The Snake God kept smiling even when he saw Aether's stern expression.
"Why are you treating me like this, Your Highness? We share the same goal."
Only after a long while did Aether lower his guard at those words, but anyone could tell that his attention remained fixed on the Snake God.
Aether was not surprised that the Snake God knew about this place, but his arrival at this particular moment raised questions.
Although Aether knew that the Snake God shared their goal, he was still a Demon God. Every Demon God was a monster who had lived for at least several thousand years, and no one knew what they were truly thinking.
Keeping an eye on the Snake God's movements, Aether slowly approached the Mechanical Heart in the center.
Once he reached the Mechanical Heart, Aether broke the chains binding it with his bare hands, one by one.
When only two chains remained, the Mechanical Heart fully awakened.
Its beats grew stronger and stronger. Even the Snake God had to gather his power to withstand them, yet Aether was completely unaffected.
The Mechanical Heart seemed able to recognize Aether's identity, and all its oppressive force neatly skirted the spot where he stood.
Just as Aether was about to break the last two chains, the Snake God made his move.
A gigantic snake's head formed from elemental power suddenly appeared behind Aether, opened its enormous jaws, and bit down on him.
But Aether had known all along that the Snake God would not come here just to stand by and watch. He had deliberately left those two chains intact while waiting for this very moment.
Seeing the snake's head he had summoned successfully swallow Aether, the Snake God relaxed.
But in the next instant, Aether appeared right behind him. Sword