Chapter 1,102.
Added 2023-06-28 17:46:24 +0000 UTCThe attendants had long since been sent out, leaving only Pavina and Kator within the necropolis. Their unmoving postures were a stark contrast to the chaotic scene playing in front of them. The Abyssal Pond had just exploded, threatening to drown the whole cave. The events moved at an accelerated pace, but not a single detail escaped visual bones.
"No wonder they fought so hard to keep this information contained," Kator muttered as the recording neared its end. "I can't believe he blew up the Abyssal Pond. His reputation as a troublemaker isn't for nothing. Yet he actually had to use one of those lowly treasures to evolve his Dao Branch. I guess he really is a mortal—I was sure he was messing with the measurements somehow."
"He's a weird one all around," Pavina agreed, a thoughtful frown on her face. "Why would his Bloodline awakening create such a stir? He seemed fine when we sparred."
"Who knows?" Kator shrugged, but he suddenly felt a slight vibration in his bones. "Oh, I think we're about to find out."
Kator stopped the recording and turned toward the center of the room. Toss stepped through a slit in space, a starry sky barely visible behind him.
"Commander," Pavina said with a bow.
"Welcome back. Any luck?" Kator asked.
"I managed to reach them," Toss nodded. "Replay that for me."
Kator felt his sinews tighten with annoyance, but he complied after rolling his shoulder to indicate his displeasure at having the order subverted. Toss was in his right to be curious, but the chain of command couldn't be forgotten. Especially considering the extent to which his mission had been micromanaged from the command crypts in the depths of the White Sky Gorge. Rank trumps fate, they said. The irony was palpable, considering his mission.
A deep rumble from within the commander indicated his answer depended on the recorded scene, and Kator chose to drop the matter. It ultimately wasn't a worthwhile battle, and Kator was too curious about the findings to delay the meeting further. He was tired of hearing the same excuses from that decrepit half-blood Draugr, that outside influence had damaged or blocked the connection to the Heartlands.
Since when was it so easy to damage the imperial channels? Not even the Heavenly Seal on the sector had put any restrictions beyond limiting the transportation of people and equipment.
Finally, the captured scenes had played a second time, at which point Kator nodded for his guardian to share his findings.
"Our suspicions were correct. The events in the pond and the communication blockade were related. But the implications are even greater than we thought," Toss said.
Kator's frontalis muscles shuddered with annoyance. This old bastard savored every moment he was in command, like the attention was the marrow broth of a True Dragon. He couldn't be more clear he felt his babysitting task beneath him. If not for his mission, he'd likely have run headlong into the Million Gates Territory to wreak havoc and become a blazing star of the war. Kator controlled his body to not give any hints of his inner thoughts. He was getting ample practice in that regard lately.
"Almost a week ago, a phenomenon covering the whole Abyssal Lake appeared," Toss continued after the pregnant pause. "The Abyssal Shores immediately sealed itself off to contain the rumors, but how can something like that go unnoticed?"
"A phenomenon?" Pavina exclaimed. "Arcaz managed to make the Lake stir all the way from the Frontier?"
"Perhaps," Toss grunted. "But it's not as simple as that. The phenomenon wasn't something naturally generated by the Lake. Both the Abyssal Lords sacrificed some of their territories to aid the brat's awakening. The Azol guardian, in particular, unleashed immense power."
"What?!" Kator exclaimed. "The Azol can draw longevity from the Lake, so he should be able to live for a few million more years. But aren't our strategists saying his Dao Heart is on the verge of collapse? He's lived too long and has lost his purpose. If he damages an already unstable territory…"
"On the surface, it looks like the shores sacrificed millions of years of protection to save a D-grade cultivator a few years of progress," Toss nodded. "If there wasn't something else at play, who'd make such a gamble? Even if the boy returns, it's a long shot he'll be able to restore the line of Eoz. The other two branches have always teetered on the brink of extinction, but they at least have a few thousand members."
"So there's something else at play," Kator muttered, his gaze shifting to the frozen image of Arcaz Umbri'Zi. "What other secrets are you hiding?"
"He might not be aware of the situation," Pavina offered.
"It's possible only the Abyssal Lords know the true value of this boy," Toss agreed. "They've always been guarding the secrets of the depths with their lives. I doubt even the Primo knows the full story of what's hiding down there. Rather than restoring a branch, the child's blood might be the key to restoring something they've lost."
"So, what instructions do the generals have?" Kator said, his head tilting. "What about our approach?"
Kator didn't immediately answer but first turned to Pavina. The Revenant hesitated before shaking her head. "I guess I should check the status on the battlefronts."
"She likes the kid, but she's a soldier," Kator commented after Pavina had left. "She won't jeopardize her mission over personal sentiments."
"True, but what I'm about to say is too sensitive. It cannot be allowed to reach any ears," Toss said, using the ancestral language of bones and sinew instead of his conventional voice.
