I awoke with a yawn.

The morning sun greeted my eyes with a sting but it was a welcome one.

I crawled out of bed, waking Shiru in the process.

“Mmm?” She whimpered as I got onto my wheelchair.

“Don’t worry. Just gonna go for a stroll.”

Shiru nodded before going back to sleep. Her hand gently rested on Erna's shoulder.

I gave myself a nod before leaving the bedroom.

I entered the living room to find Farin, Fíor and Serylea sleeping on a bed I had hastily created for them the night before.

It stood jarringly in the centre of the living room but I didn’t care so long as everyone was comfortable.

I left the house and made my way to what was once upper Coh.

I greeted whoever I walked past and they greeted back.

I eventually reached the flower filled crater and I had Voliah teleport me into the egg where two life magicians were hard at work.

They stood up to leave but I raised my hand, stopping them.

I then closed my eyes while reaching to the right.

My hand alone then sunk into the dark world where I grabbed Yna’s golden sword.

I then gently placed it next to the pile of swords by Yna’s side.

“You can stop now.” I said but this only made the healers frown in confusion.

“Sir?”

“Leave her to rest.” I whispered.

The healers exchanged concerned glances before standing up.

They then disappeared, leaving me with just Yna.

I looked at her closed eyes and winced.

I then bit my teeth and had Voliah teleport me back out only Umbris was standing in the crater as well.

“Hello, sir.”

“Hello.”

The Kommáti nodded before nodding to the north.

“The Moon King wishes to speak to you.” He reported.

I opened my mouth to speak but stopped upon hearing Shiru’s voice.

“Doesn’t everyone deserve to know?”

I turned around to find her walking towards me, her body covered only in her morning gown. Her feet bare.

“Don’t you think that the people of the city you built deserve to know where their leader is going and whether or not he’ll come back?” She asked with furrowed brows.

“Yes but… no, you’re right although you could’ve gotten dressed first.” I chuckled but Shiru’s expression remained stiff.

“Alright, gather everyone here. I will announce my departure but while you do that, I will speak to Luno.”

Shiru nodded before disappearing.

I sighed out whatever air my lungs held and turned to Umbris who stood without expression.

“Take me to him.”

Umbris nodded and it wasn’t long before I was standing in front of Luno on a small hill in the Kauretia planes. Standing around him were his silver knights and I couldn’t help but feel like they were glaring at me from within their helmets.

As for Luno, his face was weary and his brows hung low but I didn’t care.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Is it already time?” I asked and he nodded.

“Alright. Although I’m gonna have to ask that you give me a moment and say goodbye to everyone.”

“That is fine. I will wait here in the meantime.”

I nodded before asking Umbris to take me back to the crater where a large chunk of Coh’s population now stood.

Standing in front of them, closest to the egg and closest to me, we Shiru and the others.

I looked into all of their eyes and saw nothing but concern.

“It would seem as though we have arrived at the end of a great cosmic play. As most of you know, I am a host but the truth behind my status and its source has eluded us for the longest time. Well, I learnt recently that we hosts and magicians alike receive our powers to bend the laws of nature from a group of beings known only to us as the Noladmet. These dark beings exist in the heart of the cosmos, gnawing away at a being who’s very existence is tied to the structure of our reality. We do not know why they are doing this but we suspect that it is also they who are behind the collisions. Sagathon, the Temporal Scribe, predicts that the next collision will be the last and all we know may soon come to an end.”

Hushed gasps filled the air as I spoke.

“Fortunately for us, it seems as though time magicians from across the ages saw the end and they, along with Sagathon, enacted a grand scheme, one that may very well be the key to the continued existence of our cosmos. Unfortunately, the key component of the scheme is something known as the Ritual of Eight. One in which all eight hosts will unite with their respective Noladmet before committing the ultimate sacrifice.”

More gasps filled the air and this time they were coupled with shocked murmurs.

“What if it doesn’t work?”

