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
Shadowblade, enraged by Nova's efforts, roared, "Since you’re so eager to die, allow me to oblige you!”With a thunderous shout, he punched at Nova. A blast of black light that carried shards of stone hurtled toward her. Nova knew that she would meet her end if the attack landed. Sylvia, Strider, and Remy struggled frantically, trying to save her. However, she froze and lacked the strength to do anything, let alone speak.Suddenly, a cry pierced the sky, and something massive, blocking out the sun, sped toward them.It was an eagle!No one could discern the eagle’s full size. As the massive bird flew toward Nova, it shot out a beam of aurora light.Boom! The light landed before Nova, manifesting into a man that shielded her from the attack.Ba,!The man swung his right hand and instantly shattered Shadowblade's attack into nothingness. The majestic eagle appeared overhead, and a woman descended from the sky, landing behind Shadowblade.The sudden appearance of the man, the wo
Adrian gently placed Nova in a sitting position on the ground and tenderly stroked her hair. His presence filled Nova with warmth and made her tear up. At that moment, the entire nation fell silent. No one had expected Adrian, who had vanished for eighteen years, to reappear now. At Novemton headquarters, Samantha and Gloria stood quietly before the screen. The man they yearned for day and night for the past eighteen years had not changed much. In fact, he looked like he had not aged at all.Everyone once again felt hopeful as the man who once led them had returned.After setting Nova down, Adrian walked to Remy, whose legs were broken and could hardly stand."It's been a long time, sir,” Remy greeted.Adrian nodded. "You have not disappointed me. I made the right choice during the selection. Rest now, I'll take care of this." He picked Remy up too and placed him beside Nova.He then went to Strider, Nicholas, Sylvia, Helen, and Ivy, picking each of them up and laying them toget
Adrian took a few steps toward Shadowblade and Rozi followed behind. They slowly closed in on their enemy. A radiance filled the sky as the eagle emitted a dazzling aurora. The light, akin to the sun, shone down brightly.The eagle's eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness, and its radiant light enveloped the land. The oppressive shadows cloaking the sky were dispelled, replaced by sunlight that streamed through the clouds. The light hit the earth below and bathed Novemton in its glow and warmth."Look!""It's the sun!" "Haha, it's the sun! We're finally seeing the sun again after eighteen years!"Cheers erupted throughout the cities as the populace rejoiced at the sight of the sun that had been absent for nearly two decades. With the shadows driven away, life across the land awakened. Green plants eagerly broke through the soil, reaching for the warmth above.The mighty eagle, Marissa in eagle form, had brought a light that vanquished the darkness and bathed the world in sun
Shadowblade trembled violently. Everyone's jaws dropped, shocked by Adrian's powerful move which grievously wounded Shadowblade so swiftly. The battle, however, was far from over.A figure tore through the sky and a sword brimming with lethal intent slashed down, severing Shadowblade's arms. Rozi appeared before Shadowblade, grabbed his neck, and aimed her sword at his head. Shadowblade erupted with a powerful aura that sent her flying. The blast also knocked Adrian away, but he quickly steadied himself in mid-air.Then, Shadowblade's severed limbs regrew before their eyes. The gash in his torso that Adrian had inflicted quickly healed as well."You can't kill me unless you destroy my core. To all of you, I'm an immortal in the genuine sense," boasted Shadowblade."Is that so? Looks like I’ll have to grind you to dust before I can be rid of you then," Adrian retorted."You will no longer have that chance, unfortunately.”Shadowblade swiftly appeared behind Adrian, launching n
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