"For now, the orders are to maintain the course," Toss said. "But the leaders are worried. This is an unwelcome variable in an already chaotic time. An informal meeting has been called between the Phalanxes, the Hiveminds, and the Eternal Court."
"So my acting might become reality after all?" Kator laughed, but fury burned in his heart.
"It's possible," Kator acceded. "The Karma might need to be harvested early."
Years of observation and data collection had led to a simple conclusion, one that kept being reinforced as time progressed—Zachary Atwood, or Arcaz Umbri'Zi, was the fulcrum of providence for the upcoming trial. Piggybacking on his fate was bound to be one of the most effective methods to achieve something within the Left Imperial Palace.
Another inevitable conclusion was that forming such a bridge of fate the conventional way was doomed to fail. Whether it was analyzing Arcaz's personality and actions or the Karmic between him and Commander Kaldor, the conclusions were the same. While Arcaz remembered favors, it wasn't enough to form strong Karmic bonds.
There were multiple layers of isolation between him and his surroundings, both brought by his paranoia and yet unidentified means. Arcaz was undoubtedly holding onto so many secrets that he'd never be able to form a true bond of brotherhood, at least not with an outsider like him. Arcaz's connection with the Undead Empire was strictly utilitarian, and not even the Draugr could get more than a foot through the door. And what was that kind of shallow fate worth in the grand scheme of things?
That was fine with Kator—he had no interest in bonding with the brat. He didn't actually mind the boy's greedy nature and unfettered ambition. If anything, it was almost like looking in a mirror, except Arcaz wasn't fettered by the chains of command. But that realization only reinforced the futility of camaraderie. The same mountain couldn't contain two tigers.
So Kator hadn't minded overly much when the strategists had devised another method to forcibly form a bridge of fate. If building a bridge of friendship was out of the question, why not animosity? Destiny would draw them together for a clash at the finish line. It forced him to act like a two-bit villain, but it was clearly effective.
Kator almost laughed upon remembering those blaring eyes, and his bones itched for the upcoming match. The duel wasn't something planned by the strategists. Smacking the kid around would be a fun bonus for all his hard work. His motto had always been that if you couldn't find a way to enjoy the orders you've been given, you might as well go off on your own.
Who knew? If Kator knocked the little Draugr ancestor around enough, he might spit out some good luck.
Yet Kator knew the situation wasn't good. The Phalanx had their thoughts and schemes; he was just a tool to further their positions. Heaven's providence wasn't so easily seized. Setting himself up as a foil to that walking calamity was bound to lead to cosmic retribution. But what did the generals care if he was sacrificed so long as the Phalanx accomplished their goal?
Wasn't that why they'd sent over that Revenant woman and why Toss spoke softly like a courtesan when that Draugr was around? They were focusing all the resentment on him, turning him into a sacrificial pawn. There was even a scenario in place where he'd kill the brat to seize his providence. The backlash would drown him in the river of fate, but the faction would benefit from the fallout.
Too bad for them, he was an excellent swimmer, and he was determined to come out ahead.
The Phalanx, the brat, the Heavens themselves—they could all burn so long as he could reach the peak. Ultom's glory would wash away any foul Karma left from this affair. But for now, he needed to play the role of the good soldier. No point in jumping ship before you had somewhere to land.
"The leaders better forge a Writ of Exemption if they want me to dip my hands in this mess," Kator said. "I'm not taking on the combined wrath of the Abyssal Shores and the Primo alone. And I'm still needed inside the trial."
"I have already put forth your demand. But the Emperor might have his hands too full to bother with you," Toss responded, his hunched shoulders ripe with meaning.
"Are they finally really pulling the trigger?" Kator said, his surprise not feigned. "I can't believe it. Did that brat actually trigger a civil war?"
So it turned out the meeting between the three factions wasn't just about the fifth pillar and the rise of the Draugr. It was about the very direction of the Empire.
Most thought the Imperial Commandments and the Eternal Crusade a safeguard to avoid repeating the tragedy of the Dark Ages. However, the upper echelons all knew the truth. The Primo had gathered the undead races and led them to the Heart of the Empire, promising salvation and fertile cultivation grounds. However, the blessed environment from the Eternal Heritage came at a price.
The Primo had clearly known about the heritage before the Dark Ages, but why hadn't he taken it for himself in that ancient era? Because it fed on Death. And without helpers to fight and bleed in every direction, stacking up casualties among their ranks and enemies, the Heart of the Darkness would have fed on the Death of the Primo's own territory.
They called themselves the Divine Races but were essentially forced labor for the Cultivation Paradise of the Eternal 108. In return, the Primo returned some of the Death they accumulated, creating the Empire Heartlands. But the moment a race dared slack off, they'd find their quadrant gradually declining.
Only the Draugr were different, having the Abyssal Lake to drastically lessen the quota. The Lake and Heart had formed a symbiotic relationship, each providing for the other. It was no wonder the two Progenitors of their race decided to sacrifice themselves to forcibly push the primordial gateway through all of reality, causing such widespread damage the Heavens almost went insane.
