Defiance of the Fall

And then it came to him .

A pop echoed in Zac’s mind as though the proverbial barrier preventing his understanding crumbled like it was a real thing . Zac felt like his whole being had been unclogged when it all dawned on him . There was no gradual buildup , no formation of one void expression at a time . All at once , 81 elusive dots were born , forming a circle in the middle of his chest .

More accurately , Zac pictured them like a pattern on his chest . These motes were neither tangible nor imaginary—they were focal points of his Heart Cultivation . No outsider would ever be able to see them , as they were more akin to emotions and mental states than pathways or fractals . But that didn’t make them any less real .

They were real , and they were true . Utterly and inconceivably true .

Even in their rudimentary state , Zac could tell they weren’t just something dragged out from Ultom’s endless repository of data . They were specially made by him and for him , where Zac used the epiphany like a supercomputer for deriving their shapes . If anything , they felt familiar to the point it was a bit bizarre . Sensing the circle was like he was sensing himself .

A few seconds later , Zac understood what was going on . The dots reminded him of his bloodline . The three lines in his Soul Aperture had somehow connected the - void’ in his bloodline with the spatial Void he’d been thrown into a few times and the void-state of the Heart he envisioned for his Void Vajra Sublimation] .

To this day , Zac didn’t quite understand what the - Void’ in his name came from or if and how it related to the actual Void between dimensions . The visions of Karz didn’t provide any clues either , since his abilities were essentially the opposite of Zac’s own . And since Karz lived in an era before the System , there weren’t any blue prompts to shed light on the situation .

But seeing the 81 dots , Zac understood a few things , even if he lacked the understanding to delve further . The Void between dimensions was just one of many Voids . The Void of Space , to be exact ; a place utterly bereft of the Dao of Space . It was simply the most commonly known one since it had such an impact on the Multiverse .

Where any Dao existed , so did an opposing force , just like matter and antimatter . This should be the broader Void his bloodline referred to . And these dots represented the Void of Life . That was what he’d been missing before when he tried to come up with mental images meant to replace the Sutras—the connection between Heart and Life .

The Buddhist Sangha’s understanding of the Dao of Life was encoded into the Boundless Vajra Sublimation] . Only a similar type of understanding would allow Zac to swap out one part without making the whole thing collapse . This was the key to his own Body Tempering Method and perhaps to his bloodline as a whole .

The formation of the dotted circle on his chest was just the start . While Zac delved deeper into the meaning of the Void and its coexistence with the Dao and Void , the tiny dots started to transform as they grew small tendrils . Almost like sprouts emerging from seeds , forming complex patterns rather than roots .

As the seeds grew , so did Zac’s comprehension of the Void and the Heart . The questions that plagued him during his training were swept away , replaced by ironclad certainty . Even the mysterious interrelation between Life , Body , and Heart that the Buddhist Sangha invented was exposed to the light ; its secrets laid bare for Zac to see .

Armed with the practical understanding and effects of reciting the chants , Zac came to a worrying realization . There were problems with the original version of the method , problems beyond the commonly known pathbreaking risk .

Being flush with the boundless knowledge of Ultom , Zac was no longer confident he’d been given the original version by Three Virtues . Typically , it was hard to get a complete overview of the jam-packed memories imprinted in his mind , but now , the Boundless Vajra Sublimation] felt like a tapestry for him to look at freely .

And it was clear as day . Cultivating the original method was a surrender of the self , where the Heart would ultimately supplant the Soul . There was a distinct difference in this concept from the more commonly known risks of cultivating the Buddhist methods—that their methods were a double-edged sword .

Either you’d succumb and join the Sangha , or you would walk away with immense benefits . This wasn’t the case , at least not with the manual he’d received . This was far more sinister . In essence , your consciousness would be locked away from your own body and turned into a spiritual battery to power the Vajra that your body had become .

On the outside , you would look like a converted monk who only had a Heart for Buddha , when in reality , you’d be a prisoner for the rest of your days .

The moment you reached the third layer and reached what the method called - Minor Sublimation , ’ it would be game over . Normally , any rational cultivator would notice something was wrong before reaching that point , but the Heart Cultivation of the Boundless Vajra Sublimation] would chisel away your apprehensions and suspicions . Only by stopping at the second layer would you be safe , but that stage wouldn’t give you the proper benefits of a Life-attuned body .

But now , all that had changed . Eventually , the dots stopped growing , leaving Zac with 81 unique sigils . His perception shifted , and even if time was still forced to a halt , the small circle on his chest changed into a hovering belt around his body . He couldn’t actually see the sigils , but he felt them slowly rotating around him . Together , they formed a circle with a diameter of around three meters .

The moment the sigils appeared outside his body , a familiar rumble shook the sky . The Heavens had descended , and Zac was almost kicked out of his unique state from the shock . Was he about to get blasted by another Lightning Tribulation? Usually , Zac wouldn’t mind , but he wasn’t ready this time .

Thankfully , the pressuring presence receded just a moment later , like it’d just doled out a warning before returning . Perhaps it had been unable to actually pinpoint his location . . . In either case , Zac was incredibly relieved , and he returned his attention to his Void Vajra Sublimation] . Forming a working system with these Void Sigils was only the first step , even if it was the hardest one .

He needed to incorporate everything into the method if he wanted to use the Void Sigils for anything more than tempering his heart . From there , Zac methodically swapped out one piece of the technique after another , replacing Boundlessness with Void until a perfect system had been born . The lights in his soul had mostly dissipated , but he didn’t rush his work at all .

His memory contained all the layers of the Boundless Vajra Sublimation] , and Zac would rather finish the simpler ones at the beginning than risk any mistakes . An imperfection in the earlier layers of the method would create problems down the road , and it was better to get things right from the start . Like with the Nine Reincarnations Manual] , he would have to figure out the last layers when he got there .

Just as the lights were about to wink out , Zac finalized the third layer of his Void Vajra Sublimation] , which allowed him to breathe out in relief . It was what he needed to reach the first significant breakthrough of the method and gain an actual Life-attuned Constitution . From there , each layer would purify and strengthen his body further , with two more major checkpoints : Major Sublimation and True Boundless Sublimation , which Zac guessed would have to be renamed to True Void Sublimation .

And finally , the lights winked out , and Zac was brought down to reality where the marvels of the universe were out of grasp , where he once more was just a trifling E-grade cultivator mucking about in search of answers . Losing the connection to the lights of Ultom felt even rougher this time around . At least there were still two times to go , and if this round were any indication , each epiphany would contain the same number of insights .

More importantly , he’d actually accomplished what he set out to do—create a working Body Tempering Manual uniquely suited for him . It was a huge accomplishment that eluded some ancient clans , yet he managed to do it alone . Of course , without the help of the white light , he might never have accomplished it , but everyone who reached greater heights had a couple of unfathomable encounters under their belt .

The moment Zac was able to move again , he flashed away from the altar as Verun’s Bite] appeared in his hand . He wasn’t overly surprised to find that there was no one around , though . No source to the voice from before . Zac’s best guess was that the voice was a lingering impression , just like those images he’d seen for a moment before entering the temple .

Perhaps they were all the same . The ghosts , the person who left the figurine in this temple , and the source of the voice . Perhaps , the voice wasn’t even speaking to him but instead worked like a pre-recorded message . There was no way to know and no time to figure it out . There was nothing else of value in this temple , and it was time to go .

Zac saw how space had already started to unravel above the altar , meaning a breach was about to hit the temple . Just as Zac was about to exit the prayer hall , the eroded altar hummed before releasing a wave of energy . The breach was immediately rebuffed , and Zac was filled with a sense of tranquility and clarity while the outside world was muted .

It looked like the altar was an item with a similar function to Mind’s Eye Agate] . But even in its eroded state , the effect was orders of magnitudes greater . An odd sensation made Zac look inward , and he was both surprised and delighted to see lines being added to more than one of his skills . In fact , most of his skills were evolving , proving just how powerful the altar was .

That wasn’t to say it was all thanks to this temple . Many of his skills were long overdue for an upgrade , but his almost solitary focus on his technique and Soul during his time in the Orom World had put them on the backburner . After having been through two tremendous epiphanies and getting blessed by the altar , they were all bursting forth at once .

Zac was frozen in place , unable and unwilling to break this current state of comprehension . For a moment , it didn’t feel like he was standing in a long-forgotten ruin in some pocket dimension . He was standing in a prayer hall where ancient sages had meditated on the mysteries of the universe .

A few minutes later , the process was over , and Zac glanced in the direction of the mountain range where Vai waited . After some hesitation , he ultimately turned around and walked back to the altar . It still emitted that mysterious aura , and while his human side had received a slew of benefits , his Draugr side hadn’t .

Since Zac had no idea what would wait for him inside the temple , he hadn’t specified any time to the researcher . It shouldn’t have been more than an hour since he left Vai in the cave , even if he felt as though decades had passed from how much he’d comprehended . She should be fine with waiting a while longer .

And the same went for all the questions that popped up with this breakthrough . The voice , the lingering resentment in the figurine , even the fact that the Buddhist Sangha might have made a play for his body . Of course , it was impossible to tell with someone like Three Virtues . He might have known Zac would be able to change it , or at least he wouldn’t cultivate it blindly .

He might even have expected to be exposed , which might have forced Zac to visit the Sangha for a proper version . But now , all those questions would have to wait since there was no telling how long this mysterious effect would linger .

Soon , Zac once more stood in front of the altar , and he still couldn’t understand what was so special about it . It looked like a regular piece of rock carved into a large block , lacking any spirituality . Even now , that hadn’t changed . But it was indisputable that it had not only stabilized the breach in space but also turned the whole temple into a haven for cultivators .

Having decided , Zac’s eyes turned abyssal black as his skin paled . It was the first time he’d swapped to his undead form in a good long while , and it felt like reuniting with a friend more than anything . His time in the Twilight Ocean and the Orom had allowed him to become properly acquainted with his undead side , and it no longer felt like it was a special state or disguise .

It was as much him as his human side was , and Zac believed that feeling would only increase as he progressed further down his path .

While the altar’s effect on its surroundings was amazing , it was a far cry from the epiphany . But it was perfect for Zac’s purposes , and he smiled when another wave of inspiration began the moment the transition was complete . With these skill upgrades , he would have gained a comprehensive set of power-ups that covered almost every aspect of combat .

A few minutes later , the process was completed without a hitch . Though Zac wasn’t done there . Instead , he took out the Death-attuned Natural Treasure he’d saved for just this occasion , the treasure that could help upgrade skills . Between his two forms , there was one final holdout in his repertoire— Vanguard of Undeath] .

The other skills had all been upgraded , and with the recent burst of clarity , it had fallen even further behind . The temple had even provided sanctuary and an opportunity to fix the final missing link . He would be a fool not to go for it .

63

ARBITER

There were two reasons Zac had held off on upgrading Vanguard of Undeath] for so long . The first was that it was one of the most complex skill fractals he had . For a long time , he didn’t feel confident in upgrading it . This issue was pretty much solved inside the Orom World , whether you considered strength of soul or tools to help with the process .

The real issue was that Zac had been hesitant in which direction he should take the skill . The skill on its own was great—providing a noticeable attribute boost without any detriments , bolstering your defenses , and even had a powerful taunting capability that synergized well with his fighting style . Zac could easily upgrade it and call it a day , and he would have a skill most infighting warriors could only dream of .

The problem was that Vanguard of Undeath] no longer synergized as well with his toolkit . He couldn’t even activate it without taking out a spare shield , and Deathmark] no longer required him to get hit to retaliate against his enemies .

The way he defended himself had also changed . Between the support from the pygmy skeletons of Profane Exponents] and Alea’s chains , he didn’t get much from using a shield . With his improved technique , he wasn’t really in the business of trading blows like a brute , even if he could still outmatch and outlast almost anyone at his level . The skill needed to be reformed , which drastically increased the difficulty level .

Zac had two concepts he’d toyed around with , but both required extensive reworks even if the System simplified the process . His first choice was probably better suited for his needs , but it was more complex . The backup plan instead made use of most components of the old skill and only made the adjustments necessary to mesh better with his revamped fighting style .

The second choice was also more of an all-rounder skill , while the first more heavily leaned on Love’s Bond] . If Alea regained her form , the skill would be made useless . The choice between these two had delayed him for a while , but he’d pretty much decided after Alea woke up for the first time . She was clearly in no hurry to regain a fleshy body , so this direction of his should last him through the D-grade at least . The difficulty of this undertaking prevented him from simply going ahead back on Earth , but now , Zac felt like everything was in place .

His mind was a bit exhausted from the previous epiphany , but the unfathomable aura that permeated the temple recovered his exhaustion faster than any Soldier Pill could . Meanwhile , it felt like a portal to the abyss had opened in his chest after swallowing the Natural Treasure , and the whispers of the underworld filled him with inspiration while his pathways became malleable .

Zac briefly considered taking out his other items , but he ultimately only pulled out two of his Higher-quality Incense Sticks , whose only purpose was to recover Mental Energy . As for the others , Zac could somewhat sense they’d cause disharmony with the ancient altar . And since the altar was creating an effect far greater than all his other tools combined , he didn’t want to rock the boat .

This time , he didn’t use the Fractal Framework Array] either . Like in the Twilight Chasm , Zac felt no need for training wheels . In contrast to that time , his mind was almost impossibly clear . Back when he’d created Pillar of Desolation] , he had descended into an almost manic state , but he felt like a skilled surgeon now when he detached the Skill Fractal of Vanguard of Undeath] with pinpoint precision .

One set of fractals after another was transformed or reformed , partly following the blueprint he’d prepared . Zac didn’t completely follow his original plan though , because he could clearly see some of his ideas wouldn’t work thanks to his current state of enlightenment . Still , it wasn’t enough to cause worry .

By this point , Zac was essentially in a stage where he was preparing to upgrade his E-grade skills to D-grade . Even a tricky F-grade skill like Vanguard of Undeath] couldn’t stump him anymore , at least not with the multilayered advantages .

At the first step of the transformation , the section focused on attribute boosts was bolstered at the cost of defenses . He still left a smaller defensive function in the skill , but it wouldn’t be as obvious as the thick black armor created from pure Miasma . This part was dealt with in less than an hour since it wasn’t the true focus of the skill or Zac’s plans .

It was all about the taunting ability .

This was a feature Zac had never encountered in anyone else’s skills , and it was shockingly effective . Only True Strike] came somewhat close , but the skill he snatched from the Erudite Master was actually pretty useless . It couldn’t affect battle-hardened and skilled opponents , and those were the only ones Zac needed it against .

That wasn’t true for the taunt in Vanguard of Undeath] . Its effect was far-reaching and extremely hard to avoid . It could even subvert the movement skills of enemies and have them appear right in front of him . No matter if it was to stop enemies from moving or controlling a battlefield , it could make the impossible possible .

This was the most crucial function , so even if he was in an almost empty state of clarity , he still felt some worry as he started to make sweeping changes . Whole new sections were added to the system , making it infinitely more complex . Meanwhile , the core patterns of the taunt were bolstered , pushing the boundaries of what was possible with an E-grade skill .

With these many patterns , the skill’s energy expenditure would skyrocket . Zac didn’t care . His energy stores were simply monstrous for an E-grade warrior , and the plan was to step into Hegemony in a few years . He would have more energy than an E-grade skill could ever expend by that point .

More and more patterns were added until the skill was almost unrecognizable . Even then , there hadn’t been a single moment of imbalance in the Skill Fractal or a single close-call where he almost messed up . Fueled by the deathly treasure and the mysterious state of emptiness , he was like a machine that methodically worked through the process . Like this , the hours passed until a snap almost broke his focus .

It was the altar . A deep crack had split it in two , and Zac was surprised there really wasn’t anything inside it . It was just ordinary rock all the way through . It was worrying that the altar had just broken apart like that , but it wasn’t a big deal . Apart from the altar getting a crack , the rest of the temple was fine . The tranquil aura still lingered in the prayer hall , and Zac was already wrapping up the upgrade .

A few minutes later , the process was complete , and he released a pent-up breath as he inserted the skill into his pathways again . Zac spent the next couple of minutes just sitting in peace as the connections stabilized . Only then did he finally open his Skill Screen to see the results of his hard work .

E] Arbiter of the Abyss – Proficiency : Early . Wield the chains of finality . Become the justice of the abyssal legions . Upgradeable .

Zac nodded in satisfaction upon seeing the description of the skill that replaced Vanguard of Undeath] . The previous flavor text said , - Become the eye of the storm . The storm of the abyssal legions . ’ The drastic change of Arbiter of the Abyss] proved that some of its fundamental features had been revamped .

He was no longer in the eye of the storm , no longer a meat shield meant to run at the forefront of an army . Instead , the skill’s fundamental themes now centered around chains and finality , which was far more on point with his class . If not for Vai and possibly others spying at the valley , he would have run out to test the upgraded skill on those Yeti Kings . Unfortunately , that would have to wait , and Zac turned his focus to his other skills on the Status Screen .

Class Skills

E] Blighted Cut – Proficiency : Late . Corner . Seal . Devour . Upgradeable .

E] Deathmark – Proficiency : Late . Join your forces in dance to death . Upgradeable .

E] Fields of Despair – Proficiency : Late . A desolate haze , both entrapping and illuminating .

E] Profane Exponents – Proficiency : Late . Fatewarded by the profane masters . Upgradeable .

E] Indomitable – Proficiency : Late . The will of the underworld is intractable , undeterred by the screams of the bound . Upgradeable .

E] Pillar of Desolation – Proficiency : Middle . Stuck and struggling . Inexorable Desolation . Upgradeable .

E] Desperation’s End – Proficiency : Early . Bind them . End them . Upgradeable .

E] Arbiter of the Abyss – Proficiency : Early . Wield the chains of finality . Become the justice of the abyssal legions . Upgradeable .

Zac nodded with satisfaction as he closed his Status Screen . While his new skills and big finishers were lagging slightly behind , he was making decent progress on the skill front . He could tell there was a clear difference in how the E-grade skills progressed . Back in the F-grade , his skills upgraded as he fought , often mid-battle when he pushed himself .

That still happened on occasion , but it was clear that improving his skills required a more concerted effort in the E-grade . Now , they needed him to understand the underpinnings of the skill and how to improve their effectiveness and comprehend the Daos that made them possible . Thankfully , it didn’t require affinities or profound knowledge of fractals .

Zac had seen how quickly his mastery skills progressed when he put his mind to it back in the Orom World . As long as he dedicated a year or so to it , he should be able to push most of his skills to the peak . And just as luck would have it , an opportunity would soon present itself , provided he got out of here in one piece .

After all , he would have to make some inroads with his newly minted Void Vajra Sublimation] before heading over to the Perennial Vastness .

Body Tempering didn’t take as long as Soul Cultivation if you managed to withstand the torturous pain that would grow increasingly severe as you progressed . Zac figured it would still take a year or two to reach a level equivalent to his Draugr Constitution . During the downtime , he would be able to work on his skills to make sure they wouldn’t hold him back too much the moment he became a Hegemon .

Zac opened his Status Screen next to see if there were any other notable changes .

