Ogras could control that main exit from their position on the frontier . Would they have to station him like some sort of doorman just so they would be able to maintain their mobility? And what about further inside? There would no doubt be more barriers toward the core of the Mystic Realm .

It might be looking for some specific genome that only a few in the multiverse possess . It shouldn’t be based on human anatomy considering a demon has had the most success though , - Joanna ventured . - If this place is built by Technocrats it shouldn’t make its decision on something like constitution or levels , right? -

Right , - Zac nodded . - Anything else? -

There has been seismic activity in the past two weeks . It might be related to the growth , - another scientist said after some thought . - The earthquakes have been mild so far , but they might cause troubles down the line if they increase in severity . The walls might break apart from the vibrations , allowing outsiders to enter our secured area . -

Zac nodded in understanding , a slight frown adorning his face . He had heard just how sturdy this place was from Ogras . Furthermore , it had managed to hold peak E-Grade warriors trapped for millennia . He probably wouldn’t be able to open new pathways by punching his way through the walls even if he exhausted himself .

Then again , few things could contend against nature itself , and it wouldn’t be too surprising if some cracks started to appear . But Zac didn’t feel that to be just a negative . There were obviously problems with mobility inside this place since the natives still hadn’t managed to escape to Earth . That probably meant that it would be difficult reaching either the Dominators and the Dimensional Seed as well .

Thank you for your excellent work , - Zac said as he looked around . - I know you guys are tired of this place , but we can’t leave just yet . Some new intelligence has come to light since you were locked inside , and every faction on Earth is scrambling to get inside this place . We are already behind the others because of the cultists , so I will need to rely on your expertise a while longer . -

The scientists nodded without hesitation , and Zac guessed that they were more than happy to stay now that there was a bunch of powerful people to protect them . After all , what scientist wouldn’t be interested in researching a magical world in a hidden dimension that kept bending the laws of physics?

Everyone already knew what they were supposed to do , and they split up to lead their respective factions as one person after another emerged through the teleporter . The transportation of personnel took hours as the teleporter couldn’t stay active continuously . Kenzie shut it down on multiple occasions to make sure that her array wouldn’t suddenly crack from overextension . It was important to maintain function as long as possible in case something unexpected happened .

They would probably need to order other things from Calrin as well as they kept figuring out the rules in this weird place . Besides , they were still able to spy on the other factions as long as the tunnel remained open , and Zac might also need to exit in the next few days depending on how things panned out .

Setting up a proper command center and barracks would take the better part of a day . They didn’t know how long they would need to use this place for , so they did everything properly like they were building a whole town from the ground up . It felt extremely slow to Zac , but he also knew that something like this would be completely impossible without the aid of Cosmos Sacks and superhuman strength .

However , the mass-scale expansion angered the only other resident of the secluded biosphere , and a hundred worm-like creatures suddenly burrowed out of the ground and struck the settlers to protect their domain . However , they were immediately cut into ribbons by Thea who happened to be nearby .

Zac’s whistled in surprise at the efficiency at which she disposed a bunch of peak F-Grade beasts . It looked like her gain had been pretty impressive , after all . It might be a result of incorporating that Sword Intent she gained inside the Inheritance , but Zac distinctly felt that her Dao was improving at a rapid pace .

She’s become more powerful , - Ogras said as he emerged from the shadows . - You should either bed her or dispose of her while we’re here . Either way , you’ll have dealt with a potential threat . -

Whatever , - Zac snorted . - I’m tired of standing around watching the construction . Let’s go check out the base for a bit . -

What? Right now? - Ogras blanched . - I’m hurt over here . -

If you’re well enough to run your mouth , then you’re surely well enough to walk around a bit as well , - Zac said as he started gathering people .

Soon enough a preliminary scouting party was assembled , consisting of Zac , Kenzie , Ogras , Thea , and Ibtep . The insectoid acted as a representative to the Anointed , and he also had a scouting class which might come in handy .

They weren’t planning on going too far today , but just to see if they could get credentials and observe the changes inside the proper structure . There was also a hidden reason only known to Zac and Kenzie . Zac wanted to see if he or at least his sister could gain access to the main systems of this research base , either through their heritage or through Jeeves .

That would give them a huge edge in the competition for the treasure . In fact , it might end the struggle altogether if they could simply lock everyone in place while they went and fetched the seed .

The group set out , leaving the massive Anointed to guard the base in case of another monster wave , but Zac felt it was unlikely . He had gazed around the biosphere from a high vantage with Cosmic Gaze] , and he only found a few hundred markings of attuned energies . That last skirmish had probably wiped out over a third of all so-called Ocodon Worms] .

It didn’t take long for Ogras to lead them to the gate he had used the last time he visited .

It’s really further up , - Ogras said as he stabbed his spear into the ground to use as a foothold , and he had to jump up to touch the screen .

The door swung open without incident , displaying what looked like a storage room or perhaps break room .

Well , the arrays and technology seem to function just fine , even if this place is growing , - Ogras muttered as he made to stride inside .

Wait a bit , - Kenzie said before she floated up to the screen herself , no doubt temporarily assisted by her Dao .

Zac looked on with anticipation , and his eyes lit up just like the screen the moment Kenzie touched the screen . A pleasant female voice spoke out through some sort of hidden speaker , confirming that another credential had been handed out .

Chief Caretaker Signature added . Tier-4 Access Added

What? Chief Caretaker? I only became a caretaker with worse access? - Ogras spat with jealousy written all over his face .

The computer obviously felt you were meant for grunt-work while I was leadership material . Or perhaps I’m just that handsome , - Kenzie said with a grin , drawing a glare from the demon .

Everyone quickly followed suit to get their credentials , but the others weren’t as lucky as Kenzie . Thea managed to at least get Tier-3 access like Ogras , but when it was Ibtep’s turn nothing happened . And worse yet , the same thing actually happened with Zac .

Zac looked at the screen with confusion , some intrusive thoughts gnawing at him in the back of his mind . He knew there was something odd about the timeline when he was a baby , and the visions of Leandra he had seen had hinted at some things that Zac didn’t really want to think of . His sister had been given the best clearance right away , but he wasn’t even accredited? How could that possibly happen when it was their family that build this place?

Unless his family tree wasn’t as clear-cut as believed .

Chapter 568 : First Entry

Not being welcomed like a long-lost son by the Technocrat console felt surprisingly distressing , but Zac pushed all errant thoughts to the back of his head . There was no way for him to get to the truth of the matter as things stood , and it wasn't like his biological heritage was all that important to him .

