Defiance of the Fall

Zac's first thought was he'd been dropped off inside a mirage drawing inspiration from his memories. However, Zac's heart told him that the startled duo wasn't the work of an illusion. The faded forest of Tam's memory had given way to a world shrouded in darkness. The region had an unmistakably ominous atmosphere, though Zac would take implied threat over the overt danger of the Nature-attuned storm.

It didn't match anything from Tom's scattered memories or any information he'd gathered elsewhere. It almost felt like he'd arrived in the Grey World, the Lower Plane that some of Ogras' heritage was based on. Everything was cast from shadows, from the ground to the sparse growth dotting the rocky geography.

Their source seemed to be the dense clouds high in the sky. They were clearly out of the norm, not lacking in might compared to the Nature-attuned storm. Thankfully, they kept most of it to themselves. Instead of ravaging the lands, they released a sparse trickle of anthracite rain.

The environment was redrawn wherever a raindrop fell. Brushes or saplings would appear out of nowhere, and the shape of outcroppings could drastically change. Each drop contained enough strength to match one of Zac's skills and a lofty piece of Taiji's Dao. It, thankfully, wasn't very difficult to avoid getting hit. Less than five drops would fall within his Soul Sense at any given moment.

It was exactly the kind of place Zac would expect to run into Ogras, and he quickly exchanged the customary questions through telepathy to confirm his identity. The generally suspicious demon was surprisingly ready to accept Zac's sudden appearance. He grinned and put away his spear.

"Finally, someone useful. I'm tired of carrying all the weight around here."

The comment made Ventus lower his makeshift shield. He turned to Ogras with the expression of a spurned lover. "Carrying all the weight? This is all thanks to me! I said we'd find what you needed here. I never claimed it would be a treasure."

"Telling a shadow cultivator they'll find something good inside a shaderealm? What's next? I'll encounter a powerful enemy somewhere in this trial?" Ogras scoffed.

Zac wasn't convinced their meeting was thanks to Ventus's Numerology, either. There was no mistaking the absolute confusion in the elf's eyes when he appeared. More likely, the reunion was thanks to Roan. The Earth Child had said the Sylphid would guide him, and Zac had been too preoccupied with other matters to ask where. He'd simply assumed it was to the Hollow Court since it flew in its general direction.