To be honest, Felix was truly taken aback.The Crayden family was one thing, but the fact that Nala could compel the Elders' Council to compromise was rather surprising."Do you know why the Elders' Council wants to kill me?" Felix asked.Nala answered candidly, "I don't know. It doesn't matter."Felix turned to the middle-aged man. "Are you really from the Elders' Council?"The middle-aged man, Noah Reed, grinned, as though Felix were nothing but an ant in his palm. If it weren't for Nala, Felix might have already been a corpse."Do you doubt my identity? Didn't you kill Dexter Grimshaw and Solomon Gill? And that little fireworks display in Azuria was quite unexpected. Do you think you can pull off something similar here in Dragonia?"Noah's knowledge of these events was proof enough of his association with the Elder's Council.Despite his irritation at being ignored, Tatum Crayden, the Crayden family's Third Elder, didn't dare voice his displeasure. It wasn't only because of
Noah had a clear perspective on the situation. Back in Azuria, the Elder's Council had sent two martial artists at the peak of Aetherial Realm to kill Felix. The outcome, though unexpected, ended with both being wiped out by missiles. That outcome alone proved a point: Felix wasn't their match, which was why he had to resort to such desperate measures.Since he was facing someone of Oceanus Realm, could Felix possibly escape alive? There was no way, especially now that Nala had walked away. It left him with no hope of survival. The outcome was set in stone.Just as Tatum was about to make a move, his phone suddenly rang. The ringtone was unique, reserved specifically for calls from the head of the Crayden family. If possible, it had to be answered. This was the rule.In the Crayden family, aside from the First Elder, all other elders were bound by the head of the Crayden family's orders. It was written in their ancestral laws. Otherwise, the head of the family would be nothing mor
"Since the Elder's Council sent you here, that must mean that you're no weakling among the Oceanus Realm masters, right?" Felix askedNoah chuckled. "You're sharp. I'm ranked first among all the Oceanus Realm-level masters in the Elder's Council! Are you trying to beg for mercy, kiddo? Sure. I'll make it quick for you."To his surprise, Felix smiled. Stretching his arms casually, he said, "Ever since I reached this level, I haven't had the chance to test just how much my body has transformed. You'll make a fine experiment."Gerald had once explained that the true terror of the Dragons Destroyer technique lay in its ability to transform the body. It would bring his body ever closer to the physical state of an ancient dragon.And what was an ancient dragon? The myths alone said enough. Its body was so fearsome that a mere flick of its tail could shatter mountains, and no weapon or technique could pierce its scales.From the moment Felix absorbed the first piece of a true dragon's sp
Alfie felt a stinging pain when Nala smacked the back of his head. He froze, utterly dumbfounded."When did I say such nonsense? Do you want me to hit you?" Nala asked.Rubbing the sore spot on his head, Alfie smirked. "It's over," he thought. "Lady Nala is absolutely serious this time."Five minutes later, Noah lay sprawled on the ground, struggling to get up. His body refused to obey, leaving him bruised and battered beyond recognition."Are… Are you really in Aetherial Realm?"He was utterly broken. Since stepping into Oceanus Realm, he had carried immense pride in his abilities. He wouldn't claim invincibility at his rank, but he always had absolute confidence in his strength.Yet, all that confidence had been shattered. If Felix had defeated him with some powerful technique or secret art, he could have accepted it. However, Felix had relied solely on raw physical strength. With no techniques, he had still beaten him to a pulp, leaving him on the verge of death. It was absurd
Felix's interest was piqued. Truth be told, he didn't know much about his nine fellow apprentices. For instance, Averill had her own assassin organization, and Delilah was none other than the famous singer, Dreamscape."Oh? Really? Then, tell me all about it."Noah opened his mouth as if to speak but suddenly seemed to think better of it. He shook his head vigorously."No, no! I almost walked into a disaster! She's your fellow apprentice, and if you don't know about it, it's probably because she doesn't want you to know. If I blab, and she finds out, I'll be as good as dead," Noah said, fear filling his eyes. "Worse, she won't stop with me—she'll wipe out everyone connected to me. I'm talking everyone. Even the earthworms in my backyard won't escape her blade!"Felix was dumbstruck. Was Eloise really that terrifying?"Fine. If that's the case, I won't force you." He waved dismissively. "I'm just a guy trying to live a normal life. Well, now that I know this, my impression of the
Earlier in the day, Felix had sent Xena a message about a newly released comedy movie, suggesting they watch it together in a few days. To his surprise, Xena replied that they could go that very day."Have you solved that case you were working on?" Felix asked.The case involved over a dozen children, and Felix knew how deeply it had affected her. He didn't think she'd be in the mood for a movie otherwise."It's been solved. However, I can't share the details with you.""Solved?" Felix thought to himself, frowning. He had personally dealt with the mastermind behind it, ensuring the case would remain a mystery. How could it possibly have been resolved? Something about this was odd."They've caught someone?" Felix pressed. "Come on. You know I'm not the type to spread things around. Tell me."His curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't resist probing further, even if it risked annoying her.After a moment of hesitation, Xena finally relented. "Alright. I guess I can tell
