With a determined silence, the burly man sliced his palm, causing a gush of blood to spill forth. The sudden gory spectacle left the onlookers stunned. Though he winced slightly, he persisted, allowing drops of blood to splatter onto the floor. As the crimson droplets met the ground, intricate patterns began to materialize, casting an eerie red glow."By God..." gasped the astonished witnesses.The burly man proceeded to chant cryptic incantations, their meaning lost on Nathaniel and the others. Nonetheless, they sensed subtle shifts within the chamber as the ritual unfolded. Soft rumblings filled the air as a colossal stone coffin descended from the dome above, tethered by numerous ropes. It lowered steadily until it landed with a resounding thud before them, exuding an ancient aura that enveloped them."What the..." murmured the group, grasping the gravity of the situation.The burly man sneered triumphantly. "Behold, the coffin of the monster king. With the blood formation and y
Seeing Adrian, the burly man felt as though he'd been struck by lightning. "How can this be?! You’re dead!" His complexion paled, clearly struggling to comprehend Adrian's presence.Adrian appeared nonchalant, shrugging casually. "You mean that whole stabbing myself in the heart thing? It was merely a ruse to deceive you into bringing us here.""Why you..." Realization dawned on the burly man, replaced swiftly by anger. His eyes glinted fiercely, though he couldn't suppress a laugh. "Hahaha. Do you think this will suffice? How amusing," he jeered.Adrian arched an eyebrow, wary of the hidden intentions behind the burly man's demeanor."As long as I'm here, you'll never triumph. Die!" the burly man roared, conjuring forth countless tendrils of black mist that surged toward Adrian like a relentless tide.Adrian swiftly summoned the Divine Frost Slayer Blade, meeting the onslaught with a resounding clash. Though the sword held firm against the assault, Adrian found it challenging to
The blood formation had awakened the monster king’s soul from his slumber. Now, he could possess the bodies of others to launch attacks."Die," the monster king’s voice boomed, and the burly man flicked his finger.The blood-red barrier transformed into countless blood-red swords and charged toward Adrian. The monster king aimed to kill Adrian with a single, devastating blow. However, Adrian was not about to go down so easily. Waving his sword, he unleashed waves of sword energy at the incoming blood-red swords.The burly man, controlled by the monster king, dashed backward, quickly distancing himself from Adrian. It was unclear what his intentions were, but Adrian certainly would not let him escape so easily."You’re not getting away!” Adrian shouted and quickly pursued the burly man.Unfortunately, the burly man had already arrived atop the coffin. Standing there, he sneered and said, "Kid, your strength is impressive. If you pledge your allegiance to me, I will ensure your powe
Although Nathaniel was reluctant to leave, now was not the time for hesitation.“You think you can leave whenever you want?” the burly man said and waved. A surge of blood energy roared toward the escapees, but Adrian immediately intercepted the attack.“Get out of here!” Adrian shouted.Without wasting another moment, Nathaniel and the others quickly made their exit. Now, Adrian was the only one who remained to face off against the monster king.*Tremors ripped through Mapleston, and the garrison was stunned by the phenomenon. Though Nathaniel and his group had been captured, the rest of the garrison continued their duties.“What’s going on? Why are all the alarms going off?”“No idea. Could it be a level nine monster king?”"A level nine monster king?!"The garrison was in chaos, unable to believe what was happening. Despite their disbelief, the events that were unfolding right before their eyes demanded an immediate response. Nathaniel had yet to come back and the other so
Some of their white bones underneath were even exposed to the air, presenting a ghastly sight that sent shivers down the spine.“Monsters!” one citizen screamed, inadvertently drawing the attention of the undead soldiers. In an instant, the undead turned their gaze toward the civilians and charged at them."Aaaahhh!" The citizens were terrified. Fortunately, several war chariots appeared in the distance just at that moment. Five human soldiers disembarked from the chariots, unleashing powerful techniques that quickly obliterated the undead.“Everyone, get on the chariots! We need to leave now!” one of the soldiers commanded.The citizens snapped out of their daze and rushed toward the chariots. Luckily, there were not too many people in the area, and the three chariots could accommodate everyone. However, just as they boarded, another menacing roar echoed. More undead soldiers had appeared, and these ones were noticeably stronger than the previous batch.Spotting the civilians,
Back at the monster king’s tomb…“Impressive. I'm truly surprised that an insignificant human like you possesses such capabilities!” the monster king remarked. “This era belongs to humanity. Your schemes and plots will never succeed,” Adrian responded.“Is that so? Then let’s put humanity to the test. But first and foremost, you should worry about your own fate!” the monster king said and charged at Adrian.Even though the monster king was a level nine, Adrian himself was a level nine too. Adrian had nothing to fear, but he had no intention of fighting alone. Suddenly, a figure appeared and launched a surprise attack on the monster king.“Hmm? An ally?” The monster king's eyes narrowed in surprise.Just then, a voice rang out, “Ash, here to support!”“Well, well, well. Look who's here. You really have some guts to act cocky in front of me, kid,” the monster king said calmly. He then let out a roar which sent Ash flying. At the same time, he waved, and blood-red light began to g
The monster king charged at Adrian’s companions. His attacks were fierce, causing everyone to instinctively retreat. However, his intention was not to defeat them but simply to force them to withdraw.Once they backed off, the monster king dashed back toward the coffin. His true form remained within the coffin, currently using the body of the burly man. As he neared the coffin, the surrounding dark energy gathered toward him. Seeing this, Adrian quickly realized the gravity of the situation. "We have to stop him!" Adrian exclaimed before chasing after the monster king, who emitted a sinister chuckle, evidence that Adrian's suspicions were correct. Suddenly, a strange light flashed around the monster king, and six armored monster generals reappeared. Each of these monster generals was at the pinnacle of level eight. Their strength was then further enhanced by the surrounding dark energy and soared to level nine. As soon as they appeared, they instantly charged at Daybreak and Stygi
"Come forth, my men! It's time for us to destroy the world!" the monster king shouted. He transformed into a blood-red light that shot straight into the sky, showing the world that the level nine monster king had fully reawakened.At this moment, the citizens of Mapleston had already been evacuated. The entire city now lay in ruins, with countless undead soldiers and generals gathered together. Although they had not attacked yet, their sheer numbers created a spectacular and intimidating sight. It seemed they were waiting for someone's arrival.Moments later, another figure dashed into the city and landed among them. As this figure touched down, all the undead soldiers and generals got on one knee. Nathaniel and his companions watched the scene unfold before them from the shadows. They were deeply shocked by the sight. After all, they had never seen the undead soldiers kneel before. "What are they doing? Is that guy their leader?" Nathaniel mumbled. Soon, the glow around the figu
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