Chapter 1,192.
Added 2024-01-30 20:04:02 +0000 UTCA/N: Something is broken with Patreon editing feature, so I had to turn all text into subheadings to make it respect formatting. In case someone wondering why all text is fat/big.
Also, an update on February release schedule. We're back on regular schedule now, which I plan to maintain until summer unless something crops up. February will have 3 editing days, tentatively on the 15th, 16th, and 19th.
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There was no suspense after the envoys from the Erz'Kerus Clan made their hasty escape. Zac calmly watched as Ogras descended on the Main Branch Elders like a vengeful ghost. This chapter of Karma wasn't his to deal with, so Zac didn't join the slaughter. He only had Haro encircle the manor while pulling Ogras's grandfather and the fourth branch's elder to his side. The latter was frozen solid from shock, while Zac had to restrain Okral Azh'Rezak from jumping into the mayhem to stop his grandson.
"There's no returning now. Azh'Rezak was fated to disappear today, one way or another," Zac said.
"Killing kin to alleviate resentment is to replace one poison with another," Okral said with a shake of his head, though he stopped struggling against the Heavenrender Vine's restraints.
"Perhaps. But this way, it's Ogras who got to pick the poison."
"Ai, little Oggy," Okral whispered with sorrow in his eyes. "I failed you."
"Bah, what's the point of feeling broken up for those shameless bastards? We've bled until our veins ran dry to keep the clan aloft. And what's our reward? Bringing fifty descendants to Erz'Kerus to their five thousand, and only young women to be married into other families. Our lines would have ended," the other elder growled, his face full of resentment.
"I know...I'm sorry. I thought I had lost all my direct descendants, and I didn't consider your side. I just felt that it was an acceptable sacrifice, so long as a seed of our ancestors would live on," Okral sighed before turning toward Zac. "Young lord, can I ask how you two know my Oggy? How did he become so powerful?"
"I think the latter is best explained by Ogras himself. As for how we know each other… Clan Azh'Rezak's incursion dropped right on my head. Your reared barghest were my first enemies in the integration," Zac said with a crooked smile, continuing when the faces of the elders paled in fright. "Ogras saved my life and brought the former members of your clan to my side. They became the first citizen of my empire. He's my close brother now."
"Then, what that rasc—uh, young master Ogras—said…" the other elder asked hopefully.
"Azh'Rezak has fallen, and your lands will become part of the Atwood Empire. However, defending this planet will waste too many resources, and I can't use the War System to relocate it to our side," Zac said. "Not to mention, I don't believe that's Ogras's intent."
"That's right," Ogras said as he appeared in a puff of shadows, looking refreshed.
Zac couldn't sense any energy fluctuations from him despite seeing shadows rip apart scores of main branch warriors. Zac wasn't even sure if it was the real Ogras standing before them. The demon hadn't just stepped into Middle Hegemony in this short duration. He had also mastered some very powerful abilities that meshed perfectly with his fighting style.
"We'll just have the fourth and seventh swear allegiance to the Atwood Empire and teleport them over to our world," Ogras continued. "What happens next is none of my concern."
"Bastard! You've been living well, I see! Yet not a word to your grandpa!"
Ogras grinned and easily dodged a couple of half-hearted swings. "I figured you could use the break, old man."
"Ai, the days I wasted sitting before your grave."
"Should have spent that time siring a few new descendants."
"Don't think I can't hit you just because you've turned into a shadow!" Okral glared before his eyes softened. "Boy, it's good that you're alive."
"It's good to see you again," Ogras smiled.
"But this... it's enough... Any more will only become chains weighing you down," Okral said, the screams of fear and despair around them underlining his point.
Ogras glanced at the ruins, eventually nodding. "I guess I deserve to get killed if any of these fools gain the strength to take revenge."
Zac had to agree with the assessment. All the elders were dead, along with most elites and budding talents. "Then I'll return for now. I'll send some people over to help with the transfer."
"I'll talk to you later," Ogras agreed.
Zac was soon back in his compound, where he took a much-needed rest. He still felt drained after extracting some essence of his Life-attuned constitution, so he took a midday nap. He only woke up four hours later, unable to remember the last time he slept for so long.
Life on the frontlines had never allowed for real rest. He was either traveling, fighting, or cultivating in an endless cycle of carnage. Zac even felt lost now that there wasn't anything requiring his immediate attention.
Normally, Zac would take the opportunity to work on some aspect of his cultivation. His Soul, for instance, hadn't seen much improvement lately because of his time constraints. The two seals hidden in his Spatial Ring were a reminder that it would soon be put to the test.
Each seal led to a hidden cave, one on Earth and the other on Ensolus. Each held one of the remnants which he'd already bought from the Merit Exchange. Just purchasing them had almost woken up the slumbering remnants despite the System's absolute seal. Buying them early was an insurance, but also a test of sorts. For his plan to work, he would have to bring the sealed remnants with him to the Zurbor sector.
Despite being aware of the upcoming challenge, Zac chose to wander across his island. The flourishing streets filled with people were a stark contrast to the repressed atmosphere on Ogras's homeworld. Eventually, his meandering journey led him out of the city and toward the military complex. He didn't enter, instead turning toward the shores.
