834 The Second Realm II
Watching the dark aura retreat back to where it came from, Regius turned to Alec.
"Bro, let's get out of here. I can't handle this dark aura anymore. I even learned to wield the law of darkness alongside you just so we could dispel it, but I think our knowledge is still not sufficient to confront it yet. Let's come back another time to break the seal."
Alec shook his head, his gaze serious. He had come here for one purpose and would not leave until it was accomplished.
He hadn't expected to find Regius in this dark, gloomy place that even the universe had forgotten about, but the elf's presence had been a great help to him.
"No, let's try one more time. We are very close to breaking the seal, and just now I sensed someone interfering with the aura following us. That presence felt familiar; I think it's someone we know."
His eyes widened, and he shouted.
"Kyle? Was it you? Answer!"
Regius blinked at his words and looked around for the familiar Celestial. If Kyle, the strongest among them, was here, then they could easily break the seal! However, even as he expanded his senses to feel every corner of Avalon, he sensed no presence.
The land they both stood on had just one thing—faint traces of ancient natural laws forgotten by time—and nothing more.
There wasn't even a single living insect or any type of monster in this dark place!
"Are you sure you sensed him? I can not sense anything, let alone Kyle's presence."
Alec frowned. Did he make a mistake? No, he was sure he hadn't. He was in the middle of the supreme rank, but his senses were at the peak of that rank. Moreover, Kyle didn't hide his presence. So, how could he make a mistake? Still, he spoke with the system.
'Soul, did you sense Kyle?'
The system was silent for a moment, likely to ensure accuracy before responding.
'Yes, I did. He didn't conceal his presence when he stopped the dark aura. It was him; there is no other Celestial who would assist you two in this universe.'
It wanted to mention Azazeal, who was also a Celestial. However, if it was Azazeal, why would he help them? Instead, he would likely kill its host and Regius with a flick of his finger for attempting to break the seal.
Alec chuckled and looked around.
"I know it's you. No need to hide. Now that you're here, help us a bit if you're free."
Kyle watched him silently. He could reach the two in an instant, but his gaze shifted to Bia and Jian. They were close to grasping a natural law; that's why they had completely fallen into a deep state of trance.
He had felt Ceano's presence nearby, so it wasn't wise to leave their side. Even though the man was quite far away, anything could happen in his absence.
With a resigned sigh, he communicated directly in Alec and Regius's minds.
'I am very far away, so I can't come. I will dispel the dark aura, and it won't harm you two. So, do what you are there for.'
Hearing the voice, Regius and Alec exchanged wry smiles. So, now Kyle can manipulate things and communicate with them even from a distance?
Alec shook his head. It seemed he should accept reality and stop competing with Kyle in terms of strength. But he didn't want to. He would strive to surpass him until the end. That was his current motivation.
He chuckled softly and made an okay sign toward the dark sky. If Kyle could dispel the malevolent aura, that would suffice. He and Regius could manage the rest, as they were already very close to breaking the seal.
Kyle observed them as they made their way back to the place from which they had fled.
In no time at all, they stood before a huge round gate, resembling a portal yet solid in form, enveloped in a swirling mass of dark energy. The ominous aura radiating from it sent shivers down their spines.
But its surface was marred with countless cracks, proof of just how many times they and many others had tried to break it.
'Is this the second realm?'
Kyle asked Alec. He had information about this place, but it was limited, so he wanted to gather more details.
Alec nodded.
"Yes, this is the place where multiple supreme ranks were trapped—the people who fought Azazeal first to protect the universe. The ancient heroes!"
His eyes reflected respect as he shouted, and Kyle was left speechless. He watched as Alec and Regius drew their weapons to save the ancestors who had been trapped for thousands of years.
Kyle expertly manipulated the darkness surrounding the realm gate, causing it to tremble violently. Under his control, the energy began to withdraw from the gate, providing Alec and Regius the space they needed to examine the gate clearly.
Alec channeled his spiritual energy into his sword and cast a glance at Regius.
"Ready! We will strike together!"
Regius nodded, and as they unleashed all their power, the very space surrounding them began to crumble.
Kyle watched intently as they assaulted the sealed gate. It trembled but did not shatter. They struck again, and with each blow, the cracks in the gate deepened. Yet, even then, it remained steadfast and did not break.
He narrowed his eyes as he realized something he had previously overlooked. Symbols. Numerous powerful symbols were intricately engraved along the edges of the gate. These symbols were siphoning energy directly from the surrounding land, consuming all life forms in the process.
Without alerting Alec and Regius, he began to decipher the symbols, and when he was finished, he tore through the fabric of space and arrived behind the two who were trying to destroy the gate.
A few invisible, powerful symbols illuminated around him, and without any sound or movement, they obliterated those engraved on the gate before vanishing.
The moment he completed his task, he departed as if he had never been there. It was then that Alec and Regius lunged at the gate again with a deafening roar. This time, they were violently hurled backward as the very heart of the sealed gate erupted into a dazzling explosion of fragments. The dark energy in the vicinity writhed and surged, causing the ground beneath the gate to splinter and crack like fragile glass.
Alec steadied himself in mid-air, a triumphant laugh escaping his lips as he raised his hand.
"We did it! Finally!"
Regius groaned, lacking the same enthusiasm. He glanced at his injuries and sighed. Why had he agreed to take part in this mess? At first, he just wanted to make sure Alec didn't get swallowed by the dark aura, but then he ended up helping him.
He followed behind Alec as the man disappeared toward the gate.
They watched as the center of the gate transformed into a swirling, calm vortex, a two-way pathway connecting the Second Realm to the outside world. Now the once-trapped just needed to emerge.
Alec smiled, breathing nervously as he waited for the ancestors to come out.
Regius floated beside him. It was as if Alec's nervousness was contagious; he too became uneasy and whispered.
"The ancestors... What kind of people would they be? Good or bad?"
Alec rubbed his hands together.
"Definitely good! They protected this universe with their lives! They fought until the very end and even ended up trapped! I want to meet that sword master who is the owner of the gray sword, which is engraved on the clothing of so many warriors. Even James respected the wielder of that sword. It was the symbol of our initial forces that stood against Azazeal."
Regius glanced at him and rolled his eyes. So, that was why Alec was so excited? He wanted to meet an old sword master. But wasn't that sword said to be lost?
"Well... If the ancestors are too old, you know we can ask to borrow their weapons. Haha, maybe you can wield that powerful sword. We freed them; they can at least allow us to borrow their weapons."
He said it in a joking manner, but Alec seriously contemplated his words.
"You are right... If the ancestors have their powerful old weapons with them, we could definitely ask to borrow them."
Just like the two, Kyle also watched the open gate of the Second Realm, sitting behind Bia and Jian. The trio waited and waited and waited. But unfortunately, no one came out of the gate.
Regius frowned and moved closer. He hesitantly reached his hand into the vertex, and it easily passed through.
He withdrew his hand.
"It's open, and the entrance is functioning properly. So why isn't anyone coming out?"
Alec was just as confused.
"Did the people trapped inside not sense that the gate of the realm is open? Should we go in and check?"
The duo glanced at each other before looking back up at the sky. Alec shouted.
"Kyle, we are going in! We will be back in a day. Could you please keep an eye on the realm gate so it doesn't close?"
Kyle had no problem with that. However, did they really need to go in?
With the gate open, couldn't those trapped find their way out on their own?
'Okay. Go.'
Thank you for the GT! (≧▽≦)