The deceased demons didn't possess wealth comparable to the great sorcerers, but that wasn't to say demons didn't use magical items. In fact, gods and demons had appeared long before humans, and in terms of crafting and utilizing magical equipment, they surpassed humans in many ways. The reason Fars didn't find any magical items on these high-ranking demons was likely because they, too, had been captured and imprisoned here by legendary masters, leaving them stripped of their possessions.
In terms of mortality rates, high-ranking demons were certainly as powerful, if not more so, than human archmages. However, the remains of demons still made for decent materials. The decayed corpses of low-ranking demons that had rotted for millennia had long lost their value, while the flesh and blood of high-ranking demons, though long gone, still rendered their bones valuable. Many necromancers, who specialized in studying bones, would pay a good price for them. Constructs made from high-ranking demons were nearly as formidable as bone dragons.
With three people and six corpses, Fars calculated that taking two of the archmages' bodies would be too greedy, while taking two demon corpses would be too much of a loss. However, Joanna generously offered Fars two of the archmages' remains. Although it felt rather gruesome to be dividing corpses, Fars didn't care much about that; he hastily collected the two nearest archmages' bodies along with their belongings. Agno, the young master, also took on the role of a collector, gathering the remaining corpses. After checking the fifth floor, they found no other valuable items.
The three of them began discussing how to access the top level of the laboratory. Joanna and Agno were the most knowledgeable, and it was time to share some insights with Fars, especially since the sixth floor was shrouded in mystery for them. Among the three items they sought, the last one was indeed on the sixth floor, but their original plan was to retrieve the remains and the blueprints, considering the mission complete even if they didn't acquire the third item.
Unexpectedly, Naishel's remains were not on the fifth floor. Fars didn't know much about Naishel, but the diary mentioned this archmage's name. Among the six archmages stationed at Gonzago, Naishel was likely the most prominent, standing at the pinnacle of archmage power, with one foot in the realm of legends. Although there was another legendary mage present, that mage wouldn't stay long at Gonzago, making Naishel the actual master of this place.
According to Joanna, the sixth floor was originally the laboratory of that legendary master. When the demon upheaval occurred, this master, who had captured numerous demons from the demon realm, mysteriously vanished. It seemed that something was hidden within the sixth floor, as the escaped high-ranking demons didn't rush out of the laboratory but instead continued upward, desperately searching for something. Thus, the remaining archmages and high-ranking demons engaged in a deadly battle.
Of the six archmages stationed here, only one remained to maintain the seal around the laboratory, while the others perished in the conflict. The surviving archmage left behind these secrets, which were later traded away by his unworthy descendants to the Medici family.
What secrets lay hidden within Naishel's remains? Joanna didn't reveal anything, and it was likely that she and Agno were also kept in the dark. The sixth floor was sealed by the legendary master, and since Naishel's remains weren't found on the fifth floor, he must have pursued the remaining demons to the sixth floor. During the final confrontation between Naishel and the demons, it was highly probable that the seal on the sixth floor was activated by Naishel himself. Regardless of whether the demons ultimately triumphed, any surviving high-ranking demons would certainly be trapped within the seal. From Fars's perspective, it seemed that the demons had survived.
Joanna and Agno were likely unaware of these details; they merely speculated that the seal on the sixth floor would be opened, which complicated their entry. Just as they were troubled about how to access the sixth floor, the voice of the demon reached Fars again, insisting that he must lead them to the sixth floor. As for how to enter the seal, it would provide guidance. After millennia, the seal had loosened; otherwise, how could the demon extend its consciousness so freely? Joanna had also come to this conclusion.
Having prepared extensively for this exploration, Joanna hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided they had to go up. She had spent a long time preparing for this mission, and returning empty-handed would surely leave her unsatisfied. Agno supported her decision, and after some contemplation, Fars also decided to join them, which surprised them. They readily agreed to Fars's request to keep half of Naishel's relics for himself. Whether Fars's actions would alter their impression of him remained uncertain.
