[Wrath Reincarnated — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Speak with Wrath directly.]

  [Wrath Reincarnated — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Regain your power by fully Integrating with Wrath.]

  [Shut the Damn Door — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Find a way to shut the door again.]

  [Shut the Damn Door — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Now keep it shut!]

  [Seeketh Patience — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Mastery Body Integration.]

  The sun rose in the east, and another day dawned.

  Storms approached from the south, but the skies above Marina Veridia remained clear. Rukia weaved between Jules’ legs as they strolled past the barren Shrine with their Party. Jules shook his head in disbelief.

  “I can’t believe you captured this Shrine on your own.” He knew all too well how isolating Shrines could be.

  “I didn’t. I had some help.” Whiskers rode Katarina’s shoulder.

  “You’re the only one of us who conquered theirs solo, Jules.” Cyrus walked alone.

  “Even I had help…from an unexpected source.” Jules gazed up towards the Fountain of the Virtues.

  They climbed the stairs to the final summit and surveyed the battlefield. Bones, decaying flesh, ash—the smell of death filled the air.

  “For once, I didn’t cause this.” Not that it brings any peace.

  

  [Desecrate Through Reverence — Quest Objective ADDED: Pay your respects to those fallen in the Battle for Marina Veridia.]

  Uniformed Soldiers carried their dead brethren, but stopped to stare at the Party as they walked by. Their faces, mixed with pure hatred, but also gratitude. Which I think generates even more hate.

  “I don’t like being here,” Katarina said.

  “Agreed.” Whiskers flicked his three bushy tails.

  “They won’t say anything,” Cyrus said. “Only those who ran survived. They owe us their lives, in some small way.”

  “Nah, they all fear me.” Rukia swaggered along the Fountain to their destination.

  August and John stood behind Maddie. Salty Pete rested on her shoulder. They’d laid Thorns' remains in front of a shattered Altar, in front of the numeral 6. Maddie wore his Vessel, his coat, and began a eulogy.

  “You were always a thorn in our sides. But you forged me into the woman I am today. You broke down my crew, and myself, then rebuilt us into the Pirates we are today. Your absence will be…inescapable. You may have been my grandfather by blood and by law…” She wiped away a single tear. “But in my heart, you were my father.”

  Katarina looked away.

  “To Thorn,” August shouted.

  “To Thorn,” John said.

  "SQUAWK! THORN!"

  “To Thorn,” Jules said. Maddie turned to face them. Here we go.

  

  [Desecrate Through Reverence — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Pay your respects to those fallen in the Battle for Marina Veridia.]

  They’d parted last night on poor terms, urged by their friends to separate and sleep on it. Not that sleep came. But both still bowed their heads low in respect. The others repeated the toast to a life well lived.

  Maddie activated her new Vessel. Golden tendrils extended out and enwrapped the remains of both Thorn and the shattered Altar. They fused into one, restored the marble to its prior glory, and entombed Thorn and his legacy within it, within her.

  “Wrath."

  “Diligence.”

  “Aye." A reluctant smile crept across Maddie's face. "So the whole world will soon know.”

  

  [Virtue Signaling — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Find Diligence.]

  “Anonymity suits you," Jules joked. "Perhaps Commander Krakenbane will forget to mention you in his report.”

  “Ha! Seems he helped you well enough, giving your free reign of the town.”

  “For just a few hours more. I did save the day. With some help, of course.” He looked back to his friends. “As for Zeke—”

  “I will not regret my decision.”

  You mean your judgment.

  Diligence directed her attention to her Altar at the Fountain.

  “I understand. It was inevitable. I just wanted information first." If Zeke killed my father, I wouldn't have waited, either. "Spilled beer.”

  “It was the right choice. Though I admit, the timing may have been wrong.”

  “Better to kill him before he could snake his way out,” Cy said.

  Maddie stared into Jules’ eyes again. “Aye.”

  “He won’t be the last Judas Priest. We know a little about them, but not enough. Next time, we think before we act.”

  “We? Still jabbering on about joining your crew?”

  Jules laughed. “No. I know better than that. You have your own journey to follow.”

