His body was still teeming with the Kill Energy from the deathsworn , and he activated Surging Vitality] while cramming food , real food , down his gullet . Satiety Pills were a lot like Soldier Pills . Those pills only provided a hollow energy boost and couldn’t be compared to normal recovery and a good meal .
You’re pretty relaxed after almost getting yourself killed , - Kruta commented , but he still followed suit as he took out a large box filled with grilled meat .
I’m pretty used to it , - Zac sighed before looking at Kruta’s stump . - Your leg . . . -
Ah? - Kruta said , glancing down . - Oh , don’t worry about it . This bone’s a specialty of my tribe’s shamans . It’ll help me grow a new foot in a week . In a month , it’ll be back to my old strength . -
Impressive , - Zac said .
Can’t have our warriors get crippled after every little dismemberment , - Kruta laughed , but his grin slowly turned into a grimace , and he stood , bowing deeply . - I’m sorry! I talked so big about helping fight off your enemies , but I ran at the first sight of trouble! I failed you! -
You didn’t fail me , - Zac assured as he tore into another strip of dried Beast King . - You brought the puppets and protected me at a critical moment . That’s more than I could ever ask for . I didn’t expect my enemies to have such a troublesome background . -
But you almost did them all in yourself . If I helped from the beginning , you wouldn’t be as cut up as a practice dummy , - Kruta said with a shamefaced expression . - It’s just . . . That was Valsa Planur from the first of the Seven Heavens . Our people’s tribes rely on the Fourth Heaven . I froze . -
Fourth Heaven? What’s that? - Zac asked curiously .
Zac had already heard some mentions of the Seven Heavens of the Ancient Imperials , but he’d never gotten the details . Few were willing to gossip about the top factions , and none would be so bold as to sell information packets on peak factions in Vastness City .
What? You don’t know about the imperials? - Kruta said . - Then why was she so mad at you? -
It’s complicated , - Zac shrugged . - I’ve told you before ; I’m from the frontier . -
Right , - Kruta slowly nodded . - Do you know about the imperials? -
Well , the short of it . Pretty powerful people . But I’m not sure why you’d be reliant on them? Is your tribe a subsidiary force? -
No , not really . Each Imperial Clan formed a powerful Empire , and we live closest to the Luaris Empire . We are not a subsidiary to them , but we still can’t defy them because they control the Fourth Heaven . -
And what’s a Heaven? -
It’s a special universe , - Kruta sighed . - You could consider it something beyond the classifications of Mystic Realms . They are frankly amazing . You can - ascend’ from almost anywhere if you have access , even outside the Luaris Empire . You’ll pop up out of nowhere inside the Heaven . Higher-grade permits can even allow you to send in just your consciousness or part of it .
Imagine the ramifications . People across dozens of regions able to suddenly appear right next to each other after paying the entrance fee . Thanks to the Heavens , they’ve become extremely important for trade , alliances . . . And breakthroughs . -
Breakthroughs? - Zac said with raised brows .
The Dao is clearer in the Heavens , denser . It almost feels like you’ve been transported to the beginning of the era when the Dao was wild and abundant . Thanks to that , it’s one of the best places to defend your Dao , and the imperials are selling slots in return for contribution , - Kruta grimaced . - But if we go against them . . . -
You’ll lose the opportunity to nurture Autarchs , - Zac sighed . - I get it . -
That’s an important reason why the imperials are standing strong to this day . Their networks are so vast because of the opportunities they can provide . And , of course , they have an excessive number of Autarchs and Monarchs among their ranks .
They don’t even need to lift a finger . They can just remove your access to the Heavens , and you’ll slowly see your faction die out while your enemies get your opportunities . People have tried to figure out what the Heavens are or if there’s more of them , but none have solved the mystery . -
Even a rich environment can’t have endless energy , right? - Zac frowned , remembering how even Draugr Clans had to carefully plan who to give a shot at Autarchy and when . The costs involved were simply so huge . - How can they afford to let outsiders defend their Dao in their backyard? -
That’s . . . - Kruta said , looking at Zac askance . - They borrow it from other places . . . -
Zac’s eyes widened in comprehension . He’d heard of this before . Ancient factions draining the frontier to improve their environments . These imperials were real thieves , one and all .
Well , that’s how things stand , - Kruta shrugged . - Now , can you explain where we are and why we’re alive? -
The first question is simple , - Zac said . - We’re inside Saeward’s Castle . -
WH— - Kruta roared , but he button up and lowered his voice to a whisper . - What? -
I noticed that the castle’s moat was made up of the weird liquid of the Edge , and the river was running in this direction . I figured they were connected , - Zac explained . - So , I jumped in , and here we are . -
That’s . . . That’s . . . so stupid , - Kruta said , his eyes as wide as saucers . - What if only a small offshoot led to the moat while the rest led us to some deadly region beyond what we’re supposed to explore? What if the path here was protected by a grate? -
I mean , staying behind would have been a death sentence , so I figured we’d take a chance . - Zac smiled . - And now , we get to look for treasure . -
Madness . . . Madness , - Kruta said as he blankly looked to the sky . - Making enemies of the First Heaven and still finding time to sneak into the heart of the zone . I’m not sure I can bear your fate . -
Now , don’t be like that . Though I guess I should tell you , now that things have come to this , I’m technically an enemy with all the Heavens , not just the first , - Zac coughed , which made Kruta’s face crumble .
Fine , whatever! - Kruta grunted as he ripped into his dinner . - The rice is already cooked , and that little witch will do whatever her kin will do . I guess I’ll just have to follow you to the end of this fever dream . I can’t die more than once . -
That’s the spirit , - Zac said .
By the way , I marked her with some bone dust when I brought the puppets . She won’t be able to ambush us again when we return . - Kruta grinned . - Well , unless she cleans her shoes , I guess . -
That’s good , - Zac nodded .
Anyway , you want to explain why we’re alive or why I felt my connection to the Dao suddenly getting cut off? - Kruta commented with a raised brow .
That one’s a bit more complicated , - Zac said . - I’d appreciate it if you forgot about it , honestly . -
Forget I asked , - Kruta said . - You know what? If I get out of this alive , I’m heading right into seclusion . I’ve had enough excitement and war for a while . I miss my tribe . I miss the song of the grass . -
We’ll see , - Zac laughed . - I think you’ll come back for more adventures soon enough . -
Kruta just snorted and continued to eat . Both spent the next three hours doing field repairs on their bodies and recovering energy . It wasn’t nearly enough time to return to peak fighting condition , but it was enough to deal with some Hero Souls if they ran into them . Hopefully , enough to leave this place in one piece . They planned on staying another hour , but Kruta’s eyes suddenly snapped open as he turned toward the castle wall .
I can sense her! She’s coming! - Kruta said with shock . - How is she moving through the army? -