Estelle nodded at their words. She was relieved that Keiran and his group had spared Adrian. With that, it seemed her father did not need to come anymore. However, considering that the two gangs were already engaged in conflict and things escalated, it might be best to update him. "Where are you headed, Mr. Adrian?" Estelle asked.Adrian smiled at her and said, "I can't go with you for now. My friend is in another neighborhood, and he's also affiliated with a gang. He was the one who helped me, so I need to check on him." "But—""Thanks for your help tonight. I have to go now." Adrian walked away without giving Estelle a chance to persuade him."Let's go, Estelle. This place is about to descend into chaos!" The girls pulled Estelle away from the street.Estelle watched Adrian's departing figure, but he was too resolute for her to have any chance of keeping him. In no time, he vanished down the street. "Do you think Mr. Adrian might be in danger?" she asked her friends."Forget
"Are you saying there’s a gang fight happening in the south of the city?" Harriett asked."That's right!" the girl replied. Most people were currently in a state of confusion, and most of them did not understand how things escalated to this point. However, if there was anyone feeling the most bewildered, it was probably Estelle and her companions. After all, Estelle's disappearance was strange. After plunging into darkness, it took less than five seconds for them to pull out their torches. By then, Estelle had vanished from their side."Hurry over there at the fastest speed!" Harriett ordered. "Yes, sir!" The coachman began to accelerate, and the dozens of carriages following them also sped up.Meanwhile, Estelle lay on the bed in a room within Sable Emblem’s headquarters."Sleep tight. I'll send you back tomorrow," Adrian said with a light chuckle as he stood by the bed. Then, he disappeared. Sable Emblem and Hell Peaks were evenly matched. If they were to fight head-on, bot
Adrian walked on the deserted streets, the sound of police sirens ringing in his ears. There were still some traces of blood on the road, but the people had evacuated from the area. Surrounding storefronts remained tightly shut, with inhabitants silently observing the events outside their windows. In times like these, no one aside from Adrian dared to wander the streets."Hey, who are you?" A figure clad in a black military uniform appeared ahead, shining a flashlight at Adrian cautiously."I want to report a crime," Adrian said."Report a crime?" The military officer was visibly taken aback. "What do you want to report?" he asked."I witnessed someone kidnapping a girl," Adrian replied indifferently.The officer's eyes widened instantly. Just moments ago, news had arrived that the garrison instructor's daughter had gone missing in this neighborhood. Their primary task had shifted from apprehending gang members to locating the instructor's daughter, and a report of witnessing a gi
Under Adrian's special arrangement and Willie's disguise, Estelle believed she had been held captive by Scarlet Star. She had been unconscious for a long time, so she was unaware of what had transpired. It was only after she left that she slowly began to recall the events of the night before last.Estelle pulled out her communication emblem and contacted Harriett."Dad?""Estelle?" "Dad! Where are you?" Estelle’s voice trembled."I'm at the military base. Where are you now? I'll come get you!" Harriett said.After getting into Harriett's car, Estelle could not hold back anymore and broke down into tears. Although she did not know what had happened, she knew she had experienced something extremely dangerous. As darkness descended upon her and her friends, everything went black before she was suddenly grabbed by a man and lost consciousness completely. When she woke up, she found herself being thrown onto the street by a stranger, with a fleeting glimpse of a figure in red passing
“Someone kidnapped your daughter? Mr. Harriett, you trespassed on my territory for an entire day without informing me. Do you know how much loss that has incurred? Do you think I'm a pushover?" Clark asked. Harriett chuckled coldly. In this world, there were organizations like the army garrison and other official entities maintaining order, while there were gangs causing chaos like Scarlet Star. Normally, they would not take the initiative to disrupt the order of the underground world, but this was different. If he could, Harriett would chop off Clark's head right now to show everyone in Sandstone that they should stay away from his daughter. "Don't act like this doesn't concern you. My daughter said it herself. After waking up, she saw members of your gang!" Harriett said."Oh? Is that so? Is it really one of us or just someone coincidentally wearing red?" Clark replied, "Aren't your military people all about evidence? So, where’s your evidence that we kidnapped your daughter?"
"You can try, but I don't think you're a match for me," Clark said.Clark and Harriett had been facing off against each other in the base for over ten minutes. The people around them dared not intervene as nobody wanted to become the target of their aggression."If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now," Clark said, taking his coat from one of his men and heading toward the exit with a smirk."Stop!" Harriet's voice boomed in a deep commanding tone.Clark ignored Harriett's demand and continued to walk away, while his men behind him put on defiant expressions. The garrison had always been a looming threat over them, but this time they could finally stand tall alongside Clark and revel in their newfound confidence."Mr. Harriett, please stop. We don't have any evidence against them. We can't keep them here!" an army officer shouted. Harriett could only glare angrily as Clark swaggered away. "I swear I’ll kill him one day," he clenched his fists, growling under his breath.Th
At the base of the statue lay countless human skeletons. These people had all come seeking blessings but ultimately got lost staring into the statue’s eyes. Clark kept his head as low as possible. He had kept the secrets of this place to himself. Anyone who dared to pry into its mysteries ultimately became one of the skeletons."Oh Celestial Hound, will I encounter any disasters in the near future? And if so, how might I avoid them?" Clark took out a small knife he carried with him and cut open his heavily scarred palm. As the blood flowed and dripped onto the gray floor in front of him, it was guided by an unseen force and moved toward the statue. Once the blood reached a certain level, he quickly covered his wound to stop the bleeding so that he would not end up becoming one of the skeletons himself.Rumble!A strange rumbling sound echoed throughout the cathedral. Clark suppressed the urge to look up and patiently waited for guidance. However, unlike previous occasions, the statu
If hit, Adrian would be unable to wield his sword which would inevitably weaken his combat power. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. It looked as if Adrian could not dodge the attack in time, but in reality, he just did not feel the need to do so. "You're quite remarkable as a fighter, but you're still no match for me," Adrian remarked. His Draco Force shielded him from Clark's punch, rendering it ineffective and wounding Clark's hands instead."What are you?" Clark gasped, his face dark with suspicion. He failed to notice that the blood dripping from his fists was steadily flowing toward the statue."Rather than questioning my identity, why don't you turn around and look at what's behind you," Adrian suggested, pointing his sword toward the statue.Clark suddenly felt a stinging sensation in his hands. Looking down, he was horrified to see that his hands had dried up just like the desiccated corpses under the statue. All the moisture in his hand had vanished, leaving on
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