Chapter 1333 Meeting Alice and Lenavira!
Chapter 1333 Meeting Alice and Lenavira!
Max arrived before Lucien and Freya with heavy, deliberate steps, each movement carrying the invisible weight pressing down on his existence. The air around him felt dense, distorted, as if the world itself was resisting his presence. He stopped a short distance away and looked at them, his brows knitting together as he took in their calm expressions.
"Don't you guys feel the pressure of ascension?" Max asked, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of strain as he glanced between the two of them.
"I don't," Freya replied with a gentle smile, her posture relaxed as if the world was not trying to push her away at all. "My strength was sealed by the world when we fell into this mortal realm. What you have seen so far is only a portion of what I truly possess. I have merely unsealed enough to act within this world without breaking it, and even now my true power remains restrained."
She paused for a moment, then continued calmly. "Now that the ascension tunnel has been repaired, I can return to the Divine Realm properly. Once I am there, I can use the divine energy of that realm to unseal the rest of my strength without consequences. Because of this, the world does not see me as someone who must be expelled immediately, so I do not suffer the forced ascension pressure you are feeling right now."
Max nodded slowly as understanding settled in. Before his battle with Mark, he could have easily endured that level of pressure without much difficulty, so it was not surprising that Freya, whose foundation originated far beyond this world, could remain unaffected.
He then turned his gaze toward Lucien.
Lucien raised a hand lightly and let out a quiet sigh. "Don't look at me like that," he said with a faint, tired smile. "I am a being born of this world, but I have been stuck at the peak of Divine Rank for years. The pressure you are feeling now is something I have lived with for a very long time. At some point, you simply grow accustomed to it."
Max studied him for a brief moment, then nodded. He could sense it now that Lucien mentioned it. The pressure around Lucien existed, but it no longer agitated him. It was like a constant background force he had learned to coexist with.
"I can ascend at any time now," Max said quietly, lifting his gaze toward the distant horizon as if he could already see beyond the sky of Acaris. "The world is not hiding its intent anymore. But before I do that, there is one thing I must settle."
He turned back to them, his expression firm.
"I need to make sure someone inherits the crown."
"The crown has been floating in the air above Acaris for three months now," Lucien said with a faint frown, his gaze lifting toward the sky as if he could sense its distant presence. "It should still be searching for a suitable candidate, but it has not responded to anyone yet."
Max let out a slow sigh. Three months had passed since the end of the war, and the world had returned to peace, yet the crown remained unclaimed. He could feel its existence at all times, silent and watchful, as if judging every soul beneath it.
"Do not worry too much," Freya said calmly, her tone carrying quiet certainty. "The crown will not choose just anyone in haste. It is looking for someone who can abandon their own life, their loved ones, and everything they hold dear for the sake of the world. Such resolve is rare, and finding a person like that will never be easy."
Max nodded, understanding her words. The burden of a crownbearer was heavier than any cultivation realm, and the crown itself knew that better than anyone.
"You should go and prepare for your ascension," Freya added with a teasing smile. "I believe your two friends are waiting anxiously for you."
Max could not help but smile at that. He gave her a brief nod, and in the next moment, his figure faded from sight as he disappeared.
After he left, Lucien turned toward Freya. "When will we be ascending?" he asked.
"Just after my brother ascends," Freya replied without hesitation. "Only when he has safely entered the Divine Realm will I feel at ease enough to follow."
Lucien nodded slowly. "Then I will take care of a few things on my own," he said. "I will meet you again when Max ascends."
Freya inclined her head in acknowledgment.
With a small smile, Lucien vanished, leaving Freya standing alone.
----
Alice and Lenavira stood side by side on the balcony of Alice's room within the Phoenix God Nation, the warm glow of the setting sun washing over their faces. The sky was clear and vast, yet both of them looked distant, their eyes carrying a quiet sadness they did not try to hide.
They knew what this moment meant. Max's ascension to the Divine Realm was close, and no matter how much they wished otherwise, they could not follow him.
Their strength was still far from sufficient to step into the Divine Realm. Ascension was a dream they both held close to their hearts, but it was a dream that required time, struggle, and countless trials. For now, all they could do was watch and wait.
Just as the silence grew heavier, Max's figure appeared behind them.
"What are you two thinking about?" Max asked softly as he wrapped his arms around both of them, pulling them close and resting his chin lightly above their heads. He could feel the heaviness in their hearts even before he saw the expressions on their faces.
Alice took a slow breath, then looked up at him, her eyes filled with determination rather than despair. "We will ascend to the Divine Realm when we reach the peak of Divine Rank," she said firmly, her voice steady and resolute.
"Yes," Lenavira added, nodding in agreement as she turned toward Max. "We definitely will ascend."
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