Max sat at one of the chairs, his eyes calm, but filled with curiosity as he studied Envoy Lucas.
Lucas's expression was serious, his presence commanding as he broke the silence.
"As you all know, this round table exists to discuss the relations between the East Region, the other territories, and the Lost Continent."
His words were asured, steady.
"But for now—"
His gaze hardened slightly.
"We have more pressing matters at hand."
He turned toward Max.
A single word left his lips.
"Ascendants."
The ntion of that na made several leaders shift slightly in their seats.
Even among the most powerful figures in the East, the presence of the Ascendants was sothing deeply unsettling.
"They mostly do not show up in the Lower Domain."
Lucas's sharp gaze scanned the room before settling back on Max.
"But now that they are here… we can't assu it's just for you."
A beat.
"That reason is too far-fetched."
Max's brows furrowed slightly.
What did he an?
If they weren't only here for him, then… what else could they possibly want?
Lucas exhaled, his gaze moving back toward the assembled leaders.
"We will discuss this matter quickly, but first—"
His attention locked onto Max again.
His voice dropped slightly, carrying a warning tone.
"Let warn this little friend first."
The room fell into silence.
Max's eyes narrowed slightly.
Kate frowned, her posture stiffening.
Her sharp eyes narrowed at Lucas, her voice carrying a hint of disapproval.
"Are you really about to tell him that?"
Her tone was laced with concern—no, sothing more.
"Aren't we supposed to keep that information private?"
Before Lucas could respond, Aurelia scoffed lightly, leaning back in her chair.
Her golden eyes glead with cold amusent.
"After Veylin's performance in the temple? Please."
Her tone was casual, but the words hit the room like a shockwave.
The tension thickened imdiately.
"Everyone in Valora Continent saw it. They're already suspicious."
Her gaze flickered toward Kate, challenging.
"They saw how he transford into a literal Null. A Vesper."
The mont she said those words—
The entire round table stiffened.
The leaders, even those who had remained silent, had a shadow of unease in their eyes.
anwhile—
Max's mind reeled.
Veylin.
His transformation.
The term Null.
And now—Vesper?
Too much information at once.
Too many connections forming at once.
His body moved before he even realized it, standing up abruptly.
His voice was sharp, demanding—shocked.
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"Wait a minute—what does Veylin have to do with any of this?!"
His breath hitched slightly as his mind pieced together the implications.
"And more importantly—do you know why he turned into a Null?"
His eyes swept across the gathered leaders, searching for answers.
He had fought Veylin.
He had felt the unreal power radiating from him.
That wasn't normal.
That wasn't human.
---
Envoy Lucas exhaled, his gaze heavy as he finally answered.
"We aren't sure of everything, but…"
A pause.
Then he continued, his voice low, steady, serious.
"We received a ssage."
The air in the room turned ice-cold.
Max's hands tightened at his sides.
Lucas's expression didn't shift, but his next words sent a ripple of shock through the room.
"The ssage ca from the Middle Domain.
"It said that the Ascendants… can transform into Nulls."
Silence.
Complete, utter silence.
Lucas's voice grew even graver.
"Just like how Veylin transford."
Max's mind went blank.
That… wasn't possible.
That couldn't be possible.
And yet—it was.
Lucas sighed, rubbing his temple before continuing.
"But since communication between Domains is nearly impossible right now, we haven't received any further information."
His eyes flickered toward Max, dead serious.
"So we don't know if it's completely true or not."
Max's fists clenched.
But then Lucas spoke again—and this ti, the weight of his words pressed down on everyone in the room.
"But if it is true…"
His voice dropped to a near whisper.
"Then a human transforming into a Null is a very serious matter."
"Because we might not know who among us… is a Null in disguise."
Max froze.
His chest tightened, his thoughts spiraling.
If the Ascendants could beco Nulls…
If they had the ability to shed their humanity, to turn into sothing beyond human comprehension…
Then…
What about the war?
The war that happened 10,000 years ago?
The Nulls that had attacked humanity—were they always monsters?
Or were they once human?
His eyes widened in shock.
This changed everything.
Max's mind raced.
His eyes flickered as a thought struck him, urgent and imdiate.
He closed his eyes, focusing inward—towards the Dinsion of Spirit, where a familiar presence usually resided.
'Hey, Blob! Did you hear this?'
He waited.
No response.
His brows furrowed in concern.
'Blob? Are you there?'
Silence.
No reply ca.
He frowned seeing this.
'What happened to this guy?'
Blob should be able to hear him.
His connection with Blob was related to the Dinsion of Spirits..
But now—nothing.
It was as if Blob had completely disappeared.
Max's thoughts whirled with confusion, but before he could dig deeper—
Envoy Lucas's voice snapped him back to reality.
His tone was grave, filled with unmistakable urgency.
"Therefore, Max," he said, locking eyes with Max, making sure his words were heard and understood, "you better be prepared."
A heavy pause.
"Because there is a 100% chance Evan will undergo a Null transformation against you—just like Veylin did."
The mont those words left Lucas's mouth—
Max's expression turned deadly serious.
He had faced Veylin after his Null transformation.
The result?
Utter defeat.
He was outmatched in every way—strength, speed, regeneration, power.
'That raw strength… that blinding speed… and worst of all, that monstrous healing factor…'
Max's jaw tightened, grimacing at the mory.
But none of those things was what truly filled him with dread.
It was sothing far worse.
The mont Veylin had grabbed hold of him—
And started draining his soul directly from his body.
A shiver ran down Max's spine at the re thought of it.
He had never faced anything like that.
No one had ever managed to rip the soul directly from a physical body.
It was impossible.
Or at least—it should have been.
But Nulls could do it.
And according to Blob—Nulls could do even worse than that.
They could devour not only souls, but bodies, energy—everything.
A pit of unease ford in Max's stomach.
He couldn't face Evan unprepared.
He turned back to the leaders seated at the round table, his eyes filled with urgency.
"Last ti I fought Veylin," Max began, voice serious and heavy, "he started devouring my soul force directly from my body. I've heard Nulls can do even more than that."
A pause.
His eyes scanned the room, searching for answers, desperation creeping into his voice.
"Is there any way to stop them from doing that?"
The room fell dead silent.
Every leader looked at each other, their expressions darkening.
They had no easy answer—because what Max had described was sothing even they feared.
Finally, after a long silence, Envoy Lucas spoke, his voice grave, but calm and deliberate.
"There is no foolproof way. But those who have reached the Seeker Rank can form a layer of Vital Essence around their body called a Vital Shell. It's capable of protecting against such devouring abilities. Unfortunately, it's useless for you."
He shook his head, pity clear in his eyes.
"You're still only at the Apprentice Rank. Without reaching Seeker Rank, you can't form a Vital Shell. It's beyond your current capabilities."
Max's expression darkened, frustration creeping into his heart.
But just as he felt that weight pulling him down—
A voice cut through the gloom, sharp yet oddly eerie.
"I have a way."
Max turned, catching sight of the leader of the Black Lotus Guild, who was chuckling lightly, eyes gleaming with dark light.
"Others don't have a way, but that doesn't an I don't."
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