《Online Game: I Started with Max Charisma and Caught the Goddess's Eye》


 Chapter 1: Reborn Ten Years Ago, the Launch of the Eternal Game

    <h4>Chapter 1: Reborn Ten Years Ago, the Launch of the Eternal Game</h4>


    "Luca, you jerk! Get your hand off me..."


    In a daze, Luca heard a girl''s indignant voice by his ear.


    He felt as if there was someone in his arms, soft and with a fragrant scent.


    This dream feels so real...


    Just as he was thinking this, Luca suddenly jolted awake.


    No way!


    Wasn''t I incinerated by The King of Rage? How can I still hear sounds?! With this thought, Luca abruptly opened his eyes.


    He then saw, beneath him, a delicate and beautiful face full of shame and anger.


    The girl looked only seventeen or eighteen, wearing a loose cartoon T-shirt, pinned under him, her fair face flushed red, eyes filled with embarrassment and anger.


    And his big hand was currently ced on her pert chest, feeling soft to the touch.


    "Susie? Weren''t you dead ten years ago?" Luca looked at the girl beneath him, eyes full of shock.


    Ten years ago, with theunch of the Eternal game, monsters quietly descended.


    He remembered very clearly that the girl from the neighboring family and her rtives had tragically died at the hands of monsters in the first year of the game''s arrival. In the end, it was he who buried Susie''s family''s remains in the Greenhill Cemetery of Celephais City.But what''s happening now?Am I in hell?


    Luca was bewildered, not understanding what had happened.


    Susie, upon hearing his words, became even more furious and eximed, "Luca, you pervert! I came over kindly to bring you the game helmet, and not only did you take advantage of me, but you also cursed me!"


    "Just wait until Uncle and Aunte back, see how I''ll report you!" With that, Susie grabbed Luca''s hand and bit down hard.


    "My God, it hurts! Are you a dog?!" Luca winced in pain and quickly got off Susie.


    "Serves you right! See if you darey hands on me again!" Susie huffed angrily, very upset.


    However, seeing the small teeth marks with her saliva on Luca''s hand, her face blushed a little.


    "Eternal is about tounch, you got lucky this time. I won''t hold it against you, but if there''s a next time, see how I''ll deal with you." After saying this, Susie fled the bedroom, her face as red as a ripe peach.


    But Susie didn''t know that Luca had no time to care about her at this moment.


    "This isn''t a dream?!"


    Luca felt the pain in his hand, eyes full of disbelief.


    He had actually been reborn!


    And he was reborn to ten years ago, on the day the Eternal gameunched!


    This is a day he would never forget.


    On July 7, 2077, today, the national phenomenon-level virtual game "Eternal" is officially released!


    This game, developed by the world''s leading technologypany "Zenith Technology Company." ims to have 100% realism and fully intelligent NPC characters, constructing an incredibly vast fantasy world.


    As a result, Eternal quickly became a global sensation upon its release, attracting countless yers and clubs to join!


    But Luca knows that the game "Eternal" is far from being as simple as it seems!


    In the previous lifetime, shortly after theunch of the Eternal game, many supernatural events started urring worldwide.


    Initially, no one paid much attention.


    However, as time passed, more and more Eternal yers acquired abilities from the game, and the monsters in the game started appearing in the real world.


    It was only then that people realized the seriousness of the problem.


    Unfortunately, it was toote.


    A year after theunch of the Eternal game, the first Spatial Interaction between the Eternal world and the real world urred.


    Countless monsters broke through the Spatial Nodes, descending upon various corners of the Blue Star.


    In this sudden disaster, cities were destroyed, millions of people were ughtered, and The City of Celephais, being one of the first cities to be hit by the monsters, turned into ruins almost overnight.


    It was on that day that his friends and family all perished at the hands of the monsters.


    That was the most painful and despairing day of Luca''s previous life, a day that remained vivid in his memory even after ten years.


    "Since the heavens have given me a chance to do it all over again, I will never let those tragedies happen in this lifetime!" Luca clenched his fists, eyes zing with determination.


    In the previous life, although he was one of the first yers to enter the game, he only treated Eternal as a pastime and did not take it seriously.


    Therefore, when the Eternal world descended, Luca did not gain significant power at first, which left him with countless regrets that he would rue for life.


    Now, with the experience from his previous life, he not only intends to make up for these regrets but also to find the scoundrels who created the Eternal game and make them pay for their actions!


    The secrets of "Eternal" were not fully uncovered in the previous life. Luca only knew it was a game created by a highly advanced civilization.


    But until his death, he had never seen the true face of this race, nor did he know their true purpose.


    In this life, he will drag these scum out and turn them into mincemeat to honor the souls of those who died!


    After calming his emotions, Luca checked the time and found it was already 8:14 in the morning.


    There were only a few minutes left until theunch of "Eternal."


    Luca didn''t dare to dy.


    He picked up the game helmet on the table, put it on, andy down on the bed, entering the game in advance.


    [Virtual helmet activated, scanning identity information...]


    [Scanplete, yer "Luca" identity confirmed sessfully!]


    [Establishing neural connection...]


    [Neural connection established sessfully, wee yer "Luca" to the world of Eternal!]


    ...


    With the prompt, a sh of blue light appeared.


    Then Luca found himself in a magnificent, majestic hall.


    On either side of the grand hall stood six statues, each holding different weapons. They represented the six sses in the game: Warrior, Mage, Ranger, Assassin, Priest, and Life Skills professions.[Please choose your initial ss!]"There''s no way I''m choosing Warrior again!" Luca gritted his teeth.


    Each ss had its strengths and weaknesses.


    In the previous lifetime, Luca was a Berserker, a type of Warrior. Early on, he enjoyed the high damage and strength, but as the game progressed and other sses developed, the Berserker''s advantages were significantly diminished.


    Additionally, upon selecting an initial ss, each yer would awaken a talent ability based on their ss.


    In the previous life, after choosing Warrior, Luca only awakened a useless B-level talent, which led to his defeat by The King of Rage, the leader of the Seven Demon Lords, on the extraterritorial battlefield.


    So, in this life, he would never choose Warrior again!


    After some consideration, Luca finally walked to the Mage statue.


    [Are you sure you want to be an Apprentice Mage?]


    Although Mages didn''t stand out much early in the game due to low damage and weak health, they were the highest damage dealers in theter stages of the game. A single spell could kill thousands of monsters!


    Luca also remembered a highly overpowered hidden ss for Mages called the "Demonic Rune Mage."


    This ss could learn spells and use runes to enhance their body, making them extremely powerful in both closebat and ranged attacks. It perfectlybined the strengths of Warriors and Mages, born for battle!


    With this in mind, Luca no longer hesitated and chose to confirm.


    [Ding! Initial ss confirmed sessfully!]


    [Congrattions on bing an Apprentice Mage. Awakening your talent...]


    [Congrattions on awakening the SSS-level talent "The Person Favored"!]


    [The Person Favored (SSS-level): Unique talent, you are favored by the heavens, born extraordinary, with full attributes from the start!]


    ...


    "An SSS-level talent?!" Luca was in disbelief as he looked at the game prompt in front of him.


    He thought that choosing Mage might lower his talent level, but he never expected to awaken an SSS-level talent after choosing Mage!


    Talents were ranked from E-level to SSS-level based on their strength.


    The strength gap between yers with different talent levels was enormous. An E-level talent yer might struggle against ordinary monsters, while an S-level talent yer could defeat Lord-level monsters!


    In the previous lifetime, ten years after the gameunched, there were only a handful of Human Race yers with talents above S-level.


    But those individuals became the top powerhouses of the Human Race!


    Luca clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    With the experience from the previous lifetime and this super talent, his strength would improve at a rocket-like pace. When the monsters descended, he definitely wouldn''t be as helpless as before!


    At this moment, a game prompt appeared before Luca.


    [Ding! Global Announcement!]


    [The Eternal game has officiallyunched!]


    [You are about to enter the world of Eternal. Please prepare!]

 Chapter 2: Maxed Charm, Cold Noble Daughter Approaches

    <h4>Chapter 2: Maxed Charm, Cold Noble Daughter Approaches</h4>


    After the game prompt appeared, Luca felt his vision go dark.


    [Ding! Wee yer "Luca" to the world of Eternal!]


    [You are born in "Starlight City of Emerald State of the Kingdom of Clinton"!]


    At the same time, his talent "The Person Favored" was activated.


    [Ding! Your charm attribute has been maxed out! You have earned the title "Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm." increasing NPC favorability towards you!]


    [Ding! Your aptitude attribute has been maxed out! You have earned the title "Peerless Appearance." enhancing your learning speed!]


    [Ding! Your perception attribute has been maxed out! You have earned the title "Danger Perception." allowing you to foresee impending danger!]


    [Ding! Your luck attribute has been maxed out! You have earned the title "The Son of Luck." increasing your chances of encountering opportunities!]


    ...


    When Luca opened his eyes again, he found himself in a clean and tidy fountain square.


    Surrounding him were medieval-style houses and shops. Pedestrians in peculiar clothing walked along the streets, and a tall clock tower stood in the distance. At some point, his casual clothes had transformed into gray linen garments.


    In the square, there were many other yers dressed like him.


    The crowd was massive, with at least ten thousand people, a testament to the poprity of the Eternal game!


    "My god, this is the world of Eternal? This game is too realistic!"


    "The art style, the modeling, the tactile sensation, it''s exactly like reality!"


    "Fuck, who just grabbed my ass? Come out and face me!"


    "The World Guild is recruiting! We have professional yers, limited spots, firste, first served!"


    ...


    Certainly! Here''s the enhanced version with added descriptive details:


    Countless excited yers crowded together, filling the fountain square with a cacophony of voices and footsteps.


    The NPCs passing by cast wary nces at the yers, their expressions a mix of curiosity, disdain, and subtle amusement, as if observing creatures from another realm disrupting their everyday lives.


    Luca, amidst the bustling scene, maintained a calm demeanor, his lips curved in a knowing smile.


    In the world of Eternal, NPCs resembled real people in every detail, from their nuanced expressions to their lifelike movements.


    Unbeknownst to most yers, these NPCs were not mere virtual entities but actual beings from an alternate reality.


    The seamless integration of these inhabitants was a testament to the meticulous design by the "Zenith Group" and its influential backers, altering the fabric of this virtual realm to amodate the influx of yers without disruption.


    Collecting his thoughts, Luca recalled the earlier notifications prompting him. Seeking respite from the crowded square, he navigated through the throng of yers, finally finding a quieter corner where he could concentrate.


    With practiced ease, he essed his personal panel, ready to delve into the intricacies of his character and the tasks that awaited him.


    [Name: Luca]


    [Level: lv1]


    [Talent: The Person Favored (SSS-level)]


    [ss: Apprentice Mage (Novice)]


    [HP: 100]


    [MP: 200]


    [Attack: 21-25]


    [Attributes: Strength 10, Intelligence 10, Stamina 10, Agility 10]


    [Special: Charm 100, Perception 100, Aptitude 100, Luck 100]


    [Titles: Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm, Peerless Appearance, Danger Perception, The Son of Luck]


    [Skills: Basic Magic lv1 (Beginner)]


    [Equipment: Novice Robe, Novice Pants, Apprentice Staff]


    [Experience: 0/40]


    ...


    "No wonder it''s an SSS-level talent; it really is beyond the norm!" Luca felt a surge of excitement looking at his maxed-out attributes.


    The Eternal game is an open-world game where quests and gamey require yers to explore and trigger events on their own, making the four special attributes of the yers very important.


    However, these special attributes are determined by the yer''s initial values and are very difficult to improve, even in theter stages of the game.


    In his previous life, Luca had worked tirelessly to raise his four special attributes to an average of 70 points.


    Even so, this had made him a Transcendent-level powerhouse.


    Now, with the extraordinary talent "The Person Favored." Luca felt a surge of empowerment as all his special attributes reached their maximum potential!


    Luca''s hand tightened into a fist, a determined glint in his eyes.


    In his previous life, he had achieved Transcendent-level status despite starting with ordinary talent.


    This time, with his attributes already optimized from the start, he harbored ambitions to surpass even that lofty achievement.


    Suppressing his bubbling excitement, Luca resisted the urge to linger.


    His immediate goal was to journey to the prestigious Mages'' Association andplete the novice quest, paving the way for his ascent to the coveted rank of Formal Mage.


    Transitioning his upation to Demonic Rune Mage marked just the beginning of his ambitious ns. He understood that reaching level ten was crucial, followed by sessfully navigating the secretive Mage Tower upation change trial.


    But with his experience from the previous life, these tasks seemed manageable.


    "Boom!"


    At that moment, a deafening roar echoed across the square, followed by the startled cries of many yers.


    "An NPC is killing people!!"


    Luca looked over in confusion.


    He saw a long crack, several meters wide, on the previously smooth street.


    A burly man in silver armor stood there with a cold expression, his sword stained with blood.


    Several yers were sitting on the ground, pale-faced and nearly paralyzed with shock.


    "How dare you block Miss Sophia Howard''s carriage in Starlight City! You must have a death wish!" The silver-armored man pointed his blood-stained sword at the yers in front of him, his eyes full of murderous intent.


    It was then that Luca noticed the luxurious carriage behind the armored man, bearing a family crest with the ck Mountains, indicating the emblem of an Emerald State count.


    Luca couldn''t help butugh.


    These yers were as audacious as ever. Approaching such a prestigious carriage was clearly asking for trouble.


    In the world of Eternal, there was no beginner protection period; if yers angered an NPC, they could be killed without hesitation.


    Judging by the man''s words, it seemed the girl inside was the count''s daughter.


    The yers were now extremely panicked. They had only thought the antique carriage looked interesting and decided to block it for fun, never expecting it to belong to the count''s daughter!


    The silver-armored man, Cassman, was clearly intent on killing them.


    He raised his sword and took a step closer to the yers, who began to plead for their lives, but he remained unmoved.


    At that moment, a cold voice came from inside the carriage, "Uncle Cassman, don''t stain Starlight City with their blood."


    The curtains were slowly drawn back.


    Through the ornate fabric, they could see a beautiful blue-haired girl in noble attire. Her features were delicate and exquisite, but her expression was icy, devoid of any emotion.


    Seeing the girl''s appearance, the yers were all stunned.


    "Wow, this girl is stunning!"


    "She''s got blue hair¡ªis she an elf?"


    "Mom, I believe in love again!"


    "Don''t stop me, I want to be her dog!"


    ...


    Hearing Sophia''s words, the silver-armored knight, Cassman, nodded.


    He then looked at the yers with a stern expression and said, "You''re lucky. Capture all these adventurers who offended Miss Sophia and throw them out of Starlight City! They are never to set foot in Starlight City again!"


    The guards around the carriage responded in unison and immediately rushed towards the yers.


    It was only then that the yers realized the trouble they were in, crying and begging for mercy.


    But it was toote¡ªblocking a noble''s carriage was a serious crime in this world.


    Sophia watched coldly, showing no intention of pleading for them.


    As level 1 novice yers, they had no chance against the elite guards.


    In no time, the yers were dragged away like helpless chicks and carried out of the city.


    Seeing this, Luca shook his head slightly.


    Once yers are expelled from the main city, they be wandering yers, needing to run back to their bodies each time they die to resurrect, and are easily targeted by others.


    Moreover, in the game Eternal, a yer can only create one character, so to resolve this situation, they''d have to switch cities or factions.


    With the game justunching, changing cities or factions was a near-impossible dream.


    However, they brought this upon themselves and deserved their fate. Luca looked away, intending toplete the Apprentice Mage''s novice quest.


    At that moment, a cold voice suddenly called out, "Adventurer in the back, wait a moment..."


    The speaker was none other than the noble daughter in the luxurious carriage, Sophia! Everyone followed her gaze and saw the young man in the corner.


    The other yers looked at him with pity, thinking he was another unlucky soul.


    Luca was taken aback, looking around to confirm there was no one else.


    "Are you talking to me?" he asked, puzzled.


    "Yes, you." Sophia nodded slightly. Her stunning face remained expressionless, but her beautiful eyes were fixed on Luca, a hint of surprise deep within them.


    What a handsome young man!

 Chapter 3: The Future Frost Goddess

    <h4>Chapter 3: The Future Frost Goddess</h4>


    Sophia had merely nced over the square, but her attention was instantly drawn to Luca in the corner.


    The young man was not only exceptionally handsome but also had an indescribable charm that made people feel inexplicably close to him.


    Noticing Sophia''s gaze, Luca had a thought.


    "Is this the effect of maxed-out charisma?" he wondered.


    Maxed-out charisma not only enhanced his looks but also greatly improved the impression he made on NPCs. So even in a crowd, he was easily noticed by NPCs.


    With this realization, Luca felt reassured.


    Under the varied gazes of the surrounding yers, he walked slowly to the front of the carriage.


    Bowing slightly, he asked respectfully, "Miss Sophia, what can I do for you?"


    [Ding! Sophia''s favorability towards you +10]


    Seeing the notification, Luca couldn''t help but be impressed.


    This charisma attribute was truly extraordinary, gaining favorability so easily!


    In the Eternal world, NPC favorability maxes out at 999 points. The level of favorability not only determines whether yers can trigger quests from NPCs but also influences the NPCs'' attitudes towards yers.


    Therefore, if yers want to improve their status and position in any faction within the Eternal world, favorability and reputation are two essential metrics.


    At this moment, Sophia found Luca increasingly pleasing to the eye. She nced appraisingly at Luca and asked, "Are you a mere Apprentice Mage?"


    "That''s right." Luca nodded, unsurprised by Sophia''s ability to discern his profession. Nobles in the Eternal world were typically Transcendent beings, and the daughter of an earl like Sophia was no exception.


    Moreover, Luca could discern her profession as well.


    His maxed-out perception attribute allowed him to keenly sense the bone-chilling cold and the dense water elements swirling around Sophia.


    She appeared to be, at the very least, a distinguished gold-level Ice Mage.


    The foundational levels on the Eternal continent are divided into ten ranks: Level 10 ck Iron, Level 20 Bronze, Level 30 Silver, Level 40 Gold, Level 50 tinum, Level 60 Amethyst, Level 70 Diamond, Level 80 Earth, Level 90 Sky, and Level 100 Stars.


    These levels are further categorized into Beginner, Low, Intermediate, High, and Superss tiers.


    Beyond these, there are additional tiers, but those pertain to the Transcendent levels. This noble daughter had already reached gold level at such a young age and might one day advance to Transcendent.


    Sophia then said, "Are you heading to the Mages'' Guild? We can give you a ride, as we''re heading there too."


    The other yers exchanged confused and puzzled nces, their expressions mixed with bewilderment.


    Some among them had been unceremoniously ejected from the main city just for daring to halt a carriage. Why, then, was this guy granted a ride?


    They were all yers¡ªwasn''t this a tad unjust solely based on his appearance?


    Cassman also cast a surprised nce at Luca.


    It wasn''t like thedy to invite a man into her carriage; she rarely even spoke to men. But upon seeing Luca''s appearance, Cassman understood.


    The youngdy was almost of age, after all...


    Realizing this was an effect of his charisma attribute, Luca didn''t refuse.


    The Mages'' Guild was a few streets away from the fountain square, and taking the carriage would save him considerable time.


    He wouldn''t have to spend hours fighting other yers for tasks like in his previous life.


    "Thank you, Miss Sophia." Luca said, boarding the carriage amid the envious stares of the other yers.


    Pulling aside the curtain of the carriage, a faint feminine fragrance wafted out, somewhat reminiscent of jasmine.


    The carriage interior was spacious, with incense burners, fruits, and pastries neatly arranged.


    The d¨¦cor was luxurious and intricate, clearly designed for a female passenger.


    Sophia was sitting on aid-out nket.


    Up close, Luca noticed that this noble daughter was not only beautiful with fair, delicate skin but also had clear, light blue eyes, as pure and transparent as an unblemishedke.


    Everything about her was perfect, except for the coldness, Luca thought.


    This coldness wasn''t just in her demeanor; it was literal coldness as well.


    The temperature inside the carriage was significantly lower than outside, clearly influenced by this noble daughter.


    Then, the carriage fell silent.


    Sophia wasn''t one for conversation, and Luca didn''t want to force it.


    Besides, he had a nagging feeling that the name Sophia was familiar.


    Luca furrowed his brow, lost in contemtion.


    It must have been a distant memory. He recalled that during the inception of the extraterritorial battlefield, in the fifth year since the onught of monsters, there had been a renowned mage in the Eternal world known as the "Frost Goddess."


    She had made the ultimate sacrifice by freezing the Spatial Nodes of two worlds, thereby postponing the second monster invasion and securing valuable time for the Human Race and the diverse races of the Eternal world.


    It was during this critical juncture that the Human Race and other Eternal world races joined forces, sessfully redirecting the monsters'' point of arrival to the cosmic expanse, thus giving rise to the extraterritorial battlefield.


    And this "Frost Goddess" was named Sophia.


    Luca was uncertain because the Sophia he remembered was vastly different from this current one.


    Could a mage, who was merely at the gold level now, break through to god-level in just five years?


    Luca knew all too well the immense gap between these two levels.


    Thus, he couldn''t be sure if this earl''s daughter was indeed the Frost Goddess.


    At that moment, the carriage slowly came to a halt.


    Cassman''s voice came from outside the carriage.


    "Kid, we''re at the Mages'' Association." he said.


    Luca''s thoughts were interrupted. He got out of the carriage first.


    A uniquely shaped Mage Tower came into view, its architecture striking and unusual. The Mages'' Association looked like an enormous ck pointed hat resting on the ground, with a diamond-shaped magic crystal floating at its very peak. The crystal rotated slowly, emitting a mesmerizing blue light that formed arge protective barrier, which enveloped the entire Starlight City.


    Through the grand entrance of the Mages'' Association, Luca saw an opulent hall adorned with gold and jade, reflecting a sense of grandeur and splendor. Numerous individuals in various colored mage robes were bustling about,ing and going with purpose. At the front desk stood a small, white-haired old man, who seemed to be the receptionist.


    At this moment, both the bustling people of the Mages'' Association and the small, white-haired old man were looking at him in shock and amazement, as well as at Sophia, who had just gracefully stepped down from the carriage behind him.


    "Did I see that right? Did that rookie juste out of Miss Sophia''s carriage?" a mage rubbed his eyes and asked the person next to him.


    "You might mistake the carriage, but you surely recognize Knight Cassman, right?" the person replied enviously. "In the entire Emerald State, the only ones who can have him drive their carriage are Count Ryan and his daughter, Miss Sophia."


    Everyone fell silent, staring at Luca with envy.


    Their discerning eyes could see that Luca was still a rookie who hadn''t be a formal mage.


    Judging by his novice clothes, he probably only entered Starlight City today.


    Yet this guy, who hadn''t even been in Starlight City for a day, had gained Miss Sophia''s favor?!


    Everyone felt a tinge of jealousy towards this rookie. If they were in his ce, they would probably beughing in their dreams.


    However, upon seeing Luca''s face, they felt a bit more bnced.


    No wonder. Some people are just born for this kind of work, something you can''t simply envy.


    At this moment, Luca and Sophia entered the Mages'' Association.


    Sophia exined patiently, "This is the highest-ranked Mages'' Association in all of ck Iron County. It contains a vast amount of knowledge and an extensive collection of materials about mages. If you want to buy or sell things or have any questions, you can alwayse here. If you still don''t understand something, you can go to the second floor to find a magic mentor. Their offices and the library, filled with countless magical tomes, are located there."


    Although Luca already knew this, he still thanked her.


    [Ding! Sophia''s favorability towards you +10]


    Sophia nodded slightly and said to the short old man at the front desk, "Old Charlie, this is a neer. Give him a simple novice task."


    "Of course, Miss Sophia!" Old Charlie nodded repeatedly and quickly stood on a stool to fetch a task card for Luca.


    "Wish you to be a Formal Mage soon." After finishing her instructions, Sophia said this to Luca and then headed to the upper levels of the Mage Tower.


    In the Mage Tower, different levels represented different mage ranks. A gold-level mage like Sophia wouldn''t take tasks or trade in the lowest hall.


    Luca turned his gaze back and saw that Old Charlie was still looking for a task for him.


    After a long search, he finally picked a purple task card from the pile and handed it to Luca.

 Chapter 4: Harvesting Calming Grass, Level Up

    <h4>Chapter 4: Harvesting Calming Grass, Level Up</h4>


    This task card was noticeably different from the others, its purple hue standing out vividly.


    Seeing Luca''s surprised expression, Old Charlie winked mischievously and said, "This is the best among the recent novice tasks. If you get the chance, I hope you can put in a good word for me with Miss Sophia."


    Luca couldn''t help butugh.


    This old man really knew how to curry favor. Unfortunately, he picked the wrong person. It was uncertain if Luca would even see Sophia again, let alone put in a good word for him.


    Luca shook his head and said, "Sorry, I can''t help you with that. Just give me a regr task."


    "No, no, no!" Old Charlie panicked, jumped up, and stuffed the task card into Luca''s hands, waving his hands repeatedly. "It''s fine if you don''t say anything good. Just remember me."


    Everyone in the Iron Mountain Mages'' Association knew Sophia''s identity and personality. A boy favored by her, even if not in that way, was certainly someone extraordinary. Even if they couldn''t build a good rtionship, they shouldn''t spoil it.


    Thinking of this, Old Charlie pped his forehead and pretended to remember something. "Oh my, how forgetful I am. I almost forgot that the Mages'' Association has a rule: the first time an Apprentice Mage takes a task, they must be given a staff."


    As he spoke, a sh of light appeared in his hand, and he produced a ck staff from nowhere, handing it to Luca.


    [Ding! You received a gift from Old Charlie: "ckwood Staff (ck Iron Level)"!]


    [ckwood Staff (ck Iron): No level requirement, Magic Attack +15, Spirit Attribute +10, Usable by mages.]


    A nearby mage was surprised and said, "Old Charlie, I didn''t know our association had such a..."


    "Know nothing, get lost." Before he could finish, Old Charlie red at him and kicked him away.


    Seeing this, Luca couldn''t help but feel emotional.


    Having someone to watch your back really made a difference.


    If it were him in his previous lifetime, he''d probably have topete with other yers for tasks. Where would he get a task and equipment handed to him by an NPC?


    After expressing his gratitude, Luca didn''t refuse any further. He took out the purple task card from his pocket and opened it.


    [Ding! You have received the novice task "Harvest Calming Grass"!]


    [Description: Go to Starlight Lake outside Starlight City and harvest 10 stalks of Calming Grass, then deliver them to the apothecary Franklin on West Street.]


    [Reward: Refreshing Potion (ck Iron Level), increases spirit attribute by 10 when used, can only be used once.]


    Seeing the task reward, Luca''s eyes lit up.


    No wonder Old Charlie said this was the best task at the Mages'' Association!


    Calming Grass might be hard to find, but it wasn''t impossible with some effort. However, a potion like the "Refreshing Potion" that could enhance attributes was worth at least 10 gold coins per bottle!


    In Eternal Continent, 10 copper coins equaled 1 silver coin, and 10 silver coins equaled 1 gold coin. With the server justunched, Luca estimated that the real-world exchange rate for game gold coins would make 1 gold coin worth at least 1,000 dors.


    This meant the task alone was worth 10,000 dors!


    Determined, Luca solidified his n. He definitely needed to find a reliable backer in the future!


    He then left the Mages'' Association.


    Starlight Lake was located in Wind in to the east of the city, not too far away. Along the way, he saw many yers wandering around like headless chickens. Thanks to Cassman''s earlier warning, no further incidents had urred in the city.


    It didn''t take long for Luca to leave Starlight City.


    Under the blue sky and white clouds was an endless green in, dotted with Slimes, Violent Rabbits, Goblins, and other low-level monsters. Many yers were continuously spawning monsters in the area.


    This in was called Wind in, and it was muchrger than it appeared.


    It was home to various monsters, including some high-level ones. However, the area outside Starlight City had been cleared, leaving only low-level monsters for beginner yers to practice on.


    "Starlight Lake" was in the level 5 area of this novice zone. Luca spotted the massive silverke from a distance.


    He donned the ckwood Staff, bringing his spirit attribute to 20 points and his attack power to 68 points.


    The monsters outside the city were too low-level for him, so he headed straight for Starlight Lake without stopping.


    Not far into his journey, a rabbit wielding a wooden club spotted him.


    [lv3 Violent Rabbit (Common)]


    [HP: 180/180]


    [Attack: 55]


    [Defense: 12]


    [Skill: Heavy Stick Swing]


    Luca nced at the monster''s panel, continuing to walk calmly.


    Although his attack power wasn''t high, it was more than enough to handle thismon monster.


    As Luca approached, the Violent Rabbit''s initially cute face turned vicious.


    Its hind legs kicked off the ground, turning into a white blur charging at Luca.


    At the same time, it swung its club viciously towards Luca''s crotch.


    Heavy Stick Swing!


    Faced with the swinging club, Luca''s mouth twitched as some unpleasant memories shed through his mind.


    His eyes turned cold. With a slight shift of his foot and a twist of his body, he easily dodged the rabbit''s iing club.


    At the same time, his staff began to glow with a faint white light.


    Basic Spell!


    Using it would deal 12 points of basic magic damage to the target!


    Luca swung his staff in a wide arc, hitting the Violent Rabbit directly on the head.


    "Bang!"


    The magical glow exploded atop the rabbit''s head, sending it flying.


    -82!


    Before the rabbit even hit the ground, a crimson damage number appeared above its head, depleting more than half of its health instantly!


    Luca quickly stepped forward, not giving it a chance to stand up, and swung his staff down again.


    [Ding! You have killed "lv3 Violent Rabbit (Common)", gaining 80 experience points!]


    As the kill notification appeared, a surge of experience flowed into Luca''s body. Simultaneously, he was enveloped in the light of leveling up.


    [Ding! Your level has increased to lv2. You have gained 10 free attribute points!]


    [Current experience: 40/110]


    Though Demonic Rune Mage was a hybrid ss, it primarily relied on the enhancement of the spirit attribute. Hence, Luca allocated all his attribute points to spirit.


    He then turned his attention to the rabbit''s corpse.


    A copper coin caught his eye, making him smile.


    It actually dropped loot!


    Usually, low-level monsters didn''t drop items. It was undoubtedly his maxed-out luck attribute at work.


    Luca walked over and happily picked up the copper coin.


    Regardless of the world, the importance of money was undeniable, and this was true in the Eternal Continent as well. yers who wanted to improve their power quickly often resorted to Pay to Win strategies.


    Luca''s family wasn''t well-off, so he didn''t have the spare money for such methods. However, with maxed-out loot drop rates, he could not only meet his own needs but also sell extra items for cash to improve his family''s living conditions.


    While contemting this, Luca took out a small knife he had prepared beforehand and skinned the Violent Rabbit''s corpse.


    [Ding! You have obtained the material "Violent Rabbit Fur (Common)".]


    [You have learned the skill "Skinning", current level: lv1.]


    In the Eternal Continent, both monsters and herbs needed to be harvested by yers, which could be troublesome. However, Luca''s maxed-out aptitude made learning anything significantly easier, so he wasn''t worried about it.


    Storing the rabbit''s fur in his bag, Luca continued toward the deeper parts of Starlight Lake.


    Although the monsters near Starlight Lake were slightly higher level than those outside Starlight City, they posed no challenge for Luca. Before long, he had collected 10 stalks of Calming Grass.


    His level had increased to 5, and he also gained a new skill.


    [Water Arrow Spell: Basic skill. Upon use, it deals 25 water attribute magic damage to the target. Cooldown time is 3 minutes, and it consumes 100 magic points.]


    In the world of Eternal, skills are categorized into several tiers: Basic, Low, Intermediate, High, and Superss. To acquire skills, yers need to either level up, use Skill Scrolls, or seek out a profession mentor.


    Although Luca had maxed-out aptitude and experience from his previous life, he wasn''t well-versed in mage skills. Therefore, he needed to find a magic mentor to learn new abilities.


    Additionally, Luca had found 1 silver coin, 8 copper coins, and a ck Iron Level dagger.


    Unfortunately, the dagger was for assassin ss and he couldn''t use it, but it could still be sold for a few gold coins, which wasn''t too bad.


    Having gathered enough Calming Grass, Luca didn''t linger. He returned to Starlight City and headed straight to the west street.


    The west street was Starlight City''smercial district, bustling with all kinds of shops¡ªfruit vendors, tailors, cksmiths, and more.


    Inside these shops, many yers could be seen working for NPCs.

 Chapter 5: Witch Doctor Franklin

    <h4>Chapter 5: Witch Doctor Franklin</h4>


    Although grinding monsters levels up quickly, it is not the only way to gain experience. Quests also provide yers with abundant experience, especially for life-skill yers who primarily rely on quests to level up.


    However, since theyck offensive and self-preservation abilities, these life-skill yers in the previous life were no different from ordinary people at the beginning of the monster invasion. Eventually, they had to find ways to unlock secondary professions to survive.


    "Secondary professions, huh?" Thinking of this, Luca fell into contemtion.


    yers in the Eternal Game are not limited to a single profession. Many yers in theter stages possess dual, triple, or even more professions, and these secondary professions often enhance their overall strength to varying degrees.


    In his previous life, Luca also switched to several professions, and some of them had rtively high levels. Although he has to start over in this life, all the knowledge and experience are still ingrained in his mind.


    When he has time, he needs to consider what kind of secondary professions to choose for himself...


    With these thoughts, Luca followed the quest marker to his destination.


    It was a clinic located in a remote alley.


    "Aargh!"


    As soon as Luca reached the entrance, he heard the heart-wrenching wails of patients from inside.


    The clinic wasn''trge, and it was filled with a variety of materials, such as Goblin ears, Slime mucus, Giant Sea Octopus tentacles, and Bellflower roots, among other strange items.


    Upon entering the clinic, Luca saw an elderly man in a ck robe, with a gaunt figure, performing a limb reattachment surgery on a burly man.


    This elderly man was likely the quest giver, Franklin.


    However, Luca did not interrupt at this moment; he just watched silently.


    From the man''s wound, it was evident that his arm had been bitten off by some monster.


    But what caught Luca''s attention the most was the old man''s treatment method.


    How should he put it? It was very unique.


    Franklin held a purple, unknown nt root in his hand and ced it on the man''s severed arm.


    Then, gray mist emerged from his eyes, seemingly activating some skill, and the purple roots instantly came to life, extending tendrils that burrowed into the man''s flesh and the severed arm, stitching them together.


    The sight of the purple tendrils wriggling under the man''s skin was enough to make anyone''s scalp tingle.


    The burly man, who stood two meters tall, started crying like a child at this sight.


    Yet, the old manughed maniacally.


    "Don''t cry, don''t cry, your arm will be fine soon..." heforted the man, but with his skeletal appearance, he looked anything but reassuring. In fact, he seemed a bit excited.


    Seeing this, Luca couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.


    Franklin did not look like a good person at all...


    However, Luca had already guessed his profession.


    Witch Doctor!


    A profession that strikes fear into the hearts of many, yet is exceptionally powerful.


    This profession is unique because a Witch Doctor can not only concoct potions and heal ailments but also use witchcraft inbat and asionally provide support.


    Among all the professions Luca knows, Witch Doctor is quite an odd one.


    As the burly man howled in agony, time slowly passed.


    His arm was gradually being reattached bit by bit.


    By the time his arm was fully reattached, the man was utterly exhausted, looking even worse than when he first arrived.


    Seeing this, Luca nodded slightly.


    Although the Witch Doctor''s treatment methods were quite unsettling, there was no denying that their healing abilities were among the top in all professions.


    "Thank you, doctor..."


    The man, with a pale face, expressed his gratitude, though his eyes still held deep-seated fear. It seemed Franklin''s treatment had left quite a psychological scar.


    After paying a hefty medical fee, the man wobbled and hurried out of the clinic.


    "Respected Witch Doctor, I am here to submit the Calming Grass quest." Luca took out the Calming Grass and addressed Franklin.


    Franklin was cleaning his workbench and, without looking up, said, "ce it in the third drawer of the cab on the right. Your quest reward is also in there."


    Luca did as instructed, and a game prompt appeared before him.


    [Ding! You havepleted the novice quest "Gather Calming Grass" and received the reward "Refreshing Potion (Iron)"]


    [Congrattions! You have be a Formal Mage!]


    [You have acquired new skills "Fireball (Basic)" and "sh (Basic)"!]


    As soon as the quest waspleted, Luca''s experience points surged forward.


    Then, a golden glow of leveling up enveloped him.


    [Ding! Your level has increased to lv6, and you have gained 10 free attribute points!]


    Luca allocated all the attribute points to his spirit stat and drank the Refreshing Potion, boosting his spirit attribute to 80 points and his attack power to 230 points.


    Afterpleting the quest, Luca did not leave immediately. Instead, he stayed in Franklin''s clinic.


    He intended to see if he could obtain the Witch Doctor profession from Franklin.


    To quickly enhance the power of a Demonic Rune Mage, arge amount of gold coins is needed to purchase some transcendent materials for drawing magic runes.


    The Witch Doctor, being one of the few professions whose skills caught Luca''s interest, had various supportive abilities and money-making potential that aligned perfectly with his needs.


    Since he had encountered a Witch Doctor, he wasn''t going to let the opportunity slip by.


    Franklin was engrossed at his workbench, tinkering with a rabbit-sized eagle mouse, and hadn''t noticed Luca still lingering in the clinic.


    "Flesh Maniption!"


    Franklin muttered, dark gray witch power swirling in his hand before transforming into a rune that merged into the eagle mouse.


    "Squeak, squeak, squeak~"


    Sensing danger, the eagle mouse let out a series of squeaks.


    It scurried around the cage restlessly, clearly unsettled.


    Seeing this, Franklin quickly took out the prepared Calming Grass potion and fed it to the eagle mouse.


    However, just like before, the eagle mouse did not calm down after drinking the potion. Instead, it became even more agitated, gnawing on the iron cage bars with a grinding noise.


    It wasn''t long before the eagle mouse became lethargic, clearly on the verge of death.


    "This shouldn''t be happening. Why isn''t the Flesh Maniption working?" Franklin muttered to himself, his withered face full of confusion.


    Flesh Maniption is one of the high-level skills of a Witch Doctor, allowing the user to control the body and flesh of the target, useful in bothbat and healing.


    The problem was that despite his numerous attempts on the eagle mouse, he hadn''t seeded even once. This left Franklin baffled, unable to understand where he went wrong.


    Could it be that he hadn''t used enough Calming Grass?


    Franklin frowned, pondering this as he prepared to fetch more materials for another attempt.


    As he turned, he saw Luca standing behind him, staring intently at the eagle mouse in the cage.


    Franklin was startled.


    "I already gave you your quest reward! What are you still doing here?" Franklin red at Luca with his small gray eyes, annoyed by the novice mage''sck of manners.


    Didn''t he know that one should stay far away when someone else is conducting research?


    "Your Calming Grass potion had a problem," Luca pointed out.


    Although he wasn''t familiar with the Witch Doctor profession, in his previous life he had a secondary profession as a Superss healer.


    The principle of knowledge being interconnected meant that even without understanding the Witch Doctor profession, his experience allowed him to identify the issue.


    Franklin was momentarily stunned, then almostughed out of anger.


    "You ignorant fool, get out of here!" he snarled.


    "The great Witch Doctor Franklin doesn''t need advice from a novice mage like you. Don''t interfere with my spell research, or I''ll drown you in the septic tank!"


    Franklin threatened, pointing to a distant toilet.


    It seemed to imply that if Luca didn''t leave, that would be his fate.


    Watching Franklin turn to fetch more materials, Luca shrugged.


    He had already pointed out the problem.


    The issue was that Franklin seemed too ipetent to realize it.


    Thinking this, Luca looked at the eagle mouse.


    After a moment of hesitation, he stepped forward.


    Luca felt it was necessary to try a different approach.


    So, when Franklin returned, he was greeted by a sight that made his blood boil.

 Chapter 6: Level Ten Talent, Innate Max-Level Perception

    <h4>Chapter 6: Level Ten Talent, Innate Max-Level Perception</h4>


    "What are you doing?!" Franklin let out a piercing scream.


    The novice mage was now at his workbench, fiddling with his beloved eagle mouse!


    This was akin to insulting his wife.


    No, even worse than insulting his wife; no one should ever tamper with his eagle mouse!


    Franklin roared in anger, grabbed a scalpel, and charged at Luca.


    "You damned novice, you''re dead! I''m going to gouge out your eyes and soak them in alcohol, cut off your manhood and feed it to the dogs, and... huh?" Franklin''s face was twisted in rage, ready to teach this impertinent kid a harsh lesson.


    But as he approached and saw the situation in the cage, he suddenly froze.


    "What... what did you do to my eagle mouse?" he asked, looking at the lively eagle mouse and Luca, who was busy with some potions, with a mix of suspicion and disbelief.


    Franklin knew the eagle mouse''s condition well and had been ready to give up on it. Yet, in just a few minutes, this novice had managed to heal it?


    Luca set down the vial in his hand, looked up, and smiled. "I didn''t do much. I just fed the eagle mouse a bit of Bone Scale Powder to neutralize some of the effects of the Calming Grass in its system."


    "Bone Scale Powder?" Franklin repeated, stunned, then muttered to himself.


    Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head, and he pped his hands in realization, eximing, "No wonder! No wonder the Calming Grass potion wasn''t working on the eagle mouse. It was the Bone Scale Powder!"


    Franklin remembered that he had used the human form for the Calming Grass potion.


    For the eagle mouse, Bone Scale Powder was needed to mitigate the effects of Calming Grass; otherwise, the eagle mouse couldn''t handle it.


    With this realization, Franklin looked at Luca in astonishment and asked, "Are you a healer?"


    If he wasn''t a healer, there was no way he could have known that Bone Scale Powder could neutralize the effects of Calming Grass.


    The fact that this novice noticed something even he, a purple-gold level Witch Doctor, hadn''t.


    That was intriguing.


    Luca shook his head. "I''m not a healer. I just have a keen sense of perception and happen to know a bit about herbology."


    Franklin''s surprise deepened. He scrutinized Luca from head to toe. "Are you saying that you figured out the problem with the Calming Grass potion just by sensing it?"


    Luca nodded.


    Franklin fell silent.


    In professions such as mage, Witch Doctor, healer, and alchemist, perception was crucial.


    It allowed practitioners to sense the transcendent energies of the world more finely, helping them control the distribution of materials or magic more urately and create more potent and effective transcendent potions.


    If what this young man said was true.


    That he could identify the issue with the Calming Grass potion without being a professional healer.


    This guy was an undiscovered genius!


    Thinking this, Franklin''s gaze toward Luca became quite peculiar.


    "Don''t leave just yet. Wait here for a moment," Franklin said, then hurriedly turned and went to the clinic''s material storage. After rummaging for a while, he finally pulled out a white crystal ball.


    [Perception Talent Test Crystal: Can test the user''s perception talent level.]


    "ce your hand on this and focus on testing your talent level," Franklin handed the perception crystal to Luca, his eyes filled with anticipation.


    Whether this kid is as talented as he ims to be will be revealed through this test.


    If this kid is truly a Surpass the conventional perception genius, then Franklin would have struck gold!


    "Alright," Luca nodded. This was exactly what he wanted. Only by demonstrating enough talent and potential could he gain the attention of someone as entric as Franklin and secure the Witch Doctor profession.


    Luca ced his hand on the perception crystal and closed his eyes.


    Perception and other talents are generally divided into ten levels, ranging from 1 to 10.


    Different levels of perception talent emit different colors of light during the test.


    As soon as Luca ced his hand on the crystal ball...


    "Boom!"


    A blinding purple-gold light erupted from the crystal ball!


    The noble and mysterious purple-gold light illuminated Franklin''s shocked, gaunt face.


    With a face full of astonishment, he eximed, "Level 9, level 9 perception talent?!"


    Although he suspected that Luca''s perception talent might be high, he never imagined it would be level 9!


    When Franklin had his talent tested, his perception was only at level 7, yet his mentor had still called him a genius. Now, at just 50 years old, he had be a high-level purple-gold Witch Doctor.


    But this kid had a level 9 perception talent!


    To put it in perspective, people with a level 9 perception talent in the entire Kingdom of Clinton were extremely rare.


    In the Emerald State, only Count Ryan''s eldest daughter, Sophia, possessed such a talent.


    If Luca studied the way of the Witch Doctor with him, he could potentially reach the Superss level!


    Thinking this, Franklin''s breathing grew rapid.


    There were only a handful of Superss Witch Doctors in the entire Kingdom of Clinton. Franklin knew he would never reach that level in his lifetime, but if his disciple could achieve it...


    As Franklin was contemting this, his eyes suddenly widened in shock.


    The purple-gold light on the crystal ball in Luca''s hand began to fade, leaving behind a radiant, divine golden light!


    The dazzling golden light reflected in Franklin''s eyes made his breath almost stop!


    In the Eternal Continent, there is only one talent that emits golden light!


    Level 10 talent!


    Innate max-level perception!


    Franklin could hardly believe his eyes.


    He never dreamed that, out of sheer curiosity, he would test the talent of a novice mage and discover an unparalleled genius with innate max-level perception!


    This was a talent only found in legends, a transcendent aptitude that would inevitably reach the Transcendent realm!


    Not only was there no one with such talent in the Kingdom of Clinton, but the entire Eternal Continent might not have anyone with this level of aptitude!


    This was the birthright of a Transcendent!


    However, an even more shocking event was about to ur.


    The golden light in Luca''s hand grew increasingly intense, illuminating the entire clinic with its brilliance!


    "Bang!"


    Finally, under Franklin''s ghostly gaze, the crystal ball suddenly exploded with a loud bang, shattering into fragments all over the floor!


    "It broke... The test crystal actually broke!" Franklin stared nkly at the scene.


    Even with his extensive knowledge as a high-level Witch Doctor, he couldn''tprehend why this had happened.


    At that moment, Luca slowly opened his eyes.


    "Witch Doctor Franklin, it seems your crystal ball isn''t of very good quality," Luca shrugged, looking at the shattered crystal fragments on the floor.


    Luca was already aware of his max-level perception talent, so this didn''t surprise him at all.


    Franklin snapped back to reality.


    With unprecedented speed, he rushed to Luca''s side, scrutinizing him from head to toe, his gaze burning with intensity, making Luca feel a bit ufortable.


    "Wonderful! The heavens have not forsaken me, Franklin! To think that in my twilight years, a peerless genius woulde to me!" Franklinughed heartily, full of joy.


    Then he suddenly turned his sharp gaze to Luca, his expression solemn. "Kid, with your innate max-level perception, there are few across the entire Eternal Continent qualified to be your teacher. I, a mere high-level Witch Doctor, am hardly worthy of teaching a genius like you.


    "But even though I''m not the strongest, I have inherited the most orthodox Witch Doctor tradition on the Eternal Continent. If you are interested in learning the ways of the Witch Doctor, I am willing to impart all my knowledge to you! With your talent, it won''t take more than a few decades for your name to be known across the entire Eternal Continent!


    "By then, when people speak of you, they might also remember an old Witch Doctor named Franklin Soster who once had the honor of being your teacher for a time!"


    As Franklin finished speaking, a game prompt appeared in front of Luca.


    [Ding! You have triggered the hidden quest "Franklin''s Legacy"!]


    [Quest Description: Your talent has impressed the Witch Doctor Franklin Soster. He wants to take you under his wing and teach you the ways of the Witch Doctor. Do you wish to switch to the hidden profession "Witch Doctor"?]

 Chapter 7: Franklin’s Legacy

    <h4>Chapter 7: Franklin''s Legacy</h4>


    Seeing the game prompt, Luca didn''t hesitate for a moment and said to Franklin, "Student Luca is willing to learn under Teacher Franklin and study the knowledge of the Witch Doctor!"


    Upon hearing Luca''s words, Franklin''s face lit up with joy.


    Having such a disciple would surely allow the Witch Doctor legacy to flourish!


    [Ding! Congrattions onpleting "Franklin''s Legacy," gaining the hidden profession "Witch Doctor"!]


    [Congrattions! You have be an Apprentice Witch Doctor!]


    [You have gained the skills "Herbology (Basic)," "Herbal Extraction (Basic)," "Herbal Concoction (Basic)"...]


    [Ding! Franklin''s favorability towards you +500. Favorability level: Trust!]


    Looking at Luca, Franklin couldn''t help butugh heartily, "Good, good, good! From now on, you''ll stay here at the clinic and follow me to study. Once I''ve taught you everything I know about the Witch Doctor profession and you''ve gained sufficient strength, you can go explore the Kingdom of Clinton on your own, or even see the wider world!"


    "Understood, teacher!" Luca nodded, smiling.


    With the support of the Witch Doctor profession, his future path would undoubtedly be smoother!


    Having epted such a talented disciple with max-level perception, Franklin was in high spirits.


    He swiped his ring, and a sh of light appeared in his hand.


    Soon, Franklin held a purple-gold potion and a ck gold-threaded robe.


    He handed them to Luca, smiling, "Since you''ve chosen to be my student, I won''t treat you poorly. Consider these as your apprenticeship gifts."


    "Thank you, teacher!" Luca quickly expressed his gratitude.


    [Ding! You have received a gift from Franklin: the item "Elemental Enhancement Potion (tinum Grade)" and the equipment "ck Gold Robe (Gold Grade)"!]


    [Elemental Enhancement Potion (tinum Grade): Increases your elemental control by 20%, elemental damage by 20%, elemental energy absorption speed by 20%, and elemental perception by 20%!]


    [ck Gold Robe (Gold Grade): No level restriction. Wearing it increases your Spirit attribute by 120 points, Agility attribute by 80 points, mana recovery speed by 150%, and grants the skill "Mana Barrier"!]


    Looking at the two items, Luca''s eyes showed surprise.


    Both the Elemental Enhancement Potion, a talent-enhancing potion, and the ck Gold Robe, a gold-grade equipment, were priceless treasures for him at this stage!


    If other yers knew about these items, they would be drooling with envy!


    Giving such valuable gifts as a greeting, his mentor was truly generous!


    Seeing Luca''s surprise, Franklin smiled proudly, "Follow me and study the ways of the Witch Doctor diligently, and you won''tck for money. Witch Doctors are one of the most lucrative professions, even more so than cksmiths and alchemists."


    Luca felt a surge of anticipation.


    It seemed he had made the right choice!


    With the Witch Doctor profession, his financial pressures would definitely be greatly reduced in the future!


    Just then, a frantic female voice came from the clinic entrance.


    "Franklin,e quickly! Kaman''s dying!"


    Luca turned toward the voice and saw a group of people hurriedly rushing into the clinic.


    The speaker was a red-haired woman in armor.


    She held a long spear, her red hair cascading over her shoulders. She was tall, with a beautiful face and an air of heroism about her, though her expression was now full of anxiety.


    Behind the red-haired woman, several men were carrying a stretcher. On ity a pale-faced young man in leather armor.


    Luca nced at him and saw that the young man had arge, gaping wound in his abdomen, bleeding profusely. It was clear he didn''t have much time left.


    "What''s with the shouting? He''s not dead yet!" Franklin snapped, reverting to his original grumpy demeanor as he impatiently retorted at the armored red-haired woman. He walked over to the stretcher to examine the young man''s condition.


    The red-haired woman, familiar with Franklin''s temper, ignored his attitude and pleaded anxiously, "We were attacked by Dire Wolves outside the city. Kaman was poisoned by their venom. Please save my brother; he won''tst much longer!"


    "Dire Wolves? What''s one of those doing outside the city..." Franklin muttered, starting to inspect the boy''s wound.


    Luca also stepped forward to take a look and saw a ck liquid seeping from the young man''s abdomen.


    This substance was the venom, a toxin specific to certain monsters, and notoriously difficult to deal with. Dire Wolves were one such monster known to carry it.


    Encountering Dire Wolves outside the city was indeed a stroke of bad luck for this group.


    At that moment, Franklin''s hands glowed with a grey light as he ced them on the boy''s abdomen to stabilize the wound. He then turned to Luca and said, "This kid''s in bad shape. On the third shelf to the west, there''s a jar with a Detox Beetle inside. Go get it for me."


    Luca nodded and went to fetch the Detox Beetle.


    The group of onlookers was stunned by Franklin''s words. One man asked in confusion, "Old man, since when did you take on a student?"


    Another person chimed in, equally surprised, "Yeah, don''t you hate teaching students? Didn''t you turn down that promising kid from the Norton family who wanted to be your apprentice?"


    The others also looked puzzled.


    In Riverfall City, Franklin''s skills were as well-known as his peculiar temper.


    He was famously skilled but also famously entric and reclusive.


    He had lived in Riverfall City for many years without ever taking on students, assistants, or apprentices. What had suddenly changed?


    Franklin rolled his eyes and said, "I find this kid pleasing to the eye. Can''t I take him on as a student if I want to?"


    He was joking, of course. The talent of those previous wannabes couldn''tpare to Luca''s.


    Franklin had previously refused them because their aptitude didn''t meet his standards.


    But Luca was different.


    If he didn''t take in a peerless genius with innate max-level perception, his ancestors would probably crawl out of their graves to give him a p.


    At this moment, Luca had already brought the Detox Beetle.


    "Teacher, here''s the Detox Beetle," he said, handing over the insect.


    It was a plump, snow-white grub, about two fingers thick, squirming in Luca''s palm while nibbling on a poisonous mushroom.


    "Ah, good, good. Thank you," Franklin''s face immediately softened.


    His swift change in attitude left the onlookers bewildered.


    Was this kid some sort of big shot''s offspring?


    How else could he make Franklin, the old curmudgeon, act so kindly?


    The group eyed Luca, specting.


    Franklin then ced the plump Detox Beetle into the boy''s abdominal wound.


    This sight made everyone around flinch.


    The red-haired woman, Catherine, seemed like she wanted to say something but ultimately held her tongue.


    Luca, on the other hand, was unfazed, having seen much more gruesome and disgusting scenes before.


    Once ced in the boy''s abdomen, the Detox Beetle seemed to sense something, lifted its pudgy head to sniff the air, then eagerly crawled toward the ck venom, starting to feast on it.


    As the Detox Beetle consumed the venom, the boy''splexion improved slightly.


    Catherine sighed in relief and gratefully said to Franklin, "Franklin, my brother Kaman and I will never forget this favor. If you ever need any help, just let us know."


    Without looking up, Franklin replied, "Don''t get too happy just yet. Venom is not that easily neutralized. The Detox Beetle can only slow its spread. To save your brother, you''ll need the heart of that Dire Wolf."


    Catherine''s face fell, and she said, "But that Dire Wolf has already fled into the Beast Forest. It''s impossible to find it now..."


    Franklin frowned, "Then you''ll just have to watch him die. Without the materials, I can''t save him."


    Hearing this, Catherine and herpanions were at a loss.


    They couldn''t just watch Kaman die but searching the Beast Forest was like finding a needle in a haystack.


    At that moment, a voice suddenly called out to them.


    "Take me with you. I have a way to find that Dire Wolf."

 Chapter 8: Demon Tracking Potion, Journey to the Beast Forest

    <h4>Chapter 8: Demon Tracking Potion, Journey to the Beast Forest</h4>


    Hearing Luca''s words, the others looked at him in astonishment.


    It was hard for them to believe.


    This seemingly unassuming young man could do something even Franklin couldn''t.


    "You''re just a novice who has barely be a Formal Mage. What are you doing involving yourself in this? What will you do if you encounter danger?" Franklin''s bushy white eyebrows furrowed.


    He didn''t doubt Luca''s abilities.


    Especially after Luca had saved his eagle mouse. It showed that Luca had some skills.


    However, Franklin had just gained such a valuable student and couldn''t bear to let him take any risks.


    If anything happened to Luca, Franklin would deeply regret it.


    Upon hearing that Luca was just a novice mage, the group felt a twinge of disappointment.


    Luca, unfazed by their reactions, smiled and said, "Don''t worry, teacher. There won''t be any danger. I just want to see what the beasts in the Beast Forest look like. I''ve never been there before."


    Of course, this was just an excuse.


    Dire Wolves, monsters that lived in the Beast Forest, suddenly appearing outside Riverfall City.


    It raised Luca''s suspicions.


    Based on his memories from his previous life, countless Spatial Nodes would appear in the Eternal World after the game''sunch.


    Monsters near these nodes would be increasingly restless.


    Luca suspected there might be a node near Riverfall City.


    The most likely ce was the Beast Forest, which is why he volunteered to go.


    If there was indeed a node, discovering it early would be beneficial for both him and Riverfall City.


    If nothing was found, he could still hunt some monsters to quickly level up to 10 andplete his profession change quest.


    "Well then, young Witch Doctor, how do you n to find the Dire Wolf?" Catherine asked, looking at Luca with hopeful eyes.


    Although Luca looked young, being Franklin''s disciple set him apart from ordinary people.


    And somehow, Catherine found herself instinctively trusting Luca.


    Luca exined, "I can use the venom to make a potion called ''Demon Tracking Potion.'' Once fed to some animals, it will lead us to the Dire Wolf''s trail."


    Previously, he wouldn''t have been able to make such a potion, but after gaining the Witch Doctor profession, Luca unlocked the ability to synthesize herbs.


    Now he could use his knowledge from his previous life as a healer to create some basic potions.


    "Demon Tracking Potion?" The group was puzzled, having never heard of such a thing.


    Franklin''s eyes widened in shock.


    "The Demon Tracking Potion has been lost for a hundred years! How do you know how to make it?"


    Others might not know about the Demon Tracking Potion, but Franklin had heard of it.


    The form for making it had been lost long ago. How did Luca know about it?


    Before Luca could respond, Franklin waved his hand and said, "Never mind, it''s your own good fortune. I won''t pry. Take whatever materials you need."


    As he spoke, Franklin nced at Catherine and said, "Of course, you''ll be covering the cost of these materials."


    "Thank you, esteemed Witch Doctor. I''ll pay double for the materials!" Catherine nodded eagerly.


    She then turned to Luca, her expression sincere. "Young Witch Doctor, if you can indeed find the Dire Wolves, I will also give you a generous reward!"


    [Ding! Catherine''s favorability towards you +50]


    [You have triggered the quest "Finding the Dire Wolves"!]


    [Quest Description: Help Catherine locate the Dire Wolves and receive a reward of 100 gold coins!]


    Seeing the reward, Luca was delighted.


    He hadn''t expected Catherine to be so generous, offering 100 gold coins!


    He immediately thumped his chest and said, "Don''t worry, leave it to me!"


    Luca had a fondness for well-funded clients.


    Even without his previous suspicions, the 100 gold coins were incentive enough to help.


    "Young people love adventure," Franklin sighed, producing a yellow potion bottle from somewhere and handing it to Luca.


    "If you encounter danger, open this. It will paralyze monsters below Gold Grade for a short time."


    [Ding! You have received Franklin''s gift "Paralyzing Mist (Gold Grade)"!]


    [Paralyzing Mist (Gold Grade): When used, it releases a paralyzing mist that affects monsters within a 20-meter radius, causing paralysis for 5 minutes.]


    "Thank you, teacher!" Luca quickly epted the yellow potion bottle.


    Franklin had to stay behind to manage Kaman''s condition, so he couldn''t apany them.


    However, with the Witch Doctor''s various methods, just this bottle of paralyzing mist was enough to ensure their safety in the Beast Forest.


    The others looked at Luca with envy, and Catherine felt a touch of sentiment.


    A Gold Grade item given so casually, Franklin valued this student far more than they had imagined!


    This also sparked a bit of curiosity in Catherine.


    What kind of magical talent did this young man possess to win over Franklin, the stubborn old man?


    Luca then took some of the venom and began synthesizing the "Demon Tracking Potion" at Franklin''s workbench.


    Although the method for creating the Demon Tracking Potion had been lost, it was a low-level potion and thus not difficult to make.


    With his maxed-out talent, it didn''t take long for Luca to produce a ck pill.


    At the same time, a game prompt appeared.


    [Ding! Congrattions on sessfully synthesizing the "Demon Tracking Potion" independently. Witch Doctor skill "Potion Synthesis" proficiency +100]


    [Skill "Potion Synthesis" level increased to lv2. Potion synthesis sess rate +5%, potion synthesis speed +5%]


    "It leveled up so easily," Luca thought, pleasantly surprised.


    It seemed his maxed-out talent attributes were even more powerful than he had imagined.


    Whether it wasbat skills or life skills, leveling up required continuous use to increase proficiency. Generally, a yer would gain 1-10 points of proficiency per use.


    However, with his maxed-out talent and the title " Peerless appearance" Luca''s proficiency increased much faster than others.


    "That''s... it?" Catherine looked at the ck pill in Luca''s hand, astonished.


    Aren''t crafting skills supposed to have very low sess rates?


    Franklin, on the other hand, was full of pride and satisfaction.


    As expected from a genius with level 10 perception, he seeded on his first try at potion synthesis. Truly remarkable talent!


    "Looks like I got lucky," Luca smiled and casually fed the Demon Tracking Potion to a dazed eagle mouse, then looped a leash around its neck.


    To everyone''s surprise, the eagle mouse''s eyes glowed with a ck light, and it suddenly stood up straight.


    It stared nkly in the direction of the Beast Forest, then darted out the door.


    "Follow it!" Luca called out to the stunned group, taking the lead as he tugged on the leash.


    "Quick, quick! Kaman can be saved!" The others snapped out of their daze and excitedly followed.


    Catherine''s eyes gleamed with excitement, amazed at Luca''s capabilities.


    [Ding! Catherine''s favorability towards you +50]


    The Beast Forest was not far from Starlight Lake, making it a rtively short distance.


    With the eagle mouse leading the way, the group swiftly headed out of the city.


    Along the way, Luca and hispanions drew the attention of countless yers.


    "What kind of animal is that? Is it a mouse? It''s so cute!"


    "Wow, I''ve seen people walk dogs, but this is the first time I''ve seen someone walk a mouse!"


    "Look at that red-haired beauty! Are the NPCs in this game all this good-looking?"


    "That armor is so cool! She looks like a Lancer!"


    "Mom, I''m in love again!"


    ...


    The sight of Catherine''s tall figure and fiery red hair left a group of yers dazzled.


    In real life, she would undoubtedly be a celebrity!


    As the only yer among a group of NPCs, Luca stood out even more.


    The yers chatted excitedly about Luca, but he paid them no mind, staying focused on following the eagle mouse.


    It doesn''t spend time.


    With the eagle mouse leading the way, Luca, Catherine, and the others exited Riverfall City.


    In the distance.


    Luca could see the dense forest situated on the Wind in.

 Chapter 9: Furious Boar Bracers, Node Discovery

    <h4>Chapter 9: Furious Boar Bracers, Node Discovery</h4>


    The outskirts of the Beast Forest were areas for level 10-15, currently beyond the reach of most yers.


    As they approached the Beast Forest, Luca and hispanions slowed their pace to avoid any unexpected dangers.


    Along the way, Luca learned about Catherine and her team''s identities and professions.


    They were the city guards of Riverfall City, with Catherine serving as the captain of the guard, a Silver-grade Lancer.


    Kaman, her brother, was a Bronze-grade Wind Archer.


    He had been severely injured while patrolling outside the city when he was attacked by a Dire Wolf.


    "I see," Luca nodded in realization, no wonder Catherine''s armor looked familiar.


    It was the same standard issue armor as Cassman''s from Riverfall City.


    With Catherine, a Silver-grade knight, leading them, the group didn''t hesitate and ventured straight into the Beast Forest.


    The light dimmed instantly, surrounded by towering trees and thick underbrush.


    The environment was dark and damp, asionally filled with deep, resonant roars from the forest''s depths, instilling fear.


    The city guards were on high alert, and Catherine nced at Luca, who was at the front.


    She noted his calm demeanor, showing no signs of fear or change in expression.


    She was impressed.


    No wonder Franklin had chosen this young man. Hisposure alone set him apart from the average person.


    Most youngsters would be terrified by now.


    Suddenly, Luca stopped, frowning. "Be careful, there''s a monster approaching!"


    The group immediately raised their weapons in rm.


    But then, they hesitated, feeling puzzled.


    They couldn''t sense anything.


    "Kid, are you messing with us?" someone grumbled, thinking Luca was overreacting.


    Catherine frowned, wondering if Luca had misheard.


    But then, a loud crash echoed.


    A huge tree, thick enough for two to embrace, was snapped in half!


    Immediately following, a ck wild boar the size of a small car, with blood-red eyes, charged straight at them!


    [Lv13 Furious Boar (Common)]


    [HP: 1200/1200]


    [Attack: 167]


    [Defense: 51]


    [Skill: Savage Charge]


    "Dodge!" everyone shouted in panic.


    Without thinking, they scrambling out of the way.


    Though the Furious Boar caught them off guard.


    Luca''s warning had given them a precious moment to prepare, avoiding any casualties.


    As the others reacted, Luca had already cast his spell.


    Water Arrow Spell!


    A sharp water arrow sliced through the air, striking the Furious Boar in one eye.


    Water and blood sttered everywhere!


    The boar let out a horrific wail, its massive body crashing to the ground, shaking the earth.


    Then, an astounding damage number appeared above the boar''s head.


    -555!


    "Holy crap, how does this kid deal so much damage!" the group eximed, gasping in shock.


    If they remembered correctly, Luca had justpleted the Formal Mage quest.


    But this damage was already higher than theirs!


    It made the group question if they were seeing things.


    At that moment, Catherine became a silver blur, charging straight at the Furious Boar.


    Her spear twirled in her hands, emitting a red glow that streaked through the air like lightning.


    Before the boar could react, Catherine thrust her spear forward.


    "Thud!"


    The sharp spearhead pierced through the Furious Boar''s skull, sttering blood and brain matter.


    The Furious Boar was killed instantly, a sh of green light marking its demise!


    Simultaneously, Luca received a kill notification.


    [Ding! You assisted Catherine in killing "lv13 Furious Boar (Common)" and gained 30% experience, 523 points!]


    [Your level has increased to lv7, and you have gained 10 free attribute points!]


    [Current experience: 144/549]


    Catherine stepped forward and, without caring about the blood, bent down to pick up the items the Furious Boar had dropped.


    She nced at them briefly before tossing them to Luca.


    "You spotted the monster first and dealt significant damage. This equipment should go to you," she said.


    The others had no objections. They hadn''t had the chance to engage and didn''t feel entitled to the loot.


    "Thank you!" Luca said, epting the items without hesitation.


    He looked at the item''s stats.


    [Furious Boar Bracers (Bronze Grade): Usable at level 10 or above, Strength +20, Stamina +20, HP +300]


    Although it was a warrior''s item, Luca was quite satisfied.


    For early-game yers, any equipment that boosted stats was valuable.


    Happily, Luca stored the bracers away.


    He then released the eagle mouse from his grasp to continue tracking the Dire Wolves.


    The others quickly followed.


    "Kid, how did you spot that monster? We didn''t sense anything," a burly man asked, puzzled.


    Everyone nodded in agreement.


    Even Catherine''s eyes showed curiosity.


    Despite her Silver-grade strength, she hadn''t detected the Furious Boar at all.


    How had Luca noticed it in advance?


    Luca shrugged and casually exined, "The Furious Boar had rolled in rotting mud, which can block perception. My perception works a bit differently, so the mud didn''t block it."


    Rotting mud, a special sludge from the swamp, can mask one''s presence when smeared on the body.


    The group then recalled that the Furious Boar indeed had ayer of ck mud on it, which they had previously thought was just its natural skin color.


    With this realization, they looked at Luca with newfound respect.


    Being able to perceive a monster through rotting mud was no small feat.


    This young man was not average guy who just have a normal perception talent.


    Catherine thinks in her mind.


    After the incident with the Furious Boar, no one dared to underestimate the seemingly young Luca.


    Franklin''s apprentice could independently brew potions and possessed strongbat skills and perception talent.


    To them, Luca was far more than just a young boy.


    The group continued deeper into the forest.


    They had now moved past the outskirts and entered the inner regions of the Beast Forest.


    The monsters here were clearly of higher levels, ranging from 15 to 20. Even the guard squad found it challenging to handle them.


    Fortunately, with Catherine, the Silver-grade Lancer, leading the way, they managed without major issues.


    What was surprising was how Luca seemed even more at ease than Catherine


    That made the others feel somewhat ashamed.


    Despite their years of training, they were outperformed by someone who had just be a Formal Mage.


    "Squeak, squeak."


    As they passed by a cave, the eagle mouse suddenly stopped, squeaking incessantly towards the cave entrance.


    Luca surveyed the surroundings and his gaze fell on a pile of droppings not far from the entrance.


    He turned to the group and said, "We''ve found it. The Dire Wolf should be in this cave."


    The others noticed the Dire Wolf droppings and felt a surge of excitement.


    Dire Wolves were rare, especially in the Beast Forest.


    Now, they were almost certain that the Dire Wolf in the cave was the one that attacked Kaman.


    "Kaman can really be saved!" Catherine clenched her fists, her eyes sparkling with excitement.


    [Ding! Catherine''s favorability towards you +50]


    "Good job, kid! When we get back, drinks are on me," a burly man said, giving Luca a thumbs up.


    Luca shook his head, "It''s not time to celebrate yet. Taking down that Dire Wolf won''t be easy."


    He looked at the cave, his expression serious. "I can sense that there''s more than one monster in there!"


    Luca felt a sense of foreboding, not just because of the other monsters'' presence.


    He also sensed a very familiar energy fluctuation.


    A Spatial Node!


    He couldn''t believe it. He had actually found one!

 Chapter 10: Paralyzing Mist, Slaying the Dire Wolves

    <h4>Chapter 10: Paralyzing Mist, ying the Dire Wolves</h4>


    A Spatial Node can be destroyed by breaking its core.


    However, with Luca''s current strength, that was out of the question.


    He needed to return and find a way to get the powerful figures of Riverfall City involved.


    As he was thinking, the others asked curiously, "Luca, what did you mean just now?"


    Catherine also looked puzzled.


    Dire Wolves are solitary creatures, known for their violent nature. They don''t even tolerate their offspring.


    So making it highly unlikely for other creatures to share a den with it.


    Luca shook his head, not borating. Instead, he picked up a pebble and tossed it into the cave.


    "Bang!"


    The pebble flew into the dark cave, hitting something inside.


    While the others were still wondering what Luca was doing, a shocking scene unfolded before them.


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!"


    Multiple pairs of crimson eyes suddenly lit up inside the cave, and deafening roars echoed out!


    The ground shook as countless birds took flight in panic from the Beast Forest.


    Powerful auras surged from the cave, including those of Gold Grade monsters!


    Everyone held their breath, their eyes wide with shock and fear.


    It was now clear what Luca meant by saying there was more than one monster.


    Catherine quickly reacted and shouted.


    "Run!"


    Her heart pounded with fear. She couldn''t spare a moment to ask Luca how he knew there were so many monsters in the cave or why he had provoked them. She grabbed Luca, ready to flee.


    But to her astonishment, she grabbed nothing but air!


    "You..."


    Catherine turned to call Luca back.


    But what she saw made her gasp.


    Luca, as quick as lightning, was running toward the cave entrance.


    "Luca,e back!" Catherine shouted anxiously, rushing to pull him back.


    "Captain, don''t go! You''ll get yourself killed!" the others shouted, trying to stop her.


    But Catherine ignored them, sprinting toward Luca.


    This boy hade here to save her brother. If he died here, she would never forgive herself.


    Although Luca was fast, Catherine, being a Silver-grade warrior, was much faster.


    In an instant, she was right behind him.


    At that moment, Catherine could see the scene inside the cave, and her pupils contracted in shock.


    The dark cave was teeming with hundreds of various monsters, all surging out!


    There were Gale Tigers, Explosive Bears, Dire Wolves, Red-tailed Foxes, Purple-gold Bees...


    As soon as they emerged, their violent eyes locked onto her and Luca.


    The sheer number of monsters made everyone''s scalp tingle.


    There were simply too many!


    Catherine didn''t hesitate. She reached out to pull Luca back.


    To her shock and anger, Catherine found that Luca had dodged her again.


    How did he manage to avoid her without even seeing her?


    She didn''t have time to think and shouted angrily at Luca, "Are you trying to get yourself killed...?"


    But before she could finish her sentence, she stopped abruptly.


    The others also noticed something was off and eximed, "What''s happening?"


    The hundreds of fierce, snarling monsters charging toward Luca.


    Suddenly stumbled and fell just a few meters away from him!


    "Roar! Roar!"


    For a moment, the air was filled with the sound of monsters'' roars and their bodies hitting the ground. In less than two minutes, the previously chaotic herdy on the ground, eyes rolling back and limbs twitching as if they were having seizures.


    Catherine now saw that Luca was holding a yellow bottle in his hand.


    Faint yellow smoke was billowing out of the bottle.


    It was the Paralyzing Mist!


    Understanding Luca''s intentions, Catherine shocked a while.


    That none of the monsters in this area exceeded Gold Grade. The Paralyzing Mist''s potency was enough to incapacitate all of them.


    Luca hadn''t been reckless; he had nned this all along.


    As she breathed a sigh of relief, Catherine suddenly felt dizzy and weak.


    She gave a wry smile, realizing she had been affected as well.


    Luca turned just in time to see Catherine copsing and quickly caught her by the waist.


    "The tool my teacher gave me doesn''t differentiate between friend and foe. I ran over here to avoid exposing you to the mist, but I didn''t expect you to follow," Luca said, half-amused and half-exasperated.


    "I''m sorry," Catherine murmured, a blush spreading across her fair, delicate face.


    Whether it was out of embarrassment from her earlier panic or from being held by a young man, she wasn''t sure.


    The city guards, now realizing what had happened, hurried over.


    "What are ..." Seeing their captain being held by Luca, they exchanged curious nces.


    Catherine''s blush deepened.


    [Ding! Catherine''s favorability towards you +10]


    Luca looked at her in surprise, wondering why her favorability increased at this moment.


    Shaking his head, he remembered that the Paralyzing Mist would onlyst five minutes, so he needed to act quickly.


    "You sit here for now. I''lle back for you shortly," Luca instructed.


    The mist''s range was toorge for the others to approach, so he would have to bring Catherine back himselfter.


    Catherine nodded and slowly sat down.


    Luca stood up and surveyed the dozens of twitching monsters on the ground.


    Finally, his gaze settled on a massive ck wolf, several meters long.


    [lv15 Dire Wolf (Rare)]


    [HP: 2400/2400]


    [Attack: 221]


    [Defense: 78]


    [Skills: Shadow Strike, Shadow ws]


    ...


    Monsters were categorized simrly to humans: Iron, Silver, Gold, and so on.


    However, based on their bloodline talents, monsters also have their own talent tiers: Common, Rare, Elite, Leader, Overlord, and King.


    Corresponding to human ranks such as Low, Intermediate, Advanced, High, Superss, and Transcendent.


    The monsters here were mostly Silver and Gold Grade. With Luca''s current strength, he had limited chances to kill many of them.


    If Luca wanted to maximize his gains within the five-minute window, he had to choose his targets wisely.


    This Dire Wolf was perfect, and he could alsoplete Catherine''s quest.


    Time was running short, so Luca didn''t dy. He took out his staff and approached.


    Woof...


    The Dire Wolfy on the ground, baring its teeth and growling as Luca drew closer. Its blood-red eyes were filled with both menace and fear.


    "Still trying to threaten me?" Luca narrowed his eyes.


    In the next moment, his mana surged, and his staff glowed with a crimson light.


    "Fireball!"


    A spark ignited in the air.


    Instantly, a fireball the size of a human head zoomed towards the Dire Wolf.


    "Boom!"


    The fireball exploded on the Dire Wolf, engulfing it in roaring mes!


    A blood-red damage number appeared!


    -611!


    Wooooof!


    The acrid smell of burning fur filled the air, and the Dire Wolf''s wails of agony echoed, sounding incredibly pitiful.


    Luca showed no mercy, continuously casting spells at the Dire Wolf.


    Having experienced the cruelty of these monsters in his previous life.


    He wanted to eat their flesh and drink their blood. Luca harbored no sympathy for them.


    Under Luca''s relentless attacks, the Dire Wolf''s health, over 2000 points, rapidly decreased.


    Despite having a limited number of spells, Luca''s high damage output was overwhelming.


    Even his basic magical attacks inflicted over 400 points of damage on the Dire Wolf.


    In less than two minutes, Luca smashed the Dire Wolf''s head with his staff.


    [Ding! You have killed "lv15 Dire Wolf (Rare)" and gained 6654 experience points!]


    A massive surge of experience flooded into Luca.


    At the same time, multiple golden lights illuminated his body, and his level shot up to 10!


    [Ding! Your level has reached lv10, gaining 10 free attribute points!]


    [Job Advancement Trial has officially begun!]


    [You cannot continue leveling up until youplete the Job Advancement Trial!]


    [Ding! Congrattions on being the first yer to reach level 10 in this game. A server-wide announcement has been made!]


    [Reward: Silver-grade Storage Ring, "Wind Walk" Skill Scroll, 500 gold coins!]

 Chapter 11: The King of Rage, Hydra

    <h4>Chapter 11: The King of Rage, Hydra</h4>


    As soon as Luca killed the Dire Wolf.


    A bronze light shed over its charred corpse.


    "It dropped an item!" Luca''s eyes gleamed with joy as he hurriedly picked it up.


    [Wolf Fang Dagger (Bronze Grade): Level 10, Assassin equipment, Strength +30, Agility +30.]


    "Another dagger?" Although it wasn''t equipment he could use, Luca was a bit disappointed.


    Still, the dagger was worth a few dozen gold coins, making it a decent find.


    With more than half of the five minutes already gone, the surrounding monsters were beginning to regain their mobility.


    Luca needed to leave time for an escape. Using the newly acquired Wolf Fang Dagger, he made a deep cut in the Dire Wolf''s abdomen, extracted its heart, and swiftly removed its fangs and ws.


    With limited time, Luca couldn''t afford to skin the wolf, though it pained him. It was better than being surrounded by monsters.


    Packing everything up, Luca prepared to take Catherine and leave.


    But then, his pupils contracted sharply!


    A strong sense of danger gripped him, making his hair stand on end.


    Before he could react.


    An overwhelming pressure descended!


    Nine deafening roars erupted from the cave, and dense ck demonic energy shot through the rock walls and into the sky!


    Under this immense pressure, the previously paralyzed monsters, now recovering, showed fear and prostrated themselves, trembling violently.


    "What is happening?!" Catherine and the city guards were shocked by the scene.


    This level of pressure was far beyond that of ordinary monsters!


    What kind of monster was hiding in there?!


    Luca''s face darkened.


    "So, you''re here..." he muttered, turning slowly.


    Through the thick demonic energy, Luca glimpsed nine monstrous snake heads inside the cave!


    Seeing these familiar heads, his fists clenched tightly!


    He couldn''t believe it.


    In less than a day, he had encountered the monster that had killed him on the extraterrestrial battlefield!


    The King of Rage¡ªHydra!


    A nine-headed demon serpent from the Abyssal Demon Realm, a terrifying Transcendent-tier peak monster!


    Luca didn''t know whether to consider himself unlucky or lucky.


    Unlucky because the first Spatial Node he found was the one where the King of Rage Hydra was descending.


    Lucky because the Hydra hadn''t fully emerged from the Abyssal Demon Realm yet; this was just its apparition.


    Its main body was still in the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    It far from crossing the node into the Eternal Continent, let alone descending into the real world.


    With this realization, Luca felt a sense of relief, but his eyes turned icy.


    There was still time!


    As long as the node is destroyed before Hydra descends, that beast will be forced back into the Abyssal Demon Realm!


    Next, Luca needed to inform Riverfall City about this.


    The city''s strongmen would surely recognize the severity of the situation and take action.


    After casting onest nce at the dark cave.


    Luca wasted no time and quickly led Catherine away from the area.


    Given his current strength, there was very little he could do.


    Even if Hydra hadn''t fully descended, it could easily kill him.


    The priority now was toplete his Demonic Rune Mage ss change and quickly enhance his power.


    Seeing Luca leave without looking back.


    The city guards wasted no time following him. They didn''t dare linger.


    Only after exiting the Beast Forest did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    The earlier terrifying scene had scared everyone senseless.


    "What kind of monster was that? I thought I was done for!" the burly man who had earlier promised Luca a drink said, still shaken.


    Another young man, eyes filled with fear, added, "Who knows what it was. That pressure was too overwhelming. It must have been at least a tinum Grade lord monster!"


    A female mage looked at Catherine with concern, "Captain, a monster like that so close to Riverfall City is a serious threat. Should we report this to Lord Rudolph?"


    Rudolph Barton, the lord of Riverfall City, was also a viscount of the Emerald State, assisting Count Ryan in managing the territory.


    Catherine didn''t hesitate, "Of course we need to report it, and quickly! If there''s a tinum Grade or stronger monster in that cave, Lord Rudolph can escte it to the count."


    "Whatever happens, we can''t let this situation worsen!"


    Catherine now understood the gravity of the issue.


    The Dire Wolf that attacked her brother likely did so under the influence of the terrifying monster in the cave. If true, it could even lead to a monster horde.


    Luca, who had remained silent, nodded and then said with a bit of exasperation, "Miss Catherine, I admire your decisiveness, but your armor is really heavy. Could you get off my back?"


    Catherine realized just now.


    She was still being carried by Luca in her haste.


    Blushing, she quickly climbed off, stammering, "I''m sorry, Witch Doctor Luca."


    [Ding! Catherine''s favorability towards you +100]


    Luca stretched his aching back and looked at the favorability notification, feeling a mix of amusement and confusion.


    Her favorability seemed to increase for the strangest reasons...


    At that moment, Catherine remembered something. She took out 150 gold coins from her storage ring and handed them to Luca.


    She apologized, "Witch Doctor Luca, I need to report our encounter to Lord Rudolph at the City Lord''s Mansion. Could you please take care of my brother? The extra 50 gold coins are my way of saying thank you."


    [Ding! You havepleted the quest "Finding the Dire Wolves" and received 100 gold coins!]


    [Ding! Catherine has given you 50 gold coins and asked you to look after her brother, Kaman.]


    "Don''t worry, I''ll take good care of your brother," Luca replied without hesitation.


    It was essentially an extra 50 gold coins handed to him, and he wasn''t about to refuse.


    Not long after, the group arrived back at Riverfall City.


    After entering the city, Luca bid farewell to Catherine and the others, heading alone to Franklin''s clinic on West Street.


    During the walk, Luca reviewed his gains from this adventure.


    He had a Silver-grade storage ring with ten square meters of space, two Bronze-grade pieces of equipment (including the Furious Boar Bracers for his use), the system reward Skill Scroll "Wind Walk," and 500 gold coins.


    "Wind Walk" was a low-level wind attribute skill that increased movement speed, significantly enhancing survival and mobility for a mage.


    Luca decided to use it immediately.


    [Ding! You have used the Skill Scroll and acquired the low-level skill "Wind Walk"!]


    [Wind Walk (Low-level skill): Increases Agility by 30 points and movement speed by 20%.]


    Among his rewards, Luca was most thrilled with the 500 gold coins.


    This sum was a small fortune in the early stages of the game, enough to buy a decent Silver-grade piece of equipment!


    Converted to real money, it would be worth at least $50,000!


    Additionally, he had somemon equipment and materials from the Beast Forest.


    These stuff all were given by killing monster in their adventure.


    Catherine''s team give it to Luca.


    Luca sold these items at a general store.


    He earning a total of 120 gold coins.


    Combined with his previous rewards, he now had nearly 844 gold coins!


    With this amount, Luca felt relieved.


    He wouldn''t have to worry about materials for crafting enhancement magic runes for his Demonic Rune Mage ss for a while.


    He could even convert some of the money to stockpile food in case of emergencies.


    Luca then equipped his new gear and allocated all 30 free attribute points to his Spirit stat.


    He opened his status panel to check his attributes.


    [Name: Luca ]


    [Level: lv10 ]


    [Talent: The Person Favored (SSS-level) ]


    [ss: Formal Mage (ck Iron Level) ]


    [HP: 1600 ]


    [MP: 2900 ]


    [Attack: 577-592 ]


    [Attributes: Strength 130, Spirit 250, Stamina 130, Agility 190 ]


    [Special: Charm 100, Reflex 100, Talent 100, Luck 100 ]


    [Titles: Peerless appearance, Unrivaled in elegance and charm, Danger Perception, The Son of Luck ]


    [Skills: Basic Magic lv3, Skinning lv3, Herb Synthesis lv2, Water Arrow Spell lv2, Fireball lv2, Wind Walk lv1... Equipment: ck Gold Robe (Gold), ckwood Staff (Iron), Furious Boar Bracers (Bronze), Bamboo Grass Shoes (ck Iron Level)...]


    ...


    Luca''s base attack had now reached nearly 600 points.


    With elemental skills, he could deal almost 750 points of damage to his targets!


    If other yers knew this, they would be stunned.


    Most yers'' damage was still hovering around ten to twenty points.


    Luca had outpaced them by several leagues!

 Chapter 12: Lady Lenna’s Illness

    <h4>Chapter 12: Lady Lenna''s Illness</h4>


    Looking at his status panel, Luca couldn''t help but smile.


    If he remembered correctly, in his previous life, he hadn''t even picked up a quest at this stage. It took him a week to reach level 10.


    In this life, his strength had improved at least ten times faster!


    However, Luca remained vignt.


    The appearance of Hydra made him feel the urgency of the situation.


    Compared to such a Transcendent-tier monster, he was less than an ant.


    These Abyssal Demon Realm monsters were like the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head, leaving no room forcency.


    "I need toplete the profession change trial and be a Demonic Rune Mage as soon as possible," Luca thought to himself. Only by bing a Demonic Rune Mage could he continue leveling up.


    He could then convert the gold coins into power, allowing him to reach greater heights.


    With this in mind, Luca closed his status panel and quickened his pace toward Franklin''s clinic.


    Before long, he arrived at the secluded alley on West Street.


    Outside the clinic, Franklin was still tending to the unconscious Kaman''s injuries.


    Additionally, there were two other people in the clinic.


    To Luca''s surprise, they were familiar faces.


    The cold and elegant Sophia and the silver-armored Cassman.


    Inside the clinic, Sophia, in a noble gown, was slightly bent over, speaking respectfully, "Witch Doctor Franklin, my mother has been feeling unwell these past few days, but we haven''t been able to determine the cause."


    "So I would like to invite you to Howard Manor to examine her."


    "If you are willing toe, the Howard family will offer a generous reward."


    As a rare high-level Witch Doctor of purple-gold rank, Franklin''s strength and social status were on par with Sophia''s father, Count Ryan. Even Sophia had to show respect.


    However, Franklin shook his head and tly refused, "Miss Sophia, you should seek help elsewhere. I''ve made it clear that I don''t treat nobles. Even though Count Ryan is decent, I won''t go against my principles."


    Sophia''s eyes showed worry, and she seemed about to say more.


    Meanwhile Franklin noticed Luca at the door.


    His previously impatient face lit up with a smile, "You''re back! You didn''t get hurt, did you?"


    Sophia and Cassman then noticed Luca at the door.


    Sophia was surprised to see Luca there.


    And she sensed something unusual in Franklin''s attitude toward him.


    As she pondered this.


    Luca''s next words rified the situation for her.


    "Thank you for your concern, teacher. I''m fine. Here''s the Dire Wolf''s heart," Luca said, handing the heart to Franklin from his storage ring.


    He then turned to Sophia and Cassman, "Miss Sophia, Knight Cassman, it''s surprising to see you again so soon."


    "Teacher? You''re Franklin''s apprentice?" Cassman looked at Luca, eyes wide with shock.


    He wondered if he had misheard!


    Franklin was famously entric throughout Riverfall City.


    Despite his powerful purple-gold rank and superb medical skills, countless people had offered him heaps of gold to be his disciple, yet Franklin hadn''t taken a single apprentice in decades.


    And now, this young man had be his student in just half a day!


    No wonder Cassman was so astonished.


    Sophia was equally surprised, not understanding why Franklin had suddenly changed his mind.


    Luca casually said, "I was just lucky that the teacher took an interest in me."


    Franklin, looking quite proud, added, "Believe me, if nothing goes wrong, this boy will be my most aplished student ever!"


    Sophia nced at Luca in amazement.


    Such a highpliment from a high-level Witch Doctor of Franklin''s stature was incredibly significant.


    She scrutinized Luca closely, her beautiful eyes shing with a hint of curiosity.


    This boy''s strength had improved rapidly!


    If Sophia remembered correctly, this young man was just an ordinary Apprentice Mage not long ago.


    Now, she could clearly sense that Luca''s magical power had increased more than tenfold, far exceeding the range of a ck Iron Level mage!


    In just one day, to have such an improvement in strength...


    No wonder Franklin had taken notice of him. He was indeed extraordinary!


    Cassman, noticing the same thing, sincerely praised, "It looks like Franklin Witch Doctor has found a real gem."


    "Hahaha, exactly!" Franklin beamed with pride.


    Luca''s perception talent was the best Franklin had ever seen.


    After all, it was a level 10 innate max-level perception!


    Franklin even dared to say that there were few in the entire Eternal Continent who could match Luca''s talent!


    "Teacher, let''s focus on saving the patient first," Luca interjected with a wry smile.


    With Franklin, a high-level Witch Doctor, present, Kaman''s condition hadn''t worsened, but it was best to treat him as soon as possible.


    After all, Luca had received an extra 50 gold coins from Catherine and felt obliged to take care of her brother.


    "Oh, I almost forgot about Kaman," Franklin said, smacking his forehead. Realizing there was a young life at stake, he quickly directed Luca and Cassman to help move Kaman onto the examination table.


    He then began using his Witch Doctor synthesis magic, working with the Dire Wolf heart that Luca had brought back.


    Sophia, though anxious to have Franklin examine her mother, knew this wasn''t the time to interrupt.


    After hesitating for a moment, she sighed and decided to leave to find another healer in Riverfall City.


    Franklin''s entricity was well-known. Since he had refused, even she, the daughter of a count and a nobledy of the Howard family, couldn''t sway a purple-gold ranked powerhouse like him.


    Perhaps only her father, Count Ryan, could persuade him.


    but he had left for Southwind City in the Southern Territory on the orders of Marquis Bronte and wouldn''t return to the Emerald State for a while.


    Seeing Sophia and Cassman preparing to leave.


    Luca thought for a moment and called out to her, "Miss Sophia, please wait a moment."


    Sophia stopped and turned back, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity. "Witch Doctor Luca, is there something you need?"


    Luca smiled and said, "If you trust me, I can visit Howard Manor tomorrow to examine the Countess''s illness."


    He wasn''t particrly interested in treating illnesses, but the generous reward Sophia mentioned intrigued him.


    If he could cure the Countess, the Howard family''s wealth would surely benefit him greatly.


    "You?" Sophia looked at Luca, surprised.


    Her mother''s illness had already been examined by many healers.


    Including some of Gold Grade, without sess.


    She couldn''t understand how a young Witch Doctor like Luca could confidently make such a im.


    Luca responded calmly, "Rest assured, I wouldn''t offer if I wasn''t confident."


    In his previous life, his secondary profession as a healer had reached the Superss level. Even if he couldn''t cure the illness, he was certain no harm woulde from his attempt.


    Cassman frowned and said, "Kid, don''t mess around. That''s the Countess we''re talking about. If anything goes wrong, you won''t be able to bear the responsibility."


    At that moment, Franklin, who was still busy, suddenly spoke up, "If he can''t bear the responsibility, I certainly can."


    He then looked up and smiled at the two, "Though my student has only just be a Witch Doctor, he has some extraordinary abilities. You can rest assured. If he can''t resolve the Countess''s illness, I''ll personally take a look."


    Luca gave Franklin a grateful nce.


    His teacher was really backing him up!


    Hearing this, Sophia thought for a moment.


    She finally nodded and said calmly, "I trust that anyone valued so highly by Franklin Witch Doctor must be exceptional. Since Mr. Luca is willing toe, we would appreciate it if you visit Howard Manor tomorrow. As long as no harmes during the treatment, even if you can''t cure my mother''s illness, we will still offer a reward."


    Although she didn''t fully understand why Franklin trusted Luca so much, Sophia knew there had to be a reason.


    Moreover, she instinctively felt that Luca wasn''t someone who made empty promises.


    [Ding! You have triggered the quest "Lady Lenna''s Illness"!]


    [Description: Sophia''s mother, Lady Lenna, suffers from an unknown illness that leaves her constantly drowsy. Sophia has agreed to let you visit Howard Manor to examine her mother''s condition. The reward will be based on the task''spletion.]

 Chapter 13: Exchanging for Some Cash First

    <h4>Chapter 13: Exchanging for Some Cash First</h4>


    Seeing the quest prompt, Luca smiled.


    These types of quests, where the reward is based onpletion, tend to be quite generous if done well.


    Indeed, opportunities favor those willing to take the initiative.


    Sophia''s beautiful eyes gazed at Luca, her tone emotionless.


    She said calmly, "Tomorrow, I will have Cassmane to fetch you. I hope, Witch Doctor Luca, that you won''t disappoint me."


    Luca chuckled, "I believe, Miss Sophia, that you will not regret your decision today."


    "Let''s hope so," Sophia said, giving Luca a deep look before turning and walking out of the alley.


    Knight Cassman seemed like he wanted to say something but held back.


    To be honest, he didn''t believe Luca had such capabilities.


    After all, how much could a mere seventeen or eighteen-year-old achieve?


    However, seeing that Sophia had made up her mind, he could only sigh.


    Sophia and Cassman then left the clinic together.


    Soon after, Franklin finished treating Kaman''s injuries.


    Luca thanked him, "Thank you, teacher, for speaking on my behalf earlier."


    If Franklin hadn''t vouched for him, triggering this quest would have been much more challenging for Luca.


    "It''s nothing," Franklin waved it off nonchntly. He then looked at Luca with some surprise, "I didn''t expect your strength to increase so quickly. Judging by your magical aura, you should be ready for the job trial, right?"


    Luca nodded, "I n toplete the job trial soon. Thanks to your Paralyzing Mist and the equipment, I was able to increase my strength so rapidly."


    He was being honest; the ck Gold Robe alone provided over a hundred points to his Spirit attribute.


    This in the early game is absolutely like having a cheat code!


    Franklin thought for a moment and said, "With your Perception at level 10, your magical aptitude must also be high. If you haven''t decided on a mage specialization yet, I suggest you try the hidden ss trial for the ''Demonic Rune Mage.''"


    "This ss canpensate for the closebat weakness of our Witch Doctor ss, and theyplement each other well. If you seed in the profession change, your future path will be much smoother."


    Franklin had a sharp eye.


    Luca had chosen the Witch Doctor ss precisely because itplemented the Demonic Rune Mage well.


    Luca nodded, about to say something.


    When a game prompt suddenly appeared before him.


    [Ding! Someone outside is calling you. Would you like to log out?]


    Then Susie''s clear voice reached Luca''s ears.


    "Luca, stop ying! Come down quickly. Auntie asked me to call you for dinner. We''re having barbecue!"


    Luca was startled and quickly checked the time.


    It was already 6 PM!


    The time flow in the Eternal Game is 1:1 with the real world.


    His parents were probably home from work by now.


    Luca didn''t dy, bidding Franklin farewell before logging out of the game.


    Franklin, seeing Luca disappear suddenly, didn''t find it strange. In his understanding, this was just a unique ability of adventurers.


    ...


    The world before Luca turned dark.


    Back in his bedroom, as Luca removed his virtual helmet, Susie''s pretty face appeared before him.


    Seeing him awake, she pouted andined, "You seem to be having a lot of fun in the game."


    "I''ve been helping my mom clean the house all day and haven''t even had a chance to log in yet!"


    Seeing the sulky Susie, Luca remembered.


    In his previous life, Susie hadn''t entered the game until the next day because her mom, Chen Yan, had roped her into cleaning.


    Luca stood up from the bed, his expression serious, "It''s good you haven''t logged in yet. Remember, don''t choose the Priest ss."


    In his previous life, Susie chose the support Priest ss and awakened a C-level talent, which caused her level-up speed to be painfully slow.


    If that''s the case, it''s better for Susie to pick a different ss. She might awaken a higher-level talent, just like he did.


    "Why can''t I choose Priest?" Susie looked at Luca, puzzled by his serious expression.


    Then she huffed, "If you tell me not to choose it, I''ll choose it!"


    Luca nced at her and walked out of the bedroom, "The priest robes are ugly. If you want to wear them, go ahead."


    Susie paused, then quickly followed him out.


    "Really? You''re not just tricking me, are you?" Her face showed doubt, full of distrust towards Luca.


    "Just check online," Luca said casually as he opened the door to the living room.


    The scene outside came into view.


    It was evening, the sky was getting dark.


    The sun was setting, and it was summer, making the outside temperature a bit hot.


    In the small yard, a greenwn had a barbecue grill and white tables and chairs set up.


    Luca''s father, Donald, was busy at the grill.


    The hot wind carried the delicious aroma of grilled meat and spices.


    Nearby, two middle-aged women were sitting and chatting, asionallyughing.


    They were Luca''s mother, Sini, and Susie''s mother, Louise.


    Seeing this scene, Luca''s eyes blurred slightly.


    To them, it might have just been a day apart.


    But to him, it had been ten years since he''d seen this scene.


    In his previous life, within the first year of the monster invasion, Luca''s family, Susie''s family, and Susie herself, had all perished in the disaster.


    For the next ten years, he had survived alone in a monster-infested world.


    Seeing them again now felt like a dream.


    Noticing the door open, Luca stood still for a moment.


    Sini frowned and called out, "What are you two doing standing in the doorway? Come and eat!"


    Sini was an elementary school teacher with a fiery temper. Luca and Susie had often been on the receiving end of her scoldings.


    Louise alsoughed, "Come on over. Your dad''s workingte, so we won''t wait for him."


    "We''reing!" Susie responded quickly.


    She gave Luca a push and said, "What are you standing there for? I''m starving. Let''s go."


    Luca nodded quietly and walked out.


    His reaction surprised Susie a bit.


    She gave him a once-over, then eximed, "Why are your eyes red?"


    Luca replied with a nk expression, "Got smoke in them."


    Calming his emotions, Luca walked into the yard.


    He could see pedestrians on the street and the distant skyscrapers.


    Luca''s home was in the suburbs of Celephais City. Though it was far from the city center, the environment was nice and peaceful.


    The barbecue was almost ready.


    Luca''s father, Donald, handed grilled meat to Luca and Susie, smiling as he advised, "Even though your college entrance exams are over and you can y games and rx, remember to do so in moderation."


    Seeing the kind expression on his father''s face, many memories flooded Luca''s mind.


    His father had once been a soldier and now worked as a taxi driver. In his previous life, when the monsters arrived, Donald sacrificed himself to hold off the monsters, allowing Luca to survive in Celephais City.


    Susie took the grilled meat and protested, "Uncle, I haven''t been ying. Only Luca has!"


    "You''re no better. Do you think I didn''t see the game helmet you hid?" Louise chided Susie, shaking her head. "You''re about to go to college, but you still act like a child, hiding things."


    Susie fell silent and focused on eating her skewer.


    Speaking of college, Sini sighed, "When they go to college, our expenses will surely increase."


    "Indeed," Louise agreed with a sigh.


    Though both families had decent ies, the cost of sending two children to college would be significant.


    Even with their ies, they would feel the financial strain.


    Luca ate his grilled meat quietly, not saying much.


    However, he was thinking to himself that he should find some time to exchange some of his in-game wealth for cash to help out.

 Chapter 14: Franklin Crashes the Party

    <h4>Chapter 14: Franklin Crashes the Party</h4>


    With the gold coins Luca currently possessed, he could easily exchange them for tens of thousands of dors.


    This would significantly improve his family''s financial situation.


    Additionally, Luca needed to buy a better gaming pod, which would allow him to spend more time in the game.


    While a gaming helmet could put yers into a state of rest, it couldn''t provide the necessary nutritional supplements.


    A gaming pod, on the other hand, would allow a yer to stay online 24/7 without worrying about physical health.


    However, he needed the gold coins to enhance his in-game strength for now, so he couldn''t spend them recklessly.


    Also, a good gaming pod could cost upwards of a million dors, which he didn''t have enough for at the moment.


    Fortunately, these matters weren''t urgent and could be addressed in due time.


    With these thoughts, Luca finished his meal.


    After informing the others, he headed back to his room.


    "I''m done too!" Susie, wiping her mouth, quickly followed him back to her own room.


    Watching their retreating figures, Sini sighed in frustration, "These kids, running off to y games before even finishing their meal. They''re bing more and more unruly!"


    Donald initially wanted to defend them.


    But he wisely kept quiet after seeing his wife''s expression.


    Back in his room, Luca didn''t immediately dive back into the game. Instead, he habitually checked the game forum to see if there were any major events happening.


    Today was the first day of Eternal Game''sunch, so the forums were bustling with activity.


    Major guilds, clubs, and professional yers were all posting about their progress in the game.


    As the first yer to reach level 10, Luca was a hot topic. There was even a popr post about him.


    [A Top yer Appears in Riverfall City: First Level 10 yer in the Game!]


    Luca clicked on the post.


    He found videos and photos of himself, covering everything from getting on Sophia''s carriage to grinding monsters on Wind in and Starlight Lake, andter entering the Beast Forest with Catherine and the others.


    Judging by the angles of the photos and videos, they must have been taken by nearby yers at the time.


    [ShadowCat: I was lucky to start in the same main city as Luca. Here are some videos and photos taken by yers in Riverfall City of Luca''s battles, shared for everyone!]


    Luca didn''t remember anyone named ShadowCat.


    Maybe just a passerby. He wasn''t too concerned and scrolled through thements out of curiosity.


    [Second Floor: NPCs can show favoritism? This game is too realistic!]


    [Third Floor: That damage is insane. A normal attack doing several times the damage of my skills!]


    [Fourth Floor: Judging by his movement and techniques, Luca is clearly not an ordinary yer. Is he a pro from some club?]


    [Fifth Floor: Could he be an insider from Eternal Game? It feels like we''re ying a different game!]


    ...


    Reading through thements specting about his identity.


    Luca wasn''t worried.


    Since Luca had enabled the privacy feature earlier, his appearance was masked by the system, making the captured images a blur of pixels.


    As long as his real appearance wasn''t exposed, he didn''t mind the rest.


    After browsing the forum for a while and not finding any useful information.


    Luca shook his head, closed the forum,y down on his bed, and put on the game helmet.


    Tonight, he nned toplete the Demonic Rune Mage profession change trial.


    ...


    Riverfall City, West Street.


    In Franklin''s clinic, a sh of light signaled.


    Luca''s figure return.


    Inside, Franklin was excitedly working with his eagle mouse at the experiment table.


    The young man named Kaman was awake and able to walk, looking much better, though still pale from blood loss.


    Catherine was nearby, checking on Kaman''s condition.


    Noticing Luca''s appearance, both of them were momentarily stunned.


    Catherine quickly turned to Kaman and said, "Kaman, this is Luca Witch Doctor, the one who saved you. Hurry and thank him!"


    Kaman was taken aback.


    He hadn''t expected his savior to be a young man about his age.


    Once he processed this, Kaman hurried over, sincerely saying, "Mr. Luca, thank you for saving my life. I will remember this favor. If you ever need anything, don''t hesitate to ask."


    [Ding! Catherine''s favorability towards you +200, reaching ''Trust''!]


    [Ding! Kaman''s favorability towards you +500, reaching ''Trust''!]


    Favorability levels are: Neutral, Good, Close, Trust, Loyalty, Never Betray, with each higher level being increasingly difficult to achieve.


    It mostly depends on the NPC''s personality¡ªsome are easier to win over, while others are much harder.


    For example, Sophia''s favorability has hardly increased, making her a tough case for Luca.


    Luca waved his hand, signaling them not to worry about it.


    He then turned to the red-haired Catherine and asked, "Captain Catherine, did you report the situation in Beast Forest to the city lord? What did they say?"


    The Hydra issue needed immediate attention; otherwise, it would be even more difficult to deal with as its power grew.


    Luca didn''t want to end up like in his previous life, where he was devoured by the nine-headed demon serpent.


    Catherine sighed and shook her head, "I''m sorry. When I went to the city lord''s mansion, I was stopped by the city lord''s son, Matthew. Although I told him about the matter, from his reaction, it didn''t seem like he took it seriously."


    Both Catherine and Kaman showed clear disdain when mentioning Matthew, indicating their strong dislike for him.


    It was evident that he was an unreliable yboy.


    Luca shook his head slightly and said to Catherine, "You don''t need to worry about this anymore. Tomorrow, I''m going to Howard Manor. I''ll find a chance to inform Miss Sophia about it."


    Riverfall City was the territory of the Howard family, and Count Ryan Howard was a Diamond-level Blood Magic Grandmaster. His strength was more than enough to kick the current Hydra back into the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    "Miss Sophia?" Catherine and Kaman looked surprised upon hearing Luca''s words.


    Sophia, the noble daughter of the Howard family, was one of the most prestigious figures in the entire Emerald State.


    They hadn''t expected Luca to know her.


    However, the two quickly realized that it wasn''t all that surprising for the student of a purple-gold level Witch Doctor to know the count''s daughter.


    With this in mind, they looked at Luca with newfound respect.


    After all, the young man in front of them was now a significant figure in Riverfall City.


    Luca didn''t pay much attention to their looks.


    He turned to Franklin and said with a smile, "Teacher, I''m nning toplete my profession change trial. Would you like toe with me?"


    Hearing this, Franklin, still holding his eagle mouse by the ear, replied proudly, "Of course I''ll go! How could I miss my student''s profession change? I''m your teacher, after all."


    Catherine and Kaman also looked curious.


    They eager to know what main profession Luca, as Franklin''s student, would choose.


    Unfortunately, since Kaman hadn''t fully recovered yet, they had to stay behind to look after the clinic for Franklin.


    Franklin then called for a carriage, and he and Luca headed to the Mages'' Association.


    By now, the sky hadpletely darkened.


    Even though it was night, the game world was still bustling with yers. They gathered in small groups, wearing clothes simr to the NPCs, making them indistinguishable from ordinary residents.


    This scene made Luca feel a bit nostalgic.


    In his previous life, he had been one of those yers.


    But this time, things were going to be different.


    The carriage drove through the city.


    Soon, they arrived at the Mages'' Association.


    The hall was brightly lit.


    Many mages in robes chatting and drinking tea on either side.


    Old Carl stood on a stool, arranging quest cards on the wall.


    Noticing the neers, a mage who was sipping his tea casually nced over.


    When he saw Franklin, dressed in a ck robe with a stern expression, he froze for a moment.


    Then, his eyes widened in shock, and he spit out his tea, spraying it all over the person opposite him.


    "Holy crap, Franklin?!"


    His exmation caught everyone''s attention. All the mages in the hall turned to look at Luca and Franklin.


    Seeing it really was Franklin, a collective gasp echoed through the hall.


    "Holy crap, why is that lunatic here at the Mages'' Association?!"


    "Is he here to cause trouble again? Last time, I heard some unlucky guy turned in the wrong quest, and Franklin came here ready to tear the ce down. It took President Lucia to calm him down and send him away!"


    "Jeez! I remember that kid next to him; he took on one of Franklin''s quests today!"


    "Holy moly! What are you waiting for? Go get President Lucia! Franklin''s here to cause trouble again!"


    ...

 Chapter 15: Lucia, President of the Mages’ Association

    <h4>Chapter 15: Lucia, President of the Mages'' Association</h4>


    Chaos ensued in the Mages'' Association.


    A group of mages brandished their staffs, watching Franklin and Luca with solemn faces, as if facing a formidable enemy.


    Franklin''s reputation in Riverfall City was notorious, to say the least. His name alone could scare children into silence at night.


    While he had saved many lives, his entric personality was equally well-known.


    Thest time, he had almost torn down the Mages'' Association over a simple mistake in a quest handover.


    Only a madman would do such a thing!


    Behind the counter, Old Carl was trembling, his legs almost giving way.


    His face was pale, and cold sweat dotted his forehead.


    The memory of thest incident was still fresh in his mind. He couldn''t believe it was happening again!


    Luca looked at the reactions around him, then nced at Franklin, who seemedpletely unfazed.


    He couldn''t help but chuckle internally.


    It seemed his teacher had left quite a psychological shadow on these mages.


    But he also understood why they were so scared.


    Witch Doctors were feared throughout the Eternal Continent.


    Their dark arts, including poisons, curses, and malicious insects, naturallymanded both fear and respect.


    Luca and Franklin approached the counter.


    Old Carl managed to force a smile that looked more like a grimace.


    "T-to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit, Lord Franklin?"


    Old Carl stammered, his voice trembling. He regretted deeply now.


    He wishing he had assigned a different quest to Luca.


    If the quest failed, Franklining here for answers would be disastrous. Carl''s old bones wouldn''t withstand such trouble!


    "Hahaha, Old Carl, it''s been a while!"


    Franklin''s withered face broke into a grin at the sight of the trembling Old Carl.


    Franklin was in an excellent mood.


    After all, if not for Old Carl, Luca, with his innate max-level Perception, wouldn''t have be his student!


    However, Old Carl saw Franklin''s smile and felt his heart sink even further.


    The other mages in the hall were equally horrified.


    Smile!


    Franklin was smiling!


    Everyone in Riverfall City knew this old lunatic only smiled when dealing with corpses and entrails!


    Old Carl''s face turned ashen with despair.


    He was already considering where he might end up buried after this.


    Seeing that Franklin was scaring Old Carl half to death, Luca couldn''t stand it any longer. He smiled wryly and said, "Mr. Carl, my teacher is here to apany me for my profession change trial, not to cause trouble."


    Hearing this, everyone froze in surprise.


    Teacher?


    Franklin is this kid''s teacher?!


    All eyes turned to Franklin.


    Seeing that Franklin did not deny it and even smiled more broadly.


    The crowd was astonished and then erupted in chatter.


    "Holy crap! This kid actually became Franklin''s student?!"


    "Am I dreaming? Franklin actually epted a student!"


    "Phew! What a relief. I thought we were goners this time!"


    "My pants are wet, and now you''re telling me it''s a misunderstanding?"


    ...


    The mages were visibly relieved, feeling as if they had escaped death.


    Old Carl, in particr, was almost moved to tears with relief.


    "I''ll get everything ready right away!" He hurried to arrange Luca''s profession change trial and aptitude test.


    But just then, a mature, melodious woman''s voice called from the second floor.


    Sheughing softly, "I didn''t expect anyone to catch Franklin''s eye!"


    "Old Carl, take a rest. I''ll conduct the aptitude test for Franklin''s student!"


    Everyone looked up.


    Standing by the railing on the second floor was a stunningly beautiful mature woman, dressed in a luxurious ck mage robe, with a voluptuous figure and long purple hair.


    Her alluring face and graceful figure exuded a mature charm that captivated many, making their hearts race.


    At that moment, the woman''s light purple eyes were fixed on Luca with unabashed curiosity.


    This was Lucia, the president of the Riverfall City Mages'' Association and a high-level purple-gold thunder mage!


    Lucia''s seductive eyes studied Luca with great interest.


    She had initially thought Franklin was here to cause trouble, but it turned out he was here for his student''s profession change.


    This piqued her curiosity¡ªwhat kind of talent could have attracted Franklin''s attention?


    The hall buzzed with excitement upon hearing that Lucia would personally conduct Luca''s aptitude test.


    "President Lucia herself is going to test his aptitude?!"


    "This kid''s luck is unbelievable! The president is known as the strongest female mage in Emerald State. Many people want her to test their aptitude each year, but she rarely agrees. This is the first time I''ve seen her offer to do it."


    "A high-level mage''s aptitude test is way more urate than a crystal ball!"


    ...


    The hall was filled with discussions, and Luca looked at Lucia in surprise.


    A high-level mage''s aptitude test was indeed more precise than a magical crystal ball.


    However, Luca didn''t immediately agree; instead, he looked at Franklin.


    Franklin smiled proudly, "With me here, you can rest assured. If anything happens, your teacher will take care of it!"


    As he spoke, Franklin exuded the aura and confidence of a high-level expert.


    The others felt this powerful presence and looked at Luca enviously.


    While Franklin''s methods were feared, having such a powerful teacher was truly enviable.


    Hearing this, Luca felt more at ease.


    He nodded and said to Lucia, "Thank you, President Lucia."


    Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Luca and Franklin ascended to the second floor.


    Up close, Luca noticed that the Mages'' Association president not only had a mature and alluring appearance but also a tall and graceful figure, only slightly shorter than him. Her long, white, and shapely legs were enough to make him a little dizzy.


    Lucia, too, was unabashedly sizing Luca up.


    Her gaze so brazen that it made Luca slightly ufortable.


    After a moment, she giggled, covering her mouth, "You''re quite handsome, little guy. Fair and clean, just my type!"


    To Luca''s astonishment, Lucia reached out and pinched his cheek.


    [Ding! Lucia''s favorability towards you +100]


    Luca was speechless.


    It turned out the Mages'' Association president was a sucker for good looks!


    Franklin, still proud, said, "President Lucia, let''s begin the aptitude test! I want to see if my student''s magical talent matches his Perception talent."


    Hearing this, Lucia gave Luca an intrigued look.


    For Franklin to say such a thing, this kid''s talent must be extraordinary!


    She nodded and said, "Let''s go to the awakening chamber."


    The awakening chamber, located on the third floor of the Mages'' Association, was where profession changes and awakenings took ce. It wasn''t long before the three of them arrived.


    The room was a spacious hall with a high tform in the center, holding a crystal ball used for testing.


    However, since Lucia was personally testing Luca, the crystal ball wouldn''t be needed.


    "Extend your hand," Lucia said with a smile, reaching out her own white, slender hand.


    Luca nodded and extended his hand as well.


    As soon as their hands touched, a purple gleam shed in Lucia''s eyes.


    At the same moment, Luca felt a surge of immense magical power flood into him.


    Under this overwhelmingly powerful magic, he felt as if his flesh, magic, and even his soul wereid bare.


    Luca couldn''t help but twitch his mouth.


    Was this woman doing this on purpose?


    He didn''t remember an aptitude test needing such thorough scrutiny...


    He nced up at Lucia.


    He saw her standing there in stunned silence, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.


    Franklin quickly asked, "President Lucia, how is Luca''s aptitude?"


    It took a while for Lucia to regain herposure.


    Her eyes were filled with shock, and her voice was tinged with excitement and exhration. "Max-level aptitude! This boy has an innate level 10 max aptitude! Even his four basic attributes are naturally maxed out at 10 points each!"


    As she spoke, Lucia''s exquisite and charming face flushed slightly from excitement.


    If she hadn''t personally tested him, she would have found it hard to believe that such legendary aptitude truly existed.


    Before this, the best aptitude she had ever seen was a level 9.


    That person was considered the most talented in Emerald State in nearly a century!


    But this boy was an innate max-level 10 aptitude!


    This was a talent destined for transcendence from birth!


    "Innate max-level aptitude?!" Even Franklin was taken aback.


    He had always known Luca''s talent was exceptional but never imagined it would be innately maxed out!


    With innate max-level Perception and now innate max-level aptitude.


    Franklin couldn''t fathom the heights his student could achieve in the future!


    In contrast to their excitement, Luca remained calm, as he had long known about his talents.


    Moreover, it wasn''t just his aptitude; all four of his special attributes were maxed out!


    He knew better than anyone else what this meant, having lived another life.


    At that moment, Lucia had already suppressed her inner turmoil.


    She had made up her mind without a trace of hesitation.


    She must have this student!


    No matter the cost, she would make Luca her disciple.


    Encountering such a genius, she could not let him slip away!

 Chapter 16: Apprenticing Under Lucia and Changing Profession to Demonic Rune Mage

    <h4>Chapter 16: Apprenticing Under Lucia and Changing Profession to Demonic Rune Mage</h4>


    "Name your price for giving me this student."


    Lucia staring intently at Franklin, ready to make a significant offer.


    Franklin, however, waved his hand dismissively andughed, "As long as he''s willing, I don''t mind."


    Just as yers could have multiple professions, they could also have multiple teachers.


    Franklin knew he couldn''t guide Luca in every aspect, so he wouldn''t restrict Luca from seeking more capable mentors. As he had mentioned before, he was merely introducing Luca to the path of the Witch Doctor; the rest was up to Luca.


    With that, Franklin patted Luca on the shoulder and turned to leave, heading downstairs.


    Just without another word.


    Lucia then turned her gaze to Luca, her expression serious. "Young man, would you be willing to follow me, Lucia Elizabeth, in the study of the arcane arts? "


    "With your aptitude and the resources of the Mages'' Association, I can definitely nurture you into a Transcendent mage!"


    [Ding! Your aptitude has impressed Lucia Elizabeth, and she wants to take you as her student.]


    [Do you agree?]


    Hearing Lucia''s words, Luca felt a surge of excitement.


    Unlike Franklin, whocked strongbat abilities, Lucia was a bona fide purple-gold grand mage!


    Moreover, as the president of the Mages'' Association, she had ess to vast mage resources.


    With her support, his path would undoubtedly be much smoother!


    Without much hesitation, Luca respectfully said, "Student Luca, greets the teacher!"


    [Ding! You have be the student of Lucia, the president of the Mages'' Association!]


    [Ding! Lucia''s favorability towards you +500, favorability level reaches ''Trust''!]


    Seeing Luca''s response, Lucia nodded and smiled.


    Handsome, talented, and polite!


    Taking him as a student was one of the best decisions she had made in years.


    After a moment''s thought, Lucia said with a smile, "Since Franklin was willing to give you a tinum Grade elemental potion, I, as your teacher, can''t be stingy either."


    With a wave of her hand, a tinum-colored light flew into Luca''s arms.


    Upon closer inspection, Luca saw that it was a high-level spell skill book!


    [Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire: High-level skill, mage ss can learn. Upon use, the yer can control thunder fire to deal 200% magic skill damage to enemies, with a 30% chance to inflict paralysis or burn status,sting for 5 seconds!]


    Reading the description of the Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire, Luca felt a surge of uncontroble excitement.


    A high-level lightning magic spell given so casually¡ªthis teacher was incredibly generous!


    Just this skill book alone would save him years of effort!


    "Thank you, teacher!" Luca immediately expressed his gratitude.


    Lucia waved her hand dismissively, her tone generous, "It''s nothing. Unfortunately, your level is too low right now. Once your level increases, I will give you even better things!"


    A genius with max-level aptitude like you would be heavily nurtured by any faction. What''s one high-level skill bookpared to that?


    Luca was astonished.


    These big shots truly werevish beyond belief!


    Lucia smiled and asked, "So, what profession do you n to change to next? With your talent and strength, it doesn''t matter if you participate in the association''s profession change trial or not. I can personally ensure your profession change."


    The profession change trial was typically an assessment by the Mages'' Association.


    After the trial, the association would offer different profession crystals based on the mage''s performance and choices.


    As the president of the Mages'' Association, Lucia could facilitate Luca''s profession change with a mere word.


    "Thank you, teacher. I want to change to Demonic Rune Mage!" Luca felt a surge of joy.


    Initially, he needed an exceptional performance to obtain the Demonic Rune Mage profession crystal.


    Now, Lucia''s intervention saved him a lot of effort.


    Indeed, having powerful connections made a world of difference!


    Hearing his decision, Lucia frowned slightly and cautioned, "You should think it through. I''m an elemental mage specializing in thunder and fire, not well-versed in magic runes. If you choose Demonic Rune Mage, I won''t be able to offer you much guidance."


    Different mentors excelled in different fields. Lucia only had a superficial understanding of Demonic Rune Mage.


    If Luca pursued this path, he might have to figure out much on his own after the initial stages.


    Luca responded without hesitation.


    "I''m certain!"


    Demonic Rune Mage, one of the few professions inter times capable of standing against demon king-level monsters alone, was a choice he had carefully considered.


    "Very well, as you wish," Lucia sighed. With a wave of her hand, a purple-ck crystal the size of a fist appeared.


    [Profession Change Crystal (Demonic Rune Mage): Upon use, the yer will gain the hidden profession "Demonic Rune Mage"!]


    "Thank you, teacher." Luca quickly took the inheritance crystal and expressed his gratitude.


    Lucia shook her head slightly, not saying much more. She left the awakening room to let Luca undergo his profession change in peace.


    After Lucia left, Luca didn''t hesitate and immediately used the profession change crystal.


    The inheritance crystal turned into a stream of light and entered his forehead.


    The next moment, purple-ck light burst from his body.


    It forming intricate, mystical runes that looked like purple-ck lightning.


    Soon, waves of magic rune energy emanated from Luca''s body!


    [Ding! Congrattions on changing your profession to the hidden profession "Demonic Rune Mage"!]


    [You have gained the skills "Magic Rune Drawing (Exclusive)," "Turbulence (Low-Level)," and "Heavenly Charge (Low-Level)"...]


    Luca opened his eyes, a faint ck gleam shing within.


    His aura had be more profound and mysterious, and his strength had increased several times over!


    "It''s done!" Luca''s eyes sparkled with joy as he felt the power of the magic runes within him.


    Originally, Luca thought he would have to spend a lot of time and effort, but he easily obtained the Demonic Rune Mage profession. Having maxed-out charm really saved him a lot of trouble!


    He then checked his newly acquired skills.


    [Magic Runes Drawing lv1: Exclusive skill. A Demonic Rune Mage can use magical materials to draw 1 fixed magic rune and 1 temporary magic rune every 10 levels. Different magic runes will grant different enhancement effects or skills. Once drawn, a fixed magic rune cannot be changed. The higher the material grade, the stronger the magic rune''s effect. No cooldown time.]


    Seeing the skills before him, Luca clenched his fists, eyes shining with excitement.


    "Magic Runes Drawing" is one of the core skills of the Demonic Rune Mage!


    With enough materials, a Demonic Rune Mage can continuously draw magic runes to strengthen themselves.


    Later on, a Demonic Rune Mage could have dozens of magic runes attached to their body!


    In battle, under the enhancement of these runes, a Demonic Rune Mage can unleash earth-shattering power in an instant!


    In addition, Luca obtained two low-level attack skills.


    "Turbulence" and "Heavenly Charge."


    [Turbulence lv1: Low-level skill. After casting the skill, the Demonic Rune Mage can thrust a magic spear at the enemy, dealing 130% magic damage to the target. Cooldown time is 5 minutes, and it consumes 500 mana points.]


    [Heavenly Charge lv1: Low-level skill. After casting the skill, the Demonic Rune Mage can instantly charge at the enemy with a magic spear, dealing 120% skill damage to the target. Cooldown time is 3 minutes, and it consumes 300 mana points.]


    Demonic Rune Mages use a magic spear, a special type of melee spell weapon.


    Therefore, besides magic rune skills, many of their skills are melee-focused.


    However, this is not a concern. In Eternal Game, yers can learn other skills as long as they meet the requirements.


    With his max-level aptitude, Luca could quickly learn and expand his spell skill pool!


    Calming himself, Luca began to ponder.


    Afterpleting his profession change, the next step was to create his first magic rune.


    There are two types of magic runes: fixed and temporary.


    Fixed magic runes must be carefully selected because once chosen, they cannot be changed.


    Temporary magic runes, on the other hand, are consumables and need to be redrawn after a few uses.


    So before obtaining his first fixed magic rune, Luca could draw some temporary magic runes for the time being.


    As for his first fixed magic rune, he already had a n.


    Thinking about this, Luca''s eyes gleamed with cold determination.


    Nothing seemed more fitting for drawing his first fixed magic rune than the blood of Hydra!

 Chapter 17: Fiery Magic Runes and Senior Sister

    <h4>Chapter 17: Fiery Magic Runes and Senior Sister</h4>


    Upon sensing that Luca had sessfully changed professions.


    Franklin and Lucia soon returned to the awakening chamber.


    Franklin eyed Luca up and down, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "Hehe, you''ve gotten even more handsome, kid. Now you almost remind me of myself back in the day!"


    Luca''s appearance hadn''t changed much, except for a subtle dark purple hue deep within his eyes. His overall demeanor, however, had shifted¡ªperhaps influenced by his new profession¡ªimbuing him with an air of steadiness and mystery.


    Lucia''s eyes sparkled as she circled Luca twice. Suddenly, she pulled him into a hug, rubbing his face and eximing happily, "Oh my, you truly are my student, so adorable!"


    Feeling the rose-like scent from Lucia and the softness at his back.


    Luca didn''t harbor any romantic thoughts, only a touch of bitterness.


    It seemed neither of his teachers were particrly conventional...


    After Lucia had her fill of teasing Luca, they got down to business.


    They discussed Luca''s study schedule for witchcraft and magic runes.


    It had already been decided that Luca would spend his days at Franklin''s clinic learning Witch Doctor skills and his nights at the Mages'' Association studying magic runes.


    Luca had no objections.


    Enhancing his strength as quickly as possible was his primary goal.


    Afterward, Franklin provided Luca with two low-level Witch Doctor skills and some potion recipes.


    The skills were "Eye of Insight" and "Hand of the Witch Doctor," basic Witch Doctor abilities.


    Franklin wanted Luca to get familiar with these foundational skills before teaching him more about voodoo.


    Lucia, being more straightforward.


    She handed Luca a storage ring filled with low-level magical materials and magic rune scrolls.


    She instructing him to practice drawing temporary magic runes.


    She admitted she didn''t know much about magic runes, and Riverfall Citycked skilled magic rune tutors.


    All she could do was offer material support and some general guidance; the rest was up to Luca.


    To be honest, neither Franklin nor Lucia were conventional teachers who could impart structured knowledge.


    Fortunately, Luca had experience from his past life and exceptional talent, so he didn''t need much guidance. Without these advantages, he might have taken many wrong turns.


    After giving their instructions, Franklin and Lucia left Luca to his own devices in the training room.


    As she was about to leave, Lucia remembered something. "By the way, I almost forgot¡ªI have another student."


    "You might have heard of her: she''s the count Ryan''s daughter, Sophia Howard."


    Luca was stunned.


    Sophia was also Lucia''s student?


    This meant he was now the junior of the count''s daughter.


    This was something Luca had never anticipated.


    Seeing his surprise, Lucia lifted her chin proudly and said, "Your senior sister may not match your talents, but she has a level 9 aptitude and perception. If you encounter any problems in your training, you can seek her guidance."


    "So Sophia has a level 9 talent!" Luca realized.


    A level 9 talent was among the top in the Kingdom of Clinton, a rare genius with the potential to reach the Transcendent level.


    This revtion made it clear why Sophia could achieve such heights in the future, given the right opportunities.


    After giving Luca a few more instructions to focus on his training at the Mages'' Association, Franklin and Lucia left, not wanting to disturb him further.


    Once they were gone, Luca closed the door to the training room and opened the storage ring Lucia had given him.


    Inside were an array of books and materials.


    Although these just low-level materials, that made Luca marvel at Lucia''s generosity.


    Even for the head of the Mages'' Association, this was impressive wealth!


    Feeling grateful, Luca took out a basic magic runes knowledge book and selected a few low-level magic runes to practice with.


    He thenid out the required materials on the table to draw his first temporary magic rune.


    [Fiery Magic Rune: Low-level magic rune. Upon activation, the Demonic Rune Mage''s attacks will deal an additional 30 points of fire attribute magic damage for 3 minutes, with a cooldown of 10 minutes. Can be used 5 times.]


    [Required Materials (Low-level): Fire Cat''s Eye1, ze Grass1, Fire Spirit Stone*2]


    Looking at the three materials on the table, Luca activated his skill, his eyes glowing with a dark purple light.


    Magic runes drawing!


    A surge of dark purple energy enveloped the materials.


    Under Luca''s control, fiery red elements were extracted from the materials.


    He worked quickly.


    Just within a few breaths, the materials were fully extracted, leaving nothing behind.


    The fire elements hovered in the air, forming a bright red liquid that glowed with intense heat.


    If Franklin or Lucia had seen this, they would have been astonished.


    Extracting magic materials was a necessary step for healers or witches when creating magic items.


    However, even many high-level practitioners couldn''t guarantee they could extract the essence as effortlessly as Luca had.


    For Luca, this was second nature.


    Although his current level wasn''t high, his previous life''s experience was deeply ingrained in his mind.


    It allowing him to easily handle low-level materials.


    Under Luca''s precise control, the fiery essence in the air began to outline fine lines.


    His drawing speed wasn''t fast, but it was steady. Every stroke seemed premeditated, showing none of the uncertainty of a novice attempting their first magic rune.


    As time passed, the mass of fire elements in mid-air gradually transformed into a red rune radiating intense heat.


    It was just a few steps away frompletion.


    Luca''s eyes were filled with concentration, refusing to rx.


    Any ckening before the final step could ruin all his previous efforts.


    Finally, as Luca finished thest stroke:


    "Buzz!"


    A wave of scorching magic rune energy suddenly spread throughout the training room!


    Instantly, a fire element magic rune emitting a searing force appeared in the air!


    [Ding! You have sessfully drawn a "Fiery Magic Rune (Low-level)". "Magic Rune Drawing" skill proficiency +100.]


    He seeded!


    Seeing the small, ten-centimeter red magic rune floating above his palm, Luca''s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    He had thought it would take several attempts, but he seeded on the first try!


    This was expected, though. The sess rate of drawing magic runes depends on various factors like the yer''s skill level, aptitude, mental attributes, luck, and current state. With his maxed-out attributes and the fact that this was just a low-level magic rune, seeding on the first try was not surprising.


    Suppressing his excitement, Luca carefully controlled the fiery magic rune to merge slowly into his palm.


    A red light shed, and Luca felt a surge of heat within his body.


    Simultaneously, a red mark, identical to the Fiery Magic Rune, appeared on the back of his hand.


    Seeing the magic rune mark on his hand, a smile spread across Luca''s face.


    This might be a low-level magic rune, but it was his first step into the path of magic runes!


    With his past life''s experience and the assistance of his SSS-level talent, The person favored.


    It wouldn''t be long before he became one of the top Demonic Rune Mages.


    When that timees, even with the monster invasion, he wouldn''t be as helpless as in his past life!


    Once Luca calmed down, the Fiery Magic Rune on his hand gradually disappeared under his skin.


    When he wished to activate the magic rune, it would reappear conveniently.


    Luca then began to study the magic rune books provided by Lucia.


    Before obtaining his first permanent magic rune, having just the Fiery Magic Rune wouldn''t be enough. He needed to create more magic runes to enhance his offensive capabilities.


    Additionally, Luca needed to learn more Witch Doctor skills and level up his abilities.


    Only by increasing his skill levels could he fully utilize his past experiences and earn more gold.


    Although Lucia had given him many magical materials, they were from her private stash.


    Luca couldn''t always rely on her for supplies.


    Fortunately, he had saved seven to eight hundred gold coins, which would support him for a while, so there was no immediate urgency.


    With these thoughts, Luca refocused and began drawing more magic runes.


    The more magic runes a Demonic Rune Mage possessed, the stronger they became. This was the terrifying aspect of being a Demonic Rune Mage.


    In theter stages, the terror of unleashing dozens of magic runes simultaneously was something Luca still remembered vividly.

 Chapter 18: Black Steel Spear, This Kid Has Incredible Luck

    <h4>Chapter 18: ck Steel Spear, This Kid Has Incredible Luck</h4>


    When one is deeply focused, time flies quickly.


    By the time Luca had finished drawing thest low-level magic rune, dawn had already arrived.


    The morning light shone through thettice window into the training room, illuminating Luca and the four magic runes on the wooden table.


    The colorful runes floated above the table, radiating a strange, magical energy¡ªgorgeous and dreamlike.


    "All done!"


    Looking at the four magic runes on the table, Luca couldn''t help but smile.


    These four were all low-level magic runes: "Frost Rune," "Vine Rune," "Steel Rune," and "Rock Rune." Adding the "Fiery Rune" he had on his hand, he had now drawn all five basic elemental runes.


    With these runes, his power would certainly increase significantly.


    Additionally, Luca had also mastered the Witch Doctor''s "Eye of Insight" and "Hand of the Witch Doctor."


    [Eye of Insight lv1: Low-level skill. When activated, the Witch Doctor''s eyes can observe the target''s condition and changes in detail. Duration: 1 minute. Cooldown: 5 minutes. Mana cost: 800.]


    [Hand of the Witch Doctor lv1: Low-level skill. When activated, the Witch Doctor''s hands can prate the target''s flesh to heal or attack. Duration: 30 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes. Mana cost: 1000.]


    The Eye of Insight is an auxiliary skill, while the Hand of the Witch Doctor can be used for both healing and attacking.


    Both skills are very powerful, and the Witch Doctor truly deserves its reputation as one of the top secondary professions.


    Luca nodded in satisfaction.


    With his maxed-out aptitude, he learned things very quickly.


    The next step was to systematically increase his skill proficiency and level up these skills.


    His power would naturally grow as a result.


    However, this wasn''t something to rush; it needed to be done gradually.


    Luca stretched, checking the time.


    It was already past 8 a.m. in the real world, and his parents were likely already at work.


    Seeing this, Luca decided not to log out of the game and nned to handle today''s tasks before taking a meal break.


    Upon entering the Eternal World, yers enter a deep sleep state.


    So they do not need to worry about fatigue; they only need to eat periodically.


    After packing up the items on the table, Luca left the training room and headed back to Franklin''s clinic.


    Though he was eager to test the power of his magic runes.


    He still needed to check on Lady Lenna and inform Sophia about the Beast Forest situation.


    Only bypletely dealing with the Hydra could he train in peace.


    However, as soon as he exited the training room, Luca encountered a sleepy-looking Lucia in the corridor of the Mages'' Association.


    Her purple hair was a bit disheveled, and she was yawning sleepily. It seemed she hadn''t slept well the night before, and her loose mage robe was still unkempt.


    This teacher''s lifestyle is indeed quiteid-back...


    Luca thought to himself with a wry smile. He greeted, "Good morning, Teacher Lucia."


    "Ha~ good morning!" Lucia, not feeling embarrassed about being seen in herzy state by her student, still adjusted her attire to appear more presentable.


    She then took out a long stick from her storage ring and handed it to Luca with a regretful tone, "It''s really hard to find a good low-level magic spear. Teacher searched for half a day yesterday and could only find this one. You''ll have to make do with it for now."


    Only then did Luca realize that this pitch-ck item was actually a magic spear!


    [ck Steel Spear lv10: Bronze Grade, When equipped by a Demonic Rune Mage, increases magic attack by +85, mental power by +35, agility by +20, and extends magic rune duration by 3 seconds.]


    Seeing the attributes of the ck Steel Spear, Luca''s eyes lit up.


    Though it might look unattractive, its attributes were quite impressive.


    The increased attack power, agility, and extended magic rune duration were all very practical.


    After receiving the ck Steel Spear, Luca promptly thanked her.


    Judging by Lucia''s appearance, she had likely stayed upte looking for equipment for him, which touched Luca deeply.


    In truth, NPCs in Eternal Game were no different from humans.


    Once humans mastered the Spatial Nodes, they too could cross the barrier into the real world.


    Humanity''s ability to hold out for so long in the previous life was due inrge part to the help from the Eternal World.


    "I''m your teacher, no need to thank me," Lucia said, pinching Luca''s cheek andughing softly.


    Then she let out a small sound of surprise.


    Lucia''s gaze shifted to Luca''s left hand, showing a hint of astonishment. "I thought it would take you at least a day. I didn''t expect you toplete your first magic rune so quickly."


    Even for talented Demonic Rune Mages, creating their first magic rune often required considerable time and materials. Luca had truly surprised her.


    Luca merely smiled and said, "The student just got lucky."


    If Lucia knew that not only had he drawn his first magic rune, but also created four more and learned two Witch Doctor skills, she would likely be even more astonished.


    "Not bad, not bad at all. As expected of my student!" Lucia beamed, growing more satisfied with Luca.


    He was talented, humble, polite, and unlike Sophia, who was so cold that she wouldn''t even let her pinch her cheeks...


    This student was simply perfect!


    [Ding! Lucia''s favorability towards you +100!]


    Seeing the prompt, Luca couldn''t help butugh to himself.


    His teacher''s favorability seemed to be the easiest to gain...


    By now, the two had reached the Mages'' Association''s hall.


    Since it was still early in the morning, the hall wasn''t crowded with many mages.


    When the group saw Luca, they immediately eximed in surprise.


    "Look, it''s this kid! He became Lucia''s student yesterday!"


    "Wow, this kid''s luck is incredible! Lucia is one of the most renowned high-level mages in Emerald State. If it were me, I''d beughing in my dreams."


    "What''s his talent that made Lucia take him as a student?"


    "Huh? Isn''t the president only epting students based on their looks?"


    ...


    The mages were all talking at once, their gazes full of envy as they looked at Luca.


    Luca was puzzled, not knowing how they had found out about this news.


    After asking Old Carl, he learned that soon after he became Lucia''s student, the news had spread thanks to Franklin''s big mouth. Now, the entire Mages'' Association knew that Lucia had a new student.


    This left Luca feeling a bit helpless. He hadn''t expected Franklin to have such a habit.


    Fortunately, Franklin had kept some discretion and hadn''t revealed Luca''s talent.


    Otherwise, Luca would likely have been surrounded by a group of strong mages by now.


    A peerless genius with maxed-out talent¡ªsuch news would cause a sensation throughout the Kingdom of Clinton. If anyone wanted to harm him, Luca wouldn''t know where to hide.


    Seeing his concern, Lucia reassured him, "Don''t worry. Our Mages'' Association is one of the top forces on the Eternal Continent. Besides, with me here, no one would dare to mess with you."


    Luca didn''t quite understand thest part of what Lucia said, but he agreed with the rest.


    The Mages'' Association was indeed a famous and powerful organization on the Eternal Continent. Lucia was just the president of the Sky Mountain County branch, and her strength had already reached the purple-gold level.


    Above her, there were Forth Area branch, the Kingdom of Clinton branch, and the Mages'' Association headquarters.


    In his past life, during the fiercest battles against the monsters, Luca remembered that the Mages'' Association had produced several Transcendent level powerhouses.


    Having such a formidable backer was undoubtedly beneficial for him.


    It was gettingte, so after saying goodbye to Lucia, Luca headed to Franklin''s clinic.


    There were still quite a few yers online in the game, probably like him, having yed all night.


    Along the way, many yers recognized Luca and came up to talk to him.


    But he brushed them off.


    At the same time, an idea sprouted in Luca''s mind.


    Although the average yer level was still low, as they leveled up, they would undoubtedly be a significant force in Eternal World. In the future, it might be worthwhile to interact with them more; they could potentially be of help.


    Thinking about this as he walked.


    Luca soon arrived back at the clinic on West Street.


    A luxurious noble''s carriage was parked at the entrance, and Cassman, dressed in his silver armor, was adjusting the reins.


    They probably hadn''t been there long.


    "I didn''t expect you to arrive so early," Luca greeted them, his eyes turning towards the cool,posed girl inside the clinic.


    Sophia, dressed in a ck noble gown, was examining the magical materials Franklin had collected.


    These strange and bizarre items seemed ordinary to the daughter of the count, not even eliciting a change in her icy demeanor.


    Hearing Luca''s voice, Sophia looked up slightly.


    She gave Luca a meaningful nce and said, "Good morning, Luca junior."


    "Good morning, senior," Luca nodded with a smile. He wasn''t surprised that Sophia already knew about this; given the influence of the Howard family in Emerald State, they would have received the news immediately yesterday.


    Cassman, about toin about Luca''s tardiness.


    He was stunned by their exchange of titles.


    "J... junior?!" Cassman widened his eyes, thinking he had misheard.


    But seeing that neither of them denied it, he drew in a sharp breath.


    He looked at Luca in disbelief and eximed, "When did you be a student of Lucia as well?"


    It wasn''t hard to guess.


    As Sophia had only one teacher: Lucia Elizabeth, the president of the Emerald State Mages'' Association.


    The issue was, this kid had just be Franklin''s student yesterday.


    How, overnight, had he also be Lucia''s student?

 Chapter 19: Cassman’s Old Injury, the Lord’s Son Matthew

    <h4>Chapter 19: Cassman''s Old Injury, the Lord''s Son Matthew</h4>


    Noticing Cassman''s confusion, Luca smiled and said, "Yesterday, Franklin brought me to the Mages'' Association for my profession change. President Lucia thought I had good potential and took me as her student."


    Cassman didn''t know what to say.


    This kid''s luck was off the charts!


    This wasn''t just any opportunity; it was bing a student of two high-level purple-gold professionals!


    Every year, countless people in Emerald State dreamed of bing their students.


    Yet, Luca managed to be a student of both in just one day?!


    Cassman''s eyes filled with envy.


    He couldn''t help but admit he was a bit jealous of this kid.


    With them backing him, there would be very few people in Emerald State who would dare to mess with Luca in the future.


    Sophia had been surprised initially.


    But after a night to process it, she was much calmer.


    She looked at Luca and said, "My mother''s condition has worsened. She has fallen into a deep sleep. If you need anything, prepare it now, and then we will head to Howard Manor."


    When she mentioned her mother''s illness, Luca noticed a sh of worry in Sophia''s eyes.


    It giving her a more human touch.


    "Alright, I''ll get ready," Luca said, understanding Sophia''s urgency. He didn''t waste any time and went into Franklin''s clinic.


    Franklin was still asleep in the backyard, so Luca didn''t disturb him.


    He gathered somemon tools and herbs, packed them into a toolbox, and then joined Sophia in the carriage.


    With a flick of the reins, Cassman drove the carriage out of the city.


    The scenery outside the window flew by, and the carriage ride was a bit bumpy.


    Sophia stared out the window, lost in thought.


    Luca initially wanted to bring up the matter of the Beast Forest outside the city.


    But he seeing that Sophia was not in the best mood, he decided to hold off.


    It would be better to mention it after treating her mother.


    Soon, the carriage left the city.


    Howard Manor was not in Riverfall City but situated on a picturesque mountain outside the city.


    Below the mountain was the Iron Mountain military camp of Emerald State.


    The camp was filled with tents, and soldiers in light armor trained rigorously on the training grounds.


    It seems like a thousand soldiers there.


    They were strong, disciplined, and clearly well-trained elite soldiers.


    During their journey, Luca learned from Cassman.


    That both the city guards like Catherine and the Howard family''s personal guards like himself were selected from the elite troops of the Iron Mountain camp. It turned out that Cassman and Catherine even knew each other.


    Cassman reminisced, "Catherine is the orphan of arade of mine. Her parents died early, and she raised her brother alone. She''s very resilient and has good potential. She''s one of the best in this generation of the Iron Mountain camp."


    "If nothing unexpected happens, in a couple of years when I retire, she will take over my position and be the next captain of the Howard family''s personal guard."


    "You''re nning to retire this early?" Luca asked, surprised as he looked at Cassman through the carriage window.


    Cassman was in his prime. With the Howard family''s resources, it wasn''t impossible for him to break through to the tinum Grade in the future.


    Retiring so early seemed unnecessary.


    Sophia, who had been silent, sighed softly and said, "Uncle Cassman was seriously injured while saving me a few years ago. Recently, his injuries have started to show signs of worsening, so my father wants him to rest and recuperate for a few years."


    Seeing Sophia''s downcast mood, Cassmanughed heartily and said, "Don''t worry, miss. If it weren''t for the count insisting I take a break, I feel like I could work for another few decades with this body of mine!"


    Sophia sighed again and didn''t say anything more.


    Seeing this, Luca''s mind began to turn.


    It seemed that Cassman''s condition was not as good as he imed.


    After thinking for a moment, he activated the witch doctor skill he had learned the previous day.


    Eye of Insight!


    As the skill activated, a faint blue light appeared in Luca''s eyes.


    When he looked at Cassman again.


    He saw a mass of gray mist filled with death energy in Cassman''s abdomen.


    This mist was continuously eroding his life force.


    So it was death energy!


    Luca realized.


    Death energy is a toxin found in undead creatures, simr to the poison from Dire Wolves but even harder to deal with.


    No wonder Count Ryan wanted Cassman to rest.


    This death energy had been in his body for some time.


    If left untreated, it would eventually consume all of his life force.


    After some thought, Luca said, "If it''s because of that death energy, I might be able to help."


    Hearing Luca''s words, both Cassman and Sophia looked surprised.


    "You can see the death energy in my body?" Cassman asked, looking at Luca in astonishment.


    The death energy was hidden deep within him, making it difficult for ordinary doctors to detect.


    Yet Luca had noticed it so quickly.


    This kid was indeed extraordinary!


    Sophia was also surprised, and a glimmer of hope appeared in her heart.


    If Luca could see the problem in Cassman, perhaps he really had a way to help her mother as well!


    Thinking of this, she said, "Junior, if you have a way to remove the death energy from Cassman, please help him!"


    [Ding! You have triggered the quest "Cassman''s Old Injury"!]


    [Introduction: A few years ago, Sophia was attacked by a necromancer. Cassman was seriously injured while protecting her. If you can remove the death energy from his body, Sophia will reward you with a piece of Silver-grade equipment, and you will gain Cassman''s friendship.]


    Seeing this, Luca couldn''t help but smile.


    Sophia is indeed generous, offering a Silver-grade piece of equipment worth at least a hundred gold coins!


    Truly befitting the daughter of a count¡ªwealthy indeed!


    Without hesitation, Luca took out a quill and wrote down a list of materials on a piece of paper.


    Handing it to Sophia, he smiled and said, "Though removing death energy is challenging, it''s not impossible. I happen to know a recipe for dispelling it, but it requires some magical materials."


    Hearing this, both Cassman and Sophia were pleasantly surprised.


    They hadn''t expected Luca to have a way to address Cassman''s death energy problem.


    "Thank you, Junior," Sophia said quickly, taking the recipe from Luca and ncing at it. She saw that the ingredients were peculiar, like minotaur tears, roosterbs, and man-eating flower pollen.


    However, they were all low-level materials.


    Carefully putting it away, she solemnly said to Luca, "When we get to the Howard estate, I''ll have these prepared. Regardless of the oue, thank you for your willingness to help."


    Cassman''s hearty voice came from the front, "Kid, if you can really heal me, feel free to ask for anything in the future!"


    [Ding! Sophia''s favorability towards you increased by +50]


    [Ding! Cassman''s favorability towards you increased by +200]


    Luca nced at Sophia in surprise.


    He hadn''t expected her favorability to increase, thinking it was stuck at a standstill.


    She noticing Luca''s astonishment.


    Sophia quickly reverted to her usual cool demeanor, as if nothing had happened.


    If not for the favorability notification, Luca might have thought it was just his imagination.


    At this moment, the carriage arrived at the Howard estate.


    Getting off the carriage, Luca saw a sprawling estate covering thousands of acres.


    A meticulously designed garden surrounded a magnificent vi adorned with borate decorations and smooth lines, exuding luxury and grandeur. Busy gardeners and servants further highlighted the noble status of the estate''s owner.


    As soon as the three got off the carriage, a servant came to take the reins, and an impably dressed butler with neatlybed hair approached them.


    "Wee back, Miss, Sir Cassman," the butler greeted them first.


    Then turned to Luca with a somewhat stiff smile. "Hello, Luca Witch Doctor. I am Charles, the butler of Howard estate."


    Luca couldn''t help but notice that Charles'' smile seemed a bit forced.


    Sophia noticed the butler''s unusual expression as well.


    She frowned:"Butler Charles, has my mother''s condition worsened?"


    "No, no, Miss, you''ve misunderstood," Charles quickly shook his head and then smiled wryly. "Baron Matthew came by earlier with a mid-level healer, iming he could cure Lady Lenna''s illness. They are currently waiting in the parlor for your return."


    At these words, everyone''s brows furrowed.

 Chapter 20: Healer Freeman and Old Grievances

    <h4>Chapter 20: Healer Freeman and Old Grievances</h4>


    "Matthew?"


    Luca''s curiosity was piqued.


    This wasn''t the first time he had heard this name.


    Yesterday, Catherine mentioned that it was this person who had blocked her from reporting the Beast Forest issue to the lord.


    He hadn''t expected to run into him so soon.


    Instinctively, he nced at Sophia.


    He noticing her furrowed brows, indicating her displeasure with Matthew as well.


    The truth was, Sophia indeed harbored strong dislike for Matthew.


    Arrogant and debauched, Matthew often abused his status as the lord''s son to bully ordinary people.


    If it weren''t for his connection to the Barton family¡ªSophia''s maternal side¡ªand technically being her cousin, she would have had him thrown into Riverfall City''s prison long ago.


    Though she knew he must have ulterior motives for showing such sudden concern today, she couldn''t outright dismiss him since he came under the pretext of helping her mother.


    Sophia turned to Luca with an apologetic expression. "I''m sorry, I didn''t expect Matthew to bring someone over today. If he causes any offense, please don''t take it to heart, Junior."


    For her junior, Sophia felt it necessary to be considerate of his feelings.


    After all, whether it was Luca''s status as a Witch Doctor or his exceptional magical aptitude that surpassed her own, both indicated his extraordinary potential.


    Luca shrugged nonchntly and smiled. "Don''t worry, Senior. If he can cure Lady Lenna, that''s great. If not, I''ll take a shot at it."


    [Ding! Sophia''s favorability towards you increased by +30]


    "You''re quite easygoing," Cassman remarked.


    If another healer or Witch Doctor heard that a peer had arrived, they would likely see it as a slight from the host. Even if they didn''t leave in a huff, they would certainly be seething inside.


    This kid''s temperament was much better than his teacher Franklin''s.


    Luca just smiled and didn''t say much.


    He had no intention of leaving.


    He was still nning to treat Lady Lenna and then inform Sophia about the Beast Forest situation and the impending Hydra threat.


    If he left now, he would have to find another way to bring it up.


    Following Sophia, Luca headed to the manor house while Cassman went to prepare the materials needed to dispel the death energy.


    Walking along the smooth path through the garden.


    They were greeted respectfully by maids as they made their way into the luxurious manor house.


    The manor''s hall was opulent, with a crystal chandelier casting light onto the polished floors, and the walls and furniture adorned with valuable collectibles. Luca even spotted a monster''s head mounted on the wall, its intimidating horns indicating it was a diamond-level monster in life, a testament to Count Ryan''s formidable power.


    In thevish reception area, two people sat on a white sofa made of some kind of animal hide.


    One of them was a red-haired young man in his twenties.


    He was dressed in a blue noble suit, with an air of arrogance that was impossible to conceal.


    Beside him stood a middle-aged man in a healer''s robe, sporting a goatee and an equally distinguished demeanor.


    As soon as Luca and the others entered the reception hall, the two men''s gazes turned towards them.


    The red-haired young man''s eyes briefly flicked over Luca before settling on Sophia.


    He quickly stood up, his face lighting up with eagerness as he approached her." Cousin, it''s been a long time. I heard Auntie was ill, so I hurried to bring Dr. Freeman from the neighboring Chifeng City. He''s a tinum Grade healer, and I''m sure he can cure Auntie!"


    Luca assessed the red-haired youth and surmised that this must be Matthew.


    The middle-aged man beside Matthew also introduced himself, "Freeman Rubin, at your service, Miss Sophia."


    Sophia, clearly unimpressed by Matthew''s enthusiasm, didn''t respond to him.


    Instead, she turned to Freeman and politely said, "Dr. Freeman, thank you foring all the way from Redwind City. I sought you out previously, but you weren''t avable. I''m grateful that Matthew brought you here."


    Freeman was a well-known healer throughout Emerald State, poised to soon break into the high ranks of tinum Grade. Such a figuremanded respect.


    Matthew, left standing awkwardly, appeared to be slightly intimidated by his cousin. He scratched his nose and didn''t say much more.


    Freeman, ustomed to dealing with important figures, remainedposed and smiled, "Miss Sophia, you''re too kind. This is my duty."


    His gaze then shifted to Luca, looking puzzled. "And this young man is?"


    Freeman sensed the aura of a Witch Doctor from Luca, initially assuming he was a student.


    But upon closer inspection, he realized Luca was the only Witch Doctor present.


    It left him curious.


    Was this low-level Witch Doctor here to do what?


    Assist me?


    Sophia hesitated briefly before introducing him, "This is my junior, Luca. He''s also here to help treat my mother."


    "So, you''re a student of Councilor Lucia." Freeman''s face showed a hint of surprise.


    He had initially taken Luca for an ordinary boy, not expecting him to be Lucia''s student.


    But his surprise was short-lived.


    As Freeman himself was on the verge of bing a high-ranking healer and was not easily impressed.


    Hearing that Luca was also there to treat Lady Lenna, Freeman frowned, "If I''m not mistaken, he''s only a low-level Witch Doctor. Miss Sophia, are you certain you want him to treat Lady Lenna?"


    Initially, Matthew was somewhat surprised by Luca''s identity.


    However, upon hearing that Luca was merely a low-level Witch Doctor, he immediately advised, "Cousin, I understand that you''re anxious to help Aunt, but you can''t act recklessly! You''ve already had so many doctorse and go without sess. What can a mere low-level Witch Doctor possibly do?"


    "If he inadvertently worsens Auntie''s condition, it will only create more trouble!"


    Faced with their skepticism, Luca remainedposed and uninterested in arguing.


    After all, he couldn''t very well exin that he was a Transcendent level healer in his past life.


    While Luca wasn''t bothered, Sophia''s brow furrowed in displeasure.


    She shot a cold nce at Matthew and said, "Luca is not only my junior but also Franklin Witch Doctor''s only student. Matthew, I suggest you watch your words. Otherwise, even I won''t be able to save you!"


    "Franklin''s student?!"


    Everyone''s expression changed at that revtion.


    If Luca were merely Lucia''s student, they might have just admired his talent.


    But being Franklin''s student was different.


    Franklin was known to be a madman who once barged into the Mages'' Association threatening to tear it down.


    Such a man''s student was not someone to be trifled with lightly.


    However, after the initial shock, Freeman''s face turned cold.


    He sneered, "So you''re that old fool''s student! No wonder a mere low-level Witch Doctor dares to treat the countess! Franklin is arrogant, and it seems his student is no better!"


    The others looked at Freeman in surprise.


    It seemed that Freeman had a grudge against Franklin from the past.


    Being a Witch Doctor was a rare profession, and even low-level Witch Doctors were far superior to ordinary healers. That Franklin was a high-level Witch Doctor made Freeman''s hostility even more notable, hinting at a significant past conflict between the two.


    Luca was slightly taken aback but not entirely surprised.


    Given Franklin''s personality, it would have been surprising if he didn''t have enemies.


    Already displeased by Sophia''s rebuke, Matthew sneered, "Dr. Freeman is right. Franklin might be impressive, but that doesn''t mean his student is!"


    Luca was not one to let this spoiled noble ruin his ns. He coldly retorted, "Whether I am capable or not will be evident soon enough. You need not worry, Lord Matthew."


    Matthew''s eyes shed with anger at Luca''s words.


    As the son of Riverfall City''s lord and a member of the Howard family''s extended family, he had rarely been spoken to so disrespectfully.


    However, a nce at Sophia''s cold expression made him hold his tongue, though he shot a venomous re at Luca.


    If not for his father''s warning not to cause trouble, Matthew would have already shown this insolent youth the consequences of offending a noble.


    "Let''s go up to the second floor and check on my mother. We mustn''t dy," Sophia interrupted, not wanting to waste any more time on the argument.


    Without furtherment, they all headed upstairs.


    As he passed Luca, Freeman sneered, "You may be arrogant now, but don''t be surprised if you can''t even diagnose the patient''s condition!"


    Luca didn''t even bother to respond to Matthew, choosing to ignore himpletely.


    This attitude instantly made Freeman feel slighted.


    "We''ll see how long you can keep this up!" Freeman muttered angrily, watching Luca''s departing figure.


    Years ago, he had shed with Franklin over a rare herb and was publicly humiliated by him. The memory of that grudge still burned vividly in Freeman''s mind.


    Now, having encountered Franklin''s student, Freeman feltpelled to make Luca look foolish in public to settle the old score with Franklin.

 Chapter 21: Sleeping Beauty Grass’s Poison, Nightmare!

    <h4>Chapter 21: Sleeping Beauty Grass''s Poison, Nightmare!</h4>


    Led by Sophia, the group ascended to the second floor and approached Lady Lenna''s bedroom.


    At this moment, there were two maids standing guard outside the door.


    Seeing the group approaching, the two maids quickly bowed respectfully.


    Sophia waved her hand dismissively and led Luca and the others into the room.


    Inside, the bedroom wasvishly decorated, but the drawn floor-to-ceiling curtains made it dim.


    On the intricately carved golden bedy a middle-aged woman, appearing to be in her forties or fifties, well-maintained, and deeply asleep.


    She breathed evenly, looking as though she was merely sleeping, albeit a bit pale.


    Luca took one look at her and frowned.


    This situation seemed familiar, as if he had encountered it before...


    "Mother?" Sophia called out worriedly as she walked to the bed, trying to rouse her.


    However, Lady Lenna remained motionless.


    Sophia turned to Luca and Freeman, sighing, "Please, both of you, examine my mother. If you can cure her, the Howard family will not spare any expense in your reward."


    Freeman nodded, while Luca stood in thought.


    Seeing this, Matthew and Freeman exchanged mocking nces.


    Matthew taunted, "Weren''t you so confident earlier? Why aren''t you stepping up now?"


    Freeman sneered, "I thought Franklin had taken on an exceptional student, but it turns out he''s just a useless brat."


    At this moment, Luca snapped out of his thoughts.


    His lips curling into a smile. "Since that''s the case, Dr. Freeman, please go ahead and examine Lady Lenna first. I''d like to see what skills you have."


    Freeman, thinking Luca had conceded, lifted his chin arrogantly and said, "Kid, you better watch closely!"


    With that, he approached Lady Lenna, his hand glowing with a green light.


    The room filled with a rich vitality, making everyone feel lighter.


    Except Luca.


    The group was impressed by Freeman''s disy of power.


    Freeman gave Luca a challenging look, saying, "See the difference now?"


    Sophia frowned, displeased with Freeman''s arrogance, but she couldn''t afford to offend him at the moment. She apologized to Luca, "I''m sorry, junior. I didn''t expect this to happen. I should have asked you toe tomorrow."


    She hadn''t known about Freeman and Franklin''s enmity. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have invited Luca at this time.


    Luca reassured her, "Don''t worry, senior. This doesn''t bother me, and besides, he won''t be able to cure Lady Lenna."


    Hearing this, Matthew scoffed, "If even Dr. Freeman can''t do it, then you might as well call your teacher."


    "Shut up!" Sophia snapped, making Matthew flinch.


    He opened his mouth to retort but quickly closed it, intimidated by Sophia''s frosty expression.


    Matthew was puzzled.


    If it were any other time, his cousin would never have bothered to exin herself.


    Was there something special about this Luca?


    As he was lost in thought, Freeman, who was examining Lady Lenna, suddenly asked, "When did this start? What are the specific symptoms?"


    Sophia looked at the old butler since she wasn''t fully informed.


    Charles sighed, "It''s just been these past few days. For some reason, madam started bing increasingly sleepy. Since yesterday, she has been asleep and hasn''t woken up or eaten anything."


    Upon hearing this, Freeman''s frown suddenly rxed.


    Heughed heartily, "That makes sense. From the onset, the patient bes increasingly sleepy, and as the condition worsens, she falls into a deep sleep. Lady Lenna''s condition matches a description I found in an ancient text."


    Everyone except Luca brightened at this revtion.


    Freeman had quickly identified the cause!


    Sophia hurried forward and asked, "Dr. Freeman, what exactly is wrong with my mother?"


    The others also looked at Freeman expectantly.


    Freeman stroked his goatee and smiled, "This isn''t an illness but rather a poison from a nt called ''Sleeping Beauty Grass.'' "


    "The needle-like leaves of this grass carry a neurotoxin. If not treated promptly, the toxin invades the brain, causing increasing drowsiness until the person falls into a deep, unending sleep."


    "Sleeping Beauty Grass is rare, typically growing near forests and rivers. If I''m not mistaken, Lady Lenna must have been outside the city recently."


    Hearing this, the butler recalled, his face lighting up with excitement, "Yes! A few days ago, madam went on a pic outside the city with thedies of Riverfall City. That must be when she was poisoned!"


    The group was thrilled.


    If this was indeed the case, Lady Lenna''s condition was almost certainly identified, and the next step would be finding the right treatment.


    Sophia''s eyes sparkled with hope, "What medicine do you need, Dr. Freeman? I will have it prepared immediately!"


    If Freeman could identify the cause, he must also have a remedy.


    It seemed Lady Lenna''s illness would soon be resolved.


    Seeing this, Matthew couldn''t help but mock Luca, "Haha, kid, looks like you''re not needed after all. It''s a pity we couldn''t see you make a fool of yourself. I should have let you go first."


    Luca gave him a half-smile and said, "That''s not necessarily true. After all, it''s still uncertain if it''s actually Sleeping Beauty Grass poisoning."


    Though Luca''s voice was not loud, everyone in the room heard him clearly.


    Freeman, who was about to provide the prescription, paused.


    Hearing Luca''s words, Freeman immediately became furious, "Lady Lenna''s condition matches those who have been poisoned by Sleeping Beauty Grass in the ancient texts perfectly. How could it be wrong? "


    "You call yourself Franklin''s student? If you don''t understand, don''t just show off here!"


    Matthew also shouted angrily, "You''re just a low-level Witch Doctor. How dare you question Dr. Freeman?"


    Sophia looked at Luca, her eyes filled with doubt.


    Though she hadn''t known Luca for long, she didn''t think he was the type to boast.


    After a moment of thought, she hesitantly asked, "Why do you say that?"


    Luca shook his head, "Because Lady Lenna''s symptoms don''t match those of Sleeping Beauty Grass poisoning."


    Matthew sneered, "You''re acting like you''ve actually seen someone poisoned by Sleeping Beauty Grass!"


    Freeman''s expression turned cold as he retorted, "If that''s the case, then tell us, what exactly is wrong with Lady Lenna?"


    All eyes turned to Luca.


    If he disputed Freeman''s diagnosis, he needed to provide a reasonable exnation.


    "This isn''t an illness, nor is it a simple case of poisoning," Luca said calmly despite everyone''s gaze.


    He then walked over to Lady Lenna''s bedside under their puzzled looks.


    He gazing at Lady Lenna''s pale face.


    Luca said seriously, "This is the work of a high-level monster, a Nightmare!"


    His words caused an uproar among the crowd.


    Sophia was taken aback, "Luca, are you sure? This isn''t a small matter."


    Matthew burst intoughter, "Haha, kid, if you''re going to make up a story, at leaste up with a better one!"


    "With the Magical Association''s defensive barrier, how could a monster enter Riverfall City, let alone a high-level monster?"


    No one noticed that Freeman, upon hearing Luca''s words, seemed to recall something.


    His body trembled, and his eyes filled with fear.


    Because if he remembered correctly, those afflicted by a Nightmare''s influence did indeed show symptoms simr to Sleeping Beauty Grass poisoning!


    However, Freeman had never considered this possibility.


    With Riverfall City''s defensive barrier, no monster should be able to enter, especially not a high-level one like a Nightmare.


    If such a creature had entered, it would have caused significant disturbances.


    Facing the crowd''s skepticism and ridicule, Luca didn''t bother to exin further.


    He concentrated, and a blue glow characteristic of a Witch Doctor''s power appeared in his hand.


    Hand Of Witch Doctor!


    In the stunned silence that followed.


    Luca gently ced his hand on Lady Lenna''s forehead.


    Suddenly, the room fell into a dead silence.


    Everyone''s eyes widened in shock!


    They watched in disbelief as Luca slowly pulled a transparent, worm-like creature from Madam Lenna''s forehead!


    Suspended in mid-air, the creature wriggled continuously, its movements mesmerizing and horrifying everyone in the room.

 Chapter 22: Nightmare Parasite! Junior, Do You Have a Solution?

    <h4>Chapter 22: Nightmare Parasite! Junior, Do You Have a Solution?</h4>


    "Nightmare Parasite?!"


    In Madam Lenna''s bedroom, everyone stared at the worm in Luca''s hand with horrified expressions.


    A Nightmare Parasite was apanion creature to a Nightmare!


    Its presence meant that within a hundred-mile radius, there was likely a Nightmare lurking!


    This revtion confirmed that Luca''s earlier statement was true ¨C a Nightmare was indeed nearby!


    Realizing this, Matthew began to tremble, Freeman''s scalp tingled with fear, and even Sophia''s face turned pale.


    They all knew the implications of a high-level Nightmare appearing near Riverfall City.


    Nightmares were terrifying monsters capable of killing people in their dreams and were notoriously difficult to locate. If a Nightmare was truly near Riverfall City, it spelled doom for everyone within a hundred miles!


    Worse still, anyone cursed with a Nightmare''s dream curse was almost certainly doomed to die painfully within their nightmares.


    This meant that Madam Lenna...


    Sophia''s face grew even paler at the thought.


    The old butler, Charles, was visibly terrified, his voice trembling as he spoke, "With the defensive barrier in ce, this thing shouldn''t have been able to get in!"


    Matthew red at Luca, usingly, "Boy, is this Nightmare Parasite your doing? With Riverfall City''s high-level defense barrier and the high-level professionals living here, a Nightmare shouldn''t have been able to enter without being noticed!"


    Luca calmly replied, "If the Nightmare''s bloodline level is high enough, say a Leader-level, it wouldn''t be difficult for it to bypass Riverfall City''s defenses and evade detection."


    The higher the bloodline level of a monster, the stronger it was. Nightmares were adept at hiding, and a high-bloodline Nightmare could easily infiltrate Riverfall City without raising rms.


    Freeman gritted his teeth, "But such a high-level monster appearing in a small ce like Riverfall City? How is that possible?"


    He wasn''t being self-deprecating, but high-bloodline monsters were extremely rare. Even in Beast Forest and Wind in, there were only a few.


    And it is a fully grown high-level Nightmare


    It would have been dealt with by Southern Territory''s elite long ago, not allowed to survive and infiltrate Riverfall City.


    Luca calmly stated, "A Spatial Node has appeared in Beast Forest, allowing many monsters to crawl out from the Abyssal Demon Realm. This Nightmare might havee from there."


    Hearing this, Matthew asked in confusion, "Spatial Node? What''s that?"


    The others also looked at Luca, not understanding what he was talking about.


    Only Sophia''s expression changed as she asked, "Do you mean an Abyssal Node?"


    "Pretty much," Luca nodded.


    An Abyssal Node was a passage through which monsters from the Abyssal Demon Realm entered the Eternal Continent. It was simr to a Spatial Node, but the difference was that one led to the Eternal Continent while the other connected to the real world.


    Hearing Luca''s words, Sophia''s face turned even paler.


    Abyssal Nodes had existed in the Eternal Continent for an indeterminate amount of time, but many families with long-standing traditions knew of their terrifying nature.


    Monsters had entered the Eternal Continent from the Abyssal Demon Realm through these nodes. Every time an Abyssal Node appeared, it heralded great disaster or upheaval in the Eternal World, without exception.


    Over the past few centuries, Abyssal Nodes had rarely appeared, so people had gradually forgotten about them. Sophia had only learned about them from her father''s stories and never expected one to appear near Riverfall City.


    Sophia''s face was filled with worry.


    Her father, Count Ryan, was not in the Emerald State to maintain order, and now an Abyssal Node had appeared near Riverfall City. Moreover, her mother was cursed by a Nightmare!


    All these troubles arriving at once!


    Seeing her distress, Luca spoke up, "I can''t do anything about the situation in Beast Forest, but I can lift Madam Lenna''s Nightmare curse."


    Since Sophia understood the horror of the Spatial Node, Luca had achieved his goal.


    Now, all he needed to do was cure Madam Lenna and then focus on leveling up.


    "You have a way to lift the Nightmare curse?!" Sophia was astonished by Luca''s words, and Matthew, along with the others, thought they must have misheard.


    Did this kid know what he was talking about?


    "I can indeed cure the Nightmare''s curse," Luca confirmed with a nod, unfazed by their stares.


    Though Nightmare was a high-level monster, Madam Lenna was merely infested with a Nightmare Worm, making the treatment rtively simple.


    Freeman sneered, "Kid, do you even know what the Nightmare curse is? Forget you being a low-level Witch Doctor, even Franklin might not be able to handle it!"


    Matthew also mocked, "This is not the time to y hero, kid! If you provoke the Nightmare, can you handle the consequences?"


    Luca, fiddling with the Nightmare Worm, replied calmly, "Don''t worry about that. The Nightmare Worm has a unique connection with the Nightmare. Right now, the high-level Nightmare probably senses something is wrong and might be on its way here."


    "What?!"


    Everyone''s faces turned pale.


    This was a high-level Nightmare!


    If it indeed came here, hardly anyone in Howard Manor would survive.


    Matthew, furious, shouted, "If you knew it would alert the Nightmare, why did you remove the worm? Do you want us all to die here?!"


    Luca looked at him in surprise and said, "Weren''t you the ones who asked me to prove it? Now you''re ming me?"


    "Who the hell told you to prove it like that? Couldn''t you have done it another way?" Freeman was practically fuming.


    Just to prove himself, he disturbed a high-level Nightmare. Did this kid have an eagle mouse in his head instead of a brain?!


    Matthew and Freeman, now terrified, couldn''t bear to stay in the dangerous area any longer.


    "If anyone dies, it''ll be because of you!" they shouted, casting venomous res at Luca before apologizing to Sophia and rushing out of Howard Manor in a panic.


    Watching Matthew and Freeman flee, the old butler Charles trembled with rage, his white beard quivering.


    "That bastard Matthew! The count and his wife have always treated him well, and now in danger, he leaves the youngdy behind! The ungrateful dog! If the count returns, I will definitely report him!"


    Compared to the enraged Charles, Sophia was much calmer.


    Blood ties between nobles are often as thin as water; she had long since witnessed countless examples of this.


    Shaking her head slightly, Sophia turned to Luca and said, "Junior, tell me what materials you need to treat my mother. I will have them prepared immediately."


    Nightmare and the Beast Forest could wait, the most pressing issue now was to rescue her mother, Lenna, from her slumber.


    If they waited for the Nightmare to arrive, it would truly be toote.


    Understanding Sophia''s urgency, Luca wasted no time and listed the ingredients, "One Soul Protection Gem, one Dream Blossom, two Awakening Herbs..."


    Charles was momentarily taken aback but quickly recovered. He took a notebook and a quill pen from his pocket and meticulously noted down all the herbs and materials Luca mentioned.


    He doubted that such a young man could cure Madam Lenna.


    But Freeman had already left. Even the slightest hope was worth pursuing.


    They couldn''t just watch Madam Lenna waste away.


    When Luca finished, Charles didn''t wait for Sophia''s orders; he immediately headed to the pharmacy to fetch the items.


    Sophia looked at Luca, ready to discuss how they might deal with the high-level Nightmare.


    But she was surprised to see how rxed Luca appeared, showing no signs of facing a life-or-death situation.


    Hesitating for a moment, Sophia asked, "Junior, do you... have a way to deal with that Nightmare?"


    She couldn''t help but feel that Luca had never been overly concerned about the Nightmare or the curse on Madam Lenna.


    Except for the moment when he mentioned the node, which made him look slightly more serious.


    Luca looked at Sophia in slight surprise, not expecting her to hold him in such high regard.


    He immediately shook his head and said, "You overestimate me, senior. I don''t have the means to handle a high-level monster."


    Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment shed across Sophia''s face.


    It seemed she had been too optimistic.


    After all, dealing with a high-level Nightmare was no simple feat.

 Chapter 23: Seven-Star Restriction Array, Clear Mind Potion

    <h4>Chapter 23: Seven-Star Restriction Array, Clear Mind Potion</h4>


    Sophia pressed her lips together, her eyes dimming slightly.


    She hadn''t ced much hope in her earlier guess, so the disappointment wasn''t overwhelming.


    But the thought of her and her mother meeting a grim fate soon weighed heavily on her heart.


    It filling her with a sense of destion.


    However, Luca''s next words left her stunned.


    "Senior, you don''t actually need to worry," Luca said with a smile. "I can''t deal with the Nightmare, but I can sever the connection between this worm and the Nightmare."


    Sophia looked at Luca in surprise, "Are you serious?"


    Luca stretchedzily and said, "Of course, I''m serious. I was just scaring those two earlier. After all, they''ve been sneering at me for so long; it''s only fair to give them a bit of a scare in return."


    Matthew had disrupted his ns earlier, and Freeman was his teacher''s enemy. Although Luca have not enough power to confront them directly.


    But making them lose face was a satisfying way to get back at them.


    Sophia, still puzzled, asked, "What exactly is your n?"


    Luca didn''t respond immediately but slowly opened his hand.


    Sophia''s eyes widened in surprise as she saw the worm in Luca''s hand, continuously enveloped in a bluish, ghostly light.


    Moreover, she noticed something even more astonishing: the worm emitted no aura or energy at all¡ªnothing.


    "What''s going on?" Sophia wondered, concentrating her perception.


    Suddenly, she realized something that made her heart skip a beat.


    This tiny worm was under a powerful restraint!


    This restriction sealed all of the worm''s aura, life force, and even consciousness within the confines of Luca''s palm.


    Despite being so close, she hadn''t sensed any of its presence leaking out.


    "This... is a restrictive secret technique?!" Sophia''s eyes widened in shock as she looked at Luca.


    A "secret technique" is a unique form of power utilization distinct from ordinary skills.


    These techniques are not only far more powerful and scarce, but they also share amon characteristic.


    They can be learned by any profession.


    Restrictive secret techniques are a particr category of these techniques.


    In addition, there are offensive, supportive, and defensive secret techniques, all of which are extremely potent and rare.


    Now, Sophia finally understood why Luca had remained so calm.


    With this restrictive secret technique, the worm had no chance to ry any information to the Nightmare!


    Realizing this, Sophia felt a sense of relief.


    It meant they still had room to maneuver.


    "You just changed your profession less than two days ago. How do you know a secret technique?" This was the only thing she couldn''t understand.


    Sophia clearly remembered that Luca was just an Apprentice Mage yesterday.


    Had he really mastered a secret technique in just one day?!


    Luca''s expression remained unchanged. "It was Franklin who taught me. I have high aptitude and Perception levels, so I learn things quickly."


    This statement was only partially true. While Franklin and Sophia had indeed taught him some low-level secret techniques, Luca had dismissed them after a brief nce and stored them in his Storage Ring.


    The restrictive secret technique he was using now was a high-level technique he had acquired in his previous life, called the "Seven-Star Restriction Array."


    Sealing the aura was only one of the abilities of this technique. Its true strengthy in its ability to set up a restrictive array that could limit the actions of everyone within its boundaries.


    However, Luca was only using a simplified version, as the full version would drain all his energy.


    Sophia''s expression becameplicated.


    Secret techniques required a significant amount of talent. Some people might struggle their entire lives to learn just a few, while those with exceptional talent could master one in a matter of days.


    If she remembered correctly, it had taken her a full seven days to barely learn her first secret technique.


    Even so, she had been praised by her father and teacher as the most talented mage in Emerald State in a century!


    Yet, Luca''s learning speed was seven times faster than hers!


    This wasn''t just talent¡ªit was monstrous!


    "Is this the difference between innate full potential and my own Perception?" Sophia sighed inwardly.


    She had always thought that with her level 9 aptitude and level 9 Perception, she might be slightly weaker than Luca but not by much.


    She never expected the gap between them to be this vast!


    Usually, others were amazed by her talent. This was the first time she had ever felt such a significant disparity in talentpared to someone else.


    Seeing that Sophia seemed disheartened, Luca tried tofort her, saying, "My talent is quite average, actually. It took me quite a bit of time to learn this secret techniquest night."


    [Ding! Sophia''s favorability towards you has decreased by 10 points.]


    Sophia''s expression turned cold as she said, "Then you must have spent an extraordinary amount of time, Junior. I remember it took me a whole week to learn my first secret technique. It seems I was far too foolish."


    Luca was stunned to see that the already limited favorability had instantly dropped by 10 points.


    Even with maxed-out charm, he couldn''t maintain her favorability?!


    How hard tomunicate to this woman!


    Just as Luca was silentlyining.


    Charles, Cassman, and a group of servants hurried into Lady Lenna''s bedroom, carrying boxes of herbs and materials.


    "We have brought the items, Mr. Luca. Can you..." Charles began but trailed off, noticing the unusually cold atmosphere in the room. The temperature seemed to have dropped, and the mood felt tense.


    "Could it be that Lady Lenna''s condition has worsened?"


    The thought sent a chill through everyone, fearing the worst.


    But before they could express their grief, they saw that Lady Lenna was still lying in bed, peacefully asleep.


    "What is going on?" Cassman and Charles exchanged confused nces, not understanding the situation.


    "Alright, ce the items here. I''ll start preparing the potion to lift the curse on Lady Lenna," Luca said, coughing to break the silence and prevent the awkward atmosphere from dragging on.


    Sophia''s expression softened a bit, but her favorability didn''t return.


    Luca felt somewhat exasperated.


    It was already nearing noon. After calming his emotions, Luca didn''t dy and began preparing the potion to lift the nightmare curse.


    The "Clear Mind Potion" was designed to remove negative statuses.


    While not particrly rare inter times, it was still a high-level potion. Given his current level, Luca couldn''t make it perfectly.


    Instead, he opted for a simplified version using lower-level materials.


    Though its effectiveness was diminished, it would still be sufficient to treat Lady Lenna, who was an ordinary person.


    With a focused thought, a powerful aura far exceeding his level surged from Luca!


    Witch Doctor''s Hand!


    In the next moment, a bluish glow emanated from Luca''s hand, enveloping each ingredient and material.


    In the shocked, confused, and astonished gazes of everyone present, colorful essences began to extract from the materials!


    He was extracting all the materials at once!


    "Holy crap! This kid!" Cassman''s eyes widened as he gasped in surprise.


    Not just him; everyone else looked as if they had seen a ghost.


    Even Sophia was deeply shocked.


    Extracting materials required a profound understanding of their properties and precise control over one''s power.


    If the extractorcked this knowledge or control, impurities could be drawn out, ruining the entire batch.


    What Luca was doing was unheard of!


    This way to extract thing is they have not heard.


    But the most shocking part was yet toe.


    After extracting the essences from six different ingredients, Luca didn''tbine them one by one. Instead, he directly began the process of merging them.


    Under everyone''s astonished gaze, the bluish energy guided the six globules of essence in his palm, merging them at an astonishing speed!


    Cassman was dumbfounded, his face full of disbelief as he muttered, "Is this kid a monster? He''s actually trying to concoct the potion by hand?!"

 Chapter 24: Skill Level Up, Trouble with the Potion?

    <h4>Chapter 24: Skill Level Up, Trouble with the Potion?</h4>


    It wasn''t that concocting potions by hand was particrly rare¡ªmany high-level alchemists and potion masters could do it.


    The issue was that Luca was merely a Bronze Grade, low-level Witch Doctor. How was he able to use techniques that only high-level professionals typically employed?


    Sophia was equally astonished.


    Her junior''s talent was truly remarkable!


    Others might not realize it, but she knew very well that Luca had only recently be a Witch Doctor. In such a short period, he had mastered both multi-ingredient extraction and hand-crafted potion techniques, something she had never heard of before, even with her own high aptitude.


    She realize that Luca learn more difficult secret technique, so she feel it is possible that he can use the high-level hand-crafted potion technique.


    "It''s all thanks to my teacher''s guidance. Without him, I wouldn''t have mastered these advanced techniques so quickly," Luca casually exined.


    "No wonder," everyone nodded in understanding. After all, Franklin was a rare high-level Witch Doctor, so it made sense he knew some special potion-making techniques.


    Cassman clicked his tongue in amazement. "I always thought Franklin, with his odd temperament, wouldn''t be much of a teacher. But he''s really something."


    Sophia shook her head slightly. "More than just something. Teaching a low-level Witch Doctor to master high-level potion techniques and advanced secrets in such a short time... even at Red Maple Academy in Southwind City, few teachers could achieve that."


    Old butler Charles praised, "Franklin truly lives up to his reputation as the most famous Witch Doctor in Emerald State. It''s well-deserved!"


    Hearing the group''s praises for Franklin, Luca couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.


    While he didn''t want to criticize his teacher, the truth was, Franklin hadn''t taught him much besides how to feed an eagle mouse. Even the Witch Doctor skills and knowledge were self-taught by Luca.


    However, Luca didn''t say anything further.


    Having a renowned teacher to draw attention was beneficial, making him seem less conspicuous.


    As time passed, it wasn''t long before the six essences merged, forming a light purple liquid in Luca''s hand.


    Luca''s speed in merging the potions was astonishing. If high-level healers or Witch Doctors were to witness this, they would likely doubt their own potion-making knowledge.


    Potion merging is the most challenging step in potion crafting. The proportion of each ingredient, the order of merging, and whether the potions'' properties conflict all require meticulous attention. Any minor error in these steps can lead to the potion''s failure or significantly reduced efficacy.


    However, Luca not only managed to merge multiple potions wlessly but did so while still being a low-level Witch Doctor. His ability was nothing short of extraordinary.


    Luca''s skill didn''te easily.


    In his previous life, he spent a significant amount of resources honing his perception and control over potion properties.


    This allowed him to perfectly bnce the proportion of ingredients and simultaneously extract and merge multiple potions.


    As a result, Luca''s speed in crafting potions was incredibly fast.


    In no time, he sessfully created the simplified version of the rity Potion!


    <strong>[</strong><strong>Ding! You have crafted a mid-tier potion "Simplified rity Potion" across ranks, increasing your proficiency by 3000 points!</strong><strong>]</strong>


    <strong>[</strong><strong>Ding! Your skill "Potion Synthesis" has leveled up to lv5, increasing your synthesis sess rate by 16% and potion effectiveness by 12%...</strong><strong>]</strong>


    Crafting a potion beyond his current level directly boosted Luca''s "Potion Synthesis" skill to level 5, significantly enhancing its effects.


    At this pace, it wouldn''t take long for this skill to reach level 10, at which point Luca could confidently attempt high-tier potion crafting.


    Cassman looked at the purple vapor-emitting liquid in Luca''s hand and said, "Can this really cure Lady Lenna''s illness? Kid, you better not be risking her life!"


    The others also looked doubtful.


    The potion''s appearance didn''t inspire confidence; it looked more like poison than a magical remedy.


    "Don''t worry, I wouldn''t joke about the health of my senior''s mother," Luca replied casually. He then took out a transparent ss vial and poured the newly synthesized rity Potion into it.


    Handing the vial to Sophia, he smiled and said, "Now, just feed this potion to Lady Lenna. The potion''s effects will cleanse her soul and mind of the Nightmare''s curse and pull her out of the nightmare."


    Looking at the bubbling purple liquid in the ss vial, Sophia hesitated for a moment.


    In the end, she decided to trust Luca and give it a try.


    She made this decision for two reasons: first, Luca had previously demonstrated his abilities, making her believe that he truly had the skill.


    Second, Franklin had assured her that if anything went wrong, he would step in to back up Luca.


    This assurance was enough for her to take the risk.


    Sophia carefully took the purple potion from Luca and walked over to her mother''s bedside. She gently administered the potion to Lady Lenna.


    The purple liquid slid down Lady Lenna''s throat.


    Everyone, except Luca, watched with bated breath.


    Some silently prayed that nothing would go wrong, knowing that few among them could withstand the wrath of Count Ryan.


    To their relief, Lady Lenna showed no adverse reactions after drinking the potion.


    This at least indicated that Luca''s potion was harmless.


    Luca paid no mind to their doubts.


    He observed Lady Lenna''s condition and nodded slightly.


    It seemed that his hastily concocted simplified rity Potion was quite effective.


    The potion took effect quickly.


    Within a few breaths, Lenna''s body have react.


    Her paleplexion began to regain color, and her eyelids fluttered as though she was about to wake up.


    "Is this kid''s potion really working?!" Charles and the others widened their eyes in astonishment.


    This was a nightmare curse from a high-level Nightmare, a condition that even many high-level healers couldn''t treat.


    Yet, this kid''s single potion was showing results?!


    Everyone was amazed.


    Cassman''s heart burned with hope.


    If Luca could dispel Lady Lenna''s nightmare curse, perhaps he could also deal with the death energy in his own body!


    Watching Lady Lenna''s color gradually return, Sophia''s eyes filled with joy.


    She had initially intended to just give it a try, but Luca''s potion was truly working!


    Her mother was saved!


    Under everyone''s hopeful gaze, Lady Lenna slowly opened her eyes.


    "Ugh... where am I?" she mumbled, her eyes filled with confusion as she clutched her head. She seemed disoriented, as if she hadn''t fully woken up from her dream.


    "Madam, you''re finally awake!" Charles and the others were visibly excited.


    Sophia hurried forward, asking with concern, "Mother, how do you feel now?"


    Seeing the group in her room, Lady Lenna looked slightly puzzled. "Why are you all here?" she asked.


    Then turned to Sophia, surprised. "Sophia, what happened? Why are you asking me this?"


    Everyone was confused. Did Lady Lenna not know what had happened?


    Luca, however, wasn''t surprised.


    This was a normal reaction. From Lady Lenna''s perception, she had merely taken a nap. She was unaware that a whole day and night had passed. In fact, even the past few days might seem like a mere dream to her.


    Realizing this, Sophia quickly recounted the events of the past few days to her mother.


    "I was bewitched by a Nightmare?!" Lady Lenna''s eyes filled with terror, her face instantly turning pale.


    It was then that she remembered what she had experienced in her dream.


    She had initially thought it was just a nightmare but never imagined that she had actually fallen victim to a Nightmare''s curse!


    Thinking about it, Lady Lenna''s face showed fear.


    Had she not woken up, she might have been trapped in that nightmare forever!


    She looked at Luca, wanting to express her gratitude.


    But suddenly felt dizzy and extremely weak, as if all her strength had been drained.


    "What''s... happening..." Lady Lenna''s voice was weak.


    Before she could finish speaking, she fainted again.


    Everyone was shocked.


    Could there be a problem with Luca''s potion?

 Chapter 25: The Deep Sea Pearl, Iron Mountain Barracks

    <h4>Chapter 25: The Deep Sea Pearl, Iron Mountain Barracks</h4>


    Sophia, anxious, asked, "Junior, what''s happening? Why did my mother fall asleep again?"


    Luca remained calm and said, "Don''t worry. Lady Lenna had her mental strength drained by the Nightmare. She just needs some rest to recover."


    Then, Luca wrote down a prescription and handed it to Charles, instructing him to gather some herbs to help restore Lady Lenna''s mental strength.


    Charles nodded quickly and left with a few servants to prepare the necessary ingredients.


    Sophia offered, "Do you need anything else? I can fetch it from the Howard family''s treasury."


    Luca shook his head. "No, the potion she took will be sufficient. She just needs to rest. Let''s leave her alone to recuperate."


    With that, he was the first to step out of Lady Lenna''s bedroom.


    Having witnessed Luca''s skills firsthand, no one dared to question his instructions.


    Everyone followed him out of the room.


    Sophia, now calmer, sincerely thanked Luca. "Junior, I cannot thank you enough! Your help will always be remembered by me and the Howard family."


    "Here, this is your reward."


    She then took out a storage ring and handed it to Luca.


    [Ding! Congrattions onpleting the task "Lady Lenna''s Illness." Task Completion Rate: 100%, Task Evaluation: Perfect!]


    [Task Rewards: High-level item "Spatial Teleportation Talisman," high-level material "Deep Sea Pearl," 1000 gold coins...]


    [Congrattions! You have gained the friendship of the Howard family. Initial favorability of Howard family members increased by 200 points!]


    [Ding! Sophia''s favorability towards you increased by 200 points, reaching a total of 320 points. Favorability level increased to "Close"!]


    ...


    "A taskpletion rate of 100%?!" Luca''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Lady Lenna''s task awarded rewards based on thepletion rate.


    Any mistake would have reduced thepletion rate and, consequently, the rewards.


    Luca had never expected to achieve a perfect score, making this a delightful surprise!


    Suppressing his excitement, Luca looked at the rewards.


    [Spatial Teleportation Talisman: High-level item. Upon use, the yer can instantly appear at any pre-marked location within 1000 meters, unaffected by any non-spatial skills. Cooldown time: 6 hours.]


    [Deep Sea Pearl: High-level material, sourced from the high-level monster "Deep Sea m Spirit" in the western seas of the Kingdom of Clinton. It can be used to forge high-level water attribute equipment, with a chance to gain a special water element amplification effect.]


    Apart from the 1000 gold coins and a tinum-grade item, Luca was most delighted by the high-level material he received as a reward!


    Compared to the life-saving "Spatial Teleportation Talisman," the "Deep Sea Pearl" was even more valuable to Luca.


    The "Hydra" is one of the top-tier monsters from the Abyssal Demon Realm. Even the Transcendent materials left behind by its phantom are at least high-level, possibly even Superss materials.


    To draw his first fixed magic rune using the "Hydra''s Blood," Luca needed at least four high-level materials to harness the full power of the Hydra magic rune.


    Originally, Luca nned to first obtain materials from the Hydra and then gather other high-level materials to draw the fixed magic rune. He never expected to acquire a high-level material so soon!


    Noticing the change in Luca''s expression and recalling his profession as a Demonic Rune Mage, Sophia spoke up, "Junior, you saved my mother. If you need anything, just let me know. The Howard family may not be a major family, but we do have some resources."


    The others looked on enviously. Such treatment from the Howard family was beyond their wildest dreams!


    Luca detected a hint of recruitment in Sophia''s words.


    He was certain that if he asked for high-level materials, Sophia would agree without hesitation.


    However, after some thought, he politely declined, "Thank you, Senior. If I need anything in the future, I will exchange it for something else."


    Although Count Ryan is a diamond-grade professional, the Howard family likely doesn''t have many high-level materials. If Luca wanted high-level materials, he would probably need to offer something in exchange, potentially branding himself with the Howard family mark.


    Unlike joining the Mages'' Association, being marked by a family would impose many restrictions, so Luca preferred to keep his dealings simple and avoid deep entanglements with any family.


    Understanding Luca''s intentions, Sophia and the others nodded.


    Cassman pursed his lips and said, "You really don''t know what''s good for you. So many people are trying to get the Howard family''s help without sess, and now that thedy herself offers, you refuse."


    Luca just smiled in response.


    Cassman''s viewpoint might apply to ordinary people, but to him, the Howard family was just a minor family in the vast Eternal Continent.


    Binding himself to such a family might bring some immediate benefits, but as his strength grew, this family would only be a burden. Therefore, there was no need to get too deeply involved; a friendly rtionship was sufficient.


    "If that''s the case, you cane to me whenever you need help in the future," Sophia said, not taking it to heart.


    Her intention was to express gratitude, and it didn''t matter if Luca didn''t want the Howard family''s support.


    Then she brought up another matter. "You mentioned the monster forest and the Abyssal Node earlier. Does that mean you''ve already checked it out?"


    Luca nodded and recounted yesterday''s encounter. "Yesterday, Catherine''s brother was seriously injured, so we went to the monster forest to look for materials. We stumbled upon an Abyssal Node in a cave. A lot of Silver and Gold Grade monsters had already gathered there, and there was even a Purple-Gold Grade leader."


    Luca concealed the true identity of the Hydra to avoid rming Sophia and the others. Revealing the presence of a monarch-level monster could cause panic and lead to the evacuation of Riverfall City, ruining his ns to deal with the Hydra''s arrival.


    "A Purple-Gold Grade leader?!" Upon hearing Luca''s words, both Sophia and Cassman''s faces changed instantly.


    A monster of that strength could easily destroy the entire Riverfall City, not to mention the other monsters present!


    And this dangerous thing hiding under their brow.


    Realizing the imminent danger, everyone''s expressions turned grim.


    Cassman, full of worry, said, "These monsters could attack at any moment. Why didn''t you mention this yesterday?"


    Luca replied helplessly, "This should have been reported to the city lord yesterday, but Catherine was blocked by Matthew at the city lord''s mansion."


    Hearing this, Cassman nearly erupted in anger.


    Clenching his fists, he said furiously, "That scoundrel Matthew! He does nothing but cause trouble and sleep with women!"


    Sophia''s face was equally displeased. Regarding her cousin, she had no words.


    Taking a deep breath, Sophia said solemnly, "Thank you for the warning, my junior. This matter cannot be dyed. I will report it to the people of Riverfall City and ensure they are prepared."


    Luca nodded and cautioned, "That monster is no ordinary beast. To deal with it, it would be best to have the count himself intervene. Ordinary people might not be able to handle it."


    Sophia sighed, "My father is not in Riverfall City right now. I will use a sound transmission crystal to inform him of the situation here and urge him to return from Southwind City as soon as possible."


    "The count is not here?" Luca frowned. This was an unexpectedplication.


    But he figured it shouldn''t pose too much of a problem. After all, Riverfall City housed several high-level warriors.


    "Cassman, head to the Emerald State barracks and ensure all soldiers are battle-ready. Also, send a team to the monster forest to gather intelligence," Sophia instructed Cassman to prepare in advance. She then apologized to Luca, "I''m sorry, junior. Given the urgency, we''ll have to postpone a proper reception for you."


    Luca shook his head slightly, indicating it was no trouble.


    After Sophia left for her study to use the sound transmission crystal to inform her father and Baron Rudolph Barton, the lord of Riverfall City.


    Seeing this, Luca saw no reason to linger.


    Once Sophia was gone, he and Cassman left Howard Manor together and boarded Sophia''s carriage to head to Iron Mountain Barracks.


    Luca nned to apany the scouting team to the monster forest.


    Aiming to level up while also guiding them through the area.

 Chapter 26: Nightmare Cult, Lord Rudolph’s Ambition

    <h4>Chapter 26: Nightmare Cult, Lord Rudolph¡¯s Ambition</h4>


    Meanwhile, on the other side.


    After leaving Howard Manor, Matthew and Freeman hurried back to Riverfall City.


    They made their way straight to the Lord''s mansion and urgently informed Lord Rudolph about the Nightmare.


    In the office, Rudolph, who was in his fifties but showed no signs of aging, set down his quill.


    He looked up at the two men, frowning, and asked, "Are you telling me that a high-ranking Nightmare has appeared in Riverfall City, and there''s an Abyssal Node outside the city?"


    Freeman, still shaken, replied with certainty, "That''s right! We saw it with our own eyes. That man named Luca pulled a Nightmare Parasite out of Lady Lenna''s forehead! Even the young lord witnessed it!"


    Recalling the scene, Matthew''s face paled, and he nodded repeatedly.


    With a flustered expression, he said, "Riverfall City is far too dangerous, Father. Maybe we should evacuate for now!"


    Rudolph shook his head and sighed, "Sometimes I really doubt that you are my son."


    Rudolph sees Matthew''s confused expression.


    He exined, "If it really were a high-ranking monster, how could someone like Luca, a mere low-level Witch Doctor, possibly detect it? Even if he did notice something, the Nightmare would have certainly be aware the moment he removed the Nightmare Parasite. How could you have possibly survived?"


    "So this so-called Nightmare was just a trick that Witch Doctor used to deceive you, and the fact that you haven''t figured this out by now leaves me deeply disappointed!"


    After hearing Rudolph''s words, Matthew and Freeman were momentarily stunned.


    Then, a wave of shame and anger surged in their hearts.


    So, there was no Nightmare or Nightmare Parasite?


    Everything was just a ruse by Luca, and they had all been fooled by that guy!!


    "That despicable scoundrel!" Freeman''s face flushed as he thought more about it, realizing that Rudolph''s words made sense.


    He had believed he was dealing with a high-ranking Nightmare.


    Who would have thought it was merely a ploy by that youth to confuse them!


    When he recalled his disgraceful behavior at Howard Manor, Freeman felt such rage that he could kill Luca on the spot!


    Matthew was equally furious, gritting his teeth as he angrily dered, "Damn bastard! How dare he trick me! If I see him again, I''ll make him pay!"


    With that, he was ready to seek revenge on Luca.


    In all his years, this was the first time he had suffered such a humiliation at someone''s hands.


    There was no way he could let this go!


    Rudolph raised his hand to stop him, contemting, "Not everything he said might be false. At the very least, the Abyssal Node should be real. That''s not something he would dare lie about."


    He picked up the Lord''s token from the desk and handed it to Matthew, saying, "I''m going to visit Howard Manor shortly. Take the City Lord''s guards and head to Beast Forest to assist the soldiers at Iron Mountain camp."


    "Remember, do not cause any trouble!"


    "I understand, Father!" Matthew''s heart leapt with joy as he quickly epted the token.


    The Lord''s token had the authority to mobilize both the City Lord''s guards and the city''s defenders. Normally, Rudolph wouldn''t even let him touch it.


    If it weren''t for the unusual circumstances, Rudolph likely wouldn''t have allowed him to use it today.


    A look of satisfaction appeared on Matthew''s face.


    Now, with these guards, dealing with that Luca should be a piece of cake.


    As for Rudolph''s warning, he didn''t take it to heart at all.


    He couldn''t swallow this humiliation¡ªLuca had to pay!


    Matthew left the office, beaming with delight.


    Freeman hesitated for a moment but then followed him out.


    He had guessed what Matthew was thinking, but this suited him just fine.


    He couldn''t face Franklin on his own, nor did he dare to act rashly.


    But now, under the guise of the City Lord''s authority, he could give Franklin''s student a good lesson.


    "Bang!"


    The office door closed with a dull thud.


    Rudolph''s expression gradually softened.


    He stood up, then knelt respectfully towards a shadowy corner of the room.


    In a low voice, Rudolph said, "I apologize, Lady Tia. I didn''t expect that old fool Franklin''s disciple to be so skilled, to the point where he could even detect the Nightmare Parasite."


    "I''ve just given Matthewmand of the troops. With his temperament, he certainly won''t let that boy named Luca off the hook. He''ll definitely help you vent your anger, Lady Tia."


    Not long after he spoke, a sultry voice echoed in the room.


    She chuckled, "Lord Rudolph, you needn''t worry. No matter what, Ryan has already achieved his purpose by leaving the Emerald State, and the church''s n has been sessfully implemented¡ªthat''s all that matters."


    From the shadows, a tall figure slowly emerged.


    It was a young woman with a slender, graceful figure, dressed in a long ck dress.


    She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with long hair as smooth as purple silk and a face of striking beauty. She wore two serpent-shaped earrings, and her amber-colored eyes were both alluring and captivating.


    On her fair chest was a tattoo of a purple serpent, adding an air of mystery to her already enchanting presence.


    If Luca were to see this tattoo, he would undoubtedly be shocked.


    For in the future, this tattoo would be the symbol of a notorious and infamous organization!


    The Nightmare Cult!


    A fanatical cult that worships the Abyssal Demon Lord, the Nightmare Sovereign "Jormungandr!"


    "Thank you for your generosity, Lady Tia!" Rudolph breathed a sigh of relief, but he bowed even lower.


    Throughout the entire encounter, he didn''t dare lift his head to look at the woman before him.


    Rudolph was all too aware of the terror the woman before him could invoke.


    Her mastery of dreamcraft was so profound that even high-ranking warriors who could rival her were few and far between.


    With his mere tinum Grade strength, she could end his life with just a single thought.


    The woman, named Tia, gazed out toward Beast Forest in Riverfall City, her amber eyes narrowing slightly. "Although your mission failed, the Abyssal Node has already appeared, and the church''s n is proceeding smoothly."


    "When the n ispleted, we will certainly fulfill our promise to make you the next Count of the Emerald State. After that, you''ll no longer have to live in the shadow of the Howard family."


    She tilted her head slightly and lowered her gaze, looking at the kneeling Rudolph with a smile. "If you continue to serve us faithfully, there''s even a chance you could be a Marquis of the Southern Territory!"


    "You know, with the power of our church, that''s something we can easily arrange!"


    Rudolph understood the underlying implications in her words, but he didn''t mind.


    "Thank you, Lady Tia. From this day forward, I will serve the church with unwavering loyalty!" Rudolph clenched his fists, his face flushed, and his eyes filled with excitement.


    He had lived under the shadow of the Howard family for decades.


    Outwardly, he appeared distinguished, but only he knew the frustration and humiliation he had endured.


    For years, he had thought day and night about how he could climb to the top.


    But every time such thoughts arose, that bastard Ryan would crush them!


    Now, after so many years of waiting, his moment had finally arrived!


    "That''s good. As long as youplete the church''s mission, everything you desire will be yours." Tia shed a seductive smile, like a demon tempting someone into sin.


    Rudolph''s expression was fervent as he earnestly dered, "I understand, mydy. No matter the cost, I will help the church aplish this n!"


    Tia nodded in approval, about to leave, when something seemed to cross her mind. An intrigued expression appeared on her wless face as she said, "By the way, that boy named Luca piques my interest. If it weren''t for their reminder, I might never have realized that the Nightmare Parasite had vanished."


    "I''m very curious to know how he managed it. If possible, bring him back to me alive!"


    Rudolph nodded, epting the order. "I won''t disappoint you, mydy. I will bring him back unharmed!"


    Tia gave a slight nod, and in an instant, her figure vanished like a ghost, dissolving into ck smoke that dissipated within the room.


    It was as if she had never been there.


    ...


    At the same time, in the Iron Mountain camp.


    Inside the infirmary.


    Cassmany on the bed, his upper body bare, with a horrifying wound on his abdomen so deep that his internal organs were visible.


    A mass of gray mist clung to his insides, writhing incessantly.


    It as though it were consuming something, giving off an eerie and terrifying aura.


    Luca stood by the bedside, his hands enveloped in a faint, blue mystical energy as he reached into Cassman''s body.


    Slowly, he began to extract the mass of gray death energy from within him.


    Cassman, lying on the bed, immediately felt a difference.


    He asked in disbelief, "Did you really remove it that quickly?"


    Cassman found it hard to believe that the death energy, which had tormented him for so long, was being dealt with so easily by Luca.


    He focused inward and realized that the death energy, which had gued him for many years, hadpletely vanished¡ªthere wasn''t a trace of it left!


    Feeling an overwhelming sense of relief, as if his body had been rejuvenated by ten years.


    Cassman nearly leaped off the bed in excitement!


    "Your wound hasn''t been stitched yet! Do you have a death wish?" Luca quickly pressed him back down, scolding him with annoyance.


    Once Cassman settled down, Luca carefully stitched up the wound.


    [Ding! Congrattions onpleting the task "Cassman''s Old Injury!" You have received 10 drops of the mid-grade material "Essence of the Earth," along with 300 gold coins!]


    [Essence of the Earth: A mid-grade item that increases the user''s constitution by 30 points. Each person can only use 10/10 drops, with a cooldown time of 1 day between uses!]


    [Ding! Cassman''s favorability toward you has increased by 400 points, reaching the level of "Trust"!]

 Chapter 27: Snowfall Guild, the Blues Siblings

    <h4>Chapter 27: Snowfall Guild, the Blues Siblings</h4>


    Staring at the ten drops of Essence of the Earth before him.


    Luca couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement.


    This was valuable stuff!


    Although each person could only use 10 drops, it would still provide him with 300 points in constitution!


    Currently, his constitution was the lowest of his four basic attributes.


    Sitting at just 120 points.


    The Essence of the Earth would perfectlypensate for hisck of defense and health!


    "Hahaha! Luca, my boy, I owe you one! If you ever find yourself in trouble, juste to me!" Cassman, beaming with joy, pped Luca on the shoulder with heartyughter.


    The sheer strength from the Gold Grade knight made Luca''s bones creak under the impact.


    Quickly dodging another p, Luca rubbed his shoulder and jokinglyined, "If you could just use a little less force, that would be the biggest favor you could do for me. My body can''t take much more of your ps."


    Cassman suddenly realized.


    Luca was only a Level 10 Demonic Rune Mage.


    He immediately apologized.


    Just then, a crisp,manding female voice called out from outside the infirmary.


    "Captain Cassman, the soldiers have assembled!"


    Luca was taken aback.


    Catherine? What is she doing here?


    "Understood, I''ll be right there," Cassman responded, then began to don his armor.


    Luca, on the other hand, walked straight to the door and stepped outside.


    "Luca, what are you doing here?" Catherine, d in light armor, looked surprised to see Luca emerging from the infirmary.


    The others, including Kaman, were also taken aback to find him there.


    Luca casually exined, "I was treating Lady Lenna earlier, and I decided to stop by and help Captain Cassman with his injury as well."


    Catherine nodded in realization. "No wonder the Iron Mountain camp suddenly assembled the troops!"


    She recalled Luca mentioning this before, but she hadn''t expected him toplete it so quickly.


    "So, what brings you here?" Luca asked, puzzled as he looked at Kaman and the others.


    Though they were from the Iron Mountain army.


    Catherine was now under the jurisdiction of Riverfall City and technically had no business with the Iron Mountain troops.


    Catherine sighed, unsure of how to exin.


    Kaman, however, burst out angrily, "It was that bastard Matthew! Yesterday, he had my sister removed from her position!"


    The others shared his fury, their expressions grim.


    Luca immediately understood.


    It seemed that Matthew, frustrated by Catherine''s strong-willed nature, decided to use underhanded tactics since he couldn''t win her over directly.


    "So, you all ran back to the Iron Mountain camp to take refuge?" Luca''s question caused Catherine and the others to lower their heads in embarrassment.


    But Luca nodded approvingly, saying, "No need to feel embarrassed. It''s actually a smart move."


    After all, the Iron Mountain army was Count Ryan''s private force.


    Even if Matthew had ten times the courage, he wouldn''t dare extend his influence here.


    At that moment, the infirmary door opened, and Cassman walked out.


    He approached the group, immediately smacked Kaman on the back of the head, and grumbled, "What are you all standing around for? Get in line and prepare for assembly!"


    "Y-yes, Captain!" Kaman and the others instinctively straightened up.


    It was clear that Cassman held a significant position of respect in their eyes.


    Luca joined the group as they headed out of the barracks.


    Outside the Iron Mountain camp, several thousand fully armed soldiers had already gathered.


    d in armor and holding their weapons, they stood tall and disciplined, with the lowest rank among them being Bronze Grade.


    Luca couldn''t help but be impressed as he observed them.


    These were truly the elite of the Emerald State!


    Their sheer presence alone set them apart from ordinary fighters.


    If these soldiers were tobine their strength, even a tinum Grade expert would likely avoid facing them head-on!


    As the group emerged from the camp.


    The soldiers'' gazes naturally turned to Luca.


    Their eyes were filled with curiosity, along with something else.


    Earlier, when Luca arrived in Sophia''s carriage, it had sparked spection among the soldiers. After all, none of them had ever heard of a man being allowed to ride in Miss Sophia''s carriage.


    Given their simr ages, some even spected that Luca might be Miss Sophia''s fianc¨¦.


    That left many soldiers¡ªwho saw Sophia as their dream girl¡ªheartbroken.


    Cassman took a few steps forward, surveying the assembled troops, and announced in a loud voice, "The monsters in Beast Forest have been acting up recently. Miss Sophia suspects a monster horde might be imminent, so we''re heading out to investigate!"


    "Everyone, form into twelve-man squads!"


    "If you notice anything unusual in Beast Forest, don''t engage. Report it immediately. Is that clear?"


    "Yes, sir!" The soldiers responded weakly, their enthusiasm clearly dampened, like wilted vegetables.


    Cassman could see what was bothering this group of men but didn''t bother addressing it.


    These guys had too much energy and spent their days daydreaming, so giving them something to focus on was a good thing.


    Soon, the thousands of soldiers were divided into over two hundred twelve-man squads, marching in step toward Beast Forest.


    Almost simultaneously, a game notification appeared in front of Luca.


    [Ding! You have triggered the special hidden quest "Subjugate the Enraged Hydra (Part 1)!"]


    [Description: You have discovered the node where the Hydra is set to descend in Beast Forest. Destroy the descent node or defeat the Hydra''s avatar to receive substantial rewards! This quest is a multi-part quest, with rewards varying depending on the stage andpletion level. The higher thepletion level, the greater the rewards!]


    "A special hidden quest!" Luca was shocked as he read the notification.


    This type of special quest was something he had only heard of in passing during his previous life!


    ording to those few yers, before the virtual and real worlds merged, several people had triggered simr hidden quests to subjugate the Seven Demon Lords.


    That was when these Demon Lords were at their weakest, offering yers the best chance to defeat them. However, at the time, no yers were strong enough toplete such difficult quests.


    Even facing just an Abyssal Projection of a Demon Lord was far beyond their capabilities.


    By the time yers were strong enough to take on these tasks.


    The monsters had already emerged from the Abyssal Demon Realm, making them nearly unbeatable.


    The most significant thing was that, ording to spection, if a yer managed toplete such a special quest, there was a very high probability they would be rewarded with a piece of Transcendent-level equipment!


    "A Transcendent-level piece of gear!" Luca couldn''t help but breathe heavily.


    Even inter stages, Transcendent-level equipment was extremely rare. In his previous life, Luca had only ever obtained one piece of Transcendent-level gear!


    If he could get his hands on such equipment in the early or mid-game...


    It would be like ying with cheat codes!


    "But this quest''s difficulty is off the charts!" Luca muttered to himself.


    Eternal Continent was vast¡ªwhere would he even begin to search for the Hydra''s node?


    Even if he had epted the quest,pleting it in its entirety would be a monumental challenge.


    Fortunately, the quest was broken into stages, meaning he could still receive valuable rewards even if he onlypleted one or two parts.


    Otherwise, this discovery would have been nothing more than a fleeting moment of excitement.


    At that moment, the army began to move, and Luca quickly followed.


    He was grouped into a small squad with Cassman, Catherine, Kaman, and the others.


    Cassman had someone send the carriage back to Howard Manor and also ry the message to Sophia that the group had already departed.


    With such arge force on the move, it naturally attracted a lot of attention.


    "What a massive army! There must be thousands of them!"


    "They look like the Iron Mountain soldiers. What are they nning to do? They look ready for battle!"


    "Look at the guy in the middle! Isn''t that a yer?!"


    "No way, that''s Luca, the legendary yer!"


    "Did he trigger a hidden quest? Luca''s luck is off the charts!"


    Luca, being the first yer to reach level 10, was well-known in the Riverfall City yermunity, especially with his distinctive ck gold-threaded robe. It didn''t take long for the other yers to recognize him.


    In the crowd, a yer from The World Guild suggested to a young man in a mage''s robe, "Celephais, it looks like Luca triggered some kind of quest. Should we go check it out?"


    "Of course we should!" The young man, Celephais, didn''t hesitate. How could they miss out on the excitement of such an event?


    He waved his hand to his guild members and announced loudly, "Everyone, follow them! We need to trigger the quest before anyone else does!"


    It was obvious that arge-scale quest like this would be extremely rare. If they could get a piece of the action, it would give them a huge advantage over other guilds!


    Meanwhile, another group noticed the movements of The World Guild.


    A young man with yellow hair, dressed in leather armor, excitedly turned to the pretty woman in white beside him and said, "Sis, should we join in on the fun? I''d like to meet Luca in person!"


    The two were Ben and Ada, the vice president and president of the Snowfall Guild, respectively.


    Ben was a masterful assassin.


    While Ada excelled at support and control, with an exceptional sense of gamey.


    The Blues siblings were well-known in the gamingmunity.


    Ada nodded slightly and cautioned, "For the Iron Mountain camp to mobilize so many soldiers, the difficulty of this quest must be immense. Our guild can''t afford heavy losses. We''ll follow from a distance and let that rich kid from The World Guild take the lead."


    Snowfall Guild had a solid reputation in the Eternal Game, ranking among the top-tier guilds.


    However, they were still a notch below The World Guild, which was backed by arge club and was considered a super-tier guild.


    As the only two major guilds in Riverfall City, there was frequent friction between them.


    Snowfall Guild had taken its fair share of losses in the past, so this was the perfect opportunity to let The World Guild take the brunt of the risks.


    "Got it," Ben replied with a mischievous grin, leading his group to follow at a safe distance.


    Seeing that the two major guilds had joined the pursuit, other yers eagerly followed, hoping to get in on the action.


    Amidst the crowd, a slender figure cloaked in a hood quietly blended in.


    She kept her eyes on Luca from afar, her gaze filled with admiration. "I''ve run into Luca the Great again¡ªlooks like I''ll have new material for my blog!"

 Chapter 28: Beating Down Matthew, the Power of Magic Runes

    <h4>Chapter 28: Beating Down Matthew, the Power of Magic Runes</h4>


    A noisy group of yers followed behind them, making it impossible for Luca, Cassman, and the others not to notice.


    "What''s wrong with these adventurers? Are they out of their minds?" Cassman''s rugged face was filled with disbelief as he looked at the yers trailing behind them, outnumbering their army several times over.


    With so many soldiers heading to Beast Forest, anyone with half a brain would know they were on a dangerous mission. Yet, these yers had the audacity to follow them¡ªwere they all that fearless?


    "Maybe they are," Luca shrugged.


    That''s just how yers were.


    The things most people would avoid like the gue were exactly what yers would throw themselves at, like moths to a me.


    He remembered from his past life that there was an extraordinarily beautiful female NPC who, after showing herself to the yers just once, was worshipped by a group of appearance-obsessed yers as if she were a goddess. They camped outside her house every day, professing their love.


    Even after being driven away, they stubbornly returned, acting like paparazzi, hoping to win her over. Eventually, the NPC had enough and ordered a group of high-level yers to be executed as a warning.


    But it was useless¡ªyers, with their immortality, feared death the least.


    In the end, the NPC had no choice but to retreat into seclusion, disappearing from sight and out of mind.


    After that, Luca never saw her again.


    In hindsight, it''s no wonder people in his past life called yers the "Fourth Cmity"¡ªit made a lot of sense...


    At that moment, Catherine nced toward the entrance of Beast Forest, a look of disdain crossing her face.


    She frowned and said, "Why is he here?"


    Luca following Catherine''s gaze.


    Luca spotted Matthew and Freeman waiting outside Beast Forest with over a thousand City Lord''s guards.


    It was clear they were waiting for them.


    It wasn''t just Catherine¡ªeveryone instinctively frowned.


    "Why isn''t that spoiled brat staying in the city? What''s he doing out here all of a sudden with so many people?"


    "No need to guess. It''s definitely Lord Rudolph''s orders. Matthew isn''t the type to do anything out of the goodness of his heart."


    "I just hope he doesn''t mess things up for us. That alone would be a blessing."


    Many of the Iron Mountain soldiers looked at Matthew with disdain, a clear sign that he wasn''t well-liked.


    "Quiet," Cassman said in a low voice.


    Though he didn''t like Matthew either, he knew they couldn''t afford to ignore him, especially since he was representing the City Lord.


    The soldiers fell silent.


    As the two groups drew closer, Matthew, who had been looking bored, immediately noticed Luca among them. His face lit up with a mix of surprise and delight.


    "You''ve got some nerve, Witch Doctor! How dare you use a Nightmare to deceive me and Miss Sophia! You must have a death wish!" Matthew''s face lit up with excitement as he pulled out the City Lord''s token and ordered the men behind him, "Men! Get over here! Arrest him and take him to the dungeon for a thorough interrogation!"


    "Kid, you''re finished this time!" Freeman sneered with satisfaction.


    Being tricked by a low-level Witch Doctor like Luca was one of the biggest humiliations Freeman had ever experienced, second only to being bested by Franklin.


    Now, seeing Luca about to face punishment filled him with a sense of vindication.


    "What are you talking about? I don''t understand a word," Luca said, narrowing his eyes in confusion. He couldn''t fathom why Matthew and Freeman''s attitudes had changed so drastically.


    Matthew sneered, "Don''t worry, you''ll understand once you''re in the dungeon!"


    As the City Lord''s guards began to move in to seize him, Cassman frowned and stepped forward to block their path. "Baron Matthew, we''re in the middle of a mission. I''d advise you not to interfere."


    Catherine''s face was equally cold, her tone frosty as she said, "I don''t know what grudge you have against Luca, but if you insist on causing trouble, I have the authority to report your actions to the City Lord."


    Matthew was already furious at being deceived by Luca.


    Now, seeing Catherine standing up for him only fueled his jealousy and anger further.


    His eyes darkened as he red at Catherine, sneering, "I pursued you multiple times, and you always turned me down. I thought you were so virtuous! But now you''re defending this pretty boy? You¡ª"


    Before Matthew could finish his sentence.


    A zing serpent of fire suddenly cut through the air, roaring toward him like a ferocious, giant python!


    "Boom!"


    To everyone''s shock, the fire serpent exploded on impact!


    A terrifying shockwave swept across the scene!


    The force of the explosion sent Matthew flying!


    However, just as the mes reached him, a green shield appeared around Matthew''s body.


    That absorbed all the damage.


    Everyone turned their heads in disbelief, their eyes wide with shock.


    It was Luca who had struck!


    He stood tall, holding a metallic staff in his hand, its shaft encircled by crimson magic runes that flowed like blood. The tip of the staff glowed a deep red, with a small me slowly fading.


    "Scorching me Runes!"


    No one had expected Luca to attack so suddenly.


    Catherine slowly rxed her grip on her spear, the icy expression on her face quickly melting away.


    "Thank you," she said, lifting her gaze to meet Luca''s. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with a hint of admiration.


    [Ding! Catherine''s favorability toward you has increased by 150 points!]


    The yers watching were utterly stunned.


    "A true legend! He actually dared to strike the City Lord''s son¡ªthis guy has guts!"


    "This is Riverfall City. If anything happens to Matthew, Luca could be banished from the main city!"


    "Unbelievable! Matthew is a Silver-grade mage, and yet he got knocked back with a single hit!"


    "I''m curious¡ªwhat ss did Luca switch to? He''s just too cool!"


    On the other side, Freeman stared at the fading red runes on Luca''s staff, his expression darkening.


    "No wonder... So this kid is a Demonic Rune Mage!"


    Demonic Rune Mages can instantly release the magical energy stored in their runes upon activation.


    It unlike regr mages who need time to cast their spells.


    That''s why Freeman hadn''t even had a chance to react.


    A Demonic Rune Magebined with a Witch Doctor...


    Franklin sure knows how to pick professions for his students!


    Freeman thought bitterly, gritting his teeth.


    Just then, Matthew clumsily got back on his feet, his face flushed with rage.


    The fire serpent hadn''t harmed him physically.


    But it felt like a p across his face.


    "You bastard, you''re dead!" Matthew, red with fury, lunged at Luca, ready to fight to the death.


    But he is stopped by Freeman.


    "You too, Freeman?!" Matthew red at him.


    Freeman gave a bitter smile and whispered telepathically, "Young Master Matthew, don''t be hasty. The situation isn''t in our favor right now. Once we''re in Beast Forest, there will be plenty of opportunities to teach that brat a lesson."


    It was only then that Matthew noticed the thousands of Iron Mountain soldiers had already drawn their weapons.


    Even Cassman''s face had turned cold.


    Cassman''s voice was chilling as he said, "Obstructing our mission is punishable by death. That''s the rule set by the Count for the Iron Mountain camp. We haven''t had to enforce it much, but I wouldn''t mind testing it now."


    "I hope, Young Master Matthew, that you won''t make things difficult for me!"


    As Cassman spoke, the soldiers behind him all showed a clear intent to kill.


    Thebined force of their murderous aura was like a bucket of cold water thrown over Matthew, making him shiver.


    He suddenly remembered that he was facing the Iron Mountain army, a force personally raised by the Count!


    Matthew''s chest heaved with anger, but in the end, he clenched his teeth and waved his hand to the guards behind him, giving the order, "Everyone! Enter Beast Forest and scout the area now!"


    With that, Matthew shot a venomous re at Luca before turning and marching straight into Beast Forest without another word.


    Although Matthew wanted to kill Luca, he wasn''t foolish enough to risk his life over it. He knew that once they were inside Beast Forest, he would have plenty of opportunities to make Luca pay.


    Watching them leave, Cassman frowned and cautioned Luca, "Given Matthew''s personality, he won''t let this go easily. You should be prepared."


    Beside him, Catherine''s face was filled with guilt as she said, "I''m sorry, Mr. Luca. If it weren''t for me, you wouldn''t have gotten into this trouble..."


    Catherine was fully aware that Luca had stood up for her, and she felt deeply responsible.


    Luca waved it off, saying, "Don''t worry about it. He can''t do anything to me. The mission in Beast Forest is what matters right now, so let''s focus on that."


    If this had happened before he cured Lady Lenna, Luca might have been more cautious of Matthew and the power his father, the City Lord, wielded.


    But now, with the Howard family owing him a favor and with the backing of his two teachers, there was no need to fear this so-called son of the City Lord.


    Seeing Luca''s confidence, neither Cassman nor Catherine pressed the issue further.


    The Iron Mountain army continued their march into Beast Forest, gradually spreading out as they moved deeper.


    They entered at the same location where Luca and Catherine had venturedst time. Luca had marked the exact position of the node back then, but those markers had since disappeared.


    As they moved into Beast Forest, everyone noticed the pervasive stench of blood in the air.


    It was clear that something had changed within the forest over the past two days, making it even more dangerous.


    "Everyone, stay alert," Cassman reminded the group.


    The soldiers nodded, fanning out like a giant through the forest.


    This method allowed them to quickly assess the situation in Beast Forest and gather vital information for the stronger fighters back in the city.


    Behind them, a group of yers also followed.


    With their levels having increased, most of them could now handle the monsters on the outskirts of Beast Forest.


    Soon, Luca and his group encountered their first monster attack.


    A squad of Goblins!


    "Whoosh!"


    A rusty sword came crashing down toward Luca.


    He effortlessly sidestepped the attack, shifting his body slightly to avoid it.


    At the same time, he activated his magic, and the runes on his spear suddenly lit up with a golden glow.


    The spear''s weight and attack power surged dramatically!


    "Steel Magic Runes!"


    Without pausing, Luca thrust his spear forward like a lightning bolt!


    "Thud!"


    The spearhead pierced straight through the skull of the Goblin wielding the sword.


    -1217!


    A damage number exceeding a thousand floated up!


    The Goblin let out a final wail as its remaining health was drained by Luca.


    Killing it instantly!


    [Ding! You have killed a "Lv15 Sword-Wielding Goblin (Common)," gaining 2586 experience points!]


    The kill notification appeared.


    Luca gripped his steel spear, his eyes gleaming with determination.


    Sincepleting his profession change to Demonic Rune Mage, his power had practically doubled!


    Using magic runes had significantly amplified his damage output!


    For the past two days, he hadn''t had much time to level up.


    Now, he finally had the chance to boost his level!


    Meanwhile, behind him, the yers and NPCs who witnessed the massive damage he dealt werepletely stunned.


    Was this guy''s damage output for real?!

 Chapter 29: The Siege of Riverfall City, Double Experience!

    <h4>Chapter 29: The Siege of Riverfall City, Double Experience!</h4>


    "Holy crap, is this for real? This guy''s damage is more than three times mine!"


    Ben, the Vice President of the Snowfall Guild, stared in disbelief.


    He was already level 10, cing him among the top tier of yers. As an Assassin, his single-target burst damage was among the highest across all sses, yet, at the same level, Luca''s damage was multiple times higher than his!


    This is insane!


    Ada''s beautiful eyes swept over Luca, and she shook her head slightly, saying, "This Luca isn''t a normal ss. It''s likely a rare or hidden ss, and his gear is exceptional. It''s normal for his damage to be higher than yours."


    Ada, who controlled the entire Snowfall Guild and was currentlypeting with The World Guild for talent in Riverfall City, naturally had a keen eye. She immediately recognized that Luca was different from ordinary yers.


    A fierce battle intent red in Ben''s eyes.


    He proposed, "Sis, this Luca is definitely a top-tier yer! We should invite him to join our guild!"


    Ben had watched a video of Luca fighting on Wind in. He had already thought that this guy was stronger than most veteran yers¡ªhis on-the-spot reactions and timing were not something an average yer could possess.


    But now, seeing Luca in livebat, he realized he had still underestimated him.


    This guy''s skill level is probably at a professional standard!


    Ben couldn''t help but feel excited.


    He loved dueling with expert yers!


    Ada instinctively wanted to adjust her sses, then remembered this was a game world.


    She lowered her hand and nodded slightly, "If there''s a chance, ask him if he''s willing to join Snowfall Guild. As long as his demands aren''t too excessive, we can agree to them."


    With countless major investors now involved in Eternal Game,petition for top yers among the major guilds was fierce. Professional yers with even a bit of fame were being offered sky-high prices¡ªfinding a top-tier yer was incredibly difficult.


    Even with the backing of Blues Family''spany, Snowfall Guild was in a tough spot. Now that they hade across a yer like Luca, they had to make an effort to recruit him.


    On the other side, Celephais, the Vice President of The World Guild, had a different idea.


    He eyed Luca''s ck Gold Robe.


    His gaze shifted slightly as he instructed the man beside him, "His gear is pretty good. Go ask him if he''ll sell it for a million. If he''s willing, offer him a spot in The World Guild and a monthly sry of 100,000."


    Celephais''s tone was calm, but it made the nearby yers'' hearts skip a beat.


    A million for a piece of gear?!


    And a monthly sry of 100,000?!


    This guy''s luck is off the charts!


    The yers around them were filled with envy and jealousy.


    The World Guild, being one of the top ten guilds in Summer Country, backed by the James financial conglomerate, offers sries to its members that surpass those of many corporate white-cor workers. If anyone could join The World Guild, they''d probably wake upughing from their dreams!


    Luca, of course, had no idea what others were thinking.


    In the dense, towering forest, his figure moved swiftly among a group of Goblins.


    With the skill "Wind Walk" activated, Luca''s speed increased dramatically.


    The surrounding Goblins couldn''t do anything to stop him; they could only helplessly watch as the ck Steel Spear left deep gashes on their bodies.


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!!!"


    Amidst the sttering blood, the Goblins roared in anger, swinging their machetes and spiked clubs wildly at Luca.


    Unfortunately, they were far too slow and couldn''t even touch a hair on Luca''s head.


    Cassman watch Luca move like a phantom among the monsters.


    He couldn''t help but admire, "This kid doesn''t seem like a newbie at all. No wonder he caught the attention of Guild Leaders Franklin and Lucia."


    Catherine, standing nearby, nodded in agreement, "Luca the Witch Doctor is indeed impressive!"


    When they first came to Beast Forest, Catherine had already felt that Luca didn''t seem like a neer.


    Hisbat experience was richer than that of many veteran soldiers.


    More importantly, Luca''s strength was improving at an astonishing rate!


    In just a day or two, his power had already surpassed that of Kaman and the others, which was incredibly frightening!


    "Maybe it won''t be long before I''m no match for him," Catherine thought, startled by the idea that had suddenly crossed her mind.


    She had spent years elevating her strength to Silver-grade. If Luca could really surpass her in such a short time, it would be utterly absurd!


    Meanwhile, in an inconspicuous corner among the yers...


    A small, cloaked figure hid behind a tree, quietly recording Luca''s battle.


    Watching monster after monster fall to Luca, she clenched her little fists, her eyes full of admiration, eximing excitedly, "As expected of my idol! He''s amazing!"


    This person was none other than the forum user known as "ShadowCat," whose real name was Malina.


    Thanks to the poprity of herst post, she had be one of the first gaming content creators in Eternal Game, specializing in capturing interesting in-game videos. Now, she already had forty to fifty thousand followers.


    Since filming a few videos of Luca, Malina had be his die-hard fan.


    She even spent a fortune to create a fan club for Luca.


    Though, at the moment, she was the only member of that fan club...


    "Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!!!"


    At that moment, countless roars suddenly echoed from deep within Beast Forest.


    Many people looked toward the sound and immediately gasped in shock.


    Suddenly, hundreds of monsters were surging toward the Iron Mountain army and the yers like a tidal wave!


    These monsters were mostly above level 10, with many elite monsters among them.


    Their eyes were blood-red, and their bodies radiated bloodlust and savagery. The sheer ferocity of the hundreds of monsters gathering together was so overwhelming that many yers, experiencing such a scene for the first time, felt their legs turn to jelly.


    One yer, his face full of tension, muttered, "Why do these monsters feel so different from the ones outside?"


    The difference between the monsters in Beast Forest and those on Wind in was stark.


    He was even starting to think that the club-wielding rabbits outside Riverfall City were starting to look cute byparison!


    These monsters were clearly not on the same level as the ones they''d encountered before!


    "It seems Miss Sophia and Luca were right. Luckily, we noticed in time!" Cassman, realizing the unusual nature of these monsters, felt a mix of relief and rising determination. His eyes shed with killing intent.


    These damn beasts! If they break out of Beast Forest, who knows how many people will die because of it!


    "Everyone, prepare for battle!" Cassman shouted the order, drawing the massive sword from his back. Golden streams of energy began to swirl around him, and a powerful aura erupted from his body.


    It was the signature skill of the Knight: "Battle Will"!


    "Kid, if you can''t hold on, don''t forget to call for help!" Cassman warned Luca, then with a powerful stomp, the ground beneath him exploded, and his burly figure shot forward like a cannonball, leading the charge into the horde of monsters!


    Catherine and the others, not wanting to be outdone, drew their weapons and charged into the fray.


    Noticing themotion, Luca''s eyes grew cold.


    These monsters were clearly affected by the nearby node, their power enhanced.


    He could only hope that Sophia would quickly bring in reinforcements from the city. The longer they dyed, the more unpredictable the situation could be.


    As Luca was thinking this, a game notification suddenly popped up in front of him.


    [Ding! Riverfall City yers have triggered the main city quest "Siege of Riverfall City." All Riverfall City yers are eligible to participate!]


    [Quest Description: Arge number of yers from Riverfall City have entered Beast Forest, disturbing the monsters within!]


    [Quest Rewards: yers will receive double experience for killing monsters. Achieving a certain number of kills will earn you reputation points. The top ten yers with the most reputation points will receive exclusive rewards after the quest ends, with higher rankings earning better rewards.]


    It wasn''t just Luca; the notification appeared in front of all the other yers as well.


    The yers immediately erupted in excitement.


    "No way, we triggered arge-scale quest!"


    "Holy crap! Double experience?!"


    "Hahaha, this was totally worth it! If yers from the other main cities find out, they''ll be so jealous!"


    "For the glory of the Kingdom of Clinton! Charge, brothers!"


    "Charge! Charge! For Catherine! Protect Sophia!"


    ...


    After triggering the main city quest, the once-cowardly yers seemed to be injected with adrenaline.


    They raised their weapons and, shouting with excitement, charged toward the monsters.


    At this moment, they werepletely different from their previous selves!

 Chapter 30: Leveling Up by Following NPCs—Is This Really How the Game Works?

    <h4>Chapter 30: Leveling Up by Following NPCs¡ªIs This Really How the Game Works?</h4>


    It wasn''t just the ordinary yers who were excited.


    Even the leaders of Snowfall Guild and The World Guild couldn''t help but feel a spark of interest.


    To form a guild, yers needed to purchase a guild token from the Adventurers'' Association using reputation points.


    They had been racking their brains on how to umte enough reputation points.


    But now this main city quest had appeared at just the right moment!


    "A main city quest triggered, huh." Luca paused for a moment as he read the notification, though he wasn''t too surprised.


    Main city quests could typically only be initiated by the city lord.


    It seemed Sophia had already headed to the city lord''s mansion to gather Riverfall City''s strongest warriors, which was why this quest had been triggered.


    This realization brought a sense of relief to Luca.


    He had done everything he could¡ªexpecting a Bronze Grade yer like him to go toe-to-toe with a Hydra was unrealistic. The rest was up to the big shots; his job was just to rack up experience and grab whatever benefits he could.


    With that in mind, Luca''s attacks became even more ferocious.


    Double experience was rare, and he was also quite interested in the quest rewards.


