"That is also true," Nina said at last, her voice solemn and steady. Her grip on the Fate Compass tightened as she continued. "Many of the top geniuses who carried a golden crown have hunted down others like themselves, killing them to seize their crowns. By doing so, they increased their chances of being chosen as a disciple by one of the seven lords of the secret domain. This is something that has happened every time the secret domain has opened."

"Interesting," Max muttered, his gaze distant as his mind sank into thought. He had never imagined that the crowns could be accumulated, yet Nina's words made it clear. The secret domain itself encouraged such brutal competition, allowing those chosen to rise by destroying others like them. The crown was not only a blessing but also a curse, a mark that painted its bearer as both hunter and hunted.

He realized now that the golden crown was the most coveted prize within these lands. To carry one was to bear a constant target on one's head, for every genius who managed to kill him would gain the right to claim it for themselves. It was not only a trial of strength but also a relentless cycle of pursuit, betrayal, and slaughter.

Max's lips curled faintly as he turned back to the group. "Let us continue our journey. I have a feeling we are not far from the trial site."

Evan glanced at Nina, his expression still tense but softened by her earlier words. With a small nod, he accepted the unspoken decision, and together they began to move again. Nina lifted her Fate Compass, the needle glowing faintly as it pointed forward, and the group pressed onward into the violet wasteland with Max walking silently among them.

Another day passed in the violet wasteland, and the journey had only grown harsher. The endless plain seemed to stretch on without end, broken only by the corpses of monsters they had left behind.

Violet scorpions, poisonous wolves, lightning bats, and other Mythic Rank creatures had attacked them in waves, each fight draining their strength but leaving them victorious. Nina's team fought with unity, their coordination allowing them to cut down beast after beast.

Max, however, only intervened when the threat of centipedes drew near. His Three Dimensional Body detected them long before they surfaced, allowing the group to take detours and avoid their swarms entirely. Without his warnings, they would have been surrounded countless times.

But even with battles fought and dangers avoided, the greatest enemy was the pressure pressing down on them. With every step forward, the weight grew heavier. At first it had been tolerable, as though they were carrying heavy loads on their shoulders. But now, after an entire day had passed, it had become unbearable. Their bodies felt as though mountains had been chained to them, crushing their bones with each movement.

The three subordinates following Nina staggered, their faces pale and drenched in sweat. Their breaths came in ragged gasps, their knees buckling beneath the pressure. At last, their strength gave out. One after another, they collapsed onto the ground, unable to take another step. Their hands dug into the soil, their eyes wide with despair.

"There is still nothing," one of them muttered weakly, his voice trembling. "No signs of a trial… nothing but this cursed wasteland."

Another clenched her jaw, tears welling in her eyes. "If this weight keeps increasing, we will be crushed alive before we even reach anything."

The third could barely lift his head, his face twisted in helplessness. "I cannot… move anymore."

Their desperation spread like a sickness through the air. They had endured monsters, exhaustion, and hunger, but the invisible weight was something none of them could resist. The endless wasteland gave no promise of hope, and with no sign of a trial, their will began to crumble.

Max stood a short distance away, his expression calm as his eyes shifted toward Nina and Evan. "We cannot waste more time," he said firmly. "They cannot move, and forcing them to continue will only kill them. We should leave them here and continue forward. This wasteland is not merciful. If they stay, their fate is sealed."

The words struck hard. Nina's eyes widened, and her grip on the Fate Compass tightened until her knuckles turned white. "No," she said sharply, her voice carrying a fierce edge. "I will not abandon them. They are my companions, and they came here because they trusted me. Leaving them behind is not an option."

Evan's face darkened as he stepped forward, standing beside Nina. "I agree with her," he said coldly. "You speak as though they are burdens, but they are part of this group. If you think we will throw them aside just because it is easier, then you are wrong."

Max's gaze hardened, the tension in the air thickening. "And what do you plan to do?" he asked, his tone sharper now. "Drag them forward when they cannot even lift their feet? The pressure will only increase the further we go. Keeping them alive now will only guarantee their deaths later."

"They are not yours to decide for!" Nina snapped, her voice rising. "I will find a way to protect them, no matter what it takes."

Evan's aura flared faintly, his eyes narrowing at Max. "If you intend to abandon them, then you will have to go on without us. We will not let you decide their fate."

The three collapsed geniuses looked up weakly, their expressions torn between gratitude and guilt, while the atmosphere between Max, Nina, and Evan grew heavier than the wasteland's crushing pressure itself. For the first time since their uneasy alliance began, the group stood on the edge of breaking apart.

Max's frown deepened as he studied the scene before him. The three geniuses lay on the ground, crushed by the pressure of the wasteland, unable to even lift their heads. To him, they were nothing but dead weight. If left to continue like this, they would only drag everyone down.

Yet he knew he could not force the matter. Nina's Fate Compass was bound to her and her alone. Even if he took it away from her hands, it would not answer to him. That single fact made compromise unavoidable.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.