Michael didn't even stop to think about Zakari's plan. Zakari raised his hands as a stream of fire shot out of his hands. He hoped the first would stop Michael. However, Michael ignored the fire and appeared right in front of Zakari. Without giving Zakari time to react, Michael swung his fist. Zakari raised his hands instinctively to block Michael's punch. The moment the punch connected with Zakari's hands, his hands went numb. The force of the punch sent Zakari flying. Before Michael could attack him again, Austin brought down a huge metal pillar upon Michael's head. Michael swung his leg, kicking the metal pillar away. Austin lost control of the pillar. It was at least twelve meters long and three meters wide. Due to the force of Michael's kick, Austin lost control of the pillar. Michael grabbed the pillar and swung it like a cricket bat at Austin.

On the ground, Xanali and her men barely survived the fiery boulders raining down from the sky. Her sight was littered with blood and mutated bodies. Everywhere she turned, she saw burning bodies and bleeding soldiers. Images of Gaya's terror flashed across Xanali's eyes.

"All these lives," Xanali mumbled. Her heart ached to see the lives lost. Although the thusian soldier was just doing their job, Michael didn't spare them. In his eyes, they weren't innocent. This was war, and everything was fair in a war. If Thusia was any other kingdom, Michael would have spared the soldiers because they did nothing wrong to him. But not Thusia. He would slaughter anyone who stands in his way of revenge against Thusia. General Austin and General Zakari hoped to slow down Ghost. Despite their Soul Refining stage cultivation, they were best of the best and cultivated using Cosmic energy. Booth sent them to monitor his battle with the elf. In case Ghost had defeated the elf, Booth ordered them to engage Ghost. Both Booth and the general knew they wouldn't be able to kill Ghost, but their objective was to slow him down, not kill him.

To Booth's surprise, Victoria suddenly announced that King MAxim Barnes would trigger his heavenly tribulation in a few hours. They wanted to prevent Ghost from attacking King Maxim Barnes during his heavenly tribulation when Maxim would be at his weakest. Any hindrance to the tribulation could take his life.

Austin's eyes went wide when seeing Ghost moving toward him with godly speed. Even a veteran like him shivered at the sight of an angry Half Immortal. Michael didn't give any time for Austin to cast a spell. Instead, he grabbed Austin by his neck, retrieved his black shield, and bashed the shield against Austin's face.

"Where is your general? Is he hiding like a rat?" Michael asked Austin while beating him with the shield repeatedly.

"You can't stop us," Austin grinned. His teeth were completely covered in blood. He even lost some of his teeth. Yet, he grinned. One could see no signs of fear or pain on his face.

Meanwhile, Noah finally landed on Thusia's capital. He rushed toward the castle.

"Shit, the energy fluctuation in the atmosphere is all over the place," Noah heard Andreas's words in his head.

"I can sense it too," Noah looked up at the sky. To his surprise, the snowfall had stopped. Instead, a dark, powerful storm was brewing in the sky above the capital. The storm was big enough to cover the capital and the duchy of Valeria. It was not because of the battle between Michael and the elf but because of King Maxim Barnes.

"Stop right there!" Noah heard a group of soldiers shouting at him. He noticed countless soldiers standing around the castle, preventing anyone from entering the castle grounds.

"I am Noah Winston, Guardian Captain," Noah retrieved a gold plate engraved with the guardian guild's crest.

Every soldier around the castle ground wore metal plate armor engraved with intricate runes. They were all armed to the teeth. Noah instantly recognized the runes. He had no doubt that these runes were the handiwork of Edith. The soldiers looked at each other for a few moments.

"No one is allowed to enter the castle ground," Finally, the soldier shook his head.

"I don't have time for this," Noah raised his hand as a bright light flashed across the area. Suddenly, the soldiers' bodies tensed up. A gentle layer of light covered their bodies. They stood like statues without moving an inch. Noah leaped into the air and landed right before the castle door. The two soldiers flanking the door quickly raised their spears to attack Noah. But Noah unsheathed his sword and swung it before they could even move an inch. A powerful wave of light hit the soldiers in a flash and knocked them out instantly.

"Edith!" Noah's domineering voice echoed through the air. His thunderous roar could be heard from every corner of the castle. The light petrification spell finally wore out as the soldiers rushed at Noah. They surrounded him from all directions. Luckily, Edith walked out of the castle door.

"Stand down," Edith ordered the soldiers.

