Defiance of the Fall

Chapter 1130: Embers of Seven Sensations

ʼYou donʼt think the bell is related to the KanʼTanu?ʼ Zac asked.

ʼIʼm not certain, but think about it. Itʼs like General Dossin said—imagine if our enemies deployed the bell on a large-scale battlefield instead. Why use such a mysterious object to ambush us? And what would be the point? Whoever has the strength to wield that ancient bell could just annihilate us with a wave of their hands.ʼ

Zac slowly nodded in agreement. The situation was undeniably odd. It had only taken a single look to understand there was no way the KanʼTanu had made it themselves. The bell hadnʼt even activated, but its mere presence killed so many elite soldiers from miles away.

It was undoubtedly a C-grade weapon despite being so damaged. Who knew what grade it had when in perfect condition?

Even if it were the KanʼTanuʼs, they had no reason to deploy it like this. It almost felt like the KanʼTanu had deployed a nuclear warhead to deal with a minor threat, only to forget to arm it. There had to be hundreds of better strategies available if they knew when and where to lay a trap.

ʼStill, why do you think it came for you? Whatʼs going on?ʼ

Vilari hesitated. ʼI could feel a connection even before the bell emerged. When it appeared, I heard a deep toll in my mind. Before I knew it, the sound transformed into an incredibly mysterious technique called the [Embers of Seven Sensations].ʼ

Zacʼs eyes widened in alarm. He was so horrified he almost forgot they were speaking through a mental connection.

ʼYou absolutely cannot practice it! Donʼt even try to analyze the concepts within!ʼ

Any method stored within such a powerful treasure would undoubtedly be astonishing, but there was something profoundly wrong with it. The evil symbolized by that cave felt like a primordial devil. Practicing any method with such a dubious origin would invite a disaster unto yourself.

ʼI know. I have already conditioned myself to not think of the details within.ʼ

Zac exhaled in relief, but the situation only made him more confused. Where the hell had the bell come from if it wasnʼt the KanʼTanuʼs? Was it related to the War Fortress, or was it perhaps another ancient relic dredged from the depths of the Void? Or could it be…

ʼCould it be related to your bloodline?ʼ Zac exclaimed.

Iz had recognized the young Mentalist who almost killed him in the Battle of Fates as a descendant of the Ignus Clan. He hadnʼt dared inquire any further, but any faction known by Iz Tayn had to have some renown, even in the heartlands. He hadnʼt expected to hear from them in this remote corner of the Multiverse, but it was no longer so farfetched with the Left Imperial Palace appearing in Zecia.

Zac fearfully glanced at the sky, wondering if a C-grade Mentalist from the Ignus family was currently bearing down on their position. He couldnʼt imagine what theyʼd do to him after finding out he not only killed their descendants but even turned her into a Revenant. The Undead Empire had suffered more than one calamity by turning bodies with complicated origins.

ʼNo, that canʼt be,ʼ Zac said after taking a calming breath. ʼI remember the original owner of your body. Her bloodline wasnʼt evil or heretical at all. It more felt like something inherited by a high-tier race or a unique being born from the cosmos.ʼ

ʼYouʼre right,ʼ Vilari said. ʼItʼs difficult to say what about me attracted the bell since Iʼve unified my path and bloodline through Ultomʼs inspiration. But I believe itʼs connected to the inheritance left by my master rather than my bodyʼs origin.ʼ

ʼThe Crown of Despair?ʼ Zac said with bewilderment, but a thoughtful look slowly appeared on his face.

Indeed, the Mentalist inheritance left in his Dao Repository was more closely related to the bellʼs true nature, even if there were several critical differences. But at the same time, it sounded ridiculous for such a terrifying treasure to be connected to Brazla and the Towers of Myriad Dao. Then again, the details surrounding the Crown of Despair had always eluded them.

Zac had gathered clues to Brazlaʼs origins over the past years and reached a few conclusions. Towers of Myriad Dao undoubtedly originated from the frontiers, but the original Brazla should have lived in a more established frontier sector.

Brazla had been an unattached blacksmith with above-average skill thanks to a fortuitous encounter. Still, he should mostly have been dealing with other Hegemons. C-grade materials were almost impossible to find in these neighborhoods, and no Monarch would let a D-grade craftsman touch them unless they were absolutely out of better options.

Yrialʼs situation was slightly special. He may have been a late Monarch, but Zac had seen snippets of Yrialʼs road to the peak. Heʼd been constantly hunted, barely scraping by through deception, swindling, and outright robbery. Yrial had repeatedly lamented that he would have easily become a Divine Monarch or even an Autarch if heʼd even enjoyed a fraction of Zacʼs lucky encounters.

Zac inquired why Yrial went to Brazla for help during his last visit. As expected, his ascent into Late Monarchy had completely wiped out Yrialʼs entire fortune, and heʼd even been forced to steal a few incredible treasures from multiple C-grade factions. He found himself hunted from every direction and was forced to make a desperate gambit.

