Mya took out all of her snacks and spread them out on the banana leaf mat. Smiling, she said to Anita, "You've never had these before, have you? The girls in the city love them. Come try some."She opened up a bag of chips and handed it to Anita, who looked a little nervous as she took it. Still smiling, Mya said, "Try it. It's really tasty. Those are my favorite."Anita nodded and tried a piece. "Do you like it?" Mya asked.Anita nodded once more. "These are all for you. You could eat them every day from now on if you want. Would you like to go to the city and have your own room? Do you want to wear nice clothes and be in a relationship with a dashingly handsome man?" Anita nodded again. Mya stroked Anita's hair with a smile. "I promise to fulfill your every wish. In return, I need you to tell me and Adrian everything about Strider. For example, where is he right now?" While eating, Anita pointed to a mountain and said, "He goes up the mountains before the sun even rises
"Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!" Jenny panicked and ran over when she saw Adrian getting out of his wheelchair. Adrian took a deep breath, withstanding the pain in his legs. After flexing for a moment, he said, "I'm fine. I've been in that wheelchair for more than half a month now. It's time I get some exercise." "Y-You're infuriating! Why do you insist on moving around when you're still recovering?" Jenny scolded. Mya did not seem too surprised. After all, she was used to Adrian's personality after having followed him for so long. She even thought it would be odd for Adrian to sit still in the face of such a situation.Ignoring Jenny's words, Adrian said, "I'm leaving Anita in your care while Mya and I head to Strider Mountain. Wait for us here.""Do you want to lose your legs?" Jenny stomped her foot angrily. "My legs are fine, Jen. Come on, Mya. Let’s go." Adrian then strode out of the house. Mya gave Jenny a pat on the shoulder before following after him. ***
Due to the bright moonlight, the man and the wolf could be seen clearly."It’s Strider…" Adrian whispered. "No wonder the villagers call him the child of a wolf. He seems really chummy with them, don’t you think?“Wait… That wolf has only two legs, and Strider's holding a wild rabbit. He's feeding it. He's taking care of that wolf!" Mya exclaimed in shock. Adrian looked surprised too.Suddenly…"Who's there?" Strider whipped around, emitting a beam of light against the dark of night.In the blink of an eye, he was standing before Adrian. His fist was about a centimeter away from Adrian's face, but he quickly retracted it the moment he saw the two. "Who are you? Why are you following me?" Strider asked as he took a few steps back. The pair stood and dusted the dried leaves off themselves. "We weren't following you. We came here to find you,” Adrian explained."Find me?” Strider frowned. He soon recognized Mya. "It's you. Didn't I already say I won’t go with you? What are
Strider sat on the ground. There was not a single person who did not wish for their siblings to lead a happy life, including Strider. Noting Strider’s silence, Adrian asked, "What are you afraid of when you've got such powers? Is there something stopping you?"Strider shook his head. "Nothing's stopping me.""Then why would you be fine living deep in the mountains for the rest of your life? You've heard Jerome and Remy's stories, haven't you? Although the three of you are alike, you've chosen a different life from them. Do you really wish to live like an ordinary mortal?"Although Strider lived deep in the mountains, he was aware of everything that happened at Wyvern Peak. For a long time, he had dreamt of becoming Wyvern Peak's legate, but he ultimately did not choose that path.Strider had a good friend in Knoxville, a businessman who came from a major city. Whenever the two conducted business, Strider would hear of events that took place at Wyvern Peak, which was how he knew a
"The wolves here live dozens of years longer than wolves of other places.""Infinite Grotto? Where is that?" Adrian asked. "It's a cave at the top of Strider Mountain with this name engraved above it. There's a skeleton inside the cave, and the place is rather magical. There are many rocks I've never seen elsewhere inside the cave too. These rocks emit powerful energy, which I call aura essence. The wolves gained a lot more intelligence after absorbing these essences.""Rocks again?" Adrian mumbled.Mya turned toward him and asked, "Do you think they're the same meteorites from Isle 416? According to our research, the Isle 416 meteorites emit a similar sensation. Do you think the worms on them altered the wolves' DNA?"There was a chance that Mya was right. At this moment, Novemton knew little about the meteorites except that the worms on them could alter DNA and cells. Adrian turned to Strider and asked, "Were you also affected by the rocks inside of Infinite Grotto?""Yes. S
Mya heaved a sigh, lamenting how everything seemed to be connected to the meteorites. She wondered how many more people would be affected by those things. At that moment, Blue howled and collapsed. Strider ran over to her, but her eyes were shut. Her soul had left her body. He stood next to her and took a deep breath while Adrian and Mya walked over."Blue was my only friend. She saved me and protected me…""My condolences," Mya consoled.Strider proceeded to bury Blue's body near the den.Flint back at Knoxville had said that it was Strider's grandfather who had found this wolf den. Blue was probably protecting baby Strider at the time, and when he grew up and got injured, it was also she who took him to the cave. This was proof that Blue was an intelligent being.Adrian said, "Take me to Infinite Grotto.""That place is dangerous, sir. You might end up becoming like me if you go there. I suggest you forget about it."Mya suggested, "How about we head home first? I'll buy som
The cave was dark and moist, crawling with insects, mice, and even snakes.The trio entered with Strider leading the way. Adrian and Mya could not feel the energy inside the cave due to their protective gear. After about ten minutes of walking, they found large clusters of black rocks. The rocks covered the walls of the cave and were in piles on the floor. A skeleton sat behind one of these piles. The skeleton was in a meditative position, indicating that whoever it used to be had died a peaceful death. "Here we are," Strider said. "The rocks here look just like the ones back at Isle 416. We now know for sure these rocks are the same meteorites," Mya said after some observation. Adrian recognized the rocks too and walked toward the skeleton. "This deceased here must have been the ones to bring these rocks here. They believed they’d become a god. Yet, they died living in a fantasy," he said as he shone his flashlight on the skeleton. "This person’s situation was probably the sa
The trio left the cave.The engravings Adrian saw on the walls had been burned into his memory, which gave him a chance at entering the true Uduma Desert now that he had a complete map of the location. ***After leaving the cave, Adrian said, "Strider, I need you to come with me. I need your abilities to help me investigate this matter. This isn't about yourself anymore, but all of Novemton. Do you understand?"Strider stared at his hands. After a while, he said, "My grandmother and my sister… Who would care for themselves if I leave? We're really poor and they won’t have any source of income without me."Adrian patted his shoulder. "That's not a problem you have to worry about, neither is it a problem at all. Remember that this isn’t just for yourself but for them and everyone else. You've got a long road ahead of you."Adrian continued down the mountain.Mya nudged Strider on the shoulder and smiled. "Why didn’t you just listen to me before? You know that War Legate Draco’s a
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