Meanwhile, although Eric was not warmly received at the Combat Department, he was in slightly better condition than Javier. He had not been handed over to the relevant departments, while Javier had already been transferred with explicit instructions from the Combat Department. The Combat Department was not as impressive as Eric had imagined. In fact, it was somewhat rudimentary. He was confined in a simple room with only a table and chair.Even the door made some noise as if it had not been used in a long time and lacked oil.After Ruth entered the room, she started mockingly, "Are you a fool?"Eric initially thought Ruth was referring to the murder incident at the Hernandez residence. To be honest, he felt it was a bad move for him to charge into someone's home and kill them.He replied, "The Hernandez guards surrounded me. I was only defending myself. In that situation, if I didn't eliminate the grandmaster, he would have killed me." He extended his hand to show Ruth the bloo
Pierce held a genuine appreciation for talent. He invested even more effort in his pursuit of recruiting Eric than the first time.However, Eric was puzzled by what Pierce saw in him."Mr. Fischer, the world is brimming with talented individuals and lofty ambitions. Why have you singled me out?" Eric asked.Pierce grinned. "You're spot-on with the first part, but the second part needs clarification."Perplexed, Eric asked, "What do you mean?"Pierce elaborated, "While there are countless talented individuals, many lack the capabilities to fulfill their dreams. On the other hand, you stand out. You are a martial arts prodigy rivaling legends at 30 and an exceptional holistic physician. Your prowess surpasses your business achievements. These abilities are precisely what my Combat Department requires."Pierce's visit to Salt City was solely prompted by Eric—he actively sought rare talent, and Eric embodied that rarity.Pierce continued. "In truth, I orchestrated your visit to King
Pierce offered, "With your skills, you shouldn't limit yourself to just being a martial arts instructor."After pondering for a moment, Eric shook his head and replied, "It's challenging. I have too many responsibilities on my plate, not only with the company but also personal matters."Upon hearing Eric decline their invitation again, Ruth exclaimed, "See? I told you he won't join us! It's not like we're going to die without him anyway! If he doesn't join, so be it! We don't have to bow our heads at him!"Eric raised an eyebrow but remained silent.Pierce chuckled and remarked, "Relax, I don't see any problem with that. You need to put in more effort to get what you want. If he refuses to join us, it just means that we haven't tried hard enough."Eric sighed. He didn't want to dampen Pierce's enthusiasm, but disappointment was inevitable. -Later, Sylvia arrived at the Combat Department, and Pierce personally escorted them out."What's the Combat Department up to?" Sylvia ask
Very few people attended Felicia's funeral.At that moment, Eric and Sylvia discovered that the villagers who had helped organize the funeral were, in fact, relatives of Seth. The neighbors and Leopard's men took charge of the funeral arrangements.Felicia's son had passed away early, and her daughter-in-law had abandoned them, leaving only her grandson to grieve for her.Eric and Sylvia empathized with Felicia, a genuinely good person, never anticipating such a merciless tragedy in her life.The initially quiet funeral was disrupted by heart-wrenching cries early in the morning. Felicia's long-absent daughter-in-law had returned.While the neighbors recognized her, Jaden did not. He briefly glanced at the well-dressed woman before lowering his head. In his heart, he had no recollection of having a mother and few memories of his father.The agonizing cries brought tears to the eyes of many neighbors. Perhaps, despite her past actions, the daughter-in-law still retained a conscien
With a resounding crack, the man who arrived with Molly kicked the chair out from under Seth, sending him tumbling head over heels."We've already shown you respect by coming here! Don't act like you're too good for our toast! Who wants to visit this godforsaken place anyway?" he snarled.Leopard clenched his fists as Seth was being bullied. Those in the underworld despised witnessing the elderly, vulnerable, and unsupported being mistreated. Moreover, from Leopard's perspective, Seth had a significant connection to Eric, and bullying Seth would indirectly disrespect Eric.Just as Leopard was about to take action, Eric stopped him. He shook his head and said, "Let's observe for now."It wasn't that he didn't want to help Seth.Firstly, Seth was unharmed, and secondly, he was an outsider. Growing up in Nutikiville, Eric understood that villagers themselves should resolve village matters and outsiders should not meddle. It might even end up offending the entire village.With no one
The man rose angrily.Leopard had discerned him as a thug of little status from the way he talked. If he held any significance, he wouldn't have ventured alone. Moreover, someone with real influence wouldn't traverse to the countryside for a mere sum of money. What surprised Leopard was that the man hailed from King City.The man sneered. "Do you know Andreas Auer from King City?"In the past, hearing Scar's name would terrify Leopard, but now he was unafraid. He lit a cigarette and retorted, "Of course, I've heard of Scar, a prominent figure on the streets of King City. But do you, a small fry, really know him?"Leopard was skeptical. Not just anyone had connections with Scar; this man likely only knew of Scar's reputation."I'm one of Mr. Andreas's men! Leopard, right? If you dare interfere today, I'll make sure you won't be able to return to King City!" the man threatened.The man must have recognized the cars parked outside were from King City, so Leopard must know who Scar w
