Like many other locations, the gray square was one of the places with a key. It also had no level restrictions.
Thus, around twenty princes and princesses reached the location.
Some of them also had 'protectors' who were level 8 and even level 9.
But usually, unless it's life-threatening or extremely important, these protectors wouldn't intervene in a fight between level 7s.
It wasn't just shameful, but it was also frowned upon.
But this was related to the key! It was too important!
So, they all decided to let only the level 7s fight. If level 8 princes came, they'd have to face their protectors.
The battle began quickly.
The twenty princes and princesses gave it their all and fought hard.
After ten minutes, only five remained and they were all peak level 7s.
Then he appeared.
His footsteps were slow and dull like he was uninterested in even visiting this place.
The princes listened to the footsteps and deduced that it was a young man, but—
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The footsteps turned heavy and quick. With each step, the ground shook and shockwaves hit them.
It was then that the princes realized it wasn't a man anymore.
It was a beast.
When the huge white wolf stormed in, their hearts dropped.
Standing in front of them was the creature hailed as the god of wolves in ancient earth's mythology.
Lykos.
**** **** ***
Charles spun the key in his hand with an indifferent expression.
He was sitting on a huge gray platform. Below the platform were twenty princes and princesses.
Their bodies were twisted in weird angles and puddles of blood under them covered the entire floor.
"Argh!"
"Greh!"
"F-Fuck!"
They groaned and writhed in pain while glaring at the man on the platform.
Several old men and women were feeding them potions and checking upon their injuries.
They exuded a heavy aura reaching level 8 and level 9.
As if to display their rage, their aura covered the platform and pressured Charles.
Charles was unpetrubed.
"Charles Xander, they're your peers. You shouldn't be too severe." An old man looked at him with a twisted face.
Charles looked at the old man and turned back to twirling the key.
"You!" The old man was one of the few level 9 protectors. He had his own pride.
So, when a level 7 junior ignored him, he felt like he was slapped.
The old man rose to his feet and pointed a finger toward Charles Xander.
The surrounding temperature dropped and a blue light gathered on the old man's fingertip.
The blue light expanded and lit up the entire valley they were in.
Then.
Ssz!
Like a candle blown off, it disappeared.
"Wha—"
The old man saw a pair of eyes glancing at him from the distance.
He turned his gaze to meet those eyes and froze.
Cold sweat started to pour down his forehead and he immediately backed off, not even caring about the prince he was supposed to be 'protecting'.
"…"
"…"
Everyone fell silent.
Even the injured princes didn't dare to groan.
One by one, the protectors picked up their princes and princesses and left.
Charles slowly stood up and clenched the key in his hand.
His gaze turned to one particular direction and his eyes narrowed.
"Did they start their search?"
"Yes."
Charles referred to his 'team'. Unlike before, now, he had only one person with him. The rest went to catch her.
"Did they find her?"
"…They found her traces." The voice answered and fell silent.
"…Y-Young Master." The voice hesitated.
"What?" Charles raised a brow.
"It isn't your style to attack injured opponents. Why did you…" The voice trailed off.
Charles' lips curled into a mocking smile. "Even with that treasure, I am only a high-level 7."
"…." The voice fell silent.
Taking a deep breath, Charles continued. "I couldn't win this battle if they weren't injured. Take me to places with some treasures. I need to consolidate my level. My progress was too quick."
"I—" The voice couldn't even speak.
What should he say?
Charles went from peak level 6 to high level 7 thanks to a treasure that their team shed their blood and sweat for.
He still couldn't understand how Charles digested the treasure so quickly. It was supposed to take three months and even then, 90% of the medicine would be wasted.
"That place…will have restrictions on level. While you all will be able to help, I think I am my biggest help." Charles said openly.
"…Yes."
"Let's go. Show me a place I can meditate for a long time. My prana is on the verge of losing control." Charles said with a calm expression.
"Yes!"
*** *** ****
In a place far away from both Varian and Charles.
Enigma calmly entered a tall tower.
There were people who came to find her earlier. With a few tricks, she threw them off.
Now, she could finally fill the last piece of the 'puzzle'.
It was a tower made of a bluish-gold metal. Right after entering it, there was a huge spiral stairway.
Enigma looked up and like every other time, she realized she couldn't see the end of the staircase.
"Here we go again!" With a deep sigh, she started climbing the stairs.
Inside the tower, teleportation, flying, and superspeed were all canceled.
Like a normal person, she had to climb the stairs.
"Heaven Forbid…" Enigma muttered as sweat rolled down her cheeks.
She looked down and realized she was nearly two miles up!
But when she looked up, she still couldn't find the end.
"Devas…they are really sadists." She gritted her teeth and kept walking.
This tower was one of the explored ones.
It was simply called 'The Cloud Tower' since its peak seemed to rest in the clouds.
But unlike other explored areas, it received no visitors.
None.
"Ha! Ha!" Enigma panted as she clutched her waist. Her clothes were soaking wet.
When she looked up again, she saw the end. It was very far, but she could finally see it.
"Come on!"
With a tenacity rivaling Varian, she climbed the tower. By the time she reached the door at the top, she looked like she was drenched in rain.
"Finally…." Enigma closed her eyes and felt like reached heaven.
Creak!
The door slowly opened and a rather plain blue walled room filled with ancient carvings appeared.
They depicted the legends, recordings, and myths of the devas.
That was it.
No rewards. No benefits. Naturally, no visitors.
'It's good for me anyway.'
Enigma closed her eyes.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A special wave of aura rippled from her.
When Enigma opened her eyes, her entire view changed.
She saw a pair of floating characters in the air.
These characters were made out of aura!
Enigma quickly copied those words onto a copper plate and stopped the vision.
The world turned back to normal and Enigma felt fatigue wash over her.
The physical exertion from climbing the stairs and the mental exertion of this vision both caught up to her.
Enigma collapsed onto the floor and let out a deep breath.
'I want to rest. I am too tired.' She thought.
But her body didn't listen. It tried to get up.
'I got the eight and last piece of the message. I will know what it means sooner or later. I should rest.' She said, but her hands pushed the floor.
"Argh!"
Enigma stood up with a painful groan and walked out of the door.
The hellish stairs extended all the way down and promised her hell.
Enigma was tempted to go back and rest. But she held herself firmly.
'I still need to get the key. They will finally meet.'