Defiance of the Fall

"How did you know about the Kayar-Elu?" Zac asked, finally expressing the question that had been burning in the back of his mind for the past hour.

"It just made sense," the Realm Spirit shrugged. "When you've lived as long as me, you start to see some patterns in the river of time."

"Made sense, how?" Zac pressed.

"What do you know about the Technocrats?"

"The usual stuff. Dao of Technology, Technomancers, Transcenders, Machine God Faction," Zac said impatiently.

"Sure," Sendor said. "And do you know why the System hates them?"

"Because the Dao of Technology isn't within the purview of the Seventeen Peaks? Because they're functionally Unorthodox Cultivators?"

"Bah," Sendor scoffed. "The Dao is the Dao. Why can't it be applied the way those people want to? They're not breaking the four laws. Usually not, anyway. But who doesn't cheat now and then? It's not like this is the first Era these ideas have appeared. Much of their accomplishments are built on their predecessors. Such is the nature of technological advancement, no?"

Zac nodded hesitantly.

"The reason's simple. War!" Sendor laughed. "The faction you know as the Technocrats today was originally founded by an empire called the Selvari. They weren't anything special, just a slightly powerful force in that ancient epoch when the Dao still was rough and tumble. But they stumbled upon something. Or rather, it stumbled onto them."

"An Eternal Heritage," Zac surmised.

It seemed odd that the technological foundation of the Technocrats would come from something as ancient and mysterious as an Eternal Heritage. He had a hard time picturing something like Ultom containing a bunch of schematics. But having an Eternal Heritage as backing would explain how they could stay strong with the whole Multiverse standing against them.

"Just so," Sendor said. "Well, sort off. The Selvari controlled the better part of a galaxy when it happened. This was before dimensional travel was commonplace, mind you. One day, a huge energy field appeared, consuming almost a fifth of the galaxy. It was a disastrous loss for the Selvari, but they forgot about all that when they found the Technocrat Codex.

"Most Eternal Heritages were created through untold sacrifice and an Era's worth of accumulation. The Technocrat Codex was a bit different. I don't know how, but someone threw a bunch of ideas into the future, avoiding the Dao's collapse."

"Ideas?" Zac asked.

"The people from the Primordial Era probably didn't have the strength to transport matter through such a vast stretch of time, bypassing the Cataclysm. Instead, they sent ideas. Theories, inventions, schools of thought. They suddenly popped up in the minds of the Selvari across the galaxy. The impartment also expanded the minds of these lucky few, letting them stand far above the rest. Using the gift, they became the leaders of the Selvari and founded the Technocracy.

"The Technocrats became a ruling caste far above the rest, especially after it became clear even their descendants enjoyed the cerebral enhancement from the Technocrat Codex. However, while the Technocrats quickly usurped the old structures and took full control, they also elevated the Selvari to new heights.

"Soon, they built wondrous machines that allowed them to visit other galaxies. Other dimensions. They saw themselves as the masters of the universe, delving into its secrets with wild abandon. But then, a small empire rose in a neighboring galaxy. An empire which would come to change everything."

"The Limitless Empire? Two such powerful factions appeared in the same dimension?" Zac asked. "What are the odds?"

"Greater than you might think," Sendor smiled. "Mystic Realms are not born equal, and neither are dimensions. The Selvari and the Limitless Empire were founded in one of the most flourishing dimensions closest to the Heavens. The Dao was clear, and the road toward the peak was wide. Of course, there's another reason. The original inhabitants of the Limitless Empire were Selvari."

"What?" Zac said with confusion.

"Far from all Selvari were satisfied with the changes brought from the Technocrat Codex. The Technocrat Inheritance was simply too alien compared to the natural path of cultivation. Many renounced the Technocracy, especially those belonging to orthodox sects and clans. They fled their homeland and migrated to remote galaxies in a bid to return to traditional cultivation.

Zac's mind was abuzz with the new information. The origin of the System and its hatred of the Dao of Technology suddenly felt much clearer. Not only was the Technocracy an enemy of the Limitless Empire, but the citizens of the Limitless Empire were also formerly under the thumb of the Selvari.

