The fight came to an end with Hel's surrender.

The board unraveled, with each settlement returning to its original location, and the fighting came to an end. Ishtar and Hel reluctantly ordered their troops to stand down, and Wepwawet did the same with his own. Watatsumi reappeared in the gods' shared realm of Influence to concede defeat, roaring with all the rage only a losing dragon could muster.

"Arienai, arienai!" he raged on so loudly it would have whipped up a thunderstorm if they were on Elphion. "Muda, muda, muda!"

"Oh, shut up!" Hel chided him angrily. "I told you to use Animisms to prepare the terrain ahead of the actual battle, but nooooo, you had to hoard that mana of yours instead of investing it wisely!"

Ishtar and Wepwawet watched them argue for a while, the former with some amusement, the latter with annoyance. It infuriated him that his classmates would act so childishly with the lives of mortals.

All in all, this could have been worse. Their losses had been relatively light—relatively being the key word—and they had reclaimed Orestown and Pitsfire, which should prevent future incursions through the southeast.

However, while Wepwawet had recovered his dead Champions' souls and would be able to revive them once Ishtar completed their trade—or rather, if she completed her trade—he couldn't say the same for his other soldiers. He had never felt the absence of an afterlife on Elphion as keenly as today.

Watatsumi eventually calmed down, his draconic pride eventually yielding to his pantheon's tradition of personal responsibility.

"Gomen nasai." Watatsumi lowered his head in shame at his ally. "Gomen, Hel-chan… Ware wa shippaisita…"

Hel sighed. Wepwawet could tell part of her wanted to keep scolding Watatsumi for his performance, but a dragon's apology could mollify even the most stubborn of goddesses. "At least they lost more than we did in the bargain…"

"Did we?" Ishtar taunted her. "We can revive the dead easily enough, and you must still surrender your best Miracles to us."

"Wepwawet beat me, not you," Hel replied with a glare.

"Whatever," Wepwawet said. If she wanted to keep a sliver of pride by surrendering her best Miracle to him rather than Ishtar, he had no reason to complain. In the end, Watatsumi surrendered his own best card to Ishtar—some kind of ocean-creation Ritual—and Wepwawet seized his own prize from Hel's deck; much to her immense chagrin.

Antimagic Lock

Rank 10 Ritual

Cancels all active magical effects within your realm of Influence, regardless of their origin, besides those produced by Rank 11 or Rank 12 sources. Creatures relying on magic to live are instantly slain and summoned ones are banished back to their original plane of existence, while enchanted items and permanent/lingering magical effects are suppressed for 10 minutes.

Now that was a punchy Miracle. Wepwawet would have to use it carefully since it would also strip his Champions and followers of all beneficial magical effects, but it would stop some foes dead in their tracks. They were lucky Hel failed to draw it during their battle.

If that was Hel's rarest and strongest Miracle, then she has no Rank 11 or 12 cards in her deck yet, Wepwawet thought upon seizing the Miracle and overwriting the Torc of Grand-Loup with it. He could always re-register the Artifact later. Makes sense, considering she didn't participate in an Incursion or B&C battle yet. It's a heavy blow to her.

"Remember your promise," Hel hissed at him upon surrendering her Miracle to him.

"Watatsumi can summon his Champions back home, and your own troops will have twenty-four hours to evacuate to Valentine," Wepwawet replied. "I won't guarantee their safety beyond that time limit."

"I could use your elf captives," Ishtar suggested, much to Watatsumi's horror. "A healthy transfusion of demon blood would turn them into assets for my war effort."

Wepwawet scoffed. Ishtar appeared to delight in playing the bad cop to his good cop. "As you can see, I don't think I can hold my partner back much longer," he warned Hel and Watatsumi. "I wouldn't waste time if I were you."

Watatsumi took the memo. He immediately began to teleport his Champions out of the canyon and evacuate his remaining troops.

"This is not over," Hel warned them, rather ineffectually.

"It is," Wepwawet replied. "And that's why you're mad."

He cut off the communication with those two, leaving him and Ishtar alone. The goddess assessed him with a strange look before asking, "I take it you intend to host my troops until tomorrow?"

"I promised I would feed your army on its way to Valentine," Wepwawet replied. A deal was a deal.

