Shirtaloon
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Chapter 997: The Man Who Fought the Monsters
🕑 Added 2025-03-17 22:00:08 +0000 UTCJason floated over the water of the River Faron, meditating on his progress towards diamond rank. He had not been human for a quarter of a century, yet he had always clung to his humanity. It had been a close thing, a couple of times, but he’d always managed to hold on. Power, destiny, and no few of his own choices seemed determined to make him something more than human, already rendering him immortal. He couldn’t help but think that they would also make him something less.
One day, he would come into the fullness of his power. The System. The full realisation of his astral kingdom. Whatever it was listening to prayers led to. And he had been listening, not that he could do anything about it. What he could do something about was holding onto his humanity.
Dawn had been in Jason’s position once. Looking down the barrel of transcendent power, losing track of who she once was. She’d been sent to Jason to anchor her sense of mortality before she left mortality behind. Jason had been doing the same thing, spending as much of his years on Earth as he could indulging in time with friends and family. They did everything from fighting vampires to learning to kite surf. High-rank agility helped a lot with the latter.
As Europe was slowly but surely reclaimed by humanity, Jason increasingly left that task to the humans. Humphrey continued to participate, but the team at large did not. They moved their combat from Earth to the outer edges of Jason’s astral spaces, where Rufus had done much of his gold-rank training.
The dimensional boundaries of the astral spaces offered fluctuating magical conditions and a plethora of often bizarre gold-rank monsters. Rufus had always acted with caution, never going too close to the outer edge, but things were different with the full team.
The astral spaces were the only place on Earth, or at least Earth adjacent, that could offer genuine challenge to the most powerful adventurers. Jason’s grandmother had started opening these spaces to clan members as they grew more powerful, and even some from outside the clan. The ability to grant such opportunities was a powerful weapon in the clan’s diplomatic armoury.
Having moved into the mid-ranges of gold rank, Jason and his team were past the need for battle to push them to greater heights. Even so, they never slacked off, never allowed themselves to grow complacent or out of practise. Whatever destination he was headed towards, Jason would always be the man who fought the monsters, with his friends by his side.
Earth was proving a surprisingly effective place for Jason and his allies to advance their abilities. For the silver-rankers still rising through the clan ranks, he had the monsters to throw them at while that remained effective. Nik was largely passed that point, but Emi was still working her way up.
“I’m sorry that I’m not there yet,” she’d told Jason. They were sitting on a rooftop after Nik’s celebration party for reaching gold rank. Their legs dangled off the edge as they looked up at the stars.
“There’s no rush,” he assured her. “It’s not race, it can’t be. Immortality has no finish line.”
“I’m not immortal, Uncle Jason.”
“Not yet.”
“You know… you know that last time you came back to Earth, I got scared. I thought I wanted to be like you, fighting monsters. Then I saw what that meant. What it did to you, and I got scared.”
“And so you should.”
“After you left, and we didn’t hear from you, I blamed myself. And Mum. I thought that if we understood what you were going through better, you wouldn’t have stayed away so long. So I pushed myself to fight monsters. But I forgot what I’d learned watching you. I got my magic and I felt invincible. Then something happened. We pushed to hard — I pushed too hard — and it all went wrong. After that, I knew for sure that I couldn’t be like you. Like Farrah. I do go out and push myself to rank up, but it can’t be my life.”
“It doesn’t have to be. You’re going to be the first archwizard to come from Earth, and that’s more than enough.”
“Archwizard? Is that like a special title from Pallimustus?”
“No, it’s a thing I just made up. Sounds good though, right?”
She slapped him on the arm and he let out maniacal laughter.
***
As the path through gold towards diamond grew more contemplative, there was an array of experienced adventurers to offer guidance to the rising silvers. Nik’s transition to gold was not built on a sudden revelation but the solid accumulation of wisdom and understanding. It was an unremarkable yet unshakable foundation on which to build his future growth.
For Nik and the other adventurers from Pallimustus, Earth presented challenges that they had never experienced at home. On Pallimustus, the job was to kill monsters and walk away. People might be famous, but information could only spread so fast. People might have opinions, but few ways to communicate en masse, let alone, organise. If they did, there was little they could accomplish. Democratic systems were all but unheard of, and the stratification of power was ingrained into every culture, however much they differed.
On Earth, their every action was scrutinised. Interpreted; reinterpreted; misinterpreted. A lie could spread from person to person like a plague, changing the fate of nations. This meant that every time Jason or his friends appeared in public, or what could be made public by anyone with a camera phone, they had to be intensely aware of their actions. Not just what they did, but how those actions could be perceived.
