In the days that followed the defeat of Clay Atlas, Blake’s world was turned upside down. The fall from the tower killed Clay Atlas, and the system made Blake Thornwood the new City Lord of New Meridia the moment Atlas died.

Blake’s first order of business was freeing those stuck inside the dungeons in the lowest levels of Atlas Tower.

He demanded that Chelsea Otto, who now answered directly to him, take him to his friend Harry and his parents.

“Blake!” Harry exclaimed, his voice weak but filled with joy. The period of captivity had clearly messed with his best friend. “You came for us! I knew you wouldn’t let us down. I found your parents and I caught them up on everything that’s happened since we got here. I’m sure they’re around here somewhere… Jacob! Eileen! Where are you?”

Blake’s parents appeared out of the gloom, and they rushed forward to embrace their son. They held him tightly, and for a long time.

“We knew you would come for us, Blake,” his mother whispered. “We never lost faith in you.”

Blake’s father, Jacob, held his son close. “I’m so proud of you, my boy. I always knew you were destined for greatness.”

“Thanks Dad, that means the world.”

His mother and father had wasted away, their bones showing through their pale skin. He would take care of them and bring them back to health.

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As the group made their way out of the prison, the other captives looked at Blake with hope and wonder. Word had spread of Blake’s victory over Clay Atlas, and his rescue of his loved ones was a powerful symbol of the brighter future that lay ahead for New Meridia.

Emerging into the sunlight, Blake, Harry, and Blake’s parents took a moment to savor their newfound freedom. And as they walked arm-in-arm toward the gates of New Meridia, their hearts were filled with hope and determination, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

There were challenges, that was for sure.

Samuel Jackson and the resistance repaired the damage to the water treatment plant, and Blake used their counsel to best direct the resources of the city to repair the damage that had been done.

A few days after taking power, Blake finally managed to take stock of everything that Clay Atlas left behind. In his last battle, Clay had all but confirmed that he and the other six City Lords had come here from somewhere else. Another world, somewhere.

He’d spoken about a greater game at play, one that he was a part of.

Blake was one of 13 Deviants, and he himself was a card that had been played on Planet Earth 21 years ago. His real name was Monster Summoner Araya.

While going through the old City Lord’s possessions, Blake found evidence of a plan that put Planet Earth right in the center of another civilization’s power grab. The further the system spread, the more power cards were spawned, and the more anima the invading City Lords could cultivate into their own hands.

The other six City Lords across Planet Earth, the ones responsible for bringing the system to Blake’s planet, were planning on using humanity to ascend to a higher level. They were using the people of Earth to harvest anima to consolidate power.

But Blake knew that if he could topple one of these City Lords, then he could stand against the others as well. Blake had been adopted by people from this world, and now it was Blake’s turn to protect the planet from the outsiders who threatened his home.