  “Aye, me and my men will follow my compass to riches and an early retirement. But first, a trip home would do well.”

  “And where might that be?” Now there's that devilish smile of yours.

  “Anonymity suits me, remember? But—my dear Katarina saved me from madness, and you defeated our common enemy. We will grant you one free voyage, wherever you’d like to go, whenever you’d like to go, even if it be the ends of the earth. Redwoods don’t like their kind being in debt.”

  

  [New Quest Available: A Redwood's Debt]

  [New Reward Available for A Redwood's Debt: A free ride anywhere in Salvatica…That a boat can get to.]

  [A Redwood's Debt — Quest Objective ADDED: Ask Diligence for a ride.]

  "I’m sure we’ll take you up on that offer. One day.”

  “Envy—Katarina. I have a gift for you.” Katarina perked up. Maddie fumbled around inside Thorn’s jacket; it was much too large on her frame. With a flirtatious grin, she handed Katarina an eye patch. “Something to remember me by.”

  Katarina’s face fell flat. “Gee. Thanks.”

  “Thank you. For saving my soul.” Maddie leaned in close to her. “Sometimes, I wonder who the real demons are.” She stepped back. “Alright, men—”

  “One final thing, Maddie.” Jules handed her a piece of the fractured Black Sacrament. “Guard it with your life. And don’t let it control you again.”

  “Hmm…” She raised the medallion shard and studied it. “Looks like one-third to me.”

  “I have the second piece,” Jules said. Maddie looked to Katarina.

  “Our mutual acquaintance demanded the third as payment,” Cy said. “So I gave it to the Alter Pirate.”

  A breeze swept by.

  

  [New Quest Available: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath]

  [New Reward Available for Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: Stop the Iron Maiden and her Black Sacrament.]

  [Sabbath Bloody Sabbath — Quest Objective ADDED: Ask other Arcanics for any information they have on the Iron Maiden.]

  “Davy Jones,” Maddie whispered.

  “Spread the word, Maddie,” Jules said. “To any Virtues that you meet, about what’s coming for them. But be selective. I don’t think Patience should be trusted.”

  “Oi. Bit of a cunt, that one."

  “You’ve met him!?” Jules leaned in.

  “He is Zeke’s superior—Ha! Was. Doubt he’ll be a member of the Iron Maidens for much longer. Afraid I don't know much else, except I'm sure he's got a small—"

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  “I see… Well, serves him right.” They clasped each others’ hands.

  

  [Virtue Signaling — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Follow up on your hunch about Patience.]

  “Good luck,” they said together. She walked away and snapped her fingers over her shoulders.

  “Come on, boys.” Maddie left them with one final glance over her shoulder, a sly look at Katarina.

  Katarina’s face flushed red in anger and jealousy. “She stole my line.”

  Jules inspected the Altar of Patience, the only one that remained damaged.

  Hope it stays that way.

  Can we pee on it? Rukia asked. She squatted down and tilted her head at him.

  No! Bad fox!

  Ah man…

  “How are you feeling?” Jules asked Katarina.

  “My right arm reattached well enough. I’m having vision problems, but it’s adjusting.”

  “And your hand?” Katarina twisted her left palm around. No improvement. The Holy damage really stunted its Regeneration. Jules shifted his gaze. During his Integration, Kaizen’s mastery of Holy and Dark energies had fully healed him. We need to find a way to do the same for Kat.

  “Well. I’m fine,” Cyrus said. “Physically, anyway.”

  “And emotionally?” Whiskers wagged his tail playfully. These two seem to be getting along better.

  “I’m…confused. About right and wrong and—”

  “Well I feel great!” Rukia shook her stubby tail around. They all laughed lightly. Thanks for breaking the ice, Little One.

  “Of course you do.” Jules pet her between the ears. Kaizen was back at home in the Shaman Beads around her neck.

  “I still have three tails, so that’s a relief.”

  “What’s next, Cap'n?” Rukia and the others looked to Jules.

  “Team?” he asked them.

  “Stop the Apocalypse,” Katarina said.

  “To the Verdant Domain. We have A Painter to find.”

  “Good. We head for Shinsora.” They all tilted their heads at him.