Being under a microscope was frustrating, but also came with one surprising benefit. Advancing essences beyond gold rank required significant amount of self-examination, and the realities of fame were pushing Jason and his team to do so almost reflexively. Advancement towards diamond, so notoriously difficult on Pallimustus, was ironically easier on Earth.
An unconventional ally in their quest for advancement was Terrance Tilden. As well as being Anna’s brother, he was a public relations expert and perennial attendee of mandatory sensitivity training. Over the last few years, he had been instrumental in not just managing the image of Jason’s increasingly famous friends and family but pushing them to drive themselves into new situations. From that came the possibility of new revelations.
Sophie, for example, had pushed her Wind essence in new directions. She had been travelling the world for several years, using her aura to purge whole cities of disease and shut down epidemics before they could take hold.
Even before gaining magic, Sophie was cold and sharp as the swift and cutting wind. That was not a good way to be for someone wandering the world, healing the poor and the sick. Doing so teased out new aspects of herself, at odds with the person she had always been. She needed to become a warm, gentle and cleansing wind. It did not come naturally, but her days of youthful desperation were long behind her.
Years of confidence and camaraderie allowed her to open her once-rigid shell, but Sophie still found herself floundering in her identity. Did she give up who she had been for who she was becoming? She still valued the lessons life had taught her, but the disparate aspects of her personality were at odds with the focus she had always held, whatever objective she was pursuing. The conflict threatened to undo the progress she was making on her path to diamond, and only Humphrey’s solid presence and unwavering faith held her together.
Ultimately, she came to understand the shapeless, ever-shifting nature of the wind. She did not have to be any one thing but could change with the weather, becoming what she needed to be. Learning to reconcile the differing aspects of herself was also a boon to the advancement of her Balance essence. Clive had the same essence, and likewise found a roundabout path to advancing it.
Clive’s magic essence was easy to advance. His curiosity and focus gave him a drive to learn and grow, but singularity of purpose was not helpful for the Balance essence. In the past, he had balanced field research with lab research, but that was too shallow to move the essence any further forward. The solution came with Lorelei and Clive’s fumbling progress through their relationship. Opening up to her gave him an equilibrium he’d never had without compromising his magical studies, as she shared his passion and intelligence.
Belinda and Humphrey had some of the easiest times on the team. Theirs had been the hardest transitions into gold rank, both needing greater personal revelations to break through than the others. Having done so, they could explore those revelations more fully, for a smoother advancement.
Humphrey’s revelation had been that forcefully enacting his will did not have to be malevolent. A dragon did as it pleased, for good or ill, and what Humphrey pleased was to help people. Whatever doubts he may have had, his sense of responsibility never wavered, always driving him forward. His essences of Might and Magic were his weapons, his Wing essence carrying him to the fore. More than anyone else on the team, the leader of Team Biscuit was on the frontlines. Be it vampires, monsters or even the occasional rogue essence user, Humphrey was reliable and true.
Belinda’s obstacle to gold rank had been a belief that she was destined to undermine the team. With both her mindset and her abilities built for deception and deceit, she had to find a way to see herself as anything more than a sand timer counting down to failure or betrayal. It was in teaching that she had found a way to make an unambiguously positive contribution, and she continued that on Earth. As magical education centres expanded, both within the Asano Clan and beyond, she was a key participant.
Convincing herself that she could be a positive force for the team was only half of the puzzle for Belinda. There was also the question of how, given that her powers and proclivities were for trickery and cunning. Spying was a natural fit, Neil pointed out that the world’s greatest spy wouldn’t have that written on their t-shirt, especially while infiltrating a secure government facility. The escalation of that debate led to Humphrey instituting a ‘no bets’ rule for missions.
The others all had their own ways of using their agendas to refine their powers and themselves. Neil’s Growth, Renewal and Prosperity essences found fertile ground in desert reclamation programs in Australia and North Africa. Danielle explored the nature of time and space, gaining a doctorate in theoretical physics. Rufus also took to academia, to explore his Sun and Moon essences. Rather than a hard science approach, he engaged with philosophy and religious study courses.
Taika’s approach to his advancement was more intuitive. To advance his Wing and Garuda essences, he took to the skies, often staying in bird form for days or even weeks as he travelled with migratory birds. He also developed his Swift essence alongside Sophie with hers. The pair occasionally spooked military forces and air traffic controllers as they raced around the planet. Footage of them flying close to commercial aircraft, waving at passengers was not hard to find online.
