A deep rumble echoed through the air as an oppressive force pinned Greg down, leaving him utterly helpless. He trembled, painfully aware of just how powerless he truly was. Every part of him wanted to resist, but Adrian's overwhelming power left him frozen in place.As Adrian approached, his gaze was cold and cutting. “What’s the matter? Can’t move? Don’t worry. To me, your so-called strength is nothing more than that of an ant.”The contempt in Adrian's voice sliced into Greg’s pride. Rage flared within him, yet he could no longer ignore the gap between their powers.The crowd below watched in stunned silence, their faces marked by shock and disbelief.“What’s happening? How can Adrian’s strength be so far beyond Greg’s?” “Exactly. Where did he gain such power? Did he encounter some extraordinary opportunity?”They had once been in awe of Greg's power, but now Adrian’s abilities seemed incomprehensible.As Adrian closed the distance, Greg’s anger peaked. “What do you intend to
Greg knew all too well that Adrian might truly annihilate him, especially after all his provocations.“Adrian, just end this already. What’s there to hesitate about?” Tyron urged. As a daemon, he held no sympathy for enemies and never showed mercy.Adrian smirked slightly. “Oh, I intend to. But first, I want him to realize he’s never mattered to me and that he shouldn’t think so highly of himself. Maybe he’ll remember that in his next life.”Hearing this, Greg panicked. “Please, spare me! I’ll do anything for you! I’ll even be your servant!”Adrian’s expression turned ice-cold. “Keeping you around would only sully my hands. I’d just end up killing you, so let’s finish this.”Adrian’s tone was thick with sarcasm, fueling Greg’s fury. Under different circumstances, he’d have burst into rage, but now he could only cling to defiance.“Don’t push me, Adrian! I’ve apologized and tried to make amends. What more do you want?” Greg’s voice boomed, echoing through the air.Adrian merely c
Adrian gave a faint smile. “No need to rush. You’ll be gone soon enough.”Greg spat out a mouthful of blood as an intense wave of pain and fear overtook him, his body slipping out of his control. The crushing force struck him again, pain radiating through every part of him.Suddenly, Greg was sent flying, leaving the onlookers stunned by Adrian’s power. Their eyes filled with awe and respect as they recognized just how formidable Adrian truly was.A blaze of fury flashed in Greg’s eyes as he glared at Adrian. “If you kill me, you’ll regret it. You can’t afford to offend the Universe Alliance. Think carefully. If you spare me, I won’t oppose you again. I’ll even help you if you need.”His words hinted at an alliance, but Adrian knew better. Sparing Greg would only bring future trouble.“In your next life, keep your eyes open,” Adrian said coldly.Greg was horrified as a fiery red energy surged out of Adrian and barrelled toward him. He was frightened of the incoming death.Adrian
Greg was thrown aside, his body marked by the pain of his defeat. Despair filled him as he realized he was no match for Adrian. He could hardly believe that his downfall would come at the hands of someone he had once looked down upon.The onlookers stared in shock, understanding that Adrian was not someone to trifle with. Despite being at the Divine Stage, they had just witnessed the death of an Astral at Adrian’s hands.After dispatching Greg, Adrian’s cold gaze shifted toward the distance. “Now that this fool has been dealt with, does anyone else have any objections?” His words were directed at the nearby Twelve Rakshasas, who stood stunned.One of them glanced at Adrian, looking as if he might act, but their leader quickly shook his head and spoke. “Please don’t misunderstand. They’re just a bit too excited. We’ll leave immediately.”There was no way they would stay. Adrian’s strength was too overwhelming. Staying would be as good as seeking death. Without further hesitation, th
Naturally, the onlookers had no choice but to retreat. But Adrian was not one to kill indiscriminately. As long as they didn’t attempt to seize anything, he had no reason to act against them. Despite their apparent interest in the treasures, they posed no real threat.In mere moments, Adrian had resolved the situation. However, a glint of coldness and intent surfaced in his eyes as he sensed a powerful force drawing near, indicating another ambitious contender.Suddenly, the sky shifted, bathed in purple light as an extraordinary spirit treasure emerged. Adrian’s gaze hardened as he noticed a beam of light speeding toward it. To the unobservant, it might seem like the treasure’s own glow.Adrian remarked coolly, “Eager, aren’t we? While it’s true that the capable earn their prize, have you ever heard of ‘first come, first served?’” He raised his hand, effortlessly blocking the approaching light.A figure emerged from the void, revealing that it wasn’t just a beam of light. It was a
If Adrian showed even the slightest sign of weakness, the man before him would strike without hesitation. By then, regret would be meaningless.Boom!Their powers clashed, and the surrounding air quivered.Adrian’s expression was cold. “So what if you’re at the advanced Divine Stage? My soul power matches that level.”As long as he unleashed his full power, Adrian was certain he could destroy anything in his path. If he pushed himself to the limit, the battle would be in his favor. With this thought, a surge of strength welled up within him.Meanwhile, a large blade appeared in the man’s hand, exuding a menacing aura. The blade pulsed with twisting energy as the man sneered. “Do you even know who I am?”Adrian’s gaze turned icy. “Dead men don’t need answers.”His dismissive tone fueled the man’s fury. “I am Battle Warrior Amethyst Cloud! My name is known far and wide, and here you are, a reckless brat with no grasp of your limits. Today, I’ll show you what it means to face true
