"Ahhhh!" Uter shouted out in pain, this being the first time he had been hurt ever since he had broken through to the Inner Heaven Realm.
Unfortunately for him, his pain was far from over, and exploiting his shocked state, Potin attacked his other arm, severing it just the same.
Just like that, Uter had been reduced to a stick-like figure, his arms limp on the ground as he stood in abject terror, failing to come to terms with his reality.
Potin clearly wasn't in the mood to play with him, and using the large gaping wounds where his arms used to be, he stabbed his sword in sideways, cutting directly into Uter's heart.
With his heart severely wounded, Uter's life was already over, and after giving the crowd a deep glance, as if to find the voice that had indirectly killed him, he let out a cough of blood before collapsing.
With his death, his flesh also returned back to its normal shade, his Aptus having been 'killed' along with him.
Potin looked at the corpse for a moment before deactivating his Aptus, the flickers on his flesh dissipating as he took in deep breaths, exhausted from such heavy usage of his ability.
There were a few figures in the crowd that seemed to be weighing whether they should attack or not, but given Potin's Aptus and the tremendous speed that came with it, they decided against it.
Even if he didn't have the strength to fight, he could at least escape, and no one wanted to be an enemy with someone as talented and strong as Potin.
Seeing that no one was willing to attack him, Potin couldn't help but feel slightly relieved, but he didn't plan to stay behind and wait for someone to build the confidence.
Taking the lead, he made his way down the dark staircase, disappearing beyond the steps in front of the crowd's eyes.
Some couldn't help but wonder why Potin didn't seem worried about any potential traps, but they didn't care, instead just happy that someone had come forth to clear the way.
It seemed everyone was waiting for Potin to create some distance before also heading in, but Minos thought differently.
Instead, the moment Potin entered, he bolted in after him, a pair of eyes focusing on him until he vanished.
"We should go in as well." Lilia said, about to take the lead.
But before she could get far, the old man's iron-like grip stopped her, his head slightly shaking before he spoke.
"There's no point going now, instead let's wait for those two to clear the way a little bit, make the road safer." The old man said, though clearly on some level, he simply wanted to keep Lilia from Minos.
Lilia knew that once the old man made up his mind, it was pointless to try and argue with him, so with a sigh, she stopped
Eventually Minos would have to leave the temple, and by then, her blood mark would reactivate, and his capture would be guaranteed, so she just had to be patient…
…
Back on the staircase, Minos quickly made his way deep inside, soon enough arriving a short distance from Potin.
"Stop right there! Who are you?" Potin shouted, his guard raised.
"Relax, I'm a friend." Minos replied, but he also stopped, not trying to give Potin the wrong idea.
"A friend? And why should I believe that?" Potin responded, his sword raised towards Minos.
"Because I helped you." Minos said, changing his voice to the same one he had used earlier.
"It's you? Thank you for the tip." Potin spoke gratefully, resheathing his sword.
"No problem, after all, Uter is an enemy to all of us." Minos responded.
"As grateful as I am for your help earlier, you should understand that I would still prefer it if you kept some distance." Potin said.
"Naturally."
Nodding his head, Potin continued deeper down the staircase, each step slow and careful, trying to avoid triggering anything.
"Given your strength, why not just force someone to clear the way for you?" Minos couldn't help but ask.
"It's against my Path." Potin responded succinctly.
"Path?" Minos asked, never having heard such a thing before.
"It seems you're a casual cultivator, huh? Well given how close you are to breaking through to the Inner Heaven Realm, this is something you should learn."
"A Path, for a lack of a better word, is a belief. It is the values in which you live your life, the morals you stand for, and most importantly, the things you believe in. My Path is one of strength and courage." Potin explained.
"But what is the purpose of having a 'Path?'" Minos couldn't help but keep asking.
"Those are things too far from both you and me, but I would recommend you pursue your own Path once you reach the Inner Heaven Realm, it will help you tremendously in the future." Potin said, before going silent again.
"Path, huh…" Minos whispered, taking Potin's advice very seriously.
He couldn't help but begin to think about what his 'Path' would be. Was it one of strength, and kindness, or of slaughter and apathy?
Thinking back on it, Minos realized he was used to being everything, he could be kind, but he could also be a killer.
When it came to his enemies, he would raise the butcher's knife without a single thought, his heart not at all affected by the thought of ending another's life.
But with those he liked, he was like a saint, putting himself in danger's way just to keep them safe.
"Potin, can a Path be contradictory?" Minos asked.
"What do you mean?"
"For example, can you be both a killer and a saver?" Minos explained.
"Hmm, interesting. I have actually heard of some people taking Paths like those, but apparently it's a hundred times harder than just following a Path of one nature, so I wouldn't recommend it." Potin responded.
"I see…" Minos said, but his heart was clear. No matter how much harder it may be, he would never give up aspects of himself for the sake of ease.
He was all those things, and his Path would reflect that, regardless of the challenge that may come with such a decision.
With his thoughts clear, Minos felt much lighter, his future once again becoming brighter as the dark road ahead of him was lit up with another torch.
Suddenly,the slight sound of a gear shifting appeared from beyond the stone walls, Minos's adrenaline instantly spiking as he realized danger was coming.
Taking the lead, Minos ran backwards, Potin following right after him, almost immediately catching up.
Just as the two managed to build some distance, small holes appeared on the walls of the area they were just in, a dense array of arrows shooting out at a rapid speed.
Had they not dodged such an attack, they likely would have been reduced to swiss-cheese.
With the arrows finally stopping, Minos couldn't help but slowly walk back to the area under Potin's cautious eye.
Picking up an arrow from the floor, he gave the tip a flick, making a quick estimate of the strength and lethality of the material.
"Amazing, it's a good thing you dodged." Minos said, as he tucked away any arrow he could find into his robe.
"You know materials?" Potin questioned, still keeping a slight distance as if afraid the arrows may come again.
"I'm a bit experienced, and while I don't know exactly what this stuff is, it should be strong enough to rip through a lower-level Inner Heaven Cultivator based on my estimates." Minos answered.
"Seems like I may have been a bit arrogant…" Potin replied, not having expected that he would encounter something so dangerous so early.
"This is just the beginning, and based on my estimates, the danger will just increase the deeper we go. Who knows, there may even be traps in there capable of killing realms beyond Inner Heaven?"
"You're right. Maybe we should just leave, no point risking our lives for an unknown reward."
Just as Minos was about to nod in agreement, the entire temple began shaking, much stronger than even the first time.
"What the hell is happening?" Potin couldn't help but shout, gripping the stone walls to avoid falling.
"I don't know, but it can't be anything good! The trap we just triggered must have been part of a much larger system. Looks like we're in deep trouble!" Minos exclaimed.
…
Meanwhile, those outside the staircase were still looking on with patience, but just as some were building up the confidence to follow after Minos and Potin, the temple's movements began.
Suddenly, all the rooms to the doors slammed shut, and even the large temple gates sealed tightly, much to the shock of the small city that had formed beyond the temple.
"My heavens, look, the temple is closing!" Someone yelled in both excitement and terror.