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Chapter 1,288.
🕑 Added 2024-10-11 19:51:13 +0000 UTCThe unyielding brutality of Zac's Evolutionary Dao couldn't so much as break the palm's skin. Instead, it was Zac who was flung back dozens of meters by the recoil. Around him, hundreds of trees collapsed without warning. For an outsider, it might have looked like the jungle crumbled on its own. The reality was much scarier.
Zac got back to his feet with a solemn expression. The golden scar on Insik's forehead had expanded to the width of a hand, and it continued all the way to his groin. The suspected Technocrat looked like a costume being zipped open, an impression that was greatly reinforced when another person stepped out of the tear.
The scene, together with Insik's clothes, made Zac think of Leandra's appearance the day she took Kenzie away. His mother's enormous mechanical form created a portal with her hands, from which her fleshy body emerged. Zac later learned from Sendor that ability was part of Kayar-Elu's unique inheritance from the Technocrat Codex.
While similar, it was clear that Insik wasn't part of his mother's faction. For one, the man emerging from the golden curtain was a separate entity—one much stronger than Insik. The golden scar also wasn't created through the Dao of Technology. It was made from intense Imperial Faith, a blessing that extended to the mysterious newcomer.
It was a layer of impermeable Faith that had kept [Verun's Bite] from digging into flesh. Breaking through had felt as impossible as cleaving the Left Imperial Expanse. Worse, what the newcomer had done went beyond calling upon the boundless faith gathered in the continent. He'd displayed a shocking level of control for a Late Hegemon. He'd somehow taken Zac's energy and scattered it with an invisible wind. It was Zac's own attack that had damaged [Apex Jungle].
This man was the real deal.
Zac prepared for a tough fight while trying to get a read on his opponent. The olive-skinned man was human like Insik, though his robes were quite different. More than anything, the exquisite green robes resembled the style of the ancient cultivators of the Left Imperial Expanse. Zac hadn't encountered any true noblemen in the memories so far, but he expected this was what they'd look like.
The stranger wasn't even a pugilist. He was a swordsman, and he'd already drawn a thin rapier. His relaxed stance made Zac's mind scream of danger. The Imperial Qi that Yselio used in their fight felt like a poor copy of the great faith instilled in the edge. Zac might have a small attribute advantage, but he feared it wouldn't account for much when they came to blows.
It almost felt like Insik had gotten his hands on a protective charm from one of the lanterns, one capable of summoning a clone of some ancestor. However, the vague outline of a Skybreaker seal on the man's hand confirmed that he was another trialtaker. Could they be part of the mysterious faction mentioned in Iz's docket, the Pesvati Rift in the Eternal Storm? It would explain Insik's clothes.
If true, it was no wonder they managed to snatch one of the Flamebearer seals. Zac didn't want to imagine just how powerful Eouso was if their subordinate gave off such a threatening vibe. Either case, there was no value in getting entangled with these people. Even if he won, it'd create problems down the road.
"I'm sorry if I offended you. I captured your subordinate to get some answers. He and his companions are unarmed."
The swordsman ignored the greeting, which only increased Zac's unease. His emotionless eyes took in the surroundings, briefly stopping at the raging storm. Eventually, the gaze landed on Zac, and he knew words wouldn't be enough. Zac activated [Primal Edict] and [Conformation of Supremacy] just as the swordsman disappeared.
Fast! Zac was aghast at the speed at which the thin blade stabbed toward his stomach. It perfectly avoided Zac's defensive perimeter made of six Heavenrender vines. It carried the judgment of a long-gone empire, and Zac felt his Cosmic Energy scatter like an army breaking from overwhelming pressure.
Zac shifted the angle of his swing, moving [Verun's Bite] to parry the thrust. Thankfully, the strength imbued into the attack wasn't nearly as impressive as its speed. Zac's swipe pushed the sword to his side without exhausting its momentum. Meanwhile, Zac ordered his vines to capture its wielder.
