Shirtaloon
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Chapter 908: Making Things Worse
🕑 Added 2024-06-14 23:00:04 +0000 UTCBeing less central had left Segurado vulnerable, lower priority meaning fewer resources and weaker troops. The same thing affected the more isolated messenger groups, making them ripe for Jason and his companions to strike. The team had zigzagged down the Pallimustus equivalent of South America, hitting targets of opportunity fed to them by the Adventure Society.
Their navigation continued to prioritise sightseeing over efficiency as they left the continent behind. Although their path would take them to the southern tip of what, on Earth, was Africa, they chose to take a wide curve over the south pole rather than a more direct route.
The Pallimustus version of Antarctica was not the icy wasteland it was on Earth. Known as the Dragon Lands, it was the native land of the large, scaled humanoids known as draconians. Rather than the populace, however, the island continent was named for its signature geological features.
Where Greenstone had many apertures to an astral space that provided the desert with water, the Dragon Lands had subterranean apertures to a realm of fire. The result of this was a land filled with active volcanoes, steaming hot springs and the flame geysers known as ‘dragon mouths,’ for which the region was named.
The whole team came out to watch as the sky ship approached the coast, giving them their first look. Mountains of dark stone jutted from verdant, green lowlands, a mix of sprawling forest and vast agriculture. From altitude, they could make out the outline of fields as if the land below them was a giant map with borders drawn onto it. The plant life was very different from the tropical and subtropical climates they had been passing through, reminding Jason more of Scotland or Ireland.
“There are a lot of active volcanos, right?” Jason asked. “Do they have an ash cloud problem?”
“We’re definitely going to see them,” Zara said. “But the magic leaking out of the astral spaces has earth affinity, along with fire. It draws the ash from the sky, and absorbs it into the group, creating the famously rich farmlands. If you want gold-rank cooking ingredients, there’s no place better than here. It’s how they make a lot of their money.”
“I thought the draconians were all isolationist,” Jason said. “They do a lot of trade?”
“Exports,” Neil said. “Agricultural products from the Dragon Lands are the second-largest trade that passes through the Greenstone port, after low-rank spirit coins. They use proxies outside their own lands, though, and aren’t very welcoming to strangers.”
“Their goods are heavily tariffed by most nations due to political issues,” Zara explained. “That makes it even more expensive than high-rank produce normally is. The quality is what gets people buying it anyway, but obviously that falls under the luxury food market.”
“I did hear the food they produced was good,” Jason said.
“Jason,” Neil asked. “Why did we come here again?”
“It’s a tour,” Jason said. “We decided on this route when we left Rimaros.”
“Before fifteen years of war with the messengers made an already xenophobic people even more wary of outsiders. Is this about anything other than you getting a line on cheap ingredients? Can’t you just make as much money as you want and buy this stuff somewhere more hospitable?”
“There’s a value in farm fresh,” Jason said defensively. “It’s going to be fine.”
***
Astral kings rarely mingled their forces, to avoid confusing the most critical element of messenger culture: hierarchy. When operating on a large scale, like a planetary invasion, cooperation was managed through regular meetings between Voices of the Will, the commanders of each astral king’s local forces.
Navise Den Rigal’s astral king was a minor figure, compared to the Council of Kings, and secretly one of the Unorthodoxy’s rare astral kings. Every Voice of the Will paid close attention when they met with others of their kind, but Navise was especially sensitive to any change that might signal a danger to her king’s true allegiance. Slipping Boris Ket Lundi into Vesta Carmis Zell’s service had already been more risk of exposure than she or her astral king liked.
When she arrived at a messenger stronghold, she went straight for the meeting room. It was a spherical chamber accessed through a hole in the ceiling, and the group met by floating in a circle. She noticed a number of missing attendees, all Voices belonging to members of the Council of Kings. Looking around, she saw that others had noticed the same thing, and shared her wariness. It did not take being a secret traitor to be cut down by other messengers.
As the discussion began, it quickly became evident that this wasn’t related to the Unorthodoxy, but to a much more localised threat. The Voices stood around a projection showing a zigzag pattern across the lower half of one of the planet’s continents. Navise listened to a pair of her fellows argue without interjection, as did the rest of the group.
“There is no reason for us to not put together a force and strike them down. They are being allowed to rampage through our territories unabated.”
“They have left our territories. They are someone else’s problem now.”
“Yes. Our failure to quash a handful of insignificant locals will be a stain on our names forever.”
“I would hardly call the Heretic King insignificant.”
