I took a deep breath, looking for any sign of life or response from Ania. "This really isn't the time, Nightchilde."

"On the contrary, I think it's the perfect time," Nightchilde said, putting two of her hands on my shoulders and another two on the side of my head. "You've suffered a grievous loss. One that cuts you to the core. You've tried and failed to repair your soul after it. Now, I am here to offer you an alternative to suffering."

"I'm not in the mood to marry you," I said, gritting my teeth and shaking my head. "Besides, you haven't won yet."

Nightchilde dropped a set of Pwiffle cards beside me. They were weak cards accompanied by the limited edition Epic DungeoneeringTM CHAMPION card that came as a preorder bonus for the third game. It could only be used once but automatically won you a round.

"Really?" I asked, looking down. "You're going to use the card banned for tournament play?"

"I remember how you collected like five for the price of your car," Nightchilde said, massaging my shoulders and temple. "That was when I believed you would never amount too much. How wrong I was."

"If you want to kill me, go ahead," I said. "I can't be anything for anyone now."

"Oh but imagine if you didn't have to feel the pain you're feeling now?" Nightchilde said. "I can take away all of your conscience. You'll be able to enjoy life without having to worry about helping others, failure, or the fact that you promised to win this for your girlfriend but got her killed. Life will be pleasant for you, Aaron, and you'll never have to worry about anyone else ever again."

I stood up and walked away, unable to breathe. "That's not as appealing as you think it is."

"Liar," Nightchilde said, turning around to face me. "This isn't you, Aaron. You don't want to be a leader. You don't crave power. Surrender to me and you will have a life of luxury and pleasant company. We will provide the people with salvation from Veles and they will reward us with their love. Give yourself to me, Aaron, and you will live forever in contentment. I will even bring back those you need."

"Worship me and you'll make me a god," I said, looking at the floor stained with Ania's blood and ashes.

"Yes," Nightchilde said.

"Please, sister," Rachel started to speak, approaching us. "You don't have to do this. Aaron is--"

"Not yours," Nightchilde said, through gritted teeth. "He was mine and I did not give him permission to move on!"

Rachel seemed shocked by that response. "That's not how love is supposed to work."

"Screw love!" Nightchilde said, throwing her arms out. "I am the goddess of the night and will not be denied!"

"But--" Rachel started to speak.

"Silence or die," Nightchilde said. "You are not my sister, just a pathetic mewling embodiment of a nerd's fantasy girlfriend. Aaron has infected you with his weakness and mercy. My sister was the genocide of giants and the crusher of nations. You positively stink of compassion and goodwill now. It makes me sick. Now will you submit to me, Aaron, or will I have to find a new champion. I still have Alek after all. I can erase his memory of the Dragon Queen and make him my sword in your place. Certainly, he'd appreciate the lie that he was anything other than a substitute for Garland."

"No," I said, more confident of my answer now. "I won't dishonor Ania's memory that way."

Nightchilde growled. "Then die, oathbr--"

"Nightchilde?" Ania spoke behind us both. "Dodge this."

Nightchilde didn't have a chance to turn her head before Ania fired her pistol into the side of her head. Nightchilde stumbled to the ground, confused by the bullet in her head. I saw Ania, covered in ash but fully healed, adjust her aim.

"Backstab x4 damage, called shot to the head. Critical hit. Hmm, better a few more attacks of opportunity to make sure," Ania said, emptying the clip into her (former) goddess. It was over a dozen shots before she was done.

Much to my surprise, Nightchilde was still alive but had seen better days, rocking from side to side as if trying to put her brain back together.

"Ania, step aside," Jon said, slowly getting up. My REVIVE spell had worked on him too but just barely. "You too Aaron."

Both of us did so.

Jon proceeded to unleash another blast of lightning that struck Nightchilde in the face from approximately a foot from the dragon's mouth. It sent her flying and into the side of one of the statues, Perun, before it collapsed on top of her. Nightchilde's body shifted and twisted until it became a draconic humanoid, malformed with leathery wings and scales before slowly disintegrating into black mist that faded away into nothingness.

"GOD SLAIN," Perun's voice finally spoke.

"Ding dong the witch is dead," Jon started singing, which was hilarious given he was a dragon and now had a much deeper voice. "Which old witch?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"The wicked witch!" Rachel said, clearly knowing the words. It seemed Nightchilde's last speech had eliminated any sisterly bond she'd hoped to forge with her fellow deity. At least among these avatars.

"Ding dong the wicked witch is dead," Jon said, puffing smoke from his nostrils.

I turned to Jon, disgusted. "Have a care man. Nightchilde was the victim of a terrible curse. I cared about her deeply once."

"Sorry," Jon said, surprised by my reaction.

So was I, to be honest.

"A moment of silence," I said, lowering my head. A second later, I raised my head and said, "Okay, that's done. She's gone where the goblins go!"

"Below, below, below, yo ho," Rachel said, swinging her fist in the air. "Let's open up and sing and ring the bells out."

Rachel, Jon, and I all started doing the wave.

"I don't know the song you're singing but I get the sentiment behind it," Ania said, looking around. She picked up some burnt flesh that had previously been part of her face but healed over. "Was I dead?"

"Yes," I said, pausing. "Are you okay?"

Ania stared at me. "I was just dead. So no."

"Oh, right," I said, stretching out my arms. "You want a hug?"

Ania stared then looked behind her and to one side. She looked at Jon and Rachel. "Turn away."

Both did so.

Ania hugged me.

