Chapter 418 - 418 Going Above and Beyond

418: Going Above and Beyond 418: Going Above and Beyond The one who had called out just now was none other than Alice.

She stood confidently in front of Max, hands resting on her waist, her expression a mix of pride and playful scolding.

The light of the tenth floor reflected off her crimson hair, giving it an even more vivid glow, and her golden eyes shimmered with energy.

“Alice!” Max said with a wide smile, genuinely happy to see her again after what felt like ages.

“How have you been this past month?

Anyone caused trouble for you?” he asked casually, knowing full well that she could handle herself but still wanting to hear her say it.

Alice huffed, crossing her arms.

“I’m strong, you know.

Humph.” she snorted in that adorable, defiant way that hadn’t changed one bit.

Max chuckled but then paused as he truly looked at her.

His eyes widened in surprise—her aura had shifted dramatically since their last meeting.

Peak of Seeker Rank.

She had grown stronger.

Much faster than he had expected.

“Your strength is growing faster than I imagined,” he said honestly, his tone laced with shock.

Alice gave a smug grin.

“Humph, of course it is,” she replied lightly.

“Mother said that what I’ve awakened is just the initial version of my bloodline.

I haven’t even tapped into its full potential yet.

She told me that only my birthplace can truly awaken the complete power of my bloodline.” Max raised his brows, impressed.

“Hehe, that’s good to hear,” he said with a nod.

She truly was becoming something remarkable.

“Also,” Alice added, “when I arrived at the tenth floor, Big Sis Lena was there.

She showed me around, explained everything.

So it all went smoothly.” She offered a polite nod to Princess Lenavira, who returned it with a warm smile.

Max’s eyes narrowed slightly in mock suspicion.

“She did?” he asked, glancing between the two, wondering what exactly they had talked about in his absence.

Lenavira smiled calmly.

“She said she wanted to try the Pillar of Divine Appraisal with you,” she explained.

“You haven’t tried yet?” Max turned to Alice, surprised.

She shook her head and looked at him, her gaze blazing with the familiar fire of competition.

“I wanted to try it with you,” she said.

“I think this time… I can surpass you.” Max smiled slowly, remembering exactly how competitive she used to be—and clearly, still was.

She had never been the type to accept defeat easily.

“I’m going to try the Pillar now that you’re here,” she declared, her eyes turning toward the monolith.

“Go ahead,” Max said, stepping aside.

“Hmm,” Alice responded with a determined nod, before walking up to the towering structure.

She moved gracefully, her presence strong, and then—as if stepping through a thin veil of light—she passed into the monolith itself, disappearing completely from view.

Max stood there for a moment, watching the last shimmer of her form fade.

“How long does this talent assessment take?” he asked, turning to Lenavira.

“It varies,” she replied.

“Could be a few minutes, or even several hours—it all depends on the individual.” “I see,” Max said thoughtfully, then crossed his arms and fixed his gaze back on the monolith, ready to wait.

Something told him Alice’s result was going to be worth it.

They waited in silence as the minutes dragged on, and soon an entire hour had passed.

Max’s eyes remained fixed on the monolith, his arms crossed, his expression calm but expectant.

Then, finally, a ripple of change spread across the vast surface of the pillar.

A new name appeared, glowing faintly at the very bottom of the list—on the tenth line.

The glowing white letters shimmered softly: Alice Phoenixheart.

Max’s eyes narrowed the moment he saw it.

“Tenth line?” he muttered in shock, his brows furrowing.

“That’s too low…” He couldn’t hide his surprise, knowing full well the potential that Alice carried within her bloodline.

Hers wasn’t an ordinary fire affinity—it was phoenix blood, ancient and divine.

There was no way her talent was only tenth line.

“It’s just where everyone starts,” Princess Lenavira said calmly beside him, not even flinching.

“The pillar doesn’t place you at your final evaluation immediately.

It begins with the base and ascends according to what it discovers.

If her talent is as good as you believe… she’ll climb.” “And what about the name?

Her Phoenixheart isn’t her name.” Max asked.

“That just how tower do things.

It would attach some suffix last name to your name according to your talent.” Lenavira said.

Max gave a slight nod, watching intently.

Moments passed, and just as Lenavira had said, the letters of Alice’s name began to shimmer more brightly.

Then, slowly, they floated upward—first to the eighth line, then after a pause, seventh, then sixth.

The crowd around the monolith started to notice, eyes turning one by one as her name didn’t stop.

Fifth line.

A slight stir began in the air, whispers rising with curiosity.

And then, it happened—her name ascended once more and finally settled onto the fourth line, glowing with a soft crimson-gold hue that mirrored her aura.

“Look, a human reached the fourth line!” a demon nearby exclaimed, pointing as if it were the first time such a thing had happened.

“What are you so shocked about?” another demon sneered.

“Geniuses like that appear now and then among humans too.

They just burn out faster.” “She’s not even from this continent,” a human chimed in from the back.

“I heard she was the first among her group to reach the tenth floor.” “I bet fourth line is her limit,” another human said skeptically.

“Even most of our best geniuses barely scratch beyond that.” “Who knows?” an elf murmured, joining the growing group.

“She might bring some surprises this time.” And just like that, the soft buzz turned into a wave of murmurs and excited chatter.

More and more experts turned to watch the monolith, intrigued by the sudden spectacle.

The crowd thickened.

A human name rising steadily on the Pillar of Divine Appraisal was always cause for attention—and occasionally, amusement.

It wasn’t common, after all.

Humans weren’t often ranked high in this place, and the tower’s residents—especially demons and elves—were quick to judge.

But today, as Alice’s name shimmered proudly on the fourth line, even the skeptical could no longer ignore her.

The show had begun, and Max stood silently, a proud smirk tugging at his lips as the world finally took notice of her.

And then, just as the whispers began to reach their peak and the noise swelled around the monolith, something unexpected happened—something no one was prepared for.

Alice’s name, which had been resting on the fourth line, suddenly shimmered with a deeper intensity.

Slowly, ever so slightly, the glowing letters began to move again.

Inch by inch, Alice Phoenixheart ascended upward, slipping past the invisible threshold and settling onto the third line.

A wave of stunned gasps swept through the crowd.

Shock rippled across every face, and mouths began to open in disbelief.

But before anyone could even process what had just happened—before a single comment could break the tension—her name began to rise again.

It didn’t pause.

It didn’t hesitate.

In a single heartbeat, it leapt directly from the third line to the second.

That was when the noise died.

Instantly.

A thick, almost suffocating silence fell over the entire area around the monolith.

The air felt frozen.

Dozens—no, hundreds—of experts stood motionless, staring wide-eyed at the second line where only ten names existed… and now, there was a new one—hers.

Alice’s name glowed there, unmistakable, unshakable, surrounded by others who had carved their mark into history with overwhelming potential.

Demons, elves, humans—everyone was silent, their pride, skepticism, and prejudice drowned by the impossible sight before them.

Even those who had just moments ago scoffed at her strength now stood slack-jawed, their previous words caught in their throats.

No one had expected this.

Not from a human.

Not from someone so young.

Not from someone who had been quietly walking behind giants.

And yet, there it was—Alice Phoenixheart, shining brilliantly on the second line, as the tower itself acknowledged her as a being of rare, unparalleled potential.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS ShinGotLost Your gift is the motivation for my creation.

Give me more motivation!