Defiance of the Fall

The outcome of the fight was predictable , with the swordsman skewering the mage , the attack rapidly freezing him into a block of ice . However , the human seemed to have regained a sense of self at the brink of death , and a dozen massive wooden spears teeming with life sprung up from the ground , impaling the ice warrior a dozen times over .

The fight had ended in mutual destruction , and Zac looked on with a frown as the whole street around the two combatants became shrouded in a red mist . The mist only lasted for half a minute before dissipating , and Zac walked over , his eyes on the pool of black blood that had formed beneath the Revenant .

As expected , the ichor started moving soon enough , flowing in a certain direction for around twenty meters before it sunk beneath the cobblestones . Zac immediately followed , entering a side passage . If he couldn’t trust his eyes or his sense of direction , he could either choose a path at random or follow the direction of the blood in hopes that it would lead him the right way .

Soon enough he emerged , and a victorious smile covered his face when he sensed that the splinter was a bit closer compared to before . However , just as his sense of the splinter had grown stronger , so had the haze and the whispers of mayhem in the back of his mind .

A dying warrior was lying on the ground right in front of him , and Zac didn't waste any time as he followed the blood that poured out from the man's body . He appeared at another crossroads a moment later . This place was empty of crazed warriors , but it still confirmed his suspicions . The mental oppression was once more marginally stronger , as was the haze .

He would have to delve into the depths of madness if he wanted to find what he was looking for .

Chapter 768 : The Rules of Madness

The clouds swirled around him as Zac observed the new patch of ruins he had entered by following the trail of blood . He was still in the outer edges of the city , judging by the illustrations he had purchased at the settlements outside . People had painted the town by capturing the snippets seen between the clouds and extrapolated a semi-complete image of the City of Ancients .

Some sections had never been exposed for some reason , including most of the central part of the city . However , many of the residential parts of town had been drawn in great detail , though the map was mostly useless now that everything seemed to be randomized by the confusion array . Thankfully , it was still possible to make an approximation of where he was located by the architecture .

The City of Ancients was like most cities , with the outer regions holding smaller buildings , apart from a number of massive structures that seemed to hold special functions . One was clearly a coliseum , while others might be temples or exchanges . These small buildings were covered with weaker arrays by the looks of it , and many of the buildings were nothing but rubble .

Meanwhile , the neighborhoods closer to the vast castle in the center were a lot more affluent , and there were a few parks as large as forests that had peeked through the clouds . There was not much else to say about this town , except that it seemed to have been the home to two different races when it wasn’t abandoned .

There were two clear architectural preferences in the city , though the buildings were mixed pretty freely . Roughly half of the houses were built in white and faded blue rock , having rounded curves that made Zac think of stones smoothed by the ocean waves and to some degree Greek architecture . A lot of these buildings had spiraled roofs like the shell of a hermit crab , and Zac felt it was part of some sort of natural formation to strengthen the buildings .

The second half of the buildings were more sterile , using mostly black stones when creating living quarters that seemed like a slightly gothic predecessor to Scandinavian minimalism . However , these buildings had provided more space for gardens and sculptures , though the former had long turned into lifeless soil by this point .

The buildings around him were part of the slums , though which part was impossible to tell . There were no crazed warriors to help point him in the right direction , but Zac still had some options . One was to exsanguinate himself , but he’d only do that if he was stuck . Instead , he took out a bottle of blood he had collected to replenish Verun’s skills , and he poured a small pool of it on the ground .

Time passed , and Zac frowned when his offering didn’t elicit much of a response . The pool shuddered a bit , but it eventually simply seeped through the cracks without providing much of a clue . Whatever collected the blood in the city seemed to prefer fresh blood , but the haze seemed to like stale blood just the same as it rapidly turned red around the pool .

Zac sighed in disappointment as he stood up . He had a lot of blood on hand , but it looked like it wouldn't lead him straight toward the splinter . Instead , he turned his attention to one of the still-standing buildings in the area ; a two-story house that seemed to have once been a storefront on the ground floor with a decently large living area on top .

He had called this area a slum , but it was only relative to the vast mansions in the inner town , which had gardens tens of thousands of square meters large . Depending on the level of people who had once made this place their home , it might even have been a Hegemon who ran this store .

The odds were he’d just get moved further from the core if he picked a new path at random , at least until he figured out another way to beat the confusion array . So why not stuff his pockets until someone came along? In case that failed as well , he would have to bleed himself and risk a potential bout of madness .

Four chains shot forward , but they were rebuffed by a flickering barrier as a set of fractals lit up along the house . A piercing screech was emitted as well , making Zac blanch as he instilled his chains with the Fragment of the Coffin before attacking again . The barrier was barely functional with multiple fractals missing , and destroying a few more runes on the building broke it completely .

The whistling sound stopped as well , and Zac looked at the building with bemusement . Ancient theft protection , perhaps? It would be pretty hard to sneakily pilfer a store with that sound waking the whole neighborhood .

Zac stepped into the storefront , but there was not much to be found . There was a layer of dust over five centimeters deep , and when he touched a small wooden bench , it collapsed into ash as well . Just how long had this city been hidden under the ground for furniture to be reduced to this point? There was no way that herbs would maintain their efficacy this long , but other items weren’t as touched by the passage of time .

Swirling clouds of dust were kicked up as he rummaged about , and Zac was soon forced to tie a cloth over his mouth nose to avoid inhaling the ancient dust . Eventually , he found something of interest in a pile of dust and shards of glass that might once have been a display case for the store . It was a couple of stacks of talismans , though only 11 maintained their use after going through them .

Most had lost their efficacy by this point , with the inscriptions having faded away . The papers only remained since they were made from some sort of spiritual material , and possibly treated somehow to increase their quality and durability . Still , the ones that remained provided Zac with some clues . Looking at the scripture , it was clear that this shop was meant for the living , rather than some undead race .

The inscriptions were based on the script of the Apostate of Order , but trying to decipher it felt like looking at some proto-language on earth rather than the letters he was used to . Primal Polyglot] and his accumulated experience still helped him somewhat understand their functions though , mostly because they weren’t that complicated .

The first set was simple healing talismans you’d slap on your wound to seal it and increase the speed of recuperation . The talismans held a hint of Life in them , and Zac estimated they’d be equivalent to a Middle E-grade healing pill . The other type of talisman was life-attuned as well , and Zac found them pretty interesting .

They were actually offensive talismans even though their patterns were over 50% identical to the healing ones . From what he could tell , they were meant to flood certain part of an enemy’s body with life-attuned energies and damage organs and bursts blood vessels . They essentially overhealed parts of an enemy’s body .

This method was quite ingenious , considering many defensive talismans and skills wouldn’t block out a healing wave . The bodies of living cultivators also took in these kinds of energies naturally since life-attuned energy had all kinds of health benefits . Putting Divine Crystals in Cultivation Caves was the norm , for example , since it boosted health and longevity .

The talisman took advantage of this fact , acting like a trojan horse to bypass some of warriors’ natural resistance . This obviously wouldn’t work against undead whose bodies were naturally hostile against life-attuned energy , but these talismans would probably be quite lethal against them anyway .

Zac felt there was a lesson there , as he still struggled to find ways to use the Dao of Life offensively . If he wanted to grasp the Branch of Life in the future , he would have to broaden his definition of Life to include more than just the healing aspect . This was just one simple but effective aspect of life , while the pulses at the volcano had shown him another aspect .

He kept rummaging through the house for another minute , but he only found some Nexus Crystals hidden under a loose tile in the bedroom and two more stacks of talismans . Even then , Zac wasn’t too disappointed since his findings confirmed a few things . First of all , the city seemed to have been hastily vacated .

Otherwise , the talismans and secret stash of money would have been brought away by the owners . It was also possible that everyone had been instantly killed by something like a mental attack , and their bodies had turned to dust like the furniture . No matter which was the case , that hopefully meant the bigger houses also had their valuables left behind .

Secondly , a shop at the edge of the City of Ancients sold Middle E-grade items like they were common goods , which probably meant the inner parts held D-grade items . And perhaps , the castle in the middle was once controlled by a Monarch , meaning there was a chance for C-grade items to appear .

Zac was still some ways from reaching D-grade , but he had already spent a good chunk of the seemingly endless fortune his mother had left him . Port Atwood would sooner or later start generating a steady source of revenue , but income sources like the Havenfort Chasm would take thousands of years to build up .

This was a huge opportunity to make a fortune in the short run . After all , even the worst C-grade items were way more valuable than the best E-grade items . Just a single pill or a piece of Spiritual Metal at C-grade might be worth more than his whole fortune . Certainly , he had his hands full with Uona and the splinter , but he would have to be crazy if he didn’t keep his eyes open for other opportunities .

Hopefully , the System hadn’t been stingy and whisked away all the high-grade items already .

Light steps suddenly echoed out on the cobblestone outside , and Zac immediately turned away from the desolate store and walked out to see who had arrived . It was a Revenant who was made from some unknown humanoid race with oversized purple eyes . She was not affected by the madness of the city either , and three glowing orbs shuddering with condensed mental energy swirled around her .

The moment Zac stepped out of the doorway , the woman turned in his direction . At first , she looked a bit confused , like she couldn't make heads or tails of what she was seeing . At first , Zac didn't know why , but he looked down at himself and noticed he was absolutely covered in dust . A quick shake and it fell off , and the Revenant's look went from confusion to despair as she looked into Zac's abyssal eyes .

The ladder screen had appeared above the Revenant as well by this point , and the Revenant only showed a value of 0-250 . The moment she realized who she was dealing with , she rushed toward the closest path , but Zac was much quicker . A chain slammed into a wall in front of her , and Zac dragged himself over to bar her path .

Stop , - Zac calmly said .

Lord Black , - she said with a deep bow , her voice shaking with fear . - I have nothing that would enter your exalted eyes . Please spare me . -

I have no interest in your life , but I need answers . How do you resist the madness? - Zac asked the woman who had shrunk away with fear .

I’m a Spiritual Warrior . My soul is strong enough to resist the lure , - she said , and Zac wasn’t too surprised now that he had gotten a better look at the three orbs rotating around her . They were not only made from miasma , but they also contained a lot of Mental Energy .

Are you able to overcome the confusion array and pick the correct path? - Zac asked .

No , - she hurriedly said with a shake of her head . - It is out of my expertise . After finding out the nature of this place , I simply plan on moving at the edges and avoid battle until someone breaks this array . -

Zac sighed , realizing he wouldn’t get anything of use out of this woman . She was not much better than the average warrior that entered the trial , just above the weakest warriors who had dared enter the City of Ancients . She didn’t seem to have any backing either that would allow her to share insights that Zac didn’t already know .

He asked a few more questions , but she knew even less than he did . He even had her try to instill some mental energy in a batch of blood to - enliven it’ , but it didn’t make a lick of difference . One side of the pool bubbled slightly more than the other , but the whole thing was pretty inconsistent . That left him with one conclusion ; someone would have to bleed if he wanted to proceed .

It almost felt like it was intentional . Uona didn’t explicitly stop people from finding the way toward the core , but every step forward would need a sacrifice of blood . That blood , in turn , would probably be used for something nasty that would empower the vampire .

Release some blood , and you can go , - Zac grunted .

Please , I saw another warrior get a wound . He was withstanding the madness before , but it seeped into the wound . I’m afraid- - she hesitated .

I’m sorry , but I don’t have a lot of options either , - Zac said with an even stare . - It’s life and death for everyone here . I’ll give you two options . Release some blood on the ground and I’ll give you a natural treasure from the inner part of the Mystic Realm . Refuse , and I’ll knock you out and use you as a compass . -

He knew what he was doing wasn’t very gentlemanly , but this wasn't the time to start equivocating about right and wrong . If possible , he would prefer not to harm the innocents to reach the heart of the City of Ancients , but he’d do what he needed to get the job done . The Havarok had warned of this place for months , yet this Revenant and others had jumped heedlessly into the maws of the unknown in search of treasure .

Besides , the sooner he got to the heart of the city , the sooner this madness would end .

In fact , Zac started to wonder if he might be able to seize the splinter without having to deal with Uona at all . After seeing the state of the Blood Slave back in the ravine , Zac had guessed she used her underlings as containers for the thing . But now , the remnant was out in the open judging by how its aura permeated the whole city .

Hopefully , Uona would be busy with all the blood that kept pouring toward the heart of the city , allowing him to snatch the splinter with the help of his movement skill before they knew what hit them . He’d seen the Havarok entering the city ready for war as well , and he might even be able to use them as a distraction while absconding with the splinter .

The mentalist was clearly reluctant , but she took a deep breath as she took out a knife with a silver gleam . A small wound was opened up on her palm as a stream of black blood fell on the cobblestones . The reaction was immediate as the white haze in the air was drawn over , their color rapidly darkening to gain a sanguine hue .

How do you feel? - Zac asked curiously from the distance , not forgetting to mark down the direction the blood moved before being swallowed by the ground .

It’s entering my body , - she said with a shuddering breath as black veins stood out on her forehead .

Zac looked on as the Revenant struggled for almost a minute while stumbling around in the area . Her eyes had gained a red tint , but she was still clearly in control as she applied a healing balm over the wound . The bleeding stopped quickly enough , and her visage relaxed soon after as she regained her aura stabilized . She took a shuddering breath before she looked at Zac .

Avoiding the haze did only lessen the effect . I felt a powerful bloodlust enter my body until the wound closed no matter where I moved . However , simply being covered in blood did nothing to me personally , except attract the haze . After the wound was closed , I was able to expel the bloodlust by controlling my mind and circulating my Dao , - the Revenant reported , clearly understanding what Zac was looking for .

The report was extremely helpful . It looked like getting wounded in this place was doubly dangerous compared to normal , but as long as he kept his mind in check , he shouldn’t be taken out of commission . As long as he didn’t get rage-addled to the point that he started fighting like a beast , forgetting skills and energy circulation , his body would heal quickly enough while Purity of the Void] dealt with the rest .

Thank you , - Zac nodded as he threw over one of the decent herbs he had found in the Coral Forest on the way back from the chasm . It was nothing special to him after having pilfered that place for weeks , but it was probably as valuable as over fifty good herbs you’d find in the middle reaches of the Twilight Ocean .

It’s my pleasure , - The Revenant said with a curtsy before she hurriedly stowed away the precious herb . - If anything , the experience helped me as well . It’s better learning the rules of this place now than when under attack by a crazed warrior . -

True enough , - Zac grunted as he walked into the haze in the direction that the blood had indicated , leaving the Revenant to her own devices .

Chapter 769 : Sneaking Inside

Time to go , Number 7 , - Zac muttered , and he was answered by a bestial roar .

The chains of Love’s Bond] rattled as the Corpselord completely consumed by rage tried to break free for the hundredth time . Zac didn’t even register the clamor any longer as he nicked the thigh of the struggling warrior , prompting a small stream of black blood to fall toward the ground .

The ichor was snatched up by the pull before it even had time to land , proving that he had made great progress even though it sometimes didn’t feel like it . He flashed forward , immediately entering the haze and leaving the deathly husks of ancient trees behind . Soon enough he appeared in another section , this one thankfully the edge of the forest he had spent the last three hours inside .

He had appeared between two trees in a line that delineated the park , and on the other side of a cobblestone road stood an intricately carved wall leading into what Zac assumed was one of the inner mansions of the City of Ancients . There were no enemies in this one either , and Zac sighed in relief before he closed his eyes .

The last battle had been pretty rough , with Zac being pushed hard by a warrior who wielded two Peak Fragments . Normally , Zac wouldn't have been too worried about such an opponent , but there were so many special restrictions in place here . He had been pushed to fight twice as hard just to avoid getting wounded , and any lapse in concentration led to the shard in his mind desperately trying to break out .

Meanwhile , that warrior had lost his rationality to the environment of the inner regions of the city . He was consumed by his killing intent to the point that he even used life force in his attacks , but not to the point that he forgot how to use skills . Only by whittling him down with his Inexorable Stance had Zac managed to exhaust , trap , and then kill the warrior without wasting too much energy or opening himself up to the madness .

The screams of murder were almost deafening here in the heart of the city , and it felt like the slightest nudge could push him over the edge . For now , his willpower and hidden nodes were enough to make do . But unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for Number 7 .

Inhuman gurgling sounds echoed out from his captive , and Zac looked over with a sigh . Opening this path was the limits of this Corpselord by the looks of it . His muscles were twisting and turning like a dozen snakes inhabited his body . Any more and he would share the same fate as Compass and Number 2 .

Good luck , - Zac muttered as he sprinkled some Calming Dust he had looted from another warrior on the Corpselord before throwing him into the haze .

Zac shook his head and started walking toward the gate leading into the mansion , hoping to find some loot while waiting for the array to reset . He had been so full of momentum two days ago when entering this place , with anger and urgency pushing him forward . But the nature of the City of Ancients constantly sapped him of his momentum , and he just felt mentally exhausted by this point .

The first lesson after parting with the mentalist Revenant was that you couldn’t wait too long after following the blood trail . He had wanted to see the result of getting wounded , but that had given the weird array enough time to reset , sending him further away from the core .

From there , he had made pretty quick progress by capturing a warrior who had completely lost his mind already . Since he wasn’t in any state to introduce himself , Zac had simply called him Compass , since that was what he would be used as . Compass had provided him with a lot more insights .

First of all , the blood wasn’t leading the way . It was opening the path . If too little blood was sacrificed , the paths the blood indicated weren’t any better than taking a path at random .

Secondly , you could only advance between three and five zones in a row before being forced to stop for around twenty minutes . Any faster , and you’d get stuck in the haze for half an hour until you were spat out further back than when you started . Zac had eventually figured out when to stop by observing his remnants , but that was only after he had been stuck in the haze four times , wasting quite a bit of time .

Third , you could only be instilled with so much madness before things turned messy . Zac had a small mountain of healing pills by now , and he had simply shifted between bleeding the first man he caught and restoring his blood with pills to make rapid progress . But he had been stopped after being trapped the first time around .

Compass had suddenly exploded , resulting in a massive eruption of blood that had almost managed to drag Zac into madness as well . He had been bled too much , allowing the weird array to reach a critical mass inside his body . The whole section had been turned red upon the eruption , and Zac had been forced to escape down a random path .

The same fate , unfortunately , befell Number 2 , another warrior deep into the throes of madness by the point Zac ran into her . She had already killed her enemies and her allies by the time Zac found her , and she became proof that people could only get bled so many times before the accumulated toxins became too much to bear , even if you gave it some time in-between .

Now , Zac simply captured any blood-crazed person he ran into and borrowed their blood before letting them go . After helping himself to their Cosmos Sacks , of course . If they survived or not after that would be up to their luck .

He had hoped Number 7 would be able to take him the final stretch , but he found himself stranded once more . At least he could feel he was extremely close by now . The splinter’s presence was palpable , and this was the second park he had passed through . There were only so many of them in the City of Ancients , and he guessed that the castle would be coming up any time now .

Zac looted the gatehouse of the mansion with practiced ease , but he was barred from entering the proper structure by a wall of haze . Any further , and he’d end up somewhere random again . Normally , he would have been extremely annoyed at not being able to enter the core sections of the mansion , but he had encountered this situation over a dozen times already .

