Zac stepped forward , his perception shifting as he became one with his path . The ancient battlefield was no longer just the ruins of an ancient struggle . It had become a lesson in the fundamental laws of the universe .
The Hero Souls moved like veteran soldiers rather than beings who had lost their rationality to bloodlust . They tried to flank Zac and surround him , but Zac was an army of one . Verun’s Bite] sang , empowered by the law of evolutionary progress and the soothing breath of the world . Attacks were averted , and defenses were breached .
The Hero Souls were like hyenas trying to nip at the heels of a far greater predator . Zac worked methodically to disrupt their cooperation and damage their forms . As he moved , a huge weight lifted off his shoulders , and he attacked in accordance with his Evolutionary Stance .
The past years had been spent under the yoke of hostile and opposing Daos . His technique and convictions had been under constant attack by truths that were often far more refined than his own . Now that the encouraging winds of Conflict had replaced the suppression , he felt like he’d been reborn .
There was a fluidity to his motions he hadn’t felt before , a deeper connection to his technique . The years of suffering had brought a reward beyond treasures and Mana . Being exposed to so many concepts had refined him . A rough gemstone had been polished , just like how endless tribulations had refined his blueprint in the simulation array .
Swirling winds of War formed a small arena around Zac and the Hero Souls as he tried to break through the iron wall of swords and shields . It was slightly disruptive , fighting with beings that weren’t fully tangible . A scream of danger accompanied a failed block , where the Hero Soul’s sword passed right through Verun’s Bite] to strike at Zac’s neck .
Simultaneously , another warrior stabbed at him from the left , blocking off his path of escape . Zac didn’t mind . Instead of dodging or backing down , he pushed forward . A hand imbued with the Branch of the War Axe ripped out a chunk of mottled armor while Zac cut off the attacker’s hand . Meanwhile , Vivi formed a web of death , stabbing at the slits in the Hero Souls’ helmets and forcing them to back down .
It didn’t change the situation much . The severed hand regrew , only costing the Hero Soul some of its accumulated energy . And they had a lot of energy—it would take over a minute to exhaust the Hero Souls in this manner . Of course , this was while Zac only fought according to his Dao without using it . Zac would have liked to experiment with his techniques and Daos some more , but he couldn’t mess around in the Stand .
The group from before was a poignant reminder of that .
The axe-wielding Dao apparition was already teeming with vigor because of the environment , and it released a dense stream of Dao that coursed into Verun’s Bite] . Meanwhile , a dense Dao Field empowered by Spiritual Void] covered the combatants , making the Hero Souls appear as mortal men . The memories could no longer phase through his attacks , and each collision destroyed significant amounts of energy .
The previously ferocious spirits flickered precariously in just ten seconds , and the battle was over in another five . These Hero Souls were ultimately not a match to Zac’s technique , even when he restrained himself to hide his most recent gains . Of course , just like the Red Cap , these were just the lowest forms of souls wandering the Stand .
Impressive , - Kruta nodded , a pile of scrap already lying by his feet . - Your axe is doing almost as much work as my four swords . I’ll have to ask my elders if they can help me reach that state when I return . -
And you’re sure we can’t collect the puppets? - Zac asked .
They’re only alive thanks to the unique environment , - Kruta said with a shake of his head . - Their arrays fail , and the armor turns more brittle than mortal material after you bring them out . -
Then let’s go before that scrap heap reforms , - Zac sighed .
They set off again , just in time . The battle had lasted less than a minute , yet Zac could feel how the Dao of Conflict had grown agitated in the area , concentrating on their location . If they stayed , problems would soon follow .
The sky rumbled as they ran , and a gout of lava erupted in the distance . Danger awaited around any corner , and there was a palpable sense of things bubbling under the surface . It wasn’t just because of the increasingly thick Dao of Conflict , either . Fate was gathering at the heart of the realm . In a place like that , gathering Fate meant danger . It also meant opportunity , and Zac felt a smile creep up his lips .
Like I said , you have the madness , - Kruta laughed . - But don’t get cocky . Soon , we’ll have to use our skills to deal with our enemies , creating a far nastier response . I’ve almost been sent off to my ancestors a few times in here already . -
I know , - Zac nodded . - It just feels nice to be in a place resonating with you . -
Then why do you keep taking those suicidal missions in places that don’t welcome you? -
We all have our methods to progress , - Zac shrugged .
Another two hours passed without encountering any large issues . Kruta spotted a far off cultivator , but he was moving toward the entrance . He flashed away when he was spotted . Zac got better and better at fusing his Dao Field with the environment , but they were still attacked by puppets , towers , and Hero Souls every ten minutes or so . Kruta already had a constipated look after having one attempt at communication after another rebuffed by the Hero Souls .
Eventually , they reached the edge of the grassy plains , where a xeric tundra replaced it . The region looked far less hospitable than the ethereal grass , but it provided far more coverage in the form of hills , escarpments , and tor formations as large as skyscrapers . Of course , there was a good chance that many of those boulders hid lethal arrays , but they made it a lot harder to get spotted from a distance .
This is the entrance to the real battlefield , - Kruta commented as he pointed at a twenty-man Hero Soul squad flying in the distance .
In its lead rode a warrior atop something like a twin-tailed tiger . The captain was clearly much stronger than their subjects , and Zac guessed it was the equivalent of a Blue Cloak Puppet .
From here on out , we might meet stronger enemies , and the fortifications can actually hurt us . You , anyway . -
You do have pretty thick skin , - Zac said . - Didn’t even flinch when you ambushed the Hero Souls while talking about how you admired them . -
Bah , those things were all long gone . My ancestor hasn’t been able to connect to a single one , - Kruta said , settling an expectant eye on Zac . - So , are we finally done skulking around? I bet we’ll encounter more people now that we’ve left the starting zone . -
Fine , let’s swap , - Zac agreed after some final deliberations .
Soon , Zac stood in his original form without trying to hide it . Kruta followed suit , extracting all the scales across his body with the same bone as before .
And if we meet any people? - the barbarian asked .
Rob or kill , depending on their actions , - Zac confirmed .
Good! -
They entered the tundra following Kruta’s map , doing their best to avoid the larger squads . It was still impossible to avoid the random stragglers , and it always felt like they were one step away from disaster . They’d barely avoided one squad of Hero Souls before they were forced to dismantle a trio of Red Caps .
But the scene was nothing compared to what they stumbled onto after traveling for two hours . Puppets , hundreds of them , pouring out from two spatial gates . Most were the Red Caps , but they also spotted almost a dozen Blue Cloaks . There was even a White Sigil leading them , and Zac shuddered at the menacing aura it emitted . They formed orderly squads as they marched toward the depths of the Stand .