Defiance of the Fall

"Kator is incredibly powerful," Pavina sighed upon seeing Zac's look. "I wouldn't last ten seconds if we were the same grade. A few lucky Reavers are born with special bones that provide unique and incredible abilities. They call them Miracle Bones because that's what they enable. Only one out of a hundred thousand purebloods gets one. Getting two is a blessing from the Heavens. Kator has four that I know of."

Zac grunted noncommittally, taking the news in stride. It wasn't that he underestimated those Miracle Bones—he wouldn't be surprised if they were even stronger than Hidden Nodes or Specialty cores. Four of them might double Kator's combat strength or more. This was simply how things worked. Anyone who could dominate a whole generation, especially of a powerful faction like the Izh'Rak Reavers, was bound to have something to fall back on.

It could be inborn advantages, advantages gained through unique opportunities, or more likely both.

"Do you know the rules?" Zac asked. "Not much point if we use skills and our full strength. He's right at the threshold of entering Late Hegemony."

"We have training arrays similar to the dueling platforms back in the Orom World. Kator's effective attributes will be reduced to roughly your level, and his Daos will see similar restrictions. You'll duel as we did now, using only your inborn advantages and technique to decide a victor."

"Really?" Zac said with a raised brow. "That seems surprisingly generous coming from that guy."

"He's pretty arrogant and wants to succeed where Commander Kaldor failed," Pavina laughed. "But if you fight like you did today, my money's on my little boss. He's also been debriefed on your battle with the Commander, so he'll be ready for that weird trick you used. You might want to think of other roads to victory."

The weird trick she mentioned was no doubt [Void Zone], which he'd been forced to briefly use when Kaldor began cheating. He'd said it was a Draugr bloodline talent, but Kaldor was no fool. Even if Zac belonged to one of the lost branches, you'd have to be blind to mistake his Void abilities for something linked to the Abyss.

The two soon appeared at the inner square, where a familiar figure awaited him. Calrin's aura was stable, but he looked haggard, like he'd endured seven taxing years since they last met. However, his visage lit up upon seeing Zac, though the cherubic little face soon scrunched up in a scowl.

"How did things go?" Zac smiled as they walked over.

"You wretch!" Calrin wheezed with a low volume. "How could you just leave me here for a week? Throwing me to the wolves."

"You sometimes have to take risks for profits," Zac coughed. "Is everything in order with the manufacturer?"

"It should have been," Calrin said with annoyance. "Our contract with Brightglaive Munitions was finalized two days ago, but they won't release the wares."

"What's going on?" Zac said, turning to Pavina.

"No idea," Pavina frowned. "Ah, here they come."

One by one, the representatives from the two camps appeared out of thin air. Zac wasn't surprised everyone was seeing him off, but he got a bad feeling upon seeing the slight frown on Tavza's face.

"Running back home so soon? You're not reneging on our deal, are you?" Kator laughed.

"Aren't those my words?" Zac countered. "I hear our wares are being held in limbo?"

"So they are," Kator nodded before turning to a gate in the distance, and Zac's eyes thinned upon seeing two Revenants step through. "You have been running wild on the Empire's dime for a while now, and we don't have anything to show for it beyond non-binding promises and second-grade information. It's about time we implemented some oversight to our investment."

"You want me to bring spies with me back home?" Zac said with a displeased frown, though he was inwardly relieved.

He was already acting under the assumption that the Undead Empire was observing his every move, so having two shadows following him around wouldn't change much. It would have been much trickier to deal with excuses to keep him in Kavista.

"Rebellious as ever," Kator snickered. "I simply want to ensure that the resources we provide are used efficiently and for their intended purpose. Remember, our support is contingent on you progressing your quest as Arcaz Umbri'Zi."

'There are indeed clauses in our contract that can halt delivery of products,' Calrin's voice echoed in Zac's mind. 'I tried to get rid of it, but they didn't budge on that one. An imperial command can divert all resources meant for us to their own war machine.'