“That is a fool’s title to keep the pawns from getting confused.”
“It’s not working. There is talk of a traitor astral king and of what that means. That is the kind of thinking that leads to the Unorthodoxy. My astral king will not be happy if I have to purge most of my forces again.”
“Then let’s kill the source. If we destroy his avatar, we won’t have to deal with him again until we are done with this planet.”
“Killing him has been tried before, when he was far weaker. More importantly, the Council of Kings had specifically instructed us not to provoke him.”
“And none of our astral kings belong to the council. My king proposes that we collect our forces, set a trap and crush Asano.”
The pair were unable to reach a consensus and would not let it go until each of the others said their piece. Most of the group advocated letting it go, moving any forces out of the Heretic King’s path to minimise losses. When pushed, Navise took her usual path of following the group to avoid standing out.
“I say we simply allow the king to pass,” she said. “In the end, the issue is one of being inconsequential.”
The main advocate for killing Asano scoffed.
“If he is inconsequential, then what harm is there in killing him?”
“I speak not of him, but of us,” Navise said. “He is not inconsequential to us, or we would not be having this meeting. We are inconsequential to him. He strikes at us incidentally, as opportunity presents. We should minimise his opportunities, reserving our forces, and simply let him pass. We can resume our operations once he is gone, having lost fewer people and revealed less information.”
As Navise looked around the circle, all now staring at her, she realised she had made a mistake.
“We are inconsequential?” One of the others asked.
Anything resembling humility was not the thinking of an orthodox messenger. A wave of power flooded from Navise, slamming the others into the wall as she bolted for the hole in the ceiling.
***
Anna took the coffee from the street vendor and started trudging back to her office. Once again, she was running on not enough sleep, but felt no concern for her safety as she took a shortcut through an alleyway. She might not have combat training, but she was silver rank. Anyone who could bring her trouble wouldn’t need to use an alley.
“You aren’t as safe as you think,” a voice said, stepping out of the shadows, startling her.
“There are people watching me, you know, Mr Remore.”
“No, there aren’t.”
“Oh. Will they live?”
“By silver-rank standards, they’re practically unharmed. It’s become hard to have a discreet conversation with you, Mrs Tilden.”
“Everyone wants to know what’s going on in your territory. We’ve seen your people reclaiming the area, but there’s only so much that the many, many satellites pointing at your territory can show us. Then there’s the vampires acting up, globally no less. Presumably in response to whatever happened to the vampire army formerly occupying your clan territory. An army that seems to have vanished entirely during some manner of surveillance blackout. Then there are the ongoing concerns about the System and Asano’s potential return.”
“Not potential. Six months to a year is the current timetable.”
“How solid are those numbers?”
“Things can happen, especially with Jason. But he seems confident.”
“He always does. You’re in regular contact?”
“His power grows, and he can reach out to us with ease, now. When he returns, it won’t be like last time he was here.”
“If he’s strong enough to settle old grudges—”
“That’s not what he wants. He wants to come home without making things worse. For his return to be peaceful. He believes that you can help make that happen.”
“And how does he expect me to manage that?”
“He is aware that his understanding of the political realities he’s walking into is shallow. He wants to hire you to be his senior political advisor for Earth affairs.”
“Does he have someone doing that for the other world’s politics?”
“He does.”
“I don’t know what you expect from me. Nigel Thornton vanished into the Asano Clan and didn’t come out.”
“He wanted to. He considers himself to have an obligation to you, which I respect. But the moment he shows up in an airport, someone or other will try and take him into custody. They’d try to do the same to me, thus my discretion.”
“How badly did you hurt the people following me? I’m not sure ‘practically unharmed’ means the same thing to you as me.”
“What have I ever done that you would think me a savage?”
“I saw what your world did to Jason Asano.”
“And I saw what yours did. At least on mine, we stab people in the front. I did less to the people following you than I would have in my world. More than if they were here to protect you, instead of to watch for someone like me contacting them. But silver rankers heal well.”
Anna shook her head.
“I need to retire.”
“Perhaps just a change of employer.”
“That’s what you want? For me pack up my wife and move to the middle of vampire-infested Europe?”
“You did it before. You were the first UN liaison to the Asano Clan.”
“Yeah, and that position fell apart once the French realised the clan had no intention of giving back the chunk of their country they took. I don’t see the UN or anyone else being more accommodating once Asano is back.”
