"I understand what you want, but do you understand what I said? I told you I couldn't go back in time. I don't know how to, even if it's possible. There's no way I can help you with that. Do you have any other demands?"
While the other Kings cleared this floor with much ease, it was also because they hadn't received a demand as absurd as this.
Moreover, even if he could go back in time to fulfill this demand, it was going to take much longer than a couple of days which was the current record. There was no way he could receive the title of this floor with this.
"I have no other demand." The Spirit stated. "If you want to get the blessing and clear this floor, then you must do this."
"There are more spirits here. Your demand is literally impossible. If I could even go back in time, don't you think I would save my mother by going back to the time before the apocalypse? Won't I warn the world of what was coming? Won't I go back to the time of Raphael to make sure he won't take that apple, so he wasn't cursed? Won't I go back to Lia to protect her family before it is killed?"
"If I could control time, there are thousands of things I would've done. You say you saw my memories. Did you see me doing anything even remotely close to that? I can't control time, and I can't go back in time."
The Spirit remained silent, hearing the discontent words of Azekiel.
"If you don't have any other demand, then I honestly can't help you. I'll try my luck with other Spirits."
He turned his back on the Spirit and started walking away from the cold and in the direction he came from.
"No one will help you." A cold voice came from the back.
Azekiel stopped in his tracks. "What do you mean?"
"If you don't help me, you won't be able to help any other Spirits. No Spirit will even get close to you. I've claimed you. I'm the oldest Spirit here. No one will go against me. If you don't help me, no one will help you either. I saw your memories and know that you want to go to the next floor. The only path is through me. Help me, and you'll get access. Don't help me, and you'll forever be stuck here, just like I am."
"Are you threatening me?" Azekiel grimly asked. "If you saw my memories, you should know that I don't take kindly to threats."
"I'm just telling you the truth," the Spirit stated. "This isn't a threat. You can try."
"You know what else I can try?" Azekiel smirked in frustration. "You've seen my memories. You know I can absorb the Spirit Energy, don't you?"
Since the Spirit was trying to threaten him, he also did the same.
"It only works on people who haven't been dead for longer than a day. You can't absorb me. I've been dead for thousands of years." The Spirit wasn't phased by the threat.
Azekiel frowned. This guy really knew everything. He even knew system notifications somehow. Initially, Azekiel assumed that he only saw the memories, excluding things related to the system, but that wasn't the case.
If he were to believe the Spirit, there was only one way to clear this floor, and it was by helping this guy since no other Spirit was going to even listen to him now. But that was also an impossible task from what it seemed.
"Fine. If you know everything, tell me how I can help? How can I go back in time by a thousand years! How can I do things you want me to do?! Don't claim I need to figure it out myself! That's just absurd!"
"Time Stone." The Spirit moved closer to Azekiel, bringing even more cold to him.
"Time Stone? What is that?"
"It is something which can help you go back in time. I saw you already know about the Temple on this Floor and the books. You'll find the Time Stone inside that temple. Get inside the Temple and reach the Time Stone. Then you can go back and help me," the Spirit explained. "If you promise to do it, I'll make you clear this floor this instant."
"Hmm?"
'Was that all? This Spirit only needed a promise? Still, how can he be so sure that I'll fulfill the promise after getting to the stone if he's making me clear the floor this instant?'
Azekiel was slightly surprised at the stupidity of the young spirit. If he were in its place, he would've made sure that his desires were fulfilled first if he was at an advantage in a negotiation.
'I guess he's really a kid after all. Then again, this information is really interesting. A time stone that gives me control over time? If I can really get to it, that would be incredible.'
"Fine. I promise I will help you." Without taking too much time to think, Azekiel agreed since it was just a promise which could be broken if he needed.
However, it seemed he had underestimated the Spirit. A single promise wasn't enough to finish the deal.
"Bite a finger of yours and let a blood droplet fall on the ground." The Spirit's grim voice filled the surrounding, coming from every direction.
"Why?"
"That's the way we promise. It won't be an ordinary promise that can be broken. It'll be a Blood and Soul Pact. If you break the promise after making it, your soul will be shattered, and all your blood will burn."
"Since I will disappear after you fulfill my desires, but through your memories, I know you're in a race against time. That's why I am not waiting till you finish my desire to help you clear this floor. Since you're willing to help me, I'm also willing to help you get the title of this floor before you even begin, but I need a Blood and Soul Pact to trust your promise."
The Spirit, which appeared to be very naive until now, turned out to be pretty clever. It didn't trust Azekiel as easily as he had assumed.
Making a Blood Pact sounded scary since that meant he was going to die if he broke the promise. However, if he didn't keep the promise, he couldn't ever clear this floor. He was going to be here his entire life.
