The end is here (Thursday 7/7)

“Master, it is time,” Aclysia said and gently nudged him awake. John looked at the clock. He had spent the last few hours sleeping; now the barrier was about to go down, only 15 more minutes until midnight. He left the house in a strangely calm mood, finding the loot basin, the table, and even Magoi’s house to have disappeared. The moment everyone from his group had stepped out John’s house disappeared too.

He stood at the heart of a seven-people party. There was himself, the Gamer equipped with some serious power in the form of the World Ender items (Sadly he had not acquired other stuff that could be of use).

To his right stood Aclysia, thanks to Artificial Spirit reaching level 10 again just today she had gotten Adaptive Bladery back. However, she was only equipped with Ashkandi still, the blade was good enough to justify that, however.

To his left was Mono, the newest member of the group was clutching a spear, which they had gotten from the floor 5 boss of the Angel I.D.

Her first Skill Tree choice had of course been the question of specialization. He had gone with Support; then it had asked him what kind of support: Healer, Buffer or Blocker. Between the last two, he had been thinking for a bit, but finally, he went with Buffer. This had presented him then with the choice of Mana Battery, and after reading through it, he had **** but to take it.

If there was one thing Mono had a lot off, it was mana, plus she could share it with anyone else in the group, including his elementals, making the upgrade he had by making her substantial.

Undine stood behind him, her lower body mostly a singular mass but she kept her legs somewhat shaped up.

Sylph flew around the group and chatted with everyone, although nobody answered she was happy just having her mouth run about.

Salamander sighed while sitting on his shoulder, “When this is over I am taking a vacation,” she mumbled, “gonna visit that endless landscape of sexual fantasies in your head and just laugh at them.”

Lastly, Gnome was standing next to Mono, like John had hoped (or partly created Mono for) the two of them got along well, which was hard to realize for a normal onlooker, as the two mostly just quietly hung out.

The only thing still around was the chair a certain Fateweaver sat in and read his newspaper. Magoi checked the watch on his wrist and yawned, “Four days, almost over. Gotta say there are better ways to spend my time, but a hell of a lot worse too,” he said. “Thanks for everything, Magus,” John said despite the Fateweavers tone.

“Don’t thank me for what was a simple business transaction,” the Fateweaver said, but his tone betrayed a certain amusement, “in a few minutes we will go separate ways. I will collapse the barrier and then create a new one; you won’t even see me anymore.” A pause, the rustling of the newspaper as Magoi turned the page, “I hope it isn’t a goodbye forever, John Newman. I may not agree with your friends, but you seem to be morally upright, a rare trade amongst the powerful freelancers in the Abyss.”

John nodded, “I hope to see you again one day too. Maybe that day you won’t have a problem standing in public with me,” he joked. Magoi chuckled, “Perhaps. You should know though that even if you survive tomorrow, there are hard times ahead.” “There always seem to be,” John sighed but nevertheless answered with a smile, “but as long as Jane is safe, that is okay.” “Ahh, young love, such a powerful thing,” Magoi mused while checking his watch again, “This is about it,” he said, “any last words? Were you happy with the service?”

“I was, and if I don’t make it, please tell Regan Hollmey that I am sorry Magus,” John answered. “That seems like favoritism, but I think I can make this one exception,” Magus folded his newspaper and extended his hand. John didn’t hesitate; the two shared a short but friendly handshake. The world around them started to crack open, “and if you make it,” the Fateweaver said, “feel free to call me Magoi next time we meet.”

And with that, he was gone. The whole plain was gone, John and his group stood in the entrance area of his home, in front of the door which he had stared at before being pulled into the Grand Magus’ Grand Barrier of Grandness just four days ago. Four days that had been 28 days for him.

He heard a soft rain from the outside, the phone in his pocket vibrated as it finally picked up a network again. He looked at it, found a load of messages from Regan and a single one from Herman, one that made him quickly change the elemental girls into incorporeal forms and had him open the door and look outside.

