Defiance of the Fall

Chapter 129: Final Preparations

Zac sat in a secluded area of the academy with his eyes closed. They returned yesterday with the first batch of citizens, with them being given a brief introduction while they sailed. The demonʼs appearance once again caused quite a stir, but since they were stuck on a boat with open ocean all around they couldn’t just run away. After some talking down they were somwhat okay since both Zac and the warriors who fought the rats were human after all.

Almost as soon as they arrived at Port Atwood the boats set out again for the next island. If they were going to rescue all groups before the third wave started they would have to essentially keep sailing around the clock. There was the option of buying a larger transport vessel from the Creators, but they cost over ten million nexus coins.

Zac could afford it, but he wanted to hold on to his money with both the auction and the third wave coming up. Zac didn’t join the following expeditions, instead choosing to focus on his meditation. The new townspeople were mainly guided around by Megan and her group.

Megan and the others had quickly improved their attitude since Zac brought the women from Greenworth. Zac hadn’t given any order to keep the state of the world secret, and soon everyone on the island knew about how much the world had actually fallen. Emily had already told them as much, but she was considered biased since she essentially lived a cushy life in Zac’s mansion.

But hearing one horror story after another helped the former refugees realize that being stuck on this island wasn’t too bad. There was food, and there was safety. There even were a steady amount of Nexus Crystals available for purchase, so they could quickly advance in levels without risking their lives. Zac was even providing them with a modest salary as long as they completed their daily tasks.

Currently it came out of Zacs own pocket, but as soon as he became a Lord he could start taxing his citizens. At that point he’d want as many citizens as possible to add value to the town.

Instead of helping out with the rescue efforts Zac went to the Gravity Array in the Academy. His original plan was to focus on the Dao of Sharpness, but his recent inspiration into Heaviness in Greenworth changed his mind. He chose to sit and meditate in the Gravity Array cranked to the max since he thought the feeling of heavy pressure all over might assist him in his venture.

He’d been sitting there for almost a full day by now, and finally got up to his feet and stretched. The improved array brought the pressure up to 25 times the normal amount and could cover a large field rather than just the small camp. The trainees still normally trained in ten times the gravity though, since they generally collapsed in a heap when they tried anything higher than that.

He nodded toward Alyn who was busy screaming at one of the girls as he walked away. During his day in the array he would sometimes spectate the training while he was resting. What he’d seen had been quite jarring. He could understand why the woman was fired from her teaching position since she truly held nothing back when she was instructing these people.

She normally was very calm and adorned a smiling face, just like when she was teaching him in the caves. But she could also explode into a furious tirade when someone didn’t live up to her expectations. Her verbal assaults could even put most drill sergeants to shame. That wasn’t all, she even had gotten a hold of a tool that could best be described as a grenade.

It was a small inscription powered by a single Nexus Crystal that exploded in a concussion wave when thrown. It would blast away any unaware person, though not dealing any real damage. She used it any time she felt someone was lazing about. Worse yet, Zac learned that the cost of the bomb came out of the pockets of the one she attacked. He considered stopping her then and there but judging by the reactions of the recruits they didn’t mind, and it only spurred them on further.

He went to the Thayer Consortia next, and an excited Calrin moved to welcome him.

“Lord Zac, it is good to see you. I hope the pills I procured for you met your expectations,” he said, his eyes shining with greed. “Incidentally, I heard a customer mention an auction taking place soon?”

Zac’s mouth couldn’t help tugging upward as he looked down at the little Sky Gnome that was almost bouncing around in excitement.

“I thought you couldn’t leave this compound, why is this of interest for you?”

“We’re not some prisoners. We can leave the building any time we want, but most of our family are quite weak. Once upon a time we had mighty warriors to protect the Thayer Clan, but all of them defected, not wanting to impact their future cultivation. Shortsighted fools,” he explained in a huff.

“We can leave anytime, though we generally need to stay within your town. We have the same restrictions as all other foreigners on this emerging planet, and our special protections doesn’t expand outside our buildings. We are also barred from various things such as most types of quests and procuring land,” he explained.

“However, I actually got a quest! A money-making quest! I can leave with you and go to the auction. Who knows what precious things that you idi- ehm, you newly integrated humans, will sell off to a fraction of their value,” Calrin exclaimed.

It looked like his reason for visiting the consortia had sorted itself out.

“Very well, you can come with me. I need someone who can spot the valuables after all. However, you are representing Port Atwood and the Thayer Consortia, not just yourself. You might also need to assist in negotiations,” Zac said.

