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Chapter 1,264.
🕑 Added 2024-06-12 19:06:21 +0000 UTCYselio stumbled out from the Faithgate, the clamor in his mind amplified by the agony wracking his body. The chains leading to the depths of his subconscious tried to drag him under, to have his Ego join the duality waiting for him. Not today. Pain became pleasure as darkness became light, and the chains were stopped in their tracks.
Yselio took a steadying breath and severed the connection. "It's done."
"What's done? You waited until the lingering faith is but a trickle, only to come back empty-handed?" Ylvin said with a shake of his head. "Silly boy."
"I'm simply following my instincts," Yselio smiled. "It's served me well so far. Generally."
"Generally, he says," Ylvin scoffed. He glanced upward like he was peering through the endless layers of steel. "Are you really leaving him be? If you're correct, this will be your final opportunity. Having two completed seals would put you head and shoulders above the competition."
"Perfection is an illusion, and the tallest trees have to face the wind. I have my own path to follow," Yselio said, slightly bowing at the veiled woman who'd silently stood with her hands clasped. "I also fear our esteemed guest would take offense."
"The Vigil will not get involved in the Flameseeking Trial," Leyara responded, her eyes flickering with the fires of destiny.
"Oh? Even when it involves an old companion?" Yselio said.
"I've already severed my mortal bonds to fulfill my duty."
"How admirable." Yselio applauded while inwardly snickering.
For calling themselves impartial, these haughty nuns sure liked to put their thumb on the scale. Not that Yselio minded. It would have been impossible to succeed without the Vigil's assistance. Without her prayer, there would have been no way to connect the Tobrial Dynasty's Imperial Qi with the slumbering faith of the Starfall Court.
Certainly, this little chosen wasn't enough to deter Yselio from pursuing his goals. However, seeing the young Void Emperor step out of reality to deal with the Izh'Rak Reaver reaffirmed his belief. Zachary Atwood was a yet-unripe fruit covered in thorns. Targeting him now would bring little benefits while potentially ruining something good in the long run. Zachary Atwood was like a window to the past.
Who stood better positioned to reap the harvest of a resurgence of the Limitless Empire than the Seven Heavens? And who more personified their fate than Yselio?
"I cannot believe you wasted one of your resurrections on taunting a dying old monster. What if he realized the writ only held enough Imperial Qi to release one shockwave? What if my intelligence was wrong?"
"Then that would have been my fate," Yselio said with equanimity as he bared his chest for the priests. "How can I seize fate without accepting the accompanying risks? And while I couldn't be certain about how Sorothom would act after his repeated setbacks, I never feared you would have failed in your task."
"How is it?"
"His demise will be linked to me, and his sin will become my providence."
"The providence of the Tobrial Dynasty," Ylvin reminded with a raised brow. "Be careful not to confuse the two."
"A slip of the tongue," Yselio said as the priest finished up the sigil around the wound left by Sorothom's nail.
"Well, you left him well and truly infuriated. I'll be surprised if he survives the second cycle with how his Dao is faltering." The gruff guardian didn't press the issue, instead turning to the clerics standing before the door. "Is it done?"
"We're only awaiting Lord Vindicator's authority," the pandit assured, his ancient voice echoing through the subterranean corridor.
"Then let's not dally," Yselio said, placing his hand on the thick gate.
The priests began chanting, and sigils wrought from the Imperial Qi of the Tobrial Dynasty sank into the sealed door one after another. Yvin infused his will while Leyara became the bridge between old and new. The door smoothly slid open, and a wave of brutality came wafting out.
"Shit!" Ylvin swore, urgently placing himself before the Hegemons as he unleashed his Inner World to its limits. The second Monarch was only a step slower, forming a protective Sanctuary for the group.
Yselio took a deep breath, feeling the ancient aura of the Elder Guardian was the most exquisite of perfumes. "How marvelous. It should be equivalent to a Fifth-step Autarch in its current state."
A B-grade puppet wouldn't make much of a difference to the Seventh Heaven, even an exquisite one like the Starfall Court had left for them. Its value lay in its undying frame that had achieved False Eternity. Its value was inestimable, whether as a vessel for the Princes and Archdukes or as a crafting material.
Even more valuable was the source of Ancient Arcana slumbering beneath it—a key to seize Ultom and Destiny.
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Zac felt no joy from the unprecedented surge of Kill Energy flooding his body. He only felt a deep, spiritual lassitude as Kator's words rattled in his mind. Was he right? Were all his efforts in balancing benefits and deterrence futile before fate's whims? Was there no coming back from clashing destinies?
There had never been a true grudge between the two. There was just a mutual antipathy since day one, one that had grown and festered until it became something more. While Kator largely was the instigator, Zac hadn't helped. Zac almost felt like he'd woken up from a dream, recalling just how much of his mind had been occupied with plans for Kator's demise since they set out. It was a hatred strong enough it could be called poison.
Right or wrong, the chapter was closed. He'd survived, and Kator was dead. Zac could make up whatever justifications he pleased, and the inch Kator lacked had let Zac devise the plan that led him here. He'd considered his problem from every angle and found no way for his Draugr half to survive the third tribulation while grappling with Kator in the middle of the White Sky domain.
He'd barely managed to reach the seal unscathed by infusing his technique with the Void, but he wouldn't be able to maintain that state with the Four Desolates ravaging his body. The only way was to avoid the danger altogether. Meanwhile, Zac's breakthrough faced a huge problem. Even if Kator died, Zac had lost or spent too many of the limited resources meant for his core. Unless he figured out a way to reverse the damage, he would walk away with a broken core at best.
