For a moment we were just sitting there like hens on their roost. Glancing at one another. All of us expected that somebody would propose something, but instead, there was this uncomfortable silence.

- I've noticed that you can relocate in an instant - Druoag broke it, as his eyes focused on me. - Maybe if I distracted her somehow, You could reach her and strike? I've been learning to control and create fire and earth. I believe it could work.

I nodded slowly, thinking about what he said. Suddenly eyes of everybody locked on me since they expected some kind of answer from me.

- I actually think...

I had to interrupt my sentence, as I wasn't sure if my idea would work, but then I realized that I could make it work with some of the points I still possessed.

- I actually think, that I have a slightly better idea - I picked my words up again. - If you attack her straight on, and The Great One blocks her powers temporarily, I think I can create a volcano under her feet, and make her react to that, which could create an opening for you, Druoag.

- I'm not sure If I will be able to reach her - he said.

- I know - I responded with a nasty grin on my face. - But if you charge at her, she will think that she stopped our combo, and I will have a slightly bigger window to get to her using my powers. Thank I might strike her. If not, then I'll at least give you chance to escape her grasp. I can leave whenever I want so she won't get me, and even if we fail the first time, we might still have a chance to get her after that.

- We should make a plan for that eventuality too - Daniel joined the conversation.

- If she is distracted by your consecutive attacks, I might step in - said The Great One. - We could be switching between one another, making her sweat, hoping she will make a mistake that we might utilize. You two are seasoned fighters, but me and her... We fought only a couple of times in our life. She had enormous power from the beginning, so there was nobody who could face her. I, on the other hand, was fighting quite a bit but that was a long time ago, and I was able to safely accumulate a power that made my life very safe.

- Dis is our advantage - Druoag agreed. - We have the experience, so if we manage to push her enough, to the point she will panic, then we should win.

- Maybe you should train, so you would get better at cooperation - proposed Tihana.

- Bawk! - Tam immediately agreed with her.

- I can't use my powers - said The Great One. - If I do, she will notice and learn about our location.

- Me and Druoag already trained together and saw one another go at ghosts, so I believe the two of us will be fine together. If you are good enough and have enough battle experience, those things come easily - I said to her.

Druoag agreed by slowly nodding.

- So we do actually have a plan - Daniel said with a smile on his face. - I didn't expect that to happen so fast.

- Me too - I confessed. - I guess we should do the last preparations then, and as soon as everybody is ready, we should just go for it.

- Yes. Let's do that - said Druoag.

Without waiting, he stood up and left. Others began following him. We all slowly headed toward the device. I did it because I had upgrades to get. My massive friend probably too. As for the rest, I guess they just went because there was not much for them to do either way.

We walked in silence, but as the march went on and on, I noticed Tihana hesitantly, and very slowly, getting closer and closer to me. Like she wanted to talk but was either too shy or too afraid.

Without her memories, our relationship was actually quite shitty. Back in the day she wouldn't hesitate and went straight to say what she wanted to say to me. I missed that trust and that confidence she used to have in me.

p As we arrived in the immediate vicinity of the device, Druoag was the first to put his hand on the sphere. I had no other choice but to wait since there were no access points, like back in Arc.

While my fake daughter still was unable to muster the courage, I approached her.

- You clearly want to talk, so speak - I said bluntly.

She got all read on her face, and immediately averted her eyes.

- I wasn't sure when you will be leaving so... - she mumbled. - I wanted to wish you good luck and say that I will never forget you again.

A massive smile emerged on my face. I just hugged her right then and there.

- Everything will be alright - I whispered.

At first, she was surprised, but then she hugged me back. My keen ears also caught on her quietly sobbing.

- Everything will be alright - I repeated myself. - I messed up once, but I won't mess up the second time. I will show that fugly bitch where her place is. You just sit here and wait. Don't eat too much, because after we win, we will have to celebrate.

- I want a cake - she said through her tears.

Her voice was different, as she spoke through the tightened throat. Everything because of the surge of emotions.historical

- We will have a cake. A big ass cake - I assured. - And ice cream too.

My words made her laugh, but because Druoag stepped back from the device, I had to put an end to our little emotional moment. I gently pushed her back, placed my hand on her head, and ruffed a bit of her hair, then went to get my final upgrades before the toughest battle in my entire life. Uptil that moment, of course.

Everybody around observed me, as they all knew that those were the last moments we could be spending together, and they did appreciate every second, watching in silence.