Defiance of the Fall

"There's nothing," Emily said with annoyance as she walked over to Zac's side. "Not even dust from corroded furniture. It's like this place came right off the production line. Did these creatures eat everything? Would explain why they're popping out of every corner like cockroaches."

Their search of the nearby offices and rooms had drawn more unwanted attention. A huge number of ghastly creatures lived inside the walls, only emerging when someone got close or when they sensed energy fluctuations. A few of his followers already sported flesh wounds from sudden ambushes, though they were quickly getting used to the threat and pinpointing their weaknesses.

They'd also encountered a few more possessed puppets who acted very differently from the Qriz'Ul's mindless aggression. Some posed as base workers like their fake liaison, while others attempted to slink away. They all lost their rationality and ability to communicate the moment they were dragged out of their shell, confirming Galau's theory of their intelligence being borrowed.

"Did you have any better luck?"

"Not really," Zac said. "Ra'Klid, Kator, and I checked out the hangar just before we reconvened. The other entrances are locked. We couldn't open them no matter how we tried. This is our only way deeper into the base unless we can get a puppet to open them for us."

The only positive discovery Zac had made was a personal one. He'd been curious about what'd happen if he poured the ambient corruption into the pocket space belonging to [Purity of the Void] instead of having his body passively break it down. The result was startling. The bad parts were swiftly dragged out of the purple mist, leaving something resembling microscopic droplets suspended in a vacuum.

It was the small amount of insights stored inside the mist. It showed no signs of deterioration or dissipation so long as it stayed inside the pocket space, allowing him to stockpile the insights on command. One hour's exploration was enough to form a bead the size of an egg, and it had gone from looking like murky glass to radiating a slight shimmer of Ultom's truth.

Another hour or so would be enough to reach the equivalent of the baths he'd taken back in the day, and there was enough space to collect insights for at least a day before he had to use it. It still wouldn't compare to the enlightenment imparted by the seals, but it should be enough to solve one or two of the many issues he had with his methods and skills. The more minor issues he could iron out early, the better positioned he'd be when getting the final seal.

"Your method from before didn't work, either? That's no good," Emily whispered, bringing Zac back to the present.