Beast program would pay for their crimes, The High left to fight his clones as they prepared to destroy the world. Somerset tried to rally his people but found them murdered by Slyxx, who then informed the general that he had just contacted his (Daemonite) high-command with the words, "mission accomplished." In space, StormWatch witnessed the Reapers encircling the Earth and one of the clones being attacked by The High, a battle that resulted in the shattering of Earth's moon. Despite this, The High was too late to save the Earth as the Reapers exploded all around the globe, and causing Earth's axis to tilt, turning the planet into a post-apocalyptic wasteland (the World's End). Following this great catastrophe, the superhero teams Stormwatch and the Wildcats prepared to save what was left of their devastated world. In Iowa, Paladins members Engine Joe, Mago, and Tumbleweed tracked down the retired Zebulon McCandless, informing him that he and those involved with the Number of the Beast would be held accountable for the world's devastation. Meanwhile, The High watched a burning New York City engulfed by the sea from atop of the Statue of Liberty. He was then met by the Eidolon. The High wondered if his actions with the Changers actually brought about the World's End from the beginning. The Eidolon suggested that despite the Earth's doomed condition, its heroes and villains would still continue to influence the world. The mini-series ended with The High, after hearing enough of The Eidolon, throwing him across the horizon. Collected editions The series was brought together into a trade paperback: Number of the Beast (192 pages, September 2008, ) Notes References External links Ben Abernathy on Wildstorm's: Number of the Beast , Newsarama, January 22, 2008 Scott Beatty: Exploring The Wildstorm Universe, Newsarama, February 13, 2008 Reviews Number of the Beast #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Comics Bulletin 2008 comics debuts