Seeing Iris, Maximus couldn't help but feel surprised.
"You're out of seclusion?"
"I'm out~" Iris replied with a light smile.
As she looked at Maximus, her heart stirred.
The reason it had taken Iris so long to stabilize herself to a perfect state was first, the lack of energy, and second, was because of Maximus.
This man was both a blessing and a disaster who had suddenly appeared in her life.
A blessing, because Maximus had provided her a path to advance to the Absolute Realm.
A disaster, because he affected her emotions so deeply that she often felt unsteady.
Noticing Iris's condition, Maximus frowned.
After tens of thousands of years spent stabilizing herself, he thought Iris would be in an ideal state to ascend to the Absolute Realm.
Yet, as he gazed into the dimness in her eyes, he realized her condition was worse than before.
Pausing his work, Maximus gently grasped Iris's hands, inspecting what was wrong with her body.
Mobilizing the River of Knowledge and countless strands of causality, he meticulously searched for the issue.
But he found nothing.
"What's wrong with you…" Maximus asked, frowning as he gazed into her eyes.
"N-no, nothing," Iris stammered.
The flicker in her eyes gave her away, making him quickly deduce the cause.
"It seems I'm a knot you need to untie," Finding the problem, Maximus smiled.
"What are you doing?" Iris asked in puzzlement as Maximus suddenly pulled her into a hug.
"I'll see if this helps…"
In his embrace, Iris felt a wave of calmness and warmth spreading through her heart.
As memories of her time with Maximus surfaced—their shared experiences, his teasing, his touch—a sense of peace washed over her.
Taking advantage of her moment of calm, Maximus leaned in and kissed her.
This was no longer the hesitant gesture of a man uncertain of his place.
Maximus had grown strong, capable of standing against masters of the Ocean of Law without losing ground.
As their lips met, time seemed to freeze as they both closed their eyes, savoring the moment.
"How is it? Have you calmed down?" Maximus asked softly.
"Hmm… but it's not enough," Iris replied, squinting her eyes playfully.
Her emotional turmoil stemmed from her doubts about Maximus's intentions.
Knowing his reputation as a womanizer, even Iris—hailed as the most beautiful woman in the Aeon Plane—felt unconfident at times.
However, after feeling his warmth and the tenderness of his kiss, she chose to set aside her doubts.
No matter what the future holds, she should savor what's in the present.
Taking Maximus's hand, Iris expressed her desire to take a trip before officially beginning her ascension to the Absolute Realm.
"Then I'll take you out…" Maximus readily agreed.
He wanted to create memories they would both treasure before her monumental journey began.
When he informed his wives about the trip, they simply gave their blessings, wishing them happiness.
Although they sometimes felt pangs of jealousy over Iris's unparalleled beauty, they also sympathized with her.
Unlike them, who had been with Maximus through every hardship and triumph, Iris had walked a much lonelier path.
Her beauty, while a gift, had brought her no shortage of suffering. The struggles she had endured to reach her current realm were unimaginable.
As Iris prepared to take the next step toward the Absolute Realm, her request for a journey with Maximus felt completely understandable.
With their blessings, even Maximus's children sweetly began calling Iris "Mother."
Though the title felt strange at first, Iris found herself smiling unconsciously.
Finally, after a bit of preparation, Maximus and Iris set out.
Turning incognito, Maximus and Iris began visiting all the attractions in the Dimensional Alliance.
They experienced diverse cultures, tasted an array of culinary delights, and marveled at the myriad of creatures inhabiting the vast realms.
Their adventures took them to the front-line battlefields, where they fought skirmishes against the Devourer Faction.
Looting their enemies, escaping when powerhouses spotted them, and even managing to conquer territories during their escapades.
Their journey didn't stop there. Venturing into the forbidden places of the Aeon Plane, seeking rare treasures, precious materials, and unique creatures.
They immersed themselves in the boundless wonders of the Aeon Plane.
From centuries to millennia, over ten thousand years passed before their journey finally came to an end.
Looking at Iris who had become livelier, reaching a perfect state, Maximus couldn't help but smile.
"Not yet. I still haven't given you my most precious thing…"
"Precious thing?" Maximus asked, but before he could finish, Iris wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss.
Shaping the void around them into a comfortable and private sanctuary, Iris and Maximus fully united.
As their bodies and souls intertwined, Maximus felt as if he were the luckiest man alive.
Holding the most beautiful woman in the Aeon Plane in his arms, he transformed from gentle to fierce, indulging fully in the act of creation.
Iris, though new to such intimacy, was far from a naive maiden.
Having lived for billions of epochs, her theoretical knowledge was perhaps even greater than Maximus's personal experience.
Together, they embraced this new feeling, savoring every sensation and emotion that came with it.
Years melted into decades as they secluded themselves within the pocket of void.
Living a hermit-like existence, their only companions were each other, their warmth, and the shared moments they celebrated the wonder of life.
Finally, after hundreds of years, Iris was satisfied.
"Where do you want to advance? In your sect, the virtual realm, or the Etherium Realm?" Maximus asked with exhaustion present in his voice.
Feeling his body drained, Maximus finally understood the saying that older women were like devouring tigers to young rabbits.
Were it not for his Ultimate Physique sustaining him, he might have been the first to perish in such a manner.
Thinking of designing an Ether Device specifically to replenish his stamina, Maximus waited for Iris's decision.
"In the Etherium Realm; I'm sure you would protect me best in such a place."
During their ten-thousand-year journey, Iris had come to a deeper understanding of Maximus—his strength, his aspirations, and his goals.
It could be said that, apart from Maximus himself, no one knew him better than Iris.
"Then let's return home…"
Looking at Maximus, the word seemed to carry a newfound meaning, filling her with a smile.