"That sounds perfectly logical," Axel agreed hastily, feeling a jolt of fear.If Shay was the real murderer, Medicis Manor was bound to face annihilation.Claude sneered. "Then how do you explain the blood on his back?"Only then did Shay realize his mistake and deeply regretted it. After taking the lives of 509 people, getting splashed in blood all over was inevitable. Even his sword had broken in the process."When I saw the tragedy, the shock overwhelmed me and I passed out. That’s how I got the blood on my back…" Shay tried to explain, attempting to craft a plausible narrative.Claude was rendered speechless by Shay's craftiness. The latter’s eyes held a murderous glint, clearly making him the real perpetrator of the slaughter. Regrettably, nobody believed Claude, particularly Axel, who seemingly allied with Matson.Having changed into fresh clothes, Adrian appeared. Finding them still at the entrance of the study, he said coldly, "The stains on your sleeves unmistakably rese
Axel quivered in fear, shocked to discover Matson as the mastermind behind the ruthless massacre. He had almost let a cruel murderer get away with a cart full of medical supplies!"Quick!" Recovering from his shock, Axel urgently ordered, “Bennett, unload all the medical supplies. I never expected these people to be so ruthless as to wipe out the entire Randell family."Claude felt a pang of sorrow. Moments ago, Axel was in warm camaraderie with Matson and was treating him like family. Upon learning of Matson's malevolence, Axel's demeanor instantly turned cold. It was such a huge turnaround."Mr. Axel!" Claude called out."I won't interfere with manor matters anymore, Claude. I’ve made a great mistake," Axel declared, raising his hands in defeat and retreating to his room.Claude stood stunned. After decades with Axel, he knew this place was his sanctuary. If Axel was ousted, he would be homeless.Adrian threw Matson into a dark room and locked the door. The rest of the Greenhur
Matson's scream pierced the night sky.Claude, already restless with the ongoing turmoil at Medicis Manor and burdened by the chaos brought about by Sebastian's departure, was on edge. He bolted from his bed at the cry emanating from the firewood shed, fearing something had happened to Adrian."Adrian! Where are you?!" Claude called out."I'm here." Adrian dragged Matson behind him.Matson, weakened and whimpering in agony, was coughing up blood.Claude was stunned. "Did…Did you kill him?" Panic-stricken, he added, "Urias doesn't tolerate outsiders meddling in Greenhursts’ matters. Handing Matson over will be the best option for a fair resolution.""No, I didn’t kill him," Adrian calmly responded, "He's alive. I just gave him a small lesson."Matson, face filled with tears and mucus, seemed on the verge of collapse.A small lesson? That had almost taken his life. Adrian was ruthless. Had he known, he would have acted first."H-Help!" Matson croaked."As long as he's alive." C
The night lay serene, tranquil as a quiet gentle stream.Adrian stood poised with his sword. He closed his eyes, taking in the quiet surroundings. After ingesting the medicinal powder Adrian had administered him, Matson's chest pain subsided, but he still felt drained. Lying on the bluestone slab at the courtyard's center and observing Adrian, he felt a mix of relief and contempt for Adrian.Click!A faint sound echoed, sparking instant excitement in Matson. His Wolf Fang Brigade had likely arrived. With their intervention, nothing would be impossible. They should catch Adrian off guard and aim for his neck. There was no need for words. Swift and unexpected was the best approach.Matson gestured silently to the figures in the woods. Thankfully, they had been together long enough to understand each other perfectly.Suddenly, Adrian's eyes snapped open, his gaze chilling as it swept over Matson. "Feeling tired?""Somewhat." Matson tried to dampen his excitement and joked, "If you
The leader leaped out, furiously brandishing his twin hammers and charging toward Adrian. "I demand justice for Master Greenwood! You have no right to kill members of the Greenhursts!"Adrian did not step back and advanced instead. In the blink of an eye, his sword was already against the man's chest. Despite the narrow gap between the hammers and Adrian's face, the man could not inch forward."I have no right to kill Greenhursts’ members," Adrian said, "but to those who invade Medicis Manor, I'll show no mercy."Thunk! Thud!The hammers fell to the ground, and the man crumpled. His life was extinguished by a single move.Adrian withdrew his sword and casually wiped off the blood. "Anyone else?" he challenged, "Come forward if you wish the same fate. I'll make it quick."The black-clad individuals stepped back. They had lost all their courage. Initially, they were eager to witness the battle between their leader and Adrian. Little had they expected the match to be settled in a si
Adrian stood motionless amid the incoming barrage of arrows, which quickly blanketed the area and struck fear into the bald man hiding behind a massive tree. He quivered in terror as arrows pinned the tree trunk all around him.‘I’m done for!’ the man thought. Today seemed to offer only a dead end for him. Regrets flooded his mind, realizing he should have not gotten entangled in this chaotic situation.Clang! Clang!Suddenly, cries of pain rang out.Marissa then called out, "Are you okay, Adrian?!"She had awoken at the sounds of chaos and rushed out—weaponless but resolute to help.Witnessing the incoming barrage of arrows aimed at Adrian, Marissa was poised to intervene. However, a burly man with a spiked weapon approached her."You brat, get out of the way! You're asking for death!" the man barked."You scoundrel!" Marissa retorted, her voice ringing out. "You dare to use such despicable means to attack others! I'll knock your teeth out!"Just as Marissa prepared to attack
"I'm here!" Claude had rushed over, but his timid nature had led him to hide behind a tree during the fight.Adrian massaged his temples in frustration. None of these guys were reliable. They had no solid skills, yet they dared to stand around and watch the commotion. Each one of them was his weak spot. If they were captured, he would have no choice but to surrender. Their attitudes irked him."Get to it then!" Adrian urged."I'm scared. I can barely even walk now." Claude mourned. "So many people have died. What if their families come seeking revenge?"Adrian sighed. “They brought it upon themselves. If they hadn't sneaked into Medicis Manor, they would still be alive.""What do you mean?" Claude was still somewhat puzzled and asked foolishly, "Even if they sneaked in, there was no need to kill them, right?"Adrian grabbed Claude. Seeing the latter’s pale face and trembling legs, he suppressed a smile as he said, "They came in and started attacking to kill. We had to defend ours
Adrian stood up and stared at the assailant. He looked calmly at the assailant's pale expression, but he was actually gloating inside. "I'm not dead!" Adrian mocked. "Impossible!" The assailant was in disbelief, especially after he had planned everything out so perfectly. "This must be some kind of trick!" Before Adrian could respond, the bald man recognized the assailant and rushed out. "Jonathan Cliff! Why are you doing this? I used to respect you so much." "Shut up!" Jonathan was infuriated, having never been to Medicis Manor and thinking no one would recognize him. "I'm not Jonathan!""You're right. Jonathan Cliff is a master marksman and an ally of justice. You could never be him!” the bald man retorted.Jonathan's face turned red with fury. He would not have done such a thing if he had not been blackmailed."Get lost!" he snarled.Adrian coldly asked, "Who gave you the right to speak? You're in Medicis Manor now, so it's you who should be getting lost, not him."The
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