Not everyone had the same drive to reach diamond rank. Satisfaction with the way things were, or hesitation to engage in the world of immortals could easily undermine the drive to advance. Emir Bahadir knew the world of diamond rankers better than most, and was happy where he was. He had little interest in leaving his place as a notorious man at the peak of the mortal world to foot the lowest rung of immortality’s ladder.
Arabelle Remore had thought herself satisfied, but serving as Jason’s mental healer had slowly shifted her thoughts on her own position. As time passed, Jason’s circumstances went ever further beyond her experience. She had always done her best to help him, even as she felt less equipped to do so. It inspired in her a renewed drive to become more than she was.
Jason was not the only thing pushing Arabelle to grow. Guiding others in the transitions from the peak of silver, into gold and beyond, was something she was increasingly experienced with. Few adventurers, even in her specialty, dealt with so many people reaching such heights of power. Surrounded by golds not just trying but succeeding in making progress to diamond, she found herself making greater advancements herself.
Despite all of that, her greatest challenge was not Jason or the other gold rankers but an increasing number of former vampires. As the vampire war progressed, large sections of Europe were falling back under human control, and a surprising number of vampires were being captured instead of killed.
This had come largely at the instigation of Humphrey. The human leadership had issued dictates of no quarter, but Humphrey disagreed and no one wanted to cross the dragon. He had realised that far more vampires than expected were lesser vampires, forcibly turned but never accepting their new state in their souls.
Once upon a time, this wouldn’t have mattered, since the only cure for their vampirism was death. Now there was the cure developed by Carlos Quilido. It was harsh and didn’t have a hundred-percent survival rate, but it was a better option than decapitation. There were now thousands of former vampires, gathered in medical barracks in Slovakia.
The trauma they had gone through went beyond anything in Arabelle’s previous experience. Not even Jason or the brighthearts could match the personal horror the former vampires had endured. Years, sometimes decades, of being trapped inside their own bodies, watching as they killed and ate anyone in their path. Often, their first victims were their own friends and family.
Most of the lesser vampires had surrendered to the monster. Whether it took months or years, what was left of their mind couldn’t take it and they opened their souls fully, becoming greater vampires. That put them beyond the ability to cure, too far gone for Carlos’ procedure.
Those that held out long enough to be captured and restored to humanity were Arabelle’s to heal. Madness had taken them all in one way or another, and she was tasked with the painstaking process of bringing them back. Magic could only go so far, and she worked as part of a large team of healers and mental health specialists from Earth. None of them had experience with the challenges they were faced with, but they had a lot to learn from each other. Arabelle did have a lot of questions about Freud.
Jason’s progress with his essences was solid. His Doom essence thrived as he loomed over the world like the Sword of Damocles. His Sin essence grew as he explored his transcendent half, listening to prayers he had no power to consciously answer. There had been reports of miraculous recovery from disease and other maledictions, but even Jason doubted their veracity. Miracles weren’t what they used to be when every hospital had at least one magic healer on staff.
His dark essence thrived on his controversial image. His prominence has risen, with his influence on world leaders, the ongoing conspiracy theories and growing cult following. He moved in secret and appeared without warning. His motives and agenda were mysterious, to the world, his allies and, to some degree, even himself. He thrived on melodrama and unpredictability. One day he was slaughtering spider bats in Kuala Lumpur, more terrifying than the monsters. The next, his niece was posting a video of him singing ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’ by Baccara while making a risotto.
Jason’s Blood essence was a little different from the others. With the prominence of vampires, Jason couldn’t help but recognise that he was the predator to them that they were to humans. This had been something he resisted accepting as part of his core identity, stalling out advancement of his Blood essence compared to the others.
During his darkest days, Jason had thought that he could be more monstrous than the monsters. He had turned away from that path, realising that it would only lead him to becoming one of them. But in forcing himself to look unflinchingly inside, Jason was forced to accept that that old drive was a part of him, whether he liked it or not.
The monster inside Jason was what allowed him to wield his terrifying powers. To undertake the grimmer tasks he faced as an adventurer. The key, he ultimately realised, was knowing when to release the monster, and making sure he could always put it back in the box. He was the man who fought the monsters, even the ones inside himself.
Comments
John Hatteberg
Did Zara and Jason break up? They haven’t hung out in a while.
PapaJaypes
This is one of my favourite chapters of the past few books. Incredible summary of the team biscuits and the wider characters struggles and successes. Everything from the chapter title to the deep introspection to the final paragraph was on point. Even after a thousand chapters you continue to improve Shirt. Well done mate and best of luck with the road to recovery. The world needs more of your deeply talented writing.
Opossums Coat
This chapter was phenomenal, but I legit did a little cheer when Clive and Lorelei were confirmed!
