Defiance of the Fall Chapter 1388: A Key in a Scar

“What is that?” Zac pressed, noticing the conflict etched onto Idiche’s face. “I hope you aren’t keeping secrets. Our lives could depend on this.”

“It isn't that I’m hiding things… I simply don’t know!” Idiche replied, her voice tinged with irritation. “My dreams show me fragments. Some are glimpses of what is to come, or at least one path the future might take. I saw those chains of yours before we ever crossed paths. Why else would I trust the wild story of a total stranger? You aren't exactly the most persuasive person.”

Zac brushed off the insult, zeroing in on the vital information. “And this mountain appeared in your dreams? When?”

“Before our departure from Adventurer’s Cove. There is a key hidden within a crevice. Its purpose is a mystery to me, but it’s a fair guess that it’s linked to the lodge,” Idiche explained.

“Did you see anything else?” Zac questioned.

“No. That was all,” Idiche answered, her lie transparent.

Esmeralda cut in before Zac could interrogate her further. “Quiet! We aren't alone!”

Zac pivoted toward the exit. Following the direction of Esmeralda’s stare, he faintly discerned five specks far off. The group was navigating the downpour, coming down from a nearby peak. They were heading for the same mountain Zac’s party was targeting. Furthermore, one of them was emitting a thick trail of corruption that served as a shield against the heavy rain.

A group of five was ideal. It was a manageable number, particularly if Idiche could tie up one or two while Zac handled the rest. The issue was their current distance; they were two mountains away and about to enter the open space leading to the isolated twin peaks. Any conflict would be visible from six surrounding mountains, including their own vantage point.

“If the girl and I coordinate, we might mask the disturbance,” Esmeralda suggested. “However, it isn't a certainty, and the effect would be brief. The accumulation of rainwater has caused the ambient energies in this area to become wildly volatile.”

“We’ll move closer first. If a chance presents itself, we strike. If not, we shadow them,” Zac decided, turning back to Idiche. “Esmeralda’s stealth is more efficient over a smaller radius. Are you able to hide yourself?”

“Easily,” Idiche said, vanishing instantly.

Zac attempted to detect her through various senses but found nothing. Idiche had completely suppressed her presence. It was no wonder she had caught Esmeralda off guard previously. Esmeralda let out an annoyed croak at the memory of being discovered. A slight distortion in the air around Zac signaled that she had triggered her own ability.

“Keep close,” Zac commanded, using a chain to maintain a physical link between the two invisible companions.

Zac moved as quickly as he dared through the treacherous terrain, aiming for a spot where they could intercept the intruders before they reached the twin peaks. Just as Esmeralda had noted, massive amounts of energy had gathered in the valleys. Between that and the sleep-inducing rain, Zac had to concentrate intensely to avoid drifting off. He even summoned his Warbringer Idol to sharpen his focus.

Despite his efforts, they were too slow. The targets weren't concerned with stealth, and their protective umbrella of corruption allowed them to charge straight through the valley. Zac watched helplessly as they rounded a corner while he was still ten minutes behind. By the time his group arrived, the invaders were nowhere to be found.

“The trail vanishes the moment they touched the mountain,” Esmeralda noted, sounding puzzled. “I don’t detect any remaining spatial gateways or dream realms.”

“There is a powerful dream further up,” Idiche’s voice rang out from the empty air.

Zac moved cautiously up the mountain trail, prepared for a counter-ambush. He scanned every fissure and hollow for the hidden enemies. Finding nothing, they eventually reached the source of Idiche’s sensation. It appeared as though the entire peak was shielded by something akin to a Town Protecting Array, though this one was constructed entirely from Illusory Energy.

The barrier was seamless, lacking any unstable points to exploit. To climb higher, they would have to traverse the potent illusion. Zac had faced such obstacles years ago during the Eastern Trigram Hunt. Back then, some summit palaces were guarded by illusory walls which he had bypassed through sheer willpower and physical sacrifice.

That tactic wouldn't work here. This mountain was clearly one of the island’s spiritual eyes, tapping into a massive reservoir of power. Zac felt certain this barrier possessed enough strength to pull him into a deep slumber, much like when they first arrived. Even if he could resist and break through, it would take time—leaving him completely vulnerable.

The Shrine of Kanba hadn't protected Esmeralda from the dreams, and they lacked a B-grade artifact like Idiche’s cloak. Zac felt exposed even with Esmeralda’s spatial folding, and they retreated immediately once they confirmed the invaders weren't lying in wait nearby.

