Defiance of the Fall

Zac had already been grappling with the idea of contacting Leandra because of the sudden appearance of powerful Technocrats. It was part of why he returned to Earth with his Draugr side. He hadn't pulled the trigger yet, partly because of the emotional baggage that came with it and partly because he knew too little. What faction did the Technocrats belong to, and what were their goals in Zecia? Were they targeting him and Kenzie, or were they joining the struggle for Ultom?

With the new questions stemming from his transformation, Zac figured he didn't have much choice. It could be years before Iz returned, and he didn't dare wait that long for answers. Then again, Zac might have to, considering there were no guarantees she'd even bother answering his call.

Ultimately, making contact would have to wait until he dealt with the tower and his breakthrough. The lightning was still receding, so Zac closed the Status Screen and shifted his attention to his Soul Aperture.

The improvements to his soul didn't pale in comparison to the constitution or core. Zac felt it might have surpassed the changes to his Cosmic Core. The swirling nebulae of opposing elements had shrunk to two-thirds their original size, while the number of glimmering specks resembling attuned stars had increased by a third.

The Evolutionary and Inexorable Cores shone with splendor like a layer of dust had been wiped off their surface. They had undergone a rebirth with far more changes to their internal structure. Zac wasn't surprised, considering they were significantly more flawed than his Cosmic Core. Their creation hadn't benefitted from nearly as much planning or as expensive materials.

Part of it was due to necessity, where the stringent requirements for his Cosmic Core were far greater than forming a Three Fates Soul. It was also a matter of priorities. Taking the time to form a perfect Soul Core wasn't as critical since they weren't physical objects. They were Mental Energy, Soul, and Dao, and thus more malleable.

The imperfections would gradually resolve themselves as he evolved his Daos and practiced the fourth layer of the [Nine Reincarnations Manual]. It was similar to how a Cultivator could gradually improve their Cosmic Cores, so this was an aspect where Mortals weren't quite as disadvantaged. The Tribulation Throne had cut that work in half, saving him time down the road. Effort spent on refinement could instead be used on avancement.

More importantly, it removed many impurities and properly integrated the refined Oblivion- and Moss Energies. The rebirth hadn't wiped away all signs of heterogeneity but more than Zac dared hope for. It would have taken at least a decade to see similar results if he'd relied on nothing but practicing his Soul Strengthening Manual.

The three Dao Apparitions were one of the few aspects of his cultivation that hadn't seen any real changes. They felt more spirited than before, but that was about it. Zac could tell that, despite the comprehensive overhaul to his body, he hadn't improved his connection to his Daos or gained any affinities. If anything, he felt even more detached from the Heavens now that the Void had invaded his cells.

Perhaps that meant his affinity with the various Voids had improved, but that didn't help much when he had no method of cultivating it. That notion made him think of something else, and his gaze shifted to his Soul Aperture's edge. Zac sighed and retracted his senses soon after. As expected, the Void Mountain was gone.

Zac had guessed this would happen when the mountain appeared during his vision. Confirming it was still a disappointment. It wasn't just his method of studying the Voids of Life and Death that had been cut off. It also meant losing his ability to temporarily imbue his Techniques with the Void.

On some level, Zac felt it might be for the best, even if it left him with one fewer ace in the short run. The mountain had quickly become a bit of a crutch, like how he overly relied on the Remnants during the E-grade. It was all too easy to get used to outside assistance, often at the expense of your progress.

And it wasn't like the mountain was completely gone. Part of it was there, swirling about in his cells, hiding in the shadows of his Soul Cores. Zac believed it was an important key to replacing the Void Mountain with his own abilities. If he could learn to harness the Void that lived in his Life- or Death-attuned cells, he should be able to generate the Voids of Life and Death with his own body.

Sure, he hadn't had much luck regarding his Cosmic Core in that department. Zac felt he should be able to extract the Voids of Life and Death from it, considering how it was constructed, but that wasn't the case. Even if the Death-attuned third of his Cosmic Core was in a Void State when observed from his human form, it still provided normal Miasma rather than Void Energy.

Perhaps that would change when his bloodline finally caught up. The thought helped lessen the worries that came with involuntarily triggering his breakthrough, and it was just in time. Twelve minutes had passed since Zac regained his body, and the sea of lightning had finally reached the threshold of being considered safe.

Zac felt his connection to the broken throne sever as the protective plate to the control room opened. Or rather, it rose halfway before getting stuck. A sooty form squeezed out beneath before rushing at Zac while waving a large metal spike.

"Uh," Zac said upon seeing Emily's bedraggled form.

His disciple looked like she was the one who had just undergone the tribulation, with her clothes, hair, and skin being scorched. The half of her hair that hadn't been singed off stood straight out and refused to lay down even while she waved the large spear to disperse the lingering lightning. At least her aura was stable, and the fires burning in her eyes indicated her soul was intact.