    These exclusive rewards typically included equipment for the yer''s primary ss, skill scrolls, and special items.


    Securing them would undoubtedly boost his power.


    So, if he had a chance to get on the leaderboard, Luca wasn''t about to let it slip away.


    Under Luca''s relentless assault, the health bars of several Goblins quickly plummeted.


    Luca Dodge another round of their attacks.


    He seized the opportunity. A faint white glow enveloped his ck Steel Spear.


    And his attack speed surged dramatically.


    Turbulence!


    In an instant, the ck Steel Spear thrust forward repeatedly like a torrential downpour!


    The spear''s shaft left behind afterimages in the air, apanied by a series of sharp, whistling sounds.


    The Goblins didn''t even have time to react before they were pierced through on the spot!


    [Ding! You have in "lv11 Archer Goblin (Normal)," gaining 2813 experience points!]


    [Ding! You have in "lv13 de Goblin (Normal)," gaining 3609 experience points!]


    [Ding! You have in "lv15 Spiked Goblin (Normal)," gaining 4833 experience points!]


    ...


    Luca''s experience points surged rapidly.


    In the blink of an eye, a golden glow enveloped him.


    [Ding! Your level has increased to lv11, earning 20 free attribute points!]


    Every 10 levels, the amount of free attribute points awarded to yers would increase.


    Now, with each level-up, Luca gained 20 free attribute points.


    He allocated all his points to Spirit, boosting his Spirit attribute to 295 points.


    With the ck Steel Spear in hand, Luca charged at the remaining three Goblins.


    "Screech! Screech! Screech!!!"


    The three Goblins clearly had no intention of going down without a fight. They brandished their weapons and charged at Luca, screeching all the while.


    Luca didn''t slow down; a green magic rune quietly appeared in his hand.


    In an instant, the spear was covered in green runes!


    Vinewood Magic Rune!


    A thick vine, resembling a giant serpent, shot out from the spear.


    Instantly binding the Goblins who hadn''t had time to react.


    The sharp wooden thorns on the vine dug deep into their flesh, making it impossible for them to escape, no matter how much they struggled.


    "Screech! Screech! Screech!!!"


    The Goblins, now tied up like helpless bundles, shrieked in fear as Luca approached.


    Their cries were a mix of desperate threats and pleas for mercy.


    Luca''s expression remained indifferent as he raised his spear.


    With a swift and forceful thrust, he brought it down!


    Thud!


    Blood sttered several meters away!


    -1339!


    The damage indicator shed!


    Luca showed no mercy.


    In just a few breaths, he had dispatched all the Goblins.


    Ding!


    A bronze-glowing item dropped to the ground.


    An equipment drop!


    Luca quickly stepped forward and bent down to pick it up.


    [Goblin Long Belt: lv10, Bronze Grade, Usable by All sses, +20 Strength, +20 Stamina when equipped!]


    "Not bad, this wille in handy!" A smile appeared on Luca''s face as he equipped the Goblin Belt.


    His Strength attribute increased to 160 points, and his Stamina rose to 190 points.


    Feeling the surge of power coursing through him, Luca nced at the pile of Goblin corpses on the ground.


    He couldn''t help but marvel, "No wonder the Demonic Rune Mage is considered the strongest DPS ss¡ªthis power is absolutely ridiculous!"


    In his previous life, at this level, he was still struggling against the rabbits on Wind in. He could never have imagined casually wiping out a squad of Goblins.


    And this was just a low-tier temporary magic rune.


    It already allowed him to cast instant spells, a feat typically reserved for high-tier mages, and even added attribute damage.


    Luca was eager to see what high-tier fixed magic runes would do for him!


    With this thought, Luca felt a surge of motivation.


    He gripped the ck Steel Spear tightly and charged toward the front lines where the monsters were thickest.


    With Cassman and Catherine around, these monsters posed no real threat to them.


    Now was the perfect time for him to follow the powerhouses and level up!


    At that moment, Cassman and Catherine were wreaking havoc among the monsters.


    Cassman''s golden Battle Will surged around him, and every swing of his massive sword carried overwhelming power, instantly annihting several monsters at once.


    Meanwhile, Catherine''s tall figure moved gracefully through the horde, her red hair flowing behind her like a me.


    Her spear danced like a silver dragon, each strike sending a spray of blood blooming among the monsters!


    Cassman was Gold Grade, and Catherine was Silver Grade. Both were knight sses specializing in closebat, and the ordinary monsters couldn''t withstand their attacks. Even a rare monster was heavily wounded by one of Catherine''s spear thrusts.


    The rare Scorchfire Lynx, terrified and panicked, turned tail and fled.


    Catherine was momentarily tangled up with other monsters and couldn''t give chase.


    She could only watch as the Scorchfire Lynx tried to escape.


    Just then, a shadow suddenly shed across Catherine''s field of vision.


    He moved swiftly, his ck spear striking out like lightning.


    In one fluid motion, he pinned the fleeing Scorchfire Lynx to the ground with a single thrust!


    [Ding! You have in lv16 "Scorchfire Lynx (Rare)," gaining 8103 experience points!]


    As Luca slowly pulled the spear from the lifeless creature, Catherine looked at him in surprise. "Luca the Witch Doctor, aren''t you supposed to stay in the back?"


    She had assumed Luca would stick with Kaman and the others, fighting from a safer position.


    After all, being on the front lines, facing the brunt of the monster''s assault, was incredibly dangerous.


    "I''m just here to pick up some experience points. Don''t worry about me," Luca replied with a smile as he withdrew his ck Steel Spear.


    Grinding solo was too slow; if he could ride on the coattails of stronger yers, why wouldn''t he?


    Cassman, with a hint of exasperation, said, "You''re really taking the easy way out. If something happens to you, we''re the ones who''ll have to answer to Miss Sophia."


    That was indeed Cassman''s concern.


    If anything happened to Luca here, they wouldn''t just have to answer to Miss Sophia¡ªhis two mentors would likely never forgive them.


    Catherine, however, didn''t seem too bothered. She smiled and said, "Don''t worry, Captain, I''ll keep an eye on him. Luca the Witch Doctor, make sure you stick close to me."


    Once yers built up a certain level of rapport with NPCs, the NPCs would give them special attention.


    By theter stages of the game, it wasmon for NPCs to help yers grind for experience. It wasn''t even unusual for NPCs to be "romanced" by yers.


    This was nothing new to Luca, but the other yers watching were stunned.


    Is this really how the game is yed?!


    A few bold yers, clearly itching to try their luck.


    They hesitated only a moment before rushing over to stand behind Cassman, wearing ingratiating smiles. "Captain Cassman, we were wondering if maybe we could..."


    Cassman''s expression remained cold as he cut them off, "Scram. If you get in my way while I''m killing monsters, I''ll cut you down myself."


    The yers froze in disbelief.


    What the heck?! Why does Luca get a free pass to level up with them, but we can''t?!


    Are we even ying the same game?!


    Meanwhile, on the other side of Beast Forest...


    In stark contrast to the fierce battle on Luca''s side, the scene under Matthew''smand was a different story.


    "Damn it, damn it, damn it! A filthy rat dared to humiliate me in public! And Cassman and that wench Catherine¡ªone day, I''ll kill them all!"The sound of crashing objects and Matthew''s furious shouts echoed from within his tent. Fine wine and exquisite food were strewn across the floor, having been hurled in his rage.


    The tent was inplete disarray, with debris scattered everywhere. The surrounding soldiers stood in silence, too terrified to even breathe loudly, fearing they might provoke Matthew''s wrath.


    After venting his anger.


    Matthew slumped into a chair, still seething with rage.


    Not only had he failed to avenge his previous humiliation.


    But this time, in front of everyone, Luca had sent him flying with a single spear thrust.


    The embarrassment was unbearable.


    The mere thought of it made Matthew feel like he was about to explode with fury.


    What made it even worse was that Luca was now sticking close to Cassman, making it impossible for Matthew to act against him.


    It only fueled his frustration further.


    Just then, Freeman, who had been silent until now, spoke up, "Baron Matthew, getting rid of Luca isn''t that difficult."


    "I have a method, though I''m not sure if you have the guts to use it."


    "However, the potion I''m thinking of is extremely potent. The Iron Mountain army might suffer significant losses..."


    Hearing this, Matthew hesitated.


    It wasn''t because of concern for the Iron Mountain soldiers.


    They were just lowborn peasants, after all. If they died, so be it¡ªwhether they were from the Iron Mountain army or not didn''t matter to him.


    As long as Freeman kept quiet, who would know it was his doing?


    What made him hesitate was Catherine.


    She was a rare beauty, and he hadn''t had the chance to enjoy her yet.


    If she died, it would be a real waste.


    But then he thought about how Catherine had been treating Luca.


    The hatred in Matthew''s heart red up again, and his expression turned vicious.


    With a twisted grin, he snarled, "Ungrateful wench! If she refuses to be mine, then she can die alongside him!"

 Chapter 31: Matthew’s Revenge and the Wanderer Set

    <h4>Chapter 31: Matthew''s Revenge and the Wanderer Set</h4>


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!!!!"


    The roars of the monsters echoed throughout Beast Forest, with the asional sh of skills lighting up the area.


    The monsters on the outskirts of Beast Forest were only around level 10 or so.


    With Cassman, Catherine, and the others holding the front line, they stood no chance against the ferocity of the Iron Mountain army.


    The yers, meanwhile, followed closely behind the Iron Mountain soldiers, happily grinding away.


    "Hahaha! I finally leveled up! Double experience is just too sweet!"


    "I''m definitely hitting level 10 today¡ªnothing''s gonna stop me, not even Jesus!"


    "Out of my way! Watch the unstoppable Whirlwind of Fire!"


    "Damn! Don''t steal my kill!"


    The yers, shouting andughing, charged at the straggling monsters.


    Though their levels weren''t high, they made up for it with sheer numbers.


    The monsters were mostlymon, with only a few rare ones among them, which Cassman and his team had already cleared out.


    So, in no time, the hundred or so monsters were all in!


    Luca, sticking close to Cassman and Catherine, had racked up a lot of experience and leveled up to 13.


    [Name: Luca]


    [Level: lv13]


    [Talent: The person favored (SSS-level)]


    [ss: Demonic Rune Mage (Bronze Grade)]


    [HP: 2883]


    [MP: 3712]


    [Attack: 906-933]


    [Attributes: Strength 180, Spirit 335, Stamina 210, Agility 240]


    [Special: Charisma 100, Perception 100, Aptitude 100, Luck 100]


    [Titles: Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm, Peerless Appearance, Dangerous Perception, The Son of Luck]


    [Skills: Magic Runes Drawing lv3 (ss), Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire lv1 (High-tier), Eye of Insight lv3 (Low-tier), Witch Doctor''s Hand lv3 (Low-tier), Herb Synthesis lv3 (Beginner), Heavenly Charge lv3 (Low-tier), Turbulence lv3 (Low-tier), Elemental Amplification (tinum)...]


    After the battle.


    Not only had Luca leveled up, but most of his skills had also reached level 3.


    It significantly boosting his strength.


    Additionally, he had acquired two decent pieces of Bronze Grade equipment.


    [Wanderer''s Ring: lv15, Usable by All sses, +30 Spirit, +30% Mana Regeneration Speed. Collecting all five pieces activates the Wanderer Set bonus!]


    [Wanderer''s Boots: lv15, Usable by All sses, +30 Agility, +5% Skill Cast Speed. Collecting all five pieces activates the Wanderer Set bonus!]


    "In this life, I might be able toplete the Wanderer Set before reaching level 20," Luca thought with some anticipation.


    The Wanderer Set was considered a god-tier set for beginners, with set bonusesparable to Silver Grade gear!


    However, it was notoriously difficult to farm, as it typically only dropped from rare monsters.


    In his previous life, Luca had spent a lot of time and only managed to obtain one piece.


    This time, he had already acquired two pieces with ease¡ªa pleasant surprise indeed.


    At that moment, Cassman''s booming voice echoed from nearby.


    He stood with his hands on his hips, roaring, "Everyone, take a rest where you are!"


    The nearby monsters had all been dealt with.


    The Iron Mountain soldiers began setting up camp on the spot, turning it into a temporary base.


    Meanwhile, Cassman signaled for the scattered Iron Mountain units to regroup and report back.


    Brilliant fireworks exploded in the sky above Beast Forest.


    Squad after squad of Iron Mountain soldiers swiftly converged on their location.


    It didn''t take long for all the squads to return.


    Although the casualties weren''t overwhelming, they were still significant, with many squads missing members.


    After all, this was Beast Forest, and the monsters here had been affected by the node, making them extremely ferocious.


    Exploring this area without incurring losses was impossible.


    However, they had also brought back crucial information.


    As the squad leaders finished their reports, Cassman''s expression grew dark and stormy.


    Although Luca had anticipated bad news, he still stepped forward and asked, "What''s the situation?"


    Cassman waved the others away, his face grim as he said, "It''s bad¡ªreally bad. All the monsters in Beast Forest have gone berserk. And one of the squads found that cave you mentioned."


    "They didn''t even get close before the terrifying monster inside noticed them! Out of the twelve members of that squad, only two made it back alive. If their captain hadn''t sacrificed himself to cover their retreat, none of them would have survived."


    Hearing this, Luca furrowed his brow.


    Catherine, on the other hand, was shocked. "How is that possible?!"


    Thest time they were near that cave, they had been quite close. Though it had been dangerous, everyone had managed to escape alive in the end.


    But this time, the squad had only glimpsed it from afar, and ten of them were killed?!


    Cassman''s expression remained grave as he continued, "It gets worse. ording to the survivors, that area has now be a monster nest!"


    "There are over ten Gold Grade monstermanders, and while we don''t know the exact number of ordinary monsters, the initial estimate is at least tens of thousands!"


    "We can be certain that the core area of Beast Forest has at least one Purple-Gold Grade monster lord, possibly even two!"


    Catherine''s face turned pale at these words.


    Luca''s expression grew even more serious.


    Although Cassman had done his best to assess the node''s danger.


    Luca''s understanding of nodes told him that the situation in the core area was likely far more terrifying than Cassman described.


    Noticing Luca''s troubled look, Cassman tried to reassure him, saying, "This is beyond what we can handle. I''ve already sent word to Miss Sophia, asking her to dispatch Riverfall City''s strongest as soon as possible. You don''t need to worry¡ªthere are plenty of high-level warriors in Riverfall City. They''ll take care of these monsters. We just need to stay here and wait for their arrival."


    Hearing this, Catherine let out a long sigh of relief and nodded. "You''re right. With so many powerful warriors in Riverfall City and the city being so close, there''s no way anything will go wrong."


    Luca didn''t say anything, but a flicker of worry shed deep in his eyes.


    He wasn''t as optimistic as the others. After all, he had personally experienced the terror of this Demon Lord and knew just how difficult it would be to deal with.


    Whether even a Purple-Gold level warrior could take down the Hydra was a big question mark.


    Previously, he might have believed there wouldn''t be much of a problem.


    But if the Hydra''s strength was truly as formidable as the Iron Mountain squad had described, it might take a Diamond-grade warrior to truly subdue this Abyssal Demon Lord.


    The problem was that Ryanthe, the count of Emerald State, was currently not in Riverfall City, and it was unclear when he would return.


    "All we can do is our best," Luca sighed inwardly.


    Ultimately, his strength was still too weak. If he were more powerful, he wouldn''t feel so helpless.


    Now, he could only hope that the warriors of Riverfall City could put up a good fight and not allow the Hydra to descend unchallenged.


    At the very least, they needed to cut off a few of its heads¡ªanything less would mean all their efforts were in vain.


    As Luca pondered these thoughts.


    He suddenly frowned, his nose twitching as a look of confusion appeared in his eyes.


    "What''s that smell?" Luca asked, perplexed.


    "What?" Cassman and Catherine looked at him, puzzled, not understanding what he was talking about.


    Luca didn''t respond immediately. He furrowed his brow and focused on his Perception.


    With his Perception maxed out, he could detect scents and environmental changes that others would miss.


    Just moments ago, he had caught a faint whiff of herbs.


    It wasn''t particrly strange, given how many people were gathered together¡ªodd smells were bound to mix.


    But there was something about this scent that felt oddly familiar...


    Before Luca could pinpoint where the familiarity came from, he suddenly noticed that the ground was beginning to tremble slightly.


    "An earthquake?" Luca froze for a moment, then his eyes widened in realization.


    No, this wasn''t an earthquake!


    This was... a monster horde!


    A monster horde, where tens of thousands of monsters formed a tidal wave of destruction!


    Luca had spent so many years fighting monsters in his previous life that he instantly recognized the signs.


    The Hydra had been quiet until now, so why had a monster horde suddenly formed?


    A sense of foreboding settled in Luca''s heart.


    But with the situation escting rapidly, there was no time to dwell on it.


    "Everyone, stay on alert! A massive wave of monsters ising!" he shouted, quickly rising to his feet and readying his ck Steel Spear.


    "More monsters?" The others looked at each other in surprise, trying to perceive any threat, but they didn''t sense anything unusual.


    Cassmanughed and scolded, "Are you getting paranoid, kid? We just cleared out so many monsters. There''s no way these crafty beasts would dare..."


    Before he could finish, Cassman''s face suddenly changed, and he shot to his feet, eyes wide with shock.


    It wasn''t just him¡ªnow even the ordinary soldiers and yers could feel it.


    The ground was shaking!


    And the tremors were growing more intense!


    Everyone collectively gasped in shock.


    There really was a monster hordeing?!

 Chapter 32: Monster Horde! The Battle Begins!

    <h4>Chapter 32: Monster Horde! The Battle Begins!</h4>


    "How many monsters are there? Why is the noise so massive?" someone eximed in shock.


    Drawing on his experience, Luca quickly made a grim assessment. "At least ten thousand, if not more!"


    "Ten thousand monsters?!" The crowd was stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.


    A monster horde of this scale was something that only urred once in several decades, and yet, they had encountered one now?!


    Boom! Boom! Boom!!!


    In the distance, thunderous rumblings echoed closer and closer, growing louder with each passing second.


    Clouds of dust rose as vast swaths of trees were violently uprooted and toppled over!


    Panic began to grip the group.


    As much as they didn''t want to believe it, they knew that such amotion couldn''t possibly be caused by ordinary monsters!


    "How could this happen? Why did the monsters suddenly go berserk?" Catherine''s lips were tightly pressed together, so much so that she had bitten through her skin, drawing blood.


    This was a horde of over ten thousand monsters!


    If these monsters broke out of Beast Forest, she couldn''t even begin to imagine the devastation they would cause!


    The problem was that their Iron Mountain army only numbered in the thousands¡ªthere was no way they could hold back such a massive horde!


    "I smelled the scent of a monster-attracting potion earlier. Someone must have deliberately lured these monsters here," Luca''s calm voice rang in their ears, making everyone''s hearts skip a beat.


    "That''s impossible!" Kaman gasped, "Who could be so insane as to intentionally draw so many monsters here?"


    "Could it be... Matthew?!" Catherine suddenly connected the dots, her face a mask of shock.


    Silence fell over the group instantly.


    Though Luca didn''t say a word, everyone knew the answer in their hearts.


    In the current situation, only Matthew and his men had the capability and the motive to lure the monsters to attack them.


    And more importantly, knowing Matthew''s character...


    That scoundrel was indeed capable of such a monstrous act!


    The young Kaman clenched his bow, his face flushed with anger, and gritted his teeth, "That bastard! When we get back, I''m going to skin him alive!"


    Cassman''s eyes were bloodshot, and the veins on his forehead bulged with rage.


    But he had no time to dwell on his fury. He quickly barked orders to the Iron Mountain soldiers, "Everyone, form up and prepare for battle! We must not let these monsters break through our defenses! Even if it costs us our lives, we have to hold them off until reinforcements arrive!"


    Riverfall City was right behind them. If the monsters broke through, the consequences would be catastrophic!


    Even if it meant sacrificing everything, they had to stop the horde!


    ...


    Meanwhile, on a nearby hill, not far from the Iron Mountain army, Matthew watched the unfolding chaos from a distance.


    Hearing Cassman''s orders, he couldn''t help but burst into mockingughter. "Hahaha! Are these idiots serious? They''re still not running? Are they nning to stay here and serve as monster fodder?"


    Beside him, Freeman sneered as well. "What a bunch of fools,pletely overestimating themselves!"


    To ensure Luca wouldn''t escape, Freeman had used two full bottles of high-grade monster-attracting potion!


    Among the monsters drawn in this time, there were two mid-tier Elite monsters and over a dozen rare monsters!


    Given Cassman and the Iron Mountain army''s strength, even with the addition of those ragtag yers, there was no way they could withstand the assault of this monster horde.


    This group was doomed to die today!


    Watching the overwhelming tide of monsters surging toward the Iron Mountain army, Matthew grinned wickedly andughed, "Hahaha, since you''ve all chosen the path of death, you have no one to me but yourselves. If you want to me someone, me that lowborn Luca!"


    Heughed heartily, his voice dripping with satisfaction.


    In his mind, he could already see the scene of Luca and the others being torn apart by countless monsters.


    A lowlymoner dared to humiliate him!


    Today, he would make Luca pay the price for his insolence!


    Behind Matthew, a few city guards exchanged uneasy nces, shock evident in their eyes.


    They hadn''t known what Matthew was up to until now.


    Matthew actually intended to orchestrate the ughter of Luca and the entire Iron Mountain army?!


    Even if the Iron Mountain soldiers weren''t directly under Count Ryanthe, they were still thousands of lives!


    And all of this, just because of a personal grudge? Matthew was willing to sacrifice them all?!


    In that moment, the city guards felt a chill run down their spines.


    This man was utterly insane!


    They looked at each other, and in their eyes, they saw shared feelings of shame and determination.


    Without a word, they quietly slipped away from the group, heading toward Riverfall City.


    This needed to be reported to the city lord immediately¡ªthey couldn''t let Matthew get away with this!


    ...


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!!!"


    The roars of the monsters echoed through the sky!


    From a distance, they could already see the seemingly endless horde of monsters!


    Gathered together, the monsters looked like a ck flood, surging toward the Iron Mountain army in a massive, unstoppable wave!


    Seeing this, many people felt their legs go weak with fear.


    Even the soldiers of the Iron Mountain army weren''t immune.


    But their long-standing training and discipline kicked in, and they quickly formed up their battle formations.


    Not a single soldier fled from the battlefield¡ªtheir elite training and resolve shining through in this critical moment!


    As for the yers, their reactions were a world apart from those of the Iron Mountain army.


    "Hahaha! Brothers! The time hase to make a name for ourselves! It''s time to defend Riverfall City!"


    "Holy crap! The scale, the effects, the atmosphere! This game is absolutely incredible!"


    "Hurry, hurry, take a picture of me! I need to post this on the forums and make the yers from other main cities insanely jealous!"


    "Come on, guys, this is a serious event¡ªcan''t you be a little more focused?"


    "Hey, don''t forget to turn on the beauty filter for me!"


    "Grab your weapons, brothers, let''s take them down!"


    ...


    Despite the approaching monster horde, the yers, though their legs were trembling, were more excited than scared.


    This left many of the NPCs utterly bewildered.


    They had seen people who weren''t afraid of monsters before.


    But this was the first time they''d encountered people who were actually excited to see them¡ªespecially an entire group!


    However, the yers'' enthusiasm had a positive effect.


    The previously low morale of the Iron Mountain soldiers began to lift.


    If these outsiders were willing to fight for Riverfall City, then what excuse did they have to shy away from the battle?


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!!!"


    Deafening roars filled the air, shaking the very earth!


    The monstrous tide was now less than a kilometer away!


    To the naked eye, it looked like tens of thousands of ravenous, terrifying demons were wing their way toward them, ready to devour everything in their path!


    The sheer intensity of the sight sent shivers down the spines of everyone, even Cassman.


    This was the first time in their lives any of them had seen so many monsters. To say they weren''t nervous would be a lie!


    Many found their hands trembling as they gripped their weapons.


    Just standing there required more courage than they had ever mustered before!


    Beads of sweat appeared on Catherine''s fair forehead.


    And her palms were slick with perspiration as she gripped her spear tightly, her anxiety palpable.


    "Mr. Luca, this ce is too dangerous, you should¡ª" Catherine took a deep breath, about to urge Luca to leave.


    But when she turned her head, she froze in ce.


    Luca was staring at the approaching monster horde, his expressionpletely unchanged!


    There wasn''t a trace of fear¡ªin fact, Catherine couldn''t even detect a hint of nervousness in his eyes!


    Catherine felt a bit dazed.


    At that moment, she saw in Luca something she had only ever seen in Count Ryanthe¡ªa calm, unwavering presence!


    It was the kind ofposure forged in the grinding gears of the battlefield!


    Just then, she noticed Luca slowly beginning to walk forward.


    Catherine was stunned, not understanding what he intended to do.


    The wind whipped through, making the hem of Luca''s ck Gold Robe flutter.


    As he faced the oing horde, familiar memories surfaced in his mind.


    It was as if he had been transported back to that day on the extraterrestrial battlefield, when billions of monsters surged toward Blue Star!


    The difference was, this time, he was no longer the one being protected!


    Luca twirled his spear in a flourish, then turned to the bewildered crowd behind him with a smile. "Everyone, this time, I''ll be your vanguard!"


    As soon as he spoke, to the astonishment of everyone watching.


    A golden runes suddenly appeared on Luca''s spear, and a green glow enveloped his body.


    Wind Walk! Steel Magic Runes!


    Then, under the shocked gazes of all present.


    Luca''s foot mmed into the ground, and in an instant, he shot forward like a bolt of lightning.


    Holding his ck Steel Spear, he charged directly into the unstoppable monster horde!


    Thoughpared to the raging tide of monsters, his figure appeared as small and fragile as a lone boat against the current.


    There wasn''t the slightest hint of fear or hesitation in him. He charged forward with fearless determination!


    At that moment, everyone¡ªIron Mountain soldiers, yers, and even Matthew and the city guards watching from afar¡ªstared in wide-eyed disbelief!


    Had he gone mad?!

 Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire! Air Step!

    "Roar! Roar! Roar!!!"


    Seeing Luca charging toward them, the monsters at the forefront, as if they had spotted a rare and delicious meal, revealed a bloodthirsty gleam in their scarlet eyes and rushed at him with even greater ferocity.


    Yet, Luca''s speed showed no signs of slowing down¡ªif anything, he sped up.


    The yers watching this scene were stunned.


    "Damn, that guy is fearless! How is he daring to take on so many monsters?!"


    "He''s amazing! When we get back to Riverfall City, I''m definitely adding him as a friend!"


    "Man, why didn''t I think of this?"


    "Right? Even if I only get to look cool for a few seconds, that''d be something I''d brag about forever!"


    ...


    A chorus of yers was deep in discussion, while Ben gazed at Luca with a look full of admiration.


    This guy is beyond bold!


    In Eternal Game, the death penalty is incredibly harsh.


    Every time a yer dies, it takes days to revive, and they lose attributes, experience, and equipment.


    High-level yers like Ben wouldn''t dare to die lightly.


    If they did, by the time they respawned, the progress of other yers would be miles ahead.


    But for regr yers, in-game progress isn''t everything¡ªlooking cool is a lifetime achievement!


    Just like Malina, who was hiding amongst the yers, her eyes sparkling with excitement.


    "Luca is so cool!" she murmured, her face flushing red under her cloak as she quickly took several snapshots from different angles, eager to post them on the forumter and share this moment with everyone.


    At that moment, Catherine and the others finally realized what was happening.


    Cassman, now livid, roared angrily, "Kid, are you looking to die? Get back here now!"


    This level of a monster horde... Forget about Luca, a mere Bronze Grade Demonic Rune Mage¡ª even if Cassman himself charged in, he wouldn''t stand a chance. Wasn''t Luca just going to be monster food?


    Up ahead, Luca heard him but simply waved his hand dismissively, signaling them not to worry.


    No one understood the terror of a monster horde better than Luca. If he wasn''t confident enough, he wouldn''t be taking this risk.


    After all, hordes formed by low-level monsters were rare. If he didn''t seize this opportunity to farm some monsters and level up, he''d have wasted his efforts. That was something Luca couldn''t ept.


    However, the people behind him clearly didn''t understand his n.


    Seeing Luca still not stopping, Cassman grew even more frustrated. "That kid usually seems pretty sharp, so why is he suddenly acting like a fool?"


    "I''ll go bring him back." Catherine frowned slightly, her voice low. Without waiting for anyone else to respond, her figure vanished from where she stood, leaving only a fiery red silhouette in the eyes of the group.


    "Luca saved my life once. I''m going too!" Kaman said firmly, determination gleaming in his eyes. With his bow slung over his back, he moved to follow her.


    "Get back here!" Cassman''s face darkened, and he yanked Kaman back by the arm.


    Have these guys gone mad? Why are they so eager to die?!


    Cursing to himself, Cassman grabbed his massive sword, ready to go retrieve both Catherine and Luca.


    From a distant hill, where Matthew and Freeman had been observing the situation around Iron Mountain, they saw it all unfold.


    Matthew sneered. "Haha, that idiot! Charging into a monster horde¡ªwhat, is he in a hurry to die?"


    Freeman let out a coldugh. "That fool doesn''t even know what he''s up against. With that many monsters charging at him, it wouldn''t matter if Franklin himself showed up. Luca''s just a Bronze Grade Demonic Rune Mage¡ªhe''s finished!"


    In Freeman''s tone, beyond the mockery, there was a hint of satisfaction.


    Just imagining Franklin''s rage and despair once he learned of his student''s gruesome fate.


    Itbrought Freeman a twisted sense of gratification.


    He couldn''t do much about Franklin directly.


    But his student? Easy prey.


    At that moment, the pitch-ck horde of monsters had already closed in on Luca.


    "Roar!!!"


    Tens of thousands of monsters roared and thundered forward, their overwhelming momentum crashing toward him like an unstoppable tidal wave.


    Yet Luca''s expression remained unchanged.


    But in his eyes, a flicker of purple lightning shed.


    High in the sky, an immense and terrifying force was silently gathering.


    Itunnoticed by the others.


    Catherine, still some distance away from Luca.


    Shegrew increasingly desperate. She pushed forward, trying to reach him, but Cassman intercepted her just in time.


    Cassman sighed and said, "It''s toote."


    As his words left his lips.


    In the blink of an eye, Luca was swallowed by the monstrous swarm.


    Seeing this, Catherine''s face instantly drained of color, her expression one of disbelief.


    Luca... is he really gone?


    "Boom!!!"


    Just then, a deafening crack of thunder suddenly erupted from the sky!


    A streak of purple lightning, like a spear splitting the heavens, tore through the air and mmed down into the front lines of the monster horde!


    Purple mes exploded, as if a radiant purple lotus had bloomed within the ck sea of monsters!


    Dozens of monsters, just moments ago charging ahead, were instantly incinerated by the raging lightning and fire, reduced to ashes in an instant!


    Luca stood tall in the heart of the fiery inferno, holding his ck Steel Spear. Purple lightning crackled around him, and the mes raged within a ten-meter radius, obliterating every monster that had once swarmed the area.


    -3089! -3043! -3110! ¡­


    A barrage of damage numbers floated into the air, leaving everyone utterly shocked.


    "This... is this a skill?!" The yers stared wide-eyed, faces filled with disbelief.


    Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn''t have believed it. A yer using such a skill?


    The range and damage were simply outrageous!


    Even the experienced yers like Ada and Celephais, along with other top-tier yers, were dumbfounded.


    While they were still grinding with basic skills, Luca had already mastered an ability with such a massive area of effect?


    Is this guy... cheating?!


    But it wasn''t just the yers¡ªNPCs were just as stunned.


    "Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire?!" Freeman eximed in disbelief. "But this kid is only a low-level caster! How is he using such a high-level skill?!"


    "I have no idea!" Matthew was equally bewildered.


    How could either of them possibly know why Luca could cast such an advanced spell?


    After all, Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire was one of the most powerful skills in the high-level spell category!


    Even many advanced mages couldn''t learn it.


    So how had this guy done it?


    "Could it be a high-level scroll?" Freeman suddenly had a revtion, his expression brightening. "That''s got to be it. He must have used a high-level scroll. There''s no other way he could cast Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire!"


    Freeman had encountered countless prodigies over the years.


    But he had never heard of anyone who could skip levels and master such advanced spells.


    He was certain that Luca had used a scroll.


    "That makes sense now!" Matthew finally understood as well. "It must be President Lucia who gave him the scroll. No wonder he can cast Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire¡ªI almost got fooled by him!"


    Freeman, regaining his confidence, smirked coldly. "No need to rush, Master Matthew. Even if he has a high-level scroll, he won''t be able to use it forever. Let him enjoy his little moment of survival. Once the scroll''s power is gone, he''ll be as good as dead."


    A sickly excitement spread across Matthew''s face.


    "He''s just making a desperatest stand! Let''s see how long he canst!"


    Meanwhile, at the front of the monster horde.


    After clearing the surrounding monsters, a series of kill notifications appeared in front of Luca.


    [Ding! You have killed a "lv16 Earth Fox (Normal)" and gained 12,013 experience points!]


    [Ding! You have killed a "lv18 Rampaging Bear (Normal)" and gained 16,437 experience points!]


    [Ding! You have killed a "lv17 One-Eyed Cat Demon (Elite)" and gained 32,483 experience points!]


    ...


    Even though Luca had expected it, the sheer power of Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire still caught him by surprise.


    He hadn''t thought that even elite monsters couldn''t withstand a single strike of his lightning. Truly, it lived up to its reputation as one of the highest-damage skills in the mage''s arsenal!


    As the monsters fell, waves of experience surged into Luca''s body.


    With the bonus from double experience, his experience bar skyrocketed as if propelled by a rocket.


    [Ding! Your level has increased to lv14. You have gained 20 free attribute points!]


    [Ding! Your level has increased to lv15. You have gained 20 free attribute points!]


    [Congrattions, you''ve reached lv15 and unlocked the low-tier skill "Air Step"!]


    In the blink of an eye, two golden lights shed around Luca, signaling his rapid level-up.


    Along with the level-ups, he unlocked a new magic rune skill.


    Curious, Luca opened the skill menu to check its attributes and found that it was a movement ability.


    [Air Step lv1: Low-tier skill. Upon activation, the Battle Mage can use the explosive force of magic runes to perform short dashes. Up to 3 dashes can be executed within 10 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes. Mana cost: 800 points.]


    Skills like this weremon among most sses, such as a mage''s blink or an assassin''s shadow step.


    The key difference with the Demonic Rune Mage''s "Air Step" was its multi-dash capability, with additional dashes unlocked as the skill leveled up¡ªan excellent burst mobility tool.


    Luca was thrilled.


    This skill would make a Demonic Rune Mage incredibly nimble inbat.


    Calming his excitement, he quickly took advantage of the brief lull before the monsters attacked again. He gathered all the loot on the ground and stored it in his Storage Ring.


    Behind him, Catherine and Cassman watched in disbelief as Luca calmly collected gear in the middle of a battle. They couldn''t help butugh.


    This guy''s nerves are something else!


    He was surrounded by tens of thousands of monsters, and one mistake could lead to his death!


    "Gutsy kid, I''ll give you that!" Cassman chuckled as he shed forward, appearing right behind Luca.


    Without warning, he grabbed Luca and hoisted him over his shoulder, much to Luca''s confusion, and started sprinting back.


    The monsters finally snapped out of their daze, roaring with rage as they frantically chased after Catherine, Cassman, and the others.


    ncing at the horde of monsters trailing behind them.


    Luca gave a wry smile. "You know... I could''ve just run on my own¡­"


    Cassman, however, wasn''t paying attention to Luca''s protests.


    As he continued running, he shouted at the Iron Mountain troops, "Everyone! Prepare for battle!"

 Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Gathering of Powerhouses! Blood-Sealing Formation!

    At the same time, in Riverfall City''s City Lord''s Mansion.


    Inside the grand meeting hall.


    Gathered there were not only Rudolph, the City Lord of Riverfall City, and Lucia, the President of the Mages'' Association, as well as Witch Doctor Franklin.


    The President of the Adventurers'' Guild, Bayou, and Bright, the President of the Assassins'' Guild, were present too. Even Bayou Kurk, the City Lord of Redwind City, had been summoned by Sophia.


    The meeting hall was packed with powerful figures.


    Among them, including Sophia, the weakest were mid-tier professionals, and most were high-tier.


    In essence, nearly all of the mid- and high-tier professionals from the vicinity of Riverfall City were there.


    At the front of the room, Sophia, dressed in a regal gown of ck and gold, stood addressing the crowd about the Abyssal Node.


    "Abyssal Node?!" The expressions of many high-tier professionals changed upon hearing her words.


    Given their ranks and experience, they all had some knowledge of the Abyssal Node and understood its terrifying implications.


    The President of the Adventurers'' Guild, Bayou, a short and elderly man.


    Hisgraying eyebrows furrowed tightly, spoke up. "Ever since the Abyssal Node in the Northern Territory was destroyed by the former emperor fifty-three years ago, there hasn''t been another sighting in the Clinton Empire for decades."


    "If what Miss Sophia says is true, this could spell disaster not just for the Clinton Empire but for the entire Eternal Continent!"


    There was an air of skepticism among those present, as they questioned the veracity of Sophia''s ims.


    For an Abyssal Node to suddenly appear near Riverfall City after so many years seemed almost impossible.


    Rudolph, the City Lord of Riverfall City, fixed his gaze on Sophia and spoke in a serious tone. "Miss Sophia, are you certain that what was discovered is indeed an Abyssal Node? This is not something to be taken lightly."


    Sophia shook her head slightly. "The information came from a fellow student of mine. I''ve already sent Cassman and the Iron Mountain forces to investigate. We should have confirmation soon."


    "Fellow student?" Lucia and Franklin exchanged nces, both clearly surprised.


    They were well aware that Sophia only had one fellow student.


    Itmeant this information hade from... Luca?!


    The others in the room didn''t seem to realize who Sophia was referring to when she mentioned her student.


    Upon hearing that the Abyssal Node was not yet confirmed, many of those gathered let out a sigh of relief.


    Redwind City''s City Lord, Kurk, chuckled and said, "Miss Sophia, with all due respect, it sounds like this youngd may have just stumbled upon something and mistaken it for an Abyssal Node. No need to make such a fuss."


    Bright, the President of the Assassins'' Guild, nodded in agreement, politely adding, "Miss Sophia, if there were truly something happening in the Beast Forest, being so close to it, we would''ve noticed by now."


    The Beast Forest was so near to Riverfall City that any unusual activity would have been detected long ago.


    Yet, until now, none of them had sensed any disturbance from the Beast Forest.


    Especially since this information hade from one of Sophia''s students.


    And with no news yet from the team sent to investigate, it only deepened their doubts.


    Sophia''s expression darkened. She had considered many possibilities, but the one thing she hadn''t expected was that after hearing news of the Abyssal Node, none of these people actually believed it.


    However, what puzzled her as well was the follow.


    Theck of any disturbance from the Beast Forest, despite its close proximity.


    Something felt off.


    But she couldn''t pinpoint the issue or find a way to exin it.


    At the head of the room, Rudolph calmly sipped his tea, his expression unchanged.


    But deep in his eyes, there was a barely perceptible glint of mockery.


    A young woman, trying to stop the descent of the Abyssal Demon Lord?


    Absurd!


    The activity in the Beast Forest had long been concealed by the methods of The Nightmare Cult.


    If it hadn''t been for that lucky fool Luca discovering the node and alerting Sophia, there wouldn''t have been any of this trouble.


    But no matter¡ªLady Tia had already prepared for unexpected setbacks.


    All he needed to do was dy them a little longer. Once The Nightmare Cult''s n seeded, he would reap the rewards and finally be the Count of the Emerald State, a title he had dreamed of for so long!


    Just as Rudolph reveled in his thoughts.


    The sound of hurried footsteps and a heated argument suddenly echoed from outside the meeting hall.


    A voice bellowed, "Out of my way! I have urgent news to report!"


    The doors to the hall were flung open.


    And a bloodied city guard stumbled in.


    His face was pale, his armor shattered, clearly having suffered grievous injuries.


    This guard was one of the men who had been with Matthew.


    Behind him, several gate guards entered with weapons drawn. One of them, looking embarrassed, stammered, "Apologies, Lord Rudolph. We couldn''t stop him."


    Seeing this, Kurk, the City Lord of Redwind City, smirked and teased Rudolph, "It seems, Lord Rudolph, that your men need a bit more training! Letting someone burst into the meeting like this, really?"


    Rudolph''s expression darkened, and he coldly ordered, "Throw him out! No matter how urgent it is, it can wait until the meeting is over."


    The gate guards immediately moved to drag the injured city guard out of the hall.


    But before they could, Sophia interjected, "Let him speak. And fetch a healer to treat his wounds."


    The soldiers exchanged nces, unsure whether to follow Sophia''s or Rudolph''s orders.


    Rudolph smirked inwardly, saying nothing.


    Sophia walked up to the gravely injured guard, her expression softening slightly. She asked, "What happened? Where is your squad captain?"


    Upon seeing Sophia, the guard''s face lit up with desperation.


    A feverish flush spread across his pale cheeks, and he stammered, "Miss Sophia! The monsters in the Beast Forest... they''ve gone berserk! They''ve formed a monster horde! It''s Matthew and Freeman, they¡ª"


    Before he could finish.


    One of the soldiers behind him suddenly had his eyes sh with a purple light.


    He suddenly sprang into action, his de shing viciously toward the city guard''s neck!


    "How dare you!!" Furious shouts erupted from all corners of the meeting hall.


    The fastest to react was Bright, who in an instant appeared in front of the attacking soldier.


    ng!


    With cold eyes, Bright deflected the blow effortlessly. A dagger, sparkling like blue crystal, had appeared in his hand at some unknown moment.


    With a simple strike, he sent the soldier, along with his weapon, flying across the room.


    But before anyone could feel relieved¡ª


    Boom!


    The soldier''s body exploded, dissolving into a cloud of blood mist!


    The mist didn''t settle but instead transformed midair into numerous eerie blood-red runes.


    The runes rapidly aligned themselves, and in the blink of an eye, they formed a massive crimson array.


    It enveloped the entire meeting hall!


    "Blood-Sealing Formation?!" Lucia''s eyes widened, immediately recognizing the sinister origin of the formation.


    Everyone''s expressions darkened.


    "We''ve been trapped," Bright snarled through clenched teeth. "That man had a formation stone hidden inside him. Someone wants to keep us all locked in here!"


    The City Lord of Redwind City, Kurk, mmed his fist onto the table in rage. "Damn it! They even used the Blood-Sealing Formation! If I find out who''s behind this, I''ll tear them to pieces!"


    Franklin nced at the others'' grim faces, puzzled. "What''s this formation? Is it really that powerful?"


    Some of the mid-tier professionals in the hall looked equally confused.


    They not understanding why everyone was reacting so direly.


    The President of the Adventurers'' Guild, Bayou, sighed. "It''s not about strength¡ªit''s about how tricky this formation is. The Blood-Sealing Formation is an advanced secret art. While it doesn''t cause direct harm, it''s nearly impossible to break through from the inside, even for high-tier professionals. We''re stuck here until it fades on its own, which takes a full day."


    "A whole day?" Sophia''s calm demeanor broke as panic shed in her eyes. "No! We can''t stay here for an entire day. We have to get out now!"


    Though she didn''t know who had plotted against them, the fact that so much effort had been put into trapping all the powerful figures in one ce meant the enemy had sinister ns. If they stayed trapped here, who knew what could happen outside!


    The other high-tier professionals had realized the same thing, but there was nothing they could do but shake their heads in frustration.


    Rudolph wore a heavy expression, though inwardly, he couldn''t help but sneer.


    To break the Blood-Sealing Formation, it would take at least a high-tier formation master, and they would have to be outside the array to have any chance.


    Unfortunately, there wasn''t a single high-tier formation master in the entire Emerald State.


    Thinking they could escape? Pure delusion!


    ...


    Meanwhile, deep within the Beast Forest.


    The Iron Mountain forces had just shed with the monster horde for the first time. The roars of the monsters and the shouts of the soldiers mixed in a deafening cacophony that echoed throughout the forest, shaking the very ground beneath them.


    Cassman led the charge at the front, his golden Battle Will swirling around him. Wielding his enormous sword like a meat grinder.


    He mowed down every monster within a ten-meter radius, obliterating them with his powerful sword aura.


    Catherine was just as fierce, her graceful yet tall frame weaving through the monster horde. The long spear in her hand glowed with a soft white light, each strike lethal. With every thrust of her spear, one or more monsters fell.


    The two of them spearheaded the Iron Mountain elite, carving out gaps in the monster horde, reducing the pressure on the soldiers and yers behind them.


    While they hadn''t gained much of an advantage, at least the situation had stabilized for the time being.


    Luca, on the other hand, stayed quietly behind Cassman, finishing off any lingering monsters.


    His Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire had too long a cooldown.


    And with little time to prepare beforehand.


    He didn''t have enough magic runes on hand to sustain a prolonged battle. Forced to conserve his resources, Luca retreated to the second line.


    On a nearby hill, Matthew''s face had grown sour.


    By his calctions, the Iron Mountain forces should have been overwhelmed by now.


    But to his disbelief, they were holding their ground!


    Matthew gritted his teeth. "We can''t wait any longer. If we dy and the reinforcements from Riverfall City arrive, killing Luca and the others will be much harder. We need to finish this, now!"


    Freeman was already on the same page.


    If they missed this opportunity for revenge, who knew when the next chance woulde?


    With that in mind, Freeman made a swift decision. He pulled a bottle of Demon Lure Potion from his storage ring, his expression twisted with malice.


    "I''d like to see how long they can hold out against even more monsters," Freeman growled as he uncorked the bottle.

 Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Marauder! Snowfall and the World

    Although Luca wasn''t on the front lines charging into battle.


    He following closely behind Cassman and Catherine, he still managed to take down a fair number of monsters.


    Before long, Luca leveled up to 16.


    What excited him even more was that he had finallypleted his Wanderer Setby acquiring thest three pieces of equipment!


    [Wanderer Set Bonus: When activated, all attributes +50, skill cooldown -10%, HP +500, MP +500.]


    [Set Skill "Marauder": Increases attack damage by 20% and attack speed by 20% for 3 minutes. Cooldown: 24 hours.]


    "Now this is what I call the ultimate newbie set!" Luca clenched his fists in excitement.


    The Wanderer Set alone provided a massive 200-point boost to his base stats!


    On top of that, it came with a skill that increased damage¡ªutterly overpowered!


    At that moment, Luca had used up all his magic runes, significantly reducing hisbat effectiveness.


    He temporarily retreated from the front lines and returned to the rear to regroup.


    After equipping the Wanderer Set, Luca opened his character status panel.


    [Name: Luca]


    [Level: lv16]


    [Talent: The Person Favored (SSS-level)]


    [ss: Demonic Rune Mage (Bronze Grade)]


    [HP: 4736]


    [MP: 6338]


    [Attack: 1322-1361]


    [Attributes: Strength 290, Spirit 505, Stamina 320, Agility 350]


    [Special: Charm 100, Perception 100, Aptitude 100, Luck 100]


    [Titles: Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm, Peerless Appearance, Danger Perception, The Son of Luck]


    [Skills: Magic Rune Drawing lv3 (ss), Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire lv2 (Advanced), Air Step lv2 (Low-tier), Heavenly Charge lv4 (Low-tier), Turbulence lv4 (Low-tier), Marauder (Equipment)]


    After donning the Wanderer Set, Luca''s stats skyrocketed!


    His Spirit attributehad surpassed 500 points, and even his HPwas nearly 5000!


    "These stats areparable to a monster''s!" Luca marveled.


    The Wanderer Set, famously known in his previous life as the strongest beginner gear, certainly lived up to its reputation with the insane attribute boosts it provided.


    With these thoughts in mind, Luca found a quiet spot and began drawing new magic runes.


    The fact that none of Riverfall City''s powerful figures had shown up yet made him increasingly uneasy.


    Luca spected that something might have gone wrong on Sophia''s side.


    The situation was bing moreplicated than he had expected.


    To prepare for any unforeseen developments, Luca decided he needed to have more options up his sleeve.


    After refining the necessary materials, he began to inscribe magical patterns.


    By now, Luca''s speed at drawing runes had significantly improved. In about ten minutes, he could create a low-tier magic rune.


    As his skill level increased, he would only get faster. Eventually, it might take him just a few minutes to craft one.


    If he could level up his Magic Rune Drawingskill to lv4, there was even a chance he could start creating the four mid-tier elemental magic runes.


    These runes areHurricane Rune, Thunder Rune, Radiant Rune, and Shadow Rune.


    These four mid-tier magic runes not only dealt more powerful damage but could also strengthen the Demonic Rune Mage''s physical body. Just crafting a single one of them would grant Luca a significant power boost.


    However, leveling up skills couldn''t be rushed; it had to be done step by step.


    At this point, the others noticed Luca had temporarily retreated from the front lines.


    Seeing him busy crafting magic runes, everyone found it intriguing.


    Ben walked over, his face full of curiosity. "Hey, brother, what ss is that? You can draw stuff? That''s pretty unique!"


    While continuing to sketch his magic runes, Luca casually replied, "Demonic Rune Mage. It''s a mage subss."


    Ben scratched his head, confused. "Demonic Rune Mage? Never heard of it."


    Ada, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Could it be a hidden ss?"


    Luca nced at her and nodded slightly.


    "A hidden ss?!" Ben''s eyes went wide, his voice rising a few octaves in excitement.


    Since the gameunched, there had only been a few whispers about rare sses.


    And now this guy, Luca, had already unlocked a hidden ss!


    Ben''s reaction drew the attention of the others.


    A murmur rippled through the group of yers.


    "A hidden ss?! Luca is a hidden ss user?!"


    "No way, really? Isn''t this the first hidden ss we''ve seen in the game?"


    "So that exins it! No wonder his damage is so high! I thought Eternal Game had some sort of bug!"


    "Man, I''m so jealous I could cry!"


    "Sigh, I was going to ask him what ss he picked so I could do the same. But it looks like I won''t get the chance!"


    ¡­


    The yers around Luca were filled with envy, jealousy, and admiration.


    Most of them hadn''t even reached level 10 toplete their profession change.


    And here Luca had already unlocked a hidden ss!


    It was hard not to feel envious.


    "No matter what, we have to recruit Luca into the guild!" Ben and Ada exchanged nces, both seeing the determination in each other''s eyes.


    Luca wasn''t just a skilled yer¡ªhe had a hidden ss, and he was likely the first to obtain one.


    If they could get him to join their Snowfall Guild, it would dramatically increase their guild''s power and reputation!


    "Mr. Luca, I''d like to¡ª" Ada began, her expression serious as she was about to invite him into the guild.


    Just then, an excited voice cut through the air."Kid! Tell me how you got that hidden ss, and I''ll give you 5 million! On top of that, I''ll make you the branch leader of our The World Guild!"


    Celephais strode over with members of The World Guild, his face barely able to contain his excitement. His first words shocked everyone present.


    "Are you kidding me? Five million?!"


    "Who is this guy? Does he own a ranch full of money?"


    "You don''t get it! That''s Celephais, the Vice President of The World Guild! He''s part of the James financial conglomerate!"


    "They say even the branch leaders in that guild earn over three million a year!"


    "No way! That rich?!"


    "Yeah, if you could join The World Guild, you''d be set for life!"


    The crowd buzzed with chatter, and their gazes toward Luca became even more envious.


    Being noticed by Celephais from The World Guild? Luca''s luck was off the charts!


    "Damn it! He really picked the worst time to show up!" Ben muttered through clenched teeth when he saw Celephais approaching.


    The Snowfall Guild had been struggling against The World Guild''s suppression ever since they arrived in Riverfall City.


    Normally, it wouldn''t be a big deal, but Celephais was known for using underhanded tactics, like offering huge sums of money to poach their members.


    Just thinking about it made Ben furious.


    Ada''s brows furrowed slightly as well.


    In a cold tone, she said, "Vice President Celephais, interrupting someone else mid-conversation hardly befits your status."


    "Status?" Celephais let out a disdainfulugh. "Since when does a Blues Familymember like you have the right to talk to me about status?"


    His eyes drifted to Ada''s elegant face, and suddenly, a wicked grin spread across his lips. "Of course, if you, Ada, spend a night with me, you might just earn that right."


    "You bastard! You''re dead!" Ben''s already simmering anger boiled over in an instant!


    In a sh, Ben disappeared from where he stood, reappearing right in front of Celephais.


    His eyes were zing with fury as his dagger, quick as lightning, shed toward Celephais''s throat!


    What incredible speed!


    The suddenness of Ben''s attack took many by surprise.


    However, Celephais stood there with his arms crossed, not moving an inch, his eyes filled with scorn.


    But therge man standing beside him, Dien, chuckled and casually drew his longsword.


    ng!


    Sparksflew out!


    Dien''s sword intercepted Ben''s dagger, stopping it dead in its tracks!


    Dienughed heartily. "Ben, did you forget to eat? That was weak!"


    With a quick flex of his arm, Dien sent Ben flying backward.


    Bennded hard and had to take several steps back to regain his bnce.


    His face was dark with rage as he red at Dien, spitting through clenched teeth, "You traitorous dog! One day, I swear I''ll make you pay for this!"


    Dien had once been one of Snowfall Guild''s core members before Celephais lured him away.


    Now, he served as Celephais''s personal bodyguard.


    Seeing the confrontation escte, both The World Guildand Snowfall Guildyers began drawing their weapons, tensions rising rapidly.


    The tension in the air was palpable as the smell of conflict filled the scene.


    Other yers gathered around, their expressions excited, eager to watch the drama unfold.


    Luca, however, paid no mind to the growing confrontation. He remained seated on a nearby rock, calmly sketching his magic runes.


    If anyone had been paying attention, they would have noticed that, throughout it all, Luca''s hand never wavered, not even for a moment.


    Facing Ben''s fury, Dien chuckled. "You can''t me me. Celephais offered way too much to refuse!"


    Ben''s forehead veins bulged as he gripped his dagger, ready tosh out at the traitor. But Ada quickly stepped in, stopping him with a raised hand.


    "Don''t act on impulse," she said, shaking her head slightly, clearly unwilling to provoke a conflict with Celephais here and now.


    Ben''s teeth ground together audibly, his frustration nearly unbearable, but he didn''t dare go against his sister''s wishes.


    "You really are pathetic!" Celephais sneered, his eyes turning to Luca, who was still absorbed in drawing his magic runes.


    Impatiently, Celephais barked, "Kid, stop wasting my time. If you''ve made up your mind, tell me everything you know. And that robe you''re wearing¡ªI want that too!"


    "Six million in total!"


    "With that kind of money, you''ll never have to worry about anything for the rest of your life."


    Though he said it casually, there was a fiery gleam hidden deep within Celephais''s eyes.


    Sure, he had money, but he wasn''t a fool.


    He wasn''t just after Luca''s talent.


    He was also a mage himself, already at level 10, but hadn''t yet undergone his profession change.


    Luca had shown up at the perfect time.


    Six million, eight million, even ten million¡ªit didn''t matter. Celephais was determined to get this hidden ss!


    He knew exactly how valuable Eternal Gamecould be.


    Spending a few million now? In the long run, he could easily make billions, if not tens of billions, with what he''d gain from Luca''s hidden ss!


    Just as Celephais finished speaking. Luca stop his action.


    Lucapleted his rune.


    It was a zing Rune.


    He didn''t put it away.


    Instead, his gaze flicked between the two groups before finally settling on Celephais.


    Luca asked calmly, "Are you from the James Family?"

 Chapter 36: Chapter 36: The Death of Celephais, the Sapphire Ring!

    In his previous life, during the great war between the Human Raceand the monsters, not all human elites fought for their own kind. Many families and factions betrayed humanity, aligning themselves with the Abyssal Demon Realmto be the monsters''ckeys.


    The James Family, backing The World Guild, was one of them.


    In the past, the James Family had been among the first to betray the Human Race. Their treachery led to a massacre, where hundreds of thousands of human yers were surrounded and ughtered by monsters due to the information they leaked to the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    It wasn''t until muchter that their betrayal was exposed, but by then, the James Family had escaped with their wealth, thanks to the protection of the monsters, fleeing to the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    Before Luca''s rebirth, these traitors were still serving the monsters.


    Itcausing countless deaths over the years.


    Celephais, however, was oblivious to the shift in Luca''s tone. He assumed Luca was interested in his offer.


    Crossing his arms, Celephais wore an arrogant expression, making no attempt to hide his superiority. "Since you know the James Family, you must also know the power we hold. I, Celephais, always keep my word. I wouldn''t cheat you over a little money."


    Dien chimed in as well, sneering, "Kid, if you agree to Celephais''s terms, not only will you get the money, but you''ll also be able to join The World Guild!"


    "Our guild''s benefits are among the best in Summer Country, way better than Snowfall Guild!"


    Ben''s fists tightened, trembling with rage at Dien''s insult.


    Even Ada''s face darkened in anger.


    Dien had truly crossed the line.


    They had treated him fairly when he was with them.


    But now, after just a few days, this scumbag was brazenly insulting their Snowfall Guild!


    Luca remained unfazed by their attitudes.


    He nodded slightly, saying, "So you''re from the James Family. Good. That''s all I needed to know."


    Celephais''s expression grew even more arrogant, confident in his victory.


    "Now that we''ve cleared that up, hurry up and¡ª"


    Before he could finish his sentence.


    Ablinding crimson light erupted, followed by a surge of violent mes that filled Celephais''s vision.


    His eyes widened in shock, disbelief flooding his face.


    Boom!!!


    A fiery serpent exploded outward.


    Its searing heat consuming Celephais entirely.


    -2419!


    A massive damage number appeared, exceeding two thousand points.


    Celephais didn''t even have time to respond. Luca''s zing Rune, activated at point-nk range, annihted him in an instant.


    His entire body shattered into countless fragments of light, dissolving into the air.


    The fiery glow of the zing Runein Luca''s hand slowly dissipated.


    With a calm expression, he said, "Anyone from the James Family I see from now on, I''ll kill. You''re lucky¡ªyou were the first."


    Everyone around was leftpletely dumbfounded.


    "Holy crap! Is this guy insane? He actually dared to kill Celephais?!"


    "Luca''s a legend! He killed Celephais and still has the guts to call out the entire James Family!"


    "Haha, serves him right! I''ve had enough of that guy. A bunch of arrogant jerks who think they own the ce!"


    "Sigh, the kid''s too impulsive. The World Guild won''t let him off easy."


    The crowd''s reactions were a mix of shock, amusement, admiration, and pity.


    Though they didn''t know what kind of grudge Luca had against the James Family that made him willing to forgo millions just to kill Celephais, it didn''t stop them from admiring his sheer audacity.


    Killing someone from the James Family? This guy was fearless!


    "Kid, you''re dead!" Dien finally snapped out of his daze, his eyes bloodshot with fury.


    He had hoped to impress Celephais by fending off Ben''s attack. But before he could even bask in that small victory, Celephais had been killed right in front of him by Luca.


    Dien was so furious he could almost spit blood.


    His rage boiled over, and with a roar, he swung his longsword toward Luca, desperate to redeem himself and exact revenge.


    "You''re the one courting death," Luca sneered. With a sh of light, his ck Steel Spearappeared in his hand.


    Its shaft adorned with glowing red runes.


    He raised the spear, prepared to send thisckey to join Celephais.


    But just as he was about to strike, a figure shed in front of Luca¡ªBen had stepped between them.


    ng!


    Sparks flew as metal shed.


    And Ben blocked Dien''s sword.


    "Hahaha! Look at you, a littlepdog panicking because your master''s been killed!" Benughed as he parried Dien''s attack, feeling an immense sense of satisfaction.


    Celephais, the arrogant jerk who always looked down on everyone, had finally gotten what he deserved!


    If the situation had allowed it, Ben would have popped a bottle of champagne to celebrate right there and then.


    "Ben!" Dien growled through clenched teeth, infuriated that his attack had been thwarted.


    Without another word.


    He swung his sword wildly, determined to cut down Ben.


    The sound of metal shing filled the air as sparks flew in all directions.


    But Ben''s strength wasn''t far below Dien''s, and the two were locked in a stalemate.


    Frustrated and unable tond a decisive blow, Dien bellowed at the members of The World Guildbehind him, "What are you waiting for? Get over here and kill them! Avenge Celephais!"


    The World Guild members finally snapped out of their shock and moved forward, ready to gang up on Luca.


    But just as they began to act, they froze in their tracks.


    A tall, red-haired woman stood beside Luca, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.


    Catherine, her armor smeared with blood, stood there with an icy expression on her face. Her frosty voice cut through the air, "Let''s see who dares make a move."


    At the same time, Cassman, carrying his massive sword, approached from the other side, his body radiating a thick, murderous aura.


    With a grim expression, Cassman growled, "Anyone who dares to move, dies."


    Swish! Swish! Swish!


    The moment those words left his mouth, the sound of swords being unsheathed echoed across the area.


    The Iron Mountain soldiers who had been watching silently all drew their weapons, their eyes filled with murderous intent as they stared down the members of The World Guild.


    Caught off guard by the sudden threat from the NPCs, Dien and the yers from The World Guild were left dumbfounded.


    What the hell? What''s with these NPCs?


    Weren''t they indifferent just a second ago? Why were they suddenly turning on us?


    Luca, too, was slightly surprised, not expecting Catherine and Cassman to intervene.


    ncing over at the frontlines of the monster horde, he realized that the once ferocious attack had weakened significantly after the initial wave. The regr Iron Mountain soldiers were now able to hold their own.


    Catherine and Cassman likely withdrew to recover their strength.


    After all, professionals weren''t machines; warriors used up stamina, mages consumed mana, and every other ss had simr limitations.


    Cassman surveyed the group of yers, his voice cold. "You brats actually have the nerve to stir up trouble at a time like this? Are you tired of living?"


    "Get out of here now, or I''ll leave every one of you to feed the monsters!"


    Dien, unwilling to back down, clenched his teeth and shouted, "He''s the one who attacked first! We were just¡ª"


    Before Dien could finish, Cassman''s eyes narrowed. Without any visible effort.


    Agolden sword sh suddenly cut through the air.


    Dien''s words died in his throat.


    A thin red line appeared across his neck.


    -13,890!


    A massive damage number floated above his head.


    His eyes widened in disbelief, unable toprehend what had just happened.


    Before he could even react, his body disintegrated into particles of light, vanishing into thin air!


    The entire scene fell into dead silence.


    All the yers stared at Cassman, who still held his massive sword, their eyes filled with awe and fear.


    The damage dealt by this NPC was terrifying!


    And to kill someone so swiftly without a second thought¡ªit was downright ruthless!


    The yers from The World Guildwere trembling in fear.


    Their vice president, Celephais, was dead. Now Dien had been killed too!


    How could they possibly seek revenge for their fallen leaders?


    "Retreat!" one of the higher-ups of The World Guildwiped the cold sweat from his brow and quickly ordered a withdrawal back to Riverfall City. They would need to regroup and wait for word from Celephais''s superiors.


    The rest of The World Guild''s yers exhaled in relief.


    Had they actually been forced to fight the Iron Mountain soldiers, they would have been ughtered.


    In their haste to flee, they didn''t even dare pick up the gear dropped by Celephais and Dien.


    Theyfearing that Cassman or the Iron Mountain soldiers would finish them off as well.


    As soon as The World Guild retreated, Cassman''s gaze shifted toward the Snowfall Guildsiblings, Ben and Ada.


    The message was clear: You should leave too.


    Ben and Ada exchanged wry smiles, feeling no resentment. After all, it was true that they had initiated the confrontation. Cassman''s decision to let them off with just a warning was already a mercy.


    With a sigh, they nced at Luca, silently acknowledging that they''d have to find another way to invite him to join their guildter.


    Luca, unaffected by everyone''s stares.


    Hestepped forward and casually picked up the equipment dropped by Celephais and Dien, examining them briefly.


    Celephais had dropped a Bronze Gradering, while the other item was Dien''s ck Iron Levellongsword.


    Talk about bad luck for those two.


    Both the ring and the sword were far more valuable than ordinary equipment.


    Luca stored the longsword, nning to sell itter for cash, but the Bronze Gradering was something he could use right away.


    [Sapphire Ring: Bronze Grade equipment, usable at lv10. Increases Spirit by 35, Mana by 200, and Mana regeneration speed by 10%.]


    It seemed fitting that Celephais, the vice president of The World Guild, would own high-quality mage gear. No doubt he had spent a fortune to acquire this ring, but now it had conveniently fallen into Luca''s hands.


    With that in mind, Luca equipped the Sapphire Ring.


    He checked his status panel and saw that his Spirithad now risen to 540, and his mana pool had surpassed 6500.


    Luca nodded in satisfaction.


    This method of earning gear was much faster than grinding monsters!


    If given the chance, he wouldn''t mind taking Celephais down a few more times in the future.


    "Thanks for the help," Luca finally turned, smiling as he expressed his gratitude to Cassman and Catherine.


    Catherine smiled warmly, brushing it off.


    Cassman waved a hand dismissively. "No problem. Besides, nothing''s worse in a battle than chaos in the rear. Removing those unstable elements is a benefit to us all."


    He then found a ce to sit, his expression growing more serious.


    "There''s something troubling me," Cassman said in a low voice. "It''s been a while since we sent word back to Riverfall City. By now, reinforcements should have arrived, but we''ve seen no movement, and the messenger hasn''t returned either."


    He nced at Luca and Catherine. "I suspect Miss Sophia might be facing some trouble. I need you and Catherine to head back and investigate. The Iron Mountain forces can''t hold out much longer. We need them to send reinforcements as soon as possible."


    Catherine nodded. "Luca and I will head back right away. The sooner we end this war, the better. The longer it drags on, the more we lose."


    As soon as they finished speaking, a quest notification appeared before Luca.


    [Ding! You have triggered the quest "Request Reinforcements"!]


    [Objective: Return to Riverfall City to investigate the situation and ensure that reinforcements are sent to support the Iron Mountain forces.]


    [Rewards: Mithril Mage Spear (Silver), 300 Gold Coins!]

 Chapter 37: Chapter 37: The Request for Aid and Crafting the Sobering Potion!

    This new quest notification didn''t bring Luca any relief.


    In fact, it unsettled him.


    In Eternal Game, the difficulty of a task was usually proportional to its rewards.


    The fact that a simple mission like returning to the city for reinforcements would reward a Silver-gradepiece of equipment meant that something serious must be happening in Riverfall City.


    Despite his suspicions, Luca epted the quest.


    Toplete the mission of defeating the Hydra, he would need the full strength of Riverfall City.


    Even though it seemed like something had gone wrong in the city, he had no choice but to go back and investigate.


    But before that, there was something else he needed to take care of.


    Turning to Cassman and Catherine, Luca asked, "Do either of you happen to have any Seven-Star Floweror Goldenstoneon hand?"


    Cassman looked puzzled. "What do you need those materials for?"


    Catherine, however, seemed to understand, her eyes lighting up. "Are you nning to brew a potion?"


    Luca nodded. "I''m going to try and craft a Sobering Potion. It''s only a mid-tier potion, so it won''tpletely neutralize the effects of the Demon Lure Potion, but it can at least reduce its influence on the monsters. Plus, the ingredients are rtively easy to find."


    At this, both Cassman and Catherine''s faces brightened with hope.


    If they could calm the berserk monsters, the pressure on the Iron Mountain forces would lessen significantly, buying them more time to handle other urgent matters.


    Cassman pped Luca on the shoulder with a grin. "Goodd! Why didn''t you mention this earlier? I''ll get the materials ready for you right away!"


    Luca winced from the force of the p, rubbing his sore shoulder. "I didn''t have time before. With the Demon Lure Potion''s effects calming down, I finally have a moment to craft something."


    Catherine rummaged through her Storage Ringand pulled out a thumb-sized, translucent golden stone.


    Handing it to Luca, she said apologetically, "I''ve only got a little bit of Goldenstoneleft from when I forged some gear. I''m not sure if it''ll be enough."


    Luca''s eyes lit up as he nodded eagerly. "That''s perfect! I don''t need much of it. Now I just need to find some Seven-Star Flower, and I can start brewing."


    He thought for a moment before adding, "Seven-Star Flower is often used as an herbal remedy for healing, so others might have it on them. You should ask around."


    "Leave it to me!" Cassman didn''t wait for Luca to finish speaking. He was already on his feet, rushing off to gather the necessary potion materials.


    Meanwhile...


    On the other side of the battlefield, Matthew and Freeman had moved away from their previous position on the hill.


    They found a hidden spot and began preparing for their second round of Demon Lure Potion deployment.


    Freeman had somehow acquired several Eagle Mice. He divided the Demon Lure Potioninto multiple portions, carefully attaching them to the Eagle Mice. Then, he forced the creatures to drink a few vials of green liquid.


    After consuming the potions, the Eagle Mice staggered briefly before suddenly standing upright. In their beady eyes, a strange green rune appeared, and the tuft of fur on their foreheads turned bright green.


    Matthew chuckled slyly, "Using Eagle Miceto spread the Demon Lure Potion is genius. Even if someone finds out, there''s no way to trace it back to us. A wless n!"


    To avoid being implicated, Matthew and Freeman hade up with the idea of using these creatures to transport the potion.


    They knew they''d likely be suspectedter.


    But as long as there was no hard evidence, they''d have countless ways to cover their tracks.


    After all, while Riverfall City was nominally under the Howard family, it had long been the Barton familyrunning the show.


    Keeping secrets was easy when you controlled the flow of information.


    Freeman, focused on his task, had no time for conversation.


    After ensuring all the Eagle Mice had been dosed with the potion.


    He gave a flicker of green light from his eyes, pointed toward the Iron Mountain camp, andmanded, "Take the Demon Lure Potion to their camp!"


    The Eagle Mice, now under Freeman''s control, gave nk nods and crouched low to the ground. Carrying their payloads of Demon Lure Potion, they darted toward the Iron Mountain forces.


    Theymoving swiftly through the dense underbrush, almost invisible.


    Before long, the Eagle Mice arrived near the Iron Mountain camp.


    Following Freeman''s silent orders, they uncorked the potion bottles on their backs, allowing the purple liquid to spill onto the ground.


    A strange herbal scent wafted through the air. As soon as the Eagle Mice inhaled the fumes, the green glow in their eyes faded, reced by a wild red gleam of rage.


    "Chii chii chii!!!"


    They let out high-pitched screeches, going berserk as they thrashed about, biting into rocks and smashing through the brush as if rabid.


    The moment they spotted the human soldiers of Iron Mountain, their frenzy only escted. They charged at the soldiers recklessly, as though driven by a primal hatred.


    The result was predictable¡ªone of the Eagle Mice was instantly sliced in half by a soldier''s de.


    Though these Eagle Mice didn''t cause a majormotion.


    Butthe Demon Lure Potionwas spreading fast. Slowly but surely, more and more monsters fell under its influence.


    The previously exhausted monsters suddenly seemed reinvigorated, as if injected with new life.


    Their assault on the Iron Mountain forces intensified with renewed frenzy.


    Even some of the deeper-dwelling monsters in Beast Forestbegan emerging from their hiding ces, drawn to the scent.


    Meanwhile, within the cavern that housed the Spatial Node, Tia, dressed in a long ck gown, was leading the followers of The Nightmare Cultin setting up a vast andplex ritual. The surrounding monsters paid no attention to them, as if they were invisible.


    The cavern was farrger than it appeared from the outside, easily the size of several football fields.


    Every inch of the cave walls and floor was covered in intricate and ancient runes, and the entire mountain surrounding the Spatial Node had been carved with borate Rune Craftingsigils.


    The Rune Craftingformations pulsed rhythmically, as if they were breathing, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura. At the center of the runes was a ck vortex, several meters wide.


    The vortex was deep and dark, like a wormhole, and seemed to harbor something terrifying within. Wisps of ck demonic energy leaked from it, intensifying the frenzy in the eyes of the surrounding monsters.


    Staring at the ck vortex, Tia narrowed her eyes and addressed the followers of The Nightmare Cult, "We have about six hours before the image of the Hydracan break through the node''s barrier. In these six hours, I will not tolerate any mistakes. If anything goes wrong, you''ll be feeding the monsters yourselves."


    A purple-cloaked deacon of The Nightmare Cult, standing nearby, bowed respectfully and replied, "You need not worry, Lady Tia. Everything is proceeding ording to your n. The strong ones from Riverfall Cityare all trapped inside the Blood-Sealing Formation. There''s no way they can reach Beast Forestwithin the next 24 hours."


    He continued, "Furthermore, the Iron Mountainforces are being held down by the monster horde, thanks in part to the efforts of Young Lord Matthew. Without the Demon Lure Potionhe and Freeman deployed, our operation wouldn''t have gone so smoothly."


    Tia smiled, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. "Then let us prepare to wee the arrival of the Demon Lord! When the Demon Lord descends, power, wealth, status, women¡ªanything you desire¡ªwill be yours! The Dark Gods are never stingy with their faithful."


    Hearing this, the cultists'' eyes burned with fanaticism.


    cing their left hands over the snake-shaped mark on their chests, they chanted fervently, "We shall give everything for the faith!!"


    Tia''s lips curved into a seductive smile, her face radiating an intoxicating charm.


    Just as she was about to speak again, the monsters inside the cave began to stir restlessly. Even the Elite and Leader-level monsters showed signs of agitation, while the others rose up and began charging toward the node''s exit.


    Tia frowned, ncing at the deacon beside her. "What''s happening outside?"


    The deacon looked just as confused, unsure why the monsters were suddenly reacting so intensely. He quickly ordered a scout to investigate.


    After a brief wait, the report came back.


    The deacon let out a sigh of relief and exined to Tia, "There''s no need for concern, Lady Tia. It''s just that Matthew and Freeman, frustrated by their inability to quickly deal with the Iron Mountainforces, used another dose of the Demon Lure Potion. That''s what''s causing themotion. Once the potion''s effects wear off, the monsters will return to normal."


    Tia frowned slightly.


    Those two fools, Matthew and Freeman, couldn''t even handle the Iron Mountainforces with the help of the Demon Lure Potionand the monster horde. Worse, their actions had agitated the monsters that were supposed to guard the node.


    If she had known it would turn out like this, she would have never entrusted the potion to Freeman. Perhaps she should have taken a different approach¡ªor even dealt with the situation herself.


    But now was not the time for regrets. Tia turned toward a massive tiger surrounded by mes within the cave and gave her order. "Crimson me Demon Tiger, you and the others go deal with those Iron Mountain soldiers. Finish them quickly."


    To everyone''s surprise, the Crimson me Demon Tiger, a Leader-ss monster, seemed to understand hermand. With a low growl, it led a group of Elite monsters out of the cave toward the battlefield.


    Meanwhile, back at the Iron Mountain camp, the soldiers were still unaware of the growing danger deep within Beast Forest.


    It didn''t take long after Cassman gave his order for someone to bring the Seven-Star Flowersto Luca. Surprisingly, they delivered five of them, showing just how well-stocked some of the soldiers in the Iron Mountain army were.


    Cassman, barely containing his excitement, asked, "We''ve got everything you need. Now it''s all up to you. How long do you need to brew that potion?"


    Without hesitation, Luca replied, "Ten minutes."


    "Ten minutes?!" Both Cassman and Catherine blinked in disbelief, thinking they must have misheard him.


    Cassman, still stunned, said, "If I''m not mistaken, you''re crafting a mid-tier potion, right?"


    Luca nodded, confirming it.


    Cassman took a sharp breath. This was the first time he''d ever heard of someone crafting a mid-tier potion in just ten minutes!


    Did Luca think mid-tier potions were as easy to make as a cup of tea?

 Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Skill Level Up, Time to Send Them Off!

    Catherine''s face disyed clear astonishment.


    She had long known that Luca possessed extraordinary talent and ability when it came to potion-making, but each time he demonstrated his skills, she couldn''t help but feel a renewed sense of awe.


    In Eternal Continent, there were plenty of professions such as healersor alchemists, but those who could truly elevate their potion-making abilities to a high level were extremely rare.


    This was evident in the entire Emerald State, where Franklin was the only Witch Doctor¡ªa testament to just how umon such talent was.


    And Luca? He wasn''t even eighteen yet, right?


    "No wonder Miss Sophia values you so highly," Cassman remarked, a bit emotional.


    A young prodigy like Luca, able to effortlessly craft mid-tier potions at such an age, would undoubtedly be a hotmodity among the major factions in the future. His potential was limitless.


    It wasn''t surprising that Sophia had invested so much attention in him from the start.


    Luca gave a somewhat awkward smile, not bothering to exin further.


    After all, how could he tell them that Sophia''s initial interest in him hadrgely been due to his maxed-out charm?


    Shaking off the thought, Luca''s hands glowed with a faint blue hue.


    He summoned his Witch Doctor''s Powerto begin crafting the Sobering Potion.


    He employed his usual method¡ªseemingly simple yet nerve-wrackingly precise.


    This time, however, the process was a bit more challenging. It wasn''t due to ack of experience.


    But because the materials required for the Sobering Potion were far more abundant andplex than what he had used for previous potions. His current skill level and mana reserves were being stretched thin.


    Fortunately, Luca had anticipated this. He popped mana-replenishing potions one after another while continuing his work.


    With Cassman, a wealthy mid-tier backer, providing supplies, Luca didn''t have to worry about running out of consumables¡ªhe could keep replenishing as much as needed.


    Watching this, Cassman winced, visibly pained by the constant expenditure.


    His face twitched as he muttered through gritted teeth, "You really don''t hold back on spending my money, do you?"


    Catherine couldn''t suppress a giggle from the side.


    Luca, engrossed in the process, pretended not to hear anything.


    Before long, a pool of pale golden liquid slowly formed and took shape in midair.


    At the same moment, a system notification appeared before Luca.


    [Ding! You have sessfully crafted the mid-tier potion "Sobering Potion"!]


    [Your skill "Witch Doctor''s Hand" has increased to lv4!]


    [Your skill "Potion Crafting" has increased to lv4!]


    Luca nced at the notifications, pleasantly surprised.


    His maxed-out aptitude really did make a difference¡ªit had allowed him to level up both his Witch Doctor''s Handand Potion Craftingmuch faster than expected.


    Going forward, brewing mid-tier potions would be significantly easier.


    Refocusing his attention, Luca bottled the Sobering Potioninto four vials and handed them to Cassman.


    Luca handed the potions to Cassman, cautioning, "With my current ability, four bottles are the most I can produce. To cover the entire monster horde, you''ll need to dilute them at a ratio of about 1:10."


    "Once diluted, find a way to spread the potion over the monsters. It will evaporate on its own, and that should calm them down."


    "I understand," Cassman replied, his expression serious. He carefully took the Sobering Potion,mitting every word of Luca''s instructions to memory.


    Catherine prepared to head to the front lines with Cassman, nning to deploy the potion ording to Luca''s instructions.


    Luca stretched and readied himself to make the trip back to Riverfall City.


    But just as they were about to part ways, all three of them suddenly froze, eyes locked on the direction of the monster horde.


    "ROAR!!!"


    The monsters, which had begun to show signs of fatigue, suddenly let out deafening roars andunched a renewed, frenzied assault on the Iron Mountain army''s defenses.


    Luca''s sharp eyes spotted several monsters that clearly stood out from the rest of the horde.


    Towering grizzly bearsover seven meters tall, ck eagleswith feathers like iron, and giant pythonsas thick as an adult''s waist.


    Six Elitemonsters in total, all radiating powerful auras and charging savagely at the Iron Mountain forces.


    Faced with this new onught, the Iron Mountain soldiers, who had barely been holding the line, were utterly overwhelmed. Within moments, the defensive perimeter was torn apart.


    Everyone was caught off guard by the sudden ferocity of the monsters'' counterattack, and chaos erupted as the soldiers scrambled to respond.


    At the same time, Luca caught a familiar scent of herbs in the air.


    His expression darkened, his eyes ring with a burst of killing intent.


    Demon Lure Potion¡ªagain!


    "That bastard Matthew! Does he even care about the consequences?!" Cassman growled, his voice barely able to contain his fury. He, too, recognized the source of the problem. The anger toward Matthew boiled inside him.


    If he wasn''t tied to the battlefield, he''d tear the guy apart himself.


    Luca, however, was much calmer. "We can''t let him continue this madness. If we don''t stop him, more monsters will be drawn to the area. You two keep using the Sobering Potionto suppress the monsters. I''ll find him and deal with this."


    The constant disruptions to their ns were starting to wear on Luca''s patience.


    Matthew, the city lord''s son, had be an unbearable nuisance.


    Luca had intended to handle things in Riverfall City before dealing with Matthew.


    But since the idiot was so eager to throw himself into danger, Luca would just have to grant him his wish.


    Cassman, while unsure of how Luca nned to find Matthew and Freeman.


    But hetrusted his strange abilities and didn''t question it.


    With a grave nod, Cassman said, "Leave that fool to you. Don''t kill him. Once we return, Sophia and the city lord will make sure he pays for this!"


    Cassman could sense the hint of killing intent in Luca''s words. As much as he wanted to see Matthew dead for his stupidity.


    Matthew''s status made itplicated. They couldn''t just kill him outright.


    Luca, now walking toward the forest.


    Hedidn''t look back. His voice, calm but resolute.


    Hedrifted over his shoulder. "If he''s smart enough, I''ll leave him alive."


    In the nearby forest, not far from the Iron Mountain camp.


    Freeman was tying thest dose of Demon Lure Potionto arge Eagle Mouse. He carefully controlled the creatures with a secret technique, sending them in the direction of the Iron Mountain soldiers.


    Matthew stood nearby, watching the chaos unfold from a distance.


    When he saw the monster horde go wild again and noticed that six Elite Monstershad broken through the Iron Mountain defenses, his face lit up with excitement.


    "This potion is incredible!" Matthew eximed, his voice full of glee. "It even attracted six Elite monsters! Iron Mountain''s defenses are broken¡ªthey''re finished this time!"


    Freeman smirked with pride. "Of course. The Demon Lure Potioncan attract even high-tier monsters. These low- and mid-tier ones don''t stand a chance."


    Both of them wore cold, satisfied smiles, believing their vengeance was finally within reach.


    With the six Elite monsters in the mix, they were sure even the Iron Mountain forces couldn''t survive.


    But what neither of them noticed something.


    Ayoung man with a spear, his expression icy, steadily approaching through the trees.


    Although Matthew and Freeman had been meticulous, using secret methods to cover their tracks and control the Eagle Micethat carried the potion.


    They never expected that Luca¡ªwell-versed in the properties of Demon Lure Potion¡ªwould be able to track the faint traces left by the creatures so easily.


    Luca hadn''t bothered to hide his approach, and soon enough, the guards posted nearby noticed him.


    They immediately tensed, raising their swords.


    One of the guards, his face stern with caution, called out, "Who are you? This area is restricted¡ªno one is allowed to enter!"


    They had strict orders from Matthew to let no one into the area, not even their own.


    Though the guards had intercepted Luca, they didn''t think much of it.


    After all, the bulk of their forces had remained at the base of the hill, with only two small squads assigned to guard Matthew and Freeman''s safety.


    The guards had no idea of the battle raging between the Iron Mountain forces and the monster horde, nor did they recognize Luca.


    Luca didn''t slow his pace, his voice calm as he said, "Move aside now, and I''ll spare your lives."


    His only targets were Matthew and Freeman; he had no intention of killing these guards, who likely weren''t even aware of the full situation.


    At Luca''s words, the guards were momentarily stunned, but soon burst intoughter.


    One of the guardsughed loudly, "Kid, I bet you''re not even a full-fledged professional yet. Do you have any idea who we are? The weakest among us is Bronze Grade!"


    Another guard chimed in, mocking, "This kid must be out of his mind! Run along back to your mommy. This is no ce for little children."


    Despite their taunts, Luca''s expression remainedpletely unchanged.


    He lifted his gaze toward them and repeated hismand, his tone utterly devoid of emotion.


    "I''ll say it onest time. Move¡ªor die."


    The Iron Mountain soldiers were locked in battle with the monster horde, and every minute lost meant more lives devoured by the monsters.


    Luca didn''t have time to waste on these men.


    At this point, themotion had drawn the attention of others.


    A squad of city guards approached, curious about the noise.


    They had initially assumed it might be a threat, but upon seeing it was just a lone youth, they rxed.


    "What''s going on? What''s all the fuss abou¡ª" The squad captain began to ask, but the moment heid eyes on Luca, his face drained of color.


    The captain''s eyes widened in shock. "You! How are you here?!"


    He had caught a glimpse of Luca during the earlier battle, watching the young man use Heavenly Thunder Purple Fireto decimate monsters. Though it had been brief, the image of Luca wielding such power had been burned into his memory.


    The squad captain couldn''t believe his luck¡ªor rather, his misfortune.


    Heencountering Luca here of all ces.


    Luca didn''t respond. His patience had run out.


    A golden rune began to glow in his hand.


    Several metal arrows materialized in the air behind him.


    Steel Magic Runes.


    The captain''s gut twisted with fear, and he shouted in panic, "Enemy attack! Stop him!"


    But before the other guards could even react, Luca''s thoughts triggered the arrows.


    The metal projectiles shot forward like lightning, cutting through the air with a sharp whistling sound.


    In the blink of an eye, the arrows hurtled toward the guards, leaving no time for escape.

 Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Killing You Like a Dog!

    "Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!!!"


    The sound of arrows piercing flesh rang out one after another, with blood and screams mingling in the air.


    Except for the squad leader and a few of his team members, all seven others present were hit by arrows.


    The sharp arrows shot straight through their bodies, and the sheer force even sent them flying backward.


    One by one, the squad members copsed to the ground, groaning in agony asrge pools of blood oozed from their wounds.


    They hadpletely lost the ability to fight.


    This was still Luca showing mercy, deliberately sparing their lives.


    If he had intended to kill them, not even their corpses would remain.


    "You¡­ you¡­" The squad leader''s expression was one of sheer terror, his heart trembling uncontrobly.


    This young man''s strength was far more terrifying than what he had previously witnessed!


    There were only about a dozen members of the squad present, and yet, in a single move, Luca had incapacitated seven of them!


    And these weren''t just random nobodies¡ªthey were Bronze Grade city guards!


    The remaining two guards were equally fearful.


    The way they looked at Luca was as if they were staring at a monster!


    How could this young man''s strength have reached such a terrifying level?


    Luca calmly put away the magic runes in his hand and said, "From now on, just pretend nothing happened here, and I''ll act like you don''t know anything. Otherwise, you know the consequences."


    After delivering this warning, he paid no further attention to their expressions. Grabbing his ck Steel Spear, he followed the tracks left by the eagle mouse, intending to deal with Matthew and Freeman¡ªthe instigators behind all this.


    It wasn''t until Luca disappeared into the forest that the squad leader and the remaining two guards exhaled in relief.


    Watching Luca''s figure fade into the woods.


    One of the guards hesitated before saying, "Boss, should we inform Young Master Matthew?"


    Another person also turned their gaze toward the squad leader, eyes filled with concern.


    If not for their duty, they truly didn''t want to make an enemy of Luca.


    Lucahad already shown mercy. If they pursued him further, who could guarantee he wouldn''t strike to kill?


    Just as the squad leader hesitated, a cold female voice suddenly rang out.


    She said icily, "Captain Kohler, for the sake of our past working rtionship, we can pretend you were unaware earlier. But if you continue to act as aplices to that scum, I will definitely report this to Riverfall City upon our return. I hope you understand the consequences."


    The squad members were all startled, turning their heads to look.


    Catherine, d in armor, was approaching slowly, her expression frosty.


    Behind her were Kaman and the rest of Catherine''s squad.


    At this moment, they were all ring at Kohler and his men, weapons tightly gripped in their hands.


    It seemed that if any of Kohler''s group made the slightest wrong move, they would strike.


    "So, you''re here too!" Captain Kohler''s face twisted with bitterness at the sight of Catherine and her team.


    He had thought Luca was acting alone, never expecting reinforcements.


    Catherine remained expressionless, her cold gaze fixed on him without a word.


    Kohler struggled internally, but finally, he sighed deeply.


    Nodding, he said, "I understand. I''ll take my men back to Riverfall City to treat their injuries."


    "That''s for the best," Catherine replied calmly.


    She then waved her hand, and Kaman and the others quickly moved to catch up with Luca.


    Once they were out of sight, the burly man who had earlier wanted to invite Luca for a drink, Lennard, clicked his tongue in amazement. "It seems Luca the Witch Doctor''s power has grown again. How long has it even been? He took down so many city guards just like that. This guy really is a freak of nature!"


    The rest of the squad agreed wholeheartedly.


    To avoid attacks from other teams, they hadn''t strayed far from Luca.


    Yet, in such a short span of time, half of the squad had been taken down by him!


    They remembered that when they first came to Beast Forest, Luca wasn''t this powerful.


    But in just a short time, he had grown strong enough to easily incapacitate seven or eight Bronze Grade professionals.


    They had also encountered other adventurers, and though their strength improved quickly as well, theirbat experience was severelycking. Compared to Luca, they were like two entirely different species.


    Admiration shone in Kaman''s eyes as he said, "It''s not just his strength¡ªLuca the Witch Doctor''s medical skills are incredible too!"


    Lennard agreed, "We really owe it to him this time. Without Luca, we wouldn''t have found Matthew so easily."


    The mention of Matthew darkened everyone''s expressions.


    Just thinking about what that bastard had done stirred an uncontroble fury in their hearts.


    Catherine tightened her grip on her spear, and it seemed like mes were burning in her eyes.


    She spoke coldly, "No matter what, we will make sure that bastard pays for his blood debt today!"


    Up ahead, Luca''s figure moved swiftly through the forest. Whenever he encountered city guards, he skillfully avoided them.


    For those he couldn''t avoid, he left them to Catherine and the others to handle.


    All along the way, they avoided causing too muchmotion.


    Following the tracks left by the eagle mouse, Luca soon spotted Matthew and Freeman.


    The two were sittingfortably in their camp, enthusiastically watching the Iron Mountain army battle against the monster horde in the distance.


    Nearby, someone had prepared pastries and tea for them.


    Matthew, looking pleased with himself, said, "Hahaha! As expected of Elite monsters, the Iron Mountain army doesn''t stand a chance against them. It won''t be long before those fools are all dead, eaten by the monsters!"


    Freeman sipped his tea contentedly and replied, "He''s just a brat. I''d like to see how Luca ns to deal with these monsters this time!"


    At that moment, Matthew seemed to notice something and let out a small sound of surprise.


    He asked, puzzled, "By the way, where did Luca disappear to? And Catherine and the others? Don''t tell me they deserted!"


    Freeman waved his hand dismissively. "Don''t worry about it. The Iron Mountain army is surrounded by monsters. If they try to break through, they won''t be able to do it quietly."


    "If they do manage to escape, that''s even better. We''ll be able to take care of them ourselves."


    Hearing this, Matthew rxed and burst into heartyughter. "I really have to thank you, Dr. Freeman. Once Luca is dead, you can be sure I''ll reward you well!"


    Freeman smiled too. "Not a problem, not a problem."


    Earning the favor of Celephais would surely ensure his bright future in Riverfall City.


    The two of them were engrossed in their conversation. Theyunaware something.


    The person they were discussing was now less than ten meters away.


    Not far off, Luca listened to their rampantughter and mockery, his gaze fixed on the smug smiles on their faces.


    He tightened his grip on the magic spear in his hand, a sh of icy, bone-chilling killing intent flickering in his eyes.


    "It seems the two of you hold quite a grudge against me," Luca sneered, as golden runes began to glow on his steel magic spear.


    Behind him, several metal arrows quickly took shape, their sharp tips gleaming with a cold, menacing light.


    The sudden icy voice made Matthew and Freeman, who had beenughing moments before, freeze in shock.


    When they turned around and saw Luca standing there, both of them shuddered in fear.


    "You! What are you doing here?!" Matthew sprang to his feet, his face filled with disbelief.


    He had never imagined Luca would appear here.


    Wasn''t this guy supposed to be fighting monsters on the battlefield? How did he find them?!


    Freeman''s eyes widened in astonishment as well, eximing, "I clearly used a secret technique to conceal us! How did you find this ce?!"


    Luca scoffed, "You dare unt that garbage secret technique in front of me?"


    He had no interest in wasting time with these two.


    Pointing his spear at them, the arrows behind him shot forward in unison.


    "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!!"


    One after another, the metal arrows whistled through the air like lightning, hurtling toward Matthew and Freeman.


    Neither of them was an agility-based fighter, and their reaction speed was much slower.


    Before they could even think of defending themselves, the steel magic rune arrows were already right in front of them.


    But to Luca''s surprise, just before the arrows made contact, they seemed to sink into an invisible quagmire, unable to move any further. Every single arrow was blocked.


    A pendant hanging from Matthew''s chest glowed with a bright green light, radiating powerful life energy.


    In front of the two of them, a green barrier had appeared.


    "A Life Protection Pendant? As expected of the city lord''s son, you really are loaded," Luca remarked with a chuckle.


    The Life Protection Pendant could instantly activate a mid-level life shield when its wearer was attacked, capable of defending against mid-tier assaults.


    On the ck market, this kind of item would easily sell for over 3,000 gold coins. It was in the same ss as Luca''s ck Gold Robe, showing just how deep Matthew''s pockets really were.


    Matthew''s face darkened at Luca''s taunt.


    He pulled a red crystal staff from his storage ring, fixing Luca with a murderous re. "I don''t know how you found us, but that doesn''t matter anymore!"


    "I was a bit disappointed I didn''t get to kill you myself earlier, but now you''ve walked right into my hands!"


    He sneered viciously. "Good, very good. Since you''re so eager to die, I''ll personally send you on your way!"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, the red crystal staff in Matthew''s hand red with a bright red light.


    The surrounding fire elemental energy rapidly gathered, forming a massive fireball over a meter in diameter in front of him!


    Pointing the staff at Luca, Matthew snarled, "You filthy peasant, die for me!"


    The fireball, as if receiving amand, shot toward Luca like a meteor!


    But Luca''s expression remained unchanged, even as the fireball hurtled toward him.


    "You still don''t understand your situation," Luca said, raising his magic spear. A blue light glowed on the back of his hand.


    Magic runes appeared, and the icy blue patterns quickly spread across his steel spear, forming a menacingnce, seemingly carved from ice itself, slowly taking shape in the air.


    The spearhead gleamed coldly in the sunlight, emanating a bone-chilling frost. The surrounding temperature plummeted instantly as the thick cold air radiated from it.


    Looking down at Matthew, Luca said calmly, "If I wanted to kill you, it would be as easy as ughtering a dog."

 Chapter 40: Chapter 40: You Only Know That Youre Going to Die

    Matthew''s face flushed with a mix of shame and anger.


    Just as he was about to retort, the ice spear behind Luca had already cut through the air in a blue streak.


    In the blink of an eye, it was right in front of the fireball!


    Under the astonished gazes of Matthew and Freeman, the two collided with a deafening roar!


    "Boom!!"


    The massive fireball burst like a balloon, shattering into countless sparks!


    The ice spear pierced through the fiery rain, its momentum undiminished, heading straight for Matthew''s head.


    "Bang!"


    The spear exploded right in front of him, the sheer force sending ripples through the life shield.


    Matthew and Freeman''s faces turned pale as they stared in disbelief.


    This kid''s attack could actually shake the life shield?!


    Matthew gasped, shocked, "How is this possible? You''re just a Bronze Grade Demonic Rune Mage! How could your skills be this powerful?!"


    The red runes on Luca''s magic spear began to glow once more.


    At Matthew''s words, Luca''s lips curled into a yful smirk. "Who told you rank equals power?"


    In the Eternal Continent, rank was never everything!


    ss, gear, skills, talent, and experience¡ªany of these could bridge the gap in strength that rank alone couldn''t.


    Most people simply didn''t have the talent or the ability to make up that difference.


    Unfortunately for Matthew and Freeman, Luca was one of the few who did.


    And in every aspect, he belonged to the very top tier.


    Killing enemies above his level was hardly a challenge for Luca.


    Behind him, mes coiled like serpents as he pointed his spear at the two, speaking calmly, "Don''t say I didn''t give you a chance. Kneel now, admit your mistakes, break both your arms, ande back to Riverfall City with me. I might just spare your lives."


    Since Luca had promised Freeman to give them a chance, he fully intended to keep his word.


    However, this offer only made Matthew and Freeman turn livid with rage.


    "Kneel and beg for mercy?" Matthewughed in disbelief.


    He had lived his whole life surrounded by ttery and sycophants.


    Now Luca was demanding he kneel and beg?


    Grinding his teeth, he spat, "Arrogant fool! With your abilities, I doubt you could even break my shield, yet you expect us to kneel and beg? You''re delusional!"


    Freeman added mockingly, "We may not be able to do anything to you, but just wait until the city guards arrive. Let''s see how cocky you are then!"


    After all, the life shield could hold for a full half-hour.


    That was plenty of time for other squads to notice something was wrong ande to their aid.


    When they arrived, Luca wouldn''t stand a chance¡ªhis death would be certain!


    "I''ve given you your chance, but if you don''t want to take it, that''s on you," Luca said, unfazed, even smiling.


    He had seen too many fools who couldn''t recognize their predicament until it was toote.


    Until they were truly driven to despair, they would always live in their own delusions.


    "In that case, you can die now!" A cold gleam shed in Luca''s eyes, and his voice became as frigid as ice.


    A surge of overwhelming killing intent radiated from him!


    In that moment, both Matthew and Freeman shuddered, terror shing in their eyes.


    It was as if they could faintly see something.


    What behind Luca¡ªa mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, with countless vengeful spirits wing their way toward them!


    Freeman was horrified.


    How could this kid have such intense bloodlust? How many people had he killed before?!


    At the same time, they saw a faint purple glow flicker across Luca''s body.


    This time, it wasn''t an illusion!


    Tiny arcs of lightning crackled around Luca, dancing in the air.


    Above them, the sky seemed to be brewing with a terrifying force.


    Realization dawned on Matthew and Freeman, their eyes widening in shock.


    Matthew''s lips trembled. "This¡­ this is!"


    Fear filled Freeman''s eyes as he muttered in disbelief, "Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire¡­ he really knows Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire?!"


    Earlier, they had thought the Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire Luca used on the battlefield was just a scroll or item. But now they realized Luca could truly wield the high-level skill Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire!


    "This guy¡­" Freeman opened his mouth, but no words came out.


    It felt like a dream.


    In all his years, Freeman had seen plenty of geniuses.


    But this was the first time he''d encountered someone capable of learning high-level skills above their rank!


    Freeman wasn''t the only one stunned¡ªMatthew was equally dumbfounded.


    He had been a Silver-grade mage for many years, yet he only knew a few mid-level spells.


    And here was Luca, the one he had always looked down on, already mastering a high-level skill?


    How could they possibly fight him now?!


    Luca didn''t give them a chance to beg for mercy.


    With a mere thought.


    The clouds in the sky seemed to freeze for a moment.


    "Boom!"


    Suddenly, a thunderous crack echoed through the air, and a bolt of lightning¡ªlike a massive silver serpent¡ªdescended from the heavens.


    With the might of a force that could split the earth, it surged down toward the two of them, amidst the shocked stares of everyone present!


    "Protect me, quick!" Matthew''s face twisted in fear. His first instinct wasn''t to grab his staff but to plead for Freeman''s help.


    Even their life shields couldn''t withstand a skill of such overwhelming power!


    Freeman was so enraged he almost cursed out loud.


    This guy, a mid-tier fire mage, was asking him, a healer, for protection? What kind ofbat ability did he expect from a healer?!


    But Freeman didn''t even have time toin.


    In a flurry of panic, he fumbled out several defensive items, activating them all in quick session.


    By now, the lightning from the sky was already roaring down toward them!


    "Boom!!"


    The violent thunderbolt struck with a deafening crash, and the life shield shattered almost instantly.


    The thunderous roar echoed throughout Beast Forest as soil and trees were sted in all directions.


    A fierce wind swept up, fanning the mes into the sky. In an instant, the raging purple fire engulfed both Freeman and Matthew.


    Catherine and the others, who had just arrived, stood frozen, staring at the inferno before Luca, unable to process what had just happened.


    Is it¡­ over?


    Had Luca already taken care of Matthew and Freeman in such a short time?!


    The group felt like they were in a dream.


    Suddenly, Kaman, with his sharp eyes, pointed at a spot in the mes, shouting angrily, "They''re not dead yet!"


    Everyone''s gaze followed his direction.


    Through the fire, severalyers of shattered shields could be seen in front of Freeman and Matthew.


    The ovepping shields had managed to block the brunt of the thunder and mes, keeping them from reaching the two men.


    Aside from their clothes being singed and looking a bit worse for wear, they appeared rtively unharmed.


    Staring at the cracked shields in front of them, Matthew and Freeman copsed onto the ground.


    Their faces had gone deathly pale, and their legs were trembling. If not for holding onto each other, they would have likely copsed entirely.


    If Freeman hadn''t managed to activate several low- and mid-tier shields in the nick of time, they probably wouldn''t have even had ashes left!


    A chilling fear took hold of both Matthew and Freeman.


    Was this guy really a low-tier mage?


    That level of damage was terrifying!


    "You survived?" Luca muttered in surprise. These two really had a lot of defensive items on them.


    But to him, this only meant he''d have to put in a bit more effort.


    A silver magic rune lit up beneath Luca''s feet, and in the next instant, his figure vanished from sight.


    Air Step!


    Matthew and Freeman barely had time to register a dark blur.


    Then Luca appeared in front of them. Hemoving so fast that they couldn''t even react.


    Luca''s magic spear rose, the red runes ring to life, his movements seamless and fluid.


    Without hesitation, he thrust the spear forward, aiming straight for Matthew''s head!


    He intended to finish this with a single, fatal strike!


    Matthew felt an overwhelming shadow of death engulf him.


    Fear surged within him like a tidal wave, almost drowning his reason entirely.


    In that moment, Matthew acted on pure instinct.


    He grabbed the still-stunned Freeman and shoved him in front of himself as a shield.


    "You!" Freeman''s eyes widened in shock. He never expected Matthew to pull such a stunt.


    Before he could even react, Luca''s spear was already upon him.


    Seeing the spearhead mere inches from his face, Freeman mentally cursed Matthew and his entire family in that instant.


    He never imagined he''d meet his end at the hands of this fool!


    "Thwack!"


    Under everyone''s watchful gaze, Luca''s spear pierced straight through Freeman''s skull.


    The fire power imbued in the magic runes caused Freeman''s head to explode like a watermelon.


    Blood and other unidentifiable matter sttered across Matthew''s face.


    But Matthew had no time to wipe it off. In a panic, he scrambled away from Luca and frantically pulled a silver talisman from his Storage Ring, ready to activate it with a desperate grip.


    It was a Spatial Teleportation Talisman! Once used, it could teleport the user to any location within a thousand meters.


    "Luca Witch Doctor! Don''t let him use the teleport talisman!" Catherine shouted urgently.


    Beast Forest was vast¡ªif Matthew managed to teleport, finding him again would be nearly impossible.


    A cold gleam flickered in Luca''s eyes. He had no intention of letting Matthew escape.


    The silver magic runes at his feet pulsed as he vanished once more, reappearing instantly beside Matthew. His spear shot forward like lightning!


    Blood sprayed through the air in a heartbeat!


    "Ahhhhh!!" Matthew''s agonized screams echoed throughout Beast Forest.


    Luca''s spear had pierced directly through Matthew''s hand, causing him to drop the Spatial Teleportation Talisman.


    "My talisman! My teleport talisman!" Matthew cried in a frenzy, desperately trying to retrieve it. But just as his hand reached out, Luca kicked him viciously, sending him flying several meters.


    Matthew''s body crashed hard into a tree, the force making him feel like his internal organs had shifted out of ce.


    "Ugh!"


    He coughed up a mouthful of blood, nearly fainting from the pain.


    Catherine hesitated before speaking, "Luca Witch Doctor, don''t kill him. Let me take him back to the city lord and Lady Sophia. They''ll make sure everyone gets justice."


    Luca''s expression remained indifferent as he continued walking forward,pletely ignoring her words.


    Some people sealed their fate the moment theymitted certain actions.


    As Luca approached, spear in hand, Matthew''s eyes filled with terror.


    Holding his stomach, pale-faced, he weakly pleaded, "I know I was wrong¡­ please¡­ spare me this time¡­ whatever you want¡­ I can give it to you¡­"


    Luca paused, raising his spear as he looked down at Matthew.


    His voice was calm as he said, "You don''t realize you were wrong¡ªyou just know you''re about to die."


    With those words, Luca''s spear plunged forward.


    A sh of silver light cut through the air!


    Matthew''s neck was pierced cleanly by Luca''s spear!


    Blood gushed from Matthew''s mouth, and the fear and regret in his eyes overflowed as he realized his fate.


    He had never imagined, even in his worst nightmares, that he would die at the hands of someone he had once considered a nobody.

 Chapter 41: Chapter 41: If You Don’t Know the Solution, Why Bother Talking!

    Looking at Matthew''s corpse pinned to the tree.


    Catherine and the others still felt a sense of disbelief.


    Matthew was dead?


    Although they had all wanted to kill that bastard Matthew themselves, they were fully aware of the consequences.


    If Matthew died at their hands, Lord Rudolph wouldn''t let the matter rest, and things would only get worse. The best option had been to hand him over to Sophia to deal with.


    Yet Luca had gone ahead and killed him!


    Catherine walked over with aplicated expression, sighing, "You acted too rashly this time. Lord Rudolph only has Matthew as a son, and his mother, Lady Lina, is from the Franco family of Southwind City."


    "Also, Freeman''s brother Curtis is somewhat well-known in the Southern Territory. You''ve killed both of them, and the people behind them definitely won''t let you off easily."


    Kaman and Lennard nodded in agreement. While Luca''s actions were satisfying, Rudolph and Lady Lina wouldn''t let this go.


    Especially since the Franco family was a prominent n in Southwind City.


    They havea Diamond-level warrior in their ranks. Not even Lady Sophia could restrain such power.


    Luca''s killing of Matthew was bound to have serious repercussions.


    However, Luca didn''t seem bothered by their concerns.


    He casually removed the Storage Rings and gear from Matthew and Freeman''s bodies, then turned to the others with a smile. "Rx, a mere Diamond-level family can''t touch me."


    Though Luca wasn''t someone who sought trouble, he had never been one to fear it either.


    The Franco family? A Diamond-level family was nothing special.


    In his past life, he had wiped out countless families like theirs.


    Even though his current strength hadn''t reached its peak yet, he wasn''t someone they could push around.


    With his talent, once it was revealed, there would be countless factions vying for him. At that point, the Franco family, with just one Diamond-level warrior, would be the least of his worries. Even if they had an Earth-level warrior, he still wouldn''t be afraid.


    The others clearly didn''t understand Luca''s mindset, and could only exchange helpless smiles.


    Theythinking Luca just didn''t grasp how terrifying high-level warriors were.


    After all, in the entire Emerald State, there was only one Diamond-level warrior!


    Catherine sighed inwardly.


    There was no use talking about it now.


    All she could hope was that Lady Sophia would help Luca deal with the aftermath when they reported this to her.


    Meanwhile, Luca had finished inventorying all the gear and items from Matthew and Freeman''s bodies.


    It was quite the haul!


    Looking at therge pile of equipment and materials before him, a smile crept onto Luca''s face.


    Indeed, there''s nothing more lucrative than looting after a kill!


    From Matthew alone, he had gained two pieces of Silver-grade equipment, three mid-tier items, and six low-tier items.


    The Life Protection Pendant had been damaged, which was a bit of a shame, but Luca had managed to acquire two high-level items in return.


    The Spatial Teleportation Talisman and Fire Essence.


    Luca already had a Spatial Teleportation Talisman, but he could never have too many of these life-saving items.


    The Fire Essence, much like an elemental potion, was a consumable that could boost one''s strength. After use, it would enhance fire element damage and fire affinity, with a chance to mutate fire-based skills.


    Although it wasn''t particrly useful for Luca, it was a top-tier item for fire mages.


    Plus, since Luca hadn''t yet decided on his second Secondary Profession, he might still find a use for it.


    If not, he could always trade it at the guild for high-level materials to craft his first permanent magic rune.


    As for the two pieces of Silver-grade equipment, they were the zing Crystal Staffand Mana Loop Bracelet.


    [zing Crystal Staff: Silver-grade equipment, usable at lv. 20. Grants +260 Magic Attack, +90 Spirit, +15% fire skill damage, and reduces fire skill cooldown by 10%.]


    [Mana Loop Bracelet: Silver-grade equipment, usable at lv. 20. Grants +75 Spirit, +500 Mana, and +50% mana regeneration speed.]


    Both items were Silver-grade mage gear. Luca would be able to use the Mana Loop Bracelet once he leveled up.


    But the zing Crystal Staff wasn''t an option for him. As a Demonic Rune Mage, he could only wield spears, so he''d have to sell it.


    Freeman didn''t have as many valuable items on him, mostly mid- and low-tier materials.


    Fortunately, were just what Luca needed.


    Recently, he had been nning to level up his rune-drawing skills, which required a huge amount of materials.


    Freeman''s stash came at the perfect time.


    In addition to all of this, Luca also found 2,057 gold coins on the two of them.


    Combined with the 2,144 coins he already had, he now had a total of 4,200 gold coins¡ªenough to buy a decent piece of Gold-grade equipment or arge supply of mid-tier materials.


    While high-tier materials were still beyond his budget.


    But it was more than enough to level up his magic rune-drawing skills.


    What excited Luca the most was discovering a high-tier material on Freeman!


    Purified Water Flower, a rare material with petals like crystal, shimmering with a pale blue hue. It only grew near special spiritual springs and was incredibly scarce.


    "Didn''t expect to find this so soon," Luca thought, his eyes lighting up with joy.


    With the Fire Essence included, he now had three high-tier materials in total.


    He only needed two more toplete the set for drawing the Hydra Magic Runes.


    Of course, he still had to acquire materials from the Hydra itself.


    Even a mirrored avatar of a Hydra-ss monster would drop rare materials upon defeat.


    Right now, his top priority was to head back to the city for reinforcements, bringing in high-level fighters to deal with the Hydra.


    And while he was at it, he couldplete the task Cassman had assigned him.


    After they defeated the Hydra''s avatar, with the help of his two mentors and Sophia.


    It would be much easier for Luca to acquire the Hydra''s dropped materials.


    With that thought in mind, Luca packed everything away.


    By this time, Catherine and the others had finished dealing with the bodies of Matthew and Freeman.


    Though it felt a bit like covering up what was already obvious, they couldn''t help but do it.


    After all, even though they hadn''t caused too much of a scene on their way here, several guards had seen them. Now, with Matthew and Freeman suddenly missing, it wouldn''t take much for anyone to figure out what had happened to them.


    Still, leaving the scene without cleaning it up left everyone uneasy.


    So they decided to destroy the evidencepletely, ensuring Matthew and Freeman''s bodies were eliminated.


    Seeing Luca finish packing everything, Catherine approached and asked, "Should we head back to report this to the Iron Mountain army, or go straight to Riverfall City for reinforcements?"


    After witnessing Luca''s skills firsthand, Catherine had developed a great deal of respect for his abilities.


    Even though he looked about the same age as her younger brother.


    Buthis capabilities far surpassed many mid-tier professionals.


    Luca thought for a moment before asking, "What''s the situation with the Iron Mountain army now?"


    While Luca knew the sobering potion was effective, he wasn''t entirely sure how well it worked.


    Hegiven that the lure potion was a high-tier item, and the sobering potion was only mid-tier.


    Hearing Luca''s question, Catherine and the others exchanged smiles.


    Catherine replied, "I had Lennard check earlier. Your potion is working. The monster horde''s attack has slowed down, though the Elite monsters are still a problem. But Captain Cassman has them under control."


    Lennardughed heartily, adding, "After using Luca Witch Doctor''s potion, those monsters are behaving like scared little kids. We won''t need to worry about them for a while."


    Luca sighed in relief. The scariest part of a monster horde was always the low-tier monsters.


    As long as those settled down, Cassman wouldn''t need much time to handle the few Elite monsters.


    With this, Luca made up his mind.


    "We''re heading straight to Riverfall City for reinforcements!" he said firmly.


    The sobering potion was only mid-tier¡ªit wouldn''t hold off the monsters for long.


    The Hydra could emerge at any moment.


    They had to return quickly and bring reinforcements from Riverfall City to deal with these monsters.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the council chamber of Riverfall City.


    Lucia, Franklin, and several other high-ranking figures were studying the Blood-Sealing Formation.


    Bayou, the head of the Adventurers'' Guild, squatted on the floor, tugging at his snowy white beard, muttering in frustration, "It shouldn''t be like this. The method I used should have had some effect at least. How could it have done nothing at all?"


    Beside him, Franklin sneered, "Bayou, you really are regressing with age. You''ve been trying to break this formation for so long, and you still dare to call yourself the most knowledgeable person in Riverfall City?"


    Bayou was already irritated by the Blood-Sealing Formation.


    And Franklin''s mockery only made his temper re.


    His hair practically stood on end as he red at Franklin."Franklin, you old fossil! If you''re so capable, why don''t you try it?"


    Bayou snapped angrily. "This is a high-level secret formation, something most people would have no clue how to break. If I had any other options, I wouldn''t be wasting my time on this!"


    Franklin snorted, "If I could break the formation, I''d have done it already. Do you think I''d sit here watching you make a fool of yourself?"


    "Then if you can''t, why the hell are you talking?!" Bayou shouted, his face turning the color of liver as he roared in frustration.


    Lucia rubbed her temples, sighing in exasperation. "You two have been bickering non-stop since this started. Could you just stop for a minute? There''s a battle going on outside, remember?"


    Kurk, the city lord of Redwind City, was lounging nearby, casually munching on fruit. He shrugged and said, "President Lucia, the problem is this secret formation can''t be broken. Even if the sky were falling outside, we''d still be stuck here waiting."


    Lucia let out another sigh.


    Though she had studied many secret techniques, breaking them was not her strong suit.


    Rudolph, observing everyone from the shadows, took note of their helpless expressions and smirked inwardly.


    He smiled in his mind.


    Fools. This formation had been personally set by Lady Tia.


    Did they really think they could break it with their paltry knowledge of secret techniques? What a ridiculous notion!

 Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Dead City!

    Sophia sighed, her eyebrows knitted in frustration. "I wonder what''s happening outside now."


    She gazed out the window, her eyes filled with unshakable worry.


    The longer this dragged on, the more Iron Mountain soldiers would die, and the situation in Beast Forest would spiral further out of control.


    Yet here they were, trapped inside this Blood-Sealing Formation, unable to do anything at all.


    What made it worse was that they still didn''t know who was behind all this.


    That was what troubled Sophia the most.


    An enemy hidden in the shadows, whose identity and motives remained unknown.


    It was terrifying to think about. How could they even begin to counter such an opponent?


    Staring at the formation that had left a group of high-tier warriors utterly helpless.


    Sophia felt a wave of powerlessness wash over her. Were they really just going to sit here and watch the enemy''s n unfold? Would they have to stand by as the enemy wreaked havoc in Riverfall City and Beast Forest?


    For some reason, Luca''s face suddenly shed in her mind.


    That guy had a remarkable talent for secret techniques, managing to learn advanced sealing magic in just a few days.


    If he were here, perhaps he could offer some help.


    But then she shook her head, mocking herself for such a thought.


    Luca was just a Bronze Grade professional¡ªwhat help could he really provide, no matter how talented?


    ...


    At the same time, near the gates of Riverfall City.


    Catherine, Luca, and the others had rushed back from Beast Forest at top speed.


    As soon as they passed through the city gates, they immediately noticed something unusual about the city.


    The once-bustling streets were now eerily empty¡ªnot a single person in sight.


    "Where did everyone go?" Kaman scratched his head in confusion as he looked at the deserted streets.


    "Stay sharp. Something''s off," Luca said, frowning deeply.


    He could sense something wasn''t right.


    No matter what was happening outside, there should still have been people in the city.


    At the very least, the city guards should still have been around.


    But there wasn''t a trace of life in Riverfall City now.


    The whole city was deathly quiet, like a ghost town.


    Even the street vendors had vanished, their stalls closed and shops shut tight.


    It was clear that something had gone very wrong.


    Catherine had also noticed the strange atmosphere in the city, her expression growing tense. She turned to the group and said in a serious tone, "I''ll take Lennard and the others to check things out. You and Luca Witch Doctor stay here and wait."


    Before anyone could respond, Luca immediately refused. "We go together. Something''s definitely happened here. If we split up, we''ll just be walking into danger."


    The situation in Riverfall City was different from Beast Forest; they had no idea what had happened here.


    Splitting up would only increase the danger, and if something went wrong, the others wouldn''t have time toe to their aid.


    After considering Luca''s suggestion, the group agreed it made sense.


    They all decided to stick together and investigate Riverfall City as one unit.


    However, the deeper they investigated, the more unsettling the situation became.


    No one. There wasn''t a single person in sight!


    It was as if the entire city had truly be a dead zone¡ªthere wasn''t a single living soul to be found.


    Even the usual rowdy yers who popted the streets hadpletely vanished.


    "What in the world is going on?" Lennard''s eyes were wide with shock.


    Riverfall City was home to hundreds of thousands of people.


    Yet now, everyst one of them had seemingly vanished into thin air.


    It was unbelievable!


    The others felt the same creeping fear.


    Could it be that all these people¡­ were dead?


    That chilling thought made their spines tingle.


    Each of them shivered, unable to let the idea settle in their minds.


    At that moment, out of the corner of Luca''s eye, he noticed a familiar small figure hiding in a corner of the street.


    This person had gray hair and a short stature, peeking nervously out from an alley.


    If not for Luca''s sharp eyesight, he might have missed them entirely.


    It was none other than Old Carl, the front desk clerk from the Mages'' Association.


    Luca''s eyes lit up as he shouted, "Old Carl?!"


    The sudden shout startled Carl, causing him to flinch in fear.


    Panic-stricken, he didn''t even dare look back and instinctively bolted, trying to escape.


    "Catch him!" Luca yelled quickly.


    Old Carl might be their only chance to find out what had happened here, and they couldn''t afford to let him get away.


    Kaman and the others quickly caught on.


    Having finally spotted a living person, there was no way they''d let him slip away so easily.


    Catherine led the charge, moving like lightning as she rushed after him.


    Surprisingly, the frail-looking Old Carl revealed mid-tier strength, his speed astonishing. Catherine, despite her quick reflexes, struggled to catch him.


    "A rogue?" Luca raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    He wasn''t shocked by Carl''s strength.


    The Mages'' Association was full of hidden talents, so having a mid-tier professional wasn''t unexpected.


    What did surprise him was that Carl, who worked at the Mages'' Association, turned out to be a rogue by profession.


    It left Luca a little speechless.


    Shaking his head, Luca activated a silver magic rune underfoot, using his Air Step technique.


    His figure vanished in an instant, flickering several times through the air.


    Within the blink of an eye, he appeared right beside Old Carl.


    "Well, well, old man, you sure can run fast!" Luca chuckled.


    Old Carl turned around and saw Luca''s smiling face, nearly fainting from fear.


    "A ghost!" he screamed in despair, his short legs pumping even faster.


    "Get back here!" Luca didn''t give him a chance to escape.


    He grabbed Old Carl by the shoulder and tossed him over to Catherine.


    With swift precision, Catherine pinned the old man to the ground.


    No matter how much he struggled, he couldn''t break free.


    Old Carl was both furious and devastated, shouting, "You Nightmare Cult scum! Lapdogs of the Abyssal Demon Realm! I, Old Carl, would rather die than submit to you!"


    His words made everyone''s faces change.


    "The Nightmare Cult?!" Catherine eximed, her eyes wide in shock.


    Although the Nightmare Cult had only emerged in recent years, its following had grown rapidly, thanks to their philosophy of Dreams Eternal. They now ranked among the most notorious cults in the Eternal Continent.


    No one expected to hear their name in this context.


    Luca''s eyes narrowed sharply.


    The Nightmare Cult¡ªa name all too familiar to him from the future.


    Their insidious methods of bewitching people through nightmares had gained a terrifying grip during the hellish apocalypse. Ordinary people found the promise of eternal dreams irresistibly tempting, and the cult''s twisted doctrines lured countless followers.


    In fact, more humans joined the Nightmare Cult than any other race.


    What Luca hadn''t anticipated was encountering traces of the cult here, now.


    "So, the Nightmare Cult had already begun making moves at this point," Luca thought, his gaze flickering with understanding.


    It now made sense why he had found a Nightmare Parasite on Lady Lenna.


    At first, he assumed it had escaped from the Abyssal Node.


    But now he realized the Nightmare Cult had deliberately nted it on her.


    The real question was: What were they trying to achieve in Riverfall City?


    Lost in thought, Luca nced at Old Carl, who was still struggling like a madman. With a frown, he pped him twice across the face.


    "We''re not from the Nightmare Cult! We''re alive, see for yourself!" Luca said, his voice stern.


    The ps seemed to bring Old Carl back to his senses.


    He shuddered, his eyes wide as he looked at the group. "You''re really alive?"


    No one spoke, but Luca raised his hand again.


    Prompting Old Carl to nod furiously."I believe you! I believe you''re alive!" he stammered in a panic.


    Luca''s lips twitched¡ªthis old man certainly knew when to give in.


    "All right then," Luca said. "Tell us what happened in Riverfall City. How did the Nightmare Cult get involved, and where did everyone go?"


    Upon hearing Luca''s question, Old Carl''s eyes reddened, and he began to wail, "Everyone in Riverfall City has been bewitched by the Nightmare! They''re all trapped in their own nightmares now. Miss Sophia and the others are stuck inside the Blood-Sealing Formation and can''t get out. Meanwhile, the monster horde in Beast Forest is rampaging out of control. Riverfall City is doomed!"


    Old Carl cried with snot and tears streaming down his face, a pitiful sight.


    But no one paid him much attention. Catherine and the others stood frozen, their minds reeling from the shock.


    They had only been gone to Beast Forest for two days.


    Yet, in such a short time, so much had happened in Riverfall City.


    "So that''s what''s been going on!" Luca finally understood.


    No wonder there had been no word or movement from Riverfall City''s powerful figures.


    Sophia and her team were trapped by a forbidden magic, and everyone else had been pulled into nightmares by the Nightmare Cult.


    With most of the yers and forces from Emerald State in Beast Forest, it was no wonder the city had been so eerily silent.


    Catherine, now filled with urgency, asked, "Where is everyone now? We searched before, but we couldn''t find any trace of them. And if everyone else has fallen into nightmares, how are you unaffected? Where are the Nightmare Cult members?"


    The flurry of questions left Old Carl dazed and confused. It took him a moment to respond.


    Especially as Luca raised his hand again.


    Heprompting Carl to speak faster."We weren''t in Riverfall City when it happened, so we weren''t affected. We moved everyone we could to the Mages'' Association¡ªthere''s a protective magic there that keeps it safe. As for the Nightmare Cultists, they spread the Nightmare and then went to Beast Forest,"


    Old Carl exined hurriedly.Everyone''s faces grew darker at this.


    The Nightmare Cult had gone to Beast Forest?


    "What are they doing in Beast Forest?" Catherine asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.


    Old Carl shook his head. "I don''t know. I came out to find food."


    Luca''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    A thought began to take shape in his mind.


    Could these dream-dwelling pests be nning to release the Lord of Nightmares, Jormungandr, under the cover of all this chaos?

 Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Nightmare Cults Plan! A Second-Modified Forbidden Magic!

    Luca''s suspicions weren''t baseless.


    The Nightmare Cult worshiped the Abyssal Demon Lord, who was none other than the Lord of Nightmares, Jormungandr.


    If Luca''s memory from his past life served him right, the second demon lord to descend into the real world was also Jormungandr.


    The King of Rage, Hydra, had been the first.


    That''s why Hydra was known as the First Demon Lord.


    Luca couldn''t believe that the Nightmare Cult''s presence in Riverfall City, along with their borate scheme to trap all the city''s strongest warriors, was solely to help Hydra descend.


    Their ns were undoubtedly grand, and helping Hydra descend might only be a secondary goal.


    Their primary objective was likely to take advantage of the chaos and bring forth their Lord of Nightmares.


    There was no other reason they would go to such lengths.


    Why else would they drag the entire poption of Riverfall City into a nightmare?


    This served no purpose for them or Hydra.


    Unless they intended to prepare a feast for Jormungandr after its descent.


    At that moment, the fog of uncertainty in Luca''s mind began to clear.


    There were still some unanswered questions, like who had nted the Nightmare Parasite on Lady Lenna.


    Or how these people had silently pulled an entire city into their dreamscape.


    But Luca was starting to piece things together.


    Narrowing his eyes.


    He was confident that soon he would be able to confirm his theory.


    Just then, Catherine spoke to him with concern, "The Nightmare Cult must have already set their ns in motion. These people are up to no good. What do you think we should do next?"


    This time, Catherine seemed genuinely uncertain.


    The stakes were high, and a single mistake could lead to countless deaths. They had to proceed with caution.


    Luca didn''t hesitate much and responded, "We go to the city lord''s mansion and rescue Lady Sophia and the others. Let them handle the rest. Why should a group of nobodies like us go all out?"


    Everyone couldn''t help but grimace at Luca''s blunt remark.


    Old Carl, unable to hold back, muttered, "Easier said than done. The ce is sealed with a forbidden spell. I checked it out earlier¡ªit''s at least a high-level one. It''s not something you can break easily."


    Luca grinned, "Rx, that''s why I''m here."


    The group stared at him in shock. "You can break the spell?"


    "No," Luca replied, shrugging, "or at least, I''m not sure yet. I''ll have to see it first. Every forbidden spell has a different solution. Until I know what kind of spell it is, I can''t promise anything."


    The Nightmare Cult only had a few types of forbidden sealing spells, all of which Luca had encountered and broken in his past life.


    If luck was on his side, there was a high chance he could break this one in a short amount of time.


    The reason he wasn''tpletely certain was that he hadn''t chosen the profession of Rune Master and didn''t have ess to the ss-specific skill, Rune Mastery. So, he''d have to rely on luck.


    Fortunately, breaking formations was more about using your brain than relying on skills. If it were entirely skill-based, there''d be nothing he could do.


    Whatever the case, he''d give it a shot and leave the rest to fate.


    Hearing Luca''s response, Catherine and the others let out a collective sigh of relief.


    Even though they hadn''t known Luca for long, they understood he wasn''t someone who made empty boasts.


    Plus, they had seen firsthand his many unexpected abilities during their time together.


    Now that Luca had said he had a way, they felt a strange sense of reassurance.


    "Let''s head to the city lord''s mansion right away!" Catherine dered.


    If they could break the formation and free the trapped warriors.


    Then the rest would be much easier to handle. At the very least, it would be off their shoulders.


    Old Carl, on the other hand, looked doubtful.


    He didn''t fully trust Luca''s ims.


    But there were no other options left.


    Letting Luca try was still better than sitting here waiting for the worst.


    Following Old Carl''s lead, they quickly arrived at the city lord''s mansion.


    Even from a distance, Luca could see the blood-red barrier hovering over the council chamber.


    The red runes glowed as they flowed around the shield, making it impossible to see inside.


    Luca narrowed his eyes. "A Blood-Sealing Formation? The Nightmare Cult really pulled out all the stops."


    Setting up such a formation required multiple high-tier materials, including the heart''s blood of a high-ranking lord monster.


    These items couldn''t be gathered in a short time.


    It was clear the Nightmare Cult had been preparing for this day for a long while.


    The city guards had been moved to the Mages'' Association for protection, so the group entered the mansion without any resistance. Guided by Old Carl, they made their way through the corridors until they reached the council chamber.


    A blood-red barrierpletely enveloped the room.


    With the formation in ce, they couldn''t see or hear anything from inside.


    "Do you think you can break it?" Catherine asked Luca hopefully.


    Luca didn''t respond immediately.


    He carefully examined the runes on the Blood-Sealing Formation.


    He reached out, preparing to touch it.


    Old Carl quickly moved to stop him, warning, "Be careful! This formation has a defensive mechanism. One of the soldiers touched it earlier and got knocked out. He still hasn''t woken up."


    Luca waved off the concern and ced his hand on the barrier anyway.


    To everyone''s surprise, Luca didn''t trigger the defensive mechanism of the Blood-Sealing Formation.


    His hand rested on the barrier without causing any disturbance, leaving Old Carl dumbfounded.


    That wasn''t what he had seen before!


    Could this kid actually have the ability to break a high-level secret formation?


    A glimmer of hope shed in Old Carl''s eyes as he watched Luca.


    Maybe he could really pull this off.


    Luca, however, paid no attention to their gazes.


    Feeling the intricate runes of the Blood-Sealing Formation, his eyes lit up with interest. He murmured, "I see now, so it''s a second-modified Blood-Sealing Formation."


    Improving a high-level forbidden formation like this required deep mastery of runes, something only top-tier Rune Masters could achieve. Who would''ve thought that the Nightmare Cult had someone that skilled?


    Luca withdrew his hand, a faint smile ying on his lips.


    He wanted to see if, with his current abilities, he could break through this secondyer of forbidden magic.


    Maybe, he could even pick up a few new tricks in the process.


    With that thought, Luca turned to the others and instructed, "Get me some materials."


    Catherine, Old Carl, and the rest perked up at his words, hope filling their hearts.


    They quickly noted down the list of materials Luca provided, eager to help.


    Meanwhile, inside the council chamber, the people trapped within had noticed the group''s arrival outside.


    Kurk, the city lord of Redwind City, was munching on grapes when he spotted Luca and the others.


    Seeing their actions, he immediately guessed what they were trying to do.


    He sneered, "Who''s this kid? Doesn''t he know his limits? Trying to break the Blood-Sealing Formation?"


    Bayou nced over and sighed, "It''s pointless. If even I couldn''t break it, what chance does this youngd have? We should be preparing for what happens when the formation eventually fades."


    Franklin, whose view was blocked, hadn''t noticed Luca yet.


    Scoffing, he added, "With your level of skill, you should stop showing off. My student is probably better than you."


    Bayou''s face turned red with fury, his beard bristling as he shot back, "You old fool! Are you trying to pick a fight? I paid you back those gold coins ages ago. What''s your problem?!"


    Franklin mmed his hand on the table. "It wasn''t just a few coins¡ªit was 12 gold and 7 silver! And you owed me for five years. Do you know how much interest I lost by not keeping that in the bank?"


    Bayou, now livid, roared, "I gave you 100 gold, you dog!"


    Their bickering drew the attention of everyone in the room.


    When Sophia and Lucia saw Luca outside, they were stunned.


    "He actually made it here!" Sophia murmured in disbelief.


    Sophia had only briefly wondered if Luca might return, but she hadn''t expected him to actually rush back from Beast Forest to Riverfall City.


    "He probably realized something was wrong here and came back to check," Lucia added, also a bit surprised, but she quickly smiled as she put the pieces together.


    Hearing herment, Franklin, who had been in the middle of a heated rant, paused.


    When he saw Luca, his eyes lit up, and he burst into a proudugh."Haha! That''s my clever student, immediately noticing something''s off! No surprise, he''s a student of Franklin!" he boomed, delighted.


    Seeing the identical expressions of pride on both Lucia and Franklin''s faces.


    Bayou was taken aback."What do you two mean? That kid''s your student?!" he asked, confused.


    When they both nodded, Bayou was stunned.


    Franklin and Lucia were high-ranking powerhouses. To be a student of just one of them was an incredible stroke of luck, but to be a student of both?


    This kid''s luck was extraordinary!


    Bright suddenly recalled something and spoke up in surprise. "Wait a minute, isn''t this the guy Miss Sophia mentioned, the one who uncovered the Abyssal Demon Realm agents?"


    Sophia nodded slightly. "That''s right. His name is Luca, and he''s my junior."


    Everyone''s expressions became a mix of surprise and amusement.


    It finally dawned on them.


    The person Sophia had spoken of earlier was Franklin and Lucia''s student.


    Now they also understood why Franklin had been giving Bayou and Kurk such a hard time.


    The old man had been sticking up for his student all along!


    Realizing this, both Bayou and Kurk couldn''t help but feel exasperated and amused.


    Bayou sighed, "All this fuss just because we said a few bad words about your student? Isn''t that a bit petty?"


    Franklin sneered, "I''ve only ever taken on one student in my life, so yeah, I''m going to be a little petty."


    Everyone''s lips twitched.


    Only Franklincan say theseshameless response.


    Bayou huffed in annoyance. "So what if he''s your student? Acting like high-level forbidden magic is no big deal¡ªhe''s bound to run into trouble!"


    Franklin rolled his eyes. "Even if my student can''t break the spell, he''ll still get more done than you, you old fool, who''s been fussing over it for ages and hasn''t aplished a thing."


    Bayou''s face turned red with rage, and he looked ready to fight Franklin right then and there.


    Meanwhile, Rudolph, standing in the corner, paid no attention to the bickering. His eyes were fixed on Luca, his gaze thoughtful.


    He remembered Tia''s earlierment about being interested in this young man. Now that Luca had shown up on his own.


    It certainly saved him some effort.

 Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Why Does It Seem Like Hes Strengthening the Formation?

    Before long, the others returned with the materials Luca had requested.


    Kaman, Old Carl, and the rest were panting heavily as they rushed back.


    Theydumping all the materials in front of Luca.


    "Here''s everything you asked for..." they said between gasps, their sweat-covered foreheads showing just how much effort it had taken to gather the items.


    "Thanks," Luca replied, wasting no time. He immediately began working on the runes needed to break the forbidden spell.


    Rune crafting differed from creating magic runes or potions.


    Aside from a few essentialponents, most of the materials for rune crafting didn''t need refining.


    They just had to be ground into powder and mixed in precise proportions.


    The most challenging part of setting up a formation was how to draw the runes and ce the core nodes.


    Different formations had different node arrangements. For example, the Seven-Star Restriction Arraythat Luca had used before involved drawing seven unique nodes on an object, which, when activated, created a sealing effect.


    The Blood-Sealing Formationwas much moreplex than the Seven-Star Restriction Array, both in functionality and difficulty. Given that this formation had been modified, even Luca didn''t dare to take it lightly.


    Seeing Luca actually working on breaking the spell.


    Kurk and Bayou exchanged looks of disdain from inside the council chamber.


    Kurk sneered, "Franklin, your student really doesn''t know his limits. The Blood-Sealing Formation may not look dangerous, but its defensive mechanisms are incredibly strong. One wrong move, and even a high-level warrior could be reduced to ashes!"


    Bayou nodded. "I don''t know what your student is capable of, but it''d be best if he didn''t waste his energy. If this goes wrong, not only will the spell remain unbroken, but he might also lose his life. You two will be the ones grieving afterward."


    Being taken on as a student by both Franklin and Lucia clearly indicated that this boy, Luca, had extraordinary talent. Kurk and Bayou''sments were not just criticisms; they were also meant to warn Lucia and Franklin.


    Hearing this, both Lucia and Franklin exchanged worried nces.


    If something happened to Luca, they would regret it deeply.


    Sophia, on the other hand, was a bit surprised.


    After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "The high-level sealing magic Luca is using¡ªwasn''t it something you taught him?"


    "High-level magic? What high-level magic?" Lucia and Franklin both looked confused.


    They had no idea what Sophia was talking about.


    Seeing their bewildered expressions, Sophia realized that Luca had lied to her earlier.


    The spell he was using hadn''t been taught to him by either Lucia or Franklin!


    This made her feel both frustrated and shocked.


    Where had Luca learned such an advanced sealing spell?


    This kind of technique was a rare and well-guarded secret, even within the most powerful factions.


    How could an ordinary adventurer like Luca have acquired it in such a short time?


    Sophia''s sharp eyes studied Luca, as if trying to see through the mysterious veil surrounding him.


    She had a growing sense that Luca harbored significant secrets.


    However, she didn''t intend to probe further.


    Prying into other people''s secrets wasn''t a good habit.


    If Luca had things he wished to keep hidden, well, so did she...


    At this moment, Luca had finished preparing the materials needed for drawing the runes.


    Though the results were somewhat diminished due to hisck of specialized skills.


    Butit should still be enough to deal with the Blood-Sealing Formation¡ªif his earlier assessments were correct.


    Under the watchful eyes of everyone present.


    Luca''s hands began to glow with a faint, eerie blue energy.


    With a single thought, the materials he had prepared for the runes floated into the air.


    The materials moved as if they had a life of their own, swiftly tracing the lines of the Blood-Sealing Formation''s runes.


    Under Luca''s control, they moved with incredible speed.


    What seemed likeplex, arcane symbols to most looked remarkably simple in Luca''s hands.


    Each time hepleted a rune, the blood-red glow of the formation intensified.


    And the defensive restrictions grew stronger.


    This left the onlookers dumbfounded.


    Franklin squinted in confusion. "Is this kid really trying to break the spell? It looks more like he''s strengthening it. Am I seeing things?"


    Bayou let out a frustratedugh, snapping, "Seeing things? Hardly! He''s definitely reinforcing the spell! This formation was only supposed to trap us for one day, but now, thanks to him, we''ll be stuck here for at least three!"


    "This is madness! Someone stop him before he makes things worse!" Bayou growled.


    Everyone exchanged bewildered nces.


    Was Luca really reinforcing the formation?


    Could he be a spy sent by their enemies?


    The group looked at Luca, unsure of what to think.


    Even Franklin''s lips twitched in disbelief.


    Lucia, ever the bold one, put her hands on her hips and defended her student. "Well, at least this proves he has talent! He''s already doing better than you old fools¡ªat least he''s making something happen, unlike you lot who''ve been fumbling around without any results!"


    Bayou didn''t want to argue with Lucia¡ªhe knew better than to provoke her.


    With a cold voice, he said, "We need to stop that kid immediately. If he keeps strengthening this formation, who knows how long it''ll trap us. And one wrong move could spell disaster!"The others nced at each other helplessly.


    theyall sharing the same thought.


    The problem was, none of them had any way tomunicate with the outside world.


    Items capable of breaking through a high-level sealing formation were exceedingly rare.


    Sophia let out a sigh.


    She did have such amunication tool.


    But she had already used it once to contact her father, Ryan.


    The tool was still on cooldown and couldn''t be used again.


    After thinking it over, she said, "I trust that Luca wouldn''t put everyone''s lives in danger. He''s never let me down before. Let''s give him a chance."


    Bayou sighed in defeat. "At this point, I don''t think we have much of a choice but to trust him."


    Bright added in a serious tone, "Let''s not be too pessimistic. The kid''s got some skills¡ªmost people couldn''t even manage to strengthen a spell like this. Let''s hope he knows what he''s doing."


    The group nodded, all turning their eyes to Luca, watching as he continued working on the runes outside the Blood-Sealing Formation.


    Meanwhile, as Luca continued adjusting the runes and structure of the Blood-Sealing Formation.


    The intensity of its restrictions grew stronger and stronger.


    Before long, the energy fluctuations from the formation had reached a level that even those outside¡ªlike Catherine and the others¡ªbegan to feel deeply uneasy.


    Old Carl swallowed nervously. "Is... is this kid really going to pull it off? Something feels off here!"


    Kaman and the others were also filled with anxiety.


    Though they weren''t inside the formation, they could still feel the difort building in their bodies.


    Catherine clenched her fists, her gaze resolute. "Trust Luca Witch Doctor!"


    Kaman nodded firmly. "Luca Witch Doctor was able to crack advanced potions; there''s no reason to believe he can''t break a high-level spell. We have to trust him!"


    Old Carl, Bayou, and the rest exchanged wry smiles.


    The reality was, they had no other option but to trust Luca now.


    As the sealing power of the formation grew even stronger, many of the high-tier warriors inside began to feel its effects.


    "My blood is flowing backward!" Bright, sensitive to such things, was the first to speak.


    His face had gone deathly pale, andrge beads of sweat dotted his forehead.


    It was clear that the formation was having a significant impact on him.


    The others weren''t doing much better, though they managed to hold on.


    Kurk''s face had turned bright red, with blood even trickling from his nose. In a rage, he shouted, "This kid''s going to kill us all! If he doesn''t stop soon, we''ll all die from reverse blood flow!"


    Watching the blood-red glow of the formation intensify, Bayou felt a wave of helplessness wash over him.


    He sighed heavily. "I never thought my legendary life would end like this¡ªat the hands of some snot-nosed kid! Franklin, when we get out of here, I''m definitely settling this with you!"


    Franklin and Sophia, along with the other mages, weren''t feeling the same level of difort since they focused more on mental energy than physical blood flow. At most, they felt some tightness in their chests.


    Hearing Bayou''sint, Franklin still had the energy to mock him. "Humbled now, old man? Let''s see if you''ll still bad-mouth my student after this!"


    Bayou''s lips moved, clearly trying to form a curse.


    But he didn''t have the strength to argue anymore.


    Just as many were on the verge of copsing, preparing to break out by force.


    Asudden sharp sound echoed in everyone''s ears, like the shattering of ss.


    Crack!


    Everyone''s spirits lifted as they quickly turned toward the source of the sound.


    To their astonishment, the once imprable Blood-Sealing Formation now had a clear crack running through it!


    And that crack was spreading rapidly, visibly growing across the surface of the formation.


    With each new cracking sound, the fissures multiplied.


    In just a few short breaths, the entire Blood-Sealing Formation was covered in fractures.


    And then.


    Under everyone''s shocked gaze.


    The formation exploded into a cloud of blood mist!


    The Blood-Sealing Formation had truly been broken!


    Bayou''s face was full of disbelief. "How is this possible? That kid actually managed to break a high-level forbidden spell!"


    How old was he? And he already had this level of mastery over formations?


    And wasn''t he supposed to be a Witch Doctor?!


    Rudolph was even more shaken. "This can''t be real¡ªhow did he pull this off?!"


    This formation had been personally set by Lord Tia!


    Even mid-level formation masters would struggle to break it!


    Yet, it had been undone by a mere boy?


    Rudolph now felt like he was living in a dream.

 Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Understanding the Blood Reversal Curse! Watch Out for Rudolph!

    "This kid named Luca will definitely be a serious threat in the future!" Rudolph''s eyes were cold and calcting.


    Such strength at such a young age.


    He could hardly imagine what kind of achievements this young man would aplish once he matured.


    If this kind of genius cannot be used for his own purposes, then he must find a way to eliminate him as soon as possible!


    "Haha, did you see that? This is a student taught by me, Franklin!" Franklinughed heartily, patting Bayou on the shoulder. His smug expression made it seem as if he had been the one to break the Blood-Sealing Formation.


    Bayou, for once, didn''t argue with Franklin. His expression wasplex as he looked at Lucia and sighed, "President Lucia truly possesses extraordinary abilities. To teach such a prodigy, I can''t help but admire her from the bottom of my heart!"


    After all these years, Bayou was well aware of what kind of person Franklin really was.


    So, the only person capable of teaching someone as talented as Luca could only be Lucia.


    Moreover, given her remarkable background and status, Bayou was even more certain of his conclusion.


    The others thought the same way, looking at Lucia with eyes full of admiration.


    Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn''t have believed that such a young person could possibly break a high-level secret spell.


    They couldn''t even begin to imagine what kind of strength Lucia, who had trained such an extraordinary genius as Luca, must possess!


    "Ah, well..." A trace of embarrassment shed across Lucia''s face. The truth was, she hadn''t taught Luca these skills at all!


    Who knew where that little guy had picked up all this knowledge?


    Of course, she couldn''t say that out loud, or it would definitely bring unnecessary trouble to Luca.


    Clearing her throat, Lucia raised her chin proudly and said, "I put a lot of effort into teaching Luca back then, but fortunately, the little guy is talented and didn''t let me down!"


    Although she hadn''t actually taught Luca any of this and had no idea where he had learned these techniques.


    Butnone of that really mattered. It was like how some kids secretly read adult books behind their parents'' backs¡ªthere was no need to dig too deep.


    What mattered was that Luca had brought her great honor. His excellent performance was something she could take pride in as well!


    Sophia''s lips moved slightly; she wasn''t sure what to say to her teacher.


    However, she did feel a sense of relief. Now that they were free from the Blood-Sealing Formation, the weight pressing on her heart had lightened a little.


    Outside the conference hall, everyone was equally excited.


    Kaman clenched his fists in excitement and said, "Big brother Luca really did it! Riverfall City is saved!"


    Catherine''s eyes sparkled brightly as well.


    As long as the city''s powerful figures could act, neither the monster horde nor The Nightmare Cult would pose any more threats!


    As the Blood-Sealing Formation was dispelled, a game notification appeared in front of Luca.


    [Ding! Congrattions onpleting the quest "Return to the City for Aid." You have received the Mithril Mage Spear (Silver) and 300 gold coins!]


    A sh of silver light appeared before him, and in the next moment, a gleaming silver mage spear materialized in his hand.


    [Mithril Mage Spear: Silver-grade weapon, usable by level 20 Demonic Rune Mages. When equipped: Magic Attack +240, Spirit +80, Magic Rune Attack Power +10%.]


    "Not bad at all!" Luca thought to himself, barely able to contain his excitement as he inspected the spear in his hand.


    A Silver-grade piece of equipment like this would usually cost at least a thousand gold coins, and weapons for Demonic Rune Mages were even more expensive, often fetching several times that amount.


    Now that he had the Mithril Mage Spear, he wouldn''t have to craft any new weapons when he reached level 20. This would save him a significant amount of money!


    Additionally, after dispelling the Blood-Sealing Formation, several more notifications appeared in front of Luca.


    [You have sessfully dispelled the advanced secret spell "Blood-Sealing Formation!"]


    [Your maximum aptitude has been triggered. You have sessfully learned the advanced secret spell "Blood Reversal Curse!"]


    [Blood Reversal Curse: An advanced secret spell, exclusively learned from the Blood-Sealing Formation. When cast, it reverses the target''s life force, temporarily preventing them from using their vital energy. If the target''s level is lower than yours, there is a chance their body will explode and they will die. The exact effect depends on the level difference between you and the target.


    Cooldown: 6 hours.]


    This was an unexpected bonus.


    Luca hadn''t anticipated that his max aptitude would be so extraordinary, allowing him to spontaneouslyprehend an advanced secret spell.


    "The person favored,"as expected, lived up to its SSS-level potential!


    With the Blood Reversal Curse, Luca now had a deadly trump card against any melee-ss opponent of the same level.


    At that moment, a group of powerful figures emerged from the conference hall.


    Sophia stepped forward.


    She bowed slightly to Luca, Catherine, and the others, and said, "Everyone, I must thank you for what you''ve done. Without your help, I don''t know what kind of disaster would have unfolded."


    "All the credit goes to Luca, the Witch Doctor. We can''t take any credit," Old Carl waved his hands modestly.


    In truth, he was utterly in awe of Luca. This kid had managed to break even advanced secret spells¡ªhe was truly beyond exceptional!


    Sophia, hearing this, turned to Luca with a serious expression and said, "Junior, you''ve done a great service this time. When this matter is settled, I will personally speak to my father to ensure you are rewarded!"


    Upon hearing this, the people around them couldn''t help but look at Luca with envy.


    This kid was about to rise to the top!


    Given Luca''s performance in this incident, it was certain that when Count Ryan returned, he would not overlook Luca''s contributions!


    But Luca didn''t seem particrly concerned.


    He smiled lightly and replied, "You''re too kind, Senior. I was only doing what I should."


    After breaking the second, improved version of the Blood-Sealing Formation, Luca had also reaped considerable rewards.


    Not only had he made significant progress on the three tasks he was handling, but he alsoprehended an advanced secret spell.


    Still, Luca was never one to turn down more advantages if they came his way.


    At this moment, Bright stepped forward and asked, "Kid, do you have any idea what''s going on outside right now?"


    Hearing this, Sophia and the other powerful figures turned to Luca, eager for answers.


    Since they had been trapped inside the Blood-Sealing Formation, they had no way tomunicate with the outside world, and the current state of affairs was unknown to them.


    For them, the most pressing matter was to understand how far things had progressed and whether there was still time to salvage the situation.


    Luca replied sinctly, "There''s a monster uprising in Beast Forest. Six Elite monstersand over ten thousand lower-tier monsters have been mobilized. The Iron Mountainforces are currently holding them off."


    "In addition, there''s been an incident within Riverfall City. The Nightmare Culthas pulled all the civilians into a nightmare realm."


    "The Nightmare Cult?!" Although Luca''s exnation was brief, it caused a noticeable shift in everyone''s expressions. No one had anticipated that the Nightmare Cultwould be the ones targeting them!


    "They''ve gotten bolder by the day, haven''t they? To think they would dare set their sights on our Emerald State!" Kurk, the lord of Redwind City, looked both furious and rmed. A hint of fear even flickered in his eyes.


    After all, Redwind Citywasn''t far from Riverfall City. If the Nightmare Cultdecided to set their schemes in motion there too, Kurk didn''t even want to imagine what would happen.


    Sophia, being the noble daughter she was, quickly epted the reality of the situation and regained herposure.


    She turned and bowed slightly to the assembled group of strong figures, her tone resolute. "Everyone, I''ll leave the situation in Beast Forestin your hands. We may not know exactly what the Nightmare Culthas nned, but we absolutely cannot let them seed!"


    The gravity of the situation was clear to all, and they nodded solemnly.


    After all, if the Nightmare Cultseeded in their plot, it wouldn''t bode well for any of them.


    Rudolph also nodded, though inside, he was seething with hatred toward Luca.


    With these powerful figures free from the formation, they would undoubtedly disrupt the Nightmare Cult''s ns.


    And if the cult''s ns were ruined, it meant his chance of gaining favor with the Emerald State Countwas slipping further away.


    "Damn brat, you dared to ruin the Church''s opportunity. I swear, you''ll pay for this¡ªdearly!" Rudolph''s eyes gleamed with murderous intent as dark thoughts swirled in his mind. Yet, he failed to realize that his every change in expression was being carefully observed by the very "brat" he wanted to kill.


    A cold glint appeared in Luca''s eyes.


    From the moment these powerful figures had emerged, he had been secretly watching them, gauging their every move.


    When Luca saw the sinister gleam in Rudolph''s eyes, he began to put the pieces together.


    No wonder the Nightmare Cult''s n had progressed so smoothly, while their own efforts were met with constant obstacles and hardships.


    If Rudolph, the lord of Riverfall City, was aiding the Nightmare Cult, then everything suddenly made sense...


    Noticing the murderous intent in Rudolph''s gaze, Luca knew this dog wasn''t going to let him off so easily.


    A cold smile tugged at the corner of his lips, a glint of malice shing in his eyes.


    Since that was the case, it seemed fitting to send Rudolph and his father to reunite in the afterlife!


    They would surely be touched by the family reunion...


    At that moment, the group of powerful figures was preparing to depart for Beast Forest.


    Acting quickly, Luca called out to Franklinand Lucia, "Teachers, please wait a moment."


    Franklin and Lucia turned back to him.


    The others also nced over, curious to see what Luca was up to.


    With a warm smile, Franklin asked, "What is it, kid?"


    He couldn''t be more pleased with his student.


    Luca had made him proud!


    Luca, ever modest, said, "I encountered some problems rted to magic runesand Witch Doctor techniquesearlier, so I wanted to consult the two of you."


    Franklin and Lucia didn''t think much of it, assuming Luca genuinely had some questions. They readily agreed.


    After all, they were eager to finally feel the satisfaction of teaching Luca something. Up until now, despite having taken Luca as their student, they hadn''t really taught him anything.


    The others paid little attention to the exchange and quickly turned away.


    The situation with Beast Forestand the Nightmare Cultcouldn''t be dyed. They had no time to waste.


    Rudolph, however, furrowed his brows. Something didn''t feel right, but with everyone else leaving, it would be far too conspicuous for him to stay behind.


    Reluctantly, he pretended to be just as indifferent and followed the group out.


    Soon, everyone had left the City Lord''s Mansion, and only Franklin, Lucia, Sophia, and a few others remained in the corridor.


    Catherine, along with Kamanand his group, had also departed. They needed to continue battling monsters in Beast Forest, having already delivered their message.


    Once Luca was certain they were alone.


    His expression turned serious. Without any preamble, he said, "Be careful of Rudolph. He might be colluding with the Nightmare Cult."


    The moment those words left his mouth, the three people present were frozen in shock.

 Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Blood Sacrifice! A Well-Deserved Kill!

    At the exact moment the Blood-Sealing Formationwas broken.


    Deep within Beast Forest, Tia suddenly lifted her head, looking in the direction of Riverfall City.


    A hint of surprise shed through her beautiful eyes. "The Blood-Sealing Formation has been broken!"


    "What? The grand formation was broken?!" The gathered followers of the Nightmare Cultwere equally stunned.


    No one understood better than they did how deep Tia''s mastery of sealing magic ran.


    There was no way anyone in Emerald Statecould have broken her Blood-Sealing Formation¡ªnot even Ryancould do it.


    So how could the formation suddenly be destroyed?


    Tia herself was puzzled. A faint purple glow emanated from her pale, jade-like palm as she waved it through the air.


    In the next moment, a ghostly image appeared mid-air. The image faintly showed the figure of a young boy.


    He wore a ck robe with golden patterns, his features delicate and refined, as he drew runesin the air.


    And then, to the shock of everyone present, the Blood-Sealing Formationshattered in an instant!


    "Tia''s secret formation was broken by a mere boy?!" One of the deacons stood there, frozen in disbelief. He could hardly believe his eyes.


    "It''s him again," Tia muttered, her alluring face now covered in frost.


    She immediately recognized Luca¡ªthe same boy who had previously removed the Nightmare Parasitefrom Lady Lenna''s body at Howard Manor.


    She had even specifically instructed Rudolphto capture the boy and bring him to her for study.


    But not only had Rudolph failed to bring Luca back, this boy had once again sabotaged her ns.


    "Rudolph, you useless fool!" Tia cursed quietly as she nced at the nearlypleted summoning ritual.


    The reason she had left Rudolph in Riverfall Citywas to stall the city''s powerful figures.


    Yet that idiot couldn''t even manage such a simple task!


    One of the deacons, his face full of concern, asked, "Lady Tia, what should we do now?"


    With the Blood-Sealing Formationbroken, it wouldn''t be long before the powerful figures of Riverfall Cityarrived here.


    However, the summoning ritual would still need at least three more hours to bepleted.


    Even if they could somehow hold off the forces from Riverfall City, the fewer people they had for the ritual, the longer it would take toplete.


    If things continued like this, the Nightmare Cult''sn might end inplete failure!


    Tia was fully aware of this.


    "We need to elerate the process!" She stared at the dark glow pulsing faintly from the summoning ritual. A cold glint shed in her eyes, and without even turning around, she issued her next order in an icy tone to the deacons behind her: "Prepare some of the followers for a blood sacrifice. At any cost, we must ensure that Hydra''s projection descends as soon as possible!"


    "Blood sacrifice" was a special secret spell that required live humans as offerings.


    There was no time to find ordinary civilians now, so they could only use the Nightmare Cult''s own followers.


    When the deacons heard those two words, their scalps tingled with dread.


    With a formation of this magnitude, who knew how many followers would need to be sacrificed toplete it!


    Tia nced at them, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly. "What''s wrong? Are you unwilling to give your lives for the Church?"


    Her tone was calm and devoid of emotion, yet it filled every deacon with an overwhelming sense of fear.


    They knew full well what Tia was capable of.


    Compared to death, falling into her hands would be a fate worse than death itself.


    Seeing the cold expression on Tia''s face, the deacons quickly swallowed any words of protest.


    They lowered their heads and, trembling, responded, "We will carry out your orders immediately!"


    ...


    Riverfall City, City Lord''s Mansion.


    "What did you just say? Rudolph is a traitor?!" Franklin and Lucia''s eyes widened in shock, blurting out in disbelief.


    Thankfully, Luca had anticipated this reaction and ensured that no one else was around to hear.


    As Luca nodded, Sophia was equally stunned but quickly forced herself to regainposure.


    She knew Luca wouldn''t make such a im without reason. With a serious expression, she asked, "Junior, have you discovered something?"


    Luca shook his head. "It''s just a suspicion at this point."


    The three of them let out a brief sigh of relief.


    But then Luca added, "Though I''m about ny percent sure."


    Franklin immediately rolled his eyes and eximed, "If you''re ny percent sure, what''s the point of suspecting anything?"


    Lucia and Sophia couldn''t help butugh, though they were still a bit tense.


    "I''m just being cautious," Luca said with a smile before turning to Sophia. "Senior, do you remember who had contact with Lady Lenna before she fell ill?"


    Sophia froze for a moment, her face quickly changing as she asked in shock, "Are you suggesting it was one of those women?"


    Before Lady Lenna became afflicted by the Nightmare Parasite, she had been on an outing near Riverfall Citywith a group ofdies. This wasn''t a secret and could easily be checked.


    But since those women were all trusted acquaintances, Sophia hadn''t considered them suspicious at the time.


    Luca nodded. "I didn''t think much of it either at first. It was only after the Nightmare Cultrevealed themselves that I realized the timing was too convenient. Lady Lenna was infected with the Nightmare Parasiteright when Count Ryan was away. I suspect this was part of the Nightmare Cult''sn to hinder the count."


    "In other words, when Lady Lenna was on that outing with the otherdies near Riverfall City, it''s highly likely that one of them was connected to the Nightmare Cult. This person must have been very close to her¡ªotherwise, they wouldn''t have had the chance to act, and Lady Lenna wouldn''t have remained unsuspecting until now."


    "That narrows things down considerably, and it should be easy to figure out who this person is,"


    Luca said, pausing briefly before cutting straight to the point. "If I''m not mistaken, Lady Linawas present during that outing, wasn''t she?"


    Lady Lina, Matthew''s mother, had left for Southwind Citya few days ago and had yet to return.


    Sophia remained silent, but the answer was already clear in her mind.


    Her expression turnedplicated.


    An unsettling mix of anger and disbelief.


    After all, Rudolphwas her mother''s full-blooded brother, her uncle.


    Franklin and Lucia looked at Sophia, concerned. "Wait¡­ is what Luca''s saying true?"


    They hadn''t been aware of the situation beforehand.


    Sophia shook her head slightly, not giving a direct answer, instead saying, "Regardless, we don''t have solid evidence right now. Without proof of Rudolph''s connection to the Nightmare Cult, we can''t act against him."


    Luca wasn''t surprised by her response, but he knew this much was already enough to move forward.


    He continued, "The reason I suspect him, aside from the fact that he is in the best position to help the Nightmare Cultexecute their n, is because Matthewand Freemanused several bottles of high-grade Demon Lure Potionin Beast Forest, in an attempt to have us killed."


    "As a result, they triggered the monster uprising in the forest, leading to therge-scale monster hordewe''re dealing with now."


    "This fact is known to several people. We can confirm itter with Catherineand others."


    Compared to the suspicion that Rudolph had allied with the Nightmare Cult, the incident involving Matthew and Freeman would be much easier to verify.


    Even though both of them had already been killed by Luca, there would be plenty of evidence and witnesses to support the ims.


    "Matthew caused the monster horde?" All three of them were shocked, instantly recalling the city guard''s unfinished report from earlier.


    An indescribable rage welled up within Sophia.


    She had always known that her cousin had a nasty character, but she never imagined he would stoop this low.


    "Does he even realize what he''s done? Does he know how many lives have been lost because of him?" Lucia''s face darkened, her voice cold and severe.


    She had heard rumors about Matthew''s misbehavior before, but she had written him off as just another useless, spoiled noble.


    She never imagined he would be responsible for the deaths of thousands of Iron Mountain soldiers.


    Franklin''s expression was no less grim, a rare flicker of murderous intent crossing his face. His voice turned icy as he said, "He dared to target my student? He''d better hope I don''t cross paths with him. If I do, I''ll make sure he learns what it means to offend a Witch Doctor!"


    Franklin wasn''t particrly concerned about the lives of others, but Luca was the prized student he had worked so hard to take under his wing.


    If Matthew had seeded in killing Luca, Franklin would have had nowhere to vent his grief. Now, he could only feel a burning fury at the thought.


    Luca sighed with a hint of regret, saying, "If we could have followed up on that lead, it might have been easier to find more clues about the mastermind. Unfortunately, I didn''t know what was happening in the city before, and both Matthew and Freeman are already dead by my hand, so the trail has gone cold."


    Hearing that Matthew had been killed, the three of them froze for a moment.


    Sophia pressed her lips together, her gazeplicated, but she said nothing more.


    After all, Matthew truly deserved to die.


    Franklin, on the other hand, burst outughing. "Good job, kid! He deserved it! Scum like that shouldn''t be allowed to live¡ªwho knows how many more lives he would''ve ruined!"


    Lucia nodded in agreement.


    Matthew had spent his days terrorizing the people of Riverfall City, bullying the weak, and preying on the innocent. Who knew how many civilians had suffered at his hands?


    Even if the Beast Forestincident hadn''t happened, someone like him was better off dead.


    Sophia then asked, "What do you think we should do next, Junior?"


    Luca thought for a moment before responding, "The Nightmare Cultlikely already knows that you''ve escaped, so they''ll definitely take action soon. Whether or not Rudolph has truly sided with them, we need to ce him under control for now. Once everything is resolved, we can investigate thoroughly and gather evidence."


    "If he''s innocent, then great. But if he has been secretly helping the Nightmare Cult, that''ll be even better¡ªit''ll save us a lot of trouble."


    The three of them nodded in agreement with Luca''s n.


    Detaining Rudolph might reduce their fighting strength, but it would also eliminate a significant wildcard.


    Given the urgency of the situation, this was the safest course of action.


    After a brief discussion, the four of them left the City Lord''s Mansion, intent on temporarily imprisoning Rudolph in the dungeon.


    By this time, dusk was settling in, and the city was cloaked in dim light, silent and eerily still.


    As they walked, Lucia seemed to remember something. She took out two scrolls and handed them to Luca and Sophia.


    With a serious expression, she cautioned, "The uing battle will likely be extremely dangerous. These are high-grade magic scrolls. When used, they can release a single cast of Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire. Keep them with you and use them at a critical moment."

 Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Save Twenty Years of Effort! City Lord, Don’t Make This Difficult for Us!

    "Thank you, Teacher!" Luca quickly expressed his gratitude.


    The Heavenly Thunder Purple Firethat Lucia mentioned wasn''t the weakened version he had used before, but the real high-level version with immense power!


    With this in hand, even if he couldn''t directly defeat those high-level monsters, he wouldn''t be helpless.


    Seeing this, Franklin pulled out two bottles of green potions and handed them over casually, saying, "These are Life Recovery Potions. As long as you two are still breathing, they''ll bring you back."


    As he spoke, he didn''t forget to add seriously to Sophia, "These potions aren''t cheap, you know. I''ll be billing Ryan for theseter!"


    Luca couldn''t help butugh.


    His teacher really had a love for money¡ªcharging Sophia for potions even at a time like this.


    Of course, Luca shared this trait; the two of them were truly kindred spirits when it came to money.


    "Give everything to Luca, I have my own life-saving items," Sophia said, shaking her head, refusing their gifts.


    While high-grade items were rare, as the only child of Count Ryan, Sophia was already carrying more life-saving tools than she could count.


    Given the situation, it made more sense to give them to Luca, who needed them more.


    The Howard family was wealthy and well-prepared, so Franklin and Lucia weren''t surprised by her response.


    They waved their hands, passing all four high-grade items to Luca.


    Franklin chuckled, scolding him jokingly, "Lucky you, kid. You just made out like a bandit!"


    Luca was overjoyed and quickly thanked them again.


    With just a few casual gifts from these wealthy patrons, he had saved himself twenty years of struggle!


    With these four high-grade items, as long as he didn''t face an overwhelmingly powerful monster.


    He could either defeat it or at least make a safe escape.


    By now, they had caught up with the group of powerful figures who had gone ahead.


    Their expressions were calm, and the other warriors didn''t seem to notice anything unusual about them.


    Kurk, the lord of Redwind City, urged them, "Hurry up! If we don''t move fast, the monsters will break out of Beast Forest!"


    Rudolph also wore a worried expression, saying, "I hope Cassman and the others are holding out. I''m really concerned for them."


    Luca couldn''t help but inwardly apud. Rudolph''s acting was top-tier. If this were in the real world, he''d be a shoo-in for an Oscar!


    Right now, Rudolph looked like the perfect image of a city lord deeply concerned for the safety of Riverfall City.


    If Luca hadn''t already suspected him, he might have beenpletely fooled by Rudolph''s performance.


    But since Rudolph had already shown his true colors, there was no turning back.


    A smirk tugged at the corner of Luca''s mouth.


    Sophia, on the other hand, had no patience for ying along with Rudolph''s charade.


    She spoke coldly, "Teacher, I''ll leave him to you."


    "Don''t worry," Lucia nodded slightly, and with a sh of light from her pale hand, a silver staff adorned with a crescent gemstone appeared in her grasp.


    The others hadn''t yet grasped what Lucia was about to do.


    Lucia raised her crescent staff and gently tapped the air.


    A ripple, like a wave in water, spread out across the sky.


    "BOOM!!!"


    A deafening p of thunder echoed above.


    And in the shocked gazes of those present, blinding bolts of lightning split the sky in an instant!


    Nine lightning spears, each as thick as a barrel, crashed down, encircling Rudolph in a sh.


    At the same time, Franklin held an ancient ck book, now brimming with a deep, eerie blue energy.


    His Witch Doctor power swelled and quickly condensed in midair, forming a massive skull.


    The skull shot forward with terrifying speed and mmed into Rudolph''s forehead before he could react.


    It was the High-Level Witch Doctor skill: Silence Curse.


    Anyone hit by the curse wouldn''t be able to use any skills for ten minutes!


    The sudden ambush caused everyone present to pale with shock.


    Rudolph, meanwhile, felt a creeping sense of dread in his heart.


    But he forced himself to remain calm and asked in a deep voice, "What''s the meaning of this?!"


    "Old man, stop pretending! You know exactly why we''re doing this!" Franklin grinned wickedly, his voice dripping with menace. "If anything, you should understand better than anyone."


    Rudolph''s heart skipped a beat. He didn''t know where he had slipped up but tried to maintain hisposure, responding, "I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    "Enough with the nonsense! Let''s just finish him off!" Lucia scoffed coldly, raising her staff higher as thunder rumbled ominously in the sky.


    Lightning bolts intertwined, and in the blink of an eye, they coalesced into a massive sword of pure lightning!


    The sheer power radiating from it made even the high-level warriors present feel a chill of fear.


    "Wow, lightning-fire mages really are the definition of brute-force destruction! This level of skill blows most high-level powerhouses out of the water!" Luca thought to himself in awe. However, he didn''t feel any jealousy, knowing full well that once he advanced to a High-Level Demonic Rune Mage, his power would surpass even this.


    By now, the others had begun to catch on.


    Bright, the head of the Assassins'' Guild, pulled out a dagger and asked seriously, "What''s going on here? Why are you attacking Lord Rudolph all of a sudden?"


    "This doesn''t concern you. Stay out of it," Franklin replied dismissively, his body surrounded by a cloud of toxic, purple fumes as countless venomous insects.


    Spiders, snakes, bloodworms¡ªpoured onto the ground and surged toward Rudolph like a wave, sending shivers down the spines of those watching.


    "Franklin, you old devil! Exin what''s going on before you start throwing around curses!" shouted Bayou, the head of the Adventurers'' Guild, as his palm glowed with a bright white light. With a wave, a st of energy shot forth, scattering all of the poisonous insects across the ground.


    Franklin''s eyes narrowed in irritation. "You want a fight, old man? Come on then! Let''s see how long it takes before you''re crying for your mom!"


    Bayou''sface alternated between shades of green and white, clearly furious and ready tosh out.


    At that moment, Luca spoke up.


    In a firm voice, he said, "Honored elders, Rudolphis suspected of colluding with the Nightmare Cult! I ask that we work together to apprehend him!"


    The entire crowd was stunned by this revtion.


    "Rudolph, colluding with the Nightmare Cult?!" Kurk''s eyes widened in disbelief, thinking he must have misheard.


    Bayou and Brightwere also filled with shock, their faces showingplete disbelief.


    It seemed impossible¡ªRudolph was the City Lordof Riverfall City! How could he be involved with the Nightmare Cult?


    Rudolph, on the other hand, was furious.


    Clenching his fists, he shouted, "You brat, don''t you dare nder me! When have I ever colluded with the Nightmare Cult? If you''re going to use me, you''d better have proof!"


    Despite his outward anger, Rudolph''s heart was filled with fear and confusion.


    How could they possibly know about this?


    He hadn''t slipped up once¡ªthere was no way he should have been discovered.


    Bayou hesitated for a moment and then spoke, "Could this be a misunderstanding? How could City Lord Rudolph, after all his years of service to Riverfall City, possibly be in league with the Nightmare Cult? We''ve all seen how much he''s sacrificed for the city."


    Bright, Kurk, and the other powerful figures present nodded in agreement.


    If Rudolph really was working with the Nightmare Cult, it would be unbelievable¡ªlike something out of a twisted fantasy.


    Seeing the others starting to take his side, Rudolph''s confidence grew.


    In a deep voice, he said, "If you''re using me of colluding with the Nightmare Cult, you''d better have solid evidence. Attacking me without proof¡ªdoes that do justice to all I''ve done for Riverfall City and the Emerald State over the years?"


    With that, Rudolph yed the moral card, cloaking himself in the mantle of righteousness, trying to corner Luca and the others.


    Sophia and the rest frowned.


    They had no hard evidence to prove that Rudolph was indeed the traitor working with the Nightmare Cult.


    Everything was based on Luca''s suspicions.


    And that was the problem.


    Without concrete proof, acting on mere conjecture would be difficult to justify, especially in front of the others.


    In the midst of this crisis, any misstep could lead to unnecessary chaos.


    They all turned their eyes toward Luca.


    But Luca had already anticipated this. Turning to Rudolph, he said, with a knowing look, "You say you''re not the traitor. So, exin why Matthew used Demon Lure Potionin an attempt to kill over ten thousand Iron Mountainsoldiers and adventurers. Wasn''t that under your orders? Do you dare say you had no responsibility in that?"


    In truth, Luca didn''t know for sure whether Matthew''s actions were at Rudolph''s behest.


    But that didn''t stop him from throwing the usation at Rudolph.


    The details weren''t the most important thing right now. The key was to restrain Rudolph immediately¡ªonce the current situation was resolved, the truth woulde out in due time.


    Matthew''s role in triggering the monster hordeand attempting to massacre the Iron Mountain soldiers was enough of a reason to justify their move to imprison Rudolph.


    "Matthewtried to massacre the Iron Mountainarmy?!" The crowd was shocked once again.


    None of them had any idea that such a thing had urred before.


    The attempted ughter of over ten thousand Iron Mountain soldiers was nothing short of treason.


    This wasn''t just a simple offense¡ªit was a crime beyond forgiveness!


    Immediately, everyone''s gaze toward Rudolphshifted.


    After all, if your son did something so outrageous, who else would people suspect but you?


    "That idiot Matthew! All he does is make things worse at critical moments!" Rudolph finally realized where the trouble stemmed from and cursed Matthew in his heart a hundred times over.


    Still, he stubbornly tried to argue, "Everything you''re saying is just hearsay! You have no real evidence!"


    Luca remained calm and replied coolly, "Who said I don''t have evidence? Catherine, her squad members, and the city guards can all testify to what Matthew did."


    Catherine and the others nodded, their eyes filled with anger as they turned toward Rudolph.


    Then, Luca took out a vial of purple liquid and casually waved it in front of the crowd.


    With a slight squint and a faint smile, he said, "Freeman used a secret spell to control an eagle mouseand spread the Demon Lure Potion. Though they left few traces, it''s quite unfortunate for you that I happen to know how to extract those traces."


    "Whether or not Matthew was behind this, it will be easy to uncover once the situation with the Nightmare Cultand Beast Forestis settled. So, for now, I suggest City Lord Rudolph spends a few days in the dungeon. I''m sure we''ll have rity soon."


    Rudolph''s expression darkened considerably.


    His mind raced, trying toe up with a way to stall.


    But Luca gave him no time, his tone unwavering. "If it turns out that I was mistaken and Rudolph has no ties to the Nightmare Cult, then my teacher, my senior, and I will personallye to your residence to apologize andpensate you for any losses. We will clear your name."


    Having said that.


    Luca fixed Rudolph with a cold gaze. "So, I ask you, City Lord Rudolph, to cooperate with our investigation and not make things difficult for us."


    The silence that followed was deafening.


    Everyone''s eyes were now locked on Rudolph, whose face had turned deathly pale.

 Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Heres Some Good News—Your Son is Dead!

    "Damn brat!" Rudolph clenched his fists, eyes burning with fury.


    At this moment, he wanted nothing more than to tear Luca apart.


    It was the critical juncture of the cult''s n, and this little brat had blocked all his escape routes, leaving him with no options but to surrender.


    But there was no way Rudolph would agree to that.


    A cold glint shed in his eyes as he made a grim decision.


    If that''s how it was, then he had no choice but to force his way out!


    "He''s trying to escape! Everyone, be careful!" Luca noticed the change in Rudolph''s expression and quickly warned the others.


    But before anyone could react¡ª


    Boom!!


    A powerful surge of energy erupted from Rudolph''s body.


    The lightning prison surrounding him shattered instantly, and the silence curse on his forehead was broken!


    "You brat, you dare disrupt the cult''s ns? I''ll make sure you pay for thister!" Rudolph shot Luca a hateful nce, white energy swirling around his body as he powered up.


    The ground beneath his feet cracked, and in the next instant, he shot off like a white streak of light, heading straight for Beast Forest.


    Everyone''s faces changed in shock¡ªthey now realized that Luca had been telling the truth all along. Rudolph really was colluding with the Nightmare Cult!


    "You old fool! How dare you threaten my student! You''re asking for death!" Franklin roared in anger, his body transforming into a streak of blue light as he shot after Rudolph.


    However, after using his secret technique, Rudolph''s speed had increased dramatically¡ªfar beyond what a Witch Doctor like Franklin could match.


    Of everyone present, Bright, the head of the Assassins'' Guild, was the fastest.


    In a blink, his figure disappeared from the ground and reappeared mid-air, blocking Rudolph''s path.


    "Get out of my way!" Rudolph bellowed, a surge of white energy exploding from his body, sending Bright flying backward.


    "A high-level Energy Master?" Luca raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    Energy Masters were a rare warrior ss, known for using internal energy tounch attacks.


    Up until now, Luca had assumed Rudolph was only a mid-level fighter, but it turned out he was a high-level ss.


    Ithiding his strength all this time.


    Still, with just that level of power, Rudolph wasn''t getting away¡ªnot today.


    Lucia made her move next.


    With a mere flick of her Silver Moon Staff, the giant lightning sword in the sky suddenly shed down toward Rudolph, splitting the air with a deafening crack!


    Before it evennded, the sheer force of the attack made everyone''s hair stand on end.


    Rudolph''s face twisted in fear.


    If that lightning struck him, he''d be seriously injured, if not dead!


    Gritting his teeth, he summoned every ounce of his energy, channeling it into a powerful defensive barrier above his head just before the lightning could hit.


    Boom!!!


    Blinding lightning shed, and thunder echoed across the sky, making everyone''s ears ring painfully.


    But to everyone''s surprise, Rudolph emerged unscathed.


    Above his head, a white tower of condensed Qi energy enveloped himpletely.


    Though the tower was cracked and weakened, it had managed to block Lucia''s lightning sword.


    "Let''s see how many times you can block that," Lucia said, unfazed.


    With another wave of her staff, the sky began to gather more lightning, preparing for another devastating strike.


    "That crazy woman!" Rudolph''s face was pale, his teeth clenched in frustration.


    He knew full well that he couldn''t withstand multiple hits from Lucia''s powerful attacks. While she could continuously cast these devastating spells, he couldn''t afford to take them again and again.


    As Rudolph frantically searched for a way to escape.


    Luca suddenly spoke up, his voice loud and clear."City Lord Rudolph, I''ve got some good news for you!" Luca shouted.


    "Your son Matthew, after attempting to harm the Iron Mountainarmy, has been killed by me in Beast Forest!"


    "Though I made sure to destroy his body, don''t worry¡ªI remember exactly how he died. I''ll send you to join him soon enough!"


    "What¡­ What did you just say?" Rudolph froze, his body going rigid, his pupils trembling violently in shock and disbelief.


    He only had one son¡ªMatthew.


    And if nothing unexpected happened, Matthew would remain his only son for the rest of his life.


    That was why he had spoiled and coddled Matthew so much.


    Yet, here and now, Luca had just told him that his one and only son had been killed!


    "You... you little bastard! I''ll tear you to pieces..." Rudolph''s veins bulged on his forehead, his eyes turning bloodshot as his face twisted in rage.


    But before he could finish his threat, Lucia interrupted coldly, "You dare threaten my student? You must have a death wish!"


    With those words, another massive lightning sword descended from the sky.


    Boom!!


    Distracted by Luca''s revtion, Rudolph''s focus wavered, and the Qi-powered tower that had been shielding him shattered instantly under the force of Lucia''s strike!


    The bolt of lightning hit Rudolph directly.


    St!


    Rudolph spat out a mouthful of blood, his body charred and smoking as he was flung backward, the intense pain making him wish he could tear Luca limb from limb.


    That brat had yed a dirty trick, causing him to lose focus at a critical moment!


    Seeing that Rudolph was severely injured, Franklin, Bayou, and the others quickly moved in to capture him.


    But Rudolph reacted with remarkable speed.


    Gritting his teeth and pushing through the pain, he twisted his body mid-air and, using a secret technique, his entire body glowed with a blood-red hue. He transformed into a streak of blood-red light, darting once again toward Beast Forest.


    Franklin watched in surprise. "He''s still running after that? Since when were Energy Masters this tough?"


    No one had time to respond to his remark. Kurk leaped into the air, his voice icy as he dered, "Rudolph is severely injured. We cannot let him escape and reach the Nightmare Cult!"


    Everyone now understood that all of this chaos had been orchestrated by the Nightmare Cultand Rudolph, and their hearts were filled with fury.


    If he managed to escape into Beast Forestand regroup with the Nightmare Cult, capturing him would be nearly impossible.


    One by one, the figures of powerful warriors leapt from Riverfall City, transforming into streaks of light as they chased after Rudolph.


    Luca and the others sprang into action as well.


    The only ones staying behind were Catherineand Old Carl, whom Sophia had ordered to remain in Riverfall City to care for those who had fallen into a deep slumber near the association''s headquarters.


    The rest of the group all rushed toward Beast Forest.


    ...


    Meanwhile, deep within Beast Forest.


    The Iron Mountainarmy and over ten thousand yers were struggling to hold off the relentless assault of the monster horde.


    The battle was fierce, with the sounds of fighting echoing through the forest. Severed limbs and blood painted the battlefield.


    Under the seemingly endless waves of monster attacks, fewer than half of the Iron Mountainsoldiers and yers remained standing.


    And even those left were wounded, exhausted, and on the brink of copse, their energy nearly depleted.


    Roar!


    A thunderous tiger''s roar shook the battlefield, as crimson mes swept through the forest, transforming the surroundings into a sea of fire.


    Cassmanwas sent flying from the mes, crashing through several massive trees beforeing to a stop.


    His body screamed with pain, the taste of blood thick in his throat.


    Struggling to his feet, Cassman used his greatsword to prop himself up, his once-pristine white armor now covered in scars and bloodstains. His stamina was nearly drained.


    Staring at the enormous Crimson me Demon Tigerbefore him, its body wreathed in fire.


    Cassman gritted his teeth, breathing heavily. "Luca, you little brat, if you don''t bring reinforcements soon, you better be ready to collect my body!"


    Today, Cassman had learned firsthand the terrifying power of a Lord-level monster.


    Despite the fact that the Crimson me Demon Tigerwas only level 30, having just broken through to Gold Grade, it had himpletely overpowered.


    These beasts were far more difficult to deal with than he had anticipated.


    But now was not the time to back down!


    Cassman nced toward Riverfall City, then tightened his grip on his greatsword as a golden Battle Willbegan to radiate from his body once more.


    Roar!


    As Cassman prepared for one final, desperate stand.


    The Crimson me Demon Tiger''s blood-red eyes gleamed with a sinister, almost human-like mockery, as if it were taunting his futile effort.


    Cassman spat a mouthful of bloody saliva and cursed, "You smug, red-furred beast! If I hadn''t just recovered from my injuries, I''d be lopping off your head with a single strike!"


    As if understanding his words, the Crimson me Demon Tiger let out an enraged roar, the mes surrounding its body ring even higher.


    With explosive force, itunched itself forward like a cannonball, closing the distance to Cassman in the blink of an eye.


    The attack gave Cassman no time to react.


    The tiger''s gaping maw opened wide, its massive jaws aiming straight for his neck!


    In that moment, Cassman could smell the overwhelming stench of blood.


    The Crimson me Demon Tigerwas moving too fast¡ªfar too fast for him to even attempt dodging!


    "Captain Cassman!" The surrounding soldiers shouted in rm.


    "Damned beast! Let''s die together!" Cassman''s eyes burned red with rage as he realized his fate was sealed.


    He prepared to unleash a desperate secret technique, ready to take the Crimson me Demon Tigerdown with him.


    If he was going to die, he''d make sure to tear a piece of the beast with him.


    But just as Cassman was about to make his move, a sudden sh of white light swept before his eyes, and within it, he caught a glimpse of a dark figure.


    At the same time, a familiar voice echoed in his ears.


    "Get out of my way!!" Rudolph''s furious roar filled the air as his figure shot past like a bolt of lightning.


    Before the Crimson me Demon Tigercould sink its teeth into Cassman, Rudolph mmed into the beast, sending it flying several dozen meters through the air!


    "Reinforcements from the city are here!" Cassman recognized Rudolph and felt a surge of joy, thinking that Luca must have brought the city''s strong warriors to their aid.


    But then something seemed off.


    Wait... why was the City Lordinjured?


    And more than that, he wasn''t acting like someone who hade to help.


    It looked more like¡­ he was running away?


    As Rudolph''s figure disappeared into the distance, Cassman didn''t have time to process what was happening.


    Momentster, several more streaks of light shot past him, racing after Rudolph.


    It was Bayou, Bright, and the others!


    Lucia and Franklin were trailing behind, not as quick due to their mage-ss physiques.


    Lucia managed to keep up rtively well, thanks to her various mobility spells.


    But Franklin was struggling.


    Gripping his lower back, he gasped for breath, cursing under his breath, "Huff... That damn Rudolph... If I catch him, I swear I''ll make him pay!"


    Franklin, already up in age, wasn''t helped by the fact that Witch Doctorsdidn''t have much in the way of speed-enhancing skills. The chase had exhausted him thoroughly.


    Deciding enough was enough, Franklin stopped running.


    "I''m a Witch Doctor, why am I wasting my energy chasing that old fool? Let the others handle it," he muttered, leaning on his staff.


    Just then, the Crimson me Demon Tiger, which had been knocked away by Rudolph, staggered to its feet.


    Shaking its dizzy head, its gaze locked onto Franklin.


    Roar!!


    The beast let out an enraged bellow, seemingly mistaking Franklin for the one who had attacked it, and charged toward him in a fury.


    "Annoying beast!" Franklin, already in a foul mood, scoffed. His hands surged with a deep blue, eerie power.


    Witch Doctor''s Hand!

 Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Arrival of Two Kings! The Vessel!

    The Crimson me Demon Tiger, which had been charging ferociously moments before, suddenly froze in ce.


    Its eyes filled with terror, as though it were being gripped by an invisible hand. No matter how it struggled, it couldn''t break free.


    The next moment, Franklin clenched his hand tightly.


    Boom!!


    Before the stunned eyes of soldiers and yers alike.


    The Gold Grade Lord monsterthat had pushed Cassmanto the brink of death exploded into a mist of blood.


    St! St!


    Blood and pieces of the monster''s organs rained down from the sky.


    Franklin, seeming to remember something, reached out and grabbed something mid-air. His hand now held a mangled piece of flesh.


    He chuckled darkly, "The tiger''s whip is a useful thing¡ªnot just for potion-making, but also a good supplement for young Luca''s vitality..."


    The soldiers and yers stood there, dumbfounded.


    None of them could believe that the old man, who had looked so exhausted moments earlier, possessed such terrifying power.


    Just then, Luca, Sophia, and the others arrived at the scene.


    "What on earth happened here?" Cassman asked in confusion, still not understanding why a group of strong figures had been chasing Rudolph.


    Luca replied casually, "Oh, nothing much¡ªRudolph has been colluding with the Nightmare Cult."


    "The City Lord is colluding with the Nightmare Cult?!" Cassman''s eyes widened in disbelief. What did Luca mean by "nothing much"? That was a massive deal!


    Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Rudolph''s figure darted through the trees, desperately trying to flee.


    Behind him, Lucia and the others were in hot pursuit.


    Although Rudolph had used a secret technique to push his speed to the limit.


    Energy Masters weren''t known for their speed, and he was still badly injured.


    It didn''t take long for Brightto catch up.


    As soon as he was within striking distance, Bright wasted no time. His crystal daggersliced through the air, aiming straight for Rudolph''s back with lethal precision.


    Assassin mid-level skill: Heartpiercer!


    Sensing danger, Rudolph tried to dodge in a panic.


    Though he narrowly avoided a fatal blow, the dagger still sliced deeply into his arm, leaving a deep wound.


    In an instant, the fresh red blood from the wound turned ck.


    It was a hallmark of the Assassin''s Poisoned deskill.


    The poison can make paralysisin short time.


    The poison caused Rudolph to briefly seize up, his body nearly copsing to the ground.


    Although he quickly gathered his Qi, forcing the poison out of his body as fast as he could, the dy was enough.


    By the time he recovered, Bayouand the others had closed in, surrounding him.


    Hovering in the air, Bayou''s robe pped in the wind, golden energy swirling around him.


    His wrinkled face was twisted in anger as he shouted, "Rudolph, I never expected you to be ackey for a cult! Do you even realize what you''ve done? Do you know how many lives will be lost because of your actions?"


    Bayou''s anger was genuine.


    He had watched Rudolph grow up, even acting as something of a mentor to him. He never could have imagined that Rudolph would fall so far.


    Surrounded by a group of powerful warriors, Rudolph knew there was no escape. He no longer bothered to hide his true self.


    With a twisted expression, he snarled, "What do I care about the lives of others? As long as I achieve my goal, it doesn''t matter how many die! They''re nothing but worthless ants. It''s an honor for them to sacrifice their lives for me!"


    Bayou shook his head, thest shred of hope he had for Rudolphpletely gone.


    "What''s the point of talking to him? Just kill him and then hunt down the rest of the Nightmare Cultscum!" Kurkcrossed his arms, his body surging with blood energy so powerful that it distorted the air around him.


    "You think you can kill me? We''ll see if you''re capable of it!" Rudolph sneered, his body enveloped in a swirling aura of Qi. He had no intention of surrendering¡ªif he could hold out until the Nightmare Cultreinforcements arrived, the tables might turn in his favor.


    The group exchanged cold looks. There was no point in continuing the conversation.


    They drew their weapons, prepared to deal with the traitor once and for all.


    Boom!!!


    Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the entire forest, emanating from the depths of Beast Forest.


    The earth trembled violently, sending birds and beasts into a frenzy. All the monsters that had been attacking the Iron Mountain army abruptly stopped, dropping to the ground in submission, eyes filled with fear.


    "What is that?!" everyone gasped, turning to look in the direction of the disturbance.


    From the heart of Beast Forest, a massive blood-red beam of light shot up into the sky, painting the heavens crimson.


    At the same time, an overwhelming wave of ck demonic energy radiated out from the forest''s core, spreading like a flood.


    Wherever the ck energy touched, grass withered, trees cracked, birds and beasts rotted away. In the blink of an eye, the once lush and vibrant forest was reduced to a deste wastnd devoid of life.


    It was then that the group noticed something even more shocking¡ªdeep in the forest, a gigantic ck vortex, several meters wide, had appeared, though none could say when it had formed.


    From this vortex, countless monstrous creatures crawled forth, their numbers seemingly endless.


    The variety of monsters was staggering: rotting undead ghouls, human-bodied werewolves with wolf heads, eight-armed crawlers, and more.


    Even the skies were filled with monsters.


    Pale-skinned, winged abominations and eerie birds swarmed out of the vortex in a thick cloud, blotting out the sun.


    But what truly sent a shiver through everyone''s spine was the massive creature at the center of it all¡ªa behemoth with nine heads, towering over a hundred meters tall.


    Roar, roar, roar, roar, roar!!!


    The nine-headed beast let out an earth-shaking roar, its colossal body looming like a mountain, inspiring awe and terror alike.


    Its overwhelming presence instantly nketed not only Beast Forest but even Riverfall City.


    Under the immense pressure of its aura, even the high-level warriors felt their hearts quake.


    In that brief moment, they all came to the same conclusion.


    This creature was beyond a high-level monster¡ªit was a Superssnightmare!


    "This... is a King-level monster?" Kurk swallowed hard, suddenly regretting his decision toe here.


    If he had known such a terrifying creature existed, he would have ordered an immediate retreat!


    "Hahaha! The cult''s n has seeded!!" Rudolph, now restrained by the group once again, was ecstatic.


    With the Nightmare Cult''s ning to fruition, his goal was within reach.


    If he could just hold out until the cult''s reinforcements arrived, his dreams of a grand future were close at hand!


    Meanwhile, on the Iron Mountain army''s side, the yers stared at the massive creature in the distance, utterly stunned.


    "Holy crap, is this the boss?!"


    "Unbelievable! It looks so real! Zenith Tech is on another level!"


    "Does it have to be this realistic? That zombie monster is leaking corpse fluid all over¡ªso gross!"


    "Mom, I don''t want to y anymore, this game is way too scary!"


    "What are you scared of? Other yers would be jealous of a mission like this. Even if you die, you''ll have an epic story to tell!"


    ...


    The yers were buzzing with excitement and disbelief, assuming this was some kind of boss encounter. They were all in awe of Zenith Technology Company''s brilliance.


    The immersive feeling was beyond anything virtual reality had ever provided!


    Among the crowd, Malinawas equally thrilled.


    She moved around, capturing the grand spectacle from every angle.


    Every shot she took could easily be used as a poster.


    Other yers from different cities wouldn''t have the chance to witness something on this scale!


    On the other side, Luca alsoid eyes on the colossal Hydra.


    If his calctions were correct, they had only been apart for a few days.


    "Still toote... we couldn''t stop that beast from emerging," Luca sighed inwardly.


    It wasn''t as if he hadn''t tried. His original n had been to take down Hydrawhile its strength was still manageable.


    But so many unexpected events had urred since then, dying their efforts.


    Fortunately, their actions hadn''t been for nothing.


    This Hydra was just a projection, and its strength seemed limited to the high-level range¡ªlikely due to the forced breakthrough caused by the cult''s interference.


    Even if the Riverfall Citywarriors couldn''t defeat it outright, they could likely hold it off for a few days until Count Ryanreturned, and by then, they would have a fighting chance.


    The only thing Luca wasn''t sure of now was whether the Nightmare Culthad managed to release the Dream Lord Jormungandr.


    As the monster horde surged toward the Iron Mountain army, Luca gripped his Mithril Mage Speartightly.


    If another King-level monster showed up, he might have to start giving serious thought to an all-out retreat...


    Meanwhile, deep within Beast Forest, the Nightmare Cult''s followers had been decimated. Out of the original thousand, fewer than three hundred remained.


    Everyone knelt on the ground, their eyes filled with fanatical devotion as they stared toward the center of the ritual.


    At the heart of the formation, a stunning silver snake, about a meter long, had appeared at some unknown moment.


    Its eyes shimmered with a dreamlike purple hue, and its body was adorned with twelve intricate, radiant patterns. The scales glowed faintly with a soft purple light, giving it an ethereal appearance, as though it existed somewhere between reality and fantasy.


    As the worshippers gazed upon it, visions began to dance before their eyes¡ªvisions of their deepest desires and fantasies.


    Some saw themselves bing immensely wealthy overnight, others saw themselves surrounded by beautiful women, while still others saw themselves as powerful, legendary warriors.


    Each vision was different, yet all were dreamlike, enchanting, and utterly captivating, leaving the onlookers spellbound.


    It was none other than the Dream Lord, Jormungandr!


    There was no doubt now¡ªThe Nightmare Cult''s n had seeded!


    Tiaknelt on one knee, her voice filled with reverence as she said, "Eternal Dream! We wee our Lord''s arrival!"


    Jormungandr slowly lifted its head, its pale purple eyes gazing down at Tia and the cult members who bowed before it.


    Its tongue flickered in and out, glowing with a faint white light, apanied by a soft hissing sound.


    Then, to the shock of everyone present, Jormungandr''s body began to fade.


    "What... what''s happening?!" The worshippers'' visions were abruptly shattered, and panic filled their faces. They didn''t understand what was going on.


    "Tia, my Lord is disappearing! Did our n fail?!" one of the deacons asked in a panic. They had spent over a decade on this n, sacrificing countless cult members to see it through.


    Sess had seemed so close¡ªimmortality in the dream realm was within their grasp¡ªand now, at thest moment, something had gone wrong.


    "The n hasn''t failed," Tia said, shaking her head slightly. "Although we used the blood sacrifice to summon our Lord into the Eternal World, we couldn''t bring His full power with Him. His form is weak right now."


    At this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the n hadn''t failed, there was still hope.


    The same deacon asked, "Tia, what should we do now?"


    Tia turned her gaze toward the silver snake in the center of the formation, frowning. "Our Lord needs a body¡ªa vessel¡ªto temporarily contain His power."

 Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Hydra’s Weakness, The Art of Battle

    "I offer my life for our Lord!" The followers of the cult were filled with fervor, each eager to sacrifice themselves. To have their bodies used by Jormungandrwas an honor beyond measure.


    Tia shook her head slightly and said, "If an ordinary body could bear our Lord''s power, this wouldn''t be an issue. Our Lord requires an extraordinary vessel¡ªin other words, a genius!"


    The cultists fell silent, realizing the difficulty of the task.


    Where could they find such a person in these circumstances?


    Suddenly, one of the deacons had an idea. His eyes lit up as he said, "Lady Tia, what about that boy from before?"


    Tia considered for a moment before nodding slightly. "His talent is indeed extraordinary. To break my Blood-Sealing Formationat such a young age, his potential ranks among the highest even on the Eternal Continent."


    "Then it''s settled. Gather everyone ande with me. We''ll bring that boy back for our Lord! I''m sure our Lord will be more than satisfied with such a vessel, and you''ll all be well rewarded for your efforts!"


    Upon hearing this, the Nightmare Cultfollowers were filled with excitement. They could hardly wait to capture Lucaand present him to Jormungandr.


    The previous dream had been so enchanting, so utterly intoxicating¡ªthey had all experienced it firsthand.


    If given the chance to relive that dream, they would be willing to sacrifice anything.


    ...


    Roar, roar, roar!!!


    On the Iron Mountain army''s side, Hydraraised its nine heads to the sky, letting out a deafening roar. Its massive wings, spanning the sky, pped powerfully, sending storm-like winds sweeping across Beast Forest.


    The monsters, seeminglymanded by Hydra, became frenzied and surged toward the Iron Mountain army with renewed energy.


    For monsters, human flesh had an irresistible allure¡ªeating humans was their primal instinct. They could already taste the meat!


    This monster hordewas farrger than the one they had faced before. As far as the eye could see, thend was swarming with monsters¡ªendless, countless hordes.


    Among them, Luca spotted at least seven or eight Lord-level monsters, including a few high-level ones.


    As the overwhelming tide of monsters rushed toward them, the soldiers of the Iron Mountain armygripped their weapons tightly, their faces filled with tension.


    Even though they were exhausted, they forced themselves to stay alert and ready.


    The yers, too, prepared themselves for battle.


    While dying once would bring significant losses, if Riverfall Cityfell, they would lose everything.


    Cassman, seeing the situation, quickly shouted orders to the soldiers. "Everyone, retreat from Beast Forestfor now! Set up a second defensive line at Wind in!"


    The soldiers had fought nonstop and were on the brink of copse. If they were hit by the monster hordenow, the army could easily be wiped out.


    Although retreating temporarily might not offer a perfect solution, it would at least give them a chance to regroup and catch their breath.


    Thankfully, several mid-level warriors had arrived from Riverfall Cityto help share the burden and give the army a fighting chance.


    "Hahaha, the Demon Kingis already out! You''re all doomed¡ªeveryst one of you!" Rudolph, now restrained, cackled maniacally, iling his arms and speaking incoherently.


    In his deranged state, it seemed he was envisioning everyone being torn to pieces by monsters¡ªespecially that brat Luca, whom he pictured being ripped apart in the most gruesome way.


    The others nced at him with pity.


    They couldn''t tell if his mind had been shattered by the lightning strike.


    OrFranklin''s voodoocurse had left him mentally unhinged, causing hallucinations.


    Why did he believe the Nightmare Cultwoulde to rescue him?


    He was no longer of any use, and the most cost-effective solution for the cult would be to dispose of him.


    Still, no one had the time to dwell on Rudolph. He was handed over to the Iron Mountain armyfor safekeeping and promptly forgotten.


    In the sky, Lucia and the other high-level warriors hovered, their gazes locked on Hydra, which was now surrounded by a horde of Lord-level monsters.


    Each of their expressions was grave.


    Kurk sighed, "To be honest, if I had a choice, I''d rather not go head-to-head with that nine-headed beast."


    Bayou rolled his eyes. "Riverfall City is overrun, with its residents trapped in nightmares. If you want to run, go ahead, but you''ll be leaving them all behind. Let''s see how well you sleep at night after that."


    Bright, ever the silent type, said nothing and simply wiped his dagger clean.


    Lucia, on the other hand, was far more optimistic.


    Surrounded by crackling lightning, she chuckled, "It''s just a high-level monster. So what if it''s an Overlordor a King-level monster? Does it think it''s invincible? Let''s see how many of my Heavenly Thunder Purple Firestrikes it can handle!"


    On the ground, Luca shot a wry nce at his teacher.


    She was half-right. Hydra did, in fact, possess an invulnerability of sorts.


    As long as its nine heads weren''t severed simultaneously, it could keep regenerating.


    And each of its heads held the power of a high-level monster, with unique abilities¡ªa truly troublesome foe.


    Time was running out. The Iron Mountain armyhad already begun its tactical retreat.


    Hydra''s massive form surged forward, its overwhelming presence suffocating.


    Without hesitation, the high-level warriors transformed into streaks of light and charged toward Hydra.


    Theyintend to intercept it before it could break free of Beast Forest.


    Luca quickly called out to Franklin, "Teacher, this monster''s weakness is its nine heads! You have to sever all nine at once to kill it!"


    Franklin, just about to take off, paused in surprise. "How do you know its weakness is the nine heads?"


    Sophia also nced over, equally surprised.


    Luca quickly improvised, "I read about this monster in some ancient texts a couple of days ago."


    "Ancient texts? I don''t recall seeing anything like that," Franklin muttered, a bit confused. But with no time to dig deeper into Luca''s im, he simply nodded and shot into the sky, joining the other high-level warriors as they charged toward Hydra.


    Sophia cast Luca a suspicious look, sensing that he was hiding something.


    However, she trusted her junior and knew he wouldn''t joke about something this critical. Curiosity aside, she didn''t press the matter.


    The second monster hordebattle began with a crack of thunder as Sophia unleashed a massive bolt of lightning.


    Boom!!!


    Nine silvery-white lightning bolts descended from the sky, transforming into lightning serpents that struck Hydra''s nine heads simultaneously.


    The lightning exploded, causing Hydra to stagger in mid-air from the powerful impact.


    Though Lucia''s attack didn''t seem to cause any real harm, it certainly enraged Hydra.


    All nine heads roared in fury, and one of them opened its enormous mouth, gathering an icy blue energy.


    The temperature around them plummeted, and snowkes began to fall from the sky. Sharp icicles formed mid-air, raining down like a storm of spears toward Lucia and the others.


    Franklin raised his ck tome, summoning dark gray Witch Doctor magicthat manifested as five runes, each one attaching itself to a different member of the group. A gray-ck barrier formed around everyone just as the ice spears struck.


    Each ice spear shattered into fragments upon hitting the barrier, which only rippled slightly in response.


    Lich''s Shield!


    This high-level Witch Doctor skillcreated defensive shields for both the caster and multiple targets.


    Itsignificantly boosting both defense and vitality.


    After casting Lich''s Shield, Franklin didn''t stop. He rapidly flipped through his ck tome, continuouslyyering spell after spell on the group.


    Lich''s Blessing!Life Blood Curse!Totem Barrier!Disease Immunity!


    Under the barrage of protective and augmenting spells, the group''s strength and aura grew even more formidable.


    Hydra, meanwhile, found itself afflicted by various curses Franklin had cast, weakening its power significantly and easing the pressure on the team.


    Though Witch Doctorsmightck rawbat power, their support abilities were among the best.


    As long as they weren''t killed outright, even severely wounded or missing limbs, Franklin could bring his allies back into the fight in no time.


    Once a Witch Doctor reached high levels, their ability to heal, buff, shield, and debilitate enemies made them invaluable on the battlefield.


    A Witch Doctorcould fill the role of several sses at once, making them incredibly powerful.


    With a Witch Doctoron their team, Lucia and the others felt a huge weight lifted off their shoulders, allowing them to fight with full force.


    As the high-level warriors engaged Hydra, the Iron Mountain armyshed with the monster horde.


    However, they didn''t stand their ground, fighting as they retreated.


    Thanks to Cassman''s timely orders, the army managed to avoid the brunt of the horde''s strongest attacks.


    Moreover, mid-level warriors from Riverfall Cityhad joined Luca''s group and were helping cover the army''s retreat from the rear.


    Because of this, the initial encounter with the monsters didn''t result in any casualties.


    The Iron Mountain armyquickly retreated.


    Before long, they had exited Beast Forest, crossing Starlight Lakeand arriving at the vast expanse of Wind in.


    The wide-open in gave them a clear view of the battlefield.


    With their backs to Riverfall City, the army only had to face the monstersing from the front, rather than being surrounded like they had been in the forest.


    More importantly, several thousand city guard soldierswere already waiting for them.


    With the reinforcements, the Iron Mountain soldiers could rotate and rest.


    As soon as the two forces joined, the second wave of the monster hordebattle officially began!


    There was no need for speeches, only one word:


    Kill!


    The roar of the monsters mingled with the battle cries of yers and soldiers, reverberating across the ins.


    Brilliant lights from various skills illuminated the battlefield, while blood and severed limbs flew in all directions.


    The clouds in the sky were scattered by the violent winds, and the ground shook under the bombardment of powerful attacks. Screams and howls filled the air.


    In mere moments, Wind inwas stained red with blood.


    Sophiagripped her crystal ice staff, her blue hair flowing even in the absence of wind, surrounded by delicate snowkes.


    Those tiny, harmless-looking snowkes became deadly weapons in her hands, effortlessly shredding monsters into bloody pulp.


    Catherine, with her agile form, darted through the monsters, her silver spear whirling like a silver dragon.


    With a swift sh of light, she pierced through the heads of monsters, her movements clean and efficient, wasting no time.


    Luca fought alongside Catherine at the frontlines.


    His movements appeared ordinary at first nce, but every thrust of his spear struck the monsters'' vital points, delivering maximum damage with minimal effort.


    When monsters attacked him, he dodged their blows with seemingly casual sidesteps and turns.


    Meanwhile, his magic runescontinued to shift.


    Fire serpents, iron swords, icences, vines, air steps, thunder strikes¡ªeach spell followed the next seamlessly, forming a continuous, unbroken rhythm of power.


    There was nothing shy or excessive about his fighting style. It was simple, yet effective.


    But in Luca''s hands, it felt as though every move was calcted, every change perfectly timed, as if he had mastered every variable of the battle.


    To those watching, it didn''t feel like they were witnessing a fight.


    It felt like they were watching a master perform on a grand stage, showcasing the pinnacle of skill¡ªa perfect blend of technique and instinct.


    Yes, this was art.


    The art of battle!

 Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Incredible Recovery, Ada’s Invitation

    Seeing Luca in action, Cassman couldn''t help but ask the question that had been on his mind for some time now.


    And thisquestion many others were thinking as well.


    With a look of disbelief, he muttered, "Is this kid reallya beginner? Even if he started fighting monsters the moment he was born, he shouldn''t have this level of battle skill!"


    "Maybe... it''s just pure talent," an old soldier nearby responded, his face full of envy.


    If hehad Luca''sbat skills, hisrades would have been green with jealousy, much like a bunch of Violent Rabbits.


    But s, some things you just can''t learn by trying.


    As more and more monsters fell before Luca''s spear, his experience points surged at an incredible rate.


    [Ding! You have in "Lv20 Rotting Hellhound (Common)", earning 18,074 EXP!]


    [Ding! You have in "Lv21 Man-faced Eagle (Common)", earning 21,437 EXP!]


    [Ding! You have in "Lv20 Scorpion-tailed Tiger (Rare)", earning 36,133 EXP!]


    ...


    The double experience bonus gave a significant boost to Luca''s progress.


    With his monster-ying speed, his experience points shot up like a rocket.


    In no time, he leveled up twice, reaching Level 18.


    Luca allocated all 20 of his free attribute points to his Spirit, bringing it up to 580 points.


    His base attack power broke past 1500, and his low-level skill damage skyrocketed to 2700, leaving ordinary yers far behind.


    Afterward, he checked the Riverfall Cityquest interface.


    He was pleasantly surprised to see that his reputationhad unknowingly risen to 400 points.


    In Eternal Continent, reputation was a valuable asset.


    Reaching a certain level of reputation not only granted special treatment from NPCs in major cities, but also allowed yers to be knighted and establish their own forces.


    More importantly, some unique dungeons and Secret Areascould only be essed if the yer''s reputation met the required threshold.


    If Luca''s memory was correct, the Kingdom of Clintonhad several top-tier Secret Areas, heavily guarded by the major powers.


    Only yers who had made significant contributions and gained enough reputation could gain entry.


    In his previous life, one yer had entered one of these Secret Areas and obtained the legacy of a Transcendent-levelpowerhouse.


    Overnight, that yer''s strength skyrocketed, eventually bing one of the top Transcendent-level figures.


    Luca also recalled that many of the best items in the game required a certain level of reputation to ess.


    For example, in Dawn City, the capital of the Kingdom of Clinton, there was a top-tier Secret Areaguarded by the royal family, hiding a piece of Transcendent-level gear.


    If he wanted to im that piece of equipment, Luca would need to raise his reputation to 100,000 points and secure a counttitle.


    With these thoughts in mind, Luca closed the quest panel and returned to ughtering monsters in the horde.


    He aimed to see if he could raise his reputation to 1,000 points before the end of the mission.


    In Beast Forest, the deafening roars of Hydraechoed through the trees, apanied by massive explosions that shook the ground. From a distance, one could see the thunderbolts crashing down from the sky, waves of blood energy surging upwards, and Hydra''s nine heads spitting fire, ice, and poisonous mists.


    The earth trembled, mountains crumbled, and the withered trees and monsters around them were obliterated by the shockwaves of the battle.


    The fight was intense, but the situation was far from ideal.


    It wasn''t that Luciaand the others couldn''t damage Hydra¡ªthey could¡ªbut its regeneration was terrifyingly fast.


    Often, by the time they were ready tounch a second strike, Hydra''s wounds had already healed, making their efforts feel futile.


    Meanwhile, their stamina was steadily depleting.


    In mid-air, Brightshed through the air with his dagger, leaving a deep gash on one of Hydra''s heads.


    However, his movement was a fraction too slow, and another of Hydra''s heads knocked him flying.


    Struggling to steady himself, Bright''s face turned pale as he spoke, "This isn''t working. We have to find its weakness!"


    As an Assassin, Bright excelled in burst damage, but his endurance in prolonged battles left much to be desired.


    If things dragged on like this, he would be the first to fall.


    The others frowned, worry evident in their expressions.


    This monster already had high attack power and an enormous health pool, but its regeneration made the battle seem impossible.


    Lucia, in particr, was speechless.


    Her earlier remark hade true¡ªher repeated lightning strikes hadn''t done enough damage to slow Hydra down.


    As she watched the wounds on Hydra''s body close up once again, Franklinsuddenly recalled something Luca had told him earlier.


    "Could the kid have been right?" Franklin muttered to himself.


    He had been skeptical at first, but seeing Hydra''s abilities in action made it hard to deny.


    "What did he say?" Lucia asked, curious.


    Franklin shook his head. "Luca said he read about this monster in an ancient text. ording to him, its weakness lies in its nine heads. To kill it, we need to sever all nine heads at once."


    The group froze at this revtion.


    "Is this information reliable? That kid better not be making this up," Bayousaid, doubtful.


    He had read countless books, but had nevere across any mention of such a nine-headed creature.


    Lucia shot him a sharp re. "My student isn''t the type to make things up, especially about something this serious. If he says it''s possible, then there''s at least some truth to it."


    Kurkchimed in, "We can test it. Let''s focus on cutting off one of the heads and see what happens."


    The group agreed. Cutting off all nine heads at once wasn''t realistic, especially with just the five of them. But working together to take down a single head was definitely doable.


    At that moment, Hydraunleashed another vicious attack.


    Two of its heads opened wide, spewing terrifying ck mes. Anything the fire touched was instantly reduced to ashes¡ªeven Franklin''s Lich''s Shieldcouldn''t withstand the intense heat.


    The group scrambled to evade the attack, each sustaining minor injuries. Though no one was gravely wounded, the ordeal stoked a burning frustration in their hearts.


    "I''ll distract it with Bayou. You all prepare your skills and aim for the head on the far right," Kurkshouted before charging toward Hydra, with Bayou close behind.


    Their offensive capabilities were limited, but their high health made them the perfect candidates to buy time for the others.


    ...


    Meanwhile, on Wind in.


    Luca''s ice magic runesshimmered in his hands, his spear glowing with a cold blue light.


    A freezing icenceshot forward with a sharp whistle, piercing directly through the head of a Rare Wind Wolf.


    -2757!


    [Ding! You have in "Lv20 Wind Wolf (Rare)," earning 34,791 EXP.]


    As the experience notification popped up, Luca''s level increased to 18.


    This time, he got lucky¡ªbesides the experience points, the Wind Wolf also dropped a Bronze Gradeitem.


    [Wind Wolf Boots: Bronze Grade, usable at Lv15. Increases Agility by +30 and Movement Speed by 5%. Collect all five pieces of the Wind Walker set to unlock the "Wind Walker" attribute.]


    Luca nced at the item before casually storing it in his Storage Ring.


    While the Wind Walker setwas decent, it was more suited for Assassinsses, and Luca''s current Wanderer Setwas far superior for his needs. The boots would be sold when he returned to Riverfall City.


    After gathering the materials dropped by the Wind Wolf, Luca was about to continue hunting.


    When a familiar voice called out to him."Luca, might you be willing to sell that item in your hand?"


    He turned to see Ada, the Guild Leader of Snowfall Guild, walking toward him.


    She wore a pristine white priest''s robe, her tall, graceful figure and elegant appearance reflecting her well-bred upbringing.


    Behind her was Ben, his dyed-yellow hair easy to spot in the distance.


    His eyes gleamed with excitement as they locked onto the Wind Wolf Bootsin Luca''s hand.


    For an Assassin, the Wind Walker setwas one of the best sets avable during the early stages of the game. Ben already had two pieces and was now only three away frompleting the set.


    If he managed to get it, even someone like DienResurrectionwouldn''t be able to stand against him.


    The thought ofpleting the set filled him with excitement.


    Luca, having a rtively good impression of both Ada and Ben, casually replied, "If you want to buy it, I''ll let it go for 500,000."


    The price Luca named wasn''t exactly cheap, especially since it was for part of a set.


    But Luca wasn''t being greedy either¡ªhe was only charging about 100,000 more than its market value.


    In the real world, plenty of rich yers would dly throw money at a deal like this.


    When Ben and Ada heard the price, their eyes lit up.


    "Deal! 500,000 it is!" Ben responded eagerly.


    They had expected Luca to charge them a much higher price, especially for a set item like this.


    Early on in the game, set items were incredibly rare, and it wouldn''t be unusual to see them selling for over a million.


    Luca''s price was more than fair.


    After adding each other as friends, Luca casually tossed the Wind Wolf Bootsto Ben, saying, "Get in touch with me after the game."


    He wasn''t worried about being scammed.


    If they tried anything shady.


    They''d soon learn the hard way what real cruelty meant.


    Impressed by Luca''s straightforwardness.


    Both Ben and Ada felt a growing sense of respect for him.


    Ben thumped his chest confidently. "Don''t worry, Luca! I''ll transfer the money to you today."


    Luca nodded slightly and was about to leave when Ada quickly spoke up, "Mr. Luca, I was wondering¡ªare you considering joining a guild?"


    Having seen Luca''s strength firsthand.


    Ada knew how valuable a yer like him would be to their Snowfall Guild. Recruiting him would be a huge win.


    Ben chimed in with an offer, "If you''re willing to join Snowfall Guild, we can offer you twice what The World Guildpromised!"


    The surrounding yers who overheard this gasped in shock.


    Previously, Celephaishad offered Luca over a million to join The World Guild.


    But that was backed by Jiang Groupand the James Family, for whom such an amount was pocket change.


    No one expected Snowfall Guildto be willing to pay so much to recruit Luca.


    But what shocked everyone even more was Luca''s response.


    Without even a moment of hesitation, he shook his head and said, "Sorry, I''m not looking to join a guild right now."


    For Luca, joining a guild wasn''t necessary. The benefits were limitedpared to what he could achieve on his own.


    If the opportunity arose in the future, he nned to create his own team, recruiting some of the top-tier yers from his past life and building an elite force.


    But joining someone else''s guild? That was out of the question. He didn''t like being tied down or controlled.


    Hearing his answer, both Ada and Ben were visibly disappointed.

 Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Nightmare Cult Makes a Move, and Theyre After Someone

    Ada and Ben had already anticipated Luca''s refusal.


    After all, if Luca hadn''t been swayed by Celephaisand The World Guild, why would he be interested in joining their rtively smaller Snowfall Guild?


    After a moment of thought, Luca spoke up, "I''m not nning to join any guild for now, but we can still coborate or trade. I have a lot of gear, and future items I get can be sold to you in bulk. However, the price will be about 30% higher than the market rate. Think about it."


    Luca knew he would need to buy many resources soon, so partnering with a well-funded but not overly aggressive guild like Snowfallseemed like a good fit.


    Asking for 30% above market value waspletely normal at the start of the game.


    Especially since Luca was offering gear that was a tier higher than what most yers could ess.


    These items might not mean much to casual yers, but to professional yers, they were invaluable for elerating their progress.


    As expected, Ada didn''t hesitate. She immediately agreed to the deal.


    With that, their partnership was informally sealed.


    Just then, there was amotion at the frontlines, and shouts of anger could be heard in the distance.


    Someone called out, "Everyone be careful! The Nightmare Cultis here!"


    "The Nightmare Cult?" Luca raised an eyebrow, looking toward the battlefield. Sure enough, a group of several hundred cult members in purple robes was advancing alongside the monster horde, attacking the Iron Mountain Army.


    Leading them was a seductive woman with long purple hair and a graceful, alluring figure.


    She clearly someone of importance within the cult.


    As Luca''s gaze fell on her, the woman seemed to sense his attention.


    Her eyes locked onto his, and their gazes met.


    Luca saw the woman''s lips curl into a slow, captivating smile¡ªa beauty that could topple kingdoms.


    "That woman¡­" Luca thought, his mind racing. She looked strangely familiar, but he couldn''t ce where he had seen her before. After all, he had encountered many people in his previous life.


    At that moment, Sophiaand Catherinealso noticed the presence of The Nightmare Culton the battlefield.


    Sophia''s gaze turned icy as she looked in the cult''s direction. Her voice was cold and sharp. "No wonder the Nightmare Cult has been making such bold moves. It''s all because of that woman."


    Catherine frowned and asked, "Sophia, could she be ''Dream Empress'' Tia Dis?"


    Sophia nodded. "Exactly. No one else in The Nightmare Cultwould dare to target Emerald Stateso brazenly. I should have realized earlier that this was her doing, pulling the strings behind the scenes."


    "Tia Dis..." Luca''s eyes shed as he finally remembered where he had seen this woman in his previous life.


    Back then, however, she had already be the Nightmare Cult''s high priestess, d in a ceremonial pope''s robe and veiledpletely different from how she looked now. That''s why he didn''t recognize her immediately.


    But her name was well-known, infamous even.


    She was the Nightmare Queen, Tia Dis.


    ATranscendent-levelpowerhouse who once dragged an entire small nation into her dream realm.


    Not only was she immensely powerful, but she was also ruthlessly cunning. Under her leadership, the Nightmare Cultgrew into a massive and terrifying force.


    By the time of Luca''s rebirth, the cult had already be a behemoth, a true colossus.


    Yet, despite finally remembering her, Luca''s confusion deepened rather than subsided.


    What was she doing here, bringing the Nightmare Cultto this battlefield?


    Could it be that they were here to rescue Rudolph?


    But the cult had always been notorious for its brutality. Since when did they care enough to stage a rescue?


    Suspicion gnawed at Luca as he furrowed his brow.


    When something seems out of ce, it usually is. He refused to believe that Tia and her forces had simplye for a leisurely stroll through the battlefield.


    And that brief moment when their eyes met... it filled Luca with a sense of unease.


    Could these people being after him?


    ...


    At the rear of the Iron Mountain army, Rudolph, who was tightly bound by the magic-sealing chains, had also noticed themotion at the frontlines.


    His eyes lit up with hope. He believed the Nightmare Culthade specifically to rescue him.


    Excited, he began shouting, "Lady Tia! I''m here! I''m here! Come save me!"


    The moment Cassman, who was responsible for guarding Rudolph, heard this, he delivered a swift and hard p across Rudolph''s face.


    "Shut up! If you keep screaming, I''ll slice you to pieces right here!" Cassman growled, gripping his massive sword, his eyes full of murderous intent.


    If it weren''t for Sophia''s orders to keep Rudolph alive for interrogation, Cassman would have killed him long ago.


    This lowlife had the nerve to shout for help, clearly deserving a beating.


    The p left Rudolph momentarily stunned.


    When he recovered, his eyes went wide with fury, turning bloodshot as he red at Cassman. "You filthy peasant! How dare you hit me! Just wait¡ªwhen I''m free, I''ll tear you limb from limb!"


    Cassman sneered. "Is that so? I''d love to see how you n to do that."


    With that, he pped Rudolph again.


    This time even harder.


    Rudolph, his power sealed by the chains, was no stronger than a regr person. The blow knocked several teeth out of his mouth.


    Rudolph''s face swelled rapidly, with the five distinct finger marks clearly visible.


    This time, he finally fell silent, ring hatefully at Cassman.


    If looks could kill, Cassman would''ve died a hundred times over.


    ...


    Watching the group of Nightmare Cultfollowers.


    Luca''s suspicions grew stronger. It seemed increasingly likely that their n had failed, and now they were seeking revenge on him.


    As Luca pondered how to deal with the situation.


    He suddenly noticed something rming: the Nightmare Cultmembers were shifting direction, charging straight toward him.


    His heart skipped a beat.


    He had been right¡ªthe cult really wasing after him.


    Sophia and Catherine noticed the sudden change as well, seeing the cultists heading directly toward them.


    Sophia frowned and said, "We need to fall back. Dream Empressis a high-level ss; we can''t handle her. Once the others notice, someone stronger will take care of her."


    "Agreed," Luca nodded. Whatever their enemies had nned, it was better to avoid confrontation.


    Given his current strength, he was no match for these high-level powerhouses¡ªhe''d be crushed like an insect. Now wasn''t the time to y hero.


    Just as Luca was about to retreat, something caught his eye.


    The woman, Tia, suddenly vanished, her figure dissolving into a shadow.


    Shadow Stealth!


    Luca''s heart sank, and he urgently shouted, "We need to move! She''sing right for us!"


    "What?" Sophia and Catherine were startled, not yet fully grasping the situation. But before they could react, Luca grabbed their hands, trying to pull them away to safety.


    Unfortunately, it was toote.


    A soft, seductive voice echoed in their ears.


    Tia''s gentleugh drifted toward them, "You''re quite sharp, little one."


    The sound of her voice sent a chill through Luca, Sophia, and Catherine, their hearts pounding in unison.


    Before they could even think of a response, they realized they werepletely immobilized¡ªfrozen as if held by some unseen force.


    "Don''t bother struggling. It''s useless," Tia''s voice purred as she slowly emerged from the shadows, a small, amused smile ying on her lips. In her hands, she held three ck, ribbon-like strands that seemed to shimmer with dark energy.


    Upon closer inspection, Luca realized that the ck ribbons holding them weren''t ordinary cloth¡ªthey were actually extensions of their own shadows!


    Shadow Imprisonment.


    Ahigh-level shadow skill that allows the caster to forcibly immobilize their targets using their own shadows.


    "Careless!" Luca gritted his teeth in frustration.


    With his current strength, escaping from a high-level immobilization skill was nearly impossible.


    The moment he sensed something was off, he should have fled immediately.


    But it was toote for regrets now.


    "Sophia''s been captured!" someone from the Iron Mountain Armyshouted, and upon seeing Sophia and the others bound, many soldiers rushed forward, their faces filled with worry as they tried to surround and rescue the trio.


    Seeing themotion, Tia moved calmly toward Sophia, her steps unhurried.


    She reached out with a long, graceful hand and gently stroked Sophia''s delicate face.


    Thengrasping her slender, pale neck.


    Tia''s eyes narrowed slightly, and she smiled at the gathering soldiers. "I''d advise you all not to make any rash moves. Otherwise, I might just... identally snap the neck of the noble daughter of the Howard family."


    The Iron Mountain soldiersgritted their teeth in anger, desperate to cut this witch into pieces, but none dared take a single step forward.


    "What is it you want?" Despite the danger, Sophia remained calm, her voice firm as she questioned Tia.


    Tia responded casually, "There''s no need to be nervous. I''m just here to... collect someone."


    "Someone?" Sophia blinked in surprise. She hadn''t expected this¡ªthey were here to rescue someone?


    Hearing this, Rudolphwas ovee with joy.


    The Nightmare Culthade to rescue him, after all! This proved his importance to the cult.


    Sophia, on the other hand, didn''t hesitate. "If you release us, we''ll hand Rudolph over to you."


    Tia raised an eyebrow and gave Sophia a puzzled look. "Who told you we''re here for Rudolph?"


    Both Sophia and Catherine were taken aback, confused by Tia''s words.


    If they weren''t after Rudolph, then who?


    By this time, the other Nightmare Cultfollowers and deacons had gathered as well.


    However, none of their gazes lingered on Sophia or Catherine, despite their striking beauty.


    Every eye was fixed on Luca, their gazes burning with intensity.


    Luca let out a bitter smile, realizing that any hope he had of being overlooked was gone.


    With a sigh, he spoke up, "Let them go, and I''ll go with you."


    Luca wasn''t sure what the Nightmare Cultwanted with him, but even if they intended to kill him, at least he could be resurrected.


    If Sophia or Catherine were killed, it would be permanent.


    Tia''s smile brightened, her voice filled with satisfaction. "Ah, dealing with smart people really is such a pleasure."

 Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Soul Possession, Going Too Far

    Catherine was fine, but Sophia was trouble.


    If Count Ryan found out that his daughter had been captured by them, he would definitely go insane and fight The Nightmare Cult to the death.


    Luca''s quick understanding of the situation suited her perfectly.


    Then, Luca realized he could move again.


    At that moment, he felt an impulse.


    It was to directly take out the Heavenly Thunder Purple Firescroll from his storage ring and p it right on the woman''s delicate face.


    But in the end, he suppressed the thought.


    It was unrealistic to think he could kill Tia, the main viiness of the Nightmare Cult, with just a high-level scroll.


    "Luca, don''t go with her!" Seeing Luca voluntarily walk toward Tia, Sophia and Catherine''s faces were filled with anxiety.


    No one knew what The Nightmare Cult wanted, but following them would likely put Luca''s life in danger¡ªsomething neither of the women could bear to see.


    "They seem to care about you a lot." Tia nced at the two of them, then sized up Luca in front of her, her gaze full of hidden meaning.


    Luca didn''t respond, remaining calm as he said, "Let them go, or you won''t be able to leave."


    As he spoke, his gaze was fixed on Tia, his tone neither humble nor arrogant, while his focus was already on the Heavenly Thunder Purple Firescroll in his storage ring.


    If this woman showed even the slightest intention of harming Sophia or Catherine, he was ready to strike.


    Even if he couldn''t kill her, themotion would surely attract the high-level powerhouses currently engaged in battle nearby.


    Leaving wouldn''t be so easy for The Nightmare Cult.


    "As you wish." Tia never intended to waste time on others in the first ce.


    With a casual wave of her hand, the restraints on Sophia and Catherine disappeared.


    In an instant, Luca felt a blur before his eyes as Tia''s slender arm wrapped around his neck. Her touch was cold and smooth, like a snake coiling around him, sending a shiver down his spine.


    At the same time, he caught a peculiar scent emanating from her¡ªlike the sweet fragrance of roses, with a faint trace of herbs. Luca couldn''t quite ce it, but it wasn''t something he had the time to think about right now.


    "We''re leaving," Tia said to the followers of The Nightmare Cult. A momentter, ck mist surged from her body, enveloping Luca along with her as the two of them rapidly sank into the shadows.


    At this point, Rudolph was dumbfounded.


    Wait, weren''t they supposed to rescue me? How did it turn into them capturing Luca? At least take me too!


    Seeing Tia preparing to leave, he hastily cried out, "Lady Tia, save me! I''ve shed blood for the cult, I''ve made contributions to the cult! You can''t just leave me behind!"


    Tia didn''t even bother looking at him. A useless waste¡ªhe wasn''t worth her precious time.


    "Stop them now!" Sophia, rarely so anxious,manded. The Iron Mountain soldiers had long been ready and, hearing her words, immediately charged toward The Nightmare Cult members.


    Catherine was the fastest. In the blink of an eye, she rushed in front of them and reached out, trying to pull Luca back.


    But she was a step toote.


    Her hand barely extended halfway when Luca and Tia vanished from where they stood.


    ¡­


    Deep in the Beast Forest, Kurk and Bayou were locked in a desperate battle with the Hydra.


    The Hydra, growing frustrated by the relentless fight, opened its mouths and unleashed several bolts of lightning, sting the two away.


    "Are you done yet?!" Kurk shouted urgently, drenched in sweat, his body trembling from the relentless surges of blood energy.


    Bayou, clutching his aching back, was gasping for breath.


    Even with their considerable stamina, such an intense battle was taking its toll.


    Franklin responded impatiently, "Do you think this is a beginner-level spell? You can''t just whip it out with a wave of your hand!"


    High-level spells were undeniably powerful, but they also required more time to cast.


    Still, the three were now at the final moment, almost ready.


    Suddenly, a mor of shouts and battle cries erupted from behind them.


    At first, the trio paid it no mind, merely ncing over.


    But that one nce caused Franklin and Sophia to erupt in fury.


    They had just witnessed Luca being taken away by Tia.


    "Those damn vermin! They daredy a hand on my student? They''re courting death!" Franklin''s body surged with grey mist, his eyes filled with chilling, murderous intent.


    Lucia''s delicate face turned beet red with rage, her chest heaving with fury, and even the lightning in her hands became erratic.


    They were out here fighting on the front lines, and yet their student had been captured by the enemy.


    Both were so angry they nearly abandoned everything to rush back and rescue him.


    Bright quickly tried to calm them down. "Focus on the monster in front of you! The Nightmare Cult will be dealt with by those behind us. They won''t get away."


    Despite their seething rage.


    Franklin and Lucia knew he was right. Leaving now would likely result in the situation spiraling out of control.


    "Let''s finish this beast first!" Both directed their burning gaze toward the Hydra, their eyes aze with fury.


    At that moment, the trio''s spells were finally ready.


    Bright''s eyes, marked with cross-shaped bloodlines, locked onto the Hydra''s heads. Franklin''s body erupted in a sea of grey mist, while a violent purple me surged around Lucia.


    The air around them roared with their overwhelming auras, like a terrifying volcano on the verge of eruption.


    Without a word, Franklin raised his ck magic book, from which an endless stream of dark mist poured out, forming behind him a massive skeleton, towering over a hundred meters tall!


    A Lich Puppet!


    The colossal skeleton slowly stood, its form stretching into the sky, its eyes glowing with ghostly blue mes. It extended a massive hand and grasped two of the Hydra''s heads, holding them tightly in its crushing grip.


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!!" The Hydra bellowed in rage, its remaining heads ferociously attacking the skeletal monster. However, their strikes merely caused the massive skeleton to shudder. The creature Franklin had summoned was terrifyingly strong, with defense and power far beyond anything ordinary.


    At that moment, Lucia made her move.


    She pointed her staff toward the sky, and a burst of purple light shot upward, instantly darkening the heavens.


    Storm clouds covered the sky, and several enormous fireballs, each dozens of meters wide and burning with violet mes, streaked across the sky like meteors. With overwhelming force, they hurtled toward the Hydra''s heads.


    Meteoric Fire!


    Boom!


    A deafening explosion echoed, and the ground trembled as the violet mes engulfed the Hydra, scorching its skin until it was raw and blistered.


    Before it could recover, Bright appeared in a sh above the Hydra''s heads. The blue glow from his dagger intensified, forming a de of radiant blue light. With a powerful strike, he shed down at one of the Hydra''s heads!


    Squelch!


    The Hydra''s massive body shuddered violently as molten-like blood gushed from one of its severed heads.


    The remaining heads stared in shock at their fallen counterpart.


    How could a few insignificant insects actually hurt it?!


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, at the heart of the summoning ritual, two figures gradually emerged from the shadows.


    Luca barely had time to take in his surroundings when the overwhelming stench of blood hit him.


    He nced around and saw that what had once been a mountainous region had been ttened. The devastatednd was now the site of a massive, blood-red ritual circle. The soil had been soaked in blood, and the nauseating scent was suffocating.


    Blood Sacrifice!


    Luca''s heart sank.


    No wonder the Hydra had arrived so quickly. These madmen had used the secret blood sacrifice ritual to summon it.


    What a bunch of lunatics!


    His eyes instinctively moved toward the core of the ritual.


    There, on a stone tform,y a pure white serpent, its body translucent and ethereal.


    Luca immediately recognized the identity of the white snake, and he couldn''t help but bitterly smile.


    It was exactly what he had feared. The Nightmare Cult''s n had already seeded.


    But why had they brought him here?


    "Master, I''ve brought the body you wanted," Tia said as she took two steps forward, her expression respectful, with a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.


    Despite losing so many people, their n was finallying to fruition!


    "Hisss¡­"


    A faint sound echoed from the circle as Jormungandr''s ghostly body shifted slightly. The snake''s head slowly lifted, and its violet eyes, shimmering with a dreamlike quality, locked onto Luca.


    Luca''s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively tried to avert his gaze, only to find that he couldn''t move.


    Their eyes were locked together.


    In an instant, the world around Luca began to blur, rapidly fading away until all that remained were those mesmerizing violet snake eyes.


    Jormungandr''s gaze grewrger andrger before itpletely filled Luca''s vision.


    Luca felt a sudden disorientation, as if he had been transported back to the extraterritorial battlefield.