Only open spaces were included in the maze that the Eidolon and Uona had crafted , with just the edges of the communal spaces and mansions being accessible . He had looted over fifty houses of some random crystals and treasures already , but he still hadn’t found a single trove worthy of its name so far .

Time passed , and Zac started to hesitate about what to do . There was nothing else except the edge of the park and the gatehouse . He could dismantle the wall itself , but it was made from some common E-grade stone that wasn't worth more than a few E-grade coins .

He had been forced to backtrack and lose over two hours’ progress to find Number 7 , and now he was even further into the maze . Only a handful had the ability to get this far , and none of them would be an easy target to capture and bleed . Zac looked in the direction of the splinter again , finally coming to a decision .

He’d roll the dice . The splinter felt so close that he could almost touch it , and going by the vast wall enclosing the mansion , it had to be one of the buildings neighboring the castle itself . Still , he did have some misconceptions about sacrificing some of his blood .

Hopefully , his solution would work .

He took a steadying breath before weakening the cage to the shard , causing a flood of Creation energy to course through his body . The remnant was veritably vibrating by this point , and Zac wasn’t sure he'd be able to keep it contain it with Mental Energy much longer . It was clearly gearing up for war , each shudder squeezing out a little bit more Creation Energy in anticipation .

Zac only released a small bit of what he had captured in the prison , but it was enough to almost overwhelm him . The whispers of mayhem were immediately drowned out by the whispers of possibility , but Zac forcefully kept his mind blank before he cut a small before pricking his finger with Verun’s Bite] , and a drop of pure darkness appeared .

Just as the ichor was about to get dragged off to god-knows-where , a surge of Creation entered it on Zac’s command . The drop flew toward the left for a few seconds before it turned into a small firefly that swung its pitch-black wings a few times before exploding . A surge of killing intent filled him , but it was immediately doused in the clamor of the rampaging Creation .

Zac immediately flashed away from the reddening mists and toward the direction the drop indicated , and he immediately pushed on the wound to squeeze out a stream of blood before it closed . A storm of Creation entered his ichor this time as well , but it only shuddered as Zac tried to keep the energy contained .

The ichor entered the white mist , and Zac sensed the small shift that confirmed the path had opened . He flashed forward , but he swore when he appeared in another small section of the City of Ancients rather than inside the castle . Zac’s anger only lasted a second before he quelled his mind , but it was still enough to conjure a massive gate out of gold in front of him .

A pained grimace appeared on Zac’s face over the loss of life force , but at least there was some good news to go with the bad . It wasn’t a random occurrence that an opulent gate had appeared from his expenditure of creation . Another one could barely be discerned within the mist at the other side of the area , this one even larger than the one he had created .

In fact , he didn’t see the top of the gate , or the wall it was attached to , even though the visibility reached over fifty meters in the air . Even the ostentatiously decorated wall in the previous section was only ten meters high or so , indicating he might just have found his goal . If this wasn't the wall leading to the castle in the middle , then what was?

The gate was barely visible with most of it swallowed by the mist , and Zac walked back and forth with a frown wondering just what the best course of action was . He punched the towering wall to see if breaking through was feasible , but it only ended with a painful rebound hurting his knuckles , while not as much as a crack appeared on the brick he had targeted .

Zac’s abyssal eyes widened in shock . He hadn’t infused his Dao or full power into the attack , but there was almost thirty thousand effective Strength behind the punch . It was enough to turn a small mountain into gravel , yet he hadn’t even left a mark on this stone? It wasn’t like he had sensed any array or barrier blocking his attack either .

Just how sturdy was this material?

Zac tried to break the stone with his axe as well , but even a high-powered swing only left a surface mark rather than a scar . Zac looked at the enormous wall , and an almost impossible thought crossed his mind . Had someone actually used a D-grade material to build a wall as big as this? Were there cultivators this disgustingly wealthy?

His brain almost short-circuited at the thought of the costs involved for such an undertaking . There were no doubt many ancient clans in the Multiverse heartlands who could do something like this without a care , but this was ultimately the Frontier . From what he had heard , there were quite a few Monarchs in the Frontier that hadn’t even seen C-grade materials their whole lives .

Even the well-off Monarchs from established forces considered C-grade materials as priceless treasures , perhaps only getting their hands on a handful during their whole lives . After all , C-grade materials were simply to slow to come into being . If it took a million years to nurture a Monarch , then it might take ten times that for a C-grade herb to come into being unless some special circumstance was speeding the process along .

Problem was , how often could a stretch in the forest remain untouched for ten million years , even in a secluded Mystic Realm? Natural calamities , beasts fighting for territory , greedy cultivators looting the herb while it still was E- or D-grade . The spots these herbs could appear in the Frontier were scarce enough , and it wasn’t like these places would be left untouched for the time required .

That’s why D-grade materials were the base resource for Frontier Monarchs to progress as well , where they replaced quality with quantity . They swallowed mountains of resources just to maintain their cultivation , constantly scratching their heads on how to gather enough money to progress as well .

For them to build a simple fortification purely from D-grade materials? Inconceivable .

The scene far surpassed his earlier estimation of what kind of town this was . It had to be an exceedingly wealthy Monarch who had once lived here . A Divine Monarch , probably , who had less use for D-grade materials . Perhaps… Even someone greater .

Zac’s heart hammered as he considered the possibility of looting an Autarch’s residence . Even if it was just an Autarch’s outhouse , it was probably worth as much as a small kingdom in the Zecia sector going by the extravagance of the outer wall . But Zac forcibly calmed his mind and refocused on the task at hand .

Cutting his way through the wall was out of the question . The only method he saw would work was if he either expelled an Annihilation Sphere to blow a hole , or large amounts of Creation energy to turn the stone into something else . Problem was , the wall was probably way too thick to blow up even with all the Oblivion Energy he had accumulated . And who knew how much lifespan would be required to transmute solid D-grade stone?

The wall was completely airtight as well , making it impossible to make use of Abyssal Phase] . Zac looked around with hesitation before he released a small creation-infused droplet of ichor again . As expected , it shot into the wall rather than into one of the side passages .

Eventually , Zac walked over to the arch of the gate , trying to peer around its edge . Finally , there was some good news , as Zac could see that there wasn’t a door in the way . It might have rotted off , or it might be some sort of drop-down gate . In either case , he could barely make out a tunnel of unknown depth .

He couldn’t see the other side at all as it was covered in an extremely thick layer of mist . But that was enough for him , and a plan had already formed in Zac's mind . A bottle appeared in his hand , and a small river of blood started pouring out onto the ground some distance from the gate . Even this close to the core of the City of Ancients , the - dead’ blood wasn’t dragged away , but rather formed a pool on the ground before it slipped between the cobblestones .

The whole area darkened as the extremely condensed clouds started absorbing the blood , and Zac felt his whole vision turning red . That didn't stop Zac though as he kept pouring out blood , and he was elated to see that his plan worked .

It almost looked like a strong draft affected the tunnel as haze kept streaming out from the gate , heading straight for the still-growing pool of blood . Previously , the tunnel had been completely filled , and Zac knew from experience that passing through in a situation like that would get him all turned around until he appeared god-knows-where in the city .

But now , the haze had thinned out , though it still was a bit iffy whether it was enough . Zac grit his teeth and crushed the bottle , prompting a cascade of blood to come crashing out . Tens of thousands of liters created a gory tsunami , making it look like he was under attack by Uona .

Zac was absolutely drenched in blood , and he felt his vision swim for a bit as his mind grew muddled . But the pain from a series of clashes between creation and bloodlust in his body kept him sane enough to remember what he needed to do . The chains of Love’s Bond] rushed into the tunnel , which now had a space over fifteen centimeters wide void of any haze .

He was finally able to see the end of the tunnel , allowing him to latch two of the chains to the wall on the other side , while another two kept him in place to the outer wall . With this , he was firmly attached to the wall , and it shouldn’t be possible for him to be dragged away by the confusion array .

The environment was quickly becoming unbearable where he was , so Zac wasted no time putting his plan to practice . Two of the chains extended while the other two retracted , which dragged Zac through the tunnel like he was attached to a conveyor belt .

The haze was all around him , making any sense of direction impossible , but he kept pushing himself through until he suddenly found himself on the other side of the tunnel . It felt like he had finally escaped a nightmare where he kept running in place as the small snippets surrounded by obscuring clouds had been replaced by a grand view of a huge castle reaching toward the sky .

He had made it .

However , a wave of killing intent reminded him that he had just completed the easy part of his mission . This killing intent didn’t come from some array this time , but rather a small army of red-eyed cultivators surrounded by swirls of blood . They looked a bit surprised by his appearance , but that was about it .

Our mistress was wondering if you would show up , - one of the leaders said as dozens of powerful auras were released . - She will be delighted to learn of your presence . -

So much for sneaking , - Zac muttered as a huge jagged edge appeared in front of Verun's Bite] .

Chapter 770 : Out of Time , Out of Options

Zac tried to take in the situation as he cleared his mind of the tremendous waves of synthetic bloodlust that crashed into his mind after drenching the previous area in blood . The castle grounds were far bigger compared to how it appeared through the vaunted dome from the outside . It felt like a city of its own stretching thousands of meters in every direction .

Just the outer square he had entered was as big as half of Port Atwood , with the whole castle grounds being tens of times larger . It was nowhere near the scale of the research base in the Mystic Realm , but it was still insanely large to be a residential building . A million people would be able to live here with plenty of room to spare .

The group of Blood Cultivators in front of him , most likely Blood Thralls converted by Uona , seemed to have been in the middle of preparing for some battle , only for Zac to stumble right into the square they used as a gathering point . There were over fifty of them , with many of them emitting auras that put them in the top percentile of the trial .

Uona had been active in her recruitment , not simply indulging in wanton slaughter that most seemed to have believed . As for the blood mistress herself , she was nowhere in sight . However , Zac could sense a tremendous sanguine aura in the distance . It didn’t come from the main structure though , and Zac could guess why – it was sealed .

A radiant rune hovered above its main tower , powering a barrier that seemed completely impenetrable . The bloody aura rather came from a side structure right next to the castle . A huge bloody sphere hovered above the building , and more and more power blood continuously seeped into it from the building below .

Something terrifying was brewing inside the ball , no doubt the results of thousands of cultivators being killed and drained in this trap . Was it an offensive array of some kind? To strike at either the Havarok who probably were on their way as well? Or rather at the sealed castle in the middle , to seize the valuables and expose that Realm Spirit that Ventus mentioned?

Oddly enough , the desolate aura of the Splinter of Oblivion didn’t come from the same direction as the bloody egg . Instead , it seemed to originate from another side building almost on the opposite side of the massive compound he had entered . This one didn’t give off any indications of danger like that shockingly condensed sphere of blood , but Zac still felt the hair stand on end when looking in that direction for some reason .

In either case , he had already been exposed . The fact that Uona wasn’t already rushing toward him probably meant she couldn’t just leave that orb as she wished . That didn’t prove that she was completely locked in place though , and the more time he wasted the higher risk was of him getting mired in her ploy .

Zac shot forward , and the pent-up frustration that had been set to simmer for weeks now was finally allowed to be ignited into a conflagration . For the first time since entering the city , he didn’t quell these murderous impulses . The haze was gone , and he could feel that the pervasive array didn't cover this core section either .

The traps of soul and blood could no longer harm him , making his anger a tool rather than a weakness . Instead of pushing it down , he used it to regain his long-lost momentum as he closed in on the Blood Thralls , the chains of Love’s Bond] piercing the streams of blood flooding toward him .

He didn't activate Abyssal Phase] , as there was no need to . His towering aura filled with killing intent had given the Blood Thralls pause , and that short moment of hesitation was all he needed to close the short distance with a few herculean leaps . A keening cry of bloodlust echoed through the square as the massive edge of Gorehew] ripped three Peak E-grade warriors to pieces .

The moment the blade had bisected the final warrior it instantly disappeared , just as a sinister aura filled the chains of his other Spirit Tool . The churning waves of blood closing in on him instantly turned black before they started to fall apart , a result of an overwhelming wave of corruption filling them from Blighted Cut] .

Zac's eyes lit up , confirming his theory that his rot-based skills would be effective against blood cultivators . However , while these were warriors working under some sort of slave-like compulsions , they were ultimately talented warriors who had qualified to enter the Twilight Ascent . More attacks were already pelting toward him , but the three pygmy skeletons had already answered his call .

A large spectral coffin appeared in front of him , and it swiped back and forth to crush the incoming blood spears . Still , Profane Exponents] couldn't completely block out everything when fifty warriors attacked him at once . A sharp pain erupted in his side as a lanky cultivator flashed past him with shocking speed , wielding two daggers dripping of both blood and ichor .

Unfortunately for him , the rogue had underestimated just how inhumanly durable Zac's body was , and he had only managed to leave a shallow wound in his side . The blades had been laced with some sort of toxin , but Zac could instantly sense that it wouldn't become a problem . The City of Ancients was ultimately in the middle reaches of the Twilight Ocean , and his Purity of theVoid]-node had more than enough capacity over to help deal with some toxins .

Besides , he was a pureblood Draugr , which brought the benefit of extremely strong natural resistance to most poisons . So the attack didn't even phase Zac as he continued to push forward as a wave of darkness spread with Zac as the epicenter . One skill after another was activated as Zac started to superimpose his domains to completely restrict the small army .

The blood soldiers clearly understood that they were dealing with a close-combat warrior , and they quickly set up a series of defenses while two squads pelted him from behind a bloody barrier . Meanwhile , the rogue from earlier was joined by another group of nimble warriors that tried to launch quick and deadly strikes at him from the sides .

None of these warriors were a threat to him , but there were simply so many of them . He only had two hands and the ability to keep a couple of skills running at once , and he felt one shallow wound after another being added to his body . However , this was exactly the kind of fight he excelled at , and he inexorably pushed forward as he was finally joined by some reinforcements in the form of the axe wraiths .

From there , the dance of his Inexorable Stance begun , where he continuously pushed forward , unleashing an unceasing barrage at both the backlines and the warriors who tried to flank him . A spectral warrior suddenly appeared behind a thrall who wielded a spike and a shield , but just as she was about to stab the spectre and destroy it , a chain dripping of corrosion shot toward an opening under her arm .

She desperately swiveled to block the chain with her shield , but that opened her to an attack from the wraith . She was still a Dexterity-based warrior , and she phased to the side just as she was about to be bisected by a ruthless swing of the wraith . However , she was still nicked by the spectral edge , which meant her fate was sealed .

A rune appeared on the wound , and she stumbled forward while shrieking from pain as the darkness of Deathwish] streamed into her wound . A few more warriors had been marked already , and even the unscathed Blood Thralls were in a bad way from his corroding domain . The blood attacks were continuously being eroded by the pervasive atmosphere , and by the time they reached Zac they'd lost half of their strength .

Zac wouldn't let his summoned companions do all the work , and the four chains of Love's Bond] weaved back and forth to restrain and harass the flanks while Zac pushed straight ahead , braving a ceaseless barrage of attacks . The ranged attackers tried to keep some distance , but he used his superior attributes and wraiths to direct the battle .

Soon enough , he had managed to essentially swap places with the blood thralls , with them having their backs against the huge wall . That way , they weren't able to escape his advance , and Zac would be able to maneuver more freely in case reinforcements appeared .

It was a valuable insight . Until now , he had only fought one or a handful of enemies while utilizing his Inexorable Stance . In those battles , his tactics had been to restrain each individual warrior , directing the tempo of the fight while creating openings . Now , it was more about controlling the tempo of the whole battlefield while breaking apart their cooperation .

He was like an inexorable army , pushing forward , neither fearing death or defeat . Any attempt of the enemy to swing the battle in their favor was crushed before it even had a chance to be started . Ambushes were turned into frantic last stands as wraiths , corrosive chains , and Zac himself appeared out of nowhere .

Defenses and defensive lines were broken by brute force and the ghastly light of the lantern-wielding skeleton . The battle had only lasted for thirty seconds , but more than twenty thralls had already fallen to Zac's unceasing barrage , with another ten sporting either wounds or corrosive runes of Deathmark] .

As Zac pushed forward , he realized that these warriors were a bit like the tattooed puppets he had encountered close to the Twilight Chasm . There were mages , warriors , and Dexterity-based cultivators , but they all used blood as the basis for their attacks . Zac didn't know exactly how it worked , but it was undeniable that these people probably had their cultivation path altered when they were turned .

There was a hint of unfamiliarity in their actions , of sluggishness that he normally wouldn't encounter in an E-grade warrior . That was a huge opportunity for Zac as one warrior after another fell , continuously restoring some of his lost Miasma through Fields of Despair] .

Unfortunately , Zac labored under some disadvantages of his own . He took a step forward , but a burst from the Shard of Creation made him stumble . The remnant was in a fully rampant mode by now , and Zac felt he had a few minutes tops before he lost control entirely . The Shard needed an outlet , and quickly .

Just wait a little more and you’ll get your wish , - Zac muttered as he adjusted the grip of Verun's Bite] .

The inner area was almost void of people , and his eyes once more turned toward the nondescript building in the distance , the building where the Splinter of Oblivion waited for him . As long as he got his hands on that thing , Uona was more than welcome to come over . He’d treat her to the same reception as the adolescent dragon back in the Tower of Eternity ; a blast of Chaos right in her face .

Until then , he was still restrained , fearful of exposing his huge stockpile of Creation energy in his body . That’s why he had to fight so hard against a group of cultivators who both were weakened by the Twilight Energy and unfamiliar with their new state of existence ; the moment he infused his skills with his Dao , they would definitely transform like Arcadia's Judgement] did .

That would expose his hidden card against Uona without a doubt . Even if she wasn't here , he was sure she was observing the battle one way or another .

Zac fought desperately , using everything he had learned over the past two years as he tried to restrain and dismantle their cooperation while he felled one warrior after another . But for every Blood Thrall he killed , he received a couple of wounds . Furthermore , these slaves were not deterred at all by seeing their comrades fall . If anything , they fought more valiantly , and Zac even saw that the blood of the fallen streamed toward their compatriots to bolster their attacks .

Meanwhile , his domains were starting to fall apart .

A dozen thralls had worked together to unleash a bloody rain , where every drop was like a small projectile that ripped apart the darkness . Together with the constantly churning rivers of blood that rampaged through the area , crushing his specters and forcing him back just as he was about to deliver killing blows with his axe , he knew his skills teetering on the brink of collapse .

The blood thralls weren't stupid either . They had lost half their warriors already , while only dealing some surface damage to Zac in return . But with his skills falling apart , they had one last chance to turn the tides before he killed them all . The bloody rivers suddenly ignited one by one , as the thralls sacrificed their longevity to give them a final burst of power .

Zac didn't know if it was just to deliver a strike of vengeance while they stood at death's door , or if Uona's mark had some sort of compulsion . In either case , it was bad news . It felt like he was surrounded by a swarm of bees that frantically tried to defend the hive . Meanwhile , the force inside his mind kept building , making it harder and harder for him to focus .