The Void Realm was his solution to both problems. Ever since he swallowed a decent chunk of the Memorysteel Mountain and its treasures, Zac had wondered where everything went. As his grades increased, so did his bloodline's voracity, going so far as to consume mountain ranges and enough treasures to blow Zac up dozens of times over. It was all here for the taking, provided he survived the final bolt.
The churning sky had gone mad after Zac had opened the pocket of Void and escaped. The clouds had intensified as the Heavens directed more of their attention to this forgotten corner of space. Zac had already sensed two rapid discharges since taking on the third bolt, meaning the pope was still alive and undoubtedly suffering from guilt by association.
Zac would have liked nothing more than to send even more trouble his way, but he had his own punishment to worry about. He'd already sensed the Heavens weren't done with him when he looked up at the sky through Ultom's lens. Zac suspected it was building toward a two-cycle tribulation for his attempt at Monarchy, meaning he'd have to face five bolts at Peak Hegemony and six when erecting his Inner World.
Each bolt exponentially added to the tribulation's lethality, but Zac was more confident now that Kator wasn't in the way. The sky trembled, releasing its final wave of destruction. The column of pitch-black lightning only briefly paused after entering the Imperial Domain, seemingly looking for the target that disappeared. It failed, causing the whole bolt to target Zac's human side.
Zac had expected as much and was prepared. [Void Mountain] rippled with power and Zac infused space itself. Inside the Void Realm, Zac felt a nearby ripple and flashed over. He pushed from the other end, managing to open a small slit that connected his bodies. The lightning bolt shuddered, and two-thirds plunged into the vortex, destroying the pathway as a consequence.
What remained in the main dimension crashed into [Void Mountain]'s sigil, triggering a costly mutual eradication. Zac held on for everything he was worth, heedlessly spending what the Void Realm provided. Whatever slipped past the sigil was weakened by [Void Zone] and consumed by a struggling [Void Heart], leaving only a trickle of punishment.
Being only able to use [Void Mountain] with one of his bodies at a time, Zac had to face the brunt of the tribulation head-on inside the Void Realm. Thankfully, the subspace came to his aid, causing a second round of erosion stacked on top of the Imperial Faith. Still, what remained was almost grotesque, far surpassing the third bolt's intensity.
The third tribulation was the final strike of the first cycle, while the fourth began the second. It was a full tier higher, holding a much higher ratio of Law over Heavenly Dao. Even with the Void Realm helping out, Zac could do little as it ravaged every corner of his body. He soon began exhibiting similar signs of erosion as Kator, where he lost whole chunks of flesh and bone to desolation.
With Zac's body facing such devastation, there was no need to mention the main target for punishment. Zac rallied everything in his arsenal to resist, yet whole swathes of debris were turned into nothing but memories of former glory. Seeing the heavy losses despite his best efforts was almost enough for Zac to give in, yet he staunchly held on against all odds and reason.
The moment his human side was safe, he activated [Void Mountain] on the other end. Any dense gathering of Law throughout his body was swept away before he focused on his core. With the lightning being a finite resource, Zac eventually gained the upper hand. Moments later, the Four Desolates began escaping his body. This time, Zac did nothing to hold them back, immensely relieved to feel the crackling clouds reluctantly turn their attention to the other transgressor.
Inspecting the state of his body, especially the scorched ruins within his Quantum Space, added another feeling to the relief—futility. Almost half the pieces of his Cosmic Core had been destroyed, and the energies still flooding the proto-space had nowhere to go now that the lightning was gone. It could only accumulate, putting further strain on the space and his damaged Specialty Core.
Even if Zac got things under control, there was no way to form a satisfactory or even functional core with what remained. He hadn't even begun the second step of his Core Formation, and he'd already fallen hopelessly behind. It'd take a miracle to turn the situation around. Since the System didn't seem intent on providing any added benefits, Zac would have to create the miracle on his own.
Zac moved out, following the familiar ripples until he found what he sought among all the familiar rubble. The hourglass had lost more of its sand resisting the Void Realm's erosion, though the passive pressure couldn't compare to the direct harm of directly facing the Four Desolates. Seeing it intact, Zac said a silent prayer before triggering the hidden mark in his body, summoning the only one who could help in his current situation.
"Look at you, a leaking sieve reeking of desolation." Sendor shook his head. "What do you have against breaking through like a normal person? Taking on more suffering doesn't necessarily mean a greater reward."
"It's not like I asked for this," Zac muttered.
"I will not shield you from the Heavens," the Realm Spirit said, looking at the remnant arcs of lightning escaping Zac's body.
"I'm not asking you to."
"That's good," Sendor nodded, taking in the Void Realm with curiosity. "Void Emperor, indeed. How did you—"
"First, please heal me before I fall apart."
"Most of your wounds have the mark of the Four Desolates. Healing you is not as simple as regrowing flesh."
"I saw you revert the damage of a Supremacy. Surely, this is child's play."
Sendor looked at Zac for a moment before shrugging. "I suppose it doesn't cross the threshold."
Zac felt his pain melt away as limbs and flesh reformed. This was why he used his Draugr side to endure most of the punishment while his human half stayed safe through his Void abilities. He'd already decided on summoning Sendor the moment he came up with this plan, even if it meant having no safeguard for the upcoming trial.
"Now, what scheme have you cooked up? What's this, then?" Sendor said, glancing at the hourglass.
"No need to pretend," Zac said with a roll of his eyes.
Analyzing the hourglass during his epiphany immediately exposed its true nature. It wasn't a supreme treasure like he'd assumed. It was pure Temporal Energy left by an incredibly powerful being. It was something similar to the Imperial Edicts he'd faced a few times, transcending transcended skills or conventional forms of Dao. Not like the Eternal, but there was surely Authority in the hourglass.