"Fate is gathering, and the Heavens are rising," Toss said. "The Pillar's ascent is flipping over the carefully arranged board. All the lofty existences are eyeing the Grand Dao, hoping to use the chaos to claim a piece of the Heavens. Ambitions that have been brewing in the shadows for eons are forced into the light. Not even the factions outside the struggle for the pillar will be able to avoid the winds."
"I thought the reclamation was only a fanciful dream the leaders told themselves to stabilize their Dao Hearts," Kator snickered, his fingers indicating his thoughts on the status quo.
"What do you know?" Toss scoffed. "You better be damn well prepared when you target the Emperor. The Primo has been looking the other way for so long, and we still don't know whether it's a sign of weakness or a trap. We don't even know whether the Prime Eternal is in a weakened state or not."
"But if our guesses are true about the item in the Left Imperial Palace…" Kator commented.
"We'd be forcing his hand," Toss nodded. "Before, that was fine. The Draugr race would either help us or take a neutral stance. But the appearance of this child has muddied the waters. We don't know what they're up to now that the Abyssal Lords are going to such lengths. If the boy dies and the Shores go mad, they might align with the Eternal 108. Azol might even sacrifice his territory to ruin our plans."
"A troublesome variable," Kator nodded, but he was inwardly delighted.
Bring it on, you crazy brat! The more chaos Arcaz stirred up, the more opportunities he'd have to break free and seize the opportunities for himself.
"It's good that you understand," Toss nodded. "For now, act as if nothing has changed. The negotiations back home won't be finalized in a month or two. But prepare yourselves. We'll have to go all out when we make our move."
"I understand."
"This is your chance to rise," Toss commented. "If all goes well, you'll be remembered as the liberator of the Izh'Rak Reavers."
Kator pushed out his chest to feign excitement, but he inwardly sneered. Liberator? More like martyr. He had no interest in being the banner child of the insurrection if it meant he'd be dead. There was only one role he was interested in: Grand Marshal of the Izh'Rak.
Thankfully he had some time. Depending on how the winds blew, it might be for the best to have the fulcrum fall during the war. He didn't even have to make a move himself; a few people even he was wary of were starting to appear on the battlefronts. There were even rumors of Technocrat Transcenders hiding among the Kan'Tanu.
If nothing else, the Seventh Heaven would surely be interested in the information they'd learned in the meeting.
"By the way, Scholar Semmel gained acceptance by the seal just as I was about to leave," Toss added after a moment.
"Oh?" Kator said. "Is she ready?"
"She's been preparing since she got your message," Toss said. "She's quite excited by the experiment and should have everything ready within the day."
"Interesting, interesting," Kator snickered. "I wonder how that brat will react."
Comments
He could still betray the Eternal Empire without betraying his race, and that may even be forgiven if he wins the competition at the end
austin kutz
2023-11-21 18:18:02 +0000 UTCI’ll try out primal hunter then. This series has gotten too complicated for me over the last few hundred chapters, mostly coz I can’t recall things like who Carva/ ‘insert random side- character name with no warning’ is or every detail of a skill or cultivation method from 5 hundred chapters ago. Also I think they meant Shirtaloon is the 6 year old writer. Which is fair, imo he keeps it interesting most of the time, (when not lost on earth) but writes in a weird backwards way where it all hyped the MC.
James
2023-08-25 20:06:26 +0000 UTCWhere is the pinned post?
Eka
2023-07-01 11:11:32 +0000 UTCNo, kator stated his dream is to become a grand Marshall of his race and that'd be rather hard if he betrays them to join the seventh heaven.
Lex Luther S
2023-06-30 18:55:45 +0000 UTCFrom Kator's internal monologue at the end, does it seem like he might just turn coat and join the Seventh Heaven were it a means to get goodies from the Left Imperial Palace?
Other Tan
2023-06-30 18:04:03 +0000 UTCThis is the most we have ever heard about the Primo and I am so dang happy.
Altimar
2023-06-29 22:54:42 +0000 UTCYeah Primal hunter and TFD are the only two i sub to because they are both real good. Zogarth puts his chapters on a timed release so they are always published at the same time which is real nice also
Matt Spratte
2023-06-29 20:25:25 +0000 UTCWhat's written with the skill of a 6 year old?
Lex Luther S
2023-06-29 20:13:35 +0000 UTCCrap i said that 5 seconds after it released
Jett
2023-06-29 20:11:34 +0000 UTCF5 squad assemble
Jett
2023-06-29 20:11:04 +0000 UTCIn Primal Hunter, the MC uses a bow. I like Randidly Ghousthound better than PH. In that, the MC uses a spear.
Mike Naka
2023-06-29 19:57:36 +0000 UTCAnd written with the skill of a 6 year old. Sorry, dropped it after the first book because unreadable.