"I think you can understand why the conflict arose," Sendor continued. "The Selvari originally considered the region that later became the Limitless Empire an unofficial colony filled with technologically inferior citizens. The first true war of the Limitless Empire was not only one of expansion but one of liberation."

"And I'm guessing the empire won?"

"The Technocrats found themselves outmatched even before the System's appearance," Sendor nodded. "Emperor Laondio was like a radiant beacon, a savior to free the citizens from the tyranny of technology. He and his powerful subordinates were like a testament to the Heavenly Path, proving the Technocrat Codex was nothing but false truths."

It wasn't hard for Zac putting two and two together after knowing that.

"What does this have to do with the Kayar-Elu?" Zac asked.

"The Kayar-Elu was one of the founding Clans of the Technocracy, direct inheritors of the Technocrat Codex."

"So I'm not human?" Zac asked. "I'm Selvari?"

"Honestly, I don't know what you are," Sendor laughed. "You should be human, but so were the Selvari. In fact, they are the origin of your race and the reason your kin are all over the place."

"It was humans who founded the Technocrats?" Zac exclaimed.

"Well, the Selvari were originally humans. However, their empire had grown diverse after eons of expansion through their galaxy."

"So how did Humans become one of the most populous species of the Multiverse if the Selvari were the System's enemy?" Zac asked curiously.

"For one, there were just as many humans in the Limitless Empire, so targeting your race specifically would make no sense. The war was over ideology. And resources, of course. Be it the Limitless Empire or the Selvari, both needed vast amounts of resources. Saying that The Limitless Empire targeted the Selvari solely for freedom would be a revision of history. They especially needed a specific ability of the Selvari, which incidentally is the reason you can find humans in every corner of the Multiverse.

"The Selvari knew they wouldn't last for long. The Limitless Empire's War Machine was terrifying in a way you can't imagine, and their forces grew daily. But the Selvari had something the Limitless Empire didn't—the ability to travel through dimensions en masse.

"Back then, the realities weren't as interlaced as today. Forcing your way through the dimensional barriers and the chasm between was something only the greatest of Emperor Laondio's generals could accomplish. But the Selvari built enormous Arks and sent trillions of their citizenry, mostly humans, into every corner of the Multiverse. It was a lifeline and a counterattack; forming millions of safe enclaves through all realities. Growing in secret to one day strike back at their hated enemy.

"The System made all that irrelevant, though," Sendor snickered. "The Dark Ages arrived, and most societies collapsed. A million years is an unbelievably long time without Cosmic Energy. Almost all the colonies were erased by the river of time, and the few surviving descendants had forgotten their origin and mission long before the System awoke. Later they were integrated, having no recollection of their old enemy.

Zac saw the holes in his understanding of the universe rapidly fill in. The origin of the Limitless Empire and the purpose of the System. He even had an answer to why the System had rearranged the Multiverse into such a confusing mesh of dimensions. Zac could almost picture it. The Limitless Emperor's main adversary had suddenly sent their people to innumerable dimensions just as he was about to win the war.

So he built the System, a War Machine that would span all realities by fusing with the Heavens, possibly integrating the Selvari's dimensional understanding. That way, he'd be able to hunt down the scattered Selvari while exploring the other dimensions for opportunities.

"Oh, don't go spreading these things," Sendor added. "It can be a touchy subject."

"Of course," Zac said. "You still haven't answered my questions, though. About the Kayar-Elu."

"I was providing context," Sendor snorted. "You youngsters are always so impatient."

"I'm not immortal like you," Zac sighed.

"I guess that's true," Sendor nodded. "Around four thousand years ago, my connection with the System received such a powerful shock that it was almost severed. It had entered an almost manic state as it forced its way into the Eternal Storm. The Heavens only returned to normalcy after two months, but I could tell the System had entered a weakened state. Later, I heard that one of the ancient Technocracy clans had fallen, smote by endless Tribulation Lightning.

