"The High Marshal secured a great treasure for His Majesty and rendered extraordinary service to the empire," Morgan continued, his voice echoing over the plaza. "Moreover, the High Marshal commands an extensive network of influence across the globe. He is Dasovia's most reliable ally!" That was another bombshell. Influence spread across the world? The crowd was reeling. The shock was almost too much to process. At that moment, everyone was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. Who exactly was the High Marshal? What kind of person could possibly live up to all this hype? "No more words," Morgan said. "The time has come. The High Marshal has already entered Heaven on Earth."Heaven on Earth was a palace located behind the Skyward Sanctum. In a few moments, Gideon would walk out from Heaven on Earth, following the ornate, dragon-carved pathway and stepping onto the Skyward Sanctum's altar to stand before the entire nation as a newly crowned star. The plaza erupted
"Silence! The auspicious hour has arrived. The enfeoffment ceremony now begins." At Morgan's booming announcement, the drums and bells roared to life. A dazzling radiance rose from Heaven on Earth, painting the sky in brilliant colors. It was a man-made setup, but under that glow, Heaven on Earth truly looked like a realm of gods—stunning and otherworldly. The Skyward Sanctum itself seemed even more sacred and untouchable. The great gates of Heaven on Earth slowly swung open. All eyes locked onto the entrance. Meanwhile, inside Heaven on Earth, Gideon stood tall. His long hair was tied neatly back. He wore black and gold ceremonial robes embroidered with soaring swallows, golden cloud-patterned boots on his feet, and at his waist was the printing of Lothian Mt. and River. His bearing alone convinced the handmaidens serving him—this was the High Marshal. Who else could it be?"Marshal Snow, the time has come. You may now step out and ascend to the Skyward Sanctum,"
The entire Drammore was in chaos. "Lavinia, what are you standing around for? Let's join the fun!" Seanno urged. Maya grabbed Lavinia's hand and dragged her toward the carriage. But Lavinia frowned deeply. In her mind, she kept replaying the High Marshal's furious roar. That voice sounded strangely familiar. Where had she heard it before? Elsewhere, Ronan was also lost in thought. "What's on your mind?" Noel asked. "Come on. Let's get to Cook Manor." "That High Marshal... He feels familiar somehow," Ronan muttered, shaking his head. "Forget it. We'll find out soon enough. Anyway, what did you think of him?" "He's no fraud," Noel said simply, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes. "A true prodigy. Worthy of being my opponent. I'm looking forward to exchanging fists with him." While all the nobles and martial elites rushed toward Cook Manor, the manor remained calm and peaceful. No one from Cook Manor had attended the enfeoffment ceremony. Their entire focus was els
"I'm on it, Dad," Jonathan said quickly. But before he could step outside, a thunderous voice rolled across the entire Cook Manor, shaking heaven and earth. "Freddie, come out and die!" The words echoed through the sky, refusing to fade. Jonathan froze in place, his face stiffening. Who could possibly have the guts to openly curse a royal family member like that? Even Freddie himself was stunned. He stared at the door in disbelief, as if he couldn't believe his own ears. Then, an overwhelming surge of killing intent erupted inside the room. "Dad, calm down!" Jonathan said urgently. "Saving Jessica comes first. Leave the outside to me." He rushed out of the room. At the same time, Cook Manor's guards and warriors sprang into action. At their head was Jasiah, leading the troop."Prince Jonathan!" Jasiah called out, awaiting orders. Jonathan's face was icy cold. He said nothing, focusing instead on the man floating above the gates of Cook Manor. Gideon was ba
"You bastard! I'll give you three seconds. If you don't show yourself, I'll kill Jonathan and end your bloodline," Gideon threatened.In an instant, Jonathan felt as if he had plunged into an ice-cold abyss. His entire body froze, stiff and numb, unable to move. Everyone in Cook Manor was stunned. Even the nobles and high officials who had come to watch turned pale with fear.Freddie only had one son. He treasured Jonathan beyond reason. Once, another prince from the royal family, knowing Jonathan's health was poor, had forced him to drink heavily at a banquet, causing him to fall severely ill. Freddie had personally gone to the prince's residence and beaten him up. Completely disregarding the prince's status as a fellow royal. From then on, no one in Drammore and its upper circles dared touch Jonathan. And now, Gideon was threatening to kill him? God Almighty!As expected, an explosion of murderous fury erupted from the western wing of the manor. A man descended, hi
Gideon's words hit like a thunderclap. He deliberately chose not to say "ex-wife" to emphasize Elara's importance. Hearing it, Freddie's heart grew heavier. He never would've guessed Elara was the wife of the High Marshal. And now, this matter had become a real issue.But Jessica had to be saved. So what if Elara was married to the High Marshal? Freddie was still the King of Dasovia's uncle. A High Marshal title didn't change a thing. He was nothing compared to Freddie."Marshal Snow, I didn't realize you were married to Ms. Seymour. This must be a misunderstanding. Actually..." "Shut up!" Gideon roared. With a single stomp, the magnificent gates of Cook Manor crumbled into a heap of ruins.Everyone's faces darkened, including Freddie's. Those gates were everything. They showed off the manor's power and prestige. Destroying the gates was as good as stepping on the heads of everyone in Cook Manor. It was an open insult."Marshal Snow, you're taking this too far!" "Too
