Defiance of the Fall

Sizzling and searing pain tried to make him give in , but Kruta wouldn’t break . He sacrificed a layer of skin for each step as he continued his journey . Did seconds pass or did hours? Was he alive or was he dead? Kruta didn’t know .

Then , darkness turned to light as he pushed through the smoke and dust . Seeing a blue sky was almost enough to make him pass out , but he summoned a final burst of energy to drag himself up from the edge and crawl onto a flat surface . A smile of contentment spread across his face as the flickering flame of his being finally winked out .

He had done it . He’d beaten the game , and his tribe would be safe .

Burning flames shattered the darkness , and Kruta released a pent-up roar of fury . He was already dead , so why couldn’t they leave him be? He had done what was asked of him! This treatment was excessive . He didn’t care . He’d give these bastards a good punch even if his ancestral soul were incinerated .

Wait , why did he have hands?

Ah? What’s going on? - Kruta muttered , blankly looking down at his very much corporeal hands .

Only then did he realize he was no longer atop the Worldend Ridge . The pain and sickness that followed him for years was gone , and his pathways had changed from burnt-out twigs to threads of steel . The ancestor was stabilized , and his aura was incredibly vigorous , though he still slept inside Kruta’s Soul Aperture .

The situation inside his body looked good , but the scenery around him quashed Kruta’s excitement . He’d been placed in the middle of what looked like a coliseum , and he could sense brutal auras from behind the steel gates . His heart shuddered , and his will almost collapsed from a terrifying premonition . Had the Thousandflame Eccentric brought him back to life only to have him play another game?

Kruta roused his spirit as he turned toward the closest gate . He wouldn’t give in . He would fight to the bitter end .

Feisty . Not bad . -

The voice came from every direction , and it felt like the roar of a thousand suns .

G-greetings , great mistress , - Kruta stuttered , his budding momentum gone .

It was one thing to fight to the death with beasts or prisoners , but there was only one thing to do when facing one of the Three Scourges . Even Supremacies were wary of these lunatics , so a bit of groveling wouldn’t shame the ancestors . Kruta wasn’t afraid ; he was just being smart .

I—ah . I’m very sorry if we’ve offended you and the esteemed Tayns . -

Esteemed Tayns , huh? That wasn’t what you said back then? - The eccentric laughed as a screen appeared in the middle of the arena .

Kruta felt his vision close in as he saw himself appear , surrounded by withered roots and corpses of the First Heaven . He heard himself talk with Zac , discussing their options .

Don’t say it , you bastard!’ Kruta inwardly cried , wanting nothing more than to go back in time and punch himself in his big mouth .

Pretty famous? That’s the understatement of the century , - his projection guffawed . - Those lunat⁠— -

The scene didn’t continue from there , and Kruta found himself alone in the arena again . A storm raged in Kruta’s mind , where part of him was cursing that flaky Realm Spirit . It acted so high and mighty , saying his seals were impregnable . But what did that matter if he gave in when faced with true monsters? Kruta couldn’t believe the old bastard had spied on the chat of two juniors and then shared it with the Tayns .

Another part of his mind was trying to devise a road to survival , but he could only see one path forward .

It was my mistake! I am willing to bear all punishment for my actions , so I beg your eminence to spare the Greenleaf Tribe , - Kruta shouted as he slammed to his knees .

Your tribe? They are fine . We left the Ralphi Continent right after you came aboard , - the voice scoffed . - You think I’m so bored I’d go around bullying a bunch of juniors? I can’t believe this . I’m gone for a few hundred thousand years , and the family’s reputation is in the gutter when I return . Those brats back home really need a talking to . -

Kruta almost cried in relief upon hearing the tribe was fine , but joy was followed by sorrow . He wasn’t out of the woods . This unreasonable elder was one of the main reasons for the Tayns’ wretched reputation , yet she wanted to blame it on the younger generations? His mouth opened and closed a few times , but no words came out .

He was afraid to say the wrong thing , something that would trigger this lunatic . What if she turned the ship around or sent him back to that purgatory for a second round of torture?

You stumbled onto an opportunity and created a string of fate that shouldn’t exist , - Mistress Thousandflame said . - You should know , our family’s learned to be quite attentive to fate . So I asked that old goat , Sendor , why a Karmic Thread emerged from his realm and latched onto my little niece . What if one of our old enemies had returned? I figured I would deal with this mess on my way back . -