Not only that, there were even hints of Sendor's aura mixed in. Zac could have intuited the rest even without Ultom's assistance. Esmeralda suffered under a curse, and she'd gotten Sendor and another Supremacy to suppress it. She'd sacrificed most of her remaining reincarnations to help Zac deal with Kator and make it through his tribulation.
It was a huge gamble, making her mission inside the trial one of life and death. After all, Zac couldn't give it back even if he didn't desperately need it. The moment Esmeralda extracted it from her body, it had become rootless. It would soon fade away, and the Authority would return to its owner.
"I need you to modify this seal to revert the damage to my core."
"I knew it," Sendor grimaced. "Reversing a failed breakthrough is not something a C-grade brand can accomplish. Removing wounds doesn't break the balance as you'd heal anyhow. What you're asking for is a reversal of fate similar to resurrection. I would need the strength of my true body, provided I was even willing to pay the price for you."
"Not when you have this," Zac said as he pointed at the hourglass.
Sendor wordlessly looked at the hourglass for a moment before sighing. "It looks like that little lass bet everything on you. Are you aware of what this is?"
"I am," Zac said. "And I will repay her."
"So long as you know," Sendor nodded. "Your idea has ramifications. Old Man River will notice this. Notice you. If he wills it, time will move in his direction. Your Karmic protection will not work if you're the one extending a hand. Even then, there's not enough to undo the damage that's been done."
"I'll take what I can get," Zac said. "As for the senior, I'll just have to add him to my list of entanglements and debts."
"Very well. That old codger probably won't bother with you in the short run. He's content waiting for the Zenith like most of the old guard," Sendor said as a thread of light entered the hourglass. "Direct it into place and I'll do the rest."
Zac dragged the hourglass into his body and through the Quantum Space's hatch. Time reversed, and the desolation began teeming with Life and death. Scorched ash became debris radiating barely contained power. However, the hourglass was losing sand quicker than the debris was restored. Just ten seconds later, the last grain reached the central container, and the hourglass winked out of existence like it had never been there.
"That's all I can do," Sendor said, his avatar almost entirely translucent. "The rest will be up to you."
The hourglass hadn't managed to return any pieces that left his body. While regrettable, it was a huge improvement from before. His state was roughly between the first and second bolt. It was still bad, with almost 15% of his core lost. Any core he built on such shaky foundations was bound to have problems.
But so what? That was a problem all Mortals faced. Zac was confident he could find enough treasures to repair today's damage, like the water he got from the Endemyre Sage. So long as his core could produce and release energy, he could keep forging ahead.
"Wait!" Zac said, realizing Sendor's apparition was about to disappear after having expended all the sigil's energy. "The Eternal, her sacrifice. Can you tell me anything about it?"
"You've met that dusty old spirit, haven't you? I knew the Terminus Council wouldn't be able to sit still after you popped up," Sendor laughed.
The Realm Spirit was gone by the time he'd finished the sentence. Zac was still happy with the clue Sendor provided on his way out. For one, there was the mention of the Terminus Council again, and it sounded like Wal'Zo was part of it. Secondly, Sendor didn't seem too worried about it.
Zac still had some misgivings about incorporating the heritage of the Stellar Wanderers into his unified method, but Sendor's calm made him calm in turn. Maybe he could treat it like what he'd taken from the Sangha. Worrying about the details of his plan would have to wait. The clock had been reset, and he needed to take advantage.
It wasn't difficult to localize what he needed. The Void Realm was literally overflowing with materials already refined by his bloodline.
Comments
rene kaminawash
Finally time to get caught up
ajijola yemi
I am starting to hate the nuns so much for being impartial . They hate Zac for helping his sector but help yselio who is as even as can come
Aiden
I agree
Douglas Davis
For the love of gods...between the heavens, the system, the thrones, the pillars, the courts, Ultom, the terminus council, old man river, the tapestry of fate, etc etc etc etc could someone create a spread sheet and chain of command (flow chart) defining each of these components and how they are related to each other? The complexity of this system has left me behind and frankly most of these things aren't even well defined in the story thus far.
Christian Conway
I appreciate the update big dog.
Michael Fannon
Thanks for the update. Sucks, but better knowing. You're doing the lord's work.
Jeff McCulley
Okay, thanks. I was getting worried about TFD.
The Lost Pages
Greatly appreciate you posting this
Omiso
Thanks for the info, shame about the chapter.
Alexander
NOOOO 😥🥲😓
Preston Rose
PSA per discord - no chapter today, chapter early tomorrow instead
Justin Durst
About an hour and a half ago, he posted on Discord no chapter today, be out early tomorrow. Had a migraine most of the day.
Kevin Squalls
reload,....reload,......reload,....
DannyO
Yeah, just couldn't remember for sure. He's been updating so regularly between 2-3pm my time, that it made me second guess myself
Dro
Let him cook - Friday chapter after all this gonna be hype
Porter
I think it is yhe inverse of the reality created by the Eternal and those others, the Stellar Wanderers. Or perhaps that is the void realm, and void mountain is the discards of the Dao refinements every Era leaves behind.
Lex Luther S
He usually updates on if the chapter will be delayed a day or if no chapter. Since we've gotten no info, it's likely we'll get it today. Could be that what he's cooking this chapter got outta hand or needs extra detail.
Lex Luther S
Ohh always expect that cliff to show.
K S
Same here, F5
Killinger Ryan
Be ready for the cliff..