The key to defeating a speedster was to catch them or at least limit their movement. From there, you could end the battle with one sting. Haro only caught air, and the sword disappeared so quickly that it could have been mistaken for an illusion. A mysterious ripple left behind by the thrust proved the attack was real.
Zac wasn't given the luxury of analyzing its nature. A scream of danger forced Zac to twist his body unnaturally. The thin blade grazed his lower back before disappearing again. Like before, an invisible wind was left behind.
The blitz was unrelenting. The swordsman was easily the fastest opponent Zac had ever faced. He launched three strikes for one of Zac's while moving so quickly that Soul Sense failed to catch even his shadow. Each strike disrupted Zac's energy with pinpoint precision, forcing him to rely on pure technique to stay safe.
The pristine, newly upgraded energy highways had become leaking sieves. It was becoming increasingly difficult to keep his skills active. Not having upgraded his skills became Zac's saving grace. With its tenfold energy requirements, a Late D-grade skill would have failed already.
Zac's solid defense and sturdy body were enough to not suffer more than grazing wounds, but he'd lost control of the flow. He was simply reacting to attacks through [Inborn Predator] and his Danger Sense. Normally, this would have been an acceptable outcome. Such shallow wounds couldn't bring Zac down, especially not when using the Ent Elder form of [Conformation of Supremacy].
It didn't matter that the constant stabs prevented Zac from activating any more skills without Void Energy. [Apex Jungle] and [Primal Edict] were already running, and they were enough to create a shift in any battle. He only needed to accumulate enough axelights and vines to disrupt the swordmaster's flow.
That didn't happen. It didn't take long for Zac to realize what the lingering ripples were doing. They created discordant vibrations that disrupted his skill fractals. They reinforced another, passing his defenses to enter his body. Zac was already having trouble supplying the necessary energy to keep the skills going, and the vibrations were making him lose control.
A burst of [Void Zone] would have solved the problem, but Zac felt that using the Void would be a mistake. The whole situation smelled of a conspiracy. Zac's ample experience would be for nothing if he couldn't figure out that his enemy wasn't sincerely trying to kill him. Insik, who clearly was much stronger than he initially let on, wouldn't just be standing to the side with a respectful expression.
The swordsman's whole approach was meant to force Zac to expose his hidden cards. Zac even felt they were waiting for Zac to use his Void Emperor bloodline, even if there was no reasonable explanation for how they'd know about it. Could this be related to the Holy Relic he picked up the other day?
Whatever they were after, these bastards were looking down on him too much if they thought this was enough to push Zac off-balance. So what if he only had access to three half-working skills? He'd overcome much worse without having to rely on his Void Emperor bloodline. It was time to take back control.
The few vines [Primal Edict] had formed couldn't change anything. They'd been torn to shreds by hidden blades before they could get close. However, a dense, green mist had spread through the region—countless spores that cried for sustenance. Neither Zac nor the dead zone could provide what they needed. Something else could.
Thousands of vibrant trees withered with speed visible to the naked eye. Within seconds, half the trees formed with [Apex Jungle] collapsed. The summoned trees didn't have true physical mass, but they could still fulfill the same role as real vegetation after death—to become fertilizer for the next generation.
The death of one meant the life of another. Such was the law of the wild, the engine that kept the wheel of Evolution spinning. In no time, there were hundreds of massive vines groaning with insatiable hunger. With the jungle gone and the dead dao still inedible, there were only two sources of sustenance left—Insik and his master.
It made no difference that Zac had lost control over his skill. The vines followed the mandate of the wild, hunting for prey to grow stronger. The two imperials were inundated by a wave of destruction. Countless vines were torn apart by hidden blades, but their shreds were resorbed to let new ones grow.
The tide of verdure gradually exhausted the dispersed energy from the duel, forcing the swordsman to deal with their advance himself. He tried to maintain the pressure on Zac, but not even his speed was enough to deal with attacks from every direction. Hundreds of bloodthirsty vines made maneuvering all but impossible, and it was now Zac who disrupted his opponent's attempts to activate skills.
