Germain's feet touched down on the blood-soaked ground. The Silver Wings and his black robes dissolved into specks of light, and the bloodstained Scythe of Funeral vanished with them.
A surge of crimson flowed into his body, and a badge appeared in his palm. It was a hideous, blood-red thing, covered in tumors.
"Flesh Badge: Grants the ability to transform most things, living or dead, into flesh. Any target transformed into flesh will be under your control."
He then looked at his "Hunter Badge" and found that it, too, had changed. It had gone from a fragment of a broken crescent to a complete crescent moon.
"Hunter Badge: Teleportation between all Lanterns is unhindered, and you may teleport freely.
"Setting Lanterns is no longer restricted. You can turn your own thoughts into a Lantern.
"Absorb the thoughts of slain prey or of all living beings near a Lantern for your own use. Thoughts of virtue and thoughts of torment are treated equally."
Germain gave the badges a cursory glance and paid no mind to these minor details.
He looked around at the ruined battlefield of demigods, then turned away without another backward glance and headed for the Lantern he had left there earlier.
Four Messenger Imps appeared in a flash of violet light. They immediately prostrated themselves, raising their hands high in a submissive pose.
Germain took one of the imps by the hand, looked up at the full moon for one last time, and activated Lantern Teleport.
The violet light shifted to silver, enveloping Germain. He vanished on the spot in a swirl of stardust.
--
Germain returned to the Ancient Labyrinth Tower once more. The faint glow of the teleportation stone array still radiated outward, making the place seem like a beacon that would never go dark.
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