Michael heard the voice from behind. He slowly turned around to see a hunched-back old woman with pure white hair appear near the throne. Her hair was tied into a bun, and she wore pearl robes adorned with intricate symbols that shined in the light. The old woman climbed down the stairs without a concern in the world. When the elf and the others noticed the old woman, they immediately bowed. The old woman didn't make any gesture to acknowledge the soldiers. Instead, her gaze was locked on Michael. The soldiers knelt down as their heavy metal clanked against the marble floor.

"Ghost," The old woman addressed Michael by his name.

"So you are the ruler of this castle?" Michael asked the old woman.

"Everyone leave," The old woman raised her voice. Her voice sounded like a bell in a silent area. As soon as the soldiers heard the old woman's order, they stood up, turned around, and left the throne hall without a word, leaving Michael and the old woman behind.

"I am a representative," said the old woman.

"Then tell your boss to stay out of this world. It belongs to me," Michael looked down to match the old woman's eyes. Although he could kill the old woman with a single look, he refrained himself from doing so.

"You may have power in this world. But we both know you won't stay here forever. You will return to the dark ocean and eventually step put off the Southern continent, leaving Mugashuku's protection. It is wise for you not to cross my higher-ups if you want to survive," the old woman said. She was nonchalant despite knowing Ghost could end her life in a heartbeat.

Michael was slightly surprised. The old woman seemed to know more about him. Obviously, she was someone with knowledge about him.

"Careful with the tone, grandma. I can still kill you with a snap of my fingers," said Michael.

The old woman just let out a gentle smile,

"You can, but you won't. Unless you want the Skyhall to be at your doorsteps, you will refrain from harming any more of my soldiers," said the old woman.

"Typical Skyhall. Don't think I don't know your little act of harvesting netherels and demon skeletons. Also, if the Skyhall had really wanted me gone, the war would have started already. But here we are. So what does that tell you? Your boss doesn't want me dead for some reason,"

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Michael was just making a guess here. He didn't know he was spot on. As he said, Andohr, the god of time and space and the man who controlled the Skyhall behind the scene, did not want Michael dead. Instead, he was manipulating the events to put Noah and Michael against each other. For him to escape the immortal realm, he needed a god dead. Since the past Dark Lord beat him to near death, Andohr hoped the dead god would be Michael at the end of their battle.

"If you don't cut off your infected arm, you will die. Just like, you are an infection to all worlds. Some people are the infected arm, the Skyhall must do what's necessary to keep the body alive,"

"Nice way to justify genocides and to slaughter innocent people,"

"None who helps you is innocent,"

The old woman saw lightning bolts appear around his wrist. They crackled, hissing like coiling snakes to shoot her down. Only one thing stopped Michael from ending the old woman's life, his instincts and the system's warning in his head. For some reason, the system went crazy when an urge to kill the old woman appeared in his heart.

Michael took a deep breath as the crackling lightning bolts disappeared.

"By the looks of it, we both have to do what we don't like," said the old woman.

"And what that might be?"

"Co exists in this world. You can kill anyone, but eventually, you will leave this world. Are you willing to gamble on the wood elves' lives that we won't bring the wrath of Skyhall after you're gone?"

As much as he hated to admit it, the old woman was right. He wouldn't be able to protect the wood elves forever by staying with them. Judging by the old woman's look in her eyes, he could tell she had some kind of deal to strike with him.

"Why do I feel like you're about to propose a deal?" asked Michael as the old woman chuckled.

"Indeed I am. It is a simple one, actually. There is a land that the locals call the Ash field, far south of here. You agree to give that land to us, and we will stop our war against the locals,"

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"What's important about that place?" asked Michael, only to see the old woman shake her head.

"You don't have to know. Do not forget we are not allies. On the contrary, we are enemies preparing to face each other in the future. Unlike you, we aren't the gods here. You are. So you have to protect your flock,"

Michael knew the old woman would have already guessed he would spy on them if he agreed to the deal. But still, the old woman wanted to strike this deal, which made Michael more curious about this ash field.

"What's about this place that made the Skyhall negotiate with me, the Dark Lord?" Michael questioned himself.

Deep down, Michael knew agreeing to this deal was the right thing to do. He could use the time to learn more about this world, especially the ash field, and make the wood elves and all who worship him stronger. Once he was done with the wood elves, they would chase away any invader who stepped into this magical land without his help. To do that, he needed time. Unfortunately, making this deal was the only way he would get more of it.

"Do we have a deal?" asked the old woman.

"As you said, we both have to do things we don't like. But," Michael raised a finger.

"If any of your soldiers ever stepped a foot outside this ash field, you won't deal with Ghost. You will deal with the Dark Lord," the place darkened as Michael said. For the first time, a sliver of fear emerged in the old woman's eyes.

"And when I visit this place tomorrow, I don't want to see any more of your soldiers," As he finished his sentence, Michae turned around and walked away from the old woman. There was nothing for him to learn more from the old woman. After Michael left the castle, he noticed the Skyhall soldiers standing in a line, blocking his path. But soon, the elf captain signaled the soldiers to clear the path for him. When Michael noticed the elf, his eyes burned with rage and killing lust. If Michael was a betting man, he would say the elf had learned what had happened to his precious men.

Michael didn't say anything to antagonize the man. He didn't think it was worth it.

"This isn't over," the elf mumbled, just loud enough for Michael to hear him.

"You better hope so," said Michael before disappearing from their sight. This time, the soldiers confirmed their suspicions.

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"He is using spells," The elf was speechless, but that didn't reduce his anger toward the human by any means.

After leaving the castle, Michael returned to where he had left the wood elves behind. By the time Michael arrived, the wood elves had gathered around a pile of metal armor and weapons. The wood elves immediately dropped to their knees when they saw Michael. Even Tazkin, who had previously lost his faith in his god, seemed completely turned to his old ways.

"They will leave this place tomorrow. This battle with them is over, but we have yet to win the war," said Michael.

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

Vedora and the villages were waiting for Michael's return. Meanwhile, the wood elves bathed Vedora with everything Ayag asked for. The hydra sat on Michael's throne and asked for every fruit the wood elves had for themselves. The wood-elven ladies particularly fell in love with the cute yet terrifying creature that accompanies their god. They spared no expense in showering the hydra with love and reverence, especially after Ayag gave her word that Michael would heal the wounded.

The sun slowly descended on the horizon, painting the blue sky with its golden rays. Every tree and plant life in the forest radiated dazzling lights. Darkness brought the real beauty of Itonys. Vedora saw the forest light up as the entire forest seemed magical. Even Cain was in awe of the beauty. With the trees and plants being a natural light source, the wood elves did not need any torches to brighten their village.

"What's taking him so long?" Sarba asked his siblings. He was worried.

"If you ask me, I'd say he's exploring this world and collecting herbs and stuff. I saw how his eyes lit up when we first arrived in this world," said Ayag. She was indeed right. Michael was collecting herbs and exploring the magical forest as they spoke. That's the reason for his lateness. '

"Look!" A child's shout broke Sarba's focus on Ayag. Kirat limped toward the wood platform's edge and saw Michael and Tazkin's men.

"They are back," Thilve's mother bounced up and down in joy like a child. Eventually, Vedora saw Michael land on the platform as the wood elves knelt down to show him their respect. He just casually waved at them, wordlessly ordering them to rise. Then, he came to the throne and sat beside them.

"Something's wrong," Ayag said, looking at the dark lines on his forehead.

"What is it?" asked Sarba.

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"I made a deal with Skyhall," said Michael.