Chương 46: Epilogue

Feronie was dying, and there wasn't a moment that passed where she wasn't reminded in the most painful way. Perhaps, initially, when the pain had been slight, she could have lived with it. A cramp and nothing more. But the pain grew. It expanded across her entire form, exponential in its growth and depth. She knew that her time was limited. Soon, she would reach the tipping point, where all her beautiful creations would pass on, destroying themselves.

They were blinded by their own pride, fooled by new gods who knew no better, and misled by those who knew and didn't care. Still, not all was lost. Carefully, she looked to her crop of final hopes. There were many of them, scattered like seeds across the world. Most had faded, some had been stolen from her by others, their potential turned against her. More had been culled and eaten up. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Her attention curled around one of them, a lonesome little sprout, less a seedling and more a spore which strived and fought. Its anger was palpable and potent, burning away the glamour of industry and the enthralling desire for wealth. Yes, this little one would do well, a little mushroom whose cap and stem would become a potent poison and a powerful cure.

"Do you know what it means to be loyal?" she asked the little mushroom. It did, though its loyalty had wavered. That might only make it stronger now.

"Loyalty unto death is what I need," Feronie whispered. It wasn't hyperbole. She needed loyalty and fervour. Those had served the other gods well.

"But worry not, child of man, it is not your death that I want." And with that, she poured just a little more of herself into this one little sprout, that it may grow and fulfil its potential. If this new world that had grown around her wanted to play violent games, then she'd show them that she was not afraid of doing the same.

End - Black Mould Arc