Chapter 619: End of Drevon
Just a few more minutes remained before the entrance to the fourth stage of the citadel would open, and already, a large crowd had gathered in anticipation. Most of them belonged to the various factions of the Lower Domain—those brought by Elarion and King Magnar.
The air around them buzzed with excitement and satisfaction. Smiles lit up their faces, and their expressions were filled with pride and hope.
Clearly, this third stage had blessed them with significant rewards, fortuitous encounters, and growth beyond expectations. It wasn’t every day that experts from the Lower Domain had access to such opportunities, and they cherished every gain, no matter how small. They were eager to see what awaited in the fourth stage, even more determined to rise higher and prove their worth.
Amid them, however, stood a lone figure whose aura radiated a very different kind of energy. It was Drevon. His gaze was cold, eyes narrowed with fury. His group—the ones he’d brought with such grand plans—was no more. Max had killed them. All three Commandments who had accompanied him were now dead, leaving him the only survivor of his elite unit. That loss burned deep into his bones.
Hatred twisted in his heart like a blade.
He had gained a few treasures and even managed to brush close to the breakthrough into Master Rank, but none of that could extinguish the fire of revenge that burned within him. Every second he spent staring at the happy, relieved faces of the Lower Domain experts was torture.
He clenched his fists tightly. ’Once I reach Master Rank... I’ll kill every last one of them. Especially him.’
Meanwhile, away from the crowd, Max walked calmly toward the gathering entrance. After parting ways with Aria and Elias, he had spent the remaining time exploring the outskirts of the third stage.
Though he hadn’t encountered any more elaborate trials like the one with the black cube, he still came across several smaller testing zones and treasure rooms. Some had puzzles, others traps, but none were beyond his ability.
He acquired a decent amount of treasure—several weapons, various energy crystals, a few soul-nourishing herbs, and one or two mysterious items whose functions he couldn’t yet decipher. Most were low to mid-tier artifacts, but there were a few high-ranked ones that made him raise an eyebrow in surprise.
Though they weren’t groundbreaking, every single find was a step toward greater strength. And at this stage of his journey, every step mattered.