The Path To The Origin heart

Chapter 90 — The Path to the Origin Heart

The path opened beneath their feet.

Ancient stone shifted.

A staircase appeared.

It descended into darkness.

Aether stood at the entrance.

No one spoke.

Even Evelyn looked uncertain.

Elara stared into the darkness.

"This path wasn't supposed to open yet."

Aether looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because the formation requires all six keys."

Aether glanced at the five keys.

"Then why did it open?"

Elara's eyes moved toward him.

"Because it recognized you."

Aether didn't answer.

He stepped onto the first stair.

"Then we'll use it."

The others followed.

The deeper they descended, the stronger the Origin Energy became.

Lyra looked around.

"How deep are we?"

Evelyn shook her head.

"I don't know."

Seris placed a hand against the wall.

"The energy here is enormous."

Sylvara held the Verdant Key tightly.

"It feels like the entire earth is breathing."

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Aether stopped.

"Wait."

Everyone froze.

His Origin Sense had detected movement.

Not ahead.

Behind them.

Aether turned.

The staircase was empty.

Then a sound echoed from the darkness.

Footsteps.

Evelyn immediately drew her weapon.

Blackridge had followed them.

But this time—

only one person emerged.

A young man wearing black robes.

He carried no weapon.

Aether studied him.

"You're alone."

The man smiled.

"I don't need an army."

His cultivation surged.

Stage 9.

Everyone's expression changed.

Even Evelyn became serious.

The man looked toward Aether.

"You have five keys."

Aether raised his weapon.

"And you want them."

"I want the sixth."

His gaze shifted toward Elara.

"Give her to me."

Aether's expression became cold.

"No."

The man sighed.

"Then we'll fight."

His Origin Energy exploded.

The staircase shook.

Aether moved forward.

The man attacked.

BOOM!

Their weapons collided.

Aether was pushed backward.

The difference was obvious.

Stage 9.

The enemy was stronger.

But Aether didn't retreat.

He used Shadow Step.

The man tracked him.

Aether appeared above him.

The man blocked.

Aether attacked again.

The enemy countered.

Aether's shoulder was cut.

Seris immediately released Life Essence.

The wound began closing.

"Aether!"

"I'm fine."

He looked at the enemy.

Stage 9.

He couldn't defeat him through raw strength.

So he changed tactics.

Aether deliberately stepped backward.

The enemy followed.

Exactly as expected.

Shadow Step.

Aether vanished.

The man turned.

But this time, Aether didn't attack him.

He attacked the staircase.

BOOM!

The stone beneath the enemy shattered.

The man dropped one level.

Aether immediately attacked.

The enemy blocked.

But the narrow space limited his movement.

Lyra and Aria attacked from opposite sides.

Evelyn joined.

Seris reinforced them.

Sylvara activated the Verdant Key.

The combined pressure forced the Stage 9 enemy backward.

Aether saw the opening.

He attacked.

The enemy barely avoided the strike.

Then Elara raised her hand.

The sixth key inside her chest released a burst of golden energy.

The entire staircase lit up.

The Stage 9 man froze.

"What..."

Aether's eyes narrowed.

The five keys responded.

The energy surged through the staircase.

The enemy suddenly retreated.

"This isn't over."

Aether started after him.

Then stopped.

The man wasn't fleeing because he was afraid.

He was escaping because something else had changed.

The staircase beneath them was opening.

A massive door appeared at the bottom.

Six symbols were carved into it.

Five began glowing.

The sixth remained dark.

Aether looked at Elara.

She understood.

"The Origin Heart."

Aether stepped toward the door.

Then the System appeared only within his mind.

[Origin Key Network: 5/6.]

[Network stability: 79%.]

[Origin Core integration: 27%.]

[Origin Points: 530 / 650.]

Aether clenched his fist.

He was only 120 Origin Points away from Stage 7.

But cultivation wasn't what mattered right now.

The final key was in front of them.

The Origin Heart was behind the door.

And someone powerful enough to reach Stage 9 had just revealed that Blackridge's true goal was much larger than six keys.

Aether placed his hand against the ancient door.

"Let's finish this."

The five keys began to resonate.

And somewhere beyond the door—

the final key answered.