Chapter 1,018.
Added 2023-02-07 18:24:34 +0000 UTCThe cold no longer felt as invasive as Catheya led Zac toward one of the outermost pagodas.
"This region is called Tears of Belsim," Catheya said. "According to legend—"
"What legend?" Zac said with confusion. "Was this a part of the empire before?"
"How could it be? You know, there is a lot of information in the libraries. Maybe if you stopped swinging your axe for a moment..." Catheya smiled.
"I've been planning to get around to those scrolls," Zac coughed.
"Anyway. According to legend, Belsim was a spirit born from a supreme natural treasure. The day it awoke, the whole world froze over. The civilizations which lived on the planet were extinguished, and not even the ancestors could avoid their demise.
"Belsim didn't know any of this. It was innocent to the ways of the world. It didn't understand its birth had come at the cost of billions of lives. But as it grew older, the spirit started to wish for more. It left its birthplace, traveling across the world of ice and death. Wherever it went, it felt echoes of itself.
"First, Belsim didn't think there was anything odd with it. It was one with the land, so it was natural for it to sense its Dao in the ground and air. But then, it found the civilizations. Whole cities of small beings frozen in place, their citizens filled with death and resentment. Places that weren't meant to have Belsim's mark.
"Eventually, Belsim figured out what had happened. The price of its becoming. It tried to fix what it had done, absorbing the energy it had imposed on the small creatures. It wasn't enough. Then, it swallowed the death of a world and was indelibly transformed. But that only meant the small creatures had become hollow husks without energy. Those people were gone forever. These ponds are the tears Belsim shed as they realized there was nothing they could do."
"That’s…" Zac hesitated.
"I'm sorry, that's a bit heavy," Catheya coughed as she led him into the leftmost pagoda. "Come, let me show you something else."
A familiar wall filled with scrolls lined the inner wall, while the rest of the interiors looked like a living room. The interiors didn't mirror the cold and blue of the outside world and were instead filled with warmth and color. A series of intricately woven rugs covered the ground, hiding the cold hard stone beneath. They reminded Zac of a Bedouin tent, though the room had classical furniture.
There were reading nooks and sofas, all of them in warm colors. The scene was quite different from what he'd expected as Zac remembered how Catheya usually formed ice furniture for herself and a stark juxtaposition to the cold palette outside. The walls were no exception to the decoration. Over a dozen paintings covered the walls, all painted with stark colors and bold strokes.
They initially seemed like abstract splashes of color, but Zac soon stopped and looked to the side. It was a painting dominated by splotches of angry red, with accompanying details of deep blue, gold, and purple. Something about it was drawing him in, and a few seconds passed until he realized there was order to the madness.
After a few more seconds, he felt the scene shift. The red splotches were no longer dots of paint but rustling leaves of tree crowns. Gold rivers ran between the trees, all under a purple sky dominated by blue flying creatures.
"This is?" Zac asked curiously as he walked over.
"A small hobby of mine," Catheya smiled as she walked up next to Zac. "This is an unstable realm I visited inside the Million Gates Territory. The moment I stepped through the spatial rift, I knew it would make a great painting."
"You painted all of these?" Zac said with surprise.
"Of course," Catheya said. "I'm not sure how you're able to keep constantly pushing forward. Most of us need outlets to decompress. This is something I learned from my mother."
"Your mother? I think that's the first time you mention her?"
"She's from a distant subsidiary branch of Sharva'Zi. She and my father had a short romance when he emerged from secluded cultivation. They met when he saw her paint a mountain range. When I was born, I was lucky enough to have a strong mark of Zi even though my mother's weak heritage. So I became an official daughter of the main clan."
"If you hadn't had the bloodline?"
"Then I would have lived with my mother's branch, though my father's identity would likely have resulted in me getting adopted by the clan leader," Catheya shrugged. "I still visit when I get the chance."
Zac hummed and looked around. Draugr society was mostly similar to what he was used to, but there were some distinct differences. Marriages were uncommon and almost only took place between Dao Partners. Perhaps it made more sense. Until death do us part had a completely different meaning when some lived for millions of years.
It was more common to have shorter trysts between cultivation sessions or missions, and those affairs occasionally resulted in children being born. Of course, this was mainly for Hegemons and higher. Those stuck in the lower grades had more traditional family structures.
Catheya's situation was pretty normal, though the difference in status between her parents seemed unusually large. Bloodline decided which clan the offspring would be part of, though there were rare exceptions. For example, if Catheya's father had wanted to adopt his daughter even if she was born with the lower bloodline, he probably could've.
By the sound of it, her parents were no longer together, which meant Catheya's mother would have returned to her clan. Perhaps the two split when Catheya was young, which would explain why Catheya still had a connection with her even though their bloodlines didn't match. Many parents severed their connection shortly after birth if their bloodlines didn't match.
Ultimately, the clan was considered the true family unit, and being a father or mother was not seen as very important. It all felt a bit foreign to Zac, but it was quite normal compared to some societies he'd read about over the past years.