"I am guessing the event involved your birth."

"What? four thousand?" Zac said. "That can't be right. I'm only 52, including time distortions."

"You were likely placed inside a seal. To hide you from the Heavens, the System, and even the Technocracy Alliance. " Sendor said, thoughtfully looking at Zac. "Possibly also to shield you from the Dao. Too much of that before you started cultivating, and it might have damaged your bloodline."

Hearing he might be thousands of years old was a bit of a shock, but Zac had always suspected he was older than he seemed. Leandra had apparently been at death's door after her family's fall, and recovering for millennia was nothing for people at that level. At least he was still considered a youngster by the System since it had given him the quest for Ultom.

"You said it made sense I was related to those people," Zac said. "Why?"

"I'm closing in on some dangerous topics. Suffice it to say, just like the Limitless Empire had a complicated relationship with the Technocracy, so did the Void Emperor. Few things are black and white, especially at the peak," Sendor said, looking at Zac with a complex gaze. "I wonder what is chance and what is predestination. I wonder if he…

"Nevermind," the Realm Spirit said with a shake of his head.

The Realm Spirit had stopped short of giving clear answers about Karz, but Zac could infer a few more details to add to the growing web of his origin. It sounded like the Void Emperor had some connection to either the Kayar-Elu or the Technocracy as a whole. Had Karz betrayed Laondio to ally with the Technocrats? No, that didn't seem right. If that were the case, would his mother really say he carried the Original Sin?

Was it the opposite? Had Karz infiltrated the Technocracy, befriending them before taking them out on the emperor's orders?

"As far as I know, the Kayar-Elu received two main inheritances from the Technocrat Codex," Sendor continued. "One was related to shielding and aura manipulation. They were a major player in setting up Sanctuary, the Holy Land in the depths of the Eternal Storm. I'm no expert in those matters, but I felt your protective array held some similarities to their heritage, and the same is true for your newfound resistance to Karmic Links.

"And you've just experienced their second inheritance," the Realm Spirit smiled. "They hold the secret of twinned existence, something beyond cloning or puppets. Two bodies, each as strong as the other. Of course, one of those bodies was supposed to be mechanical, not whatever they accomplished with your weird Void Duality.

"I can't imagine the work that went into transforming a peak Technocrat invention into something that would work within the purview of Heaven's Path. It's like forcing a previous Era's cultivation System into this one. And that's not even taking into account merging the technique with your bloodline."

Zac slowly nodded, remembering how he'd seen Leandra seamlessly shift between a gargantuan metallic body and her normal human form. He'd already drawn the parallels to his situation. However, that didn't account for Jeeves' existence—a living AI that seemed to be integrated into the Heavenly Path.

That technology seemed even more groundbreaking than his duality, especially considering what he'd just learned about the Selvari. Did that mean the Kayar-Elu actually had three heritages, with Jeeves being a hidden technology of theirs? Or did the AI come from somewhere else, like another ancient Technocrat clan? The latter would explain why Firmament's Edge knew to look for Leandra and the Digital Nexus.

"Here, read the rest yourself," Sendor said, throwing over an Information Crystal.

Zac infused his will into the crystal and was greeted by a wealth of information. Dozens of books worth, including everything from the ancient era before the System to current events. It even detailed methods to enter the Digital World without implanting yourself with Technocrat machinery. However, a brief scan left Zac frowning, and he looked up at the Realm Spirit.

"This is just general information," Zac said.

"General information that's very hard to get in integrated space," Sendor countered. "Information I believe you will need soon. And it's not all general information. The locations where the System struck the Kayar-Elu and some of their hidden domains. Some of their connections within Integrated Space. Spatial Gates deep inside the Eternal Storm. These things are worth a fortune among the established factions."

It was true. While there were no deeper explanations for his Duplicity Core, there were some very pertinent pieces of information in the crystal. It actually mentioned the Six Profundity Empire and even listed three factions suspected to be founded by the Kayar-Elu—the Pravosti Clan, the Heavenly Palace, and the Huarki Consortia. There was a good chance Leandra hid in one of those three factions.