"I—"

"Lunatic! What did I tell you?! What kind of fool would I be if I let you take the lead? It wasn't enough beating those—" Emily snarled, but she lost her train of thought upon getting a better look at Zac. "Hey, what happened to you? Did you shrink? And why does it feel like I'll get eaten if I come any closer?"

"Sorry, I guess you were right. A few things happened," Zac laughed, knowing her outburst came from a place of worry.

"Don't they always with you?" Emily muttered as she cocked her head. "So weird."

"How do I look?" Zac asked as he took an investigative step forward.

Movement felt smooth and natural, and energy cycled through his pathway with minimal spillage.

"I don't know," Emily hesitated. "A bit better, I think? You feel like a volcano about to erupt. And it's like you've fused with your surroundings. No, wait, like you've been separated from your surroundings. Huh, so weird."

"You could say it's a reward from passing the whole trial."

"It's good that you passed, but why did you have to blow it up?" Emily glared. "We might have been able to excavate something from it."

Excavate? Zac's eyes widened, and he turned around to look at the inner spikes. Gone? His Luck had increased by 30%, but Zac couldn't even sense a hint of the treasure he discovered upon first entering. The Faith Energy was also fully depleted, leaving only wild lightning in the spike.

Was the hidden treasure a Faith Treasure, perhaps something blessed by Laondio himself? That would explain how a wisp of his will could form and how a Trial ground in a C-grade Fortress could harness the Four Laws and the One Destiny.

"Hello? Did your head get fried, too?"

"Ah? Well, things happened. I guess the throne wasn't designed to deal with people split into two bodies," Zac slowly said, putting the matter aside.

Perhaps it was for the best that the treasure was gone. Zac wasn't sure if he would be able to resist consuming it now that his movements weren't restrained. Just the thought made Zac's stomach clench with desire.

"So you cheated?" Emily laughed, unaware of Zac's inner struggle. "I guess Meso Helo is still the top dog."

"If you say so," Zac said with a roll of his eyes. "Though I'm not sure I'd agree that using my body to its full potential should count as cheating."

"I guess," Emily said. "Would be stupid to limit yourself with self-imposed rules when benefits are on the line."

"So what happened to you? Are you okay?" Zac asked as he stepped closer. Suddenly, a stabbing pain of hunger made him grunt and grasp his shrunken stomach.

"S-stop!" Emily exclaimed as she took a fearful step back. "Ah? What just happened? It suddenly felt like a primordial beast was staring me down."

"I'm sorry," Zac sighed and retreated. "It's my bloodline. The Tribulation Throne triggered its evolution, and I can't stop it. I have 40 minutes at best before I need to break through."

"Oh?" Emily blankly said. "Isn't that a good thing? Why not just break through here? This room is double-reinforced."

Zac staunchly shook his head. "Remember the Memorysteel Mountain? Imagine that but two grades higher. I'm not breaking through before I get you out of here. Let's check the Teleporter again."

Zac didn't hold much hope, but the situation was even worse than he'd feared. The safety door had given out, and the array was devastated. He'd figured they could rush back here after stopping the launch protocol if all else failed, but that option was now out the window. There was no way to tell what state the waiting room was left in as the security shutter had failed.

Soon, they turned to the door they came from, and a look confirmed they shared the same concerns. His breakthrough hadn't exactly been discreet, and the vibrations had probably reached the upper floors. There was no telling what awaited them on the other side since fifteen minutes had passed since he began his breakthrough. It could be nothing, but there could also be Technocrats or guardian sentinels ready to turn them into Swiss cheese the second the doors opened.

Zac cracked his neck, readying himself for a tough battle. He might get to test out his new body sooner rather than later.

"You know, I have just the thing," Emily said with a ferocious grin. "You don't care if the last spikes would blow up, right?"

"Uh, no?" Zac said, looking over dubiously. "But we'd be the first to get hit if we detonate them."

"Not necessarily," Emily said, her smile widening as a compact [Godslayer Cannon] thumped onto the ground.

It wasn't as big as the ones they used on the battlefield, but it was made from better materials and covered in denser engravings. Zac didn't understand what Emily was planning, but a mix of pride and horror filled his heart as Emily rapidly took out one item after another. First, she filled the cannon with something resembling a bundle of metallic javelins that stuck out a meter from the barrel's edge.

Next, she took out a large box and attached three thick tubes to sockets normal [Godslayer Cannons] lacked. It wasn't hard to figure out the rest.

"A lightning cannon? Where did you get this?"

"The Munitions Guild lets me take some experiments to get them field tested," Emily explained as she smoothly assembled the pieces. "The tinkerers got very excited after someone showed them a modified taser from the old world. They wanted to make a big version that could blast a whole army."

"Of course they did."

"They couldn't come up with a good solution for the electricity, though. A normal [Godslayer Cannon] is way more practical at lower price ranges, and they simply couldn't generate a strong enough current to turn it into a high-grade weapon. So one of them figured she'd borrow nature's power instead, turning the [Godslayer Coil] into a conditional weapon until they found a better solution."

Zac's gaze shifted to the dozen-odd lightning rods arranged around the broken throne, inwardly shaking his head.

