Kyril became tongue-tied. His claim as the future leader of Ivory Cloud was merely wishful thinking on Sylvas' part. The decision had not been formally recognized, so when Winston voiced his opposition, Kyril immediately hunted him down. But now confronted by Adrian's query, Kyril struggled to formulate a valid response. Fortunately, he had a group of supporters, one among them having a face resembling that of a horse."You've relinquished your authority!" the horse-faced man interjected sharply. "You are no longer affiliated with Ivory Cloud. What right do you have to speak here?""I passed it on to Johnny Tackle," Adrian said, enunciating each and every word clearly. "But without Dieter's acknowledgment, my status remains unchanged."Kyril's face reddened. No one had dared to challenge him in this manner before. If it were not for Adrian's formidable reputation and their proximity to the Greenhursts, he would have immediately retaliated."Well, so do you agree to it?" Kyril quest
“What do you think, Adrian? Are you proud of my artwork?" Caroline chirped cheerfully, completely unaware of Adrian's mounting irritation.They had not had dinner, and after traveling overnight while subsisting on dry rations, Adrian's mood was understandably sour."Be quiet! How are you always so cheerful?" Adrian growled.Winston hurriedly said, "Caroline’s just an idiot."Bucky wanted to laugh but did not dare. He instead turned his face and pressed his mouth against the carriage. Suddenly, his body leaned toward Adrian due to the jolting of the carriage and he quickly turned, afraid of bumping into Adrian.Bam!He crashed into Winston instead. Winston's face swelled and turned purple from the pain, but he did not dare retort. He gazed at Adrian, hoping for some support."Ahem!" Adrian grunted, considering jumping off the carriage.Were it not for keeping an eye on Kyril, he would not have tolerated the carriage ride. Caroline's antics were giving him a splitting headache.
Adrian was speechless at how foolish Kyril was. His lack of understanding of the situation, combined with his incessant pleading, was unbearable to witness."No!" Adrian thundered.Kyril burst into loud, exaggerated sobs.Winston scoffed at this display. "Quit your acting. Your feigned sorrow won't work on Adrian. He won't let you go that easily.""Coward!" Caroline sneered. "I want to change carriages. I can't stand to sit with someone like him. Stop the carriage!"Boom!The carriage suddenly shook violently as if it was going to overturn. Caroline stuck her head out of the carriage, ready to curse, but she hastily swallowed her words. Outside, a dense crowd armed with bows and flame-tipped arrows surrounded them.Adrian sensed imminent trouble. Caroline was headstrong and would not back down unless the situation outside was dire. "Winston, protect Caroline!" he ordered.Winston swiftly moved to Kyril's side and pressed a knife against the man’s neck. "Don't worry, we have a h
Bucky rushed forward to pull Arlo back. He knew that Arlo joining Adrian and Carson’s intense battle would only escalate the chaos, so he intervened."Mr. Adrian will avenge you, don’t worry,” he said.Amid the fierce battle, Adrian found himself being pushed back. Carson wielded his twin hammers skillfully, leaving no gaps for Adrian to counterattack.Carson's confidence grew. "Your pathetic scimitar is no match for my hammers!""Hmph!" Adrian sneered.Carson had not managed to inflict any injuries, and all his attacks had been repelled so far. Their strength was evenly matched, and the crucial factor lay in their weapons."Your hammers aren't all that impressive either.""Pfft! Stop bullsh*tting" Carson was exceedingly proud of his renowned Violetaurum Hammers. "I'm done playing with you. I’m going to send you to the afterlife now." He then channeled even more force into his hands.Caroline watched anxiously. Seeing Adrian being forced backward made her extremely uneasy. She
Arlo, possessing keen eyes, immediately recognized the substance on Adrian's foot as Shadow Clay—a rare material that granted the user the ability to traverse both the skies and earth.Adrian was very fortunate to have come into contact with it. In his opinion, Adrian should keep it and never give it back. Arlo immediately intervened, "Wait, Arwen. Since Adrian has a connection with this thing, it should belong to him."Adrian eyed Arwen Bates. The man’s imposing appearance contrasted with his unrefined attire, and his pale complexion hinted at a life spent away from sunlight."Arlo, I don't want to keep it if it belongs to someone else,” Adrian said.He did not want to take advantage of others as he was well aware that there was no such thing as a free lunch.Upon spotting Arwen, Carson's expression changed as if he had seen a savior. Arwen, one of the top ten experts, was famed not only for his strength but also for his remarkable craftsmanship, capable of turning trash into e
"Sir, pleeeease?""Fine, take it," Adrian said flatly as if the object was an unremarkable piece of wood.Bucky was thrilled. Anything from Arwen was undoubtedly exceptional. He promptly stashed it away in his bag, intending to thoroughly study its purpose later.Arwen departed with Carson.Adrian glanced at the Shadow Clay beneath his feet. "What is this thing?""Adrian, Arwen’s no ordinary person. He's very clever and often crafts incredible things." Arlo sounded somewhat envious. "But it’s just a lump of clay!" Adrian exclaimed in frustration, "I can't make out its purpose, and it almost made me slip earlier."Swoosh! Swoosh!The Shadow Clay under his feet suddenly morphed into two wheels, lifting him off the ground and bringing him into the air."Stop! Let me down!" Adrian said in a slight panic.Everyone was incredibly envious. Who would not want to soar through the skies and traverse the earth? Adrian could freely ascend and descend, and it made for a magnificent sight
Pow! Pow!Furious, Arlo punched Winston. If it were not for Ophelia’s intervention, he would have beaten Winston to death."You fool!" Arlo was so infuriated that he trembled as he reprimanded his son indignantly. "Now that Kyril has escaped and Sir Dieter’s life is at stake, Sylvas might kill at any time! How could you not know that?!"Winston realized that he was in the wrong, so even though Arlo was reprimanding him so publicly, he did not budge. If he had not been so focused on the commotion earlier, Kyril would not have escaped.Adrian frowned. Violence would not solve the problem, and Kyril was undoubtedly crucial to this operation. They could not let him escape. Their surroundings were filled with thick bushes, and there was a ravine on the other side of the mountain, so finding him should be easy."How long have you been down here?" Adrian asked."Not more than three minutes,” Winston replied honestly, "His hands and feet are tied, so he shouldn’t have gotten far."Altho
Caroline muttered to herself, "Kyril really is something huh? He didn’t even say a word and just snuck away. This is too much. He’s usually just like me—not particularly skilled. His only option is to go underground, but he isn’t known for such methods."This statement gave everyone an idea. Kyril could not have escaped in such a short time. The news of his capture must have reached Carson, and the latter must have been trying to rescue him. The brawl earlier was just a diversion, providing Kyril with an opportunity to escape."Everyone, search the ground now,” Adrian ordered, "Check if there are any signs of loose soil, especially in areas with plenty of dried branches and leaves."As soon as Adrian finished speaking, Caroline pointed at the grass next to him and said, "This spot looks strange. How does grass grow on such a hard surface?"Everyone’s attention was instantly drawn to Caroline’s discovery. She had a point—the ground here was unusually solid with almost no vegetation.
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