"What about you?"
"Me?" Zac said, hesitating a bit. "My dad died during the first month of the Integration. He was a mortal like me, but we were split ut. He was killed when the batch of cultivators returned from the tutorial. My mother died when I was young. My sister... died a few years after the Integration. Only me left now."
"I'm sorry..." Catheya sighed as she placed her hand on his arm.
Zac gave her a weak smile before turning to another painting. It almost looked like a starry sky partly shrouded by an ethereal haze. It was beautiful but gave off a sense of danger. Zac immediately recognized the scene. "The Vigorbloom Lilacs."
"That's where I got o know you. Well, some of your secrets, at least."
"It's beautiful," Zac smiled. "You're really good."
"You can't have it," Catheya grinned.
"I wasn't fishing or anything," Zac assured, though he muttered under his breath. "Stingy."
"I'll paint you something else," Catheya laughed. "Come."
The two toured one building after another, where Catheya excitedly showed off interesting plants she'd trapped in ice or paintings of her visits. Eventually, they reached a padded bench overlooking the mysterious pond at the foot of the hill, where a bottle and two glasses already stood waiting on a table. The two sat down next to each other, and Zac's mind shuddered as he felt a brief bout of deja vu.
The view was completely different to back home, but the situation was still reminiscent of those mornings he'd shared with Thea in his pergola. He didn't push the thoughts aside but let them pass on their own. More than a decade had passed since then, and Zac knew he had to let go and move on. Doing so didn't mean he'd forgiven his mother or forgotten his goals. It meant he would look ahead instead of being trapped in the past.
"By the way, how's the kernel?" Zac asked. "No problems, right?"
"It's the opposite, really," Catheya said as she poured Zac a glass. "It's amazing. It almost feels like I have another Hidden Node. Energy flows smoother, and the Dao feels clearer. It's a shame it'll be gone after I form my Cosmic Core."
"Who knows, it might have lasting effects," Zac mused.
"Really?"
"Well, they felt a lot more powerful than normal kernels. They might permanently improve your affinity."
"Then it'd be the second time you got me something that raises my talent," Catheya said as she looked deeply into Zac's eyes. "My fate really has been sent off-kilter by you."
Zac's mouth opened, but his mind went blank.
"It's quite the view. This place really is perfect for you," Zac coughed after a few seconds of awkward silence. "You were a lot smarter than me when picking your home base."
Zac had expected Catheya to use the prompt to explain the mysterious pond beyond its mythological origin. Still, he was surprised to find her smile turn crooked as some sorrow appeared in Catheya's eyes.
"Perfect for me," Catheya sighed.
"What's wrong?"
Catheya didn't move for a few seconds before answering.
"I was born with a great affinity to Ice and Death, so my father entrusted me to his friend who walked a similar path. I've lived and cultivated within environments such as this all my life. It's, as you say, perfect for me. But it sometimes feels like a prison.
"The Perennial Vastness is a gateway to all kinds of wonders. There are thousands of worlds holding environments I didn't even know existed. Yet I'll have to keep going back to the worlds of Ice and Death. The rest is hostile to me, in a way I don't think you living understand." Catheya said, shaking her head when Zac was about to interject. "I can tell you don't really feel the suppression like I do. Some places are so damaging I can feel my body dying unless I actively resist with beacons or Miasma Crystals. I'm relegated to a corner of the Heavens.
"Maybe that's why that story with the Belsim resonated with me."
"I'm sorry, I—" Zac said, but Catheya shook her head as she placed her hand on his.
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't complain. I know I'm far better off than most. Staying in the Perennial Vastness is just a constant reminder of how we are outsiders."
"Well, how about this?" Zac said after some thought. "I'll sneak into the Heart of the Empire when I visit. That place probably has all kinds of good things. Finding something that will allow you to travel the Multiverse shouldn't be too hard."
"You'll fight the Primo and steal his stuff for me?" Catheya grinned.
"He can try to stop me, but I've gotten pretty good at blowing up stuff and creating a mess," Zac winked.
Catheya laughed before leaning her head against his shoulder. "Then I'll be waiting."
The two were content sitting like that for a minute until Catheya spoke up again. "What will you do next?"
"I got a treasure in the inheritance that needs to be fed with treasures from all Dao Peaks, so I'll be visiting one Red Zone after another," Zac sighed. "It's weird. I was ahead of schedule, but now I feel I'm somehow behind again."
"When are you setting out?"
"I..." Zac said as he looked down at catheya. "Uh... Maybe tomorrow?"
A mischievous smile appeared on her face as she stood up. "Come, there's one more thing I want to show you."
--------------------------
Zac grunted as he slowly heaved himself up the ledge, his muscles shuddering from the exertion. His fingers were slick with sweat, but the rough rocks were thankfully providing enough purchase to avoid falling. Just two hours, and he felt as though he'd been fighting for his life ten days and ten nights straight. Yet when looking down, he saw he'd only managed to ascend a few thousand meters. Barely enough to make a dent.