    Above him, the brilliant starry sky was marred by a chaotic battle between monsters and humans. Endless blood rained down like a storm, and the deafening cries of war filled the air.


    A terrifying red-haired youth hovered in the sky,ughing maniacally. With a single wave of his hand, a tsunami of ck mes engulfed Luca.


    The fire scorched his body and soul, an excruciating pain crashing through his nerves like waves of torment.


    Luca''s face turned deathly pale.


    The agony, helplessness, despair, and hatred¡ªmemories etched deep into his soul¡ªwere suddenly reignited, threatening to consume his sanity in an instant.


    In desperation, Luca bit down hard on his tongue, the sharp pain jolting him back to reality.


    That was close!


    Sweat poured down Luca''s forehead, his body drenched in cold sweat.


    He realized this was Jormungandr''s power¡ªan ability that could awaken a person''s deepest fears.


    Had it not been for his experiences in two lifetimes, his mind would have copsed in an instant!


    If that had happened, even logging out of the game wouldn''t have saved him¡ªhe would have gone mad.


    This time, he had truly underestimated the situation!


    Luca now understood what The Nightmare Cult was nning, and his expression grew serious. The carefree attitude he had before waspletely gone.


    Whether he survived this ordeal was now a matter of luck¡­


    Seeing Luca break free from his nightmare, a glint of surprise shed in the white snake''s eyes.


    Even though its current strength was only a fraction of its true power, an ordinary person shouldn''t have been able to resist its nightmare ability.


    Still, it thought dismissively, he''s nothing but an ant.


    In the next moment, Luca felt the mental force controlling him surge tenfold!


    The overwhelming psychic pressure left him no room for resistance as his body, against his will, moved toward Jormungandr!


    Luca''s body trembled uncontrobly as he fought desperately to regain control.


    But no matter how hard he struggled, it was useless under Jormungandr''s psychic control.


    All he could do was watch helplessly as his body drew closer and closer to the serpent. He saw himself kneeling, allowing it to crawl up his body.


    He watched in horror as its head extended, slowly, deliberately, toward his own, ready to burrow into his mind¡­


    In an instant, Luca''s trembling body went rigid, and the light in his eyespletely faded.

 Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Unmatched Talent, Ryan Arrives

    "Sess!" Tia''s delicate face flushed with excitement.


    With Jormungandr''s arrival, its ability to manipte dreams made it incredibly easy to manifest those trapped in the dream world into reality.


    This was the very reason she had joined The Nightmare Cult. To revive her sister and family, Tia was willing to sacrifice everything, even if it meant bing a notorious cultist.


    "Mira, just wait a little longer. Soon, I''ll be able to bring you all back!" she whispered, clenching her fists, her eyes filled with hope as she gazed at Luca.


    Meanwhile, within Luca''s mind, his spiritual world was in turmoil.


    In the pitch-ck expanse of his mind, a massive, pure white giant python barged its way in, without any regard for boundaries.


    Its colossal body seemed endless, surrounded by a faint purple glow, casting a dreamy hue over the entire spiritual realm.


    With a sh of white light, the giant python disappeared.


    In its ce, a young girl appeared, hovering in mid-air. She looked no older than eleven or twelve, dressed in a ck gothic gown with long silver hair flowing down her back.


    This was Jormungandr in her human form.


    Her pale violet eyes scanned Luca''s mentalndscape, and suddenly she made a sound of surprise.


    "Why is this boy''s spiritual world so vast?" Jormungandr muttered in astonishment as she gazed at the seemingly infinite expanse of Luca''s mind.


    If she remembered correctly, this boy was only a Bronze Gradepractitioner. Yet, the scale of his spiritual realm far exceeded that of most high-level mages.


    However, Jormungandr didn''t dwell on it for long. For her, this was only a good thing.


    The greater the boy''s potential, the faster she would be able to recover her full power once she took over his body.


    With this thought in mind, Jormungandr quickened her pace.


    But the deeper she ventured into Luca''s spiritual world, the more astonished she became.


    It was simply too vast, as though there was no end. This was far beyond the level of even a high-tier practitioner!


    "How could this possibly be the spiritual world of a mere boy?!" Jormungandr paused in mid-air, her brows furrowing in frustration.


    At this point, the size of the spiritual realm was approaching that of a Supersspractitioner, yet she still hadn''t found Luca''s soul core.


    This left Jormungandr feeling deeply uneasy, even starting to suspect that she had been tricked.


    If she were in her prime, even if Luca did possess Supersspower, she could crush him with ease. But now, her strength was less than one percent of its full potential. If she encountered any real danger, it could deal her a devastating blow.


    After a moment of hesitation, Jormungandr decided to press forward.


    Outside, there were not only powerful human fighters but also the Hydra nearby.


    Though both she and the Hydra were King-level monsters, and they had just worked together, if given the chance, the creature would devour her without a second thought¡ªjust as she wouldn''t hesitate to eat it.


    That meant she had to restore her strength as quickly as possible to ensure her survival.


    This boy''s physique might be strange, but if she could take over his body, Jormungandr estimated it wouldn''t take long for her to return to Transcendentrank. Once there, she would fear no one, and the humans of the Eternal Worldwould be hers to devour at will.


    With her mind made up, Jormungandr surged deeper into Luca''s spiritual world.


    Before long, she reached her destination.


    Amidst a golden ocean, Luca sat at the center.


    His eyes were closed, and four golden pirs of light shot skyward around him.


    But something was different¡ªLuca was no longer in the form of a boy.


    He had taken on the appearance of a young man in his twenties.


    Handsome, with sharp eyebrows like mountain peaks, his expression was cold and stern, exuding a powerful killing intent.


    This was how he looked in his previous life.


    Jormungandr''s face was filled with disbelief as she gazed at the golden ocean and pirs of light surrounding Luca. She eximed, "Transcendent essence! How do you have something like this?!"


    The Transcendent essencewas the core energy that high-level practitioners condensed in their spiritual worlds upon breaking through to the Transcendent rank. It was a hallmark of such power.


    Jormungandr would have never imagined, not even in her wildest dreams, that she would see such a thing in a boy''s body.


    But what shocked her even more than the Transcendent essence were the four golden pirs representing Luca''s innate attributes!


    Gold signified a perfect score, level ten, in innate talent¡ªand this boy had four!


    In other words, all four of his special attributes were maxed out at birth!


    Jormungandr''s mind reeled in disbelief.


    She had encountered countless prodigies and divine beasts in her time, but never had she heard of anyone possessing four innate attributes maxed at level ten. She had certainly never seen it!


    What was this boy? A person or a monster?


    As she came to her senses, a chill ran down her spine, and she decided to retreat from Luca''s spiritual world.


    This boy was far too strange. Something was definitely wrong with him, and it was too dangerous to stay here any longer.


    Just as Jormungandr turned to leave, Luca''s once-closed eyes suddenly snapped open.


    A fierce, icy light shed from them.


    He spoke calmly, "Did I say you could leave?"


    With those words, the entire spiritual world seemed to freeze in an instant!Even time itself appeared to stop.


    The space around them waspletely locked down!


    Jormungandr was horrified to find that she couldn''t move a muscle.


    It was the same feeling Luca had when she had used her psychic power to control him earlier.


    "Release me now, and I''ll pretend none of this ever happened!" Jormungandr''s breath came in quick gasps as she stared at Luca, now standing. She could scarcely believe it¡ªshe, the mighty Jormungandr, had been outyed by a boy!


    In the golden ocean, Luca slowly walked toward Jormungandr, a glowing golden sword forming in his hand.


    Looking at Jormungandr''s pale face, he gave a slight, almost mocking smile and said, "Since you''vee in, you can''t leave without leaving something behind, right?"


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, on the battlefield, after Sophia and the others had severed two of the Hydra''s heads, the remaining heads spewed terrifying ck mes, forcing everyone to retreat.


    At the same time, fleshy sprouts began to grow from its wounds, and new heads were regenerating at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    However, the group noticed that the Hydra''s regeneration was slower, and its strength was clearly weakenedpared to before.


    "That kid''s method is working!" Bayou eximed in delight. With the Hydra''s strength reduced, the pressure on them was lightened. Now, they had a chance of holding out until Count Ryan arrived to provide reinforcements.


    "Keep attacking!" Kurk, ignoring his own fatigue, charged forward once more.


    The advantage they had worked so hard to create couldn''t be wasted by allowing the Hydra to heal easily.


    The group unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks on the Hydra.


    Franklin and Lucia, in particr, threw spells one after another, as if they cost nothing.


    With Luca having been captured, they had no patience to waste time with this nine-headed beast.


    Though the Hydra could regenerate its wounds, it still needed time. Under this intense bombardment, it struggled to even raise its heads.


    This only fueled the Hydra''s fury.


    "Boom!!"


    The massive creature lifted its body into the air, and streams of blood-colored mist began converging from all directions, its aura skyrocketing as its regeneration rate increased several times over!


    Roar! Roar! Roar!!!


    The Hydra let out a deafening roar, and a zing blood-red me erupted around its body. Like meteors, a rain of fiery droplets began falling from the sky, plummeting toward the group below.


    Anyone struck by even a single spark of these mes was instantly reduced to ash, their life force absorbed by the Hydra, making it even stronger.


    The advantage that Lucia and the others had just gained vanished in an instant.


    Not only had the Hydra not been weakened, but it had grown even stronger!


    Despair began to grip the group.


    This creature could absorb the surrounding life force to enhance its strength.


    How were they supposed to fight that?


    Whoosh!


    Suddenly, a brilliant sword light sliced through the sky, striking one of the Hydra''s heads.


    The sharp de cut through the Hydra''s neck like a knife through butter, without the slightest resistance.


    The Hydra let out a pained wail as vast amounts of blood rained from the sky, staining the entire area red.


    Roar! Roar! Roar!!!


    The remaining heads of the Hydra turned and roared in fury at the approaching figures.


    Who could it be...?


    Everyone froze, their eyes turning in unison.


    From the distant sky, a massive golden griffon, easily over twenty meters long and sporting four majestic wings, soared towards them.


    Atop its back stood a group of people.


    Leading them was a man who appeared to be in his thirties, dressed in the long robes of a count. He was strikingly handsome, with an air of refined elegance.


    But at this moment, his face was cold as frost, his sword gleaming dangerously in his hand. The sheer sharpness of its aura sliced through the air, distorting the space around it.


    It was none other than Ryan Howard, the Count of the Emerald State!


    Behind him stood a few others. At the front were two particrly prominent figures¡ªan elderly man with white hair and sses, whose face radiated kindness, and a burly man in his thirties, bald and muscr.


    Both men wore golden badges etched with a maple tree emblem on their chests, their auras powerful and nearly on par with Ryan''s, clearly indicating they were Diamond-levelwarriors.


    The rest of the group consisted of younger individuals, all of whom also bore the same golden maple tree insignia. However, unlike the two Diamond-level warriors, their badges had three small branches extending from the main design.


    Among the young warriors, one girl stood out in particr.


    She wore a long, snow-white dress, her head adorned with a wreath-like jade headpiece shaped like green flowers. She appeared to be around twenty, with delicate, youthful features and a trace of baby fat on her face. Her ample chest only added to her imposing presence.


    At that moment, the girl was studying the raging Hydra with curiosity gleaming in her eyes.


    "Teacher, is this really the King of Rage, the Hydra? It doesn''t seem as terrifying as the legends say," she asked, turning to the elderly man with sses.


    The elderly man smiled kindly and replied, "This is merely a mirror image of the Hydra. If its true body were to descend, not even the Clinton Empire''s forces could stand against it. Only that lord in the imperial capital could hope to hold it at bay."


    The girl was astonished. "Is a King-level monsterreally that powerful?"


    The old man nodded gravely. "Extremely powerful. There are only seven King-level monsters in the entire Abyssal Demon Realm, and each one has reached the Superss. Even Superss warriors have to join forces to deal with them."


    The bald man clenched his fists, making a cracking sound, and grinned menacingly. "I don''t care if it''s a King-level monster or not. If it dares to cause trouble in our Clinton Empire, I''ll chop off all its heads, even if it has nine of them!"


    "Dean Kruse, Director Fred, I''ll be relying on you both," Count Ryan said, his gaze fixed on the Hydra, a chilling killing intent flickering in his eyes.

 Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Enslavement, New Class—Dreamweaver

    As the golden griffon soared through the sky, the Iron Mountain soldiers on the ground broke into smiles of relief.


    "The count has finally returned!" Kaman eximed excitedly.


    Catherine let out a sigh of relief¡ªLuca was saved!


    But Sophia''s gaze lingered on the girl riding the griffon, her brow furrowed. "Why is shehere¡­"


    Cassman, standing nearby, noticed her expression and asked, "Miss, do you know that girl?"


    Sophia nodded. "That''s Fratis from Red Maple Academy. She''s a Holy Light Priest who reached tinum Gradebefore turning twenty, and her background is quite unique."


    Everyone around them inhaled sharply.


    "tinum Grade by twenty? That kind of talent is terrifying!" Cassman said in amazement.


    "No wonder Red Maple Academy is considered the top institution in the Southern Territory. The students there are all absolute prodigies," he added.


    While the others nodded in agreement.


    Red Maple Academy, located in Southwind City, was the most prestigious academy for practitioners in the Southern Territory and one of the top eight in the Clinton Empire. Its students were all exceptionally gifted and hailed as the cream of the crop.


    It was clear to everyone that Count Ryan had specifically brought these people from Southwind City to assist.


    While they whispered amongst themselves, the group in the sky began to act.


    Fratis, the young girl with the flower wreath, now held an ancient bronze mirror in her hands.


    She closed her eyes, chanting softly.


    A blinding golden light radiated from the mirror, and in an instant, it expanded to an immense size, nearly a hundred meters across.


    The bronze mirror flew toward the center of the Beast Forest, casting a massive shadow over the Hydra.


    Thick golden chains shot out from the mirror, binding the Hydra''s nine heads and its body tightly.


    At the same time, Count Ryan and the two powerful figures in red robes behind him sprang into action.


    Their bodies turned into streaks of light as they shot toward the Hydra.


    The students from Red Maple Academy, meanwhile, rode the four-winged griffon toward the Iron Mountain soldiers and the nearby yers.


    In a blink, the tide of the battle had turned.


    The cultists of The Nightmare Cult, upon seeing Ryan and his party, scattered like frightened mice before cats. They retreated rapidly, not even bothering to help their wounded.


    The name Ryan of Emerald Statewas known throughout the Southern Territory. His reputation for never sparing cultists left no doubt in anyone''s mind¡ªfacing him meant certain death.


    Fortunately for them, Ryan had no interest in hunting down the cultists at that moment, allowing them to escape with their lives, albeit barely.


    On the other side, Tia also noticed Ryan''s arrival, and panic surged in her heart.


    With Ryan back, the Hydra''s mirror image wouldn''t hold out much longer. Once he and his allies finished dealing with the Hydra, The Nightmare Cult wouldn''t be let off easily.


    "Why is it taking so long? It should''ve been quick..." Tia muttered to herself, casting frequent nces toward the core of the summoning ritual, where Luca sat with his eyes closed. Her brow furrowed deeply.


    Ever since Jormungandr had entered Luca''s body, there hadn''t been the slightest movement. Taking over a Bronze Grade practitioner shouldn''t have required much time at all.


    Could something have gone wrong?


    Just as Tia was beginning to worry, she noticed Luca''s body twitch.


    Her heart leapt with joy, assuming that Jormungandr had sessfully taken control of Luca''s body.


    But what happened next left Tia utterly speechless.


    A battered, scarred white snake slithered out of Luca''s forehead, lookingpletely defeated.


    "M-Master?!" Tia couldn''t believe her eyes.


    The white snake''s body was covered in countless wounds, even a deep sword sh across its heart, a stark contrast to its once-majestic appearance.


    Tia couldn''t fathom what Jormungandr had endured inside Luca''s body.


    "Damn it! What kind of monster did you lead me to?!" Jormungandr''s voice quivered with panic and rage.


    Her reaction wasn''t unwarranted. Inside Luca''s spiritual space, she had barely managed to break free from the boy''s mental grasp.


    But to her shock, Luca not only possessed a Transcendent essence and four maxed-out innate attributes.


    He also wielded an arsenal of high-level secret arts!


    And these weren''t ordinary secret arts. Some of them even surpassed Superss in level!


    From the beginning, she had been at a disadvantage inside Luca''s spiritual world.


    With the added power of those secret arts, Luca had given Jormungandr a brutal beating.


    Whatpletely shattered Jormungandr''s resolve, though, was that Luca had tried to enve her.


    And, worst of all, he had seeded!


    A blood-red rune now glowed on Jormungandr''s forehead.


    The unmistakable mark of a ve contract, one that Luca had engraved upon her.


    Her violet serpent eyes were filled with humiliation and fury.


    She, one of the seven King-level monsters of the Abyssal Demon Realm, had been enved by a mere boy.


    The thought made Jormungandr seethe with murderous rage.


    But this wasn''t the time for revenge.


    Right now, her only priority was to return to the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    Once there, she would have enough time to break the seal on her body.


    When that time came, she swore she would make Luca pay.


    With that thought burning in her mind, she shot a venomous re at Luca andunched herself into the air, aiming for the summoning node at the heart of the ritual.


    However, just as she took off, Luca''s hand shot out, grabbing her by the tail, and yanked her back to the ground with sheer force.


    "Leaving without saying goodbye to your master? That''s not very professional for a servant," Luca said, with a mischievous grin as he looked at Jormungandr, his tone oozing with provocation.


    Tia stood frozen in shock.


    Master? What on earth was going on?!


    "Damn you, human! Let go of me!" Jormungandr snarled furiously, whipping her head around to sink her fangs into Luca''s hand, ready to teach this insolent boy a painful lesson.


    But the moment her venomous fangs touched his arm.


    The contract rune on her forehead red to life.


    Jormungandr''s body froze instantly, paralyzed.


    Seeing the fury and frustration in her eyes, Luca sneered. "Don''t bother trying to resist. The contract I ced on you is the Transcendent secret technique, ''Soul Envement Contract.''Even if you return to the Abyssal Demon Realm,it''s impossible to break."


    "Behave and serve me well, and I might spare your life. Otherwise, with just a thought, I could reduce you to ashes. If you don''t believe me, feel free to test it,"


    Luca said coolly, his eyes shing with the same blood-red rune as on Jormungandr''s forehead.


    The rune on Jormungandr''s head once again gleamed with crimson light.


    Her anger slowly faded, reced by a deep, primal fear.


    In that moment, she could smell death in the air!


    This boy¡ªhe really had the power to erase her from existence entirely!


    How could this be? She was the Nightmare Sovereign,a Transcendent-tier King-level monster!


    How could this mere boy possess such terrifying abilities?


    Once Jormungandr was immobilized, Luca lost interest in her for the moment.


    He opened his game interface to check the notifications that had appeared earlier.


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have sessfully formed a contract with the Nightmare Sovereign ''Jormungandr''!]


    [You have gained ess to a portion of Jormungandr''s abilities!]


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have unlocked the unique hidden ss ''Dreamweaver''!]


    [Congrattions, you have acquired the ss skill ''Dreamweaving lv1''!]


    [Congrattions, you have acquired the ss skill ''Dream Manifestation lv1''!]


    [Congrattions, you have acquired the low-level skill ''Eye of Nightmare lv1''!]


    ¡­


    Luca stared at the notifications in surprise.


    He knew there was a small chance of gaining a monster''s abilities when enving them.


    But when he enved Jormungandr, he had only hoped to gain a powerful ally for future battles.He hadn''t expected her to also grant him an entirely new hidden ss!


    Luca opened his personal interface and examined the descriptions of his new skills.


    [Dreamweaving lv1:ss skill. A Dreamweaver can use the power of dreams to freely construct dreamscapes. The size and realism of the dreamscapes increase with skill level. Costs 3000 mana. No cooldown.]


    [Dream Manifestation lv1:ss skill. A Dreamweaver can use the power of dreams to manifest people, objects, or events from the dreamscape into reality. Duration: 10 minutes. Costs 10,000 mana. 30-minute cooldown.]


    [Eye of Nightmare lv1:Low-level skill. A Dreamweaver can induce fear in any target that makes direct eye contact. Duration: 3 minutes. Costs 1200 mana. 10-minute cooldown.]


    Looking over the skill descriptions, Luca felt a surge of excitement.


    The individual Dreamweaver skills might not seem powerful on their own, but whenbined, they had the potential to create some truly unpredictable and overwhelming results. Even though the effects onlysted for 10 minutes, that could be enough to catch opponentspletely off-guard.


    "As expected of a hidden ss," Luca thought, eager to test the full power of his new abilities.


    But now wasn''t the time.


    His gaze shifted to the immobilized Jormungandr, still bound in ce by the ve contract.


    Then, his eyes fell on Tia. "What''s your rank in The Nightmare Cult?" he asked.


    Tia was still reeling from shock, struggling to process what had just transpired.


    A King-level monster¡ªher cult''s sovereign deity¡ªenved by a boy? It was almost too much to believe.


    Hearing Luca''s question snapped her back to reality.


    Looking at him, her emotions wereplicated.


    With her power, she could have crushed Luca with a single blow.


    But now, Luca had enved Jormungandr¡ªthe very figure her cult worshipped.


    She couldn''t decide what to say, and her voice came out stiff. "I''m the High Priestess of The Nightmare Cult."


    Luca''s expression remained calm as he asked bluntly, "Jormungandr is now my servant. Will you follow me as well?"


    In his past life, this woman had built The Nightmare Cult into a formidable force, showcasing her capability. If Luca could bring her under hismand, it would save him a lot of trouble in the future.


    Tia paused at his question, her eyes searching Luca''s face, her own expression turning resolute. "If you can bring my sister and family back to life, I will follow you."


    To Tia, it didn''t matter who she followed or worshipped. What mattered was who could bring her family back.


    Luca smiled. She was exactly the kind of person he liked.


    "Once this is all over,e find me. I''ll make sure you see your family again."

 Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Immortal Body? Jormungandr Strikes!

    Afterward, Luca didn''t let Tia stay. Instead, he told her to leave.


    If she stayed until the Iron Mountain soldiers arrived, they wouldn''t spare her, even with Luca''s presence.


    Tia also knew she couldn''t linger.


    "I hope you remember your promise," she said, giving Luca a deep, lingering look before merging into the shadows and disappearing in the blink of an eye.


    Luca wasn''t worried about Tia fleeing. To him, it didn''t matter if she escaped¡ªit wouldn''t harm his ns. Besides, Tia was a high-tier practitioner; if she truly wanted to leave, he couldn''t stop her anyway.


    Turning his attention back to Jormungandr, who was still immobilized, Luca said, "I hope you''ll be as sensible as your follower. I don''t have much patience, and if you try anything like before, you know what will happen."


    With that, Luca lifted the restriction on Jormungandr.


    As expected, after being threatened by the soul contract, Jormungandr had grown far more obedient. Though she red hatefully at Luca, she didn''t dare to make any aggressive moves.


    "That''s more like it. Keep it that way." Luca reached out and patted her head. The smug smile on his face made Jormungandr tremble with rage, her serpentine body shaking with barely-contained fury. She wanted nothing more than to strike him down.


    But in the end, she couldn''t summon the courage to face death.


    "Jormungandr''s been dealt with. Now, all that''s left is that nine-headed beast," Luca muttered, turning his gaze toward the distant Hydra. He noticed that Ryan and his group had already arrived.


    The Hydra was firmly restrained by the golden chains from the bronze mirror, unable to move.


    Ryan''s body radiated a sharp sword aura, his gaze cold as ice. With a swift sh of his sword, he unleashed a fearsome strike.


    The silver-white sword light pierced the sky, as if it would split the heavens. Two of Hydra''s heads were instantly shredded, turning into a rain of blood.


    The elderly man with sses held a staff, his body glowing with an earthy yellow light as he chanted an incantation.


    He is spelling.


    The ground trembled as countless stones rose into the air, gathering above to form a massive stone spike¡ªlike an inverted mountain. With a deafening crash, it fell, pinning the Hydra to the ground.


    The bald warrior''s body was surrounded by a powerful aura of blood energy, which coiled around him like a red dragon.


    He didn''t wield any weapons, but every punch and kick reverberated through the air with thunderous force. His terrifying strength punched gaping holes through the Hydra''s body, making him seem like a human-shaped monster himself.


    Under such a relentless onught, with Lucia, Franklin, and the others providing support from the sidelines.


    Even though the Hydra could absorb surrounding life force to regenerate its body, it had no chance to fight back.


    It waspletely overwhelmed by thebined strength of these powerful warriors.


    Most of the Hydra''s heads had been severed, and victory seemed within reach.


    But Luca didn''t rx.


    He knew that killing a Hydra wasn''t that simple.


    In his previous life, he had led several hunts to take down a Hydra,ing close to killing it, but never seeding in the end.


    This beast wasn''t overwhelmingly powerful, but its vitality was extraordinary. It was incredibly difficult to kill.


    As Luca was thinking of ways to help the others, he suddenly heard somemotion in the distance.


    Turning his head, he saw Lucia, Catherine, and the rest of the group rushing toward him.


    When they spotted Luca, their faces lit up.


    "Luca, are you alright?" Catherine asked anxiously.


    Sophia, too, looked worried but sighed with relief when she saw he wasn''t injured.


    Luca smiled and waved a hand. "I''m fine, don''t worry."


    He noticed bloodstains on their clothes and realized they must have fought through the monster horde to reach him. The thought moved him deeply.


    "Where are The Nightmare Cult members? I don''t see a single one," Cassman said as he walked over, his giant sword in hand, scanning the area with confusion.


    Everyone looked around, realizing for the first time that none of the cultists were anywhere to be seen.


    "They left in a hurry for some reason," Luca said casually. "Guess I got lucky."


    Cassman snorted. "They must''ve seen Count Ryaning back, so those rats scurried back to their sewers."


    Sophia''s face turned cold. "After this, I''ll make sure my father cleans out The Nightmare Cult from the Emerald State. They won''t escape."


    The cult had caused immense damage to the Emerald State this time, even managing to ensnare Count Ryan''s wife in one of their schemes.


    Once this was over, the Howard family wouldn''t let them get away with it.


    But now wasn''t the time to dwell on that.


    With the area so close to the nightmare node, the monsters were everywhere, so they decided to bring Luca back safely.


    Meanwhile, the battle with the Hydra was reaching its climax.


    Only one of the Hydra''s heads remained.


    If they could sever that final head, the Hydra would be in once and for all.


    Sensing this, the powerful warriors on the battlefield unleashed their strongest attacks, aiming to finish the beast off.


    But just then, the tide of the battle suddenly shifted.


    Roar! Roar! Roar!!!


    The Hydra''s remaining head, its eyes glowing a furious crimson, let out a deafening roar.


    Thick waves of blood-red energy exploded from its body.


    All the blood that had been spilled on the battlefield suddenly surged into the air.


    The sky filled with a swirling red mist, forming a river of blood that rushed toward the Hydra.


    As it absorbed the blood, its regeneration sped up exponentially.


    Within mere seconds, all nine of its heads had regrown.


    At the same time, the Hydra''s aura surged several times over, growing even more powerful than before.


    The golden chains that had been restraining it shattered, and a wave of blood-red mes swept out, forcing everyone to retreat.


    The ground for thousands of meters around was scorched ck under the intense heat of the mes.


    "This beast is impossible to kill!" Bayou gasped,nding on the ground, drenched in sweat and out of breath.


    After fighting for so long, he simply didn''t have the strength to keep battling this monster.


    Kurk''s face was pale, and he didn''t even have the energy left to speak.


    Franklin, Lucia, and the others were also visibly fatigued from the sheer amount of energy they had expended.


    They were lucky that Ryan had arrived in time¡ªhad they been forced to keep fighting this monster any longer, it could have very well been the end of them.


    "Are we sure its weak spot is the heads?" Ryan asked, frowning as he gripped his sword tightly.


    Even with his level of power, he was finding this fight to be extremely troublesome.


    For the first time, even Franklin and Lucia weren''t entirely certain.


    "It''s the heads, no doubt," the elderly man named Kruse said. "I once read about this King-level monsterin an ancient text. The only way to kill it is to sever all nine heads."


    This exnation matched what Luca had shared earlier.


    Luca, too, had learned this information from an ancient text¡ªalbeit from his past life.


    Whether this information was truly reliable was difficult to say.


    After all, no one had ever actually killed a Hydra; most of the knowledge came from spection.


    Even so, the group had no choice but to grit their teeth and charge at the Hydra once more.


    It was the only method they knew.


    As Luca watched the ongoing battle from afar, he frowned.


    In his previous life, they had managed to sever eight of the Hydra''s heads multiple times, but thatst head was always the hardest. Every time they got close to victory, the Hydra would somehow regenerate.


    "What in the world does it take to cut off thest head of this beast?" Luca muttered to himself, deep in thought.


    Suddenly, an idea came to him, and his eyes brightened.


    He didn''t know the answer¡ªbut someone else did.


    Luca''s gaze fell on Jormungandr, who was coiled around his wrist, pretending to be a bracelet.


    "Do you know how to kill the Hydra?" he asked through their soul envement contract.At first, there was no response.


    Luca''s frown deepened, and he said coldly, "Do you really want to die?"


    After a brief moment of silence.


    Jormungandr''s begrudging voice echoed in his mind.


    Her tone was sullen as she replied, "You can''t kill it. The Hydra possesses an immortal body. Even if you sever all nine heads, it can still find other ways to regenerate."


    Luca''s heart sank. Did this mean they were doomed to let the true body of the Hydra descend?


    Jormungandr continued, "However, this is just a mirror imageof the Hydra. Killing it is simple¡ªjust erase its soul consciousness."


    "If its consciousness dies, no matter how strong its body is, it will copse. That is the Hydra''s only real weakness."


    Luca nodded in understanding. As he had suspected, there was no such thing as true immortality.


    He asked, "Do you have a way to erase the Hydra''s consciousness?"


    Jormungandr hesitated for a moment before replying, "I can devour its soul, but you need to keep it suppressed. Otherwise, I won''t be able to get close."


    In truth, Jormungandr had a more efficient method to deal with the Hydra''s mirror image. However, devouring the Hydra''s soul would benefit her greatly, which is why she suggested this approach.


    "I''ll send you over when the time is right," Luca responded.


    He was aware that Jormungandr had her own agenda, but it didn''t bother him.


    The contract binding her was a Transcendent-level soul envement contract.


    Even if the Hydra were at its full power, it wouldn''t be easy to break free, and Jormungandr was currently in a weakened state.


    With that, Luca found an excuse to slip away from Sophia and the others.


    Jormungandr was his hidden trump card, and he wasn''t ready to reveal her to anyone else just yet.


    Meanwhile, under the relentless attacks from Ryan and the others, the Hydra had lost most of its heads again.


    However, they could all feel the increasing difficulty in their fight¡ªthings were looking grim.


    Luca waited patiently, knowing the timing had to be right.


    When the moment came, he released Jormungandr.


    The white serpent transformed into a streak of light, speeding toward the Hydra.


    Luca watched closely, anticipating the oue.


    Before long, only one of the Hydra''s heads remained.


    Once more, a dense wave of blood-red light and mes erupted around the beast as it attempted to regenerate.


    But at that moment, a white streak of light pierced through the wall of mes, heading straight for the Hydra''s final head!


    The Hydra froze in confusion for a split second.


    When it realized what wasing, its blood-red eyes widened in shock.


    Roar! Roar! Roar!!!


    The Hydra let out an enraged, deafening roar, but beneath the fury, there was an unmistakable hint of fear.

 Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Hydra is Slain, A Fortune Overnight!

    The Hydra never anticipated this turn of events.


    At such a critical moment, Jormungandr¡ªonce a fellow monster¡ªwas now aiding the humans.


    Its fury was unmatched, but a creeping fear also took root in its heart.


    Jormungandr''s abilities were perfectly suited to counter its immortal body, meaning she could kill it right here and now.


    Roar!!!


    The Hydra opened its massive jaws, unleashing a storm of blood-red mes in an attempt to block Jormungandr''s approach.


    But Jormungandr''s form was almost ethereal; these attacks passed right through her, doing no harm whatsoever.


    The mes simply phased through her body, leaving herpletely untouched.


    "Ha! You think a mere mirror image can stop me?" Jormungandr sneered with disdain.


    The Hydra raged even more, but there was nothing it could do.


    It could only watch helplessly as Jormungandr, without haste, slithered directly into its head.


    In an instant, the Hydra''s massive body stiffened, and even the healing of its wounds abruptly ceased.


    "What''s going on?" Ryan and the others were stunned as they saw the Hydra suddenly freeze in ce. They had no idea what had changed.


    Regardless, this was the opportunity they couldn''t afford to miss!


    Ryan''s voice cut through the silence. "Attack now! Don''t let it recover!"


    Lucia and the rest nodded in agreement. Their auras surged once again, and theyunched another round of devastating attacks on the Hydra.


    Lightning crackled, sword light zed, and waves of blood-red energy surged as powerful skills bombarded the Hydra from all sides.


    In the blink of an eye, the Hydra was engulfed in a dazzling array of multicolored attacks.


    Boom! Boom!


    The earth trembled, explosions echoed, and shockwaves radiated outward, scattering the clouds in the sky.


    Under the relentless barrage of attacks, the Hydra was quickly overpowered.


    When the dust and smoke finally cleared, the core area of the Beast Forest was left inplete ruin.


    Where the Hydra had once stood, there was now a massive crater, hundreds of meters deep.


    Its bodyy in tatters, its flesh and blood staining the surroundingndscape crimson.


    Yet, even after all that, the Hydra still clung to life!


    Roar!!!


    The mangled creature''s body twitched, and its remaining head let out a hoarse, guttural roar that made everyone''s skin crawl.


    This thing was impossibly hard to kill!


    Before anyone couldnd the final blow, the Hydra''s eyes suddenly went vacant.


    In stunned silence, the group watched as a small white snake forcefully burrowed its way out of the Hydra''s skull.


    Jormungandr was no longer a mere phantom¡ªshe now had a physical body. Slowly, she slithered out from the Hydra''s head, her snow-white form stained with blood, her tongue flicking in and out as she surveyed the battlefield.Everyone was left speechless by the sight.


    "What¡­ what is this thing?" Bayou''s eyes were wide in disbelief, his beard trembling.


    The Hydra hadn''t even been fully dealt with, and now another creature had emerged?


    Because the previous fiery barrier had blocked their view, none of them had seen Jormungandr enter the Hydra''s body earlier.


    Ryan and the others, unsure of what had just transpired, remained on high alert, ready for any further surprises.


    Jormungandr internally scoffed at their reaction.


    Her form could shift between ethereal and solid, allowing her to slip into the dream world at will. Even with her strength severely diminished, it would be a fool''s errand for even a Superss warriorto kill her¡ªlet alone these people.


    What annoyed her, though, was that Hydra''s wounds were too severe. Even after devouring its soul, she had only recovered a portion of her power. Who knew how long it would take for her to return to her peak?


    Meanwhile, after Hydra was defeated, a series of game notifications popped up in front of Luca.


    [Ding! Jormungandr has in the Hydra (Mirror Image). You have gained 150,000 experience points!]


    [Your level has increased to lv22, and you have unlocked the new skill "Magic Runes Infusion"!]


    [Congrattions, you havepleted the quest "Defeat the Hydra" with a "Perfect" rating!]


    [Rewards received: Shapeshifting Mask (Purple-Gold), Wings of the Wind (High-Tier), 10,000 Gold!]


    [The "Riverfall City Siege" event has concluded. Congrattions on achieving the highest contribution rank!]


    [Rewards received: Tear of the Elves (High-Tier), Spectral Bracelet (Gold-Tier), 3000 Reputation!]


    ¡­


    A flurry of notifications left Luca momentarily overwhelmed, but excitement quickly flooded his mind.


    He had hit the jackpot! Not only had hepleted two quests, earning a ton of equipment and items, but his level had shot up to 22, saving him an enormous amount of grinding time.


    Suppressing his excitement, Luca checked out his new skills from the level-up and quest rewards.


    [Magic Runes Infusion lv1:ss Skill. As a Demonic Rune Mage, you can infuse magic runes into your body, increasing damage by 100%. Duration: 5 minutes. Cooldown: 12 hours.]


    [Wings of the Wind lv1:High-tier skill. Usable by mage sses. Grants the user wind-element wings capable of free flight. Increases speed by 30%. Duration: 10 minutes. Cooldown: 6 hours.]


    The Magic Runes Infusionwas one of the core skills of the Demonic Rune Magess.


    With this skill, Luca could unleash devastating damage in a short amount of time, making it one of the most powerful offensive abilities in his arsenal.


    Wings of the Windwas an auxiliary skill, one of the rare flight abilities in the game. It perfectly addressed one of Luca''s weaknesses¡ªmobility. With it, he wouldn''t be helpless anymore against flying enemies, whether they were yers or monsters.


    Afterward, Luca inspected the two pieces of equipment he had received as quest rewards.


    [Shapeshifting Mask:Diamond-level special equipment. No usage restrictions. Grants +180 to all yer attributes, reduces skill cooldowns by 15%, and increases damage by 10%. Skill: "Shapeshift"¡ªallows the yer to change their appearance for 1 hour. Cooldown: 3 hours.]


    [Spectral Bracelet:Gold-grade equipment. No usage restrictions. Grants +120 to spirit, reduces skill cooldowns by 5%, and increases mana by 1000. Skill: "Spectral Form"¡ªallows the yer to temporarily transform into a specter, bing immune to physical and magical damage. However, spirit-based attacks deal double damage. Duration: 3 minutes.


    Cooldown: 24 hours.]


    Both pieces of equipment had no level restrictions and came with powerful skills.


    The Shapeshiftability from the Shapeshifting Mask and the Spectral Formfrom the Spectral Bracelet were both highly practical, offering significant utility in battle.


    With these two items, Luca''s overall strength was set to skyrocket!


    In addition to the gear, he had also gained some high-tier materials, 10,000 gold coins, and 3,000 reputation points.


    "This really is a windfall!" Luca grinned as he pulled out his previously earned Mithril Staffand equipped all three new items.


    Next, he opened his character stats to check his current attributes.


    [Name:Luca]


    [Level:lv22]


    [Talent:The Person Favored (SSS-level)]


    [ss:Demonic Rune Mage (Silver-grade)]


    [Health:6,421]


    [Mana:14,308]


    [Attack:2,891-2,977]


    [Attributes:Strength 418, Spirit 1,080, Endurance 457, Agility 483]


    [Special Attributes:Charisma 100, Perception 100, Aptitude 100, Luck 100]


    [Titles:Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm, Peerless Appearance, Dangerous Perception, The Son of Luck]


    ¡­


    Luca''s stats had nearly doubledpared to before, with massive boosts to both damage and attributes.


    With the addition of his new hidden ss, Dreamweaver, and the powerful skills he had unlocked, lower-tier opponents didn''t stand a chance. Even against mid-tier enemies, Luca now had a solid chance of taking them down.


    In Luca''s previous life, it had taken him at least half a year to reach this level of damage. But now, after just a week since his rebirth, he had already surpassed that point by a wide margin. It felt almost surreal.


    After calming down from the excitement, a faint white light flickered in the air, and suddenly, a silver snake-shaped bracelet appeared on his wrist.


    Jormungandr''s voice echoed in Luca''s ear, her tone haughty. "Kid, I''vepletely drained the power from Hydra''s mirror image. It''s useless now. Next time there''s a job like this, don''t forget to call me."


    Absorbing the Hydra''s power had clearly strengthened Jormungandr. Luca could sense that her strength had increased several timespared to before.


    While this level of power was insignificant for a Transcendent-level King-ss monster, it still ced her at the peak of mid-tier strength.


    For Luca, this was a good thing¡ªit meant he now had another powerful ace up his sleeve.


    However, he wasn''t fond of Jormungandr''s attitude.


    "You should address me as ''master,''" Luca said calmly, his eyes glowing with a faint red light.


    Immediately, the snake-shaped bracelet on his wrist began to tremble violently.


    "Stop! Please¡­ stop! M-Master! I''m sorry, I was wrong!" Jormungandr''s voice screeched in agony. The pain of the soul contract directly affected her very essence, and not even a King-level monster could withstand it.


    The red glow in Luca''s eyes slowly faded as he spoke coldly, "If you work well for me, you might have a chance at freedom. But if you show even the slightest hint of rebellion, I won''t hesitate to find out what a Transcendent-level monstertastes like."


    Through the contract, Luca could sense Jormungandr''s thoughts.


    Just moments ago, he had felt a brief surge of murderous intent from her¡ªsubtle, but unmistakable. This beast was still harboring thoughts of betrayal, so Luca had decided to teach her a painful lesson.


    Jormungandr remained silent, though asional pained groans let him know she was still alive.


    Meanwhile, with the Hydra defeated, all the yers and Iron Mountain soldiers received in-game notifications.


    Cheers erupted from the crowd.


    "Hahaha! After pulling all-nighters for days, we finally won!"


    "I just got a Bronze-Gradepiece of equipment! This reward is awesome!"


    "Finally hit level 10! Now I canplete my profession change and be an official knight!"


    "Snowfall Guildis recruiting! Our guild master just got enough reputation points. Firste, first served!"


    ...

 Chapter 58: Chapter 58: The Death of Rudolph, Earth-level Transcendent Material!

    After the monster hordeattack, the overall strength of the yers in Riverfall Cityhad increased significantly.


    Many yers had leveled up to 10.


    High-level yers like Adaand Benhad already reached around level 15.


    They had left most other yers far behind.


    However, this wasn''t the time to celebrate victory just yet.


    Although the Hydra had been defeated, the monster horde still raged on.


    Particrly, the Lord-level monstersposed a significant threat.


    Fortunately, when Ryan returned from Southwind City, he had brought along arge group of third-year students from Red Maple Academy.


    Most of these students were Silver-gradeor Gold-grade mid-tier practitioners, with their leader, Fratis, being a tinum-grade Holy Light Priest.


    With their assistance, the Iron Mountain soldiersand yers quicklyunched a counterattack.


    The mid-tier and high-tier monsters were held off by the Red Maple Academy students, leaving only low-tier monsters, which couldn''t withstand thebined onught of the soldiers and yers.


    The monster horde began to crumble and retreat.


    After dealing with the Hydra, Luca was about to jump in and farm more monsters for experience.


    At that moment, Luciaand Franklinsuddenly flew toward him.


    Lucia moved like lightning, reaching Luca in the blink of an eye.


    Without hesitation, she pulled Luca into a tight embrace, her face filled with concern. "Luca, are you alright? Did those cultists do anything to you? Let me check you over¡­"


    Pressed tightly against her ample figure, Luca could barely breathe.


    He quickly reassured her, "Teacher, I''m fine! They didn''t do anything to me."


    Hearing this, both Lucia and Franklin sighed in relief.


    However, Franklin still seemed furious.


    His face dark and stormy. "Don''t worry, this won''t go unanswered! Once we''re back, I''ll make sure those cultists pay for what they''ve done!"


    Lucia''s expression turned icy as well. "They dared toy a hand on my student? The Nightmare Cultmust be tired of living. I''ll make sure they suffer!"


    Luca chuckled awkwardly. "Let''s talk about thatter, teacher. Can you¡­ let go of me for now?"


    If this continued, Luca feared he might not die at Jormungandr''s hands, but suffocate in Lucia''s embrace.


    Lucia, however, seemed entirely unfazed. She squeezed Luca''s cheeks and huffed, "Ungrateful brat! You''re already tired of your teacher, huh? And here I was, worried sick about you."


    Just then, Ryan and the others arrived.


    "Who is this boy?" The elderly man, Kruse, and the burly warrior, Fred, exchanged surprised nces as they looked at Luca.


    They both knew Franklinand Luciawell, as their names were renowned throughout the Southern Territory.


    Lucia, in particr, had an extraordinary background.


    But what was this boy''s connection to them, to warrant such concern from these two powerful figures?


    Ryan eyed Luca carefully, his expression serious. "You must be Luca, right? Sophia told me about you earlier. I want to thank you on behalf of my wife and the people of Riverfall City."


    Sophia had mentioned Luca whenmunicating with Ryan, so he already knew that Luca was a student of both Lucia and Franklin. More importantly, he knew that Luca was the one who had first discovered the Abyssal Nodeand saved Lady Lenna.


    As Ryan looked at the boy, he felt a sense of gratitude.


    [Ding! "Ryan Howard" has increased your favorability by +300!]


    "Count Ryan, you tter me. I was only doing what I should," Luca replied, his tone polite and humble. But inwardly, he was grinning.


    Gaining favor with a count this early in the game was an invaluable opportunity for any yer.


    At that moment, Franklin chuckled and said, "Ryan, this Abyssal Node incident? My student here did a lot of the heavy lifting. If it weren''t for him discovering the node and the weakness of that nine-headed beast early on, we wouldn''t havested until your reinforcements arrived. You owe him a reward, don''t you think?"


    Lucia nodded firmly. "That''s right. Without Luca, we''d all still be trapped in the Nightmare Cult''s Blood-Sealing Formationaround Riverfall City. He yed a major role in this battle, and you shouldn''t overlook that."


    Hearing this, both Kruse and Fred were taken aback.


    Who would have thought that a mere Bronze-gradeboy had yed such a critical role in this disaster?


    Ryan, now put on the spot by Franklin and Lucia, could only smile wryly.


    "Don''t worry. Once we''ve handled everything here, he''ll be wellpensated. I can assure you that!" he said with a sigh of good-natured exasperation.


    With this promise, even Kurkand Bayoulooked at Luca with envy.


    Getting a personal reward from Count Ryan? That was sure to be something priceless.


    "That kid just hit the jackpot!" they both thought.


    "Thank you, Count Ryan," Luca said, inwardly giving silent praise to his two teachers.


    He had been wondering how he could im the valuable materials dropped by the Hydra, but with Franklin and Lucia speaking on his behalf, they had just saved him a lot of trouble.


    The conversation didn''tst long. The monster hordehad yet to be fully subdued, and with Ryan and the others free now, they needed to help clear the remaining monsters quickly.


    Originally, the horde had been able to put up a decent fight against the Iron Mountain soldiers, but now that a group of high-tier warriors had joined the fray, the battle quickly turned into a one-sided ughter.


    With a single swing of Ryan''s sword, a wave of sword energy nearly ten meters long flew out, cutting through the monster horde.


    Even Lord-level monsterscouldn''t withstand it and were killed instantly.


    The monster horde was cleared out inrge swathes.


    Under such overwhelming force, the monster horde broke into chaos, with survivors fleeing in all directions.


    Even so, nearly 70-80% of the tens of thousands of monsters were ughtered by the powerful warriors.


    It was safe to assume that after this battle, Riverfall Citywouldn''t face any monster invasions for quite some time.


    Amid the ranks of the Iron Mountain soldiers, Rudolphstood in utter despair.


    "How can this be? How could the Church''s n have failed?" His eyes were bloodshot, unable to ept the harsh reality.


    Rudolph had risked everything on this n. Not only did he gain nothing in return, but his son had been killed by Luca, and he himself had been captured by the Iron Mountain soldiers. He had lost everything.


    With Ryan and the others now back, Rudolph knew that escape was no longer an option. The contrast between his lofty ambitions and his current situation made him feel as if he had fallen from heaven to the depths of hell.


    "It''s all that wretched brat''s fault!" Rudolph growled through clenched teeth, his hateful gaze locked onto Luca, as if he wished he could tear him apart limb by limb.


    If it hadn''t been for this boy, the Church''s n would have gone smoothly.


    Once the Nightmare Sovereignkilled Ryan, Rudolph would have be the rightful Count of the Iron Mountain Army.


    But Luca''s interference had caused numerous setbacks, ultimately leading to the n''s failure. Now Rudolph was nothing more than a prisoner, with nothing left.


    How could he not hate Luca for this?


    At that moment, Luca seemed to sense something. His gaze turned toward Rudolph, and their eyes met¡ªRudolph''s filled with rage, Luca''s with cold indifference.


    Seeing Rudolph''s twisted expression, a glint of icy intent flickered in Luca''s eyes.


    What a fool, Luca thought. Even now, this man dared to harbor murderous intent toward him.


    "Kill him," Luca said calmly, his voiceced with unmistakable killing intent.


    A brief silence fell, then suddenly, a faint sh of white light cut through the air.


    In an instant, Jormungandr, who had been coiled around Luca''s wrist, disappeared.


    At the same time, Rudolph felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. In front of his eyes appeared a pair of violet snake eyes.


    "Wha¡­what is this¡­" Rudolph''s eyes widened in shock. He immediately recognized the owner of those eyes, and a surge of excitement filled his heart.


    So, the Church''s n hadn''t failed after all. The Nightmare Sovereignhad truly emerged from the Abyssal Demon Realm!


    Did this mean there was still hope for him?


    "Hahaha! You''re all finished! Victory belongs to us!" Rudolph beganughing maniacally, as if he could already see himself standing triumphant over Ryan, crowned as the Count of Emerald State.


    "Has this guy lost his mind?" Cassman, who had been guarding Rudolph, furrowed his brow. He wondered if the man had gone insane¡ªafter all, the Nightmare Culthad already fled. What victory could he possibly be imagining?


    But then, Cassman noticed something wasn''t right.


    He saw that ck blood was starting to trickle from Rudolph''s eyes, and yet Rudolph seemedpletely unaware, continuing tough hysterically.


    In just a few moments, blood began pouring from Rudolph''s eyes, nose, and mouth¡ªthick, ck blood with a foul stench.


    Like the scent of a long-dead, rotting corpse. His breathing grew faint andbored.


    Before long, under Cassman''s horrified gaze, Rudolph copsed and died.


    Even in death, a twisted smile remained on his face.


    Cassman and the surrounding guards sucked in their breath, chills running down their spines as they quickly backed away.


    What kind of dark sorcery was this?


    They had been so close, yet they hadn''t noticed anything unusual!


    Meanwhile, Luca calmly turned away, the serpent-shaped bracelet on his wrist shing briefly with a faint white glow.


    He had to admit, Jormungandr''s abilities were incredibly useful¡ªperfect for swift, discreet kills. Truly, a must-have tool for any adventurer or assassin!


    Rudolph''s death didn''t cause much of a stir.


    While many were curious about the Nightmare Cult''sn, the cult''s sudden retreat had already made it clear their n had failed. Rudolph was no longer of any value, alive or dead.


    By the time the monster horde had been fully driven off, night had fallen.


    The once-beautiful Whispering Wind insand Beast Forestwere now a grisly sight, littered with bodies and soaked in blood. The overwhelming stench of death made the air nearly unbearable.


    Many soldiers, too exhausted to care about the filth around them, copsed where they stood, falling into a deep sleep.


    Thanks to Franklinand Luca''sefforts, the residents of Riverfall Citywho had been trapped in a nightmare finally woke up.


    Lucia organized the support teams, having the injured and exhausted soldiers transported back to Riverfall City.


    Meanwhile, the others began clearing the battlefield. Ryanand the other powerful figures gathered to discuss the next steps.


    Taking advantage of the opportunity, Luca approached Ryan and expressed his desire to obtain materials from the in Hydra.


    After the Hydra was defeated, six items had been dropped, but only one of them was a crafting material.


    And that material was none other than an Earth-level, Superssresource!

 Chapter 59: Chapter 59: The Hydra’s Icy Heart, Game Rewards in Reality

    Under normal circumstances, there was no way Luca should have been able to get his hands on something this valuable. But his contributions during the disaster had been witnessed by many.


    And his two teachers had yed significant roles as well, making it hard to deny him a reward.


    Without much hesitation, Ryanagreed to Luca''s request.


    "Finally, it''s mine!" Luca''s eyes gleamed with excitement as he gazed at the icy-blue crystal heart in his hands.


    After all the effort and the moments where he thought everything might fall apart, he had finally secured the Transcendentmaterial from the Hydra.


    [Hydra''s Icy Heart: Superss material. The energy core that holds the Hydra''s mastery over ice. Can be used to craft Superss items with a 100% chance to imbue ice-element skills. Extremely rare and precious.]


    Luca clenched his fist. Along with the two other high-tier materials he had obtained earlier, he now had three top-grade materials in his possession, as well as arge stash of mid-tier materials and over 10,000 gold coins.


    These resources were more than enough to allow him to begin crafting his first fixed magic runes. All he needed now was to raise his magic rune craftingskill to the required level.


    At this moment, Luca''s magic rune craftingskill was already at lv5, but to craft Superss magic runes, he needed to reach at least lv10.


    For ordinary yers, such a goal would be incredibly daunting, but Luca had maxed-out aptitude. It wouldn''t take him long to get there.


    He carefully stored the Icy Heartin his storage ring, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.


    Now that he had what he needed, and with the Hydra''s mirror image in, it wouldn''t be able to return to the real world for quite some time.


    Moreover, the Nightmare Cult, whose faith revolved around the King-level monster, was essentially destroyed, with Jormungandr now reduced to his personal servant.


    Luca had also ascended to Silver-grade, gained new equipment, and collected an abundance of crafting materials.


    With the Hydra''s material in hand, Luca could finally start working on crafting his first fixed magic rune.


    Once this was done.


    His next step would be finding the materials for a second fixed rune.


    He also needed to wrap up his business with Snowfall Guild. Earning some quick cash would allow him to upgrade to a better gaming pod.


    Though the headset was sufficient for casual gaming, Luca required long hours of in-game progression. A gaming pod would not only enhance his experience but also ensure his body remained in good condition during extended gamey.


    As these thoughts swirled in Luca''s mind, a figure suddenly approached him.


    Sophia spoke earnestly, "Luca, there''s a banquet at the City Lord''s mansiontomorrow evening. My father hopes you can attend¡ªhe has something important to discuss with you."


    Luca was puzzled, unsure of what Ryanwanted to talk about, but he didn''t refuse. Nodding, he replied, "Thank you, Senior. I''ll be there tomorrow night."


    They didn''t engage in further conversation. Although the monster horde had been driven away, there were still many matters in Riverfall Citythat needed attention, so Sophia quickly left to attend to other tasks.


    Luca decided not to stay in the game any longer.


    For the past few days, he had been entirely focused on defeating the Hydra, barely getting any proper rest.


    Except for eating and bathroom breaks, he had spent nearly all his time in the game.


    Now that everything was settled, this was the perfect time to take a proper break and also finish his business with Snowfall Guildto get some cash for upgrading his gaming pod.


    Opening the game interface, he logged out, and in an instant, Luca''s in-game figure disappeared.


    ¡­


    A sh of blue light passed by, and the world around him faded to ck.


    Luca removed his VR headset and stretched, letting out a deep breath.


    It was noon in the real world, and sunlight streamed through his bedroom window.


    The curtains fluttered gently in the breeze, particles of dust dancing in the air.


    Just as he sat up, preparing to head out for some food, Luca noticed something strange¡ªhis body felt lighter.


    "Hmm? Am I just hungry?" he wondered, puzzled. Then, a sudden realization hit him.


    Excited, Luca rummaged through his cab and found a pair of dumbbells he had barely used in months.


    He lifted one and was shocked to find that the heavy weights, several kilograms each, now felt like nothing in his hands.


    "It''s just as I thought!" Luca''s eyes sparkled with joy. His physical abilities had been enhanced!


    He remembered from his previous life that the game''s first feedback into reality usually happened about two weeks after the gameunched, but this time it had happened much sooner.


    "Could this be rted to how quickly I''ve been leveling up?" Luca spected. The major difference between this life and his previous one was how fast his strength had grown.


    Perhaps that rapid growth was the reason why he had received the game''s feedback into reality so early.


    Luca suddenly realized another issue.


    Since the game had started to provide feedback to the real world, did that mean monstersmight have begun appearing too?


    It was highly possible, because in his previous life, the game''s feedback and the monsters'' arrival had happened almost simultaneously.


    With that thought, the excitement in Luca''s heart dimmed considerably.


    "I really need to strengthen my abilities as soon as possible," he thought, ncing out at the serene blue sky and white clouds outside his window.


    However,pared to his earlier anxiety, Luca now felt more at ease.


    With his SSS-level talent, "The Person Favored", his growth would be incredibly fast.


    On top of that, he had obtained many valuable items, equipment, and a hefty amount of gold.


    Once he properly utilized these resources, his power would skyrocket again.


    Even if monsters had indeed descended into the real world, as long as they weren''t too strong, Luca was confident he could protect himself.


    Feeling calmer now.


    Luca checked his phone and noticed that his bank bnce had increased by over a million.


    Snowfall Guildhad moved quickly.


    Not even ten minutes had passed since theirst transaction, and the money had already been transferred.


    A smile crept across Luca''s face. He appreciated dealing with clients who paid promptly and generously.


    He immediately called the contact Adahad provided earlier.


    After a couple of rings, a soft, elegant voice answered.


    "Who is this?" Ada asked, sounding curious.


    Luca didn''t waste time. "It''s Luca. I''ve received the money. I''ve got a few more items I''m willing to sell. If you''re interested, it''ll be 3 million for the lot, including a Silver-grade staff."


    The reason Luca hadn''t sold all his equipment in their first transaction was that he wanted to gauge Snowfall Guild''s sincerity. Now that they had proven themselves, he was ready to offload everything.


    There was a brief pause, and then Ada''s breathing grew noticeably faster.


    "We''ll take it! We''ll take everything you''ve got!" she said, her voice filled with excitement. "I''ll have the money transferred to you immediately!"


    It wasn''t surprising that Ada was so enthusiastic. Silver-grade equipmentwas incredibly rare.


    So far, very few yers in Eternal Gamewere known to possess Silver-grade items¡ªlet alone a staff. And that particr weapon was perfect for Ada.


    Priests, by nature, leveled more slowly thanbat-oriented sses.


    With this staff, she could ovee that disadvantage significantly.


    Luca could hear the rapid tapping of high heels on the floor from Ada''s side of the call.


    Itlikely her rushing to give instructions.


    Within minutes, Luca''s phone buzzed with a new message.


    "Your bank ount 4562*6 has been credited with 3,000,000 DOLLAR. Current bnce: 4,504,394 DOLLAR.


    Luca nced at the notification, smiled, and then put his phone aside.


    Now, this money still had some value, but Luca knew it wouldn''t be long before in-game gold wouldpletely rece real-world currency, reducing these sums to meaningless digits. So, he didn''t dwell on it too much.


    "Find me in the game when I log back in," Luca said casually before hanging up the phone.


    He had just exited the game and wasn''t in the mood to jump back in just to handle this minor business.


    On the other side of the call, Adablinked in surprise, staring at the phone for a long moment.


    In the past, she was always the one hanging up on men¡ªnever had a man hung up on her first.


    She couldn''t help but let out a soft, bemused chuckle. For a moment, she even questioned her own charm.


    "What a strange man¡­"she muttered.


    After ending the call.


    Luca opened the Zenith Technology Companywebsite and found the section for purchasing gaming pods.


    After browsing through the options, he bit the bullet and chose the top-tier S17gaming pod, priced at 1.58 million DOLLAR, paying a 500,000 DOLLAR deposit upfront.


    Since he was making the purchase, he figured it was best to go all out from the start¡ªno point in upgradingter and wasting more money.


    Shortly after the payment went through, he received a respectful call from the Celephaisgame developers.


    It turned out they had an S17gaming pod in stock and invited him to check it out. Once he confirmed and paid the remaining bnce, they could have it delivered and installed the same day.


    This suited Luca perfectly, so he agreed without hesitation.


    Next, he searched for a real estatepany through Celephais.


    He set up an appointment to view properties and nned to ce a down payment on a house.


    Staying with his parents had its limitations, and many things would be more convenient with his own ce.


    Besides, Luca also needed a workshop and a storage facility for future use¡ªwhether for storing materials or modifying weapons.


    Better to prepare in advance. With his current ability to earn money, affording these things wasn''t a concern.


    As Luca contemted these ns.


    The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, making his stomach rumble loudly.


    Sinimust have finished cooking.


    He put his phone down on the table and shouted, "Mom, I''m starving! Give me an extra serving of rice!"


    From the kitchen came Sini''s exasperated voice. "All you do is y games and eat! What are you going to do when you get married one day¡­"She continued muttering about her son''s future, even worrying aloud about his marriage prospects.


    But despite the scolding, she quickly brought out a hearty meal for her "precious baby boy."


    Luca was long ustomed to his mother''s nagging.


    Heughed and nodded as he spooned some savory gravy over his rice and dug in.


    After a few quick bites, he mumbled through a mouthful, "Where''s Dad? I haven''t seen him around thest few days."


    His father, Donald, was a taxi driver and usually ate at home.


    But for the past couple of days, Luca had logged out of the game several times for meals and hadn''t seen him once.


    Sini turned on the TV and responded absentmindedly, "He''s been working overtimetely. Not eating at home."


    Luca didn''t press the issue.


    With school starting soon, his father was likely trying to earn some extra money to help cover expenses.


    Little did his parents know, their son had already be a millionaire.

 Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Susies Class, and I Thought of Something Funny

    Luca thought to himself that maybe he could take out some moneyter and improve his family''s life a bit.


    At the very least, he could make sure they wouldn''t have to work so hard anymore.


    With that in mind, he began eating faster, nning to head to the city center after lunch.


    Just then, a knock came at the door.


    "Get the door," Sini nudged Luca with her foot, her eyes glued to the TV.


    Sighing, Luca got up to answer it.


    "Why are you here?" he asked when he saw Susiestanding outside.


    Her small face scrunched up in annoyance as she put her hands on her hips and huffed, "What''s wrong withing over for lunch?"


    "You''ve got some nerve," Luca muttered, handing her a pair of slippers.


    Susie''s parents were often busy with work, so she regrly came over to Luca''s house for meals.


    Susie''s father, Darabont, and her mother, Louise, had even tried to give Donaldsome money before, but Sinihad politely declined it.


    "Auntie, Luca called me thick-skinned!" Susieined the moment she stepped into the house.


    Sini, who was serving food, red at Luca and scolded, "Watch your mouth! Apologize to Susie right now!"


    "I¡­" Luca was speechless, beginning to wonder if he was even the biological child here.


    Susie stuck her tongue out yfully and shed a victory sign.


    When Luca ignored her antics, she leaned closer and blinked her eyes at him. "Guess what? I awakened an S-grade talenta few days ago, and I even went through a profession change to a rare ss. Jealous, huh?"


    "S-grade? What''s your talent and ss?" Luca asked, surprised.


    He hadn''t expected Susie to awaken an S-grade talent. It seemed his earlier suspicions were right.


    This girl was not suited to being a priest.


    With her chin held high, Susie proudly dered, "I''m a Ster Summoner, and my talent is called Summon Berserk¡ªsuper powerful!"


    "Holy crap! Summon Berserkand Ster Summoner? Did you step in some serious luck?" Luca blurted out, astonished.


    Summon Berserkwas a god-tier skill for summoners, boosting the damage and attributes of summoned creatures by 100%. And while Ster Summonerwas technically a rare ss, it had the highest number of summons within the summoning system.


    Thebination of these two was so overpowered that even many hidden sses couldn''tpare. The odds of getting both together were probably less than one in a billion.


    In his previous life, Luca had only ever seen one person awaken the Summon Berserktalent and be a summoner. That person was the most powerful summoner Luca had ever met.


    He still vividly remembered the overwhelming sight of countless summoned creatures charging against a monster horde¡ªa scene that had left asting impression on him.


    This dumb girl really hit the jackpot!


    Seeing the surprise on Luca''s face, Susie became even more smug. "I''m already level 12 now. If you beg me, maybe, just maybe, I''ll be kind enough to help you level up and run some dungeons."


    Luca''s eye twitched. He was 10 levels higher than her, but he hadn''t bragged about it. And here she was, showing off with level 12.


    Still, he asked, "Which main city are you in? If it''s close, I''lle find you."


    Susie thought for a moment. "I think it''s called... Southwind City? Yeah, pretty sure that''s the name."


    "Southwind City?" Luca''s expression immediately turned a bit strange. Wasn''t that the domain cityin the Southern Territory?


    He hadn''t known Susie was in Southwind City. With so many main cities in Eternal Continent, yers could be randomly assigned anywhere. The odds of ending up in the same region were incredibly low.


    Yet, here they were, practically neighbors.


    This made Luca a little excited.


    He couldn''t wait to see Susie''s reaction when she found out how much stronger he was.


    Riverfall Citywas just a low-level starter town. He knew he wouldn''t be staying there much longer.


    When it came time to move to a higher-tier city, he''d most likely head to Southwind City.


    There, he would have ess to more resources and deeper knowledge of magic runes, allowing him to grow even stronger.


    And he was sure that when Susie found out his level, her reaction would be priceless.


    Noticing the shift in Luca''s expression, Susie looked curious. "Have you heard of that city before?"


    Luca quickly shook his head. "Nope."


    "Then why were you smiling?" she asked, puzzled.


    "I just thought of something funny. Is that a crime?" Luca replied, spreading his hands innocently.


    Susie gave him a suspicious look, feeling like something was off but not able to put her finger on it.


    At that moment, Sinifrowned and called out, "You two, stop talking about games and start eating!"


    Both of them immediately lowered their heads and began devouring their food.


    Sini''s authority was still very much respected.


    "I''m done. I''ve got some errands to run, so call me if you need anything," Luca said as he quickly finished his meal. He stood up and, without waiting for a reaction from Susie or Sini, dashed out the door.


    The materials for crafting his fixed magic runeswere nearly ready, and with the uing banquet at Ryan''sestate, Luca decided to finish his errands in one trip, saving himself the hassle of running aroundter.


    "This kid is always so secretive," Sinimuttered as she called out loudly, "Don''t forget to buy some groceries on your way back!"


    "Got it!" Luca''s voice echoed faintly in response as he walked out the door.


    Not long after, he hailed a taxi and headed to the heart of Celephais City.


    The towering skyscrapers surrounded him, and the bustlingmercial streets were packed with people.


    Without stopping to admire the scene, Luca made his way straight to the Eternal Gamesales branch.


    It was the tallestmercial building in Celephais City, and on its massive digital billboards, advertisements for Eternal Gamewere ying, proudly announcing that the game''s online yer count had surpassed 300 million.


    The purchase area was incredibly crowded, with lines stretching out onto the street, filled with people eagerly waiting their turn.


    Luckily, Luca had pre-ordered his gaming pod, otherwise he would have had no idea how long he''d be stuck in this queue.


    "Excuse me, I''ve pre-ordered a gaming pod online. Where do I go toplete the payment and arrange delivery?" Luca asked, approaching a female staff member.


    The employee nced at Luca''s youthful appearance, hesitated for a moment, and then apologized, "I''m sorry, sir, but purchasing a gaming pod requires proof of age. You must be at least 18 years old."


    Luca blinked, then chuckled in disbelief.


    He hadn''t expected to be mistaken for a minor.


    "I''m already an adult," he said, pulling out his phone and showing the purchase record. Then, he handed over his ID for the staff member to verify, adding with a hint of amusement, "So, can we go check out the gaming pod now?"


    "Oh¡­ Oh, I''m terribly sorry, sir!" The employee''s eyes widened as she saw that Luca had ordered a top-tier gaming pod worth over 1.5 million DOLLAR. Clearly flustered, she stammered an apology.


    She had dealt with many customers before, but Luca was the first to spend over a million on a gaming pod.


    "Please wait just a moment, sir. I''ll call the manager over right away." Her attitude instantly shifted to one of deep respect, and she hurried off to find her supervisor.


    The rest of the transaction proceeded smoothly.


    When money was involved, the efficiency of the salespany was astounding.


    It didn''t take long for them to have Luca''s gaming pod ready.


    In the showroom stood the space capsule-style gaming pod. Its sleek, metallic alloy surface gleamed under the showroom lights, exuding a cold, futuristic aura.


    The pod featured a transparent canopy, a 24-hour nutrient fluid supply, an external alert system, and various other high-tech functions.Luca was thoroughly impressed and, without hesitation, paid the remaining 1 million DOLLARtoplete the purchase.


    Luca''s carefree spending, resembling that of a noble heir, left the sales manager grinning from ear to ear.


    After the gamingpany finished preparing the equipment, they would send a team to Luca''s home to install the gaming pod.


    However, Luca declined the sales manager''s delivery service and instead headed to a nearby vi sales office in the city center.


    Led by a real estate agent, Luca selected a standalone vi located in the suburbs, priced at 5.63 million DOLLAR.


    Since he didn''t have enough cash on hand, he only paid a 1 million DOLLARdeposit, with the remaining bnce to be settled within a month.


    The vi would serve as a safehousefor future use, so there was no rush to move in right away.


    By the time Luca finished all the paperwork, the sky had already begun to darken.


    He grabbed a bottle of soda, gulping it down quickly.


    Feeling like the day''s errands were finally wrapping up, Luca decided it was time to head home.


    Once again, he politely declined the real estate agent''s offer to drive him back.


    Stopping by a market, he picked up some groceries and soy sauce for his mom.


    As he reached the roadside, ready to hail a cab.


    Buthis ears twitched slightly.


    From several hundred meters away, in a shadowy alley, he caught faint sounds ofmotion.


    Thanks to the game''s feedback, both his hearing and vision had sharpened significantly.


    What would''ve sounded like a faint buzz to anyone else, rang clearly in Luca''s ears.


    It was the desperate plea of a young girl.


    Luca frowned. He hadn''t nned on getting involved.


    In the dark and cluttered alleyway, a frail figure wearing a hooded cloak leaned against the corner of a wall.


    Malinawatched in panic as three thugs circled around her. "I... I''ve already given you all my money... What more do you want from me?"


    "Don''t be scared, little missy," sneered a thug with dyed yellow hair, his eyes hungrily tracing her pale, delicate legs. "We just want to take you out for a bit of fun."


    Malina trembled, her voice cracking as she pleaded, "I... I don''t want to go with you... Please, just let me go... I''ll give you more money..."


    "Well, well, looks like we''ve got ourselves a little rich girl!" snickered anky thug with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. "Rx, we just want to have a good time. We''re not gonna hurt you."


    As he spoke, he reached for Malina''s hood. She shrieked and tried to back away, but another thug, a tattooed, heavy-set man, had already stepped closer. With one swift motion, he yanked her hood down.


    Malina''s face was exposed.


    She appeared to be no more than fifteen or sixteen, with soft, tousled short hair and sses. Herrge, bright eyes were filled with tears, and her snow-white skin gleamed like fine porcin. Her face was a mixture of terror and confusion.


    Her pitiful appearance was truly heart-wrenching, like something straight out of a manga.


    The three thugs were momentarily stunned.


    One of themswallowed hard, staring straight at the girl. "I knew I wasn''t wrong! I told you this girl had to be good-looking!"


    "I didn''t expect her to be this much of a knockout! We really lucked out," the tall, thin man licked his lips, his gaze sinister. Without hesitation, he reached out to grab the girl.


    Malinawas cornered by the three men with nowhere to run.


    She could only watch helplessly as his filthy hand moved toward her chest.


    Her beautiful eyes filled with despair and fear.


    Just then, a casual voice interrupted.


    "Three grown men bullying a minor? That''s pretty low, don''t you think?"Lucastrolled toward them, carrying a stic bag in one hand, a lollipop dangling from his mouth.

 Chapter 61: Chapter 61: A Chance Encounter with Malina, and The World Guild’s Bounty

    The three thugs froze for a moment and turned toward the direction of the voice.


    They saw a young man in a white T-shirt, carrying groceries, walking calmly toward them.


    "Kid, I''d advise you not to stick your nose where it doesn''t belong, or else our des might not be so forgiving," the yellow-haired thug threatened, his eyes cold as he pulled a knife from his pocket.


    The other two pulled out copsible batons, their menacing posture enough to make an average person back off in fear.


    But Luca''sexpression didn''t change in the slightest.


    "Oh? And what if I do? What are you gonna do about it?" he replied calmly.


    To Luca, these thugs were nothing. Even hardened criminals wouldn''t faze him.


    After surviving in an apocalypse for so many years. If he couldn''t handle a few lowlifes like this, he wouldn''t have made it this far.


    The tall, thin thug sneered, "This kid''s got guts!"


    The tattooed, bulky thug cracked his neck, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "Heroplex, huh? You''d better be sure you can y the part, or you''ll be giving up your life for nothing."


    At that moment, thenky thug and the yellow-haired one began to advance toward Luca, their eyes filled with malice.


    "You... you should run..." Malinawhispered, trying to warn Luca, but her voice was so faint from fear and exhaustion that it barely made a sound.


    Luca nced at her and spat out the stic stick from his lollipop. "Lucky for you, you bumped into me."


    By now, the three thugs had surrounded Luca.


    They loomed over him with smirks on their faces, clearly imagining the scene of this cocky kid soon begging for mercy.


    The yellow-haired thug opened his mouth to taunt Luca, but in the next instant, his face contorted in shock.


    Luca swung his grocery bag straight into the yellow-haired thug''s face.


    Sending a mix of carrots and cabbages flying at him. The impact made him howl in pain, blood gushing from his nose.


    No one expected Luca to strike first.The tattooed thug, his expression twisted with rage, raised his baton high, aiming for Luca''s head¡ªa blow that, ifnded, would leave him either dead or in aa.


    "Look out!" Malinacried out, terrified.


    But before the baton couldnd, the tattooed thug froze, his eyes bulging wide as an excruciating pain shot through his groin. It was so intense, he felt as if his soul had left his body.


    The tattooed thug screamed in agony, clutching his crotch, tears and snot streaming down his face as he rolled on the ground, his cries echoing through the narrow alley.


    Thenky thug felt a shiver run down his spine and instinctively pulled his legs back.


    What a ruthless kid!


    Everyone stood frozen in shock, but Lucadidn''t pause. With a swift movement, he stepped back and, to everyone''s disbelief, delivered a powerful kick that sent the 200-pound tattooed thug flying several meters, crashing into a trash bin with a loud thud.


    The man''s wailing ceased abruptly, leaving his fate uncertain.


    Gasps filled the alley as everyone''s eyes widened in shock.


    This was a guy who weighed over 200 pounds, and he had been kicked through the air with a single blow!


    How could this teenager possess such strength?!


    Not giving them any time to react, Luca stepped forward again. With a quick turn, he mmed his shoulder into thenky thug''s chest. The sickening crack of bones snapping echoed through the alley.


    "Crack!" Thenky thug spat out a mouthful of blood as he flew backward, his chest caving in with a horrifying dent.


    The yellow-haired thug, watching as his twopanions were taken down in mere seconds, was utterly dumbfounded.


    What the hell?! Are high schoolers this terrifying nowadays?


    "You still not running?" Luca asked calmly, his expression unchanged throughout the whole ordeal. At some point, he had even popped another lollipop into his mouth.


    The yellow-haired thug nced at his unconsciouspanions.


    Hehesitated for half a second, and then bolted without looking back.


    "T-thank you..." Malinastammered, staring at Luca in shock. Something about him seemed familiar, like she had seen him before, but she couldn''t quite ce it.


    "Get home quickly," Luca said, waving dismissively as he turned to leave.


    To him, this had just been a small, trivial matter¡ªnot worth a second thought.


    By the time Malina snapped out of her daze, Luca had already disappeared at the end of the alley.


    She rushed after him.


    But with the crowded streets outside, there was no trace of him anywhere.


    Luca didn''t give the incident any further thought either.


    After leaving the alley, he hailed a cab and headed straight home.


    On his way home, Luca pulled out his phone and scrolled through the Eternal Game forums.


    As expected, the Riverfall City monster horde event was stered all over the hottest headlines.


    [Riverfall City Overrun by Tens of Thousands of Monsters ¨C An Immortal Giant Monster Appears, Diamond-Level Warriors Join the Battle, Suspected Cult Behind It All!]


    The title was certainly eye-catching, so Luca clicked on it to take a closer look.


    It turned out the post was made by none other than ShadowCat.


    The thread was packed with photos of the Iron Mountain Army and yers fighting the monster horde.


    The angles were well-chosen, and even from the still images, you could feel the overwhelming chaos of the battle.


    Luca also noticed images and videos of Hydra, Lucia, Ryan, and even himself, captured in action.


    Thement section had already blown up, with thousands of replies piling up.


    [Comment 1: WTF! Howe you guys in Riverfall City get an epic siege battle while we in Redwind City get nothing?!]


    [Comment 2: These scenes are insane! Just looking at the pictures makes my legs weak!]


    [Comment 3: Isn''t that guy with the spear Luca? Looks like the big man himself!]


    [Comment 4: Damn, charging straight into the monster horde like that? That''s crazy cool!]


    [Comment 5: Ugh, why wasn''t I born in Riverfall City?!]


    [Comment 6: This is so unfair! I''m reporting this. I want my own monster horde siege too!]


    ...


    Luca chuckled as he read the enviousments.


    These goofy yers were always good for augh!


    Just as he was about to close the forum, something caught his eye ¡ª a second post standing out from the rest.


    [The World Guild Offers a 1 Million Bounty for Any Useful Information on Riverfall City''s Luca!]


    This thread also had thousands ofments.


    Most discussing how Luca dared to take on the Celephais Guild.


    "A bounty on me?" Luca''s eyes narrowed, and a cold smile tugged at his lips.


    Can''t win in the game, so now they''re trying to bring it into real life, huh?


    ssic James Family behavior.


    He thought to himself, James better hope I don''t run into him in-game again. If I do, I''ll make sure he drops a few more items.


    The scenery outside shifted as the taxi sped along the streets.


    Before long, Luca had arrived back at his apartmentplex.


    After paying the fare, he walked inside, only to discover that his mom wasn''t home.


    A note was left on the table. Luca picked it up and read it.


    Turns out his mom had gone shopping with Aunt Louise and wouldn''t be back for a while. She left instructions for him to make dinner on his own.


    "Another day of fending for myself," Luca muttered, shaking his head as he stashed the groceries in the fridge.


    He then pulled out a check for a million dors from his pocket and ced it on his parents'' bedside table.


    That should surprise them when they get back.


    Knock, knock, knock!


    "I''m with the Eternal Gameinstation team. Is Mr. Luca home?" A voice called from outside the door. The game pod delivery team had arrived.


    "Come in, the door''s open," Luca shouted back.


    The team of installers entered the apartment.


    And as they looked around at the modest furnishings, they couldn''t help but feel a little surprised.


    Who would have thought that someone who could drop over a million dors like it was nothing lived in such an ordinary ce?


    "Mr. Luca, where would you like the game pod installed?" the lead technician asked respectfully. No matter where he lived, money was money, and they were there to do their job.


    "In the room next door," Luca replied, pointing to his bedroom without paying much attention to their reactions.


    The staff assigned to set up the game pod acknowledged his request and began bringing in the assembled parts.


    They worked quickly,pleting the instation in about an hour.


    Once the instation team left, Luca prepared a meal and finished eating, but he still hadn''t seen Sini return.


    Deciding not to wait any longer, he logged into the game.


    [Ding! Connection to the game established!]


    [Wee, yer Luca, to Eternal Game!]


    A sh of blue light flickered.


    When Luca opened his eyes again, he found himself back in Riverfall City.


    The city, once deserted, had regained its usual vibrancy. Bustling crowds filled the streets.


    Apart from groups of people gathering to chat, things seemed much like they had always been.


    The yers, however, were busier than ever.


    Excitement filled the air as groups worked together to haul away the corpses of monsters.


    Though the meat from these creatures couldn''t be eaten, it was valuable for crafting potions.


    NPCs had posted numerous tasks, hiring yers to help with the cleanup, ensuring no one was left idle.


    Luca''s appearance caused quite a stir.


    His actions during the monster horde battle had been recorded and uploaded online by Malina.


    Now Luca had gained a fair bit of fame in the Eternal Gammunity.


    But fame wasn''t something Luca particrly enjoyed¡ªespecially when it meant being mobbed by groups of excited newbies, all moring for him to help them level up.


    Far from giving him a sense of superiority, it just felt noisy.


    After sessfully shaking off the crowd of yers, Luca headed straight for the Mages'' Association.


    As he walked through the city, he noticed several people still looking a bit dazed. He wondered if, when he had prepared the potions earlier, he had diluted them too much, leaving some of the nightmare curse lingering.


    He made a mental note to ask his mentor to prepare more potions. Lost in thought, Luca soon found himself at the entrance of the Mages'' Association.


    Once again, his arrival turned heads.


    Though this time, it was the NPCs staring.


    Luca let out a small sigh.


    This was the first time he realized that having maxed-out charm wasn''t always a good thing.


    It made him far too noticeable. Everywhere he went, it felt like he was walking around with a giant spotlight on him.

 Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The Pay-to-Win Class, Demonic Rune Mage, and Crafting Hydra’s Heart

    Luca''s eyes scanned the guild hall, finallynding on the reception desk.


    Old Carl, who was wrapped in bandages like a mummy, was slumped over the desk, snoring softly.


    Wasn''t this guy stationed at the backlines? How did he end up so badly injured?


    Luca wondered to himself as he approached the desk and gave it a few taps.


    "Who''s there? Can''t you see I''m sleeping..." Old Carl groggily muttered, yawning as he stirred.


    Halfway through his sentence, he blinked and suddenly froze as he recognized the person in front of him.


    "L-Luca, sir! What brings you here?" Carl''s expression changed faster than flipping a page. His demeanor shifted instantly to one of fawning, a grin stered on his face.


    Luca could only shake his head.


    This guy, a mid-tier peak assassin, has absolutely no shame.Luca thought.


    Still, in times of chaos, people like Carl often survive better.


    "I''m looking for high-tier materials. Does the guild have any avable for purchase?" Luca asked directly.


    "High-tier materials?" Carl looked puzzled but quickly nodded. "We do have some in stock, but they''re pricey. What kind of price range are you looking at? If we don''t have what you need, I can reach out to the other guilds."


    High-tier materials weren''t exactlymon. Riverfall City was a low-tier settlement, and even the Guild''s stock of such materials was limited.


    Luca mentally calcted his funds.


    He had saved over 4,000 gold coins, and with the 10,000 gold coins from his recent quest reward, his total was close to 14,000.


    If he sold off some of his materials, he''d be looking at about 20,000 gold coins.


    He couldn''t afford anything too extravagant, but buying a basic high-tier material would certainly be within reach.


    Luca shared his budget with Old Carl.


    "For basic high-tier materials, we have one for about 22,000 gold coins," Carl replied after a brief moment of thought.


    Seeing that Luca was serious, Carl didn''t waste any time and went upstairs to the storage room.


    Not long after, Carl returned, carefully carrying a wooden box wrapped in fine cloth.


    Luca opened the box, revealing a root that resembled ginseng.


    [Ghostwood Root: High-tier material, the root of the Elite Ghost Tree King. When used in crafting tools or potions, there is a chance to add an "Undead" attribute effect.]


    "This will do," Luca nodded in approval.


    Although the Ghostwood Root wasn''t considered top-tier, it was sufficient for crafting fixed magic runes.


    Luca retrieved his equipment from his Storage Ring and sold them to the guild, ultimately earning over 8,000 gold coins.


    After paying 21,000 gold coins to purchase the Ghostwood Root.


    His savings were nearly wiped out, leaving him with barely over 1,000 coins.


    As Luca stared at his almost-empty wallet, he felt a wave of heartache that nearly took his breath away.


    But there was no helping it. The Demonic Rune Mage ss was notoriously expensive. If you wanted to be strong, you had to pay for it. Without sufficient investment, the ss couldn''t reach its full potential¡ªsometimes even performing worse than moremon sses.


    This is exactly why so many yers in my previous life knew how powerful the Demonic Rune Mage could be but avoided choosing it.


    No one could afford the endless expenses for the magic runes.


    Luca thought with a sigh.


    Once he calmed down, he walked to the training room on the third floor of the Mages'' Association.


    Lucia and most of the powerful members of the association were outside.


    As a result, the entire Mages'' Association was nearly empty, with hardly anyone around.


    Upon arriving at the training room, Luca carefullyid out all the materials from his storage ring.


    He lined up the "Deep Sea Pearl" he received for treating Lenna, the "Purified Water Flower" from ying Freeman.


    And the "Elf''s Tear" frompleting the Riverfall City quest, along with the newly acquired "Ghostwood Root."


    Heid out the four high-grade materials on the table.


    The air in the training room was instantly filled with rich elemental energy.


    Finally, Luca pulled out the "Frozen Heart of Hydra."


    Chilly mist emanated from it, causing the surrounding temperature to drop significantly.


    Yet, Luca felt an intense heat within him.


    He was eager to see what kind of abilities Hydra''s heart would grant him.


    However, now wasn''t the time for crafting.


    His current magic rune crafting level was far too low. To craft a rune using such a high-tier, Superssmaterial, Luca needed to max out his rune crafting skill.


    When he defeated Freeman, Luca had gained a substantial number of materials.


    He had been holding on to them specifically for a moment like this.


    With a deep breath, Luca took out these materials and prepared to immerse himself in upgrading his skill level.


    Alongside that, he could also focus on crafting the remaining mid-tier magic runes.


    Including the four primary elemental runes: Hurricane Rune, Thunderp Rune, Radiance Rune, and Shadow Rune.


    Luca had already crafted the Thunderp Runeearlier, and now that his magic rune crafting skill had reached an intermediate level, creating these runes wasn''t much of a challenge anymore.


    As he refined each intermediate material, Luca began crafting his second intermediate rune, the Hurricane Rune.


    This rune, once activated, would unleash several wind des to strike at enemies.


    It also boosted the Demonic Rune Mage''s attack and movement speed, making it an incredibly powerful tool in battle.


    "You''re nning to use Hydra''s materials to craft a fixed magic rune?" Jormungandr suddenly emerged from Luca''s wrist, transforming into her human form.


    She looked at the materialsid out before Luca, clearly understanding his intentions, and couldn''t help but sneer, "A mere Bronze Grade Demonic Rune Mage thinks he can refine Superss fixed magic runes? How naive and cute."


    Not to mention anything else, even just extracting the heart of a Hydra was beyond Luca''s capabilities.


    The mental toll alone was something an average practitioner couldn''t endure.


    If Superss materials were so easy to refine, alchemists and potion makers wouldn''t be so rare in this world.


    Moreover, to draw such Superss fixed magic runes, one would need to raise their magic runes drawing skill to the maximum level.


    Jormungandr had seen many extraordinary geniuses.


    But few managed to elevate their magic runes drawing skill to its peak.


    Most had reached higher tiers only by pouring resources into leveling up their skills.


    Luca was still just at Bronze Grade; hoping to raise his level with these mid-tier materials was nothing short of a pipe dream.


    He ignored Jormungandr''s mockery.


    At that moment, the wind magic runes were nearingpletion, faster than he had anticipated.


    As a gentle breeze blew through, a green magic rune appeared before Luca.


    [You have drawn the mid-tier magic runes "Hurricane Magic Runes," magic runes drawing proficiency +300!]


    [Ding! Your skill "magic runes drawing" has leveled up to lv6, magic runes drawing speed increased by 15%, sess rate increased by 5%, magic runes power increased by 5%...]


    Luca nced at the proficiency needed for drawing magic runes; he needed about 1500 points, which meant that with five mid-tier magic runes, he could level up his skill to lv7.


    For an ordinary practitioner, this amount would need to be multiplied by five to ten times.


    His maxed-out Perception and innate qualities provided him with a proficiency boost, significantly increasing the speed at which he leveled up his skills.


    Luca then continued to craft the "Radiance Magic Runes."


    This time, his speed in creating the magic runes was noticeably faster than before.


    As he progressed, Luca''s speed only increased.


    Jormungandr''s gaze gradually shifted from mockery to surprise, then from surprise to shock.


    This improvement was evident to the naked eye.


    With almost every magic rune he drew, Luca''s proficiency would increase significantly.


    While others might take months or even years to go from awkwardness to proficiency.


    He only needed to craft a single magic rune!


    "Is this what having four maxed-out attributes looks like? It''s truly terrifying..." Jormungandr murmured, her expressionplex.


    She had seen the four maxed-out talents in Luca''s mental world, but she didn''t have a clear concept of them.


    Even Jormungandr had never encountered such a prodigy before.


    Today, she was witnessing what a true genius looked like!


    Time flew by.


    When Luca finished crafting his 47th mid-tier magic rune.


    The prompt he had been waiting for finally appeared before him.


    [Ding! Your skill "magic runes drawing" has leveled up to lv10, magic runes drawing speed increased by 30%, sess rate increased by 20%, magic runes drawing¡­]


    [Ding! Your skill "magic runes drawing" has reached maximum level. You cannot continue to raise your skill level until your ss awakens.]


    "Finally at max level!" Luca clenched his fist as he looked at the prompt.


    By now, he had nearly exhausted all of Freeman''s materials, but his effort had not been in vain; he had finally maxed out his magic runes drawing skill.


    "Now it''s your turn!" Luca''s gaze shifted to the icy heart of the Hydra, a fiery intensity gleaming in his eyes.


    Once he had regained his energy, he couldn''t wait to formally begin drawing his first fixed magic rune.


    A dark purple glow blossomed in Luca''s hands, enveloping all four high-tier materials.


    Essences were slowly extracted, but the process was painstakingly slow, like pulling silk.


    The process of drawing fixed magic runes was vastly different from that of temporary magic runes.


    For example, the extraction process required multiple iterations.


    Since fixed magic runes had to be inscribed onto the body, there could not be a single impurity in the magic runes.


    Otherwise, it would not only reduce the damage and effectiveness of the magic runes but also harm the Demonic Rune Mage''s body.


    "With your skills, you stillck the ability to refine the Hydra''s heart, right?" Jormungandr said, a mysterious smile on her face.


    Luca remained silent.


    Jormungandr squinted, smiling, "If you agree to lift the contract, I can personally help you refine the Hydra''s heart. I could even provide you with genuine Transcendent level materials to draw Transcendent level magic runes. What do you think?"


    Luca nced at her.


    Calmly, he said, "Shut your mouth and don''t make me say it twice."

 Chapter 63: Chapter 63: I Cant Even Love You in Time, So How Could I Take Revenge on You?

    "You! You!" Jormungandr''s face flushed with anger.


    After so many years, no one had ever dared to speak to her this way, yet this boy kept offending her time and again.


    It infuriated her to the point where her serpent-like fangs protruded; she felt like she could bite this ungrateful human to death!


    However, when she saw Luca''s eyes, cold as frost, she ultimately decided to keep her mouth shut.


    "I''ll settle the score with youter!" Jormungandr huffed.


    It wasn''t that she was afraid of Luca; she just felt that interrupting him at this moment was quite uncouth.


    Luca shifted his gaze back and continued refining the high-level materials in front of him.


    Although Jormungandr was desperate to rid herself of him, her words held a kernel of truth.


    Given his current abilities, extracting Superss materials was indeed quite challenging.


    But Luca wasn''t without his methods.


    For instance, he could use secret techniques to gradually extract the materials and refine them little by little.


    Though the speed was slow, it would at least allow him toplete the refining process.


    So what troubled Luca the most wasn''t the material extraction.


    It was figuring out what kind of magic runes to draw.


    Each Demonic Rune Mage had unique magic runes, and their power entirely depended on the mage''s understanding of elemental forces during the rune-drawing process.


    This meant that some magic runes, even if sessfully drawn, might not unleash even a tenth of their potential.


    That was something Luca absolutely could not ept.


    He had struggled immensely to finally obtain the materials from the Hydra.


    If he failed to unleash the full power of the magic runes, he suspected he might just copse in the bathroom and cry.


    After pondering for a long time, a spark of inspiration suddenly shed in Luca''s mind.


    "Ice-type magic runes, huh..." His eyes narrowed slightly as he thought of a more suitable magic rune.


    Or rather, an elemental rune.


    In his past life, after breaking through to the Transcendent level, he had visited a frozen space on the extraterritorial battlefield, locked away by the Frost Goddess.


    This was the very area that Sophia had frozen with her life after bing the Frost Goddess.


    Although he had nearly died there, Luca had not left empty-handed.


    He had witnessed the power beyond the Transcendent, thews of ice, and the pathway to bing a deity!


    With his current abilities and understanding, he certainly couldn''t grasp such profoundws.


    But he felt confident that he could replicate and simplify thosew runes to create his own magic runes.


    Of course, he would have to bear the cost of failure.


    This gamble was never something Luca enjoyed; the uncertainty was too great.


    However, after much deliberation, he gritted his teeth and decided to give it a shot.


    This was the only high-level ice power he remembered, and even if it didn''t work out, he had to try.


    If he failed, he could always resort to a standard drawing method.


    But if he seeded, even just capturing a hint of the icew''s power would be a huge win!


    Yet, now was not the time for such thoughts; the priority was to extract the materials first.


    Luca refocused his mind and began to concentrate fully on the extraction process.


    As time ticked by, several high-level materials were gradually refined under his careful hands.


    Soon, only one remained.


    The Hydra''s heart floated in midair, emanating a radiant blue glow.


    Sweat poured from Luca''s forehead as he felt the effort intensify.


    Drawing magic runes required long periods of concentration, and the mental strain for cross-level rune crafting increased exponentially.


    Luca''s ability to endure came entirely from the incredible willpower he had honed in his past life; otherwise, an ordinary person would have long since copsed.


    "Does this guy''s secret technique ever run out?!" Jormungandr was utterly astonished.


    Thinking back to the various methods Luca had employed in the mental space, Jormungandr couldn''tprehend how this mere teenager could wield so many high-level secret techniques, some of which she had never even encountered.


    At this critical moment, Luca ignored Jormungandr.


    A swirl of ghostly blue magic energy surged from his hands.


    Before long, the Hydra''s heart waspletely refined.


    Multiple energies converged and intertwined in the air, gradually transforming into a shimmering white energy orb.


    The temperature in the training room dropped again.


    Sweat on Luca''s skin froze, leaving ayer of frost on his eyebrows and hair.


    Yet, his heart remained fervent.


    "Whether it works or not depends on whates next!" Luca murmured to himself, his eyes shining brightly.


    He slowly closed his eyes, calming his mind.


    He concentrated on recalling thew runes he had seen in that frozen region.


    He focused intently on the ultimate chill that could freeze space!


    At the same time, in Luca''s mental world, three beams of light representing Perception, talent, and luck radiated an intense golden glow, illuminating his mental space to an incredible brightness!


    Soon, an ancient and intricate silver rune gradually became clearer in his mind.


    Luca''s breathing grew heavy, and his heart burned with fervor.


    He sensed the terrifying power contained within!


    It was aw of power capable of freezing life, space, and even time!


    In his past life, Luca had been a warrior, so he could only grasp the surface of such powers and couldn''t delve into the deepest mysteries of thews; his understanding of this magical force was not profound.


    But in this life, he was a mage. Thanks to some insights from his previous life, Luca could now barelyprehend just how astonishingly powerful Sophia had be.


    What kind of opportunity had she seized to break through to such a level in just a few short years?


    A flicker of doubt crossed Luca''s mind but vanished just as quickly.


    Under his control, strands of energy began to converge toward him like tendrils, wrapping around Luca until he waspletely encased, forming a white cocoon that emitted a soft, white glow as if it were breathing.


    "That magic rune just now felt oddly familiar¡­" Jormungandr wondered, but she couldn''t quite recall what it was. Perhaps she had only seen it once before; after pondering for a long time anding up empty, she decided not to dwell on it further.


    After the initial shock, Jormungandr gradually calmed down. She fiddled with a glowing stone in her hand while sitting at the table in the training room, her delicate white legs swaying slightly beneath her elegant ck skirt.


    "Should I add something to it?" She gazed at the white cocoon in front of her, a thoughtful expression crossing her purple eyes.


    Now that Luca was immobile, her mind buzzed with countless ways to take advantage of the situation and control him.


    If she seeded, she could threaten this human to release her and regain her freedom...


    As soon as that thought crossed her mind, it spread like a web within her heart.


    Jormungandr narrowed her eyes, feeling a surge of excitement.


    But just as she prepared to act, a cold, emotionless voice suddenly exploded in her mind!


    "Not a bad idea; you can give it a try." Luca''s voice was calm, yet it struck Jormungandr like a bolt of lightning, freezing her in ce.


    "You can actually hear my thoughts?" Shock flooded her eyes.


    What kind of twisted contract had this guy used on her?!


    Before she could ponder further, an unbearable sharp pain surged through her head!


    It felt as if someone were driving a sharp object into her brain, twisting it violently. The tearing sensation from her very soul made Jormungandr''s face turn pale, as if her head might split open!


    Ah, ah, ah!!


    She clutched her head, letting out a piercing scream, her expression contorted in agony as she rolled on the floor in pain.


    It hurt! It hurt too much! The pain even drove Jormungandr to consider self-termination!


    This torment, prating her very soul, was a hundred times worse than the agony of her flesh being torn apart!


    The screams in the training room continued for half an hour before finally subsiding.


    Jormungandry helplessly on the ground, her long white hair a tangled mess, her gaze nk and her face streaked with unshed tears, as if she had been vited.


    "Letting you live is already my greatest mercy. I don''t want to waste too much time and energy on you, so you better not cause me any trouble. You wouldn''t want to know what the consequences would be," Luca''s voice echoed in her ear again.


    His tone remained emotionless, a calmness that sent chills down Jormungandr''s spine.


    She knew he meant every word.


    To Luca, she was nothing more than a disposable object.


    If he found her troublesome or useless, a single thought could erase her from this world.


    "I understand, Master!" A look of humiliation shed in Jormungandr''s eyes. She swore that if she regained her freedom, she would repay this man''s inflicted pain a hundredfold!


    As she silently vowed revenge, Jormungandr suddenly recalled that this human seemed able to hear her thoughts.


    Panic surged within her, and she quickly rified, "Master, I was just joking! How could I ever retaliate against you? I can''t even love you enough¡­"


    A few breaths passed.


    Fortunately, there was no response echoing in her mind, allowing her to rx slightly and sneak another re at the giant cocoon.


    ...


    What Jormungandr didn''t know was that Luca was no longer in the game.


    In the real world, in his bedroom.


    Luca was being roused by Sini and Donald.


    He removed the gaming headset and immediately spotted the million-dor check in Sini''s hand.


    "Luca, where did you get this check?" Sini, holding a broom, looked incredibly serious, even a bit anxious, her hand trembling as she gripped the check.


    She had initially thought it was one of Luca''s pranks and nearly tossed it in the trash, believing it to be fake.


    If Donald hadn''t suggested checking it.


    She would have never believed that this million-dor check was, in fact, real!

 Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Fooling Dad! Son of Frost! Perfect Quality!

    Donald''s expression was unusually serious.


    He said sternly, "Luca, what have I taught you since you were little? This money isn''t ours; we can''t take a single cent!"


    "Especially money of unknown origin; it could drag our family into danger."


    "Quick, tell me where you found this so I can return it to its owner!"


    Luca shrugged and replied, "Don''t worry, this money ispletely legitimate; I earned it ying games."


    He couldn''t tell if his parents felt surprised, but they definitely looked shocked.


    Especially Donald, who had been to battlefields and had seen too much of human greed and blood-stained money.


    This million-dor checkpletely rattled his battlefield reflexes.


    "ying games?" Both Sini and Donald were momentarily taken aback.


    They had considered many possibilities for where the money came from, but never thought Luca would say this.


    "How could you possibly make that much money ying games?" Sini questioned, skeptical. Her monthly sry was only a few thousand, and Luca casually earning what amounted to decades of her wages seemed far-fetched!


    Donald furrowed his brow as well.


    He didn''t doubt that you could make a lot of money ying games; rather, he sensed that his son was lying.


    He knew his son too well.


    However, Donald didn''t confront Luca.


    He believed his son wasn''t the type to joke about their family''s situation.


    Plus, he was curious to see how Luca would exin himself further.


    Seeing this, Luca shared the exnation he had already prepared.


    Itmainly to cate Sini; he didn''t intend to deceive Donald.


    If it had been before, Luca might have concealed the truth for a while, waiting for the right moment to speak up.


    But now that the game had begun to affect reality, it was likely that monsters had already descended.


    He needed to prepare his parents for the game world.


    Especially Donald.


    Luca wanted him to believe his words.


    Because there would be many things afterward that he would need his father''s help with.


    Under the shared understanding between father and son, Sini took the check with a mix of belief and skepticism and left.


    With an unexpected windfall of over a million dors, she needed some time to calm her nerves.


    After Sini ced the check safely, she stepped out to find her friend Zhou Yan to talk things over.


    Only then did Donald close the door.


    "Knock, knock!"


    He tapped Luca''s expensive gaming pod with an iron cigarette case, lit a cigarette, and frowned, asking, "Now, tell me what''s going on. You don''t need to repeat the part you used to fool your mother."


    Luca paused, then looked up at his father and said, "Dad, if I told you that things are about to get chaotic and that it will be worse than anything you''ve ever experienced, would you believe me?"


    "Why do you say that? What does this have to do with your million?" Donald didn''t indicate whether he believed or doubted.


    Luca didn''t answer directly but extended his hand. "Can you pass me the cigarette?"


    Donald frowned slightly but tossed the cigarette case to Luca.


    He didn''t like his son smoking, but Luca was already over eighteen, so Donald respected his choice.


    However, to Donald''s surprise, after taking the case, Luca didn''t open it.


    His hand slowly clenched.


    In the next moment, a screeching sound of metal grinding filled the room!


    Under Donald''s doubtful gaze,


    the iron cigarette case in his hand was squeezed and reshaped into a ball like y-Doh by Luca.


    "Clunk!"


    The cigarette fell from Donald''s mouth to the ground, sparks flying, but he seemed unaware.


    "What¡­ how is this possible?" Donald''s voice barely concealed his shock.


    That cigarette case was made of alloy steel, designed to be worn on the chest to deflect bullets.


    If he hadn''t seen it with his own eyes, he could never have believed that someone could casually crush and mold it with just one hand!


    Luca extinguished the cigarette butt and shrugged. "There''s nothing impossible; you saw it for yourself."


    Donald was about to ask how he did it.


    When Luca shook his head. "I don''t know either. Ever since I entered the game, I''ve noticed I''ve be stronger, and my strength increases as my character levels up."


    "Then I found out that many bigpanies in the game are buying high-tier gear, and what seems like an ordinary item can sell for hundreds of thousands. That million was earned by trading equipment."


    "I suspect this enhancement in strength isn''t happening just to me. These bigpanies probably received information ahead of time, which is why I say things are likely to get chaotic."


    As Luca spoke, Donald instinctively observed his son''s changing expressions.


    To his astonishment, he realized he didn''t see any signs of deceit on Luca''s face!


    This meant that everything Luca said was true!


    Trembling, Donald reached for a cigarette.


    Then he remembered that the cigarette case had been destroyed by Luca.


    Donald furrowed his brows, feeling a bit unsettled.


    After a long while.


    He exhaled deeply.


    He said solemnly, "I''ll reach out to some old friends in the next few days to gather more firearms and equipment. After that, I''ll check the situation in the game." He added, "I hope this is just your imagination; otherwise, things might really change."


    On the surface, Luca nodded seriously, but inside, he wasughing.


    That was exactly what he wanted to hear from Donald!


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the training room of the Mages'' Association.


    The white cocoon that Luca had transformed into began to crack with tiny, sharp sounds.


    The outer shell started to peel awayyer byyer, like an eggshell, quickly revealing Luca wrapped inside.


    Jormungandr nced over, her eyes widening in disbelief.


    She eximed, "How did this happen? It''s like he''s turned into a different person!"


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have drawn the Superss fixed magic runes "Frostborn," with a quality of "Perfect"!]


    [Your skill "Magic Runes Drawing" has reached maximum level; you have gained 1000 points of free proficiency!]


    At this moment, Luca had undergone a significant transformation; his aura had surged more than twice!


    Not only had numerous silver patterns appeared on his body, but even his hair and eyebrows had turned silver, radiating a sharp, icy energy that even Jormungandr could feel chilling her to the bone.


    Luca opened his eyes, a cold light shing within. He stepped forward, and the temperature in the training room dropped dramatically. Centered around Luca, the walls and ceiling quickly became coated with a thickyer of ice visible to the naked eye.


    In the blink of an eye, the entire training room hadpletely transformed into a world of ice and snow!


    "This¡­ is a Bronze Grade magic rune?!" Jormungandr was momentarily stunned. If she hadn''t known about Luca''s strength, she might have thought he was some high-level Demonic Rune Mage!


    Not to mention Bronze Grade; even a Superss fixed magic rune shouldn''t have caused such amotion!


    "Perfect quality! I did it!" After ncing at the notification, Luca let out a long sigh of relief.


    With the same magic runes but different qualities, the power varies significantly. A perfect quality magic rune could unleash up to 150% of the original magic rune''s power!


    All the effort he put in was worth it; he hadn''t wasted the hard-earned Superss materials.


    Checking his changes, Luca noticed that the magic runes on him were in an activated state.


    In this state, beyond the physical changes, his strength had significantly increased.


    Opening his stats panel, Luca saw that all four of his attributes had received substantial boosts.


    His mental attribute had doubled, surpassing 2000 points.


    His health had skyrocketed to an astonishing 30,000 points, nearly five times its original value!


    Moreover, he had gained the ability to freely manipte ice!


    "Is this the power granted by thatw rune?" Luca extended his hand, feeling the cold energy coalesce in his palm.


    In an instant, a magnificent, icy blue longsword formed in his hand.


    The sharp de shimmered with a cold light, emitting wisps of chill.


    With a thought, Luca sent the ice de flying toward the training dummy in the practice room.


    As it struck the dummy, the ice de pierced straight into its chest without hesitation, the powerful force sending it flying backward for several meters before it was brutally pinned to the wall.


    Immediately, from the point of contact, frost spread across the dummy''s body at a visible rate, radiating outwards towards the walls. This dummy, designed to withstand a full-force strike from a Gold Grade professional, was effortlessly incapacitated by Luca with just a casual blow¡ªhis strength had increased several times over!


    "Indeed, choosing to engrave that ice attributew rune was the right decision!" A slight smile tugged at Luca''s lips as he concentrated, causing the silver patterns on his body to slowly fade.


    Ultimately, they converged into an ancient, unique rune at his heart, gradually disappearing.


    He took a moment to check the specific skills of the "Frostborn" magic rune.


    [Frostborn: The only Superss magic rune. You have used "Hydra''s Icy Heart" and the "Ice Attribute Law Rune" to create a unique fixed magic rune that belongs solely to you. It grants you the incredible power to freely control ice and allows you to enter the magic rune awakening state.]


    [Skill 1 "Icy Heart": Passive skill. Your ice attribute damage is increased by 60%, cooldown times are reduced by 25%, and you can freely use mid-level and lower ice attribute skills. In the "Ice Pattern Awakening" state, you will enter an "Absolute Calm" state and can use high-level ice skills.]


    [Skill 2 "Ice Avatar": Active skill. You can create an ice clone that possesses all your professional skills and 80% of your base attributes,sting for 20 minutes with a cooldown of 24 hours. In the "Ice Pattern Awakening" state, the clone''s base attributes are doubled and it gains aberrant abilities.]


    [Skill 3 "Ice Pattern Awakening": Active skill. Upon activating the ice power within the fixed magic runes, you will enter the "Ice Pattern Awakening" state. Attributes are increased by 120%, damage is increased by 120%, ice skills are enhanced, and all skill cooldowns are reduced by 35%. This statests for 30 minutes, with a cooldown of 36 hours.]

 Chapter 65: Chapter 65: A Diverging Fate! I Object to This Marriage! You Look Handsome Today!

    "Truly worthy of the perfect quality of Superss magic runes!" Luca clenched his fist, excitement bubbling within him.


    The "Frostborn" magic runes provided three powerful skills, each formidable in its own right. The "Ice Pattern Awakening" was particrly impressive, allowing him to unleash immense strength in a short time.


    With a skill duration of a full 30 minutes, he could turn the tide in many battles. With this magic runes, he even felt bold enough to challenge a Gold Grade Elitemonster!


    "How on earth did you do it?" Jormungandr''s voice cut through Luca''s thoughts.


    The shock on her face hadn''t faded, and she couldn''t fathom why this guy was able to create perfect quality Superss magic runes. How did he even manage to craft such magic runes?


    The level gap was a barrier that many, including herself, found hard to ovee. Even the most talented prodigies could typically only master skills orprehend them by crossing two tiers at most.


    But someone like Luca, who had crossed three tiers to inscribe Superss magic runes and achieved perfect quality¡ªshe had never even heard of such a feat.


    In that moment, Jormungandr felt that,pared to her, Luca was the true monster!


    Luca couldn''t be bothered to answer her question. After tidying up, he stretchedzily and walked out of the training room without looking back.


    "Just lucky, nothing to be proud of," Jormungandr scoffed, transforming into a silver streak of light that attached itself to Luca''s wrist, morphing into a silver bracelet.


    Once outside, Luca realized that over twenty hours had passed since he entered the training room.


    He estimated that the banquet was about to start.


    With that thought in mind, he walked down from the second floor and entered the hall of the Mages'' Association.


    At this time, the sky was approaching dusk, and many practitioners were chatting andughing in the hall, making it much livelier than during the day.


    As Luca descended, he saw a carriage slowlying to a stop outside, and a tall figure stepped down.


    It was Cassman.


    Dressed in a ck suit, his robust frame filled it out impressively. Even though he had taken off his armor, which was sttered with countless monster bloodstains, the fierce aura he exuded was still palpable.


    Upon seeing Luca, a smile broke across his rugged face, and he waved his hand. Just as he was about to greet him, he suddenly paused and said in surprise, "How is it that one day away, and you seem to have changed so much? It looks like you''ve even grown taller!"


    Luca had always had a handsome appearance, and after drawing the fixed magic runes, his features had be even sharper, making him look noticeably more mature.


    Coupled with the full charm boost, he truly was striking.


    Cassman couldn''t help but tease, "With looks like yours, even if you didn''t be an adventurer and just lived off your charm, you probably wouldn''t starve to death."


    Luca merely shrugged at this and asked, "Is the banquet about to start?"


    Cassman didn''t dwell on the question and nodded with a smile, "That''s right. The youngdy asked me toe pick you up. She and President Lucia personally prepared a formal outfit for you. This treatment is truly enviable."


    Both Sophia and Lucia held very high statuses.


    Even someone as prominent as Count Ryanthe wouldn''t enjoy such treatment; Cassman was speaking the truth.


    Luca was a bit taken aback and replied in surprise, "I have to change into formal wear? Is it really that grand?"


    Cassman smiled mysteriously and said, "I can''t reveal anything just yet; you''ll find out when you arrive."


    Luca found his cryptic behavior amusing but didn''t press further.


    After leaving the Mages'' Association, the two of them boarded the carriage and headed towards the lord''s mansion of Riverfall City.


    On the way, Luca unexpectedly noticed many ragged-looking homeless people on the streets.


    These individuals were gaunt and emaciated, starkly different from the local residents of Riverfall City. Some even had different skin tones, easily identifiable as outsiders.


    This made Luca feel a sense of unease.


    Riverfall City wasn''t impoverished¡ªwhere did all these homeless peoplee from?


    Sensing his confusion, Cassman, who was driving the carriage, sighed, "The recent monster horde didn''t just impact Riverfall City; surrounding towns and cities have been affected too. Many areas in the Southern Territory have recently experienced monster hordes, and several nearby county cities have been overrun.


    These people heard that Riverfall City withstood the monster horde, so they came here hoping to find food and a safe haven. They''re all poor souls without homes¡­"


    As Luca gazed out at the scene, the bustling passersby reflected in his eyes, and the slight rxation brought on by his power increase was quickly overshadowed by a heavy feeling again.


    The images before him and the implications served as constant reminders.


    He still had a long way to go; he must not let his guard down and certainly couldn''t afford to stop.


    Although Hydra had been repelled and Jormungandr enved, the Eternal World was definitely not limited to just one Spatial Node or two King-level monsters.


    No one knew what was being nurtured in some dark corner.


    Perhaps by the time they realized it, whatever was inside would have already crawled out from the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    The prelude to the apocalypse had begun; all apparent calmness was merely a facade.


    When everything erupted, death and chaos would be the themes of this era.


    For both the Eternal World and the real world, time had entered the final countdown.


    He carried not only his own life but many others as well.


    Just like the people in Riverfall City.


    In his past life, this nameless little town would have surely been devoured by the monster horde, but in this life, tens of thousands in the city had survived.


    Fate was quietly slipping from its original trajectory and was gradually changing.


    This was exactly what Luca wanted to see.


    If he were to live again and still could not avoid those painful tragedies or change humanity''s fate, then this rebirth would hold no meaning for him; it would simply be a repetition of a painful life.


    The carriage sped along, nearing the lord''s mansion.


    As darkness gradually descended, the streets near the mansion remained brightly lit, with many stalls adorned with colorful ribbons. There were numerous food stalls lining the streets, offering a variety of dishes, and Luca even spotted a giant bear leg taller than a person.


    Residents of Riverfall City strolled along the streets with their families, bustling about in lively excitement.


    "Is today some kind of festival?" Luca asked.


    Cassman paused before shaking his head. "We lost many people in the previous war. Count Ryanthe had arge quantity of supplies brought in from outside to hold this event. Everything is free. He said the scars won''t disappear, but this can help alleviate some of the pain brought on by the war."


    Luca fell silent and said no more.


    As the carriage entered the street, people moved aside.


    Many showing respect upon seeing the Howard family insignia on the carriage. Many individuals bowed in greeting; Count Ryanthe''s reputation in Emerald State exceeded Luca''s expectations.


    This was understandable; under the threat of monster hordes, being able to provide the citizens of one''s territory with a rtively stable and peaceful life, without oppressing them, marked him as a very capable lord.


    The carriage came to a slow stop in front of the mansion, and someone promptly approached, respectfully taking the reins from Cassman''s hands.


    Luca lifted the carriage curtain and stepped down, instantly causing a stir among the crowd.


    "Whoa! Who''s that? Why did he get out of Miss Sophia''s carriage?"


    "I think I heard someone say this guy is Sophia''s fianc¨¦!"


    "Fianc¨¦?! Is that for real? When did Miss Sophia get engaged?"


    "It must be true! I''ve seen him in Sophia''s carriage several times. If he wasn''t her fianc¨¦, why would Captain Cassman be driving for him?"


    "Ugh, that pretty boy can''tpare to me! I don''t approve of this marriage!"


    ...


    The chatter around him made Luca''s lips twitch slightly.


    If he had known, he would have preferred to walk here himself.


    But now that he was here, he could only brace himself and push through.


    The lord''s mansion had been beautifully decorated, and all the bloodstains and signs of the previous chaos had long been cleaned up.


    Although the banquet hadn''t officially started, the opulent hall was already filled with peopleughing and chatting.


    Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow, and various exquisite meats, fruits, and drinks wereid out around the room. The gentlemen attending the banquet, like Cassman, were dressed in sharp suits, while thedies wore beautiful long gowns.


    Waiters in ck jackets and white shirts moved gracefully through the crowd, and the lively atmosphere certainly dulled the edges of sorrow.


    Besides some unfamiliar faces, Luca recognized many familiar ones, such as Kaman, Norton, and several soldiers and officers he had fought alongside on the battlefield, all present for the banquet.


    And there were many more people arriving continuously.


    Luca estimated that there were at least hundreds of attendees at the banquet, and if he included the crowd outside, there were likely tens of thousands. At that moment, he truly understood what Cassman meant by grand.


    When Kaman and the others saw Luca, they all came over to greet him.


    They wererades who had fought together, and Luca responded to each with a smile.


    At that moment, he noticed a striking figure in a fiery red dress walking towards him.


    It was Catherine. Her long, fiery red hair was styled up, revealing her snow-white neck. She wore a stunning off-shoulder red gown that entuated her curvy figure, making her stand out in the crowd.


    Luca genuinelyplimented, "You look beautiful today."


    It was clear that Catherine had put a lot of effort into her appearance. Today, she looked like apletely different personpared to the warrior who bravely fought in armor on the battlefield.


    She had lost some of her rugged charm but gained an alluring femininity.


    Hearing Luca''s words, a blush crept onto Catherine''s fair face.


    "You look handsome today too!" Her beautiful eyes curved as she smiled brightly.

 Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Investiture! Viscount Luca!

    He never would have expected that even the empire''s princess would personally attend this event.


    Sophia nced at him and said, "You''d better put away any inappropriate thoughts. Fratis already has a fianc¨¦, and her betrothed is none other than Duke Leon''s son, Finn."


    In the Clinton Empire, the title of Duke carried immense authority, second only to the king. They wielded nearly unrivaled power¡ªone man above tens of thousands. Such a figure wasn''t someone Luca, or even the entire Howard family, could afford to provoke.


    Lucia''s tone turned serious as well. "Sophia''s right. It''s best to stay away from royal women. Their rtionships are entangled in a web ofplex politics. One misstep and you could be caught in a dangerous whirlpool."


    "What are you two thinking? I''m just curious, that''s all. It''s not every day you see such a young tinum Grade professional," Luca said, somewhat exasperated. These two really had quite the imagination.


    Nevertheless, he couldn''t help but grow more curious about Lucia''s background. What sort of influence did his teacher possess to be on such close terms with the Queen of the Empire?


    While Luca was lost in his thoughts, a suddenmotion broke out in the banquet hall.


    "Count Ryan is here!" someone eximed.


    Hearing this, Luca looked over and saw the crowd parting to make way.


    Ryan, dressed in a luxurious count''s ceremonial suit, entered the hall with Lady Lenna by his side.


    Lady Lenna looked a bit haggard, probably still reeling from the ordeal involving Rudolph.


    However,pared to a few days ago, she appeared much better. Though her face remained pale, she could at least move around unaided.


    "Now that all the guests have arrived, let''s officially begin tonight''s banquet!" Ryan, a man of swift and decisive action, wasted no time and got straight to the point.


    The hall gradually quieted down, and all eyes turned to him.


    Ryan scanned the room, his voice resonating with authority as he spoke, "A few days ago, due to my negligence, the Nightmare Cult managed to infiltrate Riverfall City, nearly leading to its downfall."


    "If it weren''t for all of you risking your lives to buy us time, this city wouldn''t still be standing today. On behalf of Riverfall City and its hundreds of thousands of residents, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you!"


    With that, he bowed deeply in apology.


    The attendees were taken aback by his gesture, scrambling to dissuade him, but Ryan waved them off, not allowing anyone to stop him.


    He sighed, shaking his head. "This was entirely my fault. If I had detected the Nightmare Cult''s conspiracy and Rudolph''s betrayal sooner, Riverfall City wouldn''t have faced such a cmity, and we wouldn''t have lost so many soldiers."


    "Unfortunately, what''s done is done, and there''s no use dwelling on it. I will ensure that the families of the fallen receive doublepensation to provide them with at least ten years of financial security. It''s the least I can do for them."


    "In addition, I have prepared gifts to honor the contributions each of you made that day."


    He pped his hands, and a line of servants immediately stepped forward with trays, each carrying an intricately crafted pouch.


    Ryan continued, "These are small tokens of my appreciation. Please, ept them."


    With his words, the servants respectfully presented the pouches to each of the attendees.


    Luca also received one.


    He opened the pouch and nced inside, only to find a staggering 300 gold coins.


    It was the same for everyone else.


    Luca couldn''t help but be taken aback. Ryan''s generosity was indeed astonishing!


    There were at least a few hundred people here, which meant he was handing out a total of 100,000 gold coins!


    After distributing the gold coins, a faint smile appeared on Ryan''s face. "In addition, I need to offer my special thanks to a young man. Without his timely intervention in uncovering the Nightmare Cult''s plot, Riverfall City would likely be in ruins right now, with everything beyond salvation. One could say that he is the hero of Riverfall City!"


    As he spoke, Ryan nced around the hall, smiling as he asked, "I wonder where Mr. Luca is? Please, step forward."


    Upon hearing his name, everyone''s gaze turned in unison toward Luca, who was standing in a corner.


    "Huh?" Luca stood there, utterly bewildered, never expecting that he would be singled out.


    "Huh, what? Hurry up and get over there!" Lucia urged, nudging him forward.


    Rising to his feet, Luca couldn''t help but feel a bit excited, wondering what kind of reward Ryan had in store for him.


    As Luca approached, Ryan extended his heartfelt gratitude. "Mr. Luca, you truly are a young man of exceptional talent. Sophia has already informed me of everything that transpired. Besides thanking you on behalf of the residents of Riverfall City, I also owe you my deepest gratitude for saving my wife. If not for your intervention, she might not be with us today."


    Luca scratched his nose awkwardly and forced a smile. "You tter me, Lord Count. I was merely lucky."


    He felt somewhat undeserving of such praise since, ultimately, his actions were driven by self-interest when he saved Lady Lenna.


    Ryan let out a heartyugh. "There''s no need for modesty on such matters. Saving the lives of so many people in Riverfall City, along with my wife''s life, deserves nothing short of the highest praise and thanks."


    "Charles, bring forth the gift I''ve prepared for Mr. Luca," Ryan called out.


    The old butler responded promptly and walked over briskly, carrying a square tray draped in fine silk.


    Ryan lifted the cover to reveal three items: a bronze medal, a ck noble''s robe, and a silver card inscribed with the words "Four Seasons."


    "You saved Riverfall City and its hundreds of thousands of residents, which is no small feat! I have already submitted your application for a viscountship to Marquis Bronte. If there are noplications, it should be approved within a few days," Ryan announced with a beaming smile.


    "When the timees, you will be able to choose your own fief from among the thirty-six counties of the Four Domains. Additionally, here are 10,000 gold coins as an extra token of gratitude."


    [Ding! You have earned the title of Viscountin the Clinton Empire. Congrattions on bing the first adventurer to receive a noble title!]


    [Reward: 10,000 gold coins, Reputation +1000!]


    [Current Reputation: 4128!]


    "Thank you very much, Lord Count!" Luca said, his voice filled with genuine joy as he nced at the notification in front of him.


    In Eternal Game, no matter which faction it was, it was exceedingly difficult for yers to earn noble titles or official positions. The only way was to slowly umte reputation points over time.


    If he remembered correctly, in his previous life, it took him a full four months of grinding to obtain a baron title. Yet in this lifetime, he effortlessly became a viscount. This was definitely a delightful surprise for Luca.


    At this moment, everyone in the hall looked at Luca with a different gaze. In the Clinton Empire, climbing the noble hierarchy was incredibly difficult. A baron was already entitled to their own fiefdom and vige, while a viscount governed an entire city.


    In other words, starting from today, Luca was no longer just an ordinary adventurer¡ªhe had be a noble of the Clinton Empire! This was a genuine leap in social status!


    "Big Brother Luca is truly amazing, bing a viscount at such a young age!" Kaman eximed with unconcealed admiration on his face. Luca was only two or three years older than him, yet his strength and aplishments had already reached heights that Kaman couldn''t even dream of attaining in his entire life.


    He clenched his fists, silently vowing that one day, he would be someone just like Luca.


    "Who would have thought that the young man Miss met in the square back then would grow to such a level in such a short time?" Cassman''s expression was filled with emotion.


    Back then, Luca was just a fledgling whom he could have easily crushed with one hand. Yet, in just a few days, he had be a viscount. Luca could be said to be the fastest-growing genius Cassman had ever seen in his life!


    "Of course! He''s my student after all. How could he be anything less?" Franklinughed heartily, his face brimming with pride that he couldn''t hide no matter how hard he tried.


    Taking Luca as his student was undoubtedly the best decision he had made in his entire life!


    "A viscount, of all things!" Even Lucia''s eyes were filled with surprise. One must know that even in the imperial capital of the Clinton Empire, such a young viscount was extremely rare. Only the scions of powerful families or those who had achieved great military merit could attain such a rank. She hadn''t expected Ryan to value Luca so highly. It made her feel an inexplicable sense of pride as well.


    Outside the main hall of the City Lord''s Mansion, a group of yers had witnessed the entire scene, and a wave of astonished exmations erupted instantly.


    "Luca must be the first yer to earn a noble title, right?"


    "Incredible! He truly is the pride of us Riverfall City yers, achieving a noble rank so quickly!"


    "A viscount''s title must require at least 3000 reputation points, right? I haven''t even managed to reach 100 points yet. How did he pull it off?"


    "Do you think Luca is an employee of Zenith Technology Company? The gap is just too wide!"


    ¡­


    A chorus ofints and grumbling broke out among the yers. Some even suspected Luca of being a staff member from Zenith Technology Company. How else could he have achieved such a massive advantage over regr yers?


    Luca, however, paid no mind to such spections. Smiling, he carefully ced the noble medal and the 10,000 gold coins into his Storage Ring.


    He had spent almost all his funds on purchasing Ghostwood Root earlier, leaving his wallet nearly empty. This 10,000 gold coin reward was just what he needed to replenish his finances.


    Afterward, Ryan continued distributing rewards to others. Cassman and Catherine, who had also contributed significantly in the recent campaign, were each awarded a baron''s title. They were both visibly taken aback by this unexpected honor.


    Once all the rewards were handed out, the banquet transitioned into the nobleworking phase¡ªa prime opportunity for everyone to build connections, and many had been eagerly awaiting this moment.


    As the star of the night, Luca naturally found himself surrounded by various noble figures of Riverfall City eager to engage in conversation. Even Kaman and others approached to offer their congrattions.


    Luca responded to everyone with a warm smile, showing no hint of arrogance despite his newly acquired title of viscount.


    In his previous life, although his rank hadn''t been particrly high, he had managed to reach the status of marquis and held a territory in Eternal World. That nation had been farrger than the Eternal Continent, so Luca was no stranger to such social events.


    On the other hand, Cassman and Catherine seemed a bit out of their element, clearly unustomed to such gatherings due to theirck of preparation and experience. Their awkwardness and unease were practically written on their faces.


    Noticing their difort, Luca stepped in to help alleviate some of the pressure, taking on more of the conversations himself.


    The two of them let out a long sigh of relief, their eyes filled with gratitude as they looked at Luca.


    Theworking segment ended quickly, and Luca, finally free, was about to grab a few snacks and take a short break.


    Just then, the old butler Charles approached.


    With a respectful demeanor, he said, "Viscount Luca, Lord Count has requested your presence in the second-floor conference room for a discussion."


    "Discussion?" Luca''s eyes lit up slightly as a few thoughts crossed his mind. He had a vague idea of what this might be about.

 Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Investiture! Viscount Luca!

    He never would have expected that even the empire''s princess would personally attend this event.


    Sophia nced at him and said, "You''d better put away any inappropriate thoughts. Fratis already has a fianc¨¦, and her betrothed is none other than Duke Leon''s son, Finn."


    In the Clinton Empire, the title of Duke carried immense authority, second only to the king. They wielded nearly unrivaled power¡ªone man above tens of thousands. Such a figure wasn''t someone Luca, or even the entire Howard family, could afford to provoke.


    Lucia''s tone turned serious as well. "Sophia''s right. It''s best to stay away from royal women. Their rtionships are entangled in a web ofplex politics. One misstep and you could be caught in a dangerous whirlpool."


    "What are you two thinking? I''m just curious, that''s all. It''s not every day you see such a young tinum Grade professional," Luca said, somewhat exasperated. These two really had quite the imagination.


    Nevertheless, he couldn''t help but grow more curious about Lucia''s background. What sort of influence did his teacher possess to be on such close terms with the Queen of the Empire?


    While Luca was lost in his thoughts, a suddenmotion broke out in the banquet hall.


    "Count Ryan is here!" someone eximed.


    Hearing this, Luca looked over and saw the crowd parting to make way.


    Ryan, dressed in a luxurious count''s ceremonial suit, entered the hall with Lady Lenna by his side.


    Lady Lenna looked a bit haggard, probably still reeling from the ordeal involving Rudolph.


    However,pared to a few days ago, she appeared much better. Though her face remained pale, she could at least move around unaided.


    "Now that all the guests have arrived, let''s officially begin tonight''s banquet!" Ryan, a man of swift and decisive action, wasted no time and got straight to the point.


    The hall gradually quieted down, and all eyes turned to him.


    Ryan scanned the room, his voice resonating with authority as he spoke, "A few days ago, due to my negligence, the Nightmare Cult managed to infiltrate Riverfall City, nearly leading to its downfall."


    "If it weren''t for all of you risking your lives to buy us time, this city wouldn''t still be standing today. On behalf of Riverfall City and its hundreds of thousands of residents, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you!"


    With that, he bowed deeply in apology.


    The attendees were taken aback by his gesture, scrambling to dissuade him, but Ryan waved them off, not allowing anyone to stop him.


    He sighed, shaking his head. "This was entirely my fault. If I had detected the Nightmare Cult''s conspiracy and Rudolph''s betrayal sooner, Riverfall City wouldn''t have faced such a cmity, and we wouldn''t have lost so many soldiers."


    "Unfortunately, what''s done is done, and there''s no use dwelling on it. I will ensure that the families of the fallen receive doublepensation to provide them with at least ten years of financial security. It''s the least I can do for them."


    "In addition, I have prepared gifts to honor the contributions each of you made that day."


    He pped his hands, and a line of servants immediately stepped forward with trays, each carrying an intricately crafted pouch.


    Ryan continued, "These are small tokens of my appreciation. Please, ept them."


    With his words, the servants respectfully presented the pouches to each of the attendees.


    Luca also received one.


    He opened the pouch and nced inside, only to find a staggering 300 gold coins.


    It was the same for everyone else.


    Luca couldn''t help but be taken aback. Ryan''s generosity was indeed astonishing!


    There were at least a few hundred people here, which meant he was handing out a total of 100,000 gold coins!


    After distributing the gold coins, a faint smile appeared on Ryan''s face. "In addition, I need to offer my special thanks to a young man. Without his timely intervention in uncovering the Nightmare Cult''s plot, Riverfall City would likely be in ruins right now, with everything beyond salvation. One could say that he is the hero of Riverfall City!"


    As he spoke, Ryan nced around the hall, smiling as he asked, "I wonder where Mr. Luca is? Please, step forward."


    Upon hearing his name, everyone''s gaze turned in unison toward Luca, who was standing in a corner.


    "Huh?" Luca stood there, utterly bewildered, never expecting that he would be singled out.


    "Huh, what? Hurry up and get over there!" Lucia urged, nudging him forward.


    Rising to his feet, Luca couldn''t help but feel a bit excited, wondering what kind of reward Ryan had in store for him.


    As Luca approached, Ryan extended his heartfelt gratitude. "Mr. Luca, you truly are a young man of exceptional talent. Sophia has already informed me of everything that transpired. Besides thanking you on behalf of the residents of Riverfall City, I also owe you my deepest gratitude for saving my wife. If not for your intervention, she might not be with us today."


    Luca scratched his nose awkwardly and forced a smile. "You tter me, Lord Count. I was merely lucky."


    He felt somewhat undeserving of such praise since, ultimately, his actions were driven by self-interest when he saved Lady Lenna.


    Ryan let out a heartyugh. "There''s no need for modesty on such matters. Saving the lives of so many people in Riverfall City, along with my wife''s life, deserves nothing short of the highest praise and thanks."


    "Charles, bring forth the gift I''ve prepared for Mr. Luca," Ryan called out.


    The old butler responded promptly and walked over briskly, carrying a square tray draped in fine silk.


    Ryan lifted the cover to reveal three items: a bronze medal, a ck noble''s robe, and a silver card inscribed with the words "Four Seasons."


    "You saved Riverfall City and its hundreds of thousands of residents, which is no small feat! I have already submitted your application for a viscountship to Marquis Bronte. If there are noplications, it should be approved within a few days," Ryan announced with a beaming smile.


    "When the timees, you will be able to choose your own fief from among the thirty-six counties of the Four Domains. Additionally, here are 10,000 gold coins as an extra token of gratitude."


    [Ding! You have earned the title of Viscountin the Clinton Empire. Congrattions on bing the first adventurer to receive a noble title!]


    [Reward: 10,000 gold coins, Reputation +1000!]


    [Current Reputation: 4128!]


    "Thank you very much, Lord Count!" Luca said, his voice filled with genuine joy as he nced at the notification in front of him.


    In Eternal Game, no matter which faction it was, it was exceedingly difficult for yers to earn noble titles or official positions. The only way was to slowly umte reputation points over time.


    If he remembered correctly, in his previous life, it took him a full four months of grinding to obtain a baron title. Yet in this lifetime, he effortlessly became a viscount. This was definitely a delightful surprise for Luca.


    At this moment, everyone in the hall looked at Luca with a different gaze. In the Clinton Empire, climbing the noble hierarchy was incredibly difficult. A baron was already entitled to their own fiefdom and vige, while a viscount governed an entire city.


    In other words, starting from today, Luca was no longer just an ordinary adventurer¡ªhe had be a noble of the Clinton Empire! This was a genuine leap in social status!


    "Big Brother Luca is truly amazing, bing a viscount at such a young age!" Kaman eximed with unconcealed admiration on his face. Luca was only two or three years older than him, yet his strength and aplishments had already reached heights that Kaman couldn''t even dream of attaining in his entire life.


    He clenched his fists, silently vowing that one day, he would be someone just like Luca.


    "Who would have thought that the young man Miss met in the square back then would grow to such a level in such a short time?" Cassman''s expression was filled with emotion.


    Back then, Luca was just a fledgling whom he could have easily crushed with one hand. Yet, in just a few days, he had be a viscount. Luca could be said to be the fastest-growing genius Cassman had ever seen in his life!


    "Of course! He''s my student after all. How could he be anything less?" Franklinughed heartily, his face brimming with pride that he couldn''t hide no matter how hard he tried.


    Taking Luca as his student was undoubtedly the best decision he had made in his entire life!


    "A viscount, of all things!" Even Lucia''s eyes were filled with surprise. One must know that even in the imperial capital of the Clinton Empire, such a young viscount was extremely rare. Only the scions of powerful families or those who had achieved great military merit could attain such a rank. She hadn''t expected Ryan to value Luca so highly. It made her feel an inexplicable sense of pride as well.


    Outside the main hall of the City Lord''s Mansion, a group of yers had witnessed the entire scene, and a wave of astonished exmations erupted instantly.


    "Luca must be the first yer to earn a noble title, right?"


    "Incredible! He truly is the pride of us Riverfall City yers, achieving a noble rank so quickly!"


    "A viscount''s title must require at least 3000 reputation points, right? I haven''t even managed to reach 100 points yet. How did he pull it off?"


    "Do you think Luca is an employee of Zenith Technology Company? The gap is just too wide!"


    ¡­


    A chorus ofints and grumbling broke out among the yers. Some even suspected Luca of being a staff member from Zenith Technology Company. How else could he have achieved such a massive advantage over regr yers?


    Luca, however, paid no mind to such spections. Smiling, he carefully ced the noble medal and the 10,000 gold coins into his Storage Ring.


    He had spent almost all his funds on purchasing Ghostwood Root earlier, leaving his wallet nearly empty. This 10,000 gold coin reward was just what he needed to replenish his finances.


    Afterward, Ryan continued distributing rewards to others. Cassman and Catherine, who had also contributed significantly in the recent campaign, were each awarded a baron''s title. They were both visibly taken aback by this unexpected honor.


    Once all the rewards were handed out, the banquet transitioned into the nobleworking phase¡ªa prime opportunity for everyone to build connections, and many had been eagerly awaiting this moment.


    As the star of the night, Luca naturally found himself surrounded by various noble figures of Riverfall City eager to engage in conversation. Even Kaman and others approached to offer their congrattions.


    Luca responded to everyone with a warm smile, showing no hint of arrogance despite his newly acquired title of viscount.


    In his previous life, although his rank hadn''t been particrly high, he had managed to reach the status of marquis and held a territory in Eternal World. That nation had been farrger than the Eternal Continent, so Luca was no stranger to such social events.


    On the other hand, Cassman and Catherine seemed a bit out of their element, clearly unustomed to such gatherings due to theirck of preparation and experience. Their awkwardness and unease were practically written on their faces.


    Noticing their difort, Luca stepped in to help alleviate some of the pressure, taking on more of the conversations himself.


    The two of them let out a long sigh of relief, their eyes filled with gratitude as they looked at Luca.


    Theworking segment ended quickly, and Luca, finally free, was about to grab a few snacks and take a short break.


    Just then, the old butler Charles approached.


    With a respectful demeanor, he said, "Viscount Luca, Lord Count has requested your presence in the second-floor conference room for a discussion."


    "Discussion?" Luca''s eyes lit up slightly as a few thoughts crossed his mind. He had a vague idea of what this might be about.

 Chapter 71: Chapter 71: The Power of Dreamweaving, Dream Manifestation, and Mira!

    A silver-haired, violet-eyed girl in a ck Gothic dress appeared before everyone.


    She smiled sweetly, looking innocent and adorable, but there was an inexplicable maturity and depth hidden in her gaze that belied her youthful appearance.


    Upon seeing this figure, all the cultists, including Tia, showed a fervent light in their eyes. They dropped to one knee in reverence and shouted in unison, "Greetings, my lord!"


    However, Jormungandr didn''t spare them a single nce. Instead, she walked over to Luca''s side, her expression shifting into one of obedient gentleness. "What orders do you have for me, Master? I will do everything I can to carry them out!"


    Hearing these words, every single member of the Nightmare Cult twitched, their faces twitching in disbelief.


    Was this truly their Lord of Dreams?


    And she was calling this young man ''Master''¡­ What were they supposed to call him now?


    Luca sipped his tea calmly, showing no surprise at Jormungandr''s sudden change in attitude.


    After all, this King-level monster''s life was now in his hands. No matter how much she secretly hated him and wished to tear him to pieces, she had no choice but to feignpliance with a smile.


    His gaze shifted to Tia and the others, eyes narrowing as he asked, "I can give you what you desire, but dreams are ultimately just dreams. No matter how vivid or real they may seem, they are still illusions. Even so, does it not bother you?"


    Most people thought that the followers of the Nightmare Cult were brainwashed into pursuing some utopian dreamscape or perfect life. But having interacted with their higher-ups in the past, Luca knew that these people were fully aware that what they sought was entirely fabricated.


    What they wanted was precisely this perfect, idealized dream without suffering or ws.


    Only Jormungandr possessed the ability to create a Dream Kingdom and to bring Dream Manifestations into reality. This was the reason they worshipped her.


    And now, with Luca holding the Dreamweaver ss, he was reluctantly considered the second person in the world who could potentially fulfill their wishes.


    "That''s right." All of them nodded resolutely at his question, Tia included.


    With unwavering conviction, she dered, "As long as you can bring back my sister and family, I will agree to anything, no matter what it is. I''ll offer you my body and my life if that''s what it takes!"


    Luca''s eyes flicked over Tia''s voluptuous figure and stunning face, a trace of scorn curling his lips. "I don''t know whether I should pity you or despise you."


    These people knew exactly what they were doing from the very beginning, even when theymitted murder.


    ughtering innocent civilians for their own selfish desires¡ªthere was nothing they wouldn''t do. Their obsessions had sunk deep into their bones, making them beyond redemption.


    But then again, such intense obsessions were beneficial for him. They would help him achieve his goals more effectively and make them easier to control.


    "Come here," he ordered, raising his hand to point at Tia, his tone indifferent.Yet, the simplemand made Tia''s heart pound wildly in her chest.


    Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she walked up to stand in front of Luca.


    "Close your eyes and recall the person you most want to see¡ªtheir face, their expressions, every detail in your memory," Luca said calmly as a mesmerizing purple light bloomed in his hand, casting an ethereal glow.


    "Impossible!" Seeing the familiar light, Jormungandr''s eyes widened in shock, her face filled with disbelief.


    She knew all too well what this power was¡ªLuca was using none other than Dreamweaving energy!


    But how could he possess Dreamweaving energy? In this world, only she should have that power!


    Jormungandr had no idea that Luca''s Dreamweaving ability hade directly from her¡­


    Watching the Dreamweaving energy manifest in Luca''s hand, everyone present knew exactly what this power signified.


    The members of the Nightmare Cult began to breathe heavily, their eyes burning with fervor.


    Tia was so overwhelmed with emotion that her face flushed a deep red.


    At this moment, no one doubted his words anymore.


    "Let''s begin," Luca instructed softly, all the while sensing the Dreamweaving energy in his hand. He noted how different it feltpared to magic runes or the power of the Witch Doctor.


    Dreamweaving energy had a unique property that extended into the realm of the soul. He realized that advancing the Dreamweaver ss in the future might be even more challenging than bing a Demonic Rune Mage.


    However, with Jormungandr by his side, he wasn''t worried about hitting a dead end in his progress.


    Hearing Luca''s words, Tia immediately shut her eyes, focusing all her thoughts on remembering her sister Mira''s face and the cherished memories they shared.


    Luca gently ced his hand on Tia''s smooth, pale forehead.


    Skill: Dreamweavingactivated!


    In an instant, Tia saw a sh of purple light break through the darkness.


    The light grew brighter and brighter in her vision.


    The deepest, most hidden memories within her heart seemed to stir and rise up, one by one, ying out vividly before her eyes.


    Scene after scene of her life with her sister unfolded like a series of fleeting glimpses.


    Then, with another burst of light, Tia felt as if she had returned to the small town from her past.


    A two-story house stood before her.


    The sunlight outside was dazzling, the green leaves of the trees swaying gently in the breeze.


    Inside, a faint cacophony of sounds reached her ears, making Tia''s heart tremble.


    It was the voices of her sister Mira and their family.


    "Father, you''re cheating! I clearly won just now!" a girl''s indignant voice protested, and even through the door, Tia could almost picture her sister''s pouting face, cheeks puffed up in frustration.


    A man''s rough, heartyughter echoed. "That''s called an unexpected move, not cheating! Little Mira, a real winner admits defeat. Now go wash the dishes!"


    "You''re always bullying me! I''m never talking to you again¡­" The girl''s angry huff was followed by the sound of bare feet stomping heavily on the wooden floor.


    From the kitchen came the yfulughter of a young woman, followed by the girl''s grumblingints and the sshing sound of running water.


    Tia stepped forward, her lips pressed tightly together.


    With trembling hands, she slowly pushed open the door that had appeared countless times in her dreams.


    "Creak¡­" The door made a soft sound as it slowly swung open.


    The scene inside the room unfolded before Tia''s eyes, rendering her motionless in shock.


    In the neat and tidy living room, a burly man was tidying up a deck of cards.


    Hearing the door, he looked up.


    Noticing it was Tia, the man raised his brows in surprise. "Why are you back sote today? There''s some food left for you in the kitchen¡ªgo eat it before it gets cold, or it won''t taste good."


    "Oh, and after you''re done, make sure to have little Mira do the dishes."


    "Big sis is back!" A girl''s excited cheer rang out from the kitchen.


    Momentster, a young girl who looked about seventy to eighty percent like Tia dashed out from the kitchen.


    Her face was full of expectation as she grabbed onto Tia''s arm and asked eagerly, "Big sis, did you bring me anything yummy today?"


    The sensation from the girl''s touch felt unbelievably real, as if she were truly there.


    Tia''s eyes instantly welled up with tears.


    She wanted to respond to the girl, but found herself choking up, unable to speak a word.


    And then, she noticed that the scene before her began to blur and turn hazy.


    "No! Please, no! Just give me a little more time, just a bit longer!" Tia realized what was happening and pleaded desperately, but it was all in vain. The figures and faces of her family started to be indistinct, dissolving into a fog of memories.


    Tia stretched out her hand, as if trying to grasp onto something.


    But her hand passed through the little girl''s body, clutching only empty air in the end.


    The next second, the dream shattered into a thousand pieces!


    Tia was pulled back to reality, her body limp and drained of all strength. She copsed onto the ground, her legs unable to support her.


    Tears streamed uncontrobly down her cheeks.


    This was the closest she hade to being with her family in so many years.


    The sensation had been so real, exactly as it was in her memory!


    "If you help me with what I need, I''ll help you manifest your sister," Luca said as he withdrew his hand, looking down at her with an indifferent gaze, his tone t and devoid of emotion.


    The reason he had kept Tia around until now was because of her potential and abilities.


    Tia, who would one day be the "Nightmare Queen," had unimaginable potential. Even now, she was already a high-tier professional with the rare ss "Shadow Sorceress," capable of offering significant assistance to him.


    "I agree!" Tia raised her head, almost blurting out her answer without a moment''s hesitation.


    At this moment, as long as she could bring Mira back, she was willing to pay any price, no matter how steep.


    "As you wish." Luca wasn''t surprised by her answer. He casually reached out and gently brushed his fingers across Tia''s forehead, pulling out a silvery orb of light that glimmered with a soft radiance.


    Dream Manifestation!


    With a thought, the purple light in Luca''s hand zed brightly. The silvery orb intertwined with the purple Dreamweaving energy, quickly forming aplex, intricate silver rune in his palm.


    Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, the rune blossomed into a dazzling, dreamlike silver light.


    A slender figure slowly emerged from the intangible void and solidified into reality right before their eyes.


    She wore a simple, pristine white dress and had long violet hair just like Tia''s. Her eyes were clear and her features delicate, giving her an ethereal beauty that seemed almost unreal. She looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, yet her appearance already hinted at a stunning beauty that could captivate nations.


    At this moment, the young girl''s eyes were filled with confusion, as if she hadn''t yet grasped what was happening.


    When she finally took in her surroundings, she moved closer to Tia, clutching the hem of her sister''s clothes anxiously. "Sis¡­ Sister, weren''t we just at home? Why are we here now?"


    "Mira, don''t be scared. Sister''s here¡­ I''m right here¡­" Tia pulled Mira into her arms, trying tofort her, but in the end, she couldn''t hold back her own emotions and began to sob uncontrobly.


    She hugged the girl tightly, as if terrified that she would vanish the very next second.


    "He actually brought someone out from a dream into reality!" This miraculous scene left everyone present utterly speechless with shock.


    "How on earth did you do that?!" Jormungandr waspletely stunned. Not only could this young man use her Dreamweaving art, but he could even bring someone from a dream into the real world. This was beyondprehension!


    Luca didn''t bother to answer her question. Instead, he spoke calmly, "This girl won''tst long in this world. Use your Dreamweaving power to stabilize her form and give her seven days."


    The "Mira" before them was a manifestation derived from Tia''s memories. With Luca''s current capabilities, he could only maintain this girl''s body for about ten minutes before it began to disintegrate.


    He didn''t have enough magical energy to sustain Mira''s existence for longer than that.


    Fortunately, with Jormungandr¡ªa King-level monster¡ªpresent, this was the perfect opportunity to put her to use.

 Chapter 69: Chapter 69: My Guildmaster Father! Senior Sister, May I Have This Dance?

    The voice belonged to none other than Sophia, her delicate face expressionless as usual.


    Standing beside her was Lucia, who teased him with a yful grin, "So, it turns out that''s the type you''re into, huh?"


    Luca felt a wave of awkwardness wash over him. Being caught red-handed by women he knew while ogling other beauties¡ªif he were someone with a thinner skin, he might have died of embarrassment right on the spot.


    Fortunately, Luca was not the shy, easily flustered type.


    He cleared his throat and acted as if nothing had happened. "What brings you two here?"


    Sophia nced at him but didn''t press the issue, letting it slide without furtherment. "We have something to discuss with you."


    "Something to discuss?" Luca was puzzled, wondering what business they had at this time.


    He soon got his answer.


    "You''re going to Dawn City?" Luca asked in surprise after hearing what they had to say. He hadn''t expected them to be heading to the capital of the Clinton Empire.


    "That''s right." Lucia stretchedzily, her voluptuous figure and seductive curves fully on disy, not caring at all that her student was right in front of her.


    She continued in anguid tone, "Sophia is about to break through. The resources here can no longer support her progress, so I''m taking her back to the guild headquarters in Dawn City."


    Luca nodded in understanding. It seemed that Sophia was facing the same problem as he was.


    Riverfall City was too low-level to sustain their rapid advancement.


    In Dawn City, with Sophia''s talent, she would have likely reached tinum Grade long ago.


    Lucia added, "Earlier, Ryan came to talk to me. Red Maple Academy is indeed the best ce for you right now. Dean Orf is, without a doubt, the top magic runes instructor in the entire Clinton Empire."


    "However, if you''d prefer to join us and go to Dawn City instead, I can arrange for another Superss Demonic Rune Mage to teach you everything you need to know about magic runes."


    Sophia chimed in, "The President of the Magic Association in Dawn City is actually our teacher''s father. If you go there, you''ll have ess to even more resources and knowledge. Plus, in Dawn City, you wouldn''t have to worry about any retaliation from the Franco family."


    "The President of the Magic Association?" Luca looked at Lucia in astonishment. No wonder so many people treated her with such respect and deference.


    The President of an empire''s Magic Association¡ªsuch a position would require someone of at least Superss strength.


    This revtion filled him with immense relief. After all, it''s always advantageous to have a powerful figure to rely on. The stronger his teacher''s background, the more benefits he could potentially gain.


    Seeing Luca''s silence, Lucia moved closer and affectionately wrapped her arms around his, pressing her full, soft chest against his arm.


    With a seductive smile, she coaxed, "So, what do you say? Why not join us in Dawn City? I''ll personally show you around, let you experience the grandeur and vibrancy of the imperial capital~"


    Feeling the softness and warmth against his arm, Luca''s mouth couldn''t help but twitch slightly.


    He discreetly pulled his arm back and shook his head. "Sorry, Teacher. I''ve decided to go to Southwind City."


    Although his teacher''s charms¡­ and her offer¡­ were indeed tempting¡­


    Going to Dawn City would undoubtedly provide him ess to greater resources.


    Unfortunately, after acquiring "Frostborn" and experiencing the power of Superss magic runes, Luca found it hard to ept the thought of his future rune mastery being anything less than that level.


    Even with Lucia''s influential background, it was unlikely she could provide him with the abundance of Superss resources needed for such advanced training.


    So, going directly to Red Maple Academy made more sense¡ªafter all, it housed a genuine Superss Demonic Rune Mage.


    Sophia and Lucia weren''t surprised by his decision.


    Orf was one of the top Superss experts in the entire Clinton Empire. If they were in Luca''s shoes, they''d likely choose Red Maple Academy as well.


    Lucia sighed with resignation. "Alright, do what you feel is best. We''ll visit you in Southwind City when we have the time."


    As she spoke, she took out a Storage Ring and handed it over. "Ryan mentioned you''ll be leaving tomorrow. Inside this ring are some tools and materials. If they''re not enough, just write to me. I''ll have the Southwind City branch president deliver whatever you need."


    "Thank you, Teacher." Warmth filled Luca''s heart, and he expressed his gratitude sincerely.


    "''Thank you'' isn''t just something you say with words. You should use your body to show your gratitude~" Lucia whispered yfully, leaning in close and exhaling softly against Luca''s ear, her voice carrying a teasing, flirtatious lilt. The sensation made Luca''s hand tremble, and he almost dropped the Storage Ring.


    "Show¡­ my gratitude with my body?" Luca looked at Lucia in shock. Wasn''t this suggestion a bit too forward?


    Lucia burst intoughter, covering her mouth coquettishly. "What are you thinking? I just want you to dance with us. Otherwise, the ball will be over before we get a chance."


    Luca couldn''t help but feel a bit speechless.


    If you hadn''t said it in such a suggestive way, how could I have possibly misunderstood?


    Shaking his head slightly, he took a couple of steps forward, intending to formally invite Lucia for a dance.


    But before he could say a word, Lucia pouted and said, "Aren''t you worried about making your senior sister jealous? You should dance with her first."


    "You''re overthinking things." Sophia''s tone was direct, expressing her displeasure bluntly.


    Luca sighed inwardly,pletely at a loss as to what these two were thinking.


    He straightened his attire, then turned to Sophia, bowing slightly and extending his hand in an inviting gesture. "Senior Sister, may I have the honor of a dance?"


    There was a gentle smile on his face, and his tone was lighthearted yet respectful, exuding a calm and refreshing presence.


    Sophia''s heart inexplicably skipped a beat, though she quickly regained herposure.


    "Yes, you may." She extended her long, slender, and fair hand, cing it in Luca''s palm.


    Her hand felt cool to the touch, smooth and soft, prompting Luca to instinctively give it a light squeeze.


    Hmm, it''s so soft.


    Sophia''s cheeks turned an uncharacteristic shade of pink, and she shot him a subtle re.


    Unbothered, Luca simply smiled, then led her towards the dance floor.


    Watching this scene, Catherine, who had been approaching, came to a slow halt.


    She bit her lip, her gazeplicated as she looked at the pair.


    The hall was dimly lit.


    Apanied by the soothing music, couples swirled and twirled across the dance floor.


    "I''ll teach you," Sophia offered. She knew Luca had been an adventurer before, so it was likely that he wasn''t well-versed in social etiquette.


    Her suggestion was also a way to prevent him from making a fool of himself.


    Hearing her words, Luca smiled softly but didn''t respond verbally. Instead, he gently ced his hand around Sophia''s slender waist.


    With the slow rhythm of the music ying, Luca began to guide Sophia in graceful movements. It was clear that he was no stranger to dancing.


    "Did you formally learn to dance?" Sophia asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.


    She hadn''t expected Luca to be this proficient.


    "I took a few lessons before," Luca replied with a smile.


    In his previous life, he had attended at least a thousand social gatherings, if not more. Even if he hadn''t known how to dance initially, he had picked it up over time.


    Sophia rxed upon hearing his response and began to follow Luca''s lead, letting her body move in sync with his rhythm.


    The pair''s elegant movements soon drew the attention of many. Compared to them, the dancing skills of the others seemed far less polished.


    When everyone realized it was the renowned senior and junior pair, the onlookers were even more astonished.


    Sophia''s icy temperament was well-known throughout Emerald State. Forget about dancing with a man¡ªshe rarely even spoke to one.


    What had caused this sudden change in her behavior today?


    Even Ryan and Lady Lenna found the scene surprising.


    Ever since Sophia had awakened her talent, her demeanor had grown increasingly aloof.


    This was the first time they had ever seen her so close to a man.


    "Viscount Luca is talented and capable¡ªquite a good match..." Lady Lenna murmured, a pleased smile appearing on her face.


    She already had a favorable impression of the young man who had saved her life, and now, seeing him with Sophia, he seemed even more likable.


    Ryan chuckled. "Let''s not interfere with the young ones. Let nature take its course."


    When it came to Sophia, he had always respected her choices and preferences. Whatever she decided to do, it would be of her own volition.


    As the music quickened in tempo, Luca and Sophia''s movements became more vigorous, and their bodies inevitably brushed against each other. In the dimly lit hall, Luca could clearly see a flush creeping up Sophia''s cheeks.


    Her usual cold expression now carried a subtle, captivating charm. The sight made Luca''s heart race unexpectedly.


    The dance soon came to an end, and the two of them stopped, standing close to each other.


    Sophia''s chest rose and fell gently, her face still tinged with a rosy hue. Tiny beads of sweat adorned her fair forehead, glistening faintly under the soft lighting and adding to her already stunning beauty.


    The hall was silent for a moment, and then a thunderous round of apuse erupted.


    Smiles adorned everyone''s faces as they pped. Some even shouted enthusiastically, urging the two to dance another round.


    Meanwhile, the yers who had been watching from the sidelinesmented their fate, grumbling about how such good fortune never seemed to fall their way.


    The atmosphere of the banquet grew increasingly lively.


    Catherine stood at the edge of the dance floor, watching the scene unfold. A wry smile tugged at her lips, and she let out a soft, self-deprecating chuckle.


    Without a word, she quietly turned and exited the banquet hall, disappearing into the shadows.


    On the dance floor, Luca slowly released his hand from Sophia''s waist and smiled softly. "So, did I manage to meet your expectations, Senior Sister?"


    Sophia bit her lip, saying nothing, but her gaze was a mix of feigned anger and subtle reproach.


    Throughout the dance, Luca hadn''t missed a single opportunity to take advantage of the situation.


    To the outside observer, his actions might have seemed entirely idental, but Sophia knew better¡ªLuca had done it all on purpose.


    She never imagined that Luca, who usually seemed so earnest and well-behaved, would be bold enough to push his luck with her!


    "Why don''t the two of you dance another round? I don''t mind waiting," Lucia teased as she walked over, a yful grin on her face.


    "You can dance with him," Sophia responded, her cheeks flushing even deeper. Without even looking at Luca, she turned and quickly left the dance floor.


    Watching her practically flee, Luca shrugged helplessly.


    Those touches were merely reflexes born out of habit, not deliberate moves.


    It was a bad habit he had picked up in his previous life, considering that in modern ballroom events, most people weren''t there to simply dance¡­


    As he was mentally berating himself, he suddenly felt a soft, fragrant presence press against him.


    The opening notes of the next song began to y.


    At some point, Lucia had sidled up beside him.


    She leaned in close to his ear, her breath warm against his skin as she giggled softly. "Stop staring. It''s my turn now~"


    Luca felt a shiver run down his spine, and the corner of his mouth twitched.


    If he''d known this would happen, he would have made his escape with Sophia just now¡­


    The second dance began swiftly.


    Unlike Sophia, who was more restrained and graceful, Lucia''s style was far more daring and provocative. Her perfect, voluptuous figure¡ªpractically unrivaled in the room¡ªmoved with a natural, sultry rhythm.


    To make matters worse, Lucia seemed to delight in pressing her body against his intentionally.


    Her soft, sensuous curves rubbed against him with every movement, and Luca felt a dangerous heat building in his core, threatening to overwhelm his self-control.


    But s, there was nothing he could do.


    After all, a high-level professional like her could crush him with a casual flick of her wrist¡­


    Luca''s mind was in turmoil, frustration building as he tried to keep hisposure.

 Capítulo 75: Chapter 75: Lich Fire, The City on the Mountain, and Red Maple Academy

    Watching Fratis''s departing figure, Luca couldn''t shake off a lingering sense of unease.


    Why did he feel like things were heading in the wrong direction?


    Luca instinctively shook his head to clear his thoughts.


    No, it couldn''t be. He must be overthinking it¡­


    After his conflict with Harvis, everything had been calm over the next few days.


    Luca finished reading through all of Franklin''s notes and sessfully mastered all of the Witch Doctor''s low-level skills.


    In addition, he even learned a mid-level skill, Lich Fire.


    [Lich Fire: Mid-level skill. Upon activation, this skill bypasses the target''s physical defenses and deals 180% mental damage. Consumes 2400 mana. Cooldown time: 20 minutes.]


    Lich Firewas considered one of the Witch Doctor''s go-to offensive abilities. With this skill, Luca''s strength had taken another significant leap.


    Another thing worth mentioning was Fratis.


    Ever since that incident, she had be even closer to Luca, seeking him out to chat every day.


    Although Luca didn''t want to get too entangled with her, he couldn''t bring himself to outright reject her.


    Mainly because there wasn''t really anywhere to hide¡ªafter all, the four majestic wings'' back was only so big¡ªso he just let her be.


    Sensing Luca''s change in attitude, Fratis''s smile became noticeably brighter than before.


    Seeing this, the Red Maple Academy students looked at Luca with eyes full of pity.


    Their admiration for him deepened immensely.


    Knowing how sensitive Fratis''s position was, yet still getting so close to her¡ªthis guy really didn''t take Finn seriously at all!


    Meanwhile, the sneer on Harvis''s face grew wider by the day.


    The way he looked at Luca now was as if he were staring at a dead man. He felt a strange calmness in his heartpared to before.


    A man on the brink of death was hardly worth getting worked up over.


    As for Kruse and Fred, they showed no intention of intervening in this matter.


    Luca and Fratis, on the other hand, seemed entirely oblivious to everyone else''s stares, carrying on as if nothing were amiss.


    Time passed slowly amidst this strange atmosphere.


    Soon, a shimmering, winding river appeared at the horizon''s edge.


    The water rushed turbulently, with waves crashing violently. Small boats that looked like tiny ants floated on its surface.


    On the boats, shirtless fishermen held bamboo poles, skillfully maneuvering their vessels.


    On the opposite bank of the river, an enormous mountain peak soared straight up into the sky!


    From high above, waterfalls like silver ribbons cascaded down the peak''s sheer face, crashing into a vastke below and echoing with a heartbeat-like, thunderous roar.


    From the sky, the sight was spectacr. The massive mountain stood at the center, and awork of countless rivers branched out like veins, spreading across thend in all directions.


    "We''re almost at Southwind City!" The Red Maple Academy students cheered excitedly, their faces lighting up with anticipation.


    At that moment, the four majestic wings began to ascend higher into the air.


    Upon reaching the clouds, Luca finally caught sight of a sprawling, bustling metropolis perched atop the mountain peak.


    The silver waterfalls he had seen earlier were pouring out from several of the city''s massive gates.


    The city itself was arranged in a circr fashion, with buildings rising in height as they moved inward, culminating in a towering spire that pierced the clouds, its tip out of sight.


    At the very top of the spire was an enormous metallic wind turbine, slowly turning in the wind.


    Above the city, numerous cloud-winged airships, ranging from simple to luxurious, floated in and out. From afar, they looked like swarms of worker bees, giving the city a distinct industrial touch.


    As Luca observed this city atop the mountain, he felt a sense of surprise.


    He hadn''t expected Southwind City to be built on a mountain peak.


    It seemed as if an entire mountain had been carved away to create this grand city.


    No wonder it was called the main city of the Southern Territory. Judging by its sheer size, Southwind City was at least ten timesrger than Riverfall City.


    The four majestic wings did not fly directly into the city. Instead, it hovered outside the city gate and began a slow descent.


    "Flying is prohibited within Southwind City''s limits. This is a decree issued personally by Marquis Bronte. Vitors will be detained by the city guards for seven days and fined," Fratis said softly as she leaped off the gryphon, reminding Luca.


    Luca nodded slightly, making a mental note of this rule.


    Thews of suchrge cities were set by the nobility, and they had the authority to deal with offenders as they saw fit. It was not something to be taken lightly.


    Harvis walked over and sneered, "A bumpkin like him probably won''t have the chance to fly for the rest of his life. Your Highness, why bother exining?"


    But to his frustration, neither Luca nor Fratis spared him a single nce, choosing to ignore him entirely.


    "Enjoy it while you can!" Harvis''s eyes shed with a chilling light. He would deal with this country bumpkin properly once they entered Southwind City!


    Sensing the hostile gaze behind him, Luca narrowed his eyes slightly.


    He hoped that this so-called noble wouldn''t push his luck. If not, Luca wouldn''t hesitate to send another person down to apany Matthew¡­


    After everyone dismounted from the gryphon, they followed Kruse and the others towards the city gate.


    Upon seeing Kruse and Fred, the city guards immediately bowed respectfully and allowed the entire group to pass through into Southwind City.


    As they crossed the gate, the view before Luca suddenly opened up.


    A wide avenue stretched out in front of him.


    The cityscape was somewhat different from what he had imagined. The road was paved with gray stone bs¡ªbarely clean by his standards¡ªand nked by rows of dpidated houses that had clearly seen better days.


    Ordinary residents in in clothing walked along the streets. While they weren''t exactly gaunt or haggard, their spirits seemed dampened, and dark circles shadowed their eyes, as if they hadn''t rested well in a long time.


    This ce¡­ wasn''t nearly as picturesque as he had envisioned.


    Fratis seemed to notice Luca''s confusion and softly exined, "Southwind City is divided into three districts: the Outer District, the Inner District, and the Noble District. The Outer District is home to the lowest-ss residents, who make up the majority of the city''s poption."


    "They''re quite unfortunate. They''re no different from the people living outside the city, and sometimes they have to work even harder just to earn the basic necessities for survival."


    Luca instinctively wanted to ask why they didn''t just live down below, but then it suddenly dawned on him.


    The reason these people chose to stay here was precisely for the status of being a Southwind City resident.


    Even though life in Southwind City was far more grueling than in the viges and towns at the mountain''s base, they would never choose to leave.


    Because down there, they were justmoners. But here, even as the lowest rung of society, they were still residents of Southwind City.


    He shook his head. Life is about choices, and there was no point in dwelling on it.


    After they entered Southwind City, a luxurious carriage slowly made its way toward them.


    The carriage eventually came to a stop in front of Harvis.


    A servant stepped out from the carriage.


    With a sycophantic smile on his face, he addressed Harvis, "Wee home, young master! I''ve already prepared a change of clothes and a meal for you. Everything will be ready for your enjoyment as soon as you return."


    Harvis nodded in satisfaction. He nced at Luca, sneered dismissively, and then boarded the carriage.


    Once he returned, he would report everything that had happened here to Finn. Letting Luca live even one second longer was a torment to him.


    Watching Harvis''s carriage disappear into the distance, Luca''s expression remained unchanged.


    Since he had already made an enemy, there was no need to think about making amends. He would just have to find a way to deal with this problemter.


    Fratis lowered her head, her delicate face filled with guilt. "I''m sorry for causing you trouble. I''ll write to my sisterter and ask her to help you. She''s very capable and will definitely have a solution."


    Luca smiled and said, "Don''t worry, I won''t take this matter to heart."


    Fratis looked up, realizing Luca wasn''t just saying that tofort her. Seeing the sincerity in his words, a smile slowly reappeared on her face.


    As they approached Southwind City, Kruse and Fred had already contacted the people from Red Maple Academy toe pick them up.


    It didn''t take long before several carriages from Red Maple Academy arrived to escort the group.


    Although they were called carriages, the creatures pulling them were not horses. Instead, they were monsters that resembled bears¡ªmassive creatures with jet-ck scales covering their bodies. They had a lumbering appearance, but their sheer size and strength allowed them to pull carriagesrger than a bus with surprising speed.


    The carriages were spacious enough tofortably amodate everyone for the trip back.


    Everyone boarded the carriage together, and it began moving toward the Inner District.


    As they rode off, the surrounding residents watched their departure with eyes full of envy.


    Within that envy, there was a deep sense of longing and desire.


    Peering out of the carriage window, Luca observed many residents of Southwind City along the way. There were destitute vagrants, prostitutes unting themselves in back alleys, and affluent merchants adorned in fine clothing, their faces beaming with prosperity.


    From their mannerisms and attire, it was clear that the atmosphere in this city was vastly different from that of Riverfall City.


    The city was filled with trade in wealth and flesh, indulgence and greed¡ªit was like stepping into an entirely different world.


    However, this disparity quickly diminished as the carriage passed through a gate separating the Outer District from the Inner District.


    The streets in the Inner District were not only cleaner, but the houses were also arranged in a more orderly fashion. Even the residents appeared healthier, dressed in neatly tailored clothing with rosyplexions.


    The people here were indistinguishable from those in any ordinary prosperous city¡ªliving stable,fortable lives.


    The carriage continued to move through the Inner District until it finally came to a stop in front of a massive, old academy.


    The architecture of the academy seemed out of cepared to the surrounding buildings. It resembled something from the medieval era, with flying eaves, interlocking brackets, and towering spires that gave it a weathered, historical feel.


    Outside the academy was a vast za spanning thousands of square meters. The za was filled with people, many of whom were teenagers around Luca''s age. Among them were also a few yers, making the za lively and bustling with activity.


    Luca guessed that these were probably the ones Susie mentioned¡ªthose who hade to take the entrance exam. He nced around and noticed quite a few prodigies among them. Many had already reached Silver Grade at such a young age, with some of them even being higher in level than him.


    It was clear that riding a carriage through the crowded za would be impossible, so everyone had to get out and proceed on foot.


    As they stepped down from the Red Maple Academy''s carriage, many of the young people in the za turned to look at them with admiration and longing.


    The academy''s students were long used to such attention and continued chatting andughing as if nothing were out of the ordinary.


    From the expressions on the faces of the people around them, it was obvious that those from Red Maple Academy held a very high status in Southwind City.


    Naturally, being among them, Luca also attracted quite a bit of attention.

 Chapter 71: Chapter 71: The Power of Dreamweaving, Dream Manifestation, and Mira!

    A silver-haired, violet-eyed girl in a ck Gothic dress appeared before everyone.


    She smiled sweetly, looking innocent and adorable, but there was an inexplicable maturity and depth hidden in her gaze that belied her youthful appearance.


    Upon seeing this figure, all the cultists, including Tia, showed a fervent light in their eyes. They dropped to one knee in reverence and shouted in unison, "Greetings, my lord!"


    However, Jormungandr didn''t spare them a single nce. Instead, she walked over to Luca''s side, her expression shifting into one of obedient gentleness. "What orders do you have for me, Master? I will do everything I can to carry them out!"


    Hearing these words, every single member of the Nightmare Cult twitched, their faces twitching in disbelief.


    Was this truly their Lord of Dreams?


    And she was calling this young man ''Master''¡­ What were they supposed to call him now?


    Luca sipped his tea calmly, showing no surprise at Jormungandr''s sudden change in attitude.


    After all, this King-level monster''s life was now in his hands. No matter how much she secretly hated him and wished to tear him to pieces, she had no choice but to feignpliance with a smile.


    His gaze shifted to Tia and the others, eyes narrowing as he asked, "I can give you what you desire, but dreams are ultimately just dreams. No matter how vivid or real they may seem, they are still illusions. Even so, does it not bother you?"


    Most people thought that the followers of the Nightmare Cult were brainwashed into pursuing some utopian dreamscape or perfect life. But having interacted with their higher-ups in the past, Luca knew that these people were fully aware that what they sought was entirely fabricated.


    What they wanted was precisely this perfect, idealized dream without suffering or ws.


    Only Jormungandr possessed the ability to create a Dream Kingdom and to bring Dream Manifestations into reality. This was the reason they worshipped her.


    And now, with Luca holding the Dreamweaver ss, he was reluctantly considered the second person in the world who could potentially fulfill their wishes.


    "That''s right." All of them nodded resolutely at his question, Tia included.


    With unwavering conviction, she dered, "As long as you can bring back my sister and family, I will agree to anything, no matter what it is. I''ll offer you my body and my life if that''s what it takes!"


    Luca''s eyes flicked over Tia''s voluptuous figure and stunning face, a trace of scorn curling his lips. "I don''t know whether I should pity you or despise you."


    These people knew exactly what they were doing from the very beginning, even when theymitted murder.


    ughtering innocent civilians for their own selfish desires¡ªthere was nothing they wouldn''t do. Their obsessions had sunk deep into their bones, making them beyond redemption.


    But then again, such intense obsessions were beneficial for him. They would help him achieve his goals more effectively and make them easier to control.


    "Come here," he ordered, raising his hand to point at Tia, his tone indifferent.Yet, the simplemand made Tia''s heart pound wildly in her chest.


    Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she walked up to stand in front of Luca.


    "Close your eyes and recall the person you most want to see¡ªtheir face, their expressions, every detail in your memory," Luca said calmly as a mesmerizing purple light bloomed in his hand, casting an ethereal glow.


    "Impossible!" Seeing the familiar light, Jormungandr''s eyes widened in shock, her face filled with disbelief.


    She knew all too well what this power was¡ªLuca was using none other than Dreamweaving energy!


    But how could he possess Dreamweaving energy? In this world, only she should have that power!


    Jormungandr had no idea that Luca''s Dreamweaving ability hade directly from her¡­


    Watching the Dreamweaving energy manifest in Luca''s hand, everyone present knew exactly what this power signified.


    The members of the Nightmare Cult began to breathe heavily, their eyes burning with fervor.


    Tia was so overwhelmed with emotion that her face flushed a deep red.


    At this moment, no one doubted his words anymore.


    "Let''s begin," Luca instructed softly, all the while sensing the Dreamweaving energy in his hand. He noted how different it feltpared to magic runes or the power of the Witch Doctor.


    Dreamweaving energy had a unique property that extended into the realm of the soul. He realized that advancing the Dreamweaver ss in the future might be even more challenging than bing a Demonic Rune Mage.


    However, with Jormungandr by his side, he wasn''t worried about hitting a dead end in his progress.


    Hearing Luca''s words, Tia immediately shut her eyes, focusing all her thoughts on remembering her sister Mira''s face and the cherished memories they shared.


    Luca gently ced his hand on Tia''s smooth, pale forehead.


    Skill: Dreamweavingactivated!


    In an instant, Tia saw a sh of purple light break through the darkness.


    The light grew brighter and brighter in her vision.


    The deepest, most hidden memories within her heart seemed to stir and rise up, one by one, ying out vividly before her eyes.


    Scene after scene of her life with her sister unfolded like a series of fleeting glimpses.


    Then, with another burst of light, Tia felt as if she had returned to the small town from her past.


    A two-story house stood before her.


    The sunlight outside was dazzling, the green leaves of the trees swaying gently in the breeze.


    Inside, a faint cacophony of sounds reached her ears, making Tia''s heart tremble.


    It was the voices of her sister Mira and their family.


    "Father, you''re cheating! I clearly won just now!" a girl''s indignant voice protested, and even through the door, Tia could almost picture her sister''s pouting face, cheeks puffed up in frustration.


    A man''s rough, heartyughter echoed. "That''s called an unexpected move, not cheating! Little Mira, a real winner admits defeat. Now go wash the dishes!"


    "You''re always bullying me! I''m never talking to you again¡­" The girl''s angry huff was followed by the sound of bare feet stomping heavily on the wooden floor.


    From the kitchen came the yfulughter of a young woman, followed by the girl''s grumblingints and the sshing sound of running water.


    Tia stepped forward, her lips pressed tightly together.


    With trembling hands, she slowly pushed open the door that had appeared countless times in her dreams.


    "Creak¡­" The door made a soft sound as it slowly swung open.


    The scene inside the room unfolded before Tia''s eyes, rendering her motionless in shock.


    In the neat and tidy living room, a burly man was tidying up a deck of cards.


    Hearing the door, he looked up.


    Noticing it was Tia, the man raised his brows in surprise. "Why are you back sote today? There''s some food left for you in the kitchen¡ªgo eat it before it gets cold, or it won''t taste good."


    "Oh, and after you''re done, make sure to have little Mira do the dishes."


    "Big sis is back!" A girl''s excited cheer rang out from the kitchen.


    Momentster, a young girl who looked about seventy to eighty percent like Tia dashed out from the kitchen.


    Her face was full of expectation as she grabbed onto Tia''s arm and asked eagerly, "Big sis, did you bring me anything yummy today?"


    The sensation from the girl''s touch felt unbelievably real, as if she were truly there.


    Tia''s eyes instantly welled up with tears.


    She wanted to respond to the girl, but found herself choking up, unable to speak a word.


    And then, she noticed that the scene before her began to blur and turn hazy.


    "No! Please, no! Just give me a little more time, just a bit longer!" Tia realized what was happening and pleaded desperately, but it was all in vain. The figures and faces of her family started to be indistinct, dissolving into a fog of memories.


    Tia stretched out her hand, as if trying to grasp onto something.


    But her hand passed through the little girl''s body, clutching only empty air in the end.


    The next second, the dream shattered into a thousand pieces!


    Tia was pulled back to reality, her body limp and drained of all strength. She copsed onto the ground, her legs unable to support her.


    Tears streamed uncontrobly down her cheeks.


    This was the closest she hade to being with her family in so many years.


    The sensation had been so real, exactly as it was in her memory!


    "If you help me with what I need, I''ll help you manifest your sister," Luca said as he withdrew his hand, looking down at her with an indifferent gaze, his tone t and devoid of emotion.


    The reason he had kept Tia around until now was because of her potential and abilities.


    Tia, who would one day be the "Nightmare Queen," had unimaginable potential. Even now, she was already a high-tier professional with the rare ss "Shadow Sorceress," capable of offering significant assistance to him.


    "I agree!" Tia raised her head, almost blurting out her answer without a moment''s hesitation.


    At this moment, as long as she could bring Mira back, she was willing to pay any price, no matter how steep.


    "As you wish." Luca wasn''t surprised by her answer. He casually reached out and gently brushed his fingers across Tia''s forehead, pulling out a silvery orb of light that glimmered with a soft radiance.


    Dream Manifestation!


    With a thought, the purple light in Luca''s hand zed brightly. The silvery orb intertwined with the purple Dreamweaving energy, quickly forming aplex, intricate silver rune in his palm.


    Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, the rune blossomed into a dazzling, dreamlike silver light.


    A slender figure slowly emerged from the intangible void and solidified into reality right before their eyes.


    She wore a simple, pristine white dress and had long violet hair just like Tia''s. Her eyes were clear and her features delicate, giving her an ethereal beauty that seemed almost unreal. She looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, yet her appearance already hinted at a stunning beauty that could captivate nations.


    At this moment, the young girl''s eyes were filled with confusion, as if she hadn''t yet grasped what was happening.


    When she finally took in her surroundings, she moved closer to Tia, clutching the hem of her sister''s clothes anxiously. "Sis¡­ Sister, weren''t we just at home? Why are we here now?"


    "Mira, don''t be scared. Sister''s here¡­ I''m right here¡­" Tia pulled Mira into her arms, trying tofort her, but in the end, she couldn''t hold back her own emotions and began to sob uncontrobly.


    She hugged the girl tightly, as if terrified that she would vanish the very next second.


    "He actually brought someone out from a dream into reality!" This miraculous scene left everyone present utterly speechless with shock.


    "How on earth did you do that?!" Jormungandr waspletely stunned. Not only could this young man use her Dreamweaving art, but he could even bring someone from a dream into the real world. This was beyondprehension!


    Luca didn''t bother to answer her question. Instead, he spoke calmly, "This girl won''tst long in this world. Use your Dreamweaving power to stabilize her form and give her seven days."


    The "Mira" before them was a manifestation derived from Tia''s memories. With Luca''s current capabilities, he could only maintain this girl''s body for about ten minutes before it began to disintegrate.


    He didn''t have enough magical energy to sustain Mira''s existence for longer than that.


    Fortunately, with Jormungandr¡ªa King-level monster¡ªpresent, this was the perfect opportunity to put her to use.

 Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Life Extension! Celephais Rebirth! Last Time Was Just an Accident!

    A sh of anger passed through Jormungandr''s eyes.


    This bastard actually wanted her to use the power she had painstakingly recovered to extend the life of some random girl?


    What did he take her for? An energy source?


    Jormungandr''s face turned dark, and she was just about to refuse such an outrageous request.


    But then she caught sight of the icy gaze Luca directed her way.


    Her expression immediately softened into a sweet smile as she obediently replied, "Of course, my lord, I''ll extend her life right away!"


    "Smart decision," Lucamented with a cheerful smile.


    That smug attitude of his made Jormungandr want to tear a chunk of flesh out of him.


    "Calm down, calm down. I''ll have all the time in the world to deal with him once I''m free," she told herself, forcing down her fury. She nced at Tia and her sister Mira, snorted coldly, and with a wave of her hand, sent a ball of purple Dreamweaving energy surging into Mira''s body.


    Mira watched in confusion as her body was enveloped by the violet light, her expression full of panic. She still had no idea what was happening.


    This was one of the drawbacks of Dreamweaving¡ªpeople brought into existence through memories were essentially just clones. Mira only retained fragmented pieces of memory.


    Currently, her memories were stuck a few years in the past, and many parts were missing entirely. Tia would have to exin things to her slowly over time.


    Even so, Tia felt immense gratitude, bowing deeply. "Thank you, my lord, for your great mercy. I will never forget this kindness!"


    Luca sat on a wooden chair, fiddling with the teacup in his hand. Without a trace of emotion, he doused her excitement with a bucket of cold water. "Don''t be too quick to celebrate. Jormungandr''s power is only enough to sustain your sister for seven days. Complete the task I give you within those seven days, and I''ll extend her life again. Otherwise, she will vanish from this world."


    He nced down at the sisters, who had turned pale, and continued, "I''ll make it very clear: until the day I no longer need you, you will not have freedom. Until then, serve me well. I''ll give you a chance at life, and I''ll grant you heights you could never dream of achieving."


    "If you be useless, don''t me me for being ruthless."


    Luca''s words weren''t just directed at Tia, but also at the members of the Nightmare Cult and Jormungandr herself.


    He had no need for dead weight!


    Sweeping his gaze over the group of fanatical cultists, Luca suddenly asked, "Who among you wishes to enter the Dream Kingdom? Step forward, and I will grant your wish!"


    The Nightmare Cult''s deacons and followers had long been waiting for this moment. Hearing Luca''s words, their eyes lit up, and they eagerly stepped forward, shouting with excitement, "Me, me, me! My lord, I want to enter the Dream Kingdom!"


    Jormungandr gave Luca a curious nce.


    Although she hadn''t known him for long, she could tell that this young man, while possessing a certain baseline of principles, was by no means a kindhearted person. So why was he suddenly being so generous this time?


    There''s definitely something fishy here¡­


    Watching the excited expressions of the cultists, Luca''s smile grew even wider.


    "Rx, no need to rush. There''s enough for everyone," he said, waving his hand dismissively.


    After that, his smile suddenly turned cold and rigid. He nced at Jormungandr and said, "They want to enter the Dream Kingdom, so I''ll leave them to you."


    Jormungandr froze for a moment, not immediately understanding what Luca meant.


    But when she saw the frostiness in his gaze, it suddenly dawned on her.


    So, he was talking about anotherDream Kingdom¡­


    In other words, these people now belonged to her?


    Jormungandr licked her crimson lips, her serpentine eyes narrowing slightly as an excited expression appeared on her delicate face.


    Perfect timing¡ªshe had lost quite a bit of power on that girl earlier. Now she had the chance to replenish it¡­


    With that thought, a smile identical to Luca''s appeared on her face.


    Jormungandr beamed at the crowd of eager cultists and said sweetly, "Ahem, may nightmares endure, and dreamsst forever! No need to worry. I''ll take you all in, one by one. Trust me, I''ll give you a dream that''s truly eternal and fulfilling¡­"


    The cultists, their faces glowing with enthusiasm, had no idea that they were about to be a meal for a certain King-level monster.


    Ignoring these fools who were blissfully unaware of their impending doom, Luca stretchedzily and strode out of the clinic, leaving the rest for Jormungandr to handle.


    He did need the Nightmare Cult to serve his purposes, but what he needed were capable individuals, not a bunch of idiots who only cared about daydreaming all the time.


    So, Luca''s first step in taking over the Nightmare Cult was to clean out this trash.


    After that, he''d have Tia reorganize the entire cult and recruit new members, transforming this notorious evil cult into a hidden trump card under his control.


    As for how powerful this card would be in the future, that was still uncertain, but Luca had a feeling it might just give him an unexpected surprise.


    "My lord, what would you like us to do?" Tia''s voice came from behind him. At some point, she had caught up, and after a moment''s hesitation, she finally asked.


    Mira only had seven days left. Time was tight, and for Tia, extending her sister''s life was her top priority.


    Luca thought for a moment before giving his orders. "First, send people to the areas where the monster horde broke out and look for any signs of the other Demon Lords¡ªespecially Hydra. Report to me immediately if you find any clues."


    "Second, eliminate those high-ranking members who are only interested in living in a dream. Recruit more elite professionals in their ce."


    "Third, summon all the Nightmare Cult members to the Southern Territory and have them stand by for further instructions."


    Disrupting Hydra''s node had yielded great results for Luca. These King-level monsters hadn''t fully descended yet and were still rtively weak. This was the perfect time to strike, and Luca certainly wasn''t going to let this opportunity slip away.


    Tia nodded, carefully noting down each of his directives.


    Luca spoke calmly, "As long as you handle these three tasks well, your sister''s lifespan won''t be a problem in the short term. Rest assured, while I might not be a saint, I''ve never been one to mistreat my own people."


    "I understand. Thank you, Master." Despite knowing that Luca was using her sister''s life as leverage to make her do his bidding, Tia was still genuinely grateful.


    After all, if it were Jormungandr instead, the price for reviving her sister would likely have been far greater.


    Behind her, Mira timidly stared at Luca''s back.


    By now, she had a vague understanding of her situation.


    It was hard for her to believe that she had been resurrected, but the reality before her left her with no choice.


    For Mira, Luca was undoubtedly her creator, so she naturally felt both respect and fear toward him.


    At the same time, there was a flicker of curiosity in her heart. Luca didn''t look very old, yet he possessed such immense power¡ªfar surpassing even her father. It was truly astonishing.


    After receiving Luca''s instructions, Tia took Mira with her and left. There was so much she wanted to tell Mira, and she could barely contain her excitement.


    With everything settled, Luca logged out of the game.


    He nned to get a good night''s rest and prepare for his journey to Southwind City the next day.


    Meanwhile, back in Riverfall City¡ª


    A group of yers from The World Guild were waiting respectfully in the town square.


    As two shes of light lit up the area, Celephais and Dien''s figures emerged.


    Neither of them looked particrly happy at the moment.


    Several days had passed, and while their resurrection cooldown had finally ended, their levels had fallen far behind the other yers. Even some regr yers had managed to catch up to them.


    On top of that, they''d lost two Bronze Grade items, making their losses truly staggering.


    Dien, in particr, looked as if his face was twitching in pain.


    That Bronze Grade piece had cost him everyst bit of his savings, and yet Luca had looted it just like that.


    He had been so distressed over it these past few days that he hadn''t been able to sleep a wink.


    "Still no news on that bastard?" Celephais''s expression was dark, like the calm before a storm. In all his years, he had never suffered such a grave humiliation.


    If he managed to uncover Luca''s real identity, he would make that audacious bastard pay dearly.


    One of The World Guild''s vice presidents, trembling with fear, replied, "No, we haven''t found him yet. He''s hidden his information well and rarely interacts with others. Unless he reveals himself, I''m afraid it''ll be very difficult to track him down¡­"


    In truth, he was already being diplomatic. Given the level of privacy protection in Eternal Game, unless Luca exposed himself, it would be nearly impossible for any yer to trace him.


    Celephais understood this reality all too well. Although he was filled with rage, he knew that finding Luca in the real world was nearly impossible.


    But swallowing this bitterness without doing anything? That was something he couldn''t stand.


    This was just some ordinary yer¡ªsomeone without even a guild or a professional club backing him.


    If he couldn''t even deal with such a small fry, how could he maintain his reputation in themunity?


    With a dark and icy gaze, Celephais ordered, "If we can''t find him in the real world, then track him down in the game! No matter the cost, I want you to dig this Luca out for me!"


    Dien and the other high-ranking members of The World Guild quickly acknowledged hismand.


    They could tell Celephais was in a foul mood and didn''t dare to further provoke him. They immediately left and began executing his orders.


    They threw money around, hiring arge number of regr yers to search every corner of Riverfall City for Luca''s presence. As long as he showed his face, The World Guild would be the first to know.


    But since Luca had already logged out of the game, their efforts were destined to be fruitless today.


    ¡­


    The next day at noon, the sun hung high in the sky, and Luca was abruptly woken up by the sound of someone pounding on his door.


    "Luca, Luca! Get up already! The sun''s practically burning your back! Come to Southwind City and hang out with me!" Susie''s distinctive crisp voice rang out from outside, apanied by a series of loud knocks that made the bedroom door rattle.


    Luca groggily opened his eyes, ncing at the clock. It was only 10 a.m. He pulled the covers over his head and attempted to go back to sleep.


    Although the game''s immersion pod could physically rx his body, it didn''t replenish his mental energy. On top of that, he hadn''t rested well these past few days. Now that he finally had a chance to catch some extra sleep, he wasn''t about to waste it.


    "Didn''t Auntie say he was home?" Susie muttered to herself outside the door. She''d been knocking for a good while without any response, and she started to wonder if Luca had gone out after all.


    She hesitated, considering whether to push open the door and check. But then she remembered what happenedst time, when Luca had taken advantage of her, and she hesitated again.


    "Last time was just an ident¡­ It was my fault for not being on guard. But now that I''m prepared, there''s no way that will happen again!" With this thought in mind, Susie mustered up some courage and slowly pushed open Luca''s bedroom door.

 Capítulo 79: Chapter 79: How Strong Is He? The Rampaging Black Bear and Lady Lina!

    The strength of this monster was probably greater than several Kamans put together. Who knew where that woman, Susie, had found it?


    Luca initially considered sneaking up on her and giving her a surprise.


    But after some thought, he decided to leave it until after they bothpleted the assessment.


    With that powerful monster by her side, she wouldn''t be in any real danger. There was no need to waste time here. His priority was to clear all 20 floors as quickly as possible.


    He turned around and left, unaware that the silver-white eagle mouse on Susie''s shoulder had secretly nced in his direction.The tiny creature let out a human-like sigh of relief and even patted its small chest as if calming its nerves.


    After Susie finally defeated the wild boar, the eagle mouse chirped a few times and gestured at her.


    Susie, surprised, asked, "Someone was here just now? And they were really strong?"


    The white eagle mouse reached out, pulled its mouth into a fierce snarl.


    Then gave itself a smack, copsing on the ground and pretending to be dead.


    Susie''s eyes widened further. "You''re saying you couldn''t even beat them?"


    She had obtained this eagle mouse by chance through a hidden quest. ording to the creature''s own ounts, it had once been at least Diamond-level. It was only due to severe injuries that its strength had dropped to Silver-grade. Even so, it was not something an ordinary professional could deal with.


    The white eagle mouse nodded, a flicker of fear visible in its eyes.


    Not only that, but it had sensed a powerful aura from that person. It was an overwhelming pressure from both spirit and bloodline, so intense that it had felt genuine fear¡ªas if it had encountered a natural predator. The thought of resistance hadn''t even crossed its mind.


    "Who would have thought there''d be someone so strong participating in this assessment?" Susie marveled inwardly but didn''t dwell on it.


    Since that person hadn''t made a move against her, it meant they held no hostility. Naturally, she wasn''t foolish enough to go looking for trouble. After all, she was here to join Red Maple Academy, not to create problems for herself.


    "When I sessfully join Red Maple Academy, I''ll definitely show off to Luca!" A smug smile appeared on her pretty face, her lips curving upwards as if she could already see Luca''s utterly shocked expression.


    Just then, a voice Susie found utterly irritating interrupted her thoughts.


    Nomadey hurried over, his face brimming with excitement. "Susie, there you are! I''ve been looking everywhere for you¡­ I mean, what a coincidence! It''s fate!"


    The smile on Susie''s face vanished, and she felt a surge of frustration.


    How is this guy here again?!


    ...


    Meanwhile, Luca had also found the guardian monster for the second floor.


    The guardian monster for this floor was an enormous ck bear, its body covered in ck fur as sharp as steel needles. When it stood upright, it reached a height of nearly four to five meters.


    At that moment, the massive beast was sprawled in its cave, snoring loudly. The deafening sound reverberated through the cavern. As Luca approached, he was hit by a wave of putrid, rancid odor.


    Sensing Luca''s presence, the ck bear''s nose twitched twice before its blood-red eyes snapped open. It opened its massive maw and let out an earth-shaking roar directly at Luca.


    "ROAR!!!"


    The terrifying roar created visible ripples in the air, echoing throughout the entire assessment forest, sending flocks of birds scattering into the sky.


    The bear then dropped onto all fours, its massive body charging toward Luca like an unstoppable tank. The sheer ferocity of its momentum could make any ordinary person''s legs turn to jelly, and it seemed as if the ground itself trembled under its weight.


    This monster was far stronger than the previous tree demon. It was likely an Elitemonster, but to Luca, it made no difference.


    As the bear barreled forward, Luca narrowed his eyes, and the Mithril Mage Spear in his hand began to glow with intricate ck patterns.


    Suddenly, the shadow beneath the bear''s feet turned into a pitch-ck mire. Skeletal hands emerged from the murky depths, grabbing hold of its four limbs.


    Caught off guard by an attack from below, the ck bear stumbled and immediately sank into the dark quagmire.


    Shadow Magic Runes!


    Upon activating the skill, a shadowy swamp materialized, restricting the enemy''s movements.


    Seizing the opportunity, the ck runes on Luca''s body began spreading at a visible speed, his aura surging rapidly!


    Runic Possession!


    Luca kicked off the ground, shattering the earth beneath his feet and sending chunks of dirt flying. His figure shot forward like a streak of ck lightning. Simultaneously, the Mithril Mage Spear in his hand glimmered with a silvery light, piercing straight toward the bear''s head with the force of a thunderbolt.


    Despite its bloodthirsty and violent nature, the monster wasn''t a brainless beast.


    Sensing danger from Luca''s strike, it roared in fury and, in a feat of brute strength, managed to break free from the grasp of the shadowy swamp just in time to narrowly dodge the lethal blow.


    Luca''s expression didn''t waver. Ghostly blue mes flickered to life in his eyes.


    Suddenly, the bear''s massive body stiffened, and it clutched its head, letting out agonized howls.


    Lich''s Fire!


    This type of mental attack was incredibly effective against simple-minded beasts like this one.


    In the next instant, Luca twisted his wrist, and the runic-enhanced strength within his body erupted violently. The shaft of the Mithril Mage Spear smashed down onto the bear''s side with a terrifying force, sending its enormous body flying through the air. The beast crashed through severalrge trees before finallying to a stop.


    The duration of his Runic Possessionwas limited, so Luca wasn''t going to give this beast any time to catch its breath. Silver magic runeslit up beneath his feet as he activated Air Step, his figure disappearing from where he stood and charging straight at the creature.


    A monster''s resilience to damage far exceeded that of humans. For most professionals, a blow like the one Luca had just delivered would have been fatal ten times over, but the massive ck bear seemed barely fazed. It only sported a long gash across its abdomen.


    The pain fueled its beastly rage. Seeing Luca now right in front of it, the ck bear''s eyes glinted with madness. It swung a massive w adorned with razor-sharp talons, generating a fierce gust of wind as it aimed directly for Luca''s chest.


    Luca didn''t meet the strike head-on. Silver light red under his feet once more as he effortlessly dodged the blow. He thrust his spear forward again, and this time, the bear was too close to evade.


    Pfft! Blood sprayed!


    The sharp spearhead pierced through the bear''s skull in an instant. At the same time, Luca''s body began to radiate a golden glow.


    [Ding! You have in "Lv25 Rampaging ck Bear (Leader)," gaining 105,000 experience points!]


    [You have leveled up to Lv23 and gained 20 free attribute points!]


    [You have cleared the third floor of the Trial Tower. Would you like to proceed to the next floor?]


    Luca allocated all his newly gained attribute points to his Spiritstat, then selected "Yes" once again. Holding the Mithril Mage Speartightly in hand, he advanced to the next floor of the Trial Tower.


    Themotion from killing the ck bear had been rather significant, and it didn''t take long for others to notice ande investigate.


    When they saw the enormous bear¡ªits body as massive as a mountain¡ªlying dead on the ground, having been in by Luca with ease, the gathered crowd erupted into chaos.


    "Holy crap! Is that damage for real?!"


    "He''s insanely strong! He took down an Elitemonster at level 30!"


    "Are NPCs this powerful now? What are us yers supposed to do if that''s the case?!"


    ¡­


    The onlookers murmured among themselves, assuming Luca was an NPC.


    After all, in their minds, no yer could possibly possess this kind of power.


    Susie, too, had noticed themotion.


    But because she was too far away, she hadn''t seen Luca''s face, and she didn''t pay much attention to it.


    Right now, her focus was on figuring out how to shake off the annoying Nomadey.


    She nced at him, annoyance etched into her features as she frowned.


    This guy was absolutely infuriating!


    She''d made it clear that she didn''t want him following her, but he''d still spouted nonsense about needing to protect her.


    The worst part was that Nomadey was only level 15¡ªnot even as high as she was!


    Meanwhile, outside the tower, the spectators were equally stunned by Luca''s performance against the giant bear, collectively drawing sharp breaths.


    "How the hell is this kid so strong?" one spectator muttered in disbelief.


    Compared to Luca, the other candidates looked like they belonged to apletely different species.


    If not for the fact that they could tell Luca was only at Silver-grade, they''d have suspected he was hiding his true strength.


    The disparity was simply too overwhelming.


    Even the most outstanding prodigies among the candidates appeared dim andckluster under Luca''s brilliance.


    "This kid''s strength is actually this terrifying!" Fred eximed in surprise.


    He had seen Luca on the battlefield before but hadn''t paid much attention to his abilities, assuming Luca was only marginally stronger than an average professional.


    But now it seemed he had beenpletely mistaken.


    This guy''s actual power was at least several times greater than that of a typical professional of the same level!


    "If he wasn''t that strong, he wouldn''t have dared to say he wanted to be an instructor," Orf remarked with a smile, though he was equally astonished inside.


    He could tell that Luca''s mastery over magic runeswas incredibly refined, not at all like a novice Demonic Rune Mage.


    The talent of this kid was terrifying!


    However, with just this level of power, it might still not be enough for him to be an instructor.


    In the stadium, Instructor Melissa also stared at the mirrored image of the young man, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise.


    It was her first time encountering someone of this age who dared to apply for an instructor position.


    This made her quite curious¡ªjust how far could Luca, at Silver-grade, advance in the Trial Tower?


    Meanwhile, in the Noble District of Southwind City...


    In a luxurious mansion belonging to the Franco family, a stunning woman was sitting on an elegant sofa, reading a book.


    Just then, a servant hurried over to her side and bowed respectfully, reporting, "Madam, the people below have sent word that the young man named Luca has arrived in Southwind City."


    The woman''s hand, which was holding the book, trembled upon hearing the servant''s words.


    She abruptly lifted her head to look at the servant, her face contorted with rage. "He actually dared toe to Southwind City?!"


    Without waiting for a response, she threw the book violently. A vase shattered against the floor, exploding into countless fragments, startling the surrounding servants.


    The woman stood up, her once beautiful face now twisted and feral, as she burst into hystericalughter. "He killed my son and husband, and he still dares to set foot in Southwind City?! Back in Emerald State, Ryan''s protection made it hard for me to do anything to you!"


    "But here in Southwind City, I want to see if Ryan still has the power to save you!"

 Capítulo 80: Chapter 80: Revenge! My Student! The Wind Elemental!

    The woman in question was Lina, Matthew''s mother. A few days ago, upon learning that both her husband Rudolphand her son Matthewhad be killed, she nearly fainted on the spot.


    Matthew had be her only son. And now, he had died at the hands of an insignificant lowlife. Ev her husband had lost his life due to this person''s actions. How could Lina not harbor an immse hatred?


    After Rudolph''s collusion with The Nightmare Cultwas exposed, Lina was implicated and confined by the Franco family''s patriarch to this mansion, forbidd to leave.


    If Luca had stayed hidd in the Emerald State, Lina wouldn''t have had any means to reach him. But now, to her delight, the fool had dared toe to Southwind Cityhimself!


    "You brought this upon yourself! Don''t me me for what happs next!" Lina''s eyes were filled with malice and vomous rage.


    These past days, she had be consumed by thoughts of ripping that wretch apart limb by limb. Now that such a perfect opportunity was prested to her, if she didn''t kill him, she''d be failing her dead son and husband!


    Lina turned to the servant standing beside her and ordered, "Within three days, I want to see that brat''s head in front of me. If you fail, I''ll offer your head instead to mourn my son and husband!"


    The chilling mace in her voice made the servant shudder uncontrobly.


    "Yes, Madam! I will make sure his head is brought to you without fail!" he replied hastily.


    Meanwhile, in the Outer District of Southwind City.


    The news of Luca''s arrival in Southwind City spread not only to the Franco family but also reached one of the most chaotic regions in the city.


    ck Street, home to the underg fighting ara, was a ce filled with the sct of blood.


    The stage was sttered with dark, dried stains as a muscr, rugged man swung his fist forward, mming into his oppont''s skull.


    The sheer force of the blow caved in the unfortunate man''s head, creating a deep indtation. He died instantly on the spot.


    Just as the body fell lifelessly to the g, a young man with tattoos along his arm approached the brute and whispered something in his ear.


    The burly man paused, th his eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint. A twisted grin spread across his face, and his voice was dripping with malice as he spoke."I was just thinking about how to get ev with him, and now the little bastard has walked right into Southwind City on his own!"


    "Sd someone to keep tabs on him immediately. I want to know every move he makes. The momt he steps foot outside Red Maple Academy, report back to me right away. I want to personally twist his head off to avge Freeman!"


    This man was Curtis, Freeman''s younger brother. Not only was he a high-level professional, but he was also the leader of the infamous Blood Hand Mercary Group, a name that struck fear ev in the darkest alleys of Southwind City''s underworld.


    "Got it, boss," the tattooed youth replied, nodding eagerly, a hint of pity flickering in his gaze.


    The poor boy had no idea what he had gott himself into by provoking their boss!


    In his mind''s eye, the young man could already vision Luca''s brok and bloodied form, reduced to a miserable state far beyond recognition.


    Red Maple Academy. At the same time, Luca remained blissfully unaware that several forces from Riverfall City were making their moves the momt he set foot in Southwind City.


    4th Floor of the Trial Tower. Luca was currtly locked inbat with a formidable wolf.


    Atwo-headed ck wolf. Its tire body was gulfed in dark mes, with eyes glowing a malevolt red. It radiated a dangerous and ominous aura.


    The monsters on the lower floors were all below level 30, providing little challge for Luca. He had easily progressed to the 4th floor, and in the process, his level had soared to 5, gaining two levels consecutively.


    However, as he ascded higher, the monsters'' levels also increased significantly. By now, the guardian monster on this floor had reached a level of 35, t levels higher than Luca''s own.


    It was important to note that these guardian monsters were not your ordinary creatures. At the very least, they were rare-ss monsters, and some were ev elite-ss.


    Luca could now feel the pressure starting to build.


    He realized that his normal fighting abilities were effective up to level 40 monsters. If he wanted to keep progressing, he might have to employ some of his more unconvtional methods.


    While contemting his next move, a wave of intse me burst forth from Luca''s hand,pletely gulfing the two-headed wolf and reducing it to a charred husk.


    [Ding! You have in the lv35 Two-Headed ck Wolf (Elite). You gained 46,000 experice points!]


    [You have cleared the 4th floor of the Trial Tower. Do you wish to proceed to the next floor?]


    Luca nced at the notification in front of him but chose not to continue immediately. Instead, he decided to rest for a bit.


    The series of intse battles had drained his mana considerably. Fortunately, Franklin had stocked his storage ring with numerous mana potions. A short break would allow him to replish his ergy before taking on the next challge.


    Red Maple Academy. Meanwhile, outside the Trial Tower, the audice''s focus had shifted tirely to Luca. No one paid any atttion to the other examinees anymore.


    Everyone''s eyes, including those of Orf and the other instructors, were fixed on Luca, their hearts filled with shock and disbelief at what they were witnessing.


    "I thought he wouldn''tst long at all, yet here he is, already at the 5th floor!" Fred couldn''t help but exim, his gaze filled with admiration as he looked at Luca.


    This kid hadpletely exceeded his expectations! Originally, Fred had assumed that with Luca''s strgth, he would at most reach the 8th floor. But Luca had prov him utterly wrong, surging all the way to the 5th floor in one go!


    And it''s worth noting¡ªnormally, for the instructor evaluation, candidates only needed to clear up to the 5th floor!


    In other words, Luca''s currt capabilities were already approaching the level of an instructor at Red Maple Academy.


    Kruse''s shock still hadn''t subsided. He remarked, "How old is he now? Eighte or ne, at most? If I''m not mistak, thest person to reach the 4th floor at such speed was young Luna. And she was already  and on the verge of advancing to Gold Grade!"


    Hearing that name, everyone a disyed expressions of surprise.


    Luna was the youngest high-level professional in the Southern Territory in rect years, and now, Luca had brok her record.


    Ev more remarkable was that Luca was several years younger than her.


    Having such astonishing strgth at such a young age meant that this young man''s future was limitless!


    "Hahaha, excellt, excellt! He truly is my studt!" Orf''s face was beaming with pride and satisfaction. He hadn''t expected that in just a few years, Red Maple Academy would once again produce such a prodigy!


    Orf felt a surge of gratitude towards Sophia and Ryan at that momt.


    If it hadn''t be for their rmdation, he would never have gott such an outstanding studt.


    Orf had already made up his mind: ev if Luca failed to clear the 0th floor of the trial, he would still sure that this extraordinarily gifted young man became an instructor at Red Maple Academy.


    Giuses deserved special treatmt!


    Standing beside him, both Kruse and Fred couldn''t help but twitch the corners of their mouths in reaction.


    The headmaster has no shame!


    Luca''s talts and achievemts were due to his own hard work, and had absolutely nothing to do with Orf.


    They hadn''t ev met a few hours ago!


    However, this was something they would never dare to say out loud. Although Orf appeared kind and amiable, he was notoriously petty and vindictive wh it came to certain matters.


    Ev several decades ago, wh a powerful figure made one disparagingmt about him, Orf still hasn''t let it go to this day.


    If either of them ded up on his cklist, they would certainly face serious repercussions in the future.


    Back in the trial, Luca remained unaware that he had already earned the approval of Red Maple Academy.


    After restoring his mana to full capacity, he chose to advance to the 5th floor.


    Every fifth floor in the Trial Tower marked a significant increase in monster strgth. The monsters he had just faced were already at level 35, and from here on, their power would reach at least level 40. Ev Luca didn''t dare to underestimate the challges ahead.


    Once he stepped onto the 5th floor, a bright light shed in front of him. Wh it faded, he found himself standing on a vast in.


    Underneath a blue sky and  clouds, lush gre grass swayed gtly in the breeze.


    Just as Luca was about to scout the suring area, a streak of yellow lightning suddly shot toward him.


    It was a spotted leopard, moving at an incredible speed. Its sharp fangs protruded macingly as it lunged directly for Luca''s throat.


    Fortunately, Luca never let his guard down. The momt the leopard pounced, he ssed it.


    A sh of silver light appeared in his eyes, and his figure instantly vanished from where he stood.


    The leopard missed its target, and just as it was about to readjust its position, it ssed a sudd whistling sound from behind.


    Before it could react, everything wt dark.


    A sharp metal arrow had pierced through the back of the leopard''s head and emerged from its mouth, killing it instantly.


    Ding! You have in "lv40 Fanged Leopard (Common), earning 70,000 experice points!"


    Luca nced at the leopard''s dissipating corpse, frowning slightly.


    As expected, the monsters on this floor had already reached level 40.


    And this was just the 5th floor. He could only imagine how powerful the monsters on the 0th floor would be.


    He needed to conserve his strgth and ergy to deal with what awaited him in the higher levels. It seemed he would have to use his trump cards.


    With this thought in mind, Luca began searching for the floor''s guardian monster.


    The vast ins stretched dlessly in all directions. After killing sev or eight monsters, Luca easily located his target¡ªor more urately, the monster had chos to find him.


    A gre wind de sliced through the grass, viciously hurtling toward Luca.


    The wind de moved at incredible speed, and the grass provided excellt cover. By the time Luca detected it, the de was already in front of him.


    There was no time to use Air Step!


    In this critical momt, Luca remained calm and activated the skill embedded within his ck Gold Robe.


    A magical barrier instantly veloped him.


    The wind de collided with the barrier, producing a resounding bang.


    The de shattered, but its force was so strong that Luca was st flying backward. Fortunately, the barrier''s defse held firm, and he was unharmed.


    Luca adjusted his posture mid-air andnded lightly on the g. It was only th that he got a clear view of the creature that had attacked him.


    It was a humanoid tity formed tirely from a raging whirlwind.


    Its body appeared semi-transpart and greish, with a pair of icy eyes staring at Luca inttly.


    "A Wind Elemtal, huh?" Luca recognized the monster''s idtity.


    Wind Elemtals were mid-tier elemtal creatures capable of manipting wind at will. They were known for their extreme speed and agility, making them very difficult to deal with.


    The Wind Elemtal seemed to have gauged Luca''s strgth as well.


    Its pale-gre eyes shed with contempt as it casually flicked its arm, sding several gre wind des flying toward Luca.


    "Heh, so it''s looking down on me, is it?" Luca''s lips curved into a smirk, and his eyes glinted with a cold light.


    He made no attempt to dodge the oing wind des.


    Instead,  frost began emanating from his body and the Mithril Mage Spear in his hand.

 Capítulo 75: Chapter 75: Lich Fire, The City on the Mountain, and Red Maple Academy

    Watching Fratis''s departing figure, Luca couldn''t shake off a lingering sense of unease.


    Why did he feel like things were heading in the wrong direction?


    Luca instinctively shook his head to clear his thoughts.


    No, it couldn''t be. He must be overthinking it¡­


    After his conflict with Harvis, everything had been calm over the next few days.


    Luca finished reading through all of Franklin''s notes and sessfully mastered all of the Witch Doctor''s low-level skills.


    In addition, he even learned a mid-level skill, Lich Fire.


    [Lich Fire: Mid-level skill. Upon activation, this skill bypasses the target''s physical defenses and deals 180% mental damage. Consumes 2400 mana. Cooldown time: 20 minutes.]


    Lich Firewas considered one of the Witch Doctor''s go-to offensive abilities. With this skill, Luca''s strength had taken another significant leap.


    Another thing worth mentioning was Fratis.


    Ever since that incident, she had be even closer to Luca, seeking him out to chat every day.


    Although Luca didn''t want to get too entangled with her, he couldn''t bring himself to outright reject her.


    Mainly because there wasn''t really anywhere to hide¡ªafter all, the four majestic wings'' back was only so big¡ªso he just let her be.


    Sensing Luca''s change in attitude, Fratis''s smile became noticeably brighter than before.


    Seeing this, the Red Maple Academy students looked at Luca with eyes full of pity.


    Their admiration for him deepened immensely.


    Knowing how sensitive Fratis''s position was, yet still getting so close to her¡ªthis guy really didn''t take Finn seriously at all!


    Meanwhile, the sneer on Harvis''s face grew wider by the day.


    The way he looked at Luca now was as if he were staring at a dead man. He felt a strange calmness in his heartpared to before.


    A man on the brink of death was hardly worth getting worked up over.


    As for Kruse and Fred, they showed no intention of intervening in this matter.


    Luca and Fratis, on the other hand, seemed entirely oblivious to everyone else''s stares, carrying on as if nothing were amiss.


    Time passed slowly amidst this strange atmosphere.


    Soon, a shimmering, winding river appeared at the horizon''s edge.


    The water rushed turbulently, with waves crashing violently. Small boats that looked like tiny ants floated on its surface.


    On the boats, shirtless fishermen held bamboo poles, skillfully maneuvering their vessels.


    On the opposite bank of the river, an enormous mountain peak soared straight up into the sky!


    From high above, waterfalls like silver ribbons cascaded down the peak''s sheer face, crashing into a vastke below and echoing with a heartbeat-like, thunderous roar.


    From the sky, the sight was spectacr. The massive mountain stood at the center, and awork of countless rivers branched out like veins, spreading across thend in all directions.


    "We''re almost at Southwind City!" The Red Maple Academy students cheered excitedly, their faces lighting up with anticipation.


    At that moment, the four majestic wings began to ascend higher into the air.


    Upon reaching the clouds, Luca finally caught sight of a sprawling, bustling metropolis perched atop the mountain peak.


    The silver waterfalls he had seen earlier were pouring out from several of the city''s massive gates.


    The city itself was arranged in a circr fashion, with buildings rising in height as they moved inward, culminating in a towering spire that pierced the clouds, its tip out of sight.


    At the very top of the spire was an enormous metallic wind turbine, slowly turning in the wind.


    Above the city, numerous cloud-winged airships, ranging from simple to luxurious, floated in and out. From afar, they looked like swarms of worker bees, giving the city a distinct industrial touch.


    As Luca observed this city atop the mountain, he felt a sense of surprise.


    He hadn''t expected Southwind City to be built on a mountain peak.


    It seemed as if an entire mountain had been carved away to create this grand city.


    No wonder it was called the main city of the Southern Territory. Judging by its sheer size, Southwind City was at least ten timesrger than Riverfall City.


    The four majestic wings did not fly directly into the city. Instead, it hovered outside the city gate and began a slow descent.


    "Flying is prohibited within Southwind City''s limits. This is a decree issued personally by Marquis Bronte. Vitors will be detained by the city guards for seven days and fined," Fratis said softly as she leaped off the gryphon, reminding Luca.


    Luca nodded slightly, making a mental note of this rule.


    Thews of suchrge cities were set by the nobility, and they had the authority to deal with offenders as they saw fit. It was not something to be taken lightly.


    Harvis walked over and sneered, "A bumpkin like him probably won''t have the chance to fly for the rest of his life. Your Highness, why bother exining?"


    But to his frustration, neither Luca nor Fratis spared him a single nce, choosing to ignore him entirely.


    "Enjoy it while you can!" Harvis''s eyes shed with a chilling light. He would deal with this country bumpkin properly once they entered Southwind City!


    Sensing the hostile gaze behind him, Luca narrowed his eyes slightly.


    He hoped that this so-called noble wouldn''t push his luck. If not, Luca wouldn''t hesitate to send another person down to apany Matthew¡­


    After everyone dismounted from the gryphon, they followed Kruse and the others towards the city gate.


    Upon seeing Kruse and Fred, the city guards immediately bowed respectfully and allowed the entire group to pass through into Southwind City.


    As they crossed the gate, the view before Luca suddenly opened up.


    A wide avenue stretched out in front of him.


    The cityscape was somewhat different from what he had imagined. The road was paved with gray stone bs¡ªbarely clean by his standards¡ªand nked by rows of dpidated houses that had clearly seen better days.


    Ordinary residents in in clothing walked along the streets. While they weren''t exactly gaunt or haggard, their spirits seemed dampened, and dark circles shadowed their eyes, as if they hadn''t rested well in a long time.


    This ce¡­ wasn''t nearly as picturesque as he had envisioned.


    Fratis seemed to notice Luca''s confusion and softly exined, "Southwind City is divided into three districts: the Outer District, the Inner District, and the Noble District. The Outer District is home to the lowest-ss residents, who make up the majority of the city''s poption."


    "They''re quite unfortunate. They''re no different from the people living outside the city, and sometimes they have to work even harder just to earn the basic necessities for survival."


    Luca instinctively wanted to ask why they didn''t just live down below, but then it suddenly dawned on him.


    The reason these people chose to stay here was precisely for the status of being a Southwind City resident.


    Even though life in Southwind City was far more grueling than in the viges and towns at the mountain''s base, they would never choose to leave.


    Because down there, they were justmoners. But here, even as the lowest rung of society, they were still residents of Southwind City.


    He shook his head. Life is about choices, and there was no point in dwelling on it.


    After they entered Southwind City, a luxurious carriage slowly made its way toward them.


    The carriage eventually came to a stop in front of Harvis.


    A servant stepped out from the carriage.


    With a sycophantic smile on his face, he addressed Harvis, "Wee home, young master! I''ve already prepared a change of clothes and a meal for you. Everything will be ready for your enjoyment as soon as you return."


    Harvis nodded in satisfaction. He nced at Luca, sneered dismissively, and then boarded the carriage.


    Once he returned, he would report everything that had happened here to Finn. Letting Luca live even one second longer was a torment to him.


    Watching Harvis''s carriage disappear into the distance, Luca''s expression remained unchanged.


    Since he had already made an enemy, there was no need to think about making amends. He would just have to find a way to deal with this problemter.


    Fratis lowered her head, her delicate face filled with guilt. "I''m sorry for causing you trouble. I''ll write to my sisterter and ask her to help you. She''s very capable and will definitely have a solution."


    Luca smiled and said, "Don''t worry, I won''t take this matter to heart."


    Fratis looked up, realizing Luca wasn''t just saying that tofort her. Seeing the sincerity in his words, a smile slowly reappeared on her face.


    As they approached Southwind City, Kruse and Fred had already contacted the people from Red Maple Academy toe pick them up.


    It didn''t take long before several carriages from Red Maple Academy arrived to escort the group.


    Although they were called carriages, the creatures pulling them were not horses. Instead, they were monsters that resembled bears¡ªmassive creatures with jet-ck scales covering their bodies. They had a lumbering appearance, but their sheer size and strength allowed them to pull carriagesrger than a bus with surprising speed.


    The carriages were spacious enough tofortably amodate everyone for the trip back.


    Everyone boarded the carriage together, and it began moving toward the Inner District.


    As they rode off, the surrounding residents watched their departure with eyes full of envy.


    Within that envy, there was a deep sense of longing and desire.


    Peering out of the carriage window, Luca observed many residents of Southwind City along the way. There were destitute vagrants, prostitutes unting themselves in back alleys, and affluent merchants adorned in fine clothing, their faces beaming with prosperity.


    From their mannerisms and attire, it was clear that the atmosphere in this city was vastly different from that of Riverfall City.


    The city was filled with trade in wealth and flesh, indulgence and greed¡ªit was like stepping into an entirely different world.


    However, this disparity quickly diminished as the carriage passed through a gate separating the Outer District from the Inner District.


    The streets in the Inner District were not only cleaner, but the houses were also arranged in a more orderly fashion. Even the residents appeared healthier, dressed in neatly tailored clothing with rosyplexions.


    The people here were indistinguishable from those in any ordinary prosperous city¡ªliving stable,fortable lives.


    The carriage continued to move through the Inner District until it finally came to a stop in front of a massive, old academy.


    The architecture of the academy seemed out of cepared to the surrounding buildings. It resembled something from the medieval era, with flying eaves, interlocking brackets, and towering spires that gave it a weathered, historical feel.


    Outside the academy was a vast za spanning thousands of square meters. The za was filled with people, many of whom were teenagers around Luca''s age. Among them were also a few yers, making the za lively and bustling with activity.


    Luca guessed that these were probably the ones Susie mentioned¡ªthose who hade to take the entrance exam. He nced around and noticed quite a few prodigies among them. Many had already reached Silver Grade at such a young age, with some of them even being higher in level than him.


    It was clear that riding a carriage through the crowded za would be impossible, so everyone had to get out and proceed on foot.


    As they stepped down from the Red Maple Academy''s carriage, many of the young people in the za turned to look at them with admiration and longing.


    The academy''s students were long used to such attention and continued chatting andughing as if nothing were out of the ordinary.


    From the expressions on the faces of the people around them, it was obvious that those from Red Maple Academy held a very high status in Southwind City.


    Naturally, being among them, Luca also attracted quite a bit of attention.

 Capítulo 76: Chapter 76: Nomadey the Love-struck Fool, the Third Princess, and Apprenticing to Orf

    "Who''s that guy? How can he be walking into the academy with Dean Kruse?" A young boy in the crowd asked, puzzled.


    He had voiced the same question that was on everyone''s mind.


    At Red Maple Academy, it was customary for all members to wear a badge whenever they went out¡ªa symbol of their identity.


    Yet, Luca wore no such badge. It was clear that he wasn''t part of Red Maple Academy, but he was still able to walk alongside them into the academy. This left everyone bewildered.


    Among the crowd, Susie was also staring at the backs of Kruse''s group, her eyes filled with confusion.


    Why did she feel like that person looked so familiar?


    "What are you looking at?" A tall young man approached her with a smile, interrupting her thoughts.


    He was well-built, tall and muscr, with a handsome face. His gaze was filled with unabashed passion whenever itnded on Susie.


    "Nomadey, can you stop following me around like a clingy piece of gum?" Susie frowned, her disdain for the young man clearly showing.


    The young man remained unbothered and said, "Susie, Southwind City isn''t exactly a safe ce. I''m only trying to protect you! Don''t push me away like this. It''s fate that we ended up in the same main city. We were meant to meet again!"


    Susie''s expression turned irritated as she gritted her teeth and said, "I made it very clear back then¡ªI already have someone I like. Stop pestering me!"


    The young man''s name was Nomadey, a ssmate of hers who had pursued her three years ago. He was rejected on the spot by Susie.


    Yet, this guy was unbelievably persistent.


    Three years had passed¡ªthree whole years¡ªand he still hadn''t given up!


    What made Susie even more frustrated was that they had ended up in the same main city. And on her very first day, he recognized her.


    Since then, Nomadey had stuck to her like glue.


    The main reason Susie had been so eager for Luca toe was, in fact, to get rid of this guy.


    Nomadey didn''t seem to care about Susie''s attitude. He had grown used to being rejected.


    Shrugging his shoulders, he said, "I know you like Luca, but that''s okay! I don''t mind. As long as I can be with you, it doesn''t matter."


    Susie was at a loss for words.


    What''s wrong with this guy? Who cares if he doesn''t mind?


    May sensing Susie''s agitation.


    Atiny silver-white mouse poked its chubby head out of her arms and began chittering furiously at Nomadey.


    Meanwhile, inside Red Maple Academy...


    Luca had no idea that Susie was among the crowd of candidates taking the entrance exam.


    As the group entered Red Maple Academy, Luca could see students bustling around the za.


    They wore uniforms in a mix of ck and blue, each with a red maple leaf badge pinned to their chests.


    Upon seeing Kruse and Fred, the students halted and bowed respectfully, greeting, "Dean Kruse, Director Fred."


    Red Maple Academy was divided into five main divisions, each specializing in the professional training of warriors, mages, rangers, assassins, and support sses. Kruse was the Dean of the Mage Division, while Fred served as the Director of the Warrior Division.


    After returning to the academy, the students who had apanied Kruse and Fred to Riverfall City began saying their goodbyes, preparing to report back on their assignments.


    This trip to support Riverfall City was considered an extracurricr task assigned by Red Maple Academy. The mentors wouldter evaluate the students based on the monsters they had killed and their overall performance.


    These evaluations would affect the students'' graduation assessments, so none of them dared to ck off. Fratis also waved goodbye to Luca and left with the other students to submit her task report.


    The group dispersed, leaving Luca to follow Kruse and Fred toward the principal''s office to meet with Orf.


    As they walked, Luca took in the surroundings of the renowned academy, known as the premier institution for professionals in the Southern Territory.


    Red Maple Academy boasted a beautiful environment, filled with lush greenery and expansive grounds.


    In the center of the main square stood a towering fountain sculpture, over ten meters high.


    The statue depicted a schrly-looking middle-aged man holding a book.


    Kruse exined that this was Arwen Berenos, the first principal of Red Maple Academy, and the statue was built in his honor.


    As Kruse continued to share legendary stories about the founding principal and exin the academy''s rules.


    The three of them soon arrived at the faculty building.


    The faculty building was a medieval-style structure, looking aged but well-preserved. Next to it stood the academy''s library.


    They proceeded straight to the top floor of the faculty building. Along the way, Luca noticed many instructors, none of whom were below tinum Grade, with most being high-level purple-gold professionals. The quality of Red Maple Academy''s teaching staff was higher than he had expected.


    Before long, they arrived at the top floor, where the principal''s office was located.


    Fred stepped forward and knocked on the door.


    A momentter, a gentle, elderly voice sounded from inside.


    "Come in."


    Fred opened the door, and Luca finally saw the principal of Red Maple Academy.


    It was an old man who looked to be in his sixties or seventies, his hair already white, but he appeared full of vigor.


    He was sitting behind his desk, going through some documents, looking every bit like an ordinary elderly man.


    Sensing their presence, Orf looked up from his papers and greeted them with a warm smile, "Wee back, everyone. How is the situation at Riverfall City?"


    Kruse and Fred stepped forward and bowed respectfully, then began recounting everything that had transpired in Riverfall City, detailing the events without leaving anything out.


    Luca could tell that both Kruse and Fred held immense respect for this renowned principal of Red Maple Academy.


    After listening to their report, Orf shook his head slightly and said, "Who would have thought that the Abyssal Node, which has been dormant for so many years, would suddenly reappear in our Clinton Empire? Fortunately, it didn''t cause a major disaster. You all handled it very well."


    Then, he turned his gaze to Luca and smiled, asking, "You must be Luca, correct?"


    Luca was taken aback. He hadn''t expected Orf to know who he was.


    Sensing his confusion, Orf exined, "Before you arrived, I received messages from three different people, each asking me to take special care of you."


    As he spoke, he couldn''t help but chuckle softly.


    Stroking his beard, Orf continued, "Lucia Elizabeth, the daughter of the Mages'' Association president; Count Ryan Howard of the Emerald State; and Princess Raphael Clinton, the Third Princess of the Empire¡ªeach of them is an extraordinary figure. It seems you have quite the connections to have so many people concerned about you."


    "The Empire''s Third Princess?" Luca was even more astonished.


    He hadn''t expected Fratis''s sister to go out of her way to look out for him.


    It seemed that while they were still on the four majestic wings, Fratis must have sent a message to her sister. This realization warmed his heart.


    Indeed, having someone backing you up really did feel different.


    Kruse and Fred exchanged a look of surprise.


    This kid''s luck was extraordinary¡ªhe had even gotten the Third Princess to step in on his behalf!


    They had initially been worried about Finn seeking revenge on Luca.


    But now, with the Third Princess willing to intervene, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    Luca calmed himself and took out the letter of rmendation Ryan had given him, handing it over to Orf. "Principal, I believe you already know why I''vee here. This is a letter of introduction from Lord Ryan."


    Orf didn''t bother looking at the letter. Instead, he sighed and said, "Lucia has already told me about your talent. I must say, that little girl is indeed fortunate to have discovered a genius like you with a Grade 10 aptitude."


    "If I''m not mistaken, it''s been over a hundred years since anyone in the Kingdom of Clinton has possessed such a level of aptitude."


    Hearing Orf''s words, both Kruse and Fred''s eyes widened in shock.


    "What? A Grade 10 aptitude?!" they eximed in unison, their faces filled with disbelief as they stared at Luca.


    They had traveled with him all this time, but they had never imagined that this young man beside them was actually a peerless prodigy with the highest possible aptitude!


    It was worth noting that even Fratis, with her Grade 9 aptitude, had already be a tinum Grade professional with ease before turning twenty. It was certain she would one day reach Superss, if not beyond.


    In fact, if her talent hadn''t been constrained by her choice of a support-oriented profession, it wouldn''t be the Third Princess receiving the royal family''s full support right now, but Fratis instead.


    And yet, Luca''s aptitude was a whole level higher than Fratis''s!


    Realizing this, Kruse and Fred finally understood why Lucia, Ryan, and the others were so invested in Luca''s future.


    The revtion filled them with both admiration and envy. They couldn''t help but curse Ryan inwardly for being such an old fox. He hadn''t leaked a single word about such a critical piece of information to them!


    Their eyes instantly burned with fervor, and they were about to speak up and offer to take Luca on as their own student.


    But just as they were about to open their mouths, Orf cleared his throat and interrupted. "With a genius like you personally seeking me out, and as a Demonic Rune Mage no less, how could I possibly refuse? From now on, you''ll be studying magic runes under my guidance."


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have be the student of Orf Toman. Reputation +500!]


    Seeing the system prompt in front of him, Luca was genuinely surprised.


    He hadn''t expected that just by bing Orf''s student, his reputation would increase by so much.


    But Luca knew this was due to Orf''s immense strength and prestige.


    The more renowned the teacher, the more reputation the student would naturally gain. This was certainly a good thing for him.


    "Principal, you¡ª" Kruse and Fred''s faces twitched slightly.


    Orf was truly being underhanded. Hadn''t this guy once sworn that he would never ept another student for the rest of his life?


    Yet now, upon learning that a Grade 10 prodigy had shown up, he seemed to have conveniently forgotten all those words.


    However, seeing Luca so easily epted as Orf''s student, the two of them couldn''t help but feel as if they were dreaming.


    After all, Orf was one of the top powerhouses in the entire Clinton Empire.


    Every year, people lined up from Red Maple Academy all the way to the gates of Southwind City, hoping to be epted as his disciple.


    And with Luca''s full-level aptitude and immense potential...


    As long as nothing untoward happened, he was destined to be one of the Eternal Continent''s most elite professionals!

 Capítulo 83: Chapter 83: "Mother, I Think Im in Love? Winter White Dragon!"

    Just as Orf was overwhelmed by shock, the Skeleton Emperor''s massive sword came crashing down.


    Some of the spectators instinctively closed their eyes, unable to bear the sight of the tragedy they believed was about to unfold.


    However, to their surprise, the gruesome sce of blood and gore they had imagined never appeared.


    A slder, pale hand¡ªmarked with intricate silver patterns¡ªsuddly extded and, without any grand disy, effortlessly stopped the giant sword in its tracks.


    Boom!


    The momt they collided, a terrifying shockwave erupted, sweeping through the hall. Ctered a Luca, the g caved in, sding shattered rocks flying in all directions. Cracks spider-webbed across the stone floor, groaning under the immse pressure.


    As the dust settled, a silver- figure emerged.


    Luca''s expression was cold and indiffert, his long robe billowing. Silver runes crisscrossed his body, his hand glowing with a pearly  light. With what seemed like a casual, weightless gesture, he hadpletely stopped the massive bronze sword, which was taller than a person. No matter how much force the Skeleton Emperor exerted, it couldn''t budge an inch!


    "How is this possible?!" Countless people leaped to their feet, eyes wide in disbelief.


    "His physical strgth alone is blocking an attack from a Lord-level monster?!"


    "Impossible! I must be sleep-deprived¡­ Yes, that must be it!"


    "Hahaha, who would''ve thought our Southwind City would give rise to such a peerless gius!"


    "Gius? This is crossing two tire major realms! This isn''t a gius¡ªhe''s a monster prodigy!"


    ...


    The tire stadium erupted into chaos!


    A Silver-gradebatant physically shing against a tinum-grade Lord-level monster¡ªhe had spanned two tire major grades!


    If they hadn''t se it with their own eyes, they wouldn''t have believed it for a second!


    "He actually withstood an attack from a tinum-grade monster¡­ Is this kid ev human?!" Fred''s eyes wided as he sucked in a breath of cold air.


    In just one day, Luca hadpletely redefined Fred''s concept of what it meant to be a gius, again and again.


    Kruse burst into heartyughter, "With talt like his, he could easily stand among the top prodigies of Dawn City! Our academy really struck gold with this one!"


    Melissa hesitated for a momt before saying, "The problem is, he''s here to apply for a teaching position¡­ Ev if he passes the trial, he won''t be one of our academy''s studts."


    Hearing this, Kruse''s smile froze on his face.


    He suddly remembered¡ªLuca had never intded to be a studt at their academy in the first ce.


    No matter how extraordinary he was, he wouldn''t be represting their school.


    Realizing this, Kruse felt as if he had just lost a fortune. He nced over at Orf and couldn''t help but plead, "Principal, shouldn''t you try convincing Luca again? With his talt, making him a mere instructor would be such a waste!"


    But Orf had no time for Kruse''s concerns right now.


    His gaze was fixed on the image of Luca, whose tire body was covered in shimmering silver patterns. His heart churned like a stormy sea, and his eyes were filled with utter astonishmt.


    "It really is a Superss magic rune!" Orf marveled inwardly.


    He was more than familiar with the aura and fluctuations of Superss magic runes¡ªthere was no way he could be mistak!


    The silvery  magic runes on Luca''s body had to be a Superss magic rune, and an exceptionally unique one at that. Otherwise, ev with a Superss rune, it would be impossible for him to boost his strgth to such an extt in an instant.


    "Today''s youth¡­" Orf''s gaze turnedplex, filled with deep emotions. Ev though his expectations for Luca had already be sky-high, he hadn''t imagined that this young man, at merely the Silver grade, would have mastered a Superss magic rune!


    One must know that this was a realm countless Demonic Rune Mages could never hope to reach in their tire lifetimes!


    And how old was Luca? Eighte? Ne?


    Thinking of the aplishmts Luca might achieve in the future, Orf couldn''t help but feel his own age catching up to him.


    He had some guesses about the origin of this magic rune as well.


    After all, he knew almost everything that had happed in Riverfall City. If his guess was right, the magic rune on Luca''s body was likely drawn using the transcdt materials left behind by the King-level monster''s mirrored image.


    The only thing that puzzled Orf was¡ªwho had inscribed this rune for Luca?


    Could it be that there was a hidd Superss practitioner in a small ce like Emerald State whom he was unaware of?


    As for the possibility that Luca had personally refined and inscribed the rune himself, that thought merely shed through Orf''s mind before he dismissed it.


    If a Demonic Rune Mage has ough talt and resources, possessing magic runes far exceeding those of their peers isn''t unheard of.


    Orf ev knew of some prodigies from powerful factions who, despite not being Demonic Rune Mages, were born with several Superss temporary runes inscribed on their bodies by powerful practitioners to hance their talts and strgth.


