Apocalypse Reborn [GameLit 4X] [Fantasy] [Strategy]

V10: Epilogue

…

Interlude: Celia

…

Rumors and observations regarding the Goddess of Death abounded on my desk.

My agents watched her carefully, and even the budding information networks of my subordinates went to learn more of her to curry favor with me.

The information we received was grim.

Her strength and ability were without question. The Warden lands in the Academy fell to her might within a month. The few survivors who came our way described the work of an entire army of necromancers in support of a Champion Lich. Wherever she went, the Wardens had no answer, and the zealots who charged her anyway became fuel for her creations.

Her skeletal constructs moved more swiftly, required more damage to defeat, and did not come clattering apart when faced with Holy magic. The freshly risen corpses she created were said to be like Ghouls from the moment of their creation. They had access to all their physical strength, regenerated damage, and rapidly grew stronger when consuming corpses. Besides those staple creatures, she created flocks of undead carrion birds, made dead animals into beasts of burden, and finally… created Bone Constructs in massive numbers.

I knew not if she was truly divine, but I knew that she was a singular individual who could wipe a region clean of life and turn all she killed into more soldiers. Not only that, but she didn't need support in order to start that army. Those who survived the battle against her described her waving her hand and groups of soldiers turning into broken piles of flesh at her feet. Strong enough officers of the Wardens who confronted her with blades infused with Holy Magic could not even scratch her skin. Finally, a gathering of priests from the region abandoned their attempts to resurrect all she killed and moved to confront her… only for their bombardment of Holy Magic to be avoided.

She surged at them, according to some reports reaching them from the horizon in mere minutes, and slaughtered them before they could finish their combined spell and strike.

After their fall, the region was systematically brought to heel, and reinforced to prevent the Forgers and Merchants from trying to take it.

I waited for her next move to see how the King of Wisdom would deploy this 'Divine Engine.'

Then, a wave of power and magic rolled across the entirety of the continent, and my body was accosted by fear and trembling.

Instinctively, I knew that something had happened, and I pursued every avenue possible to know what did.

In the back of my mind, however, I already knew the answer.

The King of Wisdom saw the success of the Goddess of Death and moved to awaken the Goddess of Life.

And, with her awakening, the world changed forevermore.

…

The skies were blue, the breeze cool and gentle, and wherever there was soil, there were green shoots of new life.

Yesterday, my capital city had been covered in soot, the air was too harsh for children to play outside, and their plants choked and withered.

"Catherine, inform me." I sat on a park bench. To create the few parks in the city, I had spent some of my own treasury. They were warded against the soot and smoke. Even still, the lack of sun made it difficult for plants to grow. Only a hardy, tough grass grew, and all the saplings that were brought perished. Now, the saplings were trees bearing fruits that they shouldn't have, while the ground was covered in bushes with berries and vines crawled up the sides of fences with white flowers. "What is this?"

"The mages state that just a few hours ago, a potent wave of magic swept across the entire continent, with the effect of empowering nature." I touched the nearest fruiting tree. The ash tree that I had purchased was said to have a dry bark and needle-like leaves. It thrived in dry and cold environments. This was not the same tree. A shudder went down my spine. The fuzzy fruits it carried on its branches were unfamiliar to me, but they smelled sweet and ripe. Was it some sort of poison? I discarded the thought almost immediately. He wouldn't stoop so low. "It touched all of nature. Lumberyards report the trees they're harvesting growing immensely in size. Farms state their crops look weeks older than they should. Foresters tending to our few wild areas state that both fauna and flora are wildly changing."

"Our messengers to the other nations will report the same. All of reality has been changed by the awakening of this Divine Engine." My mind raced. What of the other one? It had conquered a whole region and created an army of its own, but compared to what I saw and felt now… A sudden realization gripped my heart. "They must have found this Divine Engine far earlier. They seized the one they deployed from the Warden mere weeks after its capture. This one… this one they've been preparing for years!"

Catherine's eyes widened at my outburst, but there was no one to watch.