There was a small residential district nestled between the academy and the attached military base, mostly occupied by officials and lecturers. Zac passed by the buildings unseen, eventually reaching a secluded cliffside leading into the ocean. He jumped down and disappeared, leaving ripples of an illusion array in his wake.
The waves gently pushed against the reinforced pier, forming a soothing song of the sea. The distant gleaming lights of civilization formed a starry backdrop in place of the overcast night sky. Zac silently stood atop the small platform at the pier's edge, unthinking as he looked at the deep-sea stone erected in its center.
"There you are."
Zac glanced over, finding Ogras stepping out of the night sky. It was only then Zac realized he hadn't moved for almost half an hour.
"There was something about your grandfather that reminded me of him," Zac sighed. "Is everything settled?"
"It'll take a while to gather and ferry everyone over, but that part doesn't need me. Grandpa is overseeing the exodus with the help of your soldiers."
"How is he?"
"Angry and disappointed, but he'll come around. The relief and excitement of those who'll live will wear him down," Ogras said as he placed a small flask by the memorial tablet. "Do you agree with him? Too ruthless?"
Zac understood what Ogras was getting at. He had only killed a few thousand demons in his purge, but the actual death toll would be far greater. There was no way Erz'Kerus would dare take away the remnants of Clan Azh'Rezak, not that they had any reason to after Ogras removed anyone of value.
Meanwhile, the Atwood Empire would rescind its claim on the distant planet as soon as everyone had been sent back to Earth, leaving the vast majority of the clan to fend for themselves. Ogras could have easily saved those people. Teleportation wasn't cheap, but transporting a few hundred thousand people within the sector wasn't much of a hit to their finances.
And yet, Ogras decisively severed their path to survival, sticking to his promise of only taking his branch and the ones that had stood by their side and faced suppression as a result.
"What qualifications do I have to talk about ruthlessness at this point?" Zac sighed. "Their fate would be the same even if we hadn't appeared. Besides, the Kan'Tanu aren't culling populations now that they have such a decisive advantage. They still have a chance of survival if my plan works, even if they have to go through some suffering first."
The silence stretched for a minute until Ogras sighed.
"It's nice. I think the old man would have liked it."
"I think so, too."
"I've only been gone a few years, and there's so many faces missing. Both here and back at the clan," Ogras said, taking a swig from another bottle. "How you're doing with everything?"
"I'm tired. Tired of fighting, of the death all around me," Zac said, looking down at Sap Trang's final resting place. "But we can only keep going."
"The lonely road of power," Ogras said. "Alright, enough of this. I'm still waiting on that drink, you know."
"Let's go."
The two returned to his courtyard, where Ogras shared his experiences since they parted. Zac was surprised to learn he'd been training under the Faceless Assassins he encountered in the Tower of Eternity and that the Ponel Esmeralda mentioned was its founding patriarch. The demon's exploits as a bounty hunter paying for his return fare with heretical cultivators ignited Zac's longing for adventure, one that didn't involve so much bloodshed as the soul-numbing slaughter of the war.
In return, Zac shared his experiences since he secluded himself to form his Cosmic Core, from the general progression of the war and his dealings with the Undead Empire to the events in the Centurion Lighthouse. The only part he didn't mention was his recent involvement with the Sindris Clan, who had repeatedly approached him by infiltrating the Field Armies.
His split bodies had unsurprisingly failed to trick them, considering they knew all about the Kayar-Elu's heritage. For now, things hadn't progressed much, though the Sindris Clan had agreed to help by gathering intelligence and taking on a peripheral role in his plan. Zac hadn't given anything tangible in return, and the Sindris Clan hadn't asked for anything.
They had repeatedly mentioned there was a place for him back at their home and that returning with them was his best bet at understanding his bloodline. Of course, Zac wouldn't take them up on such an offer with or without his mother's warnings. It was perhaps possible to facilitate a cooperation agreement like the one he had with the Undead Empire, though it seemed laden with pitfalls. Unlike the empire, he didn't have protection from allies like the Abyssal Shores when dealing with the Technocrat outcasts.
It wasn't that he didn't trust the demon with these matters, and Ogras was one of the few who knew of his Technocrat heritage. Zac didn't want to inform Esmeralda of this aspect of his background. She already knew enough of his secrets, and there was no way to know what could come back to haunt him in the future.
It was a liberating feeling to exchange stories by a campfire with an old friend, especially now that he'd fully withdrawn from the frontlines. Battles were still raging on the graded battlefronts, but the dangers and losses were far lower there. Eventually, they were all caught up, at which point Zac moved to his plans for the future and his quest to awaken the Foreign Gods.
"What a mess," Ogras eventually exhaled. "So we have around 50 days, according to the Numerologist? What happens then?"
"I'm not sure. At first, we thought it might have to do with shifts in the Eternal Storm making access impossible or that someone would get to it before us. We're not the only ones looking for opportunities in that area. But lately… I've been wondering if it's the war that's the problem."
"You're thinking the Ruthless Heavens will close down the battlefronts?"
