Book Recap
Defiance of the Fall
Book 3 Recap· Released
TL;DR
Zac enters the Eastern Trigram Treasure Hunt, a 30-day contest on a merged planet pair at war. He fights Salvation, a prophet of the Great Redeemer, kills Emperor Nenothep Medhin, takes the Eastern Trigram inheritance and a Splinter of Oblivion, and finishes first overall. Back home he takes the Lord of Cycles inheritance, closes a run of Incursions, kills Salvation at the Cradle of God, and hits level 75 Hatchetman as the Underworld is discovered.
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I · The Main Plot
Where We Start
Zac has two bodies and two classes, and the Eastern Trigram Treasure Hunt is about to start. It runs for 30 days and is tied to a newly integrated pair of worlds, Berum and Medhin, which are at war with each other.
Major Plot Points & Spoilers
- Zac saves Thea Marshall from Prince Tyrbat Medhin and the two team up. On the first night they are attacked by spirits and Thea learns Zac is also Undead.
- They fight Salvation (Gabriel), a prophet of the Great Redeemer, and force him to flee after he summons an imprint of the Great Redeemer. Inevitability, one of the Dominators, then hunts them and overwhelms them. They are thrown into a chasm, and Thea has to use Heaven's Ward to protect them, which teleports her away.
- Zac wakes in the chasm as a Draugr and meets Anzonil, a soul wisp of the last leader of the Eastern Trigram Sect. He completes Anzonil's trial, is fused with a Splinter of Oblivion, takes first on the Treasure Ladder, and receives a full E-grade Array Master heritage.
- Zac meets Beruv Ylvas, the hero of Berum, and joins his assault on Emperor Nenothep Medhin. Zac breaks Nenothep's war array and kills him with Beruv's help, forces Prince Vasidas to retreat, and rescues Thea.
- He finishes third on the Hunter Ladder and first on the hidden combined Ladder, earning five levels, 100 million Nexus Coins, the Eastern Trigram Hunt – 1st title, and three more levels. Zac is now level 73 Hatchetman.
- Back home he saves the Ishiate village of Riverleaf and closes the Yrd Stonemen Incursion. He reads Mhal's journal and learns where the Draugr seed in his Duplicity Core came from.
- Zac takes the Lord of Cycles inheritance of Yrial, gaining the Seed of Rot and becoming Yrial's disciple. He also receives Beauty Yrial's Great Transformation Skill and Cyclic Strike. Ogras takes the Umbra inheritance instead and gains the Seed of Mirage.
- At Westfort the Marshall Clan agrees to a plan. Zac and a small elite team (with Billy) close the Incursions while the Marshall alliance, the Sino-Indian Alliance and the Port Atwood army hold the three Undead hordes. He closes Ez'Mahal, accepts the Tir'Emarel surrender, and closes the Dragonoid and a humanoid Incursion. He reaches level 75 Hatchetman and earns Deforestation and Hatchetman's Spirit.
- Zac and Ogras infiltrate the Cradle of God. Salvation attacks them, and with Zac's new skill and two classes they win, barely. Ogras finds the Dao Funnel that Salvation possessed, and Zac's Heaviness and Sanctuary Seeds jump. Emily reports they have found the Underworld.
Where the Book Leaves Off
The Incursions on the surface are mostly closed and Zac is at the peak of F-grade as a level 75 Hatchetman. The Undead hordes are still marching, and Emily has just reported the Underworld. The next book picks up with the monks of the Everlasting Monastery and the discovery of the Underworld.
II · Characters & Personal Progression
Romantic & Personal Status
No romance advances. Thea and Zac are allies, Alea is still around and flirts, and Hannah is no longer part of his life. Kenzie and Zac are now close, with her building arrays and cultivating.
Inner Circle Check-In
- Ogras Azh'Rezak: Fights beside Zac on the Dao Funnel mission. He is becoming a shadow-creature as the Umbra inheritance takes hold.
- Thea Marshall: Zac's partner in the Hunt, and a Marshall Clan heir. Their friendship is solid.
- Billy Trask Jr: Joins Zac's elite crew after the Hunt.
- Kenzie: Builds an array and cultivates. Zac gives her a Mage Staff spirit tool from the Hunt loot.
- Joanna Thompson: Receives Nenothep's spirit spear, reaches the Power Ladder at 98th place.
- Emily Larkin: Uses Zac's second Fruit of Ascension and becomes a Runic Shaman. Reports the Underworld.
Key New Faces & Factions
Prophet of the Great Redeemer, who turns people into silver soldiers. The wiki lists his death at the Cradle of God (Book 3 Ch 104).
One of the three Dominators, a Zhix who overpowers Zac and Thea in the Hunt.
The hero of Berum, who recruits Zac against Emperor Nenothep.
A dead master whose inheritance Zac takes. He becomes Yrial's disciple.
Surrenders her clan and makes a business arrangement with Zac.
Zac meets a vision of Be'Zi Sharva'Zi during the Splinter of Oblivion fusion.
III · End-of-Book Stats & Power Gains
Current Rank / Grade
F-grade, peak. Hatchetman is level 75 (status sheet Ch 99, The First Step title). Draugr Undying Bulwark level is not recorded here.
Dao / Path / Class Evolution
Seeds of Trees (Peak), Heaviness (Peak), Sanctuary (High), Rot (High), plus Hardness and Sharpness at Middle or beyond. He has now fused a Splinter of Oblivion, and gains the Yrial inheritance. Dual-class combat is working.
Major Skill & Body Gains
- Skills Deforestation and Hatchetman's Spirit (level 75 Hatchetman), Immutable Bulwark (35) and Indomitable (50) for the Draugr class.
- Beauty Yrial's Great Transformation Skill (fast body swap) and Cyclic Strike.
- Verun's Bite evolves to E-grade. The Eye of Har'Teriam is bought with contribution points.
- Titles Eastern Trigram Hunt – 1st, Omnidextrous, Tyrannic Force, Achievement Hunter, The First Step.
- A full E-grade Array Master heritage and over 250 million Nexus Coins.
IV · Extras: Empire, Gear & World State
Territory & Faction Upgrades
Port Atwood annexes its first land outside the archipelago and takes in conquered Incursions: Yrd Stonemen, Ez'Mahal, Dragonoid, a humanoid Incursion, and the Tir'Emarel surrender. Alliances with the Marshall Clan and the Sino-Indian Alliance.
Signature Gear & Vessels
- Yrial's spirit-tool robes.
- A first flying treasure from the Hunt.
- E-grade shield, Void Ball and Bramble Wall treasures, plus three kept Dao Treasures and a D-grade prayer mat.
Ticking Clocks
- The three Undead hordes are still marching and the Lich King is behind them.
- The Underworld has just been discovered and is full of wealth and danger.
- The Great Redeemer and the Dominators remain, and the Dao Funnel Ogras found is untested.