Wicked Reincarnation

Chapter 163: Attack 4

Lia took a step back from Noel, not wanting to hear what he was going to say but he rubbed her head and smiled, "No need to worry, they're all fine. We were worried about you!"

Lia breathed a sigh of relief and the tight knot in her heart was finally undone.

"Let's go," Noel took her hand and left the house.

"What were you doing there?" Lia threw a glance back and Noel replied, "I was scouting."

"Then-"

"It doesn't matter, what's important's you're here." Noel's warm hand felt nice but it reminded her of Yano, and all of a sudden Lia wished Yano would be here, but she quickly shook her head and looked at Noel.

She was really happy he was alright. Joy couldn't even describe what she was feeling right now.

Noel led her through the second layer until they were in the area where the Z family's mansion was.

"You're hiding here?" Lia was surprised, Noel nodded, "Yeah, after all, we need to be close to the palace but at the same time, they can't find us."

Noel gave her a grin and pulled her into a building in the land of the Z family. Once she entered, she fell to the ground as a small person hit her on the chest, "Why!"

Lia looked up and caressed the wet chubby cheeks of Xavi before pulling him into a hug, "I'm sorry," Lia's whispers carried to the others who surrounded her as Noel closed the door.

Then after Xavi calmed down, Susa and Nana fell into Lia's arms while Mika embarrassed held his hand out, but Lia pulled him down to her and his face flushed red. It was a quiet moment but peaceful and weirdly comforting and soothing. As if all their worries, as if everything that has happened faded away and was just an illusion.

Noel just stood there and waited for everyone to calm down before ruining the emotional vibe by saying, "What? Am I the only one who didn't recognise her?"

Mika rolled his eyes and said, "You suck."

Lia widened her eyes looking at Mika. He seemed like to have gotten close to Noel, especially hurling insults at him quite childishly.

"What has happened?" as Lia threw the question into the room, everyone froze for a second and looked at Susa.

"We thought something has happened to you at the academy and that's why when we went looking for you, things escalated," Susa said it slowly but for some reason, Lia felt like she has practised this sentence over and over again. But Lia didn't question it.

"Where were you? When I returned after you told me, you, you," Nana took off her glasses and wiped her tears away.

"I'm sorry, I was sent to the Mortal World accidentally," Lia told them quickly about Yano and the others, then said, "The good thing, I got the real ring and my powers are back by using the life force, although it's not so strong."

"Ok," Xavi was serious, "I think we should retreat, I don't think we have to necessarily follow through with Susa's plan," Xavi said it more to the others than to Lia. Lia titled her head in question as she sensed that there was some tension between them.

"What happened?"

"I also want to agree but even if we retreat, the Ghost King will follow us, if you really didn't want to go through the plan then we didn't have to attack first, and just wait for Lia to come back," Mika objected.

The feeling increased that they were leaving something out, something Lia shouldn't know about.

"I to be honest, I think we gonna have to follow through, I already came to terms with," Noel was with Mika.

"But, I don't want to cut the time short, and I, I," Nana started crying again but then she turned to Susa, "Is this really the only option?"

"I'm afraid so, Lia what do you think?" Susa turned to Lia and asked for her opinion.

"How is the current situation?" Lia needed to be first sure what has happened and where they stood at the moment.

"We failed at the facility, we've gone according to the plan but most of my and Mika's men were killed, it's only us and a few left," Xavi briefed Lia quickly, "Because the attack's failed, the Ghost King has sent most of the ghosts to the Mortal World."

"That's why they were suddenly so many ghosts," Lia hoped that Yano and the others could manage it.

"I don't mind if we retreat," Lia started and Xavi's eyes brightened, "But I want to save Zero."

"Zero? Who's that?" Mika looked like he seemed to know who he was.

"The person who repaired Lia's soul, what happened to him?" Nana put her glasses back on.

"I took the fake ring from the academy, thus Timo and the private army got suspicious, but Zero took the fall for me and now he's imprisoned," Lia quickly explained the situation.

"If he's imprisoned he's gonna be in the palace," Noel thought and squeezed his eyes, "Either way you gonna have to get into the palace"

"Yes, that's why isn't it more reasonable to finish what you've started?" Lia turned to everyone for affirmation.

She knew that this was a risk, but they were already here and if they retreat and regroup, it was useless too, after all, there weren't any more people left they could gather. Noel's father would vehemently refuse to help, and all the sacrifices have been then in nought.

They could wait for Yano but things have escalated to this point, was there any point in delaying it anymore? A swift execution was better than dragging this confrontation out while all the immortals would fear for their lives, and they had to be in constant hiding, getting away from the Ghost King's grasps.

A long silence followed afterwards. No one said anything and Lia didn't force them to answer her immediately. She knew it was a big decision but she saw that they all exchanged glances. As if they knew it was inevitable, as if their future and fate were inevitable. Lia once again had the urge to ask but she didn't. If they didn't say it, she didn't want to force it out of them.

"Alright," finally Xavi let out, but he didn't look too happy about it, "If it's really true then there's no other way. We've already come to terms with it, right? Or else we wouldn't have started it."

"Yes," Susa turned to Lia and smiled, "Lia you know we all love you."

"What's that?" Lia felt a bit weird and warm at the same time, she wasn't used to being exposed to feelings so openly. It was vulnerable and cheesy at the same time but also felt nice.

"I love you too, everyone," Lia mumbled a bit but seriously stared at them. A second passed before they burst out laughing.

"Oh goodness, I never thought I'd hear that from you," Noel was laughing the loudest and Lia felt the urge to kick him rolling away.

"By the way, where's Lily?"

"She's been out evacuating the citizens, she's fine," Xavi answered, "If we go forward as said, we have to change the plan a bit."

"Of course," Mika answered as if he had already foreseen this.

"We will still adhere to the initial core of the plan, that is to get Lia to the Ghost King while we others take care of everyone else and then get out Zero. The downside are the captains, we managed to avoid a confrontation but now that's not possible. We'll be at a disadvantage, they trained for more than 10 years while we only have a few months under our belt."

"It's concerning but it'll be fine," Susa gave a tired smile.

"By the way, Susa did you see something?" Lia remembered that Susa had clairvoyance.

"No... nothing," Susa shook her head decisively, "Sorry," she added.

"It's ok," Lia gave her a reassuring smile but Susa turned her face away from Lia and only nodded.

"From what we know, the Ghost King has barricaded himself in the palace to send the ghosts to the Mortal World. So, what we do, like initially planned, attack the palace from all sides and lure their attention away, while Lia you sneak in."

"Is everyone fine with it?" Xavi asked before diving deeper into the plan. Everyone else nodded, then turned to Lia, "Are you really going to be fine? I think I can-"

"No, you need to save your powers for last as a surprise element, you've said it already, your powers are still premature at the moment, if you reveal them, they can easily counter you," Xavi wasn't bending on the fact.

"Ok, you're the brains, I do as you say," Lia teased but Xavi didn't get red, instead, as Xavi drew a map on a paper, Lia saw his hands were shaking.

She put hers over his and coaxed, "If you're scared, then we don't have to do this, everyone in fact, if you don't want to we can change-"

"No," Xavi rejected and calmed down, "We've already decided, there's no use. We'll go through with it. Lia, just be safe ok?"

"Ok," Lia pulled her hands away.

"Then let's begin the planning. The whole first layer will turn into a battleground anew."