“Which is why Jason wants your help. France hasn’t existed for almost two decades. You can talk about governments in exile all you like, but the reality is that your world has undergone a fundamental change. The sooner the people who rule it understand that, the sooner they can stop fighting over the ashes of a world that no longer exists. It’s time to look to the future, and Jason wants to help this world understand that.”
“Is that his intention? To come back and fix the world according to his standards? It’s certainly in character.”
“You will find that Jason is not the blunt object he once was. That he wants your guidance should tell you that, but yes, he’s the same in many ways. He has power and wants to use it for good, and that hasn’t changed in all the time I’ve known him. What has changed is his realisation ‘good’ is a more nuanced concept than he understood when he was younger. He wants your help figuring out how to act responsibly, and that starts with how he returns. The first job he would have you work on is figuring out how he comes back without the world deciding to go to war with him.”
“He could give them the things they want.”
“Tell that to him, Mrs Tilden. I’m just a messenger today.”
Anna sighed.
“My experience tells me that he wants me to smooth things over because he wants to keep his toys to himself. That he realises he can’t fight the whole world to keep them. But that’s not who he was, when I knew him. The man I knew would fight the whole world, if it came to that.”
Rufus chuckled.
“It seems that you do know him. Come to Europe, Mrs Tilden. You don’t have to make any decision now. Talk to Jason. Talk to Nigel.”
“Even if I was willing to consider it, you know I’ll need to clear this. I’m not going to sneak off with you in the night.”
“It’s ten-thirty in the morning, Mrs Tilden. And I suspect that your people will be more than happy to get some eyes on the inside.”
***
The sky ship accelerated rapidly out of Dragon Lands airspace. Clive scurried down one of the airship’s hallways, casting anxious glances behind him.
“CLIVE!” Humphrey’s voice roared as he stormed around a corner and into the hall. “What in the goddess of pain’s needle pit where you thinking?”
Clive stopped and let out a nervous laugh.
“Did we get away?” he asked.
“Yes. And we’re not being chased, thanks to Stash being an actual dragon. Why did you go into that temple?”
“It wasn’t an actual temple. They venerate dragons rather than gods; there’s no divine power there. It’s more of an academic hall dedicated to draconic magic. I didn’t know they’d get so angry about me going in.”
“They had a sign out front that read ‘outsiders strictly forbidden!’ In adventuring circles, Clive, that is what is referred to AS A CLUE!”
“I actually went in at the side, not the front. And it wasn’t a big sign. More of a plaque, really.”
Humphrey conjured his sword and Clive bolted down the hall, Humphrey chasing after him. Jason, Sophie and Belinda watched them go, having been drawn by Humphrey’s yelling.
“I’m just glad it wasn’t my fault,” Jason said.
“I’m not,” Sophie said. “My money was on you getting us chased off on the morning of the second day. How did you last a whole week without causing trouble?”
“I’ve been working on my diplomacy. Belinda, did you make a betting pool again?”
“Yeah, and Clive made me a bundle by beating you out. And if he’d just asked me, I’d have gotten him in there without anyone being the wiser.”
“You know,” Jason said, “people always accused me of getting us into these things, but I’m starting to suspect that all of you are the real troublemakers. Except Zara. I’m not the biggest fan of royalty, but at least she was trained to have some decorum.”
Jason watched Belinda and Sophie share a look.
“What aren’t you telling me?” he asked.
“So,” Sophie began, “there was this draconian prince. Not much of a prince. One of those eighty-seventh in line for the throne types. He decided that Zara was going to be his fourth wife, and didn’t see much point in consulting Zara on that decision.”
“What happened to the prince?” Jason asked. “When things happen to princes, it tends to get around. I can’t tell if not having heard anything is good or bad. Is this what it’s like running around with me?”
Sophie and Belinda nodded in unison.
“Let’s just say that we were on the way to suggest we skip town when Clive got in trouble,” Sophie told him.
“Yeah, that imprisoning ritual is going to hold the prince for another day, tops,” Belinda said. “And that’s assuming no one finds him. I assume someone will be looking for him.”
“Not his first three wives, if his personality is anything to go by,” Sophie said. Belinda snorted a laugh.
“What’s this about an imprisoning ritual?” Jason asked.
“Well,” Belinda said, “I wanted to disappear the guy, but Stella thought killing him was a bad idea.”
“I’m very confident it was.”
“I don’t know. Leaving him alive might be worse, after Zara’s response to his proposal. I didn’t even know you could put storm magic inside someone’s—”
“No need to talk about that,” Zara said, sticking her head out of a cabin door. “Humphrey doesn’t need to hear anything about it.”