Besides , Zac wasn’t actually worried about not getting any access even if the implications of his failure were troubling . He took out Leandra’s talisman , and he jumped up to the console once more . He might not have got the reception he wanted , but he still held the key to the kingdom .

Council Inspector identity confirmed . Tier-4 Access Added

What was that? - Thea asked with raised brows , looking up from the detritus she was studying .

I got it in the Tower of Eternity , - Zac lied , and he was relieved to see that the demon played along without causing trouble this time . - The enemies on one of the levels were technocrats . I snatched this thing , and I just figured it might work here as well . -

What’s a council inspector? - Ibtep asked curiously .

No idea , - Zac shrugged , and this time he didn’t need to know . He really had no idea . - But this thing gave the same type of clearance at the technocrat level in the tower . Maybe they’re Technocrat law enforcement , and this is their badge? -

Can I try? - Thea asked , and Zac agreed after some thought .

She jumped up just like Zac did , but a scowl appeared on her face when nothing happened , and the scowl worsened into a glare when Ogras snickered to the side . Zac didn’t know why , but he actually felt relieved to see nothing happen , and that feeling only increased when Ibtep similarly failed to gain any credentials with help of the token .

Perhaps it is bound to me because I was the first one to use it , - Zac ventured . - It would be weird if multiple people could use the same identity . -

Well , let’s just go , - Thea said with a scowl as she entered the base , with the others quickly following .

However , Zac held Kenzie back as he erected an isolation array . The others looked back at them curiously , but they soon walked further inside to not look like they were prying .

Your clearance , was that by itself or something Jeeves did? - Zac asked when they were alone .

It was Jeeves , - Kenzie said , disappointment evident in her eyes . - I was supposed to get the same credentials as Ogras , but Jeeves made the system give me the highest clearance available to this terminal . -

She still didn’t look happy with the fact that she at least got a normal clearance , and Zac understood what she was thinking . This realm was supposed to be some sort of bridge between her and their mother , but she was only given the same treatment as an outsider . And even that was better than what Zac got .

It wasn’t a good start .

Don’t worry about it , - Zac said . - Just look at me . I was the same until I used mom’s token . The technocrats are advanced but they can’t plan for every eventuality . The place was abandoned by mom’s family an incredibly long time ago from the sounds of it , to the point that mom planned on hiding out in this long-forgotten place . She was probably not even born when this place was created . It would rather be odd if we were suddenly given access . -

You’re right , - Kenzie nodded , her features easing up a bit .

Besides , this is just some random terminal at the edge of the compound . The good stuff should be further inside . Or could Jeeves connect to some bigger system? - Zac asked .

There wasn’t anything interesting . Just thousands of years or automated reports on readings of the biosphere where we’re staying inside . It seems that the terminal was mostly made for access and climate control . I can make it rain I think , but that’s about it , - Kenzie said .

Well , put a hold on that , - Zac said with a small smile . - At least it’s a good start that Jeeves can connect with these things . I doubt any of the other factions can get that much out of the systems in this place . -

The two soon rejoined the rest of the expedition , and Ogras led them down the same paths as he had explored before . Zac had already read the reports , but he was still shocked at how massive the place was . Some of it was probably due to the spatial expansion , but it was undeniable that this base was most likely bigger than his whole island even before it started to grow .

It was hard to grasp how a structure could be so massive . Port Atwood was roughly the size of Hawaii according to measurements taken by some geologists , and his mind had trouble computing such an undertaking . Then again , for the Technocrats building something like might be as easy as turning a page . They just needed to send out a few million robots to work around the clock for a couple of years .

They kept moving further and further inside , with Kenzie and Thea being responsible for most of the conversation . Zac and Ogras talked a bit as well , but Ibtep mostly walked in silence .

You’ve been pretty quiet for a while , - Kenzie finally said . - You don’t think this is interesting? -

A Hive made of metal , large beyond comprehension . It makes one wonder of all the marvels out there in the universe , - Ibtep said after some thought .

You’ll be able to see them sooner or later , - Kenzie said with a smile .

Perhaps… - Ibtep said with a sigh . - But Nonet will never get the chance , and neither will the rest of the Anointed . A lifetime of service to the Zhix , and only death is their reward . This is not cutting off weakness , it is cutting off our roots . -

The Zhix suddenly turned to Zac , its eyes almost burning .

Can you do something? -

Save the Anointed? - Zac asked with surprise . - I have no idea how to do something like that? -

Here , - Ibtep said as he took out a stone gourd from his massive backpack . - Please don’t tell anyone I gave you this . Especially not Nonet . -

What’s this? - Zac asked with a frown as he held the gourd . He could feel that there was some liquid inside , and he guessed that it wasn't something simple .

It’s the Elixir of Anointment , - Ibtep said . - I figured you humans have all kinds of ideas and methods , so I . . . borrowed it from Rhubat's Hive . Perhaps you can find a way to improve it , to cure the bad side-effects of taking it . Perhaps even reverse the effect and allow the Anointed to cultivate as normal . -

Zac looked at the odd Zhix with interest . It appeared as though this wasn’t something he had come up with at the spur of the moment . The Elixir of Anointment was no doubt a highly controlled substance , and Zac had no idea of how Ibtep managed to abscond with it from one of the greatest Hives in the world . Perhaps he had gained some unique advantages from his class?

Furthermore , it looked like his actions were highly sacrilegious among the Zhix , but he still went through with it to save the Anointed . It was a reminder that Ibtep's thoughts and actions were much more flexible compared to most Zhix , who were strictly bound by their precepts and conventions .

But could Zac do something , even if he had the elixir? Perhaps Jeeves could help once more?

I’ll be honest , Alchemy is one of the areas where our planet is especially lacking , - Zac eventually said after he saw Kenzie surreptitiously shake her head . - We can’t even make basic pills right now , let alone improving these types of formulae . -

Ibtep only sighed and nodded its head , clearly not too surprised with the outcome .

However… There might be a way , - Zac said after some hesitation . - I made a connection with a very powerful faction while undertaking a trial . They are called the Zethaya Clan , and they specialize in Alchemy . If there is anyone who can help fix the Anointed’s situation and these Elixirs , it would be them , - Zac said .

Really?! - Ibtep said with shock .

However , visiting them is extremely dangerous . They have not only D-grade Hegemons , but even C-Grade Monarchs under their employ . They could destroy this whole planet without breaking a sweat , - Zac said .

Are you not friends? Did you not provide a proper gift? - Ibtep asked .

Zac blanched a bit before his face returned to normal . Blowing up their store and almost killing their direct descendant was more an act of war than a gift . However , that wasn’t the only trouble with using the Teleportation Token .