DannyO
There's a chapter today right?
Lex Luther S
Man this chapter is rather late. Got me on the edge of my seat.
Tyler
Vai was Zac's companion for part of the Void Star. Leyara is Vai's neice.
Justin Durst
Leyara is The Void Priestess's disciple and Pretty Peak's friend from both The Tower of Eternity and from the Void Star when Zac finds Ogras and Billy and Gemmy. The flame is The Flame of Destiny, from chapter 1176.
Kaladin
Which one was Layara, was it his fellow hegemon from the tower and the void place. Was it her Aunt/head lady (monarch?) of the void place. Or was it the lady who was on the ship that appeared invisible to most of the people and acted like an advisor? Also what was the flame thing you're referring to that she took and changed her?
Rouslan Tourtsev
That's probably also true of the terminus council. The system seems to warn zac about the terminus and protect him at critical times. The terminus council is likely trying to guide the course of events/history and have an agenda separate from the system. It would be interesting to know what reason led the limitless emperor in setting up the system and if it was a balancing agent to the interference of the terminus council.
Darnell Maxwell
YES!!! I want to throw a dictionary through the skull of all these faction leaders before dropping a 9 stage tribulation on them! In TFD's defense. We have gotten moments of revenge that gave me a large amount of catharsis. Such as when Ogras returned to his homeplanet to slaughter his family. I just do hope we get more. The real issue is that Zac isn't as petty as me. He's far more willing to forgive and forget. Which is why so many people think he'll be given control of the Zecia sector when this war ends. Personally I say F that. I want him to have a couple planets around ensolus when it gets fully integrated in that section between the undead and living factions. Then move with all the important people someplace close to the heartlands. But before he makes that journey, I want a slaughter😠😈☠️☠️. I still haven't forgotten about that faction of humans that enslaved the people of earth. Or those elves that used the bell and slaughtered all the human slaves they had before piling the bodies to piss off Zac. I haven't forgotten about the Tsarun clan putting a bounty on him, or the church of everlasting dao for everything they did. And then there's the enemies Zac doesn't know about. He knows about the Great Redeemer, but doesn't know that several high ranking members of Alvod's clan supported his experiments. Both morally and financially, they gotta go. And this is just my hit list of factions in the frontier. (I know the church of everlasting dao is a top tier faction that just has an outpost in the frontier. I'm saying he should slaughter that outpost.) I have a list long enough to cover a whole arc for when Zac becomes a supremacy and claims the authority over the peak of chaos that the remnants have held onto for millennia. And at the top of that fucking is list is that GODDAMN FISH! I COMING FOR YOU OROM! I don't care how good your arc was, you killed dozens of characters I liked in your escape and I still haven't forgiven that!
Amani
I love how Yselio believes his in control of what’s happening around Zac. His above it all, going with his gut instinct and believes he will come out benefiting. While I can’t wait for him to discover his a pawn for Zac’s progression
Rabauke
I'm so on the h8 train, didn't stepped out of it since the beginning of the war arc. Especially about the so called law of balance. It seems that the rules only apply for the weak and it felt like if all this big factions can do what they want with no consequences. There are no backlashes, no one who's stepping up for zac, just one bs scheme after another. The problem about this feeling is just that I always thought that hegemony would be a big deal and Zac could bully some brats and just be on the higher ground for one time. Now there is this war where everyone is a big shot, the barriers from the system to prevent the big big shots to meddle with the youngsters are like a please don't step on the lawn sign and now there is the vigil. I know it's all about struggle and defiance of the heavens but just for one time could it be like in the good old days like in the twilight ocean where there was all of this but it was also fun and adventures and bad ass heavens choosen clapping left and right.
Caelum
And a way to make a clear line of who's side Miss Froggie is on. She always came off as somewhat self serving, but her actions of late have proven otherwise
Michael
Something that occurred to me after rereading this. For a while we have operated on the assumption that the Void is just the inverse of the Dao. The last few chapters hint that the Void is actually the inverse of the unity between Dao, Law, and Destiny. Given that it unravels all three and is propped up by all three. So what are the opposites of Law and Destiny? I’d argue Chaos, and Free Will fit those definitions. The main question now is, if Dao Law and Destiny were created from the existences of three Ancient Arcana, what created the Void?
Hartmann
I have to say that Yselio having a completed Flamebearer Seal and getting gifted something connected to Ultom by Leyara with zero effort somehow devalues Zac's incredible effort and risks overcome. I hope Zac's core upgrade somehow swallows that Ultom treasure by accident and the Elder Foreign God for good measure. Just to spite Leyara.
darkkingrayley
I think it’s more that the “Heavens” (all seven minus one previously existing heaven) are seen as the torchbearers for Humanity, Orthodoxy, and in the opinions of the few first person POV’s the Limitless Empire. So it’s natural that a lot of other powerful factions would side with them. The narrative fits and the fact that they are Uber powerful basically forces other factions to fall in line? That’s my understanding.
K S
Thanks, I was wondering where I heard that name before.
Jeff McCulley
No, they aren’t. He’s even used Rapturous Divide again since.
Darnell Maxwell
Rapturous Beginning and Sonorous End are the upgraded form of Rapturous Divide. The skill was so GOATED that just upgrading it would have been a waste. So he split it into two seperate skills. One for each class. And just like Zac, the skill doesn't showcase it's full power unless both of his classes are working together.
Jeff McCulley
That still wasn’t an upgrade to Rapturous Divide. It was combining two different skills using his two bodies to take out the Autarchs. Rapturous Divide is still sitting there, IIRC. Might have been upgraded since, but that wasn’t Rapturous Divide, my friend.
