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Chapter 1,252.
🕑 Added 2024-05-15 19:16:32 +0000 UTC"Damn, these things are relentless! Grass should know its place," Kruta swore as he released a halo of flames. "Would you hurry up?"
"It'd go faster if you stopped disrupting my Domain with your outbursts," Catheya snarled as waves of fiery warmth put further pressure on her [Black Ice Cosmos].
She knew Kruta didn't have much of a choice since they were being attacked from every direction, and her actions were undeniably the reason they were under attack. Catheya still found it difficult to rein in her frustration over the situation. Being separated from Zac and the others was already bad enough. Adding the vibrant environment that felt like nettles on her soul, she was already about to blow a gasket.
She'd even prefer the corruption to the burgeoning life and Stellar Energy exuded by the jungle around them. [Three Purities] had proven quite effective at limiting its corrosion, and it was only a matter of time before she figured out the right cadence to have [Black Ice Cosmos] reject the taint while keeping the insights.
Catheya channeled her anger into digging into the steel-like roots barring her path. Finally, she found what had triggered her sensation. It was a bulbous pod hidden within one of the ridge's main roots. Cutting it open with a blade of ice exposed two rows of seeds that emitted an irresistible aura.
Extracting the pod made the frantic resistance taper off. The roots retreated into the ridge, curling up for protection. Kruta looked like a fiery God of War as he tore off the last sets of branches restraining him before jumping over.
"How practical. They immediately slunk away to conserve energy after losing the prize," Kruta hummed. "This is it?"
Catheya took a calming breath before extracting one of the seeds from the pod. "Here, don't choke on it."
"Girl, staring at me with those spooky eyes won't work," the orc grinned while inspecting the frozen seed. "Kruta has lived through far scarier things than you. Have you ever seen a mountain range destroyed by spittle?"
"Quick, before it's too late," Catheya said with exasperation.
Kruta threw it into his mouth with a laugh, almost failing to swallow it from the surprise. "These plants can store the insights?"
"Don't get too excited. The mountain is still our target," Catheya reminded.
"I know, I know. These outer pods aren't enough to help us anyway," Kruta nodded. "More importantly, it confirms our suspicion. The plants in this jungle are really feeding on the purple muck. No wonder this place is completely clean."
The two had been deposited in a dead sector of the base, where plants had taken over everything. There were no rooms nor arrays. Even the "sky" was verdant green. Since they were in an enormous open space eclipsing the "ring-world" Zac once described, Catheya deduced they'd either been sent to a residential section or Spiritual Farms. Such quarters would have the proper arrays and materials necessary to kickstart such a transformation.
Dozens of meters of vengeful overgrowth made it nigh impossible to say for certain, though the lack of ruins or defining structures made Catheya lean toward the latter. Catheya also suspected the species bred here had been modified to be resilient against the Dead Dao of the Lost Plane. With eons of expansion and mutation, resistance had evolved into predation.
It was the only explanation as to why the air was so utterly void of purple mist. The plants were taking it all in, somehow turning it into sustenance without being corrupted themselves. And if seeds at the level of Peak F-grade Natural Treasures appeared on the periphery, what would they find in the center?
Catheya glanced at the towering mountain a few hours about. The jungle on its slopes was the densest one Catheya had ever seen. In fact, it shouldn't be a mountain at all. The plants had simply kept growing because of the boundless energy provided by the structure within.
"Doesn't this mean our plan ought to be changed?" Kruta said.
"This again?" Catheya said with a raised brow.
"I'm not saying we should turn back. We knew these guys were feeding on Stellar Energy," the orc said as he kicked at the ridge they'd been rushing along for the past hours. "The only reason root systems will form such unnaturally straight hogbacks is if there's something tasty along the route. Energy channels beneath the surface make the most sense."
"And the source has to be that thing," Catheya said, pointing at the mountain. "The generator can't be completely dead—the ambient Stellar Energy has to come from somewhere. There is certainly enough to teleport away, seeing how root systems this far are benefiting."
"Provided there's a teleporter to use," Kruta nodded. "But now we've found stockpiled insights this far out. There must be a huge amount of corruption hidden inside the mountain. Who knows how that'll affect the plants? What if there are Qriz'Ul Plant Emperors waiting for us? Ones smart enough to see us flying over."