Something had to give .

Enough! - Zac roared from pain and frustration as thirty bloody chains , each one wrought from bone and sinew , ripped out from his body in an outburst of fury and Creation .

They punched forward with undeniable momentum , propelled forward by a D-grade treasure gone berserk , crushing defenses and ripping warriors to shreds . It felt like Zac's own body was being torn apart as well , but he had at least managed to use the Longevity Gem this time around rather than his own life force .

The area looked like it could have been a layer of hell by this point , with enormous pools of blood stretching covering hundreds of meters . Maimed body parts littered the ground , some hacked to pieces by Gorehew] , with others corroded and killed by Deathmark] .

In the middle , Zac stood like a denizen of the Maleboge , his body a mix of black and red as the chains created from his innards held the last thralls in the air like a morbid homage to the spectral chains of Profane Seal] . Zac groaned in pain as the links shook , throwing off the carcasses before they were drawn back into his body as he expended some more Creation Energy to restore his body to its normal form .

The moment the chains were back in his body , a grey ball appeared in his hands which he threw down on the ground , creating a thick ashy haze that covered the area . By the time the dust cloud had settled , Zac was already gone , transformed into a spectral wraith as he surged toward his goal – the Splinter of Oblivion .

His gory outburst was pretty suspicious , but he was out of time and out of options . The blood thralls had delayed his progress to the point that the amount of Creation Energy had become unbearable , and he would have to vent it one way or another . Rather than creating something out of thin air or empowering a skill , he had decided to transform his own body .

Having his body reconfigured like that hurt more than getting stabbed , but it didn't release any Creation Energy out of his own body , which hopefully would make anyone observing the fight mistake the bone chains for a self-mutilating skill .

Zac appeared fifty meters away from the building where he could sense the remnant , but his abyssal eyes kept glancing in the direction of the blood ritual . Uona still hadn’t made her appearance after all that carnage , but he could see that there wasn’t any blood flowing up toward the sphere either . Was she stopping its formation so that she could come deal with him?

He obviously didn’t want to wait and find out , so he kicked the massive door leading into the building in front of him , creating a clamor as though a massive church bell was being rung . The door didn’t break apart as he’d hoped , but it at least swung open . The shard in his mind was like a radiant sun by this point , ceaselessly expelling torrential amounts of energy , almost reaching the levels in the volcano .

It felt like he was trapped in a nightmare with thousands of wailing voices fighting for his attention . The shard was ready for war , to the point Zac could feel a primordial hunger as he stepped into the enormous chamber where the splinter waited for him . Even then , Zac found himself rooted in place as he looked at the scene inside with wide eyes .

Why did the Eidolon have his splinter?!

Chapter 771 : Madness Made Real

Zac's eyes turned back and forth , his mind blanking out by the surprising scene . The building hadn't given off any signals at all from the outside . If not for his high Luck giving him a hint of danger , and the fact that he could sense the splinter thanks to his other remnants , he would have thought this place yet another empty building along with the dozens of others . Yet it was bustling with activity .

Well over a hundred crystals hovered in the air , the outermost half forming small circles of between five and nine crystals each . Within , the remaining crystals formed a star-shaped pattern that connected the outer circle with one larger circle at the core . These crystals felt a lot like Soul Crystals , but they were as large as a man and emitted far stronger mental fluctuations .

Furthermore , there was an undeniable hint of death in these crystals rather than simply Mental Energy , like how Miasma Crystals were to Nexus Crystals . Small aquamarine shrouds circled them all , resembling small nebulas surrounding a black hole . The crystals were a treasure , but they clearly already had an owner .

Why had the Eidolon gotten themselves mixed up with the splinter?

This was the first time Zac had seen this race in person , but he had both heard and read the descriptions already . The Eidolon didn’t have any set shape like normal Spectral Cultivators since they never had any physical bodies that formed the basis of their sense of self . Instead , they took whatever shape they wanted , shapes they simply liked or felt resonated with their path .

There were over a dozen that looked like pale-blue skulls , each of them having a sinister flame in their eyes . Another group looked a lot like the gemstones that hovered in the area , though they were intangible . Many were complex patterns that made Zac think of Skill Fractals , and Primal Polyglot] indicated that these shapes were somehow related to Soul Cultivation .

Most ultimately looked like humanoids , which partly was a matter of convenience for these beings . The other undead races were humanoid , though Zac had heard murmurs the mysterious race of - Founders’ were a bit different , so the Eidolon usually took on these shapes as well . It didn’t impact their cultivation at all from what he had been told , and they felt it worth it if it meant not getting ostracized .

Even the ones who preferred an abstract shape would normally swap over to a humanoid avatar when meeting the other undead races . However , even if they had taken the general shapes of spectral cultivators , it was clear they were not . They were a lot like the Rahm back in the Creator Shipyard , in the sense they didn’t have any facial features .

Instead , a large fractal covered their otherwise blank faces . The fractal was the insignia of their clan , or rather their Hive . Every single one of the Eidolon had one of these marks somewhere , no matter what shape they took . Even the eidolon who were just intangible clouds had the rune hovering in the heart of the dust .

Their Hive was a central part of their identity , and the Eidolon were a lot more close-knit than most other races . Zac didn't exactly understand it , but it seemed as though the line between individual and collective was somewhat blurred for this race . The closest thing he could think of was the AI Hiveminds he'd seen in science fiction movies back then , though the Eidolon definitely possessed individual minds and cultivations .

One Eidolon was hovering inside every outer circle of crystals , and five of them sitting in the innermost circle . These five in the center all emitted extremely strong energy fluctuations , to the point that the screaming shard in his mind was somewhat subdued by the Mental Fluctuations they radiated .

Especially powerful was one Eidolon , in particular , this one having a humanoid shape . In contrast to the others , this spectral cultivator's form was so dense that it almost looked corporeal , and they even wore robes created with extreme attention to detail . Just by their terrifying alone , it was clear that this one was the leader - Aia Ouro .

Aia Ouro had not made any big moves since entering the Twilight Ascent , yet they had maintained a top ten position without breaking a sweat . And it was no surprise to Zac . While their aura wasn't quite at the stage of Uona's it was extremely condensed . Not only was the leader at the peak of the E-grade with heavy accumulations , but Zac was pretty certain they also possessed a Middle-Stage Dao Branch , possibly with subsidiary Daos to empower it .

And at the heart of the circle of radiant crystals controlled by Aia was a hovering gem of absolute darkness . Below it , a Blood Thrall that was either dead or dying sat , his body covered in multiple layers of dense restrictions . The thrall was completely locked in place by the looks of it , but Zac wasn't sure he was even cognizant of his surroundings , as his eyes were blankly staring up at the splinter .

Above the Splinter , a massive being sat . It reached over ten meters in the air , an avatar with six arms like a Buddhist Asura . It even had the boundless murderous intent of an asura , dwarfing even Zac's own killing intent . It was no surprise though , considering murderous intent kept streaming up from the ground and into the crystal before it was infused into the avatar .

The huge thing sat in a meditative pose , where the upper set of arms formed a mudra that generated a sphere that had an extremely strong aura of death . The bottom set of arms was the opposite , where a sphere of pure life hovered . It was so powerful that the Eidolon had added a layer of protection around it , as to not get affected by it .

In the middle , pure condensed Twilight Energy swirled , forming a coherent trinity . However , the Twilight Energy was somewhat different in nature from what he had encountered inside the secluded valley in the chasm . It contained terrifying amounts of killing intent , and it released spiritual fluctuations as well .

Zac immediately knew that this was the construct the Eidolon planned on using to supplant the Realm Spirit . He couldn't be certain , but it seemed like the Eidolon Divine Monarch cultivated some sort of Dao of Slaughter , and they wanted to instill this path into the Twilight Ocean through this Avatar , perhaps to improve the odds of succeeding in the ascension .

Lord Black , welcome , - an androgenous voice echoed out from every direction , yet Zac somehow knew it was Aia Ouro who was speaking . - May we ask why you have interrupted our work? -

I have no interest in what's going on here , - Zac slowly said as he tried to figure what was going on . - I have no designs on the Realm Spirit , and no master outside who wants to snatch this opportunity . But I need the Splinter of Oblivion . -

The corrupted remnant? - the Eidolon exclaimed with surprise before it shuddered and fiercely turned in the direction of the building with the blood orb . - That scheming little… -

Give it to me , and I can even help you out against Uona , - Zac said with a shuddering breath as stepped into the chamber , his eyes glued to the remnant . - I know you are headed toward a collision course . -

It was so close , and he felt a liquid run down his nose as his whole Soul Aperture was plunged into chaos . The two remnants in the cage had been quiet for a long time , cracks were already spreading across the fractals as the two remnants were going out of control . With another splinter so close-by , the splinter no longer tried to guard the exit .

Instead , it was acting completely unhinged , swapping between attacking the shard and attacking the cage . The splinter in the middle of the massive array had sensed its sibling as well , and it shuddered as waves of oblivion were expelled . However , the array the Eidolon had set up was surprisingly powerful , swallowing the energy and infusing it into the avatar .

Lord Black , please stay your hand , - the voice said with some urgency . - We are happy to give you the splinter as soon as the Realm Avatar has been successfully formed . But for now , the remnant is integral to our array . Removing it will damage the avatar and make us lose much of the intent we have collected . It will make us fail the mission . Just give us five hours to complete the process . -

Move out of the way , - Zac growled , his eyes wide with hunger .

Waiting just one hour , let alone five , was completely out of the question . He'd either be dead or insane by then going by how rapidly things were deteriorating in his mind . And even if he was willing to sit around until they were finished , how could he trust the words of some stranger? What if their process absorbed or damaged the splinter?

More importantly , would Uona just sit around and wait as well?

Don’t force our hand , Draugr , - Aia said , and a bone-chilling sharpness had appeared their voice , to the point that the whole building shook . - We have recording arrays running all across this compound . Acting against us will harm the empire's chances of gaining another Autarch . We are well within our rights to kill . -

Zac could barely hear the Eidolon by this point , the voices in his head reaching a crescendo . However , he could make out that they wouldn't relinquish what he needed . Uona or Aia Ouro , it didn't matter . Anyone that barred his path was someone who was trying to get him killed , who stalled his return to Port Atwood .

Prevented him from feasting .

Then you can all die! - Zac roared as his whole torso opened up to display a massive maw of overlapping fangs in a bout of madness made real by the Creation in his body .

Lunatic! Abomination! - the voice of the Eidolon leader screamed with fury as a dozen massive gemstones cracked under the pressure of Zac's aura .

The world darkened the next moment as Zac disappeared , replaced by a torrential river that encompassed the whole array and the twenty-odd spectral cultivators within . The ghastly totem pole of Pillar of Desolation] slowly rose , though this time it didn’t appear in the middle of the cage .

Instead , it had commandeered the left half of the cage , whereas the intricate formation of gemstones held their own at the right . A few of them had broken apart , but the rest of the hundred-odd crystals had lit up with a deathly cold light that made Zac’s soul shudder .

Contain the Avatar and form up! - Aia Ouro shouted as their body entered one of the crystals , and a rapid change quickly followed .

It was like reality flickered between two states , where the array and huge six-armed Avatar existed in one , and an enormous skull in the other . The flickering stopped after less than a second , with only the skull remaining . As to where the array had gone , Zac had no idea , but there wasn't any time to solve this particular mystery .

The skull emitted a terrifying aura , putting pressure on not only Zac’s soul as he hid in the darkness , but even on his body . The scene was a reminder of the terrifying natural ability of the Eidolon ; the hivemind . Eidolon Hives could link their very existences due to their peculiar nature , forming a natural War Arrays that far outshone anything Zac and his armies had access to .

The gain thankfully wasn’t at a level where one plus one made two , but the combined projection of the group of Eidolon felt like it could match the towering aura Uona had released when she had gone all-out in the chasm . They were not an easy opponent , but Zac didn’t have much of an option but to fight .

He had been hoping to stalk closer to the splinter and snatch it under the shroud of darkness , but the damn skull had actually swallowed the Blood Thrall and the remnant , hiding them within its body . Even worse , Zac felt that the projection was able to see him clearly , even though the activation of Pillar of Desolation] allowed him to perfectly blend into the darkness .

Zac wasn’t about to be outdone , and the orb of Oblivion radiated a terrifying splendor as over twenty chains shot toward the skill . Zac silently breathed out in relief as he unleashed one skill after another . It looked like his skills considered the hivemind multiple entities even after they had fused , which would make both Pillar of Desolation] and Deathmark] far more effective in this fight .

But the ghastly skeleton suddenly opened its mouth and released an earthshattering shriek that seemed to come from the deepest level of hell . It contained a sea of anguish that ripped at the very fabric of space , containing both a terrifying amount of Mental Energy and Miasma .

The five spectral axemen that had formed turned to dust in an instant , and the shroud of Field of Desolation] was ripped apart . Next came the chains of his cage , but not even they could withstand the might of that abyssal shriek . They fluctuated between tangible and spiritual as they continuously tried to reform themselves , but the wail seemed to harm the links even in their untouchable state .

Cracks started to appear on the statues grasping the tower itself , and Zac felt the deathly river containing the battlefield starting to lose its coherence . Even the black orb at the top of the totem pole flickered like a candle in the wind . Zac could feel how the skill would fail at any moment , and this was clearly just the opening salvo of the skull .

There was no way .

There was simply no way that he could defeat the Eidolon's War Array unless he went all out . He had hoped avoiding this , especially with this particular skill , but he grit his teeth as the hidden node in his mind opened wide , releasing a storm of Dao into his Soul Aperture . The surge from Spiritual Void] raged in his mind as it shot toward the Dao Avatar of the Fragment of the Bodhi , and it was like a magnet for the dangerously dense Creation in his mind .

Another thick stream of Mental Energy emerged from his Soul Core , and this tremendously unstable mix of Dao and Creation rushed into the skill fractal , and from there entered the massive cage around him . The result was immediate , and Zac gaped in shock as the ghastly totem pole started to fall apart , whole statues starting to fragment , prompting shards of stone to fall like rain .

Suddenly , the black orb at the top dissipated , but the absence of darkness was soon replaced by a radiant opalescent light . The next moment , a shudder went through the crumbling tower , before it exploded with such force that it broke apart the attack of the skill . However , the tower hadn't broken apart - it had been reborn .

Gothic black had been replaced by alabaster white , but the hundreds of captured souls were still clawing their way up toward the orb at the top . However , while it had felt like the statues struggled to be erased in the original version of the skill , it now rather seemed as though the statues wanted to reach the shimmering orb at the top to be reborn anew .

The few that were closest to the top couldn't withstand its splendor , and they rapidly started mutating by the chaotic waves of creation the orb emitted . Meanwhile , the surging river around them had been replaced by a confusing and everchanging haze , making it seem like they had been trapped in a collapsed dimension .

Golden links shot toward the ghost , which immediately released another salvo of its own . However , these links of Creation and Bodhi weren’t so easily rebuffed , and they withstood the terrifying wave of destruction as they slammed into the huge avatar . Just the touch of the links was like corrosive poison to the construct , and it started to bubble and release sizzling sounds .

Not only that , but the links started to slowly drag the group of Eidolon toward the tower , where they would be recreated into whatever the erratic orb at the top desired .

What! - a scream echoed from within the War Array . - This is taboo! This is sacrilege! -

Zac wasn’t in any state to respond , as his situation wasn’t as optimistic as it looked . Pillar of Desolation] was an exceedingly complex skill , to the point he didn’t understand the skill fractal at all after having creating it during his epiphany . Now , he had completely subverted the core of the skill by infusing it with Life and Creation , creating some sort of mirrored version in a frantic attempt to counter the deathly attack of the ghost .

But how could such a creation be stable? Let alone using life in a Death-attuned skill that ran on miasma , it was filled with Creation as well . It shouldn’t be possible at all , but it was forced together with the help of the shard and Zac’s iron will . But the shard was the concept of continuous change taken physical form , and it resisted being forced to stay the same and power the skill .

It felt like his mind was breaking apart , but Zac forcibly held on as the golden chains dragged the struggling skull closer . A wave of blue fire containing a blistering cold shot out form its eyes , and they contained such power that Zac felt cracks appear on his Soul Core from just standing in its vicinity . If it actually hit him , he felt his soul might shatter altogether , even with Indomitable] and his refined soul providing him with great mental protections .

A dozen talismans appeared in his hands as two treasure rings on his hands snapped , prompting over a dozen layers of soulwarding barriers to emerge around him . It stopped his soul from being wounded , but it didn’t solve his current predicament . The hivemind was too powerful , and his skill would collapse before he managed to drag them to the terrifying golden orb on top of the pillar .

He would have to take a risk if he wanted to end the battle in one go . Zac's eyes burned with madness as he rushed forward , deciding to put it all on the line .

Chapter 772 : Web of Ancient Madness

The golden orb radiated unquestionable might , dispersing the mental undulations that assailed it . He pushed down with a sneer , and it slammed into the spectral cultivators beneath , unleashing a wave of destruction in every direction . A pained wail echoed out across the field , and it was followed by a deadly silence .

Ykrodas swung his sword to rid it of the corrosive thrall's blood before putting it away . The square in front of him was littered with hundreds of destroyed thralls along with the spatial aberrations indicating where the spectral cultivators of the Karabas clan had fallen . He frowned at the scene , filled with a sense of unease .

The Karabas spectral trying to bar their progress wasn't anything surprising . These ghosts were no doubt deathsworn of the clan , sacrifices that their elders would provide passage into the empire heartlands . The large number of thralls was a bigger issue .

How is she controlling this many? - he muttered with some hesitation .

Uona Noz’Valadir was unquestionably powerful , but she was ultimately just at the E-grade . Yet she had sent over five hundred thralls their way to stall their approach . To form such a vast army of blood slaves should be pushing it , no matter if you considered the amount of essence blood required , and the demands it put on one’s soul .

The Havarok Empire did not have much contact with the Eternal Clan , but they still knew the basics . To raise a thrall required the sacrifice of some blood essence , which was related to their foundations . Raise too many too quickly , and it should harm her foundation , perhaps even cripple her .

Yet , by his estimations , this lone scion had raised over three thousand thralls in total since the start of the trial . It didn't make much sense . The Law of Balance might not be inviolable , but there was no way the Eternal Clan would dare step out of bounds like that . She had to be using something her elders had prepared , and it was a problem not knowing where her limits lay .

Even if he didn't want to admit it , there was an undeniable bridge of foundation between himself and the blood mistress . If he went in blindly , he might not only get himself killed , but also ruin the plans of his ancestors .

Report , - Ykrodas said without turning toward the captain who had walked over .

Twelve lost . Five to battle , seven to madness , - the man said before he hesitantly added . - One deserter . Jumped into the haze in the heat of battle . -

Add the fallen to the list of martyrs . Mark the deserter’s lineage for ex-communication upon our return , - Ykrodas said . - Have the next section been broken open? -

The acolytes are busy purifying the blood . Do young master want them to focus on progress instead? - the captain asked .

