Joanna had just returned from her trip abroad, and it had been some time since she met Adrian.He smiled and said, “It’s been a long time, Jojo. Why do you look different?”Joanna smoothened her hair and rolled her eyes. “Don’t you recognize me anymore just because I got a new hairstyle? Wavy hair is all the rage at the moment. What do you think? Do you like my new hairstyle?”“You look kind of like a golden retriever,” replied Adrian. Joanna rolled her eyes at him a few times. Sarah and Nadine walked over. The former called out in a mischievous manner, “Godpa!”Nadine covered her mouth and giggled. Adrian glared at Sarah and said, “You’ve gained some weight.”“I’m well-fed!” said Sarah with her arms crossed. Adrian felt joy rise from the depths of his heart as he witnessed the scene before his eyes. Thinking about it, he figured that what they say about “being alive is hope” was true. Chuck and Vivian walked over as well. Chuck said, “Buddy, we saw everything on the new
Adrian lost count of the time he spent standing at the viewing deck. He then heard the sound of footsteps behind him.Dressed in her nightgown, Samantha walked upstairs and hugged him from behind. Her body was in close contact with his muscular back, and her charming face was burrowed into his shoulder. “I never imagined that there would come a day when my man would play such a crucial role in the country and become Navia’s shining glory. This had never crossed my mind when I first married you, Adrian,” said Samantha softly. Adrian did not make a sound as he listened to Samantha’s words. After a while, she said, “I saw what you did while you were in Serpent's Haven. To my eyes, you were tall, muscular, and majestic. You’re like my guardian angel. As long as I have you, I know that I’ll be fine even if the sky comes crashing down on us.”Samantha expressed the true thoughts in her heart. When she married him eight years ago, she lived with the idea of adapting and conforming to
Soon, Adrian arrived at the family home in Cloudanville. Before he entered the house, he spotted the old acacia tree in the courtyard, its blooming, snowy white flowers stirring his childhood memory.He remembered that it was him and Henry who planted the tree together. He estimated that it was twenty years old by now. “What brings you here, Adrian?”As soon as he walked into the courtyard, Cecilia, who was hanging up the laundry, noticed him and hurriedly walked over.Adrian replied, “I’m here to visit Grandfather.”“He’s inside. Come in!” said Cecilia hastily. Adrian nodded and walked into the house. Harold was sitting in the house watching television. He looked like he had aged significantly compared to when Adrian had first come back. Adrian walked up to Harold as Cecilia said, “Father, Adrian’s here.”Harold abruptly turned his head and he shook when he saw Adrian. He jumped up from the sofa. “You’re here, Adrian,” he said. Adrian nodded. Not having much to say to Har
“Gloria!” Adrian was sharp-eyed and quickly caught Gloria to support her. Propping up her head with her hands, Gloria looked at Adrian with agony in her eyes. “It hurts. My head hurts. It hurts so bad,” she said distressfully and burst into tears. Gloria had always been strong and could endure levels of pain that many people could not. Judging by her reaction, Adrian could tell how much pain she was in. He scooped her into his arms and put her in the car.He asked, “Have you been taking the antibody-drug conjugate for the cell mutation over the past few days?”Gloria nodded. “Yes!”It seemed like the drug was no longer effective. Adrian inhaled a deep breath and pulled out his phone to make a call. The call was made to Winslow’s team, and it was quickly picked up.“Hello, who’s calling?”“This is Draco. Get Winslow on the line,” said Adrian. “Yes, sir.”It did not take long before Winslow’s anxious voice was heard coming from the other end. “Why do you sound so urgent,
It did not take long before Samantha and Joanna arrived upon receiving the news. The two women stepped into the room and saw Gloria on the bed.Samantha asked anxiously, “How’s Gloria doing, Adrian?”Adrian replied, “Accelerated cell division and mutation. Her body is undergoing massive changes and there’s no telling how the future will be. If we don’t stop the mutation, it’s possible that she’ll…”“We’ll figure out something,” said Samantha comfortingly. “Has Winslow found an antidote?”Gloria’s condition was deteriorating too quickly. Even with Winslow working at top speed, it was impossible for him to find a cure for Gloria’s condition within a short time. Adrian shook his head. “He just concluded the expedition less than a month ago. It’d be difficult for him to figure out a way within such a short time.”Samantha inhaled a deep breath. “What should we do then? If we don’t do anything, Gloria will turn into a monster.”“I’ll figure out a way,” said Adrian anxiously. Thoug
’Miracle doctor? Medical Maestro?’Adrian found these names to be rather familiar. He has heard of this person when he was in the outlands.Bortuguesa was a small island country. The journey was a long one, and Adrian figured that he would need to spend a lot of time getting there.Gracia asked Winslow, “Professor Winslow, is the Medical Maestro still alive?”Winslow was uncertain so he said, “Someone saw him last year, so I believe he’s still alive. Nothing is absolute but it’s also Ms. Gloria’s only chance now. Due to the time limit, the Medical Maestro is the only person who can help now.”Adrian turned his head and asked, “You said it yourself that her condition is urgent. How will Gloria be able to withstand the long journey to Bortugueasa?”Judging by Gloria’s condition, she would deteriorate if left untreated. Winslow procured a box of medicine from his pocket and passed it to Adrian. “Sir, our lab rushed to produce this in the past two days. It’s made from plant-based i