"That's a possibility," Catheya aceeded.
"So why not start looking for alternatives?" Kruta said. "Such a large construct ought to have supporting structures. If we dig around the periphery, we might find a service tunnel or such."
"Who knows how long that will take? This place is huge," Catheya said. "We can split up if you feel it's too dangerous."
Kruta rolled his eyes. "Kruta isn't blind. There's another reason you're insisting on this route. If you want my help, you need to properly explain things first. If you treat me as an outsider, that's what I'll become."
Catheya slowly nodded. "…I'm sorry, you're right. I have another reason to go there. We've already seen how the base is only semi-operational. The teleportation gate was lacking energy, and the precautions against the corruption have clearly failed."
"Ah? You're not looking for a teleporter? You want to fix up the power plant?" Kruta gawked.
"Why not?" Catheya said. "Let's face it. We're not finding the others anytime soon, even if there's a functional gate waiting for us. Just a single wing is the size of a world, not to mention the tower in the center. So, I'm looking for ways to help Zac from afar. Restoring the energy supply is my only option, so that's what I'll do. I've expected it to be extremely dangerous since the start, so I planned on sending you away first."
Kruta looked at Catheya with awe. "You know how to fix Stellar Extractors?"
"Well, no," Catheya blushed. "But I know how to freeze plants and rip out roots that have gotten stuck in the machinery. I'm hoping that'll be enough. You'd be even better at it if you decided to join me. You're a natural weed whacker."
"It would be nice to be the one burning down a mountain for once," Kruta mused.
A tremendous shockwave coming out of nowhere made the whole jungle come alive. Catheya urgently transformed her domain, focusing on erasing their traces. The two looked on in stupor as shimmering fractures spread across the mountain. Cascading flames filled with Stellar Energy poured out of the cracks, perfectly resembling a volcano eruption.
Smaller bursts took place along the dozens of ridges moving out of the mountain. It had to be the energy circuits below being overloaded by the sudden surge. Thankfully, the even spacing of the flames indicated the activation of release valves rather than damage to the channels.
"Was that us?" Kruta whispered, fearfully looking at the pod still in Catheya's hands. "It was just a couple of seeds."
"Impossible," Catheya frowned. "Something's happened elsewhere. Has the extractor received orders to draw more energy? Or is it the sun acting out, causing additional strain?"
"Uh, so you're still—"
"Yes. More than ever." Catheya threw away the pod and rushed forth, even activating a movement skill.
"I knew it," the orc lamented as he caught up. "Like husband, like wife."
-----------
The utmost limit of exuberant joy was crushed with a thought, dragging it down to the depths of despair. The vast yet unrefined consciousness trembled from the sudden turn. Some of it darkened to never light up again, unable to endure the heart-wrenching rollercoaster.
A trickle of ichor ran down Vilari's nose. It was part of the prize she had to pay. Only by stepping into the extremities of the Seven Sensation herself could she convey it to the enormous mind. Practicing [Ember of the Seven Sensations] couldn't fully inure her from the effect. A few times wouldn't cause her any harm. Keeping it up for eight straight hours was another matter.
She ignored the agony, using it as fuel as she began another cycle.
"It's futile."
Vilari glanced at the severed puppet head placed on the altar. "You said the same thing when I faced you and your thralls. Now they're scrap maintaining the connection."
She had been shocked to come face to face with the goal of their journey the moment she stepped through the gate. The fleshy power exuded from the slumbering giant below was beyond Vilari's comprehension. She was certain the giant could rip apart stars with its bare hands without relying on energy or skills. Without the faded runes covering its rough skin, its mere aura might have caused a spatial collapse.
It was the embodiment of Body Refinement, especially since it lacked a mind or heart. Or at least it was supposed to. Seeing a group of Qriz'Ul Puppets maintain a complex array that interfaced with the puppet was more alarming than facing its tyrannical aura. There'd been no time to worry about why the others had been alone. She'd been forced to go all out to take out the group of puppets and interrupt the ritual.
She was lucky, in a sense. All sixteen puppets were clearly once C-grade Qriz'Ul, but the ritual had taken almost everything from them. Four had crumbled from a single touch. Even the leader had been drained to the level of a Late Hegemon. Even their puppet bodies had helped maintain the ritual so long they'd lost the ability to move.