Sitting on the couch was Asher from the Greene family, which explained Felix's harsh words."Whether I die or not has nothing to do with you."Asher stood up, his eyes burning with anger."I don't care. You're the last bloodline left of Uncle Victor. As long as there's even a shred of hope, I won't just watch you throw your life away."Felix made a gesture, signaling Asher to continue, but said nothing."Humph! You have no idea just how terrifying Aiden is. I'll tell you one thing. You must give whatever he wants to him within the set time, or you'll truly die. And it will be a slow, agonizing death."Asher knew Felix well enough to understand that he likely dismissed Aiden's warning, which was why he had come personally to Canraville. He could never repay Victor's kindness, so he should at least try to do it through Felix.Still, Felix remained silent, even opening the door as if to indicate the conversation was over.As Asher stepped toward the door, he paused, leaving one la
"By the way, Rosalyn asked when you'll be coming over." Jeffrey asked."Right now," Felix replied. "My patient comes first. Since I've agreed, there's no reason to delay any further."After all, this concerned the fourth piece of the Dragonspine. He couldn't afford to waste any time.On the surface, it seemed like everything was good to go. However, Felix wasn't so sure if that'd still be the case once he arrived at Ruby Manor. To increase the likelihood of obtaining the Dragonspine, he needed more leverage."Jeffrey, do you have Axel Crayden's contact?""I do."Jeffrey was puzzled. Was there any connection between Axel and the current situation?"Call him and tell him I'll be at Ruby Manor this afternoon. You don't have to tell him anything else.""Alright. I'll take care of that now."After informing Xena, Felix boarded a flight alone. Jeffrey didn't intend to join him. His personal connection with Rosalyn made it awkward for him to go. It would attract unnecessary gossip.
Felix bowed deeply to Kendrick and said solemnly, "Sir, forgive me." During the drive back, Luna noticed Felix's somber mood, so she refrained from saying anything to him. Once they entered the city, Felix broke the silence and asked, "Do you have any connections for unofficial border crossings?""Yes, we have someone from Astoria who handles that. It's completely reliable," Luna replied. Felix nodded thoughtfully. "Let's keep it as a backup plan. We might need it someday."After encountering the Westerio Order, Felix suspected they might interfere with his mission. Given their absolute control abroad, legal routes home might become impossible. Hence, having alternative plans seemed wise.Felix spent the entire day indoors while Luna returned home at his request. With the looming threat of the Westerio Order, he felt it safer for her to leave Guneria. As night fell, Felix stood near an abandoned single-story house in the desert wasteland of Guneria. The nearest road was over
Since the mysterious young man, Kendrick was the second person to identify Felix as a Dragons Destroyer practitioner. Kendrick said, "No need to hide it. Without Dragons Destroyer training, you wouldn't be able to sense the Dragonspine's energy signature and track it here."Kendrick's eyes filled with nostalgia as he continued, "The Maximus family ancestor was the first person to master Dragons Destroyer successfully. How else would I know about it or have frequent access to Dragonspine?"Felix was stunned to learn that the first Dragons Destroyer practitioner Gerald mentioned was actually Kendrick's ancestor. He admitted, "You're right—I do practice Dragons Destroyer."But I have a question. I recently encountered a young man from the other side who was incredibly powerful. I couldn't even fight back, yet he knew about my Dragons Destroyer training and even the exact number of Dragonspine pieces I possessed."Kendrick chuckled knowingly. "That must have been someone from the Max
With a wave of his right hand, Felix revealed his true face. He said calmly, "Don't worry, they have no idea it was me."The old man seemed lost in thought for a moment before he finally spoke. ""As far as I know, only a Shadow Mask can achieve such a perfect disguise. Are you sure you're not from that side?" Felix was stunned. How did this old man even know about the Shadow Mask?The elderly man continued, "No wonder when our bodies made contact earlier, your bone age revealed you were just a young man despite your middle-aged appearance. It was the Shadow Mask all along." Felix was not shocked, knowing that any Blood Realm martial artist could instantly detect bone age through physical contact. This basic skill led the old man to recognize his prodigious talent."You're quite knowledgeable, sir, but I truly am not from that side," Felix stated.The old man sat down and added, "The Shadow Mask is exclusively circulated on that side, with only five existing. Obtaining one is q
