Defiance of the Fall

Powerful faith fluctuations and heretics. Zac couldn't help but notice the similarities to his experience in the previous memory domain. Could this be a similar event, perhaps even the same one? Were the rebels trying to escape with the loot by setting a forest fire?

Another set of explosions painted a different picture. Zac saw a barrier empowered by Imperial Faith briefly block an attack before being overwhelmed. The rebels were the pursuers, and it looked like they were about to catch their prey. Zac only paused briefly before continuing. It didn't matter to him if the rebels won. He could simply take them out afterward and claim the prize for himself.

However, it wasn't the prospect of another Holy Relic that made Zac grab the lantern. He'd triggered the memory in its transformed state, hoping he'd gain access to the memories of a high-ranking Templar. The Holy Void Treasure had been in his possession for weeks already, and he hadn't made as much headway as he'd hoped.

The treasure was a sponge that drew Void Energy without giving anything in return. The only thing Zac had managed to confirm was that its runes weren't only a seal to protect it from the Dao. Zac had actually discovered a few similarities to the patterns covering his Duplicity Core. If he wasn't mistaken, the runes served as an interface.

Infusing Faith Energy into the arrays would let a templar without Void Energy connect with the treasure. The realization left Zac with more questions than answers. Rava would have said something if the Chapter of the Empyrean Chalice had a heritage related to the Void. At the very least, she would have teased the knowledge to further bind Zac to her chariot.

Was the Holy Relic part of a special research project, or was it related to the Fifth Pillar? Were there more Holy Relics like it? If so, what function did they have? Those were the kinds of questions that only high-ranking templars could answer. Not getting any insights downloaded to his brain was a disappointment, but there was still a chance he could unravel the mystery by saving the fleeing templars.

Trees flitted past in a blur as Zac used [Skystriker] to intercept the fighters. Activating a skill also allowed Zac to get accustomed to his borrowed body. There had been little opportunity to figure out the mechanics of a memory lantern's shared existence when he acted as Terea Wendimar. For most of the duration, Zac was focused on getting his core formation back on track. In the short fight that followed, Zac had been distracted by Terea's overwhelming emotions.

Tam's mental state was the complete opposite. There wasn't so much as a ripple in his heart despite knowing he might be running toward his death. A simple truth overshadowed any doubt. Retired or not, he was a soldier of the Phoenix Legion. He'd seen heretic activity, and he would fight them until the bitter end. It even felt like Tam welcomed death.

Zac's current body was neither his nor Tam's. It was like looking at those artworks that changed depending on the point of view. Zac could make himself take a leading role and come to the surface, but Tam's cultivation created certain limitations Zac hadn't noticed before. His energy moved slowly, almost like that of an Early Hegemon.