Upon saying that, Raiden laughed in a confident manner. He pointed at himself and said to Adrian in clearly-enunciated words, “The answer is simple. I did it so that you’d come here today and wake me. If someone were to fall into a deep sleep here, they would never wake up without being disrupted by external factors. Hannibal is the best example.“Though I have not figured out the principle behind the meteorite until today, the reality has proven that it not only healed my injuries but also made me more powerful.”Raiden smiled with pride.Gloria was Adrian’s closest friend after he joined Wyvern Peak. She offered to join the mission in his stead back then. Now, as Adrian thought about it, he realized it was no mere coincidence.Raiden continued, “I chose you because I knew Gloria had feelings for you. If you were to die on the island, she’d most certainly spare no effort to save you. When that happens, she’ll discover the secret of the island and awaken me. I considered the numero
“Such impudence!” Raiden roared, “Everything that Hannibal meticulously planned is now under my control. Draco, I am now in control of the Eight Hollows. Hannibal was the one who founded the Eight Hollows three hundred years ago. I shall call on them after I leave this island and rule over Wyvern Peak once again.“Hah-hah-hah-hah!” Adrian laughed in a frightening tone.‘The Eight Hollows? They’re already involved in a mutiny in the outlands. Why would they still remember Raiden who’s asleep here?’Adrian said, “Hannibal had arranged for the Eight Hollows to wake him in the future. But because they didn’t wake him, you assumed you had taken control of them. What you don’t know is that the Eight Hollows are involved in a mutiny in the outlands and are in possession of the Dragon Medallion as of this moment.”“What? The Eight Hollows have taken over Achelous’ Dragon Peak?” said Raiden in astonishment.“What else could it be?”“Nevertheless, you’re still incapable of causing much of
Boom, boom, boom!Raiden rushed a few steps forward. With every step he took, the ground underneath him cracked. A powerful gush of overbearing presence filled the air and it made Mya feel terrified.Raiden made his way to Adrian step by step. Meanwhile, Adrian had already gotten back on his feet.Mya was lying flat on the ground and anxiously watching the scene before her. “He’s too powerful, sir,” she said shakily.She was scared out of her wits the moment Raiden kicked her.Upon hearing this, Raiden could not help smiling. “I forgot to mention to you guys that the radiation here has strengthened my body. I’m so powerful that I shock myself!”Boom!Raiden swung another punch at Adrian’s chest when his voice faded away. Then, a series of punching noises were heard. He delivered a total of fifty-eight punches within ten short seconds.Adrian was sent shuffling backward from being punched heavily in the chest. ‘Raiden’s too fast…’And he did not stop as he continued to punch at
“What are you doing?! Have you lost your mind?! Fight back!” Mya stayed on the ground, shouting and crying as she witnessed the scene before her eyes.Adrian did not respond to her.“You b*stard! I’ll fight you till my last breath!” Mya screamed and went to grab the blade that she had dropped on the ground in preparation to run toward Raiden.Suddenly, a slender hand picked up the blade before Mya could reach it. Mya was stunned ever so slightly. Then, she raised her head to look up.She was shocked when she saw the scene before her eyes.Thud, thud, thud!Raiden was still attacking Adrian ferociously. He roared, “Are you having a good time, boy?! Do you still have the courage to behave atrociously at this point? No one walks away from my fists alive!”Adrian smiled, his curled lips infuriating Raiden even more.“What are you smiling about?” roared Raiden.“Stand there and don’t move…”Just as Adrian’s voice faded, an icy cold, sharp blade was pressed against Raiden’s neck.
“What did you say?”Raiden was caught by surprise. His eyes filled with murderous intent as he glared at Adrian standing before him ferociously.Raiden had surmised that Draco, who took his place as Wyvern Peak’s leader, was just enjoying undeserved fame after fighting him earlier. He sneered and said, “Since you’re determined to die, I shall fulfill your wish!”Upon saying that, he suddenly and swiftly shoved his knee at Adrian’s abdomen.In Raiden’s perception, his action would most certainly cause severe injuries to Adrian and make him drop to his knees. He never expected to feel an intense pain in his abdomen that brought his actions to a stop. His knee, which was making its way toward Adrian, could reach its target.Adrian’s knee had already slammed into Raiden’s abdomen, one step quicker than Raiden’s.“Gah!!! Agh!” Raiden screamed out in pain, his mouth agape as he held on to his stomach.Adrian’s strike had temporarily rendered Raiden incapable of fighting. Beyond his co
“What?” Raiden’s face instantly drained of color.Adrian said, “Any last words? Though I’m afraid I won’t pass down your last words even if you have any.”“This is impossible! This can’t be!” Raiden roared.At this moment, Raiden entered a berserk state. He frantically attacked Adrian by swinging his fists in every way he could think of, but in the end, Adrian successfully dodged all his attacks.Raiden panted heavily after performing this series of actions. He appeared to be having trouble accepting the reality taking place before his eyes and spared no effort in charging toward Adrian once again.In his perception, he could only enjoy everything that was about to come by eliminating Adrian.As Raiden’s final punch flew toward Adrian, Adrian stretched out his hand to catch Raiden’s fist.Crack!The sound of bones breaking was heard. Raiden let out an agonizing scream as Adrian instantly crushed his fist.“Gah!” Raiden threw his head back and screamed out in pain. He was in a
The air was silent, with only Adrian’s footsteps to be heard.Gloria continued to kneel on the ground, her head lowered and her eyes filled with emotions. Her long hair covered her face, so her expression could not be seen clearly.Mya stood in the distance watching the scene in silence.Soon, Adrian reached Gloria and got down on his knees. He stretched out his shaky right hand to push away the hair on her face, revealing that familiar face of hers that was beautiful yet mature.Gloria raised her head in a daze and looked at Adrian before her.Their eyes met, and countless thoughts filled their minds.Scenes were appearing in Gloria’s mind at this very moment, bits and pieces of her past. Those were the scenes from her past. It felt like memories were rewinding in the depths of her mind.It was the scene of her meeting Adrian for the first time on the training ground. “Hey, are you even a man? How could you be exhausted from this measly training? You should just turn yourself i
She remembered.She would never forget this man.Adrian shut his eyes and pulled Gloria into his arms for a tight hug. “I’m sorry that I’m late. I’m sorry for leaving you here for five years.”Gloria did not speak but her eyes were similarly shut. She could feel Adrian’s warmth, his heartbeat.After a long time, she said, “My head feels kind of messed up right now. I feel like I’ve been asleep for a long, long time. I dreamt that I was trapped in an enclosed space, and I just couldn’t wake up. I heard your voice, but I couldn’t wake up. But in the end, I escaped the enclosed space.”Adrian inhaled a deep breath and said, “The rock made your body undergo mutation. Your bodily functions were reduced to their lowest points over the years. That’s why you’re having trouble adapting after waking up.”He had no idea what sort of mutation Gloria’s body had undergone. However, this proved that she was in a dormant state for the past few years, just like a hibernating animal. The sound of
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