They were still far smarter than normal Qriz'Ul, and they'd been shockingly skilled at defending against her mental attacks. Meanwhile, their mere existence was poison to a Mentalist, who'd have to face the madness of Dead Dao and twisted desire with their soul.
Vilari would have succumbed in minutes if not for her experience in the [Epiclesis Bell]. It still took an hour of silent combat before she narrowly eked out a victory. That would have been enough to thwart their plot if not for the sudden attack on the base.
"This is different. The predecessors will not give up, and there is no one to stop them. Proximity will stir the seed we've nurtured. Your efforts will be undone, and our lord will lead us into the great beyond. It's the start of a new era. One you will not get to witness."
Vilari ignored the Qriz'Ul's crude taunt. Its digs were nothing after years with Jalach. Unfortunately, the talking head was right. The Foreign God's artificial Ego had grown increasingly active since the base came under attack. Each shock stirred the consciousness, prompting it to draw more corruption from the breach on its forehead. She had no chance of strangling the budding life in its cradle.
That didn't mean she could stop. If anything, her efforts were more important than ever.
She only needed to stall until her father lit the beacon and triggered dense inscriptions across the giant's body. The consciousness would be purged so long as it hadn't taken control already. Failing meant giving it the opportunity to undo the ancient restraints. Vilari couldn't allow that, and not just because the immediate threat of having to face another Foreign God.
Vilari had scoured the [Foreign Gods] compendium since she woke up from her nightmare, searching for similarities and differences between the Centurion Project and Jalach. It was clear that the Foreign Gods and Qriz'Ul were not truly creatures of a previous era like her malevolent master. It was more accurate to call them an unholy mix of this Era's Dao and the twisted energy of the Lost Era.
It allowed them to avoid the fierce retaliation from the Heavens, but it also left them restricted. Neither Foreign Gods nor Qriz'Ul could survive in the wild for long. They needed continued sustenance from the other side, especially the Qriz'Ul, with their energy bodies. It was different with the refined puppet before her. Vilari had no idea how, but the Limitless Empire had removed the God's dependence on Dead Dao while maintaining its strength. It was fully integrated with this Era.
If the Qriz'Ul God left the base before the beacon was lit... Vilari shuddered at the thought of a Foreign God without its safeguards activated, leaving the Imperial Graveyard. Where Jalach waited. The misgivings in her heart came creeping back. The Pasho'Har Bell, the Anima Court… Was it all a ruse? Couldn't Jalach get everything it needed by possessing this Foreign God? It was the perfect vessel.
This wasn't a new suspicion. Coming face-to-face with the Foreign God had put the matter to its edge. Vilari had grappled with it since learning about the mission, and she'd discussed the matter with the others a few times. Thinking back to those talks made Vilari wince. She'd confidently said that possessing a Foreign God exceeded Jalach's capacity, especially now that he was grievously wounded.
Any combat puppet would have methods to stop possession or enemies from wresting control. The [Centurion Guardian Array] integrated with the giant's body would tear Jalach apart long before he could settle in. Likewise, if a living Foreign God appeared, its consciousness would easily overwhelm a discarnate soul like her master.
A Qriz'Ul God was a variable she hadn't considered. The puppets must have done something to the [Centurion Guardian Array] to put it in a passive state. Even deactivated, the puppet should have stopped any attempts at possession. Worse, a huge, newborn consciousness wasn't a problem for Jalach. It was a gift. The Qriz'Ul God would become a tonic to aid his recovery.
Vilari could almost hear Jalach's laughter from the shadows as he waited to reap his reward. She would nip this problem in the bud. No matter what.
----------
Zac grunted when [Profane Exponents] failed. It had only lasted three minutes, and the damage to the fractal had worsened further. A shroud of shadows replaced the coffin, protecting them from the glaring light. The gap lasting less than a second was enough to add another set of blisters on Galau while Emily's skin turned a shade redder.
"That's it. We can't wait any longer," Zac said with a grim expression. "We need to pick one option and go."
"We can endure a bit longer," Kator said.
"Maybe so, but the vault can't."