She retreated into the room, only for her head to immediately shoot back out.
“Neither does my father.”
Jason sighed.
“Her father is definitely going to hear about it, isn’t he?”
“Oh, yeah,” Belinda said. “She left stains in that room that I’m not sure crystal wash could get out. Why he had so much—”
“Let’s skip the details,” Jason said. “For now, at least, while I go talk to Danielle about this. I expect we’ll want all the grisly details later.”
Comments
Issei Hyoudou
no where in this chapter does Jason face plant. You're essentially posting spoilers. actually not "essentially" you are in fact posting spoilers. Maybe leave these comments on the chapters they actually happen? Like why read ahead them go back and make comment based on what happens in the later chapter?
ItWasIDIO!!
I gotta say what's the point of Navise running she's the voice of the will her fuck up just got all of them fucked running doesn't help tho can't wait for her to run to Jason for help
Kconraw
Thx for the chapter
Ethan
I stockpiled 5 chapters but that’s as long as I can wait. Time to binge :)
Eleeyah
Jason faceplanting is funny, but I'm not sure it's believable, considering his gold rank agility.^^
BloodStorm
Damn that’s at least a whole book. I was thinking what if Jason gets the purity artifact and merge it into his soul. Then leaves for earth. The big event Dawn is worried about is the messengers following Jason to earth. I also see VampThad making his way to earth. How? I don’t know
Tommy S
Current plot points to finish before Earth. Picking up Earthlings in Greenstone/ visiting Greenstone VampThad Fixing the Bridge Purity Artifact (VampThad is also looking for) Messenger Army invasion/ Astral Kings
JonO
I'm fairly certain he didn't start one for two reasons.... first the did shortage. He won't uproot farmers for his own gain when others can use it first. And second, the book he got from emir details a lot on magical plants and that is difficult and costly to get the mechanics of the flask to work with it. Technically Jason could have started an herb garden but as for your gold rank level pants, he simply had not enough resources to even attempt it yet. I'm certain he can do it now though.
Zane Hammrich
I can't wait for Little Gary to come in. And Rufus tells them to bring the Hammer with them.
John goode
Gary reforged the sword shortly before he passed and made it so it grows with Jason’s power now. (Sad face) now I’m thinking about Gary again.
Terry Bell
I am re-listening to book 7 in preparation for the release of book 11 and just got to the chapter where Gary presented the reforged Hegemon's Will to Jason. I am not sure if I missed in recent chapters if Jason has upgraded the sword now that he is Gold Rank. I hope Shirt doesn't skip this little detail going forward. It's theses kind of details that keep my addiction going....damn you Shirt....lol. P.S. Shirt I hope everything is going well with your Mom.
Joanna
That’s what it tends to look like from the outside, and our view is very much outside earth still. I’m sure things will get more nuanced as we look closer
Kelly
Everyone has the benefit of age to be themselves, and themselves happen to be trouble makers. 😂
Kelly
I just wish there were more good players on earth instead of everyone being so bloodthirsty. At the moment, earth feels like a monolith rather than disparate groups of political actors.
BloodStorm
Earth is going to be a rude awakening if they just want to take his “toys”. That comment made me think Jason is going to find the cleansing artifact before he goes back to earth.
Vincent Ciavone
I also completely forgot, HES FUCKING IMMORTAL, HES GONNA MAKE IT HAPPEN
Vincent Ciavone
“My experience tells me that he wants me to smooth things over because he wants to keep his toys to himself. That he realises he can’t fight the whole world to keep them. But that’s not who he was, when I knew him. The man I knew would fight the whole world, if it came to that.” Rufus chuckled. “It seems that you do know him.” With this part I feel like we missed an opportunity, wether by himself or with his cohort or with a diamond ranker who he could probably convince someway, Jason can fight the world for what he wants, but he knows eliminating the strongest earth has to defend against whatever calamity comes next , is not a good idea, I just feel like Rufus should have informed Anna that whether Jason would or not, he could, in reality with much less cost and effort then they could imagine
Cay Hasselmann
Where are the food related stories?
