Defiance of the Fall

As he sat down on the bedding on leaves he could finally focus on the new things in his head . Just as he suspected he had completed the quest for Axe Mastery with his last kill . His speed of killing had far surpassed his expectations . He had given himself a 10-day deadline but had finished it in just below a week’s time . It was mostly thanks to the high density of monsters in the central part of the island . The monsters were everywhere , and he didn’t have waste a lot of time traveling looking for his next target .

Zac closed his eyes to go over his new skill and was surprised to suddenly find himself standing on the edge of a cliff . Jolted by the change in scenery he immediately opened his eyes , only to once again see the familiar sight of his hideout .

It had only been an illusion or something created in his mind , but it had felt so real he had thought for a second he had been teleported somewhere . Zac calmed his breathing and slowly closed his eyes again .

He once again found himself to be standing on the desolate cliff . As he looked around he found that the cliff was a part of a seemingly endless canyon . It stretched further than Zac could see and the bottom was shrouded in a thick mist , giving the impression of being bottomless . The illusory world itself was a dull grey , as though all life had been sucked out of the area .

The most shocking sight wasn’t the canyon however , it was the enormous axe that was embedded in the ground a few hundred meters away from him . It was at least 50 meters tall and exuded a pressure that almost made Zac collapse just from standing in the vicinity .

The axe itself was simple and unadorned with a straight wooden haft . It was a double axe made in seemingly ordinary steel with curved edges . Even though it looked simple Zac felt that he was gazing at a supreme treasure just from the towering aura it exuded .

As soon as Zac’s eyes landed on the edge of the axe he stumbled backward , his face turning a ghastly white . It had felt like he was being split in two from just looking at the edge .

After regaining his bearing he tentatively looked up at the axe again , careful to avoid looking at the edges . But as he did , his vision once more changed .

The bleak dead world changed to one that could best be described as a paradise . Golden clouds hung in the sky , and there were fantastical buildings upon them . A network of translucent bridges connected the sky cities , and flying contraptions could be seen gliding about .

Zac himself was floating far up in the sky , seemingly unencumbered by gravity . Facing him was a vast celestial army . The army shone in a splendor of white and gold , and the generals radiated a terrifying power that Zac wouldn’t even be able to begin to grade . A few groups of the army were circling pillars as large as skyscrapers , and it took Zac a moment to realize the huge structures were actually supersized array flags , like the ones he had in his camp .

There were even titans among the ranks of the humanoid army , the shortest standing being at least 100 meters tall . Their muscular frames looked strong enough to carry mountains .

The army gave Zac a holy feeling , but it also emitted a monstrous killing intent , which largely seemed to be focused on himself . The very air seemed to vibrate with resentment .

Zac was terrified , as he instinctively knew that each and every one of these warriors would be able to end him without breaking a sweat . He tried to turn around and flee , but he couldn’t move even his eyes .

A sigh escaped for his lips , making him realize he was not just an incorporeal being spectating , but inhabiting a body that was out of his control . It seemed he was viewing the scene through the eyes of someone else .

His eyes suddenly looked down on his body , seeing a muscular frame covered in simple linen clothes . His feet were bare and dusty , looking as though he had walked all day without any shoes . Suddenly an axe entered his vision . It was hefted in his right hand and looked identical to the enormous one he had seen in the first vision at the canyon .

The hand holding it was extremely rough and calloused as if it had been holding and swinging the axe for an eternity .

His vision went back to the army , who now seemed to be preparing to attack . The air was rife with runaway power , almost to the point that the cosmic energy would liquefy .

Thousands of warriors started infusing cosmic power into the towering array flags , who started to shine in a white light that superseded even the pillar on his island .

Suddenly two enormous gates appeared above the army , summoned by the arrays . As the gates started to open an even stronger power started to leak out . It felt like a god’s punishment was held within those gates , and if they opened he would be destroyed body and soul .

But even against this force the being Zac inhabited didn’t react . He simply lifted his axe , and with a grunt swung it down in a vertical arc .