CHAPTER 950: FREYA’S CLAIM

Somewhere deep within the heart of the Middle Domain, far from the clamor of the cities, a colossal headless statue loomed over the land like a silent guardian. Its sheer size rivaled that of the tallest skyscrapers, its surface weathered and ancient, whispering of a history long forgotten. Within its hollow chest, an immense chamber stretched like a throne room of giants.

Eight figures sat in a loose circle, each one emanating an aura so heavy and oppressive that even the walls seemed to hum under the weight of their presence.

Their mere existence distorted the air, warping it with power that defied mortal comprehension.

And if Max had been there, his eyes would have widened instantly in recognition—two of them were none other than Lucien and Freya.

One of the figures, a towering man with broad shoulders, bulging muscles, and a thick beard that gave him the fierce air of a Viking warlord, leaned forward with a sneer curling his lips. "Lucien... another one has appeared in this world who bloomed eight lotus petals in their first Divine Path Lotus phenomenon." His voice was deep and laced with disdain, like a war drum echoing in a cavern. "Seems you’re not as special as I thought you to be."

Lucien, however, didn’t even flinch. Reclining comfortably in his chair, a pair of sleek VR glasses rested on his face as his fingers made quick, precise motions—he was still immersed in whatever virtual game he was playing. His youthful appearance—barely that of a fifteen-year-old—stood in stark contrast to the other seven figures whose presences reeked of age, wisdom, and danger. Among them, he looked almost absurdly out of place, like a child among gods.

Without looking up, he replied with a faint smile. "What’s there to be surprised about, Verenor? The world is full of geniuses. There will always be those who surpass me, surpass you, surpass everyone here. The next generation will always grow stronger than the last."

A melodic but sharp voice cut through the chamber. One of the two women besides Freya leaned forward, her long purple hair cascading like silk over her shoulders. Her beauty was sharp enough to unsettle the heart, her eyes glimmering with both allure and curiosity.

"Tell me, Lucien... are you truly a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy? Or the reincarnation of some ancient monster?" Her tone was playful, yet her words probed like a dagger. "How is it that you’re always so calm about everything... and every answer you give sounds like it’s been tempered by centuries, not the mind of a teenager?"

Lucien only gave a small shrug, neither confirming nor denying, his expression unreadable beneath the VR visor. He didn’t dignify the question with an answer, instead turning his head toward Freya, who was quietly scrolling through glowing streams of data on her holowatch, her expression composed as always.

"Looks like you were right," Lucien said casually. "Your brother... really is a genius."

"Her brother? Wait—wait—wait!" A sharp voice cut through the quiet hum of the chamber, shattering the stillness like a blade against steel.

The speaker was a man with striking yellow hair, his back straight and his sword strapped securely across his shoulder. His name was Damian, and his eyes were wide with disbelief as he turned from Lucien to Freya, looking for any hint of denial. "Are you telling me... that Max is Freya’s brother?"

His tone carried both shock and urgency, as if the words themselves were too absurd to leave hanging in the air without confirmation. His gaze darted toward the other members seated in the chamber, but all he received in return were faint shrugs and questioning looks. None of them seemed to know this piece of information either.

Freya, however, didn’t bother answering him directly. Instead, she shifted her attention to Lucien, her eyes calm yet sharp. "My brother is indeed a genius," she said, her voice unwavering and deliberate. "And just so everyone here knows... nobody in this entire world can compare to him. Not me. Not you, Lucien. And certainly not Mark."

Her words landed like the strike of a hammer on iron—firm, undeniable, and carrying a weight that made the air in the chamber subtly change.

Lucien’s brow rose slightly, his attention finally peeling away from his VR game. For someone like him, who rarely showed surprise, the flicker of intrigue on his face was telling. That Freya would openly place Max above not only herself but also above him and Mark—the two most feared prodigies of the current era—was not something to take lightly.

Although he had met Max himself and understood that he was a rare genius, to praise his talent above him and Mark also surprised him.

"What?!" Damian’s voice cracked with incredulity, his disbelief bleeding into his words. "How could this be possible? If he truly has the kind of talent you claim, then he should already be standing at the peak of this world—just like Lucien... and Mark. Instead, he’s only at the peak of Master Rank!" His words carried the same doubt that had now etched itself into the expressions of several others in the chamber.

Even Verenor, the broad-shouldered Viking-like man, looked momentarily taken aback. He had served under Freya’s command for years, long enough to know her character inside and out. She was not one to speak without reason. She never exaggerated, never gave praise unless it was earned beyond question.

For her to declare Max’s talent as greater than anyone’s—including Lucien’s and Mark’s—made the statement hit with far more force. Verenor’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her, the shock visible in the tight set of his jaw.

Freya, however, only smiled—a slow, sweet curve of her lips that somehow felt both reassuring and dangerous. "It’s only a matter of time before you’ll understand what I mean," she said, her tone carrying the confidence of someone who could already see the truth others were still blind to.

"Oh, and let’s hope you realize it before we completely repair the ascension tunnel of this planet." Her gaze swept briefly across the chamber, lingering on each of them, as if silently challenging them to remember her words when the time came. She leaned back slightly in her chair, her smile deepening. "But... you won’t have to wait too long. You’ll get a sneak peek of what I mean soon enough."