Name : Zachary Atwood

Level : 145

Class : E-Epic] Fetters of Desolation

Race : D] Draugr – Void Emperor (Corrupted)

Alignment : Zecia] Atwood Empire – Baron of Conquest

Titles : Runebinder , Runic Erudition , Grand Fate , Blooddrenched Baron , Connate Conqueror

Limited Titles : Tower of Eternity Sector All-Star – 14th , The Final Twilight , Equanimity , Heart of Fire , Big Axe Gladiator

Dao : Branch of the War Axe – Early , Branch of the Kalpataru – Early , Branch of the Pale Seal – Early

Core : E] Duplicity

Strength : 19 , 304 Increase : 133% . Efficiency : 287%]

Dexterity : 8 , 065 Increase : 98% . Efficiency : 206%]

Endurance : 14 , 325 Increase : 119% . Efficiency : 287%]

Vitality : 12 , 420 Increase : 107% . Efficiency : 273%]

Intelligence : 3 , 322 Increase : 92% . Efficiency : 206%]

Wisdom : 6 , 412 Increase : 99% . Efficiency : 216%]

Luck : 663 Increase : 116% . Efficiency : 229%]

Free Points : 0

Nexus Coins : D] 933 , 647

There was nothing new to see on his Status Screen . He’d somewhat hoped he’d get a new title for creating the Body Tempering Manual or his new skill , but the System hadn’t seen fit to provide anything this time around . Perhaps it wasn’t too surprising . He had already created something unique like Pillar of Desolation] , which possibly surpassed the limits of E-grade skills since it used a bit of Oblivion Energy to activate .

Meanwhile , he admitted he hadn’t actually created a Body Tempering Manual , even if what he accomplished was almost as impressive . It was ultimately monks who researched all the theories , and Zac only made alterations to better suit him .

Zac briefly considered whether he should top off the two missing levels on his Draugr side , but ultimately decided against it . The attributes from two levels wouldn’t make much difference , and he’d used up what little Kill Energy he got from killing yetis on Surging Vitality] . Instead , he swapped back to his human form to once more open his Status Screen .

Class Skills

E] Axe Mastery – Proficiency : Peak . The seed of Dao is planted . Upgradeable

E] Ancestral Woods – Proficiency : Middle . Oneness with nature

E] Rapturous Divide – Proficiency : Peak . Between the Abyss and Arcadia is an endless chasm . Upgradeable .

E] Arcadia’s Judgement . – Proficiency : Middle . Only judgement awaits those who encroach on the mandate of Arcadia . Upgradeable .

E] Nature’s Edge – Proficiency : Peak . Nature is the most ruthless weapon . Upgradeable .

E] Arcadian Crusade – Proficiency : Middle . Nothing will deny the vengeance of Arcadia . Upgradeable .

E] Forester’s Constitution – Proficiency : Late . All living beings under the Heavens , one entity . Upgradeable .

E] Earthstrider – Proficiency : Late . Traverse the boundless worlds , unrestrained and unfettered . Upgradeable .

E] Empyrean Aegis – Proficiency : Middle . Become as unshakeable as the pillars of life . Upgradeable .

As expected , there was widespread progress on his human side as well , where most skills had taken a step forward . One positive difference to his Draugr side was that Empyrean Aegis] had reached Middle Mastery , while Desperation’s End] remained at Early Mastery . It wasn’t a surprise , really , with how often he’d been forced to use his defensive skill while inside the Void Star . Meanwhile , he had barely spent any time in his undead form since getting his ultimate finisher .

With both his Void Vajra Sublimation] created and the surprise boost of his skills , Zac could finally turn his attention to the more troublesome matters . His eyes turned to the cracked altar , or rather the anthracite dust that had formed a small pile at its edge . The figurine was gone , but it was still firmly engraved into his memory .

That hatred and sense of irreconciliation directed at the Heavens was beyond anything Zac had ever felt , and this was just from a small figurine that had almost been completely eroded over the countless years . It was a shame . Zac believed if he’d been able to confirm who it depicted , he would have been able to get closer to the background of Ultom and the secrets of the Left Imperial Palace .

There was also the voice and the ominous message .

Another cycle , another Flamebearer . Will you break the chains or become another link?’

Even if the message was cryptic , Zac believed the voice and figurine had given some critical clues . He was competing for an inheritance , but the inheritance wasn’t treasures or the palace itself . At least not only that . It was an inheritance of destiny , of a goal .

A goal for what , Zac had no idea , and he wasn’t sure he wanted anything to do with it going by the burning anger toward the Heavens the figurine held . If Zac had to guess , it would be that the figurine wanted to destroy the Heavens themselves . Not even the shimmering lights were enough for Zac to get hitched to such a maniacal wagon .

He was already skating on thin ice with all his borderline unorthodox methods . He was just looking for some solutions to take his wonky constitution into the D-grade ; anything beyond that was asking too much . Perhaps he was even better off if he skipped out on getting the fourth piece of the seal . If he could figure out how to form his Life-Death-Conflict core with the next seal , he might as well stop and count his winnings .

Then again , Zac had been around long enough to know it wasn’t necessarily up to him whether he wanted to partake or not . The first vision of Ultom had literally crammed itself into his head out of nowhere , and it was entirely possible the System or Ultom itself would somehow derail his plans to keep going at it .

Apart from the meaning of being a Flamebearer , there was also the issue of the Sangha . Three Virtues was the personification of a shifty monk , though Zac had never felt he was sinister . But the trap hidden within the Boundless Vajra Sutra] was one of the most diabolical methods he’d ever seen . It was essentially possession , except your body was seized by a Buddha-loving avatar of your own creation .

Zac didn’t get it . Why had they imparted him with something like that? And was it the intention of Three Virtues or the Sangha itself? And why did it feel like it all was related to Ultom? There was no proof for his hunch , other than he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that everything Three Virtues had done was to alter the events related to this inheritance . He might just be paranoid , but the suspicion could also be an effect of his high Luck and how it attuned him to the winds of fate .

It also made sense—the voice before mentioned cycles . Zac was confident it referred to eras , like the current Era of Unification . Zac didn’t know about the Left Imperial Palace , but Ultom was definitely an Eternal Heritage . Some monstrously powerful faction had failed in some undertaking and created the Ultom Courts to keep the flame of hope alive .

It was no shocker that even the Sangha would compete for something like that . From what little Zac had learned about Eternal Heritages from Qi’Sar and Kaldor , an Eternal Heritage was the most powerful strategic resource a faction could possess . Getting their hands on one was enough to shift the balance and possibly impact the whole Multiverse .

With so much on the line , it wasn’t inconceivable that the Buddhist Sangha would go so far as to try to turn him into a puppet . Perhaps Three Virtues somehow realized Zac held a connection with the Left Imperial Palace and chosen to take a chance . If Zac actually practiced the Boundless Vajra Sublimation] , the Sangha might have gotten a Flamebearer for free in a few years when Zac reached the third layer and became a mindless Vajra .

And if one peak faction knew about Ultom and was looking for it , what about the others? Even if they didn’t know now , they would eventually . The unorthodox cultivators from the other Sector were already looking for pieces of the seal , so Zac keeping his mouth shut wasn’t enough . Old monsters would come crawling out of the woodwork .

How would this all affect Zecia? This was just a tiny frontier Sector without any powerful guardians . That golem who accompanied Iz Tayn could probably annihilate all of Zecia’s peak factions in a week or two . Even if the powerful factions didn’t actively target the natives of Zecia , it was undoubtedly a calamity if the Sector became the battleground for an Eternal Heritage .

For such a prize , even Supremacies might make a move . Could Zecia withstand something like that? Zac almost regretted fleeing from that crazy firebug before . If anyone had the answers to this mess , it would be her and her golemoid guardian . Of course , Zac didn’t know about Ultom back then , so it was a bit of a moot point .

One thing was for sure—the upcoming war wasn’t as simple as it seemed . More was at stake than losing to some unorthodox cultivators , and his current strength wasn’t enough to secure Earth or even protect himself . He was an ant standing between towering giants whose whims held his life and death . He needed to find a solution to this predicament .

Perhaps he could crawl up the leg of one of those giants? After all , being a Flamebearer should hold some significance to the factions who wanted to take Ultom for themselves .

64

EDICT

On Kalstor Vala , the whispers of war had finally reached the general populace , and thousands of rumors circulated in the markets , taverns , and households . However , the unrest didn’t reach the sprawling manor in the center of the capital , whose forests stretched for hundreds of miles .

There , it was a secluded haven , shielded from the sorrows of the outer worlds , and the marvelous glades and pristine lakes were known across the planet for their beauty . But those living at Kalstor Vala couldn’t have imagined the rumor was a sham , that there was a festering blight hiding in the heart of the forest .

Where the hell is he! -

The evil star paced , demanding answers just as she had so many times before .

Mis-Mistress , we assure you , we have sent out the messages as you have instructed , - Porto Vala said as he dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief .

Porto couldn’t believe how one’s fortunes could turn so quickly . Living close to the Kaldran Straits was fraught with danger , but this was just cheating . It had started out so well . Just a few centuries after he’d taken up the role as a ward of his family’s mercantile planet , the Undead Empire halted its warfare for the first time in eons .

That reprieve only lasted a few short years before they started attacking with redoubled efforts . Porto soon learned the reason—it wasn’t about killing humans and assimilating their planets . Not exclusively , anyway . A true war was coming to Zecia , and the Undead Empire was honing their warriors against the coalition’s armies .

With powerful invaders coming over , the Undead Empire saw an opportunity to seize high-potential bodies from both sides , so they no longer cared about casualties as they reforged their war machine with blood and ice . Anyone who fell at this point wouldn’t be of any use in the real struggle , anyway .

Luckily , Kalstor Vala was some distance from the frontlines where the undead and living fought for the fates of their planets . His job was only to rebuff the occasional raid or scouting party with the help of the planet’s arrays and the garrisoned soldiers . But who could have expected this evil star and her supremely powerful guardian would show up out of the blue and forcibly move into his mansion?

The whole coalition had collectively breathed out in relief when the mysterious Draugr scion had finally left the Zecia Sector for the rotten pastures of the Empire Heartlands . Her presence , or rather that of her master’s , had been like a butcher’s axe that hung over the Kaldran Strait for years until the danger passed without incident .

Only a scant few years later , Catheya Sharva’Zi was back , and she’d brought an even more terrifying master this time . What was it with this lass and her interest in this remote little Sector? Couldn’t she just leave well enough alone and let them lead their lives in peace? And who was this bastard who kept eluding them? If not for him , these unwelcome guests would have long been gone .

If you did what you were supposed to do , then we would have had an answer by now , wouldn’t we? - the young scion glared , her abyssal eyes boring into Porto’s .

I’m starting to think your connection to that man is not as close as you led us to believe , - a voice echoed through the hall like the death knolls of a funeral procession , and Porto’s hair immediately stood on end . - Were you perhaps just a passing acquaintance who saw an opportunity to enrich yourself? -

The next moment , cascading waves of death filled the hall , and Porto desperately took out a number of Divine Crystals to avoid being crushed under the tide of undeath . Even then , he didn’t dare so much as look up when the two spoke , but he also didn’t dare to just leave in the presence of a powerful Monarch .

You can believe whatever you want , - Catheya snorted . - You can try approaching him yourself and see how that goes . -

We spent quite a bit on you , child . Yet we have nothing to show for it , - the second Draugr commented , not sparing Porto so much as a glance .

He came back more than half a year ago , but going by the report , he might be wounded , - Catheya ventured . - He might also have chosen to discard this line of communication since so much time has passed . Perhaps we should move to the second location? -

Porto’s eyes widened in a mix of hope and horror . The abyssal eyes of these terrifying Draugr had haunted him for over two years , and every night he’d dreamt of their departure . Just not like this . They’d sworn they wouldn’t harm him if he successfully contacted whatever bastard they were trying to find , but they never made any guarantees if he failed .

Would they really leave him with his little life if he didn’t deliver? That young lass might have done so , but the old wretch who accompanied her reeked of blood .

A-Ah , mistress , I will try again . Don’t you worry , - Porto urgently said as he once more dabbed his face . - I’m sure we will get an answer momentarily . Surely . -

You have three months , - the Monarch said as she stared at him with those nightmare-inducing eyes . - Get us an answer within three months . . . If you fail , then I will personally awaken you and this planet . Now , leave us . -

Catheya shook her head at the receding back of the corpulent merchant before she turned her gaze back to her guide . Or warden , depending on how you looked at it . What she said was true ; the Umbri’Zi Clan and the Abyssal Lake had provided her with opportunities that most Draugr could only dream of .

But it was contingent on her delivering on her end . If she failed , it wasn’t just a problem for her but for the whole Sharva’Zi Clan . She still remembered the nervous eyes of her father when he sent her off with Enis Umbri’Zi , a Monarch whose bloody feats during the Havarok War had reached even the Abyssal Lake . She was a terrifying butcher , though Catheya couldn’t just sit back and let Enis do as she pleased .

Three months? - Catheya asked with a frown . - The deadline set by the Abyssal Lake was five years . Only two years have passed since we returned . -

Things have changed , - Enis said . - An edict arrived at the Kavriel Clan yesterday ; I just got it . -

An edict? - Catheya said with a sinking heart . Not many had the authority to send out something like that , and getting one sent to the frontier was nigh-unprecedented . - Is it the Abyssal Council? -

No , child , - Enis said as she looked deeply into Catheya’s eyes . - It comes from the Heart . -

The Founders! - Catheya blurted .

As far as she knew , the Founders hadn’t left the Heart for tens of millions of years as they tirelessly worked on their undertaking . During the endless years of the Undead Empire , they’d only appeared during a few critical junctures , like when the Buddhist Sangha was out for blood or during the crusades of the Ancient Imperial Clans .

The seal is growing stronger . The backup squads with the followers you requested will not be able to make it through . - Enis said .

Is that it? - Catheya said with confusion .

No , that was just an update from the Kavriel Clan , - Enis said . - The edict is simple ; Zachary Atwood must choose death and join our side . No matter what . This is no longer just a matter of the Abyssal Shores . It is a matter of the empire . -

Catheya took a shuddering breath , trying to compute what just happened . For the Eternal 108 to turn their gazes toward Zecia was incomprehensible . Just what kind of storm had that troublemaker kicked up this time?

It isn’t right , - Emberstorm muttered as they flew toward an enormous citadel in the distance . - Working with these cretins . -

From beneath , screams and clamors of the endless series of bloody cages assaulted them , and even Til’Siri was a bit unnerved by the misery . Many thought beasts cruel , but she’d never seen these kinds of macabre conditions among any others than cultivators . This wasn’t natural selection—it was elevation through misery .

But orders were orders .

We’re not working with them , - Til’Siri sighed . - We’re just using them to get to the Left Imperial Palace . -

That isn’t much better . Since when did the Starbeast Alliance need to barter with the Unorthodoxy? Just because we’re both standing outside the cultivator alliances doesn’t mean we’re the same , - Emberstorm spat . - The fell karma of this world is nauseating . We should just annihilate this little faction and seize the Space Gate for ourselves . The Black Heart Sect wouldn’t dare raise an issue over a frontier Sector . -

You don’t know that , - Til’Siri countered with annoyance .

Even after reaching Atavism , these ancient and oversized insects were simply too bloodthirsty . Thank the Heavens a Qilin Beast Emperor was in charge of this mission rather than one of those lunatics . Of course , while she and Emberstorm were just sent there to observe and assist at this stage , they’d probably gotten the same orders from their elders .

If an opportunity presented itself , seize a spot by any means necessary . In other words , they were competitors , and there was no need to keep up any pretenses when dealing with this fool .

Didn’t you hear? The Black Heart Patriarch fought with Lord Realmsbane not long ago , and the lord was forced to back down . They clearly have a vested interest in this matter . Otherwise , the patriarch would never have appeared . -

So what? - Emberstorm shrugged . - Even if Lord Realmsbane was pushed back , it didn’t count . The lord only fought to prove a point , and they battled inside the Black Heart Dimension . If one of the Ancestors make a move , the whole cult would be turned to ash . -

That’s enough , - Lonzor said . - Black Heart Sect is not as simple as you think . Neither of the two went all-out in that fight . If the Black Heart Patriarch completely unseals the curse in his chest , few in the Multiverse would get out of the conflict in one piece . And there are rumors their founder is still alive in stasis . Besides , many things are at play here . -

Other factions? - Til’Siri frowned .

Not yet . We should be among the first , - Lonzor said with a shake of his head . - It’s about fate . According to the Bone Sage , two rivers of fate have converged because of an anomaly . Even the System has gotten involved . Using force could backfire as the rivers drown us . We need to play by the rules . -

So , what should we do? - Til’Siri asked .

The first step is setting up our presence here , - Lonzor said . - As you said , the Black Heart Sect isn’t able to contend for the Ultom Courts . They simply have too many enemies and too few allies to protect something like that . The Cultivator Clans would band together and launch a crusade under the guise of justice to seize the Left Imperial Palace for themselves . The cult chose a different path—that of a ferryman . -

What? - Emberstorm said with confusion .

Because of the cosmic hiccup , there is still much we don’t know , but we do know that this event is targeted at the younger generation . The Black Heart Sect still doesn’t know the details , but they figured out this Sector was integral to competing for the opportunity . Since they couldn’t take the thing themselves , they’ve opted to demand resources in return for passage through the Space Gate and a spot in the upcoming events , - the Qilin explained .

You want us to become mercenaries in some frontier war? - Til’Siri said with a frown , disgusted at the mere thought of fighting shoulder to shoulder with these maniacs .

The sanctioned war is a part of the puzzle . We just don’t know how yet , - Lonzor nodded . - Our tasks are as follows : we need to establish our presence here while searching for clues of the Left Imperial Palace . If we encounter an Inheritor Candidate , we need to either recruit them or kill them . If we find other outsiders sniffing around , we kill them immediately . Finally , we need to quicken the formation of the Space Gate .

Our greatest advantage is that we’re ahead of the competition . The earlier this war begins , the better we’ll be positioned compared to those who come behind us . -

I don’t know anything about Space Gates , - Emberstorm muttered before his amber eyes lit up . - But I can help you kill the Inheritor Candidates . They should just be some frontier natives , right? -

About that , - Til’Siri said . - If we really encounter a candidate . . . If we manage to seize their opportunity . . . -

Well , you’re welcome to try , - Lonzo said with a small smile . - The Bone Sage said only those beneath a century of age will be able to contend , but you might surprise us all . -

What! - Til’Siri exclaimed , while Emberstorm looked like he was about to explode . - I’m over six hundred years old! -

This opportunity already has an intended recipient , it’s neither for your branches or mine to claim , - Lonzor sighed with a complex expression . - Our job is to pave their path . -

Who? - Emberstorm raged . - I know I’m only on the twentieth spot of the Starbeast Stele , but what bastard has been given this chance without any discussion? That little brat , Laka? No , she should be 180 years old . -

It’s not anyone on the Starbeast Stele , - Lonzor said . - A primordial has been unsealed . -

Finding a proper backer was essentially the same plan Zac had when trying to deal with the Great Redeemer . Unfortunately , the problem remained the same—how to retain control , or at least autonomy , in a relationship with a vast power imbalance . Just like Yrial once said , when valuable treasures were at stake , there was no such thing as orthodox or righteous factions .

A crackling sound drew Zac from his thoughts , and he frowned when he saw that space had once more started to collapse . Was it because the mysterious aura of the temple had grown sparse? It looked like it hadn’t actually closed the breach but only momentarily pushed it away . Luckily , Zac had already gotten everything he needed , so there was no point in sticking around .

Zac hesitated a second before he flashed over to the cracked altar . He could feel how space was fast collapsing , but he couldn’t just leave such a valuable treasure behind . Zac put his hand on the stone , but his brows soon furrowed . He was trying to put it into a Spatial Ring , but nothing happened .

Since the altar refused to enter his Spatial Treasure , Zac could only rely on brute force . His muscles strained as he gripped the edges of the altar , and his eyes almost bulged out from their sockets when he couldn’t move even the smallest piece so much as an inch . He didn’t know if the seemingly ordinary stone actually had the weight of a mountain or if some unseen force was preventing him from moving it , but it quickly became apparent it wouldn’t budge .

Zac was filled with a sense of frustration as he looked down at the broken altar . The treasure was so close , yet it was impossibly out of reach . Would he really have to leave such an amazing item for meditation behind? Even after all his gains , Zac still felt like he’d lost out on a fortune , and his eyes roved the hall for a consolation prize until they focused on the tattered scroll hanging on the wall .

Better than nothing .

