Defiance of the Fall

Four days passed , and the dream and its denizens grew increasingly intense . Ogras even began pitying the creature whose mind they’d entered . What kind of life had it led to be haunted by so many nightmares in its sleep? He’d lost count of the number of odd creatures they’d fought , how many insidious death zones they’d dismantled or avoided .

Ogras hated that almost nothing was real . He’d never realized what a great source of comfort the gift of the Ruthless Heaven was , the surge of energy that confirmed your enemy was well and truly dead . Certainly , there were many ways to enact revenge upon your killer from beyond the grave—life-linked arrays , Karmic trails that would allow your clan to find the perpetrator , and so on .

That was far preferable to not knowing whether you destroyed a dream denizen . Their bizarre appearances and abilities didn’t help either , and many could reform . Ogras’s nerves were constantly frayed , never knowing what was dangerous or safe .

The few dream residents who formed a true soul were a great solace . Feeling that Kill Energy’s surety when your spear pierced their heads didn’t just confirm they were real . They reminded Ogras himself that he was as well . It came to the point he actively sought out anything possessing spirituality , turning into a reaper who destroyed the native motes of reality to fuel his own .

Still , the pressure mounted , and Ogras couldn’t take it . He glared at his companion as he methodically destroyed a flock of teethy balls of fur .

How are you so damn calm? -

Huh? - Zac said , looking over with that dull look of his .

This place , - Ogras waved with exasperation . - How is it not stressing you out? My nerves are on fire and I’m losing my mind! -

Really? - Zac said . - It’s not too bad compared to some of the other zones I’ve visited . These dream beasts are on the weaker side , and I have you to deal with the shifts . We’ve eradicated the imperials , and the others are afraid to mess with us after the rampage inside Vastness City . I think things are pretty good right now . -

Why does it feel like you’re cursing us when you say things like that? - Ogras muttered . - Asking for trouble . -

His composure was aggravating , but Ogras had to admit the man had a point . The Undead Empire had become scapegoat and shield , and guests took a wide berth around Zac and his girl when they appeared . No one wanted to be the next one to appear on the Undead Empire’s hit list . Even the powerful coalitions opted to look the other way after the Undead Empire confirmed it was a matter between two warring factions .

Why get involved in that kind of mess?

Ogras continued until he noticed Zac had stopped . Did he have something more to say? Or was it . . . ? Ogras shuddered and prepared for the worst . Had this fate-touched bastard really brought down a Calamity on their heads with his words? He should have known better than to taunt the Heavens .

No sudden dream shift swept through the region , and no horror popped out to make their life miserable . Zac was simply staring off with a small frown . Ogras glanced in the same direction , but there was nothing there . Apart from the rippling opalescent clouds that made up the ground and sky , there was just a small pond and a couple of trees .

As far as the Shifting Dream went , it was quite calm . Too calm , perhaps?

What are you looking at? - Ogras asked with confusion .

I . . . think we should go in that direction , - Zac said , distractedly fiddling with his invisible beads .

Ogras laboriously held back a sour comment , opting for magnanimity over jealousy , even if that uncanny Luck was enough to ruin one’s day . He had to focus on the positive . They were in his world now , and there was a good chance anything the Heavens threw Zac’s way would end up in his pocket .

Veering off their original course , they moved by instinct . Both used every tool in their arsenal to find anything of interest . It took ten minutes , but then it finally paid off .

Hmm , - Ogras said , vaguely sensing odd ripples from far off .

It was minute , to the point he wouldn’t have given it a second look if not for his buddy’s uncanny nose for treasure . But as things stood , it was worth investigating .

Do you see something? - Zac asked .

Might be nothing , - Ogras said , hating the sense of defeat that had snuck into his voice .

Let’s go , - Zac grinned .

Two hours later , Ogras blankly looked on as his buddy gleefully infused a shimmering wooden figurine into his hammer . He’d been the one almost driven mad unraveling the illusory layers protecting the thing , yet there wasn’t even a stalk of grass he could use inside . He should have known the Heavens wouldn’t steer its chosen one off-course for the sake of someone else .

Don’t look at me like that , - Zac said with that infuriating smile . - All the Fossilized Dreams for the quest will go to you . And isn’t there that creature as well? -