"You must have come across a Tree of Life or something similar in your world, right?"
Azmond recalled the mysterious symbol he'd seen at the center of the garden of towering spiritual stones. 'So, that Tree of Life held some significance...' A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind before he answered Loki.
"Yeah, there was a tree like that."
He couldn't quite understand why he was sharing this information with his 'enemy', but he figured it couldn't make his situation any worse. So, he decided to be truthful.
...
Loki's face lit up a little when he heard Azmond confirm his question. 'How could a tree of life find its way to such an insignificant planet?
A planet that doesn't even seem to know of the existence of the world ranking scale...' An incredulous look emerged on his features as he continued thinking to himself at speeds that surpassed anything a mortal could achieve.
'This mortals' situation is only getting more and more interesting.' An unnoticeable gleam materialized inside of Loki's bright green eyes as he saw the tied-up human in a completely different light.
"You touched the tree of life, and it brought you to the 'sea dimension,' as you call it, am I right?"
Azmond wore a slight look of astonishment as he listened intently to the words of the blonde haired 'god'.
He didn't know how this mysterious figure seemed to know every single step that led up to his ending up here.
'Was he truly the one who set up this elaborate ploy in order to trap me here with them?'
His thoughts kept leaning in the direction of these 'perverts' being the reason why he wound up here. But he thought he might as well listen to what the people had to say first.
Not that he really had a choice in the matter...
He glared at the 'chains' that bound him and let out a tired sigh.
Azmond focused his attention back on the most recent question from Loki. "Yes, I did touch a sign that said 'tree of life' and was subsequently transported to the sea dimension. A dimension that I now believe to be below us in some form." He responded with a dry tone.
"You are almost right," Loki said with a mischievous smile. "The truth of the matter is that you landed in a dimension that is synonymous to being something like the host of the dimension we are residing in." He spoke while pointing his index finger down toward the hard black surface.
As if pointing at the illusive sea dimension that lay below.
A contemplative look formed on Azmond's features as his gaze followed Loki's finger. He was trying to comprehend the meaning behind his words.
That was when a sudden bolt of realization hit him!
"So this place is some sort of pocket dimension that was somehow embedded into the very fabric of the sea dimension...?" Azmond spoke with a face of indifference.
"... Yes, you are right." Loki responded with an ever-growing, cunning smile plastered across his face.
He was slightly taken aback by the astuteness of the human, whom he saw as less than an ant.
Loki was under the presumption that he would have to elaborate quite thoroughly before what he was saying would be able to go into that thick skull of his. But this mortal seems to be surprising him at every turn.
Azmond was a little proud of the fact that he understood the mysteries of these two interlinked dimensions on his first try.
However, that sense of accomplishment wasn't visible in his stolid countenance, but it was undeniably there.
"You are smarter than I gave you credit for. I'll give you that, mortal." Loki said with a sly smile.
Azmond was not one to notice pleasantries, but he still responded with good etiquette. "Thanks, I guess..."
He was also not stupid enough to irk the blonde haired figure in front of him. Azmond understood that he would not make it out of here in one piece if he really obtained Loki's ire...
"It is good that you know how to take a compliment, but let us get on to the main part of this topic." Loki's playful expression suddenly turned into one of extreme apprehension.
A fluctuation in emotions that Azmond clearly didn't miss. He put on a face just as solemn as he listened with rapt attention.
"That book you touched and absorbed into your Dantian was no normal martial arts scripture. It was a book that originated from a very powerful and extremely mysterious organization." Loki's voice came out a little shaky when he began speaking of something that seemed to...
Terrify him...
Azmond himself was going through a multitude of different expressions at the moment as well. He couldn't begin to fathom what level you would need to be at to scare a paragon as strong as Loki.
The only thing he knew was that this new piece of information most definitely spelled trouble for him...
.....
The red giant in the background was non-existent throughout this entire interaction of Loki and Azmond's, but even his face began to turn a paler shade when he heard his brother mention what he thought to be a taboo.
His red, fiery hair was standing on end. The menacing aura he was holding back this entire time began to leak a little...
But when he noticed the unnerving look on Loki's face, he knew that this was no time to let his emotions get the better of him. His aura was swiftly repressed, as his towering figure was the only thing left menacing about him.
....
"This organization's name is the..." Loki's voice echoed out as a buildup began to fizzle up within him.
"Order of the Eternal Flame."
As soon as Loki spoke the name of a group of beings so terrifying that it would strike fear into the hearts of the very gods themselves, as soon as those cursed words sounded out, a sort of resonance began to permeate the surroundings as a deep crimson aura pervaded the air.
The crimson-red aura that was the result of Loki speaking a few simple words quickly dispersed after letting its blazing inferno be known to the world.
It was an aura that demanded reverence. An aura that sent shivers down the spines of even the red giant and conniving trickster.
As you could imagine, Azmond was not faring any better after bearing witness to something so utterly horrifying...
The moment he looked at the crimson red horror, the crimson looked right back at him.