The city was littered with wounded guardians, bodies, and the wreckage of ships. Red, black, and brown were the new colors of what was once a spirited city, which had become the stage of a devastating war.

The air, which would normally be vibrant with the sound of work, trade, and craftsmanship, was now glowing red with fire and thick with smoke, ash, and embers. Hell had descended upon this area.

Several powerful figures in the world headed for Itholan after hearing the news of the Dark Lord battling the guardians in Thusian's capital. Almost all the prominent families and powerful people had spies within the Guardian Guild. So it wasn't very hard to get a whiff of this news. Michael noticed these strange figures on the horizon but completely ignored them. He knew they were here to spectate. It was fine with Michael. The more people watched the slaughter, the more badass points he would receive.

Michael continued to slaughter the guardians left and right. He almost felt exhausted after killing them. Hundreds of corpses littered the ground. Those who moved an inch received a bolt of lightning through their head. Michael spared no one. This was not a battle but a massacre.

The people who saw the massacre from a distance felt shivers down their spines. Some immediately turned around and left the island. They did not take the risk of drawing the Dark Lord's attention to them. Still, many daredevils remained in the sky, watching the massacre. Among them were some news reports, including Nadia Hall. She wrote down everything she had seen in Itholan.

After killing every guardian in his sight, Michael started to throw the bodies near the Cosmic stream. The bodies formed a big pile. They wondered what the Dark Lord was doing. He walked toward the pile of bodies, taking deep breaths. Even a Half Immortal like him would feel exhausted after all the killings. Michael leaped on top of the bodies and sat down as though the bodies were his throne.

Edith looked terrified. Her face went completely pale. She held Victoria tight in her arms. Victoria didn't seem better either. The blood loss caused Victoria's face to become pale. On top of the bodies, lightning crackled around Michael's wrist. He pointed his finger at Victoria as a bolt of lightning shot toward her.

The bolt of lightning woke Victoria up.

"No stop!" Edith begged Michael. She lost her composure and begged for mercy. However, Michael was not a merciful god. On the contrary, he was a vengeful one.

He raised his hand as an invisible force pulled Victoria out of Edith's arms. The red dagger followed Victoria behind and landed in Michael's hand.

"Please, kill me if you want, but please let her go. I beg you. Please," Edith dropped to her knees and begged Michael.

Michael looked over his shoulder to see his subordinates still cultivating.

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[According to the system's calculation, it would take another fifteen minutes to exhaust the Cosmic energy in the stream] Michael heard the system's voice in his head. Over the years, Maxim Barnes and his men used a significant amount of Cosmic energy. Luckily, the stream still had enough Cosmic energy for all the subordinates to reach the Soul refining stage.

Since Gaya's cultivation speed was boosted by 40%, she would be able to reach the Fusion Stage level 7. With the cosmic energy coursing through their veins, all of his subordinates would be monstrously strong. Deep down, Michael couldn't wait to see what his subordinates could do in a real battle.

Michael released Victoria as she fell down. Afterward, Michael turned his gaze toward the horizon. As expected, he found Nadia Hall among the spectators.

"Nadia," Michael's voice echoed through the sky. Everyone hovering in the air turned their gazes toward the young woman in brown robes and gray fur coat. She adjusted her glasses. There was a glimmer of fear and shock in her hazel eyes.

"Come here," Michael called Nadia Hall.

"I will give you an exclusive," said Michael. The word exclusive kindled a fire in Nadia's Hall. As a journalist, she knew what an interview with the Dark Lord could do to the newspaper. The sales would go through the roof, and her higher-ups would offer her the promotions on a silver platter.

Thinking about her future, she took a deep breath and slowly flew toward Michael. She vigilantly glanced at everything around her. The fumes, black smoke, and dust clouded her sight. Despite everything, she noticed hundreds of bodies. Judging by the armors, Nadha could tell they were not a run of mill guardians. Finally, her vision cleared enough to take a good look at the Dark Lord. To her complete shock, she saw Ghost in the Dark Lord's armor.

For a moment, she thought this was some kind of elaborate prank. Only recently, the Dark Lord attacked Ghost. So how could Ghost be in the Dark Lord's armor?

"Ghost?" Nadia tilted her head. She saw Edith crying in the corner of her eyes. The bloody remains and guts of Maxim Barns almost made Nadia throw out on the spot. Luckily, she had a high tolerance for brutality.

