In the Headmaster's office, Anjou and EVA were having a discussion.

"What were your opinions Norma- sorry EVA," Anjou asked while lighting his favourite cigar.

"Not good, their advanced AI, Kaguya, has less processing power than me but it would take me a while if I really want to dig around their data. I am more worried about the students. Are you sure it would be a good idea to send them on this mission by themselves? You of all people should know about the power of Hydra's high patriarch," EVA asked the headmaster of the Cassell college and one of the strongest dragon slayers in the world.

"Indeed it would worry me if they were by themselves. However they got her with them, and she promised me that she would protect them. With her by their side, even royal dragons won't be able to hurt them easily," Anjou assured EVA.

"Are you sure this is a wise choice? She is impulsive. Do you remember what she did to Norma when she was chasing after the clues about the Black Swan Bay orphanage? She tore her apart, forcing me out and would also tear me apart if it wasn't for you immediately noticing and negotiating with her," EVA replied with a monotone voice you would expect of an AI. However, the headmaster sensed some spite from her words. It wasn't surprising since they started on the wrong foot with Ariel attacking him and EVA immediately after they freed her from the stasis pod by those people from Gear Dept who were observing and examining her. Of course, even those suicidal fools from Gear Dept didn't dare free someone who could still be alive and fine after spending who knew how many years in an iceberg. Anjou supposed he shouldn't have released her impulsively back then.

"After that incident, she apologized, didn't she? She even upgraded your coding as compensation. Besides, she wasn't a bad kid. She was just scared. After all, for her this may as well be an entirely new world," Anjou reminded her.

"I will trust you in this matter principal. I hope you won't break this trust," EVA replied. Anjou said nothing but leaned on his chair and exhaled a thick smoke.

At Hydra Headquarter,

"Father I had received the information about the ace who would be coming from the College," a man in a neat suit handed a bunch of files to the high patriarch of Hydra who was sitting on the throne. The man on the throne shuffled through the files until he came across a file with the name Ariel. The man's gaze lingered at the seemingly thirteen years old girl who was wearing a bright smile. Behind the files, he smiled, his eyes bursting with malice.

On the plane,

Luminous was looking at the passengers around them. In fact, he was a little nervous. Not to mention the little addition to their group, namely, Ariel. He looked at the peaceful face of Ariel who was listening to the music with a small smile on her face. Looking like that, she was like a kid. But he knew she was anything but that. Like the little devil, who looked like a 13 or 14 year old but actually ways older than that by his own admission. Of course, she wasn't someone simple like him either. That much could be figured out easily as no ordinary person would be able to take out drugs that could prolong life and an item with supernatural powers.

Speaking of that, he was really happy about the ring or Drac gear as Ariel would call it. Ever since he put it on, his life became freer. At first, he was just grasping the straw. He had lost most of his hope to block Ming Z Lu out of his mind after the talisman he got from the monastery in Peru was turned out to be ineffective like many other talismans he keep collecting all around the world. But he didn't expect the ring to be so effective that it kept Ming Z Lu out of his mind. He felt probes trying to worm into his head but some strange forcefield from the ring kept countering it. Now though, would be a good time for discussion. He took off his ring. Ariel saw he took off his ring and raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

As soon as he took off the ring, he was pulled into what he now dubbed as the Mirage. The entire place was filled with water with a single piano in the middle and a golden gateway leading to the unknown at the end. He was greeted by Ming Z Lu who was frowning slightly.

"I didn't expect you to be so cruel like this brother, keeping me out like this," Ming Z Lu said with an admonishing tone.

"So, what? Should I be allowing you to come and go into my head like it was some kind of temple?" Luminous snapped.

"Despite what you think so, I simply wish you the best brother," Ming Z Lu said.

"That is a load of bull-" before Luminous could reply, their conservation was interrupted by the new arrival to Luminous's mind.

"So, this is where you were hiding up Z. Classic dreamlands," footsteps ran across the entire space as Ariel leisurely walked over.

"Ariel, so you are still alive huh? What a pity," Z greeted.

"Ariel?! How are you here?!" Luminous exclaimed.

"I am glad that you are happy to see me too Z," Ariel said to Z before turning to Luminous and smiled mischievously and said, "what? Did you think only Z has some kind of mental invasion ability?"

"So, why didn't you come and see me? I understand you couldn't come over the dream because of my mental defences. However, it is not impossible to come and see me personally, isn't it? With your skills and powers, I doubt Cassell's defences would hold you back," Ariel asked her doubts while ignoring Luminous who was having a meltdown at a corner.

"Oh, I wish to come and see you. However, my physical body is currently indisposed right now. With all the cross and being surrounded by mercury," Z replied casually. Ariel smiled in amusement.

"How the mighty have fallen. The ever great Z who seemed to be always ahead of others was now a Jesus wannabe, tied to a cross," Ariel said as she laughed at Z's situation.

"Wait? Are you really trapped? I thought that was just a joke," Luminous, who just returned to his senses, interjected.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were really captured? If I knew that I would-" before Luminous could finish his words Z cut off.

"If you know what? Finish the job or free me? You could forget about it. The ones who captured me and trapped me are the strongest dragon slayers in the world, led directly by Beowulf and Anjou. My knockout blow was even dealt by your father Lu Lincheng," Z said.

"My father was involved in your capture? Wait, that was why you came to me? For revenge?" Luminous said.

"Of course not, I came to you because you are my brother," Ming Z Lu said with a cheerful tone. However, Ariel could sense there was more than he was letting on. No matter what, Ariel decided to help him out.

"Where were you being kept at? I will break you out?" Ariel offered.

Z shook his head, "it was useless, even though I don't know where my physical body is, I had been travelling using [Dreamlands] for a long time now. Besides, for me, the physical body was useless. I could always find a new one. Only my spirit was important".

"Hmm, that could be tricky. So you need a new body huh," she replied and suddenly froze as she looked at Luminous who was reevaluating his life choices and carefree Z. She immediately realized Z endgame and why he was asking for one-quarter of Luminous's life for any favours.

"Cease your plans immediately," Ariel said while glaring at him. She couldn't believe that he would stoop that low.

"Ah, you figured out that quickly. I know you are a smart one, Ariel," Z said.

"As I said, stop your plans immediately. If you just need a body, I could give you one, you don't need to do this," Ariel said in a serious tone.

"Wake up! We had reached Japan," before Z could reply, Ariel and Luminous were woken up by Caesar. Ariel sighed. She would talk with him another time. Now, she had a mission to finish.