It was quite ingenious but also very difficult to perfect . Luckily , Ogras had that mysterious spectral goblin for help . In return , she provided manpower through the Undead Empire . She was also more powerful than the demon , so they had agreed to split the bounties 50-50 . Still , it was shocking how much the man had grown since they met in the Tower of Eternity . She wouldn’t have had a leg to stand on if she hadn’t been sent to the Abyssal Shores .
Especially when you considered that flag . . . Catheya shuddered at the memory . She knew a thing or two about souls and reanimation , and that thing wasn’t natural .
They kept a steady pace , though Catheya felt her focus start to waver at the constant onslaught of hostile Dao and Energy . Thankfully , they’d reached the volcano , and Catheya gritted her teeth upon seeing a familiar figure step out from a hidden tunnel .
You! - Catheya growled as she stomped over . - Two days late , and then you drag me to this purgatory? What did I do to deserve this? -
I’m sorry . Look , I’m suffering with you! - Zac said as he quickly transformed into his Draugr form . Immediately , his face collapsed into a pained visage , and he hunched over while grasping his chest . - Ow , ow , the heat! -
A smile crept up Catheya’s face , but she pushed it down and roused her annoyance as she poked him in his side . - Jerk , like I don’t know your Body Tempering Method translates into resistance to this exact environment . -
I’m sorry , really . - Zac smiled . - You look very pretty today . -
I’m a sweaty mess , - Catheya huffed , partly mollified . - Well , what do you need me to freeze? The sooner we can leave , the better . -
Come , - Zac said , grasping her hand as he led her inside . - How did your cultivation session go? -
Not bad , - Catheya said as she released a content sigh . For some reason , the heat was lower inside the volcano than outside . - I think my seed will be finished in four years . -
That’s great , - Zac said . - Guess we’re both ahead of schedule . -
This is the fourth , right? - Catheya asked .
Well , we’ll see . -
Farther into the mountain , the tunnel grew darker with the heat growing sparser . Catheya soon realized it wasn’t the mountain . Zac had installed cooling arrays in the tunnel , and she felt some sweetness in her chest . He’d probably known she would be hot and miserable by the time she arrived and made some preparations . Twenty minutes later , there was a change in the path . A weak , golden light lit up the tunnel not too far off , and Catheya inwardly braced herself . They were about to reach the molten core .
Then , there was nothing : no life , no fire , no heat . But neither was there any death or cold . There was just nothing , like she stepped out of Heaven’s purview . It was both disconcerting and liberating , and it almost felt like she couldn’t tell where she ended and the air began .
Catheya looked at Zac with confusion , but he only smiled as he led her toward the light . They turned around a bend and found themselves in a room filled with a soft glow . A thick rug covered the ground , a low table where a bottle of chilled wine stood waiting , and lots of pillows . There were no lights or candles , but then none were needed .
The cave simply ended at the opposite side , exposing the room to a breathtaking vista . It was a vast sea of fire releasing innumerable bubbles of life-giving light . The lights slowly rose toward the sky then collapsed just before they reached the volcano’s mouth . It created a beautiful and everchanging ambiance that filled the area .
What—How? - Catheya whispered as she looked around with confusion . There were no holy beacons , no arrays . She couldn’t sense any energy fluctuations at all . Or rather , she could , but they disappeared right outside the cave . It was like she was standing inside a raging fire , yet the flames somehow missed her . Was it a separate dimension? But there should still be hints of Dao if so .
I’ve been thinking about what you said that day . How you felt like an outsider , - Zac explained . - So I built this . A way to enjoy the view without relying on flooding the environment with Miasma . -
Catheya wordlessly looked at him , her vision swimming .
Zac awkwardly scratched his chin , like he so often did . - I know it’s just a small room and not really what you meant . I just thought you’d like— -
His words grew indistinct and were then stopped as she pressed her lips against his . Those strong arms enclosed her , filling her with contentment .
I love it , - Catheya whispered . - I can’t believe you sealed the Heavens for me . -
Til’Siri’s hearts rattled as she stood at attention by the teleportation array . She felt like she was part of history , about to catch a glimpse of the birth of the Era .
Be careful what you say , - Til’Siri once more reminded her irascible companion . - The Primordial was born in a more brutal era . -
I know , I know , - Emberstorm said . - Though if you ask me , it’s a waste of time . This old thing is as ancient as the Era itself . I bet she won’t even get accepted by Ultom , no matter how loved by the Heavens she is . -
Even if it turns out she can’t enter , she’ll still be the leader of our operations here , - Til’Siri countered , hiding the smile that tugged at her lips . Atavism really wasn’t sufficient to temper the unbridled aggressiveness of these Rosefire Beetles , Emberstorm’s inability to overturn fate and seize a seal had left him incredibly irascible . He just needed a small push . - Besides , the ancestors wouldn’t have awoken one of the four remaining Primordials if they weren’t confident she’d be able to participate . -
Whatever , - Emberstorm muttered . - Bunch of dusty things that don’t understand the age we live in , if you ask me . They were strong , alright , but they were just supersized barbarians without skills or technique . -
Well , no one asked , - Til’Siri spat . - Now be quiet , or you’ll get us both killed . -
An hour passed until the array finally lit up . Til’Siri smoothed her dress , prompting a derisive snort from the insectoid .
Then , she stepped through , and Til’Siri could barely prevent her ardent expression from collapsing . The Primordial was short and round to the point she was almost a circle . However , she was all muscle and asymmetrical bones , giving off an intensely deadly aura . Her face was flat and unexpressive , completely lacking the graceful features commonly associated with a perfect Atavism . Simply put , she was ugly , incredibly so , with the exception of her eyes . They glowed with purple splendor , and Til’Siri felt like she was looking at the Dao itself .
We greet the esteemed Primordial! - Til’Siri said with a deep bow , and she inwardly sneered upon seeing that Emberstorm didn’t follow suit .
It looked like her goading had worked .
So you’re the one they dug out of that deep abyss? The one who’s supposed to lead us without having merit or qualifications? - Emberstorm said . - If you want to lead me , you’ll have to endure my attack . -
The stout creature wordlessly looked at Emberstorm , then slowly reached out her hand . Emberstorm snorted as flames lit up across his body , and a deafening drone made the air crackle . But a frown appeared as the hand kept getting closer . Til’Siri shook her head , feeling her senses were being messed with . It didn’t seem the Primordial’s hand was growing , but rather that the universe shrunk to accommodate her will .
Emberstorm tried to create some distance , but the hand was intractable . A storm of scorching flames erupted on Emberstorm’s body , but they were snuffed like a weak candle as the hand closed around him . The Primordial hadn’t even given him a chance to launch an attack before attacking herself .
Wait— - Emberstorm screamed , his anger turning into fear . It was too late .