Maya's eyes focused on Xan as she leaned closer to the mirror.

"I can open the path…" she said. "But I'll need Void Crystals. A hundred, minimum."

Xan didn't flinch…

He just paused for a moment to think it through before he nodded. "Done. I'll send them through the sealed channel once I arrive."

She nodded. "Good. The Church's secret chamber can handle the transfer. I'll prepare the platform."

Maya Featherstar stood from her desk, her black hair falling neatly over her shoulders as she adjusted the cuffs of her alchemist's robe.

Her robes shifted as she moved, revealing the faint shimmer of Chaos Alchemist runes etched into her sleeves…

She had inherited the power of the Chaos Alchemist long ago, and she was already capable of using it even through her clothes.

Furthermore, she could now focus on working in secret under the Church of the Lord of the Secrets' assistance, without worrying about her family or the Featherstar Clan, which she had left behind.

She raised her hand, and five masked figures stepped into the chamber.

They were the Masked Archons of the Church, each cloaked in layered robes and bearing no visible aura. They bowed silently.

"Prepare the vault…" Maya ordered. "We're opening a path for a Void Immortal."

None of them questioned her.

Within minutes, the chamber was transformed. Runes lit up across the floor, forming a complex array that pulsed with Divinity belonging to the Lord of the Secrets.

It was the power of concealment.

The Archons moved in perfect coordination, placing containment anchors and stabilizing the surrounding space…

Maya stood at the center as she completed the preparation with her Divinity…

"Xan," she said through the mirror, "the path is ready. Step through now."

Xan didn't hesitate.

He activated the mirror's anchor and stepped forward. The space around him folded, then snapped open.

Whom~

A moment later, he emerged inside the Church's chamber…

Thud…

His boots touched the obsidian tile, and he noticed that he was surrounded by flickering lanterns and the scent of incense.

The Archons didn't speak as they looked at the Void Immortal. Despite being in the territory of the Church, they had to be careful in front of this being after all.

One of them stepped forward and handed him a small emblem. It was silver, etched with the Church's crest.

"This will mask your presence," the Archon said.

Maya then continued… "The Will of the Realm will begin to forget you. In three days, you won't need it anymore."

Xan took the emblem and nodded. "Understood." At the same time, he also gave the 100 Void Crystals to Maya…

Both were happy with this transaction.

He then glanced around the chamber once more, then turned to Maya.

"What do you know about the Shadow Domain?" he asked.

Maya didn't answer immediately.

She invited him to another room since this chamber wasn't made to have long conversations…

She walked back to her workshop and motioned for him to follow…

Soon, she sat on her desk, picked up a sealed scroll, and placed it on the table between them.

"Not much…" she admitted. "The Church doesn't have direct access. Most of what we know comes from intercepted reports and a few surviving scouts."

She didn't add, but she was also uninterested in Vale's matter.

The only reason she got connected to this Immortal was for the Void Crystals.

Xan remained silent, waiting.

Maya continued. "It's a mysterious place even for us. The Shadow Immortal built it with layers… You're probably aware of this already but even if he's not good with Formation Arts, he had many trustworthy individuals assisting him. That's why it can host so many kinds of beings without collapsing."

"Angel, Asura, Dragon, Vampire…" Xan listed.

Maya nodded. "And more. Some of them don't even register properly on our divination arrays. The Domain itself seems to distort readings."

Xan narrowed his eyes. "And Vale?"

Maya hesitated. "He doesn't leave often. But when he does, it's usually to retrieve something… or someone. He's building something, but no one knows what."

Xan folded his arms. "Don't you have some idea? I was sure you have special relationship."

"I knew him when we were students," Maya said. "That version of Vale is gone. The one in the Shadow Domain… he's different."

Xan didn't press further.

Instead, he looked at the emblem in his hand.

"I'll stay here for three days," he said. "After that, I won't need this, right?"

Maya nodded. "You'll be safe as long as you're within the Church's territory…"

Xan turned toward the hallway leading deeper into the Church's main cathedral. He knew that this Church had several Immortals as well, but he simply couldn't prove it…

"I'll need a quiet room. And access to your latest maps."

"You'll have it," Maya said. "Just don't draw attention. The Church isn't ready to explain why a Void Immortal is walking around."

Xan nodded. He was aware of Maya's position in this place after all.

***

Within the Shadow Castle, Orden and Ryzoir, the two dragons currently in human form, stood at the underground ritual chamber.

After months of convincing, they finally gave in.

Magnus had been persistent, and now, the two of them planned to open a path for another Dragon to enter this human realm… Although the Timeless King created restrictions, it was mostly for stopping other entities from entering this Realm…

However, if someone from the inside were the ones creating a path, it would be easier to bypass the restrictions that had been placed.

Orden exhaled slowly as he looked at his companion…

Ryzoir, who was taller and broader, rubbed the bridge of his nose. "We should've waited. The Dragon Realm isn't exactly stable right now."

Orden nodded. "I know. But Magnus made a point. If the Chaos Immortals push further and the Void faction starts moving, we'll need more than just our current forces."

Well, they knew about the ultimatum that the Chaos Immortals had given, after all… Because of that, they needed something to surprise these brave Immortals.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.