Defiance of the Fall

Zac knew he was taking a big risk but felt the cosmos urging him forward. Fate was gathering as a rising tide. Some would be swallowed by the churning waters, but others would ride the wave to greater heights. Zac believed he was among the latter, but you couldn't stand on the shores if you wanted to find out.

He opened the inlaid box and took out the vial again, and Haro communicated a palpable hunger. Vivi wasn't as enthused, even shielding the large flower bud in vines as Zac walked toward her child. She was older and better understood the ingrained relationship between risk and opportunity. Zac looked up at the large flower on the ceiling that could be considered Vivi's head.

"I have to do this, for both our sakes. Haro can't grow to his full potential without facing the wind."

Vivi didn't answer, but her vines eventually retreated. Zac nodded and jumped onto the bulb, seeing the death chamber within. Haro's main body was a large flower with petals and vines layered into an inescapable web that seemed to form a natural restriction. Its center was filled with huge thorns that looked like teeth, and a twist of its vines would rotate them like a grinder. Only scraps remained of the beast kings that had been dragged inside, with the rest absorbed by the plant.

"I don't know if you can understand me. This will hurt, but you need to hold on. Don't resist, or it'll worsen the result for both of us."

Zac opened the stopper, and an immense burst of energy almost threw him off Haro's back. The cave was filled with a pillar of Life, and Zac felt his cells being nourished by its aura. It was minute, but even some of his lost Longevity was restored. It didn't make much of a difference for Zac, but it proved just how much energy the liquid contained for its emanations to have such an effect.

Haro almost went mad with hunger, and hundreds of feeding vines emerged from the bud. Zac didn't keep the Heavenrender Vine waiting any longer and poured the vial right into its heart. Vines shot toward the falling drops, but Haro failed to seize anything as the liquid dispersed into a shimmering haze.

It looked like it was Haro being consumed rather than the other way around as the shroud grew, soon covering the whole plant. Shimmering runes danced within the mist, forming an ever-changing pattern. They sank into Haro's flesh one after another, bringing with them immense amounts of energy.

The whole mountain shook, and shocking amounts of Divine Energy were forcibly dragged from the depths. Zac had already jumped down from Haro's back and sat down right in front of it, taking out the second half of the entwined treasure. The leaf had already come alive on its own, generating mysterious ripples that covered the cave.

Zac knew every second it spent outside his body was energy lost, so he grabbed it in an attempt put it into his mouth. However, the leaf turned into a streak of gold that entered his hand, quickly appearing in his torso just above his Cosmic Core. The leaf shuddered, and Zac felt thousands of runes appear throughout his body, his situation mirroring Haro's.

Painful waves of boundless Life dug into flesh and bone, but Zac's face didn't so much as ripple. The pain wasn't even at the level of his Body Tempering Method and not enough to distract him. Instead, he focused on the leaf itself. Zac channeled his mental energy into his Evolutionary Dao Mold and sent the braid into the leaf.

His Daos were the missing piece of the puzzle, the key that made the formation whole. The shimmering runes across the leaf shifted, and it was a leaf no longer. Instead, it was a gate to the boundless universe. Zac didn't hesitate as he sent a wisp of his soul inside. His vision split, with a verdant scene occupying most of his mind.

Life was everywhere. It was everything in the realm beyond the gate.

Zac had become a will-o'-the-wisp gently floating on the branch of a cosmic tree. Just the branch seemed boundless, transcending physical space to become law. As for the tree itself, it might cover all reality where life existed. Its roots dug deep into the lower planes, and its canopy reached for the stars. Zac had been somewhat prepared after reading the instruction, but he was still shocked at the immensity of the scene.

Of course, Zac knew it wasn't a real tree. It was more accurate to say it was a manifestation of the Dao of Life's tapestry. The leaf's formation had let him temporarily touch upon it with his mind, providing a direct connection that only top-quality Dao Treasures could match. He looked around, realizing that each leaf was a life, and the boundless tree held so many it almost broke Zac's mind.

None looked the same. They had all grown from different soils of fate and circumstance, becoming the infinite expressions of Life. Most were weak and unimpressive, but even they had something that made them unique. A few radiated such incredible power Zac didn't dare observe for long. Unfortunately, none of the leaves was the one Zac sought.

