Monarch of Gluttony: System of Sin

"That possibility could scare the Kings that killed you from your worlds since they won't be alone anymore, and they'll have to fight you two again to claim the top spot. With you two, they won't be the Sole King from their world."

"That means they will try to kill us to take out possible future troubles. Aren't we back to square one with that? We would have to fight the Kings that are near the top of the tower?"

"Who knows?" Azekiel simply shrugged. "I just have a possibility. If that becomes the reality, we'll see how it goes. For now, we should focus on what's ahead of us. The Castle of Infinity!"

"Ah, that's right!" Lia exclaimed. "The Castle of Infinity! Do you know what's that place? You must know now that you know so much about the Tower?"

"I know a little," Azekiel agreed. "But first, we should get out of here. The portals are active. I don't want to be here when another King comes out. It'll waste quite a bit of our time with them."

Azekiel left the Portal Chambers, ending up in a hallway that they needed to pass through to leave this place.

Along the way, Azekiel explained what he could.

"The Castle of Infinity is like the reward for Kings. In each Spatial Timeline, a King is given the opportunity to win the key and the map of the castle of infinity. However, only the best of the best can clear that hidden quest to get the Key and Map."

"There might be ten such Kings, or there might be a hundred. There could also be only me who managed to clear it. It all depends on who succeeded and who failed. Everyone who succeeds receives the map and the key, which give them an advantage in the Castle of Infinity."

"The Castle of Infinity can only be explored by the ones that have the key and the map? Other Kings can't enter?"

"That's not quite true. Other Kings can also enter, but the ones with the Key and the map have a greater advantage and lesser risks since they know quite a bit about the castle thanks to the map. As for the key, it also comes in quite handy. However, as I said, one can enter even without those two things for rewards. That's why the castle was made, after all."

"The Castle of Infinity is more or less like the reward that each King has an opportunity to attempt after clearing the tenth floor. Unfortunately, if they can use that opportunity or not, that depends only on them."

"What are the rewards that are inside?" Raphael asked. "Are they really worth it?"

Azekiel smiled. "The rewards should be worth it for many Kings. As I said, the challenges become only harder from here on, so the Kings that get something worthwhile from the Castle can get a lot of advantage from it."

"Did Alion also enter the castle?" Raphael asked. "What did he get?"

"What do you think?" Azekiel smiled wryly. "Will that guy ever lose an opportunity to get some nice rewards? He entered the Tower without any key or map."

"Did he receive any reward?"

"None. He didn't get anything. In fact, he barely managed to get out with his life intact. Want to know why?" Azekiel asked with a quite amused smile on his face.

Raphael looked at Azekiel with a frown. Why was he looking so amused? What did Alion face inside? If someone like him had to run, then there were certainly some dangers inside that he had underestimated.

"Why?"

"Because of you," Azekiel answered. "He entered the tower, but he got in a conflict with you over a treasure. The battle was his sound defeat, and he had to run outside to save his life at all cost."

"In fact, that was his first meeting with you, according to his memories. That's when he started considering you an enemy. That was the start. Then again, I must say, you were quite strong even then. I saw how you fought in his memories."

"As a King of Gluttony, you were quite strong on the eleventh Floor.  I'm amazed someone managed to kill you. Some of your skills that you used in that battle even make me jealous."

"I wish I could also remember... I wish I could also have my memories," Raphael only heard about how he used to be and how he fought inside the tower, but he couldn't remember anything. The more he heard about his past, the more he felt bad.

"Don't worry. It's only a matter of time. I'm sure you'll remember soon enough. The higher we climb, the more you should remember as you revisit the places you did before. That should be enough to jog your memories. And if you still don't, then I'll personally do something to make sure you get your memories."

"Until then, don't think too much about it and just focus on what's ahead. If you try to force your memories to return, it'll only hurt you in the process. Let your memories take their natural course."

Lia tilted her head to the left, hearing Azekiel's suggestions. Until recently, he wanted to help Raphael remember by letting him use his sword, but now he was asking Raphael to let it be. Did he really drop the idea? Or was he now strong enough to make sure that Raphael could afford the time he needed without being hasty?

The group of three left the hallway, ending up before a golden door. Throughout the long walk, they hadn't seen even a single person or the way. It was as if this was an abandoned place with not a single person inside.

Azekiel placed his hand on the wall, but as he was about to push it open, he heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind him. The sound of footsteps made him turn around and look back.

Raphael and Lia also looked back. Was there really another person in this abandoned place? Or was it another King who had arrived here?

"He?" Lia was taken aback to see the person. "He is still alive?"