Meanwhile, Rue walked over with Nova in her arms. Adrian went up to her and glanced at Nova. He lowered his head to plant a kiss on her forehead and said to Rue, “Please take good care of Sam and Nova, Mother. It’s possible that I won’t be back for a long time.”Rue said, “Don’t worry about things at home. We still have Nadine, Sarah, and the others. Ivy and Eira are back as well. There are plenty of people to take care of the family. Just take good care of Gloria. Her circumstances are so pitiful.”Adrian did not comment further. He turned around and left One Jewel Road, rushing back to the hospital. Gracia was sitting by the bed anxiously in the hospital room. She looked at her unconscious sister on the bed and felt her heart racing with fear. Suddenly, Gloria slowly opened her eyes. She saw her sister sitting next to her bed, looking at her anxiously.“You’re awake, Riri,” said Gracia in surprise upon seeing Gloria wake up.Gloria nodded. She looked extremely weak, her face
Gloria’s heart flooded with waves of agony upon hearing Gracia’s remark and her tears fell. It was tough for Gracia to accept something like this happening, and Gloria seemed hopeless. Gloria was heartbroken by the sight of her sister shedding tears. “Hey, Cici. Don’t cry. I’ll be okay. I want to see you get married.” Gloria stretched out her hand to wipe away Gracia’s tears.Gracia said, “I know that the trip to Bortuguesa is dangerous for Adrian, but he’s the only person who can save you. If even he has given up on you, will you still have a future?“If he can’t go, I’ll take you there. Even if I have to die on the way there, I’ll die with you.”This was Gracia’s love for her sister. Gloria was her only surviving family member and the sister whom she had grown up with. Nothing had changed.“I’m sorry, Cici. I promise you that I’ll be just fine,” said Gloria in a comforting tone. Gracia wiped away her tears and said, “We lived through five years of Isle 416’s incident, so
The Daemon Emperor was startled."What is happening? This power..."Formless energy was surging forward, pressuring his nerves and senses.Below, Andy and the others trembled uncontrollably."Who is it?" Finnian stared into the crimson mist.Even Andy was horrified, his gaze locked on the unfolding scene in disbelief, and asked, "What is this? What exactly is happening?" At this moment, Adrian abruptly opened his eyes.Apparently, the Daemon Emperor had once conspired with Adrian's subordinates to ambush him.However, Adrian had managed to annihilate the traitors and sealed this Daemon Emperor. Now, fate had brought them together again."If I killed you once, I can kill you again." Adrian stood tall, his white robes fluttering in the air.The Daemon Emperor was stunned into silence."This is impossible! You're not that mortal boy!""Is that so? In this life, your end has come, and so has the era of the daemons." Adrian's voice was calm yet resolute. He stretched out his han
Adrian's face hardened at the words. He despised threats above all else. While he understood what the mysterious entity desired, he couldn't yet fully comprehend its implications or find a way to counter it. His only choice was to focus on growing stronger.Within the hot spring, waves of raw, terrifying power surged and crashed violently against Adrian's body.The force, though beneficial, was brutal and overwhelming. Adrian's body struggled to endure, cracking as though it were disintegrating."Arghhh!"A heart-wrenching scream echoed as Adrian's flesh was torn apart and his aura gradually dimmed."Ahhh!"His agonized cries echoed once more. He could no longer withstand the pain.In the distance, a towering figure appeared and sneered. "What's this? Can't take it anymore? Pathetic. Humans are truly the epitome of stupidity."Suddenly, Adrian erupted with an explosive surge of energy, and in that instant, he broke through to the pinnacle of the Void Stage."Hmm? He actually b
At that moment, the crowd was speechless.Adrian had ascended as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Faced with such a sight, no one could say much beyond admiration. Even if the Holy Son claimed Adrian had cheated, many secretly wished they could cheat the same way.Lacking Adrian's means, all they could do was envy him.Finnian chuckled. "Haha! You really caught us all by surprise, kid. Still, I'll count this as you repaying me a favor."For Finnian, the outcome couldn't have been better. With a broad smile, he seemed to have achieved his desired result. Adrian's successful climb was all that mattered to him.Once Adrian had vanished, the focus shifted to the rest of the group and their trials.When Adrian opened his eyes again, his entire body ached, but an oddly comforting sensation flowed through him. Surveying his surroundings, he realized he was now in a pond."Where am I?" he asked.Though uncertain about the place, Adrian knew he had cleared the trial and arriv