Boom!In an instant, the clash between Adrian and Amethyst Cloud shook the surrounding space. Fierce winds swirled as powerful forces erupted wildly. When they collided, Adrian felt the immense strength of his opponent radiating outward.“Hahaha! Die, boy!” Amethyst Cloud roared, his killing intent surging as he launched another brutal attack.Bang! Bang! Bang!Their energies collided violently, creating a terrifying spectacle. Onlookers watched in shock, amazed that Adrian was holding his own against the mighty Amethyst Cloud.“Even with the age difference, they’re fighting on nearly equal footing,” someone murmured in surprise.An elder nearby shook his head. “It’s too early to tell. For true warriors, battles often intensify over time. We’ll only see who is truly stronger when they reveal their hidden strengths.”The others nodded in agreement. “Yes, we’ll have to wait until the end.”The fight reignited in the void as Adrian and Amethyst Cloud exchanged blows frantically. T
As the battle raged on, Amethyst Cloud's expression shifted from confidence to concern. He hadn’t anticipated the frightening extent of Adrian’s strength. Their powers exploded outward, causing fragments of space to shatter and fall away.“Boy, I’ll show you the meaning of despair!” Amethyst Cloud roared, swinging his massive blade with all his might, fully committing to a fight to the death.Adrian's expression turned icy. “Many have challenged me to fight to the death. You’re just the next one,” he replied defiantly, though a hint of tension lingered in his voice.As their powers clashed once more, a tidal wave of energy surged around them, creating a massive barrier. They continued to collide, their forces rippling outward. With a powerful punch, Adrian struck Amethyst Cloud, sending him flying back.Stunned, Amethyst Cloud shouted, “How is this possible? How can your physical strength be so overwhelming?” Unable to comprehend Adrian’s terrifying power, he was left in disbelief.
Crack… crack…The sound of shattering echoed through the air, reverberating across the desolate landscape. Adrian and Renee had emerged in a stark and barren mountainous region. Clearly, they were no longer in Death Valley.Boom!Renee felt herself land on something soft. She was stunned and couldn’t quite process what had just happened.However, she forced herself to calm down. As she regained her composure, she was overwhelmed by the suffocating weight of the dust-filled air. Looking around in confusion, she noticed that the surroundings were unfamiliar. What’s more, Adrian was nowhere to be seen.“Huh? Where did he go?” Renee muttered. Her gaze darted about until it froze on an unbelievable sight.To her surprise, Adrian was beneath her, barely clinging to life. His breathing was faint, and his body was limp as if death had already taken him. Renee gasped, utterly shaken. She hurriedly got to her feet and lifted Adrian. After she dusted him off, she looked at him with a mix
Renee watched Adrian nervously, her expression filled with disbelief. After all, Death Valley had never been this terrifying before. Despite its ominous name, the actual danger wasn’t supposed to be this extreme.At this moment, Renee couldn’t figure out what they had triggered. Could their luck really be this bad? In the past, Renee had traversed this area alongside powerful warriors from Ciawales, even those at the Nascent and Fusion Stages, and they had passed through this valley with ease. But this time, the journey was unexpectedly difficult, fraught with numerous obstacles and dangers that left Renee utterly terrified.Fusions typically passed through this area without trouble. Even she and Adrian, who had slain the giant serpent, were effectively at that level of strength. By all logic, they should have been able to leave without any issues. But now, another monstrous entity had appeared, far more intimidating than anything they had encountered before.Adrian’s face darkene
“Is he not going to wake up?” Renee’s expression was filled with anxiety.The situation was dire. The thunderbolts were almost upon them, threatening to annihilate everything. Yet Adrian remained immersed in his deduction, showing no signs of waking up as if he was fully absorbed in deciphering the formation.Indeed, when it came to analyzing formations, such meticulousness was necessary, especially when attempting to uncover its deadly traps. This task could not be rushed.Crackle, crackle, crackle…Serpentine lightning twisted through the sky, streaks of energy descending as if from the heavens, ready to shatter everything. The entire sky trembled, and it felt like the very fabric of reality was breaking apart.Rumble!The barrier trembled once more, and the entire space around them quivered violently. Despite its strength, the barrier now seemed barely able to hold against the unrelenting onslaught. The thunderstorm’s sheer power was not something any ordinary person could wit
