Azekiel took another step closer to her center of the formation. He placed the key that he had in the center of the room, making it face the north. Even then, nothing happened. However, Azekiel wasn't done yet.
He brought his thumb closer to his mouth and bit his thumb with his sharp teeth, making his thumb bleed.
With a bleeding thumb, he made a circle around the key before standing up again.
Seeing the strange actions of Azekiel, Raphael was quite curious to see just what was going to happen. Just what treasure was going to appear? Just what were they after?
He had a feeling that it was a treasure, but what kind of treasure? And how was Azekiel's blood going to bring out the treasure?
The blood didn't bring out the treasure, but it did start shining at the same time as the massive formation started shining.
The blood that was shining started moving closer to the beautiful key, slowly surrounding it. The blood still didn't stop, and climbed on the key.
Azekiel's blood surrounded the key from all sides as if giving it a new paint. The key was blood red now.
Azekiel picked up the blood-red key and kept it in his inventory. "We are done."
"That's it? That was all we were here for?" Raphael asked. He was expecting the appearance of some treasure, but nothing as such was happening.
"What is the key?" he asked Azekiel. If they came all the way here, passing through all these traps to change the key, then the treasure could only be the key. But what kind of treasure?
"The key is a key," Azekiel answered. "What else can it be?"
"That's not what I was asking. I asked what was so special about the key. How did your blood link with the key? And what benefits does it have?"
"Nothing much. It just links me to the other such Castles. Now the key is the universal key to all the castles, including the main castle. It's not like the key will help us massively, but it's just a precaution of sorts."
Azekiel gave a brief explanation to Raphael. The explanation was something that Raphael found very underwhelming. They came all this way, just for a precaution? And here he was thinking that they were going to get some incredible treasure which was going to give them a massive advantage in the coming battles.
Azekiel left the hall. Raphael and Lia had no choice but to follow him as well. The journey back was much safer than the trip coming here.
No traps were activated this time, allowing them to leave easily. Before long, Azekiel reached the hall with all the paintings, including the painting with the blood sea. He once again took a glance at the painting but not for long.
This time, he didn't let his memories overwhelm him. Only after a brief glance he stopped looking at the Painting and left.
Azekiel stepped out of the Castle of Infinity.
Even though his journey was Swift and the safest, he still wasn't the first person to step out. Before him, the others who had entered were also out. At least most of them.
Seeing Azekiel come out, looking completely unharmed, they were slightly surprised.
All of them looked like they were in a bad condition, thanks to all the traps they went through, but Azekiel... He was perfectly fine. Initially, they would've thought that he didn't even go deep into the castle for him to be completely unharmed, but that assumption went out the door since he had spent so much time inside the castle.
There was no way that someone who was inside for that long wasn't going to explore. Azekiel being safe despite all that could only mean that he chose all the right paths thanks to his great luck. That also made the others feel that Azekiel probably had the best haul out of them all.
Moreover, he wasn't looking disappointed, unlike the rest, which made them feel even more assured.
One of the Kings took the lead and stepped forward, trying to get some advantage before others.
"You! Little man! It seems you had a great time inside the castle, didn't you?"
"Yeah, it was fun," Azekiel answered. "How about you?"
"You must've received great treasures as well then?" The man asked.
"I'm not disappointed with what I got," Azekiel replied. "Do you want it too?'
The man licked his lips as soon as he saw Azekiel offer him the treasures.
'Heh, as expected, this man is a coward and an idiot. He is willing to give me his treasures! That's incredible. In any case, even if he hadn't given me, I would've taken his treasures by force. He definitely got the best treasures out of all."
"That's right! Give me all your treasures! I'll keep them safe for you. The world is really bad. Someone might attack you for those treasures and take them. I'll protect you from all that. Give me all the treasures that you received inside the Castle!"
Grinning, the man reached out his hand. His greed was clearly visible on his face.
Azekiel watched the face of the man. He could at least make it a little less obvious that he was greedy. Azekiel found it quite funny.
"Is that so? You're right. The world is really bad. It's filled with bad people. You seem like someone trustworthy. I'll give you all the treasures I received inside the castle."
As Azekiel spoke, he kept his voice loud enough for everyone else to hear as well. He wanted to see how fun it could get.
"Wait, young man! All your treasures will be safer with me! Instead of giving him, give me your treasures! I'll protect them way better. I'm also the strongest here?"
"No, not to them! Give all your treasures to me! They are both the bad guys. They just want your treasures, but I'm different! I'm truly genuine. Give me your Treasures!'
One after another, more and more people kept coming forward.