The onlookers stared in bewilderment, their faces etched with confusion as they struggled to grasp the unfolding events.Meanwhile, Adrian seethed with barely contained rage. This wasn't his first encounter with such torment. Every few steps he ascended, another trial awaited.To Adrian, the relentless punishments felt suffocating. Yet he pressed on—this was the final stretch of the climb. "Adrian, hang in there!" Andy shouted, urging him to conquer the last step. To Andy, reaching that final step symbolized Adrian's growth. He had witnessed Adrian's remarkable resilience countless times and held unwavering faith in his potential. In Andy's eyes, Adrian was destined for greatness. Adrian's expression turned cold as he locked his gaze on the steps ahead. Determination flickered in his eyes. "If reaching the top guarantees a reward, it doesn't have to be me up there. As long as someone makes it, that's enough." With that, he shifted his focus to the void above and formed
Adrian felt as if every nerve in his body was beyond his control. A deep sense of grievance filled his heart as the divine thunder from the void relentlessly crashed down.Rage surged within him, but under the onslaught of endless forces, he felt weak and constrained.Still, he had no choice but to press forward. He knew victory was within reach if he could endure a little longer—giving up now would mean death.If he fell, the shame and humiliation would crush him.Below, the Holy Son and others waited, eager to see him fail and mock him. This left Adrian no option but to push forward, striving toward the void above and his ultimate goal.The violent forces continued to bombard him from the sky.With every step, the thunder's impact intensified tenfold. His soul, already battered from a fierce battle with a horde of beasts, now felt as though it was dragging his exhausted body forward.Anyone else would likely have succumbed to despair. After all, under such immense pressure, ev
The oppressive forces descending from the void seemed determined to halt Adrian’s ascent up the staircase.Yet he refused to yield. To him, these overwhelming challenges were merely obstacles to conquer.He pressed forward with relentless determination.Thunderbolts continued to rain down, but the ominous red light from before did not return—a relief, as he never wished to endure its crushing weight again.The memory of that light still haunted him, leaving a lingering sense of helplessness. Its suffocating pressure had drained his strength, reducing him to a gasping, powerless state.Despite the toll on his body and mind, Adrian remained singularly focused on reaching the final step. His burning desire for greater power drove him forward, unwavering and resolute.Step by step, he ascended, reaching the 95th step in what felt like an instant.Only five steps remained. His gaze locked onto the summit, and a wild glint lit his eyes. A daring idea sparked within him, consuming his
Adrian pondered his situation, his cold gaze reflecting simmering frustration. Yet deep down, he recognized that whoever had designed the staircase was far from ordinary.Creating such a formidable trial required unimaginable power.Even a pinnacle Void Stage expert—or perhaps someone of the Multiply Stage—might bow in reverence before the ladder's creator."He won't last much longer. The divine lightning in this void is utterly destructive. In moments, he'll be reduced to ashes," sneered the Holy Son, his sharp eyes gleaming with malice.To the Holy Son, Adrian's demise was inevitable. Adrian had dared to offend him, and he was certain such audacity could only lead to death.Adrian caught the Holy Son's words and cast him a frosty glare. His intent to kill was unmistakable, though now wasn't the time.The staircase was no place for personal vendettas—eliminating him here would require careful planning.He also knew the Holy Son carried seals of immense power. A reckless move co
Finnian's sharp gaze reflected a hint of admiration. "Kid, you owe me a big favor this time. You'd better treasure this opportunity."Adrian remained silent, unsure how to respond. His cold eyes revealed no emotion, though he fully grasped the challenges ahead.Fear was a luxury he couldn't afford—he'd come too far to back down now.Suddenly, a streak of red light surged from the void, hurtling toward Adrian with terrifying speed. His eyes widened in shock as the crimson beam struck him, slamming him against the staircase.Caught off guard, Adrian collapsed, sprawled helplessly on the steps.The crowd below watched in astonishment. No one had expected his seemingly indestructible body to be overwhelmed so easily.The Holy Son sneered. "Haha! It seems he's triggered some kind of taboo. Let's see how arrogant he is now!"His voice dripped with schadenfreude, his eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction as he relished Adrian's struggle.Despite the crushing force, Adrian refused
"What exactly is up there pulling me so strongly?" Adrian's expression hardened as he pondered the mysterious force drawing him upward.A surge of violent energy erupted across the sky, crashing down like a raging storm.Adrian advanced cautiously, each step deliberate and precise.Gone were the reckless strides of before—now he moved with steely determination, fully aware of the lurking dangers.He'd learned that the void's formidable forces seemed to target him directly, compelling him to proceed step by step. Any attempt to bypass its unseen barriers would provoke a devastating strike."Ridiculous," Adrian muttered. "If I've chosen to climb, nothing will stop me."The void's relentless power intensified.Bolts of thunder hammered down mercilessly, battering Adrian's body. Yet fear never crossed his mind.What was there to be afraid of?To him, the divine thunder wasn't an obstacle—it was a crucible, a tool to temper his body and strengthen his resolve.Despite the storm, A