Defiance of the Fall Chapter 1394: Overturning Destiny

Zac had only just finished purging the corruption from his Soul Aperture when the echoes of madness threatened to return, spurred by Guild Master Marai’s final words. Her parting message had stirred a chaotic storm within him, scattering his focus and giving rise to a tangle of both delusional and logical theories. In his current state of mental exhaustion, he found it impossible to distinguish between the two.

A familiar weight suddenly clamped down on his internal turmoil. Zac looked up, confused, wondering if the overlapping timelines had finally provoked the wrath of the Heavens. He realized quickly that he wasn't the focal point of its anger this time, though the divine pressure was clearly centered on Sevona’s island. For the moment, the presence remained a mere whisper, appearing hesitant to manifest into something more substantial. Zac suspected he wouldn't have even sensed it if not for his many close encounters with the Heavens over the years.

“This is bad!” Esmeralda suddenly shrieked.

Zac snapped out of his daze, realizing the Heavens had distracted him from a subtle change happening right in front of him. Although Marai’s corpse looked the same, Zac suddenly perceived it as a dark, twisted patchwork of mismatched components. The pieces formed a puzzle far cruder than even the lowest-ranked Corpselord. He couldn't pinpoint the exact issue, and his Danger Sense offered no specific warnings, yet he felt an intuitive certainty that something was horribly wrong with the deceased Guild Master.

His companion didn't hesitate. She seized Zac by the collar and flickered away just as he snatched the pouch from Marai’s belt. They had barely covered a mile when a massive bloom of spatially charged corruption detonated from Marai’s remains, shredding everything in the vicinity. Zac’s Danger Sense finally reacted to the sudden shift, though it suggested no further action was needed.

Esmeralda’s agile movements easily avoided the disastrous streaks of energy lashing out in every direction, allowing Zac a moment to study the event. Watching the eruption didn't solve the mystery, but the sheer spectacle managed to quiet the unreliable voices in his head.

The density of the corruption nearly matched the pond that had almost claimed his life hours prior. It far exceeded anything he had felt when Marai was still breathing, and the deadly streaks held other anomalies. Zac even summoned his Warbringer Idol to ensure his senses weren't being deceived by illusions. His instincts told him that while there was a significant amount of Illusory Energy present, the majority of what he saw was physical reality.

“What is happening?” Zac whispered.

The situation was wrong in both scale and manifestation. Usually, as he had seen when defeating Zorm, the collapse of an Inner World primarily released its fallout into subspace. For a newly established Inner World like Marai’s, there should have only been a minor, dangerous ripple that could potentially be exploited for entry.

It would be a different story if Marai had detonated her Inner World on purpose to cause destruction, but that clearly wasn't the case here. Even if the corruption had forced such a reaction, the source of the energy remained a mystery. The beautiful but lethal explosion contained enough Spatial Energy to constitute a dozen Inner Worlds.

Furthermore, the chaos didn't align with the energy levels. Zac had witnessed similar discharges before, and he could tell this runaway blast had the potential to consume the island’s entire central region. Instead, it stalled within a half-mile radius and began to fade in a way Zac couldn't grasp. The massive accumulation of power seemed to simply vanish, as if it had been struck by the Dao-annihilating mark of [Void Mountain].

It appeared the crisis was resolving itself. Was this some form of post-mortem Heavenly Judgment, or were they being protected by the enigmatic powers of Sevona’s Hunting Lodge? It was undoubtedly linked to the disjointed sensation the energy streaks emitted. To Zac, it felt as though the expelled power originated from dozens of different individuals.

Before Zac could reach a conclusion, a glassy-eyed Idiche blurred past them. Though her cloak soon obscured her form, her path was unmistakable. She had dived straight into the heart of the receding spatial storm. Even if he had wanted to, Zac had no way to intercept her.

“Is she actually trying to loot Marai’s Inner World?” Zac asked, alarmed.

He would be lying if he said he hadn't considered the possibility, but every instinct warned him it would be a suicidal endeavor. Whatever lay beyond those corrupted Spatial Tears was not something that could be mitigated by activating [Void Zone].

“That crazy woman!” Esmeralda spat, her expression mirroring Zac’s disbelief.

“Can you pull her out?”

“Impossible.” Esmeralda shook her head violently. “That isn't a stable space anymore. The corruption, the island’s unique properties, and who knows what else have merged into something that defies my understanding.”

Zac hesitated before standing down. He had spent his time replenishing his Miasma and Void Energy by consuming his dwindling supply of Void Treasures, but he was still far from his peak. More importantly, his current state wasn't the issue; the danger ahead was simply too unpredictable. Marai’s passing had sparked something so volatile it had even given Esmeralda pause.