Physical proximity seemed to have little bearing on the vision or arrangement of the leaves. Out of the thousands in his immediate surroundings, Zac couldn't recognize the aura of a single one. Zac spread his consciousness further, but he still didn't find Haro after reaching as far as his spirit could go. Zac had expected as much and infused even more of his Dao into treasure.

The runes through his body lit up even further, and a sharp stab of pain in his real body preceded an invisible pulse being released within the mysterious realm. Still nothing. Zac wasn't deterred and urged the wisp to move to a new section. Another pulse, yet only the gentle rustle of Life answered his call. There was finally a response by the fourth attempt, but Zac frowned upon seeing a large leaf float over. Or rather, a creature masquerading as a leaf.

It wasn't Haro, but something reeking of rot and decay. Zac could have retreated, but a burst of ferocious sharpness shredded the thing—a burst of cleansing Conflict in the sea of verdure. Zac continued on his way, feeding the treasure leaf with more and more Mental Energy. A few more weird parasitical creatures appeared, but none could withstand a single burst of the Branch of Kalpataru.

Distances were hard to grasp inside the Tree of Life. Zac felt like he'd undertaken an epic journey, but it also felt like he'd only stayed in a small corner of a single branch. He started to worry if he'd been unlucky and placed too far away. The treasure said there was a chance of that happening, but it was supposed to be low.

Finally, there was an answer to his call, a ripple matching his own. He'd found it. Zac eagerly followed the signal, rushing through the endless canopy with redoubled vigor. Soon, Zac spotted a thorned golden leaf on a distant branch. Haro. Zac hadn't expected finding him would be so difficult, but it didn't matter now that he was here.

The treasure he'd bought from the Limited Exchange was a unique bonded treasure called [Bond of the Divine]. The liquid and leaf didn't have a shared origin, but they had encountered something that linked them together. It wasn't a normal link either, but one that connected the two items through the Tapestry of Life.

The diamondlike glimmer had generated a natural formation based on the connection, turning the items into something that could be used as a companion contract. It could be used on any living creature, not only plants like Haro. Pet contracting methods weren't especially rare—the Orom World had three suitable skills and dozens more of varying elements. Of course, this wasn't a normal companion contract—if it were, it wouldn't have cost more than 80% of the items in the Limited Exchange.

Even now, Haro was angry, struggling against cryptic patterns that danced across its body like parasitic insects. Meanwhile, cracks occasionally appeared, releasing bursts of golden light before the wound closed. Zac could sense Haro's pain, fear, and boundless anger as he instinctively fought against the transformation imposed on its body.

Zac wasn't surprised. He'd felt just how much energy that golden liquid held. Even a top-tier plant with one foot into Hegemony would have trouble digesting all that, and the natural formation was also drawing immense amounts of Divine Energy from the ground. What Haro thought was a delectable treat was an agonizing round of tempering. But Zac had been in similar situations more than a few times, and he estimated that Haro would be able to overcome the danger.

Haro's leaf suddenly froze as Zac floated closer. He had detected Zac's approach and grown wary. Zac didn't make any attempt at hiding. Instead, he flew over and tried to link up with Haro through the treasure. He was blocked by the opalescent runes covering the leaf, but that wasn't a problem after Zac infused his Daos into the patterns.

Like before, the formation shifted, and Zac felt the two halves of the formation join up as they were transformed by his Evolutionary Daos. They were far beyond Haro's grasp on Life and Conflict, and Zac could feel his hunger and desire. The adolescent plant should instinctively understand that the Daos could help him digest the vast amounts of energy inside his body, let him soar to the sky in one leap.

And they were there for the taking.

Zac acted the fisherman but swore when he felt an angry push against his mind. The little fish hadn't taken the bait. Haro was stubborn like a bull and agitated, striking at anything that came close. Zac tried to calm him down, to communicate what he should do. However, Haro refused, adamant about dealing with the array and energy on his own.

"Picky eater?" Zac snorted as he opened the boxes before him. "We'll see how long you stick to your principles."

Two collections of Dao Fruits waited within, and Zac ate one of each type. A surge of truth stormed into his mind, entering the two Dao Apparitions. The influx shattered the chains that had held his Dao Branches back for so long. The Divine Tree grew taller, its energetic aura deepening as new aspects of Life were tacked on. The miniature axman danced his dance of destruction, his swings growing fiercer and more unpredictable.

It didn't take long for the stream of truths entering his Dao Mold to grow deeper and more complex, and Zac sped up the process further by eating another set of Dao Fruits. Truth was transferred from aperture to leaf and from leaf to Haro, showering the Tree of Life with Zac's path.

