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Chapter 1,247.
🕑 Added 2024-05-03 20:15:41 +0000 UTCSorothom shuddered, unable to prevent the fluctuation in his aura.
"What is it?" Eisorn frowned.
"It's nothing, sir," Sorothom said. "Moro is struggling against the restraints. And with the expenditure of setting up the nodes for the ritual…"
Eisorn looked at Sorothom for a few moments before scoffing. Still, he took out a red-and-black braid, which greatly surprised Sorothom. It looked like his handler was anxious enough to dip into his own stock, going so far as to take out a [Selfless Braid] that only B-grade Heart Elders could fashion.
Sorothom was just an acolyte when breaking off from the main sect, but he knew just how expensive they were. It wasn't just a matter of having the money, either. Heart Elders were rare, and creating a braid was both time-consuming and taxing. A Reincarnator would have to 'assist' in their experiments or accomplish deadly tasks to even get their foot through the door. Of course, Eisorn was likely spared that torment, being the leader of their covert mission.
"This is the only one. If you still can't hold it together until our mission is accomplished, then our promises won't matter. The true mantras won't save you if you can't regain the ground you've lost. You will fall from the defense, and your companion isn't qualified to ascend on its own."
"It's just a temporary setback," Sorothom assured. "I've spent too much time in the graveyard, and some of the turbulence has seeped into—"
"I'm not interested," Eisorn cut him off. "Your ineptitude let the Empyrean Throne escape. If you further harm our undertaking with your instability… "
"It won't happen," Sorothom assured the Black Heart Hall Master.
Sorothom's expression was ingratiating, only a hint of resentment from being made an assistant to a measly Early Monarch leaking through. Eisorn might be a Reincarnator, but that wasn't enough to bridge the chasm to someone who'd prepared for their Dao Confirmation for eons. Not to mention, Sorothom was the Kan'Tanu Pope with trillions of citizens under his banner.
Eisorn delighted in suppressing his frontier cousins, especially those stronger than him. Sorothom had almost control for real from the many times this haughty bastard had waved his Curse Authority in his face.
What would Eisorn think if he found out it was all a guise? Sorothom's avatar was madly laughing inside his world as he looked at the ancient array disk in his hand. It was this thing that had started his long, unsuccessful search in the graveyard. For the first time, it was releasing a low hum after connecting with its Mother Array.
The Intersector War had come like a blessing from above just as he'd given up any hope of ever finding where the disk led. Sorothom could instead ascend using a grand sacrificial array by using the war as fuel. The joy was short-lived. His carefully arranged tapestry was torn asunder just before he'd make his move, returning him to square one.
He had been reluctant to accept the Black Heart Sect's offer, holding onto some lingering the graveyard's nexus would show itself now that fate was reaching its Zenith. It was at that time he received the message that changed everything. Sorothom had been skeptical throughout, but everything was happening just like it said.
There was hope yet.
The next hours were critical. There couldn't be any mistakes, and Sorothom couldn't let his taskmaster know an extraordinary opportunity had appeared nearby. Thankfully, Eisorn was fully absorbed with ensuring their preparations were up to standard. What they were about to do was liable to draw the attention of the Ruthless Heavens and, by extension, those who could catch glimpses of its operations.
They couldn't have that. The Black Heart Sect had been suppressed to the point they couldn't even get a seat at the table, forcing them to sneak in through a hidden pathway from the Eternal Storm. The orthodox factions would band together if they realized what they were up to.
The Heaven-obscuring platform was already active, and thousands of Stygian Anchors had stabilized the area. The storms of the inner Imperial Graveyard were redirected by their aura, forming a vast, stable region. Everything was prepared for the next step.
"Activate the Fate Severance," Eisorn ordered.
The Hall Master's subordinates obeyed without a word, and a wall of separation isolated fate and Karma of the one thousand Hegemons spread across the Heaven-obscuring platform. Whatever actions took place within would be no concern of the Heavens, and it wouldn't implicate the observers outside who'd arranged everything.
"The children are ready," the Blood Priest said from his altar, his toothless mouth curved upward in a raving smile.
Sorothom could smell the stench of putrid blood and fell Karma from his position. He really didn't miss these lunatics, even if they were necessary to bring out the full potential of the Black Heart Rituals.
"Strength is the only creed of the Black Heart Sect," Eisorn said, his voice echoing through the region. "Prove yourself worthy. Turn the weak into fuel for your ascension. Begin the ritual."
