We arrived at Peanu and took our captives straight to the temporary camp we had built for ourselves near the ruined capital. The damage was fresh, craters, burned towers, and entire streets reduced to gray dust. The scent of scorched earth still lingered in the air.
Odin looked horrified as he walked beside me, his eyes wide as he took in the destruction around us. "Did you… do this?" he asked slowly, his voice trembling between disbelief and surprise.
I shook my head. "No. I told you before, he was a traitor. There was a Phantom attack."
Odin stopped in his tracks for a second. His expression froze, and then he looked away, clearly shaken. I didn't blame him. Few beings had ever seen a Phantom and lived long enough to talk about it.
Dante led the Emperor and the other captives ahead toward the hall where the negotiation would take place. I stayed behind, my mind already elsewhere. I needed to find North and Steve. I wanted them to come with me to the marked location.
