Epilogue

“It’s been two days, and he’s still not answering,” Daos said as they sat around Master Erick’s workbench in Lyr. He slumped in his chair, exhausted with worry.

Chopper and Sir Donnan had joined the three of them, and neither seemed to know how to respond.

Fyr had fallen.

Meister Reichart had departed the battlefield for the Academy at Shale to help them prepare their defenses. Lulu was en route to Shale herself, having safely delivered Daos back to Lyr.

A small contingent of DeathLag’s army was still in the city, but other than heavy tax to fund his army, and the ten percent of the population he’d hanged in the marketplace, the city remained untouched.

“He’s a god. He’s bound to be busy right now,” Sir Donnan finally suggested. “So many deaths. A city, fallen to flame and ruin…” His voice trailed off as his eyes glazed over, seeing nothing.

Nobody said anything as they bowed their heads, an unspoken decision to honor their fallen friends and colleagues with a moment of silence.

Perhaps bending the knee had been the right decision, Daos thought, raising his head and gazing at the people working, albeit slower and without excitement, in the craftsman district. At least they’re alive.

“We are fucked!” Erlandra shouted.

They looked up to see her running toward them. “Completely fucked!” Her hair was wild and untamed, flying in all directions as she moved.

“What? And where the hell have you been?” Daos shot to his feet.

“Something felt off after the army took Fyr. I can’t place it, but it was wrong. So, I ran for the cave. To the lava room.” She paused to heave in a breath.

Erlandra looked at each of them in turn. When her eyes landed on Daos, she looked as though she was about to break. Her voice threatened to do so as she spoke. “I waited for him to respawn. I had to see it for myself. So, I got to the cave, I sat down, I waited.”

Uh oh.

“He respawned, alright. But it wasn’t DeathLag.”

Daos collapsed into his chair, stunned, defeated. “Shit.”

Niccolo? For god’s sake, man, answer me! If you’re there, then spare one damned micron of your processing power and say so!

“He’s still not responding. Niccolo, that is,” Daos said quietly, looking up at Erlandra. “Who respawned?”

“Derrick. One of his generals. Apparently, one of the others magically disguised him as DeathLag, and that’s who you pushed into the lava.”

[System Message – New World Event: An attack on the gods! The Outsider DeathLag has breached the veil between realms and lay siege to the castle of the god Machiavelli! The opening is still active, and so the call goes out to all Outsiders to brave the rift and rush to the gods’ aid! The fate of the world is at stake! Will you take up the call? – Edict Corporation]

They just stared at each other.

“Fuck.”

END OF BOOK 1