Chapter 837: Ensolus

Chapter 837: Ensolus

Zac knew he had gotten continuously stronger in the Orom World, but that sense had always been skewed and suppressed because of the prison brand. But the gain in attributes was absolutely shocking, even surpassing all his breakthroughs during the Twilight Ascent. Then again, Zac knew he shouldn’t be surprised considering gains on the path of cultivation were exponential.

The awards from each level during Late E-grade were worth three times those in the early E-grade, for example.

And just like last time, each mote of Chaos he managed to drag into his body had opened a node without him even noticing, saving him a lot of time dealing with the final hurdles on his path to peak E-grade. As long as he pushed himself, Zac believed he would be able to reach peak E-grade within a year. Of course, that didn’t mean he was ready to make his D-grade push just yet.

But he was getting there.

Thanks to all the experts in the Orom World, his foundations and understanding of Cultivation had been shored up immensely. It wasn’t only a matter of the techniques he had learned with the help of Pavina and Heda, but it was a matter of vantage. Over the past years, he had discussed cultivation with dozens of talented Hegemons and Monarchs, some of which were more powerful than even the top powerhouses of the whole Zecia sector.

Their worldview had helped broaden Zac’s own, and he better understood what was required to keep going where others encountered roadblocks.

Having confirmed everything was in order, Zac completed another customary sweep of his body. Unfortunately, the results were the same. Even now, he had no earthly idea just how Iz Tayn managed to find him. He had gone over the course of events and her words innumerable times over the past month, and there was no doubt in his mind – she had come for him.

But why?

Was it because he called her a lunatic before escaping? Was it such a big deal after she tried to kill him? And if it really was the cause, then why didn’t she emit a speck of killing intent when she appeared in front of him? Zac had only realized that after making his escape, but she hadn’t actually tried to attack him. He had just been too preoccupied with the stress of the situation and her guardian’s aura to notice.

Had she perhaps spotted how he changed race during the Battle of Fates? It wasn’t impossible. He hadn’t noticed anyone looking at him when he converted into his Draugr form, with everyone too occupied with their battles to notice a change in one of the corpses on the ground. Except for her. No one dared even approach Iz Tayn, giving her ample room to observe the situation from that sun of hers.

But would someone like her care about a Life-Death Edgewalker, even if knew what was going on? Zac eventually shook his head, no closer to figuring the reason behind her actions than before. Only that woman herself knew her motivations for tracking him down, probably coming all the way from the central regions of the Multiverse to this desolate edge of the System’s domain.

As for his body, it was getting better. Having absorbed four motes of Chaos had been a bit too greedy, and taking on eight of them next time was out of the question. His pathways were mostly mended by now, but they were weakened by the lingering effects of the motes. The same was true for his Nodes, but they had reached a point they would withstand a battle or two without breaking by now.

He figured that another month or two would suffice when using his Healing Arrays, at which point he could visit Yrial again. Having lived in the Orom World for years might have lessened the benefits his ghost master could provide, but there were still some blanks that the Lord of Cycles might be able to fill in.

Most importantly, Yrial might be an Edgewalker himself, which would mean he could hold the key to forming a Cultivator’s Core containing two opposing forces. In contrast to Pavina and Heda, he also knew his real situation with his two races, which might allow him to provide more incisive advice. Of course, the two Monarchs who had taught him back in the Orom World might have known his situation as well, but neither he nor they ever broached the subject.

The hours passed, and Zac finally felt himself gain a sense of balance. He better understood why all those Hegemons and Monarchs in the Orom World took regular breaks from cultivation, their rest sometimes lasting years. You couldn’t just keep rushing headlong, you were bound to hit a wall sooner or later.

He still was impatient to gain power and rescue Kenzie, let alone dealing with the more immediate issues such as saving Ogras and helping Alea, but haste makes waste. He needed to digest all he had been through before taking the next step. Still, he was getting a bit antsy sitting around in his courtyard, but he sensed Triv was actually already hovering outside, waiting for the deadline.

“Come in,” Zac said, and the butler appeared in the courtyard a moment later.

“My apologies for rearranging things without young Master’s permission,” Triv said as they appeared in the courtyard.

“I like it,” Zac said. “I can feel there is a budding spirituality connecting my whole forest. It must have been a lot of work setting it up.”

“It’s not just young master’s compound. With the assistance of your followers, the whole archipelago has been transformed into something worthy of being the capital of the Atwood Empire,” The ghost said. “In fact, the population of Port Atwood has already surpassed ten million.”

“That many?” Zac exclaimed. “Won’t it affect the energy density?”

“Not at all,” Triv said. “The Spiritual Vein has kept growing beneath this island, and it is now many times stronger than before. A few of the islands have, however, become hotspots with Miasma due to this archipelago being placed right between Pangea and Elysium, as the second continent has been named. There is more on the subject in the reports I have arranged for the young lord.”