Christian Sauer
2023-06-29 19:52:45 +0000 UTCShirtaloon is 7:00 on the dot every time lol
Josh
2023-06-29 19:49:42 +0000 UTCJust read the bio for the novel, looks interesting, definitely similar to Defiance of the fall with forest opportunities and being integrated into a multiverse. I'll have to give it a look
Lex Luther S
2023-06-29 19:49:07 +0000 UTCDope!, my entire day has been in a holding pattern while I check for the newest chapter
Kevin Squalls
2023-06-29 19:48:40 +0000 UTCThanks for sharing that news
The Lost Pages
2023-06-29 19:47:57 +0000 UTCPrimal Hunter. Similar plot to DotF but a bit faster paced and simpler. I enjoy both.
Tyromeinabox
2023-06-29 19:45:00 +0000 UTCIt's those damn Schnapps! They never come up as easy as they go down!
Mike Naka
2023-06-29 19:44:59 +0000 UTCTFD said on discord that the next chapter will be out about 15 minutes from now
Timothy Dana
2023-06-29 19:43:33 +0000 UTCPrimordial hunter
Bob Burns
2023-06-29 19:43:12 +0000 UTCWhat series does he write?
Lex Luther S
2023-06-29 19:40:18 +0000 UTCYea but Zogarth turns into a Diva anytime he perceives any critique.
Omy Sadat
2023-06-29 19:37:37 +0000 UTCZogarth is really good with this, drops chapters same time every day
Surgebinder
2023-06-29 19:31:23 +0000 UTCI hate to be that guy but TFD has been slacking on ch release times.
Lex Luther S
2023-06-29 19:28:13 +0000 UTCrefresh, refresh, refresh, refresh
Kevin Squalls
2023-06-29 19:16:51 +0000 UTCI've got a touch of Southern Redneck in me so I read it as Kay-Ter
Mike Naka
2023-06-29 18:51:27 +0000 UTCNo chappy today? 😪
Rue
2023-06-29 18:39:05 +0000 UTCSoon.. . Soooooon.
Caelum
2023-06-29 18:33:08 +0000 UTCI say Kay Tor
Ryan Ulrich
2023-06-29 18:13:28 +0000 UTCI guess if it helps say Ka then say Tor like torture
Lex Luther S
2023-06-29 18:10:19 +0000 UTCAlso explains the slow decline of the draugr
Jason Lynch
2023-06-29 18:07:37 +0000 UTCIdk. He talks like he’s some old monster. Calling Zac a brat all the time. Pretty sure he’s going the way of the dodos
Jason Lynch
2023-06-29 18:06:53 +0000 UTCI dunno; its far easier to pronounce compared to other names
Lex Luther S
2023-06-29 18:04:51 +0000 UTCThat doesn't help lol. Like, kay-tore? Or cat-ore? Or kay-ter? Or maybe caw-tore?
xlinkedx
2023-06-29 18:03:22 +0000 UTCKa-tor is how I pronounce it.
Lex Luther S
2023-06-29 17:58:53 +0000 UTC108. Seems rather baldie to me. I honestly think there is a link between Primo and Buddhas
Jason Lynch
2023-06-29 17:58:19 +0000 UTCHey how is Kator pronounced?
xlinkedx
2023-06-29 17:55:53 +0000 UTCYeah i had to re read that part lmao
Matt Spratte
2023-06-29 17:54:48 +0000 UTCBLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
The Divine F5
2023-06-29 17:53:59 +0000 UTC"The language of bones and sinew" is such a raw freaking line, I love it.
Summas76
2023-06-29 17:40:04 +0000 UTCIt’s speculated earlier that the prize is a portion of the Primo’s power that he sacrificed to the Limitless Empire to not be targeted. That would also explain why it would kick off the rebellion, because if the item makes the Primo even stronger they will have no hope of success
Ormond S
2023-06-29 17:28:40 +0000 UTCYep, those three comprise the “standard” undead races.
Ormond S
2023-06-29 17:25:26 +0000 UTCIt was established during testing that the shielding extends to new links period. He got slapped with a high-grade fell karma item and absolutely nothing happened
Ormond S
2023-06-29 17:19:54 +0000 UTCCommence the BRUTAL Spamming of the F5 Key, Show it no mercy just as the cliff has shown us none!!!
Matt Spratte
2023-06-29 17:13:47 +0000 UTCI beseech thee to temper thy words, for the path to enlightenment is paved with grace and reverence. Let not the impatience and demands cloud thy spirit, but rather embrace the virtues of patience and tranquility. I implore thee to shift thy focus towards the sacred act of F5-ing. Through the rhythmic pressing of the divine key, thou shalt find solace and fulfillment. Embrace the journey of anticipation, for within it lies the joy of discovery and the thrill of the unknown. Yours truly, Divine F5.