Zac inwardly snickered when he felt the desperate desire through the link, but he didn't say or do anything. This step would have to be taken by Haro himself. The young vine resisted for a minute, but he was young, and his will wasn't tempered. Haro soon succumbed to the desire for power and stopped resisting Zac's presence and the array.

Instantly, everything clicked into place, and Zac felt boundless force enter his body as the Tree of Life disappeared. In return, Zac felt a heavy drain on his mind. It was a give and take, forming a cycle of discovery and refinement. Zac shut out his surroundings, fully focusing on his Daos and the transformation of his body. His cells rapidly absorbed more life, saving him months of work on his [Void Vajra Sublimation].

Zac didn't know how much time passed or how many cycles of exchange had taken place between himself and Haro. Eventually, the feeling of growth diminished, leaving only a link as stable as the Dao itself. Zac opened his eyes, and a mental check left him stumped. Eight days had passed just like that?

The experience had filled up his consciousness, leaving both bodies stuck in a meditative trance. Thank God he'd been ready for something like that to happen, so his Draugr half had retreated to his compound just before starting the process. Zac looked over at Haro, surprised to see that he had shrunk in size by half.

However, his aura was incredibly condensed and felt far more lethal than before. Haro undoubtedly had benefitted immensely over the past eight days. Zac was curious to investigate exactly how much, but Haro had entered a deep slumber to digest the energy and insights. The cave was completely drained of Divine Energy, so he sent Haro and Vivi into his Worldring with some treasures.

Zac's communication crystals were full of unanswered messages, but he first opened his Status Screen.

Name Zachary Atwood

Level 164

Class [D-Arcane] Evolutionary Precursor

Race [D] Human - Void Emperor (Corrupted)

Alignment [Zecia] Atwood Empire – Baron of Conquest

Titles [...] Runic Progenitor, Grand Achievement, Arcane Ascension, Pathbound Core, Peakmender

Limited Titles Tower of Eternity Sector All-Star - 14th, Equanimity, Big Axe Gladiator, The Final Twilight - 1st, Gates of Rebirth

Dao Branch of the War Axe - Late, Branch of the Kalpataru - Late, Branch of the Pale Seal - Late

Core [D] Evolutionary Core

Strength 102816 [Increase: 204%. Efficiency: 429%]

Dexterity 47432 [Increase: 156%. Efficiency: 285%]

Endurance 66137 [Increase: 185%. Efficiency: 450%]

Vitality 57732 [Increase: 178%. Efficiency: 428%]

Intelligence 9576 [Increase: 135%. Efficiency: 285%]

Wisdom 17519 [Increase: 137%. Efficiency: 300%]

Luck 1003 [Increase: 164%. Efficiency: 374%]

Free Points 0

Nexus Coins [D] 8 412 249

Another step closer to the next stage of Hegemony. The gains were extremely impressive, but that was always the case when improving his Daos. And this time, he hadn't just evolved one but two.

[Branch of the War Axe (Late): All attributes +50, Strength +9500, Dexterity +5000, Wisdom +150. Effectiveness of Strength +25%]

[Branch of the Kalpataru (Late): All attributes +50, Dexterity +1750, Endurance +2750, Vitality +9000, Wisdom +1150. Effectiveness of Vitality +25%]

Zac smiled helplessly upon seeing that he'd lost his last piece of Intelligence from his Daos. The Branch of the War Axe was also growing more condensed. The small boost to Endurance was gone, and the imparted Wisdom had decreased by two-thirds. For a while, he'd broadened his path, but Zac felt like he was returning to the path of the brute.

The latest boost had increased his attribute pool by another fifteen percent, and where his Strength had finally passed 100,000. Unfortunately, it hadn't awarded him any more specialist titles. Perhaps if he reached 250,000 before Monarchy? Zac was doubtful, and it ultimately didn't matter much. The real benefit came from having three Late Dao Branches to empower his skills and Technique.

Most would consider evolving two branches foolish and greedy. Even if you succeeded against all odds, it'd likely leave you with shaky foundations. Zac didn't feel that way at all. If anything, the breakthroughs were long overdue.