Fabienne Bedry
Thank you, you are right, it makes better sense like that. Freud and his « penis envy » théory rimes with wtf…
Kconraw
Thx for the chapter
Jack Liu
nice chapter. quite the rank advancement and recap
Frank Morgana
Nice chapter! Happy for Nik to hit gold. And hear that Taika is making his way to diamond
Frederick
I would love to, but am unfortunately too far away, so I must decline.
Andre Morales
Correct but I would imagine they are getting plenty of those in their monster killing. Lady aly said craftspeople core users have an easier time to diamond after they get past the gold
Justin
Isn’t he a core user?
Andre Morales
I wonder how Travis is doing as we left at a bit of a cliffhanger, please tell me he is at least Gold now since crafters are supposed to have an easier time getting to diamond after getting through gold. I don't want Travis to turn into Krillin...
Ol' Sarge
I wonder how Zara is doing?
Aaron Pell
I read this almost two days ago. It's nearly Wednesday release time. So... The secret to diamond rank is genuinely and consciously completing their shadow work until they reach a point of inner peace, balance and harmony?
René Blaser
Oh bloody yes. I definitly was in a maudling mood right there :-) If you're close to Switzerland let's meet and have that glass of Red Wine together. Seriously. I would love to meet people that love this tale.
Frederick
It was too easy to imagine you saying this with a glass of red wine in one hand and a cigar or a rose in the other whilst standing in front of a large Gothic window. At night. With a heavy downpour visible through the panes. Very melodramatic. Channeling your inner Jason when he goes darklord. ...or was that a sandwich instead of wine?
Frederick
Yep. Book 3 had a pretty solid ending, too, and here we are 10-ish books later.
Jarrett Glass
Wait, they've been GOLD for 25 years now? Did I miss that big a time jump?
Jarrett Glass
I dont think it's a rush to diamond rank, but maybe commentary on what their focus needs be. The battles on earth are diplomatic and education-based. They have time.
Greg
It does feel that way. I think one more book and thats it
Jarrett Glass
A new arc was my take away too. He's rounding us all up so we are on the same page, and have a nice peaceful moment with everyone.
BloodStorm
I loved this chapter even though it feels like we are creeping up on the end 😞 I do like how it went over everyone’s journey through gold to diamond rank
Kalanaere
He isn't ready to become like the other GAB and judt not really care. He's still very young
Rowdy Robby
#morenik
Josh Ward
I don't comment often, but this was a wonderful chapter full of meaning, introspection and beauty.
Pål Hvatum
This chapter.. just beautiful
Myron Jabido
Bravo -- so well said.
Jeremy Griggs
This was a fantastic chapter.
Kalanaere
That would imply that Jason is two completely separate entities
Kelly
I don’t think so, only because there’s been this reference to a ‘she’ since Book 6 and we haven’t seen any references to Jason being anything but cis. But that could be to throw off the scent, who knows. ☺️
A Flashy BR
Tyftc this is great I love hearing about the teams progress
Dylan Alexander
Don’t know why Jason wants to remain more human, humanity sucks big time. And I’m a human, I should know.
King Nereus
Another great chapter. Well conceived and written, wow.
Andrew Colson
Dear god its beautiful
Zak Dodge
I don't think it's the end yet, we still have the fight for the purity relic in Palli, also shirt PLEASE DONT LET IT END!
Aubrey Listi
What I mean is we are about to start a new Arc.
Tyler S.
Ive been dreading this day since book 3
Aubrey Listi
So many people are saying this feels like an ending. And it is. Every ending is the prelude to a new beginning. And this feels more like a calm before the storm. We are sitting in the eye of the hurricane, waiting for this lul to pass and we can all feel its almost over.
Skalias Pablo
I wonder, is the big bad that Jason fucks up the cosmos fighting in the future his transcendant aspect.
Kismet
YES!!
Abdulaziz ALRumaih
While all that sounds awesome I was referencing community https://youtu.be/4o40S0KLf3I?si=b102bGyYk9r5syeh
Kismet
And a graphic novelization of the whole series, a well drawn anime, an entire line of toys, just adding in my wants for this series.
Soli116
Anna threatened to, when she was still with the network. The last time we saw Terrence (that I remember) was when he was talking with Anna about their mom and we learned she had been involved with getting the space pirates.
