The next morning, Max stood before the towering Mission Hall of the Great Ruler Empire, his gaze fixed on the grand structure with a sense of quiet determination.
The air buzzed with activityâgeniuses came and went, some fresh from completing missions, others scanning through available tasks with sharp, calculating eyes.
Max knew that in just a few hours, he and the others would be setting out for the Hundred Battle Regions, the most dangerous yet opportunity-filled land in the entire Middle Domain.
But before that, he had something else to do. His goal had always been simpleâgather as much PQ as possible and use it to stockpile mana stones.
With those, he could rapidly strengthen himself without depending on anyone else. It was a method that suited him, low risk and high return, especially with the abilities of his black flames.
"At least until I reach the peak of Master Rank," Max muttered, his voice low as he stepped into the Mission Hall.
The interior of the hall was as impressive as its exterior. A wide chamber with a ceiling that seemed to stretch into the sky, it was lined with dozens of tall crystal pillars that emitted a soft bluish glow.
Floating in mid-air were large holographic mission boardsâeach one displaying hundreds of missions in vivid detail. Colored lights and tags hovered over them, indicating mission types, regions, deadlines, and most importantly, the minimum star status required to accept them.
Maxâs eyes scanned the boards swiftly, his gaze flicking past escort and collection missions, past puzzles and delivery quests. What caught his attention were the beast hunting assignments
There were many of them, and they came in all typesâkill this species of beast and bring back its core, harvest that oneâs hide, hunt down rare mutated variants and deliver specific body parts to the Great Ruler Empireâs research division.
It was a lucrative category of missions and one that didnât require him to work with others if he didnât want to.
Max quickly began accepting several of these, making sure they were located along the general route they would be taking toward the Hundred Battle Regions.
With his strength and unique elemental combinations, beast-hunting was efficient, and the rewards were worth the effort. Whatâs more, the missions didnât need to be completed immediatelyâso long as he delivered the required parts, even weeks later, PQ would be granted.
That flexibility was what he needed. He made mental notes as he accepted each one, his holowatch pinging quietly with confirmation messages. The glow from the mission boards reflected in his eyes as he made his final selections.
After collecting the missions that suited his path and goal, Max didnât waste any more time. With his holowatch storing the details of each quest, he turned around and strode out of the Mission Hall, the doors sliding open automatically as he exited into the bright mid-morning light.
The streets of the Ruler City bustled with activity, but Max paid them little mind. His destination was clearâthe main entrance gate of the Great Ruler Empire, a place fortified with tall crystalline spires and guarded by elite members, where only high-ranking geniuses and important individuals passed through freely.
It was also the place where he and the other five geniuses under Lyraâs faction had agreed to gather before they departed toward the legendary and dangerous Hundred Battle Regions.
As Max arrived, he saw the others already waiting near the edge of the shimmering portal platform that connected to void travel routes. Lena noticed him first, and with a playful smile, she raised an eyebrow and said, "Youâre late."
Max smirked and lifted his hands slightly in mock surrender. "I tend to lose track of time when Iâm focused. It happens often."
"Heh," Arlen chuckled from beside one of the teleportation rings. With a quick tap on his holowatch, a sleek, dark-blue void shuttle materialized behind him, hovering silently with a soft hum. "No problem. Weâll ride in one shuttle together for now. In case of emergencies, we can split up and use our private ones."
The group nodded in agreement, including Max. Just last night, Lyra had personally handed him a void shuttleâa sleek, high-performance one marked with her familyâs crest.
Max didnât refuse the gift. He knew how essential personal void travel was for survival and exploration in the Middle Domain, especially in the ever-chaotic Hundred Battle Regions. It wasnât a luxury hereâit was a necessity.
Without wasting further time, they all stepped onto the shuttle one by one. The entrance slid open with a soft hiss, and the interior welcomed them with cushioned seats, a central interface for navigation, and a broad window displaying the open sky. Max took a seat near the window as the last to board, and as soon as the hatch closed behind them, the shuttle pulsed with energy.
"Letâs go," Arlen commanded, and with that, the void shuttle lifted smoothly into the air. In a blink, it surged forward and vanished into the sky, cutting through layers of cloud and sound barriers as it headed toward the unpredictable lands of the Hundred Battle Regions, where their true journey would begin.
***
Inside the sleek void shuttle, the atmosphere was light and friendly despite the daunting destination ahead.
As the craft soared through the skies at high speed, Arlen stood near the central interface and addressed everyone with a calm yet authoritative tone. "Since one can register at the Hunter Association to fight Nulls at any time, weâll first head to the Berserk Lightning Region. Once weâre done there, weâll move toward the Hunter Association and complete our registration."
Max looked up from his seat and nodded gratefully. "Brother Arlen, thanks," he said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. He hadnât expected the group to prioritize his request, especially when they had their own tasks to handle.
Arlen waved him off casually, but before he could say anything, Varekâa bulky, broad-shouldered young man with a booming voice and a grin that made him seem like an older brother to everyoneâclapped Max on the back with a laugh. "Hah! Brother Max, we shared a drink last night, didnât we? Thereâs no thanks between buddies. From now on, youâre one of us."
Lena, the calm and composed genius with sharp eyes and a disarming smile, nodded in agreement. "Yes. Youâre under Leader Lyraâs team now, just like us. That means youâre one of us. And we always take care of each other. Thatâs how our faction works."
Hearing their words, Max couldnât help but smile. He wasnât used to this kind of camaraderieânot anymore. Deep down, he knew a day would come when he would outgrow them, when the path he walked would lead him far beyond their strength and their reach.
But that didnât mean he wouldnât cherish the moments he had now. Max had learned over time that companions were rare in this worldâtrue ones even rarer. And though he wasnât the type to trust easily, he could still believe, if only because Lyra had chosen them as her core team... just like she had chosen him.
With that warm thought, the group settled into casual conversation. They joked, shared stories of their past missions, and discussed the chaotic regions theyâd soon face.
The hours passed quickly inside the smooth, humming shuttle as they cut across the vast skies of the Middle Domain. The clouds outside darkened as they approached their destination, and faint sparks of lightning began dancing in the distant skies.
Finally, Arlen stood again and looked out through the wide viewing window. "Weâre here," he announced. "The Berserk Lightning Region."