The Tale of the Void Emperor

After Lily, Huarin also went into the trial domain and managed to bring the flag back in 1 minute and 36 seconds.

Of course, her performance was also very shocking, and it would be blown everyone's mind if not for Athan's and Lily's performance.

The difference revealed itself when the next person went to the trial domain.

The 4th ranker took a whole 5 minutes and 54 seconds to bring back the flag from the tallest peak.

The winning odds of Athan, Lily, and Huarin were very low, so even though people went all-in with the limit of 20,000 Etons, they didn't earn much by betting on them.

After everyone took their turns, the final result was announced. Naturally, the top 3 didn't change, but the rest changed as this trial domain displayed their overall capability of strength, wits, and will.

All top 32 got the rewards, with the top 3 getting the best rewards.

Naturally, Dreevindo and Lingardim were overjoyed as well because they received even more valuable rewards than the top 3.

They received resources and an opportunity to go in the Skyward Dome, where there is a chance that they can break through and evolve to Epic-stage.

On the other hand, Athan got a rare-grade artifact that can be activated using his soul energy, an Epic-tier Evolution Method, and 100,000 Common-Etons and 10,000 Rare-Etons.

After the rewarding ceremony, Athan, Lily, and Huarin were led to rest in the Royal Guest Palace. Naturally, only the three of them got this treatment while the other candidates were accommodated in inns in the city.

After going there, Dreevindo told them general information about the Orchos Firmament. The most surprising thing was Etons.

Etons was a common currency used to buy everything. They can be used to purchase resources, materials, foods, artifacts, and more things.

The thing about this currency was that it was not physical but mystical. One can mine this currency in its special mines. The mines were physical, but they contained dreamy blue-white stones, and if you hit them or break their structure, they would turn into sparks and disappear.

However, there was a material that could contain the spark of Eton stones. Later, some Runic Artists ( the real ones ) used this material and designed a device that could contain the spark of Eton stones and display them in numbers. These cards are known as Eton Cards.

Since then, Etons has been used as the common currency. Naturally, there were different tiers of Etons. Common Etons, Rare Etons, Epic Etons, and Legendary Etons.

Etons mines are harder to find because their locations are in dimension rifts that appear in Firmament Chams. Once a mine is found, it is immediately excavated, and its sparks are stored in large devices that work similarly to Eton Cards. Naturally, to make the work easier, special pickaxes are used to hit on the Eton stones and store their sparks.

Afterward, Dreevindo explained to them about the Evolution Method and how they can use it to absorb orchos energy and evolve their entire beings (body and soul). After reaching the limit, they can invoke genome Relics and breakthrough. Naturally, they have to comprehend their relics to gain more power.

The Evolution Methods could direct their speed of getting stronger and are related to certain powers that would partially decide their relic invocation.

The Epic-grade Evolution Method that Athan got was called: Diabolic Nendosram.

The process of evolution and invocation was relics to gain power was also unique. For instance, once someone has reached Atomix-stage or any other stage, they can invoke more relics or catalysts by training and roaming in various places to fill up their genealogy path once again. However, the relics they would invoke at that time would not surpass their limit.

Atomix-stage beings have Atomix-grade relics, Epic-stage beings have Epic-relics. So to gain more power and abilities, they can invoke more of their current stage's relics.

The main thing is the Genealogy path. This thing exists in everyone, but it is only revealed in people born in Orchos Firmament and those who transformed and went through the ascension process.

The Evolution Method is also used to absorb Orchos energy and fill up the  Genealogy path, which is the core of everyone's existence. Filling up the path would strengthen both their body and soul both.

However, the Genealogy paths are complicated, and one must carefully fill it with the Orchos energy while training. This path is Ethereal and spreads through their entire body to soul level. These paths change their shape as one gets stronger, and there is a place in this path, the core part, which is known as Genome Firma.

In Genome Firma, the various relics and catalysts are situated. It is also imprinted with an individual's powers and abilities that they comprehended.

So in simple terms: The evolution method is used to absorb Orchos energy and fill up the Genealogy path of an individual. Filling up the path would strengthen one's body and soul until it reaches the limit. Once it has reached the limit, the person can invoke a genome relic or catalyst.