Suddenly, the swordsman disappeared. The vines had lost their prey, so they formed a thick cocoon around Zac. It was at that moment Zac switched to [Conformation of Supremacy]'s other form, and primal runes poured into [Verun's Bite] in quick succession. Knowing there wasn't much time, Zac performed a blade dance inside his sanctuary.
Flickers of axelights came and went, their lives made short by the dispersion ripples still holding Zac's energy hostage. The respite wasn't long-lived. Transferring energy between skills was too inefficient, and [Apex Jungle] was already in a bad state. [Primal Edict] had almost run out of fuel by the time the swordsman backed down, and he had already caught on.
The wooden barrier shattered, and Zac felt the pang of danger from another stab aimed at his neck. He grinned, knowing the moment had come. The last energy stockpiled in [Conformation of Supremacy] was spent. Ninety-nine unremarkable runes lit up as one, creating a bubble of destruction with Zac in the middle.
Even Zac felt his hair stand on end. He'd essentially planted a bomb by his feet and lit the fuse. There was no backing down now. Zac roared and waved his axe with all the strength he could muster. The swordsman had already been forced back by the display, so there was no one to stop his wide swings.
The bubbles of unstable power collectively popped and gave birth to a sun in Zac's image. It only lasted a moment before it collapsed. The kinetic force in Zac's swings pushed the explosion outward, causing a tidal wave of destruction to ripple in every direction. Zac sensed a lance of concentrated power ripping through the chaos with great speed. This time, the speedster was too slow.
The energy-scattering ripples had all been overwhelmed, leaving Zac's surroundings clear. Zac already had [Flashfire Flourish] in hand. It activated, and he turned into a streak of flames that rushed into the roiling storm.
"Bastard, follow me if you dare!"
There was no way of telling whether his assailant had heard his parting words. Zac moved dozens of miles in the blink of an eye and only kept going. The destruction of Zac's own making had been replaced by the wrath of the world, and the agony it brought was many times greater. As expected, his escape treasure couldn't shift between dimensions in the Left Imperial Expanse, so it could only force its way through the dangerous terrain.
Zac held on as long as possible before deactivating [Flashfire Flourish]. The distance he'd crossed in a minute was greater than what he usually covered in a day, yet the storm's other end was nowhere in sight. Perhaps that was for the best. The chaotic storm perfectly hid his position. Even the best portable scanners wouldn't cover more than a couple of miles in this place. The imperials would have to rely on their luck if they wanted to find him.
Razorsharp winds tore at Zac's already battered body, filling the wounds with an unstoppable will of destruction. The storm was imbued with various calamitous powers from the Dao of Nature. Zac's blood boiled from the fiery wrath of volcanoes, and his bones creaked from the tectonic shift of continents.
Zac's Life eroded with the fall of seasons. He was being pushed toward the same end as [Apex Jungle], turned into fertilizer for barren lands. Mother Nature was the Multiverse's true overlord. When she smiled, the Cosmos prospered. When angered, her subjects had to take cover if they wanted to survive. A shell made of bones enclosed Zac's body, and a secondary barrier further added to his protection.
[Ossuary Bulwark] only managed to block part of the force gathered in the smoldering winds. It absorbed most of the physical attack, but the chaotic Dao slipped into his body. Zac furiously resisted by releasing a storm of Life, Death, and Conflict from his Soul Aperture. Overcoming nature was part of any cultivator's struggle, and he refused to give in.
Taking out the armor gave Zac a much-needed breather to gather his wits. Zac rarely used [Ossuary Bulwark] since setting out to the Imperial Graveyard, even if it was much sturdier than the one Yselio destroyed. The replacement bulwark was a Middle D-grade Equipment that could reluctantly be considered a War Regalia.