“We just have to hope Idiche knows what she’s doing,” Zac sighed, returning to his task of drawing energy from a Miasma Crystal. His thoughts shifted. “What the Guild Master said at the end... how could she have known? Do you think all the invaders understand the situation?”

“Perhaps some do, to a degree,” Esmeralda nodded gravely. “I suspect the corruption allows them to bypass or even move beyond the constraints of this dream.”

“Overturning Destiny... is such a thing actually possible?” Zac murmured.

Since his encounter with Janos, it had become increasingly evident that the goals of the Limitless Empire were far grander than they had initially suspected. They had first assumed the Empire created this complex trial to cleanse the lingering sin of creating the System, allowing hidden remnants of the Empire to slowly resurface and reclaim their power.

Now, it seemed they had succeeded in placing a portion of their people into a time capsule powerful enough to remain hidden from the Heavens themselves. If the plan worked, the Omnipresence Chamber would open, and living people would emerge from the dream. Zac could only imagine the chaos that would ripple through the Multiverse.

“If anyone has the power to do it, it’s the Limitless Empire. But I doubt many will get the chance,” Esmeralda remarked. “Consider that corrupt mayor we saw at the start. Even if he survived the fall of Black Zenith, he would have perished long before the Imperial Road was finished. Will that Grand Dream and his allies pay the price for trillions of lost lives? Even the Emperor couldn't afford that karmic debt.”

Zac nodded. “Only those who were alive when the grand array was triggered have a shot. Likely only those within the courts or specific safe zones. All the other souls are just the fuel needed to open the way.”

“That raises the question: when exactly was the array turned on? When the Courts opened? When the System first woke up? Or during the bloody chaos that followed?” Esmeralda pondered before her eyes brightened. “That lunatic actually made it back. That ability of hers is truly something.”

Zac felt a mix of shock and relief as Idiche appeared, battered by new spatial wounds but alive. She stumbled toward them before collapsing, her trance-like state shifting into a deep sleep. Zac detected an ancient aura radiating from her; her unique bloodline was strengthening, seemingly absorbing some of the island’s peculiar illusory essence.

A sudden flare on the horizon drew Zac’s eyes upward, just in time to witness the incomplete magic circle shatter entirely.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Zac laughed, a theory forming.

The timing of the sigil’s destruction made sense if Marai had been the one sabotaging it. She likely lacked the strength to fight an entire group, so she chose to steal a vital ritual component instead—something similar to the dagger. It had cost her life, but fate had delivered the item to Idiche. By consuming it, the magic circle’s foundation had been removed, causing it to fail.

It was a bold assumption, but Zac’s intuition suggested he was close to the truth. However, solving the riddle didn't cheer him up. He wished Marai had survived, and not just for the secrets she held. Her death meant they had lost one of their most powerful allies before even reaching the lodge.

“Should we move o—” Zac’s words died in his throat as a terrifying sense of perception locked onto their position. To his horror, Zac recognized it. It was the presence he had briefly felt when visiting the other side—not the guardian in the fortress, but the even greater entity located at the center of the desert island.

“Hurry, seal that thing!” Esmeralda hissed.

She was referring to the remnants of the spatial blast. Instead of fading, the last streaks of energy were stabilizing. The blend of corruption and space was feeding on the island’s illusory energy, creating a dangerous cocktail. Zac forced his exhausted body into motion, manifesting his armor for defense while gathering his meager Void Energy into a cryptic rune on his palm.

Zac’s fist struck the mass of unstable energy like a hammer. The combination of raw physical power and Dao-annihilating force shattered the fragile equilibrium. Zac grunted as a whip of corrupted space carved a deep furrow into his [Ossuary Bulwark] and sent him flying. A small, sticky hand caught him mid-air, absorbing his momentum and setting him down.

“Just in time,” Esmeralda noted as the anomaly vanished.

The overwhelming perception lost its lock on the area, leaving a lingering scent of malice. Zac thought he might have also sensed a hint of fear from the being on the other side. Was it the Void? Zac doubted his bloodline could actually stop something capable of projecting such pressure across dimensions, but he was happy to let it remain wary.

As the tension eased, Zac noticed the Heavens had already looked away. It seemed the disturbance had indeed been caused by Marai’s strange transformation. He stared at the crater where she had been, his mind racing with questions.

“What exactly was that?” Zac asked.

“That’s a problem for later. The clash between sand and rain hides most of what happens in the core, but someone might have noticed the flare. We need a new place to hide,” Esmeralda said.

Esmeralda didn't mention the dagger or continuing toward the lodge, and Zac didn't suggest it either. They hadn't even rested for an hour before finding Marai, and Zac had been forced to use more of his Void Energy. He picked up the sleeping Idiche while Esmeralda wiped away any signs of their presence.