Rivers of blood poured onto the etched plateau as the pawns fought for their lives, slaughtering and being slaughtered by their brothers and sisters. The platform was only two miles across, making the desperation and ferocity far greater than during a traditional ritual that utilized whole dozens of miles of varied terrain. There was no scheming, no planning, no time to set up an ambush. There were enemies breathing down their necks from every direction, and it was only kill or be killed.
All the while, Eisorn's fingers twitched within his sleeves. His actions might seem innocuous to others, but they couldn't fool Sorothom's experienced gaze. The Hall Master was subtly influencing the flow of battle, ensuring none of his picks ended up with a seal early. Instead, it was the elites Sorothom had mustered that were the 'lucky' ones to find seals in the chests of their enemies.
One burst of transcendent light after another showered the platform in glorious truth. For the participants, it was a beacon, their sole hope of survival. Paradoxically, finding one was a death sentence. The participants descended on the lights like starving ghosts, and those who unearthed the seal almost invariably died first under a cavalcade of attacks.
There were twenty-seven seal pieces spread among the thousands, which meant no more than twenty-seven would walk away alive. More likely, it would be fewer than that as the strongest would collect more than one. Not to mention, some would become ash from overestimating their fate or picking the wrong court.
Most seals were collected from years of warring. They'd sold off most to keep up appearances while hiding away some for themselves. A dozen had been claimed through the frenzy the graveyard was going through, and those who'd joined in on the feast.
Soon, the free-for-all reached the expected balance. The weaker participants had become fuel for the platform, their blood already filling the etched pathways. The stronger ones each surrounded a seal, though none dared to claim it. Only when the numbers dwindled a bit further would they make their move.
The unclaimed seals released increasingly powerful pulses of truth in an attempt to attract a suitable bearer. With each pulse, the platform trembled, and Sorothom sneered as he heard the excitable chatter from the Array Masters.
"How is it?" Eisorn asked with feigned diffidence. Sorothom knew very well the Hall Master's reward depended on the answer.
"It's complete!" the leading Threadweaver exclaimed. The signal is being sent out through the Stygian Array as we speak.
Moments passed before a light lit up on the large crystal sphere the Array Masters huddled around.
"It works," Eisorn exhaled, glancing in Sorothom's direction. "Your idea of connecting the plateau with your Stygian Anchors to extend the reach was quite good."
"Just a small contribution after learning some tricks of this place," Sorothom said with a bow, inwardly cackling. They hadn't noticed!
"Today's feat would still be impossible without the Main Sect's profound means."
"That's true," Eisorn nodded.
New lights appeared on the crystal one after another as its controllers scanned different sections of the Imperial Graveyard. Each new light added to the excitement, and Eisorn looked about ready to host a banquet after the fifteenth light had appeared. Sorothom acted appropriately impressed, even if the signals were all fake. After all, the Stygian Anchors weren't designed to look for seals.
They were doing something else entirely.
The carnage had greatly slowed down by the time they'd reached the half-hour mark. Less than two hundred candidates remained, almost all of them exhausted and covered in wounds. Some had managed to seize a ticket through sheer brutality. With less blood spilled and fewer lights in the open, the efficacy of the array would also slow down.
Sorothom worried they'd notice the discrepancies after they'd calmed down from their fever pitch. It was a bit early, but he might as well go. Sorothom had waited long enough for this moment.
"This is taking too long. The anchors will give in before we've reached the end. I'll help things along," Sorothom growled as veins bulged and blood-red teeth grew on his arms, mimicking a mental schism.
"Fool, stop!" Eisorn roared as a wall formed between them.
Sorothom inwardly snickered, maintaining the visage of someone losing control. This little tyrant was a thousand years early to stop him when he'd made his decision. The cascade of acid he'd sent out suddenly disappeared after eating a hole through the dimensional fabric, appearing right above the platform. Toxic rain descended, and participants fell by the dozens, leaving only putrid blood behind. Twelve seals were unearthed in an instant, most of them from the elites Eisorn had been subtly assisting.
"No!"
"Cry! Despair!" Sorothom howled with laughter as mouths formed all over his body. "The lights…! The lights are glowing!"
"You've tainted fate, you backwater bastard! I knew we couldn't count on a stray dog like you," Eisorn growled, his eyes turning into wriggling sigils. "Use your life to appease the River of Fate."