Luna watched curiously, unsure of what Felix was doing with the tiny pill in his hand. Felix said casually, "This is one of our Dragonian medical techniques—just watch."He crushed the pill in his hand, turning it into fine powder, which he sprinkled over the fake Dragonspine. This pill, known as the Windseeker Pill, was something he had crafted himself using a recipe from Gerald's medical texts.It was designed for tracking, working in pairs—one part would be used on a person or object, while the second acted as the locator.Felix was not entirely confident it would work since this was his first time using it. After applying the powder, he produced the second pill, which began to roll forward in his palm as if pointing the way. "Let's go. Drive in that direction," Felix instructed.Luna was amazed by the display and could not hide her amazement. "Dragonia is really something. There's no wind or force here, but the pill's moving all by itself."Felix continued giving directions
"Just sit tight for a bit. I'll be right back," Felix said before quickly heading off.Yasmin was a Martial God with the strength to protect herself, so Felix felt comfortable leaving her there. He slipped into the restroom, and finding it empty, he donned the Shadow Mask, transforming into a blond, middle-aged man.The store's unusual nature worked to his advantage—there were no surveillance cameras, making it the perfect setup for his plan. The room he needed to reach was on the second floor, heavily guarded by over a dozen men armed with pistols, their safeties off and ready to fire.Nonetheless, this was no challenge for Felix. He burst into the room, a wave of energy knocking out three of the men he had seen earlier stepping out of the SUVs.The only man still standing caught Felix by surprise. The man shouted as he attacked, "You're dead!" Felix prepared to strike but suddenly froze, his brow furrowing as the seven Dragonspine fragments in his body began to resonate. It mea
Yasmin followed Felix's command immediately, sensing the urgency in his tone even though he had not explained why. They tailed two black Cadillac SUVs for about 30 minutes until they reached a remote area, which was not uncommon in Guneria. Then, four people in dark clothing emerged from the vehicles and entered a building, one of them carrying a black briefcase. Anxious and consumed by thoughts of the Dragonspine, Felix did not think much and just asked Yasmin to drop him off near the establishment. "Ms. Qualls, you can head back now," he said.Two imposing security guards stood at the entrance, immediately stopping Felix. One of the guards gruffly stated, "Entry requires a pair—one male, one female—and it's 500 dollars per person. Can't you read the sign?" Without bothering to check the sign, Felix rushed back to Yasmin, who had not left yet. "Ms. Qualls, would you mind accompanying me inside? This place has some weird rule that requires a man and a woman to enter."Yasmin ap
Yasmin said, "Dr. Zeller, I know it's a lot to ask. If it's too troublesome, we can forget about it."Felix was about to refuse immediately, but the mention of Wealthhealth Pharmaceuticals piqued his interest. Since the vice president was involved, he thought he might be able to infiltrate the company and find John after disguising himself. "Sure, I've got nothing else going on anyway," Felix agreed, which made Yasmin beam with joy as she repeatedly thanked him.At that moment, Felix decided to tell Yasmin that his current identity was inconvenient once they reached the restaurant. After donning the Shadow Mask, he could dine as another medical expert without issues. However, just as they parked the car and Felix was about to speak, his phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number."Felix, it's John Reynolds. I know you're in Guneria, and I know how desperately you've been trying to find me. Here's your chance—come to this location tomorrow night. Of course, I'll und
Yasmin stood speechless. She had never seen Linda smile like this before."After you left, I did a lot of thinking! I love him deeply, and now, I know he still loves me. Since I'm already affected, I can hold his hand without worry now, right, Dr. Zeller?"At that moment, Pierre broke down as he sobbed uncontrollably."Linda, are you absolutely sure about this?" Since their clasped hands were behind them, Yasmin could safely offer her counsel. Linda nodded, kissing Pierre's cheek. "Yes, Yasmin. I'm certain! Though it's unbearable, I'm okay with it. Having Pierre by my side is enough. "After experiencing love this deep, I doubt I'll ever find someone who loves me this much again."Pierre pulled away from her and donned his gloves. Then, he cupped Linda's face, giving her a gentle kiss. "Linda, I'll love you forever, but I don't want you remembering the man who hurt you."He moved lightning-fast. As he pulled out a small axe, he swung it toward his left wrist."No!" Despite bei
Just one glance at Pierre's hands had frozen a Martial God like Yasmin. That just showed how terrifying Fish Men at higher levels had to be.The mutation rarely passed down in the Lannerby family. Sometimes, entire generations were skipped. Pierre's father's generation had none, yet Pierre inherited it.His family sent him abroad for protection. Despite the prevalence of guns, Pierre's abilities kept him safer here than in Dragonia. The "Fish Man" title had been passed down through the Lannerby bloodline since ancient times. Their reputation as the Thief Guild's nemesis was one-sided—their power affected everyone, not just thieves.Felix realized the Fish Men had been holding back. Thief Guild believed touch was necessary, but mere eye contact at their scaled hands sufficed. Those with purple scales and above had full control over their powers.The Lannerbys' vendetta traced back generations. People from Thief Guild had stolen something precious, creating a blood feud. The Lanner