"Either that or start another phase of the war that will restrict our path to the Zurbor Sector. Maybe the battlefronts will be shifted to only lead to contested areas in the Zecia sector. A final defense, of sorts."
"Seems as likely as anything else. Why would the Ruthless Heavens waste energy teleporting us to another sector when we can't even protect our back garden? But why do you want to include outsiders in your scheme? It spells trouble."
"I don't have much of a choice," Zac sighed. "I needed something to get the Undead Empire off my back. The events in the lighthouse left our cooperation rocky. Our trade channels were being squeezed, and I worried they'd assassinate my other half if they didn't see a path for 'Arcaz' to reclaim the top spot."
"That can't possibly be the full picture," Ogras concluded. "You'd rather take your chances and hoard the opportunity than involve people with suspect motives. You need them for something."
"You know me well," Zac smiled and threw over an Information Crystal holding the intelligence gathered by the Sindris Clan. "It'll be almost impossible to reach the Foreign Gods without their help. See for yourself."
"What the hell? Why are there so many Kan'Tanu stationed near our target? And there are even outsiders running around? Have they discovered your plan?"
"No," Zac said. "Well, not this particular rift, at least. It turns out the border we're aiming for is pretty special."
"The Imperial Graveyard," Ogras muttered as he read on. "Well, it makes sense the puppets would be found in such a place."
Zac had initially worried Ventus had made a mistake when his detailed battle plan led his battlefronts away from the three known border regions of the Zurbor Sector. However, he'd kept going after measurements confirmed he was gradually closing in on their destination. It was only two months ago they'd discovered they were approaching a hidden fourth border by interrogating a connected World Lord.
The Imperial Graveyard was the remnant of an ancient battlefield where the Inner Worlds of thousands of fallen Monarchs and Autarchs had mixed with the turbulent space of the Eternal Storm, forming a unique region full of danger and opportunity. The Kan'Tanu World Lord had no idea who'd fought in the ancient battle, but it wasn't hard for Zac to realize the Limitless Empire was involved after hearing some descriptions.
Exploring the area was incredibly dangerous because it combined the dangers of the Million Gates Territory with the sort of threats he'd faced in the ancient lighthouse. Spatial storms, attacks from malfunctioning weaponry, and War Arrays that had turned into dangerous Natural Formations fought to take out any explorers entering the graveyard.
And yet, the Kan'Tanu constantly kept significant forces there. It wasn't an exaggeration to say the Kan'Tanu lost more men to the Imperial Graveyard every day than any given Field Army. Even one of the seven chapters had its headquarters blocking the entrances—the Chapter of Carnal Resolution, the defenders of the cult doctrine.
The placement was both strategic and symbolic, considering more than half of the Kan'Tanu's heritage came from the Imperial Graveyard. The Kan'Tanu's pope had discovered the graveyard back when he was only a discarded disciple of the Black Heart Sect. He'd been a Late Hegemon whose core was almost crippled during the intense internal struggle of the sect.
Knowing he would just become fertilizer to a Remoulded or Reincarnator if he returned, he chose to flee to the frontier. Discovering the Imperial Graveyard was the lucky break he needed to be reborn. The pope slowly took control over the nearby factions of the Zurbor Sector, using Heart Curses to enslave key members of the clans.
Eventually, the Church of Kan'Tanu was born, and it only took him sixty-thousand thousand years to take complete control over the sector by relying on the techniques and manuals he'd extracted from the Imperial Graveyard. Since then, almost a million years had passed, and nothing remained of Zurbor's original factions.
Even with the war raging, the excavation was in full swing. The pope was most likely desperate to find an opportunity to break through. He was over a million years old already, having surpassed the natural lifespan of a Monarch. He was running out of time, even if he'd extended the time he had through normal and unorthodox means.
Meanwhile, the nature of the ruins made the Imperial Graveyard the prime source of seals for the Zurbor Sector, much like the Million Gates Territory used to be for Zecia. The outsiders had already caught on, and some opted to explore its depths instead of joining the war.
"This is insane," Ogras vehemently rejected. "Why not just rob the Kan'Tanu Grand Cathedral while we're at it?"
Zac remembered the shock he'd felt upon reading the reports the first time. Even the usually boisterous Kator had been subdued upon realizing the dangers he'd face if he wanted to join Zac on his mad caper.
"Please tell me you have a plan."
"Oh, you're going to love this," Zac grinned, and Ogras's face collapsed.