"He's a friend," Her voice swept across the soldiers. The soldiers reluctantly lowered their weapons. They didn't dare to piss off their princess's best friend.

"Return to your posts," Edith said. The soldiers slowly backed off, returning to their posts. When Noah approached her, she noticed a glimmer of uneasiness in his eyes. Coupled with the way Noah shouted at her and how he entered the castle created a bad feeling in Edith's gut. Her mind and heart both agreed that something bad had happened.

"We need to talk somewhere private," said Noah. Edith had never heard Noah in such a serious mood. The usual alluring smile was nowhere to be found on his face. Edith quickly led him to her room in the castle. On their way, Noah didn't utter a word.

"Where is your sister?" asked Noah.

Edith closed the door behind her and looked surprised by Noah's sudden inquiry about her sister. He was one of the few who knew Lailah Alden was her elder sister. Until now, Noah had never tried to get close to Lailah using Edith as others would have.

"She went to Valeria with the queen," answered Edith.

"We need to find her," said Noah.

"What happened, Noah? You seem worried," Edith gently placed her hand on Noah's shoulder.

"Someone kidnapped the spirit child from the rainbow islands, Edith,"

Edith's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't believe what he had just said. Edith stumbled backward as Noah caught her before she tripped down.

"What?" Edith's face went pale.

Noah didn't beat around the bush because he didn't have much time. The spirit child had a strong connection with the dark lord. It might be the only way for Noah to find out who is the Dark Lord behind the mask and bring him to the light from the dark. More than that, Noah wanted to save the child.

"I was on the rainbow islands. Someone knocked out your sister's students and took the child," said Noah.

"Butbut" Edith stuttered. Lailah made her promise Edith wouldn't tell a soul about the spirit child or its father. This promise prevented Edith from uttering a single word.

"We don't have time, Edith. If you wish no harm to the child, you need to tell everything you know about the child,"

While Noah was on his way to meet Edith, he wondered whether Edith knew about the child or not. However, when he revealed the disappearance of the spirit child, Edith didn't act like someone who had no clue. This meant Edith knew about the child. The question in Noah's mind was how much she knew.

"Who took the child?" tears rolled out of Edith's eyes. For some reason, she felt like it was her fault.

"That's what I am trying to figure out. First, you must tell me everything you know about the child," Noah shook Edith's shoulders.

"I can'tI made a promise to Lailah,"

"A child's life is at stake here, Edith. A broken promise is better than a dead child,"

Noah leaned closer to Edith and lifted her face to look her in her eyes.

"Trust me,"

Just like Michael, Noah also had an effort on people. If Michael made people scared of him, Noah made people trust him. Hence, when Noah looked Edith in the eyes and asked her to trust him, she completely trusted him. His words soothed her soul and calmed her down.

Finally, Edith took a deep breath,

"Forgive me, Lailah," Edith mumbled under her breath.

She began to tell everything Lailah told her to Noah. Edith started the story from how Ghost and Lailah met to their visit to the treacherous ocean. Andreas and Noah listened to Edith in utter shock. But Noah couldn't feel very surprised. If one could soul-walk Lailah and survive, it was Ghost. But how Ghost survived didn't matter compared to the fact Ghost might be the real Dark Lord.

Noah simply couldn't believe it. His whole body trembled for some reason. Noah knew the day they found the Dark Lord's real identity, everything would change. Both Andreas and Noah didn't believe the Dark Lord would go down without a fight. Noah and the Guardian Guild were nowhere close to fighting the Dark Lord. The last time Noah met the Dark Lord face to face, he almost killed Noah's family.

Why did Ghost save his family if he was the Dark Lord? Noah was unable to think of Ghost as the Dark Lord.

"Noah," Noah heard Andreas's voice.

"No, I don't believe Ghost is the Dark Lord, teacher. We both knew the Dark Lord tried to kill Ghost," Noah telepathically said to Andreas.

Even Andreas started to have doubts.

"Noah, you must find the child. I don't know how I would face Lailah after this," Edith's words brought Noah back from his shocked state. Looking at the tears rolling out of Edith's face, Noah sighed. He gently wiped off the tears from her face.

"BOOTH!" Suddenly, a thunderous roar reverberated through the entire capital. The castle literally trembled.

"Ghost," Noah recognized the voice. Edith's body tensed, hearing the echoes of Ghost's shout. Noah immediately exited the room and headed outside of the castle.

"Where is Booth?" asked Noah on his way outside.

"With queen Valeria and my sister,"

"Shit," Noah cursed inside.