He flashed over with Earthstrider] and snatched it with one practiced motion , and was relieved to see it could enter his Spatial Ring . Even now , Zac had no idea if it actually had any effect , but he figured he might as well take it . Who knew? It might be able to provide one final burst of glory that helped him out sometime in the future .

But the moment Zac snatched the scroll , he immediately regretted it , as a new set of cracks appeared on the altar . Simultaneously , the odd undulations drastically increased in power , making Zac wonder if the scroll had actually helped keep the collapse at bay . The breach that had been held at bay for so long seemed to be coming back with redoubled ferocity , and Zac’s Danger Sense screamed at him to leave before it was too late .

With a flash , he appeared at the doorway of the temple , just in time before space itself collapsed like a punctured ball . The altar was swallowed by an impossibly deep chasm , and Zac’s footing became precarious as the whole temple started to buckle . Zac glanced at the ring on his hand with some regret as he ran for his life .

Why didn’t he ever learn?

65

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

The whole valley was being dragged to where the altar once stood , and a deep sense of trepidation filled Zac when he glanced at the quickly forming singularity . He could tell it wasn’t just the Void on the other side , and neither was it some other realm of the Void Star—there was a sense of antiquity coming from it , antiquity tainted by an ancient madness that would give the Remnants a run for their money .

Just being in its presence made the Cosmic Energy in Zac’s body restless to the point he almost lost control of it . Thankfully , the effect lessened the farther he moved away from the altar . A moment later , he leapt over the outer gate that served as a demarcation line for the bipedal beasts , ready to fight his way out if need be .

But on the other side , there were no yetis remaining . The carcasses from his blitz and the spike trap wake were left behind , but the beasts themselves had already escaped . The whole square was already being bent and twisted from the relentless pull coming from the temple . Zac still noticed there was a new line of annihilation reaching almost halfway across the square .

Within that line , the corpses had turned into new piles of dust , and Zac remembered the powerful pulse he released upon touching the figurine . It looked like the final pulse showcased a greater reach and possibly disintegrated all of the Beast Kings who waited for him at the gate . Though it could also be possible they’d realized the way the wind blew and left early . After all , they exhibited an extraordinary level of intelligence for a group of beasts .

Now wasn’t the time to worry about the fates of the yetis , though . The previously impenetrable tiles of the square were being bent and twisted like they were made of clay , and the enormous valley had almost turned into a tunnel as space itself was being siphoned away . The singularity only grew hungrier , and Zac started to worry if it would even be satiated from just swallowing the valley .

Each step with Earthstrider] should have allowed Zac to cross hundreds of meters , but space had coagulated . He could only exhibit a third of the effect , which wasn’t enough to offset how much of the square was being dragged into the black hole behind him . But the pull suddenly lessened as Zac released Void Zone] , and the next step he took completely ignored the restrictions placed on the area .

Using his Void Energy in the open like this was a bit risky , but he was out of options . He could sense that he would be swallowed if he stayed behind just a few seconds longer . The unfettered speed of a Void-empowered Earthstrider] allowed him to shoot out from the collapsing valley in just a moment , cleanly breaking free from the pull as he landed on a cliff overlooking the whole valley .

Behind him , it was like the jaws of a primordial beast were snapped shut as the whole valley was disintegrated . In its stead was a churning darkness that felt like it wanted to consume the universe . The calamity thankfully didn’t spread through the mountain range , though not for lack of trying .

Zac had been prepared to keep running , but nine enormous sigils had appeared at the edge of the valley , each one vaguely familiar . He hadn’t seen them in the dilapidated temple but rather on the parchments lifted from the cultists . That alone wasn’t enough to make him feel safe , but he took out one of his copies as he kept running , and it didn’t take any time to confirm his hunch .

None of these nine sigils were the one he had a connection to , but they resembled nine others spread out among the fakes . It really looked as though the infiltrators knew even more than he previously thought . He had no idea what these nine sigils represented , and neither did he understand what the sigils had trapped .

A deep thud from within the heart of the darkness forcibly interrupted Zac’s use of Earthstrider] , and a stabbing headache indicated his soul had been wounded as he slammed into a sheer mountain wall . He buried Verun into the stone to stop the fall as he looked around with bleary eyes .

Only to see a completely changed landscape .

The ball of churning darkness was gone , replaced by an enormous pillar that seemed to cut straight through the whole Mystic Realm . It pierced into the sky like the Tower of Eternity on one end , and Zac could see how it had dug deep into the ground on the other . The pillar wasn’t corporeal , instead looking like a purple night sky that ran like a river through a tube .

Inside , small motes of lights shimmered like failing stars , and Zac spotted various ruins being dragged toward the sky . The sight was tranquil , but Zac’s hair stood on end as he sensed its aura . It wasn’t just a river of stars—it was a stream of condensed madness far more dangerous than what he’d sensed back in the temple .

Zac didn’t dare look at it for long ; it felt like his mind was being invaded . Only by focusing on the sigils that still formed a protective barrier around it was he safe . Not only that , but the sigils contained a hint of the truths he’d briefly been in touch with during his epiphany . Part of Zac simply wanted to sit down and meditate in front of this spectacle , except this was neither the place nor the time .

Those sigils stood strong for now , but that purple sky was too ominous . There was no telling what would happen if the sigils failed , so he wanted to be long gone before this thing went sideways . And that was doubly true in case there were infiltrators or Templars skulking about in the mountains .

The dark pillar was hundreds of times bigger than an incursion light , and those things could be seen from miles away . If there really were people in these parts , there was simply no way this display wouldn’t attract attention . This wasn’t how he wanted to rejoin the Void Gate squads . He needed to create distance between himself and the Left Imperial Palace if he wanted a chance to sneak out unnoticed .

If some elite force from the Void Monastery discovered him absconding with a piece of the seal , then the mutated Ferric Worldeater in his Beast Pouch would be the least of his worries . Perhaps he would have taken the risk if the opportunity was more palpable , but he only got a familiar feeling from the sigils rather than the real thing .

There was also Vai to worry about . He was only a few mountains away from the hiding spot , so chances were she’d been hit by that pulse . She might even have been implicated by the exodus of the Yeti horde . That thought alone filled him with a sense of foreboding , and Zac swallowed a Soul Mending Pill before he shot toward the mountain cave he’d left her in . A moment later , Zac passed through the fake wall , and his heart sunk to rock bottom .

The cave was empty .

The odds of her leaving on her own accord didn’t look good—there were a few splotches of blood on the ground . Had her protective bubble run out of power? Had someone managed to get the drop on her , sealing her movements before she could take it out? Zac desperately looked for clues , and his eyes lit up when he saw something upon activating Cosmic Gaze] .

There was a small mark of Space-attuned Dao right by the exit , its aura clearly belonging to Vai . If he looked at it normally , there was nothing special about the spot . But to his attuned gaze , it appeared to be a purple streak . It had to be intentional—Vai would have needed to infuse the rock with her Mental Energy for it to stay on like that . She was trying to leave a trail for him .

That alone was extremely good news . Most importantly , she was still alive . Secondly , the little researcher was extremely considerate . If she’d thought her captors were too much for him to handle , there was no way she would have left that mark behind .

There was no hesitation in Zac’s heart as he set out , his gaze roving through the cliffs and crags in the area . He didn’t immediately see anything , but he didn’t give up , not even when one of the runes holding back the starry sky broke apart . Zac ignored the inauspicious signal and methodically checked his surroundings as he flashed around in a growing spiral . Finally , he found a second mark a few hundred meters away on a piece of rock jutting out from the wall .

He’d found his direction and set out . Like this , he followed the clues like breadcrumbs , where some were markings on stones and others were space-infused droplets of blood . Even if he was quickly getting the hang of things , he wasn’t sure if he was actually getting closer to Vai and her captors .

They were quite careful and changed direction more than one time , forcing Zac to backtrack and start circling until he could pick up a trail again . Finally , Zac knew he was getting close as a droplet of blood was still wet . But the moment hunched down to inspect the drop , he realized there was trouble .

The ground beneath him disappeared and was replaced by a world of darkness . Zac looked around as he readied himself for a fight , but his opponent was nowhere to be seen . Zac’s battle-honed instincts told him in no uncertain terms someone was close , but not even Cosmic Gaze] could expose their whereabouts . In other words , an assassin .

An assassin wouldn’t let him prepare , and as expected , the attack was already bearing down on him . A lance of condensed shadows shot toward him from the side , containing enough force to punch a hole through a mountain . The attack didn’t exactly look like Ogras’ Shadowlance] , and two Dao Branches possibly powered it . However , the resemblance was still so uncanny that it almost made Zac forget to defend himself .

That brief moment of hesitation actually helped him avert disaster . His Danger Sense suddenly did a one-eighty and told him the danger was coming from behind rather than from the lance that was about to pierce into his chest from ahead . Zac felt like he was looking at a mirror—where he’d actually been looking at the mirror image rather than the real thing .

There was no time to sort out the confusion , the lances were moving too quickly . Ultimately , it didn’t matter which one was real and which was fake—just destroy them both and the problem would be dealt with . Zac turned into a blur , and Verun’s Bite] keened with savagery as its edge drew an almost full-circle arc with enough force to shred everything in its path .

Zac didn’t celebrate averting the initial salvo . This was obviously a skilled assassin , just like the Faceless assassin he’d fought inside the Tower of Eternity . They were slippery as eels and difficult to kill . More importantly , Zac needed to actually catch them if he wanted to figure out what happened to Vai .

However , Zac was a bit stumped when no second attack came forth , and he found himself standing in churning mists . Had the assassin actually just left like that? Had he displayed too much power in dealing with that initial salvo?

Bastard , where did you get that axe? - a hoarse voice said from within the shadows , and Zac felt like he’d been struck with a bolt of tribulation lightning .

The voice was slightly different , but there was no mistaking it ; it really belonged to Ogras . The field of shadows and the shadowlances had felt familiar , but Zac immediately discarded the possibility it might really be his old companion . There was no lack of shadow-based assassins in Zecia . Even a clan like Azh’Rezak managed to get their hands on a partial heritage .

But that voice . . . It was unmistakable , and there was no way some random assassin would know to impersonate it . First of all , no one should know his real identity , making it impossible to impersonate his friends . Or was this all an illusion? Was someone messing with his senses , dragging out his old memories to make him lower his guard?

There was only one way to find out .

Ogras? Is that you? - Zac asked with a hammering heart as he looked back and forth .

There was no response for a few seconds . Then the shadows dispersed to expose a figure warily standing fifty meters away with a banner in his hand that emitted an uncomfortable aura that made Zac think of that starry pillar from before . Zac’s mind descended into chaos , and words failed him when he saw the familiar face .

It was him . This was no illusion—Zac was pretty much certain of it . It really was Ogras in the flesh . The demon in front of him looked a lot like ten years ago , but there were some noticeable differences . For one , his aura was pretty odd . It was so faint that Zac could barely feel it , yet it gave him some pressure . The demon’s body was the same . Even looking right at him , Zac felt like he was staring into empty space .

Something about his presence made Zac’s subconscious overlook the demon and his attacks . If not for his extremely honed Danger Sense , he wouldn’t have been able to sense the attack coming from behind before . There hadn’t been so much as a ripple of energy . The second lance had just suddenly appeared while the first one became a fake .

At the same time , Ogras hadn’t become a shade . If anything , his body looked sturdier and more corporeal than when Zac last saw him inside the Mystic Realm . He was still monochrome in scales of grey though , a side effect after Void’s Disciple killed him . Back then , Asshole had taken the place of his heart , which in turn resulted in a series of unusual changes .

Who are you , and how do you know my name? - Ogras frowned as he glanced at Zac’s axe . - How are you related to that temple? -

Zac’s mind was a mess after running into a familiar face in the heart of the Void Star , but he still had the presence of mind to realize the problem . There was still a risk this was all a ploy , but Zac felt risks be damned as he activated Million Faces] .

It’s me , Zac , - Zac said with a wide smile as his face transformed . - Ogras , is it really you? -

Zac expected to see his own feelings mirrored in the demon’s ; shock , delight , and confusion . But Ogras’ eyes only thinned as he looked at Zac with suspicion .

More delusions? Are you seeing what I’m seeing? Is it him? Am I still lucid? - Ogras muttered , his eyes slightly wild , and Zac frowned when he heard a hollow snicker .

The next moment , a wretched-looking spectral goblin appeared out of Ogras’ sleeve and flew over to Zac’s side . Zac stared down at the ghost with suspicion , feeling a familiar aura on its body ; the aura he’d sensed in the starry sky and the chasm that swallowed the temple . An aura of madness and corruption .

Why had this thing come out of Ogras’ body? Possession?

Young man , you have shown great potential to so easily rebuff this wretch . Don’t believe what you’re seeing—his mind has long since been corroded by the shadow creature in his body . Rescue me , and I’ll grant you power you couldn’t—Ai! -

The ghost didn’t get any further , as a Kalpataru-infused fractal leaf ripped him in two . Between Ogras’ slightly odd state , and the sinister aura coming from the ghost , Zac figured he was better off swinging first and investigating later . If the goblin was the threat , then problem solved . If it spoke the truth , then better safe than sorry .

With how the sigils of the Left Imperial Palace had sealed the place this goblin probably came from , they were possibly bound to become enemies in either case . And if Ogras really was possessed , then Zac would have to knock the demon out until he could find a purifier or something similar . But Zac’s plans were derailed when the ghost reformed , much to Zac’s shock .

Even an Eidolon would be hard-pressed to survive a point-blank strike like that , but this little goblin was seemingly unscathed?

Bastard! Wretch! I should have known! Violent animals , both of you , - the goblin swore as he flew into the flag in Ogras’ hand . - I hope the Lost Plane swallows you whole . -

Uh , - Zac hesitated . - Sorry? -

Ogras hadn’t made a move yet , but his hands turned into a blur as he furled up the flag and sealed it with two talismans . Only then did he turn toward Zac . - Who is your mother? -

The sudden shift of topics threw Zac through a loop , but it was a test . Only two people from Earth knew of Zac’s heritage ; Ogras and Kenzie . No information report would contain the truth , and a pretender would never get that question right .

Zac eventually decided to tell the truth , his heart beating so hard he was almost stuttering the words . - Leandra Atwood , a Technocrat . What were the first words you said to me? -

I said , - You natives truly are barbarians , so aggressive , ’ - Ogras said with a small smile . - I guess some things never change . -

The story will continue in Defiance of the Fall 11!

DEFIANCE OF THE FALL 11

1

CATCHING UP

The purple pillar of tainted truth stretched toward the sky , its stream of profundity sealed by the ancient sigils of the Left Imperial Palace's Outer Courts . Its knowledge was locked in , but it still covered the Mystic Realm's mountain range in its light . It gave the shadows a sinister air , but also one of fatal attraction . Zac had experienced his second burst of Ultom's enlightenment just hours ago and was painfully aware of the miraculous gift that hid behind the corruption .

Yet the memories of the ancient temple , the yetis , and the pillar itself were relegated to the back of his head as Zac mutely stared at the familiar face that emerged from the shadows . If not for his honed senses and recent inroads into Heart Cultivation , he would doubt whether he had been caught in an illusion array . But his instincts told him , in no uncertain terms , he wasn’t caught in a mirage , and his heart told him this was all true .

It was truly Ogras who stood before him . The treacherous goblin ghost who'd appeared from the demon's sleeves was unfamiliar , but a decade had passed since Ogras was swallowed by the spatial vortex . It was likely something his old companion had encountered in the years since . After all , the presence of temples related to Ultom proved this Mystic Realm was anything but simple .

Sorry about that . - Zac smiled wryly as he walked over . - I didn’t know the ghost was with you . Didn’t sound like it . -

Don’t worry about it . Believe me , if that little wretch could be dealt with so easily , I would have done so years ago . I seem destined to pick up annoying hitchhikers . - Ogras sighed , his otherwise ashy complexion accented by red-rimmed eyes . - You’re as ugly as ever , but damn is it good to see you . -

Zac dragged the demon into a bear hug , a confusing mix of emotions washing over him .

One by one , his closest people had been lost over the past years . And while he’d gained new allies and friends , they couldn’t replace those who were gone . But Ogras had come back . It wasn’t just a huge victory on its own . It somehow bolstered Zac’s conviction that he could do the same with the others . He would get Kenzie back , and he would return Alea to her proper form .

It was all possible .

Alright , enough of that , - Ogras said as he dissipated into a mist and reformed a few steps away . - That little lass , she’s with you? -

How’d you do that? No , wait , Vai! - Zac exclaimed . - She’s my guide . You didn’t hurt her , right? -

Well , she’s fine except for a bump on the back of her head and a belly full of grievances . - Ogras snickered . - She’s around ten minutes from here . -

Let’s go , - Zac urged , and Ogras nodded in acquiescence as a shroud spread around them .

Most of those annoying mongrels have fled already , after what I can only assume was your doing? - Ogras said , indicating the still-beaming pillar .

Zac helplessly shrugged in response , prompting the demon to scoff . - Figures . If anything , I should have realized it was you who had descended on this place the moment I saw that thing . Anyway , if we run into some stragglers , these clouds will make them ignore us . It will also allow us to talk in peace . -

Zac nodded in understanding , curiously looking to the churning clouds around him and the energies they contained .

Two branches? - Zac whistled .

Not bad , huh? - Ogras said with a smug grin , which drastically soured when Zac released three Dao Fields . - What? A brute like you has somehow managed to form three of them? Whatever . Comparing oneself with a Heaven-kissed scoundrel is bound to cause one’s teeth to itch . -

Zac laughed . - If it’s any consolation , I generally only use two branches per form . -

That’s somewhat better , - Ogras muttered , looking to Zac with perplexity . - In any case , how in the Heavens did you find me? I figured I would have to make my way back myself . -

Find you? - Zac said with a blank look . - Isn’t that my cue? How the hell did you appear here? Did you enter the Stellar Ladder? -

The stellar what-now? - Ogras blurted , turning suspicious . - Wait , you didn’t come here because you were looking for me? We just , stumbled upon each other in this godforsaken place by accident? -

Well . . . - Zac coughed .

I see your Luck is as strong as ever . Suppose I shouldn’t complain as long as I’m benefiting , - Ogras said with a roll of his eyes . - Let me guess , you were out adventuring and just so happened to fall into the Dimensional Seed? Right into the opportunity in the temple? -

This is actually the Mystic Realm of the Dimensional Seed! - Zac exclaimed , things finally clicking into place . He should have realized the moment he saw Ogras , he’d just been too preoccupied to make the connection . - No wonder this place felt so familiar . -

Where else would we be? - Ogras said as he looked at Zac like he was a fool . - And you bastard , you didn’t actually look for me after I saved the day so heroically back then? -

I did , - Zac sighed . - We had a supreme powerhouse divine your fate seven years ago . She said this Mystic Realm would pop up inside the Million Gates Territory around now , so I’ve been collecting the items needed for the Creators to build me a Cosmic Vessel . I came to a weird place called the Void Star to get the final item of the quest , and it turns out this realm entered it . -

Void Star? Sounds vaguely familiar , - Ogras hummed . - What’s going on? -

Zac recounted the situation of the Void Star , its interlayered realms , and the Stellar Ladder that formed leading into the Mystic Realm .

No wonder the lass kept calling me an infiltrator even if she was the one who infringed on my Mystic Realm . So that little bastard got caught inside , - Ogras said . - More importantly , a supreme powerhouse? We have a proper backing now? -

Not quite , - Zac said with a grimace . - That powerhouse happened to be my mother . -

She returned? - Ogras frowned . - Is that good news or bad news? How powerful is she? -

It’s bad . Leandra is crazy powerful , way more than anyone in Zecia , even when she’s wounded . She appeared on Earth , killed Thea , and took Kenzie away . I’ve essentially been disowned . Kenzie was the one who had Leandra investigate your situation in return for leaving willingly . -

That lass . . . - Ogras sighed . - And I’m sorry about your woman . I guess you were right to be wary of that side of the family . So , how do we get your sister back? -

We? - Zac asked with a raised brow .

