Someone asked Adrian, "Sir, outposts are usually in the outskirts, far from major forces. Why is ours right next to Silverboa City?"Adrian looked puzzled and asked, "Why? Isn't being near the city a good thing? There's food and drink in plentiful supply, much better than being out in the wilderness, right?"The group responded, "It's convenient for travel, but if we encounter enemies, this place is too confined to maneuver."Adrian replied, "But that's exactly what I want. If enemies could easily find and attack us, that would be a problem."His words made a lot of sense. If enemies could easily locate them, Adrian would indeed be in big trouble, as he was hoping to use this time to develop his forces further.After hearing Adrian's explanation, everyone suddenly understood.Then, Adrian said to them, "Alright, I have something to do. You all stay here. If you need to procure anything, go ahead. I want to see some changes around here by the time I return.""Yes, sir," they repl
After ensuring that no one was around, Adrian immediately climbed over the fence and followed the iron ladder up. When he reached the second floor, he first saw a few guards standing there. These guards were no match for him and were easily eliminated.After dealing with them, Adrian observed the base’s interior through the skylight on the floor. From this vantage point, he could see the internal structure very clearly. Moreover, if he entered through this skylight, he would not be detected by the enemy. This realization greatly reduced his vigilance.Although infiltrating this place wasn't particularly difficult for someone of Adrian's skill level, he wasn't fond of carrying out infiltration missions as they required constant vigilance. However, the crude defensive measures in Jelzuc amused him. Such defenses were practically non-existent to him.Without hesitation, Adrian sneaked in. Despite not sensing any particularly tight defenses, he remained cautious. He needed to ensure a p
Adrian quickly searched the guards he had knocked out and soon found a key. As he unlocked the door, he asked, "Where’s Rhys? Have you seen him?"Expecting several responses, Adrian was puzzled when the captives looked at each other as if they had never seen Rhys. Something felt off.Soon, someone stood up and said, "Rhys was taken away by the Jelzucs. We don't know what happened to him." The person's tone revealed a sense of dejection as if deeply worried about Rhys.Adrian then said, "You all head out first then. I'll go rescue Rhys. Don't worry, I've already eliminated all the enemies that would’ve been in the way."With that, Adrian turned to leave. The captives wanted to say something, but he didn't wait to hear their words. As he disappeared, one of the captives glared at the person who had spoken and said, "I told you not to reveal Rhys' whereabouts. Now he's gone! How are we supposed to get out now?""Exactly, it's clear this person has a special relationship with Rhys. If
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!Adrian suddenly made his move, his speed astonishing. Although he had no weapons when he first infiltrated Jelzuc's headquarters, he had acquired a few along the way, including several darts taken from the enemies he had defeated.He flung the darts at the guards, targeting their throats with pinpoint accuracy. The guards barely had time to react before they were struck down. They didn't even have the chance to scream.With a few muffled thuds, the guards fell, effortlessly defeated.Adrian spat disdainfully, "Useless trash. You’re not worth my time."Defeating the enemies so easily didn't make Adrian proud as these guards were not particularly strong to begin with. Under his assault, they were completely helpless, and he quickly dispatched them all.Adrian went on to search their bodies but found no keys, which surprised him. "These guys are more cautious than I thought. They know better than to carry keys on them to prevent intruders from unlocking doors
Rhys, fortunately, was conscious. Seeing Adrian approaching, he gasped. "Mr. Adrian, how...how did you get here?""I'm here to rescue you," Adrian replied. "Don't say much now; we'll talk once we're out."Rhys, too weak for prolonged conversation, nodded weakly. "Okay..."Adrian quickly unlocked the chains binding him. Everything was going smoothly until an eerie occurrence transpired just as they were about to leave.They heard urgent footsteps approaching rapidly, and Adrian immediately realized it was the Jelzucs. He became alert, scanning the surroundings, and quickened his pace.But before they could escape, a group of people charged toward them, led by Malik and his men. Shockingly, those who were previously imprisoned with Rhys were now with them, standing resolutely by Malik's side.Adrian was initially stunned but quickly regained his composure. He laughed coldly. "I never imagined you’d betray Rhys. I regret rescuing you."One of the traitors retorted, "Don’t blame us.
Adrian seized a random knife from the ground and advanced toward his opponents, knowing retreat wasn't an option. Without hesitation, he unleashed his full power, his eyes blazing fiercely. With a roar, he charged at incredible speed, swinging the knife.The blade whistled sharply as Adrian slashed it down toward one of the men, who instinctively raised a steel pipe to block it. Adrian deftly angled his blade, scraping it along the pipe toward the man's hand. Terrified, the man let go to avoid injury, and the steel pipe clattered to the ground.Adrian followed with a powerful kick, his leg like a steel whip, sending the man flying with a scream. The force knocked over several others behind him, buying Adrian precious time.Without pause, Adrian charged forward, grabbing the fallen pipe with one hand and swinging it fiercely with the other. His relentless assault left all the Jelzucs reeling, unable to defend themselves. Screams filled the air as his attacks overwhelmed them.Alone,
Whatever Adrian's capabilities, Jelzuc's failure to defeat him was undoubtedly a disgrace. Despite their size, they could not overcome one person. In Fallen City, such failure would have led to their quick demise. This gave Adrian ample opportunity to mock Malik relentlessly.When Adrian taunted Malik, the latter became furious. He shouted, "Are you really pushing me to use my last resort?!"Adrian was briefly surprised at the mention of "last resort" but dismissed it. He knew Malik had no real trump card; otherwise, Malik wouldn't be losing to him or be under Kayden’s thumb. Adrian sneered as he swiftly defeated surrounding enemies and charged straight at Malik.Malik, seeing Adrian approach, was terrified. He knew Adrian's strength well. His bravado had only come from his followers, but now Adrian had effortlessly defeated them and was closing in on him, and his pride evaporated.But before Malik could react, Adrian's knife was at his throat. He froze in fear, staring wide-eyed a
Malik's conviction was clear to Adrian as he listened, observing the earnestness in the former’s expression. Malik truly believed in what he was offering.In response, Adrian scoffed coldly. "Seems like you think everyone operates like you do, but that is not what I want."With a swift motion, he swung his knife at Malik, declaring, “Right now, all I want is your life."Swish—Malik realized he had no chance against Adrian. A bitter smile of resignation crossed his face, sorrow evident in his eyes. Without resistance, Malik fell to Adrian's blade and died.Malik's death shattered the resolve of his subordinates. They stared at Adrian in terror, seeing him as a fearsome presence. Adrian, however, remained composed and indifferent.Breaking the silence, Adrian challenged them, "Anyone have something to say? Anyone else want to fight? Go ahead and try."With a wave of his knife, Adrian shattered their remaining resolve. Immediately, they dropped their weapons and fled in panic, dis
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