On the move

Xero appeared in front of Georgia with a gloomy look on his face. Georgia got spooked by his sudden appearance,

"Uncle! Are you okay?" She stood up seeing his expression.

Xero looked at Georgia as if someone important to him had died.

"I am okay. Just… tired."

Georgia knew he was lying by his words alone. Someone of his strength doesn't get tired easily.

"What's wrong?"

Xero looked at her carefully. 

"I just need some time to think, please. I'm taking the rest of the day to think…" He wobbled to his office.

"Okay. Also, Boris said he has something important to tell you and only you."

"Thanks…" He closed the door slowly and slumped on the couch he had for visitors.

"Summon angel."

The figure of an angel appeared beside him. She was a tall angel with long gold hair, with four white wings on her back, eyes pure white, and skin that was glowing a golden-glow. On her hands she had a sword on one hand and a shield on another.

"Help me." He said.

The angel took a few steps behind him, dropped her weapons and touched his head with her fingers ever so gently. Her hands glowed making him feel relaxed and letting out a huge sigh of relief.

"Thank you." 

She nodded but kept her fingers pressed gently on his head and gently massaging it.

Soon Xero stood up but instead of feeling relaxed he felt anger. The angel disappeared along with her weapons.

He walked heavily to the phone and called for Boris. The phone began to ring several times before Boris picked up.

"Boris!"

"Xero, about time you picked up!"

Boris let out a long breath.

"Boris, I have something important to tell you and everyone else."

"I also have something important to tell you, I found it! Sky and his crew and the mermaid are alive." Boris said, making sure no one was listening to his conversation.

"I don't care anymore."

"What?"

"Actually, no, thinking about it, maybe the sword will be of great use to us. When will you be back?"

"I'm going to Servus Terra right now where Sky is, should take about three weeks, then another three weeks back to you so… a month and a half?"

Xero's eyes closed.

"Boris, run or fly towards them, now."

"What?" Boris wasn't sure he heard him correctly.

"Like I said I have something important to say to all of you and it cannot wait long. Get the sword, don't use a fucking ship, and bring your ass back here soon!"

Boris never heard him like this before. However, he couldn't help but smile.

"Understood, sir."

Xero hung up the phone with Boris doing the same.

"Georgia!" Xero called out to her.

"Yes, Xero?" Georgia ran as soon as she heard her name.

Xero walked up to her and hugged her. Georgia was stunned but she didn't hate it, though this action made her feel unsettling for the way he was acting.

"Georgia…" Xero wanted to tear up. His only family member and he doesn't even know if he can protect her.

"Yes?"

Georgia wanted to take a step back but Xero held her close to him because he didn't want her to see him tear up.

"Can't breathe!" She muttered on his shirt.

"If you… have you ever… Do you want a paid vacation?"

"Um, it would be nice, but I just got back from my break after the mind control thing so I don't really need one right now."

"I know. I know. Then let's take a day off, just you and me, okay?"

"Um, sure, but, where are you going?"

"I want to visit the cemetery."

Georgia was really beginning to get worried.

"What's wrong, seriously? It's like you just found out you were going to die."

Xero chuckled as he wiped the tears from his eyes. He looked at her but she noticed his eyes were red.

"I wish that were the case…" He held her cheek.

"I'm beginning to be really worried, what's wrong?" She really needed an answer from him.

"Let's go. First we go to the flower shop, then the toy shop, hopefully they still have a toy boat or something similar." He guided her outside of his room.

"Are you going to let anybody else know you're taking a day off Xero? Uncle?" Her words fell on deaf ears.

Meanwhile…

Boris stood up after hanging up the phone.

"EVERYBODY! STOP THE SHIP!"

The ship stopped abruptly which made a few Caribbean officers trip and fall.

"Sir, what's wrong?"

Boris looked at his men.

"New orders, I'm going by myself. Everyone here, go wherever you want. Steve, you're in charge until I get back."

"Uhhhh…"

"Sir, but why, what's wrong?"

"I am not sure." Boris began to stretch his arms and legs as if he were prepared for a race. "But orders are orders. Take care and I will be at God's Paradise tomorrow. So long now. Dash, fly, lightness."

Using the dash ability he increased his speed, while using lightness to decrease his weight, and using fly to fly.

Boris flew at full speed pushing the ship to one side nearly toppling it. The part of the sea where he flew across split apart due to his insane speed.

