Michael used the runic teleportation to reach Big Bertha, anchored in the Southern continent ocean. When he appeared in the captain's cabin, he was welcomed by Corey and Elidyr.

"Are the ships ready?" asked Michael. Since he was in his Dark Lord persona, his voice was thick and demonic.

"Yes, my lord," Corey bowed. Michael quickly flicked his wrist as several golden scrolls appeared on the table between them.

"Give them to the crew. After launching an attack on the port, they should immediately use these scrolls to get the hell out of there. They will sink their ships," said Michael. He didn't want the pirate crew to lose their lives unnecessarily. That was the reason he spent badass points to buy teleportation scrolls for them. However, the same couldn't be said for the ships. They had to be sunk.

"Ten ships, waiting for your orders, my lord. But I still don't understand how we are going to sail to Ozer in a few days. It'd take at least four months to reach there. That's if the wind was on our side," Corey furrowed her brows.

Michael turned his gaze toward Elidyr. With another flick, he retrieved another parchment. Unlike the teleportation scrolls, the scroll in Michael's hand was sky blue. It glistened in the candle lights.

"I think you can create this array," Michael tossed the parchment to Elidyr. When the dark elf opened the scroll, he was stunned. His eyes glistened with surprise.

"This is" Elidyr's voice trailed off.

"Follow the steps and create the array. It's only one way, so it shouldn't be too difficult for you,"

Elidyr was still in shock. He had never seen such an elegant array design in his life. Furthermore, the array was extremely advanced in nature. Judging by the runes, Elidyr could tell the array work using the arch energy crystals. He wondered where did the Dark Lord get this array from.

"Did he design it by himself?" Elidyr asked himself. The Dark Lord was a terrifying existence. In a short amount of time, he had seen the Dark Lord perform several miracle-like feats.

"Give me a day, and it'll be ready," Elidyr finally said.

"Corey, put your most loyal men. I don't want any of them to breathe a damn word about this. After teleporting from the ships, this attack didn't happen. Got it?"

"Yes, my lord," Corey bowed before leaving the room. After she left the room, Michael removed his mask, revealing his real face.

"Sit," Michael gestured at Elidyr to take the seat before him. Seeing the grave look on his face, Elidyr sat before him. He could tell the Dark Lord was going to ask him something. Sometimes, Elidyr felt pity for the Dark Lord. With his talents, he could have lived a lavish life to the fullest. Yet because of the Skyhall and a prophecy, the Dark Lord had lost everything. The weight on the Dark Lord's shoulder was tremendous. Anyone else would have been broken by the pressure but not him.

"What is it?" asked Elidyr.

"That obvious huh?" Michael let out a tired smile.

Elidyr nodded. Anyone could tell he was worried by the look in his eyes.

"Do you think letting go Ghost, and embracing the Dark Lord completely is a good move?"

ELidyr took a deep breath. He took several long moments to think about it. Silence fell over the room.

"Yes," Finally, after long deep pondering, Elidyr nodded.

"Sooner or later, you have to accept who you truly are, my lord. You are not mortal Ghost. You're a god. You are the Dark Lord. The prophecy cannot dictate what you do, you can change it. But you cannot change who you are. The sooner you fully embrace the real you, the better. After all, living two lives and keeping your identities separated is taking a toll on you. I can see that," explained Elidyr.

"I have a feeling this war is going to reveal who I am to the outside world,"

"Then it's going to happen, my lord. As I said, you're god. So it's only natural you possess some kind of ability to foresee the future,"

Michael nodded. Elidyr's words made sense. His instincts always kept him out of trouble, even in the worst of situations.

"I only fear those people who helped me, Elidyr. When the world learns Ghost is the Dark Lord, I don't want those innocent people to pay the price for helping me,"

"If that's what's making you worry, don't. The Skyhall or the Guardians won't go after them. Of course, they will interrogate them using truth pills, but that's a good thing. They didn't know Ghost was the Dark Lord. So they will pass the truth pill test. I know them better than anyone, my lord. They are the good guys right? How could they punish people who didn't know anything? Besides, Andreas and Wulfric won't let innocent people suffer because of you," Elidyr's words somewhat calmed Michael's mind. He heaved a sigh of relief.

"Finish the array, Elidyr. After this war, we may have to face our enemies head-on," Michael rose from his throne, heavily exhaling.

