Garfield was the boss of the prison and everyone was scared of him. Wilfred, Leonard, Cedric, and Jacob did not have the courage to procrastinate and continued with their work.But just as they were fear-stricken, Garfield approached them and barked, “Wilfred, Leonard, Cedric, Jacob!”“Yes, sir!”They answered in unison and hastily walked toward Garfield, who suddenly smiled. The smile felt like the dawn of the apocalypse to Leonard and the others.Leonard hastily said, “Garfield, I’m sorry. My son was a bit tired earlier so we took a short break. Please forgive us.”They hastily explained in fear that Garfield had noticed them sitting and talking earlier.Upon hearing that, Garfield stretched out his hand and patted Leonard’s shoulder. He said, “Leonard, oh, Leonard. It’s your fault that you have a hard life, but it’s also your fault for having a good life. Congratulations to all of you. You’re being released. Don’t forget to be good after you leave this place and put in a good
Both of them sat in front of the sewing machines and swiftly sewed clothes as they chatted away.Cecilia exclaimed, “Faye, we’ve already been in here for a year and a half. We’re sentenced to five years, yet I don’t know if Adrian still hates us. He’s War Legate Draco and is capable of keeping us in prison for the rest of our lives with just an order.”Faye replied, “Yeah… If only we were nicer to Samantha in the past, we wouldn’t have ended up like this. We assumed that Adrian wanted to seize Paraiso Group, but in reality, he could not be bothered about those measly things.”“So what if he wanted to seize it? Paraiso Group belonged to Henry anyway. Why were we such b*stards back then? Now that I think about it, I feel really bad for doing that.``Cecilia said, “You’re so good at looking on the bright side. Our lives here aren’t considered overly arduous. Leonard told me that they were working in the steel mill the last time we met. Do you think the two children can endure the hard
Leonard and the others were beyond excited and profusely expressed their gratitude to Dawson. He briefly chatted with Leonard and his family before instructing them to head back to their cells to pack.It was an emotional night filled with gratitude for them.The next morning in Swallowston, Adrian drove to the Xander Group and found Riley who had been waiting at the company entrance for a while.“Adrian!” she called out when she saw him.“Let’s go,” said Adrian.Riley cracked a heartfelt smile and got into the car. Together, they left Swallowston and headed to Skyton.Skyton was located near Swallowston—about a six-hundred-kilometer journey. Even though it was not far, Riley was deep in thought along the way. It had been a year and a half since the incident, yet it felt like a dream whenever she thought about it.“Have you figured it all out? What’s your plan after they’re released?” Adrian asked Riley casually as he drove.Leonard and the others would still be officially invo
Adrian said, “His family’s poor? In that case, something about him must’ve attracted you, right?”“Mm-hmm,” Riley answered, “He was extremely hardworking in university. He was also diligent and thrifty. He had a dream to go into farming, and his idea was more than just planting. He wanted to cultivate the barren mountain of his hometown and lead the people of the village and even the whole town to build an ecology center.”“He’s into agriculture, right?” said Adrian.“Yes,” Riley said, “Benson endured hardships throughout his childhood in the mountains. He got accepted to Southrive University but his family didn’t have the money to pay his tuition. When his fellow villagers found out about it, they chipped in to pay for Benson’s tuition. He promised them that he’d study hard and return to the mountain village after graduation to lead them to success and wealth.”“What happened after?” asked Adrian.“Once he graduated, he returned to the village and led the villagers to plant many
Upon hearing Adrian’s remark, Riley’s heart raced. The man whom she loved was forced to leave her in the past because of her parents. She had never apologized to him and never had the chance to do so either.It was as if Adrian had awakened something inside her once again, making her feel that perhaps she should not run anymore.***The rest of the journey was quiet.Adrian and Riley arrived at Skyton in the afternoon. They did not head to the prison right away upon arriving at the city but picked out a restaurant to have lunch.At three in the afternoon, they headed toward Skyton Prison.The prison had already made arrangements for their arrival.They drove the car up to the prison entrance and a few patrolling guards walked over to ask for Adrian’s identification documents. He pulled out his war legate pass and gave it to the prison guard.The guard hastily saluted upon reading the document. “It’s you, sir. Please enter. Everything has been arranged for your arrival!”Adrian
Adrian stared at them wordlessly.Cecilia and Faye pursed their lips and were at a loss for words too.Riley said, “Since you’ve learned your mistakes, change and we can continue being a family. Adrian is giving you the chance to do that in the hope that you’ll remember what it means to be human—to know if money or power is more important than the love between family. You have to do things in good conscience from now on.”“You’re right, Riley. I’ve learned my lesson,” said Leonard.“I’ve learned my lesson too. If I don’t fall back to my old ways, you can slap me any time,” said Wilfred in remorse.Riley did not comment further. Meanwhile, Dawson approached the family. He said smilingly, “Hello, it’s an honor to meet you, War Legate Draco.”As he spoke, Dawson extended his arms in excitement.Upon noticing this, Adrian extended his arm and shook hands with Dawson. He said, “Dawson Rock, I presume?”Dawson nodded. “Yes, sir. I was a former member of Wyvern Peak, but you probably
They called out to Adrian from behind three times in a row, their voices were loud and resonant.Adrian did not linger and left the prison with Leonard and the others.***Leonard and the others walked out of the prison and saw the light of the day once again. They raised their heads and looked toward the Sun in the sky. They felt that their lives were wonderful and the sun was so warm.They got into the car and Adrian drove back to Swallowston, not saying a single word during the journey. No one spoke. Leonard and Wilfred attempted to start a conversation, but for some reason, they had no idea how to speak to their nephew who was the legate.The atmosphere remained cold and quiet for more than two hours.At last, Faye thought of a topic of conversation and said to Adrian, “We didn’t treat you well over the years, Adrian. We’ll change that from now on. Please don’t harbor what we’ve done in your heart.”Riley turned her head and glanced at Faye sitting in the backseat.Cedric h
“If you don’t succeed, I’m sorry but you won’t be getting any benefits from the Xander Group. This is your only chance to turn over a new leaf. If you miss it, you’re out.”Adrian fell silent after stating his final bottom line for the Xanders. Whether it was Leonard, Wilfred, Cedric, or Jacob, they allowed Adrian’s warning to sink into their minds because this was the only chance they would get in their lifetime. They would have nothing else if they missed it.The Xanders thoroughly took the advice to heart.***Adrian stopped speaking to them afterward. He pulled out his phone as he drove to place a call to Wyvern Peak’s headquarters in Azure Creek. As soon as the call was picked up, he said, “Look up a man named Benson Xavier, and call me back in ten minutes with the information.”“Yes, sir.”Riley looked toward Adrian in astonishment and quickly placed her hand on his. She said, “Adrian, are we really going to see him? I…I’ll feel so embarrassed.” Her face blushed scarlet.A
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