A mont later, Max strode into the grand hall alongside Princess Lyra. His sharp pinkish-red eyes swept the chamber, taking in the rows of elders with their flowing robes and dignified auras, the towering protectors standing like statues of iron, and the five gathered geniuses whose power pulsed through the air like a living thing.
’So many elders and geniuses gathered here.’ He hadn’t anticipated the sheer magnitude of the assembly that awaited him here, nor the solemn tension hanging over the hall.
anwhile, as the echo of his footsteps fell into the hush, every gaze in the hall turned toward Max, so sharp with curiosity, others tinged with silent judgnt.
To all present, Princess Lyra was a figure of imnse renown—the second princess of the Great Ruler Empire, as brilliant in strategy as she was formidable in strength. There wasn’t a single person in the Empire who didn’t know her na.
But while Lyra’s presence commanded respect, it was the unfamiliar young man walking a step behind her that now gripped everyone’s attention, stirring a wave of whispers that rustled through the air like wind across parchnt.
It was Seraphina Emberfall who finally broke the silence, folding her arms as her eyes narrowed with open curiosity. "Princess Lyra, who is this person beside you?" she asked, her tone casual yet edged with genuine interest. She was one of the geniuses under Lyra’s faction, and her familiarity allowed her to speak with a boldness others would not dare.
Lyra smiled faintly, as though she had expected this question all along. "He? He is Max Morgan. He will also enter the secret domain with you all." Her voice was calm, as if she were rely ntioning the ti of day rather than dropping a stone into a still lake.
And the ripples of that stone spread instantly. Every person in the hall seed to stiffen in astonishnt, their eyes darting from Lyra to Max and back again. Even the usually composed faces of the elders shifted in quiet surprise. The five geniuses, Alaric Stormrider, Seraphina Emberfall, Kael Drakemantle, Elara Frostveil, and Lucan Goldwind, stared at Max with expressions ranging from disbelief to scrutiny.
Nobody had anticipated that Max, a man whose aura still lingered at the Master Rank would be the final piece of the team they’d all been waiting for. In a world where rank was everything, where Legend Rank geniuses were the minimum expected to step into a deadly secret domain, the idea of a Master Rank genius joining them seed, at first blush, almost absurd.
Alaric Stormrider arched a brow. "Princess... are you certain? A Master Rank expert... in a domain crawling with Legend Rank geniuses?" His tone was asured but couldn’t quite conceal his skepticism.
Kael Drakemantle gave a low hum, arms folded across his chest, scales faintly shimring along his skin. "Unless he’s hiding sothing truly monstrous, this seems... reckless."
Other geniuses also showed dissatisfaction.
"How could soone in the Master Rank is entering a secret domain where Legend Rank experts like us would be all around him?"
"Who cares? With his strength he would die the mont he enters the secret domain."
"I am wondering how did he make Princess Lyra agree to him entering the secret domain."
"Who is he even? I haven’t heard of soone nad Max Morgan like ever in our empire."
The geniuses gathered in the hall all of them a 3-star geniuses couldn’t help but murmured in suspicion of Max’s identity.
But Max rely t each gaze without flinching, the corner of his lips lifting into a faint, confident smile. Though he felt the weight of dozens of powerful auras pressing down on him, there was no fear in his eyes—only the calmness.
Princess Lyra, sensing the growing tension, lifted her hand, her voice sharp and clear. "Enough. I understand your doubts, but I have chosen Max for a reason. You would do well to rember that strength in our world is not always asured purely by rank. I stand by his inclusion."
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The silence that followed was thick as iron. Though the doubts didn’t entirely fade from the gazes of the assembled geniuses and elders, none dared challenge Lyra further—not openly, at least.
Protector Garlan grunted and cracked his knuckles. "He’d better prove worth the trouble. Otherwise, the secret domain will eat him alive."
Protector Seraphine simply inclined her head, eyes glinting coldly. "If the Princess vouches for him, he deserves the chance to stand among us."
Emperor Hers tilted his head slightly, his eyes glinting with curiosity as he asked, "Is he the one you recomnded?"
Princess Lyra gave a gentle nod, her face calm and confident. "Yes, he’s the one I was telling you about a week ago." Then she turned toward Max, her voice softening as she made the introduction. "Max, this is my father."
Max’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden ntion of the emperor, and he quickly stepped forward, lowering his head in a respectful bow. "Junior greets the Emperor," he said solemnly.
Emperor Hers looked him over with a asured gaze and finally gave a small nod, a faint smile touching his lips. "So, you’re Max? Lyra has spoken of you. You’re quite impressive."
Max lifted his head slightly, trying to hide the slight nervousness in his voice as he responded, "It’s an honor to be praised by the Emperor."
Hers gave another approving nod, but before anyone could say more, Lyra turned her gaze toward the First Elder and her father and asked, "Shall we depart?"
But the mont hung in the air for only a second before a voice, sharp and filled with disdain, cut through the silence. "With all due respect, Princess Lyra, this kid isn’t qualified to enter the secret domain." It was Kael Drakemantle, who stood a little apart from the group, his arms crossed and an arrogant expression on his face as he shot Max a contemptuous look.
His voice carried an edge of scorn as he continued, "If we send soone still at the Master Rank into a secret domain crawling with Legend Rank experts, we’ll be humiliating ourselves in front of the six other great forces. People will mock us and look down on our faction. I strongly suggest we pick soone already at the Legend Rank instead."
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