Soli116
I think her questions were more of a wtf and why variety. Like when you see something really odd and you think, "OK, I have questions. "
René Blaser
I can not help but feel that with these massive time jumps in the last two chapters it is as if suddenly it goes all too fast toward an ending. And a part of me is rebelling terribly because i have a feeling of being cheated that it suddenly is losing all the beautiful aspects of accompanying the characters lives and growth and just zooming past all the good bits. There are so many things i would have wanted to read / hear about. And yet i of course have enough introspection to see that this of course is just my very selfish wish that this story does not stop. Oh dear Shirtaloon. I wonder and hope that once the last page is written, the last thing said, that your wonderful brain will come up with something new. And yet, seldom is there an author that can go on from a work like this and do another in the same greatness and magnitude. But who knows. You might be that one. Love and joy to you and your family and friends. Thank you from my deepest heart for all the wonderful times and laughs and happy moments that i had and have following your story.
L.Goll
On the discord Server is a sektion specifically for that purpose. Give it a go there👍
Ariel
I think it's a time skip to the bridge as well. There're too many open web browsers. He wouldn't just close them all at once right?
Ligeia
Just for you, Shirt, a few copy edits: "Nik was already *passed* that point" -- either "was past" or "had passed" Jason tells Emi, "It's not race" -- left out "a" before "race" "We pushed *to* hard" -- should be "too hard" "Spying was a natural fit," -- use semicolon, not comma, after "fit" "...flying close to commercial aircraft, waving at passengers was not..." -- close the clause after "passengers" with a comma In next paragraph, close the clause with a comma after "immortals" "His prominence *has* risen" -- should be "had" Capitalize *dark* essence I renew my offer to copy edit for you, for free! SEE, I know what I'm doing! :-]
Fabienne Bedry
Great chapter. It seems to le that Arabelle would prefer the work of Adler, a Freud contemporain. As Freud thought we were condamned to be the sum of our traumas, Adler believed we could change and get rid of traumas automated responses with courage and will. For me Freud is too réductive for the great Arabelle.
Stephanie Washburn
Aww
Malekith
He did. He fought the Blood Oak under Melbourne. Conjured Rats to hunt it.
Kristy Riedel
I think he did, with melody.
Ligeia
I'm thinking the recorded history of Pallimustus. (We've had hints that there was at least one diamond rank war that erased everyone else on the planet.) It can't be on Earth since it can't support diamond yet.
Joi Soto
Oh no!!! I’m so scared it will end, this has been what keeps me focused for so long. Perfect antidote for my ADHD
Alejandro Piña
This had a feel of almost reaching the end of book 13
Kalanaere
it was well done too. It wasn't just a simple one sentence /one paragraph skip. It was a well detailed account of how each person has tackled or is tackling these stages of progress.
Kalanaere
I think it was needed. Jason needs to reach Diamond and his team has decided they want' to join him. We've known since the first time Jason was on Earth that Emi want's to become a Diamond ranker too so it's logical she's talking to Jason.
Kalanaere
considering half of gold is introspection this chapter fits well. They've been duking it out as Gold Rankers for 25 years already and going at it harder than most teams. It also helps that Jason has some very deep understandings of the Universe and how things work.
Kalanaere
understand yourself, understand your essences and how everything fits together not only in terms of yourself but also how do you and your powers then fit into the greater Universe.
Kalanaere
Team Biscuit is just over the Mid-Way point of Gold. They've officially reached the stage of Gold Rank where Fighting hordes of Monsters doesn't really progress them. from the Midway point onwards it's all about understanding oneself all about self introspection. Where do you fit into the universe with your skills and such, accepting your skills and how they are apart of you. This is what will push the team into Gold. At this point they fight just to not get complacent
Kalanaere
This felt like the final book chapter. The closing out of the hero's long long journey to the top. That being said I really enjoyed the introspection that is given to each character. Every member and their challenges was covered. Every support character and their challenges covered. We are now seeing exactly what Alayeth was referring to. The Transitioning point of Gold rank when it goes from All about the battles to where we are now at Mid-Point where it shifts and we are now truley looking at the Gold into Diamond phase of things. It's now about each person coming to terms with who they are now, who they want to be and of course how it all comes together to create the new born Diamond Ranker. The talk between Jason and Emi was nice though, she's not a kid anymore and she has experience behind her now to better understand what Jason was going through that first time around. Jason and his team are also the perfect people to talk to her about what she witnessed from Jason. Her opening up to Jason about how she felt likely took more than people realize; it's clear she feels she's falling behind but Jason does not agree. He's very much in the agreement that each person levels' when it is time and that his method of just rampage wasn't the best.
Kalanaere
Kinda how I felt reading it. Felt like this belonged in a final book as you're closing out a series. Maybe even closing out an entire Arc .
Ligeia
Yeah, @PreZ, Shirt's good at pre-vacation cliffhangers -- almost too good!
