Chapter 858: Compassionate Strangers
Added 2024-01-22 22:00:06 +0000 UTC“You really are starting to look rough,” Humphrey told Jason.
“Yeah,” Sophie agreed, wrinkling her nose in distaste. “That pretty gold light coming off you is turning into rainbow smoke — including the smell.”
“It’s only going to get worse,” Jason said. “That’s why Neil is last.”
Humphrey and Sophie had come together for Jason’s round of individual farewells, in a room just off the deck where the others were gathered.
Sophie laughed while Humphrey gave a disapproving head shake.
“There’s something we need to talk about,” Jason said. “You told me to not keep things from the team, so I should let you know about something that happened. The great astral beings want me to do something while I’m sorting out my astral king business.”
“Which astral beings?” Humphrey asked.
“Most of them, I think? Most of the ones with names, anyway. The ones without names are all on the other team.”
“There’s another team?” Humphrey asked, his expression darkening. “And that team has great astral beings on it?”
“Yeah,” Jason said. “Look, Humphrey, the details don’t matter. What matters is that it’s important and I’m doing it. I would love if we could all do this together, but that’s just not how this works. It isn’t something the team can help me with, but I didn’t want to go into it without telling you.”
Humphrey let out a low grumble as he ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Sophie placed a hand on his massive bicep.
“When did you find all this out?” she asked Jason.
“Less than an hour ago.”
“You couldn’t have at least talked it through with us?”
“I made my decision fast,” Jason said. “I wasn’t going to change it and time is short enough as it is.”
Humphrey let out a long, growling sigh.
“You need to get a lot better at including us, Jason.”
“He’s working on it,” Sophie consoled. “He’s still terrible at it, but he’s trying. Like a three-legged puppy trying to climb stairs.”
“Thank you?” Jason said. “Look, the good news is, I have a plan.”
Humphrey and Sophie shared a worried look.
“Don’t look like that,” Jason complained. “It’s a good plan. Plus, it will help me keep up with you lot while you’re out there fighting monsters to rank up.”
“What kind of plan?” Humphrey asked.
“Well,” Jason said, “how much do you know about people from Earth punching each other for money?”
***
“I know you and I have that link,” Farrah said, “but I have no interest in becoming your Voice of the Will. I don’t mean to put down Colin or whoever else you rope in, but there’s an obedient-messenger-slave aspect I want no part of.”
“That’s fair,” Jason said.
They were lounging comfortably across from one another in cloud furniture.
“How risky is this Sundered Throne business you’ve got going on?”
“Humphrey didn’t waste any time, then.”
“He did not.”
“Did he tell you about the plan?”
“He said it was completely incomprehensible. You are still terrible at explaining things.”
“That’s not my fault; they changed the name of the country.”
“And that was a relevant detail?”
“Humphrey and Sophie haven’t been to Earth. They needed context.”
“And that context included something about a king with big hair?”
“It did, as it happens.”
Farrah let out a long-suffering sigh.
“How big a risk are you taking here?”
“By my standards? Very little. If my plan works the way it should, I’ve got this in the bag.”
“If you plan works the way it should.”
“I have some unusual advantages.”
“Such as?”
“Such as great astral beings not knowing what happened in the transformation zone.”
“Information gaps aren’t something they would be used to,” Farrah said.
“No,” Jason said. “I don’t think they would be.”
“Just come back alive, yeah?”
“I’d say yes, but it’s kind of complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
“Technically, I’m not going anywhere. I’m leaving a portal open for people to come and go.”
“How does that work exactly? Boris seems convinced that your soul realm and anyone in it will break down entirely.”
“That’s what gave me the idea for my plan.”
***
Rufus entered the room, empty save for himself and Jason. He looked rougher than Jason felt, eyes bloodshot and baggy in a way no silver-ranker should be.
“You want to sit?” Jason asked.
“No,” Rufus said.
They stared at each other in silence until Rufus finally broke it.
“There’s nothing you can do? Really?”
“I did do something, Rufus. I let him choose his own fate.”
“You couldn’t have sold not dying a little harder? It shouldn’t be hard to convince someone to live.”
“I gave him an honest choice.”
“Then you should have given him a dishonest one!”
Jason sighed, not rising to the outburst.
“You don’t believe that,” he said.
Rufus slumped down and a cloud chair rose from the floor to catch him.
“No,” Rufus said, his voice barely a whisper. “No, I don’t.”
The chair grew wider, turning into a couch, and Jason sat next to his friend. Not knowing what to say, he leaned into him a little and stayed silent.
“Farrah thinks I should go off to your world,” Rufus said. “Teach your niece to be an adventurer.”
“I think you should go too,” Jason told him. “As for what you should teach her to be, that’s for her to decide. The last I saw her, she wanted to be anything but an adventurer.”
“You think distraction is what I need?”
“Not distraction. Purpose. I don’t think you want to be an adventurer right now, but maybe you want to be a teacher.”
“But is it my purpose just because my family runs a school?”
“It’s your purpose because you love doing it and you’re good at it. Because it’s building the future instead of holding onto a past that will slip through our fingers, whatever we might do to stop it. You once told me that helping people learn from your mistakes was more fulfilling than the fear of making the next one.”
“I didn’t make a mistake, Jason. Sometimes you do everything right and it still goes wrong.”
“Yeah,” Jason agreed. “But I think we both know you’re a sackful of bad decisions waiting to happen. I think a completely new context would be good for you. Force you to come at things with a clean slate instead of with all the baggage you have now.”
“You aren’t pulling punches.”