By this point, the sun was high in the sky, drowning the sharp peak in light. When he arrived, the sun had just appeared on the horizon. There was no warmth to the light like a normal sun, but neither was there anything else. It was just pure light containing an invasive and unyielding force. Zac tried to resist it the best he could, but not even [Void Zone] worked against the rays. It was like the light had a physical characteristic, glomming onto him and weighing him down.
As if the intense gravity of the mountain needed any help making his life miserable. And it would only get worse from here. Soon, the light would be replaced by darkness. Active darkness, and not just the absence of the sun. It would pour onto him just like the light now was, putting even greater restrictions on his body. This was the true danger of the Imperial Spire. The longer you stayed, the more cycles of light and darkness you'd experience. Each cycle would tack on the weight you experienced, and there was no way to cleanse it except to leave the region.
If you were too slow, the weight would overwhelm you before you reached the upper reaches where the treasures waited. And if you weren't careful, you could find yourself stuck. Gravity increased the further you climbed, and the cycles of light and darkness would continuously worsen the situation. It was easy to reach a point where you didn't have the strength to descend the mountain safely. Just breaking a few bones was the least of your worries. There was a real risk of being turned into meat paste on the mountain slopes.
Zac looked up at the almost vertical peak, sweat pouring down his face. Still a long, long way to go before he reached his target.
[Red Mission: Extract Revolution Orbs from the Imperial Spire. Bounty: 200 Mana per extracted Revolution Orb. Orbs must be fully removed from the Imperial Spire to be considered extracted. Maximum Participants: 1. NOTE: Multiple guests can accept this mission.]
The [Revolution Orbs] didn't have anything to do with overthrowing the unnamed emperor after which this mountain was named. They were Natural Treasures formed by the revolution of light and darkness that kept him and all other guests on their toes. Just as the revolutions left some mysterious energy on his body, so did they leave behind energies on the mountain itself.
Sometimes, these energies turned into [Revolution Orbs]—treasures encompassing all three major directions of the Peak of Taiji. And the target for Zac, who hoped to kill two birds with one stone. Earn some Mana and feed his Omnitool, which apparently was the real name of the hammer pick floating around in his mind.
This was the first Peak he targeted, even before going after the supreme treasures of his path. It would have been easier to target those two, but it wasn't convenient right now. For chaos, there was the Calamity, but that region was still in flux. And since Zac needed to return later to pick up the Remnants anyway, there was no point in heading to a similar zone.
As for the Peak of Conflict, he didn't have access. There were two good options, both of which were ancient battlefields. However, they contained such dangerous lingering resentment that one required the fourth echelon to access and the other the eighth. There were less dangerous places as well, but visiting those felt like a waste of time. He had reached the third echelon just this month, though, so he was still some ways off.
That left him with the Imperial Spire. It wasn't by no means the easiest or safest of the Red Zones, but he had an inherent advantage. Apparently, most living races had an advantage when climbing under the light, while they faced incredible suppression in darkness. Conversely, undead, most golemoids, and some other species could make swift progress in the dark, relatively speaking, while they suffered under the light.
So someone like him could keep going without suffering the full weight of the zone.
Zac kept going, climbing higher and higher. Neither Vivi nor Alea was much help. They barely managed to raise their tendrils against the gravity, and the extra weight of the two made climbing even harder. So Alea returned to her necklace form while Vivi retracted all but a bulbous flower that soaked in the light.
Skills were no good either. For one, the gravity was so overbearing even his Cosmic Energy was suppressed. He had narrowly managed to activate his skills, but [Ancestral Forest] instantly failed, and [Earthstrider] only moved him a few meters at the cost of almost killing him. He didn't even dare try [Abyssal Phase] under this suppression.
Thankfully, [Void Zone] was able to give Zac the occasional breather. And with his enormous pool of Strength, he covered more ground in a single light cycle than most did in five. Soon, night arrived, and Zac wordlessly swapped over to his Draugr form on a ledge and kept going. Four days passed this way until Zac finally saw a blast of light from a ledge above. The scene filled Zac's exhausted body with newfound strength, and he swiftly crossed the final stretch.
It was lying there right in the open—a grey pearl containing an immense sense of weight. It occasionally emitted bursts of intense darkness or light, which was what he'd seen before. Zac walked over and almost stumbled upon feeling the intense gravity zone the orb had created.
"Holy crap," Zac grunted, feeling like he would slip a disk when lifting the fist-sized orb.
It dislodged the natural formation that kept all [Revolution Orbs]spatially locked, but it didn't do much to help with the weight. He knew he couldn't put it down. According to Null, it would fuse with the mountain if he did, so he desperately held on with his right hand as the Omnitool appeared in his left.
