Dialysis Book: Revision Chapter 33: Aftermath

“Well, I don’t know what you were expecting,” said Spivy as we walked through the shattered remains of the tower.  “Did you expect some sort of showdown between you and the System Lord?”

“No,” I said grumpily.  “I mean sort of, but not really.”

“She’s a thousand year old tyrant,” replied Spivy.

“Was,” said Shade.

“She was a thousand year old tyrant before she exploded, with her tower and the king,” said Spivy as we looked out over the ruins of the tower.  The auction house, which had already seen better days, was going to have to be replaced on the account of the towers landing position.  

The auction house, and most of the high market, had been destroyed by the crash.  What was left was filled up with a mass of rapidly growing magical crystals.  Those could be delt with easily enough by wizards from the town, or their new system lord.  

“So what happened,” I asked.

“I’m getting a ‘highlander’ rule notification from the system,” said Spivy with a shrug.  Her bushy tail waggled slightly when she did that, as she was still in costume.  “If a system lord perishes, then there is a small window where a strong enough individual can absorb the power of the system lord.  

“So couldn’t the system lords just kill each other like that,” I asked.  “You know, become supremely powerful?”

“It doesn’t work when another system lord does it,” said Spivy.  “Otherwise they would have.”

“And the King died too,” I asked.

“Someone found his skeleton, so yeah,” said Spivy glaring down at Shade, the rescue Ninja Worlick.  

“In my defense, the king was delicious,” said Shade.

“You gave him all back, right,” I asked.

“Yes,” said my beautiful doggo sadly.  Then he whispered to me, “Mostly at any rate.”

“I don’t see how anyone could expect more,” I replied, patting him on the head.  “But maybe don’t let Spivy see that.”

“Good point,” replied Shade.  

“I can hear you bastards,” said the fairy.  

“We can stop looking,” I said.  

Spivy’s shoulders slumped.  “Enjoy.”

Shade sniffed loudly again, and we started walking over to the next patch of crystals.  The other relics had mostly deteriorated by this point, their magic spent on whatever ritual Domagal had been performing right up to her demise.  

“Looking for this,” said a voice, holding the Brass Bell.

“Oh, Hi Mark,” I said as Mark the System Lord looked down at me.

“I think you are, it radiates your energy, Max,” said Mark.  “Feels like someone used this as a portal key to open up a rift to a different planet and dragged you over here.”

“Is that a problem,” I asked.

“Depends,” said Mark.

“Heywood got his head bitten off by a king rat, from behind,” I said.  

Mark watched me carefully for several seconds, then sighed and tossed me the relic.  “Of course he did.  That was covered in the first week of training.”

I immediately started wrapping the relic in binding wire.  It took more than last time, but I brought plenty.  “What should I do?”

“Take the relic out of town and finish what you need to do, now,” said Mark.    

“What about my friends,” I asked.

“Max, it is kind of important,” said Mark.

“What about the coronation?”

“Well, I suppose there is time for the coronation,” said Mark.

“And I told everyone I would show them how to make Heywood Chips,” I continued.

“Alright, and some heywood chips,” said Mark.  “But then you are to take that relic to the nearest volcano and destroy it.”  

Mark, the System Lord turned and walked towards Queen Sylanada’s party.  Everyone from Dominus was invited regardless of ears.  After the great goblin fights, even the most dour elven traditionalist had to admit that the non-elves had handled themselves more than adequately.  

“After this, what are you planning on doing,” asked Spivy.

“Sleeping,” replied Shade.  “I am going to eat everything off of all the tables, and steal all the food!”  

“You just saved the kingdom and all you care about is partying and food,” asked Spivy.

“Of course, the Vacation is back on,” I announced as I headed over to the party.