The awakening treasure had barely managed to form a spirit, so there was some distance from the real thing. There were limits to its self-recovery, and the blacksmiths in the Zecia Alliance Army were far out of reach. If the armor broke early in the trial, he'd be left with nothing when facing the real dangers later on.
Nature was cruel but fair. Anyone following him would have to suffer the same treatment, and Zac refused to believe anyone could last longer than he in such a hostile environment. He'd faced similar dangers many times, like when he explored the depths of the Twilight Chasm. [Void Zone] could almost be considered a cheat.
Five minutes later, there were still no signs of Insik or his master. As expected, they weren't willing or able to follow. Zac continued his journey. The destination was the same as before—the pillar vaguely visible on the horizon.
Zac didn't like running from a fight before giving it his all, but those two had been too fishy. Altogether, things worked out quite well. He'd gathered the information he needed before escaping without exposing any of his secrets. He'd give that maniac what he wanted if he tracked him down again. The storm would provide the perfect battleground for a real showdown.
There was only one question that remained unanswered. Who the hell was that?
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Emir wordlessly looked at the elaborate display as it faded. To think a warrior of such pedigree would use such a vulgar means of escape. He hadn't expected the children of the Imperial Tutor to be so base. Then again, talents often had their quirks.
"I apologize for calling on you early. I'm aware of the cost," Emir said.
"It's my honor to serve, my Lord," Insik said with a bow. "We shouldn't have encountered a Flamebearer this early. Activating the gate to investigate is natural."
"Do you know his identity?"
"I believe he's Zachary Atwood. He's a native local to the Pillar's ascent."
"A local Flamebearer?" Emir said with a frown. "Is the Sindris Clan planning on interfering?"
There were already enough variables without them muddying the waters further.
"He's part of the Sindris Clan?" Insik said with surprise. "There's nothing in the reports. The Sindris Clan respected their exile. They've been guarding the Edge since the fall. Zachary Atwood might be a descendant of a wanderer."
"Perhaps," Emir said, looking down at his hand.
The echoes of carnage still lingered. It was surprising how close he'd come to losing his hand from a simple strike imbued with Dao. It was impossible to predict the outcome if his opponent had chosen to stay instead of disengaging. Emir still regretted not pushing slightly harder, even if it meant expending valuable resources set aside for other tasks.
It would have been worth it if it let Emir confirm his nagging suspicion. Few things would move the Undying Clan. However, he would. That monstrous bloodline would also explain the intangible pressure he levied on the slumbering expanse. But the Void Emperor wasn't part of the prophecy. His chapter was supposed to be concluded. Had they been misled, or were his suspicions wrong? Emir had too little to go on and no avenues to get answers.
"Who were the companions he mentioned?"
"Strangers I gathered during the preliminary trial. I altered their perceptions to make them willing helpers," Insik explained, glancing at the storm. "I'd planned on using them to accomplish my mission. I fear I'm unable to reach it myself. I'll have to gather new helpers before setting out."
Emir followed the Harbinger's gaze. There was no sign of how deep Zachary Atwood pushed. Not that pursuit was possible. The Harbingers were only meant to set the stage, not deal with the Flamebearers.
"It doesn't matter," Emir said after some thought. "I'm changing your assignment. Gather new helpers and take them to the closest waystation."
"What about the saint? Without his guidance, the Hollow Court might—" Insik said before stopping mid-sentence with realization. "Him?"
"With him around, the flame with ignite whether it wants to or not. We'll have to adapt to whatever deviations his brush with Destiny brings," Emir sighed.
"Where do you need me?"
"The Daedalian Court. The Buddhists have found clues to the bridge of Karma," Emir said.
"The Sangha?" Insik blanched. "I can't stop them in my current state. Should we call Master?"
"It's not necessary. The Sangha was destined to become a thorn in our side. Avoid direct clashes. Delaying their investigation is enough," Emir said. "Don't lose faith. The backlash is greatly weakened here. The general trend was locked in when the Left Imperial Expanse was allowed to resurface. You only need to hold on."