    These temporary runes were known as "Companion Runes" and could sometimes remain with them for a lifetime.


    As for the notion of a low-level Demonic Rune Mage inscribing a Superss magic rune¡­ that was pure nonsse. In the ts of thousands of years of Eternal Contint''s history, such a thing had never happed. So, Orf was more inclined to believe that Luca had simply stumbled upon some incredible opportunity.


    Unfortunately, this wasn''t something he could easily inquire about. After all, everyone has their own secrets.


    Meanwhile, in a corner of the audice seating¡ª


    Fratis gazed at the figure within the Trial Tower, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishmt.


    "Is that¡­ Luca?" She had just received word and rushed over, only to witness this awe-inspiring sce.


    As a princess, Fratis had be sured by countless influtial figures and brilliant prodigies since childhood.


    But at this momt, she suddly felt thatpared to the young man before her, all those people were like fireflies in the presce of the bright moon¡ªutterly iparable. This was what true, unparalleled talt looked like. This was what it meant to be a true prodigy of the ages!


    Gazing at the figure within the Trial Tower, standing there like a deity descded upon the mortal world, Fratis pressed a hand to her chest, her eyes shimmering, feeling as if her heartbeat had slowed half a beat.


    Mother¡­ I think I''m in love¡­


    Luca''s disy of strgth left not only the spectators outside in shock.


    Inside the Trial Tower, the Skeleton Emperor was having an existtial crisis.


    It couldn''tprehd why the weakling of a boy in front of it had, in the blink of an eye, transformed into someone tirely differt¡ªan aura of overwhelming power radiated from him, a power that made ev its very soul tremble.


    At this momt, the Skeleton Emperor''s only thought was to flee. Gripping the bronze greatsword with both hands, the ghostly mes in its eyes flickered wildly. The sheer force it exerted caused its tire bony frame to creak and groan with piercing, grating sounds.


    What astonished the Skeleton Emperor, however, was that no matter how much strgth it used, it couldn''t move the greatsword an inch. It was as if an iron vise had mped down on the de, making it utterly immovable,pletely stuck in ce!


    "Scared now, you bastard?" Luca chuckled softly, but his eyes shed with a cold light.


    Ayer of frost began to spread from Luca''s hand, quickly covering the bronze greatsword and spreading toward the Skeleton Emperor.


    Ssing the immint danger, the Skeleton Emperor felt an intse foreboding. Seeing the frost creeping closer and closer, it had no choice but to abandon the greatsword, turning into a wisp of ck smoke and retreating rapidly.


    But there was no way Luca would let it escape so easily.


    "Finish it," he said calmly, his voice soft but brimming with murderous intt.


    The momt Luca''s words fell, a blinding sh of icy light appeared behind the Skeleton Emperor.


    4!


    A ring damage number floated up, and frost instantly covered half of its skeletal frame.


    "Wh did this happ?!" The Skeleton Emperor''s body froze in shock, its hollow gaze turning backward in disbelief. Only th did it notice¡ªsomehow, behind it stood another figure that looked exactly like Luca.


    The same long, silver- hair, the same cold, indiffert expression¡ªwithout a hint of emotion. The only differce was that instead of a silver spear, this figure wielded a blue ice sword.


    Ice Mirror Clone!


    Before the Skeleton Emperor could react, the Ice Mirror Clone twisted its wrist, and the blue sword turned into a blur, striking down like a torrtial storm upon its bony form.


    -6664! -687! -736!...


    The whirling sword formed a blue tempest,pletely veloping the Skeleton Emperor.


    A series of damage numbers rose from its head, and in the blink of an eye, its tire body was riddled with gashes!


    The ck mist suring the Skeleton Emperor churned violtly as its health dropped at an rming rate.


    Ev more devastating, each of the clone''s attacks carried a freezing effect, making its movemts sluggish and its attempts to counterattack or escape exceedingly difficult.


    Seeing that if this continued, it would be froz and controlled to death by Luca.


    The Skeleton Emperor let out a piercing roar toward the sky.


    Boom!!


    A cloud of death ergy erupted from its body, and the powerful shockwave st Luca''s clone flying backward.


    Gaining a brief momt of respite, the Skeleton Emperor took a deep breath, thinking of a way to escape.


    But just th, a calm voice that filled it with dread suddly echoed through the hall.


    "It''s over," Luca stated calmly.


    The Skeleton Emperor jerked its head a, only to see Luca¡ªwho hadn''t moved until now¡ªslowly lift his hand.


    In an instant, a terrifying surge of ice elemtal ergy gathered in the sky.


    A colossal ice magic formation, spanning several hundred meters, materialized above the tire pce in the blink of an eye!


    The temperature throughout the tire cemetery plummeted sharply, and snowkes began to drift down from the darked sky.


    "How¡­ how is this possible¡­" The Skeleton Emperor looked up at the magic formation in the sky, its eyes filled with terror and disbelief!


    Before it could finish its stce, Luca lightly pointed his Mithril Mage Spear at it.


    The magic formation above the pce red with a brilliant ice-blue light, and a thunderous dragon''s roar echoed from the formation!


    "Roar!!!"


    In the Skeleton Emperor''s horrified gaze, a massive, fearsome  ice dragon¡ªresembling a giant serpt¡ªsuddly burst forth from the formation!


    The monstrous creature, stretching over a hundred meters long, descded upon it like a crashinget!


    Boom!!!


    The deafing explosion reverberated throughout the tire cemetery, and an unbelievably powerful frost storm swept through the tire 0th-floor secret realm, with the ck pce at its cter!


    The dark clouds in the sky were blown apart by the raging storm. Snowkes fluttered down as the extreme cold veloped everything, and the pce was rapidly covered inyers of ice and snow, spreading visibly fast across the tire cemetery.


    Wh the devastating frost storm finally dissipated, the tire cemetery had transformed into a world of ice and snow!


    High-level Ice Mage Skill: Winter Frost Dragon!


    With that one strike, the tire Trial Tower trembled!


    Frost began spreading rapidly from the 0th floor as its epicter, veloping the Trial Tower inyers of ice.


    In just a few breaths'' time, under the stunned gazes of everyone watching, the tire Trial Tower waspletely cased in ice!

 Capítulo 78: Chapter 78: The 20th-Floor Hell Assessment and Susie’s Monster!

    Hearing the voice, Luca nced over and noticed a young woman, around her early twenties, standing before all the candidates.


    She was petite, with sses perched on her nose, and wore a simple yet elegant long dress. Her appearance was delicate and refined.


    Despite looking soft and fragile, she carried an air of grace and gentleness.


    This was Melissa, the instructor responsible for this year''s freshman assessment. Luca recalled Fred mentioning her¡ªshe was a first-year instructor at the academy.


    Upon hearing Melissa''s announcement, the students participating in the assessment didn''t dare waste any time. They immediately used the secret realm entry tickets they held in their hands.


    In the next moment, beams of white light shed across the stadium.


    Within a few breaths, hundreds of students vanished, including Susie, who had also entered the Trial Tower.


    At the same time, the Trial Tower began emitting a faint glow. Runes flowed along its surface, and the symbols on the first level lit up.


    Disyed on the surface was a number: 299!


    This indicated the total number of candidates participating in the assessment.


    Orf appeared beside Luca without him noticing. Looking up at the glowing tower, he stroked his beard and said, "The freshman assessment has officially begun. They only need to clear the fifth floor to pass and be admitted into Red Maple Academy."


    "However, the instructor assessment is far more challenging. To pass, you''ll need to clear at least 20 floors. Once you enter the Trial Tower, there''s no turning back. If you want to back out now, this is yourst chance."


    "20 floors?" Kruse and Fred''s expressions changed drastically.


    Normally, clearing 15 floors was considered sufficient for an instructor assessment, yet Orf was requiring Luca to clear 20.


    The monsters on those levels were at tinum Grade, nearly two entire levels above Luca. Wasn''t this practically sending him to his death?


    Both of them turned to look at Luca, silently hoping he would reconsider and withdraw.


    Although Luca had extraordinary talent, he was still very young. Even if his identity as an adventurer partiallypensated for his natural limitations...


    The difficulty of the Trial Tower was something they were all too familiar with. The monsters inside were far stronger than those in the outside world. For Luca, turning back now would be the wisest choice.


    Unfortunately, they were destined to be disappointed.


    Luca shook his head and declined, "Thank you for the offer, Principal, but I''ve already made up my mind. There''s no need to persuade me further."


    The higher difficulty was actually a good thing¡ªit would be a perfect opportunity to test his current strength.


    With that, he activated his Trial Tower entry ticket, and his figure disappeared from where he stood.


    Seeing this, Kruse and Fred could only sigh deeply.


    "He''s still too young and impulsive," Kruse muttered, shaking his head. He felt Luca''s decision was highly unwise.


    Fred could only smile helplessly and say, "I just hope he doesn''t get too disheartened by the experience."


    He knew all too well how difficult the Trial Tower was. Most mid-level professionals couldn''t even make it past the 15th floor. The odds of sess were less than one in ten.


    Not to mention, Luca was only a low-level professional, and he was aiming to clear 20 floors.


    They exchanged a nce and made up their minds.


    If worse came to worst, they''d put aside their pride and beg Orf for a favor. They could just pretend this whole ordeal never happened. Orf certainly wouldn''t want to lose such a promising talent.


    Luca, of course, had no idea what the others were thinking.


    With a sh of light, he found himself standing amidst a chaotic and deste ruin.


    The sky was dim and overcast, the roads were in disrepair, and a chilling wind howled through the empty streets.


    Luca surveyed his surroundings and realized it looked like an abandoned town.


    Its size was muchrger than what he had seen from outside the Trial Tower, almostparable to Riverfall City.


    Shadowy figures darted through the dark ruins, and eerie will-o''-wisps floated among the broken-down houses.


    The whole scene felt ominous and eerie, sending shivers down one''s spine.


    Not far from where Luca stood, there was another candidate for the assessment.


    He held a longbow and was warily watching Luca.


    Luca wasn''t surprised by this.


    He had previously learned from Fred that every level in the Trial Tower was an open secret realm, where all participants fought in the same area. To advance to the next floor, one needed to umte a certain number of points.


    Points could be obtained by killing monsters or through plundering¡ªessentially encouraging candidates to battle each other. Since no one would truly die here, failure would simply result in expulsion from the secret realm.


    However, that was only for the student assessment.


    The instructor assessment required defeating the guardian monster on each floor to move up. If you died in the process, it was real death.


    Thus, Luca''s objective differed from the students'', and he had no intention of wasting time on them.


    Noticing that Luca didn''t seem interested in bothering him, the candidate let out a sigh of relief. When Luca nced at him earlier, he''d felt like a prey being watched by a predator.


    This guy was definitely dangerous!


    The young man was about to quietly slip away in another direction to explore the town.


    But at that very moment, a sharp whooshing sound pierced the air.


    A barbed tree branch, moving so fast he couldn''t react, shot out and pierced straight through his skull.


    Pfft!


    The young man''s eyes widened in shock as his head was impaled. Blood and brain matter sttered onto the ground, and he instantly dissolved into a beam of white light, disappearing from the spot.


    Luca took in the entire scene calmly.


    Narrowing his eyes, he nced at the ce where the young man had been standing moments before.


    In that spot stood an ordinary-looking tree, its branches slowly retracting.


    "A tree demon, huh? And quite good at concealing its presence too," Luca murmured to himself. It seemed like his luck wasn''t too bad¡ªhe had already found the first floor''s guardian monster so quickly.


    He could tell that the tree demon was mid-level, stronger than the monsters outside. It was likely handpicked by Red Maple Academy to test the true capabilities of the instructors.


    He didn''t feel any pressure at all. With a single thought, a Mithril Mage Spearappeared in his hand.


    A fiery red pattern quickly spread across the length of the spear, and scorching fire elements enveloped Lucapletely.


    Silver magic runeslit up beneath his feet, and in a sh, his figure disappeared from where he stood.


    When he reappeared, Luca was already behind the monster.


    With lightning speed, he thrust the spear directly at the tree demon''s trunk.


    Pfft!


    The Mithril Mage Spearpierced through the trunk without the slightest resistance, and red blood oozed from the wound.


    The bark of the tree cracked open to reveal a massive, fanged mouth that roared in fury.


    But before the tree demon could counterattack, Luca twisted his wrist, and the fiery red patterns on the spear suddenly red up with an intense light.


    "Boom!!"


    With a deafening explosion, searing mes erupted, engulfing the tree demon in an instant.


    Under such high temperatures, the tree demon was reduced to ashes in a matter of seconds!


    -3816!


    A massive damage number rose into the air, along with a kill notification.


    [Ding! You have in "Lv25 Vinewood Treant (Rare)" and gained 66,719 experience points!]


    [You have cleared the first floor of the Trial Tower. Would you like to proceed to the next floor?]


    Luca pulled the spear out of the charred remains of the monster, nced at the prompt, and chose "Yes."


    In an instant, he was transported to the second floor.


    Meanwhile, outside the tower, the crowd had just witnessed the scene unfold through the mirrored images projected in the sky.


    The entire stadium erupted in an uproar.


    "Holy crap?! Is that damage for real?"


    "Did I just see that correctly? A rare monster got one-shot!"


    "Who is this kid? Where did hee from? I''ve never heard of him before¡­"


    The audience buzzed with discussion, utterly shocked by the sudden emergence of this young man.


    While other candidates were still struggling against ordinary monsters, this guy had just one-shot a rare-level monster!


    The gap in skill was too enormous!


    "No wonder it''s Red Maple Academy! They even have talents like this. Next year, I have to make sure my child participates in the entrance exam!" one spectator eximed in awe.


    Orf, Fred, and the others, however, remained calm.They weren''t surprised by this disy at all.


    After all, they were well aware of Luca''s talent and strength.


    If he couldn''t handle a monster of this level, then thatwould have truly shocked them.


    At that moment, the instructors of Red Maple Academy had also been informed that a young man was taking part in the assessment alongside the students, aiming to be an instructor at the academy.


    This was an extremely rare urrence, and many instructors had gathered to watch.


    After witnessing what had just transpired, an elderly instructor with a short stature shook his head slightly and said, "The boy''s strength is indeed impressive among the students, but if he thinks he can pass the instructor assessment with just this level of skill, he''s being a bit too naive."


    The surrounding instructors nodded in agreement.


    Based on Luca''s earlier method of killing the tree demon, the instructors had already formed a rough estimation of his capabilities.


    If this was the extent of his abilities, passing the instructor assessment would be utterly impossible.


    Watching Luca''s actions through the mirrored image, Instructor Melissa''s eyes revealed a trace of regret.


    With this level of strength, if he were participating in this year''s freshman entrance exam, he would have undoubtedly ranked first among all the new students. What a pity...


    "Let''s wait and see," Orf said nonchntly, taking a sip of his tea, showing no signs of concern.


    Meanwhile, inside the secret realm, Luca had arrived at the second floor of the Trial Tower.


    Unlike the abandoned town from before, this area was a dense forest.


    Lush leaves blocked out the sunlight, leaving the forest dark and damp, filled with a distinct odor of decaying nts.


    Enormous insects, several timesrger than normal bugs, crawled over the rotting leaves and nts, making one''s scalp tingle with unease.


    Luca thrust his spear forward, impaling a giant spider that was creeping toward him.


    Then, with a mere thought, a green glow enveloped his body, lightening his weight significantly.


    With a powerful leap, hended on a tree trunk, his form moving nimbly and effortlessly through the branches.


    His gaze swept the area as he began searching for the guardian monster.


    Along the way, he encountered many other candidates taking the assessment, but as long as they didn''t provoke him, Luca had no interest in wasting time on them.


    Soon, he reached the depths of the forest.


    To his surprise, he hadn''t found the guardian monster yet.


    Instead, he stumbled upon Susie.


    She was wearing a blue mage robe, a codex floating in front of her, and was currently engaged in a battle with a massive wild boar.


    The pages of the codex flipped rapidly, summoning a series of monsters with blood-red eyes, which attacked the giant boar relentlessly under hermand.


    Additionally, Luca noticed a small, silver-white creature perched on Susie''s shoulder.


    It had a chubby body and a tiny golden crown atop its head, giving it a rather cute appearance.


    But what caught Luca''s attention the most was the aura emanating from the little creature.


    It was an Elite Monster, and it had already reached Silver Grade!


    "Is this woman''s luck stat maxed out too?" Luca muttered to himself, almost doubting reality.

 Capítulo 79: Chapter 79: How Strong Is He? The Rampaging Black Bear and Lady Lina!

    The strength of this monster was probably greater than several Kamans put together. Who knew where that woman, Susie, had found it?


    Luca initially considered sneaking up on her and giving her a surprise.


    But after some thought, he decided to leave it until after they bothpleted the assessment.


    With that powerful monster by her side, she wouldn''t be in any real danger. There was no need to waste time here. His priority was to clear all 20 floors as quickly as possible.


    He turned around and left, unaware that the silver-white eagle mouse on Susie''s shoulder had secretly nced in his direction.The tiny creature let out a human-like sigh of relief and even patted its small chest as if calming its nerves.


    After Susie finally defeated the wild boar, the eagle mouse chirped a few times and gestured at her.


    Susie, surprised, asked, "Someone was here just now? And they were really strong?"


    The white eagle mouse reached out, pulled its mouth into a fierce snarl.


    Then gave itself a smack, copsing on the ground and pretending to be dead.


    Susie''s eyes widened further. "You''re saying you couldn''t even beat them?"


    She had obtained this eagle mouse by chance through a hidden quest. ording to the creature''s own ounts, it had once been at least Diamond-level. It was only due to severe injuries that its strength had dropped to Silver-grade. Even so, it was not something an ordinary professional could deal with.


    The white eagle mouse nodded, a flicker of fear visible in its eyes.


    Not only that, but it had sensed a powerful aura from that person. It was an overwhelming pressure from both spirit and bloodline, so intense that it had felt genuine fear¡ªas if it had encountered a natural predator. The thought of resistance hadn''t even crossed its mind.


    "Who would have thought there''d be someone so strong participating in this assessment?" Susie marveled inwardly but didn''t dwell on it.


    Since that person hadn''t made a move against her, it meant they held no hostility. Naturally, she wasn''t foolish enough to go looking for trouble. After all, she was here to join Red Maple Academy, not to create problems for herself.


    "When I sessfully join Red Maple Academy, I''ll definitely show off to Luca!" A smug smile appeared on her pretty face, her lips curving upwards as if she could already see Luca''s utterly shocked expression.


    Just then, a voice Susie found utterly irritating interrupted her thoughts.


    Nomadey hurried over, his face brimming with excitement. "Susie, there you are! I''ve been looking everywhere for you¡­ I mean, what a coincidence! It''s fate!"


    The smile on Susie''s face vanished, and she felt a surge of frustration.


    How is this guy here again?!


    ...


    Meanwhile, Luca had also found the guardian monster for the second floor.


    The guardian monster for this floor was an enormous ck bear, its body covered in ck fur as sharp as steel needles. When it stood upright, it reached a height of nearly four to five meters.


    At that moment, the massive beast was sprawled in its cave, snoring loudly. The deafening sound reverberated through the cavern. As Luca approached, he was hit by a wave of putrid, rancid odor.


    Sensing Luca''s presence, the ck bear''s nose twitched twice before its blood-red eyes snapped open. It opened its massive maw and let out an earth-shaking roar directly at Luca.


    "ROAR!!!"


    The terrifying roar created visible ripples in the air, echoing throughout the entire assessment forest, sending flocks of birds scattering into the sky.


    The bear then dropped onto all fours, its massive body charging toward Luca like an unstoppable tank. The sheer ferocity of its momentum could make any ordinary person''s legs turn to jelly, and it seemed as if the ground itself trembled under its weight.


    This monster was far stronger than the previous tree demon. It was likely an Elitemonster, but to Luca, it made no difference.


    As the bear barreled forward, Luca narrowed his eyes, and the Mithril Mage Spear in his hand began to glow with intricate ck patterns.


    Suddenly, the shadow beneath the bear''s feet turned into a pitch-ck mire. Skeletal hands emerged from the murky depths, grabbing hold of its four limbs.


    Caught off guard by an attack from below, the ck bear stumbled and immediately sank into the dark quagmire.


    Shadow Magic Runes!


    Upon activating the skill, a shadowy swamp materialized, restricting the enemy''s movements.


    Seizing the opportunity, the ck runes on Luca''s body began spreading at a visible speed, his aura surging rapidly!


    Runic Possession!


    Luca kicked off the ground, shattering the earth beneath his feet and sending chunks of dirt flying. His figure shot forward like a streak of ck lightning. Simultaneously, the Mithril Mage Spear in his hand glimmered with a silvery light, piercing straight toward the bear''s head with the force of a thunderbolt.


    Despite its bloodthirsty and violent nature, the monster wasn''t a brainless beast.


    Sensing danger from Luca''s strike, it roared in fury and, in a feat of brute strength, managed to break free from the grasp of the shadowy swamp just in time to narrowly dodge the lethal blow.


    Luca''s expression didn''t waver. Ghostly blue mes flickered to life in his eyes.


    Suddenly, the bear''s massive body stiffened, and it clutched its head, letting out agonized howls.


    Lich''s Fire!


    This type of mental attack was incredibly effective against simple-minded beasts like this one.


    In the next instant, Luca twisted his wrist, and the runic-enhanced strength within his body erupted violently. The shaft of the Mithril Mage Spear smashed down onto the bear''s side with a terrifying force, sending its enormous body flying through the air. The beast crashed through severalrge trees before finallying to a stop.


    The duration of his Runic Possessionwas limited, so Luca wasn''t going to give this beast any time to catch its breath. Silver magic runeslit up beneath his feet as he activated Air Step, his figure disappearing from where he stood and charging straight at the creature.


    A monster''s resilience to damage far exceeded that of humans. For most professionals, a blow like the one Luca had just delivered would have been fatal ten times over, but the massive ck bear seemed barely fazed. It only sported a long gash across its abdomen.


    The pain fueled its beastly rage. Seeing Luca now right in front of it, the ck bear''s eyes glinted with madness. It swung a massive w adorned with razor-sharp talons, generating a fierce gust of wind as it aimed directly for Luca''s chest.


    Luca didn''t meet the strike head-on. Silver light red under his feet once more as he effortlessly dodged the blow. He thrust his spear forward again, and this time, the bear was too close to evade.


    Pfft! Blood sprayed!


    The sharp spearhead pierced through the bear''s skull in an instant. At the same time, Luca''s body began to radiate a golden glow.


    [Ding! You have in "Lv25 Rampaging ck Bear (Leader)," gaining 105,000 experience points!]


    [You have leveled up to Lv23 and gained 20 free attribute points!]


    [You have cleared the third floor of the Trial Tower. Would you like to proceed to the next floor?]


    Luca allocated all his newly gained attribute points to his Spiritstat, then selected "Yes" once again. Holding the Mithril Mage Speartightly in hand, he advanced to the next floor of the Trial Tower.


    Themotion from killing the ck bear had been rather significant, and it didn''t take long for others to notice ande investigate.


    When they saw the enormous bear¡ªits body as massive as a mountain¡ªlying dead on the ground, having been in by Luca with ease, the gathered crowd erupted into chaos.


    "Holy crap! Is that damage for real?!"


    "He''s insanely strong! He took down an Elitemonster at level 30!"


    "Are NPCs this powerful now? What are us yers supposed to do if that''s the case?!"


    ¡­


    The onlookers murmured among themselves, assuming Luca was an NPC.


    After all, in their minds, no yer could possibly possess this kind of power.


    Susie, too, had noticed themotion.


    But because she was too far away, she hadn''t seen Luca''s face, and she didn''t pay much attention to it.


    Right now, her focus was on figuring out how to shake off the annoying Nomadey.


    She nced at him, annoyance etched into her features as she frowned.


    This guy was absolutely infuriating!


    She''d made it clear that she didn''t want him following her, but he''d still spouted nonsense about needing to protect her.


    The worst part was that Nomadey was only level 15¡ªnot even as high as she was!


    Meanwhile, outside the tower, the spectators were equally stunned by Luca''s performance against the giant bear, collectively drawing sharp breaths.


    "How the hell is this kid so strong?" one spectator muttered in disbelief.


    Compared to Luca, the other candidates looked like they belonged to apletely different species.


    If not for the fact that they could tell Luca was only at Silver-grade, they''d have suspected he was hiding his true strength.


    The disparity was simply too overwhelming.


    Even the most outstanding prodigies among the candidates appeared dim andckluster under Luca''s brilliance.


    "This kid''s strength is actually this terrifying!" Fred eximed in surprise.


    He had seen Luca on the battlefield before but hadn''t paid much attention to his abilities, assuming Luca was only marginally stronger than an average professional.


    But now it seemed he had beenpletely mistaken.


    This guy''s actual power was at least several times greater than that of a typical professional of the same level!


    "If he wasn''t that strong, he wouldn''t have dared to say he wanted to be an instructor," Orf remarked with a smile, though he was equally astonished inside.


    He could tell that Luca''s mastery over magic runeswas incredibly refined, not at all like a novice Demonic Rune Mage.


    The talent of this kid was terrifying!


    However, with just this level of power, it might still not be enough for him to be an instructor.


    In the stadium, Instructor Melissa also stared at the mirrored image of the young man, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise.


    It was her first time encountering someone of this age who dared to apply for an instructor position.


    This made her quite curious¡ªjust how far could Luca, at Silver-grade, advance in the Trial Tower?


    Meanwhile, in the Noble District of Southwind City...


    In a luxurious mansion belonging to the Franco family, a stunning woman was sitting on an elegant sofa, reading a book.


    Just then, a servant hurried over to her side and bowed respectfully, reporting, "Madam, the people below have sent word that the young man named Luca has arrived in Southwind City."


    The woman''s hand, which was holding the book, trembled upon hearing the servant''s words.


    She abruptly lifted her head to look at the servant, her face contorted with rage. "He actually dared toe to Southwind City?!"


    Without waiting for a response, she threw the book violently. A vase shattered against the floor, exploding into countless fragments, startling the surrounding servants.


    The woman stood up, her once beautiful face now twisted and feral, as she burst into hystericalughter. "He killed my son and husband, and he still dares to set foot in Southwind City?! Back in Emerald State, Ryan''s protection made it hard for me to do anything to you!"


    "But here in Southwind City, I want to see if Ryan still has the power to save you!"

 Capítulo 80: Chapter 80: Revenge! My Student! The Wind Elemental!

    The woman in question was Lina, Matthew''s mother. A few days ago, upon learning that both her husband Rudolphand her son Matthewhad be killed, she nearly fainted on the spot.


    Matthew had be her only son. And now, he had died at the hands of an insignificant lowlife. Ev her husband had lost his life due to this person''s actions. How could Lina not harbor an immse hatred?


    After Rudolph''s collusion with The Nightmare Cultwas exposed, Lina was implicated and confined by the Franco family''s patriarch to this mansion, forbidd to leave.


    If Luca had stayed hidd in the Emerald State, Lina wouldn''t have had any means to reach him. But now, to her delight, the fool had dared toe to Southwind Cityhimself!


    "You brought this upon yourself! Don''t me me for what happs next!" Lina''s eyes were filled with malice and vomous rage.


    These past days, she had be consumed by thoughts of ripping that wretch apart limb by limb. Now that such a perfect opportunity was prested to her, if she didn''t kill him, she''d be failing her dead son and husband!


    Lina turned to the servant standing beside her and ordered, "Within three days, I want to see that brat''s head in front of me. If you fail, I''ll offer your head instead to mourn my son and husband!"


    The chilling mace in her voice made the servant shudder uncontrobly.


    "Yes, Madam! I will make sure his head is brought to you without fail!" he replied hastily.


    Meanwhile, in the Outer District of Southwind City.


    The news of Luca''s arrival in Southwind City spread not only to the Franco family but also reached one of the most chaotic regions in the city.


    ck Street, home to the underg fighting ara, was a ce filled with the sct of blood.


    The stage was sttered with dark, dried stains as a muscr, rugged man swung his fist forward, mming into his oppont''s skull.


    The sheer force of the blow caved in the unfortunate man''s head, creating a deep indtation. He died instantly on the spot.


    Just as the body fell lifelessly to the g, a young man with tattoos along his arm approached the brute and whispered something in his ear.


    The burly man paused, th his eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint. A twisted grin spread across his face, and his voice was dripping with malice as he spoke."I was just thinking about how to get ev with him, and now the little bastard has walked right into Southwind City on his own!"


    "Sd someone to keep tabs on him immediately. I want to know every move he makes. The momt he steps foot outside Red Maple Academy, report back to me right away. I want to personally twist his head off to avge Freeman!"


    This man was Curtis, Freeman''s younger brother. Not only was he a high-level professional, but he was also the leader of the infamous Blood Hand Mercary Group, a name that struck fear ev in the darkest alleys of Southwind City''s underworld.


    "Got it, boss," the tattooed youth replied, nodding eagerly, a hint of pity flickering in his gaze.


    The poor boy had no idea what he had gott himself into by provoking their boss!


    In his mind''s eye, the young man could already vision Luca''s brok and bloodied form, reduced to a miserable state far beyond recognition.


    Red Maple Academy. At the same time, Luca remained blissfully unaware that several forces from Riverfall City were making their moves the momt he set foot in Southwind City.


    4th Floor of the Trial Tower. Luca was currtly locked inbat with a formidable wolf.


    Atwo-headed ck wolf. Its tire body was gulfed in dark mes, with eyes glowing a malevolt red. It radiated a dangerous and ominous aura.


    The monsters on the lower floors were all below level 30, providing little challge for Luca. He had easily progressed to the 4th floor, and in the process, his level had soared to 5, gaining two levels consecutively.


    However, as he ascded higher, the monsters'' levels also increased significantly. By now, the guardian monster on this floor had reached a level of 35, t levels higher than Luca''s own.


    It was important to note that these guardian monsters were not your ordinary creatures. At the very least, they were rare-ss monsters, and some were ev elite-ss.


    Luca could now feel the pressure starting to build.


    He realized that his normal fighting abilities were effective up to level 40 monsters. If he wanted to keep progressing, he might have to employ some of his more unconvtional methods.


    While contemting his next move, a wave of intse me burst forth from Luca''s hand,pletely gulfing the two-headed wolf and reducing it to a charred husk.


    [Ding! You have in the lv35 Two-Headed ck Wolf (Elite). You gained 46,000 experice points!]


    [You have cleared the 4th floor of the Trial Tower. Do you wish to proceed to the next floor?]


    Luca nced at the notification in front of him but chose not to continue immediately. Instead, he decided to rest for a bit.


    The series of intse battles had drained his mana considerably. Fortunately, Franklin had stocked his storage ring with numerous mana potions. A short break would allow him to replish his ergy before taking on the next challge.


    Red Maple Academy. Meanwhile, outside the Trial Tower, the audice''s focus had shifted tirely to Luca. No one paid any atttion to the other examinees anymore.


    Everyone''s eyes, including those of Orf and the other instructors, were fixed on Luca, their hearts filled with shock and disbelief at what they were witnessing.


    "I thought he wouldn''tst long at all, yet here he is, already at the 5th floor!" Fred couldn''t help but exim, his gaze filled with admiration as he looked at Luca.


    This kid hadpletely exceeded his expectations! Originally, Fred had assumed that with Luca''s strgth, he would at most reach the 8th floor. But Luca had prov him utterly wrong, surging all the way to the 5th floor in one go!


    And it''s worth noting¡ªnormally, for the instructor evaluation, candidates only needed to clear up to the 5th floor!


    In other words, Luca''s currt capabilities were already approaching the level of an instructor at Red Maple Academy.


    Kruse''s shock still hadn''t subsided. He remarked, "How old is he now? Eighte or ne, at most? If I''m not mistak, thest person to reach the 4th floor at such speed was young Luna. And she was already  and on the verge of advancing to Gold Grade!"


    Hearing that name, everyone a disyed expressions of surprise.


    Luna was the youngest high-level professional in the Southern Territory in rect years, and now, Luca had brok her record.


    Ev more remarkable was that Luca was several years younger than her.


    Having such astonishing strgth at such a young age meant that this young man''s future was limitless!


    "Hahaha, excellt, excellt! He truly is my studt!" Orf''s face was beaming with pride and satisfaction. He hadn''t expected that in just a few years, Red Maple Academy would once again produce such a prodigy!


    Orf felt a surge of gratitude towards Sophia and Ryan at that momt.


    If it hadn''t be for their rmdation, he would never have gott such an outstanding studt.


    Orf had already made up his mind: ev if Luca failed to clear the 0th floor of the trial, he would still sure that this extraordinarily gifted young man became an instructor at Red Maple Academy.


    Giuses deserved special treatmt!


    Standing beside him, both Kruse and Fred couldn''t help but twitch the corners of their mouths in reaction.


    The headmaster has no shame!


    Luca''s talts and achievemts were due to his own hard work, and had absolutely nothing to do with Orf.


    They hadn''t ev met a few hours ago!


    However, this was something they would never dare to say out loud. Although Orf appeared kind and amiable, he was notoriously petty and vindictive wh it came to certain matters.


    Ev several decades ago, wh a powerful figure made one disparagingmt about him, Orf still hasn''t let it go to this day.


    If either of them ded up on his cklist, they would certainly face serious repercussions in the future.


    Back in the trial, Luca remained unaware that he had already earned the approval of Red Maple Academy.


    After restoring his mana to full capacity, he chose to advance to the 5th floor.


    Every fifth floor in the Trial Tower marked a significant increase in monster strgth. The monsters he had just faced were already at level 35, and from here on, their power would reach at least level 40. Ev Luca didn''t dare to underestimate the challges ahead.


    Once he stepped onto the 5th floor, a bright light shed in front of him. Wh it faded, he found himself standing on a vast in.


    Underneath a blue sky and  clouds, lush gre grass swayed gtly in the breeze.


    Just as Luca was about to scout the suring area, a streak of yellow lightning suddly shot toward him.


    It was a spotted leopard, moving at an incredible speed. Its sharp fangs protruded macingly as it lunged directly for Luca''s throat.


    Fortunately, Luca never let his guard down. The momt the leopard pounced, he ssed it.


    A sh of silver light appeared in his eyes, and his figure instantly vanished from where he stood.


    The leopard missed its target, and just as it was about to readjust its position, it ssed a sudd whistling sound from behind.


    Before it could react, everything wt dark.


    A sharp metal arrow had pierced through the back of the leopard''s head and emerged from its mouth, killing it instantly.


    Ding! You have in "lv40 Fanged Leopard (Common), earning 70,000 experice points!"


    Luca nced at the leopard''s dissipating corpse, frowning slightly.


    As expected, the monsters on this floor had already reached level 40.


    And this was just the 5th floor. He could only imagine how powerful the monsters on the 0th floor would be.


    He needed to conserve his strgth and ergy to deal with what awaited him in the higher levels. It seemed he would have to use his trump cards.


    With this thought in mind, Luca began searching for the floor''s guardian monster.


    The vast ins stretched dlessly in all directions. After killing sev or eight monsters, Luca easily located his target¡ªor more urately, the monster had chos to find him.


    A gre wind de sliced through the grass, viciously hurtling toward Luca.


    The wind de moved at incredible speed, and the grass provided excellt cover. By the time Luca detected it, the de was already in front of him.


    There was no time to use Air Step!


    In this critical momt, Luca remained calm and activated the skill embedded within his ck Gold Robe.


    A magical barrier instantly veloped him.


    The wind de collided with the barrier, producing a resounding bang.


    The de shattered, but its force was so strong that Luca was st flying backward. Fortunately, the barrier''s defse held firm, and he was unharmed.


    Luca adjusted his posture mid-air andnded lightly on the g. It was only th that he got a clear view of the creature that had attacked him.


    It was a humanoid tity formed tirely from a raging whirlwind.


    Its body appeared semi-transpart and greish, with a pair of icy eyes staring at Luca inttly.


    "A Wind Elemtal, huh?" Luca recognized the monster''s idtity.


    Wind Elemtals were mid-tier elemtal creatures capable of manipting wind at will. They were known for their extreme speed and agility, making them very difficult to deal with.


    The Wind Elemtal seemed to have gauged Luca''s strgth as well.


    Its pale-gre eyes shed with contempt as it casually flicked its arm, sding several gre wind des flying toward Luca.


    "Heh, so it''s looking down on me, is it?" Luca''s lips curved into a smirk, and his eyes glinted with a cold light.


    He made no attempt to dodge the oing wind des.


    Instead,  frost began emanating from his body and the Mithril Mage Spear in his hand.

 Capítulo 81: Chapter 81: A Gap Like a Chasm, an Overwhelming Strength!

    The temperature in the surings dropped sharply, and a thinyer of frost rapidly spread across the g and the des of grass underfoot.


    Just as the wind des were only about a meter away from Luca¡ª


    Several crystalline ice shields suddly materialized mid-air, intercepting all the iing wind des.


    The wind des struck the ice shields, causing a series of explosive sounds!


    The hurricane roared, and shards of ice flew in all directions. Several ice shields shattered, but the wind des dissipatedpletely, vanishing without a trace.


    "Whoo~ whoo~" The Wind Elemtal''s eyes wided, making a low whimpering sound, as if stunned that Luca had actually blocked its attack.


    Luca didn''t bother guessing what it was saying. He raised the Mithril Mage Spear in his hand and pointed it at the Wind Elemtal, ayer of blue light slowly covering his pupils.


    The moisture in the air instantly condsed into ice crystals.


    In the blink of an eye, over a doz icences, each several meters long, formed in mid-air.


    A bone-chilling cold spread through the area. The sharp tips of thences glinted coldly in the sunlight, radiating a murderous aura!


    "Go!" he said indiffertly. Behind him, the icences sliced through the air with a whistling sound and shot out in an instant.


    The Wind Elemtal ssed danger and tried to dodge, but found its movemts unbearably slow.


    Looking down, it finally noticed ayer of frost covering its body at some unknown time.


    The Wind Elemtal was filled with terror. Ev its elemtal body had be froz solid. This human''s ice elemtal skill...


    Before it could think further, the icences were already upon it.


    "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"


    The sharp icences instantly pierced through the Wind Elemtal''s body, and a chilling frost spread across its tire form in a split second.


    The Wind Elemtal''s body stiffed, its normally expressionless face filled with shock and disbelief.


    In the next momt, its elemtal body shattered into countless ice crystals, dissipating into the air.


    "What a domineering ice ability!" The spectators outside the field were all in an uproar.


    Elemtal creatures can transform their bodies into pure elemtal forms, making them highly resistant to physical attacks.


    Yet this young man had forcibly froz the Wind Elemtal''s body, prevting it from escaping.


    This showed that his mastery of the ice elemt was far superior to that of the mid-level Wind Elemtal!


    With that realization, ev the instructors of Red Maple Academy were shocked to their core.


    "This level of power is rare ev for an ice elemtal mage. But he''s just a low-level Demonic Rune Mage¡ªhow could his ice elemtal skills be this powerful?" one instructor muttered, questioning his understanding of the world.


    But no one answered his question, for no one prest knew how Luca had achieved this.


    However, Principal Orf seemed to have noticed something.


    He looked at the silvery- magic runes on Luca''s body and ssed the unique fluctuations emanating from them.


    Principal Orf suddly thought of a possibility, and his bushy eyebrows furrowed.


    He murmured to himself, "Could it be¡­ that this kid has high-level magic runes?"


    The more Orf pondered, the more usible it seemed. To suppress an elemtal creature''s elemtal form, at least a high-level fixed magic rune would be needed.


    Only a high-level magic rune could able a Demonic Rune Mage to freely wield elemtal skills.


    With that thought, he became ev more puzzled.


    How could Luca possibly possess high-level magic runes?


    How did he refine the materials and inscribe these magic runes?


    Orf''s mind was full of questions, but there was no one to provide answers. He could only wait for Luca toe out and ask him personally.


    Inside the Trial Tower, after the Wind Elemtal was in, a game prompt appeared in front of Luca.


    [Ding! You have in a level 40 Wind Elemtal (Rare). You gained 60,000 experice points!]


    [Your level has increased to 6. You have received 0 free attribute points!]


    [You have cleared the 5th floor of the Trial Tower. Would you like to proceed to the next floor?]


    This time, Luca didn''t rest and directly chose to move on to the next floor.


    With his "Frostborn" abilities, he should have no problem reaching the 0th floor. Ev if he countered a monster beyond his capabilityter, he could still use the Ice Pattern Awaking, elevating his strgth to a terrifying level¡ªmore than ough toplete the trial.


    Meanwhile, as Luca stepped into the 6th floor¡ª


    Among the other examinees, someone had finally umted ough points to ter the 5th floor.


    A sh of  light swept across the wilderness, and a young man in a luxurious robe appeared.


    He was dressed in finery, handsome, and held a longbow in his hand. His eyes betrayed an uncontroble pride.


    Seeing the towering stone monumt not far away, a smug smile crept onto his face.


    "Hehe, I knew I would be the first to arrive. It seems that being the top freshman at Red Maple Academy this year is mine for the taking!" he dered with a chuckle.


    Leaving the first mark on the Trial Stone was the long-standing tradition to determine the top freshman of the year at Red Maple Academy, and he had be anticipating this momt for a long time.


    But just th, a few more shes of  light lit up the wilderness, and several more youths appeared.


    One of them, a boy d in ck and wielding a long sword, sneered. "Rogge, ar''t you celebrating a little too early?"


    "If you want to be the top freshman, have you considered our opinions first?"


    A red-haired girl with a staff in her hand also snorted coldly, "The top spot at Red Maple Academy this year can only belong to me. Anyone who dares to snatch it away should first ask if my staff agrees!"


    Seeing the tse confrontation among the group, Susie quickly distanced herself from them.


    She definitely didn''t want to get sttered by blood.


    Noticing that some examinees had reached the fifth floor, the external spectators shifted some of their atttion to this sce.


    "The first to arrive should be Young Master Rogge of the Imundi family. I''ve heard before that this little fellow''s talt is exceptional, and now it seems the rumors were true. To think he was the first to reach the fifth floor."


    "That boy wielding the long sword looks like Rainer from the Howard family. He just turned eighte this year and is already on the verge of breaking through to the Gold Grade. Truly remarkable."


    "There are quite a few promising talts in this assessmt. That young Summoner girl''s abilities ar''t bad either."


    "It''s just a pity¡­ they had the misfortune of countering such a monster¡­"


    Not many people were discussing these examinees.


    Although the speed at which several of this year''s examinees reached the fifth floor was faster thanst year''s top freshman.


    But unfortunately, with Luca in the lead, these achievemts¡ªwhich would have undoubtedly caused a ssationst year¡ªseemed insignificant in the eyes of the spectators now.


    Watching Luca rapidly closing in on the 0th floor, and th ncing at Rogge and Rainer, still confronting each other on the fifth floor¡ª


    Some couldn''t help but feel a sse of pity for them.


    As the saying goes,paring oneself to others can only lead to frustration. The gap was simply too overwhelming.


    At this momt, Luca waspletely unaware of the situation outside.


    After activating the Frostborn ability, the pressure he had to bear was drastically reduced, allowing him to clear the floors at a speed several times faster than before.


    With his overwhelming ice-elemtal abilities, ev rare monsters at the tinum Grade could barely cause any ripples in his presce.


    Under everyone''s watchful eyes, the runes on the Trial Tower lit up floor by floor.


    Luca bulldozed his way through, quickly approaching the 0th floor.


    [Ding! You have in a level 40 Rock Guardian (Leader). You gained 355,000 experice points!]


    [Your level has increased to 7. You have received 0 free attribute points!]


    [You have cleared the 9th floor of the Trial Tower. Would you like to proceed to the next floor?]


    In the scorching desert, Luca pulled his icence out of the eye socket of a massive Rock Giant.


    "Finally reached the 0th floor," he murmured, letting out a long breath as he looked at the prompt and the glowing portal before him.


    The higher one ascds in the Trial Tower, the stronger the monsters be. Ev with the assistance of the Frostborn ability, after battling at high intsity for such a long time, his mana and stamina were beginning to show signs of exhaustion.


    Finding a rock to sit on, Luca took out a potion Franklin had prepared for him, drank it, and th closed his eyes, starting to replish his strgth.


    The monster on the 0th floor would certainly be at another level of power. He needed to use this time to restore himself to peak condition and be fully prepared.


    "This kid¡­ he actually made it to the 0th floor!" Fred was so shocked wh he saw the glow of the 9th-floor rune that he didn''t know what to say. This kid was simply unbelievable!


    "Youngsters these days¡­ truly terrifying!" Kruse wiped his sses, his tone filled with emotion.


    It wasn''t just them¡ªev Orf hadn''t expected this.


    Initially, he only wanted to give Luca a small setback to curb his arrogance and make him focus on his studies.


    Who would have thought that Luca would turn a and give him a huge surprise by actually reaching the 0th floor of the Trial Tower!


    The stadium was abuzz with excitemt.


    If they hadn''t se it with their own eyes, they wouldn''t have believed it¡ªa mere Silver-grade youth had managed to force his way up to the 0th floor of the Trial Tower!


    The instructors of Red Maple Academy were especially astounded.


    They knew the difficulty of the Trial Tower very well. Ev for second-year instructors at the academy, only a handful could reach the 0th floor.


    And yet, a teager who was only in his tes had achieved it!


    Melissa felt a sse of awe welling up within her.


    Only now did she understand what true gius looked like!


    "Passing the 0th floor''s trial won''t be easy. I''d wager this kid has reached his limit," an instructor, who had be skeptical of Luca from the beginning, shook his head.


    He didn''t hold any particr grudge against Luca; it was just that the difficulty of the 0th floor was on apletely differt level than the previous ones. Clearing the 0th floor without tinum-grade strgth was almost impossible.


    Everyone prest understood this fact, and most of them believed that the 9th floor was likely Luca''s ceiling.


    "Ev if he can''t clear the 0th floor, once today''s evts spread, this kid is going to be famous throughout Southwind City!" Fredughed heartily, his face full of guine admiration.


    Back wh they were in Riverfall City, he had tak a liking to Luca''s personality.


    Though his strgth wascking at the time, he had the courage to fight against all odds, daring to challge a monster horde while still at Bronze Grade¡ªhe had the heart of a warrior.


    Now that Luca had achieved such an impressive result, Fred naturally felt a great sse of joy.


    The people a him heard his words and looked on with vy.


    Once the story of this young man spread, many powerful factions would undoubtedly try to recruit him.


    Ev the Marquis of Bronte might hear his name.


    For a young man who had just arrived in Southwind City, that would be the highest honor imaginable!

 Capítulo 82: Chapter 82: The Cemetery of Rot, the Skeleton Emperor, Trapped in Desperation!

    While the crowd outside continued to buzz with discussions, Luca had already recovered his stamina.


    Taking a deep breath as he stared at the glowing portal in front of him, he tighted his grip on the Mithril Mage Spear and stepped forward without hesitation.


    Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Luca tered the 0th floor of the Trial Tower.


    The familiar light shed before his eyes once more!


    Before Luca ev oped his eyes, a putrid stch assaulted his sses.


    It seemed like the foul odor of decaying corpses.


    Th, a dpidated and eerie cemetery unfolded before him.


    The night sky was as dark as ink, with a bright full moon hanging high, casting a cold, pale light that illuminated the decrepit cemetery gates and overgrown graves.


    Blue ghostly mes floated aimlessly, and brok tombstones and coffins were scattered haphazardly across the g.


    Crows cawed with mournful, wailing cries, their shadowy figures faintly visible through the darkness.


    At the deepest part of the cemetery stood a pitch-ck structure, which, from afar, resembled a church¡ªa chilling, sinister presce.


    "Well, this is rather intriguing." Luca''s lips curved into a smirk as he eyed the ominous church.


    Having fought countless demons and monsters in his two lifetimes, he had in nearly a thousand, if not more. Today, he was curious to see what kind of creature resided in this ce!


    The Mithril Mage Spear in his hand glowed with crimson patterns as he strode into the cemetery without a second thought.


    The momt he stepped into the cemetery, a cold gust of wind blew in, and the rusty gates nged shut with a resounding bang. The screeching sound echoed far into the stillness of the night.


    The noise seemed to act as a signal. The once-silt cemetery was suddly filled with rustling sounds that grew louder and more frequt by the second.


    There was the scratching of nails against wood, the sound of something being dragged, and the creaking of bones grinding against each other.


    Th, the soil beath Luca''s feet began to shift and bulge.


    Momtster, several withered and decayed hands reached out from the g, wing at his ankles.


    However, Luca remained unfazed, not ev bothering to look down.


    A wave of frost spread rapidly from his feet.


    Before those grotesque hands could touch the hem of his trousers, they were froz solid in ce, like statuespletely immobile!


    By now, themotion within the cemetery had reached its peak. One by one, humanoid creatures with rotting bodies broke through coffins and burial mounds, crawling out from underg.


    Their clothes were tattered, and their tire bodies reeked of decay. Some were so dposed that their pale bones were exposed.


    Their hollow eye sockets burned with blue mes as they lunged at Luca¡ªat least several hundred of them!


    Luca''s steps didn''t falter in the slightest.


    Behind him, countless ice arrows swiftly formed and shot out in all directions.


    The decaying corpses had no chance to evade.


    A series of sharp, explosive sounds echoed through the air, and in the blink of an eye, more than half of the dark, overwhelming tide of corpses had be annihted.


    [Ding! You have in a level 36 Decaying Corpse (Normal). You gained 49,000 experice points!]


    [Ding! You have in a level 38 Skeleton Warrior (Normal). You gained 57,000 experice points!]


    [Ding! You have in a level 40 Undead Ghoul (Normal). You gained 63,000 experice points!]


    ¡­


    A series of kill notifications appeared, and his experice points soared rapidly.


    Luca nced at his progress and estimated that by the time he cleared the 0th floor, he would probably be close to reaching level 30.


    At that point, his strgth would undergo a significant breakthrough.


    He continued swiftly towards the ck structure.


    These monsters couldn''t impede his progress at all.


    Ev wh rare-grade monsters emerged, Luca easily eliminated them in one blow.


    After using his fixed magic runes, his strgth was far beyond what these ordinary monsters could withstand.


    It didn''t take long for Luca to break through the circlemt of monsters and reach the front of the ck structure.


    To his surprise, it wasn''t a church as he had initially thought, but a pce.


    It looked ancit, and the carvings on the walls were already blurred, but he could still make out its once majestic and imposing aura.


    Luca gave it a quick once-over before looking away. The Eternal World had existed for ts of thousands of years at the very least, with countless dynasties buried within its depths.


    Ancit pces like this one might not be everywhere, but they were still fairlymon¡ªnothing particrly special.


    He walked up to the front of the pce and pushed against the heavy stone door.


    He didn''t exert much force, yet the door groaned and creaked op.


    Dust fell as the door slowly swung inward.


    It felt more like the door was oping of its own ord rather than being pushed by him.


    Luca was unsurprised. He waited for the dust to settle before stepping inside.


    What greeted his eyes was a dpidated great hall.


    The hall was inplete disrepair, with gre ghostly mes flickering a. Dust and rubble were scattered everywhere, yet traces of its former grandeur could still be se in the carvings on the floor tiles and the beams of the walls.


    Luca looked up and noticed at the very top of the hall, there was a throne.Seated on it was a skeleton, d in armor and wearing a crown.


    At this momt, the hollow sockets of the skeleton''s eyes were staring directly at him, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.


    Without hesitation, a crimson me flickered in Luca''s hand as he activated a zing magic rune.


    The skeleton was clearly suspicious¡ªbetter to strike first!


    The spectators outside couldn''t help but twitch at the corners of their mouths wh they saw this.


    "This kid¡­" Orf muttered, half exasperated and half amused.


    This youngster truly didn''t y by the rules. Without saying a word, he attacked right off the bat!


    On the other side, Melissa couldn''t help but smile slightly, finding this young man rather interesting.


    The raging mes transformed into a giant python over a doz meters long, oping its gaping maw and lunging fiercely at the skeleton on the throne!


    Boom!!!


    The fiery python struck the throne head-on without any fancy moves!


    The immse explosion reverberated throughout the tire hall, and the tire pce trembled violtly under Luca''s powerful blow!


    The scorching mes spread out, illuminating the tire great hall.


    A vivid crimson damage number floated up!


    -3865!


    The next momt, an earth-shattering roar echoed through the tire cemetery!


    Roar!!!


    A ck aura surged skyward as the mes were suddly pushed back, violtly dispersing!


    The skeleton wearing the crown on the throne slowly stood up and let out an raged roar at Luca.


    [Level 40 Skeleton Emperor: Leader!]


    Seeing the prompt in front of him, Luca suddly felt a hint of regret.


    As expected, this guy was the boss monster guarding the 0th floor, and it was a Leader type no less!


    If he had known earlier, he would have hit it a few more times...


    Just as he was thinking this, Luca suddly noticed the tire pce beginning to shake violtly, with tiles and dust falling from the ceiling.


    The smile on his face faded, reced by a frown, and he took a step back.


    At the very momt Luca stepped back, the floor of the hall copsed with a thunderous crash, revealing a dse swarm of skeletal creatures below!


    There were at least several hundred of them at a nce, most d in tattered armor, with some ev holding decaying swords and des.


    "My soldiers! Kill this intruder!!" The Skeleton Emperor''s raspy voice bellowed, its massive sword pointing at Luca. The skeletons underg seemed to awak at itsmand, their hollow eye sockets instantly igniting with eerie blue mes.


    They mbered out of their underg graves, charging at Luca like a tidal wave.


    "Such a nuisance!" Luca muttered as he took a deep breath, his gaze turning razor-sharp.


    A crimson me suddly red up a him, and his tire aura became wildly intse, his power surging to a new level!


    This was the effect of the Wanderer Set''s equipmt skill, "Marauder"! After activation, it increased his attack damage by 0% and attack speed by 0%,sting for three minutes!


    Before the skeletons could ev reach him, a silver light shed beath Luca''s feet, and his figure vanished from his original spot, reappearing right in the midst of a group of skeletal soldiers.


    The spear in his hand was veloped in ayer of frost as he swung it fiercely, smashing more than a doz skeletal soldiers into powder with its immse force.


    Before the monsters could react and try to sur Luca, his figure had already disappeared and reappeared on the other side.


    With thebined effects of Wind Walk and Marauder, Luca''s movemts were as swift as lightning. Every time he swung his spear, it left a swath of destroyed skeleton soldiers in its wake.


    High above in the great hall, the Skeleton Emperor realized how troublesome this human was. The eerie blue mes in its eyes flickered violtly as it oped its hollow, gaping mouth and let out a piercing roar toward Luca.


    Soul Roar!


    The terrifying soundwaves materialized into a tangible force, surging straight at him!


    Luca initially wanted to summon Jormungandr to block it, but considering that people outside might be watching and it could cause unnecessary trouble, he dismissed the idea and chose to use a magical shield to defd himself instead.


    Just as the shield veloped his body, the Skeleton Emperor''s sonic attack struck.


    Boom!!


    The magical barrier shattered into pieces, and Luca was st flying backward.


    The spectators outside the tower held their breath in suspse.


    Fortunately, he wasn''t injured. In mid-air, he twisted his body and lightlynded on the shoulder of a skeleton soldier, bncing himself with ease.


    Staring at the approaching horde of skeletal soldiers again¡ª


    Luca frowned. If this continued, it would take forever to kill them all. Who knew how long it would take to clear them out?


    He needed to change his approach.


    With a thought, the shadows beath him suddly transformed into a dark, murky swamp.


    Before the skeletal monsters could react, countless withered hands reached out from the depths, dragging them down one by one.


    Luca lifted his mage spear, which began to radiate a divine gold glow, as brilliant as the sun, illuminating the darkness within the great hall!


    Radiant Magic Runes!


    As the holy light shone upon the skeleton soldiers, wisps of  smoke began to rise from their bodies, as if they were being scorched by fire. They let out agonizing howls.


    Within a single breath''s time, all the skeletal soldiers werepletely dissolved under the power of the holy light. Ev the Skeleton Emperor''s armor showed dark scorch marks.


    Holy light abilities had a natural advantage against undead monsters¡ªrunning into Luca was just their bad luck.


    Now that all its minions were wiped out, the Skeleton Emperor had no choice but to gage personally.


    A thick ck mist spread out, and its form suddly vanished, reappearing behind Luca in an instant.


    The ormous bronze sword in its hand whipped up a howling gale as it shed down mercilessly.


    Luca ssed the danger immediately, but his Air Stepwas still on cooldown.


    The audice watching outside held their breath once more. If he got struck by that sword, ev if he didn''t die, he''d be gravely wounded!


    Just as Orf was about to step in¡ª


    "Didn''t think I''d have to resort to this move¡­" Luca sighed softly.


    As his words fell, a silvery rune pattern rapidly spread out from the cter of his chest, and the aura a him underwt a sudd, drastic change!


    Seeing this, Orf''s eyes wided in shock as he eximed, "That''s¡­!"

 Capítulo 83: Chapter 83: "Mother, I Think Im in Love? Winter White Dragon!"

    Just as Orf was overwhelmed by shock, the Skeleton Emperor''s massive sword came crashing down.


    Some of the spectators instinctively closed their eyes, unable to bear the sight of the tragedy they believed was about to unfold.


    However, to their surprise, the gruesome sce of blood and gore they had imagined never appeared.


    A slder, pale hand¡ªmarked with intricate silver patterns¡ªsuddly extded and, without any grand disy, effortlessly stopped the giant sword in its tracks.


    Boom!


    The momt they collided, a terrifying shockwave erupted, sweeping through the hall. Ctered a Luca, the g caved in, sding shattered rocks flying in all directions. Cracks spider-webbed across the stone floor, groaning under the immse pressure.


    As the dust settled, a silver- figure emerged.


    Luca''s expression was cold and indiffert, his long robe billowing. Silver runes crisscrossed his body, his hand glowing with a pearly  light. With what seemed like a casual, weightless gesture, he hadpletely stopped the massive bronze sword, which was taller than a person. No matter how much force the Skeleton Emperor exerted, it couldn''t budge an inch!


    "How is this possible?!" Countless people leaped to their feet, eyes wide in disbelief.


    "His physical strgth alone is blocking an attack from a Lord-level monster?!"


    "Impossible! I must be sleep-deprived¡­ Yes, that must be it!"


    "Hahaha, who would''ve thought our Southwind City would give rise to such a peerless gius!"


    "Gius? This is crossing two tire major realms! This isn''t a gius¡ªhe''s a monster prodigy!"


    ...


    The tire stadium erupted into chaos!


    A Silver-gradebatant physically shing against a tinum-grade Lord-level monster¡ªhe had spanned two tire major grades!


    If they hadn''t se it with their own eyes, they wouldn''t have believed it for a second!


    "He actually withstood an attack from a tinum-grade monster¡­ Is this kid ev human?!" Fred''s eyes wided as he sucked in a breath of cold air.


    In just one day, Luca hadpletely redefined Fred''s concept of what it meant to be a gius, again and again.


    Kruse burst into heartyughter, "With talt like his, he could easily stand among the top prodigies of Dawn City! Our academy really struck gold with this one!"


    Melissa hesitated for a momt before saying, "The problem is, he''s here to apply for a teaching position¡­ Ev if he passes the trial, he won''t be one of our academy''s studts."


    Hearing this, Kruse''s smile froze on his face.


    He suddly remembered¡ªLuca had never intded to be a studt at their academy in the first ce.


    No matter how extraordinary he was, he wouldn''t be represting their school.


    Realizing this, Kruse felt as if he had just lost a fortune. He nced over at Orf and couldn''t help but plead, "Principal, shouldn''t you try convincing Luca again? With his talt, making him a mere instructor would be such a waste!"


    But Orf had no time for Kruse''s concerns right now.


    His gaze was fixed on the image of Luca, whose tire body was covered in shimmering silver patterns. His heart churned like a stormy sea, and his eyes were filled with utter astonishmt.


    "It really is a Superss magic rune!" Orf marveled inwardly.


    He was more than familiar with the aura and fluctuations of Superss magic runes¡ªthere was no way he could be mistak!


    The silvery  magic runes on Luca''s body had to be a Superss magic rune, and an exceptionally unique one at that. Otherwise, ev with a Superss rune, it would be impossible for him to boost his strgth to such an extt in an instant.


    "Today''s youth¡­" Orf''s gaze turnedplex, filled with deep emotions. Ev though his expectations for Luca had already be sky-high, he hadn''t imagined that this young man, at merely the Silver grade, would have mastered a Superss magic rune!


    One must know that this was a realm countless Demonic Rune Mages could never hope to reach in their tire lifetimes!


    And how old was Luca? Eighte? Ne?


    Thinking of the aplishmts Luca might achieve in the future, Orf couldn''t help but feel his own age catching up to him.


    He had some guesses about the origin of this magic rune as well.


    After all, he knew almost everything that had happed in Riverfall City. If his guess was right, the magic rune on Luca''s body was likely drawn using the transcdt materials left behind by the King-level monster''s mirrored image.


    The only thing that puzzled Orf was¡ªwho had inscribed this rune for Luca?


    Could it be that there was a hidd Superss practitioner in a small ce like Emerald State whom he was unaware of?


    As for the possibility that Luca had personally refined and inscribed the rune himself, that thought merely shed through Orf''s mind before he dismissed it.


    If a Demonic Rune Mage has ough talt and resources, possessing magic runes far exceeding those of their peers isn''t unheard of.


    Orf ev knew of some prodigies from powerful factions who, despite not being Demonic Rune Mages, were born with several Superss temporary runes inscribed on their bodies by powerful practitioners to hance their talts and strgth.


    These temporary runes were known as "Companion Runes" and could sometimes remain with them for a lifetime.


    As for the notion of a low-level Demonic Rune Mage inscribing a Superss magic rune¡­ that was pure nonsse. In the ts of thousands of years of Eternal Contint''s history, such a thing had never happed. So, Orf was more inclined to believe that Luca had simply stumbled upon some incredible opportunity.


    Unfortunately, this wasn''t something he could easily inquire about. After all, everyone has their own secrets.


    Meanwhile, in a corner of the audice seating¡ª


    Fratis gazed at the figure within the Trial Tower, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishmt.


    "Is that¡­ Luca?" She had just received word and rushed over, only to witness this awe-inspiring sce.


    As a princess, Fratis had be sured by countless influtial figures and brilliant prodigies since childhood.


    But at this momt, she suddly felt thatpared to the young man before her, all those people were like fireflies in the presce of the bright moon¡ªutterly iparable. This was what true, unparalleled talt looked like. This was what it meant to be a true prodigy of the ages!


    Gazing at the figure within the Trial Tower, standing there like a deity descded upon the mortal world, Fratis pressed a hand to her chest, her eyes shimmering, feeling as if her heartbeat had slowed half a beat.


    Mother¡­ I think I''m in love¡­


    Luca''s disy of strgth left not only the spectators outside in shock.


    Inside the Trial Tower, the Skeleton Emperor was having an existtial crisis.


    It couldn''tprehd why the weakling of a boy in front of it had, in the blink of an eye, transformed into someone tirely differt¡ªan aura of overwhelming power radiated from him, a power that made ev its very soul tremble.


    At this momt, the Skeleton Emperor''s only thought was to flee. Gripping the bronze greatsword with both hands, the ghostly mes in its eyes flickered wildly. The sheer force it exerted caused its tire bony frame to creak and groan with piercing, grating sounds.


    What astonished the Skeleton Emperor, however, was that no matter how much strgth it used, it couldn''t move the greatsword an inch. It was as if an iron vise had mped down on the de, making it utterly immovable,pletely stuck in ce!


    "Scared now, you bastard?" Luca chuckled softly, but his eyes shed with a cold light.


    Ayer of frost began to spread from Luca''s hand, quickly covering the bronze greatsword and spreading toward the Skeleton Emperor.


    Ssing the immint danger, the Skeleton Emperor felt an intse foreboding. Seeing the frost creeping closer and closer, it had no choice but to abandon the greatsword, turning into a wisp of ck smoke and retreating rapidly.


    But there was no way Luca would let it escape so easily.


    "Finish it," he said calmly, his voice soft but brimming with murderous intt.


    The momt Luca''s words fell, a blinding sh of icy light appeared behind the Skeleton Emperor.


    4!


    A ring damage number floated up, and frost instantly covered half of its skeletal frame.


    "Wh did this happ?!" The Skeleton Emperor''s body froze in shock, its hollow gaze turning backward in disbelief. Only th did it notice¡ªsomehow, behind it stood another figure that looked exactly like Luca.


    The same long, silver- hair, the same cold, indiffert expression¡ªwithout a hint of emotion. The only differce was that instead of a silver spear, this figure wielded a blue ice sword.


    Ice Mirror Clone!


    Before the Skeleton Emperor could react, the Ice Mirror Clone twisted its wrist, and the blue sword turned into a blur, striking down like a torrtial storm upon its bony form.


    -6664! -687! -736!...


    The whirling sword formed a blue tempest,pletely veloping the Skeleton Emperor.


    A series of damage numbers rose from its head, and in the blink of an eye, its tire body was riddled with gashes!


    The ck mist suring the Skeleton Emperor churned violtly as its health dropped at an rming rate.


    Ev more devastating, each of the clone''s attacks carried a freezing effect, making its movemts sluggish and its attempts to counterattack or escape exceedingly difficult.


    Seeing that if this continued, it would be froz and controlled to death by Luca.


    The Skeleton Emperor let out a piercing roar toward the sky.


    Boom!!


    A cloud of death ergy erupted from its body, and the powerful shockwave st Luca''s clone flying backward.


    Gaining a brief momt of respite, the Skeleton Emperor took a deep breath, thinking of a way to escape.


    But just th, a calm voice that filled it with dread suddly echoed through the hall.


    "It''s over," Luca stated calmly.


    The Skeleton Emperor jerked its head a, only to see Luca¡ªwho hadn''t moved until now¡ªslowly lift his hand.


    In an instant, a terrifying surge of ice elemtal ergy gathered in the sky.


    A colossal ice magic formation, spanning several hundred meters, materialized above the tire pce in the blink of an eye!


    The temperature throughout the tire cemetery plummeted sharply, and snowkes began to drift down from the darked sky.


    "How¡­ how is this possible¡­" The Skeleton Emperor looked up at the magic formation in the sky, its eyes filled with terror and disbelief!


    Before it could finish its stce, Luca lightly pointed his Mithril Mage Spear at it.


    The magic formation above the pce red with a brilliant ice-blue light, and a thunderous dragon''s roar echoed from the formation!


    "Roar!!!"


    In the Skeleton Emperor''s horrified gaze, a massive, fearsome  ice dragon¡ªresembling a giant serpt¡ªsuddly burst forth from the formation!


    The monstrous creature, stretching over a hundred meters long, descded upon it like a crashinget!


    Boom!!!


    The deafing explosion reverberated throughout the tire cemetery, and an unbelievably powerful frost storm swept through the tire 0th-floor secret realm, with the ck pce at its cter!


    The dark clouds in the sky were blown apart by the raging storm. Snowkes fluttered down as the extreme cold veloped everything, and the pce was rapidly covered inyers of ice and snow, spreading visibly fast across the tire cemetery.


    Wh the devastating frost storm finally dissipated, the tire cemetery had transformed into a world of ice and snow!


    High-level Ice Mage Skill: Winter Frost Dragon!


    With that one strike, the tire Trial Tower trembled!


    Frost began spreading rapidly from the 0th floor as its epicter, veloping the Trial Tower inyers of ice.


    In just a few breaths'' time, under the stunned gazes of everyone watching, the tire Trial Tower waspletely cased in ice!

 Capítulo 84: Chapter 84: Freezing the Trial Tower! Forced Exit! Trial Completed!

    The spectators were utterly stunned as they gazed at the towering ice sculpture that was once the Trial Tower.


    Someone in the crowd let out a desperate shout: "You''re calling thata low-levelbatant? What kind of low-levelbatant uses high-tier skills like that?!"


    On the other side, the examinees who were still inside the tower were also affected.


    The surrounding temperature plummeted, and snowkes even began to fall from the sky.


    "What''s going on?" Gro wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked up at the sky in confusion.


    Everyone else exchanged bewildered nces, equally at a loss.


    Just then, a notification appeared in front of everyone.


    [Ding! The Trial Tower has been damaged. This assessment is now concluded early. All participants will be forcibly exited!]


    "Damaged Trial Tower?!" The examinees looked bewildered.


    Before they could react, a white light shed before their eyes.


    When they came back to their senses, they found themselves back in Red Maple Academy''s stadium.


    Except for Luca, who was on the 20th floor, everyone else had been kicked out of the Trial Tower.


    Staring at the nowpletely ice-sculpted Trial Tower, the examinees were dumbfounded.


    "What the hell just happened?"


    "Is this some kind of cult terrorist attack?"


    "What about our assessment scores? Does this mean we passed or failed?"


    "Damn it! I was just about to reach the fifth floor!"


    ...


    The examinees were in an uproar, while the spectators were even more stunned.


    "Holy crap, he actually froze the entire Trial Tower! That kid is just too outrageous!" a mentor couldn''t help but exim.


    "If I''m not mistaken, the skill he just used was a high-tier ice-elemental skill¡ªWinter Frost Dragon!" Kruse pushed up his slipping sses, his voice filled with shock.


    A low-levelbatant using high-tier skills? What on earth had Lucia and Franklin taught him?!


    Orf was equally stunned.


    The Trial Tower was designed for low- and mid-tierbatants'' assessments. The trials for high-tier mentors weren''t conducted in the Trial Tower. Yet Luca, out of nowhere, had unleashed a Winter Frost Dragon, essentially blowing up the entire tower. Orf didn''t know whether tough or cry.


    The problem was¡ªwho would have expected a low-levelbatant to use high-tier skills?!


    But now was not the time to dwell on that.


    He stood up and addressed the gathered examinees in the stadium, his voice calm and reassuring: "Everyone, I apologize. The Trial Tower has encountered a¡­ small issue. Rest assured, the academy will provide you all with a proper exnation."


    "All examinees who reached the fourth floor will be admitted. Those who made it to the fifth floor will be ced directly into ss 3-A."


    Orf''s voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone''s ears clearly.


    The spectators erupted in another uproar.


    Something like this had never happened in the history of Red Maple Academy.


    But then again, damaging the Trial Tower during an assessment was probably a first as well¡­


    Upon hearing Orf''s announcement, the examinees who had reached the fourth floor were ted.


    Especially those who hadn''t expected to make it to the fifth floor¡ªat this moment, it felt like they had gone straight from hell to heaven.


    Most of them had already given up hope, but this sudden turn of events allowed them to sessfully join Red Maple Academy!


    Of course, where there''s joy, there''s bound to be disappointment.


    Take Rogge, for instance. He waspletely dumbfounded.


    He had fought tooth and nail, enduring until the very end, and was just about to im the title of top freshman.


    And now they were telling him that the assessment was being ended early?!


    "Great, now nobody gets to be the top freshman," the ck-d boy said, his voice dripping with schadenfreude. While he wouldn''t benefit from the title being gone, seeing Rogge lose out was immensely satisfying.


    "Damn it¡­ damn it all!" Rogge''s face flushed red, then turned white as he held back the urge to curse out loud.


    His father had promised that if he secured the top spot in this freshman assessment, he would be rewarded with a limited-edition Cloudwing Airship. Now that everything was ruined, how could he not be furious?


    But even if he had the courage, he wouldn''t dare demand an exnation from Orf.


    After all, Orf was a Superss practitioner and one of the most powerful figures in Southwind City.


    Even the head of the Imundi family had to show deference and bow in front of him.


    No matter how unwilling Rogge was, he could only ept reality begrudgingly.


    On the other hand, Susie didn''t care at all. As long as she could join Red Maple Academy, that was enough.


    The thought of Luca kneeling in awe before her, fawning over her and begging her to help him level up, made a smile bloom on her face.


    "You¡­ you actually smiled at me!" Nomadey froze, feeling his heart race as if it might leap out of his chest.


    Could it be that Susie had changed her mind and was ready to ept him?!


    "Who''s smiling at you?!" Susie shot him a look of disdain.


    Her good mood vanished in an instant.


    Just as she was about to put some distance between herself and this idiot¡ª


    She suddenly heard murmurs among the audience, as if they were discussing Luca''s name.


    "Luca?" Susie was puzzled, thinking she had misheard.


    But when she looked up, she saw the image in the sky¡ªright there in the projected mirror image was a silver figure standing tall with a spear in hand!


    "What''s that guy doing here?!" Susie eximed, staring at the all-too-familiar figure in disbelief.


    "Huh? Who?" Nomadey nced at the image and couldn''t understand why she was so surprised.


    Susie didn''t respond. She just red angrily at the image of Luca.


    She had known Luca for 18 years¡ªhe could cover his face, or even turn to ashes, and she would still recognize him!


    This guy had clearly arrived in Southwind City long ago, and he was already at Red Maple Academy.


    Yet, just this morning, he had told her that he was still on the airship and wouldn''t be arriving for a couple of days.


    There was no doubt in her mind that he was thinking the exact same thing she had been¡­


    "That bastard!" Susie fumed, clenching her fists tightly, her face filled with rage.


    He dared to hide this from her for so long? Just wait, she was going to make him pay!


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, after ying the Skeleton Emperor, two golden beams of light enveloped Luca''s body.


    [Ding! You have in a level 40 Skeleton Emperor (Leader). You gained 567,000 experience points!]


    [Your level has increased to 30. You have received 30 free attribute points!]


    [Congrattions! You are the first to break through to the intermediate rank. Reputation increased by 500 points!]


    [You have acquired new ss skills: "Level 1 Magic Rune Berserk (Intermediate)," "Level 1 Lich''s Curse (Intermediate)," "Level 1 Illusory Seal (Intermediate)"¡­]


    [You have cleared the 20th floor of the Trial Tower. Would you like to proceed to the next floor?]


    Staring at the prompt in front of him, Luca chose "No."


    The duration of his Ice Pattern Awakeningskill was already more than halfway over.


    Once the skill''s effects wore off, he might not be able to handle the stronger monsters on the higher floors. There was no need to waste energy. It was better to stop here.


    [Ding! Your final result in the Trial Tower is the 20th floor. Rating: SSS-level!]


    [Rewards obtained: Essence of Water (High-tier), Spirit Ring (tinum), Elf Fruit (Intermediate)¡­!]


    ¡­


    After choosing to exit the Trial Tower, his rewards were settled.


    Unfortunately, before Luca could check them, everything went ck.


    When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the stadium.


    The overwhelming heat and the deafening roar of the crowd crashed over him like waves.


    For a moment, Luca thought something major had happened. But when he looked around, he realized that every single gaze was fixed on him.


    Their expressions wereplicated¡ªshock, admiration, envy, and even anger...


    Following their line of sight, Luca turned and spotted Susie, who was ring at him as if she could chew him up and spit him out.


    He paused for two seconds, then quickly turned his head away, pretending not to see her.


    After all, he had concealed his appearance¡ªSusie wouldn''t be able to recognize him¡­


    Just as Luca was reassuring himself, arge, muscr figure suddenly barreled toward him.


    Before he could react, a pair of massive hands pped onto his shoulders.


    "Hahaha! You did it, kid! I can''t believe you actuallypleted the assessment!" Fred''s big hands pounded Luca''s shoulders forcefully, his rugged face beaming with a hearty smile.


    If it weren''t for the fact that the sunlight gleamed off Fred''s shiny bald head, Luca might have mistaken him for that brute Cassman.


    At that moment, Orf and several other instructors approached as well.


    The expressions of the gathered mentors as they looked at Luca were incrediblyplex.


    Thinking back to how they had fought tooth and nail just to reach the 15th floor, and now seeing this young man in front of them clearing the 20th floor with ease, they couldn''t help but feel a deep sense of shame. These prodigies really knew how to make people feel inadequate!


    Luca turned to Orf and gave a slight bow. "Professor, I suppose I''vepleted the assessment, haven''t I?"


    Orf''s mouth twitched slightly.


    If this didn''t count aspleting the assessment, then most of the instructors present would probably have to be dismissed.


    But Orf couldn''t say that out loud. As the headmaster of Red Maple Academy¡ªand Luca''s teacher¡ªhe had to maintain some semnce of authority.


    Orf cleared his throat, adopting a stern expression. "Your performance was¡­ eptable. You''ve barely passed. Naturally, I won''t go back on my word. From today onwards, you are officially an instructor at Red Maple Academy!"


    Kruse and the other mentors shot Orf disdainful looks.


    He''s probably so thrilled to have Luca as a student that he wants to pop a bottle of champagne in celebration. And now he''s trying to act all nonchnt? If they weren''t certain they''d lose, they''d have gone up and given Orf a good beating.


    Hearing this, a smile appeared on Luca''s face. "Professor, I''m curious¡ªwhat kind of benefits does our academy offer?"


    He hadn''t gone through all this trouble just for some title or honor; he was here for Red Maple Academy''s benefits. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have bothered wasting his time here.


    Orf chuckled heartily. "Don''t worry, our academy offers the best benefits in the entire Southern Territory! The Red Maple Academy library contains advanced professional knowledge for every ss, and you can choose two courses to study each month."


    "In addition, you''ll receive a monthly sry of 1,000 gold coins and a chance to enter the Celestial Pool Secret Realm once a month!"

 Capítulo 85: Chapter 85: Magic Runes Set! Instructor Luca! Just You Wait!

    The Celestial Pool Secret Realm is a high-tier secret realm in Southwind City. It was conquered long ago and is now under the control of Red Maple Academy. Entering the secret realm not only elerates cultivation but also enhances various attributes.


    Ordinarily, regr instructors only get ess to the Celestial Pool once every three months.


    But Luca was a special case¡ªnot only was he the headmaster''s student, but he was also an academy instructor, and his talent was monstrously exceptional. So, even though Orf granted him special privileges, allowing him to enter the Celestial Pool once a month, no one had any objections.


    Meanwhile, Rogge and the others had finally learned that Luca was the one who had caused their assessment to end prematurely.


    "Instructor?! That guy is actually an instructor?!" The red-haired girl looked absolutely stunned.


    If those words hadn''te straight from Orf''s mouth, she would never have believed it. This guy, who seemed about the same age as them, had passed Red Maple Academy''s assessment and be their instructor.


    Not only that, but he had participated in the assessment alongside them. Some of them had even seen Luca inside the Trial Tower.


    This left everyone with a surreal sense of disbelief.


    They were all just eighteen years old. Why was he qualified to be an instructor?


    The gaze of the examinees was filled with shock andplexity, especially Rogge, whose eyes were practically zing with fury as he looked at Luca.


    If it weren''t for him, the assessment wouldn''t have ended prematurely. He would have been able to secure the top freshman spot as nned. But because of this guy''s one skill, all his hard work had gone to waste, and in the end, he got nothing.


    If it weren''t for the fact that Luca''s strength was clearly leagues above his own, Rogge would''ve charged at him right now and fought him to the death.


    Luca, however, didn''t pay any attention to the stares around him.


    As soon as Orf finished speaking, a game notification appeared in front of him.


    [Ding! Congrattions! You have passed Orf''s assessment and officially be an instructor at Red Maple Academy!]


    [Reward: 500 Reputation Points!]


    Luca nced at his status panel. With the reputation he gained from reaching level 30 earlier, his total reputation points now exceeded 4,000. Although it was still a long way from his goal of 100,000 reputation points, it was progress nheless.


    At that moment, Orf seemed to remember something. He took out a Storage Ring and a red badge, handing them to Luca.


    Smiling, he said, "This is your instructor''s badge. With it, you have unrestricted ess to Red Maple Academy''s library. As for this Storage Ring, it contains equipment I used when I was younger. I haven''t had a chance to give you any gifts before, so consider these yours."


    "Thank you, Professor!" Luca epted the ring and badge with a smile. It really paid off to have a good mentor¡ªthe perks were on a whole different level.


    The instructors'' badges were slightly different from those of the students. Instead of a leaf motif, the instructors'' badges were adorned with a fruit symbol.


    He then swept his mental energy through the ring and was pleasantly surprised by what he found.


    Inside the Storage Ring was a set of Gold Grade equipment, and not just any equipment¡ªit was aplete Gold Grade set!


    [Magic Runes Set: Gold Grade, usable by Demonic Rune Mages. Equipping the set grants the following effects: +20% magic runes attack power, +350 mental attributes, -15% magic runes cooldown.]


    [Skill 1: Rapid Drawing ¡ª Increases magic runes drawing speed by 30% when activated.]


    [Skill 2: Rune Amplification ¡ª Increases magic runes attack damage by 20% when activated.]


    This was clearly a set of equipment designed specifically for Demonic Rune Mages. Every attribute and skill aligned perfectly with the ss''s needs.


    The gear he was currently using couldn''t keep up with his level. He had been nning to save up money for a new set, but now Orf had directly gifted him a professional equipment set. Luca''s joy was beyond words.


    He quickly expressed his gratitude to Orf. Just this set alone was worth tens of thousands of gold coins. Such a valuable piece of equipment was given away so casually¡ªtruly fitting for a Superss practitioner!


    The others looked on with envious expressions.


    Having a powerful mentor was indeed a blessing¡ªreceiving gear and materials as gifts seemed to be the norm.


    Some yers even shouted that it was unfair, suspecting favoritism. They were still struggling with ck Iron Level gear, while Luca already had a Gold Grade set. How were they supposed topete now?!


    Hearing Luca''s thanks, Orf stroked his beard andughed heartily. "This is nothing. Follow me and train diligently in the future. With your talent, bing one of the top experts in Eternal Continent is only a matter of time."


    Orf''s words were spoken with genuine conviction. With Luca''s level-10 maxed aptitude,bined with his guidance, it was only a matter of time before Luca surpassed him and became the strongest Demonic Rune Mage in the Clinton Empire.


    Luca smiled and said, "I will, Professor."


    If it were anyone else, they''d probably be overjoyed beyond measure.


    Unfortunately, in his previous life, Luca had been a top-tier expert. Orf''s words didn''t stir up too much excitement within him.


    Kruse watched and couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.


    Not only did Luca possess exceptional talent, but he was also taken in as a student by a top-level expert. More importantly, he had the right temperament.


    It wouldn''t be long before this young man became the brightest new star in the Clinton Empire!


    Just then, a graceful figure approached Luca.


    "Instructor Luca, congrattions!" Fratis'' beautiful eyes curved like crescent moons as she spoke sweetly.


    Luca''s admission to the academy made her heart brim with joy. Even though he hadn''t be a student and had instead joined as an instructor, it didn''t matter¡ªas long as he stayed at Red Maple Academy!


    Hearing Fratis'' address, Luca felt an indescribable sensation.


    Why did he feel like there was something strange in the way this woman was looking at him¡­?


    On the other side, Susie, who had been preparing to cause Luca some trouble, suddenly stopped in her tracks.


    "Who is this woman?" She puffed out her cheeks, feeling an inexplicable irritation as she watched the two of them chatting andughing.


    Nomadey did know a bit about Fratis'' identity. Beforeing to Red Maple Academy, he had done plenty of research, so he exined, "She''s the sixth princess of the Clinton Empire, named Fratis, a third-year student here."


    "Princess?!" Susie frowned, feeling even more annoyed, and spat, "What a shameless flirt!"


    She had only been away from Luca for a few days, and now he was already getting close to a princess?


    He doesn''t even spare NPCs¡ªwhat a desperate guy!


    ncing between the young man chatting andughing with Fratis and Susie.


    Nomadey''s expression turned strange.


    After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked, "That guy¡­ is he Luca?"


    At this point, even if Nomadey were dense, he could sense that something was off. There were plenty of people with the same name in this world.


    But for Susie to care this much, it could only be because of that guy who had overshadowed him for three years¡ªno one else would make her react like this.


    Susie didn''t reply, but Nomadey already had his answer.


    "What the hell is he doing here too?" His expression darkened. Back at school, he and Luca had always been at odds. If it weren''t for that jerk, he might already have a two-year-old child with Susie by now.


    After finally getting a chance to get close to Susie, he hadn''t expected to run into Luca in the game as well.


    Nomadey''s heart felt as if he had just swallowed a pile of filth.


    Luca, on the other hand, had been keeping an ear on Susie and Nomadey''s conversation.


    Hearing their murmured discussion, he understood that his identity was probably exposed.


    There was no point in pretending anymore. He spread his hands toward Nomadey and said, "And why shouldn''t I be here? It''s not like Eternal Gameis owned by your family."


    Without waiting for Nomadey''s face to turn even darker, Luca turned to Susie with a smile and teased, "Hey there, ssmate. You don''t look so good¡ªare you feeling unwell? Do you need me, your instructor, to escort you to the infirmary?"


    Susie was even more furious at Luca''s mockery. This jerk was definitely doing this on purpose!


    Sensing its owner''s emotions, a small white mouse sleepily crawled out of Susie''s arms.


    As soon as it saw Luca, it shuddered and instinctively nced at the silver snake-shaped bracelet on Luca''s wrist.


    With just one look, it seemed to have seen something terrifying. In a sh, it scurried back into Susie''s arms, curled up tightly, and started trembling.


    Susie''s anger red even more¡ªwhat was there to be afraid of with this guy?


    "You just wait!" Susie huffed coldly, turning on her heel and storming off. She was already nning to tell Sini all about Luca''s antics in the game and let her properly teach this scoundrel a lesson.


    "How dare you make Susie mad¡ªLuca, just wait and see!" Nomadey was secretly delighted to see a conflict arise between the two. However, he still put on a fierce expression and red at Luca before eagerly trotting off to follow Susie.


    "Are those two students your friends?" Fratis asked, watching the pair walk away, a look of curiosity and concern in her eyes. With a young woman''s intuition, she sensed that the rtionship between Luca and the blonde girl wasn''t ordinary.


    "Yes, they are," Luca replied with a cheerful nod, not taking Susie''s threats seriously at all.


    That woman''s personality was just like that¡ªgive her a little time, and she''d forget all about it.


    Orf and Fred both watched the young people with great interest. As older men who had lived through their share of experiences, they could immediately pick up on the unusual dynamics between the group. Their faces bore knowing smiles, as if they were witnessing a glimpse of their own youth.


    Luca didn''t linger for long.


    Afterpleting the Trial Tower assessment, his strength had undergone a significant boost, and he had also earned a multitude of rewards. He was already itching to go through his spoils.


    Orf, noticing Luca''s eagerness, smiled and gave him a few words of advice before asking Fred to escort him to his new living quarters.


    All instructors at Red Maple Academy were provided with their own residence within the academy grounds, and Luca was no exception.


    The ce Orf had arranged for him was a pavilion located behind the faculty building. Originally, these quarters were reserved for the heads of each grade level, and Luca had been assigned to one of these residences.


    A neer to Red Maple Academy, and yet he already had his own private pavilion.


    It was enough to make many instructors and students green with envy.


    But none of them dared voice anyints.


    Who would be foolish enough to mess with Orf''s student? That would be the same as inviting trouble for themselves.


    Orf''s reputation as a petty, overprotective Superss practitioner was well-known throughout the entire Southern Territory.

 Capítulo 86: Chapter 86: A Great Harvest! Elf Fruit! Are You in an Online Relationship?

    Luca followed Fred across the campus, and before long, they arrived at the instructors'' residential area.


    The ce was unexpectedly vast, almost the size of a small town. The roads were paved with cobblestones, greenery was carefully pruned, and two-story wooden pavilions lined either side of the streets. The architecture had a ssical charm that quickly calmed the mind.


    Luca noticed that, although the area looked ordinary on the surface, the elemental energy in the air was far more active than in other parts of the academy. It was highly likely that a spirit-gathering formation was buried beneath the ground.


    Setting up such a formation was an incredibly costly endeavor. To cover an area thisrge would require at least a million gold coins. Thevishness of Red Maple Academy even made Luca feel a bit astounded. It seemed his professor had truly spared no expense when it came to the living conditions of the instructors and students.


    But considering Red Maple Academy''s status in the Southern Territory and even the entire Clinton Empire, it was understandable.


    After turning a few more corners, Fred finally stopped in a rtively secluded corner of the residential area.


    This pavilion was visibly different from the others. It had a courtyard outside, nted with various flowers and nts, and the overall environment was much more tranquil and serene.


    "We''ve arrived. This is where you''ll be staying," Fred said with a grin. "You''ve really got some enviable amodations. Quite a few instructors wanted to move into this pavilion, but the headmaster refused them all and gave it to you instead."


    Luca smiled and said nothing.


    Fred handed him the key and added, "Once the headmaster is done with the freshman assessment, he''ll probably arrange your teaching schedule. For now, take some time to settle in and get familiar with your surroundings. If you need anything, juste and find me¡ªI''m staying in that building right across the street."


    He pointed to a pavilion diagonally across the road.


    "Got it. Thanks, Director Fred." Luca epted the key with a smile and thanked him. After Fred left, Luca entered the pavilion.


    The pavilion had excellent lighting, with sunlight flooding the interior. A faint, calming fragrance lingered in the air¡ªthis was the scent of Spirit Fragrant Wood, a rare material from the Eastern Territory known for its ability to soothe the soul and calm the mind. All the furniture in the pavilion was made from this wood.


    The floor was spotless, indicating that someone regrly cleaned it, making it ready for immediate upancy and saving Luca a lot of hassle.


    Walking into the bedroom, Luca closed the door and began examining the spoils he had gained from clearing the Trial Tower.


    It had truly been a bountiful harvest. In addition to reaching level 30 and acquiring several intermediate-level skills, he had also obtained a tinum Grade piece of equipment, a high-tier material, an intermediate-level item, and, of course, the Gold Grade magic runes set.


    Luca started by examining the equipment and items he had obtained.


    [Spirit Ring: tinum Grade special equipment, no wearing restrictions. Increases mental attributes by +180, magic points (MP) by +2000, and magic regeneration speed by +200%. Skill: Mana Surge. When activated, instantly restores 50% of your total MP. Cooldown: 24 hours.]


    [Essence of Water: Purple-Gold Grade high-tier material, extracted from the purest water veins at the deepest part of the Starfall River. When used to craft equipment, it has a 30% chance to awaken the high-tier water-element spell "Aquaflux."]


    [Elf Fruit: tinum Grade intermediate item, harvested from the deepest parts of the Elven Forest. Consuming it increases mental attributes by +200 and grants the "Elven Blessing" status¡ªelemental skill damage +10%. Can only be used once.]


    His luck this time had been pretty good¡ªall the items he received were quite useful.


    The Spirit Ringcould be equipped immediately, while the Essence of Watercould be used to craft high-tier magic runes. The Elf Fruitwas simr to the elemental potion Franklin had given him earlier, though its effect was slightly weaker. However, it could be stacked with other effects.


    Next, he examined the three intermediate-level skills he had acquired upon leveling up. Lich''s Cursecould weaken a target''s strength by 20%, while Nightmare Sealwas a type of illusion magic.


    If this skill were cast on an enemy, Luca could cause the target to experience various hallucinations and dreams at any time within the next three days.


    This skill was highly versatile, whether inbat or for more underhanded purposes.


    But the one that thrilled Luca the most was the skill Magic Runes Berserk.


    [Magic Runes Berserk: Intermediate ss skill. When activated, a Demonic Rune Mage can spend 5,000 MP to increase magic rune skill effects by 35%. Duration: 3 minutes. Cooldown: 6 hours.]


    With Magic Runes Berserkpaired with Rune Amplification, he could instantly double his power, if not more!


    If he were to face the Skeleton Emperor again now, even without using Ice Pattern Awakening, Luca was confident he could take it down!


    Suppressing his excitement, he took out the Elf Fruit, which glowed with a faint green light, and took a bite.


    The taste was soft, sweet, and slightly sticky, simr to that of a green dragon fruit.


    In fact, using the Elf Fruit to brew potions would yield even better results, but Luca didn''t have the time to gather the necessary ingredients. Consuming it directly was slightly less effective, but it was convenient.


    Before he even finished the fruit, Luca felt a gentle force spreading throughout his body, seeping into every bone and muscle, making him feel as if he were soaking in a warm spring¡ªhis whole body feltfortable and rxed.


    [Ding! You have consumed "Elf Fruit (tinum Grade)". Mental attributes +300!]


    [You have gained the status "Elven Blessing"¡ªelemental skill damage +10%!]


    The sensation came quickly and dissipated just as fast.


    After the game notifications popped up, Luca could clearly sense his increased sensitivity to the elemental energies in the environment. He could distinctly feel the flow of elemental forces in the air and could manipte them with ease. It was simr to how he felt after consuming the elemental potion, though the improvement was slightly less pronounced.


    Luca swapped out his Wanderer Set and equipped the Magic Runes Set and the Spirit Ring, then opened his attribute panel.


    [Name: Luca (Gold Grade)]


    [Level: lv30]


    [Talent: The Person Favored (SSS-level)]


    [Main ss: Demonic Rune Mage]


    [Secondary sses: Witch Doctor, Dreamweaver]


    [Health Points: 11,800]


    [Magic Points: 25,400]


    [Attack: 5233-5494]


    [Attributes: Strength 922, Spirit 2130, Stamina 816, Agility 543]


    [Special Attributes: Charisma 100, Perception 100, Aptitude 100, Luck 100]


    [Titles: Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm, Peerless Appearance, Dangerous Perception, The Son of Luck]


    [Magic Runes: Frostborn (fixed)]


    [Skills: Magic Rune Drawing lv10, Potion Refining lv10, Dreamweaving lv3, Dream Manifestation lv3, Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire lv3, Witch Doctor''s Hand lv10, Magic Runes Berserk lv1, Lich''s Curse lv1, Nightmare Seal lv1, Eye of Nightmare lv1, Rapid Drawing (equipment), Rune Amplification (equipment), Mana Surge (equipment), Elven Blessing (enhancement)...]


    ...


    After reaching level 30, Luca''s attributes had more than doubledpared to before. More importantly, his health had surpassed 10,000, which was on par with the HP of an ordinary monster of the same level.


    For abatant to have the same health as a monster, that was truly extraordinary¡ªhe had clearly surpassed conventional standards.


    Luca nodded in satisfaction. Defeating high-level monsters was undoubtedly the fastest way to enhance his strength.


    Unfortunately, such monsters were hard toe by. They were mostly found in secret realms.


    If he wanted to quickly increase his power in the future, he would need to explore more secret realms.


    There was also the issue of his weapon.


    The Mithril Mage Spearcould no longer keep up with his current capabilities. Now that he had reached Gold Grade, he needed to find a new weapon.


    It was a shame that Orf hadn''t prepared a weapon for him¡ªhe likely didn''t have a Gold Grade mage spear on hand. However, Orf had left Luca with 20,000 gold coins, which would be more than enough to buy a Gold Grade mage spear.


    "That money might be better saved for something else," Luca thought, recalling the quest given by Old Carl. The quest reward was a mid-tier piece of equipment, and he could choose it himself. It just so happened that he needed a new weapon.


    Luca stored away all his items and prepared to ask around for the location of the cksmith, Luke, to see if he could get his hands on a suitable weapon.


    As he was thinking this, a game notification suddenly appeared.


    [Ding! Someone is visiting you in the real world. Would you like to temporarily exit the game?]


    At the same time, an image popped up in front of Luca.


    It was his mother, Sini.


    What was she looking for him for now?


    Puzzled, Luca chose to exit the game.


    A sh of light.


    The game pod door opened with a soft click.


    "Is it time to eat?" Luca sat up and asked Sini with a cheerful smile.


    Sini rolled her eyes and snapped, "Eat, eat, eat¡ªthat''s all you think about every day. I''m asking you: are you having an online rtionship in the game?"


    "Online rtionship? What online rtionship?" Luca was stunned,pletely clueless about what Sini was talking about.


    Sini put her hands on her hips and red at him angrily. "Don''t try to deny it! Susie just came by toin, saying you''ve been flirting with girls in the game. I didn''t believe her at first, but now she''s here at our house!"


    "You''ve really done it this time! Do you have any idea how young she is? How could you even think of doing something like that?"


    With that, she reached over and pinched Luca''s ear, twisting it a full 180 degrees.


    "Ow, ow, ow! Mom, I swear, I''m innocent! I didn''t flirt with any girls¡ªSusie''s framing me!" Luca winced, sucking in a sharp breath from the pain, frantically protesting his innocence, feeling utterly speechless.


    That troublesome Susie! She had no boundaries when it came to what she would say. When did he ever flirt with any girls in the game?


    But something Sini had mentioned left him even more confused.


    What did she mean by "came to the house"?


    Just as he was wondering about it¡ª


    Sini grew even angrier. She picked up the broom beside her and said coldly, "You still dare to lie?! The girl is waiting in the living room right now. Go deal with it yourself! If she''s pregnant¡­ I''ll¡ªI''ll break your legs myself!"


    When she mentioned pregnancy, Sini almost shoved the broom into Luca''s face.

 Capítulo 87: Chapter 87: Misunderstanding! Caution! Preparation! Undercurrents!

    Luca''s mouth twitched slightly.


    What on earth was going on? How did this situation escte to talking about pregnancy?


    He brushed off Sini''s usations with a few perfunctory replies, pushed open his bedroom door, and walked out. He wanted to see just who was causing him all this trouble.


    He strode quickly to the living room and looked up to see a petite figure sitting on the sofa.


    She was small in stature, wearing a loose blue wool sweater.


    With sses perched on her nose, tousled hair, and a cup in her hands, she seemed a bit uneasy. Her face was youthful, giving the impression of a middle school student.


    The moment she noticed Luca approaching, she scrambled to her feet and greeted him nervously, "Hello, Mr. Luca."


    "You are¡­?" Luca frowned, scrutinizing her. She looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn''t immediately ce where he''d seen her before.


    "Hmm?" Sini shot Luca a fierce re, feeling a surge of frustration and regret¡ªhow had she raised such a shameless son?


    Luca''s mouth twitched again. The problem was that he genuinely didn''t recognize this person!


    At this point, the girl hurriedly exined, "Mr. Luca, I¡ªI came specifically to thank you. Thank you for saving me a few days ago. I didn''t mean to cause you any trouble. I''m really sorry."


    As she spoke, a faint blush spread across her face, apanied by a look of guilt.


    Sini''s voice had always been loud, so Malina had heard every word from the bedroom, especially those like "girlfriend" and "pregnancy." She felt so embarrassed that she wanted to dig a hole and bury herself. Who would''ve thought this mix-up would lead to such an awkward misunderstanding?


    "So it was you!" Luca finally recalled. A few days ago, when he went to buy a gaming pod, he had indeed saved a young girl from a group of thugs cornering her in an alley.


    At that time, the girl had been hiding in the shadows and wearing a hood, so he hadn''t gotten a clear look at her face.


    Now it seemed like she had specificallye to find him and express her gratitude.


    Realizing the truth, Sini also understood that she had truly misunderstood her son. She immediately felt a bit awkward.


    Trying to act casual, she quietly put down the broom in her hand and cleared her throat. "Oh, so you''re here to say thank you? I thought¡­ ahem."


    Malina''s cheeks flushed even deeper, and she lowered her head, too embarrassed to make eye contact.


    "See? I told you I was innocent! This is all Susie''s fault!" Luca muttered indignantly. If Susie hadn''teining, there wouldn''t have been such a misunderstanding in the first ce.


    "You''re not much better yourself! Anyway, you two chat for now¡ªI''ll go get some fruit," Sini said, shing Malina an apologetic smile before shooting a warning re at Luca. After all, she knew better than anyone else what kind of person her son was.


    Luca wanted to retort, but after opening his mouth, he wisely chose to hold his tongue.


    After Sini left, Luca sat down on the sofa and looked at the girl standing in front of him, who appeared somewhat shy and timid. He nced at her thoughtfully before narrowing his eyes and saying, "You went through all this trouble to find me. I doubt it''s just to say thank you, right?"


    Celephais, despite being a city with a poption of several hundred thousand, was stillrge enough that it would have taken considerable effort for this girl to locate him. If she was here simply to express her gratitude, Luca wasn''t buying it.


    Moreover, the reason he said this was because he sensed a familiar aura emanating from Malina¡­


    Malina hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly. "There is something else¡­"


    She paused, seemingly gathering her courage, and looked up at Luca with a tense expression. With some anxiety in her voice, she asked, "Has Mr. Luca noticed any¡­ unusual changes in his body recently?"


    The moment he heard this, Luca''s previously rxed demeanor vanished, and his nerves instantly tightened!


    He had confided about his bodily changes to his father, Donald, because of their close family bond.


    But under no circumstances could this secret be known to outsiders. Who knew what kind of trouble it could bring?


    Though his mind raced, Luca''s expression remained calm. He replied, "Sorry, I don''t understand what you''re talking about."


    While speaking, Luca''s eyes subtly shifted to the fruit knife on the coffee table.


    If this girl made even the slightest wrong move, he was ready to strike and eliminate the threat immediately.


    Malina didn''t respond verbally but instead nced at the cup on the coffee table.


    She took a deep breath, her brows furrowing in concentration.


    A single breath passed.


    Under Luca''s watchful gaze.


    The still surface of the water in the cup suddenly began to ripple with faint waves.


    The ripples grew more intense, and soon, a small droplet of water floated up, suspended in mid-air.


    Seeing this, Luca''s eyes narrowed even further.


    This girl had somehow received feedback from the game, and it seemed like she had even acquired abilities from it.


    It appeared that the convergence of the virtual and real worlds was happening much faster than he had anticipated¡­


    Before long, beads of sweat appeared on Malina''s forehead.


    As her focus wavered, the water droplet fell back into the cup with a soft plop.


    Luca crossed his legs, tilting his head as he observed the exhausted Malina. He spoke with a hint of coldness, "I don''t know what your agenda is. You''ve shown me your little trick¡ªit was quite impressive. If that''s all, I''d like to ask you to leave now."


    Malina wiped the sweat from her brow, looking a bit flustered. "Mr. Luca, I mean no harm. I''ve witnessed your strength, and I know you possess abilities far beyond those of ordinary people. I just¡ª"


    Luca cut her off sharply, "I think you''re mistaken. I simply learned some martial arts from my father growing up¡ªnothing more than that. There''s no so-called Transcendent power."


    With that, Luca stood up, making it clear he was ready to see her out. Whatever this girl''s purpose was, he had no intention of getting involved with her any further.


    Malina spoke urgently, "Mr. Luca, I really mean no harm. It''s just that ever since that day, I''ve noticed my perception abilities have significantly heightened. At night, I can hear the faintest sounds, and once, when I was washing my face, I even managed to alter the flow of water. I just want to understand what''s happening to me."


    "I¡­ I''m also a fan of yours. We''ve met in the game before. My in-game ID is ''ShadowCat.''"


    Her tone was frantic and desperate.


    For an ordinary person who suddenly acquired supernatural abilities, the initial excitement quickly faded, leaving only anxiety and fear.


    She believed that Luca was the only one who could exin the changes happening to her, so she had gone to great lengths to track him down.


    But the Luca standing before her was different from the idol she had imagined...


    Luca was genuinely taken aback by her words.


    He hadn''t expected that the forum user who made that post was actually this young girl.


    Seeing Luca''s displeasure, Malina panicked even more and repeated nervously, "I¡­ I''m really your fan. We met in the game before. My ID is ''ShadowCat.''"


    "Hmm?" This time, Luca was truly surprised.


    He hadn''t expected the person behind that forum post to be this young girl.


    And it left him feeling a bit speechless.


    He had gone through great lengths to hide his appearance, so how did these women manage to recognize him so easily?


    Did they all have superpowers or something?


    Noticing that Malina was on the verge of tears, he sighed and said, "I have experienced simr changes to what you''ve described. Just keep this matter to yourself and don''t tell anyone else. Also, try not to overthink it."


    "From what I''ve observed, it''s likely that we''re not the only ones affected. The source of these changes could be rted to Eternal Game. Just keep a low profile and conceal your identity. For now, you don''t need to worry too much about your safety."


    After saying this, Luca didn''t wait for Malina''s response. He quickly ushered her out of the door and said calmly, "Onest piece of advice: go back and start stocking up on food and supplies."


    Bang!


    The door mmed shut, leaving Malina standing outside, stunned and motionless for a long time.


    After kicking Malina out, Luca immediately called Ada.


    Malina''s visit had sounded an rm in his mind. If this girl could recognize him, there was no guarantee that others wouldn''t be able to as well. Moreover, he had noticed that the changes in his body were elerating, and the speed at which the game was manifesting in reality was clearly increasing. He needed to prepare as soon as possible.


    The call connected quickly, and a cool, calm voice came through the line.


    "What is it? More equipment to sell?" Ada asked.


    Luca typically only contacted her when he wanted to sell equipment, so she cut straight to the point."Yes, I''m looking to sell a batch of Silver-grade equipment soon. Are you interested?" Luca replied, nodding even though she couldn''t see him.


    Now that Luca had reached Gold Grade, the equipment he would acquire going forward would be of higher tiers. He called Ada not only to offload his older Silver-grade equipment in exchange for funds to support Donald''s purchases of supplies and weapons.


    But also to give the Blues Family a heads-up to prepare more funds. He knew that he would be needing a lot more money soon.


    Ada was taken aback. "You''re selling Silver-grade equipment? Does that mean you''ve already¡ª"


    Luca cut her off. "If you want them, just name your price."


    Ada quickly responded, "We''re willing to offer a million for each piece of Silver-grade equipment! We''ll take as many as you have!"


    With Eternal Gamegrowing more popr by the day, there was no shortage of demand for such gear.


    The Blues Family had made quite a profit simply by reselling the Bronze Iron equipment Luca had previously sold them.


    If they could get their hands on Silver-grade gear, they would undoubtedly earn even more. Refusing such an opportunity was out of the question.


    "Prepare the money," Luca said calmly. "I''ll be selling a considerable amount of equipment in the near future."


    After that, he hung up the phone.


    It didn''t take long for the funds to be transferred over¡ªa hefty 10 million in total!


    ording to Ada, this was the Blues Family''s deposit.


    Luca chuckled. "That woman sure knows how to do business."


    Ada must have sensed that he was strapped for cash recently, so she took this opportunity to curry favor.


    People from these prominent families were never simple.


    Luca shook his head, transferred the remaining payment for the vi, and then sent 3 million to Donald''s ount.


    Donald had been busy acquiring illegal weapons and renovating the vi. The previous 1 million had almost been used up, and this new sum would sustain the operation for a while longer.


    Luca then called Donald and briefed him on the situation, exining that things might get worse soon. He urged his father to expedite preparations, saying they should use money to resolve problems directly without hesitation.


    Donald didn''t even ask any questions. He just replied with a calm "Got it" and hung up.


    Luca had confidence in his father''s capabilities. All he needed to do was focus on making money¡ªDonald could handle the rest.


    Once everything on this side was settled, Luca re-entered the game.


    The familiar blue notification popped up in front of him.


    [Wee, yer "Luca", to Eternal World!]


    When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back in his loft at Red Maple Academy.


    With potential changes in the real world looming, Luca didn''t want to waste any time.


    He got up, left the loft, and inquired about the whereabouts of the cksmith, Luke. After gathering the information, he left Red Maple Academy and boarded a carriage headed for the Outer District.


    As the carriage gradually disappeared down the street¡­


    A in-looking middle-aged man standing on the street outside the academy narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint shing within them.

 Capítulo 88: Chapter 88: Marquis Bronte! Lucky Boy! Wind and Thunder Spell Spear!

    Meanwhile, in Southwind City, at the Lord''s Mansion.


    Inside the study, a man with long golden hair and somewhat delicate features was handling some official matters.


    This man was none other than Count Bronte of the Southern Territory.


    As the regional capital of the Southern Territory, the position of the Lord of Southwind City held great importance, so Bronte himself had taken up the role.


    However, he only dealt with major issues, leaving minor matters to his assistant, Myron.


    The door to the study was knocked on. Without looking up, Bronte said, "Come in."


    The young assistant, Myron, stepped into the room and respectfully said, "My Lord, I have something to report."


    Bronte sighed, put down his quill pen, leaned back in his chair, and spread his hands in resignation, saying, "Myron, if it''s about the monster riots, just handle it as per the previous protocols. I''ve already discussed this with you."


    It was the seventh time today that this assistant hade into the study to report on the various monster riots happening all over the Southern Territory.


    It hadpletely ruined what had been a good day for Bronte.


    Myron forced a smile and said, "My Lord, it''s not about the monsters this time. It''s good news."


    "Oh? Let''s hear it," Bronte perked up a bit. This was one of the only two pieces of good news he''d received in recent days.


    Thest one was the news that Ryan and his team had managed to hold onto Riverfall City.


    "It''s rted to Riverfall City, actually," Myron said as he moved to the side and started making coffee. "Previously, when Dean Kruse and his group went to Riverfall City to provide support, they brought back a young man¡ªone who holds the title of Viscount Luca."


    Bronte was surprised, "So it''s him, huh? I didn''t expect him to show up in Southwind City."


    He had personally approved Luca''s viscount title. Naturally, he had some impression of the young man who had performed meritoriously during the Riverfall City incident.


    But what did this have to do with good news?


    Myron continued, "He passed the assessment and joined the Red Maple Academy."


    Bronte rolled his eyes, "That''s it?"


    A young man joining the Red Maple Academy?


    This kind of mundane event was worth reporting?


    He remarked, "Myron, I think your sry needs to be reconsidered."


    Myron handed over the coffee, smiling helplessly, "Please, let me finish, my Lord. The way this young man joined the Red Maple Academy is rather unique. He passed the 20th floor of the Trial Tower to get in. And it was a mentor-level assessment, not a student-level one!"


    Just as Bronte took the coffee, his hand suddenly trembled, and the scorching liquid spilled onto his hand. Yet, it seemed as though he felt no pain at all.


    He looked utterly shocked and eximed, "Passed the mentor-level assessment at the 20th floor? A young boy!"


    Even his sister, Luna, had only managed to pass the 18th floor back then. Within two years after that, she had be the youngest high-level professional in the entire Southern Territory, representing the pride of their region.


    If he remembered correctly, this young fellow named Luca had just turned 18 not long ago¡ªthree years younger than his sister¡ªand yet he had cleared the 20th floor?!


    Such talent, evenpared to those monstrous prodigies from Dawn City, wouldn''t lose out in the slightest!


    Myron chuckled, "Not only has the boy be a mentor at Red Maple Academy, but it''s also rumored that he''s be a personal student of Principal Orf. News of this should spread throughout Southwind City within two days, and when it does, the entire noble circle of Southwind City is going to be shaken."


    A genius of unparalleled caliber, with a Superss powerhouse as a mentor¡ªthere was no doubt Luca would be the rising star in Southwind City''s noble circle.


    Bronte couldn''t help but sigh with emotion, "The young people these days really don''t leave us old folks any breathing space!"


    Luca was still so young and had already achieved such terrifying strength. Coupled with the powerful backing he had, his future potential was truly limitless.


    No wonder Myron said this was good news.


    Having such an exceptional genius emerging from the Southern Territory was indeed something worth celebrating!


    Thinking of this, a smile finally appeared on Bronte''s face, and he ordered, "Luca was recently conferred the title of viscount, but I haven''t had the chance to express my appreciation. Now that he''se to Southwind City, I certainly can''t pretend to know nothing."


    "I recall that there''s a mansion in the Noble District that hasn''t been upied for a long time. Give that house to him."


    Hearing Bronte''s words, even Myron couldn''t hide his surprise.


    It should be noted that the mansion in the Noble District was valued at over two hundred thousand gold coins.


    More importantly, this gesture clearly showed Bronte''s stance to the outside world.


    With his protection, there would likely be no one in Southwind City daring toy a finger on Luca!


    This opportunity was something even Myron couldn''t help but feel a bit envious of.


    What a lucky boy indeed!


    ...


    The carriage raced down the wide road.


    Luke''s reputation in Southwind City wasn''t particrly grand, but it wasn''t insignificant either.


    This guy''s skills in crafting mid-tier equipment were well-known throughout the Southern Territory. Unfortunately, due to having offended a noble heir of a prominent family in his early years, he was now forced to live in the chaotic Outer District.


    Even so, Luke managed to make a name for himself with his abilities, and now his "Luke''s Weapon Shop" was quite a notable presence in the Outer District.


    Soon, Luca arrived at his destination.


    After tossing three copper coins to the coachman, he turned his gaze to the weapon shop behind him.


    The shop wasn''trge¡ªsmaller even than the one in Riverfall City¡ªand its decorations were very in. In some ces, the wall ster had already started to crack, making it impossible topare with the luxurious weapon shops in the Inner District.


    The weapon shop''s business was thriving. Behind the counter, a wide variety of low- and mid-tier weapons were disyed, and at the moment, a young shop assistant was haggling fiercely with a few customers.


    "Is Luke here?" Luca asked as he stepped into the shop, interrupting the assistant who was enthusiastically showcasing equipment.


    Being interrupted mid-speech, the assistant frowned in annoyance. However, upon noticing Luca''s attire, his eyes lit up instantly.


    "Alright, alright! I''ve already told you the price. If you want to buy, then buy. If not, get lost. No discounts, and that''s final!" he snapped at the two customers, waving them away dismissively.


    Ignoring the curses from the disgruntled customers, the assistant turned back to Luca with a fawning smile. "What can I do for you, sir? The boss is forging equipment in the backyard right now. You can just tell me what you need. We''ve got everything here, and I guarantee you''ll be satisfied!"


    Luca was dressed in a custom-made robe tailored by Lucia, made from the finest silk. Combined with his exceptional demeanor and looks, he appeared to be... well, not just a fat sheep ripe for ughter, but a veryimportant customer!


    Luca didn''t pay much attention to the assistant''s look. Smiling, he said, "I''m not here to buy equipment. Old Carl from Riverfall City sent me. Could you inform your boss?"


    "Riverfall City?" The young assistant looked puzzled, not expecting that Luke would have any friends in Riverfall City.


    However, he didn''t probe further and simply said, "Please wait a moment," before heading towards the backyard.


    Not long after, a rough voice could be heard faintlying from the backyard.


    "Damn it! That old bastard''s still alive? I thought that debt was already settled ages ago¡­"


    A few momentster, the door swung open. A burly, unkempt man with a cigar in his mouth and a full beard strode out.


    His hair was curly, his body robust, and he was dressed in a ck leather apron. He held a hammer in his hand, his entire body covered in grime. His sharp, tiger-like eyes sized up Luca for a moment, and he frowned, asking, "Who the hell are you to Old Carl? Why did that old bastard send you here?"


    Luca briefly exined the past events and his reason foring.


    After hearing the story, Luke plopped down heavily onto a chair, smoking his cigar with a disgruntled expression. "That old bastard really has no shame. Haven''t heard from him in years, and the first thing he does when he contacts me is to ask for a favor!"


    He had known Old Carl for decades and owed him a huge favor in the early years. Afterward, one of them developed his business in Riverfall City while the other remained in Southwind City, and they hadn''t been in touch for a long time.


    Luke had nearly forgotten all about it, but who knew that old bastard still remembered? It made Luke feel a bit exasperated.


    "Alright then, what equipment do you want?" Luke flicked the cigar butt away and asked gruffly, though he didn''t show any signs of refusing to settle the debt.


    Luca blinked a few times and said, "I''d like a tinum Grade spell spear, preferably with a boost to magic rune effects."


    The corner of Luke''s mouth twitched, and he couldn''t help but let out a sarcasticugh.


    His face twisted in irritation as he growled, "A tinum Grade with additional effects? You''ve got some nerve, kid! This kind of item would cost at least 100,000 gold coins to forge. Do you really think I''m some sucker here to be fleeced?!"


    Luca didn''t respond.


    Because, in truth, that was exactly what he thought.


    Luke rummaged through his storage ring for a moment, then waved his hand and tossed a ck spear over to Luca. "That old bastard borrowed 100 gold coins from me decades ago. This piece is worth at least 30,000, which is more than enough to repay that favor. Take it if you want it, otherwise, just leave."


    Luca caught the spell spear and examined it.


    The spear was entirely ck, with intricate crimson-purple patterns carved along its shaft. It felt heavy in his hand, weighing at least a hundred pounds. With his current strength attributes, wielding it was no problem at all.


    He then checked the weapon''s attributes.


    [Wind and Thunder Spell Spear: Gold Grade. Usable by Demonic Rune Mages. Increases magical attack power by +380, boosts spirit attribute by +210, enhances all magic rune effects by +15%, increases attack speed by +10%. Skill 1: Surge of Wind and Thunder ¨C Passive skill that increases the attack power of wind and thunder magic runes by 10%. No cooldown.]


    With a flick of his wrist, the Wind and Thunder Spell Spear spun gracefully through the air, disying a flurry of spear blossoms.


    Sparks of lightning shed faintly along the spear''s shaft, apanied by a whistling wind that radiated an imposing aura.


    He nced at his status panel and saw that equipping the Wind and Thunder Spell Spear had raised his spirit attribute to 2,340, with his base attack now exceeding 6,000.


    If he used a mid-tier spell, his damage could easily break through 10,000.


    "This will do!" Luca nodded slightly, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.


    The Wind and Thunder Spell Spear was undoubtedly a top-tier weapon among Gold Grade items and would serve him well for quite some time.


    "Get lost already! The sight of you is making me sick!" Luke spat out, his face twitching in pain.


    The Wind and Thunder Spell Spear was easily worth over 10,000 gold coins, and giving it away just like that¡­ Of course, it hurt him deeply.


    [Ding! You havepleted the quest "Visit the cksmith Luke." You''ve received the reward: Wind and Thunder Spell Spear (Gold Grade)!]

 Capítulo 89: Chapter 89: Assassination? Counterattack! News of a New Node!

    "Thank you!" Luca cheerfully stored away the Wind and Thunder Spell Spear.


    Knowing that Luke was in a foul mood, Luca didn''t linger and quickly left the cksmith shop.


    After leaving Luke''s workshop, Luca decided to head to the Mages'' Association to take on some tasks.


    With his talent and abilities, once he reached level 30, he could start crafting high-tier magic runes.


    Like other professions, high-tier magic runes for Demonic Rune Mages represented a qualitative leap in power.


    If he could sessfully craft them, his strength would skyrocket.


    However, high-tier materials were always scarce and expensive, requiring a significant amount of gold to acquire.


    And the meager amount of gold he had wouldn''tst long.


    Not to mention, Donald also needed arge sum to purchase weapons.


    In simple terms, Luca was desperately short of money, and he needed to figure out ways to make more.


    As he was contemting this, a carriage came to a stop in front of him.


    "Where would you like to go, sir?" The coachman in front of the carriage wore a bowler hat, obscuring his features, and his voice sounded hoarse.


    Luca didn''t sense anything amiss and asked, "How much to go to the Mages'' Association?"


    "Three copper coins," the coachman replied.


    Luca nodded without haggling, stepped forward, and prepared to board the carriage.


    Just as he was about to enter the carriage¡ª


    The coachman slightly lifted his head, revealing a in and unremarkable face.


    But those eyes... They were cold and sinister.


    In the next instant, a sharp dagger sliced through the air, aiming ruthlessly at Luca''s back!


    The coachman''s timing was impable, and with such a close distance, there was no way for Luca to dodge. This was a sure-kill strike!


    But just as the dagger was about to pierce Luca''s body, something that shocked the coachman urred.


    "Whoosh!"


    A silver sh streaked by, and Luca''s figure suddenly vanished into thin air.


    The coachman''s heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively tried to retreat.


    "Splurt!"


    Blood sprayed everywhere, sshing onto the carriage!


    A segment of a ck spear pierced through the coachman''s chest, its sharp tip dripping with fresh blood.


    The coachman''s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked down at his chest.


    He couldn''t understand where he had gone wrong, what w had betrayed him.


    Standing behind him, Luca, with a calm expression, pulled out the spear and said indifferently, "The fare in the Outer District isn''t the same as in the Inner District. Pay attention to that in your next life."


    Blood gushed out as the coachman copsed to the ground, a pool of crimson spreading from his mouth. His eyes were filled with unwillingness.


    The coachman could never have imagined that such a small w would cost him his life.


    After the coachman breathed hisst, Luca searched his body.


    All he found was a silver badge of the Assassin''s Guild¡ªnothing of value or any useful clues.


    Luca had expected this. He had been an assassin in his past life and knew that professional killers never carried anything that would lead back to their employers.


    "Who could it be?" Luca muttered softly to himself.


    The number of people he had offended wasn''trge, and even fewer had the means to hire an assassin.


    If he asked Tia to investigate, it should be easy to narrow down the list.


    With this in mind, Luca headed towards a secluded alley in the Outer District, nning to visit one of The Nightmare Cult''s contact points.


    His principle had always been simple: Do not offend me, and I won''t offend you.


    Now that someone had sent an assassin after him, there was no way Luca would let it slide as if nothing had happened.


    After Luca left, Luke, still holding a cigarette in his mouth, walked out of his shop and looked at the assassin''s corpse lying on the ground.


    Clicking his tongue in amazement, he remarked, "That kid''s got some skills, huh? Took down a Silver Assassin."


    The rank of "Silver Assassin" within the Assassin''s Guild was roughly equivalent to that of a mid-tier professional.


    Luke had sensed the assassin''s attack the moment it happened, but by the time he came out, only the assassin''s corpse remained.


    It could be deduced that Luca hadpleted the counterattack in an instant.


    Luke shook his head. This kid, despite looking so young, possessed such formidable strength. It seemed Old Carl had truly backed the right horse this time...


    ¡­


    In a deste corner of the Outer District stood an abandoned church.


    The church had been in ruins for a long time, with crumbling walls and shattered windows¡ªconditions that would have typically turned it into a haven for vagrants.


    But surprisingly, the inside of the church was meticulously cleaned, and there were quite a few devout followers praying within.


    Most of them were dressed in tattered clothing, their faces sallow and emaciated. A few looked like ordinary people, as the wealthy in the Inner District had their own grand churches.


    At the front pulpit, an elderly priest with graying hair held a Bible, recounting the myth of the Dawn Goddess "Sylvia," who, in order to seek forgiveness from the gods for humanity, sacrificed her divine body and transformed into a cluster of stars to illuminate mankind in the darkness.


    The church was quiet, with only the murmurs of prayer echoing throughout.


    Luca casually found an empty seat, closed his eyes, and waited patiently.


    Before long, the prayers inside the church gradually faded.


    "Master." A woman''s voice whispered softly in Luca''s ear.


    Simultaneously, a scent of herbs mixed with roses wafted into his nostrils.


    Luca opened his eyes and saw Tia and Mira kneeling respectfully before him.


    The formerly devout worshippers in the church had, at some point, revealed the serpent-shaped tattoos that had been hidden beneath their clothes.


    These were all members of The Nightmare Cult.


    "Elder Gruen of The Nightmare Cult greets my Lord!" The elderly priest with graying hair knelt down, loudly proiming his reverence.


    "Greetings, my Lord!" The other cultists echoed in unison, their expressions fervent and fanatical.


    These were all followers who had been meticulously selected by Tia. The previous riffraff had long been purged.


    Now, only one type of person remained in The Nightmare Cult¡ªthose who were absolutely loyal believers in Jormungandr, or, more precisely, in Luca himself!


    In their eyes, Luca was the incarnation of Jormungandr, the second ruler of the Dream Realm, the all-powerful Father of Dreams!


    These were all titles that Tia had propagated for Luca. Although they sounded a bit juvenile, surprisingly, they worked quite well.


    There was no helping it¡ªthese cultists were exactly the kind of people who fell for this sort of thing.


    Luca paid no mind to these fanatical followers and turned to Tia, asking, "Any results on the information I asked you to look into?"


    He was referring to news regarding the nodes.


    This was Luca''s top priority at the moment. Finding the person who attempted to assassinate him was secondary.


    Tia hesitated briefly before nodding, "We''ve gathered some information, but it''s not yet confirmed whether it''s a node."


    Luca was slightly surprised. He had only asked casually, not expecting any real progress. It seemed that the number of followers in The Nightmare Cult was far greater than he had imagined.


    "What did you find? Tell me more," Luca said.


    Tia answered respectfully, "Our people discovered unusual spatial fluctuations in a small town a few dozen kilometers outside Southwind City. However, it''s not yet clear if it''s a monster or a secret realm."


    Luca understood. Both monsters and secret realms emitted a distinct type of energy fluctuation that was hard for ordinary people to differentiate.


    But for him, it wasn''t difficult at all. He had seen countless nodes and secret realms in his past life. When the time came, he would just have to take a look in person.


    "Well done," Luca nodded slightly, and a sh of silver light glimmered on his hand.


    The next moment, Jormungandr, dressed in a ck gothic gown, materialized beside him.


    The gazes of The Nightmare Cult''s followers became even more fanatical. If not for Tia''s presence, many of them would probably have rushed forward in adoration.


    Jormungandr squinted her long, narrow purple eyes as she looked at the group of over a hundred cultists standing before her.


    She licked her red lips and turned her gaze to Luca, her eyes filled with flirtation. With a soft, silky voice, she cooed, "Master, are all these people prepared for me? You really do treat me well~"


    Not long ago, she had absorbed the souls of a batch of The Nightmare Cult members and had been in a deep slumber ever since.


    Now, seeing so many humans right after waking up, Jormungandr''s opinion of Luca improved significantly.


    It seemed this human wasn''t so despicable that he didn''t even treat her as a person...


    Luca nced at her and said indifferently, "These people aren''t for you. Besides, it''s time to get to work."


    With that, he gestured toward Mira, who was standing behind Tia. The meaning was clear: extend Mira''s life.


    "Extend¡­ life?" Jormungandr''s charming face instantly darkened, and her goodwill toward Luca dropped back into the negatives. This vile man was making her use her own life essence to extend someone else''s life¡ªagain?!


    "After all the things I fed you before, did you really think you wouldn''t have to pay anything in return?" Luca gave Jormungandr a faint smile, his tone calm. "Of course, if you''re unwilling, I won''t force you¡­"


    Before he could finish speaking, Jormungandr''s delicate face stiffened as she forced a smile. "Wil¡­ling, I''m willing. How could I not want to fulfill my master''smand?!"


    Thest few words were squeezed out through clenched teeth, her fangs slightly showing.


    With visible reluctance and heartache, Jormungandr closed her eyes and summoned a sphere of Dreamweaving energy, which she threw to Mira.


    As the silver radiance flowed into her body, Mira''s previously pale face quickly turned rosy.


    And the sickly look on her face disappeared, reced by a healthy, vibrant glow.


    Tia''s eyes showed a deep sense of gratitude as she bowed her head to Luca. "Thank you, Master!"


    Jormungandr''s lips twitched slightly. Why didn''t anyone thank her? She was the one who had done all the work, wasn''t she?!


    The other followers of The Nightmare Cult looked even more fervent at this disy. Elder Gruen, in particr, gazed at Luca with admiration and envy.


    As expected, their master was truly the God of Dreams!


    Didn''t they see how even a being like Jormungandr had to obey him?!


    "As I said before, as long as you do your work properly, I won''t let you suffer," Luca said casually. Then he added, "Oh, and there''s one more task I need you to handle."


    "Today, a Silver-ranked assassin tried to kill me. Find out who''s behind it and gather all the details on the assassin for me."


    Upon hearing Luca''s words, everyone present was stunned.


    Tia''s face turned deathly pale in an instant, followed by an intense surge of fury that washed over her.


    Luca was the only hope for her sister''s survival. If anything happened to Luca, her sister''s fate would be sealed as well!


    How could she not be furious and terrified?!


    "Master, don''t worry. I will definitely find out who''s responsible for this!" Tia gritted her teeth, a cold, murderous glint shing in her eyes.


    Seeing this, Luca nodded slightly. He had confidence in Tia''s abilities. After all, she would be the Nightmare Queen in the future.


    He then selected a few followers, including Elder Gruen, and had Jormungandr fulfill their dreams and wishes.


    Afterward, under the reverent and admiring gazes of the cult members, Luca left the church.


    "Rest assured, Master, we will make those sphemers pay the price!" Gruen clenched his fists, a fierce look appearing on his face.


    The other cultists also showed a hint of murderous intent in their eyes. If Luca were to die, they would lose not only their dreams but everything they had hoped to achieve! Anyone who dared to threaten Luca''s life¡ªthey would ensure those people had no ce to be buried!

 Capítulo 90: Chapter 90: Lucas Background! Overwhelming Hatred! Kassna Pasha!

    Meanwhile, in the vi of the Franco family...


    "What?! The assassination failed?!" Lina''s face twisted in fury as she listened to the servant''s report. She had spent a fortune hiring a Silver-ranked assassin to kill that little brat, and now these idiots were telling her they failed?!


    "Useless! Every single one of you is worthless!" She flew into a rage, smashing everything within reach, yet her anger was still far from being quelled.


    Every time she thought of her sweet, innocent son''s tragic death, the fact that she couldn''t avenge him made her hatred for Luca grow deeper. In her mind, she fantasized about skinning Luca alive and tearing him apart.


    Seeing her disheveled hair and crazed appearance, the surrounding servants were terrified, not daring to make a sound.


    The servant who had spoken earlier steeled himself and said, "Madam, it seems the boy''s strength is far greater than we initially anticipated.


    ording to our sources, the Silver-ranked assassin only had a chance to strike once before being killed on the spot. It seems that regr assassins won''t be able to take him down."


    The servant was equally shocked when he first heard the news.


    After all, a Silver-ranked assassin is no joke. Even many mid-tier professionals struggle to escape their deadly grasp, yet one was taken down by a mere boy.


    It was hard to imagine that an 18-year-old could possess such terrifying power.


    But Lina didn''t care about any of that. Her face contorted with rage as she snarled, "I don''t want your excuses! If once isn''t enough, try again! If twice isn''t enough, try a third time! If Silver-ranked assassins can''t kill him, then hire a Gold-ranked one! I refuse to believe we can''t take down some brat from Riverfall City!"


    The servant opened his mouth to speak.


    But before he could say anything, the vi''s front doors were suddenly kicked open!


    A furious voice followed, "Lina, have you lost your mind?!"


    An elderly man dressed in an extravagant robe stormed into the vi, his eyes zing with anger as he red at Lina. Behind him, several high-ranking members of the Franco family followed, their expressions filled with schadenfreude as they watched the scene unfold.


    Lina froze for a moment, and when she realized who had arrived, she quickly dropped to her knees, her voice trembling as she said, "Father, why are you here?"


    The man was none other than Vasily Franco, head of the Franco family and Lina''s father.


    Without saying a word, the old man strode forward and pped Lina hard across the face. The sharp sound of the p echoed through the vi. Vasily didn''t hold back, and blood trickled from the corner of Lina''s mouth as a clear handprint marred her once-beautiful face.


    Vasily''s expression was dark as he looked at Lina, who was kneeling on the ground with her face in her hands, staring nkly ahead. He spoke slowly, enunciating every word with a chilling tone, "I told you before, Luca is no ordinary person. I warned you not to act recklessly. Did you take my words as a joke?!"


    Right now, the Franco family was in an extremely precarious position.


    Their previous cooperation with The Nightmare Cult had already reached Marquis Bronte''s ears. If there weren''t ack of concrete evidence, Marquis Bronte would have dealt with them long ago. And now, during such a sensitive period, his foolish daughter had gone and ordered an assassination attempt on the young man who had saved Riverfall City.


    Wasn''t this practically handing Marquis Bronte the leverage he needed to destroy them?


    Just thinking about it made Vasily tremble with rage.


    The reason he had confined Lina to this vi was to give her some time to calm down and reflect.


    But instead, she went and created an even bigger mess!


    Lina, regaining herposure, shrieked hysterically, "He''s nothing but a lucky bastard! A lowly, insignificant rat! Why can''t I kill him? Why not?!"


    Hearing this, Vasily couldn''t help but let out a bitterugh.


    Standing to the side, a middle-aged man with a stern face and cold eyes said icily, "An hour ago, we received word that the boy named Luca not only passed the 20th floor trial but also became a disciple of Orf. Even Marquis Bronte thinks highly of him and has gone so far as to gift him a vi."


    "If this person dies at your hands, the entire Franco family will be buried alongside him!"


    "What?! He became Orf''s disciple?!" Lina looked as if she had been struck by lightning. She understood all too well what this meant. Anyone who dared toy a hand on Luca would first have to consider whether they could withstand the wrath of a Superss powerhouse!


    But¡­ did this mean she had to give up on avenging Matthew and let that Luca roam free, living happily right under her nose?


    Lina''s face turned deathly pale, and her lips quivered.


    It was a fate worse than death!


    Her gaze turned vicious again, filled with boundless hatred. "No! I can''t just let it go like this! That little bastard killed Matthew. He has to die!"


    "Father! Matthew was your grandson! You have to avenge him!" She turned her tear-filled eyes towards Vasily, pleading desperately.


    "You idiot! Do you want our entire family to be buried with that boy?!" Vasily, enraged, raised his hand as if to strike her again.


    But seeing Lina''s tear-streaked face, he hesitated and, in the end, didn''tnd the blow.


    Vasily took a deep breath, then turned to the people behind him and coldly ordered, "Wester, freeze all of Lina''s assets. She is not to take a single step outside this vi for the next month!"


    After issuing hismand, he didn''t spare a nce at his daughter lying on the floor. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left the room.


    A middle-aged man standing nearby, who bore a striking resemnce to Lina, responded to Vasily''smand with a nod.


    Once Vasily had left, the man turned to Lina and sighed, "Sister, we''re all deeply saddened by Matthew''s death, but you can''t drag the entire family into this with you. I''ll speak to Father on your behalf, but you''ll have to endure this for now."


    The others present, however, did not share Wester''s sympathy. Their eyes were filled with undisguised schadenfreude as they looked at Lina.


    Vasily was already getting old, and now Lina had fallen out of favor. This meant one lesspetitor for them in the future. How could they not be pleased?


    Lina red at everyone in the room, biting her lips so hard that they bled. The resentment in her eyes didn''t lessen¡ªinstead, it grew even stronger.


    Vasily''s words didn''t bring her to her senses at all. Instead, they only deepened her hatred for Luca. If it weren''t for him, how could she have ended up in such a miserable state?


    No matter what, Luca had to die!


    At any cost!!


    ...


    Meanwhile, after leaving the church, Luca didn''t linger and took a carriage back to the Inner District.


    Originally, he had nned to visit the Mages'' Association to inquire about the prices of high-tier materials and pick up a few tasks along the way.


    However, midway through his journey, a white pigeon with crimson feathers suddenlynded on the carriage window.


    "Luca, your courses have been arranged. You need to return to the academy to go over the follow-up procedures." It tilted its head, its ck-and-white eyes looking at Luca sideways as it spoke in a human voice.


    The voice was Orf''s. This pigeon, known as a Crimson Plumed Dove, was a harmless monster often used to deliver messages. Luca, already ustomed to it, nodded and replied, "I''ll head back right away."


    Since he had be a mentor at Red Maple Academy, it was natural for him to fulfill his duties. However, his time was limited, and he couldn''t afford to spend too much of it teaching students. He needed Orf to make some adjustments to his schedule, and returning to the academy would be a good opportunity to discuss this matter.


    Luca instructed the coachman to change course and head toward Red Maple Academy.


    The academy wasn''t far, and he arrived shortly thereafter.


    The freshman assessment had ended, and the once-crowded square outside the academy had mostly cleared out. Now, only a few people remained, busy carrying luggage and belongings.


    Previously, there had been tens of thousands of people in the square. Apart from the few who had sessfully joined Red Maple Academy as the cream of the crop, most had failed and would have to apply to other academies instead.


    "Sir, are you a student at Red Maple Academy?" The young coachman asked with a look of admiration, his gaze lingering on the grand, ancient gates of the academy in the distance.


    Red Maple Academy was the pride of Southwind City, a holy ce beyond the reach of ordinary people''s dreams. To think that the young man he had casually given a ride to turned out to be a student at Red Maple Academy!


    "No, I''m not." Luca paid the fare, shook his head with a smile, and offered no further exnation as he made his way towards the entrance of Red Maple Academy.


    Many students who saw him walking through the gates looked at him with expressions of surprise. -read-now


    Luca''s feat of freezing the Trial Tower during the assessment had already spread throughout Red Maple Academy, and many people knew that a formidable figure had joined the academy.


    What surprised them even more was that someone of Luca''s stature would arrive in such an ordinary carriage.


    As he approached the academy gates, Luca showed his mentor''s badge to the gatekeeper and was just about to enter.


    Thena girl''s voice suddenly called out from the side.


    "Mentor Luca!"


    Luca turned his head and saw a girl with long, fiery red hair waving at him. Her bright smile and sparkling eyes made her appear lively and adorable.


    Behind her was a huge suitcase stacked high with various bags and packages, but she pulled it along as if it weighed nothing.


    "Hello, student," Luca replied with a smile. He had some impression of this girl¡ªshe was one of the students who had passed the assessment and whom he had seen at the stadium before. However, he didn''t know her name.


    "Mentor, I''m Kassna Pasha! It''s a pleasure to meet you!" The red-haired girl abandoned her luggage and ran over, introducing herself with a look of excitement.


    As she spoke, herrge, doe-like eyes gazed at Luca, brimming with admiration.


    Back when Kassna learned that someone in their group had cleared the 20th floor of the Trial Tower, she immediately switched her idol from Anna to Luca.


    After all, passing the 20th floor was an incredible feat!


    Even Anna, who was widely regarded as this year''s top prodigy of the Southern Territory, had only cleared the 18th floor!


    Now, to see someone around her age not only pass the 20th floor but also be a mentor at Red Maple Academy¡ªhow could she not look up to him?


    [Ding! Kassna Pasha''s affection for you has increased by 100 points!]


    Luca was momentarily stunned and instinctively nced at Kassna''s affection level.


    He was startled by what he saw.


    Her disyed affection points had somehow already exceeded 600!


    And this was only their second meeting!


    Luca felt a mix of amusement and bewilderment.


    This girl''s affection for him was growing at a pace second only to Lucia''s, whom he had known for a much longer time.

 Capítulo 103: Chapter 103: Demon-Sealing Formation! Pierce’s Talent! Heavenly Star Awakening!

    As Luca approached the central square of Pure River Town, the deformed monsters around him became denser, crowding together inrge groups. The monsters'' levels were also steadily increasing.


    However, these creatures posed no threat to Luca. In fact, their numbers made it easier for him to clear them out.


    Previously, he had prepared arge number of low-tier magic runes, and now they wereing in handy. Alternating between me Runes, Frost Runes, and other elemental runes, Luca seamlessly shifted from meleebatant to a long-range spellcaster.


    With no survivors left in Pure River Town, he had no need to hold back. He could unleash his full power without worrying about coteral damage.


    Most of the monsters didn''t even see Luca before being obliterated by a barrage of Fire Serpentscrashing into them.


    -13,500! -14,200! -14,400!


    Explosions echoed across the town as deformed creatures caught in the magic rune sts were turned into ash instantly.


    Damage numbers filled the air like smoke, vanishing as quickly as they appeared.


    Buildings, already in a state of disrepair, crumbled further under Luca''s relentless onught, reduced to rubble.


    [Ding! You have in "lv28 Flying Skull Demon (Common)," gaining 32,300 EXP!]


    [Ding! You have in "lv33 One-Eyed Undead Ghoul (Common)," gaining 47,500 EXP!]


    [Ding! You have in "lv35 Human-Faced Spider Spirit (Rare)," gaining 181,000 EXP!]


    ...


    Wave after wave of experience flooded into Luca, causing his experience bar to rise rapidly.


    Before long, Luca leveled up again, his body glowing with the light of progress.


    [Ding! Your level has increased to 32. You have gained 30 free attribute points!]


    He immediately allocated the points into his spirit stat. Then, with a swift motion, he pulled his spear from the decaying body of a monster, shaking off the ck blood that clung to it. ncing back at Luna and the rest of the group, he assessed their situation.


    Given theirrge numbers, they were attracting far more monsters than Luca was.


    Luna was leading the charge at the front, and with her high-tier strength, she was utterly dominating the battlefield.


    It almost seemed like Luna could single-handedly wipe out all the monsters in the town herself.


    There was no denying that Luna had earned her reputation as Southwind City''s greatest talent.


    Her swordsmanship alone was leagues beyond what ordinary people could achieve.


    However, it would still take some time for them to catch up to him.


    Luca turned his gaze back toward the square shrouded in ck mist. Without hesitation, he resumed his advance, moving closer to the mysterious center of Pure River Town.


    Though still some distance from the square, Luca could already feel a chilling sensation creeping through him.


    "This ck mist is strange¡­ almost like it''s part of a formation," Luca muttered, frowning as he observed the fog from afar.


    Could this have been set up by the professionals who came here before?


    But that didn''t make sense¡ªwasn''t there already a sealing formation surrounding the area outside? And this didn''t seem like a sealing formation at all¡­


    When Luca had first arrived in Pure River Town, he had taken a quick nce at therge-scale formation outside. It was a high-tier sealing mage''s work, clearly intended to contain the monsters within the town. So, what was the purpose of this formation shrouding the square?


    Unsure of the answer, Luca decided not to overthink it for now. He would figure it out when he got closer.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of Pure River Town.


    Luna and herrge force continued to push toward the square.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Colorful bursts of magic exploded among the Abyssal Crawlers, sending severed limbs and ckened flesh flying in all directions. The already foul-smelling streets were now so putrid they could nearly make someone pass out.


    Teams of soldiers and professionals systematically cleared the deformed monsters that filled the town.


    Luna''s graceful form moved swiftly among the dense hordes of monsters. Her rapier seemed delicate, but each strike unleashed sharp waves of sword energy that cut down everything in its path.


    Any creature touched by her sword energy, no matter its rank, was instantly cleaved in two. The cuts were so clean and precise that even the monsters'' internal organs were sliced perfectly in half.


    "Miss Luna, aren''t we at Pure River Town''s square yet?" Pierce, who was trailing behind Luna, panted heavily, drenched in sweat. His noble attire looked as if he had just pulled it out of a river.


    At that moment, Pierce felt like his legs no longer belonged to him. As the lord of Serpent City and a member of the Shana family, he was used to being chauffeured everywhere by carriage¡ªwalking this much was utterly foreign to him.


    In fact, Pierce was a professional himself, and a high-tier one at that. But his ss was a Secret Mage, which meant his physical capabilities were barely different from an ordinary person''s. Keeping up with Luna was proving to be a real challenge for him.


    "Lord Pierce, I think you could stand to lose a bit of weight.


    At this rate, you''ll probably keel over from a heart attack before you even reach Superss," Luna said casually as she swung her rapier again, its pale white energy slicing through an elite monster covered in eyeballs, cutting it cleanly in two.She spoke without much emotion, but her words were clearly directed at her old acquaintance.


    Luna and Pierce had known each other for a long time. In fact, they had once been ssmates. Despite their current roles, they weren''t far apart in age.


    Few people knew that, back in the day, Southwind City had produced two geniuses. They had just chosen different paths. One was Luna, who hadpleted the 18th floor of the trial assessment at the age of 21.


    The other was this massive man who looked like he weighed at least 500 pounds¡ªPierce.


    At 22, Pierce had independently developed a high-tier secret spell. His talents in both secret magic and formations were unmatched, even across the entire Clinton Empire. In fact, the formation used to seal off Pure River Town and prevent the monsters from escaping was one of his creations.


    Pierce shook his head and sighed, "Losing weight is impossible. Do you know how hard I worked to get this fat? If I lose it, all those meals would''ve been for nothing!"


    Luna didn''t even try to make sense of his logic. She had long grown used to Pierce''s entricity.


    Just then, Pierce suddenly nced toward the center of Pure River Town, his eyes widening in surprise. "That kid''s moving fast. He''s already reached the square!"


    Luna blinked and followed his gaze. Sure enough, she spotted Luca, leaping nimbly across rooftops, far ahead of their group.


    In his hands, various magic runes cycled one after another¡ªicences, fire serpents, earth spikes, vines, and more¡ªall being unleashed like there was no cost.


    He was cutting through the dense waves of Abyssal Crawlers, carving out a path straight toward the center of Pure River Town, leaving their main force far behind.


    Pierce watched in amazement, clicking his tongue. "I''d always heard people say Demonic Rune Mages were unbeatable among their peers, but I thought it was just talk. Turns out, they weren''t exaggerating."


    Although Luna''s speed had been slowed by the need to guide Pierce and the rest of their group, Luca''s progress was undeniably impressive¡ªespecially considering he was doing it alone.


    However, Luna noticed something wasn''t right.


    Frowning, she said, "This kid¡­ he''s heading for the square, isn''t he?"


    By now, Luca had reached the heart of Pure River Town. Beyond himy the square¡ªwhere their mission objective was located. But it didn''t seem like Luca had any intention of stopping.


    Pierce, stunned, remarked, "This kid''s got guts. He''s really charging into the trap alone. Is he that unafraid of dying?"


    Luna''s expression darkened, and she spoke in a firm tone, "We need to pick up the pace. Forget about waiting for the others."


    The central square of Pure River Town was shrouded by a mysterious formation, and Luna had no idea whaty within. She had brought Pierce along specifically to help break the formation, but now Luca was too far ahead. If he encountered danger inside, there would be no way for the others to assist him.


    Before Pierce could respond, Luna grabbed him by the cor and dashed across the rooftops, carrying him along at high speed.


    Pierce''s face turned pale, and in a voice full of panic, he cried, "Slow down! He''s not an idiot¡ªhe wouldn''t just rush into the formation!"


    But his words were cut short as he caught something out of the corner of his eye. His small eyes widened in disbelief.


    "Holy crap! He really went in?!" Pierce eximed, stunned.


    Just moments ago, he had seen Luca pause in front of the ck mist for a couple of seconds before stepping straight into it.


    Now, Pierce didn''t know what to say. Were young people really this fearless nowadays?


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the center of Pure River Town''s square...


    "A Demon-Sealing Formation? How is there a Demon-Sealing Formationhere?" Luca muttered, frowning as he navigated the ck mist.


    The moment he came into contact with the mist, he recognized the formation.


    A Demon-Sealing Formationwas a high-tier secret spell specifically designed to seal nodes and buy time. In his previous life, nearly all high-tier professionals knew this technique, as it could provide invaluable time in critical situations.


    What puzzled Luca was that this formation should still be a hidden secret, locked away in the notebooks of old mages.


    In the future, after the game''s arrival, the technique had been rediscovered and spread widely.


    But now, at this point in time, a Demon-Sealing Formationhad already been deployed.


    And this wasn''t just a standard version¡ªit had been modified. The sealing effect had been weakened, which exined why the monsters had been able to escape the square. Luca needed to examine the changes in more detail to understand the exact modifications.


    One thing was clear: the events in Pure River Town were not a natural urrence. Someone had orchestrated this.


    But what were they trying to achieve by harnessing the power of the node?


    Roar...


    As Luca pondered the mystery, a chorus of snarls suddenly echoed through the air.


    Deformed, four-limbed monsters twisted their grotesque bodies as they charged at him, ws bared and mouths wide. There were easily over a hundred of them swarming toward him.


    Luca had no time to dwell on the mystery¡ªhe had to deal with the immediate threat. The monsters in the square were far more powerful than those outside. Some of them were already reaching level 40, which meant he couldn''t afford to take them lightly.


    Taking a deep breath, Luca''s gaze turned sharp, cold determination filling his eyes.


    Suddenly, a soft green glow surrounded him, and his pupils began to shift, taking on a faint cyan hue.


    At the center of Luca''s chest, intricate green magic runesbegan to spread, quickly expanding across his body. Behind him, they formed the shape of a towering, magnificent tree.


    Its branches were lush and vibrant, with what seemed like faint stars glimmering among the leaves. It was so lifelike that the tree appeared as though it were about to burst forth into reality. A powerful surge of life energy radiated from it.


    Superss Magic Rune ¡ª Heavenly Star Crystal Tree!


    Heavenly Star Awakening!

 Capítulo 104: Chapter 104: Demonic Transformation! Black Coffin! Immortality! Worse than Beasts!

    The powerful surge of life energy from Luca''s Heavenly Star Awakeningscattered the ck mist around him, thinning it slightly.


    Under the immense force of nature, Luca''s entire presence shifted. The overflowing vitality radiating from him stood in stark contrast to the grotesque, decaying monsters around him.


    The howls and growls within the mist intensified. The creatures, with their blood-red eyes locked onto Luca, were filled with ravenous greed. To them, the rich life energy emanating from Luca was an irresistible lure.


    More monsters were drawn to him, surging forward in massive waves, their foul stench growing even more overpowering. It was so intense that Luca had to wrinkle his nose in disgust.


    With a sh of green light, Luca summoned a shield of emerald energy around himself, allowing him to breathe more freely.


    The rank odor was enough to confirm that these creatures had definitely crawled out from the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    But Luca remained calm as the hordes of monsters closed in on him. His Wind and Thunder Spell Spear, now glowing a vibrant green, tapped lightly against the ground.


    Crack!


    Suddenly, the earth beneath him split open, and a small seedling burst forth from the ground. In mere moments, it grew into a towering tree, dozens of meters high.


    Its trunk was so thick it would take several men to wrap their arms around it, and its branches were dense with leaves. The tree''s roots dug deep into the earth, anchoring it firmly.


    Standing atop the canopy, Luca gazed down at the iing monsters. His presence alone sent the initial wave flying backward.


    But the monsters quickly regrouped, swarming toward the base of the tree in an attempt to climb up.


    The sight of countless ck creatures wing and scrambling their way up the tree was enough to make anyone''s skin crawl.


    Yet Luca remained calm, his eyes focused and steady. His spear glowed green once more.


    In an instant, massive roots shot up from the ground, snaking their way toward the monsters like serpents. The roots coiled around each creature, pulling them in and trapping them withinrge wooden spheres.


    The monstrous balls of wood shook and quivered, with muffled snarls and screeches emanating from within.


    "Die," Luca muttered softly. The moment the word left his lips, the wooden spheres constricted violently.


    POP! POP! POP!


    ck blood spurted out from between the roots, flooding the ground and staining it a deep, inky ck.


    Dozens of kill notifications shed before Luca''s eyes, and his experience bar surged forward.


    "As expected, grinding monster hordes is the fastest way to level up¡­" Luca muttered to himself.


    Finding this many monsters was no easy feat under normal circumstances. Nodes and secret realms were among the few ces where suchrge numbers could be encountered. Today''s harvest was shaping up to be even greater than Luca had initially anticipated.


    As more monsters continued to rush at him, Luca''s lips curled into a smirk. Sharp wooden spikes erupted from the massive tree beneath him, firing toward the approaching creatures like a torrential rain of spears.


    ck blood sttered everywhere, and in the blink of an eye, the creatures surrounding the giant tree were wiped out, leaving a massive clearing.


    The dark blood pooled on the ground, forming ake, but it quickly seeped into the soil, disappearing from sight.


    Meanwhile, the tree Luca stood upon grew even taller, its branches and leaves bing more vibrant and lush.


    Wood-element abilities were not only known for their healing properties but also for absorbing life force to strengthen themselves. This was one of the signature abilities of wood-element magic.


    Because of this, wood-element professions had unparalleled endurancepared to other sses, making them ideal for prolonged battles and war of attrition.


    As Luca leveled up by ying monsters, he never lost sight of his true goal.


    Standing atop the tree''s crown, he scanned the entire square, his eyes glowing with a faint blue light.


    Eye of Insight!


    In the outside world, using Eye of Insightwould be hindered by barriers or concealment, but within the confines of the Demon-Sealing Formation, there were no such limitations. After all, this was a sealing formation, not an illusion meant to obscure one''s vision.


    The moment Luca activated the Eye of Insight, the dark mist that covered the entire square vanished in a sh of blue light.


    Though the view was still somewhat hazy, Luca could now clearly see the whole square.


    "This is¡­" His pupils contracted sharply as he took in the sight before him.


    Despite having mentally prepared himself, the scene that greeted him left Luca stunned.


    The once small town square was now packed with an overwhelming number of Abyssal Crawlers, all writhing and piled on top of each other.


    They howled, roared, and tore at one another, forming a chaotic, violent mass. In the very center of the square, a pitch-ck abyss yawned open, from which more Crawlers emerged endlessly.


    It really is a Spatial Node!


    Although much smaller than the node where the Hydra had descended, there was no doubt¡ªit was a Spatial Node.


    But what truly shocked Luca wasn''t the node itself.


    It was what hovered above it: a massive blood-red formation woven from crimson spiderwebs. The threads of the web pulsed like blood vessels, as if they were transporting something unknown.


    Moreover, scattered around the square were twelve irregrly ced tower-like structures.


    Each tower was covered in ck runes, which seemed to flow like liquid. The air around them reeked of an evil so profound that merely looking at them evoked a primal sense of dread and nausea.


    From Luca''s vantage point, he could see the distinct pattern these towers formed. The symbol they created was ancient, a dark mark that had been passed down through countless generations on the Eternal Continent.Luca had seen it before¡ªmany times, in fact¡ªduring his studies of forbidden magic in his previous life.


    "Immortality¡­" Luca muttered, deciphering the meaning behind the formation.


    He was beginning to understand what this array truly was.


    Turning his gaze toward the center of the blood-red spiderweb, Luca saw it.


    There is a ck coffin radiating an overwhelming aura of dread and malevolence.


    Whatever the webs were transporting, it was being funneled directly into the coffin.


    Though his view of the runes etched into the coffin was limited, Luca could just guess their significance.


    But one thing he can confirmed.


    The runesbined would undoubtedly form another symbol.


    One that meant Undying.


    Luca''s eyes narrowed, and a mocking smile slowly crept onto his lips.


    "So that''s what''s going on. No wonder¡­"


    As he pieced it together, a raspy voice suddenly echoed through the square.


    "You should not meddle in affairs beyond your concern," the voice said, its tone grave and cold.


    Luca''s gaze shifted toward the ck coffin, where he spotted a skeletal, hunched old man draped in a ck cloak.


    The man''s hands gripped a ck staff, his face gaunt and hollow, his frame so fragile it seemed a gust of wind might scatter him. His entire being emanated an aura of death.


    The only sign of life came from the faint glimmer in his dull green eyes.


    Luca scrutinized the figure for a moment before speaking. "Who are you? Did you set up this demonic formation? And are you responsible for everything that''s happened in Pure River Town?"


    The old man hesitated briefly, clearly surprised by Luca''s knowledge of the Demonic Transformation Formation. But then, nodding to himself, he rasped, "So, you know about the Demonic Transformation Formation? I suppose that makes sense. If you made it through the Demon-Sealing Formation, you''d understand what this is too¡­"


    Ignoring Luca''s question, the old man continued in his hoarse voice, "Tell Luna to take her people and leave. I don''t want to kill too many. Once my n isplete, I''ll be gone."


    "Not kill too many?" Luca''s mocking smile grew sharper at the man''s words.


    He scoffed. "You ughtered tens of thousands of people in Pure River Town, and now you''re telling me you don''t want to kill too many? That''sughable, isn''t it¡­ Mayor Adrien?"


    The old man''s name¡ªAdrien, the mayor of Pure River Town¡ªwas called out by Luca, but it did not seem to faze him.


    He remained as calm as ever, his voice cold and distant. "Laughable? They were nothing but mortals¡­ mere ants. What does it matter if they lived a little longer? All that awaited them was more suffering in this world."


    Discover more at mvlempy _r.


    "If that''s the case, why shouldn''t they use their insignificant lives to further my greatness?" Adrien continued, his voice chilling.


    "It''s an honor for them, isn''t it?"


    Luca scoffed. "You really are shameless, old man. You''d ughter tens of thousands of your own townspeople and twist yourself into a monster with dark magic, all in the name of immortality. If that''s what you call greatness, then I suppose I should start calling you a saint."


    From the moment Lucaid eyes on the Demonic Transformation Formation, he understood everything.


    The Demonic Transformation Formation, as the name suggested, was designed to turn humans into monsters. It had been created by an infamous cult from thest century known as the "Cult of Ten Thousand Demons."


    It was precisely because of this sinister magic that the cult had been wiped out by the strongest powers on the Eternal Continent. The formation was now a forbidden secret technique, ouwed and condemned.


    The gue that ravaged Pure River Town had never been a coincidence. It was all part of Mayor Adrien''s twisted scheme for immortality. He was willing to turn himself into a monster, sacrificing the lives of tens of thousands of townsfolk to achieve his goal. It was an act so depraved, even animals would be ashamed of him. Luca had no interest in wasting words on such a person.


    Gazing down at Adrien with cold indifference, Luca spoke softly, "I''m not as hypocritical as you. I like that coffin of yours. Give it to me, and if you kneel down and take your own life right now, I''ll make sure it''s quick."


    Luca didn''t know where Adrien had acquired that ck coffin, but it was a genuine Superssmaterial. If he could obtain it, he''d have what he needed for his third permanent magic rune.


    Adrien looked up at Luca, revealing his gaunt, skeletal face. His sunken eyes gleamed with a dull light.


    "If we go down this path, it won''t end well for you," Adrien warned in a low, gravelly tone. "You''ve made it this far into the Demon-Sealing Formation, so you must have some knowledge of secret techniques and formations. If you be my student, I''ll teach you everything I know."


    "Of course, in return, you''ll need to stall Luna and her group so they won''t interfere with my ns."


    "Secret techniques?" Luca sneered, pointing his spear directly at Adrien. "I''m not interested in your trashy magic. Stop wasting time. Starting now, you have ten seconds to do as I say."


    As Luca spoke, his eyes flickered with green light, and a surge of life energy exploded from him.


    Behind him, towering trees erupted from the ground, twisting and intertwining until they formed a massive wooden giant, over ten meters tall. Its crimson eyes locked onto Adrien, brimming with an ominous intent.


    Luca could see that Adrien''s demonic transformation ritual was at a critical stage. If not, someone of Adrien''s power wouldn''t be wasting time trying to negotiate.


    But Adrien wasn''t the only one stalling for time¡ªLuca had his own ns in motion as well¡­

 Capítulo 93: Chapter 93: Solar Divine Spear! Soul Forge! Celestial Phenomenon!

    The scalding red depths of theke resembled a furnace, with a fireball hundreds of meters wide radiating a blinding light. mes danced atop the fireball, and moltenva surged beneath it, sending waves of searing heat across the entire Heavenly Pool.


    At the very center of this fireball, a golden spear, forged from mes, hovered silently. From Luca''s vantage point, it looked like a massive vertical pupil of a crimson eye, staring directly at him.


    Luca could even see a gleam sh across the spear, as if it blinked like an eye.


    A sensation of being watched flooded Luca''s heart, and in that instant, his scalp tingled with unease.


    This thing was alive!


    Before he could react, a streak of golden light shot out from the spear, heading straight for his forehead.


    "Boom!"


    An overwhelming pressure descended upon him, far surpassing the might of Hydra''s mirage!


    Under the seemingly insignificant beam of light, the Heavenly Pool was split in two from the bottom up!


    Theke water surged backward, and space itself seemed frozen in ce!


    Luca couldn''t even think about dodging; he couldn''t so much as twitch a finger. All he could do was watch helplessly as the golden light struck his forehead directly.


    In that moment, he felt as if a branding iron had seared his forehead, an intense burning pain shot through him, reaching deep into his soul. Even with his formidable endurance, he couldn''t help but let out a muffled groan.


    [Ding! "Sr Divine Spear" favorability towards you +100!]


    [You have gained the recognition of the "Sr Divine Spear," and it will now perform "Soul Forge" for you!]


    "This thing actually has its own consciousness?!" Luca clutched his forehead, his face full of astonishment.


    In his past life, he had encountered sentient treasures before. These types of entities, known as spirit artifacts, often resided within immensely powerful gear or tools.


    But despite living for so many years, he had never encountered anything capable of increasing favorability!


    MVLEmPyR-your-story-source


    And what exactly was "Soul Forge"?


    Before he could think further, Luca suddenly felt an unimaginably terrifying, searing energy burst from deep within his body, as if a zing fire had been ignited inside him.


    This me scorched his internal organs continuously, and the intense pain nearly caused Luca to faint on the spot. His body began to tremble uncontrobly.


    "So this is Soul Forge?" Luca gasped through the pain. The agony, burning from the inside out, was far beyond any previous tempering he had experienced¡ªit was at least ten times more painful. Yet the results were the same. He felt the shackles within his body weakening, the gap between him and a breakthrough in his potential narrowing.


    Luca had a strong sense that if he could withstand this round of forging, he would undoubtedly break through!


    Although he had no idea where this golden spear came from, it clearly harbored no ill intent; otherwise, he would have perished long ago.


    This "Soul Forge" had immense benefits, and he had to endure it!


    With that thought, Luca gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and began meditating, enduring the searing pain as best he could.


    A golden mark began to rapidly form on his forehead, identical to the shape of the golden spear submerged in theke''s fireball below!


    Golden mes seeped out and gradually enveloped him.


    At the same time, Luca''s consciousness slowly sank into his mental realm.


    Deep within his spiritual world, atop four towering golden pirs, a zing golden sun was burning fiercely!


    The blinding golden light illuminated his entire mental space as if it were daylight!


    The four divine pirs, once stretching endlessly toward the sky, began to shrink rapidly under the purification of the golden sun and mes.


    Golden strands of energy continuously flowed into his soul, making Luca''s spirit more solid andpact. Simultaneously, his pores began to expel ck impurities from his body.


    Jormungandr, her ethereal form drifting through the water like a phantom.


    She nced at the golden spear, her eyes narrowing slightly. She murmured softly to herself, "So that''s what it is¡­ no wonder¡­"


    No wonder those fools from the Abyssal Demon Realm could never find it. It turned out that the legendary artifact had been hidden all this time on the Eternal Continent!


    What a lucky kid, to have been chosen by it¡­


    At Fishbone Cliff, outside the Celestial Pool Secret Realm, in the grand hall of the Heavenly Pool, Orf and Medel were ying a game of chess.


    "Hmm?" The two suddenly frowned, turning their gaze simultaneously toward the stone tform leading into the Celestial Pool Secret Realm, their eyes filled with astonishment.


    Just moments ago, they both sensed a unique aura emanating from within the Celestial Pool Secret Realm.


    "The Sr Divine Spear? It has awakened!" Medel spoke, his face disying unrestrained shock.


    He wasn''t the only one. Even Orf, usually calm, felt the shock ripple through him, emotions churning wildly inside.


    The Sr Divine Spear was not only the most sacred treasure of the Celestial Pool Secret Realm, but also the very reason for its existence.


    Long before the founding of Red Maple Academy by its first headmaster, this ancient artifact, whose origin was lost to time, had already rested at the bottom of the Heavenly Pool.


    But the question was, after so many years of slumber, why had the Sr Divine Spear suddenly awakened?


    "Could it be because of Luca?" Orf''s heart stirred with a sudden realization. After all, Luca was the only one in the Celestial Pool Secret Realm at the moment!


    This thought sent a jolt through his chest.


    Thest time the Sr Divine Spear awoke was centuries ago, when it bestowed its power upon someone who would be one of the greatest figures in the entire history of the Eternal Continent. If not for him, the Crunt Empire might have long since fallen to the monster horde.


    Could it be that this time¡­


    Both Orf and Medel hade to the same conclusion.


    They exchanged a nce, just about to descend to investigate.


    Suddenly, the grand hall of the Heavenly Pool trembled violently!


    Boom!!


    A thunderous roar echoed as the entire grand hall shook, as if something had been activated. The surrounding temperature rapidly began to rise, and crimson lines of energy quickly emerged from the center of the grand hall, extending outward beyond its boundaries, spreading across all of Red Maple Academy.


    In just a few breaths'' time, crimson Rune crafting patterns had appeared in every corner of the academy, swirling with symbols. In the skies above Red Maple Academy, a massive scarlet formation swiftly took shape, enveloping the entire institution in its glow!


    Inside the academy, both mentors and students stared in shock, having no idea what was happening.


    "The protective grand array of the Celestial Pool Secret Realm has been activated¡­" Fratis muttered, her small mouth slightly agape, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise.


    She recalled an ancient royal secret she had once read about¡ªan old legend concerning the Celestial Pool Secret Realm.


    There was a legend that within the Celestial Pool Secret Realm, there existed a great opportunity capable of elevating the most talented individuals to even greater heights. However, throughout the years, few had ever been fortunate enough to obtain it.


    And now, right before her eyes, a new lucky soul had been born!


    Meanwhile, inside the Heavenly Pool grand hall:


    "It''s truly the Sr Divine Spear''s Soul Forge!" Orf eximed, watching the scene before him. Rather than worry, his elderly face was filled with excitement.


    The massive protective formation wasn''t designed to limit the Celestial Pool Secret Realm. On the contrary, it existed to enhance the refining process of the secret realm!


    This was a Transcendent-level formation personallyid down by the founding headmaster!


    For the protective array to be triggered¡ªsuch an event had only urred once in the entire history of Red Maple Academy, which spanned several centuries.


    It was during that singr event that Red Maple Academy produced a legendary figure known throughout the Eternal Continent:


    The Sun-ying Sword¡ªSaren Theo!


    He was the only Transcendent-tier powerhouse that the Clinton Empire had seen in recent centuries!


    If Luca had truly gained the "blessing of the Sr Divine Spear"...


    At this thought, Orf''s smile nearly burst forth in uncontainable joy.


    Beside him, Medel, unable to hide his envy, cursed under his breath, "How did you stumble into such incredible luck?!"


    At their age, they had little chance of progressing further in their own power, so their only remaining ambition was to nurture someone who could surpass them.


    But students with such potential were exceedingly rare.


    Aside from the monstrous prodigies raised by the great families in Dawn City, the academy had encountered only three top-tier talents over the years: Luna Bersa from House Bersa, the marquis''s daughter; Sophia Howard from the count''s family; and Orf''s previous student.


    And now there was Luca. How could Medel not be envious?


    At the same time, the powerful figures from Southwind City had also turned their attention toward the spectacle.


    In the city lord''s manor of Southwind City:


    "Soul Forge, is it?" Bronte murmured, gazing toward the pir of golden light that shot into the sky from the direction of Red Maple Academy. His hands were sped behind his back, and his brow was tightly furrowed.


    Beside him, Myron, Bronte''s assistant, looked slightly confused and asked, "Marquis, isn''t it a good thing that another genius has emerged in Southwind City?"


    After a long silence, Bronte let out a deep sigh and said, "Don''t you think there have been far too many strange phenomenately?"


    "In recent years, the Nightmare Cult caused an uproar, followed by the weakening of the Abyssal Demon Realm''s seal, leading to monster riots and frequent monster hordes. Geniuses are emerging everywhere."


    "I''ve heard that Finn from the Duke of Lyon''s family in Dawn City broke through to the advanced tier at just 18 years old. Then there''s the royal family''s Third Princess, whose talent is exceptional. Even in the other regions, prodigies who are said to appear only once in a hundred or even a thousand years have shown up."


    "Even in our Southwind City, we''ve seen Luca, a viscount, clear the 20th floor of the Trial Tower with only mid-tier strength. Now, we have another unknown genius chosen by the Sr Divine Spear. Do you think that''s normal?"


    Myron stood frozen in ce. As Bronte''s assistant, he had ess to far more confidential information than the average person, but he had never thought about it this way before. Now, with Bronte pointing it out, he realized with shock that strange people and events had been appearing all over the empire in recent years.


    Looking up at the massive protective formation, Bronte shook his head slightly and sighed, "In times of chaos, monsters are born. The more geniuses that appear, the more chaotic the world will be. Be prepared."


    Meanwhile, inside the Celestial Pool Secret Realm, the entire Heavenly Pool seemed to be boiling.


    Two fireballs, onerge and one small, hovered silently at the bottom of theke. Golden beams of light shot out from them, bathing the entireke in a golden hue.


    The barrier to Luca''s breakthrough in potential seemed paper-thin, yet it was far more resilient than either he or the Sr Divine Spear had anticipated. Though it appeared as if he was just a hair''s breadth away, no matter how hard he pushed, he couldn''t break through.


    Several times, the me within his body seemed on the verge of being extinguished. Each time, the Sr Divine Spear would send him a wisp of golden fire.


    Immediately, the zing sun in his mental world would reignite, burning more fiercely than before.


    This excruciating refining process went on for who knew how long.


    Crack!


    Suddenly, a sharp sound echoed in Luca''s ears, as clear as if something physical had shattered¡ªlike the crack of ice breaking.

 Capítulo 94: Chapter 94: Divine Sun Physique! Scorching Heaven Flame! The Wild Card Escaping Fate!

    "Finally, some movement!" Luca let out a long sigh of relief. Had it been anyone weaker in will, they would have crumbled under the torment of this excruciating refining process long ago.


    He hoped this wouldn''t disappoint him¡ªotherwise, all the suffering would have been for nothing!


    Just as this thought crossed his mind, the cracking sounds in his ears grew more frequent.


    Waves of ck impurities were being expelled from Luca''s body, only to be immediately incinerated by the golden mes enveloping him, leaving not even ash behind.


    In the next moment, a celestial, almost divine, sound of shattering erupted in his ears!


    Boom!


    Luca felt as if something that had been locked away inside him for ages had suddenly burst open. A torrent of energy surged like a flood, rushing through his veins, filling every inch of his body.


    In that instant, Luca felt a profound sense of relief, as though an invisible shackle had been lifted from him!


    Outside, under the stunned gaze of everyone, a golden pir of light shot skyward from the center of the Heavenly Pool grand hall, dyeing the entire sky above Southwind City in a radiant golden hue!


    Even from the distant foothills of the Heavenly Pool Mountain, people could see this earth-shattering phenomenon from afar!


    Staring at the golden beam reaching into the heavens, Orf blinked in astonishment, muttering, "...Why does this seem different from the legend?"


    In all of Red Maple Academy''s records, there was no mention of a Soul Forge causing such a grand spectacle.


    Could his memory be faulty, or had the previous generations failed to record something?


    Orf waspletely baffled.


    [Ding! Congrattions, you''ve sessfully broken through the limits of your potential during the "Soul Forge," achieving Transcendent status! Your "Potential" attribute has increased to 20 points!]


    [Ding! Congrattions, you''ve obtained the Transcendent-level potential: "Divine Sun Physique"! You can nowprehend and learn any fire-rted skill below the Transcendent level!]


    [Ding! Congrattions, you''ve unlocked the S-rank talent: "Scorching Heaven me"! You can freely manipte the mes of destruction, with damage scaling based on your level!]


    ¡­


    "It worked!" Luca clenched his fists, excitement surging through him uncontrobly.


    Transcendent potential! So this was the potential beyond max level¡ªTranscendent potential!


    He could now naturallyprehend and learn Transcendent-level skills, surpassing even the max-level potential!


    But what thrilled Luca even more was that this potential had granted him a new talent!


    [Scorching Heaven me: S-rank talent. The yer can control the Scorching Heaven me to inflict massive damage on enemies. Damage scales with level, currently at 300%. Additionally, the yer can elementalize their body, bing immune to physical attacks.]


    The Scorching Heaven me was undoubtedly powerful, on par with even Sophia''s innate talent.


    But what shocked Luca the most was gaining a talent in the first ce. Whether in his previous life or this one, this was the first time he realized it was possible to acquire a talent through other means!


    It wasn''t Luca''s fault for being out of the loop. In his past life, his limited talent had kept him struggling from the bottom ranks. Even though he eventually became a Transcendent-level powerhouse, he never truly reached the pinnacle of humanity and thus remained ignorant of many secrets.


    He didn''t know the true identities of the people behind Zenith Technology Company, nor the hidden mysteries within the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    Suppressing his excitement, Luca opened his status panel to check his attributes. After undergoing the "Soul Forge," all of his stats had seen a significant boost. His mental attribute had skyrocketed to 3,000 points¡ªan increase of nearly 700 points! And that was just his mental stat; his other three attributes had also received major enhancements.


    "I''ve hit the jackpot this time!" Luca thought, his expression filled with excitement. Even if he had simply leveled up to 40, there''s no way he would have gained this many attribute points!


    After calming himself, he turned his attention to the golden spear at the bottom of theke and sent a thought of gratitude toward it.


    From the prompts he had seen earlier, Luca now knew that the spear was called the "Sr Divine Spear."


    For something to bear the title "Divine Spear," and possess its own consciousness, it had to be extraordinary!


    Luca, however, had no immediate desire for it.


    Given his current capabilities, even if the Sr Divine Spear epted him as its master, he wouldn''t be able to wield it.


    The requirements for using such a top-tier artifact were always incredibly strict.


    In response to Luca''s gratitude, a sh of light shimmered across the Sr Divine Spear.


    A voice then resonated in his mind, saying, "Young one, your talent is the finest I''ve encountered in many years. One Soul Forge is likely not enough to fully unlock your potential. Return to me when you reach the advanced tier, and I will assist you with another forging."


    The spear''s presence was warm, its voice that of an elderly man, gentle and kind, vastly different from the overwhelming power it wielded. It spoke like a benevolent elder.


    Hearing this, Luca felt even more grateful and once again offered his thanks to the Sr Divine Spear.


    He could sense that conducting the Soul Forge had required a great deal of energy from the powerful artifact spirit.


    For it to offer him a second forging was an immense favor.


    All of this, he knew, was due to his maxed-out charisma.


    This innate favorability often brought him great advantages when dealing with powerful, righteous entities like the Sr Divine Spear.


    As these thoughts passed through his mind, a golden sh suddenly flickered before his eyes.


    "The little King-level monster beside you has an extraordinary origin. A sword can both kill and wound its wielder, so be cautious when using her," came the Sr Divine Spear''s parting warning.


    It seemed the Sr Divine Spear had recognized Jormungandr''s true identity.


    Luca gave a silent nod, not saying anything further.


    Since he dared to keep Jormungandr by his side, he was fully prepared for the risk of betrayal.


    However,pared to what he stood to gain, those risks were ones he could bear.


    In a sh of golden light, Luca disappeared from the Celestial Pool Secret Realm.


    A gentle breeze swept across theke''s surface, stirring faint ripples.


    Quiet returned for a long time.


    Then, a faint, ethereal voice drifted over theke.


    A sigh echoed: "One hundred thousand years have passed... the Abyss is nearing... Can this one, the sole variable to escape fate, truly shoulder the burden of billions of lives?"


    "Sylvia..."


    The voice scattered with the wind, fading slowly into the air, disappearing without a trace, leaving no reply...


    When Luca regained his senses, he found himself back in the Heavenly Pool grand hall.


    Before he could even steady himself, two figures shot toward him as fast as lightning.


    "Well? Did you seed in the Soul Forge?" Orf asked, his expression tense, as though fearing Luca might deliver devastating news.


    Medel''s hollow gaze was also fixed on him.


    Luca hadn''t nned to hide anything from them, so he smiled and nodded, "Yes, I seeded. The gains were substantial."


    He then briefly recounted to Orf and Medel what had happened during the trial.


    However, he left out the part about breaking through his max-level potential and gaining a second talent, glossing over it vaguely.


    That was his trump card, and it might prove useful in the future. There was no need to reveal it just yet.


    "Good, good, good! Sess is all that matters!" Orf let out a sigh of relief, unable to contain his joy as he burst into heartyughter. "Well done! With your talent and the boost from the Soul Forge, you''ll undoubtedly surpass us old folks and reach Transcendent! When that dayes, your teacher will be proud to call you his student! Hahaha!"


    Medel pursed his lips.


    Although he couldn''t stand Orf''s smugness, for once, he refrained from arguing. MVLeMpYr-your-novel-source


    He felt a sour pang in his heart and simply wasn''t in the mood to bicker.


    Afterward, Luca asked Orf about the history of the Celestial Pool Secret Realm.


    He wanted to know more about the origins of the Sr Divine Spear.


    Given how extraordinary the spear was, there was a chance he might stumble upon some valuable insights.


    Unfortunately, the information wasn''t very enlightening.


    ording to Orf, the Sr Divine Spear had already existed long before the founding headmaster established Red Maple Academy.


    In fact, it was the spear''s aid that allowed the first headmaster to rise to prominence in the first ce.


    After he had made his mark and be a top-tier powerhouse, he returned to Heavenly Pool Mountain, carved off its peak, and created the Celestial Pool Secret Realm, where Red Maple Academy now stands.


    After hearing this, Luca sighed.


    If even the first headmaster didn''t know the true origins of the Sr Divine Spear, it would be even harder for future generations to uncover its secrets.


    Casually, Orf seemed to remember something and pulled out a jade-green box from his storage ring.


    He smiled and said, "This is a magic rune I crafted many years ago. At my current level, it''s no longer useful to me. I was nning to wait until your strength increased before giving it to you, but since you''ve undergone the Sr Divine Spear''s Soul Forge, I believe you can now handle this Superss magic rune without any issue."


    "Thank you, Master!" Luca''s eyes lit up at the words, and he quickly expressed his gratitude.


    One of the reasons he came to Red Maple Academy was that it was easier to obtain Superss magic runes here.


    He had expected to wait a while longer, but the process had turned out to be easier than he anticipated.


    "Alright then, you can refine it right here. Don''t worry about anything else while I''m around," Orf said with a smile, waving his hand as the jade box slowly opened. A simple, ancient-looking blue magic rune floated out.


    A faint blue light flowed over it, and a rich life force instantly filled the entire grand hall.


    "Great!" Luca said, eager to begin.


    With Orf overseeing, the refining process for the Superss magic rune would surely be much faster.


    Without dy, Luca sat cross-legged, dark purple magical energy surging from him, enveloping the floating magic rune.


    "This kid''s rune crafting skill is pretty high!" Medel noticed something unusual and couldn''t hide his surprise.


    "Well, whose student do you think he is?" Orf replied with a chuckle, stroking his beard, which only made Medel want to curse him.


    This old geezer really had no shame. Luca had only been his student for a few days, and Orf was already taking credit for his talent?


    But deep down, Orf was just as astonished.


    He could see that Luca''s rune crafting skill had already reached the maximum level.


    Even among the scions of great families, with all their resources, reaching level 7 in rune crafting was already considered a rare talent.


    Yet Luca, at such a young age, had pushed his rune crafting skill to the highest level?


    Such a phenomenon was unheard of, even for him.


    But then, remembering Luca''s maxed-out potential, Orf understood.


    With such incredible potential, Luca''s refining of a single magic rune was like someone else refining ten. How could his skill not improve quickly?


    Shaking his head with a smile, Orf flicked his sleeve, and a surge of powerful magical energy flew from his hand, flowing into Luca''s body.


    Luca instantly felt a wave of relief wash over him!


    Nodding gratefully at Orf, Luca focused entirely on refining the Superss magic rune.


    With Orf''s assistance, the speed at which Luca refined the magic rune was several times faster than usual.


    In less than two hours, Luca sessfully refined the magic rune.


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have sessfully refined the fixed magic rune "Heavenly Star Crystal Tree (Superss)," quality: "Rare"!]


    [Your skill "Magic Rune Crafting" has reached max level. You have gained 1,000 points of free proficiency!]

 Capítulo 110: Chapter 110: Signs of Descent! Visiting Susie! Apple Roses!

    "This is nothing, Dad. You''ll be able to do it too someday," Luca said casually, not bothered that Donald had seen his ability. With a grin, he took the new sneakers from his father and put them on.


    Recently, Donald had been busy not only stockpiling weapons and supplies at the vi but also ying Eternal Game. Since he wasn''t much of a gamer, his level progression had been slower than most¡ªhe hadn''t even hit level 10 yet.


    However, as a former soldier, his adaptability was high. Luca knew that as Donald''s level increased and he experienced more feedback from the game, he would eventually possess Transcendent powers too.


    Donald mulled over Luca''s words, and a flicker of anticipation appeared in his eyes.


    No matter how old a man gets, the dream of bing a superhero never really fades.


    "What are you two doing in there? Why are you dragging your feet? Let''s get going!" Sini''s voice came from outside, urging them to hurry. The father and son quickly responded and finished getting ready.


    Once everything was packed, the three of them got in the car and headed to the hospital in the heart of Celephais.


    During the drive, Luca pulled out his phone to check thetest news.


    He was particrly interested in strange events that had been urring.


    Though there weren''t many, he made some notable discoveries.


    For instance, there had been a recent string of bizarre serial killings in Celephais. The victims differed in age, identity, and circumstances, but all had one thing inmon¡ªthey were missing their hearts. The entire city''s police force was now on high alert, trying to track down the murderer.


    In a nearby Coast city, the trees in the Forest Park had begun growing at an elerated and unnatural rate. In just a few days, the vegetation was as dense as it would normally be after several months.


    And inNephew city''s New Century Marine Museum, typically harmless sea creatures had suddenly turned hostile. One dolphin even grew razor-sharp teeth and bit off a trainer''s arm.


    On top of that, there had been an increasing number of natural disasters: storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.


    Doomsday enthusiasts, who had been rtively quiet in recent years.


    Theystarted popping up again on various tforms, preaching that the end of the world was near. Their wild theories ranged from the usible to the outright ridiculous. If Luca hadn''t traveled back from ten years in the future, he might have started believing some of their ims.


    Thinking back, Luca realized that thest time these strange urrences began happening, it was around this same time.


    But he didn''t care.


    It became clear to him now that the real world had already been showing signs of the game''s descent back then.


    After reading through the news, Luca browsed the Eternal Gameforums.


    Nothing particrly significant had been happening in the game recently.


    The only notable thing was that The World Guildstill had a bounty out for him, and the reward had now doubled.


    Apparently, kicking them out of Riverfall City had left quite a psychological scar on them in Celephais.


    Another thing worth noting was that several top-tier yers had already reached level 20 and moved on to the next major city.


    Luca recognized many of these yers as legendary figures from his past life.


    He made a mental note to keep track of them.


    In Eternal Game, long-distance travel between regions wasn''t an easy feat.


    Although Luca couldn''t interact with those top yers for the time being, he knew it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed.


    The sun was zing high in the sky.


    Their car cruised along the road.


    Since both Luca and Susie lived in the suburbs, and with it being rush hour.


    The streets were filled with pedestrians and vehicles.


    By the time they arrived at the city hospital, more than an hour had passed.


    Celephais might not have been a well-known city, but its hospital was one of the top 20prehensive hospitals in the country.


    It was well-equipped with modern medical facilities and spanned a massive area. Crowds of patients and doctors bustled in and out of the hospital.


    Luca already knew which room Susie was in, so after entering the hospital, he didn''t need to ask a nurse for directions. He carried the fruit and flowers Sini had bought and led his parents straight to Susie''s ward.


    When the three of them arrived via the elevator, they found that the room was already filled with people.


    Most were Susie''s ssmates and teachers.


    In addition, a few formally dressed men and women stood there with straight postures.


    Itlikely colleagues of Darabont.


    It seemed like they were about to leave.


    The two groups exchanged polite nods and smiles as they passed each other.


    Luca briefly nced at the middle-aged man leading them out.


    He recognized him as Coarmy, the chief of the Celephais Police Department.


    However, Luca didn''t dwell on it and entered the room, still holding the gifts.


    The room was already filled with bouquets and fruit baskets, evidence that many had visited earlier.


    Zoey was chatting with their teacher, Olivira, who was also Luca''s homeroom teacher.


    Nomadey was there as well, fawning over Susie with obvious eagerness.


    Susie, lying in bed, didn''t look too happy.


    But the moment she noticed Luca and his parents walk in, a smile finally appeared on her face.


    However, as if remembering something, she shot Luca an annoyed re before turning her face away in a huff.


    "What''s he doing here?" Nomadey''s smile vanished the moment he saw Luca, his face twisting with frustration.


    Back in Southwind City, he had nned to catch up to Luca and Susie.


    But to his dismay, the Cloudwing Airship they were on moved at such a high speed that he lost track of them in no time.


    Now, seeing Luca show up to ruin his ns once more, his mood plummeted.


    "Hello, Uncle Darabont, Aunt Zoey! We came to visit Susie!" Luca, unfazed by either Nomadey''s or Susie''s reactions, greeted Darabont and Zoey with a bright smile.


    Despite the dark circles under their eyes, they looked in good spirits and warmly weed Donald and Sini into the room.


    Sini asked a few questions about Susie''s condition and, upon hearing she was fine, let out a long sigh of relief.


    Since the hospital room was getting crowded with kids, the parents soon stepped out to chat elsewhere.


    leaving only Luca, Nomadey, and their ssmates inside.


    As ss president, Susie was popr and well-liked, and a group of girls gathered around her, chattering away.


    Luca, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the noise, quietly turned to sneak out, hoping to find somewhere more peaceful.


    But just as he made his move, Susie, who had been secretly watching him, caught on immediately, and her annoyance red up.


    This jerk! He barely visited before, and now he''s trying to sneak off again?


    Sitting up in bed, she red at him and threatened, "Luca, if you dare leave, I''ll tell Mom, Dad, and your parents about what you did in the game. Let''s see how they deal with you then!"


    Luca had almost made it out of the room but stopped dead in his tracks. He turned around, exasperated, and said, "Didn''t you say you wouldn''t hold it against me?"


    Susie tilted her head up and shamelessly replied, "When did I say that? Besides, after what you did to me in the game¡­ how could I not hold a grudge? Luca, are you saying you don''t n on taking responsibility?"


    Nomadey, hearing this, couldn''t keep his cool any longer. He shot up from his seat, his face flushed with anger, and shouted, "Luca, you scumbag! What did you do to Susie in the game?!"


    His heart was in absolute turmoil.


    The worst part was thinking that something might have happened between them on the airship. The thought made Nomadey feel even worse.


    What a miscalction! I should''ve followed them!


    Who could''ve guessed that in just a few short hours¡­ something would happen between the two of them?


    Their ssmates exchanged nces, starting to pick up on the strange tension between Luca and Susie.


    People had teased them about being close before, but over the years, nothing had evere of it¡ªnot even by the time they graduated high school.


    Many of their friends who had rooted for them felt it was a shame.


    But now, it seemed like there might still be a chance...


    Luca nced at Nomadey, his expression t. "If you keep barking, do you want me to throw you out?"


    Without waiting for a response, he ignored Nomadey, whose face had turned as red as a tomato, and sat down next to Susie''s bed. Forcing a smile, he asked, "So, what does the youngdy require?"


    Knowing that Susie''s hospitalization and the incident in the game were both somewhat his fault, Luca felt guilty. This time, he decided not to argue with her.


    Seeing him back down, Susie''s face lit up with triumph. She pointed at a bunch of grapes andmanded, "Peel me a grape."


    Realizing that the situation was not in his favor, Luca sighed and did as she asked.


    After a moment, Susie added, "And then cut me an apple and carve it into a rose."


    "Alright, alright," Luca rolled his eyes, but with the control he had over his body, carving a rose from an apple wasn''t exactly difficult.


    The fruit knife danced in his hand, and with a few swift movements, the apple''s flesh was quickly shaped. In no time, an intricately carved apple rose appeared in Luca''s hand.


    The petals were perfectly detailed, each groove and curve visible, making the rose look incredibly lifelike.


    discover stories NovelFire-l,e-mp _yr


    Everyone in the room was stunned. Nomadey''s eyes practically bulged out of his head.


    No way, he really did it?!


    Even Susie was taken aback, covering her mouth in surprise. She hadn''t expected Luca to actually pull it off.


    "Hmm¡­ I guess that''ll do," Susie said with mock indifference, but her delighted expression betrayed her. She carefully tucked the apple rose away with a satisfied smile.


    Then, as if another idea popped into her head, she nudged Luca with her foot. "By the way, I want some dragon fruit too, but without the seeds."


    Luca nearly choked in frustration.


    Dragon fruit without seeds? Why don''t you just ask for the moon while you''re at it?!


    He shot Susie a deadly re, gritting his teeth. "I''m warning you, don''t push it too far, or this whole thing will end in disaster!"


    "Fine, let it end in disaster then." Susie shrugged nonchntly and then raised her voice, calling out sweetly, "Mom! Dad! Uncle! Aunt! Luca did something to me in the game, and¡ª"


    Panicking, Luca lunged forward and quickly covered her mouth, forcing a strained smile. "I was just kidding! You don''t have to take it so seriously! Dragon fruit without seeds? No problem, I''ll take care of it, right now!"


    Hearing this, Susie''s eyebrows arched yfully, and her eyes curved into crescent moons, clearly enjoying herself.


    Not long after, Darabont and the others returned to the room.


    Zoey, looking puzzled, asked, "What happened? I thought I heard you calling for Luca?"


    Susie, now casually chatting with a group of her friends, blinked innocently. "Oh, nothing. We were just ying a game."


    No one thought much of it, but Sini nced around the room, slightly confused. "Where''s Luca? Where''d he run off to?"


    "Oh, him? He''s right there." Susie pointed toward the corner of the room.


    Luca was sitting cross-legged, face expressionless, as he painstakingly picked seeds out of a dragon fruit with a toothpick.

 Capítulo 115: Chapter 115: 1 vs. 36! A Killing Machine! Overwhelming Domination!

    "Call the academy''s medical team; we''re heading to the arena," Luca said to Melissa before turning and leading the way out of the ssroom.


    "Is this for himself?" Many people couldn''t help butugh out loud.


    He actually called for the medical team! Did this guy really think he could win?


    Thirty-six against one, and with each one of them using their skills, he would surely end up severely injured; they couldn''t even fathom the possibility of him winning!


    Melissa and the others followed closely behind, their faces filled with worry, as they had the same thoughts.


    Fred sighed, "You''re being too impulsive. With your strength, just a casual disy would be enough to put them in their ce. Now that you''ve gotten yourself into this situation, if you¡­ sigh¡­"


    Though he didn''t finish his sentence, everyone understood what Fred meant.


    If Luca were to get injured during the practical training at the hands of these students, there was no way he could continue at Red Maple Academy.


    Thinking about this, even Fratis showed concern on her face.


    This was something she absolutely did not want to see, especially since Luca was her only friend at Red Maple Academy.


    She said, "What if I go talk to Principal Orf and plead for you¡­"


    Luca could naturally see their worries and smiled to reassure them, "You don''t need to worry. If I dared to say that, then I must be confident in dealing with them."


    In the past, while training the "Heavenly Guard," the soldiers had been far more troublesome than these boys and girls.


    He had often used such tactics back then and was quite adept at it.


    Once these guys realized the gap in their abilities, they would fall in line, saving a lot of trouble and time.


    Melissa and the others exchanged nces, ultimately letting out a sigh.


    They just hoped that Luca truly had a hidden card up his sleeve.


    After that, Luca led the thirty-six students from ss One to the arena.


    The venue was spacious and reinforced with arrays, making it suitable for practical training since it wouldn''t be easily damaged by anything short of high-level magic.


    Themotion quickly attracted the attention of many instructors and students, who turned to watch.


    Everyone was stunned when they learned that Luca was actually going to take on all thirty-six students by himself.


    "Is this for real? One against thirty-six? And he''s not using skills or weapons!" An instructor swallowed hard, unsure whether to admire Luca''s boldness or deem him insane.


    Even high-level practitioners couldn''t manage something like this!


    The news spread rapidly, and it wasn''t long before the stands were filled with spectators eager to watch the spectacle.


    At that moment, Melissa had also managed to gather the academy''s medical team, who were standing by nearby to prevent any idents.


    Luca stood straight at the center of the arena, looking at the group of eager young men and women before him.


    He calmly said, "A friendly reminder: you''d better give it your all from the start, or don''t me me for not giving you a chance."


    Hearing Luca''s words, Rogge, with his bow and arrow in hand, scoffed, "You don''t need to worry about us; just take care of yourself!


    "After all, if we end up beating you to a pulp, you''ll be theughingstock!"


    The other studentsughed in agreement.


    No matter what, they were determined to snag those easy credits!


    Luca''s expression remained unchanged; he merely nodded slightly and said, "If that''s the case, then let''s begin."


    Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling array of colorful lights erupted from the students.


    The weakest among them were at the Bronze Grade, with a few even reaching Silver Grade.


    Though they were dissatisfied with Luca''s arrogance, they didn''t underestimate his strength.


    After all, someone who had cleared the 20th level of the trials was not to be taken lightly, no matter how bad he might seem.


    In the next moment, a storm of ice arrows, fire serpents, vines, and toxic mist surged toward Luca.


    The fierce wind blew across the grass, creating ripples like waves, and the runes on the ground began to glow as defensive arrays activated.


    Luca''s clothes fluttered in the breeze, yet his expression didn''t change in the slightest. He chuckled softly and said, "Today, the first lesson I''ll teach you is¡­"


    At the instant his voice fell, Luca pushed off the ground, and his figure vanished like a shadow.


    "Such speed!" Everyone present widened their eyes in disbelief. It was hard to imagine that a mid-tier Demonic Rune Mage could be this fast without using skills or magic runes!


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!!"


    All the attacks missed their target, crashing into the empty space of the arena and creating powerful shockwaves!


    The students cheered, thinking they had dealt with Luca.


    But the instructors watching from the stands knew that these youngsters were celebrating too soon.


    Rogge scanned the surroundings warily.


    He realized that while Luca had dodged the attacks, the chaos had obscured his vision, and he couldn''t see where Luca had gone.


    At that moment, a clear voice rang out behind him, causing Rogge''s eyes to widen in shock.


    Luca stood behind Rogge, his long hand gripping Rogge''s neck, slowly whispering the words that followed.


    He said calmly, "Never underestimate your opponent, because in battle, you don''t get a chance to make mistakes!"


    In that instant, Rogge felt his breath catch, and cold sweat began to pour down his forehead!


    A sense of impending doom enveloped Rogge''s heart.


    It was too fast¡ªso fast that he didn''t even realize when Luca had appeared beside him.


    Rogge gritted his teeth and snapped back to reality, swinging his longbow in an attempt to counterattack.


    However, at that moment, Luca''s palm struck the back of his neck.


    Rogge felt darkness descend before his eyes; he didn''t even have time to fight back before losing the ability to resist.


    As he fainted, hisst thought wasn''t one of anger.


    Instead, it was a recollection of Luca''s earlier words:


    "In battle, you don''t get a chance to make mistakes!"


    The next moment, the strongest of the new students, Rogge, copsed unconscious.


    By the time the others reacted, Luca had already vanished from sight.


    His figure began to dart swiftly among the thirty-six students like a phantom.


    With each strike of his palm, another student fell limp to the ground.


    The others tried to counterattack, but they couldn''t even locate Luca''s shadow, and a few of them identally injured their ssmates.


    In just a few minutes, six or seven students were already down.


    At this moment, the audience in the stands was left in shock, mouths agape.


    No one expected that amidst so many attacks, Luca not only remained unharmed but was able to take down the students one by one.


    "This guy''s strength is terrifying!" one instructor swallowed hard.


    He even felt that if he were out there, his situation wouldn''t be much better than that of these students.


    Fred suddenly sighed beside him, saying, "No wonder I felt back in Southwind City that this kid''sbat skills were ruthless and didn''t seem like something taught in the academy. Now it''s clear; this is pure killing technique!"


    Killing technique?!


    At this remark, all the instructors, including Melissa, changed their expressions.


    "How could he have suchbat skills?" Melissa''s eyes showed shock.


    Suchbat techniques were typically mastered only by veterans who had fought fiercely on the battlefield for decades.


    How could someone as young as Luca possess such skills?


    Fred shook his head. "I''m not sure, but there''s no mistaking it; this kid is practically radiating killing intent.


    "It''s not that he has a desire to kill, but rather that he instinctively aims to take lives.


    "Look closely at where he targets."


    Thanks to Fred''s reminder, the others finally noticed that when Luca''s hand struck the students'' necks, his speed would suddenly decrease significantly.


    Realizing this, the experienced instructors understood immediately¡ªhe was holding back!


    If he didn''t hold back, even a palm strike could easily take these students'' lives!


    Thinking about this sent chills down their spines.


    In other words, this young man instinctively wanted to kill¡ªit had nearly be second nature!


    "Are we going to end this early?" Melissa said, her face filled with concern. She was worried not about Luca getting hurt, but about the chaos he might cause.


    "Don''t worry; if he can hold back, it means he knows how to control himself. There''s nothing to be concerned about," reassured an elderly man with sses, the vice-principal, Kruse, who hadn''t been seen for several days.


    Watching Luca swiftly maneuver through the students, he remarked, "With hisbat experience, calling him a killing machine wouldn''t be an exaggeration. If thrown onto a battlefield, he''d probably make a name for himself in less than two years. Our academy has truly struck gold this time!"


    This young man was not only exceptionally talented but also frighteningly experienced in realbat¡ªhe was practically a monster with no weaknesses!


    Listening to their discussions, Fratis looked at the figure on the field, her beautiful eyes revealing a hint of admiration.


    Although she couldn''t understand what they were saying, she felt that Luca was amazing¡ªso many people couldn''t even touch him!


    Meanwhile, on the field, Luca moved like a ghost.


    At times he was as quick as lightning, and at others, as light as a feather.


    Those skills that seemed certain to hit him always fell just short, missing him by a hair''s breadth.


    He didn''t waste any extra movements; he merely sidestepped, closed the distance, and with a swift chop of his hand, another student was knocked unconscious.


    In just a matter of minutes, the students on the field had be disorganized and chaotic.


    Out of the original thirty-plus students, only a handful remained standing, and most of them were girls.


    Those left were mostly Kassna and a few supporters of Luca.


    "Luca is just too cool!" Kassna''s eyes sparkled with admiration, nearly swooning on the spot.


    As expected, the man she had her eye on was exceptional!


    Luca''s mouth twitched slightly as he swiftly knocked out the few starry-eyed admirers.


    Then he turned his attention to thest remaining student, Rainer Howard.


    Feeling that piercing gaze, Rainer instinctively swallowed hard, quickly throwing down his sword and raising his hands in surrender. "I give up! I give up!"


    Although he knew Luca was strong, Rainer never expected him to be this powerful!


    Thirty-something low-tier and mid-tier practitioners had all been taken down in just ten minutes!


    What was even more terrifying was that he hadn''t even used any magic runes! What''s the point of fighting?


    "In battle, you don''t get a chance to surrender; monsters won''t spare you just because you give up," Luca said as he walked over to Rainer, delivering a swift chop to the side of his neck.


    Rainer''s vision went dark as he promptly lost consciousness.


    At this point, the entire arena was left with only Luca standing.


    1 VS 36!


    Luca emerged victorious!

 Capítulo 97: Chapter 97: Curtis Killing Intent! High-Tier Sword Master Luna! Sharing a Room?

    So, it turns out Freeman''s younger brother is here. What a small world...


    Luca thought, a cold smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.


    Noticing Luca''s gaze, Curtis''s grin widened even further.


    "I wasn''t even looking for you, and yet you''ve delivered yourself right to me," Curtis sneered, standing and walking toward Luca with a menacing air.


    His eyes gleamed with a blood-red hue, and the twisted smile on his scarred face made him all the more terrifying.


    The aura of a man who had taken countless lives radiated off him, suffocating and thick with murderous intent.


    Though Curtis didn''t have much respect for Freeman.


    He still felt bound to avenge him. Freeman might have been a mediocre mid-tier healer, content to waste his talents in a small ce like Redwind City with no ambition.


    But blood was blood. Freeman was his only brother, and this was a grudge that had to be settled.


    The other passengers in the grand hall sensed the tense atmosphere and exchanged knowing looks, amused and intrigued by the impending conflict.


    Curtis might not carry much weight in Southwind City''s upper circles, but in the underworld, he was a known figure.


    His Blood Hand Mercenary Group had considerable influence, often hired by powerful people to do their dirty work. Nobody here was eager to offend such a man over some unknown boy.


    Susie tugged at Luca''s sleeve and whispered, "Who''s that ugly guy?"


    She was referring, of course, to Curtis. His brutish face, coupled with a scar running across it, made him look every bit the viin.


    "A minor antagonist," Luca replied casually, his fingers idly tracing his Storage Ring. His expression remained calm andposed, not the least bit concerned.


    Curtis was only a tinum Grade fighter. With Luca''s current strength, dealing with him would be trivial. If Curtis made even the slightest move, Luca wouldn''t hesitate to ask the ship''s staff to clean up the mess afterward.


    Curtis, realizing Luca wasn''t taking him seriously, felt his killing intent surge even more.


    A bloody mist began to form around Curtis''srge fists, his powerful aura exploding forth. Within moments, the stench of blood filled the entire cabin, suffocating and vile.


    Luca stopped his movements, watching Curtis calmly.


    The tension in the cabin reached its peak.


    The air thick with the anticipation of an imminent battle.


    But just as a fight seemed inevitable, heavy footsteps echoed from the entrance of the cabin.


    A cold,manding voice followed the sound.


    "If you want to brawl, take it below deck. This is not the ce for your nonsense."As the voice finished speaking, a tall figure strode into the hall, followed closely by two silver-armored knights with stern expressions.


    Luca shifted his gaze, assessing the neer. She appeared to be around twenty, her features refined and elegant. Her long, golden hair cascaded like a waterfall down her back. She wore a striking set of armor made from precious mithril and leather, a blend of elegance and strength. A white knight''s skirtplemented the armor, and a noble longsword hung at her waist.


    Two blue-green gemstone earrings dangled from her ears, gently swaying with each step she took.


    At this moment, the woman''s pale blue eyes were fixed on Luca and Curtis, her expression calm butced with a cold, piercing intensity.


    Her aura, radiating authority and dominance, was palpable, and far beyond anything an ordinary person could muster. Nearly everyone in the room was stunned into silence.


    Curtis immediately reined in his killing intent.


    He shrugged with a forced smile, saying, "Miss Luna, no need to get upset. I was just weing the neer."


    "So, it''s her..." Luca thought, understanding the situation. He had heard this name more than once at Red Maple Academy. Luna, the youngest high-tier warrior in Southwind City¡ªpossibly even in the entire Southern Territory¡ªand the younger sister of Marquis Bronte, had clearly been stirred by the events in Pure River Town .


    Luna''s expression remained cold, showing no change despite Curtis''s attempt to defuse the situation.


    She scanned the room, her voice sharp andmanding: "I don''t care what personal grudges any of you have, but during this mission, you have only one objective¡ªto investigate and handle the monsters in Pure River Town ."


    "I''ve just received word from the City Lord''s office that the situation in Pure River Townhas worsened. Bronte takes this very seriously, and the mission reward has been tripled." the-ce-MVLeMpYr


    "If anyone lets personal issues get in the way of the mission, don''t me me for being merciless!"


    With that, a razor-sharp aura exploded from Luna, her high-tier strength unmistakable.


    Even though she made no overt movement, everyone present felt as though a sharp de had materialized against their necks. It was as if, with just a thought, she could sever their heads from their bodies.


    The strongest people in the room were merely mid-tier professionals, and under the pressure of Luna''s sword aura, their faces turned pale, sweat pouring down their backs. Not one dared utter another word.


    Luca, however, remained calm, though inwardly impressed by Luna''s strength.


    "A high-tier sword master¡­" he mused, recognizing her ss.


    The Sword Master was a powerful melee ss known for pure damage, highly renowned inter generations. A high-tier Sword Master could cleave mountains with a single strike. It was no wonder Luna was so revered¡ªher reputation clearly matched her abilities.


    From that brief moment of observation, Luca could tell that Luna''s strength far surpassed that of an ordinary high-tier warrior. Her reputation wasn''t just idle talk¡ªSouthwind City''s number one prodigy had the real skills to back it up.


    Luca''s calm demeanor, in turn, caused Luna to take a second, more curious look at him.


    She walked over and, after giving him a once-over, frowned slightly. "You''re the one who cleared the 20th floor of the Trial Tower?"


    Luca sensed a hint of hostility in her words, though he couldn''t quite ce why.


    It left him feeling somewhat puzzled.


    Seriously? Is this because I broke your record? Why so petty?


    "Just luck, really," Luca replied with a nonchnt smile. "No need to dwell on it, Miss Luna."He figured this animosity might be rooted in the constantparisons people had made between them in the city¡ªsomething he had never paid attention to. But it seemed Luna had taken notice.


    Luna stared at Luca for two seconds before breaking into a smile. "Not bad. It looks like Southwind City will have another rising star."


    Her return to Southwind City wasn''t only to deal with the situation in Pure River Town . She also wanted to see if this young man, who had been causing such a stir in the Southern Territory, was truly as talented as the rumors suggested¡ªsupposedly, someone whose potential exceeded her own.


    Now that they''d met, she hadn''t fully gauged his talent, but she found herself surprisingly fond of him.


    After speaking, Luna nced at Susie, who was pouting with her cheeks puffed out, and nodded slightly. "For a Summoner of her level to have contracted a Violet-Eyed Thunder Mouse, your girlfriend''s talent seems impressive as well."


    No matter how much the Violet-Eyed Thunder Mouse suppressed its aura, it couldn''t hide from a true expert. With her strength, Luna easily sensed Susie''s potential. Oddly enough, it was Luca who remained something of an enigma¡ªLuna couldn''t quite read him.


    It made him even more intriguing. After all, few could slip under her radar.


    "I''m not his girlfriend!!" Susie jumped up instantly.


    Her face flushed with embarrassment, as if she''d suffered a grave insult.


    "Is that so? Then I must have misread the situation." Luna smiled without furtherment. She then retrieved a letter from her storage ring and handed it to Luca. "Bronte heard about how you saved Riverfall City and decided to gift you one of his vis in the Noble District. I was on my way to find you, but it seems I''ve saved myself the trouble."


    Luna''s choice of words was interesting¡ªshe didn''t call Bronte "brother" or "lord" as most would, but simply referred to him by name.


    In Crent Empire, where noble etiquette was highly respected, such familiarity was rare, offering a glimpse into her unconventional character.


    Upon hearing this, the others in the hall began to look at Luca and Susie with a newfound respect.


    Luna''s favorable treatment of the pair had already set them apart, but now, with Marquis Bronte gifting a vi to Luca, it became clear just how much favor the City Lord''s office had for him.


    Curtis''s expression darkened considerably, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.


    He never imagined that this damn kid would gain the favor of Marquis Bronte!


    Now, with the City Lord''s protection, Curtis, a mere mid-tier professional, was powerless.


    Even high-tier professionals wouldn''t dare openly touch Luca.


    Luca was just as surprised, having never expected that a routine mission would earn him a vi in the Noble District.


    "Please convey my thanks to Marquis Bronte, Miss Luna," he said, epting the letter without hesitation. Gaining the favor of a marquis was no small benefit.


    Luna nodded slightly. "The journey to Pure River Townwill take around half a day. I''ll have someone prepare a room for you to rest in."


    Luca nodded and thanked her.


    As the Cloudwing Airship prepared for departure, the adventure to Pure River Townwas about to begin.


    Luna didn''t stay in the cabin for long and soon left.


    Now, the people in the cabin looked at Luca with entirely different eyes, many of them eagerly approaching him for conversation.


    He was so young, yet he had already gained the favor of Marquis Bronte.


    This was undoubtedly Southwind City''s next rising star.


    If they didn''t seize the chance to curry favor now, they might not get another opportunity in the future.


    Curtis, watching the scene unfold, became even more consumed with dark thoughts.


    His eyes glinted with malice as he shot Luca onest vicious nce before turning to leave.


    Since he couldn''t make a move openly, he''d have to find a way to strike from the shadows.


    As soon as they were out of Southwind City, there would be plenty of chances to kill this arrogant boy.


    After Luca finished dealing with the influx of professionals trying to win his favor, the airship staff informed him that his room was ready.


    With Susie by his side, Luca followed the attendant toward the upper levels, his steps apanied by envious gazes from the other passengers.


    When they opened the door, they were greeted by a spacious room, approximately a few dozen square meters.


    The beige curtains swayed gently, and sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in a warm glow. Inside, there was a private bathroom and a luxurious oversized bed, already dressed with pristine silk sheets.


    Seeing the room''s hotel-like furnishings, Luca''s expression turned somewhat awkward.


    It seemed Luna truly thought they were a couple, as she had only arranged one room for them¡­


    "How are we supposed to sleep like this..." Susie mumbled, her face turning as red as an apple, standing hesitantly at the door, too embarrassed to enter.


    Though Susie often visited Luca''s room and they had even slept together when they were younger.


    Now that they were both adults¡­


    The thought alone made her entire neck flush crimson, and her face felt so hot it seemed like it might catch fire.

 Capítulo 98: Chapter 98: When Plans Backfire! Darabont! Corpses in the North!

    Luca nced at Susie, initially intending to tellsomething.


    Abouther not to overthink it¡ªafter all, he was only interested in curvy older women.


    But then, a mischievous thought crossed his mind. This was a perfect chance for some payback.


    He cleared his throat and grinned, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up ande in."


    With that, he grabbed Susie''s hand. Her skin was cold to the touch, silky smooth like fine fabric, a detail Luca hadn''t noticed before.


    The moment he held her hand, Susie froze, instinctively trying to pull away.


    But before she could react, Luca had already pulled her into the room and shut the door behind them.


    The sound of the door closing echoed through the room, making Susie''s heart skip a beat.


    Now, the room was just the two of them.


    Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on Susie''s flushed face.


    Her heart pounded wildly, her thoughts scattered, and she couldn''t bring herself to meet Luca''s gaze.


    But Luca wasn''t done teasing her yet.


    He wrapped his arm around Susie''s waist, and he felt her body instantly stiffen like a statue.


    Acting as though he hadn''t noticed, Luca lifted her off the ground, carrying her toward the bed.


    Susie let out a startled yelp, instinctively wrapping her arms around Luca''s neck. In a panic, she stammered, "L-Luca, you¡ªyou better not try anything! If you touch me, I''ll tell Auntie!"


    Ever since they were kids, Susie''s only surefire way of keeping Luca in check was threatening to tell his mother, Sini. But this time, it didn''t seem to faze him.


    "Go ahead," Luca replied casually. "Worst case, Mom gives me a beating. I can take it."


    With that, he tossed Susie onto the pristine white bed and dramatically leaped on top of her.


    However, despite appearances, Luca made sure to keep a respectful distance between them.


    Teasing her was one thing, but crossing the line wasn''t his style.


    Still, he intended to pile on the pressure.


    If he didn''t give Susie a good scare, she''d keep pushing boundaries¡ªtoday it was online rtionships, but who knew what she''de up with next?


    Susiey there, staring up at Luca, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of her chest.


    Her face was as red as a tomato, and she was so embarrassed she felt like she might explode. Her mind was a whirlwind of panicked thoughts, all jumbled together: "It''s over, Luca''s finally making a move on me¡­ What if Mom finds out? Am I going to get pregnant?!" and so on, a chaotic mess of nonsense.


    In just the span of a single breath, Susie''s mind, which wasn''t particrly quick on the uptake, had alreadye up with names for the children she was imagining.


    The only thing she hadn''t considered was logging out of the game.


    The sudden shock and the hyper-realistic nature of the game were enough to make someone forget where they actually were.


    Luca knew this all too well, which is why he decided to scare her a bit.


    However, he also knew that as soon as she realized what was happening, Susie would log out immediately.


    By now, Susie was on the verge of tears. Luca had already avenged her false usations of his online romance, so there was no need to continue.


    After all, this was just a game¡ªwhat could he actually do to her here? Luca figured it was time to stop.


    He was just about to get up and say something like, "Stupid girl, did you really take it seriously? I was messing with you! That''s what you get for using me of online dating! Let this be a lesson¡ªdon''t you dare use me again!"


    The n was to make Susie embarrassed and furious, giving Luca a bit of satisfaction and closure.But just as he was about to get off of her...


    "Vroom!"


    Suddenly, the room shook violently.


    A feeling of weightlessness struck them both, catching Lucapletely off guard. He fell right on top of Susie.


    A faint, sweet scent drifted into his nose.


    His lips felt soft warmth.


    Both of their eyes widened simultaneously.


    Luca''s were filled with shock, while Susie''s were a mixture of shame and fury.


    The Cloudwing Airship had taken off!


    ...


    In the real world, the sun shone brightly.


    A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a soft rustling sound.


    From the second floor of Susie''s house, the sound of a girl''s heartbroken sobs could be heard.


    Standing at the front door.


    Luca''s face wore an expression of rare conflict.


    The earlier incident had been aplete ident. He hadn''t intended for things to go that way at all.


    But Susie hadn''t given him the chance to exin. She had logged out of the game immediately, leaving Luca feeling helpless.


    After a long period of internal debate.


    Luca knew he had to face the situation.


    Sighing, he pressed the doorbell.


    From inside, a deep male voice boomed, "Who is it?"


    A momentter, the door creaked open.


    Standing before Luca was a tall, broad-shouldered man with amanding presence, built like a bear.


    This was none other than Susie''s father, Darabont.


    Aseasoned frontline detective who frequently dealt with corpses and criminals.


    It was his day off from the rotation shift, which was fortunate for Luca, as he was rarely home otherwise.


    Seeing Luca, Darabont let out a heartyugh. "Oh, it''s you, Luca! Perfect timing. Susie was ying some game and ended up in tears. Go on up and cheer her up."


    Darabont, with his booming voice and rough, hearty demeanor typical of northern folk, spoke loudly enough to be heard throughout the house.


    On the second floor, Susie''s sobbing abruptly stopped for a few seconds.


    Then, the crying started again, even louder this time.


    "...I''ll go now," Luca muttered, ncing nervously at Darabont''s bulging biceps, forcing a smile before quickly slipping inside the house.


    Theyout of Susie''s house was simr to his own, but the interior decor was quite different.


    Luca''s home had a warm, cozy atmosphere, with most of the furniture made of wood, giving it a homier and simpler feel. In contrast, Susie''s house leaned toward a more modern, minimalist design. The floor and walls had cooler tones, and the d¨¦cor was more refined, with expensive furniture pieces throughout.


    Susie''s bedroom was located on the second floor, and as Luca climbed the stairs, he noticed that the dining table in the living room was set with freshly made dishes, still steaming.


    When he reached the top, he saw Susie''s mother, Zoey,standing just outside Susie''s bedroom door, looking worried.


    "Sweetie, what''s wrong? Talk to Mom, please¡­" Zoey was trying tofort her daughter.


    Shestill wearing an apron, probably having just called Susie down for lunch.


    Luca cleared his throat softly. "Auntie, would you like me to try talking to her?"


    Before Zoey could respond, Susie''s voice, thick with tears, came from the other side of the door.


    "I don''t want to talk to you! You¡­ you pervert!"


    For once, Luca didn''t argue back.


    Zoey, exasperated, scolded, "Luca came here out of kindness to check on you, how could you speak to him like that?"


    "You''re all bullying me!" Susie''s voice was filled with grievance. It was clearly Luca''s fault, so why was her mother scolding her?


    After all, her first kiss had been stolen by this jerk¡­


    Feeling a bit guilty, Luca rubbed his nose awkwardly. "It''s okay, Auntie. Don''t worry, I''ll make sure she feels better."


    He knew Zoey had to head to the bank for work that afternoon and didn''t want to dy her.


    Though still worried about her daughter, Zoey knew Darabont was also home today.


    After thinking for a moment, she sighed and said, "Alright, I''ll leave Susie in your care. Try to talk some sense into her¡ªI''m not sure what''s gotten into her today."


    Luca nodded in agreement.


    Once Zoey had left, Luca approached Susie''s door and knocked twice.


    "It''s me. Open the door. What happened earlier was an ident, and I''m here to apologize."


    All he could hear was more sobbing from inside; clearly, Susie wasn''t interested in talking.


    Luca had expected this.


    Having known her for years, he understood her temperament all too well.


    Luckily, he hade prepared.


    Luca pulled a thin piece of wire from his pocket and inserted it into the keyhole, twisting it to get a sense of the pin positions inside. After a couple of turns, he memorized the cement of the pins, then bent the wire into the shape of a key.


    After inserting it once more and giving it two turns, he heard a soft click as the lock disengaged. No finesse involved¡ªjust sheer skill.


    He pushed open the door and entered the room.


    Susie''s bedroom was slightlyrger than his own. The space was clean and tidy, with sky-blue bedding and a giant plush bear sitting near the bed. Her desk was neatly arranged with books, and although the vanity didn''t have any makeup on it, there was a hairdryer.


    The moment he stepped inside, a faint, delicate fragrance hit him¡ªher room was just like most girls'' rooms, with a soft and inviting scent.


    At that moment, Susie was hiding under her nkets, sobbing loudly,pletely unaware that Luca had already entered the room.


    He stood there silently, a yful smile on his face, watching her with amusement.


    After a long time of no sound from the door, Susie finally began to tire from crying.


    "That jerk! He said he wasing to apologize, but he doesn''t even have the slightest bit of sincerity!" she muttered angrily to herself, determined that this time, no matter what, she would never forgive Luca.


    MVLeMpYr-original-content


    But it was getting stuffy under the covers, so she shifted and poked her head out to get some air.


    The moment she looked up, she froze. There was Luca, standing by her bed with his arms crossed, looking down at her with a half-smirk, half-smile.


    Their eyes met, and Susie blinked in surprise, thinking she must have been seeing things.


    It wasn''t until she noticed the door to her bedroom was wide open that her eyes widened in shock and anger. "You¡ªyou¡ªyou... who let you in here? Get out! I don''t want to see you!"


    She yelled, immediately diving back under the nket, turning herself into a little blue cocoon.


    Luca sighed and said, "I swear, I didn''t mean for that to happen earlier. I was just teasing you a little. How could I have known the Cloudwing Airship would take off suddenly?"


    He continued, "It''s really not that big of a deal. It was just a virtual game, after all. No need to be so upset."


    Then, with a grin, he added, "If you''re that mad about it, I can let you kiss me back. I''ll take the loss."


    Hearing his shameless suggestion, Susie couldn''t help but pop her head out again, ring at him. "Ugh! You pervert! Who would want to kiss you back?"


    Luca was relieved to see that she was at least talking again.


    He knew Susie was just upset for the moment and that with a little coaxing, she''d eventually get over it. If she hadn''t even wanted to speak to him, that would''ve been a real disaster.


    For the next hour, Luca fully applied his silver tongue, doing his best to lighten the mood.


    From the room came the asional scolding from Susie, her tone sharp with mock anger.


    Despite being berated thoroughly, Luca''s attempts tofort her were clearly working.


    Though the game felt just as real as life, there was a certain emotional buffer knowing it had all taken ce in a virtual space.


    With Luca''s relentless efforts, Susie''s angry words soon gave way to soft giggles.


    Downstairs, Darabont was watching television, and upon hearing the sounds from upstairs, he couldn''t help but smile and shake his head.


    Both families had always maintained a "let things happen naturally" approach with these two.


    Where their rtionship would go was up to them, as long as they didn''t cross any lines, no one would interfere.


    Just as he was thinking this, Darabont''s phone rang.


    He nced at the caller ID, and his smile immediately faded.


    This was his special phone, reserved for the police force.


    When he answered, a team member''s voice came through, serious and urgent.


    "Captain, we''ve received a report from the north side of the city. A body was found in an elevator, and the cause of death seems¡­ unusual."

 Capítulo 130: Chapter 130: Finn Arrives! Silencing Witnesses! A Transcendent Level Descends!

    A terrifying aura crashed down upon thend, as if the entire world had been overtaken by the blood-red giant hand.


    No one had expected such a sudden shift, and there was no time to react.


    The blood-colored hand mmed directly into the area upied by the Mora family.


    Boom!


    A deafening explosion echoed through the meat factory.


    Dust and debris erupted, while the very mountains trembled under the terrifying force.


    When the dust finally settled, all that remained where the Mora family had stood was a massive handprint, deeply embedded in the ground.


    The hundreds of Mora family members were gone, leaving nothing but a grim, muddy stain.


    They''d all been obliterated in a single blow.


    It was then that everyone noticed a figure in a blood-red robe hovering silently in the sky.


    With his arms crossed, he floated in midair, a pair of crimson wings ring out from his back.


    He wore a grotesque mask, and his entire body radiated an intense and frightening aura.


    It was unmistakably a Superss master!


    "The¡­ the Phillips family''s Hand of Heaven!" Bronte recognized the skill''s origin, his face turning deathly pale.


    At the mention of this family name, shock spread across everyone''s faces.


    For this was the family of Duke Lyon!


    But why had they suddenlye to Southwind City?!


    Orf raised his gaze, his gray brows knitted tightly together as he looked toward the distant sky.


    He sighed. "Sir Finn, I believe you owe us an exnation."


    The crowd followed Orf''s gaze, yet saw nothing out of the ordinary.


    Luca''s eyes narrowed as a sh of purple flickered in them, and then his pupils contracted sharply.


    Among the clouds, a massive, luxurious flying vessel had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.


    It spanned thousands of meters, its surface covered in countless glowing runes that radiated a dazzling light.


    Standing on its deck was a young man, dressed in crimson noble attire, his handsome face framed by the wind.


    His gaze was fixed on them. Hearing Orf''s words, he raised his hand slightly, and the vessel emerged from its cloaked state, drawing gasps from the crowd.


    Finn Phillips! Why had hee here?!


    Fratis''s face went pale as she pressed her lips together tightly, seeming to anticipate the worst.


    "What kind of exnation are you asking for, Headmaster Orf?" Finn Phillips replied with a light chuckle, unfazed by Orf''s Superss status.


    His gaze dropped, voice cold. "The Mora family colluded with a cult, attempting to sacrifice tens of thousands of innocent people. I happened to pass by, so I took care of them.


    "If anything, you all should be thanking me, don''t you think?"


    Bronte''s face darkened, anger shing in his eyes. "Finn, as the duke''s son, don''t you think that''s a bit shameless?"


    Though notmon knowledge, it was well-known among those in power that the Mora family served Finn.


    They''d likely been observing for quite a while.


    Only acting at the crucial moment to silence witnesses.


    And now, he dared to make such a brazen statement?


    Luca didn''t know much about the strength of Fratis''s fianc¨¦.


    But he was definitely getting a sense of his shamelessness.


    Noticing the rising discontent around him.


    Finn remainedpletely unbothered.


    He said calmly, "If you''re unhappy, you''re wee to report it to Dawn City. Someone there will handle it. But here, you have no right to question me."


    Even in the presence of several Superss fighters, he seemed entirely dismissive, as if no one here was worth his attention. This arrogance, ignoring everyone around him, made even the typically calm Orf frown.


    This guy was outrageously arrogant!


    The Mora family''s blood sacrifice ritual still had many secrets buried beneath the surface. Yet, before they had a chance to investigate, Finn had wiped them all out.


    Now, who knew what dangers might linger or how many more would die as a result?


    Finn''s conduct and attitude were nothing short of infuriating!


    But at the thought of who he was, many found themselves biting back their words.


    Duke Lyon, Finn''s father, was one of the most powerful figures in the Clinton Empire.


    It wasn''t just ordinary people like them¡ªeven Bronte had to bow down before such overwhelming power.


    In the Eternal Continent, strength was everything;ws and rules were practically meaningless.


    As long as your power was unmatched, no one could challenge you, even if they knew you were behind everything. That was the Eternal Continent''s harsh reality¡ªthew of the jungle.


    "I don''t need your reminder! I''ll be reporting this to Dawn City myself, and His Majesty will personally handle it! Let''s see if you''re still so smug then!" Bronte snapped, no longer bothering to mask his contempt.


    Sure, he couldn''t take action against Finn now. Just the Sky-level Superss guard beside him would be more than difficult to deal with, and handling this matter wasn''t even within their authority.


    But that didn''t mean Finn was untouchable here. Sooner orter, someone would investigate Finn''s ties to the Mora family, and if anything suspicious was uncovered, not even Duke Lyon could protect him!


    "I''ll be looking forward to it," Finn said, narrowing his eyes slightly, but showing not the slightest hint of concern.


    He waved his hand and, apanied by the masked Superss figure, returned to the flying vessel.


    Bronte snorted, saying nothing more, and made his way toward the meat factory.


    At this point, the meat factory had beenpletely reduced to rubble. Of the tens of thousands of ves within the Blood Sacrifice Array, more than half had perished, while the survivors, pale-faced, had much of their life force drained.


    Fortunately, they hadn''t sustained irreparable harm and could recover with some care and rest.


    Notably, Ian was still alive.


    Being thrown into the Blood Sacrifice Array earlier had ironically saved him, allowing him to avoid the worst of the attack.


    Bronte felt a bit relieved at this small constion.


    Ian, as a key yer within the Mora family, could still provide valuable information.


    As Bronte considered this, his gaze shifted to something hovering above the Blood Sacrifice Array¡ªa ck box, emanating a sinister dark glow.


    The box was now stained with ayer of blood at the edges, giving it an even more malevolent appearance.


    Even with his vast knowledge, Bronte couldn''t identify the origin of this dark artifact. He turned back to Orf and asked, "Dean, does this look familiar to you?"


    "It does look familiar¡­" Orf frowned, scrutinizing the box. After a moment, his face changed suddenly. "This¡­ could it be the Demon Box?"


    Luca gave a slight nod.


    Itapparently reaching the same conclusion.


    "The Demon Box?" Bronte''s face paled, and he drew in a sharp breath. "Pandora''s Demon Box? How has this surfaced now?"


    With their status and experience, they understood well the seven King-level monsters from the Abyssal Demon Realm and the unspeakable horrors they had unleashed on the Eternal Continent.


    Pandora was a notorious name among the Seven Demon Lords. Legend had it that she wielded a ck box, storing the very essence of sin and endless desires, enough to corrupt the heart of any mortal.


    Bronte never imagined he''d one day encounter such an infamous relic in his own territory, Southwind City.


    "It''s been countless years since the Demon Boxst appeared. Are you sure you''re not mistaken?" Medel muttered, his skin prickling with dread, doubting Orf''s assessment.


    If the Demon Box had indeed resurfaced, it meant the Witch of Desire was already here.


    And if that were true, they were in far more trouble than they''d anticipated.


    Orf rolled his eyes and said, "I''ve told you, old fool, to read more often. Just look at the carvings on the box''s four sides¡ªit''s unmistakably the Demon Box."


    "The historical records describe the Witch of Desire''s Demon Box as engraved with four symbols, each representing one of her powers: Desire, Sin''s Eye, Immortality, and Duality¡ªall matching the markings on this box."


    "It''s hard to understand how it ended up here¡­"


    Bronte shook his head, saying, "This is beyond our capacity to handle. I''ll arrange to have it sent to Dawn City and let the royal authorities deal with it."


    Orf and Medel nodded in agreement.


    The origins of the ck box were too powerful, and leaving it in Southwind City could unleash unknown dangers.


    Sending it to Dawn City was the safest course of action.


    The group then began discussing how to safely transport the box.


    But then, their faces suddenly darkened.


    Luca noticed it, too¡ªthe light around them was dimming rapidly.


    Above them, dark clouds gathered, and the once-brilliant sun was vanishing at a visible rate.


    An eclipse?


    "What¡­?" Luca''s eyes widened as he turned toward the direction of the Blood Sacrifice Array.


    Purple mist was rising from where Harvis and the others had perished.


    Flowing steadily into the ck box hovering above the Blood Sacrifice Array.


    As the mist poured in, the box''s dark glow deepened.


    Tendrils of ck energy,den with endless desire, seeped from the box.


    Nearby soldiers working among the factory ruins suddenly shuddered, their eyes bulging as if possessed.


    Dark patterns, spreading visibly fast, began crawling across their skin.


    "Ahhh!!" They cried out in agony as the ck patterns raced up to their foreheads, forming a twisted tree-shaped mark.


    If one looked closely, they''d see that this symbol was identical to the golden tree etched onto the Demon Box itself!


    And then, they saw it¡ªthe Demon Box was trembling slightly, as though preparing to open.


    "No¡­ the Demon Box is about to open!" Everyone''s faces went pale. They didn''t fully understand what was happening, but it was undoubtedly something terrible.


    "Let''s go!" Orf wasted no time, grabbing Luca and preparing to make a swift exit.


    But then, an overpowering pressure suddenly descended upon them.


    For a brief moment, all of Southwind City seemed to freeze.


    Everyone felt their breath catch in their throats.


    This was¡­ Transcendent level power!

 Capítulo 131: Chapter 131: The Witch of Desire! Southwind City Falls! You Can’t Retrieve That Thing!

    The oppressive, familiar aura made Luca feel a chill running through his blood.


    Transcendent level!


    A Transcendent-level monster had actually descended!


    He struggled to look back, only to see that the previously closed Demon Box had somehow opened, and thick, foul ck liquid was oozing from within.


    A blinding ck light surged skyward, as if seeking to engulf the entire world in darkness.


    This darkness wasn''t like the night¡ªit was absolute, suffocating darkness.


    No light, no sound, just dead silence.


    Golden threads glinted in Luca''s eyes, allowing him to make out a graceful silhouette amidst the shadows.


    A delicate veil covered her face, her skin pale as porcin, her form draped in a ck gauzy dress, her bare feet visible as her enticing figure flickered in and out of the darkness.


    She looked like a wless work of art, beautiful beyond words, and a mere nce stirred a flood of chaotic desires, luring one into a sea of insatiable longing.


    Almost as soon as Luca noticed her, she seemed to sense his gaze. She turned slightly, her eyes, brilliant like stars, locking onto him.


    In that instant, as their eyes met, Luca felt as though he was being swallowed by the darkness. Unchecked desires surged from deep within, crashing over him like a massive wave, threatening to consume him entirely.


    "Don''t look back!" Orf''s voice boomed like thunder in his ears, snapping him out of the whirlpool of desire. Luca jolted, drenched in a cold sweat.


    What a terrifying power!


    So this was the Witch of Desire, Pandora?


    He had only heard rumors of her dreadfulness before, but experiencing it firsthand, he understood just how insignificant and feeble human will was against such a presence.


    Had he not been someone who had lived through two lifetimes, he might have had no chance of resisting her influence.


    Without a moment''s pause, Bronte and the others led everyone away from the Outer District.


    Pandora didn''t pursue them, seeming to consider them beneath her notice.


    With her eyes closed, she floated high in the sky, veiled in ck light. The ck box in her hand continuously poured forth foul ck water, spreading outward from the meat factory, creeping into every corner of the Outer District.


    The sudden shift left many with no time to react.


    Anyone who came into contact with the ck liquid was consumed almost instantly. When the liquid receded, those individuals stood again, transformed into red-eyed Abyss Crawlers, moving on all fours.


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!"


    Countless monsters lunged at the civilians in the Outer District. Agile and fierce, they leaped from rooftops to streets, their razor-sharp ws like des, tearing people apart with ease.


    The monsters'' roars and the screams of the victims echoed throughout the Outer District, filling it with endless agony.


    By the time Luca and the others made it back to the Inner District, the Outer District had be a living hell.


    The group stared in disbelief.


    In just moments, Southwind City had fallen into utter chaos!


    "Is this what Pure River Town went through back then?!"


    "But the blood sacrifice was stopped! How did that monster still manage to reach our world?!" Bronte''s eyes were bloodshot as he punched the wall, leaving a deep dent.


    As the Lord of Southwind City and Marquis of the Southern Territory, he felt an overwhelming mix of emotions, watching his people suffer without fully understanding why.


    The others, equally shaken, also struggled to understand Pandora''s sudden appearance.


    Luca took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.


    He''d witnessed scenes like this many times before, so he regained hisposure faster than the others.


    After a moment''s thought, he realized something and spoke with resolve: "Everyone, don''t lose hope. We did disrupt the Mora family''s blood sacrifice¡ªPandora''s arrival wasn''t due to that ritual!"


    "What do you mean?" Medel asked, perplexed.


    Orf''s eyes widened with sudden understanding. "Are you suggesting that Pandora was already here but just hadn''t made her move?"


    Luca nodded. "The Blood Sacrifice Array was actually meant by the Mora family to summon a different King-level monster. But because we disrupted the ritual, Pandora had no choice but to emerge from the Demon Box and act herself."


    He knew far more about these events than anyone else present, so his deduction came easily.


    Luca also suspected that Finn had yed a role in Pandora''s appearance. If the Mora family''s n had gone smoothly, Finn wouldn''t have shown up, let alone killed them.


    With the Mora family''s failure, Finn had forced Pandora to awaken.


