Chapter 282, 4/6

Jane walked amongst a battlefield, underneath the brilliant solar inside Fenrir.

The fortifications of the refugee cities behind Jane and Candice have been closely broken, and lots of undead had gotten by, however the lands of hundreds of thousands past had been spared. Jane and Candice had been the ultimate line for a land fully unprepared for what was coming for them.

There had been a number of Purple Archmages that have been close to sufficient to Wizards in sure methods.

It was a repeat of the Lich Conflict of yesteryear, earlier than they needed to bomb all of Quintlan off of the map, blowing up the land and some layers of shell overhead. The identical enemies. The identical risks. However extra within the open. Extra current; much less subterfuge. They’d constructed themselves up, loads. The Valkyries helped, however they werent as sturdy as Jane anticipated them to be. Many of the really sturdy Valkyries had been on the Final Battle, in order that form of made sense. Regardless of their hive minds, people have been nonetheless people.

It had been a straight up brawl of monumental proportions.

For half an hour there, among the many castles that walked on zombie legs, and within the mires of Blood, Gloom, and Decay that flew by the sky like city-sized undead oozes, issues had been going properly. Jane and Candice had been the one ones in a position to really stand towards the Purple near-Wizardry of the liches, which was a giant change from the way it had been, whereas the Valkyries largely stored Jane and Candice secure as they might, as the 2 of them superior towards the true threats, the liches.

After which the Valkyries had vanished.

For one more half an hour, it had been near-death after near-death, with Jane and Candice struggling to kill the commanders whereas the undead forces rolled throughout the defenses of the refugees, tearing into their cities.

After which

After which all of it stopped.

It had been stopped for about 20 minutes now.

The air nonetheless smelled of blood and dying, and Janes Standing was working on empty, however it was filling up and there werent any threats on the horizon. Folks have been cradling their useless, crying, or in shock. If the struggle hadnt simply stopped then Jane would have been livid with these individuals, as a result of cradling the useless when necromancers have been on the unfastened was a recipe for getting ones throat bit out by grandma.

Most individuals have been furiously burning their useless. These individuals have been extra sane.

And the struggle was over?

Identical to that?

Big abominations of flesh and useless magic lay in all places. A few of them have been the dimensions of mountains. All of it was as soon as once more rotting, as a result of the animating Dying was gone.

Candice squelched by the blood and dirt in entrance of Jane, wanting round. Each of them have been clothed in just a few conjured underwear and plenty of blood. Each of them had dropped their [Polymorph]s. Candice frowned, all of the piled useless.

Jane was frowning along with her.

Candice mentioned, What the fuck occurred?

Jane mentioned, It seemed just like the Purple form of folded in on itself? All of the liches had Purple cores and theyre gone now The useless are going to rise once more, although, even when the primary menace is gone. The Elemental Dying remains to be right here kinda.

Is perhaps a couple of days earlier than pure undead begin to rise. They’d time to burn A whole continents price of our bodies? Perhaps not that a lot time in any respect, actually.

Candices frown intensified as she grumbled an indignant, mmmm, adopted by, One thing is incorrect OH! Wait a fucking second! Her complete countenance modified to one in all pure pleasure, as she mentioned, Dad will need to have

Jane minimize her off, Nothanganathor may need killed his individuals so as to facilitate a greater transition to him having true energy. We would want to enter hiding Or it is perhaps too late.

Candice misplaced her pleasure. Oh shit.

One thing huge and Purple occurred, although, Jane mentioned, as she despatched out a [Telepathy], attempting to connect with no matter form of Crossroads is perhaps going up. She didnt get any response, however she stored attempting. She requested Candice, Are you able to [Telepathy] any

The sky brightened, the solar within the heart of Fenrir doubling in brightness.

Gentle flooded.

After which, out of the Gentle got here the Darkish.

Jane gasped.

– – – –

Energy flowed from Xoat, becoming a member of to the Darkish, turning into an excessive amount of for anyone particular person to deal with. Chaos unfurled, stripping away every part, however Erick was nonetheless there. The fae have been nonetheless there with him.

They went to work immediately.

