Defiance of the Fall

Zac blankly looked at the spherical hole left in the wake of the seal's escape, the surprise so great he was brought back to reality. Had his bloodline really scared the seal to the point it escaped prematurely?

"Uh," Zac said as he stepped forward to inspect the damage. "Maybe?"

It was extensive. The seal hadn't just carved a hole through the ceiling, but also the two floors above. The devastation below was the same, giving the two a good cross-section of the tower's makeup. The space between the levels was as large as the floors and filled with a dense, weblike metal mesh that had to be part of the tower's arrays.

It was clear that not even these inaccessible floors had been spared from the dimension's collapse. Zac observed multiple spots damaged by spatial tears in the small section. Other sections had exploded, likely because of the damage to the arrays. The ancient fortress must have incredible redundancy layers to still operate with such extensive damage.

However, not even the tower could shrug off a 30-meter bite being taken out of its upper levels. Hundreds of runes were flickering precariously, and energy was rapidly building in the surroundings.

"Damnit!" Zac swore as arrays in every direction came alive.

The eruption had destroyed the door they planned to enter, saving him a token charge. However, the corridor beyond had fully activated its defenses, and it was just a matter of time before the sentinels appeared. The same was happening in every direction.

Except for one place.

"Let's go!" Zac urged, flying straight through the dusty haze.

The hole had no arrays to activate, and it provided a path straight to the top. However, gravitational forces poured into the gap from every direction. Soon, it felt like they were trying to ascend the Heavens. Emily faltered first, but Zac caught her with an arm as he activated [Void Zone]. It was barely enough to keep ascending, though the price was the hunger growing more intense.

The sphere had barely reached the final floor, so Zac had to temporarily unequip [Ossuary Bulkwark] and modify his body shape with [Million Faces] to squeeze through. They found themselves in a dark, silent room, exactly what Zac hoped to see. The command center's defenses hadn't been triggered, leaving only the hole to worry about.

"We need to do something about this," Emily said nervously, echoing Zac's thoughts.

Zac's face scrunched up with reluctance as he took out a Longevity Treasure. He'd consciously saved a sliver of Creation Energy when recovering his lost limbs. He'd hoped to keep it in case he got hurt inside the tower, but it looked like he'd have to use it to patch up the floor.

A small surge of Creation Energy was extracted, and Zac quickly pushed it out of his body before his bloodline could steal it. His mental state was in disarray, but he had enough experience to successfully fill the breach with an exact replica of the floor.

Of course, the similarities were just cosmetic. He didn't have the Creation Energy to create the real thing, so he had to settle for looks. Not to mention that Zac doubted the Shards of Creation could replicate such strong materials. Even if they did, the life force drain would probably kill Zac where he stood.

Emily covered the patch with a door she'd picked up on the way, and Zac placed almost a hundred Gravity Crystals on top. The extravagant arrangement made Zac feel the pinch, and the shimmering crystals made his cells scream with hunger. At least it afforded some protection while they figured out the next step.

While the arrangement was hastily put together, getting past them would be a herculean task. Even he wouldn't be able to budge the door with the immense weight pushing down on it. Not to mention, Zac could still sense the immense energy fluctuations on the floors beneath them. Still, they'd have to be fools to underestimate the outsiders, and Zac knew their setup couldn't stop the sentinels. They had to hurry.

There was a clear difference between the dusky room they'd appeared in and the rooms they'd explored over the past hours. For one, it was completely untouched by the ravages of space, just like the Tribulation Throne. The dark grey tiles on the walls lacked any engravings, but looking at them felt like gazing into a black hole. There was an immense weight hidden within, but not a speck of it leaked out.

Zac suspected they were C-grade materials, though the long years might have depreciated their strength. Still, they'd never be able to break into this room if not for the seal's timely assistance.

The room was roughly fifteen meters across, holding five tables that were bigger versions of the consoles in the Tribulation Throne. Four tables still appeared to be in working order, but Zac didn't dare approach without a plan. They had essentially broken in, and the fact the room was silent didn't mean it was safe. One wrong move could spell disaster.

"This isn't right," Emily muttered. "We're in the right place, but the Command Center should be the size of a football stadium. This room wouldn't take up more than a small corner."

"This must be some side chamber not on the map," Zac said and nodded at the sole door in the room. "The real thing should be out there."

"Let's go," Emily nodded.

Zac took out the [Court Cycle Token], finally feeling a sliver of hope upon reaching the finish line. A sliver that quickly shattered when Zac felt a powerful rejection in his mind. The token didn't work. Zac mutely looked at the door, his mind blank over the abrupt end of their journey.

"Should we go back?" Emily ventured.

"Doubt it'd help," Zac frowned. "If the token doesn't work here, it probably won't at the other entrances, either."

"There's no way we can blast this guy open," Emily said before turning to the consoles. "These things, then?"

"Let's check it out," Zac said. "Don't activate anything just yet."

"By the way, two Starfall Courts in a row? What are the odds?" Emily commented as they walked over.