3,000 royal guards opened fire all at once. But Gideon didn't even spare them a glance. His blood roared through his veins. A surge of raw energy erupted from within him, staining half the sky a deep crimson.A blood-colored storm swept through the air, snuffing out every last attack.The royal guards were caught in the blast, sent flying like leaves in a hurricane."Go down!" Gideon barked the order, his voice sharp as a blade.A dragon's roar followed, and the sound wave struck straight into Freddie's mind, catching him completely off guard. His vision went black for a split second.But for warriors at their level, a second was enough to decide life and death.Gideon's foot slammed down, landing squarely on Freddie's skull, nearly crushing it.Freddie screamed, blood streaming from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. His legs were driven deep into the earth."Dad!" Jonathan howled, his voice raw and broken.For a moment, it felt like time stood still. The entire crowd stood i
"Impossible!" Freddie let out a shriek like he had seen a ghost, eyes bulging out of their sockets."Nothing's impossible. You've got tunnel vision. Just face it. You're old." Gideon's face twisted into a mocking grin.Being called old hit Freddie like a sledgehammer. It hurt more than any physical blow. It was a direct hit to the ego."Ugh!" Freddie spat out a mouthful of blood.Gideon unclenched his fist and grabbed the Beast Supreme Bone Spur, ripping it away by force."Bastard! Give it back!" Freddie roared.Gideon sneered, "As you wish. Here!"The Beast Supreme Bone was hurled through the air with devastating force, aimed straight at Freddie."This is bad!"Morgan, Samson, and the others turned pale.The blow was too vicious. If Freddie took the full hit, he would either die or be crippled. He was, after all, Chase's uncle. They couldn't just stand there.Instantly, several people made their move to block it. Even so, the Beast Supreme Bone Spike broke through layer aft
Brantley truly lived up to his reputation. As soon as the netherflame entered his body, he immediately sat down cross-legged and began channeling his energy. His Martial God Physique reawakened, and he tried to forcefully suppress the netherflame.His body would turn blazing red one moment, as if it were about to melt, and then be covered in frost and ice shards the next.The alternating waves of fire and ice quickly tore through the internal structure of Brantley's Martial God Physique, and his condition kept worsening."No!"Harmoni was terrified. She quickly spat out an inner core—a treasure her father had given her. It was said to be the inner core of a half apex overbeast. However, it was badly damaged and no longer contained the full power of its original level.She instantly sent the inner core into Brantley's body. It exploded instantly, releasing a surge of energy that began to repair his damaged body.But it still wasn't enough. The netherflame was far too powerful. It
"Once you get the netherflame, your Martial God Physique will fully awaken in no time. When that happens, even Gideon won't be a threat."We can track Gideon down, crush him, and strip his Solar Titan Physique at the source. We'll also get the Beast Supreme Bone! Everything will be yours!" Harmoni shouted, cheering Brantley on.Gideon sneered. So, that was their plan.At this moment, Gideon couldn't help but admire the power of the Pharaoh's Shroud. They were just 100 yards away, yet neither Brantley nor Harmoni noticed them.Of course, it might have been because their attention was fully locked on breaking through to the third floor that they let their guards down."Open!" Brantley roared.His energy surged, and behind him, a phantom slowly took shape, radiating a fierce warrior-like energy. That phantom looked like a war god.Brantley kept swinging his fists, perfectly synchronized with the movements of the war god phantom behind him. Each strike made the floating palace tremb
Sure enough, floating in the deep sea ahead was a palace. It was pitch-black, and in the darkness of the deep sea, it was genuinely hard to spot.The glowing fish darted into the floating palace. Thanks to its golden light, Gideon was finally able to see that the palace gates were open.Strangely enough, the entrance seemed to carry some sort of mysterious power that blocked out the seawater completely. Not a single drop made it inside the palace."Marshal Snow, someone beat us to it.""It's fine. That just means they'll go and clear the way for us," Gideon said calmly.It didn't matter who got the heavenly flame first. As long as they weren't peak Supremes, he was confident he could take them on."Now that we've found our destination, do you two want to head back to shore first?" Gideon asked.Elara shook her head. "No. I'm not some helpless little thing. I've learned all the secret techniques you taught me. I can handle myself."Jessica chimed in proudly, "Marshal Snow, don't