Well , my identity is a bit complicated for a number of reasons . I might be a wanted man in the whole sector , or I might be considered a promising youth worth nurturing , -

The others were listening in on the conversation , and Thea's eyes were practically burning as she stared at him .

Just what did you do in the Tower of Eternity? - Kenzie said . - Ogras said that you made a splash , but that's not it , is it? -

I had a bit of a cultivation deviation , - Zac said after some thought . - This got a bit out of hand , and I had to kill a few hundred people . -

A few hundred scions of the most powerful clans around , including a prince of the most powerful Empire of the whole Zecia sector , - Ogras said , almost looking like he had finally gotten rid of a huge burden , his smile growing wider and wider . - Your brother is probably a living legend by now , a bogeyman used to scare children . -

Won't this drag even more enemies to our planet? - Thea asked with anger . - Don't we have enough to deal with? -

Like you've contributed so much until now , - Ogras snorted from the side , which almost made the Marshall heiress flinch .

That's enough , - Zac sighed . - I didn't plan for things to get out of hand like that . The System was manipulating things from the shadows . It released something that made everyone lose their minds , and it was kill or be killed . -

Why would it do something like that? - Kenzie asked with confusion .

To make the strong even stronger , - Thea muttered as her fist clenched .

Anyway , - Zac said as he turned back to the eager Zhix . - I could send you or someone else to the Zethaya with this mixture , but they would still know you were related to me . They might catch you to get to me . And I won’t be able to save you , no matter how much I would want to . They are simply too powerful . -

I would still be willing to go , - Ibtep said without hesitation . - As would any number of Zhix , no doubt . -

The cost to activate this token is two Billion Nexus Coins , - Zac slowly said after having made his decision . - I can't fork out that much money right now . If you can cover half , I'll give you the token . -

The main use of that particular token was to concoct a pill for Alea as a last resort . Now that things turned out as they did , it didn’t hold as much value to Zac . Certainly , having access to a D-Grade Alchemist from a top-tier force would always be extremely convenient , but he wasn’t in direct need of getting some item or pill completed .

Still , you never knew what would happen in the future , and he wasn’t certain that giving it away would be the best move . They were one-time tokens , after all . So he decided to give a test of sorts to the Zhix . If he couldn't even scrounge up the money for transportation , how would he survive being sent to a C-grade continent?

Of course , Zac had to admit that he had a selfish reason for relenting as well . He was extremely anxious to know about what people were saying about him in the multiverse . He needed to make some adjustments to his plans if it turned out that he had become a wanted man , and they would need to make preparations for Earth as well .

I will do it! I am going right now , - Ibtep said as he started running back toward the base , no longer caring the slightest about the Technocrat base , nor apparently about the fact that he never got any clearance to return through the security door .

The insectoid would have to wait a bit in the break room as others kept going though , since there still were sections to explore . They finally reached the door leading to the - outer section - that Ogras had mentioned , but they didn't immediately open it . For all they knew , there might be an army lying in wait on the other side .

Do we keep going , or head back? - Kenzie asked as she turned to Zac for a decision .

You go back for now . Let me and Ogras sound things out first , - Zac said .

I’m coming as well , - Thea said without hesitation .

Like glue , this one , - Ogras muttered from the side , drawing another glare from Thea .

It’s just a preliminary scouting mission to see if there are any threats nearby . Ogras and I’ll go because we’re already in the E-Grade . You’ll have plenty of time to get tired of this place over the coming weeks , - Zac smiled . - We’ll be back in a few hours . -

… Fine , - Thea eventually relented . - But I won’t be left behind when the real missions start . Try to find a hunting ground like the ones you mentioned . If we just spend our days searching without cultivating we might fall behind the other factions . -

I hear you looked like you just underwent a thousand-cut torture a few days ago , and you’re already rearing to get beaten up again? - Ogras snorted . - Did the inheritance turn you into a simpleton? -

None of your business , - Thea spat and walked away in the direction of the garden .

Don’t be like that to my sister-in-law , - Kenzie admonished before she turned to Zac . - And you , blockhead . How hard would it be to take her with you? Just send that demon away on some mission and you’re suddenly on a date . What a missed opportunity . -

Ogras only snickered in response , clearly taking some pleasure in Zac’s helpless expression . Kenzie gave a reminder to be careful before she left as well .

You know . The two of you might be a pretty good match . She seems to have picked up a masochistic streak just like you . You can play around in beast tides for fun , - Ogras laughed as he walked toward the console of the security door .

Let’s just go , - Zac sighed as he readied himself in case of battle .

Chapter 569 : Rifts

Are you ready? - Ogras asked as he stopped next to the console . - You'll have to deal with any eventual threat by yourself , you know? -

I'm fine , - Zac nodded as a swirl of emerald leaves surrounded him . - Open it . -

Ogras nodded and touched the panel , and he immediately melded with the shadows as the door slid open . A fractal edge had already appeared on Verun's Bite] , but Zac could quickly breathe out in relief as there was nothing on the other side . Ogras soon reappeared from Zac's shadows as well , though his eyes were fixed at the corridor outside , confusion evident in his eyes .

Zac was just as baffled , as the scenery definitely didn't match what he had pictured in his mind . Ogras had described the dilapidated state of the inner sectors in great detail for his report , but everything seemed to look the same as in their own private area . The hallway was devoid of life or activity , but it was clean and without damage . The fractals that ran along the wall shone with bright luster , and there was no dried blood to talk about .

How is this possible? - Ogras muttered from behind as he looked around in confusion .

Zac wouldn't immediately trust his eyes though , and he carefully entered the inner sector , readying himself in case what they saw was an illusion . But if it was one , then it had to be a damn good one as Zac couldn't feel anything amiss .

Is the layout the same as before? - Zac asked after some thought .

It should be , - Ogras nodded after looking back and forth for some time . - The missing pieces have been replaced , but the general layout is the same . -

Zac nodded in relief . He was afraid for a second that the Mystic Realm was able to move its corridors to rearrange its layout . That would have made it almost impossible to map the place out , and any progress would be random .

I guess it’s the arrays? - Zac ventured . - The walls slowly heal themselves , so there are probably even more maintenance functions . There might be repair-puppets or machines running around and replacing broken things or something . Pretty convenient for the natives if the materials they scavenge actually get replaced somehow . -

That might explain why our sector is untouched , - Ogras muttered . - No point in breaking past this door if they can keep mining their old tunnels . Perhaps they have already broken through to our place before , only to find the same empty corridors and barracks as us . -

Or they’ve already taken everything of value , - Zac noted with a grimace . - We passed a lot of empty rooms back there . -

The simplest way to find out what’s going on is by catching another native . The last one I took hostage actually went and died before I got a hold of anything interesting , - Ogras spat as he looked around .