    Hearing this theory, everyone felt a glimmer of rity.


    It made sense. They could tell that, although Pandora radiated a Transcendent-level aura, she didn''t seem as powerful as they''d expected.


    In other words, this was not Pandora in her full strength!


    With this thought, a spark of confidence rekindled among the group.


    If they were facing a fully-powered Transcendent-level monster, they wouldn''t stand a chance. But if it was a weakened King-level monster, they could at least hold it off long enough for others to escape.


    Bronte immediately turned to Luna, his tone firm. "Luna, issue the order: gather the city''s defense forces and hold back the monsters!


    "No matter the cost, ensure that every citizen evacuates Southwind City safely!"


    After a pause, he added, "We''ll do our best to stall the King-level monster. You should lead everyone else far from Southwind City, as far as possible."


    Bronte''s tone was calm, but his words left no room for doubt.


    Southwind City was beyond saving.


    At his words, Luna''s eyes shed with defiance, and she refused outright, "No! Southwind City is my home. I''ll stay here and fight. I''ll send someone else to lead the soldiers!"


    Bronte was silent for a moment, then spoke quietly but firmly. "When I tell you to leave, you listen."


    His voice wasn''t loud, but it cut through the noisy street with rity.


    For the first time, Luca saw this usually carefree marquis disy such stern authority.


    Luna bit her lip, her eyes shining with unshed tears.


    As she cast a long, lingering look at Bronte.


    Without another word, she turned and headed for the city lord''s manor.


    Growing up in the marquis'' household came with responsibilities.


    It was a lesson theirte father had instilled in them from a young age.


    "You should go with them too," Orf said, cing a hand on Luca''s shoulder. He slipped a ring off his finger, pressing it into Luca''s hand with a gentle smile. "I''m an old man. Staying behind doesn''t matter for me, but you''re myst student, Luca. You have to live."


    Luca opened his mouth to respond, but Medel cut him off with a gruff, "What, are you nning to stay here as monster chow? Get moving!"


    "Oh, and one more thing¡­"


    Medel tossed him another ring, a Storage Ring, and cleared his throat. "It''s got a bit of my savings over the years. I never had a student in my life."


    "If you don''t mind¡­ how about calling me ''teacher'' just once?"


    Looking down at the two rings in his hand, Luca swallowed.


    Then gave a respectful bow."Thank you, teachers."


    A warm smile spread across Orf''s and Medel''s faces.


    With such a student, they could die without regrets.


    As Luca''s figure faded into the distance, they turned their gazes skyward toward the looming figure.


    Bronte''s expression grew grim, and he said solemnly, "Are you both certain? Once the fight begins, survival is nearly impossible."


    This was a Transcendent-level foe.


    Even if weakened, the thought alone made him shudder to his core.


    "We''ve seen more battles than you''ve eaten salt, kid; no need for your reminders," Medelscoffed, rolling his eyes as magic runes flickered across his body.


    Stretching his limbs, he chuckled, "Onest good fight before this body gives out¡ªthat''s something worth looking forward to, right, Orf? Orf?!"


    Orf ignored them, frowning as he rummaged through his Storage Ring. Finally, his expression rxed.


    He pulled out a dusty pack of cigarettes, probably stashed away decades ago, and carefully lit one, exhaling smoke with a look of contentment. "You all talk like we''re doomed. It''s just a King-level monster. Luca managed to break the Superss Dark River Array; maybe we''ve got a shot."


    Medel snorted, "Then why''d you take out that picture of yourte wife?"


    ¡­


    After parting with Orf and the others, Luca returned straight to Red Maple Academy.


    Fred and Vice Dean Kruse had already gathered the students and faculty. Everyone was preparing to escort the civilians safely out of Southwind City.


    Fratis, Melissa, Kassna, and others were there as well. Seeing Luca''s return, they looked momentarily surprised but not entirely shocked.


    Fratis approached, casting a worried nce toward where Orf and the others were, murmuring, "The Dean and the others¡­ they''ll be alright, won''t they?"


    A look of concern spread across the faces of everyone nearby.


    It spoke volumes that so many Superss fighters had joined forces¡ªit meant the woman in the sky was beyond formidable.


    "They''ll be fine," Luca said with a faint shake of his head, not borating further.


    Without pausing, he continued heading into Red Maple Academy.


    "Luca, where are you going? We''re preparing to leave!" Melissa called out, bewildered.


    "Go on ahead. I''m just going back to get something," Luca replied.


    "What is it? Tell me, I''ll grab it for you!" Fred shouted.


    But Luca''s figure had already disappeared through the doors of Red Maple Academy


    His voice drifting back faintly.


    "It''s something you wouldn''t be able to retrieve."

 Capítulo 101: Chapter 101: The Plague in Pure River Town! Abyssal Crawler! How Do You Want to Die?

    Before long, the group arrived at the temporary meeting room set up in the camp.


    Inside, many people were already waiting, but one individual stood out¡ªthe fat man. He was dressed in luxurious noble attire, his enormous belly spilling over the chair, which groaned under the strain of his weight.


    Originally, this hefty man was sighing in despair, but when he saw Luna and the others enter, his eyes lit up immediately.


    He clumsily shifted hisrge frame and waddled toward them, tears streaming down his face as he sobbed, "Oh, Luna, thank the gods you''re here! These past few days, I''ve been scared out of my wits! I haven''t eaten or slept... I''ve lost so much weight!"


    Everyone''s lips twitched at the exaggerated statement.


    It was hard to believe this unreliable-looking man was actually the lord in charge.


    This was Pierce Shana, the other lord responsible for dealing with the Pure River Town crisis. He governed Serpent City, a town near Southwind City, and Pure River Town was part of his territory.


    Pierce was also a member of the prominent Shana family from Southwind City.


    Thatst name...


    Luca recalled a young girl named Kassna from Red Maple Academy who shared the same family name.


    But he found it difficult to see any resemnce between her and this rotund man.


    Must be a coincidence...


    He thought as he shook his head, focusing on listening to the conversation between Luna and Pierce.


    As the discussion unfolded, Luca began to piece together what had happened in Pure River Town.


    A week ago, a few vigers were bitten by crazed refugees. Within days, their bodies began to rot, and they died soon after.


    At first, the townsfolk thought it was some strange gue, nothing too unusual.


    After all, in a world of transcendents, even diseases like cancer could be cured.


    But then, something bizarre happened.


    The number of infected in Pure River Town exploded in just a few days, growing to over a hundred. And worse, the healers brought in to treat the sick found that the illness waspletely untreatable¡ªthey couldn''t even figure out what was causing it.


    The most terrifying part?Those who had died from the gue didn''t stay dead. After a short time, their rotting corpses wed their way out of the ground, transformed into monstrous creatures, and began attacking the living.


    Anyone bitten or scratched by these creatures would be infected, dying within three days and rising again as mindless monsters.


    In just a few days, the situation spiraled out of control, leaving Pure River Town devastated. With no other options, the town''s mayor finally mustered the courage to report the disaster to Serpent City.


    But by the time Pierce''s forces arrived, it was toote¡ªthere were no survivors left in Pure River Town. The town was overrun with grotesque monsters, and the mayor had disappeared without a trace.


    Pierce immediately recognized the gravity of the situation and reported it to Southwind City that very night. Concurrently, he mobilized the strongmen and soldiers of Serpent City to suppress the monsters in Pure River Town.


    Initially, the operation proceeded smoothly.


    Thebined efforts of hundreds of professionals swiftly cleared the town of its grotesque creatures.


    However, a more terrifying development soon emerged.


    Some of Pierce''s soldiers began to show signs of infection.


    It is important to note that these were not ordinary individuals; they were all seasoned professionals.


    This indicated that the gue was not only transmissible to civilians but also to professionals, and those infected experienced significant increases in strength, bing far more formidable than the monsters transformed from ordinary people.


    Faced with this escting crisis, Pierce was overwhelmed and once again reported the dire circumstances to Southwind City.


    Consequently, the task level of the Pure River Town incident was repeatedly elevated.


    Even Marquis Bronte had to take the matter seriously, issuing urgent orders to seal off the area to prevent the gue from spreading and causing greater panic and loss.


    At the same time, he dispatched Luna to lead a team to address the situation in Pure River Town promptly.


    Given the town''s proximity to Southwind City, any mishandling could lead to widespread fear throughout the Southern Territory.


    It was no wonder that Pierce appeared so distressed.


    An incident of this magnitude within his jurisdiction could severely impact his future prospects.


    After listening to the ount, Luca''s eyes gleamed with interest.


    A gue capable of infecting professionals, coupled with rapidly evolving monsters...


    It seemed reminiscent of events from his previous life.


    "Order all troops to assemble!" Upon understanding the situation, Luna wasted no time in issuingmands. The matter could not be dyed further; immediate action was essential to prevent the emergence of more dangerous creatures.


    "I will see to it at once!" Pierce responded, his face flushed with determination.


    The sooner the situation was resolved, the lesser the impact on his reputation and authority.


    Under Luna''s directives, the temporary camp sprang into action. Over a thousand mid-tier professionals armed themselves and marched toward Pure River Town.


    Due to the enigmatic nature of the town''s monsters, Luna initially intended for Luca to apany her.


    However, Luca declined.


    He needed to investigate on his own to confirm his suspicions, which made it inconvenient to move with the others.


    Seeing this, Luna didn''t say much.


    Although Luca hadn''t shown the full extent of his abilities, Luna understood what clearing 20 floors of the Trial Tower signified.


    Even if Luca was young and potentiallycking inbat experience, she was confident he could take care of himself.


    As Luca headed toward Pure River Town alone, Curtis sneered.


    "You''re walking straight into hell when there''s a path to heaven." He licked his lips and quietly followed behind.


    As the group of over a thousand professionals entered the town, they were met with a gruesome sight.


    Some with weaker stomachs couldn''t hold it in and vomited on the spot.


    What was once a bustling town had turned into a nightmarish hellscape.


    The once-clean streets were stained with dried ck blood, and chunks of flesh and organs were carelessly discarded in the corners. The stench of rotting corpses assaulted their noses, almost too much to bear. hosted-on-NovelBin


    Dozens upon dozens of ck, rotting, and deformed creatures wandered aimlessly throughout the town. Their bloodshot eyes were filled with a murderous, frenzied bloodlust. There had to be at least a thousand of them, covering the streets, rooftops, sewers, and houses¡ªmonsters everywhere, a dark mass overwhelming the entire town!


    "Roar!!" As soon as the creatures spotted Luna and the others, they let out furious howls, their eyes glowing with a murderous red light as they charged toward the group on all fours.


    They were fast, far too fast, and their sheer numbers made even some seasoned professionals feel weak in the knees.


    Luna''s eyes shed with a sharp, sword-like gleam. The noble sword at her waist was slowly unsheathed, and in an instant, she was enveloped in a brilliant white sword aura.


    Meanwhile, on Luca''s side, he encountered a smaller group of the deformed ck creatures.


    Butonly about a dozen or so.


    As they rushed toward him, Luca''s expression remained calm, unbothered.


    With a sh of light, the Wind and Thunder Spell Spearappeared in his hand, crackling with lightning.


    Swoosh!A shadow shot toward him!


    One of the monsters was suddenly at Luca''s side, its sharp ws shing directly at his throat.


    Its putrid stench of decay filling the air.


    Luca remainedposed, his body unmoving as his wrist turned, swinging the spear with a burst of wind and thunder.


    With a howl of force, the creature was sent flying over ten meters through the air.


    Smashing against a wall with a sickening thud, reduced to a stter of ck sludge.


    [Ding! You have in "lv22 Abyssal Crawler (Common)," gaining 13,000 experience!]


    Luca''s eyes flickered as he nced at the kill notification.


    Abyssal Crawlers were specialized creatures that only existed in the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    While abyssal energy could corrupt and cloud a person''s mind, amplifying their desires, it didn''t turn people into monsters.


    To understand why these people had transformed into such creatures, Luca needed to investigate the node himself.


    "Let''s hope it''s a big fish¡­" Luca murmured to himself before vanishing from where he stood.


    By the time the swarm of monsters reacted, Luca had already reappeared on a rooftop, his movements swift and silent.


    Behind him, a barrage of ice arrows began to materialize, forming rapidly until they filled the sky, casting an icy chill over the entire street.


    It was so cold!


    With a nce at the Abyssal Crawlers below.


    Luca unleashed his attack. The ice arrows descended like rain.


    Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!


    ck blood sttered everywhere as the monsters were torn apart. One by one, kill notifications popped up before Luca''s eyes.


    In an instant, dozens of the creatures had been wiped out.


    Luca briefly nced at the notifications before dismissing them. At his current level, it took hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of experience points to level up. This wave of monsters barely made a dent.


    Without lingering, he vanished from the rooftop, his figure shing as he made his way toward the center of the town.


    Pure River Town wasn''t just crawling with Abyssal Crawlers; there were also other grotesque abominations roaming the streets¡ªsix-legged humanoid spiders, one-eyed cyclopses, and disembodied heads with mouths full of jagged teeth.


    The moment these creatures spotted Luca, they shrieked and charged at him.


    Luca''s eyes turned cold. His Wind and Thunder Spell Speargleamed with green runes.


    Thick, spiked vines burst from the ground, immediately entangling and crushing the more sluggish monsters. The more agile ones barely dodged the vines'' initial strike.


    But the vines were relentless.


    They twisted mid-air, like serpents, coiling around the remaining creatures. Momentster, the sound of bones snapping filled the street, followed by the gurgling flow of dark, foul blood spilling onto the ground from the crushing vines.


    As the monsters were dispatched, experience points surged into Luca''s body.


    It wasn''t long before a golden glow enveloped him.


    [Ding! Your level has increased to 31. You have gained 30 free attribute points!]


    Luca allocated all the points to his spirit stat, bringing it up to 3,100.


    While the monsters here weren''t high-level, there were enough of them that, if he kept going, he could probably reach level 33 by the end of the day.


    Just as he thought this, his brows furrowed.


    A powerful gust of wind rushed toward him from behind.


    Someone''s attacking!


    Luca''s eyes shed coldly, reacting instantly.


    Silver light shimmered beneath his feet, and his body vanished in the blink of an eye.


    Air Step!


    A blood-red giant python-shaped attack whizzed past where Luca had just stood, piercing through a two-story building behind him.


    Boom!


    The building exploded in a cloud of dust and debris as the terrifying blood energy burst inside, shaking the earth with its destructive force.


    Amid the flying rubble, the building copsed in an instant.


    Luca reappeared on the street below.


    His gaze lifting to the figure wrapped in a shroud of blood energy standing atop the roof.


    His eyes turned icy cold.


    It was Curtis, who had somehow caught up to him.


    Curtis''s body was surrounded by a thick, menacing aura of blood energy. His mid-tier peak strength was fully unleashed.


    Brandishing a massive blood-red de, Curtis grinned maniacally and taunted, "Kid, how do you want to die?"

 Capítulo 102: Chapter 102: Blood Aura Seal! The Death of Curtis! Harvis’s Mission!

    A surge of murderous intent rushed at Luca like a tidal wave. His loose strands of hair were swept by the wind, yet his expression remained unchanged.


    "Those words¡­ should be mine to ask you," Luca said calmly. Before his voice fully faded, silver magic runes red beneath his feet. The stone pavement beneath him cracked and shattered, and in an instant, Luca vanished from the street, reappearing behind Curtis.


    The Wind and Thunder Spell Spearignited with red runes as Luca twisted his body, pivoting on his waist and unleashing a powerful strike. The spear, now engulfed in mes, rained down on Curtis''s vital points like a storm of fire and lightning.


    Turbulence!


    The attack was swift as a thunderbolt and fierce as a falling star, cutting through the air with a sharp whistling sound.


    Just as the Wind and Thunder Spell Spearwas about to pierce Curtis, a blood-red greatsword swung down.


    BANG!!


    The sh of their weapons didn''t produce the typical metallic ng but rather a deep, resonant thud.


    Fiery embers and thick blood aura collided, sending shockwaves in all directions. The sheer force of the impact caused the roof beneath them to crack, tiles and debris scattering with each pulse of energy.


    "You''ve got some skills. No wonder you''re so arrogant!" Curtis muttered, surprised by the strength behind Luca''s attack.


    Even among warrior sses, it was rare to see someone possess such raw power.


    Despite being a Demonic Rune Mage, Luca had somehow boosted his strength to a formidable level¡ªa freakish feat for his ss.


    "But with just that, you think you can survive against me? Not nearly enough!" Curtis sneered, his aura ring as he unleashed more blood energy, violently repelling Luca''s spear.


    With a swift motion, Curtis swung his blood-red de toward Luca''s neck, aiming to decapitate him with a single strike.


    If that de connected, no matter how talented Luca was, he would lose his head in an instant.


    But Luca had already anticipated Curtis''s counterattack. After missing his initial strike, Luca swiftly withdrew, dodging the de by a hair''s breadth as it sliced past his face without leaving a scratch.


    Curtis pressed his advantage, unleashing a flurry of strikes with his blood de, each one more vicious than thest.


    Luca deftly weaved between the attacks, refusing to meet them head-on.


    Through this exchange, Luca gained a better understanding of Curtis''s abilities. The man hadn''t risen to his position without reason¡ªhis strength was impressive, putting him among the top fighters in the mid-tier ranks. If Luca didn''t use some special tactics, it would take a considerable amount of time and effort to bring him down, especially given the level gap between them.


    Luca nced toward the deeper parts of Pure River Town and frowned. He needed to find the node and assess the situation before Anna arrived. Now wasn''t the time to waste energy on Curtis¡ªhe needed to end this quickly.


    Luca took a step back, his eyes filled with cold killing intent.


    In an instant, his mind activated.


    Thunder Rune!


    Purple lightning erupted, covering his entire body in the blink of an eye.


    The dark Wind and Thunder Spell Spearin his hand rapidly shifted into a blinding shade of violet.


    As the magical runes enveloped his form, Luca''s aura began to rise at a rapid pace.


    But it wasn''t enough.


    A feral gleam shed in his eyes, and the silver magic runes across his body began to turn blood-red.


    Runic Frenzy!


    In the next moment, the full power of the Thunder Runewas unleashed.


    The atmosphere trembled as waves of energy rippled outward, with lightning coalescing around Luca.


    The very air around him warped from the intensity of his rising power.


    "An enhancement skill?" Curtis''s eyes narrowed with wariness.


    He had heard stories of Luca''s remarkable performance in the Trial Tower, even surpassing Luna''s achievements.


    But Curtis hadn''t paid much attention back then.


    After all, Luca was just a boy¡ªhow dangerous could he really be, no matter how talented?


    Now, however, Curtis realized he had greatly underestimated him.


    The strength Luca was disying now ced him among the best even within the mid-tier ranks.


    Curtis''s eyes slitted in thought as a cautious retreat crossed his mind.


    Luca''s abilities had far exceeded his expectations, and even if Curtis could kill him, it wouldn''t be without attracting attention from Luna and the others.


    At that point, Luca''s powerful backers would never let him walk away unscathed.


    It seemed wiser to withdraw for now and look for another opportunityter. There had to be a moment when this boy was alone.


    As Curtis was nning his escape, his expression shifted slightly as he began looking for an exit route.


    "You think you can run now? It''s a bit toote for that," Luca said with a faint smile, his words sending a shock through Curtis''s mind. He couldn''t understand how Luca had seen through his intentions.


    Before Curtis could react, Luca''s Wind and Thunder Spell Spearbegan to surge with condensed lightning. The raw energy gathered in one ce, radiating a terrifying pressure as bolts of crackling lightning violently thrashed around.


    With a sh of blue light, Luca activated Wind Walk, causing his speed to skyrocket as green energy enveloped his body. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a blur and dashed directly toward Curtis.


    "You''re courting death!" Curtis, realizing his escape was impossible, let out a savage growl.


    He prepared to draw upon everyst drop of his blood energy to crush Luca and make the boy pay dearly for challenging him.


    But what happened next made Curtis''s eyes go wide in disbelief.


    "M-My blood energy?! Where is it?!" Curtis stammered, utterly bewildered.He finally noticed strange crimson runes etched all over his body. These intricate markings had formed a powerful seal, locking down all of his blood energy. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t ess a single drop of it.


    This was Luca''s secret technique, the Blood-Sealing Curse, derived from his mastery of breaking the Blood-Sealing Formation.


    He hadn''t had the chance to use it before, but Curtis was the perfect test subject.


    A warrior without blood energy was no more dangerous than a toothless tiger. Luca''s spear didn''t hesitate, driving straight for Curtis''s skull.


    BANG!


    Curtis''s head exploded like a watermelon, red and white matter sttering everywhere. His powerful, now headless, body froze in ce for a brief moment before copsing.


    Curtis, the once-formidable leader of the Blood Hand Mercenary Group, who had wed his way up from Riverfall City to build a prosperous reputation in Southwind City.


    Died without ever understanding how Luca possessed such a terrifying secret technique.


    As Curtis''s corpse fell to the ground, Luca''s expression remained calm.


    From the start, he had never considered Curtis a serious threat, even as the younger brother of Freeman.


    With a flick of his spear, Luca cleaned the blood from its de, then bent down to slip Curtis''s Storage Ringoff his finger.


    A quick scan with his mental energy revealed quite a few valuable items inside.


    As an underground professional, Curtis had kept most of his wealth close at hand.


    Inside the Storage Ringwere a variety of Gold Gradeand tinum Gradegear and items, as well as crates full of gold coins.


    Luca counted about ten crates, amounting to a total of 100,000 gold coins. On top of that, Curtis''s blood-red greatsword and his full set of armor added even more to the haul. All told, Luca estimated his loot was worth over 200,000 gold coins!


    It seemed Curtis had indeed made a fortune during his years in Southwind City. Most high-tier professionals didn''t amass wealth like this. But now, all of it belonged to Luca.


    Satisfied with his spoils, Luca stashed everything in his own storage space.


    Even if he found nothing else in Pure River Town, this alone made the trip worthwhile.


    Of course, he wouldn''t mind a little extra treasure if the opportunity presented itself.


    Luca nced back at Luna and her group, who were rapidly advancing through the town.


    Not wanting to waste time, he pressed on, heading deeper into Pure River Town.


    The town wasn''trge, and with Jormungandr''s perception, Luca easily located the node''s exact position.


    At the heart of Pure River Towny the central square, now shrouded in thick ck mist that obscured everything within. To truly understand what was happening there, Luca knew he had to enter and explore the area himself.


    Let''s hope this node has a worthwhile surprise for me,he thought.


    As he leapt swiftly from rooftop to rooftop.


    Cutting down monsters as he advanced toward the square.


    Unbeknownst to him, not long after Curtis''s death.


    your-chapter-source


    Awell-dressed figure emerged from a nearby tailor shop, nked by several guards.


    The man looked at Curtis''s headless body and couldn''t resist giving it a frustrated kick. "A mid-tier peak warrior, and he couldn''t even handle a beginner from the lower mid-tier? Useless! I should have never expected anything from him," he cursed.


    This was none other than Harvis.


    Not only had Curtis followed Luca, but Harvis had brought his own men along as well.


    When Curtis initially attacked Luca, Harvis had hoped the problem would resolve itself¡ªCurtis killing Luca would have saved him a lot of trouble. Yet, much to his annoyance, Curtis hadn''t even scratched Luca before being killed. All Harvis''s anticipation had been in vain.


    One of the guards hesitated, then spoke up, "Young master, that boy is unusual. His strength can''t be judged by his rank alone. I think it''s unwise to act rashly.


    "Besides, we have the family''s mission toplete in Pure River Town. If we fail, even you might face punishment from the family head."


    The other guards nodded in agreement. That boy was clearly just a Gold Gradeprofessional, yet he had taken down Curtis, a tinum Gradewarrior, with just a few strikes. He was a freak of nature.


    Among the group, only the speaker was a high-tier professional, while the others were all mid-tier. If they provoked Luca and he decided to fight back, some of them might not make it out alive. No one was eager to risk their lives.


    Harvis''s expression darkened as he mulled over the guard''s words.


    His visit to Pure River Town wasn''t just a casual trip. He was here under the family''s orders to retrieve something important. Running into Luca had been pure coincidence.


    At first, Harvis thought taking care of Luca would be a minor task, but the situation had turned out to be far more difficult than he had anticipated.


    After a long pause, Harvis exhaled deeply and spoke in a low voice. "You''re right. The family''s mission takes priority. We''ll leave him be for now."


    The guard, sensing Harvis''s displeasure, offered some reassurance. "Don''t worry, young master. Judging by where he''s headed, he''s likely going toward the node.


    "There''s no need for us to intervene. Adrien, the madman, is guarding the node. If that boy goes in, he''ll never leave Pure River Town alive!"


    Harvis''s eyes lit up at the mention. "I can''t believe I forgot about that lunatic!"

 Capítulo 103: Chapter 103: Demon-Sealing Formation! Pierce’s Talent! Heavenly Star Awakening!

    As Luca approached the central square of Pure River Town, the deformed monsters around him became denser, crowding together inrge groups. The monsters'' levels were also steadily increasing.


    However, these creatures posed no threat to Luca. In fact, their numbers made it easier for him to clear them out.


    Previously, he had prepared arge number of low-tier magic runes, and now they wereing in handy. Alternating between me Runes, Frost Runes, and other elemental runes, Luca seamlessly shifted from meleebatant to a long-range spellcaster.


    With no survivors left in Pure River Town, he had no need to hold back. He could unleash his full power without worrying about coteral damage.


    Most of the monsters didn''t even see Luca before being obliterated by a barrage of Fire Serpentscrashing into them.


    -13,500! -14,200! -14,400!


    Explosions echoed across the town as deformed creatures caught in the magic rune sts were turned into ash instantly.


    Damage numbers filled the air like smoke, vanishing as quickly as they appeared.


    Buildings, already in a state of disrepair, crumbled further under Luca''s relentless onught, reduced to rubble.


    [Ding! You have in "lv28 Flying Skull Demon (Common)," gaining 32,300 EXP!]


    [Ding! You have in "lv33 One-Eyed Undead Ghoul (Common)," gaining 47,500 EXP!]


    [Ding! You have in "lv35 Human-Faced Spider Spirit (Rare)," gaining 181,000 EXP!]


    ...


    Wave after wave of experience flooded into Luca, causing his experience bar to rise rapidly.


    Before long, Luca leveled up again, his body glowing with the light of progress.


    [Ding! Your level has increased to 32. You have gained 30 free attribute points!]


    He immediately allocated the points into his spirit stat. Then, with a swift motion, he pulled his spear from the decaying body of a monster, shaking off the ck blood that clung to it. ncing back at Luna and the rest of the group, he assessed their situation.


    Given theirrge numbers, they were attracting far more monsters than Luca was.


    Luna was leading the charge at the front, and with her high-tier strength, she was utterly dominating the battlefield.


    It almost seemed like Luna could single-handedly wipe out all the monsters in the town herself.


    There was no denying that Luna had earned her reputation as Southwind City''s greatest talent.


    Her swordsmanship alone was leagues beyond what ordinary people could achieve.


    However, it would still take some time for them to catch up to him.


    Luca turned his gaze back toward the square shrouded in ck mist. Without hesitation, he resumed his advance, moving closer to the mysterious center of Pure River Town.


    Though still some distance from the square, Luca could already feel a chilling sensation creeping through him.


    "This ck mist is strange¡­ almost like it''s part of a formation," Luca muttered, frowning as he observed the fog from afar.


    Could this have been set up by the professionals who came here before?


    But that didn''t make sense¡ªwasn''t there already a sealing formation surrounding the area outside? And this didn''t seem like a sealing formation at all¡­


    When Luca had first arrived in Pure River Town, he had taken a quick nce at therge-scale formation outside. It was a high-tier sealing mage''s work, clearly intended to contain the monsters within the town. So, what was the purpose of this formation shrouding the square?


    Unsure of the answer, Luca decided not to overthink it for now. He would figure it out when he got closer.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of Pure River Town.


    Luna and herrge force continued to push toward the square.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Colorful bursts of magic exploded among the Abyssal Crawlers, sending severed limbs and ckened flesh flying in all directions. The already foul-smelling streets were now so putrid they could nearly make someone pass out.


    Teams of soldiers and professionals systematically cleared the deformed monsters that filled the town.


    Luna''s graceful form moved swiftly among the dense hordes of monsters. Her rapier seemed delicate, but each strike unleashed sharp waves of sword energy that cut down everything in its path.


    Any creature touched by her sword energy, no matter its rank, was instantly cleaved in two. The cuts were so clean and precise that even the monsters'' internal organs were sliced perfectly in half.


    "Miss Luna, aren''t we at Pure River Town''s square yet?" Pierce, who was trailing behind Luna, panted heavily, drenched in sweat. His noble attire looked as if he had just pulled it out of a river.


    At that moment, Pierce felt like his legs no longer belonged to him. As the lord of Serpent City and a member of the Shana family, he was used to being chauffeured everywhere by carriage¡ªwalking this much was utterly foreign to him.


    In fact, Pierce was a professional himself, and a high-tier one at that. But his ss was a Secret Mage, which meant his physical capabilities were barely different from an ordinary person''s. Keeping up with Luna was proving to be a real challenge for him.


    "Lord Pierce, I think you could stand to lose a bit of weight.


    At this rate, you''ll probably keel over from a heart attack before you even reach Superss," Luna said casually as she swung her rapier again, its pale white energy slicing through an elite monster covered in eyeballs, cutting it cleanly in two.She spoke without much emotion, but her words were clearly directed at her old acquaintance.


    Luna and Pierce had known each other for a long time. In fact, they had once been ssmates. Despite their current roles, they weren''t far apart in age.


    Few people knew that, back in the day, Southwind City had produced two geniuses. They had just chosen different paths. One was Luna, who hadpleted the 18th floor of the trial assessment at the age of 21.


    The other was this massive man who looked like he weighed at least 500 pounds¡ªPierce.


    At 22, Pierce had independently developed a high-tier secret spell. His talents in both secret magic and formations were unmatched, even across the entire Clinton Empire. In fact, the formation used to seal off Pure River Town and prevent the monsters from escaping was one of his creations.


    Pierce shook his head and sighed, "Losing weight is impossible. Do you know how hard I worked to get this fat? If I lose it, all those meals would''ve been for nothing!"


    Luna didn''t even try to make sense of his logic. She had long grown used to Pierce''s entricity.


    Just then, Pierce suddenly nced toward the center of Pure River Town, his eyes widening in surprise. "That kid''s moving fast. He''s already reached the square!"


    Luna blinked and followed his gaze. Sure enough, she spotted Luca, leaping nimbly across rooftops, far ahead of their group.


    In his hands, various magic runes cycled one after another¡ªicences, fire serpents, earth spikes, vines, and more¡ªall being unleashed like there was no cost.


    He was cutting through the dense waves of Abyssal Crawlers, carving out a path straight toward the center of Pure River Town, leaving their main force far behind.


    Pierce watched in amazement, clicking his tongue. "I''d always heard people say Demonic Rune Mages were unbeatable among their peers, but I thought it was just talk. Turns out, they weren''t exaggerating."


    Although Luna''s speed had been slowed by the need to guide Pierce and the rest of their group, Luca''s progress was undeniably impressive¡ªespecially considering he was doing it alone.


    However, Luna noticed something wasn''t right.


    Frowning, she said, "This kid¡­ he''s heading for the square, isn''t he?"


    By now, Luca had reached the heart of Pure River Town. Beyond himy the square¡ªwhere their mission objective was located. But it didn''t seem like Luca had any intention of stopping.


    Pierce, stunned, remarked, "This kid''s got guts. He''s really charging into the trap alone. Is he that unafraid of dying?"


    Luna''s expression darkened, and she spoke in a firm tone, "We need to pick up the pace. Forget about waiting for the others."


    The central square of Pure River Town was shrouded by a mysterious formation, and Luna had no idea whaty within. She had brought Pierce along specifically to help break the formation, but now Luca was too far ahead. If he encountered danger inside, there would be no way for the others to assist him.


    Before Pierce could respond, Luna grabbed him by the cor and dashed across the rooftops, carrying him along at high speed.


    Pierce''s face turned pale, and in a voice full of panic, he cried, "Slow down! He''s not an idiot¡ªhe wouldn''t just rush into the formation!"


    But his words were cut short as he caught something out of the corner of his eye. His small eyes widened in disbelief.


    "Holy crap! He really went in?!" Pierce eximed, stunned.


    Just moments ago, he had seen Luca pause in front of the ck mist for a couple of seconds before stepping straight into it.


    Now, Pierce didn''t know what to say. Were young people really this fearless nowadays?


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the center of Pure River Town''s square...


    "A Demon-Sealing Formation? How is there a Demon-Sealing Formationhere?" Luca muttered, frowning as he navigated the ck mist.


    The moment he came into contact with the mist, he recognized the formation.


    A Demon-Sealing Formationwas a high-tier secret spell specifically designed to seal nodes and buy time. In his previous life, nearly all high-tier professionals knew this technique, as it could provide invaluable time in critical situations.


    What puzzled Luca was that this formation should still be a hidden secret, locked away in the notebooks of old mages.


    In the future, after the game''s arrival, the technique had been rediscovered and spread widely.


    But now, at this point in time, a Demon-Sealing Formationhad already been deployed.


    And this wasn''t just a standard version¡ªit had been modified. The sealing effect had been weakened, which exined why the monsters had been able to escape the square. Luca needed to examine the changes in more detail to understand the exact modifications.


    One thing was clear: the events in Pure River Town were not a natural urrence. Someone had orchestrated this.


    But what were they trying to achieve by harnessing the power of the node?


    Roar...


    As Luca pondered the mystery, a chorus of snarls suddenly echoed through the air.


    Deformed, four-limbed monsters twisted their grotesque bodies as they charged at him, ws bared and mouths wide. There were easily over a hundred of them swarming toward him.


    Luca had no time to dwell on the mystery¡ªhe had to deal with the immediate threat. The monsters in the square were far more powerful than those outside. Some of them were already reaching level 40, which meant he couldn''t afford to take them lightly.


    Taking a deep breath, Luca''s gaze turned sharp, cold determination filling his eyes.


    Suddenly, a soft green glow surrounded him, and his pupils began to shift, taking on a faint cyan hue.


    At the center of Luca''s chest, intricate green magic runesbegan to spread, quickly expanding across his body. Behind him, they formed the shape of a towering, magnificent tree.


    Its branches were lush and vibrant, with what seemed like faint stars glimmering among the leaves. It was so lifelike that the tree appeared as though it were about to burst forth into reality. A powerful surge of life energy radiated from it.


    Superss Magic Rune ¡ª Heavenly Star Crystal Tree!


    Heavenly Star Awakening!

 Capítulo 104: Chapter 104: Demonic Transformation! Black Coffin! Immortality! Worse than Beasts!

    The powerful surge of life energy from Luca''s Heavenly Star Awakeningscattered the ck mist around him, thinning it slightly.


    Under the immense force of nature, Luca''s entire presence shifted. The overflowing vitality radiating from him stood in stark contrast to the grotesque, decaying monsters around him.


    The howls and growls within the mist intensified. The creatures, with their blood-red eyes locked onto Luca, were filled with ravenous greed. To them, the rich life energy emanating from Luca was an irresistible lure.


    More monsters were drawn to him, surging forward in massive waves, their foul stench growing even more overpowering. It was so intense that Luca had to wrinkle his nose in disgust.


    With a sh of green light, Luca summoned a shield of emerald energy around himself, allowing him to breathe more freely.


    The rank odor was enough to confirm that these creatures had definitely crawled out from the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    But Luca remained calm as the hordes of monsters closed in on him. His Wind and Thunder Spell Spear, now glowing a vibrant green, tapped lightly against the ground.


    Crack!


    Suddenly, the earth beneath him split open, and a small seedling burst forth from the ground. In mere moments, it grew into a towering tree, dozens of meters high.


    Its trunk was so thick it would take several men to wrap their arms around it, and its branches were dense with leaves. The tree''s roots dug deep into the earth, anchoring it firmly.


    Standing atop the canopy, Luca gazed down at the iing monsters. His presence alone sent the initial wave flying backward.


    But the monsters quickly regrouped, swarming toward the base of the tree in an attempt to climb up.


    The sight of countless ck creatures wing and scrambling their way up the tree was enough to make anyone''s skin crawl.


    Yet Luca remained calm, his eyes focused and steady. His spear glowed green once more.


    In an instant, massive roots shot up from the ground, snaking their way toward the monsters like serpents. The roots coiled around each creature, pulling them in and trapping them withinrge wooden spheres.


    The monstrous balls of wood shook and quivered, with muffled snarls and screeches emanating from within.


    "Die," Luca muttered softly. The moment the word left his lips, the wooden spheres constricted violently.


    POP! POP! POP!


    ck blood spurted out from between the roots, flooding the ground and staining it a deep, inky ck.


    Dozens of kill notifications shed before Luca''s eyes, and his experience bar surged forward.


    "As expected, grinding monster hordes is the fastest way to level up¡­" Luca muttered to himself.


    Finding this many monsters was no easy feat under normal circumstances. Nodes and secret realms were among the few ces where suchrge numbers could be encountered. Today''s harvest was shaping up to be even greater than Luca had initially anticipated.


    As more monsters continued to rush at him, Luca''s lips curled into a smirk. Sharp wooden spikes erupted from the massive tree beneath him, firing toward the approaching creatures like a torrential rain of spears.


    ck blood sttered everywhere, and in the blink of an eye, the creatures surrounding the giant tree were wiped out, leaving a massive clearing.


    The dark blood pooled on the ground, forming ake, but it quickly seeped into the soil, disappearing from sight.


    Meanwhile, the tree Luca stood upon grew even taller, its branches and leaves bing more vibrant and lush.


    Wood-element abilities were not only known for their healing properties but also for absorbing life force to strengthen themselves. This was one of the signature abilities of wood-element magic.


    Because of this, wood-element professions had unparalleled endurancepared to other sses, making them ideal for prolonged battles and war of attrition.


    As Luca leveled up by ying monsters, he never lost sight of his true goal.


    Standing atop the tree''s crown, he scanned the entire square, his eyes glowing with a faint blue light.


    Eye of Insight!


    In the outside world, using Eye of Insightwould be hindered by barriers or concealment, but within the confines of the Demon-Sealing Formation, there were no such limitations. After all, this was a sealing formation, not an illusion meant to obscure one''s vision.


    The moment Luca activated the Eye of Insight, the dark mist that covered the entire square vanished in a sh of blue light.


    Though the view was still somewhat hazy, Luca could now clearly see the whole square.


    "This is¡­" His pupils contracted sharply as he took in the sight before him.


    Despite having mentally prepared himself, the scene that greeted him left Luca stunned.


    The once small town square was now packed with an overwhelming number of Abyssal Crawlers, all writhing and piled on top of each other.


    They howled, roared, and tore at one another, forming a chaotic, violent mass. In the very center of the square, a pitch-ck abyss yawned open, from which more Crawlers emerged endlessly.


    It really is a Spatial Node!


    Although much smaller than the node where the Hydra had descended, there was no doubt¡ªit was a Spatial Node.


    But what truly shocked Luca wasn''t the node itself.


    It was what hovered above it: a massive blood-red formation woven from crimson spiderwebs. The threads of the web pulsed like blood vessels, as if they were transporting something unknown.


    Moreover, scattered around the square were twelve irregrly ced tower-like structures.


    Each tower was covered in ck runes, which seemed to flow like liquid. The air around them reeked of an evil so profound that merely looking at them evoked a primal sense of dread and nausea.


    From Luca''s vantage point, he could see the distinct pattern these towers formed. The symbol they created was ancient, a dark mark that had been passed down through countless generations on the Eternal Continent.Luca had seen it before¡ªmany times, in fact¡ªduring his studies of forbidden magic in his previous life.


    "Immortality¡­" Luca muttered, deciphering the meaning behind the formation.


    He was beginning to understand what this array truly was.


    Turning his gaze toward the center of the blood-red spiderweb, Luca saw it.


    There is a ck coffin radiating an overwhelming aura of dread and malevolence.


    Whatever the webs were transporting, it was being funneled directly into the coffin.


    Though his view of the runes etched into the coffin was limited, Luca could just guess their significance.


    But one thing he can confirmed.


    The runesbined would undoubtedly form another symbol.


    One that meant Undying.


    Luca''s eyes narrowed, and a mocking smile slowly crept onto his lips.


    "So that''s what''s going on. No wonder¡­"


    As he pieced it together, a raspy voice suddenly echoed through the square.


    "You should not meddle in affairs beyond your concern," the voice said, its tone grave and cold.


    Luca''s gaze shifted toward the ck coffin, where he spotted a skeletal, hunched old man draped in a ck cloak.


    The man''s hands gripped a ck staff, his face gaunt and hollow, his frame so fragile it seemed a gust of wind might scatter him. His entire being emanated an aura of death.


    The only sign of life came from the faint glimmer in his dull green eyes.


    Luca scrutinized the figure for a moment before speaking. "Who are you? Did you set up this demonic formation? And are you responsible for everything that''s happened in Pure River Town?"


    The old man hesitated briefly, clearly surprised by Luca''s knowledge of the Demonic Transformation Formation. But then, nodding to himself, he rasped, "So, you know about the Demonic Transformation Formation? I suppose that makes sense. If you made it through the Demon-Sealing Formation, you''d understand what this is too¡­"


    Ignoring Luca''s question, the old man continued in his hoarse voice, "Tell Luna to take her people and leave. I don''t want to kill too many. Once my n isplete, I''ll be gone."


    "Not kill too many?" Luca''s mocking smile grew sharper at the man''s words.


    He scoffed. "You ughtered tens of thousands of people in Pure River Town, and now you''re telling me you don''t want to kill too many? That''sughable, isn''t it¡­ Mayor Adrien?"


    The old man''s name¡ªAdrien, the mayor of Pure River Town¡ªwas called out by Luca, but it did not seem to faze him.


    He remained as calm as ever, his voice cold and distant. "Laughable? They were nothing but mortals¡­ mere ants. What does it matter if they lived a little longer? All that awaited them was more suffering in this world."


    .


    "If that''s the case, why shouldn''t they use their insignificant lives to further my greatness?" Adrien continued, his voice chilling.


    "It''s an honor for them, isn''t it?"


    Luca scoffed. "You really are shameless, old man. You''d ughter tens of thousands of your own townspeople and twist yourself into a monster with dark magic, all in the name of immortality. If that''s what you call greatness, then I suppose I should start calling you a saint."


    From the moment Lucaid eyes on the Demonic Transformation Formation, he understood everything.


    The Demonic Transformation Formation, as the name suggested, was designed to turn humans into monsters. It had been created by an infamous cult from thest century known as the "Cult of Ten Thousand Demons."


    It was precisely because of this sinister magic that the cult had been wiped out by the strongest powers on the Eternal Continent. The formation was now a forbidden secret technique, ouwed and condemned.


    The gue that ravaged Pure River Town had never been a coincidence. It was all part of Mayor Adrien''s twisted scheme for immortality. He was willing to turn himself into a monster, sacrificing the lives of tens of thousands of townsfolk to achieve his goal. It was an act so depraved, even animals would be ashamed of him. Luca had no interest in wasting words on such a person.


    Gazing down at Adrien with cold indifference, Luca spoke softly, "I''m not as hypocritical as you. I like that coffin of yours. Give it to me, and if you kneel down and take your own life right now, I''ll make sure it''s quick."


    Luca didn''t know where Adrien had acquired that ck coffin, but it was a genuine Superssmaterial. If he could obtain it, he''d have what he needed for his third permanent magic rune.


    Adrien looked up at Luca, revealing his gaunt, skeletal face. His sunken eyes gleamed with a dull light.


    "If we go down this path, it won''t end well for you," Adrien warned in a low, gravelly tone. "You''ve made it this far into the Demon-Sealing Formation, so you must have some knowledge of secret techniques and formations. If you be my student, I''ll teach you everything I know."


    "Of course, in return, you''ll need to stall Luna and her group so they won''t interfere with my ns."


    "Secret techniques?" Luca sneered, pointing his spear directly at Adrien. "I''m not interested in your trashy magic. Stop wasting time. Starting now, you have ten seconds to do as I say."


    As Luca spoke, his eyes flickered with green light, and a surge of life energy exploded from him.


    Behind him, towering trees erupted from the ground, twisting and intertwining until they formed a massive wooden giant, over ten meters tall. Its crimson eyes locked onto Adrien, brimming with an ominous intent.


    Luca could see that Adrien''s demonic transformation ritual was at a critical stage. If not, someone of Adrien''s power wouldn''t be wasting time trying to negotiate.


    But Adrien wasn''t the only one stalling for time¡ªLuca had his own ns in motion as well¡­

 Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Temporary Team Member! The Ghost and the Martial Emperor! A-Class?

    Luca shook his head slightly. "I can''t join you."


    Joining an official organization woulde with too many restrictions, and joining just for some research materials didn''t make much sense.


    With that time, he could be focusing on improving his own strength.


    After all, once his power was strong enough, he could easily acquire those materials on his own.


    Drumph remained just as firm in his stance. "Since you refuse, then go ahead and kill Coarmy. "


    "Afterward, we''ll avenge him!"


    Coarmy didn''t say anything, but in his heart, he thought that if he made it out of this alive, he''d definitely need to find a new superior.


    Luca chuckled lightly and wasn''t intimidated by the threat. "So, is that it? No more negotiations?"


    Having worked with Drumph in his previous life for so many years, Luca knew exactly how this old man operated.


    "You young people are always so impatient," Drumph coughed before adding, "Actually, I think we could still talk some more."


    This old fox hadn''t changed at all...


    Luca shook his head slightly. "I''ll agree to be listed as a member of Morning Star. If there''s a situation you can''t handle, you can contact me, and if I have the time, I''ll handle it. Of course, that''s only if I''m avable."


    Coarmy was stunned.


    What''s the difference between joining and not joining then?


    "No," Drumph said, clearly displeased. "If there''s a problem in Celephais, you''ll have to handle it. "


    "Of course, we can put a limit on the number of cases. You''ll deal with up to ten Transcendent events each month..."


    Luca''s expression darkened. "Ten? You old man! Are you treating me like a ve?"


    Drumph furrowed his brows. "You young people can''t take any hardship. What''s wrong with ten? Let me tell you, back in my day..."


    For the next half hour, the two of them haggled over the terms.


    In the end, Luca managed to limit the number of Transcendent events to four, meaning he would handle one case per week.


    Luca was getting dry-mouthed from the back-and-forth and was toozy to continue wasting words with the old man, so he agreed, but on the condition that he would get the materials that same day.


    On the other side of the phone, Drumph didn''t hesitate and immediately agreed.


    The process was much faster than Luca had expected.


    Not even an hourter, there was a knock on the office door.


    Luca opened the barrier, and the door was pushed open immediately.


    Before he could even see who it was, a rushed voice came through.


    "Coarmy! We''vee to save you!"A young, lively figure appeared in the doorway.


    Luca nced up, surprised.


    The girl looked to be in her early twenties, with a delicate face, wearing her hair in a high ponytail, a white t-shirt and denim jeans that exposed her pale midriff.


    What surprised him most was that he recognized her.


    "What''s with the look? You''re the one who kidnapped Coarmy, huh? You''ve got quite the guts!" The girl with the ponytail cracked her fair fists together, her beautiful eyes ring at Luca with hostility.


    "Drumph must have sent you here, and I''m guessing you didn''te to fight me," Luca said calmly.


    The woman''s name was Ivanka, the daughter of Drumph. In the past life, her name was not well known, but her nickname was something few people had never heard of.


    "Martial Emperor!"


    She was a Transcendent-level powerhouse, a professional martial artist with the S-ss talent "Blood Energy Tempered by a Hundred Strikes." Each attack shended would umte damage, and the limit was unknown. Her temper was fiery, and she was a warlike person, excelling in closebat. She was even known as the "Knight Killer."


    Luca had faced her many times in his previous life, losing more often than winning. Her talents andbat style countered his perfectly, and he had suffered greatly. He hadn''t expected to run into this annoying woman here, of all ces.


    "Where''s the stuff?" He held out his hand, showing no politeness.


    Ivanka stared at him for a moment before her eyes curved into a smile. She pointed her finger at his nose and huffed, "Fight me! If you can beat me, I''ll give you the materials!"


    Coarmy stared out the window at the blue sky and white clouds, a look of deep concern on his face.


    Miss, is this really the time for a fight?


    "Ivanka, stop fooling around," a deep voice came from outside the window.


    Luca turned his gaze toward the source of the voice and realized that there was a young man hanging from the window ledge.


    He was around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, pale, with faint dark circles under his eyes. He was wearing a well-tailored suit, his hairbed neatly, giving off a slightly sickly appearance. When he noticed Luca''s gaze, he smiled modestly.


    He then climbed through the window, only to crash straight into Coarmy.


    "Why didn''t you just use the front door?" Coarmy groaned, wincing as his face twitched in pain.


    The young man responded earnestly, "Because this way is cooler!"


    Coarmy''s breathing became rapid, his chest heaving.


    He really shouldn''t have asked that question!


    Luca stared at this strange person, surprised.


    He didn''t expect to see another familiar face.


    Fuzzsir, a peak-level Transcendent, nicknamed "Dead Ghost," his main profession was as a ghost assassin. However, his secondary profession was even more renowned¡ªan "Undead Mage." He had the S-ss talent "Godyer Soulbinder."


    Every soul he killed would be his servant, retaining 50% of their abilities from their living days. Even more terrifying, this ability ignored rank, making him a literal game-breaking character. He was one of the most powerful of the Human Race in Luca''s past life.


    The only weakness was that the guy was a little off in the head¡ªhis thought process didn''t quite match up with that of a normal person.


    At that moment, another petite figure entered the office.


    She was covered in bandages stained with blood, and the strong smell of blood instantly filled the room.


    Luca couldn''t help but narrow his eyes. This person was radiating an intense killing intent!


    "Give him the materials, there''s a mission," came a hoarse voice, impossible to tell whether it was from a man or a woman. The words were short, as if the speaker wasn''t willing to say more.


    Once finished, the bandaged person didn''t even nce at Luca. They turned and left the office.


    "Mniais too cold. No matter how you look at it, she''s a new member of our Starfire Organization," Ivanka shook her head, clearly a bit helpless.


    She then took out a USB sh drive and tossed it to Luca, smiling as she warned, "The USB has a self-destruct program, and you can only view it in front of us. You can''t share it with anyone afterwards, or there will be consequences. Don''t say I didn''t warn you~"


    Luca caught the USB drive and nodded slightly, thanking her.


    He then plugged it into the officeputer.


    A notification sound rang through the office, and Luca opened the USB drive.


    Research data appeared on the screen in front of him, and as he scanned the information, his eyes narrowed.


    The research from various countries on Eternal Game was progressing much faster than he had imagined. Summer Country had already confirmed that the game would descend soon, with the timeline set to within a year.


    Unfortunately, this information, which had beenmon knowledge in his past life, was of little use to Luca.


    He focused on the investigation data from Zenith Technology Company, examining it closely.


    Although he had already suspected this oue, Luca couldn''t help but feel a slight disappointment.


    There had been no real progress at all.


    After the release of Eternal Game, the people involved in the research seemed to have vanished from the world, as if they had disappeared without a trace.


    The manufacturing chain for the Eternal Gamehelmets was also extremely ordinary, even outsourced to a production line.


    But this was within Luca''s expectations. After all, even ten yearster, humanity''s research into Zenith still hadn''t made much headway.


    It seemed nearly impossible to track down the people from Zenith through this method. Ultimately, the answers would likely have to be found within the Eternal Worlditself¡­


    With these thoughts in mind, Luca turned his attention to the research on game feedback and was unexpectedly pleased with the new insights.


    "So it''s the nodes¡­" He had a sudden realization. No wonder some yers, despite having high talents, couldn''t obtain game feedback in advance, while others, with only average abilities, could strengthen themselves early on.


    The most important factor wasn''t talent or strength, but whether the yer had encountered a Spatial Node.


    ording to the research data, all the yers who had received game feedback had, without exception, interacted with or encountered a Spatial Node.


    This included people like Fuzzsir, Ivanka, and Coarmy.


    The only problem was that Spatial Nodes werepletely random. Whether one encountered them was entirely based on luck.


    Because of this, even knowing the method, Summer Country couldn''t mass-produce yers with Transcendent powers.


    Unless they spread the news, letting more yers know about it.


    However, doing so would undoubtedly be a suicide mission¡­


    Luca finished reading all the information in just a few minutes.


    He then unplugged the USB drive and tossed it to Coarmy.


    "Finished already?" Ivanka and Coarmy were both a bit surprised.


    They had expected Luca to take a few more looks, but he had just skimmed through it and was done.


    "Just like a wind-blown youth," Fuzzsir sighed in admiration.


    Now that he had what he wanted, Luca waved his hand and said, "Alright, I''ll be heading back now."


    "Just leaving like that?" Coarmy stared at him in shock.


    Luca stretchedzily and nced at him, saying, "What else? I didn''t sleep wellst night. I need to go catch up on some sleep."


    Coarmy and Ivanka exchanged a look, both at a loss for words. This was the first time they''d met someone with such a big heart.


    He''d threatened the police chief, ckmailed a military bigwig, and now he was casually nning to go home and take a nap?


    Coarmy rubbed his temples and sighed. "Don''t go just yet. Ivanka and the others are on a mission right now. Go with them, it''ll be a good opportunity for us to see your strength in action."


    Luca frowned slightly but didn''t refuse.


    After all, he had taken their things, so it was only right to show some appreciation.


    "Oh, by the way, here''s this for you." Ivanka suddenly remembered something and pulled a ck leather badge out of her pocket, tossing it to Luca.


    Luca caught it and opened it. Inside was a bright star emblem, and on the other side was his personal information.


    The badge, however, was stamped with an "intern" designation.


    "Starfire''s badge, huh? Thanks¡­" Luca nced at it and then casually slipped it into his pocket. The Starfire department had high-level authority, and having this badge would make things much more convenient for him.


    The group then headed downstairs, with Coarmy apanying them. He still needed to conduct a danger level assessment on Luca.


    The general danger levels were S, A, B, C, D, and E. These were determined by aprehensive evaluation of talent, strength, and level. Ivanka and the bandaged person were both rated A, while Fuzzsir and their team leader, Quagmire, were rated S.


    Based on Coarmy''s estimation, Luca should be rated A.


    Luca only smiled in response.

 Chapter 146: Chapter 146: B-Class Fugitive! Captain Quagmire! I Really Am a Cop!

    The police car sped toward the outskirts of Celephais.


    During the drive, Luca took the opportunity to learn from Ivanka and the others about their reasons foring to Celephais, as well as the current state of the Morning Star organization.


    Morning Star operates five main divisions across Summer Country, covering the east, west, south, north, and central regions.


    Celephais falls within the northern region, under the jurisdiction of Ivanka''s northern division, which nowmands over a hundred yers.


    Excluding nonbat support personnel, there are currently about 12 teams actively carrying out missions. Each team has five members responsible for the safety of various cities within the northern region. The Transcendent incident near Celephais is being handled by Ivanka''s Quagmire Squad.


    Quagmire''s team is the strongest Morning Star squad in the northern region. The squad leader, Quagmire, is said to be an S-ss danger-rated yer¡ªa level only a handful of individuals worldwide have reached, many of whom are renowned inter years. However, Luca had never heard of Quagmire in his previous life and guessed that he might have been a powerful figure who fell early on.


    This time, Quagmire''s team came to Celephais specifically to handle a Transcendent incident tied to Coarmy.


    A few days prior, Coarmy had used his abilities to track down a yer he intended to recruit for Morning Star. However, upon revealing his identity, the yer not only refused but also unleashed Transcendent powers, killing several police officers and escaping police custody.


    This yer is now ssified as a B-ss threat. Hisst known location was a suburban neighborhood where he had massacred a family of five. The victims included a pregnant woman and a six-year-old child¡ªa gruesome, brutal scene.


    Ivanka''s team hade to deal with this monster. But as soon as theynded, they received orders regarding Coarmy''s kidnapping.


    In response, their captain, Quagmire, headed directly to the scene, while Ivanka''s team was tasked with coordinating with Luca to retrieve the USB drive and rescue Coarmy.


    Interestingly, despite the rtively low profile Luca had maintained, the danger level of the incident was assessed as A-ss¡ªhigher than that of the fugitive yer.


    The road was busy with traffic.


    Outside, the scenery rushed past.


    As the car sped towards the outskirts of Celephais.


    Luca suddenly realized the road looked oddly familiar.


    A strange feeling crept into his heart, and with a sense of foreboding, he nced at Fuzzsir, who sat next to him, and asked, "Which neighborhood is that yer hiding in?"


    Fuzzsir thought for a moment, then replied, "No idea. I forgot."


    Luca: ...


    He knew he shouldn''t have asked this guy.


    "It should be Sunshine Street in the Sixth District," Ivanka interjected.


    She then noticed Luca''s expression darkening and asked in surprise, "What''s wrong? Do you know that ce?"


    "My house is right there." Luca rubbed his forehead, letting out a bitter smile.


    He hadn''t expected someone this dangerous to be hiding so close to his home.


    Hopefully, nothing bad would happen¡­


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, on Sunshine Street.


    A car slowly pulled up and came to a stop.


    "Ah! Finally home!" Susie eagerly swung the door open, spread her arms, and embraced the air, her face radiating pure bliss.


    After more than a week in the hospital, she had felt suffocated.


    Now, she could finally go home and y her games!


    "You didn''t even bring the keys. Always so scatterbrained¡ªhow will you ever find someone to marry like this?" Zoey sighed from behind her. Susie turned around and stuck out her tongue in a yful response.


    "Alright, let''s go. I''ll make a big feast for everyone tonight," Darabont said with a smile, opening the trunk and pulling out arge haul of groceries.


    The past few days had been nerve-wracking for the whole family, but thankfully, Susie hadn''t had any more incidents. Now that she was finally discharged, they all wanted to celebrate properly.


    "Yes! I want honey-zed roast meat! Fruit pizza! And¡­" Susie''s face sparkled with excitement, and she was about to continue her list when she suddenly stopped and let out a soft "Huh," her gaze fixed on a distant rooftop, her eyes wide with surprise.


    "What''s wrong?" Zoey asked, noticing her reaction as she opened the front door.


    Susie stood on her tiptoes, squinting at the rooftop. "I thought I just saw two people running across the roof, but they disappeared in the blink of an eye."


    "Probably just some reckless teenagers doing parkour. Ignore them. But Celephais has been a bit chaotictely, so don''t go out at night," Darabont replied, ncing back but not seeing anything unusual. Shaking his head slightly, he added a casual warning.


    Susie nodded. Once her parents went inside, she looked back one more time but still saw nothing. She frowned slightly.


    She couldn''t shake the feeling that the two figures she had just seen were moving too smoothly, almost like Spider-Man, unlike the extreme sports videos she''d seen online.


    But she quickly dismissed the thought, deciding she''d just imagined it.


    Closing the door, she slipped on her slippers and dashed upstairs immediately. After days of being away from her game, she was practically itching to y¡­


    However, what Susie didn''t notice was that, just as she closed the door, the two figures she''d spotted on the roof had reappeared, now leaping swiftly from rooftop to rooftop, making their way directly toward her house.


    On the roof, the two shadows moved with fluid precision. One of them, appearing to be in his twenties, had a grim expression and long hair. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary about him at first nce, except that with a wave of his hand, several green, glowing wooden spikes shot forth.


    The other figure was a scruffy man with a stubbled beard, holding a long knife and dressed in a ck uniform. He had a cigarette dangling from his lips, a nonchnt expression on his face, and a star emblem pinned to his chest.


    This was none other than Ivanka''s squad captain¡ªQuagmire!


    Facing the iing wooden spikes, Quagmire remainedpletely calm. With a casual swipe of his long de, he sliced every spike mid-air, then said coolly, "Kid, stop right now, and I''ll make your death quick. If I have to make a move, you won''t get the chance to beg for mercy."


    "Catch me first if you think you can!" the young man sneered, a glint of green shing in his eyes.


    Quagmire''s brow furrowed, and he halted abruptly.


    In the next instant, the roof tiles shattered!


    A sharp wooden spike shot up from beneath the rooftop!


    Had he hesitated even a moment longer, it would have skewered him right through!


    But in that brief dy, the young man was already sprinting toward a parked car by the curb.


    It was Darabont''s car, the one he''d just parked, with the keys still in the ignition. If the young man got hold of that vehicle, he''d be much harder to catch.


    "Courting death!" Quagmire let out a cold snort, his de glowing red as he swung it toward the youth''s fleeing back.


    In a sh, a sharp, blood-red arc of light sliced through the air, cutting into the young man just as he looked back in terror.


    St!


    Blood sttered everywhere!


    The young man''s eyes went wide in shock.


    One of his arms was severed cleanly at the shoulder!


    "Aaahhh!!" His blood-curdling scream pierced the air.


    As he writhed on the ground, clutching his bleeding stump in agony.


    Blood pooled quickly on the street, staining the pavement.


    Terrified bystanders looked on, horrified, at Quagmire standing there with his de. Someone had already begun dialing the police, clearly mistaking him for an assant.


    Quagmire, however, didn''t care in the slightest.


    He slung his de over his shoulder and strolled leisurely over to the young man, then stomped down hard on the man''s wounded arm, grinding his heel into it.


    Amid the agonized, inhuman screams, Quagmire sneered, "Didn''t I tell you not to make me take action, you idiot? You don''t listen, huh?"


    The young man''s limbs twitched as his eyes rolled back, nearly passing out from the pain.


    Never in his wildest dreams had he expected to face a madman like this. If he''d known, he might have just surrendered outright.


    But it was toote for regrets now.


    "Take my advice, kid¡ªnext time, listen to those who know better," Quagmire muttered, spitting out his cigarette. With a swing of his arm, he prepared to sever the young man''s head.


    Just then, a sudden shout rang out.


    "Police! I order you to drop your weapon and release him immediately!" Darabont stepped out of the house, holding a handgun steady and aimed at Quagmire, his expression cautious.


    Killing someone in broad daylight?


    Such a ruthless criminal was rare, even for him to encounter.


    "Huh?" Quagmire blinked, pointing to himself. "Are you talking to me?"


    The bystanders looked on, exasperated¡ªwho else would he be talking to? Quagmire was clearly the most suspicious-looking person there.


    Darabont scoffed. "I''m warning you, don''t try anything funny. Drop your weapon and surrender now, or I have the authority to shoot you on the spot!"


    "What if I told you I''m also a cop? Would you believe me?" Quagmire nced at the barrel pointed directly at him, then, after a pause, reluctantly set down his de.


    His abilities hadn''t yet reached the level of invulnerability to bullets.


    "Do you take me for an idiot?" Darabont rolled his eyes. A guy who casually shed people to pieces, iming to be a cop? If that were true, he''d eat his own gun.


    Susie peeked out from behind the door.


    The moment she saw the fearsome-looking Quagmire and the bloodied, maimed figure on the ground with only one arm remaining, her face went pale, and she quickly pulled her head back.


    Clutching her chest, Susie whispered, trembling, "Mom, there''s a killer out there. He looks so scary¡­"


    Quagmire: ¡­


    At this point, Donald and Sini, drawn by themotion outside, stepped out of the house. Their faces paled as they took in the scene before them.


    "Call the police, and grab the first aid kit," Donald said, his tone steady¡ªhe was no stranger to bloodshed.


    "I''ll get it." Sini nodded, ncing warily at Quagmire before hurrying back inside to retrieve her phone.


    Quagmire was at a loss. He wanted to pull out his badge to prove his identity, but Darabont''s gaze remained fixed on him.


    He ready to shoot at the slightest hint of movement.


    "I''m really a cop¡­" Quagmire sighed, feeling more than a bit annoyed. But he wasn''t angry¡ªthis wasn''t the first time something like this had happened.


    Darabont and Donald ignored him.


    They''d heard it all before. "Police?" They''d met people iming to be the chief''s illegitimate child.


    "Let''s tend to the injured," Darabont reminded as Sini brought over the first aid kit.


    Donald nodded and approached the young man on the ground.


    Quagmire''s rxed expression immediately vanished. "Stay back!" he barked.


    Donald paused, confused.


    Suddenly, the young man on the ground lifted his head, a twisted grin on his face.


    A green light red!


    Out of nowhere, a vine covered in barbed thorns burst up from the ground, lunging straight toward Donald!


    Luca, who had just arrived, witnessed the scene and his pupils contracted in shock.

 Capítulo 107: Chapter 107: Mission Complete! Successful Crafting! Demonic Awakening!

    In Pure River Town, Luca moved like lightning, his spear shing forward with precision, piercing through the skull of a rare monster in front of him.


    At the same time, a golden light enveloped his body¡ªhe had leveled up.


    [Ding! Your level has increased to 35! You have earned 30 free attribute points!]


    "Finally leveled up!" Luca smiled with satisfaction.


    In less than a day, he had managed to raise his level to 35. Despite not having any experience bonuses, the sheer number of monsters he had killed in the square had provided a massive boost to his experience points.


    Otherwise, reaching level 35 would have taken much longer.


    On top of that, Luca had collected a significant amount of gear materials and a decent stash of gold.


    He allocated his attribute points to Spirit, bringing his total to 3300 points. His base attack had now broken past the 8000mark.


    With his skills, he could easily push his damage to over 16,000.


    This trip to Pure River Townhad been incredibly rewarding!


    Satisfied, Luca closed his status panel.


    By now, most of the monsters in the other areas had been cleared.


    At Luna''mand, everyone began leaving the now lifeless Pure River Town.


    Luca nced around.


    He noticed that their numbers had diminished. Several people had fallen to the monsters in the town.


    For him, these monsters posed little threat.


    But for the majority of the group¡ªmid-tier professionals¡ªfighting these monsters had been a considerable challenge.


    "Thankfully, not too many people died," Luna said after doing a headcount, breathing a sigh of relief.


    The number of casualties was far lower than she had anticipated,rgely due to Luca killing Adrien early on. Otherwise, many more people would likely have perished.


    Calming her emotions, Luna scanned the remaining crowd and announced in a clear voice, "Everyone, Pure River Townhas been sessfully cleared! We owe it to your efforts. As a result, the mission rewards will be distributed in excess!"


    With a wave of her hand, servants descended from the Cloudwing Airship, handing out bank notes from Southwind Cityto everyone.


    The amounts were calcted based on each professional''s contribution during the mission. Even the lowest sum was a staggering 10,000 gold coins, which was a fortune for mid-tier professionals.


    Smiles spread across everyone''s faces.


    They had risked their lives for one thing: the reward from the City Lord''s mansion.


    Luca, of course, also received his mission reward.


    However, his was a bit different from the others.


    [Ding! Congrattions onpleting the mission "Pure River Town Monsters" with a "Perfect" rating!]


    [Reward: 150,000 gold coins, 1000 reputation points!]


    Luca''s reward was several times higher than that of the other yers, and he also gained 1000 reputation points.


    This was based on his significant contributions during the mission.


    Luna nced at the group, and for the first time, a slight smile appeared on her face. "This mission was onlypleted so smoothly thanks to the help of Viscount Luca."


    "If he hadn''t killed Adrien when he did, our losses would have been much higher."


    "When we return to Southwind City, I will personally rmend him formendation to Marquis Bronte."


    At Luna''s words, the crowd turned their eyes toward Luca, filled with envy.


    It was well-known throughout the city that Luna''s standards were extremely high.


    No one expected this young man to catch her eye.


    Nearby, the portly Pierce looked from Luna to Luca.


    Rubbing his chubby chin with an increasingly curious expression.


    Before, he had thought he might be imagining things.


    But now it seemed like he might have been right all along¡­


    ...


    With the missionplete, the hired professionals had no reason to stay any longer.


    Although the monsters in Pure River Townhad been cleared, the bodies still needed to be dealt with, but that task would fall to specialists.


    ording to Luna, the town would most likely be wiped off the map entirely to prevent the spread of that strange gue.


    Luca said his farewells to the group and returned to his cabin on the airship.


    Once inside, he carefully set up several protective arcane barriers.


    Then, from his storage ring, he pulled out the massive ck coffin.


    The Undead Coffinwas easily twice the size of a normal coffin.


    Thankfully, the room wasrge enough to amodate it. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to find a ce to work.


    Earlier, Luca had received a substantial amount of high-tier materials from Orf, so he didn''t have to worry about running out of supplies for the crafting process.


    "Let''s begin," Luca whispered, taking a deep breath as his eyes glowed with a faint purple light. One by one, the high-tier materials floated into the air, enveloped in magic.


    He nned to use the journey back to craft the Undead Coffininto his third fixed magic rune. Luca was eager to see what kind of abilities this item might grant him.


    Thanks to his previous experiences, crafting high-tier materials had be much easier for him.


    To Luca''s surprise, the process of crafting the Undead Coffinwas far more difficult than he had anticipated.


    This item was incredibly unique, releasing waves of dark energy during the crafting process.


    Luca was astonished.


    Even without anyone controlling it, the coffin had its own defensive mechanisms.


    Its origins were undoubtedly extraordinary!


    If he were to sessfully craft it into magic runes, it would likely cause some trouble down the line.


    However, after a moment of thought, Luca decided to proceed with crafting the Undead Coffin.


    After all, there''s no such thing as a free lunch.


    If he wanted to elerate his growth in power, some risks were inevitable.


    As Luca became fully absorbed in refining the coffin, Jormungandrsilently drifted out from her bracelet.


    Watching Luca meticulously refine the Undead Coffin, her expression was strange.


    Itmix of surprise, pride, and a subtle satisfaction, as if she was reveling in some sort of revenge.


    ...


    At the same time, on another Cloudwing Airship...


    The ck box hovered mid-air, emitting a blinding, sinister light.


    Just gazing at this light seemed to stir the most primal desires within one''s soul.


    Under the influence of the ck light, everyone aboard the ship¡ªexcept for Harvis and his fewpanions¡ªunderwent a horrifying transformation.


    They writhed on the ground, screaming in agony as their bodies twisted and morphed from human form into grotesque, monstrous shapes.


    Gradually, their bodies began to wither, leaking streams of thick, ck, foul-smelling liquid that were absorbed into the ck box.


    In just a few short moments, the luxurious cabin was filled with twisted, pitch-ck corpses. The horrific sight would make anyone''s skin crawl.


    Yet, Harvis and the others stood there, seemingly oblivious to the carnage around them. Their eyes were vacant, their minds stripped of any sense of self-awareness.


    At the same time Luca began crafting the Undead Coffin, the ck box hovering midair suddenly trembled violently.


    In unison, Harvis and hispanions turned their lifeless gazes toward the direction where Luca was, a flicker of confusion crossing their otherwise emotionless eyes.


    ...


    Back in Luca''s luxurious cabin, the once enormous coffin, which had been several meters in length, hadpletely disappeared.


    In its ce floated a mass of shiny, pitch-ck liquid, swirling and shifting.


    "Finally¡­ it''s done," Luca muttered, sitting cross-legged on the floor, his forehead drenched in sweat. His body rxed slightly as he allowed himself a moment to rest.


    The difficulty of crafting the Undead Coffinhad far exceeded his expectations¡ªit was even more challenging than when he had refined the Frost Heart of Hydra.


    If not for the significant boost in his strength, he might have failed entirely.


    To rival the heart of a Hydra... just what exactly was this thing?


    Luca''s curiosity deepened.


    However, the greater the challenge in crafting the Undead Coffin, the stronger the powers it would grant him.


    And that, at least, was something to be thankful for.


    After calming himself, Luca began drawing the magic runesfor the Undead Coffinin midair.


    Luckily, his previous experiences crafting Superss magic runesgave him some familiarity with the process.


    Though it was still challenging, he managed toplete the drawing of the runes within a few hours.


    In the air above him, a strange, pitch-ck magic runefloated quietly, shaped like a coffin. Dark energy radiated from it, casting a ck hue over the entire room.


    If Luca hadn''t had the foresight to set up multipleyers of protection, the entire airship''s crew would likely have been drawn here by the surge of magic.


    Carefully, Luca guided the magic rune closer to his body. The moment it touched him, a sharp pain shot through him, followed by an intense feeling of rejection.


    To his shock, the magic rune was rejecting him!


    This had never happened before.


    However, Luca recalled reading in books from Sophiaand Orf.


    That some special magic runes could indeed cause rejection when fused with a Demonic Rune Mage.


    The reasons varied, and there was no clear exnation for why this happened. The rmended course of action was usually to halt the fusion and seek advice from an expert like Orf back at Red Maple Academy.


    But Luca knew if Orf found out he had drawn such a dangerous rune.


    He would never approve the fusion.


    So, Luca had two options: abandon the fusion or force it.


    There really wasn''t a choice.


    Determined, Luca unleashed his full mental strength and began forcefully fusing the Undead Coffin''s magic runewith his body.


    The resistance from the coffin caused him no small amount of trouble, but at the end of the day, it was just an inanimate object without a will of its own.


    After several more hours of struggle, a game notification finally appeared.


    .


    Luca sessfully fused the Undead Coffin''s magic rune.


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have sessfully crafted the fixed magic rune "Undead Coffin (Superss)," Quality: Unique!]


    [Your skill "Magic Rune Crafting" has reached its maximum level. You have gained 5000 free proficiency points!]


    ...


    "Finally!" Luca let out a breath, a smile spreading across his face.


    He wasted no time in checking the attributes of the Undead Coffinmagic rune.


    [Undead Coffin: Superss Fixed Magic Rune, Quality: Unique. This magic rune, crafted using the Superss special material "Undead Coffin," grants the Demonic Rune Mage incredible regenerative abilities.]


    [Skill 1: "Undying Body"(Passive): If you receive a fatal blow, this skill will automatically preserve 1% of your health and prevent your death for 1 minute. Cooldown: 3 days.]


    [Skill 2: "Rapid Regeneration"(Passive): Your defense and health are increased by 100%, and your healing rate is increased by 300%. When activated, you can consume your own life force to quickly heal injuries. Cooldown: 3 hours.]


    [Skill 3: "Demonic Transformation"(Active): You can use this skill to corrupt and transform a target into a monstrous aberration. The transformed monster will obey yourmands for 24 hours before dying. Cooldown: 12 hours.]


    [Skill 4: "Demonic Awakening"(Active): Activate the full power of the magic rune, entering the "Demonic Awakening" state. In this state, your life force is increased by 500%, attack power by 300%, and all skills gain special demonic effects. You can use high-tier demonic skills during this state. Duration: 30 minutes. Cooldown: 24 hours.]

 Capítulo 108: Chapter 108: Return to Southwind City! The Strange Harvis! Desire Witch - Pandora!

    Although Luca had anticipated this oue, the effect of the Undead Coffinstill made his heart skip a beat.


    Both its "unique" quality and the four additional skills it granted made the Undead Coffinfar more powerful than Frostborn!


    It was important to remember that Frostbornhad been crafted from materials dropped by the Hydra. Even though it was only a mirror image of the Hydra, the materials it provided were still far beyond ordinary Transcendent-grade resources.


    The fact that this Undead Coffincould rival the "Heart of Hydra" made it clear that its origins were anything but ordinary.


    However, Luca wasn''t overly concerned. Compared to the power boost the Undead Coffinprovided, any potential risks could be set aside for the time being.


    "Undying Body" could save him from being one-shotted by stronger enemies, and "Rapid Regeneration" would allow him to quickly recover from injuries.


    When used together, these two skills could even bring him back from the brink of death to full strength in battle.


    "Demonic Transformation" seemed to be a unique ability of the coffin itself, capable of turning enemies into grotesque monsters under his control.


    "Demonic Awakening" was even more powerful than "Ice Pattern Awakening."


    In particr, the increase in his health was astonishing¡ªit multiplied his HP by five!


    With Demonic Awakening, his health would be on par with those Lord-level monsters, not even the slightest bit inferior!


    read more at mvle_mp,y,r


    Unconsciously, he found himself straying further and further down the path of bing a humanoid monster¡­


    A smile crept across Luca''s face.


    When he came to Pure River Town, he hadn''t expected much. But now, he realized just how fruitful this journey had been.


    After calming his emotions, Luca closed the game interface and nced at the white clouds drifting outside the window.


    He had spent quite a bit of time crafting magic runes. Without realizing it, the Cloudwing Airship had already taken off.


    From the air, he could see the airships that had docked in Pure River Town earlier. The group was already on their way back.


    Drawing his gaze back inside, Luca took advantage of the time to meditate and restore his mental strength.


    After the battle in Pure River Town and crafting those Superss magic runes, his mental energy was nearly drained.


    Now was the perfect time to meditate, and the effects of replenishing his mental energy would be far better than usual.


    Time passed slowly.


    By the time Luca finished meditating and restored his mental energy to peak condition.


    He could already see the towering peaks of Heavenly Pool Mountain in the distance.


    The Cloudwing Airship began to slow as it approached Dock Nine of the Outer District.


    After a series of jolts, the Cloudwing Airships finally came to a stop on the tform.


    As the boarding stairs lowered, Luca and the others began to disembark, where a weing party was already waiting outside.


    At the forefront stood a long-haired young man dressed in luxurious noble attire, bearing a striking resemnce to Luna.


    When they saw him, many people disyed expressions of surprise.


    This man was none other than Bronte, the Marquis of the Southern Territory.


    Luca was equally taken aback, not expecting that Bronte would personallye.


    It seemed that Bronte was indeed quite concerned about the events in Pure River Town.


    Luna stepped forward and whispered a few words to him.


    Bronte''s expression remained unreadable, showing neither joy nor anger. He merely nodded slightly.


    Then he turned to everyone and smiled, saying, "Wee back, everyone. You''ve worked hard on the matter in Pure River Town. I''ve prepared avish banquet at the City Lord''s mansion, and you are all invited to rx and enjoy yourselves."


    The moment the freshly disembarked professionals heard this, a cheer erupted among them.


    It wasn''t every day that one had the chance to visit the City Lord''s mansion, let alone being personally invited by the Marquis himself. Even if it was just for a meal, they would have bragging rights for days afterward.


    However, Luca wasn''t nning on attending. He had other matters to tend to and simply didn''t have the time to attend the celebratory feast.


    Just as he was about to bid farewell to Luna and the others.


    Bronte suddenly approached him.


    "You must be Viscount Luca, right? A young hero indeed!" Bronte said with a warm smile. "Luna has already told me about what happened in Pure River Town, and it seems Ryan and Orf didn''t misjudge you.


    "They''ve spoken highly of your exceptional talent before, saying you''re the best they''ve ever seen in their lifetime. I was a bit skeptical at first, to be honest. After all, my sister is widely regarded as the most gifted individual in all of Southwind City.


    "But now that even she speaks so highly of you, I can''t help but believe it."


    Bronte made no effort to hide his admiration and high regard for Luca, and his words were a true reflection of his thoughts.


    Luca was the most talented genius to emerge in the Southern Territory in recent years. If nothing unexpected urred, it would be a long time before anyone surpassed his achievements.


    In a few years, he might very well be the pride of not only Southwind City but the entire Southern Territory.


    This thought filled Bronte with a sense of pride as well.


    The surrounding crowd exchanged nces of surprise and envy.


    To be praised like this by Marquis Bronte¡ªthis young man''s future seemed boundless!


    Many in the crowd secretly regretted not making an effort to befriend Luca during the time they were together on the Cloudwing Airship.


    "Your Lordship is too kind. It was my duty," Luca replied with a modest smile in response to Bronte''s praise.


    He wasn''t overly humble, nor was he excessively proud. His calm andposed demeanor only made Bronte admire the young man even more, feeling that Luca reminded him of his younger self in some ways.


    Bronte then extended an invitation to Luca to join the banquet at the City Lord''s mansion.


    However, Luca politely declined, citing the heavy workload from his studies at Red Maple Academy.


    Bronte didn''t take offense. He knew that Luca was now a mentor at Red Maple Academy, so he didn''t push the issue. Instead, he simply invited Luca to visit the City Lord''s mansion for tea whenever he had time. After that, Bronte sent one of his personal carriages to escort Luca back.


    This treatment made the surrounding professionals envious.


    However, they all understood that Luca had earned considerable merit during the mission in Pure River Town.


    Being in Bronte''s favor, it wasn''t surprising that he received such preferential treatment.


    Luca stepped onto Bronte''s luxurious carriage and waved goodbye to Luna and the others.


    Just as the curtains were being drawn, something caught his eye. He noticed someone staring intensely at him.


    The person was clutching a ck bundle and had an unusual expression in their eyes as they watched him.


    Harvis?


    Luca frowned, but by the time the curtains closed, the strange gaze was gone.


    When he looked again, Harvis seemed no different from before, as if the earlier moment had been nothing but a figment of his imagination.


    Could it have just been my eyes ying tricks on me...?


    Luca shook his head and decided not to dwell on it.


    The scaled horse let out a sharp cry as the carriage rolled toward the Inner District.


    Meanwhile, Harvis, who had been in conversation with a knight, nced at the departing carriage. His gaze was calm and unreadable as he said, "The Undead Coffinmust be on him."


    "Should we retrieve it?" one of the knights asked tly, his expression nk.


    The other knights turned to Harvis, their faces expressionless, as if they were all cut from the same mold.


    Harvis shook his head. "This boy carries a few familiar auras that intrigue me. It''s strange. For now, don''t bother with him. The most important thing is to get the demon box back to the family."


    The knights nced at the object wrapped in ck cloth that Harvis was holding, then nodded in unison like puppets.


    ...


    The carriage made its way through the Outer District and soon arrived outside Red Maple Academy.


    Luca stepped down and walked toward the academy.


    He intended to visit Orf in the headmaster''s office to inquire about the Undead Coffin. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t recall anything about it. With Orf''s extensive knowledge, Luca hoped he might provide some answers.


    Before long, Luca crossed the campus and reached the headmaster''s office.


    To his surprise, his superior, Melissa, was justing out of the office, carrying a stack of teaching materials.


    Seeing Luca, Melissa paused for a moment, then adjusted her sses and sighed slightly. "I thought you''d be missing your first ss today. I just spoke to the headmaster to rearrange your schedule."


    Luca felt a bit embarrassed. "Sorry about that. I got dyed by a mission. I didn''t mean to cause any trouble."


    Melissa shook her head. "It''s fine. I''ve rescheduled today''s lesson to be a specialized ss. You can resume teaching tomorrow."


    She seemed to remember something and added, "By the way, I''ll be co-teaching the next few practicalbat lessons with you. Once you get the hang of it, you can handle the students on your own."


    Luca understood that Melissa meant well, and he offered her a sincere thank you.


    After she left, he knocked on the door to the headmaster''s office.


    "Come in," Orf''s warm voice called from inside.


    Luca pushed the door open and found Orf reading a book.


    "So, how did the mission go? Smoothly, I hope?" Orf had overheard the earlier conversation outside and, as he looked up, suddenly let out a soft sound of surprise. "Hmm, your power has grown again."


    Luca exined, "I had some good fortune whilepleting the mission and acquired a third fixed magic rune. I actually came by today to ask you a few things."


    "Your luck is starting to make even me a little envious," Orf said with a light chuckle, noticing Luca''s significant gains. With a piqued curiosity, he continued, "Go ahead, tell me what''s on your mind. Let''s see if I can help clear it up."


    Luca thought for a moment before asking, "Have you ever heard of a coffin in the Sea of Desire in the Abyssal Demon Realm that can turn people into monsters?"


    "A coffin that turns people into monsters?" Orf murmured, repeating the question.


    He furrowed his brow, his expression growing more serious. "Could it be¡­ you''vee across the Undead Coffin?"


    Luca felt a surge of excitement. He hadn''t expected Orf to recognize it. He nodded and said, "Yes, I encountered that coffin during the mission."


    "How could that thing have resurfaced in the Eternal Continent¡­" Orf muttered, his brow deeply furrowed. "I once read about the Undead Coffinin an ancient text.


    "ording to what I found, this coffin originates from a King-level monster. Every time it appears on the Eternal Continent, it brings disaster. It was sealed away long ago, so I didn''t expect it to reemerge after all these years."


    "A King-level monster?" Luca''s heart skipped a beat, and an inexplicable sense of unease washed over him. He hesitated before asking, "Do you know which King-level monster it belongs to?"


    Orf paused, then slowly uttered a name, "It belongs to the Desire Witch¡ªPandora."

 Chapter 150: The Sky City! The First Prince and Second Prince! The Princesss Quarters!

    150 Chapter 150: The Sky City! The First Prince and Second Prince! The Princess''s Quarters!


    By the time Luca arrived in Dawn City. Five days had passed.


    Over these days, aside from crafting magic runes. Luca had spent most of his time dealing with Susie''s constant troublemaking.


    Truth be told, he knew he was in the wrong.


    In the end, the only thing Luca could do was promise Susie that as soon as they arrived in Dawn City, he would figure out a way to bring her here.


    This was the only thing that barely managed to calm her anger.


    Luca stepped out of the flying ship''s cabin.


    The weather was sunny and bright.


    Standing on the flying ship''s gangway, Luca gazed at the distant skyline.


    "So, this is Dawn City?"


    Under the vast blue sky, a colossal structure, reminiscent of a mountain range, floated in mid-air.


    It was covered in towering skyscrapers, with flying shipsing and going like busy bees.


    Around it, smaller floating inds orbited, forming a pattern that resembled a blooming lotus flower.


    From a distance, one could already see the blue crystal tower at the heart of the city, a straight spire piercing the clouds.


    "That''s right, it''s also known as the Sky City!" Fratis said with a smile, his voice filled with a subtle pride.


    After all, this was hishome.


    "After days of traveling by flying ship, we''ve finally arrived!" Lucia stretched her body dramatically, revealing her devilishly toned figure.


    "Once we get to Dawn City, let me show you the city''s splendor!" She put her soft white arm around Luca''s shoulder, batting her eyes andughing mischievously.


    Sophia shot her a cold look and said, "Shouldn''t the teacher take me along too?"


    Lucia quickly retracted her arm,ughing awkwardly. "What are you thinking? The teacher is just going to stroll around the food streets. How could I possibly take my own student to a nightclub or the red-light district? Those kinds of ces..."


    The others rolled their eyes.


    As the flying ship drew closer to Dawn City, the overwhelming presence of the giant city pressed in on them.


    In front of this massive structure, the hundred-meter-long flying ship seemed like a tiny dot.


    Only now could they truly appreciate the sheer size of the Sky City.


    Naturally, a city like Dawn City had its own docks.


    The flying ship, familiar with the route, headed toward the central district of Dawn City.


    Luca had already asked Fratis and the others about the city.


    Dawn City wasn''t just one single city¡ªit had its own central district, but there were also eight satellite districts. These were nine floating inds surrounding the main city, each named after one of the eight cardinal directions.


    Each of these satellite inds was governed by a grand duke of the empire, who was required to report to King Alfred Clinton in the central royal pce every day about the state of the empire.


    Only in rare cases would the king summon all eight grand dukes to the pce to discuss important matters.


    The flying ship sailed through the passageway, entering the outer docks of the main district.


    It passed through a dim tunnel and finally came to a smooth, steady stop at the tform.


    A group of people disembarked from the flying ship.


    Luca scanned the surroundings.


    He saw many guards in uniforms, checking the baggage and identities of pedestrians.


    The line stretched for quite a while, consisting of ordinary people as well as wealthy individuals dressed in extravagant clothing, all in an orderly fashion.


    In the dock, someone had been waiting for them.


    It was a young man wearing golden armor with short hair.


    From the divine aura emanating from him, it was clear that he was a high-ranking Holy Knight.


    Upon seeing them, he immediately walked over and respectfully said, "Your Highness, Lady Lucia, Lord Luca, it''s been a long journey. His Highness the First Prince has arranged amodations and a banquet. He wishes to invite you all over to meet and get acquainted."


    The First Prince? Luca''s eyes shifted slightly.


    In the Clinton Empire, the only person who could be called the First Prince was King Alfred''s eldest son, Leonie.


    He was the son of King Alfred and Queen Matilda Constantine, and the legitimate heir to the throne.


    Luca hadn''t expected him to send someone to greet them.


    Before he could respond, a harsh voice suddenly rang out.


    "Heh, it seems the First Prince is truly desperate for talented individuals, going so far as to send his strongest knight to wee a small noble from the countryside." Another group of people approached.


    The man was dressed in a noble''s long robe, with a tall, sharp nose and a handlebar mustache. His face twisted into a sneer, and he was followed by a retinue of guards. His tone was dripping with contempt, and it was clear he had no respect whatsoever for the so-called legitimate heir to the throne.


    "This man is Beck Thomas, a count and a dog of the Second Prince and the noble faction," Lucia whispered from the side. It was clear from her voice that she had little love for the Second Prince or the noble faction.


    "Beck! You should show the royal family the respect they deserve!" Knight Ed, his face turning alternately green and white with anger, clenched his fists. If it weren''t for the circumstances, he might have attacked right there and then.


    Beck sneered dismissively, clearly uninterested in further conversation.


    He then turned to Fratis and Finn, whose expression was calm, and bent slightly at the waist, speaking with exaggerated deference. "Your Highness, Lord Finn, the Second Prince has sent me to invite you both to a banquet. "


    "He specially ordered fresh spirit fish and seafood from the Western Sea to prepare avish feast, which I''m sure you and Your Highness will enjoy."


    Luca watched the exchange with great interest.


    Neither side was even pretending to be polite. It seemed the power struggles within the Clinton royal family were already quite intense. No wonder the king was in such a rush to arrange a marriage with the Phillips family¡­


    "Luca..." Fratis tugged gently at his sleeve.


    Luca turned and made eye contact with her, clearly seeing the helplessness in her eyes.


    Fratis'' biological mother was not Matilda Constantine, but thete former queen.


    She had no affection for either the First or Second Prince, as both were merely trying to win the favor of Finn and the Phillips family. In fact, the only one in the royal family who truly cared for her was the third princess¡­


    Luca gave a slight nod, then calmly addressed Knight Ed and Count Beck, "Sorry, we''ve already made arrangements at a hotel, so there''s no need for the princes to trouble themselves. I thank you both on behalf of Her Highness, and as for Finn¡­ well, he can make his own decision."


    "Hmm?" Both men''s gazes shifted to Luca, their expressions confused.


    "What gives you the right to make decisions for the princess?" Finn''s cold voice asked, voicing their unspoken thoughts.


    He hasn''t even spoken yet, and you, a mere viscount, who do you think you are to make decisions?


    "Luca is right," Fratis suddenly raised her head, speaking firmly. "We''ve already made hotel arrangements. Please thank my older brother and second brother on my behalf."


    Ed and Beck exchanged a nce,pletely confused about what was happening.


    "You!" Finn felt his blood pressure spike, his chest tightening in anger. He gritted his teeth and looked at Fratis, as if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he swallowed his fury and snarled at Ed and Beck, "Get out of here!"


    Both men flinched, quickly realizing that the Duke''s son was clearly enraged and that this wasn''t the time to press the issue. They hastily excused themselves, eager to leave before Finn took out his frustration on them.


    At the same time, Ed felt a pang of regret for Luca. He had done such a great job in Southwind City, and he was so young¡ªif things had gone differently, he would''ve definitely been a rising star in the noble world. But now, he''d crossed Finn...


    He shook his head.


    Once the two men had left. Finn shot Luca a long, cold stare and sneered. "Enjoy the next few days, because after that, your life will get a lot more difficult."


    With a wave of his hand, he barked, "Let''s go."


    The group watched as Finn stormed off. Luna frowned and said, "You''ve earned a lot of credit, and for the next few days, they probably won''t dare to do anything to you. But once the king''s rewards are settled, Finn definitely won''t let this slide."


    "Sorry..." Fratis''s face showed a mix of worry and guilt. In the end, it was because of her that all this had happened.


    Luca shook his head. "It''s fine. Let''s just go."


    At this point, there was no point in saying more.


    "Let''s head to my pce. It''s big enough, and I''ll be able to host everyone there," Fratis suggested.


    No one disagreed.


    Then, under the curious gaze of the crowd, the group walked out of the dock.


    Outside, several luxurious carriages were waiting. They had been prepared by Lucia, and the creatures pulling the carriages were simr to scaled horses, but muchrger and gentler in nature.


    The group climbed into the carriage and headed toward the royal pce deep within the city.


    During the ride, Luca took the opportunity to observe the bustling city of Clinton Empire, the most prosperous in the entire empire.


    On the streets, vehicles powered by magic energy crystals slowly made their way through the roads. They weren''t particrly fast, their bulky, unwieldy forms resemblingrge metal worms. Two iron chimneys belched thick clouds of smoke from their tops.


    These machines resembled modern buses, albeit with rougher craftsmanship. Many of the mechanical structures, along with brass gears, were exposed and visible to anyone passing by.


    In addition to these curious vehicles, there were also uniquely designed buildings and strange-looking races walking the streets¡ªElves, Tigerfolk, Lizardmen, and more.


    These humanoid races were dressed in formal clothing, walking down the neat, clean streets while chatting andughing. To any casual observer, they appeared no different from regr people.


    Among the several guilds they passed, Luca noticed a few yers. Compared to other cities, the number of yers here seemed much lower. However, those present were generally at higher levels, with most of them above level 20.


    But the most striking feature of the city was undoubtedly the massive royal pce situated at the very center of Dawn City. Even from a distance, the grandiose building gleamed with golden hues. The closer they got, the more one could feel the sheer scale and magnificence of the structure.


    As the carriage continued on its way, it didn''t take long before they arrived at the pce gates.


    Soldiers stood guard at the entrance, checking the identities of those entering. Upon seeing Fratis, a few soldiers were momentarily confused, unsure of what was going on. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Only one older soldier, a veteran, paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up in recognition. "Your Highness, the Sixth Princess! When did you return?"


    "Captain Charlie, long time no see!" Fratis smiled warmly, waving at the soldier as she greeted him.


    She showed no airs of superiority typical of nobility or royalty, and in fact, she seemed just like any ordinary person, casual and approachable.

 Capítulo 110: Chapter 110: Signs of Descent! Visiting Susie! Apple Roses!

    "This is nothing, Dad. You''ll be able to do it too someday," Luca said casually, not bothered that Donald had seen his ability. With a grin, he took the new sneakers from his father and put them on.


    Recently, Donald had been busy not only stockpiling weapons and supplies at the vi but also ying Eternal Game. Since he wasn''t much of a gamer, his level progression had been slower than most¡ªhe hadn''t even hit level 10 yet.


    However, as a former soldier, his adaptability was high. Luca knew that as Donald''s level increased and he experienced more feedback from the game, he would eventually possess Transcendent powers too.


    Donald mulled over Luca''s words, and a flicker of anticipation appeared in his eyes.


    No matter how old a man gets, the dream of bing a superhero never really fades.


    "What are you two doing in there? Why are you dragging your feet? Let''s get going!" Sini''s voice came from outside, urging them to hurry. The father and son quickly responded and finished getting ready.


    Once everything was packed, the three of them got in the car and headed to the hospital in the heart of Celephais.


    During the drive, Luca pulled out his phone to check thetest news.


    He was particrly interested in strange events that had been urring.


    Though there weren''t many, he made some notable discoveries.


    For instance, there had been a recent string of bizarre serial killings in Celephais. The victims differed in age, identity, and circumstances, but all had one thing inmon¡ªthey were missing their hearts. The entire city''s police force was now on high alert, trying to track down the murderer.


    In a nearby Coast city, the trees in the Forest Park had begun growing at an elerated and unnatural rate. In just a few days, the vegetation was as dense as it would normally be after several months.


    And inNephew city''s New Century Marine Museum, typically harmless sea creatures had suddenly turned hostile. One dolphin even grew razor-sharp teeth and bit off a trainer''s arm.


    On top of that, there had been an increasing number of natural disasters: storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.


    Doomsday enthusiasts, who had been rtively quiet in recent years.


    Theystarted popping up again on various tforms, preaching that the end of the world was near. Their wild theories ranged from the usible to the outright ridiculous. If Luca hadn''t traveled back from ten years in the future, he might have started believing some of their ims.


    Thinking back, Luca realized that thest time these strange urrences began happening, it was around this same time.


    But he didn''t care.


    It became clear to him now that the real world had already been showing signs of the game''s descent back then.


    After reading through the news, Luca browsed the Eternal Gameforums.


    Nothing particrly significant had been happening in the game recently.


    The only notable thing was that The World Guildstill had a bounty out for him, and the reward had now doubled.


    Apparently, kicking them out of Riverfall City had left quite a psychological scar on them in Celephais.


    Another thing worth noting was that several top-tier yers had already reached level 20 and moved on to the next major city.


    Luca recognized many of these yers as legendary figures from his past life.


    He made a mental note to keep track of them.


    In Eternal Game, long-distance travel between regions wasn''t an easy feat.


    Although Luca couldn''t interact with those top yers for the time being, he knew it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed.


    The sun was zing high in the sky.


    Their car cruised along the road.


    Since both Luca and Susie lived in the suburbs, and with it being rush hour.


    The streets were filled with pedestrians and vehicles.


    By the time they arrived at the city hospital, more than an hour had passed.


    Celephais might not have been a well-known city, but its hospital was one of the top 20prehensive hospitals in the country.


    It was well-equipped with modern medical facilities and spanned a massive area. Crowds of patients and doctors bustled in and out of the hospital.


    Luca already knew which room Susie was in, so after entering the hospital, he didn''t need to ask a nurse for directions. He carried the fruit and flowers Sini had bought and led his parents straight to Susie''s ward.


    When the three of them arrived via the elevator, they found that the room was already filled with people.


    Most were Susie''s ssmates and teachers.


    In addition, a few formally dressed men and women stood there with straight postures.


    Itlikely colleagues of Darabont.


    It seemed like they were about to leave.


    The two groups exchanged polite nods and smiles as they passed each other.


    Luca briefly nced at the middle-aged man leading them out.


    He recognized him as Coarmy, the chief of the Celephais Police Department.


    However, Luca didn''t dwell on it and entered the room, still holding the gifts.


    The room was already filled with bouquets and fruit baskets, evidence that many had visited earlier.


    Zoey was chatting with their teacher, Olivira, who was also Luca''s homeroom teacher.


    Nomadey was there as well, fawning over Susie with obvious eagerness.


    Susie, lying in bed, didn''t look too happy.


    But the moment she noticed Luca and his parents walk in, a smile finally appeared on her face.


    However, as if remembering something, she shot Luca an annoyed re before turning her face away in a huff.


    "What''s he doing here?" Nomadey''s smile vanished the moment he saw Luca, his face twisting with frustration.


    Back in Southwind City, he had nned to catch up to Luca and Susie.


    But to his dismay, the Cloudwing Airship they were on moved at such a high speed that he lost track of them in no time.


    Now, seeing Luca show up to ruin his ns once more, his mood plummeted.


    "Hello, Uncle Darabont, Aunt Zoey! We came to visit Susie!" Luca, unfazed by either Nomadey''s or Susie''s reactions, greeted Darabont and Zoey with a bright smile.


    Despite the dark circles under their eyes, they looked in good spirits and warmly weed Donald and Sini into the room.


    Sini asked a few questions about Susie''s condition and, upon hearing she was fine, let out a long sigh of relief.


    Since the hospital room was getting crowded with kids, the parents soon stepped out to chat elsewhere.


    leaving only Luca, Nomadey, and their ssmates inside.


    As ss president, Susie was popr and well-liked, and a group of girls gathered around her, chattering away.


    Luca, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the noise, quietly turned to sneak out, hoping to find somewhere more peaceful.


    But just as he made his move, Susie, who had been secretly watching him, caught on immediately, and her annoyance red up.


    This jerk! He barely visited before, and now he''s trying to sneak off again?


    Sitting up in bed, she red at him and threatened, "Luca, if you dare leave, I''ll tell Mom, Dad, and your parents about what you did in the game. Let''s see how they deal with you then!"


    Luca had almost made it out of the room but stopped dead in his tracks. He turned around, exasperated, and said, "Didn''t you say you wouldn''t hold it against me?"


    Susie tilted her head up and shamelessly replied, "When did I say that? Besides, after what you did to me in the game¡­ how could I not hold a grudge? Luca, are you saying you don''t n on taking responsibility?"


    Nomadey, hearing this, couldn''t keep his cool any longer. He shot up from his seat, his face flushed with anger, and shouted, "Luca, you scumbag! What did you do to Susie in the game?!"


    His heart was in absolute turmoil.


    The worst part was thinking that something might have happened between them on the airship. The thought made Nomadey feel even worse.


    What a miscalction! I should''ve followed them!


    Who could''ve guessed that in just a few short hours¡­ something would happen between the two of them?


    Their ssmates exchanged nces, starting to pick up on the strange tension between Luca and Susie.


    People had teased them about being close before, but over the years, nothing had evere of it¡ªnot even by the time they graduated high school.


    Many of their friends who had rooted for them felt it was a shame.


    But now, it seemed like there might still be a chance...


    Luca nced at Nomadey, his expression t. "If you keep barking, do you want me to throw you out?"


    Without waiting for a response, he ignored Nomadey, whose face had turned as red as a tomato, and sat down next to Susie''s bed. Forcing a smile, he asked, "So, what does the youngdy require?"


    Knowing that Susie''s hospitalization and the incident in the game were both somewhat his fault, Luca felt guilty. This time, he decided not to argue with her.


    Seeing him back down, Susie''s face lit up with triumph. She pointed at a bunch of grapes andmanded, "Peel me a grape."


    Realizing that the situation was not in his favor, Luca sighed and did as she asked.


    After a moment, Susie added, "And then cut me an apple and carve it into a rose."


    "Alright, alright," Luca rolled his eyes, but with the control he had over his body, carving a rose from an apple wasn''t exactly difficult.


    The fruit knife danced in his hand, and with a few swift movements, the apple''s flesh was quickly shaped. In no time, an intricately carved apple rose appeared in Luca''s hand.


    The petals were perfectly detailed, each groove and curve visible, making the rose look incredibly lifelike.


    discover stories NovelBin-l,e-mp _yr


    Everyone in the room was stunned. Nomadey''s eyes practically bulged out of his head.


    No way, he really did it?!


    Even Susie was taken aback, covering her mouth in surprise. She hadn''t expected Luca to actually pull it off.


    "Hmm¡­ I guess that''ll do," Susie said with mock indifference, but her delighted expression betrayed her. She carefully tucked the apple rose away with a satisfied smile.


    Then, as if another idea popped into her head, she nudged Luca with her foot. "By the way, I want some dragon fruit too, but without the seeds."


    Luca nearly choked in frustration.


    Dragon fruit without seeds? Why don''t you just ask for the moon while you''re at it?!


    He shot Susie a deadly re, gritting his teeth. "I''m warning you, don''t push it too far, or this whole thing will end in disaster!"


    "Fine, let it end in disaster then." Susie shrugged nonchntly and then raised her voice, calling out sweetly, "Mom! Dad! Uncle! Aunt! Luca did something to me in the game, and¡ª"


    Panicking, Luca lunged forward and quickly covered her mouth, forcing a strained smile. "I was just kidding! You don''t have to take it so seriously! Dragon fruit without seeds? No problem, I''ll take care of it, right now!"


    Hearing this, Susie''s eyebrows arched yfully, and her eyes curved into crescent moons, clearly enjoying herself.


    Not long after, Darabont and the others returned to the room.


    Zoey, looking puzzled, asked, "What happened? I thought I heard you calling for Luca?"


    Susie, now casually chatting with a group of her friends, blinked innocently. "Oh, nothing. We were just ying a game."


    No one thought much of it, but Sini nced around the room, slightly confused. "Where''s Luca? Where''d he run off to?"


    "Oh, him? He''s right there." Susie pointed toward the corner of the room.


    Luca was sitting cross-legged, face expressionless, as he painstakingly picked seeds out of a dragon fruit with a toothpick.

 Capítulo 115: Chapter 115: 1 vs. 36! A Killing Machine! Overwhelming Domination!

    "Call the academy''s medical team; we''re heading to the arena," Luca said to Melissa before turning and leading the way out of the ssroom.


    "Is this for himself?" Many people couldn''t help butugh out loud.


    He actually called for the medical team! Did this guy really think he could win?


    Thirty-six against one, and with each one of them using their skills, he would surely end up severely injured; they couldn''t even fathom the possibility of him winning!


    Melissa and the others followed closely behind, their faces filled with worry, as they had the same thoughts.


    Fred sighed, "You''re being too impulsive. With your strength, just a casual disy would be enough to put them in their ce. Now that you''ve gotten yourself into this situation, if you¡­ sigh¡­"


    Though he didn''t finish his sentence, everyone understood what Fred meant.


    If Luca were to get injured during the practical training at the hands of these students, there was no way he could continue at Red Maple Academy.


    Thinking about this, even Fratis showed concern on her face.


    This was something she absolutely did not want to see, especially since Luca was her only friend at Red Maple Academy.


    She said, "What if I go talk to Principal Orf and plead for you¡­"


    Luca could naturally see their worries and smiled to reassure them, "You don''t need to worry. If I dared to say that, then I must be confident in dealing with them."


    In the past, while training the "Heavenly Guard," the soldiers had been far more troublesome than these boys and girls.


    He had often used such tactics back then and was quite adept at it.


    Once these guys realized the gap in their abilities, they would fall in line, saving a lot of trouble and time.


    Melissa and the others exchanged nces, ultimately letting out a sigh.


    They just hoped that Luca truly had a hidden card up his sleeve.


    After that, Luca led the thirty-six students from ss One to the arena.


    The venue was spacious and reinforced with arrays, making it suitable for practical training since it wouldn''t be easily damaged by anything short of high-level magic.


    Themotion quickly attracted the attention of many instructors and students, who turned to watch.


    Everyone was stunned when they learned that Luca was actually going to take on all thirty-six students by himself.


    "Is this for real? One against thirty-six? And he''s not using skills or weapons!" An instructor swallowed hard, unsure whether to admire Luca''s boldness or deem him insane.


    Even high-level practitioners couldn''t manage something like this!


    The news spread rapidly, and it wasn''t long before the stands were filled with spectators eager to watch the spectacle.


    At that moment, Melissa had also managed to gather the academy''s medical team, who were standing by nearby to prevent any idents.


    Luca stood straight at the center of the arena, looking at the group of eager young men and women before him.


    He calmly said, "A friendly reminder: you''d better give it your all from the start, or don''t me me for not giving you a chance."


    Hearing Luca''s words, Rogge, with his bow and arrow in hand, scoffed, "You don''t need to worry about us; just take care of yourself!


    "After all, if we end up beating you to a pulp, you''ll be theughingstock!"


    The other studentsughed in agreement.


    No matter what, they were determined to snag those easy credits!


    Luca''s expression remained unchanged; he merely nodded slightly and said, "If that''s the case, then let''s begin."


    Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling array of colorful lights erupted from the students.


    The weakest among them were at the Bronze Grade, with a few even reaching Silver Grade.


    Though they were dissatisfied with Luca''s arrogance, they didn''t underestimate his strength.


    After all, someone who had cleared the 20th level of the trials was not to be taken lightly, no matter how bad he might seem.


    In the next moment, a storm of ice arrows, fire serpents, vines, and toxic mist surged toward Luca.


    The fierce wind blew across the grass, creating ripples like waves, and the runes on the ground began to glow as defensive arrays activated.


    Luca''s clothes fluttered in the breeze, yet his expression didn''t change in the slightest. He chuckled softly and said, "Today, the first lesson I''ll teach you is¡­"


    At the instant his voice fell, Luca pushed off the ground, and his figure vanished like a shadow.


    "Such speed!" Everyone present widened their eyes in disbelief. It was hard to imagine that a mid-tier Demonic Rune Mage could be this fast without using skills or magic runes!


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!!"


    All the attacks missed their target, crashing into the empty space of the arena and creating powerful shockwaves!


    The students cheered, thinking they had dealt with Luca.


    But the instructors watching from the stands knew that these youngsters were celebrating too soon.


    Rogge scanned the surroundings warily.


    He realized that while Luca had dodged the attacks, the chaos had obscured his vision, and he couldn''t see where Luca had gone.


    At that moment, a clear voice rang out behind him, causing Rogge''s eyes to widen in shock.


    Luca stood behind Rogge, his long hand gripping Rogge''s neck, slowly whispering the words that followed.


    He said calmly, "Never underestimate your opponent, because in battle, you don''t get a chance to make mistakes!"


    In that instant, Rogge felt his breath catch, and cold sweat began to pour down his forehead!


    A sense of impending doom enveloped Rogge''s heart.


    It was too fast¡ªso fast that he didn''t even realize when Luca had appeared beside him.


    Rogge gritted his teeth and snapped back to reality, swinging his longbow in an attempt to counterattack.


    However, at that moment, Luca''s palm struck the back of his neck.


    Rogge felt darkness descend before his eyes; he didn''t even have time to fight back before losing the ability to resist.


    As he fainted, hisst thought wasn''t one of anger.


    Instead, it was a recollection of Luca''s earlier words:


    "In battle, you don''t get a chance to make mistakes!"


    The next moment, the strongest of the new students, Rogge, copsed unconscious.


    By the time the others reacted, Luca had already vanished from sight.


    His figure began to dart swiftly among the thirty-six students like a phantom.


    With each strike of his palm, another student fell limp to the ground.


    The others tried to counterattack, but they couldn''t even locate Luca''s shadow, and a few of them identally injured their ssmates.


    In just a few minutes, six or seven students were already down.


    At this moment, the audience in the stands was left in shock, mouths agape.


    No one expected that amidst so many attacks, Luca not only remained unharmed but was able to take down the students one by one.


    "This guy''s strength is terrifying!" one instructor swallowed hard.


    He even felt that if he were out there, his situation wouldn''t be much better than that of these students.


    Fred suddenly sighed beside him, saying, "No wonder I felt back in Southwind City that this kid''sbat skills were ruthless and didn''t seem like something taught in the academy. Now it''s clear; this is pure killing technique!"


    Killing technique?!


    At this remark, all the instructors, including Melissa, changed their expressions.


    "How could he have suchbat skills?" Melissa''s eyes showed shock.


    Suchbat techniques were typically mastered only by veterans who had fought fiercely on the battlefield for decades.


    How could someone as young as Luca possess such skills?


    Fred shook his head. "I''m not sure, but there''s no mistaking it; this kid is practically radiating killing intent.


    "It''s not that he has a desire to kill, but rather that he instinctively aims to take lives.


    "Look closely at where he targets."


    Thanks to Fred''s reminder, the others finally noticed that when Luca''s hand struck the students'' necks, his speed would suddenly decrease significantly.


    Realizing this, the experienced instructors understood immediately¡ªhe was holding back!


    If he didn''t hold back, even a palm strike could easily take these students'' lives!


    Thinking about this sent chills down their spines.


    In other words, this young man instinctively wanted to kill¡ªit had nearly be second nature!


    "Are we going to end this early?" Melissa said, her face filled with concern. She was worried not about Luca getting hurt, but about the chaos he might cause.


    "Don''t worry; if he can hold back, it means he knows how to control himself. There''s nothing to be concerned about," reassured an elderly man with sses, the vice-principal, Kruse, who hadn''t been seen for several days.


    Watching Luca swiftly maneuver through the students, he remarked, "With hisbat experience, calling him a killing machine wouldn''t be an exaggeration. If thrown onto a battlefield, he''d probably make a name for himself in less than two years. Our academy has truly struck gold this time!"


    This young man was not only exceptionally talented but also frighteningly experienced in realbat¡ªhe was practically a monster with no weaknesses!


    Listening to their discussions, Fratis looked at the figure on the field, her beautiful eyes revealing a hint of admiration.


    Although she couldn''t understand what they were saying, she felt that Luca was amazing¡ªso many people couldn''t even touch him!


    Meanwhile, on the field, Luca moved like a ghost.


    At times he was as quick as lightning, and at others, as light as a feather.


    Those skills that seemed certain to hit him always fell just short, missing him by a hair''s breadth.


    He didn''t waste any extra movements; he merely sidestepped, closed the distance, and with a swift chop of his hand, another student was knocked unconscious.


    In just a matter of minutes, the students on the field had be disorganized and chaotic.


    Out of the original thirty-plus students, only a handful remained standing, and most of them were girls.


    Those left were mostly Kassna and a few supporters of Luca.


    "Luca is just too cool!" Kassna''s eyes sparkled with admiration, nearly swooning on the spot.


    As expected, the man she had her eye on was exceptional!


    Luca''s mouth twitched slightly as he swiftly knocked out the few starry-eyed admirers.


    Then he turned his attention to thest remaining student, Rainer Howard.


    Feeling that piercing gaze, Rainer instinctively swallowed hard, quickly throwing down his sword and raising his hands in surrender. "I give up! I give up!"


    Although he knew Luca was strong, Rainer never expected him to be this powerful!


    Thirty-something low-tier and mid-tier practitioners had all been taken down in just ten minutes!


    What was even more terrifying was that he hadn''t even used any magic runes! What''s the point of fighting?


    "In battle, you don''t get a chance to surrender; monsters won''t spare you just because you give up," Luca said as he walked over to Rainer, delivering a swift chop to the side of his neck.


    Rainer''s vision went dark as he promptly lost consciousness.


    At this point, the entire arena was left with only Luca standing.


    1 VS 36!


    Luca emerged victorious!

 Capítulo 116: Chapter 116: These Students Are Hopeless! Billionaire! At Any Cost!

    In the stands.


    The audience watched the scene on the field, littered with unconscious students.


    No one knew quite what to say.


    "Man, he really didn''t hold back. He knocked out over thirty students?"


    Luca looked around the stadium, surveying the fallen students. "These students are hopeless," he said. "They talk big, but there''s not a single one here who can actually fight."


    Hearing this, Fred''s mouth twitched. "Do you think they''re all just like you? And hey, you''ve got some nerve! If even one of them got seriously hurt, you''d be in serious trouble."


    Only now did Luca seem to register what he''d done.


    These were just students, not soldiers under hismand.


    Maybe he''d gone a little too hard on them.


    But apologizing? Not a chance. Shrugging, he said, "How is that my fault? If they''d just followed instructions, I wouldn''t have needed to make a move. If anything, they''re just too weak."


    Melissa shot him a sharp look, sighing. "Let''s call it a day. But for future sses, don''t use methods like this again."


    Sending all the students to the medical bay on the first day.


    Such a thing hadn''t happened in all the years Red Maple Academy had been around.


    Fortunately, the students were fine and regained consciousness quickly.


    But now, whenever they saw Luca, they visibly shivered.


    Especially Rogge and Rainer.


    The two young prodigies'' confidence had taken a massive hit.


    This failure had taught them a hard truth.


    There''s a vast difference between a genius and a top-tier genius.


    Bigger than the gap between people and mere bugs¡­


    After this incident, it was clear that Luca wouldn''t be continuing hisbat ss today.


    Melissa sent all the students back to rest.


    Meanwhile, Luca went off to prepare for tomorrow''s ss.


    He seemed unbothered by the events of the day.


    Ada and Ben had already arrived in Southwind City.


    So now he could use this time toplete his transaction.


    And he''d check to see if The Nightmare Cult had anything new to report.


    With a multitude ofplex looks from the other instructors, Luca walked off as if nothing had happened...


    "I''ve got a feeling this guy''s just going to keep stirring up trouble," Fred muttered, scratching his bald head.


    Next to him, Melissa could only sigh, feeling a pang of regret. If she''d known earlier, she wouldn''t have agreed so readily with Principal Orf.


    Luca was clearly a troublemaker. Who knew how many more headaches he''d cause...


    Just as he was about to leave the academy.


    Luca heard Fratis calling his name from behind.


    "Luca, let''s go shopping together!" she said.


    Turning around, he saw the hopeful look on her face.


    Luca shrugged, "Princess, I''ve got a lot to do. I''m afraid I can''t join you."


    Fratis looked a bit disappointed but didn''t push further.


    She just asked him to find time to talk to her sometime.


    She really enjoyed his stories.


    Watching her figure retreat with a hint of disappointment.


    Luca shook his head.


    Though Fratis was adorable, with a stunning figure.


    The real world was now swarming with monsters, and he had no time for romance.


    Exiting the Red Maple Academy campus.


    Luca opened his friends list and found Ada''s profile.


    She happened to be online.


    Luca sent her a message.


    [Luca:"Have you guys reached Southwind City? I happen to have some free time now."]


    He quickly received a reply.


    [Ada:"We just arrived. We''re heading to the Outer District now. Where are you?"]


    They were pretty fast.


    Luca shared his location.


    Ada replied that they''d be there soon.


    While waiting, Luca took a look at his current status panel.


    [Name:Luca (Gold Grade)]


    [Level:Lv35]


    [Talent:The Person Favored (SSS-level)]


    [Primary Profession:Demonic Rune Mage]


    [Secondary Professions:Witch Doctor, Dreamweaver]


    [Health Points:21,300]


    [Mana Points:43,400]


    [Attack:7,309¨C7,647]


    [Attributes:Strength 1,457, Spirit 3,616, Stamina 1,233, Agility 721]


    [Special:Charm 100, Perception 100, Aptitude 120 (Transcendent), Luck 100]


    [Titles:Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm, Peerless Appearance, Danger Perception, The Son of Luck]


    [Magic Runes]:Frostborn (Fixed), Heavenly Star Crystal Tree (Fixed), Undead Coffin (Fixed), Shadow Judgment(Advanced), Daylight Wind Shadows(Advanced)¡­]


    [Skills:Magic Rune Drawing Lv10, Potion Refinement Lv10, Hand of the Witch Doctor Lv10, Dreamweaving Lv5¡­]


    ¡­


    After reaching Level 35, besides an increase in his stats.


    The biggest change was his newly acquired advanced magic runes.


    With his current strength, even without awakening his fixed magic runes, Luca could handle most Purple-Gold level professionals.


    If he activated Frostbornor Undead Coffinalong with his magic rune amplifying skills.


    He could even stand a good chance of defeating a full-power Purple-Gold level professional.


    However, dealing with a Diamond-level professional was still a bit out of reach.


    Professionals at that level had too many abilities, and he''d still need to be careful if he encountered one.


    Once he hit Level 40 and reached tinum Grade.


    He figured that wouldn''t be an issue anymore.


    Lost in thought, he saw a carriage approaching from the distance.


    Before it even stopped.


    Ben poked his head out of the window, waving eagerly and shouting, "Master Luca! Long time no see!"


    It hadn''t actually been long¡ªjust a few days.


    This guy was still bursting with energy.


    Once the carriage halted, Ada stepped out.


    Dressed in a pristine white cleric''s robe, her curvy figure andposed elegance turned several heads.


    Luca didn''t bother with small talk. He handed her a storage ring he''d prepared earlier, getting straight to the point. "There are some gear and items in here. Miss Ada, could you give me an estimate of their worth?"


    Ada was about to greet him but simply nodded at his directness.


    She took the storage ring and inspected the equipment and items inside.


    Her expression shifted from surprise to shock.


    "These¡­ did you acquire all of this recently?" she asked, astonished.


    Her reaction was understandable; Luca had really surprised her.


    Though she''d had some expectations.


    Actually,seeing five or six Gold Grade items and over a dozen Silver-grade items left her floored.


    Even for top guilds backed by big corporations, having a single piece of Gold Grade equipment was rare.


    But Luca had casually handed over five or six pieces. Not even those elites could pull that off.


    How on earth did he manage it?


    "Miss Ada?" Luca frowned, giving her a subtle nudge.


    Ada snapped out of her shock, quickly apologizing, "Sorry, I got a little carried away there. Snowfall Guild will buy all of this equipment!"


    "Given the 30% market premium, the estimated value for this gear is around 160 million. The previous deposit is not included in this, but because the transaction amount is sorge, we''ll need a couple of days to transfer the funds¡ªtwo days at most."


    She added, with a hint of anxiety, "If there''s anything unsatisfactory about the arrangement, Mr. Luca, we can certainly discuss it¡­"


    As she finished speaking, Ada watched Luca nervously.


    It was obvious that Snowfall Guild would make a massive profit with this deal.


    Easily turning over a billion in resale alone.


    But for Ada, the primary concern wasn''t just the profit but Luca''s stance.


    She''de to realize that this young man''s potential was exceptional.


    Hewell beyond that of a typical elite yer.


    If they could establish a stable partnership with him.


    The SnowfallGuild''s future benefits would far surpass any immediate gains from this transaction.


    This guy really was full of surprises!


    "Pleasure doing business." Luca, however, didn''t dwell on it and epted without hesitation.


    The value of this gear wasn''t a big deal to him.


    If he had the time to haggle here, he''d rather spend it meditating and enhancing his strength.


    Ada''s promptness with payment was all he needed.


    Ada, on the other hand, was taken aback.


    She had anticipated some bargaining and was prepared to offer up to a 50% premium.


    But Luca didn''t even try to negotiate; he just agreed straight away.


    This left her momentarily bewildered.


    Was this guy¡­ not interested in money?


    Meanwhile, Ben didn''t care much about the transaction.


    Seeing it wrapped up, he eagerly asked, "Luca, man, what level are you at now?"


    Luca had hidden his level, so unless he engaged inbat, other yers couldn''t detect it.


    He answered casually, "Just hit 35. Been cking a bittely¡­"


    Hearing this, Ben''s eyes went wide, his voice pitched higher with shock. "Level 35?!"


    Thinking he must''ve misheard, he asked Luca to confirm.


    When Luca nodded, Ben was stunned.


    He''d poured his heart into grinding¡ªying for 20 hours a day¡ªbarely managing to reach Level 23.


    Ben had thought he was finally catching up to Luca.


    Only now did he realize he was still a full dozen levels behind.


    It left himpletely deted.


    Were they even ying the same game?


    Ada was equally shocked.


    No wonder Luca had so much high-level gear.


    He was already at Gold Grade!


    Practically a full version ahead of regr yers.


    Unbelievable.


    Luca didn''t pay much attention to their reactions.


    He waved a hand dismissively. "Just send the payment to the usual ount. I''ve got other things to handle, so I''ll be heading out."


    Ben had wanted to ask how Luca leveled up so fast.


    But seeing that Luca wasn''t interested in chatting further, he held back.


    As Luca''s carriage disappeared down the street.


    Ada''s expression turned serious. "Mr. Luca''s potential is even greater than we thought. He''s definitely a top-ten yer in Eternal Game, and we need to secure a good rtionship with him, no matter what it takes."


    Ben was baffled. "Is that really necessary?


    "Luca''s impressive, sure, but he''s just a yer. Do we really need to go all out to win him over?"


    While he admired Luca''s skills, it was just a game, after all.


    No matter how skilled someone was, so what?


    Ada shook her head, offering no exnation.


    A couple of days ago, her father had specifically pulled her aside, urging her to increase her influence in Eternal Gameas quickly as possible.


    She has to go to any lengths to form alliances with top yers.


    At first, Ada hadn''t understood why.


    Untilst night.


    She''d noticed something unusual happening to herself¡­

 Capítulo 117: Chapter 117: The Bunny Girl at the Moonlit Tavern! New Moves by the Mora Family!

    After getting into the carriage, Luca didn''t head straight to the abandoned chapel in the Outer District.


    Instead, he set course for a tavern in the Noble District.


    The Nightmare Cult''s followers were scattered throughout the Clinton Empire.


    In Southwind City, the capital of the Southern Territory, they naturally had more than just one base.


    Luca''s destination this time, Moonlit Tavern, was one of their hidden strongholds.


    The carriage rolled through the streets, passing by the Mages'' Association along the way.


    Luca suddenly remembered an unfinished task he''d epted earlier but hadn''t had the time toplete.


    He asked the driver to stop briefly so he could step inside the Association.


    To Luca''s surprise, when he spoke to the receptionist.


    She informed him that his taskpletion rate was still one hundred percent.


    After a few questions.


    He learned that it was none other than Floren Koch, the Association''s president, who had cleared the task on his behalf.


    Evidently, word had spread that his mentor was none other than Lucia Elizabeth.


    "Guess it really does pay to have connections," Luca mused to himself.


    If it had been an ordinary yer, they''d be lucky if the Mages'' Association didn''t cklist them.


    Let alone clear their record.


    With the task matter settled, Luca got back into the carriage.


    Soon enough, he arrived at Moonlit Tavern in the Noble District.


    This upscale establishment was frequented by patrons in luxurious attire, carrying themselves with a refined air that set them apart from the rough adventurers found in the city''s seedier locales.


    He pushed open the ss doors and stepped inside.


    Soft, golden light bathed the spotless floors, reflecting a faint glow, and the leather booths and tables were arranged with polished precision. Servers and bunny girls, carrying trays, wove smoothly among the guests.


    A gentle violin melody drifted through the air, blending with the subtle aromas of fine spirits and the refreshing scent of invigorating herbs.


    Compared to the cramped, noisy taverns of the Outer District¡ªoverwhelmed with the smells of booze, sweat, and unwashed feet¡ªthis ce felt like an entirely different world.


    Though Luca could appreciate the high-end ambiance, he realized he still preferred the lively chaos of a crowded tavern.


    Upon entering, a bunny girl with a lovely face approached him with a warm smile.


    "Good evening, sir. Can I get you something?"


    "A booth and a vodka on the rocks," Luca replied casually, his gaze sweeping the room. He noticed a number of people watching him discreetly.


    His expression didn''t change; he acted as if he hadn''t noticed them at all.


    "Of course, sir. Please follow me," the bunny girl replied with a smile, leading Luca through the tavern''s passageways to a secluded booth. She then turned and walked to the bar to fetch his drink.


    Watching her graceful figure sway as she left.


    Luca''s gaze lingered briefly on her soft, twitching bunny ears and the small tail swaying at her back.


    It wasn''t that he had any particr interest.


    But he could tell her bunny ears and tail were real.


    On the Eternal Continent, humans weren''t the only intelligent race.


    Elves, orcs, goblins, and giants all existed, though they were rarer within the Clinton Empire. If one traveled to other nations, they''d see a greater variety of intelligent species in this world.


    In a previous life, while on a mission, Luca had visited the Sea God Nation in the Chaotic Star Sea.


    There, he encountered a race that left asting impression.


    What made them unforgettable was the sheer variety¡ªhumans with fish tails as well as fish-headed beings with human bodies, something that left a deep mark on the younger Luca¡­


    "Your vodka, sir." The bunny girl returned, her hips swaying.


    She ced the ss of vodka with ice in front of him, a slice of lemon adorning the rim.


    Leaning close, her eyes gleamed as she asked, "Does the gentleman require any other services? Our tavern is here to fulfill any need."


    As she spoke, she purposefully arched her chest forward, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of pale, inviting curves.


    A typical guest might''ve beenpletely enchanted by now.


    Caught in her carefully crafted charm trap, they''d readily part with their coin, unable to resist.


    But Luca, seasoned as he was, wasn''t so easily swayed.


    With a flick of his fingers, he pulled out a gold coin from his storage ring and sent it flying.


    Ding!


    The coin made a sharp sound as it hit its mark.


    Nestling in the bunny girl''s cleavage.


    "Oh, you charmer!" she teased with a yful pout, her face lighting up with a grin as she leaned even closer, pressing herself lightly against him, letting him feel her warmth through the small gap.


    While the tavern''s girls didn''t offer themselves in that way, if they found a guest to their liking¡­


    Especially one as young, handsome, and generous as Luca, they weren''t entirely averse to a little more.


    But Luca wasn''t fazed; he was used to this. He got straight to the point: "Where''s Tia?"


    At the mention of this name, the bunny girl''s smile froze.


    Her eyes darted over him, searching.


    Her forced smile barely masking her shock. "Sir¡­ I''m not sure I know who you''re referring to¡­"


    As one of the Nightmare Cult''s high elders, Tia was Clinton''s most wanted criminal.


    Especially after the incident at Riverfall City, countless people across the Southern Territory were hunting for her.


    If word got out about Tia''s whereabouts, this ce would be surrounded within an hour.


    The young man took a sip of his drink, calmly introducing himself, "I''m Luca."


    The bunny girl''s eyes widened, and she shot to her feet.


    "L-Lord¡­ Lord!" she stammered.


    Utterly taken aback, her voice too loud for discretion.


    Several patrons in the tavern turned their heads, ncing over with peculiar expressions.


    These young folks sure yed interesting games nowadays.


    The members of The Nightmare Cult, however, froze momentarily, then snapped their gazes to Luca, eyes burning with fervent admiration.


    The Lord himself had arrived?!


    Realizing her slip, the bunny girl quickly mped a hand over her mouth.


    Shetry to regain herposure. She settled back down beside Luca, whispering with barely contained excitement, "I''m sorry¡­ It''s just¡­ my first time meeting you, Lord, and I couldn''t help myself¡­"


    Her reaction was understandable. Under Tia''s influence and brainwashing, all members of The Nightmare Cult knew that, aside from Jormungandr, their Dreamweaver deity, there was another supreme figure¡ªa Lord who also wielded Dreamweaving powers.


    And this Lord, even revered by Jormungandr himself, was a being of unparalleled greatness.


    To the cultists of The Nightmare Cult, Luca was now akin to a creator.


    "Take me to her." Luca''s voice was steady as he downed the vodka, the fiery liquid sliding down his throat without so much as a flicker of expression. Strong spirits like this had long been little more than refreshments to him in his previous life.


    "Lady Tia is on the second floor. I''ll take you to her immediately," the bunny girl whispered, her face alight with excitement.


    The thought of being the one to personally escort the Lord, even having had such close contact, filled her with a sense of triumph.


    She''d definitely be boasting about this with those other wenchester tonight!


    Luca rose and, following her lead, made his way past the guards stationed by the staircase, ascending to the second floor of Moonlit Tavern.


    The d¨¦cor on the second floor was even more luxurious than below. Crystal chandeliers emitted a warm, golden glow, casting opulence throughout. Shelves lined the walls, disying an impressive array of fine liquors.


    The spacious floor held only a few custom-made sofas scattered across the center, with a four-legged phonograph in one corner, a golden petal-like speaker releasing a gentle melody.


    But it wasn''t vinyl records ying; instead, the music came from a phonograph gemstone.


    The second floor felt more like a private club than a tavern.


    Luca''s eyes shifted to the bar area, where a woman in a sleek ck gown was mixing drinks. Her striking purple hair was tied back, revealing her refined features and baster neck.


    Her usual snake-shaped earrings had been swapped for sapphire drop earrings, gleaming under the crystal lights.


    Sensing someone''s approach, she didn''t look up, merely saying in a cool tone, "I''ve made it clear, no one is allowed on the second floor without my permission."


    The bunny girl seemed about to exin something.


    But Luca waved her off, signaling her to leave.


    With a reluctant nce, she finally departed.


    Luca then walked slowly toward the bar.


    Watching Tia as she carefully mixed a cocktail.


    He studied her.


    Noting a certain change in her appearance.


    She seemed a bit less sultry and more refined, exuding a mature and intellectual aura.


    Perhaps it had something to do with her sister, Mira.


    Sensing Luca''s unwavering gaze, Tia''s brow furrowed even more.


    Her expression growing cold.


    She paused in her movements, her voice icy. "You''d better give me a reason not to¡­"


    But she stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening in shock.


    As she recognized Luca''s familiar smirk.


    Realizing her mistake, Tia dropped to one knee, flustered. "I apologize, my Lord¡­ I didn''t realize it was you¡­"


    "How''s the investigation I assigned to you?" Luca asked nonchntly, picking up the cocktail she''d mixed and taking a sip. The taste was bold and strong, just to his liking.


    Tia immediately responded, "It''s still ongoing, but we''ve uncovered some things.


    "Our people discovered that the Mora family has been making quite a few moves recently.


    "They''ve summoned all their family members back and bought arge number of ves in the Outer District."


    Luca set down his ss, frowning. "What''s the purpose of suddenly buying so many ves?"


    The Clinton Empire didn''t prohibit ve trade, and Southwind City was no exception.


    However, established families usually had a controlled, fixed number of ves who were specifically trained, so it was rare to see any drastic increases.


    For the Mora family to suddenly purchase such arge number of ves¡ªwell, Luca wasn''t buying the idea that there was no hidden agenda.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Tia continued, "It seems they''re using them asbor. Besides purchasing ves, they''ve also bought arge meat processing nt in the Outer District, and the ves are being sent there.


    "But there''s something strange about this factory. I specifically sent people to investigate, but none of them came back.


    "It''s as if anyone who enters the factory¡­ simply disappears into thin air."

 Capítulo 130: Chapter 130: Finn Arrives! Silencing Witnesses! A Transcendent Level Descends!

    A terrifying aura crashed down upon thend, as if the entire world had been overtaken by the blood-red giant hand.


    No one had expected such a sudden shift, and there was no time to react.


    The blood-colored hand mmed directly into the area upied by the Mora family.


    Boom!


    A deafening explosion echoed through the meat factory.


    Dust and debris erupted, while the very mountains trembled under the terrifying force.


    When the dust finally settled, all that remained where the Mora family had stood was a massive handprint, deeply embedded in the ground.


    The hundreds of Mora family members were gone, leaving nothing but a grim, muddy stain.


    They''d all been obliterated in a single blow.


    It was then that everyone noticed a figure in a blood-red robe hovering silently in the sky.


    With his arms crossed, he floated in midair, a pair of crimson wings ring out from his back.


    He wore a grotesque mask, and his entire body radiated an intense and frightening aura.


    It was unmistakably a Superss master!


    "The¡­ the Phillips family''s Hand of Heaven!" Bronte recognized the skill''s origin, his face turning deathly pale.


    At the mention of this family name, shock spread across everyone''s faces.


    For this was the family of Duke Lyon!


    But why had they suddenlye to Southwind City?!


    Orf raised his gaze, his gray brows knitted tightly together as he looked toward the distant sky.


    He sighed. "Sir Finn, I believe you owe us an exnation."


    The crowd followed Orf''s gaze, yet saw nothing out of the ordinary.


    Luca''s eyes narrowed as a sh of purple flickered in them, and then his pupils contracted sharply.


    Among the clouds, a massive, luxurious flying vessel had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.


    It spanned thousands of meters, its surface covered in countless glowing runes that radiated a dazzling light.


    Standing on its deck was a young man, dressed in crimson noble attire, his handsome face framed by the wind.


    His gaze was fixed on them. Hearing Orf''s words, he raised his hand slightly, and the vessel emerged from its cloaked state, drawing gasps from the crowd.


    Finn Phillips! Why had hee here?!


    Fratis''s face went pale as she pressed her lips together tightly, seeming to anticipate the worst.


    "What kind of exnation are you asking for, Headmaster Orf?" Finn Phillips replied with a light chuckle, unfazed by Orf''s Superss status.


    His gaze dropped, voice cold. "The Mora family colluded with a cult, attempting to sacrifice tens of thousands of innocent people. I happened to pass by, so I took care of them.


    "If anything, you all should be thanking me, don''t you think?"


    Bronte''s face darkened, anger shing in his eyes. "Finn, as the duke''s son, don''t you think that''s a bit shameless?"


    Though notmon knowledge, it was well-known among those in power that the Mora family served Finn.


    They''d likely been observing for quite a while.


    Only acting at the crucial moment to silence witnesses.


    And now, he dared to make such a brazen statement?


    Luca didn''t know much about the strength of Fratis''s fianc¨¦.


    But he was definitely getting a sense of his shamelessness.


    Noticing the rising discontent around him.


    Finn remainedpletely unbothered.


    He said calmly, "If you''re unhappy, you''re wee to report it to Dawn City. Someone there will handle it. But here, you have no right to question me."


    Even in the presence of several Superss fighters, he seemed entirely dismissive, as if no one here was worth his attention. This arrogance, ignoring everyone around him, made even the typically calm Orf frown.


    This guy was outrageously arrogant!


    The Mora family''s blood sacrifice ritual still had many secrets buried beneath the surface. Yet, before they had a chance to investigate, Finn had wiped them all out.


    Now, who knew what dangers might linger or how many more would die as a result?


    Finn''s conduct and attitude were nothing short of infuriating!


    But at the thought of who he was, many found themselves biting back their words.


    Duke Lyon, Finn''s father, was one of the most powerful figures in the Clinton Empire.


    It wasn''t just ordinary people like them¡ªeven Bronte had to bow down before such overwhelming power.


    In the Eternal Continent, strength was everything;ws and rules were practically meaningless.


    As long as your power was unmatched, no one could challenge you, even if they knew you were behind everything. That was the Eternal Continent''s harsh reality¡ªthew of the jungle.


    "I don''t need your reminder! I''ll be reporting this to Dawn City myself, and His Majesty will personally handle it! Let''s see if you''re still so smug then!" Bronte snapped, no longer bothering to mask his contempt.


    Sure, he couldn''t take action against Finn now. Just the Sky-level Superss guard beside him would be more than difficult to deal with, and handling this matter wasn''t even within their authority.


    But that didn''t mean Finn was untouchable here. Sooner orter, someone would investigate Finn''s ties to the Mora family, and if anything suspicious was uncovered, not even Duke Lyon could protect him!


    "I''ll be looking forward to it," Finn said, narrowing his eyes slightly, but showing not the slightest hint of concern.


    He waved his hand and, apanied by the masked Superss figure, returned to the flying vessel.


    Bronte snorted, saying nothing more, and made his way toward the meat factory.


    At this point, the meat factory had beenpletely reduced to rubble. Of the tens of thousands of ves within the Blood Sacrifice Array, more than half had perished, while the survivors, pale-faced, had much of their life force drained.


    Fortunately, they hadn''t sustained irreparable harm and could recover with some care and rest.


    Notably, Ian was still alive.


    Being thrown into the Blood Sacrifice Array earlier had ironically saved him, allowing him to avoid the worst of the attack.


    Bronte felt a bit relieved at this small constion.


    Ian, as a key yer within the Mora family, could still provide valuable information.


    As Bronte considered this, his gaze shifted to something hovering above the Blood Sacrifice Array¡ªa ck box, emanating a sinister dark glow.


    The box was now stained with ayer of blood at the edges, giving it an even more malevolent appearance.


    Even with his vast knowledge, Bronte couldn''t identify the origin of this dark artifact. He turned back to Orf and asked, "Dean, does this look familiar to you?"


    "It does look familiar¡­" Orf frowned, scrutinizing the box. After a moment, his face changed suddenly. "This¡­ could it be the Demon Box?"


    Luca gave a slight nod.


    Itapparently reaching the same conclusion.


    "The Demon Box?" Bronte''s face paled, and he drew in a sharp breath. "Pandora''s Demon Box? How has this surfaced now?"


    With their status and experience, they understood well the seven King-level monsters from the Abyssal Demon Realm and the unspeakable horrors they had unleashed on the Eternal Continent.


    Pandora was a notorious name among the Seven Demon Lords. Legend had it that she wielded a ck box, storing the very essence of sin and endless desires, enough to corrupt the heart of any mortal.


    Bronte never imagined he''d one day encounter such an infamous relic in his own territory, Southwind City.


    "It''s been countless years since the Demon Boxst appeared. Are you sure you''re not mistaken?" Medel muttered, his skin prickling with dread, doubting Orf''s assessment.


    If the Demon Box had indeed resurfaced, it meant the Witch of Desire was already here.


    And if that were true, they were in far more trouble than they''d anticipated.


    Orf rolled his eyes and said, "I''ve told you, old fool, to read more often. Just look at the carvings on the box''s four sides¡ªit''s unmistakably the Demon Box."


    "The historical records describe the Witch of Desire''s Demon Box as engraved with four symbols, each representing one of her powers: Desire, Sin''s Eye, Immortality, and Duality¡ªall matching the markings on this box."


    "It''s hard to understand how it ended up here¡­"


    Bronte shook his head, saying, "This is beyond our capacity to handle. I''ll arrange to have it sent to Dawn City and let the royal authorities deal with it."


    Orf and Medel nodded in agreement.


    The origins of the ck box were too powerful, and leaving it in Southwind City could unleash unknown dangers.


    Sending it to Dawn City was the safest course of action.


    The group then began discussing how to safely transport the box.


    But then, their faces suddenly darkened.


    Luca noticed it, too¡ªthe light around them was dimming rapidly.


    Above them, dark clouds gathered, and the once-brilliant sun was vanishing at a visible rate.


    An eclipse?


    "What¡­?" Luca''s eyes widened as he turned toward the direction of the Blood Sacrifice Array.


    Purple mist was rising from where Harvis and the others had perished.


    Flowing steadily into the ck box hovering above the Blood Sacrifice Array.


    As the mist poured in, the box''s dark glow deepened.


    Tendrils of ck energy,den with endless desire, seeped from the box.


    Nearby soldiers working among the factory ruins suddenly shuddered, their eyes bulging as if possessed.


    Dark patterns, spreading visibly fast, began crawling across their skin.


    "Ahhh!!" They cried out in agony as the ck patterns raced up to their foreheads, forming a twisted tree-shaped mark.


    If one looked closely, they''d see that this symbol was identical to the golden tree etched onto the Demon Box itself!


    And then, they saw it¡ªthe Demon Box was trembling slightly, as though preparing to open.


    "No¡­ the Demon Box is about to open!" Everyone''s faces went pale. They didn''t fully understand what was happening, but it was undoubtedly something terrible.


    "Let''s go!" Orf wasted no time, grabbing Luca and preparing to make a swift exit.


    But then, an overpowering pressure suddenly descended upon them.


    For a brief moment, all of Southwind City seemed to freeze.


    Everyone felt their breath catch in their throats.


    This was¡­ Transcendent level power!

 Capítulo 115: Chapter 115: 1 vs. 36! A Killing Machine! Overwhelming Domination!

    "Call the academy''s medical team; we''re heading to the arena," Luca said to Melissa before turning and leading the way out of the ssroom.


    "Is this for himself?" Many people couldn''t help butugh out loud.


    He actually called for the medical team! Did this guy really think he could win?


    Thirty-six against one, and with each one of them using their skills, he would surely end up severely injured; they couldn''t even fathom the possibility of him winning!


    Melissa and the others followed closely behind, their faces filled with worry, as they had the same thoughts.


    Fred sighed, "You''re being too impulsive. With your strength, just a casual disy would be enough to put them in their ce. Now that you''ve gotten yourself into this situation, if you¡­ sigh¡­"


    Though he didn''t finish his sentence, everyone understood what Fred meant.


    If Luca were to get injured during the practical training at the hands of these students, there was no way he could continue at Red Maple Academy.


    Thinking about this, even Fratis showed concern on her face.


    This was something she absolutely did not want to see, especially since Luca was her only friend at Red Maple Academy.


    She said, "What if I go talk to Principal Orf and plead for you¡­"


    Luca could naturally see their worries and smiled to reassure them, "You don''t need to worry. If I dared to say that, then I must be confident in dealing with them."


    In the past, while training the "Heavenly Guard," the soldiers had been far more troublesome than these boys and girls.


    He had often used such tactics back then and was quite adept at it.


    Once these guys realized the gap in their abilities, they would fall in line, saving a lot of trouble and time.


    Melissa and the others exchanged nces, ultimately letting out a sigh.


    They just hoped that Luca truly had a hidden card up his sleeve.


    After that, Luca led the thirty-six students from ss One to the arena.


    The venue was spacious and reinforced with arrays, making it suitable for practical training since it wouldn''t be easily damaged by anything short of high-level magic.


    Themotion quickly attracted the attention of many instructors and students, who turned to watch.


    Everyone was stunned when they learned that Luca was actually going to take on all thirty-six students by himself.


    "Is this for real? One against thirty-six? And he''s not using skills or weapons!" An instructor swallowed hard, unsure whether to admire Luca''s boldness or deem him insane.


    Even high-level practitioners couldn''t manage something like this!


    The news spread rapidly, and it wasn''t long before the stands were filled with spectators eager to watch the spectacle.


    At that moment, Melissa had also managed to gather the academy''s medical team, who were standing by nearby to prevent any idents.


    Luca stood straight at the center of the arena, looking at the group of eager young men and women before him.


    He calmly said, "A friendly reminder: you''d better give it your all from the start, or don''t me me for not giving you a chance."


    Hearing Luca''s words, Rogge, with his bow and arrow in hand, scoffed, "You don''t need to worry about us; just take care of yourself!


    "After all, if we end up beating you to a pulp, you''ll be theughingstock!"


    The other studentsughed in agreement.


    No matter what, they were determined to snag those easy credits!


    Luca''s expression remained unchanged; he merely nodded slightly and said, "If that''s the case, then let''s begin."


    Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling array of colorful lights erupted from the students.


    The weakest among them were at the Bronze Grade, with a few even reaching Silver Grade.


    Though they were dissatisfied with Luca''s arrogance, they didn''t underestimate his strength.


    After all, someone who had cleared the 20th level of the trials was not to be taken lightly, no matter how bad he might seem.


    In the next moment, a storm of ice arrows, fire serpents, vines, and toxic mist surged toward Luca.


    The fierce wind blew across the grass, creating ripples like waves, and the runes on the ground began to glow as defensive arrays activated.


    Luca''s clothes fluttered in the breeze, yet his expression didn''t change in the slightest. He chuckled softly and said, "Today, the first lesson I''ll teach you is¡­"


    At the instant his voice fell, Luca pushed off the ground, and his figure vanished like a shadow.


    "Such speed!" Everyone present widened their eyes in disbelief. It was hard to imagine that a mid-tier Demonic Rune Mage could be this fast without using skills or magic runes!


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!!"


    All the attacks missed their target, crashing into the empty space of the arena and creating powerful shockwaves!


    The students cheered, thinking they had dealt with Luca.


    But the instructors watching from the stands knew that these youngsters were celebrating too soon.


    Rogge scanned the surroundings warily.


    He realized that while Luca had dodged the attacks, the chaos had obscured his vision, and he couldn''t see where Luca had gone.


    At that moment, a clear voice rang out behind him, causing Rogge''s eyes to widen in shock.


    Luca stood behind Rogge, his long hand gripping Rogge''s neck, slowly whispering the words that followed.


    He said calmly, "Never underestimate your opponent, because in battle, you don''t get a chance to make mistakes!"


    In that instant, Rogge felt his breath catch, and cold sweat began to pour down his forehead!


    A sense of impending doom enveloped Rogge''s heart.


    It was too fast¡ªso fast that he didn''t even realize when Luca had appeared beside him.


    Rogge gritted his teeth and snapped back to reality, swinging his longbow in an attempt to counterattack.


    However, at that moment, Luca''s palm struck the back of his neck.


    Rogge felt darkness descend before his eyes; he didn''t even have time to fight back before losing the ability to resist.


    As he fainted, hisst thought wasn''t one of anger.


    Instead, it was a recollection of Luca''s earlier words:


    "In battle, you don''t get a chance to make mistakes!"


    The next moment, the strongest of the new students, Rogge, copsed unconscious.


    By the time the others reacted, Luca had already vanished from sight.


    His figure began to dart swiftly among the thirty-six students like a phantom.


    With each strike of his palm, another student fell limp to the ground.


    The others tried to counterattack, but they couldn''t even locate Luca''s shadow, and a few of them identally injured their ssmates.


    In just a few minutes, six or seven students were already down.


    At this moment, the audience in the stands was left in shock, mouths agape.


    No one expected that amidst so many attacks, Luca not only remained unharmed but was able to take down the students one by one.


    "This guy''s strength is terrifying!" one instructor swallowed hard.


    He even felt that if he were out there, his situation wouldn''t be much better than that of these students.


    Fred suddenly sighed beside him, saying, "No wonder I felt back in Southwind City that this kid''sbat skills were ruthless and didn''t seem like something taught in the academy. Now it''s clear; this is pure killing technique!"


    Killing technique?!


    At this remark, all the instructors, including Melissa, changed their expressions.


    "How could he have suchbat skills?" Melissa''s eyes showed shock.


    Suchbat techniques were typically mastered only by veterans who had fought fiercely on the battlefield for decades.


    How could someone as young as Luca possess such skills?


    Fred shook his head. "I''m not sure, but there''s no mistaking it; this kid is practically radiating killing intent.


    "It''s not that he has a desire to kill, but rather that he instinctively aims to take lives.


    "Look closely at where he targets."


    Thanks to Fred''s reminder, the others finally noticed that when Luca''s hand struck the students'' necks, his speed would suddenly decrease significantly.


    Realizing this, the experienced instructors understood immediately¡ªhe was holding back!


    If he didn''t hold back, even a palm strike could easily take these students'' lives!


    Thinking about this sent chills down their spines.


    In other words, this young man instinctively wanted to kill¡ªit had nearly be second nature!


    "Are we going to end this early?" Melissa said, her face filled with concern. She was worried not about Luca getting hurt, but about the chaos he might cause.


    "Don''t worry; if he can hold back, it means he knows how to control himself. There''s nothing to be concerned about," reassured an elderly man with sses, the vice-principal, Kruse, who hadn''t been seen for several days.


    Watching Luca swiftly maneuver through the students, he remarked, "With hisbat experience, calling him a killing machine wouldn''t be an exaggeration. If thrown onto a battlefield, he''d probably make a name for himself in less than two years. Our academy has truly struck gold this time!"


    This young man was not only exceptionally talented but also frighteningly experienced in realbat¡ªhe was practically a monster with no weaknesses!


    Listening to their discussions, Fratis looked at the figure on the field, her beautiful eyes revealing a hint of admiration.


    Although she couldn''t understand what they were saying, she felt that Luca was amazing¡ªso many people couldn''t even touch him!


    Meanwhile, on the field, Luca moved like a ghost.


    At times he was as quick as lightning, and at others, as light as a feather.


    Those skills that seemed certain to hit him always fell just short, missing him by a hair''s breadth.


    He didn''t waste any extra movements; he merely sidestepped, closed the distance, and with a swift chop of his hand, another student was knocked unconscious.


    In just a matter of minutes, the students on the field had be disorganized and chaotic.


    Out of the original thirty-plus students, only a handful remained standing, and most of them were girls.


    Those left were mostly Kassna and a few supporters of Luca.


    "Luca is just too cool!" Kassna''s eyes sparkled with admiration, nearly swooning on the spot.


    As expected, the man she had her eye on was exceptional!


    Luca''s mouth twitched slightly as he swiftly knocked out the few starry-eyed admirers.


    Then he turned his attention to thest remaining student, Rainer Howard.


    Feeling that piercing gaze, Rainer instinctively swallowed hard, quickly throwing down his sword and raising his hands in surrender. "I give up! I give up!"


    Although he knew Luca was strong, Rainer never expected him to be this powerful!


    Thirty-something low-tier and mid-tier practitioners had all been taken down in just ten minutes!


    What was even more terrifying was that he hadn''t even used any magic runes! What''s the point of fighting?


    "In battle, you don''t get a chance to surrender; monsters won''t spare you just because you give up," Luca said as he walked over to Rainer, delivering a swift chop to the side of his neck.


    Rainer''s vision went dark as he promptly lost consciousness.


    At this point, the entire arena was left with only Luca standing.


    1 VS 36!


    Luca emerged victorious!

 Capítulo 116: Chapter 116: These Students Are Hopeless! Billionaire! At Any Cost!

    In the stands.


    The audience watched the scene on the field, littered with unconscious students.


    No one knew quite what to say.


    "Man, he really didn''t hold back. He knocked out over thirty students?"


    Luca looked around the stadium, surveying the fallen students. "These students are hopeless," he said. "They talk big, but there''s not a single one here who can actually fight."


    Hearing this, Fred''s mouth twitched. "Do you think they''re all just like you? And hey, you''ve got some nerve! If even one of them got seriously hurt, you''d be in serious trouble."


    Only now did Luca seem to register what he''d done.


    These were just students, not soldiers under hismand.


    Maybe he''d gone a little too hard on them.


    But apologizing? Not a chance. Shrugging, he said, "How is that my fault? If they''d just followed instructions, I wouldn''t have needed to make a move. If anything, they''re just too weak."


    Melissa shot him a sharp look, sighing. "Let''s call it a day. But for future sses, don''t use methods like this again."


    Sending all the students to the medical bay on the first day.


    Such a thing hadn''t happened in all the years Red Maple Academy had been around.


    Fortunately, the students were fine and regained consciousness quickly.


    But now, whenever they saw Luca, they visibly shivered.


    Especially Rogge and Rainer.


    The two young prodigies'' confidence had taken a massive hit.


    This failure had taught them a hard truth.


    There''s a vast difference between a genius and a top-tier genius.


    Bigger than the gap between people and mere bugs¡­


    After this incident, it was clear that Luca wouldn''t be continuing hisbat ss today.


    Melissa sent all the students back to rest.


    Meanwhile, Luca went off to prepare for tomorrow''s ss.


    He seemed unbothered by the events of the day.


    Ada and Ben had already arrived in Southwind City.


    So now he could use this time toplete his transaction.


    And he''d check to see if The Nightmare Cult had anything new to report.


    With a multitude ofplex looks from the other instructors, Luca walked off as if nothing had happened...


    "I''ve got a feeling this guy''s just going to keep stirring up trouble," Fred muttered, scratching his bald head.


    Next to him, Melissa could only sigh, feeling a pang of regret. If she''d known earlier, she wouldn''t have agreed so readily with Principal Orf.


    Luca was clearly a troublemaker. Who knew how many more headaches he''d cause...


    Just as he was about to leave the academy.


    Luca heard Fratis calling his name from behind.


    "Luca, let''s go shopping together!" she said.


    Turning around, he saw the hopeful look on her face.


    Luca shrugged, "Princess, I''ve got a lot to do. I''m afraid I can''t join you."


    Fratis looked a bit disappointed but didn''t push further.


    She just asked him to find time to talk to her sometime.


    She really enjoyed his stories.


    Watching her figure retreat with a hint of disappointment.


    Luca shook his head.


    Though Fratis was adorable, with a stunning figure.


    The real world was now swarming with monsters, and he had no time for romance.


    Exiting the Red Maple Academy campus.


    Luca opened his friends list and found Ada''s profile.


    She happened to be online.


    Luca sent her a message.


    [Luca:"Have you guys reached Southwind City? I happen to have some free time now."]


    He quickly received a reply.


    [Ada:"We just arrived. We''re heading to the Outer District now. Where are you?"]


    They were pretty fast.


    Luca shared his location.


    Ada replied that they''d be there soon.


    While waiting, Luca took a look at his current status panel.


    [Name:Luca (Gold Grade)]


    [Level:Lv35]


    [Talent:The Person Favored (SSS-level)]


    [Primary Profession:Demonic Rune Mage]


    [Secondary Professions:Witch Doctor, Dreamweaver]


    [Health Points:21,300]


    [Mana Points:43,400]


    [Attack:7,309¨C7,647]


    [Attributes:Strength 1,457, Spirit 3,616, Stamina 1,233, Agility 721]


    [Special:Charm 100, Perception 100, Aptitude 120 (Transcendent), Luck 100]


    [Titles:Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm, Peerless Appearance, Danger Perception, The Son of Luck]


    [Magic Runes]:Frostborn (Fixed), Heavenly Star Crystal Tree (Fixed), Undead Coffin (Fixed), Shadow Judgment(Advanced), Daylight Wind Shadows(Advanced)¡­]


    [Skills:Magic Rune Drawing Lv10, Potion Refinement Lv10, Hand of the Witch Doctor Lv10, Dreamweaving Lv5¡­]


    ¡­


    After reaching Level 35, besides an increase in his stats.


    The biggest change was his newly acquired advanced magic runes.


    With his current strength, even without awakening his fixed magic runes, Luca could handle most Purple-Gold level professionals.


    If he activated Frostbornor Undead Coffinalong with his magic rune amplifying skills.


    He could even stand a good chance of defeating a full-power Purple-Gold level professional.


    However, dealing with a Diamond-level professional was still a bit out of reach.


    Professionals at that level had too many abilities, and he''d still need to be careful if he encountered one.


    Once he hit Level 40 and reached tinum Grade.


    He figured that wouldn''t be an issue anymore.


    Lost in thought, he saw a carriage approaching from the distance.


    Before it even stopped.


    Ben poked his head out of the window, waving eagerly and shouting, "Master Luca! Long time no see!"


    It hadn''t actually been long¡ªjust a few days.


    This guy was still bursting with energy.


    Once the carriage halted, Ada stepped out.


    Dressed in a pristine white cleric''s robe, her curvy figure andposed elegance turned several heads.


    Luca didn''t bother with small talk. He handed her a storage ring he''d prepared earlier, getting straight to the point. "There are some gear and items in here. Miss Ada, could you give me an estimate of their worth?"


    Ada was about to greet him but simply nodded at his directness.


    She took the storage ring and inspected the equipment and items inside.


    Her expression shifted from surprise to shock.


    "These¡­ did you acquire all of this recently?" she asked, astonished.


    Her reaction was understandable; Luca had really surprised her.


    Though she''d had some expectations.


    Actually,seeing five or six Gold Grade items and over a dozen Silver-grade items left her floored.


    Even for top guilds backed by big corporations, having a single piece of Gold Grade equipment was rare.


    But Luca had casually handed over five or six pieces. Not even those elites could pull that off.


    How on earth did he manage it?


    "Miss Ada?" Luca frowned, giving her a subtle nudge.


    Ada snapped out of her shock, quickly apologizing, "Sorry, I got a little carried away there. Snowfall Guild will buy all of this equipment!"


    "Given the 30% market premium, the estimated value for this gear is around 160 million. The previous deposit is not included in this, but because the transaction amount is sorge, we''ll need a couple of days to transfer the funds¡ªtwo days at most."


    She added, with a hint of anxiety, "If there''s anything unsatisfactory about the arrangement, Mr. Luca, we can certainly discuss it¡­"


    As she finished speaking, Ada watched Luca nervously.


    It was obvious that Snowfall Guild would make a massive profit with this deal.


    Easily turning over a billion in resale alone.


    But for Ada, the primary concern wasn''t just the profit but Luca''s stance.


    She''de to realize that this young man''s potential was exceptional.


    Hewell beyond that of a typical elite yer.


    If they could establish a stable partnership with him.


    The SnowfallGuild''s future benefits would far surpass any immediate gains from this transaction.


    This guy really was full of surprises!


    "Pleasure doing business." Luca, however, didn''t dwell on it and epted without hesitation.


    The value of this gear wasn''t a big deal to him.


    If he had the time to haggle here, he''d rather spend it meditating and enhancing his strength.


    Ada''s promptness with payment was all he needed.


    Ada, on the other hand, was taken aback.


    She had anticipated some bargaining and was prepared to offer up to a 50% premium.


    But Luca didn''t even try to negotiate; he just agreed straight away.


    This left her momentarily bewildered.


    Was this guy¡­ not interested in money?


    Meanwhile, Ben didn''t care much about the transaction.


    Seeing it wrapped up, he eagerly asked, "Luca, man, what level are you at now?"


    Luca had hidden his level, so unless he engaged inbat, other yers couldn''t detect it.


    He answered casually, "Just hit 35. Been cking a bittely¡­"


    Hearing this, Ben''s eyes went wide, his voice pitched higher with shock. "Level 35?!"


    Thinking he must''ve misheard, he asked Luca to confirm.


    When Luca nodded, Ben was stunned.


    He''d poured his heart into grinding¡ªying for 20 hours a day¡ªbarely managing to reach Level 23.


    Ben had thought he was finally catching up to Luca.


    Only now did he realize he was still a full dozen levels behind.


    It left himpletely deted.


    Were they even ying the same game?


    Ada was equally shocked.


    No wonder Luca had so much high-level gear.


    He was already at Gold Grade!


    Practically a full version ahead of regr yers.


    Unbelievable.


    Luca didn''t pay much attention to their reactions.


    He waved a hand dismissively. "Just send the payment to the usual ount. I''ve got other things to handle, so I''ll be heading out."


    Ben had wanted to ask how Luca leveled up so fast.


    But seeing that Luca wasn''t interested in chatting further, he held back.


    As Luca''s carriage disappeared down the street.


    Ada''s expression turned serious. "Mr. Luca''s potential is even greater than we thought. He''s definitely a top-ten yer in Eternal Game, and we need to secure a good rtionship with him, no matter what it takes."


    Ben was baffled. "Is that really necessary?


    "Luca''s impressive, sure, but he''s just a yer. Do we really need to go all out to win him over?"


    While he admired Luca''s skills, it was just a game, after all.


    No matter how skilled someone was, so what?


    Ada shook her head, offering no exnation.


    A couple of days ago, her father had specifically pulled her aside, urging her to increase her influence in Eternal Gameas quickly as possible.


    She has to go to any lengths to form alliances with top yers.


    At first, Ada hadn''t understood why.


    Untilst night.


    She''d noticed something unusual happening to herself¡­

 Capítulo 117: Chapter 117: The Bunny Girl at the Moonlit Tavern! New Moves by the Mora Family!

    After getting into the carriage, Luca didn''t head straight to the abandoned chapel in the Outer District.


    Instead, he set course for a tavern in the Noble District.


    The Nightmare Cult''s followers were scattered throughout the Clinton Empire.


    In Southwind City, the capital of the Southern Territory, they naturally had more than just one base.


    Luca''s destination this time, Moonlit Tavern, was one of their hidden strongholds.


    The carriage rolled through the streets, passing by the Mages'' Association along the way.


    Luca suddenly remembered an unfinished task he''d epted earlier but hadn''t had the time toplete.


    He asked the driver to stop briefly so he could step inside the Association.


    To Luca''s surprise, when he spoke to the receptionist.


    She informed him that his taskpletion rate was still one hundred percent.


    After a few questions.


    He learned that it was none other than Floren Koch, the Association''s president, who had cleared the task on his behalf.


    Evidently, word had spread that his mentor was none other than Lucia Elizabeth.


    "Guess it really does pay to have connections," Luca mused to himself.


    If it had been an ordinary yer, they''d be lucky if the Mages'' Association didn''t cklist them.


    Let alone clear their record.


    With the task matter settled, Luca got back into the carriage.


    Soon enough, he arrived at Moonlit Tavern in the Noble District.


    This upscale establishment was frequented by patrons in luxurious attire, carrying themselves with a refined air that set them apart from the rough adventurers found in the city''s seedier locales.


    He pushed open the ss doors and stepped inside.


    Soft, golden light bathed the spotless floors, reflecting a faint glow, and the leather booths and tables were arranged with polished precision. Servers and bunny girls, carrying trays, wove smoothly among the guests.


    A gentle violin melody drifted through the air, blending with the subtle aromas of fine spirits and the refreshing scent of invigorating herbs.


    Compared to the cramped, noisy taverns of the Outer District¡ªoverwhelmed with the smells of booze, sweat, and unwashed feet¡ªthis ce felt like an entirely different world.


    Though Luca could appreciate the high-end ambiance, he realized he still preferred the lively chaos of a crowded tavern.


    Upon entering, a bunny girl with a lovely face approached him with a warm smile.


    "Good evening, sir. Can I get you something?"


    "A booth and a vodka on the rocks," Luca replied casually, his gaze sweeping the room. He noticed a number of people watching him discreetly.


    His expression didn''t change; he acted as if he hadn''t noticed them at all.


    "Of course, sir. Please follow me," the bunny girl replied with a smile, leading Luca through the tavern''s passageways to a secluded booth. She then turned and walked to the bar to fetch his drink.


    Watching her graceful figure sway as she left.


    Luca''s gaze lingered briefly on her soft, twitching bunny ears and the small tail swaying at her back.


    It wasn''t that he had any particr interest.


    But he could tell her bunny ears and tail were real.


    On the Eternal Continent, humans weren''t the only intelligent race.


    Elves, orcs, goblins, and giants all existed, though they were rarer within the Clinton Empire. If one traveled to other nations, they''d see a greater variety of intelligent species in this world.


    In a previous life, while on a mission, Luca had visited the Sea God Nation in the Chaotic Star Sea.


    There, he encountered a race that left asting impression.


    What made them unforgettable was the sheer variety¡ªhumans with fish tails as well as fish-headed beings with human bodies, something that left a deep mark on the younger Luca¡­


    "Your vodka, sir." The bunny girl returned, her hips swaying.


    She ced the ss of vodka with ice in front of him, a slice of lemon adorning the rim.


    Leaning close, her eyes gleamed as she asked, "Does the gentleman require any other services? Our tavern is here to fulfill any need."


    As she spoke, she purposefully arched her chest forward, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of pale, inviting curves.


    A typical guest might''ve beenpletely enchanted by now.


    Caught in her carefully crafted charm trap, they''d readily part with their coin, unable to resist.


    But Luca, seasoned as he was, wasn''t so easily swayed.


    With a flick of his fingers, he pulled out a gold coin from his storage ring and sent it flying.


    Ding!


    The coin made a sharp sound as it hit its mark.


    Nestling in the bunny girl''s cleavage.


    "Oh, you charmer!" she teased with a yful pout, her face lighting up with a grin as she leaned even closer, pressing herself lightly against him, letting him feel her warmth through the small gap.


    While the tavern''s girls didn''t offer themselves in that way, if they found a guest to their liking¡­


    Especially one as young, handsome, and generous as Luca, they weren''t entirely averse to a little more.


    But Luca wasn''t fazed; he was used to this. He got straight to the point: "Where''s Tia?"


    At the mention of this name, the bunny girl''s smile froze.


    Her eyes darted over him, searching.


    Her forced smile barely masking her shock. "Sir¡­ I''m not sure I know who you''re referring to¡­"


    As one of the Nightmare Cult''s high elders, Tia was Clinton''s most wanted criminal.


    Especially after the incident at Riverfall City, countless people across the Southern Territory were hunting for her.


    If word got out about Tia''s whereabouts, this ce would be surrounded within an hour.


    The young man took a sip of his drink, calmly introducing himself, "I''m Luca."


    The bunny girl''s eyes widened, and she shot to her feet.


    "L-Lord¡­ Lord!" she stammered.


    Utterly taken aback, her voice too loud for discretion.


    Several patrons in the tavern turned their heads, ncing over with peculiar expressions.


    These young folks sure yed interesting games nowadays.


    The members of The Nightmare Cult, however, froze momentarily, then snapped their gazes to Luca, eyes burning with fervent admiration.


    The Lord himself had arrived?!


    Realizing her slip, the bunny girl quickly mped a hand over her mouth.


    Shetry to regain herposure. She settled back down beside Luca, whispering with barely contained excitement, "I''m sorry¡­ It''s just¡­ my first time meeting you, Lord, and I couldn''t help myself¡­"


    Her reaction was understandable. Under Tia''s influence and brainwashing, all members of The Nightmare Cult knew that, aside from Jormungandr, their Dreamweaver deity, there was another supreme figure¡ªa Lord who also wielded Dreamweaving powers.


    And this Lord, even revered by Jormungandr himself, was a being of unparalleled greatness.


    To the cultists of The Nightmare Cult, Luca was now akin to a creator.


    "Take me to her." Luca''s voice was steady as he downed the vodka, the fiery liquid sliding down his throat without so much as a flicker of expression. Strong spirits like this had long been little more than refreshments to him in his previous life.


    "Lady Tia is on the second floor. I''ll take you to her immediately," the bunny girl whispered, her face alight with excitement.


    The thought of being the one to personally escort the Lord, even having had such close contact, filled her with a sense of triumph.


    She''d definitely be boasting about this with those other wenchester tonight!


    Luca rose and, following her lead, made his way past the guards stationed by the staircase, ascending to the second floor of Moonlit Tavern.


    The d¨¦cor on the second floor was even more luxurious than below. Crystal chandeliers emitted a warm, golden glow, casting opulence throughout. Shelves lined the walls, disying an impressive array of fine liquors.


    The spacious floor held only a few custom-made sofas scattered across the center, with a four-legged phonograph in one corner, a golden petal-like speaker releasing a gentle melody.


    But it wasn''t vinyl records ying; instead, the music came from a phonograph gemstone.


    The second floor felt more like a private club than a tavern.


    Luca''s eyes shifted to the bar area, where a woman in a sleek ck gown was mixing drinks. Her striking purple hair was tied back, revealing her refined features and baster neck.


    Her usual snake-shaped earrings had been swapped for sapphire drop earrings, gleaming under the crystal lights.


    Sensing someone''s approach, she didn''t look up, merely saying in a cool tone, "I''ve made it clear, no one is allowed on the second floor without my permission."


    The bunny girl seemed about to exin something.


    But Luca waved her off, signaling her to leave.


    With a reluctant nce, she finally departed.


    Luca then walked slowly toward the bar.


    Watching Tia as she carefully mixed a cocktail.


    He studied her.


    Noting a certain change in her appearance.


    She seemed a bit less sultry and more refined, exuding a mature and intellectual aura.


    Perhaps it had something to do with her sister, Mira.


    Sensing Luca''s unwavering gaze, Tia''s brow furrowed even more.


    Her expression growing cold.


    She paused in her movements, her voice icy. "You''d better give me a reason not to¡­"


    But she stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening in shock.


    As she recognized Luca''s familiar smirk.


    Realizing her mistake, Tia dropped to one knee, flustered. "I apologize, my Lord¡­ I didn''t realize it was you¡­"


    "How''s the investigation I assigned to you?" Luca asked nonchntly, picking up the cocktail she''d mixed and taking a sip. The taste was bold and strong, just to his liking.


    Tia immediately responded, "It''s still ongoing, but we''ve uncovered some things.


    "Our people discovered that the Mora family has been making quite a few moves recently.


    "They''ve summoned all their family members back and bought arge number of ves in the Outer District."


    Luca set down his ss, frowning. "What''s the purpose of suddenly buying so many ves?"


    The Clinton Empire didn''t prohibit ve trade, and Southwind City was no exception.


    However, established families usually had a controlled, fixed number of ves who were specifically trained, so it was rare to see any drastic increases.


    For the Mora family to suddenly purchase such arge number of ves¡ªwell, Luca wasn''t buying the idea that there was no hidden agenda.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Tia continued, "It seems they''re using them asbor. Besides purchasing ves, they''ve also bought arge meat processing nt in the Outer District, and the ves are being sent there.


    "But there''s something strange about this factory. I specifically sent people to investigate, but none of them came back.


    "It''s as if anyone who enters the factory¡­ simply disappears into thin air."

 Capítulo 135: Chapter 135: The Arrival of Starsea! Southwind City Falls! The Second Soul Forge!

    [Rampaging Bear Ring: Purple-gold level, no usage conditions. When equipped, strength attribute +360, base physical attack +800, health +1200. Skill 1: Violence - After using this skill, the yer''s strength increases by 30%, health increases by 35%, cooldown time 12 hours.]


    After the Rampaging Bear leader was defeated, it dropped a piece of equipment.


    Although it was warrior ss gear, there were no usage restrictions.


    Once Luca equipped it, both his health and strength saw a significant boost, with his strength attribute surpassing 2000 points.


    The Demonic Rune Mage''s spear and the knight''snce looked quite simr; if he donned full armor, he could easily cosy as a warrior.


    Luca leaped onto the rooftops, continuing his path toward the meat factory. He had already reached level 38, and with a few more kills of monsters like the magic bear leader, he would soon meet the requirements set by the Sr Divine Spear.


    He hoped the Sr Divine Spear wouldn''t disappoint him when the time came.


    The battle continued under the night sky.


    Rampaging forces unleashed their fury, deafening roars erupted, and multicolored streams of light burst forth in the darkness, dazzling like a gxy of stars.


    As he got closer to the meat factory, the surrounding monsters grew more numerous. Even with Luca''s strength, forcing his way through was bing a challenge. Fortunately, he only targeted the solitary monsters, not wasting any time.


    As Luca approached the meat factory, the vast grounds that once spanned tens of thousands of square meters had vanished without a trace. All that remained was a dpidated ruin, with only a half-broken factory sign hinting at its former identity.


    A dark mass of monsters, resembling a swarm of ants, pressed tightly together, so numerous that they were impossible to count at a nce. Pairs of crimson eyes gleamed in the darkness, filled with brutality and rage, sending chills down one''s spine.


    However, at this moment, these monsters were as docile as quails, all standing in ce, not daring to move an inch.


    Luca halted and raised his gaze.


    In the center of the street, a figure d in a red robe and wearing a ghostly mask stood blocking the way.


    The eyes behind the mask stared at him calmly.


    "Is there something you need?" he raised an eyebrow.


    He hadn''t expected Finn''s people toe looking for him at this moment.


    The red-cloaked masked Superss powerhouse didn''t bother with small talk, stating coolly, "Hand over the Undead Coffin, and I''ll spare your life."


    Luca paused, gripping the Wind and Thunder Spell Spear tightly.


    The Undead Coffin was undoubtedly of great importance to Pandora, and he could never hand it over.


    However, Luca hadn''t anticipated that Finn would be so brazen.


    It was important to note that there were several Superss powers present. If his connection to Pandora were to be exposed, even Duke Lyon would find it difficult to save him.


    "Is there any way to escape?" he silently asked Jormungandr, keeping his expression neutral.


    The more guilty he felt, the less he could let the other party notice. Otherwise, it would only lead to a quicker demise.


    "... No," Jormungandr replied weakly. With her current strength, she couldn''t handle even a high-tier, let alone a Superss.


    But how did this guy always manage to attract such terrifying enemies? He really knew how to stir up trouble.


    Luca furrowed his brow, trying to figure out how to buy some time, but just then, the masked figure had already approached him. Seeing through Luca''s intent, he sneered, "Don''t bother trying to stall. This ce has been sealed by me; even Orf can''t save you!"


    It was only at that moment that Luca noticed a scarlet barrier had appeared around them, though he couldn''t tell when it had happened.


    He frowned, his mind racing, just about to feignpliance and pretend to agree.


    Suddenly, a voice filled with anger echoed in their ears.


    "Is that so? I''m curious to see what you dare to do to my student." As the words fell, the scarlet barrier shattered like a mirror. An elderly figure surrounded by swirling magic runes appeared before them.


    Orf, with his white beard and hair flowing as if stirred by an unseen wind, wore a calm expression on his aged face, but anyone could sense his anger.


    "You''re not...?" The masked figure looked up in shock. Above them, Bronte and others were still engaged in a fierce battle against Pandora. Although they were struggling more without Orf''s presence, they hadn''t been defeated.


    He couldn''t believe Orf would abandon Southwind City to save this kid!


    The masked figure''s gaze turned cold, realizing he had underestimated the significance of this boy in Orf''s eyes.


    With that thought, he steeled himself. Suddenly, his aura erupted, blood energy coalescing into a giant hand that lunged toward Luca. Regardless of anything else, he had to fulfill Young Master Finn''s task first.


    The wind howled as the attack approached, and its overwhelming force made Luca feel his bones creaking under the pressure. A Superss attack was far beyond what he could withstand at this moment.


    "How dare you!" Orf''s fury ignited as magic runes burst forth around him.


    A series of azure-glowing ice shields surrounded Luca.


    The blood-red hand collided violently with the ice shields, and the force unleashed a torrent of wind like a hurricane.


    Debris and dust swirled around them, and Luca felt waves of suffocation wash over him.


    When he regained his senses, Orf and the masked figure had already vanished from sight, shooting up into the sky.


    He had survived by sheer luck...


    Luca let out a long breath. In that moment, he had thought he was done for.


    Fortunately, his teacher was quite formidable.


    He didn''t linger any longer. The masked figure had suddenly attacked him, undoubtedly under Finn''s orders. The importance of the Undead Coffin to Pandora was likely greater than he had imagined.


    This ce was too dangerous for him; if he stayed any longer without leveling up, he might not make it out alive.


    Once he had distanced himself from the perilous area, Luca resumed his leveling up.


    The surrounding monsters were more than enough to help him quickly reach level 40.


    His luck held, as he encountered two rare-level monsters and one elite monster.


    Before long, a golden glow of upgrade light illuminated his body.


    [Ding! Your level has reached 40. You gain 60 free attribute points!]


    [You have acquired new ss skills: "Witch''s Power Surge," "Dream Mirror Phasing," and "Star Convergence"...]


    A game notification appeared before him, and after reaching level 40, the reward of free attribute points had doubled.


    In addition, he had gained several new skills. "Witch''s Power Surge" could temporarily enhance Luca''s control over witchcraft and skill damage, while "Dream Mirror Phasing" was a life-saving skill that granted immunity to physical attacks.


    "Star Convergence" is a damage skill of the Demonic Rune Mage, capable of channeling the full power of magic runes into a single strike, resulting in tremendous damage.


    The skills were all quite impressive, but this wasn''t the time for experimentation. Now that he had leveled up to 40, all he needed to do next was head to the Celestial Pool Secret Realm to find the Sr Divine Spear.


    ncing up at the sky, Luca noticed that after such a prolonged battle, Bronte and the others were visibly struggling. The masked figure, while battered by Orf''s magic runes and unable to fight back, seemed unlikely to resolve the situation in the short term.


    He hoped the Sr Divine Spear wouldn''t let him down.


    Just as he was about to look away, he suddenly noticed something unusual in the sky.


    Under the night sky, the blood-red array was in motion, with wisps of blood energy rapidly converging within it.


    The speed of the Blood Sacrifice Array was clearly elerating, casting a crimson glow that bathed the entire Southwind City in blood red. At the same time, a presence more terrifying than Pandora''s emanated from the blood-red array.


    Luca''s heart trembled. Was the Blood Sacrifice Array about to seed?!


    Before he could think any further, the Blood Sacrifice Array in the sky suddenly erupted with streams of blood light. Huge tentacles, dark as night and dotted with golden lights, descended from the sky, wrapping the entire Southwind City as if a monstrous beast had encircled it!


    Orf and the others also changed their expressions.


    The ritual seeded?!


    The terrifying aura felt as if a mountain had crashed down. Following this, an endless torrent of dark water, filled with brutality and desire, cascaded from the blood-red array above, like a ck waterfall that smashed down into Southwind City, causing countless buildings to copse.


    The dark water had the same effect as that from the Pandora Demon Box; anyone contaminated by it would instantly transform into a terrifying monster, with even seasoned professionals unable to resist.


    In an instant, Southwind City fell into chaos, with even the waterfalls surrounding the city bing tainted ck.


    Orf and the others wore expressions of bitter resignation.


    One Pandora was already overwhelming; now another had appeared.


    Was it truly fate that sought to destroy Southwind City?!


    Under this cmity-like power, the Inner District rapidly sumbed.


    By the time Luca returned to Red Maple Academy, the Inner District was swarming with monsters.


    Heavy-hearted, he rushed to the Heavenly Pool Grand Hall, activating the Celestial Pool Jade.


    The light before him flickered and vanished, and Luca found himself within the Heavenly Pool.


    "Senior, I have fulfilled the requirements. Please, lend your aid," he earnestly spoke as he reached theke''s bottom, encountering the golden sun.


    Before long, Luca heard the voice of the Sr Divine Spear.


    "Rx your mind and do not resist." After the Sr Divine Spear finished speaking, the golden sun erupted in brightness, and a beam of golden light shot forth, heading straight for Luca''s forehead.


    He instinctively tried to dodge, but the golden light moved too swiftly, directly imprinting itself on his forehead.


    In the next moment, Luca felt an intense heat wash over his body.


    It was as if he had been thrown into a steam oven, and even his skin turned red at a visibly rapid pace.


    The sudden pain caused him to stifle a groan, far more intense than during hisst experience with the Soul Forge.


    "Hold on, or everything will be in vain," the Sr Divine Spear''s words echoed in his ears. Gritting his teeth, Luca felt golden mes gradually emerge around him, enveloping himpletely.


    At the same time, the light of the golden sun grew ever more radiant.


    The gun, bound by chains, trembled as the blood-red chains seemed to sense their intentions, the crimson runes ring up as they began to tighten relentlessly.

 Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Defying the Heavens! One Against Two! Terrifying Divine Flames!

    He had initially nned to kill Finn first and then deal with the woman properly.


    But it seemed she wasn''t going to let him have his way.


    "You''re merely relying on the power of the Sr Divine Spear to reach the Transcendent level; how much of its true power can you actually wield?" Pandora chuckled lightly, her toneced with disdain. With a flick of her finger, a ck box before her suddenly opened.


    A colossal golden tree materialized behind her, its branches heavy with red fruits that glistened invitingly, releasing a fragrant aroma that filled the air.


    "Young man, let''s see if you can back up your boasts!" A pink glimmer shed in her eyes as the fruits fell from the golden tree, transforming into alluring figures thatughed and danced towards Luca and Orf, their voices intoxicating and mesmerizing.


    At the same time, the sky above erupted with a blood-red formation that zed with crimson light!


    A dense, malevolent aura surged forth, an overwhelming pressure crashing down upon them!


    From within the formation, a massive figure slowly emerged. Its gigantic form blotted out the sun, slick tentacles resembling those just pulled from dark waters asionally dripping with ck liquid.


    On its enormous, ball-like head, nine crimson eyes focused on Luca, releasing a haunting sound that echoed as if from the dawn of time!


    Moo¡ª!


    The sound was long and deep, not jarring to the ears. However, many who heard it felt as if a steel needle had pierced their skulls, clutching their heads in pain.


    Upon seeing its nine ring eyes, some people seemed to witness something unimaginably horrifying. They let out painful wails, blood oozing from their eyes, pus bubbling on their skin, and their bodies began to rapidly decay and deform.


    Starsea Kraken!


    At this sight, the expressions of those who had just shown signs of hope turned grim once again.


    Regardless of whether Finn was dead or alive, as long as these two King-level monsters were not dealt with, Southwind City had no chance of escaping.


    Luca understood this well.


    He nced at the monster that had rampaged through the extraterritorial battlefield years ago, a chilling murderous intent shing in his eyes!


    In that case, he would take them down first!


    "Teacher, Marquis Bronte, you all should leave Southwind City with the others; I''ll handle things here," Luca said, his figure flickering before appearing beside Orf and the others.


    His solemn words stunned everyone present.


    "No way!" Orf immediately protested.


    Though he knew Luca might have gained significant power with the help of the Sr Divine Spear.


    Buttwo King-level monsters were not something to be taken lightly!


    Luca merely smiled at this response, saying, "Don''t worry, even if I can''t handle them, I can still escape."


    In his past life, he had fought these creatures countless times; his understanding of their weaknesses and his control over Transcendent power had reached a level that few couldprehend. This was nothing to worry about.


    Orf still wanted to say something, but Medel sighed and said, "Enough, let''s go. This kid should have confidence; otherwise, he wouldn''t have spoken like that. Right now, the most important thing is to get the others out of Southwind City. If necessary, we cane back to help himter."


    At Medel''s reminder, Orf and Bronte noticed that only a few dozen flying boats remained at the first dock, while countless people were still standing in the square, not having left.


    During the earlier chaos, many had taken advantage of the disorder to seize numerous flying boats.


    Despite Luna and the others trying their best to stop them, there were simply too many people, and in the end, only a few boats remained.


    With just these dozen or so flying boats, it was impossible to evacuate the hundreds of thousands of people in Southwind City.


    They had to take action.


    Seeing this, Orf could only sigh and remind them, "Be careful."


    They had fought this long to save lives; Southwind City could be rebuilt.


    But if anything happened to these people, it would be the city''s greatest loss.


    Luca nodded slightly, watching Orf and the others head towards the first dock.


    Pandora didn''t stop them; she knew exactly who the biggest threat was.


    The Kraken sensed a threat emanating from Luca. Its nine eyes fixated on him, looking increasingly restless.


    Once Orf and the others had left, Luca finally turned his gaze towards Pandora and the Kraken.


    A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth as he said, "Since you''ve been so honest, I''ll make your deaths a bit quickerter."


    As his words fell, a golden sea of mes surged behind Luca, coalescing into enormous fire beasts that charged fiercely towards Pandora.


    Pandora narrowed her beautiful eyes. She didn''t know how strong this boy was, but she had certainly witnessed his arrogance. Not only did he show no fear in the face of her presence, but he also dared to boast. Just this level of audacity was not something an ordinary person could match.


    "However, that''s still not enough," she said, unfazed by the countless fire beasts charging at her.


    With a sh in her eyes, the witches and monsters behind her received themand and directly engaged the fire beasts in battle.


    Luca didn''t expect these attacks to have any real effect.


    He transformed into a beam of golden light, rushing toward Pandora, while the golden statue behind him charged toward the tentacled Starsea Kraken.


    The moment they collided, the heavens and the earth shook, and a violent force swept through the area, destroying countless buildings beneath their feet.


    Pandora''s Demon Box suddenly erupted with ck light, and ck ghost flowers began to coalesce in the sky. But before they could make contact, they were reduced to ashes by the golden mes emanating from Luca.


    As they closed in, a cold light shed in Luca''s eyes. He twisted his wrist, and the Sr Divine Spear, wreathed in golden mes, shot straight toward Pandora''s neck in a seemingly ordinary thrust.


    A massive hand formed from the ck water exploded forth to block her.


    Yet it was shattered in an instant!


    "Not good!" Pandora''s expression changed as she quickly dodged, narrowly avoiding having her neck pierced by Luca!


    "You can actually wield divine fire?!" she eximed, brushing her fingers over the slight scratch on her neck. A strand of golden me was drawn out, and her eyes widened in shock.


    The divine fire attached to the Sr Divine Spear was far superior to her desire ck water; it represented a suppression of tiers!


    But how could this boy possibly use divine fire? Isn''t that something only that existence could wield?


    It was only at this moment that Pandora''s expression turned serious.


    This boy in front of her was likely not as easy to deal with as she had imagined.


    On the other side, the battle between the golden statue and the Kraken was far more straightforward and brutal.


    The Kraken''s ck tentacles coiled around the statue, intending to crush it to pieces.


    But the statue grasped one of the tentacles and yanked it off forcefully.


    Moo¡ª!


    The Kraken let out a painful roar.


    ck blood poured down like rain from the wound, quickly corroding the buildings and ground below, creatingrge craters.


    Luca was facing two opponents and, astonishingly, was gaining the upper hand!


    At the first dock, a massive stone infused with magic runes floated in the air, with many people standing on it, ready to leave.


    Seeing the scene in the Outer District, everyone was utterly shocked; this boy was practically a monster, able to hold his own against two opponents!


    "Luca is amazing!" Fratis cheered, her eyes sparkling with excitement.


    Melissa covered her mouth, incredulous that this was the same Luca. How had he suddenly gained such incredible power?


    The students from Luca''s ss, like Rogge, were equally dumbfounded.


    Wasn''t their mentor just at the mid-tier level a short while ago? How could he be trading blows with King-level monsters after just a few days?!


    "Stop staring! Let''s get out of here while we have the chance!" Orf, while equally amazed by Luca''s strength.


    Heknew Lucacouldn''t hold out much longer. Getting away quickly was the most important thing.


    Hearing this, everyone quickly reacted and hurried to follow Orf.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, Finn stumbled back onto the Phillips family''s flying boat.


    "Quick¡­ get out of here!" His face was twisted in agony, teeth clenched tight, with burn marks all over his body.


    Golden mes surged from within him, as if they were erupting from his very soul, continuously searing his flesh.


    But at that moment, Finn couldn''t care less about the pain. He urged the maids and his subordinates to quickly steer the boat away from this dangerous ce.


    Seeing this, the maids on the flying boat panicked.


    They rushed over, wanting to help Finn extinguish the mes.


    But before they could get close, the golden mes suddenly red up. Just brushing against them caused two maids to be incinerated to ashes, leaving behind only a small flicker of fire on the ground, without damaging the boat at all.


    At the sight of this, all the maids felt a chill run down their spines and dared not approach any closer.


    It wasn''t until the Cloudwing Airship was far away from Southwind City that the mes on Finn''s body began to subside.


    By then, his skin waspletely burnt, leaving him a horrific shade of red, flesh exposed and raw.


    Trembling, Finn pulled a golden vial from his storage ring, uncorked it, and hastily gulped down its contents.


    Instantly, the burned skin on his body began to sprout tender buds, healing at a visibly rapid pace.


    If Luca had seen this golden potion, he would have recognized it as the same one Orf had given him back then.


    Once his body was fully restored, Finn slumped onto an expensive sofa, his face still pale, gasping for breath, overwhelmed with a sense of relief as if he had narrowly escaped death.


    The terror of the Transcendent level was far beyond what a Superss strongman couldpare to. Even with his death substitution item, Finn had nearly been killed. Moreover, Luca''s sr mes not only inflicted physical damage but could also severely harm the soul. His recovery would likely take a long time.


    "Damn it!" As he thought about this, a sh of anger crossed his eyes, and he pped one of the nearby maids, sending her flying.


    The maid''s delicate neck twisted a full one hundred eighty degrees as she flew back, crashing to the ground and dying instantly.


    The other maids turned pale, too frightened to breathe.


    "Damn filthymoner! I won''t let you get away with this!" He pounded his fist on the precious mahogany table, his expression twisted with rage. After all these years, it was the first time Finn had suffered such a significant setback, and it was at the hands of a mere boy.


    He had spent so long nning this, and not only had he failed to obtain the Sr Divine Spear, but he had also lost a precious death substitution item. The mastermind behind all of this was that person named Luca. Finn couldn''t swallow this humiliation.


    Looking at the mes that had turned half the sky to gold.


    He red with bloodshot eyes and gritted his teeth, saying, "I don''t believe you can maintain this state forever. The Sr Divine Spear will ultimately be mine!"


    Finn knew very well that Luca''s strength was derived from the Sr Divine Spear, and eventually, he would be reduced to his original form.


    When that time came, he would make thismoner pay dearly!

 Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Temporary Team Member! The Ghost and the Martial Emperor! A-Class?

    Luca shook his head slightly. "I can''t join you."


    Joining an official organization woulde with too many restrictions, and joining just for some research materials didn''t make much sense.


    With that time, he could be focusing on improving his own strength.


    After all, once his power was strong enough, he could easily acquire those materials on his own.


    Drumph remained just as firm in his stance. "Since you refuse, then go ahead and kill Coarmy. "


    "Afterward, we''ll avenge him!"


    Coarmy didn''t say anything, but in his heart, he thought that if he made it out of this alive, he''d definitely need to find a new superior.


    Luca chuckled lightly and wasn''t intimidated by the threat. "So, is that it? No more negotiations?"


    Having worked with Drumph in his previous life for so many years, Luca knew exactly how this old man operated.


    "You young people are always so impatient," Drumph coughed before adding, "Actually, I think we could still talk some more."


    This old fox hadn''t changed at all...


    Luca shook his head slightly. "I''ll agree to be listed as a member of Morning Star. If there''s a situation you can''t handle, you can contact me, and if I have the time, I''ll handle it. Of course, that''s only if I''m avable."


    Coarmy was stunned.


    What''s the difference between joining and not joining then?


    "No," Drumph said, clearly displeased. "If there''s a problem in Celephais, you''ll have to handle it. "


    "Of course, we can put a limit on the number of cases. You''ll deal with up to ten Transcendent events each month..."


    Luca''s expression darkened. "Ten? You old man! Are you treating me like a ve?"


    Drumph furrowed his brows. "You young people can''t take any hardship. What''s wrong with ten? Let me tell you, back in my day..."


    For the next half hour, the two of them haggled over the terms.


    In the end, Luca managed to limit the number of Transcendent events to four, meaning he would handle one case per week.


    Luca was getting dry-mouthed from the back-and-forth and was toozy to continue wasting words with the old man, so he agreed, but on the condition that he would get the materials that same day.


    On the other side of the phone, Drumph didn''t hesitate and immediately agreed.


    The process was much faster than Luca had expected.


    Not even an hourter, there was a knock on the office door.


    Luca opened the barrier, and the door was pushed open immediately.


    Before he could even see who it was, a rushed voice came through.


    "Coarmy! We''vee to save you!"A young, lively figure appeared in the doorway.


    Luca nced up, surprised.


    The girl looked to be in her early twenties, with a delicate face, wearing her hair in a high ponytail, a white t-shirt and denim jeans that exposed her pale midriff.


    What surprised him most was that he recognized her.


    "What''s with the look? You''re the one who kidnapped Coarmy, huh? You''ve got quite the guts!" The girl with the ponytail cracked her fair fists together, her beautiful eyes ring at Luca with hostility.


    "Drumph must have sent you here, and I''m guessing you didn''te to fight me," Luca said calmly.


    The woman''s name was Ivanka, the daughter of Drumph. In the past life, her name was not well known, but her nickname was something few people had never heard of.


    "Martial Emperor!"


    She was a Transcendent-level powerhouse, a professional martial artist with the S-ss talent "Blood Energy Tempered by a Hundred Strikes." Each attack shended would umte damage, and the limit was unknown. Her temper was fiery, and she was a warlike person, excelling in closebat. She was even known as the "Knight Killer."


    Luca had faced her many times in his previous life, losing more often than winning. Her talents andbat style countered his perfectly, and he had suffered greatly. He hadn''t expected to run into this annoying woman here, of all ces.


    "Where''s the stuff?" He held out his hand, showing no politeness.


    Ivanka stared at him for a moment before her eyes curved into a smile. She pointed her finger at his nose and huffed, "Fight me! If you can beat me, I''ll give you the materials!"


    Coarmy stared out the window at the blue sky and white clouds, a look of deep concern on his face.


    Miss, is this really the time for a fight?


    "Ivanka, stop fooling around," a deep voice came from outside the window.


    Luca turned his gaze toward the source of the voice and realized that there was a young man hanging from the window ledge.


    He was around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, pale, with faint dark circles under his eyes. He was wearing a well-tailored suit, his hairbed neatly, giving off a slightly sickly appearance. When he noticed Luca''s gaze, he smiled modestly.


    He then climbed through the window, only to crash straight into Coarmy.


    "Why didn''t you just use the front door?" Coarmy groaned, wincing as his face twitched in pain.


    The young man responded earnestly, "Because this way is cooler!"


    Coarmy''s breathing became rapid, his chest heaving.


    He really shouldn''t have asked that question!


    Luca stared at this strange person, surprised.


    He didn''t expect to see another familiar face.


    Fuzzsir, a peak-level Transcendent, nicknamed "Dead Ghost," his main profession was as a ghost assassin. However, his secondary profession was even more renowned¡ªan "Undead Mage." He had the S-ss talent "Godyer Soulbinder."


    Every soul he killed would be his servant, retaining 50% of their abilities from their living days. Even more terrifying, this ability ignored rank, making him a literal game-breaking character. He was one of the most powerful of the Human Race in Luca''s past life.


    The only weakness was that the guy was a little off in the head¡ªhis thought process didn''t quite match up with that of a normal person.


    At that moment, another petite figure entered the office.


    She was covered in bandages stained with blood, and the strong smell of blood instantly filled the room.


    Luca couldn''t help but narrow his eyes. This person was radiating an intense killing intent!


    "Give him the materials, there''s a mission," came a hoarse voice, impossible to tell whether it was from a man or a woman. The words were short, as if the speaker wasn''t willing to say more.


    Once finished, the bandaged person didn''t even nce at Luca. They turned and left the office.


    "Mniais too cold. No matter how you look at it, she''s a new member of our Starfire Organization," Ivanka shook her head, clearly a bit helpless.


    She then took out a USB sh drive and tossed it to Luca, smiling as she warned, "The USB has a self-destruct program, and you can only view it in front of us. You can''t share it with anyone afterwards, or there will be consequences. Don''t say I didn''t warn you~"


    Luca caught the USB drive and nodded slightly, thanking her.


    He then plugged it into the officeputer.


    A notification sound rang through the office, and Luca opened the USB drive.


    Research data appeared on the screen in front of him, and as he scanned the information, his eyes narrowed.


    The research from various countries on Eternal Game was progressing much faster than he had imagined. Summer Country had already confirmed that the game would descend soon, with the timeline set to within a year.


    Unfortunately, this information, which had beenmon knowledge in his past life, was of little use to Luca.


    He focused on the investigation data from Zenith Technology Company, examining it closely.


    Although he had already suspected this oue, Luca couldn''t help but feel a slight disappointment.


    There had been no real progress at all.


    After the release of Eternal Game, the people involved in the research seemed to have vanished from the world, as if they had disappeared without a trace.


    The manufacturing chain for the Eternal Gamehelmets was also extremely ordinary, even outsourced to a production line.


    But this was within Luca''s expectations. After all, even ten yearster, humanity''s research into Zenith still hadn''t made much headway.


    It seemed nearly impossible to track down the people from Zenith through this method. Ultimately, the answers would likely have to be found within the Eternal Worlditself¡­


    With these thoughts in mind, Luca turned his attention to the research on game feedback and was unexpectedly pleased with the new insights.


    "So it''s the nodes¡­" He had a sudden realization. No wonder some yers, despite having high talents, couldn''t obtain game feedback in advance, while others, with only average abilities, could strengthen themselves early on.


    The most important factor wasn''t talent or strength, but whether the yer had encountered a Spatial Node.


    ording to the research data, all the yers who had received game feedback had, without exception, interacted with or encountered a Spatial Node.


    This included people like Fuzzsir, Ivanka, and Coarmy.


    The only problem was that Spatial Nodes werepletely random. Whether one encountered them was entirely based on luck.


    Because of this, even knowing the method, Summer Country couldn''t mass-produce yers with Transcendent powers.


    Unless they spread the news, letting more yers know about it.


    However, doing so would undoubtedly be a suicide mission¡­


    Luca finished reading all the information in just a few minutes.


    He then unplugged the USB drive and tossed it to Coarmy.


    "Finished already?" Ivanka and Coarmy were both a bit surprised.


    They had expected Luca to take a few more looks, but he had just skimmed through it and was done.


    "Just like a wind-blown youth," Fuzzsir sighed in admiration.


    Now that he had what he wanted, Luca waved his hand and said, "Alright, I''ll be heading back now."


    "Just leaving like that?" Coarmy stared at him in shock.


    Luca stretchedzily and nced at him, saying, "What else? I didn''t sleep wellst night. I need to go catch up on some sleep."


    Coarmy and Ivanka exchanged a look, both at a loss for words. This was the first time they''d met someone with such a big heart.


    He''d threatened the police chief, ckmailed a military bigwig, and now he was casually nning to go home and take a nap?


    Coarmy rubbed his temples and sighed. "Don''t go just yet. Ivanka and the others are on a mission right now. Go with them, it''ll be a good opportunity for us to see your strength in action."


    Luca frowned slightly but didn''t refuse.


    After all, he had taken their things, so it was only right to show some appreciation.


    "Oh, by the way, here''s this for you." Ivanka suddenly remembered something and pulled a ck leather badge out of her pocket, tossing it to Luca.


    Luca caught it and opened it. Inside was a bright star emblem, and on the other side was his personal information.


    The badge, however, was stamped with an "intern" designation.


    "Starfire''s badge, huh? Thanks¡­" Luca nced at it and then casually slipped it into his pocket. The Starfire department had high-level authority, and having this badge would make things much more convenient for him.


    The group then headed downstairs, with Coarmy apanying them. He still needed to conduct a danger level assessment on Luca.


    The general danger levels were S, A, B, C, D, and E. These were determined by aprehensive evaluation of talent, strength, and level. Ivanka and the bandaged person were both rated A, while Fuzzsir and their team leader, Quagmire, were rated S.


    Based on Coarmy''s estimation, Luca should be rated A.


    Luca only smiled in response.

 Chapter 146: Chapter 146: B-Class Fugitive! Captain Quagmire! I Really Am a Cop!

    The police car sped toward the outskirts of Celephais.


    During the drive, Luca took the opportunity to learn from Ivanka and the others about their reasons foring to Celephais, as well as the current state of the Morning Star organization.


    Morning Star operates five main divisions across Summer Country, covering the east, west, south, north, and central regions.


    Celephais falls within the northern region, under the jurisdiction of Ivanka''s northern division, which nowmands over a hundred yers.


    Excluding nonbat support personnel, there are currently about 12 teams actively carrying out missions. Each team has five members responsible for the safety of various cities within the northern region. The Transcendent incident near Celephais is being handled by Ivanka''s Quagmire Squad.


    Quagmire''s team is the strongest Morning Star squad in the northern region. The squad leader, Quagmire, is said to be an S-ss danger-rated yer¡ªa level only a handful of individuals worldwide have reached, many of whom are renowned inter years. However, Luca had never heard of Quagmire in his previous life and guessed that he might have been a powerful figure who fell early on.


    This time, Quagmire''s team came to Celephais specifically to handle a Transcendent incident tied to Coarmy.


    A few days prior, Coarmy had used his abilities to track down a yer he intended to recruit for Morning Star. However, upon revealing his identity, the yer not only refused but also unleashed Transcendent powers, killing several police officers and escaping police custody.


    This yer is now ssified as a B-ss threat. Hisst known location was a suburban neighborhood where he had massacred a family of five. The victims included a pregnant woman and a six-year-old child¡ªa gruesome, brutal scene.


    Ivanka''s team hade to deal with this monster. But as soon as theynded, they received orders regarding Coarmy''s kidnapping.


    In response, their captain, Quagmire, headed directly to the scene, while Ivanka''s team was tasked with coordinating with Luca to retrieve the USB drive and rescue Coarmy.


    Interestingly, despite the rtively low profile Luca had maintained, the danger level of the incident was assessed as A-ss¡ªhigher than that of the fugitive yer.


    The road was busy with traffic.


    Outside, the scenery rushed past.


    As the car sped towards the outskirts of Celephais.


    Luca suddenly realized the road looked oddly familiar.


    A strange feeling crept into his heart, and with a sense of foreboding, he nced at Fuzzsir, who sat next to him, and asked, "Which neighborhood is that yer hiding in?"


    Fuzzsir thought for a moment, then replied, "No idea. I forgot."


    Luca: ...


    He knew he shouldn''t have asked this guy.


    "It should be Sunshine Street in the Sixth District," Ivanka interjected.


    She then noticed Luca''s expression darkening and asked in surprise, "What''s wrong? Do you know that ce?"


    "My house is right there." Luca rubbed his forehead, letting out a bitter smile.


    He hadn''t expected someone this dangerous to be hiding so close to his home.


    Hopefully, nothing bad would happen¡­


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, on Sunshine Street.


    A car slowly pulled up and came to a stop.


    "Ah! Finally home!" Susie eagerly swung the door open, spread her arms, and embraced the air, her face radiating pure bliss.


    After more than a week in the hospital, she had felt suffocated.


    Now, she could finally go home and y her games!


    "You didn''t even bring the keys. Always so scatterbrained¡ªhow will you ever find someone to marry like this?" Zoey sighed from behind her. Susie turned around and stuck out her tongue in a yful response.


    "Alright, let''s go. I''ll make a big feast for everyone tonight," Darabont said with a smile, opening the trunk and pulling out arge haul of groceries.


    The past few days had been nerve-wracking for the whole family, but thankfully, Susie hadn''t had any more incidents. Now that she was finally discharged, they all wanted to celebrate properly.


    "Yes! I want honey-zed roast meat! Fruit pizza! And¡­" Susie''s face sparkled with excitement, and she was about to continue her list when she suddenly stopped and let out a soft "Huh," her gaze fixed on a distant rooftop, her eyes wide with surprise.


    "What''s wrong?" Zoey asked, noticing her reaction as she opened the front door.


    Susie stood on her tiptoes, squinting at the rooftop. "I thought I just saw two people running across the roof, but they disappeared in the blink of an eye."


    "Probably just some reckless teenagers doing parkour. Ignore them. But Celephais has been a bit chaotictely, so don''t go out at night," Darabont replied, ncing back but not seeing anything unusual. Shaking his head slightly, he added a casual warning.


    Susie nodded. Once her parents went inside, she looked back one more time but still saw nothing. She frowned slightly.


    She couldn''t shake the feeling that the two figures she had just seen were moving too smoothly, almost like Spider-Man, unlike the extreme sports videos she''d seen online.


    But she quickly dismissed the thought, deciding she''d just imagined it.


    Closing the door, she slipped on her slippers and dashed upstairs immediately. After days of being away from her game, she was practically itching to y¡­


    However, what Susie didn''t notice was that, just as she closed the door, the two figures she''d spotted on the roof had reappeared, now leaping swiftly from rooftop to rooftop, making their way directly toward her house.


    On the roof, the two shadows moved with fluid precision. One of them, appearing to be in his twenties, had a grim expression and long hair. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary about him at first nce, except that with a wave of his hand, several green, glowing wooden spikes shot forth.


    The other figure was a scruffy man with a stubbled beard, holding a long knife and dressed in a ck uniform. He had a cigarette dangling from his lips, a nonchnt expression on his face, and a star emblem pinned to his chest.


    This was none other than Ivanka''s squad captain¡ªQuagmire!


    Facing the iing wooden spikes, Quagmire remainedpletely calm. With a casual swipe of his long de, he sliced every spike mid-air, then said coolly, "Kid, stop right now, and I''ll make your death quick. If I have to make a move, you won''t get the chance to beg for mercy."


    "Catch me first if you think you can!" the young man sneered, a glint of green shing in his eyes.


    Quagmire''s brow furrowed, and he halted abruptly.


    In the next instant, the roof tiles shattered!


    A sharp wooden spike shot up from beneath the rooftop!


    Had he hesitated even a moment longer, it would have skewered him right through!


    But in that brief dy, the young man was already sprinting toward a parked car by the curb.


    It was Darabont''s car, the one he''d just parked, with the keys still in the ignition. If the young man got hold of that vehicle, he''d be much harder to catch.


    "Courting death!" Quagmire let out a cold snort, his de glowing red as he swung it toward the youth''s fleeing back.


    In a sh, a sharp, blood-red arc of light sliced through the air, cutting into the young man just as he looked back in terror.


    St!


    Blood sttered everywhere!


    The young man''s eyes went wide in shock.


    One of his arms was severed cleanly at the shoulder!


    "Aaahhh!!" His blood-curdling scream pierced the air.


    As he writhed on the ground, clutching his bleeding stump in agony.


    Blood pooled quickly on the street, staining the pavement.


    Terrified bystanders looked on, horrified, at Quagmire standing there with his de. Someone had already begun dialing the police, clearly mistaking him for an assant.


    Quagmire, however, didn''t care in the slightest.


    He slung his de over his shoulder and strolled leisurely over to the young man, then stomped down hard on the man''s wounded arm, grinding his heel into it.


    Amid the agonized, inhuman screams, Quagmire sneered, "Didn''t I tell you not to make me take action, you idiot? You don''t listen, huh?"


    The young man''s limbs twitched as his eyes rolled back, nearly passing out from the pain.


    Never in his wildest dreams had he expected to face a madman like this. If he''d known, he might have just surrendered outright.


    But it was toote for regrets now.


    "Take my advice, kid¡ªnext time, listen to those who know better," Quagmire muttered, spitting out his cigarette. With a swing of his arm, he prepared to sever the young man''s head.


    Just then, a sudden shout rang out.


    "Police! I order you to drop your weapon and release him immediately!" Darabont stepped out of the house, holding a handgun steady and aimed at Quagmire, his expression cautious.


    Killing someone in broad daylight?


    Such a ruthless criminal was rare, even for him to encounter.


    "Huh?" Quagmire blinked, pointing to himself. "Are you talking to me?"


    The bystanders looked on, exasperated¡ªwho else would he be talking to? Quagmire was clearly the most suspicious-looking person there.


    Darabont scoffed. "I''m warning you, don''t try anything funny. Drop your weapon and surrender now, or I have the authority to shoot you on the spot!"


    "What if I told you I''m also a cop? Would you believe me?" Quagmire nced at the barrel pointed directly at him, then, after a pause, reluctantly set down his de.


    His abilities hadn''t yet reached the level of invulnerability to bullets.


    "Do you take me for an idiot?" Darabont rolled his eyes. A guy who casually shed people to pieces, iming to be a cop? If that were true, he''d eat his own gun.


    Susie peeked out from behind the door.


    The moment she saw the fearsome-looking Quagmire and the bloodied, maimed figure on the ground with only one arm remaining, her face went pale, and she quickly pulled her head back.


    Clutching her chest, Susie whispered, trembling, "Mom, there''s a killer out there. He looks so scary¡­"


    Quagmire: ¡­


    At this point, Donald and Sini, drawn by themotion outside, stepped out of the house. Their faces paled as they took in the scene before them.


    "Call the police, and grab the first aid kit," Donald said, his tone steady¡ªhe was no stranger to bloodshed.


    "I''ll get it." Sini nodded, ncing warily at Quagmire before hurrying back inside to retrieve her phone.


    Quagmire was at a loss. He wanted to pull out his badge to prove his identity, but Darabont''s gaze remained fixed on him.


    He ready to shoot at the slightest hint of movement.


    "I''m really a cop¡­" Quagmire sighed, feeling more than a bit annoyed. But he wasn''t angry¡ªthis wasn''t the first time something like this had happened.


    Darabont and Donald ignored him.


    They''d heard it all before. "Police?" They''d met people iming to be the chief''s illegitimate child.


    "Let''s tend to the injured," Darabont reminded as Sini brought over the first aid kit.


    Donald nodded and approached the young man on the ground.


    Quagmire''s rxed expression immediately vanished. "Stay back!" he barked.


    Donald paused, confused.


    Suddenly, the young man on the ground lifted his head, a twisted grin on his face.


    A green light red!


    Out of nowhere, a vine covered in barbed thorns burst up from the ground, lunging straight toward Donald!


    Luca, who had just arrived, witnessed the scene and his pupils contracted in shock.

 Chapter 147: Chapter 147: The Wind-like Youth! Sophia’s Arrival! A King’s Reward!

    "Look out!" "Get out of the way!" ¡­


    Several cries of rm rang out almost simultaneously.


    Donald''s face changed, utterly unprepared for the injured man on the ground to suddenly attack him¡ªand using such a bizarre technique at that.


    Acting purely on instinct, he dove to the side, narrowly evading the barbed vines that shot past his cheek, leaving a few beads of blood in their wake. It was a close call.


    But before Donald could even catch his breath.


    The vine twisted mid-air and came barreling back toward him, giving him no time to dodge.


    "Boom!" At that instant, a tremendous noise exploded in everyone''s ears.


    Luca shot forward like a leopard, moving so quickly that no one even registered his actions; all they saw was a dark blur shing past.


    The next moment, the barbed vine stopped mere inches from Donald!


    Arge hand had gripped the snake-like vine, halting it just before it could pierce his heart!


    Luca''s expression was grim, his hand tightly clutching the writhing vine. Despite its sharp, barbed spikes, his hand showed no sign of injury.


    Everyone present gasped audibly. What had they just witnessed? How could a vine seem to attack of its own will?


    And that speed¡ªwas it even humanly possible?!


    Most of the onlookers felt as if they were dreaming. What they had just seen was beyond their understanding.


    Even Coarmy, watching with a furrowed brow, couldn''t fullyprehend Luca''s speed. This guy''s strength was unbelievable!


    "No way!" The young man on the ground, now one-armed, looked utterly stunned.


    The strength of the older man had already been terrifying enough, but this kid was even more extraordinary! How could he have crossed that distance so fast?


    "When did Luca be this strong¡­" Susie whispered, staring at Luca as if seeing him for the first time, her face full of astonishment. He was always home ying video games; how had he suddenly be so physically capable?


    "Probably trained by Donald," Darabont spected, though he couldn''t hide his surprise. He knew Donald''s abilities.


    But he''d never realized Luca had such impressive physical potential. He''d make a great candidate for the police force!


    Sini was equally stunned.


    Sheunable toprehend how her son had changed so drastically.


    "See? I told you, he''s like the wind!" Fuzzsir said with certainty, his focus clearly different from everyone else''s.


    Luca ignored the curious looks from those around him and took a few steps forward, checking Donald''s injuries carefully. Seeing they were only superficial wounds, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Meanwhile, Coarmy had swiftly handcuffed the young man on the ground.


    While the cuffs weren''t particrly effective on yers, it was better than nothing.


    "This is the new recruit we''re bringing in? Not bad," Quagmire remarked, sizing Luca up with a hint of surprise.


    Just from those quick actions, he could tell this kid had an unusual level of skill.


    "Not just ''not bad''¡ªhe''s definitely reached A-ss!" Coarmy replied, still feeling a bit shaken from his earlier encounter with Luca.


    "When we get some free time, I have to challenge him to a match!" Ivanka said excitedly, her eyes lighting up with battle fervor. Fighting seemed to be her only real hobby.


    Quagmire chuckled. "Looks like we''ll have a bit less weight on our shoulders with him around."


    Just then, Luca approached, gesturing toward the gathered crowd, and asked Coarmy, "How are we handling all these onlookers?"


    The people around them had seen far more than they should have. If they spread word of what they''d witnessed, it could easily lead to widespread panic.


    Coarmy, shoving the young man into the car, assured him, "Don''t worry¡ªMorning Star members will be here soon to handle it."


    With that, Luca didn''t press the matter further.


    "Alright, now that we''re done here, it''s time for us to go," Quagmire said, making no move to linger.


    He waved at Luca as he climbed into the car. "Kid,e visit us at the Northern Division sometime."


    The engine roared to life.


    Luca watched them drive away.


    When he turned back around, he found Susie standing there, her face taut and serious.


    Andstaring intently at him.


    "What''s up?" Luca asked, touching his face as if to check for anything unusual.


    "When did you get so strong? Are you secretly working out? Or did you sign up for a martial arts ss?" Susie fired off a series of questions, her gaze unwavering.


    "Oh? Want to learn?" Luca teased with a smile.


    "Uh-huh!" Susie nodded vigorously, fists clenched and making tiny, fierce motions. "Then, if I run into any bad guys, I won''t be afraid."


    As they walked back to the house, Luca casually remarked, "Alright, start with twenty push-ups, and I''ll show you what to do next."


    "Twenty?" Susie''s face immediately fell.


    She hadn''t even managed two before¡­


    Back at home, Sini tried to ask Luca some questions, but he and Donald deftly sidestepped them.


    "So this is the change you were talking about?" Donald askedter, touching the scratches on his face with an almost surreal sense of disbelief.


    "That''s right," Luca confirmed with a nod. "And this is only the beginning. We''ll likely be seeing more and more people like that."


    After this encounter, any doubts Donald had were gone.


    With resolve, he said, "I''ll work on leveling up as quickly as I can."


    He had no intention of relying on his son for protection. That just wasn''t his style.


    Luca smiled. That was exactly the oue he''d hoped for.


    Luca said, "In a while, I''ll find a way to send some resources over to you."


    Donald''s hometown was also in the Kingdom of Clinton, but it was a long distance from where Luca was.


    Sending him any gear or equipment would only make sense once Donald''s strength had increased enough.


    After chatting with Donald for a while, Luca returned to his room.


    Just because nothing had gone wrong today didn''t mean they would be so lucky next time.


    As more yers gained Transcendent abilities, human society would only grow more chaotic.


    Only by building sufficient strength could one ensure survival in the turbulent times ahead.


    ¡­


    Southwind City, Inner District.


    A sh of silver light appeared.


    Luca materialized in the newly cleared za.


    All around him, yers and NPCs were hard at work, rebuilding Southwind City.


    While construction in this Transcendent world wasn''t as challenging as in the real world, it still wasn''t something that could be finished overnight.


    Luca wasted no time and headed directly to the residential area of Red Maple Academy. He nned to use this time to forge as many magic runes as he could from the materials he''d gathered.


    During the recent incident, he''d nearly depleted all the magic runes he''d prepared, and he needed to replenish his supply quickly. Otherwise, he wouldn''t feel prepared for what mighte next.


    As he crossed the streets, many people greeted him warmly.


    There wasn''t a single NPC or yer who didn''t recognize the young hero who had saved Southwind City.


    Luca smiled and greeted each of them in return.


    Soon, he arrived back at the residential area.


    He had just opened the door and stepped into his loft.


    Not even closing the door yet when a familiar voice called from a distance, "Luca!"


    He turned, a surprised look crossing his face.


    "Professor, how did you get here?" he asked in astonishment as he saw two figures hurrying toward him.


    It was none other than Sophia and Lucia.


    Lucia looked the same as ever, dressed in an borate mage''s robe that she wore with effortless elegance.


    But Sophia¡­ there was something distinctly different about her. Her presence felt more powerful, and her aura was even colder than it had been in Riverfall City.


    Luca''s gaze lingered a moment on Sophia''s cool, beautiful face.


    But he quickly looked away.


    Without enough information or evidence, guessing blindly would only lead him into a maze of his own making.


    "We heard in Dawn City that there was a monster attack here, so we came as quickly as we could," Sophia said calmly.


    Lucia, on the other hand, wasted no time¡ªshe threw her arms around Luca in a big hug, squeezing him so tight he could barely breathe.


    Tears in her eyes, she said, "It''s only been a little while since west saw you, and you''re already skin and bones! I even heard you fought with a King-level monster?"


    "Come here, let me check you over to see if you''re hurt anywhere!"


    Luca''s mouth twitched slightly, and he said helplessly, "Don''t worry, I''m fine. That monster has already been defeated by me."


    Sophia studied Luca, a look of surprise in her eyes. "I didn''t expect your strength to have improved this quickly."


    When she''dst seen him, he had only recently broken into the Gold Grade.


    Now, after only a few days, his aura had grown several times stronger.


    Even she couldn''t help but be astonished at this rate of growth.


    "Come on, you''re kidding, right? I''m still far from reaching your level," Luca replied, genuinely impressed.


    He could tell that Sophia had also made significant progress¡ªshe seemed to have reached the advanced level.


    And her presence felt even more powerful. As he stood near her, he sensed a strange, threatening chill, as if his magic itself might freeze under her influence.


    This kind of aura was certainly not typical, even for high-level professionals.


    She must have had quite the opportunity in Dawn City¡­


    Once the greetings had warmed up, Lucia brought up the main reason for their visit.


    "We didn''te just to check in on you," she said seriously. "We''re also here to bring you to Southwind City."


    "Your actions havee to His Majesty''s attention. Saving two cities in a row is an enormous aplishment, and His Majesty ns to award you a noble title as a count along with somend."


    "Additionally, there will likely be other rewards," she added.


    "A count?" Luca was taken aback.


    Then he remembered that when he defeated Pandora, he had indeed received a significant amount of renown¡ªenough to qualify for the title of count.


    "And," Sophia added calmly, "my father would also like to meet you."


    This statement surprised Luca even more.


    Sophia''s father was none other than the President of the Clinton Mage Association.


    ASuperss powerhouse, one of the most influential figures on the Eternal Continent.


    Why would such a prominent figure suddenly want to meet him?

 Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Farewell! Setting Out for Dawn City!

    "When do we leave?" Luca asked without further questions. He had nned on heading to Dawn City soon anyway, so he''d learn more in time.


    "Tonight," Sophia replied.


    Luca looked surprised. "That soon?"


    He''d expected to have a couple more days at least.


    Lucia shrugged helplessly. "His Majesty is already preparing the investiture ceremony for you¡ªit wouldn''t do to keep him waiting."


    "I understand. I''ll go get my things ready," Luca nodded, knowing he couldn''t go against a royal order.


    There wasn''t much to pack, really¡ªmostly, he just wanted to say goodbye to Orf and the others.


    When they heard that Luca was leaving for Dawn City that very day, everyone was equally surprised and unprepared.


    In the za of Red Maple Academy¡­


    Orf, Medel, Fred, and a crowd of students gathered to see him off.


    "Can''t you stay just a few more days, Professor?" Kassna asked, a hint of sadness in her voice.


    She hadn''t even had time to get to know her professor better, and now he was leaving¡­


    Luca shrugged. "This is the King''s order. Not much I can do about it."


    Orf sighed. "I always knew this day woulde, just didn''t expect it to be so soon."


    Lucia, too, looked resigned. "That''s exactly how I felt back in Riverfall City."


    The speed of Luca''s growth was just too remarkable. What would take others years, even decades, to achieve, he had reached in mere months.


    Melissa stepped forward, handing him a carefully wrapped parcel. She looked up at him, her eyes hopeful, and asked, "Will youe back?"


    Luca paused briefly, then smiled. "Of course I will. I''m only going to Dawn City for a bit; it''s not as if I''ll be living there. No need to act like this is some tearful farewell."


    But they all knew that once he left, who could say when he would return?


    It might be a year, or it could be ten.


    Melissa managed a small smile and said, "I''ll be waiting."


    Kassna suddenly felt an unexpected wave of sadness rise within her, and before she knew it, tears streamed down her face freely. In no time, she was sobbing openly.


    Between her sniffles, she choked out, "My first love¡­ it ended before it even began¡­"


    As she spoke, her crying grew even more sorrowful.


    Hearing Kassna''s tearful confession, both Lucia and Sophia turned to look at Luca with expressions that seemed to say they were looking at a heartless beast.


    Really? You''d go after such a young girl?


    "I¡­," Luca began awkwardly, feeling the weight of their gazes.


    The problem was, he hadn''t done anything!


    Wasn''t Kassna the one making things difficult here?


    "Oh, right," Orf said suddenly, as if he had just remembered something.


    He ran his hand over his Storage Ring, and with a sh of light, a translucent, crystal-like magic spear appeared in his hand.


    "This magic spear isn''t particrly powerful, but it was a gift from my own mentor, and I''ve kept it ever since. Now, I''m giving it to you," he said, handing the crystal spear to Luca, a nostalgic look in his eyes, as though he were seeing the cycle of timee full circle.


    "Thank you, Professor," Luca said, epting the spear gratefully.


    When he checked its stats, his eyes lit up immediately.


    [Magic Crystal Spear: tinum Grade equipment, usable by Demonic Rune Mages. Grants +1220 magic attack power, +480 spirit, -20% cooldown on magic runes, +20% rune amplification, +20% rune power¡­]


    [Skill "Magic Crystal Recall": Upon activation, instantly resets the cooldown of up to three high-level or lower magic runes. Cooldown: 3 hours.]


    "What a fantastic weapon!" Luca was delighted. Both the attributes and the skill made the Magic Crystal Spear a top-tier tinum weapon.


    The skill, "Magic Crystal Recall," was especially valuable, resetting the cooldown for up to three high-level runes.


    It is a divine skill for a Demonic Rune Mage, a ss that relied so heavily on skill power.


    Equipping the Magic Crystal Spear, Luca gave it a test swing and found it a perfect fit. It looked like his old Wind and Thunder Spell Spear could finally retire.


    He nced at his stats and noticed his spirit attribute had surpassed 5500, while his base attack had broken past 30,000!


    This level of damage was far beyond that of a typical advanced yer!


    "I''m d you like it," Orf said with a pleased smile. "And another thing¡ªin the ring Medel and I gave you earlier, you''ll find notes recording our years of experience with magic runes."


    "With your talent, I doubt you''ll hit any serious bottlenecks before reaching Superss, even without guidance."


    "And if you run into any real problems or difficult situations, write to me. We''ll find a way to help you."


    Medel''s hollow eyes shifted slightly as he added, "You''re not exactly the most well-behaved type, kid. Who knows how much trouble you''ll stir up in the future."


    "If you evere across something that''s truly too much to handle, remember to reach out to us."


    "Us old-timers may not have been active for years, but we can still help put a scare into any pests thate your way."


    "Thank you, both of you!" Luca was deeply moved by their words and thanked them sincerely once more.


    Lucia felt a bit amused, thinking about how this kid had picked up two new teachers in Southwind City.


    "If he heads to Dawn City and finds a few more mentors, he might have enough teachers to start a poker club¡­" she thought wryly.


    After bidding farewell to Orf and the others, Luca went to the Lord''s Manor to visit Marquis Bronte.


    There, he learned that Bronte would also be heading to Southwind City eventually, but only after resolving matters in Southwind City. In the meantime, Bronte nned to send his sister, Luna, to travel with them.


    "For the next few days, I''m entrusting my sister''s care to you," Bronte said earnestly, patting Luca''s shoulder.


    Then, leaning in, he added quietly, "And don''t you dare let her down, or you''ll answer to me!"


    Luna overheard everything and immediately flushed red, ring at Bronte. "Bronte, what nonsense are you spouting? Who needs his protection, anyway? He''s just a mid-level professional!"


    Bronte merely chuckled, leaving thement at that.


    Luca couldn''t help but smile, shaking his head.


    These two siblings certainly had an unusual dynamic.


    As they left the Lord''s Manor, Sophia frowned and said, "Where did you pick up this habit of flirting everywhere you go?"


    Luca sighed, exasperated. "Trust me, it''s not intentional¡­"


    But what could he do? It seemed like fate had handed him this knack.


    Afterward, Luca found Fratis. He didn''t have any special feelings for the sixth princess; to him, she was simply a friend.


    But it was clear Fratis felt differently. Thankfully, Luca wasn''t one to overthink or avoid emotions¡ªhe''d let things unfold naturally.


    Surprisingly, Fratis already seemed to know about his departure.


    When he arrived, she was busy packing. Her carriage was loaded with supplies, with her butler and guards busily loading more.


    As Luca approached, Fratis wasn''t surprised to see him and said, "Now that things in Southwind City have stabilized, I''ll be returning with you."


    Her expression was rxed and cheerful. Luca didn''t know her full reasons but respected her decision.


    Just as they were preparing to leave, Luca felt a chilling gaze fixed on him, brimming with intense hostility.


    He instinctively looked over and saw an ornate carriage parked along the roadside.


    The window was down, revealing the sharp, cold face of Finn, who red at Luca with undisguised malice.


    "When we reach Dawn City, I''ll be very interested to see if you manage to walk away alive," Finn sneered before letting the carriage curtain fall.


    Watching the luxurious carriage recede into the distance.


    Sophia frowned and reminded Luca, "I warned you before¡ªdon''t get involved with the sixth princess. Clearly, you didn''t listen."


    Lucia added gravely, "The Phillips family, to which Finn belongs, is leagues above most noble families. Offending him will bring nothing but trouble."


    Luca shook his head. "It wasn''t me who sought trouble with him¡ªhe simply has iting."


    Lucia rubbed her temples in exasperation. "The Phillips family isn''t as simple as you think¡­ but fine. When the timees, I''ll have my father talk with Duke Lyon."


    Luca shook his head again. His conflict with Finn couldn''t be resolved through diplomacy. Even if Lucia''s father intervened, it would likely be in vain.


    Eventually, he and Finn would have to settle things¡­ once and for all.


    The sun dipped low in the sky.


    Evening came quickly.


    Luca had originally nned to leave quietly, but somehow, word got out about his journey to Dawn City.


    Soon, the entire city knew he was departing for his investiture.


    By nightfall, when Luca and his group arrived at the docks, they were met with a breathtaking sight.


    In the dark, countless residents of Southwind City stood with torches held high, filling the za before the docks. The glow of the mes illuminated faces young and old alike, all united by expressions of gratitude.


    The multitude of torches formed a sea of light, transforming the entire dock into a bright, starlitndscape.


    As Luca appeared, the crowd grew silent, slowly parting to open a path straight to the airship.


    The torchlight cast a warm golden glow over the path, making it look like a luxurious golden carpet.


    Even Lucia and Sophia were moved by the scene. They had known that Luca had saved Southwind City through some special means, but they hadn''t realized the depth of the people''s gratitude toward him.


    Luca himself hadn''t expected to receive such a send-off. Gazing at the faces around him, he stood in silence for a long moment before finally speaking. "If I have the chance, I''lle back. And when I do, I hope to see a reborn Southwind City."


    With that, he stepped onto the golden path and, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, boarded the Cloudwing Airship, beginning his journey to Dawn City.

 Chapter 150: The Sky City! The First Prince and Second Prince! The Princesss Quarters!

    150 Chapter 150: The Sky City! The First Prince and Second Prince! The Princess''s Quarters!


    By the time Luca arrived in Dawn City. Five days had passed.


    Over these days, aside from crafting magic runes. Luca had spent most of his time dealing with Susie''s constant troublemaking.


    Truth be told, he knew he was in the wrong.


    In the end, the only thing Luca could do was promise Susie that as soon as they arrived in Dawn City, he would figure out a way to bring her here.


    This was the only thing that barely managed to calm her anger.


    Luca stepped out of the flying ship''s cabin.


    The weather was sunny and bright.


    Standing on the flying ship''s gangway, Luca gazed at the distant skyline.


    "So, this is Dawn City?"


    Under the vast blue sky, a colossal structure, reminiscent of a mountain range, floated in mid-air.


    It was covered in towering skyscrapers, with flying shipsing and going like busy bees.


    Around it, smaller floating inds orbited, forming a pattern that resembled a blooming lotus flower.


    From a distance, one could already see the blue crystal tower at the heart of the city, a straight spire piercing the clouds.


    "That''s right, it''s also known as the Sky City!" Fratis said with a smile, his voice filled with a subtle pride.


    After all, this was hishome.


    "After days of traveling by flying ship, we''ve finally arrived!" Lucia stretched her body dramatically, revealing her devilishly toned figure.


    "Once we get to Dawn City, let me show you the city''s splendor!" She put her soft white arm around Luca''s shoulder, batting her eyes andughing mischievously.


    Sophia shot her a cold look and said, "Shouldn''t the teacher take me along too?"


    Lucia quickly retracted her arm,ughing awkwardly. "What are you thinking? The teacher is just going to stroll around the food streets. How could I possibly take my own student to a nightclub or the red-light district? Those kinds of ces..."


    The others rolled their eyes.


    As the flying ship drew closer to Dawn City, the overwhelming presence of the giant city pressed in on them.


    In front of this massive structure, the hundred-meter-long flying ship seemed like a tiny dot.


    Only now could they truly appreciate the sheer size of the Sky City.


    Naturally, a city like Dawn City had its own docks.


    The flying ship, familiar with the route, headed toward the central district of Dawn City.


    Luca had already asked Fratis and the others about the city.


    Dawn City wasn''t just one single city¡ªit had its own central district, but there were also eight satellite districts. These were nine floating inds surrounding the main city, each named after one of the eight cardinal directions.


    Each of these satellite inds was governed by a grand duke of the empire, who was required to report to King Alfred Clinton in the central royal pce every day about the state of the empire.


    Only in rare cases would the king summon all eight grand dukes to the pce to discuss important matters.


    The flying ship sailed through the passageway, entering the outer docks of the main district.


    It passed through a dim tunnel and finally came to a smooth, steady stop at the tform.


    A group of people disembarked from the flying ship.


    Luca scanned the surroundings.


    He saw many guards in uniforms, checking the baggage and identities of pedestrians.


    The line stretched for quite a while, consisting of ordinary people as well as wealthy individuals dressed in extravagant clothing, all in an orderly fashion.


    In the dock, someone had been waiting for them.


    It was a young man wearing golden armor with short hair.


    From the divine aura emanating from him, it was clear that he was a high-ranking Holy Knight.


    Upon seeing them, he immediately walked over and respectfully said, "Your Highness, Lady Lucia, Lord Luca, it''s been a long journey. His Highness the First Prince has arranged amodations and a banquet. He wishes to invite you all over to meet and get acquainted."


    The First Prince? Luca''s eyes shifted slightly.


    In the Clinton Empire, the only person who could be called the First Prince was King Alfred''s eldest son, Leonie.


    He was the son of King Alfred and Queen Matilda Constantine, and the legitimate heir to the throne.


    Luca hadn''t expected him to send someone to greet them.


    Before he could respond, a harsh voice suddenly rang out.


    "Heh, it seems the First Prince is truly desperate for talented individuals, going so far as to send his strongest knight to wee a small noble from the countryside." Another group of people approached.


    The man was dressed in a noble''s long robe, with a tall, sharp nose and a handlebar mustache. His face twisted into a sneer, and he was followed by a retinue of guards. His tone was dripping with contempt, and it was clear he had no respect whatsoever for the so-called legitimate heir to the throne.


    "This man is Beck Thomas, a count and a dog of the Second Prince and the noble faction," Lucia whispered from the side. It was clear from her voice that she had little love for the Second Prince or the noble faction.


    "Beck! You should show the royal family the respect they deserve!" Knight Ed, his face turning alternately green and white with anger, clenched his fists. If it weren''t for the circumstances, he might have attacked right there and then.


    Beck sneered dismissively, clearly uninterested in further conversation.


