It was not something that they had planned on doing at all, and they were not looking forward to it in any way, shape, or form. Troy was under the assumption that there were two different channels via which the pillar could be activated. Activating the pillar through the procedure of activating the pillar by using their mana to infuse against the pillar was the first option that was available to them.
There is also the option of offering a sacrifice of one's own blood as an alternative. There is a possibility that the champion will use his own blood to activate the pillar in the case that he passes away before the activation of the pillar has even taken place.
The pillar will be able to recognize the blood of a champion who has successfully defeated an S-class monster. This will trigger the pillar to rotate, which will then make the weapon available to the champion.