Chapter 1035: Eyeing on Max
Lady Divine’s lips pressed tightly, her sharp eyes narrowing with concern. President William’s jaw was tight as stone, his silence heavy with thought. Several of the elders shifted uncomfortably, their unease palpable.
Not everyone, however, was convinced—or pleased.
Emperor Hermes’ expression grew dark, his eyes sharp as blades as he turned to Aden. "Are you telling us..." His voice dropped, cold and dangerous. "...that you’ve been spying on Max this entire time?"
Hermes’ tone grew heavier, edged with accusation. "From the way you speak, it’s as if you’ve been keeping track of him since the Lower Domain. Since the very moment he came into contact with the Mourning Depths. Tell me, Aden—how long has the Phoenix God Nation been keeping their eyes on Max Voidwalker?"
Aden turned his fiery gaze toward Hermes. His face was steady, but there was no hesitation in his reply. "We had to. Max came in direct contact with Mark. Every individual in the Lower Domain who has ever crossed paths with that devil has been monitored. It was necessary. Even my daughter and my wife had came in contact with Mark." His tone hardened, carrying the weight of centuries of vigilance. "But Max... Max turned out to be different. Special. Unlike any of the others."
His words echoed in the air, undeniable.
Hermes gave a slow nod, though his expression remained dark. Dissatisfaction simmered in his golden eyes. The truth was bitter—he understood the logic, but he did not like the method. The Four God Nation had always walked their own path, working closely only with the Hunter Association and the Obsidian Order. To them, the Seven Overlord Forces were pawns—indispensable when needed, discarded when not.
And now, hearing this blunt admission from Aden, Hermes felt that same disdain burning through.
Aden exhaled deeply, his fiery aura dimming for a moment as his shoulders weighed with the burden of recent events. "There is one thing we failed to anticipate," he admitted, his voice heavy. "Or perhaps I should say—it was neglected amidst the chaos of the demons." His gaze darkened. "The Lower Domain."
Silence spread across the group.
"Even though guardians were stationed there, they were never strong enough to withstand Mythical Rank or Divine Rank demons," Aden continued. "We poured all our focus into defending the Middle Domain, so much so that we overlooked the cracks forming below. And because of that negligence..."
He pressed his fingers against his forehead, his tone weighed with regret. "...too many lives were lost. An entire continent was destroyed."
The image of the Valora Continent’s ruin hung in the minds of everyone present—the corpses, the shattered lands, the sea of blood. A silent reminder of their failure.
Aden lowered his hand, his fiery eyes sharp once more. "Enough. What’s done is done. What matters now is preventing it from happening again." He turned to Lady Divine, his tone cutting through the heavy air. "Divine, keep an eye on Max. Watch for demons or Ascendants who might try to strike at him. We cannot afford to let anything happen to him." His last words rang with the utmost seriousness, carrying the weight of a command no one dared ignore.
Lady Divine studied him for a moment before giving a sharp nod. "Understood." With that, her figure blurred, vanishing into the night.
Aden then turned his gaze to the others, his presence burning like a silent flame that demanded obedience. "The rest of you—return to your duties. Strengthen your forces. Prepare for the war ahead."
President William and Hermes exchanged a glance before disappearing, their figures melting into the horizon. One by one, the remaining elders and representatives followed suit, until only Aden remained.
Aden let out a long breath, the weight of the meeting still heavy on his shoulders. His figure flickered once, then vanished into the horizon.
When he reappeared, it was inside a simple yet elegant room. The faint fragrance of sandalwood lingered in the air, and the soft glow of lantern light filled the chamber with warmth.
Behind a massive desk carved of blackwood, a young lady sat leisurely. Her long black hair spilled down her back like a river of silk, and in her hand she held a slice of apple, biting into it with calm indifference. She faced the large window opposite the desk, gazing out at the starlit night, so Aden could only see the curve of her back and the sharp outline of her silhouette.
Her presence, however, filled the entire room—quiet, yet commanding.
Aden bowed his head slightly, his expression still grim. "He agreed to enter the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain. But only on one condition—that he also be allowed to step into the Celestial Beast Temple."
The young lady chewed slowly, swallowing the piece of apple before speaking. Her voice was soft, clear, yet carried a chill that made Aden’s heart tighten. "Good. That place is precisely where Max should be right now. The geniuses of the Middle Domain—or of this entire planet—are no longer enough to pressure him. Only that secret domain, with its inheritances and trials, can forge him further." She nodded faintly, as though everything was unfolding according to her expectation.
Aden hesitated briefly, then added, "He also agreed to fight the twin demons."
The lady’s laugh was light but cold. "Let him fight." She placed the half-eaten apple slice on the plate beside her. "Your so-called council erred gravely when they chose to cage him. Imagine caging the apex predator of this world—ha! What a joke. Do they not understand? The moment they tried to bind him, they planted a seed of resentment in his heart."
Her tone sharpened slightly. "And a heart like his never forgets."
Aden frowned, his fiery aura flickering faintly around him. "But his infernal energy... From what I saw, he’s drowning in it. His heart is consumed by nothing but the will to kill, to slaughter. He’s like a ticking bomb, ready to explode at any moment. And yet..."
Aden paused, rubbing his temples with a weary sigh. "...strangely, he has it all under control. Perfect control. I don’t know if that is good or bad for him."