Defiance of the Fall Chapter 1421: Lightning Trap

The tribulation clouds had been eager to unleash since the Duplicity Core kicked off the process. The storm hung so low it almost brushed the lofty spires encircling the Judgment Plateau. The Heavens wasted no time after the Core Ignition, unleashing the initial wave of retribution. Scars of crimson streaked across reality blanketing the entire mountain, marking it as a forbidden area under heavenly watch.

Lightning hurtled directly at Zac without pause. The Hollow Court held the power to fully quash tribulations of this magnitude, yet such action would violate the natural laws too severely. Zac barely noted the bolt's odd hue shift before it struck. Crossing the golden halo transformed it from crimson depths to utter blackness.

Black desolation flooded Zac’s frame. It sought to obliterate Dao, lifespan, vitality, and cultivation alike. Pain trailed its path, far milder than Zac anticipated. He recalled vividly the strikes from his clash with Kator. The opening one glowed furious red like the current blaze, while the fourth and last neared pure black.

Witnessing that shade on the debut bolt needlessly sparked Zac’s survival instincts. His Peak D-grade Core Formation didn't launch at the finale's intensity from before. Instead, this chastisement fell short of even the Late D-grade opener's menace.

Little stemmed from the bolt's inferior might. The true savior was the Cosmic Attainment gathered since his prior Four Desolates Tribulation. Zac had surpassed the entry barrier for a Law-attuned physique, rendering it no longer defenseless against the Four Desolates. His cells resisted erasure along the lightning's trail.

Moreover, the Empyrean Chalice's concealed gift emerged. Ethereal flames sheathed Zac’s innards wherever lightning intruded. Too feeble to halt the advance, it still diminished the Laws' impact by almost one-fourth.

Together, these let Zac stay sharp and aware as lightning surged into his Quantum Space, assaulting the scattered fragments. Absent the hopeful outlook, he'd have quelled the tribulation prior to it nearing his Cosmic Core. Not just his build synced with the Four Laws; Zac required observing his core's response to the penalty.

Zac marshaled his Dao and Energy to steer the tribulation. Targeting fragments individually was impossible, Law-infused or otherwise. The lightning eagerly complied with scant urging. Viewing the Quantum Space as a feast, it craved sampling every drifting bit. Such avarice sealed its fate.

The lightning shards lacked potency to harm his molten core droplets post-depletion by Void, Dao, and Energy brew. Fragments absorbing it sustained no lasting harm, extinguished by pre-ignition core energy surplus. That depletion wasn't forever. The cosmos swiftly refilled it.

The opening bolt shattered effortlessly, Zac believed. As he adjusted erratic core fragment paths, his danger sense alerted to the earth below. Instantly, dark red lightning cascaded into him from the Judgment Plateau. With cosmic core shards still siphoning Cosmic Sea power, Zac countered earnestly now.

His form turned into a jungle teeming with lethal hunters, nipping at the lightning per inch gained. Evolutionary Dao blasts and sporadic Void winds eradicated the last traces right at the Duplicity Core’s clasp.

“So that’s how it works,” Zac muttered, eyeing the glowing halo curiously.

The Tribulation Assisting Array avoided outright blocking the tribulation. Direct meddling invited harsher reprisal. It also robbed cultivators of lightning-tempering chances, undesirable for a premier academy.

Ordinary folk couldn't devour tribulation lightning like Zac, yet enduring one yielded gains—particularly the Four Desolates this plateau specialized in.

The seventeen towers served as conduits, pulling Heavenly Dao and about half the Four Desolates. Linked straight to Zac via the Judgment Plateau, the lightning got lured his way through this bond. But the plateau routed it circuitously across the mountain.

Some diverted lightning strayed, lessening Zac's burden. The bulk arrived seconds later. This lag let Zac handle the initial portion, effectively halving a dire bolt into digestible phases. Plus, his dual bodies quartered the load per strike.

Though lightning converged in the Quantum Space eventually, each body bore just a quarter of the planned punishment per round. That tamed lethal peril into mere ache. The plateau's counterpart functioned likewise, varying slightly in lag and split ratio.

A second bolt should've fallen by then. Yet the Judgment Plateau held another ace. Amid Zac tackling the first lightning segment, the halo flared brighter. Zac figured it absorbed tribulation power. Actually, Imperial Faith discharge veiled him from Heavens long enough for the halved bolt.

This full-spectrum aid exacted a toll. Post-first bolt, halo and runes dimmed without mountain recharge. Plenty lingered, but with four fiercer strikes ahead, Zac braced.

The second lightning pillar crashed down, markedly mightier in darker tones. A lesser share diverted now, making Zac confront 60% directly. Bodily havoc stayed tolerable, though Vigor mended ravaged paths.

Now, Zac resisted fiercely past the Duplicity Core. Void and Dao barriers clashed with Four Desolates in shared ruin, taming it bearably. Remainder dispersed across Quantum Space stars for further forging. A subsequent blast followed soon, met squarely.

Zac drew a calming breath, curbing early triumph. His scheme yielded results. Law pulses intensified subtly in the gleaming core blobs. Managing strikes promised core leaps upon completion.

The third bolt plunged, pressure mounting truly. Gaping wounds scarred his flesh, seared shut by lightning pre-healing. His body hosted savage warfare, foes relentlessly breaching defenses toward his defiant core. Heavy Mental Energy outlay alone diluted lightning enough for beneficial core infusion sans scars.

