Max remained silent.

His mind raced, searching for a way out of this predicament.

Never—not even once—had he expected anyone to question his identity.

He had been meticulous.

Painstakingly cautious about anything that could hint at his connection to the Voidwalkers.

Every step.

Every interaction.

Every trace of his existence—all carefully curated to avoid suspicion.

And, as if fate itself had shielded him, even his blood didn't match that of his sister.

By all logic, there should have been no reason for anyone to link him to Freya.

Yet—

Here he was.

Standing before Aurelia Fireborne, leader of the Phoenix Order, facing the very question he had feared the most.

'Just because my talent is above hers?'

Max's pulse quickened.

But his face?

Unreadable.

He couldn't afford to falter. Not now.

Taking a steady breath, he spoke—his tone calm, controlled.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

His gaze met Aurelia's, unwavering.

"But I am not who you think I am. I am Max Morgan—not a Voidwalker."

His voice carried just enough confusion, as if he were genuinely baffled by the accusation.

Then, without hesitation—

"If that's all you wanted to ask—"

He turned around.

"I'll be taking my leave."

Aurelia watched as Max walked toward the door, a small smile forming on her lips.

"Don't take my words to heart," she said, her tone light yet laced with meaning. "After all, it's just an assumption at this point."

Then, her voice shifted—turning sharper.

"But I must warn you… Do not mistake my daughter's simplicity for ignorance. If I can piece this together, then she might have her own suspicions as well."

Max paused at the threshold, his hand resting on the door.

For a brief moment—he considered her words.

Then—without turning back—

"I'll keep that in mind."

With that, he left.

Aurelia remained seated, her gaze lingering on the now-closed door.

Her smile faded.

Her expression grew solemn.

'The ability to fight ten levels above one's rank…'

Even in the Four God Nations, such a feat was unheard of. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire

She leaned back in her chair, deep in thought.

'Max Morgan… your talent knows no bounds.'

Her fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.

'And if I can see this—'

Her eyes narrowed.

'What about the rest of the world?'

***

Alice stepped forward, her eyes locked onto Max as he exited the Hall of Elders.

Something about his expression felt off.

"What did my mother say?"

Max didn't answer immediately. His brows were furrowed, his mind elsewhere.

Alice's frown deepened.

"What happened? Did she scold you?"

Still no response.

Her concern grew.

Then—

Max finally looked at her.

And forced a small smile.

"It's nothing. Your mother just gave me a deadline to reach Adept Rank… which I think is way too soon."

Alice sighed in relief.

"Yeah, that sounds like her. But don't take it too seriously. She says things like that just to push me forward… even when she doesn't really mean them."

Max nodded. His face held a smile.

But his thoughts were elsewhere.

Something was weighing on him.

Alice could tell.

Yet—

She didn't press.

Max stretched his arms slightly.

"Alice, I'm tired. I'll see you later."

Alice studied him for a moment.

Then nodded.

"Alright, rest up. We'll meet at our usual place tomorrow."

Max nodded awkwardly before turning to leave, ready to retreat to his room and process everything.

But just as he took a step—

The doors to the Hall of Elders swung open.

Aurelia stepped out.

Her sharp gaze landed on him immediately.

"I forgot to mention—The Envoy is expecting you tomorrow. Be ready in the morning. I'll take you there myself."

Max's brows furrowed.

"Are the four families also involved in this?"

Aurelia nodded.

"Every major power in the East Region will be present. Tomorrow isn't just about the Envoy meeting you… it's the official welcoming ceremony for them."

Max exhaled slowly.

So it wasn't just a private meeting.

It was a full-scale gathering.

"Alright, I'll be there in the morning."

Just as he finished speaking—

Alice stepped forward, her tone laced with frustration.

"Mother, why didn't you tell me this before?"

Aurelia shot her a cold glare.

"Because I won't allow you to go."

Alice stiffened.

"But Mother—"

"No buts." Aurelia's voice was firm. "You're too weak to be there."

Alice clenched her fists.

Aurelia's gaze softened slightly.

"The King of the West's birthday is in four months. Use that time wisely—cultivate to the peak of Apprentice Rank. If you do, I promise to take you there. You wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to meet Princess Aveline, would you?"

Alice bit her lip.

Then, reluctantly—

She nodded.

Max was about to say something to Alice—

But then—

A sudden shift in the air.

A crushing force descended from above.

His instincts screamed.

His head snapped up.

The sky—

Pitch black.

The clouds churned violently, swallowing all traces of light.

And the pressure—

Overwhelming.

A suffocating weight settled over the entire East Region.

Weaker experts—struggling to even stand.

Their breaths turned ragged, their bodies trembling under the sheer force of it.

This wasn't normal.

This wasn't natural.

Something was coming.

Aurelia stepped forward.

"Stay behind me. Both of you."

Her voice was calm, but urgent.

Her aura flared—golden flames bursting to life around her.

A shield of energy wrapped around Max and Alice, keeping the crushing pressure at bay.

Max's eyes remained locked on the sky.

'What the hell is descending upon the East Region?'

The entire East Region was in turmoil.

From the four great families to the five major guilds, every leader stood in silence—faces dark, expressions grim.

All eyes turned to the sky, where the suffocating pressure radiated like an invisible storm.

They all knew.

There was only one person in the East Region capable of something like this.

Somewhere, within an enormous estate, a golden villa stood at the heart of an expansive garden.

A middle-aged man stood at the balcony—broad-shouldered, his dark red hair neatly tied back.

His face remained calm, but his eyes—

Sharp. Piercing. Unwavering.

Like the others, he too, was staring at the sky.

His frown deepened.

"This pressure…"

His voice was low, but the weight behind his words was undeniable.

"It surpasses the peak of Expert Rank, yet at the same time… it doesn't."

His fists clenched slightly.

"Someone here… is dangerously close to reaching Master Rank?"

A pause.

Then—

Shock.

"How is this possible?!"

The sky twisted—black clouds merging, swirling, converging.

Then—

A face formed.

A massive, ominous visage loomed over the entire East Region.

The sight sent a chill down the spines of countless experts.

Because that face—

It was unmistakable.

Cruel. Unforgiving. A harbinger of slaughter.

The Young Monarch.

Gasps echoed across the region.

Panic spread like wildfire.

Then, his voice thundered—

Deep. Unyielding.

"Where is Aurelia? Show yourself!"

The words rippled through the heavens, shaking the very foundation of the land.

Max's frown deepened.

'Looking for her?'

His gaze shifted to Aurelia.

But she had already stepped forward.

Her aura surged, blazing with an intensity that pushed back against the crushing pressure.

Then—

She spoke.

"I am right here."

The eyes within the swirling black clouds locked onto Aurelia—

Cold. Unwavering. Absolute.

Then—

He spoke.

"You have two choices."

The pressure thickened, suffocating even the strongest experts in the region.

"Cut off all ties with Max Morgan…"

A pause.

Then, his next words shook the very sky itself.

"Or… I shall come for the Phoenix Flames myself."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay