The OP Lich is a Returnee, Book 16 Epilogue

Epilogue – Elsewhere

Four individuals met in a darkened room. No names were shared. Those who knew about this meeting already knew who the other attendees were. There was no need for introductions.

Each individual represented a faction of power. While they were not the nominal heads of their factions, what was decided in this chamber would be carried out. One way or another.

On an unseen signal, the political representative took a breath. “It is now the appointed time. What do we know?”

The science representative leaned forward. “The so-called ‘Corpse Lords’ have arrived at the testing facility. Moving forward, we will be naming them Shinigami for the pair, and the individuals will be named Hades and Persephone. According to the Anomaly, they are now ‘Soulblades’ of the Death Element, much as she is an Archmage of Death. We will be gathering more data on what, exactly, that means after we finish gathering baseline data on their current capabilities.”

“What about their upkeep? We knew that undead were going to have dietary needs. What kind of food source are we going to need for them?”

The science representative checked their notes. “Originally, when they were raised as ghouls, it seems that they would have required human flesh on a regular basis. Fortunately, their ascension into ‘revenants’, have made it so they can feed on any living creature by touch. Unfortunately, this appears to be an ’always on’ ability, requiring them to cover up constantly in order to avoid accidents.”

The political representative frowned. “That is… less than ideal.”

The military representative nodded. “A grenade that goes off the moment you pull the pin is not a great weapon.”

“Fortunately,” the intelligence representative cut in, “the Anomaly mentioned that Athelian Arms could produce items to allow Hades and Persephone to control their abilities, beyond just the ‘always on’ feeding ability, and a limited number of charms to ward individuals close to them as a bit of redundancy.”

The political representative leaned forward. “What other abilities are they needing to control?”

“As you know, the Anomaly typically wears several enchanted items, that have no immediate defensive or offensive capabilities. Among them is a ring which helps to suppress her power and the aura of danger that she emits, allowing her to walk amongst normal people without causing a panic. Hades and Persephone both have that type of aura about them, now. Apparently, it is a side-effect of being a powerful undead.”

“I see,” the political representative nodded, before looking to the science representative. “Make sure that Hades and Persephone get those items, then.”

“Of course.”

Looking back to the intelligence representative, the political representative said, “Our asset in the field accompanied the Shinigami back to Japan, but do we know anything about the Anomaly, and her plans to visit the final seal?”

The intelligence representative paused, and said, “We do not have any first-hand accounts of what she is doing. However, we know that, after reaching Seattle by teleportation, she spent the night at her home there, joined with her sister and the bodyguards assigned to her. The next morning, she set off to the mountain in a way that could only be called ‘attention-grabbing’.”

“Heh,” laughed the military representative. “A full-on cavalry company riding across the sky, with two dragons for air support? I’ve seen artillery barrages that were less attention-grabbing than that! I bet a whole bunch of radar officers needed a change of uniform after seeing that!”

“That as it may be, we have been able to learn through sources in the Governor’s office that the Anomaly contacted the National Guard depot, and reportedly greeted the woman who answered the phone by name, before asking for the commanding officer by name. I will add that, approximately the same time as she left Seattle, a pair of unidentified intelligence operatives in the town were killed in an unknown manner, seemingly between the time they got into their car following breakfast at a local diner, and before they could turn the key. These same operatives had apparently tried to take control of the National Guard unit on ‘national security’ grounds, but the commanding officer refused without written orders, which neither the commanding general of the California Guard or the Governor were willing to give.”

The military representative nodded. “In other words, she had assets in place, all through that town, long before she got to Seattle. Perhaps since she first found out about where the Prime Seal was. Not just spies, but probably her version of special forces, as well.”

The political representative chuckled. “Well, given that an angered Anomaly did not descend upon the Governor’s office, I believe we can assume that whatever they discussed went as she desired. Most likely some version of the Governor and National Guard wanting to ensure that no one did anything stupid. I doubt there will be any tears shed over the dead spies.”

“As you say,” the intelligence representative nodded. “After reaching the town, the Lich Queen apparently invited the command section of the Guard unit to observe. Their commander, a thaumaturge, accepted the offer. The last we know from direct accounts, they all were heading to the mountain on horseback.”

The science representative leaned forward. “However, that is not the limit of our knowledge. Aid workers helping to continue the clean-up and recovery operations in the Azores and assets within China have both confirmed a large pulse of mana through the wellsprings of Air and Shadow, similar to the ones released when other seals were successfully undone, though larger in scale. It may be premature to say for certain, but the evidence indicates that the Prime Seal was successfully undone.”

The political representative nodded. “And we still believe that the Anomaly likely used herself as the vessel for the ritual?”

“Undoubtedly. We consulted Red Dragon, and they agree. The only ‘safe’ way to undo the Prime Seal, given what we know of the ritual, is to either have a vessel that naturally possesses all elements or no elements, a vessel for each element, or a vessel with the fortitude, tenacity, and power to overcome the difficulty in withstanding the seal’s energies. Finding anyone without an element, or with all elements, is rare enough that you would have better odds of winning every lottery in the world with the same numbers in the same week.

“One could find a vessel of each element easily enough. However, getting mostly untrained individuals to synchronize their souls and mana across elemental lines, with a total of eight in the mix? Where even one faltering could doom the entire enterprise? Red Dragon just laughed when asked what the odds were of the Anomaly choosing such a method.”

“As would I,” the military representative nodded. “She’s not that hopeful in people’s ability to get along, even with a blade to their throat.”

“Quite,” the science representative nodded. “Which brings us to the last option, the choice of someone overpowering the conflicting energies in the seal. I believe that we can all agree that, outside of Red Dragon or Sea Lord, there are no beings we know of that could fill that role other than the Anomaly. Since the seal was undone, it is likely that the Anomaly has changed accordingly, as all other vessels have, but we do not yet have any way of knowing into what, or how much her power has increased from before.”

The military representative leaned back in their chair, and said, “I just want it noted that, once again, I will be stridently objecting to any use of force against the Anomaly, even with the Shinigami on our side. That is not a fight we can win.”

“Indeed,” the political representative nodded.