Max rose from the surface of the Energy Stabilizing Pond and drifted lightly onto the solid ground beyond it. The mont his feet touched the stone platform, his gaze was drawn forward by an unexpected sight.
Long lines of people stretched across the open plaza, each line leading toward neatly arranged counters carved from pale divine stone. The atmosphere was tense but orderly, filled with murmurs, restrained impatience, and the lingering pride of those who had just ascended from their mortal worlds.
From their auras alone, Max could tell that all of them had already stabilized their mana and were now facing whatever ca next in this unfamiliar realm.
"What is this line for?" Max wondered silently as he walked toward the shortest queue. He stopped beside a man standing ahead of him and spoke in a calm tone. "Brother, may I ask what all these lines are for?"
The man turned around and studied Max for a mont. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with a hardened expression that suggested soone who had already accepted his situation.
Seeing Max's youthful face, his expression softened slightly. "Little brother, these lines decide your fate after ascension," he said with a quiet sigh. "There are two ways for an ascender to earn freedom in the Divine Realm. One is by mining Divine Ore for the forces that control this city. The other is by fighting in the Divine Colosseum and earning rit through blood and victory."
Max's brows drew together as the words sank in. The aning behind them was unmistakable. Ascenders were not welcod as equals here. They were treated as resources, laborers, and fighters whose worth would be proven through years of exploitation or mortal combat.
The realization left a bitter taste in his mouth. He had fought gods, demons, and calamities to protect his world, yet the mont he arrived in the Divine Realm, he was placed in a line little different from that of a slave.
'So this is how they treat ascenders,' Max thought, his expression remaining calm despite the surge of displeasure in his heart. He did not like either option, but he understood that resisting now would only invite unnecessary trouble.
As he weighed his choices, another thought surfaced in his mind. 'Instructor Virelia said she would find once I ascended to the Divine Realm,' he reflected, carefully observing the surroundings. 'I hope she finds soon.'
After a brief pause, Max spoke again. "Brother, what is the fastest of these two paths?"
The man hesitated, then shook his head slowly. "I will be honest with you," he said in a low voice. "There is only one true shortcut to freedom, and that is the Divine Colosseum. If you can defeat the Grim Gladiator, you earn your freedom imdiately. As for mining, it takes years, sotis decades, before one is released, and that is if they survive the exhaustion."
He glanced at Max once more, his tone turning cautious. "But judging by your aura, I would still recomnd mining. The Colosseum is where most ascenders die."
"Divine Colosseum," Max repeated softly, the words echoing in his mind. A faint spark of interest flickered in his eyes before he nodded. "Thank you, brother, for the information."
As he spoke, Max remained in line beside the man, waiting his turn to choose his path. On the surface, he appeared calm and compliant, but deep within, his resolve was already taking shape. No matter what this place demanded of him, he would not remain trapped here for long.
As Max continued to wait in line, his attention drifted toward the city itself. The longer he observed it, the more contradictions he noticed. The buildings were sleek and sharply contoured, rising with a sense of deliberate symtry that reminded him of advanced cities from futuristic legends, yet the materials were nothing like concrete, steel, or glass from the mortal world.
Every structure radiated a quiet authority, ford from unknown substances that felt both ancient and indestructible. Even the streets beneath his feet carried faint patterns of flowing light, as if divine essence itself had been woven into their foundations.
From ti to ti, flying vehicles crossed the skies above, moving in smooth and silent arcs. They were not powered by engines or exhaust, but by dense streams of Divine Essence that bent naturally around them. Watching them glide through the air gave Max an odd sense of unreality, as if he had stepped into a dream shaped by countless eras of cultivation and progress layered atop one another.
"It matches the vibe of Obsidian Dragon City," Max thought quietly, recalling the impression that place had left on him.
Before he could reflect further, the line shortened rapidly, and soon he found himself standing before the counter. The guard stationed there did not radiate hostility, but his indifference was sharp and absolute, as if Max were no different from the thousands who had stood there before him.
"What is your na, and which path will you take?" the guard asked without lifting his head. "Mining, or fighting in the Colosseum?"
"I am Max Morgan," Max replied calmly. "I will fight."
The guard made no visible reaction to his choice. Without looking up, he recorded the na with a flick of divine light across a crystal panel and then tossed a small tallic token toward Max. It was cool to the touch and engraved with the image of a crossed sword and shield that faintly glowed with divine runes.
"Take this and head to the Divine Colosseum," the guard said in a flat tone.
Max caught the token easily and stepped away from the counter. He paused briefly, scanning the surroundings until his gaze locked onto a massive structure rising not far from the Energy Stabilizing Pond. The arena dwarfed everything around it, its outer walls carved with countless reliefs of warriors, beasts, and unknown entities locked in eternal combat. The sheer scale of it made his chest tighten slightly.
"That must be the Divine Colosseum," Max murmured to himself.
Without hesitation, he began walking toward it. Along the way, he noticed many other figures heading in the sa direction. Their expressions ranged from grim determination to thinly veiled fear, and from their auras alone, Max could tell that all of them were ascenders just like him.
So walked alone in silence, while others whispered nervously to companions they had t only monts ago.
As the Colosseum drew closer, its presence grew heavier, pressing down on his senses with an unmistakable weight. This was not rely a place for spectacle. It was a crucible where freedom was earned through blood, and where countless lives had likely ended without leaving a trace.
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