    He then turned to Fratis and Finn, whose expression was calm, and bent slightly at the waist, speaking with exaggerated deference. "Your Highness, Lord Finn, the Second Prince has sent me to invite you both to a banquet. "


    "He specially ordered fresh spirit fish and seafood from the Western Sea to prepare avish feast, which I''m sure you and Your Highness will enjoy."


    Luca watched the exchange with great interest.


    Neither side was even pretending to be polite. It seemed the power struggles within the Clinton royal family were already quite intense. No wonder the king was in such a rush to arrange a marriage with the Phillips family¡­


    "Luca..." Fratis tugged gently at his sleeve.


    Luca turned and made eye contact with her, clearly seeing the helplessness in her eyes.


    Fratis'' biological mother was not Matilda Constantine, but thete former queen.


    She had no affection for either the First or Second Prince, as both were merely trying to win the favor of Finn and the Phillips family. In fact, the only one in the royal family who truly cared for her was the third princess¡­


    Luca gave a slight nod, then calmly addressed Knight Ed and Count Beck, "Sorry, we''ve already made arrangements at a hotel, so there''s no need for the princes to trouble themselves. I thank you both on behalf of Her Highness, and as for Finn¡­ well, he can make his own decision."


    "Hmm?" Both men''s gazes shifted to Luca, their expressions confused.


    "What gives you the right to make decisions for the princess?" Finn''s cold voice asked, voicing their unspoken thoughts.


    He hasn''t even spoken yet, and you, a mere viscount, who do you think you are to make decisions?


    "Luca is right," Fratis suddenly raised her head, speaking firmly. "We''ve already made hotel arrangements. Please thank my older brother and second brother on my behalf."


    Ed and Beck exchanged a nce,pletely confused about what was happening.


    "You!" Finn felt his blood pressure spike, his chest tightening in anger. He gritted his teeth and looked at Fratis, as if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he swallowed his fury and snarled at Ed and Beck, "Get out of here!" n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Both men flinched, quickly realizing that the Duke''s son was clearly enraged and that this wasn''t the time to press the issue. They hastily excused themselves, eager to leave before Finn took out his frustration on them.


    At the same time, Ed felt a pang of regret for Luca. He had done such a great job in Southwind City, and he was so young¡ªif things had gone differently, he would''ve definitely been a rising star in the noble world. But now, he''d crossed Finn...


    He shook his head.


    Once the two men had left. Finn shot Luca a long, cold stare and sneered. "Enjoy the next few days, because after that, your life will get a lot more difficult."


    With a wave of his hand, he barked, "Let''s go."


    The group watched as Finn stormed off. Luna frowned and said, "You''ve earned a lot of credit, and for the next few days, they probably won''t dare to do anything to you. But once the king''s rewards are settled, Finn definitely won''t let this slide."


    "Sorry..." Fratis''s face showed a mix of worry and guilt. In the end, it was because of her that all this had happened.


    Luca shook his head. "It''s fine. Let''s just go."


    At this point, there was no point in saying more.


    "Let''s head to my pce. It''s big enough, and I''ll be able to host everyone there," Fratis suggested.


    No one disagreed.


    Then, under the curious gaze of the crowd, the group walked out of the dock.


    Outside, several luxurious carriages were waiting. They had been prepared by Lucia, and the creatures pulling the carriages were simr to scaled horses, but muchrger and gentler in nature.


    The group climbed into the carriage and headed toward the royal pce deep within the city.


    During the ride, Luca took the opportunity to observe the bustling city of Clinton Empire, the most prosperous in the entire empire.


    On the streets, vehicles powered by magic energy crystals slowly made their way through the roads. They weren''t particrly fast, their bulky, unwieldy forms resemblingrge metal worms. Two iron chimneys belched thick clouds of smoke from their tops.


    These machines resembled modern buses, albeit with rougher craftsmanship. Many of the mechanical structures, along with brass gears, were exposed and visible to anyone passing by.


    In addition to these curious vehicles, there were also uniquely designed buildings and strange-looking races walking the streets¡ªElves, Tigerfolk, Lizardmen, and more.


    These humanoid races were dressed in formal clothing, walking down the neat, clean streets while chatting andughing. To any casual observer, they appeared no different from regr people.


    Among the several guilds they passed, Luca noticed a few yers. Compared to other cities, the number of yers here seemed much lower. However, those present were generally at higher levels, with most of them above level 20.


    But the most striking feature of the city was undoubtedly the massive royal pce situated at the very center of Dawn City. Even from a distance, the grandiose building gleamed with golden hues. The closer they got, the more one could feel the sheer scale and magnificence of the structure.


    As the carriage continued on its way, it didn''t take long before they arrived at the pce gates.


    Soldiers stood guard at the entrance, checking the identities of those entering. Upon seeing Fratis, a few soldiers were momentarily confused, unsure of what was going on.


    Only one older soldier, a veteran, paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up in recognition. "Your Highness, the Sixth Princess! When did you return?"


    "Captain Charlie, long time no see!" Fratis smiled warmly, waving at the soldier as she greeted him.


    She showed no airs of superiority typical of nobility or royalty, and in fact, she seemed just like any ordinary person, casual and approachable.

 Chapter 152: The Tidecaller Set! The Rising Tide! The Dawn God Sect! Fratis Wedding Approaches!

    152 Chapter 152: The Tidecaller Set! The Rising Tide! The Dawn God Sect! Fratis'' Wedding Approaches!


    Inside the Storage Ring, there was a set of tinum Grade equipment.


    [Tidecaller Set: tinum Grade, usable by Demonic Rune Mages. When equipped, activates set effects: Magic Runes attack power +30%, Spirit attribute +1200, other attributes +400, Mana +50000, Magic Runes drawing speed +30%, cooldown -20%...]


    [Skill 1: Spirit Tide - After using this skill, the yer''s Spirit attribute is increased by 30% for 10 minutes!]


    [Skill 2: Soul Howl - After using this skill, it triggers a Soul Roar on the target, dealing 200% soul damage!]


    [Skill 3: Silence - After using this skill, the target cannot use skills for 10 seconds, with the effect varying depending on the difference in both parties'' power!]


    ...


    The effects of the "Tidecaller Set" skills were far superior to the "Magic Runes Set" Luca was currently wearing. The three skills each had a different effect: boosting, attacking, and controlling. Even among tinum Grade equipment, this set was definitely top-tier!


    Seeing the excitement on Luca''s face, Augustine stroked his beard and smiled, "This Tidecaller Set is something I spent over 200,000 gold coins on back in the day. I used it for quite a while when I was younger and couldn''t bear to part with it. Go ahead, try it on and see how it works for you."


    Luca nodded, opened his panel, and swapped into the moon-white mage set. He then checked his stats.


    [Name: Luca (tinum Grade)]


    [Level: lv40]


    [Talent: The Person Favored (SSS-level)]


    [Main ss: Demonic Rune Mage]


    [Secondary Professions: Witch Doctor, Dreamweaver]


    [Health: 138,000]


    [Mana: 372,000]


    [Attack: 41,000 - 43,000]


    [Attributes: Strength 4135, Spirit 6306, Stamina 3477, Agility 2321]


    [Special: Charm 100, Perception 100, Talent 150 (Transcendent), Luck 100]


    [Titles: Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm, Peerless Appearance, Danger Perception, Son of Luck, Master of Asceticism]


    After equipping the "Tidecaller Set," his Spirit attribute had already surpassed 6000, and his base attack had reached 40,000!


    With high-level skills, his damage could easily exceed 100,000!


    Luca was quite pleased with this unexpected windfall upon arriving in Dawn City.


    "That old man is so stingy. I came all the way here with my people, and he only gives me a tinum Grade set?" Lucia muttered, clearly dissatisfied.


    Augustine, looking helplessly at his opportunistic daughter, replied, "Even if I gave him a higher-level set, he wouldn''t be able to use it because of his low level. It wouldn''t benefit him much either."


    "Once his level is high enough, you can bring him back here. I''ll see if I can find something suitable for him, be it magic runes or equipment."


    With his sharp eye, Augustine could tell that Luca had several Superss magic runes, and all of them were extraordinarymon items wouldn''t do.


    "Now that''s more like it." Lucia''s face lit up with a smile.


    After a bit more conversation. Augustine waved his hand. "Alright, you still have to receive your knighthood from the king tomorrow. Go, get some rest."


    "Alright, we''re off then." Lucia said, not a hint of hesitation in her voice.


    The only reason she had brought Luca here was to get something of value from him.


    Now that she had what she wanted, staying any longer would only be for eating dinner with the old man.


    "Once we get back to the guild hall, see what materials we need and grab some extra," Sophia whispered. "I''ll put it on the old man''s tab."


    Luca couldn''t help but feel a little amused and exasperated.


    Watching the backs of the trio as they left, Augustine shook his head and sat back in his chair.


    Evelyn, smoking ady''s cigarette, asked curiously, "Aren''t you going to ask him what all that random junk on him is? I''ve seen my fair share of geniuses and prodigies, but this is the first time I''ve encountered such a freak."


    "You''re not curious about how he managed it?" she added.


    Augustine, still organizing the chess pieces, responded with surprise, "Why should I be curious? It''s normal for young people to have their own secrets."


    "Normal?" Evelyn raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "The King of Rage''s heart, Starsea''s eyes, the Witch of Desire''s Demon Box, and the Undead Coffin. And besides the Sr Divine Spear, he even has a Dream Master... and you call that normal?"


    Augustine finished tidying up the chessboard and smiled. "Getting to the bottom of it wouldn''t serve much purpose. It''s enough to just do what a good elder is supposed to do."


    "As for what''s going on with him, it''s not important. What matters is, he''s my daughter''s student, and I like the kid."


    Evelyn exhaled a cloud of smoke and said, "With your current strength, you might not be able to protect him. Right now, the King''s influence keeps a few factions from taking action against him.


    "But the King''s time is limited. Once the knighthood ceremony is over, that old virgin from the Dawn God Sect will probablye after him. Not to mention the nobles and the one in the pce..."


    "They fight, they kill, they seek fame and fortune. I don''t care, and I don''t want to get involved," Augustine said, calmly watching Lucia and the others leave in their carriage outside the window. "But anyone who dares toy a hand on these kids will have to face the former Emperor alongside me!"


    ...


    To the east of Dawn City stood thergest cathedral on the entire Eternal Continent: Dawn Cathedral. It was the central hub of the Dawn God Sect, as well as the legendary resting ce of the Dawn Goddess.


    Outside, the za was filled with the sound of fountains, and the magnificent white cathedral rose high into the clouds. Its walls and hallways were adorned with intricate relief sculptures and murals.


    People passing by instinctively lowered their voices, as if afraid to offend the gods within. The atmosphere was solemn and peaceful.


    Inside the grand cathedral, rows of neatly arranged seats were filled with devout worshippers, all engaged in quiet prayer.


    On the high tform ahead, a woman dressed in a white bishop''s robe recited the doctrines. She wore a crown adorned with stars, her voice gentle and melodious. Her eyes were half-closed, and her face was exquisite, wless in every way.


    Behind her stood a statue, its features indistinguishable, but its hands held a radiant gem that sparkled like a star.


    As the woman continued to recite the holy texts, the gem emitted a divine golden light, bathing the cathedral in an incredibly sacred and peaceful glow.


    The congregation, their expressions serene and tranquil, seemed to have their spirits purified by the light.


    When the service concluded, the worshippers either approached to offer thanks or confided their struggles.


    The woman gentlyforted them, showing no sign of impatience.


    Once the faithful had departed, revitalized and with lighter hearts. The cathedral quickly returned to its quiet stillness.


    "Lady Saint."Viktor, wearing a monocle, kneeled respectfully. "Today, Evelyn visited Augustine again. Both are from the neutral faction, and with them meeting so frequently, I wonder if it will affect the events toe."


    The Saintess of the Dawn God Sect, Joanna Evan, gave no visible reaction to his words.


    With her eyes still closed, she continued flipping through the holy scriptures in her hands, her voice calm as she replied, "Let them be. Augustine and Evelyn are not the types to interfere with matters that don''t concern them. As long as they don''t sense anything unusual, they won''t meddle in our affairs."


    "Understood, mydy."Viktor nodded, though he hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Also, the young man connected to the Nightmare Cult arrived in Dawn City today. He also went to visit Augustine."


    Joanna''s hand paused, and she raised her head, her gaze piercing. "Is J?rmungandr still with him?"


    "The Abyssal Gem is reacting strongly, so it should still be with him."Viktor replied, taking out a ck gemstone and speaking in a low voice. "The Nightmare Cult has mobilized fully. The core members are expected to arrive in Dawn City by tonight."


    Joanna gazed silently at the statue of the goddess behind her for a long moment.


    "Once the knighthood ceremony is over, deal with him. Bring J?rmungandr to me. Make sure there are noplications."She spoke calmly, her tone unwavering. "As for Augustine, I will handle him."


    Viktor shuddered slightly, lowering his head. "As youmand, mydy."


    ...


    Meanwhile, Luca and Sophia, traveling in a carriage, were on their way back to the Princess''s chambers.


    Before they left earlier, the butler Lawson had specially prepared temporary tokens for them, so no one had stopped them along the way.


    At the Mages'' Association, Luca ultimately didn''t have the heart to shamelessly ask Augustine to pick up the tab. Instead, he reluctantly dug into his own pockets and purchased arge amount of Transcendent materials.


    Among them were several high-tier fire attribute materials, primarily used to restore the power of the Sr Divine Spear. His gold coins quickly diminished by half. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lucia didn''t say much, only sighing in frustration that this trip had been a loss. All she had managed to get was a tinum Gradeset of equipment. Luca could only force a wry smile in response.


    When they returned to the pce, the three of them spotted Fratissitting on a bench outside the chambers. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her face looked haggard, as though she had been crying. She sat in a daze, staring at the fishpond, her figure illuminated by the moonlight, giving her a delicate, sorrowful air.


    Next to her, a petite figure in regal court attire was sighing dramatically. She appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, with a refined and youthful face. However, despite her age, the way she sighed with such exaggerated weight made her seem much older¡ªcreating aical contrast.


    "Why is Princess Raphael here at this hour?"Lucia asked, a bit puzzled, before stepping forward and greeting her. "Raphael, long time no see."


    "So this is Princess Raphael?"Luca was surprised.


    The third princess didn''t quite match the image Luca had envisioned. From Fratis''s descriptions, he had always thought Raphael was a mature older sister. To his surprise, she looked like a young girl who hadn''t even reached adulthood yet.


    Princess Raphaelturned around when she heard her name.


    The moment she saw the group, the troubled look on her delicate face immediately faded, and she waved her hand with a bright smile. "You''re back! Come quickly, help me talk to Fratis¡ªshe''s been in a bad mood and is having trouble with things."


    "I¡­ I''m fine,"Fratis hastily wiped away her tears and forced a smile at the group. "Don''t listen to my third sister. I''m actually really happy today."


    Her smile was stiff, and anyone could see it was insincere.


    "What happened?"Luca asked, concerned.


    "What else could it be?"Raphael shrugged and sighed. "Fratis''s marriage has been arranged. After your knighthood ceremony, her wedding will be the next major event."

 Chapter 157: Chapter 157: The Cold Sky Waters! The Key to the Divine Ruins! The Empires War God!

    "We need to level up faster, or we''ll be left behind and that would be embarrassing," Ben said with a sigh while grinding monsters underground in Celestial Pool Mountain.


    Ada nodded in agreement. With Luca''s equipment and their own decent skills, their leveling speed was much faster than most yers. However, even so, they were already struggling to keep up with Luca. If they rxed even slightly, they''d probably be left far behind in no time.


    After a brief moment of thought, Ada said, "Let''s skip Dawn City and head directly to Hain County."


    Luca wouldn''t stay in Dawn City for long, so instead of wasting time going there and possibly missing him, they might as well go straight to Hain County and wait for him. Otherwise, by the time they reached Dawn City, Luca might have already moved on.


    Ben had no objections and immediately sped up his grinding.


    Meanwhile, in the council hall.


    Alfred wore a genuine smile on his face and said, "If you''re thinking like this, I can rest easy. If you have any other requests, feel free to ask, and I''ll do my best to fulfill them."


    He had high hopes for Luca, the neer. Born from humble beginnings, Luca was somewhat tied to a few nobles, but he didn''t carry the typical marks of any noble faction.


    If possible, Alfred wanted to nurture Luca. He could be a valuable asset for the future of the Clinton Empire.


    Even Lucia and Luna couldn''t help but nce at Luca, their gazes somewhat peculiar.


    Although Luca was a noble of merit, wasn''t the king''s attitude toward him just a bit too favorable?


    Luca, too, was somewhat puzzled by the attention, but with such a great opportunity before him, he certainly wasn''t going to pass it up. He spoke up without hesitation, "Your Majesty, I do have one request."


    "Oh? What is it?" Alfred was somewhat surprised.


    He had casually offered the opportunity, and yet this young man was bold enough to take him up on it? But it suited him just fine.


    The other nobles couldn''t help but twitch at the corners of their mouths. This young man really had no shame! They were witnessing the true meaning of "pushing your luck" today.


    Luca, however, waspletely unaware of the disapproval. With a cheerful smile, he continued, "I have some questions, and I believe the Royal Library might have the answers. I was wondering if Your Majesty might allow me to visit?"


    Whether it was the secrets surrounding Sophia and Pandora, the Sr Divine Spear, or the whereabouts of the Zenith, these were not things that ordinary people could ess.


    The Royal Library was the most likely ce where Luca could find answers. Such a golden opportunity couldn''t be ignored.


    "The Royal Library, you say?" Alfred pondered briefly, then nodded. "After the meeting, I''ll have someone take you there."


    Although the Royal Library contained many secrets unknown to outsiders, these were things that had been sealed away for many years, and their authenticity could no longer be verified.


    Moreover, the so-called "secrets" were only significant to ordinary people. With Luca''s status, even without visiting the library, there were other ways he could uncover these mysteries. Given this, it would be better to grant him this favor.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Luca was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly things had gone. He quickly expressed his gratitude.


    "Such a small matter is nothing to mention." Alfred smiled, dismissing the gesture as insignificant.


    He then turned his gaze to the nobles gathered in the hall and asked, "If anyone else has something to discuss, now is the time to speak."


    "If not, we can adjourn the meeting. I am feeling a bit tired."


    Alfred''s words were sincere. Given his current physical state, after just a short time, he was already feeling overwhelmingly fatigued. His old injuries were also starting to ache again.


    Yurian, standing by, couldn''t hide his concern.


    The king''s condition was getting worse.


    Everyone present could see that the king was not in good shape, but no one dared to speak up about it.


    Instead, the meeting was quietly brought to a close.


    The nobles filed out of the council hall.


    A group of guards soon entered and delivered the rewards granted by the king to Luca.


    [Ding! Congrattions, yer "Luca," for receiving Alfred''s reward: Cold Sky Waters (Superss), Fate-Substitute Scarecrow (Superss), Divine Ruins Key (Secret Realm), 2,000,000 Gold...]


    [Cold Sky Waters: Superss Material, a rare item taken from the Nine Heavens Cold Mountains in the Northern Territory. When used by yers, it increases water affinity by 25% and grants 1,000 Spirit points. There is a 50% chance of gaining the Superss Transmutation Skill "Nine Heavens Cold Water," and it can also be used to craft potions or equipment.]


    [Fate-Substitute Scarecrow: Superss Item. It can block one fatal attack for the yer and teleport them 1,000 meters away. Cooldown time: 7 days.]


    [Divine Ruins Key: Secret Realm Item. When used, it grants ess to the Legendary Secret Realm "Divine Ruins." Upon clearing it, yers may obtain special legacies or rewards. Each yer may only use it once.]


    ...


    As Luca gazed at the radiant Transcendent items and the gold coins, his breath hitched for a moment. Although he had expected Alfred to be generous, the rewards still took him by surprise.


    Whether it was the "Cold Sky Waters" or the "Fate-Substitute Scarecrow," both were undeniably rare and valuable Transcendent items. These kinds of items were extremely difficult to obtain, even with money. As for the "Divine Ruins Key," not only was it something money couldn''t buy, but Luca had been wondering how he could get his hands on one before, and now, Alfred had handed him a key directly.


    Luca had heard of this secret realm in his previous life. The first yer to enter the Divine Ruins Secret Realmter became one of the most powerful Transcendent beings.


    If he could acquire anything from there, his strength would undoubtedly see a huge boost. Sophia was a prime example.


    She was the first person toplete the Divine Ruins Secret Realm. In such a short period of time, her strength had grown several times over.


    Although Luca didn''t know exactly what Sophia had gained there, he suspected that the reason she was able to break through to the Transcendent realm and ascend to the Divine Tier was due to some great opportunity she had obtained within that very secret realm.


    If he couldplete it too, perhaps he would gain something simr.


    With that thought, Luca couldn''t help but smile to himself.


    "Typical of a country bumpkin, really has never seen the world," came the mocking tone.At that moment, a sharp voice suddenly broke the silence, making Luca and the others frown involuntarily. Without even having to look, they knew exactly who the speaker was.


    "Lord Finn, although your Phillips family is wealthy, there''s no need to unt it so openly," Lucia said, her eyes narrowing with cold fury as she looked at Finn, rarely feeling such intense dislike for someone.


    Finn, however, was unbothered andughed lightly. "Lucia, you''re overthinking things. I''m just speaking the truth."


    Fratis furrowed her brows, about to speak up for Luca.


    When Prince Runne, the second prince, walked over and calmly added, "Finn is right. Just a few materials, and you''re already so openly delighted? I think, Lucia, you should really teach your student a lesson in humility and let him see the world."


    The nobles supporting the second prince also joined in, mocking Luca.


    Previously, they didn''t have much ill will toward Luca, mainly because they had wanted to win Finn''s favor. But now that Luca had be the lord of Han County, things had changed.


    Since the previous lord of Han County had been sent to the Imperial dungeon, the noble factions had been able to extract significant benefits from Han County each year. Even the Northern Duke, Mond Stein, had moved his fishing trade operations there.


    Now that Alfred had ousted them and handed Han County over to Luca, it was only natural for the second prince''s faction to have their objections.


    Despite the mockery, Luca remained unfazed.


    He simply replied, "A bunch of idiots."


    Thisment left everyone in the room momentarily stunned.


    "You... You filthy Demonic Rune Mage! How dare you insult us?!" After a brief pause, the nobles'' faces turned bright red with anger.


    They spent all their time in Dawn City, surrounded by wealthy merchants and nobles, so they had never encountered someone who spoke so freely and insulted others so openly.


    Instantly, the crowd began to berate Luca, as if he hadmitted some unforgivable crime.


    Realizing that Luca had angered everyone, Finn was pleased and immediately seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. "Luca! This is the royal pce, not a ce for you to run wild. Apologize to me and all the noble lords right now, or don''t me us for reporting you to His Majesty!"


    "Apologize? A fool like you thinks I should apologize?" Luca chuckled and added, "I insulted you, so what? You''re just a stupid idiot."


    Finn''s smug expression immediately froze. The nobles around them were shocked, staring at Luca in disbelief.


    Holy crap, this young man has some nerve!


    He actually dared to insult Finn, and right in front of Duke Lyon, no less. How is he so bold?


    A few of the dukes, still standing nearby, exchanged looks with one another, their expressions suddenly growing moreplicated. They had just gained a whole new understanding of Luca.


    Fratis and Lucia both couldn''t hold back theirughter. This guy was truly something else.


    "You''re asking for death!" Finn''s face turned red with anger, his blood boiling. To be humiliated in front of his father, fianc¨¦e, and so many nobles was like a p in the face.


    Grinding his teeth, Finn raised his hand, ready to teach the insolent fool a lesson.


    But just as he was about to strike, a cold snort interrupted the tension.


    "Take your grievances outside," a voice said icily. "No fighting in the royal pce! Those who disobey will die."


    The words fell like a thunderp, and in an instant, a powerful aura swept across the room!


    Even the dukes and the Superss experts present couldn''t help but change their expressions.


    What is this...?


    Everyone turned to look toward the source of the voice, and they saw a middle-aged knight in ck and gold armor slowly approaching. His gaze was cold as ice, and he held a long sword in his hand. The terrifying aura around him felt like a tidal wave, shaking everyone to their core.


    "The Empire''s God of War, Winston Morrison? When did he return?!" someone gasped.


    "The Empire''s God of War... the peak of Superss..." Luca inwardly clicked his tongue in awe, but it didn''t surprise him too much.


    As one of the strongest nations on the Eternal Continent, it would have been more shocking if the Clinton Empire''s royal pce didn''t have such a powerhouse in its ranks.

 Chapter 158: Chapter 158: The Late-Blooming Senior! The Tome of Gods and Demons! Pandoras Divinity!

    Seeing the neer, Finn''s face immediately drained of color. It dawned on him what a foolish mistake he had just made. Sweat began to pour down his face as he quickly bent his waist and said, "My apologies, General Winston. I was reckless just now."


    Beside him, Duke Lyon furrowed his brows and a look of wariness shed in his eyes. He said, "General, the boy doesn''t know any better. I hope you won''t hold it against him."


    The burly man in ck armor didn''t even nce at either of them. He simply said tly, "Leave."


    Duke Lyon''s expression darkened, his eyes shing with anger. But in the end, he held himself back and refrained fromshing out.


    He waved his hand at Finn and spoke in a low voice, "Let''s go."


    It''s no wonder they''re father and son. They speak in the exact same way¡­ Luca thought to himself.


    Even Duke Lyon had been put in his ce, so the rest of the nobles had no courage to speak further. One by one, they scurried out of the hall, their heads low, as if the man in ck armor were some sort of flesh-eating monster.


    At this moment, the burly man in ck armor looked over at Luca and asked, "Are you the new student Orf just took on?"


    Luca paused, surprised that this man knew Orf. He nodded and replied, "Yes, that''s me. Do you know my teacher?"


    Winston''s lips curled slightly. "I know him. I studied magic runes under him once."


    What?!Everyone in the hall was stunned and turned to look at him in disbelief.


    Orf had once taught the Empire''s God of War? They hadn''t known about this before.


    "But wait, you''re a knight, right? How did you end up studying magic runes?" Anna raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled.


    Luca was also curious. How did his senior brother, who was a knight, end up studying magic runes halfway through his career?


    Winston was silent for a moment before he sighed deeply. "Well, back then, I was studying magic runes, but I ran out of money to buy materials. It seemed like an endless money pit, so I quit and became a knight instead¡­"


    Good grief!The others couldn''t help butugh, though they were also slightly taken aback.


    So, the Empire''s God of War was actually ate-blooming Demonic Rune Mage after all?


    Luca now understood why Orf had sworn never to take on another student again. After going through all the effort to teach a student only for him to abandon the subject halfway, anyone would be furious enough to spit blood.


    Winston clearly didn''t want to dwell on his "dark history," and quickly changed the subject. "Enough about that. His Majesty sent me to take you to the library. Follow me."


    Luca gave a slight nod and said to Sophia, Lucia, and the others, "I''ll be back shortly. You all can head back first."


    Since there was little risk of danger in the royal pce, after bidding farewell to Fratis and the others, Luca followed Winston, who led the way with a group of nobles, out of the main hall.


    "Let''s go." Winston waved his hand, and suddenly, Luca felt his body lift off the ground.


    The two of them quickly ascended, soaring into the clouds in the blink of an eye.


    Higher-level professionals had the ability to fly, although most couldn''t maintain flight for long.


    But for Superss beings, flight was effortless. Luca wasn''t overly surprised.


    Wrapped in Winston''s aura, the two of them glided through the clouds like shooting stars. Within just a few breaths, they had traveled from the very center of the royal pce to a quiet, serene pavilion situated in the northern part of the kingdom.


    This pavilion stood tall on the center of a shimmeringke, its ancient architecture resembling a high tower, with the spire piercing the clouds above.


    Therge gates of the pavilion were closed tight, with several golden-armored guards standing watch¡ªeach one a high-tier expert.


    After theynded, Winston casually waved his hand, tossing a token to one of the guards, and said in a deep voice, "By the order of His Majesty, Luca the Count is allowed to enter the library at will. No one is to stop him. This is the token."


    One of the golden-armored guards hastily caught the token and examined it closely.


    After confirming it was legitimate, the guard respectfully returned it with both hands, saying, "The token is authentic. You may enter at your leisure, My Lords. If there is anything you need, do not hesitate tomand us."


    Winston nodded, tossing the token to Luca. "Here, this will be yours from now on."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother," Luca said quickly, taking the token.


    Hearing Luca address him as "Senior Brother," Winston''s footsteps faltered for a moment. He turned back to look at Luca, a smile briefly appearing on his lips, but he didn''t say anything more.


    Although he had run away from Red Maple Academy years ago, Winston had never forgotten the help Orf had given him. If it hadn''t been for Orf''s concern, who sent him a storage ring back then, he might have died on the Eastern Territory''s border battlefield and never be the Empire''s God of War.


    Winston always felt guilty about abandoning his studies under Orf, which was why he had avoided returning to Southwind City for all these years. As for Luca, he simply wanted to look out for the younger student¡ªperhaps to make up for what he owed Orf.


    Together, the two of them entered the library.


    What greeted Luca was a grand, antique hall.


    Around them, bookshelves were neatly arranged, filled with all kinds of books, stacked upon each other, towering all the way up to the top of the library. In front of the bookshelves wereyers of circr staircases, spiraling upwards.


    The library was nearly empty, save for a short elderly man in a robe, wearing sses, who was organizing some books.


    Upon noticing Luca and Winston''s arrival, the man adjusted his sses and asked, "May I help you, gentlemen? Is there a specific book you''re looking for?"


    Winston looked at Luca and introduced him, "This is the head librarian, Teddy Xavier. If you''re looking for something, just ask him. I have some matters to attend to, so I won''t be staying."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother. You can go ahead," Luca said with a smile.


    Winston nodded slightly, about to leave, when he suddenly remembered something.


    He took out an ancient ck magic rune from his storage ring and handed it to Luca. "Take this. If you ever find yourself in danger, it might just save your life."


    Luca stared at the ck magic rune, momentarily stunned.


    [Deadshot Magic Rune: Superss item. When used, it releases a powerful dark attribute attack, inflicting fatal damage that ignores defenses. Usable only once.]


    It was a Superss-grade item!


    Luca was taken aback. The difficulty in crafting such an item was far higher than typical temporary magic runes, and it required significantly more resources. He hadn''t expected Winston to just hand it over so casually.


    Seeming to understand Luca''s thoughts, Winston chuckled. "This was something the teacher gave me a long time ago. I''ve kept it all these years, but never had the chance to use it. Now it''s yours."


    Luca felt a sense of gratitude. With this magic rune, even if he encountered some Superss beings, he would have a way to defend himself.


    After Winston left, Luca calmed his emotions.


    He ced the Deadshot Magic Rune into his storage ring.


    Turning to the head librarian, Luca asked, "Director Teddy, I''m wondering if you have any ancient texts on the Seven Demon Kings of the Abyssal Demon Realm?"


    "The Demon Kings of the Abyssal Demon Realm?" The short elderly man gave Luca a curious nce.


    Wondering what he could possibly want with such books.


    However, Teddy didn''t ask further.


    After a moment of thought, he waved his hand.


    Immediately, dozens of books flew off the shelves andnded in front of Luca. There were some iplete ancient texts, as well as transcribed notes, a mishmash of various materials¡ªover seventy or eighty books piled into a small mountain.


    Teddy exined, "These are all the books in the library rted to the Seven Magic Runes."


    He paused before adding, "However, I must warn you. The Seven Magic Runes haven''t appeared for many years, so many of these books are simply spective. The uracy is uncertain, so don''t take them too seriously."


    "Thank you, I''ll keep that in mind," Luca nodded in acknowledgment, expressing his thanks.


    He then picked up a book titled "The Compendium of Abyssal Demon Realm Monsters"and began flipping through it.


    Although Director Teddy had mentioned that the information here could not be verified, Luca suspected that he could never have guessed that Luca had actually seen a few Demon Kings with his own eyes. For Luca, distinguishing the truth from the fiction in these books wasn''t particrly difficult.


    Even so, reading through all these books would likely take quite a bit of time. Fortunately, Luca had a lot of patience. To solve the puzzle in his mind, he was willing to spend time looking for any clue that might help.


    Luca flipped through the books quickly, barely ncing at each one before he could tell if it contained any useful information.


    The only issue was that the text in these ancient books was very different from the characters currently used on the Eternal Continent. Luca couldn''t recognize all of it and had to ask Teddy for help with trantion.


    Teddy wasn''t impatient at all, taking the time to exin everything to Luca, one book at a time.


    Time passed slowly.


    The pile of books in front of Luca continued to dwindle.


    Finally, half a dayter, Luca made a discovery in a damaged ancient text titled "The Secret Codex of Gods and Demons."


    This Codexcontained records of many gods and monsters from the Eternal Continent.


    However, due to the passage of time, much of the content was missing, and even Teddy found it difficult to trante.


    Luca had to rely on his own knowledge and tried to corrte the information he was gaining with some obscure legends he had heard. Surprisingly, he made a few breakthroughs.


    In the book, there was a very vague myth about Pandora.


    It suggested that Pandora was once one of the gods, holding dominion over the emotionalws of life and death.


    But, due to a grave mistake she made, the God King became enraged, stripping her of her divinity and casting her down into the Abyssal Demon Realm, condemning her to eternal damnation.


    The godly essence she lost was then given to another deity by the God King. The name of this deity was unclear, but it was known that this new god wielded the power of frost...


    "The God King... the divine essence... the Law of Frost..." Luca chewed on these terms, his frown growing deeper.


    Suddenly, he felt that he might have uncovered something monumental.


    Pandora''s divine essence had been granted to a god of ice, and Sophia wouldtere to master the Law of Frost and ascend to godhood... moreover, their appearances were identical...


    There had to be a hidden connection between Sophia and Pandora. Luca felt an instinctive certainty that this was linked to something important he had been searching for. Unfortunately, the information was far too fragmented to make any clear conclusions.


    As Luca was deep in thought, Director Teddy''s respectful voice suddenly broke through his contemtion.


    "Your Majesty, what brings you here?"

 Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Dean Selin! Divine Ruins Secret Realm! Have I Been Here Before?

    "Let''s go," Luca said, already used to the kind of attention he was getting, and didn''t give it much thought. Under the gaze of the crowd, he walked with the women into Starry Academy.


    The campus ground was paved with white stone bs, and towering, ancient-style teaching buildings stood proudly, surrounded by lush greenery. Students walked by,ughing and chatting, creating a lively atmosphere.


    The campus of Starry Academywas vastly different from Red Maple Academy. It wasn''t just the size, but also the architectural style and well-maintained gardens that made it feel more refined and minimalist, with hints of a modern academic institution.


    As they walked, curious eyes were constantly drawn to them. Both Luciaand Sophiawere well-known figures in the academy, and although Fratisdidn''t frequent Dawn City, the school had many noble offspring, so she was recognized by quite a few people.


    With their stunning looks, the group garnered the full attention of anyone they passed by. As the only man in a sea of beauties, Luca naturally stood out like a sore thumb. If looks could kill, he would probably have been pierced with arrows by now.


    The group continued their walk without pause, weaving through the campus until they reached the faculty building at the back of the academy.


    The building had a slightly castle-like appearance, with walls bearing the marks of time. It looked like it had stood for many years, holding the weight of countless stories.


    Once inside, under Lucia''slead, they made their way toward the top floor of the faculty building.


    They weren''t stopped by anyone along the way, though many greeted Sophiaand Luciaas they walked.


    Soon, they reached the office at the top floor.


    "Knock, knock!"Luciaknocked on the door.


    A few seconds passed before a faint, weak voice came from inside. "Come in."


    The door opened, revealing a very clean and tidy office. Apart from a desk and a sofa, there was little else in the room.


    Behind the desk sat an older woman with graying hair. Herplexion was pale and somewhat frail, but there was still a lingering beauty about her from her younger days. She was busy reviewing documents in the office.


    From her appearance, Luca could already tell that she was simr to Lucia, and he deduced that this must be Lucia''s mother, the headmistress of Starry Academy, Selin Elizabeth.


    "Just say what you need to say," the woman said without looking up, her tone calm and indifferent. Clearly, she knew exactly what kind of person her daughter was.


    Luciaimmediately bristled, "What kind of talk is that? Are you implying that I wouldn''t visit you if there was nothing wrong?"


    The older woman put down her pen, ncing at her daughter with annoyance. "If you really had any conscience, you''d find a man, get married, and give me a grandson. Then, I''d die without regrets."


    Luciadidn''t respond, rolling her eyes in silent protest, pretending she hadn''t heard.


    "As soon as marriagees up, you y dead. Do you really think you can live your life alone?" Dean Selin snorted coldly, then turned her gaze to Luca and the others. Her expression softened, and she said, "You must be Luca, right? Lucia has mentioned you before. I''ve also heard about what happened in Southwind City. You did well. If there''s anything you need help with, just ask."


    Her tone carried a hint of warmth. While she couldn''t stand her own daughter, she genuinely liked Lucia''s two students.


    "It wasn''t just my aplishment, though. It was also thanks to Marquis Bronte and the others," Luca replied with a smile. Then he continued, "By the way, the reason I''m here today, aside from visiting you, is that I wanted to enter the Divine Ruins Secret Realm. Previously, His Majesty the King gave me a Divine Ruins Key."


    "Divine Ruins Secret Realm, huh?" Selin said thoughtfully. "With your strength and talent, you should be able to gain some good legacies inside." She smiled, then reached into her storage ring, pulling out another key and handing it to Luca. "The Divine Ruins Secret Realmisn''t guarded, but it requires two keys to enter. Afterward, Lucia can guide you there directly."


    She paused for a moment, then added, "However, you need to be careful. In the Secret Realm, all Transcendent-levelitems will be disabled, and the monsters inside are far stronger than those in the outside world. Also, everyone is allowed to enter only once, so once you''re inside, don''t get too reckless."


    "I understand. Thank you for the warning, Dean Selin." Luca expressed his gratitude and reached out to take the second key. This key looked identical to the Divine Ruins Keyhe already had, except that it was white and seemed to be made of jade.


    "Ah, what a good child you are. It really is a shame that you and Sophia have to learn under her," Dean Selin sighed, looking at Lucia.


    Such a promising young talent, but stuck with such an irresponsible teacher. Just thinking about it made her feel sorry for them.


    "You''re ndering me!" Luciamuttered under her breath, clearly displeased with the way Selin had assessed her teaching.


    "Did you really teach them well?" Dean Selin shot her a sharp look. She knew all too well what kind of teacher Lucia was¡ªcertainly not cut out for the job.


    If it weren''t for Lucaand Sophia''sextraordinary talent, they''d probably still be stuck at the Gold Gradestage with an average teacher.


    Luciapouted, feeling disgruntled but too proud to argue further. Deep down, she knew there was some truth to it.


    The group didn''t linger much longer in the office.


    After saying their goodbyes to Dean Selin, they made their way to the entrance of the Divine Ruins Secret Realm.


    On the way, Luca asked Lucia, "Do you know what''s going on with Dean Selin''s health?"


    When they entered earlier, he noticed something off about Selin. It was as if the life force within her was being eroded by something.


    However, with limited time, Luca couldn''t figure out exactly what it was, but he had a vague feeling it was simr to what he''d sensed in King Alfred.


    Lucia sighed and answered, "The injuries she has are from when she saved His Majesty all those years ago. Although it''s not as severe as His Majesty''s, her strength was weaker than his back then. So, I think¡­"


    She shook her head and didn''t continue.


    Luca understood what Lucia meant.


    It seemed Selin didn''t have much time left.


    What had happened back then? Why did both King Alfred and Dean Selin suffer such serious injuries?


    Could it have been the Queen Matilda''s doing? That didn''t seem right, though¡­


    Luca felt confused. He asked Lucia about it, but unfortunately, he didn''t get any useful clues.


    Fratis, however, knew a bit more. But even she didn''t have all the answers. ording to her, it wasn''t just them¡ªalmost no one in Dawn City knew exactly what had happened back then. And even if they did, people tended to remain silent, afraid to speak openly.


    The only thing everyone was sure of was that, years ago, the King and several powerful figures had gone to a mysterious Secret Realmto retrieve a treasure. But upon returning to Dawn City, they were ambushed. Not only was the treasure stolen, but they were also left with lingering, troublesome injuries that still hadn''t been resolved.


    Stealing from the King in Dawn City?


    Luca shook his head, not really caring to specte about who the culprit might be.


    Anyway, it wouldn''t matter for long. He''d be leaving Dawn City soon enough.


    Before long, the group arrived at the location of the Divine Ruins Secret Realm.


    At the very back of Dawn Academy, there stood arge artificial hill around a hundred meters high. A straight stone staircase led up to the top, with intricate, dense runes carved into the steps.


    At the summit, there was an ancient altar surrounded by eight towering stone pirs, all of which were also engraved with mysterious, ancient runes.


    "This is the entrance to the Divine Ruins Secret Realm?" Luca asked as he surveyed the altar in front of him after reaching the top.


    At the center of the altar, Luca could see a stone tform with two key-shaped indentations. It was likely where he would need to ce the two keys he was holding.


    Much like Red Maple Academy, Dawn Academywas built here because of its proximity to a special Secret Realm. In fact, it wasn''t just the two academies¡ªmany noble families and powerful factions also established their strongholds near such realms.


    The reasons for the formation of these Secret Realmswere varied, and many of the resources found within them were nearly impossible to obtain from the outside world. So, controlling ess to a Secret Realmin itself was a mark of significant power and prestige.


    "This is it. Just ce your Divine Ruins Key into the stone tform," Lucia nodded, then looked at Luca with a serious expression. "The Divine Ruins Secret Realmis extremely dangerous, so be careful. If you feel like you can''t continue, leave immediately¡ªdon''t hesitate. Once you''re in, there''s no going back. If you die inside, it''s for real.


    "If you don''t manage to obtain any inheritance, don''t worry. I''ll find something better for you when you return."


    Sophia also spoke seriously, "What the teacher says is true. Every year, talented people die in the Divine Ruins Secret Realm. Even though I made it through, it wasn''t because I was particrly strong; I just got lucky. You must be cautious."


    Luca, fully aware of the danger of the Secret Realm, smiled and replied, "Don''t worry. I know what''s important¡ªmy life and the inheritance. I can tell the difference."


    Hearing this, Lucia and the others rxed a little.


    Without further dy, Luca walked directly towards the altar.


    But just as he was about to step onto the altar, his foot faltered for a moment. It was as if something deep within him had been triggered, and a strange, overwhelming sense of familiarity flooded his mind.


    "I... I feel like I''ve been here before?" a voice echoed in Luca''s mind.


    It was the Sr Divine Spear, which had been dormant for so long.


    And it wasn''t just Luca. Even Jormungandrstirred awake.


    "There''s something off about this ce. I can sense the presence of a god¡­" Jormungandr spoke gravely.


    "The presence of a god?" Luca''s gaze sharpened.


    It seemed like he hade to the right ce.


    Without hesitation, he ced the two keys¡ªone ck and one white¡ªinto the corresponding slots in the stone tform.


    "Buzz!"


    The two Divine Ruins Keysimmediately erupted in light!


    The ck and white lights intertwined, glowing in a dazzling disy.


    In an instant, a strange power emanated from the stone tform. The runes on the eight stone pirs surrounding the altar lit up, and an ancient, heavy aura¡ªseemingly from the very beginning of time¡ªenveloped the entire hill.


    In a daze, Luca felt as though he was witnessing a grand, majestic scene.


    In the boundless starry sky, countless towering figures cloaked in divine light and mysteriousws stood like colossal pirs holding up the universe. These beings gazed down at the worlds beneath them, their divine majesty overwhelming!


    And just as Luca saw them¡­


    An explosion of divine light burst forth!


    All the gods lowered their heads in unison, their eyes fixed upon him!


    [Wee to the Divine Ruins Secret Realm!]

 Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Another Group of People? The Magsea Staff! Movements from Both Sides!

    Looking at how the gods of the Eternal Continent have almostpletely vanished from existence, it''s easy to imagine just how devastating that war must have been.


    During the Divine Cataclysm, the God King was in by Zenobia, nearly all the gods perished, and only a few, like the Goddess of Dawn, managed to survive by the skin of their teeth.


    As for Zenobia, the one responsible for it all, she was stripped of her divinity and forever sealed in the dark side of the Eternal Continent, which is now known as the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    It wasn''t that the gods were too merciful to kill Zenobia; it was that they couldn''t. As long as desire and sin existed, she would never truly die.


    The ce where Luca now stood was the "Divine Court," the former home of the gods. However, this once heavenly sanctuary had long since been turned into a ruin during that great war, andter, it was overtaken by monsters.


    A hundred thousand yearster, the Divine Court had transformed into what was now called the "Divine Ruins Secret Realm." Any inheritances or treasures left behind were likely the remnants of the gods who had perished here.


    "Stripped of divinity and cast into the abyss¡­" Luca squinted, and without thinking, one person came to mind.


    The Witch of Desire¡ªPandora!


    Zenobia''s powers were very simr to Pandora''s, and from what Luca had read in the archives, Pandora had also been cast down from her divinity by the God King and had fallen into the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    Could it be that Pandora was Zenobia?


    But what about Sophia¡­?


    Luca''s mind was in a mess, so he decided to ask Sr Divine Spear.


    Sr Divine Spear shook his head. "I don''t know either. After Zenobia was sealed, a lot happened. Just after the war between the gods, another group of people appeared and began ughtering the remaining gods."


    "Another group of people?" Luca''s eyes narrowed. Could it be that group of bastards?


    Among all the beings Luca knew of, it was likely only the beings from the Celestial Summit who would have the power to manipte gods.


    "That''s right, another group. Their strength is far greater than that of the gods. It was at that time that I was sealed by their divine spell, and my master¡­ was killed as well." There was a surge of long-buried fury in Sr Divine Spear''s eyes.


    He looked at Luca and said in a low voice, "This Divine Cataclysm was clearly a scheme of theirs. Otherwise, Zenobia could never have obtained the God King''s Celestial Pearlso easily."


    "Unfortunately, the only thing I''m sure of is that they aren''t from the Eternal Continent. The divine power they used is vastly different from ours. The reason I''m willing to follow you is because I want you to find them."


    Luca casually struck down a monster that lunged at him, unable to suppress a bitter smile. "You''re overestimating me," he muttered.


    In his previous life, he had never encountered these mysterious beings hiding in the shadows. Finding them wouldn''t be as simple as just saying it.


    Sr Divine Spear was about to say something.


    When Luca suddenly smiled. "But don''t worry. No matter how difficult it is, I''ll definitely find them."


    "These rats should pay for their actions."


    Sr Divine Spear paused for a moment before smiling as well. "It seems I didn''t choose the wrong person after all."


    While they were talking, Luca had unknowingly walked up to the ruins of a pce.


    The pce had been destroyed, leaving only half of it standing. The walls, cracked and weathered, were overtaken by twisting purple vines, and blood-red flowers bloomed from cracks in the white jade floor.


    Inside the pce, broken stones and dust were scattered everywhere, yet the towering columns and intricately carved walls still hinted at its former grandeur and magnificence.


    However, what caught Luca''s attention wasn''t the building itself but a staff lying abandoned on the ground within it.


    The staff was broken in half, with one portion missing. At the top, a bright blue gemstone was embedded, emitting a faint glow that had drawn Luca''s attention moments before.


    "This is the Magsea Staff, a weapon once wielded by a sea god. It''s a pity it''s been damaged, with only a fragment of its power remaining. I''m afraid it wouldn''t even reach the Transcendent tier anymore." Sr Divine Spear''s eyes held a hint of nostalgia and sadness, as though recalling memories from a hundred thousand years ago.


    Luca felt a pang of regret upon hearing this.


    After all, this was a divine artifact, its value beyond measure.


    After a brief moment of contemtion.


    Luca gritted his teeth and decided to give it a try, wondering if he could retrieve the staff.


    Even if it couldn''t be used, it might help Sr Divine Spear recover some of his divine power.


    "Better be cautious¡­" Luca''s gaze lingered on the alluring blood-red flowers and the twisting purple vines. His eyes narrowed as a faint yellow light began to glow from his hands, forming a magic circle before him.


    The ground suddenly trembled.


    A massive rock giant, towering at ten meters tall, emerged from the magic circle, kneeling on one knee before Luca.


    High-tier magic rune¡ªStone Spirit Guardian!


    "Go and check what''s inside," Lucamanded.


    Since he had a puppet at his disposal, he wasn''t foolish enough to risk his own safety.


    "Yes, Master!" The Stone Spirit Guardian responded in a stiff, robotic tone, rising to its feet before striding forward into the pce. Each step it took caused the ground to shake with thunderous crashes, the earth trembling with each heavy footfall.


    Under Luca''s watchful gaze, the Stone Spirit Guardian soon reached the entrance to the grand hall.


    The surroundings were silent, and nothing unusual seemed to be happening.


    Just as Luca thought he might have been overthinking it...


    Suddenly, the blood-red flowers on the ground emitted a burst of crimson light, and the purple vines on the pce walls seemed toe alive, writhing and squirming as they shot towards the Stone Spirit Guardian with lightning speed.


    Though the Stone Spirit Guardian had thick, tough skin, its massive frame was sluggish and cumbersome. It didn''t have time to dodge and was immediately ensnared by the vines, which wrapped tightly around it.


    The vines suddenly constricted, and the thorns on the stems pierced through the Stone Spirit Guardian''s defenses as easily as piercing tofu, driving deep into its body.


    What happened next was horrifying.The vines began to pulse, as though drawing the Stone Spirit Guardian''s blood. At the same time, the elemental energy in its body rapidly began to drain away.


    In just a few breaths, the Stone Spirit Guardian stopped struggling. It stood motionless, stiff as a statue, and then slowly toppled over, crashing to the ground with a loud thud, disintegrating into countless shards of rock.


    The blood-red flowers on the ground grew even more vivid, and the purple vines, having consumed the Stone Spirit Guardian, didn''t seem satisfied. Instead, they turned and shot towards Luca.


    "Holy hell! It''s that strong?" Luca inhaled sharply.


    Earlier, he thought this ce was home to high-level monsters, but he had no idea there were such terrifying creatures lurking here.


    The Stone Spirit Guardian had a genuine high-tier status, and even a Diamond-level warrior would have a hard time dispatching it so quickly. Yet, these vines managed to destroy it in mere seconds, leaving no time for it to even resist.


    The vines'' power was undoubtedly at the Supersslevel!


    Luca quickly made a judgment. Silver magic runes glowed beneath his feet, and without hesitation, he turned and ran.


    He coulde back for the treasure after he obtained the inheritance. There was no point in fighting this monster head-on.


    However, the vine creature clearly wasn''t going to let him off so easily.


    The pce trembled as the ground cracked open.


    More purple vines shot up from the earth, flying towards Luca like arrows.


    Luca reacted swiftly. His body moved like lightning as he used Air Step, dodging the iing attacks one after another.


    Though the situation was perilous, he managed to avoid any serious injury.


    "Don''t run that way! That''s where the gods are..." Sr Divine Spear, anxious, tried to warn Luca.


    But his strength hadn''t been fully restored, and after so much time spent outside, he was beginning to wear thin.


    At the critical moment, he faltered. His words were cut short, and before he could finish, he vanished into the air.


    "You could at least finish your sentence before disappearing¡­" Luca thought with a bitter smile, but he understood what Sr Divine Spear meant.


    It was clear that ahead was even more dangerous. He quickly changed direction, running toward the misty area on the other side.


    However, what Luca didn''t notice was this:


    After he turned, the giant python made of vines behind him seemed to hesitate for a moment, as though it was wary of something.


    Then, surprisingly, it began to slowly retreat¡­


    ...


    Meanwhile, as the sun set and the sky darkened.


    In the Phillips family mansion¡­


    Twelve figures, wearing evil spirit masks and red robes, knelt on one knee in utter reverence.


    Finn''s expression was grim as he coldly spoke, "You all know the mission. Remember, today I want to see Luca''s head brought back along with the Demon Box."


    "If you fail toplete the mission, you twelve will not return."


    "Young master, rest assured, we willplete the task!" the eleven high-ranking masked figures and one Superssghost-faced figure responded in unison. Their figures vanished like blood-red phantoms, disappearing into the twilight in the blink of an eye.


    Watching them leave, Finn''s lips curled into a cold smile. "You little bastard, your arrogance will cost you dearly! I''ll see just how many lives you have for me to take!"


    A mere lowly noble from Riverfall City had humiliated him multiple times.


    This stoked a raging fire in Finn''s heart.


    Previously, Luca needed to be knighted, and in consideration of His Majesty''s face, they had refrained from acting early. But now that the knighthood ceremony was over and Luca no longer had any protection, today, Finn would make the bastard pay!


    "Young master, the princess''s wedding dress has been custom-made," the butler approached and said respectfully.


    "I know. I''ll take her to try it onter," Finn replied, his cold expression melting into a smile.


    Not only could he finally kill that annoying pest and get his hands on what he wanted, but he''d also get to see the woman he liked in the custom wedding dress he''d chosen for her.


    Today was going to be a good day for him.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in an alley outside Starry Academy.


    A group of hooded figures hid in the shadows, asionally ncing toward the towering artificial mountain behind the academy.


    "Priest, how long do you think it will take for him toe out of the Divine Ruins Secret Realm?" the leader, a burly man, asked the youth beside him.


    "Not more than three hours. Sophia only spent six hours in there." The youth removed his hood, revealing a head of golden hair and a handsome face.


    He extended his hand in front of him and drew a five-star formation in the air. Smirking, he added, "The monsters in the Divine Ruins Secret Realm aren''t that easy to handle. I think it would be wise to pray to the goddess, hoping this kid doesn''t die in there."


    "Otherwise, if he does die, getting into Starry Academy will be much harder for us."

 Capítulo 130: Chapter 130: Finn Arrives! Silencing Witnesses! A Transcendent Level Descends!

    A terrifying aura crashed down upon thend, as if the entire world had been overtaken by the blood-red giant hand.


    No one had expected such a sudden shift, and there was no time to react.


    The blood-colored hand mmed directly into the area upied by the Mora family.


    Boom!


    A deafening explosion echoed through the meat factory.


    Dust and debris erupted, while the very mountains trembled under the terrifying force.


    When the dust finally settled, all that remained where the Mora family had stood was a massive handprint, deeply embedded in the ground.


    The hundreds of Mora family members were gone, leaving nothing but a grim, muddy stain.


    They''d all been obliterated in a single blow.


    It was then that everyone noticed a figure in a blood-red robe hovering silently in the sky.


    With his arms crossed, he floated in midair, a pair of crimson wings ring out from his back.


    He wore a grotesque mask, and his entire body radiated an intense and frightening aura.


    It was unmistakably a Superss master!


    "The¡­ the Phillips family''s Hand of Heaven!" Bronte recognized the skill''s origin, his face turning deathly pale.


    At the mention of this family name, shock spread across everyone''s faces.


    For this was the family of Duke Lyon!


    But why had they suddenlye to Southwind City?!


    Orf raised his gaze, his gray brows knitted tightly together as he looked toward the distant sky.


    He sighed. "Sir Finn, I believe you owe us an exnation."


    The crowd followed Orf''s gaze, yet saw nothing out of the ordinary.


    Luca''s eyes narrowed as a sh of purple flickered in them, and then his pupils contracted sharply.


    Among the clouds, a massive, luxurious flying vessel had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.


    It spanned thousands of meters, its surface covered in countless glowing runes that radiated a dazzling light.


    Standing on its deck was a young man, dressed in crimson noble attire, his handsome face framed by the wind.


    His gaze was fixed on them. Hearing Orf''s words, he raised his hand slightly, and the vessel emerged from its cloaked state, drawing gasps from the crowd.


    Finn Phillips! Why had hee here?!


    Fratis''s face went pale as she pressed her lips together tightly, seeming to anticipate the worst.


    "What kind of exnation are you asking for, Headmaster Orf?" Finn Phillips replied with a light chuckle, unfazed by Orf''s Superss status.


    His gaze dropped, voice cold. "The Mora family colluded with a cult, attempting to sacrifice tens of thousands of innocent people. I happened to pass by, so I took care of them.


    "If anything, you all should be thanking me, don''t you think?"


    Bronte''s face darkened, anger shing in his eyes. "Finn, as the duke''s son, don''t you think that''s a bit shameless?"


    Though notmon knowledge, it was well-known among those in power that the Mora family served Finn.


    They''d likely been observing for quite a while.


    Only acting at the crucial moment to silence witnesses.


    And now, he dared to make such a brazen statement?


    Luca didn''t know much about the strength of Fratis''s fianc¨¦.


    But he was definitely getting a sense of his shamelessness.


    Noticing the rising discontent around him.


    Finn remainedpletely unbothered.


    He said calmly, "If you''re unhappy, you''re wee to report it to Dawn City. Someone there will handle it. But here, you have no right to question me."


    Even in the presence of several Superss fighters, he seemed entirely dismissive, as if no one here was worth his attention. This arrogance, ignoring everyone around him, made even the typically calm Orf frown.


    This guy was outrageously arrogant!


    The Mora family''s blood sacrifice ritual still had many secrets buried beneath the surface. Yet, before they had a chance to investigate, Finn had wiped them all out.


    Now, who knew what dangers might linger or how many more would die as a result?


    Finn''s conduct and attitude were nothing short of infuriating!


    But at the thought of who he was, many found themselves biting back their words.


    Duke Lyon, Finn''s father, was one of the most powerful figures in the Clinton Empire.


    It wasn''t just ordinary people like them¡ªeven Bronte had to bow down before such overwhelming power.


    In the Eternal Continent, strength was everything;ws and rules were practically meaningless.


    As long as your power was unmatched, no one could challenge you, even if they knew you were behind everything. That was the Eternal Continent''s harsh reality¡ªthew of the jungle.


    "I don''t need your reminder! I''ll be reporting this to Dawn City myself, and His Majesty will personally handle it! Let''s see if you''re still so smug then!" Bronte snapped, no longer bothering to mask his contempt.


    Sure, he couldn''t take action against Finn now. Just the Sky-level Superss guard beside him would be more than difficult to deal with, and handling this matter wasn''t even within their authority.


    But that didn''t mean Finn was untouchable here. Sooner orter, someone would investigate Finn''s ties to the Mora family, and if anything suspicious was uncovered, not even Duke Lyon could protect him!


    "I''ll be looking forward to it," Finn said, narrowing his eyes slightly, but showing not the slightest hint of concern.


    He waved his hand and, apanied by the masked Superss figure, returned to the flying vessel.


    Bronte snorted, saying nothing more, and made his way toward the meat factory.


    At this point, the meat factory had beenpletely reduced to rubble. Of the tens of thousands of ves within the Blood Sacrifice Array, more than half had perished, while the survivors, pale-faced, had much of their life force drained.


    Fortunately, they hadn''t sustained irreparable harm and could recover with some care and rest.


    Notably, Ian was still alive.


    Being thrown into the Blood Sacrifice Array earlier had ironically saved him, allowing him to avoid the worst of the attack.


    Bronte felt a bit relieved at this small constion.


    Ian, as a key yer within the Mora family, could still provide valuable information.


    As Bronte considered this, his gaze shifted to something hovering above the Blood Sacrifice Array¡ªa ck box, emanating a sinister dark glow.


    The box was now stained with ayer of blood at the edges, giving it an even more malevolent appearance.


    Even with his vast knowledge, Bronte couldn''t identify the origin of this dark artifact. He turned back to Orf and asked, "Dean, does this look familiar to you?"


    "It does look familiar¡­" Orf frowned, scrutinizing the box. After a moment, his face changed suddenly. "This¡­ could it be the Demon Box?"


    Luca gave a slight nod.


    Itapparently reaching the same conclusion.


    "The Demon Box?" Bronte''s face paled, and he drew in a sharp breath. "Pandora''s Demon Box? How has this surfaced now?"


    With their status and experience, they understood well the seven King-level monsters from the Abyssal Demon Realm and the unspeakable horrors they had unleashed on the Eternal Continent.


    Pandora was a notorious name among the Seven Demon Lords. Legend had it that she wielded a ck box, storing the very essence of sin and endless desires, enough to corrupt the heart of any mortal.


    Bronte never imagined he''d one day encounter such an infamous relic in his own territory, Southwind City.


    "It''s been countless years since the Demon Boxst appeared. Are you sure you''re not mistaken?" Medel muttered, his skin prickling with dread, doubting Orf''s assessment.


    If the Demon Box had indeed resurfaced, it meant the Witch of Desire was already here.


    And if that were true, they were in far more trouble than they''d anticipated.


    Orf rolled his eyes and said, "I''ve told you, old fool, to read more often. Just look at the carvings on the box''s four sides¡ªit''s unmistakably the Demon Box."


    "The historical records describe the Witch of Desire''s Demon Box as engraved with four symbols, each representing one of her powers: Desire, Sin''s Eye, Immortality, and Duality¡ªall matching the markings on this box."


    "It''s hard to understand how it ended up here¡­"


    Bronte shook his head, saying, "This is beyond our capacity to handle. I''ll arrange to have it sent to Dawn City and let the royal authorities deal with it."


    Orf and Medel nodded in agreement.


    The origins of the ck box were too powerful, and leaving it in Southwind City could unleash unknown dangers.


    Sending it to Dawn City was the safest course of action.


    The group then began discussing how to safely transport the box.


    But then, their faces suddenly darkened.


    Luca noticed it, too¡ªthe light around them was dimming rapidly.


    Above them, dark clouds gathered, and the once-brilliant sun was vanishing at a visible rate.


    An eclipse?


    "What¡­?" Luca''s eyes widened as he turned toward the direction of the Blood Sacrifice Array.


    Purple mist was rising from where Harvis and the others had perished.


    Flowing steadily into the ck box hovering above the Blood Sacrifice Array.


    As the mist poured in, the box''s dark glow deepened.


    Tendrils of ck energy,den with endless desire, seeped from the box.


    Nearby soldiers working among the factory ruins suddenly shuddered, their eyes bulging as if possessed.


    Dark patterns, spreading visibly fast, began crawling across their skin.


    "Ahhh!!" They cried out in agony as the ck patterns raced up to their foreheads, forming a twisted tree-shaped mark.


    If one looked closely, they''d see that this symbol was identical to the golden tree etched onto the Demon Box itself!


    And then, they saw it¡ªthe Demon Box was trembling slightly, as though preparing to open.


    "No¡­ the Demon Box is about to open!" Everyone''s faces went pale. They didn''t fully understand what was happening, but it was undoubtedly something terrible.


    "Let''s go!" Orf wasted no time, grabbing Luca and preparing to make a swift exit.


    But then, an overpowering pressure suddenly descended upon them.


    For a brief moment, all of Southwind City seemed to freeze.


    Everyone felt their breath catch in their throats.


    This was¡­ Transcendent level power!

 Capítulo 131: Chapter 131: The Witch of Desire! Southwind City Falls! You Can’t Retrieve That Thing!

    The oppressive, familiar aura made Luca feel a chill running through his blood.


    Transcendent level!


    A Transcendent-level monster had actually descended!


    He struggled to look back, only to see that the previously closed Demon Box had somehow opened, and thick, foul ck liquid was oozing from within.


    A blinding ck light surged skyward, as if seeking to engulf the entire world in darkness.


    This darkness wasn''t like the night¡ªit was absolute, suffocating darkness.


    No light, no sound, just dead silence.


    Golden threads glinted in Luca''s eyes, allowing him to make out a graceful silhouette amidst the shadows.


    A delicate veil covered her face, her skin pale as porcin, her form draped in a ck gauzy dress, her bare feet visible as her enticing figure flickered in and out of the darkness.


    She looked like a wless work of art, beautiful beyond words, and a mere nce stirred a flood of chaotic desires, luring one into a sea of insatiable longing.


    Almost as soon as Luca noticed her, she seemed to sense his gaze. She turned slightly, her eyes, brilliant like stars, locking onto him.


    In that instant, as their eyes met, Luca felt as though he was being swallowed by the darkness. Unchecked desires surged from deep within, crashing over him like a massive wave, threatening to consume him entirely.


    "Don''t look back!" Orf''s voice boomed like thunder in his ears, snapping him out of the whirlpool of desire. Luca jolted, drenched in a cold sweat.


    What a terrifying power!


    So this was the Witch of Desire, Pandora?


    He had only heard rumors of her dreadfulness before, but experiencing it firsthand, he understood just how insignificant and feeble human will was against such a presence.


    Had he not been someone who had lived through two lifetimes, he might have had no chance of resisting her influence.


    Without a moment''s pause, Bronte and the others led everyone away from the Outer District.


    Pandora didn''t pursue them, seeming to consider them beneath her notice.


    With her eyes closed, she floated high in the sky, veiled in ck light. The ck box in her hand continuously poured forth foul ck water, spreading outward from the meat factory, creeping into every corner of the Outer District.


    The sudden shift left many with no time to react.


    Anyone who came into contact with the ck liquid was consumed almost instantly. When the liquid receded, those individuals stood again, transformed into red-eyed Abyss Crawlers, moving on all fours.


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!"


    Countless monsters lunged at the civilians in the Outer District. Agile and fierce, they leaped from rooftops to streets, their razor-sharp ws like des, tearing people apart with ease.


    The monsters'' roars and the screams of the victims echoed throughout the Outer District, filling it with endless agony.


    By the time Luca and the others made it back to the Inner District, the Outer District had be a living hell.


    The group stared in disbelief.


    In just moments, Southwind City had fallen into utter chaos!


    "Is this what Pure River Town went through back then?!"


    "But the blood sacrifice was stopped! How did that monster still manage to reach our world?!" Bronte''s eyes were bloodshot as he punched the wall, leaving a deep dent.


    As the Lord of Southwind City and Marquis of the Southern Territory, he felt an overwhelming mix of emotions, watching his people suffer without fully understanding why.


    The others, equally shaken, also struggled to understand Pandora''s sudden appearance.


    Luca took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.


    He''d witnessed scenes like this many times before, so he regained hisposure faster than the others.


    After a moment''s thought, he realized something and spoke with resolve: "Everyone, don''t lose hope. We did disrupt the Mora family''s blood sacrifice¡ªPandora''s arrival wasn''t due to that ritual!"


    "What do you mean?" Medel asked, perplexed.


    Orf''s eyes widened with sudden understanding. "Are you suggesting that Pandora was already here but just hadn''t made her move?"


    Luca nodded. "The Blood Sacrifice Array was actually meant by the Mora family to summon a different King-level monster. But because we disrupted the ritual, Pandora had no choice but to emerge from the Demon Box and act herself."


    He knew far more about these events than anyone else present, so his deduction came easily.


    Luca also suspected that Finn had yed a role in Pandora''s appearance. If the Mora family''s n had gone smoothly, Finn wouldn''t have shown up, let alone killed them.


    With the Mora family''s failure, Finn had forced Pandora to awaken.


    Hearing this theory, everyone felt a glimmer of rity.


    It made sense. They could tell that, although Pandora radiated a Transcendent-level aura, she didn''t seem as powerful as they''d expected.


    In other words, this was not Pandora in her full strength!


    With this thought, a spark of confidence rekindled among the group.


    If they were facing a fully-powered Transcendent-level monster, they wouldn''t stand a chance. But if it was a weakened King-level monster, they could at least hold it off long enough for others to escape.


    Bronte immediately turned to Luna, his tone firm. "Luna, issue the order: gather the city''s defense forces and hold back the monsters!


    "No matter the cost, ensure that every citizen evacuates Southwind City safely!"


    After a pause, he added, "We''ll do our best to stall the King-level monster. You should lead everyone else far from Southwind City, as far as possible."


    Bronte''s tone was calm, but his words left no room for doubt.


    Southwind City was beyond saving.


    At his words, Luna''s eyes shed with defiance, and she refused outright, "No! Southwind City is my home. I''ll stay here and fight. I''ll send someone else to lead the soldiers!"


    Bronte was silent for a moment, then spoke quietly but firmly. "When I tell you to leave, you listen."


    His voice wasn''t loud, but it cut through the noisy street with rity.


    For the first time, Luca saw this usually carefree marquis disy such stern authority.


    Luna bit her lip, her eyes shining with unshed tears.


    As she cast a long, lingering look at Bronte.


    Without another word, she turned and headed for the city lord''s manor.


    Growing up in the marquis'' household came with responsibilities.


    It was a lesson theirte father had instilled in them from a young age.


    "You should go with them too," Orf said, cing a hand on Luca''s shoulder. He slipped a ring off his finger, pressing it into Luca''s hand with a gentle smile. "I''m an old man. Staying behind doesn''t matter for me, but you''re myst student, Luca. You have to live."


    Luca opened his mouth to respond, but Medel cut him off with a gruff, "What, are you nning to stay here as monster chow? Get moving!"


    "Oh, and one more thing¡­"


    Medel tossed him another ring, a Storage Ring, and cleared his throat. "It''s got a bit of my savings over the years. I never had a student in my life."


    "If you don''t mind¡­ how about calling me ''teacher'' just once?"


    Looking down at the two rings in his hand, Luca swallowed.


    Then gave a respectful bow."Thank you, teachers."


    A warm smile spread across Orf''s and Medel''s faces.


    With such a student, they could die without regrets.


    As Luca''s figure faded into the distance, they turned their gazes skyward toward the looming figure.


    Bronte''s expression grew grim, and he said solemnly, "Are you both certain? Once the fight begins, survival is nearly impossible."


    This was a Transcendent-level foe.


    Even if weakened, the thought alone made him shudder to his core.


    "We''ve seen more battles than you''ve eaten salt, kid; no need for your reminders," Medelscoffed, rolling his eyes as magic runes flickered across his body.


    Stretching his limbs, he chuckled, "Onest good fight before this body gives out¡ªthat''s something worth looking forward to, right, Orf? Orf?!"


    Orf ignored them, frowning as he rummaged through his Storage Ring. Finally, his expression rxed.


    He pulled out a dusty pack of cigarettes, probably stashed away decades ago, and carefully lit one, exhaling smoke with a look of contentment. "You all talk like we''re doomed. It''s just a King-level monster. Luca managed to break the Superss Dark River Array; maybe we''ve got a shot."


    Medel snorted, "Then why''d you take out that picture of yourte wife?"


    ¡­


    After parting with Orf and the others, Luca returned straight to Red Maple Academy.


    Fred and Vice Dean Kruse had already gathered the students and faculty. Everyone was preparing to escort the civilians safely out of Southwind City.


    Fratis, Melissa, Kassna, and others were there as well. Seeing Luca''s return, they looked momentarily surprised but not entirely shocked.


    Fratis approached, casting a worried nce toward where Orf and the others were, murmuring, "The Dean and the others¡­ they''ll be alright, won''t they?"


    A look of concern spread across the faces of everyone nearby.


    It spoke volumes that so many Superss fighters had joined forces¡ªit meant the woman in the sky was beyond formidable.


    "They''ll be fine," Luca said with a faint shake of his head, not borating further.


    Without pausing, he continued heading into Red Maple Academy.


    "Luca, where are you going? We''re preparing to leave!" Melissa called out, bewildered.


    "Go on ahead. I''m just going back to get something," Luca replied.


    "What is it? Tell me, I''ll grab it for you!" Fred shouted.


    But Luca''s figure had already disappeared through the doors of Red Maple Academy


    His voice drifting back faintly.


    "It''s something you wouldn''t be able to retrieve."

 Chapter 165: Chapter 165: The Fate Dice! The Person Favored! The Chosen One!

    Noticing Luca''s gaze, a group of shadows felt an ominous premonition rise in their hearts.


    But before they could think further, they saw the golden glow of Luca''s spear shine brightly in his hands.


    Magnificent golden magic runes appeared in mid-air, and an overwhelming divine power descended with a mighty crash!


    The Sun!


    A great sun slowly rose!


    Blinding golden light pierced through the mist, illuminating the entire square and the endless ruins in the darkness!


    "This is my return gift to you!" In the temple, Luca''s golden eyes sparkled as he smiled.


    With a slight motion of his hand, the Magic Crystal Spear hovered in the air.


    In an instant, the golden light erupted!


    Amidst the terrified gazes of the shadows, it crashed down from the sky!


    Boom!


    A fierce wave of fire, carrying an unstoppable force, swept across the entire square, and the earth-shattering roar echoed far into the mist.


    All the shadows were instantly engulfed by the divine fire of the Sun, as if everything was melting like snow!


    -390,000! -400,000! -420,000!...


    A dense array of damage numbers appeared!


    At the same time, a series of kill notifications appeared before Luca.


    [Ding! You have killed a Lv60 Shadow Warrior, gaining 1,250,000 experience!]


    [Ding! You have killed a Lv63 Shadow Mage, gaining 1,440,000 experience!]


    [Ding! You have killed a Lv65 Shadow Assassin, gaining 1,650,000 experience!]


    ...


    The surging experience poured into Luca''s body as a blinding white light.


    His experience bar shot up as if riding a rocket.


    In just a few breaths of time.


    Four golden beams of light shed across him.


    His level leapt up four ranks, reaching level 46!


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have passed the Legacy Trial and obtained the hidden ss "Fate-Swapping Master"! You have gained new skills: "Fate Maniption (ss)", "Fortune Reversal (ss)", "Fate Plundering (ss)"...]


    [You have obtained the special item "Fate Dice" (ss)!]


    Looking at the notifications in front of him, Luca smiled.


    After so much effort, he had finally obtained what he wanted.


    [Fate Dice: Special Equipment, a twelve-sided die used by unknown gods for games and entertainment. Each side represents a different fate, and each fate has a unique special effect. yers can use the Fate Dice once per day, randomly obtaining one of the twelve fates for 24 hours. The dice has a 24-hour cooldown, and the fate refreshes daily.]


    Looking at the game description before him, Luca couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement in his heart.


    In his past life, the top yer he had heard of had relied on this special equipment and the Fate-Swapping Master skills to be a renowned powerhouse of the Human Race in a very short time, making countless people green with envy.


    Luca had once envied that yer''s fortune, and now, it had finallye to him!


    He restrained his excitement and began examining the three ss skills of Fate-Swapping Master.


    [Fate Maniption lv1: ss Skill. The Fate-Swapping Master can alter the luck and fate of a target through the power of fate maniption. No level limit, duration 3 hours, cooldown 12 hours.]


    [Fate Duplication lv1: ss Skill. The Fate-Swapping Master can copy another person''s fate, either to alter the fate of others or use it for themselves. Up to 3 fates can be copied.]


    [Fate Plundering lv1: ss Skill. The Fate-Swapping Master can plunder another person''s fate for their own use. Up to 3 fates can be plundered.]


    Every person carries different luck and fate, which basically determines the course of their life. The strength of the Fate-Swapping Master ss lies in its ability to freely manipte the fate and luck of others.


    This meant that Luca could exchange an ordinary person''s fate for that of a top genius, granting them the genius''s luck and fate for a brief period. Alternatively, he could take a genius''s fate and rece it with that of a cursed individual, ensuring they would experience endless misfortune.


    The most important thing was that the skills of the Fate-Swapping Master ignored level and were undefendable. The only countermeasure was to endure it, which made this ss incredibly broken. Otherwise, it would just be a regr support ss.


    The power of the Fate-Swapping Master was unquestionable. Luca could hardly contain his excitement as he took out the Fate Dice, eager to test his luck.


    The Fate Dice could only be used once a day, and the fate it granted was random. There were six positive fates and six negative fates, and Luca had no idea which he would get¡ªit all depended on his luck.


    The problem, however, was that his luck, charm, and potential were all maxed out!


    A sh of light passed through his hand, and a die engraved with ancient runes appeared in his palm.


    The Fate Dice was about the size of a human head, ck in color, with twelve faces, each one engraved with golden, ancient runes. Upon closer inspection, it seemed as though these runes were shifting, creating a strange and mesmerizing effect.


    "This... has such an odd power..." Jormungandr slithered out from the snake-shaped bracelet, curiously eyeing the dice in Luca''s hand.


    She felt a force emanating from it that wasn''t quite elemental or magical¡ªit was simr to her Dreamweaving power, belonging to the mysterious side of things.


    Luca didn''t respond. With a thought, the Fate Dice began to glow faintly, floating up and slowly starting to spin.


    "I wonder what fate I''ll get on the first roll?" Luca thought, a sense of anticipation building inside him.


    But soon, he realized something was wrong.


    As the glow of the Fate Dice enveloped him.


    Luca suddenly felt a brief moment of dizziness.


    An odd sensation rose within him, as though something deep inside him had been nudged by an unseen hand.


    "How is this possible?!" Jormungandr''s eyes widened in shock, her face filled with disbelief.


    "This thing... it can actually change fate?" The Sr Divine Spear, still half-asleep, was also stirred awake, its voice filled with undeniable astonishment.


    It was important to understand that the power of fate was one of the highestws among the gods. The few gods who had once wielded the power of fate were among the top-tier divinities in the Divine Court!


    To manipte fate, to alter someone''s destiny regardless of their level¡ªsuch power was beyond the reach of even ordinary gods!


    This kid had only wandered around the Divine Ruins for a bit, how did he manage to obtain such a divine-level legacy?


    Jormungandr and the Sr Divine Spear were both deeply shocked, but what came next left them utterly stunned.


    At the very moment the power of fate enveloped Luca, a faint golden glow suddenly appeared around him.


    The power of fate seemed to bepletely blocked, unable to prate or enter even a fraction of an inch, forcibly repelled from his body!


    Both of them gasped, unable to believe their eyes.


    Meanwhile, within Luca''s spiritual sea.


    Four towering golden beams of light, as if stimted by some force, suddenly burst into blinding brilliance!


    Buzz¡ª!


    A dazzling golden light shot upward, instantly tearing through theyers of mist, piercing the vast, lifeless dark sky above!


    The Fate Dice trembled, emitting its own golden divine light, elerating its rotation!


    Under the watchful eyes of the three, the twelve-faced die slowly came to a stop in midair.


    The twelve fates that had once been inscribed on its faces had vanished without a trace.


    What remained was a single, radiant rune, exuding an overwhelming divine might!


    Heaven''s Blessing!


    A torrent of divine power descended with a thunderous roar!


    Countless monsters immediately bowed in submission, their savage, blood-red eyes wide with fear.


    "What''s going on? Is the dice broken?" Luca was momentarily bewildered by the sight before him.


    Wasn''t the fate supposed to change? Why did it just keepnding on The Person Favored?


    This was Luca''s first time using the Fate Dice, and he had no idea what was happening.


    "How could we possibly know? You''ve got too many secrets up your sleeve," Jormungandr replied, her tone tinged with annoyance, though her face still showed signs of surprise that hadn''t faded.


    She was especially curious about the golden beams of light around Luca; after all, they were what had suppressed her in the first ce.


    The Sr Divine Spear furrowed its brow, seemingly piecing something together.


    It muttered to itself, "I see... So, this is The Person Favoredby the chosen fate¡­"


    "What does that mean?" Luca asked, confused.


    The Sr Divine Spear shook its head. "I''m not entirely sure. But I remember the Goddess of Dawn, Sylvia, once saying that those who are favored by the gods cannot have their fate altered, not even by the power of the Fate Law."


    Does that mean my ss is useless? Luca frowned at the thought.


    Before he could dwell on it further, he suddenly noticed that the Divine Ruins were beginning to tremble violently.


    It felt as though an earthquake of magnitude eight had struck, or like a beast that had been dormant for eons was slowly awakening.


    Then, to the astonished gaze of the three, golden light slowly began to emerge from every corner of the ruins.


    It was as if fireflies were flying toward the heavens.


    Each beam of light carrying an aura that made the two others tremble with unease!


    These were the residual divine powers of the gods who had long since passed away!


    In just a moment, the pitch-ck night sky was illuminated by countless golden dots of light.


    Looking up, it was as if the stars themselves were twinkling, their glow dazzling and beautiful!


    Countless specks of divine power gathered together, merging into the golden beams of light.


    Luca''s body shuddered in surprise.


    He could distinctly feel that his body was being enhanced.


    These divine powers were actively helping to refine his body?


    At the same time, a series of game notifications appeared before him.


    [You have received the blessing of the "Lord of the Sun," your talent attribute +7!]


    [You have received the blessing of the "Spirit of the Ocean," your charisma attribute +6!]


    [You have received the blessing of the "Goddess of Luck," your luck attribute +9!]


    ...


    The series of notifications left him stunned.


    They also left Jormungandr speechless.


    What in the world was going on with this guy?


    Why would the residual powers of the gods be enhancing his body?


    A look of surprise appeared in Luca''s eyes. Although he had no idea what was happening, it was undoubtedly a good thing!


    Special attribute increases were extremely difficult toe by.


    And now, in such a short span of time, his attributes had already increased by 30 points!


    If other yers found out, they would likely be green with envy!


    As more and more divine power poured into the golden beams.


    Luca''s aura rapidly grew stronger, and his attributes began to soar.


    In just this short time, his stats had increased by a total of 1000 points, even more powerful than what Soul Forge could provide!


    Just as he was barely able to contain his excitement.


    The tremors throughout the Divine Ruins suddenly ceased. Immediately afterward, a blinding light pierced through the darkness, and the air temperature shot up sharply. A terrifying pressure, as if from an ancient beast awakening from a long slumber, enveloped the entire Divine Ruins!


    The three of them felt a sudden shock in their hearts and instinctively looked up.


    In the far distance, deep within the Divine Ruins, a massive golden sun began to rise.


    Emitting endless rays of light.


    Luca squinted, his heart pounding with astonishment.


    Within the brilliance, there was a figure radiating dazzling divine light.


    That¡­ was the aura of a god?!

 Capítulo 133: Chapter 133: The Bound Solar Divine Spear! Divine Spell! The Wilderness Boy Isaac!

    On the other side, at Red Maple Academy, Luca had arrived at the Heavenly Pool Grand Hall.


    The blind elder, Medel, had gone to the front lines, and now there was no one guarding the Heavenly Pool Grand Hall. He rummaged through his Storage Ring and found a Celestial Pool Jade, cing it on the stone pedestal in the hall, feeling a mix of emotions.


    ording to Orf, one could only enter the Celestial Pool Secret Realm once a month. It hadn''t even been half a month since Luca entered the Celestial Pool Secret Realm, and he wondered if he could enter again...


    Then Luca realized he was overthinking it. Green patterns began to emerge on the stone pedestal, and suddenly he felt a blur before his eyes.


    When he opened them again, a steaming hot springke enveloped in mist appeared before him. Compared to the outside world, this ce remained tranquil and serene, seemingly unaffected by the disaster in Southwind City.


    It seemed that the so-called once-a-month entry was just a rule set by Red Maple Academy, not a restriction of the secret realm itself. This thought relieved Luca greatly; otherwise, he would have to put in considerable effort to enter.


    Without lingering, Luca took a deep breath and jumped directly into the steaming waters of the Heavenly Pool.


    Having experienced the Soul Forgest time, Luca was somewhat familiar with this ce. Before long, he spotted the massive crimson sun at theke''s bottom, alongside a golden spear that resembled a pupil.


    "Elder? Elder?" Lucamunicated with the golden spear using his mental energy, but he received no response.


    After several attempts, just as he was about to run out of breath and surface.


    He finally heard that familiar, aged voice. Surprised, he said, "Why are you back? Didn''t you say you would improve your strength beforeing here?"


    It seemed the spirit of the Sr Divine Spear was unaware of what was happening outside.


    Luca hurriedly recounted the changes in Southwind City to him.


    To his surprise, after listening, the Sr Divine Spear merely responded with a soft "mm," showing no further reaction.


    Luca felt a rush of urgency.


    "Those monsters are ughtering civilians! Aren''t you going to go save Southwind City?" he urged desperately.


    The Sr Divine Spear was silent for a moment before sighing, "It''s not that I don''t want to save them; it''s that I can''t."


    Luca was puzzled, not understanding what he meant.


    With a hint of resignation, the Sr Divine Spear said, "Juste and see for yourself."


    Before Luca could respond, he felt a sh of golden light in front of him.


    When he regained his senses, he found himself in a golden space.


    Everywhere was filled with burning mes, seemingly originating from within the golden sun. Surprisingly, the temperature around him wasn''t high at all.


    Luca took a careful look around.


    He soon realized that these mes seemed to be illusory.


    His gaze shifted to the center of this space.


    In an instant, he understood why the Sr Divine Spear had said he couldn''t save anyone.


    A magnificent divine weapon, a golden spear over three meters long, floated in mid-air. Around it, blood-red runes emerged, and a series of red chains tightly bound it, preventing any movement!


    "Is this some kind of secret technique?!" Luca''s eyes widened.


    He sensed an incredible power emanating from these chains. Any one of them was countless times stronger than any secret technique he had encountered before!


    He even felt that if he touched those blood-red runes, he would be instantly annihted by their terrifying power!


    These were secret techniques beyond the Transcendent level!


    In that moment, he realized the implications, his mind swirling with tumultuous thoughts.


    In two lifetimes, this was the first time he had witnessed such a level of secret technique!


    And all these top-tier techniques were merely used to bind one weapon!


    What level must the original wielder of the Sr Divine Spear have reached?!


    Luca hesitated to think further.


    The voice of the Sr Divine Spear resonated in his ear, saying, "These divine spellse from certain powerful beings. They have imprisoned me here for thousands of years. It''s not that I don''t want to help Southwind City through this crisis, but I simplyck the power to do so."


    Luca fell silent.


    Though he didn''t know what these divine spells were.


    Buthe could guess they were a form of even more powerful secret technique.


    For someone like him, it was practically impossible to free the Sr Divine Spear.


    It seemed this trip was in vain.


    But¡ª


    Could he really just stand by and watch as Orf and the others, along with Southwind City, were destroyed by Pandora?


    Luca clenched his fists, frustration and helplessness shing in his eyes. The power of a mere mortal felt utterly insignificant against these monsters.


    "Is there really no other way?" Luca asked, hoping to grasp at any sliver of hope.


    The Sr Divine Spear remained silent, the golden space falling into a stillness.


    Sensing the unusual quiet, a spark of determination flickered in Luca''s eyes.


    He spoke directly, "If you have any requirements, elder, please let me know. I will do everything I can to fulfill them!"


    He wasn''t just saying this casually.


    If he waited until Pandora broke through to the divine realm, it would be toote for regrets.


    Right now, even a glimmer of hope was worth fighting for.


    "s¡­" The Sr Divine Spear sighed heavily, theplexity of its emotions difficult for Luca to decipher.


    It said, "Increase your strength to tinum Grade, thene find me."


    Luca was taken aback. What did achieving tinum Grade have to do with him?


    Before he could ask further, a flood of gold filled his vision.


    When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the Heavenly Pool Grand Hall.


    "Did he just agree to help?" Luca realized, a rush of excitement surging through him.


    He never expected to actually persuade this powerful being to act! Southwind City was saved!


    Without hesitation, Luca quickly left Red Maple Academy and headed toward the Outer District.


    Under normal circumstances, leveling up quickly might have been a challenge. But now, the Outer District was swarming with distorted, demonized monsters. With his current strength, it would be a piece of cake to increase his level!


    "Does this kid really have such good luck?" Jormungandr murmured incredulously in the contract space. She had originally nned to intervene secretly, but she was taken aback that Luca managed to handle it all by himself. It made her question her own existence for a moment.


    After leaving Red Maple Academy, Luca quickly made his way to the Outer District.


    With minimal effort, he soon encountered a distorted monster. This creature was crawling on all fours, devouring a man, its body adorned in a brown dress that suggested it had once been a young woman.


    However, the once beautiful visage was nowpletely gone, reced by a grotesque and horrifying monster. Its formerly fair skin was now rotting and covered in pitch-ck scales, resembling a malevolent spirit.


    Luca''s expression turned cold and fierce as he summoned the Wind and Thunder Spell Spear, stepping towards the abyssal crawler.


    The creature seemed to sense his presence and abruptly turned to face him.


    "Roar!!" Its crimson eyes were filled with ferocity as it opened its mouth, letting out a shrill and piercing roar that clearly revealed its bloodstained, sharp teeth.


    Before it could even close its mouth, a sh of lightning suddenly cut through the darkness!


    "Thud!" The abyssal crawler froze in ce as the Wind and Thunder Spell Spear pierced through its gaping maw, emerging from the back of its head.


    It was an instant kill!


    [Ding! You have killed a level 51 Abyssal Crawler (Normal), earning 169,000 experience!]


    Blood dripped steadily from the spear tip.


    The kill notification surprised Luca; the levels of these abyssal crawlers were actually at level 50. However, considering Pandora''s strength was far greater than the monsters he had faced before, it wasn''t too shocking after all.


    He calcted in his mind.


    At this rate of monster hunting, he estimated he would reach level 36 before long.


    However, he still had some distance to go before hitting the required level 40 for the Sr Divine Spear.


    Time was of the essence. Luca pulled the spear free and quickly made his way toward the meat factory.


    Although it was dangerous, it was also the ce in Southwind City with the highest concentration and levels of monsters.


    If he wanted to level up quickly, the meat factory was the perfect spot for farming.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, the battle in the sky raged on.


    The terrifying aftermath of the fight wreaked havoc, destroying countless buildings.


    Fortunately, there were not many humans left in the area where Orf and the others were fighting. It was hard to say whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.


    A few kilometers away from the meat factory, in a ruinedndscape.


    Astaggering boy crawled out, covered in dust, with greenish hair matted with gravel, and his face smeared with dirt.


    "This is... what a battle between top-tier powers looks like..." He gazed at the dazzling scene in the sky, fear evident in his bright green eyes, but even more so was a deep longing.


    "If only I could have that kind of power¡­" he murmured to himself, staggering out of the ruins. Blood stained his body, and just a few stepster, he copsed onto the ground.


    The surrounding abyssal crawlers, sensing the scent of blood, quickly closed in like sharks drawn to a feast.


    Pairs of crimson eyes greedily fixed on the boy.


    "...Am I going to die?" Lying on the ground, he stared up at the pitch-ck sky, his gaze somewhat unfocused. His name was Isaac, without a surname; he was an orphan scavenger who grew up in the wilderness, previously knocked out and sold to the Mora family by ve traders.


    When he first arrived at the meat factory, Isaac had actually felt a bit of joy.


    After all, living in the city had always been his dream. Compared to scavenging in the wild, where he could be killed by monsters or bandits at any moment, working in this factory meant he could eat meat simply by doing his job¡ªit felt like paradise.


    But that thought faded away in just a few days.


    The blood rituals of the Mora family, the ughter carried out by Ian and hispanions, the descending blood hands, the beautiful woman with the ck box, the strange ck waters that constantly surged, and the civilians who suddenly transformed into monsters.


    All of it made Isaac feel as if his entire worldview was copsing.


    At this moment, he only felt that these city dwellers were... far more terrifying than the monsters in the wild!

 Capítulo 134: Chapter 134: The Demon Ape Leader! Jormungandr? Still as Foolish as Ever!

    If it weren''t for his rather unique talents, Isaac wouldn''t have made it this far.


    But ultimately, his strength was still far too weak.


    The stench of rotten breath hit his face.


    Isaac, in despair, closed his eyes, bracing for the imminent death.


    But then, something unexpected happened.


    After a long wait, Isaac felt no pain whatsoever.


    Instead, it felt like something was smeared on his face, sticky and warm.


    He instinctively licked it off, froze for a moment, and then suddenly opened his eyes wide.


    "What''s going on?" Isaac looked around, and the scene before him left him utterly speechless.


    The terrifying monsters that had closed in on him were now all impaled through their heads by iron spears, standing straight up on the ground. ck blood gushed out from their bodies.


    He wiped his face and was hit with the overpowering stench.


    Isaac''s face turned green, especially when he remembered that he had just licked it...


    He copsed to the ground and began to vomit.


    At that moment, Isaac genuinely felt that he would have been better off being eaten by those monsters.


    "Hey, are you okay?" a voice reached his ears. The nearly exhausted Isaac looked up.


    He saw a boy, armed with a ck spear, staring at him with a strange expression.


    Even Luca had never seen someone brave enough to take on a Deep Crawler like this boy...


    "Did you save me?" Isaac looked at the spear in the boy''s hand, still dripping with blood, and suddenly understood.


    Luca didn''t reply; he flicked the blood off the spear and started walking toward the meat factory. He casually warned, "The Outer District has already fallen. Head to the Inner District; the instructors from Red Maple Academy and the city lord''s office are organizing people to evacuate.


    "If you''re lucky, you might catch a shuttle."


    Isaac stared nkly at Luca''s retreating figure, and after a long pause, he managed to say.


    "Thank you!"


    Luca didn''t pay much attention, simply waving his hand dismissively.


    He had saved quite a few people along the way, so it didn''t really mean much to him.


    However, what Luca didn''t know was that Isaac remembered him deeply.


    Luca weaved through the monsters effortlessly. Those creatures, which were virtually unbeatable for ordinary people, fell like paper under his strikes.


    [Ding! You have in a lv53 Devourer (Normal) and earned 114,000 experience!]


    [Ding! You have in a lv55 Abyss Centipede (Rare) and earned 563,000 experience!]


    [Ding! You have in a lv57 Six-Armed Spider (Rare) and earned 629,000 experience!]


    ...


    As Luca got closer to the meat factory, the monsters around him grew stronger, and so did the experience he gained.


    When he finally reached the vicinity of the meat factory, he leveled up twice, reaching level 37!


    [Your level has increased to 37. You have gained 30 free attribute points!]


    Luca allocated all his free attribute points to Spirit and nced at his status panel, noticing that his Spirit had reached 3,500 points, allowing his damage to easily exceed 40,000. As long as he didn''t encounter a Diamond-level monster, ordinary creatures posed little threat to him.


    As he was thinking this, Luca suddenly sensed that something was off.


    "Could I be this unlucky?" he muttered, furrowing his brow and scanning the area.


    This was a typical residential district, seemingly unremarkable.


    Yet, to his surprise, the number of monsters around him was actually decreasing.


    That was quite peculiar.


    The residential area was one of the most densely popted ces; logically, there should be a horde of monsters here, but despite his wait, he hadn''t encountered a single one. This indicated that there was likely a big creature nearby!


    With that thought in mind, Luca considered his options and decided to stick around to investigate.


    The experience from a high-level monster was worth several times that of an ordinary one. If he could take one down, it would significantly shorten his leveling time. Even if he faced a monster he couldn''t handle, with his current strength, making a calm retreat shouldn''t be a problem.


    With these thoughts swirling in his head, Luca observed his surroundings and headed toward the building where the aura of dark energy and the smell of blood were strongest.


    From a distance, he could see the bright red blood seeping out from the crack in the door.


    There was no doubt that the people inside were in grave danger.


    He waited quietly for a moment, ensuring there were no immediate threats.


    With a flicker of thought, greenish-blue magic runes appeared on his spear. A gentle breeze began to swirl around him.


    "Daylight Wind Shadows!"


    He masked his presence, lightly stepping onto the ground, and leaped onto the second-floor balcony of the residential building.


    Carefully, he pushed the door open and entered the room.


    The house was tidy, seemingly normal.


    But Luca came to a halt.


    He listened intently, faint sounds of something slithering reached his ears,ing from the living room below.


    If he had just pushed the door open moments ago, he would have been face-to-face with that creature.


    Luca narrowed his eyes but didn''t go downstairs; instead, he stayed on the upper floor to pinpoint the creature''s exact location.


    The spear in his hand began to glow with dark patterns, and the surrounding darkness seemed to coalesce, rapidly gathering in the air.


    Finally, it condensed into a massive ck sword, its tip aimed directly at the spot where the monster was lurking below.


    "Roar!!!" The creature downstairs sensed something was off and roared at Luca through the ceiling.


    But before it could make any further moves, the ceiling suddenly cracked open, and the ck sword came crashing down!


    "Thud!" ck blood sprayed forth, mixed with the creature''s piercing wails. Red numbers popped up in the air.


    -66,000!


    As the ceiling copsed, Lucanded on the ground, wielding his Wind and Thunder Spell Spear, and carved deep, bone-deep gashes into the unknown ck creature.


    When the creature was finally enraged and swiped at him with a w, he had already quietly retreated, dodging its death throes.


    Only at that moment did Luca clearly see what kind of monster he was dealing with.


    It had the face of a woman, with bluish skin and exposed fangs. Its body was covered in long ck hair, resembling a gori. Its arms were unusually long, with sharp white bone spikes protruding from them, the pointed ends glinting like steel spears.


    At that moment, the monster looked quite disheveled. Its right side was nearly severed by Luca''s earlier Shadow Judgment strike, and its left chest was riddled with bleeding wounds, continuously oozing blood.


    "Is this the Demon Ape Leader?" Luca licked his lips, pleased to have found a big target. Given its aura, it appeared to be at the peak of the purple-gold level; if he could take it down, the experience would be enough to level him up and then some.


    "Roar!!!" The Demon Ape Leader let out an enraged howl, filled with intense hatred for the human who had ambushed it. Anyone would be furious if they were enjoying their meal and suddenly had something drop on their head.


    Despite its serious injuries, the Demon Ape Leader remained agile.


    It suddenly propelled itself forward, like a cannonball, its massive hands lunging at Luca, seemingly intent on crushing him.


    Luca naturally wouldn''t give it that chance. Enhanced by Daylight Wind Shadows, his speed increased dramatically, allowing him to easily evade the Demon Ape Leader''s attack. Meanwhile, a zing light ignited in his eyes, and the temperature around him surged.


    "Meteoric Fire!"


    Crimson fireballs rained down from above, crashing into the already precarious building like falling meteors.


    With a deafening roar, the structure copsed, mes engulfing the Demon Ape Leader.


    -48,000!


    The Demon Ape Leader let out a wail, rolling desperately on the ground. The acrid scent of burnt flesh filled the air, mingled with a noxious odor.


    Luca didn''t give the Demon Ape Leader a chance to counterattack; he aimed his spear at the sky, lightning flickering in his eyes.


    "Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire!"


    With a thunderous roar, the night erupted in sound!


    A massive bolt of lightning, as thick as a barrel, tore through the darkness and crashed down onto the Demon Ape Leader.


    "Boom!" The violent force sent sand and debris flying everywhere, leaving the Demon Ape Leader battered and bleeding.


    It was charred ck, billowing thick smoke from its head. It opened its mouth once but then copsed to the ground with a thud.


    A rush of immense experience flooded into Luca''s body.


    The kill notification and level-up glow appeared almost simultaneously.


    [Ding! Congrattions! You have in a lv58 Abyss Demon Ape (Leader) and earned 1,116,000 experience!]


    [Your level has increased to 38. You have gained 30 free attribute points!]


    Meanwhile, others in the Outer District also took notice of the earliermotion.


    The purple lightning was far too conspicuous, drawing curious nces from everyone around.


    When they caught sight of Luca, many paused in surprise at the boy''s youth.


    Those who recognized him were even more astonished.


    "What the hell! Why is he here?!" Bronte couldn''t help but curse. Hadn''t they told Luca to leave? How had he sneaked back?


    Orf''s face darkened. If he weren''t busy, he would definitely make sure Luca understood the consequences of defying his teacher.


    Medel, though surprised, didn''t dwell on it too much. He reassured them, "Don''t worry too much; this kid is far stronger than other professionals at his level. The monsters here can''t threaten him."


    Upon hearing this, Orf''s expression finally improved a bit.


    Bronte also let out a sigh of relief.


    If something happened to Luca here, he couldn''t even imagine how Luna would react... but wait, why was this Luna''s concern?


    Unbeknownst to them.


    While they were looking at Luca, two other pairs of eyes were also fixed on him.


    In the sky above, Pandora, holding a ck box, narrowed her beautiful eyes.


    She sensed a familiar aura from Luca, not just from the Undead Coffin, but...


    "Jormungandr? You really are as foolish as ever." A slight smile curled at the corners of her mouth beneath her veil, strikingly beautiful.


    Meanwhile, on the rooftop, a Superss powerhouse in a red robe, wearing a menacing ghost mask, stood watching, a cold light shing in his eyes.


    "I didn''t expect you toe right to me; this saves me a lot of trouble!" The murderous intent was evident in his gaze as his figure transformed into a streak of crimson light, rapidly approaching Luca''s location.

 Capítulo 135: Chapter 135: The Arrival of Starsea! Southwind City Falls! The Second Soul Forge!

    [Rampaging Bear Ring: Purple-gold level, no usage conditions. When equipped, strength attribute +360, base physical attack +800, health +1200. Skill 1: Violence - After using this skill, the yer''s strength increases by 30%, health increases by 35%, cooldown time 12 hours.]


    After the Rampaging Bear leader was defeated, it dropped a piece of equipment.


    Although it was warrior ss gear, there were no usage restrictions.


    Once Luca equipped it, both his health and strength saw a significant boost, with his strength attribute surpassing 2000 points.


    The Demonic Rune Mage''s spear and the knight''snce looked quite simr; if he donned full armor, he could easily cosy as a warrior.


    Luca leaped onto the rooftops, continuing his path toward the meat factory. He had already reached level 38, and with a few more kills of monsters like the magic bear leader, he would soon meet the requirements set by the Sr Divine Spear.


    He hoped the Sr Divine Spear wouldn''t disappoint him when the time came.


    The battle continued under the night sky.


    Rampaging forces unleashed their fury, deafening roars erupted, and multicolored streams of light burst forth in the darkness, dazzling like a gxy of stars.


    As he got closer to the meat factory, the surrounding monsters grew more numerous. Even with Luca''s strength, forcing his way through was bing a challenge. Fortunately, he only targeted the solitary monsters, not wasting any time.


    As Luca approached the meat factory, the vast grounds that once spanned tens of thousands of square meters had vanished without a trace. All that remained was a dpidated ruin, with only a half-broken factory sign hinting at its former identity.


    A dark mass of monsters, resembling a swarm of ants, pressed tightly together, so numerous that they were impossible to count at a nce. Pairs of crimson eyes gleamed in the darkness, filled with brutality and rage, sending chills down one''s spine.


    However, at this moment, these monsters were as docile as quails, all standing in ce, not daring to move an inch.


    Luca halted and raised his gaze.


    In the center of the street, a figure d in a red robe and wearing a ghostly mask stood blocking the way.


    The eyes behind the mask stared at him calmly.


    "Is there something you need?" he raised an eyebrow.


    He hadn''t expected Finn''s people toe looking for him at this moment.


    The red-cloaked masked Superss powerhouse didn''t bother with small talk, stating coolly, "Hand over the Undead Coffin, and I''ll spare your life."


    Luca paused, gripping the Wind and Thunder Spell Spear tightly.


    The Undead Coffin was undoubtedly of great importance to Pandora, and he could never hand it over.


    However, Luca hadn''t anticipated that Finn would be so brazen.


    It was important to note that there were several Superss powers present. If his connection to Pandora were to be exposed, even Duke Lyon would find it difficult to save him.


    "Is there any way to escape?" he silently asked Jormungandr, keeping his expression neutral.


    The more guilty he felt, the less he could let the other party notice. Otherwise, it would only lead to a quicker demise.


    "... No," Jormungandr replied weakly. With her current strength, she couldn''t handle even a high-tier, let alone a Superss.


    But how did this guy always manage to attract such terrifying enemies? He really knew how to stir up trouble.


    Luca furrowed his brow, trying to figure out how to buy some time, but just then, the masked figure had already approached him. Seeing through Luca''s intent, he sneered, "Don''t bother trying to stall. This ce has been sealed by me; even Orf can''t save you!"


    It was only at that moment that Luca noticed a scarlet barrier had appeared around them, though he couldn''t tell when it had happened.


    He frowned, his mind racing, just about to feignpliance and pretend to agree.


    Suddenly, a voice filled with anger echoed in their ears.


    "Is that so? I''m curious to see what you dare to do to my student." As the words fell, the scarlet barrier shattered like a mirror. An elderly figure surrounded by swirling magic runes appeared before them.


    Orf, with his white beard and hair flowing as if stirred by an unseen wind, wore a calm expression on his aged face, but anyone could sense his anger.


    "You''re not...?" The masked figure looked up in shock. Above them, Bronte and others were still engaged in a fierce battle against Pandora. Although they were struggling more without Orf''s presence, they hadn''t been defeated.


    He couldn''t believe Orf would abandon Southwind City to save this kid!


    The masked figure''s gaze turned cold, realizing he had underestimated the significance of this boy in Orf''s eyes.


    With that thought, he steeled himself. Suddenly, his aura erupted, blood energy coalescing into a giant hand that lunged toward Luca. Regardless of anything else, he had to fulfill Young Master Finn''s task first.


    The wind howled as the attack approached, and its overwhelming force made Luca feel his bones creaking under the pressure. A Superss attack was far beyond what he could withstand at this moment.


    "How dare you!" Orf''s fury ignited as magic runes burst forth around him.


    A series of azure-glowing ice shields surrounded Luca.


    The blood-red hand collided violently with the ice shields, and the force unleashed a torrent of wind like a hurricane.


    Debris and dust swirled around them, and Luca felt waves of suffocation wash over him.


    When he regained his senses, Orf and the masked figure had already vanished from sight, shooting up into the sky.


    He had survived by sheer luck...


    Luca let out a long breath. In that moment, he had thought he was done for.


    Fortunately, his teacher was quite formidable.


    He didn''t linger any longer. The masked figure had suddenly attacked him, undoubtedly under Finn''s orders. The importance of the Undead Coffin to Pandora was likely greater than he had imagined.


    This ce was too dangerous for him; if he stayed any longer without leveling up, he might not make it out alive.


    Once he had distanced himself from the perilous area, Luca resumed his leveling up.


    The surrounding monsters were more than enough to help him quickly reach level 40.


    His luck held, as he encountered two rare-level monsters and one elite monster.


    Before long, a golden glow of upgrade light illuminated his body.


    [Ding! Your level has reached 40. You gain 60 free attribute points!]


    [You have acquired new ss skills: "Witch''s Power Surge," "Dream Mirror Phasing," and "Star Convergence"...]


    A game notification appeared before him, and after reaching level 40, the reward of free attribute points had doubled.


    In addition, he had gained several new skills. "Witch''s Power Surge" could temporarily enhance Luca''s control over witchcraft and skill damage, while "Dream Mirror Phasing" was a life-saving skill that granted immunity to physical attacks.


    "Star Convergence" is a damage skill of the Demonic Rune Mage, capable of channeling the full power of magic runes into a single strike, resulting in tremendous damage.


    The skills were all quite impressive, but this wasn''t the time for experimentation. Now that he had leveled up to 40, all he needed to do next was head to the Celestial Pool Secret Realm to find the Sr Divine Spear.


    ncing up at the sky, Luca noticed that after such a prolonged battle, Bronte and the others were visibly struggling. The masked figure, while battered by Orf''s magic runes and unable to fight back, seemed unlikely to resolve the situation in the short term.


    He hoped the Sr Divine Spear wouldn''t let him down.


    Just as he was about to look away, he suddenly noticed something unusual in the sky.


    Under the night sky, the blood-red array was in motion, with wisps of blood energy rapidly converging within it.


    The speed of the Blood Sacrifice Array was clearly elerating, casting a crimson glow that bathed the entire Southwind City in blood red. At the same time, a presence more terrifying than Pandora''s emanated from the blood-red array.


    Luca''s heart trembled. Was the Blood Sacrifice Array about to seed?!


    Before he could think any further, the Blood Sacrifice Array in the sky suddenly erupted with streams of blood light. Huge tentacles, dark as night and dotted with golden lights, descended from the sky, wrapping the entire Southwind City as if a monstrous beast had encircled it!


    Orf and the others also changed their expressions.


    The ritual seeded?!


    The terrifying aura felt as if a mountain had crashed down. Following this, an endless torrent of dark water, filled with brutality and desire, cascaded from the blood-red array above, like a ck waterfall that smashed down into Southwind City, causing countless buildings to copse.


    The dark water had the same effect as that from the Pandora Demon Box; anyone contaminated by it would instantly transform into a terrifying monster, with even seasoned professionals unable to resist.


    In an instant, Southwind City fell into chaos, with even the waterfalls surrounding the city bing tainted ck.


    Orf and the others wore expressions of bitter resignation.


    One Pandora was already overwhelming; now another had appeared.


    Was it truly fate that sought to destroy Southwind City?!


    Under this cmity-like power, the Inner District rapidly sumbed.


    By the time Luca returned to Red Maple Academy, the Inner District was swarming with monsters.


    Heavy-hearted, he rushed to the Heavenly Pool Grand Hall, activating the Celestial Pool Jade.


    The light before him flickered and vanished, and Luca found himself within the Heavenly Pool.


    "Senior, I have fulfilled the requirements. Please, lend your aid," he earnestly spoke as he reached theke''s bottom, encountering the golden sun.


    Before long, Luca heard the voice of the Sr Divine Spear.


    "Rx your mind and do not resist." After the Sr Divine Spear finished speaking, the golden sun erupted in brightness, and a beam of golden light shot forth, heading straight for Luca''s forehead.


    He instinctively tried to dodge, but the golden light moved too swiftly, directly imprinting itself on his forehead.


    In the next moment, Luca felt an intense heat wash over his body.


    It was as if he had been thrown into a steam oven, and even his skin turned red at a visibly rapid pace.


    The sudden pain caused him to stifle a groan, far more intense than during hisst experience with the Soul Forge.


    "Hold on, or everything will be in vain," the Sr Divine Spear''s words echoed in his ears. Gritting his teeth, Luca felt golden mes gradually emerge around him, enveloping himpletely.


    At the same time, the light of the golden sun grew ever more radiant.


    The gun, bound by chains, trembled as the blood-red chains seemed to sense their intentions, the crimson runes ring up as they began to tighten relentlessly.

 Chapter 174 Spark Reversal! A Transcendent-Level Spatial User! Alfred’s Plan! A New Life!

    Luca''s gaze swept across the bedroom, finallynding on the dressing table.


    Luxurious cosmetics were neatly arranged on the table, untouched. The white chair in front of it was slightly askew, as though someone had been sitting there moments before.


    After a brief pause, Luca raised his hand. A fleeting divine light shed in his eyes.


    Golden Divine mecoalesced in the air.


    Momentster, a golden figure dressed in a thin nightgown gradually appeared, floating faintly in the room.


    Divine-level Fire Skill: Spark Reversal!


    Fratis''s ethereal image sat before the dressing table, her hair disheveled, her face pale.


    She stared nkly at her reflection in the mirror, seemingly lost in thought.


    In her hand, she held a single-ringed stiletto dagger adorned with a sapphire.


    Luca''s expression grewplex as he continued to observe.


    Fratis sat in front of the dressing table for an indeterminate amount of time. Atst, a sorrowful smile tugged at her pale face.


    She slowly raised her hand, the sharp de aimed at her slender, snow-white neck.


    The dagger''s edge pierced her delicate skin, a thin stream of crimson blood trickling down her neck. Against her fair skin, the scarlet was striking and harsh.


    Even though Luca knew this was just an illusion, he instinctively reached out, as if to stop her.


    At that moment, her motion abruptly halted. Slowly, she lifted her head and looked in Luca''s direction.


    Their gazes seemed to transcend the boundaries of time and space, locking together in a fleeting connection.


    Looking into Fratis''s weary eyes, Luca understood that she wasn''t truly seeing him, but rather someone who had been standing in that spot at the time.


    Fratis''s face disyed clear surprise, as though deeply shocked to see that person there.


    Then, in an instant, a sh of silver light erupted.


    She disappeared from the room entirely, along with the dagger. It was as if she had never been there at all.


    The illusion formed by the Divine medissipated slowly into the air.


    "Spatial-type Transcendent-Level Skill: Dimensional Leap¡­" Luca murmured, recognizing the ability that had been used.


    This confirmed that the person responsible was most likely a Transcendent-Level Spatial User.


    No wonder there were no traces left behind.


    Spatial elements, being high-order elements, specialize in dimensional movement.


    They''re particrly adept at transporting individuals without leaving any evidence.


    However, this revtion significantly narrowed down the search.


    Spatial power was already exceedingly rare, and reaching the Transcendent Levelin this domain was almost unheard of.


    Moreover, it was clear that Fratis probably knew this person. Following this lead would likely yield some clues about her whereabouts.


    After all, no matter how cautious the culprit was, they likely hadn''t anticipated someone ascending to the Divine Realmand investigating Fratis''s disappearance.


    The situation was urgent, and the perpetrator''s motives remained unclear. This wasn''t the time to waste a single moment.


    Luca closed his eyes tightly, and the space around him seemed to freeze in time. A surge of immense spiritual power radiated outward from him, instantly enveloping the entirety of Dawn City. In that moment, the entire city seemed toy bare before his mind''s eye.


    As Luca''s spiritual power swept through the city, many of the powerful individuals within its walls sensed something unusual.


    "What terrifying spiritual power!" eximed a Superssexpert, ncing toward the direction of the royal pce with shock in his eyes.


    Under this oppressive force, he even felt as though he were standing naked and exposed.


    Although that youth hadn''t yet truly ascended to the Divine Realm, just the sheer magnitude of his spiritual power far surpassed that of an ordinary Transcendent-levelexpert.


    Meanwhile, in the princess''s bedchamber.


    Luca remained still, his eyes closed as fleeting images shed through his mind.


    But his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.


    "Too slow," Luca muttered, opening his eyes and rubbing his temple.


    Though his body and divine rank had reached extraordinary heights, his spiritual power was still at the Transcendent levnd hadn''t yet broken through to the Divine level. This meant there were many ces in Dawn City his spiritual perception couldn''t prate.


    What''s more, the perpetrator was also Transcendent level. If they were determined to conceal themselves, even Luca would struggle to detect them. It was clear that relying on this method to find Fratis wasn''t going to work.


    Retracting his spiritual power, Luca paused to consider his next move.


    Golden mes once again ignited around his body, and he vanished from Fratis''s bedroom.


    When he reappeared.


    He was in the king''s chambers.


    If there was anyone in the kingdom who knew about Spatialusers of such power, it would undoubtedly be King Alfred.


    Luca''s gaze swept through the opulent pce, immediately locking onto Alfred''s location.


    On the second floor of the royal hall, in a study filled with books, the king sat. Alfred was frail and withered, his frame thin and bony beneath his royal robes and crown. Lying on a cushioned chaise, he scribbled something with a quill in his gnarled, tree-like hand.


    Golden mes suddenly appeared in the room, and the overwhelming presence of divine power crashed down upon him, causing his hand to freeze mid-stroke.


    "I knew you''de," Alfred said, setting the quill down slowly.


    He raised his cloudy eyes to regard the confident, godlike figure of Luca standing before him. In a hoarse voice, tinged with a sense of resignation, he remarked, "I always believed you had great potential, but I didn''t expect such a transformation in just a matter of days."


    Luca had no fondness for this opportunistic king and even less patience for small talk. He asked inly, "Fratis is missing. My investigation points to a Transcendent-level Spatial userhaving taken her. Do you know who it is?"


    To Luca''s surprise, Alfred didn''t hesitate or attempt to hide anything. He simply nodded. "I do."


    "Who is it?" Luca pressed.


    This time, Alfred didn''t answer right away. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the bustling city outside the window. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Do you know how many years it''s been since the Clinton family founded this empire?"


    "I''m not interested in that," Luca replied tly, his tone blunt and devoid of courtesy.


    He was here to find Fratis. What use was this king''s recounting of the Clinton Empire''s history?


    "It''s been 33,647 years," Alfred continued as though he hadn''t noticed Luca''s irritation. "Over 33 millennia. In the entire history of the Eternal Continent, only the Age of the Gods surpasses it."


    His eyes narrowed slightly as he added, "But that''s only because their lifespans were limitless, unbound by the constraints of mortality. That''s why the Divine Courtendured for over a million years before it crumbled. For a mortal kingdom like the Clinton Empire tost this long, even with the efforts of countless individuals, it has reached its absolute limit."


    Luca''s voice remained calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. "If you keep wasting my time, I can make sure this kingdom ends a lot faster."


    The Gods'' Revtionwas drawing closer. If he couldn''t find Fratis within this window, he''d have to use his abilities to extend the time he could trace her. But even then, it would only buy him an hour and a half at most.


    And if he failed to locate Fratis within that time... Luca didn''t want to imagine what he might do.


    Alfred, however, didn''t seem angered by Luca''s threat. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his gaunt face. "There''s no need to rush. She''s not in any danger."


    Luca''s sharp intuition caught the deeper implication in those words.


    His eyes narrowed slightly. "You know who took Fratis, don''t you?"


    "Of course," Alfred admitted without hesitation. "After all, it was I who personally took her."


    As he spoke, he raised his hand. A swirling mass of silver spatial energy materialized in his palm, its aura unmistakable.


    Transcendent level.


    The king of the Clinton Empire was not the Superssuser of legend but rather a true Transcendent-levelpowerhouse¡ªand one with the rare Spatial Elementat hismand!


    Luca immediately recognized that this was the same power he had sensed in Fratis''s room. It confirmed that Alfred had indeed been the one to take her. No wonder Fratis had looked so shocked at the time.


    Stay updated with m-v le-mpyr


    But why? What was Alfred''s purpose in doing this?Luca stared at Alfred, mes surging violently around him.


    His stark white hair, illuminated by the glow of the Divine me, appeared like it too was aze.


    He looked down at the frail king of the Clinton Empire, his voice steady but tinged with menace. "What are you nning to do with Fratis?"


    "I know you''re worried about her," Alfred said with a calm smile. "But rest assured, Fratis is safe. I sent her to the Dawn God Sect... she''ll return soon, transformed¡ªreborn, even."


    Hearing this, Luca''s gaze turned icy, his expression darkening in an instant.


    In an instant, an unimaginably terrifying divine aura crashed down on Alfred.


    "Urgh!" Alfred, already as frail as a dying ember, was utterly incapable of withstanding the might of a god. A mouthful of dark blood spewed forth from his lips.


    Before the blood could even hit the ground, it was incinerated into ash by the golden Divine me.


    Luca''s golden eyes fixed on him coldly. "So, you''re colluding with the Dawn God Sect?"


    The king of the Clinton Empire, conspiring with those fanatical worshippers¡ªand worse, delivering his own daughter into their hands.


    For a moment, Luca felt the absurdity of it all, the sheer lunacy of this world.


    "I did cooperate with the Dawn God Sect," Alfred admitted weakly, his face ashen. "But Fratis is my most beloved daughter. No matter what I do, I would never harm her."


    "Never harm her?" Luca paused for a moment, then let out a derisiveugh, as though he had just heard the punchline of a cruel joke. "Your idea of ''not harming her'' is marrying her off to the Phillips family and then handing her over to the Dawn God Sect?"


    His words struck a nerve in Alfred.


    "You know nothing!" Alfred suddenly shot up from his chaise, ring at Luca with a rare fire in his hollowed eyes. His voice trembled with emotion as he shouted, "Fratis was destined from the moment she was born. She is the chosen of the Goddess of Dawn, the one marked by fate itself to guide our Clinton Empire to its destiny!


    "What I''ve done isn''t just for the empire¡ªa new future, a new ruler¡ªbut also for Fratis! I''ve given her the chance at a new life, a higher purpose!"


    At that moment, Luca finally understood. Alfred''s decision not to pass the throne to the Crown Prince wasn''t driven by some personal vendetta against the Dawn God Sect. His calcted stoking of the rivalry between the Crown Prince and Second Prince had been nothing more than a ploy to buy time.


    Even Alfred''s announcement in the royal council chamber that he would dere the heir in seven days had been deliberate misdirection.


    Because the heir to the throne wasn''t either of the princes.


    It was the Sixth Princess, Fratis.

 Chapter 175 The Eternal Divine Kingdom! Absurd, Pathetic, Infuriating! Dawn, Come Out and Die!

    Alfred''s eyes were bloodshot as he stared intensely at Luca. "Do you know how long the average person lives? Even a Transcendent-levelindividual barely reaches a century! And how long can the mightiest empirest? A mere tens of thousands of years!


    "But gods are different! They possess nearly limitless lifespans and the power to shape worlds! If Fratis bes the Goddess of Dawn, the citizens of the Clinton Empire will escape poverty and be the first eternal divine kingdomon the Eternal Continent!


    "Do you understand what that means?"


    "It means our Clinton Empire will stand for tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of years! It will be immortal!"


    Alfred''s voice echoed through the study.


    His fists were clenched tightly, his emotions running high, as if he could already see the Clinton Empire bing the brightest jewel of the Eternal Continent, shining eternally under the light of the gods.


    And he, Alfred, would be remembered as one of the most dazzling stars in the annals of history!


    The anger on Luca''s face gradually faded.


    He gazed calmly at this dying tiger of the Clinton Empire and said, "So you handed Fratis over to the Dawn God Sect to let her be the vessel for the Goddess of Dawn''s descent? Have you considered whether Fratis will still truly be alive after this?"


    It seemed Alfred had held back his thoughts for too long. He burst into manicughter. "Of course she''ll still be alive! I''ve studied countless texts, and I even used a forbidden Transcendenttechnique at the cost of my lifespan to temper Fratis''s body and soul, ensuring she can retain her consciousness during the ritual!


    "Decades ago, I personally ventured into the forbidden grounds of the Dawn God Sect. Although I was discovered by the Goddess of Dawn, gravely wounded, and nearly killed, I survived thanks to Headmaster Selin''s intervention. But that mission revealed to me a shocking secret!


    "The Goddess of Dawn is alive, yes, but only a fragment of her divine rankand a trace of her divine soulremain in the Dawn Temple! As long as Fratis undergoes the descent ritual, she can retain her consciousness and inherit everything from the Goddess of Dawn, bing the true Goddess of Dawn herself!"


    Alfred''s face flushed crimson, as though he were experiencing onest burst of vitality. He looked directly at Luca and said, "I know Fratis loves you. I''ve known since the moment you met in Riverfall City! And don''t tell me you don''t feel the same! Otherwise, why would you ascend to godhood for her?


    "Believe me, once she ascends to the Divine Realm, no one in this world will be able to stop the two of you! And with Fratis''s help, with your talent, I have no doubt that it won''t be long before you too ascend to the Divine Realm!"


    "By then, nothing in this world will stop you from being together. You will be a divine couple, and the Clinton Empire will have two gods, truly bing a kingdom of gods on earth!"


    As Alfred described his decades of scheming and grand ambitions, Luca listened quietly.


    Then, with a slight nod, he said, "So Fratis is at the Dawn God Sect, right?"


    "That''s correct¡­" Alfred replied instinctively, only to see Luca turn toward the window.


    The excitement on Alfred''s face froze instantly. His breathing quickened as he asked, "Where are you going?"


    "To save Fratis," Luca said calmly.


    Alfred suddenly felt like he''d been ying a lute for a cow this whole time.


    Staring at Luca''sposed face, Alfred''s bloodshot eyes widened in frustration. "Didn''t you hear me? She doesn''t need saving!"


    Without looking back, Luca gazed at the azure sky beyond the window and replied softly, "She needs me."


    Alfred''s face darkened, his expression shifting from flushed red to ashen ck.


    In a sudden fit of rage, he swept the documents off his desk, scattering them across the room. His voice, filled with fury and despair, erupted: "Why? Isn''t this glorious era exactly what you both want? Why are you trying to ruin it?"


    The sunlight streaming into the study caught the fluttering papers, filling the air like a cascade of letters.


    "Why ruin it?" Luca suddenlyughed. The golden Divine mearound him roared to life, boiling over like a long-suppressed inferno. With a flick of his wrist, a golden light shed. The ferocious Sr Divine Spearmaterialized in his hand, streaking forward to stop just inches from Alfred''s deeply lined forehead.


    Looking at the stiff, terrified face of Alfred, Luca''s gaze turned icy, his voice cold and unyielding. "Because, from the beginning, all of this has been nothing more than your self-serving fantasy."


    Alfred imed everything he did was for Fratis. But whether it was forcing her to be the Goddess of Dawnor making her the queen of the Clinton Empire, one truth was clear:


    From start to finish, he had never asked Fratis what shewanted. He had never given her a choice.


    What Fratis wanted wasn''t to be a queen or a goddess but to return to a simple, peaceful life in Riverfall City, a small town where she could live quietly for the rest of her days.And Alfred didn''t even realize that Fratis had once had the chance to fulfill that dream. Yet, in the end, she had chosen to sacrifice it all for the empire.


    When faced with life''s crossroads, most people would choose their own happiness¡ªLuca himself had made such choices before.


    After all, life is short; why concern yourself with the suffering of others?


    But Fratis had chosen differently. She had chosen sacrifice.


    That kind of courage, Luca had only ever seen in the greatest warriors and schrs of the Human Race¡ªthe true heroes.


    Luca respected them deeply, but he didn''t want to be one of them, nor did he want the people he cared about to walk that path.


    More importantly, Alfred had missed one critical point from the very beginning.


    The so-called Goddess of Dawnwas likely nothing more than an Ancient Godin disguise.


    These beings had masqueraded as the Goddess of Dawn, stolen the Sr Divine Spear, and schemed in secret for countless years.


    And for what? To serve as benefactors to a human empire?


    To the Ancient Gods, even gods were but ants. What value did mere humans hold?


    He had personally pushed Fratis into the firepit and yet dared to fantasize about turning the Clinton Empire into a divine kingdom on earth.


    To Luca, it was equal partsughable, pitiful, and infuriating.


    "What do you mean by that?" Alfred, sensing that Luca might know something he didn''t, asked in a low, tense voice.


    "There''s something you might not know." Luca, no longer bothering to hold back, sneered coldly. "The Goddess of Dawndied ten thousand years ago. She perished before another god, in the ruins of the Divine Court. That''s what that god said with their dying breath!


    "Take a guess, Alfred. What exactly is the ''Goddess of Dawn'' you saw?"


    Alfred''s body stiffened as though struck by lightning. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Luca. A momentter, his face flushed bright red with rage.


    "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Alfred suddenly sprang to his feet and lunged at Luca, roaring furiously, "I saw it with my own eyes! That power¡ªit was divine! What I saw was the Goddess of Dawn! You''re lying to me!"


    Watching Alfred, who now resembled a raging beast, Luca merely let out a disdainful snort.


    Divine runes shimmered faintly in the air, and Alfred''s body was instantly immobilized where he stood.


    Luca no longer wished to waste his time. Turning his gaze toward the direction of the Dawn God Sect.


    He said calmly, "Whether it''s true or not, you''ll find out soon enough."


    As his words fell, the golden sun zing in the sky suddenly erupted with brilliant radiance.


    The divine mes around Luca roared to life once more, and the power that had begun to wane surged back with terrifying intensity.


    Gods'' Revtion.


    The vast expanse of Divine mechurned and roared, consuming the heavens and blotting out the sun.


    A crushing divine presence descended upon the world like a tidal wave.


    Luca, gripping the Sr Divine Spear, took a single step forward and in an instant appeared in the skies above the Dawn God Sect.


    Looking down at the grand and majestic Dawn Cathedral, he spoke in a calm voice.


    Yet his words rang out like thunder, echoing across the entire Dawn City.


    "Dawn! Come out and face your death!"


    Countless powerful individuals raised their heads sharply, staring at Luca in utter shock.


    "Holy shit, can this kid extend his time limit?" eximed the War God Winston, his expression as though he''d seen a ghost.


    Every expert in the city knew that Luca''s divine power couldn''tst long. Yet none had anticipated that he could unleash such a world-shaking force again, seemingly without limit!


    Some who harbored ulterior motives fell silent at the sight before them.


    They had initially nned to strike at Luca when his power waned, but now, all such thoughts were extinguished. After all, no one could be certain how many times Luca could ascend to godhood.


    Who knew if, when pushed to the brink, he might do it again and swat them like flies? Divine power was tempting, yes, but only if one lived long enough to wield it. Though it seemed unlikely that Luca could use this power without limits, no one was willing to risk their life to find out what his trump card was.


    "Why is this harbinger of doom causing trouble at our holy sect?" Outside the Dawn Cathedral, countless followers and priests gazed upward at the figure wrapped in divine mes, their eyes filled with terror.


    Inside the cathedral''s grand hall, before the sacred statue, a young girl in a simple white nightgowny motionless atop a golden ritual circle. Her eyes were closed, her face pale, as if she were trapped in an endless slumber.


    As the Saintess Joanna chanted incantations, the ancient ritual circle began to hum and glow. The Dawn Statueradiated dazzling divine light.


    Holy radiance poured from the statue, bathing the girl''s delicate features, making her look like a sleeping angel.


    Hearing themotion outside, Saintess Joanna furrowed her brows. Closing the holy scripture in her hands, she turned to Queen Matildaand said, "Alfred must have told him. Otherwise, there''s no way he would have found this ce so quickly."


    Queen Matilda snorted coldly. "That old fool! Useless in achieving anything, and now he''s brought us this massive trouble at the worst possible time.


    "Hand me the Orb of Stars. I''ll hold him off¡ªfinish the descent ritual as quickly as you can."


    Saintess Joanna nodded slightly. A radiant glow enveloped her as she opened her eyes, which sparkled with divine brilliance.


    A burst of starlight erupted from the orb held by the Dawn Statue.


    Buzz!


    The orb in the statue''s hands released a blinding radiance and flew toward Matilda.


    The moment Matilda touched the Orb of Stars, it merged seamlessly into her body.


    Blinding holy light burst forth, shooting straight into the heavens!


    The boundless golden sea of fire and the sky itself seemed to part, revealing an expanse of pitch-ck night.


    Countless onlookers gasped in horror, lifting their eyes to the sky.


    Amidst the infinite stars stood a graceful figure suspended in the void.


    Draped in a regal cloak and crowned with a magnificent tiara, her entire being shimmered with celestial light. Her eyes radiated divine brilliance, and an aura of unmatched majesty surrounded her.


    Behind her, countless stars shone brightly, their light forming a backdrop of cosmic splendor.


    The oppressive might of a god descended upon the world once more.Another divine being had appeared?!

 Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Defying the Heavens! One Against Two! Terrifying Divine Flames!

    He had initially nned to kill Finn first and then deal with the woman properly.


    But it seemed she wasn''t going to let him have his way.


    "You''re merely relying on the power of the Sr Divine Spear to reach the Transcendent level; how much of its true power can you actually wield?" Pandora chuckled lightly, her toneced with disdain. With a flick of her finger, a ck box before her suddenly opened.


    A colossal golden tree materialized behind her, its branches heavy with red fruits that glistened invitingly, releasing a fragrant aroma that filled the air.


    "Young man, let''s see if you can back up your boasts!" A pink glimmer shed in her eyes as the fruits fell from the golden tree, transforming into alluring figures thatughed and danced towards Luca and Orf, their voices intoxicating and mesmerizing.


    At the same time, the sky above erupted with a blood-red formation that zed with crimson light!


    A dense, malevolent aura surged forth, an overwhelming pressure crashing down upon them!


    From within the formation, a massive figure slowly emerged. Its gigantic form blotted out the sun, slick tentacles resembling those just pulled from dark waters asionally dripping with ck liquid.


    On its enormous, ball-like head, nine crimson eyes focused on Luca, releasing a haunting sound that echoed as if from the dawn of time!


    Moo¡ª!


    The sound was long and deep, not jarring to the ears. However, many who heard it felt as if a steel needle had pierced their skulls, clutching their heads in pain.


    Upon seeing its nine ring eyes, some people seemed to witness something unimaginably horrifying. They let out painful wails, blood oozing from their eyes, pus bubbling on their skin, and their bodies began to rapidly decay and deform.


    Starsea Kraken!


    At this sight, the expressions of those who had just shown signs of hope turned grim once again.


    Regardless of whether Finn was dead or alive, as long as these two King-level monsters were not dealt with, Southwind City had no chance of escaping.


    Luca understood this well.


    He nced at the monster that had rampaged through the extraterritorial battlefield years ago, a chilling murderous intent shing in his eyes!


    In that case, he would take them down first!


    "Teacher, Marquis Bronte, you all should leave Southwind City with the others; I''ll handle things here," Luca said, his figure flickering before appearing beside Orf and the others.


    His solemn words stunned everyone present.


    "No way!" Orf immediately protested.


    Though he knew Luca might have gained significant power with the help of the Sr Divine Spear.


    Buttwo King-level monsters were not something to be taken lightly!


    Luca merely smiled at this response, saying, "Don''t worry, even if I can''t handle them, I can still escape."


    In his past life, he had fought these creatures countless times; his understanding of their weaknesses and his control over Transcendent power had reached a level that few couldprehend. This was nothing to worry about.


    Orf still wanted to say something, but Medel sighed and said, "Enough, let''s go. This kid should have confidence; otherwise, he wouldn''t have spoken like that. Right now, the most important thing is to get the others out of Southwind City. If necessary, we cane back to help himter."


    At Medel''s reminder, Orf and Bronte noticed that only a few dozen flying boats remained at the first dock, while countless people were still standing in the square, not having left.


    During the earlier chaos, many had taken advantage of the disorder to seize numerous flying boats.


    Despite Luna and the others trying their best to stop them, there were simply too many people, and in the end, only a few boats remained.


    With just these dozen or so flying boats, it was impossible to evacuate the hundreds of thousands of people in Southwind City.


    They had to take action.


    Seeing this, Orf could only sigh and remind them, "Be careful."


    They had fought this long to save lives; Southwind City could be rebuilt.


    But if anything happened to these people, it would be the city''s greatest loss.


    Luca nodded slightly, watching Orf and the others head towards the first dock.


    Pandora didn''t stop them; she knew exactly who the biggest threat was.


    The Kraken sensed a threat emanating from Luca. Its nine eyes fixated on him, looking increasingly restless.


    Once Orf and the others had left, Luca finally turned his gaze towards Pandora and the Kraken.


    A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth as he said, "Since you''ve been so honest, I''ll make your deaths a bit quickerter."


    As his words fell, a golden sea of mes surged behind Luca, coalescing into enormous fire beasts that charged fiercely towards Pandora.


    Pandora narrowed her beautiful eyes. She didn''t know how strong this boy was, but she had certainly witnessed his arrogance. Not only did he show no fear in the face of her presence, but he also dared to boast. Just this level of audacity was not something an ordinary person could match.


    "However, that''s still not enough," she said, unfazed by the countless fire beasts charging at her.


    With a sh in her eyes, the witches and monsters behind her received themand and directly engaged the fire beasts in battle.


    Luca didn''t expect these attacks to have any real effect.


    He transformed into a beam of golden light, rushing toward Pandora, while the golden statue behind him charged toward the tentacled Starsea Kraken.


    The moment they collided, the heavens and the earth shook, and a violent force swept through the area, destroying countless buildings beneath their feet.


    Pandora''s Demon Box suddenly erupted with ck light, and ck ghost flowers began to coalesce in the sky. But before they could make contact, they were reduced to ashes by the golden mes emanating from Luca.


    As they closed in, a cold light shed in Luca''s eyes. He twisted his wrist, and the Sr Divine Spear, wreathed in golden mes, shot straight toward Pandora''s neck in a seemingly ordinary thrust.


    A massive hand formed from the ck water exploded forth to block her.


    Yet it was shattered in an instant!


    "Not good!" Pandora''s expression changed as she quickly dodged, narrowly avoiding having her neck pierced by Luca!


    "You can actually wield divine fire?!" she eximed, brushing her fingers over the slight scratch on her neck. A strand of golden me was drawn out, and her eyes widened in shock.


    The divine fire attached to the Sr Divine Spear was far superior to her desire ck water; it represented a suppression of tiers!


    But how could this boy possibly use divine fire? Isn''t that something only that existence could wield?


    It was only at this moment that Pandora''s expression turned serious.


    This boy in front of her was likely not as easy to deal with as she had imagined.


    On the other side, the battle between the golden statue and the Kraken was far more straightforward and brutal.


    The Kraken''s ck tentacles coiled around the statue, intending to crush it to pieces.


    But the statue grasped one of the tentacles and yanked it off forcefully.


    Moo¡ª!


    The Kraken let out a painful roar.


    ck blood poured down like rain from the wound, quickly corroding the buildings and ground below, creatingrge craters.


    Luca was facing two opponents and, astonishingly, was gaining the upper hand!


    At the first dock, a massive stone infused with magic runes floated in the air, with many people standing on it, ready to leave.


    Seeing the scene in the Outer District, everyone was utterly shocked; this boy was practically a monster, able to hold his own against two opponents!


    "Luca is amazing!" Fratis cheered, her eyes sparkling with excitement.


    Melissa covered her mouth, incredulous that this was the same Luca. How had he suddenly gained such incredible power?


    The students from Luca''s ss, like Rogge, were equally dumbfounded.


    Wasn''t their mentor just at the mid-tier level a short while ago? How could he be trading blows with King-level monsters after just a few days?!


    "Stop staring! Let''s get out of here while we have the chance!" Orf, while equally amazed by Luca''s strength.


    Heknew Lucacouldn''t hold out much longer. Getting away quickly was the most important thing.


    Hearing this, everyone quickly reacted and hurried to follow Orf.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, Finn stumbled back onto the Phillips family''s flying boat.


    "Quick¡­ get out of here!" His face was twisted in agony, teeth clenched tight, with burn marks all over his body.


    Golden mes surged from within him, as if they were erupting from his very soul, continuously searing his flesh.


    But at that moment, Finn couldn''t care less about the pain. He urged the maids and his subordinates to quickly steer the boat away from this dangerous ce.


    Seeing this, the maids on the flying boat panicked.


    They rushed over, wanting to help Finn extinguish the mes.


    But before they could get close, the golden mes suddenly red up. Just brushing against them caused two maids to be incinerated to ashes, leaving behind only a small flicker of fire on the ground, without damaging the boat at all.


    At the sight of this, all the maids felt a chill run down their spines and dared not approach any closer.


    It wasn''t until the Cloudwing Airship was far away from Southwind City that the mes on Finn''s body began to subside.


    By then, his skin waspletely burnt, leaving him a horrific shade of red, flesh exposed and raw.


    Trembling, Finn pulled a golden vial from his storage ring, uncorked it, and hastily gulped down its contents.


    Instantly, the burned skin on his body began to sprout tender buds, healing at a visibly rapid pace.


    If Luca had seen this golden potion, he would have recognized it as the same one Orf had given him back then.


    Once his body was fully restored, Finn slumped onto an expensive sofa, his face still pale, gasping for breath, overwhelmed with a sense of relief as if he had narrowly escaped death.


    The terror of the Transcendent level was far beyond what a Superss strongman couldpare to. Even with his death substitution item, Finn had nearly been killed. Moreover, Luca''s sr mes not only inflicted physical damage but could also severely harm the soul. His recovery would likely take a long time.


    "Damn it!" As he thought about this, a sh of anger crossed his eyes, and he pped one of the nearby maids, sending her flying.


    The maid''s delicate neck twisted a full one hundred eighty degrees as she flew back, crashing to the ground and dying instantly.


    The other maids turned pale, too frightened to breathe.


    "Damn filthymoner! I won''t let you get away with this!" He pounded his fist on the precious mahogany table, his expression twisted with rage. After all these years, it was the first time Finn had suffered such a significant setback, and it was at the hands of a mere boy.


    He had spent so long nning this, and not only had he failed to obtain the Sr Divine Spear, but he had also lost a precious death substitution item. The mastermind behind all of this was that person named Luca. Finn couldn''t swallow this humiliation.


    Looking at the mes that had turned half the sky to gold.


    He red with bloodshot eyes and gritted his teeth, saying, "I don''t believe you can maintain this state forever. The Sr Divine Spear will ultimately be mine!"


    Finn knew very well that Luca''s strength was derived from the Sr Divine Spear, and eventually, he would be reduced to his original form.


    When that time came, he would make thismoner pay dearly!

 Chapter 177 Dawn Arrives! This is Her Honor! Submit or Die!

    Luca hovered high in the sky, his gaze calm and detached. Behind him, the towering golden statue of a god slowly dissipated into the air.


    All that remained was a field of shattered stones and the faint glow of the Orb of Stars, with no trace of Queen Matilda in sight.


    "He actually¡­ he actually¡­" Countless people in Dawn City felt a storm of emotions churn within them. It was almost impossible to believe the scene unfolding before their eyes.


    But the Queen of the Clinton Empire¡ªhow could she have been killed in public like this?


    How could this boy... how could he dare to do this?!


    "It''s over, it''s all over!" Inside the royal study, Alfred''s face turned ashen as he copsed in despair into his chair.


    With the Queen dead, no one could stop Luca''s march forward. All his years of restraint, ambition, and effort would be reduced to nothing, burned away in an instant!


    At the thought, Alfred felt a tightness in his chest, his vision went dark, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of ck blood before copsing unconscious.


    "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" A maid cried out in rm, quickly rushing to summon healers for help.


    "Mother... Mother¡­" Outside the pce, the crown prince, Leonie, was equally pale, staggering like a dying me in the wind.


    With the Queen''s death, no matter what happened to Luca.


    He was now forever distanced from the throne.


    Prince Runne, however, felt the exact opposite¡ªhis face was alight with joy.


    With Queen Matilda dead, the crown prince''s power would inevitably wane!


    Soon, no one would be left to contest the throne with him!


    "This boy¡­ does he even know what he''s doing?" Augustine muttered, tugging at his white beard and sighing repeatedly.


    From the very start, he never imagined Luca would take things this far.


    This would mean he had dered himself an enemy of the entire Clinton Empire!


    "Hahaha, well done! I''ve never liked that Dawn God Sect woman!" Evelyn gritted her teeth and spoke bitterly.


    Years ago, when Matilda had still been the saintess of the Dawn God Sect, Evelyn had had a deep grievance with her.


    She had been secretly suppressed by Matilda, enduring numerous hardships without the chance to retaliate, and the frustration had been building in her heart ever since.


    Now that revenge had been served, she couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.


    Luca paid no attention to the reactions of the others. His figure flickered, and he appeared outside the Dawn God Sect.


    Just as he was about to step forward, his brows furrowed in sudden concern.


    A brilliant white light suddenly enveloped him, casting a protective shield around the entire church.


    The aura emanating from it was unmistakably Divine level!


    "¡­A barrier?" Luca''s gaze fixed on the protective shield, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    It seemed they had been prepared for this.


    But did they really think a mere barrier would be enough to stop him? How naive¡­


    His divine power surged, and a divine light shone in his hand.


    A ball of golden mes appeared, condensing into a vivid, lifelike golden lotus.


    As divine power continuously surged into it, the highlypressed force caused the me-formed lotus to gradually turn a searing white!


    The terrifying pressure emanating from it was so intense that even the surrounding space began to warp.


    Divine-level Skill ¨C Sr Lotus!


    Luca raised his hand, and the searing white lotus slowly floated into the air.


    The moment the lotus touched the radiant white barrier.


    Time seemed to freeze for an instant.


    Then, a blinding burst of divine light erupted, and the entire barrier began to tremble violently.


    There was no sound.


    Under the astonished gaze of countless onlookers, the Divine-level barrier began to melt away like snow.


    In the next moment, it shattered with a thunderous crack!


    The massive energy explosion made the entire Dawn City quake violently.


    The pieces of the barrier turned into specks of light, dispersing into the air.


    With a flick of his hand, Luca conjured a sh of golden light.


    Discover stories at m,v l''-NovelFire


    A crimson-golden barrier once again enveloped the entire Dawn God Sect.


    However, the roles had reversed¡ªthis new barrier was now meant to prevent anyone inside the temple from escaping!


    Luca stepped into the temple.


    Just moments ago, he had already sensed Fratis''s aura.


    The magnificent hall unfolded before his eyes.


    The white jade pirs stood tall, and the statue of the goddess radiated a soft, ethereal glow.


    The golden magic circle slowly rotated, and at the very heart of it, two figures stood¡ªone upright, one lying down.


    His gaze swept over the saintess, Joanna, beforending on the figure within the golden array. She was a young girl dressed in a white nightgown, her eyes closed.


    Upon seeing Fratis, Luca''s mes swirled within him, and a cold glint suddenly shed in his golden eyes.


    He had finally found her!


    "Matilda didn''t stop you after all..." The saintess, Joanna, was dressed in a holy white robe, holding a Bible. Her star-like eyes gazed at Luca, full of undisguised astonishment.


    The previous Divine-level barrier had blocked her perception of the outside world, so Joanna had no idea that Matilda had been in by Luca on the spot!


    "How would you like to die, Saintess?" Luca looked down, his gaze cold as he looked at the current saintess of the Dawn God Sect.


    His voice was calm, as if asking her what she nned to have for dinner.


    At the same time, an overwhelming divine pressure radiated outward!


    But Joanna remainedpletely unfazed.


    "Arrogant!" She sneered, raising her head to meet the terrifying figure with defiance in her eyes. "You''re nothing more than a false god who ascended to Divine level through external forces. You daree to the Dawn God Sect and wreak havoc?"


    "How convenient... today, I''ll make you the first sacrifice to my Lord!"


    As her words fell, rays of dawn light began to glow from Joanna''s body.


    Golden blood flowed from her eyes, running down her pale face, and eventually converging onto Fratis.


    The golden formation suddenly elerated in speed, and the divine light surrounding the Dawn Goddess statue flickered brightly!


    In the next moment, an endless burst of divine light erupted from Fratis, and an overwhelming divine power descended with a thunderous roar!


    "Divine blood..." Luca''s eyes narrowed slightly, realizing that the divine blood of the Dawn Goddess was now within Joanna''s body.


    Though he had no idea what she intended to do, Luca knew he could not allow her to seed.


    In an instant, the golden light shed and Luca appeared right in front of Joanna.


    TheLaw of the Suncircted, gathering an immense Divine me.


    Luca swung his hand down with immense force, aiming directly for her head!


    At the same time, the massive statue of the Dawn Goddess suddenly opened its eyes!


    Vroom¡ª!


    Brilliant divine light exploded, and the immense divine pressure descended!


    A blinding beam of divine light enveloped Joanna entirely.


    Luca''s hand, covered in Divine me, collided with this beam of divine light!


    The two divine forces shed with an earth-shattering roar!


    The entire Dawn City shook violently, as if the end of the world hade!


    Luca frowned as his hand came to a halt just a few inches in front of Joanna''s face.


    It could go no further.


    "The power of a goddess is not something a mere mortal like you could even begin to fathom!" Golden divine blood continued to flow from Joanna''s body. Her life force was rapidly fading, yet a smile remained on her face.


    At the same time, the Dawn Goddess statue trembled, and numerous magical runes flew out, merging into Fratis'' body.


    Her eyes were tightly shut, and her body began to float into the air.


    As the runes fused with her, her aura rapidly soared.


    In the blink of an eye, she broke through numerous barriers.


    She ascended rapidly, reaching the realm of divinity!


    In an instant, brilliant light erupted from Fratis'' body!


    A beam of light pierced through the Dawn God Sect and Luca''s barrier, shooting straight into the heavens!


    As everyone watched in shock, the sky above began to change, revealing an endless, brilliant, and vast starry expanse!


    Endless starlight poured down and, as it touched the young girl''s graceful form, it formed into a dazzling and magnificent starry robe, glowing with radiant light!


    The stars shone down, surrounding her in a ring of brilliance!


    Fratis'' eyshes fluttered, and her eyes slowly opened. In that instant, the entire world seemed to lose its color!


    Her eyes shimmered with countless star-like glimmers, and the Orb of Stars, as if responding to her call, shot into the sky, transforming into a crown made of countless stars, symbolizing the supreme authority of the gods. Itnded atop the girl''s shining white hair!


    "This is... the Dawn Goddess?!" Seeing this scene, countless people were stunned.


    The rumors were true!


    The Dawn Goddess was truly alive!


    Luca''s expression finally changed.


    "Damn it!" He clenched his fist, looking up, his eyes burning with murderous intent.


    He was toote!


    "Joanna... Kneel before my master!" Inside the Dawn God Sect, Saintess Joanna''s eyes were hollow, her voice hoarse. Her skin had be wrinkled.


    After losing the divine blood, her life force rapidly withered, and her body visibly aged and shriveled, bing withered and frail.


    In just a few breaths of time, Joanna had transformed into a frail, shriveled old woman with graying hair, no longer possessing the beauty that had once been so captivating.


    Yet Joanna didn''t seem to care at all. Her expression was filled with fanaticism.


    Because she knew, once the Dawn Goddess descended, all that she had lost would be returned to her a hundredfold!


    Fratis, or rather, theGoddess of Dawn, did not look at the withered Joanna.


    Instead, she lowered her gaze slightly and looked at Luca.


    In that moment, the gazes of the two divine beings collided.


    One pair of eyes was filled with brilliant starlight, stars flickering with no trace of emotion.


    The other pair burned with golden Divine me, surging and roaring with power.


    Looking at that wless, art-like face, Luca knew that the person before him was no longer the girl he once knew.


    She was now theGoddess of Dawn ¨C Sylvia!


    In fact, she might even be anAncient God!


    Then, theGoddess of Dawnsuddenly spoke: "Why does the divine rank of the Lord of the Sun reside in your human body?"


    Her tone was calm, devoid of any fluctuation, as if speaking to a stranger. The overwhelming arrogance in her voice, the sense of superiority, was clear and unmasked. It was a pride that came from the very level of her existence.


    To a deity, humans were nothing more than ants¡ªno different from the cats and dogs of this world. Even though Luca now wielded the power of a god, to her, he was no more than a slightlyrger ant.


    Luca didn''t respond. Instead, he gathered his Divine me, transforming it into theSr Divine Spear.


    "Fratis... Where is she?" he asked, looking directly at her, his figure slowly rising into the air. There was no trace of fear in his golden eyes.


    TheGoddess of Dawnseemed unprepared for this human¡ªthis mere ant¡ªto challenge her so boldly.


    She paused for a moment before answering calmly, "She has already been obliterated beneath the starlight. It is her honor."


    She''s dead... Luca''s grip tightened involuntarily. mes roared around him, swirling violently, just as his anger churned inside.


    In the end, that girl had died right before his eyes!


    TheGoddess of Dawnsensed Luca''s fury but paid it no mind.


    She spoke indifferently, "The Lord of the Sun gave everything for my Divine Court during the Divine Cataclysm."


    "Though I do not know how you obtained his legacy, it no longer matters."


    "From this day forward, swear eternal allegiance to me, and I will spare your life. Otherwise¡­"


    She looked down upon the young man with calm disdain and said, "Then you shall die."

 Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Temporary Team Member! The Ghost and the Martial Emperor! A-Class?

    Luca shook his head slightly. "I can''t join you."


    Joining an official organization woulde with too many restrictions, and joining just for some research materials didn''t make much sense.


    With that time, he could be focusing on improving his own strength.


    After all, once his power was strong enough, he could easily acquire those materials on his own.


    Drumph remained just as firm in his stance. "Since you refuse, then go ahead and kill Coarmy. "


    "Afterward, we''ll avenge him!"


    Coarmy didn''t say anything, but in his heart, he thought that if he made it out of this alive, he''d definitely need to find a new superior.


    Luca chuckled lightly and wasn''t intimidated by the threat. "So, is that it? No more negotiations?"


    Having worked with Drumph in his previous life for so many years, Luca knew exactly how this old man operated.


    "You young people are always so impatient," Drumph coughed before adding, "Actually, I think we could still talk some more."


    This old fox hadn''t changed at all...


    Luca shook his head slightly. "I''ll agree to be listed as a member of Morning Star. If there''s a situation you can''t handle, you can contact me, and if I have the time, I''ll handle it. Of course, that''s only if I''m avable."


    Coarmy was stunned.


    What''s the difference between joining and not joining then?


    "No," Drumph said, clearly displeased. "If there''s a problem in Celephais, you''ll have to handle it. "


    "Of course, we can put a limit on the number of cases. You''ll deal with up to ten Transcendent events each month..."


    Luca''s expression darkened. "Ten? You old man! Are you treating me like a ve?"


    Drumph furrowed his brows. "You young people can''t take any hardship. What''s wrong with ten? Let me tell you, back in my day..."


    For the next half hour, the two of them haggled over the terms.


    In the end, Luca managed to limit the number of Transcendent events to four, meaning he would handle one case per week.


    Luca was getting dry-mouthed from the back-and-forth and was toozy to continue wasting words with the old man, so he agreed, but on the condition that he would get the materials that same day.


    On the other side of the phone, Drumph didn''t hesitate and immediately agreed.


    The process was much faster than Luca had expected.


    Not even an hourter, there was a knock on the office door.


    Luca opened the barrier, and the door was pushed open immediately.


    Before he could even see who it was, a rushed voice came through.


    "Coarmy! We''vee to save you!"A young, lively figure appeared in the doorway.


    Luca nced up, surprised.


    The girl looked to be in her early twenties, with a delicate face, wearing her hair in a high ponytail, a white t-shirt and denim jeans that exposed her pale midriff.


    What surprised him most was that he recognized her.


    "What''s with the look? You''re the one who kidnapped Coarmy, huh? You''ve got quite the guts!" The girl with the ponytail cracked her fair fists together, her beautiful eyes ring at Luca with hostility.


    "Drumph must have sent you here, and I''m guessing you didn''te to fight me," Luca said calmly.


    The woman''s name was Ivanka, the daughter of Drumph. In the past life, her name was not well known, but her nickname was something few people had never heard of.


    "Martial Emperor!"


    She was a Transcendent-level powerhouse, a professional martial artist with the S-ss talent "Blood Energy Tempered by a Hundred Strikes." Each attack shended would umte damage, and the limit was unknown. Her temper was fiery, and she was a warlike person, excelling in closebat. She was even known as the "Knight Killer."


    Luca had faced her many times in his previous life, losing more often than winning. Her talents andbat style countered his perfectly, and he had suffered greatly. He hadn''t expected to run into this annoying woman here, of all ces.


    "Where''s the stuff?" He held out his hand, showing no politeness.


    Ivanka stared at him for a moment before her eyes curved into a smile. She pointed her finger at his nose and huffed, "Fight me! If you can beat me, I''ll give you the materials!"


    Coarmy stared out the window at the blue sky and white clouds, a look of deep concern on his face.


    Miss, is this really the time for a fight?


    "Ivanka, stop fooling around," a deep voice came from outside the window.


    Luca turned his gaze toward the source of the voice and realized that there was a young man hanging from the window ledge.


    He was around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, pale, with faint dark circles under his eyes. He was wearing a well-tailored suit, his hairbed neatly, giving off a slightly sickly appearance. When he noticed Luca''s gaze, he smiled modestly.


    He then climbed through the window, only to crash straight into Coarmy.


    "Why didn''t you just use the front door?" Coarmy groaned, wincing as his face twitched in pain.


    The young man responded earnestly, "Because this way is cooler!"


    Coarmy''s breathing became rapid, his chest heaving.


    He really shouldn''t have asked that question!


    Luca stared at this strange person, surprised.


    He didn''t expect to see another familiar face.


    Fuzzsir, a peak-level Transcendent, nicknamed "Dead Ghost," his main profession was as a ghost assassin. However, his secondary profession was even more renowned¡ªan "Undead Mage." He had the S-ss talent "Godyer Soulbinder."


    Every soul he killed would be his servant, retaining 50% of their abilities from their living days. Even more terrifying, this ability ignored rank, making him a literal game-breaking character. He was one of the most powerful of the Human Race in Luca''s past life.


    The only weakness was that the guy was a little off in the head¡ªhis thought process didn''t quite match up with that of a normal person.


    At that moment, another petite figure entered the office.


    She was covered in bandages stained with blood, and the strong smell of blood instantly filled the room.


    Luca couldn''t help but narrow his eyes. This person was radiating an intense killing intent!


    "Give him the materials, there''s a mission," came a hoarse voice, impossible to tell whether it was from a man or a woman. The words were short, as if the speaker wasn''t willing to say more.


    Once finished, the bandaged person didn''t even nce at Luca. They turned and left the office.


    "Mniais too cold. No matter how you look at it, she''s a new member of our Starfire Organization," Ivanka shook her head, clearly a bit helpless.


    She then took out a USB sh drive and tossed it to Luca, smiling as she warned, "The USB has a self-destruct program, and you can only view it in front of us. You can''t share it with anyone afterwards, or there will be consequences. Don''t say I didn''t warn you~"


    Luca caught the USB drive and nodded slightly, thanking her.


    He then plugged it into the officeputer.


    A notification sound rang through the office, and Luca opened the USB drive.


    Research data appeared on the screen in front of him, and as he scanned the information, his eyes narrowed.


    The research from various countries on Eternal Game was progressing much faster than he had imagined. Summer Country had already confirmed that the game would descend soon, with the timeline set to within a year.


    Unfortunately, this information, which had beenmon knowledge in his past life, was of little use to Luca.


    He focused on the investigation data from Zenith Technology Company, examining it closely.


    Although he had already suspected this oue, Luca couldn''t help but feel a slight disappointment.


    There had been no real progress at all.


    After the release of Eternal Game, the people involved in the research seemed to have vanished from the world, as if they had disappeared without a trace.


    The manufacturing chain for the Eternal Gamehelmets was also extremely ordinary, even outsourced to a production line.


    But this was within Luca''s expectations. After all, even ten yearster, humanity''s research into Zenith still hadn''t made much headway.


    It seemed nearly impossible to track down the people from Zenith through this method. Ultimately, the answers would likely have to be found within the Eternal Worlditself¡­


    With these thoughts in mind, Luca turned his attention to the research on game feedback and was unexpectedly pleased with the new insights.


    "So it''s the nodes¡­" He had a sudden realization. No wonder some yers, despite having high talents, couldn''t obtain game feedback in advance, while others, with only average abilities, could strengthen themselves early on.


    The most important factor wasn''t talent or strength, but whether the yer had encountered a Spatial Node.


    ording to the research data, all the yers who had received game feedback had, without exception, interacted with or encountered a Spatial Node.


    This included people like Fuzzsir, Ivanka, and Coarmy.


    The only problem was that Spatial Nodes werepletely random. Whether one encountered them was entirely based on luck.


    Because of this, even knowing the method, Summer Country couldn''t mass-produce yers with Transcendent powers.


    Unless they spread the news, letting more yers know about it.


    However, doing so would undoubtedly be a suicide mission¡­


    Luca finished reading all the information in just a few minutes.


    He then unplugged the USB drive and tossed it to Coarmy.


    "Finished already?" Ivanka and Coarmy were both a bit surprised.


    They had expected Luca to take a few more looks, but he had just skimmed through it and was done.


    "Just like a wind-blown youth," Fuzzsir sighed in admiration.


    Now that he had what he wanted, Luca waved his hand and said, "Alright, I''ll be heading back now."


    "Just leaving like that?" Coarmy stared at him in shock.


    Luca stretchedzily and nced at him, saying, "What else? I didn''t sleep wellst night. I need to go catch up on some sleep."


    Coarmy and Ivanka exchanged a look, both at a loss for words. This was the first time they''d met someone with such a big heart.


    He''d threatened the police chief, ckmailed a military bigwig, and now he was casually nning to go home and take a nap?


    Coarmy rubbed his temples and sighed. "Don''t go just yet. Ivanka and the others are on a mission right now. Go with them, it''ll be a good opportunity for us to see your strength in action."


    Luca frowned slightly but didn''t refuse.


    After all, he had taken their things, so it was only right to show some appreciation.


    "Oh, by the way, here''s this for you." Ivanka suddenly remembered something and pulled a ck leather badge out of her pocket, tossing it to Luca.


    Luca caught it and opened it. Inside was a bright star emblem, and on the other side was his personal information.


    The badge, however, was stamped with an "intern" designation.


    "Starfire''s badge, huh? Thanks¡­" Luca nced at it and then casually slipped it into his pocket. The Starfire department had high-level authority, and having this badge would make things much more convenient for him.


    The group then headed downstairs, with Coarmy apanying them. He still needed to conduct a danger level assessment on Luca.


    The general danger levels were S, A, B, C, D, and E. These were determined by aprehensive evaluation of talent, strength, and level. Ivanka and the bandaged person were both rated A, while Fuzzsir and their team leader, Quagmire, were rated S.


    Based on Coarmy''s estimation, Luca should be rated A.


    Luca only smiled in response.

 Chapter 146: Chapter 146: B-Class Fugitive! Captain Quagmire! I Really Am a Cop!

    The police car sped toward the outskirts of Celephais.


    During the drive, Luca took the opportunity to learn from Ivanka and the others about their reasons foring to Celephais, as well as the current state of the Morning Star organization.


    Morning Star operates five main divisions across Summer Country, covering the east, west, south, north, and central regions.


    Celephais falls within the northern region, under the jurisdiction of Ivanka''s northern division, which nowmands over a hundred yers.


    Excluding nonbat support personnel, there are currently about 12 teams actively carrying out missions. Each team has five members responsible for the safety of various cities within the northern region. The Transcendent incident near Celephais is being handled by Ivanka''s Quagmire Squad.


    Quagmire''s team is the strongest Morning Star squad in the northern region. The squad leader, Quagmire, is said to be an S-ss danger-rated yer¡ªa level only a handful of individuals worldwide have reached, many of whom are renowned inter years. However, Luca had never heard of Quagmire in his previous life and guessed that he might have been a powerful figure who fell early on.


    This time, Quagmire''s team came to Celephais specifically to handle a Transcendent incident tied to Coarmy.


    A few days prior, Coarmy had used his abilities to track down a yer he intended to recruit for Morning Star. However, upon revealing his identity, the yer not only refused but also unleashed Transcendent powers, killing several police officers and escaping police custody.


    This yer is now ssified as a B-ss threat. Hisst known location was a suburban neighborhood where he had massacred a family of five. The victims included a pregnant woman and a six-year-old child¡ªa gruesome, brutal scene.


    Ivanka''s team hade to deal with this monster. But as soon as theynded, they received orders regarding Coarmy''s kidnapping.


    In response, their captain, Quagmire, headed directly to the scene, while Ivanka''s team was tasked with coordinating with Luca to retrieve the USB drive and rescue Coarmy.


    Interestingly, despite the rtively low profile Luca had maintained, the danger level of the incident was assessed as A-ss¡ªhigher than that of the fugitive yer.


    The road was busy with traffic.


    Outside, the scenery rushed past.


    As the car sped towards the outskirts of Celephais.


    Luca suddenly realized the road looked oddly familiar.


    A strange feeling crept into his heart, and with a sense of foreboding, he nced at Fuzzsir, who sat next to him, and asked, "Which neighborhood is that yer hiding in?"


    Fuzzsir thought for a moment, then replied, "No idea. I forgot."


    Luca: ...


    He knew he shouldn''t have asked this guy.


    "It should be Sunshine Street in the Sixth District," Ivanka interjected.


    She then noticed Luca''s expression darkening and asked in surprise, "What''s wrong? Do you know that ce?"


    "My house is right there." Luca rubbed his forehead, letting out a bitter smile.


    He hadn''t expected someone this dangerous to be hiding so close to his home.


    Hopefully, nothing bad would happen¡­


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, on Sunshine Street.


    A car slowly pulled up and came to a stop.


    "Ah! Finally home!" Susie eagerly swung the door open, spread her arms, and embraced the air, her face radiating pure bliss.


    After more than a week in the hospital, she had felt suffocated.


    Now, she could finally go home and y her games!


    "You didn''t even bring the keys. Always so scatterbrained¡ªhow will you ever find someone to marry like this?" Zoey sighed from behind her. Susie turned around and stuck out her tongue in a yful response.


    "Alright, let''s go. I''ll make a big feast for everyone tonight," Darabont said with a smile, opening the trunk and pulling out arge haul of groceries.


    The past few days had been nerve-wracking for the whole family, but thankfully, Susie hadn''t had any more incidents. Now that she was finally discharged, they all wanted to celebrate properly.


    "Yes! I want honey-zed roast meat! Fruit pizza! And¡­" Susie''s face sparkled with excitement, and she was about to continue her list when she suddenly stopped and let out a soft "Huh," her gaze fixed on a distant rooftop, her eyes wide with surprise.


    "What''s wrong?" Zoey asked, noticing her reaction as she opened the front door.


    Susie stood on her tiptoes, squinting at the rooftop. "I thought I just saw two people running across the roof, but they disappeared in the blink of an eye."


    "Probably just some reckless teenagers doing parkour. Ignore them. But Celephais has been a bit chaotictely, so don''t go out at night," Darabont replied, ncing back but not seeing anything unusual. Shaking his head slightly, he added a casual warning.


    Susie nodded. Once her parents went inside, she looked back one more time but still saw nothing. She frowned slightly.


    She couldn''t shake the feeling that the two figures she had just seen were moving too smoothly, almost like Spider-Man, unlike the extreme sports videos she''d seen online.


    But she quickly dismissed the thought, deciding she''d just imagined it.


    Closing the door, she slipped on her slippers and dashed upstairs immediately. After days of being away from her game, she was practically itching to y¡­


    However, what Susie didn''t notice was that, just as she closed the door, the two figures she''d spotted on the roof had reappeared, now leaping swiftly from rooftop to rooftop, making their way directly toward her house.


    On the roof, the two shadows moved with fluid precision. One of them, appearing to be in his twenties, had a grim expression and long hair. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary about him at first nce, except that with a wave of his hand, several green, glowing wooden spikes shot forth.


    The other figure was a scruffy man with a stubbled beard, holding a long knife and dressed in a ck uniform. He had a cigarette dangling from his lips, a nonchnt expression on his face, and a star emblem pinned to his chest.


    This was none other than Ivanka''s squad captain¡ªQuagmire!


    Facing the iing wooden spikes, Quagmire remainedpletely calm. With a casual swipe of his long de, he sliced every spike mid-air, then said coolly, "Kid, stop right now, and I''ll make your death quick. If I have to make a move, you won''t get the chance to beg for mercy."


    "Catch me first if you think you can!" the young man sneered, a glint of green shing in his eyes.


    Quagmire''s brow furrowed, and he halted abruptly.


    In the next instant, the roof tiles shattered!


    A sharp wooden spike shot up from beneath the rooftop!


    Had he hesitated even a moment longer, it would have skewered him right through!


    But in that brief dy, the young man was already sprinting toward a parked car by the curb.


    It was Darabont''s car, the one he''d just parked, with the keys still in the ignition. If the young man got hold of that vehicle, he''d be much harder to catch.


    "Courting death!" Quagmire let out a cold snort, his de glowing red as he swung it toward the youth''s fleeing back.


    In a sh, a sharp, blood-red arc of light sliced through the air, cutting into the young man just as he looked back in terror.


    St!


    Blood sttered everywhere!


    The young man''s eyes went wide in shock.


    One of his arms was severed cleanly at the shoulder!


    "Aaahhh!!" His blood-curdling scream pierced the air.


    As he writhed on the ground, clutching his bleeding stump in agony.


    Blood pooled quickly on the street, staining the pavement.


    Terrified bystanders looked on, horrified, at Quagmire standing there with his de. Someone had already begun dialing the police, clearly mistaking him for an assant.


    Quagmire, however, didn''t care in the slightest.


    He slung his de over his shoulder and strolled leisurely over to the young man, then stomped down hard on the man''s wounded arm, grinding his heel into it.


    Amid the agonized, inhuman screams, Quagmire sneered, "Didn''t I tell you not to make me take action, you idiot? You don''t listen, huh?"


    The young man''s limbs twitched as his eyes rolled back, nearly passing out from the pain.


    Never in his wildest dreams had he expected to face a madman like this. If he''d known, he might have just surrendered outright.


    But it was toote for regrets now.


    "Take my advice, kid¡ªnext time, listen to those who know better," Quagmire muttered, spitting out his cigarette. With a swing of his arm, he prepared to sever the young man''s head.


    Just then, a sudden shout rang out.


    "Police! I order you to drop your weapon and release him immediately!" Darabont stepped out of the house, holding a handgun steady and aimed at Quagmire, his expression cautious.


    Killing someone in broad daylight?


    Such a ruthless criminal was rare, even for him to encounter.


    "Huh?" Quagmire blinked, pointing to himself. "Are you talking to me?"


    The bystanders looked on, exasperated¡ªwho else would he be talking to? Quagmire was clearly the most suspicious-looking person there.


    Darabont scoffed. "I''m warning you, don''t try anything funny. Drop your weapon and surrender now, or I have the authority to shoot you on the spot!"


    "What if I told you I''m also a cop? Would you believe me?" Quagmire nced at the barrel pointed directly at him, then, after a pause, reluctantly set down his de.


    His abilities hadn''t yet reached the level of invulnerability to bullets.


    "Do you take me for an idiot?" Darabont rolled his eyes. A guy who casually shed people to pieces, iming to be a cop? If that were true, he''d eat his own gun.


    Susie peeked out from behind the door.


    The moment she saw the fearsome-looking Quagmire and the bloodied, maimed figure on the ground with only one arm remaining, her face went pale, and she quickly pulled her head back.


    Clutching her chest, Susie whispered, trembling, "Mom, there''s a killer out there. He looks so scary¡­"


    Quagmire: ¡­


    At this point, Donald and Sini, drawn by themotion outside, stepped out of the house. Their faces paled as they took in the scene before them.


    "Call the police, and grab the first aid kit," Donald said, his tone steady¡ªhe was no stranger to bloodshed.


    "I''ll get it." Sini nodded, ncing warily at Quagmire before hurrying back inside to retrieve her phone.


    Quagmire was at a loss. He wanted to pull out his badge to prove his identity, but Darabont''s gaze remained fixed on him.


    He ready to shoot at the slightest hint of movement.


    "I''m really a cop¡­" Quagmire sighed, feeling more than a bit annoyed. But he wasn''t angry¡ªthis wasn''t the first time something like this had happened.


    Darabont and Donald ignored him.


    They''d heard it all before. "Police?" They''d met people iming to be the chief''s illegitimate child.


    "Let''s tend to the injured," Darabont reminded as Sini brought over the first aid kit.


    Donald nodded and approached the young man on the ground.


    Quagmire''s rxed expression immediately vanished. "Stay back!" he barked.


    Donald paused, confused.


    Suddenly, the young man on the ground lifted his head, a twisted grin on his face.


    A green light red!


    Out of nowhere, a vine covered in barbed thorns burst up from the ground, lunging straight toward Donald!


    Luca, who had just arrived, witnessed the scene and his pupils contracted in shock.

 Chapter 147: Chapter 147: The Wind-like Youth! Sophia’s Arrival! A King’s Reward!

    "Look out!" "Get out of the way!" ¡­


    Several cries of rm rang out almost simultaneously.


    Donald''s face changed, utterly unprepared for the injured man on the ground to suddenly attack him¡ªand using such a bizarre technique at that.


    Acting purely on instinct, he dove to the side, narrowly evading the barbed vines that shot past his cheek, leaving a few beads of blood in their wake. It was a close call.


    But before Donald could even catch his breath.


    The vine twisted mid-air and came barreling back toward him, giving him no time to dodge.


    "Boom!" At that instant, a tremendous noise exploded in everyone''s ears.


    Luca shot forward like a leopard, moving so quickly that no one even registered his actions; all they saw was a dark blur shing past.


    The next moment, the barbed vine stopped mere inches from Donald!


    Arge hand had gripped the snake-like vine, halting it just before it could pierce his heart!


    Luca''s expression was grim, his hand tightly clutching the writhing vine. Despite its sharp, barbed spikes, his hand showed no sign of injury.


    Everyone present gasped audibly. What had they just witnessed? How could a vine seem to attack of its own will?


    And that speed¡ªwas it even humanly possible?!


    Most of the onlookers felt as if they were dreaming. What they had just seen was beyond their understanding.


    Even Coarmy, watching with a furrowed brow, couldn''t fullyprehend Luca''s speed. This guy''s strength was unbelievable!


    "No way!" The young man on the ground, now one-armed, looked utterly stunned.


    The strength of the older man had already been terrifying enough, but this kid was even more extraordinary! How could he have crossed that distance so fast?


    "When did Luca be this strong¡­" Susie whispered, staring at Luca as if seeing him for the first time, her face full of astonishment. He was always home ying video games; how had he suddenly be so physically capable?


    "Probably trained by Donald," Darabont spected, though he couldn''t hide his surprise. He knew Donald''s abilities.


    But he''d never realized Luca had such impressive physical potential. He''d make a great candidate for the police force!


    Sini was equally stunned.


    Sheunable toprehend how her son had changed so drastically.


    "See? I told you, he''s like the wind!" Fuzzsir said with certainty, his focus clearly different from everyone else''s.


    Luca ignored the curious looks from those around him and took a few steps forward, checking Donald''s injuries carefully. Seeing they were only superficial wounds, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Meanwhile, Coarmy had swiftly handcuffed the young man on the ground.


    While the cuffs weren''t particrly effective on yers, it was better than nothing.


    "This is the new recruit we''re bringing in? Not bad," Quagmire remarked, sizing Luca up with a hint of surprise.


    Just from those quick actions, he could tell this kid had an unusual level of skill.


    "Not just ''not bad''¡ªhe''s definitely reached A-ss!" Coarmy replied, still feeling a bit shaken from his earlier encounter with Luca.


    "When we get some free time, I have to challenge him to a match!" Ivanka said excitedly, her eyes lighting up with battle fervor. Fighting seemed to be her only real hobby.


    Quagmire chuckled. "Looks like we''ll have a bit less weight on our shoulders with him around."


    Just then, Luca approached, gesturing toward the gathered crowd, and asked Coarmy, "How are we handling all these onlookers?"


    The people around them had seen far more than they should have. If they spread word of what they''d witnessed, it could easily lead to widespread panic.


    Coarmy, shoving the young man into the car, assured him, "Don''t worry¡ªMorning Star members will be here soon to handle it."


    With that, Luca didn''t press the matter further.


    "Alright, now that we''re done here, it''s time for us to go," Quagmire said, making no move to linger.


    He waved at Luca as he climbed into the car. "Kid,e visit us at the Northern Division sometime."


    The engine roared to life.


    Luca watched them drive away.


    When he turned back around, he found Susie standing there, her face taut and serious.


    Andstaring intently at him.


    "What''s up?" Luca asked, touching his face as if to check for anything unusual.


    "When did you get so strong? Are you secretly working out? Or did you sign up for a martial arts ss?" Susie fired off a series of questions, her gaze unwavering.


    "Oh? Want to learn?" Luca teased with a smile.


    "Uh-huh!" Susie nodded vigorously, fists clenched and making tiny, fierce motions. "Then, if I run into any bad guys, I won''t be afraid."


    As they walked back to the house, Luca casually remarked, "Alright, start with twenty push-ups, and I''ll show you what to do next."


    "Twenty?" Susie''s face immediately fell.


    She hadn''t even managed two before¡­


    Back at home, Sini tried to ask Luca some questions, but he and Donald deftly sidestepped them.


    "So this is the change you were talking about?" Donald askedter, touching the scratches on his face with an almost surreal sense of disbelief.


    "That''s right," Luca confirmed with a nod. "And this is only the beginning. We''ll likely be seeing more and more people like that."


    After this encounter, any doubts Donald had were gone.


    With resolve, he said, "I''ll work on leveling up as quickly as I can."


    He had no intention of relying on his son for protection. That just wasn''t his style.


    Luca smiled. That was exactly the oue he''d hoped for.


    Luca said, "In a while, I''ll find a way to send some resources over to you."


    Donald''s hometown was also in the Kingdom of Clinton, but it was a long distance from where Luca was.


    Sending him any gear or equipment would only make sense once Donald''s strength had increased enough.


    After chatting with Donald for a while, Luca returned to his room.


    Just because nothing had gone wrong today didn''t mean they would be so lucky next time.


    As more yers gained Transcendent abilities, human society would only grow more chaotic.


    Only by building sufficient strength could one ensure survival in the turbulent times ahead.


    ¡­


    Southwind City, Inner District.


    A sh of silver light appeared.


    Luca materialized in the newly cleared za.


    All around him, yers and NPCs were hard at work, rebuilding Southwind City.


    While construction in this Transcendent world wasn''t as challenging as in the real world, it still wasn''t something that could be finished overnight.


    Luca wasted no time and headed directly to the residential area of Red Maple Academy. He nned to use this time to forge as many magic runes as he could from the materials he''d gathered.


    During the recent incident, he''d nearly depleted all the magic runes he''d prepared, and he needed to replenish his supply quickly. Otherwise, he wouldn''t feel prepared for what mighte next.


    As he crossed the streets, many people greeted him warmly.


    There wasn''t a single NPC or yer who didn''t recognize the young hero who had saved Southwind City.


    Luca smiled and greeted each of them in return.


    Soon, he arrived back at the residential area.


    He had just opened the door and stepped into his loft.


    Not even closing the door yet when a familiar voice called from a distance, "Luca!"


    He turned, a surprised look crossing his face.


    "Professor, how did you get here?" he asked in astonishment as he saw two figures hurrying toward him.


    It was none other than Sophia and Lucia.


    Lucia looked the same as ever, dressed in an borate mage''s robe that she wore with effortless elegance.


    But Sophia¡­ there was something distinctly different about her. Her presence felt more powerful, and her aura was even colder than it had been in Riverfall City.


    Luca''s gaze lingered a moment on Sophia''s cool, beautiful face.


    But he quickly looked away.


    Without enough information or evidence, guessing blindly would only lead him into a maze of his own making.


    "We heard in Dawn City that there was a monster attack here, so we came as quickly as we could," Sophia said calmly.


    Lucia, on the other hand, wasted no time¡ªshe threw her arms around Luca in a big hug, squeezing him so tight he could barely breathe.


    Tears in her eyes, she said, "It''s only been a little while since west saw you, and you''re already skin and bones! I even heard you fought with a King-level monster?"


    "Come here, let me check you over to see if you''re hurt anywhere!"


    Luca''s mouth twitched slightly, and he said helplessly, "Don''t worry, I''m fine. That monster has already been defeated by me."


    Sophia studied Luca, a look of surprise in her eyes. "I didn''t expect your strength to have improved this quickly."


    When she''dst seen him, he had only recently broken into the Gold Grade.


    Now, after only a few days, his aura had grown several times stronger.


    Even she couldn''t help but be astonished at this rate of growth.


    "Come on, you''re kidding, right? I''m still far from reaching your level," Luca replied, genuinely impressed.


    He could tell that Sophia had also made significant progress¡ªshe seemed to have reached the advanced level.


    And her presence felt even more powerful. As he stood near her, he sensed a strange, threatening chill, as if his magic itself might freeze under her influence.


    This kind of aura was certainly not typical, even for high-level professionals.


    She must have had quite the opportunity in Dawn City¡­


    Once the greetings had warmed up, Lucia brought up the main reason for their visit.


    "We didn''te just to check in on you," she said seriously. "We''re also here to bring you to Southwind City."


    "Your actions havee to His Majesty''s attention. Saving two cities in a row is an enormous aplishment, and His Majesty ns to award you a noble title as a count along with somend."


    "Additionally, there will likely be other rewards," she added.


    "A count?" Luca was taken aback.


    Then he remembered that when he defeated Pandora, he had indeed received a significant amount of renown¡ªenough to qualify for the title of count.


    "And," Sophia added calmly, "my father would also like to meet you."


    This statement surprised Luca even more.


    Sophia''s father was none other than the President of the Clinton Mage Association.


    ASuperss powerhouse, one of the most influential figures on the Eternal Continent.


    Why would such a prominent figure suddenly want to meet him?

 Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Farewell! Setting Out for Dawn City!

    "When do we leave?" Luca asked without further questions. He had nned on heading to Dawn City soon anyway, so he''d learn more in time.


    "Tonight," Sophia replied.


    Luca looked surprised. "That soon?"


    He''d expected to have a couple more days at least.


    Lucia shrugged helplessly. "His Majesty is already preparing the investiture ceremony for you¡ªit wouldn''t do to keep him waiting."


    "I understand. I''ll go get my things ready," Luca nodded, knowing he couldn''t go against a royal order.


    There wasn''t much to pack, really¡ªmostly, he just wanted to say goodbye to Orf and the others.


    When they heard that Luca was leaving for Dawn City that very day, everyone was equally surprised and unprepared.


    In the za of Red Maple Academy¡­


    Orf, Medel, Fred, and a crowd of students gathered to see him off.


    "Can''t you stay just a few more days, Professor?" Kassna asked, a hint of sadness in her voice.


    She hadn''t even had time to get to know her professor better, and now he was leaving¡­


    Luca shrugged. "This is the King''s order. Not much I can do about it."


    Orf sighed. "I always knew this day woulde, just didn''t expect it to be so soon."


    Lucia, too, looked resigned. "That''s exactly how I felt back in Riverfall City."


    The speed of Luca''s growth was just too remarkable. What would take others years, even decades, to achieve, he had reached in mere months.


    Melissa stepped forward, handing him a carefully wrapped parcel. She looked up at him, her eyes hopeful, and asked, "Will youe back?"


    Luca paused briefly, then smiled. "Of course I will. I''m only going to Dawn City for a bit; it''s not as if I''ll be living there. No need to act like this is some tearful farewell."


    But they all knew that once he left, who could say when he would return?


    It might be a year, or it could be ten.


    Melissa managed a small smile and said, "I''ll be waiting."


    Kassna suddenly felt an unexpected wave of sadness rise within her, and before she knew it, tears streamed down her face freely. In no time, she was sobbing openly.


    Between her sniffles, she choked out, "My first love¡­ it ended before it even began¡­"


    As she spoke, her crying grew even more sorrowful.


    Hearing Kassna''s tearful confession, both Lucia and Sophia turned to look at Luca with expressions that seemed to say they were looking at a heartless beast.


    Really? You''d go after such a young girl?


    "I¡­," Luca began awkwardly, feeling the weight of their gazes.


    The problem was, he hadn''t done anything!


    Wasn''t Kassna the one making things difficult here?


    "Oh, right," Orf said suddenly, as if he had just remembered something.


    He ran his hand over his Storage Ring, and with a sh of light, a translucent, crystal-like magic spear appeared in his hand.


    "This magic spear isn''t particrly powerful, but it was a gift from my own mentor, and I''ve kept it ever since. Now, I''m giving it to you," he said, handing the crystal spear to Luca, a nostalgic look in his eyes, as though he were seeing the cycle of timee full circle.


    "Thank you, Professor," Luca said, epting the spear gratefully.


    When he checked its stats, his eyes lit up immediately.


    [Magic Crystal Spear: tinum Grade equipment, usable by Demonic Rune Mages. Grants +1220 magic attack power, +480 spirit, -20% cooldown on magic runes, +20% rune amplification, +20% rune power¡­]


    [Skill "Magic Crystal Recall": Upon activation, instantly resets the cooldown of up to three high-level or lower magic runes. Cooldown: 3 hours.]


    "What a fantastic weapon!" Luca was delighted. Both the attributes and the skill made the Magic Crystal Spear a top-tier tinum weapon.


    The skill, "Magic Crystal Recall," was especially valuable, resetting the cooldown for up to three high-level runes.


    It is a divine skill for a Demonic Rune Mage, a ss that relied so heavily on skill power.


    Equipping the Magic Crystal Spear, Luca gave it a test swing and found it a perfect fit. It looked like his old Wind and Thunder Spell Spear could finally retire.


    He nced at his stats and noticed his spirit attribute had surpassed 5500, while his base attack had broken past 30,000!


    This level of damage was far beyond that of a typical advanced yer!


    "I''m d you like it," Orf said with a pleased smile. "And another thing¡ªin the ring Medel and I gave you earlier, you''ll find notes recording our years of experience with magic runes."


    "With your talent, I doubt you''ll hit any serious bottlenecks before reaching Superss, even without guidance."


    "And if you run into any real problems or difficult situations, write to me. We''ll find a way to help you."


    Medel''s hollow eyes shifted slightly as he added, "You''re not exactly the most well-behaved type, kid. Who knows how much trouble you''ll stir up in the future."


    "If you evere across something that''s truly too much to handle, remember to reach out to us."


    "Us old-timers may not have been active for years, but we can still help put a scare into any pests thate your way."


    "Thank you, both of you!" Luca was deeply moved by their words and thanked them sincerely once more.


    Lucia felt a bit amused, thinking about how this kid had picked up two new teachers in Southwind City.


    "If he heads to Dawn City and finds a few more mentors, he might have enough teachers to start a poker club¡­" she thought wryly.


    After bidding farewell to Orf and the others, Luca went to the Lord''s Manor to visit Marquis Bronte.


    There, he learned that Bronte would also be heading to Southwind City eventually, but only after resolving matters in Southwind City. In the meantime, Bronte nned to send his sister, Luna, to travel with them.


    "For the next few days, I''m entrusting my sister''s care to you," Bronte said earnestly, patting Luca''s shoulder.


    Then, leaning in, he added quietly, "And don''t you dare let her down, or you''ll answer to me!"


    Luna overheard everything and immediately flushed red, ring at Bronte. "Bronte, what nonsense are you spouting? Who needs his protection, anyway? He''s just a mid-level professional!"


    Bronte merely chuckled, leaving thement at that.


    Luca couldn''t help but smile, shaking his head.


    These two siblings certainly had an unusual dynamic.


    As they left the Lord''s Manor, Sophia frowned and said, "Where did you pick up this habit of flirting everywhere you go?"


    Luca sighed, exasperated. "Trust me, it''s not intentional¡­"


    But what could he do? It seemed like fate had handed him this knack.


    Afterward, Luca found Fratis. He didn''t have any special feelings for the sixth princess; to him, she was simply a friend.


    But it was clear Fratis felt differently. Thankfully, Luca wasn''t one to overthink or avoid emotions¡ªhe''d let things unfold naturally.


    Surprisingly, Fratis already seemed to know about his departure.


    When he arrived, she was busy packing. Her carriage was loaded with supplies, with her butler and guards busily loading more.


    As Luca approached, Fratis wasn''t surprised to see him and said, "Now that things in Southwind City have stabilized, I''ll be returning with you."


    Her expression was rxed and cheerful. Luca didn''t know her full reasons but respected her decision.


    Just as they were preparing to leave, Luca felt a chilling gaze fixed on him, brimming with intense hostility.


    He instinctively looked over and saw an ornate carriage parked along the roadside.


    The window was down, revealing the sharp, cold face of Finn, who red at Luca with undisguised malice.


    "When we reach Dawn City, I''ll be very interested to see if you manage to walk away alive," Finn sneered before letting the carriage curtain fall.


    Watching the luxurious carriage recede into the distance.


    Sophia frowned and reminded Luca, "I warned you before¡ªdon''t get involved with the sixth princess. Clearly, you didn''t listen."


    Lucia added gravely, "The Phillips family, to which Finn belongs, is leagues above most noble families. Offending him will bring nothing but trouble."


    Luca shook his head. "It wasn''t me who sought trouble with him¡ªhe simply has iting."


    Lucia rubbed her temples in exasperation. "The Phillips family isn''t as simple as you think¡­ but fine. When the timees, I''ll have my father talk with Duke Lyon."


    Luca shook his head again. His conflict with Finn couldn''t be resolved through diplomacy. Even if Lucia''s father intervened, it would likely be in vain.


    Eventually, he and Finn would have to settle things¡­ once and for all.


    The sun dipped low in the sky.


    Evening came quickly.


    Luca had originally nned to leave quietly, but somehow, word got out about his journey to Dawn City.


    Soon, the entire city knew he was departing for his investiture.


    By nightfall, when Luca and his group arrived at the docks, they were met with a breathtaking sight.


    In the dark, countless residents of Southwind City stood with torches held high, filling the za before the docks. The glow of the mes illuminated faces young and old alike, all united by expressions of gratitude.


    The multitude of torches formed a sea of light, transforming the entire dock into a bright, starlitndscape.


    As Luca appeared, the crowd grew silent, slowly parting to open a path straight to the airship.


    The torchlight cast a warm golden glow over the path, making it look like a luxurious golden carpet.


    Even Lucia and Sophia were moved by the scene. They had known that Luca had saved Southwind City through some special means, but they hadn''t realized the depth of the people''s gratitude toward him.


    Luca himself hadn''t expected to receive such a send-off. Gazing at the faces around him, he stood in silence for a long moment before finally speaking. "If I have the chance, I''lle back. And when I do, I hope to see a reborn Southwind City."


    With that, he stepped onto the golden path and, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, boarded the Cloudwing Airship, beginning his journey to Dawn City.

 Chapter 150: The Sky City! The First Prince and Second Prince! The Princesss Quarters!

    150 Chapter 150: The Sky City! The First Prince and Second Prince! The Princess''s Quarters!


    By the time Luca arrived in Dawn City. Five days had passed.


    Over these days, aside from crafting magic runes. Luca had spent most of his time dealing with Susie''s constant troublemaking.


    Truth be told, he knew he was in the wrong.


    In the end, the only thing Luca could do was promise Susie that as soon as they arrived in Dawn City, he would figure out a way to bring her here.


    This was the only thing that barely managed to calm her anger.


    Luca stepped out of the flying ship''s cabin.


    The weather was sunny and bright.


    Standing on the flying ship''s gangway, Luca gazed at the distant skyline.


    "So, this is Dawn City?"


    Under the vast blue sky, a colossal structure, reminiscent of a mountain range, floated in mid-air.


    It was covered in towering skyscrapers, with flying shipsing and going like busy bees.


    Around it, smaller floating inds orbited, forming a pattern that resembled a blooming lotus flower.


    From a distance, one could already see the blue crystal tower at the heart of the city, a straight spire piercing the clouds.


    "That''s right, it''s also known as the Sky City!" Fratis said with a smile, his voice filled with a subtle pride.


    After all, this was hishome.


    "After days of traveling by flying ship, we''ve finally arrived!" Lucia stretched her body dramatically, revealing her devilishly toned figure.


    "Once we get to Dawn City, let me show you the city''s splendor!" She put her soft white arm around Luca''s shoulder, batting her eyes andughing mischievously.


    Sophia shot her a cold look and said, "Shouldn''t the teacher take me along too?"


    Lucia quickly retracted her arm,ughing awkwardly. "What are you thinking? The teacher is just going to stroll around the food streets. How could I possibly take my own student to a nightclub or the red-light district? Those kinds of ces..."


    The others rolled their eyes.


    As the flying ship drew closer to Dawn City, the overwhelming presence of the giant city pressed in on them.


    In front of this massive structure, the hundred-meter-long flying ship seemed like a tiny dot.


    Only now could they truly appreciate the sheer size of the Sky City.


    Naturally, a city like Dawn City had its own docks.


    The flying ship, familiar with the route, headed toward the central district of Dawn City.


    Luca had already asked Fratis and the others about the city.


    Dawn City wasn''t just one single city¡ªit had its own central district, but there were also eight satellite districts. These were nine floating inds surrounding the main city, each named after one of the eight cardinal directions.


    Each of these satellite inds was governed by a grand duke of the empire, who was required to report to King Alfred Clinton in the central royal pce every day about the state of the empire.


    Only in rare cases would the king summon all eight grand dukes to the pce to discuss important matters.


    The flying ship sailed through the passageway, entering the outer docks of the main district.


    It passed through a dim tunnel and finally came to a smooth, steady stop at the tform.


    A group of people disembarked from the flying ship.


    Luca scanned the surroundings.


    He saw many guards in uniforms, checking the baggage and identities of pedestrians.


    The line stretched for quite a while, consisting of ordinary people as well as wealthy individuals dressed in extravagant clothing, all in an orderly fashion.


    In the dock, someone had been waiting for them.


    It was a young man wearing golden armor with short hair.


    From the divine aura emanating from him, it was clear that he was a high-ranking Holy Knight.


    Upon seeing them, he immediately walked over and respectfully said, "Your Highness, Lady Lucia, Lord Luca, it''s been a long journey. His Highness the First Prince has arranged amodations and a banquet. He wishes to invite you all over to meet and get acquainted."


    The First Prince? Luca''s eyes shifted slightly.


    In the Clinton Empire, the only person who could be called the First Prince was King Alfred''s eldest son, Leonie.


    He was the son of King Alfred and Queen Matilda Constantine, and the legitimate heir to the throne.


    Luca hadn''t expected him to send someone to greet them.


    Before he could respond, a harsh voice suddenly rang out.


    "Heh, it seems the First Prince is truly desperate for talented individuals, going so far as to send his strongest knight to wee a small noble from the countryside." Another group of people approached.


    The man was dressed in a noble''s long robe, with a tall, sharp nose and a handlebar mustache. His face twisted into a sneer, and he was followed by a retinue of guards. His tone was dripping with contempt, and it was clear he had no respect whatsoever for the so-called legitimate heir to the throne.


    "This man is Beck Thomas, a count and a dog of the Second Prince and the noble faction," Lucia whispered from the side. It was clear from her voice that she had little love for the Second Prince or the noble faction.


    "Beck! You should show the royal family the respect they deserve!" Knight Ed, his face turning alternately green and white with anger, clenched his fists. If it weren''t for the circumstances, he might have attacked right there and then.


    Beck sneered dismissively, clearly uninterested in further conversation.


    He then turned to Fratis and Finn, whose expression was calm, and bent slightly at the waist, speaking with exaggerated deference. "Your Highness, Lord Finn, the Second Prince has sent me to invite you both to a banquet. "


    "He specially ordered fresh spirit fish and seafood from the Western Sea to prepare avish feast, which I''m sure you and Your Highness will enjoy."


    Luca watched the exchange with great interest. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Neither side was even pretending to be polite. It seemed the power struggles within the Clinton royal family were already quite intense. No wonder the king was in such a rush to arrange a marriage with the Phillips family¡­


    "Luca..." Fratis tugged gently at his sleeve.


    Luca turned and made eye contact with her, clearly seeing the helplessness in her eyes.


    Fratis'' biological mother was not Matilda Constantine, but thete former queen.


    She had no affection for either the First or Second Prince, as both were merely trying to win the favor of Finn and the Phillips family. In fact, the only one in the royal family who truly cared for her was the third princess¡­


    Luca gave a slight nod, then calmly addressed Knight Ed and Count Beck, "Sorry, we''ve already made arrangements at a hotel, so there''s no need for the princes to trouble themselves. I thank you both on behalf of Her Highness, and as for Finn¡­ well, he can make his own decision."


    "Hmm?" Both men''s gazes shifted to Luca, their expressions confused.


    "What gives you the right to make decisions for the princess?" Finn''s cold voice asked, voicing their unspoken thoughts.


    He hasn''t even spoken yet, and you, a mere viscount, who do you think you are to make decisions?


    "Luca is right," Fratis suddenly raised her head, speaking firmly. "We''ve already made hotel arrangements. Please thank my older brother and second brother on my behalf."


    Ed and Beck exchanged a nce,pletely confused about what was happening.


    "You!" Finn felt his blood pressure spike, his chest tightening in anger. He gritted his teeth and looked at Fratis, as if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he swallowed his fury and snarled at Ed and Beck, "Get out of here!"


    Both men flinched, quickly realizing that the Duke''s son was clearly enraged and that this wasn''t the time to press the issue. They hastily excused themselves, eager to leave before Finn took out his frustration on them.


    At the same time, Ed felt a pang of regret for Luca. He had done such a great job in Southwind City, and he was so young¡ªif things had gone differently, he would''ve definitely been a rising star in the noble world. But now, he''d crossed Finn...


    He shook his head.


    Once the two men had left. Finn shot Luca a long, cold stare and sneered. "Enjoy the next few days, because after that, your life will get a lot more difficult."


    With a wave of his hand, he barked, "Let''s go."


    The group watched as Finn stormed off. Luna frowned and said, "You''ve earned a lot of credit, and for the next few days, they probably won''t dare to do anything to you. But once the king''s rewards are settled, Finn definitely won''t let this slide."


    "Sorry..." Fratis''s face showed a mix of worry and guilt. In the end, it was because of her that all this had happened.


    Luca shook his head. "It''s fine. Let''s just go."


    At this point, there was no point in saying more.


    "Let''s head to my pce. It''s big enough, and I''ll be able to host everyone there," Fratis suggested.


    No one disagreed.


    Then, under the curious gaze of the crowd, the group walked out of the dock.


    Outside, several luxurious carriages were waiting. They had been prepared by Lucia, and the creatures pulling the carriages were simr to scaled horses, but muchrger and gentler in nature.


    The group climbed into the carriage and headed toward the royal pce deep within the city.


    During the ride, Luca took the opportunity to observe the bustling city of Clinton Empire, the most prosperous in the entire empire.


    On the streets, vehicles powered by magic energy crystals slowly made their way through the roads. They weren''t particrly fast, their bulky, unwieldy forms resemblingrge metal worms. Two iron chimneys belched thick clouds of smoke from their tops.


    These machines resembled modern buses, albeit with rougher craftsmanship. Many of the mechanical structures, along with brass gears, were exposed and visible to anyone passing by.


    In addition to these curious vehicles, there were also uniquely designed buildings and strange-looking races walking the streets¡ªElves, Tigerfolk, Lizardmen, and more.


    These humanoid races were dressed in formal clothing, walking down the neat, clean streets while chatting andughing. To any casual observer, they appeared no different from regr people.


    Among the several guilds they passed, Luca noticed a few yers. Compared to other cities, the number of yers here seemed much lower. However, those present were generally at higher levels, with most of them above level 20.


    But the most striking feature of the city was undoubtedly the massive royal pce situated at the very center of Dawn City. Even from a distance, the grandiose building gleamed with golden hues. The closer they got, the more one could feel the sheer scale and magnificence of the structure.


    As the carriage continued on its way, it didn''t take long before they arrived at the pce gates.


    Soldiers stood guard at the entrance, checking the identities of those entering. Upon seeing Fratis, a few soldiers were momentarily confused, unsure of what was going on.


    Only one older soldier, a veteran, paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up in recognition. "Your Highness, the Sixth Princess! When did you return?"


    "Captain Charlie, long time no see!" Fratis smiled warmly, waving at the soldier as she greeted him.


    She showed no airs of superiority typical of nobility or royalty, and in fact, she seemed just like any ordinary person, casual and approachable.

 Chapter 152: The Tidecaller Set! The Rising Tide! The Dawn God Sect! Fratis Wedding Approaches!

    152 Chapter 152: The Tidecaller Set! The Rising Tide! The Dawn God Sect! Fratis'' Wedding Approaches!


    Inside the Storage Ring, there was a set of tinum Grade equipment.


    [Tidecaller Set: tinum Grade, usable by Demonic Rune Mages. When equipped, activates set effects: Magic Runes attack power +30%, Spirit attribute +1200, other attributes +400, Mana +50000, Magic Runes drawing speed +30%, cooldown -20%...] N?v(el)B\\jnn


    [Skill 1: Spirit Tide - After using this skill, the yer''s Spirit attribute is increased by 30% for 10 minutes!]


    [Skill 2: Soul Howl - After using this skill, it triggers a Soul Roar on the target, dealing 200% soul damage!]


    [Skill 3: Silence - After using this skill, the target cannot use skills for 10 seconds, with the effect varying depending on the difference in both parties'' power!]


    ...


    The effects of the "Tidecaller Set" skills were far superior to the "Magic Runes Set" Luca was currently wearing. The three skills each had a different effect: boosting, attacking, and controlling. Even among tinum Grade equipment, this set was definitely top-tier!


    Seeing the excitement on Luca''s face, Augustine stroked his beard and smiled, "This Tidecaller Set is something I spent over 200,000 gold coins on back in the day. I used it for quite a while when I was younger and couldn''t bear to part with it. Go ahead, try it on and see how it works for you."


    Luca nodded, opened his panel, and swapped into the moon-white mage set. He then checked his stats.


    [Name: Luca (tinum Grade)]


    [Level: lv40]


    [Talent: The Person Favored (SSS-level)]


    [Main ss: Demonic Rune Mage]


    [Secondary Professions: Witch Doctor, Dreamweaver]


    [Health: 138,000]


    [Mana: 372,000]


    [Attack: 41,000 - 43,000]


    [Attributes: Strength 4135, Spirit 6306, Stamina 3477, Agility 2321]


    [Special: Charm 100, Perception 100, Talent 150 (Transcendent), Luck 100]


    [Titles: Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm, Peerless Appearance, Danger Perception, Son of Luck, Master of Asceticism]


    After equipping the "Tidecaller Set," his Spirit attribute had already surpassed 6000, and his base attack had reached 40,000!


    With high-level skills, his damage could easily exceed 100,000!


    Luca was quite pleased with this unexpected windfall upon arriving in Dawn City.


    "That old man is so stingy. I came all the way here with my people, and he only gives me a tinum Grade set?" Lucia muttered, clearly dissatisfied.


    Augustine, looking helplessly at his opportunistic daughter, replied, "Even if I gave him a higher-level set, he wouldn''t be able to use it because of his low level. It wouldn''t benefit him much either."


    "Once his level is high enough, you can bring him back here. I''ll see if I can find something suitable for him, be it magic runes or equipment."


    With his sharp eye, Augustine could tell that Luca had several Superss magic runes, and all of them were extraordinarymon items wouldn''t do.


    "Now that''s more like it." Lucia''s face lit up with a smile.


    After a bit more conversation. Augustine waved his hand. "Alright, you still have to receive your knighthood from the king tomorrow. Go, get some rest."


    "Alright, we''re off then." Lucia said, not a hint of hesitation in her voice.


    The only reason she had brought Luca here was to get something of value from him.


    Now that she had what she wanted, staying any longer would only be for eating dinner with the old man.


    "Once we get back to the guild hall, see what materials we need and grab some extra," Sophia whispered. "I''ll put it on the old man''s tab."


    Luca couldn''t help but feel a little amused and exasperated.


    Watching the backs of the trio as they left, Augustine shook his head and sat back in his chair.


    Evelyn, smoking ady''s cigarette, asked curiously, "Aren''t you going to ask him what all that random junk on him is? I''ve seen my fair share of geniuses and prodigies, but this is the first time I''ve encountered such a freak."


    "You''re not curious about how he managed it?" she added.


    Augustine, still organizing the chess pieces, responded with surprise, "Why should I be curious? It''s normal for young people to have their own secrets."


    "Normal?" Evelyn raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "The King of Rage''s heart, Starsea''s eyes, the Witch of Desire''s Demon Box, and the Undead Coffin. And besides the Sr Divine Spear, he even has a Dream Master... and you call that normal?"


    Augustine finished tidying up the chessboard and smiled. "Getting to the bottom of it wouldn''t serve much purpose. It''s enough to just do what a good elder is supposed to do."


    "As for what''s going on with him, it''s not important. What matters is, he''s my daughter''s student, and I like the kid."


    Evelyn exhaled a cloud of smoke and said, "With your current strength, you might not be able to protect him. Right now, the King''s influence keeps a few factions from taking action against him.


    "But the King''s time is limited. Once the knighthood ceremony is over, that old virgin from the Dawn God Sect will probablye after him. Not to mention the nobles and the one in the pce..."


    "They fight, they kill, they seek fame and fortune. I don''t care, and I don''t want to get involved," Augustine said, calmly watching Lucia and the others leave in their carriage outside the window. "But anyone who dares toy a hand on these kids will have to face the former Emperor alongside me!"


    ...


    To the east of Dawn City stood thergest cathedral on the entire Eternal Continent: Dawn Cathedral. It was the central hub of the Dawn God Sect, as well as the legendary resting ce of the Dawn Goddess.


    Outside, the za was filled with the sound of fountains, and the magnificent white cathedral rose high into the clouds. Its walls and hallways were adorned with intricate relief sculptures and murals.


    People passing by instinctively lowered their voices, as if afraid to offend the gods within. The atmosphere was solemn and peaceful.


    Inside the grand cathedral, rows of neatly arranged seats were filled with devout worshippers, all engaged in quiet prayer.


    On the high tform ahead, a woman dressed in a white bishop''s robe recited the doctrines. She wore a crown adorned with stars, her voice gentle and melodious. Her eyes were half-closed, and her face was exquisite, wless in every way.


    Behind her stood a statue, its features indistinguishable, but its hands held a radiant gem that sparkled like a star.


    As the woman continued to recite the holy texts, the gem emitted a divine golden light, bathing the cathedral in an incredibly sacred and peaceful glow.


    The congregation, their expressions serene and tranquil, seemed to have their spirits purified by the light.


    When the service concluded, the worshippers either approached to offer thanks or confided their struggles.


    The woman gentlyforted them, showing no sign of impatience.


    Once the faithful had departed, revitalized and with lighter hearts. The cathedral quickly returned to its quiet stillness.


    "Lady Saint."Viktor, wearing a monocle, kneeled respectfully. "Today, Evelyn visited Augustine again. Both are from the neutral faction, and with them meeting so frequently, I wonder if it will affect the events toe."


    The Saintess of the Dawn God Sect, Joanna Evan, gave no visible reaction to his words.


    With her eyes still closed, she continued flipping through the holy scriptures in her hands, her voice calm as she replied, "Let them be. Augustine and Evelyn are not the types to interfere with matters that don''t concern them. As long as they don''t sense anything unusual, they won''t meddle in our affairs."


    "Understood, mydy."Viktor nodded, though he hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Also, the young man connected to the Nightmare Cult arrived in Dawn City today. He also went to visit Augustine."


    Joanna''s hand paused, and she raised her head, her gaze piercing. "Is J?rmungandr still with him?"


    "The Abyssal Gem is reacting strongly, so it should still be with him."Viktor replied, taking out a ck gemstone and speaking in a low voice. "The Nightmare Cult has mobilized fully. The core members are expected to arrive in Dawn City by tonight."


    Joanna gazed silently at the statue of the goddess behind her for a long moment.


    "Once the knighthood ceremony is over, deal with him. Bring J?rmungandr to me. Make sure there are noplications."She spoke calmly, her tone unwavering. "As for Augustine, I will handle him."


    Viktor shuddered slightly, lowering his head. "As youmand, mydy."


    ...


    Meanwhile, Luca and Sophia, traveling in a carriage, were on their way back to the Princess''s chambers.


    Before they left earlier, the butler Lawson had specially prepared temporary tokens for them, so no one had stopped them along the way.


    At the Mages'' Association, Luca ultimately didn''t have the heart to shamelessly ask Augustine to pick up the tab. Instead, he reluctantly dug into his own pockets and purchased arge amount of Transcendent materials.


    Among them were several high-tier fire attribute materials, primarily used to restore the power of the Sr Divine Spear. His gold coins quickly diminished by half.


    Lucia didn''t say much, only sighing in frustration that this trip had been a loss. All she had managed to get was a tinum Gradeset of equipment. Luca could only force a wry smile in response.


    When they returned to the pce, the three of them spotted Fratissitting on a bench outside the chambers. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her face looked haggard, as though she had been crying. She sat in a daze, staring at the fishpond, her figure illuminated by the moonlight, giving her a delicate, sorrowful air.


    Next to her, a petite figure in regal court attire was sighing dramatically. She appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, with a refined and youthful face. However, despite her age, the way she sighed with such exaggerated weight made her seem much older¡ªcreating aical contrast.


    "Why is Princess Raphael here at this hour?"Lucia asked, a bit puzzled, before stepping forward and greeting her. "Raphael, long time no see."


    "So this is Princess Raphael?"Luca was surprised.


    The third princess didn''t quite match the image Luca had envisioned. From Fratis''s descriptions, he had always thought Raphael was a mature older sister. To his surprise, she looked like a young girl who hadn''t even reached adulthood yet.


    Princess Raphaelturned around when she heard her name.


    The moment she saw the group, the troubled look on her delicate face immediately faded, and she waved her hand with a bright smile. "You''re back! Come quickly, help me talk to Fratis¡ªshe''s been in a bad mood and is having trouble with things."


    "I¡­ I''m fine,"Fratis hastily wiped away her tears and forced a smile at the group. "Don''t listen to my third sister. I''m actually really happy today."


    Her smile was stiff, and anyone could see it was insincere.


    "What happened?"Luca asked, concerned.


    "What else could it be?"Raphael shrugged and sighed. "Fratis''s marriage has been arranged. After your knighthood ceremony, her wedding will be the next major event."

 Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Temporary Team Member! The Ghost and the Martial Emperor! A-Class?

    Luca shook his head slightly. "I can''t join you."


    Joining an official organization woulde with too many restrictions, and joining just for some research materials didn''t make much sense.


    With that time, he could be focusing on improving his own strength.


    After all, once his power was strong enough, he could easily acquire those materials on his own.


    Drumph remained just as firm in his stance. "Since you refuse, then go ahead and kill Coarmy. "


    "Afterward, we''ll avenge him!"


    Coarmy didn''t say anything, but in his heart, he thought that if he made it out of this alive, he''d definitely need to find a new superior.


    Luca chuckled lightly and wasn''t intimidated by the threat. "So, is that it? No more negotiations?"


    Having worked with Drumph in his previous life for so many years, Luca knew exactly how this old man operated.


    "You young people are always so impatient," Drumph coughed before adding, "Actually, I think we could still talk some more."


    This old fox hadn''t changed at all...


    Luca shook his head slightly. "I''ll agree to be listed as a member of Morning Star. If there''s a situation you can''t handle, you can contact me, and if I have the time, I''ll handle it. Of course, that''s only if I''m avable."


    Coarmy was stunned.


    What''s the difference between joining and not joining then?


    "No," Drumph said, clearly displeased. "If there''s a problem in Celephais, you''ll have to handle it. "


    "Of course, we can put a limit on the number of cases. You''ll deal with up to ten Transcendent events each month..."


    Luca''s expression darkened. "Ten? You old man! Are you treating me like a ve?"


    Drumph furrowed his brows. "You young people can''t take any hardship. What''s wrong with ten? Let me tell you, back in my day..."


    For the next half hour, the two of them haggled over the terms.


    In the end, Luca managed to limit the number of Transcendent events to four, meaning he would handle one case per week.


    Luca was getting dry-mouthed from the back-and-forth and was toozy to continue wasting words with the old man, so he agreed, but on the condition that he would get the materials that same day.


    On the other side of the phone, Drumph didn''t hesitate and immediately agreed.


    The process was much faster than Luca had expected.


    Not even an hourter, there was a knock on the office door.


    Luca opened the barrier, and the door was pushed open immediately.


    Before he could even see who it was, a rushed voice came through.


    "Coarmy! We''vee to save you!"A young, lively figure appeared in the doorway.


    Luca nced up, surprised.


    The girl looked to be in her early twenties, with a delicate face, wearing her hair in a high ponytail, a white t-shirt and denim jeans that exposed her pale midriff.


    What surprised him most was that he recognized her.


    "What''s with the look? You''re the one who kidnapped Coarmy, huh? You''ve got quite the guts!" The girl with the ponytail cracked her fair fists together, her beautiful eyes ring at Luca with hostility.


    "Drumph must have sent you here, and I''m guessing you didn''te to fight me," Luca said calmly.


    The woman''s name was Ivanka, the daughter of Drumph. In the past life, her name was not well known, but her nickname was something few people had never heard of.


    "Martial Emperor!"


    She was a Transcendent-level powerhouse, a professional martial artist with the S-ss talent "Blood Energy Tempered by a Hundred Strikes." Each attack shended would umte damage, and the limit was unknown. Her temper was fiery, and she was a warlike person, excelling in closebat. She was even known as the "Knight Killer."


    Luca had faced her many times in his previous life, losing more often than winning. Her talents andbat style countered his perfectly, and he had suffered greatly. He hadn''t expected to run into this annoying woman here, of all ces.


    "Where''s the stuff?" He held out his hand, showing no politeness.


    Ivanka stared at him for a moment before her eyes curved into a smile. She pointed her finger at his nose and huffed, "Fight me! If you can beat me, I''ll give you the materials!"


    Coarmy stared out the window at the blue sky and white clouds, a look of deep concern on his face.


    Miss, is this really the time for a fight?


    "Ivanka, stop fooling around," a deep voice came from outside the window.


    Luca turned his gaze toward the source of the voice and realized that there was a young man hanging from the window ledge.


    He was around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, pale, with faint dark circles under his eyes. He was wearing a well-tailored suit, his hairbed neatly, giving off a slightly sickly appearance. When he noticed Luca''s gaze, he smiled modestly.


    He then climbed through the window, only to crash straight into Coarmy.


    "Why didn''t you just use the front door?" Coarmy groaned, wincing as his face twitched in pain.


    The young man responded earnestly, "Because this way is cooler!"


    Coarmy''s breathing became rapid, his chest heaving.


    He really shouldn''t have asked that question!


    Luca stared at this strange person, surprised.


    He didn''t expect to see another familiar face.


    Fuzzsir, a peak-level Transcendent, nicknamed "Dead Ghost," his main profession was as a ghost assassin. However, his secondary profession was even more renowned¡ªan "Undead Mage." He had the S-ss talent "Godyer Soulbinder."


    Every soul he killed would be his servant, retaining 50% of their abilities from their living days. Even more terrifying, this ability ignored rank, making him a literal game-breaking character. He was one of the most powerful of the Human Race in Luca''s past life.


    The only weakness was that the guy was a little off in the head¡ªhis thought process didn''t quite match up with that of a normal person.


    At that moment, another petite figure entered the office.


    She was covered in bandages stained with blood, and the strong smell of blood instantly filled the room.


    Luca couldn''t help but narrow his eyes. This person was radiating an intense killing intent!


    "Give him the materials, there''s a mission," came a hoarse voice, impossible to tell whether it was from a man or a woman. The words were short, as if the speaker wasn''t willing to say more.


    Once finished, the bandaged person didn''t even nce at Luca. They turned and left the office.


    "Mniais too cold. No matter how you look at it, she''s a new member of our Starfire Organization," Ivanka shook her head, clearly a bit helpless.


    She then took out a USB sh drive and tossed it to Luca, smiling as she warned, "The USB has a self-destruct program, and you can only view it in front of us. You can''t share it with anyone afterwards, or there will be consequences. Don''t say I didn''t warn you~"


    Luca caught the USB drive and nodded slightly, thanking her.


    He then plugged it into the officeputer.


    A notification sound rang through the office, and Luca opened the USB drive.


    Research data appeared on the screen in front of him, and as he scanned the information, his eyes narrowed.


    The research from various countries on Eternal Game was progressing much faster than he had imagined. Summer Country had already confirmed that the game would descend soon, with the timeline set to within a year.


    Unfortunately, this information, which had beenmon knowledge in his past life, was of little use to Luca.


    He focused on the investigation data from Zenith Technology Company, examining it closely.


    Although he had already suspected this oue, Luca couldn''t help but feel a slight disappointment.


    There had been no real progress at all.


    After the release of Eternal Game, the people involved in the research seemed to have vanished from the world, as if they had disappeared without a trace.


    The manufacturing chain for the Eternal Gamehelmets was also extremely ordinary, even outsourced to a production line.


    But this was within Luca''s expectations. After all, even ten yearster, humanity''s research into Zenith still hadn''t made much headway.


    It seemed nearly impossible to track down the people from Zenith through this method. Ultimately, the answers would likely have to be found within the Eternal Worlditself¡­


    With these thoughts in mind, Luca turned his attention to the research on game feedback and was unexpectedly pleased with the new insights.


    "So it''s the nodes¡­" He had a sudden realization. No wonder some yers, despite having high talents, couldn''t obtain game feedback in advance, while others, with only average abilities, could strengthen themselves early on.


    The most important factor wasn''t talent or strength, but whether the yer had encountered a Spatial Node.


    ording to the research data, all the yers who had received game feedback had, without exception, interacted with or encountered a Spatial Node.


    This included people like Fuzzsir, Ivanka, and Coarmy.


    The only problem was that Spatial Nodes werepletely random. Whether one encountered them was entirely based on luck.


    Because of this, even knowing the method, Summer Country couldn''t mass-produce yers with Transcendent powers.


    Unless they spread the news, letting more yers know about it.


    However, doing so would undoubtedly be a suicide mission¡­


    Luca finished reading all the information in just a few minutes.


    He then unplugged the USB drive and tossed it to Coarmy.


    "Finished already?" Ivanka and Coarmy were both a bit surprised.


    They had expected Luca to take a few more looks, but he had just skimmed through it and was done.


    "Just like a wind-blown youth," Fuzzsir sighed in admiration.


    Now that he had what he wanted, Luca waved his hand and said, "Alright, I''ll be heading back now."


    "Just leaving like that?" Coarmy stared at him in shock.


    Luca stretchedzily and nced at him, saying, "What else? I didn''t sleep wellst night. I need to go catch up on some sleep."


    Coarmy and Ivanka exchanged a look, both at a loss for words. This was the first time they''d met someone with such a big heart.


    He''d threatened the police chief, ckmailed a military bigwig, and now he was casually nning to go home and take a nap?


    Coarmy rubbed his temples and sighed. "Don''t go just yet. Ivanka and the others are on a mission right now. Go with them, it''ll be a good opportunity for us to see your strength in action."


    Luca frowned slightly but didn''t refuse.


    After all, he had taken their things, so it was only right to show some appreciation.


    "Oh, by the way, here''s this for you." Ivanka suddenly remembered something and pulled a ck leather badge out of her pocket, tossing it to Luca.


    Luca caught it and opened it. Inside was a bright star emblem, and on the other side was his personal information.


    The badge, however, was stamped with an "intern" designation.


    "Starfire''s badge, huh? Thanks¡­" Luca nced at it and then casually slipped it into his pocket. The Starfire department had high-level authority, and having this badge would make things much more convenient for him.


    The group then headed downstairs, with Coarmy apanying them. He still needed to conduct a danger level assessment on Luca.


    The general danger levels were S, A, B, C, D, and E. These were determined by aprehensive evaluation of talent, strength, and level. Ivanka and the bandaged person were both rated A, while Fuzzsir and their team leader, Quagmire, were rated S.


    Based on Coarmy''s estimation, Luca should be rated A.


    Luca only smiled in response.

 Chapter 146: Chapter 146: B-Class Fugitive! Captain Quagmire! I Really Am a Cop!

    The police car sped toward the outskirts of Celephais.


    During the drive, Luca took the opportunity to learn from Ivanka and the others about their reasons foring to Celephais, as well as the current state of the Morning Star organization.


    Morning Star operates five main divisions across Summer Country, covering the east, west, south, north, and central regions.


    Celephais falls within the northern region, under the jurisdiction of Ivanka''s northern division, which nowmands over a hundred yers.


    Excluding nonbat support personnel, there are currently about 12 teams actively carrying out missions. Each team has five members responsible for the safety of various cities within the northern region. The Transcendent incident near Celephais is being handled by Ivanka''s Quagmire Squad.


    Quagmire''s team is the strongest Morning Star squad in the northern region. The squad leader, Quagmire, is said to be an S-ss danger-rated yer¡ªa level only a handful of individuals worldwide have reached, many of whom are renowned inter years. However, Luca had never heard of Quagmire in his previous life and guessed that he might have been a powerful figure who fell early on.


    This time, Quagmire''s team came to Celephais specifically to handle a Transcendent incident tied to Coarmy.


    A few days prior, Coarmy had used his abilities to track down a yer he intended to recruit for Morning Star. However, upon revealing his identity, the yer not only refused but also unleashed Transcendent powers, killing several police officers and escaping police custody.


    This yer is now ssified as a B-ss threat. Hisst known location was a suburban neighborhood where he had massacred a family of five. The victims included a pregnant woman and a six-year-old child¡ªa gruesome, brutal scene.


    Ivanka''s team hade to deal with this monster. But as soon as theynded, they received orders regarding Coarmy''s kidnapping.


    In response, their captain, Quagmire, headed directly to the scene, while Ivanka''s team was tasked with coordinating with Luca to retrieve the USB drive and rescue Coarmy.


    Interestingly, despite the rtively low profile Luca had maintained, the danger level of the incident was assessed as A-ss¡ªhigher than that of the fugitive yer.


    The road was busy with traffic.


    Outside, the scenery rushed past.


    As the car sped towards the outskirts of Celephais.


    Luca suddenly realized the road looked oddly familiar.


    A strange feeling crept into his heart, and with a sense of foreboding, he nced at Fuzzsir, who sat next to him, and asked, "Which neighborhood is that yer hiding in?"


    Fuzzsir thought for a moment, then replied, "No idea. I forgot."


    Luca: ...


    He knew he shouldn''t have asked this guy.


    "It should be Sunshine Street in the Sixth District," Ivanka interjected.


    She then noticed Luca''s expression darkening and asked in surprise, "What''s wrong? Do you know that ce?"


    "My house is right there." Luca rubbed his forehead, letting out a bitter smile.


    He hadn''t expected someone this dangerous to be hiding so close to his home.


    Hopefully, nothing bad would happen¡­


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, on Sunshine Street.


    A car slowly pulled up and came to a stop.


    "Ah! Finally home!" Susie eagerly swung the door open, spread her arms, and embraced the air, her face radiating pure bliss.


    After more than a week in the hospital, she had felt suffocated.


    Now, she could finally go home and y her games!


    "You didn''t even bring the keys. Always so scatterbrained¡ªhow will you ever find someone to marry like this?" Zoey sighed from behind her. Susie turned around and stuck out her tongue in a yful response.


    "Alright, let''s go. I''ll make a big feast for everyone tonight," Darabont said with a smile, opening the trunk and pulling out arge haul of groceries.


    The past few days had been nerve-wracking for the whole family, but thankfully, Susie hadn''t had any more incidents. Now that she was finally discharged, they all wanted to celebrate properly.


    "Yes! I want honey-zed roast meat! Fruit pizza! And¡­" Susie''s face sparkled with excitement, and she was about to continue her list when she suddenly stopped and let out a soft "Huh," her gaze fixed on a distant rooftop, her eyes wide with surprise.


    "What''s wrong?" Zoey asked, noticing her reaction as she opened the front door.


    Susie stood on her tiptoes, squinting at the rooftop. "I thought I just saw two people running across the roof, but they disappeared in the blink of an eye."


    "Probably just some reckless teenagers doing parkour. Ignore them. But Celephais has been a bit chaotictely, so don''t go out at night," Darabont replied, ncing back but not seeing anything unusual. Shaking his head slightly, he added a casual warning.


    Susie nodded. Once her parents went inside, she looked back one more time but still saw nothing. She frowned slightly.


    She couldn''t shake the feeling that the two figures she had just seen were moving too smoothly, almost like Spider-Man, unlike the extreme sports videos she''d seen online.


    But she quickly dismissed the thought, deciding she''d just imagined it.


    Closing the door, she slipped on her slippers and dashed upstairs immediately. After days of being away from her game, she was practically itching to y¡­


    However, what Susie didn''t notice was that, just as she closed the door, the two figures she''d spotted on the roof had reappeared, now leaping swiftly from rooftop to rooftop, making their way directly toward her house.


    On the roof, the two shadows moved with fluid precision. One of them, appearing to be in his twenties, had a grim expression and long hair. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary about him at first nce, except that with a wave of his hand, several green, glowing wooden spikes shot forth.


    The other figure was a scruffy man with a stubbled beard, holding a long knife and dressed in a ck uniform. He had a cigarette dangling from his lips, a nonchnt expression on his face, and a star emblem pinned to his chest.


    This was none other than Ivanka''s squad captain¡ªQuagmire!


    Facing the iing wooden spikes, Quagmire remainedpletely calm. With a casual swipe of his long de, he sliced every spike mid-air, then said coolly, "Kid, stop right now, and I''ll make your death quick. If I have to make a move, you won''t get the chance to beg for mercy."


    "Catch me first if you think you can!" the young man sneered, a glint of green shing in his eyes.


    Quagmire''s brow furrowed, and he halted abruptly.


    In the next instant, the roof tiles shattered!


    A sharp wooden spike shot up from beneath the rooftop!


    Had he hesitated even a moment longer, it would have skewered him right through!


    But in that brief dy, the young man was already sprinting toward a parked car by the curb.


    It was Darabont''s car, the one he''d just parked, with the keys still in the ignition. If the young man got hold of that vehicle, he''d be much harder to catch.


    "Courting death!" Quagmire let out a cold snort, his de glowing red as he swung it toward the youth''s fleeing back.


    In a sh, a sharp, blood-red arc of light sliced through the air, cutting into the young man just as he looked back in terror.


    St!


    Blood sttered everywhere!


    The young man''s eyes went wide in shock.


    One of his arms was severed cleanly at the shoulder!


    "Aaahhh!!" His blood-curdling scream pierced the air.


    As he writhed on the ground, clutching his bleeding stump in agony.


    Blood pooled quickly on the street, staining the pavement.


    Terrified bystanders looked on, horrified, at Quagmire standing there with his de. Someone had already begun dialing the police, clearly mistaking him for an assant.


    Quagmire, however, didn''t care in the slightest.


    He slung his de over his shoulder and strolled leisurely over to the young man, then stomped down hard on the man''s wounded arm, grinding his heel into it.


    Amid the agonized, inhuman screams, Quagmire sneered, "Didn''t I tell you not to make me take action, you idiot? You don''t listen, huh?"


    The young man''s limbs twitched as his eyes rolled back, nearly passing out from the pain.


    Never in his wildest dreams had he expected to face a madman like this. If he''d known, he might have just surrendered outright.


    But it was toote for regrets now.


    "Take my advice, kid¡ªnext time, listen to those who know better," Quagmire muttered, spitting out his cigarette. With a swing of his arm, he prepared to sever the young man''s head.


    Just then, a sudden shout rang out.


    "Police! I order you to drop your weapon and release him immediately!" Darabont stepped out of the house, holding a handgun steady and aimed at Quagmire, his expression cautious.


    Killing someone in broad daylight?


    Such a ruthless criminal was rare, even for him to encounter.


    "Huh?" Quagmire blinked, pointing to himself. "Are you talking to me?"


    The bystanders looked on, exasperated¡ªwho else would he be talking to? Quagmire was clearly the most suspicious-looking person there.


    Darabont scoffed. "I''m warning you, don''t try anything funny. Drop your weapon and surrender now, or I have the authority to shoot you on the spot!"


    "What if I told you I''m also a cop? Would you believe me?" Quagmire nced at the barrel pointed directly at him, then, after a pause, reluctantly set down his de.


    His abilities hadn''t yet reached the level of invulnerability to bullets.


    "Do you take me for an idiot?" Darabont rolled his eyes. A guy who casually shed people to pieces, iming to be a cop? If that were true, he''d eat his own gun.


    Susie peeked out from behind the door.


    The moment she saw the fearsome-looking Quagmire and the bloodied, maimed figure on the ground with only one arm remaining, her face went pale, and she quickly pulled her head back.


    Clutching her chest, Susie whispered, trembling, "Mom, there''s a killer out there. He looks so scary¡­"


    Quagmire: ¡­


    At this point, Donald and Sini, drawn by themotion outside, stepped out of the house. Their faces paled as they took in the scene before them.


    "Call the police, and grab the first aid kit," Donald said, his tone steady¡ªhe was no stranger to bloodshed.


    "I''ll get it." Sini nodded, ncing warily at Quagmire before hurrying back inside to retrieve her phone.


    Quagmire was at a loss. He wanted to pull out his badge to prove his identity, but Darabont''s gaze remained fixed on him.


    He ready to shoot at the slightest hint of movement.


    "I''m really a cop¡­" Quagmire sighed, feeling more than a bit annoyed. But he wasn''t angry¡ªthis wasn''t the first time something like this had happened.


    Darabont and Donald ignored him.


    They''d heard it all before. "Police?" They''d met people iming to be the chief''s illegitimate child.


    "Let''s tend to the injured," Darabont reminded as Sini brought over the first aid kit.


    Donald nodded and approached the young man on the ground.


    Quagmire''s rxed expression immediately vanished. "Stay back!" he barked.


    Donald paused, confused.


    Suddenly, the young man on the ground lifted his head, a twisted grin on his face.


    A green light red!


    Out of nowhere, a vine covered in barbed thorns burst up from the ground, lunging straight toward Donald!


    Luca, who had just arrived, witnessed the scene and his pupils contracted in shock.

 Chapter 147: Chapter 147: The Wind-like Youth! Sophia’s Arrival! A King’s Reward!

    "Look out!" "Get out of the way!" ¡­


    Several cries of rm rang out almost simultaneously.


    Donald''s face changed, utterly unprepared for the injured man on the ground to suddenly attack him¡ªand using such a bizarre technique at that.


    Acting purely on instinct, he dove to the side, narrowly evading the barbed vines that shot past his cheek, leaving a few beads of blood in their wake. It was a close call.


    But before Donald could even catch his breath.


    The vine twisted mid-air and came barreling back toward him, giving him no time to dodge.


    "Boom!" At that instant, a tremendous noise exploded in everyone''s ears.


    Luca shot forward like a leopard, moving so quickly that no one even registered his actions; all they saw was a dark blur shing past.


    The next moment, the barbed vine stopped mere inches from Donald!


    Arge hand had gripped the snake-like vine, halting it just before it could pierce his heart!


    Luca''s expression was grim, his hand tightly clutching the writhing vine. Despite its sharp, barbed spikes, his hand showed no sign of injury.


    Everyone present gasped audibly. What had they just witnessed? How could a vine seem to attack of its own will?


    And that speed¡ªwas it even humanly possible?!


    Most of the onlookers felt as if they were dreaming. What they had just seen was beyond their understanding.


    Even Coarmy, watching with a furrowed brow, couldn''t fullyprehend Luca''s speed. This guy''s strength was unbelievable!


    "No way!" The young man on the ground, now one-armed, looked utterly stunned.


    The strength of the older man had already been terrifying enough, but this kid was even more extraordinary! How could he have crossed that distance so fast?


    "When did Luca be this strong¡­" Susie whispered, staring at Luca as if seeing him for the first time, her face full of astonishment. He was always home ying video games; how had he suddenly be so physically capable?


    "Probably trained by Donald," Darabont spected, though he couldn''t hide his surprise. He knew Donald''s abilities.


    But he''d never realized Luca had such impressive physical potential. He''d make a great candidate for the police force!


    Sini was equally stunned.


    Sheunable toprehend how her son had changed so drastically.


    "See? I told you, he''s like the wind!" Fuzzsir said with certainty, his focus clearly different from everyone else''s.


    Luca ignored the curious looks from those around him and took a few steps forward, checking Donald''s injuries carefully. Seeing they were only superficial wounds, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Meanwhile, Coarmy had swiftly handcuffed the young man on the ground.


    While the cuffs weren''t particrly effective on yers, it was better than nothing.


    "This is the new recruit we''re bringing in? Not bad," Quagmire remarked, sizing Luca up with a hint of surprise.


    Just from those quick actions, he could tell this kid had an unusual level of skill.


    "Not just ''not bad''¡ªhe''s definitely reached A-ss!" Coarmy replied, still feeling a bit shaken from his earlier encounter with Luca.


    "When we get some free time, I have to challenge him to a match!" Ivanka said excitedly, her eyes lighting up with battle fervor. Fighting seemed to be her only real hobby.


    Quagmire chuckled. "Looks like we''ll have a bit less weight on our shoulders with him around."


    Just then, Luca approached, gesturing toward the gathered crowd, and asked Coarmy, "How are we handling all these onlookers?"


    The people around them had seen far more than they should have. If they spread word of what they''d witnessed, it could easily lead to widespread panic.


    Coarmy, shoving the young man into the car, assured him, "Don''t worry¡ªMorning Star members will be here soon to handle it."


    With that, Luca didn''t press the matter further.


    "Alright, now that we''re done here, it''s time for us to go," Quagmire said, making no move to linger.


    He waved at Luca as he climbed into the car. "Kid,e visit us at the Northern Division sometime."


    The engine roared to life.


    Luca watched them drive away.


    When he turned back around, he found Susie standing there, her face taut and serious.


    Andstaring intently at him.


    "What''s up?" Luca asked, touching his face as if to check for anything unusual.


    "When did you get so strong? Are you secretly working out? Or did you sign up for a martial arts ss?" Susie fired off a series of questions, her gaze unwavering.


    "Oh? Want to learn?" Luca teased with a smile.


    "Uh-huh!" Susie nodded vigorously, fists clenched and making tiny, fierce motions. "Then, if I run into any bad guys, I won''t be afraid."


    As they walked back to the house, Luca casually remarked, "Alright, start with twenty push-ups, and I''ll show you what to do next."


    "Twenty?" Susie''s face immediately fell.