Another shockwave drove home Zac's point by collapsing a part of the ceiling. A finger-wide crack had grown to the width a thigh, and more streaks of starlight managed pierce Ogras' curtain. As bad as it looked, it wasn't even the most damaged section of the Polaris Vault.
Not a single tile remained whole after 18 hours of increasingly intense shocks to the subspace. Radiant gold poured from roughly a third of the cracks, courtesy of the immense sun they'd seen hanging overhead. Its appearance had been both a blessing and a curse when the vault's defenses ultimately failed.
The Polaris Vault fought back for eight hours before going dark, but the Lost Plane breach began growing after just three. It was the size of a barn door at this point and the amount of corruption it spewed matched. The Stellar Treasure and Zac had furiously worked to keep them safe, but they would have been overwhelmed long ago if not for the addition of direct sunlight.
The bad was that the light was undiluted and raw, a stark contrast to the somewhat gentle starlight that had kept them safe. It was beyond what Hegemons could endure, and even Zac would quickly turn to ash if directly exposed. They had long since been forced into the guardroom, which was a slightly better off. Even then, the light pierced right through the wall, forcing them to constantly maintain barriers while Galau furiously worked on the console.
There was no point in staying, especially since the remaining treasure pillars had sunk into the ground and disappeared the moment the arrays failed. Except, leaving was easier said than done. Eighteen hours wasn't enough for Galau to find a solution, especially with new damage being added all the time.
"We would have been sent out long ago if this deathtrap planned on lending us a helping hand," Ogras added. "Any emergency functions are either missing or broken."
"Still nothing, human?" Kator growled. "This is not the time for games."
"I'm nowhere near," Galau said with despair, his hands and chest scorched from being zapped by the circuits over and over. "I've been trying to bypass the console to open the exit for the past hour. It just won't activate. The damage is too great."
"Hey, it's not his fault," Emily glared when Killing Intent began leaking from Kator. "You haven't been any help this whole time, only stuffing your pockets without contributing."
"Maybe we should settle our differences so we can welcome the great beyond without regret?" Kator sneered, his bones rumbling menacingly.
"Enough," Zac growled, ready to activate his safeguards at a moment's notice.
Kator wasn't the person to lash out from frustration, but he was a ruthless survivor. He would sacrifice them all if he thought it would give him a shot at survival, and there was no telling what kind of methods he had prepared.
"I vote the breach," Ogras said. "Between the sun and the Lost Plane, I'd have to go with the corruption. If lucky, we'll find another breach that takes us back to the base."
"If not, we'll become twisted horrors," Kator said.
"Sure, but high risk beats certain death," Ogras said. "Because I can't see any path to survival from jumping into the sun."
Zac sighed. "I'm with Ogras. You've all improved on the [Starfall Scripture] over the past hours. Between that and my abilities, we should last a few seconds."
"…Fine!" Kator growled, placing himself between Zac and his companions. "You better not have any funny ideas, Draugr."
"That's rich, coming from you," Zac snorted.
Galau made a final, desperate attempt to resurrect the dead console. It melted the circuitry, dashing their last hope of a safe exit.
"Let's go. Never stop rotating the scripture and stay close to me no matter what," Zac said as he fastened the others with at least two chains each. "Kator, you'll have to block the light."
"Go," the reaver grunted.
The door slid open, blasting them with blinding light. Zac rushed right into the mayhem while Kator conjured a huge dome above their heads. It wouldn't last even a second against the unrelenting pressure from above. A moment was all Zac needed. They appeared before the breach in a single step. The next took them into one of the deepest corners of history.
Comments
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Aaron Pennington
Lol, "trickle of ichor" now lives in my head rent free
DrSubterfuge
Right but everyone else has to rely on those ancestral markings acting as the filter, and most people these days only have something that's patchy. Meanwhile, Cat can probably make her own zone that's connected to her bloodline. Seems like that would speed up her gains considerably.
Lex Luther S
Draugr can already do that in the abyssal lake. Find the section connected to your bloodline and hold on for as long as you can. There's theoretically no limit but one's own inate potential and their bloodlines purity.