"What will be, will be." Insik bowed as the gate reopened. "Lord, you need to return."
Emir gave the storm one last look before stepping through.
'Zachary Atwood, is it? Are you a blessing or a curse?'
Comments
David Ballantyne
I captured your subordinate to get some answers. He and his companions are unarmed." - probably meant unharmed? Also Zac mentions ending the battle in one sting, but should be swing.
Edgar Segura
That's a solid theory
Edgar Segura
I think its the location of ultom I feel like it was located out in the eternal storm. But further where the most dangerous storms lie and then emerges out of their later when the trial started maybe? Just a theory
Edgar Segura
I dont think he's the weakest anymore he was prior to being incased in ice. I'd say he's closing in on eighth position at this point. Like a few more upgrades and he's passing the current eighth.
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Dro
In what way are they technocrats? They are from the Eternal Storm but only 1% of people in the storm are technocrats. They also have Imperial Faith which is directly related to the people that technocrats hate the most.
Jeff McCulley
Also, if this IS that faction…then “Master” would probably be Eouso, the Flamebearer. Unless they have a way to bind monarchs to get them in. After all, Inzik said “in my current form”.
Jeff McCulley
Now, we don’t know they’re related to that faction, it’s simply Zac’s best guess at the moment. The Endless Storm is a very big place. Just as we don’t know that the Promordial and that Sangha are Flamebearers. It’s just a guess. Neither Tavza nor Kator are/were, after all. Though I’d hardly be surprised if the Primordial hadn’t been eating a Flamebearer in that scene from Esmerelda’s POV.
Jeff McCulley
Imperials fought forever with Technocrats. So of course they would know where surviving clan of them is.
Jeff McCulley
Funny. Zac was trying to hide his Void Emperor bloodline…but I’m pretty sure that his position as Holy Som of the Empyrean Chalice would have made just as big—if not bigger—impression. After all, they mostly think he’s some random Sindris descendant, like the dude Nutzu was hanging out with. Can’t remember his name.
Jeff McCulley
They both had Skybreaker seals. And Emir was probably already at the Hollow Court.
Jeff McCulley
Remember how the personnel of the Centurion Lighthouse all vanished, and the idiot puppet thought the Foreign Gods teleported them away? Well, now we know that couldn’t have been true. I think this is a remnant Limitless took away to preserve the Empire—likely including those troops. They’re meant to occupy the Left Imperial Expanse when it rises into Zecia.
Jeff McCulley
Doubt it. This is simply a remnant faction of the Empire—however it came about—with full access not only to Imperial Faith, but knowledge.
Lex Luther S
Reading this chapter again, I think Emir and insik are from a faction or family that was personally blessed by Emperor Laondio. We were told that even a simple stone blessed by Laondio would become a peerless weapon, so imagine a family with genuine faith and belief in Laondio being blessed by him? It would have absurd effects, even billions of years later. So my thought is that Laondio blessed a family head of one of the 9 imperial households and then erased that family heads identify from the cosmos and sent them and a few others into what the Eternal storm was before the System to wait. The system awakens, creates the dark ages for a million years and then kicks into gear. Afterwards, billions of years pass and ultom emerges again with the advent of Zachary Atwood and this blessed family kicks into gear to ensure the plans Laondio has in motion don't go awry. Even if the blessing is nothing but an echo, the descendents of the family head still have certain advantages when it comes to imperial faith.
Lex Luther S
But if they were technocrats, Emir wouldn't have called the system the "imperial tutor" but instead the cursed heavens or one of the other titles they have for the system. Not only that but there's no way a technocrat would have such command over the imperial faith of the limitless empire. I think these guys are from a family that was personally blessed and then sent away to prepare for the systems awakening and the eventual rise of ultom and whatever plans laondio has in store for it.
