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
Adrian knew they wouldn't dare to attack him. From their words, it was clear they considered themselves important. Nevertheless, he said icily, "Since we can't reach an agreement, we’ll let Rhys decide. But I doubt you fair-weather friends will earn his forgiveness."Everyone turned to Rhys, who after taking a short rest, felt a little better albeit still far from his peak. With everyone's eyes on him, Rhys finally made his choice. Without acknowledging the others, he said to Adrian, "Mr. Adrian, thank you for saving me. Let's leave."Rhys limped toward the exit, leaving the others stunned and disbelieving. The man who had spoken earlier approached, pleading, "Rhys, how can you do this? We've been friends for so long!"Rhys ignored him and kept walking. Frustrated, the man tried to grab Rhys, but Adrian intervened swiftly. His eyes flashed fiercely as he shouted, "Who do you think you are? Back off!"Adrian grabbed the man's arm and effortlessly threw him to the ground, humiliating him
After Adrian finished speaking, he noticed Rhys' eyes darken with despair. The car crept along the road in silence, only the engine's hum breaking the quiet.Then, unexpectedly, Rhys broke the silence. "Mr. Adrian, I was thinking… May I join your organization? If you'll have me, sir.""Absolutely!" Adrian eagerly welcomed the idea.Despite their brief acquaintance, Adrian sensed Rhys' strong leadership abilities. While Adrian had established power here, his main goal wasn't to expand influence but to confront Kayden and the elusive Prime Oracles. Having Rhys join his cause would be invaluable.When Adrian arrived back at the outpost, everyone greeted him warmly. "Mr. Adrian, you're back!" Relieved by his safe return, the team rallied around him.In the days that followed, Adrian introduced Rhys and planned their next moves. With Rhys on board, motivation soared. Under Rhys’ guidance, Adrian managed to fortify the outpost even further, transforming it into a thriving center. Adrian
Rhys was busy fortifying the outpost when he saw Adrian approaching. Immediately, he set down his tools and asked, "Is there something you need, Mr. Adrian?""Yes," Adrian replied, "I have a question for you."Rhys, surprised by this, asked, "What is it?"Adrian sat down beside him. "I want to ask you about the Prime Oracles. Do you have any impressions of them?"The mention of the Prime Oracles made Rhys' expression freeze. Initially, he thought Adrian’s question was trivial, but he quickly realized its seriousness.Noticing Rhys' reaction, Adrian's tone turned grave. "What’s going on? Are the Prime Oracles really that formidable?"Rhys nodded. "Are you somehow involved with the Prime Oracles, sir? If so, you need to tell me. This concerns your safety.""What’s going on? Tell me everything.""Sir, the Prime Oracles is the most ruthless faction around these parts.""The most ruthless faction? How do they compare to Kayden?"Rhys looked Adrian square in the eye. "Nothing."Ad
Rhys sighed and said, "The reason I discourage you from clashing with them is that these people are far from simple on the surface.""What exactly makes them so formidable?" Adrian asked.Hearing Adrian's curiosity, Rhys no longer held back and revealed everything about the Prime Oracles. The power of the Prime Oracles was immense, even beyond Rhys' full comprehension. Everyone in the south knew how formidable they were, but Adrian had not sensed their strength because the Prime Oracles operated on a level far beyond small factions.The south of Dragoria differed greatly from the mainland of Dragoria. While the mainland had its powers, they paled in comparison to those in the south. The Prime Oracles, however, stood out even here. They cultivated countless powerful assassins, and nearly all top assassins in the southern region were trained by them.In essence, the Prime Oracles had infiltrated every corner of the South. Even someone as formidable as Kayden would not dare to offend
If one recklessly attacked the Prime Oracles, the only possible outcome would be complete annihilation. Fortunately, the Prime Oracles typically did not interfere in conflicts between the various factions. Although Adrian and his group were active, their actions were solely aimed at Kayden, so there was no need to worry about attracting the Prime Oracles' attention for now.After contemplating for a while, Adrian decided to focus on developing his fighting forces. Only by becoming strong enough could he eventually challenge the Prime Oracles.After explaining everything to Adrian, Rhys asked, "Sir, do you have some personal vendetta against the Prime Oracles? Why are you suddenly asking about them?"Adrian couldn't disclose his mission, so he replied, "Yes, I do, in fact. Hence, I need to know all I can about them, but you don't need to know about the specifics."Rhys looked startled.Adrian asked, "What's wrong?"Rhys quickly shook his head. "No, there's nothing wrong. I just di
Adrian furrowed his brow slightly and asked, "Oh? Really? So there are people like that. Can you call them on my behalf so I can have a detailed discussion with them?"Rhys replied, "These people are extremely cautious and refuse to interact with outsiders. Even familiar faces have to go through multiple tests if they haven't seen each other for a long time before a face-to-face discussion takes place.""Seriously? Do they think they're some kind of special agency?" Adrian asked.Rhys chuckled. "Yes, it's really troublesome. But if they didn't do this, they could be completely wiped out by the enemy."Hearing this, Adrian asked, "You mean by the Prime Oracles?""Yes. Although the Prime Oracles won't meddle in most of the internal conflicts of the southern factions, they relentlessly hunt down those with grudges against them. These people truly have personal vendettas against the Prime Oracles, and the Prime Oracles only feel safe by eliminating these people," Rhys explained."I d
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