Zac lightly tapped the hammer against the orb according to a set pattern. There was no response. Zac tried a few more times, but the orb was about to slip out of his grasp. He recalled the tool with a sigh before stowing away the [Revolution Orb] in a spare high-quality spatial ring. Those things were so heavy they could damage the subspace of the Spatial Tools they were in. His main ring was probably sturdy enough, but why take the risk?
He had reached the altitude where the [Revolution Orbs] started to appear. The conventional method to finish his quest would be climbing sideways in search of more orbs. When you could no longer endure the layers of light and dark, you'd descend with your haul. But Zac's gaze turned upward. The Omnitool didn't want [Revolution Orbs], but nothing said the orbs were the only things that could appear on the mountain.
The best things were no doubt at the peak.
Comments
No I agree lol that's facts 🤣 but the monk thing is finally behind us at last and that has me stoked for whats next
2023-03-12 23:55:27 +0000 UTCSure, but I don't think that would add anything to the story. As long as it's all off camera it'd be fine. I, for one, don't want entire chapters dedicated to Zac's romantic life. *cringe* That is not what I signed up for 1000 chapters ago.
Eidetic Eidolon
2023-03-12 23:00:06 +0000 UTCI understand that he's constantly progressing and basically manically advancing but I can't help but feel the story is lacking in the love aspect I would love for zac to actually own who he is (lord fucking Atwood ) and tag some beaver even ogras in the tower of eternity had a cool morning after moment
2023-02-27 04:18:34 +0000 UTCThanks for the wonderful chapter, i wonder what catheya will think of earth and how zach is changing it if she ever visits.
2023-02-09 21:08:02 +0000 UTCthat's what Catheya said after Zac strode off to find more 'treasures'
Mike Naka
2023-02-08 20:00:26 +0000 UTCSame here 😅
Jack Trowell
2023-02-08 19:51:27 +0000 UTCmy poor f5 button.
Indy
2023-02-08 19:50:50 +0000 UTCI think you only remember the core formation and cultivation. He was very dure his identity was not going to be revealed or what he did unless he met those involved and had many fate strings. There are no more w8de known events in the horizon where they can meet
Francisco Rosado
2023-02-08 19:47:26 +0000 UTCI think you get to keep your memories you just can't reveal anything about the PV or people within. Otherwise you could lose critical developments on your path
Lucas Gulick
2023-02-08 19:40:38 +0000 UTCMaybe 200 until Ultom. Still has the war, and finding the rest of the seals, before that but after PV.
Michael Fannon
2023-02-08 19:37:24 +0000 UTCExcellent point, Lex. I'd forgotten about not being able to advance without choosing a class. Given that the PV is run by the system, he'll almost certainly be able to select it there!
Mark Thorne
2023-02-08 19:32:51 +0000 UTCYeahh not looking forward to see eeevery peak. I dont mind him taking his time and enjoyinh his adventures specially if he is finallt getting some :) it would be a great chance to meet Thea or his sister and then not remembering them when he gets out
Francisco Rosado
2023-02-08 18:39:40 +0000 UTCVentus was the numerologist?
Jenozie
2023-02-08 18:23:19 +0000 UTC@Lex Totally agree maybe throw in a chapter or to to show the progress outside and im happy. We're on the 3rd mana mission (shown) and if we get only one more where he finds the conflict treasure im happy
Jenozie
2023-02-08 18:18:43 +0000 UTCI woulf add that I would like to see the 8th grade war realm. I am curious what that kind of place is since it requires such an overwhelming amount if mana even to enter. Though I think poor Ventus is getting shafted.
The Lost Pages
2023-02-08 18:11:41 +0000 UTCYep agreed
night hawk
2023-02-08 17:35:35 +0000 UTCYeah no, explaining the formation process is fine and dandy but showing EVERY single red zone along with all the treasures would extend this arc WAY over its stay limit and while its been fun seeing zac get these last bits of power boosts before his ascension; it's still way overdue that zac reaches Hegemony and showing all but what's needed for PV is benign bullshit that has little baring on the future. Show him getting the remnants. Show him breaking that attempt on his spot for Ultom by that princess. Show him getting those fate altering beads and show him completing the Omni-tool and either show or mention zac reforging surging vitality and creating the 4th layer to his body tempering manual And finally, show him get the last finishing touches on the mana level he wants. Then, finally, show zac picking his classes and then forming his core
Lex Luther S
2023-02-08 17:25:56 +0000 UTCI wouldn't be against him finding some great treasures to upgrade his weapons or his people. Or to just make a whole bunch of money.
2023-02-08 17:03:47 +0000 UTCIt wasn't meant as a complaint (at least for me), I'm just excited that we are closing in on Zac reaching D-grade. And yeah as long as the stories are good, I dont mind a few chapters more either, but realisticly there is only so much you can tell in PV before it gets repetitive (I only need to see a few mana missions and skip the rest for example)
Jenozie
2023-02-08 16:59:40 +0000 UTCListening to the book 8 audio book and comparing Cat and Zac interactions from then to now really shows how much their relationship has changed and grown over the years.