And nothing happened. Moro wriggled with displeasure within Sorothom's Inner World, which was the extent of what the Hall Master's sacrificial trigger managed to accomplish. The duo had been waiting for this moment. Moro withered from instilling Sorothom with almost all its strength, showing no hints of the many seals and layers of suppression he was supposed to be under.
Sorothom became a blur, leveraging his superior attributes and comprehension even further. His hand was already inside Eisorn's chest before he could react, sealing down his companion and Inner World with the weight of a nigh-perfected world.
"You're immune—" Eisorn gasped. "That's impossible!"
"Nothing is impossible, sir," Sorothom grinned as his fist clenched, unleashing a wave of destruction that tore apart the Black Heart Elder's inner world and scattered its pieces into the void.
A narrow-minded fool like Eisorn would never understand how a frontier cultivator could overcome their methods, and there was no point in explaining. The things he'd discovered in the depths might not have been enough to become a Divine Monarch, but they had given him certain unique advantages.
"Lunatic," Eisorn wheezed while leaking life and strength like a sieve. "The Black Heart Sect knows what happened here. You will not get what you seek."
"Is that so?" Sorothom snickered, grabbing the crippled Monarch by his throat. "I'm tired of hearing from you. Use your life to appease the River of Fate.
Sorothom exhaled, releasing a swarm of critters that burrowed into Eisorn's body. He twitched from pain, but the [Lifelink Beetles] wouldn't let him die. Sorothom tore off one of his fingers and used it to draw a series of bloody runes on the Hall Master's chest. Karma became tainted, and most of Sorothom's blame for interfering with the seals was placed on Eisorn's shoulder.
A wave of hollow exhaustion almost made Sorothom collapse. He'd offset too much, too many times. Longevity aside, he wasn't long for the world if he couldn't advance and seize more providence. Today had to be worth it.
Every single cultist atop the platform had been reduced to blood by the time Sorothom had dealt with all Eisorn's subordinates outside. The toxic rain had indiscriminately swept through their ranks. Not even Sorothom's grand disciple was spared. What were such fragile bonds worth before the Grand Dao and his pursuits?
Sorothom waved his sleeve, and hundreds of engraved heads flew toward the plateau. Each took its position following the provided pattern. Meanwhile, dozens of hooded warriors emerged from one of the seized Cosmic Vessels, with no signs of the brands that were supposed to seal them. They flew toward the platform, but a snort from Sorothom stopped them in their tracks.
"Have we done something to displease Your Eminence?"
Sorothom turned to the source of the question. "Not at all. Neither have you made me very happy."
"Our Lord's message should have proven accurate for Your Eminence to strike," the Imperial Envoy said. "The next step—"
"Where is that shifty little princeling, anyhow?" Sorothom said with a raised brow. "He doesn't strike me as one to hold back when presented with such a spread."
"He is fulfilling his part of the agreement, waiting on our end," she answered with a bow. "The seals will soon disappear unless our people are let through the curtain. As we agreed upon, the seals will be claimed by our side."
"I remember. But I'm still not seeing your end of the bargain. Where is it?"
"A blank Writ of Peerage, as promised," the Envoy said, displaying an archaic scroll teeming with power. "Beware, should your condition be exposed—"
"I know, you'll wash your hands off me," Sorothom said.
The warning was unnecessary. There was no way he'd settle down in the Seventh Heaven after this. He was a loose thread and an unsavory character. He'd be lucky to last the day. The writ could, however, be traded for similar status elsewhere, where his identity wasn't known.
Sorothom's eyes gleamed with greed upon seeing they'd actually complied with his demand, and he had to fight the instincts to seize it by force. He could slaughter these imperials with a wave of his sleeve, but doing so risked ruining the real prize. Having the writ was useless if he let the opportunity to break through slip away.
It was Yvin Tobrial who had approached him with a plan, even providing schematics only Sorothom knew about, schematics he'd seen when finding the daughter array in the core of the Imperial Graveyard. The princeling seemed to know almost as much as Sorothom, including some details he hadn't managed to piece together.
Yvin's message was simple. The infernal brat who'd ruined his plans was gunning for the same thing as he, and he even had the key. However, that would also be his downfall. Reaching his destination would awaken the base, which his Daughter Array had confirmed. It was no longer a fool's hope to find it.
However, it was ultimately a clandestine base created by the Limitless Empire. Knowing where it was only solved half the problem. Reaching it without the key was impossible for him, let alone the little princeling. They needed someone else to create a path, which was where the ritual came in. The Stygian Anchors were never meant to look for seals. They were meant to amplify a signal while stabilizing space enough to let it reach its distant destination.