"But in spite of your attempts at de-escalating this situation, you won't stop me from attacking Valentine." Ishtar's smile turned predatory. "Or rather, you know you cannot stop me even if you want to."

Wepwawet sighed. He couldn't deny it. His forces were no match for Ishtar's after all the losses he suffered over the last few battles. He could still likely send the demons packing with the Divine Avatar and other powerful Miracles, but the conflict would likely destroy Lavaland and leave him open for an attack by Valentine.

He had done what he could to reduce the bloodshed, but he had to think of his civilizations' wellbeing. He wouldn't stop Ishtar from waging war on Epona… but he wouldn't assist her either.

"I will let you cross the border if you still insist on picking fights with Epona, but I will not send my own troops," Wepwawet warned his ally.

"Of course, of course," Ishtar replied with a tone that implied otherwise. "Which means you will recall the Champion you've left stranded in Valentine, leave the southern alliance to recover, and cut off my supply lines to give peace a chance?"

Wepwawet remained silent.

"I thought so," Ishtar said knowingly. "Deny it as much as you want, but you've already picked your side in this struggle."

"I would rather have peace on Elphion, or at least that we focus on Beelzebub," Wepwawet insisted. War between his classmates only served the cause of the Titans. "However, the southern alliance Epona gathered continues to threaten my civilization and that of Artemis', and I'm also convinced the lunarians managed to infiltrate it."

"So you will continue to economically support my empire against Valentine and weaken it through subversive actions until the southern powers are cowed into peace." Ishtar chuckled in delight. "Quite ruthless of you to leave me to take out our common foe as your proxy while you rebuild your forces. You're not as naïve as you make yourself out to be."

"I'm still a god of war," Wepwawet replied sternly. "The point is that I am thankful for your help and I will continue to support you against Epona, just not through direct military assistance."

"Fine by me. I doubt Watatsumi and Hel will be too keen on fighting me again after today's debacle, and by then, my army should establish a permanent foothold within Valentine's territory. My Zoramesh Empire will grow with each human we convert into demons, and we can focus on economic integration between our civilizations." Ishtar snapped her finger, and a Miracle card appeared in her hand. "Shall we proceed to our trade now that our business here is concluding?"

"Will we?" Wepwawet was pleasantly surprised. "I expected you to lord that Miracle over me for another month or so."

"A deal is a deal, Sweetpup. I am as good as my word, especially when it comes to my friends." Ishtar put a hand on her waist. "Nonetheless, I only agreed to a fair trade, and Underworld Escape is a Rank 12 card, so don't expect to exchange it for a Smite copy. Thankfully for you, I have one Miracle in mind."

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Wepwawet's jaw clenched. "Which Miracle are you looking for?"

"I've heard you defeated Beelzebub by using a Miracle capable of stealing Artifacts. Do you still have it inside your deck?"

"You want What's Yours is Mine?" That surprised Wepwawet. "Are you looking for anything stronger?"

His answer amused Ishtar. "Would you trade me your Divine Avatar instead if I ask nicely?"

"No," Wepwawet conceded. "I do wonder what you have in mind, though."

"Call it intuition or foresight born of careful planning, but I suspect there will come a time when the Prophecy will grant me a decisive advantage in the future." Ishtar crossed her arms. "So, do we have a deal?"

Wepwawet pondered whether to go through with it before agreeing. As much as What's Yours is Mine had saved his people in the past and could continue to prove useful against Beelzebub, it remained only situationally good and he needed it far less than Ishtar's resurrection Miracle. He wasn't sure he was willing to surrender other Miracles like Anima Spirit either.

"Very well," Wepwawet said upon proceeding with the trade. He let go of What's Yours Is Mine and recovered the grand prize he had been seeking for so long.

Underworld Escape

Rank 12 Ritual

Revive a dead Champion back to full health and vigor at a designated spot within your Influence. The Champion's old remains are destroyed in the process, and equipment does not come back with them.

There it was at last, the key to bringing back Goreville, Grudu, and all those who had perished fighting in his name.