Yrial knew of a certain opportunity. It was incredibly dangerous, but there was a chance of confirming his Dao if he managed to seize the fortune within. Heʼd approached Brazla to craft a set of special items that would improve his odds. Unfortunately, Zac and Yrialʼs soul wisp had no idea whether he succeeded or not, and Yrial refused to tell him any details about the opportunity.

The details surrounding the Crown of Despair were harder to understand. Vilari had a seal preventing her from divulging most details of her two encounters with her in-name master, but everything about Ralz Calzood screamed ʼmysterious powerhouse.ʼ Her means and inheritance were incredibly profound, and Vilari even suspected she was a Divine Monarch. Why would someone like that approach Brazla?

A Divine Monarch Mentalist would be unstoppable in a sector like Zecia. She could have walked right into the ancestral homes of the Dravorak Dynasty and abducted their artisans. There was no way anyone would dare raise an issue. So why Brazla? And why would a Mentalist agree to sever a part of their soul to pay a D-grade artisan?

They had come up with two potential scenarios. One, Ralz had stumbled onto a material or Natural Treasure that was critical for some goal of hers but wouldnʼt last long after being harvested. Brazla was simply the best craftsman she could find before it was too late, and Ralz had been forced to go along with his demands because of it.

That theory would explain how Brazla died and how the Towers of Myriad Dao became a System reward. Extorting a Divine Monarch as a Hegemon was simply asking for trouble. The second theory was that Ralz Calzood had another purpose for leaving behind a piece of her will. Perhaps it was simply a test of fate in search of a disciple, one that Vilari passed.

More importantly, Ralz Calzood was still alive, which made the bellʼs appearance more problematic. Was the Crown of Despair embroiled in the contest over Ultom and the Left Imperial Palace? If so, was she hidden among the KanʼTanu, or was she one of the outsiders? Had Vilari unwittingly become a pawn in an elaborate play for the Eternal Heritage?

ʼHow certain are you?ʼ

ʼWithout a shadow of a doubt. The bellʼs technique is very unusual, but I am almost certain it shares a common root with the original version of my Cultivation Manual.ʼ

ʼYouʼre thinking Ralz Calzoodʼs inheritance was derived from the bell?ʼ

ʼNo, they are too different for that. Itʼs possible that master found an incomplete inheritance of an ancient faction while journeying, and the bell was made by the same people.ʼ

ʼDo you think the Crown of Despair is an unorthodox cultivator?ʼ

ʼMaybe, but thereʼs something else wrong with the bell. Itʼs like an artist has painted a masterpiece, but then someone else came along and added a few minor details. The additions seem innocuous on their own, but together, theyʼve completely subverted the original intent behind the painting. I felt it on the bell, and I felt it within the technique.ʼ

ʼThe second painter, could it be the KanʼTanu?ʼ

ʼPerhaps,ʼ Vilari hesitated. ʼIʼm too inexperienced to guess what a Monarch can and canʼt do. But I believe the bellʼs subtle corruption would require an almost godlike understanding of the soul and the Daos of the Seven Sensations.ʼ

Zac agreed with Vilariʼs assessment. The aura of evil had reached the levels where it had essentially become an indelible truth like the forces of nature. Reforging an ancient treasure and a whole heritage in such a sublime way required incredible skill. If the KanʼTanu had such lofty beings within their ranks, the war would have looked much worse than it already did.

ʼWhat should I do?ʼ Vilari asked, the worry evident in her eyes. ʼIf I stay with you, I might implicate everyone.ʼ

ʼI doubt weʼll see the bell again in the short run. We would have seen some signs by now if it really wanted to hunt you down. Honestly, I think weʼd have to be more worried if the KanʼTanu controlled it.ʼ

Zac wouldnʼt say it now, but he felt the real danger came from the [Embers of Seven Sensations]. Sure, the bell may have sensed someone walking the path of its creators and imparted a technique to continue the lineage. But meat pies rarely just fell from the sky, especially not when the delivery method made people rip their hearts out of their chests.

ʼBut what if—ʼ

ʼThen weʼll cross that bridge when it comes. Iʼll bring you out of here if it comes back. Weʼll see if it can outrun my teleportation arrays,ʼ Zac smiled. ʼDonʼt worry, weʼll figure this out together after we return. If all else fails, Iʼll just blow it up somehow.ʼ

ʼThat thing should have known better than to mess with a professional demolitionist,ʼ Vilari smiled as she grabbed his hand. ʼThank you.ʼ

ʼOf course, always.ʼ

There were still no signs of the huge bell returning or space solidifying, but everyone was still eager to create more distance. Even rushing headfirst toward an army of elite KanʼTanu was far preferable to the certain death the bell represented. It took less than a minute to stow the fallen, and they were on the way soon after.

Dossin ordered a breakneck pace where the Late E-grade Soldiers ran close to the limits of what their attributes would allow. Doing so back on old earth was a surefire way to lose a battle, but E-grade cultivators wouldnʼt even be slightly winded when they arrived. For Zac, it was like a casual stroll.

He had joined the other commanders at the vanguard to better coordinate the response to any subsequent threats or traps. Everyoneʼs eyes were mostly roving the sky, and not just because of the ancient bell. The battleground was a remote corner of an uninhabited world, so aerial bombardment was the greatest threat theyʼd face.

