"That is also true," Nina said at last, her voice solemn and steady. Her grip on the Fate Compass tightened as she continued. "Many of the top geniuses who carried a golden crown have hunted down others like themselves, killing them to seize their crowns. By doing so, they increased their chances of being chosen as a disciple by one of the seven lords of the secret domain. This is something that has happened every time the secret domain has opened."
"Interesting," Max muttered, his gaze distant as his mind sank into thought. He had never imagined that the crowns could be accumulated, yet Nina's words made it clear. The secret domain itself encouraged such brutal competition, allowing those chosen to rise by destroying others like them. The crown was not only a blessing but also a curse, a mark that painted its bearer as both hunter and hunted.
