In his independent resting place, Maximus slowly opened his eyes, intrigued.
"A Plane-Level Ability... True Path..."
Besides the dimensional and ultimate-level abilities, Maximus had discovered something beyond a plane-level ability, a power existing on par with an entire plane.
According to his deduction, such an ability couldn't exist in Aeon's plane, as it was equivalent to the life of the plane itself.
Yet looking at the ability embedded in his Origin, Maximus could only look with disbelief.
Looking further to the deduction, he finally knew what plane was sacrificed for him to possess such a level of ability.
It was none other than the place he was born: Earth or, more precisely, the infinite universe to which it belonged.
At first, Maximus assumed that Earth, the universe he'd come from, was merely one of the countless dimensions within the Aeon Plane.
Over tens of thousands of years, he had even forgotten his origin, never bothering to use omniscient searches to trace its whereabouts.
If not for the instinctive activation of his plane-level ability, he wouldn't have even considered another possibility.
Earth wasn't part of the Aeon Plane at all—there was no history, trace, or even the faintest presence of it within this plane.
After expending over a trillion strands of causality and more than a hundred years, Maximus realized that the home he once thought ordinary was on par with the Aeon Plane itself.
However, as he looked at his plane-level ability, the final gift from his universe, he could only conclude that it was gone—erased into the endless void of chaos.
Maximus didn't know precisely what had happened, but the existence of this ability was proof of his universe's destruction.
Feeling a deep grief he couldn't express, Maximus fell silent, vowing to uncover the cause of its extinction.
Whether it was due to an invasion by the dark forces, a clash with other planes, or simply a natural catastrophe, Maximus swore to learn what had happened.
One day, if possible, he would do whatever it took to reverse the flow of history and revive the universe he had once called home.
After mulling over the loss of his previous life universe, Maximus shifted his focus to his plane-level ability, True Path.
Granted, at the ultimate cost of a plane's life, such an ability was indeed heaven-defying.
Guiding him toward the life of his dreams, True Path gave him the faith to succeed, no matter what challenges lay ahead.
He didn't care if the difficulty of the trial could bring an Overlord to his knees.
Brimming with confidence and ambition, Maximus stepped forward.
"It's time to finish this trial..."
---
Meanwhile, at the Source of Law...
Seeing Maximus finally step forward into the trial, most of the Entities of Law took note.
"It's starting..."
"I didn't expect him to pass on the Supreme Law of Knowledge. What a pity," sneered the Supreme Law of Wrath, jeering at the Origin of Law beside him.
"My protégé is never satisfied with easy gains. My invitation may just be a mere trial to strengthen his resolve," said the Supreme Law of Knowledge and Wisdom, smiling.
"Tsk, listen to you. High-sounding words, yet he still rejected you."
"You shouldn't let anger consume you. Instead, focus on making a contract first,"
"Heh, that brat, Max! He dares to demand an ultimate treasure before accepting me! Why doesn't he just toss and kick me around like a ball?" the Supreme Law of Wrath said, bristling with anger.
As the initiators who had convinced the Origin of Law entities to start the selection trial, Maximus and his family had garnered great attention.
All of them, like Maximus, had received invitations—even while still on the lower floors.
However, aside from Asha, who was coaxed by the Supreme Law of Destiny, no one had yet chosen an Origin of Law to contract.
They all found it bothersome to enter into a contract with an Origin of Law.
Such contracts brought various responsibilities yet offered only slight power enhancement.
Seeking better terms or a stronger Origin of Law, they continued climbing the trials.