Chapter 16-425: Brilliant Celebrations (2/2)

There wasn’t much to see, of course. I’d cleaned it up rather well, and if there were smears of dead Sinbound Warlocks, that was par for the course.

“And then you walked all the way to the New York Wall...” Azaia whispered, stepping out the front of the garage, now strewn with more debris than before, as there were actually winds around now. Someone had been poking around and made off with a lot of the loose tools here, easy money if for nothing more than melting things down.

“Limped more like it, but yes.” All three of us rose into the air, looking east to where the Wall was visible on the distant horizon. It was a given that taking it down was a project that was going to take some time... and I’d hinted that they might need them to serve as Walls in the Other Direction, meaning that there was no rush on getting rid of them at all.

This city had once had some of the most valuable real estate in the world, and there were a lot of people who thought it might again. On the other hand, technology was going to come crashing down, and even the lower tech level it had been running on at the time it died wouldn’t work. A lot of bigger cities were already downsizing, anticipating what was coming. Moving in to settle New York’s five boroughs was a thing that was low on the priority list, despite the fact that it could be an awesome port.

After all, we didn’t know what the shipping industry was going to be like as everything started going back to steam power. The trend of bigger and bigger ships was definitely going the other way.

“We have still not closed the door on Baron von Nachtal,” Legion said softly, looking in that direction. “Even the Illuminati are not silly enough to negotiate with Russia. Gilcrux says they are digging deep holes and banking on the Shroud falling, at which point they can flee into Leng or other places... or call on darker Powers they cannot reach now far more freely.”

“There are a great many Powers sitting back and letting us do all the work, intending to profit once the Shroud comes down and they can access their Patrons and superiors once more... or simply are not suppressed,” I sniffed. “I imagine they are already planning the chaos they will unleash once the Shroud falls... plagues, floods, fires, famine, everything they can to attract and display the power of their Patrons.”

“That sounds very much like what they would do,” Legion agreed, nodding slowly.

“We’ve already found so many things on Earth that we have to get rid of,” Azaia sighed. “Dagonics and sahaug, Cultivators, Old Gods in the Hollow World, Hyperborea, invading Dragons, renegade Fey...”

“The Banes,” Legion said softly, “and the forces behind them, the Shattered.”

Azaia made a strangling sound. “The Werewolves’ enemies? I have such a desire to leave them to fend for themselves!” She shook her small fist at the air.

“They are not the enemies of the Werefolk, they are the enemy of Reality. The werewolves’ innate magic magnified by their Cursed nature merely brought them into being. I personally believe the Hags arranged matters that way,” I said simply.

Azaia considered that. Bringing the Shattered into being meant manipulating the werefolk Tribes, the Unseelie Court, Elemental entities, things of Dream, and daemonic forces, in addition to their ongoing dominance of the Jotuns.

That level of manipulation was godly, and had obviously taken place across thousands of years.

“The Hags. Wow.” Azaia swallowed despite herself. “I guess Sama has some nasty relatives...”

“Yes, and they are very, very good at playing a long game,” I agreed somberly. “Letting the Shattered out into a realm with unrestrained magic is asking for a holocaust.”

“Aren’t they idealizations of humanity’s evil and weaknesses?” Azaia frowned. “They can’t be much more than Old Gods, can they?”

“Other than the fact that they can reform unless we hit the core of the powers that created them in the first place, that is just about right. Fortunately, they are suppressed under the Shroud, vulnerable, and the Shroud would love to bind their essences.”

Legion nodded at my words. “They are in their own pocket realms, waiting out the Shroud, afraid to set foot outside and be taken. They merely send out their Aspect minions, and send the Mazed running around trying to create the conditions to give them more power. They will be trying to implement widespread natural corruption and destruction as soon as the Shroud comes down, with an eye towards ending the entire world.”

Azaia looked back and forth between us. “And you know where those Realms are...” she sighed, and both of us nodded.

“Demons get along fine with the Shattered, and naturally those Realms are sitting open right now, albeit in very out-of-the-way places,” I confirmed for her.

“Ten and post-Ten playgrounds?” she guessed.

“For Forsaken. Especially Forsaken who have experience against the phasma of the Yellow King over in Tibet. Psychic agglomerations are not going to like the Forsaken’s virtual immunity to their version of corrupting influences.” I had to smile despite myself. “Showing those bloody werewolves how to take care of business!”

Azaia had to smile at that. “And the Powered take out the Banes?” she asked.

“Yes. Banes are a boss-monster fight, basically. Powered excel at boss-monster fights that they can prepare for. There are a lot of lads and ladies out there looking to take them down now.”

“And show the bloody werewolves what-for!” Legion muttered scornfully.

“Enough of Karma-earning stuff. Where was that place in Spain you said we should go to, Azaia?”

“Oh, I have already made reservations! It is in Marbella, Eduardo is getting everything ready...”

I had to go pick up Briggs and Sama too, neither of them going to be looking like anything other than belonging with the three of us, and enjoy my day off...