“You’ve got your mum to take the sensitive approach. Sometimes being a friend means telling someone what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. More than once, I’ve spent months and years stewing in my own juices when life kicked me in the beans. I’m not saying that you have to perk up and be happy. Our friend is going to die. But this isn’t about you. It’s about Gary, and you owe him a goodbye that lets him know you’re going to be alright, even if it’s not today. I’m not saying that means going off to Earth, but it does mean showing him there’s a future for you beyond laying around being sad. You know, the way he was after losing Farrah and me until you came along and kicked him in the pants.”
“So, this is my kick in the pants?”
“Yep. You don’t have to get better now, but you do have to get better. If that means going back to teaching in Greenstone, then do that. If it means spending time with a mental healer like your mum, then do that. If it means a clean break in a world where you don’t even know the language, you can do that too.”
“Why would you want me anywhere near your niece in this state?”
“Because I trust you. And I trust my family. They weren’t equipped to support me through all the weird cosmic crap I was dealing with, but losing someone you love? That they understand, but they’ll also have the objectivity of not knowing you and all your baggage. Take it from someone who already jumped worlds: sometimes compassionate strangers can be exactly what you need.”
***
“Bro,” you’re not regenerating anymore,” Taika pointed out. “You’re leaking rainbow smoke like a dead monster.”
“Yeah,” Jason said. “I don’t have a lot of time left.”
“I won’t take too much of it, then. Thanks for keeping your promise and finding me a way home.”
“That was Boris, not me. But I’m glad you’ll see your family again. Keep an eye on mine until I get back there myself, yeah?”
“No worries, bro.”
***
“Wow, this rooms smells bad,” Neil said. “Oh, wait; it’s you.”
“Neil.”
“Yeah?”
“I would never say this in front of the team, but you are arguably the most important member in it. I am exceptionally glad that you will be keeping them safe in my absence, just as you do when I’m here. You’re an important friend and you mean the world to me.”
Neil blinked in surprise.
“Thank you for saying that, Jason. It means a lot. It would mean more if you said it in front of everyone else.”
“I know,” Jason said, nodding his head sagely. “I know.”
Neil left the room and reached into the pocket where he’d placed the recording crystal in case Jason said anything heartwarming. The crystal was missing and his fingers found something else instead. He pulled it out to find a picture of himself at the Standish family farm, in a tub full of eels, wearing only a hat ‘with rub-a-dub-dub’ stencilled onto it.
“You have the power to see and change everything here, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Jason said as he emerged from the room to rest a hand on Neil’s shoulder. “Yes, I do.”
***
Jason had one last person, not for a farewell, but for a goodbye.
“You don’t have long,” Gary told him.
“How can you tell?” Jason asked.
He was alone with Jason who now had energy pouring off him like a steamed bun. The golden light had turned to rainbow smoke, complete with the extremely unpleasant smell.
“Give me your sword,” Gary said.
Without questions, Jason plucked the sword Gary had forged for him from his inventory. He held it out for Gary to take.
Gary gestured at the air and a golden blaze appeared. He took the sword, scabbard and all, and shoved it into the flames. He held it there for around a minute as Jason looked on with curiosity. He was connected to the sword through a soul link and he could feel something about it changing. Finally, Gary pulled it back out and the flames vanished.
-------
- Items [Hegemon’s Will] and [Hegemon’s Dominion] have been reforged.
- Items have changed from (silver rank [growth] legendary) to (silver rank [growth] relic).
- Relics require transcendent power. Most of their abilities are sealed until their owner, Jason Asano, gains access to transcendent power.
- The owner of a relic always knows its location, regardless of magical or non-magical obfuscation.
- Relics cannot be used without permission of the owner.
- Relics can be summoned to avatars of the owner or designated servants of the owner.
- Relics cannot be destroyed by most forces. A destroyed relic can be manifested again by the owner using transcendent power.
-------
Gary held out the sword in its scabbard for Jason to take back.
“Sorry,” Gary told him, “but you won’t be able to use them properly until you’re an astral king. It smells like your about to get onto that, though.”
Jason laughed as he took the weapon and put it away.
“It’s not much of an upgrade on the surface,” Gary explained, “but you’ll never lose it and you don’t need resources and rituals to rank it up, now. It’ll match its power to yours.”
“Thank you,” Jason said. “It’s been six years since you first gave it to me. It feels like forever and no time at all.”
Jason stepped up and hugged Gary tightly, his head only coming up to the huge leonid’s chest.
“You smell so bad,” Gary choked out and Jason laughed through the tears spilling from his eyes.
Jason pulled away from the big man.
“How do we do this?” he asked. “How do we say goodbye? How can it ever be enough?”
Gary put a comforting hand on Jason’s shoulder.
“Jason, you’re going to live a long time. Probably forever. And in that time, you’re going to do a lot of amazing things.”
Gary gestured at Jason, leaking rainbow smoke.
“Starting in about three minutes, from the looks of it,” Gary continued. “We both know you can lose your way at times. You have Shade and all of our friends, but maybe you can do something for me. When you find yourself uncertain of a choice, or wondering if you’re doing the right thing, maybe think back on your old leonid friend, and see if you can’t find a way to choose compassion.”
Jason stared at Gary as tears poured from his eyes. He lunged forward and caught Gary in another hug.
***
Jason stayed with Gary as long as he could. His last sight of the big man was of a wide smile and a casual wave as Jason vanished. He reappeared in a hidden chamber, in the mountain fortress of his otherwise collapsed soul realm.
He hadn’t been able to hold back his tears in front of Gary but now he fell to his knees, wracking sobs shaking his body. He would never see his friend ever again.
Two gentle hands found his shoulders. Shade and Colin were both standing over him while Gordon floated nearby, somehow managing to convey concern in his alien body language.
