Defiance of the Fall Chapter 1389: Sabotage

“That’s a new development,” Esmeralda remarked, stepping out from the Shrine of Kanba. “Call me pessimistic, but I doubt that’s a favorable sign.”

“You could say that,” Zac replied, his voice sounding rough as he squinted at the sky.

The celestial magic circle was nearly a perfect replica of the one he had encountered on the other side. Fortunately, this version was more of a spectral projection than a physical reality; it lacked the support of the original’s thousands of auxiliary arrays and the massive castle that served as its anchor. Even so, the mere fraction of power it radiated was sufficient to push back the surrounding clouds.

The logic of the scene didn't hold up. Technically, a faded projection shouldn't possess the strength to repel Sevona’s clouds, which were fueled by the island’s own essence. While the clouds had humbler origins than the magic circle, they possessed far more raw power. Zac sensed that the clouds weren't being overpowered so much as they were confused. Instead of utilizing brute force, the circle had successfully deceived the Natural Formations into believing it was a legitimate part of the island.

The illusion wasn't flawless—the clouds were still resisting with visible effort—but the circle seemed to be gaining momentum. Zac wondered if the desert fortresses were acting like tuning forks, vibrating to force the two separate timelines to merge.

“Can you sense anything?” Zac inquired, opting for telepathic communication to remain discreet.

Esmeralda simply shook her head in the negative.

As Zac laid out the details of the situation, Esmeralda’s expression shifted into one of grim seriousness.

“Idiche?” Zac called out, suddenly struck by the fact that she hadn't uttered a sound since they crossed the threshold.

Turning around, he found her staring blankly into the distance, her eyes clouded and glassy. “Are you alright?”

Receiving no response, Zac placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, channeling both Void Energy and his Dao into her system. The former entered without resistance, but his Dao was violently rebuffed by a presence near her upper spine. It radiated the same ancient, primordial aura he had witnessed in her eyes during her sleep. This power was currently battling the heavy corruption flooding Idiche’s Soul Aperture, and it had branded Zac’s Dao of Death as an enemy accomplice.

Zac quickly withdrew his Dao, choosing instead to assist the mysterious internal power. He siphoned a significant portion of the corruption back into [Purity of the Void] for refinement. Any fragments of the madness that resisted his pull were met with raw Void Energy, leading to their total annihilation. In one swift motion, Zac cleared a massive path of sanity before pulling his energy back. The remaining corruption should be manageable for Idiche to handle on her own.

“That… what happened?” Idiche whispered a moment later, her gaze still somewhat distant.

“As I told you, those whispers are nothing but lies.”

“But… it felt so authentic,” Idiche sighed, regaining her composure. “The insights I glimpsed in my dreams felt as though they were right there, waiting to be grasped.”

“The corruption hides a seed of genuine enlightenment; that’s the hook,” Zac explained with a shrug. “You believe you’re using it to transcend your limits, unaware that the goalposts have already been moved. Before long, your original self is unrecognizable, until only malevolence remains. You’ll see exactly what I mean when we confront the invaders.”

“You speak with suspicious familiarity,” Idiche noted, eyeing him. “I’ve watched how hungrily you collect those crystals. You should heed your own advice.”

“It’s not the same. The princess has a specific interest in these materials,” Zac countered quickly, though he knew there was a grain of truth in her warning.

Zac knew he couldn't become so dependent on Ultom’s insights that he lost the ability to navigate his own cultivation hurdles. However, the luxury of slow, independent progress was something Zac had rarely known since he started his journey. Only his stint in the Perennial Vastness mirrored the centuries of stability most cultivators took for granted.

“I don't believe we’ve been spotted, but it’s best we move now just to be safe,” Esmeralda suggested.

Nodding, Zac resumed his position at the front as they crept toward the concealed valley. They soon discovered that despite the incredibly dense ambient energy, there were no Natural Formations blocking their path. Their progress was so fluid they actually paused several times, fearing they had walked into a high-level illusion.

Their fears were unfounded. Within ten minutes, they reached a hidden ridge overlooking the valley floors. A massive lake dominated the landscape, reminding Zac of his own Soul Aperture from the past. Rather than a clash of Life and Death, this lake was a volatile mixture of pure corruption and terrifyingly realistic illusory water. A jagged island sat in the center, bearing a striking resemblance to his Soul Core.

An altar was being constructed on that lone island, signaling that Sevona’s attempts to block the incursion were about to fail.

“So, this is their staging ground,” Esmeralda whispered as they surveyed the area.

A handful of figures were finishing the altar, while a larger group of invaders worked with precision to lay out an intricate array covering the entire island. Zac counted eighteen individuals on the island and another six placing array flags around the lake's perimeter. They had also widened the canal meant for drainage. While underground rivers fed the lake, the water was now receding faster than it could be replenished since the rain had ceased.