Zac nodded in agreement . It was a shame how things panned out with Ogras’ captive . He had only managed to confirm that the beastkin truly was a real-life werewolf and that they were of rival factions . A short time later the human had shuddered and died , likely from suicide as to not divulge any critical information . Perhaps he was afraid of leading a new unknown force to his faction’s gates .

So , where do you want to go? - the demon asked .

Let’s head in the direction where you saw those two fighting . Perhaps we can find some clues where the natives stay , - Zac said after some thoughts . - No point in looking for the core areas at this stage . -

It’s this way… I think , - Ogras said as he led the way .

It was quite a distance between the door and the scene of the battle , and Zac only got increasingly baffled as they walked . He just couldn’t make sense of the mental map of the compound . He understood that the Technocrats might not have the same sort of budgetary constraints as earthlings did , needing to make the most out of every square meter , but the winding pathways felt extremely sub-optimized . It almost felt like this place was built just for the sake of it , and that they didn't really fill any objective .

What do you think the purpose of these endless hallways is? - Zac finally asked after a while . - It would be one thing if there were a bunch of laboratories or office space , but the rooms we’ve looked into are just empty storerooms . Most of the space between these corridors doesn't even seem accessible . -

I guess millions worked in this place if this really was a research base , - Ogras slowly said . - That is the same as a decent-sized clan . Any organization of that size would need a vast number of supportive functions . Perhaps this area is some sort of ancillary area , and arrays that run this place are hidden within the walls . These corridors might just be for array masters to make their way between the arrays . -

So service corridors , - Zac nodded in agreement . - That might be it . -

It’s also possible it’s intentional , - Ogras mused . - That these pathways form some sort of array themselves . Just think of those lines in the sky over the fields . They are not random , but rather form some sort of pattern . -

An array as large as a small country , - Zac muttered . - It should be extremely powerful . -

We can’t guess what’s in the mind of some Technocrats , - Ogras spat . - They’re all insane . No offense . -

Zac snorted , but he kept mapping the surroundings in his mind . It was a shame that the magical map that the Zhix owned couldn’t be transferred over here as it would have been a huge help . He had already checked his Automatic Map] as well , but it didn’t possess an indoor function . There was just one dot on the parchment , which called the base SGR-03] .

He guessed it was the abbreviation for the base , but he didn’t know if it was the name given by Leandra’s force or something decided by the force who took over after the technocrats left .

So , while we're on the subject . Care to explain how the token from your mom could turn you into a Council Inspector? - Ogras said as he threw Zac a sideways glance .

I don't know , - Zac shrugged , and it was the truth . - I only found out about the credentials inside the Tower of Eternity , I didn't lie about that . Personally , I don't think it's real . I think it's something she prepared as some sort of Technocrat Array Breaker , something that would allow her to go where she pleased without divulging her real identity . -

You know what that means , right? - Ogras said with a calculating look . - You would have to be a real bigshot to accomplish something like that . I can't imagine what kind of person would be able to create something that could bypass all the defenses of the Azh'Kir'Khat Horde . We would be killed long ago by the Beastmaster or some other enemy if it was that easy . -

Well , I'm still trying to figure out the truth as well . I'm hoping we'll be able to find more inside this place , -

You . . . Don't think she's here right? - Ogras hesitated , a flash of fear appearing in his eyes . - That could prove deadly . -

What are you worried about? - Zac snorted . - If she really is a big-shot she wouldn't be bothered with some E-Grade people . -

Maybe she isn't happy about cultivators hanging around her Technocrat children and decides to purge us all , - Ogras muttered .

Well , I'm pretty sure she's isn't here , - Zac eventually said . - I'm almost positive she left earth to heal and avoid pursuit . -

That would be for the best , - Ogras muttered as he kept leading Zac down the hallways .

Ogras had no trouble remembering the path , provided that the sector truly hadn't changed , and it wasn’t that far either according to the demon . But Zac suddenly felt a sharp spike of danger after they had walked for ten minutes . He immediately drew his weapon before he jumped back , not forgetting to drag the weakened demon along as well .

What’s going on? - the demon asked with confusion as he looked around for any threats . - I didn't sense anything . -

I suddenly felt a pang of danger , - Zac said with a bit of confusion , as the surroundings were still the same sterile walls of metal .

Well , go forward and test things out , - Ogras said after a brief pause .

You’re really taking advantage of your wounds right now , - Zac muttered , but he still went along with the arrangement .

Well , it should work like this even if I was back in top condition . If I get hit by something in here I might die , whereas you will get a flesh wound that might hurt for a couple of hours , - Ogras said with an uncaring shrug . - If there’s a trap it's better you fall in it than me . -

Well , whatever , - Zac snorted as he transformed Love’s Bond] to its shield form .

He also activated both Nature’s Barrier] and Hatchetman’s Spirit] , the latter mostly to gain a better sense of the surroundings . However , nothing much changed . It was still an empty corridor in the middle of nowhere . Just what was it that made his mind scream of danger?

However , he only needed to take ten steps forward to find the answer .

The previously innocent-looking corridor transformed in an instant , and Zac found himself on a collision course with a spatial tear . There wasn’t even any time for him to retreat , and his eyes looked on with horror as his coffin-shield hit the tear head-on . This was something he had been deadly afraid would happen , that his Spirit Tool , or rather Alea would be damaged from something that it couldn’t block .

However , the spatial tear didn’t actually cut the thick black lid apart like it would with almost everything else . The coffin somehow managed to push back at it , destabilizing it enough to disappear . The clash did leave a mark on the lid , but something like that would heal by itself quickly enough , just like the chains that had cracked during his fight with Void’s Disciple .

The scene was a huge source of relief , as not only were spatial tears one of the few things that could still cut him apart if he wasn't careful , but it was also something that Void’s Disciple used when fighting . Seeing that Love’s Bond] was this durable gave him a lot more confidence for their next fight .

Seeing as how limited the damage essentially meant he could push his way out of the trap , but he didn’t leave just yet . He instead swapped over to his Draugr-form , and the fractal shield of Immutable Bulwark] infused with the Fragment of the Coffin appeared in front of the lid .

The mainstay defensive skill of his undead side was , unfortunately , suffering from the same fate as Chop] , where the skill couldn’t quite keep up with his recent growth . The strength of the shield was based on the quality of his shield and his Endurance , but the increase in its durability had clearly not been linear lately . He would have to upgrade it to an E-Grade skill for it to maintain its usefulness going forward .

