It felt more like the beads acted like a translator and amplifier of the intangible feeling his Luck generated . For some reason , he was almost certain another guest was targeting him now . Before , he hadn’t been sure and felt it could have been related to some danger hiding in the Stand of Saeward . Unfortunately , the improvement wasn’t enough to give him a suspect .
Was it Kruta? Was he trying to lead him into an ambush with his message? Or had he become an unwitting pawn? After all , it was no secret that Zac had a Branch of the War Axe , and a big event on a conflict-based battlefield had a high chance of drawing him out . Zac shook his head , putting the matter aside . Perhaps the sensation would grow stronger after he left his secluded mansion .
Getting a better understanding of the Lucky Beads] , as he’d named the prayer band long ago , Zac absolutely felt the trade-off was worth it . The Mind’s Eye Agate] had been a huge help for his Soul Cultivation , but its usefulness had been , unfortunately , reaching its end . Its calming and stabilizing effect wasn’t needed since he’d begun cultivating his heart—he had no problem entering a powerful meditative state with a single breath .
The same was true for the Mental Energy it emitted . It wasn’t enough for the fourth layer of the Nine Reincarnations Manual] . Zac had everything needed to practice the next reincarnation , it just required way too much energy . It was essentially useless practicing the method until he got a Cosmic Core , and by that point , the agate would have been too low-graded to help .
Zac still hurried back to the manor gate , and a small wind kicked up as Zac dragged the dust from the Mind’s Eye Agate] into a container . It had lost much of its spirituality , but perhaps he’d find some use for it in the future . He was about to return to his study , but he noticed the prayer beads were gone .
What the hell? - Zac swore .
He entered a Void State and breathed out in relief upon seeing the beads were back . However , Zac almost swore again when he found he couldn’t touch them . The beads were as intangible as the ghost temples , refusing to blend with the real world . Did that mean he wouldn’t be able to take them off in the future?
The Sangha’s gifts aren’t always easy to decline , huh? - Null giggled .
You knew this would happen? - Zac asked .
Nope , - the guide said . - But I did know treasures dealing with Fate are generally a bit odd . Most have restrictions and unusual , or even dangerous , side effects . -
You’re saying this might be a cursed item? -
No , it should be something good . Otherwise , it wouldn’t have been placed as a hidden prize at a top-tier starting location . Not all of them come with drawbacks . -
Zac thoughtfully nodded , an idea coming to him . He activated Void Zone] , prompting the beads to reappear . At the same time , Zac felt their effect drastically weaken . He tried taking them off and it worked without issue . Only then did he equip them again and let them return to their illusory state .
Having dealt with everything , Zac spent the next couple of hours further stabilizing his mind and going over his next step . Knowing he was being targeted didn’t change his opinion about heading to the Stand of Saeward . On the contrary , it only increased his desire to go . If someone was planning on killing him , what better place to deal with the threat than a battlefield rife with the Dao of Conflict? He’d essentially have a home-field advantage .
Still , Zac wouldn’t have felt such a palpable sense of danger if the plot didn’t have a real chance of doing him in . Gaining the beads hadn’t changed that fact , so Zac needed to prepare something else . It was a bit early , but he saw no better opinion . Whoever targeted him had probably investigated him thoroughly . He had hidden some of his cards well , like the Remnants , but he still felt exposed . Zac was in the light while they hid in the dark , and some of these guests had incredible means .
It was better to add some new tools to his belt , so Zac approached the teleportation array . This time , Zac turned into a wiry human he’d killed last year in a Red Zone , and he even wore the assassin’s items before activating the teleporter . A familiar bridge appeared on the other side of the gate , and Zac entered the Keys of Ascension . Zac inwardly grimaced at the thought of spending 500 Mana an hour , but he expressionlessly crossed the bridge .
The price was steep , but how could some Mana compare to his life?
He soon reached the odd construct and infused the Daos of Conflict and Life . Meanwhile , he imprinted the purpose of his visit and held onto it as he entered the confusing maze of twisted dimensions . This time , he wasn’t led to a fiery temple . Instead , he found himself in an abandoned square under a tumultuous sky . Judging by the deep scars on the walls , it had either been a battlefield or a sparring area . Perhaps a dueling spot where warriors fought to the death .
Even if the warriors were gone , there was an intense lingering aura of Conflict . It far eclipsed the Bloodwind Planet’s atmosphere , though it lacked the corrosive bloodthirst you encountered on most battlefields . The truths were pure , aiming right at the heart of Conflict , and Zac felt a primal urge to start swinging his axe as he looked at the scars .
Conflict was not the only truth that held sway in the small square . It was completely overgrown , with hundreds of vines covering the walls and ground . No two vines looked the same , but they all shared one feature . They radiated a terrifying amount of life force .
Usually , his Draugr vision carrying over to his human form was a boon , but today it was a detriment . The vines were almost blinding , like their insides were filled with liquid Life . The plants slithered and danced like snakes . It mostly seemed random , but they occasionally formed complex patterns that triggered something in Zac’s mind . They mimicked the truths of Conflict in the scars , occasionally creating echoes of Zac’s path .
Only a small circle in the middle was cleared out from the vines . It was the same size as the invisible fire from his previous visit . Though there was nothing of the sort , just a densely engraved gemstone floating in the center , an emerald that had seemingly absorbed the environmental Daos for millions of years .
Zac had always been curious whether the Keys of Ascension had all these rooms ready to go or if it generated them with his Daos as a blueprint . Seeing the cultivation chamber , Zac leaned toward the latter . It just felt too attuned to his purposes for it to be happenstance .
He took a step forward , and a raging storm of impressions filled Zac’s mind . Each scar was a well of endless truth , and every vine suddenly told him a story . Some spoke of valor , of victory . Others of brutality and bloodshed . Some even spoke of defeat but contained an iron will to rise again . Zac wasn’t sure if he was hallucinating , but it looked like the dancing vines recreated battles between those who had left the marks .
His mind was filled with the Dao , and the atmosphere urged him on . Every step filled him with the inspiration of a hundred battles , and every breath came with a cleansing wave that swept away all his confusion and hesitation . Soon , he reached the central circle and spread his Soul Sense through the whole square . The vines were almost putting on a show , leading him toward the answer he’d been looking for .
Zac had been resistant until now , wondering if he was acting too soon . But he wasn’t . This little square was the final key to the puzzle . It was time for him to create a skill from scratch . And it would be for his human side .