Defiance of the Fall Chapter 1396: River Crossing

Zac tapped into a hidden reservoir of sudden insight. While it wasn't quite enough to transform his theory into a functional cultivation technique, the resonance from Ultom strongly implied his hypothesis was correct. Reinvigorated by the prospect of growth and wielding his weapon of mass destruction, Zac encountered minimal friction as he carved a bloody path forward, guided by the ancient dagger’s pull.

Every kill provided a dual benefit. It permitted thin strands of ancient Killing Intent to merge with his soul while simultaneously feeding the developing Warbringer Idol. One could even argue it was a triple blessing, considering the profound battlefield awareness gained from absorbing the refined intent, even if slaughtering Early Hegemons who lacked Daos or Skills offered few technical revelations.

The satisfaction of discovering such a perfect hunting ground didn't last. Zac managed only a few dozen more kills before the consequences of his rampage caught up to him. A malevolent presence from the far side had bled into this hidden realm, growing more potent with every soldier he cut down. Zac halted his slaughter immediately, but the entity refused to dissipate.

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

The spatial field enveloping them intensified. It didn't halt the spectral warriors' assaults, but it made it significantly harder for their senses to pin down the group's location. The realm itself seemed to assist, pushing back against the foreign presence. Yet, it wasn't enough. Zac’s interference had sufficiently rattled the Imperial War Machine, allowing the frenzied monsters to begin a counter-offensive.

With every death, the entity gained a stronger foothold, and Zac’s internal alarm bells rang louder. It was only a matter of time before the presence overpowered the local interference. The slumbering Idiche offered no help; her protective cloak kept her safe from harm, and she seemed perfectly happy to be carried along as dead weight.

Zac maintained a desperate pace, careful to suppress his aura to avoid revealing their exact coordinates. Escaping the fluctuating battlefield was like a fever dream where Zac felt he was sprinting without moving. It took five grueling minutes before they saw any evidence of progress.

“I can feel the exit!” Esmeralda shouted, causing Idiche to snap awake instantly.

With heavy eyelids, the Vice Guild Leader manifested a wisp of light that darted forward, weaving a complex path through the warring ranks and bloodthirsty beasts. The toad followed, pulling Zac and Idiche along the same jagged route. The wisp flared brightly just as Zac detected a spatial ripple ahead, and Esmeralda plunged into the light without a second thought.

A flash of azure blinded Zac before they were spat back into the physical world. He stood on the opposite bank of the shallow river, water soaking his legs to the knees. The entity’s senses failed to bridge the gap between realms, but Zac had a grim suspicion it would be lying in wait 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, his body settling like a machine powering down. The ancient intent grew quiet as well, and the heightened clarity of the battlefield faded. Zac felt a pang of regret. Despite trying to limit his kills, he had still ended up slaying nearly a hundred soldiers during their flight. That was sufficient to refine two percent of the lingering intent, yet it was only a tiny fraction of what the battlefield truly offered.

The enlightenment from Ultom had explained why these illusions of Early Hegemons were more valuable than killing Peak Beast Kings. These soldiers were actual otherworlders. Their faction had utilized grand magic circles to project slivers of their souls across different timelines, and every soul was tainted by that great entity.

Zac wondered if the mark was a requirement for the journey or a tool for their conquest. Regardless, the blessing gave those soul fragments the substance needed to manifest within the illusory world. They were clones of a supreme being, and it was the echo of that entity’s power that stimulated the ancient intent.

The spiritual energy entering his body was likely a defense mechanism designed to expose intruders. It seemed more certain than ever that they would have to face the invaders personally, unless Astora Theomore had reached the island first. He doubted any ordinary disciple could navigate these eight rivers without falling into the hidden trap.

Fortunately for the invaders, Zac’s body acted as a ravenous whirlpool that few energies could survive. Had the ancient Killing Intent not claimed the energy first, his [Void Heart] would have surely consumed it. Instead of a threat, the taint became fuel for his Cultivation, even if using it that way drew unwanted eyes.

That was only the first reward of 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 ready to burst forth. This developing Idol appeared to represent both Life and Death simultaneously. It deviated from his plan of one idol per Dao, but it mirrored the cyclic nature of existence he had grasped as a mortal on the Peregrine Ocean.