Of course, it remained limited. A god could only revive Champions whose souls remained in their grasp, and the likes of Fire Sultan Onyx had long reincarnated after Whiro's Incursion. Wepwawet couldn't raise mortal followers either since he had yet to create an artificial afterlife that could house their spirits.

Nonetheless, he was immensely grateful to Ishtar for giving him the chance to revive the dead at last.

"Thank you," Wepwawet said from the bottom of his heart. "I appreciate this."

Ishtar smiled and then leaned uncomfortably closer to Wepwawet. The god pulled back a bit as she invaded his personal space. For a second, he feared she would try to kiss him or something.

"It's truly a shame Artemis got to you first. Truly a shame." Ishtar leaned back, much to Wepwawet's relief. "Do you know what all Pantheons have in common, no matter their origins?"

Wepwawet frowned. "They all put their differences aside to protect mortals?"

"Debatable. No, the truth is that all Pantheons have a leader. Certainly, some rule with a lighter touch than others, and their power can rest on consensus as well as pure strength, but it is an inalienable fact of divinity that one shall take command whether by will or circumstances."

"And you want to rule Elphion's Pantheon?" Wepwawet guessed.

"Of course. I would rather be in charge than answer to Epona or Horus… but I see there's a dark horse candidate in the stable." Ishtar waved a hand at him as she dissipated into mana. "Take care, Wepwawet. I look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration."

Wepwawet wasn't so sure he shared the sentiment, but she was right; their alliance would last, for better or worse.

Gather at my Altar in Orestown, Wepwawet informed most of his Champions. Only Topaz and Jasper would remain with Malvolo's army for now. And bring the remains of your fellow fallen Champions.

Wepwawet's troops spent the next few hours asserting control over their new acquisitions. Watatsumi had already teleported his ships and whale fortress away while the elven defenders were allowed to leave once they had been unfrozen from the ice Insupportable trapped them in; Hel's forces did the same. Alexandrite didn't look all too happy about letting invaders go, but she didn't object to the decision.

In the end, all that mattered was that Lavaland had regained its lost territory and was unified once again.

Ishtar abided by her word, and Topaz claimed the Pitsfire Altar without issue. Wepwawet had civilians teleport food and supplies to the demon army as it encamped in the city for the day. This suited Malvolo just fine, and the Zoramesh Emperor declared his intention to cross the Valentinian border at dawn to retain the advantage of speed and surprise.

Although Watatsumi's coral barrier hadn't dissipated, Wepwawet's newfound Influence over the area allowed him to repair the bridge linking Orestown's Altar to the rest of the city. There, at the foot of his Altar, did he prepare for a day of reckoning.

As Wepwawet suspected, Insupportable was the first to make his way to the Altar while carrying Bernard's corpse in his enormous reptilian hand. He laid the yeti at Wepwawet's stone feet and then stomped the ground in impatience.

"Now!" Insupportable snapped at Wepwawet with his shrill voice in front of the gathered Champions. "Bring my chief of staff back to me!"

"I shall fulfill my oath," Wepwawet replied, his voice coming out of his Altar like thunder out of a cloud. He had decided to let the disrespect slide for now, since it came from a place of concern. It still astonished him that a selfish and self-righteous dragon as unbearable as Insupportable could actually show any kind of care and empathy for another creature. It was clear he saw Bernard as more than just a useful servant. I guess there's a reason why he had the potential to become a Champion of legends…

All the surviving Champions who had fought in the battle for Orestown had gathered to witness what would likely become Wepwawet's second most important Miracle. The corpses of the defeated were gathered in lines on the coral from Rapoleon to Wintresse, waiting for their turn, though Jarlack's remains were still encased in ice. It would take a while to raise them all alongside the souls Wepwawet lost during the Titan Incursion, but they would all get their turn.

"Let the chosen dead be returned among the living through heaven's light!" Wepwawet said, his Altar's eyes glowing with holy light. "Come back to us, Bernard of Verglane!"

Wepwawet cast Underworld Escape on Bernard's lifeless corpse first, his light connecting the body to the soul the god had recovered during the battle. Hel's spell had slain the yeti without harming the body, and necrosis had yet to fully settle in, but the magic didn't heal it; instead, it disintegrated the body and created a brand new one from nothing in its place. Bernard's soul settled back into his new flesh without issue…

And the yeti gasped for air from his newly formed mouth.