Vincent Ciavone
“What have I ever done that you would think me a savage?” “I saw what your world did to Jason Asano.” “And I saw what yours did. At least on mine, we stab people in the front.” I’ve been thinking about this since I read it. It’s true that Jason was definitely on edge when he returned to earth, being in Australia his best chance of getting started was visiting his uncle, leaving him to have to in some way return to his old life. Which definitely wasn’t Jason’s element, he was bound to spiral a bit there, but the shameless pushing of other factions/countries where they didn’t belong pushed him over the edge. Being told to hand/attacked over powers that they couldn’t control/use, while he needed them to save worlds they wanted them for personal gain. As the story emphasizes atleast on Pallimustus, they stab you in the front, Jason was continuously attacked in the shadows while trying to work with most of them. Jason has every reason to go back and tear down governments and implement better policies as we know he would
Thomas Todd
She said the timeline had been pushed back by him getting a soul forge early. Or maybe it was the time lady who's name I couldn't remember that passed on the message from Dawn
Donald Spencer
Just occurred to me... It's been almost 20 years. Dawn should be showing up .......
Hunter
Feel like Jason,Boras, and their respective friends and followers are going to clean Europe of Vampires and establish all of Europe as a new magical society for the world to emulate. They will be so overwhelming like Rufus said that the world will have no choice but to want to attach themselves to the Asano clan and their style of leadership.
Douglas Davis
Firstly, I really wish we could move things along and get back to Earth. While learning about a continent full of dragonkin is cool, it just feels like filler at this point. Secondly, “toys”?!? I don’t know who is in more of a needed attitude adjustment Anna or the Earth as a whole. Really don’t care for her or her attitude. And frankly having to witness current ongoing real world events, like the present genocide happening in Gaza, I wouldn’t mind seeing Jason take over as global leader and putting most of the post colonial hegemonic nations in their place.
Douglas Davis
In many ways they largely are filler. If it isn't moving the plot and main story forward then it's filler. It might be entertaining and colorful filler....but it's still just filler.
Matthew Avery
I love how the stuff they're doing now is more gold ranker shenanigans instead of craziness. I remember reading about Emirs adventures when Constance was giving him a hard time and her teasing him about being a bad role model or whatever for the stuff he's done over the years. I can just imagine the future team biscuit doing the same with Hump giving genuine advice😁, Belinda giving shady profiteering advice💰, Clive giving most data and research information advice🔬🧪👨🔬, and Jason just giving food spice🥪 or mixology tips🍸 since everyone and their mother has heard more of the crazy stories he has been a part of than he can even remember himself. I mean honestly. That line a while back is so extremely fitting. Someone was talking to Jason, perhaps the mirror king(?) It went something like: "You(Jason) used to have tell crazy stories about madness you took part in. But now people are telling equally crazy stories about the time they met you." 🤣
Justin
I can’t wait until Rufus is back with Jason and Farrah. After all his time alone on earth he has to be missing his family. I know he has people there but he’s like a mentor to the whole clan. I also can’t wait to see what’s become of little Gary!
Justin
I feel like shirt is putting off the earth interactions as much as he can. To me it feels like he’s almost giving us a goodbye on pallimustus, the traveling, more world building, the relaxed state of the team/crew, and Jason finally getting his thanks as he goes on his travels. I too can’t wait to get back to earth but who knows when we get back to palli, earth is going to be way more chaotic so I’m enjoying the relaxed downtime.
Katherine Matthews
I just love the new version of Clive. So naughty.
GentlemanG33k
So best chance to make this comment, been thinking this since he went back to Earth wth the cloud ship and regular plants. Why doesn't Jason have a herb garden? He talked about missing Garlic bring it back with you dude. Now he should be getting whole samples and talking to farmers to grow gold rank food in his soul relm.
Thomas Todd
I mean I can see why the French are angry, the one bit of France not controlled by Vampires is claimed by people who aren't even french. They've lost their entire country
jacob butler
I'm waiting for a chapter that shows him talking to the Asano clan
jacob butler
Anyone else find it ridiculous that the UN is angry because Jason won't give up the territory in France? Basically France and every other central European country doesn't exist thanks to vampires they just have government remnants
Andromeda Adams
TYFTC!!
Youkai-sama
And thas what happens when you try and talk sense to insane mu'uhfuckas; they try and kill you.