  “Jules,” Cy shook his head, “you can’t join the Shinsorai. I mean they wouldn't accept you before, but now…”

  “Krakenbane sent me a dispatch this morning. A lead on Lust.”

  

  [Inner Vices — Quest Objective UDPATED: Find Lust in Shinsora.]

  “And how will we get there? Our ship was obliterated.”

  You’re just jealous, Kat.

  “We can take up Maddie’s offer.”

  “No, Cy. I have a much better idea.” Jules jerked his neck back to the port, down the high and winding terraces of Marina Veridia.

  Of all the ships that remained, only one survived the turmoil. Its white sails waved in the wind. Plastered all over them was the crest of the Iron Maidens. Cyrus laughed.

  “You’re joking,” Katarina and Whiskers said together.

  “Oooh, traveling in style, Jules!”

  “You are crazy, Jules.” Cyrus shook his head.

  “We take off in one hour. Go do what you need to do.” They all knew he spoke directly to Cyrus.

  “Fine," he sighed. "See you at the docks.” Cyrus marched away.

  “Jules…”

  “Yes, Kat?”

  Rukia and Whiskers glanced at each other. They slowly backed away and left them alone.

  “Those beads that Kaizen lives in… You never said who gave them to you.”

  Ohhh, right. A lot’s been going on since then.

  “I’m sorry, Kat—your old friend, the blind beggar. He stumbled into me at the right time. You know, he seems to do that a lot.”

  Katarina pointed to an escaping Rukia, who shot up straight and quit moving away. “That’s a Vessel, Jules. I saw it in my Shrine.” Rukia inched away.

  “A Vessel…”

  “And I think he has two more.”

  Jules whistled. “Three Vessels, huh.”

  “You seem surprised.” She crossed her arms.

  “He stopped me from being possessed by Wrath. Then he left Aquilantis. By the way—he wanted me to tell you that he wished he could have said goodbye to you.”

  “Oh. I see.” Another breeze passed by. “Well, I’m going to buy some provisions for our trip. I’ll leave you to it.”

  Jules watched her leave for quite some time. He felt someone staring at him and turned to see Rukia glaring.

  “Jules…”

  “Yes, Little One?”

  “That was anticlimactic.”

  Jules snorted under his breath. “Today is no day for celebration. Old man, come out. We’ve got a lot to discuss.”

  Kaizen emerged from Rukia’s beads. “You know, I’m only thirty-five.”

  “That’s about twice my age.” Jules reached into his Inventory and removed a toy ball. He chucked it off the cliff. Rukia darted after it at supersonic speed, her ears tucked back and eyes bulging. “That mean I’m at the halfway mark?”

  “I would say that depends on quite a lot, Jules.”

  “Who is Death?”

  “Ah, yes. Death. I’m afraid that also depends.”

  “On what, Kaizen?” Jules snapped.

  Kaizen gazed at him with soft eyes, understanding eyes. Patronizing eyes. It pissed off Jules even more.

  “On how things play out this time.”

  “You won’t talk to me about your previous incarnation. Neither would Wrath.”

  Rukia returned with the slobbery ball. Jules lobbed it down again, and she was gone.

  “Ask the question, kiddo.”

  "Is…"

  Jules shook drool from his hand and wiped it clean.

  He looked out to the rising sun.

  “Is it you?”

  Kaizen sighed.

  Rukia returned for a third trip.

  “Tell you what, Jules. When you find all three pieces of the Sound, I will answer that specific question.”

  When I've assembled a weapon of mass destruction…

  Jules gritted his teeth and bared it.

  Rukia returned with the ball, exhausted. He knelt down to scratch her, and she panted in his face. Her eyes were barely open, staring directly into the sun, in pure, childlike bliss.

  

  [Go Long! — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Play ball with Rukia.]

  [Go Long! — QUEST COMPLETED]

  [Go Long! — REWARD GRANTED: Rukia's undying affection.]

  “It’s a deal, then,” Jules said.

  

  [The Sound and the Fury — Reward ADDED: Kaizen will answer your question about Death.]

  CYRUS

  “Oh ho ho! Ahoy, matey!”