I’ve done one selfless thing in my life—sacrificing myself to save your sister . Now your sister has not only returned the favor , but completely nullified my deed by getting captured . Can’t have that , can we? - Ogras winked .

I could use the help . - Zac smiled . - They were headed toward a place called the Six Profundity Empire , which is apparently a top faction closer to the center of the Multiverse . We’re currently too weak to even reach that place , let alone save her . -

Your mother can just waltz into the Multiverse Heartlands like that? - Ogras frowned . - Wouldn’t she be discovered and hunted down? Or is this empire full of traitors? -

I’ve learned a few things about my Technocrat heritage since you got stuck here , - Zac said . - I think they possess unique technology that allows them to perfectly masquerade as cultivators . Or perhaps form separate bodies that can cultivate within the System’s purview . -

Zac recalled the scene back on Earth , where a human Leandra walked out from the portal her avatar had created . One form was unmistakably Technocrat in origin , while the other was unmistakably a cultivator . It was even possible that Quantum Gate] wasn’t unique to him but something all Kayar-Elu possessed .

The experiments done on him were probably the next step of that technology , where they fused their Technocrat heritage with Emperor Limitless’ bloodline in an attempt to gain control over the System itself . Even if it failed , they would have a half-Technocrat half-Void Emperor scion who could take the best from both worlds .

Makes sense they would look into ways to hide from the Heavens and the eyes of other cultivators , - Ogras said . - Otherwise , how is the situation outside? Have you stirred up any more trouble? -

Zac grimaced . - It’s a bit complicated , but Port Atwood and Azh’Rhodum are still standing . -

Complicated? I suppose that’s usually how it goes with you , - Ogras snorted . - What’s going on? -

A Sector-wide war is on the cusp of breaking out . No one in Zecia will be spared . -

What! - Ogras exclaimed , his suspicion returning . - What did you do? -

Me? Nothing! Some people think it’s my fault because I summoned the Stele of Conflict , but how is it my fault a Space Gate appeared in the depths of the Million Gates Territory? -

Maybe the Ruthless Heavens realized too few of the factions in Zecia would mess with you after the display of the Eveningtide Asura a million years ago . It couldn’t take the tranquility , so it brought in reinforcements? - Ogras offered and got a glare in return .

Anyway , war is coming , so it’s great timing you’re back . We need elites to lead our armies . What about Billy? Is he okay? Is he in these mountains as well? - Zac asked .

He’s fine . That simpleton is essentially unkillable in this realm . He’s not here , though . He should be in the heart of the Mystic Realm . -

Unkillable? - Zac exclaimed . - He’s gained that much from this place? -

An empty mind leaves a lot of room for the Dao to grow . Although , that’s not what I was referring to . The Dimensional Seed has gained sapience , and it’s become attached to the brute . I saw that crazy little gem crush space across over a hundred meters , killing thousands of beasts instantly . -

Sapience? - Zac said with surprise . It sounded very familiar to Qi’Sar , the Realm Spirit of the Twilight Ascent , who formed from the consciousness of two Autarchs through a freak accident . How had a recently born spirit gained sapience in a few short years? It might simply have been unusually talented , but there was a more likely explanation .

I think it was experimented on , - Ogras said , echoing Zac’s thoughts .

I suppose it doesn’t matter much , - Zac said . - Have you encountered anyone else in this place apart from Vai and me? -

Nope , that little lass was the first . But I’ve sensed fluctuations over the past months , like people were trying to break in . None have come to these mountains , except for you . - Ogras pointedly looked at Zac . - I guess they didn’t sense the call from the temple . -

You too? - Zac said , his brows scrunched together .

What did this mean? Had he stolen Ogras’ opportunity , or were they both competing for the Flamebearer title? He suspected such a possibility since the sudden pulse a few weeks back , but he hadn’t worried too much about it . If some infiltrator or other outsider had seized his opportunity , he’d simply snatch it back .

Thing is , what if it were an ally of his?

Don’t look at me like a starving Gwyllgi , you lunatic , - Ogras said with an annoyed wave of his hand . - I don’t think we are in contention . Did you know there are at least four temples in this mountain range? -

There are? - Zac said , his eyes gleaming .

I can see the gears in your head turning , don’t bother . You only felt drawn to one of the temples , right? -

Zac nodded in affirmation , realizing what Ogras was getting at .

It was the same for me , - Ogras confirmed . - I was drawn to a smaller temple in another region of this mountain . I got the opportunity inside and made some great breakthroughs . And even months later , I’ve never felt another calling . -

Why did you stick around? - Zac asked curiously .

After getting a glimpse of those truths , I couldn’t just give up when I knew there were probably similar opportunities hiding in the other temples . - Ogras smiled wryly . - I’ve been trying to get inside those places for a while now without any luck . Then one day , I felt an odd ripple and rushed over , and I found your little companion by chance . You two actually used one of my old haunts , so I knew something was up when a cave entrance was suddenly a solid wall . -

Poor girl , - Zac snorted . He took out the rags he’d looted from the infiltrators . - Do you recognize anyone of these sigils? -

Ogras curiously looked them over until he tapped on one—a different seal from the one Zac collected , and one of the sigils that appeared to seal the pillar of stars that still stretched toward the sky behind them .

That one , but it’s kind of ruined , - Ogras muttered as he rolled up one of his sleeves . - This is the real one . -

Zac was surprised to see the demon had a tattoo of the seal , though it was incomplete in comparison to the one he’d seen just an hour ago .

It’s not the same as mine . - Zac pointed at the seal he was forming . - This one is mine . -

As I expected . It should mean we’re not competing for the same inheritance if it works similarly to your repository back home . But I’m a bit confused . Why did your visit create a netherblasted pillar that seems intent on burning a hole in the sky? When I took my piece , I only opened a small spatial tear and let loose a beast tide . -

I’m not sure what happened either , - Zac helplessly said as he looked back at the pillar . - The first time , I didn’t create anything like this . It was like your encounter . It should be fine , though . Seems stable enough . -

Dragging a piece of the Lost Plane to the surface , how can it be fine? That madness is no joke . We’ve only been back together for a few minutes , and you’re already— - Ogras stopped in his tracks . - Wait , this is already your second piece? Do you know where we can get more? I still need two to complete my quest . -

Two more? - Zac said with surprise . - Do you have a quest to become a Flamebearer of . . . that place? -

That place? - Ogras said with confusion . - Why not just say Ult— -

He didn’t get any further , as Zac urgently waved him to stop as he felt fate congregate .

There are Karmic ramifications of uttering that name aloud , - Zac said . - We might want to be careful just in case . -

Just the name holds that kind of power? - Ogras whistled . - I can’t wait to get my hands on the real thing . What’s this about a Flamebearer? -

Zac shared his Quest Screen .

Flamebearer indeed . There are some other differences as well , - Ogras muttered .

A moment later , another screen appeared between them .

Seal of the Hollow Court (Unique , Inheritance) : Form a seal of the Hollow Court . Reward : Become a Skybreaker of Ultom . (1/3)]

The Hollow Court? - Zac said with a slight frown , the names foreign to him . - Never heard of it . Do you recognize it? -

Nope . - Ogras shrugged . - Think I saw a piece of it in a vision , but that’s about it . I thought the thing on my arm was just a key to unlock another quest until I stepped foot into the temple . I figured it was related to the Lost Plane . -

Zac turned away from Ogras’ quest and focused on the unfamiliar term . - That’s the second time you’ve mentioned the Lost Plane . What is that? How is it related to these seals and the inheritance? -

Let me tell you about a bunch of lunatics called the Ra’Lashar , - Ogras laughed .

Zac listened with interest as Ogras told him about how the Dimensional Seed had swallowed a bunch of hidden Mystic Realms , including one full of corrupted goblins . How they’d accidentally found some mysterious dimension they named the Lost Plane , and managed to become a Peak C-grade force in a scant few millennia by deciphering some of the lesser secrets of that place .

Is that ghost of yours trustworthy? - Zac asked hesitantly .

Not in the slightest , - Ogras snickered . - I do think he’s right on this one . I can feel their weird , contracted spirits have a similar energy signature as that pillar of yours . -

And you believe those temples came from the Lost Plane , - Zac concluded .

It makes sense , doesn’t it? If those little goblins could get even a corner of the insights contained in those temples , they were bound to make drastic improvements . -

Flamebearers , Skybreakers , Palaces and Courts , and now the Lost Plane , - Zac mused , feeling a headache coming on . - How the hell does all this connect? -

Who cares? - Ogras said lazily . - We just need to figure out where the next pieces are and empower ourselves . -

I guess you’re right , - Zac said , releasing a pent-up sigh . - We can worry about the other stuff after we get powerful . -

Even if they spent the next week trying to figure things out , it would just be guesswork . The most important thing in the short run was that it didn’t look like they were contending for opportunities since they were collecting different seals .

That’s right . I’m more curious how you caught hold of this opportunity . Did you find another connection to the Lost Plane? - Ogras asked .

Well , I kind of just got a vision out of the blue? - Zac said as a smile spread across his face .

That’s just swell , - Ogras complained , his face scrunched up like a raisin . - Some people have to fight shapeshifting nightmares and contend with crazy ghosts for a chance , while others just fall face-down into a pile of treasures . And you even get four opportunities to my three . -

Zac only laughed in response . He’d missed this , teasing Ogras with his monstrous Luck .

I had forgotten how infuriating it could be traveling with you , - Ogras muttered . - Let’s go find your little guide before I drop dead out of envy . -

2

SHAMELESS

There were a million things Zac needed to catch the demon up on , but Ogras was right . They had let Vai wait long enough . With the pillar still acting like a beacon , Zac didn’t want to stick around , especially now that there were two of them who were connected to Ultom and its related structures .

We’re about to reach the little guide of yours , - Ogras said . - She’s currently pretending to be unconscious . What does she know? -

Nothing about our opportunities . I only mentioned I had a quest and needed to find something , - Zac said . - We have been tracking the signal of the temple across over ten Mystic Realms until now , though , so she probably knows it’s something big . -

Like the netherblasted pillar behind us isn’t clue enough , - Ogras muttered . - What about your identity? -

Zac coughed with some embarrassment before his face started to transform again . - I told her who I am once , but she didn’t recognize my name . For now , I’m Gaun Sorom , a Wandering Cultivator . -

Ogras snickered as he looked at Zac with a raised brow . - Didn’t know you , eh? Must have been a blow to the second coming of the Eveningtide Asura . -

Whatever . - Zac smiled , somewhat happy Ogras still didn’t know about his unfortunate nickname in the Sector . - We need her help if we’re to get out of here . We’re deep in the restricted territory of the Void Star in the middle of an invasion , and I have . . . borrowed some strategic resources of the Void Gate . -

Figures . - Ogras wasn’t even phased . - How can that lass help us with that , though? No offense , but she didn’t put up much of a fight . -

She’s a researcher rather than a fighter , - Zac explained . - More importantly , she’s the great aunt of Leyara Lioress . -

That girl from the Base Town? The nun with the cleavage? - Ogras said , his eyes almost burning . - She’s here? -

It’s that bad? - Zac laughed .

You try being locked in this place with only a mountain of muscles and a ghost goblin for companions for ten years . If you arrived any later , I might have shaved one of those black-furred humanoids and made it my woman , - Ogras grunted .

Well , I’m not sure if Leyara’s here , but we managed to enter this Mystic Realm by using a gate left by other Void Gate members . I think it might be a special unit with how deep they’ve pushed into the Void Star . My best idea is to find them and have them take us out . Depending on how things pan out , I might have to expose my true identity . -

Ogras frowned . - That’s pretty risky . Even if they don’t make any connection between us and that place , we’re bound to raise suspicion . -

That’s why I’m hoping we can use Vai to get in contact with her niece to help us out , - Zac said with some helplessness . - We don’t have a lot of options . -

Why not just return the way you came from? -

For one , the gate that took us into this particular Mystic Realm was one-directional . And even if we get out , I’m not sure it’s possible to return that way , - Zac said , then briefly explained the situation with the Kan’Tanu infiltrators and how the cortex broke the connections in the Void Star .

So , we’re surrounded by heart-curse-infested lunatics and stuck deep in some unstable Mystic Realm Potpourri , - Ogras groaned . - Never a good , clean adventure with you , is there? -

This is nothing . - Zac laughed . - You should have seen when I ran into the real Eveningtide Asura a few years back , and a C-grade capital exploded . Now , that was hectic . -

You WHAT! - Ogras screamed .

Zac had already continued forward to where Vai was being kept .

This close by , Zac could already sense Vai’s aura . He flashed over , only to stop in confusion when he saw six specters standing guard over Vai’s unmoving body . Her eyes were closed , but Zac could somewhat tell she was awake from how her energy circulated . Apart from her captivity , she appeared unscathed apart from a big bump on her head . Zac almost laughed at how familiar the scene was to his encounter with Zakarith , the little Mercantile demoness back in Port Atwood .

The ghosts guarding Vai turned into black streams that poured out from the cave when Zac appeared , leaving them alone . Zac curiously glanced at the energy streams , wondering just what these things were . Judging by their strange aura , they shouldn’t be one of Ogras’ skills . Neither were they proper ghosts , like Triv or the Raun Spectrals .

Instead , their aura seemed to stem from the Lost Plane Ogras briefly mentioned , which probably meant Ogras had found some method to control the denizens brought to this dimension . Cultivators who controlled beings from other planes were generally called Warlocks , and they were extremely rare . Perhaps even rarer than Karmic cultivators .

Not only did you need a powerful soul to control a being like that , you also needed to find the creatures to bind and the Dao affinity to commune with the mysterious realities beyond the prime dimensions . It was a lot easier for Beast Tamers ; the Multiverse was literally crawling with beasts to tame . But to find a weakness in the dimensional layers and form a bridge required luck , skill , and resources .

The difficulty of becoming a Warlock was only one aspect of the archetype’s rarity—the other was the danger . There was a high risk of getting your mind invaded , or at least influenced , by the alien entities . It also bordered on the unorthodox since many of the methods of forming contracts involved sacrifice .

He would have to keep an eye on Ogras , just in case , to confirm he was still in control of the situation . Thankfully , Zac managed to infer some positive signs . Those talismans Ogras used to seal that sinister flag of his were freshly made with yeti hide and blood . If Zac had to guess , Ogras might have used Ultom’s state of clarity to devise techniques to deal with the danger .

A second after the ghosts dissipated , Vai hesitantly opened her eyes to find Zac standing in front of her .

You’re here , - Vai cried with tears pooling in her eyes , and she ran over to Zac .

I’m here . - Zac hugged the little researcher . - Everything’s okay . Are you hurt? -

I’m fine . I was worr— - Vai’s eyes widened in alarm . - Behind you! -

It was obviously Ogras who had walked into view with a crooked smile .

Oh , don’t worry about him . He’s not an infiltrator , - Zac said . - This is all a big misunderstanding . We actually know each other from before . -

I’m sorry , little lass , - Ogras grinned . - I didn’t know you were this guy’s wife . I guess that’s my luck . Stuck here for ten years , and when a little cutie finally shows up , she’s already taken by an old buddy . -

I’m-I’m not his wife , - Vai stuttered as she embarrassedly took a step away from Zac .

Does that mean you’re single? - Ogras asked with a grin that made him look like a starving ghost .

Rein it in , man , - Zac sighed as Vai took another step back with a mix of disgust and fear .

Are you really friends with this bad guy? - Vai whispered .

We’ve known each other for a long time . He’s not as bad as he looks . Long ago , he got swallowed by a spatial tear when saving someone’s life , and it turns out he ended up in this Mystic Realm long before it entered the Void Star . -

You’re the first person I’ve seen in ten years , - Ogras added , and Zac’s eyes widened when he saw the demon take out Vai’s protective treasure . - I was hoping to find out where you came from and how to get out of this place . I didn’t even know the Sector was at war , let alone anything about the infiltrators . I’m a righteous and upstanding citizen of Zecia . -

Vai snatched back the ball and once more took a few steps back . - W-What righteous person would appear in my shadows , almost knock me out , and then rob me before asking any questions? -

A righteous person who wants to live a long life , - Ogras offered .

Shameless , - Vai muttered , looking at Zac askance . - He really is your friend . Two peas in a pod . -

That’s rude . To both of us , I think . - Ogras laughed .

Anyway , we’re sorry you got hurt because of this , - Zac said as she handed her a bottle of Pseudo D-grade healing salve . - For your head . -

Rich guy , - Ogras said , staring at the shimmering liquid inside . - Got any more? -

Zac threw over one of his spare Spatial Rings that had a kit of crystals , pills , talismans , and other necessities in case something happened with his main ring .

Rich indeed , - Ogras hollered with an excited grin .

A-Are you okay? - Vai hesitantly asked in a low volume . - I saw the pillar while the bad guy carried me away . What was that? Are you really planning to destroy this Mystic Realm? -

You’re blowing up this place? - Ogras asked . - As much as I’d love to see this realm get blasted to the Underworld , I think King Billy would object . -

I’m not planning on blowing anything up . I don’t know why that pillar appeared . I thought only a breach would open , - Zac explained . Then he cast a raised brow at Ogras . - King Billy? What’s going on? -

Apart from befriending that annoying crystal , he also subjugated a tribe of aboriginals and formed the Kingdom of Bonk Mountain . - Ogras said with a face that carried years of pent-up exasperation .

W-What’s going on? - Vai asked .

More people have been stuck in this realm , - Zac explained . - I know one of them . We need to pick him up as well before we leave . Do you have any way to contact your people? This realm is even bigger than we expected . It would be almost impossible to find them if we just searched by foot . -

I— - Vai hesitated as she glanced at Ogras , who rolled his eyes and walked farther away . She spoke low , and actually looked a bit shamefaced . - I have a distress beacon , but it’s designed for the normal Mystic Realms in the Void Star . It only stretches for two weeks’ travel , I think . I . . . activated it in the forest a few times . . . I’m sorry . -

Well , that’s fine , - Zac shrugged . - But that probably means your people have moved either toward the heart of the realm or the other side . I’m sure we’ll find them eventually if we send out a signal now and then . -

We don’t need to bother with any of that , - Ogras said from a distance , clearly listening in on the conversation . - We can just ask Billy’s pet when we get there . In fact , that brute might already have captured or thwonked those people . You never know with that guy . -

Pet? - Vai said with confusion .

Billy has befriended the Realm Spirit of this Mystic Realm , - Zac explained , remembering how Qi’Sar had spied on him as he traveled through the Twilight Ocean . - It should be able to easily locate any other people in this place , including your fellow Templars . -

A sapient Realm Spirit! - Vai exclaimed , the uniqueness of a Realm Spirit overcoming her wariness of Ogras . - That is extremely rare! I’ve only read about it in ancient texts . There’s so much we can learn from such a being . -

You are bound to be disappointed if you go in expecting any wisdom from that thing , - Ogras muttered , prompting Zac to look over with confusion . - Let’s just say Billy is the brains of that duo , and he’s taught the thing everything he knows . -

Zac tried to imagine a Realm Spirit raised by Billy before firmly putting the matter aside . As long as it could help them out , it didn’t matter . - We have no time to waste . I want to get away from the pillar anyway . -

The traveling duo became a trio , though Vai wasn’t exactly enthused by the arrangement . Zac could understand her sentiment after being kidnapped himself . It wasn’t something you just moved past . She occasionally shot the demon aggrieved looks , which gave Zac a bit of a headache .

Even if Vai didn’t know any of his biggest secrets , he still considered her a friend and an ally and hoped things wouldn’t go south . Thankfully , Ogras understood the problem as well , so he started a relentless campaign against the poor girl . He swapped between peppering her with various questions , telling jokes , and sharing some of his exploits in this Mystic Realm , most of them clearly made-up .

