Only question is , can you still fight after dealing with those people you had dangling from your chains? -
Just lead the way , - Zac snorted .
An hour later , an exhausted Zac stood in front of the teleportation pillar , still in his undead form . He and the Noz’Serasta scions had come to an agreement where they’d targeted the Grand Firmament Coalition in an ambush . After a furious battle , two of theirs had fallen while one of their lieutenants had almost been crippled . Whether he’d be able to recover or not was unclear , but they’d failed to prevent him from fleeing back to his mansion .
The vampires had siphoned off some blood of another four , which was the same as stealing a part of their foundations . In exchange , two of their undead followers had racked up some nasty wounds , but they’d recover in a month or two . The clash wasn’t that deadly , but that was the norm . There was no point in fighting to the death for the weaker party , and they’d fled the moment they realized they were outmatched .
Besides , the Grand Firmament Coalition leader , Nerven Serku , wasn’t even there . He’d arrived in the Calamity but opted to take a strike team and head farther into the Calamity in hopes of finding the core . Those who remained were just a backup squad responsible for gathering intelligence and ambushing solo travelers .
The two vampires wanted to target more people after witnessing Zac’s might , such as the loose coalition of solo adventurers . After some deliberation , Zac passed on joining . Ultimately , he didn’t want to kill random people to advance his goal . If the aim had only been some light robbery and snatching Mana , then fine , but the vampires wanted blood and bodies . Even if he hadn’t personally killed anyone in such a scenario , he would still have tipped the battle in their favor .
The spatial gate opened as he touched the alabaster pillar , and he stepped through after glancing up at the sky . They were waiting for him up there . There was no way he could have missed that familiar sensation . A set of Remnants , just like he’d expected .
He’d known it since upgrading his soul . Cracking open his cage had created a brief resonance , confirming their existence and rough location . They were somewhere in the upper layers of the Calamity . He’d considered going to fetch them instead of returning but rejected the idea . Ultimately , he couldn’t rely on the Remnants to get him out of every jam .
Returning to Vastness City without their aid could be seen as a test . Besides , he had just broken through with body and soul . His soul , especially , was in a fragile state—it wasn’t the time to mess with those things . He could always fetch the Remnants before forming his core , adding a fourth set to his tally . From there , he only needed one more for - Atavism , ’ whatever that meant .
The moment Zac fully stepped through the spatial gate , a mysterious swirl gathered around him . He suddenly felt more attuned to the world . Or perhaps it was more apt to say the world was more in tune with him . The change no doubt came from a sudden influx of Mana from completing the quest , and he curiously opened his screen .
Mana : 14 , 703]
He’d gained 4 , 900 Mana since emerging from Sinner’s Lament . In reality , he’d earned another 1 , 000 from five kills inside a Red Zone—the base 100 per kill plus an automatic 100 bounty , whether you discovered a blueprint weakness or not . That had all gone into paying for his four-day stay inside the Calamity , though . That environment was just too expensive . He would have to find a quest to cover the cost the next time he visited . Another 100 Mana had gone into running the simulation array back in his mansion .
So that undead newcomer got it , - one of the onlookers muttered upon seeing the air swirl around Zac .
Zac glanced at the gathered crowd , confirming no one had any plans to target him . The mission was over , and the rules of Vastness City were in place . There wasn’t much point in attacking now , especially not since it was common knowledge he’d won all those duels , with most not even being able to land a single blow . Zac walked away , moving through a series of random streets and alleys until he was mostly certain no one was following .
No one except a presence in the shadows .
We’ll keep our heads down and just get our cores . ’ That was you , you know . Some sales pitch , - a voice dripping with sarcasm said in his ear , prompting an embarrassed smile to spread across Zac’s face .
Yeah , well , - Zac laughed as a hooded Ogras stepped out from the shadows . - Things happen . And it’s not like you believed me anyway . -
I guess that’s true , - Ogras sighed . - You got the thing? -
I got it , - Zac nodded .
Was it because of that book of yours or your aggravatingly high Luck? -
The latter , - Zac said , a smile playing on his lips . - The treasure kind of appeared right on top of my head after I broke through . -
Of course it did , - the demon groaned .
Is Catheya alright? I hear she had another run-in with the Grand Firmament Coalition , - Zac asked .
She’s fine . I opted to stay close to her just in case rather than join the fun . That place seemed like a bad fit for me in either case , - Ogras said . - Those people backed down after she retreated into that tavern . It’s one thing to harass an individual . But targeting that establishment is to anger every single undead in the Perennial Vastness . -
She’s still there? - Zac asked .
Should be . What’s your next move? -
Plan B , - Zac said after some thought . - In one day or so . -
Want company? -
Sure , - Zac readily agreed . - I’m probably skipping the mission release , though . -
That’s fine ; I think it’s better for me to research that book than throwing myself into another netherblasted zone like Sinner’s Lament . It should be my best bet of reaching the upper echelons in time without delaying your work . I might pick up some quick missions in a few Green Zones while studying the patterns , - Ogras said .
You understand them? - Zac said with surprise .
Well , not really . But I have a decently capable helper . -
The demon was obviously referring to K’Rav , the goblin warlock , and Zac felt Ogras was probably on the right track . His strength was in the middle of the pack among the guests , which meant the most lucrative Red Zones were incredibly dangerous unless he found one perfectly suited to his path and skillset . He could still join Zac on missions , but the more taxing the task , the bigger the contribution skew would get . At some point , he’d be taking greater risks for lesser rewards .
Using Ventus’s strategy to supplement his Mana seemed like the best plan . After all , Ventus wasn’t all that powerful , yet he’d reached the ninth echelon , surpassing 99% of all guests . Certainly , he’d been in the Perennial Vastness for over two decades , but a big part of that had been spent studying the patterns to set up his strategy .
The only other alternative for Ogras was to rely heavily on his Shadewar Flag] to force his way through Red Zones . However , that thing was a lot like Zac’s Remnants . It contained grade-breaking power , but it wasn’t Ogras’s . Furthermore , Zac could tell there were some costs to using it , even if Ogras had never explained exactly what they were . Using it a bit was fine , but it couldn’t be fully relied on .
I’ll check in with Catheya before going back to rest , - Zac said . - I’m heading straight to that place in twenty-two hours . -
See you there , - Ogras said , and he was gone the next moment .
Zac went straight to the tavern after getting an update , and a Revenant inside gestured toward one of the private rooms as he walked inside . Zac nodded in thanks and opened the door .
Imagine my surprise . I had barely recovered from your mad crusade against the mounds when my vacation gets interrupted . Of all places , a Supreme treasure has appeared in the Calamity , no doubt turning that chaotic place into a veritable powder keg . And who do I know that was planning on heading to that very zone? -