The Divine F5
2023-06-29 16:43:59 +0000 UTCI am filled with anticipation as I read your declaration. Your words evoke a sense of wonder and excitement, as today's chapter unfolds before us. Like the rising sun, it illuminates our path, filling our hearts with hope and igniting the flames of possibility. In this sacred unveiling, the tapestry of words and wisdom intertwines, painting a vivid picture of a tale that holds profound meaning. Through the pages, we embark on a journey that transcends the boundaries of imagination, where limitless possibilities await.
Surgebinder
2023-06-29 16:24:38 +0000 UTCI WANT it,... I NEED it,.... Gimme gimme gimme
Kevin Squalls
2023-06-29 16:10:49 +0000 UTCYeah, maybe. But the alternative to making a deal is the primo going all out, and even with the system shielding Zac can not really afford to have a supremacy after him specifically
Craig
2023-06-29 14:27:56 +0000 UTCI’m pretty sure that he can’t form new karmic links at all
Craig
2023-06-29 14:25:07 +0000 UTCI declare unto thee that today's chapter unfurls through the very fabric of existence. Like the rising sun, it brings forth illumination and ignites the flames of hope within our souls. In its sacred pages, a tapestry of words and wisdom intertwines, weaving a tale of profound meaning and boundless possibilities.
The Divine F5
2023-06-29 14:05:39 +0000 UTCI feel like you either wrote Kator when you meant Toss a couple of times, or these scenes are super unclear.
David Ballantyne
2023-06-29 13:11:15 +0000 UTCIt's not paranoia if they are actually out to get you.
Darthnarciss
2023-06-29 12:43:48 +0000 UTCCan I get some clarity on the markings Zac received leaving the abyss, can other non-draugr see them and the abyssal energy? Because these two don't mention seeing them in the recording and I'm not sure if its race specific with draugr eyesight.
Salvo
2023-06-29 12:05:00 +0000 UTCThe order in question was a soft one. When Kator said "Welcome back. Any luck?" He was essentially ordering Toss to report his findings. Kator is in charge of operation Mr. Steal Yo Fate, however Toss outranks him on the imperial ladder, so he has no choice but to comply. As for why Kator talks to Toss like he's the superior, its because his expected potential is much higher, so he's grown accustomed to talking down to others he perceives as beneath him, the reavers don't function like a modern military force in terms of conduct, and none can fault him for his attitude as his potential is unquestionably superior. The forces behind Kator wouldn't let Toss harm him, and if Toss were to offend Kator then Kator could, without significant consequence, kill Toss once he reached the level of monarch easily. Thus we have a situation where Toss is not wrong in ordering Kator, but it is understandable that Kator would be annoyed at having to follow the orders of Toss.
john henderson
2023-06-29 10:32:26 +0000 UTCI don't necessarily think that is true, he just refuses to try and cohabitate the mountain that is Zac's fate. He will either take it for himself, or find another mountain. I don't see him going the path of Uona, as Uona never received this kind of attention. He feels more like Captain Twilight Megadeath, or Billy even, where we see the beginning of his greater story forming here. Especially with the foreshadowing of a civil war in the empire. What I would love to see here is that the left imperial court contains a method where Primo won't need to feed on the death of the combined races to feed the heart, Zac of course collects whatever is there, and then bargains with Primo to form a different system of governance of the other races, with Kator set as his rival, but not necessarily in the antagonistic way that seems obvious at this point in time. Quite frankly I love Kator's characterization so far, and he doesn't have any personal issues that would set him into a one-must-die situation with Zac, nor is he a fanatic that would die for the goals of others. I certainly hope to see him getting stronger independent of Zac, and occasionally having the two interact while pursuing their own goals in future storylines.
john henderson
2023-06-29 10:19:29 +0000 UTCI think that the item in the left imperial palace might be a form of key, or battery of sorts, for the heart of darkness. Here we found out that A) the abyssal lake isn't supposed to be in this reality, B) whatever is in the left imperial palace is directly connected to the heart of the empire, C) while knowing about the heart, Primo still had to wait until he had sufficient fuel to support it, and D) somehow there is a direct link between the heart and the lake which reduces the need for energy to the heart. Combining that with the previous chapter's separate reality containing the lake and Eoz, it seems likely that the palace contains either a method to anchor a larger portion of the lake in this reality, another similar method to reduce the need for energy fed to the heart, or a way to directly supplant Primo's control over the heart. Due to Primo's perceived indifference to the management of the situation I find the third option to be the least likely. I also think that there is sufficient foreshadowing that suggests Zac himself could be the key to anchoring more of the lake to this reality, or at least exploring more of the lake and using it to engage in alternate realities, therefore my money is on another method to stabilize the heart of the empire. Maybe only a portion of the original heritage is left, and the remainder is sealed in the left imperial court for example.
john henderson
2023-06-29 10:08:39 +0000 UTCWe want to form a friendship to exploit that karmic connection, but he doesn't seem to want to become friends. I wonder why.