"I want you to have finished the conquest part of your quest within two months," Kator continued. "As for the sealbearer, we'll provide one if fate fails you."

"And if I can't conquer nine worlds within the timeframe?"

"Then you're simply too incompetent, and sending War Machines to you is a waste of resources," Kator shrugged.

Zac snorted, but he wasn't worried. Nine Worlds in two months was roughly one successful conquest a week. It was a tough schedule, but he had multiple ways to lessen the burden, from his Cosmic Vessels to his other body working in tandem.

"The liaisons are not just there to keep an eye on things," Laz interjected upon seeing the atmosphere grow tense. "We handpicked Serzo and Petrus because of their experience and expertise. Your faction is young and lacking in some aspects. You could benefit from some outside feedback."

"Serzo is a follower I brought. He's a veteran who accumulated great merit in our war with the Havarok Empire," Enis Umbri'Zi elaborated. "He was tasked with getting newly awakened worlds up and running, and he should have insights that can benefit your budding society."

Zac nodded in thanks, knowing Enis was telling him this to make clear his allegiance.

"Petrus was raised in the White Sky Phalanx, giving him ample insights into how to run a well-oiled war machine," Toss said. "Efficiency is critical when you can't steamroll your enemy. A few adjustments here and there can lower expenditures and casualties by a surprising degree. Stretched across the duration of the war, it might be the difference between victory and defeat."

"You're right. Thank you all for your help until now. I'll keep working hard on my end," Zac said with a bow.

"Be careful. Fate is stirring," Tavza said.

"I will. The same goes for you," Zac nodded before glancing at the two Early D-grade Revenants. "Let's go."

"Remember, your life is most important," Laz fussed. "Don't overextend yourself in search of quick progress. These Kan'Tanu have some troublesome elites, and there are outsiders searching for seals on their side as well."

Zac, Calrin, and his two new 'advisors' soon stepped out from a Teleportation Array by the Nexus Hub of Port Atwood. The Sky Gnome didn't even say goodbye before sprinting toward the safety of his office, his stubby legs showcasing amazing speed. Zac smiled as he heard Calrin grumble under his breath until he exited the range of his Soul Sense.

He turned to the two liaisons, who curiously looked around. "Welcome to the Atwood Empire. I'll do my best to accommodate your needs during your stay. However, if I find you're snooping around where you shouldn't or harm my citizens, there'll be consequences."

"Master Umbri'Zi, you don't need to worry," Serzo smiled. "While we are here to ensure the resources provided are used properly, we've no interest in causing trouble. I hope you can see us as assets. As the lords said, we both have some experience that could prove useful."

"I'm not foolish enough to jump into the matters between you young masters," Petrus added. "I'm here to do my job and keep my head down. I've already familiarized myself with the first batch of equipment that'll be sent over momentarily. If you want further advice, I will do my best to provide it. If not, I'll stay out of the way."

Zac nodded and led the two out after setting them up with guest tokens. They didn't have any bombs, but they would let Zac's people track their movements. In return, they worked as credentials, providing access to teleporters and various regions depending on their grade.

"Let's go; we're expected," Zac said after sending a couple of messages through his communicator.

"Where to?" Serzo asked.

"We've been setting up an elite army to quickly rack up merit and conquests," Zac explained. "I'm hoping it'll be up and running within a few days. Any input you can provide to make that happen is appreciated."

He'd been impatient since returning from his first visit to the battlefronts, be it from reading the daily reports or seeing his position on the Ranking board being overtaken. His two spots had already been pushed down a peg by Helian Ailo. The fact that the global ladders didn't list people's actual merit meant it was impossible to tell whether he was about to lose another position. It constantly felt like he had people breathing down his neck.

The three made their way toward the government building, their appearance barely making any waves among Port Atwood's pedestrians.

"It's quite novel," Serzo said as he glanced at a Revenant and Ishiate walking side by side. "I hear your planet became this way after the realignment failed midway?"

"That's part of it," Zac nodded. "I'm guessing it was also a gift by the System because of my condition."