"Higher than you'd think," Zac said. "Remember the name of this place?"

"You think Reignenders have some special ability in here?" Emily exclaimed.

"I think it's possible, if not likely," Zac nodded. "Who knows? It might not be the token that lets me open the doors, but the mark of the Starfall Court on it."

"They are way more prepared than us. Even the Technocrats have ways to hide from the tower defenses," Emily said. "A shame Ra'Klid isn't here. He might have been able to take us out."

"Well, no one has more experience in dealing with the Limitless Empire than the Technocrats," Zac shrugged before shaking his head helplessly. "This is pointless. I have no idea how to check whether these consoles are guarded."

"Where is Kenzie when you need her," Emily sighed before looking at Zac apologetically. "Ah—I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Zac said as he looked around with a smile. "You're right. How could this fortress have stopped her? She would have built some master key, opening doors left and right."

"Right?!" Emily laughed. "She would have seized those guardians and have them round up all these troublemakers."

Zac grinned, but his smile turned crooked when whirring sounds came from the door—had their boastful conversation angered the tower to the point it sent sentinels to teach them a lesson? Of course, the far more likely answer was that the outsiders had already claimed the Command Center. Had they heard them somehow? Or had his attempt to open the door been exposed?

There was no time to prepare like the last time they found themselves in a similar situation. Emily disappeared within a camouflage array while Zac shot forth, his axe already on the move when the door abruptly opened. Five gruff men were waiting on the other side with gleaming weapons.

Their reactions were surprisingly sluggish when they saw Zac burst through the door, which gave Zac the window of opportunity he needed. Zac felt a weak flicker as he passed through an invisible barrier, and [Verun's Bite] descended on the leader in the middle. However, a spark of recognition made Zac freeze in place, stopping his axe just before he lobbed off his target's head.

"It's you?!"

The burly soldiers quickly regained their composure. They glared at Zac with murderous gazes, but they didn't dare move with the axe levied against the throat of one of their own. Zac barely spared them a glance, his mind abuzz as distant memories of a squirrely merchant gradually converged with the ferocious warrior before him.

"Galau? Is that really you?" Zac asked to confirm as he released his orcish disguise and retracted [Ossuary Bulwark]'s helmet.

How did his old friends keep popping up in the least expected places? First Ogras, and now this old companion who elicited their services back in the Tower of Eternity. He hadn't heard from Galau since they split ways in the Base Town. Pretty Peak had expeditiously whisked him away to save Galau from his own family.

After all, Zac's renown was far from its current level back then, and he had just killed a whole lot of scions, including a Dravorak prince. The last update he got on Galau was when he met Pretty Peak inside the Void Star. Galau had been given a new identity before being sent into the Million Gates Territory along with Greatest and Average Peak. They were among the vanguard who sought to discover where the Kan'Tanu came from, but something happened to their army before the war even began.

"Wait, this is where you ended up after disappearing?" Zac said, recalling Pretty's original purpose in visiting the Void Star. "Is Average here as well?"

Zac scanned the gruff men standing behind Galau. None matched the features of the young Pugilist he met during a quest in the early stages of the Integration. Zac sighed, vaguely understanding the situation by the state of the soldiers. All but one were missing limbs, and odd spiderweb scars covered their skin.

It was almost incomprehensible how Galau and his squad had not only survived inside the fortress for years but even reached its command center. The accomplishment must have come at a heavy price, and Zac feared Average was among those lost. It was a huge disappointment. It was Greatest who provided the bangle, which kept his identity safe until Leandra gave him the array to hide his Duplicity Core.

Pretty had helped him in various ways, too. Zac still felt indebted to the Peak family, and he'd hoped to be able to bring back better news than this.

Galau slowly blinked a few times, seemingly having even greater trouble adapting to the sudden appearance of an old acquaintance. The soldiers to his sides had become increasingly tense, and it looked like they were about to risk their lives to save their companion. However, Zac finally saw a flicker of recognition in Galau's eyes, so he removed his axe and stepped back.

"It's fine. Stone pillar," Galau said with a trembling voice, which made the soldiers relax and look at Zac curiously.

"A comrade? Really?" the strongest of the warriors said. "This boy knows the little commander? Never seen him."

"You've heard of him. Remember the guy I met in the Tower of Eternity?" Galau said before his wandering gaze stopped at the patched-up hole Zac came from. "Shit!"

"You're that bloodthirsty lunatic?!" the middle-aged soldier exclaimed. His words were harsh, but his face veritably shone with adoration and excitement. "Little Shartermaster has told us all about you!"

"Nice to meet you—What are you doing!" Zac shouted.

He wasn't talking to the soldiers. His outburst was triggered by Galau, who had rushed to one of the central consoles of the Command Center. That was worrying enough, considering the wrong move could summon a slew of sentinels. However, Galau went even further, ripping off one of the metal covers on the back to dig around inside.

"Are you trying to get us killed?" Zac screamed.

