Defiance of the Fall

An intense aura of steel and blood greeted Zac as he stepped through the Teleportation Array, accompanied by Vilari and Rhuger. They stopped at the elevated podium to get a better look while a river of battle-hardened warriors poured past them to make room for the rest of the fused army.

A brutal city of wide streets, sharp angles, and rough materials stretched across the horizon. Apart from a few larger structures, the buildings were mostly identical, resembling hastily erected warehouses. The city didn't look too impressive at a first glance, but Zac soon realized the view was messing with his sense of scale.

The distant streets that looked no wider than a normal two-lane road were at least a few hundred meters across, surpassing most squares back home. The buildings, too, were extraordinarily oversized, each a city unto its own. Zac felt like he'd returned to the Mystic Realm on Earth, which had been spatially expanded by the Dimensional Seed. The city couldn't compare to the continent-sized world disks of Twilight Harbor, but it had to be a huge undertaking to build something like this.

Scale aside, it wasn't the capital of some barren world. It was one of the temporary camps of the Zecia Alliance, erected upon a huge platform floating through space. The stars in the sky slowly drifted, indicating that the platform was actually moving, and with great speed at that.

The city was accompanied by dozens of Cosmic Vessels silently flying above, and Zac immediately spotted a few of his own products. They were all covered in scars, and some missed whole sections. However, that only added to their fierce impression, making them seem like lions in a flock of hyenas.

Not only that, but there were six more city platforms within his line of sight, and Zac wouldn't be surprised if there were even more nearby. Zac estimated this grouping alone could house well over a hundred million soldiers. It was a shocking number that would be able to steamroll most factions on Earth, yet it was only a fraction of the total number of combatants in the region.

The war on the frontlines was different than the neatly arranged battlefronts. The Battlefront Arrays didn't send your armies directly to a battleground, but rather to these war camps controlled by the Zecia Alliance. From there, they'd either take Cosmic Vessels or use the Alliance Teleporters to reach the frontlines. The war camps themselves were constantly on the move, partly to avoid attacks and partly to reach contested regions.

The Zecia Alliance also had Spatial Gates that could open portals to enemy worlds. Such arrays were normally beyond the means of the factions on the frontier, but the uniqueness of the location worked in their favor. They were at the edge of the Eternal Storm, and the dimensional barriers were thin and unstable. The war had further pushed them to the brink of collapse, making it significantly easier to poke a hole or connect two locations.

Their range was still very limited, and the windows of opportunity were small, but it was enough to quickly send your army to a nearby battle. The gates were prohibitively expensive to open, though, so they were only used for important missions where speed was critical. It was also difficult to locate the correct coordinates because of the spatial turbulence, but the Zecia forces had a home-field advantage.

"Let's go introduce ourselves."

Vilari smilingly nodded, and they descended the Battlefront Platform toward a huge square below. It was more than large enough to accommodate his combined armies, and there was already a group of soldiers waiting for them. A fierce-looking middle-aged captain was already waiting by his men, his baleful aura strong enough for Zac to sense it hundreds of meters away.

He was a demi-human with yellow eyes and mottled green spots on his face and hand. He was just standing there, yet a red haze of intense Killing Intent was forming around him. Zac could tell it wasn't directed at his people; it was simply an air he exuded after centuries, perhaps millennia, of bloodshed. However, the captain had seen better days. He was missing an arm, and there was something wrong with his energy flow—the sign of a damaged Cosmic Core.

"You're not registered at all? How's that possible?" the soldier swore at Ra'Klid, his voice like steel grinding against bone. "Idiots, did you spend all your Faction Merit to avoid contributing? Ah? Where did that leave you now? Broke and still here. Or did you bribe someone? Don't think I can't see the fancy gear you're all wearing under your cloaks. That won't fly here!"

"I assure you, we've done no such thing," Ra'Klid said. "We arrived later because the Ruthless Heavens called upon us later."