After invoking them, they must comprehend their genome relic or catalyst to absorb their power and acquire abilities. After doing this and breaking through to the Atomix stage, they can fill up their genealogy path again to invoke a relic or catalyst of the same grade if they want to gain more power and abilities.

Naturally, there are more complicated processes after Atomix-stage, but all of that didn't matter to Athan.

The only thing that mattered to him was the information about power sources that exist in Dimensional Rifts and Firmament Chams that Dreevindo told him.

"Take one day of rest today. Tomorrow, you will have to be present in the Royal Court for another reward," Dreevindo said with a grin.

"Hahaha, of course, you can reject this reward as well. But you can accept it as well; it's your choice," Dreevindo said with a wide smile.

"What kind of reward is that?" Lily asked with raised eyebrows as her institution told her that something was up.

'Athan can accept this reward and reject as well....hmm,' Lily fell into thought before a light bulb lit up in her head and her expression turned somber as she looked at Dreevindo, "The reward...don't tell me it's about a girl?"

Dreevindo looked at Lily with a shocked expression before asking, "how did you know?"

Athan frowned and asked, "what is that reward? speak clearly."

"Cough...," Dreevindo coughed before speaking with a grin, "To have some ties with you, the King of Klenkai Empire will marry one of their daughters to you. This is a one-of-a-kind reward, hahaha."

"You should know that nothing like has happened before. Hehe, I am telling you, Athan. Their daughter is an otherwordly beauty and y-you....," Dreevindo stopped as he felt a death glare of Lily and stuttered before he stopped speaking.

Athan patted Dreevindo's shoulder and leaned closed on him before speaking in a clear voice, "tell that King Klenkai or whatever that I will not accept this reward. If they don't want to be rejected in public, then better change the reward."

After saying that, Athan went back and lay on the bed. Of course, he was checking out the Evolution Method to study it for research purposes.

"Ahem, alright," Dreevindo said with a wry smile before turning to Huarin and Lily, "you are going to stay in this room, or should I show your rooms?"

"Humph, no need," Lily snorted before disappearing and entering the Ark space.

Huarin also disappeared after giving a glance to Dreevindo.

"Then I will leave now and call you tomorrow. After exact 23 hours," Dreevindo said as he looked at Athan.

"Alright," Athan nodded without looking at Dreevindo, "also, don't forget to give my message to King of Klenkai. Naturally, if they are okay with rejection in public, then it's fine."

Dreevindo wryly smiled and shook his head as he left the room.

"Brother Athan!"

Suddenly, Mimi came out from the ark space and spoke with a pout, "brother Athan, you come inside too."

"Ahh, food!" Mimi's eyes went to the delicious dishes of food on the large table, and her eyes lit up.

Athan smiled and spoke, "let's bring it all inside and eat."

"Yey."

...

"The dishes are really delicious," Huarin said with surprise, "way better than the ones we ate in chaosverse."

"Of course. The mystic chefs here are stronger and got more profound, hehehe," Mimi said with a chuckle, "I really missed the of Orchos Firmament for years."

Suddenly, Mimi's expression dropped a bit as she remembered something, "Mom was a very powerful Legendary Mystic chef; she would daily cook me very delicious food."

"Mimi, I also walked the path of Mystic chef, so I will become the Legendary Mystic Chef and cook you delicious food," Huarin said with a gentle smile.

Athan also remembered Avelia as his eyes revealed longing.

Lily saw that the mood was getting off, so she changed the topic.

"This Orchos Firmament is not limited to just Order and Chaos, but there are a lot more mystical powers here. It's truly so vast and profound from what little we knew from Dreevindo. I especially want to go to Dimension Rifts and Firmament Chasms. Although dangerous, they are filled with natural wonders, according to Dreevindo."

Athan nodded as a glint passed through his eyes, "That's where most people would go to train and fight wars for resources and treasure; it ought to be interesting there."

...

On the other hand, Dreevindo decided that it would be best to tell King Klenkai about Athan's words, so he went to the Royal Garden, where all kings were gathered together.