Stephcuv
Put it in the discord server
Bent Sommer
-Humans -Elves -Leonids -Runics -Draconians -Celestines -Smolder Those are the ones which where mentioned so far
DirePants
Very revealing chapter! I had wondered if Pallimustus had other native races. Very interesting that they do and are xenophobic lol that creates some rich foreshadowing or at least some interesting world building. Checking in with earth is always nice and looking forward to the arrival but I’m also wondering if Jason is going to have a run in with the messengers before that? They seem intent on failing at killing him again. I love seeing the rest of the world. I hope we get some more brief looks into other places before we get to Earth since it looks like Shirt is moving fast through the Jason World Tour, I mean we were in Dragon Land and leaving in the same chapter lol that’s a first! I don’t hate it though, since I’m a fan of sparse writing. I wouldn’t mind some descriptions but I think the way he presented it leaves it open for future developments. But when he does get to earth… how long until people start worshiping him? Once they feel his aura they’ll know he’s on a different level. I’m almost positive he’s going to try to be diplomatic but it’s goin to go belly up and he’ll have Dominions words echo in mind. Once he does that, there’s no going back, at least for a little while until people get that the world is not the same anymore. Anyway… Great chapter Shirt! See you guys next week! ✌🏾
Dao of LITRPG
The more light hearted tone of this chapter is a balm for my soul after what the gang has been through the last few years ❤️
Kenneth Mølbæk
well he does have to randomly pick up the anti gestalt being weapon from energy vampier Thatwick, and probably stumble over the purity artifact.
Doodlyboy15
I love jason being reluctantly in the responsible camp now
BloodStorm
6 months to a year of traveling Pallimustus could be a whole book
Tucker Glick
Makes you think Dominion might have the right idea. Him being oppression friendly and all.
BloodStorm
I had my hopes up for an earth arrival sometime soon. Looks like we are going to spend a book traveling around Pallimustus. Since Jason’s eta is one year
John Durrett
Jason will possibly give them the Roadhouse 3 strikes. Be nice, Be nice, Be nice. Then its time to NOT be nice...then a big spanking is going to go down.
John Durrett
I'm all for Jason taking over the world as they still do not understand that its no longer the old world. Jasons domains came about as a result of saving the planet from going boom. Frankly he doesnt have to accept anything from them other then offer an alliance to hunt down every last vampire
John Durrett
To be fair, the prince asked for it when he decided she didn't have a vote on her marriage to him. He's lucky to be alive. So Zara gets a full pass from my view.
Zed
absorbs it into the group > ground? where you thinking > were you thinking?
Eric M
I don't think Anna understands the situation very well, her comment that Jason wants to keep his toys to himself and that he can't fight the entire world are the issue. One, why would he have any requirement to "share" his toys? He is the one who suffered for them, earned them, and he has already done enough for Earth. And second, yes, he really can fight the entire world, and win.
Kalanaere
Anna doesn't seem to get it yet. The world has changed, old powers mean shit especially to a Demigod/Demi-GAB
Kalanaere
Anybody notice that Anna didn't even question Rufus when he Said talk you Jason. She just asked when he'd return, Rufus said 1 year tops. Implies Anna didn't know about Avatars? I wanna hear more about Zara abd this Prince though! She's fitting it perfectly with this team of miscreants
Chloe
Tyftc
Wimsey's daughter
I really don't like Anna on a human level. Her views on a lot of things annoy me to no end. However, she is SO well written and a great character for the story. I love how this story doesn't just have "good guys" and "bad guys", but also things like "good guys who you don't agree with and need to compromise to fit their actions to a messed up reality".
Tempitheadem
Thankfully, Jason might now have the restraint to just use his aura to scare the shit out of every gold ranker they have
Matt Heineman
I just know earth is going to assume 1) Jason is weak, just another gold ranker with a few friends, and 2) surely he doesn't think he can fight the entire planet. Having never experienced the aura of a transcendent, I imagine they're in for quite a shock if Jason goes full throttle.
Tristan
I'm not so sure about anabeth tildon she seems like she hasn't changed much and I don't really want her messing with Jason again
Braden Lambert
Ah yeah. That’s the stuff. This chapter was great.
Telewyn
Stones roll downhill. The sun rises in the east. Dragons kidnap princesses. It’s just the way the world works.
Tommy S
Jason arriving on Earth with a small contingent of Gold Elites and enough power to rock anyone's day. What could possibly go wrong.
Anthony
Name this chapter "the greatest tease". I need more of every single one of these threads!
Omar Diaz
She might since some of the other unothodoxy messengers are already on earth
Michael Hawkins
Jason used to do what he was doing to make people feel like he did, unsteady, from the power disparity. He has the power now, he's on the other side of the table and he's determined not to put people through what he went through. It's why he's hiring Danielle and Anna. Who will making a smashing pair.
Chris Pollan
Zara is still my favorite.... (apart from dawn of course) she blew his thing away with a storm spell.... hellz yeah!!!
Chris Jennerjohn
I feel like they were always loons. They’re all just as bad as he as at getting into trouble. His trouble just out powers them so much that it’s overshadowed.