No . There’s too much blood here . We can’t let it feed the Blood Effigy , - Ykrodas said , though it wasn’t without reluctance . - Have the men rest and fortify their heart-sealing brands while the battlefield is cleansed .

It will be done , - the captain nodded . - There is one more report , this one from a scout . Kataron Rissit has made his move , and he is making rapid progress through the maze with roughly fifty elite warriors . He might appear before us at the core . -

Like he’d dare , - Ykrodas snorted . - He’s been skulking around , modifying the leylines while keeping out of harm's way . I’m sure he’s timing things so that we will arrive at the same time . He does not have the guts to put himself at the forefront . -

Perhaps he aims to free this one in addition to killing the Realm Spirit , - Orbot ventured as he nodded at the numerologist who they had dragged with them just in case .

How could that be possible , - Ventus said with a grimace . - The Rissit Clan is part of the Starbanner Legion , while I’m a lowly acolyte of Constellation Hall . He’s a scion of an ancient family , I’m an outside hire . You know how it is in the temple . Why would he waste any effort on me? -

A lowly acolyte with a Token of Exchange , - Ykrodas snorted . - I wonder , is the one hovering outside the trial your master? -

I wouldn’t know , - Ventus smiled . - I might as well be blind by this point . -

Arcaz Black again? - Ykrodas said with a raised brow . - If he’s going to make a move , he better hur- -

It’s broken! - a sudden exclamation cut Ykrodas short , and he turned over with a frown .

It was the leader of the acolytes who was hurrying over with confusion written all over his face .

You’ve broken the blood ritual already? - Orbot exclaimed . - Don't get sloppy at this juncture . -

My lords , something has changed! - the acolyte said with a shake of his head - The soul-siphoning array is breaking apart . It is no longer being controlled by the looks of it . Not only that , the blood ritual has been stalled . It's like a rootless tree by this point . As long as we push a bit , it will crumble . -

Both the blood array and the soul-siphoning array have been stalled? - Ykrodas exclaimed with shock , unable to comprehend how one of his most daunting tasks had been completed just like that . - Are you sure? -

Chaos , - a snicker came from the side . - Chaos has arrived . -

Uona gleefully looked on as the two thorns in her side went all out in an effort to kill one another .

She still didn’t know if it really was Grandpa Nether who had helped her snatch that cursed thing , but the end result was even better than she’d expected . Perhaps it had been a trap by someone meant to put her on a path of no return , but she had luckily heard the tale of the fall of the two aberrations that had plagued the Multiverse in the early era of the System .

There was no way she'd drink from that poisoned well , but not all could resist its call . She could barely stop herself from laughing out loud when remembering how that arrogant ghost had demanded the corrupted remnant in return for allowing her into the City of Ancients . They had veritably hummed with greed upon sensing the unlimited potential for destruction hidden in the thing .

You thought you would be able to pull one over on me , little ghost? - Uona snickered . - See where that got you . -

They thought their souls so unique , able to resist the taint while extracting the remnant of its value . They hadn't hesitated to incorporate it into their soul-siphoning array to speed up the formation of the Soul Effigy , thinking it would both bolster their plans and stall hers . Fools . It had never been her intention to use that cursed item in her Blood Effigy .

Nothing good would come from getting mixed up with that ancient madness .

But it had become the perfect method for her to take out one of the biggest obstacles in performing her mission , and without overstepping the commandments in the slightest . What could Clan Ouro say after her grandpa snatched the opportunity of ascension , especially upon witnessing the recording of Eidolon fighting Draugr where both sides had descended into madness?

Those ghosts had just used that thing for a couple of weeks , yet they had already lost their rationality , becoming unwilling or unable to part with the remnant . Even in the face of an insane Draugr that had managed to harm her before .

What unable to extract it from the array? It was just an external source of power , as replaceable as the Nether Gems they used . What needing to wait for five hours? They were simply hoping that she'd show up and deal with the Draugr for them , but when since when was life so easy?

However , that damned Draugr was as unpredictable as ever . She had been elated to see him shedding all cordiality in his desire to gain the remnant , even surpassing her most optimistic scenarios of mutual destruction . But that madman possessed the power of both the aberrations . Was he actually striving toward that unachievable peak rather than the depths of Death?

Uona didn’t know how he was still alive , but he probably wasn’t long for this world . Even then , a sense of unease filled her as she looked at the transformation of the skill he used . Things were becoming harder and harder to predict with him acting like this , but one thing was sure .

She definitely couldn't let him get his hands on the splinter as well .

Deep thuds echoed from the ground as Zac rushed forward , finally moving from his hidden position at the edge of the cage . The prison was fast collapsing around him as he made a beeline toward the struggling skull , with the three pygmies flying in tow .

Their bones had turned into mottled pearls since Zac had found himself forced to fuse his Fragment of the Coffin into the defensive skill , and the shields that the coffin-bearing pygmy conjured became more and more distorted . However , while their form was starting to grow grotesque , their defensive properties were still top-notch .

Zac swiped his hand past the tower of desolation as he passed it by , and a shudder echoed out across the area before the foundation of the totem exploded . It had been reformed into a mix of ice and molten lead , and the collision of searing heat and chilling cold had resulted in a tremendous eruption .

The sky screamed and flashed in myriad colors as the totem pole started to topple , swinging the orb of Creation in a precipitous arc . Zac didn't so much as look back , but two of the chains of Love's Bond] had already attached themselves to the falling pillar , dragging it in the direction of the still-trapped skull .

Out of better options , Zac had decided to drag the sphere of Creation to the Eidolon if he couldn't drag the Eidolon to the sphere . The gargoyles locked to the totem pole were more than willing to help out as well , and they gleefully pulled at the golden chains even as they crumbled to dust one by one .

The Eidolon clearly understood the danger they were in , and torrential amounts of Miasma churned in the area as a fifty-meter wide seal appeared in front of the skull . Surrounding it were roughly one hundred aquamarine lights , each one of them containing a rune of their own . Zac's first instinct was that it was some sort of array , but he quickly realized it was an ultimate skill that the Hive had unleashed .

Darkness .

He was void of thought , void of purpose . He was just a flickering light , a spark in the endless darkness . He knew he was in the middle of something , but details became increasingly difficult to grasp . His step grew heavier as their purpose failed them . Why struggle?

A roar of Creation startled Zac awake , and he was shocked to see himself missing a hand along with big chunks of flesh on his torso . It looked like his body was simply turning to dust from the undulations of that terrifying seal . Just a fraction of a second had passed , but he had almost walked straight into the afterlife in one go .

Cold sweat ran down his back , but he couldn't stop now . Zac was forced to drink from that poisoned well yet another time as he combated the waves of destruction , and he quickly realized the attack thankfully wasn't powered by true Oblivion . It was 'just' an extremely powerful skill performed by a peak expert , which allowed him to regenerate quicker than he was being destroyed .

The pygmy skeletons didn't have the same luxury of nigh-endless supply of Creation , and they quickly crumbled under the might of the skill . But they had managed to help long enough , allowing Zac to reach his destination .

Veins stood out across Zac's face , and it felt he was pulling a mountain . The pillar was terrifyingly heavy , even after most of it had crumbled away already . But the radiant orb was just ten metes away from the huge rune by now , heading straight for the skull . Zac's arms suddenly turned into a blur as over ten balls flew out , each of them exploding in unison .

All ten of them were Void Balls] , ripping apart and sealing space all around them now that the cage was on the verge of collapse . A final eruption from the ghastly seal exhausted the 100-odd lights surrounding it , and Zac was almost blinded with pain as his body was completely lacerated once more .

However , the huge sphere of Creation refused to be destroyed . If anything , it almost felt enraged as it pushed into the seal . There was no explosion or outburst of chaotic powers , just an odd ripple as the sphere of Creation passed right through , and the seal was simply reduced to the same sort of dust that it had turned others into .

From there , the orb of creation slammed straight into the forehead of the skull . A thousand shrieks almost knocked Zac out once as he just reformed his broken body , but he wasn't the only one having a bad time . His bomb of Creation was exerting its terrifying influence on the skull , and Zac felt one wave of energy after another enter him as Eidolon succumbed to the attack in droves .

Suddenly , the skull simply disintegrated , and a handful of Eidolon desperately flew away , their intangible bodies chaotically shuddering as they tangled with an invasion of Creation . Aia Ouro was among those who had managed to survive , but they were clearly grievously wounded . Two more of the surviving Eidolon fell just a few meters away from where they started , but Zac wasn't interested in that .

A huge stack of talismans flew out from his sleeves , and a bone-chilling cold spread across the area , sealing even space itself as the temperature dropped to an almost unbearable degree . Simultaneously , Zac instilled his will into the crumbling sphere , forcing it to heed one last command of his .

The command wasn't to finish off the maimed spectral cultivators , but rather to flood down at a particular spot on the ground in the huge chamber they had fought inside . Zac's eyes lit up when he saw it was a success , and a stream of opalescence flooded toward the frozen spot . However , Zac didn't wait around to see the result , and instead activated Abyssal Phase] with the help of Force of the Void] , sparing no effort to increase his speed to the limit .

The area was a chaotic mess of broken space from the Void Balls] , frozen space from his talismans , and chaotic swirls of unfettered Creation left over by his attack . Turning into an abyssal wraith in a place like this was perhaps even more dangerous than doing so in the frenzied waters of the Twilight Chasm , but he knew he only had one shot at this .

The skull had collapsed , and he could vaguely spot the Blood Thrall in the heart of chaos . Unsurprisingly , he had died . His body was rapidly falling apart , partly because of the creation , but partly because of the remnant that hovered right next to him . Finally , Zac had finally found his opportunity , and he intended to take it .

But his heart filled with dismay as the disintegrating thrall suddenly melted into a pool of goop which in turn transformed into a maw . It swallowed the remnant in one gulp before it simply winked out of existence . The scene was extremely quick , to the point that it looked fast even in the slowed-down environment he experienced as a wraith .

Space cracked the next moment as a familiar figure stepped out from the void . The chaotic and frozen atmosphere that was meant to seal , or at least somewhat delay Uona Noz'Valadir had proven utterly incapable of stopping her , and Zac knew his gambit had failed . He immediately returned to his corporeal form a hundred meters away from the blood mistress .

So you had actually managed to spot me , how embarrassing , - a laugh echoed out across the hall as the Splinter of Oblivion appeared in a flash of blood .

Zac only grunted in response as he furiously looked at the vampire , or rather the remnant that hovered above her hand . Between his multiple layers of domains and the aura of Creation that had suffused the whole area , how could he miss there was another enemy hiding beneath the ground?

It was just a drop of blood hidden between two tiles , yet it wasn't enough to escape Zac's supercharged senses . He had tried to both directly attack her with the left-over Creation and seal her path to the Splinter of Oblivion while he took it for himself . But she had already been one step ahead of him , being able to use the dead thrall as a transportation device .

You lunatics , - an infuriated voice echoed out , and Zac frowned as he spotted Aia Ouro appearing in the distance .

Their shape was the same as when Zac saw them before , but their aura was extremely unstable . Not only that , but Zac could still sense remnants of Creation inside their body , which no doubt was a source of endless pain and trouble for a spectral cultivator .

You two are running rampant in this place , caring nothing about the law . We are here as subjects of the empire , and what kind of chaos are you sowing! - the ghost sputtered .

Truth is relative . We cannot let it be subject to the whims of the accuser , - Uona sneered . - Isn't that what the Grand Speaker of Hive Yso said when your ilk suddenly drew back on the battlefield , causing one Autarch to be crippled and over fifty Peak Monarchs to fall among the Eternal Clan? Who's to say what really happened here? -

You want to subvert the event?! Do you think Hive Ouro is going to stand for this?! - the ghost roared , and the whole building shook from their wrath .

Enough . You might have been a worthy foe on the outside , but in this environment , you were never my match , - Uona said . - And now , you have less than fifteen percent of your strength remaining . Go deal with that disgusting energy inside your body , or the situation might get even further out of your control . -

This is not over , - the Eidolon growled , but they still dissipated , leaving Uona and Zac behind .

This has gone on long enough , - Zag said with grit teeth . - We never had an irreconcilable grudge , and we don't have opposing goals . Give it to me and our Karma is severed . Make it any harder than it has to be , and only one of us will walk out of here alive . -

Well , you say that , - Uona smiled , though Zac actually felt it looked a bit strained . - Yet my instincts tell me that if I give you this thing , I will definitely die . Things have been set in motion , and they will have to reach their natural conclusion . -

Zac took a deep breath before he leveled an even gaze at Uona . Abyssal eyes gazed into two sanguine orbs , two fates that had somehow come to a collision course . As the heavens so often decreed , one would have to become fertilizer to the other's path .

Very well . -

Chapter 773 : A Seed of Fear

Two powerful auras clashed inside the enormous chamber , but Zac’s murderous intent and Dao were undeniably surpassed by Uona’s might . It was no surprise , considering she far surpassed him both on Dao and levels . She was a true Heaven’s Chosen , and she was even able to avoid part of the Twilight Energy’s restriction thanks to her heritage .

The blood mistress looked a bit different from the last time the two met . Her face was still as beautiful and ever , but two of her limbs were dark red and veiny , and Zac could feel how they lacked the spirituality of the rest of her body . It was no doubt a result of getting blasted with annihilation and having regrown the limbs using some sort of technique or healing pill .

Those limbs didn’t seem nearly as complete as his own regrown limbs , but the loss didn’t seem to have had much of an effect on her aura . Zac’s heart hammered as he looked around for a way to come out ahead , but he was instead coming up woefully short . No matter how he looked at it , his odds weren’t great .

He had expended more than half his Miasma already , and his biggest skill had been used up . The Shard of Creation was still churning out tremendous amounts of power , but he only had a quarter left of his Longevity Gem . Soon enough , he would have to pay with his life to keep using that cursed power .

Besides , he had already lost the element of surprise . He had been hoping to blast Uona with a surge of Creation , corrupting her blood in one go to seize an opening . But now , there was little chance of that happening . She clearly knew what the remnants were , and she would most likely figure out a way to minimize her exposure .

A seed of fear had taken root in his heart as he looked into the sanguine eyes of the vampire . This was one of the deadliest enemies he had ever faced . It almost felt like he was standing in front of that terrifying cyborg again , but there was little chance of Uona running out of life-span mid-fight .

But Zac pushed down the fear as he tightened the grip of his axe . He had managed to come up with a couple of gambits , but there was no telling if they would work . He would have to find the answer in the heat of the battle . The air exploded as Zac shot forward , a cascading wave of killing intent filling the air .

The domains of Fields of Despair] and Deathmark] were once more released , and the three pygmies had reformed behind his back . Zac noticed with some surprise that their auras had risen , while their bones had gained a dark shimmer . It wasn’t something related to Creation , but rather that the skill had actually evolved after the previous battle .

It wasn’t too surprising . He had used the skill quite a bit since entering the ocean . If anything , the upgrade was long overdue , even if E-grade skills took a lot longer time to evolve . It didn’t look like the evolution had added any new functions to the skill , but rather made it all-around stronger at the cost of slightly higher energy expenditure .

The evolution came at the right time as ten massive orbs of blood appeared in the chamber , forming a circle almost as big as the cage of Pillar of Desolation] . They looked like sanguine suns , drowning out the darkness of Deathmark] with a profane light . A stench of blood filled the air , and Zac suddenly found himself in a world of blood .

It was an illusory technique , yet it wasn't . It was a mix of real and fake , drowning out his senses while his domains were being dismantled . Oceans of blood had appeared all around him as thousands of streams filled his vision , but Zac ignored the confusion blur as he looked around to pinpoint Uona’s true location .

She had disappeared from her spot the moment the surroundings changed , proving that she didn’t want to fight him head-on . Unfortunately for her , Zac had a unique advantage in this case . No matter how strong her ability to restrain her aura , it didn’t affect the Splinter of Oblivion . It was like a lighthouse beacon in the world of blood , leading him in the right direction .

As he saw it , there were only two outcomes . Either Uona kept the remnant close to her , allowing him to locate her at any time . If she tried to hide it somewhere , like in a pocket of space , he would be able to snatch it , and hopefully manage to use its power to end the fight in one go .

Zac only managed to take a couple of steps toward the remnants before his mind screamed of danger , but the shield pygmy’s timing was impeccable . A shield rose the moment his Danger Sense warned him , blocking out a lance of blood . However , the spear was just the first of many , and Zac found himself bogged down as deadly attacks came from all around him .

It was the orbs of blood that were the source . They kept launching extremely powerful attacks while he was disoriented by the blood world . It was a highly effective cage , and it was pretty reminiscent of Zac’s own fighting style in this class . Still , with Zac’s extreme Luck , he had an early warning system , and it lasted him long enough to activate Abyssal Phase] without using his hidden Void Power .

His bloodline was his most important hidden card , and he would have to use his Void Emperor talents where it counted .

The world of blood was still there as his surroundings shifted , but it had at least slowed down remarkably , allowing Zac to freely flitter between the incoming spears as he closed in on the splinter . The chamber was just over five hundred meters wide , and it would take him less than a second to reach the seemingly unassuming pool of blood .

However , just as Zac was about to reach it , a shockingly poignant scream of mortal peril stopped him in his tracks . He hurriedly regained his corporeal form , just in time to turn Love’s Bond] into its shield form while also conjuring another coffin-shaped barrier above his head . It was just in time as well as a pillar of red light slammed into the pond with the remnant . Zac was right at the edge of the attack thanks to stopping in time , yet he found himself pushed to his knees by the pressure .

It felt like a Heavenly Punishment had descended from above , and the barrier of Profane Exponents] only managed to weaken the attack before cracking , letting the light spill down on Zac who held up his shield to protect himself . His whole body groaned as he strained under the pressure , but he didn’t even have time to figure out a way to move away before another pang of danger came screaming . He desperately tilted his body , but it wasn’t enough as his left lung was completely punched through by a dark-red spear .

It was better than getting a hole punched in his neck , which was where the skill was originally aimed . With the force contained in that stab , he might have been decapitated altogether , which was probably something that not even the Shard of Creation could fix .

This time , the attack wasn’t a skill , but it was rather Uona herself who had appeared . She had completely transformed , donning an exquisite plate mail of dark-red metal which covered her from head to toe . Even her fingers were protected by fine interlocking scales that would have no problem bending , and the only thing visible from her face was two dark-red lights shining through a slit in her helmet .

Zac could immediately tell that this wasn’t a skill like his own Vanguard of Undeath] , but rather extremely high-quality equipment . It was covered in dense sets of fractals , and Uona was clearly infusing it with a steady stream of Miasma and blood power . The armor had in turn pushed her aura to the next level , and Zac guessed that its defenses were no doubt were excellent as well , possibly even surpassing Love's Bond] .

Normally , people in the lower grades wouldn’t use such gear because of the massive energy requirements to keep it powered . One’s pathways simply couldn’t supply enough and still maintain combat effectiveness , turning skill summoning and energy circulation sluggish . That would do more harm than good , making it much more practical to use defensive talismans or barrier conjuring treasures like necklaces and rings .