Like this , a few days passed until they could see the edge of the Mountain Range . Most of the yeti had gone into hiding below-ground , and with Ogras’ illusory domain , they could walk right by the stragglers who remained on the mountain paths .

They exited in another direction than the one they came from , and instead of an endless forest , they spotted huge glistening lakes stretching out across a mostly flat landscape . There was no lack of vegetation either , but it looked more like the Twilight Chasm’s Coral Forest than a normal one .

Welcome to the Badlands , - Ogras said with an expansive wave . - Some of the lakes are saltwater . Others are pure acid . They all have nasty bastards hiding in the depths , and there are even more nasty critters above ground . This place has been the cause of many headaches over the years . -

Are the beasts aggressive? - Zac asked .

It’s not too bad , - Ogras said . - The real problem is the furry humanoids in the mountains . Since they arrived , the Badlands have been their main hunting ground . Sometimes , thousands of those black-furred bastards descend the mountains like locusts . Their actions have kicked up tides of beasts that fled straight toward the Kingdom of Bonk . It’s become Billy’s new Ratlight , one that has lasted for years . -

Let’s head inside then , - Zac said as he looked back at the pillar behind them .

Since yesterday , it had finally started to shrink . Going by the rate it was thinning , it would probably be gone within the week . The thing hadn’t caused any problems , but it was still a huge relief to see it go . No matter if you considered the tremendous amounts of power it contained , or the madness instilled into the energy , it wasn’t even a two-edged sword—it would be an uncontrollable calamity if it were unleashed on this realm .

Wait , people are coming! Almost two hundred cultivators! - Vai exclaimed , staring into her sonar-like bowl . - Six , no—seven Hegemons! We need to hide , quickly . -

Where? - Ogras said .

They’re still an hour’s travel away , - Vai explained .

Pretty nifty , that thing , - Ogras said as he looked at the bowl with interest .

I-It’s not for sale . It’s mine , - Vai said with determination in her eyes .

I was just looking , - Ogras said with helplessness , holding up his hands in defeat .

Two hundred , - Zac muttered . - The Void Gate encampment we saw couldn’t hold that many people . Should be invaders . -

What do you think? - Ogras asked as the illusive domain around them condensed even further .

Keep one or two alive for questioning? - Zac asked after some consideration .

Good . - Ogras grinned , the air around them starting to shimmer . - Finally , some change after years of fighting those beasts . -

Y-You two! - Vai exclaimed . - Going by the strength of the lights , one of the Hegemons is either an elite or approaching Middle D-grade . -

Compared to Captain Teo , who’s stronger? - Zac asked .

Teo , definitely , - Vai said without hesitation .

Then we’ll be fine . Can you see where they will enter the mountains? - Zac asked .

Twenty minutes later , the group arrived at a spot Ogras knew . It was a small basin no more than two hundred meters across—small enough to restrict such a big group , while Zac’s skills could still cover the whole thing . It was the perfect spot for an ambush .

Vai had retreated even farther , safely hidden in a nearby cave , while Zac and Ogras hung from a sheer mountain wall inside an illusion array further augmented by Ogras’ skills . After sensing just how hard to spot Ogras had become , Zac wasn’t worried they’d be exposed unless the enemies had a Hegemon scout .

They’d essentially become flies on the wall , silently waiting until they spotted movement . Two scouts moved with impressive speed , one on the ground and one jumping between mountain peaks using a blood-based movement skill as they headed deeper into the mountain range . Their auras were almost as indistinct as Ogras’ , but Zac would definitely have spotted them even if he wasn’t prepared .

The others shouldn’t be far off , - Ogras whispered when the two had passed .

Can you drop me off in the middle of the army? - Zac asked . - As close to the Hegemons as possible? Or will that mess with your skills? -

Ogras flashed a smile . - No worries . Just do your thing and soak up their attention—I will support you from the outside . Like the good old days . -

Like the good old days . - Zac handed the demon the curse-warding talisman he’d picked up before . - Remember , don’t stay close to those guys when they die , or you’ll get infected . Take this thing just in case . -

What about you? - Ogras said as he put the talisman on his robes .

I’m immune , - Zac shrugged .

Braggart , - Ogras said with a roll of his eyes .

Another thirty minutes later , the whole mountain path lit up with Cosmic Gaze] from the powerful auras in the army . They were moving fast and would enter the basin in just a few seconds . Zac activated Arcadian Crusade] . With seven Hegemons holding the fort , including a powerful one , he would need to thin out the numbers quickly .

Alright , - Ogras whispered as he placed his hand on Zac’s shoulder , prompting the world to turn grey . - I can’t wait to see what kind of monster you’ve become over the past decade . -

Zac only scoffed , but he was a bit excited himself . Most of his skills had seen upgrades in the temple , and an opportunity to try them out had already presented itself .

3

CHOOSING DEATH

The world twisted , and Zac sensed hundreds of powerful auras all around him . Ogras had done exactly what he’d asked—teleported him into the middle of the infiltrator squad . The demon even left behind a hazy shroud to give him a slight edge in the ambush . Zac swung his axe , wasting no time .

The grey world lit up with sanguine luster as he activated not only the skills of Verun’s Bite] , but also a few of his own . The Dao-infused axe slammed into the head of one of the nearby Hegemons before he had a chance to respond . To add insult to injury , the body was cut apart by a storm of fractal leaves as Zac unleashed his area attack of Nature’s Edge] that covered a good portion of the basin .

Zac was disappointed that he didn’t feel any stronger with the upgraded version of Arcadian Crusade] , still providing him a 35% boost . Instead , the golden runes on his body had grown denser , and he could feel how his energy circulation had been improved by another level . That was pretty decent .

Mastering his techniques had taught him the importance of small advantages . Being able to activate skills 50% faster was huge since it meant you didn’t need to create as large an opening to strike . Now it allowed Zac to launch a surprise strike before the Kan’Tanu cultivators had even figured out where he stood . Over fifty streams of energy entered his body from the fallen E-grade cultivators .

Zac didn’t stop there . The trees of Ancestral Woods] had already appeared , and he leaped into a tree next to him just as dozens of terrifying attacks landed on his position . Ten of his trees were disintegrated , and the attacks also destroyed most of the ownerless blood curses around him .

These soldiers weren’t fools . Even if they didn’t know the exact effect of the primordial forest , they understood enough to destroy it . Though most of his skill had been dismantled instantly , the sudden appearance of a forest provided an excellent opportunity for the dagger in the dark to make his move . As Zac appeared from another tree , a whole flank of the army descended into madness .

Some warriors struck their allies like they were trying to cut down the trees of Ancestral Woods] . Others were gored by shadowy spears . Some were even killed by those spectral creatures Zac had seen before . Another 50 warriors were taken out in an instant , showcasing just how powerful Ogras had become .

These people were not just random F-grade fodder . The warriors were all High E-grade at the least , with most of them being Peak E-grade . There had to be a significant power discrepancy to effortlessly cull their numbers like this . And not even the Hegemons were safe from Ogras’ all-out assault .

A highly condensed shadow lance struck a Hegemon from behind . The man had just received a bloody gash from one of Zac’s fractal leaves , and Ogras’ strike was launched with perfect timing . The warrior barely managed to block it in time with a defensive skill , creating a huge opening . This was exactly what Zac needed . Most of the Hegemons were still standing , and it was they who were the real threat . Less than a second had passed since the two descended on the infiltrators , and Zac wanted to take out at least two more leaders before they organized a response .

One of the blood curses had already found his trail , but he ignored the stabbing pain on his back as he activated Earthstrider] . A step took him right next to his target , and Zac was elated to sense how sturdy his movement skill had become . Not that it was quicker than before . It was able to forcibly contract space to a higher degree .

That was especially important in battlefields where chaotic energies and Dao Fields were always present . Typically , it felt like pushing through quicksand , but the effect was greatly subdued as he plowed right into the condensed Dao Field of the scimitar-wielding Hegemon . The warrior emitted a dense murderous aura , but something like that couldn't possibly deter Zac , so he slammed into the Hegemon like a ferocious bear .

The push was the straw that broke the camel’s back , and the interlocked layer of rocky scales the warrior had summoned crumbled . Verun’s Bite] followed right in tow as it bit into the forehead of the man , ending him in an instant . It was quick and clean , and showcased the indomitability of an apex predator .

A scream in his mind alerted him of imminent danger . He narrowly dodged a colossal beam of shrieking madness that destroyed everything in its path , including at least a dozen E-grade infiltrators . It had been released by the leader , a weird , hunched-over human whose mouth was bereft of both lips and teeth . His face was locked in a grotesque mask of pain as he stared right at Zac , somehow seeing straight through Ogras’ shadowy domain .

Zac barely managed to move out of harm’s way , and it looked like he left an opening just like the scimitar-wielding Hegemon . In reality , Vivi’s vines were acting as a counterweight , and his situation was nowhere near as precarious as it seemed . Since he’d reached the Integration Stage of his Evolutionary Stance , it required a lot more effort to push him off-balance than a surprise attack .

Still , the ruse had accomplished its goal as another of the Hegemons appeared right behind him with a brutal cudgel in hand . It emitted smoldering heat like a falling meteor as the Hegemon swung it toward his head . Zac was about to strike , but a spear appeared out of nowhere and pierced the head of the bulky warrior .

It was Ogras , appearing out of nowhere to strike like lightning , using some means Zac couldn’t decipher in the heat of the battle . The scene was almost incomprehensible , as Zac could clearly see the demon fighting against a group of cultivators within his and the cudgel-wielding Hegemon’s sight .

The demon was gone as quickly as he appeared , and three of the E-grade warriors fell to the supposed illusion at the same time . Since his own target was dead , Zac furiously circulated his Dao and Cosmic Energy , and two clouds shot toward a fourth Hegemon . Simultaneously , a feral snarl echoed through the area as Verun appeared from his axe , and the Tool Spirit pounced on another Hegemon who was charging up a powerful skill , judging by the energy undulations .

Space was parted into an unbridgeable chasm as the hymns of Arcadia and the deafening silence of the Abyss drowned out the pained cries of the warriors . A ferocious swing of the Hegemon parried the manufactured spatial tear , but it was clear this warrior wasn’t up to the task . He couldn’t withstand a Peak Mastery skill like Rapturous Divide] empowered by Spiritual Void] , Adamance of Eoz] , two Dao Branches , and his berserking skill .

His attack was broken apart , and the spatial divide carved a huge gash into his chest . Unfortunately , he barely managed to expend the final energy of Zac’s skill before being cut apart . Zac had appeared in the wake of his skill , and a swift swing of his axe finished the job .

Then an extreme danger gripped him .

An enormous face appeared in the sky that radiated an intensely evil aura . Like the one who summoned the skill , the face had no lips or teeth . Neither did the avatar have eyes , or perhaps it’s more apt to say it had lost them since two huge , engraved spikes pushed into its eye sockets .

Zac urgently activated Empyrean Aegis] , and two golden bubbles appeared , one around himself and one around what Zac hoped was the real Ogras . At the same time , three pillars rose behind him , indicating the durability of the skill had gone up another tier . It was just in time , as the grotesque avatar unleashed a tremendous wail that tore apart space itself .

The scream was deafening , and not even his recently upgraded defensive skill could completely block out its effects . The huge avatar’s wail threw Zac’s mind into chaos as bleeding gashes appeared all over his body . Ogras wasn’t much better off . He tried to disappear into the shadows , except space had become too fractured for movement skills , and he was immediately thrown out .

Grisly gashes marred the demon’s body , and bad soon turned to worse . One of the surviving Hegemons took advantage of the overtaxed golden bubble and punched a nasty hole in Ogras’ side with a mighty javelin throw . The last vestiges of Ancestral Forest] crumbled , and Zac saw how one of the Hegemons was rushing toward him with murder in his eyes .

The only good news was that Zac and his companion weren’t the only ones in trouble . The evil god’s wail didn’t discern friend from foe , and its skill covered the whole basin . It even bounced off the wall to create a dangerous superimposed effect . The surviving Hegemons barely withstood the attack by activating defensive talismans , but the E-grade warriors didn’t have that kind of luxury .

Whether it was defensive skills or E-grade talismans , it all broke apart in front of the grotesque avatar . Only Zac , Ogras , and the Hegemons remained standing a second later , along with Verun who didn’t seem affected by the sound wave . The problem was that the wail was unrelenting , and one of the pillars had already crumbled .

Cosmic Energy surged into Zac’s right arm as four thick vines , empowered with the Branch of the Kalpataru , shot out . They unleashed an all-out offense at the incoming Hegemon , continuously breaking apart and regrowing under the seemingly tireless screech from above .

A shimmering swirl rose around the warrior , and Zac was elated to see the Hegemon run in the wrong direction .

He quickly broke Ogras’ illusion , and the brief pause was enough for Zac to finish charging the Skill Fractal on his arm . Space broke apart as the enormous hand of Arcadia’s Judgement] emerged . The hand and its axe had grown even larger since the upgrade , gaining roughly five meters in length .

That wasn’t the only change—a familiar feature had returned . A massive sigil formed in the sky , towering over the enormous avatar . It covered the whole basin , and Zac was amazed when the avatar was pushed toward the ground from the pressure . The weaker Hegemons weren’t much better off as Zac’s domain overloaded their already strained defensive talismans , and they suddenly found themselves under attack from not one but two skills .

Only two people were left unscathed—the powerful Hegemon who withstood the pressure with the help of an odd , shuddering domain , and Ogras who didn’t appear affected at all . It wasn’t thanks to the demon’s own skill , though . An unmistakable resonance in the golden barrier around him indicated a synergy between his two skills—those shielded by Empyrean Aegis] were exempt from Arcadia’s Judgement] .

The final pillar of Empyrean Aegis] was already showing cracks , but it was barely enough . The axe descended with unprecedented force , and the whole mountain range shook . The leader clearly knew his skill was in trouble , and four clattering skulls appeared to intercept the axe . However , before they could soak up some of the momentum , a tremendous lance of shadow swallowed them whole .

A bloodied Ogras , now sporting four sets of shadowy wings , had released the skill , paving the way for Zac to do maximum damage . The other Hegemons could barely withstand the two skills , so they couldn’t help either . The axe bit into the head of the evil god , and it was pushed the final distance to the ground .

The first half of the strike destroyed the avatar in one go , and even one of the Hegemons was turned into mincemeat . A moment later , it was like the world itself unleashed its anger on them as thousands of spikes shot up through the ground . In the chaos , yet another Hegemon fell under the combined onslaught of Verun and Ogras .

That left only one enemy standing—the lipless leader of the army . He’d withstood both the first and second half of the skill , albeit not without paying a price . One of his arms hung limply at his side , and he was covered in cuts and bruises . Zac frowned when he felt the man’s aura was still rock solid .

It was risky leaving the leader for last , but it was the strategy he and Ogras had settled on . They only knew this person was powerful before the army appeared , and there was no way to tell if Ogras could even get close enough to him for Zac to launch a surprise strike . Instead , they’d opted to take out as many Hegemons as possible in a blitz and only then focus on the leader .

Even if things had gone mostly according to plan , Zac had hoped he’d reach this point without having to expend both Rapturous Divide] and Arcadia’s Judgement] . His berserking skill had run its course , indicating the time it lasted hadn’t changed . Instead , the backlash had been drastically lessened , and Zac only felt a wave of exhaustion instead of losing half his combat strength .

It wasn’t a coincidence , but rather design . Zac had aimed for this when he reforged the skill . More power instead of more time , and a smaller backlash upon upgrade instead of an increased time frame . Right now , he somewhat regretted that direction as another 10 seconds on the clock would have been nice , especially when the leader’s flesh twisted and turned until he was made anew like a fleshy puppet .

It definitely wasn’t the unfettered possibility of Creation who made it possible , nor was it a healing skill . It was the blood curse in his body . Zac had seen those tendrils twist and pulse in the wounds . Not only that , but he could feel a sense of danger from the curse , even at this distance .

There were no two ways about it—this guy was more powerful than Zac expected .

Since the Hegemon wasn’t circulating any energy , Zac didn’t immediately make his move . Zac needed the break more than the infiltrator , so he swallowed a Healing Pill to alleviate some of the exhaustion . Ogras had already disappeared again , probably waiting for the right time to strike . For a few seconds , no one said anything , until the Hegemon released a wheezing laugh .

So , this untested Sector has some warriors with mettle , after all , - the leader said , his voice a ghastly lisp . - I’m guessing you’re the candidate who created the pillar? -

Zac narrowed his gaze . This warrior didn’t seem ruffled at all upon seeing his army collapsing . Was the infiltrator that confident in his own strength? And was it just a guess that the Hegemon had pegged him as a candidate of Ultom , or did he have some way to confirm it?

You have proven yourself , so I will give you an option besides death , - the toothless man continued . - Return with me to the Kan’Tanu Sector and loyally assist whatever faction we sell you to . -

Sell me? What are you talking about? -

Zac obviously wasn’t about to take this man up on his offer , but anything he could glean from him was valuable information .

This is a greater opportunity than you can imagine . The exalted forces are looking for candidates . If you don’t sell yourself , you will be hunted down without fail . In return , you will become a member of some of the mightiest forces in existence , something frontier cultivators like us can only dream of . -

Not interested , sorry , - Zac grunted as the medicinal efficacy of the Healing Pill was exhausted .

Then you choose death , - the Hegemon said . - You leave me no choice . -

You’re talking like your whole army isn’t lying dead around you , - Zac snorted .

Army? These war-slaves? - The man laughed . - They are not my companions . They are my nourishment . -

Hundreds of bodies exploded , and a red haze covered the entire basin . Simultaneously , the Hegemon’s aura erupted to an unprecedented degree , clearly entering the levels of a Middle Hegemon . Zac felt an enormous evil coming from within the leader that was rapidly being covered in pulsating tendrils .

This was far beyond what he’d seen from any other infiltrators . There was only one answer—this man carried a curse far more potent than the others , and this was his true state . Space itself shuddered around him like it was finding it hard to contain his aura , and Zac almost felt like he was facing the insanely powerful cyborg again .

A barrage of fractal leaves shot toward the man , but the shallow cuts they left on the fleshy armor healed almost instantly . Seeing such a display proved this wasn’t something Zac could deal with in his current state . There was no other option—he needed to activate the backup plan .

Shroud! - Zac shouted , and it was like a dozen smoke bombs detonated at once , covering the basin and the surrounding mountains in thick , isolating shadows .

Death filled his being as his surroundings changed hue . Chains rattled as a coffin appeared on its back , the swirl on its lid like a gateway to the Underworld itself . In his hand , Black Death] appeared as his other Tool Spirit returned into Verun’s Bite] before being stowed away . This was the ultimate card in his repertoire , finally made possible by Ogras’ illusory skills .

I choose death? - Zac said as his body started to grow . - You have no idea . -

4

ARBITER

The fleshy armor around the lipless infiltrator writhed and pulsated like a stygian horror . Even then , he looked at Zac as though he were the monstrosity when Zac completed a transformation of his own . Muscles and bones creaked and groaned until Zac was almost four meters tall . This feature didn’t strengthen him , but he kept it since it’d proven useful when he fought Uona .

However , no one who had seen Vanguard of Undeath] would recognize the skill even if he had become supersized . The thick plating that radiated a cold aquamarine of death from within was mostly gone . Instead , Zac found himself donning a mantle of utter darkness that covered most of his features .

He still gained a dark-scaled breastplate with dense inscriptions , but his helmet was replaced by a hood . The rest of his plating was also gone , and Zac was now draped in dark robes that continuously released black tendrils of the Abyss . To an earthling , he probably resembled a grim reaper , equipped with a coffin and axe instead of a scythe .

Love’s Bond] and Black Death] looked mostly the same , except the links had grown a shade darker as they’d been imbued with the abyssal aura of his Draugr heritage . Of course , they’d also grown in size to match Zac’s own , but the axe retained its shape instead of being reformed into a bardiche .

