2024-12-26 14:52:52At that moment, Chief Raul and his men finally realized who these people really were.
They were subordinates of the "Lord of the Abyss."
The "Lord of the Abyss" was a figure of immense military power.
He controlled key trade routes, strategic territories, and wielded influence that extended into neighboring countries.
Seeing someone as formidable as him paying respect to Max left them both astonished and deeply impressed.
Chief Raul looked at Max with a newfound perspective.
In his heart, he reflected, if someone as influential as the "Lord of the Abyss" showed such respect to Max, then Max’s reputation must far exceed anyone’s imagination.
Max didn’t need to rely on corruption, threats, or underhanded methods to gain influence.
His very presence was enough to command authority and control any situation.
Chief Raul pondered for a moment.
If someone like Max ever turned his back on Morow State, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Only devastation would remain.
Moments later, the young man accompanying them stepped forward and opened the car door in front of Max.
With calm yet commanding steps, Max got into the car.
Before the door closed, he spoke briefly, “I’m heading to Mount Arleth.”
The convoy began to move.
Rows of armed vehicles advanced in perfect formation, catching the attention of the locals who came out of their homes to witness the spectacle.
No one said a word, but their expressions reflected curiosity and reverence.
***
At Mount Arleth
Upon reaching the base of Mount Arleth, another astonishing scene unfolded.
Warlord troops, who usually fought fiercely in the area, appeared unusually subdued.
The once-brutal soldiers lowered their weapons, standing along the roadside with their heads bowed.
Not a single person dared to speak or make a reckless move.
The cold mountain air was sharp, carrying the distinct scent of frost-covered ground.
At the summit, silence prevailed, broken only by the sound of the wind.
Max exited the car and walked alone toward a solitary tombstone standing resolutely in the frozen earth.
When Chief Raul mustered the courage to step closer, an unsettling sensation crept over him.
The atmosphere atop Mount Arleth was quiet yet weighed down by an invisible pressure.
Curiosity got the better of him, and he approached the young man.
In a hushed tone, Chief Raul asked, “Why is there a tombstone in this place?”
The young man immediately turned with a firm expression and hurriedly covered Chief Raul’s mouth with his hand.
His eyes were sharp and filled with warning as he whispered.
“Never ask questions that should not be asked!”
Chief Raul was startled by the sudden reaction.
But before he could protest, the young man continued in a low yet steady voice,
“This is a sacred peak. No one dares disturb it, let alone act recklessly here.”
“Even if rivers of blood flowed at the mountain’s base, no one would dare move. The peace of this place must not be violated.”
Max carefully placed the offerings he had prepared in front of the tombstone.
Fresh flowers and lit candles were arranged with deliberate respect.
The flames flickered but remained steady despite the relentless mountain wind.
Max’s face remained calm, showing no visible emotion.
It turned out that the tombstone belonged to Max’s late mentor.
In a quiet but resolute voice, Max spoke to the tombstone.
“I have followed all your instructions,” he said steadily.
“I have safeguarded Morow State as you wished.
“This state is no longer plagued by chaos and war. Now, the people here can live in peace.”
Max paused briefly, his gaze fixed on the tombstone, “Morow State has grown, just as you envisioned.”
“Now, it is time for me to leave.”
The wind suddenly grew colder, howling as if in response to Max’s words.
A snowstorm began to form at the summit, with snowflakes swirling violently around them.
Max stood unmoved in the heart of the storm, his posture as unyielding as the mountain itself.