"Uh huh," the warrior scoffed, suspicion written all over his face. "Well, whatever. You're here now, which means you're bound by the Alliance Laws. So, stop acting mysterious and tell me who—"

The old captain seemed ready to continue his tirade but stopped upon seeing Zac's approach.

"This rain of sunshine is Captain Tussar," Ra'Klid said. "He's been assigned to get us settled."

"Zachary Atwood of the Atwood Empire," Zac calmly said.

He wasn't about to apologize for arriving late—they'd earned that right through hard work and sacrifice. But he also didn't get angry at the fierce attitude. Zac could understand where the gruff veteran was coming from. The frontline in the Red Zone was the last line of defense safeguarding Zecia, yet too many people were only putting in the minimum effort.

Between the battlefronts preventing the Kan'Tanu from appearing on your doorstep and the distant frontlines at the sector's edge, most prioritized the former. Meanwhile, Captain Tussar was clearly from the Allbright Empire, judging by an insignia on his lapel, which meant he and his people had been desperately fighting to protect their homeland since day one.

"Zachary Atwood? Atwood Empire?" he said, his eyes widening with realization. "The Atwood ships? That's you?"

"That's me."

Zac wasn't too surprised his mixed-race army hadn't immediately tipped off the man. The Atwood Empire's unique composition was no longer a secret, but it was mostly the leaders who knew of the situation. Some could figure it out through his two entries on the Early D-grade ladder, but it wasn't like many people in Zecia knew who the Umbri'Zi were. In fact, very few people in the Allbright Empire had even heard of the Radiant Temple, their own overlord.

"I—Uh," the soldier grunted, looking like he'd swallowed a fly. But he soon found his bearing and bowed slightly, an action that seemed incredibly ill-practiced. The shock on Tussar's followers was proof it was a drastic departure from a usually fierce bearing. "I apologize. I know your faction's contribution is greater than almost anyone's."

"Don't mind it," Zac waved.

"Those ships," the grizzled warrior ventured, his eyes glancing at a Starflash above them. "You… uh… got any more?"

"I'm sending everything over the moment they leave the production line," Zac said with a shake of his head. "I would have expanded production, but it's a System-limited resource."

"Shame," the general sighed. "Anyway, welcome to the Allbright Empire and the Zecia Alliance. I'm Tussar Arondo, and I'll do my best to get you up to speed."

"I didn't expect a Late-stage Hegemon to act as a greeter," Zac commented.

"Bah, couldn't just sit around in the sick tent and wait for my core to heal," Tussar spat. "And I'm no good with tactics or planning, so I'm helping with a little bit of everything until I can return to my men. Usually, I'm beating some se—ah, I'm training the newcomers. The last batches have essentially been penal colonies of worthless dregs. Not even good enough to become fodder."

"No wonder you're in a mood," Ra'Klid grinned but backed down after Zac glanced in his direction.

"Nice to meet you, captain," Zac said. "Which section is this?"

"You're now part of the third barracks of the Twenty-Second Field Army," Tussar said, not without some pride.

"The Everfast Monarch?" Zac exclaimed.

Zac could understand the pride in Tussar's eyes. Zecia had undeniably come out on the losing end during the initial clash, but a few heroes emerged and became legends. The Everfast Monarch had been mostly unknown beyond his identity as part of the Dravorak Imperial Clan. However, he was one of the few who managed to slay a Kan'Tanu Monarch during the first battle.

Not only that, but he destroyed a powerful killing array that would have been a huge threat to the region. The battle had cost him a War Fortress and damaged another, but the victory was only possible because the Everfast Monarch had hidden the fact he'd managed to step into Middle Monarchy just before the Kan'Tanu arrived. He'd burst forth with power at a critical time, and his decisive victory had stabilized a huge swathe of the Red Zone.

"That's the one," Tussar said. "You're pretty lucky. The fighting's tough everywhere, but our situation is better than most."

"Actually, we have already been assigned to the forty-seventh," Zac said, handing over a crystal exuding the unique marking aura of the Allbright Empire.