“They must have gone inside. Let’s keep searching; there might be a flaw nearby,” Zac said.

Two hours of scouting confirmed that the twin peaks were a primary destination for the outsiders. As they widened their search, they discovered evidence of three different parties that had already entered. The first must have arrived over two hours before Zac’s group. There might have been others whose tracks were already erased by the storm.

“Look, another sign.” Esmeralda gestured toward a patch of moss.

“How are they moving so fast? Are the formations not affecting them?” Zac whispered as he examined the spot. A small puddle in the moss was shaped perfectly like a boot print. “And just how many of them are meeting here?”

“More importantly, how are they gaining entry?” Idiche added, staring at the mountain with a look of pure loathing.

“Are you certain your dream didn't show a path? Maybe a hidden tunnel?” Zac asked, feeling frustrated.

“I already told you, no,” Idiche snapped.

Zac gave a small shrug. He had tried to get more details from her during their scout, but she remained tight-lipped. The only clue she had shared was a cryptic mention of twins that didn't seem relevant yet.

“Then we keep looking,” Zac said, though his hopes were low. If there was an easy way in, Esmeralda would have found it by now.

The next several paths resulted in the same stalemate. Lacking other options, they squeezed into a narrow fissure leaking corruption, wading through freezing rainwater to see if the crack led higher. Even deep inside the mountain’s skin, the massive barrier blocked their path.

“The Natural Formation is incredibly resilient, and Temporal Energy is being used to speed up its repairs. Forcing a safe gap will take more time than we possess,” Esmeralda whispered, looking at Zac. “We could continue the search, but any proper entrance is likely guarded. They have plenty of people.”

Zac understood her point. “It’s been two hours, and my instincts are screaming. We either retreat or force our way in. If we choose to fight, this spot is as good as any. The noise should be contained as long as we keep the fluctuations low.”

“We have to go in!” Idiche urged, matching Zac’s own internal drive.

Zac felt that playing it safe would lead to disaster. A major event was unfolding on the island, and their only hope of safety was disrupting the invaders' plans. Turning back toward the island’s center wasn't an option either; the paths leading inland were choked with a thick mist that felt far more dangerous than this mountain barrier.

The previous formations were merely obstacles, but the ones ahead felt lethal. The key Idiche saw was likely the only way to reach the lodge safely, which explained the gathering of invaders. The longer they hesitated, the higher the risk that their enemies would claim the prize and move on.

Six hours had passed since the trial began. Between getting lost in the woods and searching the twin peaks, the invaders had a massive lead. Furthermore, maintaining Zac’s concealment was draining Esmeralda, and Idiche’s cloak surely had its limits.

Zac studied the shimmering veil of the natural formation, weighing his options for crossing with his sanity intact. His Dao Heart and [Soul Guardian] might not be enough. The thickness of the barrier was impossible to judge in a place as warped as the Mercurial Court.

The thin film could be hiding miles of folded space. There was also the danger of temporal distortion or recursive illusions that would trap him in an endless loop.

There was a simple solution, but Zac paused before asking Esmeralda to hide in the shrine. Was [Void Zone] truly necessary? If there was no clear path, how did the others get through? Zac looked down at the rainwater reaching his knees.

The water was so dense with energy it was barely holding back the mountain’s corruption. The pressure was constant. The water’s spiritual essence was being entirely consumed by the struggle against the encroaching Lost Plane.

Formulating a plan, Zac produced a Late D-grade Corrupted Crystal. Esmeralda’s face twisted in revulsion. Realizing his intent, she retreated into the Shrine of Kanba and shut the doors tight.

“I doubt a couple of crystals will suffice,” Idiche warned. “You’re likely right that they used profane energy to pass, but they surely had a refined way to channel it.”

“I know. I don’t expect this to do all the work. I just don't have one single tool strong enough for this job. We need to attack the barrier from every direction,” Zac explained. “Can you help? Can you move or absorb the energy?”

“I can divert some into the dream realm,” Idiche said after a moment. “But the reservoir here is so vast it will just refill immediately.”

“A few seconds is all I need,” Zac said, tethering a chain to Idiche’s waist. “You clear the way, and I’ll break the crystals.”

“And if we fail?” she asked.

“I have a final trump card. It will either get us through or get us back out,” Zac promised. “You can stay here while I test it, if you prefer.”

“No,” Idiche refused. “I must do this. If what you say is true, I can’t hide. If you’re fighting for the Mercurial Court, so am I.”