'Hmm I should get there in a day, day and a half tops. If only stopping time didn't consume so much mana and stamina I'd use it right now.'

Meanwhile…

Xero was on a small and uninhabited island with Georgia standing beside him. The island was covered in thick forests with animals everywhere.

In front of them there were three tombstones with names engraved on them. One of the tombstones had an old children's toy that resembles a wooden ship, the other two tombstones had flowers that decayed long ago.

Georgia bent down and removed the flowers and replaced them with no ones. Xero took the toy, set it aside and took out from underneath his jacket a brand new toy and set it there.

He patted the ground several times. Georgia couldn't take it anymore and started to cry and let out small noises. Xero began tearing up as well but didn't make a sound.

Xero laid his hands on the other tombstones and muttered softly enough for Georgia wouldn't hear him. "Brother, I might join you and Angie sooner than I thought. If there is an afterlife, I will see you three again. I can't wait to see little Tucker again and bring him more toys." Xero couldn't handle it and let out more tears and snot.

'Don't worry, I'll keep Georgia safe, just like I promised you all those years ago.' Xero didn't say this because he was afraid he couldn't control his emotions and might speak too loud.

Georgia took out a few cards, one of the cards had a large bottle of wine and another bottle of milk. The other cards all had small cups, five in total.

Georgia kept one cup for herself, gave one to Xero, and laid the other cups on top of the tombstones. She filled all the cups with alcohol, except the tombstone with the toy had it filled with milk.

Xero and Georgia raised their cups to each other, then raised it to the tombstones in front of them. Next they sat there doing nothing for a while.

Then Xero spoke.

"Georgia, if I ever die, I want you to bury me here."

Georgia looked at him, he had never said that before. Realizing by now that something major and horrible was about to happen she nodded.

"Okay, uncle."

"Thanks."

"Uncle?"

"Yes?"

"Are we going to die?"

Xero looked at her, it seemed she knew what was about to happen, somewhat.

"I won't let you die, that's for sure." He hugged her and she leaned on his shoulder. Both were silent throughout the day.

Later that night…

Sky was tired and sitting on the floor. Producing air at full power all day long didn't consume any mana since he recovers it faster than he can use it, but using spells does make his stamina drop especially if he hasn't rested and gave it his all.

Just then Jack appeared beside Sky and gave him a plate of food as well as a drink. It was a burger and the biggest burger Sky had seen, along with a side of fries.

"For you." Jack sat on the stairs resting.

"You didn't have to do this, you could be sleeping by now."

"Hmm, not tired. Got bored so I made you something so you can keep your strength. Besides, he's also not sleeping either." Jack pointed up to Jay who was still watching out for them despite it being dark.

"I don't think he has night vision, I don't even know how he can see in the dark." Sky said, looking at Jay.

"Eat up, please. Everybody but you has already eaten, and you're the most important person here since you're my boss." Jay said while handing Sky a wet towel to wash his hands with.

"Very well. It looks good." Sky took the wet towel and wiped his hands. He grabbed the burger and before he took a bite a thought occurred to him.

"Jack, I entirely forgot to say this to you before you joined the crew, something important."

"Hm?" Jack's ears perked up.

"We will be here for only eleven months."

"What are you talking about?" Jack asked.

"My crew and I are leaving the Land of the Dead in eleven months and we won't come back here, maybe."

"Oh, so you're going to the Land of the Free? That's not too bad."

"No… we're going to the Land of the Gods."

Jack's mouth was slightly open.

"What? You said you're going to the Land of the Gods?"

Sky nodded as he took a bite of the burger.

"Wow, this is good." Sky spoke with his mouth full.

"Wait, how are you going to the Land of the Gods? I thought no one could get in… actually, I believe that." Jack said remembering he had seen weirder stuff from Sky, and he barely had seen anything.

Sky wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"Yeah, and we're all going. You don't have to, it's completely up to you since it's a huge risk and change." Sky ate some fries. "Do we have ketchup?"

Jack handed him a card with a ketchup bottle inside it. Sky poured ketchup all over his fries and was happy.

"Why are you going there? Seems dangerous, from what I heard."

Any and all information about the Land of the Gods can be traced back through the words of the founders of the Fallen God family, but many believe that after 700,000 years the information may not be relevant anymore as many things could have changed, and also there are mix-ups between the truth and rumors told way before.

