NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1221: Returning to Acaris!
"I will wait for you in the Divine Realm," Old Man First said with a gentle smile. His tone carried a calm finality, one that told Max he understood it was time to let him go. The old man had done all he could for now; keeping Max any longer would only hinder his journey.
Max looked at him curiously, a faint crease forming between his brows. "I don't know who you are," he said, his voice filled with confusion. "You have guided me and trained me all this time, yet you never once told me your name or who you truly are."
The old man chuckled softly, his eyes filled with amusement and a trace of mystery. "Let us say that I hold a rather respected position among the upper echelons of the Divine Realm," he replied. "You will understand what I mean once you ascend there. My name carries a weight that you will come to recognize soon enough. For now, think of me as a teacher who merely nudged you in the right direction."
His expression turned slightly serious as he added, "But remember this well, Max. You are only my disciple in name for now. To truly become my disciple, you must seek me out when you arrive in the Divine Realm. Only then will I acknowledge you completely."
He raised his hand and made a sweeping motion through the air. Space rippled before them, and a circular portal formed, glowing faintly with light that resembled the surface of calm water reflecting the stars. The air around it hummed with power.
"This is your way home," Old Man First said as the portal stabilized.
Max stared at it for a long moment before turning back to the old man. His heart felt heavy, filled with both gratitude and respect. Then, in one smooth motion, he bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master, for teaching me and showing me the path of time. Without your guidance, I would have been lost in its chaos. I promise I will not disappoint you in the future."
Old Man First's face softened, and for the first time, the playful tone left his voice. "Before you go, allow me to give you one last piece of advice," he said, his eyes gleaming with wisdom earned from ages of experience. "Knowing the future is not always a blessing. Many who have glimpsed it were consumed by the desire to change it. Often, the very act of resisting what one has seen becomes the reason that future unfolds as it did. Remember this, Max: the future is not a chain but a river with countless streams. What you saw is merely one of those streams, not the entire river. Do not dwell too deeply on it, or you will be swept into the current you fear."
Max listened in silence, his expression serious. The words sank deep into him, heavier than any lesson he had learned before. "I will keep that in mind, Master," he said firmly, his voice steady. He bowed once more, lower this time, before stepping into the shimmering light of the portal. His figure was slowly enveloped, and then he vanished entirely, leaving behind only the faint echo of his departing presence.
Old Man First watched the space where Max had stood moments ago. His expression turned contemplative, his eyes reflecting the endless expanse of the starry sky. "His state of mind has changed greatly since he saw that glimpse of the future," he murmured to himself, his voice low and thoughtful. "Whether that change will guide him toward wisdom or lead him to ruin... only time will tell."
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Back in Acaris, a faint ripple of light tore through the still air of a dense forest. The silence of the woods broke as a swirling portal emerged between the towering trees, scattering leaves and dust in every direction. From within that radiant distortion, Max stepped out slowly, his boots touching the moss-covered ground as the portal began to close behind him.
"I am back," he murmured, a small smile forming on his face. The sense of familiarity, the smell of soil, and the whisper of wind through the trees all carried a comforting weight. But that brief feeling of relief did not last long.
His expression changed instantly as his Three Dimensional Body began to pulse violently, reacting to the overwhelming surge of energy nearby. The space around him distorted slightly as if warning him of danger. Max narrowed his eyes and focused, and what he saw made his blood run cold.
From beyond the thick forest came the rhythmic sound of footsteps—thousands of them. When he looked closely, countless figures were moving through the undergrowth in his direction. They were humans, their faces pale and hollow, their bodies thin and frail. Chains bound their wrists together, and thicker chains connected them in long rows like lines of livestock being herded. The metallic clatter of their restraints mixed with the groans of exhaustion.
Leading them were demons. Their skin was dark and coarse, their horns gleamed faintly, and the faint smell of sulfur and corruption lingered wherever they passed. The demons carried whips crackling with dark energy, occasionally lashing them at the humans to keep them moving. The sight of such humiliation and cruelty made Max's blood boil.
'These demons…!' His pupils contracted sharply, his eyes radiating cold fury. A violent aura began to leak from his body, making the air tremble. But in the next instant, he forced himself to calm down. Losing control now would only bring chaos. He drew a deep breath and activated his Black Soul, letting its power envelop him completely. His presence disappeared, merging with the shadows around him until not even his aura could be sensed.
His Blue Soul had long since transformed into a Black Soul when his clone was created, and the concealment ability it granted him surpassed even his previous limits. From his hidden vantage point, Max continued to observe the scene.
'These demons are taking the humans somewhere,' he thought, his gaze following the endless procession disappearing into the forest's depths. Countless questions raced through his mind. Had humanity lost the war? What had happened to the Four God Nation—the last bastion of resistance in the Middle Domain? How had things deteriorated to this extent while he was gone?