However , while the skill wasn’t able to completely block the spatial tears that came close , it did still manage to weaken them before they slammed into Love’s Bond] . It lessened the strain on his physical shield significantly , and Zac only needed to keep infusing more Miasma and Mental Energy into the skill to restore it .

Zac took one step after another as the buzzing sounds of void tears disintegrating echoed through the hallways . However , he didn’t move back toward Ogras , but he rather kept going straight ahead .

A hidden spatial minefield had for some reason appeared to block their path , and Zac wanted to see if he could push through . Perhaps the anomaly only lasted for a few meters , allowing people to skip through if they were careful and skilled enough . Conversely , the whole area in this direction might be compromised , which would be valuable intelligence as well .

However , Zac didn’t get far before new tears appeared out of nowhere , almost doubling the density of threats around him . Zac knew he was approaching his limits as new cracks were forming almost as quickly on his shield as they healed up again . But he kept pushing forward until there finally was a change to his surroundings .

A red barrier suddenly appeared five meters ahead , and Zac’s eyes widened in recognition . It looked a lot like the barrier that Jeeves had conjured when he first met Kenzie in the border town . However , it was almost as though it was infected , with tinges of some unknown energy floating about within the shield . And it was from these corruptions that spatial tears kept spewing out one after another .

Some of the tears stayed put and hovered in front of the barrier , while others drifted about , some even disappearing out of sight . However , Zac's Danger Sense told him that they didn't actually disappear , but rather that they turned invisible somehow . However , just as Zac noticed the barrier , it was as though the barrier noticed Zac . A spatial storm rippled out from the corruptions , pushing the previously static spatial tears in the tunnel toward him while simultaneously spewing out an endless number of new ones .

This time there was no hesitation as Zac fled for his life , not even trying to break that barrier . He would be long dead before his attack landed . He spotted the demon in the distance looking in his direction with a slight frown , but his face suddenly turned into a mask of terror as Zac closed in on him .

Lunatic! Did you cause a crack in this dimension?! - Ogras shrieked in horror as he started running , but he only got a few steps before he was wrapped up by a chain as Zac flashed past him like some sort of nightmare spider .

There was no way for Zac to return to his human form without getting ripped apart by the spatial storm , so he had to use the chains of Love's Bond] to drag himself and Ogras away . He tried to hamper the progress of the rapidly approaching storm by erecting one fractal bulwark after another , but they were cut apart without slowing the tears by more than a second .

What's wrong with this place?! - Ogras screamed , tightly wrapped by a chain , and Zac couldn't help but agree .

It was one hell of a place his ancestors had built .

Chapter 570 : The World is Ending

The chains of Love's Bond] slammed into the walls and floor of the research base with tremendous force , but they still barely managed to dig deep enough for Zac to propel himself forward . A swirling storm of spatial rifts was right on his tail , like a maw of a terrifying beast . If they caught up they'd both be ripped apart in an instant .

Left! - Ogras suddenly shouted , and Zac immediately changed the course .

However , both Zac and Ogras couldn't believe what they were seeing when the spatial tears actually turned to continue the pursuit , though many of them didn't manage to pivot in time . There was no time for Zac to figure out why some dimensional rifts were seemingly alive , but the scene did give him an idea of what to do .

Zac kept turning back and forth in the endless tunnel , though he was careful to not stray too far from the pathway they came from . Each turn they managed to shake off another group of tears until there only were a handful left . A small group was manageable , so Zac stopped in his tracks and let Ogras down before he changed Love's Bond] to its shield form .

A second later another group of scars covered the coffin's lid , but there were at least no threat any longer . They managed to escape unscathed , but a sheen of perspiration covered Zac's forehead as he looked at the demon .

Since when did spatial tears get tracking capabilities? - he muttered , and Ogras snorted as threw Zac a scathing look .

What did you do back then? Everything was fine , then all hell broke loose , - the demon said . - By the way , you better never use that movement technique in public . I’m not sure I’d be able to survive the second-hand shame . -

It’s not stupid if it works , - Zac muttered . - Did you find any clues what was going on? -

I suddenly saw you disappear into thin air , not even leaving a hint of energy behind . Thirty seconds later a bunch of spatial tears appeared before you reappeared , looking like there were a dozen Rakefiends hot in pursuit , - the demon said .

Zac was surprised to hear that he had disappeared from the demon’s sight , just like some of the spatial tears seemingly appeared out of nowhere . It looked like the hallways were equipped with technocrat cloaking technology just like what he encountered by the Battleroach King . That technology didn’t release any energy either , at least not anything he could spot .

He still didn't know what o to make of the encounter , so he retold everything he saw in the booby-trapped corridor . Of course , he didn't mention that Kenzie , or rather Jeeves , could create shields that looked a lot like the one he saw . He instead likened it to the orange shields that the Technocrat Incursion used . Ogras frowned as he listened , but he didn’t immediately offer an opinion .

What do you think? - Zac finally asked . - Did you really pass through this way before? -

I have never heard of something like this . But it sounds like something suddenly took control of those rifts if they originally were almost static as you said . My guess is that it's a security feature . Did you notice? Not one of the tears hit the walls . They either turned to follow us or gave up to avoid a collision , - Ogras explained .

It seems like a really weird security measure though , - Zac muttered . - It almost looked like the spatial tears seeped out of the Technocrat barrier like it was part of its energy source . Why make things so complicated instead of just adding some normal energy weaponry? -

Perhaps it's not how things were originally designed , - Ogras shrugged . - A powerful dimensional treasure is growing somewhere in the base . I've heard that grand treasures can affect whole planets . Perhaps Spatial Energies has somehow infiltrated whatever this place runs on . -

Zac nodded in agreement . He remembered the vision of the cursed lotus in the Tower of Eternity all too well . A whole planet went insane with bloodlust because of its existence , and who knew what would happen if that giant didn't seal it before it was too late . However , the implications were clear if this really was the case .

If the treasure is powerful enough to cause something like this before it's even born , then just how powerful is it? It might even be greater than D-Grade . The Low-quality D-Grade treasures I've found so far didn't have such a shocking effect on its surroundings at all .

Well , the Tree of Ascension and that mushroom you found can barely be considered D-Grade treasures . Their ranking is as much based on their rarity as the actual power they contain . But I agree . Something like this should be Peak D-Grade at a minimum . No wonder that the cultists discarded everything for a chance at this treasure . It is likely worth more than your whole planet , - Ogras said , the familiar tint of greed shining in his eyes .

