Defiance of the Fall Chapter 1396: River Crossing

Zac tapped into a reservoir of unrealized insight. While it wasn't quite enough to transform his hypothesis into a functional technique, the fundamental truths of Ultom suggested his theory was sound. Bolstered by the prospect of significant progress and armed with a tool of annihilation, Zac encountered minimal friction as he carved a path of ruin, guided by the ancient dagger.

Every kill served a dual purpose. It allowed fragments of ancient Killing Intent to merge with his spiritual form while simultaneously feeding the developing Warbringer Idol. It was almost a triple benefit if one considered the heightened battlefield awareness gained from absorbing the refined intent, although slaughtering Early Hegemons who lacked both Daos and Skills offered diminishing returns on insight.

The satisfaction of finding such a fertile hunting ground didn't last. Zac managed only a few dozen kills before the consequences of his violence caught up to him. The malevolent presence from the far side had bled into this hidden theater of war, intensifying with every casualty. Zac halted his rampage immediately, but the stain remained.

“Stubborn bastard!” Esmeralda spat as glowing runes manifested across her skin.

The spatial distortion surrounding their group tightened. It didn't stop the ghostly legion from pressing their attack, but it hindered their ability to fixate on the trio's location. The realm itself seemed to assist, pushing back against the encroaching presence. Still, it wasn't sufficient. Zac’s aggression had rattled the Imperial War Machine enough that the frenzied beasts were beginning to turn the tide.

With every death, the entity gained a firmer foothold, and Zac’s internal alarm grew louder. It was only a matter of time before the pressure bypassed their defenses. The slumbering Idiche offered no help; her protective cloak kept her safe from the fray, and she seemed perfectly happy to let herself be carried along.

Zac maintained a desperate pace, suppressing his aura to avoid revealing their exact coordinates. Breaking free from the shifting chaos proved difficult. It felt like a nightmare where one runs but never moves. It took five minutes of constant effort before they finally confirmed they were gaining ground.

“I can feel the exit!” Esmeralda shouted, a cry that caused Idiche to jerk awake.

With heavy eyelids, the Vice Guild Leader summoned a wisp that darted forward, weaving through the masses of soldiers and blood-drunk monsters. The toad followed its lead, pulling Zac and Idiche along the winding trail. The wisp flared brightly just as Zac detected a spatial anomaly ahead, and Esmeralda plunged into the light without a second thought.

A flash of azure filled Zac’s vision before they were spat back into the physical world. He found himself standing on the far bank of a shallow river, water soaking his legs to the knees. The entity’s gaze failed to bridge the gap, but Zac had a grim suspicion it would be waiting at the next crossing. For the moment, however, they were safe—or as safe as one could be in a desert choked by corruption.

Zac let out a long breath as his body cooled down like a decelerating engine. The ancient intent settled within him, and the preternatural clarity it provided began to ebb. He felt a pang of regret. Despite trying to limit the body count, he had ended nearly a hundred soldiers during the sprint. That was enough to refine two percent of the lingering intent, yet it was only a tiny portion of the battlefield's potential wealth.

The enlightenment from Ultom had explained why these illusions of Early Hegemons were more valuable than slaughtering Peak Beast Kings. The soldiers they faced were genuine otherworlders. Their masters had utilized complex magic circles to project fragments of their souls across timelines, and every fragment bore the mark of that distant entity.

Zac wondered if the mark was a requirement for the journey or a tool for their mission. Regardless, the blessing gave those soul slivers the durability to manifest within the illusory world. They were essentially clones of a high-level existence, and it was the resonance of that entity’s power that activated the ancient intent.

The spiritual energy flowing into him acted like a defensive measure, meant to expose any intruders. It seemed more likely than ever that they would have to face the invaders themselves, assuming Astora Theomore hadn't reached the island already. He doubted any common disciple could navigate eight rivers without springing the trap.

Unluckily for the invaders, Zac’s body acted as a ravenous void that few energies could survive. Had the ancient Killing Intent not claimed the energy first, his [Void Heart] would have consumed it. What was meant to be a danger had become a catalyst for his growth, even if using it invited unwanted scrutiny.

That wasn't the only prize from the crossing. Zac looked at the illusory seed hovering in front of him. A tiny fissure had formed on its dark surface, and he could sense a vibrant life force waiting to burst forth. This nascent Idol surprisingly embodied both Life and Death. It contradicted his plan of having separate idols for each Dao, but it mirrored the cyclical, interconnected nature of Life and Death he had witnessed as a mortal on the Peregrine Ocean.

