"Grandmother’s at the hospital. The Battle Warrior Department arranged for someone to take care of her. I visit her every evening and spend most of my free time with these two,” Anita said, then asked, "Is War Legate Draco done with his business? You don't seem too happy though…"Strider stood up. "I'm happy to see you doing well. I'm going to go visit Grandmother later. The main reason I've come today is to say goodbye.""Goodbye? Where are you going?" Anita shot to her feet.Strider looked toward the distant north, to a palace afar that was summoning him. He replied, "Wyvern Peak."Anita was taken aback. Nancy and Jocelyn too got to their feet.Nancy asked, "You're going to Wyvern Peak? But the selection has already ended, and Jerome has been named the current legate.""I'm not going there for the current legate, but for him and for myself. Which is why I have to leave soon. Anita, I want you to stay here and be a good girl. I'll be home soon."Anita took a deep breath. She ha
Strider was not in Wyvern Peak solely for the purpose of gaining a position. He intended to fight for himself. He wanted to be like Adrian. So when Jerome asked this question, he replied, "I'm happy with any position as long as I'm able to defend our natural moat.""You don't care what rank you take on? What do you care about then?" Jerome asked."War Legate Dominus, do you care what role you have here in Wyvern Peak?" Strider countered.Jerome burst into laughter, thinking how much Strider's personality mirrored his own. It would seem as though they were attracted to one another. He chuckled, "I like you. It just so happens that we're one man short for the battle warrior line-up. Would you be interested in taking up that role?""Absolutely, sir," Strider responded."Good. In that case, as the legate, I hereby appoint you as head of the team at the northern borders to defend Skynorth." Jerome stood up and extended his hand. "Let's do our best for Novemton.”"Yes, sir," Strider an
"Yes, Your Majesty."Before long, the feed from the radar monitoring Ganon Mountain was displayed on the screen, showcasing a large group stationed outside the natural moat. These people had erected their camps, and their men were patrolling the area.Seeing this, Crystal frowned. "The Eight Hollows are planning on taking over Wyvern Peak through Dragon Peak, which would eventually grant them access to Novemton. They're issuing us a challenge.”"They're trying to lure War Legate Dominus into leading his team there so that the Eight Hollows can work together to eliminate him. Once he's eliminated, they'll be free to come into Novemton as they please. War Legate Draco's disappearance at Enigma City has become the perfect opportunity for them to strike," Hugh added. Crystal nodded. "Who's currently defending Ganon Mountain?""The Valiant Tigers, with General Donnie Cairn leading them. Donnie is one of Battle Warrior Remy's subordinates. However, Sir Remy isn't at Ganon Mountain, but
The changing situation in Novemton made Crystal worry greatly. She was unsure if Jerome, the newly-appointed legate, would be able to handle the threat the Eight Hollows posed. To make matters worse, Adrian was nowhere to be found. She wondered how Jerome was going to defend Novemton against the Eight Hollows' attack.***Rumble!!!Over the next few days, heavy rain poured down on the Uduma Desert. Dark clouds hung in the sky, making the atmosphere gloomy and decreasing visibility. The rain seemed to almost submerge the whole desert. But strangely, it was only the desert that was experiencing rainfall. The surrounding areas remained clear and sunny. This made the Uduma Desert appear more mysterious than ever.Novemton News reported, "Today marks the eighteenth day since War Legate Draco's disappearance in the Uduma Desert. Four days ago, heavy rainfall started in the desert, almost submerging the place. According to the meteorological department’s analysis, the rain is expected t
As Novemton News continued to give everyone its report, the public eye turned to Wyvern Peak, hoping that Jerome would hold a press conference. They hoped he would tell them what he had planned. However, he did no such thing. Nobody heard anything from Jerome, nor did they see him take any action. Instead, Wyvern Peak merely strengthened its presence at Ganon Mountain, with no specific orders issued.Meanwhile, Jerome sat in his usual seat in Wyvern Peak’s main hall, seeming unaffected by Novemton's expectations for him to resolve the situation. "Sir.” Jerome's attendant, Lewis Dorne, walked in.Lewis had participated in this year's selection and performed well, which led to Jerome arranging for him to take up a position within his ranks.Lewis reported, "Sir, the Eight Hollows are keeping close tabs on us. Also, all of Novemton would like to hear from you about this matter. They’re afraid of our enemies. Don’t you think you should hold a press conference to calm them down?"Je
Night fell, but Crystal could not fall asleep. She was unsure whether to entrust the entirety of Novemton to a nineteen-year-old nor did she know if Jerome could handle the responsibility. All she had left was her faith in Adrian's judgment of character.It was her only hope.***That night, Jerome continued to sit in the main hall and called on someone. This person's name was Mash Whittle, an old veteran Adrian had asked to stay behind. He was known for his down-to-earth nature and mature character.Mash entered the main hall and respectfully said, "How may I be of service, sir?"Jerome handed a sealed letter to Mash and said, "I need you to take this letter and deliver it to Remy as quickly as you can. However, do not let anyone know about this, understood?"Mash glanced at the sealed letter in his hand, then looked up as he earnestly said, "Rest assured, sir. I shall personally ensure that this letter gets to Sir Remy's hands before daybreak.""This letter concerns everyone a
"The legate wants us to take over Dragon Peak so that the Eight Hollows will have zero chance of retreating?"Remy nodded. "Correct. His instructions in the letter were very clear. We have to avoid detection during our journey there, which leaves the snowy mountains as our only route into the place.""Putting aside whether or not we can enter Dragon Peak unnoticed, cutting off the Eight Hollows' retreat will only cause them to launch an all-out attack against our natural moat. When that happens, the situation may escalate and spiral out of control. Even if we do take over Dragon Peak, we can’t defend the place, rendering it useless to our cause.” Mash's tone was firm as he spoke.Remy replied, "War Legate Dominus has a plan in mind. All we have to do is obey his commands. We can't bring too many people with us, so we'll only be taking five hundred. Right now, Dragon Peak isn't heavily defended, so we'll take it down the moment the legate tells us to.""Still, why are we doing this?
This was Lewis’ first time seeing unlimited confidence in Jerome’s eyes and he could feel how grand his legate’s ambitions were.It was well known that Wyvern Peak, Dragon Peak, and Novemton were part of Novemton’s territories. But Dragon Peak had fallen into enemy hands because the three forces were not properly connected. If they could unite all three entities, Novemton would become impregnable and could launch both offense and defense against the outlands.Lewis understood Jerome's immense ambition, albeit it was not something that could be realized overnight. The task that War Legate Draco had failed to complete had been taken up by the new legate. "Dragon Peak will be mine very soon."After Jerome informed him of his next plan of action, Lewis wondered if War Legate Dominus would be able to take over Dragon Peak and make it his own."Yes, sir. I'll get right to it," Lewis responded before leaving.***Jerome, dressed in his war legate battle suit, ascended to the rooftop o
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