Jeff McCulley
Thanks. Fixed. That’s what I get for jumping back and forth commenting on two Patreons at the same time. 🤣 And the names are structurally similar, on top of it. 🙃
Darnell Maxwell
I've been real negative lately so time for some praise before people start believing that I actually dislike the story. 1) Still loving the book covers. Each one looks more epic than the last. 2) THANK YOU, for how Kator died. I know I've been harping on the finishers but I am happy that Arcaz killed him! It wasn't the remnants, no deal with the system, no technocrat coming in to steal the kill. Sure Arcaz used a seal to teleport Kator into a pocket dimension. But it didn't do any real damage. It was just to keep Kator from opening a time chamber that would have killed both of Zac's body. And it stopped any other outside interference bs that Kator might have had up his sleeve. It showed that Zac and Arcaz are finally at a point where when the chips are down. When all the hidden bs treasures, seals and talismans have been exhausted. And it's just Zac up against another Eonic Seed. He has reached a point where he can actually win. He still has to exhaust all those hidden means, but it's nice to see that he now stands a chance against these guys without relying on the system, remnants, or sendor to save him. (I know sendor showed up, that was just so that we didn't need to do some two year time skip of Zac fixing his core. It had no impact on the fight.) 3) Thank You again for giving the upgrade to Rapturous Divide the respect it deserves. That has nothing to do with this chapter, but thinking about Zac using it to cripple 4 fucking autarchs puts a smile on my face everytime I think about it😁. 4) Joanna and Carl are gems and every moment of shine they've gotten this arc has been magical. Now I can't wait to see how much Zac is able to steal from this place before he blows it up. As always, in Ogras name we pray. Amen.
Jeff McCulley
@JJ Bb: “This realm would last until his breakthrough was over at the longest, most likely failing much sooner than that. After that, it would return to its original inaccessible state.”
Jeff McCulley
Now wondering if he sucked those into a parallel Imperial Realm. Why can’t he have both?
Darnell Maxwell
Zac Also, cool idea.
Darnell Maxwell
Exactly, so I have zero excuse to stop my noble mission!
Jeff McCulley
Found myself wondering if Sendor wound back the time on that, too.
Jeff McCulley
Well, you’re not going to get canceled, so not much risk, is there? You be you, Darnell.
Jeff McCulley
Here’s a thought. I went “Oh, duh” when I came up with it. We now now that Zac’s bloodline has been sucking materials and treasures into his (/a) Void Realm all of these years. “His Void Realm”, or “A Void Realm”? Anyway… So, what if all the Imperial Faith and treasures he just inhaled actually went into…a parallel Imperial Realm?
Jeff McCulley
Even his own people are fatalistic about dying. Pun intended. Unlike the Imperials knockoffs.
Jeff McCulley
So…basically just like every other faction in the multiverse. And it’s more like, “Everyone we’ve MET hates them.” Kruta and the Undead because they are (or have been) in wars with them. Others are more indifferent.
Darnell Maxwell
Damn right I am! I'm like Zac during the first year of the integration. Only while he was willing to regularly risk his life to gain resources and power up. I'm willing to risk getting canceled with every opinion I vocalize in these comments section. And just like how Zac made some missteps in hindsight like bringing Kenzie's friend onto the island. Or not having his mental defense skill active when taking down incursions. I've made mistakes of my own. Like when I thought Tavza was gonna screw Zac over, or when I thought he wouldn't puck an arcane class for D Grade. However, just like how Zac never gave up the good fight, neither will I! If Zac can continue risking his life to make sure his people survive. Then I'm more than willing to risk my reputation to open people's eye's to the truth.🫡
Lex Luther S
It's no longer unsalvageable. Sendor, using that Hourglass, rewinded the damage to where zac lost about 15% of his core instead of the more than half he lost. As for the treasures, in his void realm already refined, I don't think they're refined into void treasures but refined in a way that they can be used.
Amani
I was also not happy that his core became unsalvageable, but I now think it's for the better since he can now add void treasure to it in the void space he can now go to which should help it improve. but TFD isn't the trail about to start in a few months? and people take years to improve their cores? BUT somehow Zac is going to fix his quickly? idk sometime i think TFD over exaggerates Zacs state and somehow finds loopholes to fix it.
Amani
Yea! it's kind of sad Leyara has basically died since she no longer is herself. Her master had Zac visit her for a one-one after the void events, which after she said that was all she could do to help leyara! I am sure it has to do with something that happens later on in the trial when Zac will have to either save her or let her die.
Collin Sorrells
🤣 you're always so salty homie, but I'm here for it 😭
Kass
I actually dropped out of Patreon for awhile because I found it hard to keep track of which Zac was which. I listen to the story - Audible and then voice to text from Patreon. I would get part way through a chapter and realize it was the other Zac. Plus the Y name confusion and the story was getting more and more complex and hard to follow verbally. About 6 months later I listened to all 12 books again and then read the Patreons so I could jump back in the story when needed.
D
I don’t understand Leyara situation. Didn’t she just come back into the story for the first time since the void star dungeons
Lex Luther S
Well, concerning the vigil, they really had been neutral as far as we knew until now. Leyara, whatever that so called flame of hope did to her, it made her a traitor not only to the zecia sector but also zac and that debt will come home to roost soon enough. The vigils debt will be put on hold but we all know zac isn't one to let go of such a grudge, especially as it endangered his followers and mission to save the zecia sector. As for the undead empire; well, arcaz needs a strong enough backer till he reaches supremacy and the abyssal shores will be exactly that. Same for Iz and her family for Zac, after he makes off with the whole ass pillar🤣😅🤣 he'll definitely need someone crazy enough to take him in. But in the end, they will ultimately willingly join his empire after he reaches supremacy. At that point he'll be so broken that only thrones and seals could hope to take him on and with his empire being basically the next coming of the limitless empire, it's rather apt he takes in the undead with their eternal war against the living and a crazy family like the tyans.