**********************************************

(A few hours ago)

Gaya reached the outskirts of the Kane family castle. She saw several guards patrolling the area despite the heavy snowfall. The snow was up to their knees. Yet the poor soldiers had to walk through the ice in the cold. Gaya landed at the front gates instead of flying past them. She didn't want the defensive arrays to create an alarm.

"Miss Aelia," the two soldiers guarding the metal gate immediately recognized her. They bowed with eyes full of respect.

"Is Elder Ashton Kane inside?" asked Gaya as the soldiers opened the gate.

"Yes. Please follow me," One soldier gestured at Gaya to follow him. After entering the castle, several elders greeted her. By now, the news of Michael reaching the Half Immortal stage had spread across all Elon. Anyone who was friendly with Ghost got a huge boost in respect they received from the others. The Kane family benefited from Michael's breakthrough more than him. Due to their relationship with Ghost, all their rivals, including the Fisher family, backed away from any rival territories. Some families even tried to become allies of the Kane family so they could escape being wiped out by the Half-Immortal Ghost.

The elders of the Kane family immediately led Gaya to their guest room. They politely asked her to wait till they sent Elder Ashton Kane to meet her. Gaya sat on her chair with one leg atop one like a queen.

"How may I address you now?" Gaya turned her head to see Ashton Kane walking into the room. He dismissed the guards behind him with a wave of his hand.

"It depends," said Gaya.

"Depends on what?" asked Ashton Kane while taking his seat a couple of meters away from Gaya.

"Depends on what you know about Adelia Ashton,"

As soon as Gay asked this question, the calm smile on Ashton's face froze. Shock and surprise glistened in his hazel eyes. His silence revealed the fact he knew something about her mother. Gaya pressed him further.

"What do you know about the Queen of Nagaland?" Gaya rose from her chair. Unlike a few months ago, Ashton Kane was not the strong one in the room. Gaya had reached Fusion stage level 10. Coupled with the first energy coursing through her veins, she could easily slaughter Ashton Kane if she wished to. After all, he was only at Fusion stage level 5.

As she walked toward him, the temperature in the room fell by several degrees.

"I know she teleported here. Is it a coincidence you and she share the same name, Ashton? I don't think so,"

Ashton Kane felt the air around him becoming thick. Breathing became harder as she moved closer.

"Tell me, Elder Kane. I don't want to hurt you," said Gaya. The Kane family elders were their allies. That was the sole reason Gaya was asking instead of torturing Ashton Kane.

"You can kill me. But you won't get anything about her," Ashton Kane growled.

"If you care about her, you have to tell me everything you know," Gaya grabbed Ashton by his shoulder and lifted him up.

"Why? Why do you care?" asked Elder Kane.

Instead of an answer, he saw Gaya's pupil transform into a cobra's. Her snake-like eyes turned predatory. Ashton Kane's heart skipped a beat. Not because of the sudden change in her eyes but because he had seen these eyes before.

"Adelia," Ashton Kane mumbled.

Gaya released his shoulder in shock.

"Youyouare her daughterGaya," Ashton Kane realized the truth. Although her face was nothing like he had seen in the portraits, those eyes were undoubtedly Adelia's. Ashton's eyes welled up as he was searching for Gaya for years.

"Yes," Gaya took a deep breath before removing the mask from her face. She revealed her real face.

"I am Gaya Ashton. The Princess of Nagaland,"

Ashton Kane stumbled back in utter shock. He couldn't believe what he was searching for was in front of him all this time.

Seeing the tears rolling out of his eyes surprised Gaya. It symbolized the strong connection he shared with her mother. Gaya wondered who he was to Adelia.

"My mother is in trouble. You have to help me find her,"

"I know. Follow me," Ashton Kane wiped off the tears from his face and gestured at Gaya to follow him. She nodded as she followed him behind to another room. He flicked his wrist, forming a translucent shield around them so no one could eavesdrop.

"I can't believe it's you," Ashton Kane closed the curtains, talking to Gaya.

"The last time I saw you, you were so little," The room grew darker, but Ashton quickly lit up the candles. Gaya noticed a great concern in his eyes.

"Who else knows about your identity? Ghost?"

"He knows," Gaya nodded.

"Do you trust him?"

"With my life. Now it's your turn to answer my questions. What do you know about my mother? Do you know where I can find her?"

"I don't know where she is. But I can tell you how to find her,"