Leo and his inner circle remained motionless, their consciousnesses anchored deep within the aetheric flow. However, Ben and the secondary members of the team had hit their ceiling. Their vessels, limited by their natural grades, could no longer process the overflowing energy of the Heart.
As Silas's voice grated against the silence, Ben rose to his feet, his expression one of pure disdain. ''Take a clue and maintain silence, you idiot,'' Ben snapped, his voice carrying the weight of someone who had just spent hours in a divine sanctuary.
Silas bared his teeth, his eyes wild. ''Shut your mouth. Do you think I am still a dog on your leash? You have no authority over me.''
The air shifted again as a third party emerged. A soft, melodic voice drifted from the foliage behind Elias's ragged group. ''My, my, it seems the party has already started without us,'' Rose remarked, stepping into the light. Her team followed, looking far more composed than Elias's men but still weary from the journey.
The brewing confrontation was smothered instantly by a single word.
''Silence.''
The Empress didn't raise her voice, yet it vibrated in the marrow of their bones. She ignored the lords and the betrayal-fueled shouting matches, her ancient gaze locked solely on the silver-haired young man at the center of the clearing.
Inside Leo, the aetheric sea was at a standstill. He had reached the absolute limit of his current form: E++ rank at 99%. The bottleneck felt like a physical wall made of diamond, refusing to budge despite the 300% absorption rate.
'Finally at the edge,' Leo thought, his breathing rhythmic and shallow.
He didn't hesitate. He pulled a D-grade monster core from his storage—a condensed sun of violet energy. He didn't siphon it slowly; he crushed it. He forced the concentrated burst of a higher-ranked power into his system to shatter the gate.
Athena Evergreen watched the spectacle, a fascinated smile playing on her lips. 'A gluttonous monster indeed,' she mused. 'He doesn't just want to grow; he wants to devour the very concept of limits.'
Noel and Luna broke their meditative trances and stood, their senses heightened by the thick aether.
Hye-na opened her eyes, the violent resonance of Leo's energy pulling her back to reality. She had ascended to E+ rank, and for a fleeting second, a spark of genuine satisfaction crossed her features. But it vanished the moment she looked at Leo. The silver-crimson storm revolving around him was a testament to a different level of power. 'Not enough,' she thought, her ambition flaring.
The D-grade core did not simply break; it disintegrated into a fine, violet mist that was greedily inhaled by Leo's pores.
A shockwave of silver and crimson aura erupted from his frame, expanding in a perfect, crushing circle that flattened the grass for ten yards. The squirrels that had been nesting in Noel's hair were launched into the air by the sudden atmospheric pressure, scurrying toward the safety of the ancient canopy.
[Ding] [Rank Advancement Successful] Lord Rank: D-Rank
A cascade of notifications regarding newly unlocked effects flickered in his vision, but Leo dismissed them. Now was the time for action, not reading.
Leo's eyes snapped open, the crimson within them no longer a mere flicker but a steady, predatory burn. The surrounding lords recoiled instinctively. His skin felt reinforced, his muscle fibers more dense, and his perception had undergone a fundamental shift. The aether in the air was no longer invisible; he could see it flowing like glowing, translucent veins through the world.
Silas felt the words catch in his throat. The divide between them was no longer a gap; it was an abyss. He was looking at a D-rank hunter who had bridged the distance in a fraction of the time required by the laws of the system.
''He's a monster,'' Silas croaked, his single hand white-knuckled as he clutched his weapon.
Rose stepped forward, her expression a mix of genuine amusement and deep-seated caution. ''A D-rank breakthrough in the heart of a dungeon. You certainly have a flair for the dramatic, Crimson Lord.''
Leo rose to his feet with fluid, coiled grace. He felt no fatigue, only the raw, humming power of his new rank vibrating beneath his skin.
Athena Evergreen clapped her small hands, the sound resonating like a sharp peal of thunder. ''Splendid.''
