But why did he look like a kid who’d just pulled off a prank? It was completely different from the previously transcendent aura he exuded . The more old monsters he ran into , the more it felt like they all had a couple of screws loose . Still , it was undeniable that Sendor had not only saved his life but angered a powerful Supremacy to protect his identity .
However , the question remained why the avatar looked at him with such an unsettling gaze .
60
SENDOR
Sendor’s starry eyes bore into Zac , and the pressure made it difficult to gather his thoughts . He’d been put under the magnifying glass , his fate to be decided by the whims of the giant wielding the glass . Zac was previously annoyed by the lack of interest in his Specialty Core and bloodline when he first entered the Perennial Vastness , but he now desperately longed for that kind of disregard .
At the same time , Zac was excited . The man said it himself , Sendor was ancient when the Limitless Empire came around and most likely already a powerful entity . Did he know the secrets of his bloodline? Had he met Emperor Limitless? Did he know the truth about Laondio and Karz?
The scrutinizing gaze relented , and Zac released a tense breath .
You’re a pretty interesting brat , - Sendor grinned as he gave Zac a thumbs-up , the image once more clashing with the transcendent master who’d just stared down the Heavens . - Not bad , killing one of those little imperials . Always walking around in my domain like they own the place . -
No thanks to you , - Zac muttered and immediately regretted it .
Sendor’s lacking energy and laid-back demeanor made Zac momentarily forget that he wasn’t just some cantankerous old man . He was an entity at the level of Supremacies who’d lived far longer than most planets . Thankfully , it didn’t look like the Perennial Vastness minded Zac’s lacking manners .
I guess that’s my bad , - the avatar laughed . - I was curious what would happen with the seal in the air . The storms the pillars generate can lead to surprising outcomes . I didn’t get anything useful , but you still performed valiantly , even if your final blow was a shortcut . How about this? I’ll make it up to you . What do you want? -
Zac inwardly complained , even if he didn’t dare show anything but deference after his previous faux pas . Was he a magnet for weird and shameless old monsters? Or were they all like that? Reaching the limits of cultivation wasn’t accomplished by measured and reasonable people .
One second , - Zac said .
He desperately wanted answers , but there were more pressing matters , so he hurried over to Kruta’s side . The barbarian was growing increasingly pallid from the blood loss , and he seemed unable to expel the force of Valsa’s light when unconscious . However , just as Zac was about to take out his Healing Pills , he heard an impatient grunt .
With that , the wounds were just . . . gone . Even the bone stump had been replaced by a proper leg . Not only that , Zac felt his own body heal in a process that was even more effective than when he used Creation Energy . Even the Dao Mold in his mind was repaired , and the motes of Oblivion stuck in its cracks were ejected into his Soul Aperture .
The only thing that wasn’t restored to its original state was the energy he’d spent , both his own and the Remnants’ . His longevity hadn’t recovered from reforging his arm either . Still , his Dao Mold getting repaired saved him over a year and would allow him to head out again immediately without worry about not being in peak condition .
Zac hadn’t sensed any energy , just like when his Duplicity Core was sealed . It was like reality just changed per Sendor’s will . Perhaps he’d rewound time , returning their bodies to a previous state? Either case , it was an incredible ability , especially since it seemingly worked on anything , from wounds to recreating a whole world . Zac’s eyes turned to the unmoving puppet atop the dais .
It didn’t emit any energy , but it hadn’t been the first time Zac saw it either . Was Saeward back? If so , would it remember him interrupting his breakthrough?
He won’t jump at you again , - Sendor said , grinning at Zac’s hesitance . - Don’t feel bad , kid . He would have failed whether you came crashing into his array or not . Like he’s done a thousand times . He’s never gotten past the fifth bolt , even when aided by one of you brats . -
What? -
Zac suddenly felt like time was going out of control . He took a few shaky steps to distance himself from the puppet , but the whole atrium was affected . In seconds , Zac witnessed the puppet stand up on the dais and face Heavenly Tribulation dozens of times . The details differed slightly each time , but the end was the same : a scorched , broken puppet unmoving on the ground .
Saeward hoped to trick the Heavens and reincarnate using the captive souls of his followers in a loop of war and despair , - Sendor smiled . - This scenario was actually his eighth - final stand , ’ and the one where he’d finally accumulated enough Impetus to make his attempt . Alas , he fell one step short of success , and the Heavens disintegrated his soul . -
Then this world . . . - Zac said .
Saeward’s choices , this thread of Fate . . . It has potential . Perhaps not with the Heavens in its current state . Perhaps not with the variables introduced in this gallery . But it has the potential to show me something interesting . So , I disentangled the scenario from the river of time . I freed the suffering souls and replaced them with my own creations . Every Cosmic Gallery , the scenario starts anew . -
Sendor looked back at the puppet , and Zac shuddered as he saw the look in the man’s eyes . He still had a playful expression as he looked at Saeward dying repeatedly , but there was a terrifying coldness within that gaze . Not the coldness of hatred or animosity . It was the chill of complete and utter indifference to life and death .
It was beyond the morbid detachment cultivators gained as they walked over the corpses of their enemies on the path of cultivation . It was akin to the unfeeling callousness of the System , where right and wrong didn’t matter . Saeward’s soul being locked into that puppet in an eternal cycle of suffering wasn’t even a punishment . It was just an experiment that may or may not produce results .
Saeward’s soul will continue to toil until he provides me with an answer . A solution that moves the tapestry closer to completion . -
Zac slowly nodded , putting two and two together . The origin of the various zones and the role he and the other guests played finally came to light . The realms of the Perennial Vastness were seeds of potential collected by Sendor . The guests of the Cosmic Galleries would enter the realms , introducing variables of randomness to the experiments . And because the Heavens were still healing and moving toward perfection , the experiments had to be continuously performed .
What happens when you get the answer? - Zac asked .
The Stand of Saeward will be retired , replaced by another scenario . -
Then , the Quarry? - Zac ventured .
It’s functionally the same , - Sendor nodded . - You closed the loop by accepting the inheritance and desire of Solevur . The Quarry will no longer appear in future Cosmic Galleries as it has no more potential to extract . -
Saeward eventually stopped moving in the distressing cycle of despair as the castle returned to the state where he’d failed his tribulation , just before Valsa arrived . The rubble from the broken dais reappeared , and Zac could even feel his Dao inside the marks on the ground . From within Saeward’s broken frame , two lights flew up . One moved to Zac , while the other stopped over the still-unconscious Kruta .
Your prize for reaching the end of the scenario , - Sendor explained .
What’s this? -
It’s the remains of a Natural Treasure . Saeward called it the Embryo of the Wargod , which is both inaccurate and a bit boastful , - Sendor laughed . - I call it a Warstone] . Saeward stumbling onto this thing is how he cooked up this scheme . If you use this shard as a basis for your core , it will naturally generate a bit of energy as you fight . A pretty useful feature for someone walking a path full of Conflict . -