Zac hadn’t been too bothered by the situation before . These people were powerful , but he was confident in forcing his way out . It was the not-so-subtle threat to Alea that ignited a fire in his chest , and his plans started to shift . These people were asking for a beating , high-echelon or not .
The young lord is giving you an opportunity here , - the Mentalist said , adding gas to the fire . - Don’t lose everything because of your greed . -
You talk about greed while eyeing my stuff? While you threaten my coffin? - Zac said with a steely voice as roiling waves of killing intent poured out of his body .
The lingering mental imprint in the walls was doused and overwhelmed by Zac’s murderous air , and the whole mountain started shaking as Zac no longer restrained his aura . It rose and rose , a storm to match the one raging outside . Even the Mana-empowered domain exuded by the leader was pushed back , and his smiling visage finally changed to one of concentration .
What gives you the confidence? - Zac growled as the rattling of chains started reverberating through the cave . - Your backing? Your Mana? This is what I think of your offer . -
Zac didn’t move to attack . The box in his hands floated into the air , allowing Zac to open it while still holding his axe . Powerful waves of spirituality blended with his killing intent , and Zac pushed down the scenes of carnage that had appeared as he grabbed the lily .
What are you—STOP! - the leader roared , but Zac ignored the man .
The Mentalist had even fewer misgivings , launching an invisible arrow of empowered Mental Energy at Zac . It moved with incredible speed , but Zac didn’t even spare it a glance as he stuffed the flower into his mouth and swallowed . The arrow moved fast , but the chains had formed a nigh-impenetrable web around him . Two Dao-empowered chains lashed the mental attack , each drastically weakening it before it entered his Soul Aperture .
Zac didn’t even need to rely on Indomitable] for protection . The two huge soul spirals were like millstones , pulverizing the attack long before it could cause any damage . Zac barely registered the attack , too swept up in his own world . It was like time had ground to a halt , similar to when he absorbed a new Remnant .
The real reason was because his mind had kicked into overdrive , with hundreds of thoughts firing off in a fraction of a second . In comparison , reality felt extremely slow . The source was the mysterious lily and the almost unfathomable amount of energy it unloaded .
No longer was his Soul Aperture a vast space with two opposing galaxies slowly spinning . His Soul Cores were still there , but they were drowned by millions of different images—nightmares clamoring for attention and Mental Energy . Zac could understand the shock on the Earth cultivator’s face seeing the chaos he’d invited into himself . Almost any cultivator would quickly lose their mind from the onslaught unless their souls were overloaded and collapsed from all the energy first .
However , Zac was no ordinary cultivator . Even in an unstable post-breakthrough state , his soul could match that of elite Peak E-grade Mentalists . Add to that his Heart Cultivation and experience with the Remnants , and he could hold onto his sanity without much effort , even if he temporarily couldn’t stop the odd distortions of reality around him .
His three Dao Avatars lit up , and the galaxies in his mind spun faster . The dreams that got too close were swallowed up and refined into a soothing mist that nurtured his harried cores and aperture . Scars were closing rapidly while the exhausted Spiritual Void] was replenished . Even his vision started to return to normal .
But the Soulhaze Lily] was no common object . It was clearly a D-grade treasure , even if it had lost a good chunk of its spirituality when it came crashing down from the Calamity Mountain . Not even Zac’s appetite was a match to what was offered . Spiritual Void] absorbed all it could , and Void Heart] soon joined in on the feast .
Even then , Zac was forced to continuously release more than 80% of the lily’s stockpiled energies through his pores , creating a shimmering shroud around him . Only then did his overdrawn mind settle somewhat . Zac felt like someone had pressed play on reality again as his perception of time returned to normal .
Seize him! He might really have the core , but he’s out of his mind! He can’t be allowed to destroy that thing as well! - the leader swore , and four powerful auras spread out .
Zac only snorted as one domain after another was activated . The shimmering haze of mind-bending madness was joined by the Miasmic mist of Fields of Despair] and the corrosive darkness of Deathmark] . And even that wasn’t the end . The whole cave shook as a deathly river lined its walls and transformed their surroundings , as though they’d been dragged into the underworld .
A pillar radiating despair and finality rose from the ground , and thousands of anguished faces voicelessly screamed with desolation . Space itself bent and expanded to accommodate the hundred meter tall pillar . A wave of hollowness swept through his mind as the last embers of Oblivion Energy were used for kindling the beacon of Oblivion atop Pillar of Desolation] .
It didn’t matter . After using almost all of it in his breakthrough , he had far too little remaining to create an Annihilation Sphere . Using what was left to activate his most powerful skill was a worthy investment . The orb of ultimate darkness ignited . Its size hadn’t increased since Zac managed to push the skill to Late Mastery , but it had gained a halo of despair .
The halo spread millions of invisible tendrils through the cage , annihilating all clashing energies it encountered . Zac himself faded , his presence erased within the cloak of destruction rippling out from the tower . And as soon as the pillar formed , one chain after another shot out while expressions of hunger appeared on the pillar’s statues .
A battle was inevitable , and Zac had opted for shock and awe . However , these people weren’t some random grunts . Not one showed any fear , though their lazy and confident expressions were long since wiped away . One by one , their auras erupted , creating a counterweight to Zac’s interlaced domains .
Interestingly , each aura had an earthy tone that matched the leader’s . Even the Mentalist had an Earth-based Dao Branch . Zac expected to see complementing elements from the Peak of Grand Materia , but they were a specialized squad . It became increasingly apparent why these people wanted the Mountain Heart , even if it was attuned to Life and Death .
The leader of the four had the greatest aura , and Zac wasn’t surprised to sense it was a match to Uona’s in raw force alone . Bolstered by his seventh-echelon Mana , a zone bereft of Life and Death had formed within ten meters . The fundamental laws had subtly shifted in his vicinity . Only the Daos sanctioned by his path would function properly ; everything else would be suppressed .
It was like a weaker version of his Void Zone] , but that wasn’t enough to make Zac back down . So what if the enemies had some advantages in that regard? He wasn’t the same person who fought Uona all those years ago , and the vast amounts of Pure Death in the Calamity gave him a home-field advantage .
Even now , large amounts of Death-attuned Energy were entering the cave to join Pillar of Desolation]’s deathly river . Some Life entered as well , but the cave acted as a filter .
Azra formation! - the leader shouted as four axe-wielding wraiths were crushed by his aura alone .
A huge mountain appeared above his head , its height a match to Pillar of Desolation] . It fused with the Mana domain , creating a safe haven from Zac’s overlapping skills . Simultaneously , he felt an incredible pressure on his cage . The floating mountain had created a resonance with the mountain they stood inside , and the cave suddenly felt like a maw that tried to close and crush his skill .