With Garret by her side, Sage packed up and prepared to leave."Something on your mind, Sage? Is it about the rally?"She smiled and turned toward Garret. "It's nothing, really. I was just a little surprised by War Legate Draco. I've never seen him before, but I can tell from this first meeting that he's incredible. After seeing him, I feel like I know nothing nor do I have his temperament."Garret laughed. "Don't you think he used to feel the same way you do now? All that will come with experience, so cheer up. You should just focus on giving your best now that War Legate Draco has opened up the selection to women. Even if you don't become the legate, you can still aim for a high-ranking position."Sage nodded with a smile. At that moment, Raquel walked in and said, "Sage Hall, War Legate Draco would like to meet you. Please come with me."Sage was shocked. "War Legate Draco wants to meet me? Is something the matter?" she asked curiously."Quit the questions and just hurry alo
These words came out of a nineteen-year-old girl. Adrian vowed to treat the young woman before him in a different light from now on. Nineteen was the peak of one's youth, yet Sage chose not to date and get into a relationship like others. Instead, she pushed herself to her limits in pursuit of her dreams. Everything she said was from the depths of her heart. She refused to live her life as an ordinary woman. She wanted to be better.Adrian fell silent, startled by Sage's words. He felt as though she had just taught him a lesson. She did not seem like a nineteen-year-old no matter how one looked at her. She was far more mature than that."Will you regret your decision in the future?" Adrian asked. Sage shook her head but then nodded. Finally, she said, "Nobody can predict what happens in the future. Maybe I will, maybe I won't, but one thing I’ll surely regret is missing this opportunity.”She could not predict what would happen to her after the selection but she was sure what woul
Sage said, “Luposia is the closest country to us and they have connections with Excenom and Hangton. My first undertaking will be to lure Excenom, Hangton, Luposia, and other outland countries to invade us.“Then, I will issue a warning for them to withdraw. In view of their view and that I’ll be a woman leading Wyvern Peak, the outlanders won’t back down. Hence, we’ll have a reason to destroy them.“I’ll send out two troops to pretend to attack Excenom and Hangton. When Luposia is providing assistance to those two countries, I’ll dispatch my main troop to take out Luposia’s Pegasuton.”Sage pointed at the closest outland city to Navia, Pegasuton. This was Luposia’s transit station closest to Navia. If Pegasuton were to fall, Luposia would have to withdraw at least five hundred kilometers. They would lose Pegasuton as a transit station, impeding their effort to invade Navia again.Adrian already had this plan in mind all along. He wanted to shock all the outland organizations with
“In the future, I hope you won’t forget the words you’ve said today. I wish you all the success in the world.” Adrian smiled at Sage. She hastily nodded. “Thank you, sir. May I leave if there’s nothing else?”“Go ahead! Work hard!” Adrian waved. Sage left the office. As soon as she left, Raquel walked in. Leaning against the door frame, she asked, “How did it go? How was the discussion? What do you think of the girl? Anything you’re dissatisfied with?”Adrian pondered for a while before answering, “She’s too confident.”“Isn’t that a good thing?” asked Raquel. Adrian did not refute her but instead said, “It’s a good thing to be confident, but it depends on the circumstances. There are times when we can’t just be blindly confident. We need to find out if she understands this principle. But she did pretty well in the overall assessment. After all, no one’s perfect.”Raquel giggled so hard that she almost bent over in laughter. “I bet you’re recalling how you were when you fir
Adrian shrugged helplessly. Raquel said, “Don’t you worry. I know my situation very well. I’ll return to my family home after I’ve retired. Someone’s waiting for me there.”“Is that so?” Adrian’s interest was piqued. He said smilingly, “Tell me, who is it? What’s he like?”Raquel said, “He’s a friend of mine from high school, and he lives in the neighboring village. You can call him a childhood friend. We didn’t keep in touch but we bumped into each other a few months ago.”“What kind of person is he?” asked Adrian. “He was obedient when younger and is a nice person. We’ve been talking recently and I learned that he’s been starting up new businesses but none have proven successful. No one has accepted his feelings either so he’s still single.”“Is it because he’s ugly?” Adrian asked. Raquel said, “He’s better than you.”Adrian burst out in laughter. “I’m serious, he really is better looking than you. His father fell ill recently so he’s back in his family home to take care
After the rally, Adrian realized that this year’s candidates were much stronger than he had been, and he was deeply gratified over this. He took comfort in this rather than worry the candidates would be problematic. His concern was not the candidates’ standards, but the innermost thoughts that they kept hidden. Adrian recalled the saying of new talents emerging in their own way with the passage of time. The saying “The student has surpassed the master” was highly appropriate in this situation. Many of these candidates surpassed the attitude he had when he was a candidate himself.***As night fell, the lights of Songton shone brightly, exuding splendor and magnificence. Adrian arrived at Lake Solunar and stood on the bridge of the lake, watching the passersby, feeling a myriad of emotions in his heart. He felt like a lonely hero from ancient times that was about to go into hiding.He had stepped back, and anything that happened in Novemton from now on would no longer be associate
Juno moved her legs and said, “They’re fine. I fully recovered a long time ago. Stop worrying about my legs and just wait to see me perform.”Adrian nodded and asked, “Will you regret it if you don’t make it to the finals?”Juno smiled. “I’ll still try my best. I won’t regret it if I don’t make it into the finals. Wyvern Peak’s leader is supposed to be a capable person. If I’m not capable enough, I’ll give the worthy one my blessings.”“It’s great that you think that way. Have you thought about your future?” he asked. She nodded. “I already thought about it. If I don’t make it to the finals, I’ll do my best to score well in my exams and join Wyvern Peak for six years. Then, I’ll go home and take care of Mother.”“Are those really your thoughts?” asked Adrian smilingly. Juno nodded and replied, “Of course. Why would I lie?”Adrian smiled. “Great. I can set my mind at ease now that I know what you’re thinking. Let me give you some advice, just do your best. Don’t force it if you
Adrian approved of these six candidates. They had a much higher probability of entering the finals as compared to the others. Adrian’s intention was clear. He did not wish for these six to encounter each other during the prelims and challenger rounds. If they did, one of them would be eliminated and the quality of the finals would be affected. This was the last thing Adrian would do for Wyvern Peak. He had trouble identifying which one of them would become the new leader of Wyvern Peak, but he knew that these six had the highest probability.The elders understood Adrian’s intention. The first elder said, “In that case, we’ll divide the regions according to these six. However, the final outcome will depend on them.”Adrian nodded. “Thank you for taking the trouble to do this. One more thing. Do you still remember Hannibal’s Heroes of Wyvern Peak?”The elders exchanged glances. “Are you talking about where Juno is predicted to end Wyvern Peak’s reign and establish Apotheosium? It
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