He wondered what reactions the little blue gnome would elicit, but he didn’t really mind exposing him since he was just a mercantile user whose origins were easily explainable. He was not only good at sniffing out treasures, but he was also quite a talker, and could maybe help smooth out Port Atwood’s somewhat harsh first impression.

As he walked back toward the inner area he quickly heard the bustling noise of activity. Since only the inner wall was completed the real construction of the town couldn’t start yet. Anything built in the future residential or crafting districts would likely be reduced to rubble as soon as the next wave arrived. All the new citizens would need a temporary place to stay though, and a large number of buildings were being added to the temporary town inside the walls.

As he walked the streets he saw many unfamiliar faces. It was the refugees that were continuously pouring in from the ships shuttling back and forth between islands. As more and more humans joined the town the shock the demons created was getting smaller. Still, many had just arrived and glanced curiously or fearfully at the demons who passed them by.

The infusion of people was quickly increasing the liveliness of the town, especially as he even heard some children’s laughter as he walked. He curiously looked over and saw a few children actually gather some distance away from the Zhix, with their parens fearfully keeping them from rushing up to it.

Zac was surprised to see the insectoid actually being able to wave his antennae, and he kept waving them at the children who excitedly waved back. It also held a large larva in a hand, but it was clear no one was interested in his greeting gift.

As soon as the Zhix spotted Zac it perked up and put the larva away as it walked over, the two demon guards following closely in tow, both balefully glaring at the insectoid. Zac briefly wondered if there would actually be people who would take the Zhix’s offer of combat to the death.

“Greetings. I have something to discuss with you if you have the time?” Ibtep said as it closed in on Zac.

“Sure, lets head over there,” Zac said as he pointed toward Adran’s command tent that was just around the corner.

Soon they found themselves at a table in a partition of the large tent.

“I have walked among your kind and the horned ones for two days, and I can almost certainly conclude that you truly are not part of the Dominators or the Fallen,” the Zhix started.

“Uh, thanks I guess?” Zac said with some confusion.

“I would like to report back to my island, detailing my findings. I understand your vessels are continuously moving between islands, and would like to ride along,” he said.

“You’re heading home already?” Zac asked.

“No, I would still like to keep observing, so I would hope that you can pick me up again as well. More importantly, I wish to join your expedition through the magic transfer construction,” he said.

“The first part is no problem but the second part… Uh… Might be a problem. The last time Zhix teleported to where we are going they went berserk and started killing everyone,” Zac said hesitantly.

“It sounds correct. Zealots passing through the array for a death assault against the Dominators. Their progeny will be well taken care of. Of course, a misguided action in this new world. However, I find it very troubling that there is a Zhix settlement that has so readily built a such a transfer device,” Ibtep said.

“Troubling why?” Zac asked confused.

“I explained what happened with our so-called Nexus Crystal. The Holiness sealed it away since it was overflowing with corruption. Most of the Anointed should have acted the same, avoiding usage of such a device. That a hive already is using it to the degree of sending out death assaults is… a problem.

“Either they are even more open-minded than us. That is unlikely since what the holiness did by speaking to you was unprecedented. If our situation wasn’t so dire you would have been assaulted to our last man. The other alternative is… That the hive is not adverse to using corruption,” Ibtep said with a frown.

“You’re saying that they might be the so-called Dominators from your old world? Didn’t you say they were eradicated in a great war?”

“That’s the official belief, but there should be traitors surviving. The power of corruption has always been alluring,” Ibtep said.

“I don’t understand what this has to do with you coming with me?” Zac questioned skeptically.

“I wish to find out more about the other hives, and information here is limited. It seems I also need to warn you humans about the Dominators, for both our sakes,” Ibtep said with some worry.

“Why do you believe that they will be such a problem that humanity needs to be warned? They sound dangerous, but everyone is getting powerful, erasing their advantage,” Zac asked, feeling a bit unconvinced. “Besides, your kind already defeated them without any power.”

“Well, I will breach a precept since I think this is too important not to discuss. Discussing the powers of the Anointed is taboo, but you should know we have a ladder just like you. Most on the ladder are the Anointed, since between administering rites and their natural superior constitution they should be far more suited to this new world than you or me.

“However, there are a few who have not shown their true names, using various pseudonyms. Some thought before it was due to shame, not wanting to show how many of their hives had died under their watch since every death makes the Anointed stronger. In fact, all the top five names on our Power Ladder use pseudonyms.

“But there has always been another possibility. Those with the fake names might be the Dominator traitors, who were afraid to be exposed. That would explain why their power is higher. They started already being full of corruption before the integration,” Ibtep concluded.

“I still don’t see your point?” Zac probed.

“Those with pseudonyms are all around level 100.”