Comments
I suspect the first thing Ogras did when getting back to Port Atwood was work on getting whatever treasures and pills it takes to get his grandpa whole, healthy and horny again. Assuming he didn’t already have some stashed away.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-04 14:37:35 +0000 UTCSap Trang took a pill that he was either going to live or die right away—and he only had a 20% chance of survival. Zac knew the odds were that ST was dead shortly after he entered it. It doesn’t take long for a funeral.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-04 04:39:05 +0000 UTCSure. Let's go with that. I'm done explaining it.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-02-04 04:36:27 +0000 UTCSo the only thing you’re upset about is that Thea is still around—because YOU don’t like her. Gotcha.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-04 04:35:10 +0000 UTCI’m sure the (formerly) eight year old great grandson will pop up before too long.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-04 04:29:39 +0000 UTCI’m guessing the grandson is only a placeholder for the very talented great grandson—who was only eight, last we heard.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-04 04:28:17 +0000 UTCThe only problem being, as soon as he smashes the shards together, he’s going to have a vision visit with Be’Zi and her hubby, with all of it’s ramifications—AND a tribulation storm to deal with.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-04 04:26:38 +0000 UTCI think that H-Zac and Esmeralda only have to hide inside D-Zac when it’s time to go to the Ultom event. The “skeletons” aren’t going to be able to see Esmeralda. And everyone should expect both Calamity and Acheron Companies to be there.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-04 04:22:16 +0000 UTCNot sure about that “last second”. She’s basically a homing device to Zac for them, so whenever they catch up. And I think we know now where that will be.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-04 04:17:53 +0000 UTCDead?
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-04 04:16:26 +0000 UTCI think that Zac has to survive and overpower the atavism of the remnants, rather than the atavism being his own. But then, I’ve been wrong before…
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-04 04:15:38 +0000 UTCNah. At this point, Catheya’s providence is 90% piggybacked from Zac. And that was her intent all along. Time for her to slip into an Ogras type support role.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-04 04:12:29 +0000 UTCLove having Ogras back 😂
James Faulkner
2024-02-01 17:42:51 +0000 UTCIt’s gonna be wild
Thenais
2024-02-01 11:34:03 +0000 UTCAwesome chapters I'm gonna let these chapters build up for a while month then binge! You guys stay toasty and I'll see you March 1st!
Matt Spratte
2024-02-01 05:30:36 +0000 UTC"They are Rich!!! Rich!!! Rich!! Wait.. why is everything exploding... again... And now its raining money!!!! We are rich!!! wait.. thats not really money.. its tiny squirrels holding nexus crystals in one hand and explosives in the other!!!!"
Kharas
2024-01-31 20:42:15 +0000 UTCI wanna see a PoV from the new demons joining the Atwood empire :)
mrthorwahl
2024-01-31 20:19:02 +0000 UTCImagine the Demon warriors that had a high enough standing to return to the clan 🤡
Jonas Lemke
2024-01-31 20:09:24 +0000 UTCAnd Carl when his in laws show up.
Dan
2024-01-31 19:49:05 +0000 UTCThea is the perfect person to leave in charge of the Atwood Empire when Zac and Ogras eventually have to leave for opportunities not available on the frontier. She was literally trained for it from before the integration.
Dan
2024-01-31 19:48:45 +0000 UTCThea has for real been sidelined way too long to ever come back as anything but an old flame. She's been dead to Zac for decades. Maybe Ogras can have her lol, he's used to getting Zac's leftovers already
xlinkedx
2024-01-31 19:38:38 +0000 UTCF5 brigade checking in after a 3 month break as well!
Dan
2024-01-31 19:10:51 +0000 UTCZac was looking at Sap Trangs final resting place so he did indeed die. As for bringing him back as an undead, it's likely he either didn't sign up for that program or the terminals seclusion harmed his body to such a degree that coming back as a revanant would be pointless.
Lex Luther S
2024-01-31 16:06:38 +0000 UTCI say I disagree with your first point about the "It's dangerous and in a dangerous area" part, but I do get why it fills like all of the characters like Billy, Vilari, and Johanna have death flags on them when they appear is because each one of them have a strong connection to Zac, but they might not have the luck Zac has and when they are doing stuff it comes at great risk like for example Billy is powerful but is almost like a glass cannon when we last saw him. Where he can dish out a lot of damage but can get hurt really easily, especially with his personality. Vilari is trapped in a bell that she might lose control of at any minute and is talking to a mentalist monarch that might have sinister intentions for her. As for Johanna she was a regular Valkyrie with no fate but she is a hard worker and that made her able to get some opportunities so she can keep up, but she has scars all on her body and she is now missing an eye. While characters like Iz, Catheya, and Thea seem to not have that air of death around them all the time. But I think this story gives a better reasoning why then most stories because for Iz she has her whole family to protect her and all of them are powerful and they have a reputation of being straight up crazy, so most factions leave them alone and since they are all fire cultivators, they know how to help Iz with her path and they also have the materials for it too. For Catheya and Thea the reason they are being treated well by the factions that have them is that the undead empire is using Catheya as one of their many lures to bring Zac to their side so they are hoping if she stays with him long enough, he might decide to come to the empire which is why they are helping her get stronger. For Thea she has no control at all and the faction that has her are pretty much just using her to get to Zac which is why they are keeping her alive and training her. I like it better this way because it is acknowledging that they are using them as bait to get to Zac instead of it seeming out of place.