2023-02-08 16:54:04 +0000 UTCZacs journey and not the final result is whats most enjoyable. We were previously told that only the most talented reach hegemony, and even then, there are few guarantees. We know Zacs journey is harder than most, and I would rather get a well explained process that shows us why hes the best and most deserving of being the best, than a rush towards him forming the core and starting the war ark.
Rouslan Tourtsev
2023-02-08 16:45:15 +0000 UTCI recon 30 or so chapters to go....... man, this is going to feel like forever😭😭
Lex Luther S
2023-02-08 16:41:06 +0000 UTCThat was his 4th point.
Lex Luther S
2023-02-08 16:40:20 +0000 UTCLooks like a lot of people are complaining about how long the PV arc will take. I want him to form his core too. However, as long as he is making progress I am all about it, and he has made huge progress since entering. I have been very entertained. How long can the progress last? Who knows, but if he keeps making gains and it takes 50 chapters then that's fine by me. It's all about that progress
2023-02-08 16:29:16 +0000 UTCFor my own two cents, I suspect the faction trying to take his spot in Ultom and the coalition that was hassling Catheya will team up to go after him when he tries to get the Remnants and wind up on the receiving end of a Glimpse of Chaos. OR the Glimpse of Chaos is fed to the Omnitool in lieu of another treasure from the Calamity idk. Also expecting at least one more (maybe very brief) interaction with Asta Ar or the statue-like cultivator.
Michael Flattery
2023-02-08 16:15:32 +0000 UTCI mean, she has a ship, I’m sure with Zac’s help she can make it to Earth.
Eloren Koori
2023-02-08 15:04:49 +0000 UTCHe will have to have a final showdown with the one group of douchebags that he faced off with as soon as he got there.
Kalthandrix
2023-02-08 15:00:03 +0000 UTCThea might not even see Zac in that way anymore. It’s been years, and they have both changed drastically. Don’t get me wrong, it will still be interesting and emotionally charged, but they could meet on different sides in Ultom.
Eloren Koori
2023-02-08 15:00:01 +0000 UTCAlso the conflict with the chick that wants to steal Zac’s Flamebearer status.
Eloren Koori
2023-02-08 14:55:01 +0000 UTCI bet they find that one chicks uncle that took her eyes during the war.
Eloren Koori
2023-02-08 14:46:20 +0000 UTCThere is a faction trying to kill him for his spot as a flamebarer, I assumed that was your #4. That should be a separate event from dominating his mountain, stealing the fate treasure and forming his core. Which could all be considered one event depending on when it occurs.
Don Cummins
2023-02-08 14:36:42 +0000 UTCI dont think so, not more than 50ish chapters, that is unless a new major story arc gets introduced in PV, because there isnt all that much to wrap up before Zac can form his core
Jenozie
2023-02-08 14:00:29 +0000 UTCThats what I meant with my 4th point :) Or is there another plot that I have forgotten about?
Jenozie
2023-02-08 13:57:12 +0000 UTCYou forgot his quest to dominate his mountain and change it to his path, and steal the fate treasure there.
Merc715
2023-02-08 13:55:37 +0000 UTCLooks like it'll be another 200 chapters until Zac forms his core
Anomander Rake
2023-02-08 13:50:10 +0000 UTC10 years in PV equals 1 year real time.
Lex Luther S
2023-02-08 10:35:52 +0000 UTCI imagine it'll be in the mansion as one can't ascend without choosing a class, if I remember correctly, at the least. After all, how were those in the orom world able to make their cores and worlds while gaining clases without access to a nexus node?? I imagine that was only needed because zac had yet to reach planet lord status and was still contending against invaders or the System just being a dick to zac for his heritage.
Lex Luther S
2023-02-08 10:35:18 +0000 UTCBut he Still has 2 classes, and compared to when he went to the E grade; zac has a lot more achievements under his belt along with understanding his path extremely well, so he'll likely end up with both as Arcane.
Lex Luther S
2023-02-08 10:33:05 +0000 UTCWe should be very close to forming Zacs core now. We only have 4 or so story arcs in PV that are still open if im not mistaken. 1) Go to the 17 peaks for his new Tool 2) Find a treasure of conflict for his core 3) Grab the 4th set of oblivion/creation 4) The plot for his spot as flamebarer So probably a mission or two, then the plot, timeskip and maybe another mission (Conflict treasure?) and then the 4th set. That should 4+ years or so if he goes for the red missions every 2 or 3 months. Put in an interlude for what going on on the outside and we can skip mana gathering to arrive at the actucal core for mation. Or possibly the 4th set just before his core formation?
Jenozie
2023-02-08 10:32:55 +0000 UTCalea for void seems fitting
Thenais
2023-02-08 06:31:08 +0000 UTCDon’t want to lose the PG12 rating
Thenais
2023-02-08 05:25:16 +0000 UTCWhen he exits PV I'd assume he gets returned home where there is already an enhanced node...shouldn't be long, I'd hope.
