Maxi found himself once again in the endless black void. Silent. Infinite.
He looked around, heart steady but uneasy. He took a step forward… then another… and then many more. He walked for what felt like an eternity, the void never changing. Just blackness.
Until finally, a single spotlight broke through the nothingness—shining down on an old, prestigious coffee table. And on that table, a book.
Maxi ran.
He ran even though he knew he would never reach it. Just as he neared the edge of the light, shadowy hands erupted from the dark. They clawed at him, gripping his arms, legs, chest—pulling him back.
More hands appeared, their numbers endless. Maxi pushed forward, fighting, but it was useless. The void wanted him, and it got what it wanted.
He was consumed.
Maxi woke up with a quiet gasp, staring at the ceiling. He sighed and shook his head.
It had been a while since he'd had that dream.
He didn't miss it. Didn't love it. Didn't hate it either. It was something in between—a love-hate relationship that tugged at his soul.
Stretching with a yawn, Maxi rolled out of bed and went to take a bath, his mind already wandering to the day's lesson.
Today's the next section… he remembered. Journey Through the Realm of the Earthly Gods.
Colen had told him this was where the story of Lore and Oasis truly began to shine—where they started to sound like actual main characters in a novel. The kind of story he could only dream of being part of. Plot armor. Dumb plot luck. Constant dramatic tension.
A part of him wanted that life.
And a part of him didn't.
Of course, he wanted to be strong—strong enough to protect the people he loved. But overpowered abilities came with their own curses. Arrogance. Distance. Madness. The slow rot of power poisoning perspective.
If he were just given the power of a god, he feared he'd develop a god complex. Not on purpose. But from constant battle… from always needing to be stronger. He'd start looking down on others, seeing them as weak. Useless. Beings in need of protection rather than equals.
That's why, in a strange way, he was glad.
He was glad he didn't have some ridiculous system or OP blessing or fate-driven prophecy.
All he had was himself, his gods, and his mother's love.
And for now… that was enough.
Sure, he needed friends. Allies. But they would come. Eventually.
First—he had to survive. Live his life as the bastard son of the Bloodheart family.
After his bath, Maxi dressed in a crisp white shirt, brown pants, and a black waistcoat. He combed through his hair quickly and glanced toward his reading corner.
On the table lay his current book from the main library.
He dove into it, reading with sharp focus.
Two and a half hours passed like seconds. He finished two whole books and got halfway through a third before something interrupted him.
A knock.
"Come in," Maxi said, still staring at the pages as the door creaked open.
Angelina entered the room.
Her face looked tired, her usual sharpness softened. Her tail twitched, the fur standing on end like she'd been electrocuted.
Maxi sighed.
She was still traumatized from yesterday. The events had clearly lingered in her body, in her eyes, in the way she moved.
"Are you okay?" Maxi asked gently.
Angelina stared at him. Her voice came out annoyed and weak, like she was forcing strength that wasn't there.
"What do you think, young master?"
Maxi nodded, silently understanding. She wasn't in the mood.
He said nothing more—just picked up the book he was halfway through and returned to reading. Sometimes, comfort wasn't a matter of words. It was knowing when to speak, and more importantly, when not to.
He could've told her it was okay. That it wasn't her fault. That she didn't have to carry it alone.
But that would've just earned him a slap across the head—and honestly, Maxi wasn't in the mood for that today.
No, the smart move was to let her be. Let her sit with her anger and pain. Let her exist without forcing her to be fine.
He focused on the words again. He really was looking forward to the history lesson today.
The Journey Through the Realm of the Earthly Gods…
Maybe… maybe he'd ask Angelina about Tengen. But as he glanced at her—
She looked worse.
Her face was subtly twitching now, and her expression had shifted into something that bordered on anger. He could feel it—waves of spiritual energy radiating off her like heat from a furnace.
Maxi froze.
Mentally, he made an X with his hands.
Abort mission. Abort.
He nodded to himself and immediately closed his mouth.
No Tengen talk. Not now.
He returned to his book and read for another hour and a half. He finished two more books before finally stretching and standing up.
"Let's go to the main castle library," he said casually.
Angelina sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes as she stood. Her irritated expression hadn't softened—it had deepened.
Maxi gave her an awkward smile as they exited his small castle and walked toward the main one. He took a slow breath, mentally preparing himself for whatever strange presence or pressure the castle held today.
But then—
The doors swung open.
Angelina had beaten him to it. She walked in with no hesitation.
Maxi followed—and was instantly caught off guard.
At the top of the staircase stood a figure in an elaborate dress.
She wore a layered dress that shifted from light blue tulle to a deep, regal navy as it cascaded downward. The transition was smooth, like watching twilight bleed into night. Her hair was blonde, woven with streaks of both pale blue and deep ocean tones. Styled into a flawless chignon,elegant, not a strand was out of place.
Maxi only caught a glimpse of her before she turned and ascended the staircase. But it was enough . Enough to let maxi know she was one of Maxi's siblings.
He glanced at Angelina. She seemed taken aback for just a moment… but recovered quickly.
"Let's just go quickly," she muttered, turning away.
Maxi nodded and stepped inside, feeling the pressure of the main castle settle onto his shoulders like a weighted blanket.
But before he could even brace himself—
Angelina grabbed his wrist.
Without a word, she dragged him forward like a storm wind, straight toward the main castle library.
Maxi blinked, still processing the previous moment, when his attention was pulled again—this time from the left hallway.
Two figures were walking.
The first was a man with sharp, pointed ears. His hair was pure white, his skin as black as the night sky itself. He wore a sleeveless black shirt adorned with the Bloodheart family crest and matching black shorts decorated with white and red runes.
The second was taller. Red hair, tied back in a ponytail. He wore a white robe layered over a black undergown, black hakama pants, and wooden geta sandals with black socks. Two sheathed katanas rested at his hip.
They conversed casually, their voices low—but their presence? Their presence was oppressive.
Maxi felt his blood boil. His palms began to sweat. Being near them was like standing in the heart of a burning house—intense, suffocating, and wild.
But before he could even think too much, Angelina pulled him again, dragging him away.
Still reeling, Maxi had only one question in his mind
Were those the two people Colen had mentioned?