Defiance of the Fall

There were various techniques to alleviate the issue of incompatibility and heterogeneity . Still , it was generally a huge problem for mortals to progress through the ranks in the D-grade with their mottled cores . Galvarion , the mortal Monarch , had tackled the issue by only focusing on the Dao of Water and remaining as weak as possible for his grade . The smaller and more condensed the foundation , the fewer treasures Galvarion needed to use . That allowed him to arduously make his way through Hegemony and eventually form an Inner World .

That obviously wasn’t an option for Zac , forcing him to figure out various methods to solve the problem . Even then , the results weren’t optimal , and the Core Formation process was fraught with danger and risk . Luckily , the theories within Cosmic Forge] allowed him to improve various aspects of the process , removing some dangers while creating a better product .

With his materials secured , an actual plan was finally starting to form . It was a marvelous feeling . Perhaps it was the Mana-powered domain , perhaps it was thanks to being able to visualize the end of this long project . A decade of hard work was fast crystallizing into a personalized primer for Core Formation , and time lost all meaning .

Until a specific message dragged him out of his reverie . Zac blinked and looked around , seeing the thousands of pages strewn about . Three full months had passed , where Zac hadn’t left his mansion once , not even to look for free Mana through duels . But the message he’d just received wasn’t one he could ignore , so Zac freshened up and activated the teleporter .

You’re leaving already? - Zac asked as he emerged atop a huge skull .

No point in sticking around any longer , - Kruta grinned . - Kruta’s foundations are as stable as mother earth . The eighth echelon is enough for me . The Stand of Saeward was already meant to be my last mission , and I walked away with more than I could ever dream of . The epiphany even allowed me to fix some issues with my ancestral link . -

Still , one year in here is just one month on the outside , - Zac said .

I’ve exhausted my potential in the E-grade , - Kruta shrugged . - One extra month on the outside as a Hegemon will be more useful than one year in my current state here . Besides , I might enter another Time Chamber to gain the levels I lack for the upcoming trial . The less time I spend in here , the better . I need to get a whole lot stronger and quickly . -

I know the feeling , - Zac sighed . - I know it all too well . -

66

FANTASY

Kruta’s decision made sense . There was no point in sticking around when the opportunities had dried up . Even breaking through early made sense in some cases , where you traded perfection for momentum .

I’ll do my best to come over , - Kruta said , his eyes gleaming with ferocity . - I’ll show those heart curse cultivators what’s what . -

I’m looking forward to it , - Zac laughed .

They set up a line of communication in case Kruta managed to reach Zecia , similar to his relay with Catheya . Kruta also provided Zac with a teleportation token that would take him to his tribe , though it would only work while on the Ralphi Continent . He’d also gathered all the intelligence he could remember of the Seven Heavens onto an Information Crystal .

Unfortunately , besides general knowledge , Kruta didn’t have much intelligence about the other Heavens . He knew a bit more about the fourth , which the Luaris Dynasty controlled . The barbarian did share some rumors that people generally didn’t dare speak about loudly .

For one , Zac had long known that one of the Imperial Dynasties had already fallen . The Dianthis Dynasty that once controlled the Third Heaven . It happened soon after the Imperial Clans reemerged after the System awoke . According to Kruta , there were many indications that the Third Heaven had been invaded by all the other families .

Too much time had passed , and outsiders had no way of knowing the details , but the general belief was that it was related to the Limitless Empire . The seven clans had looted the inheritance of their masters in the chaotic aftermath of the System’s birth , before hiding in secluded corners of the Multiverse during the Dark Ages .

When they emerged , they created the Seven Heavens and set themselves up as the Imperial Dynasties that stood to this day . Perhaps the Dianthis Clan had managed to get something too tantalizing from the vaults of the Limitless Empire . Some even believed it was the Dianthis Clan who seized the method to create the Heavens .

If that were the case , the betrayal made some sense . The Heavens were the foundation of the Imperial Clans’ influence and might . If one of the seven held the key to creating more Heavens or even destroying those of the others , the Imperial Clans would always have a threat looming over their heads .