Snap—!

The second pitch-black chain detached with a crisp sound, crashing heavily onto the skeletal ground below.

Thor's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

The moment the chain detached, he clearly felt that a strand of pure Origin power within his body had been ruthlessly extracted by the key.

Although it wasn't much, the feeling of being forcibly deprived made him very uncomfortable.

Without hesitation, he picked up the third key and unlocked the third chain.

Snap—!

This time, the expression on his face finally changed.

A suction force several times stronger than before washed over him, and the Origin power within his body was plundered once again!

This loss had already made him feel a trace of obvious weakness.

Thor immediately stopped what he was doing.

He was no fool.

This was definitely an incremental process.

Every time a chain was unlocked, the Origin power required to pay the price would grow exponentially.

If he alone unlocked all the remaining three Seals, the Origin power left inside his body would likely be minimal!

By then, he would fall into an unprecedented period of weakness.

This kind of Origin power loss could not be quickly recovered simply by drinking a few potions.

It would require a long period of recuperation to return to the Peak.

He certainly didn't want to become a soft persimmon that anyone could pinch after obtaining the Divine Artifact.

Thinking of this, a trace of imperceptible cold light flashed in Thor's eyes.

He slowly turned around, casting his oppressive gaze at Park In-maeng not far away.

With a casual toss, he threw the remaining three bronze keys in his hand right over.

"Next, you will unlock the remaining chains."

Park In-maeng subconsciously caught the keys, pointed at his own nose, and looked bewildered.

"Ah? Me?"

He didn't understand why Thor, having already unlocked three chains, suddenly wanted to change people halfway through.

However, Thor clearly had no intention of explaining it to him.

Those azure eyes were filled with unquestionable majesty.

"If I tell you to go, you go."

"Stop dawdling."

Park In-maeng's cheek muscles twitched slightly.

Not daring to disobey Thor's orders, he could only brace himself and step forward.

"Yes, Mr. Thor."

Behind him, deep blue flames surged forth, condensing into a pair of huge wings.

With a gentle flap of the wings, his body slowly rose into the air, coming before the huge Pendulum of Life.

He picked up one of the keys, took a deep breath, and carefully inserted it into the keyhole of the fourth chain.

With a gentle twist.

Snap—!

The fourth chain detached in response!

However, the moment the chain detached—

A terrifying suction force, several times larger than the one Thor had endured, suddenly erupted from the key!

"Ah—!"

Park In-maeng's face turned instantly pale!

He only felt that the Origin power within his body was like a breached floodgate, being frantically devoured by the key!

He wanted to break free, only to find that his palm was as if welded onto it, unable to move even a fraction!

This process lasted for a full dozen seconds.

When that terrifying suction finally disappeared—

Park In-maeng's aura had withered by more than half.

With a pale face and softened body, he almost tumbled straight down from mid-air.

Seeing this scene—

Except for Thor, who had anticipated it long ago—

Polina and Takatsukasa Arashi's expressions changed simultaneously.

Polina's pair of azure-blue beautiful eyes looked at Thor at the very first moment.

"What is going on?"

Thor didn't hide it either, his tone indifferent.

"Every time a sealing chain is unlocked, our Origin power will be extracted once."

"And more than the last time."

"This should be the price that needs to be paid to unlock the Seal."

He paused, casting his icy gaze toward Takatsukasa Arashi.

"Therefore, each of you must step up for the next two chains."

He extended his finger, pointing at Takatsukasa Arashi, and commanded in an unquestionable tone.

"Next, it is your turn."

Takatsukasa Arashi's hand holding 'kotetsu' tightened abruptly.

He raised his head, his sharp eyes staring fixedly at Thor without saying a word.

Everyone knew that the price to be paid next would only get higher and higher.

Park In-maeng had already become half-dead like this, and he himself would only be even more miserable.

Thor's eyes narrowed slightly, and electric snakes began to leap around his body.

"Takatsukasa Arashi, do you want to disobey my orders?"

Takatsukasa Arashi remained silent, only turning his head aside.

Seeing this, the anger on Thor's face slowly subsided.

Replaced by a meaningful smile.

He used a calm tone, guiding step-by-step.

"Takatsukasa Arashi, didn't your Lord Wada tell you?"

"Once entering the ruins, all of you must obey my command."

"Besides, I only need you to endure the absorption power of the fifth chain."

"The last one will be jointly borne by Polina and me."

"This is fair to you."

"After all, there is no free lunch in this world."

Hearing this, Takatsukasa Arashi's expression finally looked a lot better.

He pondered for a brief moment, as if weighing the pros and cons.

In the end, as if having made up his mind, he slowly raised his head.

"I hope Your Excellency Thor will keep your word."

Having said that—

He took the remaining two keys from Park In-maeng's hand.

Park In-maeng looked at him, his lips moving as he lowered his voice to give a warning.

"Be careful."

Takatsukasa Arashi nodded, took a deep breath, and leaped forward!

He couldn't fly.

His nimble figure traced a graceful arc in mid-air, landing on the huge Pendulum of Life.

He reached out and tightly grasped the edge of the pendulum, barely stabilizing his figure.

Picking up one of the keys, he carefully inserted it into the fifth keyhole.

With a gentle twist.

Snap—!

The fifth chain immediately detached.

The next second—

"Ahhhhh—!"

An even more terrifying suction force suddenly erupted!

From Takatsukasa Arashi's mouth came a burst of heart-rending screams!

His whole body began to tremble.

As if undergoing some kind of torture.

In just a brief moment.

His already somewhat messy short black hair rapidly turned gray at a speed visible to the naked eye!

When that terrifying suction finally disappeared—

Takatsukasa Arashi could no longer support himself; his body softened, and like a kite with a broken string, he fell heavily down from the huge Pendulum of Life.

Seeing this, Park In-maeng hurried forward and caught him.

At this moment, Takatsukasa Arashi was incomparably weak.

Covered in cold sweat, as if he had just been fished out of the water.

That already fair face now lacked even a shred of color, looking as if he had aged a dozen years in an instant.

He struggled to stand up, his legs shaking violently and uncontrollably.

He could only use 'kotetsu' in his hand to barely support his body.

Takatsukasa Arashi raised his head to look at Thor, his voice hoarse.

"Your Excellency Thor, my mission has been completed."

"Next, I leave it to you."

However, Thor slowly shook his head, a cruel and sarcastic smile appearing on his face.

"I'm sorry, you two."

"What I said just now... I might have to break my promise."