Only at the D-grade would one’s pathways be widened and energy supply so great that you could equip proper war gear to boost both power and defenses , but it looked like there were some exceptions . Uona was somehow able to withstand the downsides of such demanding gear , which put Zac at even more of a disadvantage .

The pain of getting a hole punched straight through his lung was excruciating , but he found his opportunity to finally counter the blood mistress . A surge of Creation entered the vampire's spear , overwhelming and corrupting the innate ability of the weapon to block foreign Dao . The spear immediately started to distort , but Zac’s heart sunk when he only heard a snort from within the helmet .

The next moment , the spear simply exploded as Uona disappeared in a burst of blood , perfectly avoiding the fallout . Zac wasn’t as lucky , and deep scars covered his whole body as small spatial fractures lacerated him all over . Only then did he finally manage to get out from the restrictive light .

He realized he had mistaken Uona’s class . He already knew that most Eternal Clan members were Vitality-based cultivators , no matter if they leaned toward physical fighting as he did , or rather classical magic classes . Higher Vitality nurtured their blood , which in turn powered their class . Zac had figured she was a blood mage after their last battle , focusing on Vitality and Intelligence , but he was wrong .

She was a warrior just like himself . She had probably simply not bothered using her actual skills before , seeing no need to wield her spear . Uona was still not willing to stay in close-quarters with him though , probably out of fear that she’d get blasted by either Creation or Oblivion . That gave him a small breather to scramble back on his feet and reorient himself while activating Undying Mark] , but the situation wasn’t looking good .

While he had been stabbed , the splinter had been moved again . The signal now came from the opposite side of the blood world , and Uona was nowhere in sight . She was just like the spider waiting to strike , having completely seized the momentum . However , Zac noticed something interesting , and he started to formulate a battle plan .

The blood had lost some of its energy , meaning it probably took a decent toll to teleport something like a remnant . Meanwhile , she had this immensely powerful domain running , along with her war gear . She had to be expending tremendous amounts of energy every second , to the point it had to affect even a Heaven’s Chosen of a supreme race like the Eternal Clan .

As long as he could drag out the fight for a while , she should be losing steam soon enough . Problem was , he wasn’t really in peak condition either after dealing with both the thralls and the Eidolon . He could only pray that he’d last long enough to find some kind of opportunity . Until then , he would have to keep forcing her to expend more and more energy .

A storm of blood spikes was already bearing down on him , so Zac wasted no time as he started running again , this time staying in his corporeal form as he made a beeline for the splinter again . He felt a bit like a bull being played by a skilled matador , but the fact was that getting close to the splinter would force Uona’s hand .

She would either have to make an appearance and rebuff him or teleport the remnant away from him . In either case , it would put her on the defensive , forcing her to expend more of her energy . Meanwhile , there were still things to do even if he was unable to pinpoint Uona's exact location .

The four chains of Love's Bond] shot forward while Zac grew into the hulking five-meter behemoth of Vanguard of Undeath] . The skill was severely limited by this time since it was still in F-grade , but it at least provided both some protection along with a small attribute boost . Besides , it had one more very important use that might turn this fight around .

The skill did force him to use one of his spare shields since he wanted to keep his coffin in its offensive state , but it wasn't much of a bother . In fact , it allowed him to crush a few of the incoming blood spears , as long as he was careful to not take the hits straight on with the shield . After all , his spare shield was just a peak E-grade shield of decently sturdy materials and then reinforced by an F-grade skill .

Meanwhile , his chains shimmered with an opalescent oil as they punched into the thickest accumulations of blood energy Zac could pinpoint as he ran . The reaction from the pools of blood was immediate as they started to undergo frantic upheavals . It was no wonder - the chains were channeling Blighted Cut] which were in turn boosted by the Fragment of the Coffin and Creation .

Zac had already confirmed that creation was extremely effective against the blood thralls with their vibrant blood , and the blood arts of the Eternal Clan were connected to their Blood Essence somehow . Damaging the blood would harm Uona more than destroying most cultivators' skills would . It was one of the few detriments to the disgustingly blessed existence that was the Eternal Clan .

The reaction was almost immediate as Zac felt a scream of danger before he even had reached halfway to the splinter . Uona had appeared right behind him in a puff of blood , but Zac was ready this time . He swirled around , this time getting a grievous wound in his gut , narrowly avoiding getting his spine destroyed .

Uona didn't lack for spears it seemed as she used an identical one to the weapon she sacrificed before . The armor of Vanguard of Undeath] had been utterly incapable of even slightly impeding Uona's strike , but Zac had already been prepared to use this opportunity to trade strikes .

His reach was even greater than Uona's in his current form , thanks to his towering physique . His massive bardiche was even longer than Uona's spear , and it swung down straight toward her head in an effort to end the battle in one go . The edge also gained a sanguine glow and earth-shattering weight as Zac activated two of the fractals on Verun's Bite] .

The blood world was drowned in the bestial roar of Verun , but Uona had no intention of taking the herculean strike straight-on . Blood started to swallow her up to once more allow her to blend into the chaotic environment , but she suddenly stumbled as the blood world lost its luster . The movement skill failed , just as the bardiche was almost upon her .

It was Zac who had activated Void Zone] .

Zac had spent months of traveling alone in his submersible after leaving the chasm , and it had given him ample time to try out all kinds of things . He had performed hundreds of experiments with his recently gained Bloodline Talent to ascertain exactly what it could and couldn't do for him .

He had found a few interesting interactions , and one of them was related to Vanguard of Undeath] . The original Void Zone] had a radius of slightly over 2 meters around his body , which barely allowed him to inundate an enemy in a melee . However , when he activated the talent in his super-sized form , the aura's radius actually scaled perfectly with his increase in height .

With him going from 1 . 80 meters to a bit over 5 , so did the radius of Void Zone] expand to almost six meters at the cost of costing four times as much Void Energy . Another downside was that he lost his attribute buff from Vanguard of Undeath] and that the armor became useless , but that didn't matter to him since they weren't helping him any longer in either case .

What did matter was that it allowed him to completely surround the blood mistress in his nullification zone , robbing her of her skills . Zac couldn't activate any skills either , but his axe was already bearing down on his target . The sanguine luster had disappeared , and the weight had turned a bit hollow , but the swing would strike before the nullification zone managed to rob the axe of the empowerment completely .

At the same time , the thousands of patterns covering Uona's armor had dimmed down , meaning that its protective and empowering measures were just a shadow of its true force . Uona was frazzled by the mysterious change , but she still reacted quickly as her spear rose to guard against the incoming swing .

But the preparations were too different , and there was too little time for her to adjust . The axe came bearing down on her before she even had time to raise the spear , pushing it out of the way as the gleaming edge slammed into the armor with shocking force . The metal plates couldn't take the force and cracked as Uona wailed with pain , but Zac's full-powered attack didn't manage to kill her .

The blood mistress had managed to tilt her body to at least avoid getting her head crushed . The axe had instead cut straight through her left collarbone and continued toward her heart , but it didn't quite get there . Zac was burning with anxiety as he hurriedly swung again while Uona was blinded by pain , making use of the opening he had created by targeting the same spot .

The armor was far sturdier than Zac had anticipated even without any Miasma powering it , and the helmet looked at least three times as thick . Having felt the sturdiness of the equipment , he wasn't confident he could actually cut through it without Dao or skills , so he went for the heart instead of the head . The nullification zone had completely deactivated the skills of his axe by now , but the armor plating was completely broken through already .

The axe bit into flesh again , and he felt a surge of elation from Verun as it greedily swallowed blood while it dug deeper . However , a sense of extreme danger suddenly filled him . It felt like a primordial beast had awakened inside Uona's heart just as he was about to destroy it .

Zac didn't know what happened next . One moment he was standing above Uona , ready to finish the job . The next moment he found himself flying through the air as the ichor in his veins churned , almost like it was boiling . But one thing was clear by the lack of energy entering his body .

He had failed .

Chapter 774 : Overwhelmed

Pain ravaged Zac’s body as he soared through the air , and the armor of Vanguard of Undeath] had almost completely been blown apart , prompting the skill to deactivate . A wave of despair filled him as he tried to reorient himself . His trick with the supersized Void Zone] was his best idea to take out Uona .

It should have worked .

Just what was that primal anger? Was there something inside the blood mistress’ bloodline that had been triggered by his own Bloodline Talent? Or by the threat of death? It had unleashed a terrifying wave of energy , overpowering his nullification zone for an instant and setting his veins on fire .

Zac didn’t even have time to make sense of the situation before he felt a surge of primal danger again , and he hurriedly swung his axe toward his left . It was just in time as well , as Uona had appeared out of nowhere with a spear of blood in her hand . That wasn’t the only thing different thing about her either .

Until now , she had fought steadily and methodically , carefully dismantling his defenses and seizing the momentum while mostly avoiding the extreme dangers of his Creation energy . If he hadn’t managed to turn the tables with Void Zone] , she would have had a good chance to bleed him of his longevity before he managed to catch her .

She was like a spider in the web , turning Zac’s style against him , a seasoned warrior with experience in fighting powerful foes . But now , that image of a steady warrior was gone , replaced by something… demonic .

Swirls of tainted blood surrounded the blood mistress as she had appeared in the air next to him . Her eyes were like beacons , radiating waves of sanguine light . They were filled with an unquenchable hunger and bloodlust , and her aura was one of utter ruthlessness . There was no doubt about it ; Uona had entered some sort of berserking state at the threshold of true death .

The grievous wound by her shoulder was still there , but it looked like her torso was held together by a million small tendrils of blood that closed the wound with a speed visible to the naked eye . Her left arm still hung limply to the side though , but she had no problem wielding her spear solely in her left , and it drew a vigorous arc through the air straight toward him .

The two weapons clashed , and Zac was shocked at the power her attack contained . He was in an awkward position , unable to properly bring out all of his strength , but he was still shocked to find himself almost getting overwhelmed by brute force . Worse yet , Uona didn’t just display shocking strength , but she had also turned into a speed demon .

Her whole body turned into a blur the moment her first attack had failed , and Zac only had time to angle his axe before a ferocious swipe struck him from above . A wave of pain radiated through Zac’s arm as he was slammed into the ground below .

Zac’s body screamed in protest as he scrambled up on his feet . He had ample experience of getting flung like this , but it was a uniquely awful experience when the cobblestones were made from high-grade material . Normally , his body would win out in a clash between the ground and himself , but this time it was like getting punched a second time as he was forced to an abrupt stop when the stone refused to give way .

A primal sense of danger warned him that things had just begun , and a ruthless jagged edge shimmering in opalescence ripped the air in two as Zac activated Gorehew] and instilled it with the Branch of the War Axe . The shard was happily releasing more and more energy , and Creation had entered the blade as well . It might look like the remnant was helping him cope with a powerful foe , but Zac knew the truth wasn’t quite so benign .

This was what the remnants did .

Unfettered creation and change , no matter the cost . The shard had been locked down for months , but now it found a continuous outlet of creation . Zac could feel how the corruption was burrowing deeper into his body with every expenditure . The remnant probably wanted Zac to keep fighting until he was just a husk without a shred of remaining life span . At that point , it would find the next power source to continue to fuel its work .

A bloody spear clashed with the jagged edge of Gorehew] , unleashing a shockwave that swept clean any lingering remnants of the domain skills of the two . The blood world had broken apart when Uona lost connection to her Miasma , and Zac’s domains had already been ripped apart by the blood mistress .

He considered unleashing them again , but he ultimately decided against it . They wouldn’t do much in a struggle like this , and they might prompt Uona to unleash her own skills again . Even if her power was scary , it was preferable that she had decided to come into melee range like this . This way he could whittle her down like always , so he was better off saving his energy for where it could make a difference .

With his two feet firmly on the ground , Zac managed to unleash a lot more power in his swing . Furthermore , the miasmic edge of Gorehew] was essentially cursed with Creation , prompting every strike to leave some taint behind .

However , Uona was clearly holding nothing back . Her weapon had been protected by a churning swirl of mottled blood , and the moment the taint of the remnant entered it , she had unhesitantly discarded it . The blood was flung tens of meters away , where it was free to morph and distort without affecting Uona at all .

The spear she used in the exchange remained unsullied that way , and Zac could see that it was a true high-quality item this time around , rather than another of her expendable spears . It put him under greater pressure , but Zac could only keep going , struggling along until the vampire ran out of blood .

Uona didn’t seem intent on backing away at all any longer . She had already begun her second attack as she rid herself of the tainted blood , and the spear was just a blur by this point as a bladed spearpoint rushed toward Zac’s throat . Zac felt like he was dancing right at the precipice of disaster , but he forewent blocking the attack , instead only slightly tilting his head .

A flash of heat erupted as the spear barely managed to tear a small wound in Zac’s throat , and he growled with pain as he pushed past the spear toward the exposed belly of the blood mistress . However , her armored form was like a blur , and Zac was forced to stop his lunge to avoid a kick that contained enough power to kick his head clean off .

A bone spear suddenly shot out from Zac’s elbow as he dodged the spear , heading straight toward Uona’s gut . It was filled with Creation , like a poisoned needle aimed to debilitate . The vampire didn’t actually seem surprised though , and the butt of the spear was somehow already crashing down at the bone spur , breaking it apart .

Zac’s furiously swung his axe in an upward arc , hoping to at least maim the leg of hers that still retained all of its energy . But Uona overcame that as well by actually releasing the grip of her weapon and using Zac’s own momentum to push herself to the side , narrowly avoiding the bladed edge .

He had somewhat hoped she’d use some sort of blood skill to block his attack , which would have allowed him to once more make use of Void Zone] , but she wasn’t using any skills at all , probably for that very reason . Zac could still use skills though , and the three pygmies suddenly appeared behind his back .

The teeth at the back of Verun’s Bite] ripped toward Uona’s arm as a coffin barrier appeared to block her swing . However , Zac’s eyes widened in horror when the whole area changed at the exact moment the barrier appeared . It was he had been transported to hell as dozens of tendrils of condensed blood shot toward him .

There was no way for him to avoid all those attacks , and he hurriedly activated Void Zone] again . The spears lost their vigor as they lost the connection to Uona , but his own skill didn’t fare any better . The skeletons turned faded , and even an offhand swing of uona would be able to pierce right through it .

She had been waiting for him to activate skills of his own , just to counter him this way . Unfortunately for her , she didn’t know that he wasn’t as restrained as she was . The weakened barrier broke as Uona’s spear pushed down toward Zac’s throat , but another barrier appeared immediately after , this full of vigor and emitting an ancient aura .

Zac had resummoned Profane Exponents] with the help of Force of the Void] , just like he had when he first figured out the talent , allowing him to retain its strength even while Void Zone] was running . Meanwhile , four chains pushed forward , each of them dripping with corrosion and Creation .

The blood mistress’ armor managed to block two of the chains , but one managed to puncture it through at a seam , while the final one entered the previously damaged part to unleash its unstable payload . Meanwhile , Zac continued his own swing , punching two deep holes straight in her chest with the teeth that served as Verun’s counterweight .

The vampire screamed in pain , but she ferociously swung her spear with such vigor that Zac was forced back while the two chains that had embedded themselves in her were broken apart . Uona hurriedly backed away the moment Zac was pushed back , and Zac’s eyes widened as two fountains of blood gushed out from where the links of Love’s Bond] had attacked her .

It was not just a trickle , but rather hundreds of liters that were somehow being expelled from her body . Unfortunately , the scene managed to extract all of his Dao and Creation Energy he had managed to infuse into her body as well .

I don’t know what allows you to shield the area from the Heavens themselves , - an emotionless voice emerged from within Uona’s helmet . - But it will not save you . Nothing is infallible . -

Zac only sneered in return , but her proclamation was quickly proven somewhat prophetic . He tried similar combo attacks again , but Uona had figured out that nullification zone was only so big . The moment Zac activated the Bloodline Talent , she forcibly stepped back and unleashed a barrage of blood at him in return .

He simply couldn’t restrain her while she was inside the field , the power gap was just too big . The combination of Force of the Void] and Void Zone] did at least allow him to fight somewhat evenly against the otherwise superior Heaven’s Chosen .

Even then , Zac found himself desperately fighting just to hang on . Uona was fighting like she was possessed , holding nothing back as she pushed and pushed to rip him apart . Zac tried to fight back with the inexorable stance he had formed over the past years , but how could he start restraining Uona when she both outmatched him in skill and attributes?

It felt like she had six arms as she weaved her spear in an everchanging arc of death , and even if he managed to restrict her weapon , a terrifyingly powerful punch or kick with a bladed boot would put him in his place . Zac was getting overwhelmed even if he fought with everything in his arsenal .

The chains of Love’s Bond] were ripping through the air in deadly arcs to restrain and strike the vampire from behind , but it was like Uona had eyes in the back of her head . Small condensed spears appeared out of nowhere slammed into the chains just as they were about to hit her , and they contained such power that Zac felt his Spirit Tool taking continuous damage .

Zac even started to wonder if she had even higher luck than himself going by her reaction time . He kept activating Void Zone] to catch her off-guard , but after the first time , she reacted immediately . He also unleashed sudden bursts of creation in all sorts of ways , even turning a chunk of his flesh into a cannonball to shoot into her , trying to counter skill with chaos .

But nothing worked .

Any time he managed to infuse some Creation into her body , she immediately expelled ten people’s worth of blood . At the same time , the blood she had thrown away after clashing with his Creation-infused axe swings was enough to fill an Olympic pool .

Zac didn’t understand how this was possible . Was there no limit to how much energy and blood she was able to expend? He pushed Cosmic Gaze] to the limit and he found a clue mid-clash . There were two surges of Blood Energy every time she discarded a fountain of blood . One came from within her heart , making it look like she expended her Essence Blood to keep fighting .

But the second energy burst indicated that might not be the whole story . It was minute to the point that Zac wouldn’t have sensed it at all if not specifically looking for it , and it came from quite far away . It came from the direction of the blood sphere .

Was Uona somehow using the collected blood of the Blood Effigy to keep fighting? How was that possible? His thought swirled as he kept his pitched battle going , and he suddenly came to a realization . The purpose of the blood effigy was to link the Divine Monarch outside with the Mystic Realm , and what better way than to link a Blood Effigy and a blood cultivator than with the Bloodline of the Eternal Clan?

Uona had probably activated whatever link would be used during the ascension , siphoning blood just as it would siphon a whole realm in the future .

The more he thought about it , the more sense it made , but that also meant he was in deep trouble . He had seen how much energy that sanguine egg hovering in the air contained . He would be long dead before he managed to exhaust it all . He needed to change tactics .

Zac suddenly roared as a burst of unfettered creation was expelled from his body , ripping apart the surroundings . Uona was rampaging , but she still had enough state of mind to not needlessly take such a chaotic burst straight in the face . She flashed away to avoid the shockwave , giving Zac time to follow up on his plan .

He fled .

For the first time since kicking the large door open , Zac once more found himself outside the huge chamber after having turned tail the moment he unleashed a barrage of Creation . The square was empty , and who knew where the Eidolon had fled after getting themselves almost killed . That meant Zac wouldn’t get overrun by another angry Heaven’s Chosen , but that didn’t improve his situation much .

