But Ash seemed to be toying with them. Despite leading his forces to break the opponentâs defense line, he had yet to deliver the final blow."Why... Why don't you just kill us?" one of the level nine fighters asked as he trembled in despair.Looking at him coldly, Ash said, "Because youâre not worth my time." The group was floored at these words and then saw the giant wolf charging toward them. It opened its jaw, exuding a foul stench of blood and decay as it swiftly closed in on them. It was only now that they realized Ash's plan. He had no intention of killing them himself and wanted to have the wolf devour them."No!"Witnessing their former ally turn into a monstrous creature and attack them, they were frozen with fear, unable to act. With horrifying screams, they were torn to shreds, and their blood sprayed everywhere. Once these level nine warriors were eliminated, the remaining soldiers were nothing to them."Charge!" Ash commanded, and his team surged forward.*On th
Within seconds, Kieron transformed from a human into a terrifying monster. It was clear that the mysterious potion had triggered this transformation. At deathâs door, Kieron chose to unleash his potential in this manner to defeat Adrian.To Kieron, this was his final act of dignity as a human. But to Adrian, it was simply a choice made by the weak."Even if you transform into a monster, what difference does it make?" Adrian said calmly.It was unclear if Kieron retained any consciousness, but he nevertheless let out a roar and charged at Adrian.Boom!Everything around them was instantly destroyed as the enormous figure lunged toward Adrian. However, Adrian stood still, and a mighty force surged out of him as he glared at the incoming Kieron-beast."Die!" Adrian raised his hand and threw a punch.The bones throughout Kieron's body instantly shattered and he was sent flying backward, crashing to the ground and dying in an instant. "Even if you transform into a monster, you're s
That was someone lurking in the shadows, spying on him and tracking his movements. The person seemed proficient in concealment techniques, and the people on Adrian's side could not detect his presence. Most importantly, this person did not seem to be from Southbridge. Adrian speculated that this individual might be from Falconia City.Falconia was a powerful force in this region. In the past, they had been enemies with Exasword and Mapleston, and there had been numerous conflicts between them."Why are you hiding? You should come out and show me what you're capable of," Adrian said before instructing Ash and the others to wait for him. Then, he dashed toward the stalker.Adrianâs speed was remarkable, and in just moments, he arrived near the person. The person's senses were sharp too, and they immediately sensed Adrian coming at them. Without hesitation, they turned and fled."Trying to run? Let's see how far you get."Without a second thought, Adrian chased after the person. Howe
The man showed no sign of surrender and said, "You will never get answers from me. Even if I die, I'll drag you down with me!" A gust of cold wind suddenly swept through the vast expanse. Adrian quickly scanned his surroundings, realizing that the eerie wind was growing stronger. In moments, more shadowy figures emerged."Since you've been spying on us, you should know what my strength is like. Do you really think this handful of people can deal with me?" Adrian said."Hah, of course, we know exactly how strong you are. That's why we've prepared corresponding measures to deal with you!" The stalker laughed."Really?" Adrian raised an eyebrow.Then, Adrian felt a drastic change in his surroundings. The once vast expanse suddenly seemed narrow and constricted. An energy shield materialized above his head with a loud boom and enveloped him within.Meanwhile, the shadowy figures closed in on Adrian. Each of them was undoubtedly a level nine fighter. However, their aura seemed differ
âAre they some sort of mysterious force from Falconia? Are they like the cyborgs from the sci-fi movies of Earth?' Adrian speculated.Adrian looked at the first assailant, who was standing by with a sinister grin on his face. It seemed to Adrian that he was the mastermind behind the scenes.âRight, the mastermind!â Adrian's thoughts raced, and he quickly realized what he had to do. He turned around and charged at the assailant. If he could capture the leader, the rest would pose no problem for him."Defend me!" the assailant barked when he sensed Adrian's intention.At his command, the cyborgs swarmed toward Adrian. At the same time, Adrian's energy shield began to shrink rapidly. Electric currents crackled and penetrated his body, suppressing his strength and making it hard for him to muster his power. "Hahaha, I told you. All of this was specially prepared for you. Let's see what you do now!" The assailant laughed maniacally.Adrian felt the pressure on his body intensifying,
At the same time, a powerful force erupted from Adrian's body and engulfed Loda."No!" Loda shouted in terror. He tried to resist but quickly realized he was utterly powerless against such an onslaught."Loda One, Two, Three! Protect me!" Loda urgently called out to the nearby cyborgs. Immediately, the cyborgs moved to his side. Their energy shields rapidly spread out, forming a small barrier that encased and protected him.Boom! A powerful explosion erupted around them, but the shield seemed to hold and spared Loda from harm.Seeing this, Adrian felt a surge of anger and asked, "Even if they're cyborgs, they're still humans! How could you use them as shields to keep yourself alive?!""I created them, so theyâre purpose is to sacrifice themselves for me. You people from Exasword are too merciful. Mercy will never grant you great power," Loda retorted, his voice dripping with cold mockery."Is that so? Let's see how long you can hold out like this!" Adrian roared, unleashing t
Adrian didnât hold anything back and briefly told his companions what he had encountered. Everyone was astonished as they had never imagined that Falconia was capable of something like this. "How could they?! They're treating human lives like theyâre nothing!" Ash exclaimed."Exactly! Their actions make them no different from demons!" the surrounding people echoed in strong disapproval."Falconia has never cared about the lives of ordinary people. This isnât surprising," Adrian said. "You make a good point." The people around him nodded in agreement. Falconia had committed many similar atrocities."But now isnât the time for idle talk. We need to find a way to deal with these cyborgs," Ash pointed out.Although these cyborgs posed no threat to Adrian, they could certainly endanger others who were not as strong as him. Falconia surely had many more cyborgs on hand. This could pose a significant threat to Exasword. From this, Adrian knew he needed to gain even greater power, and
If anyone were to make even the slightest move that drew the attention of other factions, the situation would become even more precarious. At this moment, everyone maintained a delicate balance, with no one daring to make the first move. However, Adrian knew that this balance would not last long.Suddenly, a powerful sound resembling the roar of a dragon echoed through the air from the direction of Keltes Mountain. Instantly, everyone turned toward the mountain, where the sky turned dark and clouds billowed."What's happening?""I have no idea. But just stay alert!"Everyone became vigilant.In the middle of the billowing clouds, Adrian noticed somethingâa dragon-like creature spiraling in the sky above Keltes Mountain, its fierce appearance exuding an undeniable aura of dominance."Is that a dragon?" a young man wondered aloud."No. It's not a dragon," Adrian replied as he appeared beside him."Huh?" The young man turned to look at Adrian."Thatâs just an illusion created by
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 onâthis 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 longerâgiving 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 Adrianâs 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 returnâa 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 expertâor perhaps someone of the Multiply Stageâmight 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 vendettasâeliminating 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 affordâhe'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 beforeânow 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 obstacleâit was a crucible, a tool to temper his body and strengthen his resolve.Despite the storm, A