"I would have expected greater resistance to our kin," Petrus commented. "I've participated in two Incursions myself. We're always sent to the thick of it, leading to massive casualties among the natives."

"There's been some problems, but we're working on it," Zac said, glancing at the two advisors. "You should probably refrain from advertising that you're from the Empire, though. People might not be as accepting of imperial undead as my own people."

They soon reached their destination, where Zac's other body and a few of his generals waited. The two Revenants surreptitiously inspected Zac's human form, but Zac knew these two wouldn't find anything amiss. The group moved to a private meeting room by the Command Center, immediately getting into it.

"These two gentlemen are Petrus and Serzo, the representatives I mentioned in the message," Draugr Zac said.

Human Zac slowly nodded. "Welcome. I'm sure Arcaz has told you all you need to know. Let's get started. I've mostly been in seclusion, so Ilvere will catch you all up to speed."

"Ahem," Ilvere said. "We're slightly ahead of schedule but need two more days before everything is arranged. We're still vetting members and adapting our setup based on the new Blazing Comet equipment."

"What's that?" Petrus asked. "What about the Brightglaive Munitions?"

"I negotiated another deal while Arcaz met with you guys," human Zac explained. "Blazing Comet is a weapon series provided by the Allbright Empire. It's roughly equivalent to your Moonglaive series."

"Lord Atwood's social circle is indeed wide," Serzo smiled.

"Well, it was mostly a matter of having a decent production line of Cosmic Vessels," Zac shrugged. "Now we have two sources of equipment, one for each half of the Empire. This way, we won't be as restricted when configuring our armies."

"The matter of your integrated armies is one of the things we were instructed to broach," Petrus said. "We recommend separating your armies into Life and Death. It's simply more practical."

"We understand that you wish to integrate your people, but you should be aware it comes with certain practical challenges," Serzo added. "When the Undead Empire enters a neutral battleground, there's a thirty percent chance it'll be Death-attuned. It's an accommodation by the System to slightly level the playing field.

"With an integrated army, I assume these odds will get lowered, and your undead warriors will generally find themselves at a disadvantage."

"It's not just about the battleground itself," Petrus said. "You all fought the Kavriel Province during your integration, so you should understand our fundamental strategy. We have the means to convert any battleground to suit our needs. The terraforming will act as a weapon while allowing our soldiers to fight at full strength. But such a strategy doesn't work if half your army is made up of Dreamers."

"You're right; the need for different environments is a thorny issue," Ilvere nodded. "However, our undead population is far smaller than our living one. We simply can't field proper undead armies as things currently stand. Instead, we have developed methods to create mobile and contained pockets of Miasma on any battlefield."

"It's also a matter of the Empire's path," Draugr Zac added. "We're ultimately a Life-Death faction, and I think blindly copying the Undead Empire's methods will harm us in the long run. I'd rather work toward a method uniquely designed for us that'll turn what you call a disadvantage into a weapon our enemies will have difficulties adapting to."

"True, strategies using both Miasma and Cosmic Energy have unique advantages," Petrus nodded. "War Arrays can be strong against one but weak against the other. The White Sky Phalanx has experimented with adding Dreamer units before. We ultimately found it more convenient and efficient to focus on what we're good at, but you have more to gain from developing this path."

"We've had preliminary success with some strategies, but if we can't make it work in larger engagements, we'll revisit the topic," Draugr Zac said before turning to Ilvere. "So, who's coming with me?"

With the demands from the Undead Empire, it had become clear that his Draugr half had to take charge of the first battalion. Besides, his Draugr half was simply stronger after the recent gains. It wouldn't hurt having that extra assurance on the frontlines while they were still figuring things out. Meanwhile, his Human side could keep working on his cultivation.

"We've decided to use the Second Battlefront for the new unit and split its current soldiers among the other twelve," Ilvere said. "Rhubat will stay, but step down and become your second-in-command."