Scanning the group was unnecessary. The altar vibrated with the unmistakable aura of the Lost Plane, and the workers were openly using corrupted energy to set the array. Much like the group they had encountered earlier, these people felt no need for secrecy. Zac understood why; reaching this location without the secret mountain passage would have required immense luck and effort.

“What are they planning?” Idiche asked, her voice hushed. “Wait—I recognize them! Over half of that group belongs to the Hastor Society.”

Zac had a vague memory of the name. Unlike the Explorer’s Guild, which was an eclectic mix from across the Mercurial Courts, the Hastor Society was composed mainly of Clan Hastor members and their loyalists. The Mercurial Court didn't explicitly stop families from consolidating power, and several dozen had established lasting legacies within the Sect.

This was a common trend in many Sects, even if such powerful families often threatened the central authority. Ventus, a recruit from the Radiant Temple, had often vented about the arrogance of noble families back in his home territory. Usually, Sect leaders ignored them as long as the clans didn't overstep. Of course, some Sects eventually became clans in everything but name.

“When did Zorm manifest his Inner World? I saw him months ago and he showed no signs of being ready for a breakthrough. Was he hiding his strength, or has he been replaced?” Idiche muttered, her envy palpable.

She was pointing at the lone Monarch on the island. Based on his heavy build and his role as overseer, Zac guessed he followed a martial Dao. His aura flickered with instability, suggesting his Inner World had yet to fully settle, but he remained a massive threat nonetheless.

Suddenly, Idiche’s eyes burned with a mix of fury and bewilderment. “How can he still manifest Imperial Faith if he’s turned traitor?” she hissed through clenched teeth.

Zorm wasn't the only anomaly. The entire array was being forged from a twisted blend of Faith, Time, and the corruption of the Lost Plane.

“They likely believe they are the rightful heirs to the Imperial Fate,” Zac said with a shrug. “You’ve felt the corruption yourself. It has a way of twisting perception until black looks like white.”

“I suppose that’s secondary to the immediate problem,” Idiche admitted slowly. “We can't take that lineup. The Hastor Society members are fighters. I can't hold off many of them. I might be able to stall Zorm for a couple of minutes, but only if he doesn't use that tainted energy.”

“What if you just go to sleep first?” Esmeralda asked with a curious tilt of her head.

“I doubt that would help. Zorm isn't our only issue. I can sense a faint threat lurking nearby. There’s likely another Monarch hiding in the shadows,” Zac noted. “And unlike those drakes, these people have the advantage of the terrain. We don't win this unless we find a way to divide them.”

“I thought I taught you better. There are more ways to solve a problem than simple violence,” Esmeralda huffed. “Watch the Great Esmeralda handle this. Just be ready to clean up the mess afterward.”

“Is that so? By all means, show me. It’s always a treat to watch a master at work,” Zac said, smiling as the eager toad vanished after casting a permanent isolation ward around their position.

“Are you certain about this?” Idiche asked hesitantly. “Your pet hasn't exactly been reliable so far.”

“Maybe not. But her specific talents haven't had a chance to shine yet.”

“And what talents would those be?”

“The unauthorized redistribution of wealth,” Zac replied after a brief beat.

“So, she’s a thief? And you call her your master?” Idiche laughed, sounding incredulous. “You’re a strange lawkeeper.”

“To catch a thief, one must understand the mind of a thief,” Zac explained with mock wisdom.

“I see your logic, but we aren't here to pull a heist on the Hastor Society, are we?”

“Why not? Imagine the chaos if the array flags vanished at the worst possible moment. Or if that altar suddenly went missing?”

Idiche looked toward the jewel-encrusted altar and the bubbling corruption in the lake. Realization dawned on her, and she pulled back further behind their cover. “Oh. This is going to be a disaster.”

“You still need to be ready for a brutal fight,” Zac warned. “It would be great if the backfiring array finished them off, but we won't be that lucky. We have to strike hard and fast when the moment comes. No mercy. No talking, no prisoners.”

“Understood,” Idiche replied solemnly.

Zac didn't mention that he wasn't counting on Idiche for much. The Court Disciples were clearly pampered, and he wasn't sure how she would perform in a true life-and-death struggle against other cultivators. He lamented the absence of Astora Theomore; he hadn't seen or heard of her since arriving at Adventurer’s Cove. He remembered the terrifying aura she had displayed during the Docks purge. She could have likely wiped out this entire group on her own.

There was no helping it. If Esmeralda succeeded, great. If not, she would at least disrupt the ceremony. While victory wasn't guaranteed, Zac was confident in their ability to retreat if things went south.

Two hours passed in silence as the Hastor Society finalized their preparations. There was no sign of Esmeralda during that time, which Zac took as a positive sign. Meanwhile, Sevona’s waters continued to recede, and the magic circle in the sky grew more substantial by the minute.

Zac could even feel traces of that overwhelming entity he had perceived in his vision. Was it the leader of the operation on the other side? A presence that vast had to be at least a Divine Monarch, perhaps even something greater.