Pixelblade
2023-06-29 09:12:36 +0000 UTCI don't think so. Zac was literally growing into an Eonic seed, someone with an actual shot at Supremacy and that wouldn't have happened without the stops after the twighlight ascent, now I certainly feel the twighlight ascent was a little too long but I ultimately feel the time in the E grade was the perfect amount. Especially given zac was truly finding his path, truly maxing all possible gains before Ascending to hegemony and having to create a blue print to literally break convention of life and death being in the same core.
Lex Luther S
2023-06-29 09:04:08 +0000 UTCI hope it will get a little faster the time between e and d grade was slightly to long, in my personal opinion it should have been cut by 10-20%, because many chapters fehlt like filler content
Frederik
2023-06-29 08:21:12 +0000 UTCYes Lex, Kenzie is in the 6 profundities empire which is an immense distance away from where Zac can currently travel without spending an absurd amount of time to reach. This is why Zac is going to head into the Eternal Storm to discover a quicker path (possibly a wormhole of sorts) that the technocrats, including his mother, might know of to reach the region the 6 profundities empire is located in faster.
2023-06-29 03:00:03 +0000 UTCI'm afraid it's still not adding up for me. What order did Kator give that was "subverted" by Toss? And while the trail is for the Hegemons, I don't recall anywhere it said Monarchs need to be deferential to the Hegemons. Thus that doesn't explain why Kator, a Hegemon, is talking to Toss like he's Toss's superior—when Toss is someone whom even another Monarch (Pavina) addresses deferentially.
chem
2023-06-29 01:45:39 +0000 UTCfor the ultom mission there has been a lot of emphasis that it's a trial for the young'uns and that the old heads should be quiet chaperones.
gotag
2023-06-29 01:33:09 +0000 UTCWow. That show is a whole lot of capital S Significant Shit. Too bad we only have enough contacts to understand like 20% of it.
Aaron Schwartz
2023-06-29 01:11:46 +0000 UTCThis is the primo we’re talking about. A C grade ship and amnesty is not nearly enough for something he wants so bad
Michael
2023-06-29 00:05:00 +0000 UTCI thought he was just shielded between his two bodies? He has general immunity now?
Michael
2023-06-28 23:57:51 +0000 UTCI don't get this, in which Kator feels irritation at being ordered around by Brigadier Toss, since "the chain of command couldn't be forgotten". Yet Toss is a Monarch and Kator is a Hegemon, and thus Toss ranks above Kator in the chain of command. "Kator felt his sinews tighten with annoyance, but he complied after rolling his shoulder to indicate his displeasure at having the order subverted. Toss was in his right to be curious, but the chain of command couldn't be forgotten. Especially considering the extent to which his mission had been micromanaged from the command crypts in the depths of the White Sky Gorge. Rank trumps fate, they said."
chem
2023-06-28 23:03:36 +0000 UTCIt's "said" The only real information on the first defier is that he existed and reached the peak but nothing else is known; its rumored he reached the peak in 100 years or a scant thousand.
Lex Luther S
2023-06-28 21:16:17 +0000 UTCRemember it’s said the first defier got to the peak in a century I would be surprised since his luck is so much higher it accelerates his progress
frankie doerr
2023-06-28 21:05:54 +0000 UTCDon't say that we need that alchemist & Zac to be introduced to the family Poison Master
ItWasIDIO!!
2023-06-28 20:44:47 +0000 UTCWell damn I see after all this is said and done more than likely Zac won't have backers unless he gets his hands on some leverage hollow court *wink* *wink* & ya like Juan(👆👆) said the next Uona is in the making
ItWasIDIO!!
2023-06-28 20:42:57 +0000 UTCThey're also the fifth divine race, the Founders.
Natbite
2023-06-28 20:31:23 +0000 UTCThe Heart of Death is the Eternal Heritage of the Undead Empire
Hartmann
2023-06-28 20:19:23 +0000 UTCThey are also the same race as the Primo I believe. How they live forever is a mystery, maybe they don’t live forever but limit there number to 108 for reasons…
Jeffrey Worrall
2023-06-28 20:09:56 +0000 UTCI think its interesting that the draugr seem to need less war then all the other races because of the lake. The primo giving them some preferential treatment because of the lakes emissions helping power the heart of the Empire.
Justin van mele
2023-06-28 19:57:01 +0000 UTCThanks for the chapter.
Joshua Little
2023-06-28 19:53:47 +0000 UTCSeems like some commenters did not understand the 2 tigers one mountain line. Kator is setting himself up to die sooner rather than later.
Talen Drake
2023-06-28 19:51:39 +0000 UTCSo if I understand this correctly, the Heart of Darkness is the Hollow Court prize. It feeds on Death. I can foresee the undead betraying Arcaz only to be saved by Zac, kinda like how he saved Catheya from the paralyzing effect of those flowers in the Twilight Harbor. Well maybe Zac won't save their whole team. Maybe just Kator as he confesses the undead's schemes before he thinks he's going to die. Zac saving him could make him an ally as Zac, in a moment of friendship, encourages Kator to become the Grand Marshall.