It’s still odd that they only seem to be sporadically active , - Zac muttered . - Unless the situation when you arrived the first time was out of the norm . -

Perhaps it was , - Ogras ventured . - The blood and destruction wasn’t fresh , but it wasn’t too old either . Perhaps the defenses suddenly failed , allowing the natives to push further away from their bases than usual . Then the security measures recovered , and this sector became inaccessible again . We might be locked out of the rest of the base . -

But if that’s the case , how will we ever be able to reach the core? If I can’t survive pushing through in my Draugr Form , I don’t think anyone of us will , - Zac said with a frown .

If the defenses have been down once , then it might happen again . Or perhaps the spatial turbulence here is a result of the artifact awakening , and is completely random , - Ogras ventured .

Zac nodded before he turned toward the way they came from

What are you doing? - Ogras asked with confusion as he followed in tow . - Ready for round two? -

No , - Zac said with a shake of his head . - But I want to see if the rifts are still there . -

The chains of Love’s Bond] had moved them quite a distance in the minutes they fled , but they were soon back to the position where they stopped the last time . There wasn't a single spatial tear in sight the whole way , and verything looked exactly the same as before with not even a hint of a spatial storm having swept the hallways just a few minutes ago .

However , Zac still felt the same sense of palpitations from his Danger Sense from the area ahead of them , meaning that the tears no doubt still hid behind some sort of cloaking . He shot a second glance at the corridor just to make sure , but Cosmic Gaze] still couldn’t spot anything . Taking six steps forward took him to the outer layer of the spatial tears , and his vision immediately lit up from the powerful energies they contained .

It really was the same sort of cloaking technology .

Zac eventually stepped back and placed a boulder to the side of the corridor at a safe distance from the trap before left a communication crystal warning of the dangers ahead on top of it . He didn’t know if it would be cleansed just like everything else , but it was worth trying out .

And there really was nothing like this the last time? - Zac asked as he turned back to Ogras .

No way , you think I'd forget to mention something like this in my report? - Ogras said with a roll of his eyes . - I wasn’t attacked a single time while I entered here , not counting the werewolf . -

It’s a bit weird we’re being attacked at all , - Zac muttered . - I have a Tier-4 clearance of a Council Inspector . It should be enough for me to not get attacked just for walking down an empty corridor . There were no warnings or anything . -

There might have been warnings though , - Ogras interjected . - Just that we don’t have the equipment to hear it . So what do we do now? -

Well , there’s no lack of corridors , - Zac eventually said . - Let’s see if we can find an alternative route to the scene of the battle . -

The demon nodded in agreement before he led Zac down another way . However , reaching their destination was quickly proving easier said than done , and they were forced to reroute by the very same type of spatial barriers as before another twenty-six times before Ogras finally declared they had arrived .

Altogether they had walked almost five times the distance as the direct route , and even Zac was starting to become a bit confused by this seemingly endless labyrinth . But coming here was definitely worth it since they had finally encountered something different . They weren't surprised that the bodies of the two fallen warriors were gone , but they didn't expect to see that something else left in their stead .

A large steel board had been placed in the middle of the corridor , and two lines of words were written in an eye-catching red . The letters were penned in the general script of the Multiverse , which Zac had mostly mastered by this point .

We are Clan Cartava , we mean no harm

The world is ending - Free us and gain an ally for life

Beneath the words was an extremely intricate map that highlighted a certain path . It was a bit hard to judge , but it looked like it would take them up to half a day to follow the path indicated . As to where it led , the board didn’t say .

A bit bombastic message , - Zac muttered before he thought of something . - Do you think it’s true? Will the birth of the treasure actually destroy the Mystic Realm? -

I doubt it , - Ogras said , though not without hesitation . - The Zealots are crazy , but they are not idiots . They wouldn’t be so willing to move into this place if the treasure would blow up the whole mystic realm . Those guys clearly know what that thing is , and if it would break this place they would find some other way to snatch it . It's easy to forget because of their antics , but that bunch of lunatics belongs to a proper B-Grade force that spreads far beyond this sector -

So they're lying? - Zac nodded at the signpost .

They are either lying or they simply don't understand what’s going on . We couldn’t find out what a Dimensional Seed was even on the outside , so how can these people know? I'm more interested in the second line . 'Free us and gain an ally for life'? I guess that means the implicit meaning is 'Hinder us and gain an enemy for life?' -

I feel they're trying to make first contact without divulging too much about themselves to either us or any other faction that might discover this thing . How did they know to leave this message here though? It’s clearly meant for us , or perhaps any outsiders , rather than some other native faction . Did you leave a note as well? - Zac asked .

No , I tried to make it look like the two killed each other . I didn’t want my presence to be known at all . Otherwise , I would have snatched the bodies for further study , - Ogras said with a shake of his head . - I must have slipped up or they have some means that could see through my actions . What do you want to do? Follow the map? -

Not right now , - Zac eventually said . - It will take us almost straight east for a huge distance . I’d rather get a better understanding of what we're dealing with before I head that far from our base . -

A compass didn’t work in this place , so directions were obviously a bit unclear in this place . However , they had a rough sketch of the Mystic Realm thanks to Julia’s and Thea’s efforts , and it looked a bit like a crude drawing of a sun or a star , where their secured area was located in one of the outer spikes .

The whole core section of the Mystic Realm formed a shockingly large circle , and the map essentially detailed a path that kept to a small part of the outer rim . The indicated path did have a huge amount of backtracking and twists and turns as well , making Zac believe that it took the spatial rifts into consideration .

They had already encountered a large number of barriers in their preliminary exploration , and it wasn’t too out of field that there would be a lot more of them peppered throughout this place . This map might actually allow them to head over to the other camp while avoiding those spatial tears altogether .

How is this thing still here though? - Ogras suddenly muttered , making Zac start and look away from the map .

What? - Zac asked with confusion .

All debris has been removed , even bloodstains are scrubbed clean . Why is this thing left untouched? -

It’s made of metal that looks a lot like the walls , - Zac slowly said . - Perhaps the cleaning arrays or whatever doesn’t touch it because of that? -

Perhaps , - Ogras muttered as he tried to lift the foot that the sign was attached to , but both were surprised to see that Ogras couldn’t budge it .

Let me try , - Zac said and gripped the signboard , and veins started appearing across his forehead as he strained to dislodge the thing from the ground .

A snap finally echoed through the corridor as the sign gave way , and Zac was thrown backward from the accumulated force .

What kind of super-glue was that? - Zac muttered as he rubbed the back of his head .

