CHAPTER 25: TRAPPED

They had made It outside of the main tomb, standing at the end of the tomb’s halls. Khal and Merlin were looking up at where they entered, pat, panting tiredly behind.

"Good thing I didn’t kill you. It would be a pain to climb back up to the surface." Khal, his tone shrewd.

Merlin looked at him, her expression nervous, a bead of sweat running down her forehead.

That’s what you found good about keeping me alive? She let out an exasperated sigh before focusing her gaze back above her.

"I’m ready when you are." She spoke aloud.

Khal looked over at Merlin, nodding his head. "Yeah, let’s get out of here."

As Merlin was about to cast her ability, pat grabbed onto the bottom of her staff.

"Don’t bother; even if you both fly up there, the stone slab covering the entrance won’t open."

Khal looked down at him, confused. "What do you mean it won’t open?"

Pat steadied his breath. "That slab of bedrock blocking the tomb’s entrance wasn’t always there. i don’t remember exactly when it came there but every time it opens, after it closes, it stays closed for 5 days. Unless you’re strong enough to destroy it, I suggest you sit tight for the next couple of days."

Khal looked over at merlin, his brow raised. "Renold said that the Leywins were the ones that sealed off the tomb with the slab of bedrock; why didn’t you tell me that this would happen?"

"I wasn’t told anything like that," Merlin Replied. "We were supposed to leave the secret realm immediately after getting the genesis shard through one of our sources. Its the first im hearing about this."

Since im in control of her slave contract, i can tell when she’s lying, and since It’s not reacting, it seems she Isn’t.

Khal stared at Pat suspiciously, his eyes glowing with mana. "Don’t tell me you’re plotting something, pat, because if you are, trust me, it won’t end well for you."

"My master entrusted his most prized possessions with you, and his secrets, why would i be plotting against you?" Pat replied, disappointment in his gaze.

"Then again, i expected you to not believe me; that’s why I didn’t tell you earlier. Go on, check if you can leave or not."

"Gladly." Khal Replied. "Use float on me Merlin."

Merlin stretched her hand towards Khal, mana crackling from her fingertips.

Float[⾶]

Khal began to float up towards the tomb’s entrance. After a few moments, he made it to the slab of bedrock, placing both his hands on it.

He pushed and knocked on it, but nothing happened. Seeing that wasn’t helping, he waited, but still nothing.

"Alright, Merlin, bring me down." Khal spoke, just loud enough for her to hear from below.

Merlin brought him down to the ground, his expression annoyed. "He’s right. It seems it won’t open."

"I told you." Pat replied. "Its best you wait the days out by seeing if you can anymore clues left behind by my master."

Khal thought for a moment, shaking his head. "No. From what I could see, Hagan’s a straightforward man; if he had anything left to give or find, he’d place it in plain sight. The man even left details of all that he had left on the walls; we won’t find anything."

"I need to leave... I didn’t want to use this but it doesn’t seem like i have a choice."

Khal held out his hand, a bright blue light forming above it and a black key with a skull for its bow falling into his palm.

Skeleton Key

[Platinum]

[One Use Left]

Can open or remove the cooldown time on all items graded Platinum and below. (With the exception of talismans and formations).

Stared at Khal in shock, his eyelid twitching. "You have got to be joking, right? You do realize the value that item has, right?"

Unlike awakens, Items, materials, weapons, and armor are graded: Bronze, Bronze+, Silver, Silver+, Gold, Gold+, Platinum, Platinum+, Epic, Mythical, and Divine.

"You could use that item for something much more dire than this. Yes, you can get out, since bedrock is a Platinum grade material, turn to a door with an open-and-shut function, but you would just waste it. That key could even open the second entrance leading to my master’s tomb."

"I know." Khal replied. "I got it off the guy who tried to rob me. Looks like he was going to use this to get in but gave up on the idea when I got Hagan’s inheritance."

Khal looked down on the key, tightening his grip around it. Should i really use it? He thought.

"If I wait 5 days, how much time will we have to complete the exam?" Khal asked Merlin.

"Given the time from when the exam started, im guessing around 7-8 hours." Merlin replied.

7-8 hours... Khal thought. That’s more than enough time.

He stored the skeleton key back in his inventory, looking down at pat.

"I guess we’ll be staying for another 5 days,"

"Great!" Pat shouted. "You look inside the main tomb and I’ll look inside the throne room for clues."

Khal shook his head as he looked down at Pat. "I already told you, we won’t find anything. in the coming days, the only thing I’ll be doing is testing out my new spear. You can waste your time if you want."

Khal looked up at the entrance, his eyes glowing with intent. "As of now, the only thing i need to do, i prepare for the carnage that will occur when i get out...

Elsewhere inside the secret realm...

A male student from another school ran through the forest. One of his hands was cut off, blood all over his uniform.

These people are insane. It’s just a school exam; why are they taking it this far? I don’t wanna die!

He kept running but tripped over his own feet, dropping on his face. With his one good hand, he struggled to push himself up, tears running down his cheeks.

Where do you think you’re going?

A masculine voice came from behind, sending chills down his spine, his tears running even harder.

"Please, Araon, im begging you, just eliminate me; I don’t wanna die!"

Araon came closer to him, smiling. "Kill you? I don’t want to kill you; don’t worry about me."

The student turned over on his back, looking at Araon, forcing a smile. "Really? You won’t kill me?"

"Of course, I’m a man of my word." Araon replied.

"I won’t kill you... But she will."

Rose came out from behind Araon, her eyes glowing with murderous intent. Before the student could react, Rose rushed over to him, ripping his throat out. Blood splattering onto Araon’s cheek.

His smile dropped, his expression becoming dark. "With the safeguard now completely gone, we don’t have to quickly kill them anymore."

He lifted his head toward the sky, staring at the artificial moon. Soon we’ll get to play with you... Big brother.