The developing idol felt less substantial now that they were back in reality. Nevertheless, Zac knew he was touching upon a fundamental truth. If he failed to manifest it during the remaining crossings, he would eventually find the feeling again. The only way to fail now would be to force its evolution into something else, like a Chaos Idol or by trying to split the two elements.

But he had no reason to do so. [Warbringer Dharma] was merely a secondary technique to enhance the [Void Emperor Apotheosis]. He wasn't a dedicated Heart Cultivator and had no desire to spend excessive time on heart-tempering. His time on the Peregrine Ocean had already addressed his weaknesses, and a second Warbringer Idol would serve his needs for the foreseeable future.

After ensuring the illusion seed was stable, Zac turned to his teammates. “Is everyone alright?”

“I’ve had better days,” Esmeralda grunted, shaking off the last bits of corruption. “At least the subsequent crossings should be easier. The realm actually helped us bypass a hidden threat, though I wish it had been less violent about it.”

Idiche didn't answer, but her steady breathing was a clear sign of her status. She wasn't just fine; she seemed to have benefited as much as Zac. While the hidden realm had purged more corruption from her than the others, it had also infused her with significant illusory power. Her aura felt more refined, carrying a deeper sense of ancient mystery.

“She is changing,” Esmeralda warned via a private mental message.

Zac kept his expression neutral, though he had observed the same phenomenon. Idiche’s shift had started the moment they set foot on the island. They had slowly pieced together information about her sleepwalking state, and it was becoming obvious that her secondary persona was gaining dominance over her physical form.

According to Idiche, the ability began as simple prophetic dreams. When she had first captured Esmeralda, it was the first instance of the other persona taking full control. Since then, she had frequently succumbed to sleep to guide the group. These changes had only accelerated after she consumed Marai’s treasure.

Zac wasn't sure who he was talking to anymore. As Idiche stared at the shimmering moon with a vacant look, he felt as if he were in the presence of an enigmatic Elder. The secondary persona was bleeding into her waking state. He wondered how long it would be before the original Idiche vanished entirely.

The hidden personality was clearly more capable, but her motives were a mystery. She had been helpful so far, but that might only be because she needed them to reach the lodge. Taking her inside might be a risk. Zac considered neutralizing her immediately but dismissed the thought. He didn't think he could succeed in the heist without her expertise.

“We need to move. Waiting will only make things more difficult,” Zac said quietly.

Esmeralda and Idiche had cleared most of the corruption during the transit, but the air beyond the first river was much more toxic. Even Zac felt the foul energy of the Lost Plane trying to penetrate his skin. Furthermore, the moon was behaving strangely. Its glow had intensified, and its azure light was beginning to grate on his mind—a subtle form of psychic erosion.

Idiche finally looked away from the moon, her expression softening. “Did I drift off again?”

“You woke up just before we crossed over,” Zac replied, then asked, “Did you see anything else?”

“That moon... It must not be permitted to set,” she whispered.

Zac nodded, unsurprised by the ominous warning. “Anything else?”

“I saw Sevona’s Divine Core from my vision. It was suspended in a wooden hall, casting a massive shadow, surrounded by four figures,” Idiche added, her eyes turning glassy again.

“Good. Let’s move,” Zac said. Knowing the Divine Core was still there was encouraging. It gave them a target. He assumed the four figures were the various factions competing for it. “We have seven more rivers. I’ll wait to offer more blood to the dagger.”

They resumed their journey. The desert stretches between the rivers were devoid of traps or formations. The only danger was the intense corruption that had smothered all other energies, seeking to infect anything it touched. Thanks to Esmeralda’s speed, they only had to survive five minutes of exposure before reaching the next river and plunging into another war zone.

The combat here was more savage, and the average level of the soldiers had risen. The spatial distortion was also more severe, constantly rotating their sense of direction. As feared, the entity’s perception was already active, scanning for anomalies. A thick haze of corruption hung in the air, creating a lethal environment. Fortunately, the ambient illusory Qi was also denser, which had partially reset the entity's search. They were safe for now, but the clock was ticking.

Zac attempted to use his chains to restrain rather than kill, hoping to avoid notice. That plan failed almost instantly. While his heart seed had regained its strength, the chains remained only partially physical. Meanwhile, the soldiers were noticeably more tactical. They quickly exploited the chains' weaknesses, forcing Zac back into close-quarters combat.

