A week slipped by quietly, passing faster than anyone expected, and soon the day arrived for the long-awaited expedition into the secret domain of the Four God Nation. At the heart of the nation, an enormous plaza had been prepared exclusively for this moment.

The sky above was clear and solemn, as though the heavens themselves were waiting to witness what would unfold. The chosen geniuses gathered in full force, each one radiating determination and apprehension.

Around them stood the leaders of the Four God Nation, the Seven Overlord Forces, and the two great organizations. Their combined presence made the air feel heavy and significant.

Max stood among them, his expression calm yet deeply aware of the weight carried by this journey. This expedition was no ordinary mission. It could very well be their last step into the unknown before the fate of the world changed forever. None of them knew what would happen once they retrieved the last fragment of Mark's soul.

The world might collapse before they returned. The red cloud might swallow everything. Or something even more unimaginable might happen. Whatever the outcome, they were walking into the secret domain with the understanding that this world's future was balanced on a thread.

While waiting for the final preparations, Max spent his time conversing with the young geniuses selected to accompany him. These were the most talented individuals the Middle Domain could offer, including Victor, Seraphina, Arthur, Christine, Chris, Daniel, and several others Max had chosen after witnessing their growth in Nullaria. During the conversation, Max learned something new.

"So the two of you have already been to the secret domain?" Max asked, looking at Victor and Seraphina with interest.

Victor nodded. "Yes, we entered once during a previous expedition. It was a controlled exploration, guided strictly by elders. They never allowed us anywhere near the central region of the domain, so our knowledge is limited."

Seraphina added, "The elders only guided us through areas they had already explored and cleared many times. Those outer regions were stable and predictable. We did not encounter any real danger during that trip. It felt more like a guided learning experience than a true expedition."

Max considered this. "So you are familiar with the outer areas at least. That should help us."

Victor's expression shifted as he glanced toward Seraphina. He hesitated briefly before speaking in a more solemn tone. "We did experience something strange, though."

Max looked at him attentively. "What happened?"

Victor took a slow breath as if recalling a memory he had pushed down. "It happened when our group reached a valley that the elders had supposedly inspected many times. Everything seemed normal until the environment suddenly changed. One moment we were walking through a foggy valley, the next moment it felt like the entire world shifted. The air became dense, as if gravity had multiplied. We heard a sound echoing through the valley, something like a heartbeat. It was slow and heavy, but every time it beat, the fog pulsed with it."

Seraphina continued from his words. "The fog thickened so much that even elders with strong perception lost their sense of direction. Our spiritual sense couldn't extend far, and even our voices felt muffled. It felt as if the valley had turned into a living creature that was breathing around us. The elders became uneasy and tried to guide us out, but the direction kept warping."

Victor nodded. "For a moment we even saw illusions. The valley appeared to stretch endlessly, as though space itself was bending. Some of us saw shadows watching us from the fog. Others heard whispers that didn't belong to any living creature. The entire area felt wrong, as if it was actively rejecting our presence."

Max absorbed their words carefully. The secret domain was already unusual, but this phenomenon suggested something far more ancient and unpredictable. Perhaps the domain itself possessed intelligence, or remnants of divine beast powers lingered within it. Such distortions could only occur if deep spiritual energies or broken laws were present.

"How did you escape?" Max asked.

Seraphina answered, "The elders were forced to use a powerful formation that they had prepared exactly for such emergencies. They activated a beacon that tore open a path through the distortion. As soon as the formation activated, the fog reacted aggressively, almost as if resisting the escape. The elders had to expend a lot of power to pull all of us out before the valley closed again. Afterward, they forbade anyone from approaching that area."

Victor sighed. "That was the only time we felt genuine danger inside the secret domain. It left a deep impression on everyone."

Max looked toward the entrance of the soon-to-open domain, his thoughts sharpening. "It seems this place truly holds secrets far beyond what your elders revealed. If the outer regions already possess anomalies like that, then the central region and the Celestial Beast Temple must hide dangers on an entirely different scale."

Seraphina nodded quietly. "Yes. The temple has always been avoided. Even the elders fear it."

Max said nothing more, but his gaze grew more focused. The journey ahead would be unlike anything they had ever faced. Whatever strange phenomena existed in the secret domain, they would soon discover it firsthand.

"Max, there is someone who wishes to meet you urgently," an elder called out as he hurried toward Max. His steps were quick and unsteady, clearly showing that the matter had caught him off guard. Max turned toward him, his brows knitting together slightly.

He recognized the man as an elder of the Four God Nation, but he had no idea who would seek him out with such urgency on this day of all days.

"Who?" Max asked, his tone cautious yet calm.

The elder took a moment to catch his breath before responding. "He says his name is Kevin, and he mentioned that the two of you became friends inside a secret domain some time ago." The elder's expression twisted with confusion, unable to guess what kind of connection Max might have with someone bearing an unfamiliar name.

"Kevin?" Max repeated, his expression shifting immediately as a memory resurfaced. He remembered exactly who Kevin was. It was difficult to forget the strange and unsettling experience they shared back then.

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