Defiance of the Fall Chapter 1418: The Next Stage

Another disciple staggered from a sealed chamber in Planepressure Halls as the pair observed. Arrays shielding their private alcove halted a fierce gust pulsing with immense dimensional pressure. Their favored meeting point had become the body-tempering palace in the central square, offering complimentary isolated lounges for recovery. Booking a room required no use of the facilities whatsoever.

'As I said, there’s nothing. Not even rumors. Whatever the Primo’s involvement is here, they’ve kept it tightly under wraps,' Ogras remarked while turning toward the table. 'It might be waiting for us inside one of the graverealms, but I doubt it.'

Ten days had elapsed since they declared their arrival. Registration proceeded smoothly. Displaying their tokens at an administrative hall activated them and granted a welcome package based on the chosen department. From that point, their momentum ground to a halt.

Hollow Court proved far more divided than Mercurial Court in several key aspects. It was simpler to view it as two separate sects. Extreme compartmentalization defined it, with each department controlling its own realm linked to myriad subspaces via realmgates—many demanding fees or special permissions for access.

Tavza and Ogras had enrolled as Gravekeepers in the Interment Gate, Hollow Court's death-oriented division. Rumors placed the Nameless Blades' headquarters there, yet Ogras hadn't pinpointed its whereabouts. The graves themselves drew the most interest. Captives seized by the Nameless Blades or delivered by the Imperial Magistrate occupied each one.

These graves stripped every scrap from their prisoners—energy, providence—leaving mere husks teetering on death's edge. That harvested power fueled the creation of graverealms. Similar to memory lanterns but brimming with insanity and vicious intent, the Gravekeepers' duty was venturing inside to retrieve valuables.

Physical loot couldn't leave graverealms, yet something equally precious could: knowledge. Interred prisoners arrived at Hollow Court bearing vital secrets shielded by seals or binding vows. The graves' unique nature bypassed such barriers universally, albeit with grave dangers in extraction.

Gleaning the secrets often yielded some Longanimity, though far short of weaving a full thread of fate. Gravekeepers braved mortal peril anyway, for prime intel unlocked forbidden zones.

This perk belonged solely to Gravekeepers. Interment Gate initiates received a [Nine-Yin Realm Accentuator] upon signup. Fed sufficient Miasma from Hollow Court, it linked to a headstone and summoned a realmgate. Outsiders or other departments faced steep rental fees that even gave Zac pause.

Ascension Gate mirrored this setup. Beyond its gate lay a vast seed repository. Selecting the perfect seed and soil birthed novel beings. Successful growth granted Longanimity. Rare breeds opened exclusive subrealms. Elite results forged paths to secret domains, ushering the creator within.

Lifegivers of Ascension Gate claimed one free seed monthly, aided by a [One-Yang Augmenter] to nurture the exotic seeds. Dangers lurked despite lower risks than Gravekeeping. Powered or housed within the First Garden, its primal vitality bore creation's scars. Lethal flora or erratic spirits could erupt unpredictably.

Zac hadn't sampled Hollow Court's entry-level quests. A grave might conceal the keys to the Primo’s treasure, but millions of headstones offered no clues. His Luck failed to guide him, detecting no treasures amid the graves and thus no fateful tug.

Frustration mounted relentlessly. Zac and Esmeralda had verified the [Second Singularity] and sketched an acquisition plan in under an hour. The Primo’s hoard eluded them stubbornly. Ten days scouring Interment Gate's burial grounds and Ascension Gate's plots teased endless prospects, none fitting their prize.

Exchange Halls' touted treasures showed no ties to the Primo’s death essence either. Ignorance of the artifact's name and form hampered the hunt. Still, Zac suspected it lay beyond standard channels. Ogras shared that hunch.

'Two prime possibilities exist. The treasure cores the graveyard or hides in maximum-security vaults. Absent the perfect grave, we'd await the memory domain's fall to raid the wreckage,' Ogras explained, eyebrow arched. 'Unless you’re itching to go boom?'

'Not right now,' Zac replied with a wry grin.

'That domain stays put then. It’s weathered Autarch assaults without flinching,' Ogras grumbled pointedly.

'How’s it going?' Zac inquired, familiar with Ogras’ grave-digging mentor.

'The guy’s a pro. Not as flashy strong as my outer form, but he’s imparting real knowledge,' Ogras admitted. 'Wish lessons skipped the grave-shoveling part.'

'Quit griping—you struck gold,' Zac chuckled. 'He’s your shot at perfecting the [Spiritlock Manual]. A Monarch crafted it, but left it unfinished.'

'Plus Rasata was a mad poet, stashing techniques in verses on oily noses and fangs,' Ogras spat in revulsion. 'Gotta keep schmoozing. Show him the text now, and he’d lop my head off.'

'Persist,' Zac urged. 'Margrave’s castle your second guess?'

'Among locked zones, it fits best. Or some off-memory restricted pocket. Reaching it’s the snag,' Ogras agreed. 'That girl and her cursed mouth.'

Zac’s token sparked minor buzz. As Tavza predicted, it bypassed Ascension Gate, Hollow Court's life branch. Instead, it branded him Fuxi Halls elite. A tiny, secretive outfit viewed as premier force.

Hollow Court members rarely strayed from their gates lifelong. Strength propelled them deeper into richer subrealms. Fewer than one percent shifted to Fuxi Halls—same odds for foreigners. Since opening, only four outsider sealbearers joined directly.

Benari Theomore counted among them. Searsense, Hollow Court’s Descartes Belial analog, was another. Fate’s clash ended pre-arrival, favoring intruders. Searsense’s tale of princely rescue in a graverealm rang false. Likely a brutal soul-clash inside a sinner’s psyche.

