‘They’ve finally come.’

Damien’s heart was practically beating out of his chest, but he kept an outwardly calm facade.

He was currently with Xue’er deep within the Holy Light Tomb. It was the location he decided to use to both train her and acclimate her to danger, and though he could use the All-Seeing Eyes to find the shortest route to the center and easily snatch the tomb’s treasures for himself, he didn’t do so.

Instead, he used the same ability to find the longest and most grueling route to the center, and unapologetically pushed Xue’er along that route.

As she encountered traps and illusions, her mental strength and battle sense would improve.

But it would take a lot of suffering before she could reach that point.

The current Xue’er was covered head to toe in small scratches and dried blood from wounds Damien healed long ago.

Though the threat they posed was gone, she still clearly remembered the sensation of pain that came along with them.

It was scary.

The outside world she’d heard so much about was just as cruel as those in Theavel made it out to be.

Yet, while it may have been unexpected from Xue’er, who grew up sheltered by Damien, she was a girl with her own ambitions and dreams.

A single nightmare still haunted her every once in a while. It depicted the scenes of her childhood, where she watched those in her village die brutally, where she almost joined them in the underworld.

It was a memory that Damien saved her from, but she always thought back to what would have happened if he wasn’t there.

As he heard the terrible stories of those who were saved from Calypto, and even those from the 3000 Beast Mountain Range, she realized that she wasn’t alone in her struggle.

People all over the universe were suffering, and the only way they could save themselves was to become stronger.

It was that realization that pushed her to beg Elvira to teach her until the latter finally succumbed, and it was the same deep-seated idea that pushed her to receive Damien’s training regardless of how harsh it was.

As her older brother and mentor, Damien could clearly see the fiery glimmer in her eyes, and thus, he didn’t stop her from acting as she pleased, merely staying behind her and making sure she would never face death head-on.

‘I know this state very well. This is the same state that allowed me to survive through the First Dungeon. I don’t know where she found it, but what she’s acting on is “desperation.”‘

He wanted to ask where such a desperate desire for power came from, but he withheld the question. When she was ready to tell him, she would.

‘This kind of desire by itself is extremely dangerous, especially for a growing teenager. She needs me here silently supporting her to balance that desperation with warmth. Otherwise, she might end up like I did.’

Damien could feel his soul bleeding from the terrible longing he felt for his women, but now wasn’t the time to be selfish.

‘They are here as representatives of the Human Domain, which means they’re here with something to prove. Hmm, if the Human Domain is planning to re-enter the universal scene, I need to choose the perfect timing to reveal my affiliation.’

If he outright claimed himself a part of the Human Domain, his light would overshadow them and have the opposite effect of what he desired.

If he waited until Rose, Ruyue, and the rest proved themselves, and then swooped in at the end as a cherry on top, the Human Domain would be held in legends as a sector that retained its ability to create countless geniuses even while in its worst state.

‘Good. I can train Xue’er without worry and leave the situation outside to them. Now that Ruyue is close and the soul connection is active again, I’ll be able to tell if they’re ever in mortal danger.’

Damien flicked his finger slightly, sending a ball of white light into Xue’er’s body, healing her injuries and replenishing her stamina.

“Haa…haa…thanks, big brother,’ she said as she stabilized herself.

“It’s fine to take breaks, you know. We have months to train to our hearts’ content,” Damien said gently, expressing his worry.

However, Xue’er shook her head in refusal.

“Now that I’m older, I don’t want to be weak anymore. The Aunties and Uncles all told me that big brother had to go through terrible things to become powerful. If I also have to endure terrible things to be like big brother, then I’ll do it.”

She said it firmly without any sign of the childish immaturity she usually carried.

Damien felt a slight pain in his heart, realizing that she was going to start growing up soon, but he quickly shook off the feeling.

‘Xue’er, don’t worry. Big brother will always be rooting for you.’

Damien silently sent his encouragement to the brave girl who pushed forward with a will of steel.

And at the same time, he wished good fortune upon those from his homeland who were currently fighting for its sake.

The Holy Light Realm’s situation became more complicated with every passing day, but the plan was still the same.

Only, the end goal was no longer Damien’s domination over the universe’s geniuses, but the Human Domain’s domination over the entire rest of the universe.

***

Whoosh!

Five people surfaced in the Holy Light Realm.

Bang!

Immediately, an explosion wrapped around them.

“Hmph!” Ruyue harrumphed and tossed up a barrier of special ice that blocked the explosive force entirely.

She exchanged nods with the three adults behind her and took down the barrier.

Xiu!

Long Chen shot out like a ballistic missile, the Empyrean Dragon Sword in his hands sweeping in a wide arc in front of him.

Shiiiiing!

An extremely crisp sound rang through the air, and immediately, the world was severed in two.

Trees, beasts, and all geniuses in the path of his swing were bisected. The geniuses were immediately transferred out of the secret realm and healed, while the atmosphere suddenly quieted down.

“Take them down!”

A shout suddenly reverberated, bringing the geniuses in the surroundings to their senses.

The group that just entered…was a threat!

Roughly 40 geniuses dropped their hostility for each other and acted as one to take down the newly appeared enemy.

But this…

This was exactly what the Human Domain group wanted.

Rose grinned deviously.

“Alright, it’s time to start the slaughterfest! Whoever gets the most kills gets a random box of their choosing! Ah, except you, Reva. You just stay behind us and relax for now.”

“Random box?” Xue Fang’s attention was immediately piqued.

“Don’t get excited yet,” Long Chen said before he could continue.

“Right,” Ruyue agreed. “Rose, you can’t just offer a random box without telling us which grade.”

Rose smirked smugly.

“Hmph, do you think I’d snuff you guys? Since this is a few month-long event, we’ll split it in three. The winner after a week will get a gold box, the winner after a month will get a diamond box, and the final winner will get a mythril box!”

Everyone’s eyes narrowed as one.

“She’s finally bringing out a mythril box, huh? I was wondering what she was saving it for,” Xue Fang muttered.

And at the same time, his expression got serious.

ραΠdαsΝοvεl.cοm

…not a single one of them could afford to slack off.