    She hadn''t even managed two before¡­


    Back at home, Sini tried to ask Luca some questions, but he and Donald deftly sidestepped them.


    "So this is the change you were talking about?" Donald askedter, touching the scratches on his face with an almost surreal sense of disbelief.


    "That''s right," Luca confirmed with a nod. "And this is only the beginning. We''ll likely be seeing more and more people like that."


    After this encounter, any doubts Donald had were gone.


    With resolve, he said, "I''ll work on leveling up as quickly as I can."


    He had no intention of relying on his son for protection. That just wasn''t his style.


    Luca smiled. That was exactly the oue he''d hoped for.


    Luca said, "In a while, I''ll find a way to send some resources over to you."


    Donald''s hometown was also in the Kingdom of Clinton, but it was a long distance from where Luca was.


    Sending him any gear or equipment would only make sense once Donald''s strength had increased enough.


    After chatting with Donald for a while, Luca returned to his room.


    Just because nothing had gone wrong today didn''t mean they would be so lucky next time.


    As more yers gained Transcendent abilities, human society would only grow more chaotic.


    Only by building sufficient strength could one ensure survival in the turbulent times ahead.


    ¡­


    Southwind City, Inner District.


    A sh of silver light appeared.


    Luca materialized in the newly cleared za.


    All around him, yers and NPCs were hard at work, rebuilding Southwind City.


    While construction in this Transcendent world wasn''t as challenging as in the real world, it still wasn''t something that could be finished overnight.


    Luca wasted no time and headed directly to the residential area of Red Maple Academy. He nned to use this time to forge as many magic runes as he could from the materials he''d gathered.


    During the recent incident, he''d nearly depleted all the magic runes he''d prepared, and he needed to replenish his supply quickly. Otherwise, he wouldn''t feel prepared for what mighte next.


    As he crossed the streets, many people greeted him warmly.


    There wasn''t a single NPC or yer who didn''t recognize the young hero who had saved Southwind City.


    Luca smiled and greeted each of them in return.


    Soon, he arrived back at the residential area.


    He had just opened the door and stepped into his loft.


    Not even closing the door yet when a familiar voice called from a distance, "Luca!"


    He turned, a surprised look crossing his face.


    "Professor, how did you get here?" he asked in astonishment as he saw two figures hurrying toward him.


    It was none other than Sophia and Lucia.


    Lucia looked the same as ever, dressed in an borate mage''s robe that she wore with effortless elegance.


    But Sophia¡­ there was something distinctly different about her. Her presence felt more powerful, and her aura was even colder than it had been in Riverfall City.


    Luca''s gaze lingered a moment on Sophia''s cool, beautiful face.


    But he quickly looked away.


    Without enough information or evidence, guessing blindly would only lead him into a maze of his own making.


    "We heard in Dawn City that there was a monster attack here, so we came as quickly as we could," Sophia said calmly.


    Lucia, on the other hand, wasted no time¡ªshe threw her arms around Luca in a big hug, squeezing him so tight he could barely breathe.


    Tears in her eyes, she said, "It''s only been a little while since west saw you, and you''re already skin and bones! I even heard you fought with a King-level monster?"


    "Come here, let me check you over to see if you''re hurt anywhere!"


    Luca''s mouth twitched slightly, and he said helplessly, "Don''t worry, I''m fine. That monster has already been defeated by me."


    Sophia studied Luca, a look of surprise in her eyes. "I didn''t expect your strength to have improved this quickly."


    When she''dst seen him, he had only recently broken into the Gold Grade.


    Now, after only a few days, his aura had grown several times stronger.


    Even she couldn''t help but be astonished at this rate of growth.


    "Come on, you''re kidding, right? I''m still far from reaching your level," Luca replied, genuinely impressed.


    He could tell that Sophia had also made significant progress¡ªshe seemed to have reached the advanced level.


    And her presence felt even more powerful. As he stood near her, he sensed a strange, threatening chill, as if his magic itself might freeze under her influence.


    This kind of aura was certainly not typical, even for high-level professionals.


    She must have had quite the opportunity in Dawn City¡­


    Once the greetings had warmed up, Lucia brought up the main reason for their visit.


    "We didn''te just to check in on you," she said seriously. "We''re also here to bring you to Southwind City."


    "Your actions havee to His Majesty''s attention. Saving two cities in a row is an enormous aplishment, and His Majesty ns to award you a noble title as a count along with somend."


    "Additionally, there will likely be other rewards," she added.


    "A count?" Luca was taken aback.


    Then he remembered that when he defeated Pandora, he had indeed received a significant amount of renown¡ªenough to qualify for the title of count.


    "And," Sophia added calmly, "my father would also like to meet you."


    This statement surprised Luca even more.


    Sophia''s father was none other than the President of the Clinton Mage Association.


    ASuperss powerhouse, one of the most influential figures on the Eternal Continent.


    Why would such a prominent figure suddenly want to meet him?

 Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Farewell! Setting Out for Dawn City!

    "When do we leave?" Luca asked without further questions. He had nned on heading to Dawn City soon anyway, so he''d learn more in time.


    "Tonight," Sophia replied.


    Luca looked surprised. "That soon?"


    He''d expected to have a couple more days at least.


    Lucia shrugged helplessly. "His Majesty is already preparing the investiture ceremony for you¡ªit wouldn''t do to keep him waiting."


    "I understand. I''ll go get my things ready," Luca nodded, knowing he couldn''t go against a royal order.


    There wasn''t much to pack, really¡ªmostly, he just wanted to say goodbye to Orf and the others.


    When they heard that Luca was leaving for Dawn City that very day, everyone was equally surprised and unprepared.


    In the za of Red Maple Academy¡­


    Orf, Medel, Fred, and a crowd of students gathered to see him off.


    "Can''t you stay just a few more days, Professor?" Kassna asked, a hint of sadness in her voice.


    She hadn''t even had time to get to know her professor better, and now he was leaving¡­


    Luca shrugged. "This is the King''s order. Not much I can do about it."


    Orf sighed. "I always knew this day woulde, just didn''t expect it to be so soon."


    Lucia, too, looked resigned. "That''s exactly how I felt back in Riverfall City."


    The speed of Luca''s growth was just too remarkable. What would take others years, even decades, to achieve, he had reached in mere months.


    Melissa stepped forward, handing him a carefully wrapped parcel. She looked up at him, her eyes hopeful, and asked, "Will youe back?"


    Luca paused briefly, then smiled. "Of course I will. I''m only going to Dawn City for a bit; it''s not as if I''ll be living there. No need to act like this is some tearful farewell."


    But they all knew that once he left, who could say when he would return?


    It might be a year, or it could be ten.


    Melissa managed a small smile and said, "I''ll be waiting."


    Kassna suddenly felt an unexpected wave of sadness rise within her, and before she knew it, tears streamed down her face freely. In no time, she was sobbing openly.


    Between her sniffles, she choked out, "My first love¡­ it ended before it even began¡­"


    As she spoke, her crying grew even more sorrowful.


    Hearing Kassna''s tearful confession, both Lucia and Sophia turned to look at Luca with expressions that seemed to say they were looking at a heartless beast.


    Really? You''d go after such a young girl?


    "I¡­," Luca began awkwardly, feeling the weight of their gazes.


    The problem was, he hadn''t done anything!


    Wasn''t Kassna the one making things difficult here?


    "Oh, right," Orf said suddenly, as if he had just remembered something.


    He ran his hand over his Storage Ring, and with a sh of light, a translucent, crystal-like magic spear appeared in his hand.


    "This magic spear isn''t particrly powerful, but it was a gift from my own mentor, and I''ve kept it ever since. Now, I''m giving it to you," he said, handing the crystal spear to Luca, a nostalgic look in his eyes, as though he were seeing the cycle of timee full circle.


    "Thank you, Professor," Luca said, epting the spear gratefully.


    When he checked its stats, his eyes lit up immediately.


    [Magic Crystal Spear: tinum Grade equipment, usable by Demonic Rune Mages. Grants +1220 magic attack power, +480 spirit, -20% cooldown on magic runes, +20% rune amplification, +20% rune power¡­]


    [Skill "Magic Crystal Recall": Upon activation, instantly resets the cooldown of up to three high-level or lower magic runes. Cooldown: 3 hours.]


    "What a fantastic weapon!" Luca was delighted. Both the attributes and the skill made the Magic Crystal Spear a top-tier tinum weapon.


    The skill, "Magic Crystal Recall," was especially valuable, resetting the cooldown for up to three high-level runes.


    It is a divine skill for a Demonic Rune Mage, a ss that relied so heavily on skill power.


    Equipping the Magic Crystal Spear, Luca gave it a test swing and found it a perfect fit. It looked like his old Wind and Thunder Spell Spear could finally retire.


    He nced at his stats and noticed his spirit attribute had surpassed 5500, while his base attack had broken past 30,000!


    This level of damage was far beyond that of a typical advanced yer!


    "I''m d you like it," Orf said with a pleased smile. "And another thing¡ªin the ring Medel and I gave you earlier, you''ll find notes recording our years of experience with magic runes."


    "With your talent, I doubt you''ll hit any serious bottlenecks before reaching Superss, even without guidance."


    "And if you run into any real problems or difficult situations, write to me. We''ll find a way to help you."


    Medel''s hollow eyes shifted slightly as he added, "You''re not exactly the most well-behaved type, kid. Who knows how much trouble you''ll stir up in the future."


    "If you evere across something that''s truly too much to handle, remember to reach out to us."


    "Us old-timers may not have been active for years, but we can still help put a scare into any pests thate your way."


    "Thank you, both of you!" Luca was deeply moved by their words and thanked them sincerely once more.


    Lucia felt a bit amused, thinking about how this kid had picked up two new teachers in Southwind City.


    "If he heads to Dawn City and finds a few more mentors, he might have enough teachers to start a poker club¡­" she thought wryly.


    After bidding farewell to Orf and the others, Luca went to the Lord''s Manor to visit Marquis Bronte.


    There, he learned that Bronte would also be heading to Southwind City eventually, but only after resolving matters in Southwind City. In the meantime, Bronte nned to send his sister, Luna, to travel with them.


    "For the next few days, I''m entrusting my sister''s care to you," Bronte said earnestly, patting Luca''s shoulder.


    Then, leaning in, he added quietly, "And don''t you dare let her down, or you''ll answer to me!"


    Luna overheard everything and immediately flushed red, ring at Bronte. "Bronte, what nonsense are you spouting? Who needs his protection, anyway? He''s just a mid-level professional!"


    Bronte merely chuckled, leaving thement at that.


    Luca couldn''t help but smile, shaking his head.


    These two siblings certainly had an unusual dynamic.


    As they left the Lord''s Manor, Sophia frowned and said, "Where did you pick up this habit of flirting everywhere you go?"


    Luca sighed, exasperated. "Trust me, it''s not intentional¡­"


    But what could he do? It seemed like fate had handed him this knack.


    Afterward, Luca found Fratis. He didn''t have any special feelings for the sixth princess; to him, she was simply a friend.


    But it was clear Fratis felt differently. Thankfully, Luca wasn''t one to overthink or avoid emotions¡ªhe''d let things unfold naturally.


    Surprisingly, Fratis already seemed to know about his departure.


    When he arrived, she was busy packing. Her carriage was loaded with supplies, with her butler and guards busily loading more.


    As Luca approached, Fratis wasn''t surprised to see him and said, "Now that things in Southwind City have stabilized, I''ll be returning with you."


    Her expression was rxed and cheerful. Luca didn''t know her full reasons but respected her decision.


    Just as they were preparing to leave, Luca felt a chilling gaze fixed on him, brimming with intense hostility.


    He instinctively looked over and saw an ornate carriage parked along the roadside.


    The window was down, revealing the sharp, cold face of Finn, who red at Luca with undisguised malice.


    "When we reach Dawn City, I''ll be very interested to see if you manage to walk away alive," Finn sneered before letting the carriage curtain fall.


    Watching the luxurious carriage recede into the distance.


    Sophia frowned and reminded Luca, "I warned you before¡ªdon''t get involved with the sixth princess. Clearly, you didn''t listen."


    Lucia added gravely, "The Phillips family, to which Finn belongs, is leagues above most noble families. Offending him will bring nothing but trouble."


    Luca shook his head. "It wasn''t me who sought trouble with him¡ªhe simply has iting."


    Lucia rubbed her temples in exasperation. "The Phillips family isn''t as simple as you think¡­ but fine. When the timees, I''ll have my father talk with Duke Lyon."


    Luca shook his head again. His conflict with Finn couldn''t be resolved through diplomacy. Even if Lucia''s father intervened, it would likely be in vain.


    Eventually, he and Finn would have to settle things¡­ once and for all.


    The sun dipped low in the sky.


    Evening came quickly.


    Luca had originally nned to leave quietly, but somehow, word got out about his journey to Dawn City.


    Soon, the entire city knew he was departing for his investiture.


    By nightfall, when Luca and his group arrived at the docks, they were met with a breathtaking sight.


    In the dark, countless residents of Southwind City stood with torches held high, filling the za before the docks. The glow of the mes illuminated faces young and old alike, all united by expressions of gratitude.


    The multitude of torches formed a sea of light, transforming the entire dock into a bright, starlitndscape.


    As Luca appeared, the crowd grew silent, slowly parting to open a path straight to the airship.


    The torchlight cast a warm golden glow over the path, making it look like a luxurious golden carpet.


    Even Lucia and Sophia were moved by the scene. They had known that Luca had saved Southwind City through some special means, but they hadn''t realized the depth of the people''s gratitude toward him.


    Luca himself hadn''t expected to receive such a send-off. Gazing at the faces around him, he stood in silence for a long moment before finally speaking. "If I have the chance, I''lle back. And when I do, I hope to see a reborn Southwind City."


    With that, he stepped onto the golden path and, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, boarded the Cloudwing Airship, beginning his journey to Dawn City.

 Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Serpent-shaped Radar! The Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree! Ghost Tree Seeds!

    With the aid of Daylight Wind Shadows.


    Luca quickly shook off the pursuit of the vines.


    However, he immediately faced a rather awkward problem.


    He was lost.


    Under the shroud of this gray mist, his sense of direction was already somewhat disoriented.


    After running blindly for a while, he didn''t even know where he was now.


    Luca nced around at his surroundings.


    It was all mist and the ruins of a grand hall, nothing different from what he had seen earlier.


    He felt utterly confused.


    He hadn''t fallen prey to a monster, but instead had gotten stuck in this fog.


    "Haha, you''re really something¡­" came the mocking voice of Jormungandr from his ear.


    "You really want a beating, don''t you? Think of something fast," Luca retorted, irritated.


    Just a moment ago, when the Sr Divine Spear appeared, she had hidden in the contract space, pretending to be dead, not daring to make a sound.


    And now, she was mocking him.


    "Your human perception really isughable, you can''t even detect something as simple as death energy, which is blocking your mental powers," Jormungandr continued to mock, before leisurely emerging from the storage space.


    A dreamy purple light shed.


    Wearing a ck gothic dress, Jormungandr appeared in front of Luca. She still looked like her usual loli self, and aside from being a little paler than before, there was hardly any difference.


    "It''s such a nostalgic smell¡­" she inhaled deeply, as though savoring the haze, her face filled with contentment, as if she wasn''t breathing air, but freedom itself.


    Luca couldn''t help but roll his eyes. Just as he was about to sarcasticallyment.


    He suddenly realized that Jormungandr''s body seemed more solid than before.


    "Wait, does this stuff nourish your soul?" he asked, surprised.


    "Of course, otherwise, why would Ie out here?" Jormungandr exined with a smile. "Although the divine power here has almostpletely dissipated, there''s still some residual energy left. For me, this ce is a sanctuary for restoring my strength."


    Hearing this, Luca wasn''t in a rush to leave.


    If Jormungandr''s strength were to recover, he would have a much stronger ally.


    "So, where do we go from here?" His perception waspletely blocked, leaving him as blind as a bat. From here on, he''d have to rely on this snake to guide him.


    "Let me see." Jormungandr closed her eyes, and the purple Dreamweaving power emanated from her body.


    Her ck skirt fluttered as she slowly floated into the air.


    Luca could clearly sense a tremendous mental force breaking through the mist, expanding outward from her like a center of gravity.


    In less than a minute, Jormungandr opened her eyes and raised a small finger, pointing toward a direction in the mist. "There''s something interesting over there. Let''s go take a look."


    Luca was surprised. "What is it?"


    "You''ll find out when you get there. Don''t worry, you won''t regret it," Jormungandr shrugged nonchntly.


    Luca didn''t question her. After all, if anything happened to him, it wouldn''t end well for Jormungandr either.


    A cyan light glowed from his body as Daylight Wind Shadowsactivated. His speed surged dramatically, and he quickly sped toward the direction Jormungandr indicated.


    But it wasn''t long before Luca began to feel something was off.


    The number of monsters here was clearly much higher than before.


    Fierce-looking monsters, disturbed by Luca''s presence, scrambled out of the ruins of the broken pce, using both hands and feet.


    Crimson eyes began to glow in the mist, and without a word, they charged straight at Luca.


    "If you made me run for nothing, you''ll see how I deal with youter," Luca wasn''t in a rush or worried; he still had time to threaten Jormungandr.


    Jormungandr pouted in displeasure. This bastard only ever bullied her.


    As the monsters closed in, Luca judged that it was almost time.


    His gaze flickered, and the Magic Crystal Spear in his hand radiated a cold aura.


    A gust of icy wind swept past him.


    As his magical power surged, the wind around him picked up speed, and the temperature began to drop. Soon, snowkes started to fall.


    With a deep breath, a massive white tornado, towering dozens of meters high, suddenly materialized, engulfing all the monsters within it.


    High-tier Magic Rune ¨C Blizzard!


    The temperature plummeted sharply. Led by the fierce winds, the seemingly delicate snowkes turned into sharp des, cutting deep into the monsters'' bodies, leaving terrifying wounds. It was like a meat grinder.


    -103,000, -96,000, -97,000...


    Blood rained down as damage numbers shot up in rapid session.


    In just moments, a stream of kill notifications appeared before Luca.


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have killed the level 48 Corpse Eater (Normal), earning 139,000 experience!]


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have killed the level 53 Infernal Wolf (Rare), earning 565,000 experience!]


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have killed the level 55 Ghost Raven (Rare), earning 644,000 experience!]


    ...


    A flood of experience surged into Luca''s body.


    His experience was climbing as though riding a rocket.


    These monsters were all at least tinum Grade, with some even reaching Diamond level.


    It wasn''t long before multiple upgrade notifications shed around him.


    [Ding! Your level has reached 41, earning 60 free attribute points!]


    Luca poured all of the attribute points into his Mental attribute, and his mental power was now close to breaking 7,000.


    The monsters kepting.


    Their numbers had already surpassed several dozen.


    But none of them could halt Luca''s progress.


    With the magic runes in his hand shing repeatedly, Luca threw out high-tier and mid-tier skills without hesitation.


    He was quickly closing in on the location Jormungandr had perceived.


    It had to be said, the monsters here were indeed numerous. In just this short amount of time, Luca had already encountered three waves of monsters, all of them at least tinum-level.


    Although there were no experience rewards for killing monsters of higher levels, there was also no penalty.


    At the current rate, Luca''s leveling speed was terrifying. At this pace, if he stayed here for a day, he could probably reach level 50.


    Unfortunately, the Divine Ruins trial had a time limit¡ªno more than twelve hours. And no one had eversted that long. The monsters here were all of an incredibly high level, far beyond what an average adventurer could handle.


    After breaking through several monster encirclements, Luca quickly reached his destination.


    "So, this is the ''surprise'' you were talking about?" He looked up at the massive, withered tree in front of him, its branchespletely leafless. He frowned. Was this bastard seriously trying to mess with him?


    "I thought you knew everything, yet you''ve never even seen a Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree?" Jormungandr didn''t miss a single opportunity to mock Luca. She ced her hands on her hips, looking smug. "This is a rare treasure. Even in the Abyssal Demon Realm, it''s hard toe by. If you dig up the roots, you can gain at least 800 attribute points!"


    "800 points? Is that for real?" Luca was surprised. He approached with a skeptical attitude, preparing to test it out.


    But just as he got closer, the withered tree suddenly began to shake.


    The trunk split open, revealing an eye. A sharp branch shot out like a spear, aimed directly at Luca.


    Luca had already sensed that something was off about this tree, so he didn''t lower his guard. Calmly, he dodged the attack, his hand glowing with red magic runes. The fire element surged, and the temperature around him suddenly became intense.


    Meteoric Fire!


    A crimson glow illuminated the sky, and fiery meteors, like cannonballs, rained down upon the withered tree.


    Boom!!The moment the meteors hit, the mes erupted violently.


    The heat wave swept through, and the zing fire engulfed the entire withered tree.


    The tree shook violently, letting out a sharp, ear-piercing wail that made Luca''s eardrums throb painfully.


    -114,000! -123,000! -125,000!...


    A series of damage numbers soared. Within just moments, the Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree''s health was almostpletely depleted.


    Luca didn''t waste any time. He closed in, and the Magic Crystal Spear in his hand gleamed with a metallic shine, stabbing out like lightning.


    Thrust!The spear pierced the ghost tree. Instead of the usual wood-like resistance, it felt more like stabbing through flesh. Luca even saw fresh, red blood oozing from the wound¡ªa bizarre sight.


    Fortunately, the creature''s strength wasn''t very high. Under Luca''s relentless assault, it didn''tst long before being killed.


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have killed the level 63 Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree (Leader), earning 1,589,000 experience!]


    The kill notification appeared, and the massive influx of experience caused Luca''s body to glow with a golden light once again.


    [Ding! Your level has reached level 42, earning 60 free attribute points!]


    Unfortunately, there was no equipment drop.


    Following Jormungandr''s guidance, Luca approached the location of the Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree, using the Magic Crystal Spear to pry it open. Beneath it, he unearthed a translucent, palm-sized seed.


    [Ghost Tree Seed: High-tier material, a seed nurtured by the Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree. When used, it grants 500 points to both Mental and Physical attributes. Can only be used once.]


    "So this is what it is," Luca muttered, a hint of surprise shing in his eyes.


    It wasn''t until he saw the Ghost Tree Seed that he remembered what it was. Every Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree bore one of these seeds, which contained the life energy umted by the tree.


    Whether used in alchemy or consumed directly, this seed would significantly enhance a yer''s strength, making it an incredibly rare and valuable item inter generations.


    "Told you I wasn''t lying," Jormungandr said with her arms crossed, her chin raised smugly.


    As one of the Demon Lords of the Abyssal Demon Realm, she knew the characteristics of nearly every monster.


    "You''re like a living radar!" Luca praised.


    Then, with Jormungandr looking on in confusion, Luca surrounded the Ghost Tree Seed with his witchcraft power.


    And began to refine it.


    Luca''s refining speed was incredibly fast.


    The ethereal blue witchcraft energy swiftly extracted the power from the seed.


    Continuously strengthening his body.


    [Ding! You have used the Ghost Tree Seed, gaining 400 points in both Mental and Physical attributes!]


    As the seed witheredpletely, a system prompt appeared before Luca.


    He opened his stats panel and checked the results.


    After refining the Ghost Tree Seed, his Mental attribute had increased to 6,900, and his Physical attribute had risen to 4,000¡ªequivalent to an increase of five or six levels in total attributes.


    Indeed, spending money to boost power was the fastest way!


    Luca thought to himself, then decided not to linger. He turned back the way he hade.


    He was ready to obtain the inheritance that the other yer had acquired.


    On the way, he had already spotted the temple mentioned in the guide.

 Chapter 150: The Sky City! The First Prince and Second Prince! The Princesss Quarters!

    150 Chapter 150: The Sky City! The First Prince and Second Prince! The Princess''s Quarters!


    By the time Luca arrived in Dawn City. Five days had passed.


    Over these days, aside from crafting magic runes. Luca had spent most of his time dealing with Susie''s constant troublemaking.


    Truth be told, he knew he was in the wrong.


    In the end, the only thing Luca could do was promise Susie that as soon as they arrived in Dawn City, he would figure out a way to bring her here.


    This was the only thing that barely managed to calm her anger.


    Luca stepped out of the flying ship''s cabin.


    The weather was sunny and bright.


    Standing on the flying ship''s gangway, Luca gazed at the distant skyline.


    "So, this is Dawn City?"


    Under the vast blue sky, a colossal structure, reminiscent of a mountain range, floated in mid-air.


    It was covered in towering skyscrapers, with flying shipsing and going like busy bees.


    Around it, smaller floating inds orbited, forming a pattern that resembled a blooming lotus flower.


    From a distance, one could already see the blue crystal tower at the heart of the city, a straight spire piercing the clouds.


    "That''s right, it''s also known as the Sky City!" Fratis said with a smile, his voice filled with a subtle pride.


    After all, this was hishome.


    "After days of traveling by flying ship, we''ve finally arrived!" Lucia stretched her body dramatically, revealing her devilishly toned figure.


    "Once we get to Dawn City, let me show you the city''s splendor!" She put her soft white arm around Luca''s shoulder, batting her eyes andughing mischievously.


    Sophia shot her a cold look and said, "Shouldn''t the teacher take me along too?"


    Lucia quickly retracted her arm,ughing awkwardly. "What are you thinking? The teacher is just going to stroll around the food streets. How could I possibly take my own student to a nightclub or the red-light district? Those kinds of ces..."


    The others rolled their eyes.


    As the flying ship drew closer to Dawn City, the overwhelming presence of the giant city pressed in on them.


    In front of this massive structure, the hundred-meter-long flying ship seemed like a tiny dot.


    Only now could they truly appreciate the sheer size of the Sky City.


    Naturally, a city like Dawn City had its own docks.


    The flying ship, familiar with the route, headed toward the central district of Dawn City.


    Luca had already asked Fratis and the others about the city.


    Dawn City wasn''t just one single city¡ªit had its own central district, but there were also eight satellite districts. These were nine floating inds surrounding the main city, each named after one of the eight cardinal directions.


    Each of these satellite inds was governed by a grand duke of the empire, who was required to report to King Alfred Clinton in the central royal pce every day about the state of the empire.


    Only in rare cases would the king summon all eight grand dukes to the pce to discuss important matters.


    The flying ship sailed through the passageway, entering the outer docks of the main district.


    It passed through a dim tunnel and finally came to a smooth, steady stop at the tform.


    A group of people disembarked from the flying ship.


    Luca scanned the surroundings.


    He saw many guards in uniforms, checking the baggage and identities of pedestrians.


    The line stretched for quite a while, consisting of ordinary people as well as wealthy individuals dressed in extravagant clothing, all in an orderly fashion.


    In the dock, someone had been waiting for them.


    It was a young man wearing golden armor with short hair.


    From the divine aura emanating from him, it was clear that he was a high-ranking Holy Knight.


    Upon seeing them, he immediately walked over and respectfully said, "Your Highness, Lady Lucia, Lord Luca, it''s been a long journey. His Highness the First Prince has arranged amodations and a banquet. He wishes to invite you all over to meet and get acquainted."


    The First Prince? Luca''s eyes shifted slightly.


    In the Clinton Empire, the only person who could be called the First Prince was King Alfred''s eldest son, Leonie.


    He was the son of King Alfred and Queen Matilda Constantine, and the legitimate heir to the throne.


    Luca hadn''t expected him to send someone to greet them.


    Before he could respond, a harsh voice suddenly rang out.


    "Heh, it seems the First Prince is truly desperate for talented individuals, going so far as to send his strongest knight to wee a small noble from the countryside." Another group of people approached.


    The man was dressed in a noble''s long robe, with a tall, sharp nose and a handlebar mustache. His face twisted into a sneer, and he was followed by a retinue of guards. His tone was dripping with contempt, and it was clear he had no respect whatsoever for the so-called legitimate heir to the throne.


    "This man is Beck Thomas, a count and a dog of the Second Prince and the noble faction," Lucia whispered from the side. It was clear from her voice that she had little love for the Second Prince or the noble faction.


    "Beck! You should show the royal family the respect they deserve!" Knight Ed, his face turning alternately green and white with anger, clenched his fists. If it weren''t for the circumstances, he might have attacked right there and then.


    Beck sneered dismissively, clearly uninterested in further conversation.


    He then turned to Fratis and Finn, whose expression was calm, and bent slightly at the waist, speaking with exaggerated deference. "Your Highness, Lord Finn, the Second Prince has sent me to invite you both to a banquet. "


    "He specially ordered fresh spirit fish and seafood from the Western Sea to prepare avish feast, which I''m sure you and Your Highness will enjoy."


    Luca watched the exchange with great interest.


    Neither side was even pretending to be polite. It seemed the power struggles within the Clinton royal family were already quite intense. No wonder the king was in such a rush to arrange a marriage with the Phillips family¡­


    "Luca..." Fratis tugged gently at his sleeve.


    Luca turned and made eye contact with her, clearly seeing the helplessness in her eyes.


    Fratis'' biological mother was not Matilda Constantine, but thete former queen.


    She had no affection for either the First or Second Prince, as both were merely trying to win the favor of Finn and the Phillips family. In fact, the only one in the royal family who truly cared for her was the third princess¡­


    Luca gave a slight nod, then calmly addressed Knight Ed and Count Beck, "Sorry, we''ve already made arrangements at a hotel, so there''s no need for the princes to trouble themselves. I thank you both on behalf of Her Highness, and as for Finn¡­ well, he can make his own decision."


    "Hmm?" Both men''s gazes shifted to Luca, their expressions confused.


    "What gives you the right to make decisions for the princess?" Finn''s cold voice asked, voicing their unspoken thoughts.


    He hasn''t even spoken yet, and you, a mere viscount, who do you think you are to make decisions?


    "Luca is right," Fratis suddenly raised her head, speaking firmly. "We''ve already made hotel arrangements. Please thank my older brother and second brother on my behalf."


    Ed and Beck exchanged a nce,pletely confused about what was happening.


    "You!" Finn felt his blood pressure spike, his chest tightening in anger. He gritted his teeth and looked at Fratis, as if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he swallowed his fury and snarled at Ed and Beck, "Get out of here!"


    Both men flinched, quickly realizing that the Duke''s son was clearly enraged and that this wasn''t the time to press the issue. They hastily excused themselves, eager to leave before Finn took out his frustration on them.


    At the same time, Ed felt a pang of regret for Luca. He had done such a great job in Southwind City, and he was so young¡ªif things had gone differently, he would''ve definitely been a rising star in the noble world. But now, he''d crossed Finn...


    He shook his head.


    Once the two men had left. Finn shot Luca a long, cold stare and sneered. "Enjoy the next few days, because after that, your life will get a lot more difficult."


    With a wave of his hand, he barked, "Let''s go."


    The group watched as Finn stormed off. Luna frowned and said, "You''ve earned a lot of credit, and for the next few days, they probably won''t dare to do anything to you. But once the king''s rewards are settled, Finn definitely won''t let this slide."


    "Sorry..." Fratis''s face showed a mix of worry and guilt. In the end, it was because of her that all this had happened. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Luca shook his head. "It''s fine. Let''s just go."


    At this point, there was no point in saying more.


    "Let''s head to my pce. It''s big enough, and I''ll be able to host everyone there," Fratis suggested.


    No one disagreed.


    Then, under the curious gaze of the crowd, the group walked out of the dock.


    Outside, several luxurious carriages were waiting. They had been prepared by Lucia, and the creatures pulling the carriages were simr to scaled horses, but muchrger and gentler in nature.


    The group climbed into the carriage and headed toward the royal pce deep within the city.


    During the ride, Luca took the opportunity to observe the bustling city of Clinton Empire, the most prosperous in the entire empire.


    On the streets, vehicles powered by magic energy crystals slowly made their way through the roads. They weren''t particrly fast, their bulky, unwieldy forms resemblingrge metal worms. Two iron chimneys belched thick clouds of smoke from their tops.


    These machines resembled modern buses, albeit with rougher craftsmanship. Many of the mechanical structures, along with brass gears, were exposed and visible to anyone passing by.


    In addition to these curious vehicles, there were also uniquely designed buildings and strange-looking races walking the streets¡ªElves, Tigerfolk, Lizardmen, and more.


    These humanoid races were dressed in formal clothing, walking down the neat, clean streets while chatting andughing. To any casual observer, they appeared no different from regr people.


    Among the several guilds they passed, Luca noticed a few yers. Compared to other cities, the number of yers here seemed much lower. However, those present were generally at higher levels, with most of them above level 20.


    But the most striking feature of the city was undoubtedly the massive royal pce situated at the very center of Dawn City. Even from a distance, the grandiose building gleamed with golden hues. The closer they got, the more one could feel the sheer scale and magnificence of the structure.


    As the carriage continued on its way, it didn''t take long before they arrived at the pce gates.


    Soldiers stood guard at the entrance, checking the identities of those entering. Upon seeing Fratis, a few soldiers were momentarily confused, unsure of what was going on.


    Only one older soldier, a veteran, paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up in recognition. "Your Highness, the Sixth Princess! When did you return?"


    "Captain Charlie, long time no see!" Fratis smiled warmly, waving at the soldier as she greeted him.


    She showed no airs of superiority typical of nobility or royalty, and in fact, she seemed just like any ordinary person, casual and approachable.

 Chapter 165: Chapter 165: The Fate Dice! The Person Favored! The Chosen One!

    Noticing Luca''s gaze, a group of shadows felt an ominous premonition rise in their hearts.


    But before they could think further, they saw the golden glow of Luca''s spear shine brightly in his hands.


    Magnificent golden magic runes appeared in mid-air, and an overwhelming divine power descended with a mighty crash!


    The Sun!


    A great sun slowly rose!


    Blinding golden light pierced through the mist, illuminating the entire square and the endless ruins in the darkness!


    "This is my return gift to you!" In the temple, Luca''s golden eyes sparkled as he smiled.


    With a slight motion of his hand, the Magic Crystal Spear hovered in the air.


    In an instant, the golden light erupted!


    Amidst the terrified gazes of the shadows, it crashed down from the sky!


    Boom!


    A fierce wave of fire, carrying an unstoppable force, swept across the entire square, and the earth-shattering roar echoed far into the mist.


    All the shadows were instantly engulfed by the divine fire of the Sun, as if everything was melting like snow!


    -390,000! -400,000! -420,000!...


    A dense array of damage numbers appeared!


    At the same time, a series of kill notifications appeared before Luca.


    [Ding! You have killed a Lv60 Shadow Warrior, gaining 1,250,000 experience!]


    [Ding! You have killed a Lv63 Shadow Mage, gaining 1,440,000 experience!]


    [Ding! You have killed a Lv65 Shadow Assassin, gaining 1,650,000 experience!]


    ...


    The surging experience poured into Luca''s body as a blinding white light.


    His experience bar shot up as if riding a rocket.


    In just a few breaths of time.


    Four golden beams of light shed across him.


    His level leapt up four ranks, reaching level 46!


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have passed the Legacy Trial and obtained the hidden ss "Fate-Swapping Master"! You have gained new skills: "Fate Maniption (ss)", "Fortune Reversal (ss)", "Fate Plundering (ss)"...]


    [You have obtained the special item "Fate Dice" (ss)!]


    Looking at the notifications in front of him, Luca smiled.


    After so much effort, he had finally obtained what he wanted.


    [Fate Dice: Special Equipment, a twelve-sided die used by unknown gods for games and entertainment. Each side represents a different fate, and each fate has a unique special effect. yers can use the Fate Dice once per day, randomly obtaining one of the twelve fates for 24 hours. The dice has a 24-hour cooldown, and the fate refreshes daily.]


    Looking at the game description before him, Luca couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement in his heart.


    In his past life, the top yer he had heard of had relied on this special equipment and the Fate-Swapping Master skills to be a renowned powerhouse of the Human Race in a very short time, making countless people green with envy.


    Luca had once envied that yer''s fortune, and now, it had finallye to him!


    He restrained his excitement and began examining the three ss skills of Fate-Swapping Master.


    [Fate Maniption lv1: ss Skill. The Fate-Swapping Master can alter the luck and fate of a target through the power of fate maniption. No level limit, duration 3 hours, cooldown 12 hours.]


    [Fate Duplication lv1: ss Skill. The Fate-Swapping Master can copy another person''s fate, either to alter the fate of others or use it for themselves. Up to 3 fates can be copied.]


    [Fate Plundering lv1: ss Skill. The Fate-Swapping Master can plunder another person''s fate for their own use. Up to 3 fates can be plundered.]


    Every person carries different luck and fate, which basically determines the course of their life. The strength of the Fate-Swapping Master ss lies in its ability to freely manipte the fate and luck of others.


    This meant that Luca could exchange an ordinary person''s fate for that of a top genius, granting them the genius''s luck and fate for a brief period. Alternatively, he could take a genius''s fate and rece it with that of a cursed individual, ensuring they would experience endless misfortune.


    The most important thing was that the skills of the Fate-Swapping Master ignored level and were undefendable. The only countermeasure was to endure it, which made this ss incredibly broken. Otherwise, it would just be a regr support ss.


    The power of the Fate-Swapping Master was unquestionable. Luca could hardly contain his excitement as he took out the Fate Dice, eager to test his luck.


    The Fate Dice could only be used once a day, and the fate it granted was random. There were six positive fates and six negative fates, and Luca had no idea which he would get¡ªit all depended on his luck.


    The problem, however, was that his luck, charm, and potential were all maxed out!


    A sh of light passed through his hand, and a die engraved with ancient runes appeared in his palm.


    The Fate Dice was about the size of a human head, ck in color, with twelve faces, each one engraved with golden, ancient runes. Upon closer inspection, it seemed as though these runes were shifting, creating a strange and mesmerizing effect.


    "This... has such an odd power..." Jormungandr slithered out from the snake-shaped bracelet, curiously eyeing the dice in Luca''s hand.


    She felt a force emanating from it that wasn''t quite elemental or magical¡ªit was simr to her Dreamweaving power, belonging to the mysterious side of things.


    Luca didn''t respond. With a thought, the Fate Dice began to glow faintly, floating up and slowly starting to spin.


    "I wonder what fate I''ll get on the first roll?" Luca thought, a sense of anticipation building inside him.


    But soon, he realized something was wrong.


    As the glow of the Fate Dice enveloped him.


    Luca suddenly felt a brief moment of dizziness.


    An odd sensation rose within him, as though something deep inside him had been nudged by an unseen hand.


    "How is this possible?!" Jormungandr''s eyes widened in shock, her face filled with disbelief.


    "This thing... it can actually change fate?" The Sr Divine Spear, still half-asleep, was also stirred awake, its voice filled with undeniable astonishment.


    It was important to understand that the power of fate was one of the highestws among the gods. The few gods who had once wielded the power of fate were among the top-tier divinities in the Divine Court!


    To manipte fate, to alter someone''s destiny regardless of their level¡ªsuch power was beyond the reach of even ordinary gods!


    This kid had only wandered around the Divine Ruins for a bit, how did he manage to obtain such a divine-level legacy?


    Jormungandr and the Sr Divine Spear were both deeply shocked, but what came next left them utterly stunned.


    At the very moment the power of fate enveloped Luca, a faint golden glow suddenly appeared around him.


    The power of fate seemed to bepletely blocked, unable to prate or enter even a fraction of an inch, forcibly repelled from his body!


    Both of them gasped, unable to believe their eyes.


    Meanwhile, within Luca''s spiritual sea.


    Four towering golden beams of light, as if stimted by some force, suddenly burst into blinding brilliance!


    Buzz¡ª!


    A dazzling golden light shot upward, instantly tearing through theyers of mist, piercing the vast, lifeless dark sky above!


    The Fate Dice trembled, emitting its own golden divine light, elerating its rotation!


    Under the watchful eyes of the three, the twelve-faced die slowly came to a stop in midair.


    The twelve fates that had once been inscribed on its faces had vanished without a trace.


    What remained was a single, radiant rune, exuding an overwhelming divine might!


    Heaven''s Blessing!


    A torrent of divine power descended with a thunderous roar!


    Countless monsters immediately bowed in submission, their savage, blood-red eyes wide with fear.


    "What''s going on? Is the dice broken?" Luca was momentarily bewildered by the sight before him.


    Wasn''t the fate supposed to change? Why did it just keepnding on The Person Favored?


    This was Luca''s first time using the Fate Dice, and he had no idea what was happening.


    "How could we possibly know? You''ve got too many secrets up your sleeve," Jormungandr replied, her tone tinged with annoyance, though her face still showed signs of surprise that hadn''t faded.


    She was especially curious about the golden beams of light around Luca; after all, they were what had suppressed her in the first ce.


    The Sr Divine Spear furrowed its brow, seemingly piecing something together.


    It muttered to itself, "I see... So, this is The Person Favoredby the chosen fate¡­"


    "What does that mean?" Luca asked, confused.


    The Sr Divine Spear shook its head. "I''m not entirely sure. But I remember the Goddess of Dawn, Sylvia, once saying that those who are favored by the gods cannot have their fate altered, not even by the power of the Fate Law."


    Does that mean my ss is useless? Luca frowned at the thought.


    Before he could dwell on it further, he suddenly noticed that the Divine Ruins were beginning to tremble violently.


    It felt as though an earthquake of magnitude eight had struck, or like a beast that had been dormant for eons was slowly awakening.


    Then, to the astonished gaze of the three, golden light slowly began to emerge from every corner of the ruins.


    It was as if fireflies were flying toward the heavens.


    Each beam of light carrying an aura that made the two others tremble with unease!


    These were the residual divine powers of the gods who had long since passed away!


    In just a moment, the pitch-ck night sky was illuminated by countless golden dots of light.


    Looking up, it was as if the stars themselves were twinkling, their glow dazzling and beautiful!


    Countless specks of divine power gathered together, merging into the golden beams of light.


    Luca''s body shuddered in surprise.


    He could distinctly feel that his body was being enhanced.


    These divine powers were actively helping to refine his body?


    At the same time, a series of game notifications appeared before him.


    [You have received the blessing of the "Lord of the Sun," your talent attribute +7!]


    [You have received the blessing of the "Spirit of the Ocean," your charisma attribute +6!]


    [You have received the blessing of the "Goddess of Luck," your luck attribute +9!]


    ...


    The series of notifications left him stunned.


    They also left Jormungandr speechless.


    What in the world was going on with this guy?


    Why would the residual powers of the gods be enhancing his body?


    A look of surprise appeared in Luca''s eyes. Although he had no idea what was happening, it was undoubtedly a good thing!


    Special attribute increases were extremely difficult toe by.


    And now, in such a short span of time, his attributes had already increased by 30 points!


    If other yers found out, they would likely be green with envy!


    As more and more divine power poured into the golden beams.


    Luca''s aura rapidly grew stronger, and his attributes began to soar.


    In just this short time, his stats had increased by a total of 1000 points, even more powerful than what Soul Forge could provide!


    Just as he was barely able to contain his excitement.


    The tremors throughout the Divine Ruins suddenly ceased. Immediately afterward, a blinding light pierced through the darkness, and the air temperature shot up sharply. A terrifying pressure, as if from an ancient beast awakening from a long slumber, enveloped the entire Divine Ruins!


    The three of them felt a sudden shock in their hearts and instinctively looked up.


    In the far distance, deep within the Divine Ruins, a massive golden sun began to rise.


    Emitting endless rays of light.


    Luca squinted, his heart pounding with astonishment.


    Within the brilliance, there was a figure radiating dazzling divine light.


    That¡­ was the aura of a god?!

 Chapter 152: The Tidecaller Set! The Rising Tide! The Dawn God Sect! Fratis Wedding Approaches!

    152 Chapter 152: The Tidecaller Set! The Rising Tide! The Dawn God Sect! Fratis'' Wedding Approaches!


    Inside the Storage Ring, there was a set of tinum Grade equipment.


    [Tidecaller Set: tinum Grade, usable by Demonic Rune Mages. When equipped, activates set effects: Magic Runes attack power +30%, Spirit attribute +1200, other attributes +400, Mana +50000, Magic Runes drawing speed +30%, cooldown -20%...]


    [Skill 1: Spirit Tide - After using this skill, the yer''s Spirit attribute is increased by 30% for 10 minutes!]


    [Skill 2: Soul Howl - After using this skill, it triggers a Soul Roar on the target, dealing 200% soul damage!]


    [Skill 3: Silence - After using this skill, the target cannot use skills for 10 seconds, with the effect varying depending on the difference in both parties'' power!]


    ...


    The effects of the "Tidecaller Set" skills were far superior to the "Magic Runes Set" Luca was currently wearing. The three skills each had a different effect: boosting, attacking, and controlling. Even among tinum Grade equipment, this set was definitely top-tier!


    Seeing the excitement on Luca''s face, Augustine stroked his beard and smiled, "This Tidecaller Set is something I spent over 200,000 gold coins on back in the day. I used it for quite a while when I was younger and couldn''t bear to part with it. Go ahead, try it on and see how it works for you."


    Luca nodded, opened his panel, and swapped into the moon-white mage set. He then checked his stats.


    [Name: Luca (tinum Grade)]


    [Level: lv40]


    [Talent: The Person Favored (SSS-level)]


    [Main ss: Demonic Rune Mage]


    [Secondary Professions: Witch Doctor, Dreamweaver]


    [Health: 138,000]


    [Mana: 372,000]


    [Attack: 41,000 - 43,000]


    [Attributes: Strength 4135, Spirit 6306, Stamina 3477, Agility 2321]


    [Special: Charm 100, Perception 100, Talent 150 (Transcendent), Luck 100]


    [Titles: Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm, Peerless Appearance, Danger Perception, Son of Luck, Master of Asceticism]


    After equipping the "Tidecaller Set," his Spirit attribute had already surpassed 6000, and his base attack had reached 40,000!


    With high-level skills, his damage could easily exceed 100,000!


    Luca was quite pleased with this unexpected windfall upon arriving in Dawn City.


    "That old man is so stingy. I came all the way here with my people, and he only gives me a tinum Grade set?" Lucia muttered, clearly dissatisfied.


    Augustine, looking helplessly at his opportunistic daughter, replied, "Even if I gave him a higher-level set, he wouldn''t be able to use it because of his low level. It wouldn''t benefit him much either."


    "Once his level is high enough, you can bring him back here. I''ll see if I can find something suitable for him, be it magic runes or equipment."


    With his sharp eye, Augustine could tell that Luca had several Superss magic runes, and all of them were extraordinarymon items wouldn''t do.


    "Now that''s more like it." Lucia''s face lit up with a smile.


    After a bit more conversation. Augustine waved his hand. "Alright, you still have to receive your knighthood from the king tomorrow. Go, get some rest."


    "Alright, we''re off then." Lucia said, not a hint of hesitation in her voice.


    The only reason she had brought Luca here was to get something of value from him.


    Now that she had what she wanted, staying any longer would only be for eating dinner with the old man.


    "Once we get back to the guild hall, see what materials we need and grab some extra," Sophia whispered. "I''ll put it on the old man''s tab."


    Luca couldn''t help but feel a little amused and exasperated.


    Watching the backs of the trio as they left, Augustine shook his head and sat back in his chair.


    Evelyn, smoking ady''s cigarette, asked curiously, "Aren''t you going to ask him what all that random junk on him is? I''ve seen my fair share of geniuses and prodigies, but this is the first time I''ve encountered such a freak."


    "You''re not curious about how he managed it?" she added.


    Augustine, still organizing the chess pieces, responded with surprise, "Why should I be curious? It''s normal for young people to have their own secrets."


    "Normal?" Evelyn raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "The King of Rage''s heart, Starsea''s eyes, the Witch of Desire''s Demon Box, and the Undead Coffin. And besides the Sr Divine Spear, he even has a Dream Master... and you call that normal?"


    Augustine finished tidying up the chessboard and smiled. "Getting to the bottom of it wouldn''t serve much purpose. It''s enough to just do what a good elder is supposed to do."


    "As for what''s going on with him, it''s not important. What matters is, he''s my daughter''s student, and I like the kid."


    Evelyn exhaled a cloud of smoke and said, "With your current strength, you might not be able to protect him. Right now, the King''s influence keeps a few factions from taking action against him.


    "But the King''s time is limited. Once the knighthood ceremony is over, that old virgin from the Dawn God Sect will probablye after him. Not to mention the nobles and the one in the pce..." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "They fight, they kill, they seek fame and fortune. I don''t care, and I don''t want to get involved," Augustine said, calmly watching Lucia and the others leave in their carriage outside the window. "But anyone who dares toy a hand on these kids will have to face the former Emperor alongside me!"


    ...


    To the east of Dawn City stood thergest cathedral on the entire Eternal Continent: Dawn Cathedral. It was the central hub of the Dawn God Sect, as well as the legendary resting ce of the Dawn Goddess.


    Outside, the za was filled with the sound of fountains, and the magnificent white cathedral rose high into the clouds. Its walls and hallways were adorned with intricate relief sculptures and murals.


    People passing by instinctively lowered their voices, as if afraid to offend the gods within. The atmosphere was solemn and peaceful.


    Inside the grand cathedral, rows of neatly arranged seats were filled with devout worshippers, all engaged in quiet prayer.


    On the high tform ahead, a woman dressed in a white bishop''s robe recited the doctrines. She wore a crown adorned with stars, her voice gentle and melodious. Her eyes were half-closed, and her face was exquisite, wless in every way.


    Behind her stood a statue, its features indistinguishable, but its hands held a radiant gem that sparkled like a star.


    As the woman continued to recite the holy texts, the gem emitted a divine golden light, bathing the cathedral in an incredibly sacred and peaceful glow.


    The congregation, their expressions serene and tranquil, seemed to have their spirits purified by the light.


    When the service concluded, the worshippers either approached to offer thanks or confided their struggles.


    The woman gentlyforted them, showing no sign of impatience.


    Once the faithful had departed, revitalized and with lighter hearts. The cathedral quickly returned to its quiet stillness.


    "Lady Saint."Viktor, wearing a monocle, kneeled respectfully. "Today, Evelyn visited Augustine again. Both are from the neutral faction, and with them meeting so frequently, I wonder if it will affect the events toe."


    The Saintess of the Dawn God Sect, Joanna Evan, gave no visible reaction to his words.


    With her eyes still closed, she continued flipping through the holy scriptures in her hands, her voice calm as she replied, "Let them be. Augustine and Evelyn are not the types to interfere with matters that don''t concern them. As long as they don''t sense anything unusual, they won''t meddle in our affairs."


    "Understood, mydy."Viktor nodded, though he hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Also, the young man connected to the Nightmare Cult arrived in Dawn City today. He also went to visit Augustine."


    Joanna''s hand paused, and she raised her head, her gaze piercing. "Is J?rmungandr still with him?"


    "The Abyssal Gem is reacting strongly, so it should still be with him."Viktor replied, taking out a ck gemstone and speaking in a low voice. "The Nightmare Cult has mobilized fully. The core members are expected to arrive in Dawn City by tonight."


    Joanna gazed silently at the statue of the goddess behind her for a long moment.


    "Once the knighthood ceremony is over, deal with him. Bring J?rmungandr to me. Make sure there are noplications."She spoke calmly, her tone unwavering. "As for Augustine, I will handle him."


    Viktor shuddered slightly, lowering his head. "As youmand, mydy."


    ...


    Meanwhile, Luca and Sophia, traveling in a carriage, were on their way back to the Princess''s chambers.


    Before they left earlier, the butler Lawson had specially prepared temporary tokens for them, so no one had stopped them along the way.


    At the Mages'' Association, Luca ultimately didn''t have the heart to shamelessly ask Augustine to pick up the tab. Instead, he reluctantly dug into his own pockets and purchased arge amount of Transcendent materials.


    Among them were several high-tier fire attribute materials, primarily used to restore the power of the Sr Divine Spear. His gold coins quickly diminished by half.


    Lucia didn''t say much, only sighing in frustration that this trip had been a loss. All she had managed to get was a tinum Gradeset of equipment. Luca could only force a wry smile in response.


    When they returned to the pce, the three of them spotted Fratissitting on a bench outside the chambers. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her face looked haggard, as though she had been crying. She sat in a daze, staring at the fishpond, her figure illuminated by the moonlight, giving her a delicate, sorrowful air.


    Next to her, a petite figure in regal court attire was sighing dramatically. She appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, with a refined and youthful face. However, despite her age, the way she sighed with such exaggerated weight made her seem much older¡ªcreating aical contrast.


    "Why is Princess Raphael here at this hour?"Lucia asked, a bit puzzled, before stepping forward and greeting her. "Raphael, long time no see."


    "So this is Princess Raphael?"Luca was surprised.


    The third princess didn''t quite match the image Luca had envisioned. From Fratis''s descriptions, he had always thought Raphael was a mature older sister. To his surprise, she looked like a young girl who hadn''t even reached adulthood yet.


    Princess Raphaelturned around when she heard her name.


    The moment she saw the group, the troubled look on her delicate face immediately faded, and she waved her hand with a bright smile. "You''re back! Come quickly, help me talk to Fratis¡ªshe''s been in a bad mood and is having trouble with things."


    "I¡­ I''m fine,"Fratis hastily wiped away her tears and forced a smile at the group. "Don''t listen to my third sister. I''m actually really happy today."


    Her smile was stiff, and anyone could see it was insincere.


    "What happened?"Luca asked, concerned.


    "What else could it be?"Raphael shrugged and sighed. "Fratis''s marriage has been arranged. After your knighthood ceremony, her wedding will be the next major event."

 Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Are you sure it was Luca? Fratiss life! Weren’t you already dead?

    It wasn''t just the Queen and Saintess of Dawn God Sect. Countless powerful figures in Dawn Citysensed the disturbance caused by Luca.


    Everyone was bewildered, unable to understand why this newly titled Count had gone mad, daring to kill in Dawn Cityof all ces.


    In an instant, all the powerful individuals in Dawn Citywere on the move.


    Streaks of light cut through the sky as they raced toward Luca''s location.


    The Dawn Cityenforcers also received reports and immediately dispatched numerous city guards to maintain order.


    However, when everyone arrived at the scene, they were stunned.


    Four towering thorned ice pirs stood in the streets, and the entire area was covered in frost. Large shards of ice littered the ground, and the blood and flesh glistened under the sunlight, reflecting a shimmering light.


    The Ghost King, holding his long sword, was kneeling on the ground, his head tilted back as he stared at the empty street. His expression was one of shock and despair, his face frozen in an agonized look, almost like a piece of art¡ªyet it sent a chill down the spines of everyone who saw it.


    The Dawn God Sect''spriests and followers, along with the Phillips family''s Ghost Kingand Masked Figures, numbered twelve high-level professionals, including two Superss individuals! All of them had been killed on the spot!


    This scene left everyone present deeply shaken. What kind of person could possess such terrifying strength?


    A high-ranking noble gasped in shock, saying, "From the start of the battle to now, it''s only been about ten minutes. To kill two Superss individuals and twelve high-level professionals, that would require at least a Sky-level Superss. When did such a madman arrive in Dawn City¡­"


    Another Earth-level Superss shook his head and said, **"The opponent''s strength is far beyond that. I recognize both of them. One was Karle Lyman, a Holy Knightof the Dawn God Sect, a Earth-levelwarrior.


    "The other was Rafe Ward, one of the Phillips family''sseven Ghost Kings, a Sky-level Crimson Mage.


    "These two were no ordinary professionals. For someone to kill both of them here, that person must have at least the raw strength to take on a Star-levelopponent."**


    As soon as these words were spoken, the area fell silent. In the entire Clinton Empire, Star-levelSuperss warriors were a rarity¡ªthose who had touched the threshold of the Transcendentrealm. Each of them was likely a legendary figure. No one could say for sure who was responsible for this massacre.


    Soon, the enforcer who had gone to question the witnesses returned.


    "How is this possible..."His face was dazed, his eyes wide with shock, as if he had just received some unimaginable information.


    Curiosity sparked in the minds of many.


    The noble who had previously spoken up asked, "Did you find out who the killer is?"


    The enforcer hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying, "We''ve found out. You''ve probably all heard of him, but..."


    "Stop stalling and just say who it is!" another person urged.


    The enforcer let out a bitterugh and said, "ording to the witnesses, it seems to be Luca the Count. After all, he''s the only one of that age..."


    "Luca the Count?"Many of the stronger individuals who weren''t following events outside the city looked confused. They couldn''t understand why they should care about a mere Count, especially one who had such powerful strength.


    Augustine, however, paused for a moment before asking, "Are you sure it''s Luca?"


    Not just him¡ªthose who knew Luca had expressions of disbelief.


    One person skeptically asked, "Could they have mistaken him? Isn''t Luca the Count only eighteen? And isn''t he just a mid-tier professional? How could he have possibly killed so many powerful people?"


    The enforcer helplessly responded, "I can hardly believe it myself, but the description of Luca the Count matches his appearance exactly. It''s hard to mistake him..."


    The crowd paused and fell into silence.


    It was true. With his appearance, Luca was impossible to miss. It would be difficult for anyone to mistake him.


    In other words, the teenager¡ªonly in his teens¡ªhad really killed over a dozen high-level professionals?


    The thought left everyone feeling as if they were in a dream.


    1 vs 14, and two of those were Superss professionals. Were the younger generation really this strong now?


    "This kid... really knows how to stir up trouble."Augustine couldn''t help but sigh, finally believing the news. He had just received word that Luca was fine, and before he could even feel relieved, he learned that Luca had gone on a killing spree in the city.


    It was both a relief and a headache for Augustine. The boy had been in Dawn Cityfor just a few days, and he''d already killed so many from Dawn God Sectand the Phillips family. Luca clearly didn''t take them seriously at all!


    "What do you mean trouble? This was self-defense!"Dean Selin shot a re at him, clearly displeased with Augustine''s words.


    They were the ones who had caused trouble for Luca, and when he fought back, he''d killed them. How could that be called "stirring up trouble"?


    It was self-defense, in and simple!


    The strong figures around them couldn''t help but twitch their lips when they heard this.


    Kill 14 people...and you''re calling that self-defense?


    Which kind of self-defense involves killing fourteen people?


    However, due to Dean Selin''s high status and her strength at the pinnacle of Superss, no one dared to voice their true thoughts aloud.


    "I never expected my junior to be this impressive."From atop a rooftop, a figure in ck armor clicked his tongue in awe. "Eighteen years old, and he can already kill Superss warriors? What will he be like when he''s my age?"


    "It looks like the teacher has taken on a good student this time," God of War Winstonmuttered thoughtfully, stroking his chin. Lucahad killed so many members of the Phillips familyand Dawn God Sect; they would surelye after him. Winston wondered if he''d be able to help resolve things when the time came...


    Meanwhile, at the gates of the royal pce.


    By the time Lucacaught up to Sophiaand the others, they had already been waiting for a while in front of the royal pce gates.


    "You''re done already?"Luciaasked, surprised. She had thought it would take at least half an hour, but Lucahad finished so quickly.


    Luca smiled and shrugged. "Just some small fry. Nothing to worry about."


    Sophia gave him a sidelong nce. "You''re stronger than I expected."


    Her words were sincere. Sophia''sPerceptionability was not something ordinary professionals couldpare to.


    Earlier, she had clearly sensed the fluctuations of power erupting from the street and had a precise sense of Luca''scurrent strength. To be blunt, even without using her trump cards, she wasn''t sure if she could take him on in a fair fight.


    Noticing the faint shadow in Sophia''seyes, Lucashrugged. "Senior, you''re thinking too much. I was just lucky. With your talent, you''ll definitely be stronger than me in the future."


    Sophia was the Frost Goddessin her past life, mastering the highest-levelws. Even at her peak, she might not have been weaker than the Lord of the Sun. Luca, on the other hand, had merely stumbled upon a bit of good fortune. Inparison, he could never hope to match her during her prime.


    Sophia took his words as a form offort and turned away, looking towards the royal pce gates. "Let''s go. We''re heading to the princess''s quarters, aren''t you in a hurry to see the Sixth Princess?"


    "Alright."Luca, unaware of the subtle undercurrent in her tone, led the way into the pce.


    Lucia, with a teasing glint in her eyes, remarked, "Feeling jealous? I told you to make your move earlier. Now, look, your junior has already been swept away by the princess. You couldn''t...?"


    Sophia chose to ignore her teacher''s incessant chatter, maintaining a neutral expression and pretending not to hear.


    The three of them entered the pce and immediately noticed that there were far more people than usual. Everywhere they looked, there were wedding decorations¡ªbanners and bouquets of flowers¡ªthat gave the pce a festive atmosphere, almost as if it was a grand holiday celebration.


    Tomorrow is the wedding day of the Sixth Princess, and for the past few days, nobles from all over have been flocking to the royal pce to offer their congrattions. Lucaeven noticed some people from other countries¡ªthose from the Via Empireand the All-Beings Empire¡ªtheir distinctive attire making them easily recognizable.


    It was clear that the royal family attached great importance to the wedding of Fratisand Finn.


    Luca''s expression remained calm, seemingly indifferent, but in reality, he had already made up his mind.


    The group continued walking, and when they reached the princess''s quarters.


    They saw a crowd of noblewomen gathered from a distance, all chattering around the elderly butler Lawson, whose hair had turned gray.


    "Why won''t you let me visit Her Highness the Princess? I specially came from the Eastern Territory just to meet her, and now you''re telling me I can''t see her?"one of thedies said with some dissatisfaction.


    "That''s right! I heard Her Highness loves fine food, so I even brought a chef to prepare some delicacies. These are all rare ingredients!"anotherdy added, holding a beautifully wrapped gift and speaking angrily.


    Otherdies tried to use their charms, fluttering their eyes and pouting in a pitiful manner as they begged, "Lawson, please let us see the princess, we won''t stay long~"


    Despite having seen many high-ss individuals in his time, Butler Lawsonwas starting to feel overwhelmed.


    He raised both hands in a gesture of surrender and exined helplessly, "I understand your wish to visit Her Highness, but the princess is currently unwell. It''s not the right time for visitors, so please return for now. You cane by after the wedding."


    "It''s precisely because Her Highness is unwell that we want to visit her!"one of the women quickly interjected.


    Lawson rubbed his forehead in frustration. "You don''t need to worry. Prince Finn has already called in Doctor Kaman to treat the princess. She should recover soon."


    He had hoped that this would be enough to convince the women to leave, but upon hearing that Finnwas involved, their excitement only grew.


    Just as Butler Lawson was starting to feel a headache from all the noise, he looked up and suddenly saw Lucaand hispanions approaching.


    He froze in ce, rubbing his eyes as if he thought he was seeing things.


    When he realized it was really Luca, he jumped in shock, his face turning pale with fear. "Luca the Count, you''re not...?"

 Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Imperial Nobles! Superclass Healers, Kallaman! Princess Fratis Missing!

    Lucahad been missing for five days in the Divine Ruins, and many people assumed something had happened to him.


    The prince had been downcast these past few days, and to his surprise, Luca had now appeared before him, unharmed.


    This left Lawsonutterly astonished.


    A group of noblewomen, upon seeing Luca''s appearance, were immediately struck by his looks. They whispered among themselves, gossiping quietly.


    "What a handsome young man!"onedy, with delicate features, covered her mouth and her eyes glinted with admiration. Her words reflected the thoughts of many of the otherdies.


    Luca was still wearing the clothes specially tailored for him at Mikkey''s tailor shop, his figure tall and slender. After being refined by the divine essence of the gods, both his demeanor and appearance were even more striking, naturally drawing attention from those around him.


    "I''m here to see the Sixth Princess,"Luca said, disregarding the gazes of the others, his eyes fixed on Lawson.


    Lawson hesitated for a moment before replying, "Luca the Count, it''s not that we''re refusing you entry, but... but the princess isn''t feeling well right now... It might not be appropriate..."


    As he spoke, he subtly gestured toward a few masked figures outside the pce.


    It was clear that he was hinting at something.


    "Is Finn here too?"Luca''s expression remained unchanged, his tone calm.


    The Ghost Kingwas a guard trained by the Phillips family, and this wasn''t exactly a secret.


    "Yes, Master Finn is inside, discussing tomorrow''s wedding with the princess,"Lawson said apologetically, bowing slightly. "I ask for your understanding, Luca-sama. Please, return for now."


    Fratis had always held a special attitude toward Luca, and given his enmity with Finn, and the fact that tomorrow was the princess''s wedding day, tensions were already high.


    Not only were there imperial nobles present, but even envoys from other nations had arrived. If a conflict were to break out here, it would cause a huge scandal for the entire royal family. For that reason, even in the interest of precaution, Lawson was determined not to allow Luca entry.


    Lucia rolled up her sleeves, annoyed. "We''re good friends of the Sixth Princess! Tomorrow is her wedding, and you won''t even let us inside to see her? Move aside, or I won''t be so polite!"


    Faced with such a domineering attitude, Lawson was left speechless, but he still stood firm, unwilling to let them in.


    "Should we go back?"Sophia asked, looking at Luca for his opinion.


    Luca fell silent for a moment before turning to Lawson and speaking calmly, "What if I insist on going in?"


    The moment those words left Luca''s mouth, Lawson''s breath caught. He stared at Luca in shock. "What do you mean, ''insist on going in''? Are you nning to break into the pce?"


    If it had been anyone else, Lawson would have dismissed the threat immediately. But as he recalled Luca''s legendary feats in Southwind Cityand Riverfall City, a chill ran down his spine, and he suddenly found it hard to smile.


    This was a madman who had already killed Finn! Who knew what he might do next?


    "Luca the Count, I hope you don''t act impulsively. This is the royal pce. You absolutely cannot cause any trouble..."Lawson quickly tried to calm him down, afraid that Luca might take action at the slightest provocation.


    Luca didn''t say much in response. He merely spoke in a t tone, "Lead the way. After all, I imagine you don''t want things to escte, right?"


    Lawson hesitated for a moment, gritting his teeth before reluctantly replying, "I''ll take you inside."


    Luca nodded, then turned to Lucia and Sophia with a smile, saying, "You two can wait here. Just take the opportunity to chat with these nobledies."


    "What''s there to talk about with them?"Lucia asked, clearly confused. She had stopped dealing with these old women more than ten years ago.


    Sophia, on the other hand, gave Luca a meaningful look before saying.


    "Have you thought this through? If His Majesty gets angry, you might lose your title altogether."


    "That doesn''t mean much to me,"Luca replied with a slight smile, not borating further. He then stood up and made his way toward the pce doors.


    Lawson sighed deeply and followed after him.


    The two walked directly toward the grand hall.


    But just before entering, a masked figurestepped forward, blocking their path.


    The figure''s expression was unreadable as he coldly spoke, "Young Master Finn has ordered that no one is allowed into the Princess''s chambers."


    Lawson nced at Luca, who remained calm, and a cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.


    "Nonsense!"Lawson snapped, his voice rising in anger. "This is the princess''s friend! He''s been specifically told not to be stopped!"


    "The princess''s friend?"The masked figureseemed surprised. He looked Luca up and down, a feeling of familiarity dawning on him. Yet, he couldn''t immediately ce who he was.


    He was about to say he would go inside and notify someone, but before he could, Luca simply ignored him and walked straight into the Princess''s hall.


    "You can''t just barge into the Princess''s chambers!"Several more masked figuressprang into action, attempting to stop Luca from entering.


    However, just as they moved, they quickly realized something was wrong.


    "What''s going on?"The masked figures looked down in shock, feeling their bodies go numb, as if they could no longer control them.


    At the same time, ayer of frost began to cover their bodies, spreading visibly and rapidly.


    Within just a few breaths, the masked figures were frozen in ce, their bodies stiff as statues, and all signs of life vanished.


    Luca waved his hand, and a chill began to gather in his palm.


    He didn''t slow his pace in the slightest, moving directly towards the second floor.


    Behind him, Lawson was left in shock, his face pale as he copsed to the ground.


    His lips trembled, his eyes filled with terror.


    He had killed someone! This madman, he had actually killed someone inside the royal pce?!


    Was he nning a rebellion?!


    The thought of the consequences made him wish he could p himself.


    What a disaster! What kind of bad luck was he cursed with to keep running into this person?!


    Outside the pce, Sophia watched Luca''s retreating figure, her lips pressed together, aplex expression shing in her eyes.


    Lucia, on the other hand, wasughing and chatting animatedly with a group of noblewomen,pletely unaware of what had just transpired.


    Inside the pce, Luca continued his path towards Fratis''s chambers.


    It didn''t take long for him to arrive.


    Outside the room, Finn was dressed in a fine suit, holding a bouquet of flowers, speaking earnestly.


    A few masked figures stood nearby, along with azy woman with dark green hair, dressed in a white robe.


    "Princess, I heard you''ve been ill these past few days. I asked my father to invite a Superss healer over. Please open the door and let Dr. Kaman check your condition,"Finn urged, but there was no response from inside the room.


    This caused a shadow to flicker in his eyes, and he unconsciously clenched his fists.


    When he first heard that Luca had died in the Divine Ruins, he had even opened a bottle of red wine to celebrate.


    But to his surprise, the bastard wasn''t dead after all. And now, that same bastard was still causing him trouble.


    Once the wedding was over, he''d make sure to deal with this filthy woman properly!


    Finn thought bitterly, but still wore a gentle smile, coaxing Fratis to open the door.


    He didn''t notice.


    However, that at the end of the hallway, a tall figure was walking slowly towards them.


    Luca nced at Finn, but didn''t pay him much mind. His gaze shifted towards the room where Sophia was.


    The door was adorned with a white wedding ribbon and flowers, looking very beautiful.


    But Luca''s brow quickly furrowed.


    He couldn''t sense Fratis''s presence inside.


    After undergoing divine enhancement from the gods, his spiritual senses had been heightened as well. While the pce''s defensive wards could block a Superss, they had no power against his probing. It was through this that he noticed something unusual.


    And from the looks of it, no one outside seemed to know about it.


    "Could it be that something happened?" Luca had an ominous premonition in his heart and quickened his steps.


    At that moment, several other masked figures noticed Luca, the unexpected guest.


    One of them narrowed their eyes and said, "Who let you in? Don''t you know that entry is prohibited here?"


    Another frowned and added, "Are the people outside just standing around doing nothing? Howe no one came to report this?"


    "Escort him out immediately, don''t disturb the princess..." Finn initially didn''t pay much attention, but when he nced over and saw Luca''s almost mocking expression, his words abruptly stopped.


    Staring in shock at Luca, his eyes widened in disbelief, "You... you bastard, you''re still alive? How is that possible?"


    That was the Divine Ruins! The ce was crawling with high-level monsters! He had been inside for five days¡ªhow could he still be alive?!


    "What''s impossible about it? Just because you can''t do it doesn''t mean I can''t." Luca shot back at Finn and casually scanned the other people around him.


    Three of the masked figures were Superss professionals, the strongest of them reaching Sky-level. Among them, a woman with green hair stood out¡ªshe was a Star-level Transcendent Healer. However, this profession posed no threat to him, so he wasn''t overly concerned.


    The woman, named Kaman, also looked Luca over. After a few nces, her deep green eyes shed with confusion.


    She couldn''t quite put her finger on it, but there was something odd about this young man. She stared harder, still unsure.


    Then, her beautiful eyes shimmered with a faint green light.


    Healers'' professional skill ¡ª Eye of Life!


    When Kaman looked back at Luca, she involuntarily drew in a sharp breath.


    To her, Luca''s entire body seemed to be suffused with golden energy. That overwhelmingly powerful life force almost made her doubt her own vision. How could this young man''s vitality be so fierce?


    But then, she quickly realized: this wasn''t life force. It was... divine power!


    This guy actually had divine power?!


    Kaman''s mind went into turmoil, her expression nearly slipping out of control.


    She had seen many people in her life, but Luca was only the third person she had encountered with divine power. The other two were Queen Matilda and Saintess Joanna, both of whom carried the blessing of the Goddess of Dawn as holy women of the Dawn God Sect. But how did this guy possess divine power?


    Luca noticed Kaman''s astonished gaze and knew she must have figured something out.


    However, this was not the time to focus on it. He still didn''t know where Fratis had disappeared to, and he really didn''t want to waste time here dealing with Finn, this scoundrel.


    He lowered his gaze to Finn and spoke calmly, "Leave now, and I''ll spare your worthless life."

 Chapter 174 Spark Reversal! A Transcendent-Level Spatial User! Alfred’s Plan! A New Life!

    Luca''s gaze swept across the bedroom, finallynding on the dressing table.


    Luxurious cosmetics were neatly arranged on the table, untouched. The white chair in front of it was slightly askew, as though someone had been sitting there moments before.


    After a brief pause, Luca raised his hand. A fleeting divine light shed in his eyes.


    Golden Divine mecoalesced in the air.


    Momentster, a golden figure dressed in a thin nightgown gradually appeared, floating faintly in the room.


    Divine-level Fire Skill: Spark Reversal!


    Fratis''s ethereal image sat before the dressing table, her hair disheveled, her face pale.


    She stared nkly at her reflection in the mirror, seemingly lost in thought.


    In her hand, she held a single-ringed stiletto dagger adorned with a sapphire.


    Luca''s expression grewplex as he continued to observe.


    Fratis sat in front of the dressing table for an indeterminate amount of time. Atst, a sorrowful smile tugged at her pale face.


    She slowly raised her hand, the sharp de aimed at her slender, snow-white neck.


    The dagger''s edge pierced her delicate skin, a thin stream of crimson blood trickling down her neck. Against her fair skin, the scarlet was striking and harsh.


    Even though Luca knew this was just an illusion, he instinctively reached out, as if to stop her.


    At that moment, her motion abruptly halted. Slowly, she lifted her head and looked in Luca''s direction.


    Their gazes seemed to transcend the boundaries of time and space, locking together in a fleeting connection.


    Looking into Fratis''s weary eyes, Luca understood that she wasn''t truly seeing him, but rather someone who had been standing in that spot at the time.


    Fratis''s face disyed clear surprise, as though deeply shocked to see that person there.


    Then, in an instant, a sh of silver light erupted.


    She disappeared from the room entirely, along with the dagger. It was as if she had never been there at all.


    The illusion formed by the Divine medissipated slowly into the air.


    "Spatial-type Transcendent-Level Skill: Dimensional Leap¡­" Luca murmured, recognizing the ability that had been used.


    This confirmed that the person responsible was most likely a Transcendent-Level Spatial User.


    No wonder there were no traces left behind.


    Spatial elements, being high-order elements, specialize in dimensional movement.


    They''re particrly adept at transporting individuals without leaving any evidence.


    However, this revtion significantly narrowed down the search.


    Spatial power was already exceedingly rare, and reaching the Transcendent Levelin this domain was almost unheard of.


    Moreover, it was clear that Fratis probably knew this person. Following this lead would likely yield some clues about her whereabouts.


    After all, no matter how cautious the culprit was, they likely hadn''t anticipated someone ascending to the Divine Realmand investigating Fratis''s disappearance.


    The situation was urgent, and the perpetrator''s motives remained unclear. This wasn''t the time to waste a single moment.


    Luca closed his eyes tightly, and the space around him seemed to freeze in time. A surge of immense spiritual power radiated outward from him, instantly enveloping the entirety of Dawn City. In that moment, the entire city seemed toy bare before his mind''s eye.


    As Luca''s spiritual power swept through the city, many of the powerful individuals within its walls sensed something unusual.


    "What terrifying spiritual power!" eximed a Superssexpert, ncing toward the direction of the royal pce with shock in his eyes.


    Under this oppressive force, he even felt as though he were standing naked and exposed.


    Although that youth hadn''t yet truly ascended to the Divine Realm, just the sheer magnitude of his spiritual power far surpassed that of an ordinary Transcendent-levelexpert.


    Meanwhile, in the princess''s bedchamber.


    Luca remained still, his eyes closed as fleeting images shed through his mind.


    But his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.


    "Too slow," Luca muttered, opening his eyes and rubbing his temple.


    Though his body and divine rank had reached extraordinary heights, his spiritual power was still at the Transcendent levnd hadn''t yet broken through to the Divine level. This meant there were many ces in Dawn City his spiritual perception couldn''t prate.


    What''s more, the perpetrator was also Transcendent level. If they were determined to conceal themselves, even Luca would struggle to detect them. It was clear that relying on this method to find Fratis wasn''t going to work.


    Retracting his spiritual power, Luca paused to consider his next move.


    Golden mes once again ignited around his body, and he vanished from Fratis''s bedroom.


    When he reappeared.


    He was in the king''s chambers.


    If there was anyone in the kingdom who knew about Spatialusers of such power, it would undoubtedly be King Alfred.


    Luca''s gaze swept through the opulent pce, immediately locking onto Alfred''s location.


    On the second floor of the royal hall, in a study filled with books, the king sat. Alfred was frail and withered, his frame thin and bony beneath his royal robes and crown. Lying on a cushioned chaise, he scribbled something with a quill in his gnarled, tree-like hand.


    Golden mes suddenly appeared in the room, and the overwhelming presence of divine power crashed down upon him, causing his hand to freeze mid-stroke.


    "I knew you''de," Alfred said, setting the quill down slowly.


    He raised his cloudy eyes to regard the confident, godlike figure of Luca standing before him. In a hoarse voice, tinged with a sense of resignation, he remarked, "I always believed you had great potential, but I didn''t expect such a transformation in just a matter of days."


    Luca had no fondness for this opportunistic king and even less patience for small talk. He asked inly, "Fratis is missing. My investigation points to a Transcendent-level Spatial userhaving taken her. Do you know who it is?"


    To Luca''s surprise, Alfred didn''t hesitate or attempt to hide anything. He simply nodded. "I do."


    "Who is it?" Luca pressed.


    This time, Alfred didn''t answer right away. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the bustling city outside the window. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Do you know how many years it''s been since the Clinton family founded this empire?"


    "I''m not interested in that," Luca replied tly, his tone blunt and devoid of courtesy.


    He was here to find Fratis. What use was this king''s recounting of the Clinton Empire''s history?


    "It''s been 33,647 years," Alfred continued as though he hadn''t noticed Luca''s irritation. "Over 33 millennia. In the entire history of the Eternal Continent, only the Age of the Gods surpasses it."


    His eyes narrowed slightly as he added, "But that''s only because their lifespans were limitless, unbound by the constraints of mortality. That''s why the Divine Courtendured for over a million years before it crumbled. For a mortal kingdom like the Clinton Empire tost this long, even with the efforts of countless individuals, it has reached its absolute limit."


    Luca''s voice remained calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. "If you keep wasting my time, I can make sure this kingdom ends a lot faster."


    The Gods'' Revtionwas drawing closer. If he couldn''t find Fratis within this window, he''d have to use his abilities to extend the time he could trace her. But even then, it would only buy him an hour and a half at most.


    And if he failed to locate Fratis within that time... Luca didn''t want to imagine what he might do.


    Alfred, however, didn''t seem angered by Luca''s threat. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his gaunt face. "There''s no need to rush. She''s not in any danger."


    Luca''s sharp intuition caught the deeper implication in those words.


    His eyes narrowed slightly. "You know who took Fratis, don''t you?"


    "Of course," Alfred admitted without hesitation. "After all, it was I who personally took her."


    As he spoke, he raised his hand. A swirling mass of silver spatial energy materialized in his palm, its aura unmistakable.


    Transcendent level.


    The king of the Clinton Empire was not the Superssuser of legend but rather a true Transcendent-levelpowerhouse¡ªand one with the rare Spatial Elementat hismand!


    Luca immediately recognized that this was the same power he had sensed in Fratis''s room. It confirmed that Alfred had indeed been the one to take her. No wonder Fratis had looked so shocked at the time.


    But why? What was Alfred''s purpose in doing this?Luca stared at Alfred, mes surging violently around him.


    His stark white hair, illuminated by the glow of the Divine me, appeared like it too was aze.


    He looked down at the frail king of the Clinton Empire, his voice steady but tinged with menace. "What are you nning to do with Fratis?"


    "I know you''re worried about her," Alfred said with a calm smile. "But rest assured, Fratis is safe. I sent her to the Dawn God Sect... she''ll return soon, transformed¡ªreborn, even."


    Hearing this, Luca''s gaze turned icy, his expression darkening in an instant.


    In an instant, an unimaginably terrifying divine aura crashed down on Alfred.


    "Urgh!" Alfred, already as frail as a dying ember, was utterly incapable of withstanding the might of a god. A mouthful of dark blood spewed forth from his lips.


    Before the blood could even hit the ground, it was incinerated into ash by the golden Divine me.


    Luca''s golden eyes fixed on him coldly. "So, you''re colluding with the Dawn God Sect?"


    The king of the Clinton Empire, conspiring with those fanatical worshippers¡ªand worse, delivering his own daughter into their hands.


    For a moment, Luca felt the absurdity of it all, the sheer lunacy of this world.


    "I did cooperate with the Dawn God Sect," Alfred admitted weakly, his face ashen. "But Fratis is my most beloved daughter. No matter what I do, I would never harm her."


    "Never harm her?" Luca paused for a moment, then let out a derisiveugh, as though he had just heard the punchline of a cruel joke. "Your idea of ''not harming her'' is marrying her off to the Phillips family and then handing her over to the Dawn God Sect?"


    His words struck a nerve in Alfred.


    "You know nothing!" Alfred suddenly shot up from his chaise, ring at Luca with a rare fire in his hollowed eyes. His voice trembled with emotion as he shouted, "Fratis was destined from the moment she was born. She is the chosen of the Goddess of Dawn, the one marked by fate itself to guide our Clinton Empire to its destiny!


    "What I''ve done isn''t just for the empire¡ªa new future, a new ruler¡ªbut also for Fratis! I''ve given her the chance at a new life, a higher purpose!"


    At that moment, Luca finally understood. Alfred''s decision not to pass the throne to the Crown Prince wasn''t driven by some personal vendetta against the Dawn God Sect. His calcted stoking of the rivalry between the Crown Prince and Second Prince had been nothing more than a ploy to buy time.


    Even Alfred''s announcement in the royal council chamber that he would dere the heir in seven days had been deliberate misdirection.


    Because the heir to the throne wasn''t either of the princes.


    It was the Sixth Princess, Fratis.

 Chapter 175 The Eternal Divine Kingdom! Absurd, Pathetic, Infuriating! Dawn, Come Out and Die!

    Alfred''s eyes were bloodshot as he stared intensely at Luca. "Do you know how long the average person lives? Even a Transcendent-levelindividual barely reaches a century! And how long can the mightiest empirest? A mere tens of thousands of years!


    "But gods are different! They possess nearly limitless lifespans and the power to shape worlds! If Fratis bes the Goddess of Dawn, the citizens of the Clinton Empire will escape poverty and be the first eternal divine kingdomon the Eternal Continent!


    "Do you understand what that means?"


    "It means our Clinton Empire will stand for tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of years! It will be immortal!"


    Alfred''s voice echoed through the study.


    His fists were clenched tightly, his emotions running high, as if he could already see the Clinton Empire bing the brightest jewel of the Eternal Continent, shining eternally under the light of the gods.


    And he, Alfred, would be remembered as one of the most dazzling stars in the annals of history!


    The anger on Luca''s face gradually faded.


    He gazed calmly at this dying tiger of the Clinton Empire and said, "So you handed Fratis over to the Dawn God Sect to let her be the vessel for the Goddess of Dawn''s descent? Have you considered whether Fratis will still truly be alive after this?"


    It seemed Alfred had held back his thoughts for too long. He burst into manicughter. "Of course she''ll still be alive! I''ve studied countless texts, and I even used a forbidden Transcendenttechnique at the cost of my lifespan to temper Fratis''s body and soul, ensuring she can retain her consciousness during the ritual!


    "Decades ago, I personally ventured into the forbidden grounds of the Dawn God Sect. Although I was discovered by the Goddess of Dawn, gravely wounded, and nearly killed, I survived thanks to Headmaster Selin''s intervention. But that mission revealed to me a shocking secret!


    "The Goddess of Dawn is alive, yes, but only a fragment of her divine rankand a trace of her divine soulremain in the Dawn Temple! As long as Fratis undergoes the descent ritual, she can retain her consciousness and inherit everything from the Goddess of Dawn, bing the true Goddess of Dawn herself!"


    Alfred''s face flushed crimson, as though he were experiencing onest burst of vitality. He looked directly at Luca and said, "I know Fratis loves you. I''ve known since the moment you met in Riverfall City! And don''t tell me you don''t feel the same! Otherwise, why would you ascend to godhood for her?


    "Believe me, once she ascends to the Divine Realm, no one in this world will be able to stop the two of you! And with Fratis''s help, with your talent, I have no doubt that it won''t be long before you too ascend to the Divine Realm!"


    "By then, nothing in this world will stop you from being together. You will be a divine couple, and the Clinton Empire will have two gods, truly bing a kingdom of gods on earth!"


    As Alfred described his decades of scheming and grand ambitions, Luca listened quietly.


    Then, with a slight nod, he said, "So Fratis is at the Dawn God Sect, right?"


    "That''s correct¡­" Alfred replied instinctively, only to see Luca turn toward the window.


    The excitement on Alfred''s face froze instantly. His breathing quickened as he asked, "Where are you going?"


    "To save Fratis," Luca said calmly.


    Alfred suddenly felt like he''d been ying a lute for a cow this whole time.


    Staring at Luca''sposed face, Alfred''s bloodshot eyes widened in frustration. "Didn''t you hear me? She doesn''t need saving!"


    Without looking back, Luca gazed at the azure sky beyond the window and replied softly, "She needs me."


    Alfred''s face darkened, his expression shifting from flushed red to ashen ck.


    In a sudden fit of rage, he swept the documents off his desk, scattering them across the room. His voice, filled with fury and despair, erupted: "Why? Isn''t this glorious era exactly what you both want? Why are you trying to ruin it?"


    The sunlight streaming into the study caught the fluttering papers, filling the air like a cascade of letters.


    "Why ruin it?" Luca suddenlyughed. The golden Divine mearound him roared to life, boiling over like a long-suppressed inferno. With a flick of his wrist, a golden light shed. The ferocious Sr Divine Spearmaterialized in his hand, streaking forward to stop just inches from Alfred''s deeply lined forehead.


    Looking at the stiff, terrified face of Alfred, Luca''s gaze turned icy, his voice cold and unyielding. "Because, from the beginning, all of this has been nothing more than your self-serving fantasy."


    Alfred imed everything he did was for Fratis. But whether it was forcing her to be the Goddess of Dawnor making her the queen of the Clinton Empire, one truth was clear:


    From start to finish, he had never asked Fratis what shewanted. He had never given her a choice.


    What Fratis wanted wasn''t to be a queen or a goddess but to return to a simple, peaceful life in Riverfall City, a small town where she could live quietly for the rest of her days.And Alfred didn''t even realize that Fratis had once had the chance to fulfill that dream. Yet, in the end, she had chosen to sacrifice it all for the empire.


    When faced with life''s crossroads, most people would choose their own happiness¡ªLuca himself had made such choices before.


    After all, life is short; why concern yourself with the suffering of others?


    But Fratis had chosen differently. She had chosen sacrifice.


    That kind of courage, Luca had only ever seen in the greatest warriors and schrs of the Human Race¡ªthe true heroes.


    Luca respected them deeply, but he didn''t want to be one of them, nor did he want the people he cared about to walk that path.


    More importantly, Alfred had missed one critical point from the very beginning.


    The so-called Goddess of Dawnwas likely nothing more than an Ancient Godin disguise.


    These beings had masqueraded as the Goddess of Dawn, stolen the Sr Divine Spear, and schemed in secret for countless years.


    And for what? To serve as benefactors to a human empire?


    To the Ancient Gods, even gods were but ants. What value did mere humans hold?


    He had personally pushed Fratis into the firepit and yet dared to fantasize about turning the Clinton Empire into a divine kingdom on earth.


    To Luca, it was equal partsughable, pitiful, and infuriating.


    "What do you mean by that?" Alfred, sensing that Luca might know something he didn''t, asked in a low, tense voice.


    "There''s something you might not know." Luca, no longer bothering to hold back, sneered coldly. "The Goddess of Dawndied ten thousand years ago. She perished before another god, in the ruins of the Divine Court. That''s what that god said with their dying breath!


    "Take a guess, Alfred. What exactly is the ''Goddess of Dawn'' you saw?"


    Alfred''s body stiffened as though struck by lightning. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Luca. A momentter, his face flushed bright red with rage.


    "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Alfred suddenly sprang to his feet and lunged at Luca, roaring furiously, "I saw it with my own eyes! That power¡ªit was divine! What I saw was the Goddess of Dawn! You''re lying to me!"


    Watching Alfred, who now resembled a raging beast, Luca merely let out a disdainful snort.


    Divine runes shimmered faintly in the air, and Alfred''s body was instantly immobilized where he stood.


    Luca no longer wished to waste his time. Turning his gaze toward the direction of the Dawn God Sect.


    He said calmly, "Whether it''s true or not, you''ll find out soon enough."


    As his words fell, the golden sun zing in the sky suddenly erupted with brilliant radiance.


    The divine mes around Luca roared to life once more, and the power that had begun to wane surged back with terrifying intensity.


    Gods'' Revtion.


    The vast expanse of Divine mechurned and roared, consuming the heavens and blotting out the sun.


    A crushing divine presence descended upon the world like a tidal wave.


    Luca, gripping the Sr Divine Spear, took a single step forward and in an instant appeared in the skies above the Dawn God Sect.


    Looking down at the grand and majestic Dawn Cathedral, he spoke in a calm voice.


    Yet his words rang out like thunder, echoing across the entire Dawn City.


    "Dawn! Come out and face your death!"


    Countless powerful individuals raised their heads sharply, staring at Luca in utter shock.


    "Holy shit, can this kid extend his time limit?" eximed the War God Winston, his expression as though he''d seen a ghost.


    Every expert in the city knew that Luca''s divine power couldn''tst long. Yet none had anticipated that he could unleash such a world-shaking force again, seemingly without limit!


    Some who harbored ulterior motives fell silent at the sight before them.


    They had initially nned to strike at Luca when his power waned, but now, all such thoughts were extinguished. After all, no one could be certain how many times Luca could ascend to godhood.


    Who knew if, when pushed to the brink, he might do it again and swat them like flies? Divine power was tempting, yes, but only if one lived long enough to wield it. Though it seemed unlikely that Luca could use this power without limits, no one was willing to risk their life to find out what his trump card was.


    "Why is this harbinger of doom causing trouble at our holy sect?" Outside the Dawn Cathedral, countless followers and priests gazed upward at the figure wrapped in divine mes, their eyes filled with terror.


    Inside the cathedral''s grand hall, before the sacred statue, a young girl in a simple white nightgowny motionless atop a golden ritual circle. Her eyes were closed, her face pale, as if she were trapped in an endless slumber.


    As the Saintess Joanna chanted incantations, the ancient ritual circle began to hum and glow. The Dawn Statueradiated dazzling divine light.


    Holy radiance poured from the statue, bathing the girl''s delicate features, making her look like a sleeping angel.


    Hearing themotion outside, Saintess Joanna furrowed her brows. Closing the holy scripture in her hands, she turned to Queen Matildaand said, "Alfred must have told him. Otherwise, there''s no way he would have found this ce so quickly."


    Queen Matilda snorted coldly. "That old fool! Useless in achieving anything, and now he''s brought us this massive trouble at the worst possible time.


    "Hand me the Orb of Stars. I''ll hold him off¡ªfinish the descent ritual as quickly as you can."


    Saintess Joanna nodded slightly. A radiant glow enveloped her as she opened her eyes, which sparkled with divine brilliance.


    A burst of starlight erupted from the orb held by the Dawn Statue.


    Buzz!


    The orb in the statue''s hands released a blinding radiance and flew toward Matilda.


    The moment Matilda touched the Orb of Stars, it merged seamlessly into her body.


    Blinding holy light burst forth, shooting straight into the heavens!


    The boundless golden sea of fire and the sky itself seemed to part, revealing an expanse of pitch-ck night.


    Countless onlookers gasped in horror, lifting their eyes to the sky.


    Amidst the infinite stars stood a graceful figure suspended in the void.


    Draped in a regal cloak and crowned with a magnificent tiara, her entire being shimmered with celestial light. Her eyes radiated divine brilliance, and an aura of unmatched majesty surrounded her.


    Behind her, countless stars shone brightly, their light forming a backdrop of cosmic splendor.


    The oppressive might of a god descended upon the world once more.Another divine being had appeared?!

 Chapter 157: Chapter 157: The Cold Sky Waters! The Key to the Divine Ruins! The Empires War God!

    "We need to level up faster, or we''ll be left behind and that would be embarrassing," Ben said with a sigh while grinding monsters underground in Celestial Pool Mountain.


    Ada nodded in agreement. With Luca''s equipment and their own decent skills, their leveling speed was much faster than most yers. However, even so, they were already struggling to keep up with Luca. If they rxed even slightly, they''d probably be left far behind in no time.


    After a brief moment of thought, Ada said, "Let''s skip Dawn City and head directly to Hain County."


    Luca wouldn''t stay in Dawn City for long, so instead of wasting time going there and possibly missing him, they might as well go straight to Hain County and wait for him. Otherwise, by the time they reached Dawn City, Luca might have already moved on.


    Ben had no objections and immediately sped up his grinding.


    Meanwhile, in the council hall.


    Alfred wore a genuine smile on his face and said, "If you''re thinking like this, I can rest easy. If you have any other requests, feel free to ask, and I''ll do my best to fulfill them."


    He had high hopes for Luca, the neer. Born from humble beginnings, Luca was somewhat tied to a few nobles, but he didn''t carry the typical marks of any noble faction.


    If possible, Alfred wanted to nurture Luca. He could be a valuable asset for the future of the Clinton Empire.


    Even Lucia and Luna couldn''t help but nce at Luca, their gazes somewhat peculiar.


    Although Luca was a noble of merit, wasn''t the king''s attitude toward him just a bit too favorable?


    Luca, too, was somewhat puzzled by the attention, but with such a great opportunity before him, he certainly wasn''t going to pass it up. He spoke up without hesitation, "Your Majesty, I do have one request."


    "Oh? What is it?" Alfred was somewhat surprised.


    He had casually offered the opportunity, and yet this young man was bold enough to take him up on it? But it suited him just fine.


    The other nobles couldn''t help but twitch at the corners of their mouths. This young man really had no shame! They were witnessing the true meaning of "pushing your luck" today.


    Luca, however, waspletely unaware of the disapproval. With a cheerful smile, he continued, "I have some questions, and I believe the Royal Library might have the answers. I was wondering if Your Majesty might allow me to visit?"


    Whether it was the secrets surrounding Sophia and Pandora, the Sr Divine Spear, or the whereabouts of the Zenith, these were not things that ordinary people could ess.


    The Royal Library was the most likely ce where Luca could find answers. Such a golden opportunity couldn''t be ignored.


    "The Royal Library, you say?" Alfred pondered briefly, then nodded. "After the meeting, I''ll have someone take you there."


    Although the Royal Library contained many secrets unknown to outsiders, these were things that had been sealed away for many years, and their authenticity could no longer be verified.


    Moreover, the so-called "secrets" were only significant to ordinary people. With Luca''s status, even without visiting the library, there were other ways he could uncover these mysteries. Given this, it would be better to grant him this favor.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Luca was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly things had gone. He quickly expressed his gratitude.


    "Such a small matter is nothing to mention." Alfred smiled, dismissing the gesture as insignificant.


    He then turned his gaze to the nobles gathered in the hall and asked, "If anyone else has something to discuss, now is the time to speak."


    "If not, we can adjourn the meeting. I am feeling a bit tired."


    Alfred''s words were sincere. Given his current physical state, after just a short time, he was already feeling overwhelmingly fatigued. His old injuries were also starting to ache again.


    Yurian, standing by, couldn''t hide his concern.


    The king''s condition was getting worse.


    Everyone present could see that the king was not in good shape, but no one dared to speak up about it.


    Instead, the meeting was quietly brought to a close.


    The nobles filed out of the council hall.


    A group of guards soon entered and delivered the rewards granted by the king to Luca.


    [Ding! Congrattions, yer "Luca," for receiving Alfred''s reward: Cold Sky Waters (Superss), Fate-Substitute Scarecrow (Superss), Divine Ruins Key (Secret Realm), 2,000,000 Gold...]


    [Cold Sky Waters: Superss Material, a rare item taken from the Nine Heavens Cold Mountains in the Northern Territory. When used by yers, it increases water affinity by 25% and grants 1,000 Spirit points. There is a 50% chance of gaining the Superss Transmutation Skill "Nine Heavens Cold Water," and it can also be used to craft potions or equipment.]


    [Fate-Substitute Scarecrow: Superss Item. It can block one fatal attack for the yer and teleport them 1,000 meters away. Cooldown time: 7 days.]


    [Divine Ruins Key: Secret Realm Item. When used, it grants ess to the Legendary Secret Realm "Divine Ruins." Upon clearing it, yers may obtain special legacies or rewards. Each yer may only use it once.]


    ...


    As Luca gazed at the radiant Transcendent items and the gold coins, his breath hitched for a moment. Although he had expected Alfred to be generous, the rewards still took him by surprise.


    Whether it was the "Cold Sky Waters" or the "Fate-Substitute Scarecrow," both were undeniably rare and valuable Transcendent items. These kinds of items were extremely difficult to obtain, even with money. As for the "Divine Ruins Key," not only was it something money couldn''t buy, but Luca had been wondering how he could get his hands on one before, and now, Alfred had handed him a key directly.


    Luca had heard of this secret realm in his previous life. The first yer to enter the Divine Ruins Secret Realmter became one of the most powerful Transcendent beings.


    If he could acquire anything from there, his strength would undoubtedly see a huge boost. Sophia was a prime example.


    She was the first person toplete the Divine Ruins Secret Realm. In such a short period of time, her strength had grown several times over.


    Although Luca didn''t know exactly what Sophia had gained there, he suspected that the reason she was able to break through to the Transcendent realm and ascend to the Divine Tier was due to some great opportunity she had obtained within that very secret realm.


    If he couldplete it too, perhaps he would gain something simr.


    With that thought, Luca couldn''t help but smile to himself.


    "Typical of a country bumpkin, really has never seen the world," came the mocking tone.At that moment, a sharp voice suddenly broke the silence, making Luca and the others frown involuntarily. Without even having to look, they knew exactly who the speaker was.


    "Lord Finn, although your Phillips family is wealthy, there''s no need to unt it so openly," Lucia said, her eyes narrowing with cold fury as she looked at Finn, rarely feeling such intense dislike for someone.


    Finn, however, was unbothered andughed lightly. "Lucia, you''re overthinking things. I''m just speaking the truth."


    Fratis furrowed her brows, about to speak up for Luca.


    When Prince Runne, the second prince, walked over and calmly added, "Finn is right. Just a few materials, and you''re already so openly delighted? I think, Lucia, you should really teach your student a lesson in humility and let him see the world."


    The nobles supporting the second prince also joined in, mocking Luca.


    Previously, they didn''t have much ill will toward Luca, mainly because they had wanted to win Finn''s favor. But now that Luca had be the lord of Han County, things had changed.


    Since the previous lord of Han County had been sent to the Imperial dungeon, the noble factions had been able to extract significant benefits from Han County each year. Even the Northern Duke, Mond Stein, had moved his fishing trade operations there.


    Now that Alfred had ousted them and handed Han County over to Luca, it was only natural for the second prince''s faction to have their objections.


    Despite the mockery, Luca remained unfazed.


    He simply replied, "A bunch of idiots."


    Thisment left everyone in the room momentarily stunned.


    "You... You filthy Demonic Rune Mage! How dare you insult us?!" After a brief pause, the nobles'' faces turned bright red with anger.


    They spent all their time in Dawn City, surrounded by wealthy merchants and nobles, so they had never encountered someone who spoke so freely and insulted others so openly.


    Instantly, the crowd began to berate Luca, as if he hadmitted some unforgivable crime.


    Realizing that Luca had angered everyone, Finn was pleased and immediately seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. "Luca! This is the royal pce, not a ce for you to run wild. Apologize to me and all the noble lords right now, or don''t me us for reporting you to His Majesty!"


    "Apologize? A fool like you thinks I should apologize?" Luca chuckled and added, "I insulted you, so what? You''re just a stupid idiot."


    Finn''s smug expression immediately froze. The nobles around them were shocked, staring at Luca in disbelief.


    Holy crap, this young man has some nerve!


    He actually dared to insult Finn, and right in front of Duke Lyon, no less. How is he so bold?


    A few of the dukes, still standing nearby, exchanged looks with one another, their expressions suddenly growing moreplicated. They had just gained a whole new understanding of Luca.


    Fratis and Lucia both couldn''t hold back theirughter. This guy was truly something else.


    "You''re asking for death!" Finn''s face turned red with anger, his blood boiling. To be humiliated in front of his father, fianc¨¦e, and so many nobles was like a p in the face.


    Grinding his teeth, Finn raised his hand, ready to teach the insolent fool a lesson.


    But just as he was about to strike, a cold snort interrupted the tension.


    "Take your grievances outside," a voice said icily. "No fighting in the royal pce! Those who disobey will die."


    The words fell like a thunderp, and in an instant, a powerful aura swept across the room!


    Even the dukes and the Superss experts present couldn''t help but change their expressions.


    What is this...?


    Everyone turned to look toward the source of the voice, and they saw a middle-aged knight in ck and gold armor slowly approaching. His gaze was cold as ice, and he held a long sword in his hand. The terrifying aura around him felt like a tidal wave, shaking everyone to their core.


    "The Empire''s God of War, Winston Morrison? When did he return?!" someone gasped.


    "The Empire''s God of War... the peak of Superss..." Luca inwardly clicked his tongue in awe, but it didn''t surprise him too much.


    As one of the strongest nations on the Eternal Continent, it would have been more shocking if the Clinton Empire''s royal pce didn''t have such a powerhouse in its ranks.

 Chapter 158: Chapter 158: The Late-Blooming Senior! The Tome of Gods and Demons! Pandoras Divinity!

    Seeing the neer, Finn''s face immediately drained of color. It dawned on him what a foolish mistake he had just made. Sweat began to pour down his face as he quickly bent his waist and said, "My apologies, General Winston. I was reckless just now."


    Beside him, Duke Lyon furrowed his brows and a look of wariness shed in his eyes. He said, "General, the boy doesn''t know any better. I hope you won''t hold it against him."


    The burly man in ck armor didn''t even nce at either of them. He simply said tly, "Leave."


    Duke Lyon''s expression darkened, his eyes shing with anger. But in the end, he held himself back and refrained fromshing out.


    He waved his hand at Finn and spoke in a low voice, "Let''s go."


    It''s no wonder they''re father and son. They speak in the exact same way¡­ Luca thought to himself.


    Even Duke Lyon had been put in his ce, so the rest of the nobles had no courage to speak further. One by one, they scurried out of the hall, their heads low, as if the man in ck armor were some sort of flesh-eating monster.


    At this moment, the burly man in ck armor looked over at Luca and asked, "Are you the new student Orf just took on?"


    Luca paused, surprised that this man knew Orf. He nodded and replied, "Yes, that''s me. Do you know my teacher?"


    Winston''s lips curled slightly. "I know him. I studied magic runes under him once."


    What?!Everyone in the hall was stunned and turned to look at him in disbelief.


    Orf had once taught the Empire''s God of War? They hadn''t known about this before.


    "But wait, you''re a knight, right? How did you end up studying magic runes?" Anna raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled.


    Luca was also curious. How did his senior brother, who was a knight, end up studying magic runes halfway through his career?


    Winston was silent for a moment before he sighed deeply. "Well, back then, I was studying magic runes, but I ran out of money to buy materials. It seemed like an endless money pit, so I quit and became a knight instead¡­"


    Good grief!The others couldn''t help butugh, though they were also slightly taken aback.


    So, the Empire''s God of War was actually ate-blooming Demonic Rune Mage after all?


    Luca now understood why Orf had sworn never to take on another student again. After going through all the effort to teach a student only for him to abandon the subject halfway, anyone would be furious enough to spit blood.


    Winston clearly didn''t want to dwell on his "dark history," and quickly changed the subject. "Enough about that. His Majesty sent me to take you to the library. Follow me."


    Luca gave a slight nod and said to Sophia, Lucia, and the others, "I''ll be back shortly. You all can head back first."


    Since there was little risk of danger in the royal pce, after bidding farewell to Fratis and the others, Luca followed Winston, who led the way with a group of nobles, out of the main hall.


    "Let''s go." Winston waved his hand, and suddenly, Luca felt his body lift off the ground.


    The two of them quickly ascended, soaring into the clouds in the blink of an eye.


    Higher-level professionals had the ability to fly, although most couldn''t maintain flight for long.


    But for Superss beings, flight was effortless. Luca wasn''t overly surprised.


    Wrapped in Winston''s aura, the two of them glided through the clouds like shooting stars. Within just a few breaths, they had traveled from the very center of the royal pce to a quiet, serene pavilion situated in the northern part of the kingdom.


    This pavilion stood tall on the center of a shimmeringke, its ancient architecture resembling a high tower, with the spire piercing the clouds above.


    Therge gates of the pavilion were closed tight, with several golden-armored guards standing watch¡ªeach one a high-tier expert.


    After theynded, Winston casually waved his hand, tossing a token to one of the guards, and said in a deep voice, "By the order of His Majesty, Luca the Count is allowed to enter the library at will. No one is to stop him. This is the token."


    One of the golden-armored guards hastily caught the token and examined it closely.


    After confirming it was legitimate, the guard respectfully returned it with both hands, saying, "The token is authentic. You may enter at your leisure, My Lords. If there is anything you need, do not hesitate tomand us."


    Winston nodded, tossing the token to Luca. "Here, this will be yours from now on."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother," Luca said quickly, taking the token.


    Hearing Luca address him as "Senior Brother," Winston''s footsteps faltered for a moment. He turned back to look at Luca, a smile briefly appearing on his lips, but he didn''t say anything more.


    Although he had run away from Red Maple Academy years ago, Winston had never forgotten the help Orf had given him. If it hadn''t been for Orf''s concern, who sent him a storage ring back then, he might have died on the Eastern Territory''s border battlefield and never be the Empire''s God of War.


    Winston always felt guilty about abandoning his studies under Orf, which was why he had avoided returning to Southwind City for all these years. As for Luca, he simply wanted to look out for the younger student¡ªperhaps to make up for what he owed Orf.


    Together, the two of them entered the library.


    What greeted Luca was a grand, antique hall.


    Around them, bookshelves were neatly arranged, filled with all kinds of books, stacked upon each other, towering all the way up to the top of the library. In front of the bookshelves wereyers of circr staircases, spiraling upwards.


    The library was nearly empty, save for a short elderly man in a robe, wearing sses, who was organizing some books.


    Upon noticing Luca and Winston''s arrival, the man adjusted his sses and asked, "May I help you, gentlemen? Is there a specific book you''re looking for?"


    Winston looked at Luca and introduced him, "This is the head librarian, Teddy Xavier. If you''re looking for something, just ask him. I have some matters to attend to, so I won''t be staying."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother. You can go ahead," Luca said with a smile.


    Winston nodded slightly, about to leave, when he suddenly remembered something.


    He took out an ancient ck magic rune from his storage ring and handed it to Luca. "Take this. If you ever find yourself in danger, it might just save your life."


    Luca stared at the ck magic rune, momentarily stunned.


    [Deadshot Magic Rune: Superss item. When used, it releases a powerful dark attribute attack, inflicting fatal damage that ignores defenses. Usable only once.]


    It was a Superss-grade item!


    Luca was taken aback. The difficulty in crafting such an item was far higher than typical temporary magic runes, and it required significantly more resources. He hadn''t expected Winston to just hand it over so casually.


    Seeming to understand Luca''s thoughts, Winston chuckled. "This was something the teacher gave me a long time ago. I''ve kept it all these years, but never had the chance to use it. Now it''s yours."


    Luca felt a sense of gratitude. With this magic rune, even if he encountered some Superss beings, he would have a way to defend himself.


    After Winston left, Luca calmed his emotions.


    He ced the Deadshot Magic Rune into his storage ring.


    Turning to the head librarian, Luca asked, "Director Teddy, I''m wondering if you have any ancient texts on the Seven Demon Kings of the Abyssal Demon Realm?"


    "The Demon Kings of the Abyssal Demon Realm?" The short elderly man gave Luca a curious nce.


    Wondering what he could possibly want with such books.


    However, Teddy didn''t ask further.


    After a moment of thought, he waved his hand.


    Immediately, dozens of books flew off the shelves andnded in front of Luca. There were some iplete ancient texts, as well as transcribed notes, a mishmash of various materials¡ªover seventy or eighty books piled into a small mountain.


    Teddy exined, "These are all the books in the library rted to the Seven Magic Runes."


    He paused before adding, "However, I must warn you. The Seven Magic Runes haven''t appeared for many years, so many of these books are simply spective. The uracy is uncertain, so don''t take them too seriously."


    "Thank you, I''ll keep that in mind," Luca nodded in acknowledgment, expressing his thanks.


    He then picked up a book titled "The Compendium of Abyssal Demon Realm Monsters"and began flipping through it.


    Although Director Teddy had mentioned that the information here could not be verified, Luca suspected that he could never have guessed that Luca had actually seen a few Demon Kings with his own eyes. For Luca, distinguishing the truth from the fiction in these books wasn''t particrly difficult.


    Even so, reading through all these books would likely take quite a bit of time. Fortunately, Luca had a lot of patience. To solve the puzzle in his mind, he was willing to spend time looking for any clue that might help.


    Luca flipped through the books quickly, barely ncing at each one before he could tell if it contained any useful information.


    The only issue was that the text in these ancient books was very different from the characters currently used on the Eternal Continent. Luca couldn''t recognize all of it and had to ask Teddy for help with trantion.


    Teddy wasn''t impatient at all, taking the time to exin everything to Luca, one book at a time.


    Time passed slowly.


    The pile of books in front of Luca continued to dwindle.


    Finally, half a dayter, Luca made a discovery in a damaged ancient text titled "The Secret Codex of Gods and Demons."


    This Codexcontained records of many gods and monsters from the Eternal Continent.


    However, due to the passage of time, much of the content was missing, and even Teddy found it difficult to trante.


    Luca had to rely on his own knowledge and tried to corrte the information he was gaining with some obscure legends he had heard. Surprisingly, he made a few breakthroughs.


    In the book, there was a very vague myth about Pandora.


    It suggested that Pandora was once one of the gods, holding dominion over the emotionalws of life and death.


    But, due to a grave mistake she made, the God King became enraged, stripping her of her divinity and casting her down into the Abyssal Demon Realm, condemning her to eternal damnation.


    The godly essence she lost was then given to another deity by the God King. The name of this deity was unclear, but it was known that this new god wielded the power of frost...


    "The God King... the divine essence... the Law of Frost..." Luca chewed on these terms, his frown growing deeper.


    Suddenly, he felt that he might have uncovered something monumental.


    Pandora''s divine essence had been granted to a god of ice, and Sophia wouldtere to master the Law of Frost and ascend to godhood... moreover, their appearances were identical...


    There had to be a hidden connection between Sophia and Pandora. Luca felt an instinctive certainty that this was linked to something important he had been searching for. Unfortunately, the information was far too fragmented to make any clear conclusions.


    As Luca was deep in thought, Director Teddy''s respectful voice suddenly broke through his contemtion.


    "Your Majesty, what brings you here?"

 Chapter 179 Zenobia Makes Her Move! Divine Slaying! The Ancient Gods Appear!

    To most, Zenobia might seem like an ordinary name, but anyone who had ever heard of her would likely be shocked by the thoughts running through Sophia''s mind.


    Zenobia was the mastermind behind the Divine Cataclysm, the one who controlled the dominion of sin and lust. She was also the second daughter of the Divine King. Yet, what would astonish anyone who knew her story was that, at some point, she had quietly escaped from the Abyssal Demon Realm and taken possession of the body of a young girl, Sophia herself.


    "Oh dear, what''s the rush? He''s not dead yet, is he?" A yfulugh echoed in Sophia''s mind, and just the sound of it made one feel as if something sinister was stirring beneath the surface. Even without seeing it, it was easy to imagine that this was theugh of a true enchantress.


    The battle in the sky continued, and Luca''s attack had visibly begun to lose its momentum. It was clear that he couldn''t hold on for much longer.


    Sophia spoke calmly, "I''m not in the mood for jokes. Either help me save these people, or stay hidden inside me and nevere out again."


    Zenobia chuckled lightly, "It''s just a man, really. Look at how you''re acting right now, you''re making us gods look bad."


    A chill ran through Sophia''s eyes in that instant.


    Before she could respond, Zenobia sighed in mock resignation, "Alright, alright. I get it. I''ll take action."


    As her words fell, a swirl of dark purple mist suddenly appeared before Sophia''s eyes.


    The cold, icy aura around her vanished in an instant, reced by a power thick with the scent of desire and sin.


    At that moment, she seemed to havepletely transformed into someone else.


    In an instant, everyone within a hundred miles felt a sudden thud in their hearts. Dark thoughts that had been suppressed deep within began to surface like mushrooms after the rain.


    It wasn''t just the ordinary people; even those at the Transcendent level couldn''t help but feel an urge to indulge in their darkest impulses.


    Everyone''s eyes shed with a dark purple hue, and thoughts of violence, greed, lust, and other unspeakable desires surged uncontrobly within them.


    "What is happening?" Lucia suppressed the sudden surge of desire in her own heart, her mind filled with confusion. Why did she suddenly feel like doing something... inappropriate?


    Before she could ponder it further.


    Her eyes widened in disbelief as she saw Sophia''s slender figure slowly rise into the air, heading toward the heavens above.


    "Sophia, where are you going?" Lucia asked, her voice filled with concern.


    "Don''t worry, teacher. I''m just going to meet an old friend," Sophia said with a smile that curved at the corner of her lips.


    Luciasuddenly froze in ce, her beautiful eyes wide with shock, her face filled with disbelief.


    What had she just seen?Sophiawas actually smiling?!


    After all these years of knowing her student, this was the first timeLuciahad ever seen a smile onSophia''s face.


    "Wait... this isn''t Sophia," Lucia suddenly realized as she saw Sophia''s silver hair shift into a dark purple hue.


    At the same time, high above, the Goddess of Dawn hurled a starry gxy down toward Luca, striking him and sending him flying backward.


    She had intended to follow up on her advantage, but her smile froze on her face in shock.


    "This aura..." The Goddess of Dawn muttered to herself, suddenly raising her head and looking in the direction of Dawn City. When her gazended on Sophia, her beautiful eyes were filled with disbelief and shock.


    "It''s impossible¡­ This can''t be... How can you be here?!" The Goddess of Dawn looked as though she had seen a ghost. Seeing Fratis, or rather Zenobia, here was more shocking to her than even the thought of the Divine King being alive.


    After all, she had personally witnessed Zenobia fall into the Abyssal Realm on the dark side of the universe many years ago. She had sealed Zenobia herself, locking her away at the gates of the Abyssal Realm, which eventually became the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    Logically speaking, she should never have seen Zenobia again in her lifetime. How on earth did Zenobia escape her seal ande out from there?


    "Senior, what are you doing here?" Luca was just about to give the signal for Jormungandr to act when he turned around and saw Sophia. His heart skipped a beat. He never expected to see her here.


    "It seems you''re not too happy to see me." Sophia spoke yfully, a mischievous smile on her face. Her eyes shimmered with dark purple light, and her voice dripped with mockery. She floated effortlessly in mid-air, not relying on any divine power.


    As he realized who it was, Luca''s expression shifted to one of shock. Zenobia, the sister of the Goddess of Dawn¡­?! This woman had been sealed in the Abyssal Demon Realm! How could she suddenly appear on the Eternal Continent and even take possession of Sophia''s body?


    "Zenobia, what do you think you''re doing?" The Goddess of Dawn''s face turned ashen, and her body began to slowly retreat. She knew all too well what kind of powery hidden inside this seemingly ordinary girl.


    Even though Zenobia''s strength seemed to pale inparison to theirs¡­


    The truth was, Zenobia, with only the strength of a God-Emperor ten thousand years ago, had ughtered the countless gods and overturned the entire Divine Court. And that was when the Divine Court was at its peak!


    "What I do has nothing to do with you, does it?" Zenobia didn''t even nce at Luca. She grinned, her eyes gleaming with a mocking light as she spoke to the Goddess of Dawn: "You Ancient Gods really love hiding, don''t you? You were like that ten thousand years ago, and now you still skulk around like rats..."


    After a pause, she suddenly sneered. "In that case, let me help you peel that mask off!"


    As she spoke, dark purple light gathered in her hands, forming into a long-ded scythe. At the same time, an overwhelming surge of ck demonic energy erupted from Zenobia, shooting straight up into the sky.


    The golden sun and the vast starry skies were immediately obscured by this dark energy, and the entire world seemed to be swallowed by an abyss of ckness. In almost an instant, both Luca''s and the Goddess of Dawn''s divine realms were suppressed!


    A terrifying aura, so powerful that even thews of the universe seemed to tremble before it, descended upon the entire Eternal Continent!


    At the same time, whether on the Eternal Continent or in the deepest corners of the Abyssal Demon Realm, countless monsters simultaneously opened their blood-red eyes!


    Roar! Roar! Roar!


    They tilted their heads back, their gaze piercing through the endless darkness, and they saw the Eternal World outside the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    A series of howls, as terrifying as those of evil spirits, echoed from the darkness, chanting together to celebrate the arrival of their one true god!


    The Lord of Sin and Desire ¨C Zenobia!


    On the Eternal Continent, whether it was those hiding in the shadows or the powerful figures busy with their own affairs, nearly all of them felt a sudden shock in their hearts. They turned their gaze toward the direction of the Clinton Empire, their eyes filled with awe. They couldn''t even fathom what level of power this being had reached!


    How could such an existence suddenly appear on the Eternal Continent?!


    "Zenobia, your matters have nothing to do with me! If you have grievances, they should be with those who wronged you, not us!" The Goddess of Dawn trembled as she spoke, and Luca could even see the fear in her eyes.


    He couldn''t imagine what kind of being could make a divine or even an Ancient God feel such terror.


    "Do you think I''ve forgotten? Little octopus." Zenobia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she held the Azure Scythe. "I saw your true form in the Abyssal Demon Realm once, and it was so ugly it made me sick."


    She slowly walked toward the pale-faced Goddess of Dawn, her tone one of reflection. "A hundred thousand years¡­ I spent a hundred thousand years in that hellhole! All because of you and the other gods."


    "Now that the gods are dead, why are you Ancient Gods still alive? Why, I wonder?"


    As soon as her words finished, her eyes shed red, and an overwhelming wave of hatred and murderous intent erupted like a storm!


    It turned into something tangible, a ck tidal wave of energy rushing toward the Goddess of Dawn!


    Without even thinking, the Goddess of Dawn immediately transformed into a streak of light, soaring into the sky and fleeing at top speed. She had no intention of fighting back, choosing to escape outright!


    "Do you think you can run?!" The voice of Zenobia rang out, and in the blink of an eye, she appeared right behind the Goddess of Dawn. With a vicious swing of her scythe, a dark purple de of light tore through the air, shattering space itself as it shed toward the terrified Goddess of Dawn.


    If that attack hit, there was no doubt that the Goddess of Dawn would be killed without a chance to fight back!


    "Stop!" Luca''s expression changed drastically as he shouted in anger.


    If what the Sr Divine Spear had said was true, and the Goddess of Dawn''s divine soul waspromised, then Fratis''s consciousness might not have dissipatedpletely. There could still be a chance of saving her.


    But if her physical body was destroyed, then even if Fratis''s consciousness still existed, she would be doomed to die without question!


    However, it seemed as if Zenobia hadn''t heard a word. With everyone watching in stunned silence, her scythe sliced through the Goddess of Dawn''s body.


    The dark purple de of light tore through her, shooting into the sky.


    The Goddess of Dawn froze in ce, her movements suddenly paralyzed.


    Behind her, a long wound appeared, glowing with a soft white starlight, almost splitting her in two.


    Luca''s fists clenched tightly, his eyes bloodshot with fury. He was about to charge forward.


    But what happened nextpletely defied his expectations.


    Zenobia suddenly took a step forward, her pale hand extending as she thrust it into the wound on the Goddess of Dawn''s back.


    Then, with a forceful yank, she pulled something out.


    "Hiss!" A collective gasp echoed through the air as a dark, slick tentacle appeared in Zenobia''s hand, writhing and struggling.


    As she exerted more force, the true form of the creature began to reveal itself to everyone.


    It was a one-meter-long, pitch-ck creature resembling an octopus. Filthy ck liquid dripped from its body, and its slippery skin was covered in countless eyes, each one glowing like gems, radiating a mesmerizing, multicolored light.


    Upon seeing the creature, many people instinctively covered their heads, feeling as though their minds were being invaded by countless whispers and murmurs. Some even felt bumps forming on their skin, as if something was trying to break out of their bodies.


    Staring at the grotesque, pitch-ck creature, Luca stood frozen in ce.


    This... was this what the Ancient Gods truly were?

 Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Dean Selin! Divine Ruins Secret Realm! Have I Been Here Before?

    "Let''s go," Luca said, already used to the kind of attention he was getting, and didn''t give it much thought. Under the gaze of the crowd, he walked with the women into Starry Academy.


    The campus ground was paved with white stone bs, and towering, ancient-style teaching buildings stood proudly, surrounded by lush greenery. Students walked by,ughing and chatting, creating a lively atmosphere.


    The campus of Starry Academywas vastly different from Red Maple Academy. It wasn''t just the size, but also the architectural style and well-maintained gardens that made it feel more refined and minimalist, with hints of a modern academic institution.


    As they walked, curious eyes were constantly drawn to them. Both Luciaand Sophiawere well-known figures in the academy, and although Fratisdidn''t frequent Dawn City, the school had many noble offspring, so she was recognized by quite a few people.


    With their stunning looks, the group garnered the full attention of anyone they passed by. As the only man in a sea of beauties, Luca naturally stood out like a sore thumb. If looks could kill, he would probably have been pierced with arrows by now.


    The group continued their walk without pause, weaving through the campus until they reached the faculty building at the back of the academy.


    The building had a slightly castle-like appearance, with walls bearing the marks of time. It looked like it had stood for many years, holding the weight of countless stories.


    Once inside, under Lucia''slead, they made their way toward the top floor of the faculty building.


    They weren''t stopped by anyone along the way, though many greeted Sophiaand Luciaas they walked.


    Soon, they reached the office at the top floor.


    "Knock, knock!"Luciaknocked on the door.


    A few seconds passed before a faint, weak voice came from inside. "Come in."


    The door opened, revealing a very clean and tidy office. Apart from a desk and a sofa, there was little else in the room.


    Behind the desk sat an older woman with graying hair. Herplexion was pale and somewhat frail, but there was still a lingering beauty about her from her younger days. She was busy reviewing documents in the office.


    From her appearance, Luca could already tell that she was simr to Lucia, and he deduced that this must be Lucia''s mother, the headmistress of Starry Academy, Selin Elizabeth.


    "Just say what you need to say," the woman said without looking up, her tone calm and indifferent. Clearly, she knew exactly what kind of person her daughter was.


    Luciaimmediately bristled, "What kind of talk is that? Are you implying that I wouldn''t visit you if there was nothing wrong?"


    The older woman put down her pen, ncing at her daughter with annoyance. "If you really had any conscience, you''d find a man, get married, and give me a grandson. Then, I''d die without regrets."


    Luciadidn''t respond, rolling her eyes in silent protest, pretending she hadn''t heard.


    "As soon as marriagees up, you y dead. Do you really think you can live your life alone?" Dean Selin snorted coldly, then turned her gaze to Luca and the others. Her expression softened, and she said, "You must be Luca, right? Lucia has mentioned you before. I''ve also heard about what happened in Southwind City. You did well. If there''s anything you need help with, just ask."


    Her tone carried a hint of warmth. While she couldn''t stand her own daughter, she genuinely liked Lucia''s two students.


    "It wasn''t just my aplishment, though. It was also thanks to Marquis Bronte and the others," Luca replied with a smile. Then he continued, "By the way, the reason I''m here today, aside from visiting you, is that I wanted to enter the Divine Ruins Secret Realm. Previously, His Majesty the King gave me a Divine Ruins Key."


    "Divine Ruins Secret Realm, huh?" Selin said thoughtfully. "With your strength and talent, you should be able to gain some good legacies inside." She smiled, then reached into her storage ring, pulling out another key and handing it to Luca. "The Divine Ruins Secret Realmisn''t guarded, but it requires two keys to enter. Afterward, Lucia can guide you there directly."


    She paused for a moment, then added, "However, you need to be careful. In the Secret Realm, all Transcendent-levelitems will be disabled, and the monsters inside are far stronger than those in the outside world. Also, everyone is allowed to enter only once, so once you''re inside, don''t get too reckless."


    "I understand. Thank you for the warning, Dean Selin." Luca expressed his gratitude and reached out to take the second key. This key looked identical to the Divine Ruins Keyhe already had, except that it was white and seemed to be made of jade.


    "Ah, what a good child you are. It really is a shame that you and Sophia have to learn under her," Dean Selin sighed, looking at Lucia.


    Such a promising young talent, but stuck with such an irresponsible teacher. Just thinking about it made her feel sorry for them.


    "You''re ndering me!" Luciamuttered under her breath, clearly displeased with the way Selin had assessed her teaching.


    "Did you really teach them well?" Dean Selin shot her a sharp look. She knew all too well what kind of teacher Lucia was¡ªcertainly not cut out for the job.


    If it weren''t for Lucaand Sophia''sextraordinary talent, they''d probably still be stuck at the Gold Gradestage with an average teacher.


    Luciapouted, feeling disgruntled but too proud to argue further. Deep down, she knew there was some truth to it.


    The group didn''t linger much longer in the office.


    After saying their goodbyes to Dean Selin, they made their way to the entrance of the Divine Ruins Secret Realm.


    On the way, Luca asked Lucia, "Do you know what''s going on with Dean Selin''s health?"


    When they entered earlier, he noticed something off about Selin. It was as if the life force within her was being eroded by something.


    However, with limited time, Luca couldn''t figure out exactly what it was, but he had a vague feeling it was simr to what he''d sensed in King Alfred.


    Lucia sighed and answered, "The injuries she has are from when she saved His Majesty all those years ago. Although it''s not as severe as His Majesty''s, her strength was weaker than his back then. So, I think¡­"


    She shook her head and didn''t continue.


    Luca understood what Lucia meant.


    It seemed Selin didn''t have much time left.


    What had happened back then? Why did both King Alfred and Dean Selin suffer such serious injuries?


    Could it have been the Queen Matilda''s doing? That didn''t seem right, though¡­


    Luca felt confused. He asked Lucia about it, but unfortunately, he didn''t get any useful clues.


    Fratis, however, knew a bit more. But even she didn''t have all the answers. ording to her, it wasn''t just them¡ªalmost no one in Dawn City knew exactly what had happened back then. And even if they did, people tended to remain silent, afraid to speak openly.


    The only thing everyone was sure of was that, years ago, the King and several powerful figures had gone to a mysterious Secret Realmto retrieve a treasure. But upon returning to Dawn City, they were ambushed. Not only was the treasure stolen, but they were also left with lingering, troublesome injuries that still hadn''t been resolved.


    Stealing from the King in Dawn City?


    Luca shook his head, not really caring to specte about who the culprit might be.


    Anyway, it wouldn''t matter for long. He''d be leaving Dawn City soon enough.


    Before long, the group arrived at the location of the Divine Ruins Secret Realm.


    At the very back of Dawn Academy, there stood arge artificial hill around a hundred meters high. A straight stone staircase led up to the top, with intricate, dense runes carved into the steps.


    At the summit, there was an ancient altar surrounded by eight towering stone pirs, all of which were also engraved with mysterious, ancient runes.


    "This is the entrance to the Divine Ruins Secret Realm?" Luca asked as he surveyed the altar in front of him after reaching the top.


    At the center of the altar, Luca could see a stone tform with two key-shaped indentations. It was likely where he would need to ce the two keys he was holding.


    Much like Red Maple Academy, Dawn Academywas built here because of its proximity to a special Secret Realm. In fact, it wasn''t just the two academies¡ªmany noble families and powerful factions also established their strongholds near such realms.


    The reasons for the formation of these Secret Realmswere varied, and many of the resources found within them were nearly impossible to obtain from the outside world. So, controlling ess to a Secret Realmin itself was a mark of significant power and prestige.


    "This is it. Just ce your Divine Ruins Key into the stone tform," Lucia nodded, then looked at Luca with a serious expression. "The Divine Ruins Secret Realmis extremely dangerous, so be careful. If you feel like you can''t continue, leave immediately¡ªdon''t hesitate. Once you''re in, there''s no going back. If you die inside, it''s for real.


    "If you don''t manage to obtain any inheritance, don''t worry. I''ll find something better for you when you return."


    Sophia also spoke seriously, "What the teacher says is true. Every year, talented people die in the Divine Ruins Secret Realm. Even though I made it through, it wasn''t because I was particrly strong; I just got lucky. You must be cautious."


    Luca, fully aware of the danger of the Secret Realm, smiled and replied, "Don''t worry. I know what''s important¡ªmy life and the inheritance. I can tell the difference."


    Hearing this, Lucia and the others rxed a little.


    Without further dy, Luca walked directly towards the altar.


    But just as he was about to step onto the altar, his foot faltered for a moment. It was as if something deep within him had been triggered, and a strange, overwhelming sense of familiarity flooded his mind.


    "I... I feel like I''ve been here before?" a voice echoed in Luca''s mind.


    It was the Sr Divine Spear, which had been dormant for so long.


    And it wasn''t just Luca. Even Jormungandrstirred awake.


    "There''s something off about this ce. I can sense the presence of a god¡­" Jormungandr spoke gravely.


    "The presence of a god?" Luca''s gaze sharpened.


    It seemed like he hade to the right ce.


    Without hesitation, he ced the two keys¡ªone ck and one white¡ªinto the corresponding slots in the stone tform.


    "Buzz!"


    The two Divine Ruins Keysimmediately erupted in light!


    The ck and white lights intertwined, glowing in a dazzling disy.


    In an instant, a strange power emanated from the stone tform. The runes on the eight stone pirs surrounding the altar lit up, and an ancient, heavy aura¡ªseemingly from the very beginning of time¡ªenveloped the entire hill.


    In a daze, Luca felt as though he was witnessing a grand, majestic scene.


    In the boundless starry sky, countless towering figures cloaked in divine light and mysteriousws stood like colossal pirs holding up the universe. These beings gazed down at the worlds beneath them, their divine majesty overwhelming!


    And just as Luca saw them¡­


    An explosion of divine light burst forth!


    All the gods lowered their heads in unison, their eyes fixed upon him!


    [Wee to the Divine Ruins Secret Realm!]

 Chapter 182 : 182: The Black Dragon King! Farewell, Alfred! What I Care About is Its Glory!

    The upside-down Dawn City had caused significant damage to many buildings. Even though the Clinton Empire''s royal pce was well-constructed and had magical protections, it still suffered considerable impact.


    The once magnificent pce was now in chaos. Inside and outside, many guards and attendants were busy cleaning up the scattered debris. However,pared to the outside world''s turmoil, the interior was already in much better condition.


    Initially, no one had noticed Luca''s arrival, but amid the crowd, someone suddenly gasped. Before long, more and more people turned to look at him.


    Their gazes were filled with a mix of emotions¡ªshock, confusion, fear, and even gratitude.


    Luca paid no attention to their stares and walked straight toward the pce hall.


    Just as he was about to enter, a general from the royal guards, d in golden armor, stepped forward.


    "Count Luca, I''m not sure... what is it you intend to do...?" The general stammered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Although the young man before him appeared to be only a mid-tier practitioner, the pressure he exuded was more intense than even a Transcendent-level being, possibly even more than King Alfred himself.


    After all, this was a being who had ascended to godhood!


    "I''m here to see His Majesty the King," Luca said calmly.


    The general hesitated, clearly troubled. They had already witnessed Luca''s terrifying strength.


    It was clear he was a dangerous figure, someone they couldn''t afford to let near King Alfred without caution.


    "Let him in. If he had intended harm to His Majesty, he would have already made his move," a clear voice spoke from behind them.


    Luca turned around to see Winston, d in ck armor, approaching.


    Behind him were several unfamiliar figures. Their attire was noble, and their appearances were somewhat unusual.


    The leader among them wore a luxurious ck robe embroidered with gold patterns. He had faint golden vertical pupils, and his demeanor was rxed, almost as if he were walking casually.


    An All-Beings Empire member? Luca immediately recognized their identity.


    It was hard not to¡ªafter all, they wore the insignia of the All-Beings Empire, and it was obvious from the leader''s appearance that he was from the dragon race. The majority of that species lived in the All-Beings Empire.


    While Luca assessed them, the noble figures from the All-Beings Empire were also cautiously observing him.


    "Perhaps... we should wait before entering?" a burly man with giant bloodlines suggested carefully.


    Marcel, who had initially appeared carefree, instinctively toned down his rxed demeanor. He now looked serious and said, "I think you''re right."


    They had all witnessed Luca''s strength before¡ªhe had even fought theGoddess of Dawnwith remarkable back-and-forth exchanges.


    For someone like that, they thought it would be better to stay out of his way. If they angered him, he could easily swat them all down with a single gesture, leaving their diplomatic entourage stranded here. That would be a major loss.


    The other nobles from the All-Beings Empire also nodded in agreement. Marcel cleared his throat and said to Winston apologetically, "Ahem, I just remembered that I left something I meant to bring to His Majesty on the flying ship. I''ll go back to get it right now. You guys go on ahead, don''t wait for me."


    With that, he waved his hand and without waiting for Winston to reply, he quickly turned and made his exit.


    The burly man and the other nobles were left staring in shock.What the hell?They had agreed to go together, and now Marcel had just run off on his own.


    A chorus of silent curses went through their minds as they thought about how they might slip away as well.


    At that moment, Luca suddenly spoke, his voice clear and calm. "I wonder... is that Marcel of the All-Beings Empire?"


    Everyone present froze in surprise. No one had expected Luca to recognize him.


    Marcel also stopped in his tracks, his expression one of confusion. "Uh, you know me?"


    Luca shed a smile. "I know a bit about you."


    In truth, Luca knew far more than just a little¡ªMarcel''s name was practically legendary. Luca had sensed his presence earlier, but he hadn''t been certain until he saw the man in person. Now, he was certain he hadn''t made a mistake.


    ck Dragon King ¨C Marcel!The one who had once single-handedly faced off against King-level monstermonsters and a horde of a million monsters, and had wiped out dozens of Transcendent-level monster lords!


    He was one of the top three strongest Transcendent-level experts on theEternal Continent!


    In Luca''s past life, he had a good rtionship with Marcel. On the battlefield, Luca had often received Marcel''s protection.


    Unfortunately, before Luca could repay him, Marcel was killed in a joint attack by the Titan BehemothBehemothand the Chaos DragonLeviathan. Even his body had been devoured by the two King-level monstermonsters. It was a shame that in this life, Marcel had returned so soon.


    Noticing the way Luca was looking at him, Marcel couldn''t help but shiver.


    He forced a smile and stammered, "Th-th-that''s an honor."


    Luca knew Marcel was a man who valued his life above all else.


    "When you have time, let''s have some tea together," Luca said with a shake of his head, not rushing to reminisce. He turned and walked into the pce.


    With Winston''s word, the golden-armored guard general no longer blocked his way.


    Marcel hesitated for a moment, then quickly ran back.


    Although he had no idea why Luca knew him, he could clearly tell that Luca held no ill will toward him. This thought instantly made his mind more agile.


    The All-Beings Empire hade to the Clinton Empire to form alliances. If he could bring someone like Luca into their camp...


    As that idea crossed his mind, Marcel''s eyes lit up with hope. The future seemed brighter.


    "You said you left something on the flying ship, didn''t you?" Winston shot Marcel a knowing look, his lips curling into a faint smile.


    Marcel showed no sign of embarrassment after being exposed, and casually said, "I suddenly remembered the gift was in my storage ring. No need to go back after all."


    The All-Beings Empire nobles couldn''t help but twitch their mouths, feeling embarrassed to have such a master.


    "Don''t say you know me," the burly man, Krik, muttered in disgust as he gave Marcel a sidelong nce and distanced himself a bit. Winston, on the other hand, found Marcel somewhat amusing. He reminded him of someone¡ªa person with equally thick skin.


    After Luca entered the pce, he followed a maid to King Alfred''s chambers. On the way, he naturally drew a lot of attention. Some of the guards and nobles, upon seeing him, went pale in fear, wondering how this dangerous person had made his way into the pce.


    Luca appeared unaffected by their gazes and soon arrived at the doors to the king''s chambers. Before he even entered, he caught a strong scent of blood and decay wafting through the air. His eyes flickered slightly.


    "Your Majesty, Count Luca has arrived," the maid announced as she entered.Momentster, Alfred''s weak voice echoed from within the room.


    "Let him... in..." he rasped.


    The maid respectfully acknowledged and left. Luca stepped inside the chamber, and the first thing he saw was Alfred lying on a luxurious feather-down quilt, his face a ghastly pale shade.


    Compared to theirst meeting, Alfred now looked even weaker. His once bright eyes were now dim and lifeless. If it weren''t for the faint signs of life still lingering, one might mistake him for a corpse.


    Luca bowed politely. "Your Majesty."


    The room remained silent for a long while, before Alfred''s voice broke the stillness.


    "Fratis... is she still alive?" He slowly lifted his gaze toward Luca. His cracked lips moved weakly, and his voice was hoarse and unpleasant, as though it was squeezed from his throat.


    There was no anger or rage in his tone, no me for Luca having ruined the years of nning he hadid out. He didn''t question why Luca hade, either. He simply looked weary and defeated, as if all his energy had been drained from him.


    Luca nodded slightly. "The Sixth Princess is alive, though she has lost ten years of her memories. She inherited the power of the Goddess of Dawn, but it''s still uncertain if she can recover those lost memories."


    At this, Alfred paused, then a faint gleam appeared in his eyes.


    "This... this is... good news..." he said, his voice weak, but then he was suddenly overtaken by a violent cough.


    Luca frowned. "But Fratis'' current mental state is that of a teenager. Do you still want her to inherit the throne?"


    Alfred''s coughing fit left him speechless. The maid tried to step forward to help him catch his breath, but he roughly pushed her aside. Struggling, he retrieved a ck pill from his storage ring and swallowed it. Almost immediately, an unnatural flush spread across his face, and his energy seemed to surge, revitalizing him significantly.


    Continue your saga on m|v-l''e m,p| y- r


    The maid and the guards hovered nearby, hesitant to speak but ultimately sighing in resignation.


    Luca narrowed his eyes, recognizing the pill as a Superss elixir that drained one''s life force. It was a desperate measure, allowing a person to unleash thest bit of their vitality for a short burst of power. Alfred''s life was already hanging by a thread, and taking this kind of drug would likely ensure that he wouldn''t make it through the day.


    "Hahaha, what''s the problem?" Alfred seemed oblivious to the pity in the eyes of the maid and guards. He shifted his body slightly, forcing himself to sit up so he could face the young man before him directly.


    Alfredughed heartily, saying, "She is now one of only two people on the Eternal Continent with divine power. Even though her mind is still that of a teenager, the lifespan of a god spans tens of thousands of years. A hundred years is but the blink of an eye. She will eventually grow, and lead Clinton to glory!"


    Luca found it hard toprehend. "What''s the point of an empire if it''s destined to rot from within? Even if Clinton holds on with Fratis'' strength, how long can it trulyst?"


    "You''ve never held the throne, so you can''t understand my thoughts," Alfred shook his head slightly, turning his gaze toward the chaos outside the window, where Dawn City was still in turmoil. His eyes gleamed with a strange light as he continued, "For example, I''ve never cared whether this kingdom will eventually fall into ruin."


    He paused, his expression distant and a bit mncholic."What I care about is, while it exists, how glorious it can be..."

 Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Another Group of People? The Magsea Staff! Movements from Both Sides!

    Looking at how the gods of the Eternal Continent have almostpletely vanished from existence, it''s easy to imagine just how devastating that war must have been.


    During the Divine Cataclysm, the God King was in by Zenobia, nearly all the gods perished, and only a few, like the Goddess of Dawn, managed to survive by the skin of their teeth.


    As for Zenobia, the one responsible for it all, she was stripped of her divinity and forever sealed in the dark side of the Eternal Continent, which is now known as the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    It wasn''t that the gods were too merciful to kill Zenobia; it was that they couldn''t. As long as desire and sin existed, she would never truly die.


    The ce where Luca now stood was the "Divine Court," the former home of the gods. However, this once heavenly sanctuary had long since been turned into a ruin during that great war, andter, it was overtaken by monsters.


    A hundred thousand yearster, the Divine Court had transformed into what was now called the "Divine Ruins Secret Realm." Any inheritances or treasures left behind were likely the remnants of the gods who had perished here.


    "Stripped of divinity and cast into the abyss¡­" Luca squinted, and without thinking, one person came to mind.


    The Witch of Desire¡ªPandora!


    Zenobia''s powers were very simr to Pandora''s, and from what Luca had read in the archives, Pandora had also been cast down from her divinity by the God King and had fallen into the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    Could it be that Pandora was Zenobia?


    But what about Sophia¡­?


    Luca''s mind was in a mess, so he decided to ask Sr Divine Spear.


    Sr Divine Spear shook his head. "I don''t know either. After Zenobia was sealed, a lot happened. Just after the war between the gods, another group of people appeared and began ughtering the remaining gods."


    "Another group of people?" Luca''s eyes narrowed. Could it be that group of bastards?


    Among all the beings Luca knew of, it was likely only the beings from the Celestial Summit who would have the power to manipte gods.


    "That''s right, another group. Their strength is far greater than that of the gods. It was at that time that I was sealed by their divine spell, and my master¡­ was killed as well." There was a surge of long-buried fury in Sr Divine Spear''s eyes.


    He looked at Luca and said in a low voice, "This Divine Cataclysm was clearly a scheme of theirs. Otherwise, Zenobia could never have obtained the God King''s Celestial Pearlso easily."


    "Unfortunately, the only thing I''m sure of is that they aren''t from the Eternal Continent. The divine power they used is vastly different from ours. The reason I''m willing to follow you is because I want you to find them."


    Luca casually struck down a monster that lunged at him, unable to suppress a bitter smile. "You''re overestimating me," he muttered.


    In his previous life, he had never encountered these mysterious beings hiding in the shadows. Finding them wouldn''t be as simple as just saying it.


    Sr Divine Spear was about to say something.


    When Luca suddenly smiled. "But don''t worry. No matter how difficult it is, I''ll definitely find them."


    "These rats should pay for their actions."


    Sr Divine Spear paused for a moment before smiling as well. "It seems I didn''t choose the wrong person after all."


    While they were talking, Luca had unknowingly walked up to the ruins of a pce.


    The pce had been destroyed, leaving only half of it standing. The walls, cracked and weathered, were overtaken by twisting purple vines, and blood-red flowers bloomed from cracks in the white jade floor.


    Inside the pce, broken stones and dust were scattered everywhere, yet the towering columns and intricately carved walls still hinted at its former grandeur and magnificence.


    However, what caught Luca''s attention wasn''t the building itself but a staff lying abandoned on the ground within it.


    The staff was broken in half, with one portion missing. At the top, a bright blue gemstone was embedded, emitting a faint glow that had drawn Luca''s attention moments before.


    "This is the Magsea Staff, a weapon once wielded by a sea god. It''s a pity it''s been damaged, with only a fragment of its power remaining. I''m afraid it wouldn''t even reach the Transcendent tier anymore." Sr Divine Spear''s eyes held a hint of nostalgia and sadness, as though recalling memories from a hundred thousand years ago.


    Luca felt a pang of regret upon hearing this.


    After all, this was a divine artifact, its value beyond measure.


    After a brief moment of contemtion.


    Luca gritted his teeth and decided to give it a try, wondering if he could retrieve the staff.


    Even if it couldn''t be used, it might help Sr Divine Spear recover some of his divine power.


    "Better be cautious¡­" Luca''s gaze lingered on the alluring blood-red flowers and the twisting purple vines. His eyes narrowed as a faint yellow light began to glow from his hands, forming a magic circle before him.


    The ground suddenly trembled.


    A massive rock giant, towering at ten meters tall, emerged from the magic circle, kneeling on one knee before Luca.


    High-tier magic rune¡ªStone Spirit Guardian!


    "Go and check what''s inside," Lucamanded.


    Since he had a puppet at his disposal, he wasn''t foolish enough to risk his own safety.


    "Yes, Master!" The Stone Spirit Guardian responded in a stiff, robotic tone, rising to its feet before striding forward into the pce. Each step it took caused the ground to shake with thunderous crashes, the earth trembling with each heavy footfall.


    Under Luca''s watchful gaze, the Stone Spirit Guardian soon reached the entrance to the grand hall.


    The surroundings were silent, and nothing unusual seemed to be happening.


    Just as Luca thought he might have been overthinking it...


    Suddenly, the blood-red flowers on the ground emitted a burst of crimson light, and the purple vines on the pce walls seemed toe alive, writhing and squirming as they shot towards the Stone Spirit Guardian with lightning speed.


    Though the Stone Spirit Guardian had thick, tough skin, its massive frame was sluggish and cumbersome. It didn''t have time to dodge and was immediately ensnared by the vines, which wrapped tightly around it.


    The vines suddenly constricted, and the thorns on the stems pierced through the Stone Spirit Guardian''s defenses as easily as piercing tofu, driving deep into its body.


    What happened next was horrifying.The vines began to pulse, as though drawing the Stone Spirit Guardian''s blood. At the same time, the elemental energy in its body rapidly began to drain away.


    In just a few breaths, the Stone Spirit Guardian stopped struggling. It stood motionless, stiff as a statue, and then slowly toppled over, crashing to the ground with a loud thud, disintegrating into countless shards of rock.


    The blood-red flowers on the ground grew even more vivid, and the purple vines, having consumed the Stone Spirit Guardian, didn''t seem satisfied. Instead, they turned and shot towards Luca.


    "Holy hell! It''s that strong?" Luca inhaled sharply.


    Earlier, he thought this ce was home to high-level monsters, but he had no idea there were such terrifying creatures lurking here.


    The Stone Spirit Guardian had a genuine high-tier status, and even a Diamond-level warrior would have a hard time dispatching it so quickly. Yet, these vines managed to destroy it in mere seconds, leaving no time for it to even resist.


    The vines'' power was undoubtedly at the Supersslevel!


    Luca quickly made a judgment. Silver magic runes glowed beneath his feet, and without hesitation, he turned and ran.


    He coulde back for the treasure after he obtained the inheritance. There was no point in fighting this monster head-on.


    However, the vine creature clearly wasn''t going to let him off so easily.


    The pce trembled as the ground cracked open.


    More purple vines shot up from the earth, flying towards Luca like arrows.


    Luca reacted swiftly. His body moved like lightning as he used Air Step, dodging the iing attacks one after another.


    Though the situation was perilous, he managed to avoid any serious injury.


    "Don''t run that way! That''s where the gods are..." Sr Divine Spear, anxious, tried to warn Luca.


    But his strength hadn''t been fully restored, and after so much time spent outside, he was beginning to wear thin.


    At the critical moment, he faltered. His words were cut short, and before he could finish, he vanished into the air.


    "You could at least finish your sentence before disappearing¡­" Luca thought with a bitter smile, but he understood what Sr Divine Spear meant.


    It was clear that ahead was even more dangerous. He quickly changed direction, running toward the misty area on the other side.


    However, what Luca didn''t notice was this:


    After he turned, the giant python made of vines behind him seemed to hesitate for a moment, as though it was wary of something.


    Then, surprisingly, it began to slowly retreat¡­


    ...


    Meanwhile, as the sun set and the sky darkened.


    In the Phillips family mansion¡­


    Twelve figures, wearing evil spirit masks and red robes, knelt on one knee in utter reverence.


    Finn''s expression was grim as he coldly spoke, "You all know the mission. Remember, today I want to see Luca''s head brought back along with the Demon Box."


    "If you fail toplete the mission, you twelve will not return."


    "Young master, rest assured, we willplete the task!" the eleven high-ranking masked figures and one Superssghost-faced figure responded in unison. Their figures vanished like blood-red phantoms, disappearing into the twilight in the blink of an eye.


    Watching them leave, Finn''s lips curled into a cold smile. "You little bastard, your arrogance will cost you dearly! I''ll see just how many lives you have for me to take!"


    A mere lowly noble from Riverfall City had humiliated him multiple times.


    This stoked a raging fire in Finn''s heart.


    Previously, Luca needed to be knighted, and in consideration of His Majesty''s face, they had refrained from acting early. But now that the knighthood ceremony was over and Luca no longer had any protection, today, Finn would make the bastard pay!


    "Young master, the princess''s wedding dress has been custom-made," the butler approached and said respectfully.


    "I know. I''ll take her to try it onter," Finn replied, his cold expression melting into a smile.


    Not only could he finally kill that annoying pest and get his hands on what he wanted, but he''d also get to see the woman he liked in the custom wedding dress he''d chosen for her.


    Today was going to be a good day for him.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in an alley outside Starry Academy.


    A group of hooded figures hid in the shadows, asionally ncing toward the towering artificial mountain behind the academy.


    "Priest, how long do you think it will take for him toe out of the Divine Ruins Secret Realm?" the leader, a burly man, asked the youth beside him.


    "Not more than three hours. Sophia only spent six hours in there." The youth removed his hood, revealing a head of golden hair and a handsome face.


    He extended his hand in front of him and drew a five-star formation in the air. Smirking, he added, "The monsters in the Divine Ruins Secret Realm aren''t that easy to handle. I think it would be wise to pray to the goddess, hoping this kid doesn''t die in there."


    "Otherwise, if he does die, getting into Starry Academy will be much harder for us."

 Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Serpent-shaped Radar! The Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree! Ghost Tree Seeds!

    With the aid of Daylight Wind Shadows.


    Luca quickly shook off the pursuit of the vines.


    However, he immediately faced a rather awkward problem.


    He was lost.


    Under the shroud of this gray mist, his sense of direction was already somewhat disoriented.


    After running blindly for a while, he didn''t even know where he was now.


    Luca nced around at his surroundings.


    It was all mist and the ruins of a grand hall, nothing different from what he had seen earlier.


    He felt utterly confused.


    He hadn''t fallen prey to a monster, but instead had gotten stuck in this fog.


    "Haha, you''re really something¡­" came the mocking voice of Jormungandr from his ear.


    "You really want a beating, don''t you? Think of something fast," Luca retorted, irritated.


    Just a moment ago, when the Sr Divine Spear appeared, she had hidden in the contract space, pretending to be dead, not daring to make a sound.


    And now, she was mocking him.


    "Your human perception really isughable, you can''t even detect something as simple as death energy, which is blocking your mental powers," Jormungandr continued to mock, before leisurely emerging from the storage space.


    A dreamy purple light shed.


    Wearing a ck gothic dress, Jormungandr appeared in front of Luca. She still looked like her usual loli self, and aside from being a little paler than before, there was hardly any difference.


    "It''s such a nostalgic smell¡­" she inhaled deeply, as though savoring the haze, her face filled with contentment, as if she wasn''t breathing air, but freedom itself.


    Luca couldn''t help but roll his eyes. Just as he was about to sarcasticallyment.


    He suddenly realized that Jormungandr''s body seemed more solid than before.


    "Wait, does this stuff nourish your soul?" he asked, surprised.


    "Of course, otherwise, why would Ie out here?" Jormungandr exined with a smile. "Although the divine power here has almostpletely dissipated, there''s still some residual energy left. For me, this ce is a sanctuary for restoring my strength."


    Hearing this, Luca wasn''t in a rush to leave.


    If Jormungandr''s strength were to recover, he would have a much stronger ally.


    "So, where do we go from here?" His perception waspletely blocked, leaving him as blind as a bat. From here on, he''d have to rely on this snake to guide him.


    "Let me see." Jormungandr closed her eyes, and the purple Dreamweaving power emanated from her body.


    Her ck skirt fluttered as she slowly floated into the air.


    Luca could clearly sense a tremendous mental force breaking through the mist, expanding outward from her like a center of gravity.


    In less than a minute, Jormungandr opened her eyes and raised a small finger, pointing toward a direction in the mist. "There''s something interesting over there. Let''s go take a look."


    Luca was surprised. "What is it?"


    "You''ll find out when you get there. Don''t worry, you won''t regret it," Jormungandr shrugged nonchntly.


    Luca didn''t question her. After all, if anything happened to him, it wouldn''t end well for Jormungandr either.


    A cyan light glowed from his body as Daylight Wind Shadowsactivated. His speed surged dramatically, and he quickly sped toward the direction Jormungandr indicated.


    But it wasn''t long before Luca began to feel something was off.


    The number of monsters here was clearly much higher than before.


    Fierce-looking monsters, disturbed by Luca''s presence, scrambled out of the ruins of the broken pce, using both hands and feet.


    Crimson eyes began to glow in the mist, and without a word, they charged straight at Luca.


    "If you made me run for nothing, you''ll see how I deal with youter," Luca wasn''t in a rush or worried; he still had time to threaten Jormungandr.


    Jormungandr pouted in displeasure. This bastard only ever bullied her.


    As the monsters closed in, Luca judged that it was almost time.


    His gaze flickered, and the Magic Crystal Spear in his hand radiated a cold aura.


    A gust of icy wind swept past him.


    As his magical power surged, the wind around him picked up speed, and the temperature began to drop. Soon, snowkes started to fall.


    With a deep breath, a massive white tornado, towering dozens of meters high, suddenly materialized, engulfing all the monsters within it.


    High-tier Magic Rune ¨C Blizzard!


    The temperature plummeted sharply. Led by the fierce winds, the seemingly delicate snowkes turned into sharp des, cutting deep into the monsters'' bodies, leaving terrifying wounds. It was like a meat grinder.


    -103,000, -96,000, -97,000...


    Blood rained down as damage numbers shot up in rapid session.


    In just moments, a stream of kill notifications appeared before Luca.


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have killed the level 48 Corpse Eater (Normal), earning 139,000 experience!]


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have killed the level 53 Infernal Wolf (Rare), earning 565,000 experience!]


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have killed the level 55 Ghost Raven (Rare), earning 644,000 experience!]


    ...


    A flood of experience surged into Luca''s body.


    His experience was climbing as though riding a rocket.


    These monsters were all at least tinum Grade, with some even reaching Diamond level.


    It wasn''t long before multiple upgrade notifications shed around him.


    [Ding! Your level has reached 41, earning 60 free attribute points!]


    Luca poured all of the attribute points into his Mental attribute, and his mental power was now close to breaking 7,000.


    The monsters kepting.


    Their numbers had already surpassed several dozen.


    But none of them could halt Luca''s progress.


    With the magic runes in his hand shing repeatedly, Luca threw out high-tier and mid-tier skills without hesitation.


    He was quickly closing in on the location Jormungandr had perceived.


    It had to be said, the monsters here were indeed numerous. In just this short amount of time, Luca had already encountered three waves of monsters, all of them at least tinum-level.


    Although there were no experience rewards for killing monsters of higher levels, there was also no penalty.


    At the current rate, Luca''s leveling speed was terrifying. At this pace, if he stayed here for a day, he could probably reach level 50.


    Unfortunately, the Divine Ruins trial had a time limit¡ªno more than twelve hours. And no one had eversted that long. The monsters here were all of an incredibly high level, far beyond what an average adventurer could handle.


    After breaking through several monster encirclements, Luca quickly reached his destination.


    "So, this is the ''surprise'' you were talking about?" He looked up at the massive, withered tree in front of him, its branchespletely leafless. He frowned. Was this bastard seriously trying to mess with him?


    "I thought you knew everything, yet you''ve never even seen a Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree?" Jormungandr didn''t miss a single opportunity to mock Luca. She ced her hands on her hips, looking smug. "This is a rare treasure. Even in the Abyssal Demon Realm, it''s hard toe by. If you dig up the roots, you can gain at least 800 attribute points!"


    "800 points? Is that for real?" Luca was surprised. He approached with a skeptical attitude, preparing to test it out.


    But just as he got closer, the withered tree suddenly began to shake.


    The trunk split open, revealing an eye. A sharp branch shot out like a spear, aimed directly at Luca.


    Luca had already sensed that something was off about this tree, so he didn''t lower his guard. Calmly, he dodged the attack, his hand glowing with red magic runes. The fire element surged, and the temperature around him suddenly became intense.


    Meteoric Fire!


    A crimson glow illuminated the sky, and fiery meteors, like cannonballs, rained down upon the withered tree.


    Boom!!The moment the meteors hit, the mes erupted violently.


    The heat wave swept through, and the zing fire engulfed the entire withered tree.


    The tree shook violently, letting out a sharp, ear-piercing wail that made Luca''s eardrums throb painfully.


    -114,000! -123,000! -125,000!...


    A series of damage numbers soared. Within just moments, the Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree''s health was almostpletely depleted.


    Luca didn''t waste any time. He closed in, and the Magic Crystal Spear in his hand gleamed with a metallic shine, stabbing out like lightning.


    Thrust!The spear pierced the ghost tree. Instead of the usual wood-like resistance, it felt more like stabbing through flesh. Luca even saw fresh, red blood oozing from the wound¡ªa bizarre sight.


    Fortunately, the creature''s strength wasn''t very high. Under Luca''s relentless assault, it didn''tst long before being killed.


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have killed the level 63 Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree (Leader), earning 1,589,000 experience!]


    The kill notification appeared, and the massive influx of experience caused Luca''s body to glow with a golden light once again.


    [Ding! Your level has reached level 42, earning 60 free attribute points!]


    Unfortunately, there was no equipment drop.


    Following Jormungandr''s guidance, Luca approached the location of the Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree, using the Magic Crystal Spear to pry it open. Beneath it, he unearthed a translucent, palm-sized seed.


    [Ghost Tree Seed: High-tier material, a seed nurtured by the Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree. When used, it grants 500 points to both Mental and Physical attributes. Can only be used once.]


    "So this is what it is," Luca muttered, a hint of surprise shing in his eyes.


    It wasn''t until he saw the Ghost Tree Seed that he remembered what it was. Every Mother-and-Child Ghost Tree bore one of these seeds, which contained the life energy umted by the tree.


    Whether used in alchemy or consumed directly, this seed would significantly enhance a yer''s strength, making it an incredibly rare and valuable item inter generations.


    "Told you I wasn''t lying," Jormungandr said with her arms crossed, her chin raised smugly.


    As one of the Demon Lords of the Abyssal Demon Realm, she knew the characteristics of nearly every monster.


    "You''re like a living radar!" Luca praised.


    Then, with Jormungandr looking on in confusion, Luca surrounded the Ghost Tree Seed with his witchcraft power.


    And began to refine it.


    Luca''s refining speed was incredibly fast.


    The ethereal blue witchcraft energy swiftly extracted the power from the seed.


    Continuously strengthening his body.


    [Ding! You have used the Ghost Tree Seed, gaining 400 points in both Mental and Physical attributes!]


    As the seed witheredpletely, a system prompt appeared before Luca.


    He opened his stats panel and checked the results.


    After refining the Ghost Tree Seed, his Mental attribute had increased to 6,900, and his Physical attribute had risen to 4,000¡ªequivalent to an increase of five or six levels in total attributes.


    Indeed, spending money to boost power was the fastest way!


    Luca thought to himself, then decided not to linger. He turned back the way he hade.


    He was ready to obtain the inheritance that the other yer had acquired.


    On the way, he had already spotted the temple mentioned in the guide.

 Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Fate-Swapping Master! The Trial Begins! Glitch for Experience Farming!

    The Divine Ruins Secret Realmheld countless legacies, each representing a different profession and trial.


    Although the legacies varied, the difficulty was generally quite simr, with only a few being exceptionally difficult.


    The yer who had previously obtained a legacy had, by chance, managed to clear a trial that was supposed to be extremely challenging.


    In the end, he had received both the legacy and its rewards.


    If Luca remembered correctly, the entrance to that trial was an abandoned temple.


    As soon as you entered it, the legacy trial would begin.


    After that yer obtained the legacy, he wrote a detailed guide and posted it on a forum.


    It was during his casual browsing of the forum that Luca hade across that post.


    Because the way that yer obtained the legacy had been so unique, it left a strong impression on him.


    Before, Luca had thought that finding that temple would take him quite a bit of time.


    But unexpectedly, he encountered it halfway.


    "What''s your n?" Jormungandr floated in the air, looking like a ghost, her tone curious.


    "Toplete a trial," Luca casually replied.


    "A trial?" Jormungandr clicked her tongue in surprise. "You really are reckless. The legacies in this Secret Realm are clearly different from those in other realms. Given your strength, passing the trial will probably be extremely difficult for you."


    It wasn''t that Jormungandr didn''t understand Luca''s power¡ªon the contrary, she was very aware of his strength, which was why she said this. Trials in the Divine Ruins were generated based on the adventurer''s overall capabilities. The stronger you were, the more terrifying the trial would be.


    What might be an easy trial for someone else would likely be ten times more challenging for him!


    And this was just a normal legacy trial.


    If it were a top-tier profession trial, Jormungandr figured Luca would be facing a challenge on par with confronting a Superssbeing.


    Luca didn''t respond. He was well aware of how trials worked.


    But since he had decided to enter, it meant he had the confidence to seed.


    Relying on his memory, it didn''t take long for Luca to locate the temple he had seen earlier.


    In the mist, a small, ancient temple stood tall. Two rednterns hung by the entrance, with candles burning inside, casting a crimson glow. The faint, eerie light made the temple appear as though it had a giant, gaping mouth, giving it a sinister, almost monstrous look.


    Luca hesitated for a moment, but then stepped inside.


    Although the Divine Ruins Secret Realmhad a time limit, there was no exit restriction.


    If he found himself in danger, as long as his reflexes were fast enough and he could exit the game quickly, he could avoid the death penalty.


    For someone like Luca, who had been single for 18 years, this was child''s y.


    Upon entering the temple, he found himself in a spacious courtyard. The stone bs were covered in ck moss, and at the center of the courtyard stood a censer. Behind it was a vermilion-colored Eastern-style building.


    Compared to the other ruins outside, this temple was much better preserved.


    He nced at the game prompt but saw that the trial hadn''t been triggered yet.


    Not pausing, he headed straight into the temple.


    He pushed open the red wooden door, and the squeak of the door echoed loudly in the darkness.


    Suddenly, torches and candles red to life inside the temple, illuminating both the courtyard and the interior with bright light.


    Luca''s gaze shifted inside, where he saw an altar with a statue draped in golden silk cloth. The statue''s head was missing, leaving only a half-human, half-serpent broken torso.


    Before the statue, offerings of fruits and vegetables wereid out, and three incense sticks were burning in a small censer, sending out faint tendrils of smoke.


    He stepped forward, and as soon as he entered the temple, a game prompt appeared before him.


    [Ding! yer has triggered the Legacy Trial "Fate-Swapping Master." Would you like to start the trial?]


    "Found it!" Luca''s eyes lit up. This was exactly the profession he was looking for!


    Fate-Swapping Master!A very unique profession.


    Though it had nobat abilities whatsoever, it possessed the extraordinary power to alter the luck of a target.


    If Luca obtained this profession, at its simplest, he could reduce someone''s luck attribute to zero, causing them to never get any equipment or gold from monsters. On arger scale, he could turn their luck into a negative value, making it so that even walking down the street could lead to them being precisely targeted and killed by a Transcendentbeing!


    This was just the most basic use of the power¡ªthere were countless other ways it could be applied. In the past life, the top-tier yer who had obtained this legacy had used this profession, along with special items acquired in the trial, to easily rise to the rank of a top Transcendent One.


    And no one dared to provoke him after that.


    Luca suppressed his excitement. Without hesitation, he selected Confirm.


    The next moment, he felt a sh before his eyes.


    When he opened them again, he was no longer inside the temple but back outside in the courtyard.


    [Trial has officially begun!]


    [Objective: Survive for 30 minutes!]


    As the game prompt appeared, the previously empty courtyard began to churn with mist. Dark figures holding various weapons began to materialize. In just a few breaths, over a hundred high-level adventurers had appeared, each radiating a dangerous aura.


    Their bloodshot eyes locked onto Luca, their murderous intent palpable. The air around them exploded with power, and in an instant, the figures transformed into ck streaks of light, rushing toward Luca. Meanwhile, the ranged attackers began chanting their spells, and the entire courtyard erupted into a dazzling array of colors as skill effects lit up the air.


    A hundred high-level adventurers attacking simultaneously¡ªthis overwhelming force would be impossible for even a Superssyer to withstand, let alone Luca, a mid-tier professional.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Luca turned and charged straight for the open vermiliondoor of the temple.


    In a normal scenario, no regr yer would ever be able to pass such a trial.


    But Luca knew the strategy for this trial.


    Or rather, he knew the exploit.


    As soon as the ck figures saw Luca charge for the temple.


    Their expressions shifted.


    Several of them immediately elerated, aiming to block Luca from entering before he could make it inside.


    "Get out of my way!" Luca growled, a chill swirling around him. His hair turned white at a visible speed, and snowkes began to fall from the air. Ice Pattern Awakening!


    In an instant, Luca''s attributes were greatly enhanced, his power surging dramatically!


    He twisted his wrist, and the Magic Crystal Spearin his hand began to frost over. Within moments, it transformed into severalrge, menacing icences, each several meters long. With a mighty sweep, he hurled them toward the ck figures in front of him.


    High-level Ice Magic¡ªIce Dragon Spear!


    Three of the shadow figures were unable to dodge in time and were sted away by the icences.


    -150,000! -160,000! -150,000...


    The crimson damage numbers soared!


    Before they even hit the ground, frost covered their bodies, turning them into solid ice.


    When theynded, they shattered with a loud crash.


    [Ding! You have killed the lv60 Shadow Attendant and gained 1.215 million experience!]


    Three kill prompts appeared, but just as Luca was about to move, a barrage of arrows shot toward him from the sky.


    Luca''s dangerous Perceptionred up, sending a chill down his spine.


    Without even looking, he felt a surge of energy course through him as his body suddenly radiated a bluish glow. His speed spiked again, far surpassing his previous pace!


    Daylight Wind Shadows!


    "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"Several fiery arrows mmed into the ground, leaving ck, smoldering craters in their wake.


    Luca moved like a bolt of lightning, quickly closing the distance to the temple.


    The courtyard was only a few hundred meters across, and with his speed, he could cover the distance in just a few breaths.


    But the interference from those Shadow Attendantswas relentless, significantly slowing him down.


    By the time Luca finally reached the front of the temple, there were already more than a dozen shadow figures standing in his way.


    And more were still rushing in from the distance. If he got surrounded, even with ten of him, he''d be crushed into nothing.


    "Why do the trials get harder the stronger the ss? Isn''t this messed up?" Luca grumbled, barely catching his breath. Suddenly, his body zed with a vibrant green glow.


    Heavenly Star Awakening!


    The freezing chill that had surrounded him vanished in an instant, reced by an overwhelming surge of life force that seemed to pulse from within.


    Luca focused on the Wood Element. With a thought, the stone ground beneath him cracked open.


    And from the fissures, a massive vine giant pythonemerged, its jaws gaping as it lunged at the group of shadow figures.


    High-level Wood Magic ¡ª Wood Spirit Vine Serpent!


    The giant vines swept through five or six of the shadow figures, crushing them effortlessly!


    But the remaining shadows managed to dodge, charging straight at Luca.


    Just as Luca was about to cast another spell, a sharp sh of cold light cut through the air, apanied by the sound of rushing wind.


    Luca''s heart skipped a beat. He immediately veered to the side.


    A razor-sharp daggergrazed his neck, its icy coldness sending a shiver through him.


    "That was close!" Luca broke into a cold sweat, realizing how narrowly he had avoided disaster. Without hesitation, he reversed his grip on the Magic Crystal Spearand lunged, driving the spear into the neck of the assassinwho had tried to ambush him.


    But before he could pull the spear back.


    Amassive fireball, at least five or six meters in diameter, came crashing down from the sky.


    "Boom!"The deafening explosion rang out!


    A scorching wave of fire surged through the air, engulfing Luca entirely in an instant!


    "Damn it!"Luca''s voice came through the mes, his curses barely audible over the roar of the fire.


    The next moment, thunderclouds gathered in the sky!


    In the blink of an eye, they formed a sea of lightning, crackling ominously before descending like divine punishment, aiming straight for thest few remaining shadow figures standing near the temple entrance!


    Heavenly Thunder Purple Fire!


    Boom!!A blinding thunderbolt fell from the heavens, obliterating the three shadow figures in an instant, reducing them to nothing with the terrifying power of the strike!


    Wrapped in ck mes, Luca burst through the inferno, his Magic Crystal Spearraised high.


    Before the remaining shadows could even react, his figure was a blur, and in a sh, he stepped into the temple.


    As Luca crossed the threshold of the temple, every shadow figure outside froze in ce.


    The skills they had been preparing to release changed course at thest moment, veering off into the distance.


    The vast, empty courtyard fell into an eerie silence, broken only by Luca''s heavy breathing.


    Dozens of scarlet eyes stared at him from outside, but none of them moved to attack.


    Luca, seeing this, couldn''t help but smile.


    "Just as that yer said... once you enter the temple, the shadows hesitate because of the statue. They won''t dare attack," he said, wiping the sweat from his forehead and letting out a long sigh of relief.


    Now, all he had to do was wait for the time to pass, and the trial would be over.


    But... wasn''t this more like exploiting a bugto clear the trial?


    As he thought about this.


    Luca raised his head and nced outside, noticing the frustrated, angry faces of the shadow figures pacing back and forth in the courtyard.


    A wicked idea began to form in his mind.


    Wasn''t this the perfect opportunity to farm experience?


    With that thought, Luca''s eyes glowed with a fiery determination as he gazed out at the group of shadows outside.

 Chapter 165: Chapter 165: The Fate Dice! The Person Favored! The Chosen One!

    Noticing Luca''s gaze, a group of shadows felt an ominous premonition rise in their hearts.


    But before they could think further, they saw the golden glow of Luca''s spear shine brightly in his hands.


    Magnificent golden magic runes appeared in mid-air, and an overwhelming divine power descended with a mighty crash!


    The Sun!


    A great sun slowly rose!


    Blinding golden light pierced through the mist, illuminating the entire square and the endless ruins in the darkness!


    "This is my return gift to you!" In the temple, Luca''s golden eyes sparkled as he smiled.


    With a slight motion of his hand, the Magic Crystal Spear hovered in the air.


    In an instant, the golden light erupted!


    Amidst the terrified gazes of the shadows, it crashed down from the sky!


    Boom!


    A fierce wave of fire, carrying an unstoppable force, swept across the entire square, and the earth-shattering roar echoed far into the mist.


    All the shadows were instantly engulfed by the divine fire of the Sun, as if everything was melting like snow!


    -390,000! -400,000! -420,000!...


    A dense array of damage numbers appeared!


    At the same time, a series of kill notifications appeared before Luca.


    [Ding! You have killed a Lv60 Shadow Warrior, gaining 1,250,000 experience!]


    [Ding! You have killed a Lv63 Shadow Mage, gaining 1,440,000 experience!]


    [Ding! You have killed a Lv65 Shadow Assassin, gaining 1,650,000 experience!]


    ...


    The surging experience poured into Luca''s body as a blinding white light.


    His experience bar shot up as if riding a rocket.


    In just a few breaths of time.


    Four golden beams of light shed across him.


    His level leapt up four ranks, reaching level 46!


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have passed the Legacy Trial and obtained the hidden ss "Fate-Swapping Master"! You have gained new skills: "Fate Maniption (ss)", "Fortune Reversal (ss)", "Fate Plundering (ss)"...]


    [You have obtained the special item "Fate Dice" (ss)!]


    Looking at the notifications in front of him, Luca smiled.


    After so much effort, he had finally obtained what he wanted.


    [Fate Dice: Special Equipment, a twelve-sided die used by unknown gods for games and entertainment. Each side represents a different fate, and each fate has a unique special effect. yers can use the Fate Dice once per day, randomly obtaining one of the twelve fates for 24 hours. The dice has a 24-hour cooldown, and the fate refreshes daily.]


    Looking at the game description before him, Luca couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement in his heart.


    In his past life, the top yer he had heard of had relied on this special equipment and the Fate-Swapping Master skills to be a renowned powerhouse of the Human Race in a very short time, making countless people green with envy.


    Luca had once envied that yer''s fortune, and now, it had finallye to him!


    He restrained his excitement and began examining the three ss skills of Fate-Swapping Master.


    [Fate Maniption lv1: ss Skill. The Fate-Swapping Master can alter the luck and fate of a target through the power of fate maniption. No level limit, duration 3 hours, cooldown 12 hours.]


    [Fate Duplication lv1: ss Skill. The Fate-Swapping Master can copy another person''s fate, either to alter the fate of others or use it for themselves. Up to 3 fates can be copied.]


    [Fate Plundering lv1: ss Skill. The Fate-Swapping Master can plunder another person''s fate for their own use. Up to 3 fates can be plundered.]


    Every person carries different luck and fate, which basically determines the course of their life. The strength of the Fate-Swapping Master ss lies in its ability to freely manipte the fate and luck of others.


    This meant that Luca could exchange an ordinary person''s fate for that of a top genius, granting them the genius''s luck and fate for a brief period. Alternatively, he could take a genius''s fate and rece it with that of a cursed individual, ensuring they would experience endless misfortune.


    The most important thing was that the skills of the Fate-Swapping Master ignored level and were undefendable. The only countermeasure was to endure it, which made this ss incredibly broken. Otherwise, it would just be a regr support ss.


    The power of the Fate-Swapping Master was unquestionable. Luca could hardly contain his excitement as he took out the Fate Dice, eager to test his luck.


    The Fate Dice could only be used once a day, and the fate it granted was random. There were six positive fates and six negative fates, and Luca had no idea which he would get¡ªit all depended on his luck.


    The problem, however, was that his luck, charm, and potential were all maxed out!


    A sh of light passed through his hand, and a die engraved with ancient runes appeared in his palm.


    The Fate Dice was about the size of a human head, ck in color, with twelve faces, each one engraved with golden, ancient runes. Upon closer inspection, it seemed as though these runes were shifting, creating a strange and mesmerizing effect.


    "This... has such an odd power..." Jormungandr slithered out from the snake-shaped bracelet, curiously eyeing the dice in Luca''s hand.


    She felt a force emanating from it that wasn''t quite elemental or magical¡ªit was simr to her Dreamweaving power, belonging to the mysterious side of things.


    Luca didn''t respond. With a thought, the Fate Dice began to glow faintly, floating up and slowly starting to spin.


    "I wonder what fate I''ll get on the first roll?" Luca thought, a sense of anticipation building inside him.


    But soon, he realized something was wrong.


    As the glow of the Fate Dice enveloped him.


    Luca suddenly felt a brief moment of dizziness.


    An odd sensation rose within him, as though something deep inside him had been nudged by an unseen hand.


    "How is this possible?!" Jormungandr''s eyes widened in shock, her face filled with disbelief.


    "This thing... it can actually change fate?" The Sr Divine Spear, still half-asleep, was also stirred awake, its voice filled with undeniable astonishment.


    It was important to understand that the power of fate was one of the highestws among the gods. The few gods who had once wielded the power of fate were among the top-tier divinities in the Divine Court!


    To manipte fate, to alter someone''s destiny regardless of their level¡ªsuch power was beyond the reach of even ordinary gods!


    This kid had only wandered around the Divine Ruins for a bit, how did he manage to obtain such a divine-level legacy?


    Jormungandr and the Sr Divine Spear were both deeply shocked, but what came next left them utterly stunned.


    At the very moment the power of fate enveloped Luca, a faint golden glow suddenly appeared around him.


    The power of fate seemed to bepletely blocked, unable to prate or enter even a fraction of an inch, forcibly repelled from his body!


    Both of them gasped, unable to believe their eyes.


    Meanwhile, within Luca''s spiritual sea.


    Four towering golden beams of light, as if stimted by some force, suddenly burst into blinding brilliance!


    Buzz¡ª!


    A dazzling golden light shot upward, instantly tearing through theyers of mist, piercing the vast, lifeless dark sky above!


    The Fate Dice trembled, emitting its own golden divine light, elerating its rotation!


    Under the watchful eyes of the three, the twelve-faced die slowly came to a stop in midair.


    The twelve fates that had once been inscribed on its faces had vanished without a trace.


    What remained was a single, radiant rune, exuding an overwhelming divine might!


    Heaven''s Blessing!


    A torrent of divine power descended with a thunderous roar!


    Countless monsters immediately bowed in submission, their savage, blood-red eyes wide with fear.


    "What''s going on? Is the dice broken?" Luca was momentarily bewildered by the sight before him.


    Wasn''t the fate supposed to change? Why did it just keepnding on The Person Favored?


    This was Luca''s first time using the Fate Dice, and he had no idea what was happening.


    "How could we possibly know? You''ve got too many secrets up your sleeve," Jormungandr replied, her tone tinged with annoyance, though her face still showed signs of surprise that hadn''t faded.


    She was especially curious about the golden beams of light around Luca; after all, they were what had suppressed her in the first ce.


    The Sr Divine Spear furrowed its brow, seemingly piecing something together.


    It muttered to itself, "I see... So, this is The Person Favoredby the chosen fate¡­"


    "What does that mean?" Luca asked, confused.


    The Sr Divine Spear shook its head. "I''m not entirely sure. But I remember the Goddess of Dawn, Sylvia, once saying that those who are favored by the gods cannot have their fate altered, not even by the power of the Fate Law."


    Does that mean my ss is useless? Luca frowned at the thought.


    Before he could dwell on it further, he suddenly noticed that the Divine Ruins were beginning to tremble violently.


    It felt as though an earthquake of magnitude eight had struck, or like a beast that had been dormant for eons was slowly awakening.


    Then, to the astonished gaze of the three, golden light slowly began to emerge from every corner of the ruins.


    It was as if fireflies were flying toward the heavens.


    Each beam of light carrying an aura that made the two others tremble with unease!


    These were the residual divine powers of the gods who had long since passed away!


    In just a moment, the pitch-ck night sky was illuminated by countless golden dots of light.


    Looking up, it was as if the stars themselves were twinkling, their glow dazzling and beautiful!


    Countless specks of divine power gathered together, merging into the golden beams of light.


    Luca''s body shuddered in surprise.


    He could distinctly feel that his body was being enhanced.


    These divine powers were actively helping to refine his body?


    At the same time, a series of game notifications appeared before him.


    [You have received the blessing of the "Lord of the Sun," your talent attribute +7!]


    [You have received the blessing of the "Spirit of the Ocean," your charisma attribute +6!]


    [You have received the blessing of the "Goddess of Luck," your luck attribute +9!]


    ...


    The series of notifications left him stunned.


    They also left Jormungandr speechless.


    What in the world was going on with this guy?


    Why would the residual powers of the gods be enhancing his body?


    A look of surprise appeared in Luca''s eyes. Although he had no idea what was happening, it was undoubtedly a good thing!


    Special attribute increases were extremely difficult toe by.


    And now, in such a short span of time, his attributes had already increased by 30 points!


    If other yers found out, they would likely be green with envy!


    As more and more divine power poured into the golden beams.


    Luca''s aura rapidly grew stronger, and his attributes began to soar.


    In just this short time, his stats had increased by a total of 1000 points, even more powerful than what Soul Forge could provide!


    Just as he was barely able to contain his excitement.


    The tremors throughout the Divine Ruins suddenly ceased. Immediately afterward, a blinding light pierced through the darkness, and the air temperature shot up sharply. A terrifying pressure, as if from an ancient beast awakening from a long slumber, enveloped the entire Divine Ruins!


    The three of them felt a sudden shock in their hearts and instinctively looked up.


    In the far distance, deep within the Divine Ruins, a massive golden sun began to rise.


    Emitting endless rays of light.


    Luca squinted, his heart pounding with astonishment.


    Within the brilliance, there was a figure radiating dazzling divine light.


    That¡­ was the aura of a god?!

 Chapter 189 The First Mission! Quagmires Driving Skills! Incorrect Intelligence!

    "What do you mean you thought I was dead? What kind of talk is that?" Luca said, feeling speechless.


    It hadn''t even been that long since theyst saw each other, and yet everyone seemed to be assuming he was dead.


    Coarmy, on the other end of the line, let out an exasperated sigh. "I''m not kidding. You promised Drumph you''d take on four Transcendent tasks every month. How many days have passed? We''ve tried to contact you twice already, and you still haven''te out of the game."


    "Isn''t it still early?" Luca repliedzily. "Besides, things in the game change all the time. I can''t just leave before wrapping up everything, can I?"


    Coarmy, feeling helpless, knew there was no point in arguing with Luca. He simply said, "Well, we''ve just received a task. There''s a monster sighting near Celephais, and Quagmire and the others are heading there. Do you want to join them?"


    "Send someone to pick me up." Luca didn''t have anything else nned and immediately agreed.


    After hanging up, Luca didn''t have to wait long by the roadside before a heavily modified Dodge Hellcat pulled up in front of him.


    The windows on both sides rolled down, revealing three people inside wearing sunsses.


    Quagmire, Donlow, Fuzzsir, and a bandaged-up Mnia were in the car.


    "Yo, bro, long time no see!" Quagmire, sitting in the driver''s seat, had a cigarette dangling from his mouth and raised an eyebrow.


    Donlow teasingly added, "You''re such a busy guy. We couldn''t get ahold of you for a whole week."


    Mnia wasn''t much of a talker, but Fuzzsir, with his poet-like aura, sniffed the air and said enviously, "It smells like curry fried rice."


    This guy had quite the keen nose.


    "Nothing I can do. Got caught up in a mission in the game, took longer than expected," Luca casually exined as he climbed into the car and closed the door.


    He nced around at the group. They had all clearly gotten stronger. It seemed like they hadn''t been sitting idle during the time he was gone.


    "Are we heading straight to the mission?" Luca asked, noticing that everyone was armed and had walkie-talkies, clearly ready to head to the mission location right away.


    "Yep, we''re heading straight there. It''s a bit far, and they can''t hold out much longer," Quagmire replied as he started the car. He picked up his walkie-talkie and shouted, "Hey, hey, hey! This is Quagmire, Luca''s with us!"


    "I''m not deaf, keep it down," came Coarmy''s resigned voice from the walkie-talkie. After a brief pause, he said in a serious tone, "Hurry up and get there. The officers on-site have suffered heavy casualties. These guys are tough."


    "Don''t worry, it''s just over a hundred kilometers. Give me half an hour," Quagmire said nonchntly. He threw his cigarette butt out of the window, then shed a grin at the others in the backseat. "Friendly reminder, everyone, buckle up!"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, Luca felt the car''s engine roar to life.


    Vroom!! The engine exploded with power!


    The immense eleration made everyone in the car rock slightly in their seats.


    Luca couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.


    Couldn''t this guy at least wait until they had their seatbelts on?!


    One car after another was overtaken, and the scenery outside the windows blurred into nothing but a streak of colors.


    The Hellcat raced toward the outskirts like a streak of ck lightning.


    Though Quagmire''s driving was a bit reckless, his skills behind the wheel were undeniable. The car was so nimble in his hands that he didn''t even need to slow down to overtake others. He even managed to push the car to 200 kilometers per hour through the city streets.


    Once they were out of the city, Quagmire really let loose. Thendscape outside turned into nothing more than a colorful blur, and Luca and the others felt like their internal organs and brains were riding a roller coaster.


    The site of the Transcendent incident was located in the ck Mountain, which straddled the boundary between Celephais and the nearby Shen City. It was about a hundred kilometers from where Luca and the others were, and the area was sparsely popted, a mountainous region with winding, steep roads that were a challenge for even the most seasoned climbers.


    True to his word, Quagmire didn''t take a single minute longer than the promised half-hour.


    When they arrived, the mountains were already sealed off, and a group of officers were waiting for them at the mountain pass. When they saw the Hellcat tearing through the winding roads, they initially thought it was a Marauder approaching.


    It wasn''t until the car came to a halt that they realized it was the people they were waiting for.


    The moment the car door opened, Donlow bolted out as if fleeing for her life.


    "Ugh¡ª" She bent over, vomiting uncontrobly at the side of the mountain road. Other than Luca, whose physical strength was up to the task, the others weren''t in any better shape.


    Mnia leaned against the mountain wall, her face a mask of despair, as though life itself had lost all meaning. Fuzzsir was holding his head, swaying unsteadily as he muttered, "My head... feels a bit dizzy..."


    As he spoke, he suddenly copsed forward, about to tumble down the mountain. Luckily, Luca was quick on his feet and grabbed the back of Fuzzsir''s cor just in time. If he had fallen, even if he didn''t die, it would have taken him forever to climb back up.


    "Captain, from now on, maybe you should stop driving," Luca said, looking at Quagmire, who acted as if nothing was wrong. He was speechless. They hadn''t even seen the monster yet, and they had already lost half of their team to Quagmire''s driving...


    "Cough! We were in a hurry," Quagmire shrugged it off, then turned to the officers who hade to meet them. Changing the subject, he said, "We''re special personnel here to handle the situation. Do you know what''s going on?"


    With that, he pulled out his Morning Star credentials and handed them over.


    The officer in charge took the credentials, nced at them, and immediately wore a serious expression.


    He respectfully returned the credentials to Quagmire, gave a slight bow, and said in a deep voice, "We can only confirm a general location at the moment. The enemy is very cunning, and every time our people enter the mountains, they''re ambushed and killed. So far, we''ve lost over a dozen officers."


    His fist clenched, and he continued with a solemn expression, "Please, you must avenge them!"


    Over a dozen officers were dead? Those words made everyone''s hearts skip a beat.


    Even Luca was a little surprised. After all, the officers searching the mountains were all armed to the teeth. If they were dealing with an ordinary low-level monster, there would be no way it could overpower them.


    It seemed they were indeed dealing with a troublesome opponent.


    "Do you know what it is?" Quagmire asked, but the officer could only shake his head in helplessness. "We can''t see it clearly. It''s too fast. Even with high-speed cameras, all we can capture is a blur of ck. The forensic experts estimate it''s probably some kind ofrge wild beast based on the wounds."


    The group exchanged nces, frowning. They didn''t know the monster''s exact power, and they didn''t even know what it was. Even if they encountered it alone, it could still pose a serious threat.


    But with such arge mountain range, they couldn''t possibly cover it all together. Luca observed the terrain of the forest, thought for a moment, and suggested, "Let''s each take a team of officers, no more than a hundred meters apart, and search horizontally. We should be able to cover the entire area in a few hours."


    The others looked around at the terrain and nodded in agreement. This was the only viable n they had.


    After the earlier incident, all the officers had pulled back from the forest. There were now only about thirty remaining here. Luca and the others each led a group of five or six officers, armed and equipped with radios and ammunition, and began their search of the mountainous area.


    Several helicopters hovered above, their rotors thrumming loudly in the sky. Although the sun was shining, the dense forest below felt damp and shadowy. Only when the leaves rustled did some scattered sunlight filter through. The ground was covered in thick vegetation, which obstructed visibility. It was easy to imagine how the monster could easily hide in such a ce.


    This was likely why they hadn''t been able to locate the creature. Infrared and simr detection devices were useless against monsters. They could only rely on their eyes, so the group moved with extreme caution.


    Luca held a standard-issue Morning Star long de, scanning the area around him. It wasn''t that he couldn''t use a handgun; it was just that cold weapons were more effective against monsters. Those creatures were incredibly agile, and hitting them with a gun would be much harder.


    They hadn''t walked for long when Luca suddenly furrowed his brow. Without being able to use his mental abilities to scan a wide area, the search was proving to be even more difficult than he''d anticipated. If they kept searching slowly for that one monster, they could end up wasting an entire day in these mountains.


    There simply wasn''t time to waste.


    Luca narrowed his eyes, and a flicker of eerie blue light shed across them.


    Eye of Insight, activate!


    In an instant, countless elemental particles appeared in his vision. They floated gently in the air, like colorful gemstones scattered across thendscape.


    Since the area had a strong wood element, the most prominent color in the surrounding magic was green. This made it much easier to track down the monster. All Luca needed to do was follow the trail of the densest magical aura.


    He nced at the surroundings, then turned to the officers behind him. "Everyone, stay close and pick up the pace!"


    "Yes, sir!" The officers were a little surprised. They had only just started, yet it seemed Luca had already picked up on the monster''s trail?


    Though they were confused, they didn''t hesitate and immediately followed his lead.


    Your next read is at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    Luca''s speed was impressive; his movements were as agile as a monkey''s, darting through the forest with ease.


    The officers behind him were left in awe¡ªso therewassuch a thing as a real-life Spider-Man.


    A few minutester, a wisp of ck magic appeared in the distance. Luca paused on a tree, carefully inspecting it. He noticed that the magic was slowly dissipating, meaning the monster had likely passed through here about half an hour ago.


    Without any hesitation, he followed the lingering magical aura, determined to catch up.


    With his current abilities, he wasn''t afraid of an ambush.


    As he got closer, the magical energy became denser. But then, something felt off.


    The magic around him started to feel chaotic, with some areas thick with energy, while others were much weaker. And the direction... why did it seem like he was getting closer to Donlow''s team?


    Just as he was thinking this.


    A loudbang¡ªthe sharp crack of a gunshot¡ªsuddenly shattered the silence of the forest.


    Immediately after, there was a barrage of gunfire, followed by screams and the continuous roar of beasts!


    Luca''s pupils contracted sharply.


    Shit, the intel was wrong!


    There wasn''t just one monster here¡ªthere was awhole pack!

 Chapter 190 Rescue! Devil Monkeys! These Monkeys Are So Cute!

    There was no time toin about Coarmy''s ipetence. Luca immediately grabbed the radio and shouted angrily, "Everyone, listen up! There''s more than one monster in the mountains, be extremely careful!"


    Almost simultaneously, Donlow''s voice crackled through the radio. She said anxiously, "Damn it! There are at least thirty monsters here! Don''te over, go get reinforcements!"


    "Thirty?!" Quagmire and the police outside were stunned upon hearing this. How could so many monsters suddenly appear in the ck Mountain?


    "We... we only saw one monster..." The sheriff in charge of blocking the mountains broke into a cold sweat. Before this, they hadn''t imagined there would be other monsters in ck Mountain. After all, this was their first time encountering such terrifying creatures, and they hadn''t even seen them clearly. How could they have predicted that these monsters would be a pack?


    "Dammit! Everyone, listen up! Withdraw from ck Mountain immediately!" After swearing, Quagmire made a quick decision. They could handle a few dozen monsters, but no one knew how many were actually in the forest. If these creatures escaped ck Mountain, who knew what kind of chaos they would cause?


    The most important thing now was to ry this information back to headquarters and have them send armed forces and heavy firepower to prevent the situation from escting. As for Donlow and the soldiers... there was no time to worry about them now.


    The other voices over the radio remained silent.


    This wasn''t the first time Morning Star had suffered casualties, but this situation was different from all the others. They had to make the painful decision to abandon their teammates and watch as they were ughtered by the monsters.


    Donlow, however, remained calm and even tried tofort everyone. Discover more stories at m,v l''e-NovelBin


    Sheughed and said, "The moment I joined Morning Star, I knew I might have to sacrifice myself. If I was afraid of dying, I wouldn''t have joined this organization. Besides, we might still manage to escape."


    There was a moment of silence on the radio beforemands to retreat starteding through. Now was not the time for sorrow. If these monsters broke out of ck Mountain, it wouldn''t just be Celephais at risk; even the nearby Shen City could suffer. They had to act quickly.


    Luca removed his headset and turned to the police officers behind him. "You guys withdraw as well."


    The officers nodded and quickly headed toward the mountain exit.


    They didn''t notice that Luca, who was supposed to leave with them, hadn''t followed. Instead, he disappeared deeper into the forest.


    That direction was exactly where Donlow and the others were located.


    His figure moved through the woods with the speed of a cheetah, the surrounding scenery rapidly retreating behind him.


    This wasn''t Luca''s first time experiencing such a situation. He had faced countless simr encounters in his previous life. Normally, by all logic, he should be retreating right now.


    And since Donlow had survived in his past life, it meant she had definitely made it through this crisis as well.


    The reason Luca stayed behind was because he sensed that something wasn''t right. It was impossible for ck Mountain to suddenly have this many monsters. There was most likely a Spatial Node here, and it was probably located where Donlow and her team were.


    Considering the timing, it was about right. The fall of Celephais in his previous life wasn''t due to a single node eruption. Instead, it was a chain reaction¡ªcountless nodes inside and outside the city were triggered, and countless monsters poured out.


    Before anyone could react, the city had already fallen.


    Now that he had encountered this again in this life, he couldn''t just ignore these nodes.


    And the best way to speed up his progress in the game was to make contact with a Spatial Node.


    Such opportunities were rare, and this was a perfect chance.


    Fortunately, Luca was already close to Donlow.


    As Luca drew nearer, the sounds from the area grew louder. The noise was deafening, with gunfire mixed with screams, roars, and the terrifying shrieks and growls of monstrous creatures.


    When Luca arrived, the first thing that caught his eye was a ck-furred creature resembling a monkey.


    There were about dozens of them, their eyes pitch ck. Their bodies were simr to regr monkeys, but they had pale, ghastly faces twisted into unnaturally eerie, stiff smiles.


    They moved with incredible speed, their ws like steel knives, easily capable of piercing through a person''s body. These creatures had surrounded Donlow and the police officers she was leading. Two officers had been gutted, lying on the ground, barely breathing. The others had sustained various injuries. Donlow was at the front, bravely standing her ground, while the others provided covering fire, barely managing to fend off the monster assault.


    "Devil Monkeys?" Luca narrowed his eyes, recognizing these creatures. Devil Monkeys were a fairlymon monster inter stages of the game, but their power wasn''t considered top-tier.


    That was after the game had been on the decline for years, and they were pack creatures, which made them extremely troublesome. He hadn''t expected to encounter such a level of monster this early on.


    Without hesitation, Luca drew his standard-issue long knife. A gust of wind appeared around him, and he moved like lightning, charging directly toward the monsters ahead.


    "Screech!" One of the Devil Monkeys noticed Luca and bared its teeth, emitting a sharp, shrill roar as it lunged toward him.


    "Seeking death!" Luca snorted coldly. Red magic runes appeared around him, and the long knife in his hand turned crimson at a visible speed.


    He suddenly pushed off the ground with all his strength, his already incredible speed skyrocketing once more! In the blink of an eye, he shot forward like an arrow, reaching the monster in front of him before it even had a chance to react.


    The Devil Monkey froze for a moment, realizing toote that this human in front of it seemed... different.


    But it was already toote. Luca''s gaze turned cold as he gripped the knife handle tightly. His wrist twisted, and in one fluid motion, he swung downward!


    The crimson de streaked through the forest in an instant!


    "Thwip!!"


    The Devil Monkey froze in ce, blood erupting from its body like a fountain!


    Before the other monsters could react, Luca was already in their midst. In a sh, the de danced like a torrential storm, spraying foul blood in every direction!


    By the time the other monsters realized what was happening, three or four of them had already fallen beneath Luca''s de.


    "Screeek!!!" The sharp, piercing shriek of the Devil Monkeys echoed through the entire forest. These monsters were highly vengeful by nature, and seeing so many of their kin ughtered, five or six of them immediately charged toward Luca.


    At the same time, Donlow and the others noticed Luca''s arrival. They all showed a brief expression of surprise and relief, but when they saw that he was alone, disappointment quickly reced their initial joy. The number of monsters was just too great¡ªone person alone could never turn the tide.


    "Is this guy trying to get himself killed?" Donlow muttered, her fist smashing through the skull of one Devil Monkey. She clenched her teeth, feeling both touched and angry.


    Just a moment ago, she thought Luca was a rational person, but now he was acting recklessly.


    Now, they were all going to die here.


    The other officers couldn''t help but sigh as well. But there was no time to dwell on it. They immediately began shooting to cover Luca, trying to prevent him from being overwhelmed by the monsters.


    But then they realized, they had been worrying for nothing.


    More than a dozen Devil Monkeys surged toward Luca, surrounding himpletely.


    Yet, not a single attacknded on him.


    A faint cyan glow appeared around Luca''s body as he moved like a ghost, effortlessly weaving through the monsters, as if he were casually strolling through a park.


    At the same time, his standard-issue long knife continued to strike down, each blow resulting in a Devil Monkey''s head being severed from its body.


    Even with more than a dozen monsters attacking him, they could do nothing. In fact, Luca even killed a few more of them in the process. This scene left everyone on the scene stunned.


    "This kid... he''s so strong!" One of the officers widened his eyes, unable to contain his amazement. They had seen their fair share of skilled fighters¡ªsome had participated in militarybatpetitions, and others had even subdued multiple criminals in hand-to-handbat.


    But these Devil Monkeys weren''t just ordinary beings¡ªthey were ruthless, bloodthirsty monsters that killed without hesitation. If it had been any of them facing the monsters, they would''ve been torn to pieces in the blink of an eye.


    They were all too aware of the terrifying nature of these monsters, which made them even more impressed by Luca''s absurd strength.


    "Truly deserving of being in a special forces unit. He really is something else," one of the officersmented, genuinely amazed. Little did they know, Donlow, also a yer, was just as stunned.


    "His strength... how has it increased so much?" She muttered to herself, astonished at how quickly Luca''s power had grown.


    She remembered that Luca wasn''t this overpowered just a few days ago¡ªhow had he changed so drastically in such a short time?


    In the dimly lit forest, the young man wielded his long knife, his eyes alight with a fierce glow, moving with incredible agility as he weaved through the encirclement of more than a dozen Devil Monkeys.


    The majority of the monsters'' attention was now focused on him, which instantly relieved some of the pressure on Donlow and the others.


    "Increase firepower, break through!" They all saw a glimmer of hope for survival. Their expressions lit up with excitement, and their attacks grew more intense.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang!" The continuous sound of gunfire drowned out the roar of the monsters. Several officers opened fire with their APC-9 submachine guns, while Donlow''s body radiated a faint crimson aura. Despite her smaller frame, she wielded a heavy sword with surprising force, cleaving one of the monsters cleanly in half from head to toe.


    Just then, a cursing voice suddenly rang out from the forest.


    "My legs are about to fall off, and I still got here toote." Everyone turned their heads to see Quagmire, carrying a sword and puffing on a cigarette, walking out of the woods.


    Behind him were Fuzzsir and Mnia. They hadn''t left the forest with the police but had instead chosen to support Donlow, though they were slower than Luca.


    "You guys..." Donlow nearly burst into tears at the sight of them. Quagmire shed a grin and said, "It''s just a few dozen monsters, what''s there to be afraid of? Watch how I hack them to pieces!"


    Fuzzsir, on the other hand, was staring at the ck-furred, white-faced monkeys, his eyes sparkling with excitement.


    "They''re so cute!" he eximed, his face lighting up with delight.


    Luca''s lips twitched twice. In the end, he couldn''t be bothered toment on the guy''s taste.

 Chapter 191 The Node Appears! What Is He Doing? The Rift in Black Mountain!

    "Rescue." Mnia said as she pulled a small dagger from who knows where.


    Before her words even settled, she had already dashed into the monster horde.


    Her speed was so quick that it left afterimages behind.


    Faint, ghostly blue light flickered beneath her feet.


    It was the assassin''s low-tier skill¡ªShadow Step!


    Fuzzsir didn''t use any weapons.


    Instead, he bent down, cing his hand on the grass, and a gray magical array suddenly expanded beneath him.


    It was the Necromancer ss skill¡ªReanimation of the Dead!


    Streams of death energy surged into the bodies of several Devil Monkeys.


    The corpses, riddled with bullet holes, suddenly twitched violently.


    Then, with the horrified gazes of several officers, their eyes snapped open, and they shot upright from the ground.


    Green mes burned wildly in their eyes, an eerie and terrifying sight.


    Fuzzsir nodded in satisfaction, seemingly pleased with his new "toys."


    With a gentle smile, he addressed the monsters, saying, "Kill them all. Not a single one left."


    Instantly, four or five of the reanimated Devil Monkeys, as though receiving amand, charged toward their still-living kin.


    The situation hadpletely reversed in an instant!


    Luca had been keeping over a dozen of the monsters upied by himself, and after Quagmire and the others arrived, Donlow, who had been on the defensive, began to take the offensive.


    Despite their overwhelming numbers, these Devil Monkeys were still just low-tier monsters. Under the fierce onught from Luca and the others, they began to falter.


    These monsters were clearly more intelligent than the average creature. Seeing things turning against them, they started to retreat. First, one fled, then two, then three, until the entire pack began a full retreat.


    "Don''t chase them. There might be other monsters in the forest. We need to rescue the others first." Luca cut a Devil Monkey in half with a swift sh, then called out to Quagmire and the others, who were too caught up in the carnage.


    Hearing this, Quagmire and the others finally stopped their pursuit.


    "We''re finally alive!" Donlow threw her heavy sword aside, copsing to the ground without any care for her appearance.


    Her chest rose and fell in rapid breaths, her forehead slick with sweat, and her body was covered in numerous wounds.


    The deepest was on her abdomen, almost as if her stomach had been ripped open. Fresh, crimson blood poured from the wound, soaking through her white T-shirt.


    The others were in no better condition. One of the officers had his arm bitten off by a Devil Monkey and had lost too much blood. He was unconscious and urgently needed medical treatment.


    Quagmire and the others quickly helped the injured to their feet, preparing to get them out of there.


    Luca, however, was looking toward the direction where the Devil Monkeys had fled, his eyes shining with a sharp glint. If there really was a Node in ck Mountain, it was most likely in that direction...


    "What are you looking at? Let''s go." Donlow, having regained some strength, spoke up, interrupting Luca''s thoughts. Just as he was about to suggest they leave, Luca''s expression suddenly changed, and he looked toward the direction he had been observing earlier.


    At the same time, the ground beneath them began to violently tremble.


    "Roar!!!" A deafening roar echoed through the forest, and ck demonic energy surged into the sky, causing everyone''s expressions to shift in rm.


    This was... a Node?!


    "As expected, it''s here." Luca''s gaze turned cold.


    Without a second thought, he charged straight toward the direction where the Node had activated.


    By the time Quagmire and the others reacted, all they could see was his retreating back.


    "Shit, what is this kid nning to do?" Quagmire said, his face full of shock.


    The others were equally baffled.


    Only Mnia''s eyes shifted as she said, "Does he n to find the Node?"


    "He''s out of his mind. Who knows how many monsters are inside the Node? He''s basically walking to his death!" Quagmire almost felt dizzy from the frustration.


    There was no time to think further. He lowered the officer he had been carrying and turned to Donlow and the others. "You guys leave first. I''ll go bring that kid back."


    "I''m going with you," Mnia immediately replied.


    "I''m going to deliver my head too," Fuzzsir said seriously.


    Donlow was about to say something.


    When Quagmire cut her off with a scowl. "Don''t cause trouble. Mnia and I will go. If we run into any danger, with our speed, we can get out of it. You guys following us won''t help."


    Fuzzsir wasn''t happy with that. "You''re human, I''m human too. If you can deliver your head, I can deliver mine. Why can you go, and I can''t? You''re discriminating against mentally ill people!"


    Quagmire''s face darkened. He kicked Fuzzsir in the rear and shouted, "Get lost!"


    Although their strength was rated S, that was inparison to humans. When it came to monsters, especially a monster horde, the difference between them and ordinary humans was that they might have time to strike a cool pose before being devoured. It was still death either way.


    Fuzzsir and Donlow both looked reluctant, but Quagmire couldn''t help rolling his eyes. He had never seen anyone so eager to rush to their own death. He really couldn''t rely on any of them.


    Meanwhile, as Luca ventured deeper into ck Mountain, the fluctuations of the Node became more and more pronounced, along with a thick, suffocating demonic aura.


    Compared to the Nodes Luca had encountered before, this one had much less demonic energy and weaker fluctuations. There was a high chance that no high-level monsters would emerge.


    However, Luca did not let his guard down. After all, this was reality, not a game. He focused his mind, and a magnificent silver-white magic rune appeared around him, with frost spreading over the de of his sword.


    "Frostborn" activated with a forceful surge!


    Luca''s aura suddenly skyrocketed, and he transformed into a streak of silver-white light, quickly closing in on his target.


    The demon monkeys that had been fleeing in panic were still scrambling, unaware that behind them, a white reaper was fast approaching.


    Luca didn''t rush to strike. Instead, his gaze fixed on the area further ahead. ck mist enveloped the forest, and the light seemed to be swallowed by it, creating an eerie and mysterious atmosphere.


    "This should be it," he muttered under his breath, a chill creeping into his eyes. In his previous life, when the monster horde erupted, Celephais and the surrounding cities had all fallen. The disaster had been so sudden that by the time others reacted, Celephais had already be a paradise for monsters, and it wasn''t until Luca''s rebirth that the Human Race managed to reim it.


    Now, he finally had a chance to do something about it.


    After ncing at the few remaining demon monkeys, which had slowed their retreat, Luca focused again. He gathered more cold energy around his sword, and ice crystals began to form along the de.


    With a sudden burst of power, Luca shot forward like a great bird, heading straight for the fleeing demon monkeys.


    Luca had only spared these monkeys earlier to use them as a guide. Now that he had found the Node, there was no longer any need to keep them alive.


    After the previous battle, over thirty demon monkeys had been reduced to fewer than ten. They were almost at the Node, and the remaining monkeys had begun to rx, thinking they were nearly safe.


    But at that very moment, one of the demon monkeys suddenly felt an overwhelming chill sweep over its body.


    Before it could figure out what was happening, the world seemed to spin around it, and it found itself staring at the decapitated body of one of its kin, standing straight up with blood pouring out like a fountain.


    At the same time, it saw a white figure darting toward the rest of the monkeys.


    "Screech! Screech!!" The terrified and enraged scream of the demon monkey shattered the silence of the forest.


    The remaining demon monkeys looked at Luca with eyes full of fury. They couldn''t believe that this human had actually dared to chase them down and attack them!


    Without hesitation, a group of demon monkeys charged at Luca, intent on making this damned human pay for his actions.


    Luca''s gaze remained indifferent as he focused on condensing the frost around his sword¡­


    Three minutester...


    He took a step forward, heading deeper into the forest.


    Behind him, statues of frozen demon monkeys stood, their expressions filled with fear, frozen in ce.


    A chilling white mist rose from their bodies and slowly dissipated.


    Less than ten minutes after Luca''s departure...


    Two figures dropped down from the trees.


    "So this kid wasn''t even using his full strength before?" Quagmire stared at the ice sculptures before him, each one looking like a piece of art. He tapped one of the frozen demon monkey statues, which was encased in solid ice, and clicked his tongue. "I''d bet that his power in the game has already reached Gold Grade. No wonder he''s brave enough to go after the Node alone."


    Mnia, however, was focused on a footprint Luca had left in the dirt. Her eyes gleamed with a dark light.


    After observing for a moment, she slowly shook her head. "At least tinum."


    Quagmire froze for a moment, surprised. "Seriously? There are only a handful of people who can reach tinum Grade at this stage, and they''re all the top yers."


    He himself was only at Gold Grade, and that was after relentlessly grinding every day. He couldn''t quite wrap his head around what kind of freakish yer could level up so quickly to tinum.


    Mnia didn''t respond verbally, just nodded, then turned her head and continued moving toward the heart of the forest. What Quagmire didn''t notice was the deep confusion that shed across her eyes after she turned away.


    In truth, Mnia had been conservative in her assessment. If she were to go by her real guess, Luca''s strength in the game might have already reached the High Tier. But that theory was far too shocking. Even she wasn''t sure she could believe it.


    Meanwhile, as Luca ventured deeper into ck Mountain, the surrounding magical energy grew thicker. The already dim forest became even darker, filled with an oppressive and eerie atmosphere.


    He hadn''t walked far into the depths of ck Mountain when he encountered other monsters. They weren''t demon monkeys, but instead solitary, decayed wolves, which weren''t very strong.


    After swiftly killing the wolf, he continued forward, only to encounter a Titan boa constrictor. And as he got closer to the Node, the number of monsters he faced seemed to increase.


    Ghost foxes, phantom butterflies, undead ghouls, and all kinds of other eerie creatures roamed the area.


    Though their strength wasn''t much, their numbers were overwhelming. Still, none of them posed any real threat to Luca, and they were all easily in. The difference in his power with and without using Superss magic runes was night and day.


    By the time Luca reached the abyss-like crack that marked the Node''s location.


    Dozens of monsters had already fallen beneath his sword!

 Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Under the Sky, All Are Ants! The Saintess and the Queen! Self-Defense!

    With his Earth-level strength, he was defeated in a single strike by a tinum Grade professional?!


    Karle was engulfed by the shadow of death, his eyes filled with fear.


    He didn''t have time to think further. Enduring the intense pain, he summoned a burst of terrifying divine mes around him, hoping to force his opponent back.


    Luca''s gaze flickered, and with a twist of his wrist.


    Icences shot out in an instant, blood sttering as they froze into a blood-red blossom.


    "Ahhh!!!" The sudden pain caused Karle to let out a heart-wrenching scream. The agony was so intense he almost lost consciousness right there.


    "He killed him!" A terrified scream echoed through the streets as the crowd panicked, fleeing in all directions, desperately trying to distance themselves from this dangerous ce.


    Of course, there were also some who eagerly found a safe spot to watch the spectacle.


    After all, the chances of encountering a Marauder in Dawn City were rarer than winning the lottery. Moreover, this was an attack on someone from the Dawn God Sect¡ªsuch an event, one that might not happen in a lifetime, was definitely not something to miss!


    High above, Karle, severely wounded, clutched his abdomen and staggered backward, his face pale and panic-stricken. He dared not dy. Golden holy light red from his hands, and he immediately used a healing skill to try to restore his injuries.


    Superss Healing Skill ¨C Divine Revival!


    Divine light enveloped his wound, but to Karle''s astonishment, his abdominal injury showed no sign of healing. Instead, an intensely cold force surged through the wound, freezing his body before the holy light could even begin to heal him.


    Such terrifying ice magic!


    A deep sense of dread filled Karle''s heart as he quickly pulled several bottles of Superss potions from his storage ring and drank them. Only then was he able to barely resist the icy corruption in the wound and stabilize his injuries.


    "Dawn God Sect..." Luca didn''t rush to strike. Noticing the familiar holy aura, a cold light shed in his eyes.


    Earlier, the Sr Divine Spear had shared its conversation with the Lord of the Sun. Since the Goddess of Dawn had already died in the Divine Cataclysm, the one guiding the Sr Divine Spear was most likely an impostor¡ªpossibly even an Ancient God in disguise.


    If that were the case, the Dawn God Sect might have already been corrupted. What surprised Luca, however, was that before he could go after them, these fanatics had already attacked him first.


    "You damned lunatic! How dare you attack a Dawn Cleric! I will take you to court and have you judged!" Karle''s injuries quickly began to heal. Aside from his pale face and the bloodstains on his abdomen, he appeared to be mostly recovered, even finding the strength to turn the truth upside down.


    "use me?"Blood continued to drip from the icences in Luca''s hand as he calmly spoke. "You probably won''t have the chance."


    As his words fell, silver light shed. His figure instantly vanished, and the next moment, he appeared right in front of Karle. With a twist of his wrist, the icences, brimming with unparalleled force, were thrust unhesitatingly toward Karle''s head!


    Now that Luca knew the man''s identity, there was no need to leave any survivors.


    "Madman!"Karle cursed, channeling the power of Dawn within him, about to dodge the attack, when suddenly his face changed. His eyes filled with terror as he looked down at his feet.


    Cold mist rose from his legs, and silver-white frost had already frozen his body without him even noticing.


    Superss Ice Skill ¨C Frost Touch!


    "Wait..."Karle''s expression was frantic as he tried to beg for mercy.


    But Luca showed no sign of hesitation.


    A chilling blue light streaked through the air, its sharp force shooting into the sky!


    Boom¡ª!


    Blood and bone sprayed in all directions as Karle''s head exploded with a violent crack!


    Frost immediately formed on his body''s surface, and his headless corpse stiffened for a moment before plummeting from the sky, crashing to the ground in shattered pieces.


    Flesh, blood, and bones turned into ice crystals, scattering across the ground and reflecting eerie light under the sunlight!


    Witnessing this horrifying scene, the crowd erupted into a chorus of terrified screams.


    "Aaaahhh¡ª!"


    "He killed him! He killed him!"


    "Run! Run!"


    "The Enforcers! The Enforcers!"


    Bystanders, like headless chickens, scrambled to escape in panic.


    All eyes turned to the young man, gazing at him as if he were a demon, their hearts gripped with intense fear.


    How dare he kill someone from the Dawn God Sect right here in Dawn City? In all the decades they had lived, they had never seen such audacity¡ªsuch a ruthless viin!


    Luca, as if unaffected, raised his eyes to the crowd, his gaze locking onto seven masked figures in red robes.


    With a flick of his fingers, he said coldly, "Your turn,ckeys of the Phillips family."


    The leader of the masked figures darkened his expression, but he didn''t rush to act. Luca''s strength far surpassed their expectations¡ªhe had just obliterated a Dawn God Sect cleric in an instant. With their abilities, they doubted they couldplete Young Master Finn''s task.


    He subtly signaled to one of hispanions, who immediately understood. The figure cast a wary nce at Luca, then slowly retreated into the shadows, preparing to return and report.


    But what happened next stunned everyone. Just a few steps into his retreat, the man suddenly froze, his body stiffening before copsing to the ground.


    "What''s happening?"The others instinctively looked over and saw that the fallen figure was covered inyers of frost, transforming into a frozen statue within mere seconds.


    "This kid''s ice power is no joke!"The leader, the Ghost King, thought to himself in shock. After all, the man who had just been killed was a Diamond-level professional, and yet, he had been silently and effortlessly taken down in an instant!


    He gritted his teeth and said to the few people behind him, "You all hold him off. I''ll go back and report."


    The remaining five were about to nod in agreement.


    When they suddenly froze,pletely confused.


    Wait¡ªwhat do you mean, yougo back and report? Shouldn''t it be usholding him off while you go back to report?


    But unfortunately, this was not the time to dwell on such things.


    The leader, the Superss Ghost King, exuded a powerful aura of bloodlust. His body turned into a streak of blood light, shooting straight into the sky, without a word, turning around to flee.


    "Trying to run?"Luca snorted coldly. There was no way he was letting them escape so easily. His eyes shed with a deep blue gleam, and his overwhelming ice-based power exploded with a thunderous roar!


    With a wave of his hand, ice-blue runes appeared in the sky, quickly tracing out paths of rune crafting. In the blink of an eye, they coalesced into a massive blue array.


    Sharp ice pirs, covered in thorny patterns, rained down from the sky, trapping the group within.


    Superss Ice Skill ¨C Thorned Ice Prison!


    The temperature plummeted, and a dense mist of white vapor swirled around. To avoid harming the civilians, Luca refrained from using direct offensive skills. Instead, he first sought to restrain the group, intending to deal with them properly once the civilians were safely out of the way.


    The Ghost King had yet to escape, and the ice-crystal vines shot toward him. Though the Ghost King was fast, stopping abruptly and sidestepping at thest moment to narrowly avoid the thorns, he had already lost the only chance to escape.


    "Damn it!"His expression darkened, realizing that getting away was now nearly impossible.


    "All of you, attack together!"The Ghost King gritted his teeth, blood-red long de materializing in his hand. He red fiercely at Luca, not believing that someone still not even at the high-tier level could possibly trap all of them here!


    The others exchanged determined nces, seeing the same resolve in each other''s eyes. They drew their weapons, fully aware that this was now a fight to the death.


    The seven high-tier professionals'' blood energy erupted, theirbined aura creating a terrifying, menacing force.


    But Luca barely took notice of them, even smirking coldly. "You''re overestimating yourselves."


    As soon as his words finished, dazzling blue light red from his body. Frost gathered in the air, and he descended like a blue meteor, hurtling towards the seven figures below!


    If this had happened before, Luca would have been hard-pressed to handle them.


    But ever since emerging from the Divine Ruins, to him, anyone below Sky-level was nothing but ants!


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the Dawn God Sect.As dawn broke, the silent prayer hall echoed with the sound of prayers.


    Before the statue of the Goddess of Dawn, a graceful figure dressed in a magnificent royal robe was praying devoutly.


    Beside her, the Saintess, Joanna Evan, in her white divine robes, held the Holy Bible, her eyes closed as she recited her prayers.


    Both generations of Saintesses were extraordinary beauties, and standing together, they shared simr poise and figures, giving them the appearance of a mother and daughter.


    "You called for me at a time like this. I wonder what''s going on?"After the prayer ritual had finished, Queen Matildaspoke up, her tone curious.


    Saintess Joannakept her eyes closed, speaking calmly, "The Goddess''s representative has been chosen, but to fulfill the prophecy, we still need the Dreamweaving power of Jormungandr."


    "Unfortunately, that person died in the Divine Ruins. Acquiring it will likely take some effort."


    "The Divine Court Ruins?"Matilda narrowed her eyes slightly, "That''s certainly troublesome. The divine essence left behind by the gods still lingers there. If we rush in, we might expose our ns, and retrieving that item will be even harder."


    Joanna responded quietly, "You''re right. The reason I''ve brought you here is to see if you cane up with a solution to this. If nothing else works, we might have to forcibly invoke the Goddess''s descent. It would still fulfill the prophecy, but the Goddess might not be pleased with that."


    Matilda paused for a moment, then nodded slightly. "I will find a way to resolve this."


    "The Goddess will remember your efforts."Joanna gave a small nod and made a five-pointed star gesture in prayer.


    "All for the Dawn."Queen Matilda gazed at the Goddess''s statue with a calm expression, also making the five-pointed star gesture across her chest.


    Afterward, she turned to leave, and Joanna began to see her off.


    Just then, both of them suddenly froze and looked up towards a street in Dawn City.


    A powerful presence surged into the sky, followed by the appearance of a blue magic array. Four thorned ice pirs rained down from the sky,pletely surrounding the area, turning it into an icy prison!


    "He actually¡­ gained the gods'' approval?"Joanna muttered, and despite her eyes being tightly closed, one could still feel the astonishment in her voice.


    "No matter how he managed it¡­"Matilda''s eyes narrowed slightly as she observed, "It seems I don''t need to take the risk of entering the Divine Ruins anymore."

 Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Are you sure it was Luca? Fratiss life! Weren’t you already dead?

    It wasn''t just the Queen and Saintess of Dawn God Sect. Countless powerful figures in Dawn Citysensed the disturbance caused by Luca.


    Everyone was bewildered, unable to understand why this newly titled Count had gone mad, daring to kill in Dawn Cityof all ces.


    In an instant, all the powerful individuals in Dawn Citywere on the move.


    Streaks of light cut through the sky as they raced toward Luca''s location.


    The Dawn Cityenforcers also received reports and immediately dispatched numerous city guards to maintain order.


    However, when everyone arrived at the scene, they were stunned.


    Four towering thorned ice pirs stood in the streets, and the entire area was covered in frost. Large shards of ice littered the ground, and the blood and flesh glistened under the sunlight, reflecting a shimmering light.


    The Ghost King, holding his long sword, was kneeling on the ground, his head tilted back as he stared at the empty street. His expression was one of shock and despair, his face frozen in an agonized look, almost like a piece of art¡ªyet it sent a chill down the spines of everyone who saw it.


    The Dawn God Sect''spriests and followers, along with the Phillips family''s Ghost Kingand Masked Figures, numbered twelve high-level professionals, including two Superss individuals! All of them had been killed on the spot!


    This scene left everyone present deeply shaken. What kind of person could possess such terrifying strength?


    A high-ranking noble gasped in shock, saying, "From the start of the battle to now, it''s only been about ten minutes. To kill two Superss individuals and twelve high-level professionals, that would require at least a Sky-level Superss. When did such a madman arrive in Dawn City¡­"


    Another Earth-level Superss shook his head and said, **"The opponent''s strength is far beyond that. I recognize both of them. One was Karle Lyman, a Holy Knightof the Dawn God Sect, a Earth-levelwarrior.


    "The other was Rafe Ward, one of the Phillips family''sseven Ghost Kings, a Sky-level Crimson Mage.


    "These two were no ordinary professionals. For someone to kill both of them here, that person must have at least the raw strength to take on a Star-levelopponent."**


    As soon as these words were spoken, the area fell silent. In the entire Clinton Empire, Star-levelSuperss warriors were a rarity¡ªthose who had touched the threshold of the Transcendentrealm. Each of them was likely a legendary figure. No one could say for sure who was responsible for this massacre.


    Soon, the enforcer who had gone to question the witnesses returned.


    "How is this possible..."His face was dazed, his eyes wide with shock, as if he had just received some unimaginable information.


    Curiosity sparked in the minds of many.


    The noble who had previously spoken up asked, "Did you find out who the killer is?"


    The enforcer hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying, "We''ve found out. You''ve probably all heard of him, but..."


    "Stop stalling and just say who it is!" another person urged.


    The enforcer let out a bitterugh and said, "ording to the witnesses, it seems to be Luca the Count. After all, he''s the only one of that age..."


    "Luca the Count?"Many of the stronger individuals who weren''t following events outside the city looked confused. They couldn''t understand why they should care about a mere Count, especially one who had such powerful strength.


    Augustine, however, paused for a moment before asking, "Are you sure it''s Luca?"


    Not just him¡ªthose who knew Luca had expressions of disbelief.


    One person skeptically asked, "Could they have mistaken him? Isn''t Luca the Count only eighteen? And isn''t he just a mid-tier professional? How could he have possibly killed so many powerful people?"


    The enforcer helplessly responded, "I can hardly believe it myself, but the description of Luca the Count matches his appearance exactly. It''s hard to mistake him..."


    The crowd paused and fell into silence.


    It was true. With his appearance, Luca was impossible to miss. It would be difficult for anyone to mistake him.


    In other words, the teenager¡ªonly in his teens¡ªhad really killed over a dozen high-level professionals?


    The thought left everyone feeling as if they were in a dream.


    1 vs 14, and two of those were Superss professionals. Were the younger generation really this strong now?


    "This kid... really knows how to stir up trouble."Augustine couldn''t help but sigh, finally believing the news. He had just received word that Luca was fine, and before he could even feel relieved, he learned that Luca had gone on a killing spree in the city.


    It was both a relief and a headache for Augustine. The boy had been in Dawn Cityfor just a few days, and he''d already killed so many from Dawn God Sectand the Phillips family. Luca clearly didn''t take them seriously at all!


    "What do you mean trouble? This was self-defense!"Dean Selin shot a re at him, clearly displeased with Augustine''s words.


    They were the ones who had caused trouble for Luca, and when he fought back, he''d killed them. How could that be called "stirring up trouble"?


    It was self-defense, in and simple!


    The strong figures around them couldn''t help but twitch their lips when they heard this.


    Kill 14 people...and you''re calling that self-defense?


    Which kind of self-defense involves killing fourteen people?


    However, due to Dean Selin''s high status and her strength at the pinnacle of Superss, no one dared to voice their true thoughts aloud.


    "I never expected my junior to be this impressive."From atop a rooftop, a figure in ck armor clicked his tongue in awe. "Eighteen years old, and he can already kill Superss warriors? What will he be like when he''s my age?"


    "It looks like the teacher has taken on a good student this time," God of War Winstonmuttered thoughtfully, stroking his chin. Lucahad killed so many members of the Phillips familyand Dawn God Sect; they would surelye after him. Winston wondered if he''d be able to help resolve things when the time came...


    Meanwhile, at the gates of the royal pce.


    By the time Lucacaught up to Sophiaand the others, they had already been waiting for a while in front of the royal pce gates.


    "You''re done already?"Luciaasked, surprised. She had thought it would take at least half an hour, but Lucahad finished so quickly.


    Luca smiled and shrugged. "Just some small fry. Nothing to worry about."


    Sophia gave him a sidelong nce. "You''re stronger than I expected."


    Her words were sincere. Sophia''sPerceptionability was not something ordinary professionals couldpare to.


    Earlier, she had clearly sensed the fluctuations of power erupting from the street and had a precise sense of Luca''scurrent strength. To be blunt, even without using her trump cards, she wasn''t sure if she could take him on in a fair fight.


    Noticing the faint shadow in Sophia''seyes, Lucashrugged. "Senior, you''re thinking too much. I was just lucky. With your talent, you''ll definitely be stronger than me in the future."


    Sophia was the Frost Goddessin her past life, mastering the highest-levelws. Even at her peak, she might not have been weaker than the Lord of the Sun. Luca, on the other hand, had merely stumbled upon a bit of good fortune. Inparison, he could never hope to match her during her prime.


    Sophia took his words as a form offort and turned away, looking towards the royal pce gates. "Let''s go. We''re heading to the princess''s quarters, aren''t you in a hurry to see the Sixth Princess?"


    "Alright."Luca, unaware of the subtle undercurrent in her tone, led the way into the pce.


    Lucia, with a teasing glint in her eyes, remarked, "Feeling jealous? I told you to make your move earlier. Now, look, your junior has already been swept away by the princess. You couldn''t...?"


    Sophia chose to ignore her teacher''s incessant chatter, maintaining a neutral expression and pretending not to hear.


    The three of them entered the pce and immediately noticed that there were far more people than usual. Everywhere they looked, there were wedding decorations¡ªbanners and bouquets of flowers¡ªthat gave the pce a festive atmosphere, almost as if it was a grand holiday celebration.


    Tomorrow is the wedding day of the Sixth Princess, and for the past few days, nobles from all over have been flocking to the royal pce to offer their congrattions. Lucaeven noticed some people from other countries¡ªthose from the Via Empireand the All-Beings Empire¡ªtheir distinctive attire making them easily recognizable.


    It was clear that the royal family attached great importance to the wedding of Fratisand Finn.


    Luca''s expression remained calm, seemingly indifferent, but in reality, he had already made up his mind.


    The group continued walking, and when they reached the princess''s quarters.


    They saw a crowd of noblewomen gathered from a distance, all chattering around the elderly butler Lawson, whose hair had turned gray.


    "Why won''t you let me visit Her Highness the Princess? I specially came from the Eastern Territory just to meet her, and now you''re telling me I can''t see her?"one of thedies said with some dissatisfaction.


    "That''s right! I heard Her Highness loves fine food, so I even brought a chef to prepare some delicacies. These are all rare ingredients!"anotherdy added, holding a beautifully wrapped gift and speaking angrily.


    Otherdies tried to use their charms, fluttering their eyes and pouting in a pitiful manner as they begged, "Lawson, please let us see the princess, we won''t stay long~"


    Despite having seen many high-ss individuals in his time, Butler Lawsonwas starting to feel overwhelmed.


    He raised both hands in a gesture of surrender and exined helplessly, "I understand your wish to visit Her Highness, but the princess is currently unwell. It''s not the right time for visitors, so please return for now. You cane by after the wedding."


    "It''s precisely because Her Highness is unwell that we want to visit her!"one of the women quickly interjected.


    Lawson rubbed his forehead in frustration. "You don''t need to worry. Prince Finn has already called in Doctor Kaman to treat the princess. She should recover soon."


    He had hoped that this would be enough to convince the women to leave, but upon hearing that Finnwas involved, their excitement only grew.


    Just as Butler Lawson was starting to feel a headache from all the noise, he looked up and suddenly saw Lucaand hispanions approaching.


    He froze in ce, rubbing his eyes as if he thought he was seeing things.


    When he realized it was really Luca, he jumped in shock, his face turning pale with fear. "Luca the Count, you''re not...?"

 Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Imperial Nobles! Superclass Healers, Kallaman! Princess Fratis Missing!

    Lucahad been missing for five days in the Divine Ruins, and many people assumed something had happened to him.


    The prince had been downcast these past few days, and to his surprise, Luca had now appeared before him, unharmed.


    This left Lawsonutterly astonished.


    A group of noblewomen, upon seeing Luca''s appearance, were immediately struck by his looks. They whispered among themselves, gossiping quietly.


    "What a handsome young man!"onedy, with delicate features, covered her mouth and her eyes glinted with admiration. Her words reflected the thoughts of many of the otherdies.


    Luca was still wearing the clothes specially tailored for him at Mikkey''s tailor shop, his figure tall and slender. After being refined by the divine essence of the gods, both his demeanor and appearance were even more striking, naturally drawing attention from those around him.


    "I''m here to see the Sixth Princess,"Luca said, disregarding the gazes of the others, his eyes fixed on Lawson.


    Lawson hesitated for a moment before replying, "Luca the Count, it''s not that we''re refusing you entry, but... but the princess isn''t feeling well right now... It might not be appropriate..."


    As he spoke, he subtly gestured toward a few masked figures outside the pce.


    It was clear that he was hinting at something.


    "Is Finn here too?"Luca''s expression remained unchanged, his tone calm.


    The Ghost Kingwas a guard trained by the Phillips family, and this wasn''t exactly a secret.


    "Yes, Master Finn is inside, discussing tomorrow''s wedding with the princess,"Lawson said apologetically, bowing slightly. "I ask for your understanding, Luca-sama. Please, return for now."


    Fratis had always held a special attitude toward Luca, and given his enmity with Finn, and the fact that tomorrow was the princess''s wedding day, tensions were already high.


    Not only were there imperial nobles present, but even envoys from other nations had arrived. If a conflict were to break out here, it would cause a huge scandal for the entire royal family. For that reason, even in the interest of precaution, Lawson was determined not to allow Luca entry.


    Lucia rolled up her sleeves, annoyed. "We''re good friends of the Sixth Princess! Tomorrow is her wedding, and you won''t even let us inside to see her? Move aside, or I won''t be so polite!"


    Faced with such a domineering attitude, Lawson was left speechless, but he still stood firm, unwilling to let them in.


    "Should we go back?"Sophia asked, looking at Luca for his opinion.


    Luca fell silent for a moment before turning to Lawson and speaking calmly, "What if I insist on going in?"


    The moment those words left Luca''s mouth, Lawson''s breath caught. He stared at Luca in shock. "What do you mean, ''insist on going in''? Are you nning to break into the pce?"


    If it had been anyone else, Lawson would have dismissed the threat immediately. But as he recalled Luca''s legendary feats in Southwind Cityand Riverfall City, a chill ran down his spine, and he suddenly found it hard to smile.


    This was a madman who had already killed Finn! Who knew what he might do next?


    "Luca the Count, I hope you don''t act impulsively. This is the royal pce. You absolutely cannot cause any trouble..."Lawson quickly tried to calm him down, afraid that Luca might take action at the slightest provocation.


    Luca didn''t say much in response. He merely spoke in a t tone, "Lead the way. After all, I imagine you don''t want things to escte, right?"


    Lawson hesitated for a moment, gritting his teeth before reluctantly replying, "I''ll take you inside."


    Luca nodded, then turned to Lucia and Sophia with a smile, saying, "You two can wait here. Just take the opportunity to chat with these nobledies."


    "What''s there to talk about with them?"Lucia asked, clearly confused. She had stopped dealing with these old women more than ten years ago.


    Sophia, on the other hand, gave Luca a meaningful look before saying.


    "Have you thought this through? If His Majesty gets angry, you might lose your title altogether."


    "That doesn''t mean much to me,"Luca replied with a slight smile, not borating further. He then stood up and made his way toward the pce doors.


    Lawson sighed deeply and followed after him.


    The two walked directly toward the grand hall.


    But just before entering, a masked figurestepped forward, blocking their path.


    The figure''s expression was unreadable as he coldly spoke, "Young Master Finn has ordered that no one is allowed into the Princess''s chambers."


    Lawson nced at Luca, who remained calm, and a cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.