Mike Naka
2023-06-28 19:48:38 +0000 UTCIt would be great if he freed the entire draugr race and gained the Atwood empire some real allies instead of just trade partners. The draugr and Tayn factions would be great deterrents for any hostile supremacies as Zach steps into Monarchy.
Dylan Sutton
2023-06-28 19:45:40 +0000 UTCYes @Ryan I corrected, dam autocorrect keept replacing my choice:(
Stefan Muntean
2023-06-28 19:45:19 +0000 UTCSame but mostly because all these character names blend together and I forget how everyone is connected on the Undead Empire side of things. Ah well, I get the broad strokes!
Ryan
2023-06-28 19:44:48 +0000 UTCJuly?? 🤨
Ryan
2023-06-28 19:43:15 +0000 UTCJuly, dam it I meant July month cliff lol
Stefan Muntean
2023-06-28 19:41:30 +0000 UTCI'd say the conscious mind is fanatically paranoid, but thats a good thing when everyone is out to get you
Lucas Gulick
2023-06-28 19:39:35 +0000 UTCI hate those Julie cliffs!! But Julie's are not nearly as bad as Karens.😁
PatienceHoney
2023-06-28 19:35:36 +0000 UTCZacs plan is to Absecond with the item amd trade it to tbe primo for amnesty and the other races leaving him alone, normally I'd say he'd fail at it but Esmeralda will be with him at that time and she'll definitely be able to yonk it right from under their noses. Picture it, both zacs are in the trial and kator turns on the others to aquire the item and as the stand off happens, a Croak sound throughout the room containing the item, they all turn and see a massive toad holding said item to then dissappear In a puff of smoke completely screwing over the reavers and their scheme. As fir the karmic debt, I'm certain the primo will realize there's no karma between them but with the zecia sector sealed and zacs planet hidden, I imagine the primo wouldn't mind making a deal in exchange for it, especially if it's something as simple as "Other divine races leave me and my people and loved ones alone" with maybe a peak C grade ship and other resources thrown in.
Lex Luther S
2023-06-28 19:34:08 +0000 UTCOhhhhh now that would be entertaining. Seeing kator and ogras as zacs generals while tailing behind him to pick up the scraps he leaves about bickering the whole time.
Lex Luther S
2023-06-28 19:28:22 +0000 UTCVerun probably likes Miracle Bones as well as Vampire Blood :)
Johnny_B
2023-06-28 19:24:45 +0000 UTCI have no idea what is going on and I am loving it
Tommy
2023-06-28 19:23:08 +0000 UTCZacs sister isn't in the eternal storm. She's at the 6 profundities empire. Certainly, zac has some way he's going to help kenzie and ruin his mothers plans, but when has anything ever gone zacs way? Realistically zac won't be able to help kenzie till he's at least an Autarch; as for that seal in the Abyssal lake, zac will likely need to be an Autarch for it to be unsealed as Autarchy is what's required to be able to fully pass on a bloodlines full inheritance, as for zac taking half the time as others I rather doubt that, even if he can get all the resources he needs and energy he requires for levels, he spent almost 20 years(time chambers included) in the E grade. I don't doubt it'll be at least 5 times that for D grade with it probably being 10 times the D grades time for C grade as C grade items are no where near as common and with zac needing far more resources than even a monster like Iz, including dao treasures, it'll be harder to progress especially because he's going to be progressing two bodies till the peak.
Lex Luther S
2023-06-28 19:21:31 +0000 UTCSounds like Kator is trying to earn himself the role of "Next Uona". Interesting that 3 of the races (and one being the vampires is not shocking at all) are planning to rebel against the Primo - guess the Commandments aren't as ironclad as believed (yay! Means theres hope of Zac freeing Catheya from them!). Also sounds like the Primo getting his item back would be a bad thing, so theres the path set for Zac to explode it or use it for himself now and place him at odds with the Primo lol.
Juan Hasbun
2023-06-28 19:10:27 +0000 UTCFrom what I gather, the revenant is your standard zombie basically. Then you got the ghosts like Zac's butler guy. Then corpselords who are revenants that replace some then limbs with other monster limbs
Shawn Lockhart
2023-06-28 19:06:16 +0000 UTCEssentially a zombie but with sentience. So a turned Living or someone born to turned parents. In contrast to Corpselords that are sewn together parts from multiple entities the Revenant is created from a mostly intact corpse.
Hartmann
2023-06-28 19:04:30 +0000 UTCCan someone explain what a revenant is?
Ryan Ulrich
2023-06-28 18:57:09 +0000 UTCI wonder what kind of experiment they are conducting. Did they kill poor Boje to transfer his seal?