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Victory thrill ebbed as Zac gulped healing and recovery pills hastily. Plateau aid clearly waned midway. Two bolts left, halo now sheer; under a third of power endured.

The fourth bolt plunged pitch-black, its ruin overwhelming the safeguards. Halo burst mid-passage, runes crumbled after. A final glory surge cloaked Zac once more.

As spires cracked, two notions struck Zac. Firstly, demand a refund. His tribulations exceeded norms, true. Third bolt cessation would've sufficed preparations. Yet 6,700 Imperial Merit warranted assurance—that vast Imperial Destiny hoard took C-grade clans generations.

Secondly, reserve trump cards for the finale's ordeal.

Lightning engulfed Zac's realm seconds later. The fourth didn't traverse; it bloated his form to rupture then overflowed. Evolutionary Dao shields vanished under Desolate Truth, Energy streams pulverized by Cosmic Mandate. Existence judged void, accomplishments reclaimed in merciless equilibrium.

Thought shattered amid thunderous crackle. Zac yielded to gut, yanking desperately. Some lightning veered to Soul Aperture, assailing galaxies. Deeper pulls reached his Earthly Daos' sanctum.

Calamity deluged grounded fighters, erasing myriad lives instantly. Yet Heavens couldn't cow Zac's path's indomitable souls. Lifelong strife etched rebellion deep. Fresh warriors arose endlessly against thunder in life's deathly loop. Each cycle dimmed lightning slightly.

Soul Cores hemorrhaged vast Mental Energy fueling the fray, fissures etching their shells. Oblivion floods erupted from reserves as Zac expended three Splinters at once. It devoured all nearby—lightning and self alike.

Zac sacrificed deliberately to prolong resistance. Souls retreated, Heart shielded eyes. Flesh depleted, fervent zeal surged for salvation, rallying plateau faith against Laws.

Yet insufficient. Zac unleashed pent destruction. Tribulation flooded Quantum Space, shrouding in vengeful dark. Raging bolts scoured his cosmos, suns extinguishing serially. Zac clung desperately, cycling energy to preserve asteroid rings—a innate array mirroring his way, bolstering defiance.

As natural bulwarks flagged, subterranean lightning resurfaced, reigniting agony. Eyes charred, Soul Sense shredded. Blind to remaining flesh, Zac restrained rampaging bloodline. Void yearned to dominate the intruder, asserting supremacy. Reckless release promised swift backlash. Even ravaged, Zac sensed gathering apocalypse.

Eternal torment sputtered out, darkness lingered. Zac eased as lights flared across Quantum Space. Galactic dawn birthed hope, renewal. Components endured, energy sapped in survival duel. Reignited parts emerged reforged, Law-infused profoundly.

Thunderous growl heralded no respite. Creation surges restored Zac's remnants. Residual desolation warped, purged. Scorched layers peeled, unveiling pristine flesh. New eyes beheld Heavens mustering climax.

Fourfold failure enraged Heavens, rims contracting as core cyclone amassed finale.

Time scant, Zac maximized. Three vials materialized—renowned elixirs over 1,000 Imperial Merit each. Trinity flows revived fourth bolt's barren ruin. One soothed Soul Aperture fissures, restoring third of Mental Energy. Second infused Vigor to fresh tissue, third repaired conduits.

Such elixirs risked Hegemon overload from potency. Yet all vanished instantly. Cells hungered—fuel, might against looming doom. No leisure for more.

Dark's zenith birthed pure radiance. Clouds imploded spawning slender alabaster lance. Plain-seeming strike screamed peril, rousing Zac. Superior to priors like crude ore to masterwork blade. It descended assured, fate's sovereign.

Zac stood confronting, Void Vortices blooming serially. Defeat equaled doom; full assault from start. Bloodline, starved of feasts, unraveled at pristine Law within white bolt.

Concurrently, [Void Mountain]’s upside-down summit plunged in Soul Aperture, forging Void Sigil on right palm. White streak neared. Zac hurled Vortex interception—instant collapse.

Unfazed, successive Vortices launched. None endured, each eroding the horror. Nine collectively halved it. Zac gambled depositing Four Desolates in Void—liable regurgitation if overwhelmed. Still, prime delay tactic, halving via Judgment Plateau mimicry.

Zac ascended, smashing Void Sigil into bolt roaring defiance. Balloon-like deflation as Void Energy mutual-annihilated into palm. Pain and arm fissures ignored, Zac gripped till drained near-empty.

Under fifth lingered, refinement frayed. Flows jagged, it lunged bodily like kin. There, ultimate bastion awaited. Deep thump stirred peak dust as [Void Heart] ensnared. Five pulses later, lone strand faltered.

“Go ahead, you bastard. Test my core,” Zac rasped, hurling remnant into Quantum Space.

Lightning rebelled sentiently, denying flawless win. It halted inside, self-dissipating. Sole cosmic grudge wisped, tagging Zac for later.

Zac collapsed onto platform, vigor evaporated. Four Desolates' pain-void couldn't dim triumph. Tribulation outstripped pasts, preparations matched. Skies cleared, Quantum Core galaxy pristine.

Grueling trial conquered; rewards beckoned.