“I’m sorry, Mr Asano,” Shade said, “but you have left things too long already.”
Jason nodded and started slowly pulling himself together. He got to his feet and looked around. He was on a catwalk around a magma waterfall, with multiple doors leading out. One led upstairs and three led to his astral throne, astral gate and soul forge, respectively. The fifth and last opened onto a void dotted with colourful nebulas, blazing in the dark.
“Goodbye, Gary,” Jason whispered, then stepped out.
Comments
The Diamond-ranker who made jason's cloud flask must be fuming that they still did not get a chance to speak with him and now it's going to be years until he returns 😂😂
Hornbach
2024-04-01 20:39:11 +0000 UTCAww this made me cry ... dammit
Taaeyaa
2024-03-31 16:49:54 +0000 UTCSobs... tiers are not let me read properly
Alisa
2024-03-18 00:16:42 +0000 UTC/sobs uncontrollably
Rebecca
2024-03-12 02:14:43 +0000 UTCThx for the chapter. Gary will be mourned. Very interested in how this fight is going to go
Kconraw
2024-02-28 16:07:25 +0000 UTCAnd I'm not sexist hating Sophie. All the other women are awesome and my second ranked person on worst main character list is Jason so. Ya. Not being sexist lol
C Smith
2024-02-19 03:26:48 +0000 UTCUgh why couldn't you kill Sophie she's littlery the worst of the main characters, instead you kill one of the best. Terrible.
C Smith
2024-02-19 03:22:48 +0000 UTCI'm sad there was nothing for Allayeth
Phallusar
2024-02-03 14:36:14 +0000 UTCWelp... you've got me weeping just as bad as Jason. Thanks Shirt.
Daniel Storm
2024-02-01 10:19:07 +0000 UTCNiel and Jason have such a hilarious friendship! 😂 Great chapter, kicked me right in the emotional nutz
Chad Hagner
2024-01-31 22:28:13 +0000 UTCHow dare you make me feel my feelings!!!
Anthony Fye
2024-01-26 14:41:04 +0000 UTCSuch a well written emotional chapter. I'm a messy bunch of tears. Thanks!
Chloe
2024-01-25 20:57:22 +0000 UTCI always wanted messengers with Black starlight wings and otherworldly eyes. Why couldn't he wake up just a few tied to his soul by accident or something lol
Bilal Williams
2024-01-24 23:18:18 +0000 UTCThe earth references are to boxing, and specifically the “Rumble in the Jungle” which lead another commenter to figure it’s about some kind of rope-a-dope, meaning feigning weakness to tire out your opponent. How that connects to the soul realm staying open or the presence of Woody, I have no idea yet
Joanna
2024-01-24 22:05:15 +0000 UTCIf it was the last, Shirt would say so at the end of the page. But we do appear to be getting very close
Joanna
2024-01-24 22:01:06 +0000 UTCYes...but the power would burn through him after a month or two..
Justin Wilson
2024-01-24 20:33:12 +0000 UTCWouldn’t Gary’s link to Hero be severed if he left the Pallimustus universe for Earth?
2024-01-24 18:10:39 +0000 UTCI'm betting fight night boxing
Russell Widger
2024-01-24 17:38:02 +0000 UTCSo I'm just assuming that this is the last chapter for book 11
2024-01-24 16:28:58 +0000 UTCI am kinda excited to see what goes on on earth after Boris, Tikka and Rufus. Kinda want a lot of chapters on the GAB battle and chapters with what the team is doing. But I also think it be cool if we get Jason dissolving then it's like "5 years later" and we have the team together back in greenstone or Vitesse and then a scene with the bright hearts going about stuff and Jason just materializes in rainbow smoke naked in the consulate room or something like that. Then we get pieces of what happened to the gang and Jason over the five years. I really wanna see cloud palace flying like SG Atlantis lol
Jarrett Mahon
2024-01-24 14:57:55 +0000 UTCThe invisible ninjas cutting onions are back
Jarrett Mahon
2024-01-24 14:50:47 +0000 UTCGary would obviously be the God of hugs.
JonO
2024-01-24 05:58:08 +0000 UTCI heard 42 is the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything? I love the series so don’t expect anything realistic from me, my sweetspot would be for the series to end shortly before I m to old to read ;-P
Jana
2024-01-24 05:38:57 +0000 UTCThere will be more than 12 books.
Shirtaloon
2024-01-24 05:33:22 +0000 UTCAgreed. I was upset about her death, but not like I am now. If her death were to take place here instead of Gary? I'd still be an ugly-crying mess
Blayne Allsen
2024-01-24 04:30:32 +0000 UTCBooks 1-3 were roughly one and a half, books 3-6 about three and a half. Most of that was during Jason's time fighting the monster surge and roaming around fixing the dimensional link. Book 6 is the shortest, yet covers the most time.
Shirtaloon
2024-01-24 03:54:33 +0000 UTCHe said that we were halfway through the book, not the series. We probably have 3 more years tops. He said it was supposed to be a 12 book series and we’re on book 10. He can’t drag this out for any worthwhile plot line anyway.
mhaj58
2024-01-24 01:05:25 +0000 UTCThink you’re 100% right. Having ANY information that the GABs don’t have is a bigger advantage than it sounds. To follow your analogy, the transformation zone is like if, just after dealing, the lights go out for a few seconds. When they come back on, the cards appear to be untouched, but the player is whistling with suspicious nonchalance.
