Promising to help Mira, Nero quickly took her to the source of knowledge and reported the problem to his father.
"Only seven million years before the dark disaster fully erupts?" Hearing the news, Maximus couldn't help but frown.
Although he had a feeling something was coming, he didn't expect the dark disaster to arrive so early.
Seven million years was simply too short.
That amount of time wasn't even enough for his path of law to reach its peak, much less complete the Trial of Origin, advance to the Overlord Realm, enhance his physique, and so on.
"What should we do, Father?" Nero asked worriedly.
Although he had promised to help Mira, if it threatened the family, he wouldn't hesitate to break that promise.
The only problem was, where could they escape?
After leaving the Aeon Plane, where could they go?
Could they even survive in the chaotic void in their current state?
"Don't worry. Holding off the dark disaster shouldn't be a problem," Maximus said, trying to reassure him.
Although the dark disaster was devastating, as long as they remained in the Aeon Plane, they were on defense.
With enough preparation, stopping the dark beast before they were fully ready shouldn't be an issue.
If worse came to worst, they could still escape.
"That's it. It seems Father has everything planned!"
Seeing his father's calm composure, Nero no longer felt any worry.
As long as his father said it was okay, then it was okay.
Meanwhile, before thinking how he could step things up, Maximus turned his attention to Mira.
"Do you have any clue what you're looking for?"
After learning Mira was searching for the spark of hope, Maximus didn't immediately assume it was him.
Even though he had immeasurable potential, like a born nemesis of the dark beast, seeing that Mira didn't react to his presence made him doubt it. There had to be another variable.
"I don't know. But if I see it, I'll know it's what I'm looking for," Mira said, shaking her head. She had no idea who or what the spark of hope was.
She only knew that it could save the planar chaotic void region and that it was somewhere in the Aeon Plane.
"Since you don't have a clue, I can only offer a little help."
"It's okay. If Lord Maximus can tell me the unique figures in the Aeon Plane, it'll help narrow down my search."
"Hmm... in terms of powerhouses, I only have four guesses: Lazo, the Overlord of the Void Beasts; Zar, the Prince of the Void Beasts; Marcus, the strongest Absolute; and Atlas, the Son of the Plane."
"Overlord, prince, strongest, Son of the Plane… What made you think of them, Lord Maximus?"
"They all possess a part of a Plane-level physique or ability," Maximus explained his guesses.
Although he wasn't sure about Lazo, he knew Zar possessed a pseudo-Plane-level physique.
Marcus was even more heaven-defying, with a pseudo-Plane-level combat ability.
As for Atlas, being the Son of the Plane, he couldn't be simple.
"I see…" Chewing on those words, Mira's eyes lit up.
Even if these people weren't what she was looking for, suppressing the dark beast shouldn't be a problem.
"What about special places, unique items, or rules? Do you have any idea, Lord Maximus?" Mira continued asking.
She wasn't limiting her search to powerhouses. For all she knew, the spark of hope could be a treasure that could save the planar chaotic void region.
"I don't know much about that. But maybe you could look into the top ten architectures, ultimate treasures, and unique places in the Aeon Plane."
"That's good enough!" With a clearer goal, Mira felt the weight on her shoulders ease.
Now, she didn't need to wander around like a headless fly in the void.
"Do you know where I can find those powerhouses or places, Lord Maximus?" Thinking of tracking them down quickly, Mira couldn't help but ask.
"I can't help you with that. All the powerhouses I mentioned are in seclusion. As for those top places, architectures, and treasures, they're restricted," Maximus said, shaking his head.
Lazo and the other overlords had gone into seclusion hundreds of thousands of years ago after the dimensional competition.
Those who won a seed of law from the Primordial Origin Realm, including Zar, were also in seclusion, trying to consolidate their foundations before attempting a breakthrough into the Overlord Realm.
Marcus and his wife, Elana, were also in seclusion. After getting married, it seemed they were preparing to challenge the Overlord Realm together.
As for Atlas, after his trip to the Virtual Tower, he seemed to have disappeared from the face of the Aeon Plane.
If Maximus hadn't sensed Atlas's path of law evolving into an Absolute of Law, he would have thought the boy had died.
Meanwhile, hearing Maximus couldn't help her, Mira deflated.
Just when hope was in sight, it burst again like a bubble.
Seeing her like that, Nero couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"Is there any other way, Father?"
"There's nothing I can do. You know what times we're in, even I can't just go around inviting those powerhouses."
Hearing this, Nero frowned, racking his brain for a solution.
"It's okay, Nero. No need to work so hard…" Mira sighed.
She had already accepted her fate. Since she couldn't do anything, she might as well enjoy what was left of her life.
"You—don't give up so easily!" Nero shouted, grabbing her shoulders.
Looking into those empty eyes, ready to give up and wait for inevitable death, Nero felt deeply unsettled.
In his eyes, nothing was more imperfect than someone giving up when things weren't over yet.
"What can I do? Seven million years is plenty. What about just…" In a daze, Mira looked at Nero as if she were ready to elope and enjoy their remaining time together.
"You! How can you say such a thing?!"
This time, Nero finally lost it.
Mira now looked like a soulless puppet, waiting for her candle to burn out.
Though his love for her was deep, the imperfection she exuded drove him crazy.
Feeling his heart, soul, and very origin tremble as if ready to erupt, Nero suddenly had the urge to end everything—right here, right now.
Seeing his Son's state on the verge of collapse, Maximus finally intervened, calming him down.
Infusing Nero with Plane origin, he quickly suppressed the outburst.
"You don't have to worry about problems that haven't happened yet. You kids still have a lot to do," Maximus advised.
Although Mira was probably older than him, since she was reborn in the Etherium Realm and had such a relationship with his Son, he treated her as one generation younger.
"But if everything's going to end sooner or later… what's the point?" Mira muttered blankly.
"End? Who said it would end? It's just a dark disaster. As long as I'm here, everything will be fine."
Suddenly, hearing that, Mira seemed to see a light, a dim moon in the shadow of darkness.
It wasn't the spark of hope she had been looking for, but it was warm enough to give her strength in the ever-consuming darkness.
A symbol that, even in the darkest night, there was still a moon lighting the way forward.
Calming down, Mira slowly returned to her former self.
"I thank Lord Maximus for showing me the way," she said sincerely, bowing.
"No need for thanks. And isn't 'Lord Maximus' a bit distant? You can just call me Father, like Nero does…" Maximus said with a teasing smile.
"Father?" Blushing, Mira looked at Nero.
"Father, what are you saying?!" Nero snapped, completely embarrassed.
"Alright, alright, don't be shy. Go rest and calm down. I'll tell you what to do later."
"I see. Then we'll wait, Lord Maximus," Mira nodded, assuming Maximus had a plan.
"Hmm? Lord Maximus?" Maximus repeated, giving Mira a meaningful look.
"Father, stop teasing Mira!"
"Alright, alright. Go back. I'll call you later…"