Maman smiled, muttering to himself, "Falconia truly is the strongest nation in the world."Just then, a hearty laugh drew everyone's attention."He is indeed worthy of being acknowledged as the strongest warrior of Dragoria, unparalleled in demeanor! I came uninvited. Mr. Adrian. Please forgive me."Reid Gills of the Council of Elders, along with two other elders, entered the hall. They were followed closely by eight other powerful figures, all exuding formidable auras."Heavens! Mr. Reid and other mighty figures from the Council of Elders are here. Adrian's influence is unimaginable. Nearly half of the pillars of Dragoria are attending his banquet."The guests were astonished, their jaws nearly dropping to the floor, their eyes glazed over in disbelief."This is a once-in-a-lifetime event! I'll have bragging rights for decades!""That's Mr. Reid, the cornerstone of Dragoria! I can't believe he's here too!""Wow, I'm insanely jealous!"Casper was in shock, unable to comprehend
Seeing this scene, Reid and the other powerful figures were utterly astonished. They knew Adrian was highly skilled, but they never imagined he had such an extensive network of extraordinary talents under his command.Idris, the second strongest in Dragoria, slumped in his chair as he stared blankly at the kneeling crowd. He then suddenly leaped to his feet. "That's Sion Avila, the world's foremost swordsman! His presence alone can deter armies and keep the capital safe!""Is that Bruno Duffy the priest? The legendary genius known for uniting allies? And he's under Adrian's command? Unbelievable!" exclaimed one elder, fixating on the white-robed priest in amazement. He then turned to Reid and asked, "Didn't you personally go to the various nations to recruit him? How is he now serving Adrian? Such talent should be with the Council of Elders!"Reid shook his head bitterly and sighed. "He refused us."The elder was puzzled. "He refused? What do you mean? Then how is he now under Adri
At this moment, a powerhouse rubbed his eyes, subconsciously gulped, and leaned toward Idris, asking, "Did you see the trajectory of his sword just now?"Idris shook his head solemnly. He had only seen a flash, but as for the sword's trajectory, he had not seen it.The powerhouse was utterly shocked. He knew Idris was the most powerful among them. If even he couldn't see it, it meant that Sion's strength far exceeded that of any powerhouse in Dragoria. In other words, if Sion decided to go on a killing spree, no one present could stop him—except, of course, Adrian and his subordinates.Realizing this, the expert grew serious and gradually moved closer to Reid's location, feeling a bit more secure there."Haha! Sion, there are many here who want to kill Mr. Adrian!" Eliza laughed heartily, releasing a burst of powerful energy from his strong arms. Without even looking, he casually flicked a cup of tea, sending it flying toward the terrified Casper.The teacup, imbued with invincibl
"Since you're here, don't even think about leaving. Stay in Dragoria forever." Eliza snorted disdainfully.Suddenly, the tables and chairs around Eliza flew toward Maman and his companions with the force of cannonballs. Even these powerful individuals would be severely injured, if not killed, by this attack.One of Maman's companions stepped forward and raised his right leg to deflect the incoming table. Crash!His leg struck the table, followed by a bone-cracking sound. His right leg twisted grotesquely, blood spurting out, revealing white bone shards. He screamed in agony, clutching his leg as he teetered on the verge of collapsing.Maman quickly supported his companion. "Are you okay?" "Forget this. We’re leaving this fool behind. We need to escape through the window." Without hesitation, he lifted his companion and rushed toward a large floor-to-ceiling window."No, you promised me you'd get me safely to Falconia! Don't abandon me!" Casper pleaded desperately.But the next
“These people are terrifying. They kill at the drop of a hat. Thank goodness we didn't foolishly provoke Adrian earlier, or we'd end up skewered like Casper.”"Did anyone catch what that guy said before he died?" a composed middle-aged executive pondered aloud after a moment of silence."His accent was weird; I didn't catch much. I think he mentioned something about Falconia… And his name was Ma-something…""Maman. He said his name was Maman.""Maman? That name sounds so familiar," a young nobleman frowned in thought. "Maman... Hmm…” Then as if struck by a realization, his eyes widened with shock. Pointing at the corpse, he tried to speak but was unable to get the words out."What is it? Why are you suddenly speechless?" someone teased, laughing.The young nobleman gulped several times before exclaiming, "He's Maman Sattar!"Someone dismissively replied, "So what?"The nobleman elaborated, "Maman Sattar is the fifth-ranked powerhouse of Falconia."Now people started feeling un
"Adrian, thank you for eliminating a significant threat to Dragoria," Reid said, his face flushed with excitement. His voice trembled as he continued, "I'll immediately send someone to the Council of Elders to commend you and, of course, all the heroes who assisted. Dragoria will not forget anyone who has contributed."Eliza and the others exchanged glances, smiling and shaking their heads without saying a word.Adrian looked at the corpses, shook his head, and firmly refused, "Mr. Reid, there's no need for such trouble.""What do you mean?" Reid was somewhat hesitant, unsure of Adrian's intentions."Mr. Reid, today's banquet is my retirement ceremony," Adrian explained seriously. "That means after today, I will no longer be an active warrior of Dragoria. A few hours ago, I sent my military seal and all confidential documents to the Council of Elders. They should have been delivered by now.""What? Retirement?" Everyone present widened their eyes, staring in disbelief at the calm
"Could it be..." Idris pondered, resting his chin on his hand, and glanced over. He sighed inwardly, having a rough idea of what was going on.Reid was trembling with anger, gnashing his teeth as he cursed, "I'll return to the Council immediately. If these fools mess up, they'll destroy Dragoria!"But his friend calmly said, "Calm down, Reid. Even if you go back now, it's useless. The meeting has ended, and the orders have been issued. They can’t be changed. I came to inform you that the Council has approved Adrian's retirement application. To show our gratitude for his contributions, the Council will throw him an unprecedented retirement ceremony."Reid was furious. Not informing him and forcing a meeting through was one thing, but considering Adrian's merits and status, his retirement should have been discussed with all the elders and Adrian himself. But now? Adrian’s retirement was announced with just a casual sentence.Scowling, Reid took a deep breath and said sternly, "I do n
The young agent's face showed a hint of annoyance and unwillingness. "But he's no longer—"Reid instantly exploded like a fire doused with oil. He glared coldly at the lead agent, who went silent, then turned to Idris, "Idris—"But before Reid could finish, Adrian interrupted, "Do you really want my Dragoria Token?"Zector anxiously intervened, "Sir..."Adrian halted him with a wave. "Stand down."Zector silently complied.Adrian gazed at the lead agent expressionless. "This is my decision,” he said.The lead agent felt a surge of courage at Adrian's words and glanced disdainfully at him.Reid gave the lead agent another fierce glare, then turned apologetically to Adrian. "Mr. Adrian, you don't have to—"Adrian shook his head, still staring at the lead agent. "Alright, I hope you and those behind you can bear the responsibility."With that, Adrian strode out of the hall. About three minutes later, he returned holding an exquisite box made of yellow pearwood, adorned with maje
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