"Sir!"Tori and the others yelled as they ran toward Adrian."Kids, do you see that trailer? Run to it as fast as you can. Go, now!" Adrian said. The grim reaper-looking monster entered the storeroom with its eerie-looking scythe. The children were severely frightened. They looked toward the trailer as Tori asked, "What about you, sir?""Don't worry about me. Just go!" The children cried in shock as they ran toward the trailer. Adrian said through the communicator, "Padraig, the children are on their way. Send out two men to receive them.""Yes, sir." "I want you all to leave this place the moment the children are in the trailer. Find a safe place. I'll be right behind you."Padraig looked toward the storeroom and saw the grim reaper monster. It looked like a boss from video games, and it had its sights locked on Adrian.Padraig took a deep breath and said, "Koby, Zane, go pick up the children. I'll cover you guys.""Roger!”Two young men ran toward the children, firi
Vroom!!! The trailer's engines roared. The vehicle slammed into several monsters as it sped off. More monsters headed their way, and Elayne's hands trembled as she controlled the steering wheel. Padraig and the others were on their stomach on top of the trailer, firing their guns at the monsters relentlessly. The trailer was stained red with monsters’ blood."Look for the path where the monster numbers in the least and step on it!" Padraig yelled. Even though overwhelmed with fear, Elayne could continue driving and ram into the monsters thanks to her survival instincts. The monsters were crushed beneath the tires as the trailer sped out of the encirclement. "What about Sir Draco?!" someone yelled. "Don't worry about him. I'm sure he has a plan in mind. We need to focus on saving ourselves. Fire!"Rat-ta-ta-ta!!! More and more monsters swarmed toward the trailer. Padraig and the group were in a dangerous situation. Suddenly, their trailer was forced to a halt. Elayne floored
Padraig, not stopping to think who the woman was, yelled, "Quick! We're ditching the trailer!" He pulled the trailer door open and continued, "Elayne, get your students and jump over to the top of that truck."Without any time to think, Elayne led the children out of the trailer and did their best to jump over. However, one of the children, Dustin, was a little too heavy and fell over the side. A sledgehammer instantly swung toward him."Aaah!"Dustin screamed in horror, but a woman immediately dashed out of the front passenger seat and kicked away the sledgehammer. She then held Dustin in her arms and somersaulted to the top of the truck.Padraig and the others fired their weapons, killing the nearby monsters. When everyone was gathered at the top, he yelled, "Let's get out of here!" Everyone jumped to the top of the truck and lay low."Hold on!" The woman got back into the driver’s seat and said, "We’re out!" The truck revved and rammed the monsters over as it sped out of th
As everyone studied each other, Helen smiled and said, "We're the ones who saved you, my friend, so you first. Who are you people and what are you guys doing here?"Padraig decided not to refuse any further and said, "There were six children trapped inside the school, so we came here with the legate to save them. We weren’t expecting to go up against that many monsters.""The legate? Which one?" Helen grew excited when she heard this. The other women went wide-eyed as well, eagerly waiting for Padraig to answer. "War Legate Draco. We've been following him since the chaos started. Sir Draco's trying to gather more forces, but right now, he's trapped in that school."Padraig felt helpless for not being able to assist Adrian. If they were to return to the school, there was a high chance they would sacrifice their lives before they could even save him. Helen and the other women jumped in joy when they heard Adrian's name."It's him, Helen!""He's alive! He's really alive!" "Ha
“Susan, fetch me the wireless radio enhancer, please," Helen said. "Sure thing."A beautiful woman of about twenty-two grabbed her backpack and took out some equipment before jumping off the top of the truck. Her name was Susan Heart, the youngest among the women, but the most tech-savvy one with excellent hacking skills. Susan quickly set up the wireless enhancer and adjusted the frequency. "Done. Try contacting him. You should get a response.""Okay.” Padraig picked up his communicator. "Sir Draco, Sir Draco. This is Padraig. Do you read me?"Meanwhile, the monster kicked Adrian into a wall, causing the entire school to shake. Not only was the monster ridiculously strong, but it also had impressive speed. Adrian was unable to find any weakness even after fighting it for a while.That was when he heard Padraig's voice. "I read you, Padraig. What's your status? Did you manage to get out?"The women jumped for joy when they heard Adrian's voice."He's alive!”Adrian could h
Adrian was not exaggerating in his statement. Helen and her group had gone through hellish training while in Bloody Rose and were experienced fighters. Just one of them could easily take on a hundred of Padraig and his men. Under such circumstances, the power of all thirty-seven of them was a force to be reckoned with. Their assistance would be of great help to Adrian's forces.Helen asked, "Are you sure you don't need our help, sir?""Gold Haven will be besieged at dawn, and the sun is almost up. The people there don’t have enough experience in battle, so I'm afraid they won't be able to hold out for long. They're going to need your help.""Understood. Stay safe. Over and out.” Helen turned around and said, "Sisters, Sir Draco has instructed us to assist those at Gold Haven. It’s just nearby, so let's hurry over.” "Will he be okay alone?" Susan asked. "Relax, he'll be just fine. Let's go." "Yes, ma'am!" “You guys should come with us too," Helen said to Padraig, who nodded i
The human’s firepower was unable to fight off such a large monster army. The monsters began to try and break down the defensive walls. Although it was a difficult task, it would not be long before they succeeded in breaking through Gold Haven's defenses. "Something's up in the sky!" someone suddenly yelled. Everyone looked up and saw giant bird-like monsters with razor-sharp claws. "F*ck, f*ck, f*ck!!!" Cian cursed, never expecting flying monsters to exist. "Focus on your fight! Leave them to me!" Rozi yelled.She jumped up as her sword emitted a powerful light, slashing at one of the bird monsters. After being cut in half, the creature fell to the ground. Rozi used the carcass as a stepping stone to cut down more bird monsters. Meanwhile, on the ground, bullets were being fired as the survivors yelled at the top of their lungs. The monster army seemed to enter a maddened frenzy as they attacked the walls, while the bird monsters swooped in to kill the humans. Rozi grabbed
Adrian raised Dragonbane into the air, lodged the sword into the monster’s foot, and rolled away from the attack. As the monster jumped from the pain, Adrian held up his hand and recalled Dragonbane to his grasp. He then jumped above the monster’s head and slashed its neck. Slash!Drangonbane managed to slice into the monster's weakest part. Screaming in agony, the monster lashed out and tried to grab Adrian. However, he had already retreated to a safe distance. The pain the monster felt infuriated it. The monster stared at Adrian with its deadly gaze as it swung its scythe once more. It was going to be difficult for Adrian to eliminate the monster thoroughly. More importantly, he could not find any weakness that would allow him to kill the creature with a single strike. Thus, he could only return to dodging the monster's attacks while looking for another opportunity.But Adrian’s stamina was depleting, while the monster’s seemed endless. It tirelessly launched attacks, each on
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