Chapter 1240 Noah’s Preparation For The Second Round
Noah clad in his usual white robes, walked through a silent hallway, a stark contrast to the man he was a year before. His face now bore a stubble beard, and his eyes, once full of youthful determination, looked weary from the relentless battles against the Dark Lord's forces and the gods born from the awakening of fallen graces. His once vibrant demeanor seemed overshadowed by exhaustion and the weight of his responsibilities.
As he reached the end of the hallway, he stood before a grand door. With a steady push, he opened it and stepped into an empty room, the most notable feature being a mirror placed directly in the center. The door shut behind him with a soft click, sealing him inside. Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Noah approached the mirror. As he stood before it, the surface rippled, transforming to reveal Salesi's figure.
"Lady Salesi," Noah greeted her, his voice steady despite the tumultuous thoughts swirling in his mind.
Salesi, masking her involvement in Andohr's dark scheming, returned the greeting with a veneer of respect and feigned affection for her son-in-law. "Noah," she said, her tone warm yet deceptive.
"How is Xanali doing?" Noah inquired, concern evident in his voice for his wife.
"She's coping as well as one whose meridians have been broken can," Salesi replied, her words carefully chosen to convey a sense of hopelessness without revealing her true intentions.
Noah sighed, the weight of his wife's condition heavy on his heart. "I will find a way to heal her, soon," he promised. His resolve was unwavering despite the challenges he faced.
"You're already dealing with so much, Noah. The battles, the gods... it's a lot for one person." Salesi shook her head, feigning concern. "But she's my wife. It's my duty to look after her, no matter the distance between us," Noah countered.
As Noah stood before the mirror, Salesi, cloaked in duplicity, began to weave her tale. "I've been in touch with my contacts at the Mazeroth Academy, and it's confirmed. The Dark Lord, your brother Ghost, is behind the realm tear in the Akilan Realm," she revealed with a calculated hint of urgency in her voice.
Upon hearing the name 'Ghost,' Noah's hand instinctively clenched into a fist, his knuckles whitening. The anger that simmered within him at the mention of Ghost was palpable, a testament to the deep rift between the brothers. In Noah's heart, Ghost was not his sibling but the Dark Lord, an entity of darkness and destruction that he was sworn to eradicate.
The schemes Ghost had plotted during their last confrontation, culminating in his feigned death to ascend to the realm of gods in pursuit of greater power, still haunted Noah. Ghost's unquenchable thirst for power had not only caused personal anguish but had left the mortal realm vulnerable to emerging threats. Under the leadership of Eve Voldiguard, Ghost's closest ally, the dark forces of his brother had grown into a significant threat than they were ever before.
Meanwhile, Salesi's voice carried on, "Headmaster Wulfric suspects that something far more sinister, potentially a world-ending calamity, could emerge from the realm tear."
Noah's fist tightened further, his frustration boiling over. "Ghost," he cursed under his breath, his disdain for his brother's actions evident. "His thirst for power knows no bounds. He cares for nothing but himself and his ambitions."
As Salesi wove her tale of deception, she sensed the need to offer Noah something more personal to fight for beyond the mere concept of the greater good. "I have also received news of Rowena," she mentioned, her voice carefully neutral, yet laced with an undercurrent designed to hook Noah's attention.
At the mention of his big sister's name, Noah's demeanor changed instantly. His eyes softened, and his heart felt as though it skipped a beat. Rowena Winston, the former Holy Maiden, had always held a special place in Noah's heart. Despite the world's harsh judgment, branding her a traitor for her actions during the war against the Dark Lord—using her body as a shield against a celestial beam aimed at the Dark Lord and vanishing in the aftermath—Noah had never ceased his search for her. Where most had resigned themselves to the belief of her demise, Noah and his family clung to the hope of her survival.
"Rowena?" Noah's voice cracked slightly with a mix of shock, joy, and relief, his usual composure fraying at the edges. "You have information about her? Is she...?"
Salesi, recognizing the emotional turmoil swirling within Noah, nodded slowly. "Yes, I have news of Rowena. It appears she may still be alive."
The mere possibility, the faintest hint of Rowena's survival, sent a wave of emotions crashing over Noah. His heart, which had been weighed down by the burdens of war and the loss of loved ones, suddenly felt lighter. "Alive..." Noah repeated, the word barely a whisper as he allowed himself to grasp the sliver of hope Salesi had offered. The thought of reuniting with Rowena, of bringing her back into the fold of their family, reignited a fire within him—a fire that had dimmed amidst the endless battles and betrayals.