  “Don’t get all friendly with me,” Cy said to the Alter Pirate. He was sure they’d have had a death match by now and didn’t trust him as far as he could throw him.

  “Relax, me boy! It’s a day of celebration. We all achieved what we were searching for, in'a end.”

  “Not me. I still have questions.” Jones turned serious. “So you’re an Info Broker, too?” Jones just grinned back. “And you know my teacher Isolda?”

  “Intimately, me boy.” Jones tilted his head to the side with a wink.

  “She wasn’t in Coralhaven. Someone else served time in her place.” Cy paused to read Jones’ face, but he betrayed nothing. “Where is she?”

  “At the moment…” Jones lifted his chin and rolled his eyes around in every direction. “Nowhere! Har har—”

  “This Nowhere, is it safe?”

  

  [Corporeal Punishment — Quest Objective Updated: Find Isolda in Nowhere.]

  “Aye, lad, she’s safe.” Jones looked away. Annoyed, or bored?

  “And Selene?”

  “...Oh. Yes. The little lass.” His face dropped. “She’s joining me crew, as it turns.”

  Cy froze in place. “But I…” Saved her life.

  “Chopped off her fookin' arm? Them the words you was lookin’ to say?”

  Cy turned, irritated. Well, yeah, but no.

  “She couldn’t say goodbye. But she did want me to tell you that she’s sorry that she couldn’t. Now I say that aloud, I don’t know if I’m supposed to say goodbye to you for her, or if she wants ye to just plain fuck off. Hm…”

  Jones scratched his beard and deliberated over it.

  “Tell her that I’m sorry, too. I hope to see her again someday.”

  Jones grunted. “Perhaps ye will. Anything else?”

  “Yeah. Have you ever heard of the Magi?”

  They locked eyes, not blinking for what seemed like ages to Cy.

  “That info will cost you, son. More’n yer willin' to part with, from what I gather.”

  “Well. I am broke again.”

  Jones narrowed his eyes. “Not Ryoku I speak of.” He slapped Cy’s back. “But cheer up! I’m sure you’ll get your business afloat again in no time!”

  

  [New Quest Available: The Labyrinth of Magic]

  [New Reward Available for The Labyrinth of Magic: ???]

  [The Labyrinth of Magic — Quest Objective ADDED: Ask around about the Magi.]

  Uh huh. “One last thing. Do you have any advice on becoming an Alter?”

  "When you can tell me why 4th Rankers revert back to Runes…" Jones tousled Cy's hair. "Ye'll have answered yer own question."

  You three are always full of surprises…

  

  [Alternate History — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Follow up on your suspicions of Davy Jones with The Painter.]

  “Interesting. Thanks. Well, it’s time for me to take off.”

  Jones’ grin faded, like he was disappointed and expected more.

  “Ah," Cyrus added, "I suppose I’ll be seeing you in the Verdant Domain. Cheers, eh?”

  Cy turned and walked away. The grin had returned to Jones’ face, Cy could hear it in the words that followed.

  “The-boy-who-would-be-Alter…”

  PATIENCE

  Patience strolled through the streets of battle-torn Marina Veridia like he was at a parade. The bodies, the bones, the despair—everything was a sight to behold. The only thing that bothered him was the stench.

  That, and my fucking Altar that fucking imbecile Zeke fucking destroyed.

  He walked past the ashen outline of Zeke’s remains. His head was over here, and his body over there, just the way Patience liked it. He spat on the black imprint, then walked to his crushed Altar.

  A hazy demon emerged from it and smiled like the arrogant bastard he was. No one was around to hear Patience speak, and no one else could see his visions of the monster, anyway.

  “REPORT.”

  “I had some yes-man deliver the message to Jules this morning. They recently departed for Lust.”

  “AND?”

  Patience didn’t dare roll his eyes.

  “Charlotte’s been busy all week setting up the trap. It should go off soon. I should be long-gone by—"

  “YOU MUST STAY. NO WITNESSES TO THE BLACK SACRAMENT ARE PERMITTED TO SURVIVE.”

  “Except for me, right?”

  Silence. Patience popped his neck.

  “This is taking much longer than we anticipated.”

  “WE?"

