Gi sat on the counter of a broken down inn. Around him were all his tentative allies, but that alliance needed to become more official. His current Stage quest was a simple one - control a County.

It was the step after City which he'd achieved just before his death. Gi thought it would be easy to complete, but with the tension in the air, he might have been overconfident.

Wavecrest had Alice, Samba, Tala, and an older man that Gi didn't know representing them. The Thousand Islands had King Rellington, Elder Altman, Elder Tisch, Ellen Swamp, and even Eitina.

All of them were staring daggers at Kumo.

Kumo herself had Wane beside her who while still exhausted and underfed seemed to be disassociating less. Kumo eyed the humans suspiciously.

Nori looked bored, but he could tell she was anything but. The tension in the room had her on edge and the fact that she fought with hands and feet was the only reason she wasn't already brandishing a blade.

Glom beside her didn't have the same reservations and his hand was gripping a dagger at his waist.

The only faction that Gi was not having a problem with was the Igna remnants. Versha waited patiently while Dukkar, the young leader of the Faithful, tried to watch both Gi and the others with limited success.

It was a mess to say the least.

Gi was trying to figure out the best way to approach this unconventional group when Elder Altman spoke up.

"What is that butcher doing here?"

"Kumo?"

"Its aura bleeds with the lives of humanity. That one has been a reaper among our kind. It is not welcome here."

Elizabeth was serving as the translator for the monsters, and after she translated, Kumo sneered at him. "I stand behind my Progenitor. You're the outsider here."

"I won't rest the fate of our peoples on one who has killed so many our kind."

Elder Altman started to churn Aether. Gi hopped off the counter.

"Stop." He flared his aura, letting the ancient and divine presence cut through the tension in the room. "Kumo has killed humans, yes. As have I. As have you. In the same vein, we've all killed monsters. None of our hands are clean here."

The Elder looked like he'd swallowed a sour brew, but he didn't back down nor did he finish summoning the steel blades Gi had seen him use in the castle.

"Peace, Elder," King Rellington said, placing his only hand on Elder Altman's forearm. The priest grunted and returned to his seat.

In this instance, the Elder appeared to be a hothead looking for Kumo's death, but Gi had seen him quick to condemn the King and re-ally with him as it suited his needs.

Gi suspected that whatever this aura that Kumo had was not the real reason for his outburst. That had been a test for Gi or perhaps a way of seeing how far he could push the bounds of this alliance. Perhaps, both.

He'd need to be careful.

He also wanted to tell Elizabeth not to translate everything, but there was no way to convey that without sounding duplicitous. He was sure the bored looking undead was enjoying herself.

"We all know why we're here-" Gi started, but again, Elder Altman cut in.

"No, we don't. I'm sure you've got all your monsters to heel, but who are these other humans. Have you enslaved them?"

Gi sighed. "No, they-"

Alice rose to her feet. "We are here of our own volition. My people represent the village of Wavecrest and these otters are part of us," she said gesturing to Samba and Tala. "They are not a part of his clan."

That admission stung. He knew that Samba had grown to hate him especially after the conversation with Tala, but not hearing them speak up as she denounced the clan in their stead hurt. He was glad Poe wasn't here.

Alice, for her part, didn't seem as angry as Samba and Tala despite perhaps having lost the most, but she did give him a challenging look that dared him to contradict her.

Elder Altman's biting tone cut off any response Gi could make. "You'd willingly consort with monsters? I knew the faith had fallen on the main continent, but so far?"

"They've been steadfast friends and allies that have fought with us during the Surge. I won't listen to you speak ill of them."

"Stop." Gi poured some Aether into his aura, letting the ancient power suffocate the room. Even those with poor Soul Senses would feel the heavy nature of his power.

As much of a headache as this was turning out to be, it was good practice with his aura now that he'd fully realized his Knot.

Gi held the silence until he'd looked every member of the procession in the eye. Nori, who'd mostly seemed bored until now, was eyeing him with surprise. He was probably even stronger than she'd expected if he had to guess.

"Now that we've gotten that out of the way," Gi said, into the well established silence. "We are all here for the same reason. The Demon Empire seeks to conquer the world and enslave any race that gets in its way - monster or human.

"What we need to discuss is the why."

"The God Stage," Nori said. Versha nodded as though that was obvious. The humans did not.

"What is... the God Stage?" King Rellington asked. After their battle and having lost his arm, he seemed to have been humbled to an extent. From scared prince to vengeful king to the man that sat before him now.

"Monsters progress through Stages that empower ourselves and our clan as we pass through them. The last one is the God Stage. I am not an expert, but the gods have told me that the Demon Emperor intends to pass this stage and become a god."

Elder Tisch stroked her chin. "Humans have a similar myth. A person that goes far enough in their cultivation is said to become a peer of the gods."

Gi nodded. "I believe that was the path the The First One took before she became a goddess. Afterwards, she created monsters to sharpen both humans and men to build an army of divines to fight against the Old Gods."

Elder Altman cut in again, but with none of the fire from before. "By Old Gods, you mean the corruption? You mentioned once before that the gods had sent you for that. What did you mean then?"