"Even if it works, the cannon won't hold up long. That lightning even melted the throne."

"So what? Isn't that always the deal with the stuff those guys make?" Emily laughed before her face grew grim. "Besides, do we have much choice? If we can take out a cannon, can't they do the same? I'm afraid we'll come out on the losing end without relying on the Tribulation Throne."

Zac grunted in agreement. If Technocrats waited on the other side, there was a high risk they'd find themselves in a situation similar to the deathsworn ambush. Outsiders simply had better equipment. Emily's plan was dangerous, but it could sweep aside all opposition. If he went out axe swinging, he might have to use Oblivion Energy to break through their defenses. Provided he didn't get himself killed first.

Emily rapidly set everything up while Zac inspected the remaining spikes. Most of the stockpiled energy had been unleashed by his breakthrough, but a decent amount was left in the spikes themselves. And the fact that the Faith Energy was gone actually worked in their favor. They wanted the lightning as wild and ferocious as possible.

"So why are you looking like that?" Zac asked while he decided on which spikes to hit and where.

"I'm not sure if I should be angry or thankful," Emily said as she shot Zac a reproachful look as he floated by the ceiling. "The isolation failed when the last two spikes activated, flooding the control room with lightning. I thought I was toast, but there was an emergency protocol. A hidden compartment spat out a mini-throne and a pill just before the consoles broke down."

"An unknown pill?" Zac frowned. "You ate it?"

"Of course I ate it! I was getting barbequed, you know," Emily glared before a smile tugged at her lips. "Anyway, it was good stuff, filled with the same Dao as the throne. And since my body was still malleable from my own run, the experience resumed where my trial left off. With better lightning, at that. My gains are actually bigger than before, including improvements to my core."

"There's such a good thing?" Zac exclaimed.

"Your lucky halo's getting stronger," Emily laughed. "Alright, I'm finished."

"Get ready," Zac said as he moved to the doorway. "Shoot, even if there's nothing on the other side, then follow on my heels."

"Got it!"

Emily and her cannon disappeared the next moment, and the lingering lightning helped mask the energy fluctuations. Zac already had [Verun's Bite] in hand, and streaks of Dao and Energy danced around its edge. A small frown appeared on his face as he looked at [Evolutionary Edge]. The skill activated fine, but his bloodline was cannibalizing his energy, forcing Zac to expend twice as much.

Zac pushed away all errant thoughts as [Ossuary Bulwark] closed around him while a defensive talisman formed a glimmering barrier around his body. Flashing the [Court Cycle Token] elicited a groan as the doors slid open. Zac unleashed a torrent of attacks at the inner spikes the moment the door had opened at least enough to activate [Apex Jungle] if needed.

The already damaged spikes had barely been holding on, and it looked like the roof collapsed when six spikes shattered at once. An almost solid waterfall of lightning was dragged into the lightning rods and transformed in the converter before being deposited in the cannon. At least, that was the idea. The box exploded into a blob of molten iron held in suspension by the immense current coursing through it.

Zac's hair stood on end, partly from fear and partly from the immense amounts of Lightning-attuned energy that once more filled the chamber. Suddenly, a lance of orange energy burst through the gates, but Zac barely had time to register the attack before the Technocrat weapon was swallowed by a pillar of blue that engraved itself on Zac's retinas.

Even his Soul Sense became blurry when faced with Emily's attack, yet he still rushed forth, dodging red-hot shrapnel from the [Godslayer Coil]. His senses were going haywire, indicating danger in every direction. However, nothing came close to the mayhem building within the Tribulation Throne.

The six spikes he'd shattered were those already sporting significant damage, which gave them a small window before all hell broke loose. However, that window was less than one second, and the cannon was gone the moment it fired. As expected, channeling the synthetic Tribulation Lightning was far beyond the capabilities of the Tinkerer Death Ray.

A toasty Emily was hot on his heels as they lunged out the gate just before the protective barrier slammed down. Zac had feared they'd be greeted by a sea of lightning of their own making, but the lightning beam had slammed into the opposite wall before splitting. Some lingering energy was left behind, along with molten scraps and two scorched corpses.

Three more had survived the onslaught, though Zac wondered if they wished they hadn't. Their bodies were covered in third-degree burns, while their eyes were dilated and unfocused. Zac could even see the lightning ravaging their insides. A furious blitz ended their struggle. Zac planned on looking through their items but was horrified to find his cells siphoning the Technocrats's energy.

It felt too close to cannibalism for comfort, and Zac felt himself losing ground to the hunger the more he consumed. Better move on.

'Follow me!'

Zac rushed down the hallway, using his Dao and defensive talisman to force a path through the lingering lightning. He led Emily down the path they came from before taking a series of turns. It wasn't the fastest way to the next floor, but the route took them further away from the wing with the mission operations. Neither Emily nor Zac bothered scanning the side chambers during their mad dash. The clock was ticking, and time was running out.

One way or another, the chapter on the Sixth Centurion Lighthouse was about to close.

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