Someone asked but I raised my left hand, stopping any more questions from being asked.

“Then at least we would have tried.” I said with a smile just as the rising sun filled the crater with light.

“I sit here before you, not as your leader and not as a host but as a man who is about to give his last. But I don’t want you to mourn me. I don’t want you to dedicate an entire day to crying. No. I want you all to celebrate!” I yelled through gnashed teeth.

“If this is to be our last day then celebrate all we achieved, the bonds we made and the do it all with the hope that when I go there, to that dark place, the ritual will succeed!”

I made sure to get a good look at everyone as I spoke. Even those who stood at the crater’s edge.

“So goodbye everyone. And remember, Coh isn’t just a place, it’s an act, a motion. The extending of an open hand to help those in need and the ever forward march of progress!” I said and it’s here that I realized that my face was covered with tears.

I messily wiped my tears before turning to leave.

“Umbris.” I called and like that, we were back in front of Luno.

We exchanged nods and, before I could even blink, we were standing in a crater which was in front of a gigantic dark monolithic structure which looked like a dark temple but I abandoned any curiosity I felt as my gaze fell to meet Caligo’s only… he was smaller.

Much smaller.

He was far skinnier and the silky white gown that hung from his shoulders was barely kept there by crude knots.

I nearly shattered my teeth as I bit them but although I wanted summon all of the darkness in the cosmos, I stopped myself.

I glanced to my left and saw people who I assumed were the other hosts including a gigantic dragon that toward over… well, everything. It’s stone like skin was covered in scars that revealed pink flesh which slowly healed beneath. Sitting on its back were what looked like the remnants of wings and its eyes, like those of Sagathon, were a mixture of every colour imaginable.

Sagathon, who stood pitifully short when compared to the dragon behind him, gave me a wave and in his hand was a magic circle, a white one, which I assumed was blocking my powers somehow.

[Well, everyone’s here. So… shall we?]

“Yes.” Luno said while standing next to Caligo.

“I really wish there was another way.” A short woman with eyes that sucked in any light that approached them sighed. Her eyes were also swollen and she didn’t bother wiping the tears from her face. She wore a set of casual clothes, a beige shirt and pants and had most of her white hair covered in a beanie.

[I do too but there simply isn’t. Anyway, Luno, if you please.]

Luno nodded before teleporting us to the realm of the Noladmet and we beheld the eight dark beings as they stood around the wound they presumably made on the colossal woman’s body.

Sagathon floated over to the wound and we followed him all while the Noladmet watched.

We eventually stood before them and it’s here that Sagathon raised both of his arms.

We then watched as countless tiny strings of white light gathered around each of us including the Noladmet and they didn’t move even as the strings grew in number.

I looked down at the strings swirling around my waist and frowned upon realizing that they weren’t simply strings, they were runes.

[Alright everyone, goodbye!] Sagathon yelled as the runes swirled even more rapidly.

“Goodbye, son!”

“Goodbye, father!”

“Goodbye, my dears!”

[Goodbye, uncle!]

“Goodbye!”

“Goodbye!”

I closed my eyes and reached out for Kenos all while clutching onto all I held dear.

Goodbye.

[Goodbye.]

THE END

AFTERWORD

I really don’t know what to say apart from thanking all who made it here. Thank you for reading Goat Isekai, this wacky, dark fantasy, kinda serious but not too serious tale spanning over a thousand pages.

The goal of any artist is to have their their audience feels something and so I hope that the most stories within Goat Isekai moved you in one way or another.

What’s next?

Well, unfortunately that's it. I am positively exhausted and burnt out. I've spent a good long time in the world of Edenton and I'd like to explore other worlds and idea. I know I had planned to upload an entire additional volume but I don't think I'd be able to do it any justice in my current state.

That being said, I spent a lot of time learning as I wrote Goat Isekai. I learnt how to build worlds, write interesting characters and narratives.

I plan on using all I’ve learn to write more stories but, for now, goodbye and thank you.