Bingus McCready
2024-01-23 23:48:25 +0000 UTCThe first three books were a year and a half. After that it gets fuzzier, but I’ve always guessed about two and a half years on Earth, which would mean about two since the beginning of book 7
Joanna
2024-01-23 23:20:25 +0000 UTCAnyone have any guesses on Jasons Plan? He gave a couple of vague hints.... - “What kind of plan?” Humphrey asked.“Well,” Jason said, “how much do you know about people from Earth punching each other for money?” ------ Is there some sort of betting or match fixing that he is planning? does it have something to do with "weight Class" where he will compete against a will comparable to his own and then use the open astral gate to have nik and the soul tree will help him? - “I have some unusual advantages.” “Such as?” “Such as great astral beings not knowing what happened in the transformation zone.”“Information gaps aren’t something they would be used to,” Farrah said. -------- What could be an advantage from the transformation zone? is it nik? the soul tree avatar? the fact his will beat a gods avatar? - “Did he tell you about the plan?” “He said it was completely incomprehensible. You are still terrible at explaining things.” “That’s not my fault; they changed the name of the country.”“And that was a relevant detail?”“Humphrey and Sophie haven’t been to Earth. They needed context.” “And that context included something about a king with big hair?” ------- is this in relation to Don King the boxer with big hair or something else? He was responsible for some of the largest boxing matches ever and accused of match fixing. - “Technically, I’m not going anywhere. I’m leaving a portal open for people to come and go.” “How does that work exactly? Boris seems convinced that your soul realm and anyone in it will break down entirely.” “That’s what gave me the idea for my plan.” ------- it seems important that everyone believes his soul realm will break down entirely, including great astral beings. The fact that he can potentially leave the portal open (probably because there are other souls like the tree tied to it) is a huge opportunity for Jason to get soul reinforcement from outside sources.
Lightning Society
2024-01-23 21:37:20 +0000 UTCSo this chapter for sure puts it 6 years since he got transported from his apartment ,(cause he got the sword shortly after arriving). So time line was pallimustus 2 years, earth 3, then between the monster surge and this new transformation zone another year?
Jordan Rogers
2024-01-23 20:19:42 +0000 UTCI still think Jason is getting hustled, but I also think he is about to hustle them right back. Like in a game of 5 card draw. The dealer stacked the deck, but they didn't notice the player was stealing some of the face cards while they were doing it.
Philip Pleiss
2024-01-23 18:49:43 +0000 UTCIt's funny you mentioned Farrah. While I was typing out my comment, I actually thought about how differently those deaths hit me. When Farrah died, I was sad...but I was sad for the others left to grieve her. And I was angry. Rufus's Kindom of Eclipse spell felt like righteous vengeance! But if Farrah died now, it would be absolutely crushing. Like...ugly crying.
Richard Bonds
2024-01-23 18:42:00 +0000 UTCJason was crying, so that could just work out.
Keith Richmond
2024-01-23 17:20:53 +0000 UTCThat could work nicely. The team gets way ahead of him while he’s astral kinging, he gets back and finishes the bridge right away, then brings everybody to earth while the bridge continues solidifying and catches up with them there
Joanna
2024-01-23 16:43:01 +0000 UTCI love every honest moment they get, plus all the bullshit moments
Vincent Ciavone
2024-01-23 16:32:09 +0000 UTCI always wish I can binge read all these amazing stories to the end, but having to wait days or a week and past month breaks for chapters; waiting to see your favorite characters antics in the next chapter, for YEARS, causes so much love for the story and a connection to it. (I believe)
Vincent Ciavone
2024-01-23 16:26:54 +0000 UTCI wonder if we’ll see Jason ‘cross the line’ soon, Jason’s morality and mentality has definitely been half a foot across the line when he returned from earth during the monster surge but he never lost control due to friends and shade, finally it seems he is maturing and moving past all these setbacks and has set his sights on who he can and will be. I guess he could always encounter more and be pushed harder till he breaks but unless he sees some of the party die I can’t imagine him going dark again. Not that that’s bad I’d just of liked to see Jason go beyond reason
Vincent Ciavone
2024-01-23 16:19:46 +0000 UTCResults showed it takes about 40 to 60 hours to form a casual friendship, 80 to 100 hours to be upgraded to being a friend, and about 200 hours to become "good friends." This is probably the end to book 10 where each book averages 30+ hours. We have spent a lot of time with all of these characters and form our own sort of relationship with them. I feel closer to some than I do to others (Neil) but I think that’s because I always embody myself as the main character. That leads me to feel for his companions similar to how Jason does. But it all boils down to time spent, I wasn’t sad when Farrah died because I wasn’t emotionally invested in the story at that point. I could be off base, but what do you think?
Dirty Dibbler
2024-01-23 15:49:56 +0000 UTCYes, but I think he probably would refuse to do that to his friend
Kevin Anderson
2024-01-23 15:36:40 +0000 UTCI know but I wanted emi to meet him He gives the best hugs
Abdulaziz ALRumaih
2024-01-23 15:36:09 +0000 UTCBut even if he went somewhere where hero can’t reach him, the power is still destroying his vessel, which is why he can’t just hang out in Jason’s domain
Dirty Dibbler
2024-01-23 15:34:59 +0000 UTCYes and no, Gary’s choice was a clean death vs immortality tied to the natural array with the high probability that he would come out different on the other side of the transformation zone. If the option was for a normal life going back to where he was prior to drinking from Hero’s cup, do you think he would take it, That being said, this has been a long and drawn out goodbye, from a story perspective it would be weird to bring him back like you’re suggesting. At least so soon. I mean, if the Reaper drops the gift of Gary for Jason’s help, I could see that play, but Jason forcing the issue seems suspect
Dirty Dibbler
2024-01-23 15:33:42 +0000 UTCThere been so much effort put into reintroducing death stakes to the story and buildup to Gary’s death that I kind of hope it sticks.