Mark Thorne
2023-02-08 04:45:34 +0000 UTCArcane is the penultimate (as far as we know) class choice. From what Catheya advised Zac back in the tower, it represents a determined path. I'm curious if Zac will choose to take them. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if he only had 1 choice as he essentially has already formed his path.
The Lost Pages
2023-02-08 03:27:24 +0000 UTCVillari personally is one of my favorite characters, I'd love to see her in action at d grade.
EnigmaticOne
2023-02-08 01:38:42 +0000 UTCYea he'll probably need a nexus again. I can't wait to see what his options are. I'm expecting he'll have several choices for unique classes and maybe even something better, though I'm not sure what comes after Unique
Dols1618
2023-02-08 00:55:53 +0000 UTCI think he'll form his core and officially be in the d grade but won't get the class options until he finds a nexus node.
Darnell Maxwell
2023-02-08 00:18:43 +0000 UTCVivi started growing again in the Void Star, when she suddenly started absorbing the Dao of Life. We haven't really heard about her progress since then, though. Maybe he'll find something in the PV that pushes her to evolution. I think Zac has mentioned that he hoped to have the seed act as Earth's protector, if he could evolve Vivi further.
JJ Bb
2023-02-07 23:59:43 +0000 UTCI'm more curious how Zac eventually deals with Thea coming back in his life (that's definitely happening, right?). Was there a chapter in the book of duality on this?
darkkingrayley
2023-02-07 23:46:14 +0000 UTCThat would be a fascinating twist. Considering how intertwined they are, that seems very possible
Hms
2023-02-07 23:41:04 +0000 UTCIts been said to be a 10-1 years
Tyler S.
2023-02-07 23:32:30 +0000 UTCI hope Johanna and villari get to d grade as well although I think they might reach it a wee bit into the war
2023-02-07 23:30:07 +0000 UTCIs time passing in here at the same rate as back on Earth? He looks on track to leave his allies behind in here?
Ryan McCarthy
2023-02-07 23:05:53 +0000 UTCIf you are asking about characters my guess is everyone in Zac circle currently at PV so Zac, Ogras and Catheya will for sure hit D Grade before the war. Maybe Iz Tayn as well. I'll go as far as to say even Emily if she keeps up are break neck pace
Sprightly Ebbie
2023-02-07 22:42:53 +0000 UTCSo do we think when zac makes his core will he still have to go back to a nexus node to choose which classes he will upgrade too or will he get to choose as soon as he makes his core.
2023-02-07 22:39:10 +0000 UTCMy guess is probably not going to happen. The tree woman already told Zac that prolonging Vivi's life would hurt her more. It's why he got the new seed his nurturing to eventually replace vivi with
Sprightly Ebbie
2023-02-07 22:38:46 +0000 UTCAlea = Void? Maybe? TBH, I kinda forgot about her as more than a weapon.
Jules Deathwish
2023-02-07 22:29:41 +0000 UTCThere is also Alea though if/when she is able to become a person again.
InkDevil
2023-02-07 22:20:01 +0000 UTCHis girlfriends seem to be aligning with his path as well. Iz = Life Catheya = Death Thea = Conflict It's to the point that I wonder if it's on purpose or not.
Jules Deathwish
2023-02-07 22:07:43 +0000 UTCTrue! Though that hasn't stopped him from telling ogras about Leandra and her kidnapping his sister. And think he's spent comparable if not more time with Catheya than Ogras by the point ... Main difference being Catheya still has ties to her family/empire while ogras doesn't. Either way I like the implication that he's not ready to bring in more people into that inner circle. Or at least not Catheya
Will Banning
2023-02-07 21:58:04 +0000 UTCI can't help but see the story of belsim as a sort of warning regarding the spirit in ensolus
support!
2023-02-07 21:05:08 +0000 UTCReally appreciate how the author is able to the line with the romance. So many books in this genre morph into an extreme adult novel that takes the harem angle way too far. Think most of us are here for the complex story development and the well thought out twists so it’s nice to see that is staying as the driving force of the story.
Hms
2023-02-07 21:04:58 +0000 UTCWho do you think will be d grade for the war?
2023-02-07 21:03:18 +0000 UTCI like the PV arc. Obviously reading one chapter a day, or less given the last few months, will make the pacing seem off....but I'm also looking forward to seeing Zac hit the next grade. Shiney new classes and stats to rack up!!! Oh...and hopefully he will make a new skill while in PV too. That would be dope. If he is beating early and some mid D-grade now, Zac is going to really bring the hurt when he pops over.
Kalthandrix
2023-02-07 21:00:51 +0000 UTCFusing with? I see it more as a consumption of sorts, so the moon won't be hostile any longer
JoshCalmick
2023-02-07 20:44:51 +0000 UTCthey totally did it :p
Thenais
2023-02-07 20:42:49 +0000 UTCThat’s an interesting point I hadn’t considered. Kudos
FriendorFo
2023-02-07 20:37:09 +0000 UTCMaybe
Aaron Schwartz
2023-02-07 20:32:36 +0000 UTCIt would have been nicer if it had been a bit clearer. There would have been more details if it had been Ogras.