The crystal was a relocation order signed by an actual Monarch of the Allbright Dynasty, which had binding power anywhere within the Alliance Army. The System hadn't given them any options but to join the madness, and Zac wasn't about to cower behind his men. However, that didn't mean he was above pulling some strings to improve their situation.

As Tussar said, the twenty-second was probably one of the best field armies to join, but it was ultimately under the control of a Monarch from the Dravorak Dynasty. Zac had a small grudge with the ancient Zecia faction after killing the Dravorak Princeling in the Tower of Eternity. It had mostly been smoothed already, mostly thanks to his Cosmic Vessels, and he already had an official status equivalent to a middling nobleman within the Dravorak Empire.

Zac was more worried about the people standing behind them.

Arcaz Umbri'Zi had been singled out as one of the main reasons for the accelerated collapse of the Twilight Ocean and the disastrous fallout for the Havarok Empire. Their general had no choice but to force his way through the mysterious teleportation gate because Alvod's ascent started early. As a result, the Umbri'Zi gained the opportunity to launch a large-scale war against the Havarok's feeder sectors.

The Havarok imperials hadn't attempted to contact or target him since appearing in Zecia, but that didn't mean they'd forgiven him. They would definitely deal with him if given the chance, and that didn't even take into account their hunt for seals. Worse, the Havarok probably didn't care about his Creator Vessels or his agreements with the Zecia Alliance.

Neither did Zac dare move to the sections manned by the Undead Empire. Their cooperation was still working without issue, but Tavza's final warning lingered in the back of Zac's mind. The System had measures against outright conflict between allies, but rules were dead and people were alive. War was chaotic, and "accidents" happened all the time.

Ultimately, Zac chose to stay with the Allbright Empire since he had a decent relationship with the Allbright Dynasty, Peaks, and Radiant Temple. Furthermore, they were the ones who would suffer the most if his supply of Cosmic Vessels was cut short, so the Allbright Dynasty was more likely to prevent any schemes on his life.

His first choice was actually the Void Temple, but they'd rejected his request for assistance. They'd been very helpful before he left for the Perennial Vastness but drew a clear line after the war started. Zac suspected the rules of the Vigil were holding Perala back. The fact that they helped defend the frontlines at all was probably bending their rules of non-interference.

"The forty-seventh? Ah! Damn, it's actually stamped by Lord Endemire," Tussar blurted. "I thought you belonged to the deadies. Uh, no offense."

"Can't have too many friends," Zac smiled. "If you could make the arrangements."

"Of course," Tussar quickly nodded, pointing at a huge building nearby. "Quickest way to move over to the forty-seventh is to teleport to—"

The grizzled Hegemon didn't get any further before a blaring siren shook the city awake.

"What's going on?"

"It's a general assembly. All hands on deck," Tussar frowned. "Something big must have happened on the front."

"Is it good or bad?"

"Could be good, could be bad," Tussar muttered, hesitating before adding another sentence. "For the soldiers, it's always bad. The call means a huge battle is about to break out, and many will have to lay down their lives."

Zac exchanged a pointed look with Vilari. Wasn't the timing too coincidental?

Tussar took out a token and infused his will. His scowl only deepened, and it almost looked like he was about to throw the token on the ground. "Information blockade? Bastards! Sending us into the unknown again!"

"It might not be too bad," the captain added when he saw Zac's stormy expression. "The bigshots might have created an opening, or a sudden weakness in the dimensional barriers has given us a unique opportunity. The blockade makes it harder for our enemy to anticipate our plans. Either case, we're moving fast. They're opening a gate and sending everyone through."

"What about us?"

"That's, uh," Tussar grimaced. "An order at this level is considered critical for the war effort. It takes precedence over other missions or assignments. Everyone nearby would have to join, and failure to comply is considered treason. Not even Lord Endemire's stamp can overrule that."

"So we're stuck?" Zac frowned, his bad feeling only growing worse.

Had his circumstances leaked, and the Havarok were prepared for his arrival? Was someone else making a move? Or was he just being paranoid? Thank God they only sent one of their two armies to test the waters.

