Hark is a seventy-year-old chef in the Wild World, a planet maintained by a small group of Gods. Once Hark's restaurant fails, he becomes disillusioned by the world around him. After being recruited by the Hallowed, an evil council of spirits who need the meat of the Gods to take over the world, Hark begins cooking Godmeat. For four years, Hark works alongside Spear, a female hunter.  After presenting the Hallowed with their penultimate meal, the meat of the Sea Mother, Spear and Hark get their final target: The Great Beast of Death. The meat of The Great Beast of Death ensures the immortality of the Hallowed. Spear ventures off to catch and kill the beast while Hark returns to his hometown, Awrant. Upon entering the sea in Awrant, Hark thinks about the danger he is about to inflict on the world around him.  Upon his return to the Hallowed, he presents the council with his filet of Death. In their speech of gratitude towards him they state their true intention of selecting him as their chef: he was empty and hopeless. Once he discovers that his talent for what he loves played no role in his selection he becomes adamant about undoing the damage he just caused.  After distracting the Hallowed with the promise of a final dessert course, Hark makes a desperate sacrifice. He cuts out his own eyes for the council to consume in hopes of stopping or delaying the end of the world they know. The entire council writhes in pain and grows a large sum of eyes. Unsure about the efficacy of this final act, Hark and Spear go to the sea, Hark’s happy place, and enjoy every moment they have left.