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0193
Max let go of Takeshi’s hand, then took one step forward. His voice, usually flat, now carried a cold fire that made the air in the arena feel sharp like ice."Enough with the formalities," he said firmly. "Now listen carefully. I did not come to Mount Alken to take positions or take your seniority." "I came for one reason to invite you to destroy the Demon Blood Cult that has ruled for far too long."Even the name alone changed the faces of the grandmasters. Some clenched their fists until their veins stood out."They kidnapped millions of civilians in the past year," Max continued, his voice even colder. "Children, women, even the elderly. Used as living sacrifices to summon high level demons." "The villages at the base of the mountain are empty. You who call yourselves grandmasters who protect the people, how long will you stay silent?"The respectful silence instantly turned into burning anger.An old grandmaster with a long white beard stood up, his face red. "We... we did n
0192
The arena was still frozen. Even the wind seemed afraid to move. Every eye was fixed on Max’s right hand that was calmly held out in the air, and on Takeshi’s hand that was still pressed against the dusty ground. Blood dripped slowly from the corner of the old man’s mouth, forming tiny red dots on the stone floor. His breath was shaky, but his eyes had not gone dim.The grandmasters under the stage held their breath at the same time. Some bit their lips, some were ready to shout if Takeshi refused that offered hand. After all, he was Takeshi the Iron Tiger, the oldest senior in the Alken Mountains, the man who never bowed to anyone except Lord Hades. To accept the hand of a city youth who was not even thirty? Impossible.They had already prepared words to protect Takeshi’s pride later. "It is only a polite gesture." "He will pull his hand back." "Do not worry, Senior Takeshi..."But the opposite happened. With a trembling hand, Takeshi lifted his dusty and bloody palm. His fi
0191
The arena suddenly turned cold.All the grandmasters lined up below the stone stage could only stare with their mouths open, as if they had just witnessed the god of thunder slap the earth. They stared at Takeshi, who was still lying face-down in the bushes with leaves stuck to his back, his body still shaking from the impact."W-what… just happened?""Senior… Senior Takeshi fell?""Impossible! He must have slipped!"One of the most stubborn grandmasters stepped forward, pointing at the bush-covered figure that used to be Takeshi. "Takeshi-sama was only distracted! That was an accident! Did you not see? The ground there is clearly uneven!"Yet everyone clearly saw Takeshi get thrown four meters after his punch was casually swatted aside by Max. But their denial was stronger than logic."Yes! Exactly!" another shouted. "There is no way Takeshi lost! He is a senior grandmaster!"But those ego-filled mouths slowly fell silent when Takeshi began to move.The old man groaned softly, pushin
0190
Takeshi steadied his breathing, trying to calm the heartbeat that had been racing wildly for the past few minutes. He looked at Max, who was still standing without any stance, as if his body was not even part of the duel.Slowly, Takeshi spoke. His voice carried a tremor he could not hide. “Young man, were you the one who moved the wind?”Max did not answer right away. He only looked at Takeshi with a calmness that did not fit someone facing death. Then he gave a small smile. “What do you think?”That simple answer sent chills from Takeshi's neck down to his back. If Max could move the wind to fight him, not with normal martial arts, but with pure power, then his level was far beyond human. Even beyond the grandmasters standing in a row below.Takeshi swallowed hard. His throat felt dry. But he still refused to believe that fear. He chose to deny it.“Nonsense!” he shouted suddenly, his voice echoing loud. “There is no way you can control the wind! It was only a coincidence! Yo
0189
Takeshi stepped forward with calm but commanding movements. The tip of his robe fluttered as he rotated his wrist, releasing a burst of aura that made the air around them tremble. He lowered his body a little, feet spread wide, both hands forming a fighting stance that he had trained for more than fifty years. The pressure from his body spread like waves, making the dust around the rocky platform spin slowly.In the distance, the other grandmasters cheered with confidence. “Senior Takeshi will win!” “That young man will regret it!”But Max only stood straight. Calm. Not taking any stance at all. One of his hands was even resting in his pocket, as if a life and death duel in front of martial arts legends was only a small practice that he did not need to think about.Max’s eyes were focused and calculating. He controlled his breathing. He held his inner power. He restrained the force flowing through his meridians so it would not rise too fast.“Do not go too hard,” Max whispered
0188
The grandmasters immediately seized Max’s offer before he even finished speaking.“Good! If you want to prove it, then prove it!” shouted the muscular grandmaster who had mocked him the loudest from the start.The others burst into laughter, their voices echoing off the stone cliffs.“Hey, boy! Don’t push your lies too far! Do you think you can fool us that easily?”“Be careful not to run away after this,” mocked the thin grandmaster whose aura pressure never stopped flaring.Their laughter grew louder.The cold mountain air was filled with a tone of mockery, as if Max was nothing more than a city clown showing cheap tricks to giants of the martial world.But in the middle of that noise, an old grandmaster with a long white beard who had been silently observing Max raised his hand slowly and cut through every sound in an instant.“Silence,” he said.A soft but commanding aura swept through the area, making the other grandmasters close their mouths reflexively.The old grandmaster step
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