There sat the brown-haired guy and stared up at him. “There you are, John,” he said in a weak voice. John looked at the message again.

‘Am outside, please, let me make this right.’ - 3 days ago

“Finally,” Herman said, although his eyes widened slightly at the view of the Gamer’s new aura. John helped the Apothecary up and out of the soft night rain. “You don’t owe me anything, Herman,” he said and guided him to the kitchen. The guy had been sitting outside since writing that message it seemed. “Aclysia would you make some tea?” John asked, and she obeyed, Mono in tow to prepare something to eat as well.

Once he was properly seated Herman sighed in relief, “Thank you,” he said to Aclysia when getting his cup of tea, warming his rain wettened hands, “I was halfway prepared that you would never forgive me.” “That’s not it, I spent the last four days inside an Illusion Barrier,” John explained why he hadn’t answered sooner and then laid down everything that had happened.

“That explains why you are this much stronger,” Herman said at the end. John threw a quick Observe at him; nothing had changed. ‘I expected the relationship to drop at the very least’ he thought and moved on to why he was of that mindset. “Are you not mad at me for getting all of your friends killed?” John asked. Herman shook his head, “you are still thinking like somebody out of the Abyss, John. The moment they agreed to help me with this they knew they could die. I am sad, but the possibility was always there,” a heavy sigh, “but I am not willing to let their sacrifice be in vain. We were both shaken up last time, but I need you tell me exactly what happened in the bunker, maybe we can still do something, for my friend's and for your girlfriend’s sake.”

‘Right, he has no idea,’ John realized, “Jane is not dead,” he started another explanation, “and about Thana, she wants to fight me today.” “Wait, why to both of these?” Herman asked with a straight expression as a ham sandwich was placed in front of him. He thanked Mono, his eyes lingering on her for a short, confused moment.

“Thana is using her as a hostage to ensure I come to her. In her words, she is dying and wants to go out with a bang or something,” John relayed what he knew. “…in other words, we can save both of them,” Herman’s eyes light up with hope. “SAVE Thana?” John asked, “she killed seven of your friends.” “She probably was unable to discern friend from foe. She was maddened when she got out of the prison, wasn’t she?” “Terrifyingly so,” John said, remembering the laughter and ****, “let’s say I go along with your idea, what is the plan?”

“The barrier I put up to heal her on site is still in place,” Herman told him, “if she is dying that means she will get weaker until eventually, you can capture her, right?” John wasn’t convinced that that was the case, “let us assume that,” he, however, gave in. “So, all we have to do is wait until she is that weak.” “I cannot wait, if I don’t get there soon she will kill Jane,” John reminded Herman. “Then go fight her for a bit, while you occupy her I will get her out,” the Apothecary said, “then you retreat, and we wait until she should be weak enough to capture outside.”

“Wouldn’t she just follow us?” John asked, there was little reason for her not too. Herman hesitated for a moment, thought about that. “Doesn’t she look inhuman?” he finally asked. “Not really, but I guess her eyes are not exactly normal,” John answered. “Then she won’t follow us if a single normal person outside would see her she would get taken care of by Gaia and if she wants to go out with a bang that’s not what she will do,” Herman said with certainty.

“You are incredibly sure for having this little information,” John said and stared the Apothecary down. Herman awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, “I am not certain at all, I just hope for the best,” he admitted.

John massaged the bridge of his nose and thought about it. If Herman were right and succeeded Jane would be secure much earlier, if he wasn’t John lost nothing. If it turned out that it was possible to save Thana and she actually was more than a psychotic murderess they even got done what they had set out to do in the first place. Pragmatically speaking there was no reason for him to decline and even if Thana turned out to be the maniac John currently thought her to be it would be much easier to take care of her in a weakened state or just to leave her to die. “Okay, let’s try to do it your way,” he therefore agreed.