Spencer Miller
2024-01-23 15:26:00 +0000 UTCI forget- is he allowed to hold onto a soul and prevent it from entering the Astral proper?
Spencer Miller
2024-01-23 15:24:49 +0000 UTCSounds like how Jason converted Undeath energy into Death energy before actually fighting the remnants of Undeath’s Avatar, which the Great Astral Beings didn’t see. They also don’t know that the Jason’s Soul Forge has its own soul, living inside of Jason’s, despite they’re about to go in there to fight. Basically, there’s an entire combatant that they don’t know about.
Spencer Miller
2024-01-23 15:23:51 +0000 UTCI don’t remember there being an issue with resurrecting Gestalt beings. The issue is getting them killed (I remember how Jason killed the worm host and he had to drain the life force) but as soon as they are dead they are purely spiritual and the souls goes to the reaper. I wonder, is there now even a difference between a dual entity and Gestalt entity when both are dead?! 🤔
Dimitri
2024-01-23 13:25:26 +0000 UTCTrue.
Dimitri
2024-01-23 13:22:57 +0000 UTCI can't believe I just recognized that phrase and heard it in my head. It's been so long...
Andrew Vogel
2024-01-23 12:49:20 +0000 UTCMy hardest cry was when Jason came back and the team could enter the portal and he simply broke because it meant they trusted him.
Namorat
2024-01-23 09:36:43 +0000 UTCThank you!
Joanna
2024-01-23 08:12:29 +0000 UTCAlso Jason was pretty clear on the whole bringing back Gary against his wishes thing.
Johnny_B
2024-01-23 07:56:01 +0000 UTCSad.
Louie Lewis
2024-01-23 07:01:29 +0000 UTCI'm not crying. You're crying...
KollegvomMirgan
2024-01-23 06:41:19 +0000 UTCResurrections don't work the same for gestalt beings like Gary. I don't think he could become an outworlder
Alex Schellenberg
2024-01-23 06:40:05 +0000 UTCDeception did Its job perfectly within the bounds of its relm. If anything, the vacant spot of Purity would be Gary's now.
Alex Schellenberg
2024-01-23 06:38:38 +0000 UTCDon’t worry, I can’t see your tears through my own
Connor
2024-01-23 06:37:26 +0000 UTCI’ve had series make me tear up multiple times, including this one. But this is the first time a story has made me start full on sobbing
Connor
2024-01-23 06:36:24 +0000 UTCShe is gone. I don't think she is powerful in the right way to join I'm Jason's next adventure.
Alex Schellenberg
2024-01-23 06:36:02 +0000 UTCJason dies and then gets new powers. Everyone else gets new powers and then dies.
Connor
2024-01-23 06:34:29 +0000 UTCI wonder how many times he’ll have to record it before he can get through it without crying 🤔
Connor
2024-01-23 06:32:32 +0000 UTCSame here. I’ve cried a few times while reading something, but this made me cry the hardest by far. I didn’t even know I was so attached to Gary. Or maybe Shirt is just such an amazing writer that Jason’s emotions were being fed directly into me.
Connor
2024-01-23 06:29:11 +0000 UTCI think I saw Shirt reply to a comment a couple weeks ago saying that we’re roughly halfway done or something like that? I just remember reading that we’re not near the end at least.
Connor
2024-01-23 06:24:21 +0000 UTCOn one hand I really want Gary to survive somehow, on the other hand I also want the story to have stakes, I want there to be risk for the characters, it makes for a better more engaging story. Also if Gary survives here the only way to suitably raise the stakes the next time will be to threaten Stash.
2024-01-23 05:50:23 +0000 UTC"Goodbye, Gary" I am not crying, damn onion ninjas.
Matthew Church
2024-01-23 05:48:37 +0000 UTCThe Rumble in the Jungle was the famous fight in what was then called Zaire between George Foreman, the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world with insane power behind his punches, and Mohammed Ali, later called the Greatest. It was at that fight that fight that Ali demonstrated his "rope a dope" technique, which basically used Ali's speed to turn Foreman's power against himself. He exhausted him and eventually finished the fight in a knockout.
Nathan Rice
2024-01-23 05:45:15 +0000 UTCI’ve been wondering if Gary’s loss might be setting up Jason for a harder decision once he has control of the throne. He could use it to order the Reaper to give Gary back, or even use its power to do something about it directly. (Which would also push him up against the pact with Death.) But in the end I don’t think Shirt is cruel enough to lean into that
Joanna
2024-01-23 05:44:45 +0000 UTCFor some reason the bit about a country changing names makes me think absurd wargames, like the Campaign for North Africa, or one of the insane Axis and Allies variants.
2024-01-23 05:42:52 +0000 UTCI figured out he must be talking about boxing from the Don King reference, but I’ve got nothing past that. Can you expand on it?
Joanna
2024-01-23 05:40:55 +0000 UTCHe can’t resurrect anyone himself. Nothing about not suggesting it
Joanna
2024-01-23 05:40:40 +0000 UTCI would love to see Emi again! And how she would react to “wait, uncle Jason sent me a tutor from another universe?”
Joanna
2024-01-23 05:38:24 +0000 UTCAh fuck
Abdulaziz ALRumaih
2024-01-23 05:29:57 +0000 UTCHe didn’t say anything about going along. A few of us in chat suggested it on Friday
Joanna
2024-01-23 05:29:32 +0000 UTCSo since Gary already has god powers.......how about he becomes the new god Hero on Earth now that it has a base line magic level? Or even better god of Compassion or Friendship!
