Defiance of the Fall

A flash of light made Kruta look to his side , where he found two newcomers . One was the war chief of the whole tribe . The second was another of the Grand Elders and the chief earthly shaman , Prata Redleaf . The war chief looked up at the burning sky , his back giving off a desolate aura . There was no fight in his eyes , only defeat and sorrow .

Is this the end of our tribe? - he sighed . - I have failed the ancestors . -

Don’t worry , I have a solution! - Balka said , looking up at the hellscape with a heroic expression as her hair danced in the wind .

You absolutely cannot attack! - the ancient shaman screamed in horror , going so far as to summon four ancestors to hold Balka back . - You fool , look at those flames! They are ratified by the Empyrean Throne! That’s the Thousandflame Galley . We might be able to save some of our tribe through diplomacy , but not if we anger the esteemed one inside . -

Don’t you think I know that? - Balka huffed , pushing the ancestral guardians toward the ground .

I—Uh , - Kruta stuttered , his mind muddled with confusion .

How did they know? He’d just returned , and they hadn’t even sent out the message , yet one of Kolsara Tayn’s disciples had come knocking at their door . Had Zac somehow sent word back? No , that was impossible . He was still inside the Perennial Vastness . The Tayns must have figured things out some other way . Was it because of the seal he’d picked up?

Either case , it saved a lot of time and lessened the odds of his tribe’s involvement in this matter being exposed . At most , it would seem like he stumbled into a lucky opportunity but was captured before the tribe could report it to the Heavens . Not even the Imperial Dynasty could fault them for that , and the horrible reputation of the Tayns should keep the tribe safe .

Who’d dare target the family of someone the Tayns had - recruited - ? There was no way the Heavens wanted that mess on their hands , especially not when an Eternal Heritage was up for grabs . They had enough enemies without adding that band of lunatics to the mix .

But why did it have to be her?

Only three direct disciples of the Empyrean Throne remained since she hadn’t taken any new pupils since the Extinction . All three were Supremacies and absolutely insane . Even Mohzius Tayn’s unhinged followers seemed measured in comparison .

The Thousandflame Eccentric had hunted her master’s enemies for over a million years after the Extinction . Anything Thousandflame Tayn felt responsible for her master’s predicament was targeted with utmost prejudice . Clans were eradicated down to the chickens and dogs , and their allies were decimated . The lands they once ruled were incinerated . Even today , whole sectors remained impassable deathtraps because of her Empyrean Sinflames .

Not even those with terrifying backers were spared . Anyone shielding her targets became targets themselves , and even Supremacies had sacrificed whole branches of their line to keep the Calamity at bay . Everyone who fought back was killed and stuffed into the terrifying warship above .

The rumors said that a thousand Autarchs had been killed to create the hull of the Thousandflame Galley . That was likely an exaggeration , but at least a few hundred had been thrown into the inferno . More terrifying were the Heavenly Territories of three Supremacies that had become the core of this warship .

The Multiverse had collectively breathed out in relief when the Three Scourges of the Empyrean Throne finally ran out of targets to kill . Since then , they hadn’t been seen very often , presumably having returned to the Empyrean Quadrant to cultivate or whatever old monsters did with their free time . Yet they still lived on in the collective psyche of the cosmos , an unseen threat hiding in the dark . And now one of them was here .

Kruta shook like a leaf . Thousands of faces were looking straight at him , boring into his soul . Why had he listened to that troublemaker? He should have rejected him outright! He should have said , - No , thank you! I don’t need a ride ; I will see you inside the inheritance!’

Now it was too late .

Kruta looked at his grandmother with imploring eyes and found that she looked back at him with an extremely suspicious smile .

My sweet Kruta , I’ve been thinking . Staying inside the safety of the tribe will harm your future . A true chieftain isn’t raised inside a tent . He is forged under the harsh sun of struggle! It’s time for you to make a name for yourself , just like I did in my youth , - she said as she put her hand on his shoulder .

Kruta was about to plead for mercy , but found himself unable to speak or move as Balka covered him in a layer of impenetrable energy . She leaned over , a tearful look in her eyes .

Remember , if anyone asks , You’re Kruta the Great from the Dancing Blade Tribe , alright? -

Kruta wailed as he shot toward the sky like an arrow released from a bow . From the ground , he heard the final parting words of his grandmother .