The red lightning of the Storm King's inheritance erupted from his body, flashing outward in violent arcs that painted the square in crimson brilliance. Thunder rumbled in every corner of the space as the lightning encircled Max, making him the very heart of a raging tempest.

He called forth Heaven's Wraith, the inheritance's most destructive technique, and let the lightning flow into his clenched fist.

He planted his feet firmly on the ground, his stance unwavering, and met Victor's charge head-on. His right arm tightened, every muscle and tendon aligning with perfect precision, and his fist shot forward to collide with the Azure Dragon Fist.

The moment their fists connected, the world itself seemed to break.

A deafening boom tore through the square as the force of their clash shook the heavens and the earth. The ground beneath them crumbled, exploding outward as the square was reduced to dust that could not withstand the magnitude of their power.

One side of the battlefield became a sea of red lightning, surging violently and annihilating everything it touched. The other side shone with the azure brilliance of Victor's dragon bloodline, devouring the world around it with scales of light. Red and azure fought for dominance, clashing in a dazzling spectacle that left the sky trembling.

The energy storm raged violently until one figure was hurled backward, his body forced out of the blinding collision before the light began to fade. When the chaos settled and the haze cleared, all eyes turned to the one who had been pushed back.

Victor stood several paces away, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. His right arm trembled uncontrollably, the scales along it cracked and faintly glowing. Yet despite the damage, his face broke into laughter. "Good," he said, his voice loud and unshaken. "You truly have the strength to lead us. I have no complaints." He laughed once more, his tone filled not with bitterness but with admiration, and turned back to rejoin Gareth.

Max allowed himself a small smile as he watched Victor's reaction. He appreciated the man's openness. Victor was not like others who clung to pride and refused to accept defeat. He acknowledged strength when he saw it, and that made him someone worthy of respect.

"Damn, sister, this Max is frighteningly strong. He forced Victor back in a contest of pure strength," Chris muttered, his voice carrying both shock and disbelief. As one of the proud twins of the White Tiger God Nation, he knew exactly how much power Victor's Azure Dragon Fist carried, and yet Max had pushed him back.

"He truly is strong," Christine replied softly. A gentle smile touched her lips as her eyes lingered on Max, admiration clear in her expression.

Chris turned toward her with a look that was half-pleading and half-accusing. "Sister, don't tell me you've fallen in love with this Max kid already?" His tone cracked like he was on the verge of tears.

Christine's cheeks flushed a delicate red, and she gave a small laugh that betrayed her embarrassment. "How did you know?" she asked, though her gaze never left Max. "Isn't he incredible? So young, yet already so strong. How could I not be impressed by someone like him?"

Chris let out a long sigh, his shoulders sagging. "But I heard Max is already Alice's boyfriend. How could he possibly look at you in that situation?"

Christine flicked her hair back and gave him a playful, scolding smile. "Chris, how can you be so foolish, even though you are my twin? Do you not understand? Geniuses like Max are never satisfied with a single woman. With his strength, his charm, and his future, there will always be more. And when that happens, I will make certain I am the first among them."

Chris could only stare at her, his mouth opening but no words coming out. He had always known his sister carried a fondness for young and powerful geniuses, but she had never shown this kind of conviction. In the past, she admired many but dismissed them just as quickly because none matched her standards. Now, however, as she gazed at Max, Chris realized she had finally found someone who stirred her heart in a way the others never had.

"He is very strong," Seraphina of the Phoenix God Nation said at that moment, her eyes fixed on Max as she nodded in acknowledgment. Her voice was calm, yet even she could not conceal the satisfaction she felt in seeing him prove himself. She had heard of Max through Alice's stories, but listening to second-hand accounts was entirely different from witnessing his power firsthand. The clash with Victor had left no room for doubt. Max's strength was real, and it carried the weight of a leader.

Gareth, one of the Azure Dragon God Nation's prodigies, narrowed his eyes as he studied Max carefully. He could clearly sense the faint resonance of dragon blood in Max's body, though it was not identical to his own. It felt deeper, wilder, and more primal. That unsettled him, because the Azure Dragon line prided itself on purity.

"His bloodline is different," Gareth thought grimly, his jaw tightening. "It is stronger than ours. If I cannot surpass him, then I will forever stand in his shadow."

Beside him, Victor, still recovering from his clash, gave a small laugh under his breath as if amused at Gareth's expression. He had tested Max and been pushed back, but he felt no resentment. Instead, there was relief. At least their leader truly had the strength to justify the position.

Edric of the Black Tortoise God Nation stood with his arms folded, his face calm and unreadable. The bowl-cut hairstyle that Max had found laughable earlier did nothing to lessen the steady gravity of his aura. He watched Max in silence, his eyes as deep as the ocean. Inside, however, a ripple passed through his thoughts.

"To stop Victor with a single blow, even while only standing at the Legend Rank. He is dangerous. If his strength continues to grow at this pace, none of us will be able to match him when the time comes." For Edric, it was not admiration that filled his heart, but a sharpened wariness.

Daniel of the Black Lotus Guild lowered his head slightly, his eyes flickering with pride. Unlike the others, he already knew of Max's true identity. To see his guild master display his power openly stirred something fierce within him.

"With Guild Master here, none of them can threaten us," Daniel thought with conviction. His respect for Max only deepened, for now the world itself could witness the strength he had already sworn loyalty to.

Among the crowd, murmurs spread like wildfire. Some of the lesser geniuses who had dreamed of challenging Max felt their confidence crumble. They could barely withstand Victor's aura when he had unleashed his Azure Dragon Fist. To think that Max had faced it head-on and sent Victor back was enough to silence the doubts of all but the most prideful.

Christine, still gazing at Max with open admiration, leaned closer to her brother. "He has already taken the acknowledgment of Victor, and now even the others cannot look at him the same way," she whispered. "This is how a true leader should be."

Chris sighed, unable to respond. Part of him wanted to argue, but even he could not deny what he had just seen.

The square now felt heavier, the air charged with tension and awe. Every prodigy present knew that the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain was not a place where weakness could survive, and for the first time, they began to believe that with Max at their head, they might truly have a chance to contend against the monsters from other worlds.

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