Adrian’s gaze sharpened as he released a wave of killing intent. “Hmph! So there’s still something left. Let’s shatter it once and for all!”Without hesitation, Adrian sat down cross-legged, summoning a powerful surge of energy that enveloped the barrier overhead. His forceful aura spread out, reinforcing the protective shield as he began to analyze the patterns of the formation around them.From the energy fluctuations, it was clear that this was not an ordinary formation. Deducing this, Adrian’s expression grew colder, his killing intent palpable.Boom!A powerful force reverberated, shaking the earth and sky. Renee was stunned. Adrian had once again entered a meditative state to break the formation. Should she assist him?The intensity of the attacks was overwhelming, and if Adrian were interrupted now, the consequences could be dire. Thinking of this, Renee prepared to make a move.“Don’t move. Stay put. This isn’t the same formation as before,” Adrian commanded sternly as if
Adrian scanned his surroundings, his gaze sharp and icy cold. The darkness of the night seemed to carry an ominous presence. He halted, staring intently at Renee, and said, “Don’t rush.”Renee was momentarily stunned, a look of confusion on her face. “What’s wrong?” she asked.Renee hadn’t noticed anything unusual. The only thing she desired was to quickly leave this cursed place. The longer she stayed here, the more uncomfortable she felt.Whoosh!A fierce wind swept through Death Valley, making the towering trees shiver as though they were alive and fearful.Adrian’s expression turned even colder as he looked around and shouted, “Stop hiding! Show yourself!”The sudden outburst left Renee startled. She couldn’t tell if Adrian had lost his mind or if her own senses were just too weak. The air seemed empty, with nothing unusual. The biting cold wind had always been a part of Death Valley’s sinister aura, something Renee had always attributed to the place’s natural state.Adrian’
Some daemonic beasts have a final self-destructive instinct upon death, causing their inner cores to explode and leaving nothing behind for humans to absorb. This was why an intact inner core was incredibly rare and precious.Yet, here Adrian was willingly giving one to her. Renee felt deep gratitude in her heart for this unexpected gesture.“Thank you. If I ever have the chance, I will repay your kindness,” Renee said with sincerity in her eyes.Adrian replied, “No need to thank me. You will certainly have the opportunity. Aren’t you my servant now? Protecting me is your duty. All right, let’s keep moving.”He continued moving forward. By now, it was already late at night.Renee gazed at Adrian, puzzled. She couldn’t figure out what kind of person he was. He treated her like a subordinate, yet his actions were more like those of a friend. She was finding it harder to understand Adrian’s intentions.But Adrian clearly had his own reasons. He wasn’t one to conform to expectations.
"What did you say? You want me to absorb it? But this inner core… It's yours…" Renee stammered, utterly shocked that Adrian was offering her the inner core. She knew well how precious this inner core was.Absorbing a beast’s inner core would significantly boost one's strength. It wasn’t that Adrian didn’t understand this fact. But he still responded calmly, "Yes, you heard me right. I want you to have it. There’s no need to be so surprised."Renee’s eyes widened even further. She couldn’t believe Adrian was treating her this generously. After all, she was just his servant.But to Adrian, it was a worthwhile decision. He had always viewed Renee as an equal. When he was injured, not only did Renee refrain from attacking him, but she also didn’t seize the inner core. More importantly, she had given him her energy to help him recover.Adrian had now gained immense strength. If he were to absorb the inner core’s power on top of that, it might be too much for him to handle and could back
Adrian chuckled lightly. "Why are you so excited? See, I'm awake now. If I never woke up, would you have stayed here watching over me forever?"Renee huffed, half-annoyed. "I’m not that foolish. If you hadn’t woken up, of course, I’d leave."Adrian smiled. "I need some time to recover. Can you keep watch for a little longer?""Sure!" Renee replied eagerly, beaming widely.Adrian then sat cross-legged and began his recovery. Watching him, Renee was filled with both shock and joy. It was nothing short of a miracle that Adrian had regained consciousness. Deep down, she felt a sense of relief mixed with surprise. She had never expected this outcome.At the same time, a flood of questions filled her mind. Normally, Adrian should not have survived such an ordeal. By all logic, he should have already been on his way to the afterlife. Yet, here he was, awake and alive. Renee found herself at a loss for words, overwhelmed by confusion.Seeing Adrian’s intense focus as he trained, Renee co
At that moment, a sudden burst of earth-yellow light erupted within Adrian’s consciousness. It was once again filled with surging waves of power. The soul storm reappeared, and the mysterious chaotic white mist returned, spreading throughout Adrian's soul space.The strange and mystical scene looked astonishing, and slowly, Adrian began to wake up from his deep slumber. As he regained consciousness, he felt a soreness envelop his entire body. Even his soul power seemed to have a slight ache.But before Adrian could fully process this sensation, a terrifying force surged through him. It flooded his entire being with an overwhelming energy.“What...What is this? This power is incredibly strong,” he muttered, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He could sense an immense energy roiling within his body, shaking his very core. The waves of power felt both foreign and potent, making him feel even stronger.Adrian’s expression turned to one of shock and unexpected delight. It was the