I reached up and took the fruit, took a bite of its crisp and sweet flesh, and let myself fall and sit upon the grass covering the floor.

"What can be done against this? This was given, but it can be taken away. No. If they can affect all the plants and animals around the continent with blessings, they can surely douse it all in curses." My mind swam with possibility. This was a poisoned chalice. An irrevocable strike against our ability to be a nation. I could only laugh at the absolute strength showcased here and now. I feared his armies, then I feared the Iterants. Then, as I gathered information on a new terror, he unleashed a blessing upon the entire continent from a Divine Engine he kept secret for years. "Do we meekly accept the blessing? What shall we do when followers of this new Divine Engine arise in our lands? How can we act against him when doing so will bring low this new boon?"

Catherine's presence was close by, but I noted another.

A messenger.

A message was given, and I could only shake my head at Catherine's latest news.

"The hospitals are reporting miraculous recoveries for many injuries. Several elderly patients too weak to walk have found their strength revitalized. The healers report that many are appearing more youthful and healthier." I could only shake my head at the news. A series of assassinations or a declaration of war would've given me and the others a chance to rally our nations. He knew that confronting us all in combat would lead to a long conflict that none of us could win without losing to the threats beyond the continent. Therefore, he struck at us with divine blessings instead… while we have been pushing our populations to the limit. "My lady…"

"Send a messenger his way. I will allow an embassy to be built on our lands in exchange for knowledge and assurances regarding these blessings." I stood up. I calmed myself. This was beyond my expectations, but fighting against the King of Wisdom was always like this. Ruse after ruse. Threat after threat. Then, a strike from the shadows that gave him an advantage like no other. What mattered now was how my nation would recover and overcome the challenges set before us now. "Take advantage of it. All of it. We will take all that they offer and bide our time. Until we can be without this blessing, I will uphold a pact of non-aggression and trade with the King of Wisdom."

A part of me screamed to surrender, but I knew that it could not be done.

The Igniters and Spearheads both had too much power now. They sipped from the chalice, and they were eager to slake their thirst for more might. Unlike the nobility that have stored themselves away for a future that might not come, they were willing to treat with the other nations. Some were already working on proposals to trade freely with the King of Wisdom. With the unleashing of the Death Goddess, I expected them to collude and propose it within a few months.

Stolen novel; please report.

Now, instead, I would propose it myself against a far more dire threat.

A threat to the cornerstone of our authority.

Why should we be followed when we could not provide as much food?

Why should our laws be adhered to if we could not give them longer, better lives?

Why should my commands be followed when I do not give my people clear air, drinkable water, and blue skies?

The only answer I could give now was because I controlled violence in these lands.

Making it so that my only worth as a leader was my ability to kill.

That makes me no better than a despot.

I shook my head, and then I cast my gaze towards Catherine.

"Send a messenger to the expeditions. Tell them all that we now know. If we can find a Divine Engine, we must take it for ourselves." Catherine silently nodded at my words. She seemed perturbed by the sudden change. It will take time to explain to her, but I doubted she saw this as I did. The King of Wisdom was everywhere now. The prosperity and strength of his rule now permeated my very capital. One merely needed to take a breath, go into a park, or observe the clear skies. He was everywhere and nowhere… declaring the superiority of his rule and his unsaid ability to take it all away. How many years did I have now before I was ousted from my position? A decade? Half a decade? " And, call for an emergency assembly. This must be addressed."

Catherine bowed, and I looked up at the blue skies surrounding my Citadel.

Smoke went up from factories and simply… vanished away.

That was heat and matter.

Where was it going?

What did governance over 'Life' mean for us?

How were we to oppose someone who controlled it?

…

Over the course of days, the reports arrived from the Forgers and the Merchants. Though they were working to conquer the Warden lands and take their Citadel, the agreement to collate information remained. We would work together when a greater threat presented itself.

And we discovered that this was very much a greater threat.

Missives arrived with the King of Wisdom's seal.