Benari emerged mentally shattered. Ogras theorized Searsense trapped his awareness in a crumbling graverealm. The prince vanished since, probably healing spiritual wounds. Searsense claimed his Flameseeking Trial slot.

This story originates from Royal Road. Make sure to support the author by reading it on the original site.

Such drama barely fazed Zac, though tardiness cost extra Longanimity chances. Hollow Chasm exploits netted 48,000 on entry—a solid base. Yet Longanimity sources dwindled sharply.

Fuxi Halls masons snagged prime discounts on gate ventures. Still, not viable for steady gains sans constant fortune. His halls' perks? Zilch for an outsider like Zac.

Tavza nailed her second hunch too. Fuxi Halls' realmgate sat beyond the public square's memory bounds. Worse, the Margrave’s castle nestled inside. Zac eyed leveraging Joyful Gardens merits for an audience if leads dried up. Now, entry seemed impossible.

Grievances simmered in Zac since landing, but whom to vent to? Storming clerks for realmgate relocation? Absurd. His fix: shortcuts. Suspected facilities near or in Fuxi Halls might yield detours via Longanimity spend.

Issue: if realmgates floated memory-less, what of Fuxi Halls? Teleport into void?

'We’ll crack it,' Zac exhaled. 'Tavza’s doings?'

'Mirroring me. Roaming graveyards, probing crypts. No graverealm dives yet, but chatting heroic spirits nonstop. They adore her—kindred undead vibe,' Ogras shared.

'Useful intel?'

Ogras shrugged. 'Beats me. She probes histories, customs—off-topic stuff. If she’s onto something, it’s locked tight.'

'Watch her anyway,' Zac cautioned. 'Ally and rival now.'

'Got it. Your progress?'

'No Primo leads. Deeper probe later,' Zac stated.

'Still banking on it there?' Ogras queried, astonished.

Post three fruitless Interment Gate days, Zac toured Ascension farmlands on a whim.

'Slim odds, but possible. Hollow Court balances precariously. Death might leash the First Garden to Left Imperial Expanse via Life suppression,' Zac pondered. 'No Death traces. Void hints, like graveyards. Source eludes me.'

'Fuxi Halls bleed?' Ogras suggested. 'Anyway, ever wonder if Limitless Empire birthed Ninth Hell and Primo outright?'

'Plausible. Crafting lesser planes fits their hoard. But true imperial kin? Why’d Primo dodge their doom unscathed? He’d reek more of Imperial Fate than other Realmlords,' Zac countered.

They dissected findings further. Verdict: coin couldn’t buy success. Timing off, or fate-threads demanded unraveling. No timeline incursions hinted here—something subtler brewed.

'So… committing?' Ogras pressed.

'Ten clue-free days. No sense delaying. Breakthrough might unlock paths,' Zac decided. 'Out at least a month.'

'Time aplenty. Halos stalled weeks. Finals ignite toughest.'

Post two months' frenzy, halo pace slackened obviously. Early bursts came from Janos-like chosen and Flamebearers brute-forcing fates, boosting Outer Courts.

Next wave: crossing elites, now trial veterans. Seconds should’ve fate-woven into inner zones. Lingerers shunned courts, harvesting shallows.

Late surges possible, but completions slowed. Last halos demanded court crises or lantern-altered histories.

'Monitor while gone? Check early trial-takers. Suspect a mason’s outsider like us,' Zac requested. 'Plus, dig on Searsense. Potential main quest hook.'

'Eyes wide open. You dodge last fiasco—no ice left,' Ogras warned, shaking head. 'Peak Hegemon under century. First Defier reborn?'

'Hope not,' Zac grinned, messaging his dupe. 'Staying long-term.'

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Zac strolled Citadel’s bustling market when news hit. Disciples rubbed elbows with phantom vendors vying for crowds. Patrons blended real and spectral.

Mercurial Court’s haze normalized illusions. Illusory buys fed straight to [Mercurial Sack]. Phantoms supplied Zac’s Core materials unbound by local limits. Real disciples peddled main-peak specialties.

No targets today. Post-exhausting shuttles, Zac sealbearer-style luck-hunted amid dozens. Priceless gems sometimes dumped cheap. Today’s take: baubles. Time to bounce. One stop left. He zipped across square.

'You again?' the lazy merchant peeked from her tome.

'Still gnawing that relic?' Zac smiled, sliding a sealed case onto counter.

'Relic? Two decades barely scratches it. Toughness proves prime pick,' Limanta huffed.

Esmeralda tittered from Kanba Shrine.

Zac relished her cheer. Silent strain showed: [Timescape Loop] suppression ramped amid Continuum densities. She shrank outings, nearing Zac’s cultivation with bloodline unlocks.

'Complete?' Limanta eyed the box.

'Fella lacked fate,' Zac smirked.

'Watch it—you sound native.'

'Worse fates exist,' Zac noted, gesturing boxward.

Trevokles Imsun’s head, last bounty duo, rested severed inside.

'Sufficient,' Limanta approved post-peek. 'Want the goods?'

'Why else scour everywhere?' Zac quipped.

Truth: Luck’s freakery. Disciple Token’s first fated meet nabbed an Imperial Magistrate mark. Peak illusions stuffed [Mercurial Sack] monthly, spurring bounty chase.

Trevokles hinged on Mercurial fortune. Citadel zone locked, Esmeralda tracked. Clash ended weeks back; markets waited.

'Your funeral. Useless for Death cultivators—might as well swig toxin,' Limanta shrugged, producing a tiny case.

Energy-sealed, yet Zac’s Draugr blood screamed flee. Within: rune-veiled golden egg—C-grade Life treasure, monarchy puzzle’s capstone. Like gear forging his later Core Nucleu