Lex Luther S
The way this comment is typed out is very confusing. Anyway, no, vilari isn't trying to find something for Jalach to inhabite. The treasure jalach wants is the bell of Pasho’Har or something like that and ringing it will birth a new universe, to which jalach is going to use that and the primordial dao the universes birth will cause to create a new body. But jalach gave vilari the full inheritance of the embers of seven sensations after modifying it somehow and will be born through vilari if she doesn't accomplish her mission. But vilari is now suspecting that Jalach wants to use the foreign gods and inhabite one of the forged bodies. Now, usually the [Centurion Guardian Array] would prevent that but if it's a band new conscience in the form of a Qriz'Ul God, then the newly born mind will become a tonic aiding jalachs recovery while the foreign gods body becomes his. And vilari is constantly hitting the newly forming mind with her embers of seven sensations to stall its awakening as once zac activates the foreign gods, the array will purge the newly forming mind and jalach won't be able to do shit.
FriendorFo
That’s what I was thinking. It seems like TFD is setting her up to have the bloodline/overall power just explode
Michael Bristow
I don't know if it is just I'm a bad reader or that the chapters with Vil's perspective need some editing, or I need to read them again. But I'm confused about the relationship of J and V. So, J was in the bell, hiding from the Heavens. V is practicing the techniques of a descendent of a fragment of the court that made the bell. The bell called beyond the void and attracted something, J I thought it was. J is trying to find a way to integrate himself to the current heavens and found that in part when he was attacked by those Rank Bs. And is now hiding, waiting for his "disciple" V to find something he can inhabit? But V of course doesn't want to help him. What were the things V learned from J? What did he do that helped her? I know her new cultivation method is a part of it, but I think when FD edits the chapters, it might be good to clear this up a bit. I know there are a lot of moving pieces for the series right now, but having someone like V being such a large part of it for Zac needs a bit of more fleshing out. Or maybe I'm just dumb, idk
DrSubterfuge
I just realized that if Cat's domain can act like a filter she's probably going to benefit a ton from taking a dip in the Abyssal Lake. She "just" has to figure out what shade of Death her constitution wants and align her domain accordingly. Then she can absorb everything else indiscriminately.
Lex Luther S
The release schedule change already feels like it's bringing benefits. While there's still some grammatical errors, the past 2 chapter lengths have felt longer than usual...... or maybe not, I dunno. Eagerly await today's chapter to see what this motley crew finds in the depths of corruption and history.
Least Devotee
It's at least one factor in that timeline. Doubt it's the only one and it's entirely possible it's not even one of the major ones.
Bryce H.
I'm back with more theories. (Wall of text below). In the last chapter, there was a note that some dude was chosen by the 74th star and got to take its treasure. Well when Zac got his Cosmic Forge, it manifested the 15th iteration of the constellation of the 229 stars of the First People. I was thinking that these treasures in the Polaris Vault (if they are indeed 168 of the 229 inheritances) could be numbered and arranged according to their constellation? Galau did describe it as more of a star map and not neat rows. Also, continuing my assumption that the Foreign Gods are related to the First People.. There's a section in Book 11, chapter 18 from the POV of someone named Wal'Zo who I suspect is a realm spirit or array spirit or something. He is walking through what seems to be the lost realm as it's being corroded before "Another step brought him home, and the connection was erected anew. Wal’Zo slowly made his way back through the hallowed halls, the lingering corruption on his body wilting away with every step. Still, two more hallways had been tainted since he left." Could he have returned to the base from the breach? The connection mentioned could be him to the base, and since he just left the corrupted realm, the same shit that's cleansing the room right now could be why his lingering corruption is wilting away. He also visited the Anolan Plains (related to Plainswalker?) and the towering peaks of the Pasho, where "Once, the whole mountain range would have sung from the Pasho’Har Bells, their cadence forming a universe through music." (There's our Realmsinger link..) Anyway he refers to the Eternal as a she, and that she sacrificed herself to keep the "flicker of hope alive." The tome mentions "The glory of the Ancient Arcana is largely upheld by the Eternal's mark through the river of time." Often, hope is compared to a flame. Wal'Zo is most likely the dude that Zac heard when he got those Ultom insights in the Void Star who said "Another cycle, another Flamebearer. Will you break the chains or become another link?" Could the Eternal's mark be the Flamebearers? Like, her flame of hope has been passed on cycle after cycle, forming a chain of fate? Wal'Zo also said "Now it will ultimately be up to him to prove himself more than a link in the chain." (Also, Chainbreaker..) "The Empire will light a torch in the darkness for the Foreign Gods, just as we do for the Cosmos." I've mentioned before, but this passage is probably referring to how the System guides cultivators in the Cosmos, and that they will do the same for the Foreign Gods, giving them the ability to survive under the Heavens that rejects them. Coincidentally, Vilari is looking at a dormant Foreign God in the flesh and indicates that the Limitless Empire has found a way to quell their corruption, once the beacon is lit. She's just gotta keep the Qriz'Ul from hijacking it (Soultaker..) Speaking of.. could that be the body of this "Sal’Sun" that Wal'Zo mentioned? (Really, go read that chapter I mentioned. It's got a lot of stuff in it). But yeah, they are about to head "into one of the deepest corners of history." The corrupted realm of the Lost Era and home of the First People seems like a pretty deep corner of history to me.