Terror
2024-01-31 15:48:22 +0000 UTCLet me simplify this since either you didn't read the earlier comments or your still confused from how I explained it. I liked Sap Trang. I enjoyed his short adventures protecting the sea with lil bao. Sap Trang is now dead. I'm sad that he's dead. I'm mad a character I liked is now dead, while far less interesting ones get to live. And these less interesting ones also have far more screentime than him. Yet they're are less interesting or more annoying than a hardworking old man that's been in like 15 chapters total. I can't make this any easier to comprehend.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-01-31 13:08:27 +0000 UTCI agree. That is possible. The Great Redeemer could do that as well. Or one of the bloodsuckers. Or one of the people from Ogras' clan. Or the Abyssal demons, or someone from the assassin club Ogras was training with, or any of the other 5000 groups Zac has fought against! And guess what? I don't need to know his rank when that happens! Zack has so many enemies their rank doesn't matter. When they show up we'll get a debrief of their name, what Zac did to them, and their level of cultivation. That's all that matters! Hell, half the time their name doesn't even matter. I have no fucking clue what the name of that chick from one of the heavens that attacked him in the PV is. I can't even remember what heaven she's from. But I'm sure TFD will tell me if her clan returns to attack Zac. So like I said. Zac is going to a dangerous place guarded by the Kantanu to get a mcguffin to help win the war. After Sap Trang's death, that's all that happened. Don't stress yourself out trying to memorize every minute detail in this book.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-01-31 12:28:54 +0000 UTCHe also took a pill meant for much younger people that would lessen and weaken his life force in an attempt to breakthrough
DeamoniumDraco
2024-01-31 12:25:52 +0000 UTCWhile I agree Iz is the best girl, especially for his human half now that he's split, I don't think Thea should be killed off. Honestly, TFD used Theas' "Death" as not only a source of motivation to push zac forward but to cut their relationship off permanently. Thea just isn't strong enough or liked enough to be the zacs' lover for the long haul of this novel. Catheya and Iz are far more liked and they also have the providence to keep up with the walking calamity known as zac. Hell, Alea is a better choice than Thea as at least alea has shown her determination to follow zac to the end, no matter what.
Lex Luther S
2024-01-31 11:12:42 +0000 UTCyou say that but I think it will be a possiblity that the Pope could breakthrough and take revenge on zecia even after the war is concluded
Frederik
2024-01-31 11:00:15 +0000 UTCeasy he got like 2 month left with about 2 levels a day and e week for the c grade breakthrough he could make it 💯👍😅
Frederik
2024-01-31 10:53:05 +0000 UTCis tranq confirmed to have failed?
Frederik
2024-01-31 10:48:29 +0000 UTCLike trash ass Thea.......boo
drag0nreb0rn
2024-01-31 08:07:19 +0000 UTCHe is becoming a powerhouse. At the top trillions of F and E grade live and die in 5he blink of an eye.
drag0nreb0rn
2024-01-31 08:05:08 +0000 UTCBah. Keep her away. Iz is the best girl. I hope she toasts Thea to a crisp before Zack finds out she isn't dead.
drag0nreb0rn
2024-01-31 07:59:23 +0000 UTC@Michael ⛵️
Dev Rez
2024-01-31 07:48:35 +0000 UTCWhy are you so mad about a random side character - who was missing from the story since thousands of chapters ago - dying?
Subliminary
2024-01-31 06:33:18 +0000 UTCSucks to be a hostage, not as much as a plot device. I’m sure she has personal agency saved up.
Salvo
2024-01-31 06:25:03 +0000 UTCI’m finally caught up after taking 3 months off. I’m so happy Ogras closed the clan chapter of his life got his grandpa back. I’ve been waiting for that for the longest. Happy to be back and caught up
BloodStorm
2024-01-31 04:42:53 +0000 UTCThe first couple books were really amazing. It is an absolute dumpster fire now and not worth reading and a huge disappointment.
Collin Sorrells
2024-01-31 04:09:17 +0000 UTCI’d like to see the Sindris clans reaction to the deal with Zac, I feel like they’re all freaking out since he’s basically their messiah reborn.
Michael
2024-01-31 04:06:45 +0000 UTCShe’s a karma prisoner, the baldies won’t let her go until the last possible second.
Michael
2024-01-31 04:04:50 +0000 UTCSummon gods, kill pope, all kan’Tanu die because the pope’s heart curse probably has a kill switch. Zac wins war, has a few months to prepare for ultom with ungodly amounts of war merit.
Michael
2024-01-31 03:58:53 +0000 UTCTo create a subspace in his body for the frog lady to hide in when entering the trial.
2024-01-31 03:50:54 +0000 UTCHow has Thea not made it to earth yet?
G
2024-01-31 03:33:58 +0000 UTCI always assumed it was the original creator’s intent that has been trapped within, thus letting them “form a consciousness”. Imagine Zac’s Dao avatar was filled with so much creation, it gives birth to itself. But, it doesn’t have a soul.
Salvo
2024-01-31 03:22:55 +0000 UTCI hope we get a POV from one of the Ash’Rezak demons next chapter. I want to see what they think of Ogras returning AND their reaction to seeing the resources they’ll have access to as part of the Atwood Empire. It was fun watching the life demons realize the treasure trove they’d joined back when that happened.
Mack
2024-01-31 03:11:55 +0000 UTCIt seemed more like the Atavism mentioned was the intelligence of the gathered shards/splinters reaching a critical mass. At that point it becomes a much more dangerous (absurd to imagine, I know) endeavor to subjugate them.
