Bailey never expected that while she aimed to deal with Adrian, he didn't even bother to make a move himself. General Hydro and General Pyro—two ninth-level powerhouses—were more than capable of subduing her.Swish swish!Two chains swept over, and in an instant, Bailey was bound. She struggled incessantly, attempting to break free from their restraint. But no matter how hard she struggled, the chains remained unmoved. She was unable to escape.Bailey grimaced in anger. "Damn it!" she cursed.Adrian maintained a cold smile. "Now let's see where you run off to."Bailey smirked in response. "Hehehe, do you think you can defeat me by doing this? If I'm going to die, I'll drag this little girl down to hell with me!""Is that so?" Adrian sneered.Ash then appeared and unsheathed his Doomcleaver.Slice!The Doomcleaver struck Bailey's throat. However, instead of blood, a shadow flew out from inside her body. It was the monster possessing Bailey. Struck by the Doomcleaver, it sought
At that moment, the girl named Safiya Klines nodded, then added, "I do have another identity though. I am the leader of the Special Operations Team of the garrison."This revelation surprised Adrian. ‘What? She's the leader of the Special Ops Team? But she's so young,’ he thought as his mouth hung open in astonishment.Clayton, also taken aback, stuttered, "Sa-Safiya… Y-You..." He struggled to form a coherent sentence.Adrian assessed Safiya. Considering her age, he would have never expected this girl to be so strong. After some observation, he could tell that she was at the intermediate eighth level. Even Nathaniel, whom Adrian knew to be a pinnacle eighth level, was not as strong as Safiya.It was remarkable that someone so young could achieve such a high level. No wonder Safiya was made the leader of the Special Ops Team.Just then, Bailey's parents approached, asking, "Bailey? Bailey, are you okay?" They gently took Bailey from Safiya's hands. With evident concern on their fac
"Nope," Adrian immediately replied, declining Nathaniel's request."Don't worry, I'm not here to recruit you into the garrison," Nathaniel clarified.Adrian halted, eyeing Nathaniel distrustfully.Noticing Adrian's suspicion, Nathaniel stepped closer, insisting, "I'm being truthful. I have no intention of recruiting you. I simply need your assistance.""Fine, go ahead," Adrian conceded reluctantly. He knew Nathaniel wouldn't give up easily; refusing here wouldn't deter him from seeking Adrian out elsewhere. Realizing he couldn't evade trouble forever, Adrian decided to hear Nathaniel out."Come, come! This way!" Nathaniel said eagerly, extending his hand and gesturing for Adrian to follow."You know each other?" Safiya interjected, approaching Adrian and Nathaniel."We're acquainted," Adrian replied, and Nathaniel gave Safiya some brief instructions.With Adrian reluctantly following, the trio departed from the scene. After some time, they arrived at a spacious garden."Mr. Ad
"Sure, and thank you. I'm truly grateful," Nathaniel said as though Adrian had rescued him from a dire situation. Overflowing with gratitude, he appeared almost relieved."Don't thank me. It's my duty," Adrian replied in a righteous tone."I'll pick you up from your shop tomorrow morning then?" Nathaniel confirmed."Sure," Adrian agreed.With the matter settled, Adrian returned to his shop. In the evening, he gathered Ash, General Hydro, General Pyro, Daybreak, and Stygian. The little studio suddenly became crowded."I've gathered you all here for a very important matter," Adrian began, then recounted Nathaniel's earlier request. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the situation than met the eye."How did Mapleston suddenly become infested with monsters? And how are there numerous ninth-level monsters? Doesn't that strike you as odd?" Adrian questioned the group.However, the rest shook their heads, seemingly unperturbed. Daybreak, in particular, scratched his h
"Stop right there!" Adrian shouted, unleashing a fierce blow at the figure. The person attempted to flee, but Adrian was relentless, swiftly closing the distance. Ash and the others swiftly surrounded the individual, leaving no avenue for escape."Who are you? Why were you lurking around my shop?" Adrian demanded in a fury.The person merely grinned in response, refusing to answer Adrian's inquiry. Adrian observed the figure's peculiar appearance. Obscured by some sort of shadow, the person’s true identity remained indiscernible."You dare laugh at a time like this?!" Adrian's fury intensified upon seeing the other person’s mocking smile. Determined to impart a lesson, he commanded, "Daybreak, Stygian!""Roger," they responded in unison, stepping forward to assist. They launched their coordinated attacks at the dark figure. Despite being human, Daybreak and Stygian possessed ninth-level strength, making subduing the individual effortless.However, the figure emitted a strange
Adrian attempted to glean some information through soul probing, but this proved futile. "I believe this individual is affiliated with a formidable faction," he concluded after a moment of contemplation."We're out of our depth here. Our apologies for the lack of useful insights," Daybreak, Stygian, and the others confessed, unable to offer any significant input.Adrian harbored no resentment toward them, understanding the complexity of the situation. However, Ash appeared troubled, his furrowed brow hinting at a revelation."What's troubling you?" Adrian inquired, sensing Ash's unease.Ash responded, "I've just recalled an organization. It's possible this person has ties to them."Adrian's interest was piqued. "What organization?"Ash hesitated before answering, "I'm not entirely certain, but we call them the dark monster hunters.""The dark monster hunters?" Adrian mused, hearing the name for the first time."They're dubbed as such due to their opposition to righteous hunters
"Is this all the manpower the garrison has? How could you send a little girl like her to undertake such a dangerous mission?" Adrian asked. "I'm not a little girl! I'm the leader of the garrison army's Special Ops!" Safiya retorted."Well, we’re pretty understaffed right now. Since the disaster caused by the mysterious monster king, the monster hunter force in Mapleston has suffered a serious blow. The people gathered here are the strongest people we have," Nathaniel explained."You don't have to explain anything to him, Mr. Nathaniel," Safiya huffed."We might come to a long-term cooperation in the future, so it's better to get to know each other better now, isn't it?" Nathaniel said. Knowing Adrian possessed considerable power, he saw him as a promising candidate for collaboration.Suddenly, Adrian shouted, "Watch out!"Everyone turned to look in the direction he was looking and were stunned by what greeted their eyes: a shockwave hurriedly sweeping toward them. They never exp
There were over a hundred corpses strewn all over the village grounds. "Wh-What the hell happened here?" someone exclaimed, but no one answered him.What occurred here was painfully obvious—these villagers had been killed by fiend slaves."Damn it!" Nathaniel cursed. "We're too late!"Adrian remained calm. He bent down beside one of the corpses and examined it closely. Upon inspection, he noticed something peculiar about the bodies. Although these people were all dead, their appearances and clothes were relatively clean. It seemed that they had not been dead for long."Did they just die not long ago?" Nathaniel asked."I think so," Adrian replied."Let's search the area and see if we can find anything! I refuse to believe that whoever and whatever did this can escape just like that!" Nathaniel ordered."Yes, sir!" Nathaniel’s men were elites of the garrison, and they quickly sprung into action. Immediately, they scattered in different directions.Adrian also ordered Ash and
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