Chapter 246 246: Essence Resonating Fruits

Max's eyes blazed with hatred as he glared at Aurelia.

He could feel it—her sword sinking deeper.

The pain was unbearable, a fire coursing through his veins. His body screamed in agony, but worse than that… was the sheer helplessness.

He couldn't move. He couldn't fight back. He could only watch.

Then—

A shout.

And suddenly—

The world spun.

Max felt himself fall. The ground beneath him vanished, replaced by a strange sensation of weightlessness.

Then—

Thud!

He landed hard on solid earth.

His breath came in ragged gasps as his vision cleared.

'What happened?'

His head snapped around, scanning his surroundings.

A forest.

Tall trees. Thick foliage. The scent of damp earth. He was deep inside somewhere unfamiliar.

'Where… am I?'

His body was still tense, expecting an attack. But no one was here. No Aurelia. No Norton. No Ralph.

He was alone.

His gaze flickered down to his stomach.

Blood was still leaking from the wound, but… not as much as it should be.

His breathing slowed.

And then—

He noticed it.

The moment Aurelia's sword had disappeared from his body…

His wounds had started healing.

On their own.

And he hadn't even realized it.

'Damn, my healing is insane.'

Max blinked, still processing the realization. His body was already repairing itself.

It wasn't just normal regeneration—it was something far beyond that.

His 300 Dragon Scales were the reason. He knew that.

But what baffled him was how he had never truly noticed the extent of his healing until now.

Had it always been this fast? Or was it accelerating because of the injury?

No. Now wasn't the time to think about that.

'I need to heal. Fast.'

He forced himself to push aside all distractions.

His surroundings came into focus—the thick canopy above, casting deep shadows. The air was cool, damp. Towering trees stood close together, their dark trunks forming a natural barrier around him.

He was hidden. For now.

Max lowered himself, settling into a cross-legged position beneath the dense foliage.

His healing might be powerful, but he had no control over it. The Dragon Scales' regeneration was passive—it worked on its own, at its own pace.

And right now, that wasn't enough.

'Time to use those…'

His thought went to his space, retrieving three golden fruits.

The Essence Resonating Fruits.

Their surface gleamed faintly, radiating a warm energy even in the dim light of the forest.

These fruits weren't just ordinary healing treasures. They could rapidly restore injuries, even ones that threatened a person's life.

Max had found them deep inside the temple owner's treasury—alongside countless other treasures.

And he had taken everything.

Every last one.

Right now, those stolen treasures might be the only reason he survived.

'Let's see how effective these fruits really are.'

Max didn't hesitate. He took a bite.

Then another.

The entire fruit disappeared down his throat.

The moment he swallowed the last piece—

A warm current surged through his body.

It was instant. Pure vitality flooded his veins, spreading like liquid sunlight. He could feel it moving—seeping into his bones, into his organs, into the very cells that had been damaged.

His stomach tightened. The wound—once deep and brutal—began to close.

Max's eyes flickered. It was working.

Without wasting a second, he grabbed the other two fruits.

One bite. Two bites. Gone.

The warmth intensified, rushing through him like a tidal wave.

Then—

His body was whole again.

No pain. No lingering wounds.

Max slowly stood up, stretching his limbs. Every ounce of damage—erased.

He clenched his fists, feeling the raw energy flowing through him.

'These fruits are lifesavers… but the real lifesaver is my 300 Dragon Scales.'

He knew it deep down.

A normal person? Dead. Instantly.

Even a top-tier warrior? They might have survived the sword, but they would have been crippled, bleeding out, hovering on the edge of death.

But him?

Not only had he survived the blade, but his body had already begun healing on its own the moment he was teleported.

The Dragon Scales had prevented his death. Had kept him alive long enough to recover.

This was the difference.

This was the power of 300 Dragon Scales.

'That reminds me… I only have 15 Draconic Essences.'

Max's thoughts flickered to something else for a brief moment.

It felt like ages ago when he had devoured the remains of the Dracovore and obtained those precious essences.

15.

A number that felt far too small now.

He clenched his jaw. 'I need more.'

The power they gave him—the potential locked within them—was too valuable to ignore. He made up his mind.

He would find more Draconic Essences. No matter what it took.

But for now…

His hands curled into fists.

His chest tightened.

His thoughts shifted—to her.

'She wanted to kill me…'

It still felt unreal.

Aurelia.

Alice's mother.

The one he had trusted—even if cautiously.

Had she done it because of the Monarch's threat? Or was it truly revenge?

Max's expression darkened.

His mind replayed her whisper. Cold. Sharp. Ruthless.

"It's also revenge for your sister's betrayal."

His heartbeat slowed.

His vision dimmed with anger.

Whatever her reasons—she had chosen to kill him.

He had trusted her. Even when she had doubts about his identity. Even when she had been suspicious of him as Max Voidwalker.

He had still believed—somewhere deep down—that she wouldn't outright kill him even if she were to found he was Freya's sister.

However—

He had been naïve.

But never again.

Max took a slow breath.

The resentment inside him burned.

Aurelia. The Phoenix Order.

He wouldn't forget this.

Max exhaled slowly, his mind settling.

He understood one thing clearly.

Whatever had teleported him here…

That was the real reason he was still alive.

Without it—he would be dead.

No amount of Dragon Scales or Essence Resonating Fruits would have saved him if Aurelia had pushed that blade all the way through.

His resilience, his healing, even his instincts—none of it would have mattered.

Because he hadn't seen it coming.

Because he had trusted the wrong person.

And because Aurelia had truly meant to kill him.

"Hmm?"

Max's frown suddenly deepened as his senses flared.

His Three-Dimensional Body picked up multiple figures moving through the forest—silent, coordinated, precise.

They were fast. Disciplined. Dangerous.

And all of them wore hoods.

'Monarch.'

He recognized them instantly. The Monarch's people.

But why were they here?

He didn't need to ask. He already knew.

They were here for him.

Here to kill him.

A sharp breath left his lips. His fingers curled into tight fists.

'Since you sent them my way…'

A flicker of dark amusement passed through his mind.

The betrayal. The pain. He had been suppressing it, forcing himself to push forward.

To survive.

But now?

Now, he had something to unleash his fury on.

'I'll make sure they don't leave. Not a single one.'

A slow, dangerous smirk crept onto his face.

His rage needed an outlet.

And these fools had just delivered themselves to him.