Max stood still, the silence stretching between them. Then, slowly, he turned to Blob, his voice calm but serious.
"Can you tell ," he asked, "at what point do I really need to start worrying about this soul problem I've got?"
Blob floated closer, his usually expressive face uncharacteristically grave.
"You need to worry about it right now, kid," he said bluntly. "Every ti your strength increases, the pressure on your soul increases too. I've already told you—you're living on borrowed ti. One wrong step, one sudden breakthrough… and you could collapse. Permanently."
Max frowned but didn't argue. He understood the risks. He just didn't have any options inside the Mourning Depths.
"I get that," he said after a pause. "But I can't go searching for a solution while I'm still trapped in this cursed place. Not until I get out. So… until then, can you tell what rank I'll probably be okay up to? Just so I have a general idea."
Blob looked at Max, clearly unhappy with the compromise. But after a mont, he sighed and floated closer.
"Fine," he muttered.
He lifted his hand and gently pressed it against Max's forehead. A soft golden glow blood from his palm, flowing into Max like warm mist. Blob closed his eyes for a second, scanning Max's internal condition carefully.
After a few breaths, he pulled his hand away.
"I can't guarantee anything," he said, his tone still heavy, "but based on what I saw… you should be more or less fine while you're in the Adept Rank."
Max's shoulders relaxed a little, but only for a mont.
"However," Blob continued, "because your battle prowess is already freakishly high, the mont you step into Seeker Rank—and I an the mont—this condition of yours will worsen drastically."
He hovered closer, eting Max's gaze. "In the worst-case scenario, you won't just collapse. You'll fall into a coma—or worse. Sothing even I might not be able to fix."
Max absorbed the words in silence, his expression unreadable.
"So you're saying I need to find a cure before I reach Seeker Rank," he said.
Blob nodded firmly. "Exactly. If you don't, then whatever happens next… no one can predict."
Max let out a long breath and glanced down at his hands. They were steady. For now.
"Until Seeker Rank, huh…" he muttered. "That doesn't give much ti. But it's better than nothing."
He already knew his leveling speed was faster than most. Way faster. He wasn't going to get a year or two like others might.
"…So about half a year," he estimated. "That's what I've got—if I'm lucky."
Blob nodded again, this ti more quietly. "Depends entirely on how fast you level up in Adept Rank."
Max stood in silence for a few seconds, deep in thought.
Then he shook his head, brushing off the heavy weight that was beginning to settle in his chest.
"Alright," he said, lifting his gaze and straightening his posture. "I've decided."
He looked ahead into the fog-filled distance, where danger and answers both waited.
"Let's go find Alice."
Without waiting for a reply, Max started walking, his steps steady, determination slowly hardening his expression.
Blob watched him for a mont, then let out a soft sigh.
"…You really don't know how to take it easy, huh?" he mumbled to himself, floating after Max. His eyes remained sharp, scanning the fog-covered terrain for any sign of movent—ever on the lookout for infernal threats lurking in the dark.
---
Sowhere deep within the Mourning Depths, a lone squad made their way slowly through the thick, choking fog that clung to the ground like a second skin. The air was heavy, each breath they took tasting faintly of ash and rot. The oppressive silence made even the softest footsteps sound like echoes.
This squad… was composed of Max's closest companions.
But at the mont, they all looked drained.
Their faces were pale, sweat matted their brows, and their steps were heavy—evidence of how taxing the journey had beco. No one had spoken for so ti, each person focused on preserving their energy as they trudged through the cursed terrain.
Then finally—
"Are we inside the 1,500-mile forbidden zone yet?" Crown Prince Aelric asked, his voice low but firm as he looked ahead at the hunched figure leading them.
The old man, a senior guide sent from the Divine Palace, didn't stop walking.
"Almost," he said quietly, his voice barely audible over the crunching of their boots. "We're close now. Another few miles and we'll cross the threshold."
Aelric gave a slight nod. "And after that… you'll leave us, right?"
The old man nodded again. "I can't go any deeper, not into the heart of the forbidden zone. It's off-limits even for . But don't worry. When you return from whatever adventure you're seeking, I'll be waiting at the edge. And by the ti you do return… most of the infernal beings will have slipped back into their deep slumber."
He paused for a mont before adding, "The eruption stirs them awake, but only for so long."
Aelric's jaw tightened. "Let's hope you're right."
He turned his gaze forward again, focusing on the path ahead.
Nearby, Alia walked beside Alice, her steps more careful after the encounter with that oppressive, world-shaking pressure they'd all endured not long ago.
"Alice," Alia said softly, "thank you again. For shielding us… when that awful pressure hit. I don't think we'd all still be standing if not for your phoenix flas."
Alice smiled faintly, brushing a few strands of hair from her face.
"Hehe, I'm just glad I was useful," she replied, modestly.
Alia gave her a grateful look before moving ahead.
But peace never lasted long in this group.
Jack, ever the curious one, suddenly slid up beside Alice, his expression sneaky, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"So… um… is it true that you and Max…"
Alice's face turned red almost instantly.
She didn't reply.
Didn't even look at him.
Instead, she quickened her pace, walking ahead with her gaze fixed straight ahead, putting as much distance between herself and Jack as possible.
Jack blinked, surprised by the reaction.
Then—
A sharp voice behind him cut through the tension.
"Why would you ask sothing like that?" Alia shot him a glare that could've pierced stone, her eyes narrowed dangerously.
Jack winced, raising his hands in defense. "I was just curious…"
He gave a weak laugh.
Alia rolled her eyes. "Curious or not, learn to shut up once in a while."
Jack mumbled sothing inaudible under his breath and wisely fell back in the group.
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