Eric raised an eyebrow, pondering whether Molly's man was truly one of Scar's underlings. At the same time, a dozen cars rolled into the village, creating a cloud of dust that prompted the villagers to hastily make way, anxiety evident on their faces.Not far from Seth's house, a man waved joyfully.At the forefront of the procession was a Land Rover. A man stepped forward to open the car door, and Scar emerged, looking somewhat disheveled.Leopard's underlings rushed to him, exclaiming, "Boss! It's Scar!"A sense of fear swept through the crowd. Scar held a notorious reputation in King City, far more influential than Leopard."Scar himself is here? What's he doing in the middle of nowhere?" Leopard expressed his astonishment, glancing at Eric with doubts about his ability to handle Scar.Meeting Leopard's gaze, Eric calmly stated, "Go and meet him first. I won't show myself for now."Leopard was rendered speechless.-Outside, Scar surveyed the somewhat desolate hall."Whe
Scar was astonished, primarily due to Seth's serene demeanor. Only someone who had experienced the ups and downs of life—tasted its bitterness and sweetness—could view life and death with indifference."Mr… Mr. Andreas?" Mad Dog noticed that Scar seemed to be intimidated.Scar snapped back to his senses and asked, "Mad Dog, how much do you know about that old man?"Mad Dog chuckled. "Mr. Andreas, that's Molly's ex-father-in-law, just an ordinary old man. There's nothing to be afraid of!"Scar suddenly realized he had made a mistake. He had misjudged the situation. He was indignant, thinking he was being intimidated by an ordinary old man."Old man! Will you pay the money or not?" Scar bellowed.He was prepared to take action if Seth refused to design.The villagers were all terrified as Scar and his men were imposing. Seth was about to stand up when Eric's voice echoed. "We can produce the money. But I'm afraid you might not dare to take it!"Silence descended.After a beat, S
In terms of innate talent, Eric was unparalleled, having reached the pinnacle of martial arts. With a single punch, he sent the 'God' flying."Good!" Stealthbane shouted with excitement.The ultimate enemy had finally been defeated, bringing peace to the world. Eric sighed in relief.However, in the next moment, the 'God' stood up again. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, he revealed a bloodthirsty smile. "You have successfully enraged me!"Everyone braced for a potential massacre, but instead, the enemy turned and fled.Could Eric let him escape?"Chase him!" Stealthbane commanded.Allowing this foe to escape would spell endless trouble.A group of people pursued the enemy, who soon reappeared clad in iron armor."Not seen this before, have you?" The 'God' seemed to have recovered somewhat. "Did you think I only research viruses? Wrong! I control global resources and global wealth!"This is our newly developed Doomforge Exosuit which amplifies a person's battle prowess tenfol
The sturdy floor lay in utter disarray.In desperation, Ruth shouted, "Eric, don't give him any more chances! Finish him off swiftly, or we'll face endless trouble!"Eric was well aware of this logic. As he fought, he said, "He's incredibly strong. Taking him down quickly isn't possible! We must fight to the death!"Eric had never feared battle. Besides, this might very well be his final fight.Their fists clashed fiercely.The 'God' also noticed that Eric was growing more formidable as the battle progressed."How do you have so much strength? Wouldn't it be better if we joined forces to control the world? We could have anything we desire!"All the world's wealth, women, and resources would be ours to enjoy. Why won't you listen to reason?" he roared.Eric's momentum didn't falter. "I don't share your grand ambitions. I just want a simple life with a job that pays 1,000 dollars a month and a warm home with my wife and kids. But you, you've disturbed my peace!"The 'God' was fu
The 'God' grew more courageous as the battle raged on, causing Stealthbane to worry incessantly.In another high-stakes clash, Eric and his opponent both retreated. Eric sensed his opponent's growing strength, finding it rather peculiar.The 'God' clenched his fist. "I must thank you! My techniques were slightly incomplete, but I've managed to fill the gaps through this battle!"Eric marveled at his opponent's genius. To mend something incomplete was indeed a rare talent.Despite Eric training with the complete manual, he could only match the 'God' blow for blow. This person was terrifying!The opponent's confidence soared. Although Eric had trained with the full manual, the 'God' felt his innate talent far surpassed Eric's. If he could match Eric with an incomplete manual, now that he had perfected it, wouldn't he be unbeatable?"I thought you had potential and considered inviting you to share this world with me," the 'God' said, his tone turning icy. "But now, I see it's unnece