''You have all proven your tenacity,'' the Empress declared, her voice carrying the undeniable weight of a sovereign. ''You have survived betrayal, demonstrated courage, and maintained your will. But a ruler is defined by more than mere survival. A ruler is defined by the absolute ability to dominate.''
She gestured toward the verdant, floating island.
''To claim my legacy, you must reach the center of that island,'' she continued. ''There are no more monsters to slay. There are no more riddles to solve. However,'' she allowed the silence to hang heavy before finishing, ''only one representative from each of the three teams may participate in the final ascent. The others may only act as support to ensure their champion reaches the goal. You must decide who will represent your bloodline.''
She paused, her gaze piercing through each of them.
''You have five minutes to prepare. The method of travel is your own to devise; I shall not interfere. The first to reach the island wins it all.''
A heavy silence fell over the lords. The reality of the choice began to sink in. The teams retreated to discuss their strategies. Leo watched them for a moment before a dark, knowing smile touched his lips.
''Let us settle this with a vote,'' Leo said.
Luna drifted to Leo's side and whispered, ''I am free to vote for anyone?'' Her eyes were clouded with hesitation.
Leo offered her an amused smile. ''You are.''
One by one, they cast their ballots for the one they deemed worthy. Noel selected Leo without hesitation. Luna selected Hye-na. After Ben's team cast their votes and the tally was revealed, Hye-na had selected herself. The results were deadlocked: Leo 3, Hye-na 3. Only Leo's vote remained.
The eyes of every person in the clearing turned to Leo. He stood there, looking entirely unbothered by the stakes. Luna sighed inwardly. 'There is no chance he would ever step aside for someone else,' she thought.
But the world seemed to tilt as Leo spoke.
''I will defer the legacy to Hye-na, provided she agrees to my request.''
Hye-na's gaze sharpened, her eyes searching his. ''And what is this request?''
''You join my alliance. Not as a guest, but as a permanent fixture,'' Leo said.
Hye-na's eyes searched Leo's face for a long time. The emerald light of the forest made her skin look pale, almost like marble. She didn't look at the floating island or the Empress; she kept her focus entirely on him.
''You would give up a legacy just to have me in your alliance?'' she asked. Her voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it, like she was waiting for him to laugh and tell her it was a joke.
No one gave away a legacy for free. No one handed over the keys to a kingdom just for a promise of cooperation.
Leo's expression remained unreadable, his eyes as steady as a predator's. ''A legacy is a promise of future power, but your strength is a reality I can use today. I consider the trade a bargain.''
Hye-na looked at the Empress, then back at Leo. She could feel the power of the E+ rank humming in her blood, but it was nothing compared to the violent D-rank energy coming off him. She knew that if she took the legacy, she would have a chance to close that gap.
''Actions birth consequences,'' Hye-na stated, her voice dropping to a cold whisper. ''By joining you, I am effectively forsaking my clan for your banner. The political fallout will be a burden you aren't prepared for.''
She studied him closely. There was a strange, shimmering haze over his features that prevented her from truly seeing him—a clear sign of a top-tier concealment artifact. She was giving him one last chance to realize that tying himself to her would draw the eyes of the most powerful people in the world.
Leo's smile was sharp. ''That's fine. I'm not looking for the easy path this time.''
Hye-na's eyebrows shot up. She saw no hesitation in his crimson eyes. She took a final step forward, her presence clashing with his. ''Then it is settled. I accept your terms. I am part of your alliance. But understand this—I am no follower. If your ambition leads us to ruin, I will ensure you are the first to fall.''
''I would expect nothing less,'' Leo said.
The Empress watched the exchange from the riverbank, her amusement bubbling just beneath the surface. To the onlookers, Leo was a martyr, giving away a divine gift for the sake of his team. But Athena saw the hidden strings. He couldn't have inherited the Evergreen Heart even if she forced it on him; the ancient resonance of the woman who 'claimed' him wouldn't allow a second legacy to take root.
'What a sly devil,' Athena mused. 'He's trading a gift he can't use for the lifelong loyalty of a future monarch. He's playing a much deeper game than any of them realize.'