Sky however knows a few things thanks to Madame and the system, one, black portals do exist and black grade items as well. Two: there's a new species there that are dominant and powerful, insects.

Sky took a while to respond back as he chewed carefully and swallowed the food.

"I got paid by someone who lives there. She reached out and wants me there in a year because well… as you can tell I am not normal, they want to use my abilities and in return they gave me something I cannot ignore. I don't think it would have been wise to ignore her offer."

"Well… that makes a lot of sense. For a second I thought you were from the Land of the Gods from the weird shit I saw you pull."

"Hm, no, I was born in the Land of the Free." Sky continued eating his food.

"So… what will happen to me?" 

Sky swallowed the food again.

"Up to you. If you want to stay with us for eleven months and leave the crew to stay behind, you are more than welcome. By then I will make sure you're set for life and never have to worry about being weak or poor ever again, or you can take the risk and come with us."

"By everyone you mean including the slaves? Also I was never poor."

"Just the three slaves will stay back, I plan to remove their slave mark and give them a good amount of money and be free, though I have no idea if I can even remove their marks but I'll see. Jericho and Jay decided to come with me, and Jules doesn't have much of a say here."

Sky was about to take a sip from his cup then he noticed it was rum.

"Jack, I don't like alcohol, just a heads up."

"Oh, I'll keep that in mind next time."

"Want it? I heard it's good to fight off the cold, and it's somewhat chilly right now." Sky handed him the bottle of rum which Jack took and drank it all down.

Jack always liked drinking but his mom never let him even when he reached the legal age long ago. The only times he could drink are when he uses alcohol in his cooking, or when his dad sneaks him a small glass so they can drink together.

When he joined Sky he realized no one could tell him what to drink or do anymore so when he found out the ship had rum because Jules and the other slaves liked drinking, he began to drink as well.

"Ah, that's good." Jack felt happy when he took a sip of alcohol.

Sky nodded and ate his burger finishing the whole thing. He had never had a more delicious burger than now.

"Ahh, that burger was great. I am so glad you're here." Sky patted his stomach.

"Do you want seconds?"

"Hm, yeah, I could go for more, probably thirds."

"Heh." Jack chuckled, it truly did make him happy to see others enjoy his food. For a chef when someone asks for seconds it makes them proud, and all the proof they need that one enjoyed his food.

Jack took the plates that Sky left on the floor.

"I thought you said you wouldn't clean?" Sky raised an eyebrow at him.

"Hm, I can do this much and more with how much you're paying me. But I am not washing the dishes."

"Ha! Well, okay."

"Also, is there a time limit on your earlier question for me?"

"To go or not to go with us to the Land of the Gods? Think about it for the next eleven months, I don't need an answer from you anytime soon."

"Thanks, I'll keep it in mind. I'll be back with seconds and thirds." Jack left with the empty plates on hand.

Sky stood up and produced more powerful winds making the boat reach top speeds.

Later…

The sun was rising and it brought light everywhere.

'Oh god, natural light.' Sky covered his eyes as the sun blinded him momentarily.

He looked away trying to get used to sunlight. 

'Map.'

The system's map appeared in front of him showing him how close he was to his destination. Seeing the destination he stopped producing wind and using telekinesis to slow down his ship.

"Everyone, get on the deck!"

Jay, who was still keeping watch, flew down and landed beside Sky while stretching his limbs.

"Hey, Cap'n, nice job on that wind today. I want to ask, but are you sure you want to go to this island?"

"Yes, obviously, why do you ask?" Sky looked at him, confused.

"Because I wind there last week."

"Wait, what, what do you-"

It took Sky a solid second to understand Jay made a wind pun because he's been producing winds non-stop.

"..." Sky looked at him.

"Also, today's Tuesday, but do you know what comes after Tuesday? Wind-sday!"

"..."

"You know it's impressive, your ability to produce air like that, I was almost blown away."

"..."

"You know, you could say I had a blast last night from all that wind tonight."

"..."

"Haha, okay I'll stop. Making up wind puns all day, they were such a breeze to come up with."

"..."

Sky couldn't take it anymore… 

He held Jay's shoulder firmly and began to laugh.

"Ahahaha!"

Jericho, Jules, Jack, and even the slaves soon appeared before him. To their surprise they saw Sky laughing.

Jay looked at the crew with a huge smile on his face because he was glad Sky found his puns funny. He wasn't sure whether or not to say this pun after being bored last night.