If it were a stranger, Zac would have unhesitantly launched a killing blow upon seeing such a foolhardy measure, but the familiar face made him hesitate. Emily wasn't tied down by such sentiments. She burst forth from her hiding spot, turning into a streak that deftly dodged the surprised soldiers to place a tomahawk against Galau's neck.

"Not another move."

Zac was prepared to block the soldiers before things took a bad turn. However, none of them moved to save their companion. They looked at Emily like she was a goddess descended from the Heavens.

"A beauty! A warrior queen!"

"Bubbur, you traitor! I have an axe trained at me, you bastard!" Galau growled at the grizzly veteran who had spoken. More alarmingly, his hands didn't stop moving despite the tomahawk drawing blood. "And the rest of you? Useless!"

"We'll name our firstborn after you to honor your sacrifice," the grizzly veteran grinned.

Emily looked at Zac, who hesitantly nodded. These people had possibly survived in the fortress for years, and the soldiers looked absolutely relaxed despite Galau's actions. They should know what they were about. Emily shrugged and removed her tomahawk, teasingly glancing at Bubbur.

"You think I'd give my child such a disgusting name? And I'm not interested in weak men. We can talk about dating after you beat my teacher."

"Young lord, I've collected some good stuff over the years. How about letting me have this one? We can make the spar look real enough," Bubbur whispered.

"This isn't the time to joke around," Zac said, desperately pushing down a pang of hunger. "What are you doing? A single mistake will bring a calamity on our heads."

"That's what I'm trying to prevent," Galau said as he deftly manipulated a set of runes. A jolt of energy suddenly scorched his fingers, and Zac immediately regretted trusting these castaways. Galau didn't seem disappointed, though. He exhaled in relief and put back the backplate. "There. I modified the automated defenses. The guardians will guard the hole you lunatics created. It should buy us some time."

"You're pretty good, Shartermaster," Emily said as she looked at Galau with interest.

"Thank you," Galau coughed. "And my name is actually Galau, quartermaster of the Muscle Brigade. Or former quartermaster, maybe? I don't know."

"The muscle brigade still exists," Zac said, realizing what Galau meant. "The planet you visited suddenly disappeared, causing a huge Spatial Storm. Your ship was destroyed, but Greatest Peak managed to save most of his men and bring them out of the Million Gates Territory. The experience actually let him break through."

"That's great, that's great!" a soldier said with a shaky breath. "Little lord, did you hear?!"

Zac followed the man's gaze, his mouth opening with surprise when three more soldiers appeared from a camouflage array nearby. They'd done the same thing as Emily, but Zac hadn't sensed their presence at all. Not even when he was holding Galau hostage, which was shocking considering how strong his danger sense and Luck were.

He should have sensed at least a flicker of Killing Intent, letting him realize someone else was hiding in the room. The array had to be far greater than any common arrangement for Zac not to sense a thing.

"I told you, how could the old man possibly die before he got the chance to wreak havoc on the battlefield?" Average grinned as he walked over. "Long time no see. I should have guessed a troublemaker like you would appear at the eleventh hour. Damn, you ok? You look like a starving beast."

"I'm suppressing a breakthrough," Zac said. "You need to—"

"Ah, boss? Why did you change your clothes?" one of the soldiers leered, interrupting Zac's train of thought.

"Bastard, don't talk about unnecessary stuff!"

"Thank the Heavens it was friendlies," another soldier muttered. "Those Technocrats are no joke. I don't think we'd be able to deal with a whole gaggle of them."

"You've already encountered those guys?" Zac asked, noticing that Average and the soldiers who'd just appeared all had unstable auras.

So, part of the reason they hid was because of their wounds.

"Not in person," Galau said as he made a beeline for the consoles in the side chamber Zac came from. "I've been throwing up roadblocks for those bastards since they began cropping up, but they take them down one after another. They'll eventually deal with my tampering, so we have to be quick."

"Quick with what?" Zac asked. "What's going on? What are you up to?"

"Shouldn't that be our question?" Average countered. "We ended up in this netherblasted prison years ago. So how did you reach this place, and when did those meddling heretics get mixed up with the war? I thought we were fighting cultists?"

Zac took a steadying breath to center himself before recounting the situation in broad strokes. The sudden twists had almost made him lose control over his bloodline again. Luckily, there were no treasures nearby to push him over the edge.

"So things have already reached this point," Average muttered before his eyes lit up. "At least it sounds like our plan has a good chance of working out, provided the heretics don't kill us first."

"What plan?"

"Uh," Galau coughed, looking at Zac apologetically.

The merchant seemed to be feeling bad for him and Emily, though not to the point his fingers stopped moving as he tampered with one of the consoles in the side chamber. Zac started to get a bad feeling, one that only grew stronger upon seeing bloodthirsty grins appear on the soldiers.

"We're blowing this place up and taking as many damn cultists with us as we can!" Average laughed, confirming Zac's fears.

Emily groaned and clutched her head in despair. "You really do know each other."