"If any of these individuals were to reach Level 2 in their Concept, then in no time, they would ascend to Master Rank— regardless of the limitations of the Lower Domain."
The blob’s voice remained steady, yet its words carried the weight of universal truth.
"However, entering the realm of Concepts and going deeper are two different things."
Max listened intently, his mind absorbing every word.
"Just like when one comprehends a Level 1 Aura, they can remain at that level for months, if not years, unless they find something that aids in comprehension."
Max nodded slowly.
He understood this firsthand.
"The same applies to Concepts."
The blob continued, its tone almost regretful.
"There are rarely any resources in the Lower Domain related to Concepts."
And just like that—Max realized the missing piece.
It had happened to him.
When he first comprehended Sword Aura and Flame Aura, he was able to hone them through relentless training, but—
He couldn’t raise their levels.
No matter how much he trained, no matter how many battles he fought, his Auras remained stagnant.
He had only been able to increase his Aura levels after arriving at the temple.
And now—he knew why.
The Lower Domain lacked the very foundation necessary to advance.
It wasn’t just a lack of comprehension—it was a lack of opportunity.
A realization settled in his heart.
If he wanted to surpass this limit…
If he wanted to break through to the next stage…
Then he would need more than just talent.
He would need resources. Knowledge. A path forward.
And that was all waiting for him in the fifth floor.
A long silence stretched between them.
The blob’s gaze darkened, as if remembering something long buried in time.
"10,000 years ago… there were hundreds of Master Rank experts in the Lower Domain."
Max’s eyes widened.
Hundreds?!
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That meant the Lower Domain wasn’t always limited to Expert Rank.
So what had changed?
"But now?" The blob continued.
"Not a single one remains."
"What does this mean?" The blob’s voice was barely a whisper now.
"The Lower Domain is indeed limiting the power of its inhabitants—but not at Expert Rank.
Its true limit… is at the peak of Master Rank."
Max stood frozen.
The Lower Domain could once nurture Master Ranks?
So why had everyone forgotten?
Why had the entire region stagnated for 10,000 years?
"It seems after ten thousand years, the experts of the Lower Domain have degraded… or should I say, Master Rank has become nothing but a legend of the past now."
The blob sighed, its form shifting slightly as if weighed down by the reality of its words.
Max’s mind wandered as he processed the statement.
’Fascinating… Ten thousand years ago, hundreds of Master Rank experts ruled the Lower Domain. And now?’
His eyes narrowed.
’Not a single one left. What an irony.’
The strongest rank, the pinnacle of power in the Lower Domain, had completely vanished, erased by the slow decay of time.
The weight of this truth settled deep in his chest.
The blob’s voice broke through his thoughts once more.
"You should enter the Fifth Floor."
Max turned his gaze toward the portal, glowing ominously before him.
But then—
The blob’s tone shifted, carrying an unusual edge of uncertainty.
"But know this—nor do I have any knowledge of that floor, neither do I possess any control over it."
Max’s brows furrowed.
The blob had controlled everything so far—the temple, the trials, the battles.
But the Fifth Floor was different.
It was unknown.
"So be careful once you get there."
Max nodded solemnly, glancing one last time at the portal.
This was it.
The final step.
Taking a deep breath, he moved forward, stepping into the swirling light—
And then—
He vanished from the Fourth Floor.
Now, only the blob remained, floating in the silent emptiness of the Fourth Floor.
It watched the spot where Max had disappeared, its thoughts unreadable.
Then, after a moment—
It murmured to itself.
’I wonder why Master refused to mention anything about the Fifth Floor… despite my constant pestering.’
Its gaze lingered on the empty space where the portal had been.
And for the first time in ages…
The blob felt uneasy.
—
As Max stepped through the portal, a strange sensation washed over him—different from any teleportation he had experienced before.
And then—
He appeared in an ancient-looking room.
The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and dust, as if the place had been untouched for centuries.
His eyes scanned the surroundings carefully.
To his left, towering wooden racks and shelves lined the walls, filled with hundreds of books, their spines worn and faded with age. Some were neatly arranged, while others were stacked haphazardly, as if abandoned in the middle of use.
Beside the shelves, a small table stood, aged but sturdy. On top of it, a single mattress lay neatly folded, placed at the very center of the room—almost as if someone had once rested here.
Around the room, there were miscellaneous objects, items that didn’t seem to serve any particular function—Small statues carved from different materials, some resembling ancient warriors, others of beings Max couldn’t recognize.
Paintings hanging on the walls, depicting landscapes, battlefields, and even strange creatures. Various tools and relics, their purposes unknown.
Everything about this room felt personal, as if it had once belonged to someone significant—someone who had lived here, studied here, and possibly left behind great secrets.
Despite the countless books, relics, and artifacts scattered around the room, Max’s attention was drawn to one thing alone.
At the very corner of the room, nestled in the shadows, sat a blue glowing orb.
It pulsed ominously, its surface swirling with an ethereal, ever-shifting glow.
A steady wave of aura radiated from it, unseen but undeniably present—like the steady breath of something ancient.
Max narrowed his eyes.
This orb was not normal.
It wasn’t just a random artifact placed in the room for decoration.
It meant something.
It held something.
And beside it—
His gaze shifted slightly.
There stood an ancient-looking door, carved from a material Max couldn’t quite identify.
Despite its age, it looked indestructible, as if it had withstood the passage of time without a single crack.
At the very center of the door, a large sun symbol was engraved into the wood, its intricate lines and patterns radiating outward.
There was no handle. No keyhole.
Just the symbol of the sun, staring back at him.
Max’s instincts screamed at him—
The orb and the door were connected.
And whatever was beyond that door…
Was not meant to be accessed easily.
’Is the inheritance behind the door… or is the orb the inheritance itself?’
Max’s eyes gleamed with curiosity as he weighed his options.
There was only one way to find out.
With steady steps, he moved toward the corner of the room, his gaze locked onto the glowing blue orb.
As he drew closer, the pulsating light of the orb intensified, as if sensing his presence—as if it was waiting for him.
Then—
Just as Max reached out—
The orb moved first.
WHOOSH!
Without warning, the blue light surged, transforming into a streaking beam of energy that shot straight toward his forehead.
Max’s eyes widened in shock.
Before he could dodge or react—
The light entered his mind.
A sharp pulse of energy rippled through his skull, not painful but overwhelming, like a rush of foreign information being forcefully injected into his consciousness.
His breath hitched, his vision flickered—
Then—
His mind went blank.
And Max fell into the unknown.