Not glue , - Ogras muttered as he pointed at the base of the sign . - Look . -

Chapter 571 : Back-up Plans

Zac curiously looked where the demon pointed and he realized that there were three thin spikes , each of them no more than five centimeters long , at the bottom of the sign . Just like the rest of the signpost they seemed to be made from the very same material as the walls , though the spikes had intricate engravings covering their surface .

His eyes immediately moved to the spot where the sign stood earlier , and he saw that three matching holes could be seen in the floor . However , the cavities were rapidly closing , and just a few seconds later they were gone . It would have been impossible to know that something was socketed there just a moment ago if they hadn't seen it themselves .

Weird , - Zac muttered , and he stabbed the sign down into the ground to see whether it would get stuck again .

However , a pinging sound echoing through the corridor , and three light marks on the floor were the only results of his attempt . Not even forcibly pushing it into the ground did any good , and neither did instilling the board with his Dao or Cosmic Energy .

We’re clearly missing something , - Ogras eventually said after having watched Zac’s failed attempts for half a minute .

Zac nodded in agreement and stowed away the sign , hoping that his sister or the scientists would be able to figure out what’s going on with the help of that thing .

You want to follow the map? - Ogras asked .

We’ve done what we came for , - Zac said with a shake of his head after some thought . - Let’s return . -

The two started making their way back while simultaneously searching for other points of interest , but there was really not much going on . There were just more corridors and storage rooms , all of which were emptied apart from the occasional crate full of worthless materials .

They also made a slight detour to see whether Zac’s own leave-behind had survived like the signpost , but neither of them was really surprised to see that both boulder and communication crystal were gone . It wasn’t a disappointment though as it cleared some things up for Zac . There really were secret rules that governed this place , as evidenced by the native's ability to manipulate the floor and sign like that .

Was this perhaps the true message this Cartava Clan wanted to convey?

The message was short , but it had exposed a lot . First of all , Clan Cartava knew of their existence somehow . Secondly , they showed that the previously thought impervious metal was somehow possible to influence to great lengths . The map might lead to a third clue as well . All-in-all it proved the value of the clan , and Zac leaned toward following the map as soon as possible .

They soon reached the security door leading to their area , and Zac used his credentials just to test that his unique title worked as well as the caretaker credentials . However , they didn’t immediately return to the settlement as there was something Zac wanted to try first . They walked into one of the massive empty warehouses , and Zac took out Verun’s Bite] .

Ogras had already reported how sturdy the alloys the base was made from were , and seeing what happened with the Signpost had piqued Zac’s interest even further . He wanted to cut off a piece and bring it back for further study .

Zac walked over to a wall and swung his axe in a precise arc , but he only ended up with a slight pain in his wrist as the wall didn’t budge at all . He frowned and infused the axe with the Fragment of the Axe , and his weapon finally cut into the wall without to much resistance . However , it reminded him of the early days of the integration , where he barely managed to cut into the extraordinarily hard walls of his Nexus Crystal mine .

Worse yet , the wall quickly healed itself the moment Zac prepared to swing again . However , a minute of furious swings later he had managed to cut out a slab of metal that was as big as his fist , and it actually weighed over a hundred kilograms from the feel of it .

Ogras walked over curiously to take a look at the sample , but neither of them could make heads or tails of the situation . The alloy had definitely changed properties after Zac managed to cut it out , but not as they expected . He had almost thought that it would turn liquid from what they had seen , but it had only turned… . Worse .

It was definitely a solid like before , but Zac had no problem remolding it with his hands . It suddenly felt like it was barely as hard as gold , let alone steel . It was a far cry from the walls , or the signpost that seemed to be extraordinarily sturdy as well . However , they didn’t have the opportunity to play around for long before Zac’s senses prickled as previously unseen scripts appeared across the walls .

Zac had specifically chosen to enter a storeroom to cut out out a sample since not one of the warehouses they had visited were booby-trapped with spatial rifts . However , it was quickly becoming clear that not even these side chambers were safe as the whole room transformed in front of their very eyes . The walls turned into spears that shot toward them , and worse yet a red barrier had appeared across the exit , blocking their escape . A series of spatial tears emerged a second later , all of them heading for Zac .

Give it back! - Ogras screamed as he dodged the incoming stabs , and Zac could only comply .

He tossed the slab of metal toward the wall where he took it , and they both breathed out in relief when the spears slowed down . However , Zac was still forced to block a series of attacks for half a minute before the room had calmed down again and the barrier disappeared .

What a stingy building , - Ogras muttered as he kicked one of the empty shelves , and Zac couldn’t help but agree .

It had billions of tonnes of this alloy , and it couldn’t share just a handful of the stuff?

So it was mostly empty-handed that the two returned to the town , though the signpost caused some waves among the core members of the expedition . Some were worried that their activities were already spotted , and a frantic search for hidden cameras begun . The scientists were instead more curious about the spikes , and the odd material that seemed to almost be alive .

Their first assessment was that their earlier assumptions were correct . It wasn’t the material itself that was magical , it was either the script that covered the walls or some sort of energy that transformed it . However , why the natives could build a sign made from the material and maintain its strength while Zac couldn’t even harvest a single ingot still eluded them .

Zac left the sign with his sister , hoping that they could figure some things out . As for himself , he didn't head out again . There was no point in him running around in those endless corridors himself . Zac and Ogras had been walking around for hours , but they had only seen a fraction of the immediate area . It was more efficient to send out a hundred scouting units who could work together to map out the place and mark all traps .

As for himself , he still had multiple things to work on , the most pressing being the intrusive Dao from Void's Disciple and pondering on the Dao .

This was both a way to save time and a way for him to relinquish some control . Zac knew he had a problem with delegating tasks he considered important since seeing Alea fall . He left the nitty-gritty to his people in Port Atwood while doing the rest himself . But his explorations had really driven home just how massive this base was , and the fact that he wouldn’t be able to explore it by himself even if he was given months .

Things progressed quickly over the two following days . Kenzie’s drone army was a huge help in mapping out the interiors of the base , which allowed the subsequent scouting squads to make rapid progress inside the Mystic Realm . The master map of the corridors was quickly expanded and improved upon without needing Zac to do much of the work himself .

There were a few issues that had quickly cropped up though . The drones were unable to move too far in the tunnels as Kenzie , or rather Jeeves , would lose control over them . This wasn’t something unique to the Mystic Realm , but rather that the range of the AI was limited . Kenzie believed that this range would increase by a huge margin if Jeeves evolved , but there was no indication of that happening anytime soon .

Jeeves had only consumed a scant few items from the Technocrat Incursion , and Zac doubted an item that magical would be easy to evolve . That was exactly how Zac liked things though , as an overpowered AI was not something he wanted to deal with . It was better if Kenzie focused on her own Strength in Zac’s opinion .

