His gaze turned to Valsa’s Spatial Ring in his hand . A princess sent on an important mission by a Supremacy surely had to be drowning in wealth . However , his experience with Uona’s Spatial Ring made him afraid to infuse even a sliver of Mental Energy into the Spatial Tool . What if Vastermal Planur had marked it? He didn’t even trust K’Rav to deal with this thing .
But if anyone could remove its hidden traps , it would be the man in front of him .
The Imperial Clans have targeted me , and I think the key to figuring out their plots is within this ring , - Zac said . - With your unfathomable means , perhaps you could help me unlock it? -
Nice try , - Sendor said with a roll of his eyes . - Do I look like a graverobber to you? -
He’d been rejected outright , but Zac wasn’t about to give up . - The events just now were outside the bounds of Lord Sendor’s trial and affected my ability to gather Mana . How about some . . . -
I would , but the System won’t allow me to give things out left and right . You saw how stingy it is . I must follow the framework , - the avatar interjected with a clearly disingenuous smile .
Then . . . There are two Remnants in— -
Go find them yourself . You have the strength , - Sendor lazily said , his enthusiasm clearly waning . - I can give you a small hint related to them , though . Combine their energies , and you’ll be awarded 25 , 000 Mana . -
Zac inwardly grumbled at how stingy this guy was , but he refused to give in . - You saw how the imperials acted because of my seal . They’ll probably keep cheating on the outside . If you can’t help me with the ring , then could you leave me with my memories of their identities intact? Or perhaps teach me a way to hide the aura of my seal? -
I guess I could edit your seal only to guard the secrets of my realm , - Sendor shrugged . - I don’t really care if you start messing with the other guests after you’re gone . However , a little brat like you can’t hide the winds of Fate the Seals of the Left Imperial Palace radiate . That array inside your body will trick even Autarchs , though . Of course , it’ll only work if you keep it running . -
Kruta’s seal too , - Zac quickly added . - He also suffered from this injustice and deserves to understand the threat upon leaving . -
Fine , but that’s it . -
Zac nodded in thanks . It didn’t completely solve the issue , but it was a start . Zecia was already sealed , so Leandra’s array would be enough during the war . He had only been discovered inside the Perennial Vastness since he didn’t even know it was possible to expose sealbearers . He’d never bothered keeping Leandra’s array active inside the Perennial Vastness either since he constantly shifted between his forms .
On the outside , he always ensured it was active when going off-world , so he didn’t need to change anything . And with Sendor allowing him to remember all the names and faces of the other guests , he would be far-better off than before . Still , Zac felt it insufficient . This shameless old man let a Supremacy plot against him just because he was curious about what would happen . The name of a council he had no way to investigate , and a small adjustment to his seal didn’t feel like enough of a restitution .
Unfortunately , Sendor saw through Zac’s thoughts and waved his sleeve at Zac with annoyance . - Brat , didn’t you hear me when I talked with Vastermal? You can’t get too greedy . Ai , I need to go into seclusion . What was the System thinking , bringing that inauspicious thing into my body? -
Sendor was gone before he finished his sentence , preventing Zac from asking for anything else . However , his voice returned a second later . - Oh , if you want to pick that thing up , you’d better hurry . The other guests will soon sense it . -
Zac was about to ask what Sendor was talking about , but he felt his vision shift . It stretched out from the castle gates and across the now-desolate battlefield and into the isolating shroud where he fought Valsa the first time . There , he spotted a dozen corpses lying among dried weeds . There was also the deep crack from Arcadia’s Judgement] , from which a floating sigil had emerged , releasing increasingly powerful ripples of truth .
An outer court seal .
61
ONE BY NINE
Zac only caught a glimpse of the seal before he was back in his own body , where he was greeted by a groan as Kruta finally stirred . Then , the barbarian shot to his feet , eyes wide as he looked for threats . None remained , and Valsa’s body had fully dissipated already , so Kruta turned to Zac with a confused look plastered on his face .
You’re up , - Zac smiled .
Uh , - Kruta said as he looked around . - Did I beat that wench? -
Something like that , - Zac laughed , but his thoughts were still on that seal .
Who would have thought one of Valsa’s followers held an outer court seal? Had they ambushed another guest in the same manner as him? Perhaps a trial run using one of her followers before getting the real thing? The seal’s appearance made him worry for Catheya and Ogras for a second , but the unclaimed seal thankfully belonged neither to the Hollow nor Daedalian Courts .
It belonged to the final court yet not within his cycle : the Indomitable Court .
Wait , when did I get healed? - Kruta said as he looked down at his fully-restored body . - What’s going on? -
Zac briefly recounted what just transpired , skipping over the System’s entry or the matters regarding his bloodline .
Those imperials have always been shameless , - Kruta sighed . - But to think she actually summoned Vastermal the Benevolent . -
Didn’t seem that benevolent to me , - Zac muttered .
The dynasty of the previous emperor was very turbulent . The Planur Dynasty waged a series of ruthless wars , both as aggressor and defender . It reached a point where Vul’Zerdo Planur was called the Blood Emperor , - Kruta shrugged . - When Emperor Vastermal took the throne , he donned the epithet of benevolence to indicate the Empire’s future direction . And things have been relatively stable under his rule . -
Zac nodded , though managing the Planur Dynasty had nothing to do with Vastermal . That job was left to the younger generations . The Supremacies only bothered with the titles because they brought tangible benefits : faith . Ancient factions’ A-grade Emperors and Sect Leaders were essentially gods lording over their domains . That gathered Faith Energy , which was apparently quite useful even to the top dogs of the Multiverse .
Still , can’t believe the big boss himself came down to heal me , - Kruta grinned . - I guess Kruta the Great is too handsome to stay down for long . I must be fated for greatness . -
Fated . . . - Zac muttered as he thoughtfully looked at his companion .
Why are you looking at me like that? - Kruta shuddered . - Giving me the creeps . -
You have a decision to make , - Zac said . - A decision that will have a great impact on your future . -
What? - Kruta said , his expression sobering upon hearing Zac’s words . - Is it related to the imperials? -
Both yes and no , - Zac said , collecting his thoughts . - Something big is happening on the outside , something that has made many of the peak factions stir . A small part of that struggle has been turned into a trial for the younger generation . It starts in three years , where the cut off point is 100 years of age . Valsa targeted me because I have one of the tickets to that trial . -
Why did you suddenly decide to tell me this? - Kruta asked .
Because it turns out one of her followers carried a ticket as well . It’s currently left where we first fought Valsa . No one has found it yet , but it’s just a matter of time , - Zac said . - You have to decide whether you want to seize the opportunity . -
A trial important enough to have an imperial emperor barge into this place , - Kruta mused . - What can you tell me? -
I’m not sure if I should divulge the event’s origin , but it has made the ancient factions go mad . The Seventh Heaven is already involved , and the First Heaven tried to sneak in by killing other guests and me . More peak factions beyond the imperials are also involved , but I don’t know who . One thing’s for sure : the dangers will be far beyond the Red Zones , and it’ll be crawling with people like Valsa . Powerful factions will send their most talented people . -