AetherBoye
Suspiciously "near the end" chapter name there shirt
Ligeia
You want to know a couple more goofs I found? I'll only post them if you want me to; no point in being obnoxious and spamming the group with your typos!
Scott Martinis
I'm excited This is like the TV shows/books where you expect things to keep getting more epic but they eventually cap out This doesn't showing any signs of capping out
Scott Martinis
Agreed
N8rtotPlayz
Nik, the MC of the next series. Or if not the MC a major influence on his decedents. The trailer for the video game (still to be released) light no fire showed lehenic and other animal folk. It would make for an excellent tie in. Maybe they’re waiting to release the game because Shirt hasn’t written the lore yet. As far as side tangents go, this one went way off track. Oh well.
J W
He put his path to the side for melody. It seemed most of his drive through gold was so he could find her.
Nikolai Pesudovs
I think this is a time skip to the bridge opening
N8rtotPlayz
Diamond rank easier on earth? I guess it’s explained well, and going back to when Lady Alyeth(?) and Jason talked about it, it makes sense. Long and short of this one appears to be the team reaching Diamond. I like the personal growth aspect. TYFTC
Namorat
This feels very much like close to an ending chapter, I have to say
Emma Freya
I really enjoyed this chapter. Nice to see where people are at.
Corvid
Better than his last wife, I heard she liked to sleep around.
Corvid
I want a side story of Gordon, Colin, Lindy, and Neil all watching Archer and trying to pull some of their stunts off.
Corvid
Agree with the "no."
Marshall Kelloway
This chapter really does have a "final" feel to it. It's obviously not the last chapter, though.
Benjamin Grant
Fr been reading since book 2 came out on Amazon and what a journey it has been
Benjamin Grant
No pretty sure he got thrown down a drain in his liquid form or something like that
Tali
I wonder if we will ever learn more about Tilly who did Jason's soul crest tattoo.
Shirtaloon
Yes, it should, thank you. Blame night editing.
Tali
I guess the answer is both.
brian phillips
Well Biscuits that was good
Tali
I am not sure if the "not being human for a quarter of a century" is from when he became a outworlder or when he started the fight with the Astral beings during his Astral kingdom formation. But that would put him at either back on earth for 2 to 5 years. Depending on if it is from being an outworlder or from being immortal if my count is right.
Michael Alpert-Appell
Interesting. I'd think he would go anywhere Melody would.
Ctrl Alt Dust
Chefs kiss
DirePants
Good chapter. Nice to get some insight on the team. Although it didn’t really feel like the type of chapter that Shirt usually writes. This felt like an epilogue to a black film about the hood and each time a character is mentioned and what they went on to do they slowly fade away… 😂😂😂 see you guys Wednesday ✌🏾
Jeff
Thanks for the explanation!
Rad Hazard
To understand yourself and the essences now within your soul. Taking those bits and integrating them so absolutely, they form a complete whole better then the simple sum.
Michael Romo
Good point. It's just his blood essence that fell behind.
Logan
Didn't Terrance Tilden die?
Cordell Patrick
Ithink it said something about them being over halfway threw gold. It also sounds like the others are catching up quickly cause Jason is struggling with his inner demons while the others are finding it easier to do the same
ONEsie
No cliffhanger, it felt good, more of that please.
Alex Schellenberg
I don't think he came to earth.
Kz-necromancer
ive never seen it posted so idk the rules for doing this. Issue: "communicate on mass" should be "communicate en masse"
Malcolm Gray
Great chapter
Daniel Wills
Estella, yeah. It’s a bloating problem at this point; too many characters that we care about. I still wonder about Autumn Leal and her hydra. She was great.
ReadingObsessed
I dread when this story will end. It's been such an important part of my life.
SmokeJam
That must've taken time to come up with so comprehensive character profiles. I highly respect that! Lovely and very enjoyable chapter
Michael Romo
Also. The pink haired girl. I believe she's still with the team.
Michael Romo
They didnt mention Mr rumor. But there's no way he's leaving his wife alone.
Michael Romo
Like just grabbing him and tossing him into the great astral. That's what I was thinking.
Michael Romo
I love it. Been so much progress. I'm so glad to catch up with where the teams at. But how much time has passed? I caught the 2 years last chapter but how long have they been on earth? Danielle must be proud and feel the fire under her that her son is catching up to her. What is their progress into gold so far. The other barely reached gold in time. But when Jason came back wasn't he like 30% into gold? If he's made major progress he should be half if not more. Been curious to catch up with sofie she's just out flying around the world curing ppl since they came to earth. We need some good ol monster fighting with the team. Banter and Tom fullery included.
