Max's eyes flickered across the wasteland, searching for what the chief meant as his Three Dimensional Body scanned the area ahead. Immediately he noticed it.

The howls of distant wolves were gone. The cracks in the ground no longer revealed glowing eyes or writhing bodies. The air itself felt stripped, empty, void of even the faint buzz of unseen creatures.

The march slowed. The cages trembled faintly as the black insects inside grew restless, twitching as though they could sense something far greater than centipedes nearby.

Natural predator of a species like centipede didn't mean that if these insects could eat these centipedes then there would be nobody to fear them. There were in fact many other monsters and beasts found in the wasteland who ate insects like the ones in the cage daily.

That was how the natural selection worked in this domain.

Ahead, the land began to dip, forming a vast basin carved into the earth. The ground sloped downward in long, broken steps, each one cracked and marked with deep furrows that seemed unnatural. The basin stretched for miles, its center lost in swirling violet mist.

Even from here, Max could feel the weight of something immense lurking beneath the surface.

Chief Igris lifted his hammer and pointed toward the basin. "There. That is where the den lies. Beneath the ground in that basin exists a labyrinth that stretches deeper than you can imagine. At its heart, the Holy Nectar rests, guarded by the swarm that calls this land its own."

The dwarves tightened their grip on their weapons, their faces set in grim determination. None of them spoke. None of them needed to. They all knew what awaited in that abyss.

Max's eyes narrowed as he gazed into the basin. His fists clenched unconsciously. The journey through the wasteland had been brutal enough, but this was different. This was not the land resisting them. This was walking willingly into the nest of predators who had no equal in this place. The predators of the dwarven race.

"Let's go. Just some distance ahead we will meet up with the other villages." Chief Igris said as he led.

The group descended further toward the edge of the vast basin. The mist that coiled through the air grew thicker, veiling the ground in an eerie haze. As they neared a wide plateau carved into the basin's rim, the sound of voices reached them. Deep, guttural chants and heavy footsteps echoed faintly through the silence of the wasteland.

Max narrowed his eyes and soon saw them. Across the plateau stood other columns of giant dwarves, each wearing armor different from the next. Their armor bore unique symbols and runes, markings that Max could tell represented their own villages. The warriors stood in strict formation, disciplined and silent, each group gathered around a single figure who stood taller, broader, and more commanding than the rest—the chiefs of the other villages.

Chief Igris slowed his steps, his expression hardening. "The others are here already," he said, his voice even. "Every village sends its champion when the secret domain opens. This is where we gather before the march into the ants' den. Here, the alliances and rivalries of our people weigh heavily."

As their group approached, the atmosphere thickened. The other dwarves turned their heads, their eyes narrowing as they caught sight of Max walking beside Igris. Their gazes were sharp, filled with curiosity and disdain in equal measure. They were used to seeing outsiders forged into champions, but it was rare for one to walk so confidently at the side of a chief.

One of the other chiefs, a massive figure with dark bronze armor engraved with jagged lines like lightning, stepped forward. His long gray beard hung past his chest, and his eyes glowed faintly with the sheen of battle-hardened fury. "Igris," he said, his voice rough like boulders grinding together. "So this is the boy you tempered for your village's honor? A human? Small, fragile, barely more than a child in our eyes and at the strength of 6th level of Legend Realm. Do you expect such a vessel to claim the nectar from the ants' den?"

A ripple of laughter rose from the warriors behind him, their voices heavy with mockery.

Max's expression remained calm, but his eyes sharpened. Chief Igris, however, did not flinch. His hammer rested against his shoulder as he met the other chief's gaze. "This human has endured what many of your so-called champions could not. His body has survived the forge of three months in my village. His fists moved the black cube. Tell me, Darrok, how many of your chosen have achieved even that?"

The laughter faded, replaced by a low murmur of unease. The mention of the black cube carried weight. Even among the dwarves, it was known as a test few could pass.

Another chief stepped forward, this one clad in silver armor with a helm shaped like the head of a serpent. His voice was smoother, colder. "Bragging of moving a cube will not save him in the den. The ants do not yield to brute strength alone. You know that clearly. We will see if your human lasts even the first hour inside." His eyes flicked to Max with clear contempt.

Max ignored the words, though his fists itched to respond. He remembered Chief Igris's earlier warnings. This was not the place for reckless pride.

Chief Igris gave a low chuckle. "We will see soon enough. That is what this gathering is for. Each village has brought their chosen. Each will march into the den. When it ends, one village will rise above the rest."

The plateau grew tense as the chiefs eyed each other. Behind them, the champions chosen by each village stood ready.

Max saw them and immediately his eyes narrowed. Two of them were actually golden crown geniuses. He could see at least 20 of such geniuses or 20 such champions chosen by the villages and out of them 3 were golden crown geniuses including him.

That surprised him and others too. All these 20 geniuses also noticed Max and the other two geniuses with the golden crown. They never thought this trial would draw three geniuses with the golden crown.

And just at that moment the two golden crown geniuses began moving towards Max.

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