“It’s time,” Zac whispered as the lake began to churn.

The invaders had linked the massive reservoir of corruption to the altar. By tapping into that unholy power, they had effectively started a countdown. The Imperial Faith within the array resisted, but Zac could see the materials of the array flags warping into an unstable blend of Dao from different Eras.

“That array will blow in ten minutes if they don't trigger it,” Zac noted, tightening his grip on his axe.

The Hastor Society waited another six minutes before Zorm and his four lieutenants lit six candles on the altar. Six geysers of pure corruption erupted from the lake, surging upward as if to pierce the heavens. The remaining water couldn't hold them back, and the tremors intensified. The grand array began to flicker with volatile Temporal Energies, and the valley shuddered as desert sand began to manifest out of thin air.

That was the moment six of the outer Array Flags simply vanished.

Three of the corruption pillars immediately collapsed, replaced by massive bursts of groundwater. The lake refilled instantly, reigniting the elemental conflict with renewed fury. The remaining four outer flags couldn't handle the sudden pressure and shattered simultaneously, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the island’s main array.

The Hastor Society scrambled to activate backup containment measures. However, this wasn't an accident—it was sabotage. Zac caught a faint shimmer near the altar, and every Temporal Crystal vanished the moment Zorm’s focus wavered. In their place appeared Miasma Crystals covered in strange, unrecognizable runes.

“NO—!” Zorm’s scream was drowned out by a colossal explosion that slammed Zac into the ground.

Zac anchored himself with four chains driven into the earth, while another two kept Idiche from being blown out of the mountains by the shockwave of unstable energy. The resulting devastation was far greater than anything before it. When the winds finally died down and the dust settled, the scene was unrecognizable.

The lake had vanished entirely—both the rainwater and the liquid Dead Dao were gone. It looked as though a titan had struck the mountain a second time, turning the valley into a chasm that plunged miles deep. The island remained as the epicenter, its edges clinging to the sides of the new rift. Zac was impressed; Esmeralda certainly knew how to cause a scene. She often called him a magnet for trouble, but she was clearly just as bad.

The invaders were in no better shape. The massive discharge of corruption had exploded right in their faces. Some were missing entirely, while others lay broken and still on the jagged rocks. Most of the survivors had begun to mutate, their flesh twisting into the same horrific monstrosities Zac had seen in the alternate Transformation Docks.

It was time for the cleanup. Zac lunged forward at top speed, dodging the corrosive vents of mist rising from the mountain’s new wounds. He heard Esmeralda’s faint laughter echoing through the valley as two blurs raced toward the horizon. Not only had she wrecked the ritual, but she had also successfully baited the hidden Monarch away. The opening was too perfect to ignore, and Zac pivoted his plan instantly.

“Move!” Zac commanded, charging toward the largest remaining fragment of the island.

Less than a dozen miles lay between Zac and his prey, with no arrays left to stop him. He landed in a swirl of Abyssal Death, releasing thick layers of killing intent. With another burst of speed, he tore past two invaders who were struggling to stand, his arm a blur as he unleashed two arcs of darkness. Still dazed by the explosion and blinded by the sensory-depriving domain of [Abyssal Drive], they had no chance to defend themselves.

By the time the invaders fell in heaps of mutated flesh, Zac was already gone. His sights were set on Zorm and his five lieutenants. They were the elite, but they had also taken the brunt of the backlash. Only two still looked human, and Zorm’s aura was a chaotic mess.

Zac was impressed that Zorm was even standing after that disaster. Monarchs were like resilient pests, refusing to die easily. But even they had their breaking point.

“Incoming!” Zorm bellowed, throwing a massive punch.

The strike carried enough force to level a mountain, but it couldn't stop the absolute darkness that suddenly blanketed the land. The fog of [Fields of Despair] clouded the senses, transforming the ruins into a realm of death. [Deathmark] began its lethal work, and the first wave of wraiths started crawling out of the shadows.

Hovering above the carnage was a bleak eye formed from pure desolation, surrounded by orbiting spectral figures. The sound of rattling chains sang a funeral dirge for those about to enter the afterlife. Zac had merged with the gloom, clad in the [Arbiter of the Abyss]’s cloak of judgment as he closed in.

“Form up!” the battered Monarch ordered, smashing an axe-wielding wraith, only to realize he was standing alone in the dark.

Zac had done this by design. [Eye of Desolation] consisted of two layers, and he had shifted the subordinates to the other one. His ultimate skill and [Deathmark] weren't enough to kill this squad of Late and Peak Hegemons on their own. However, the restrictive environment was enough to keep them distracted while Zac focused on the primary target.

Usually, Zac would clear out the smaller threats first, but the second Monarch would eventually realize the trick and return. Zorm had to die before that happened. This was to be Zac’s first true solo hunt of a Monarch.