Getting out of the building only changed his surroundings .

It’s futile , - the demonic voice of Uona echoed out from behind , but she didn’t get the chance to continue before a primordial roar echoed out across the massive square .

The next moment , a massive hyena slammed into the blood mistress in a bout of unmatched ferocity . It was Verun who finally had made its appearance , and it almost looked like the Tool Spirit had taken a berserking pill . A storm of blood surrounded it , and its body was a mix of chaotic energies as it tried to rip its enemy apart .

Interestingly enough , it had also undergone slight alterations since appearing last . After absorbing that dense bone , the spirit had become more congealed . It felt a lot more like an actual beast now , and there was far greater heft behind its swipe as it stuck Uona’s spear with such force that she was pushed back into the building .

Not only that , but the mottled pattern of red streaks that covered its body ever since swallowing the dragon’s blood had changed a bit . There were golden spots in the red , and the same was true for the bloody swirls that surrounded its legs . It was almost like the blood inside the beast’s body was becoming like Billy’s in his titanic state , but Zac knew the sources were different .

The origin of the golden power wasn’t a result of swallowing Uona’s blood , but it rather came from the experiences in the valley . Zac could sense pure life inside the blood .

Verun pushing back Uona gave Zac the breather he desperately needed , and he stuffed three pills into his mouth as he kept running . Two surges of energy immediately filled him with vigor . The lesser of the two was his highest-quality Soldier Pill , a quasi D-grade pill that would restore over 30% of his maximum reserves over the next minute .

The far more ferocious surge was actually something made from a Rageroot Oak Seed] , and it immediately pushed his strength to the next level . Initially , Zac would have preferred to avoid using a pill like this in the Twilight Ocean . After all , even if it managed to help him take out Uona , there were still Aia Ouro and thousands of other powerhouses lurking in the area .

He was taking a huge gamble by eating this , that he would be able to hide away while he endured the terrifying backlash after the effect ended . After all , turning the seed into a pill had simply made the thing easier to swallow . It did nothing to reduce the drawbacks of the item . Zac immediately felt a bout of madness gripping his mind , to the point he almost turned around to charge the vampire who shot out through the building again .

Thankfully , the third pill had dissolved by that point , and he felt his mind clearing up again . It was a pill that helped dispel various negative mental states . Together with his empowered soul , it allowed him to endure the mental decay that had turned him into a raging lunatic when fighting the blacksmith golem in Brazla’s trial .

A pained yowl echoed out behind him as he felt a good chunk of Verun’s energy being expended . The Tool Spirit was extremely ferocious , but it was ultimately not a match to a peak E-grade Heaven’s Chosen . It flashed back and forth , but it only managed to slightly impede the vampire as she strove to catch up .

Finally , it couldn’t take it any longer and unleashed a cascading wave of bloodlust and blood that slammed into Uona , stopping her in her tracks for an instant . Zac felt the Tool Spirit return into the axe with a mix of exhaustion and reluctance , but it had accomplished the task of giving Zac the headstart he needed .

Stop! - an enraged scream echoed out , but the pills had been absorbed already , and Zac turned into an abyssal wraith .

A thousand spears shot toward him , but he wasn’t as easy to take down as when they fought in the chasm . Now , Abyssal Phase] had already reached late mastery , and his attributes had been boosted by almost 30% by the berserking treasure . It gave him enough speed to avoid most of the spears , though he still found the edges of his intangible form damaged .

Soon enough , it became untenable to keep the skill going , but by that time he had already reached his target . It wasn’t the gate through which he had entered the massive compound , but rather the 10-meter ball of blood hovering above a building very similar to the one he had just emerged from .

Zac had never planned on actually escaping from Uona . But since she kept getting powered by this thing , his best course of action was to cut off her power at the source . As long as he could destroy this thing with a burst of Creation , she’d run out of blood energy soon enough . Besides , there had to be a price to be paid for continuously drawing power as she did .

Hopefully , she’d be hit by a backlash the moment this thing blew up .

Damage that thing and you will make an enemy of the whole Eternal Clan! - Uona screamed in anger as she closed in on him like a hurricane of blood .

Since when has Draugr feared a bunch of bloodsuckers? - Zac snorted as he punched his whole arm into the huge sanguine orb .

Chapter 775 : Overextended

Stop! - Uona screamed again , but Zac ignored her as he unleashed a storm of Creation into the sphere .

At the same time , he threw out dozens of Void Balls] with his free hand , turning the whole area around him into a veritable minefield to hamper the vampire’s advancement . It looked like the whole mystic realm was about to break apart as a wall of spatial tears covered the whole area , but even such a dangerous scene didn’t stop Uona in her tracks .

She unleashed an unhinged cascade of blood that rippled forward , and one tear after another was destabilized and crushed by the torrential amounts of energy . Zac’s looked on at the scene with shock , swearing at the shard to work quicker as he secured his position with the chains of Love’s Bond] .

The pygmies had appeared once more , and the two defensive pygmies were immediately forced to work overtime . While the wave of blood crushed the nigh-impassable shroud of spatial tears , some blood bullets managed to pierce through , heading straight toward Zac with enough force to blast a hole straight through solid steel .

The black shroud of the third pygmy shot back and forth , constantly losing some of its mass to slightly redirect the projectiles . They were filled with some sanguine Dao , but Zac thankfully didn’t need to adjust their trajectory overly much . Just a little bit was enough to have them shoot into the sphere instead of him , and the ones who couldn’t be diverted were blocked by a coffin barrier that just covered his front .

There was some sort of inner barrier that shielded the core of the blood sphere . It heroically resisted the corruption while the outer layer of supercondensed blood started to morph into everything from base elements to soulless creations that almost felt like a mockery of life . Most shockingly , over thirty bodies were formed , and they fell down and smashed into the roof below .

Zac didn’t recognize a single one of them , but he didn’t believe they were random faces wrought from nowhere . More likely , they were soulless clones of people who had fallen in the City of Ancients . Some of their lingering spirituality had been dragged here along with their blood , becoming a source of inspiration to the torrent of Creation .

A few of them shuddered and moved , but Zac felt a deep sense of wrongness when he looked at them flop about on the ceiling below . They were alive , yet they weren’t . It was just like what that old man in the shard-vision had come to realize . The life created by the Shards of Creation was hollow , soulless .

It was perhaps possible for the Dao of Creation could create true life , but it wasn’t possible for some remnant shards at least . Perhaps , that was the domain of the Heavens alone . Of course , unraveling the truth of Creation wasn’t a priority right now . He struggled to control the ebullient Creation Energy to break apart the inner restrictions of the sphere , and a wave of relief filled Zac’s heart when he sensed the barrier finally give way .

Most likely , that barrier would have been able to take an all-out strike of either him or Aia Ouro . Uona might even have somehow infused it with the ability to withstand an Annihilation Sphere . But Creation didn’t destroy , it changed , and there was no way for Uona to have known he had this ability when setting up the defensive restrictions around the effigy .

A small breach had been formed when the base nature of the core was forced to transform , and Zac didn’t need to exert any effort to usher the Creation Energy as it stormed into the heart . It was already attracted by the extremely powerful energy signature that had started to leak , and it rushed into the opening like a starving beast .

No! - Uona screeched , but it was too late .

A shockwave erupted and threw Zac hundreds of meters away , and he groaned in pain when he flew straight through the gauntlet of bloody attacks . Even activating Void Zone] wasn’t enough because of his momentum , and new wounds accumulated as he was hit by one bloody bullet after another .

Next came the spatial storm , but his Bloodline Talent was thankfully able to rapidly weaken the spatial turbulence as he shot through it and into the storm of blood . Fear filled his heart as he essentially was inside one of Uona’s skills , and he kept expelling creation energy even at the cost of his life . The vampire didn’t actually counter , and he shot out through the other end of the bloody tide , leaving a scene of utter chaos behind .

His ears were ringing sound from the impact of the shockwave , but he could still hear the pained screams from the Heaven’s Chosen , which explained why Uona seemed incapable to retaliate at the moment . Zac slammed down on the ground , and the churning heat from the Rageroot Oak Seed] was the only thing that allowed him to stay conscious and crawl back on his feet once more .

His left arm was broken , along with a couple of ribs , but he had already expended all his charges of Undying Mark] . He grimaced as he used some more Creation Energy , and he was beset by that deathly sense of hollowness . Most people would be able to increase their lifespan after finding a rare treasure like the Longevity Gem , yet he had lost at least a century since picking up the shard .

He briefly wondered if he would even be able to enter the Radiant Temple any longer . They probably had some arrays to measure age over there . Would such an array call him a centennial by now? After all , this wasn’t the first time he had been forced to use up some of his lifespan . Altogether , it had to be close to two hundred years lost , just below a tenth of his expected lifespan .

Zac would get another burst of longevity after forming his core , and another one every time he improved it to the next stage . But he had entered a somewhat hopeless spiral where he encountered situations where he was forced to give up more and more of his life to cinch a path to survive . The sacrifice had at least allowed him to keep going a bit longer , and he rushed toward the blood mistress who had fallen down on the ground .

A huge pool of blood had formed around her , but it didn’t look like a skill this time around . She was bleeding from both her ears and her nose , and her aura had become not only a lot weaker but also extremely unstable . The splinter was left in the building far behind him , but Zac still rushed toward Uona .

Killing the scion wasn’t his ultimate goal , but there was no telling if trying to seize the remnant would work even if it might seem like an opportunity had presented itself . If Zac didn’t seize this opening to finish her off , he might never get the chance again . What if she was still able to transport the remnant away in a puff of blood? Killing her was the only real option for accomplishing his goal .

However , Uona wasn’t completely out of the count , and she struggled back to her feet and started running . She didn’t run toward Zac in an effort to strike back at the one who had foiled her plans . She was rather running toward the rapidly distorting Blood Effigy .

The huge egg of blood had grown to over fifteen meters across after Zac had infused the storm of Creation , and it was undergoing rapid upheavals . It wasn’t just in shape , though it did twist and distort like something was trying to break out . Its aura kept changing as well . It could release a wave of scorching heat for a second , only for the deep sanguine aura to return the next moment .

There was a clear struggle between the Path of Blood and the everchanging nature of Creation , and Zac knew that every transformation would rob the effigy of some of its original purpose and energy . It was probably this that Uona was trying to stop , and Zac inwardly cursed after not being able to catch up to her , even after activating Abyssal Phase] with Force of the Void] .

She had risked everything to unleash some sort of blood-based escape art , turning into a stream that shot straight into the huge blood egg with almost impossible speed . Even worse , Zac suddenly sensed two bursts of blood energy ; one from within the sphere , and another one from behind where the splinter resided .

His suspicions were immediately confirmed when he sensed that the splinter’s presence was inside the blood orb now , instead of behind him . She had been able to transport the splinter all along , which meant he had made the right decision in ignoring it . Unfortunately , it didn’t help him much at the moment , considering he knew that Uona wasn’t up to any good .

Zac didn’t need to wait long to find out what the blood mistress was planning . The huge egg suddenly exploded , and chaotic currents of sanguine energy ripped into Zac and forced him out of his intangible form . A wave of pain threatened to knock him clean out even if a storm of liquid fire churned through his veins , but Zac barely held on as he grimly looked at what had appeared in the bloody sphere’s stead .

It was a grotesque miscreation that looked more like a demonic effigy than an avatar of the Eternal Clan . Its face was completely distorted with seven eyes and three mouths , each of them having pocked tongues reaching almost all the way to the ground . The thing had no legs as it hovered in the air . Instead , there was just a fleshy mess that dangled down like a cursed dress .

Its torso was unnaturally wide as well , making its form resemble a downward-pointing triangle . Instead of arms , the creature had hundreds of long tentacles . It was impossible to tell the thing was corporeal or blood taken shape just by observing the thing , and Zac had no idea if this was the intended look of the Blood Effigy or the result of his interference . But the undeniable truth was that his attempt to destroy it had failed .

It did however radiate an extremely unstable aura tainted by both the remnants , and going by Zac’s experience with Oblivion and Creation , it wouldn’t last more than a couple of minutes before collapsing . It was those minutes that would decide whether he lived or died .

A plop was followed by a wet thud as Uona was discarded from the effigy and dropped onto the hard cobblestone below , her body looking extremely drained . If Zac had sensed her aura on the outside at the moment , he would have guessed she was just a peak F-grade cultivator . Most of her armor was destroyed as well , perhaps the result of meddling with the Splinter of Oblivion .

She weakly looked up at Zac , the hatred in her eyes so powerful that it almost had taken tangible form . Zac hesitantly looked at her for a second , before his gaze shifted to the effigy again . The splinter was inside , and he had made his decision . Going by the unstable aura , the effigy would collapse soon enough . He just needed to keep his distance until that time .

But the ghastly creation was clearly of another mind , and dozens of its tentacles suddenly rose into the air as they started to vibrate like tuning rods . Zac looked on with shock as the whole sky turned red while the Twilight Energy in the area started to change . At the same time , the ground rumbled like an earthquake was about to occur .

Zac’s eyes widened as large wounds started to appear across his body , like the air itself was a lethal weapon . He even felt the ichor in his body being dragged out , forcing him to hurriedly heal the wounds with even more Creation energy . He also started rotating the Fragment of the Coffin to strengthen his skin , but the efficacy was subpar at best .

Whatever the Blood Effigy was doing , it was beyond his ability to stop . Zac didn’t know if it was a domain skill or if the thing was impacting the Mystic Realm itself . Whichever were the case , he knew he was in deep trouble . Even the rampaging shard seemed to be a bit subdued by the avatar hovering in the distance .

Without hesitation , Zac started to run , this time fleeing for real . He didn’t dare to activate his movement skill considering the environment , and he pushed his legs to their limits as he rushed toward the gate in the distance . But Zac only got a hundred meters before huge red fractals appeared , crushing his hopes of escape .

The huge jagged edge of Gorehew] appeared , infused with panic and Creation as it slammed into the bloody mark . It shuddered a bit , but just like how Uona had dealt with Creation Energy , so did the fractal . It simply shot out a deluge of tainted blood straight in Zac’s face , pushing him back tens of meters . When Zac got the blood out of his eyes , he saw that the barrier hadn’t weakened at all .

He knew he either had to swap over to his human side and unleash a more powerful strike or use his Annihilation Sphere if he wanted a chance to escape . Unfortunately , there wasn’t time to charge up either as his mind screamed of mortal peril . The effigy had somehow closed in on him in an instant , without as much as a ripple of energy .

Dozens of blood tentacles were already shooting toward him , and Zac desperately started to swing his axe to stave off the assault . He fought with everything he had , but the appendages were intangible and regrew faster than Zac could destroy them . At the same time , one of the mouths of the effigy opened and released a huge storm of chaotic blood in his direction .

A black haze of the pygmy skeleton tried to swallow the sanguine tempest , but the skeleton pygmy’s attempt to relocate the attack proved fruitless , which wasn’t a surprise considering it was imbued with god-knows how much energy . Furthermore , it was instilled with a sublime Dao related to blood , its stage clearly surpassing his own Dao Branch .

Out of options , Zac prepared to unleash another huge wave of Creation at the risk of irrevocably harming his foundations . But suddenly , a shudder rippled through the coffin on his back as he felt the lid open on its own . Zac’s eyes widened in alarm as he saw the enormous avatar of Alea make her appearance . She had actually activated Death’s Embrace] on her own , the defensive skill engraved on the lid .

Alea looked a bit different this time around , just like Verun did before . She was bigger for one , containing far more energy compared to before . This wasn’t a surprise , considering how he had fed her thousands of Twilight Fruits along with the Life-Death Pearls . She had even absorbed quite a bit of the extremely condensed energy inside the valley back then .

It would be shocking if she hadn’t grown stronger , especially now that she was at the precipice of waking up .

That wasn’t the only change . Just like with the primordial hyena , hazy markings now covered her skin , markings that resonated with his path . It was Death , pure death as he had envisioned it during the chaotic events inside the valley , where he had denounced Twilight and confirmed his truth . This understanding was mirrored across Alea’s body , though it was just in an embryonic state .

However , even if Alea felt a lot more powerful this time around compared to when she protected him against the Lich King , Zac still wasn’t elated to see her appear . Normally , a Peak-quality and peak-grade F-grade Tool Spirit would be enough for any battle in the E-grade , especially when activating a powerful spell with a long cooldown like this .

But this battle had far surpassed what could be expected in the E-grade . Even early-stage Hegemons would find themselves unable to contend in a struggle like this unless they had some extremely powerful tools that could make full use of their energy stores .

Yet she held on , trying to take on more and more harm as her arms were held in a wide embrace . She didn’t only block the bloody storm , she also attracted the tentacles that now hid within . More and more blood was contained and condensed into a sphere of extremely condensed energy , but Zac saw that it didn’t come without a price .

One crack after another appeared on the coffin lid as similar cracks appeared on Alea’s avatar , ample proof that this situation was beyond what she could handle . A pained grimace appeared on her face , but she still held on . Fury and helplessness filled Zac’s heart as he scrambled for a solution .

He needed power . One final burst to turn the tides . And he knew where to find it . He had held off on it since there was no going back from this , but if he hesitated longer , Love’s Bond] would break apart . From there , he’d just last a few seconds longer , especially if that ball Alea had condensed erupted .

A crack echoed in his mind out as a fractal of the prison in his mind crumbled . A deluge of stocked-up and unfiltered energy stormed into his mind like rain in a parched desert . The two remnants didn’t wait for even a second as they escaped the cage that had held them prisoners since forming the first Glimpse of Chaos .

The splinter rushed out with the most urgency , desperately avoiding the other two remnants as they both set off in pursuit . All three of the remnants exuded huge amounts of energy , instilling Zac with a cursed power . Seeing the cracks on the coffin lid and the pained visage of the avatar had completely infuriated Zac , easily overpowering the mind-calming concoction he swallowed earlier .

He shot forward , passing the avatar as he entered the storm of blood himself . It tried to rip him apart , but he was unstoppable now that he had paid the ultimate price for strength . Either he would seize the splinter , or his body would explode from the situation inside his body . A huge imbalance had already been formed , where the crashing waves of creation were almost about to completely surround the struggling splinter .

The two captive remnants had been continuously drained and restrained over the past years , but the second shard was like a wild bucking horse filled with vigor . Furthermore , the two shards had formed some sort of resonance , where their proximity empowered one another as they drew even more energy from the void .

The splinter wouldn’t last long , but it had started to vibrate ominously , clearly intent on going out in a final blaze of glory . Zac couldn’t let that happen . He roared as he tried to impose control . His mind felt like it was being stabbed by needles as he forcibly took charge of the bucking energies , but he still managed to throw them out of his body to counter the effigy .

There was no time to form any Marks of Creation or Annihilation Spheres . Every outburst came at the cost of his essence , no matter if it was body or spirit . A wave of unfettered creation ripped the storm of blood apart , and Zac was like a ghastly specter as he obliterated space itself as he moved forward in its wake , removing the distance between himself and the avatar .