The real issue was the matter of the missing squad .

One Hundred scouting units and ten elite squads set out as soon as a strategy could be devised , and their goal was to find and map out the areas that the Drones couldn’t reach . The elite units consisted of powerful warriors of all factions , and they were supposed to take the vanguard in case one of the native factions showed up . They were all equipped with a lot of powerful talismans , both offensive and defensive , to the point that they would be able to blow up half a city if need be .

However , one of the ten squads , which included three Valkyries , had simply gone missing . There had been no sounds of struggle , and there were no clues left behind . They had vanished without a trace . Zac himself had set out to search for them , but there was simply nothing to go by , forcing him to return after a few hours .

Zac initially suspected Clan Cartava of kidnapping his people , but after thinking it through he wasn’t so sure . The map they provided seemed to indicate that the Clan was located to the east , while the missing scouting unit had rather tried to move northbound in search of a way into the core sections of the base . That might mean that the second force in the area that was responsible , or perhaps even some new type of trap .

But the spatial barriers that blocked the corridors weren't actually that dangerous unless you forced your way inside as Zac did , so most were inclined to believe foul play was involved . They also had no idea whether Clan Cartava was the werewolves Ogras encountered or the humans , or perhaps even a third force . In either case , it wouldn’t be a surprise if there were both hostile and friendly factions inside the mystic realm .

However , the rest of the scouting units were making rapid progress , and the command center was bustling with activity as well .

A massive courtyard was immediately cordoned off for Zac in the original biosphere , which raised a few brows among the different forces . He already had a massive area for himself on his island , so people started to wonder whether he had turned agoraphobic or something . However , the real reason wasn’t quite so exciting , though Zac still didn’t want it to be known .

His compound needed to be pretty big to house not only his home , but also his Life-Death Array . Kenzie and Triv had dismantled it when they arrived to his cultivation cave a few days ago , though it only was a temporary measure until Kenzie was able to create an Array Disk able to match the death-attuned one in his possession .

Zac wasn’t willing to let up on his soul cultivation , and who knew how long this place would be locked down when the Dimensional Seed awakened . This had become especially important after realizing that the array also kept his soul in check . Thankfully he only caused some murmurs with his massive set of concealment and isolation arrays , and there was no lack of open space around .

In fact , people had already spread out across all the Biospheres within the outer section they controlled . It allowed the various forces to keep to themselves a bit , and it was also necessary to deal with the limited amount of Cosmic Energy .

A surprising issue had cropped up while Zac and Ogras were off exploring . More and more people arrived in the Mystic Realm , and the supply of Cosmic Energy soon couldn’t meet the demand . Thankfully this issue was solved the moment they split up .

The tunnel to the real world also held steady , and according to Kenzie it should definitely stay that way for at least another week , which incidentally was the deadline of the New World Government projects . It was Jeeves' opinion , based on data it extrapolated from analyzing the array that kept the pathway open . The cost of keeping it running kept increasing as the turbulence from the Mystic Realm’s side slowly grew worse , and it believed the spatial chaos to reach a breaking point in around 7 to 12 days .

After that point , the turbulence would be too strong for the natural pathway to remain open . The array Kenzie set up would be rendered useless , and the portal would naturally close . Zac was pretty impressed that AI had managed to extrapolate such critical information just from an array , but he was perhaps even more impressed that the New World Government seemed to have figured the same thing out somehow .

It was a valuable reminder that even a weak force like the New World Government had a lot of talents that he didn’t even know about . A lot of the top scientists of the old world were probably part of the government as well , along with any next-gen technology that the governments controlled before the integration . That might be what allowed them to make such detailed plans for the Mystic Realm .

With things being a lot clearer , Zac finally decided to take the risk and go ahead with his back-up plan . He had spent ten days in recuperation by now , and he was in peak condition apart from some remnant Dao that he still hadn’t managed to completely route . However , he sorely needed more tools to deal with Void’s Disciple , along with the High E-Grade elders who were apparently waiting for him .

He needed to break open the next floor of his Dao Repository .

Chapter 572 : Flames

Zac normally wouldn't have done something so risky as to challenge a Half-Step D-Grade Golem , but he was running out of options . He had ambushed Void's Disciple with the strongest people he could muster , but he still walked away almost scot-free . Certainly , he did seem to have been slightly worse for the wear in the security feed , but their group was in a far worse condition .

He needed another power-up .

That was his greatest takeaway from the battle , and that feeling had only increased since arriving at the Mystic Realm . The influence that the Dao of Space had over this whole base was far greater than he had expected , and who knew whether that would bring Adcarkas even more advantages .

He had tried to come up with other ideas over the past ten days , but this was the only thing with a decent chance of success . His first hope had been to quickly find some way to awaken his bloodline , they hadn't found a single useful thing inside so far . There were a lot of signs pointing toward this being a bloodline research base , but the useful stuff might all be locked in the center of the research base . Furthermore , the portal would close in a couple of days , so it was now or never .

It didn't look like his Hidden Node was gearing up to provide him with pure Dao distilled from Tribulation Lightning either , so he would have to risk his life for power once more . If he could gain access to the E-Grade skills he would gain a large boost in power , and the same went for Ogras and the elite Demons who had already evolved as well .

Besides , Zac wasn't doing anything he didn’t have a certain confidence in succeeding . Zac believed that he had found a path to victory , or at least a way to survive the attempt .

It became possible only when combining a few things that had changed over the past weeks . First of all , was the discovery that Blighted Cut] worked just as well on inanimate objects as it did on living beings . Even rocks would rot and lose their structural integrity when hit by the E-Grade skill of his Undead Class .

Zac had also confirmed the same thing on the guarding puppets he got for closing the Incursions . It was the most similar target to the trial of the Dao Repository , and his undead skillset was extremely efficient in taking them out . Even the captains were helpless against the combination of his extreme durability and high lethality .

Secondly , it was the fact that Triv had already confirmed that the Rageroot Oak Seed] would work on his undead form . He had been worried before that he would encounter the same issue as with the Race-improving herbs . Luckily there were surprisingly almost no Life-attuned energies inside the seed , just a fiery power that would work even on the unliving .

Finally , he had visited Brazla five times over the past week , each time finagling a little bit of information about the trial as he mainly focused on finding out about the Dimensional Seed . The takeaway was that berserking items such as the seed were allowed in the trial , whereas powerful arrays or talismans were not . The logic was that surviving using a powerful Berserker Treasure could be considered a strength of your own , and a unique perk of cultivators with high Vitality .