Gi took a deep breath. This was the cornerstone of what he needed from them. He could still save this world from demons, but the path to godhood got much more difficult.

"This world and many worlds are in danger. The Old Gods are impossibly vast beings with an elevated consciousness beyond our understanding. Where they go, reality shifts in strange and chaotic ways. The least of these is the corruption that we've seen.

"When I was with the gods, my soulmate and I served as scouts within the First One's offensive as we had a natural defense against the Old One's influence. They wish me to return stronger so that I can help them push the Old Ones beyond our world."

Each of those gathered looked thoughtful. It was probably already difficult to imagine an entire empire of monsters bent on their destruction, but Old Gods was even further out.

But most of those here had seen the corruption.

"And do you believe that you can beat it?" King Rellington asked. He'd lost the most through the corruption, having been seduced by The Father's words and infected by his own belief. Gi still wondered how his father had fallen.

"I believe I can endure it and enable those more powerful than me to save us."

King Rellington nodded once as though he expected his answer. Elder Altman wasn't so easily persuaded.

"You say the First One is leading this effort? Why should we trust the God of Monsters for anything?"

"Like we are gathered here to defend our world against a greater threat so are they. As above, so below. I don't think you would be here if it wasn't for Lady Matar's divine intervention, would you not?"

Elder Altman looked skeptical. "If it's important enough for Matar to become involved with the First One, then why has Lord Hyshtel not come forward?"

"I'm afraid I do not know," Gi said which wasn't entirely true. He did have the First One's words on it, but he doubted her disdainful feelings of gods like Hyshtel would help as of now.

Returner, Versha said, I believe you are building to a request of us so that you may pass the God Stage. Let the Fighting Drakes be the first to swear fealty.

Elizabeth repeated his words in the human tongue as Versha tucked his claws beneath him and knelt in the same manner that Gi had first seen the Fighting Drakes praying in the Child Stage.

"Hey!" Kumo said, "The Underbridge Clan has always served Gi." She knelt, helping Wane to his knees as well.

"You reunited my Soul," Wane said with a reverance that Gi wasn't quire sure he was comfortable with. "You replaced my pain with peace. You have but to ask it of me and if it is within my power, I will do it, my lord."

Dukkar dropped unceremoniously to his knees without saying anything as did the two Faithful guards that had started following him around everywhere.

Silence reigned for a moment and Gi wondered if any others would swear, but as expected, it would take more convincing.

Nori let out a big sigh. "First One's left tit. Do you plan to tell me how to run my clan?"

"No. I'd simply be the final voice on matters of the war."

"And since you're shooting for the God Stage, you'd have to conquer or defeat the Demons, right?"

"Yes."

"I suppose you'll be gone if you succeed, and if you don't, we'll all be dead so, yeah I swear." Nori yanked Glom down by his ear to the floor and the two of them were more crouched then bowed, but the sentiment was there.

Alice was next to speak up. "We wish to take charge of our own destiny, but if we have to sacrifice our will then it is not worth it. Do you recognize Wavecrest and all its peoples' sovereignty?"

She gestured to Samba and Tala as she did. It had stung when she'd said it before, but now it hurt as the weight of what she was asking hit home. He responded carefully.

"To me, Samba, Tala, and the others that follow you will always be my family. However, I understand if they do not feel the same way. As long as they are all willing, I recognize their freedom to make the choices that they must."

Gi shared a look with Samba, but his old friend's eyes were hard and ragged. He'd always been sensitive and he'd lost a lot to see Gi returned. Maybe one day, time would be enough to heal these wounds, but that day was not today.

"Then we swear," Alice said, dropping to one knee along with Samba, Tala, and the older man.

This wasn't quite how he'd expected it to go, but he'd have to thank Versha for being the first to swear later. However, it wasn't enough. Gi had been hoping that might be enough to finish his next Stage, but he hadn't received a notification.

All of those from the Thousand Island looked to him, but it was clear that they were waiting for their King.

Even Elder Altman finally stopped having something to say.

King Rellington tapped one finger against his lips as he considered how to respond. "It isn't in the nature of Kings to relinquish authority. More than anyone, I understand that. My father remained King until his deathbed. I fought a war to guarantee that I could lead my people through the Surge rather than anyone else.

"And now you ask me to relinquish that? I could not... and yet, I must. What chance do we have against the Demons if we are not united? What was the purpose of all my struggle if my people die for my hubris? The only thing that would hold me back is whether I could trust you."

The King glanced from him to Elder Altman, but then continued. "When I became corrupted, my people had given up on me. You could have killed me and used your strength to bring us to the fold. You did not. You showed me mercy. You asked for help.

"I don't think I would have done the same in your situation, but for that, I do trust you. It is not right for a King to relinquish authority to another person, but I believe I'm looking at a future god, and to that god, I kneel."

King Rellington rested his knee on the dirty tavern floor with a smile. It was something that Gi would have never imagined after meeting this prince for the first time back in the Child Stage or the times thereafter. Somewhere out in the vast universe, he hoped Fader was proud.

Two beams of light wrapped Gi in its embrace and all turned to white.