He described the creation of a religion as one would create a factory. A whole, hidden city filled with the Children of the Elm who were spared his wrath. As the Wardens were to the Goddess of Death, the Children of the Elm were to the Goddess of Life, and they became her faithful adherents. Then, after that, years were spent in worship, in secrecy, and in prayer to strengthen a sleeping Divine Engine.

Then, when she awakened, she blessed the continent in its entirety to prepare against the coming foes of the Ancients.

Food would grow more swiftly. Illnesses will be more easily fought. Nature will change to provide more powerful reagents for Alchemists to use, and animals and monsters will change.

Those were gifts for the entire continent to bolster our strength against the coming darkness.

But our agents in his land report that blessings were not equal.

"All animals are domesticated in their lands. The forests are flush with fruit. Their fields grow ready for harvest within two months, while their soil shows no sign of growing fallow." My agents worked with the merchants. The Merchants were keen on discovering all that they could in the King of Wisdom's lands. They told me Sarala, one of the King of Wisdom's Champions, worked for them. I told Hariss to not trust him. I could not see any of Jack's Champion's betraying him now or ever. "What tribal peoples remained have come forth to worship her, and expansions of child-rearing institutions have taken place."

Catherine went over the reports with me from her desk in my office. Multiple reports floated all around her ghostly presence. She was summarizing them and categorizing them while I read the ones of highest priority.

Everything was of the highest priority.

"The Forgers state that many of their new creations are experiencing malfunctions." I grimaced at the mention of it. The Forgers were trampling on the sanctity of life. Since they began deploying their new 'war machines,' I abandoned partnership with them. We only shared information on dire matters. "But also, a substantial increase in growth in the output of their extraction nodes for agriculture. Their enemies from the depths seem to have retreated for the time being. A few hives have been found rotten."

Catherine spoke up after I finished that missive. The Forgers had little more to say, as they would fear looking weak.

"Reports from our own lands affirm higher rates of food production, as well as increased overall health of the population. However, an inspection of recent pregnancies in hospitals showcases a rise in twins… and an increased rate of success having children." I nodded at the news. That explained the increasese in child-rearing institutions in the King of Wisdom's lands. More children were to be born, more regularly, and presumably more safely. If we were seeing more twins, then that would be the norm in his lands. "The Merchants made no note of this, despite their breeding camps."

Catherine's words drew my attention.

"They may see it as an advantage. Those camps produce so many already. With these improvements, they will only grow more powerful." I took a measured breath before moving on to the next report. Or, I had intended to do so until there was a knock on the door to my office. "Enter."

Mallory and Christine came forward in their full black armor with helms tucked under their arms. My two Vampire Knights were now fully fledged Champions. I preferred them working with the rulers of other cities in the region to learn how to rule themselves, but I called them back to aid me in this dire time.

They attended to my day-to-day duties together, while I tried to make sense of what fell upon us.

Their appearance at my office meant only one thing.

"How has the King of Wisdom replied?"

They shared a look with one another before Mallory spoke on behalf of both.

"The King of Wisdom has offered to meet in a town under our jurisdiction, but not at our capital, as long as he is permitted to bring along one of his flying bastions and four Champions." I frowned but nodded. It would assure his safety, so I saw no reason to refuse. Without an army backing that force, they wouldn't be able to get far into our lands. "However, he states that the Divine Engine of Life cannot come but has stated that the Divine Engine of Death can come before her deployment against the Ancient's foes."

I considered the counteroffer.

Nothing I could do would convince him to bring the Goddess of Life. It was a mere invitation, and I had no leverage.

But if he offered to bring another Divine Engine so that I may lay eyes on it, I saw no reason to refuse.

"Let it be so. Make the preparations to meet with and speak with him. Invite our allies. They may come if they feel inclined. Representatives or themselves. If none come, my words on what we discuss will have to suffice."

It has been a long time since I've seen the King of Wisdom.

Perhaps not since the Death Lord was defeated.

So much has changed since then.

I could only wonder how I would feel in his presence now, after all that I've achieved.