Mike Zebill
2024-01-23 05:07:16 +0000 UTCI don't think so. It would cheapen his sacrifice and cheapen everyone's grief. We saw it a bit with Farrah but with knowing he will pass, Gary has given the team some amazing character growth through loss. I'd personally feel like Gary was slighted his preferred end.
James Oliger
2024-01-23 04:59:44 +0000 UTCThank you Shirtaloon, this is an amazing chapter.
Kai Strohmeier
2024-01-23 04:13:54 +0000 UTCI could be totally misremembering this But isn’t Gary going to be on earth for a few months?
Abdulaziz ALRumaih
2024-01-23 04:12:29 +0000 UTCI wonder how Jason will apply the rope a dope against the World-Phoenix and co.
Nathan Rice
2024-01-23 03:53:45 +0000 UTCI think that was my favorite part. Neil and Jason s**t on each other a lot, but deep down, they really, truly care for each other.
Marshall Kelloway
2024-01-23 03:44:05 +0000 UTCI was listening to 'Welcome To The Black Parade' by My Chemical Romance. We'll carry on, we'll carry on....And though you're dead and gone, believe me....Your memory will carry on......
Marshall Kelloway
2024-01-23 03:40:09 +0000 UTCMonday woes…
2024-01-23 03:33:33 +0000 UTCI personally think That is very possible especially with the reapers prime avatar present
Kalanaere
2024-01-23 03:27:04 +0000 UTCThank you Shirt.
Rowdy Robby
2024-01-23 02:54:13 +0000 UTCSame lol, there is water works too.
Paperback Hail6
2024-01-23 02:49:28 +0000 UTCOMG Just tell them it was a foot cramp.
Rowdy Robby
2024-01-23 02:47:34 +0000 UTCOoo, good point.
Kevin Anderson
2024-01-23 02:30:39 +0000 UTCI would agree if short hires a great editor and fixes the grammar etc as well as most of the recap filler and resubmits new volumes. Maybe toss in some "deleted scenes" while in there. But yeah this is really one of my favorite stories in quite a while.
Kevin Anderson
2024-01-23 02:27:06 +0000 UTCRemember, the deal with death is that Jason can't ask anyone to resurrect anyone. That doesn't mean others can't do it on their own. There's hope. Gghf Gary!
Kevin Anderson
2024-01-23 02:22:28 +0000 UTCWhere are all the people complaining about the last arc going on too long? Give me more chapters with my boy Gary 😔
2024-01-23 02:13:47 +0000 UTCWhat's the under/over on the reaper repaying Jason for restoring the throne by sending Gary back as an out worlder on earth?
Justin Riley
2024-01-23 02:08:31 +0000 UTCGNU Gary 😢
Ryan Cook
2024-01-23 01:59:27 +0000 UTCFucking shit. I was so excited about this chapter about just having the chapter that I forgot what the content was going to be. Apparently it's a crying day and that's okay. Gary reaching out and offering compassion for any hard choices was perfect. Thanks for the chapter.
DeviantSalivations
2024-01-23 01:55:37 +0000 UTCWow, the farewell that we all saw coming at the end of book ten. It was worth the wait. Gary, you will be missed and never forgotten! Thank you, Shirt, for this send off of a great character. Oh the possibilities! Can’t wait to see what comes next.
N8rtotPlayz
2024-01-23 01:55:34 +0000 UTCEn aru'din, Gareth Xandier.
Youkai-sama
2024-01-23 01:54:00 +0000 UTCI'm just sweating from my eyeballs! 😭
Youkai-sama
2024-01-23 01:52:53 +0000 UTCWell I'm crying before work I guess lol Should I use bereavement and call in cause I'm going to be depressed all night. Love the update thanks.
Posiden 300
2024-01-23 01:51:41 +0000 UTCI'm just going to say it: I have read books that made me cry before. But I have never cared as much about characters in a fictional universe as I do about these ones. I saw this moment coming for a book and a half...we all did...and yet I am still wrecked...just absolutely wrecked! I don't know how you do this magic, Shirt, but thank you. Can't wait to see what comes next!
Richard Bonds
2024-01-23 01:46:38 +0000 UTCI was! Love you!
René Blaser
2024-01-23 01:18:56 +0000 UTCBy the Gods and GAB‘s and the light itself. There is so much that is going on and about to happen. Whatever Jason‘s Plan is and whatever will happen out there on the Astral i hope that we will have a lot of chapters telling us what is happening with all his friends still on the mortal plane of existence. And beloved Gary… Reaper, you better take good care of him! 🥰🤗 And Rufus, you better get to be a good teacher to Emi. And finally. Shirtaloon: After again rereading the whole series during december (about the fourth time this year… 😜) i just want to tell you again. You are definitely now one of the top authors in the field of fantasy, right up there with Terry Pratchett, Robert Jordan, Tolkien and Terry Brooks. May you live long and Prosper!
René Blaser
2024-01-23 01:15:39 +0000 UTCNothing was said about giving them the same kind of sword. Anything he could forge for them would be leaps and bounds better than what he's made for them so far. He could even probably get sneaky with growth item possibilities..... Lots of stuff can happen down the road, hanging around with Jason.... Imagine if he told Rufus "show me that scimitar you used against that poor guy in rimarose". For all we know he did or will be soon in an epilogue chapter.
Kevin Anderson
2024-01-23 01:14:55 +0000 UTCI mean - the reaper released Farrah once. Wouldn’t it be awesome when Rufus arrives on Earth to teach Emmi, if a furry big outworlder named Garry is waiting for him as well? Jason did not work towards that thus, no issue with his deal with the goddess of death and my heart will not be broken at the same time. Win-win - what do you think shirt? 🥹
Dimitri
2024-01-23 01:03:02 +0000 UTCWe might get some epilogue chapters like Book 3 and 6. With book a timeskip at the start of Book 12. It does feel like this might be a good place to end book 11 before some epilogue chapters.
