Chapter 581: Preparing for the Finale

“You plan to enter the Middle Domain?” Klaus muttered, half to himself, but the Old Saintess was already reaching into her spatial ring. She retrieved a small leather-bound book and handed it to Max.

“This contains everything you’ll need,” she said. “Major factions, geography, forces, forbidden zones, and more. Study it well—it could save your life.”

Max nodded, accepting the book with appreciation and tucking it away safely. He’d read it thoroughly later.

“But I must warn you,” the Old Saintess added, her tone suddenly solemn, the warmth in her voice now edged with seriousness, “the Middle Domain is nothing like here. In the Lower Domain, there hasn’t been anyone close to your level—not now, not in generations. But in the Middle Domain… geniuses are like fish in the ocean. They’re everywhere. And they’re not just talented—they’re powerful. Some are monsters who’ve already touched the edge of the Divine Rank. You need to be ready for that.”

Max met her gaze and nodded with quiet resolve. “Thanks for the warning, Old Saintess. I’ll keep that in mind.” He looked at them both one last time, his expression firm but respectful.

“Alright, I’ll see you at the Citadel.” With that, his figure surged into the sky, cutting through the clouds with swift, controlled flight.

Within seconds, Max had vanished from sight, leaving behind only the echo of his presence as he headed toward the Lost Continent.

“He’s going to get one hell of a surprise when he reaches the Middle Domain,” the Old Saintess said with a soft, knowing smile, her gaze lingering on the sky where Max had disappeared moments ago.

Klaus crossed his arms, clearly still wrestling with her words. “Max can battle a peak Expert Rank while only at level eight of the Seeker Rank… I don’t believe there are many, if any, geniuses in the Middle Domain who can do that. You say they’re everywhere, but someone like Max? I doubt it.”

His tone held a quiet defiance, a loyalty born from awe and pride.

But the Old Saintess simply shook her head, still smiling faintly, not dismissive—but wise. “You don’t understand,” she said gently. “What makes Max so terrifying here is his battle prowess—his techniques and skills. That will still give him an edge in the Middle Domain to an extent, yes. But the foundation of that realm… it’s something else entirely. The Middle Domain isn’t just a step above us—it’s a world built on deeper laws, older inheritances, and stronger bloodlines. There, most geniuses in the Expert Rank are already playing with Level 1 Concepts like toys. And the rare ones? Even some Seeker Ranks have already stepped into Conceptual mastery. Here in the Lower Domain, just comprehending a Concept is a miracle. But there, it’s a starting point.”

She paused, her voice growing steadier. “Inheritances and conceptual techniques that are near mythical in the Lower Domain—the kind of treasures forces here would guard with their lives—are found even among the weakest forces in the Middle Domain.

She added lastly. “Techqniues that resonate with the laws, weapons forged by divine smiths, even battle systems built entirely around Law comprehension—those are normal there. And as I’ve said before, there is no shortage of geniuses. Max may be unmatched here, but in the Middle Domain, he’ll need to push harder, climb faster, and refine his strength to stay ahead.”

Klaus fell silent, his eyes dimming slightly as the weight of her words sank in. He’d heard her talk about the Middle Domain before—tales of lands where the sky was higher, the soil richer, and the rules of power rewritten. And each time, it left him shaken.

This time was no different. In the end, he shook his head quietly, a bitter smile on his lips. “Some things…” he muttered, “just aren’t meant for people like us.”

The Old Saintess said nothing more, only looking toward the distant sky—toward the path Max had taken—wondering just how high that boy would soar when he finally reached the heavens meant for monsters.

***

After leaving the Black Lotus Guild behind, Max soared across the sky, moving swiftly toward the far edge of the Valora Continent, his figure a streak of silent black and silver against the fading light.

As he traveled, he couldn’t help but notice the thick presence of power lingering in the air. Not one, not two—but multiple Expert Rank auras filled the outer regions of the continent. Some pulsed with restraint, while others radiated unhidden aggression.

‘Too many Expert Rank masters are moving around,’ Max thought, narrowing his eyes as he flew with restrained speed. Each one was a formidable presence, and they all seemed to be scattered across the edges as if patrolling the skies or waiting for something—or someone.

But Max said nothing. He didn’t engage. He simply pressed forward, gliding through the heavens like a phantom as he made his way to the Lost Continent.

Half a day later, he arrived at its shores. The wild, untamed continent stretched before him like a sleeping beast. But he didn’t land—not immediately.

The moment he neared the continent’s boundary, he froze. His senses flared. He could feel them—at least ten peak Expert Rank auras, each one sharper and more alert than the last, and worse, there was one aura he couldn’t even identify.

It didn’t feel like anything from the Lower Domain. It didn’t feel like anything he’d encountered before. It wasn’t just strong—it was overwhelming.

‘Are they from the Four God Nation? The Middle Domain? The Rulers?’ Max’s expression shifted, a flicker of caution in his eyes. With his Green Soul, he was confident that no one from the Lower Domain would be able to sense his presence.

But the forces from the Middle Domain? That was an entirely different matter. There were too many variables. Too many unknowns. And so, Max didn’t take any risks.

He cloaked his presence completely and slipped into the Lost Continent like a shadow swallowed by the wind. Without a trace, he entered the Tower of Truth, avoiding every formation and scanning eye laid across the continent.

Inside the tower’s deep chambers, he soon found her—Alice. She was seated silently in the Chamber of Concepts, her breath steady, her posture composed, completely immersed in meditation.

But Max could sense it. The flickering warmth. The subtle burn in the air around her. She had done it. ‘She’s finally comprehended the Concept of Flames,’ he thought with a quiet smile, nodding to himself before walking softly toward the secret chamber, leaving her undisturbed.

In the quiet sanctuary of the chamber, Max sat cross-legged on a tile that shimmered with a deep blue hue, its energy humming softly beneath him. From his spatial space, he brought out the reward he had saved for this moment—the preserved draconic flesh he had received from Lord Harthorne.

Encased in a small crystalline sphere, the piece of meat pulsed faintly, like it still carried a remnant of life. Max held it in his hand for a moment, then crushed the orb with a firm grip, letting the flesh fall into his palm.

His black flames blazed to life in the next instant, wrapping the flesh in dark fire.

‘Devour,’ he commanded inwardly. The flames intensified, flickering violently, but controlled. Within moments, the piece of flesh sizzled and slowly disappeared, reduced to ash, then to energy, and finally into nothingness.

A system notification echoed in his mind.

—

[Draconic Essences increased by 146]

[Draconic Essences: 446]

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!