"Ah!" Bernard called as he literally jolted back to life to the amazement of all onlookers. Gasps and mutters echoed his return while he grasped his chest. "What the… what happened?"

Unfortunately for him, he barely had time to blink before his dragon master began to shout at him again.

"Minion Bernard, how dare you die on me?! I was so worr—angry!" Insupportable caught himself and almost choked in place. "I was so angry I would have eaten you myself!"

"I… I am sorry, Your Glorious Imperial Majesty," Bernard immediately apologized as if it were his fault. "I didn't mean to perish in the line of duty!"

"I cannot believe it…" Peridot muttered to himself while poor Bernard profusely begged for Insupportable's forgiveness. Wepwawet had yet to see the general be shaken by anything beforehand. "He is… alive."

"It is a miracle," Victoire said with a happy smile. She likely looked forward to the return of old faces. "Get used to it."

"What about my father?" Alexandrite asked immediately, a small hint of hope breaking through her cool facade. "Can you raise him? Or my sister?"

"Alas, no," Wepwawet replied, much to the Sultana's disappointment. "Their souls are beyond even my reach… but know that death will not hold sway over you or your sister so long as you remain my Champions."

Alexandrite didn't have an answer to that. Her disappointment was palpable, but Wepwawet hoped she would take solace in the knowledge that the last member of her family could be revived in a pinch.

The sight of the dead rising back to life had given her and so many others pause. Wepwawet knew it would take a while for all of his Champions and followers to grasp all the implications behind this Miracle. He had promised his best and most faithful followers would rise again, and he had just proved it beyond a doubt. He suspected many would welcome the news with zeal.

"I forbid you from dying again!" Insupportable scolded Bernard, as if it were his fault. "Do not force me to give you the silent treatment! I do not want to discipline you, but I will if I must!"

"Y-yes, of course!" Bernard knelt in front of Insupportable, but Wepwawet caught a small smile of relief at the edge of the yeti's lips. "I swear… I swear I will not give Your Glorious Majesty cause to worry again."

This is a historic day in so many ways, Wepwawet thought. I should mark the occasion.

"From now on, let this day be a sacred one!" Wepwawet declared, his thundering voice echoing across the landscape. "The moment when Lavaland was reborn as a land of peace and prosperity, whose citizens will proudly walk into a brighter future! The Day of Rebirth!"

A System notification immediately followed to the tune of his people's applause.

You have declared the 13th of August LCE (Local Calendar Equivalent) as your third Festival.

Quest: Holy Days, Holidays! completed! You have earned The Pack Provides Rank 7 Doctrine.

The Pack Provides

Rank 7 Doctrine

Select a Rank 6 or below Revelation in your deck; all of your Champions and followers benefit from it while within your Influence as if it were an additional, unseen fifth Perk. You can change the target revelation once per day. Maintenance cost: 3.

Wepwawet had to reread the description twice to fully grasp all the implications of this Miracle. On one hand, it was a costly Miracle in that the Doctrine did nothing by itself; it was the first of Wepwawet's cards which explicitly required another to have any effect at all. The maintenance cost was also pretty high.

But on the other hand, the sheer impact of this Miracle boggled the mind. Being able to share one Revelation to all of his followers and Champions was crazy good. Not only would his entire civilization benefit from it, but it would free invaluable Perk slots for his Champions. Crafters who previously had to keep one slot open for Masterworker or Standardized Crafting could now use it for other unique Perks.

I promised I would trade Skill: Treasure Seeker to Ganesha in return for his help, so I can do the same exploit as with Sun Wukong; exchange a card against a beginner one, then overwrite that one with my new Miracle, Wepwawet thought. I'll have to focus on improving my deck cohesion from now on.

From now on, Wepwawet intended to focus on securing his borders, rebuilding his military, and arming Artemis' civilization to fend off attacks against its territory. Epona would be too busy dealing with Ishtar's incursion on her own territory, and he suspected Hel and Watatsumi would focus on economically supporting Valentine rather than providing military assistance after their defeats. Elphion's world war would enter a limited intensity, proxy phase.

But that would wait.

For now, they all earned a well-deserved rest.

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