FriendorFo
2024-01-31 03:02:08 +0000 UTCLooool not a bad point
FriendorFo
2024-01-31 02:59:17 +0000 UTCWhy did Zac extract the Life-attuned essence again?
Timothy Dana
2024-01-31 02:43:50 +0000 UTC???? Zac is a human, he doesn't need ti achieve Atavism like beasts or the remnants.
Lex Luther S
2024-01-31 02:38:56 +0000 UTC"Five is Atavism, where five lingering resentments form a consciousness. To climb the broken peak, an unbreakable will is needed. Survive, and prove you are worthy to continue climbing." Could Zac's atavism be the full awakening of the Void Emperor bloodline?
xlinkedx
2024-01-31 01:38:08 +0000 UTCThe plan: Get close. Summon the bell. Smash the shards together to chaos teleport past the Kan'Tanu slaughter field, into the graveyard
xlinkedx
2024-01-31 01:31:22 +0000 UTCYah how can you stay the same with billions dying around you.
Michael Esparza
2024-01-31 00:58:06 +0000 UTCI wonder what the limit is for Zac jumping in and out of Arcaz is. The next arc will prolly be an Arcaz-centric arc now that Kator's going to be part of the group. Arcaz can't let Zac out and spill the secret before the trial and let Kator know. Once in the trial, Arcaz can secretly let Zac and Esmerelda out to do their thing. I wonder how close they need to be to be sucked back into Zac. For instance, if Arcaz is in Undead trouble, can Zac teleport back into Arcaz from a far off location and then pop out as a surprise in case of an Undead betrayal? That'll have consequences for Arcaz/Zac but it could save their life. Zac's going to have a shit ton of merit afterwards, and I wonder if there'll be a way for Zac to upgrade the subspace so that Zac can store Arcaz. Bah...that's prolly a dead end idea. BTW, is TFD playing 4D chess with the ability Esmerelda gave Arcaz? Yes, at first it seems pretty useless, but he did get those things on his back like Esmerelda. I wonder if he'll find a use for having vats on his back? Yeah, I used the word, wonder, a lot butt dayum this is good stuff, and it's got me all speculating...
Mike Naka
2024-01-31 00:56:50 +0000 UTCZecia would have no chance if he was an actual Autarch, and it wouldn't make sense since we know Autarchs can't naturally form in the frontier. Alvod's ascent was seen as insane to all the people in the Orom that mentioned it. The fact there's an Autarch-level barrier surrounding the sectors also jives with there being no Autarchs inside the barriers to mess up the war among "juniors"
Matthew Hay
2024-01-31 00:47:23 +0000 UTCNo it's not. Every faction in this multiversus wants to kill or recruit Zac. And I'm not remembering the hierarchy of every faction anymore. Zac wants a plot mcguffin inside the Eternal Storm. The Kantanu are guarding it. It's a dangerous place Zac needs to break into to help with the war before Ultom. I read so many of these cultivation/litrpg books that it's not worth memorizing every little detail. Especially since after this arc and the War is won. You will never have to know they're ranking system afterwards.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-01-31 00:11:44 +0000 UTC"He still felt drained after extracting some essence of his Life-attuned constitution" ...giggity?
Bootsie Mcfootsie
2024-01-31 00:02:38 +0000 UTCI figured I’d skip the secondary source and would just ask the kind of people obsessed enough with this story that they pay a monthly subscription to stay up to date. You know, the kind of people who fill in the fandom.
Dan
2024-01-30 23:57:08 +0000 UTC"Oh, you're going to love this," = Something is getting blown up...
Dro
2024-01-30 23:56:29 +0000 UTCRight. Thank you! Lots of K names and V names to remember.
Dan
2024-01-30 23:55:39 +0000 UTCHe was mentioned last week! He went into his cultivation session LAST WEEK!!!!
Darnell Maxwell
2024-01-30 23:54:14 +0000 UTCHe had the workings of an autarch protecting him from the shard at f and it was still slowly corrupting him, so a grade differential is definitely important. But agreed, whatever the grade actually is once 5 are united it's going to be way stronger than the sum of its parts.
DrSubterfuge
2024-01-30 23:51:06 +0000 UTCGreat but those are all interesting characters with a very real risk of death. I love Joanna! Calrin and Billy are great and so is Vilari. My issue is that all these characters I enjoy can work their asses off. But can get killed off at anytime to further the story. We can start up the next chapter with any one of them ending like Saptrang or that group that saved Zac in the dead zone back in book 2! But annoying characters like Theya are gonna be safe.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-01-30 23:49:18 +0000 UTCIf you have any questions you should check out the fandom. If I remember correctly kator was the reaver Zac fought in a duel after he reached hegemony and during which he got the void mountain
Mathew
2024-01-30 23:39:18 +0000 UTCiirc he’s the reaver with multiple ‘miracle bones’ that Arcaz dueled around the same time he got access to the abyssal lake
Connor Barkley
2024-01-30 23:38:33 +0000 UTCThe first 3 are fantastic. It gets very long winded after. Like the story is being padded with gish gallop. To be a bit fair…Gish Gallop is the main characters superpower.