Abdulaziz ALRumaih
15 books and a movie
BrotherKlaus
👏👏👏 very much agreed
Hunter
I’m honestly like 70/30 pro this move. I know the series has already gone way past shirts expectations so I don’t need the gold rank grind from team biscuit, I’m low key happy we are flying through the earth arc. So much more cosmos to see. But could also see the series end when Jason fully transcends but who knows.
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Hunter
I believe Carlos called it essence revelation training way back in book 9 when talking to Amos. Combination of how your essences and personality/ sense of self interact. Feel like this concept goes all the way back to book one when they were discussing if essence ability’s effect peoples personalities or if the user is the one that shapes the essence.
Monty Crisco
No mention of Callum Morse and his path? I always liked that guy and thought he'd be the first from Emir's team to hit Diamond
gator mate
Tftc
ChadT
Not just understanding of how they relate to their essences, but aligning ones actions in accordance to their essences.
patrick__starz
I'm hoping the series doesn't come to an end too soon
John Durrett
I'm not sure the position on Avatars dying. Jason can no longer be truly killed as he was before. Only the Avatars can be killed. Unless a battle of Astral Kings is a Battle of Universes?
Mash
One could argue at book 13, it hasn't been rushed, but stalled for too long. ;)
John Durrett
Danger Zone!
Jeff
So the trick to reaching diamond rank is to understand one's self?
Landsraad
Dont think it'll matter much. Remember, he is soon to be removed from the Earth/Pallimustus scene for an extended time... If he doesnt time loop.
Zachary Ross
It feels like we are seeing a rush to diamond rank. I don't know how I feel about that.
Arieh Sochaczevski
Biscuits!
Kaelan Spears
I'm a bit concerned, now that I think about it. She hasn't shown up in any of the time skips. Did they break up, maybe because of him hiding whatever he's hiding?
Kristy Riedel
Yeah, Zara is a team member!
Aaron Van Wormer
He gave a timeline for how long until the bridge is completed. I think he’s just jumping a head a bit. I’m sure the bridge will be complete at the beginning of the next book lol.
Kristy Riedel
Dammit
curtis gatley
so wait. we are moving quickly through time again... is the series going to end sooner than expected? new powerscale? new generation of characters? new books taking closer looks at these periods later?
Daniel Wills
I think 5 years since getting to Earth. There was a two year skip and now a “several” year skip, and several is usually three.
Daniel Wills
I hope Shirt adds her progress in with an edit. Then again we haven’t really had an update on their relationship in 5 years(?) now. Two years passed, then several in this chapter.
Dharma Blurton
No
Law
Man what a great chapter. Another one knocked out the park
Betsy R
I have a feeling it’ll only be a few more chapters till they make it to diamond and the next big fight arc will arrive. I also have a feeling Umber is gonna pop up randomly working with whoever is headed their way when the bridge opens up and cause some probs for shade and Jason and maybe that’s why Raythe will have to go find them where they’ve been taken that the rest of the team won’t be able to get to them…
Zachary
Another great chapter! The ending line was just perfect. I do have a request though. Is there any way we can get an update on the gold rank abilities of their skills (only Jason would be fine too)? It’s fine if you don’t but I would like to see how their abilities evolve to diamond. Either way, fantastic chapter and definitely ramping up to chapter 1000!
RonGAR
Yeah it was.
Max
Wow what a refreshing chapter. The time skip was a nice change of pace.
Youkai-sama
😯🤯
mhaj58
Good god this was an amazing chapter.
Adrian
Don't give him ideas. Now he'll be creating his own cemetary planet full of cenetaphs with pithy sayings on them
Josh A
An excellent chapter. Well written, and enjoyable to read.
Brave Badger
Jason needs Mrs Remore to get to diamond with him, we all do
JonO
No I think instead of running a school.... he needed to go to school lol
JonO
My guess is by the end of this book.... well reach 8 to 10 years. Book 12 might have been over 2 years as well (based on what Travis said about the damn gun that he had no respect for after returning to earth) so yeah we've been in time skip mode since the end of book 11. I'm enjoying it though. But I can understand some criticisms since we like extra detail lol
PreZ
This makes me increasingly concerned at what the cliffhanger will be that we are left with on Friday. This feels like gearing up for something, that will be teased, but with only the starters gun fired on Friday, with a month to wait to see what the next step is.
SomeGuyWhoReads
I had been wondering when we were going to get back to the broader team. Does feel like the hurricane princess is missing in this chapter tho.
ash
That last line, such a great line to end with.
Soli116
He should have, what, 6? by now? Maybe 80?
Roro
Yes to more in Nik!