M💬
Just a fun thought 🤷🏽 it’s all speculation
Jeff McCulley
Sigh. Zac already has two spares. He has Ventus, Inda and Thea still coming that we know of. As far as I know, Catheya is not part of his cycle. She’s been under “Draugr”. The Undead do not yet have a Flamebearer. Perhaps as both the Draugr Faction and the Reavers. In short, Zac is likely going to end up with three cycles. At LEAST three cycles.
Jeff McCulley
No? Why would you think that?
Jeff McCulley
That moment when you eagerly go check for a chappy…and realize it’s Thursday. 🥲 Get better, TFD. We all hope you’re doing well. This is a marvelous arc!
DrSubterfuge
@Jeff “Just a janitor” seemed loaded, but if you only meant to emphasize she’s support I can work with that. I don’t think primarily being support is mutually exclusive with being a Dao Companion. I don’t think how valuable her skills are is even the right metric. I think the fact that she’s following her own path, and that path means she can go places that Zac goes, speaks highly of their compatibility. Sure she isn’t as fated as Zac, but pretty much no one is, and as we’ve seen his rubs off on people he travels with. Her domain skill is arguably path defining and an indirect result of Zac’s presence in her life. As long as she isn’t caught by the undertow I think she has whatever fate she needs. In the end though I don’t think this has to be a partnership that lasts for the rest of their lives for them the be Dao Companions now. It sounds like people that stick together through the eons are the exception rather than the rule, so holding up the chaos autarchs as the standard is much too high.
DrSubterfuge
It’s just a continuation of Cat calling him her husband when he “saved” her while she was running her scam in Perennial Vastness, only they have been dating for more than a decade at this point
Greg Lambert
I cannot find the chapter nor do I remember the chapter where Zac/Cath were married or there was a wedding? Can someone point me to that?
Greg Lambert
Great summary! thanks for doing that
M💬
True that Zac has options but the IZ STANs might start an all sector war lol 😂
Dro
I'd be more sad for Iz. Zac has plenty of options. And if he didn't, the technocrats would throw women at his human side and the Dragur will throw women at Arcaz. But for Iz, if not Zac than who? Everyone on her level are random arrogant young masters or people want her family's wealth/power - Zac was the only one who she could be normal with.
Amani
I can't wait for the fight with Kator! he is still pissing me off with his orders and not being a team player. I believed he would join Zac and be a good buddy, but I think Zac saying he would kill all of them to survive closed that door. I don't think it'll be a good idea to enter the trial while still linked to the guy. kill him or escape after breaking the link which might start a fight. but then Zac probability can't work with him while in the trial, oh and they share the same quest from the undead empire...... unless Zac is able to lose Kator and the trial starts before this is concluded.
M💬
I thought of something hilarious 😂 what if TFD decides that IZ is not meant to be Zac future wife prospects but sister in arms…. How many people will loose their heads LMAOOO 😭
Chris
Yeah, but some corrupted supreme treasure slipped into the purity of the void. Would just help scratch the eternal loot itch.
Sebastien Ruchet
I have a good idea of who would be the Supremacy of Janitors.
Bryce H.