Dan
2024-01-30 23:16:19 +0000 UTCCan someone remind me who Kator is?
Dan
2024-01-30 23:13:49 +0000 UTC"It's dangerous and in a dangerous area." I guess that's one way of describing the Kan'Tanu version of the Vatican. Also the fact that the Sindris Clan, his real father's family, is actively recruiting Zac and is providing information didn't seem like a big deal to you?
Lumpawaroo
2024-01-30 22:58:56 +0000 UTC“My plan is to advance to monarch and eat it.”
Alexander Dupree
2024-01-30 22:51:39 +0000 UTCJoanna is still around and I think there's zero chance she and Zac get together. There's also Calrin, Billy, Villari, and a few others. Honestly the only love interests are Alea, Thea, Catheya, Iz, and the Void priestess. That's only five characters out of literally dozens that we've been introduced to.
Lumpawaroo
2024-01-30 22:50:29 +0000 UTCAlso the fact that Zac said Ogras was like a brother to him!
ClaySavage
2024-01-30 22:43:19 +0000 UTCIt's excellent, this is my favorite story on RR, followed by the aforementioned HWFWM and then Mother of Learning.
2024-01-30 22:43:18 +0000 UTCJason Asano from He Who Fight with Monsters.
Joshua Little
2024-01-30 22:42:50 +0000 UTCThanks for the chapter.
Joshua Little
2024-01-30 22:42:27 +0000 UTCWhy? Sap Trang hasn’t been mentioned in months. If he was never mentioned again no one would notice, what’s the difference? He was hardly in the story beside the 1st book.
William Keith
2024-01-30 22:36:59 +0000 UTCHis mindset changes should be expected after over a year of War. Combine that with him obviously being depressed about Sap Trang's death, to say nothing about the thousands of deaths from his own warriors, Zac being callous towards the deaths of others seems like a natural progression.
Lumpawaroo
2024-01-30 22:36:23 +0000 UTCNo but he's an interesting character and a fan favorite. I'm fine with a character introduced in book 1 staying all the way until the end. Weak or strong. Male or female. My issue is when they have no interesting or positive characteristics. But there's a chance they'll bang the mc. So the story bends over backwards to keep them around instead of just making them a likeable or interesting character.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-01-30 22:09:28 +0000 UTCIt has gotten a stale. I stopped following it.
Carl Scott
2024-01-30 22:07:35 +0000 UTCOgras confirmed as fucking Zac?
Marcus Elebrite
2024-01-30 22:06:45 +0000 UTCI mean, they've always been d grade and he got the first pair in f. Them going up a grade doesn't seem impossible. At minimum they'll be way stronger in d grade than just 5 each alone would be.
Salohcin
2024-01-30 22:04:39 +0000 UTCI am eager to see in which direction his new demon followers are heading. Especially Ogras' Gramps now that we lost OG Trang. Maybe his grandson will rise as a great Talent with little Bao. Unfortunately I think it is certain Sap Trang wont Come back as a revenant due to his mindset.
Robert Gami
2024-01-30 22:00:43 +0000 UTCMy money is it being used on conveniently horrifically lethal bell at a rather opportune moment
Henry Wartemberg
2024-01-30 21:50:34 +0000 UTCIt seemed out of place for Zac to be thinking in such an ‘Iz’ way. “ these people were or wheren’t fated” His path/ personal philosophy seems more geared to self determination and railing against the constraints of fate. Unless it’s indicative of a shift that’s going to be addressed later.
Henry Wartemberg
2024-01-30 21:49:13 +0000 UTCI just hope sap Trang’s family line is not forgotten in the story.
M💬
2024-01-30 21:48:26 +0000 UTCPlease post future chapters like you did today! I read on my phone and the print is usually way too small and Patreon doesn’t let me increase font size. TFTC 😎
StuBee3
2024-01-30 21:48:06 +0000 UTCOh definitely
Henry Wartemberg
2024-01-30 21:44:00 +0000 UTCvery
Douglas Sokolowski
2024-01-30 21:35:02 +0000 UTCRest in peace Sap Trang. I feel like a lot of people glossed over Ogras' grandfather's reaction to realizing the incursion HE sent caused the birth of the Deviant Asura, but it was great to read!
Blayne Allsen
2024-01-30 21:30:48 +0000 UTCIs it good like this one?
SandreX
2024-01-30 21:28:10 +0000 UTCOgras just had to ask.
Michael Fannon
2024-01-30 21:14:57 +0000 UTCThe MC from "He Who fight With Monsters"
Jack Trowell
2024-01-30 21:06:53 +0000 UTCJason?
SandreX
2024-01-30 20:59:59 +0000 UTCYa it was only mentioned once, I missed it at first too.
DagNabItAll
2024-01-30 20:59:32 +0000 UTCZak is just like Jason. Every time either has a plan everyone runs to the hills.
Bender
2024-01-30 20:56:25 +0000 UTCSo Zac is saving the remnants to use the Chaos charges at some point in his plan?
Palmer Evans
2024-01-30 20:53:15 +0000 UTCDivine Monarch right?
