Defiance of the Fall

The missives were clear , - Ogras grunted as he extended his shadow network through the ground . - If we don’t anchor ourselves for the dream shifts , then we’ll get dragged Heavens know where . Could be the beginning , could be one of the unstable regions . But this shouldn’t be too bad . You should be able to tide things over with your Mana and Dao alone this far from the center . -

That doesn’t mean you can slack off , - Zac commented .

I know , - Ogras said . - Just you watch as I bend this world to my will . -

Time was running out , so Ogras stopped his shadow tendrils when they’d stretched three hundred meters in every direction . It was for the best , he already felt himself growing hollow . It was sometimes easy to forget that the shadows weren’t a bloodline ability or something that could be fueled with Cosmic Energy .

The shadows were his actual body , thanks to getting Asshole fused with his body and then practicing the Spiritlock Physique] . He only had so many shadows to go around , and he couldn’t accumulate more beyond a certain point . Still , three hundred meters should be more than enough to create a safe harbor in the upcoming storm .

His Branch of the False Truth spread through his tendrils , anchoring the world to his vision . Ogras shut out all distractions as he pictured the scene , and he his Dao slowly formed a resonance with the surroundings . Minutes passed , then it came like a tidal wave .

Ogras’ mind was assaulted by hundreds of foreign impressions , and the mental world he’d crafted distorted from the influence . Though not to a point where he couldn’t fight back . Ogras furiously quenched the unfamiliar images and stole their essence to stabilize his illusion . Every impression he subverted stabilized his own , and the resonance between Dao and world converged until they were one .

A minute passed and the dream shift was gone . Ogras could tell it was a success . The shift hadn’t managed to fuse their auras with the dreamworld , making it impossible to teleport them away . Ogras even managed to influence the dream and remold it to his liking , and he opened his eyes with anticipation . But the grin turned crooked .

What he imagined was mostly there , except the details were wrong . Decidedly wrong . He could have just stepped into his own nightmare , narrowly dodging toxic spittle from a scantily clad devil with a snake’s head .

What the hell? - Zac swore as he found himself grappling with a courtesan’s empty silk dress .

Meanwhile , six dancing bottles released a toxic plume that rapidly filled the small chamber that had sprung up around them .

Don’t breathe the perfume! Let’s go! - Ogras urged , and they crashed through a door .

On the other side , a mad feast was taking place with hundreds of guests . Nightmarish courtesans , faceless patrons , and animated tools of the four arts created a surreal atmosphere full of debauchery , joy , and horror . The wordless reproach in his companion’s eyes was palpable , and Ogras coughed as he started clearing a path toward what he hoped was the exit .

Well , the information packages said the better you could envision the harbor , the stronger it would resist the dream shift , - Ogras explained . - And I spent a lot of time in the Fragrant Orchid Teahouse in my youth . -

And how much time did you spend memorizing the interiors? - Zac countered as he peppered the aggressive patrons with a storm of fractal leaves . - Why does it seem like you wanted to see if you could dream up a harem? -

Yeah , well . Now we know that doesn’t work , - Ogras said , unable to hide his disappointment . - Unless your tastes veer into the bizarre . -

Things didn’t work out with that Hissa girl? - Zac commented .

The lass from the Primal Council? - Ogras said . - They worked fine , but those brutes are so territorial . Some meatheads started grumbling , and she wanted me to fight them . Stake my claim , prove myself , you know? Too much of a headache . -

And now you’re resorting to creating a literal dream-girl? Using a brothel as a model? - Zac sighed .

Genius , right? - Ogras laughed as he shredded the final nightmare courtesan blocking their path .

Whatever , let’s go . -

Unfortunately , more chambers and distorted guests waited on the other side of the screen door . After ten minutes of fighting their way out of the bizarro teahouse , the two mutely looked on as it dissipated soon after they emerged . The dream would always revert to its natural state without outside influence powering and reinforcing the change .

No more teahouses , - Zac muttered as he turned toward the dream’s center .

Fine , - Ogras shrugged . - Though I doubt my other harbors will be much better . -