"I can't send you off even if I wanted to," Tussar sighed, nodding at the teleportation building. "See the barrier? The Alliance Network has already been sealed to prevent leaks, and any vessel veering off on its own will be shot down. Only the Battlefront Arrays work since they're controlled by the System rather than us."

Zac sighed as he looked up at the shimmering stars. It looked like they were being thrown into the grinder sooner rather than later. He could only pray that his preparations over the last few days were enough.

--------------------

"Go ahead, take your places."

The voice was gentle, tranquil, like its owner hadn't just massacred a roomful of famous captains he'd fought alongside for months. Or perhaps it couldn't be considered a massacre, considering his energy kept their hearts beating, and a wisp of their souls remained. The masked group flowed into the secret chamber, each targeting a specific dignitary.

Sealing talismans were placed over the eight chakras, sealing life and soul within their leaking containers. Next, they took out identical masks looking like crystalline pieces of art and placed them over the victim's faces.

"Remember, every word and every action carries a risk of being exposed. Your predecessors have already set the events in motion. You only need to gently guide them in the right direction."

There was no answer, only the silent shuffle of blood being swept and Karma cleansed. The masks were soon finished imprinting, and the Blank Slates placed the masks onto their faces. A wave of his sleeve isolated the crackling sounds of bones being crushed and remolded. Ten seconds later, the transformation was complete.

The group carefully stowed the bodies in their respective Mourning Vats, retaining the link and fate. Finally, they shed their Emptiness Shrouds, displaying the dazzling clothing beneath—clothing identical to the fallen captains whose places they'd taken. Qul'Uster looked across the room, nodding in satisfaction when not even his augmented sight could spot any imperfections. Only the most discerning Class-3 Cultivator would be able to see through the ruse.

"Our partner will contact you within the hour. There is no telling how things will shake out, but I trust you can arrange things to everyone's satisfaction. Remember our purpose."

The group sat down at the overseer's table, placing their hands on the Command Crystals. The shrunken-down urns hummed, and dense rows of data appeared. There was nothing else to say. The Blank Slates would finish their task to perfection. They'd be discovered eventually, but that was their fate. They only existed when taking the role of others. Being exposed was simply returning to nothingness.

"Are you really planning on being a hired hand for that twisted bastard?"

The voice was tinged with anger and disgust. Qul'Uster looked over as he stepped out of the sealed chamber, finding Nuztu standing in the shadows. Her mask hid any expression, but the anger veritably oozed from its slits.

"Working with those wretched people is as close to treason as you can come. And you know they're bound to betray us. They hate us almost as much as we hate them."

"Such is the way of things," Qul'Uster said with equanimity. "Our interests are aligned for the moment, and we want to push events in the same direction. Who'll seize the opportunities and accomplish their goals will ultimately depend on fate and strength. Who knows? We might all end up walking away empty-handed."

"You think those barbarians can overcome our arrangements? How's that possible?" Nutzu scoffed, crackling light appearing around her hand. "They're walking testaments to the folly of Heaven's Path, unrefined and inefficient. I'm more interested in testing the strength of these so-called imperials or that ancient monster roaming the battlefront."

"Don't underestimate the natives," Qul'Uster said, recalling the ancient, scattered notes he'd found in the abandoned archives. "Nothing is what it seems, and everything is at stake. The war for the Fifth Pillar of Sin has already moved those at the peak, and fate is bound to shift in unpredictable ways."

"Whatever, I'm just here to kill whoever gets in the way," Nutzu said as they emerged from the hidden base.

The city was already coming alive, and the winds of war were stirring.

"Do you think it's actually possible? Can the Supreme Ancestor's remnant be found in this desolate place after being missing for so long?"

"That's what we need to find out. But the events undeniably line up. The last clues to the Kayar-Elu's whereabouts lead to this quadrant, and now the Fifth Pillar appears out of nowhere in this nascent sector," Qul'Uster said, his gaze growing distant. "What else can drag it from the depths but the call of the Void Emperor?"

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