Stealthbane even felt that Eric might not be a match for the "God."The power was overwhelming.The terrifying aura was enough to crush everything. To an ordinary person, this was a real deity—the strength possessed had already transcended human limits.Eric made his move with a burst of speed. The clash of their fists created a thunderous explosion, and the sound was so intense that Stealthbane felt his eardrums might shatter.This was a battle of the highest caliber, one that even a legend like Stealthbane could not hope to join.Seeing the two evenly matched, Stealthbane sighed in relief. At least there was a chance that the strongest combatants were neutralizing each other. The outcome was still uncertain.Eric shook his aching fist, his expression grave. The opponent's strength was as he had anticipated. If the ultimate boss of the Luminous did not possess such combat power, it would be absurd.Clearly, this "God" had also gauged Eric's strength.He extended a hand toward
Stealthbane knew that the figure facing them must be the ultimate leader of the Luminous.Suddenly, he no longer wanted to die. If he could hold on just a little longer, it would all be over."Mr. Johnson, these people don't seem ordinary. Could that leader be the ultimate figure of the Luminous? Are we about to complete the game?" he whispered.To him, this mission to the Ark felt like a game: defeat the final boss, and victory is achieved."If I'm not mistaken, it should be. This person gives me... a sense of danger," Eric said.Upon hearing this, Stealthbane felt reassured.Just a sense? That meant the problem wasn't too grave!The leader on the opposite side turned to Eric. "I didn't expect you to make it this far. I underestimated your strength, believing my Ark was impregnable, that no enemy could breach it. But why are you so persistent? Why such determination?"He suddenly screamed in a fit of hysteria, "I have so many people! Such a grand scheme! It has all succeeded!
Brent shouted desperately, "After you get on your knees, they'll kill you all, and we won't survive either! Kill them! Kill them all!"He understood the situation with stark clarity. Kneeling meant certain death. If they had to die anyway, fighting back would be their only chance of survival.Eric sighed. "Mr. Rogers, in the end, it was we who implicated you. But this place must be eradicated, and the Luminous must be destroyed as well! Everyone, attack!"As the battle commenced, the masked man immediately struck Brent with a punch.Eric charged in. "Die!"He knew that Brent was unlikely to survive. This punch was his way of avenging Brent.The masked man spun around, trying to block Eric's punch. But the speed of the blow was too much—the gust of wind from the punch arrived before the fist did.It was an instant kill.The masked man had no time to react before Eric's punch collided with his chest. The terrifying force shattered the mask on the man's face, revealing an unfamili
Stealthbane was blinded by rage. He was killing anyone in sight, his fury unrelenting. They had ventured deep into enemy territory, where every encounter seemed to be with an adversary.Eric and his team from the Combat Department showed no mercy.Yet even Stealthbane's resolve was wearing thin."I can't kill them all! It feels like every master in the world is concentrated here!" he shouted in frustration.He felt the number of people he had brought was insufficient. If he had brought a few thousand more, he might have been able to overrun the place.Stealthbane was overwhelmed by the sheer horror of their situation. Fortunately, they had arrived. If anyone else had come, they would have met their end here.The numbers of the masters seemed endless."Damn it!" Stealthbane cursed angrily. "There are too many of them, and they're all exceptionally powerful. What kind of game is this?"He was tempted to retreat, but where could he go?Eric sent an enemy flying, pushing forward
"I was opposed to coming in from the start, but as you all know, the Rogers family is extremely complex. If we hadn't entered, I might have ended up dead. At least if the virus isn't a threat, that's something!" Brent poured himself a cup of coffee and continued. "These people are ruthless! They want to kill everyone outside the Ark and establish a new order, managed by a select few. It's insane!"You don't need to tell me—I know you're here to kill them."He then pulled a small token from his pocket. "This is our Rogers family's privilege here. It allows us to move freely between different levels. With this, you can go anywhere!"Stealthbane grabbed it eagerly. "Why didn't you mention this earlier? Things will go much smoother with this!"Brent sighed. "Once you've handled everything, could you take me out with you? I really don't want to stay in this dreadful place any longer.""Sure!" Eric nodded. "We'll definitely call you when we leave. For now, we're heading out."Brent e
Everything was ready, but they couldn't just walk in.Ruth instructed the Combat Department to conduct a three-day intensive training for everyone, focusing on coordinated combat.-After three days, the forces led by Stealthbane moved out, first dismantling the outer defenses of the Ark. This was their specialty!A large group of several hundred arrived in front of the Ark's entrance. At first glance, it resembled a mountain.Jack scratched his head and said, "Is this the gate? I don't see any door."The Holy Templar's people arrived as well. St. Pius said, "Everyone, don't rush. Wait for two minutes. Once the gate opens, we need to get in quickly. I have other plans inside, but once we're in, it's going to be a life-or-death battle! No one should show any mercy!"Stealthbane flexed his fists and replied, "Do I look like a good guy to you? Just watch me deal with them!"No sooner had he spoken than there was a tremendous roar. The ground shook, and the door of the Ark swung