Defiance of the Fall

And it wasnʼt 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 hadnʼt 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 wasnʼt 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 Emilyʼs 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 hadnʼt 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 wasnʼt 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 Iʼll 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.

”Donʼt 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 donʼt know,” Emily hesitated. ”A bit better, I think? You feel like a volcano about to erupt. And itʼs like youʼve fused with your surroundings. No, wait, like youʼve been separated from your surroundings. Huh, so weird.”

”You could say itʼs a reward from passing the whole trial.”

”Itʼs 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? Zacʼs eyes widened, and he turned around to look at the inner spikes. Gone? His Luck had increased by 30%, but Zac couldnʼt 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.

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

”Ah? Well, things happened. I guess the throne wasnʼt 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 wasnʼt sure if he would be able to resist consuming it now that his movements werenʼt restrained. Just the thought made Zacʼs stomach clench with desire.

”So you cheated?” Emily laughed, unaware of Zacʼs inner struggle. ”I guess Meso Helo is still the top dog.”

”If you say so,” Zac said with a roll of his eyes. ”Though Iʼm not sure Iʼd 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.