The events that ensued after Corey exposed the fact that he had an Ascension stone with him were just as Corey expected.
Ryan asked him how he got an Ascension stone, an object he had been trying to get from the very moment he appeared in the Shattered Dimension.
Obviously, Corey did not answer. Instead, he got right down to business and told him what he wanted.
In exchange for the Ascendant stone, he wanted Ryan to help him reach the top of the waterfall.
Ryan was to assist him in battling the abominations of the Water of Calamity as he tried to reach the top of the waterfall. If there was an abomination or a danger that was beyond Ryan's capabilities, Ryan could escape, but in no way should Ryan betray him or willingly cause him harm.
When Corey proposed this to Ryan, Ryan had a strange look because if he agreed, there was nothing that stopped him from turning back on the agreement.
