Spells and Skills wash over the figure on the stage, taking down its Soul Shield within seconds, consuming its health. That it laughs, as though the destruction is but a small matter. I feel the snap of the doppelganger’s death, the flood of knowledge as information returns to me.
Information, long suppressed, breaks free. And like any dark truth, any secret long held close, its revelation leaves chaos and hurt behind. There are some secrets, some knowledge that can only ever bring pain and tragedy.
And I’ve just revealed the galactic-sized version of one.
###
THE END
John and his team are on the run, from former friends and new enemies. There’s only one place of safety for them now. Only one option. To finish the System Quest in the Forbidden Zone (Book 11 of the System Apocalypse).
Epilogue
We run.
After dropping the bombshell and setting the entire Council chamber alight with speculation and recrimination, we run.
There’s no going back for us now, no home to return to. I’ve betrayed not just the Council and the Administrators, but Earth too. It’s all for a good cause—to take the target off Earth’s back and place it firmly on mine. The betrayal probably stings just as much even if they realize that truth.
I’ve completed my commitments, even if it’s not the way they expected it. Perhaps the Duchess and the Lady are happy. Most likely not.
In either case, there’s no turning back now. We have to find the answer or die.
So we run. Attempting to escape the death trap that is the Council Hall and Irvina itself. To locate a single Administrative Center in the middle of the Forbidden Zone, where perhaps…
Perhaps there are answers.
We run, with the hounds baying at our feet, ritual glyphs forming over our heads and Skills flying. Toward hope, toward danger, toward an end.
Finally.
Author’s Note
Broken Council starts the final arc of the System Apocalypse series. Having drawn the ire of the Galactic Council, and revealed one of their greatest secrets, there is nowhere left for him to run. John’s only hope, only goal now is the System Quest. In finding the answer, he might find a solution.
This book was rather complex to write. I had to fit multiple plot threads in, close off some and work in some character arcs that I’ve wanted to do in a while. Trying to make sure it all made sense while giving a satisfying conclusion was tough, especially figuring out where the end of this book was meant to be.
As always, I’m grateful for everyone who has followed me on this long journey. I’ve received more support for this little story in my head than I could ever expect. I truly do hope that you’ve enjoyed the journey thus far.
If you enjoyed reading the book, please do leave a review and rating. Reviews are the lifeblood of authors and help others choose to continue with the series or not.
In addition, please check out my other series, the Adventures on Brad (a more traditional young adult LitRPG fantasy), Hidden WishesHidden Wishes(https://readerlinks.com/l/971659)
(an urban fantasy GameLit series), and A Thousand LiA Thousand Li(https://readerlinks.com/l/971660)
(a cultivation series inspired by Chinese xianxia novels).
To support me directly, please go to my Patreon account:
https://www.patreon.com/taowonghttps://www.patreon.com/taowong(https://www.patreon.com/taowong)
For more great information about LitRPG series, check out the Facebook groups:
- GameLit SocietyGameLit Society(https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPGsociety/)
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About the Author
Tao Wong is an avid fantasy and sci-fi reader who spends his time working and writing in the North of Canada. He’s spent way too many years doing martial arts of many forms, and having broken himself too often, he now spends his time writing about fantasy worlds.
For updates on the series and other books written by Tao Wong (and special one-shot stories), please visit the author’s website:
http://www.mylifemytao.comhttp://www.mylifemytao.com(http://www.mylifemytao.com)
Subscribers to Tao’s mailing list will receive exclusive access to short stories in the Thousand Li and System Apocalypse universes: https://www.subscribepage.com/taowonghttps://www.subscribepage.com/taowong(https://www.subscribepage.com/taowong)
Or visit his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/taowongauthor/https://www.facebook.com/taowongauthor/(https://www.facebook.com/taowongauthor/)
About the Publisher
Starlit Publishing is wholly owned and operated by Tao Wong. It is a science fiction and fantasy publisher focused on the LitRPG & cultivation genres. Their focus is on promoting new, upcoming authors in the genre whose writing challenges the existing stereotypes while giving a rip-roaring good read.
For more information Starlit Publishing, visit our websiteStarlit Publishing, visit our website(https://www.starlitpublishing.com) !
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Books in the
System Apocalypse Universe
Main Storyline
Life in the North
Redeemer of the Dead
The Cost of Survival
Cities in Chains
Coast on Fire
World Unbound
Stars Awoken
Rebel Star
Stars Asunder
Broken Council
Forbidden Zone
System Finale
Anthologies
System Apocalypse Short Story Anthology Volume 1
Comic Series
The System Apocalypse Comics (On-going)
Glossary
Erethran Honor Guard Skill Tree
John’s Erethran Honor Guard Skills
Mana Imbue (Level 5)
Soulbound weapon now permanently imbued with Mana to deal more damage on each hit. +30 Base Damage (Mana). Will ignore armor and resistances. Mana regeneration reduced by 25 Mana per minute permanently.
Blade Strike (Level 5)
By projecting additional Mana and stamina into a strike, the Erethran Honor Guard’s Soulbound weapon may project a strike up to 50 feet away.
Cost: 50 Stamina + 50 Mana
Thousand Steps (Level 1)
Movement speed for the Honor Guard and allies are increased by 5% while skill is active. This ability is stackable with other movement-related skills.
Cost: 20 Stamina + 20 Mana per minute
Altered Space (Level 2)
The Honor Guard now has access to an extra-dimensional storage location of 30 cubic meters. Items stored must be touched to be willed in and may not include living creatures or items currently affected by auras that are not the Honor Guard’s. Mana regeneration reduced by 10 Mana per minute permanently.
Two are One (Level 1)
Effect: Transfer 10% of all damage from Target to Self
Cost: 5 Mana per second
The Body’s Resolve (Level 3)
Effect: Increase natural health regeneration by 35%. Ongoing health status effects reduced by 33%. Honor Guard may now regenerate lost limbs. Mana regeneration reduced by 15 Mana per minute permanently.
Greater Detection (Level 1)
Effect: User may now detect System creatures up to 1 kilometer away. General information about strength level is provided on detection. Stealth skills, Class skills, and ambient Mana density will influence the effectiveness of this skill. Mana regeneration reduced by 5 Mana per minute permanently.
A Thousand Blades (Level 4)
Creates five duplicate copies of the user’s designated weapon. Duplicate copies deal base damage of copied items. May be combined with Mana Imbue and Shield Transference. Mana Cost: 3 Mana per second
Soul Shield (Level 8)
Effect: Creates a manipulable shield to cover the caster’s or target’s body. Shield has 2,750 Hit Points.
Cost: 250 Mana
Blink Step (Level 2)
Effect: Instantaneous teleportation via line-of-sight. May include Spirit’s line of sight. Maximum range—500 meters.