Chapter 227 Void Cloak
Max turned to the leader of the Black Lotus Guild, the only masked figure in the room.
His heart, or rather, his bloodline, resonated with this man in a way he couldn't explain.
An instinct told him he could trust him more than anyone else present.
But Max knew better.
Trust couldn't be based solely on instinct—not even blood.
Still, his curiosity got the better of him.
"What is it?" he asked cautiously.
The masked leader chuckled softly, the sound muffled behind his mask, but somehow reassuring.
"It's your black flames," he replied calmly. "They hold countless hidden abilities. So far, you've only touched the surface."
Reaching into his robes, he produced a skill scroll, sliding it carefully across the round table toward Max.
Max picked it up, his eyes falling on the words etched on its surface—
[Void Cloak].
"This is an Inheritance Skill of my guild," the masked man continued, voice steady yet brimming with confidence. "It can only be fully mastered by those who possess black flames. Others—no matter how hard they try—can never take it beyond level two."
He paused, and Max felt the weight of his words.
"With your black flames, you should be able to master it to a significant level before your battle," he added.
Max felt a spark of hope ignite inside him.
But the masked man wasn't finished. "This skill is basic within my guild, yet it is one of the most useful," he explained quietly. "With Void Cloak, you don't need to fear the innate abilities of the Nulls."
He added. "This skill is the most basic skill of my guild but also the most useful. With this skill, you don't have to worry about the innate abilities of the Nulls."
Max carefully took the skill scroll, his grip firm yet respectful.
He raised his eyes toward the masked leader, sincerity clear in his gaze.
"I am very grateful for this."
His words carried genuine emotion.
The memory of his battle with Veylin still haunted him—
The terrifying sensation of his soul being drained, leaving him utterly helpless.
If not for his desperate final technique, he might have suffered heavily that day.
The masked leader only shrugged lightly, saying nothing more.
But his silence held an unspoken understanding.
The other leaders at the table frowned deeply, their eyes flickering with suspicion.
They were no fools; seeing Max wield black flames had already made them suspicious, but witnessing this open exchange only confirmed their thoughts:
Max's relationship with the Black Lotus Guild was deeper—and perhaps more dangerous—than they had ever imagined.
And now, they wondered:
Just how deep did this connection run?
Max didn't notice the suspicious gazes or the quiet murmurs.
His full attention was locked on the skill scroll in his hand, determination burning in his eyes.
"I need to train this skill," he said, glancing up at Envoy Lucas. "Sir Envoy, would you happen to have a place where I can train silently?"
Envoy Lucas smiled knowingly. "I do, actually."
He raised his voice slightly, calling out, "Raymond."
A middle-aged man swiftly appeared.
It was the same man who had greeted the Phoenix Order Guild upon their arrival at the Villa.
His demeanor was calm and efficient.
"Lead Max to a quiet room. He needs to train," Envoy Lucas instructed.
Raymond nodded respectfully, turning to Max. "Follow me."
Max nodded but paused before following. He looked back at Envoy Lucas, his eyes earnest. "I am very grateful for all your help."
Lucas gave him a small nod, warm and encouraging.
Without another word, Max followed Raymond, leaving the round table and disappearing from the sight of the gathered leaders.
Envoy Lucas turned his attention back to the remaining leaders. His expression shifted to one of seriousness and authority.
"Alright, now let's talk about this year…"
***
Raymond led Max to a small, empty room with only a simple bed inside.
It wasn't luxurious, but Max liked its simplicity.
It felt like a space where he could truly focus.
"If you need anything, just shout my name. I'll be nearby," Raymond said before leaving.
Max watched the door close before hopping onto the bed, lying down, his body finally easing slightly.
He exhaled deeply and closed his eyes.
'Blob, do you hear me?'
There was a moment of silence.
Then—
"I can hear you loud and clear."
Max's lips curled into a slight smile of relief.
'Do you think those leaders could feel your presence earlier?' Max asked carefully.
"I don't know," the Blob replied, its tone serious. "But it's better to be cautious. I don't want to bring a calamity upon us both."
Max nodded in understanding.
The Blob's voice turned solemn as it continued.
"About the Ascendants… I don't know anything about them. My master either never encountered them, or perhaps they didn't exist ten thousand years ago."
Max listened carefully, his expression grave.
"But knowing that the Ascendants can transform into Nulls, just like Veylin did… It shocked even me," the Blob admitted. "I can't imagine all those Nulls that attacked Acaris ten thousand years ago actually being humans. If they were…"
The Blob's tone darkened.
"Then there is a massive conspiracy going on. Something even bigger than the war itself."
Its voice lowered, carrying urgency. "Max, you need to find out everything you can about the Nulls. Especially their history."
Max nodded solemnly. "I will, after I deal with this problem in front of me."
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The Blob grew even more serious. "This battle will be difficult for you. You struggled against Veylin, who seemed like he had transformed into a Null for the first time."
Max's jaw tightened at the memory.
"Now, you're going to fight a warrior from a group of mysterious individuals who can transform into Nulls at will," the Blob warned. "If this is true, they'll have experience controlling their Null forms. They won't be like Veylin, who relied only on raw strength."
The Blob's voice became grave.
"They might use actual skills and techniques in their Null forms. You must be prepared."
Max clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes.
"I will be," he vowed. "This time, I won't be caught off guard."
"Also," the Blob suddenly continued, its voice shifting to a more reassuring tone, "you don't have to worry about your soul and body getting devoured by the Nulls—at least not from that Evan kid if he transforms into one."
Max's eyes widened slightly, his expression shifting from worry to confusion.
"What do you mean?" he asked, frowning.
The Blob explained patiently.
"Although Nulls can devour the body, soul, and energy of living beings directly, there's a critical limitation to their abilities."
Max's ears perked up, and he listened intently.
"If your soul force surpasses that of the Null attempting to devour it, they simply won't be able to," the Blob said confidently. "It's the same with your body. If your vital essence—or in your case, the defensive strength of your body—is significantly higher than that of the Null, they won't be able to devour it, either."
Max's mind began racing, absorbing the new information.
"Nulls need to devour beings whose soul, energy, or physical strength is at a similar level to theirs or weaker," the Blob continued. "If their target is significantly stronger, their ability to devour becomes useless."
Max's expression brightened.
This information was invaluable.
"So," Max murmured thoughtfully, "as long as my soul force or physical body surpasses Evan's Null form by a large margin…"
"Exactly," the Blob replied. "You'll be immune to that specific danger."
Max couldn't help but grin, the blob's words igniting fresh hope within him.
His soul force had recently undergone a tremendous surge, surpassing all his other attributes.
It was now undeniably his strongest asset.
"It should be higher than even those at the peak of the Adept Rank," Max thought, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
And the same confidence extended to his physical body.
With 300 Dragon Scales protecting him, he doubted any attack below the peak Seeker Rank could harm him.
It was only a theory, but he felt unshakable trust in his Dragon Scales' toughness.
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