Kazuto Bakura
2024-01-23 00:58:45 +0000 UTCIn a way, it is just a new start, for what the future holds we might never know. Shade really does not want to tell use but he has ideas on what might happen to Gary next.
Kazuto Bakura
2024-01-23 00:50:00 +0000 UTCJason will be happy... when he turns the vampires on Earth into protein shakes that will carry him to Gold nice and sharpish
Michael McMahon
2024-01-23 00:38:58 +0000 UTCEveryone is (rightly) focused on Jason and Gary …but the bit with Neil was easily the best actual LOL moment in many chapters
Pierce
2024-01-23 00:24:00 +0000 UTCGod I should not have read this at bowling. Almost broke down in front of everyone.
Raves
2024-01-23 00:21:26 +0000 UTCThanks for not doing this on a Friday.
Steven Miller
2024-01-23 00:14:23 +0000 UTCPsyche - Gary is the new God of Deception after the previous one was sanctioned for his antics as Purity.
Iain Grubb
2024-01-23 00:07:31 +0000 UTCwouldn't work, the blade requires transcendent power to function as a relic something that Farrah and Rufus are very very far from achieving. I'd say Farrah is closer but that would just be an educated guess. Unless Gary can downsize this upgrade to something else instead of a relic it doesn't seem like an option.
Daniel is ŁØNE
2024-01-22 23:56:53 +0000 UTCSee you in the astral, our big hairy friend. 🫡🦁 Ty Shirt for giving us such a character. I can count on one hand all of the fictional characters that hit me as hard as the loss of Gary.
Mason
2024-01-22 23:56:06 +0000 UTCGoodbye, you amazingly fun Leomon and cool adventurer (Gary) Gareth Xandier; Are kickbut blacksmithing friend.
Quest Zone
2024-01-22 23:55:57 +0000 UTCHe's probably going to find a way to bring them into the battle. Tap their creativity.
Kevin Anderson
2024-01-22 23:51:54 +0000 UTCHe definitely needs a T-shirt... Probably matching boxers. Nope, definitely needs some hardcore magical matching boxers.
Kevin Anderson
2024-01-22 23:51:00 +0000 UTCGoodbye Gary <3 you were the best hero.
Sanguinar
2024-01-22 23:39:12 +0000 UTCRIP you big beautiful hairy bastard
2024-01-22 23:39:00 +0000 UTCI don't know that with the food shortages on earth he would have felt good about bringing any from earth besides what was already in his storage spaces anyway
Mackienze Robinson
2024-01-22 23:33:06 +0000 UTCYeah, I am however surprised Farah didn't think to bring ice cream though ... She and Jason could have stacked their inventories for quite a long time of their favorites foods.
Kevin Anderson
2024-01-22 23:24:52 +0000 UTCGoodbye Gary 🦁
Alison Blair
2024-01-22 23:24:49 +0000 UTCI'm super glad that Gary remembered to forge Jason a new sword. I really hope he did the same for Rufus and Farah too. Crazy opportunity for him to give every one in fact insanely awesome gear to remember him and cherish.
Kevin Anderson
2024-01-22 23:22:38 +0000 UTCThat was one of the harder chapters to read (got a little choked up at the end), but I'm super excited to see what happens next! Are we going to have a time jump after Jason kicks some astral butt, or will we be following what his avatar that was left behind does with the team?!
Leo Jeral
2024-01-22 23:19:51 +0000 UTCThank you for bringing us not only into this fantastic world, but also into the hearts of those that live within it.
Andrew Q Dunckley
2024-01-22 23:14:52 +0000 UTCI’m not crying, you are. Damn it
Majortom589
2024-01-22 23:05:47 +0000 UTCHe really really hated earth when he left. I think in hindsight he might have brought the potatoes.
Sena
2024-01-22 23:02:25 +0000 UTCAnd I thought the chapter when hero approaches gary in book 10 on the audiobook was hard
Stuart prior
2024-01-22 22:55:51 +0000 UTCRest in Peace, Gareth Zandier.
KaguxTsuchi
2024-01-22 22:51:39 +0000 UTCSame
Diviknight
2024-01-22 22:49:57 +0000 UTCPart of me hopes Gary doesn't really die....
Ninja Pugglesworth
2024-01-22 22:49:30 +0000 UTCI was just thinking that it would be cool if Gary’s passing somehow caused all of his forged items like Jason’s sword to change, one paragraph later, Gary says “Give me your sword.” 🥲😭
Diviknight
2024-01-22 22:48:18 +0000 UTCI have one question that has been bothering me. When Jason returned to Palimustus, why didn't he bring garlic seeds? Or potatoes? Or even chickens? Fertility would have raised them, for sure.
David Cooper
2024-01-22 22:46:01 +0000 UTCSame as well...right before hopping on a quick zoom call...got asked if I was ok, lol.
JaykeTheGeek
2024-01-22 22:44:33 +0000 UTCI've been holding on to hope for a long time, too. I'm going to set aside hope now, because that's clearly what Shirt wants. And whatever happens in the future, happens.
