Chapter 992 Demand and Repayment 994 Limit Break As Maximus stood before the platinum door adorned with ancient engravings and runes, the mere presence of the entrance exuded an otherworldly aura that caused the Hero of Nature to stumble slightly in his steps. The atmosphere around the door seemed charged with divine energy, setting the stage for what lay beyond. [What is this feeling? It's as if my soul is leaving my body.] thought Maximus. Because at this moment when he stood close to the door, it felt as if he was drawn to whatever it was beyond the door. His entire being felt like it was being pulled by an inexplicable connection towards this door. At the center of this 2-meter wide and 3-meter tall door, was a golden lion's head, made out of an unknown metal that glowed purple and red periodically. And in that lion's mouth, was a blue glowing orb. "Alright, the empress told me to put my hand on the orb when I see it." spoke Maximus and cautiously placed his palm on the blue orb. Swoosh! And the very next moment, his entire figure disappeared from the room, not even leaving a gust of wind behind. After he opened his eyes, he found himself standing on a platinum platform in the form of a 10-meter radius disc. But soon, another phenomenon took place in front of him. And eternal darkness surrounded Maximus, soon, that darkness was lit with light. After a few seconds, earth formed, and soon, the elements of reality such as water, metal, fire, wood, lightning, light, and darkness started encompassing that earth. The awe-inspiring sight before Maximus unfolded like the birth of an entire planet's ecosystem. As if witnessing the genesis of life, he observed the landscape taking shape, evolving, and flourishing before his eyes. The beauty and endless possibilities of creation left Maximus transfixed, momentarily forgetting his own existence in the face of this majestic display. The unfolding panorama seemed to carry the promise of boundless potential and the wonder of life's constant renewal. In front of Maximus… an entire planet was being created. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Right then, a voice resounded behind him. As Maximus turned his head around, in front of him appeared a vast and unending expanse of a transcendent being. This being had a humanoid appearance but with a mixture of all the elements of reality such as water, earth, metal, wood, wind, and fire; leaving many others he could not even recognize. It was like looking at a living embodiment of the world itself. The eternal being sat meditatively, its eyes closed as if lost in thought. The distance between them was several hundred kilometers away, yet it felt as if the being was right in front of him. Maximus could not help but feel a sense of awe and reverence washed over him, since he was in the presence of something truly divine. "Oh, divine god." spoke Maximus and bowed his head in respect. The endless and eternal being in front of him was none other than the God of Nature, Termeszet. "How are you, my child? It feels as if it was mere moments ago when I brought you into Vantrea as my chosen hero." spoke the God of Nature in a voice carrying the depth of transcendent wisdom. "Well, 7 years could be considered a mere moment for a God. But it has been a while for me." said Maximus, still in a bowing position. "Raise your head, child. I can see that you've become very strong in such a short time. Compared to all of my previously chosen ones, you have shown the highest perseverance, endurance, and will to learn. You even mastered the Progenitor of Nature divine ability that none of my other chosen representatives could in the past 3000 years. Your conviction in yourself and your dedication to living up to your role as a chosen hero who was brought to save this world is indeed commendable." said the God of Nature without holding his genuine praise for Maximus. Maximus nodded in appreciation and asked… "So this is the god's altar?" "God's Altar is just the name for the door to this dimension that you saw before. It's like a platform only the Hero or Heroine of Nature can use after they prove themselves worthy through their trials. It's more of a symbolic representation than actually being an altar." explained the god. "I see. I did meet the 7th Hero of Nature. He was a very… peculiar individual." spoke Maximus softly. The expression on the God of Nature's visage suddenly changed. BOOM!! And right behind him… the planet that was being formed exploded. "I… I had high hopes from him back then. I was flawed but a man of honor and responsibility. I believed that he deserved a second chance to become a great hero he was destined to be in his new life. But in the end… he could not act against his nature." spoke the god with a voice filled with regret and disappointment. The god's eyes gleamed slightly, illuminating thousands of kilometers in an instant. "The next Heroine I chose was a remarkable woman in her world. But after seeing the disparity in terms of strength and skills in Vantrea compared to her original world… she became a victim of self-imposed and ignoble thoughts. She had so much potential but always thought she didn't deserve to be a chosen heroine as always blamed herself for not being the person she was supposed to be. On top of it, the people of the Nadur Empire added only fuel to the fire since she was a human. Her confidence in herself was shattered when she entered the last part of her trial during the conclave of heroes that happened 300 years ago, In the end, she became fearful for her own life and even abandoned her party members when Marcus Brutus tried to kill her. She did not even gain my recognition when she entered the God's Altar and I did not grant her what you call the Limit Break." iterated God of Nature in a solemn tone. "You on the other hand, Maximus… were chosen because you had the good qualities of both but also had a mind that would not bend to the rules of the world no matter how tough and helpless the situation became. You are the kind who would not hesitate to die for their duty and protecting others even if the end of the world was in front of you." declared God of Nature. "And seeing you here and how you passed your trials… I'm grateful to you." he spoke in an almost pleased tone. "Thankful for what?" asked Maximus. "For proving me right. That I did not make a mistake this time." responded Termeszet in a tone similar to a proud parent. However, despite his praise… Maximus responded in a discontent tone. "I haven't earned that praise yet. I'm still lacking and not strong enough to face the Demon God in the upcoming war. I heard that even the Demon Emperor who only became an 8th-stage saint recently is already on par with a beginner 9th- stage saint. Compared to beings like them, I'm not even worth being mentioned in the same sentence as them. And that is why… I need your help." iterated Maximus in a firm tone. He was not the kind to shy away from his shortcomings right when they were in front of his eyes. Even as a hero, he was still not someone who could represent the Nadur Empire and the billions of people living in it, and neither was he strong enough to protect everyone. Even his strength as a 5th-stage saint was barely enough for him. "Good. I expected you to feel that way. And that is why you deserve my blessings to bridge that gap between yourself and the others." declared Termeszet and moved his right palm. Shing! Shing! The palm shone brightly and an ethereal multicolored aura suddenly encapsulated Maximus' entire body. Minutes passed the aura was completely absorbed by Maximus. Crack! Crack! Crack! In 3 successions, the crackling noises resounded in this dimension. Shatter! Suddenly, as if breaking an invisible case of glass, Maximus's figure shattered the entire surroundings close to him as if the reality itself shattered. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮 "Whoo! This… I feel it." he spoke and looked at his arms. "My body feels like I have become immune to suppression of my own limits." he said in an astonished tone. "Yes. You have broken your limits. You will at least become an 8th-stage saint in your lifetime. But the journey beyond that… it will all depend on your resolution and hard work." iterated the God of Nature. "Before you go. I have a favor to ask you." said the god and gazed at Maximus. "If you meet the Hero of Darkness during this conclave of heroes… Help him escape." commended the God. Stunned! "Why?" asked Maximus with a shocked countenance. Because even to him, everyone told him that the Hero of Darkness was an enemy who must not be spared. "Consider it paying off a debt…" spoke the god of nature with a tone full of wisdom. "From a time that has not come to existence yet."