The inner region of the secret domain was unlike anything Max had seen before. The air itself felt heavier, saturated with layers of power that constantly shifted and intertwined. The ground no longer held the violet hue of the wasteland.
Instead, the landscape was a vast mosaic of crystalline plains, floating boulders, and shimmering lakes that reflected fragments of ancient energy. Every step forward caused faint ripples in the air, as if the entire place was alive and aware of his presence.
The deeper Max went, the more he felt the subtle pull of divine energy. The oppressive pressure of the place wasn't meant to harm him but to test him. It was as though the land itself wanted to see how far his will could go before it broke.
The map Lord Igris had given him served as a guide only in a general sense. It showed the boundaries of the regions and the rough direction toward the core, but it didn't reveal any of the specific trials or landmarks that filled the inner region.