Lex Luther S
It seems they're still fighting. My guess is the command seal zac could influence was destroyed but the ones already engraved on their cores are staying active.
Darnell Maxwell
🙄🙄🙄 First off, thank you for the explanation. Gonna need to copy and paste this somewhere for later. I know I'll have to explain all of this when my friends get here after listening to the audible release. Second, I would like to point out that the main reason people were against calling the draugr body Arcaz and the human body Zac instead of calling both Zac was that it would be too confusing. Yet stuff like this is already in the story and apparently not confusing at all.
Darnell Maxwell
I need to start keeping receipts or at least writing down the chapters where I leave comments that get me chewed out. I remember talking about how all these factions should go to the underworld. How all of them had the most bs sense of balance I have ever seen. How these empires will happily rip apart the tapestries of fate and karma to steal every drop of providence from Zac. Yet Zac is the greedy one when he asks these A grade factions for d grade treasures as recompense for failing to kill and rob him. I called out the Buddhist Sangha, Undead Empire and The Vigil all specifically. And all I heard back was "oh that's just a small faction of the Buddhist Sangha. It was just the 84 reincarnations targeting Zac with that sutra. Oh it was just one small part of the undead empire plotting against Zac. Oh the vigil has been neutral so far. You can't put the stellar laddar incident on them. Just because they're secretive, you can't assume they're plotting against him" Wake up and smell the cosmic coffee! All these factions aint shit and they all deserve to burn🔥🔥😈😈🔥🔥!!!!!! Whenever a secret society says they want to stay neutral. That just means they don't want to be held responsible for their actions. And that they will only act when they see the potential for massive benefit with little to no risk for thier personal interests.
Rabauke
The pope got his hands on an daughter array I think and is from the heartlands. He knew the princeling and they schemed together in harmony. With the connection to the 7th heaven and the oh so neutral vigil I think it was easy to track Zacs movements etc.
Kaladin
What is the status of the various foreign gods and puppets? He raised two to go destroy the enemy but his commands appeared to be destroyed, not sure if the imprint stayed on them to attack the Pope then continue on. Also what about the puppet from this chapter, is this the main one Zac saw and didn't have enough energy to rouse earlier?
Hartmann
The Tobrial Dynasty and Leyara are portrayed as way too informed and powerful. Wasn't the Centurion project secret. How do they know where everything important is and how does a Late Hegemon and Early Monarch have the ability to gaze into the heart of the base?
Jonas Lemke
The core time reversal leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, what's the point of having his core degraded to such a degree if its just gonna be reversed? It's just a way for Zach to lose Sendor's second seal before the trial, which I'm happy about
M💬
Good guys ?? I thought it was all for show. That they are nice on the surface but terrible people that will kill anyone that encroaches on their power as the leading force of the multiverse …
Tartlet
Zac this chappy: Sendor-senpai 🥺🥺🥺 I really spanked myself this time 😅🙂↕️I need your heals so bad 🥵 see this hourglass 😘 would you to use it to reverse the damage to my core UwU 🥹 omg gossip on the way out‽ 😈 You’re SO bad! ❤️❤️❤️
Kass
This explains why I am confused!! I went back a few times to try to sort these out but I just kept getting more confused.
Matthew Hay
I don't think they're taking the B-grade guardian. I think they're stealing the main treasure of the Starfall Court before the main Ultom event, which happens to be stored directly beneath the B-grade guardian.
Matthew Hay
The Y names of the 7th Heaven are quite confusing and even TFD seems to have some trouble keeping track. Right now it's Yrin's body w/ parts of Yselio and Yzum. Yselio seems to have the most control if not total control of the personality. In 1261 the chapter is from Sorothom's perspective so he refers to him as the princling or Yrin Tobrial. There is a mistake in this chapter where Yrin is misspelled Yvin. In this chapter from Yselio's perspective, he refers to himself as Yselio. There is again a single occurrence of Yvin (in place of Yselio this time). This is a bad misspelling because Ylvin is in the same scene, but this instance should be Yselio not Ylvin. Yselio is the first prince, first seen in 1103. Yrin is the second prince, first seen in 1158. In 1216 there is one occurrence where this is mistakenly replaced w/ Yzum, when Yzum is talking to Yselio + Yrin. This mistake is also particularly confusing because it's when we're learning about the 3 person unity thing for the first time. Yzum is the third prince, first seen in 1216. Ylvin is the Monarch Dao guardian first mentioned in 1103. There are several occurrences of Yrvin in the same chapter but I think this is a misspelling. He is also misspelled as Yvlin in 1136, and Ylivin in 1158. So we have a multiple personality scenario, with misspellings, mistaken swaps of names, and other relevant characters with very similar names.
Collin Sorrells
Ahhhh... That makes sense thank you.
austin kutz
Dudes dead dead. Way more dead than before. He was in a special space within a special space, inside an authorities tribulation, inside an enormous storm of chaotic space. And he'd destroyed his connections with the Undead Empire to avoid punishment for breaking their agreement with Zac. No one who could save him would be willing and no one that would be willing could.
Mike Naka
The 7 Heavens are the good guys? From my remembrance, I thought everybody hated them.
austin kutz
Locate, not localize
Amani
So it’s true Kator is really dead wow! I didn’t want to believe it at first.