This was intentional . Even if Zac could fight mostly unencumbered with almost any type of axe thanks to his mastery , there would be a sense of imbalance when he used his Inexorable Stance . The bardiche had been pretty good previously , since he neither had any proper technique nor an axe for his undead side . Now that he had the perfect weapon , it would weaken the skill if the weapon were transformed .

There were two more additions to his new look—the first was a swirling darkness that formed a terrifying backdrop behind him thanks to the vortex on Alea’s coffin lid growing in size . It probably looked like an entrance to the Abyss , one even more palpable than the darkness of Rapturous Divide] . The swirl was now roughly the size of his torso , and it created a profane halo effect .

And from its depths , the final part of the ensemble emerged . A thick , scarred chain wound itself around his left forearm , essentially forming an impregnable bracer . Just looking at the scars caused his soul to shudder , as if they’d been left by some monstrous devil whose aura still lingered .

The chain didn’t come from inside Love’s Bond] but rather from the skill itself , though there was some relation . The stronger Alea grew , the stronger this chain would become , just like how the power of his shield had partly determined the protective qualities of Immutable Bulwark] .

You! - the Hegemon exclaimed . - What manner of monstrosity are you! -

That’s coming from you? - Zac countered , his now raspy voice sounding like it was summoned from the depths of hell .

The lipless Hegemon’s transformation was complete , and it looked extremely disgusting . In his chest was a huge hole from which the tendrils of his Heart Curse had emerged . In its center was a beating mass that emitted an exceedingly evil aura . Bloody veins wound themselves around almost every part of his body to form a living armor . They still rippled a bit , having mostly thinned down to a manageable size that shouldn’t restrict his movements .

Zac sensed dozens of familiar auras from within those tendrils—the auras of those he and Ogras had just killed . It created an extremely discordant appearance , which was furthered by the fact the Hegemon now exuded two auras of his own .

The Hegemon and his Heart Curse were one , yet they weren’t . Their auras were entwined , empowering each other like a Dao Braid . Zac knew it wasn’t so simple , though . Unless this curse was utterly different from how the other curses functioned , it shouldn’t have any energy of its own . It was ultimately a parasite that acted similarly to a Specialty Core , where it provided power at the expense of life force or energy expenditure .

Even if the Hegemon absorbed a massive amount of blood and energy from the corpses of his so-called war-slaves , there had to be a cost to gaining power in such a way . No matter how the transformation worked , the leader was stronger than they anticipated , and most likely a different tier of warrior than any invader he’d run into .

From Vai’s analysis , this man was supposed to be just above Uzu’s true strength , and with the activation of the Heart Curse , he was inching in on the strength of a proper Middle-stage Hegemon . There was nothing to be done about such a tough fight out of nowhere . This man couldn’t be allowed to leave alive , whether it was because of his secrets or his connection to Ultom .

Get away , - Zac whispered into the shadows , hoping Ogras could hear him .

One thing hadn’t changed since he and Ogras met last . He still couldn’t completely shield the living from the effect of his skills . The next moment , a shroud descended on the basin , forming a core of unrelenting darkness in the shadow realm Ogras had erected . Deathmark] , Fields of Despair] , and Blighted Cut] were activated at once . Zac even considered using Pillar of Desolation] from the get-go , but ultimately decided against it .

The infiltrator had immediately recovered from getting hit by the second blast of Arcadia’s Judgement] empowered by Arcadian Crusade] , and that was before he absorbed the bodies of over two hundred warriors , including a half-dozen Hegemons . Zac couldn’t waste his Supreme Pathbound skill right away until he better understood what he was dealing with and the limits of his recovery .

Hopefully , he wouldn’t have to use it at all .

I don’t know how you suddenly turned into an unliving miscreation , but it doesn’t matter , - the Hegemon growled . - I’ll rip you apart just the same . -

Another grotesque avatar appeared behind the lipless warrior’s back . Three faces were fused into one , locked in a silent scream with lumps of tumors and writhing flesh creating a nightmarish scene . In a perfect world , Zac wouldn’t have allowed the Hegemon to activate any skills , but it was impossible to avoid .

Even after his race-transforming skill was upgraded , his swap took a bit to finish . And since they’d left the Kan’Tanu Aural Cultivator for last , he’d been given a window to complete his own preparations .

I’ve never met an undead before . I heard they existed in this Sector , - the Hegemon said , his voice amplified and repeated by the enormous heads behind him . Zac’s soul shuddered from the effect—just speaking had become an attack in the Hegemon’s current form . - I will offer your cursed eyes as a gift to the general . I know he would be interested in such a unique specimen . -

Zac briefly wondered if the man didn’t know about Draugr , but he guessed it didn’t really matter , opting to wait and observe . This man was far too powerful just to throw out his whole repertoire at once and possibly waste the effect of his skills .

Luckily , Zac had minions who could test the waters for him . An axe-wielding wraith of Deathmark] appeared out of nowhere behind the Hegemon , swinging its axe in a ruthless arc aimed at his neck . With its latest upgrade , the specter had become even more congealed , and its weapon no longer looked like it had been picked up from an ancient battlefield .

Its speed and intelligence had both improved , and Zac inwardly sighed when it was all for naught . The phantom only managed to start up its swing before it crumbled . Some sort of domain surrounded the Hegemon . Not only that , ten spikes shot out from the fleshy armor covering him and ripped the already collapsing specter apart . It looked like an autonomous action , which wasn’t surprising considering even the lower Heart Curses had some basic instincts .

Just after the wraith crumbled , Zac was beset by a sharp pang of danger . Not wanting to take any risks , he turned into a stream of Miasma that flew toward his target . In his previous position , space tore apart as a sound wave so powerful it could be seen with the naked eye spread out in every direction .

It was the enormous avatar in the air that was responsible . One of its mouths open in a wordless scream , transferring its wail into a singular spot . By the time the attack caught up with Zac , it’d been somewhat diminished . But Zac’s vision was still distorted , and sharp spikes may as well have been stabbing into his ears .

The shockwave forcibly deactivated Abyssal Phase] , and a dozen flesh spikes shot out from the Hegemon to take advantage of the opening . They narrowly missed , piercing the empty air around Zac , allowing him to regain his footing . It wasn’t a clumsy mistake but rather an effect of Arbiter of the Abyss] . Even if he’d been affected by the soundwave , his new skill was still running .

And its domain was incredibly powerful .

When Zac formed the skill , reconfiguring the taunting function of Vanguard of Undeath] had taken up most of his efforts . It was now responsible not only for control but part of the defenses . The strength of his taunt had been greatly improved , and he could now rebuff just like he could attract .

A narrowly inflicted attack would now miss , and a lethal strike would get demoted to a flesh wound as it was rebuffed , drastically lessening the pressure on himself and Profane Exponents] . Any skilled enemy would eventually be able to correct for the control domain , but he could just switch the direction when that happened , forcing the enemy to continuously readjust .

In other words , not only did it help with defenses while retaining its ability to drag unwilling enemies toward him , it was an effective way to ruin someone’s momentum and rhythm . Being able to push his enemies and their attacks into any direction would have been even better , but that was beyond him and his skill . Such would require absolute control within your sphere of influence , rather than the more straightforward push away and drag over functionality .

Using the domain was as natural as breathing , so Zac launched a real offensive of his own , since waiting around was fruitless . The corrosive atmosphere of Deathmark] , even in its upgraded state , wasn’t able to leave any lasting damage on the fleshy armor , and it looked like the specters would have to stack corrosive marks to have any effect .

The lipless Aural Cultivator was still full of certainty and overconfidence after triggering his Heart Curse , and Zac wanted to seize the momentum before he realized he wasn’t as infallible as he believed . Chains oozing with corrosive death rattled as they shot toward the Hegemon while Zac himself followed in their wake .

He could sense the chains being assaulted by invisible ripples , but it wasn’t enough to damage them . Alea’s chains were already nigh-unbreakable for an Early Hegemon while still an F-grade Spirit Tool , and her recent breakthrough pushed her three full tiers into Late E-grade . Zac doubted even an all-out strike was enough to cause cracks in the fetters by this point .

Another pang of danger made Zac control one of the chains to push him out of the way , just in time to avoid a second smaller explosion of sound . It felt like a concussion grenade had been thrown next to him . Luckily , he’d already plugged up his ears with Miasma and the Branch of the Pale Seal . It wasn’t enough to completely block out the noise , but it helped deal with the worst of it .

Another lash of a chain propelled Zac toward the Hegemon , and the colossal axe of Arbiter of the Abyss] fell toward the Hegemon’s head . There was no worry in the man’s murky eyes as he took out an odd-looking staff . It was made of metal and had dozens of trinkets hanging from links embedded along its length , from mottled bones to exquisitely crafted bells .

He swept the staff upward , and the Miasmic clouds around them churned as the two weapons collided . Zac wasn’t holding back , and his force was enough to crumble mountains . And yet , the Hegemon was only pushed half a step back as he blocked the strike . The chains of Love’s Bond] were already aiming for vitals to restrict the cultist’s options and begin Zac’s inexorable dance of death , except a confusing cacophony of discordant sounds slammed into Zac’s head with just as tangible an effect as a punch .

Sharp pain bloomed in his side as flesh and ichor flew in every direction . It wasn’t a projectile that ripped out a piece of his gut , but rather a Dao-infused whistle from the Hegemon himself . How the hell someone could whistle without lips was the least of Zac’s concerns—the fact he could feel a surprisingly powerful Dao in his wound was a much greater cause for concern .

It would probably have been game over for an average person by getting such a wound , but his Hidden Nodes were like startled beasts whose domains had been infringed upon by an interloper . They went on a ferocious offensive , allowing Zac to contain the damage as he continued to fight .

It had been some time since he used his Inexorable Stance . Still , he seamlessly slid into the familiar patterns as his axe and chains formed an inescapable net that would only inevitably lead to death . Knowing what to look for , Zac focused on the Hegemon’s mouth , lungs , and throat to interrupt his Aural skills , and he activated Profane Exponents] to protect against further surprise whistles .

Three silhouettes appeared behind him , and a spectral coffin appeared and blocked a jab in the nick of time . The three pygmies hadn’t grown any taller since the upgrade , and neither had a fourth one joined them . But their auras were deeper , and their equipment a lot more powerful , indicating the skill had been given an all-around boost instead of new features .

Even if he’d been taught some decent staff technique , the Hegemon was clearly not an adroit infighter . Between a Dao and attribute advantage , autonomously attacking armor , and the avatar in the sky , which kept unleashing localized bursts of utter destruction , he somewhat kept up . Even then , Zac was steadily dragging the fight into his favor .

Huge festering gashes kept appearing across the grotesque armor , and whole chunks of flesh sloughed off the Hegemon’s body . The lipless cultivator managed to release a few barbs of his own , or rather his armor did . More than ten shallow wounds had been punched into Zac’s body by the flesh tendrils , but most of the wounds were intentional blunders on Zac’s part .

Zac didn’t know exactly what the Hegemon was planning , but it almost felt like the cultivator was leaving behind small bombs in Zac’s body . They were parts of a Heart Curse that looked incomplete on the surface , but they still filled Zac with a vague sense of danger . He guessed they just needed a trigger to start causing havoc .

Unfortunately for the Hegemon , the seeds were destroyed and swallowed by Void Heart] and Purity of the Void] as quickly as they appeared . The two Hidden Nodes weren’t able to deal with the puncture wound in his gut , so they turned their attention to the seeds . The Dao from the whistle was a lot more troublesome , despite not being able to cause any real damage in the short run .

Zac had already realized that whittling down this man wouldn’t work . Between being an Elite Hegemon and having the stolen vitality of 200 warriors , he just had too much ability to regenerate . No matter how much flesh Zac destroyed , new veins regrew with a pace that put even Vivi to shame .

He would have to finish it in one go , and Zac sensed the opportunity was about to present itself .

Suddenly , a deafening crash of jumbled sounds made Zac’s head spin as most of the trinkets on the Hegemon’s staff exploded . Each one released a sharp burst of sound , and together they formed a tremendous Aural attack . Even if Zac was prepared and had already turned on the active state of Indomitable] , he still found his mind a mess .

Join us , - the Hegemon sneered , his voice turning into a confusing rattle in Zac’s head .

At the same time , an incredibly thick , fleshy spike shot out from the hole in his chest , like an arm had grown and shot toward Zac’s gut wound . Zac’s mind was still a confusing jumble from the audible overload , but the coffin-wielding pygmy skeleton came to the rescue . The shield held against the Heart Curse’s empowered strike , but Zac blanched when he saw why .

It almost looked like a water cannon had hit his barrier when the bloody arm slammed into it . The curse split up into dozens of thinner tendrils that wound around the coffin before reforming on the other side . There was still a chance he could avoid the incoming attack by pushing the domain of Arbiter of the Abyss] to its limit , but Zac did the opposite .

An enormous amount of energy was hidden inside the tendril , but he would still let it hit him . He was sure this was the catalyst for the supposed triggers left all over his body , and he wanted to give the Hegemon a false sense of victory . However , Zac didn’t want the tendril to mix with the powerful Dao left behind by the whistle . The taunting domain of Arbiter of the Abyss] once more came in clutch as it pulled the tendril toward his other side while Zac pretended to stumble .

Meanwhile , he prepared a move of his own . The chains of Love’s Bond] were already striking at the Hegemon , and the cultivator was forced to divert some of his attention to avoid getting blinded . Seeing his opportunity , Zac said a silent prayer as his left arm rose , and the abyssal chain around his forearm uncoiled .

It was even slower than his other chains , and it didn’t even try to intercept the bloody tendril that was almost upon him . Instead , it flew toward the Hegemon . Zac felt a gut-wrenching pain in his side a moment later as the bloody arm punched straight through his breastplate and dug into his body .

The Hegemon’s eyes lit up as Zac’s body was filled with the evil energy of the evolved Heart Curse . But nothing happened due to the seeds being long gone . Zac grinned at the confused and alarmed Hegemon . A moment later , his chain lightly tapped against the Hegemon’s chest , and Zac knew it was over .

Caught you . -

5

PRESSURE

You’re immune! - the lipless cultivator screamed , shock and confusion written all over his face .

Zac didn’t bother answering , his attention focused on a surprising shift in one of his skills . The next moment , three sharp twangs echoed out as deep wounds were carved into the Hegemon due to the finishing blow of Blighted Cut] becoming available thanks to Arbiter of the Abyss] . It allowed for instant judgement , and the Hegemon was almost dismembered into four chunks .

Unfortunately , the durability of the fleshy armor was too great . Even with its upgraded lethality from reaching Late Proficiency , Blighted Cut] didn’t manage to cut him all the way through . Its force was expended after digging half of the way , and thick tendrils shot out from within his innards to keep his body together .

Not even the corrosive cascade of Blighted Cut] failing was enough to finish the job . The tendrils of the Heart Curse broke apart , and new ones replaced the old in an endless cycle until the attack was expended . A tremendous shockwave threw Zac back as the colossal Avatar in the sky exploded . The Hegemon had sacrificed his supportive attack skill to gain some breathing room , and his reaction was immediate .

He fled .

Between Zac’s apparent immunity to the Heart Curse and almost getting killed , it was clear the previous confidence of the Hegemon was long gone . But it was already too late . Being able to suddenly activate Blighted Cut] was just a happy surprise , and not what Zac planned to rely on .

The moment the sound wave threw him back , the one chain emerging from the abyssal halo had turned into two . The first was the original one that returned to his arm after being rebuffed . The second was a spectral chain that was still very much attached to the Hegemon’s chest . It wasn’t the usual cold turquoise of Miasma , but instead a matte black that reeked of Pure Death .

The Kan’Tanu tried to destroy the ethereal chain with another weaponized whistle . The only result was the Hegemon stumbling to the ground when he reared to fly away . It wasn’t so easy to deal with this chain . The infiltrator had been fettered by Arbiter of the Abyss] , and he would only be released after receiving judgement . Trying to break free would merely result in a spiritual backlash .

The Hegemon gave up attacking the chain and opted to fly into the sky . That wouldn’t save him either . Zac didn’t even bother locking up the area with Pillar of Desolation] . Instead , a storm of energy entered the Skill Fractal of Desperation’s End] , just as the Hegemon turned a rapid 180 degrees and flew straight for Zac .

His face was filled with confusion , and it was too late for regrets . Zac wasn’t taking any chances , and his activation time had been cut down to a third with the help of Void Energy . Two massive wings appeared behind Zac’s back when Arbiter of the Abyss] turned the Hegemon around , and a scarred skull was now flying toward the man .

The lipless cultivator readied his staff as a last-ditch effort , but he urgently swung it to his side as another Deathmark]-wraith appeared to strike him down . A second flourish rebuffed one of the chains of Love’s Bond] that followed him into the sky , before he finally swung his staff down toward the blade the skull of Desperation’s End] unleashed .

The swing turned crooked by a tug from the spectral chain . A swirl of darkness from the third pygmy of Profane Exponents] moved the Hegemon even farther off-kilter at the last moment , pushing both arms and staff entirely out of the way .

The lipless leader roared in defiance and his armor rippled as his energy churned . It wasn't enough . Two balls had appeared next to him , and space sealed as the aspects of Desperation’s End] converged . It managed to restrain even a thrashing Hegemon long enough to complete the strike , and he could only look on with despair as he met his end .

A silent swish of a solitary blade , followed by a muted thud as the Hegemon’s head fell on the ground . One of Alea’s chains drilled into the severed head , and a surge of energy confirmed that not even the evolved Heart Curse would be able to drag him back from death’s door any longer .

The body crumpled to the ground a moment later when Zac deactivated Arbiter of the Abyss] , and Zac backed away when he saw the curse emerge from the chest . Its aura was extremely sinister , and even Zac wasn’t willing to take that thing on unless he had to , especially now that it gave off a sense of terminal hunger .

The curse withered away a few seconds later , and Zac believed he could even sense a wave of intense reluctance as it died out . There wasn’t any second burst of energy though , which probably meant the System still didn’t consider that thing a proper entity . But it was definitely more alive than the weaker curses . Zac briefly wondered if there were curses that had actually gained a semblance of life .

There were Tool Spirits , World Spirits , and even Array Spirits , so why not Curse Spirits?

Stabbing pains in his side reminded Zac of the trouble at hand , and he expended all his Undying Mark] charges to restore most of the physical wounds . The healing skill’s efficacy was better than before , but was ultimately only a Middle-quality skill he’d bought from the Sharva’Zi Dao Repository in Twilight Harbor . It didn’t help with the Dao inside his body .

Still , Zac was satisfied as he deactivated his various skills and turned back to his human form . The process was swift , and Zac threw out dozens of Attuned Crystals and offensive talismans , which created a storm of rampant energy throughout the basin . It didn’t completely disperse the lingering deathly atmosphere , but it was now just one among many . And some death was expected on a battlefield .

Zac was elated to see that Arbiter of the Abyss] worked just as planned . The taunting domain was helpful in all kinds of ways , though he wanted to test its rhythm-breaking capabilities against a more technically skilled opponent . More importantly , the spectral chain was extremely useful .

His original idea was to create two stages of the taunt . The first was the domain that would work against a large number of enemies . The ghost chain could only be used once , but it would strengthen the pulling component of the domain significantly . Escaping after being tagged was both difficult and dangerous .

First of all , it should be able to block and deactivate most types of movement skills , including teleportation and various phase shifts . And no matter if the marked target destroyed the links with a powerful attack or stretched them until they broke , they’d receive an intense backlash . Just damaging the links with a whistle had been enough to make the Hegemon stumble . Completely destroying it might have even made him black out for a moment .