Lex Luther S
I dont remember reading about its cooldown but it does damage ones foundations, though at zacs current level, such damage will be remedied in a day or two. But for such a top tier treasure, it's likely a month or two but he likely has other escape treasures, just not ones as potent. Also, there are 5 forms flashfire flourish has and it really makes me wonder which one Emir saw. Apparently each form has a different poem too so I REALLLY wanna know🤣 But it shouldn't be too bad. Those of emirs' strength are probably rather rare and zacs only reason for not staying to finish the fight is because he felt them far too fishy.
Lex Luther S
It is a rather interesting crumb of information. What are they guarding against? Why are they content doing so? What do they want with bringing zac back into the fold? So many questions and the only solution is years of writing to come.
Lex Luther S
Right. If verun had been middle D grade or his earthly dao of defiant war at middle Mastery, he likely would have chopped through the hand and Insik. It's always refreshing to see zac get pushed back and then see the opponents POV and them stating what a monster zac is. He may be the weakest flamebearer at the moment but I have no doubt by the trials end only those like Iz or the primordial would be able to match zac. And the final showdown between zac and yselio
Lex Luther S
It's clear these guys have a connection to the limitless empire and I'm thinking they're one of the original 9 noble clans. Clans with bloodlines of unfathomable power and that Laondio sent one of them to the depths of what the Eternal storm was before the system, likely even erasing their traces from memory. To which they were given the task to wait for Ultoms resurgence and upon its decent, they would enter the trial ensuring the flame Laondio wants lit gets lit. The biggest tell is Emir and the flame. The flame will light whether it wants to or not BECAUSE of zac. Meaning he can see that zacs fate and providence are so busted that whatever this flame is, it has no choice but to move forward to ensure zac is attached to its ride. Or at least invested in it.
Collin Sorrells
Well, there's a small chance there's some special little faction in the eternal storm......... Realistically it is almost certain that they are technocrats. He also spoke very casually and intimately about the sindris and even referred to them as the undying clan. There's some kind of amazing conspiracy going on or it's just the obvious and they are technocrats. There was even an attitude of like we're supposed to be here not the sindris. It would also be kind of ridiculous for the technocrats to not attempt to interfere with the plans of the limitless empire.
Collin Sorrells
Well, they are obviously technocrats.
Matthew Hay
If they were Technocrats they'd use insults as names for the System. That verbiage implies they are connected to a still-standing Limitless Empire faction.
TimeDrawsNigh
Imperial Tutor is also what Rava, the Eternal Servant, called the System. Just who are these people if not Technocrats?
Dro
Also - with how much Imperial Faith Emir has, his master could be someone with like the same bloodline as Emperor Limitless - he'd be the single, currently unnamed, flameberer remaining. And could likely the primary protogonist of the Ultum Arc if that's the case - directly opposing Zac with his bloodline of the Void Emperor (friend of limitless who evidently faught him at some point before Karz got his name thrown out of the Cosmic Destiny / everyone's memory)
Dro
And that was literally just a random chop from Zac - he didn't really even put much thought/power into it
Dro
"He hadn't expected the children of the Imperial Tutor to be so base" -- Imperial Tutor is (1) a name for the System and (2) in an actual empire, the Imperial Tutor is basically the second most powerful person in an empire. They are the only ones that can teach/punish the Emperors kids and when one of the kids becomes Emperor, they are the person who is closest to them. I wonder if that connection is foreshadowing anything - (I..e the system is made out of the Void Emperor and Zac's the child of the Void Emperor thru his bloodline...)
Drew
I like how Zac was like, "crap, that hand stopped my axe strike cold," and then Emir is like "crap, that axe strike almost got through."
Krispy sock
Shit I said the wrong guy
Thomas Todd
It's not the first time it's been hinted at that the Edge has something dangerous. When the Sindris clan members were talking they said something like those members who want to break the compact need to be sent to the outer edge to see what they're dealing with. Obviously paraphrased from the actual conversation but it's been hinted at before
GMO pineapple
Average chapter
Timothy Dana
I think Jeff should explicitly say what it says
Evan Therrien
Not by Brazla. It’s the lord of cycles, Yrial who gave him the escape treasure and wrote the poem and what not for the treasure.
