"Lenny... Lenny!" Barlow howled into the pitch-black night sky, pointing and cursing, "Heaven, what did the Roys do wrong?! What did my Lenny do wrong?! Even in death, you refuse to let him go!"Just as he finished speaking, a huge tentacle suddenly extended from Lenny's left rib, piercing through the left side of the coffin. The two men who were carrying the coffin were still standing on the left side. When the huge tentacle emerged, they were immediately slapped away. One rolled more than ten meters and crashed into the pedestal of the monument, while the other rolled twenty to thirty meters and slammed into the trunk of a large tree. This sudden scene immediately frightened the dozens of people around into screams.Barlow collapsed on the ground. Although there was no panic in his eyes, they were filled with utter despair. Even when he had watched Lenny being struck by lightning last night, he hadn't felt such despair.Boom!Another huge tentacle extended from Lenny's body, pier
Meanwhile, dozens of city guards who had driven their armored vehicles to attend the memorial service scrambled back into their vehicles and fled one after another. These guards were personally recruited by Lenny during his lifetime, lacking strict training and discipline, especially now in a life-or-death situation.Even Tommy and Ryden, the elders who had been standing in front of the monument, scattered in all directions, fleeing from the chaos.In the blink of an eye, only Barlow remained, standing beside the coffin. He watched as several huge tentacles emerged from it, a hint of fear creeping into his eyes. The crimson pillar shooting into the sky only served to intensify his trembling.The beam of light originated from Lenny, which had lost its eyes, nose, and forehead, leaving behind only a fist-sized hole oozing blood. Inside this cavity, Barlow could vaguely discern a spherical object rotating—a giant eyeball about the size of a fist. As the eyeball rotated, the red beam of
Eden looked toward the fleeing crowd and witnessed the chaos unfolding. Some panicked individuals jumped into the lake, while others, trampled underfoot, lay bloodied on the ground. Those too slow to escape were rendered unconscious by the sheer pressure of the situation.Fortunately, the thousand soldiers Eden had brought managed to escape to a safe distance. He breathed a sigh of relief, murmuring, "Thank goodness I got away. The consequences would’ve been unthinkable."Just as Eden finished sighing, the transformed Lenny suddenly halted his pursuit of Barlow."You bastard..." Eden gritted his teeth, consumed by hatred.However, even as Eden cursed, another strange transformation occurred. The monster that Lenny had become began to swell, his body expanding from its somewhat normal form into a spherical shape exceeding ten meters in diameter.His hands, still resembling their original form, started to twitch and elongate rapidly, thickening as they twisted. In moments, his arms
The situation was rapidly spiraling beyond Eden’s expectations."Stay vigilant. If any level nine fighters show up, report to me immediately," he instructed. "And stay close. Everyone must remain nearby. If the level nines arrive and the battle becomes critical or nears its end, everyone should mobilize.""Yes, sir!" his soldiers shouted in response.Meanwhile, on the building's top floor, Adrian stood quietly with a smile. He was determined not to let the three families endanger the city for their armor funding.Expanding his sensory power, Adrian monitored the families. The Colons had deployed armored units equipped with powerful weapons, transported by tanks to the monument. The Arroyos, on the other hand, sent about a hundred suicide warriors in standard battle gear with special alloy swords. And for the Valdezes, there was Eden, controlling a thousand warriors in Flaming Dragon Armor who were scattered nearby.Adrian then spotted something in the sky and scanned it. They were
To Herald, the scene was one of great glory. What thrilled him the most was their mission to confront the monster at the monument."After this battle, I'll be a force to be reckoned with in the city!" Herald smiled happily.In the distance, they could faintly see the red beam of light, which marked the monster’s location. However, Golden Snake was much closer—only two kilometers away—and had a clearer view. He could even see several tentacles twisting around the beam."Stop! We wait here!" Golden Snake commanded.More than a dozen tanks halted on the road. Golden Snake opened the door, jumped onto the roof, and looked toward the beam."That monster isn't moving. What's going on?" he muttered. The man riding with him climbed onto the roof and handed him a tablet. Golden Snake saw that the monster was motionless, with people scattered on the ground around it, either unconscious from being trampled or knocked out by the monster's oppressive force."Isn't that Barlow hiding behind
"What are those level nine fighters doing? How could they not know something this big has happened?" Golden Snake cursed.On second thought, he realized they couldn't possibly be unaware. Each of them had extensive intelligence networks. They would know about everything happening in the city and throughout Dragoria almost instantly."Those fighters are cowards. They get scared when faced with real danger!" Golden Snake muttered. Looking at the monster behind the beam of light, he said, "A monster created by a dead person might not be strong. Get everyone out of the tanks and prepare to engage.""Y-yes, sir!" The subordinate hesitated but then jumped out of the vehicle. He turned on the radio and notified everyone to disembark and prepare for battle.Soon, several subordinates arrived with rocket launchers aimed at the monster. Despite the distance, targeting it wasn't difficult because of its size, and the rockets were equipped with spiritual navigation.Following Golden Snake's o
The tank exploded in a blaze of fire, the intense heat from the electric balls melting some of its armor.Boom! Boom! Boom!Several more electric balls flew through the sky, striking more tanks. Golden Snake and his men, who had been planning a counterattack, now fled in disarray. Golden Snake abandoned his men, sprinting away as fast as he could. His hundreds of subordinates panicked. Some leaped over road barriers and fled into the woods, while others ran to the riverbank and jumped in.Adrian observed these scenes with a cold smirk. In truth, he had shown mercy by not continuing to launch electric balls, allowing them to escape. At the same time, he monitored Wynone, who was over ten kilometers away and waiting for Golden Snake's feedback. Wynone was eager to prove their weapons effective in this battle to secure more funding."It's been so long. Why isn’t Golden Snake here yet?" Wynone wondered. After waiting for so long, there was still no feedback from Golden Snake."What th
Several people who didn't notice the moving tank were sent flying to the side."Serves them right! Bunch of fools!" Herald cursed.As the speed of the ten tanks increased, many people were either knocked aside or run over. Herald felt no sympathy for them. As the eldest son of the Arroyos, he didn't care about the lives of others. Just last month, he had ordered his men to kidnap a group of people and throw them off a bridge one by one while he watched from below to celebrate his birthday. Despite causing severe injuries to several, he easily resolved the matter with money."Speed up! Run over these bastards!" Herald shouted.The crew-cut driver licked his lips and continued to push the tank at high speed. Soon, they were only a little more than a kilometer away from the monument. They could clearly see the red beam of light and the faint outlines of the monster's body and limbs."Stop. Don't get too close. Let the suicide squads disembark," Herald ordered.The crew-cut driver no
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