With their opinions aligned, the group quickly found the magic circle leading from the fifth to the sixth floor. Fars couldn't help but wonder how the demons had managed to ascend through these magic circles one by one. The incantations remained unchanged, and there was no need for new spells; the wrath of a legendary master was not something anyone would want to test.
Experiencing the sensation of weightlessness once more, Fars was struck by awe upon reaching the sixth floor. Gazing at the starry sky, he almost forgot they were deep underground; it felt as if they had broken through to the heavens. While one could see many stars from the surface at night, the clarity and proximity of the stars here were unmatched, as if they could reach out and pluck them from the sky.
Fars quickly regained his composure, mainly due to the demon's incessant taunting in his ear, reminding him that he couldn't afford to get lost in the beauty of the starry expanse.
"It's just a starry domain seal set up by a legendary master. No need to be so amazed. If you were to stare at it for ten thousand years, you'd probably prefer to close your eyes," the demon remarked, perhaps eager for conversation after so long in solitude.
Fars glanced at Joanna, Agno, and even Denise, who all seemed entranced by the sky.
The demon continued to explain to Fars, "They've already been affected by the seal. If it weren't for your decent mental strength, I would have found it difficult to wake you. Don't even think about trying to pull them back; your bond doesn't seem that strong. It appears there's a magical contract binding you."
Indeed, the magical contract didn't stipulate that teammates had to rescue each other in times of danger. If such a clause existed, Fars wouldn't have signed his name. However, they could ignore that; Denise, who appeared completely entranced, needed to be awakened. Fars gently nudged her, but the little one didn't respond. Following the demon's advice, he used his mental power to send his thoughts into Denise's mind. Since Fars and Denise were nearly in sync, his thoughts wouldn't be instinctively rejected. Eventually, he managed to wake her up. Upon waking, Denise looked at the starry sky with a puzzled expression, as if she had discovered something yet couldn't quite understand it.
"Follow my instructions and help me break the seal," the demon urged impatiently.
Fars wasn't about to assist an unknown demon without reason, especially since the demon was currently in a position of needing his help. The situation favored Fars, giving him the confidence to stand up to the demon: "It seems that if demons want to tempt humans, they need to show some sincerity. After all, we share an ancient covenant; at the very least, I need some assurance."
"What do you want? Demons have the right to seek assistance from the blood clan when necessary," the demon replied, clearly displeased. After living for who knows how long, it was evident that the demon was not pleased with Fars's breach of the covenant.
"Don't think I'm easily deceived. That covenant imprinted in my memory is your doing, isn't it?"
This statement left the demon silent. It couldn't quite grasp what Fars knew. It had already done enough, using Fars's unawakened legacy to implant its thoughts into his memory. If Fars hadn't awakened his legacy, how could he know there was an issue with the covenant?
"Helping you awaken part of your legacy in advance costs me a lot of power; otherwise, I wouldn't have been unable to control the low-ranking demons below, allowing you to slaughter them at will." The demon avoided discussing the truth of the covenant, attempting to obscure the matter.
Fars wasn't foolish; since the demon avoided explaining the covenant, it was clear something was amiss. The demon was also starting to negotiate. Awakening his legacy early was indeed beneficial; Fars had yet to find his kin, and information was crucial for him. The more he knew, the less likely he would be deceived or manipulated by his so-called "kin" in the future.
"Setting aside the covenant, if I help you, I expect some form of compensation. Given that you couldn't control the previous puppet demons, do you really think you can kill me with that feeble mental power?"
"Fine, fine, fine. No matter how much time passes, the blood clan born from humans is still human at heart." The demon, showing restraint, didn't immediately turn hostile. After it finished lamenting, Fars spoke up: "Let's establish a contract. I don't want much—just ensure my and Denise's safety, and guarantee our exit from the ruins without further entanglements. Of course, owing me a favor isn't too much to ask, right?"
Without waiting for the demon's response, Fars took out the magical contract left by Perugino and wrote down his reasonable demands. He suspended the contract in the air. After a long wait, he finally received a response from the demon. Although no text appeared on the contract, Fars could clearly sense the demon leaving its spiritual mark, which served as a signature. Fars then signed his name, and the contract was established.