Jordan Rogers
I’m gonna assume the team leaving with Jason after he resolves both planets current issues, the team may all be on the run from the adventure society aswell. And leaving to interstis will be an easy choice, plus honestly I assume Jason’s self universe will become their true home anyways
Damaddino
Wait a dang minute. Jason. Jason was the responsible one? How? Just how?
Kim Santos
Omg Humphrey chases Clive soooo good.
Thomas Black
Hopefully Anna does come on so that Jason does not have to resort to doing things the way he can, and he can do things the way he wants to. I'm glad the rest of the team can be themselves, love all the banter between all of them.
Mason
I just keep thinking of Shako’s home world when they are talking about earth. Tyftc Shirt!!
JonO
Were only like what.....? 20 chapters in....(I'm not counting perse, and it feels like a correct ballpark) and the last few books since 9 have been 80 to 100 chapters... so I wouldn't be surprised if a book actually between two worlds would get close to or exceed the recent average. So I'm not worried. Plus shirt has said that the amount of books is going to take however long it takes now.... so I don't think he's going to look for a specific count anymore. Each book will end when he decides now and I'm all in.
lucien rose
Fantastic chapter. Makes me miss when chapters came out daily. But one thing I love about this series is watching the characters actually grow and change with their trails and tribulations. And I love seeing aspects of their essance take a more prominent role in their personalities.
Razeel Nightfall
Is Monday's chapter going to be a steamy romanceish chapter about a misunderstanding? I am just surprised that it is Zara not Sophie.
JonO
Decorum can't be made without decore... so technically she showed much of it.... all over the walls apparently lol
SmokeJam
Who said you need to grow up just because you get more power? Love the chapter, tyvm.
Zachary Ross
Is it just me or has Jason turned his whole team into loons? At least on palimustus you get to see the stabbing coming, Anna has to remember earth did a number on Jason and he is coming back with friends. Somebody is going to have to manage the relationship between team biscuit and earth. Looks like Anna has or will be stuck with that job the only question is who is going to be her employer.
JonO
Honestly, it's likely more effective than a colonic...
Sean C Jackson
Like the silly idea that he can't fight the entire world?
Tom C
The thing is. It won’t be a Versus because the difference in power is so stark I think? Like, Jason is so far beyond anything they can come up with, it’s not about fighting Earth it’s about making them realise just how much things have changed and how fighting will get them absolutely nowhere. Cos if he wanted, Jason could rule. But he doesn’t want that!
Jason Hardman
Suddenly I'm thinking he married Samantha from I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue.
Jason Hardman
Storm Enema anyone?
Daniel is ŁØNE
Anna's misconceptions are hilariously wrong, Jason has more than enough power and influence to take earth for himself, he just lacks the total control to do it cleanly. Anyone who understands the scope at which he works as well as the skill of otherworld gold rankers would know that earth has no chance of winning that conflict, it's more a matter of how earth chooses to submit, either with grace leading to a smooth transition or with hubris leading to a world filled with ashes.
Agent P.
Pretty sure it's going to be Asano Clan Vs Earth
Havics Child
It really is all his influence that corrupted them. Clive used to be and upstanding member of society, now he just does what he wants consequences be damned.
Maudley
I mean sure, but her job had been cleaning up the messes he constantly made for her organization
Maudley
I'm pretty sure Dawn is off to transcend, assuming she's satisfied with how her successor has done in her absence. My bet is she'll be Earth's first deity, or one of them
Havics Child
Grisly details are not appropriate for under 18 and this is a mid teens and up book... I just wish he would confirm if it was a hanging part in the front or the other side of his waist in the rear
mhaj58
Any one else think that Anna is being a stereotypical hypocrite. Jason has always treated her semi respectful but she’s acting like he’s a 10 year old
Havics Child
With all of team biscuit plus extras, yeah they could pull it off, earth has never even seen a dead gold except those killed by Jason, Farrah, and Dawn (and maybe Rufus now)
Caz Q
Doot
Havics Child
Since we have Clive here, im curious, will he ever get a second wife to go along with the one he's had for 25 years? I think her name was Palmala Handerson right? Wait nevermind Shirt never told us her name even though she's been such an important part of the story background.
Joanna
Gotta say, the fact that their visit to !=Antarctica only took up a week makes me hopeful for the story actually getting back to Earth this book. I was starting to worry a bit
Joanna
Gee, I wonder if the newly introduced Voice might end up joining team Biscuit's world tour for a while, to keep from being murdered by the rest of her species? That'd be odd
The-DM-Dino
Biscuits!
