The woman then proceeded to make a single precise strike on a specific spot on the wall. A low rumble echoed throughout the chamber as the wall slowly began to shift, revealing a hidden passage.
In another place, Karyk also felt that aura. It was just as he had expected. The woman was at least as strong as him, if not more.
That made him even more curious about the true origin of the Shadow Garden, which contained a mystery like this.
"Did the Founder of the Stein Clan come here as well? Are you taking me to the legacy?' Gabriel asked, slightly frowning.
"Stein Clan? What's that?" The woman asked, seemingly confused.
"Though I do remember a little brat who accidentally ended up here long ago. Since he was kind, I gave him a random book and sent him on his way. Are you talking about him?" she further asked.
"That doesn't seem to be right. You won't be calling that random useless book a legacy. That's nothing more than trash. So who are you talking about?" the woman became even more confused.
However, Gabriel already had his answers by now.
This also made him realize that he was underestimating this place even now. The treasure that was called a legacy by the Stein Family which helped them reign supreme in the Upper Realm was nothing but a random book for this woman.
He didn't know how they were going to react once they found out the truth.
If just a random book from that woman was so powerful, then he was really curious just where this woman was taking him.
"Where are you from?" Gabriel asked, frowning as he walked next to the woman in the long corridor underground.
The woman glanced at him and calmly replied, "I'm from a place that I've long since abandoned."
"And that place is?" He further asked, really curious just where that skeleton came from. Just what was that place? And was it going to become a threat for him in the future?
The woman glanced at him, but didn't say anything. She continued walking.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, but didn't press for more information. He had learned long ago that some things were best left unsaid, especially since she wasn't going to tell him anything.
As they walked in silence, Gabriel thought about what she said. He wondered what kind of place she left behind and what kind of experiences she had. But he knew better than to pry, at least for now.
However, one thing was certain. There was another place above the Upper Realm. And it was something that was connected to the reason that the King of the Upper Realm didn't leave the Central World.
After walking for a long time, protected from all the traps, the woman finally stopped in a chamber which was being guarded by two golems.
However, the golems this time were the size of an ordinary human. They were much smaller than the golems that he had seen outside.
Despite being smaller, the golems appeared much stronger, covered in strange marks all over.
The woman whispered some words and the golems immediately stepped aside, allowing her to enter the chamber. She motioned for Gabriel to follow, and as they entered the room, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
The walls were covered in intricate carvings and glowing crystals, illuminating everything in a soft blue light. In the center of the room stood a pedestal and on it rested a singular object that seemed to pulse with a magic of its own. Gabriel couldn't take his eyes off of it.
"That is...?" he asked, frowning.
Even Karyk was frowning, sensing that aura. He hadn't felt anything like that before. It was as if this aura didn't belong anywhere. It was the true darkness of Chaos that could even scare gods!
If anything, this aura somewhat reminded him of the darkness in which he had seen the sword floating in his recent dreams.
But Gabriel's mind was fixated on the object, he couldn't shake off the feeling that it was calling out to him.
"Go ahead. Take it," the woman gestured, telling Gabriel to take the small gem that appeared to be a piece of something much bigger.
Even though it appeared precious, the woman didn't seem to care about it.
Gabriel glanced at the woman, before glancing at the small gem.
He couldn't help but wonder if it was a trap. However, did she really need a trap to hurt him in this place? There were many thoughts in his head, but he had a feeling that if he didn't take this gem, he was going to miss something really important.
So, slowly and carefully, he reached out and grabbed the gem. However, as soon as his fingers touched the gem, he felt an electric current coursing through his body.
A voice appeared in his head, as if trying to take over his body. Karyk also felt the same sensation, as if he was going crazy.
Fortunately, both of them had seen the life of thousands of years. Their minds were much stronger than ordinary people, and even the woman knew that.
While Gabriel was resisting the strange voices in his head, the blue haired woman stepped closer to him, placing her hand over the young man's head.
A serene and comfortable aura shrouded Gabriel.
The voices in his head gradually disappeared, and Gabriel regained control of his body. He looked up at the woman, who seemed to exude an otherworldly charm.
For a moment, he forgot where he was and what they were doing. But then he remembered the urgent matter at hand and stood up.
He looked at the beautiful gem in his hand which was still radiating the same aura.
"What is this?!" he asked the woman. "Why do you want me to have it?!"
"Because this will help you," the woman calmly answered. "Think of it as me paying back his inheritor."
