After the Trial ended, Ocean sent a message to everyone relevant excluding Eric to gather at Shadowcliff within an hour and strictly use their mana devices to travel.

Ocean watched Carlos who lay unconscious in his bed, all bandaged up. Roan and Enora stood behind him, they knew something was wrong with Carlos but they didn’t dare ask anything as the moment the Trial ended. Ocean had ordered everyone who lived in Ryujin to return at once.

Doc was called over at the mansion and Ocean had stayed silent while watching Carlos like a silent predator.

Ocean stood there for a few more seconds before he stepped back and left the room with the two following him out.

"Tell everyone in the guard team to keep an eye on him, don’t approach if he does anything suspicious just make sure to keep an eye on him and maintain a safe distance. And in case something happens, report to me immediately. Understand?" Ocean instructed them before he walked towards Eric’s room.

Doc had just done treating Eric, his wounds weren’t as serious as they were back in the arena now since Ocean’s mana rain had healed him a little.

Eric was awake and sitting up in his bed when Ocean entered. Doc bowed to Ocean and Ocean gave him a nod.

"Their injuries aren’t that grave so, they will be ready for the Third Trial after two days." Doc reported and Ocean hummed.

"Thanks, Doc." Ocean spoke.

"I’ll take my leave now." Doc said before he walked out of the room.

Eric waited till the door was closed before he asked, "Master, what happened back there? There was something strange about Carlos it was as if-"

Ocean raised his hand and then looked back at Enora and Roan.

"I’m taking him out for a moment, if someone appears here tell them to return." Ocean said before he walked over to Eric and grabbed his shirt from the nearby armchair.

"Wait who appears?" Roan asked but Ocean didn’t answer and teleported away with Eric in a flash.

Ocean and Eric landed in Lord Devil’s Shadowcliff office. The three Underworld Lords were already there along with Lyall, Ocean helped Eric sit down on the chair and the four glanced at him and then at Ocean.

"Your Highness, how are you now?" Lord Hawke aka Count Nash asked.

"I’m all right, but... What’s going on here can anybody tell me?" Eric asked looking at the gathered gentlemen.

"Just a minute." Ocean spoke and within a few seconds, Rune, Duke Aurelius, Silas and Marquis Fairisles.

"Eric-Your Highness, are you all right?" Rune walked over to Eric instantly as he saw him and Ocean turned his head just in time that the last few people appeared.

Rose, Lady Dahlia and Davian.

"What’s wrong?" Rose asked as soon as she arrived.

Lady Dahlia walked towards Eric as well, "Are you all right? How are the wounds?"

She sounded genuinely concerned, Eric nodded and spoke in a low voice, "I’m all right, My Lady."

Davian didn’t say anything to him and looked at Ocean instead who looked like he carried a grim air with him.

Ocean let the people be as he moved towards Lyall who stood near Lord Devil’s aka Baron Oberon’s desk which had a box on it.

"Is this it?" Ocean asked and Lyall nodded.

"Yes, Master."

Ocean opened the lid and glanced inside to see a glass vial which had the traces of something black and reddish.

"Archmage." Ocean spoke and Silas walked over to him.

Silas looked at the vial and then reached out, he didn’t touch the vial but muttered a spell and a small red magic circle appeared above the vial before he pulled back with a grim expression.

"It’s that." Silas confirmed and Ocean sighed.

"What’s happening here?" Marquis Fairisles asked.

Ocean turned to face everyone gathered and then picked up the box showing them the vial.

"Do you see this?" He asked and everyone stared at the vial.

"What’s that?" Duke Aurelius asked.

"Don’t tell me..." Marquis Fairisles frowned.

Ocean nodded, closing the lid and placing the box back on the table.

"What happened today was orchestrated by the Golden Serpent." Ocean started, "she’s gone past the limit this time and needs immediate solution."

"What did she do?" Eric asked, "And what did she give Carlos? Was that poison or some enhancement drug in that vial?"

Ocean pursed his lips for a moment and Silas glanced at him opening his mouth but Ocean touched her forearm stopping him.

"His mother has... got him possessed by a demon." Ocean spoke.

The silence that followed that revelation was deafening, Eric’s eyes widened along with Rose and others.

"She what?!" It was Lady Dahlia who exploded first.

"Got Carlos possessed how?" Eric almost shouted.

"Wait, that wasn’t poison?" Davian asked.

