But Bradley let out a sinister laugh. "He's right. I do wish to kill you. Only by your death can I gain the most benefit."Aubrey was speechless. When Bradley spoke those words, the last bit of hope in her heart vanished, replaced by an unparalleled sense of despair."I didn't expect you to be so despicable. Since that's the case, I can't let you go today," Adrian said solemnly, then dashed toward Bradley.With a loud bang, a violent tremor spread out, and a barrier appeared around Bradley, effortlessly blocking Adrian's powerful attack."Interesting." Adrian smiled faintly. But he didn't stop there. Adrian had come fully prepared, knowing Bradley was exceptionally powerful.Bradley smiled too. "I didn't expect Aubrey to find herself a helper like you. But, kid, you're going to die here today, because you're simply not my match," he declared fiercely.Adrian smiled faintly. "Is that so?"Bradley narrowed his eyes. "If you want to know, just try me."With a loud shout from Bradl
"Divine Frost Slayer Blade, arise!" Adrian commanded as he unsheathed his sword and rushed toward Bradley.Whoosh!Bradley felt unease, realizing the danger too late. Adrian's attack arrived swiftly, leaving him defenseless.“Argh!”With a shout, Bradley felt weak. Adrian's attack pierced through him, leaving him stunned. Looking down at his chest, Bradley felt an unexpected sense of relief throughout his body.Meanwhile, Adrian stood firm before Bradley.Bradley was stunned for a moment before speaking up, "Very well."Adrian sensed a hint of hopelessness in Bradley. He snorted coldly. "What, still not convinced? Unwilling to admit defeat?""Haha, hahaha..." Bradley burst into a series of loud laughter.The laughter grated on Adrian's nerves. He glared fiercely at Bradley. "What the hell are you laughing at?"Bradley's eyes narrowed. "Kid, do you really think you can kill me? I still have my strongest move, which I haven't used yet.""Oh? What else can you do? Hurry up and
Adrian laughed heartily and said, "Alright, it's time for you to die!" With those words, Adrian swung his sword at Bradley's vital spot. Bradley tried to defend himself, but he was utterly powerless against Adrian’s onslaught. With a piercing scream, he fell dead before Adrian and the others."Sir…" Aubrey sighed deeply. Even though she knew things were spiraling out of control, she never expected Bradley to fall into depravity.“Adrian!” Suddenly, a shout broke the silence. They turned to see a few people rushing in from outside, all Aetherian apprentices. Leading them was Rean, who was visibly shocked by the scene before him.In a burst of anger, Rean charged forward, intending to grab Adrian by the collar. However, Aubrey quickly stepped in and shouted, “Rean, calm down!”Still furious, Rean retorted, “Calm down?! He killed our leader! How am I supposed to calm down?!”“I did kill him," Adrian admitted without hesitation. “But your leader had fallen into depravity. If I had
Everyone present was equally stunned by this revelation. This physique was incredibly powerful, though not as powerful as the Luminous Physique when pitted against monsters. Its most unique feature was its ability to adapt to environments dense with dark energy and convert that power for personal use.After his initial shock, Adrian finally understood why the dark hunters had been targeting Aubrey. If they could absorb her power, it would significantly boost their strength, and that was the reason why Bradley had wanted her dead.Bradley’s plan involved setting up a formation that utilized the villagers as blood sacrifice in the mine. Then, he arranged for Aubrey to enter the mine and become part of the formation herself. However, Adrian's intervention thwarted those plans, leading Bradley to opt for a more direct approach against Aubrey.Rean was utterly stunned. He had always respected Bradley, so it was difficult for him to accept when Bradley's true nature was revealed. Aubrey
Following various clues, Adrian traced his investigation to Cras Island. He had some knowledge about the officials of Cras Island and knew that Whitney, the chief instructor of the Cras Island garrison, was a formidable individual. Therefore, he believed that he might find some leads there.Thus, he headed to the garrison camp when he got to Cras Island. However, there was no one in there except for an elderly gatekeeper named Dariel. Moreover, Dariel refused to let Adrian enter, so he had no choice but to leave.As Adrian walked along the road, he noticed a figure ahead of him. However, after walking for some time, he realized that the distance between him and the figure remained unchanged regardless of how fast he walked, and this realization sent a shiver down his spine. He quickened his pace toward the figure, but to his surprise, the distance did not diminish. Even though Adrian was prepared for various possibilities, he was still slightly taken aback. 'What's happening?' he w
However, the opponent seemed to have no intention of letting Adrian off that easily.Just then, Adrian felt gusts of chilling wind blowing toward him. With his abilities, he should not have been affected by such a simple phenomenon, but right now, he was shivering uncontrollably. Moreover, he noticed that a mysterious mist was forming near the opponent and was slowly creeping toward him.‘Something's wrong.’ Adrian immediately adopted a defensive stance. As the mist got closer, it transformed into grotesque tentacles, reaching out and trying to ensnare him. He drew his sword and launched a fierce attack towards the approaching tentacles, but they proved agile and fiercely fought back.'This is bad, there are too many of them! I might not be able to hold out much longer!' Adrian thought. When he called for reinforcements, there was no response from his allies. It was as if they had vanished into thin air.‘Of course, this is an illusion. I can't communicate with them from here.’ Adr
Roar!A deep growl resounded as the tentacles came at Adrian again. This time, he had no way to defend himself. Just when he thought he was going to be defeated, an idea popped into his mind.‘Since it's an illusion, then these attacks are likely illusory too!’Adrian instantly calmed down, and all the chaotic emotions he had felt seemed to dissipate completely. As he realized this, everything around him vanished, leaving only the tentacles that came straight at him."Hah, do you really think I'll let you defeat me in my own consciousness? Dream on!" Adrian suddenly felt a surge of power within him. His power that had disappeared mysteriously had now fully returned, and even the Divine Frost Slayer Blade had returned to him. He felt himself being filled with a renewed determination. Looking at the tentacles, he said, "Now, it's time for retaliation!" Adrian struck out with all his might. His sword soared through the air, obliterating all the tentacles in its path. Then, a pie
Instead, he chose to keep his suspicions to himself and set a trap for her. He never anticipated that the imposter would fall into it so easily. Lying on the ground, the fake Whitney smirked and said, "I thought you wouldn't catch on, but it seems you have some brains. Unfortunately, it ends here!" "Oh?" Adrian was puzzled.In the next moment, numerous individuals emerged from all directions and surrounded Adrian. All of them were armed to the teeth, and they were the members of the garrison. Their demeanor was stern, ready to apprehend Adrian at any sign of resistance."You little brat, I thought you were a good guy. I never expected you to attack the madam. I'm truly disappointed."A figure stepped forward at this moment. It was Addison, someone Adrian had briefly met before. Addison had held Adrian in high regard, but after seeing Adrian attack Whitney, he became disappointed in Adrian. Adrian remained silent, his gaze fixed on the impostor Whitney while she smiled confiden
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