Defiance of the Fall

Chapter 979: A Dangerous Game

The message stopped playing, leaving a pregnant pause in the room."What a fine mess," Laz Tem'Zul eventually sighed, his eyes turning to Tavza.

He wasn't the only one. Everyone's eyes were on her, expressions ranging from annoyance to bemusement. Furthermore, she'd bet her cultivation that Kator would be grinning ear to ear if the Reavers had expressions to gauge. Tavza took the looks in stride, knowing this day was coming since that little troublemaker had absconded.

"I admit, I did not expect Catheya Sharva'Zi to do something like this," Tavza said. "Being the commanding officer on the excursion, I take responsibility for this situation. However, I cannot help but wonder what would bring the child of Zi to do something like this. She had to know this would damage our undertaking."

Laz nodded in agreement. "It's ultimately the fault of that willful lass we are in this situation. She knew the stakes yet chose to throw a wrench into the machinery."

"She is willful but loyal to the Empire," Enis Umbri'Zi frowned. "Without her, we would not be as well positioned as we are, no matter if it's for the upcoming war or the struggle for the Eternal Heritage. More importantly, she's not so bored she would run for her life, hijacking a vessel. The surveillance arrays can only give one side of the full picture. She clearly feared for her life."

"Why would I kill her for a seal? The net benefit would be zero," Tavza rejected. "If anything, it would be a guaranteed loss. Someone chosen naturally will most likely be more useful inside than someone who had to steal a ticket. And that's not even including the damage to our cooperation agreement. I was rather thinking of putting her under house arrest for the way she pushed beyond her capabilities, almost getting herself killed in

"The space before was sort of a gateway. Starting now, you've entered the real Perennial Vastness, and time moves at ten times the outside speed. This is the energy nimbus surrounding the whole domain. If you want, you can hire a vessel to fly around in it in the future. There are some interesting places hiding inside, but finding them is a matter of fate and chance.

Zac tried sensing anything in the surroundings, but there was just an ocean of energy, no matter how far his consciousness spread. "So what's next?"

"I'm taking you to get your starting kit," Null said. "Then, we'll find a place for you to settle down."

"What about my friends?"

"Space is relative in this place. As soon as you pick a spot, you'll be able to find the others. You will understand soon," Null answered as another gate appeared before them.

The next moment, Zac found himself floating in the center of a huge circular square. It was made from a singular piece of smooth rock and lined with seventeen pillars. Not two pillars looked alike, yet they all emitted unfathomable power. Zac's eyes first turned to a pillar made from twisted steel, looking almost like a thin hurricane covered in runes.

Chaos.

Another was made from innumerable weapons, most of which Zac didn't even recognize. Just looking at it filled Zac with such pressure he was forced to look away lest his soul be lacerated. Others were also easy to understand; the pillar of the Elements or Nature was easy to spot. Others were more mysterious, though Zac had a decent idea of what most represented.

"What's this?" Zac still asked as he looked around.

"This is the most commonly accepted model of the Heavens. Seventeen Peaks of the Grand Dao. The Nine Seals and Eight Thrones," Null said.

"Nine by eight. One destiny," Zac muttered but immediately regretted it.

Two simple sentences and the whole world started heaving.