Fairy Moon cradled Springtime like a prism, peeling off a circulate of Xoats every part like sticking a coloured rock right into a river of sunshine, and the river modified. Gentle turned pastel pink, inexperienced, and white, and flowed alongside her axis of existence, returning Elemental Fae to the Darkish. The Darkish reached wantingly, disastrously, pulling energy wider, taking bits of Fairy Moon to paint every part else that she already was. She was not damage, however not diminished on this taking. She was made Extra. She turned a Dwelling for Everybody; the King of a brand new Nation Within the Darkish. Her tears turned a flood. Her blood turned nascent life. She set down part of a basis, in order that others might be a part of as they have been wont.

The Darkish ripped at her, maybe unkindly, as a result of it knew no different approach to be.

At that very same time, Shadow peeled off the sunshine of Xoat and made it extra of herself, filling the universe with half-light that stood between the Darkish and every part else. She gave of herself in order that the Darkish might work together much less painfully, and that’s what it did. With Darkish arms lined in Elemental Shadow, the Darks contact turned a better factor for everybody else to resist.

That’s when the Darkish really began serving to everybody else in Creation. That was when its contact turned loving, caring, useful, and lively.

Life turned extra life.

Enchanters Guile was there, the little steel fox taking Xoats mild and portray the universe in his personal hues of Metallic. Gnowmi stood in that very same creation, including extra steel, and gems.

Fae of Water took Xoats mild, which wasnt actually mild in any respect, however a special form of Darkness, and made water endless, filling the universe with flows and waves, and the Darkness made approach for that creation, pulling oceans wider, as if it was ripping itself aside to disclose oceans already current inside.

Fae of Stone despatched sands into the waters that then turned rocks and lands.

Fae of Hearth despatched animation into that crashing tumult, animating a few of it to primitive life.

Fae of Air gave everybody room to breathe.

Fae of Blood granted holds for advanced life. Fae of Physique gave kind out of the chaos to that life. Fae of Breath introduced animation to that life. Souls took kind out of the Darkish; mana begetting mana.

Erick took the increasing Gentle of Xoat, elevating it excessive in a draconic hand, and the sunshine doubled; radiant and each coloration. With a deft hand Erick painted a universe of many colours, revealing the Darkish for what it may very well be. What it might be.

Lands and folks and a dream of peace, the place everybody might grasp the Darkish and know energy. The place everybody would have the power to turn into who they needed to turn into, and make their realities into fact, to then share that fact with others and develop within the telling.

Erick turned the Gentle and the Darkish, reaching out to others, in Welcome, in Benevolence, dictating the Basis.

Hi there Darkness, my previous good friend, Ive come that can assist you discuss once more~

– – – –

Poi noticed the occasion the perfect, although he didn’t understand it on the time. He merely noticed from contained in the dungeon, and out of doors on the earth, in each of his our bodies. The previous allowed him to know one thing huge was taking place, whereas the latter allowed him a grounding of a form, since he was nonetheless all the best way on Veird when it occurred.

Contained in the Dungeon of the Black Gate, close to a facsimile of their previous dwelling in Spur, Poi was caught strolling between rooms when the ground and every part else turned translucent, after which thinner than that. Poi was a soul in a physique that was probably not embodied in any respect, and the solidified nature of the dungeon turned a figment of an creativeness contained in the Darkish.

Thats all dungeons have been, in spite of everything; imaginings within the Darkish.

They might return to the Darkish at any time limit, if Melemizargo desired such.

Thats not what was taking place right here, although. Poi understood that a lot.

Within his home on the Cloud Fort over Candlepoint, Poi felt the world flip stable. The standard approach of experiencing life up right here was to dwell among the many dreamscape-overlapping-reality thought slimes that have been the individuals round him. However now these thought slimes crackled with distinct borders, lined in Benevolent Lightning. The lightning borders of each single particular person linked with Benevolence Itself, and with one another, forming chains from one particular person to each different, irrespective of how far they have been. Even the animals have been linked. Poi noticed ten million individuals linked to himself, and he knew what it meant to know others, in a complete totally different approach.

Poi-in-the-dungeon stepped out of the Darkish and into the sunshine of the within of Fenrir. He had moved to Fenrir.