Nethercult's outfits were nearly identical across the board, making them easy to recognize.As a major power in the northern region of the Wasteland, Nethercult kept a low profile. Tristan Neblanc, the leader, was as elusive as a ghost. He was heard of but rarely seen."Mr. Ballard, Harmoni and Brantley have started moving. Do you think they can get their hands on the heavenly flame?"Three people turned toward the eldest man among them—Nethercult's grand elder, Chaim Ballard.With Tristan absent, Chaim was in charge of the cult's operations.He pondered for a moment. "There's a decent chance. Brantley's working on forming the Martial God Physique. Though he's only at the half-step stage, his powerful body will attract the netherflame.""Mr. Ballard, are we waiting for the netherflame to enter Brantley's body before we suppress him?""Exactly.""That could tick off Talonclaw. And Harmoni said Brantley's from Martialgarde, the biggest faction in the eastern plains.""So what? I
Even though Gideon was locked in place and restrained, Gideon didn't sense any hostility from the giant fish. He met its gaze without flinching or acting humble.After a moment, he said, "I used your blood and triggered your phantom once, which helped me out of a tight spot. Thank you."The giant fish didn't move. It shut its eyes, clearly not interested in responding to Gideon."Mighty One, I came this time just to express my gratitude. I'll be on my way. If I get the chance, I'll come see you again."With that, Gideon bowed and turned to leave.Suddenly, a beam of golden light shot out like a sword and pierced into his body."Marshal Snow!" Jessica cried out in alarm.Gideon's body trembled, nearly losing his breath, but the sensation quickly faded.He touched his body and checked himself over. Nothing felt out of place.When he looked back, he saw the giant fish's eyes slowly closing. Clearly, that beam of light had come from its eyes just moments ago."Thank you." Gideon
"The Heavenly Sovereign is the ultimate trump card. As long as Chase doesn't have it, Attwell will always have a shot at pushing back against him."Of course, we're not expecting Attwell to actually beat Chase. We just need him to stir up some trouble and pull Chase's attention. That way, Chase won't have time to focus on the power grab," Jandial explained.Edric nodded to himself. "What you're saying makes sense, but why would Attwell even listen to you?"Jandial paused, looked around the room, and said in a low voice, "I'm only telling you all because we're brothers. Listen closely. When Attwell lost and fled to the Wasteland, his whole family was wiped out. But in reality, I secretly saved one.""What?" Everyone was shocked.Jandial said, "Attwell's only son has been living in my estate. I gave him a name—Alfsee… Alfsee Cook!"The princes around the table started murmuring, "Now that you mentioned it, I've seen that boy at your estate a few times. So that's Attwell's son? Unbe
As the saying went, good fortune hid misfortune, and misfortune might lead to good fortune.After everything Elara had just gone through, her strength had actually improved when she woke up. Her core had already advanced another step.However, Elara still hadn't undergone any formal training. She had all this energy in her body but didn't really know how to use it.Gideon passed on a few top-tier techniques to her—Voidpoint Touch and Cloudborne Palm—ones more suited for a woman to use.But for actual training, Elara would need to rely heavily on Umbra for guidance. When it came to refining the pure-essence physique, Gideon didn't know much himself.…The next morning, Jessica arrived at the High Marshal's estate. Gideon brought the two of them aboard an aircraft and left Drammore."Your Highness, I have news. Marshal Snow has left Drammore."In the grand hall, Edric, Freddie, and several other royal princes were seated together, expressions mixed.Edric asked, "Freddie, are yo
"Then, is it possible that Marshal Snow planted something in Jessica's body? Quick! Summon the four renowned physicians immediately. Have them do a full examination of Jessica," Freddie ordered.The four renowned physicians of Drammore arrived swiftly. After examining Jessica's body, each of them showed visible shock."Your Highness, Princess Jessica's body has no issues at all. She's just a bit weak. With some rest and care, she'll make a full recovery in just over a month.""It's truly remarkable!""The High Marshal isn't just a powerhouse. His medical skills are practically otherworldly, too. He's a true prodigy!""Even our own skills can't hold a candle to Marshal Snow's!""He's a giant among men!"The four renowned physicians sang praises nonstop.Only they knew just how miraculous the treatment was. Within just three days, Jessica's injuries were already 70% to 80% healed. It was like watching a living immortal at work."If only Marshal Snow would give us a few pointers,
"Where exactly did you get exposed to the fire poison?" Gideon asked.Jessica tilted her head, thinking for a moment, then said, "I remember now. It was probably in Tyrant Sea!""Tyrant Sea!"Gideon's eyes narrowed. That was the inland sea within Mulstead and the largest ocean in all of Dasovia. The weather above it was notoriously violent and unpredictable, with thunderous storms raging frequently. That was how it got its name.Jonathan asked, "Jessica, when did you sneak off to Tyrant Sea? That place is crawling with lightning storms. You've got some nerve."Jessica grinned. "I was just planning to sightsee along the shore of the sea, but then I spotted a shiny golden fish. It was so pretty, so I followed it right into the sea.""Princess Jessica, could you describe what happened in more detail?""Let me think… I dove into Tyrant Sea, chased that glowing fish, and went deeper and deeper. Then, I realized something wasn't right. I was way too far from the coast."I tried to sw