Her body shook upon seeing these people.“Gracia, your sister has fallen, but you should pull yourself together. You must pull yourself together. This is the last photo that your sister left for you…” A female soldier passed a photo to her.Gracia covered her head and stayed in bed. She was unusually quiet that day.She felt hopeless.She felt helpless.***“Gloria!”Gracia jolted back to reality. While in the tub, she suddenly called out her sister’s name and her eyes flew open. She looked around her and discovered that she was having the same dream again.“Gloria…” Gracia called out softly. She covered her head and curled up into a ball, agony surging through her.Gracia stayed in the bathtub the whole night. When she woke up the next day, she quickly packed her things, picked up her car keys, and headed downstairs. She hopped into her car and headed to the village.Meanwhile, in the hotel, Adrian and Gloria had already checked out and walked out of the hotel. Adrian opened
Mdm. Maude was slightly taken aback when she heard Gloria's voice and quickly headed in Gloria’s direction. The women turned to look at Gloria. They then heard a shriek, causing them to stagger backward.Mdm. Maude was so shocked that she fell to the ground. Her entire body trembled as she yelled, "Oh, my God! It's a ghost! A ghost!""Aaaah!"The other women turned pale from fear and hurriedly ran away.Although Gloria had already prepared herself mentally for what was going to happen, she did not expect her presence to cause such a strong reaction. She hurriedly said, "Calm down, Mdm. Maude! I'm not a ghost! I'm alive!""You're alive?"Everyone was slightly dumbfounded. Mdm. Maude calmed herself down and looked at Gloria properly."A-Are you really human? But you died five years ago. Please don't scare me. I've never bullied or harmed you. I even shed a few tears for you when I heard you died.""She's right. We're all from the same hometown. If you want revenge, you should see
"Gloria Thompson's back! She's alive!"Someone even rushed into their village's public announcement system and yelled out the news into the megaphone. It was high noon at that moment, so the ears of everyone in Thompsonville perked up when they heard the announcement.'What?! Gloria's alive?!""Seriously?""Come on! Let's go take a look!" The entire village ran out of their homes toward the village's entrance and soon surrounded Gloria. They were all extremely excited when they saw her alive and kicking."Gloria, you're back!""How are you still alive?""Haha! She's alive!"The elderly were excited, while the youngsters were cheering. The entire village was passionate and friendly in welcoming Gloria home, who was touched by their reactions.Mdm. Maude grabbed Gloria’s hand and said, "Come to my place. I'll make you something nice to eat now that you're home.""Go on, whip up something nice for her.""She's been with the military for so long. I'm sure she must miss the tas
Five years ago, she died.Five years later, she came back to life.Gloria did not dare dwell on what she had been through over the past five years, nor could she bring herself to think about what her little sister had gone through.But one thing was for certain… The headstone in front of her could now be removed.Adrian reached out his hand and pulled out the headstone that bore Gloria's name. After that, he dug out the grave to retrieve the clothes from within before filling the hole back up.Gloria then got down on her knees before her parents' graves, touching their headstones without saying a word. She had wanted to be a filial daughter to them, but it was a pity they were no longer around to accept her intentions.She felt she had wronged her family, causing them all to be hit with a huge shock when she joined Wyvern Peak.***Yet, right at that moment, a Mercedes-Benz drove into Thompsonville. It was Gracia's car. She had taken some time out of her busy schedule to visit
"Riri!" Gracia yelled as she frantically ran into the cemetery.When Gloria, who stood before two headstones, heard Gracia's voice, she whipped around and saw her little sister running toward her as she yelled out her name."Cici!" Gloria called out and ran toward Gracia without a second thought."Riri!""Riri!""Riri!!!"Gracia yelled out continuously. She tripped and fell over again, but ignoring the pain she felt, she got back on her feet to run again.Gloria, too, was in tears, excitedly running toward her little sister.Finally, the siblings reached each other and enveloped each other in a fierce embrace.Gracia fell limp to the floor, with both hands holding Gloria's arms. She looked up with her drenched face and cried, "Riri, you're alive… You're alive!"Gloria was in tears as well, she got down on her knees before Gracia and held her little sister’s face with both hands. "Yes, I'm alive. I'm sorry for everything I've put you through, Cici!""Aaaah!" Gracia yelled at
Gloria nodded and turned to look at Adrian affectionately. After that, she took hold of Gracia's hand and explained, "I too honestly thought I had died five years ago, but something unexpected happened..."She explained everything to Gracia, starting from what happened five years ago, to Adrian going to the island to find her five years later, and the discovery of the meteorite. All in all, it took Gloria half an hour to finish telling the story.When Gracia heard all of it, she became dazed and had a hard time gathering her thoughts."That's what happened. I genuinely thought I had died five years ago, but it turns out that I've been asleep throughout that entire time. It felt like my soul was stuck in a space, trapping me inside. I wasn't able to wake up until Adrian came for me."Gracia looked up at Adrian and said, "I'm sorry for lashing out at you earlier.""It's all right," Adrian replied.Gracia hugged Gloria as she wiped away her tears, turning them into a smile. She said
Gracia chuckled and pulled Gloria toward the village.Gloria turned her head to Adrian. "Wait for me in Drogoton. I'll contact you when Cici and I get there," she said.Adrian made an "okay" gesture and watched the sisters return to the village. Shortly after, he left Thompsonville and headed back to Drogoton.***The news of Gloria's return caused a sensation in the surrounding area. Many living nearby Thompsonville came to see her. The village had organized a feast and set up over a hundred tables in the square to celebrate her return.Gloria was extremely happy that day and was inseparable from her little sister. Gracia stayed by Gloria's side, even insisting on going to the washroom together. She wanted to cherish every moment she had with the person she thought she had lost.Gracia could finally see the light at the end of the dark tunnel. She had been reunited with her sister, whom she thought she would never see again for the rest of her life. Thus, her lonely life ended,
Gloria followed Gracia back to her place, revealed to be a luxurious and extravagant villa. Gracia had been living here for some time.Gloria was delighted when she arrived at the villa that she explored everything inside, feeling how fresh and new the whole place was. Indeed, as Gracia said, this was the happiest point of Gloria’s life over the past five years.The sisters bathed together, cooked together, sat on the couch in their pajamas chatting, ate snacks, and watched TV together. They only had each other in their minds the whole time. The entire villa was now filled with the joyous laughter of two sisters who had been separated for five long years.***The sisters ended up falling asleep in each other's embrace that night. Meanwhile, Adrian stood on the upper floor of a hotel near the villa, quietly gazing at Gracia's villa, lost in his thoughts.The television in the room was broadcasting a series of news. Recently, news of the Wyvern Peak soldiers assembling had spread th
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