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Erick getting back to Veird was enough that I finally bit the bullet and jumped on Patreon. Holy crap, these chapters are GIRTHY when read here. Glad to have done so though and what an insane chapter to catch up on. Not surprised that Nothanganathor is lying and doing what he can to manipulate Erick. Really liked Shadow here and the relationship they're building. Ready for Erick to further power up and stomp out Noth like he deserves. Erick as a Fae is an interesting concept as so much of what he's been doing lately already leans metaphysical and metaphorical in implementation.

Hodge Wasson

Ah. Completely forgot about the colour of their dragon forms. Thanks!

Overclocked

Nothanganathor is white, Erick is black. Strangely enough, Erick's mana is white, and Nothanganathor's mana is red. Erick was just having a mental episode.

Arcs

Yea but being a god would limit his influence to 1 reality. Benevolence is cool because all realities can use it well, like the fractal. Maybe he'll spread benevolence as a fae like the fractal spreads resons?

Overclocked

I either see him gaining a form similar to the fractal fairy, but i think it's more likely he's going to become a universe himself. Bit of a throwback to him being Zoat and all...

Overclocked

What an excellent chapter. I can't believe I didn't read it until now. One thing I don't get though is why does Erick hate the colour white now? And right after talking to Nothanganatgor, it's kinda suspicious. Was that a typo?

Overclocked

Epic chapter man thank you

Thando Nkadimeng

Hope Erick eats the benevolent sun of this timeline and grows his darkness a million times while ascending to true fae

Tate Browder

I was hoping his exit from the restaurant would begin floating off, turning into a giant dragon and flying to the moon.

Chris

If you do an " introducing magic to earth" arc I hope it would be on the timescale of centuries not days.

TheLunaticCo

Coffee shop AU let's goooo

Jake Lewis

Hmmmm, I'm beginning to have a theory about the distant past, it's probably wrong but with wizards involved who knows?

Isaac Boyles

Sure there is a difference. If Noggy wins, he will attack and consume other universes. If Erick wins, he will empower the Painted Cosmology and any universes that come for friendly contact with the Darkness.

Tristan R Mitchell

I doubt Erick would be happy with the Mantle of the Darkness; he would not WANT to be in the position of the Fractal Fairy. However, I could see him as a kind of a Margleknot equiavlent for the Darkness, or perhaps having a seat on the Darkness' equivalent of the Fractal Fairy's court.

Tristan R Mitchell

Hmmm. I think a very interesting question has been brought up by Malevolence being ineffective to Nothanganathor at his level of power. It's been mentioned before that Benevolence brings power first and uses it to make the world better while Malevolence corrupts and worsens the world to empower its wielder. So... If Malevolence becomes irrelevant at a certain level of power, does Benevolence really come into its own at a certain level of power? As True Opposites it wouldn't surprise me if Erick ascending higher to fae isn't just a normal ascension but completely evolves Benevolence itself as a contrast to Malevolence raising Nothanganathor to God of Magic then being unable to serve it's purpose for him much longer.

Brisingaer

Honestly he really needed this set back and its been a long time coming. He's been procrastinating or avoiding getting stronger for no good reason for too long so that alone means he set himself up for this too. Avoiding becoming fae, for infantile reasons no less, was a big tip off that he was screwing up IMO. Noth is scum but he is intelligent, powerful, and competent scum that has spent a lot of time and effort preparing for this so half assing things is just begging for defeat. He's got to be better than that!

tibbish

Me too, that while section of messing with people in earth in harmless ways was great, I also enjoyed the restraint Eric showed in not just giving everyone super powers.

TheLunaticCo

>“Forgiveness is for those who desire it, or those who I can force into compliance. You are neither, and you will have NOTHING.” >Erick desired Nothanganathor GONE— >Suddenly Nothanganathor exploded into gore YESSS!! It was great seeing Erick finally b***hslap Nothy into Nothing-ness. I loved it. Especially poignant that he manages to do it when reeling from having "lost" in the opening salvo of the war. I never thought this story would show Erick on Earth and I am pleasantly surprised. Loved the restaurant scene to see Erick being a sort of normal after such a long time. Waiting eagerly to see Erick turn into The Apparent Fae and/or Benevolent Sun. Will Erick make a planet with the Atunir planet-maker spell and then consume it. Or just say eff it and consume Jupiter.

jj

This was awesome, im really thankful for the chapter man

Ivandro José

I would love some Alternate Universe Erick/Shadow Earth Shenanigans, if you need a creative distraction!

Nick Youngstrom

First, I'm very happy with this pseudo-slice of life scenario that's actually just his first and most important therapy session since reaching Veird (very very long overdue). The fact that it took losing a universal war and getting shunted back to earth for him to start dealing with his issues is... hilarious and extremely depressing narratively. It really shouldn't have taken that much to force him to this state. Second, I'm super happy he's beginning to accept that he just needs power to stop abuses of power. He should've accepted this a very long time ago when he was initially Veird's Apparent King Problem Solving Service. He kinda ran his logic around in circles and came back to the exact same result every time. This time was practically identical to all other times, he just had Shadow telling him he's dumb, and apparently he finally found someone he trusts the opinion of. Finally, it definitely feels like we're gearing up for Erick becoming God of Magic, but maybe with an expanded Mantle or something. Simply because this story feels a little too nonstandard to give him the same basic Mantle that every other predecessor has had. I expect he'll evolve it somehow like how Rozetta has with her Godly Mantle. Is it next Saturday yet?

Patchumz

It makes sense that the Dark rejects Nothanganathor. The Dark's purpose is to lead people to strength; even at his worst, Melemizargo embodied this goal. But Malevolence is about weakening others and stealing their power. If anything, Erick would be a better fit for God of Magic. Perhaps Benevolence even Established Nothanganathor and the Sundering to raise Erick to that point, "for the empowerment of all, and every individual".

I like that that magic battles are so mind bending that we take a left turn and are on earth again

thomas j walters

I love this novel! Thanks Arcs! Hope you had a great vacation.

Rayse

Despite never really *seeing* anything bad happen, this is easily the most unsettled I've felt while reading this story. Only some of Erick's time at Last Shadow's Feast and when he was first ensorcelled by Fairy Moon have I felt like this. I genuinely can't see how Erick "wins" this and how this fight can ever end with time shenanigans being in play. It feels like whoever wins is going to have to go so scorched earth that practically no one else from Veird is going to survive. And IF Nothanganathor has really given up Malevolence (which is a big if), on the scale of cosmologies and universes I don't think there'd be much of a difference between Nothanganathor winning or Erick winning. Which is a *weird* realization to have because it makes everything that's happened, is happening, and will happen seem so... petty.

Matt H

I cannot believe that I have to wait a whole week to find out what happens next. Makes me wish I could [Onward]

Morrigan

So like I need the next chapter to make this one fun rather than stressful. Him undoing it will be great. But till then I'm more hesitant.

Heru Kane

Oh ok, that is massive change. Honestly I’m not surprised that the red leviathan won at first. But not like that. Also paradox wizards are Hax. Also that ending is kinda ominous in a good way. Edit: post reread it’s good to see that Erick and Shadow are negotiating their relationship, and I hope to see more Quill and Erick as well. It’s good to see that the polyamory negotiations are continuing. Also can’t wait to see how Erick’s powers will grow. Thanks for the chapter I can’t wait for the next one.

Zero