The Messenger of Death

['What's… What is going on?'] Alex stuttered as he felt the pain in his head grow stronger. Just the voice of this man was putting him through endless mental pain.

However, even while going through this pain, the only expressions that Alex made were the ones that represented shock and confusion. When the level of pain reached an extent, Alex tightened his jaw and closed his eyes.

['What is happening Alex?'] Lex worryingly asked.

['I don't know what this man did, but I feel as if my head is about to explode.'] Alex replied.

['Do you want to switch with me?'] Xander questioned.

['No, I'll take care of it myself… thanks.'] Alex replied and began to circulate his QI. He then moved the QI to his forehead to help satiate the pain. When Alex did this, he sensed that his mind became clearer, and even though he was still in pain, it was more bearable now that he was using his QI to fight against whatever was causing him pain in his head.

"Grandpa," Nana called out. Since the moment Alex started feeling the pain in his head, she was aware of it. Nana knew that it was just a test from her great, great grandfather.

The Great Guardian of the North smiled when Nana called out to him. He then stopped what he was doing to Alex and then looked at Nana. "You seem to care a lot about your disciple,"

When Alex realized that the pain had suddenly disappeared, he started to feel dizzy. It was a good thing that he wasn't the one supporting his body up in the air. If not for Nana, he would have crashed since. 

Nana replied with a slight nod.

"So be it. Young man," The Guardian of the North called out to Alex, bringing his attention to him. "You are now involved with my Claus clan, do not disappoint me or soil our great name." He said with a smile.

"Yes… sir." Alex answered. He truly did feel fear for the man in front of him.

"Now, what brought all of you here? Have you all forgotten about the rules?" The Guardian of the North finally decided to do his job. They all knew that he had forgiven what happened before he arrived here because of Nana. If he was to punish Amir's father for breaking the rules, then he would have to punish his favorite descendant.

Most of the people here were too scared to respond. None of them ever dreamt of seeing an overseer of the rules that the 1st Emperor set in place. Most of the time, it meant death to whomever they came across. Apart from some other old monsters in the Celestial plain realm, no one could request to see them, not even the current Emperor.

"Amaal, is it?" The Great Guardian of the North asked while facing Amir's father.

Amaal placed a hand in his fist and gave a bow while saying; "This one is humbled that you remembered my name, Sir."

"Tell me, Amaal, What happened here?"

"As you wish, Sir." Amaal began to explain everything he knew without leaving any part out.

"Oh, He's not a Midas seed carrier and he was acknowledged by that Guardian?" The Great Guardian of the North turned and faced Alex before turning his gaze over to Nana. "Seems like you got yourself quite a disciple."

The Guardian that Nana's great, great grandfather is referring to is Mr. Guardian. Even he had great respect for Mr. Guardian. Arguably, a lot of them say that the strongest being on the 3 plain realms is Mr. Guardian.

What most of them aren't aware of is that the Mr. Guardian they were referring to is only an astral spirit, a minuscule part of the original.

"Because it is your responsibility you want to confirm if it was stolen by that boy over there?" The Great Guardian of the North said.

"Yes, Sir," Amaal responded.

"Then go ahead and confirm it."

"Thank you, Sir." Amaal thanked the Great Guardian of the North.

"Your Highness," Amaal called forth before using his powers to bring the Prince up to the sky where they were.

The Prince didn't look like his title at the moment. Most of his cloth and skin had been burnt by his flames. He only had burnt rags covering his private parts and more burnt rags on his shoulders. He had red eyes that stared daggers at Alex.

When Alex saw him, a smirk appeared on his lips.

"Your Highness, did this young man steal the Midas petal from you?" Amaal asked.

"Yes," The Prince answered confidently, thinking that Amaal was on his side.

"Pfft!!" Alex snorted at his reply.

"Ah you already look like a beggar, don't make me embarrass you some more and say the truth," Alex said as he held back the urge to laugh.

"You continue to disrespect and defy me!" The Prince boiled with anger, but he couldn't do anything at the moment. He was in a weakened state, and his bloodline purity might have been affected after igniting it.

"So you still insist that I stole the Midas petal from you? Alright, let me resolve this with one question. What does the Midas petal look like?" Alex questioned with a smirk.

['Oh! Nice thinking rabbit.'] Al commented.

This question had everyone looking at Alex like he was dumb. To them, this question had an obvious answer. The answer was right in the name, a petal.

"A petal! It looked like the petal of a rose!" The Prince answered furiously, thinking that Alex was still trying to insult him by asking such a question.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Alex shook his head in disappointment and yet a tinge of disdain on his lips. "How can you all bear to call this thieving liar your Highness. I am sorry to say, but that's a wrong answer."

"Who are you trying to lie to! Don't you have respect for the seniors gathered here?!" The Prince was trying to sow conflict between these people and Alex, but who would dare to have a beef with Alex with Nana present.

"Shut up," Alex retorted. "You sound so desperate that I feel bad for you. Now I know why you want the Midas petal, to cover up for your inferiority."

['Ah!! Hahaha, nice one!'] Al complimented.

"You bastard!"

"Now, now, watch what you say or I might not watch what my fist does to your face." Alex threatened.

"Young man, can you explain to us what you mean by the Midas petal not being a petal?" Amaal, curiosity-driven, asked Alex.

"Explaining it will take time, why don't I just show you?" Alex first looked at Nana, waiting to get her permission to do so.

Nana glanced at her great, great grandfather before responding to Alex with a nod.

Alex then retrieved the Midas petal from his ring. Immediately he did that, an extreme aroma pervaded the nostrils of everyone, making them thirst for the source of this aroma. Then subsequently, a restrictive pressure descended upon Alex.

This pressure came from the Midas petal laying on his palm, and if not because he was being shrouded by Nana's QI, he might have fainted because of the pressure.

"How is this possible?" Amaal muttered as he looked at what was laying on Alex's palm. The Almond nut on Alex's palm didn't look like any of the Midas petals of the past. If not for the aroma and aura coming from the Almond nut, Amaal would have argued that Alex was trying to deceive them.

"The petal mutated into this because of the… variables. That was what a voice told me when I retrieved it." Alex shrugged his shoulders after giving his short explanation.

With this alone, Alex had already proved that the Prince was the one making false claims here, and while nobody dwelled upon the topic anymore, they all did it as a way of showing respect to the family that the Prince came from.

"Since we have come to a conclusion, all of you should head back to your various homes." The Great Guardian of the North stated. He could see the greed in the eyes of these people.

All of them bowed before disappearing from their spots. None of them dared to remain after they were told to leave by this man.

Amaal was the last to leave.

As soon as they left, Alex returned the Midas petal to his storage ring.

"Young man, your temperament and confidence are what a person from the Claus clan should possess. Perhaps you wouldn't disappoint me in the future." Nana's Grandpa said to Alex.

It was his way of complimenting Alex.

He then turned and took a glance at the damage that Nana caused to the lower plain realm. "Natalia, your control of extreme Ying is still as exquisite as ever." The Great Guardian complemented before waving his hand and dispelling all the damage that Nana caused.

Everything then returned to how it was.

"And you are still as strong as I remember, Grandpa. I still can't dream of asking you for a duel at this point."

"Hahaha!! I look forward to the day when you will muster the courage to do so. Little one, don't cause any more trouble here. Those old fools won't always be patient with you because of me."

"I'll try not to, but I'm not making any promises," Nana smirked at him.

"Take care of yourself.." The Great Guardian of the North said before his figure faded and then subsequently it completely vanished.