“Fine. Be careful,” Zac warned, holding the crystal. “This is your first real exposure to this energy. Guard your mind. The whispers are nothing but lies. It will be over once we cross.”

Zac didn't ask for Esmeralda’s help, even though she excelled at breaking seals. Her job was to provide support, hide their presence, or facilitate a desperate retreat.

Once ready, Idiche exhaled toward the shimmering wall. Her breath manifested as a river of stars carrying hundreds of tiny gondolas. Zac felt his mind being pulled toward them; each boat seemed to contain an entire universe of secrets. He wasn't the only one affected.

The ambient energy of the mountain was sucked toward the vessels. As the gondolas filled, they raced down the starlit river and vanished. That was the signal. They charged into the weakened barrier, and Zac shattered two crystals at once. A tide of madness erupted, far more intense than any corrupted zone Zac had ever experienced.

The collision was like the meeting of Void and Dao. The rain was designed to stop the Lost Plane, and the barrier reacted violently to the sudden influx of corruption. In this metaphysical war, Zac and Idiche were caught in the crossfire. Zac felt his consciousness fraying under the dual assault of insanity and invasive dreams.

Zac fought to contain the spreading madness, dragging a dazed Idiche along as she began to falter. He shattered two more crystals to buy time, searching for the exit. He had hoped to save his Void Energy, but the situation became critical.

The pressure was becoming lethal. Zac was at his breaking point, and Idiche had already lost consciousness. More crystals would only make the environment more hostile. Praying they were close enough, Zac triggered [Void Zone], bringing a sudden, hollow silence.

The Void suppressed both sides of the conflict, but Zac had underestimated how fragile the dimensional fabric had become. The addition of Void Energy was the final straw. Zac barely had time to react before a rift in reality swallowed him, plunging him into a realm of fragmented visions.

At first, it looked like the dimension of a thousand windows he had once glimpsed with Ogras. However, these realities stretched into a fourth dimension, appearing more like infinite threads than doorways.

Zac had no time to act. He realized Idiche was missing just as he was pulled into the strings, becoming one with them. The strange dimension burst like a bubble, and the flickering light was replaced by a searing, dry heat. The rain that had soaked him for hours vanished instantly.

In its place was a greasy layer of corruption. Disoriented, Zac looked around. He was still in the crevice—or a version of it. The heat was like a furnace. Whether it was real or an illusion, he couldn't tell, but the temperature forced him to scramble to the surface. What he saw there was entirely different.

The twin peaks were gone, replaced by a magnificent fortress. It was covered in dizzying runes, with massive magic circles spinning in the sky above. The entire mountain range had been reshaped into a giant array supporting the central castle. And that was just the start.

Zac’s alarm grew as he looked further. In this reality, there was no rain or haze. From his position, he saw a completely transformed island. Aside from a few tanks of stored illusory rain, the island was a vast desert. Two other fortresses stood in the distance, and likely more were hidden from view.

They were all harvesting the Dead Dao of the Lost Era, which saturated the air. It had merged with the world’s Cosmic Energy, giving everything a dark hue. It looked as though the world had been fully consumed by the Lost Plane. Even the Ra’Lashar Goblins hadn't seen their land so thoroughly corrupted before their fall.

Despite the corruption, the atmosphere wasn't chaotic. The castles didn't feel evil; they looked like standard architecture of the Limitless Empire. Zac could even feel Imperial Faith within the magic circles. They had enslaved the Lost Plane’s power to their own ends, just as they had done with the Foreign Gods.

Or so they chose to believe.

Zac looked toward the center of the island, desperate for a glimpse of what lay there. He felt a massive, stationary presence in that direction. A mountain blocked his view, and as he prepared to fly up—he stopped himself. He had nearly succumbed to the Lost Plane’s subtle lures.

Resisting the urge seemed to break the spell. A powerful force of rejection pushed Zac back toward the crevice, which now resembled a swirling black vortex. Zac dove into it. He wasn't sure if he had truly crossed over or just seen through the veil, but he knew staying was a death sentence.

He plunged into the darkness and found himself back on the wet mountain he knew. Idiche was still there, still bound to him. Zac didn't stop for questions, rushing through the remainder of the barrier, which felt weaker now. He couldn't tell how long it took, but suddenly, the chaos ceased.

They had cleared the barrier and reached the end of the fissure. Zac looked up, wondering if he was still dreaming. The wet stones proved it had been raining moments ago, yet the sky was now clear. Above them, the storm clouds had been replaced by a massive magic circle radiating the power of Imperial Faith.