Justin
What was that bit about how the Sindirs clan is "guarding the Edge"? Guarding from what? I thought they were exiled to the edge?
Krispy sock
Does the flash fire still have a long cool down? Feel like Zac used his nice escape treasure a little too soon in Ultom and we missed the great poems by great Brazla. That said, loved the chapter like seeing glimpses of who Zac is up against.
Tartlet
I wonder what the flash fire flourish said this time
Tartlet
So this is how Zac re-engages his Deviant portion of his deviant Asura identity
jb qspam
the flame *with ignite-> will ignite
Surgebinder
Just reread the whole thing, I get the feeling that these are members of the limitless empire
Cal
\('.')/
RWS
Emir has a skybreaker seal!! Did I read that right? Bring on the next chapter already.
Lex Luther S
Zac is currently moving his path towards creation and oblivion, but he as of now, his only source of energy is the remnants, and he's already got two defective skills for them. One for creation and one for oblivion, and they take up the spot cyclic strike used to. Besides, that skill was only used as a delivery method for oblivion or creation because he lacked the means to use it otherwise. The only time he used the skill with both energies was in the void star to kill that goblin, and he stated that it was not right. That and it almost killed him. The only other times he's used the skill with both remnants is when he forms a chaos pattern, and there's a reason he can't just spam chaos patterns despite having the remnants under his control Even defective, the skills he has for oblivion and creation are insanely more potent and better than the bronze flashes. Ultimately, zac won't be able to create such a fusion at the D grade. The remnants energy is extremely limited, and it'd be better to use one of the defective skills than try to recreate what he did in the void star. Not even hallow chaos but false chaos. Feels like far to much effort for little gain. He'd be better off having his stances reach late stage and then perfect integrating the void mountain into his stances even more. Honestly doesn't feel like he'd be able to create the fusion even at monarchy. Maybe if he was a heavenly monarch and he confirmed his dao, but it just feels that particular fusion for his path won't happen till much later, just because of the limitations on oblivion and creation energy and treasures.
Pascal Kwizera
I believe there is another path to bridging the gap in strength. Cyclic Strike has been lying dormant, left behind and neglected. It used to be that Zac used the skill to summon a Bronze Flash. But since D grade, its been useless and incomplete. I remember that whenever Zac summoned a Bronze Flash, his body would change to accommodate the Oblivion in him (like an avatar of Oblivion). My theory is that if he could finish that D grade fractal, aiming for a full fusion of the dao Life, Death and Conflict, he would create an ultimate fusion skill akin to the aspect skill that Iz Tayn showed. He could temporarily become an avatar of Chaos by fusing both bodies and all daos for a limited time. I believe this final form would instantly be on par with the primordial in strength.
Pascal Kwizera
I personally find it fun. It makes reading much more engaging and thought provoking when you have to chase disperate clues and cobble together a working theory on what's happening. Over the course of the arc, more clues will be dropped and we can refine our answers. Like a mini puzzle game 🧐👍👌
Lex Luther S
We know these guys are related to that eternal storm faction. We know that Emir guy is strong and the Insik is restricted somehow. We know they have a saint and master in play and were trying to ensure the hollow courts flame would ignite. We know that Emir is hinting that zac heading there ensures the flame will be lite regardless. We know Emir has a very keen sense as he was RIGHT on the money with his suspicion towards zac. All in all, I can't wait for 200 chapters to go by before we get clarification on these guys🤔
Lex Luther S
Zac could write an autobiography of his journey from F grade to supremacy and all the treasures and where they came from and how his title came to be and he'd still be called a deviant. When one has blown up as many places as he, "deviant" becomes a rather apt title.
