Chapter 718: Max’s Queries
Lyra’s eyes turned hard. "There is always a war being waged—out in the skies, beneath the ground, behind locked gates no one speaks of. A war between the Four God Nations and the Seven Overlord Forces of the Middle Domain... against the Ascendants. The so-called cursed beings believed to be behind the origin of the Nulls."
The name Ascendants echoed in Max’s mind causing his expression to turn solemn as well. He hadn’t seen them since his last encounter with them.
"But those battles are not yours to fight—not yet," Lyra continued, voice cool. "Those are the fights of Monarchs and Saints, of rulers and the truly ancient. Your job... is to support that war. To hunt and eradicate the Nulls from our lands. To burn away their nests, destroy their shadows, and keep the Middle Domain from crumbling into void."
Then she turned and looked at the six of them—all of them—her gaze sharp and unwavering. "I only want two things from each of you."
Her tone became like steel. "First, as a 2-star genius of the Great Ruler Empire, you are required to register with the Hunter Association. That is your right—and your first mission as a 2-star genius. This is the first task expected from someone with your title. You must stand on the frontlines of this eternal war and prove yourself."
She let that sink in before continuing. "Second... you six must earn enough merit through missions and achievements to gain access to the Void Hall."
Hearing Lyra utter the name Void Hall, a clear shift swept through the room like a gust of wind. The five Champion Rank geniuses, who had until now carried themselves with a mixture of arrogance and cautious curiosity, suddenly froze and exchanged uneasy glances.
It was as if a forgotten memory had been stirred in each of them—a name whispered in the shadows of ancient records or rumored in the training grounds of their forces.
"Leader Lyra..." Lena, the sharp-eyed genius, calm and composed one, broke the silence, her voice low and uncertain. "Isn’t that a bit too difficult?" Her frown deepened, and the others subtly nodded, mirroring her concern.
But Lyra, standing tall like an unshakable pillar of will, simply shook her head. Her eyes held a quiet fire, one forged from years of responsibility and knowledge that they did not yet understand.
"You five are not just any ordinary geniuses," she said, her voice calm but steely. "You were all chosen and cultivated under the banner of the Great Ruler Empire, trained for one singular goal—to get into the top ten of the Heaven Mandate Rankings Tournament seven years from now, after the next one."
She let those words hang in the air, every syllable carrying weight. "This tournament will be unlike anything the Middle Domain has seen in centuries. Do not shy away from the paths that can prepare you for it. The Void Hall is not a mere challenge—it is an opportunity. One that most would kill for. So, you must not walk away from it, no matter how impossible it may seem now."