Christian Thomsen
2023-02-07 20:19:20 +0000 UTCI kind of assume it will do the same kind of thing Zac did in the technocrat base. Suck up everything in its wake.
Dan
2023-02-07 20:16:44 +0000 UTCSo about Vivi - does anyone else see her getting a new lease on life by integrating with a certain fugus moon back in the home system?
Sirloki
2023-02-07 20:16:41 +0000 UTCIt's nice seeing an environment based on the Peak of Taiji since that's only recently been described - when Zac was dueling during his first day in Vastness City. I wonder if we'll see the environments for the Stellar Peak and Peak of Impetus too? I'd bet the environment for the Peak of Impetus is probably great for shoring up his soul and heart before getting that fate treasure. Also super curious what the 8 unknown Peaks are - maybe we'll get a summary of what he fed the Omnitool in restrospect?
Michael Flattery
2023-02-07 20:15:20 +0000 UTCI hope our fighring monk got some
Francisco Rosado
2023-02-07 20:14:00 +0000 UTCIt’s pretty clear. We cut away to Zac grunting and heaving in the same way movies from the 1950s would cut away to a train going through a tunnel.
Dan
2023-02-07 20:13:28 +0000 UTCThanks for the chapter.
Joshua Little
2023-02-07 20:03:01 +0000 UTCZac has a lot to do before leaving PV. Unlock all hidden nodes and hopefully fix his void emperor blood line. This needs to be done in the E grade. Also In the Twighlight arc their were 4 title reforge gems and one PV token. If Zac doesn't have some already, he'll just have to get some in PV. Also need a couple chapters with Zac hammering out new Skills. I was hopeing that Catheya had grabed [DeathLock] to gift to Zac in PV. Yeah its another Domain/restriction skill but if Zac can summon ghosts, mist, and an obelisk of death, a graveyard should be par the course.
NeverNaught
2023-02-07 20:02:06 +0000 UTCBENEFITS!!!!
themanthat staresatstripes
2023-02-07 20:00:17 +0000 UTCguess, so at a minimum (with a maximum roughly 5x the low guess), at least 4 chapters for the remnants, 5 for the fate beads, 5 to deal with the princess and any random Ultom related stuff in the PV, 2 chapters to cover non-pv events happening during the year outside of PV, 1 chapters to cover Catheya and Orgas's non-Zac PV adventures, 4 more chapters to cover Omnitool grind (not counting time for the remnants), and then 4 chapters for Zac's core.
Other Tan
2023-02-07 19:54:44 +0000 UTCGod, I hope not; 30 more chapters till his core formation would be too long, let alone 50 or more
Lex Luther S
2023-02-07 19:49:21 +0000 UTCThere gotta be a limit to how much he trolls us and catheya and given zacs comment on moving on, I feel there's a good chance it happened THOUGH not outright saying it did leaves it in there air till confirmed.
Lex Luther S
2023-02-07 19:47:15 +0000 UTCOh yeah, that mountains gonna die boom!!!
Zachary Blevins
2023-02-07 19:46:12 +0000 UTCWeird way of putting it
luxrus
2023-02-07 19:43:53 +0000 UTCWell, that wasn’t quite fade to Black, but nobody ever called this a romance novel steal I thought we at least get some awkward morning after banter
Zachary Blevins
2023-02-07 19:40:59 +0000 UTCI feel like the next few chapters are going to be Zac suffering a bit in each of the red zones he has to visit.
Mitchell Robert Guza
2023-02-07 19:38:09 +0000 UTCPV can't last that long. For one, we're all ready for zac to reach hegemony; for 2, TFD has commenter on zac and hegemony being overdue, so I feel he'll expedite this arc. For 3, PV is ultimately a Subarc and not the main arc, unlike the Twighlight ascent or lab realmspace, which the main plot point was about. We can't forget that right now, the war arc, Ultom and its trials are the main major arc, and I recon it'll take as long as the integration arc to really finish and flush things out; especially if multiple cycles can be done.
Lex Luther S
2023-02-07 19:37:46 +0000 UTClol yeah
The Lost Pages
2023-02-07 19:30:27 +0000 UTCDoubtful; TFD has mentioned that zac is long due to be a hegemon, so I feel he'll time skip zac going through the various zones while showing us the zone of conflict and the calamity again as he gets the 2 remnants uptop; after that princess thats aiming for his life because of ULTOM and her deathsworn are taken care of because she's made the mistake of targeting chaos incarnate; then we'll likely see a massive time skip with zac getting the finishing touches of mana for his core formation.
Lex Luther S
2023-02-07 19:29:44 +0000 UTCA gentleman never tells...