Michael sat on top of the bodies, guarding his subordinates. Michael waved his hand as Nadia Hall floated above to match his height. At that moment, Nadia Hall clearly saw Ghost. There was no mistaking it.

"I am the Dark Lord," said Michael.

"Ghost was just a life I tried to live in peace. But the Guardians made sure that I turned into the Dark Lord before I was even born," Nadia Hall's hands trembled while writing his words on the parchment.

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"What...what about the battle in the royal land. The people had seen the Dark Lord attack Ghost,"

"You are asking the wrong question. The right question is, what will I do from now on?" said Michael. Nadia Hall felt goosebumps at the tone of his voice.

"What will you do, Dark Lord?" Nadia asked the question.

"Rebuild this world," said Michael.

His words sent a chill down Nadia's spine. Everyone who heard his words shivered.

"The Guardians and the Skyhall needed a villain to fight so they could hide their rotten selves from the world. But they have chosen the wrong god to mess with,"

For a few moments, Nadia didn't utter a word. She carefully chose her next few words.

"Dark Lord, you said the guardians made sure you turned into the Dark Lord before you were even born. What did you mean by that?"

Nadia Hall had a hatred toward the guardians deep down. Hence, she wanted to dig more dirt about the Guardians in the process.

"The Guardians slaughtered millions of people with the Skyhall's aid to prevent a god from being born into this world. Their goal was to rule the world themselves. They didn't give a damn about the people they slaughtered in the process. Ultimately, they failed, and I am here to avenge all those innocent lives. Make no mistake. I am not a merciful god. I am a vengeful one. If you are a guardian or someone connected to the Skyhall, you have a death sentence on your head. If I were you, I'd quit,"

"Are you openly waging war against two of the most powerful organizations in the world, Dark Lord?" asked Nadia Hall.

"No. They waged war against a God. So I will show them what will happen when you piss off a god," Nadia noticed her surroundings grow darker and darker. The sky rumbled as lightning streaks flashed across the sky.

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"Can you tell us why you attacked Thusia first?" asked Nadia Hall.

"They deserved it," said Michael without going into details.

Nadia looked over the Dark Lord's shoulder and noticed the glistening pond as well as the dark-robed figures cultivating around it. But she had more pressing questions centered around the Dark Lord.

"What's your next plan, Dark Lord? What will you tell the people who are afraid of you turning their land into a battlefield?"

"My war is against the Guardians, the Skyhall, and anyone who crosses my path. As long as the people stay away from them, they'd be fine and have nothing to worry about,"

"If you want to know more, you can ask the Supreme Guardian Andreas himself," said Michael. Nadia Hall creased her brows. Supreme Guardian Andreas lived and died three thousand years ago. How could she ask someone who isn't alive?

"He is very much alive," said Michael as though he had read Nadia's mind.

"He is with Noah Winston in his spectral form. He is manipulating Noah Winston to make him his successor so he can stay in power forever. This man is not a hero, as you all believe. He witnessed millions of people getting slaughtered without raising a finger. Ask yourself a question, if I am the villain for trying to make the world a better place by getting rid of actual evil that walks the world, what does it make a man who aided powerful people to commit genocide so he could be in power forever?"

Michael gave the people of this world someone new to hate. He wanted Noah to be occupied with scandals and controversies so he could become stronger and build his army in the southern continent without Noah getting in his way. Michae;'s words caused quite a commotion among the spectators. Andreas, the Supreme Guardian, was beloved and respected worldwide. He was a hero in people's minds. But the Dark Lord claimed otherwise. If he really was alive and in his spectral form, Nadia wondered why Andreas hadn't revealed himself to the world.

Michael chose to talk to Nadia solely to reveal Noah's secret to the outside world. Unlike him, Noah had no chance of escaping to the Southern continent, or he didn't think Andreas would allow him to. While Michael was building his army, Noah would try to protect Andreas and fix the Guardian Guild's image instead of getting stronger. That's what Michael wanted.

"Now, I'd suggest you leave the island and put some distance between you and Itholan," Finally, Michael stood up. He raised his hand as Victoria floated into his arms once again. Edith screamed and tried to climb the pile of bodies.

Victoria slowly opened her eyes. She was weak and exhausted.

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"Kill me," Victoria mumbled.

"If there is a next life, do not try to seek revenge," said Michael. The crimson red dagger flew into his hand as he finally plunged the dagger into her chest.