Najarin continued his search in the library of his castle. He had grabbed many books and read each of them with little success. As it was, he had already read most of them in the past, but still nothing seemed to point towards clues to how to fix the portal.

He couldn't fail. He didn't know how long he had before the M'arrillians managed to get Tom and conquer the rest of the Cothica. Finishing the latest book, he put it aside and grabbed his head, sighing with a bit of desperation, "Nothing. Nothing at all."

He stood up and walked towards the window. He needed to get some fresh air. It would help him focus, or at least he hoped it would help. Time was of the essence and he couldn't ignore that.

"We don't have much time," he said.

As wind washed over his beard, he knew that Kiru city wouldn't have anything to help them. Something like that would have been reported a long time ago. Not only that, but also the location of Chaotic.

From the outside of Chaotic, it looked like it was at the top of a mountain. An extremely high one at that as it stood above the clouds. He realised there was one location that might have it. They hadn't fully explored it yet. It was their best hope, "I have to try Kaizeph. Maybe they are some documents or something else kept intact."

It was how they found out about the Messenger of the Cothica after all. It would likely be his best shot.

Chapter 87: The Forgotten Land

Najarin reached Kaizeph and entered the location allotted to his tribe. They were still exploring the lost city. However, it had been pushed aside when they had reached Chaotic and learned of the M'arrillians plan to reach the Cothica. Now, it had to return as their first priority. He quickly marched into the cavern and headed into the deepest part. His memories were still fuzzy about this location, "I might have forgotten something important there. Maybe I had it before, or another creature had that document. I hope it was preserved in a good state."

With this small hope, he reached the library. He saw the tablets that had already been analyzed. Everything had been done there and there was nothing else to find. Still, Najarin remembered the context when they escaped. It was like his castle, he had his library, but also a hidden one. Knowing himself and the fact that he had lived there for a while, there might be a secret one with the most vital information.

"The greatest secret isn't kept in the open," he muttered as his hand touched the shelves containing the many tablets of their forgotten past. He sighed as he tried to find a secret passage, "Ending up here was a curse," he commented, thanks to the tablet he read. It helped him remember a bit, "But the Messenger brought us hope. Once he gave it to us, he left thanks to his friends here," his finger slid on the corner of a shelf, "Alexandre. This time, we will be the one to help you," he said. He took the tablets away and pressed on the end of the shelf. his finger sunk at the back of a shelf, behind a tablet. A secret door opened, leading further inside, "The M'arrillians won't soil the Cothica," he walked in the passage.

He began his search. There were a few tablets on one of the shelves, but they weren't what got his attention. It was a map sculpted on the wall. He wasn't expecting it. Still, it was in better shape than those put-on parchment or papers. It would hold on longer. Not only that, they lived in Kaizeph at that time. This would save some resources, even if it asked more time.

The map was the one of Perim, but a few details showed it was one of the past. There were a few locations that didn't exist today, or new one as villages grew when they returned to live in the Overworld. Not only that, but the size of some of the forests were bigger than in the past. He couldn't confirm for Al-Mipedim or the Underworld as he didn't know those locations that well.

His hand touched the map as he observed it more. Maybe there was a clue there. He shook his head, "I am foolish to believe that a map could help find something to repair the portal," he then noticed something else on the map that was different from those the Overworld owned.

He observed it more cautiously and noticed a large island in the west. It was where the ocean began and went on forever. The strange land stood out because it never appeared on any of the recent maps. Many questions came to his mind without any answers. He just knew it was an unknown land.

"Maybe there is more in the tablets," the Overworlder realized.

This unknown land might be an important clue. Maybe not. It was worth trying for the sake of the Cothica. For the sake of Tom. For the sake of every creature. He had to search everything that might help fix the portal.

He began to read the tablet in the hopes of finding something.

The night fell on Chaotic, the sky darkening slowly and surely.

The Codemasters watched the result of the analysis of the battlegear. The four leaders of Perim watched the result. They didn't understand what was written and waited for an explanation.

"As you can see, there are a few materials that we don't have on Earth. However, we have the majority. Either something similar or identical and some of the materials have the same properties at an atomic level," Codemaster Crellan began.

Hotekk pointed at the rulers, "You already lost them and me at the same time. Forget the boring stuff and go right to where the problem is."

Crellan wanted to give him a piece of his mind, but instead stated it by shaking his fist, "I thought you would understand it. You are a Codemaster like me."

"Excuse me for not being interested in the difficult stuff," the other replied.

Imthor quickly intervened, "Enough you two. We do not have time to lose in this. Crellan, explain what the problem is."

"Yes. A few of the materials made came from crystals and other things that use energy coming from it. We don't have anything we can use as a comparison on Earth. Except nuclear, but that is extremely toxic for humans and probably creatures too…maybe less so for the Danians."