Andrew Miller
2023-02-07 19:29:27 +0000 UTCNice chapter! I feel the decompression vibe.
Naotsugu97
2023-02-07 19:28:28 +0000 UTCIt’s good to have first world problems! 🤣
Naotsugu97
2023-02-07 19:27:00 +0000 UTCOnly if TFD goes into detail about each zone, I think we're going to get some time jumps. Water for instance poses little threat to Zac since he can't drown while undead and has monstrous constitution to fight against pressure
Lucas Gulick
2023-02-07 19:13:34 +0000 UTCI wonder how he'll break this realm
Ethan Alexander
2023-02-07 19:13:28 +0000 UTCI think that walked a nice balance between vulgarity and prudish literature
Kiwilord
2023-02-07 19:10:47 +0000 UTCI'd almost call it a retcon if he didn't, based on the euphemisms
Kiwilord
2023-02-07 19:07:19 +0000 UTCOk buddy, seeya then I guess
calrodsomething
2023-02-07 19:03:41 +0000 UTCTo be fair, some of his biggest secrets are "I'd have to kill you if I told you" level of secret, and some are even "the System will kill you" level.
Juan Hasbun
2023-02-07 19:00:15 +0000 UTCiirc Earth is now basically two mirrored halves, one entire continent for Life and one for Death, and each one possess all the different Earth climates so there absolutely should be an area thats Ice/Death.
Juan Hasbun
2023-02-07 18:58:38 +0000 UTC(20)first!
Lucas Gulick
2023-02-07 18:56:55 +0000 UTCSo...we will be getting a bit of a training montage of him clearing some zones, but most likely detail chapters of him getting the rements and his conflict treasure. I also imagine we will see some detail on getting the fate treasure and of him getting his fortress (?)...lair...ready. And him getting some benefit from the book. And finally some chapters of him just forming the core (which will more than likely blow up his mountain). I think we got at least another 50 chapters ahead of us, kids. Maybe more.
Kalthandrix
2023-02-07 18:54:58 +0000 UTCAnd if one isn't death attuned want to bet Zac will find a way to make it death attuned
Thomas Todd
2023-02-07 18:54:11 +0000 UTCNice use of euphemism! And also great direction on that whole conversation. I like that you subtle dropped that they're getting closer, but he's still not ready to tell anyone the whole truth about his mom and sister and open himself up. It's very realistic
Will Banning
2023-02-07 18:53:01 +0000 UTCEveryone thinking Zac got some, but I'm thinking you all are underestimating how much of a troll TFD is :')
2023-02-07 18:52:21 +0000 UTCLOL have you forgotten how long the Integration, the Lab Realmspace, Twilight Harbor all took? We'd be lucky if PV was over in just 6 months - if it was fully fleshed out like the other arcs, but I feel this one will be faster than others. I don't think we'll see 17 chapters of zones, some have gotta be easier than others and/or short time skips.
Juan Hasbun
2023-02-07 18:51:23 +0000 UTCSo, I'm just thinking here, but Earth still has 2 ice covered poles right? What are the chances one of those is a death land? Maybe a nice place for Cat to enjoy for a bit?
Michael Fannon
2023-02-07 18:50:16 +0000 UTCSmart Zac. When a woman asks when you're leaving, it's always tomorrow.
Jason Hatter
2023-02-07 18:50:11 +0000 UTCThey definitely did. I’m sure Cat will flirt and reference it in later chapters, making Zac cough and blush and Ogras laugh.
Ryan
2023-02-07 18:47:11 +0000 UTCEven if nothing happened, it was still a point in the Cat/Zac ship. I mean he literally told her he'd beat the shit out of the Undead Empire to "free" her lol.
Juan Hasbun
2023-02-07 18:46:57 +0000 UTCIf it’s going to be 1 chapter per zone, I quit. The plot s crawling at this point. At this rate he will still be in the perennial vastness in 6 months!!
brett simon
2023-02-07 18:46:38 +0000 UTCCath showed him something all right😏. And good for you Zac take care of your girl. Also sucks to be him, having to look for treasures that won't really do anything but make him enemies.
Orims
2023-02-07 18:41:33 +0000 UTCXD yea how much energy would the"omnitool" absorb?
2023-02-07 18:40:15 +0000 UTCOh you know he did
2023-02-07 18:39:41 +0000 UTCAnd there he climbs. Climbing his way to destroy the first out of 17 red zones.
Chemistrywarrior
2023-02-07 18:38:49 +0000 UTCPlease tell me he got a roll in the sheets with catheya 🤞🤞
Lex Luther S
2023-02-07 18:38:11 +0000 UTCAww yisss
2023-02-07 18:30:38 +0000 UTCAha I felt a new chapter release in my bones and I was right!
2023-02-07 18:29:03 +0000 UTCThanks Jeff
One Pump Chump
2023-02-07 18:24:54 +0000 UTCThanks
Kristopher Abraham
2023-02-07 18:24:49 +0000 UTC