Poi-in-the-castle rippled alongside together with his complete existence, after which he settled again down. He stayed on the cloud citadel over Candlepoint.

Yggdrasil admitted, Okay. I like that concept. One in every of them ought to be a human hand, although, even in case you are a dragon, father.

Yggdrasil felt the barest brush of bah! And in addition, Dragon arms are cool!

Yggdrasil laughed at that.

After which Erick stepped down into Benevolence with Yggdrasil, onto one in all his larger roots, wanting like a standard particular person, however he was much more than that.

Yggdrasil appeared as an individual subsequent to him, smiling, saying, Congrats on profitable in additional methods than I assumed doable. All of your divinity ought to be flowing to you now that youve actively claimed it. You okay with that?

Erick waved a hand. Its what I wanted to do. Im good with it. Thanks for caring for it whereas I didnt need it. He requested, And whats incorrect with dragon arms! They might each be mine, !

They might each be Melemizargos, too, Yggdrasil mentioned, grinning. Besides theyre not. The primary one was yours. The second you added to make him really feel higher.

He wanted a giant win and this form of reviving everybody was all the time his plan anyway. Its what he began with the shadelings and the way he needed to deliver the Painted Cosmology again, utilizing the souls of these he had saved in Darkness. Erick mentioned, Cascadio didnt like the tough grip, both, however he loves the hands-reaching-out design.

I do, too, Yggdrasil mentioned, nonetheless grinning. After which he tentatively requested, Are you continue to a hugger? Or has your time away

Erick rushed his son, and Yggdrasil was glad that he was allowed to have tears of pleasure, as a substitute of the doable tears of sorrow of what might have been. Father was nonetheless father, it doesn’t matter what new workplace he inhabited.

Erick mentioned, Im nonetheless a hugger.

Im glad. Yggdrasil held Erick tighter, saying, Very glad.

I’ve a present for you

I dont need the Signal. Its not my signal, and I dont even suppose its Margleknots, both. Give it to Margleknot subsequent time youre again, or dont. Use it till you dont want it anymore.

Erick merely mentioned, How about your recollections, then?

Yggdrasil laughed. Oh yeah! I do need these. Gimme gimme! He paused. However to not me. Circuitously. You need to give these to Margleknot. I dont need to contact them.

Erick chuckled. Youre giving me blended messages right here, Yggdrasil.

Im positive itll be a fast journey to Margleknot, after which you may come again and be a very good Tyrant Dragon God King to everybody, Yggdrasil mentioned, smirking.

Erick paused as he couldnt imagine that Yggdrasil would say that to him

Oh.

AH.

Talking softly to himself, Erick mentioned, Oh my gods, have I misplaced my sense of sarcasm? I believe I’ve.

Yggdrasil nodded. Time for a break, Father.

Okay. Trip time this time, and for actual.

Sure, for actual trip time, Yggdrasil mentioned. If the Fae Council bullies you into doing stuff then inform them youre on a doctor-prescribed trip and youre not allowed to do any heavy lifting for some time. You gained your struggle, and now you get to be the Arbiter of Veird, initially.

Erick grinned.

– – – –

Oh. Hi there, I assume, Erick mentioned to the Fae Council. I used to be coming your approach quickly sufficient.

Erick stood beneath Margleknot in Margleknot, and although the large man seemed like Yggdrasil proper now, he wasnt Yggdrasil in any respect. Probably not. Not anymore than Erick was Xoat, anyway. Yggdrasil was a glowing white tree, with flaming inexperienced leaves and a rainbow aurora crown. His roots have been formed like roots that twined up and down into the land beneath, whereas his branches kinda seemed like Primal Lightning frozen in time. Margleknot had been gold, with roots that fashioned geometric shapes that spiraled, fractally, down into infinity, whereas his branches have been looping, tendrils of gold, that additionally curled by unattainable geometry.

Yggdrasil in Margleknot had roots that curled in geometric shapes and lightning-like branches that have been approach too fractal to be regular branches, like Yggdrasils branches again on Veird, and now Fenrir.

Additionally, this lands floor was glass and see-through, so all of Margleknot was seen on the identical time.