"We are stuck then?" Maxxor asked.

"Not exactly. We can bring those missing materials. It is faster than making them by hand. We don't have that many creatures who can forge them," Theb-Saar told them.

"We need to be creative in our situation. Still, we won't be able to do that much for now," Crellan concluded. He hoped they would have been able to accomplish this on their own, but it wouldn't be the case.

Hotekk grumbled, "Najarin is here and he wants to talk with you," he pointed at one camera and they saw the Overworlders face near the entrance to their room.

"Open it," everyone told him.

"Jeez. Everyone is impatient these days," he muttered as he opened the door.

"You are the last one who should complain about that," Imthor replied.

"I know."

Maxxor gave his attention to his friend, "Najarin. I am guessing you found something if you came back this quickly."

The High Muge nodded as he put a tablet on a table, "I made some progress. It took a little longer as I had to replicate the map sculpted on the wall of Kaizeph."

"You found a clue on Kaizeph?" Theb-Saar asked.

Aszil asked, "And what is it? Anything that can help us crush the M'arrillians is needed," she went to observe the table.

Najarin placed the map he'd copied at the center so everybody could see it, "This is a map from the time our tribes had to live on Kaizeph during the first M'arrillian war. As for the tablet it doesn't give direct information, but enough to take a risk."

"What is it?" Maxxor asked, ready to take it if it was a chance to save Tom.

Chaor growled, "Do not waste our time. Any seconds we lose means we are letting the M'arrillians win."

"I'll get right to it," he put his finger on the map, at the precise unexplored land, "This land here is one that doesn't exist on any of our modern maps. It is one lost to history since we left Kaizeph. There is a chance that it might have something to allow us to repair the portal. Still, just saying that isn't enough," he put his hand on the tablet, "This tablet is the most important reason I believe there is a chance."

"What is it?" they asked impatiently.

"I was about to explain it," he said, "This tablet explained that the land contained many unknown materials. It is an old report of a group of explorers who, as history said, lost their minds as they decided to go beyond the continent of Perim. When they came back, they brought a map and the proof that there are more lands beyond here. Some of them contained unique crystals, like those the Codemasters took out of the portal when they had been broken. They might be the crystals needed to repair the portal. Not only that, but it would mean that those who made the portal resided there."

"Then why would they live there if the portal is in Chaotic?" Maxxor asked.

"There isn't that much detail in this. Just that there is a large mountain on it, as the map showed. My guess is that Chaotic is at the top of this mountain… unless it is a coincidence that there is also a mountain there. Still, that means that Chaotic is connected to this land somehow."

The Codemasters observed it curiously. They never heard of that land either. It felt like when humans first discovered the continent of America. An unknown world filled with wonders. These days, there was nothing special about it. It was just a part of the world. Nothing new to discover.

"We need to organize everything right now," the Overworlder concluded.

"Whenever you are ready, I will be a part of it. I want to see this world and maybe figure out how we can fix the portal. If it is inhabited, they might have higher knowledge than us."

"Depends on if there is life there or not. Still, there is a possibility of a tribe none of you ever encountered before," Imthor commented. He had to agree it was their best hope for now.

"We will need to prepare everything right now," Aszil said as she left the room.

The other creatures followed her and left.

The Codemasters watched them gone and sighed in relief.

Crellan voiced his thoughts, "Finally, we can work in peace. I'll be able to give much more attention to what is going on Earth."

"Good," Imthor replied in agreement.

Hotekk locked the door, "I won't ever make that mistake again. I promise."

"And you better hold it," Imthor replied.

The four leaders followed Najarin as they went to plan everything.

The High Muge slowed down when he noticed the tension between the M'arrillians who had rebelled against Milla'iin and the rest of the tribe. Despite what Gal'Drad did with his tribe to help them, the past couldn't be pushed aside that easily.

Gal'Drad went towards them, "Any progress in reaching the Cothica? The Messenger and the others are their target. We don't have time to deal with everything horrible we did in the past right now."

Najarin had to agree with him and ignored Chaor grunting at him, "We made some progress and we are preparing an expedition to reach a place where we might have a chance to repair the portal."

"Ask us anything. We will provide you with everything we have to support you."

"You think we will accept help from you M'arrillian," Chaor grunted.

Theb-Saar raised his hand in front of the Underworlder, "We will accept any help we can to protect the humans and the Cothica. Right, Chaor?" The blue Mipedian gazed at the other one with his red eyes.

"Fine," the red creature crossed his arms in annoyance.

So the M'arrillians followed them as they planned the expedition.

AC: This is the end of this chapter.

Next: Sarah Vs Her Parents.

Sarah must confront her parents and convince them to bring them to their friends. It was an uphill battle.