Bru-
Looking forward to Jason explaining everything to Anna so she can help him navigate the political waters. And her learn how wrong all of her preconceptions were and are.
JonO
That's because politically she's the epitome of earth sensibilities. Once she meets Danielle, I'm certain she'll compromise more. Rufus said it, *paraphrasing* jason wants to bring the earth to the present.... they are far too fixated in the past.
Jace B
Really great chapter
JonO
Jason had his role.... but I blame two others more.... Belinda and clives wife
ONEsie
Anna seems like a poor choice based on that whole "he could give them the things they want" remark. I guess it's not surprising based on her overall presence/choices/statements in previous books. Ketty for liaison 2024!
JonO
Nope.... I'm certain she sent a storm up his rear..... veritably creating a shit-storm mwahaha
Aaron Schwartz
It wasn’t a very big sign. More of a plaque, really. …. That’s a Jason line. so it really was Jason who got them kicked out! Greenstone Clive would never have said that in 1000 years. ROFLMAO
Harbby
Rufus should have corrected her. He can fight the world, he doesn't want too.
#savegarytheleonid
these little flashforwards are well done! it helps show the character growth and beloved interactions without getting bogged down
Gb
You know this was awesome. I'm also blaming everyone that has been calling chapters filler for the fact that we didn't get to read 3 or 4 chapters of adventuring in Dragon Land. It sounds like the team had a great and hilarious time.
ONEsie
Was there Rocky Horror in your anticipation?
xXMetrinSlerbaXx
I'm hoping the stains are blood. Please say the stains are blood.
Stephanie Washburn
Wahaha! His team is just as bad! I love it!!
Chris Furry
It almost makes you feel bad for the Magic Society. Almost.
John goode
This was a good ch it touched on a lot of different topics and to see the team getting in trouble as a posed to Jason was great. I can’t wait to see what happens with that messenger. And am I the only one routing for Jason and Zara ? Also not opposed to Jason and dawn I’m just not sure Jason will be ok with her after what ever happens after he makes bridge happens
Joshua Batts
I love how everyone else's character development is being more well-rounded and mature and balanced, meanwhile Clive "let's do crimes" Standish has fully transformed into a complete menace of a gremlin. And don't tell me you can't hear Heath Miller saying "Let's do crimes" in Clive's voice.
JC Weiss
Thanks for the chapter.
Chris Furry
The mental image of Hump chasing Clive down a hallway with a massive dragon sword is too damn funny.
Ligeia
Thanks for another good chapter! It's going to take a reread before I can even comment, still thinking about just what Zara did to that prince And SHE is the one with decorum?? And yes, I hope you got everything worked out well for your mum!
JonO
Yes to random team biscuit chaos! Ever since the epilogs of book 11 I've been steadily dreading them with more and more antici........... .... ......... .......pation!
Jacob Goodrich
Biscuts indeed. This is great that it wasn't Jason but his whole team that caused international incidents
spec4f150
I bet Clive's wife was behind all this!
Chris Furry
Finally! I was starting to have Rufus withdrawals. This is a great chapter, and one that really starts digging into the overall plot, I think. Good to meet Boris' astral king's Voice, too. I'm thinking we'll be seeing a lot more of her. Anna is finally going to get to meet Jason in HIS kitchen, and I can't wait for that meeting - she is a good choice for political advisor. Also, I want the grisly details. Zara is such a badass.
Louie Lewis
I don’t think he needs her on his side. His goal is to not muck up the planet, he needs someone to look out for that.
David
I think hiring Anna is a mistake. She was never on his side when it wasn’t convenient and even now, almost every comment made is an insult.
Seaspike
Nice chapter.
Richard Rader
Ditto
Katrina McNicol
Fabulous and I love the rest of the team showing just how badly Jason had corrupted them 🤣
Eric M
Edit: and absorbs it into the *ground
Bingus McCready
Every passing chapter gets me more excited for book 12 in its entirety. I’ve yet to read any of this story and not love it, but the chapters coming out lately have been just AWESOME. Expanding on worldbuilding? Classic team biscuit, both in terms of hijinks and in terms of saving the day? The continued buildup towards the return trip to Earth? All so good. TFTC!!!
StuBee3
TFTC 😎
David Odle
Biscuits!
Josh A
Thank you! I hope your mom is doing well!
ONEsie
Crystal wash indeed...