The budding idol felt less substantial now that they were back in reality. Nevertheless, Zac knew he was touching upon a profound truth. If he failed to manifest it during the remaining crossings, he would eventually find the feeling again. The only way he could fail now was if he tried to force it into a different shape, such as a Chaos Idol.

But he saw no reason to do so. [Warbringer Dharma] was merely a secondary technique to support his [Void Emperor Apotheosis]. He wasn't a Heart Cultivator and had no desire to dedicate excessive time to his Dantian's emotional core. His time on the Peregrine Ocean had already fixed his weaknesses, and a second Warbringer Idol would satisfy his needs for the foreseeable future.

After ensuring the illusion seed was secure, Zac turned to the others. “Are you both alright?”

“I’ve felt better,” Esmeralda grumbled as the last of the corruption bled from her form. “At least the following crossings might be easier. The realm actually helped us bypass a hidden threat, though I wish it hadn't been so violent about it.”

Idiche didn't answer, but her steady breathing was enough. She wasn't just fine; she seemed to have benefited as much as Zac. While the realm had purged more corruption from her than the others, it had also infused her with vast amounts of illusory Qi. Her presence felt more refined, carrying a heavier weight of mystery and ancient power.

<She is changing,> Esmeralda sent a solemn telepathic warning.

Zac kept his expression neutral, though he had observed the same phenomenon. Idiche’s shift had started the moment they reached the island. They had slowly pieced together information about her "sleepwalking" state, and it was obvious her sleeping persona was seizing more control over her physical form.

According to Idiche, it began as simple prophetic dreams. When she had first captured Esmeralda, it was the first instance of the other persona taking over. Since then, she had repeatedly drifted off without warning to steer the group toward a specific goal. These changes had only accelerated after she consumed Marai’s treasure.

Zac wasn't sure who he was talking to anymore. Standing next to Idiche as she stared at the moon with a vacant expression felt like being near an unfathomable Elder. The hidden persona was leaking into her waking state. He wondered how long it would be before the original Idiche vanished entirely, replaced by this unknown entity.

The hidden persona was clearly far more powerful, but her motivations were a mystery. She had been helpful so far, but perhaps only because she needed them to reach the lodge. Bringing her inside could be a disaster. Zac considered attacking her now but dismissed the thought. He didn't believe he could pull off the mission without her expertise.

“We need to move. Any delay just makes things worse,” Zac said quietly.

Esmeralda and Idiche had cleansed most of their corruption, but the air past the first river was noticeably thicker with taint. Even Zac could feel the foul Qi of the Lost Plane trying to invade his body. Furthermore, the moon was acting strangely. Its light had intensified, and the azure glow was beginning to grate on his mind—a subtle form of mental corruption.

Idiche slowly looked away from the moon, her expression returning to normal. “Did I fall asleep again?”

“You woke up just before we got out,” Zac replied, then asked after a pause, “Did you see anything else?”

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

Zac nodded, unsurprised that the moon was a bad omen. “Anything else?”

“I saw it. Sevona’s Divine Core from my vision. It was in the center of a wooden hall, casting a massive shadow while four silhouettes surrounded it,” Idiche added, her eyes turning distant once more.

“Good. Let’s move,” Zac said. Knowing the Divine Core was still there was the best news he could hear. It gave their mission a concrete objective. He assumed the four silhouettes were the parties fighting for it, and his group would likely be the fifth. “We have seven more rivers. I’ll wait to offer my blood to the dagger.”

They resumed their journey. The desert between the rivers lacked hidden traps or formations. The only real danger was the aggressive corruption that had displaced all other Qi. It hungrily sought out anything to infect. Thanks to Esmeralda’s speed, they only had to endure the environment for five minutes before entering the next river and the next battlefield.

The combat here was more intense, and the average Cultivation of the warriors was higher. The spatial distortion was also more severe, constantly rotating their sense of direction. As predicted, the entity’s perception already blanketed the area, hunting for intruders. There was even a significant amount of corruption in the air, creating a lethal cycle as it invaded their bodies. Fortunately, the ambient illusory Qi was also stronger, providing enough cover that the entity failed to notice them immediately. But it wouldn't last.

