System's POV - Chapter 1446: There’s Nothing You Can Do But Wait
Chapter 1446: There’s Nothing You Can Do But Wait
Zaphiel looked at the five keys in his hand. The keys of Envy, Lust, Wrath, Gluttony, and Sloth were now in his hands, leaving only two more to collect.
But for some reason, he couldn’t locate the Key of Pride and Greed. Even after using over a dozen Beast Cores to recharge his artifact, the results remained blank.
The Key of Pride and Greed were nowhere to be found.
“Just what is going on?” Zaphiel muttered. “Is this thing broken?”
The moment the thought crossed his mind, he immediately tossed it aside. Before he went to the Fractured Heaven, the artifact was already unable to find the location of the last two keys.
Because of this, he came to a conclusion.
The two keys were not in Solterra.
He didn’t know why he thought this way. But after going to the Temple of Courage, he understood that even if the key was in another dimension or an enclosed domain, his artifact should still be able to detect them.
Left with no choice, Zaphiel headed to his room.
He pulled the torch that was at the corner of his room, which activated the mechanism for a hidden door.
A stair that led underground opened up to him. Zaphiel took a deep breath before taking his first steps into the darkness.
There was nothing to be seen underground, except for one thing.
A large round mirror that was three meters tall and three meters wide.
He sighed internally before tapping the surface of the mirror with his hand. This act created ripples on the surface of the mirror, similar to ones that could be seen on a water’s surface.
A moment later, a being with two horns appeared in front of Zaphiel.
“You called?” the creature smirked. “It’s been a while, Zaphiel. How have you been? Did you already collect the seven keys that you are looking for?”
“I’m reaching out to you because I can’t find the last two keys that I need,” Zaphiel replied. “As much as I don’t want to believe it, these two keys might no longer be in Solterra. Of course, I can’t rule out that they might just be in some hidden dimension that the artifact you gave me couldn’t reach.”
“Hmm…” The creature rubbed his chin, looking like he was in deep thought. This continued for a few minutes before he came to a conclusion.
“I think that the keys are still in Solterra,” the creature stated. “But just as you said, they’re in a dimension the artifact you possess couldn’t reach.”
“What should I do?” Zaphiel asked.
“There’s nothing you can do but wait,” the creature replied.
“Excuse me?”
“Are you deaf?”
Zaphiel glared at the horned creature, making the latter chuckle. But since they were collaborating with each other, some kind of compromise must be made.
“I think you’re facing someone very smart,” the creature said. “When I gave you the artifact, did it show the location of the seven keys before you started to actively collect them?”
“It did,” Zaphiel answered. “When I first used it, all seven keys could be seen in the artifact.”
“Then the answer is clear. Someone else beat you to the two remaining keys,” the creature explained. “They knew you were collecting them. So maybe they thought that if they got one of the keys, they would be able to disrupt your plans.
“After all, you would need all seven keys to open the treasury you are looking for. But do not feel down. I believe those keys will appear sooner or later.”
“What do you mean?” Zaphiel asked. “Will they really appear sooner or later?”
“Look, now that the keys are already taken from their original locations, it just means one thing,” the creature smirked. “It means that all seven are bound to gather together whether you like it or not. I think those who have the keys are only waiting until you gather them all.
“Once all the keys are in one place, all they need to do is swoop in and steal them from you. Simply put, they wanted you to work hard to gather the remaining keys for them. Whoever came up with that plan is a very daring individual.”
The Celestial subconsciously clenched his fists, finding his collaborator’s words logical.
“They dare to do this to me?!” Zaphiel growled. “They are courting death!”
The horned creature chuckled, finding Zaphiel’s reaction quite amusing.
“Just wait for a few days. I’m sure the keys you’re looking for will appear.”
“Very well. But are you sure about that?”
The horned creature nodded. “If I were them, I would do the same. But do be careful, Zaphiel. If the keys do appear, it means they’re ready to face you and your army. Make sure to bring all of your allies when you go. Last but not the least, don’t underestimate them.”
Zaphiel’s expression remained dark even after the horned creature finished speaking.
“Don’t underestimate them?” he repeated coldly. “You think I would?”
The creature only shrugged. “Arrogance is the root of Pride. And you are searching for its key. Perhaps it is more fitting than you realize.”
The temperature in the underground chamber dropped.
What he hated the most was being underestimated and toyed with.
“Thanks for the advice,” Zaphiel said after he regained his composure. “I’ll be back once I have the keys.”
“Don’t sweat it,” the horned creature replied. “Be careful, alright?”
Ripples once again formed on the surface of the mirror until the horned creature disappeared from its surface.
It returned to being an ordinary mirror, showing the Celestial’s own twisted reflection.
“I don’t know who you are or where you are right now,” Zaphiel said softly. “But I will find you and make you experience a very long, painful death.”
He glanced at the mirror one last time before leaving the secret underground chamber.
Zaphiel didn’t know if it was just his imagination or not, but he thought he heard a chuckle coming from the mirror while he was climbing the stairs.
In the end, he decided that he might just be imagining things, so he focused his attention on preparing his forces for the inevitable showdown that would soon be waged somewhere in Solterra.
