A warhorn was blown, signifying the beginning of the showdown. A cacophony of warcries was heard throughout the arena. Dong!Dong, dong!Dong, dong, dong!!!The sound of war drums sounded from atop the mountains, and Wyvern Peak's flag waved in the breeze. Everyone stood up and saluted respectfully until the war drums ended. After that, the spectators sat down and looked toward the gigantic screens. "It's begun!""The showdown started!" "I can see my son! Good luck!" The parents were extremely excited to see their children charging toward their dreams. ***Jamie, Dahlia, and Trent were quietly looking at the screen, where Sage, donned in her battle suit, could be seen leading her team into a forest. She swiftly sent out a squad to scout the area, and another to lay in ambush while the others gathered materials such as branches to build simple bows and arrows. This was all part of her strategy."Weapons, everyone!" she ordered. Sage’s teammates broke tree branches into
The screen had switched to where Jerome was located at a cliff area. The center of the venue, which was up ahead, was beyond a canyon filled with thorny trees.Jerome scouted his surroundings before saying, "We need to get out of here. The canyon isn’t a good place to fight in, and there's a high chance Remy and Zack's party will try to intercept us. Have everyone search for weapons. We’re getting out of this canyon as quickly as we can.”"Yes, sir."Jerome's team quickly got to work. Sierra beamed with pride when she saw this, but her expression quickly turned into worry when the screen switched to Remy and his team. His team was not far from Jerome's. He said, "You've got three minutes to search for weapons. We’ll then lay down an ambush at the canyon and intercept Jerome’s team. Move out!”Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!!!Remy's teammates swiftly got into action.The other teams were executing their strategies as well. ***Adrian quietly stood at the top of the mountains, watc
The spectators held their breaths. Based on the situation, four teams were going to confront one another in battle. Juno and Sage were going to engage in a battle, while Jerome and Remy were in another. Everyone's expression was tense. The parents seemed even more stressed out than the candidates themselves.Suddenly, the screen turned to where Sage was, but she and her squad had vanished into thin air. At the same time, Remy and his squad had also disappeared. This left everyone stunned, and a few parents began whispering about it. "Where have they gone? How did they disappear the moment the cameras were on them?""I don't know. Do you think the camera's broken?"They were filled with confusion, some of them even trying their best to look for the missing squad. However, when they looked closer, they suddenly realized the truth was not as complicated as they imagined. Sage and Remy had not disappeared at all. Instead, they had camouflaged themselves throughout the forest. Nobody
Jamie nodded, his expression serious, while Adrian leisurely leaned back into his seat to watch the showdown.Rustle, rustle, rustle!!!The footsteps through the forest in the mountains were exceptionally loud because of how quiet the forest was. Juno’s team was getting closer. Sage, who was laying low in the bushes, slowly raised her right hand. According to her plan, her team would attack the moment she drops her right hand. Meanwhile, Juno looked oblivious to Sage's presence. Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump!!!The spectators on the stand were so nervous they could feel their hearts pounding as beads of cold sweat broke out on their foreheads. 'They're close!’'They're getting closer!'At that moment, Juno and Sage were no more than a hundred meters apart. Judging by the situation, Juno seemed unaware of the ambush Sage had laid out. The spectators were anxious for Juno, while some were wondering if Sage was truly going to eliminate Juno’s team half an hour into the showdown.
Right at that moment, another battle cry came from within the forest as thousands of candidates stormed the battlefield and took out a few of Juno's teammates. The two sides engaged in an intense melee battle, with the sounds of clubs clashing echoing at the foot of the mountain.It was a battle of raw strength.Each candidate was wearing a sensory device that would cause the airbags within their battle suits to burst whenever the candidate suffered more damage than they could bear. Those whose airbags had burst would be eliminated and had to leave the battlefield. ***The spectators did not look away from the battle for a second. Neither side cowered in fear or retreated despite how intense it was.Sage and Juno were closing in on each other, taking out their opponents along the way. Soon, a battle between the team leaders would ensue. "Juno's going to face off against Sage. It’ll be disadvantageous for them later on since they've spent so much of their stamina so early in the
Both teams were now at the center of the canyon and were engaged in a fight. Surprisingly, there were only five thousand soldiers in Jerome's team. The others, including Jerome himself, were nowhere to be seen. Similarly, almost half of Remy's men, including Remy himself, were nowhere to be seen. Then, the screen changed again. "Look! Up there!" someone suddenly shouted, attracting everyone’s attention. Boom! Boom! Boom!!!Boulders exploded, while Remy and Jerome were leaping higher and higher with the help of tree branches as they engaged in a mid-air fight. Their fight was so quick that the spectators could not keep up with what was happening. Nobody could tell who would emerge victorious.Meanwhile, Zack was being shown on another section of the screen. Similarly, many of his teammates were missing from sight. He was leading barely half his members to the center of The Dome. The crowd then suddenly realized that Polaris and his men were rushing toward the canyon Remy and Jer
Thus, a two-versus-one fight ensuedPolaris was right, it did not matter who was the strongest on the battlefield. There were only winners, and losers. It would be much easier for the other candidates if Jerome was defeated and had to leave the battlefield. Unknown when it had happened, everyone seemed to agree that Jerome was the strongest among them.Pow, pow, pow!!!Jerome was cornered into a disadvantageous position, dodging a flurry of punches from Remy and Zack. The spectators were worried about Jerome. Many of them began to wonder why two people would gang up against one in what was supposed to be a fair fight.But at the end of the day, the candidates were adapting different strategies and tactics. The rules never stated that the candidates were not allowed to ally with each other. Of course, this alliance was only temporary. Bam!!!Jerome was sent flying once more. His airbag still remained intact due to how resilient he was, but he was about to reach his end after a
"I'm sure Remy and Polaris' five thousand teammates are somewhere near the canyon, ready to jump in should things go sideways. But Jerome's teammates have probably already left the canyon long ago, which is why I say they're carrying Jerome's victory dreams."This is the backup plan Jerome's come up with against a two-versus-one situation. This is a team competition, so even if Jerome is eliminated, his team will still be victorious if his teammates win. He’s using the rules to his advantage.”The others finally understood what Jerome had planned. The five thousand from Jerome's team had left the canyon and their leader behind. On the contrary, Polaris and Remy's teammates were close by, ready to assist whenever called upon. Based on this, what seemed to be an advantage for Polaris and Remy was now null and void thanks to Jerome's superior tactics.However, Jerome was taking a huge risk with this strategy. It required absolute trust on his part for him to entrust everything to his t
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