Zac tried to use his chains to restrain rather than kill, hoping to avoid notice. This plan failed almost instantly. While his heart seed had regained its power, the chains remained semi-corporeal. Meanwhile, the soldiers were more intelligent. They quickly exploited the chains' weaknesses, forcing Zac back into close-quarters combat.

The pressure was manageable, but Zac noticed the attacks now contained traces of Dao. In the previous realm, they had relied on raw strength. He wondered if the soldiers would become indistinguishable from real warriors by the final river.

Zac pushed the thought aside. He constantly changed his path while fighting through the army, following the dagger’s guidance. Even that was becoming difficult, as some external force was jamming the signal.

Giving the dagger to Esmeralda while he fought didn't work. Though she could navigate the illusions better, her bond with the dagger was too weak. She kept losing the trail and was more susceptible to the whispers of the corruption, which clouded her judgment. Idiche was even worse off. They were forced to return to their original roles.

The situation worsened quickly. More soldiers abandoned the beasts to focus on them. Zac had no choice but to start killing when the pressure became too great. While he appreciated the Cultivation progress, it didn't outweigh the growing sense of impending doom.

It took ten minutes to cross, and the moon was shining like a brilliant gem when they emerged. Its light was focused directly below, seemingly pulling the lodge into existence. Only the tips of several wooden towers were visible so far, painted in various colors and blending rustic beauty with ancient power.

Just the glimpse of the spires told them this wasn't a simple lodge. Based on the scale, it was more of a forest fortress. They pushed on without stopping. The third, fourth, and fifth rivers were cleared without disaster. However, Zac paused as they reached the sixth.

Zac was still in good shape. Fighting with his Warbringer Idols used very little energy, and the rewards were increasing. He felt the seed was just one push away from sprouting into something real. The question was whether he would survive that final push.

Each crossing took longer and met more resistance. They had barely escaped the fifth river before the entity’s perception locked onto them. If they used the same strategy for the next one, they wouldn't make it.

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

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

The moon was beating down on them as fiercely as a desert sun. Zac could feel his Soul Aperture straining, and the corruption in this zone was suffocating. The sands began to shift, and a sandman rose from the dunes. 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 said.

Zac hesitated but handed her the dagger. She had promised she could get them across the entire river in one go. If she failed, she would use another treasure from her master. Having seen the Eighth Elder’s power before, Zac agreed, though he had hoped to save that trump card for the final river.

Idiche sliced her palm, and the dagger drank greedily. It pulsed with power, and a hidden bridge stretched across the water. They only reached the halfway point before Idiche groaned and the bridge vanished. Zac caught the dagger as they fell into the river. He had expected this but hoped entering mid-stream would put them closer to the exit.

He was right, but the entry was different. They fell through turbulent clouds instead of appearing on the ground. Zac cursed when he realized his flight was suppressed, his heart sinking as hundreds of soldiers looked up at them simultaneously.

“Backup plan?” Idiche asked, her face red from effort and shame.

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

“Then we have no choice. Ten seconds, make them count,” Idiche sighed, pulling out a crystal bottle filled with starlight.

She touched the bottle to Zac’s hand before shattering it over the army below. Suddenly, Zac wasn't alone. A hundred duplicates of himself slammed into the battlefield like meteors. They were illusions, yet they felt more real than the corrupted soldiers.

Dozens of enemies were obliterated instantly, and the focus shifted away from the real Zac. His presence was masked by a cyclone of stars. The enemy ranks fell into chaos as the entity’s perception scrambled to investigate the army of Zacs that had appeared out of thin air.

Zac became a blur the moment he hit the ground, cleaving the nearest soldier. The starlight shroud held firm, hiding him even from the supreme entity. Idiche had explained the bottle was a one-time escape tool that created clones while hiding the user, but the clones had over half of Zac’s power, making it a devastating weapon.

There was no time to waste. Zac left a trail of light as he sprinted at full speed. He didn't bother dodging anymore. He became a reaper, funneling death into his seed during the charge. Now that they were committed, Zac had one goal. Idiche had given him ten seconds of absolute freedom, and he was going to use every moment. He would worry about the last two bridges later. For now, there were enemies to harvest.