The pressure was still manageable, but Zac noticed the attacks now carried hints of Dao. In the previous realm, they had relied on pure physical force. He wondered if the soldiers would become indistinguishable from their real-world counterparts by the final river.

Zac pushed the thought aside. He navigated the growing resistance of the army, following the dagger’s guidance despite a force that was trying to jam the signal.

He tried giving the dagger to Esmeralda so he could focus on fighting, but it didn't work. Though she could navigate the illusions better, her bond with the artifact was too weak. She kept losing the trail, and she was more vulnerable to the corruptive whispers in the air. Idiche was even worse off. They had to go back to their original roles.

The situation turned grim. More soldiers began ignoring the beasts to focus on him. When the pressure became too great, Zac had to start thin the ranks. It was satisfying to see his Cultivation progress, but it couldn't drown out the feeling of impending disaster.

It took ten minutes to navigate the battlefield. When they emerged, the moon was shining like a brilliant gem. Its light was focused on the center of the island, seemingly pulling the lodge into existence. Only the peaks of several wooden towers were visible so far—lacquered structures that combined rustic beauty with ancient authority.

Even this glimpse proved it wasn't a simple lodge. Based on the scale of the spires, it was more of a wooden fortress. Driven by both greed and caution, they pressed on. They cleared the third, fourth, and fifth rivers without major incident, but Zac paused as they reached the sixth.

Zac was still in good shape. Relying on his Warbringer Idols used very little Qi, and the rewards from each river were increasing. He felt the seed was on the verge of sprouting. The concern was whether he could survive the process.

Each crossing was taking longer and meeting more resistance. They had barely escaped the fifth river before the entity's gaze locked onto them. If they used the same tactics for the next one, they wouldn't make it.

“We could rest for a few hours,” Esmeralda suggested hesitantly.

“I don't think we can survive out here that long,” Zac countered.

The moon was as oppressive as a desert sun. Zac felt his Soul Aperture shrinking under the light, and the corruption in this zone was staggering. The sand began to churn, and a figure made of sand rose from a dune. Zac shattered it with a kick, but more began to form immediately.

“Are they trying to break out of the rivers?” Esmeralda asked, noting they looked exactly like the armored soldiers from the illusions.

“We have to try. Give it to me,” Idiche commanded.

Zac paused before handing her the dagger. she had promised she could carry them across a whole river with energy to spare, or use a treasure from her master if that failed. Having seen the Eighth Elder’s power before, Zac agreed, though he had hoped to save that card for later.

Idiche sliced her palm, and the dagger drank greedily. A pulse of energy shot out, and a spectral path extended over the water. They were only halfway across when Idiche gasped and the bridge shattered. Zac grabbed the dagger as they tumbled into the water. He had anticipated this and hoped that starting from the middle would shorten their trip through the illusion.

He wasn't sure if he was right, but the entry was certainly different. Instead of landing in the middle of an army, they fell through a bank of unstable clouds. Zac cursed when he realized his ability to fly was suppressed, his voice catching as hundreds of soldiers below looked up simultaneously.

“Backup plan?” Idiche asked, her face red from strain as Zac looked at her.

“I was getting tired of hiding anyway,” Zac said with a grimace.

“Then we do it. Ten seconds—make them count,” Idiche sighed, pulling out a crystal bottle filled with starlight.

She tapped the bottle against Zac’s hand before splashing the contents toward the soldiers. Suddenly, Zac wasn't falling alone. A hundred duplicates of himself rained down like a meteor strike. They were illusions, yet they possessed a terrifying sense of reality.

Dozens of soldiers were obliterated instantly, and the focus on the real Zac vanished, replaced by a shroud of stars. The enemy ranks fell into disarray, and the entity’s perception scattered as it tried to track the hundred deadly threats that had appeared out of thin air.

Zac hit the ground and became a blur, cleaving the nearest soldier in two. The starlight veil held firm, hiding him even from the entity. Idiche had described the bottle as a one-time escape item that created decoys, but since the copies possessed over half of Zac’s power, it was a devastating weapon.

There was no time to waste. Zac left a trail of starlight as he sprinted at full speed. He stopped trying to avoid the fight and became a reaper, funneling every death into the seed. He had one goal now. Idiche had bought him ten seconds of absolute chaos, and he was going to use every moment. He would worry about the last two bridges later; for now, he was here to harvest.