The only downside of the spectral chain was its short 10 second span , though the other parts of the skill wouldn’t deactivate even after using it . As long as the target could avoid judgement for that long , the chain would disperse . That was easier said than done when Zac could almost control those he caught like puppets for that duration , and it turned out he could even activate the finisher of Blighted Cut] through the link .

Zac looked at the headless corpse in the distance , feeling the fight went well , all things considered . These Kan’Tanu infiltrators were too confident in their Heart Curses , and when they turned out to be useless against him , their whole combat style came apart . Still , the Aural skills were undeniably hard to deal with . The battle would have looked very different if the Hegemon had focused on creating opportunities to use his skills rather than infecting him with the curse .

The two dreadful avatars the lipless cultivator released were a good reminder that Zac was still at a disadvantage in that regard . Sure , neither of the skills could compare with the destructive power of his finishing blows , but even Zac didn’t dare take those space-rending wails head-on . And they could be continuously launched as though the avatars were mobile turrets , probably for tens of minutes if need be .

He’d have to be careful if he encountered a proper elite like the - general’ the lipless cultivator mentioned . Especially if he was supported by an actual army and was allowed to release all his skills from the back lines .

Then again , it wasn’t a big problem against most Hegemons he'd encounter . You got even fewer freebies from the System at the D-grade , and most weaker Hegemons were stuck with one or two D-grade skills for a long time . Eventually , they’d scrounge up enough money for new ones , but they also needed the money to buy D-grade equipment or the higher-quality War Regalia .

You could upgrade your old skills , but that was easier said than done . It required comprehensive skill and understanding to upgrade old skills to the vastly more complex D-grade versions capable of taking advantage of a Cultivator’s Core . Perhaps these things weren’t an issue in the more developed sectors of the Multiverse . But on the frontier , the lack of resources acted as a safeguard for Zac .

Of course , even Frontier Factions would have adequately decked out talents , and Zac would sooner or later run into someone with a War Regalia and proper sets of skills . Those were the ones to look out for—the regalia would protect them while they activated the energy-hungry D-grade skills with extreme power .

The wound in his side still felt like it was on fire , and Zac slumped to the ground with a grunt as he ate a Healing Pill . Most of the Hegemon’s Dao remained , as was the stubborn will of the evolved curse . His Purity of the Void] and Void Heart] were still trying to deal with it , but progress was slow and arduous .

It looked like his E-grade Nodes weren’t without limits , even if the Dao wasn’t completely out of Zac’s scope . He suspected it was a Middle Dao Branch that had been amplified through some method , yet it was so difficult to deal with . Even with its owner dead , it refused to simply be gobbled up .

If anything , it almost felt like it’d grown more stubborn , like an actual curse from the beyond . It would possibly take a week even for his Hidden Node to deal with such powerful foreign energies , and Zac didn’t have time for that . But that didn’t mean he didn’t have options .

If the damage couldn’t be healed , it could still be corrupted .

Zac steadied his breath before taking out a Longevity Pearl . After that , he roused some Creation Energy . An endless stream of unfettered possibilities poured into the wound , and Zac grunted with pain as he felt his flesh twist and reform . The same was happening to the imbued intent . Gradually , their meaning shifted under the influence until they completely lost their cohesiveness .

They’d become unclaimed energies at that moment , and his Hidden Nodes pounced with redoubled ferocity . When Zac took charge of the Creation Energy , his flesh turned back to normal . After another minute , the wounds were gone entirely , along with the lingering intents . The shadowy haze was dispersing by that point , leaving Zac panting in a broken valley .

Monster , - a disbelieving voice said from behind . - Are you even killable any longer? -

You’re okay? - Zac asked , turning around to see Ogras standing some distance away from him . - I saw you get gored . -

Unlike a monster like you , I can’t just get stabbed left and right and walk it off , - Ogras snorted . - Me getting stabbed was an illusion so they’d turn their attention back to you . So , you’re still playing around with that cursed energy in your body? How are your murdery impulses nowadays? -

I’ve been cultivating my soul over the past decade , and I don’t get murdery any longer . And like you’re one to talk , - Zac scoffed as he waved at the flag in Ogras’ hand .

The demon shrugged . - Well , I guess people like us have to take whatever benefits we can get our hands on , even if they have annoying side effects . -

It’s amazing how much you’ve improved in this place , - Zac said .

Not much else to do here except cultivate , - Ogras said with a grimace . - My grandpa would have bound me up and thrown me into that black hole himself if he knew I’d train so hard here . And it’s not as impressive as it looked . Most of what I did would have been impossible without a bellowing Barghest soaking up all the attention . -

You’re welcome . - Zac rolled his eyes .

What the demon said was true , though . His kills had been ambushes that struck fast and hard with the help of his elusive Daos . However , there were limits to such a method . For example , Zac had sensed the danger and blocked it when Ogras tried to ambush him . Most real elites would probably be able to discern such a strike and deal with it , or at least have treasures to protect them .

After that , the element of surprise would be gone , and hiding from an enemy who was aware of you was a lot harder .

Well , all things considered , things turned out pretty swell . That toothless lad must have been an elite of theirs , and you still took him down . - Ogras grinned as he took a swig of the liquor he’d pilfered from Zac one minute into their journey . - By the way , I dealt with the loose ends while you fought the leader . -

Loose ends? - Zac asked with confusion .

The two scouts . They were hiding just a few mountains over . I think they didn’t dare flee without their boss . I tried to capture them , but their chests erupted when they were caught in my shadows . I didn’t get anything useful , I’m afraid . -

Should’ve guessed they had some safeguards against capture . - Zac sighed . - What about Vai? -

I had a ghost monitor her . She never left the cave , - the demon reported . - She kept looking at the bowl , though . I’m not sure if she can see affinities in that thing? -

Shouldn’t be , - Zac said . - I’ve used it a few times . It only shows the location and approximate strength . -

Then we should be fine , - Ogras muttered as he walked over to him . - A whole Sector full of unorthodox cultivators . This is going to spell trouble . -

We already gained some things from that guy blabbering . -

Wasn’t good news , was it? If those ancient factions with their noses in the air come looking for our opportunity , how will we survive? Let alone meat , we won’t even get soup . -

We need some answers , - Zac said . - I’ll see if there’s anything on his body . -

Be careful to not get ambushed by a Heart Curse , - Ogras grunted . - How are you immune to them , by the way? Care to share the method? -

That’d be pretty hard , - Zac laughed as he walked toward the headless body . - It’s my bloodline that turns them into nourishment . -

Of course it does , - Ogras muttered . - Why wouldn’t it? -

Zac found a Spatial Ring on the leader’s body while Ogras fished out some more from the ground where the other Hegemons had fallen . Zac felt something was off when he looked at it , and he didn’t dare activate it for the time being .

Trapped? - Ogras ventured when he saw Zac’s frown .

It might be . . . Let’s pick up Vai and move away . Who knows if there are more squads en route . -

The two spread a generous serving of Karma-breaking powder across the basin before leaving , and found Vai standing at the mouth of her cave with worry in her eyes .

You’re fine! - Vai said with relief upon seeing them , then she froze in shock . - Eh? You’re fine? How is that possible? -

It’s the power of friendship . - Ogras winked .

Vai ignored the demon and turned to Zac inquisitively .

They weren’t as strong as we feared , - Zac said . - The infiltrators are dealt with , but we should still leave this area . -

Neither he nor Ogras needed to rest . The battle lasted less than three minutes , and Zac had more than half his energy remaining , so the group set out into the vast plains as quickly as possible . However , they only ran for half an hour before Ogras slowed down .

Well , that can’t be good , - Ogras muttered with a slight frown as he looked up at the sky .

What’s that? - Zac asked , failing to see anything amiss . - Did you sense something? More invaders? -

No , it’s the energy . I’ve lived here for ten years , and I’m rather familiar with it now . Something is changing . It’s weak , but the air feels . . . stale . Sick , even . - Ogras glanced at Zac askance . - I think you might actually have killed Billy’s pet . -

6

COLLAPSE

Killed Billy’s pet? - Zac said with confusion . - What the hell are you talking about? -

The pillar , genius , - Ogras snorted . - What else would cause a whole world to suddenly get sick? -

Zac glanced toward the mountain range in the distance . The pillar was almost gone , but he still remembered the madness barely held in check by the nine sigils . And also how the pillar not only pierced the sky , but had also dug into the depths of the earth .

Where a World Core would typically be .

Had his actions really damaged the Dimensional Seed? Zac blanched at the thought . Even if he disregarded that he was standing inside the Mystic Realm , it was a horrible thought . The Dimensional Seed helped him open his Purity of the Void] node . Not only that , if it hadn’t been there to draw the attention and avarice of the Collector , the Great Redeemer , and the Administrator , Zac wasn’t so sure he would have survived the Mystic Realm back then .

Zac turned to Vai hopefully , praying the researcher could disprove the demon’s theory . - What do you think? Is it possible? -

I can somewhat understand what the bad guy is getting at . - Vai took out a few measuring tools . - But the Realm Spirit is unlikely to have died already . If that were the case , we wouldn’t just have sensed a small corruption of the ambient energy . Space itself would start to collapse . -

Zac nodded in thanks , but he was still worried . Just because the Dimensional Seed hadn’t died , didn’t mean it was fine . He couldn’t sense anything off in the atmosphere , but Zac wasn’t too sensitive to small shifts in energy . If his Cosmic Gaze] couldn’t see it , it might as well not exist to him .

The World Core might be damaged , - Zac ventured . - Or do these places even have proper cores? -

Mystic Realms need to have cores if they pass a certain size . Smaller realms only need a strong enough energy density to form a spatial field . Even a powerful lingering intent can suffice as a core for a Mystic Realm , but those are extremely rare Inheritance Realms , - Vai explained . - All realms above Mystic need to have cores . At least , that’s what I’ve read . -

What would happen if this place’s core was being corrupted? -

Vai hesitated . - Well , World Cores are resilient . They can slowly refine energy , which hopefully means things will gradually return to normal after the pillar is gone . -

And if it doesn’t? - Ogras asked .

Then . . . we’d probably want to leave . - Vai fearfully looked at the sky . - A World Core breaking on a normal planet just means it will become a dead world . Mystic Realms are different . They’re hidden in pockets within the Void , and the realm will lose its ability to hold the Void back if the core breaks . Its ambient energy will gradually be drained to rebuff the collapse until it reaches a tipping point . And even if we survive the collapse , we could be thrown deep into the Void . -

That’s just great , - Ogras grunted , looking to Zac . - Maybe I should just tie myself to your back right now to secure my little life . -

Vai looked at the demon with confusion while Zac rolled his eyes . - If you can barely sense something amiss , it can’t be too bad . The ambient energy is as strong as ever , so we aren’t at that point yet . Let’s just hurry to Billy , he could have more answers . The real problem is that the invaders might look for him and the Realm Spirit as well . Can he withstand an attack? -

No idea . Haven’t been back to the Kingdom of Billy since I left , - Ogras said . - It wasn’t too impressive back then , but he’s had a lot of time to fortify . And honestly , he improved quicker than me in this place . I’ve never seen something so disgusting as forming a Dao Branch while sleeping . He should be fine . -

How long have you been out of contact? - Zac asked .

Who knows . - Ogras shrugged . - I haven’t kept track of the days in this prison . Perhaps , five or six years? -

That long? - Zac exclaimed , his eyes thinning with suspicion . - Did you have a falling-out? What did you do? -

I’m innocent here , alright? - Ogras smiled . - Living in such close proximity can strain any relationship . But I was mostly curious about all the pocket realms the Dimensional Seed swallowed . I was planning on returning around this time , but got derailed by all the excitement in the mountain range . -

Bad guy , I bet you just wanted to steal all the treasures in here , - Vai huffed , getting a nod of agreement from Zac . - What a waste . . . This might be the first Dimensional Seed to appear in the Zecia Sector in millions of years , and its spirit is even sapient . It would be a huge loss if it collapsed before we got a chance to learn from it . -

Well , it’s not over just yet . We might be overthinking things , - Zac said , then curiously looked over at the demon . - Found anything good? -

Zac had already heard some of it from what the demon shared about the Ra’Lashar Kingdom and the Lost Plane , but he wouldn’t be surprised if that were just the tip of the iceberg . Some exciting things were bound to have cropped up with the Dimensional Seed gobbling up a bunch of smaller Mystic Realms and drowning the area with Origin Dao and Cosmic Energy .

A few interesting knick-knacks , - Ogras lazily said . - Nothing that a vaunted force like the exalted Void Gate would be interested in , right? And I did loot them before this place got swallowed up in your ladder or whatever . -

Do you think we’re scoundrels like you? - Vai muttered , but her lips curved up a bit .

How about we just push straight through , - Zac said as he looked out across the alien landscape . - I don’t feel good about Billy being all alone when the invaders have already made their way in . -

And let’s pray those two fools haven’t done something stupid already , - Ogras added with a shudder . - Knowing them , our chances aren’t great . -

Billy walked in circles around Gemmy , worry in his eyes . He didn’t know what to do . Gemmy was sick , and nothing Billy tried worked . And it had gotten a lot worse over the past week .

Owie , owie , owie! - Gemmy cried from within the fire .

Ah , ah , - Billy muttered , searching for solutions . Finally , he spotted a pile of Dao Stones . They always made Billy feel better , so perhaps they were medicine?

Into the fire they went .

Oooh , pretty , - Gemmy hummed as her colors sparkled inside the blazing furnace . - Nope . Owie , owie , owie! Perhaps burn another blanket? -

Billy is out of blankets , - Billy sighed . - Out of beds too . They’re already in the fire . -

Why didn’t it work? Mama always said that good rest and heat would make you feel better . Billy had first put Gemmy in his bed to heat her up , but it didn’t work , not even with three blankets . Not even putting Gemmy inside the fire was enough , even after the fire became so big it almost reached the clouds .

For once , Billy missed Horny Guy . He was a liar and a cheat , but he knew many things . Perhaps he knew how to make Gemmy better . . . Except Gemmy couldn’t see him any longer . Not since he went to the nasty place .

Maybe Billy should go? - Gemmy hesitantly said from within the fire . - If Gemmy can’t help Billy , the bad guys— -

Stop , - Billy said with a scrunched-up face . - Billy is not leaving Gemmy . Billy will take a nap and figure it out . Billy always has ideas after sleeping . -

With that , Billy lay down on the ground , and the warm fire helped him quickly sleep even without a blanket .

Ah! Billy remembers! - Billy exclaimed when he woke up in the familiar world . The hidden world that only Billy could see .

Well , Billy and Statue-man .

Statue-man , Gemmy is still sick . If you don’t help Gemmy , then Billy will not come back here again , no matter how much you teach Billy! -

Troublesome child , - Statue-man sighed . - As I said , it’s no longer up to you . For years now , you have resisted reality . But it is coming to an end today . The link of blood between us is all-but-expended . Any more , and my forceful connection will destroy you . This is the last time you will enter this realm . -

Another lie? - Billy tried not to squirm .

Believe what you will , - Statue-man snorted . - I have a final proposal for you . -

Billy won’t create that array , - Billy staunchly said . - There are already a lot of Bad Guys in Gemmy’s world . Billy can’t risk more things going wrong now . -

Do you remember what Gemmy is? - Statue-man asked .

Of course! - Billy said with a roll of his eyes . - Gemmy is the Land Ghost . -

Right . Gemmy’s problem is she swallowed something she shouldn’t have . Something dangerous . Nothing you do to Gemmy herself will save her as long as the links to that cursed plane remain . But I have a solution . -

A better solution than fire? - Billy hesitated .

Statue-man groaned . - Yes , a better solution than fire . -

Billy was hesitant . Statue-man was a trickster and a bit stupid , but he’d helped Billy more than once over the past years . Statue-man might really have a cure for Gemmy if he said he did .

A simple trade . I will give you a solution that will allow Gemmy to reform her world into a Pocket Realm—reform it without the pieces that make Gemmy sick . It will hurt and weaken her , but she will survive . And as long as she survives , she can recover her strength . -

What price? - Billy knew Statue-man wouldn’t give him something so good for free . Normally , he forced Billy to do silly dances until he was dead-tired , but this was different .

If you accept my help , you have to create the portal when you leave this Mystic Realm . You have to step through it and enter our subsidiary mountain . Work hard and get stronger until you reach the Eastern Mountain where my true body resides . And you can absolutely not get involved with Ultom . -

Billy didn’t care about the latter part . Billy didn’t even know what Ultom was , so why would he want to get involved with it? Statue-man was stupid , as usual . But the real price was very expensive .

If Statue-man helps Billy now , then Billy has to go help Statue-man later? I don’t want to leave Gemmy . -

If you follow my solution , you will not only save Gemmy , but she will be able to follow you wherever you go . Without it , she will be stuck in the little Mystic Realm forever . This is actually a solution I’ve been preparing for years since I knew you would want to take her with you . I just had to modify it a bit now that she was sick . -

. . . Alright , - Billy said with a determined expression . - If Statue-man’s idea works , Billy will make the array and step through . But only if it works . If it fails , Billy will find Eastern Mountain and thwonk it until it becomes Eastern Pit . -

Finally , - Statue-man said with a sigh . - Ancestors have mercy on us both . -

Ah . . . but . . . Billy is smart , he is just not good with complicated things . . . Can Billy really complete this alone? -

I’ve simplified it as much as possible , but the plan is a bit involved , - Statue-man said . - As luck would have it , you have some competent helpers in your dungeons . I’m sure they’ll help you in return for being freed . Especially if you say you’re from Eastern Mountain . -

Billy isn’t from Eastern Mountain . Billy is from Billyville . -

Whatever you say . This is the last time we speak here . I hope to see you again , even if you are the most stubborn titan I’ve ever seen . I will imprint the plan into your head , so you never forget it . Good luck . -

A moment later , a storm of ideas entered Billy’s mind , and it felt like he was being thwonked over and over . When it stopped , he found himself lying next to Gemmy’s fire . But this time , Billy remembered . He remembered it all , and he would save Gemmy .

Now he just had to make those sneaky-sneaks work for him . Easy .

Report , - Lozo Ul said the moment the two Untested shuffled into the command center .

That’s . . . Ah , - the Spacemelder stuttered , his face pale as his eyes were glued to the ground .

What have you done? - Lozo asked with a calm voice .

N-Nothing! We have done nothing , - the old woman next to him urgently said . - But . . . The accumulation is lost . We were unable to reverse it . -

Months of efforts undone , just like that , and you have done nothing? - Lozo calmly said , but a storm was raging beneath .

KILL . THEM . EAT . THEM .

Lozo took a shuddering breath as he pushed down the madness . There were no two ways around it . He was losing control .

He remembered the relief when he stepped out of the forest where the souls of his 999 brothers and sisters would forever stay . His hands were dripping with blood , and his body was covered in wounds . But something remarkable was brewing within . Something powerful . He'd gone from an Untested to a Remoulded of Kan’Tanu , a rebirth of both fate and potential .

Why couldn’t he have been content with his lot?

Three wives and an enviable placement after he served his term . If he’d played his cards right , he could have used his uncle’s connections to be stationed at Darasko V as a lord . But no , he had seen the palaces of the Reincarnators and the power they wielded—both political and actual power . He wanted that for himself , for his family who’d never nurtured a twice-reborn cultivator .

He struggled and fought . Desperately . Endlessly . Until one day , he entered that cursed mountain range that reeked of death . And he emerged , once more , with blood dripping from his hands and his body covered in wounds . But this time , it wasn’t greatness and glory brewing within .

It was horror and madness .

That day , Lozo’s nightmare had begun . How could a sprawling palace and a harem provide any solace when you spent every single moment fighting for your very soul? Only after reaching the limits of the Kan’Tanu lower hierarchy did he understand that those twice-reborn weren’t reborn equal . Those like him , without any backing , found themselves in an endless cycle of dangerous missions for the Sect's glory .