The engraved heads altered the arrays engraved on the Heaven-obscuring platform, allowing it to fully connect with the Stygian Anchors. A concentrated pulse holding the aura of the Left Imperial Palace shot toward a distant location, a seemingly normal storm formation full of spatial tears and resentment.
Only an experienced traveler in the graveyard would notice there was something different about it, something dangerous. They weren't normal rifts. They were tears leading to the cracks between realities.
The message had been sent. Now, they only needed to wait for the answer.
Comments
Kconraw
Thx for the chapter
Lex Luther S
Hmmm, given the way TFD usually does things, we could very well see another POV. My money is on Iz Pov.
Jeff McCulley
“Letting the Empyrean Throne escape” could conceivably refer to Iz OR Zac—but I’m not sure how they’d know. Sorothem has had eons for his people to dig secrets out of the Graveyard. Possibly even references to the Foreign Gods. I feel like the most likely candidates that are being summoned would be. A. The Foreign Gods who escaped, B. Another entity of the lost plane….or maybe, just maybe, C. one of the other Centurion Lighthouses is being summoned to return to its base. That would explain the “schematics” issue. Or, D. a fleet like the one the Sindris had been looking for. That’s all the rambling guesses I’ve got. G’night all. 😴
Jeff McCulley
“holding onto some lingering the graveyard's nexus would show itself” Some lingering HOPE Edit: AND “Wash your hands off me," Sorothom said. Hands OF me
Jeff McCulley
Not a rune, either. But maybe someone who can summon one?
FarStryder
They expect a.rune like Zac got
Mike Naka
Huh...I thought the Foreign Gods were stronger than Monarchs. Maybe my memory is hazy, but I thought they were strong enough to trouble the Limitless Empire? Yeah, I know this quest involves releasing the Foreign Gods, but I thought some might be on the level of the guy who kidnapped Vilari so I'm at a loss of whether releasing them to cause havok is really a good idea or not. If they're freed what else are they going to do? They're not like Replicants and have a die date. Having a bunch of Foreign Gods running around free can't be a good thing. Don't know how TFD is going to wrap up this arc, but it's definitely going to be fun reading how he does it as he hasn't let us down yet.
Jeff McCulley
Infect them with heart curses? I dunno. And the other thing is, maybe the Foreign Gods aren’t the *only* research project at this base. Maybe they aren’t the only thing on the other side.
Mateo Lopez
Im hoping Zac will turn them into something like Chaos Armaments
Lex Luther S
Hmmmm, it depends how much Moro affects Sorothom and his remaining longevity. He's clearly at the end of his life. The question is Iz dao guardian; he is likely a heavenly monarch, but the issue is his cultivation has been sealed to the Peak of Early monarchy. Now, it depends on the breadth of treasures and advantages he'd be able to leverage against Sorothom and Moro, but it might be as simple staying alive till the pope runs outta steam. With his waning life, overexertion and drawing to much energy from his inner world and Moro will likely see him and his cultivation start to regress. Now if he was at full strength, it'd be a steamroll
Lex Luther S
It could be they wanted to capture them, removing a variable at play. Afterall, there's no way they'd kill them and only the best treatment would be given for Iz and her Dao guardian.
Lex Luther S
I don't think he knows about the foreign gods. His main hope is this ancient base of the limitless empire holds opportunities to confirm his dao and breakthrough. Besides, even if thats his plan, I highly doubt it'd work as most of the foreign gods are late to Peak lvl monarchs and with his hallowed longevity, I doubt he'd be able to contend against the countless foreign gods.
Henry Wartemberg
Also she has a Dao Guardian. That’s just asking to get nuked. If there was ever a point Her Monarch would step in it would be then. I doubt the Pope is a match for him
Jeff McCulley
I’m pretty sure that the Pope is intending to eat the Foreign Gods for his breakthrough to Autarchy, but that’s just me. And then he expects to abandon the Frontier. Which is only good for Zachia, one way or the other.
Jeff McCulley
It could be Iz, it could be referring to Zac’s position as Holy Son. Though I suspect if the Pope doesn’t know about the latter, it only helps Zac.