Matthew Hay
Heart whammy, like the Sangha
Mike Naka
@JM Hopefully Ogras will F the Pope over by adding him to his flag. Ogras needs an epic moment. But it's 1 in a million.
Mike Naka
Busted your cherry!
Tyler S.
He forced open this Void domain using the laws and imperial faith with a bit of extra ultom enlightenment to solidify the space in his core advancement bubble. These are not poweres he will be able to use again and he will need more power to do it himself, possibly after another bloodline evolution
PapaJaypes
Nice!
Tyler S.
His draugr body enacted the void domain while his life body was still in the fortress, when the last bolt struck it went for his life body that used the void mt to counter while he transitioned into the shrine of Kanba and the bolt followed. The Void domain is where everything from F grade that his body swallowed is placed so memory steel mt, all the treasures from Twilight casm, and everything taken in the spear now base
Tyler S.
The flame of hope she went into probably had some heart/mental commands that would restrict her actions, so probably some brain wammy
Jeff McCulley
Zac still has messes to clean up before we see any numbers, I’m pretty sure. Including finishing his core and upgrade, the pope and (I think) Yselio. Maybe more than that?
JJ Bb
When were we told he wasn't able to come back anytime soon? I think I missed that.
Spagay Tittie
He got one brand for each body. I forgot as well and had to re-check.
Will Mill
Lex, we are glad to hear it was false anger. We were concerned about your blood pressure there for a moment.
Collin Sorrells
I was surprised by sendor... I thought he already used the sendor brand before?
Jeff McCulley
Some of you are overreacting to Leyara’s appearance. The shortest route to explain that is simply… A. WE know that Yselio is evil. B. The REST of the multiverse doesn’t. C. In many contexts, the “Seven Heavens” are considered the good guys—and the Vigilante are likely generally aligned with them—because of their connection to the Empire. D. Note also that “nuns” and “templars” are doubtless even more closely aligned.
Blake N.
He hasn’t referred to him as Arcaz except in dialogue since the split happened in the first place. The author calls both Zac, it’s only other characters that distinguish
Jeff McCulley
No, it doesn’t.
Jay Fowler
I’m ready to see some numbers! Ladder numbers , contribution . Anything at this point. Should be satisfying
Jeff McCulley
There is no brain whammy.
Sirloki
Pretty sure it was Leyara's master that put the brain whammy on her since she expressed her desire to screw over Zac way back after the first imperial torch launch
Sirloki
I'm sure Time While Voided will be a factor on that as well. Some of that stuff has been there quite a bit. . .
George
yselio lied about being yrin, and after he died the triplets were fused into an unholy abomination and he's leading it right now
Stephen Taylor
This is also Zac using an ace, and time was used against him by Kator, so it fits IMO
Jeff McCulley
What it’s saying is simply what he’ll be facing at his next breakthroughs, when they roll around. Simply explaining why he’s getting an extra one right now.
Kass
I’m confused the Yselio is still alive. Yrin was facing down the Pope. How did Yselio stumble through the gate? Isn’t Yselio dead?
FarStryder
He moved on from that to all out. Vortex looting
Lex Luther S
Arcaz is in the void realm, while zac is in the main dimension. Honestly, TFD needs to start using Zacs draugr alias when talking about them and their together.
FarStryder
He's been able to do that since he was stuck in space right before the monarch picked him up
FarStryder
He's gonna go right through taking the five at peak and then onto Monarchy and the 2 cycle. At least that's how it reads
FarStryder
"Zac suspected it was building toward a two-cycle tribulation for his attempt at Monarchy, meaning he'd have to face five bolts at Peak Hegemony and six when erecting his Inner World."
FarStryder
Just going by what sendor said. Could be wrong though. Ki da think he's breaking through though. Gonna have to fight to Prince for the elder.god and it's arcane treasure. We will see. Guessing there's a reason an elder God was left for zac suck the life out of
Jeff McCulley
Thanks for the chapter!
Jeff McCulley
Wait and see what happens, to. Pretty sure she’s about to f*** Yselio over. After all, no way he deserves to get goodies that rightfully belong to Zac and Ogras.
Thomas Todd
His current breakthrough is for late hegemony so late d grade
Michael
He might not be able to go back until after monarchy. Doesn’t mean things won’t be able to come out though.
Jeff McCulley
Making the breakthrough to Late Hegemony.
FarStryder
Lol wouldn't we all like to know
Jeff McCulley
Well, one limit is that he’s not coming back anytime soon. We’ve already been told that.
Jeff McCulley
Pretty sure all of that was sucked here into the Void Realm. He just did it intentionally for once, and not just his bloodline running the show.
Jeff McCulley
Technically, one is Zac-ra. I’m sure the Power of Grayskull comes into the equation somewhere.
Hartmann
It will only be bad for the current generation of Throne and Seal's. The uncertainty is exactly what the Eternal and Stellar Wanderers wanted and also should be the Vigil's mission.
Rabauke
Which grade is Zac at the moment?
Aaron Schwartz
To be fair if I understand what’s happening even a little, then the balance that they’re talking about, going out of whack will result in some genuinely cataclysmic shit. I’m not sure what form it would take, but it seems like it would be bad for almost everyone in the entire cosmos.
Mike Naka
Well...guess they're both Zac
Mike Naka
I thought Zac was in the base, and Arcaz in the Void Realm.
Mike Naka
I thought that was how he was fixing the base.
Lex Luther S
It's in the rubble of the void world.
Lex Luther S
Until the next chapter, we won't know the limits of the void space.