In that moment, Noah's resolve solidified. Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever manipulations and dangers he would have to navigate, the chance to find Rowena, to save her, gave him a new purpose. With a deep breath, Noah steadied himself, the softness in his eyes giving way to a renewed determination. "Tell me everything," he said, ready to face whatever came next for the chance to bring his sister home.
Seeing the flicker of determination in Noah's eyes, Salesi decided to fan the flames of his resolve further. "Rowena has been taken by Zariel whom Gaya released," she divulged, her words carefully chosen to ensnare Noah's attention further.
Noah's reaction was immediate; his fist clenched tighter, a visceral symbol of his growing fury. "Damn Gaya!" he spat out, the name leaving his lips like a curse. The revelation that Zariel was behind his sister's captivity, coupled with the chaos he had unleashed since escaping the Nether Realm, fueled Noah's anger. After Gaya killed the seal bearers, as Rin had orchestrated, Zariel's escape led to untold destruction. His freedom had resulted in the slaughter of countless innocents and the complete overtaking of the Nether Realm, including a ruthless purge of the Skyhall angels stationed there. Noah had also learned from Nithroel that Zariel had ambitions to possess the bodies of demons unearthed by the Skyhall in their explorations of the Nether Realm.
"Zariel has proposed a deal," Salesi revealed, her tone taking on a hint of seriousness. "He will return Rowena to us if you manage to kill the God of Darkness."
"Why? Why is he doing this, and how did you come to know of it?" Noah's response was a low growl. The questions tumbled out, a mix of confusion and a desperate need for answers.
Masking her inner triumph at successfully manipulating Noah, Salesi maintained her composure. "I have my sources," she stated simply, then added, "People like Zariel don't usually offer deals. We should take this opportunity. Rowena's life hangs in the balance, and that's far more important than trying to unravel Zariel's motives or his issues with Ghost." she reasoned, her voice smooth and convincing. Then, with a slight chuckle, she added. "Besides, who doesn't have a bone to pick with your brother?"
"Let me handle the task of bringing Rowena back. Your focus must remain on defeating Ghost," Salesi instructed, her tone firm yet laden with a hint of caution. "And it's probably best if your mother remains in the dark about all of this."
Harriet Hunt, who had adopted the alias Diana Winston, now lived a life under the vigilant gaze of the Skyhall. Noah's ascension to Celestial Stage cultivation and his esteemed position as the Supreme Guardian of the Guardian Guild had so far shielded the Hunt family from pursuing vengeance against Harriet. However, unbeknownst to many, the true deterrent keeping the Hunt family at bay was Azazel, the Dark Lord's butler, who maintained a strict control over the family's actions.
Noah nodded in agreement with Salesi's advice, "I'll keep this a secret from everyone," he promised, his mind already racing with plans and contingencies.
Curiosity piqued, Noah then inquired, "How powerful is this calamity that Headmaster Wulfric spoke of?"
Sensing Noah's concern, Salesi offered a sliver of hope amidst the grim outlook. "Fortunately, I have some good news. Wulfric has sensed a connection between Ghost and the force emerging from the tear. Alone, it cannot be defeated, but if Ghost is taken out first, the entity will weaken. Then, with our combined strength, we can confront and vanquish whatever dares to come through."
Noah's frown deepened at the complexity of the situation. "How can we fight a battle on two fronts?" he asked, the weight of the impending challenges evident in his voice.
"It's not going to be easy," she admitted, acknowledging the daunting path that lay ahead. The conversation left Noah with more questions than answers, but it also solidified his resolve to protect his world from the looming threats, no matter the personal cost.
"I never said fighting him will be easy," Noah confessed, his tone laced with a grim acceptance of the challenges he faced. He then shifted the focus to a critical gap in their strategy. "But we're missing one crucial piece here…A way to lure Ghost back to our world. Without him here, I can't touch him, and if I can't take him down, Rowena remains in danger. And if what you're saying holds any water, whatever's coming through that tear will be a hell of a lot harder to beat if we don't deal with Ghost first."
Salesi, cleverly concealing the satisfaction brewing within her as her manipulation took root, adopted a thoughtful expression. "The only way to bring Ghost back to this realm," she began, her voice steady, betraying none of her inner triumph, "is through his son, Harry, and Eve Voldiguard."
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