The three bloody tongues moved with impossible speed to impale his body , but he didn’t even register the pain as he furiously dug into the effigy , willing to sacrifice his body as long as he could reach his goal . He dug deeper and deeper , and finally , his hand seized a bucking gemstone at the effigy’s core .

The last time he had been mesmerized , tricked into putting the Splinter of Oblivion against his head . This time , he acted willingly , desperately even . A fourth surge of power joined the previous three , forming a precipitous balance in the chaos .

Zac directed one final hateful glare in Uonas’s direction as the world slowed down and his consciousness was whisked away .

Chapter 776 : Ripples on the Lake

A slow but steady heartbeat echoed out throughout the void , each thump vibrating with the primordial Dao . For untold ages , the Heart of Oblivion] grew , with each cycle inching closer to that impossible threshold .

Worlds were destroyed with a single breath , reality itself turned to ash with a thought . Its desire was the Heavens and its will the Earth . But as the heart great grew more powerful , so did its hatred . Not even Oblivion could overcome the ancient Law of Balance , and every end had its price .

Worlds were destroyed with a single breath , but the young replaced the old . The heart was angry , but also relieved . After all , without the cycle of Samsara , endless oblivion would be impossible . So it moved through the cosmos in search of more sustenance to fuel its curse .

Hatred . Destruction . Desire . The heart beat , its madness spreading toward every corner of the myriad planes . Oblivion was never over .

—————–

Why was she here? Her thoughts felt sluggish as she looked around at the vast battlefield below . Tens of thousands of fallen warriors littered the ground , and she felt a weak recollection as she looked at the insignia on their arms .

Her gaze shifted , turning to the wretched creatures who must have had been the enemies of the fallen soldiers . Many of them sported wounds that no doubt was left by the people’s army . At the same time , there were dozens of large swathes of nothingness , where neither soldier nor invader had fallen . The only clues that it wasn’t a random occurrence were the cut-off bodyparts lining the edge of those zones , along with a sense of familiarity she couldn’t place .

She didn’t know why , but a surge of anger filled her as she looked at the ugly faces of those things that had fought against the soldiers . Humans , they were called , she suddenly recalled . She waved her hand , and nothingness followed . Hundreds of bodies were erased , never to sully her gaze again as another zone of nothingness appeared .

Wavemistress Warna! You are alive! - a call came from behind .

Warna , that seemed familiar , she thought as she slowly turned to the source of the sound . There were two of them , and they were the same as the soldiers , wearing identical clothes and sporting the same sort of wounds . The one on the left sparked some sort of recollection , but it felt like a haze that dispersed as quickly as it appeared .

These two were different .

While the others were perfectly content in perpetual nothingness , these two were vibrant , a blemish on the quietude around her .

You are different , - she slowly said , voicing her displeasure .

Different? - the man to the left said , his tentacles shuddering hesitantly . - What do you mean? Are you okay , mother? What is this aur- -

Another wave , and the battlefield was quiet once more . She nodded with contentment as she closed her eyes , melding with the nothingness . But even as lay down among the others , a lingering question refused to be erased .

Who am I?

———————–

Despair filled his heart as he ran through the narrow streets , his gaze fearfully turning toward the sky in search of his pursuers . How had things come to this? He hadn’t wished for too much . He had just wanted to claim a small piece of the sky for himself , joining those beings in their floating palaces .

But things had gone out of control almost immediately after finding that cursed gemstone in the depths . Power beget power , and as he waved his hands , the heavens cried while he reaped the rewards . But the whispers of destruction had been too much . It was never enough , and it all felt like a nightmare when he looked back at his gruesome struggle for wealth and power .

Had it been him? Had it been the gemstone? He couldn’t even remember what his true nature was anymore . It had all been twisted and muddied as he reached for the stars . Suddenly , he found his escape blocked as a huge golden barrier had appeared in front of him while an overwhelming pressure bore down on his shoulders .

They had found him .

It’s futile , destroyer , - the man said . - Your path ends here . -

He looked up at the warriors in their glistening equipment , radiant beings that seemed to be one with the Heavenly Dao . This was what he had wished for . To become one of these celestial beings . Yet they looked at him with loathing , with scorn , even though he wielded power comparable to their own .

He didn’t remember what he had been so regretful about any longer . Rage bubbled in his heart as he gazed into those loathsome eyes that were filled with condescension . As long as they were destroyed , the sky would be clear once more .

—————

The Shard of Creation had shown Zac visions of desire , and the inevitable price of giving in . The splinter instead showed him visions of despair , how all dreams turned to dust eventually . Every step forward was paid with your spirit until there was nothing left to be had . Some had fallen into madness quickly , as he almost had after taking on the first splinter .

Others had held on , but they didn’t notice how pieces of their humanity had been stripped away bit by bit . Eventually , they became hollow , mindless killing machines who only sought to destroy . Seeing those visions made Zac feel a sense of dread since most of the people hadn’t sensed their spirits decaying .

Was he the same?

Every time he had used the tainted energies of the Shard of Creation , he had felt how some of his lifespan was being stolen . Meanwhile , he had thought the price for using the energy of the splinter was simply the bouts of murderous intent . But what if there was more? How would he know if he had lost something?

Perhaps , whole facets of his personality that were gone , sacrificed for power during his struggles over the past years . It was undeniable that he was colder and more murderous today compared to the early days of the integration . He had thought it was an unavoidable result of being thrust into the madness that was the Multiverse , but there might have been more to it .

No , it shouldn’t be . Even if he had been robbed like the people in the visions , it couldn’t have been too much . The splinter had always been caged since day one , in contrast to the two shards who both had spent some time rampaging freely inside his body . He probably hadn’t actually suffered the same fate as those in the vision , considering he had almost only dealt with energy purified by the prison .

But it was a stark warning to him of what lay waiting in the future , especially if he was planning on collecting more sets of these cursed things . He would probably be able to recoup at least some of the lost lifeforce with medicines or Natural Treasures , but could you recover from having pieces of your spirit destroyed?

It really drove home the need for him to continue working on his soul . He needed to find a way to purify the energies from the remnants on his own , rather than relying on the prison . He couldn’t keep paying such a terrifying price every time he took advantage of these items . The cage probably wouldn’t last more than a decade , especially not after destroying another fractal .

At that time , he would be all on his own .

The visions kept flashing through Zac’s mind as he struggled to come to grips with this new knowledge , but part of his mind was occupied with the situation by his real body . Thankfully , it looked like time had slowed down for Uona as well . Otherwise , he’d be dead by now . Perhaps it was rather his perception of time that had changed .

In either case , it allowed him to breathe out and plan his next step .

He still felt churning anger as he remembered the pained face of Alea and the cracks that had covered Love’s Bond] . Once again , she had sacrificed herself to keep him safe . It was just like when he fought the Fiend Wolf or the generals of the three mini-incursions . He kept coming up short , and she was the one who had to pay the price .

At least , he had achieved his goal . He had seized the splinter . But having done so , Zac realized he hadn’t really thought things through . He had somewhat taken for granted that everything would resolve itself the moment he had collected the splinter , but exactly how? The events last time had been completely out of his control , and it wasn’t like the System would zap his enemies if he asked it nicely .

He needed to be in the driver’s seat this time around if he wanted to achieve his goals rather than just running the System’s errands at the cost of his own safety . Last time , the whole area had been locked down , but time hadn’t stopped as far as he could tell . He needed to reach Uona before that happened somehow .

As long as she was next to him while forming the Glimpse of Chaos , he could still achieve what he wanted . His mind scrambled for ways to make that happen , but he was forced to put those matters aside as he found himself in a familiar place once more .

A fleeting moment has but passed , yet you once more stand before me , - a sigh echoed out across the cave , prompting ripples to spread through the deathly miasma around him . - It was inevitable . -

Zac looked upon Be’Zi , and he was once more shocked at was he was witnessing , just like when he found himself in front of the Aetherlord the last time . She was the Dao personified , radiating such terrifying energies of destruction that the splinter in his mind seemed like nothing but a firecracker .

If she willed it , he would be destroyed , removed from the river of time entirely . Even the Miasma around her had transformed , becoming something darker than death . It felt like the river of energy was the end of all existence , and stepping into it would result in true oblivion .

Two aspirants , two appearances , two fates interwoven , - Be’Zi muttered , prompting the Miasmic river to shudder . - To what end? -

Zac had a thousand questions rushing through his mind . How had she created the prison in his mind? What did he need to do in order to purge the latent will from the remnants , freeing himself from the curse? But he ultimately chose to accomplish what he had promised Catheya before anything else .

It is my honor to meet you again . I have- - Zac said , but he was stopped short .

I cannot help you again , - Be’Zi said with a shake of her head . - Doing so would be a disservice . You have chosen to walk down the Path of Oblivion , and you will need to bear the full weight of that decision . That is your only chance to reach the peak . The path is precipitous and the peak has yet to be fully restored , but cultivation has always been in defiance of the Heavens . I am confident it can be done . -

It’s not that , - Zac said , though he had to admit he was a bit disappointed she shut him down so quickly when thinking he was about to ask for help .

He had lost quite a few fractals since they met last , and each loss shortened the time he had before all hell broke loose . Getting getting the cage reinforced would have been a godsend . The two remnants locked in the prison had pretty much provided only benefits with no demerits until now , and the longer he could keep them captives , the better he would be equipped for their unavoidable release .

But what the Draugr Autarch said was most likely true as well . Those cages were just external help , and they were only meant to be a stop-gap anyhow . He would have to find a way to deal with them with his soul alone , or he would eventually become like those people he had seen in the visions .

Clan Sharva’Zi has asked me to send a message , - he explained .

You know of my descendants? I thought you one of the lost lineages , - she exclaimed , her expression undergoing a subtle change . Zac even felt he could sense some disappointment on her face . However , her face quickly returned to that mask of indifference that now seemed even colder after having known the far more animated Catheya for a few years . - Then you should understand I have severed my Karma with the empire . -

Well , I’m not part of the Empire either , - Zac said . - I am simply friends with your descendant , Catheya Sharva’Zi . She looks just like you . She asked me to convey this message . -

She could smell me on your person , - Be’Zi slowly nodded . - One of the gifts of Zi . -

They are hoping you can come back home , - Zac said . - Your descendant , Re’Zar Sharva’Zi , is nearing his end , and they have no one to take his place . Your clan is facing relegation . -

Home… Oblivion comes for all , - Be’Zi muttered as she looked at the ceiling of the dark cave .

Zac didn’t know what she was talking about , but his heart dropped when he looked at her impassive expression . Clearly , the news of relegation didn’t seem to phase her overly much . Zac wondered what he should do in this case . It wasn’t like he could convince an Autarch to do something she wasn’t interested in .

And how could he face Catheya like this? She had considered him their lifeline , and she had risked her life to get him to send this message . And now he had to tell Catheya that no help was forthcoming , that their ancestor didn’t care?

I cannot return , - Be’Zi eventually said as she turned back to look right at Zac , and he could feel that she gazed at him far more intently than before . - But they need not worry . I can feel that the annihilation of my kin has been abated . Ripples on the lake . -

What? - Zac blurted , having no idea what the old Draugr was talking about .

Two fates , two pairs climbing a broken peak . A’Zu set a goal with his fatebound , so I shall do the same . Collect five of the cursed remnants within one hundred years , and appear before me once more . If you appear as your own , and I shall impart on you true oblivion , unsullied by that ancient madness . If you are supplanted by the atavism , I shall free you and return your soul to the Samsara , - Be’Zi said as she closed her eyes . - Thus the cycle continues . -

Atavism? - Zac asked with urgency as he felt the vision breaking apart .

One is an eternal curse , two is a calamity . Five is Atavism , where five lingering resentments form a consciousness . To climb the broken peak , an unbreakable will is needed , - the voice of Be’Zi echoed out as the chamber twisted . - Survive , and prove you are worthy to continue climbing . -

Zac’s vision darkened until he suddenly was back in his own body . The moment his consciousness returned , he was immediately beset by searing pain as time started up again . His body was in a horrendous state after having been impaled by the bloody tongues of the Blood Effigy , and his whole body was covered in lacerations .

Meanwhile , two sets of remnants immediately flew into a frenzied battle , where the previously harried splinter fought with redoubled fury now that it had gotten reinforcements . Insidious tendrils clashed against opalescent light in the battlefield that was his body . Zac screamed from the unimaginable pain , but he refused to let go of his consciousness and slip into that comforting darkness .

A shockwave of dark power erupted from within his body , forming a vacuum around him and setting him free from the bloody tongues . The burst of condensed Oblivion had destroyed the effigy from within , and Zac landed on the ground as the huge holes in his body healed with a speed visible to the naked eye .

He was loath to use even more energy in a crude way like that , but he had to release some to at least somewhat weaken the struggling remnants inside his body . However , such a small outburst was nothing to the ancient madness that had been unleashed , and he felt himself rapidly losing control before he even managed to get back on his feet .

Uona was still lying on the ground in the distance , looking up at him with incredulity in her eyes as the Blood Effigy started to fall apart . Seeing her filled Zac with a towering murderous intent , which was only further amplified by the Rageroot Oak Seed] and the cascading waves of oblivion coursing through his veins .

He wanted nothing more than to flash over and rip her apart , but he couldn’t . He knew that his embryonic plan to create the Glimpse of Chaos in her face had failed , since there was simply no way to delay what needed to be done .

A stream of Fragment of the Bodhi entered one of his shoulders and the Fragment of the Coffin the other . Life and Death , each one of them dragging some of their respective remnant energy into the pathways of Cyclic Strike] . The two streams turned into something new as they were pushed together in his chest , just like the last time he had tried this .

Two of the remnants immediately entered a panicked state and tried to escape his body , but the two new additions were uncaring as they unleashed barrage after barrage at one another even as they were drained by the funnels . The two older remnants who were wise to what would happen next were unable to escape as well , as their energy had already entered the fractals .

The streams had turned into an unbreakable leash as more and more was dragged into the funnels , turning them into black holes of unceasing hunger . Zac felt the terrifying build-up in his chest once more as the two currents refused to merge . It felt like his whole body was set ablaze , and hundreds of veins of searing heat and blistering cold covered him from his head all the way to his fingertips .

The pain only grew , to the point that Zac felt he would go mad , but the process was thankfully quicker this time around . There were two remnants to fuel the process , though one pair had been drained for years already . The pathways had changed as well , allowing for more energy to course through . Finally , his soul had been completely remoudled , allowing for a torrent of Mental Energy to speed up the process .

Suddenly , two became one , and the effect was immediate .

An immense pressure descended on the area , and Zac found himself locked in place . Even the collapsing Blood Effigy had stopped in its tracks , its cascading rain of blood suspended in the air like an intricate glass ornament . A powerful rumble shook the whole City of Ancients next as a dense cloud covered the sky , pushing the Twilight Ocean away .

Golden arcs of lightning crackled within the hazy gray , each one of them on a completely different level compared to those that had hounded the huge snake back in the chasm . In those arcs , an impossibly vast consciousness waited , gazing down at the city like a god . Zac could feel it .

Power , supremacy , greed .

The System had once more come to collect , and Zac could feel the hunger as the glimpse was starting to form in his chest . However , Zac looked at the blood mistress in the distance , his heart filled with wrath and unwillingness .

You want this thing , right? - Zac squeezed through grit teeth as he forcibly pushed through the restraints , forcibly taking a step forward by siphoning some of the energy that was forming in his chest .

The moment just a small tendril of that power entered his body he realized why the System was so filled with desire . With Chaos , reality could be subverted . The power to create anything , to destroy anything . It had the power to overthrow fate , bring change to order . It was everchanging , unwilling to be bound .

Yet it was there , in his body , making the impossible possible . Zac felt drunk with success and murder as his gaze returned to Uona , and this time her eyes were filled with unbridled horror .

If you want it , then you better give me some leeway . -

Chapter 777 : Greed and Chaos

Shock filled Uona’s heart as she saw the core arrays of the Blood Effigy simply disappear , turned into nothingness in a burst of Oblivion . All she had sacrificed , all she had done . It was for naught . Her plans ruined , the effigy destroyed .

Why had she angered that thing?

The ill-starred Draugr fell onto the ground , but not even a second passed before he crawled back to his feet , and the wounds across his body were already closing . How were you supposed to fight something like this? Someone not following the Law of Balance , wantonly drawing on cursed powers to achieve his goal . He was unkillable and with nigh-unbeatable methods of destruction .

Her final act had been one of desperation . To nullify the corruption with destruction , infusing the remnant into the effigy to destroy the invading force , at the cost of all the remaining Essence Blood in the hidden vessel . Even if it ultimately failed , it should at least have provided enough power to annihilate that man a few times over .

Yet he had managed to push straight into the effigy , using that other unholy ability at the last moment to break past the blood barrier . Now he stood there , with destruction in his eyes and corruption in his hands .

Why? Why had she listened to that voice to steal that thing , even when she had been uncertain whether the voice actually belonged to her kin? She knew the answer ; hubris . She was a chosen , standing over trillions . She had even gazed upon the Bloodmother’s avatar once . This was just a trial at the frontier , how did anyone dare bar her path , even harming her? In here , she believed herself the Heavenly Law , of unmatched power and heritage .

Foolish .

She had even been forced to ignite her bloodline to avoid death in that nullification zone , and then sacrifice her Blood Essence to stem the corruption in the effigy . She would have to be submerged in a blood pond for at least twenty years to completely recover . And she hadn’t even accomplished her goals .

The Draugr still stood while the effigy was gone , making Grandpa Nether’s mission far more difficult . Being relegated was entirely possible , between the lost momentum and her impetuous actions . However , a clap of thunder made her realize that was the least of her problems . She looked at the sky , her eyes wide with incomprehension .

What was going on?! The Ruthless Heavens had descended , a true consciousness at that . Why? Why would the System shift such a significant part of its mind to this desolate corner of the multiverse? Not even defending one’s Dao would garner such a presence in most cases , especially not an ascent at the Frontier .

Yet it was here . The sky rumbled as arcs of golden lightning lit up the sky , making it impossible to draw any other conclusions . She could feel the heavenly presence weighing down on her , she could feel the gaze of the supreme arbiter . She couldn’t as much as get back on her feet , not that she dared stand in defiance of the Heavens themselves .

But he did .

She once more looked in his direction , only to find a monstrosity stare back . She had been right . Letting him get his hands on that cursed thing was the beginning of the end , and a terror she had never felt before filled her heart as she stared into those eyes .

She was no longer looking into the Abyss . She was gazing upon Primordial Chaos .

The long steely hair of the Draugr danced in the air , buffeted by chaotic winds that swirled around him . His eyes had lost the familiar darkness , replaced by the endlessly churning grey storm of chaos . His whole face was covered in two sets of jagged scars , together forming something that her mind couldn’t begin to comprehend .

Sharp pain in her mind made her shudder , and she was shocked to realize a crack on her Soul Core had appeared . Just gazing upon those markings had damaged her soul . The thunder rumbled again , this time with even greater ferocity , and Uona felt she could feel some ancient anger hidden inside .