”You donʼt have to worry about attacks from above,” Dossin eventually said while pointing to the sky. ”Look.”

It was a streak of shifting light hovering in the sky, resembling the northern lights from back home. It was a beautiful phenomenon, but Zac didnʼt understand what the Dravorak general was driving at.

”Itʼs ancient Dao bleeding into this dimension,” Dossin explained. ”The Mystic Realm is pushing against our reality, but the ambient energy of this world reinforces the dimensional barrier. The emptiness outside the atmosphere does not have the same advantages. Itʼs just an insignificant phenomenon now, but thatʼll soon change.”

”A spatial storm?” a commander ventured.

”One that will soon cover this whole continent,” Dossin confirmed. ”Truth be told, this whole stellar system is incredibly fragile. Weʼve already lost dozens of Cosmic Vessels, and any items weʼve deployed were destroyed within minutes. The KanʼTanu have fared even worse since this region was originally under their control.”

”Luck is an important part of war,” one of the strategists nodded.

”True. Now, all fighting is done on the ground, where each side brings in reinforcements whenever we manage to form a link to this unstable region.”

”So what about the bell? The KanʼTanu havenʼt used it before?” Zac asked, and Dossin shook her head with a small frown.

”Never. I still canʼt explain the events surrounding the bell. But it should be impossible for it to appear now that the storm is about to break out.”

Zac slowly nodded, not pressing the matter further. Theyʼd have to delve into the mysteries of the bell and Vilariʼs master later. For now, there were cultists to fight. Zac could already feel Spatial Energy among the planetʼs energy, which meant they were getting close to the hotspot. Meanwhile, the Dao streaks in the sky were rapidly multiplying.

”Theyʼre here,” Dossin said, and Zac suddenly felt a spiritual nudge from the armyʼs War Array.

He accepted and suddenly felt as though his Soul Sense expanded from one hundred meters to stretch far into the horizon, where a huge monstrosity rapidly approached. It looked like a centipede as wide as a mighty river, but a second glance indicated it was a construct created through the familiar arts of the Heart Curses.

The centipede exuded a dark shroud as it advanced, but Zac could vaguely make out an army sitting on its back. A sharp red light released from within the shroud shattered the scene, but it didnʼt take long before he could see the moving river with his own eyes.

The KanʼTanuʼs approach looked more overbearing, but Zac could tell their army was roughly the same size and strength as theirs. Zac returned to his men, his mind already filled by a rapid-fire peppering of instructions. The Acheron Company took up a position at the left flank, setting up a solid line designed for a steady advance.

The orders were detailed and exhaustive, which drastically lessened the pressure on Zac and his, admittedly, inexperienced commanders. Dossinʼs team of tacticians also showed surprising insight into their strengths and equipment, including War Arrays they hadnʼt showcased on the frontlines or mentioned in the short briefing.

It was unnerving to know there likely was a dossier on him and his budding faction in the headquarters, but the detailed strategy also proved Dossin was well-prepared for the upcoming battle.

Suddenly, the huge centipede exploded, turning into a cascading tangle of rapidly advancing thorns. It was a strategy theyʼd dealt with many times before, so Zac wasnʼt worried, even if it contained a stronger aura. His people had already proven their strength, and Dossin had already anticipated this move.

Two dozen enormous glass spheres thumped down on the ground, and a cascade of stellar flames rippled forward. Their unrelenting flames collided with the advancing tide, creating a writhing inferno spanning more than a mile. The other armies unleashed similar attacks, and the incoming cascade was stopped in its tracks.

The cursed ground was rapidly withering away, but Zacʼs eyes thinned upon seeing hundreds of huge shadows in the smoke. Hulking figures soon emerged, their heavy steps suffocating the lingering effects of the War Machines. Each was dozens of meters tall and teeming with energy.

These goliaths were wrought from the dense tendrils of Heart Curses, but these creatures differed from the cultists who chose to enter a berserk state. The complex patterns covering their fleshy appendages exposed where these miscreations came from—The Chapter of Hallowed Flesh, one of the seven core units of the KanʼTanu.

Each chapter was the equivalent of a powerful C-grade empire, and their elites used higher-quality Heart Curses. They also possessed methods to utilize the parasites beyond cultivation accelerators and double-edged berserking methods. Hallowed Flesh focused on the physical manifestation of the Heart Curses, using sacrifices and rituals to replace their bodies or create constructs to fight for them.

Zac couldnʼt tell which of the two the lumbering creatures were, but their energy levels were shocking. They were like mobile Array Towers, shooting thousands of tendrils toward the advancing line of alliance soldiers. The goretide was reborn with redoubled ferocity through their appearance. A bloodthirsty growl escaped from [Verunʼs Bite] as Zac gripped its handle tighter, while a savage smile spread across his face.

These enemies were completely different from the uncoordinated and ill-trained war slaves who werenʼt good for much else than human wave tactics. It was the kind of enemy he had worked so hard to prepare his men for.

They were ready.