"Damn it! We could’ve defeated them, but this gas somehow strengthened them!" Adrian angrily exclaimed.He looked toward the others and noticed the perplexed expressions on their faces, realizing that they, too, were clueless about the situation. He sighed in frustration. If they didn’t know what it was, it meant they had no way of dealing with it.Just then, Vardala spoke up, "I think I know what this is.”All eyes turned to him. Vardala seemed puzzled just as much as them, so they were curious as to what insights he could provide."This is a mysterious evil force sealed beneath the sea," Vardala stated."What? Such a thing exists here?" Adrian was perplexed.The others bombarded Vardala with questions, wondering why they, as summoners, were unaware of such a force."I only heard about it by chance. My father briefly mentioned it to me once. I'm not entirely sure about the details," Vardala explained while scratching his head.The onlookers exchanged glances, clearly skeptical
Aquanic had already discovered these powers and were making use of them."This mysterious power is so powerful. We’re completely powerless.""That's right. There’s nothing we can do!""Look at them. They only used a bit of the power and are already so terrifying. If they fully harness this power, we’ll be wiped out.”Adrian’s group and the locals became increasingly worried.Yet, Theodore smiled mysteriously and said, "There’s no need to worry. Although this force is formidable, there are ways to deal with it."“How?”The people were surprised. If there were indeed such methods, they were eager to use them."It's the secret treasure Emperor Iravan sealed in this place," Theodore said.The revelation surprised everyone, and silence fell over the crowd. The locals understood that they would be forced to leave as the valley would inevitably be destroyed in the extraction process. Where would they live then?At this moment, a series of rumbling sounds echoed from outside the barr
Everyone was stunned. They did not want Adrian to take such risks."I admire your courage, Adrian, but understand that the place is filled with dangers. If you aren't careful, you will lose your life. Knowing this, will you still go?" Theodore asked."Don't worry. I've faced countless dangers in my life. It’ll be nothing to me," Adrian replied."If you insist, I have nothing more to say." Theodore sighed. He looked toward the deepest part of the valley and said, "I'll now tell you the secrets of this place. Whether you can come out unharmed depends on your fate.""No problem," Adrian replied firmly."Are you really going, sir?" Dragon Prince asked. "Of course. I'm the strongest person here, so it's only natural for me to go," Adrian replied, and everyone was speechless."Well, since you insist on going, be careful," Dragon Prince said.Atticus walked up to Adrian and said, "We'll hold the barrier. We won't let Aquanic in." "I'll leave it in your hands then," Adrian replied.
Adrian found himself standing in a huge ancient palace built of giant stone blocks. He could not shake the feeling that something was watching him from the shadows. However, he was not one to be easily intimidated.He ignored the hidden observer and strode confidently deeper into the palace. For him, the top priority was obtaining the treasure. As he ventured further, the peculiar sensation intensified. It felt as if he was delving into the lair of the mysterious presence. If his gut was right, he was in great danger.Adrian pondered whether he should uncover the identity of this mysterious presence. After all, not knowing where it is could be dangerous as it could attack him at any time. After making up his mind, Adrian steeled himself.‘I best prioritize finding out where this thing is!’ he thought.He took a deep breath, focusing his mental energy on identifying the mysterious entity. He had not paid much attention to it before. Upon closer observation, he realized that the enti
“On my left!"Adrian noticed something and rushed toward the left side. Simultaneously, he noticed a peculiar aura on his left that looked like a vortex. Although it was not obvious, no detail in the palace could escape Adrian's keen perception.The entity became aware that Adrian had figured out its location. In response, it made a quick move to create distance between them. However, Adrian was fast. He chased it down, leaving no room for the entity to escape.Adrian's formidable strength allowed him to adjust his speed to optimal levels during the chase, ensuring that the entity could not shake him off. Even though he could not determine if this was the actual location of the entity's main body, his intention was simple. He wanted to deplete the entity's energy as much as possible to create an advantage for himself in an eventual confrontation.The entity also seemed to have realized Adrian's strategy. It attempted to escape and simultaneously launched attacks at Adrian. However,
Adrian had no intention of concealing his purpose for being here. Since this summoner was here, it proved that he was familiar with this place. He did not care if the summoner was an ally or enemy. If he showed even the slightest of hostility, he would kill the summoner without any hesitation. Therefore, he stared at the summoner intently and was ready to act at any moment. "If you want Emperor Iravan's treasure, tell me who you are. Maybe I'll help you," the summoner said.Adrian found the stranger's response rather unexpected and became a little confused.Noticing Adrian's reaction, the summoner frowned. "What's the matter? I’m offering to help, and you're not happy?" Adrian said, "That's not it. I just want to know your identity and why I should trust you."The summoner responded sternly, "Hmph, if you don't trust me, then I have no reason to tell you anything." He was clearly bothered by Adrian's suspicion.Adrian fell silent for a moment. He wanted to learn about the treas
As the man’s words echoed, he thrust the long spear in his hand at Adrian. The attack resembled a dragon emerging from the sea, exuding a powerful and intimidating force.Adrian remained unperturbed. Despite the fierce assault coming his way, he showed no fear. As a powerful fighter himself, it was impossible that he would be defeated by such an attack. As the spear closed in on him, he coolly lifted his hand and met the oncoming attack head-on with his own sword.Clang!A muffled sound resonated as their weapons collided. Their strength was initially evenly matched, but at the next moment, Adrian noticed something was not right. His strength was diminishing, growing weaker with each passing second. This revelation sent a chill down his spine.'Why is this happening? It shouldn't be like this,' Adrian silently pondered. He was well aware of his own capabilities, and the current turn of events was completely unexpected. After their first clash, he could tell that both of them were e
Adrian felt as if his strength was gradually slipping away. He struggled to even maintain his grip on his sword, and the pressure from the opponent's attacks seemed to intensify. Reveling in his apparent advantage, the man taunted arrogantly, "Kid, can you feel your strength slowly dwindling? That's because this is my territory. Here, you will never be my match!""Oh really? Too bad. I don't buy it," Adrian replied indifferently. However, not caring on the surface did not necessarily mean he truly did not care throughout the course of the battle.With the passage of time, Adrian felt his strength drain away. Right now, he was no different from an ordinary person. Seizing his chance, the man let out a triumphant roar and launched a fierce assault at Adrian's vital points.Adrian could not defend himself from the upcoming hit that might crush him. Frustration and anger built up as he cursed his bad luck."Damn it!" he cursed as he desperately sought a solution. He refused to accept
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