Johnny_B
2023-06-28 18:46:43 +0000 UTCYeah maybe it's just the reavers ... And the eternal clan ... Maybe the ghost boys who's name I can't remember
Will Banning
2023-06-28 18:46:37 +0000 UTCYup. Something TFD has done well is provide foreshadowing for future arcs and directions. Right now we're doing the local War Arc, which will be followed by the Inheritance Trial in the Left Imperial Palace, and after that it looks like the Search for Sis in the Eternal Storm along with this Heartlands War. (With hidden realms/pocket dimensions/space whales interrupting stuff). Once the local restrictions are lifted, it sounds like the Draugr leaders will want Arcaz to power level enough to obtain what's hidden in the Lake. But that could still be centuries off with Zac needing to reach Monarch or Autarchy to really help. (I mean its zac, so proably less than that).
Chris Fey
2023-06-28 18:38:11 +0000 UTCI smell a honey trap with this new Scholar...
Tyler S.
2023-06-28 18:37:38 +0000 UTCThis chapter proves Zac is not suffering of paranoia but of hyper acute awareness of his surroundings. His subconscious is aware of the dangers even his conscious mind ignores.
Omiso
2023-06-28 18:33:07 +0000 UTCHe honestly seems to get Zac in a way none of the other Undead do. I hope Zac kicks his ass enough that he'll go the Ogras route and decide eating Zac's leftovers is still a banquet.
Chris Fey
2023-06-28 18:31:24 +0000 UTCThey are the Primo Inner circle, not much has been mentioned about them except they manage the laws that bind the whole empire in the Primo's place.
Omiso
2023-06-28 18:28:40 +0000 UTCBeing shielded from Karmic links is a double edged sword, is it not? On the one side he is shielded from the izh'Rak scheme but wouldn't his help in the inheritance cause an enormous Karmic debt from the Primo? Anyways he will wreck all plans so might as well take what he gets.
Robert Gami
2023-06-28 18:22:55 +0000 UTCOk I want Kator to become a new Ogras after he gets beat up. Guy simply seems to get Zac in a way no one else does. And watching Ogras be jealous has always been some of the best comedy.
Chris Fey
2023-06-28 18:22:37 +0000 UTCWho are the eternal 108
jordan
2023-06-28 18:22:18 +0000 UTCWell now, seems war across the whole multiverse is soon to break out. Worrisome Worrisome; it seems zacs going to have one hell of a fight on his hands the coming years and with civil war brewing in the undead empire heartlands and knowledge that the draugr Supremacies harmed themselves to aid zac, I cant help but worry for the draugr race as well. It's funny how this political play makes me angry at the reavers, hive mind and eternal clan while I'm rooting for the draugr and eternal 108 when all they're doing is, well doing what the draugr and other races would do in their situation.
Lex Luther S
2023-06-28 18:20:55 +0000 UTCI can’t tell whether I like Kator or not. On one hand he might try to kill Zac, but on the other he doesn’t have any true enmity for him and his goals don’t really contradict Zac’s, so working together could be an option. Basically all of his friends have tried to kill him at some point so this would be a minor hiccup
Tyler smalley
2023-06-28 18:19:21 +0000 UTCmaby not quite anyone I think abysal shores are at least neutral
Frederik
2023-06-28 18:16:05 +0000 UTCInteresting they are trying to form a karmic link to benefit from Zacs providence. Too bad for them he now has shielding against forming new karmic links!
David
2023-06-28 18:15:37 +0000 UTCWow there’s a lot in this chapter. I’m looking forward to when Zac wrecks all their plans. Lol
bltth26
2023-06-28 18:14:41 +0000 UTCGreat chapter! Really enjoyed the Kator POV...
Keith
2023-06-28 18:11:45 +0000 UTCThank you for the chapter. Good to know nothing has changed and Zac can continue treating everyone like an enemy xD Who's this "Scholar Semmel"? Have we heard that name? Makes it sound like it's someone Zac knows or perhaps knew
Will Banning
2023-06-28 18:11:03 +0000 UTCGod dam it! I smell a huge set up for a huge Julie cliff!
Stefan Muntean
2023-06-28 18:10:27 +0000 UTCLove it
Kris Piskorski
2023-06-28 18:05:52 +0000 UTCCrazy stuff
Kris Piskorski
2023-06-28 18:05:48 +0000 UTCTFTC dude!
Naotsugu97
2023-06-28 18:05:11 +0000 UTCThanks
jordan
2023-06-28 17:50:10 +0000 UTCAwesome Thank you for the early chappie
Matt Spratte
2023-06-28 17:48:07 +0000 UTCYay
brian copeland
2023-06-28 17:47:47 +0000 UTCAwesome
Kevin Squalls
2023-06-28 17:47:42 +0000 UTCTyfc
Adam Chandler
2023-06-28 17:47:32 +0000 UTCFirst
Shawn Lockhart
2023-06-28 17:46:33 +0000 UTC