Myron Jabido
Exactly what I was thinking this whole chapter. Just feels like everything’s being setup for the end. Like you, I just hope Shirt doesn’t stop after the end of this series.
Tanner Lovelace
This!!!
Roro
This expository in-ward looking chapter would have been great as Ch.1000 😀. Such good writing as always Shirt!
Abdulaziz ALRumaih
Good chapter But it honestly feels like an epilogue for the book (not the series let’s not put ideas in your head lol)
Alan McLaughlin Jr.
He Who Fights With Jasons
Brave Badger
Drink?
RonGAR
Honestly, If Jason blinked and advanced to diamond now or at any point in this chapter, It wouldn't even matter. He's basically been that since he came back to Pallimutis after claiming the throne. The only thing he has been doing ever since then, is holding himself back one way or the other. Pretending to be a Silver ranker, a nobody, and all sorts of other nonsense. Basically a goof. So his 'advancement' wouldn't move the needle a lick at this point. Tell me when he stops holding back, I'll care more about that, than his advancement to diamond. -------- Hmmm, I assume this kinda montage chapter was also a time skip. If so, how much time are we talking? 3yrs? 5yrs? ------------ Would like to see what Nik can do at Gold rank. Honestly, we barely got an idea of what he can really do while at Silver. He is truly an underdeveloped character... or maybe a more unappreciated side character rather than underdeveloped. --------- TyFTC
Soli116
Love the "fights with monsters" mentions. Especially the last one. I love that we find out things in an offhand manner that happen "off screen," like Nik reaching gold. This was a great chapter with all the introspection. I'm sad that it looks like we're nearing the end of this journey, though. I don't think I'm ready for this series to end. I'm sure the next series will be awesome, too, though.
Timothy
dragon did as it pleased, for good or ill, and what Humphrey pleased was to help people. Should it read, "pleased Humphrey" instead?
Brave Badger
Bravo
Jack Trowell
So Rufus went to academia? That's very close to saying he went to run a school no? 😁
Danny boy
Where's Zara?!?
Der Ritter
Thank you.
Doswyn
Tyftc Shirt!!! I hope you enjoy your vacation!
Xiggurat
“on mass” is spelled “en masse”
Tina Young
Tftc. Is great to see this insight to the team and especially Jason. Watching them grow as people is just as important a message as the growth of their power.
Chris Pollan
I loved this... thanks for the chapter
Arakrin
Welp, whatever comes to Earth will have a nice surprise. A team of diamond rankers, advanced Arcanepunk earth forces, trained and bloodied in a war against the vampires. Come at us whoever you are.
Jon
Absolute banger of a chapter
Nematrec
In the history of the cosmos? Of Pallimustus? Definitely not in the history of earth at least.
Psykohamster
That line at the end could have been used to end the series under different circumstances. Also, was the “world’s greatest spy” stuff an Archer reference?
lockx
Oh that was a fantastic chapter. Thank you Shirt!
MoonRider777
Thank you for the chapter!! So cool to see the teams advancements broken down as they are ranking up. I hope we see more of Clive and Lorelei ❤️
Justin Butler
Nice! I've been wondering when the Diamond Rank talk would start.
Superior_Shaq
What a epic last sentence. To really instill the series title. Great chapter
Ligeia
What a fantastic chapter! It's great to get a general update on most of the main characters. I wonder if a whole team has reached diamond before?
JonO
Wow....I kinda teared up on this chapter. The reflections and outcomes of each member simply helped me connect even more to my favorite characters. Thank you shirt for a wonderful chapter. Also Clive might finally get an actual wife. A shame she won't nearly be as "friendly" as the prior one. I'm kind of hoping that team biscuit at minimum will be diamond by books end. I'm looking forward to what comes of it.
Fervent Fiend
Stat bloc incoming?
Michael Fannon
Clive finally got a good wife. One that is helping him become diamond too. That makes her even better.
Caleb
I hope the transition to diamond rank is dramatic!
Jeanne Brooks
Oh, that was a gooooood one. Ty Shirt!!!
Jarrett Glass
This was beautiful, and I loved the insight into just how everyone is progressing. Thanks for the chapter!
gary lutz
Brilliant setting for the next stage
Nergie
That last line would be awesome for jasons tombstone.
James Olver
So close
Meruem92
So wait ch 1000 will come after a month vacation... noooo, artwork please! (Mostly ignore this ,enjoy the vacay but artwork plox)
James Culbreath
Next time I'll have pants and be first
Jake Rix
Thank you for the Chapter!
Hemlock
Tyftc!
Darkdragon
Biscuits tyftc