Ultimately, they'd decided against opening a fourteenth Battlefront. It would add undue pressure during the restructuring. Zac would instead wait until the second elite battalion was set up in a few weeks before taking that step. This solution also solved the issue he'd broached with Rhubat, spreading the Zhix squads among the other battlefronts in hopes it'd help with their integration.

"We've also transferred Carva, Janos, Mondrik Ashtos, and Ciru Volor. Joanna Thompson and Carl Elrod will lead independent bounty-hunting units. Mark Marshall and Jarmon will oversee the Navy. The other commanders will stay on their current assignment, integrating the next wave of recruits."

Zac nodded. It turned out that the challenge wasn't getting enough people to sign up but that almost every elite and commander wanted to join the new elite squad. He couldn't put all his Sealbearers and core personnel in the same squad, leaving the other fronts exposed, so Ilvere had picked a few from each race. The others would get a chance later through rotations or by joining human Zac's army.

The meeting continued for another few hours, and Zac was happy that the newcomers didn't cause any trouble. Both provided valuable insights, especially with Petrus, who better understood Brightglaive Munitions' equipment. There was a difference between making plans based on spec sheets and practical knowledge.

The promised equipment had arrived by the time the meeting adjourned, and Zac joined the elite army for a series of war games to get used to the new arrays while sorting out the kinks in their cooperation. Zac only oversaw the training with his Draugr body. His human half had already returned to his Cultivation Cave to absorb Life-attuned energy and ponder on his Evolutionary Path.

The benefit of having harmonized his two classes and Daos was already becoming apparent. It allowed him to retool some of the ideas and concepts he'd encountered in the Abyssal Pond for his other side. It couldn't fully replace the need for inspiration into the concept of Evolution or Life, but it helped shore up his foundations and figure out a direction of study.

Three days passed, and everything was finally in place. The battalion was still rough around the edges, but it was ready to be fielded. Zac unhesitantly called for departure, and it only took an hour before the whole army stood in front of the second battlefront array.

Rhubat and Carva were off dealing with the reset and reactivation of the Battlefront Array, leaving Zac standing atop a stage with his other commanders behind him. Zac felt a pang of guilt as he looked out across the sea of faces looking up at him, but he quelled the feeling.

These people had all volunteered, and their bloody auras left no room for interpretation. They walked the martial path just like himself, all with blood and grime under their nails. They were the best fighters his Empire could field, and they were just as eager as he. Zac slowly floated into the air, his growing killing intent enough to silence whispers in the huge crowd.

"I'm sure you've heard the rumors already. I am Zachary Atwood, or Arcaz Umbri'Zi, depending on how you look at it," Zac said, his voice carrying far and wide. "I won't waste your time with empty speeches or talks about righteousness or glory. This is war. Right and wrong don't matter. The invaders want what's ours, and it's kill or be killed.

"I am not satisfied with passively defending. I will strike back with everything I got and turn their aggression into fodder for my path. Since you volunteered to join, I assume you feel the same way. Our goal is simple; we'll strike fast, and we'll strike hard—one conquest per week, where we take everything they have before we disappear.

"During my travels off-world, I encountered an ancient storm where Life and Death coexisted. The two elements working had formed something far deadlier than either could on their own. The locals simply called the region 'the Calamity'.

"That's the kind of power and ferocity we need to survive these desperate times. We need to become a force of nature, unpredictable and unstoppable," Zac said, his Killing Intent spreading further and further out. "We'll secure Life through Death and destruction, seize our future with our own hands. And should we fall, it'll only be after we've made these Kan'Tanu invaders pay a price they'll never forget."

The huge pillar behind him lit up to punctuate his words, radiating a sinister light. It didn't feel like a gateway leading to glory, but rather a portal to hell. Yet none of the soldiers wavered, and while none uttered a word, Zac could feel their auras surging. Soon, hundreds of thousands of streaks of Killing Intent rose to join Zac's own, forming a huge storm of violence. Zac nodded in satisfaction at the scene.

"Welcome to the Calamity Company."

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