Defiance of the Fall

There were no doubt more creatures hiding within those satellites , resisting the temptations while using the Remnant’s unique Dao to cultivate . Yet none moved to intervene , which made Zac believe it wasn’t the first time a beast lost control and got itself killed . That was definitely good news . Pushing through those suns to reach the Remnants would be difficult enough . It might be too much to handle if he also had to deal with a bunch of Beast Kings .

The island reached its closest point to the twin suns , and Zac jumped off just as it started drifting away . This time , he was in his Draugr form , and he released a bloody but not too overbearing aura of the Dao of Death . It was just a bit stronger than what the bird just now had emitted .

It was the best solution he could come up with after some deliberation . Show the hidden inhabitants he was strong enough to qualify for a spot on the satellites but not strong enough to threaten the natural order of things . Even then , Zac’s heart thumped when two immense auras swept over him , each belonging to Late-stage Beast Kings . They were even more overbearing than the mysterious beast in the Calamity Mountain that disappeared when the whole thing collapsed .

The pressure almost made him turn the glider around , but he gritted his teeth and stayed the course . His gambit proved successful . The Death-attuned aura lingered a bit longer than the other , but it eventually retreated . Zac had been prepared for a bloody struggle , but skipping that step was obviously preferable .

There was no way he’d be able to take down a Late-stage Beast King without going all-out . Even then , he’d likely be left with grievous wounds , if he succeeded at all . Either case , it would mess with the next step of his plan , so he thanked his lucky stars as he gingerly landed on one of the smaller moons . The Dao of Oblivion was much clearer this close to the Remnant .

Zac made no move toward the sun , digging a simple cave instead and settling in . He ignored the increasing sense of urgency from the Remnants trapped inside the prison . The splinters were especially agitated with being so close to one of their brethren , but the shards weren’t much better . The second sun was not far away , releasing its beckoning call . Zac let the Remnants groan and complain . Everything was under control so long as they didn’t fully wake up and start to fight .

Zac spent the next five days in - meditation , ’ where he only emerged once a day to stand at the moon’s surface . It was to get a full view of the sun as it rose from below like a sunrise . In reality , Zac didn’t spend a second in meditation . What would be the point? For one , he simply couldn’t meditate on the Daos like cultivators or the hidden Beast Kings around him . And even if he could , he was still inside a Time Chamber .

Zac kept a constant watch of energy fluctuations and auras , gauging the reactions of his neighbors . On the first day , more than ten perceptions locked onto him when he emerged from the cave . After six days , none bothered with him anymore . The auras had stabilized , indicating the beasts had returned to a meditative state . The locals would wake up when Zac made his move , but exchanging a few thousand Mana for a couple seconds of extra time might be the difference between success and failure .

The rest of the time was spent observing the sun , formulating a strategy to snatch the Remnant within . Luckily , Zac had experience with similar missions and some unique advantages that would put him in a far-better position than the unfortunate bird from the other day .

On the seventh day , Zac’s eyes opened thirty minutes before his daily outing to witness the sunrise . Everything was the same , but Zac felt the intangible winds of destiny urge him forward . The slumbering momentum in his body had started stirring years ago when he added the last piece to the Omnitool , but it had been too early . Zac had kept things in check since then , but there was no point in holding back any longer . His heart beat with excitement , but he was careful to keep his aura completely steady as he took out the Hollow Core] .

If everything went according to plan , he’d start his Core Formation within the hour .

73

LIKE THE MOTH

Mad . . . you’re mad! - Null cried in Zac’s mind as he opened his robes to expose his stomach . - You’re already at the tenth echelon , and the boss confirmed you’d reach the thirteenth by snatching these things .

Do you know what the thirteenth echelon means? I don’t even know when someone’s reached that level . It’ll be like having the boss himself aiding you in your Core Formation . A gallery’s top-tier guests hurry into seclusion after hitting the eleventh . A rare few narrowly squeeze into the twelfth , but whole galleries can come and go without such a guest appearing . -

Zac ignored Null’s prattling . It had been a daily nuisance since the guide realized what he was planning to do , or at least part of it .