The Fae Council of Aelorika, Eldraki, Seraphaka, and Dakka, all stood upon that clear floor with Erick. Margleknots golden-eyed orcol-avatar stood nearer to Erick, although.

Margleknot mentioned, I instructed them to not take too lengthy. He checked out Erick once more, and with a faint unhappiness in his voice, he mentioned, Thanks for the Reminiscences, Father. Yggdrasil is correct, although, I dont need the precise Signal of Energy. I changed it a very long time in the past, and that Signal of Energy isnt one thing I need to use.

Erick was shocked at that. Are you positive? Im unsure what Ailing do with it, however Yeah. I can use it.

The Signal of Energy sat inside Ericks divine soul like a small universe ready to be crammed; fully empty, fully unutilized. Hed determine one thing to do with it, he was positive.

Good. You should utilize it properly, I’m positive. Nothanganathor… With a far-off sense of loss, Margleknot mentioned, Nothanganathor I nonetheless cant imagine the complete extent of what he did. He was like a surrogate father to me. He didnt make a World Tree that linked to me, however I loved being a household with him. My recollections confirmed what I already knew to be true; sure, he was evil, however He was a very good particular person And but Margleknot deflated. He wasnt a very good particular person in any respect.

Erick merely nodded. Even the worst individuals in existence have been nonetheless simply individuals, irrespective of how a lot energy they acquired However Erick supposed that considering that approach was a luxurious for the sturdy. Nothanganathor was really evil, and but

Nothanganathor was denied energy for many of his life, which is what turned him evil sufficient to need to Sunder a universe. Eager about it that approach No.

Nothanganathor nonetheless made unhealthy selections, and people selections have been cause sufficient to hate the person he had turn into, however earlier than that fall, he had been totally different. The Curse of Obscurity had twisted him into one thing he didnt need to be, for he needed to be, and was, a powerful emperor to billions. He knew how one can create stability and prosperity. That a lot was by no means doubtful.

After which he was twisted into creating Malevolence so as to take again what was taken from him.

Erick mentioned, Its unforgivable what occurred, and but the evil is gone, and so we should forgive if just for our personal sanity. However on the identical time, we mustn’t ever enable evils like that to flourish ever once more. Its a paradox that we should navigate on a regular basis, as a result of the issue of evil is one in all selfishness, and have been all simply individuals attempting to make the perfect of our conditions. Selfishness is inevitable, my son.

Margleknot seemed upon Erick with golden eyes, and he noticed many different individuals at that very same time, deep in reminiscence. He smiled softly, Nothanganathor mentioned one thing like that a couple of totally different occasions.

Feels like a sensible man who ended up taking place the incorrect path.

Aye, Margleknot mentioned. He did.

The Fae Council watched as Erick and Margleknot had their second, silence filling the air.

The second handed.

Girl Aelorika stepped ahead. The Fae Council acknowledges the sovereign nation of Fenrir, Darkish Benevolence, Erick Flatt of Veird. We’re serious about contracting companies for Corruption cleanup, and likewise thanks for each destroying Malevolence, and likewise coming again and holding Margleknot from falling aside in Malevolences absence.

Ah. Shit. Erick mentioned, Yeah. That. I must, uh, come again and try this, eh?

Girl Aelorika grinned somewhat. In the event you havent already. It took you a very good 29 years of labor, if have been counting all of your appearances and the time you spent in every location. It was various work!

Girl Seraphaka mentioned, Billions of lives saved.

Lord Dakka mentioned, Began and ended a couple of wars, which is enjoyable!

Lord Eldraki grinned as he mentioned, We merely couldnt get you to talk to us although, which was fairly irritating. Its virtually such as you werent even there.

Erick grumbled. Okay. Lets get by the large factors: The Darkish needs to be pleasant, so Ailing be planting Yggdrasil there quickly sufficient. Im going to assist with corruption right here on this universe. And Im not going to have your huge duties looming over my head. Lets simply [Onward] by all of those Margleknot-centric duties proper now, and take care of the remainder later.

And that’s what he did.

He didnt keep in mind any of it, and that was by design.

He didn’t need to depart his household behind any longer than he already had.