Chapter 82 – The Alchemy of FusionThe words Boss Caleb had left hanging in the air gnawed relentlessly at Max Vale’s thoughts. They unearthed wounds long buried beneath the numbness that power had slowly sewn over his soul. It was as if a crack had formed in the thick armor of detachment Max had crafted, exposing something raw, something vulnerable beneath.“Hmmm… those are damn good questions, lad,” Boss Caleb murmured thoughtfully, turning slowly to face Max once more, his eyes reflecting a flicker of something ancient, something earned through countless battles with both men and fate. “The answer lies buried deep within your own chest. Something you’ve known all along but refuse to let yourself admit.”Max’s brows furrowed, his curiosity piqued despite the turmoil stirring in his chest. “What is it?” he asked quietly, bracing himself for whatever truth was about to unsettle him further.“There are people in this shattered world who s

Chapter 84 — Veil of DepartureMax Vale’s cheeks flared crimson, a heat of humiliation burning hotter than the afternoon sun. He felt like he’d shrunk into a rat hole, desperate to vanish from the glaring eyes around him.“Fuck this damn recreation,” he muttered under his breath, fingers trembling as they pressed over the stubborn bulge threatening to betray him further.The swelling refused to relent—its presence was a persistent reminder that his body was far from normal right now.“Uh, Miss Raelyn,” Max stammered, voice tight, and made a hasty retreat toward the nearest room.A sly smile played on Raelyn’s lips as she called after him with a teasing lilt, “Take all the time you need... just don’t forget to clean up afterwards.”Max nearly stumbled entering the cramped space, heart pounding as he slammed the door and locked it tight behind him. The cold tile beneath his feet did nothing to calm the wildfire of embarrassment and

Chapter 86 – Whispers Beneath the Crimson VeilThe arrival was nothing short of a spectacle.One after another, the crimson-clad buses rumbled to a halt before the colossal spires of Atrihea City, disgorging hundreds of eager students onto the bustling streets. Their vibrant red uniforms — a striking banner of youthful vitality — contrasted sharply against the city’s sleek metallic hues and shimmering glass.Curious onlookers gathered, eyes wide and mouths agape. The sheer volume of these young faces, each brimming with untapped potential and raw eagerness, stirred a mixture of astonishment and respect. To the untrained eye, they were just students, but to those who understood the undercurrents of power and ambition, these youths were the seedlings of the future—some perhaps fated to wield unimaginable strength.Leading the procession was the principal of Echelon Academy, a bald man with a commanding presence, whose gaze swept over the crowd like

Chapter 88 – The Summons of Shadows[Hidden Trial Concluded][Conquer your rivals beneath the same roof]Rewards:> +10,000 Experience Points+5 Attribute Points---Max Vale strode toward the grand hall with a faint, sardonic curl on his lips.Dealing with idiots always comes with its rewards, he mused, the corners of his mouth twitching with dry amusement.---Inside the cavernous, opulent chamber, waves of teenagers flooded through massive double doors. Their garb was as varied as their origins — splashes of color bundled in clusters, each group marking their school with pride.Students from nearby cities, summoned to participate in the infamous exchange event, gathered like a shifting mosaic. Those donning identical colors huddled together, creating clusters of identity amidst the buzzing crowd.At the center of it all, Max sat, coolly observing the sea of y

Chapter 90 – The Rift of Bonds---Dawn broke over BB City with a cool, restless hum as the students stirred from uneasy slumber. The exchange event, a rare occasion meant to weave the fractured threads between schools into a tentative tapestry of camaraderie, was set to begin. Yet, beneath the surface of polite smiles and forced greetings, tension rippled like undercurrents in a storm-tossed sea.Groups had been arranged—hundreds of students clustered in mixed teams, each made up of roughly eight individuals plucked from various academies. It was designed to make them mingle, to coax strangers into hesitant friendships, to break the icy walls forged by rivalry and suspicion.The administration, led by Principal Wren of BB City High, had carefully planned the itinerary. Groups would not swarm any single location, avoiding chaotic crowds by staggering visits across the city’s sprawling sites. While Group A wandered the gleaming towers near the