I am worried for Galau/Catheya. Zac told Ventus that he could join them "if they have room for him" when the time comes. All 3 of them are Threadwinders of the Daedalian Court, and I don't see Ventus not joining the trial..
Myrtland
Thanks!
Myrtland
Thanks!
Dro
Zac and Vilari are the MCs - out there handling business. All the other characters are supporting them.
FriendorFo
I don’t disagree that Zac will need someone over 9000 type of powerful to have a successful partner. That’s self evident. However, I think the aspect of Zac’s fate being the black hole that it is, taking those close to him and spinning them ever faster/stronger into fated opportunities, can’t be overlooked. Just look back at how much Cat has progressed from when we first met her, and how she was considered an above average talent at best. Now she’s been trained by a supremacy and is duking it out on a galactic scale with the Heavens favorite axe boi at her side (or her at his side, tomato-tomato.) When Zac, and I’m assuming Cat as well, get their shot to visit the Abyssal Shores, I’m confident her bloodline evolution will be turned to 11 and we’ll reeeeally start to see her shine. Now all that being said, I do believe Iz to be a more natural fit, as she comes into the equation with more of her own power/fate, even if it is via opportunities provided by her family. But hey, the System loves it some nepotism so *shrug*. As other before me have stated Ad Nauseam, it really would be best for both to end up with him, with the caveat that this doesn’t go harem style or take a weird polyamory twist out of left field.
Jeff McCulley
The pillars all retracted for safekeeping. Assuming that Catheya and Kruta get the power plant going (they will) and Zac gets on top of the Foreign God situation (he will), I’d expect the additional power to cue some type of self repair function for the base, that there hadn’t been sufficient power for. Like with the Templar Base, Zac just doesn’t get to clean up all of the goodies *right now*. Banked for Future Zac. Delayed gratification. That’s my guess, anyway.
Jeff McCulley
Love Carl. That was not an insult to him. Carl is awesonme!
Jeff McCulley
Who said that comparing Catheya to Carl was an insult? Carl is a support character, and knows his role. Catheya is a support character, and knows her role. Ogras’ flag is dope as well. None of that makes for a fated Dao Companion for Zac.
Jeff McCulley
Edit Suggestions “which was a slightly better off.” >was slightly better… “wasn't the person to lash” >wasn’t the type of person to… utterly void of purple >Devoid glanced at the towering mountain a few hours about >A few hours “away”? “Ahead”? “part of the prize she had” >Price
liquid_helix
Agree, and if I have a preference I’m hoping for Iz to end up somewhere in the mix here.
DrSubterfuge
Lol at comparing Cat the the guy who has so much faith in Zac he has become genre aware and thinking it's an insult. Catheya's domain is dope. It's the expression of her desire to be unrestricted by her environment, which in turn is powered by an extremely rare combination of dao concepts and the teachings of a Supremacy. It's a really cool bit of self actualization, which is what cultivation is all about. Nice to see that it can overcome this environment as well.
Bryce H.
"You've become the flame leading fate down an unknown path. However, some constants remain in the everchanging calculations of fate. I've peered through the curtain, and I hope my findings will help you on your quest. Your journey is linked to two outside variables. You have 403 days before the window closes. I shall see you on the other side." I wonder if the 403 day window Ventus gave him was because that's when the Qri'zul would finish their ritual here?
Bryce H.
That would be the Apostate of Greed, Orlan Stillsun. He added the Mercantile System and his class wasn’t combat-oriented, and there are very few mentions of him ever battling. Dude made wormholes. But also yeah, there's the Centigrade Pryer who cultivates the Dao of Grand Tapestry.
Matthew Hay
For sure those skills exist at the peak, but I think just given life spans that everyone ends up doing more than just the one thing. Though I'm sure there's at least one known for being the best Blacksmith in the Multiverse or something. For example, the Apostate of Greed would have to have been at least a Supremacy Merchant, but he could likely do way more than just trade. But he would definitely be known as the best merchant, and he would clearly be powerful (being an Apostate).
Bryce H.