Lex Luther S
No, zac did not attempt monarchy. "suspected it was building toward a two-cycle tribulation for his attempt at Monarchy, meaning he'd have to face five bolts at Peak Hegemony and six when erecting his Inner World". The "attempt at monarchy" line is because every ignition is a step in perfecting their core and its proto space for monarchy. As for why there's an extra tribulation, it's because as mentioned, the tribulations are building towards a Two-cycle tribulation. 3 for middle hegemony. 4 for late hegemony. 5 for Peak hegemony. 6 or a Two-cycle tribulation for his breakthrough into monarchy.
Mike Naka
How can the hourglass be in the rubble when last chapter it was in the Void Realm? Am I missing something?
Thomas Laptain
It sounds like, from the berry end there, he's about to go find some treasures that have been sucked into the void, for what that's worth.
Lex Luther S
You know it's not genuine anger right? The only emotion I'm feeling is extreme annoyance. These void sigil FUCKERS have repeatedly spouted their rule about not involving themselves yet here Leyara and the void sigil are. They've not only put their finger on the scales but completely flipped the whole board on it's head all in the name of keeping some paltry balance and worry about the heavens.
Andrew
Thank you!
DannyO
Also, what happened with him 'opening vortices all over the base' and starting to suck everything up? Even on reread I'm unclear on what the point of that was. Originally thought it might be how he gets the raw materials to fix his core, but obviously that didn't happen.
DannyO
With all the extreme energies and unsurpassed treasures flying around; stellar dust, faith, void realm debris, laws, Insights, kators ring, the kill energy. etc, I think we we were all expecting Zac to find a clever and satisfying way to deal with his core. So let's just say time reversal is not what I was expecting. Otherwise great chapter though.
Lex Luther S
This just shows they are hypocritical fucks that only care about their mission and they'll do whatever it takes in the name of "keeping fate on track". Even becoming traitors. The so called flame of hope is supposed to annual Leyara in their purpose and mission and it seems to have made her a traitor that'll sell out zac and his ONE shot at saving the zecia sector all in the name of keeping fate on track. Unfortunately for her, the void star and the sigil, the wrath they'll face when this all comes to light in the trial will see them, and their so-called purpose eventually become fuel for zacs path. After all, there is NO conceivable reason why helping yselio and the 7th heaven get access to the strongest Eternal guardian keeps fate in line and the heavens stable.
Michael
So this means pulling treasures into the void automatically refines them now? So basically exactly like Karz’s Dao refining power. That feels pretty significant. He can just inhale every supreme treasure he senses and align it to the void.
Hartmann
Thankfully Old Man River is a friend of the Tayns. Mozius mentioned him.
Dylan Alexander
Never seen someone that angry over a story before.
FarStryder
That's also why Augraus made the "You ...." comment.
StuBee3
Very cool, thanks!
Enthoney
2 cycle tribulations should only happen within Monarchy, but it is happening to Zac in Hegemony
FarStryder
I think he tried but couldn't due to kator. That's why there is extra tribulations. Sendor mentioned it as a failed attempt
PapaJohn
still iffy about the vigil but Leyara's situation is just sad imo
Kevin Squalls
I had the same question, but I think that's what's happening!!!
Lex Luther S
No. The bit about the tribulations getting worse is for when he breaks through to those grades. Like to peak hegemony and beyond.
Dranek19
Zac going for monarchy did I read that right?
Lex Luther S
Fuck man the VOID sigil are nothing but hypocritical FUCKS. And LEYARA God damn you🤬🤬🤬🤬. ZAC is doing ALL OF THIS to ensure the zecia sectors survival but the void sigil and their PALTRY mission have done nothing but whinge and bitch at zacs actions. Blaming him when he does what he can with the cards he's dealt. Blaming him as some rudderless Storm meant to be CONTAINED. HE IS THE DEVIANT ASURA, THE SON OF CHAOS!! and HE. WILL. NOT. BE. CONTAINED. Ultimately, the void sigils' DEBT will come calling and zac will not relent. He will claim them all and their mission will become nothing but FUEL for his path. And helping yselio. Helping them gain the Fate and necessary resources to reach the base🤬😡😡🤬 and helping them get the ETERNAL GUARDIAN??? Leyara, you spout that zac no longer has any connection to you yet that is NOT for you to decide. ZACs fate and path is determined by himself and he won't follow ANYONE'S whines but instead drag you and that PALTRY Flame of hope into his inescapable maw. Mark my words, you're debt and the void stars debt will come calling soon enough. Now, the fallout of zacs breakthrough. Man ohhh man to think there'd be nothing salvageable left😕. Honestly, TFD, don't you be crippling our bois growth with some bullshit like a busted core. Thankfully, the Hourglass and Sendors' aid rewinded the the worst of the damage, but it also makes me wonder about the Old Man River. For him to be able to decide the whims of fate and zacs life leaves a bad taste in my mouth but zacs luck will likely come through for him. Now, hopefully his void world will have the treasures and resources necessary to reforge his core into a High quality Late stage core. And damn, it seems Esmeralda really put it all on the line for Zac. Meaning zac owes her a great debt, one he'll repay no matter what it takes.
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Andy
So do we like the vigil or hate them? What about Leyara?
Seaspike
Second, you mean??
Alexander Hallonblad
Locate?
Collin Sorrells
Hmmm.... I've never been a big fan of time reversal gimmicks in this style, but this isn't so bad.... Hopefully the core formation is cool or has something special.
SmokeJam
Time for nom nom round 3
Bryce H.
Thank you!!!
Enthoney
Oooooohh!!!!! It has happened!!!
slicktracy
First
Enthoney
First