  Wrath laughed.

  "YOU MUST HAVE PATIENCE, BOY.”

  Patience snarled.

  Arrogant old fool, tells me about Patience?

  "JULES NEEDS BUT TWO MORE PIECES OF THE SOUND. THEN HIS SEAL WILL OPEN, AND YOU SHALL GAIN WHAT YOU SEEK."

  “And finally be blessed as a Virtue.”

  Wrath laughed again.

  “FOOL. IT IS A CURSE HANDED TO YOU, FOR FAILING YOUR MISSION.”

  “Fuck my task, and fuck Destiny or Fate or whoever needs a good fucking. I have my own ambitions.”

  “YOU ARE ALL THE SAME.”

  “Save me your coded speeches. I have work to do. Is that all?”

  “FAR FROM IT.”

  Wrath grinned and faded away.

  

  [Master of Puppets — Quest Objective FAILED: Capture Wrath]

  [Master of Puppets — Quest Objective ADDED: Help Wrath gather the remaining pieces of the Sound of Fury.]

  [New Quest Available: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath]

  KAIZEN

  Kaizen floated with his eyes closed and meditated. His levitating legs crossed in the purple void of the Shaman Beads around Rukia’s neck. They’d taken sail not long ago.

  Kaizen thought about which path Fate would follow this time around. He thought about Envy, about Lust, and about Greed. Then he heard a soft knock. He opened his eyes; he expected the visitor.

  The jail cell door appeared before him, and he opened it right up.

  “YOU CHOSE WELL, KAIZEN.”

  “Hello, old friend.” Kaizen welcomed the monstrous demon in. "But you and I both know, that is one choice I am not guilty of making."

  “OUR PLAN GOES SMOOTHLY.”

  “I wouldn’t use that word, but Jules has done well so far. He has even taken the Decimation better than I did."

  “WILL YOU TELL THE BOY?”

  Kaizen knew the question he asked.

  “Tell him what, Wrath?”

  The demon stared back in silence.

  “No. Jules is a smart kid. He's already tugged on the thread."

  “HOW WILL HE TAKE YOUR INEVITABLE BETRAYAL?”

  “Only time will tell. Hopefully better than I did, there at the end."

  “HM. PATIENCE IN YOUR WRATH. YOU ARE LEARNING.”

  “Wisdom takes time, and I’ve had plenty of it. I have also had an," Kaizen bowed slightly, "experienced teacher. You won’t betray him, will you?”

  Wrath grew in size.

  “I AM THE SINGULARITY OF TRUST. I NEVER BETRAY. ESPECIALLY MY OWN."

  “Bold words for someone who leveled Jules' hometown. Twice.”

  “YOU ARE NOT BLIND TO THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER LIKE THE REST.”

  “How right you are.”

  “AND WHAT DECISION HAVE YOU COME TO, REGARDING—”

  "When the time comes, my old friend, I will allow him to take the Sound of Fury from us."

  "AND LET DEATH CLAIM YOU?"

  Kaizen returned to his meditations.

  The demon lingered.

  “I…SEE. I WISH YOU GOOD FORTUNE, KAIZEN.”

  Wrath vanished from the plane.

  Thank you, master. I'll need it. We'll all need it.

  ******* ****** ***** **** *** ** * ** *** **** ***** ****** *******

  100

  VOLUME 1 - ENVY, FIN

  ******* ****** ***** **** *** ** * ** *** **** ***** ****** *******

  

  Open up the dirty window

  Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

  Reaching for something in the distance

  So close you can almost taste it

  Release your inhibitions

  Feel the rain on your skin

  Volume 1 — Envy of Wrath Reincarnated (!!!!!)

  A few cool-to-me announcements:

  

  — You might have guessed the next title, Volume 2 — Lust

  — You might have guessed the next title, Volume 3 — Greed

  — Volumes 2 and 3 are for sure gonna be 50 chapters // 100k+ words each (half Vol 1 length)

  — I started writing a time travel series at the beginning of the year called "2 to the X" where this bloke can travel back in time 2^X seconds, where X = his level. I am gonna avoid launching during Writeathon this time... But I'll post an announcement when it launches