Defiance of the Fall

“Do you still have multiple factions within your race? We thought the human towns were all under you?” Rhubat asked with confusion. “I have seen the strength of the other human elites. How can they challenge your rule?”

Zac didnʼt understand the question at first, but it turned out that the Zhix had already changed their structure so that there were only two forces among their race; The Council of the Anointed and The Dominators. All Anointed-run hives were accessible for all the Zhix, whereas they were obviously shut out from their enemiesʼ teleporters.

It was extremely different from Humans who not only had a handful of major factions like Port Atwood and New World Government, but also dozens of mid-sized forces, though most of the mid-sized forces were kind of under the umbrella of the Marshall Clan by now. There were even hundreds, perhaps thousands, of towns that werenʼt really aligned with any of the forces, but rather free bases that had survived some way or another.

“I have been busy throwing out all the invaders of our planet until now,” Zac said before he wryly smiled. “I guess humans are a bit more individualistic as well. We didnʼt really get along before the integration either. I probably won’t meddle with the human forces unless necessary. But I can fetch a guide to open the portals for us without a problem.”

The group went over the detail for some time, but the idea was quite simple. Zac would enter a human-controlled town ahead of the army together with a squadron of Zhix scouts, and they would rush to the Hive and get ready to activate the jammers. The army would enter after a short interval, and Zac would activate the jammers the moment the last of the Zhix army had passed through the teleporter.

Activating the jammer before the army had actually arrived at the Hive might warn the traitor Zhix, but they were afraid that the elites would immediately flee through the teleporter the moment they spotted an incoming army. The elites might still try to flee by foot, but the scouts would hopefully be able to spot them this way.

As for the battle itself, it sounded straightforward enough. The Anointed would act as wall breakers and crush all resistance, while the normal Zhix warriors would back them up. In case one of the Dominators showed up, they would take them down even if they had to sacrifice tens of thousands of lives.

“How long do you need to prepare, Warmaster?” Rhubat finally asked, surprising Zac a bit.

“I only need to pick up my ghost and a guide,” Zac said after some thought. “It’s dependent on how quickly you can gather your armies.”

“The armies and the other Anointed are standing ready. Our movements are no doubt being watched, so we need to move quickly from this point on. We want to take out as many of these hives as possible before they adapt,” Rhubat said as killing intent started to leak from its body. ”If we can take down five of the Hives before the rest gather, then we are confident in emerging victorious even if Voidʼs Disciple shows up.”

“Remember, not even the humans can know where we are going,” Nonet added.

“I know,” Zac nodded.

It was already known that there were humans co-operating with the Dominators, and they would have to move randomly to avoid getting exposed and ambushed. There was no point in messing around, so Zac soon exited the secluded chambers. Ibtep was still waiting for him outside, and the scout joined him as they returned to Port Atwood.

However, Zac didn’t even have time to call the ghost before he sensed strong fluctuations over at the Dao Repository.

”Wait here,” Zac groaned in exasperation as he rushed over.

Thankfully it turned out that it wasnʼt Brazla who was causing trouble. The square outside the Repository was completely tranquil, and neither lightning bolts nor a massive face was hovering above it. The fluctuations only grew in power though, and Zac felt they came from inside the towers themselves.

Zac quickly entered the Towers of Myriad Dao, and he quickly spotted the source of the commotion; the statue of the Blade Emperor.

“The girl is coming out,” Brazla said as he descended from a golden cloud floating around in the ceiling.

“Did she pass?” Zac asked as his eyes returned to the statue.

“She did, if barely,” the Tool Spirit snorted as he turned two disdainful eyes toward the array in the same direction. ”Though Iʼm not so sure she will have the guts to take on the following challenge in the E-Grade.”