Jonathan sighed. “Well, that’s that. Onto the more arduous work. Freeing the Hells so that nobody else has to live like that.”

  “About that…” Hushar remarked. “The other Uthraki, Tukar, Maranta and Bordeg, I mean, wanted to explore with me. To see what we can accomplish out from under your shadow.”

  Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “Really? It’s your decision. What if you run into something beyond your ability to fight?”

  Hushar met Jonathan’s eyes with his own. “We’re all Tier 6. I think it’s time that we blossomed in our own right. You are always there, ready to save us if we need it. I think that’s a mistake in the long run.”

  “What about the rest of you?” Jonathan asked. “Do you agree with this?”

  “Now that it’s been mentioned,” Edgar began, “I see the appeal. Eva and I never have much time alone. It would be nice to explore the realm with just her at my side.”

  Arkanon shifted, an insight coming to him. “This wouldn’t be as dangerous as you might think, Jonathan. The ascension of the Circle Lords might be a problem for you, but not for us. They’re certainly three times stronger than us.”

  Jonathan turned. He had forgotten about that. “Right. I suppose that would come into effect here. In that case, perhaps this is what you all need. If I target the Lords on my own, then you’ll be shielded from their wrath.”

  “I’m still coming with you,” Eliza assured. “I need to be able to fight alongside you. I’m supposed to be a god as well, but it doesn’t feel like it most of the time.”

  Jonathan shrugged. “Why not? If everyone’s happy with their plans, let’s get moving. The Lords aren’t going to kill themselves.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Everyone gave Jonathan a quick nod and headed off to the corners of the realm. He and Eliza remained where they were, watching the others retreat into the horizon.

  “This feels a lot less important than it actually is,” Jonathan said. “We’re back in the Hells, and I’m finally strong enough to consider facing one of the Circle Lords again. It’s been a year, but it hardly feels like a month’s passed.”

  “Perception of time changes as one ascends the Tiers. How do you think the gods don’t go mad from their billions of years of life?”

  Jonathan shrugged. “I suppose that they’re just on a different plane of existence. They’re not humans, or elves, or any of the various races of this universe. They’re something else.”

  “Well, so are we,” Eliza replied. “At least, baby ones. You’re like a toddler of sorts.”

  Jonathan couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, a toddler of a god. Interesting comparison.”

  “I guess you should throw a tantrum then, kill the monsters that stand in our way.”

  Jonathan squinted at Eliza. “Never say that again, please?”

  She laughed. “Alright. Don’t be a toddler, then, I guess.”

  “I’ll try not to.”

  They left the scorched circle of grass behind, heading out into the Great Farm. Neither had any idea where they were, so wandering would have to do for now. With Jonathan’s target being the Great Farmer, it was in his best interest to find the monster before it could level up too much. Most Circle Lords would probably have been much higher level by now, but Jonathan remembered what the cartographer had written in the map of the Great Farm.

  He is best known for the strength that he draws from those bent to his will. Strength of Serfs, I believe the ability is called. For every wretch bent to his will, toiling away endlessly on the fields of the Great Farm, the Farmer draws an iota of power.

  The monster was a slow and steady engine of progression, rather than the rocket that Jonathan was. He grew stronger over vast periods of time, and from a source other than leveling. Most importantly, there weren’t many monsters to hunt in the realm of the Great Farm. The Lord would have to go further afield to find prey, and given the way that he operated, such an action seemed out of character for him.