Palmer Evans
2024-01-30 20:49:58 +0000 UTCChaos drive! Chaos drive! “Ludicrous speed!” “ my god! They’ve gone to plaid!?”
Salvo
2024-01-30 20:46:17 +0000 UTCI also suspect some change in the remnants along with Atavism but C sounds like too much for Zac to handle. The big question for me is if the System will whisk him away to get the impartments or if he will have to track down his would-be mentors for Creation and Oblivion himself.
DrSubterfuge
2024-01-30 20:45:43 +0000 UTCPour one out for Mr. Trang. You can’t always get lucky.
Tucker Longstroth
2024-01-30 20:44:16 +0000 UTCWhy do I doubt he’s going to love this…
Alexander Dupree
2024-01-30 20:43:31 +0000 UTCKnowing tfd I’m surprised he didn’t awaken Sap Trang just so he could kill him 6 more fkn times
Brandon Harrison
2024-01-30 20:43:19 +0000 UTCHe's going to blow it up. Not even a question.
2024-01-30 20:38:15 +0000 UTCTftc!
brennon Petersen
2024-01-30 20:37:24 +0000 UTCThis story is at its best when Ogras and Zac r adventuring together
Malcolm Gray
2024-01-30 20:36:27 +0000 UTCIt was "only" seclusion that would kill him if he failed. Turns out not everyone in Zac's orbit can embark on desperate bids for power and succeed.
DrSubterfuge
2024-01-30 20:36:08 +0000 UTCI hope one day this trope dies. This thing where interesting/enjoyable side characters are at risk of being left behind or killed off. But if a character has a chance of fucking the mc. They'll either be here until the final book while being artificially boosted because the mc is strong. Or killed specifically to inspire a power up.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-01-30 20:35:37 +0000 UTCIma be honest, I gave up. When it was confirmed sap trang died I could not even try to give a shit about this Kantanu base thing. It's dangerous and in a dangerous area. Zac has a plan and Ogras thinks he's crazy. If anything else substantial was said, it's lost on me.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-01-30 20:32:13 +0000 UTCLove to see that we’re moving into the next arc!!! RIP Sap Trang😭😭😭
PapaJohn
2024-01-30 20:32:02 +0000 UTCI thought the pope was an autarch not a Monach
2024-01-30 20:28:05 +0000 UTCEasy peasy ....
Stefan Muntean
2024-01-30 20:27:42 +0000 UTCSounds like a great idea what could possibly go wrong.
Omiso
2024-01-30 20:26:44 +0000 UTCTime to explain to ogras that his plan involves summoning an ancient corrupt bell and damage it to force the old heavens and the system to drown the area in so much lightning that even the kan'tanu pope would be hard pressed to enter, and payment for everyone entering the breach and surviving the lightning will be an Atavism sized glimpse of chaos, which will likely hold dozens of times more energy than even a 4 remnants lvl chaos glimpse. I feel the remnants will enter the C grade with Atavism which is why this next glimpse of chaos will be on a whole different lvl. But man, that imperial graveyard sounds insane, seems the zecia sector is gonna be cruising nicely after some foreign gods clean on the zubor sector. Opportunities will be aplenty. On another note, shame that Sap Trang died; I had hope TFD would let him succeed but this just shows that not even old characters are safe. Speaking of old characters, I wonder what's going on with his old GF and what's his name. Wonder how they're doing.
Lex Luther S
2024-01-30 20:24:19 +0000 UTCRip Sap Trang
Russell Widger
2024-01-30 20:22:08 +0000 UTCTFD said in an earlier chapter that it was a huge gamble due to Trangs age. Then we had the time skip and are introduced to the fact that he failed. Not all is sunshine and rainbows for the Atwood Empire, unfortunately.
FriendorFo
2024-01-30 20:20:39 +0000 UTCI love this….adventure is so much more satisfying than war, although both stories have been masterfully executed. This is my favorite story…I think, ever. It’s surpassed the Dresden Files for me
Jason Bradford
2024-01-30 20:19:53 +0000 UTCThank you!
Andrew
2024-01-30 20:19:11 +0000 UTCIt's sad but Sap Trang was defined by his family. Without them needing him I suppose only his pride was left and it wasn't enough to advance.
John Smith
2024-01-30 20:19:01 +0000 UTCI thought he had only gone into terminal seclusion? Seems odd for TFD to include Sap going on a desperate trip for power and not have it amount to something.
Observer Whimsy
2024-01-30 20:18:40 +0000 UTCYe
Shup Idot
2024-01-30 20:17:34 +0000 UTCRip the homie. You’ll be remembered, Mr Trang.
FriendorFo
2024-01-30 20:17:22 +0000 UTCI feel like my reading comprehension must be ass, who was Zac standing on the pier for? Was it Sap Trang?
Observer Whimsy
2024-01-30 20:17:02 +0000 UTCI missed Ogras's reactions.
Chris Fey
2024-01-30 20:13:23 +0000 UTCGrats!
Lucas Gulick
2024-01-30 20:11:14 +0000 UTCSecond!
Lucas Gulick
2024-01-30 20:11:02 +0000 UTCFirst
Angelazreal1
2024-01-30 20:05:47 +0000 UTC
