Zac threw out an isolation and illusion array by the exit before enacting part two of his plan . Streaks of nothingness began pouring out from his Dao Spirals ; the purified Oblivion Energy extracted from the Remnant prison . Even then , Zac didn’t feel too confident . He’d planned on using his final ace to deal with Valsa since the beginning , but he hadn’t expected such a stark difference in power .
He would have to play it by ear .
Zac didn’t even get the chance to begin before a blast of light poured out of the gateway . It was like a solid block of destruction that carved a straight line through the atrium , even engulfing the puppet before it was finally stopped at the opposite wall hundreds of meters away . The overbearing power in the pillar almost destabilized Zac’s skills . He barely managed to retain their effect .
A deep roar erupted from within the beam , and a bloodied Kruta crawled out under the protection of his ancestor . He only managed to give Zac an apologetic look before falling unconscious in a pool of his own blood . His idea was a wash . Zac hadn’t even managed to begin conjuring an Annihilation Sphere] , and he could already hear Valsa’s running steps in the hallway .
Out of options , Zac took out a large seed and crammed it in his mouth . It was a Rageroot Oak Seed] that he’d harvested shortly before leaving for the Perennial Vastness . The Rageroot Oak had , like most local overlords on Earth , already entered the D-grade . It hadn’t been quite ready to bear new seeds just yet , but an array had allowed him to extract a half-ready seed—a powerful Pseudo D-grade berserking treasure .
Unfortunately , it was not nearly as good as Arcadian Crusade] , and the effect was limited since his body was so overdrawn already . It would have to do .
Zac was filled with delirious urges for blood and glory , but his Void Heart allowed him to stay clear-headed . However , a sudden spark of inspiration was born from reaching the heights of hubris , and he was unable to let it go .
The primordial roars of Verun’s Bite] were replaced by the abyssal rattle of Black Death] . A fractal leaf appeared in front of the axe blade , and Zac swung it toward Valsa in an overhead attack the moment she appeared around the corner .
Valsa sneered , and her armor blazed with imperial might as her sword rose to meet the attack . Simultaneously , her free hand pointed toward Zac’s chest , and Zac could tell she was channeling enough energy to blow a hole through the sky . Zac didn’t care , and his eyes gleamed with madness as he redirected the Streams of Dao and Oblivion energy into his Dao Mold .
All or nothing .
The winds of victory pushed her forward as she ran through the ruined hallway , and Valsa could almost feel how her river of Fate grew wider as the gate drew closer . Her gambit was successful , and it was time to collect . She pushed more energy into Lance of Judgement] as she glanced at the energy signature to the left of the entrance , careful not to overdo it . The Transplanted Fate Array] would work on a corpse , but the effect would be limited .
Crippled but alive was the way to go .
No one could say she didn’t give him a chance . This bastard could have tried to escape upon sensing her approach . There was no way the Undead Empire hadn’t provided him with some form of escape measure . Those things carried risks , but it would have been better than staying in this cage and waiting for death . If he’d succeeded , then Valsa would have truly lost .
Perhaps she would have been able to find something inside the castle that could mend her Core Nucleus , but that was a long shot . Saeward’s futile attempt at reincarnation was highly unlikely to have used resources that’d mesh with her path . There was also no way she’d be able to steal the foundation of a Monarch , even if it only remained as a discarnate soul .
Valsa knew Arcaz Umbri’Zi had likely reached the same conclusion as she . He’d felt she would be helpless without the War Array—that he and his wretched companion could overturn the Heavens . But he failed to realize the critical difference between them . She had spent years investigating and preparing . Six potential battlegrounds had been arranged , and every possible variable analyzed .
She had admittedly underestimated her opponent’s strength to some degree , and the powerful domain skill was a surprise . To her benefit , she knew the cooldown of his berserking skill down to the minutes , and their previous battle had already filled in the missing links in her understanding . He should have understood she wouldn’t have forced her way through the puppet army unless she was confident in victory .
She could clearly see it through that low-tier array . His recovery was almost miraculous , but it wasn’t enough . Whatever berserking treasure he’d swallowed only provided half the strength compared to his skill , while she was more powerful than ever .
It was game over . Valsa rounded the corner , her sword rising to block the ambush while she made sure her War Regalia was primed to block out his leaf explosions . The fractal leaf descended , and it couldn’t even shake the might of her crumbling Core Nucleus .
His Bloodline Talent wouldn’t be able to change anything . Its ability to quench Dao and suppress energy was shocking , but it was still within the bounds of the Law of Balance . It hadn’t been able to disintegrate her Fateward Clones , and it wouldn’t be able to fully suppress the amount of energy she currently carried .
Valsa effortlessly eviscerated the overhead strike , but the slippery bastard narrowly avoided the lance . She’d still managed to carve a large gash in his side , and his aura fluctuated precariously . Yet he came back for more with madness burning in his eyes .
It was odd . Why was he so confident that he dared fight her in a melee? He wasn’t a fool . Was it because of some misguided attempt to protect his companion , or did he actually think he could defeat her? Valsa was aware she lacked in true life-and-death experience compared to her enemy , but she wouldn’t allow the billowing waves of murderous aura to plant a seed of doubt in her heart .
Another clash resulted in another grievous wound , but the annoying chains of his weapon prevented her from landing a crippling blow . Blood poured out of a new gash on his throat , but there was no pause as he moved for a third attack , this one too aimed at Valsa’s head in a seeming attempt at mutual destruction .
Then , she realized the problem . It had barely been visible before , but something was off with the small golden cracks on his face . She’d assumed it was the result of being trapped within Saeward’s tribulation or a side effect of his berserking treasure . But there was a weak hint of an unfamiliar energy that reeked of danger . And why was he using that axe?
Something was wrong .
Only with her enemy dead could she be sure there weren’t any more unwelcome surprises . However , lack of information had almost cost her life before . She needed to disengage . She needed to—
Thoughts and plans withered and died as the fractal leaf collapsed unto itself . Replacing it was a blade of utter nothingness , of extermination . Mortal peril screamed at her to run , to dodge . To do anything that would take her away from that executioner’s edge . Yet it felt like time had ground to a halt as it drew closer .
A primordial sense of preservation cracked the Fategem of Peril , and a flood of relief filled Valsa as she felt herself be summoned away . But relief turned to horror as the light was extinguished , her very being erased . She only needed to endure a little more , just a little . . .
Then there was only darkness .
59
FALLOUT
Zac panted as he looked down at Valsa’s corpse , or rather the gathering of light that had started to dissipate . His hands were shaking with strain as he forcibly quelled the errant tendrils of Oblivion in his body , his pathways frayed and teetering on the brink of collapse . Yet , he was thrilled . To the point he didn’t care about the possible ramifications of killing a princess from the old Imperial Clans .