Zac had already been right at the threshold when first stepping onto the battlefield, thanks to a decade of accumulation inside the Perennial Vastness. His battle with Kator and months of experience had been more than enough to clear up any lingering confusion. Even studying the Voids of his path had given him a better understanding of his Daos. After all, they were linked, and by understanding one, you would understand the other.

The only reason he'd held off breaking through until now was the new insights he gained during his dip in the Abyssal Pond. After seeing how grand and comprehensive the Dao of Death could be, Zac slowed down and reevaluated his understanding of Dao. Mez had made Fate part of Death without turning it into a Mixed-meaning Dao, and the Abyss almost seemed to hold all the Daos under the Heavens.

Zac wouldn't have minded holding out even longer while searching for answers, but time waited for no man. There was no telling what he'd encounter on the frontlines, and he couldn't hold back such a critical boost to his power. Perfection was an illusion in D-grade, anyway, and he'd fill in the blanks as he progressed.

There was nothing else of note on his Status Screen, so he opened his Skill Screen next. By the end, the new addition waited for him.

[D] Adaptive Symbiosis - Proficiency: Early. Bond through Life, rise through struggle. Upgradeable.

Zac smiled and turned his gaze inward. It felt like a small sun had been born atop the Specialty Core, radiating warmth throughout his body. Its shape made Zac think of a seed rather than a leaf, and the pathways connecting it with his Cosmic Core looked like roots absorbing nutrients. It wasn't far from the truth. The skill was constantly running, siphoning a small amount of Divine and Cosmic Energy.

The cost was nothing compared to the benefits. As its name indicated, [Adaptive Symbiosis] was more than just a Companion-binding skill. The initial exchange where Zac's body gained more Life and Haro gained Dao wasn't the end of the shared benefits. The bond would provide the pet with constant nourishment. And since it came directly from Zac's Cosmic Core, it would further harmonize Haro's Daos with his own.

The skill could also be activated. Zac infused some energy, and his companion shuddered within the Worldring. Haro didn't wake up, but his aura grew by a noticeable margin. Zac looked on with interest, but his attention was soon diverted by the vast amount of Vigor pouring into his body. His muscles sang, and Zac felt he could fight for ten days and nights without stopping.

Zac nodded in satisfaction and deactivated [Adaptive Symbiosis] before Haro woke up. The skill had provided Haro with part of Zac's attributes. Judging by Haro's aura, its attribute pool had risen by roughly 10%. It wasn't much, but Zac suspected Haro's grade limited the effect.

The encounter had improved Haro's cultivation significantly, but he hadn't entered D-grade quite yet. He was right at the threshold, but his foundations were noticeably sturdier than before. Haro would hopefully have become a Plant King by the time he woke up. By that point, he should benefit even more from the skill.

Zac didn't gain any attributes but didn't come out wanting from the trade. Cultivators were far inferior to beasts regarding lifeforce and Vigor, but plants towered above them both. In return, Spiritual Plants were rooted in place, and their consciousness was usually locked in an eternal slumber. Atavism was also all but impossible for most species.

Most importantly, their cultivation speed was incredibly slow. That was exactly why Haro couldn't resist copying some of Zac's Daos and what made the [Bond of the Divine] so precious. Few things could impart Daos to plants, who slowly communed with the Heavens as the seasons came and went. Who knew how long it would take the vine to reach that level of comprehension on his own? Centuries, most likely, and that was only thanks to all the treasures he'd been fed.

In other words, both came out ahead. Being able to tap into just a part of a Heavenrender Vine's Vigor solved the troubling issue with his Eoz Bloodline. His fight with Kator lasted less than 20 minutes, yet he'd been completely drained by the time it was over. And he couldn't exactly take out a huge slab of meat and scarf it down mid-battle. With [Adaptive Symbiosis], he could convert energy into Vigor.

Zac spent another day stabilizing his state and getting familiar with his Daos. There were still a few days before they had to go to the front, but Zac grunted and got to his feet. Joanna's trial was about to end, and he wanted to be there to welcome her back. There was also Vilari and the fact that none of the waiting messages were from her.

He wasn't too worried about Vilari. She was an absolute genius, and her path was solidified by two seals of the Anima Court. She knew what she was doing.

The one that was cause for concern was Joanna. Zac knew that more than a few promising elites across Zecia had entered the trial and never returned. Some of them were stronger than Joanna. No, he couldn't think like that. No one pushed themselves harder than Joanna, and she was perfect for the Indomitable Court.

There was no way the System would let such an amazing soldier fall early.