NiceTryMate
Tftc. Like the build up. Some edits: Sorothom had almost control for real from the many times this haughty bastard had waved his Curse Authority in his face. -> Sorothom had almost LOST control for real from the many times this haughty bastard had waved his Curse Authority in his face. He had been reluctant to accept the Black Heart Sect's offer, holding onto some lingering the graveyard's nexus would show itself now that fate was reaching its Zenith. -> He had been reluctant to accept the Black Heart Sect's offer, holding onto some lingering HOPE the graveyard's nexus would show itself now that fate was reaching its Zenith. His carefully arranged tapestry was torn asunder just before he'd make his move, returning him to square one. -> His carefully arranged tapestry was torn asunder just before he'd MADE his move, returning him to square one.
Jeff McCulley
Not “everybody”. I think someone or something specific.
Jeff McCulley
It’s Yselio, and he consumed the other two. And the array the Pope was referring to seems to be the one Yvrin was working on when he ate him.
Jeff McCulley
Where are you getting that Kator is feeding the Seventh Heaven any information? Or that he ever was? He considered selling them inside information once about the pending Undead Civil War, but that’s all we’ve ever seen. And he considered a lot of options then.
Jeff McCulley
No. Sorothom has been faking losing control to fool the guy.
Olivier Combe
He might transform both of his weapons into mixed life/death/cobflict for when he fuses his bodies back together
Joey
Actually Yselio
FriendorFo
Much like Bloods and Crips, Zac don’t fuck with them “Y” names man. Don’t matter what the name is, they’re all just meat for the grinder, fuel for the chaos engine, that is Zac. Damn I love this.
austin kutz
Verun is a life treasure and I honestly doubt it'll become a life/death treasure, ever. I think it's more likely to go from pinnacle life to creation/ destruction
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Joey
So the pope is coming to the base? I guess things are really going to get spicy.
Orims
Flirting? This is equivalent of having sweaty angry and downright nasty sex with it😂.
Oldfaithful
"Sorothom had almost control for real from the many times this haughty bastard had waved his Curse Authority in his face." - Sorothom had almost lost control, many times this haughty bastard had waved his Curse Authority in his face.
RWS
Kator your a traitorous scum, still feeding information to the Seventh Heaven. No wonder Zac's danger senses are going full blast. Is it Yvin or Yrin? It doesn't matter, you are all going to be dealt with anyhow. I think it is time for Verun to get an upgrade by incorporating the bones of Kator would just be fantastic. Thanks for the chapter and bring on the next one already.
Bryce H.
I just want to sleep until Monday lol :(
night hawk
And with the better quality chapters!!! Keep up the great work TFD!!! AKA Jeff
Mateo Lopez
I’m thinking that this is totally gonna help Zac in the end. It sounds like the process to raise the Foreign Gods is gonna need a huge amount of energy and possibly god entity’s.
Andrew
Thank you!
hachetnif
So what I heard is these two idiots are broadcast the limitless empire base location to everybody to then hitch a ride behind these people to the base.
James Faulkner
Goddamn here we go, Tftc!
Surgebinder
With Kator in there to add more chaos
Luke Scheffe
What was that bit about the empyrean throne? I wouldn’t think he would have attacked Iz, because sending over grade attackers at her would just invite grandma Tayn to repeat her actions. And he couldn’t have been meaningfully involved in the previous ambush with Eruz, because he wouldn’t have been born yet.
Hartmann
As always the Imperials are flirting with the unorthodox
Joey
Looks like Iz ran into a bit of a tough patch
Russell Widger
Mohzius Tayne would obliterate the Black Heart sect for even trying to hurt Iz...
Alexander Dupree
Thanks for the chapter
Lex Luther S
Holy shit. So this is how everything comes together. Zac and Yselios' rematch. Iz and that Lu fellows final(?) fight to claim fate. The Kan'Tanu pope making his play to not only kill zac for all he's done but also achieve his breakthrough. It seems that one comment was right, the Kan'tanu will converge on the base, and the released foreign gods will spill blood aplenty before decimating the Zubor sector. The issue is Zac and Co. surviving with this heavenly monarch on their tails; to which he will. It could be this is why Zac had to wait for the variable "Iz" to arrive as her Dao guardian is certainly carrying some treasures to deal with this fool. Also, "let the empyrean throne escape" lol🤣🤣 Like you fools would have had the balls to do anything but give Iz the best treatment she deserves, least the Kan'Tanu and Black heart sect find themselves scorched from the river of time itself. I truly can't wait for Mondays ch as this sets up the climax of this arc so fucking well. Truly the next 20-30 chs are gonna be game changing bangers.
Timothy Dana
Waited for an answer?
Krispy sock
I have