Of course, these factions might have opted to erase any traces of their origin after the Kayar-Elu's collapse. Luckily, Sendor had listed another fourteen factions across six empires, giving him a direction to keep looking in case he came up emptyhanded in the Six Profundity Empire.

The suspected locations of some of their hidden realms might be the key to fusing his body. He needed to figure out what other secrets hid inside his core, and visiting Kayar-Elu's hidden labs was a promising solution. However, the marked places were all inside the Eternal Storm, far beyond his reach.

"Still," Zac said. "Nothing here will let me fuse my bodies or take control over the cores. Nothing that can help me in the short run. Compared to what I—"

"This is all I know; it's not like I'm some Technocrat information merchant. And don't you try squeezing more benefits out of me," Sendor snorted. "This is more than fair."

"Fine. Nothing on their recent movements?" Zac ventured.

Zac didn't know if it was good or bad news, but the information crystal lacked information about Leandra and Kenzie.

"Honestly, I thought them eradicated until you appeared on my doorstep. That's the consensus among the few who actually know who the Kayar-Elu are," Sendor said. "Those who survived must have concealed themselves quite well. If you don't know, then I have no idea how to help you."

"That's fair," Zac said, stowing away the crystal. "Just one more thing, then."

"I'm telling you, I'm not giving you any more resources," Sendor said with exasperation. "With your disgusting Luck and the System's attention, just go find them yourself. Things given for free are rarely appreciated."

"No, not that," Zac said, though he wouldn't have said no to some more benefits. "Can you send my bodies back separately? One three hours before the other."

"You want to test the limits of your mysterious connection," Sendor, his eyes lighting up with interest. "That's fine."

"Can I say goodbye to Null first?" Zac asked.

"Null begun the process of rebirth while you were unconscious," Sendor rejected. "Her existence is based on your path. It will take her centuries to form a true soul with such heavy baggage."

Zac was disappointed, but what could you do? He took in the surroundings of the mountaintop one final time. Its destruction had actually made it easier to leave, in a sense. It was like his presence had been erased from the region, his Karma with Mount Illumination severed.

"What about the brands?" Zac asked.

"I've already placed them on both your bodies," Sendor said, rolling his eyes when Zac's eyes thinned with suspicion. "Here, see?"

Zac first didn't understand what Sendor meant, but he soon felt a mysterious ripple within the chests of both his bodies. Zac's heart was gripped with fear as it felt like Sendor had hidden a whole universe within a bead no larger than a grain of rice. The next moment, the marks were gone, letting Zac breathe out in relief.

"They'll activate on your will but not on their own," Sendor said. "So don't let yourself get knocked out before you can infuse a wisp into your chest."

"Thank you," Zac said. "I'm ready, then."

"Then off you go," Sendor said as a cocoon of runes grew around Zac's human form.

"Please have my other body catch up if something odd happens," Zac added, suddenly realizing the experiment might be a bit dangerous.

"No problem," Sendor said before throwing over a token. "Come visit if you ever find yourself in my neighborhood. The Cosmic Gallery only holds some low-grade baubles, but I have other regions that would astound you."

"And I just need to share some of my secrets to access them?" Zac said with a roll of his eyes.

"Such is the Law of Balance," Sendor laughed. "I have lots of treasures, so make sure to think of ways to entertain me. Now go. Have fun in the Left Imperial Palace. Some of the answers you're looking for might be found there."

A small gate appeared beneath Zac's feet, and he lost the connection as he began the return journey through the Void. His mind slowly grew quiet, matching the empty surroundings. Seven years had passed, but he was finally going home. He had been full of expectations for his visit to the Perennial Vastness, yet the experience had exceeded anything he could have imagined.

Most importantly, he had accomplished his goal of reaching Hegemony, even if things had taken a sudden turn. It had thrown many of his old plans out the window but also provided him with some new options.

With the biggest roadblock out of the way, it was time to plan for the future.

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