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
"We won, haven't we?" Nova asked. Strider shook his head. "No, I can still feel his presence.""What do you mean?" Nova's surprise was evident in her voice.At that moment, the ground exploded with a thunderous roar. Shadowblade emerged from the depths—unscathed and snarling. Rumble!With a burst of fury, he launched a skyward attack that hit the eagle, causing it to spiral and shed feathers as it fell."Marissa!" Rozi called out."I'm okay," the eagle responded.Reassured that Marissa was fine, Rozi turned her attention back to Shadowblade. "This game is over. I'm going to use everything I have to kill you!" "In your dreams!" Rozi replied. After forces collided with a thunderous impact, Rozi was sent tumbling to the ground and Shadowblade struggled to maintain his balance. But before he could regain his footing, Adrian appeared above him. Thrusting out Dragonbane, Adrian pierced through Shadowblade from above, causing the latter to scream in agony once more. Infuriat
Everyone watched with bated breath as their final hope seemed indomitable.Shadowblade, having been grievously wounded by the trio, was now utterly crazed. Although he had been torn into two a second time, he reappeared once again. This time though, it was evident that the vast energy he once possessed had greatly diminished. "Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!" he roared furiously, wishing nothing more than to annihilate every human in sight.Shadowblade then unleashed a force even more powerful than ever before. He was starting to show his true capabilities. As quick as lightning, he appeared behind Rozi and punched her. Despite sensing the attack, she could not evade him.With his newfound ferocity, Shadowblade impaled Rozi with his black sword and sent her flying. Somehow, she managed to stabilize herself mid-air and, much to Shadowblade’s shock, rapidly healed her wound. This was a clear sign she possessed Divine Worms too."What?! You have the Divine Worms in you too?!"
Adrian and Rozi closed in Shadowblade once more. "Damn you all!" Shadowblade yelled and punched at the pair. A dragon shot out from each of his fists. Adrian and Rozi dodged the attack, but Rozi was hit and was sent flying. Adrian pushed on and leaped into the air with Dragonbane in hand. Shadowblade sneered. "This is going to be so much easier now that you're alone. Now, fall!" He clenched his right hand, and Adrian halted mid-jump. Snickering, Shadowblade said, "Did you think you're the only one who knows that technique? Think again!" Adrian's movements were restricted as though something had grabbed onto him. He was unable to break free. "Oh no! Father's stuck!" Nova cried.Shadowblade made a lunge and slashed his sword at Adrian. The eagle swooped down to try and stop Shadowblade, but the latter sent it flying with a punch. Splatter! The black sword glowed brightly as it stabbed through Adrian's chest. Though in immense pain, Shadowblade snickered as he said, "He
Adrian and Rozi had built a solid relationship over the past eighteen years that they no longer needed to use words to communicate. The pair lifted their swords and launched themselves out like lightning as Marissa looked out for an opportunity to strike. She also screeched to threaten Shadowblade and keep him on his toes.A radiant aura of light emanated from Adrian and Rozi, signaling they were exerting all their power. In close coordination, their assault once again bore down on Shadowblade. Although still formidable, Shadowblade's momentum was clearly disrupted. As the pair attacked from front and back, Shadowblade surrounded himself with countless black swords to counter their assault. The fight was intense, and multiple explosions broke out, creating mushroom clouds that rose into the air.It looked like the mountain would be obliterated at any second."We need to get out of here!" Strider yelled as the mountain shook violently. Pushing through his pain, he scooped up Jerome
Boom, boom, boom!!Explosions rang out, and the earth-shattering battle continued unabated.The trio continued to battle Shadowblade, only stopping occasionally to catch their breaths. The Millionth Mountains were no longer a safe place, hence nobody else aside from Remy and his group was present.Meanwhile, the battle was being monitored through radar. The battle was absolutely intense, yet nobody could truly fathom the gravity of the battle. Throughout the whole time, they saw Shadowblade cleaved in several parts and reconstructed over and over again. This was not a good thing for Adrian and Rozi. They had not expected Shadowblade to possess such strong regenerative capabilities. They became more cautious and sustained more and more damage the longer the battle went on. "We're gonna be here for a while if this keeps up," Strider said with a frown as he watched the battle."Although Shadowblade's pretty badly hurt, he's still far from being defeated in comparison to Sir Draco
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