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - Twilight of the Old Gods

(50) A - Kill three of the Old Gods

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - We are honored by fight by Man again

(50) A - Recruit the Elvish Armies

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - One Nation, Indivisible

(50) A - End the Ledzianian Civil War

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - Enemy of my enemy

(50) A - Recruit both the Mad Queen, Dragon Queen, and Imperial armies

MAIN QUEST UPDATED

DEFEAT THE OLD GODS SERVING VELES (3/4)

ASSEMBLE ARMIES TO FIGHT VELES’ HORDE 2/3

REWARD

+ 500,000 EXP (The Wind Demon)

+ 250,000 EXP (Zorya Nightchilde [Mad])

+ 100,000 EXP (Recruit Imperial Forces, Bonus)

+ 100,000 EXP (Recruit Elvish Forces)

+ 100,000 EXP (Recruit Dragon Queen's Forces)

+ 100,000 EXP (Recruit Mad Queen's Forces)

+ 100,000 EXP (Jorg the Bastard Knight)

+ 70,000 EXP (Recruit Dark Moon Elves, Bonus)

+ 500,000 GP

+ Robes of the Dark Moon Goddess

+ Hat of the Dark Moon Goddess

+ Staff of the Dark Moon Goddess

+ Ring of Oaths

Level 12 to 13

700,000/ 1,125,000

Wow, that was a lot of experience points. It was also enough gold to finish upgrading Crossroad to be able to resist just about anything. We were only missing one more army in the dwarves, assuming we really could get all of the people we'd "recruited" to join us. There was also only one more Old God, Belobog, left to defeat. Given the absolute hell we'd gone through to defeat Nightchilde, I was hoping taking him down would fairly straightforward. The chances of that happening were slim, though. Veles had to know that the tide had turned against his armies and if he wanted to win this war then it'd be better if he struck first.

Which meant we had to cheat.

"How long was I dead?" Ania asked.

"Just a few minutes," I said.

"It felt like an eternity," Ania said. "I was cosigned to the Realm of Oathbreakers and forced to do paperback."

"What."

"I was trapped behind a desk and people constantly brought pictures of me to sign," Ania said, making a disgusted face. "Some of them were erotic. Sometimes they wanted me to sign body parts. Other times they told me long and rambling stories about what my story meant or how they'd named their children after me. That was really awkward when they brought their children and erotic photos with them."

"The Realm of Oathbreakers is UndermasterCon?" I asked.

Ania grabbed me by the folds of my cloak. "You have no idea the horror of it. I want to feel alive. To feel the joys of life again."

"Okay," I said, blinking.

"We should fast travel back to Maelors and put the whole fidelity thing on hold," Ania said. "I'll invite Angelica. I bet that Rusalka woman would want to join in too."

"Uh, maybe we should wait a few hours until your head is back on straight," I said.

"Aaron, I need touch," Ania said. "Right now I'm ready to invite your daughter.'

"Okay, the incest jokes aren't funny anymore," Jon said, pausing. "Okay, I'm lying, they're still hilarious."

Rachel paused then laughed. "Oh, you were kidding. Right. Ha, ha."

"Can I cast a cleaning cantrip first?" I asked. "You have your own ashes on your face."

Ania paused. "Yes."

That was when Agata, Bloodstorm (wearing Epic DungeoneeringTM boxer shorts now),

Alek, Joan, and Ivan rushed into the devastated cathedral.

"Not now, guys," I said. "Kinda busy."

"You defeated the Wind Demon and Nightchilde?" Bloodstorm asked, stunned. "Goddamn, I am sorry, Aaron. I really underestimated how much of a badass you are."

"I am so sorry!" Joan said, waving her staff. "I betrayed you and apologize for everything that I did."

"Don't confess to anything," Bloodstorm said. "He might blow your head off."

"Not cool, Bloodstorm," I said. "Not cool."

"Fine, I forgive you for pardoning Ivan," Bloodstorm said. "Even though he hurt Agata."

"I forgave him!" Agata said.

"That makes it worse!" Bloodstorm said.

Ivan coughed. "I feel a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. You have defeated the people who held my soul in check and--"

"Do you want to be queen, Agata?" I asked.

Agata asked. "What?"

"Queen or Great Mother?" I asked. "We need a replacement for both."

Agata blinked. "Great Mother."

"Ivan, you're going to be king," I said, staring down at him.

Ivan paused. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Don't screw it up," I said. "We need an army to fight Veles. Joan, you need to bless him."

"I need to make amends with Mythras first," Joan said.

"You do that," I said, walking up to her and patting her on the head.

"You know that's punishable by death, right," Joan said, looking up.

"That means there's nothing worse you can do to me if I give you a noogie!" I said, waving my fist at her.

"Ah!" Joan covered up her head in terror.

"What about you, Alek?" I asked, looking at him.

Alek stared at me. "There's no point in trying to avenge Celeste, is there?"

"You can avenge her," I said, "or you can honor her legacy by saving her people?"

"What about both?" Alek asked.

I stared at him. "You have a choice, Alek. Make amends for what you've done or be stopped."

Alek nodded and removed his mark of the champion. "Take mine then."

"Be a Dark Undermaster and make amends," I said, simply.

"You're very free with pardons," Alek said.

"I try," I said.

I walked over to Francine's corpse and took her bracelet as her ashen hand crumbled when I picked it up. I possessed all of the marks of the champion now.

Should I absorb all this energy and become a god? I asked Perun.

Perun's voice was silent.

"Come on, Aaron! I'm horny!" Ania said.

Everyone looked at her.

"Oh, shut up!"

I looked at her and pushed away all the horror and decisions I needed to deal with. "Guys, I'll be back in....a couple of days. Please take care of all this. Like, all of it."

AARON’S ADVENTURES WILL CONTINUE IN

WIZARDS OF DRAGON KEEP