be far more intuitive and recognizes the Witness, believing the demi-God has come to witness his greatness. Though the Witness tries to convince Gravin to stop killing people, the mutineer continues to do so with impunity.
When Avery arrives at the border of Levitz, he finds himself greeted by militia forces seeking to understand the unnatural phenomenon. Though Avery attempts to hide his identity, he is soon exposed - and Hamil announces that the military men are in the presence of the God of Vengeance. Pulling Hamil aside, Avery reveals his suspicion that the scribe is more than he appears, but does not press for more. Instead, he devises a plan to use the piece of skyfall material to neutralize the wall of water so as to pass and confront whomever wielded the power to begin with. Avery undertakes to master the stone, in spite of the pain it causes him, and in doing so, uses the stones power to negate magic to let himself and Hamil enter Levitz - though the energy it absorbs destroys the stone in the process.
The Witness feels a God's entry into Levitz, and his announcement aggravates Gravin. However, when Avery appears and announces himself as the God, the demi-Gods are astonished to sense that it is actually the man behind Avery who is the true God. Avery seeks to bluff Gravin, but the sword's wielder attacks Avery and seemingly slays the would be God of Vengeance, obliterating his body.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel and his companions finally arrive at the fringes of Levitz, only to learn that Avery has preceded them into the town. Brea deduces that the only way he could have done so is with the aid of an actual God. Nathaniel reasons that he can pass the wall of water himself while he holds One , and uses the first godslayer sword to enter Levitz himself.
Meanwhile, Avery's soul finds itself in communion with the spirit of Two on an ethereal plane of reality, who recognizes Avery as One 's chosen bearer. He learns that the swords call themselves the Nine, and that they have plans of their own. Towards this end, Two reveals where all the swords are and an imprecise time when they would all awaken. Being gifted with this knowledge, Two aids Avery by restoring his body - including the hand which had been once severed from his body. Avery uses this new advantage to wrest control of Two and kills Gravin. Victorious, Avery turns to announce that the Godslayer has also entered Levitz.
Avery confronts Nathaniel, using the threat of the wall of water to get the latter to exchange swords. Avery retrieves One and leaves Two for Nathaniel. Before relinquishing Two , Avery dispels the water barrier, while informing Nathaniel as well that neither would see Three until spring, advising him to head home and rest.
While the two men stand off, Ankor summons Galentine and Kelvor and sends them to Levitz to face the Godslayer. The two Gods appear just as Avery vanishes, challenging Nathaniel as the slayer of Imery. However, in the ensuing battle, Nathaniel succeeds in slaying Kelvor, with Avery appearing out of nowhere to impale Galentine from behind before vanishing again, leaving Nathaniel to face the military presence sweeping into Levitz. Nathaniel tells the military leader that the threat is vanquished, and that he is returning home - to Oaken Wood.
Ankor himself returns to the Celestial Realms, first securing his pact with Malik and Charith before appearing before a gathering of the Lesser Powers - where he announces that his plan all along has been to remove the Greater Powers so that the Lesser can be the only powers left within the New Order.
Meanwhile, in a pocket dimension, Malik looks in on another of his schemes: a child kept captive, being raised at an accelerated rate to become Malik's own personal Avatar - the child proving to be none other than Nathaniel's own missing son, Geoffrey!
End of Book 2
Prologue
“There is power in the