Safiya joined Adrian and Nathaniel on the journey to Exasword, making Adrian somewhat puzzled. He asked, "One of you is the chief instructor of the garrison, and the other is the leader of the special ops team. Now both of you are reassigned, what about the garrison?""Don't worry, we’ve made arrangements for the garrison," Nathaniel said decisively."Alright..." Adrian nodded. After all, this was their private matter, and as an outsider, he needn’t worry about it.Safiya still seemed worried. Noting her furrowed brows, Nathaniel asked, "What's wrong? Something on your mind?"Safiya was lost in thought, and Nathaniel's question jolted her. "Sir, I..." She looked up at him with astonishment, her tension and helplessness apparent.Nathaniel smiled and said, "I know, you’re worried about Ash, right?"Safiya's cheeks turned pink. She neither admitted nor denied it, simply blushing and remaining silent.Adrian could guess what she was thinking as well. He chuckled and said, "Don't wo
But not long after, several people approached Nathaniel, bowed, and greeted him. "Hello, Captain Nathaniel.""You are…?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes, trying to recall who these people were.One of the men stepped up and said, “Do you recognize me, sir? We met five years ago.”After closer inspection, Nathaniel recognized the man. Smacking his forehead, Nathaniel said, "Oh, I remember now. Arnold Huffton, right? I’m so forgetful. Sorry, it's been five years, and you've changed a lot.""That's right. If you hadn’t saved me back then, I might not be here now.” Arnold laughed."Why are you guys here?" Nathaniel asked."The road ahead is pretty backed up, so I was ordered to come and pick you up, sir. Follow me. We'll take a different route into Exasword." Arnold pointed ahead.Walking was indeed an option.Arnold's gaze then fell on Adrian. He examined the latter for a moment, then said in surprise, "You're Mr. Adrian, right? I've heard of you.""I'm that famous?" Adrian replied s
Nathaniel could still sense hesitation from Craig and found it somewhat unusual. "What's wrong? Is there something else?" he asked."Nothing much. I just feel it's a pity we couldn’t completely eradicate the Netherites. They’re the root cause of all this trouble," Craig replied with a weary smile.Nathaniel’s expression became troubled too. He looked like he was contemplating something, but he didn’t reveal his thoughts.Craig then asked, "By the way, I heard a level-nine powerhouse from Mapleston would be coming. Has he arrived?""Yes, he has. He's the great hero of Mapleston. Of course, we couldn't leave him behind," Nathaniel said smilingly. He looked toward Adrian, and everyone followed his gaze.Everyone looked surprised by the sight of Adrian, especially Craig, who commented, “I imagined you to be much older, Mr. Adrian. It seems your potential is truly promising."Adrian responded humbly, "You’re too kind, sir. I'm just an ordinary person doing what I can. I'm not worthy o
Late in the evening, Adrian was alone in his room when he heard a knock on the door. He rose to open it and found Nathaniel outside"Captain? What are you—”Nathaniel quickly gestured at him, signaling the need for quiet. He darted into Adrian’s room and closed the door behind him. "There’s something I need to talk to you about," he said."For you to come at such a late hour, it must be important. Please, go ahead," Adrian responded promptly."Yes, it is," Nathaniel confirmed as he sat at the coffee table. After a moment's pause, he continued, "Adrian, what are your impressions of Craig?""Craig?" Adrian was a little perplexed. During their brief encounter, he had formed a preliminary opinion of Craig. "I find him to be quite forthright. Is there an issue?" he asked."Exactly. You've only just met him, so you might not sense anything amiss," Nathaniel mused."Are you implying...""Craig is typically a serious man. I've known him for nearly ten years, and his behavior today seem
Following Arnold, the trio arrived at the Exasword garrison cafeteria. Along the way, many people took notice of Adrian and stared at him, clearly drawn to him."Wow, look. Isn't that the legendary level-nine fighter? He's so young and handsome.""Don't get infatuated. Did you see the girl next to him? She must be the one he's interested in."Some young female fighters couldn't take their eyes off Adrian. He seemed pretty popular around these parts.Seeing the reactions of others, Adrian smiled in frustration.After eating and drinking their fill, the group left the garrison."Isn't the fighting tournament being held in the garrison camp?" Adrian asked."Of course not. The camp is too small to accommodate thousands of fighters. The tournament is being held at Heaven's Peak Arena," Arnold replied.The group made their way to the venue—a magnificent stadium—and they arrived soon enough. Many cars were parked outside, and people got out in groups. Chatter and laughter filled the a
"Why you..." Arnold was instantly infuriated by the man’s words. He raised his fist, ready to charge at him. But at the critical moment, Adrian stopped him."Mr. Adrian, what are you…""Don't let him get to you, Arnold." Adrian gestured for Arnold to step aside, then approached the man in the military uniform with a stern expression.The man felt a tingle down his back. "What do you want, kid?" he growled. He could sense the hostile aura emanating from Adrian, making him wary.Adrian smiled. "I don't want anything. I just can't stand your behavior.""My behavior? What behavior?" The man showed no intention of being polite.The militant man stood tall before, fixing Adrian with a sharp look. Adrian took note that this person was pretty strong, at least at the pinnacle stage of level eight, possibly even stronger.Whoosh!Without warning, the man threw a heavy, cannonball-like punch at Adrian's face. However, Adrian didn't move aside. He simply raised his hand and caught the man'
Perhaps because of this shared ancestry, the two families were always engaged in various struggles, both openly and secretly. Each believed they were the rightful heirs of the lineage and enjoyed engaging in political maneuvering against each other. As a result, the families were in a constant state of hostility.The man they encountered was Rex Well. Arnold had always been superior to Rex in terms of skills, which led Rex to harbor significant resentment toward Arnold. However, Arnold's family, the Hufftons, declined for certain reasons, allowing Rex to rise.Rex's resentment toward Arnold was so strong that he wished to see Arnold suffer immensely. But despite the decline of the Hufftons, Arnold's strength remained formidable. He was talented, far more so than Rex. This made the Wells family resentful of the Hufftons.Previously, both families were evenly matched in strength. When Rex proved to not be as good as Arnold, the Wells could still find excuses to dismiss Rex’s inadequac
As the group spoke of past events, a clear tone of resignation colored their voices."But fortunately, some very promising newcomers have appeared in Aethersphere in recent years. Perhaps in time, our fighters will become stronger," Safiya added hopefully."Let's hope so.” They then continued on their way and soon entered the interior of Heaven's Peak Arena. In the spacious venue bustling with people, they quickly found their seats that had been arranged by the event organizer. Sitting beside them were fighters from a place near Beyford City, totaling seven people, all wearing priest robes. Leading them was a dignified and handsome young man in his twenties, who greeted Adrian’s group politely.After introducing themselves and finding out that these priests were from Mount Sage, Adrian remarked, "You've come from such a distant place. The journey must have been tiring."Adrian had heard of Mount Sage. It was a renowned mountain that was home to some prominent fighters, and it was
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