It was clear that the woman was deeply devoted to Curtis from the way she looked at him. Holding his daughter in his arms, Curtis said, "Mya, this is Mary Wunder, my daughter, and my wife, Lorelei Martins. Say hello, Mary." Mary gazed at Mya for a while before smiling. "Hello, Mya. Wow, you’re so pretty.”Mya chuckled as she patted Mary's head. "Thank you, Mary. You're really pretty too." Mary then stood up and looked at her mother.Curtis gestured and said, "Lori, this is Mya. She's the woman who works by War Legate Draco's side that I always talk about."Lorelei stretched out her hand and smiled. "Hey, Mya. Curtis has told me so much about you. I even saw you on the news during the Serpent's Haven rescue mission."After they shook hands, Curtis opened up the basket and looked at the sandwich. "These look really good. Have you eaten, Mya? Would you like some?""No, thank you." Mya stared at him before continuing, "Remember to be there a day before the selection, understand?
At that moment, a phone call came from Rusouth."Sir, we've caught two outlander spies," reported a staff member in charge of the preliminary venue in Rusouth.Adrian was not surprised in the slightest when he heard this. After all, it was impossible for the outlanders to stay put in such a situation. He instructed, "Lock them up. I'll interrogate them personally when I get there." "Yes, sir.”Adrian hung up and said, "Come on, Mya. We're heading to Rusouth."Confused, Mya asked, "Why? Are you planning to oversee their written exam? Shouldn't you stay here to see the overall results?" "Two outlander spies have been caught there.”Mya then fell silent and followed Adrian to Rusouth.***Rusouth was an old city inside of Novemton, with many ruins left behind by the land’s ancestors. It was not a tier-one city, but it was famous for its heritage status. Adrian arrived at Rusouth the next day and headed straight for the administrative center. Battle Warrior Gale was in charge
Adrian gestured toward them and asked, "Who sent you here? What's your mission?"The Rondoniers stammered and retreated. Neither of them had expected this to happen when they took on this mission. They wanted to prove how loyal they were with their silence.Mya, an unpleasant woman to have as an enemy, stepped forward and said, "I have all the time in the world to play with you two, so why don't we start with your fingers? Hmm… How about your toes? I’ll let you guys decide." Alas, Rondoniers were spineless cowards. When threatened, they immediately broke down. One of them stammered, "A-Agarov… Agarov sent us.""Agarov?" Mya mumbled the name, then looked toward Adrian. Adrian knew who Agarov was. He was a man notorious for instigating trouble, the spark that set off most of the conflicts in the outlands. Agarov wandered around various places within the outlands, driving in wedges between people to stir up problems, a skill he was excellent at. "Good boy." Mya snickered. Were
"Have they all been captured?" Adrian asked. The preliminary venues were heavily guarded, enabling them to catch even a fly, let alone intruders.Tina nodded. "All six venues have been combed and a total of twenty-five Rondonier spies were caught. How would you like them to be dealt with?"Adrian said without hesitation, "I want them sent to the natural moat. Have them kneel before their nation's live broadcast and execute them. I want them to die as excruciatingly as possible."When the two Rondoniers in the room heard this, they were so shocked that they fainted. Mya and Tina were also shaken by this order.Mya quickly said, "Adrian, we're currently in transition for the new legate to take over. Whoever takes over your role will have to fight a war for offending them so thoroughly. I'm worried they may end up dead before…"Tina added, "She's right, sir. We should execute them discreetly instead. I'm worried the public will be unhappy if we execute them at the moat. The new leg
Adrian remained silent for a moment before saying, "Let's head back to Songton tomorrow. How many more days till the selection begins?""Three.”Adrian took a deep breath.The new legate of Wyvern Peak would be minted soon.***Adrian and Mya returned to Songton early the next morning to observe the situation at all six venues. There were three more days before the selection began, and the candidates' relatives and friends had arrived at the venues to cheer them on.At Rusouth, Samantha, Rue, Adaline, Gloria, and Joanna had finally arrived. The city’s Battle Warrior Department had provided hotels for all the candidates' invitees. As this was their first time in Rusouth, Samantha’s group was busy admiring the beautiful heritage site. Nova, who was in Samantha's arms, sucked on her thumb as she looked at her surroundings."Rusouth is so beautiful. Look at the clothes they're wearing," Samantha said to Nova. Samantha had not traveled out of Swallowston much after marrying Adria
It was Sierra, who had promised Jerome she would be there to cheer him on during the selection.The driver looked at her in surprise. "Are you one of the candidate's relatives?"Sierra smiled and replied honestly, "I promised someone I'd be there to cheer him on when the selection starts."Hearing this, the driver said, "You must like him very much. You wouldn't have put your job on hold and traveled all the way here otherwise. Also, you're going to have to spend a lot of money in this unfamiliar place."Sierra blushed. After a moment, she replied, "He's a huge blockhead that I've had a crush on for a long time now. He just gave me an invitation a little while back.""That means he likes you too," the driver said. "Maybe…" Sierra tidied her hair and said, "He dreams of becoming the next legate of Wyvern Peak so that he can eliminate all of Novemton's threats. He's working to create a world where we can all live peacefully.”"That's a grand ambition.""I know, but I can tell he
The worst part about Northzone was how easy it was for those who were unfamiliar with the place to get lost. When Trent asked for directions, the kind samaritan pointed toward the city center to the west and said, "It's being held in Stalwartville. You can take a cab there. It'll cost forty-five dollars."Stalwartville was a large town chosen to host the selection since it was Novemton's largest transfer station. Trent thanked the man and walked back to his parents. "The selection is being held at Stalwartville. That kind man over there said it'll cost us forty-five dollars to get there by cab." Jamie looked at his map and quickly found Stalwartville. He realized there was quite a distance to cover before they would reach Northzone's main city. Dahlia, who did not know how to read maps, anxiously waited for Jamie to say something. Still looking at the map, Jamie said, "I've found Stalwartville. We should be able to get there before dark if we follow this street.""Why don't w
Whisperbrook got out of his car to verify the documents presented to him. After a moment, he took a step back and saluted the Halls. “I didn't know you were relatives of a candidate. You really shouldn't be walking on the highway. It's not safe."Dahlia replied, "We don’t have enough money for a cab, but we don't want to let our daughter down, so this was our only option. We’re really sorry for causing trouble."Whisperbrook frowned. "You won’t be able to reach Stalwartville even tomorrow morning at this rate. This highway is built around a mountain, you have another hundred kilometers to cover before you get there. Come on, I'll drive you guys there since you're the relatives of a candidate."Dahlia and Jamie were touched by Whisperbrook's offer, with Dahlia saying, "Are you sure, sir?"Whisperbrook smiled. "Hop in. Who knows? You two might end up becoming the next legate's parents. Come, let me drive you there.”Dahlia smiled when she heard this, while Jamie said, "Thank you 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