“Good work,” Zac nodded. “Was there any commotion from the tribulation cloud?”

“None,” Triv said. “It was explained as another elite having formed a Dao Branch, but their identity kept secret.”

“Another?” Zac exclaimed with a raised brow.

“The young general is terrifyingly talented, as expected of the progeny of the young lord,” Triv sighed. “Lady Vilari formed her first Dao Branch two years ago, and I hear rumors she formed a second one on the other world.”

“Things aren’t as harmonious in the Empire Heartlands as the citizens of the Kavriel Province are led to believe. There is a lot of infighting, it seems. In the trial I joined, Draugr, Eidolon, and the Eternal Clan fought and schemed against each other. If I didn’t kill them, they would have killed me. No need to worry about it,” Zac said. “After you’ve memorized the manuals, hand them over to the Einherjar. They might come in handy in the future.”

“So things are like that,” Triv sighed, sounding a bit forlorn.

Zac could guess what Triv was thinking. It was probably a disappointment learning that the supposed paradise for undead cultivators was just like everywhere else; filled with schemes and infighting. However, the spectral butler perked up soon enough as the Spatial Gem somehow fused with their incorporeal form, completely disappearing.

“Well, I should have figured. Struggle is Heaven’s Mandate, and not even the great Primo can subvert that decree. And don’t you worry, young Lord. No matter what happens in the future, loyal Triv will always be your most ardent spectral supporter, no matter how many Hives send their invitations my way!”

“Thank you,” Zac laughed as he shifted his attention back to the missive, though he wasn’t too sure how genuine the ghost really was.

But when he reached the section about the Incursion his smile gradually turned into a frown, though Triv’s assurances gained a somewhat comical meaning. The situation was beyond what he had expected, and when he read about the recent changes, he started to get a sinking feeling. It looked like he needed to make a trip to the Ensolus Continent, and soon.

However, there was one thing he needed to confirm first.

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Vilari looked up from the stacks of papers just in time to see Ilvere, Rhuger, and Joanna enter her office that adjoined her meditative pond.

“We just got word from Miter’s Hall,” the demon said. “They’ve spotted movement. If all goes as expected, they’ll be here this time tomorrow.”

“Alright,” Vilari calmly said. “Is everything prepared?”

“It’s all dealt with,” Joanna said with a somber expression. “What do you think they’ll choose?”

“If they’re wise, they’ll accept our terms. It’s their one route to avoid calamity, no matter if it is one of their own making or one of the Heavens,” Vilari said.

As though prompted by her words, the whole room violently shook as the energy in the chamber turned chaotic. This was the second tremor of the day – they were getting closer. Vilari was no expert on the subject, but she doubted this world would remain standing in a year unless something changed.

“It’s getting worse,” Joanna sighed. “This might really be the last chance. If the talks fall through, war awaits.”

Vilari nodded in agreement. If tomorrow’s summit failed, an unprecedented war would sweep through this world. Even if they were the strongest party, the enemies would fight with their very existence on the line.

Just like the Ruthless Heavens wanted.

Only when they had arrived at the Ensolus Continent did they realize just how much value the System put on their Lord. Earth was a unique world with its twinned affinities, yet the System actually saw fit to create another one through the integration – fusing a dead world and one teeming with life. It was essentially a gift-wrapped world created in Lord Atwood’s image.

It was a shame that no gifts from the Heavens came without strings attached.

“Don’t get your hopes up, lass,” Ilvere grunted. “I don’t know about that old wraith Eomid or his brothers, but I doubt Hanuk will give in without a fight. Strength is the core of their society, it’s divine providence. He is the leader of the Mavai Hordes on the basis of being undefeated and unrivaled. To give in to an outsider would deprive him of the mandate to make decisions for the tribes.”

“If the demons in your Azh’Kir’Khat can live with people being above their head, why can’t these people?”

“It’s different,” Ilvere shrugged. “It took innumerable years of bloodshed for the Azh’Kir’Khat horde to form. Even then, it can only maintain its stability thanks to the powerhouses on the top and our perennial enemies. It was one thing if we could utterly crush the Mavai, but now... Besides, Hanuk’s hands are tied. Even if he believed giving in would be the best option for his people, the tribes might not agree.”

“They’d really risk it all than just bend the knee?”

“Would you really accept a situation where the fate of your whole world was in the hands of a stranger?” Ilvere countered. “Your family, your neighbors, the tribes, and everything you had ever known? To risk everything being taken away with but a thought? I know I’d rather risk it all and fight to the death.”

“We still have to try,” Vilari sighed.

“Ruthless Heavens indeed,” Joanna muttered.