Crack—!

The second black chain detached with a clang, crashing heavily onto the skeletal ground below.

Thor's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

The moment the chain fell, he distinctly felt a portion of his pure Origin power being mercilessly siphoned away by the key.

Though not much, the feeling of being forcibly deprived made him very uncomfortable.

Without hesitation, he picked up the third key and unlocked the third chain.

Crack—!

This time, the expression on his face finally changed.

A suction force several times stronger than before came, and his Origin power was once again extracted!

This loss already made him feel a noticeable weakness.

Thor immediately stopped his actions.

He was not a fool.

This was definitely an incremental process.

Each chain unlocked would require a doubled amount of Origin power.

If he were to unlock all three remaining Seals by himself, his Origin power would probably be almost depleted!

At that time, he would fall into an unprecedented period of weakness.

This kind of Origin power depletion could not be quickly recovered by drinking a few potions.

He would need a long period of recuperation to return to his Peak.

He did not want to become a soft persimmon that anyone could pinch after obtaining the Divine Artifact.

Thinking of this, a barely perceptible cold glint flashed in Thor's eyes.

He slowly turned around, casting his oppressive gaze towards Park In-maeng, who was not far away.

With a casual toss, he threw all three remaining bronze keys in his hand over.

"Next, you will unlock the remaining chains."

Park In-maeng instinctively caught the keys, pointed at his nose, looking utterly bewildered.

"Ah? Me?"

He didn't understand why Thor, who had already unlocked three chains, suddenly wanted to switch in the middle.

However, Thor clearly had no intention of explaining to him.

His cerulean eyes were filled with undeniable authority.

"If I tell you to go, you go."

"Don't be wishy-washy."

Park In-maeng's cheek muscles twitched.

He dared not disobey Thor's command and could only brace himself and step forward.

"Yes, Mr. Thor."

Behind him, ghostly blue flames surged forth, forming a pair of gigantic wings.

With a gentle flap of his wings, his body slowly ascended, coming before the enormous pendulum of life.

He picked up one of the keys, took a deep breath, and carefully inserted it into the keyhole of the fourth chain.

A gentle twist.

Crack—!

The fourth chain detached with a clang!

However, the moment the chain detached.

A terrifying suction force, several times greater than what Thor had endured before, suddenly erupted from the key!

"Ah—!"

Park In-maeng's face instantly turned ashen white!

He only felt his Origin power, like a breached flood, being frantically devoured by the key!

He tried to break free, but found his hand was as if welded to it, unable to move even an inch!

This process lasted for more than ten seconds.

When the terrifying suction force finally disappeared.

Park In-maeng's aura was already more than half depleted.

His face was pale, and his body went limp, almost falling directly from mid-air.

Seeing this scene.

Except for Thor, who had already anticipated it.

Polina and Yingsi Lan's expressions changed in unison.

Polina's beautiful cerulean eyes immediately looked at Thor.

"What's going on?"

Thor didn't hide anything, his tone calm.

"Each time an enchanted chain is unlocked, our Origin power will be extracted once."

"And each time, more than the last."

"This, should be the price for unlocking the Seal."

He paused, casting his cold gaze towards Yingsi Lan.

"So, for the next two chains, each of you will have to go."

He extended his finger, pointing at Yingsi Lan, and commanded in an undeniable tone.

"Next, it's ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ your turn."

Yingsi Lan's hand, gripping his kotetsu, suddenly tightened.

He looked up, his sharp eyes fixed on Thor, not saying a word.

Everyone knew that the price to pay would only get higher and higher.

Park In-maeng had already become half-dead, and he would only be worse off.

Thor's eyes narrowed slightly, and electric snakes began to leap around him.

"Yingsi Lan, do you want to disobey my command?"

Yingsi Lan remained silent, only turning his head to the side.

Seeing this, Thor's anger slowly receded from his face.

In its place was a meaningful smile.

He spoke in a calm, persuasive tone.

"Yingsi Lan, didn't your Lord Wada tell you?"

"Once you enter the ruins, all of you must obey my command."

"Besides, I only need you to endure the absorption force of the fifth chain."

"The last one will be borne by Polina and me together."

"This is fair to you."

"After all, there's no such thing as a free lunch."

Hearing this, Yingsi Lan's expression improved significantly.

He pondered for a moment, as if weighing the pros and cons.

Finally, as if having made a decision, he slowly looked up.

"I hope Your Excellency Thor, will keep your word."

After speaking.

He took the two remaining keys from Park In-maeng's hand.

Park In-maeng looked at him, his lips moved, and he whispered a warning.

"Be careful."

Yingsi Lan nodded, took a deep breath, and leaped!

He could not fly.

His agile figure cut a graceful arc through the air, landing on the gigantic golden pendulum.

He reached out, clinging tightly to the edge of the pendulum, barely managing to steady himself.

He picked up one of the keys and carefully inserted it into the fifth keyhole.

A gentle twist.

Crack—!

The fifth chain instantly detached.

The next second.

"Ah ah ah—!

An even more terrifying suction force suddenly erupted!

Yingsi Lan let out a heart-wrenching scream!

His body began to tremble.

As if undergoing some kind of torture.

In just a moment.

His already somewhat disheveled black short hair visibly turned gray at a rapid pace!

When the terrifying suction force finally disappeared.

Yingsi Lan could no longer support himself, his body went limp, and like a kite with a broken string, he fell heavily from the massive pendulum.

Seeing this, Park In-maeng quickly stepped forward and caught him.

At this moment, Yingsi Lan was incredibly weak.

He was covered in cold sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of water.

His already fair face was now completely devoid of color, as if he had aged more than ten years in an instant.

He struggled to stand, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

He could only barely support his body with his kotetsu.

Yingsi Lan looked up at Thor, his voice hoarse.

"Your Excellency Thor, my mission is complete."

"Now, I leave it to you."

However, Thor slowly shook his head, a cruel and mocking smile on his face.

"I'm sorry, both of you." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"I might have to break my word from earlier."