Rather than pushing into the center, Esmeralda moved along the perimeter of the mountains surrounding the inner region. This path took them toward one of the active magic circles, meaning the sand and corruption grew thicker with every passing minute. Even from the safety of Esmeralda’s pouch, Zac could feel the conditions worsening. Still, they had no other choice.

The Monarch pursuing them would come from the path behind, and the mountains themselves felt lethal. Without the Vigor required to use the dagger, going further inland was too risky. The natural energies were becoming more violent, and the influx of foreign sand was warping the local Natural Formation. Their only hope for safety lay in the narrow strip between the peaks and the core.

After twenty minutes, Esmeralda turned away from the mountain range. She stopped before a large boulder that wasn't yet buried by the dunes. Zac watched as she etched complex patterns onto the stone's surface before stepping directly into the solid rock without using the dagger.

“Phew. You can come out now,” Esmeralda breathed.

Zac emerged, his head spinning at the sight. They were in a cavern, but the walls shifted and rearranged themselves every time he blinked. “Where are we?”

“Inside a formation eye. The chaos destabilized it, creating a small illusory pocket. I opened a path and brought us inside,” Esmeralda explained with a self-satisfied look. “Don’t worry, I fixed the entrance. That Monarch won't find us even if he walks right over this spot—assuming he’s still even searching.”

Zac nodded. “How long do we have?”

“Twelve hours at most. We might have to leave earlier if things get worse,” she replied.

“No way to see outside?” Zac checked.

“I had to seal it completely, otherwise the illusions and corruption would flood the space.”

“Twelve hours,” Zac pondered, nodding slowly. “That’s enough time for me to get back into fighting shape.”

He wasn't thrilled about waiting while their rivals moved toward the lodge, but they had no alternative. Even if they braved the storm now, they would be too weak to fight. Letting the enemy proceed might even be beneficial.

The invaders were turning the core into a wasteland to strip away the lodge’s hidden illusions. Zac suspected the island would fight back. They could wait for both sides to exhaust themselves before making their move.

“I’ve been thinking about what happened. Near the end, Marai felt just like those [Peregrine Gondolas], only more pronounced,” Zac said while eating. “You saw into her Inner World, right? Was it the same in there?”

“Yes, but it didn't look like she did it on purpose. At least, not entirely,” Esmeralda said, looking at Idiche.

“The corruption?” Zac asked, tossing a pebble at Idiche. “Stop pretending to be asleep. We need your thoughts.”

“I was just trying to stabilize my bloodline. It seems I absorbed something while I was out,” Idiche admitted, sitting up with a slight blush. She had been awake for several minutes, though her aura was still fluctuating.

“The corruption is part of it, and the Guild Leader definitely brought it into her world on purpose. I think she did it to spy on the enemy,” the toad explained, catching Idiche’s attention. “She had a very sophisticated method and a powerful item to go with it.”

“What?” Idiche looked confused, then thoughtful. “Any Inner Disciple would have some secrets, and Marai led the Explorer’s Guild without any major backing. She must have found things in the archipelago over the years. I don't know which item you mean, though.”

“I didn't get a clear look before it vanished through a spatial rift,” Esmeralda lamented. “It let her fold space and illusions to create a sort of secondary Inner World. She used that illusory layer to soak up the corruption while her real world stayed hidden beneath it.”

“And it leaked out when she got hurt?” Zac guessed.

“Essentially, but the issue was more severe,” Esmeralda replied. “She was doomed regardless. Her solution couldn't contain the energy of the Lost Plane forever. It had already corrupted the treasure holding the balance, and her actual Inner World was starting to mutate.”

“Maybe she knew the risks and did it anyway. To gather intel or strike at the right time,” Idiche sighed. “Royce... I had no idea.”

“It still doesn't explain everything. None of the other invaders turned into a mess of different timelines when they died, and I haven't seen that in corrupted natives either,” Zac said, steering the conversation back. “Did you see anything else in her Inner World?”

“Nothing,” Idiche said, then paused. “Well—maybe. I felt something like a vision I had right before I found the toad. I just can't quite recall it.”

“Any detail helps,” Zac encouraged, ignoring Esmeralda’s annoyed look.

“Whatever it was, just its presence nearly shattered my soul, and my memories of it are fuzzy. Thinking about it hurts,” Idiche shivered. “I think... it was an egg? And whatever was inside was being poisoned by the energy on this island.”

“An entity in an egg?” Zac mused, then shook his head. “There’s no use guessing with so many missing pieces. We’ll find out at the lodge. I need to recover.”

Esmeralda nodded. “Get ready. I have a feeling the world outside will look very different when we leave.”