Lex Luther S
They seem to be connected to the Eternal storm faction that has a flamebearer. And given the way they called the system the imperial tutor, makes me think that they're a group from the limitless empire specifically sent out into what the Eternal storm was before the system to await ultoms emergence, to which they'll set the stage for whatever schemes Laondio has planned.
Lex Luther S
Iz is a special monster even that Lu fellow falls behind. Once she learns to hold conviction in herself and strength and is willing to put it all on the line for victory, like zac does, then she'll be unmatched, except with the primordial. Being a former supremacy, there's no telling where that "things" ceiling is. As for the pyres descendent, Lu something, he has 4 earthly daos but we don't know their rank. It's safe to assume his daos are at least middle stage as Iz has her three daos at middle stage as well. But yes, to contend against these monsters, zac would not only need his stances upgraded to Late stage but all his daos upgraded to middle stage, a few core skills upgraded to Late stage, a breakthrough with his soul and his weapons and haro to middle D grade instead of the Early D grade they're all at and his bloodline fully awakened to the 50% limit he had before reaching D grade....... honestly still doesn't feel enough against those like Iz, the insectoid princess and that Lu fellow.
Jeff McCulley
Upon consideration… It would make sense if the Kayer-Elu dressed like the larger population. After all, they were attempting to blend in. It would also make sense if a splinter of Imperials operating outside of the System for millennia might have developed a less hostile attitude towards Technocrats…without the System constantly egging them on. Who knows? Maybe we’ll learn more Sunday.
Alexander Hallonblad
Awesome
Michael
Interesting, this kind of reads like they’re a separate group from the trial takers? I wonder if they are related to the Vigil in some way. It would make sense for the LE to have contingencies in the trial like that.
carson
Reading this chapter made me feel like I was drunk, or like the author was drunk when writing it.
Omiso
"A sun in Zac's image" Praise the sun \[T]/
Omiso
The last chapter there was an argument of Zac not pushing his "Deviant" title enough I believe using the Flashfire Flourish will help amend that. Too bad TFD didn't described the message.
Dro
That Pryor guy evidently has 4 late Earthly Daos and we know Iz has 3 middle or higher early daos. Feels like a lot more than a single upgrade to middle Earthly Dao is needed for Zac to compete
Jeff McCulley
One of the more interesting (and most frustrating) traits TFD specializes in is providing conversations, mental or otherwise, completely devoid (or nearly so) of context clues. Just look at how long it took us to sort out what Wal’Zo was rambling on about to himself. Lol!
Andrew
Thank you!
DrSubterfuge
Rava used that name to refer to the System
DrSubterfuge
Wild. A technocrat seeming dude from the Eternal Storm that's such a LE loyalist he uses Imperial Faith. Hey at least they oppose the Sangha
Michael Dugan
I believe it is Rava.
Austin
It's an old name for the system
pizzadahuttt
Imperial tutor when have we heard that phrase before?
MacMahon Wenzl
Spoilers?
MacMahon Wenzl
Aaaaannnd, now I have a million unanswered questions.
jerome
Oh he’s definitely a curse 😤
Timothy Dana
Love this chapter
Lex Luther S
Interesting. It seems zac and this Emir guy are about evenly matched. What zac lacks in this guy's sheer speed, he makes up for with supreme durability and strength. And to think zac was spot on with his hunch to not use his void emperor bloodline. As for a curse or a blessing. No no no Zachary Atwood is the harbinger of chaos and his fate and providence will throw this whole trial on its head. He may be overwhelmed now, but upgrading his stances to late stage as well as his Earthly dao of defiant war to the Middle stage and a few more breakthroughs and he'll be a monster even this Emir guy wouldn't want to fight.
Rid
Oooh the plot thickens! I can’t wait to get more of Emir and Insik’s backstory. Just who are they?!
Lizy Flore
Thanks for the chapter!
ShadowOfValor
Hey, you sent to all patron tiers again
Borbino the great
Thanks for the chapter!
