Some fence-sitters quietly stood up and discreetly followed the apprentices. Seeing this, Barlow couldn't contain himself any longer and strode to the center of the grand stage."Everyone, remain seated!" Barlow boomed, his voice carrying a level-nine pressure tinged with anger.Immediately, the restless crowd hushed. Those who had intended to leave quietly halted in their tracks before reaching the main gate. The level-nine pressure had a formidable deterrent effect."The ceremony isn't over yet. Leaving now would be defying the Roy family," Barlow continued, then gazing up at the sky, he added, "Who dared to claim earlier that it wasn't a dragon's roar?"From below the stage, silence greeted Barlow. Despite his age, the level-nine's strength was insurmountable. Anyone challenging the claim risked being executed before they could finish their sentence.Hearing no response, Barlow sneered coldly. "Lenny is Dragoria's youngest level-nine, mastering even the Dragon Fist of his prede
The Nether Dragon Armor's surface decorations and paint were instantly vaporized when struck by the thunderbolt. With its special structure and Nether Dragon alloy, the armor held up temporarily. However, the thunderbolt's intense electric energy far exceeded normal lightning.Gradually, under the relentless bombardment of the current, the outer layer of the armor began to peel away like fish scales, each piece quickly vaporized by the high temperature. Lenny started to panic as he observed this."This shouldn't be happening. How can this thunderbolt melt through the armor?" He checked his helmet's panel and saw that the armor was sustaining serious damage. In the next moment, the display screen flickered and went dark. Hissing sounds emerged from various parts of the Nether Dragon Armor. The entire set was melting and disintegrating under the thunderbolt's assault.At Caviar Restaurant below, Barlow was stunned, standing motionless and staring at the sky, his heart filled with an
The Council of Elders, Tommy, Ryden, and the others stood in disbelief as they watched the fireball descending rapidly. They were uncertain of what action to take.Barlow's heart sank, his face deeply furrowed, twitching uncontrollably. He trembled all over, consumed by a mix of sorrow, resentment, and anger. Yet, he had no target for his fury, no one to blame.As the fireball neared the ground, Barlow clenched his fists tightly. With a sudden burst of energy, he leaped, causing the stage to quake with a loud bang. He soared into the sky, ascending tens of meters high. He knew he couldn't allow Lenny to crash.Despite Lenny's strength as a level-nine powerhouse, the lightning strike had likely left him severely injured and unable to protect himself. A fall from such a height would be fatal."Lenny..." Barlow's eyes widened as he reached out, aiming to catch him.But as Barlow approached the height of the top floor of the Caviar Restaurant, a horde of enormous monsters lunged at hi
Inside Caviar Restaurant, those who remained were all supporters of the Roys. Most of them were also enemies of Adrian.Adrian's main concern remained Lenny's condition. "If Lenny were struck dead by lightning just like that, it would truly be a joke," he whispered.His senses probed into Lenny's body and quickly found a faint breath still present. "I didn't expect him to be so resilient, but it’s within expectations. He's a level-nine powerhouse, after all. Even if he survives, he's likely to be severely injured.” He sighed softly.Adrian then noticed a sudden change. Lenny, who had a faint breath and appeared stable, began convulsing violently. His whole body trembled uncontrollably, like someone having a seizure. Soon after, blood mixed with foam sprayed from Lenny's mouth and nose.Lenny suddenly opened his eyes wide and stared at Barlow, saying laboriously, "Adrian... Help me...kill him."Barlow, holding Lenny, and the other elders around him were instantly bewildered.Then
"Golden Snake!" Eden shouted angrily, startling both Golden Snake and Herald nearby. They were bewildered by his sudden outburst. "What's going on?" Eden demanded, thrusting his phone into Golden Snake's face.Golden Snake's eyes widened in shock. "What…What's happening?""That’s what I'm asking you!" Eden grabbed Golden Snake by the collar, effortlessly lifting the latter into the air.Eden was known to be exceptionally strong, close to reaching level nine according to Charlie. Though he hadn't quite made the breakthrough, his power was nonetheless formidable."I-I don't know, Mr. Eden," stammered Golden Snake, fearing for his life.Herald interjected, "Could someone have tampered with us and switched the enhancement elixirs? These creatures aren't the expected monsters from the supposed infection; they resemble..." He paused, deep in thought. "Yes, I recall the Rivera family created a drug years ago called Monkify. Injecting it caused rapid mutations, turning people into ape-l
"Damn it, the swap leads back to Adrian!" Eden cursed, his brow furrowed in frustration.Adrian had always been a thorn in Eden’s side. The pressure Adrian exerted on the Valdez family had left them no room to maneuver. Adrian had seized control of Dragoria's entire underground network, which had once been a significant asset of the Valdez family. Losing these connections had forced them to operate through legitimate channels, rendering useless all contracts enforced by coercion. The Valdezes’ businesses suffered a rapid decline until Adrian's departure allowed them to slowly recover."It's been five years. The Valdezes have finally managed to rebuild and grow. I won't let Adrian destroy it all," Eden muttered fiercely, his eyes glinting with determination.At that moment, he yearned to eliminate Adrian immediately. He even regretted turning down offers from families and factions who sought to assassinate Adrian when he was severely injured and comatose after a major battle, out of
‘If the powerhouse is already dead, why use poison on them?’ Eden wondered, and after several minutes, he suddenly had a realization. His face broke into an almost ecstatic smile.Using the poison on a deceased level-nine powerhouse. The other party wasn't just hinting—they were practically spelling out the solution. Where would one find a dead level-nine? Exactly—the dead Lenny who was in the Roys’ possession. And it hadn't been long since his death, so his body was still fresh.At that moment, the television was airing details about Lenny's funeral. There were to be two ceremonies—one in Dragoria and another in Empereon. The Dragoria service would take place at Imperial Monument Park."If Lenny were to become a monster, how powerful would he be? According to my sources, Lenny was among the top ten level-nines in Dragoria during his lifetime," Eden mused. "If he transforms into a monster, in the entire empire, perhaps only Adrian would have the ability to stop him. Even though Adri
At Imperial Monument Park, representatives from various major families and powers had been gathering for a while. The vast square was packed with people. In front of the square, Barlow stood beneath a huge monument, holding a black umbrella, quietly waiting. His face showed both sorrow and anger as his eyes scanned the crowd. He was searching for someone—Adrian.Before Lenny died, his final words demanded that Adrian be killed. Although Barlow didn't understand the reason, he had sensed Lenny's hatred. In Barlow's mind, Adrian was to blame. If Adrian hadn't been so domineering, the Roys and the Council of Elders wouldn't have needed to organize any inauguration ceremony to vie for power. Without that ceremony, Lenny wouldn't have been struck by lightning.Thinking of this, Barlow clenched his fists in hatred.However, he didn't see Adrian or any of his men in the crowd. Not only was Adrian missing, but so were the people from the Natren Military Region, like Zector. On top of that,
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