I like how the place is named after the North Star, and that's where they've finally arrived to light the guiding beacon for the Foreign Gods to find their way
Chris
I am a bit sad that other than the manual, Zac didn't score some supreme treasure from the vault. I was expecting that good loot when they hit a mf vault of the limitless empire
Jeff McCulley
Update on where everyone is: Zac—Flamebearer Ogras—Skybreaker/Hollow Court Emily—Lightbringer/Radiant Court Galau—Threadwinder/Daedalian Court (3) Kator—Blooddancer/Indomitable Court Polaris Vault—Lost Plane Team 2 Carl—Lightbringer/Radiant Court (3) Rhuger—Reignender/Starfall Court Bubbur—Chainbreaker/Tethered Court Cosmic Vessel recovery Team 3 Kruta—Blooddancer/Indomitable Court (2) Catheya—Threadwinder/Daedalian Court Power for Cosmic Vessel recovery Team 4 Vilari—Soultaker/Anima Court (3) Foreign God Maintenance As yet unaccounted for: Joanna—Blooddancer/Indomitable Court Ra’Klid—Reignender/Starfall Court (3) Janos-Realmsinger/Mercurial Court (3) *On Yphelion Ibtep—Plainswalker/Farsee Court Jaol—Plainswalker/Farsee Court
FriendorFo
Man, I get what you’re saying…. But Carl is my favorite character
Jeff McCulley
Horse hockey. It’s just another sign of how she’s skimming off Zac. And that “umpteenth reference” is just a sign that the facade is all about to come crashing down. We have an example of good Dao partners in A’Zul and Be’Zi—as in, they complement and strengthen one another intellectually in their pursuit of the Dao. Catheya doesn’t do any of that. She’s a honeypot riding along on Zac’s coattails. Making sure he gets some sleep (and plenty of nooky) is the best she can do. When Iz Tayn said “I’m not sure if Catheya has fate”, everyone should have recognized that code. It was polite-speak for “Catheya doesn’t have fate”. This chapter just plainly showed that she’s Carl level. She’s doing the other half of his janitorial job. Not a Dao Partner.
Jeff McCulley
We still have some party members unaccounted for for more pieces of the puzzle. ;)
Jeff McCulley
Just means it was higher grade puppets.
Jeff McCulley
The goal, as always, is Zac+++
DrSubterfuge
It could be what's on the tin. Letting loose the foreign god, especially if it's under Zac's influence, changes the balance of power in the sector considerably, which puts Zac in a better position to do other things that the System wants. Conversely, it was apparently in danger of being possessed, which could have gone poorly for the whole sector. Beyond that, Zac's kind of been put on the path of reviving the Limitless Empire, or at least it's goals, and if there's anything more he needs to further that, this is a reasonable place to find it. And the [Stellar Dominion] manual might end up being important for Zac's cultivation.
M💬
Just a random thought… does anyone think a supremacy of tailoring exist or are there supremacies of menial job like farming etc because I feel a blacksmith supremacy has to exist no?
Sirloki
The System almost had to plan this all out so if this is the plan, what could be the goal? The System would not really care about the war since both sides are within the System so it should want something else from this place
Andrew
Thank you!
Jared
TFTC
Omiso
The way things are going Yselio and Suthoror will get right on time for the whole thing to blow on their faces.
FriendorFo
The fact that Catheya has a way to purify the corruption for pure gains (even if the efficiency is sub-par compared to Zac) I think confirms that Zac and Cat are gonna be officially Dao partners soon. The “match made in heaven” type of foreshadow to where their powers are somewhat overlapping is pretty dope. The umpteenth reference to them already being husband and wife, non withstanding.
Jason Hatter
Carl and Co get the dreadnaught working after Kruta and Catheya get the power plant (maybe literally?) online. Meanwhile Zac and the gang erupt from the breech on the Foreign Gods head in time to activate the Beacon, cleanse the God, and set it forth.
Joey
Vilari's putting the team on her back. That's pretty fking scary how smart the Qriz'Uls have gotten.
Lex Luther S
Well now, it seems it's all coming together. Kruta and catheya aiming to get the power kicked into gear. Vilari trashing the plans of the corrupted creatures and aiming to stop the awakening of the foreign god. And Zac and Co. having to brave the breache and corruption for a path out. How this all comes to an end truly has me excited.
Bryce H.
Thanks!
Ryan Pepp
Thank you for the chapter!
Outa_Harms_Way .
TFTC