What was the Heavens angry about? Was it him? Was it her? The array they had set up in this city was technically permissible , but it was still toeing at the edge of unorthodoxy . No , it wasn’t her . A flash of golden lightning slammed into the ground , barely missing the Draugr who had somehow managed to take a step forward .

Toward her .

The sky grew darker in response , like it was infuriated at the man’s defiance . But Arcaz Black paid it no heed it seemed . His aura grew more erratic , more primordial , creating a hair-raising feeling . Something was brewing inside him , something that shouldn’t exist . At least not here , in an E-grade cultivator .

Another rumble , and the Draugr had somehow shifted position , removing half the distance between them . She hadn’t noticed him moving at all , but she wasn’t surprised . He had swallowed both Creation and Oblivion , and Chaos was now coursing through his veins . Trying to understand the situation based on a cultivation system created by the Apostate of Order was hopeless .

Once more reality changed , and he now stood only a few dozen meters away . It was palpable by now , the danger that was hiding within his body . Small pieces of her reality were being stripped away , turning into motes of red that escaped from her body . Just being in his proximity was deadly , and she had to get away .

Uona struggled against the weight of the Heavens , but she barely managed to push herself up to a sitting position . Her desperation grew as she struggled , but it was futile . It quickly became clear ; without sacrifice , there was no chance for her to survive this madness .

Seventy-five Nodes ignited , each one exploding and releasing a torrent of energy . At the same time , the nucleus condensed by her Dao and her Path cracked , undoing five years of preparations and marking the loss of dozens of valuable Natural Treasures . Her aura rose to unprecedented heights , allowing her to finally stand up .

But she was just a candle in the wind , burning through both ends to give her a fighting chance . She still felt as weak as a mortal , and she started running away . Crippling herself cultivation had cemented her fall from the elite , but it was better than dying . As long as there was life , there was a way .

Her progenitor would perhaps take pity on her and help her recover her cultivation . Or perhaps , the Eternal Court would use these events to put political pressure on the Abyssal Shores , which would increase her value enough to be restored . That was her only hope .

The madman seemed occupied , barely noticing her escape as she ran toward the closest exit . But that was not much of a relief as the intensity of the thunder above just kept increasing . She felt so excruciatingly slow , like her reality had been reduced to a crawl . But finally , she managed to leave the courtyard , and she felt the pressure slowly abate as she moved away from the epicenter of the Heavenly Descent .

Opulent mansions were replaced by a dead forest as she kept moving , but escape talismans and movement skills kept failing her . It wasn’t a surprise though . Even if the whole city wasn’t suppressed , she still wouldn’t be able to control the rampant energy in her body .

Not so fast , bloodling , - a thunderous shout erupted like a clap of thunder , but it was fury rather than fear that filled her heart .

It was that Havarok princeling , making his appearance at the worst possible time . Behind him , over a hundred soldiers had formed a defensive line , though all of them were on their knees or prone on the ground . Only the prince himself was still standing , though he had to use his sword to remain upright under the pressure from above .

Fool! Out of the way , - she screeched , her heart hammering with horror upon seeing her path being barred . - You’ll kill us all! He is coming! -

I am already here , - a voice echoed out , all-too-close .

Terror threatened to turn Uona mad , and the horror only intensified when she found herself unable to move , locked in place as the Heavens bore down on her with unprecedented weight . She barely managed to turn her body to look behind her .

There he stood , an aberration that shouldn’t exist – chaos taken physical form .

You brought this on yourself , - Arcaz Black said , and he suddenly stood right in front of her .

There were no rules to his movement . He just was . Unpredictable , unstoppable . And between his hands , it appeared – Chaos .

Her thoughts grew muted and distant as she was mesmerized by the pattern that had appeared . It was not as poignant of the holy ponds back home , nor as palpable as the Dao of her Ancestor . Yet it contained endless mystery and the whispers of that long-forgotten era where Chaos reigned supreme .

The barriers were broken , unable to remain standing after she had sacrificed her cultivation . She felt her mind straining , unable to bear the weight of the Dao . Her eyes were opened wide as she desperately tried to understand the message in that small glimpse of the peak . As long as she could just grasp a corner , she would be able to not only survive , but to gain unprecedented benefits .

She was-

——

Ykrodas looked on with wide eyes as a golden pillar of lightning slammed into Uona Noz’Valadir , completely extinguishing her spirit and ending her reign of terror . The first bolt was followed by a few more , until her harried body was given a reprieve as it fell to the side , exposing the man who had appeared behind her .

If you want to live , look away , - a voice echoed out in his mind , and there was no hesitation as he complied .

This was beyond his scope of knowledge . This was true Heavenly Intervention , something he thought a myth . The thing that man had conjured had called the Heavens to this small corner of the Multiverse . His heart hammered as he squeezed his eyes shut , but his vision was still lit up by lightning multiple times over until the immense pressure on his shoulders was finally lifted .

Groans echoed throughout his lines , and Ykrodas took a shuddering breath as he turned around . Most of his followers were fine , if a bit worse to the wear . However , he sighed with some helplessness upon seeing that over ten people were staring blankly ahead , their eyes milky-white and not emitting a speck of spirituality .

They had gazed upon something they shouldn’t have and paid the price of coveting something claimed by the Heavens .

Ykrodas shook his head , and he turned toward the source of the terrifying events . Arcaz Black stood in silence , his eyes closed as his face was turned toward the still-churning sky . Ykrodas didn’t know if he was in the middle of an epiphany or if his soul had been wounded by the Heavenly Intervention , but the Draugr’s aura was shuddering erratically as the weird patterns on his skin twisted and started to fade .

Now would perhaps be the optimal time to strike , but Ykrodas wouldn’t do such a foolish thing . He had seen the harried form of Uona as she ran for her life . Her cultivation had been destroyed , her soul damaged . Most importantly , he had seen the horror , the sheer terror in her eyes that was so strong that it made his own heart beat faster .

This Draugr was too mysterious , to volatile . Ventus had called him Chaos incarnate , and Ykrodas only now realized just how correct he had been . Ykrodas wouldn’t risk his life or the plans of the empire to strike at this enigma , at least unless he absolutely had to . Instead , he took the opportunity to look around .

The haze over the City of Ancients had been completely cleared by the lightning , and Ykrodas could even see the heart of the city . He saw the central tower , the seat of the Realm Spirit . He saw how the protective rune in front of it flickered with lightning for a minute before going out completely .

Had the barrier been actively destroyed by the Heavens , or had the commotion simply been the last straw to unravel that ancient protective seal? In either case , it meant the core was completely exposed , and Ykrodas cursed as he tried to find any traces of Kataron Rissit . They had entered this park roughly around the same time , yet he was nowhere to be seen .

He was nowhere to be seen , and Ykrodas was filled with a sense of urgency . He needed to move , yet he dared not pass the man in front of him , even with an army at his back . So he could only wait , steeped in impatience , for Arcaz Black to wake up . Soon enough , the terrifying appearance of the Draugr returned to normal , the patterns gone entirely .

The dark thunderous clouds were gone as well , but Ykrodas frowned as he felt an alien aura suffuse the Twilight Energy , subtly altering it . Arcaz Black opened his eyes , and Ykrodas was confused when he saw the confusion on his face . It almost looked like the Draugr had woken up from a dream , but he quickly regained his wits as he turned his gaze to Ykrodas .

Ykrodas Havarok , - he slowly said .

You sent a message that our goals were aligned some months ago . Does that still hold? - Ykrodas asked , surprised at how hoarse his voice sounded .

It still holds , - Arcaz nodded before his gaze shifted . - But leave him behind . -

Ykrodas’ brows scrunched as he looked at Ventus Kalavan before they widened as he looked at the fallen body of Uona .

The price that has been paid , - Ykrodas sighed before snapping his fingers , which released the fetters that held the numerologist . - Fate is fickle . -

The slippery elf only smiled toward him before stepping to the side , though Ykrodas noted he didn’t join Arcaz’ side .

He is free , and we will make no moves on him as long as he does not act against us again , - Ykrodas said . - Is that to your satisfaction? -

That is fine , - the Draugr nodded .

Ykrodas hesitated for a second , filled with burning questions . What the hell just happened? What was that thing between his hands? What other madness do you have in store? Finally , Ykrodas picked the most pertinent one . His ancestors would be able to answer the rest after seeing the recordings . - Can I ask , what is the situation at the core? -

The Blood Effigy is destroyed , and you saw the fate of Uona yourself , - the Draugr slowly said . - The Eidolon had built something similar , but I destroyed that as well , along with most of the ghosts . Aia Ouro is still alive , but I doubt they are in fighting condition after our battle . -

And the realm spirit? - Ykrodas asked .

It’s fine , as far as I know , - Arcaz shrugged . - I never saw it . -

I have to go . You have helped us immensely , and the Havarok Empire will remember this favor . But others are aiming to destroy the spirit , and I must protect it , - Ykrodas said .

Well , you better hurry , - the Draugr said with a grimace .

Why? Has the Radiant Temple already made their move? Or is it the natives? - Ykrodas frowned .

Well , neither , - the Draugr coughed , and Ykrodas felt he almost looked queasy . - I’m talking about that . -

Ykrodas didn’t understand what the man was talking about , but he still followed with his gaze as Arcaz pointed straight toward the sky . His eyes widened with horror the next moment as he saw dozens of silvery cracks that spread with speed visible to the naked eye .

We have an hour if we’re lucky . After that , the Twilight Ocean will collapse . -

————

Aia stabilized their mind as best as they could before cutting off the final tainted piece of their soul . They had lost over 30% of their spirit , but at least they would survive . With time and some treasures , their spirit would regrow .

A small comfort was that no matter how bad a state they were in , Uona Noz’Valadir was in a worse one . Those scenes would be imprinted on their soul for the rest of their life . That horrifying power that Arcaz Black had unleashed before chasing that harlot into the streets of the City of Ancients .

It only took one look to confirm their suspicions ; their placements had moved up one spot . A Heaven’s Chosen of the Eternal Clan had fallen in the Frontier . Served her right for trying to entangle Hive Ouro with that madman . The moment they returned , they seek an audience with the ancestors and lodge a complaint against both those lunatics .

So this is it , - a sigh echoed out , terrifying Aia . - Seventy-eight million years , only to be ripped apart by greed and chaos . -

Who?! - they screamed as they roused their exhausted spirit .

Looking around , Aia saw him standing by another window of the building they had chosen to hide inside , looking up at the sky . It took a second , but they suddenly realized who it was . The man looked exactly like in the pictures , but that only served to make them more confused .

That’s impossible! You’re long gone! - Aia said with a mix of confusion and fear .

How could this man be standing here? He had been killed so long ago . Was this a lingering resentment? That was the only thing Aia could think of , as the man had absolutely no aura at all , not a speck of spirituality .

An Edgewalker has appeared and conjured a corner of the Primordial Dao , yet this is what you’re confused about? - he snorted . - Well , you will make a decent offering . -

This is impossible! You can’t- - Aia said , but they didn’t get any further as space twisted , ripping their soul to shreds .

The sky rumbled again , but the man only snorted in derision as he walked over and picked up the Spatial Gem of the little ghost . - What can you do to me that hasn’t already been done , you greedy old fellow? -

His gaze turned once more to the scene outside , to the walking contradiction who had regained his senses by now . Arcaz Black was gazing up at the sky , at the cracks that had been created by his own hands .

Child , it has to be fate that you appear before me after all these years , - he muttered as blood started to run down his nose . - It is time we met . -

Chapter 778 : A Little Bit of Chaos

Zac looked at the receding backs of the Havarok army as they made their way toward the core of the City of Ancients . He briefly wondered what they would think upon seeing the gristly scene inside , where enough blood to fill a small lake had been expelled by the blood mistress , painting the whole courtyard red .

A sharp pain brought him back to the present , and he slowly turned back his gaze toward the one person who remained . Ventus Kalavan . Zac still didn’t know how much about his situation this elf knew through his Dao of Numerology . Did Ventus know they had met already , that he had two identities? Or had the elf rather gleaned somehow that Zac would be able to save him upon his capture?

From the expression of Ykrodas , the latter seemed to be true at least , where the elf had already made some preparations for his release . It was a real headache to deal with a mysterious ability like numerology . Part of him wanted to simply kill the elf to keep any secrets from slipping out , but his conscience wouldn’t let him .

The elf had helped him not only by warning him about the situation here , but he had even helped him break through in one of his Daos . Also , Zac was completely spent , and there was no way he’d best this man in a confrontation at the moment .

Ah , Lord Black , it is a pleasure to finally meet you , - Ventus hesitantly said after the silence had stretched on for a while . - I hope my warning served you well . -

You illuminated the path for me , and I saved you in return , - Zac grunted . - Thus , balance is restored . -

Then I’ll take my leave , unless young master has any further instructions? - Ventus smiled .

Be careful when meddling with fate , - Zac said . - Small actions can grow into storms that swallow all in its path . -

Ventus froze for a second before he wryly smiled in return . - I’ll bear that in mind . My actions were my own , unrelated to the temple . -

With that , he disappeared a puff of stardust , finally leaving Zac alone . He waited a few seconds before bending over to take the Spatial Ring of Uona before stowing away her body . After that , he slowly walked away until he slumped down at a secluded spot with his back against a dead tree . Just exchanging a few sentences had almost been beyond what he could manage now that the surge of chaos had left his body .

He felt like a hollow husk now that things had calmed down , especially with the side-effects of the Rageroot Oak Seed] coming to bear . That’s why he tried to give off an aura of confidence when talking to Ykrodas , and why he tried to fill the prince with some urgency . Luckily , the seal of the main tower had failed when the System unleashed its lightning , which gave the Havarok warriors pretext to hurry on their way .

Zac took a ragged breath , and his hands shook as he took out a small box . His vision was already blurred , but he managed to cram the thing inside into his mouth , swallowing it in one go . Warm streams along with an odd undulating power spread through his body , swiftly mending some of what was broken .

It was the supreme treasure that contained the power of time , used to restore his body as much as was possible . The effect was immediate and amazing , effortlessly sweeping away the after-effects of the berserking pill , along with most of his internal wounds . It even restored some of his missing energy , making it like it was never spent .

Of course , the damage wrought from the remnants wasn’t something an E-grade herb could so easily fix .

Zac sighed as he looked at the wretched state of his body . More than half of his pathways were broken , and even his nodes showed some damage . Healing treasure had managed to stabilize the nodes and pathways a bit , but there were lingering energies that refused to be cleansed . He would barely be able to exert a tenth of his peak power at the moment , and judging by the state of his nodes , that alone was a risky endeavor .

He might worsen the damage , leading to the nodes cracking altogether . A node breaking was extremely troublesome from what he had gathered . It could be restored , but there were few items that could expedite something like that . Most commonly , you simply had to rest up for a couple of years , slowly nurturing them and letting them regrow . If you didn’t , you’d have an imperfection in your pathways , making the formation of a core pretty much impossible .

Two strands of Chaos , that was all that it took for his body to reach a state like this . Allowing such a thing into his pathways was like pouring jet fuel into a moped . The energy hadn’t actually been rampant at all , but its mere existence was lethal to his body . It wrought more havoc without trying than the sets of remnants did .

He turned his gaze to the cage in his mind , content to see all four of the remnants locked in a hateful embrace . The moment the Glimpse of Chaos had been formed , the remnants had been completely drained like last time , allowing him to hurriedly push them back inside . Thankfully , Ykrodas Havarok and his army had been so shocked by the spectacle and the death of Uona that they hadn’t dared interrupt the process .

A new golden fractal had appeared in the cage , replacing the one that he had destroyed to let the two others out . At the same time , the cracks that had covered some of the remaining fractals had been mended , reducing the risk of leaks or accidental cracks . It wasn’t much , but it was as far as the System was willing to go by the looks of it .

Zac had hoped to extract some more benefits upon feeling the hunger of the Heavens , but that thing was just too stubborn . For one , he had hoped for the System to upgrade the cage , but he had only managed to make it repair the damage that was directly related to forming the chaos patterns . It did however promise it would keep doing so every time he conjured new glimpses in the future as well , lessening some of the pressure he felt at the prospect of gathering more of them .

Any more than that , it blankly refused . It almost felt like he had been talking with an insurance investigator trying to deny a claim , rather than an ancient and omniscient creation . When he had failed to get any other improvements to the remnant prison , he had tried something else – he had demanded some things related to the Nine Reincarnations Manual] .

With the events in the Twilight Ocean , it wouldn’t be long before he underwent the second reincarnation and begin work on the third . He had first demanded more layers of the manual , but the system had rejected the request with prejudice , to the point it almost zapped him with a bolt of lightning . When that failed , Zac had instead tried to get the materials he needed for the fourth reincarnation .

He had the array plates for the third reincarnation ready to go , but a bustling place like the Twilight Harbor actually lacked every single one of the core materials for the array needed at the fourth layer of the Soul Strengthening Method . He had already looked around in the Zecia sector as well without any luck , meaning he was bound to head straight toward a bottleneck unless something changed .

Having the materials needed for the fourth reincarnation would greatly increase his chances of taking charge of these remnants . Going by the Strength his soul had gained so far , he figured that undergoing three reincarnations would put his soul at roughly the same level as a soul-cultivating elite at peak E-grade .

That was extremely powerful , but still not at the level where he could command the remnants . The fourth reincarnation would push his soul into the territory of the D-grade , vastly increasing his odds as it put his soul at the same grade as the remnants .

Zac was pretty much certain he’d be able to withstand the Atavism that Be’Zi mentioned with five reincarnations . Four reincarnations would be far more difficult , but it would perhaps be possible with enough preparations and supporting treasures . Unfortunately , the result was the same ; a blank refusal where the System talked about the Law of Balance .

Of course , there was one more thing he managed to squeeze out , which was that had allowed him to accomplish his most immediate goal . It was the ability to kill Uona , who would definitely become a thorn in his side if left alone . The System had helped restrain the Glimpse of Chaos and removed some of the pressure on him for almost a minute , allowing him to catch up and take her out .

Without that , he would have been stuck , frozen in place until he unleashed the glimpse into the sky .

The gains were less than he had hoped for , but he knew he was ultimately not in the best position to haggle . There had been a Chaos Bomb brewing in his chest at the time , and he couldn’t have been too convincing when threatening to hold it back . What was he going to do , explode and die out of spite?

But the exchange had once more proven just how much the System wanted these glimpses . It had adjusted the rewards of its own quest and even played the supporting role when taking out a Heaven’s Chosen of an A-grade faction , just so that it could take a look at this corner of chaos .

Zac wouldn’t be able to make use of that fact in the short run , but hopefully , he would be able to turn that into his advantage when he found more of those remnants . This time he had lost most of his potential gains because of cashing in early , using the System’s hunger to survive that massive snake back in the chasm .

Next time , he would hold out for some treasure as well .

Still , it was a revelation of just how powerful the young elites of established factions were . Without the Shard of Creation paving the path , he would have died ten times over . Let alone Uona , Aia Ouro would have killed him before the vampire even had time to show up . Furthermore , even when using the cheat-like remnants and a berserking treasure he had found himself on the losing end against Uona .