"We still have a chance!""We haven't lost yet! Hahaha!" The citizens laughed with excitement as they watched the man who joined Wyvern Peak at eighteen and eliminated the Eight Hollows appear before them. After eighteen years, Jerome had reached his middle ages and finally appeared after years of disappearance."War Legate Dominus!""Sir Dominus!"People worldwide shouted out, raising their fists and chanting his name.Inside the headquarters of Novemton, Samantha, Gloria, and others stood before the screens. When they saw Jerome appear, they covered their mouths in shock, tears streaming down their faces."Adrian was right, Jerome is someone we can rely on. He's someone who will stand with us no matter what happens," Samantha said.“We may be able to turn this around now that he's here. This isn't over yet!" Gloria added.***Jerome slowly approached the peak of Mount Regent. Remy, Strider, and the rest looked up to the sky as Shadowblade turned around.Jerome, dressed
Everyone was stunned as they stared at the scene unfolding before them. Shadowblade looked down at himself. Jerome’s sword had impaled him, and he was completely unprepared for such an outcome. "Y-You..." Shadowblade's face was a picture of disbelief. "Impossible! How could a mere mortal like you harm me?!""Are you still trying to kid yourself? What makes you think you're an immortal? In my eyes, you're nothing more than an ant from your world who did not belong there. To bolster your existence, you came here and tried to rule over us. Well, I'm here to tell you that's not going to happen!"When he was done speaking, Jerome struck with his palm. His attack roared with the might of a dragon, sending Shadowblade flying.Shadowblade screamed as Jerome sent him through the air and slammed him into the ground."Amazing... Jerome actually managed to injure him." "What has he been through these past years?" Sylvia was in shock.The others also exhaled deeply. Strider said, "Let'
"Ugh!" Shadowblade screamed in agony as Jerome's strike caused blood to gush out of his nose."So you do bleed. That means you're mortal." Jerome smirked coldly as he watched the blood drip down Shadowblade’s chin."I'm going to kill you, you pest!"Jerome's relentless assault had enraged Shadowblade. With an eruption of power, Shadowblade punched and shattered Jerome's shoulder.Crack!Jerome's left shoulder fractured, and his body shook from the impact. Despite the excruciating pain, he countered with a fierce punch to Shadowblade's face.Crack!One of Shadowblade's teeth was sent flying.Jerome sneered. "As someone who claims to be a ruler, your ability to boast and toot your horn seems to be more powerful than your ability to rule. You're finished if that's all you can do.""What did you say? You must have a death wish!" Shadowblade roared as countless flying swords materialized around him and headed toward Jerome.Leaping through the air, Jerome managed to dodge the assa
"This is the end of the line for you. We've been battling for quite some time. You’re running on steam now, aren't you?""I have bad news for you. I've only used thirty percent of my powers," Shadowblade said with a sinister smile on his face as he watched Jerome, who was struggling to stand up straight. In truth, the past three hours were nothing more than a game to Shadowblade. If he wanted, he only needed to exert a bit more effort and all of humanity would be obliterated. However, he preferred to watch others in despair, just like how his bullies loved to watch his desperation back in his own world. He too wanted to savor the feeling of being a powerful ruler. This was a feeling he had never experienced before.Jerome raised his sword, tired but showing no sign of fear. "Wipe that smirk off your face and say those words only after you've killed me," he said indifferently.Shadowblade laughed coldly. "My time here is almost up, which means the game is about to end. I'll send yo
Bang, bang, bang!Flashes caused by blades flickered as explosions from the battle against Shadowblade continued. It was evident that he was no longer as threatening as he was when he first arrived after battling non-stop. Although they still could not inflict significant harm, at the very least, their attacks caused him pain, which was all they needed to deplete his energy."Die, you vermin!" Shadowblade yelled and threw his hands apart at the fearless soldiers, sending Nova and the others flying."Argh!" Shadowblade screamed, advancing at Strider and Nicholas. Jerome sprang forth, his long sword harshly sweeping across Shadowblade’s neck. Shadowblade, clearly not anticipating this, was forced to retreat several steps but was still grazed.Jerome did not stop there and quickly swung his fist at Shadowblade."I've had it with you!" Shadowblade roared and twisted Jerome's fist after grabbing it.Crack!Jerome’s arm was dislocated.Nova charged in again, with Remy, Sylvia, an
Shadowblade's wound healed over through his powers. He then took to the air with his sword as he viciously thrust it at Jerome.Stab! The sword impaled Jerome's abdomen, causing him to convulse and fall to the ground. Shadowblade then pinned him down with the sword like a nail against a plank."Jerome!" Nova cried out, rushing toward Shadowblade. She tried to force Shadowblade away. But just as she got close enough, she received a broken rib and was sent flying.Thud! Nova hit the ground, blood gushing from her mouth, one hand clutching her chest, struggling incessantly."Jerome!"Strider, Remy, and Sylvia called out to him, but they were having a hard time getting up. Nicholas was struggling to stand. His insides felt like they had exploded, utterly unable to support his body.Shadowblade looked down coldly at Jerome nailed to the ground and smirked. "Well, well. You're still alive. I see you’ve learned how to heal yourself as well. I'm impressed you managed to reach suc
Grasping his sword, Jerome once again sprang into action. With a swish, Helen sliced through the air, attempting to wound Shadowblade. The furious Shadowblade grabbed her arm and delivered a knee kick to her stomach. As Helen spat out blood, Jerome soared through the air and aimed for Shadowblade's neck."Sh*t!" Shadowblade exclaimed, turning sharply to dodge. He narrowly evaded Jerome's strike.At the same time, Remy and Strider rolled across the ground to pick up sniper rifles and began firing away at Shadowblade. Ivy, too, lay on the ground, firing shot after shot. Although bullets could not harm Shadowblade, they caused him pain, and so he dodge them. This left him open to attacks.Jerome and Helen cornered Shadowblade as bullets flew toward him from the front and back. Nova also stood up again, screaming and charging at Shadowblade once more.Faced with attacks from all sides, Shadowblade felt threatened for a moment. If he was careless for even a moment, he might truly di
Time continued to pass as the battle raged on. Everyone held out for about another hour. As a violent explosion erupted in the sky, all of them fell from the sky.Thud! Crash! Bam!Everyone smashed into the ground. The serious injuries, compounded with the impact of the fall, left everyone struggling to get up. This time, they truly could not stand anymore.Jerome was a bloody mess. His recovery abilities from the divine worms could not keep up with how frequently he was being injured."Jerome, Strider… I-I can't get up…" Nova whimpered in pain.Jerome looked at her and said, "It's okay, Nova. There's no need to be afraid. You've done well and have faced him bravely. That's exactly what your father taught me."Sylvia and Lacey were struggling in pain. Ivy had already passed out, while Helen, although in slightly better condition, had also reached her limit and lay motionless on the ground. It would have been difficult to tell if she was still alive if her eyes were open and blink
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