“I too believe that likely.”
“He must be executed before he spreads this knowledge. If any of the other disciples learn of our arrangement, it will be disastrous.”
“Agreed, but it is not so simple. He is Ascended, not a Harvester, so he must be incapacitated to avoid revival.”
Echo looked confused. “From descriptions of the event, I assumed only a Harvester could produce those results.”
Naktos sipped his drink, astonished by its smoothness, and the balance between the sweet and bitter accents. “Ten of my people witnessed the explosion. This Overlord used a rune stone. Likely some type of Mana bomb.”
“Then we will find the most distant portal available and send him through,” Echo said. “What else can you tell me about this Overlord?”
“What is your intention?” Naktos asked.
“Father wants me to assassinate him, of course,” Echo said and sipped her beer.
“Excellent,” Naktos said. “He has proved problematic.”
Echo locked eyes with Naktos. “I know. If left to me, only your death would offset your failures.”
Naktos no longer wondered who she took after. Few people in the Universe could speak to him like that and live. He nodded at Echo. “Then I’ll count myself lucky you aren’t in charge.”
Echo smiled. “You can make up for part of your disaster by helping me find this Overlord.”
“Of course,” Naktos said. “I expect him to remain out of sight near New Eiru for the foreseeable future. Too many of the disciples know his identity, and any exposure will draw their assassins.”
Echo nodded and sipped her beer.
Naktos continued. “Male, approximately sixteen. Ascended and bound to Uru about two months ago. She made him her Champion, and his base Class is Worker, a type of generic support Class. His secondary Class is currently the Fighter branch. He’s always seen with a cloak and has three known associates. There are rumors he has bound a dungeon and that the Master’s Companion has shown some interest in him.”
“Why would the Adjudicator show interest?”
“Miranda has always been a mystery to us. Perhaps your father might have some insight. My theory is it relates to the Step Masters she shelters.”
The last comment caused a brief increase in the girl's heart rate. Naktos wondered if Echo also had a connection to those Masters.
“I would like the details of his companions,” Echo said. “I will be the first to find and kill him.”
“Of course,” Naktos said, sensing Echo’s desire for her father’s approval.
“What is his name?” Echo asked.
“Ruwen Starfield.”
Echo’s breath caught for just a moment, but Naktos noticed. Interesting that she already knew his name and reacted so strongly to it.
Naktos pulled a small book from his inner coat pocket and placed it on the table. “Sketches and all know details of Ruwen and his companions.”
Echo acted uninterested as she flipped through the journal, but she lingered on Ruwen’s picture, and Naktos studied the young woman’s face for clues.
Echo gently placed the book on the table and gave Naktos a brilliant smile, only slightly ruined by her fangs. “Thank you for coming. I know my father treasures your friendship.”
Naktos stood. “And I, his. It was nice to meet you, Echo. I look forward to seeing you again.”
Echo stood as well and gave Naktos a small bow. “Until we meet again.”
Naktos left the tavern, his mind racing.
Halfway to the stones he heard a primal scream and the sounds of a short fight. It seemed Echo had her mother’s temper and the four Butchers had suffered for it.
Naktos wanted to know why Ruwen’s name had upset Echo, and he intended to find out.
Thank you so much for reading this book. I hope my love for this story made it onto the page. If you wish to stay informed about the future books in the Divine Apostasy series, please join the newsletter: www.afkauthor.com/subscribe
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Appendix
Item Quality Inventory Color
Common White
Uncommon Brown
Fine Green
Rare Yellow
Special Orange
Epic Blue
Legendary Purple
Metals
Bronze
Iron
Steel
Titanium
Obsidian
Terium
Class Symbol Color
Worker Hands Brown
Mage Brain Black
Observer Eyes Green
Order Heart White
Fighter Body Blue
Merchant Mouth Red
Fortifying Levels
Metal Levels
Lead
Copper
Silver
Gold
Gem Levels
Jade
Topaz
Sapphire
Diamond
Divine Levels
Angel
Archangel
Demigod
Deity
Meridian Location
Body Heart
Stone Right Leg/Foot
Order Spine
Water Right Shoulder/Arm/Hand
Light Head/Neck
Life Groin/Hips/Abdomen
Mind Brain
Air Left Shoulder/Arm/Hand
Chaos Torso
Fire Left Leg/Foot
Dark Organs
Death Intestines
Money
Copper
Silver (100 Copper)
Gold (100 Silver)
Platinum (100 Gold)
Terium (100 Platinum)
Rank Level
Novice 1-9
Initiate 10-19
Apprentice 20-29
Journeyman 30-39
Acolyte 40-49
Disciple 50-59
Expert 60-69
Adept 70-84
Master 85-99
Grand Master 100
Level Start Experience Level End
1 1000 2
2 3,000 3
3 6,000 4
4 10,000 5
5 15,000 6
6 21,000 7
7 28,000 8
8 36,000 9
9 45,000 10
10 55,000 11
11 66,000 12
12 78,000 13
13 91,000 14
14 105,000 15
15 120,000 16
16 136,000 17
17 153,000 18
18 171,000 19
19 190,000 20
20 210,000 21
.
.
.
97 4,753,000 98
98 4,851,000 99
99 4,950,000 100
100 5,050,000 101
Acknowledgments
First, and most importantly, I want to thank you. Life places insane demands on your time, but 2020 brought an incredible new level of stress. I’m so thankful that despite the hurdles of this past year, you chose to spend some of your precious time with this series. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Megan, tragedy has already smothered you in its terrible embrace. I love you more than I can express, and you are stronger than you feel. Remember you are rarer than being struck by lightning and that your magic is so powerful it made hippos fly. Your creativity echos my own, and while your poetry is darker than mine, it is also vastly better. You inspire me to do better.
Zachary, as you tell me often, you basically wrote these books (aside from the small task of turning ideas into sentences). Even though I know you’ll never read these books, or even this acknowledgment, your fingerprints are scattered through it all. Thank you for helping me add wonder to this series.
Nicole, you have done more for this series than any other person. You have read early drafts, late drafts, and everything in between. You listen to the audio over and over and help me keep the series consistent. When it comes to figuring out a tough scene you are always there for me. The best ideas in these books are always our ideas as we discuss everything that could be. Thank you so much.
Liam, your smile and laughter warm my heart. You have been such a blessing and I’m so thankful that circumstances have allowed us to spend so much time together. There is always a silver lining in every situation, even a pandemic.
Erika, so much has happened to us in the eight months its taken to write this book. Through it all, you’ve