Joanna
2024-01-22 22:43:12 +0000 UTCI'm not crying you're crying, shut up
Elisha Cross
2024-01-22 22:41:15 +0000 UTCo7
Winter Behr
2024-01-22 22:38:14 +0000 UTCSame
Joshua Ross
2024-01-22 22:37:50 +0000 UTCI held it in throughout the conversation with Gary, but Shade, Colin, and Gordon supporting Jason as he sobbed and then "Goodbye Gary" at the end started the waterworks. Bravo Shirt, you are now the first author to make me tear up/cry more than once in a series
Blayne Allsen
2024-01-22 22:36:15 +0000 UTCDon't bother wasting your time grieving for him. He'll probably come back with some new ability or powers. Oh wait, that's Jason....
Alex Schellenberg
2024-01-22 22:33:39 +0000 UTCGoodbye Gary.
Harbby
2024-01-22 22:27:43 +0000 UTCo7 Gary.
Anthony Sebastian
2024-01-22 22:25:27 +0000 UTCI'm crying I already miss Gary.
Zachary Ross
2024-01-22 22:25:16 +0000 UTCFor my homie Gary. Eh hmm. Although we've come, to the end of the rooaad still I can't let go. It's unnatural, you belong to me,I belong to you
Gb
2024-01-22 22:24:49 +0000 UTCMade the mistake of reading this at work.
Cathy Hickman
2024-01-22 22:24:25 +0000 UTCDamn, this one was rough! So glad work got canceled today. Gary is the best!
Eric M
2024-01-22 22:24:09 +0000 UTCAdventures of Jason and Dawn could be fun.
Greg Lambert
2024-01-22 22:23:37 +0000 UTCAmazing farewell ❤ 👏
Jim Erwin
2024-01-22 22:22:47 +0000 UTCThis chapter was worth waiting for. Cant wait to hear Heath read it.
2024-01-22 22:22:25 +0000 UTCI don't think that will happen. Jason is in a much better place now, emotionally, and he still has his support system, in a wider sense, at least
Joanna
2024-01-22 22:22:19 +0000 UTC“Goodbye, Gary,” ngl that was heartbreaking. still hoping that hero somehow comes through and saves gary. unlikely, but to me, he's not dead till we see the body.
mockery jones
2024-01-22 22:22:08 +0000 UTCWe won't get better now, but we will get better. Goodbye Gary
Chuck Haeberle
2024-01-22 22:22:00 +0000 UTCGreat chapter.
Aaron
2024-01-22 22:21:37 +0000 UTCAhhhhhhhhhhh so many tears!!!
Ken Sevier
2024-01-22 22:21:32 +0000 UTC😭
Sam Cann
2024-01-22 22:21:09 +0000 UTCSome Earth Adventures without Jason could be fun. That said, I am just crying a little bit over here.
Namorat
2024-01-22 22:20:44 +0000 UTC😭 RIP Gary.
David Odle
2024-01-22 22:20:32 +0000 UTCI've shed tears in this story before. Book 3 was the first especially during the first epilog where Clive takes charge. And a few other spots, but that first one caused tears and me struggling with composure. This one had me ugly crying. Thank you shirt for creating an atmosphere where i literally felt involved.
JonO
2024-01-22 22:19:49 +0000 UTCI just happened to be listening to 'I Won't See You Tonight' by Avenged Sevenfold and thought it really fit the end of this chapter
Jonathan Crandall
2024-01-22 22:17:22 +0000 UTCMan, this chapter hit me right where it hurts. I've lost someone as close to me as family, not long ago, and this chapter genuinely made me cry. There's almost nothing worse than knowing that you could do nothing to change their mind. So thank you @shirtaloon for this chapter.
Henrik Nørgaard
2024-01-22 22:17:12 +0000 UTCAll the feels…
Cryfdwr
2024-01-22 22:16:55 +0000 UTCDamn you really had to hit me with all the emotions on a Monday, didn't you?
Connor
2024-01-22 22:15:50 +0000 UTC: ' ) farewell Gary...
Justin Pugh
2024-01-22 22:15:25 +0000 UTCOof. I’m not crying, you are.
Keith Richmond
2024-01-22 22:15:11 +0000 UTCThanks for the chapter even though it left a bitter feeling there: :(
Martin Fisher
2024-01-22 22:14:48 +0000 UTCTyftc!
Hemlock
2024-01-22 22:14:45 +0000 UTCI like that Jason will have a WWGD approach moving forward- hope he can keep to it
Pip Mitchell
2024-01-22 22:14:39 +0000 UTCIs it just me, or does it feel like Jason has completely outgrown his team and is in denial? He will go have a battle of wills against the Great Astral beings.
LIMBO
2024-01-22 22:14:30 +0000 UTCTFTC!
BerciTheBeast
2024-01-22 22:13:32 +0000 UTCIt just hit me that this story might actually have an end. I mean I always knew (and/or hoped) it would be completed some time but before it was more of an abstract situation. But things start to come together and some things end and even though there is still a ton to do and happen, this feels strange.
Jana
2024-01-22 22:13:04 +0000 UTC😥
Seaspike
2024-01-22 22:12:38 +0000 UTCGoodbye, Gary. I'm in a glass case of emotion here.
Michael McMahon
2024-01-22 22:12:16 +0000 UTCGoodbye, Gary.
Michael Alpert-Appell
2024-01-22 22:11:49 +0000 UTCTears just tears
John goode
2024-01-22 22:09:23 +0000 UTCWhao! Quel chapitre!
Fabienne Bedry
2024-01-22 22:09:08 +0000 UTCDon't mind me, I seem to have some leonid fur in my eyes.
Cyrus McEnnis
2024-01-22 22:08:04 +0000 UTCI’m crying, please don’t go back to the dark places on Earth. Jason deserves to be happy
mhaj58
2024-01-22 22:05:05 +0000 UTCFirst!
Richard Kalimotoo
2024-01-22 22:01:00 +0000 UTC