Ocean sighed, explaining, "The Golden Serpent had been in contact with a witch that’s active in Sestia and I had personally warned her beforehand to stay away but after the first trial she must have known that sitting and doing nothing would make everything that she had built collapse so, she must have done what she thought would ensure her son the throne."

"How disgusting!" Duke Aurelius grunted.

"To think she would go so low to sacrifice her son for the throne!" Marquis grimaced.

"That’s why he looked like a different person when the duel was going on and suddenly after rain he changed... And then collapsed." Eric mumbled.

"But, how come there was a rain all of a sudden?" Zach wondered.

"That was me." Ocean spoke making everyone stare at him.

"What?" Lord Hawke asked.

"You can make it rain?" Lord Devil asked.

"I’m an Aqua Dragon, making a little rain isn’t that hard." Ocean spoke before he leaned his hip against the desk.

"I understood that Carlos was possessed the moment he showed that remarkable swordsmanship. He couldn’t have hidden that potential if he already had it."

"But, none of the devices or us sensed anything dark from him." Silas pointed out and Ocean nodded.

"That’s because he’s possibly being possessed by a very strong demon who is capable of hiding its presence from everyone." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"How could we deal with this then?" Dahlia asked.

"Would we have to kill Carlos to get rid of the demon?" Davian asked.

"We can’t kill Carlos without facing any repercussions." Marquis Fairisles said, "If the Golden Serpent can go to that extent to sacrifice her own son then his death would only invite unnecessary trouble."

"What makes you think that there’s not enough trouble now?" Silas asked.

"How about we prove it that Carlos is possessed?" Duke Arthur Aurelius suggested.

Rune shook his head, "Demons are extremely sneaky, Father. Don’t you remember what happened with Rei-Marquis Ocean the last time?"

Arthur pursed his lips and Dahlia looked at Ocean who stood there with his arms crossed, deep in thought.

"What should we do Master?" Lord Hawke asked.

"If the Golden Serpent is delving in dark magic then we must let the King know so that we could get rid of both her and Carlos." Zach suggested.

"She’s already gone too far this time, Master." Lord Devil spoke.

"There’s more," Ocean added making everyone stare at him in shock.

"Sacrificing her son wouldn’t be the only thing she did to make sure he wins." He spoke as he glanced at the box.

"And the Witch isn’t doing it for free. There is definitely something else involved here and since they had already summoned a demon to possess Carlos, there might already be preparations for a seige." Ocean stated grimly.

The air in the office seemed to have frozen after that and nobody could say anything. They looked at each other and then at Ocean.

"So, what do you propose?" Silas asked.

Ocean tapped his finger against his elbow as if crafting the future in his head. He remained silent for a while and nobody dared utter a word.

"Wait." He finally spoke.

"Wait?" Dahlia repeated.

Ocean nodded, "We still don’t know what they are planning and when it will hit us. It could be a seige on Oasis or any of the cities that we operate or even the whole capital. We must be prepared for any possibility."

"But, how?" Duke Aurelius asked.

Ocean glanced at everyone and then pushed off of the desk before walking up to Eric who looked like he was barely able to hold his thoughts together.

"I have a plan." Ocean spoke and then looked at Eric.

"One for you all," he glanced at the others and then back at Eric.

"And one for you."

Eric pursed his lips, his eyes still in a turmoil before he nodded.

Eric was made to sit in the chair while the others all gathered around as Ocean began explaining his plan for the people. Eric watched in grim silence as each one of the person present were given responsibilities.

"I hope you all understand. If there’s any questions, go ahead and ask." Ocean spoke but no one said anything.

"I guess that does it with you all." Ocean said before he glanced at Eric.

"As for Your Highness, I’ll explain your part in private." Ocean spoke looking at Eric.

"Why in private?" Davian blurted out and everyone looked at him.

Davian glanced at everyone before his eyes met Ocean’s.

"Because you all have your own duties and you don’t need to know about Prince Eric’s task." Ocean spoke and Davian clamped his mouth before nodding.

Dahlia, Arthur and Rune looked in between the two before Ocean dismissed everyone.

Silas took the box with the vial with him while Ocean helped Eric back all the while feeling Davian’s gaze on him.

Ocean and Eric teleported back to Eric’s room.

Ocean helped Eric into his bed and stood by his bedside while Eric looked up at him.

"So, what am I to do, Master?" Eric asked.

Ocean stared at him for a long moment. He didn’t know that this moment would arrive to this so soon but, now that it came to this dire situation he had no other choice.

Ocean inhaled deeply and closed his eyes before he reached out and touched his earstud.