Chapter 316: It's been a long time indeed

?Kyle's eyes narrowed when he saw a stream of hot water cascading down in the distance. A wide underground space and a shimmering floating castle in the middle. Moreover, the air was filled with a heavy scent of blood.

His feet touched the ground near the stream. He walked for a minute and came to a halt when he spotted a pale cyan-haired youth leaning against the stairway leading up to the gleaming castle. The individual's clothes were soaked in blood. Regardless, Kyle's eyes drifted off to the lifeless body lying in the distance. He noticed with a raised brow, the body belonged to someone from the dark race.

With a sigh, Kyle stepped closer to him.

"Are you alright?"

The youth's body jolted when he heard Kyle's voice. He shot his wary eyes up and clenched his bleeding chest.

"Who..?"

Kyle sighed when the youth tried to reach for the double-edged sword placed a few inches away from him.

"Don't worry I won't harm you..."

He dragged his sentence and grabbed a healing potion from his mind space.

"Here. Take it."

The youth eyed the potion warily but after a few seconds of hesitation took it with trembling hands. After all, he had no other choice.

Kyle's eyes darted around. He sensed a few more scents around the cyan-haired youth. That's why he was a little confused as to why the boy was alone in such a bad condition.

He waited until the youth gulped down the potion and finally, some colors returned to the latter face. Afterward, Kyle moved away and started climbing the stairway.

"Wait.."

Kyle stopped and gazed back at the person standing at the edge of the stairway.

"What?"

"Thank you."

With a quick nod, Kyle resumed his steps but the boy followed behind him slowly. Still, Kyle did not pause in his tracks even when the latter started a conversation.

"Hmm, I am Lucus. What's your name? I feel like I have seen you somewhere before."

Kyle hummed and pushed the castle gate open.

"My name is Kyle. Also, I don't know you."

Lucus hurriedly followed behind him and stopped by his side with wide eyes.

"Wait.. are you the same Kyle I am thinking? I mean the one who had a majestic phoenix?"

Bia's ears perked up. She glanced at Lucus with a nod.

-'Finally, someone who had enough brain. Of course, I am majestic.'

Kyle ignored her words and jumped into the castle gate. Lucus hurriedly followed behind him. The duo appeared in a large barren land surrounded by hundreds of doors.

Lucus's face crumbled when he saw his old teammates standing in front of one of the doors. Kyle carelessly followed his gaze but froze the moment he eyed the two figures.

Bia sensed his discomfort and narrowed her eyes.

-'What happened?'

Kyle's brow knitted together and his eyes turned emotionless.

'Nothing.'

He turned around to enter the nearest door but suddenly a female voice drifted into his ears.

"Who is there?"

Ignoring the voice Kyle gripped the handle of the door and pushed it. Yet, the door did not even budge.

The female voice grew near and he let out a sigh.

'Whatever.'

Kyle turned around and gazed at the two figures circling Lucus with concerned expressions.

"Prince Lucus why did you enter the treasure island when you are injured!"

The red-haired female grasped Lucus's hand with a concerned sigh. But, Kyle noticed with a raised brow how Lucus's eyes turned extremely cold as he yanked his hand away.

Noticing his presence, the girl turned around and stared at him with a pair of familiar golden eyes. Kyle blinked. The pair of eyes, it was very similar to Nine's.

And his suspicions turned out to be correct when the girl gasped at him with a loud exclamation.

"Kyle!?"

Lucus and the other boy standing behind her were stunned at her reaction. Still, before they could question her, she closed the distance between her and Kyle with a bright smile.

"You are Kyle, right? I.."

She paused for a second and straightened her wrinkled clothes.

"I am Seraphine... Nine's sister. He told me about you!"

Kyle gave her a quick nod. Her eyes were indeed similar to Nine's. However, he could not pinpoint the reason why Nine told his sister about him.

Suddenly, Seraphine held out her hand but Kyle immediately stepped back. His frown deepened.

"What?"

With an apologetic smile. Seraphine called for Lucus and the other boy standing behind her.

She brightly introduced them to Kyle. Yet, his mood dampened with each passing second. Not because of her but because of one of her teammates.

The muscular blonde-haired youth standing beside Lucus stepped forward with a polite smile. He gazed at Bia and unconsciously extended his hand toward Kyle.

"Hey, I am Sen."

Kyle gazed at his hand for a few seconds but did not grasp it. Instead, he stared at him with a cold expression.

"Kyle... Kyle Ohan."

Sen's smile stiffened when he heard the surname 'Ohan'. Still, he immediately shook his head inwardly.

'Impossible.'

He recalled the last time he heard this surname. It has been a few years. Moreover, the owner of the surname was a loser with only (B)-Rank talent. Someone he mocked in his younger days. So, how was it possible for the same person to stand opposite him? Inside a realm filled with extremely powerful creatures.

Not to mention the fact that this Kyle Ohan owned a legendary fire phoenix. Also, he had silver hair. Not black. He threw the thought at the back of his head and took back his hand with a polite smile because Kyle did not shake it.

"You have a nice name."

Sen did not look at his eyes because for some reason he was having an ominous feeling about it. He stepped back but contrary to his expectations Kyle hummed softly. Yet, the words that came out of his mouth were so cold that they sent chills down Sen's spine.

"Sen, it's been a long time indeed."