I took a few steps away from Drok, who was still jumping around like an overstimulated child, and closed my eyes. With a flick of my will, my spirit transferred to the Black Plane.
Sprouting from the glassy black surface of this mysterious place was a new gray tree, alongside those belonging to Isu, Cranton, and Rollar: Drok’s necromantic tree.
I walked up to the Gray Sentinel with Grave Oath in my hand. The supernatural tree was still overflowing with power, so sticking my dagger into its trunk was unnecessary. As for me, making Drok Fated had barely made a dent in my energy and power. I’d come a long way since the first time I’d tried this, back when I’d made Cranton Fated, which had made me feel pretty drained.
“All right,” I whispered to myself before launching my spirit back into my body in the physical realm. “Let’s add a few more Death warriors to my party…”
“Ji-Ko!” I said. “You and your monks have served me faithfully, and although the men of your order do not serve out of any desire for a reward, I feel like you deserve one. What do you and your boys think of becoming Fated?”
“Fated, God of Death?” Ji-Ko murmured, a look of disbelief coming across his face. “Such a thing would be a great honor, but we humble monks are not deserving of such power.”
“Maybe you think so, but I don’t,” I said. “I want to make you all Fated. All that I ask is your loyalty.”
“You already have that, God of Death; you are the prophesied one. The oath we all took when each of us blinded ourselves binds us to you. As long as our hearts beat within our chests, we serve you.”
“Well, how about I make those loyal hearts of yours black, and give you more strength than you could have ever dreamed of? And, what’s more, doing this will restore your sight in a way. You’ll be able to use the eyes of your zombies and skeletons as your own. I realize that you and your monks took a vow of blindness, but this isn’t exactly breaking it, seeing as you won’t be seeing through your own eyes, technically speaking. So, what do you say?”
“Your offer is most generous, God of Death,” Ji-Ko said. “And I mean no disrespect by not accepting immediately, but please, allow me to quickly discuss this matter with my brother monks.”
“Go right ahead, Ji-Ko,” I said. “I understand that it isn’t a decision to be taken lightly.”
Ji-Ko and his monks discussed the issue in the Yengish tongue, and while I could not understand the words they were saying, the looks on their faces gave their decision away. I knew that it was a resounding “yes” long before Ji-Ko came and gave me his answer.
One by one, I made him and each of his monks Fated.
Now, with Drok, Ji-Ko, and his monks made Fated warriors in service of yours truly, the God of Death, everyone in my party was now able to command a form of powerful magic. There was still Percy and his pirate crew who remained unenhanced mortals, of course, but I would make them Fated too when I saw them next. The God of Death could never have too many necromancers by his side.
With this taken care of, it was time for us all to say our farewells before we went our separate ways.
“Tonight you fly off to Brakith, to liberate my city and my people from those who besiege it. Me, Friya, and Yumo-Rezu will be heading off to Luminescent Spires. Together, we’ll steal the objects that will bring about a final end to the shitheaps that are Elandriel and the Blood God. The next time we’re all together again, I’ll be riding a living dragon, and we’ll be fighting the final battle against the Blood God’s legions. And his Demogorgon. Or Demogorgons if we’re really unlucky.”
“I don’t care how many of those awful things the Blood God raises,” Elyse said, pride sparkling in her gorgeous blue eyes. “I’ll fight them alongside you until my heart ceases to beat.”
Everyone else murmured in agreement.
“I know you will. I know that all of you will,” I said. “So now, as darkness falls and my harpy army approaches, I will bid you all farewell. Good luck in the coming fight. You’re gonna kick some ass. Do it with heart, and do it with pride.”
“Drok no need luck!” Drok growled, grinning. “Drok have new Death power!”
“And body odor that could smite a cave troll at twenty paces,” Isu muttered.
Everyone chuckled, and Drok smiled proudly.
“We wish you luck as well, Vance,” Rami-Xayon said. “The world is depending on you.”
“I may not be there personally, but I’ll be fighting alongside you all in the battle for Brakith.”
“The forces of good are on your side, God of Death,” Ji-Ko said, bowing low. “And my monks and I are honored to fight in your service. And although we are dedicated to peace, if we must kill to save the world, then we will do so. These are desperate times we are living through, and we will all do whatever it takes to bring down the Blood God and his evil servants.”
I said a bunch of individual farewells to my party members, then watched as my harpy army came flying in, blackening the starry night sky with their vast numbers. One by one, they swooped down from the sky and picked up one of my party members until finally they were all gone, and only Friya, Yumo-Rezu, and myself were left.
“That’s it,” I said. “It’s just the three of us now. It’s a long journey to Luminescent Spires, so let’s get going.”
“Finally, I will realize my destiny, to make the visions that have haunted my dreams ever since I was a little girl a reality,” Friya