They had no choice . It was the only way for them to get their hands on the nutrients they needed to stave off the hunger of their dark passengers , lest their sanity became the nutrients . The Reincarnators the general populace saw , those who lived blessed lives in the capitals , had generations of wealth and connections to rely on . They had underlings to sacrifice and send into war to exchange for the nutrients .

Some had even been elevated in the Gate of Rebirth and firmly seized control of their Heart Patterns .

For decades , Lozo thought such would be his life . To endlessly struggle just to keep himself above water and the madness at bay . But finally , the Heavens took pity on his lot , and an opportunity presented itself . An opportunity to not only get the contribution he needed to never worry about the madness again . . .

An opportunity to become an Elevated Reincarnator .

He’d been at the right place at the right time . As one of the few Reincarnators they'd managed to force into this Zecia Sector to oversee the advance forces , Lozo was already gaining ample contribution . And as luck would have it , this Mystic Realm and its contents were exposed . At first , this had nothing to do with him , but fate is a fickle mistress .

The realm was sucked into this Stellar Ladder , and space collapsed on the base where the connected Reincarnators were staying . Suddenly , he was the Reincarnator closest to the breach , and he was urgently ordered to follow in its wake .

A year later , their plans were at the cusp of fruition . If they succeeded , Lozo wouldn’t need to lift a single finger for the rest of the war . He and his family would be excluded from the draft , and he would even get a chance to pass through the gates that every Remoulded and Reincarnator dreamt of . He could fully focus on shoring up his foundations and continuing his cultivation .

But just as he could almost taste victory , everything went wrong . These Spacemelders better have an answer .

Give me a proper explanation , Untested , - Lozo said hoarsely . - Or I will find new Spacemelders who can . -

N-Nothing went wrong on our end , - the male Untested said . - The arrays the Exalted Halls prepared for us were working as planned , gradually rekindling the withered pathway . But a sudden outside shock to the system caused the pathway to splinter , and a lot of the accumulated energy was wasted . -

Outside shock? - Lozo growled . - The Void Gate? Or are there saboteurs in our midst? -

We have yet to pinpoint the exact location of the interference , but it’s not from here , - the other Spacemelder said . - The energy streamed to the west .

The west? - Lozo muttered , his seething rage subsiding . - Have someone make a jump and contact Quol for an update . -

That’s . . . - the Untested said , sweat streaming down his face . - We had that idea as well . . . But we just got word his plaque has withered . -

Lozo swore in annoyance . Quol was one of the strongest warriors he’d managed to take through the Stellar Ladder . That was why he was sent to inspect that signal months ago . Now he was dead , just a few days after things went wrong? Someone was moving against them .

Send another unit , one focused on speed and stealth . We need to know what we’re dealing with . Have them warped as close as possible to save time , - Lozo said to the Remoulder Captain standing at the side .

There is a 60% Mortality Rate at such a jump , - one of the Spacemelders said .

Then send more to make up the numbers , - Lozo said . - How do we get back on track? -

Ah , well , - the female Spacemelder said . - The outburst set us back , but we have been slowly closing the leak over the past days . Even then , I am afraid . . . with the resistance , completing on time will be impossible . -

The resistance? - Lozo mused as he looked at a large map in the middle of the room . - Relay my order . Activate the second , third , and fourth armies and strike at the native stronghold immediately . Find out how they are influencing this Mystic Realm and put an end to it . We must complete this mission before the pathways reopen . -

7

UNSEALING

The trio didn’t waste any time as they pushed deeper into the Badlands , and Zac couldn’t help but marvel at the environment even if there were a lot of misgivings in his heart . Enormous , calcified trees in pink and blue towered toward the sky , their branches homes to scaled beasts with four wings .

The occasional rumble heralded golemoid beasts that migrated between lakes to extract minerals . The lakes themselves were kettles of puttering death which hid gorgeous green and purple flowers . Whole fields were made of glass and mirrors , creating a mystifying spectacle as they ran .

Their frantic pace drew some ire from the locals , but Zac and Ogras made short work of the beasts who thought they were in for an easy snack . Vai was once more sitting in a chair made from Vivi’s vines . Ogras had also tried to commission a seat for himself , only to be rebuffed . Vai got to sit because she was investigating the infiltrators’ Spatial Rings while keeping track of powerful auras in her bowl .

As expected , the lipless cultivator’s ring was booby-trapped , while the others had simple seals that the little researcher undid . There wasn’t anything new or exciting in those rings , just a bunch of cultivation materials far worse than what Zac carried . The rings primarily served as a reminder they weren’t alone in this vast Mystic Realm .

Yet , even after three days , Vai hadn’t spotted a single additional cultivator . It looked like there weren’t any larger encampments nearby , or someone would have come to investigate by now . However , the lack of pursuit had another meaning—the squad of infiltrators weren’t originally there for him .

Did they know about the temples and were sent to investigate? Or did that leader have a quest for Ultom as well?

After running for another week , they were forced to stop and rest inside a hollowed-out and crystallized trunk that shimmered like a million sapphires . Running for over ten days straight while occasionally fighting had drained them , especially Ogras , who often kept up his illusive domain .

There was another reason . Zac had gotten close to opening another node from the battle against the infiltrators , and a recent fight against three crystal Beast Kings provided the final energy he needed . When Zac informed them of his plan inside the trunk , the demon looked at Zac like he was a fool .

You’re not at the peak yet? - Ogras exclaimed . - It’s been ten years! What are you waiting for? -

There were some speed bumps along the way , - Zac grunted .

So what level are you at? - the demon asked , and even Vai looked over with interest .

Three nodes to go . Two with this one , - Zac said .

Don’t you have any pills to push you to the final step? - Ogras said .

I have , but I’ve been wanting to keep impurities at a minimum for my breakthrough . -

Fair , but we need every advantage in case we have to fight our way out of here , - the demon said .

You might be right , - Zac slowly nodded , turning to Vai . - How is your work on the ring coming along? -

Slow . It’s not overly complex , but there are too many patterns I don’t recognize . It’s interesting , the Kan’Tanu base their arrays on an entirely different set of princ— -

So that’s a no? - Zac coughed , seeing how Vai was gearing up for another lesson . He usually enjoyed listening to Vai expounding on various esoteric pieces of knowledge , but now was not the time .

I can make an attempt , but I’m not very confident , - Vai said .

I might have an idea , - Ogras said . - My little buddy is pretty knowledgeable with arrays . Problem is , he’s a pathological liar and a general asshole , so you might need to bribe him . -

The goblin? - Zac said with surprise .

K’Rav , a vaunted councilor of the Lunatic Kingdom of Ra’Shallar . - Ogras removed the talismans from the sinister flag he always kept in his sleeves .

Bring him out , - Zac said .

A moment later , the pocked goblin appeared within the trunk , where he suspiciously looked back and forth between Ogras , Zac , and Vai .

Let me guess , you ignorant children have run into a problem , and you want me to solve it after trapping me for weeks? - K’rav said , giving Ogras a blithering stare . - Your trick is clever , but we’ll see how long you can laugh . Sealing me means removing the barrier between you and the flag . How long can you retain yourself? -

What’s he talking about? - Zac frowned .

Cursed artifact or cursed company , I had to pick my poison , - Ogras shrugged . - Let’s get on with it . -

You’re right , - Zac said as he looked at the Tool Spirit . - We have a sealed ring that needs to be opened . Ogras thinks you have the knowledge to show us the way . -

I might , I might not , - the goblin snickered . - More importantly , why should I help you? I know who you are , but your status and fame mean nothing to me . -

What do you want? - This was like dealing with Brazla .

Well , this gentleman is quite content for the moment , - the goblin grinned . - Let’s just say you’ll owe me for now . -

I won’t do anything against my conscience just to return a favor in the future , - Zac said .

That’s fine , that’s fine . I’m sure we’ll be able to reach an accord . - K’Rav said as he floated over toward the ring in Vai’s hands .

Vai was visibly uncomfortable with the spectral goblin in such close proximity . Zac wasn’t surprised . It wasn’t just a matter of appearance , though the goblin looked quite wretched . He emitted a strong corrupting aura , just like that of the purple pillar—the aura of the Lost Plane .

Those two meatheads , I understand—they only know how to swing their weapons like base animals . But what is your excuse , girl? How do these simple traps elude you? Is this the limits of the modern researcher? - the goblin said with a scathing look . - Even a Ra’Lashar acolyte would be able to open this ring , many of them without losing a limb . -

I—Ah , - Vai stuttered , utterly unprepared for the sudden dressing down .

Less talk , just open it , - Zac grunted .

I cannot directly interfere with items in my form , - the goblin said with a roll of his eyes . - But here . -

Dozens of patterns appeared in the air . Most were grey , with a single blue line moving through them like a river . As the blue line passed the various fractals , they transformed , and the whole constellation was reformed after a minute .

This stumped you for weeks? I had more intricate traps to protect my stash of candies back home , - K’Rav snorted with disdain after he’d shown the solution twice . - Well , I guess I shouldn’t expect too much from some lunatic who goes around erecting corpse trees . Not even we were so bloodth— -

The goblin didn’t get any further , as he was suddenly sucked into the flag , and Ogras hurriedly placed a talisman on it . Vai looked down at the ring , mortified , like she couldn’t believe she’d missed such a simple solution . Though Zac could tell the goblin’s method was based on an incredibly deep foundation of understanding .

Don’t let that little bastard get to you , lass , - Ogras muttered from the side . - Their civilization didn’t even last the lifespan of a single Hegemon . Their way of research drew them straight into the abyss . -

There’s no need to feel bad , - Zac agreed . - You have other fields of expertise . Not knowing some unorthodox methods isn’t a blemish . -

Thank you , - Vai said before her eyes glazed over . - Wait , corpse trees? Why does that sound so familiar? -

You just had to run your mouth to that guy? - Zac whispered to the demon with exasperation .

Hey , I’ve been stuck here for years with only that bastard to talk to . And you told me you both showed your face and introduced yourself to the lass . How is this girl’s brain wired if she can’t realize the truth from those things , but a random mention of a corpse tree sparks some recognition? - Ogras said .

Still , - Zac snorted .

Well , this is my bad , okay? I haven’t needed to filter my words for over a decade , and I guess I slipped up . I’ll fix it . -

The next moment , the demon appeared in front of Vai in a puff of smoke .

Lass , don’t space out , - Ogras said to the startled researcher as he took out something Zac had never seen before . - I found this thing inside one of the Spatial Rings as well . I’ve never seen it before . Can you identify it? -

That . . . That’s . . . - Vai stuttered until her eyes finally focused on the shimmering crystal in Ogras’ hand .

Zac looked at it with marvel . It resembled an opalescent Cosmic Crystal but didn’t seem to hold any energy . Even then , Zac found his cells greedily screaming for the gem . It was chock-full of Dao , and by the looks of it , something Zac had never seen before .

Certainly , he had all kinds of Attuned Crystals in his possession , but this was the first time he’d seen a crystal filled with only the Dao . It wasn’t just one Dao either . Zac could feel all three of his Dao Branches resonate with what was within .

Is it a Dao Treasure? - Zac hesitated .

Doubt it , - Ogras said as he took out two more . - This looks like an actual crystal that has been mined or fished out from these ponds . -

How interesting , - Vai said with excitement as she took out a couple of instruments . - Let me run some readings on it . -

Could you please unlock the ring first? - Zac smiled .

Ah? - Vai said before her eyes widened in remembrance . - Ah , right! -

We’ll stand guard outside to not disturb you , - Zac nodded as he dragged Ogras onto one of the branches outside .

Did you really find those things in the invader’s Cosmos Sack? - Zac asked when they were once more isolated .

Hardly , - Ogras snorted . - We found them shortly after arriving in this place . We call them Dao Stones , and I think they were created along with the world . They were key in speeding up my comprehension , but they aren’t as useful for me now that I have Dao Branches . -

How many do you have? - Zac asked .

Why do you ask? - Ogras asked suspiciously .

Just give me a couple of them later . - Zac rolled his eyes . - I want to see if they’re useful for me . -

Pushing his Branches of Kalpataru and Pale Seal to Middle Proficiency was some ways off , but Zac could feel he wasn’t too far from taking that step with his Branch of the War Axe . His last breakthrough was over five years ago back in the Twilight Ocean , and he’d not only massively improved his understanding of Axes since then , but even entered the Integration Stage with his techniques .

He just needed a final push to break through , and these Dao Stones seemed like a good , clean way to fuel the process . Dao Treasures always held some truths of their own , which could influence the direction of the breakthrough if one wasn’t careful . Meanwhile , these things appeared untainted .

They should work even for a brute like you , - Ogras said . - I think it’s trapped Origin Dao inside . Can’t give out too many , though . They’re my golden egg for when I get out of here . -

So stingy , - Zac sighed . - I guess I’ll keep my treasury to myself then . -

Treasury? What treasury? - Ogras said with a mix of anticipation and suspicion .

This is the current Merit Exchange back home , - Zac smiled as he threw over a crystal .

Ogras stared at Zac for a second before turning his attention to the contents of the Information Crystal .

Th-This , - Ogras stuttered , eyes as wide as saucers .

Naturally , the really good things aren’t put there . These are just the random baubles I picked up along the way . -

Along the way? - Ogras swore as he threw back the Information Crystal with disgust . - Did you stroll through the treasuries of an ancient faction? Fine , take as many stones as you want . I can’t even look at you right now . I have to go meditate . -

With that , he flashed away and pointedly sat down with his back toward Zac as he gazed out across the salt lakes from the edge of a branch . Zac laughed and sat down . But instead of brooding , Zac pushed the trapped Kill Energy into his 148th node until it cracked open with a snap .

Zac took a deep breath then ate a Soul Nurturing pill , which helped with the headache . Vai was still fast at work with the lipless Hegemon’s ring , so Zac spent the next couple of hours redrawing the pathways in his head .

I’m done! - Vai said from within the tree hollow a couple of hours later , at which point Zac was mostly recovered .

What’s wrong? - Vai asked with worry as she looked back and forth between Zac and Ogras as they entered the hollow .

Nothing , - Ogras grunted , taking an angry swing from his wine . - Sometimes , you just wonder if the Heavens have eyes . -

Zac smiled as he sat down next to Vai . - Don’t mind him . How did it go? -

It’s done! - Vai confirmed . - I have never seen a method like the one the . . . ah . . . gentleman , showed . It’s worthy of further study . I think it might even be useful against some of the other methods of the Kan’Tanu . -

That’s great . - Zac took the Spatial Treasure . - You’ll save a lot of lives if you manage to build some array breakers for the upcoming war . -

Vai eagerly nodded while Zac turned his attention to the contents of the unlocked ring . As expected , there was a lot more stuff inside this one compared to the Spatial Tools of the previous Kan’Tanu infiltrators he’d taken out . For example , there were ten Low-grade Cosmic Crystals , which translated to 1 , 000 D-grade Nexus Coins .

Even for Zac , that was a pretty good haul , especially considering Cosmic Crystals were almost impossible to get in Zecia outside the C-grade continents . Apart from that , there were multiple sets of arrays , Natural Treasures , and other materials Zac suspected were for practicing sound-based skills .

There were also a few vials of a dark-red liquid that gave Zac an awful feeling . At first , he thought the bottles contained Heart Curses because of the similar energy they gave off , but Vai said that wasn’t it . There was no actual array hidden in the liquid , and Vai guessed it was a unique concoction meant to nurture the Heart Curses .

Zac shuddered at the thought of having such a creepy parasite inside his body and being forced to feed it to make it even stronger . He kept a few of those bottles to himself while handing the rest to Vai as a gift to the Void Gate . Neither he nor the people back at Port Atwood could gain anything from those things , but the researchers at the Void Gate might be able to use them to manufacture weapons or antidotes against the curses .

The various items weren’t that interesting to Zac . More important was a set of maps , notes , and Information Crystals . After confirming there wasn’t a second layer of traps , Zac scanned the items one by one , and his brows furrowed into consternation . The maps weren’t very detailed apart from a couple of sectors , but together with the notes , they told a troubling story .

Looks like I have to eat some pills after all , - Zac sighed .

What’s going on? - Vai asked , and Ogras looked over .

The infiltrators found this realm before it even entered the Stellar Ladder , and they broke inside long before the Void Gate did , - Zac said as he handed the other two the notes . - Judging by these , there might be over ten thousand infiltrators stationed in this realm alone . They’re led by someone called Reincarnator Ul and have some important mission . -

Mission? - Ogras said with a frown as he started scanning the documents .

The lipless cultivator was sent toward the mountain range over two months ago to investigate some energy signatures , - Zac said .

Your opportunity , they were looking for it as well? - Vai asked with surprise .

Looks like it . -

Well , shit , - Ogras muttered .

Th-Then it’s at least good news we came here , even if it’s dangerous , - Vai said , though she looked rattled . - Seeing that pillar , I bet they are up to no good . -

Are the rest of them in the area? - Ogras asked as he turned to the map .

Doesn’t look like it . This side of the Mystic Realm is mostly unexplored . - Zac pointed at the east side of the map . - I can’t find any mention of what their mission is , but their main base is over here . -

Over there? - Ogras said with surprise . - That’s not good . Not good at all . -

Why? What’s over there? - Zac frowned . - The Kingdom of Billy? -

No , - the demon sighed as he looked at the pitch-black section on the map with a complex expression . - That’s the ruins of the Kingdom of Ra’Lashar . -

8

PREPARING FOR THE WORST

The Kingdom of Ra’Lashar? What the hell are they doing over there? - Zac asked .

Nothing good , I assume , - Ogras said .

Are you sure there’s nothing left there? -

Shouldn’t be , - Ogras said , but he didn’t look too confident . - After my quest there finished , the whole thing collapsed . A Spatial Rift swallowed the central tower . I searched the area for months for anything of value before moving on to other parts of the realm . If they found something powerful left behind by those lunatics , we’re in trouble . Everything they made was extremely dangerous . -

Can you ask your guy? - Zac ventured .

The demon nodded , but Zac knew it wasn’t good as his face gradually turned into a scowl .

He says he has no idea , but I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him . -

Zac looked to the black spot on the map . He wasn’t convinced the Kan’Tanu’s mission was related to the Ra’Lashar themselves , and neither was Ogras , judging by his expression . Between their search for the sigils of the Left Imperial Palace , their interest in the mountain range , and now the Ra’Lashar , it felt like it was connected to this Lost Plane .

Were there more seals hidden in the ruins of the goblin empire? And if there were , should they do something about it?

The trio studied the map for a few seconds until Ogras sighed and pointed at a much closer spot on the map . - The Kingdom of Billy is around here . No matter what these invaders are up to , our first destination hasn’t changed . Let’s just continue on our way while we keep our eyes open . -

Give me an hour or two . I’m pushing to Peak E-grade right now , - Zac said .

Zac had hoped to avoid this step and gain his levels through battle instead . The consecutive blasts of Tribulation Lightning had cleansed his body , including impurities that had gone unnoticed by his Purity of the Void . It was a shame to ruin that now , but reading the reports put Zac under a lot of pressure . He couldn’t just give up a power-up that was so near at hand .

Thankfully , his pills were extremely High-quality , and there were only two nodes he needed to open . What little impurities he gained shouldn’t cause any real problems when forming his Cultivator’s Core . One by one , his prepared treasures were brought out , from the Stone of Hope] to the mysterious ice that froze his soul to harden it .

The only thing he skipped was the Chainbreaking Pills] , as they weren’t needed any longer since his latest Soul Reincarnation . Zac wasted no time as he chugged down four Pseudo D-grade pills in one go , eliciting a shocked gasp from Vai and a disgusted snort from Ogras . He ignored the clamor and focused his frozen mind on channeling everything into the 149th node in his head .

Half an hour later , Zac grunted as the node on the back of his head broke wide open . Zac drew a ragged breath and applied more ice . He was halfway there , and planned on riding this wave to the end . The final node of the E-grade was located right by his glabella—the last blockage in his pathways .