"Is this the Concept of Battle?" Max muttered, astonished. Even just standing there, doing nothing, he could faintly sense the will to battle pressing against his spirit. It wasn’t threatening—rather, it was inviting, like a call to arms for anyone bold enough to accept it. And that only ant one thing.
Soone in the Great Ruler Empire had truly comprehended the Concept of Battle—a Myth Grade concept. The rarest, the most difficult to grasp, yet among the strongest that existed in the world. Max clenched his fists slightly, his excitent rising.
If soone had left their will engraved into this place, then that person... must be one of the true giants of the Great Ruler Empire—or perhaps the last. Either way, Max couldn’t help but wonder—who was the legendary figure behind this Battle Hall?
As Max approached the grand structure of the Battle Hall, a sense of solemnity and significance settled over him. The place was bustling—hundreds of young geniuses and battle-hardened geniuses moving in and out through the massive, rune-inscribed gates that glowed faintly with power.
But amidst that flow, one thing stood out clearly: those who ca with elders or had just been granted the 1-star genius status had to go through a separate, heavily monitored entrance. That line moved slower, guarded by sentries and surveillance arrays, with a designated verification booth stationed to confirm their credentials.
Max quietly joined the line, waiting his turn while observing the variety of expressions—so excited, so nervous—on the faces around him.
When his turn finally ca, the woman at the booth glanced up with practiced indifference. "Proof of your identity," she requested in a calm, professional tone.
Max nodded and raised his wrist, tapping a few tis on his holowatch. A holographic profile appeared mid-air, clearly marked with the insignia of the Great Ruler Empire, listing his na, rank, and official genius status.
The woman gave the details a quick scan, her eyes flickering with subtle interest at his recent promotion before she gave a small nod. "You are good to go."
With that, Max stepped forward, past the threshold of the Battle Hall. Behind him, the system quietly recognized his identity and added him to its internal network. From now on, he wouldn’t need to stand in line again. As a verified genius under the Great Ruler Empire, the Battle Hall’s systems would open the path for him automatically.
Inside the vast hall, a massive black cube stood silently at its center, emanating a faint, mysterious hum. Its surface was smooth like obsidian, etched with faint lines of energy that pulsed with a slow rhythm, as if breathing.
Surrounding it, hundreds upon thousands of young geniuses from the Great Ruler Empire moved about with purpose—so entering the cube, others walking out, their expressions ranging from proud satisfaction to quiet frustration.
This was the Battle Hall, a sacred proving ground for the empire’s geniuses, and for once, Max blended into the crowd perfectly. Not a single person turned to gawk or whisper his na. It was a rare mont of peace, and Max welcod it.
’It’s good I ca here after reaching Master Rank,’ he thought quietly, his eyes scanning the crowd. ’If I had entered this place while still in the Expert Rank, it would’ve caused an uproar.’
He could already imagine the whispers, the stares, the challenges from arrogant geniuses seeking to trample an "unworthy" intruder. But now, he was one of them—just another Master Rank genius stepping into the battlefield of elites as a 1-star genius.
There wasn’t much else in the hall aside from the imposing black cube, no unnecessary decorations or distractions. Just the entrance to the realm of battles.
Without wasting a second more, Max walked steadily toward the cube, his footsteps calm, his expression resolute. As he reached the cube, his figure disappeared into the blackness, stepping into the trial that would either elevate him to a 2-star genius—or break him trying.
Max soon found himself standing alone inside a small, quiet white room. The walls were pristine, the air still, and the silence almost unnatural—as if the space itself was waiting for sothing.
Then, right before him, a translucent screen shimred into existence, hovering in mid-air. A soft chanical chi echoed as a ssage appeared across it:
[Would you like to use your authorized na in the Great Ruler Empire or choose sothing else?]
Max stared at the glowing text, his mind drifting for a second. He knew that using his real na might expose him unnecessarily.
Besides, this was a new realm, a place to test his strength anonymously. He didn’t want to carry expectations—just results.
"Na..." he muttered thoughtfully under his breath, his eyes narrowing slightly before the corner of his lips curled up. "I want to use a different na," he replied.
[State your na.]
Max smiled faintly. "White Death." He had long wanted to use that na in the Lower Domain during the ti he went inside the Battle Realm but he beca too famous to do that in the end.
There was a pause. The screen flickered softly before another set of ssages blinked into view.
[White Death... Na confird.]
[A genius of the Great Ruler Empire confird.]
[1-star genius confird.]
As those words faded away, a blue door slowly materialized to his right. The glow it emitted was soft yet radiant, drawing Max’s gaze with quiet authority. This was the entrance—the threshold into the Battle Realm.
Max didn’t rush. Instead, he reached into his spatial ring and pulled out a white mask. No slits for the eyes. No grooves or designs. No expressions. Just an eerie, featureless piece that seed to swallow light rather than reflect it. A mask devoid of identity.
He slid it onto his face, and the change was imdiate. From an observer’s perspective, it was almost unsettling—like watching a ghost wrap itself in silence. The mask was simple, yes, but that was what made it feel so unnatural. No patterns. No holes. No signs of humanity.
And then, without a word, Max—now White Death—turned and stepped through the glowing blue door into the unknown battles awaiting him beyond.
User Comments
0 comments from readers