    "Nonsense!"Lawson snapped, his voice rising in anger. "This is the princess''s friend! He''s been specifically told not to be stopped!"


    "The princess''s friend?"The masked figureseemed surprised. He looked Luca up and down, a feeling of familiarity dawning on him. Yet, he couldn''t immediately ce who he was.


    He was about to say he would go inside and notify someone, but before he could, Luca simply ignored him and walked straight into the Princess''s hall.


    "You can''t just barge into the Princess''s chambers!"Several more masked figuressprang into action, attempting to stop Luca from entering.


    However, just as they moved, they quickly realized something was wrong.


    "What''s going on?"The masked figures looked down in shock, feeling their bodies go numb, as if they could no longer control them.


    At the same time, ayer of frost began to cover their bodies, spreading visibly and rapidly.


    Within just a few breaths, the masked figures were frozen in ce, their bodies stiff as statues, and all signs of life vanished.


    Luca waved his hand, and a chill began to gather in his palm.


    He didn''t slow his pace in the slightest, moving directly towards the second floor.


    Behind him, Lawson was left in shock, his face pale as he copsed to the ground.


    His lips trembled, his eyes filled with terror.


    He had killed someone! This madman, he had actually killed someone inside the royal pce?!


    Was he nning a rebellion?!


    The thought of the consequences made him wish he could p himself.


    What a disaster! What kind of bad luck was he cursed with to keep running into this person?!


    Outside the pce, Sophia watched Luca''s retreating figure, her lips pressed together, aplex expression shing in her eyes.


    Lucia, on the other hand, wasughing and chatting animatedly with a group of noblewomen,pletely unaware of what had just transpired.


    Inside the pce, Luca continued his path towards Fratis''s chambers.


    It didn''t take long for him to arrive.


    Outside the room, Finn was dressed in a fine suit, holding a bouquet of flowers, speaking earnestly.


    A few masked figures stood nearby, along with azy woman with dark green hair, dressed in a white robe.


    "Princess, I heard you''ve been ill these past few days. I asked my father to invite a Superss healer over. Please open the door and let Dr. Kaman check your condition,"Finn urged, but there was no response from inside the room.


    This caused a shadow to flicker in his eyes, and he unconsciously clenched his fists.


    When he first heard that Luca had died in the Divine Ruins, he had even opened a bottle of red wine to celebrate.


    But to his surprise, the bastard wasn''t dead after all. And now, that same bastard was still causing him trouble.


    Once the wedding was over, he''d make sure to deal with this filthy woman properly!


    Finn thought bitterly, but still wore a gentle smile, coaxing Fratis to open the door.


    He didn''t notice.


    However, that at the end of the hallway, a tall figure was walking slowly towards them.


    Luca nced at Finn, but didn''t pay him much mind. His gaze shifted towards the room where Sophia was.


    The door was adorned with a white wedding ribbon and flowers, looking very beautiful.


    But Luca''s brow quickly furrowed.


    He couldn''t sense Fratis''s presence inside.


    After undergoing divine enhancement from the gods, his spiritual senses had been heightened as well. While the pce''s defensive wards could block a Superss, they had no power against his probing. It was through this that he noticed something unusual.


    And from the looks of it, no one outside seemed to know about it.


    "Could it be that something happened?" Luca had an ominous premonition in his heart and quickened his steps.


    At that moment, several other masked figures noticed Luca, the unexpected guest.


    One of them narrowed their eyes and said, "Who let you in? Don''t you know that entry is prohibited here?"


    Another frowned and added, "Are the people outside just standing around doing nothing? Howe no one came to report this?"


    "Escort him out immediately, don''t disturb the princess..." Finn initially didn''t pay much attention, but when he nced over and saw Luca''s almost mocking expression, his words abruptly stopped.


    Staring in shock at Luca, his eyes widened in disbelief, "You... you bastard, you''re still alive? How is that possible?"


    That was the Divine Ruins! The ce was crawling with high-level monsters! He had been inside for five days¡ªhow could he still be alive?!


    "What''s impossible about it? Just because you can''t do it doesn''t mean I can''t." Luca shot back at Finn and casually scanned the other people around him.


    Three of the masked figures were Superss professionals, the strongest of them reaching Sky-level. Among them, a woman with green hair stood out¡ªshe was a Star-level Transcendent Healer. However, this profession posed no threat to him, so he wasn''t overly concerned.


    The woman, named Kaman, also looked Luca over. After a few nces, her deep green eyes shed with confusion.


    She couldn''t quite put her finger on it, but there was something odd about this young man. She stared harder, still unsure.


    Then, her beautiful eyes shimmered with a faint green light.


    Healers'' professional skill ¡ª Eye of Life!


    When Kaman looked back at Luca, she involuntarily drew in a sharp breath.


    To her, Luca''s entire body seemed to be suffused with golden energy. That overwhelmingly powerful life force almost made her doubt her own vision. How could this young man''s vitality be so fierce?


    But then, she quickly realized: this wasn''t life force. It was... divine power!


    This guy actually had divine power?!


    Kaman''s mind went into turmoil, her expression nearly slipping out of control.


    She had seen many people in her life, but Luca was only the third person she had encountered with divine power. The other two were Queen Matilda and Saintess Joanna, both of whom carried the blessing of the Goddess of Dawn as holy women of the Dawn God Sect. But how did this guy possess divine power?


    Luca noticed Kaman''s astonished gaze and knew she must have figured something out.


    However, this was not the time to focus on it. He still didn''t know where Fratis had disappeared to, and he really didn''t want to waste time here dealing with Finn, this scoundrel.


    He lowered his gaze to Finn and spoke calmly, "Leave now, and I''ll spare your worthless life."

 Chapter 197 New Beginnings! Undercurrent! The Feast! The Wicked!

    A sh of white light appeared in the square of Dawn City, and Luca''s figure materialized.


    Susie''s family had already finished moving and had settled into their new vi.


    For the time being, there shouldn''t be any more problems.


    Next, Luca''s focus was on handling matters in Dawn City and clearing the obstacles for Fratis.


    Once Fratis ascended to the throne, Luca wouldn''t remain in Dawn City. Instead, he nned to head to Hain County in the Western Territory. His goal was to build a new force before the game''s arrival, and to elevate his own power to an even higher level.


    Therefore, Luca needed to make preparations for the future, to avoid any potential concerns once he moved on.


    He didn''t stay long and headed straight for the floating ind where Tia and the others were.


    On his way, Luca noticed that in just a single day, the city had already made considerable progress in its recovery.


    The streets, once riddled with craters, were now cleaned up. Themon folk and the authorities were busy rebuilding their homes. Dawn City had risen again, as had the floating ind.


    As the capital of the Clinton Empire, Dawn City was deeply rooted in history, and even after such a great cmity, it quickly revived with a renewed vigor.


    In addition, Luca saw some individuals wearing golden armbands. These people stood out among the wearymoners, looking tired and gaunt.


    Compared to the others'' sorrow, their eyes were filled with determination. Deep within their gazes still lingered a yearning for a better life.


    They were the first followers of the The Hope God Sect. Though few in number, they represented the vital spark for the early development of the sect. Find exclusive stories on mvl


    Upon spotting Luca, these followers were visibly moved.


    They wanted to approach him to express their gratitude but were hesitant, afraid of offending someone they regarded almost as a deity.


    Instead, they simply gazed at his retreating back, their eyes filled with gratitude from afar.


    A young child, no more than seven or eight, turned to the elderly man beside him and asked, "Grandpa, who is that person?"


    "That''s the one who''s shown us a new way forward,"the old man, his hair graying, smiled as he answered.


    "Is he stronger than you, Grandpa?"The child''s eyes sparkled with curiosity.


    In the child''s eyes, the old man was an all-powerful figure. So, how much more powerful could this man be?


    "It''s not a matter of strength¡­"The old man raised a hand, covered in wrinkles, and gently ruffled the child''s hair. "It''s that he gave us new life."


    This scene would have seemed quite strange to any outsiders.


    To them, the old man was speaking to empty air¡ªthere was no one standing before him.


    Luca walked through the streets and, after a short while, arrived at the floating ind.


    This ind, once controlled by the Phillips family, was now entirely under the control of The Hope God Sect.


    The original Phillips estate had been torn down, and the followers of the Hope God Sect, their arms adorned with golden cloth armbands, were busily working on the floating ind, personally constructing their church.


    Among them were the TiaMirasisters and followers of The Nightmare Cult, who also wore the same golden armbands.


    "Just buy these things, and remember, do it through proper channels," Tia instructed as she rubbed her forehead, her face showing a clear sign of exhaustion. Compared to the infamous cults, establishing an orthodox church was far more challenging than she had anticipated.


    "Sister, the Lord has returned," Mira said, tugging at her sleeve and nodding towards the direction where Luca wasing from.


    Upon hearing this, Tia turned around and immediately spotted Luca walking towards them. Her face lit up with surprise, and she quickly motioned for the group of followers to respectfully approach him, saying, "Lord."


    Luca gave a slight nod and asked, "Have there been any problems with the construction of the church? If the funds are insufficient, I can help arrange something."


    After looting the Phillips family, Luca had gained quite a bit of gold and was speaking with confidence.


    Tia shook her head. "Funds aren''t an issue. We''ve already taken over the Phillips family''s assets, which should be enough to support The Hope God Sectfor now."


    She paused for a moment before continuing, "However, the nobility is not pleased with the rise of a faction they cannot control. They''ve been spreading rumors that we are a cult, and many merchants in Dawn City are refusing to continue their previous partnerships with us."


    "Nobles? Just a bunch of parasites," Luca''s eyes shed with cold light. After thinking for a moment, he added, "Leave this matter to me. You don''t need to worry about it. What''s the current situation in Dawn City?"


    Tia answered honestly, "The royal family is already preparing for Fratis''s coronation, but the nobles are very dissatisfied with Emperor Alfred''s choice."


    "There are people secretly inciting the masses, gathering strength to usurp the throne. Others are scheming to make Princess Fratis a puppet ruler, creating even more chaos than before."


    Luca wasn''t surprised by this at all. It would be odd if these power yers weren''t making moves during such turbulent times.


    He asked, "Who exactly are the key yers?"


    Tia respectfully responded, "There are about five factions. The first is the united noble faction, followed by the eldest prince Leonie, the second prince Runne, and the fourth prince Isaacs. Then there are those who support Fratis''s ascension, including Princess Raphael, President Augustine, General Winston, and Duke Evelyn, among others."


    "Fourth prince Isaacs?" Luca furrowed his brow, thinking for a moment. He didn''t have much of an impression of this prince.


    Tia reminded him, "The fourth prince had no significant reputation under the suppression of the first and second princes, and he didn''t have any grand ambitions of his own. His sudden involvement in thepetition for the throne is believed to be due to support from the Via Empirebehind him."


    "The All-Beings Empirehasn''t shown any movement, and they are likely nning to remain neutral."


    "Via Empire¡­" Luca''s eyes flickered slightly.


    In his past life, Luca had been born in the Via Empire, so he was extremely familiar with the situation there. To put it simply, it was a technological empire dominated by capitalists.


    Wherever there was money, there were their shadows.


    Now that they had suddenly made a move, it was likely because they wanted to take advantage of the chaos and seize a profit from the Clinton Empire.


    "By the way¡­" Tia suddenly remembered something. She took a delicate, golden invitation from her Storage Ringand handed it to Luca. "Prince Ziegfried, the fifth prince, has returned from the military. Earlier, Butler Lawsoncame to personally deliver this invitation, asking the Lord to attend a banquet. Here''s the invitation."


    Luca took the invitation but didn''t open it. The contents of such invitations were hardly worth reading. He muttered to himself, "Prince Ziegfried, huh¡­"


    He was somewhat familiar with this person. Like Winston, Ziegfried was one of the three war godsof the Clinton Empire.


    In the future, the Clinton Empire, facing both internal and external turmoil, was overthrown. Ziegfried led thest remaining imperial army and fought fiercely on the extraterritorial battlefield, shedding rivers of blood. He even pressured the Abyssal Demon Realm''sdemon king into submission.


    Unfortunately, in the end, he died in battle, his body lost to the sands of time. He hadn''t expected to encounter him here.


    Tia, thinking Luca didn''t know Ziegfried, exined, "The fifth prince, Ziegfried, advocates for martial strength and has never shown much interest in the throne. However, his reputation in the military is immense.


    "If Princess Fratiscan win his support, she''ll have control over more than half of the empire''s military forces. But right now, it''s unclear who Ziegfried will back. This banquet will likely be the asion where he makes his decision."


    Luca pondered for a moment before replying to Tia, "Prepare everything for me. I''ll go and assess the situation over there."


    If Fratis couldn''t secure the throne, Luca couldn''t leave in peace.


    He would find a way to help Fratis win over this fifth prince.


    Coincidentally, he knew something quite important to Ziegfried that he could use as leverage. That, along with the chance to deal with the merchant issue, should be enough to help.


    "I''ll go right away." Tia acknowledged the order and left.


    Not long after, a blood-red steed, its body engulfed in mes, pulled a luxurious carriage as it galloped towards Luca.


    This was likely a carriage previously owned by the Phillips family, and it was a mode of transport that ordinary people wouldn''t dare to use.


    Luca had no such concerns, and he climbed into the carriage without hesitation.


    "Roar!" The blood-red steed let out a powerful roar, and as it galloped down the road, its fiery mane swirling in the air, the carriage lifted off the ground. It soared through the sky towards the royal pce in the heart of Dawn City.


    On the streets below, a few figures lurking in the shadows quietly slipped away to report to their masters.


    The fiery steed streaked across the sky like a shooting star.


    Soon, it arrived at the gates of the royal pce.


    Some of the guards, seeing the majestic carriage, hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to stop it or not.


    The carriage slowly came to a halt.


    A young man in a white robe with a headscarf descended from the carriage.


    The moment they saw Luca, several of the pce guards were taken aback.


    The head guard, an elderly man, quickly stepped forward, his voice trembling with excitement. "Count Luca, do you require me to guide you?"


    His voice wavered slightly from his excitement.


    The other guards looked at each other, their faces full of regret. They cursed themselves for not reacting faster. Luca''s image, seen flying above Dawn Citynot long ago, had been etched into the minds of countless people. If it weren''t for him, Dawn City might have ceased to exist by now.


    To have such a person in front of them, even without receiving any direct benefit, simply exchanging a few words would be enough for them to boast about for a long time.


    "No need. I can go by myself." Luca was not surprised by their change in attitude. After all, this world spoke thenguage of power. If he were just an ordinary person, he would have been chased away on the spot, receiving none of this respect.


    After entering the pce, Luca made his way directly to the grand hall.


    From a distance, he could already see the brightly lit hall, crowded with high-society figures.


    Noblemen, officials, and socialites, all dressed in fine clothes, chatted andughed, moving about in groups. Only those of notable status were present.


    "Why is hehere?" Many officials and nobles were shocked and fearful upon seeing Luca.


    The news of Luca seizing the Phillips family''s estatehad already spread among the nobles. The fates of Finnand Lyon, the father and son, were still fresh in everyone''s minds. Now, seeing Luca, many felt their scalp tingle with dread.


    This was a ruthless, unparalleled figure!

 Chapter 198 The New Beginning! The Undercurrent! The Banquet! The Fierce Ones!

    Luca stepped onto the tform, his eyes ignoring the gazes of others as he made his way towards the royal pce.


    At the sight of him, everyone instinctively parted to make way.


    "Invitation." Luca stopped just outside the hall, pulling out the invitation and handing it to the gatekeeper.


    "Y-yes..." The gatekeeper swallowed nervously, trembling as he took the invitation. After a quick nce, he immediately returned it with a respectful expression, his voice full of awe. "The invitation is valid. Count Luca, please enter."


    Luca nodded and walked into the hall. The sound of soft music filled the air, and the grand hall before him was a beacon of luxury. A red carpet stretched across the center, nked by rows of white tables,den with expensive foods and red wine.


    Well-dressed servants moved among the nobles anddies, offering the finest service.


    As soon as Luca entered the banquet hall, all eyes turned toward him.


    The previously lively atmosphere gradually quieted, until the silence was palpable¡ªso quiet one could hear a pin drop.


    Everyone''s gaze was fixed on the young man who walked in with calm confidence, their expressions a mix of emotions.


    Resentment, jealousy, fear, indifference¡ªbut none bore the gratitude that themon folk might have shown.


    Luca was the kind of person who could tantly defy the rules, and such people were not liked by the elite.


    Of course, where there were those who disliked him, there were also those who were more inclined to appreciate him.


    Just as the crowd fell silent, preparing to watch Luca navigate this awkward situation.


    Acarefree voice suddenly rang out."I went looking for you earlier, and here you are, showing up at this banquet."


    Turning toward the voice, Luca saw Marcel, wearing a colorful outfit, casually walking up with his hands in his pockets.


    Behind him followed a group of noblemen from the All-Beings Empire, also dressed in simrly garish colors. These were the noble robes of the All-Beings Empire, and the very fact that they wore them so infrequently was a clear indication of how unattractive these clothes were.


    "Got a minute to sit down?" Marcel gestured as he approached.


    Therge man Krikimmediately pulled out two bottles of strong liquor from his storage ring and handed them to a servant.


    Luca didn''t say much, merely nodding slightly before choosing a random seat.Compared to the refined elegance pursued by the Clinton Empire, the All-Beings Empireof the north had a more rugged and bold culture. The harsh environment there had led them to believe that strength was the ultimate truth.


    For those who held great power, even the worst of viins could earn their respect.


    However, these people didn''t have the best reputation on the Eternal Continent, often being derisively called "barbarians who eat raw flesh and drink blood." This was evident from the asional sneers the other nobles directed at them.


    But Luca held no particr bias against them, nor did he have the time to care about such things.


    Marcel, upon hearing Luca''s brief response, immediately broke into a smile.


    He nudged one of the men beside him with his elbow and raised an eyebrow. "See? I told you this kid would be to my liking."


    Krik gave Luca a disgusted look and said, "Stay away from me from now on."


    The group sat down. Servants poured the fine wine brought from the All-Beings Empirefor them.


    Luca raised his ss and took a sip.


    The taste was sharp, the sensation so pungent it felt like swallowing a me.


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    He took another sip, his brows furrowing slightly.


    Something about this taste felt off...


    After a moment of contemtion, Luca ced the ss down and snapped his fingers.


    A spark shed through the air.


    Whoosh!


    Immediately, a bluish me ignited on the wine ss.


    Luca couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.


    This wasn''t wine! This was pure alcohol!


    Marcel, looking proud of himself, grinned. "How is it? This is the best liquor from our Empire. Even people with money from our Empire can''t easily get their hands on it!"


    Luca felt a sense of helplessness and could only nod in acknowledgment. "It''s... fine."


    The banquet hadn''t started yet, and the others in the pce continued their conversations andughter.


    Every so often, their gazes would shift to the table where Luca and Marcel were drinking.


    As the drinks flowed, Luca felt nothing, but Marcel''s face was turning red, resembling the color of a monkey''s bottom.


    He burped loudly, slinging his arm around Luca''s shoulders and nodding toward a nearby table full of nobles. With a mischievous grin, he said, "Who do you think might win over the Fifth Prince?"


    Luca followed Marcel''s gaze. The group was led by Duke Mond Stein, who was sitting with nobles loyal to the Second Prince.


    They sat together, some with their eyes closed, some nibbling on food, but none were speaking. They seemed to be waiting for something.


    "Doesn''t matter," Luca said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Even if the Fifth Prince didn''t n to support Fratis, it wouldn''t have much of an impact.


    With Fratis''s strength and potential, dealing with them was just a matter of time.


    Marcel couldn''t help but give him a thumbs up. "I admire people like you¡ªcapable and confident. Ever thought abouting to our All-Beings Empire? Once the Fourth King dies, I can guarantee you a position there."


    "Pfft!" As soon as Marcel said that, a series of sprays of wine and apologetic murmurs erupted from the crowd.


    Everyone stared at Marcel like he was a madman.


    Did he even know what he was saying?


    Those were the four strongest kings of the All-Beings Empire! It wasn''t something he could just decide with a few words.


    After all, his father was only one of them.


    The All-Beings Empirenobles turned dark red with embarrassment.


    Holy crap, this guy was reckless!


    He was openly trying to steal from their own family, almost as if he wanted them dead faster!


    Luca, too, was a little surprised. He didn''t expect this guy to say anything and everything without a care.


    But he could tell¡ªwhile Marcel was definitely drunk, his attempt to win him over was sincere.


    Though the way he went about it...


    Luca nced over at the nobles, who were all stunned and wide-eyed. He couldn''t help but shake his head, wondering how Marcel even came up with this.


    "Cough, cough! He''s drunk. Please don''t take it personally," one of the All-Beings Empirepeople quickly stepped in, awkwardly trying to smooth things over.


    At the same time, Krik nudged Marcel and whispered urgently, "Your Highness, please stop talking like that! I don''t want to die yet!"


    However, Marcel seemed genuinely drunk. With bleary eyes, he looked at Luca, thumping his chest and shouting, "What nonsense! Who am I, Marcel? The Four Kings of our Empire all know my name! How could I possibly be talking nonsense?!"


    "I swear on the name of the Dragon Race¡­ as long as you''re willing toe with me, I swear... I''ll even offer you my sister''s hand in marriage! With your talent and strength, and our Dragon Race bloodline, if you just have a bunch of dragon offspring with her, we''ll take over the entire All-Beings Empire... Hahaha... oh, wait! What am I saying...!"


    As Marcel rambled on, Krik couldn''t take it anymore. He quickly covered Marcel''s mouth with his hand and awkwardly smiled at the others, saying, "Everyone, our prince has had a bit too much to drink. I apologize for the inconvenience, I''ll take him back to sober up."


    Without waiting for Marcel to struggle further, Krik hoisted him onto his shoulder and began striding toward the exit.


    The All-Beings Empirenobles looked deeply embarrassed, heads down as they quickly followed suit. Having such a master was a real test of their patience.


    As they left, the other nobles stared at the retreating group with strange expressions.


    No one had expected that, before the banquet had even officially begun, Marcel would already cause such a scene.


    In a corner of the room, a young man from Via Empire, sporting a buzz cut, frowned in confusion and muttered, "What is Marcel trying to do?"


    The chubby Milo, holding a chicken leg in one hand and picking his teeth with the other, squinted and grinned, "It''s nothing special. He''s just eyeing the potential and connections of that young man. He doesn''t want to get involved in Clinton Empire''s business, probably afraid of getting caught in the crossfire. But now, with Dawn City, it''s not up to him whether he gets involved or not. And he''s got a grudge against Ziegfried, so he probably wants to find a way to bow out early."


    The buzz-cut young man, Ike, gave a wry smile and said, "That guy really is as shameless as the rumors say. Probably only someone like Marcel would think of pulling a stunt like this."


    Milo shook his head,ughing. "Well, he doesn''t care about his reputation anyway. He might as well go all out. After all, if he''s already letting loose like a ck dragon, no one else can afford to drag All-Beings Empiredown with them."


    Just then, loud apuse suddenly rang out in the hall.


    Everyone looked up and saw a young man in armor walking into the banquet hall.


    Almost instantly, a thick, heavy scent of blood filled the entire room.


    Luca squinted slightly and looked the neer over. He was about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, handsome in a way that reminded Luca of Alfred. His face was cold, and there were three deep scars running from his forehead down to between his brows.


    Even though the wounds had long since healed, it was easy to tell how dangerous they had been, and the marks only added to his fierce and formidable aura.


    It was none other than the Fifth Prince of Clinton Empire, Ziegfried!


    Beside him were Princess Fratis, the Sixth Princess; Prince Leonie, the First Prince; Prince Runne, the Second Prince; Princess Raphael, the Third Princess; and further back, Duke Evelynand Chairman Augustine. Almost all the high-ranking figures from both the nobility and the royal family had arrived.


    Luca was not surprised by this. Unless there were exceptional circumstances, most national matters were decided in advance.


    If they were to wait until Fratis''s coronation day, it would mean everything had already been settled.


    After all, the coronation ceremony was just a formality; the real decisions about the throne and the future of the kingdom were being made today, at this banquet held in honor of the Fifth Prince.


    As soon as the group entered the hall, the nobles at the banquet immediately became overwhelmingly enthusiastic, flocking toward them.


    They all knew very well that these people were the true protagonists of today''s event.


    Luca''s gaze swept over the crowd, and finallynded on Fratis''s face, which appeared somewhat flustered.


    Compared to before, her expression was noticeably more worn-out.


    Though he knew that this wasn''t the same Fratisas the one he had once known, Luca still felt a pang of sympathy for her. After all, it was all that old man Alfred''s fault.


    But unfortunately, he was already dead. Could Luca go dig up his corpse? What would be the point of that?Luca drained the ss of strong liquor in his hand, feeling a surge of heat rise from his stomach to his chest.


    Slowly, he raised his gaze towards the First Princeand his group, a cold glint shing in his eyes.


    No matter what happened today, he would make sure to clean up all loose ends!

 Chapter 174 Spark Reversal! A Transcendent-Level Spatial User! Alfred’s Plan! A New Life!

    Luca''s gaze swept across the bedroom, finallynding on the dressing table.


    Luxurious cosmetics were neatly arranged on the table, untouched. The white chair in front of it was slightly askew, as though someone had been sitting there moments before.


    After a brief pause, Luca raised his hand. A fleeting divine light shed in his eyes.


    Golden Divine mecoalesced in the air.


    Momentster, a golden figure dressed in a thin nightgown gradually appeared, floating faintly in the room.


    Divine-level Fire Skill: Spark Reversal!


    Fratis''s ethereal image sat before the dressing table, her hair disheveled, her face pale.


    She stared nkly at her reflection in the mirror, seemingly lost in thought.


    In her hand, she held a single-ringed stiletto dagger adorned with a sapphire.


    Luca''s expression grewplex as he continued to observe.


    Fratis sat in front of the dressing table for an indeterminate amount of time. Atst, a sorrowful smile tugged at her pale face.


    She slowly raised her hand, the sharp de aimed at her slender, snow-white neck.


    The dagger''s edge pierced her delicate skin, a thin stream of crimson blood trickling down her neck. Against her fair skin, the scarlet was striking and harsh.


    Even though Luca knew this was just an illusion, he instinctively reached out, as if to stop her.


    At that moment, her motion abruptly halted. Slowly, she lifted her head and looked in Luca''s direction.


    Their gazes seemed to transcend the boundaries of time and space, locking together in a fleeting connection.


    Looking into Fratis''s weary eyes, Luca understood that she wasn''t truly seeing him, but rather someone who had been standing in that spot at the time.


    Fratis''s face disyed clear surprise, as though deeply shocked to see that person there.


    Then, in an instant, a sh of silver light erupted.


    She disappeared from the room entirely, along with the dagger. It was as if she had never been there at all.


    The illusion formed by the Divine medissipated slowly into the air.


    "Spatial-type Transcendent-Level Skill: Dimensional Leap¡­" Luca murmured, recognizing the ability that had been used.


    This confirmed that the person responsible was most likely a Transcendent-Level Spatial User.


    No wonder there were no traces left behind.


    Spatial elements, being high-order elements, specialize in dimensional movement.


    They''re particrly adept at transporting individuals without leaving any evidence.


    However, this revtion significantly narrowed down the search.


    Spatial power was already exceedingly rare, and reaching the Transcendent Levelin this domain was almost unheard of.


    Moreover, it was clear that Fratis probably knew this person. Following this lead would likely yield some clues about her whereabouts.


    After all, no matter how cautious the culprit was, they likely hadn''t anticipated someone ascending to the Divine Realmand investigating Fratis''s disappearance.


    The situation was urgent, and the perpetrator''s motives remained unclear. This wasn''t the time to waste a single moment.


    Luca closed his eyes tightly, and the space around him seemed to freeze in time. A surge of immense spiritual power radiated outward from him, instantly enveloping the entirety of Dawn City. In that moment, the entire city seemed toy bare before his mind''s eye.


    As Luca''s spiritual power swept through the city, many of the powerful individuals within its walls sensed something unusual.


    "What terrifying spiritual power!" eximed a Superssexpert, ncing toward the direction of the royal pce with shock in his eyes.


    Under this oppressive force, he even felt as though he were standing naked and exposed.


    Although that youth hadn''t yet truly ascended to the Divine Realm, just the sheer magnitude of his spiritual power far surpassed that of an ordinary Transcendent-levelexpert.


    Meanwhile, in the princess''s bedchamber.


    Luca remained still, his eyes closed as fleeting images shed through his mind.


    But his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.


    "Too slow," Luca muttered, opening his eyes and rubbing his temple.


    Though his body and divine rank had reached extraordinary heights, his spiritual power was still at the Transcendent levnd hadn''t yet broken through to the Divine level. This meant there were many ces in Dawn City his spiritual perception couldn''t prate.


    What''s more, the perpetrator was also Transcendent level. If they were determined to conceal themselves, even Luca would struggle to detect them. It was clear that relying on this method to find Fratis wasn''t going to work.


    Retracting his spiritual power, Luca paused to consider his next move.


    Golden mes once again ignited around his body, and he vanished from Fratis''s bedroom.


    When he reappeared.


    He was in the king''s chambers.


    If there was anyone in the kingdom who knew about Spatialusers of such power, it would undoubtedly be King Alfred.


    Luca''s gaze swept through the opulent pce, immediately locking onto Alfred''s location.


    On the second floor of the royal hall, in a study filled with books, the king sat. Alfred was frail and withered, his frame thin and bony beneath his royal robes and crown. Lying on a cushioned chaise, he scribbled something with a quill in his gnarled, tree-like hand.


    Golden mes suddenly appeared in the room, and the overwhelming presence of divine power crashed down upon him, causing his hand to freeze mid-stroke.


    "I knew you''de," Alfred said, setting the quill down slowly.


    He raised his cloudy eyes to regard the confident, godlike figure of Luca standing before him. In a hoarse voice, tinged with a sense of resignation, he remarked, "I always believed you had great potential, but I didn''t expect such a transformation in just a matter of days."


    Luca had no fondness for this opportunistic king and even less patience for small talk. He asked inly, "Fratis is missing. My investigation points to a Transcendent-level Spatial userhaving taken her. Do you know who it is?"


    To Luca''s surprise, Alfred didn''t hesitate or attempt to hide anything. He simply nodded. "I do."


    "Who is it?" Luca pressed.


    This time, Alfred didn''t answer right away. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the bustling city outside the window. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Do you know how many years it''s been since the Clinton family founded this empire?"


    "I''m not interested in that," Luca replied tly, his tone blunt and devoid of courtesy.


    He was here to find Fratis. What use was this king''s recounting of the Clinton Empire''s history?


    "It''s been 33,647 years," Alfred continued as though he hadn''t noticed Luca''s irritation. "Over 33 millennia. In the entire history of the Eternal Continent, only the Age of the Gods surpasses it."


    His eyes narrowed slightly as he added, "But that''s only because their lifespans were limitless, unbound by the constraints of mortality. That''s why the Divine Courtendured for over a million years before it crumbled. For a mortal kingdom like the Clinton Empire tost this long, even with the efforts of countless individuals, it has reached its absolute limit."


    Luca''s voice remained calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. "If you keep wasting my time, I can make sure this kingdom ends a lot faster."


    The Gods'' Revtionwas drawing closer. If he couldn''t find Fratis within this window, he''d have to use his abilities to extend the time he could trace her. But even then, it would only buy him an hour and a half at most.


    And if he failed to locate Fratis within that time... Luca didn''t want to imagine what he might do.


    Alfred, however, didn''t seem angered by Luca''s threat. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his gaunt face. "There''s no need to rush. She''s not in any danger."


    Luca''s sharp intuition caught the deeper implication in those words.


    His eyes narrowed slightly. "You know who took Fratis, don''t you?"


    "Of course," Alfred admitted without hesitation. "After all, it was I who personally took her."


    As he spoke, he raised his hand. A swirling mass of silver spatial energy materialized in his palm, its aura unmistakable.


    Transcendent level.


    The king of the Clinton Empire was not the Superssuser of legend but rather a true Transcendent-levelpowerhouse¡ªand one with the rare Spatial Elementat hismand!


    Luca immediately recognized that this was the same power he had sensed in Fratis''s room. It confirmed that Alfred had indeed been the one to take her. No wonder Fratis had looked so shocked at the time.


    But why? What was Alfred''s purpose in doing this?Luca stared at Alfred, mes surging violently around him.


    His stark white hair, illuminated by the glow of the Divine me, appeared like it too was aze.


    He looked down at the frail king of the Clinton Empire, his voice steady but tinged with menace. "What are you nning to do with Fratis?"


    "I know you''re worried about her," Alfred said with a calm smile. "But rest assured, Fratis is safe. I sent her to the Dawn God Sect... she''ll return soon, transformed¡ªreborn, even."


    Hearing this, Luca''s gaze turned icy, his expression darkening in an instant.


    In an instant, an unimaginably terrifying divine aura crashed down on Alfred.


    "Urgh!" Alfred, already as frail as a dying ember, was utterly incapable of withstanding the might of a god. A mouthful of dark blood spewed forth from his lips.


    Before the blood could even hit the ground, it was incinerated into ash by the golden Divine me.


    Luca''s golden eyes fixed on him coldly. "So, you''re colluding with the Dawn God Sect?"


    The king of the Clinton Empire, conspiring with those fanatical worshippers¡ªand worse, delivering his own daughter into their hands.


    For a moment, Luca felt the absurdity of it all, the sheer lunacy of this world.


    "I did cooperate with the Dawn God Sect," Alfred admitted weakly, his face ashen. "But Fratis is my most beloved daughter. No matter what I do, I would never harm her."


    "Never harm her?" Luca paused for a moment, then let out a derisiveugh, as though he had just heard the punchline of a cruel joke. "Your idea of ''not harming her'' is marrying her off to the Phillips family and then handing her over to the Dawn God Sect?"


    His words struck a nerve in Alfred.


    "You know nothing!" Alfred suddenly shot up from his chaise, ring at Luca with a rare fire in his hollowed eyes. His voice trembled with emotion as he shouted, "Fratis was destined from the moment she was born. She is the chosen of the Goddess of Dawn, the one marked by fate itself to guide our Clinton Empire to its destiny!


    "What I''ve done isn''t just for the empire¡ªa new future, a new ruler¡ªbut also for Fratis! I''ve given her the chance at a new life, a higher purpose!"


    At that moment, Luca finally understood. Alfred''s decision not to pass the throne to the Crown Prince wasn''t driven by some personal vendetta against the Dawn God Sect. His calcted stoking of the rivalry between the Crown Prince and Second Prince had been nothing more than a ploy to buy time.


    Even Alfred''s announcement in the royal council chamber that he would dere the heir in seven days had been deliberate misdirection.


    Because the heir to the throne wasn''t either of the princes.


    It was the Sixth Princess, Fratis.

 Chapter 175 The Eternal Divine Kingdom! Absurd, Pathetic, Infuriating! Dawn, Come Out and Die!

    Alfred''s eyes were bloodshot as he stared intensely at Luca. "Do you know how long the average person lives? Even a Transcendent-levelindividual barely reaches a century! And how long can the mightiest empirest? A mere tens of thousands of years!


    "But gods are different! They possess nearly limitless lifespans and the power to shape worlds! If Fratis bes the Goddess of Dawn, the citizens of the Clinton Empire will escape poverty and be the first eternal divine kingdomon the Eternal Continent!


    "Do you understand what that means?"


    "It means our Clinton Empire will stand for tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of years! It will be immortal!"


    Alfred''s voice echoed through the study.


    His fists were clenched tightly, his emotions running high, as if he could already see the Clinton Empire bing the brightest jewel of the Eternal Continent, shining eternally under the light of the gods.


    And he, Alfred, would be remembered as one of the most dazzling stars in the annals of history!


    The anger on Luca''s face gradually faded.


    He gazed calmly at this dying tiger of the Clinton Empire and said, "So you handed Fratis over to the Dawn God Sect to let her be the vessel for the Goddess of Dawn''s descent? Have you considered whether Fratis will still truly be alive after this?"


    It seemed Alfred had held back his thoughts for too long. He burst into manicughter. "Of course she''ll still be alive! I''ve studied countless texts, and I even used a forbidden Transcendenttechnique at the cost of my lifespan to temper Fratis''s body and soul, ensuring she can retain her consciousness during the ritual!


    "Decades ago, I personally ventured into the forbidden grounds of the Dawn God Sect. Although I was discovered by the Goddess of Dawn, gravely wounded, and nearly killed, I survived thanks to Headmaster Selin''s intervention. But that mission revealed to me a shocking secret!


    "The Goddess of Dawn is alive, yes, but only a fragment of her divine rankand a trace of her divine soulremain in the Dawn Temple! As long as Fratis undergoes the descent ritual, she can retain her consciousness and inherit everything from the Goddess of Dawn, bing the true Goddess of Dawn herself!"


    Alfred''s face flushed crimson, as though he were experiencing onest burst of vitality. He looked directly at Luca and said, "I know Fratis loves you. I''ve known since the moment you met in Riverfall City! And don''t tell me you don''t feel the same! Otherwise, why would you ascend to godhood for her?


    "Believe me, once she ascends to the Divine Realm, no one in this world will be able to stop the two of you! And with Fratis''s help, with your talent, I have no doubt that it won''t be long before you too ascend to the Divine Realm!"


    "By then, nothing in this world will stop you from being together. You will be a divine couple, and the Clinton Empire will have two gods, truly bing a kingdom of gods on earth!"


    As Alfred described his decades of scheming and grand ambitions, Luca listened quietly.


    Then, with a slight nod, he said, "So Fratis is at the Dawn God Sect, right?"


    "That''s correct¡­" Alfred replied instinctively, only to see Luca turn toward the window.


    The excitement on Alfred''s face froze instantly. His breathing quickened as he asked, "Where are you going?"


    "To save Fratis," Luca said calmly.


    Alfred suddenly felt like he''d been ying a lute for a cow this whole time.


    Staring at Luca''sposed face, Alfred''s bloodshot eyes widened in frustration. "Didn''t you hear me? She doesn''t need saving!"


    Without looking back, Luca gazed at the azure sky beyond the window and replied softly, "She needs me."


    Alfred''s face darkened, his expression shifting from flushed red to ashen ck.


    In a sudden fit of rage, he swept the documents off his desk, scattering them across the room. His voice, filled with fury and despair, erupted: "Why? Isn''t this glorious era exactly what you both want? Why are you trying to ruin it?"


    The sunlight streaming into the study caught the fluttering papers, filling the air like a cascade of letters.


    "Why ruin it?" Luca suddenlyughed. The golden Divine mearound him roared to life, boiling over like a long-suppressed inferno. With a flick of his wrist, a golden light shed. The ferocious Sr Divine Spearmaterialized in his hand, streaking forward to stop just inches from Alfred''s deeply lined forehead.


    Looking at the stiff, terrified face of Alfred, Luca''s gaze turned icy, his voice cold and unyielding. "Because, from the beginning, all of this has been nothing more than your self-serving fantasy."


    Alfred imed everything he did was for Fratis. But whether it was forcing her to be the Goddess of Dawnor making her the queen of the Clinton Empire, one truth was clear:


    From start to finish, he had never asked Fratis what shewanted. He had never given her a choice.


    What Fratis wanted wasn''t to be a queen or a goddess but to return to a simple, peaceful life in Riverfall City, a small town where she could live quietly for the rest of her days.And Alfred didn''t even realize that Fratis had once had the chance to fulfill that dream. Yet, in the end, she had chosen to sacrifice it all for the empire.


    When faced with life''s crossroads, most people would choose their own happiness¡ªLuca himself had made such choices before.


    After all, life is short; why concern yourself with the suffering of others?


    But Fratis had chosen differently. She had chosen sacrifice.


    That kind of courage, Luca had only ever seen in the greatest warriors and schrs of the Human Race¡ªthe true heroes.


    Luca respected them deeply, but he didn''t want to be one of them, nor did he want the people he cared about to walk that path.


    More importantly, Alfred had missed one critical point from the very beginning.


    The so-called Goddess of Dawnwas likely nothing more than an Ancient Godin disguise.


    These beings had masqueraded as the Goddess of Dawn, stolen the Sr Divine Spear, and schemed in secret for countless years.


    And for what? To serve as benefactors to a human empire?


    To the Ancient Gods, even gods were but ants. What value did mere humans hold?


    He had personally pushed Fratis into the firepit and yet dared to fantasize about turning the Clinton Empire into a divine kingdom on earth.


    To Luca, it was equal partsughable, pitiful, and infuriating.


    "What do you mean by that?" Alfred, sensing that Luca might know something he didn''t, asked in a low, tense voice.


    "There''s something you might not know." Luca, no longer bothering to hold back, sneered coldly. "The Goddess of Dawndied ten thousand years ago. She perished before another god, in the ruins of the Divine Court. That''s what that god said with their dying breath!


    "Take a guess, Alfred. What exactly is the ''Goddess of Dawn'' you saw?"


    Alfred''s body stiffened as though struck by lightning. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Luca. A momentter, his face flushed bright red with rage.


    "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Alfred suddenly sprang to his feet and lunged at Luca, roaring furiously, "I saw it with my own eyes! That power¡ªit was divine! What I saw was the Goddess of Dawn! You''re lying to me!"


    Watching Alfred, who now resembled a raging beast, Luca merely let out a disdainful snort.


    Divine runes shimmered faintly in the air, and Alfred''s body was instantly immobilized where he stood.


    Luca no longer wished to waste his time. Turning his gaze toward the direction of the Dawn God Sect.


    He said calmly, "Whether it''s true or not, you''ll find out soon enough."


    As his words fell, the golden sun zing in the sky suddenly erupted with brilliant radiance.


    The divine mes around Luca roared to life once more, and the power that had begun to wane surged back with terrifying intensity.


    Gods'' Revtion.


    The vast expanse of Divine mechurned and roared, consuming the heavens and blotting out the sun.


    A crushing divine presence descended upon the world like a tidal wave.


    Luca, gripping the Sr Divine Spear, took a single step forward and in an instant appeared in the skies above the Dawn God Sect.


    Looking down at the grand and majestic Dawn Cathedral, he spoke in a calm voice.


    Yet his words rang out like thunder, echoing across the entire Dawn City.


    "Dawn! Come out and face your death!"


    Countless powerful individuals raised their heads sharply, staring at Luca in utter shock.


    "Holy shit, can this kid extend his time limit?" eximed the War God Winston, his expression as though he''d seen a ghost.


    Every expert in the city knew that Luca''s divine power couldn''tst long. Yet none had anticipated that he could unleash such a world-shaking force again, seemingly without limit!


    Some who harbored ulterior motives fell silent at the sight before them.


    They had initially nned to strike at Luca when his power waned, but now, all such thoughts were extinguished. After all, no one could be certain how many times Luca could ascend to godhood.


    Who knew if, when pushed to the brink, he might do it again and swat them like flies? Divine power was tempting, yes, but only if one lived long enough to wield it. Though it seemed unlikely that Luca could use this power without limits, no one was willing to risk their life to find out what his trump card was.


    "Why is this harbinger of doom causing trouble at our holy sect?" Outside the Dawn Cathedral, countless followers and priests gazed upward at the figure wrapped in divine mes, their eyes filled with terror.


    Inside the cathedral''s grand hall, before the sacred statue, a young girl in a simple white nightgowny motionless atop a golden ritual circle. Her eyes were closed, her face pale, as if she were trapped in an endless slumber.


    As the Saintess Joanna chanted incantations, the ancient ritual circle began to hum and glow. The Dawn Statueradiated dazzling divine light.


    Holy radiance poured from the statue, bathing the girl''s delicate features, making her look like a sleeping angel.


    Hearing themotion outside, Saintess Joanna furrowed her brows. Closing the holy scripture in her hands, she turned to Queen Matildaand said, "Alfred must have told him. Otherwise, there''s no way he would have found this ce so quickly."


    Queen Matilda snorted coldly. "That old fool! Useless in achieving anything, and now he''s brought us this massive trouble at the worst possible time.


    "Hand me the Orb of Stars. I''ll hold him off¡ªfinish the descent ritual as quickly as you can."


    Saintess Joanna nodded slightly. A radiant glow enveloped her as she opened her eyes, which sparkled with divine brilliance.


    A burst of starlight erupted from the orb held by the Dawn Statue.


    Buzz!


    The orb in the statue''s hands released a blinding radiance and flew toward Matilda.


    The moment Matilda touched the Orb of Stars, it merged seamlessly into her body.


    Blinding holy light burst forth, shooting straight into the heavens!


    The boundless golden sea of fire and the sky itself seemed to part, revealing an expanse of pitch-ck night.


    Countless onlookers gasped in horror, lifting their eyes to the sky.


    Amidst the infinite stars stood a graceful figure suspended in the void.


    Draped in a regal cloak and crowned with a magnificent tiara, her entire being shimmered with celestial light. Her eyes radiated divine brilliance, and an aura of unmatched majesty surrounded her.


    Behind her, countless stars shone brightly, their light forming a backdrop of cosmic splendor.


    The oppressive might of a god descended upon the world once more.Another divine being had appeared?!

 Chapter 176 The Dragon Kings Son, Marcel! Sophias Deal! The Fall of the Queen!

    The vast expanse of stars cast their radiant light, illuminating Queen Matilda like a celestial goddess.


    "Orb of Stars?" Luca''s gaze flickered slightly. Simr to the Sr Divine Spear, the Orb of Stars was an artifact of the Goddess of Dawn, Sylvia.


    As the child of the King of Gods, Sylvia''s power was among the pinnacle of all deities. Yet, even after her demise, her treasured Orb of Stars had fallen into the hands of another.


    But if this was the level of power they relied on to block his path, wasn''t itughably naive?


    Luca raised his eyes to observe the woman he had once glimpsed in the archives.


    His voice remained utterly calm, devoid of emotion. "Hand over Fratis, and I''ll spare your lives."


    High above the firmament, an infinite divine pressure radiated from the zing sun.


    However, under this overwhelming force, Matilda''s beautiful face remained serene, even curling into a faint smile.


    She chuckled softly. "It seems Alfred has told you everything after all. In that case, I believe you should feel happy for her. After all, bing a vessel for the goddess is an honor. Why oppose it?"


    A mocking smile appeared at the corner of Luca''s lips. "If it''s such an honor, why don''t you offer yourself?"


    As his words fell, streaks of goldenw began to condense in the heavens, forming an immense golden spear that pierced through the sky. Suspended above Queen Matilda''s head, it zed with Divine me, exuding an unparalleled and terrifying aura!


    Seeing the golden spear in the sky, many in Dawn Citypaled with fear.


    If that thing were to fall, the entire city would be obliterated in an instant!


    "Are you sure you don''t want to negotiate further?" Matilda''s expression turned grim.


    Although with the power of the Orb of Stars, her strength had temporarily broken through the Transcendent Realmand reached the Divine Realm, she knew better than anyone how fragile her so-called Divine Realm was. Compared to the divine power Lucamanded through Gods'' Revtion, it was no contest. Content from m-vl|em|p,yr


    "Negotiate? Go talk to the God of Death." Luca sneered.


    With a burst of divine brilliance, space twisted, and his figure vanished from sight.


    At the same time, in the heavens above, the divine spear suddenly erupted with radiant golden light, as if splitting the sky and earth in two!


    A golden streak of brilliance tore through the firmament, hurtling down toward Matilda with an earth-shattering force!


    Divine-level Skill ¨C Spear of Sr Piercing!


    "What a lunatic!" Matilda''s expression changed drastically.


    The Orb of Dawnin her hand radiated infinite light, enveloping herpletely.


    Boom!


    The moment the two divine powers shed, it was as if a zing sun had suddenly exploded.


    The boundless Divine meengulfed the skies, and the stars dimmed as though the apocalypse had arrived.


    The dazzling light made countless people in Dawn City instinctively close their eyes, their hearts sinking into despair. Many thought they would not live to see the next sunrise.


    Yet, the death they feared did note.


    When they opened their eyes again, they realized that Dawn City was somehow shrouded in a golden barrier of mes. The shockwaves from the sh of divine forces had been entirely contained, leaving them unharmed.


    Luca had, of course, already considered the safety of Dawn City''s inhabitants. Long before the battle began, he had set up a protective barrier to shield the civilians from the aftershocks.


    "Thank goodness, I thought that kid had truly lost his mind," Evelyn said, patting her chest with relief. Her face still showed lingering fear¡ªif those two forces had been allowed to descend on the city, not only would ordinary people have been doomed, but even powerful Supersswarriors like her would have stood no chance.


    "Of course," Lucia said with pride, a smug smile spreading across her face. "He''s my student. He''s always meticulous in everything he does."


    Sophia nced at her teacher, who was holding her tightly in an exaggerated disy of relief. Disdain flickered in her eyes,pletely undisguised.


    Then her gaze turned skyward.


    The golden Divine meand the radiant light of dawn shed violently, splitting the heavens into two opposing realms.


    Luca, gripping the Sr Divine Spear, stood with cold determination, his entire form wreathed in Divine me. His strikes fell like torrential rain, each one carrying the force of a meteor crashing to the earth, its momentum utterly terrifying.


    Matilda, shrouded in starlight, moved swiftly to evade the onught. Though she appeared unscathed, there was an undeniable hint of disarray in her movements.


    The sh of their battle echoed across thend, shaking the earth to its core. Mountains copsed, rivers surged backward.


    And the once-pristine forest and towering peaks were ttened in an instant, as if the apocalypse had descended upon the Eternal Continent.


    Watching the catastrophic collision of divine forces, a flicker of worry crossed Sophia''s eyes.


    "Can Luca win?" she silently asked herself.


    In her hand, a blue ring, seemingly crafted from ice crystal, glimmered faintly.


    A momentter, azy voice echoed in her mind. It chuckled lightly, responding to her unspoken question:


    "Are you asking whether he can defeat that woman? If that''s what you mean, then yes, it''ll be easy for the boy.


    "The Lord of the Sunhas bestowed him with both his divine rank and the Sr Divine Spear, and even had his divine body tempered by the gods themselves.


    "If he loses even with all that, then it would be an embarrassment, wouldn''t it?"


    The voice paused briefly, then continued in a calm, detached tone:


    "But if you''re asking whether he can survive against the Ancient Godresiding within the Dawn God Sect, then he''s as good as dead.


    "In fact, not only him¡ªthe entire Clinton Empirewill be wiped off the Eternal Continent.


    "The power of the Ancient Gods is something even the divine pantheon cannot resist, let alone him."


    Sophia''s expression didn''t change, but her voice was calm as she asked, "Can you help him?"


    The voice let out a coldugh."Why should I? This is his choice, his path¡ªfor that princess of his. If he dies, it''s his own fault."


    It continued mockingly:"Besides, it''s not like he''ll really die. The one who''ll perish is just that mortal princess. What does that have to do with us?"


    Sophia frowned slightly, her tone steady. "I can agree to the terms you proposed back then."


    The voice sounded genuinely surprised."Are you serious? Weren''t you the one who always wanted her dead? And now you want to save her?"


    "I didn''t," Sophia instinctively retorted. Then, as if realizing something, her frown deepened.


    The voice let out a coquettishugh. "Haha, I was just teasing. No need to get so worked up.


    "Fine, I''ll agree to this. If that Ancient Godshows up, I''ll intervene. Of course, as per our agreement¡­"


    The voice curved into a yful tone. "Half of your body will belong to me from now on."


    "It''s half of my time," Sophia corrected firmly.


    Meanwhile, outside Dawn City.


    An ancient, imposing armored airship hovered in mid-air, exuding an aura of death and foreboding.


    A ck g fluttered in the wind, emzoned with a blood-red crescent moon¡ªa symbol of the All-Beings Empire.


    "Dawn City sure is lively today," a striking young man in an elegant ck robe remarked as he gazed upward. His golden slit-pupil eyes gleamed faintly with amusement, filled with schadenfreude.


    "We''ve been flying for ages, and it''s all been for nothing," grumbled a muscr, dark-skinned man d in heavy armor. Towering at nearly five or six meters, he had the unmistakable physique of a giant or someone with giant blood coursing through his veins.


    Among the entourage of high-ranking officials from the All-Beings Empire, one middle-aged man with scaly features sighed and shook his head. "Two gods are battling. Dawn City is doomed, and the Clinton Empire will likely follow. There''s no point in staying here, Prince Marcel."


    The man in the ck robe, Marcel Borosi, was one of the four great rulers of the All-Beings Empire. The son of the Dragon King Rogers Borosi, he was a pureblooded ck dragon of noble lineage, holding a status equivalent to that of the Clinton Empire''s crown prince or second prince.


    The All-Beings Empire, home to countless races, was rife with internal power struggles among its ruling factions. This visit to Clinton had been intended to secure an alliance with the royal family and the Phillips family. But upon arriving, they found themselves witnessing a battle between two legendary deities.


    Although neitherbatant was a true god, they were far beyond the level anyone here could contend with.


    "Don''t be so hasty. We''re already here; we might as well enjoy the show," Marcel replied nonchntly, his tone as carefree as if he were watching a y. His evident enjoyment of the chaos left the others helplessly exasperated.


    Prince Marcel had many admirable qualities, but his penchant for reveling in other people''s drama was a source of widespread criticism.


    Once, back in the All-Beings Empire, he had heard rumors about a Superss Lordwith a peculiar fondness for minotaurs. That very night, Marcel had sneaked onto the nobleman''s roof to confirm the story for himself.


    This scandal became public knowledge only because the prince had not only witnessed the event but also recorded it using a memory crystal. The footage spread across the four royal cities, ultimately driving the disgraced noble to take his own life out of humiliation.


    Now, Marcel''s golden eyes lit up as he clicked his tongue in amazement. "This boy''s got some skill, huh? It looks like the fight''s about to be decided."


    The officials from the All-Beings Empire were momentarily stunned, then collectively looked up toward the skies above Dawn City.


    The once-divided firmament, split between golden Divine meand starlit brilliance, was now consumed entirely by a blinding gold radiance.


    Amid the infinite Divine me, a colossal divine statue rose to unimaginable heights, towering into the heavens!


    Its eyes burned with Divine me, and its mountainous hands radiated an apocalyptic might as they descended toward Matilda, who was shrouded in starlight.


    Faced with this terrifying blow, Matilda''splexion turned pale. She desperately channeled the power of the Orb of Starsin her hand.


    A burst of radiant light erupted!


    Endless starlight cascaded from the heavens, converging into a vast, flowing celestial river. Its currents shimmered with boundless energy as it surged upward to meet the descending giant hand.


    The moment the two forces collided, time seemed to stand still.


    Then, a blinding white light erupted!


    Boom!!!


    The earth shook violently! Laws of nature disintegrated! Space itself shattered into fragments!


    The celestial river of starlight began to splinter and copse, inch by inch, as the overwhelming divine power rippled outward like a hurricane mixed with a tsunami.


    The light emitted by the Orb of Starsdimmed abruptly!


    "This... how is this possible?" Matilda''s face turned deathly pale, her eyes filled with disbelief.


    She could not fathom how her opponent had so effortlessly shattered the power of the Orb of Stars.


    On top of the divine statue, Luca stood tall, his expression calm and impassive, like a still, bottomlesske.


    His gaze lowered, coldly fixed on Matilda''s pale, trembling figure. He uttered a single word in an icy tone:


    "Die."


    The sound reverberated through the heavens and the earth!


    The golden hand, imbued with unimaginable power, descended with devastating force, while countless onlookers stared in horrified awe.


    The Sr Divine mesurged like a tidal wave, engulfing Matilda in an instant.


    In mere moments, her body was reduced to ashes beneath the relentless Divine me.


    The Queen of the Clinton Empire, Matilda, had fallen.


    Her death came swiftly, her form obliterated before the eyes of all.

 Chapter 177 Dawn Arrives! This is Her Honor! Submit or Die!

    Luca hovered high in the sky, his gaze calm and detached. Behind him, the towering golden statue of a god slowly dissipated into the air.


    All that remained was a field of shattered stones and the faint glow of the Orb of Stars, with no trace of Queen Matilda in sight.


    "He actually¡­ he actually¡­" Countless people in Dawn City felt a storm of emotions churn within them. It was almost impossible to believe the scene unfolding before their eyes.


    But the Queen of the Clinton Empire¡ªhow could she have been killed in public like this?


    How could this boy... how could he dare to do this?!


    "It''s over, it''s all over!" Inside the royal study, Alfred''s face turned ashen as he copsed in despair into his chair.


    With the Queen dead, no one could stop Luca''s march forward. All his years of restraint, ambition, and effort would be reduced to nothing, burned away in an instant!


    At the thought, Alfred felt a tightness in his chest, his vision went dark, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of ck blood before copsing unconscious.


    "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" A maid cried out in rm, quickly rushing to summon healers for help.


    "Mother... Mother¡­" Outside the pce, the crown prince, Leonie, was equally pale, staggering like a dying me in the wind.


    With the Queen''s death, no matter what happened to Luca.


    He was now forever distanced from the throne.


    Prince Runne, however, felt the exact opposite¡ªhis face was alight with joy.


    With Queen Matilda dead, the crown prince''s power would inevitably wane!


    Soon, no one would be left to contest the throne with him!


    "This boy¡­ does he even know what he''s doing?" Augustine muttered, tugging at his white beard and sighing repeatedly.


    From the very start, he never imagined Luca would take things this far.


    This would mean he had dered himself an enemy of the entire Clinton Empire!


    "Hahaha, well done! I''ve never liked that Dawn God Sect woman!" Evelyn gritted her teeth and spoke bitterly.


    Years ago, when Matilda had still been the saintess of the Dawn God Sect, Evelyn had had a deep grievance with her.


    She had been secretly suppressed by Matilda, enduring numerous hardships without the chance to retaliate, and the frustration had been building in her heart ever since.


    Now that revenge had been served, she couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.


    Luca paid no attention to the reactions of the others. His figure flickered, and he appeared outside the Dawn God Sect.


    Just as he was about to step forward, his brows furrowed in sudden concern.


    A brilliant white light suddenly enveloped him, casting a protective shield around the entire church.


    The aura emanating from it was unmistakably Divine level!


    "¡­A barrier?" Luca''s gaze fixed on the protective shield, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    It seemed they had been prepared for this.


    But did they really think a mere barrier would be enough to stop him? How naive¡­


    His divine power surged, and a divine light shone in his hand.


    A ball of golden mes appeared, condensing into a vivid, lifelike golden lotus.


    As divine power continuously surged into it, the highlypressed force caused the me-formed lotus to gradually turn a searing white!


    The terrifying pressure emanating from it was so intense that even the surrounding space began to warp.


    Divine-level Skill ¨C Sr Lotus!


    Luca raised his hand, and the searing white lotus slowly floated into the air.


    The moment the lotus touched the radiant white barrier.


    Time seemed to freeze for an instant.


    Then, a blinding burst of divine light erupted, and the entire barrier began to tremble violently.


    There was no sound.


    Under the astonished gaze of countless onlookers, the Divine-level barrier began to melt away like snow.


    In the next moment, it shattered with a thunderous crack!


    The massive energy explosion made the entire Dawn City quake violently.


    The pieces of the barrier turned into specks of light, dispersing into the air.


    With a flick of his hand, Luca conjured a sh of golden light.


    A crimson-golden barrier once again enveloped the entire Dawn God Sect.


    However, the roles had reversed¡ªthis new barrier was now meant to prevent anyone inside the temple from escaping!


    Luca stepped into the temple.


    Just moments ago, he had already sensed Fratis''s aura.


    The magnificent hall unfolded before his eyes.


    The white jade pirs stood tall, and the statue of the goddess radiated a soft, ethereal glow.


    The golden magic circle slowly rotated, and at the very heart of it, two figures stood¡ªone upright, one lying down.


    His gaze swept over the saintess, Joanna, beforending on the figure within the golden array. She was a young girl dressed in a white nightgown, her eyes closed.


    Upon seeing Fratis, Luca''s mes swirled within him, and a cold glint suddenly shed in his golden eyes.


    He had finally found her!


    "Matilda didn''t stop you after all..." The saintess, Joanna, was dressed in a holy white robe, holding a Bible. Her star-like eyes gazed at Luca, full of undisguised astonishment.


    The previous Divine-level barrier had blocked her perception of the outside world, so Joanna had no idea that Matilda had been in by Luca on the spot!


    "How would you like to die, Saintess?" Luca looked down, his gaze cold as he looked at the current saintess of the Dawn God Sect.


    His voice was calm, as if asking her what she nned to have for dinner.


    At the same time, an overwhelming divine pressure radiated outward!


    But Joanna remainedpletely unfazed.


    "Arrogant!" She sneered, raising her head to meet the terrifying figure with defiance in her eyes. "You''re nothing more than a false god who ascended to Divine level through external forces. You daree to the Dawn God Sect and wreak havoc?"


    "How convenient... today, I''ll make you the first sacrifice to my Lord!"


    As her words fell, rays of dawn light began to glow from Joanna''s body.


    Golden blood flowed from her eyes, running down her pale face, and eventually converging onto Fratis.


    The golden formation suddenly elerated in speed, and the divine light surrounding the Dawn Goddess statue flickered brightly!


    In the next moment, an endless burst of divine light erupted from Fratis, and an overwhelming divine power descended with a thunderous roar!


    "Divine blood..." Luca''s eyes narrowed slightly, realizing that the divine blood of the Dawn Goddess was now within Joanna''s body.


    Though he had no idea what she intended to do, Luca knew he could not allow her to seed.


    In an instant, the golden light shed and Luca appeared right in front of Joanna.


    TheLaw of the Suncircted, gathering an immense Divine me.


    Luca swung his hand down with immense force, aiming directly for her head!


    At the same time, the massive statue of the Dawn Goddess suddenly opened its eyes!


    Vroom¡ª!


    Brilliant divine light exploded, and the immense divine pressure descended!


    A blinding beam of divine light enveloped Joanna entirely.


    Luca''s hand, covered in Divine me, collided with this beam of divine light!


    The two divine forces shed with an earth-shattering roar!


    The entire Dawn City shook violently, as if the end of the world hade!


    Luca frowned as his hand came to a halt just a few inches in front of Joanna''s face.


    It could go no further.


    "The power of a goddess is not something a mere mortal like you could even begin to fathom!" Golden divine blood continued to flow from Joanna''s body. Her life force was rapidly fading, yet a smile remained on her face.


    At the same time, the Dawn Goddess statue trembled, and numerous magical runes flew out, merging into Fratis'' body.


    Her eyes were tightly shut, and her body began to float into the air.


    As the runes fused with her, her aura rapidly soared.


    In the blink of an eye, she broke through numerous barriers.


    She ascended rapidly, reaching the realm of divinity!


    In an instant, brilliant light erupted from Fratis'' body!


    A beam of light pierced through the Dawn God Sect and Luca''s barrier, shooting straight into the heavens!


    As everyone watched in shock, the sky above began to change, revealing an endless, brilliant, and vast starry expanse!


    Endless starlight poured down and, as it touched the young girl''s graceful form, it formed into a dazzling and magnificent starry robe, glowing with radiant light!


    The stars shone down, surrounding her in a ring of brilliance!


    Fratis'' eyshes fluttered, and her eyes slowly opened. In that instant, the entire world seemed to lose its color!


    Her eyes shimmered with countless star-like glimmers, and the Orb of Stars, as if responding to her call, shot into the sky, transforming into a crown made of countless stars, symbolizing the supreme authority of the gods. Itnded atop the girl''s shining white hair!


    "This is... the Dawn Goddess?!" Seeing this scene, countless people were stunned.


    The rumors were true!


    The Dawn Goddess was truly alive!


    Luca''s expression finally changed.


    "Damn it!" He clenched his fist, looking up, his eyes burning with murderous intent.


    He was toote!


    "Joanna... Kneel before my master!" Inside the Dawn God Sect, Saintess Joanna''s eyes were hollow, her voice hoarse. Her skin had be wrinkled.


    After losing the divine blood, her life force rapidly withered, and her body visibly aged and shriveled, bing withered and frail.


    In just a few breaths of time, Joanna had transformed into a frail, shriveled old woman with graying hair, no longer possessing the beauty that had once been so captivating.


    Yet Joanna didn''t seem to care at all. Her expression was filled with fanaticism.


    Because she knew, once the Dawn Goddess descended, all that she had lost would be returned to her a hundredfold!


    Fratis, or rather, theGoddess of Dawn, did not look at the withered Joanna.


    Instead, she lowered her gaze slightly and looked at Luca.


    In that moment, the gazes of the two divine beings collided.


    One pair of eyes was filled with brilliant starlight, stars flickering with no trace of emotion.


    The other pair burned with golden Divine me, surging and roaring with power.


    Looking at that wless, art-like face, Luca knew that the person before him was no longer the girl he once knew.


    She was now theGoddess of Dawn ¨C Sylvia!


    In fact, she might even be anAncient God!


    Then, theGoddess of Dawnsuddenly spoke: "Why does the divine rank of the Lord of the Sun reside in your human body?"


    Her tone was calm, devoid of any fluctuation, as if speaking to a stranger. The overwhelming arrogance in her voice, the sense of superiority, was clear and unmasked. It was a pride that came from the very level of her existence.


    To a deity, humans were nothing more than ants¡ªno different from the cats and dogs of this world. Even though Luca now wielded the power of a god, to her, he was no more than a slightlyrger ant.


    Luca didn''t respond. Instead, he gathered his Divine me, transforming it into theSr Divine Spear.


    "Fratis... Where is she?" he asked, looking directly at her, his figure slowly rising into the air. There was no trace of fear in his golden eyes.


    TheGoddess of Dawnseemed unprepared for this human¡ªthis mere ant¡ªto challenge her so boldly.


    She paused for a moment before answering calmly, "She has already been obliterated beneath the starlight. It is her honor."


    She''s dead... Luca''s grip tightened involuntarily. mes roared around him, swirling violently, just as his anger churned inside.


    In the end, that girl had died right before his eyes!


    TheGoddess of Dawnsensed Luca''s fury but paid it no mind.


    She spoke indifferently, "The Lord of the Sun gave everything for my Divine Court during the Divine Cataclysm."


    "Though I do not know how you obtained his legacy, it no longer matters."


    "From this day forward, swear eternal allegiance to me, and I will spare your life. Otherwise¡­"


    She looked down upon the young man with calm disdain and said, "Then you shall die."

 Chapter 206 Source Power! Breaking and Rebuilding! The Goddess of Hope!

    When Luca regained consciousness, he found a set of velvet nkets draped over him. The luxurious chambers around him felt vaguely familiar, and a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance lingered in the air.


    He quickly recognized it as Fratis''s room.


    "Master Luca has awakened! Quickly, inform Her Majesty the Queen!" A joyful voice came from the side.


    The maid who had been waiting noticed immediately that he had regained consciousness and hurriedly went out to report.


    "Finally, it''s over," Luca muttered, ignoring the maid beside him. He held his head as he sat up.


    Feeling like he had narrowly escaped death.


    The pain of having the Source Power wash through his body was no less than the agony of having his flesh and bones crushed repeatedly while conscious. Even with Luca''s endurance, it had been almost too much to bear.


    Fortunately, he had made it through.


    He was dressed in silk undergarments, and as he stepped down from the bed amid the maidens'' surprised exmations.


    Luca took a moment to calm his mind. He then used his mental energy to inspect his own body.What he discovered was striking.


    Within his blood and flesh, there seemed to be a hot current surging through him. Luca could clearly feel that his body was now brimming with boundless strength, and his entire being felt lighter, as though he had been reborn.


    There was no sense of difort whatsoever.


    Luca opened his status panel to take a look.


    The light shed briefly, and the virtual game interface appeared before him.


    [Name: Luca]


    [Level: LV 46]


    [Talent: Heaven''s Blessing Divine Body]


    [ss: Demonic Rune Mage, Witch Doctor, Dreamweaver, Fate-Swapping Master, zing Sunwalker]


    [Health: 860,000]


    [Mana: 1,230,000]


    [Divine Power: 109]


    [Source Power: 324]


    [Attack: 313,000 - 335,000]


    [Attributes: Strength: 36,000, Spirit: 45,000, Stamina: 21,000, Agility: 19,000]


    [Special: Charm 500, Perception 500, Aptitude 500, Luck 500]


    [Titles: Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm, Peerless Appearance, Dangerous Perception, Son of Luck, Master of Asceticism¡­]


    ...


    When Luca saw the numbers on the panel, even though he had prepared himself mentally, he couldn''t help but take a sharp breath.


    After absorbing the divine shard, his stats had not only increased several times over but his special attributes had also surged dramatically, all reaching a value of 500.


    What surprised Luca even more was that a new entry, "Source Power," had appeared on his panel. If "Divine Power" was the manifestation of a deity''s strength, then "Source Power" should likely be the power of the Ancient Gods.


    However, its exact function remained unclear to him.


    While Luca was deep in thought, the door to the room suddenly swung open.


    A group of people rushed in, their faces filled with excitement. Winston, Ziegfried, Evelyn, as well as Augustine, Selin, Lucia, and Fratis had all arrived.


    "You finally woke up!" Lucia hurried over and began examining him from head to toe. After confirming there was nothing wrong with him, she let out a long sigh of relief.


    "Why are all of you here?" Luca was surprised to see so many people. He hadn''t expected such a gathering.


    "We were just discussing matters in the great hall when the maid came in to tell us you were awake," Sophia exined.


    At that moment, Luca noticed that Fratis was also there. She was dressed in an incredibly luxurious golden royal robe and wore a magnificent golden crown adorned with jewels.


    Compared to her previous youthful demeanor, she now exuded an air of authority and nobility.


    "I''m relieved you''re alright," Fratis sighed in relief.


    When Luca heard that, he recalled how Fratis had been so terrified when he suddenly passed out a few days ago. It had worried her greatly.


    Chapter Experience:


    Luca looked at the royal robe Fratis was wearing, then smiled wryly at everyone and asked, "How long have I been asleep?"


    "Three days. The coronation ceremony just ended yesterday," Ziegfried, the fifth prince, answered. Then, with a hint of confusion, he asked, "What happened that day? Why did you suddenly faint?"


    Augustine also looked at him in surprise and said, "We thought something was wrong with your body. We had you checked multiple times, but there was nothing physically wrong."


    Sophia bit her lip and instinctively turned her head away. The past few days, she had been the most worried. If something had really happened to Luca, Sophia knew she would never be able to forgive herself.


    "It''s nothing, just a little ident while practicing a secret technique," Luca casually exined. He couldn''t exactly tell them that he had fainted from the overwhelming pain of absorbing the Source Crystal''s power.


    At that moment, Evelyn stepped forward and ced her palm on his wrist. After sensing his condition, her gaze suddenly became a little strange. "By the way, what exactly did you gain from this opportunity?"


    "Your strength now... I can''t even sense it anymore."


    The others, reminded by Evelyn''s words, also noticed something was off.


    Luca''s previous aura and vitality had been incredibly strong. Even from a distance, one could feel his presence.


    But now, it was as though he had be an ordinary person. Even though he stood right in front of them, none of them could detect any fluctuations in his energy. This left everyone in the room feeling a bit puzzled.


    As Luca was trying to figure out how to cover up his situation, Sophia suddenly spoke up, "It''s possible that Luca''s body hasn''t fully recovered yet. Let''s not disturb him, everyone. Let''s give him some rest and head out for now."


    Although everyone was curious, they didn''t press further. They exchanged a few words with Luca, reminding him to take care of himself and assuring him that matters in Dawn City were under control. Then, they left the royal chambers, leaving only Sophia and Lucia to stay and watch over him.


    "My body''s almost fully recovered; there''s no need to worry," Luca reassured the two women, before asking, "I wonder how things are going in Dawn City now?"


    "Thanks to you," Lucia said with a smile. "The First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Fourth Prince, along with the noble factions that supported them, have all been cleaned out. Their power and influence have beenpletely redistributed."


    "Yesterday, Fratis was crowned. Those nobles are all trembling, afraid of being held ountable for their actionster."


    "From now on, the Clinton Empire''s power structure will be reshuffled, and Dawn City is back in order. It''s like a rebirth after destruction."


    Luca felt a sense of relief hearing this. As long as things on Fratis'' side were settled, he no longer had any worries.


    After a moment of thought, Luca turned to Lucia and said, "I might need to head to the Western Sea soon. Do you want toe with us, teacher?"


    "Why are you going to the Western Sea?" Lucia asked, surprised. Sophia, on the other hand, seemed to have anticipated this and merely nodded.


    Although they didn''t know the exact location of the Celestial Pearl, it was certain that it was somewhere in the Western Sea. Coincidentally, Luca''s territory, Hain County, was also located there, so they had to make the trip.


    "We''re going to check on my territory," Luca exined. "It''s been a long time, and as the lord, I can''t just ignore it. I''m bringing you along to help guide me, teacher."


    Sophia, being the daughter of the Ryanthe Count, had received the best education from a young age and had the experience for such a task. Lucia didn''t think much of it and simply said, "Just make sure youe back soon. I won''t be joining you; the association and academy have been busy, and I need to help them manage things."


    She was, of course, referring to Augustine and Selin.


    Luca smiled, "Once things settle over there, we''lle back and take you with us, teacher. The Western Coast is a great ce to retire, even in the entire Eternal Continent."


    "Now you''re thinking about your teacher too? Guess you''ve still got a little conscience left," Lucia said, rolling her eyes, though her tone betrayed the smile she couldn''t quite suppress.


    ...


    The situation was smoothed over, and Luca''s health was no longer a concern. The little detour was soon behind them.


    After leaving the pce, Luca made his way to Dawn City and found Tia.


    "Master, are you nning to head to the Western Sea?" Tia, still recovering from the shock of Luca being fine, was caught off guard by the news, her eyes widening in surprise.


    Mira raised her hand, asking eagerly, "Can wee with you, Master?"


    The other high-ranking members of the Hope God Sect looked at him with eager expressions, hoping to continue following in his footsteps.


    "I''m afraid that''s not possible," Luca shook his head and smiled. "I''m going over there to handle some matters, and I likely won''t be returning until everything is taken care of. The exact timing is uncertain."


    "The Hope God Sect is still in its infancy. I''ve already spoken with Her Majesty the Queen, and as long as the sect doesn''t do anything evil or immoral, she won''t interfere with its development. She''s also agreed to establish the Hope God Sect as the new state religion."


    "This period is crucial for the Hope God Sect, and it''s more important that you remain here to support it."


    As he spoke, Luca''s hands glowed with the dreamlike power of Dreamweaving, which gradually coalesced into two gems.


    The gems shimmered with a mix of dreamlike and rainbow-colored light, so magnificent that they seemed to belong to another world entirely.


    "What is this...?" Tia and the others could sense a very strange power emanating from the gems.


    It was simr to Dreamweaving power, but it felt slightly different.


    "These are gems infused with dream power and a special kind of energy. You can call them ''Hope Gems,''" Luca casually exined.


    These two gems were created by Luca, merging his Dreamweaving power with Source Energy. After some experimentation, Luca discovered that one of the abilities of Source Energy was¡­


    Enhancement¡ªand it was enhancement with no side effects!


    Abilities enhanced by Source Energy would have much stronger effects, easily surpassing their previous potency by more than ten times!


    "Tia," Luca turned to her with a smile, "From today on, I appoint you as the first Hope Goddess of the Hope God Sect."


    "From now on, you will have full authority to manage the sect."


    As his words fell, the two Hope Gems slowly floated into the air.


    Onended in Tia''s hand, while the other merged into Mira''s forehead.


    Mira''s body trembled slightly, and her previously pale face began to regain some color. Vitality emanated from her as her form, which had only been a projection of illusion until now, quickly became solid under the influence of this power.


    The colorful lights intertwined, and the energy finally formed a strange symbol on her forehead¡ªan incredibly mystical sight!


    Everyone, including Tia, watched in stunned silence.


    They could all feel an unprecedented life force emanating from Mira!


    It wasn''t like the vitality of an ordinary human, but neither was it like anything they had seen before. It was somethingpletely different, almost like a new kind of being.


    "This feeling..." Mira stared at her hands in a daze, feeling as though some kind of restraint had been broken.


    The soul-binding shackles had vanished, leaving her with a profound sense of rebirth.


    Luca didn''t respond but instead gently patted Mira''s head.


    He smiled and said, "From today on, you are free."

 Chapter 179 Zenobia Makes Her Move! Divine Slaying! The Ancient Gods Appear!

    To most, Zenobia might seem like an ordinary name, but anyone who had ever heard of her would likely be shocked by the thoughts running through Sophia''s mind.


    Zenobia was the mastermind behind the Divine Cataclysm, the one who controlled the dominion of sin and lust. She was also the second daughter of the Divine King. Yet, what would astonish anyone who knew her story was that, at some point, she had quietly escaped from the Abyssal Demon Realm and taken possession of the body of a young girl, Sophia herself.


    "Oh dear, what''s the rush? He''s not dead yet, is he?" A yfulugh echoed in Sophia''s mind, and just the sound of it made one feel as if something sinister was stirring beneath the surface. Even without seeing it, it was easy to imagine that this was theugh of a true enchantress.


    The battle in the sky continued, and Luca''s attack had visibly begun to lose its momentum. It was clear that he couldn''t hold on for much longer.


    Sophia spoke calmly, "I''m not in the mood for jokes. Either help me save these people, or stay hidden inside me and nevere out again."


    Zenobia chuckled lightly, "It''s just a man, really. Look at how you''re acting right now, you''re making us gods look bad."


    A chill ran through Sophia''s eyes in that instant.


    Before she could respond, Zenobia sighed in mock resignation, "Alright, alright. I get it. I''ll take action."


    As her words fell, a swirl of dark purple mist suddenly appeared before Sophia''s eyes.


    The cold, icy aura around her vanished in an instant, reced by a power thick with the scent of desire and sin.


    At that moment, she seemed to havepletely transformed into someone else.


    In an instant, everyone within a hundred miles felt a sudden thud in their hearts. Dark thoughts that had been suppressed deep within began to surface like mushrooms after the rain.


    It wasn''t just the ordinary people; even those at the Transcendent level couldn''t help but feel an urge to indulge in their darkest impulses.


    Everyone''s eyes shed with a dark purple hue, and thoughts of violence, greed, lust, and other unspeakable desires surged uncontrobly within them.


    "What is happening?" Lucia suppressed the sudden surge of desire in her own heart, her mind filled with confusion. Why did she suddenly feel like doing something... inappropriate?


    Before she could ponder it further.


    Her eyes widened in disbelief as she saw Sophia''s slender figure slowly rise into the air, heading toward the heavens above.


    "Sophia, where are you going?" Lucia asked, her voice filled with concern.


    "Don''t worry, teacher. I''m just going to meet an old friend," Sophia said with a smile that curved at the corner of her lips.


    Luciasuddenly froze in ce, her beautiful eyes wide with shock, her face filled with disbelief.


    What had she just seen?Sophiawas actually smiling?!


    After all these years of knowing her student, this was the first timeLuciahad ever seen a smile onSophia''s face.


    "Wait... this isn''t Sophia," Lucia suddenly realized as she saw Sophia''s silver hair shift into a dark purple hue.


    At the same time, high above, the Goddess of Dawn hurled a starry gxy down toward Luca, striking him and sending him flying backward.


    She had intended to follow up on her advantage, but her smile froze on her face in shock.


    "This aura..." The Goddess of Dawn muttered to herself, suddenly raising her head and looking in the direction of Dawn City. When her gazended on Sophia, her beautiful eyes were filled with disbelief and shock.


    "It''s impossible¡­ This can''t be... How can you be here?!" The Goddess of Dawn looked as though she had seen a ghost. Seeing Fratis, or rather Zenobia, here was more shocking to her than even the thought of the Divine King being alive.


    After all, she had personally witnessed Zenobia fall into the Abyssal Realm on the dark side of the universe many years ago. She had sealed Zenobia herself, locking her away at the gates of the Abyssal Realm, which eventually became the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    Logically speaking, she should never have seen Zenobia again in her lifetime. How on earth did Zenobia escape her seal ande out from there?


    "Senior, what are you doing here?" Luca was just about to give the signal for Jormungandr to act when he turned around and saw Sophia. His heart skipped a beat. He never expected to see her here.


    "It seems you''re not too happy to see me." Sophia spoke yfully, a mischievous smile on her face. Her eyes shimmered with dark purple light, and her voice dripped with mockery. She floated effortlessly in mid-air, not relying on any divine power.


    As he realized who it was, Luca''s expression shifted to one of shock. Zenobia, the sister of the Goddess of Dawn¡­?! This woman had been sealed in the Abyssal Demon Realm! How could she suddenly appear on the Eternal Continent and even take possession of Sophia''s body?


    "Zenobia, what do you think you''re doing?" The Goddess of Dawn''s face turned ashen, and her body began to slowly retreat. She knew all too well what kind of powery hidden inside this seemingly ordinary girl.


    Even though Zenobia''s strength seemed to pale inparison to theirs¡­


    The truth was, Zenobia, with only the strength of a God-Emperor ten thousand years ago, had ughtered the countless gods and overturned the entire Divine Court. And that was when the Divine Court was at its peak!


    "What I do has nothing to do with you, does it?" Zenobia didn''t even nce at Luca. She grinned, her eyes gleaming with a mocking light as she spoke to the Goddess of Dawn: "You Ancient Gods really love hiding, don''t you? You were like that ten thousand years ago, and now you still skulk around like rats..."


    After a pause, she suddenly sneered. "In that case, let me help you peel that mask off!"


    As she spoke, dark purple light gathered in her hands, forming into a long-ded scythe. At the same time, an overwhelming surge of ck demonic energy erupted from Zenobia, shooting straight up into the sky.


    The golden sun and the vast starry skies were immediately obscured by this dark energy, and the entire world seemed to be swallowed by an abyss of ckness. In almost an instant, both Luca''s and the Goddess of Dawn''s divine realms were suppressed!


    A terrifying aura, so powerful that even thews of the universe seemed to tremble before it, descended upon the entire Eternal Continent!


    At the same time, whether on the Eternal Continent or in the deepest corners of the Abyssal Demon Realm, countless monsters simultaneously opened their blood-red eyes!


    Roar! Roar! Roar!


    They tilted their heads back, their gaze piercing through the endless darkness, and they saw the Eternal World outside the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    A series of howls, as terrifying as those of evil spirits, echoed from the darkness, chanting together to celebrate the arrival of their one true god!


    The Lord of Sin and Desire ¨C Zenobia!


    On the Eternal Continent, whether it was those hiding in the shadows or the powerful figures busy with their own affairs, nearly all of them felt a sudden shock in their hearts. They turned their gaze toward the direction of the Clinton Empire, their eyes filled with awe. They couldn''t even fathom what level of power this being had reached!


    How could such an existence suddenly appear on the Eternal Continent?!


    "Zenobia, your matters have nothing to do with me! If you have grievances, they should be with those who wronged you, not us!" The Goddess of Dawn trembled as she spoke, and Luca could even see the fear in her eyes.


    He couldn''t imagine what kind of being could make a divine or even an Ancient God feel such terror.


    "Do you think I''ve forgotten? Little octopus." Zenobia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she held the Azure Scythe. "I saw your true form in the Abyssal Demon Realm once, and it was so ugly it made me sick."


    She slowly walked toward the pale-faced Goddess of Dawn, her tone one of reflection. "A hundred thousand years¡­ I spent a hundred thousand years in that hellhole! All because of you and the other gods."


    "Now that the gods are dead, why are you Ancient Gods still alive? Why, I wonder?"


    As soon as her words finished, her eyes shed red, and an overwhelming wave of hatred and murderous intent erupted like a storm!


    It turned into something tangible, a ck tidal wave of energy rushing toward the Goddess of Dawn!


    Without even thinking, the Goddess of Dawn immediately transformed into a streak of light, soaring into the sky and fleeing at top speed. She had no intention of fighting back, choosing to escape outright!


    "Do you think you can run?!" The voice of Zenobia rang out, and in the blink of an eye, she appeared right behind the Goddess of Dawn. With a vicious swing of her scythe, a dark purple de of light tore through the air, shattering space itself as it shed toward the terrified Goddess of Dawn.


    If that attack hit, there was no doubt that the Goddess of Dawn would be killed without a chance to fight back!


    "Stop!" Luca''s expression changed drastically as he shouted in anger.


    If what the Sr Divine Spear had said was true, and the Goddess of Dawn''s divine soul waspromised, then Fratis''s consciousness might not have dissipatedpletely. There could still be a chance of saving her.


    But if her physical body was destroyed, then even if Fratis''s consciousness still existed, she would be doomed to die without question!


    However, it seemed as if Zenobia hadn''t heard a word. With everyone watching in stunned silence, her scythe sliced through the Goddess of Dawn''s body.


    The dark purple de of light tore through her, shooting into the sky.


    The Goddess of Dawn froze in ce, her movements suddenly paralyzed.


    Behind her, a long wound appeared, glowing with a soft white starlight, almost splitting her in two.


    Luca''s fists clenched tightly, his eyes bloodshot with fury. He was about to charge forward.


    But what happened nextpletely defied his expectations.


    Zenobia suddenly took a step forward, her pale hand extending as she thrust it into the wound on the Goddess of Dawn''s back.


    Then, with a forceful yank, she pulled something out.


    "Hiss!" A collective gasp echoed through the air as a dark, slick tentacle appeared in Zenobia''s hand, writhing and struggling.


    As she exerted more force, the true form of the creature began to reveal itself to everyone.


    It was a one-meter-long, pitch-ck creature resembling an octopus. Filthy ck liquid dripped from its body, and its slippery skin was covered in countless eyes, each one glowing like gems, radiating a mesmerizing, multicolored light.


    Upon seeing the creature, many people instinctively covered their heads, feeling as though their minds were being invaded by countless whispers and murmurs. Some even felt bumps forming on their skin, as if something was trying to break out of their bodies.


    Staring at the grotesque, pitch-ck creature, Luca stood frozen in ce.


    This... was this what the Ancient Gods truly were?

 Chapter 180 The Extermination of the Ancient Gods! Fratis Falls Asleep! A Deal with Zenobia!

    In Luca''s imagination, the so-called Ancient Gods should be beings hidden high in the sky, existing for countless ages, towering and vast, calmly overseeing all worlds, exuding an aura of eternal destion. At the very least, they should resemble the Sun''s Radiance Lord or the Goddess of Dawn, with their divine light dazzling and illuminating the ages, capable of shaking the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers with a mere gesture, suppressing billions of living beings with their immense power.


    But he could never have imagined that the mastermind behind the Eternal Game¡ªwho had calcted the downfall of countless gods, overthrown the Divine Court, killed the God King, and initiated the cataclysmic fusion of the two realms¡ªwould be an ugly octopus barely bigger than a calf. While Luca understood that appearances could be deceiving, at this moment, he couldn''t help but feel aplex mix of emotions. It was almost like preparing for battle against an overwhelming enemy, only to find that the opponent was a goofy, curly-haired Teddy bear¡ªabsurd andical.


    But this was not the time for such thoughts.


    After the monster detached from Fratis'' body, the divine light around her began to fade. She swayed a few times before copsing straight toward the ground.


    Luca quickly moved, catching her in his arms. He was struck by how light Fratis felt, almost like a delicate feather.


    After checking her condition, Luca found that Fratis'' eyes were tightly closed, her face pale, and her life force was like a flickering candle in the wind¡ªon the verge of extinguishing at any moment. He summoned golden divine light in his hands, pouring it into her body, barely managing to sustain her life force. Only then did he let out a breath of relief.


    Meanwhile, the ck octopus, though captured, had not given up on its escape. Its body writhed and oozed thick ck mist, struggling to break free from Zenobia''s grip.


    Yet no matter how it twisted and turned, her slender, pale hand remained locked around its head, unyielding as iron, without the slightest tremor.


    Zenobia lifted the ck octopus with one hand, a seductive smile ying on her exquisite face. "I can see you want to live. Tell me the locations of the other Ancient Gods, and I might spare you."


    Was she nning to find the Ancient Gods''ir? Luca''s mind raced. If they could locate where these beings were hiding, perhaps the cmity of the game could be avoided.


    However, the ck octopus seemed to ignore her, continuing to struggle without a hint of answering.


    "Are you sure you won''t reconsider?" Zenobia''s dark purple eyes narrowed slightly, and her fingers slowly tightened. A surge of purple divine energy flowed into the ck octopus''s body through her hand.


    The octopus'' body stiffened for a moment, then its eyes widened in terror, as though it had encountered something horrifying. Its struggles suddenly grew more frantic.


    The octopus''s gem-like eyes shed wildly, and dark purple veins began to appear all over its body. The slippery tentacles beneath it twisted together, writhing in what seemed like unimaginable agony.


    It was only at this moment that Luca realized that Zenobia''s power had an absolute suppressive effect on these Ancient Gods. Under the erosion of Zenobia''s strength, the aura of the Ancient God rapidly weakened. Its body began to shrink at a visible rate, and its eyes bulged out, grotesque and twisted in appearance, as its form grew increasingly distorted and terrifying.


    Even so, this Ancient God did not speak. Instead, it only emitted sharp, high-pitched, wailing cries.


    "Utterly clueless," Zenobia scoffed, clearly displeased.


    In Luca''s astonished gaze, she exerted a sudden burst of force with her palm. The ugly ck octopus immediately froze in ce. Then, its body began to expand rapidly, purple light radiating from its eyes and body like a brilliant, shimmering halo.


    As the space around them began to warp, a jet-ck beam of light shed out, and the Ancient God''s form continued to distort and shrink, until itpletely vanished from the air. It was as if it had never existed, leaving behind only a diamond-shaped crystal that emitted a mesmerizing, psychedelic glow.


    In Zenobia''s hands, the so-called Ancient Gods were no more than fragile children, easily crushed with a wave of her hand. Luca understood that this didn''t mean the Ancient Gods weren''t powerful¡ªit was simply that the woman before him, the one who had overthrown the Divine Court, was far too terrifyingly strong.


    The colorful crystal slowly floated toward Zenobia, hovering in front of her before vanishing in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace of where it had gone.


    As if sensing Luca''s gaze, Zenobia''s eyes turned toward him.


    Her gaze glinted with an eerie, purple light, and a seductive smile curled on her lips. This woman was strikingly simr in appearance to Sophia, but beyond that, they were nothing alike. The thought of thisparison made Luca think of another woman.


    The same face, yet three entirely different personalities and identities, with power levels that couldn''t be more different¡ªSophia, Pandora, and Zenobia. What was the connection between them?


    Luca found himself unable to make sense of it, but if someone suggested it was all a coincidence, he would never believe it.


    Zenobia''s gaze shifted, briefly scanning Luca beforending on Fratis in his arms.


    Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and with a cruel, almost gleeful tone, she said, "This girl won''tst much longer. You should start making arrangements for her final rites."


    At these words, Luca''s brow furrowed in concern. Just as he was about to ask her what she meant, he noticed a sh of blue light from the ring on Fratis''s hand. The terrifying aura around her began to dissipate, and her dark purple hair quickly turned to silver-white. Her expression, too, slowly returned to its usual cold, serene state.


    Had the other party left? Luca still had many unanswered questions. What was the true nature of the rtionship between Sophia, Pandora, and Zenobia? Why was Fratis still alive? Why had Zenobia said such things? What were the Ancient Gods'' ultimate goals, and so on.


    He was about to ask Sophia when, as if sensing his thoughts, she wearily said, "Let''s first deal with the situation in Dawn City. I will tell you everythingter."


    Luca''s gaze shifted to the upside-down Dawn City below. The floating city hung in midair, its countless buildings destroyed, and the streets filled with cries of despair. Even though several powerful individuals had intervened to slow the descent, the city was still plummeting rapidly toward the ground. Right now, the forces and armies within Dawn City were busy rescuing the citizens, so it was clearly not the time for questions.


    There was still some time before the Gods'' Revtion. Luca leaped into the air, and in his eyes, the Divine me zed, a radiant light suddenly bursting forth, like a sun suspended in the sky. Above the sky, a colossal golden statue, resembling a mountain, flickered with light in its eyes. It then extended its massive hand toward the plummeting Dawn City.


    Amidst the frantic shouts of the panicked crowd, a deafening boom rang out from all directions. The falling Dawn City was caught securely by the golden giant''s hand. People looked up in awe, the golden figure high in the sky imprinting itself firmly in their minds.


    The statue bent down, gently cing the falling sky city onto the wide ground. More booming sounds echoed as other floating inds around them were also supported by waves of golden divine light, slowly descending to the earth.


    After the series of shocks and scares, with the danger now past, cheers erupted across Dawn City. People embraced and wept, overwhelmed by a mix of sorrow and joy.


    Lucanded, and the sun-like Divine me around him slowly faded. His aura gradually returned from the Divine Realm to his usual level.


    Looking at the devastated Dawn City, Luca''s expression remained unchanged. He had seen enough of such tragic scenes to be numb to them by now. Moreover, the situation in Dawn City could be considered better than most¡ªit was nothingpared to the devastation in Southwind City. However, the significance of the two cities was very different.


    After all, Dawn City was the capital of the Clinton Empire, and it had almost been destroyed by the Dawn God Sect and Alfred. Once everything settled down, the empire would have to exin the situation to the public. The Dawn God Sect would certainly be held ountable, and the empire would likely undergo arge-scale purge.


    Amid the ruins, countless civilians stared at Luca from a distance, not a single person daring to approach. In their eyes, there was only awe, mixed with deep fear. When a person''s power surpasses theprehension of ordinary people and stands before them, a god bes no different from a monster.


    Luca paid no attention to the gazes of others, his focus solely on Fratis in his arms.


    Her eyes were tightly closed, lost in a deep slumber. Though her vitality had been restored, she still hadn''t woken up.


    Luca didn''t understand why, but Zenobia must have seen something wrong with her, which was why she had said those words to him.


    "Her soul is barely hanging on. It''s very difficult to save her," Sophia said as she walked up to Luca, her gaze falling on Fratis in his arms, her expressionplex.


    The body is the vessel for the soul, and the soul carries a person''s consciousness. If the soul dissipates, even if the body remains, it will only be a lifeless shell with no consciousness. Luca understood the importance of the soul. He knew that restoring a person''s soul was like bringing someone back from the dead, far more difficult than healing physical injuries.


    He sighed, looking at Fratis, and asked, "Does she have any other methods?"


    He was referring to Zenobia. As a god, someone who had possibly lived for an eternity, she might have a way to restore Fratis''s soul energy.


    Sophia''s blue ring shed for a brief moment.


    She fell silent for a while, as though asking something, then furrowed her brow. "She does have a method, but she needs something from you in exchange, and it will only help awaken the Sixth Princess. There''s no guarantee it will fully restore her soul¡­"


    Luca froze, then suddenly realized what she meant.


    A sh of ck light flickered in his hand, and a boxpletely ck, with strange patterns etched on all four sides¡ªappeared in his grasp.


    "She wants the Demon Box?" Luca asked.


    This was probably the only thing on him that Zenobia would find of interest.


    "Yes," Sophia nodded, her tone calm. "You can think it over, but this item is very important to her tomorrow."


    As she spoke, the ring on her finger shed wildly. Zenobia had clearly figured that Luca would stop at nothing to save Fratis, and so she made her demand, hoping to extort Luca. But it seemed she hadn''t anticipated a traitor in her own ranks.


    Luca thought for only a moment before handing over the Demon Box.


    He nodded, saying, "I agree, but I need a way to fully restore Fratis''s soul."


    The Demon Box might be important to Zenobia, but to Luca, it held little significance. The most important thing right now was saving Fratis.

 Chapter 182 : 182: The Black Dragon King! Farewell, Alfred! What I Care About is Its Glory!

    The upside-down Dawn City had caused significant damage to many buildings. Even though the Clinton Empire''s royal pce was well-constructed and had magical protections, it still suffered considerable impact.


    The once magnificent pce was now in chaos. Inside and outside, many guards and attendants were busy cleaning up the scattered debris. However,pared to the outside world''s turmoil, the interior was already in much better condition.


    Initially, no one had noticed Luca''s arrival, but amid the crowd, someone suddenly gasped. Before long, more and more people turned to look at him.


    Their gazes were filled with a mix of emotions¡ªshock, confusion, fear, and even gratitude.


    Luca paid no attention to their stares and walked straight toward the pce hall.


    Just as he was about to enter, a general from the royal guards, d in golden armor, stepped forward.


    "Count Luca, I''m not sure... what is it you intend to do...?" The general stammered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Although the young man before him appeared to be only a mid-tier practitioner, the pressure he exuded was more intense than even a Transcendent-level being, possibly even more than King Alfred himself.


    After all, this was a being who had ascended to godhood!


    "I''m here to see His Majesty the King," Luca said calmly.


    The general hesitated, clearly troubled. They had already witnessed Luca''s terrifying strength.


    It was clear he was a dangerous figure, someone they couldn''t afford to let near King Alfred without caution.


    "Let him in. If he had intended harm to His Majesty, he would have already made his move," a clear voice spoke from behind them.


    Luca turned around to see Winston, d in ck armor, approaching.


    Behind him were several unfamiliar figures. Their attire was noble, and their appearances were somewhat unusual.


    The leader among them wore a luxurious ck robe embroidered with gold patterns. He had faint golden vertical pupils, and his demeanor was rxed, almost as if he were walking casually.


    An All-Beings Empire member? Luca immediately recognized their identity.


    It was hard not to¡ªafter all, they wore the insignia of the All-Beings Empire, and it was obvious from the leader''s appearance that he was from the dragon race. The majority of that species lived in the All-Beings Empire.


    While Luca assessed them, the noble figures from the All-Beings Empire were also cautiously observing him.


    "Perhaps... we should wait before entering?" a burly man with giant bloodlines suggested carefully.


    Marcel, who had initially appeared carefree, instinctively toned down his rxed demeanor. He now looked serious and said, "I think you''re right."


    They had all witnessed Luca''s strength before¡ªhe had even fought theGoddess of Dawnwith remarkable back-and-forth exchanges.


    For someone like that, they thought it would be better to stay out of his way. If they angered him, he could easily swat them all down with a single gesture, leaving their diplomatic entourage stranded here. That would be a major loss.


    The other nobles from the All-Beings Empire also nodded in agreement. Marcel cleared his throat and said to Winston apologetically, "Ahem, I just remembered that I left something I meant to bring to His Majesty on the flying ship. I''ll go back to get it right now. You guys go on ahead, don''t wait for me."


    With that, he waved his hand and without waiting for Winston to reply, he quickly turned and made his exit.


    The burly man and the other nobles were left staring in shock.What the hell?They had agreed to go together, and now Marcel had just run off on his own.


    A chorus of silent curses went through their minds as they thought about how they might slip away as well.


    At that moment, Luca suddenly spoke, his voice clear and calm. "I wonder... is that Marcel of the All-Beings Empire?"


    Everyone present froze in surprise. No one had expected Luca to recognize him.


    Marcel also stopped in his tracks, his expression one of confusion. "Uh, you know me?"


    Luca shed a smile. "I know a bit about you."


    In truth, Luca knew far more than just a little¡ªMarcel''s name was practically legendary. Luca had sensed his presence earlier, but he hadn''t been certain until he saw the man in person. Now, he was certain he hadn''t made a mistake.


    ck Dragon King ¨C Marcel!The one who had once single-handedly faced off against King-level monstermonsters and a horde of a million monsters, and had wiped out dozens of Transcendent-level monster lords!


    He was one of the top three strongest Transcendent-level experts on theEternal Continent!


    In Luca''s past life, he had a good rtionship with Marcel. On the battlefield, Luca had often received Marcel''s protection.


    Unfortunately, before Luca could repay him, Marcel was killed in a joint attack by the Titan BehemothBehemothand the Chaos DragonLeviathan. Even his body had been devoured by the two King-level monstermonsters. It was a shame that in this life, Marcel had returned so soon.


    Noticing the way Luca was looking at him, Marcel couldn''t help but shiver.


    He forced a smile and stammered, "Th-th-that''s an honor."


    Luca knew Marcel was a man who valued his life above all else.


    "When you have time, let''s have some tea together," Luca said with a shake of his head, not rushing to reminisce. He turned and walked into the pce.


    With Winston''s word, the golden-armored guard general no longer blocked his way.


    Marcel hesitated for a moment, then quickly ran back.


    Although he had no idea why Luca knew him, he could clearly tell that Luca held no ill will toward him. This thought instantly made his mind more agile.


    The All-Beings Empire hade to the Clinton Empire to form alliances. If he could bring someone like Luca into their camp...


    As that idea crossed his mind, Marcel''s eyes lit up with hope. The future seemed brighter.


    "You said you left something on the flying ship, didn''t you?" Winston shot Marcel a knowing look, his lips curling into a faint smile.


    Marcel showed no sign of embarrassment after being exposed, and casually said, "I suddenly remembered the gift was in my storage ring. No need to go back after all."


    The All-Beings Empire nobles couldn''t help but twitch their mouths, feeling embarrassed to have such a master.


    "Don''t say you know me," the burly man, Krik, muttered in disgust as he gave Marcel a sidelong nce and distanced himself a bit. Winston, on the other hand, found Marcel somewhat amusing. He reminded him of someone¡ªa person with equally thick skin.


    After Luca entered the pce, he followed a maid to King Alfred''s chambers. On the way, he naturally drew a lot of attention. Some of the guards and nobles, upon seeing him, went pale in fear, wondering how this dangerous person had made his way into the pce.


    Luca appeared unaffected by their gazes and soon arrived at the doors to the king''s chambers. Before he even entered, he caught a strong scent of blood and decay wafting through the air. His eyes flickered slightly.


    "Your Majesty, Count Luca has arrived," the maid announced as she entered.Momentster, Alfred''s weak voice echoed from within the room.


    "Let him... in..." he rasped.


    The maid respectfully acknowledged and left. Luca stepped inside the chamber, and the first thing he saw was Alfred lying on a luxurious feather-down quilt, his face a ghastly pale shade.


    Compared to theirst meeting, Alfred now looked even weaker. His once bright eyes were now dim and lifeless. If it weren''t for the faint signs of life still lingering, one might mistake him for a corpse.


    Luca bowed politely. "Your Majesty."


    The room remained silent for a long while, before Alfred''s voice broke the stillness.


    "Fratis... is she still alive?" He slowly lifted his gaze toward Luca. His cracked lips moved weakly, and his voice was hoarse and unpleasant, as though it was squeezed from his throat.


    There was no anger or rage in his tone, no me for Luca having ruined the years of nning he hadid out. He didn''t question why Luca hade, either. He simply looked weary and defeated, as if all his energy had been drained from him.


    Luca nodded slightly. "The Sixth Princess is alive, though she has lost ten years of her memories. She inherited the power of the Goddess of Dawn, but it''s still uncertain if she can recover those lost memories."


    At this, Alfred paused, then a faint gleam appeared in his eyes.


    "This... this is... good news..." he said, his voice weak, but then he was suddenly overtaken by a violent cough.


    Luca frowned. "But Fratis'' current mental state is that of a teenager. Do you still want her to inherit the throne?"


    Alfred''s coughing fit left him speechless. The maid tried to step forward to help him catch his breath, but he roughly pushed her aside. Struggling, he retrieved a ck pill from his storage ring and swallowed it. Almost immediately, an unnatural flush spread across his face, and his energy seemed to surge, revitalizing him significantly.


    The maid and the guards hovered nearby, hesitant to speak but ultimately sighing in resignation.


    Luca narrowed his eyes, recognizing the pill as a Superss elixir that drained one''s life force. It was a desperate measure, allowing a person to unleash thest bit of their vitality for a short burst of power. Alfred''s life was already hanging by a thread, and taking this kind of drug would likely ensure that he wouldn''t make it through the day.


    "Hahaha, what''s the problem?" Alfred seemed oblivious to the pity in the eyes of the maid and guards. He shifted his body slightly, forcing himself to sit up so he could face the young man before him directly.


    Alfredughed heartily, saying, "She is now one of only two people on the Eternal Continent with divine power. Even though her mind is still that of a teenager, the lifespan of a god spans tens of thousands of years. A hundred years is but the blink of an eye. She will eventually grow, and lead Clinton to glory!"


    Luca found it hard toprehend. "What''s the point of an empire if it''s destined to rot from within? Even if Clinton holds on with Fratis'' strength, how long can it trulyst?"


    "You''ve never held the throne, so you can''t understand my thoughts," Alfred shook his head slightly, turning his gaze toward the chaos outside the window, where Dawn City was still in turmoil. His eyes gleamed with a strange light as he continued, "For example, I''ve never cared whether this kingdom will eventually fall into ruin."


    He paused, his expression distant and a bit mncholic."What I care about is, while it exists, how glorious it can be..."

 Chapter 182 : 182: The Black Dragon King! Farewell, Alfred! What I Care About is Its Glory!

    The upside-down Dawn City had caused significant damage to many buildings. Even though the Clinton Empire''s royal pce was well-constructed and had magical protections, it still suffered considerable impact.


    The once magnificent pce was now in chaos. Inside and outside, many guards and attendants were busy cleaning up the scattered debris. However,pared to the outside world''s turmoil, the interior was already in much better condition.


    Initially, no one had noticed Luca''s arrival, but amid the crowd, someone suddenly gasped. Before long, more and more people turned to look at him.


    Their gazes were filled with a mix of emotions¡ªshock, confusion, fear, and even gratitude.


    Luca paid no attention to their stares and walked straight toward the pce hall.


    Just as he was about to enter, a general from the royal guards, d in golden armor, stepped forward.


    "Count Luca, I''m not sure... what is it you intend to do...?" The general stammered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Although the young man before him appeared to be only a mid-tier practitioner, the pressure he exuded was more intense than even a Transcendent-level being, possibly even more than King Alfred himself.


    After all, this was a being who had ascended to godhood!


    "I''m here to see His Majesty the King," Luca said calmly.


    The general hesitated, clearly troubled. They had already witnessed Luca''s terrifying strength.


    It was clear he was a dangerous figure, someone they couldn''t afford to let near King Alfred without caution.


    "Let him in. If he had intended harm to His Majesty, he would have already made his move," a clear voice spoke from behind them.


    Luca turned around to see Winston, d in ck armor, approaching.


    Behind him were several unfamiliar figures. Their attire was noble, and their appearances were somewhat unusual.


    The leader among them wore a luxurious ck robe embroidered with gold patterns. He had faint golden vertical pupils, and his demeanor was rxed, almost as if he were walking casually.


    An All-Beings Empire member? Luca immediately recognized their identity.


    It was hard not to¡ªafter all, they wore the insignia of the All-Beings Empire, and it was obvious from the leader''s appearance that he was from the dragon race. The majority of that species lived in the All-Beings Empire.


    While Luca assessed them, the noble figures from the All-Beings Empire were also cautiously observing him.


    "Perhaps... we should wait before entering?" a burly man with giant bloodlines suggested carefully.


    Marcel, who had initially appeared carefree, instinctively toned down his rxed demeanor. He now looked serious and said, "I think you''re right."


    They had all witnessed Luca''s strength before¡ªhe had even fought theGoddess of Dawnwith remarkable back-and-forth exchanges.


    For someone like that, they thought it would be better to stay out of his way. If they angered him, he could easily swat them all down with a single gesture, leaving their diplomatic entourage stranded here. That would be a major loss.


    The other nobles from the All-Beings Empire also nodded in agreement. Marcel cleared his throat and said to Winston apologetically, "Ahem, I just remembered that I left something I meant to bring to His Majesty on the flying ship. I''ll go back to get it right now. You guys go on ahead, don''t wait for me."


    With that, he waved his hand and without waiting for Winston to reply, he quickly turned and made his exit.


    The burly man and the other nobles were left staring in shock.What the hell?They had agreed to go together, and now Marcel had just run off on his own.


    A chorus of silent curses went through their minds as they thought about how they might slip away as well.


    At that moment, Luca suddenly spoke, his voice clear and calm. "I wonder... is that Marcel of the All-Beings Empire?"


    Everyone present froze in surprise. No one had expected Luca to recognize him.


    Marcel also stopped in his tracks, his expression one of confusion. "Uh, you know me?"


    Luca shed a smile. "I know a bit about you."


    In truth, Luca knew far more than just a little¡ªMarcel''s name was practically legendary. Luca had sensed his presence earlier, but he hadn''t been certain until he saw the man in person. Now, he was certain he hadn''t made a mistake.


    ck Dragon King ¨C Marcel!The one who had once single-handedly faced off against King-level monstermonsters and a horde of a million monsters, and had wiped out dozens of Transcendent-level monster lords!


    He was one of the top three strongest Transcendent-level experts on theEternal Continent!


    In Luca''s past life, he had a good rtionship with Marcel. On the battlefield, Luca had often received Marcel''s protection.


    Unfortunately, before Luca could repay him, Marcel was killed in a joint attack by the Titan BehemothBehemothand the Chaos DragonLeviathan. Even his body had been devoured by the two King-level monstermonsters. It was a shame that in this life, Marcel had returned so soon.


    Noticing the way Luca was looking at him, Marcel couldn''t help but shiver.


    He forced a smile and stammered, "Th-th-that''s an honor."


    Luca knew Marcel was a man who valued his life above all else.


    "When you have time, let''s have some tea together," Luca said with a shake of his head, not rushing to reminisce. He turned and walked into the pce.


    With Winston''s word, the golden-armored guard general no longer blocked his way.


    Marcel hesitated for a moment, then quickly ran back.


    Although he had no idea why Luca knew him, he could clearly tell that Luca held no ill will toward him. This thought instantly made his mind more agile.


    The All-Beings Empire hade to the Clinton Empire to form alliances. If he could bring someone like Luca into their camp...


    As that idea crossed his mind, Marcel''s eyes lit up with hope. The future seemed brighter.


    "You said you left something on the flying ship, didn''t you?" Winston shot Marcel a knowing look, his lips curling into a faint smile.


    Marcel showed no sign of embarrassment after being exposed, and casually said, "I suddenly remembered the gift was in my storage ring. No need to go back after all."


    The All-Beings Empire nobles couldn''t help but twitch their mouths, feeling embarrassed to have such a master.


    "Don''t say you know me," the burly man, Krik, muttered in disgust as he gave Marcel a sidelong nce and distanced himself a bit. Winston, on the other hand, found Marcel somewhat amusing. He reminded him of someone¡ªa person with equally thick skin.


    After Luca entered the pce, he followed a maid to King Alfred''s chambers. On the way, he naturally drew a lot of attention. Some of the guards and nobles, upon seeing him, went pale in fear, wondering how this dangerous person had made his way into the pce.


    Luca appeared unaffected by their gazes and soon arrived at the doors to the king''s chambers. Before he even entered, he caught a strong scent of blood and decay wafting through the air. His eyes flickered slightly.


    "Your Majesty, Count Luca has arrived," the maid announced as she entered.Momentster, Alfred''s weak voice echoed from within the room.


    "Let him... in..." he rasped.


    The maid respectfully acknowledged and left. Luca stepped inside the chamber, and the first thing he saw was Alfred lying on a luxurious feather-down quilt, his face a ghastly pale shade.


    Compared to theirst meeting, Alfred now looked even weaker. His once bright eyes were now dim and lifeless. If it weren''t for the faint signs of life still lingering, one might mistake him for a corpse.


    Luca bowed politely. "Your Majesty."


    The room remained silent for a long while, before Alfred''s voice broke the stillness.


    "Fratis... is she still alive?" He slowly lifted his gaze toward Luca. His cracked lips moved weakly, and his voice was hoarse and unpleasant, as though it was squeezed from his throat.


    There was no anger or rage in his tone, no me for Luca having ruined the years of nning he hadid out. He didn''t question why Luca hade, either. He simply looked weary and defeated, as if all his energy had been drained from him.


    Luca nodded slightly. "The Sixth Princess is alive, though she has lost ten years of her memories. She inherited the power of the Goddess of Dawn, but it''s still uncertain if she can recover those lost memories."


    At this, Alfred paused, then a faint gleam appeared in his eyes.


    "This... this is... good news..." he said, his voice weak, but then he was suddenly overtaken by a violent cough.


    Luca frowned. "But Fratis'' current mental state is that of a teenager. Do you still want her to inherit the throne?"


    Alfred''s coughing fit left him speechless. The maid tried to step forward to help him catch his breath, but he roughly pushed her aside. Struggling, he retrieved a ck pill from his storage ring and swallowed it. Almost immediately, an unnatural flush spread across his face, and his energy seemed to surge, revitalizing him significantly.


    The maid and the guards hovered nearby, hesitant to speak but ultimately sighing in resignation.


    Luca narrowed his eyes, recognizing the pill as a Superss elixir that drained one''s life force. It was a desperate measure, allowing a person to unleash thest bit of their vitality for a short burst of power. Alfred''s life was already hanging by a thread, and taking this kind of drug would likely ensure that he wouldn''t make it through the day.


    "Hahaha, what''s the problem?" Alfred seemed oblivious to the pity in the eyes of the maid and guards. He shifted his body slightly, forcing himself to sit up so he could face the young man before him directly.


    Alfredughed heartily, saying, "She is now one of only two people on the Eternal Continent with divine power. Even though her mind is still that of a teenager, the lifespan of a god spans tens of thousands of years. A hundred years is but the blink of an eye. She will eventually grow, and lead Clinton to glory!"


    Luca found it hard toprehend. "What''s the point of an empire if it''s destined to rot from within? Even if Clinton holds on with Fratis'' strength, how long can it trulyst?"


    "You''ve never held the throne, so you can''t understand my thoughts," Alfred shook his head slightly, turning his gaze toward the chaos outside the window, where Dawn City was still in turmoil. His eyes gleamed with a strange light as he continued, "For example, I''ve never cared whether this kingdom will eventually fall into ruin."


    He paused, his expression distant and a bit mncholic."What I care about is, while it exists, how glorious it can be..."

 Chapter 185 The Phillips Family Vault! Crimson Mage! Hate Me!

    "Is this the Phillips family''s vault?" Luca looked at the silver-white door before him, surprised to find it was protected by aTranscendent-levelmagical barrier.


    Jormungandr''s eyes shifted yfully, and she floated closer with a grin stered on her face. "Master, would you like me to help you break this? If you promise to find me aTranscendent-levelsoul as a supplement, I''ll help you dismantle this barrier."


    "Get lost." Luca didn''t even nce at her.


    This creature''s mind must have been kicked by a mule to even think of bargaining with him.


    He extended his hand and gently ran his fingers over the magical runes on the silver-white wall, feeling the flow of energy within. After a few minutes, a golden sh appeared in his eyes. Golden symbols began to form in his hand, slowly merging into the wall.


    To Jormungandr''s astonishment, theTranscendent-levelmagic seal began to visibly crumble, and at a speed so fast it was almost iprehensible.


    "Y-You... How did you do that?" Jormungandr stammered, at a loss for words. This guy was insane! This was aTranscendent-levelmagic seal! He only touched it a few times, and he immediately found a way to break it?!


    "Didn''t you see?" Luca smiled smugly, looking almost insufferably pleased with himself. After enduring the trials in theDivine Courtruins, his various special attributes had skyrocketed by at least tenfold. It wasn''t just a simple increase in his talents or understanding; it was far more profound.


    Before, Luca had relied on his experiences from his past life and his exceptional talents to crack high-level magic. But now, he could effortlessly analyze and deconstruct unfamiliar magic with just a nce. And he had a feeling that if his special attributes were to improve further, he might even be able to evolve an unknown spell to new heights¡ªlike transforming aSuperssspell into somethingTranscendent, or even beyond.


    The magical seal on the silver-white door dissolved rapidly, like ice melting in fire.


    Crack!With a sharp sound, a fissure appeared in the previously unbreakableTranscendent-levelbarrier, quickly spreading until it exploded into a shower of radiant white light, slowly dissipating into the air.


    Creeeak!Luca pushed the door gently, and it began to open slowly. Before they could see inside, a burst of golden light flooded out, making both of them squint and temporarily blinded by the intensity.


    As their vision cleared, the scene beyond the door was revealed to Luca. It was a magnificent underground pce, spanning at least a thousand meters in size. The floor, paved with white jade, was piled high with a mountain of gleaming gold, gems, and coins. Under the glow of magical jewels, the treasures sparkled brightly.


    The very things that had blinded them earlier were now fully visible: treasures piled high around the grand hall. In addition, standing along the walls were disy cases made of magical crystals, packed tightly with rare items and materials, the lowest grade being high-tier, and many were evenSuperssmaterials! There were at least a thousand different types, if not more.


    "So many treasures!" Jormungandr''s eyes glittered with the shine of gold, and saliva almost dripped from the corners of her mouth.


    "It seems the Phillips family has been making quite a fortune these years," Luca mused as he estimated the value of everything in front of him. The total worth was easily no less than3 billion gold coins! And this didn''t even take into ount the Phillips family''s hidden assets. If all of it wasbined, the number would be truly staggering.


    If this information were to leak out, countless people would be shocked. After all, the corruption scandal that had rocked the entireClinton Empirewas worth only a little over ten billion gold, while the Phillips family''s vault alone contained more than double that amount!


    "This time, I''ve hit the jackpot." Luca couldn''t help but smile. With this money, not only would his material needs for cultivation be solved, but he would also have the means to build up his own power and train a group of strong, loyal followers. With the game''s arrival now in the countdown stage, this fortune hade just at the right time!


    He didn''t hesitate, sweeping up everything in the hall into hisstorage ring.


    After clearing everything out, not a single coin remained. Luca did a rough calction: in addition to the 2 billion gold coins, he had also obtained32 pieces of Superss materials, and4 types of Transcendent materials, with the rest being high-tier materials.


    Additionally, he had acquired arge amount of equipment and items, the lowest of which wereDiamond-level. He would have to wait until his level rose before he could make use of them.


    The most surprising thing to Luca, however, was that he had actually found ahidden ss scroll.


    [Crimson Mage: Hidden ss, a night-dwelling being with the power of immortality.]


    Hidden sses, even in his past life, were incredibly rare, and this was an unexpected windfall.


    Without hesitation, Luca chose to use the scroll.


    A crimson light shed from the scroll in his hand, shooting into Luca''s mind.


    Immediately, the game''s notification appeared before him.


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have obtained the hidden ss "Crimson Mage"! ]


    [You have gained new skills: "Undying Blood (ss)", "Blood Devotee (ss)", "Blood Maniption (ss)"... ]


    Luca''s eyes rapidly turned a deep red, and streams of scarlet blood energy began rising from his body.


    His aura surged rapidly, far surpassing the typical high-tier professionals, and was now nearing the level of aSuperss!


    Luca could feel the blood and life force swirling within him, and it was an indescribable sensation offort and exhration.


    At the same time, he also became aware that he had gained some kind of specialPerceptionandcontrolover blood.


    Luca extended his hand, and the blood energy began to gather in his palm. In an instant, it transformed into a crimson spear, radiating an overwhelming aura of power.


    Blood Maniption!


    The strong metallic scent of blood was so intense that evenJormungandrcouldn''t help but feel a little taken aback.


    "This guy''s power... it''s actually increased again..." She felt a pang of dissatisfaction. Why was this bastard''s strength rising so quickly? After all, she herself had spent over a hundred years in theDream Kingdomjust to reachSuperss!


    The blood energy in Luca''s hand slowly dissipated. This haul was certainly not insignificant: he had not only acquired billions of gold coins, but also a vast array of equipment and materials, along with a hidden ss. He nced around the empty hall and realized there was no need to linger any longer.


    Before long, Luca andJormungandremerged from the secret passage and returned toLyon''s study.


    As soon as they entered the living room, Luca ran intoTia, who was on her way to report back. She still had a strong smell of blood lingering around her. Tia respectfully said, "Master, the estate has been cleaned up. All the members of the Phillips family have been found."


    Experience more tales on m v|l e''-NovelBin


    Luca gave a slight nod. "Well done. Immediately dispatch people to take control of the Phillips family''s assets. Don''t waste any time."


    Once the dukes realized what had happened, they wouldn''t allow him to im everything alone. Time was money now.


    "Understood," Tia replied, nodding. After a brief hesitation, she asked, "What should we do with those people?"


    She was referring to the members of thePhillips family.


    Luca''s gaze shifted toward the group of people outside the hall, huddled on the floor with their hands on their heads. There were men and women of various ages¡ªold and young¡ªbut they all shared one thing inmon: their oncevish clothing. Gone were their usual elegance and nobility. In this moment, they looked utterly miserable.


    The eyes of the group fixed on Luca, filled with nothing but fear and hatred. Among them, a strikingly beautiful woman, her eyes bloodshot with fury, pointed at Luca and fiercely whispered to a young child beside her, "Remember, this is the enemy who destroyed the Phillips family. He''s the one who killed your father. You must remember his face!"


    Although the child was young, born into a top-tier family, he had already matured beyond his years and understood what hatred meant.


    With clenched fists, he nodded vigorously, tears welling in his eyes as he stared at Luca. Through his sobs, he spat, "I''ll kill you! I swear I''ll kill you!"


    The innocent yet venomous words carried a hatred that was far beyond the child''s age, sending a chill of murderous intent throughTiaand the surrounding members ofThe Nightmare Cult.


    "Master, should we kill them all?"Tiaslowly drew her long knife, the de gleaming coldly in the sunlight. She would not allow anyone who posed a threat toLucato remain alive, even if it was just a child who appeared to be no older than ten.


    Lucawalked out of the hall, casting a brief nce at the group of people who hated him with all their might. His voice was calm as he spoke, "Let them go."


    His words stunned everyone in the room, leaving them momentarily speechless, thinking they had misheard him.


    Tia, her expression full of disbelief, asked, "Master, you mean, let them go?"


    "Yes, let them go,"Lucareplied with a slight nod, his expression unchanged.


    The members of thePhillipsfamily instantly showed signs of surprise and joy, unable to believe such a stroke of good fortune had befallen them.


    The members ofThe Nightmare Cult, however, were filled with confusion and disbelief. The hatred these people held for them was obvious to anyone with eyes, so why wouldLucachoose to release them instead of eliminating them entirely? Wasn''t this leaving a potential threat for himself? Wouldn''t this be a future problem?


    "But, they..."Tiabegan to protest, butLucahad already walked over to the group ofPhillips familymembers.


    He looked down at the once-glorious nobles, now resemblingmbs awaiting ughter. His gaze settled on the child, trembling with fear, his face a portrait of terror.


    Lucaspoke calmly, "I know you hate me."


    "Yes, I killedLyon, I killedFinn, I destroyed your family, and I took everything you had."


    "So, hate me."


    "Only then will you understand the feelings of ordinary people."


    "Only then will you know what it feels like to be powerless! To experience injustice!"


    With those final words, he turned and began walking toward the estate''s exit.


    All that remained was his indifferent voice, echoing in the air.


    The members of thePhillipsfamily, who had been filled with hatred and surprise.


    Were left frozen, their expressions locked in ce.

 Chapter 184 The Roadblockers Death! The Crimson King! The Deal Behind the Scenes!

    The moment Luca finished speaking, over ten thousand followers of The Nightmare Cult behind him simultaneously drew their weapons. The bright des gleamed with a silver sheen under the sunlight, and everyone coldly stared at the dumbfoundedckeys of the Dukes.


    Whether they were soldiers of the Dukes or guards from the Phillips family, all of them couldn''t help but swallow nervously. The other side was clearly not here for friendly purposes.


    "Luca the Count, the Phillips family''s collusion with the Dawn God Sect should be handled by His Majesty. What exactly are you nning to do?" One of themanders from Duke Mond¡¤Stein''s faction stepped forward.


    Wiping cold sweat from his forehead, he cautiously spoke, "The situation in Dawn City is chaotic. You''d better not do anything rash."


    The power the young man had previously demonstrated was something everyone feared. No one wanted to provoke this madman.


    Luca had no interest in wasting words with them. He waved his hand behind him and ordered, "Throw all of them out. Anyone who resists, kill them on the spot."


    Tia and the others immediately took their orders, storming towards the two groups in front of them. Everyone''s expression changed in an instant.


    "Insane!" the leadingmander cursed under his breath, then quickly issued orders to his soldiers: "Retreat, now!"


    Themander had no intention of directly confronting Luca. After all, a month''s worth of coin was hardly worth throwing away their lives over.


    Seeing the Dukes'' men quickly retreat, the members of the Phillips family were left in a daze. The others could escape, but what about them?


    "Lord Genos, should we¡­?" The Phillips family''s butler hesitantly approached a middle-aged man, dressed in luxurious attire and wearing a grim expression, as if suggesting something.


    Before he could finish speaking, an overwhelming Superss aura suddenly erupted from the middle-aged man! He pped the butler across the face with such force that the butler''s head exploded like a watermelon, with blood and brain matter sttering everywhere.


    "You useless bastard! The Phillips family has raised you all this time, and this is how you repay us¡ªby running away at the critical moment?! Hold them off for me!" The middle-aged man, named Genos, red furiously at the terrified servants behind him.


    Now that Lyon and Finn were both dead, the Phillips family had only one person left with the greatest authority: Genos. He was essentially the head of the Phillips family now.


    As long as he could dy until the pce and the other Dukes noticed something unusual about the ind, Luca would have no choice but to retreat¡ªunless he was willing to go to war with the entire Kingdom of Clinton. At that point, it would be impossible for Luca to take him down.


    What made Genos even angrier, however, was that, instead of moving to stop The Nightmare Cult''s forces after hearing hismand, his so-called "elite" guards were retreating in the opposite direction.


    "You idiots!" Genos was seething with rage. He wanted nothing more than to ughter everyst one of these dogs, but before he could act, a sound that resembled fabric being pierced suddenly rang in his ears. His expression froze in disbelief.


    Genos looked down in utter disbelief at his chest. A bloodstained de had pierced right through him. Blood poured out from the wound, dripping down the de like a stream, staining the white cravat around his neck, which visibly turned red at an rming rate.


    Thud!Tia calmly withdrew the long sword from his body, letting Genos copse to the ground, lifeless.


    She flicked the blood off her de, casting a cold nce at the remaining guards, her expression unreadable. "Roadblockers, dead."


    At that, all the Phillips family guards lost theirposure. They began frantically running towards the floating ind''s edge. With Lyon dead, Finn dead, and now Genos killed on the spot, the leadership of the Phillips family had been decimated. The remaining guards had no will to resist.


    Luca wasn''t surprised by this turn of events. He walked towards the grand estate of the Phillips family. The fleeing guards saw him and recoiled as though seeing a gue. No one dared toe within ten meters of him, and he stood out in the chaotic crowd, a beacon of cold authority.


    With the guards no longer offering resistance, the next steps were much easier. After capturing a few of the older members of the Phillips family and prying some information out of them, Luca quickly made his way to Lyon''s residence.


    "Can we find the treasury?" Luca asked inwardly. His primary goal foring here was to im Lyon''s inheritance and answer some lingering questions. Everything else was secondary.


    Soon, Jormungandr''s voice echoed in his mind, filled with excitement. "There''s a hidden chamber in the study, protected by a barrier. It''s got to be filled with valuable things!"


    "What''s got you so excited?" Luca muttered under his breath.


    Before long, he arrived at Lyon''s study.


    "Can you find a way in?" Luca surveyed the room. The study looked in, with nothing out of the ordinary.


    Jormungandr responded with a hint of annoyance. "Why don''t you just use your psychic abilities to scan the ce?"


    Luca picked up a book and flipped through it, then calmly replied, "Then what do I need you for?"


    Jormungandr fell silent.


    A sh of silver gleamed from the bracelet on his wrist, and in the next instant, Jormungandr appeared in mid-air. Her youthful face was filled with displeasure, and she muttered under her breath, "What a bastard... taking advantage of a little girl like me¡­"


    "Stop wasting time," Luca shot her a re. "How old are you, anyway? Still calling yourself a little girl?"


    However, Luca was surprised to discover that Jormungandr''s strength had increased significantly since theirst encounter. She had now reached the peak of the high-tier power level.


    Upon reflecting on it, he realized that when the Lord of the Sun used divine power to forge hisdivine body, Jormungandr must have also benefited from that process. She had absorbed some of the divine essence, likely using it to restore some of her own strength.


    "I understand, master~" Jormungandr pouted, secretly wishing she could chop this bastard¡ªwho saw her as nothing more than a tool¡ªinto pieces. But, in the end, shecked the courage to do so.


    With a hum, she closed her eyes, and a vast wave of psychic energy surged outward like the ocean. It instantly enveloped the entire study in a powerful aura.


    Luca ced the book he was holding back onto the shelf, his gaze shifting toward Lyon''s desk. The warm sunlight streamed through the window, casting a gentle glow over the neatly arranged pile of official documents. Among them, a red envelope that hadn''t been opened yet caught his attention.


    Or rather, it was the golden wax seal on the envelope.


    The seal depicted a golden eye surrounded by thorns, its pupil a blood-red hue, resembling a ruby. The eye looked disturbingly lifelike.


    Luca felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen this before in his previous life.


    It seemed like a seal belonging to one of the major families of the All-Beings Empire.


    There weren''t many Transcendent families on the Eternal Continent, so having connections and dealings between them was not unusual.


    He didn''t pay it much mind at first, but upon opening the envelope and flipping through the letter, his eyes narrowed in surprise. He had unexpectedly found some intriguing information.


    The letter was from one of the Four Kings of the All-Beings Empire, the Crimson King, Ogg Stuart. Ogg was a vampire and the most powerful being in the All-Beings Empire. It was rumored that he was a descendant of the Night Goddess Nyx, though no one knew for certain. What was undeniable, however, was his immense strength.


    In his past life, Ogg had led arge faction in betraying the Eternal Continent, aligning himself with the Abyssal Demon Realm. He became the notorious Eighth King, and his army of vampires caused massive casualties in both realms.


    What caught Luca''s attention most, however, were the contents of the letter. Ogg was inquiring about Lyon''s involvement with Pandora, and it mentioned a trade rted to the Crimson Mage''s ascension.


    "So that''s what happened¡­" Luca muttered to himself, a look of realization crossing his face. He had been curious about how Finn and Lyon had made contact with the King-level monster, Pandora. It seemed there was someone pulling the strings behind the scenes.


    Ogg, being a vampire with a long lifespan and immense power, certainly knew many secrets. He had also aligned himself with the Abyssal Demon Realm in his previous life, so it wasn''t surprising that he had connections to Pandora.


    "I hope it''s not toote." Luca silently took note of this development. The reason Ogg had been able to act with impunity in his past life wasn''t because there were no stronger beings in either world¡ªit was because he was incredibly cautious. By the time his schemes were uncovered, Ogg had already escaped to the Abyssal Demon Realm, leaving no way for anyone to touch him.


    But this life would be different. If there was a chance, Luca swore that he would personally take Ogg''s head and deliver a reckoning for the deaths in Southwind City.


    He carefully stored the red envelope in his storage space, ensuring it was well protected. After all, this object might prove useful in the future.


    "Master, I''ve found the entrance!" Jormungandr''s voice came through, apanied by the sound of mechanical gears turning.


    Luca turned around just in time to see two bookshelves against the wall slowly opening, revealing a dark stone staircase and a passageway beneath. Stay connected via m-v l|e''-NovelBin


    "Well done, that was good work," he said without any real sincerity, then took a step toward the passage.


    "Hmph!" Jormungandr made a face at his back and then, like a ghost, floated along to follow him.


    Whoosh¡ªwhoosh¡ªwhoosh¡ª! After they entered the passage, torches red to life on both sides, illuminating the dark stone staircase with a bright, flickering light.


    Luca nced at the seemingly endless passage ahead of him, his golden eyes gleaming briefly.


    Buzz!A terrifying wave of psychic energy instantly expanded, carefully sweeping over every inch of the stone bricks and walls, ensuring there were no hidden mechanisms or traps.


    He had initially expected to reach the end of the passage soon, but to his surprise, the stone staircase seemed far longer than he anticipated. From what he could tell, they had already walked several hundred meters, yet there was still no end in sight. It almost felt like they were descending into the abyss.


    As time passed, the only sounds in the quiet passage were Luca''s footsteps and the crackling of the oilmps. The atmosphere slowly grew oppressive and stifling. Anyone with ustrophobia would have probably gone mad by now.


    Fortunately, both Luca and Jormungandr were no ordinary individuals. After turning a corner, the narrow passage suddenly opened up.


    What greeted their eyes was a towering silver-white stone door, several meters high.


    The stone door, resembling jade, was engraved with intricate and gorgeous patterns, with swirling runes flowing across its surface. It was immediately apparent that this was sealed with aTranscendent-levelspell!

 Chapter 185 The Phillips Family Vault! Crimson Mage! Hate Me!

    "Is this the Phillips family''s vault?" Luca looked at the silver-white door before him, surprised to find it was protected by aTranscendent-levelmagical barrier.


    Jormungandr''s eyes shifted yfully, and she floated closer with a grin stered on her face. "Master, would you like me to help you break this? If you promise to find me aTranscendent-levelsoul as a supplement, I''ll help you dismantle this barrier."


    "Get lost." Luca didn''t even nce at her.


    This creature''s mind must have been kicked by a mule to even think of bargaining with him.


    He extended his hand and gently ran his fingers over the magical runes on the silver-white wall, feeling the flow of energy within. After a few minutes, a golden sh appeared in his eyes. Golden symbols began to form in his hand, slowly merging into the wall.


    To Jormungandr''s astonishment, theTranscendent-levelmagic seal began to visibly crumble, and at a speed so fast it was almost iprehensible.


    "Y-You... How did you do that?" Jormungandr stammered, at a loss for words. This guy was insane! This was aTranscendent-levelmagic seal! He only touched it a few times, and he immediately found a way to break it?!


    "Didn''t you see?" Luca smiled smugly, looking almost insufferably pleased with himself. After enduring the trials in theDivine Courtruins, his various special attributes had skyrocketed by at least tenfold. It wasn''t just a simple increase in his talents or understanding; it was far more profound.


    Before, Luca had relied on his experiences from his past life and his exceptional talents to crack high-level magic. But now, he could effortlessly analyze and deconstruct unfamiliar magic with just a nce. And he had a feeling that if his special attributes were to improve further, he might even be able to evolve an unknown spell to new heights¡ªlike transforming aSuperssspell into somethingTranscendent, or even beyond.


    The magical seal on the silver-white door dissolved rapidly, like ice melting in fire.


    Crack!With a sharp sound, a fissure appeared in the previously unbreakableTranscendent-levelbarrier, quickly spreading until it exploded into a shower of radiant white light, slowly dissipating into the air.


    Creeeak!Luca pushed the door gently, and it began to open slowly. Before they could see inside, a burst of golden light flooded out, making both of them squint and temporarily blinded by the intensity.


    As their vision cleared, the scene beyond the door was revealed to Luca. It was a magnificent underground pce, spanning at least a thousand meters in size. The floor, paved with white jade, was piled high with a mountain of gleaming gold, gems, and coins. Under the glow of magical jewels, the treasures sparkled brightly.


    The very things that had blinded them earlier were now fully visible: treasures piled high around the grand hall. In addition, standing along the walls were disy cases made of magical crystals, packed tightly with rare items and materials, the lowest grade being high-tier, and many were evenSuperssmaterials! There were at least a thousand different types, if not more.


    "So many treasures!" Jormungandr''s eyes glittered with the shine of gold, and saliva almost dripped from the corners of her mouth.


    "It seems the Phillips family has been making quite a fortune these years," Luca mused as he estimated the value of everything in front of him. The total worth was easily no less than3 billion gold coins! And this didn''t even take into ount the Phillips family''s hidden assets. If all of it wasbined, the number would be truly staggering.


    If this information were to leak out, countless people would be shocked. After all, the corruption scandal that had rocked the entireClinton Empirewas worth only a little over ten billion gold, while the Phillips family''s vault alone contained more than double that amount!


    "This time, I''ve hit the jackpot." Luca couldn''t help but smile. With this money, not only would his material needs for cultivation be solved, but he would also have the means to build up his own power and train a group of strong, loyal followers. With the game''s arrival now in the countdown stage, this fortune hade just at the right time!


    He didn''t hesitate, sweeping up everything in the hall into hisstorage ring.


    After clearing everything out, not a single coin remained. Luca did a rough calction: in addition to the 2 billion gold coins, he had also obtained32 pieces of Superss materials, and4 types of Transcendent materials, with the rest being high-tier materials.


    Additionally, he had acquired arge amount of equipment and items, the lowest of which wereDiamond-level. He would have to wait until his level rose before he could make use of them.


    The most surprising thing to Luca, however, was that he had actually found ahidden ss scroll.


    [Crimson Mage: Hidden ss, a night-dwelling being with the power of immortality.]


    Hidden sses, even in his past life, were incredibly rare, and this was an unexpected windfall.


    Without hesitation, Luca chose to use the scroll.


    A crimson light shed from the scroll in his hand, shooting into Luca''s mind.


    Immediately, the game''s notification appeared before him.


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have obtained the hidden ss "Crimson Mage"! ]


    [You have gained new skills: "Undying Blood (ss)", "Blood Devotee (ss)", "Blood Maniption (ss)"... ]


    Luca''s eyes rapidly turned a deep red, and streams of scarlet blood energy began rising from his body.


    His aura surged rapidly, far surpassing the typical high-tier professionals, and was now nearing the level of aSuperss!


    Luca could feel the blood and life force swirling within him, and it was an indescribable sensation offort and exhration.


    At the same time, he also became aware that he had gained some kind of specialPerceptionandcontrolover blood.


    Luca extended his hand, and the blood energy began to gather in his palm. In an instant, it transformed into a crimson spear, radiating an overwhelming aura of power.


    Blood Maniption!


    The strong metallic scent of blood was so intense that evenJormungandrcouldn''t help but feel a little taken aback.


    "This guy''s power... it''s actually increased again..." She felt a pang of dissatisfaction. Why was this bastard''s strength rising so quickly? After all, she herself had spent over a hundred years in theDream Kingdomjust to reachSuperss!


    The blood energy in Luca''s hand slowly dissipated. This haul was certainly not insignificant: he had not only acquired billions of gold coins, but also a vast array of equipment and materials, along with a hidden ss. He nced around the empty hall and realized there was no need to linger any longer.


    Before long, Luca andJormungandremerged from the secret passage and returned toLyon''s study.


    As soon as they entered the living room, Luca ran intoTia, who was on her way to report back. She still had a strong smell of blood lingering around her. Tia respectfully said, "Master, the estate has been cleaned up. All the members of the Phillips family have been found."


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    Luca gave a slight nod. "Well done. Immediately dispatch people to take control of the Phillips family''s assets. Don''t waste any time."


    Once the dukes realized what had happened, they wouldn''t allow him to im everything alone. Time was money now.


    "Understood," Tia replied, nodding. After a brief hesitation, she asked, "What should we do with those people?"


    She was referring to the members of thePhillips family.


    Luca''s gaze shifted toward the group of people outside the hall, huddled on the floor with their hands on their heads. There were men and women of various ages¡ªold and young¡ªbut they all shared one thing inmon: their oncevish clothing. Gone were their usual elegance and nobility. In this moment, they looked utterly miserable.


    The eyes of the group fixed on Luca, filled with nothing but fear and hatred. Among them, a strikingly beautiful woman, her eyes bloodshot with fury, pointed at Luca and fiercely whispered to a young child beside her, "Remember, this is the enemy who destroyed the Phillips family. He''s the one who killed your father. You must remember his face!"


    Although the child was young, born into a top-tier family, he had already matured beyond his years and understood what hatred meant.


    With clenched fists, he nodded vigorously, tears welling in his eyes as he stared at Luca. Through his sobs, he spat, "I''ll kill you! I swear I''ll kill you!"


    The innocent yet venomous words carried a hatred that was far beyond the child''s age, sending a chill of murderous intent throughTiaand the surrounding members ofThe Nightmare Cult.


    "Master, should we kill them all?"Tiaslowly drew her long knife, the de gleaming coldly in the sunlight. She would not allow anyone who posed a threat toLucato remain alive, even if it was just a child who appeared to be no older than ten.


    Lucawalked out of the hall, casting a brief nce at the group of people who hated him with all their might. His voice was calm as he spoke, "Let them go."


    His words stunned everyone in the room, leaving them momentarily speechless, thinking they had misheard him.


    Tia, her expression full of disbelief, asked, "Master, you mean, let them go?"


    "Yes, let them go,"Lucareplied with a slight nod, his expression unchanged.


    The members of thePhillipsfamily instantly showed signs of surprise and joy, unable to believe such a stroke of good fortune had befallen them.


    The members ofThe Nightmare Cult, however, were filled with confusion and disbelief. The hatred these people held for them was obvious to anyone with eyes, so why wouldLucachoose to release them instead of eliminating them entirely? Wasn''t this leaving a potential threat for himself? Wouldn''t this be a future problem?


    "But, they..."Tiabegan to protest, butLucahad already walked over to the group ofPhillips familymembers.


    He looked down at the once-glorious nobles, now resemblingmbs awaiting ughter. His gaze settled on the child, trembling with fear, his face a portrait of terror.


    Lucaspoke calmly, "I know you hate me."


    "Yes, I killedLyon, I killedFinn, I destroyed your family, and I took everything you had."


    "So, hate me."


    "Only then will you understand the feelings of ordinary people."


    "Only then will you know what it feels like to be powerless! To experience injustice!"


    With those final words, he turned and began walking toward the estate''s exit.


    All that remained was his indifferent voice, echoing in the air.


    The members of thePhillipsfamily, who had been filled with hatred and surprise.


    Were left frozen, their expressions locked in ce.

 Chapter 189 The First Mission! Quagmires Driving Skills! Incorrect Intelligence!

    "What do you mean you thought I was dead? What kind of talk is that?" Luca said, feeling speechless.


    It hadn''t even been that long since theyst saw each other, and yet everyone seemed to be assuming he was dead.


    Coarmy, on the other end of the line, let out an exasperated sigh. "I''m not kidding. You promised Drumph you''d take on four Transcendent tasks every month. How many days have passed? We''ve tried to contact you twice already, and you still haven''te out of the game."


    "Isn''t it still early?" Luca repliedzily. "Besides, things in the game change all the time. I can''t just leave before wrapping up everything, can I?"


    Coarmy, feeling helpless, knew there was no point in arguing with Luca. He simply said, "Well, we''ve just received a task. There''s a monster sighting near Celephais, and Quagmire and the others are heading there. Do you want to join them?"


    "Send someone to pick me up." Luca didn''t have anything else nned and immediately agreed.


    After hanging up, Luca didn''t have to wait long by the roadside before a heavily modified Dodge Hellcat pulled up in front of him.


    The windows on both sides rolled down, revealing three people inside wearing sunsses.


    Quagmire, Donlow, Fuzzsir, and a bandaged-up Mnia were in the car.


    "Yo, bro, long time no see!" Quagmire, sitting in the driver''s seat, had a cigarette dangling from his mouth and raised an eyebrow.


    Donlow teasingly added, "You''re such a busy guy. We couldn''t get ahold of you for a whole week."


    Mnia wasn''t much of a talker, but Fuzzsir, with his poet-like aura, sniffed the air and said enviously, "It smells like curry fried rice."


    This guy had quite the keen nose.


    "Nothing I can do. Got caught up in a mission in the game, took longer than expected," Luca casually exined as he climbed into the car and closed the door.


    He nced around at the group. They had all clearly gotten stronger. It seemed like they hadn''t been sitting idle during the time he was gone.


    "Are we heading straight to the mission?" Luca asked, noticing that everyone was armed and had walkie-talkies, clearly ready to head to the mission location right away.


    "Yep, we''re heading straight there. It''s a bit far, and they can''t hold out much longer," Quagmire replied as he started the car. He picked up his walkie-talkie and shouted, "Hey, hey, hey! This is Quagmire, Luca''s with us!"


    "I''m not deaf, keep it down," came Coarmy''s resigned voice from the walkie-talkie. After a brief pause, he said in a serious tone, "Hurry up and get there. The officers on-site have suffered heavy casualties. These guys are tough."


    "Don''t worry, it''s just over a hundred kilometers. Give me half an hour," Quagmire said nonchntly. He threw his cigarette butt out of the window, then shed a grin at the others in the backseat. "Friendly reminder, everyone, buckle up!"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, Luca felt the car''s engine roar to life.


    Vroom!! The engine exploded with power!


    The immense eleration made everyone in the car rock slightly in their seats.


    Luca couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.


    Couldn''t this guy at least wait until they had their seatbelts on?!


    One car after another was overtaken, and the scenery outside the windows blurred into nothing but a streak of colors.


    The Hellcat raced toward the outskirts like a streak of ck lightning.


    Though Quagmire''s driving was a bit reckless, his skills behind the wheel were undeniable. The car was so nimble in his hands that he didn''t even need to slow down to overtake others. He even managed to push the car to 200 kilometers per hour through the city streets.


    Once they were out of the city, Quagmire really let loose. Thendscape outside turned into nothing more than a colorful blur, and Luca and the others felt like their internal organs and brains were riding a roller coaster.


    The site of the Transcendent incident was located in the ck Mountain, which straddled the boundary between Celephais and the nearby Shen City. It was about a hundred kilometers from where Luca and the others were, and the area was sparsely popted, a mountainous region with winding, steep roads that were a challenge for even the most seasoned climbers.


    True to his word, Quagmire didn''t take a single minute longer than the promised half-hour.


    When they arrived, the mountains were already sealed off, and a group of officers were waiting for them at the mountain pass. When they saw the Hellcat tearing through the winding roads, they initially thought it was a Marauder approaching.


    It wasn''t until the car came to a halt that they realized it was the people they were waiting for.


    The moment the car door opened, Donlow bolted out as if fleeing for her life.


    "Ugh¡ª" She bent over, vomiting uncontrobly at the side of the mountain road. Other than Luca, whose physical strength was up to the task, the others weren''t in any better shape.


    Mnia leaned against the mountain wall, her face a mask of despair, as though life itself had lost all meaning. Fuzzsir was holding his head, swaying unsteadily as he muttered, "My head... feels a bit dizzy..."


    As he spoke, he suddenly copsed forward, about to tumble down the mountain. Luckily, Luca was quick on his feet and grabbed the back of Fuzzsir''s cor just in time. If he had fallen, even if he didn''t die, it would have taken him forever to climb back up.


    "Captain, from now on, maybe you should stop driving," Luca said, looking at Quagmire, who acted as if nothing was wrong. He was speechless. They hadn''t even seen the monster yet, and they had already lost half of their team to Quagmire''s driving...


    "Cough! We were in a hurry," Quagmire shrugged it off, then turned to the officers who hade to meet them. Changing the subject, he said, "We''re special personnel here to handle the situation. Do you know what''s going on?"


    With that, he pulled out his Morning Star credentials and handed them over.


    The officer in charge took the credentials, nced at them, and immediately wore a serious expression.


    He respectfully returned the credentials to Quagmire, gave a slight bow, and said in a deep voice, "We can only confirm a general location at the moment. The enemy is very cunning, and every time our people enter the mountains, they''re ambushed and killed. So far, we''ve lost over a dozen officers."


    His fist clenched, and he continued with a solemn expression, "Please, you must avenge them!"


    Over a dozen officers were dead? Those words made everyone''s hearts skip a beat.


    Even Luca was a little surprised. After all, the officers searching the mountains were all armed to the teeth. If they were dealing with an ordinary low-level monster, there would be no way it could overpower them.


    It seemed they were indeed dealing with a troublesome opponent.


    "Do you know what it is?" Quagmire asked, but the officer could only shake his head in helplessness. "We can''t see it clearly. It''s too fast. Even with high-speed cameras, all we can capture is a blur of ck. The forensic experts estimate it''s probably some kind ofrge wild beast based on the wounds."


    The group exchanged nces, frowning. They didn''t know the monster''s exact power, and they didn''t even know what it was. Even if they encountered it alone, it could still pose a serious threat.


    But with such arge mountain range, they couldn''t possibly cover it all together. Luca observed the terrain of the forest, thought for a moment, and suggested, "Let''s each take a team of officers, no more than a hundred meters apart, and search horizontally. We should be able to cover the entire area in a few hours."


    The others looked around at the terrain and nodded in agreement. This was the only viable n they had.


    After the earlier incident, all the officers had pulled back from the forest. There were now only about thirty remaining here. Luca and the others each led a group of five or six officers, armed and equipped with radios and ammunition, and began their search of the mountainous area.


    Several helicopters hovered above, their rotors thrumming loudly in the sky. Although the sun was shining, the dense forest below felt damp and shadowy. Only when the leaves rustled did some scattered sunlight filter through. The ground was covered in thick vegetation, which obstructed visibility. It was easy to imagine how the monster could easily hide in such a ce.


    This was likely why they hadn''t been able to locate the creature. Infrared and simr detection devices were useless against monsters. They could only rely on their eyes, so the group moved with extreme caution.


    Luca held a standard-issue Morning Star long de, scanning the area around him. It wasn''t that he couldn''t use a handgun; it was just that cold weapons were more effective against monsters. Those creatures were incredibly agile, and hitting them with a gun would be much harder.


    They hadn''t walked for long when Luca suddenly furrowed his brow. Without being able to use his mental abilities to scan a wide area, the search was proving to be even more difficult than he''d anticipated. If they kept searching slowly for that one monster, they could end up wasting an entire day in these mountains.


    There simply wasn''t time to waste.


    Luca narrowed his eyes, and a flicker of eerie blue light shed across them.


    Eye of Insight, activate!


    In an instant, countless elemental particles appeared in his vision. They floated gently in the air, like colorful gemstones scattered across thendscape.


    Since the area had a strong wood element, the most prominent color in the surrounding magic was green. This made it much easier to track down the monster. All Luca needed to do was follow the trail of the densest magical aura.


    He nced at the surroundings, then turned to the officers behind him. "Everyone, stay close and pick up the pace!"


    "Yes, sir!" The officers were a little surprised. They had only just started, yet it seemed Luca had already picked up on the monster''s trail?


    Though they were confused, they didn''t hesitate and immediately followed his lead.


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    Luca''s speed was impressive; his movements were as agile as a monkey''s, darting through the forest with ease.


    The officers behind him were left in awe¡ªso therewassuch a thing as a real-life Spider-Man.


    A few minutester, a wisp of ck magic appeared in the distance. Luca paused on a tree, carefully inspecting it. He noticed that the magic was slowly dissipating, meaning the monster had likely passed through here about half an hour ago.


    Without any hesitation, he followed the lingering magical aura, determined to catch up.


    With his current abilities, he wasn''t afraid of an ambush.


    As he got closer, the magical energy became denser. But then, something felt off.


    The magic around him started to feel chaotic, with some areas thick with energy, while others were much weaker. And the direction... why did it seem like he was getting closer to Donlow''s team?


    Just as he was thinking this.


    A loudbang¡ªthe sharp crack of a gunshot¡ªsuddenly shattered the silence of the forest.


    Immediately after, there was a barrage of gunfire, followed by screams and the continuous roar of beasts!


    Luca''s pupils contracted sharply.


    Shit, the intel was wrong!


    There wasn''t just one monster here¡ªthere was awhole pack!

 Chapter 187 The Dawn God Sect! The Power of Faith! Why Should I Rebel?

    Alfred was dead. After he had settled those two matters, he lost his life under the watchful eyes of all the nobles.


    When Luca received the news, he wasn''t surprised. The King''s life had been running out long before his departure. That he hadsted until the start of the meeting was already a testament to Alfred''s extraordinary willpower.


    In the days that followed, the major nobles needed to handle the aftermath of Dawn City, so Fratis''s coronation was scheduled for three dayster. After that, there would be Alfred''s funeral. Luca was naturally included on the guest list.


    He would definitely attend Fratis''s coronation. Even if he did nothing, his presence alone would be enough to intimidate those restless princes and nobles. As for Alfred''s funeral, he would go if he felt like it. To be honest, Luca had no particr fondness for thete king.


    Meanwhile, the news of the Sixth Princess Fratis''s ascension quickly spread throughout Dawn City, causing a stir among the people.


    No one expected that the very person responsible for the fall of Dawn City would turn around and be their king!


    Naturally, this sparked widespread discontent. Many sought to storm the royal pce to demand an exnation from Alfred''s corpse.


    The authorities, however, ced all the me on the Dawn God Sect.


    They imed that the Sixth Princess had been under the control of the Dawn God Sect, which had driven her to such actions.


    And in truth, that was exactly what had happened, though Alfred¡ªthis sickly tiger¡ªhad been conveniently left out of the equation.


    The subsequent events unfolded much as Luca had anticipated.


    While Dawn City was being rebuilt, the high-ranking members of the Dawn God Sect were subjected to bloody trials. Countless members of the sect died in the aftermath of the disaster, with the death toll even surpassing that of the fall of Dawn City.


    How many of them were innocent? No one cared.


    The people needed a vent for their anger, and the royal family couldn''t be the target. The Dawn God Sect was the perfect scapegoat.


    Luca had no power to stop any of this from happening. What he could do, however, was offer shelter to the confused and powerless followers, to keep them from being swept up in the chaos.


    Taking advantage of his reputation as an "Empire Hero," Luca immediately began to announce the formation of a new sect. He weed all those who had left the Dawn God Sect or were simply lost, gathering them together.


    Standing on a high tform, he looked down at the crowd of people¡ªfaces numb, eyes hollow, like the living dead. Slowly, he extended his hand. A swirl of purple Dreamweaving energy began to form, and countless images shed before his eyes.


    There was a man who had lost his wife, a child who had lost his parents, a young girl with broken legs, and an elderly man with gray hair, clutching a corpse and weeping. The faces were countless, but the one thing they all had inmon was the agony they were experiencing at that moment.


    Some had their painful memories awakened and their eyes turned red, while others were confused, not knowing what Luca was trying to do.


    Then they saw it: the images before them began to change rapidly, and the people within those images were also changing with the passage of time.


    In the images, after the wife and child died, the man began to drink himself into oblivion every day, using alcohol to numb his pain. Once a man who cared greatly about his appearance, he now became disheveled, his clothes torn and ragged, like a beggar.


    After spending all his money, the man finally died in the ruined house, holding the portraits of his wife and child in his arms, his body decaying until it rotted away.


    "Is this how it ends for me?" From the crowd, the man grimaced, a twisted smile on his face. "Not bad, I suppose."


    But then, the scene shifted again, and his eyes widened in shock.


    It was still the same ruin, still he himself. But this time, there were two other figures.


    It was his wife and child, who had already passed away! Your next read is at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    The scene began to shift again. After their deaths, the wife and child slowly transformed into shadows. They watched helplessly as the man clung to their corpses, crying. They saw him drinking himself into a stupor every day, trying to numb the pain, and they tried, in vain, to console him, tofort him, to save him.


    But they were already dead, and the man could not see them.


    All they could do was watch, helpless, as their husband and father spiraled into ruin, being mocked like a beggar.


    In the end, they watched as he starved to death in the abandoned house, his body infested with maggots, his flesh rotting away to mere bones.


    The wife and child were in tears, their grief and sorrow even deeper than his.


    And after the man died, they too slowly began to fade away.


    Until theypletely disappeared from this world, as though they had never existed at all.


    "No, no..." The man''s eyes turned red, and he reached out, as if trying to grasp something.


    But in the end, his body copsed, powerless, onto the ground.


    "This is all fake, all an illusion... right?" He lifted his head to look at Luca, his lips trembling, tears flowing endlessly from his eyes.


    He had failed to protect his wife and child when they were alive, and now, after their deaths, he had to endure this suffering because of himself. The overwhelming guilt battered his heart, nearly suffocating him.


    "Does it matter if it''s real or an illusion, whether it''s true or false?" Luca said calmly. "Whether they are dead or not, the only thing that matters is whether the living still remember them."


    As his voice fell, Luca waved his hand casually, and a burst of white Dreamweaving energy rushed into the man''s body.


    Then, to everyone''s shock, two figures slowly began to materialize.


    It was the wife and child from the scene!


    Dream Manifestation!


    "You... you two..." The man trembled all over, his eyes wide with disbelief. The figures formed from his memories, and in that moment, no one could doubt their reality more than he could.


    Under the gaze of everyone, the wife, holding the child in her arms, bent slightly and gently embraced the man. Her eyes were filled with warmth as she softly spoke, "Don''t be sad. From now on, carry us with you, and live on well."


    The child, with determination in his eyes, raised his small fist and said, "Daddy, we''ll always be with you!"


    Though they were mere shadows, the figures were filled with immense emotion. In that instant, the man could no longer hold back his sobs and burst into loud, uncontroble crying.


    The crowd looked up at the figure on the stage.


    The once hollow, vacant eyes finally began to gleam with a spark of light.


    It was the light of hope!


    Luca did not disappoint them.


    He raised his hand, and the endless power of Dreamweaving began to coalesce high in the sky.


    He surveyed the crowd and spoke in a deep, resonant voice: "This nightmarish disaster has imed the lives of many! Among them are your parents, your loved ones, your friends!"


    "But no matter how painful the nightmare, it will eventually fade away! Let them walk with you, and help you through this journey!"


    The moment his words fell, light suddenly burst forth from the sky!


    The surging Dreamweaving energy rained down like drops of rain, seeping into each person''s body.


    Then, ethereal figures began to materialize slowly, figures only they themselves could see!


    Seeing those familiar faces, countless people fell to their knees¡ªsome shouting with joy, someughing through their tears, others clinging to each other and weeping uncontrobly!


    [Ding! Congrattions, you have founded a new sect. Please give it a name!]


    The game prompt appeared before Luca. At the same time, he heard the sounds of chains snapping in his ears.


    Golden starlight began to rise from the crowd, slowly flowing into his body.


    [Ding! You have gained the power of faith. Your charisma attribute has increased by 1 point!]


    Under the influence of this power, his four special attributes began to rise rapidly.


    Luca could clearly feel changes within his body, and the fractured Sr Divine Rank also began to slowly repair itself.


    "As expected, after attaining divine rank, I can absorb the power of faith," Luca murmured to himself. With this newfound strength, who knows? Perhaps one day, he would be able to fully restore his Sr Divine Rank.


    Thinking this, a smile spread across his face.


    He nced at the first batch of followers of the Dreamweaving Cult, then turned to Tia and said, "Set up churches as soon as possible in Dawn City and on the floating inds. Starting today, the Nightmare Cult will no longer exist. From now on, there will only be..."


    He paused for a moment, his gaze firm as he dered, "The Hope God Sect!"


    ...


    At the top floor of the Mages'' Association, Evelyn gazed out the window at the cheering crowd below, unable to suppress her admiration. "What a daring little fellow. Not only did he swallow the Phillips family whole, but now he wants to create a new state religion for the Clinton Empire?"


    Even the archdukes would never have imagined such a thing. After all, the Dawn God Sect''s turmoil had only just ended, and the empire would surely make every effort to suppress any new cults. In this climate, for Luca to stand out like this... Even she had to admire his ambition.


    "He certainly has a way of surprising people," Augustine said, shaking his head with a smile. "And now, no one seems able to hold him back."


    Since earning the title of "Empire Hero," Luca''s reputation in Dawn City had skyrocketed. It wasn''t just ordinary nobles who dared not confront him¡ª even the archdukes would never openly challenge him. This was the foundation of his fearless attitude.


    "What are you nning to do next? Are you going to remain neutral, like before?" Evelyn turned to look at Augustine.


    Now that Alfred was dead and Fratis'' ascension to the throne was a done deal, it didn''t mean that peace would follow in Dawn City. In fact, it was more likely that greater unrest would soon erupt.


    At the end of the meeting, the First Prince, the Second Prince, and several archdukes had gathered their respective noble factions. They were probably already discussing the next steps.


    Evelyn could already sense the storm brewing, which was why she hade specifically to seek out Augustine and ask for his opinion.


    After all, this seemingly ordinary old bald man represented more than just himself¡ªhe stood for the Mage Guild and Starry Academy, two of the top neutral forces. Now that Luca, his disciple, was rising to prominence, Augustine''s influence had only grown stronger.


    "I support the Empress." Augustine said, sipping his tea without a trace of hesitation.


    "So quickly? You''ve made up your mind already?" Evelyn was taken aback. Augustine had always steered clear of involving himself in royal or noble power struggles. Now, he had already decided which side he would take.


    Augustine raised an eyebrow and replied, "What else is there to consider? Her Majesty has already named her sessor. Am I supposed to join someone else in rebellion?"

 Chapter 188 The Via Empire! Divine Body Response! I Thought You Were Dead!

    In truth, whether or not a rebellion was staged didn''t matter much. What was important was that Augustine had noticed the somewhat ambiguous rtionship between Luca and Fratis. Though Luca''s rank was still not high, both his reputation and talent were more than sufficient. There was a possibility that the two might even be close in the future.


    Evelyn, naturally, had picked up on this too. She nodded slightly and said, "In that case, I also support the Empress. Those nobles are disgusting. I''ve never liked them, and if they dare not to behave, this will be the perfect time to teach them a lesson."


    Augustine sighed and looked out the window. "I hope we''re just overthinking this. If things keep escting like this..."


    He trailed off, leaving the thought unfinished.


    After all, no matter how things unfolded, it would mostly be themon folk who suffered the most.


    ...


    Deep within the royal pce, in a secluded corner, sat the quarters of the Fourth Prince, Isaacs. His chambers, usually cold and quiet, had today received a few unexpected visitors.


    They had ordinary faces, but their clothes were unusual¡ªsilver-white in color with smooth lines and sleek surfaces. The garments were etched with intricate blue magical runes, which gave off a unique blend of technological and magical aesthetics. This was the mark of magitek.


    Only one nation on the entire Eternal Continent possessed such magitek.


    Read new adventures at m_v-l''e|-NovelBin


    The Via Empire.


    "What? You want to help me seize the throne?!" The Fourth Prince, Isaacs, stared in shock at the peculiar-looking individuals in front of him, hardly believing his ears.


    The leader of the Via Empire delegation was a corpulent man, his body likely weighing two to three hundred pounds. His silver-white,vish robes were stretched taut, almost resembling a balloon.


    "Exactly," he said, his face beaming with a smile that oozed maniption. "Isn''t His Highness Isaacs content with being overshadowed by a little girl? Moreover, this girl is now showing signs of mental instability. Letting someone like her rule the Clinton Empire? That''s an irresponsible act towards the people of the Empire!"


    "But why choose me?" Isaacs, having received elite education since childhood as part of the royal family, was no fool and wore a skeptical expression.


    Forget the First and Second Princes¡ªjust his younger brother, the Fifth Prince Ziegfried, was already an outstanding figure. Quick-witted and exceptionally talented, Ziegfried had achieved remarkable military feats on the battlefield before even reaching his twenties. As for Isaacs, he was the most unremarkable of the princes. How could he possibly be the best candidate?


    The chubby man named Milo cleared his throat and said with a serious expression, "Of course, it''s because we believe that His Highness Isaacs seems ordinary, but in reality, he is patient and will definitely have extraordinary potential in the future!"


    In truth, it wasn''t that they didn''t want to approach the Fifth Prince Ziegfried. The problem was that Ziegfried had no interest in the royal family''s power struggles. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have gone off on his own to train in the military. If they dared to approach him, none of them would likely walk out of the pce alive.


    Isaacs, of course, didn''t believe their words. However, he was indeed somewhat intrigued. After all, the Via Empire was the undisputed strongest nation on the Eternal Continent! If they could gain their support, perhaps he really did have a chance at the throne!


    What concerned him the most wasn''t the rebellion itself. Rather, it was what the Via Empire wanted in return. He didn''t believe that these people were so kind-hearted that they would help him seize the throne for no reason at all.


    Seeing Isaacs''s hesitation, Milo spoke calmly, "Your Highness needn''t worry. Once you ascend the throne, all you need to do is help us find one thing. We will never interfere in the internal politics of the Clinton Empire."


    "Is that true?" Isaacs asked in surprise.


    Milo nodded seriously, "Of course. We''re only looking for something. With the monsters rampaging across the Eternal Continent, disrupting the peace of the Clinton Empire won''t benefit us at all."


    Seeing that the Fourth Prince was swayed, Milo continued, "This matter is not urgent. You can take your time to think it over. "


    "If you decide, you cane find us anytime before attending His Majesty Alfred''s funeral. We will be waiting for you."


    After leaving the Fourth Prince''s chambers.


    One of the Via Empire''s delegation, a young man with a buzz cut and an ear piercing, frowned and said, "Shouldn''t we have just approached the First Prince Leonie directly? Why pick this idiot?"


    "You don''t understand," Milo squinted his small, bead-like eyes and smiled, "An idiot like him is easier to control. Someone too smart will only cause trouble."


    The buzz-cut young man shook his head and said, "Do whatever you want. As long as the mission gets done, I don''t care about the rest."


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the real world, sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the luxurious gaming pod in Luca''s bedroom.


    The sound of air valves being adjusted echoed, and the pod''s door slowly opened.


    "Ugh~ My bones feel like they''re about to fall apart..." Luca sat up from the gaming pod and couldn''t help but stretchzily.


    Having remained in one position for such a long time, even though the gaming pod had a special muscle massage function, Luca still felt his limbs stiff and sore.


    "I can''t believe so much time has passed," he muttered as he nced at the time on the pod''s control panel. He was surprised to see that it had been over a week since hest entered the game. No wonder his muscles were aching.


    "But my strength has improved quite a bit this time," Luca said as he climbed out of the gaming pod. He clenched his fist, and an immense surge of power instantly erupted from his body. He could feel that his physical condition had dramatically improvedpared to a week ago, at least several times stronger than before!


    Snap!Luca snapped his fingers, and golden sparks briefly flickered before vanishing into the air.


    "It looks like the enhancement from the divine body has even tranted to the real world," he said, a smile spreading across his face. There was no doubt about the power of the Sr Divine Body. With this ability, even if the game world merged with reality, he had enough strength to protect his family.


    After throwing on some clothes, Luca suddenly noticed that his desk was covered in colorful sticky notes. He walked over and looked at them, feeling a warmth in his heart. It seemed that during this time, he hadn''t beenpletely alone; people hade to visit, but they hadn''t disturbed him.


    The gaming pod''s disy showed real-time data like heart rate, blood pressure, and brainwaves. Sini and Donald had been checking on him every day, morning and night, to monitor his condition.


    Most of the notes were written by Sini, filled withints and concerns about him. Donald had mentioned that the vi renovations wereplete and that they nned to move in together once he woke up.


    Malina had onlye once during this period. From the note, it seemed like she had been focused on leveling up in the game.


    ording to Donald, Quagmire, Ivanka, and Fuzzsir hade to see him twice, but both times, they had missed him and left a message asking him to get back to them, likely about some task.


    Luca gathered the notes and ced them in a folder.


    He changed his clothes and left his bedroom.


    Originally, he had nned to surprise his parents, but when he got downstairs, he realized the house was empty¡ªlooks like they were out.


    He pulled out his phone and was about to call them.


    When the sound of a key turning in the door caught his attention.


    The door opened, and Sini and Donald appeared at the entrance, each carrying bags of vegetables and fruit.


    When they saw Luca, they both froze for a moment.


    Then Sini''s face immediately darkened.


    "You remembered toe out of the game, did you?" she stormed over, grabbing Luca by the ear and pulling it sharply. "If I hadn''t seen your heart rate, I would''ve thought you dropped dead in that gaming pod!"


    It was clear she was really angry. Even Donald, who usually sided with Luca, stayed silent this time.


    He furrowed his brow and said, "You''ve been in the game too long this time."


    Luca had been in the gaming pod for more than a week. Even though his physical constitution was extraordinary, staying in the pod for such a long time could still cause problems.


    "I''m sorry!" Luca didn''t try to exin, simply admitting his mistake. While the gaming pod was designed to ensure his body stayed in normal condition for at least a month, based on his experience, arguing with his mom would only make things worse.


    It took half an hour before Sini''s anger finally subsided. Once she went into the kitchen to cook, Donald asked, "Did you read those notes?"


    Luca rubbed his ear and said, "I read them. Since the vi renovations are done, we''ll move in in the next couple of days."


    Donald shook his head. "I''m talking about those young people."


    From Quagmire and his group, he sensed apletely different energy from ordinary people, even different from the soldiers he''d met on the battlefield. It reminded him a little of Luca''s aura.


    Lately, there had been a number of people from the systeming over to inquire about their family. Plus, there was that criminal who could control vines that they had run into before. It wasn''t hard to put two and two together and suspect that his son had probably joined some kind of special government agency.


    This worried Donald. He''d encountered people from such departments before and knew full well how dangerous they could be.


    "Don''t worry, I can handle it," Luca said with a smile. With his strength having increased again, he was more than capable of dealing with most threats.


    Donald sighed, deciding not to press the matter further.


    Soon, Sini had the meal ready.


    It wasn''t anything special¡ªjust in curry ham fried rice¡ªbut Luca devoured it with relish, almost as if he wanted to bury his face in the bowl.


    Although the nutritional fluid could keep the body functioning normally, it really didn''t taste good.


    Nothing couldpare to real food, the kind that made you feel alive.


    "I''m full!" Luca finished the entire te, set the bowl on the table, grabbed a ss of water, took a few gulps, and then wiped his mouth. Without another word, he dashed out the door, leaving Sini muttering behind him.


    "That little brat is getting more and more ungrateful. Now he doesn''t even bother to wash his own dishes..."


    Under the blue sky, the clouds driftedzily by, and the warm sunlight poured down. The tall trees swayed with the breeze, rustling their leaves.


    On the road, cars sped by, their exhaust mingling with the wind, creating a refreshing feeling in the air.


    Once Luca was out of the house, he pulled out his phone and dialed Coarmy.


    The call was answered quickly.


    A deep, gravelly voice, worn smooth by life''s hardships and the effects of tobo and alcohol, came through the receiver.


    Coarmy''s voice was filled with surprise. "What the hell! I thought you were dead!"

 Chapter 189 The First Mission! Quagmires Driving Skills! Incorrect Intelligence!

    "What do you mean you thought I was dead? What kind of talk is that?" Luca said, feeling speechless.


    It hadn''t even been that long since theyst saw each other, and yet everyone seemed to be assuming he was dead.


    Coarmy, on the other end of the line, let out an exasperated sigh. "I''m not kidding. You promised Drumph you''d take on four Transcendent tasks every month. How many days have passed? We''ve tried to contact you twice already, and you still haven''te out of the game."


    "Isn''t it still early?" Luca repliedzily. "Besides, things in the game change all the time. I can''t just leave before wrapping up everything, can I?"


    Coarmy, feeling helpless, knew there was no point in arguing with Luca. He simply said, "Well, we''ve just received a task. There''s a monster sighting near Celephais, and Quagmire and the others are heading there. Do you want to join them?"


    "Send someone to pick me up." Luca didn''t have anything else nned and immediately agreed.


    After hanging up, Luca didn''t have to wait long by the roadside before a heavily modified Dodge Hellcat pulled up in front of him.


    The windows on both sides rolled down, revealing three people inside wearing sunsses.


    Quagmire, Donlow, Fuzzsir, and a bandaged-up Mnia were in the car.


    "Yo, bro, long time no see!" Quagmire, sitting in the driver''s seat, had a cigarette dangling from his mouth and raised an eyebrow.


    Donlow teasingly added, "You''re such a busy guy. We couldn''t get ahold of you for a whole week."


    Mnia wasn''t much of a talker, but Fuzzsir, with his poet-like aura, sniffed the air and said enviously, "It smells like curry fried rice."


    This guy had quite the keen nose.


    "Nothing I can do. Got caught up in a mission in the game, took longer than expected," Luca casually exined as he climbed into the car and closed the door.


    He nced around at the group. They had all clearly gotten stronger. It seemed like they hadn''t been sitting idle during the time he was gone.


    "Are we heading straight to the mission?" Luca asked, noticing that everyone was armed and had walkie-talkies, clearly ready to head to the mission location right away.


    "Yep, we''re heading straight there. It''s a bit far, and they can''t hold out much longer," Quagmire replied as he started the car. He picked up his walkie-talkie and shouted, "Hey, hey, hey! This is Quagmire, Luca''s with us!"


    "I''m not deaf, keep it down," came Coarmy''s resigned voice from the walkie-talkie. After a brief pause, he said in a serious tone, "Hurry up and get there. The officers on-site have suffered heavy casualties. These guys are tough."


    "Don''t worry, it''s just over a hundred kilometers. Give me half an hour," Quagmire said nonchntly. He threw his cigarette butt out of the window, then shed a grin at the others in the backseat. "Friendly reminder, everyone, buckle up!"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, Luca felt the car''s engine roar to life.


    Vroom!! The engine exploded with power!


    The immense eleration made everyone in the car rock slightly in their seats.


    Luca couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.


    Couldn''t this guy at least wait until they had their seatbelts on?!


    One car after another was overtaken, and the scenery outside the windows blurred into nothing but a streak of colors.


    The Hellcat raced toward the outskirts like a streak of ck lightning.


    Though Quagmire''s driving was a bit reckless, his skills behind the wheel were undeniable. The car was so nimble in his hands that he didn''t even need to slow down to overtake others. He even managed to push the car to 200 kilometers per hour through the city streets.


    Once they were out of the city, Quagmire really let loose. Thendscape outside turned into nothing more than a colorful blur, and Luca and the others felt like their internal organs and brains were riding a roller coaster.


    The site of the Transcendent incident was located in the ck Mountain, which straddled the boundary between Celephais and the nearby Shen City. It was about a hundred kilometers from where Luca and the others were, and the area was sparsely popted, a mountainous region with winding, steep roads that were a challenge for even the most seasoned climbers.


    True to his word, Quagmire didn''t take a single minute longer than the promised half-hour.


    When they arrived, the mountains were already sealed off, and a group of officers were waiting for them at the mountain pass. When they saw the Hellcat tearing through the winding roads, they initially thought it was a Marauder approaching.


    It wasn''t until the car came to a halt that they realized it was the people they were waiting for.


    The moment the car door opened, Donlow bolted out as if fleeing for her life.


    "Ugh¡ª" She bent over, vomiting uncontrobly at the side of the mountain road. Other than Luca, whose physical strength was up to the task, the others weren''t in any better shape.


    Mnia leaned against the mountain wall, her face a mask of despair, as though life itself had lost all meaning. Fuzzsir was holding his head, swaying unsteadily as he muttered, "My head... feels a bit dizzy..."


    As he spoke, he suddenly copsed forward, about to tumble down the mountain. Luckily, Luca was quick on his feet and grabbed the back of Fuzzsir''s cor just in time. If he had fallen, even if he didn''t die, it would have taken him forever to climb back up.


    "Captain, from now on, maybe you should stop driving," Luca said, looking at Quagmire, who acted as if nothing was wrong. He was speechless. They hadn''t even seen the monster yet, and they had already lost half of their team to Quagmire''s driving...


    "Cough! We were in a hurry," Quagmire shrugged it off, then turned to the officers who hade to meet them. Changing the subject, he said, "We''re special personnel here to handle the situation. Do you know what''s going on?"


    With that, he pulled out his Morning Star credentials and handed them over.


    The officer in charge took the credentials, nced at them, and immediately wore a serious expression.


    He respectfully returned the credentials to Quagmire, gave a slight bow, and said in a deep voice, "We can only confirm a general location at the moment. The enemy is very cunning, and every time our people enter the mountains, they''re ambushed and killed. So far, we''ve lost over a dozen officers."


    His fist clenched, and he continued with a solemn expression, "Please, you must avenge them!"


    Over a dozen officers were dead? Those words made everyone''s hearts skip a beat.


    Even Luca was a little surprised. After all, the officers searching the mountains were all armed to the teeth. If they were dealing with an ordinary low-level monster, there would be no way it could overpower them.


    It seemed they were indeed dealing with a troublesome opponent.


    "Do you know what it is?" Quagmire asked, but the officer could only shake his head in helplessness. "We can''t see it clearly. It''s too fast. Even with high-speed cameras, all we can capture is a blur of ck. The forensic experts estimate it''s probably some kind ofrge wild beast based on the wounds."


    The group exchanged nces, frowning. They didn''t know the monster''s exact power, and they didn''t even know what it was. Even if they encountered it alone, it could still pose a serious threat.


    But with such arge mountain range, they couldn''t possibly cover it all together. Luca observed the terrain of the forest, thought for a moment, and suggested, "Let''s each take a team of officers, no more than a hundred meters apart, and search horizontally. We should be able to cover the entire area in a few hours."


    The others looked around at the terrain and nodded in agreement. This was the only viable n they had.


    After the earlier incident, all the officers had pulled back from the forest. There were now only about thirty remaining here. Luca and the others each led a group of five or six officers, armed and equipped with radios and ammunition, and began their search of the mountainous area.


    Several helicopters hovered above, their rotors thrumming loudly in the sky. Although the sun was shining, the dense forest below felt damp and shadowy. Only when the leaves rustled did some scattered sunlight filter through. The ground was covered in thick vegetation, which obstructed visibility. It was easy to imagine how the monster could easily hide in such a ce.


    This was likely why they hadn''t been able to locate the creature. Infrared and simr detection devices were useless against monsters. They could only rely on their eyes, so the group moved with extreme caution.


    Luca held a standard-issue Morning Star long de, scanning the area around him. It wasn''t that he couldn''t use a handgun; it was just that cold weapons were more effective against monsters. Those creatures were incredibly agile, and hitting them with a gun would be much harder.


    They hadn''t walked for long when Luca suddenly furrowed his brow. Without being able to use his mental abilities to scan a wide area, the search was proving to be even more difficult than he''d anticipated. If they kept searching slowly for that one monster, they could end up wasting an entire day in these mountains.


    There simply wasn''t time to waste.


    Luca narrowed his eyes, and a flicker of eerie blue light shed across them.


    Eye of Insight, activate!


    In an instant, countless elemental particles appeared in his vision. They floated gently in the air, like colorful gemstones scattered across thendscape.


    Since the area had a strong wood element, the most prominent color in the surrounding magic was green. This made it much easier to track down the monster. All Luca needed to do was follow the trail of the densest magical aura.


    He nced at the surroundings, then turned to the officers behind him. "Everyone, stay close and pick up the pace!"


    "Yes, sir!" The officers were a little surprised. They had only just started, yet it seemed Luca had already picked up on the monster''s trail?


    Though they were confused, they didn''t hesitate and immediately followed his lead.


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    Luca''s speed was impressive; his movements were as agile as a monkey''s, darting through the forest with ease.


    The officers behind him were left in awe¡ªso therewassuch a thing as a real-life Spider-Man.


    A few minutester, a wisp of ck magic appeared in the distance. Luca paused on a tree, carefully inspecting it. He noticed that the magic was slowly dissipating, meaning the monster had likely passed through here about half an hour ago.


    Without any hesitation, he followed the lingering magical aura, determined to catch up.


    With his current abilities, he wasn''t afraid of an ambush.


    As he got closer, the magical energy became denser. But then, something felt off.


    The magic around him started to feel chaotic, with some areas thick with energy, while others were much weaker. And the direction... why did it seem like he was getting closer to Donlow''s team?


    Just as he was thinking this.


    A loudbang¡ªthe sharp crack of a gunshot¡ªsuddenly shattered the silence of the forest.


    Immediately after, there was a barrage of gunfire, followed by screams and the continuous roar of beasts!


    Luca''s pupils contracted sharply.


    Shit, the intel was wrong!


    There wasn''t just one monster here¡ªthere was awhole pack!

 Chapter 190 Rescue! Devil Monkeys! These Monkeys Are So Cute!

    There was no time toin about Coarmy''s ipetence. Luca immediately grabbed the radio and shouted angrily, "Everyone, listen up! There''s more than one monster in the mountains, be extremely careful!"


    Almost simultaneously, Donlow''s voice crackled through the radio. She said anxiously, "Damn it! There are at least thirty monsters here! Don''te over, go get reinforcements!"


    "Thirty?!" Quagmire and the police outside were stunned upon hearing this. How could so many monsters suddenly appear in the ck Mountain?


    "We... we only saw one monster..." The sheriff in charge of blocking the mountains broke into a cold sweat. Before this, they hadn''t imagined there would be other monsters in ck Mountain. After all, this was their first time encountering such terrifying creatures, and they hadn''t even seen them clearly. How could they have predicted that these monsters would be a pack?


    "Dammit! Everyone, listen up! Withdraw from ck Mountain immediately!" After swearing, Quagmire made a quick decision. They could handle a few dozen monsters, but no one knew how many were actually in the forest. If these creatures escaped ck Mountain, who knew what kind of chaos they would cause?


    The most important thing now was to ry this information back to headquarters and have them send armed forces and heavy firepower to prevent the situation from escting. As for Donlow and the soldiers... there was no time to worry about them now.


    The other voices over the radio remained silent.


    This wasn''t the first time Morning Star had suffered casualties, but this situation was different from all the others. They had to make the painful decision to abandon their teammates and watch as they were ughtered by the monsters.


    Donlow, however, remained calm and even tried tofort everyone. Discover more stories at m,v l''e-NovelBin


    Sheughed and said, "The moment I joined Morning Star, I knew I might have to sacrifice myself. If I was afraid of dying, I wouldn''t have joined this organization. Besides, we might still manage to escape."


    There was a moment of silence on the radio beforemands to retreat starteding through. Now was not the time for sorrow. If these monsters broke out of ck Mountain, it wouldn''t just be Celephais at risk; even the nearby Shen City could suffer. They had to act quickly.


    Luca removed his headset and turned to the police officers behind him. "You guys withdraw as well."


    The officers nodded and quickly headed toward the mountain exit.


    They didn''t notice that Luca, who was supposed to leave with them, hadn''t followed. Instead, he disappeared deeper into the forest.


    That direction was exactly where Donlow and the others were located.


    His figure moved through the woods with the speed of a cheetah, the surrounding scenery rapidly retreating behind him.


    This wasn''t Luca''s first time experiencing such a situation. He had faced countless simr encounters in his previous life. Normally, by all logic, he should be retreating right now.


    And since Donlow had survived in his past life, it meant she had definitely made it through this crisis as well.


    The reason Luca stayed behind was because he sensed that something wasn''t right. It was impossible for ck Mountain to suddenly have this many monsters. There was most likely a Spatial Node here, and it was probably located where Donlow and her team were.


    Considering the timing, it was about right. The fall of Celephais in his previous life wasn''t due to a single node eruption. Instead, it was a chain reaction¡ªcountless nodes inside and outside the city were triggered, and countless monsters poured out.


    Before anyone could react, the city had already fallen.


    Now that he had encountered this again in this life, he couldn''t just ignore these nodes.


    And the best way to speed up his progress in the game was to make contact with a Spatial Node.


    Such opportunities were rare, and this was a perfect chance.


    Fortunately, Luca was already close to Donlow.


    As Luca drew nearer, the sounds from the area grew louder. The noise was deafening, with gunfire mixed with screams, roars, and the terrifying shrieks and growls of monstrous creatures.


    When Luca arrived, the first thing that caught his eye was a ck-furred creature resembling a monkey.


    There were about dozens of them, their eyes pitch ck. Their bodies were simr to regr monkeys, but they had pale, ghastly faces twisted into unnaturally eerie, stiff smiles.


    They moved with incredible speed, their ws like steel knives, easily capable of piercing through a person''s body. These creatures had surrounded Donlow and the police officers she was leading. Two officers had been gutted, lying on the ground, barely breathing. The others had sustained various injuries. Donlow was at the front, bravely standing her ground, while the others provided covering fire, barely managing to fend off the monster assault.


    "Devil Monkeys?" Luca narrowed his eyes, recognizing these creatures. Devil Monkeys were a fairlymon monster inter stages of the game, but their power wasn''t considered top-tier.


    That was after the game had been on the decline for years, and they were pack creatures, which made them extremely troublesome. He hadn''t expected to encounter such a level of monster this early on.


    Without hesitation, Luca drew his standard-issue long knife. A gust of wind appeared around him, and he moved like lightning, charging directly toward the monsters ahead.


    "Screech!" One of the Devil Monkeys noticed Luca and bared its teeth, emitting a sharp, shrill roar as it lunged toward him.


    "Seeking death!" Luca snorted coldly. Red magic runes appeared around him, and the long knife in his hand turned crimson at a visible speed.


    He suddenly pushed off the ground with all his strength, his already incredible speed skyrocketing once more! In the blink of an eye, he shot forward like an arrow, reaching the monster in front of him before it even had a chance to react.


    The Devil Monkey froze for a moment, realizing toote that this human in front of it seemed... different.


    But it was already toote. Luca''s gaze turned cold as he gripped the knife handle tightly. His wrist twisted, and in one fluid motion, he swung downward!


    The crimson de streaked through the forest in an instant!


    "Thwip!!"


    The Devil Monkey froze in ce, blood erupting from its body like a fountain!


    Before the other monsters could react, Luca was already in their midst. In a sh, the de danced like a torrential storm, spraying foul blood in every direction!


    By the time the other monsters realized what was happening, three or four of them had already fallen beneath Luca''s de.


    "Screeek!!!" The sharp, piercing shriek of the Devil Monkeys echoed through the entire forest. These monsters were highly vengeful by nature, and seeing so many of their kin ughtered, five or six of them immediately charged toward Luca.


    At the same time, Donlow and the others noticed Luca''s arrival. They all showed a brief expression of surprise and relief, but when they saw that he was alone, disappointment quickly reced their initial joy. The number of monsters was just too great¡ªone person alone could never turn the tide.


    "Is this guy trying to get himself killed?" Donlow muttered, her fist smashing through the skull of one Devil Monkey. She clenched her teeth, feeling both touched and angry.


    Just a moment ago, she thought Luca was a rational person, but now he was acting recklessly.


    Now, they were all going to die here.


    The other officers couldn''t help but sigh as well. But there was no time to dwell on it. They immediately began shooting to cover Luca, trying to prevent him from being overwhelmed by the monsters.


    But then they realized, they had been worrying for nothing.


    More than a dozen Devil Monkeys surged toward Luca, surrounding himpletely.


    Yet, not a single attacknded on him.


    A faint cyan glow appeared around Luca''s body as he moved like a ghost, effortlessly weaving through the monsters, as if he were casually strolling through a park.


    At the same time, his standard-issue long knife continued to strike down, each blow resulting in a Devil Monkey''s head being severed from its body.


    Even with more than a dozen monsters attacking him, they could do nothing. In fact, Luca even killed a few more of them in the process. This scene left everyone on the scene stunned.


    "This kid... he''s so strong!" One of the officers widened his eyes, unable to contain his amazement. They had seen their fair share of skilled fighters¡ªsome had participated in militarybatpetitions, and others had even subdued multiple criminals in hand-to-handbat.


    But these Devil Monkeys weren''t just ordinary beings¡ªthey were ruthless, bloodthirsty monsters that killed without hesitation. If it had been any of them facing the monsters, they would''ve been torn to pieces in the blink of an eye.


    They were all too aware of the terrifying nature of these monsters, which made them even more impressed by Luca''s absurd strength.


    "Truly deserving of being in a special forces unit. He really is something else," one of the officersmented, genuinely amazed. Little did they know, Donlow, also a yer, was just as stunned.


    "His strength... how has it increased so much?" She muttered to herself, astonished at how quickly Luca''s power had grown.


    She remembered that Luca wasn''t this overpowered just a few days ago¡ªhow had he changed so drastically in such a short time?


    In the dimly lit forest, the young man wielded his long knife, his eyes alight with a fierce glow, moving with incredible agility as he weaved through the encirclement of more than a dozen Devil Monkeys.


    The majority of the monsters'' attention was now focused on him, which instantly relieved some of the pressure on Donlow and the others.


    "Increase firepower, break through!" They all saw a glimmer of hope for survival. Their expressions lit up with excitement, and their attacks grew more intense.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang!" The continuous sound of gunfire drowned out the roar of the monsters. Several officers opened fire with their APC-9 submachine guns, while Donlow''s body radiated a faint crimson aura. Despite her smaller frame, she wielded a heavy sword with surprising force, cleaving one of the monsters cleanly in half from head to toe.


    Just then, a cursing voice suddenly rang out from the forest.


    "My legs are about to fall off, and I still got here toote." Everyone turned their heads to see Quagmire, carrying a sword and puffing on a cigarette, walking out of the woods.


    Behind him were Fuzzsir and Mnia. They hadn''t left the forest with the police but had instead chosen to support Donlow, though they were slower than Luca.


    "You guys..." Donlow nearly burst into tears at the sight of them. Quagmire shed a grin and said, "It''s just a few dozen monsters, what''s there to be afraid of? Watch how I hack them to pieces!"


    Fuzzsir, on the other hand, was staring at the ck-furred, white-faced monkeys, his eyes sparkling with excitement.


    "They''re so cute!" he eximed, his face lighting up with delight.


    Luca''s lips twitched twice. In the end, he couldn''t be bothered toment on the guy''s taste.

 Chapter 191 The Node Appears! What Is He Doing? The Rift in Black Mountain!

    "Rescue." Mnia said as she pulled a small dagger from who knows where.


    Before her words even settled, she had already dashed into the monster horde.


    Her speed was so quick that it left afterimages behind.


    Faint, ghostly blue light flickered beneath her feet.


    It was the assassin''s low-tier skill¡ªShadow Step!


    Fuzzsir didn''t use any weapons.


    Instead, he bent down, cing his hand on the grass, and a gray magical array suddenly expanded beneath him.


    It was the Necromancer ss skill¡ªReanimation of the Dead!


    Streams of death energy surged into the bodies of several Devil Monkeys.


    The corpses, riddled with bullet holes, suddenly twitched violently.


    Then, with the horrified gazes of several officers, their eyes snapped open, and they shot upright from the ground.


    Green mes burned wildly in their eyes, an eerie and terrifying sight.


    Fuzzsir nodded in satisfaction, seemingly pleased with his new "toys."


    With a gentle smile, he addressed the monsters, saying, "Kill them all. Not a single one left."


    Instantly, four or five of the reanimated Devil Monkeys, as though receiving amand, charged toward their still-living kin.


    The situation hadpletely reversed in an instant!


    Luca had been keeping over a dozen of the monsters upied by himself, and after Quagmire and the others arrived, Donlow, who had been on the defensive, began to take the offensive.


    Despite their overwhelming numbers, these Devil Monkeys were still just low-tier monsters. Under the fierce onught from Luca and the others, they began to falter.


    These monsters were clearly more intelligent than the average creature. Seeing things turning against them, they started to retreat. First, one fled, then two, then three, until the entire pack began a full retreat.


    "Don''t chase them. There might be other monsters in the forest. We need to rescue the others first." Luca cut a Devil Monkey in half with a swift sh, then called out to Quagmire and the others, who were too caught up in the carnage.


    Hearing this, Quagmire and the others finally stopped their pursuit.


    "We''re finally alive!" Donlow threw her heavy sword aside, copsing to the ground without any care for her appearance.


    Her chest rose and fell in rapid breaths, her forehead slick with sweat, and her body was covered in numerous wounds.


    The deepest was on her abdomen, almost as if her stomach had been ripped open. Fresh, crimson blood poured from the wound, soaking through her white T-shirt.


    The others were in no better condition. One of the officers had his arm bitten off by a Devil Monkey and had lost too much blood. He was unconscious and urgently needed medical treatment.


    Quagmire and the others quickly helped the injured to their feet, preparing to get them out of there.


    Luca, however, was looking toward the direction where the Devil Monkeys had fled, his eyes shining with a sharp glint. If there really was a Node in ck Mountain, it was most likely in that direction...


    "What are you looking at? Let''s go." Donlow, having regained some strength, spoke up, interrupting Luca''s thoughts. Just as he was about to suggest they leave, Luca''s expression suddenly changed, and he looked toward the direction he had been observing earlier.


    At the same time, the ground beneath them began to violently tremble.


    "Roar!!!" A deafening roar echoed through the forest, and ck demonic energy surged into the sky, causing everyone''s expressions to shift in rm.


    This was... a Node?!


    "As expected, it''s here." Luca''s gaze turned cold.


    Without a second thought, he charged straight toward the direction where the Node had activated.


    By the time Quagmire and the others reacted, all they could see was his retreating back.


    "Shit, what is this kid nning to do?" Quagmire said, his face full of shock.


    The others were equally baffled.


    Only Mnia''s eyes shifted as she said, "Does he n to find the Node?"


    "He''s out of his mind. Who knows how many monsters are inside the Node? He''s basically walking to his death!" Quagmire almost felt dizzy from the frustration.


    There was no time to think further. He lowered the officer he had been carrying and turned to Donlow and the others. "You guys leave first. I''ll go bring that kid back."


    "I''m going with you," Mnia immediately replied.


    "I''m going to deliver my head too," Fuzzsir said seriously.


    Donlow was about to say something.


    When Quagmire cut her off with a scowl. "Don''t cause trouble. Mnia and I will go. If we run into any danger, with our speed, we can get out of it. You guys following us won''t help."


    Fuzzsir wasn''t happy with that. "You''re human, I''m human too. If you can deliver your head, I can deliver mine. Why can you go, and I can''t? You''re discriminating against mentally ill people!"


    Quagmire''s face darkened. He kicked Fuzzsir in the rear and shouted, "Get lost!"


    Although their strength was rated S, that was inparison to humans. When it came to monsters, especially a monster horde, the difference between them and ordinary humans was that they might have time to strike a cool pose before being devoured. It was still death either way.


    Fuzzsir and Donlow both looked reluctant, but Quagmire couldn''t help rolling his eyes. He had never seen anyone so eager to rush to their own death. He really couldn''t rely on any of them.


    Meanwhile, as Luca ventured deeper into ck Mountain, the fluctuations of the Node became more and more pronounced, along with a thick, suffocating demonic aura.


    Compared to the Nodes Luca had encountered before, this one had much less demonic energy and weaker fluctuations. There was a high chance that no high-level monsters would emerge.


    However, Luca did not let his guard down. After all, this was reality, not a game. He focused his mind, and a magnificent silver-white magic rune appeared around him, with frost spreading over the de of his sword.


    "Frostborn" activated with a forceful surge!


    Luca''s aura suddenly skyrocketed, and he transformed into a streak of silver-white light, quickly closing in on his target.


    The demon monkeys that had been fleeing in panic were still scrambling, unaware that behind them, a white reaper was fast approaching.


    Luca didn''t rush to strike. Instead, his gaze fixed on the area further ahead. ck mist enveloped the forest, and the light seemed to be swallowed by it, creating an eerie and mysterious atmosphere.


    "This should be it," he muttered under his breath, a chill creeping into his eyes. In his previous life, when the monster horde erupted, Celephais and the surrounding cities had all fallen. The disaster had been so sudden that by the time others reacted, Celephais had already be a paradise for monsters, and it wasn''t until Luca''s rebirth that the Human Race managed to reim it.


    Now, he finally had a chance to do something about it.


    After ncing at the few remaining demon monkeys, which had slowed their retreat, Luca focused again. He gathered more cold energy around his sword, and ice crystals began to form along the de.


    With a sudden burst of power, Luca shot forward like a great bird, heading straight for the fleeing demon monkeys.


    Luca had only spared these monkeys earlier to use them as a guide. Now that he had found the Node, there was no longer any need to keep them alive.


    After the previous battle, over thirty demon monkeys had been reduced to fewer than ten. They were almost at the Node, and the remaining monkeys had begun to rx, thinking they were nearly safe.


    But at that very moment, one of the demon monkeys suddenly felt an overwhelming chill sweep over its body.


    Before it could figure out what was happening, the world seemed to spin around it, and it found itself staring at the decapitated body of one of its kin, standing straight up with blood pouring out like a fountain.


    At the same time, it saw a white figure darting toward the rest of the monkeys.


    "Screech! Screech!!" The terrified and enraged scream of the demon monkey shattered the silence of the forest.


    The remaining demon monkeys looked at Luca with eyes full of fury. They couldn''t believe that this human had actually dared to chase them down and attack them!


    Without hesitation, a group of demon monkeys charged at Luca, intent on making this damned human pay for his actions.


    Luca''s gaze remained indifferent as he focused on condensing the frost around his sword¡­


    Three minutester...


    He took a step forward, heading deeper into the forest.


    Behind him, statues of frozen demon monkeys stood, their expressions filled with fear, frozen in ce.


    A chilling white mist rose from their bodies and slowly dissipated.


    Less than ten minutes after Luca''s departure...


    Two figures dropped down from the trees.


    "So this kid wasn''t even using his full strength before?" Quagmire stared at the ice sculptures before him, each one looking like a piece of art. He tapped one of the frozen demon monkey statues, which was encased in solid ice, and clicked his tongue. "I''d bet that his power in the game has already reached Gold Grade. No wonder he''s brave enough to go after the Node alone."


    Mnia, however, was focused on a footprint Luca had left in the dirt. Her eyes gleamed with a dark light.


    After observing for a moment, she slowly shook her head. "At least tinum."


    Quagmire froze for a moment, surprised. "Seriously? There are only a handful of people who can reach tinum Grade at this stage, and they''re all the top yers."


    He himself was only at Gold Grade, and that was after relentlessly grinding every day. He couldn''t quite wrap his head around what kind of freakish yer could level up so quickly to tinum.


    Mnia didn''t respond verbally, just nodded, then turned her head and continued moving toward the heart of the forest. What Quagmire didn''t notice was the deep confusion that shed across her eyes after she turned away.


    In truth, Mnia had been conservative in her assessment. If she were to go by her real guess, Luca''s strength in the game might have already reached the High Tier. But that theory was far too shocking. Even she wasn''t sure she could believe it.


    Meanwhile, as Luca ventured deeper into ck Mountain, the surrounding magical energy grew thicker. The already dim forest became even darker, filled with an oppressive and eerie atmosphere.


    He hadn''t walked far into the depths of ck Mountain when he encountered other monsters. They weren''t demon monkeys, but instead solitary, decayed wolves, which weren''t very strong.


    After swiftly killing the wolf, he continued forward, only to encounter a Titan boa constrictor. And as he got closer to the Node, the number of monsters he faced seemed to increase.


    Ghost foxes, phantom butterflies, undead ghouls, and all kinds of other eerie creatures roamed the area.


    Though their strength wasn''t much, their numbers were overwhelming. Still, none of them posed any real threat to Luca, and they were all easily in. The difference in his power with and without using Superss magic runes was night and day.


    By the time Luca reached the abyss-like crack that marked the Node''s location.


    Dozens of monsters had already fallen beneath his sword!

 Chapter 192 The Golden Seal Array! Sealing! Data Feedback!

    Unlike the Nodes he had encountered before, this one was much smaller¡ªabout half the size of a door.


    From the pitch-ck rift, waves of dark magic surged continuously. asionally, a confused monster would crawl out from the rift and materialize into the real world. Compared to the massive monster horde that had descended upon Riverfall City, the number of monsters emerging from this Node was rtively few. It seemed to have opened in a secluded corner of the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    As Luca was contemting how to destroy the Node.


    Quagmire''s voice sounded behind him, filled with frustration. Leaning on his knees, drenched in sweat, he gasped for breath. "What the hell¡­ are you a marathon runner? How can you run so fast?"


    He had exhausted all his energy trying to keep up with Luca, but he hadn''t even seen Luca''s shadow, just a trail of bodies left in his wake. The man''s speed was simply too overwhelming¡ªQuagmire was nearly on the verge of copse.


    Mnia''s gaze also shifted toward Luca. It was the first time she truly assessed herpanion.


    Even while fighting monsters and moving forward, Luca had effortlessly left them behind. His strength was terrifying¡ªperhaps even more so than she had initially guessed. Her previous assumptions might actually be true.


    "What are you two doing here?" Luca, slightly surprised, looked over at Quagmire and Mnia.


    Quagmire shot him a re. "Aren''t you the reason we''re here? We wouldn''t havee if we weren''t worried you''d get yourself killed. You really think we''d just let you go near that Node alone?"


    "Thanks," Luca said with an awkward smile. He was still a bit touched. After all, they didn''t know his full strength. They were just ordinary teammates, and even if he died, it wasn''t their responsibility.


    But Quagmire had followed him into danger, which said something about his character. He wasn''t the type to leave someone behind without a second thought.


    "Let''s go," Mnia said, ncing around. "We''ve gotpany." Several monsters had already started surrounding them, their eyes ring hungrily, drool dripping from their jaws.


    This ce was the heart of the monster''s territory, and they were about as vulnerable as sheep stumbling into a wolf''s den. However, to Quagmire''s utter disbelief, Luca simply shook his head and refused."You guys go on ahead. Don''t worry about me," Luca said.


    This time, even Mnia couldn''t help but nce at him in surprise.


    "You... you... want to die that badly?" Quagmire couldn''t hide his disbelief. In all his years, he had seen his fair share of reckless people, but never someone as fearless as Luca.


    Luca pointed toward the Node''s rift, his tone calm. "I want to blow this thing up. Otherwise, who knows how many monsters will crawl out of there. It could end up killing a lot of people."


    At Luca''s words, Quagmire''s instinctive curse was suddenly swallowed.


    He furrowed his brow, considering. "Can this thing even be destroyed?"


    Whether in the game or the real world, he had never seen anyone destroy a Node before.


    Luca wasn''tpletely sure, but he replied, "It should be... possible."


    If this were in the game world, he would have countless ways to destroy this Node.


    But now, in the real world, the only method Luca could think of was to use a secret technique.


    As for whether it would seed, Luca wasn''t sure. After all, he hadn''t tried it yet.


    "I think you should start taking some of Fuzzsir''s medicine," Quagmire muttered, a twitch at the corner of his mouth. He wanted to curse but didn''t have the energy, especially since the monsters were closing in on them.


    Quagmire extended his hand, speaking weakly, "Three minutes. We''ll give you five minutes. After five minutes, no matter what, you must leave with us. Otherwise, we won''t be able to help you."


    Luca gave a slight nod. Mnia, on the other hand, drew a small dagger. The dagger had an unusual shape, almost like a cone, with grooves carved along its de.


    Luca vaguely felt like he had seen it somewhere before, but now wasn''t the time to dwell on it.


    "Roar!!!"


    A massive Rampaging Bear, its body the size of a tank, opened its blood-red mouth and let out a deafening roar. With its four massive limbs, it charged toward Luca and his group.


    The earth trembled slightly under the weight of its nearly thousand-pound mass as it thundered toward them.


    Luca''s eyes shed with golden fire.


    He was about to move when Mnia stepped forward and stood in front of him, speaking calmly. "I''ll handle this."


    A faint, ghostly blue light appeared on the dagger in her hand, the de glinting coldly, as if it had be even sharper.


    Luca nced at her but didn''t say anything. He nodded slightly and then moved toward the Spatial Node.


    Seeing Luca move toward the Node, the surrounding monsters immediately grew enraged. Dozens of vicious eyes turned toward him, glowing with fury.


    "Roar!" The Rampaging Bear was now right in front of them.


    It looked at Mnia, its eyes filled with malice. As it closed in, its body suddenly reared up on its hind legs. It stretched out one massive w and swung it down at Mnia, aiming to crush her tiny, doll-like figure.


    The stench of blood and wind hit them, and the monstrous force was terrifying.


    But, in the face of this brutal strike, Mnia''s expression didn''t change at all.


    Read new adventures at m_v-l''e|-NovelBin


    She shifted her body, swiftly dodging the attack, then with a powerful push off the ground, she soared into the air like a leaf in the wind. The dagger in her hand zed with blue light as she suddenly thrust it toward the Rampaging Bear''s eye.


    Even though the bear reacted quickly and managed to turn its head to avoid the full force of the blow, it still left a deep gash along its face.


    Blood sttered everywhere!


    "Roar!!" The intense pain sent the Rampaging Bear into a frenzy, and it began attacking Mnia wildly. No matter how it struck, though, it couldn''tnd a single blow on her.


    Mnia moved with the grace of a butterfly, her body twisting and turning. The dagger in her hand whirled and shed through the air, each strike leaving a deep wound on the bear''s massive body.


    Quagmire, of course, wasn''t standing idle either. His blood energy surged, and with a sweep of his arm, he unleashed a series of blood-red shes, temporarily holding back the monsters rushing at them.


    Luca swung his longsword, casually decapitating a Decaying Corpse that lunged at him. Seeing this, he felt slightly relieved. Not wasting another precious second, he quickly approached the Spatial Node while simultaneously casting his spell. His other hand glowed with golden light, and intricate runes began to rapidly form in the air.


    This was a high-level sealing technique, Golden Runes Sealing Array, the most advanced magic he could currently use in the real world. Whether or not it would sessfully seal the node was uncertain¡ªluck would have to y its part.


    Normally, sealing a node required at least a Superssspell, or else Luca wouldn''t have needed to go to such lengths when dealing with the Riverfall City node.


    Regardless, it was worth a try. After all, in the game, his luck attribute was maxed out. There was no reason why it should fail in the real world.


    With the enhancement from Frostborn, the monsters surrounding him were nothing but minor obstacles. Within moments, Luca had forcibly pushed his way to the very front of the node.


    A surge of dark magic sted out from the node. Through the crack, Luca could see barren, destend, devoid of life, and a world choked with ck mist. Above, the blood-red moon hung ominously in the sky.


    This was the Abyssal Demon Realm.


    Luca couldn''t identify the exact location within the realm, but that didn''t matter.


    What mattered was sealing it.


    Golden patterns began to intertwine in midair, forming glowing symbols. Luca nced back at Quagmire and Mnia, who were surrounded by monsters, and without hesitation, his eyes shed with golden light!


    Buzz!


    In an instant, the Golden Runes Sealing Arrayerupted with radiant light!


    It shot toward the dark entrance of the node, its intricate lines unfurling like a spider''s web, and ultimately formed a golden pentagram, enveloping the entire node within it.


    In the Abyssal Demon Realm, a Corrupt Wolf, which had been eagerly charging at Luca, failed to notice the barrier in time and mmed into the Golden Runes Sealing Arraywith a loud thud. The force of the impact sent it flying backward.


    The massive shockwave caused it to tumble several times across the barren, ck earth before it finally came to a stop. But the Corrupt Wolf didn''t get back up.


    "Holy shit, it really sealed it?!" Quagmire turned around just in time to witness this, his eyes wide with disbelief. He thought Luca was just boasting, but the guy actually had the ability to pull it off?!


    At the same time, a group of monsters ceased their attacks. Staring at the Spatial Node sealed within the barrier, confusion spread across their faces.


    The gate had closed. How would they get back now?


    "Looks like luck''s on our side; I can''t believe it worked on the first try." Luca smiled to himself, feeling a bit of satisfaction. Now, all he had to do was take care of the remaining monsters...


    Just as he thought this, a white light suddenly shot up from one of the monsters in the Abyssal Demon Realm. To Luca''s surprise, it shot straight toward him, and then, in a sh, the light merged into his body.


    "What...?" Luca grabbed his head, feeling a sudden wave of dizziness. Then, it felt like a mirror shattered in front of him with a loud crack!


    Immediately after, Luca froze.


    In front of him, a game notification appeared.


    [Ding! Congrattions! You have killed a level 15 Corrupt Wolf and gained 1.2 points of Stamina!]


    Feeling the changes within him, Luca couldn''t help but smile.


    "Didn''t expect to get data so soon." He felt a surge of excitement; it looked like this trip wasn''t in vain after all.


    In his previous life, when the game truly came to the real world, the world began to digitize, marking the start of the era of universal yers.


    However, just as some people were able to gain game feedback ahead of time, there were also yers who got ess to their data panels and abilities before the game''s officialunch. These people started ahead of the pack.


    In the real world, killing monsters provided stats, not experience points. When the game finally arrived, those stats could be stacked with the attributes in the game.


    yers without a panel, however, could only gain materials from monsters and wouldn''t receive any rewards or attribute boosts.


    While this gap would gradually fade when the game''s rewards kicked in¡ªsince, for ordinary yers, the timing didn''t matter much, especially since monsters weren''t so easy to find in the real world.


    Luca was different. He was part of the Morning Star organization, which specialized in dealing with Transcendent events.


    Having an early ess panel gave him a massive head start. The attribute points he was receiving now would allow him to elerate past others, helping him to progress more quickly when the game arrived. He wouldn''t be as vulnerable during the early stages, potentially avoiding being instantly killed by high-level monsters during the initial, weak phase!


    With that thought in mind, Luca''s gaze toward the surrounding monsters shifted.

 Chapter 193 The Bombing Operation! Sacrifice Them! What Does "Kill Them All" Mean?

    This isn''t a monster¡ªthese are all his attributes! Luca''s heart burned with excitement.


    "Has this guy gone insane?" Mnia and Quagmire exchanged bewildered looks. They thought Luca had lost his mind. After all, what kind of sane person would look at a monster like that?


    Then, they saw Luca grab his standard-issue longsword and walk straight toward the monsters.


    "Rooar!!" A group of monsters immediately grew alert, baring their teeth at him.


    But Luca seemed oblivious to their aggression, even smiling slightly.


    Golden sparks flickered in the air, gradually enveloping the young man''s body.


    A far stronger aura than before suddenly erupted!


    Under Quagmire and Mnia''s astonished gaze, Luca''s figure vanished from their sight.


    The next moment, a sharp sh of golden light swept through the monster horde!


    Several monsters froze, their eyes wide open.


    Their heads slowly slipped off their necks!


    Scalding blood gushed out!


    The bloodbath had officially begun!


    Meanwhile, outside ck Mountain, the area had already been surrounded by numerousw enforcement and military personnel.


    Several armed helicopters flew in tight circles overhead, their rotor des stirring the air with a thunderous roar.


    At the foot of the mountain, swarms of armed personnel in bulletproof vests, carrying firearms, numbered in the thousands.


    Tanks, resembling crouching iron beasts, loomed in the distance, their ck gun barrels intimidating to the eye. The endless sea of armored vehicles stretched far beyond sight, creating a spectacle of overwhelming force.


    "Why haven''t Quagmire and the otherse out yet?" Coarmy paced back and forth, his furrowed brow and the worry in his eyes clearly showing his anxiety.


    "No news yet. We lost contact with them once they entered the depths of ck Mountain," the police officer from Shen City shook his head.


    "These idiots are out of their minds! How can they just approach the node like that?" Coarmy grumbled, tugging at his beard in frustration.


    That was the Spatial Node leading to the Abyssal Demon Realm! Who knows how many monsters are inside? Once Donlow had ryed the message, even the top officials from Summer Country had been shaken.


    The highest-level orders had been issued immediately, dispatching the nearest armed forces to Celephais. Even the more distant units had received the order to prepare for any eventuality.


    And yet, Luca and his team had recklessly charged right in. Were they trying to get themselves killed?


    "Exactly! Trouble mas, all of them!" Fuzzsir added, his face twisted in anger, still bitter about the earlier events.


    Coarmy knew Fuzzsir''s temperament and couldn''t be bothered to engage him.


    With bandages wrapped around his abdomen and his face pale, Donlowforted, "Don''t worry. With their abilities, they should be able to get out of ck Mountain. Just give them some time¡ªthey''ll make it out."


    "We can''t wait any longer."A military officer, wearing a uniform and the insignia of a major general on his chest, frowned and spoke. "We can''t put countless lives at risk for just three people. I think we should proceed with a ground bombing immediately."


    "No!"Coarmy shook his head without a second thought. "They''re all key members of Morning Star. They are the future pirs of the Human Race. We can''t just let them perish here."


    Donlow also looked anxious, wanting to speak, but was directly interrupted by his superior. The officer coldly addressed them: "So what if their identities are special? Are their lives worth more than the lives of the residents of two entire cities?"


    Coarmy and Donlow opened their mouths, but in the end, nothing came out. Even though Luca and Quagmire were among the most vital forces in Morning Star, their lives couldn''t possibly be worth more than the lives of millions of ordinary people in two cities.


    Coarmy sighed deeply. "Ten minutes. If they''re not out in ten minutes, we proceed with the operation."


    "Three minutes."The officer, with an impassive expression, raised his finger. "If they are not out within three minutes, we proceed with a full-scale firepower assault on ck Mountain, no matter what."


    "I don''t think it''ll take that long."At this moment, a voice suddenly reached their ears.


    Everyone present froze for a moment, then turned to see who had spoken.


    They saw three figures of varying heights slowly emerging from the forest.


    The one in front was a young man.


    The other two were covered in blood, looking exhausted, with numerous wounds all over their bodies. But the young man waspletely unscathed, wearing a casual outfit that was spotless, as if he had been taking a stroll.


    The only thing out of ce was the longsword he carried, which looked very striking. The specially made de was bent, and the dried blood that had coagted on it had turned the once shiny steel into a dark red hue.


    Just by looking at them from afar, everyone could almost feel a surge of overwhelming killing intenting at them!


    They had really fought their way back from deep within ck Mountain?!


    Seeing this scene, even Coarmy could hardly believe his eyes.


    To be honest, he had already been mentally prepared to report them as fallen in action.


    "You finally made it out. You scared me to death!"Donlow, overjoyed, immediately opened his arms and rushed forward.


    Quagmire''s eyes lit up at the sight.


    He quickly moved to the front, his face full of swagger. "What are you talking about? It was just a few¡ª"


    Donlow didn''t even nce at Quagmire, walking right past him.


    Without hesitation, she threw herself at Luca, giving him a big hug, her face filled with emotion. "I thought you were a goner this time. Thank goodness you''re okay..."


    "Uh, thanks for your concern."Luca raised his hands awkwardly. After all, this was Drumph''s granddaughter. If Drumph found out that Luca had let her embrace him like this, he would probablye back from the capital with a gun and try to kill him.


    Looking at his outstretched arms and then ncing at Luca, who was still cradled in Wen Yu''s embrace, Quagmire silently lowered his arms. He took out a cigarette, lit it, and with a slightly sour tone, muttered, "These young girls today really have no taste. It''s just because he''s a little better looking. When I was young, I wasn''t any worse than him..."


    "You''re mistaken,"Fuzzsir replied, surprised. "I''ve seen the photo on your ID. You were a mess."


    "You little brat asking for a beating?"Quagmire''s face reddened with embarrassment and anger.


    At that moment, Coarmy walked over.


    "You really fought your way out of ck Mountain?"He eyed the three of them in disbelief, his gaze lingering for a moment on the longsword in Luca''s hand.


    Damn it, the special-edition longsword was actually bent. How many monsters did this guy kill in there?


    "He killed them all,"Mnia nced at Luca, her expressionplex.


    In her mind, the image of Luca, surrounded by golden mes, cutting through the monster horde like a force of nature, came back to her.


    That overwhelming power, capable of sweeping everything before it, reminded her of some powerful characters in games¡ªhe was practically a humanoid monster!


    "Him?"The officer''s gaze instinctively turned to Luca, giving him a once-over. He felt a bit doubtful about the im. After all, Luca looked like just an ordinary teenager.


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    But the officer didn''t say anything, instead picking up his radio and speaking in a deep voice. "The people from the mountain havee out. Prepare to act."


    The most important thing now was to clear out the monsters from the mountain before any problems could arise. He knew the dangers of the node and understood the threat it posed.


    Just as he finished speaking, Quagmire casually added, "No need to bomb the mountain. Just send people in."


    The officer paused, confused. "What do you mean?"


    Quagmire shrugged, "What else could it mean? All the monsters are dead."


    "Dead?"Everyone, including the officer, was momentarily stunned.


    Coarmy stared, wide-eyed. "You''re telling me all those monsters are dead?"


    Quagmire nodded. "Even if there are any left, there can''t be many."


    After saying that, he cast a wary nce at Luca. "You didn''t see what was going on in there. This kid wentpletely insane. He just started chopping at anything that moved. All the monsters near the node were killed by him alone."


    Everyone sucked in a sharp breath, their gazes turning to Luca with a mixture of awe and disbelief.


    Even without having seen it firsthand, they all knew the significance of the node. To think that hehad killed all those monsters on his own¡ªwas this kid the reincarnation of a demon god or something?


    "What a monster!"Coarmy eximed, his tone full of awe, and he didn''t doubt the truth of Quagmire''s words. Though he couldn''t discern Luca''s exact strength, it was clear to him that Luca had grown far stronger than before.


    "I''ve really hit the jackpot this time!"


    Another officer furrowed his brow. "Even if the monsters are gone, the node is still there. If we don''t deal with it, killing all the monsters won''t make a difference."


    He thought Quagmire had forgotten about the node and felt the need to remind him. But Quagmire just grinned and said, "Not only are the monsters gone, but the node is gone too."


    "What? The node is gone too?!"This time, everyone except the three of them was stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.


    The node... can it actually disappear?


    "You''ll see for yourselves if you go in."Quagmire couldn''t be bothered to exin any further. He pointed to his own wounds, still bleeding, and helplessly said, "By the way, could someone help me with these injuries? I''m still bleeding here!"


    Coarmy snapped out of it and immediately called for medical personnel to tend to Quagmire and Mnia''s wounds.


    The remaining officers exchanged looks. One of them hesitated. "He shouldn''t be lying about something like this. Should we proceed with the operation?"


    ncing at the troops that had already begun advancing toward ck Mountain, the major general thought for a moment. "Hold off on the bombing for now. Send drones and soldiers to check the situation. If it''s true, have them report back immediately."


    Though ck Mountain wasn''t an especially strategic location, there were several nearby viges. The vigers had already evacuated, but if theyunched a full attack, those viges would be reduced to rubble. If they could avoid that, it would be ideal.


    Even if that person earlier was a bit crazy and lied, it wouldn''t be toote to proceed with the original n afterward.


    With a decision made.


    The officers quickly dispatched several teams and drones to investigate the depths of ck Mountain.


    Not long after...


    They received reports from ck Mountain.

 Chapter 194 As Long As You Have Hands! The James Family’s Move! When Did You Get a Girlfriend?

    "What? Luca used a secret method to seal the node?"When Drumph, back in the Imperial Capital, received the news, he thought he had misheard.


    Coarmy rubbed his face and said, "I just went to check myself. The fissure in the node is indeed sealed. And Luca said he used a high-level secret method."


    "ording to the information gathered by agents from Eternal Game, the PNC''s secret methods can indeed seal nodes and prevent monsters from the Abyssal Demon Realm froming out..."The staff officer pushed up his sses, though he couldn''t hide the shock in his eyes. "But this requires at least a Superss-level secret method. How did he manage to do it?"


    "I don''t know how he did it either..."Deep in ck Mountain, Coarmy nced at the golden-etched barrier that was glowing with intricate runes. He couldn''t help but smile bitterly. Secret methods were different from simple crafted skills; they required serious study of Transcendent knowledge from the Eternal Continent. Otherwise, even if someone had a secret method scroll, they wouldn''t be able to use it.


    Coarmy''s mind raced as he thought about the official investigations and estimates. Currently, outside of Luca, there were fewer than five yers who had mastered secret methods, and all of them were low-level techniques. Yet, Luca had suddenly pulled a high-level secret method out of nowhere, leaving Coarmy dizzy with disbelief.


    It was as though everyone else was still ying with marbles while Luca was already holding a Barrett sniper rifle!


    "This kid really knows how to surprise people."Drumph couldn''t hide the smile in his eyes. Just a moment ago, they were all worried about how to deal with the node, and now Luca had already sealed it. From now on, they wouldn''t bepletely helpless if such an issue arose again.


    "We should find some time to ask Luca how he learned that high-level secret method."He spoke to Coarmy on the screen, then thought for a moment and added, "But if he doesn''t want to share, we shouldn''t push him."


    "I already asked him..."Coarmy''s expression wasplex. "He said he just looked at the scroll once, and that was it. ''As long as you have hands, it''s easy,'' he said. No special skills required."


    The room fell silent after Coarmy''s words.


    "What the hell, just look at it once and you can do it? Do you think we haven''t looked at secret method scrolls before?"


    Drumph and the others stared nkly, their minds struggling to process the absurdity of it."Maybe this is what genius really is."The staff officer''s lips twitched as he thought to himself. The gap between people''s talents was so vast it was beyondprehension¡ªlike the difference between humans and grasshoppers.


    Drumph nodded slightly, then suddenly seemed to remember something. He ordered, "Keep this matter confidential for now. The James Family, thatrge family, has been quite restlesstely. If they find out about such a genius emerging domestically, they''ll likely try to pull him in with some underhanded tactics. It''s best to ensure his and his family''s safety. We can''t afford any idents."


    Coarmy immediately nodded in agreement.


    ...


    On the other side, the sky was nearing dusk.


    With the node at ck Mountain resolved, there was nothing more for Luca and the others to do.


    Donlow''s abdominal wound, though treated temporarily by the medical staff, had stopped worsening, but she would need more specialized treatment to fully recover. So, Luca and his group didn''t linger and immediately headed back to Celephais by car.


    Despite strong objections from everyone, Quagmire was forced to switch from the driver''s seat to the passenger seat. Neither Luca nor Mnia had a driver''s license, and while Donlow did, her abdominal injury made it difficult for her to drive. In the end, Coarmy took on the responsibility of driving them back.


    The car sped along the highway.


    Luca, sitting in the front passenger seat, appeared to be resting his eyes, but in reality, he was checking his status panel.


    [yer: Luca]


    [Level: lv1]


    [Talent: The person favored, Heaven''s Blessing Divine Body, Scorching Heaven me]


    [Primary Profession: Demonic Rune Mage]


    [Secondary Professions: Witch Doctor, Dreamweaver, Fate-Swapping Master, zing Sunwalker, Crimson Mage]


    [Attributes: Strength 213, Spirit 467, Endurance 185, Agility 119]


    [Skills: Magic Rune Drawing, Eye of Insight, Dream Manifestation, Fate Maniption, Fire God¡­]


    ...


    During his time at ck Mountain, Luca had gained around 200 points in random attribute points, with the rest being his original base attributes. It had been quite a harvest. After all, the attributes in the real world had littleparison to those in the game world.


    The panel was a simplified version, with his level reverted back to 1. Also, before yers'' data was digitized in the real world, they couldn''t gain experience, and killing monsters would only increase their attributes.


    Although he had lost the special attributes and title bonuses, Luca still retained all the skills from his various professions. At least he wouldn''t becking in skills.


    "By the way, there''s something I want to ask you."At this moment, Coarmy, who had been driving, suddenly remembered something and asked, "Did you offend anyone in the game?"


    Luca was slightly surprised and asked, "I''ve offended a few people, why do you ask?"


    Coarmy became serious and said, "When the organization checked your profile earlier, they found that the James Family has been investigating you. How did you offend them? And why did they find out your real identity?"


    "The James Family?"Luca furrowed his brows. On the surface, they shouldn''t have been able to trace him, considering that, aside from the name, it was almost impossible to dig up any personal information from Eternal Game...


    Suddenly, something clicked in his mind, and his eyes narrowed slightly.


    It wasn''t impossible. After all, there were a few people who knew his real identity, and one of them just so happened to have a bit of a grudge against him. If that person passed the information to the James Family...


    Seeing Luca''s expression change, Coarmy reassured him, "Don''t worry too much. Since you''ve joined Morning Star, we''ll make sure to protect your family. Once I get back, I''ll arrange for people toe over."


    "Thanks,"Luca nodded, mentally noting the matter.


    When he had timeter, he''d make sure to settle ounts with that idiot Nomadey.


    By then, the car had already reached Sunshine Street.


    After a short while, the vehicle slowly came to a stop in front of Luca''s house.


    Luca opened the car door, got out, and waved to Quagmire, Donlow, and the others. "I''m home. Be careful on your way back. And please, don''t let the captain drive again."


    "But my driving skills are fine¡­"Quagmire muttered. He''d always thought that the only thing separating him from top race car drivers was the race track.


    "Only you think so,"Donlow rolled her eyes and then turned to Luca, shing him a beaming smile as she waved. "Thanks for everything today. Let''s go out for a meal sometime."


    Luca gave a slight nod and watched as they left before turning to head toward his home.


    But just as he was about to enter, he heard a familiar voice calling loudly, "Stop right there!"


    "?"Luca turned around and saw Susie jogging toward him.


    She was wearing a pink and white mixed dress, and her delicate face was showing signs of anger. She hadn''t changed much over the past few days.


    Her little face was puffed up with indignation, and she stomped across from her yard, ring at Luca as though he were a criminal, and asked, "Who was that girl?"


    "Her?"Luca said calmly. "My girlfriend."


    "Girlfriend?!"Susie stared at him for several seconds, her brain seemingly short-circuiting. It had only been a few days since theyst met¡ªwhen did he get a girlfriend, and one this beautiful, no less?


    Once she processed what he said, Susie''s eyes immediately reddened, and before Luca could react, she burst into tears.


    "You scumbag!"Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, then ran off toward her house, crying uncontrobly.


    Hearing themotion, Sini opened the door and asked, "What''s going on? Did you bully her again?"


    "No,"Luca immediately denied. "I was just telling the truth. She''s actually my friend."


    Sini obviously didn''t believe him, and with a serious tone, she said, "Go apologize."


    Luca shook his head. "It''s fine. It''s better that she stays away from me for now."


    Sini seemed confused and was about to say something else.


    But at that moment, Donald walked over, lightly shaking his head. "Don''t mind him. He''ll figure it out himself."


    He then looked at Luca and said, "I had the movers take care of the stuff at the house. Let''s head over to the other ce now."


    Luca nodded. He had been nning to check on it himself. The eruption of the node was no more than two weeks away, and he had to make thorough preparations. If things went hopelessly wrong, he would find a way to get his parents and Susie''s family to the Imperial City. Under Drumph''s protection, at least they could survive for another ten years.


    By that time, he would return to the military, fighting against the monster horde that would inevitably sweep the world, until either he died at their hands or the monsters were all wiped out.


    The vi Luca had bought was also located in the suburbs of Celephais.


    However, unlike the other areas, this was a residential district specifically designed for high-end vis. Each house stood onrge plots ofnd, with its own garden and swimming pool. Themunity boasted its own entertainment facilities, schools, parks, artificialkes, and other amenities, all giving off a luxurious air. Unlike ordinary people who were fighting to squeeze into bustling urban areas, many of the wealthy seemed to prefer quieter spots, perhaps because once they gained financial freedom, they began to yearn for peace¡ªboth mentally and physically.


    Luca''s vi was at the far end of this residential area, beyond which was arge forest and a wall. It was a sparsely popted area, ideal for escaping in case of emergency. Even if something major happened, there would be fewer people around to notice.


    Donald''s Chevrolet pulled up in front of the vi''s gate, and the three of them got out of the car one after another.


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    Unlike the open-nyouts of other rich people''s vis, Luca''s house was surrounded by tall, sturdy walls. Inside, aside from the swimming pool, there were no real entertainment facilities or greenery. The vi''s windows were all reinforced with bulletproof ss, and the exterior walls were painted a light gray, giving the entire house a cold, stark appearance.


    The vi wasn''t equipped with many smart devices, most of the systems were mechanical. However, it was outfitted with multiple generators and backup power sources, ensuring that even if the entire city experienced a ckout, the vi could still run for a year on basic power.


    But this house was just a facade¡ªthe real secrety beneath the vi.

 Chapter 201 Turning Truth Upside Down! Distorted Eye! Since You Won’t Act, I Will!

    Seeing the way the situation was unfolding, the other nobles quickly joined in, redirecting their ire toward Luca, the Empire''s celebrated hero.


    In no time, the entire hall¡ªsave for Fratis''s supporters¡ªwas filled with the sound of nobles shouting usations and condemning Luca.


    Not only did they embellish the charges against him, but some even imed that Luca had overthrown the Dawn God Sect to destabilize the Empire and seize the throne for himself, painting him as a traitor whose very existence was an affront to justice. To hear them tell it, Luca''s death was the only way to restore bnce to the heavens.


    Witnessing this spectacle, even Fratis''s allies¡ªZiegfried, Augustine, Winston, and Evelyn¡ªfelt a chill run down their spines. These bastards must have been nning to use this opportunity to eliminate Luca all along!


    "Damn it!" Raphael gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with sorrow and rage.


    No matter what Luca might have done, the fact remained that he had saved Dawn City and was personally honored by Alfred as a hero of the Empire. And yet, mere moments after the king''s death, these people were already branding him as a criminal?


    Moreover, if Fratis were to yield to their demands now, even if she managed to ascend the throne, her reputation would suffer irreparable damage.


    It would only be a matter of time before she became nothing more than a puppet emperor.


    Everyone in her camp felt a mix of anger and deep despair.


    With such parasitic nobles holding power, how could the Clinton Empire avoid copse?


    Fratis pressed her lips together tightly, her expression heavy with sadness. She had always been proud of her country, but now she realized that those in power were nothing more than morally bankrupt scoundrels who twisted truth and falsehood without shame.


    Luca, in contrast, appeared calm. He understood that merits and honors only held value to those who acknowledged them; to others, they were nothing but a joke. Arguing with such people was a waste of breath.


    Fortunately, he had prepared for an oue like this.


    At that moment, Fratis suddenly straightened and, with a rare resolve, addressed the crowd: "Count Luca''s achievements are evident to all. The Dawn God Sect and the Phillips family were steeped in evil, their crimes unforgivable. I see no fault in his actions.


    "If any of you have an issue with that, then take it up with me."


    Her words left everyone, including Luca, momentarily stunned. No one had expected Fratis to speak up for him so firmly. In the eyes of most present, Fratis was little more than a naive child.


    Augustine and the others, who had been seething with frustration for a long time, finally spoke up in defense of Luca. Evelyn spoke in a deep voice: "What Her Majesty says is correct. The Phillips family and the Dawn God Sect colluded with monsters, massacring the Human Race. Their crimes are heinous."


    "Moreover, Luca did not indiscriminately kill innocents¡ªthis is not his crime!"


    Winston also stood up and said, "If Her Majesty has already given her approval, are you going to defy her will? Or have you all been disregarding Her Majesty from the very beginning?"


    True to form as a teacher, Winston wasted no time in leveling a major usation. For a moment, the First Prince Leonie and others were at a loss for words. They hadn''t expected Fratis''s supporters toe at them with such force.


    However, if they let go of this opportunity to suppress Luca, they wouldn''t know when the next one woulde. They certainly couldn''t afford to let him off so easily.


    The Duke Mond''s face darkened as he spoke: "General Winston, you are overstating things. Of course, we have always ced Her Majesty in our hearts. But Luca''s merits are undeniable, and his crimes are also a fact. If we don''t punish him, how can we maintain order?"


    Another Duke added, "What Duke Mond says is right. While death may be forgiven, lesser crimes cannot. Given Luca''s merits, I suggest we cancel his title, revoke hisnds in Hain County, and reduce him tomoner status."


    It was clear these people were like mad dogs, seizing the chance to take a bite out of Luca. Just as Augustine was rolling up his sleeves, ready for a fierce verbal battle with these nobles¡­


    Luca suddenly let out a coldugh and taunted, "Reduce me to amoner? Who do you think you are to decide that?"


    The crowd''s anger red at his words.


    "You little brat, watch your words!" Mond''s eyes glinted with cold fury, and in an instant, the pressure of a Superss peak expert descended on the hall.


    The atmosphere immediately shifted as everyone''s faces turned grim. It was only now that they remembered: Mond wasn''t just a Duke¡ªhe was a top-tier Superss powerhouse.


    "Mond, this is the royal pce. What exactly do you think you''re doing?" Augustine immediately stepped in front of Luca, speaking in a dark tone.


    Winston and Ziegfried''s expressions also soured. "If you intend to take action, you''d better consider the consequences," they warned.


    "I don''t need you to worry about that!" Mond sneered dismissively. He wasn''t even fazed by their threats. Since they hade here today, they had clearly prepared for the worst.


    He then turned his gaze back to Luca, his eyes narrowing. "You seem so confident. Is it because you''re counting on us being afraid of your hidden trump card, afraid to take action against you?"


    "So what if I do?" Luca smiled lightly, raising his gaze to meet the eyes of the top aristocrat in all of Clinton, showing no fear whatsoever. Instead, his eyes gleamed with pure defiance.


    These nobles hade here today with one goal: to pressure Fratis into abdicating the throne. Yet they acted all high and mighty, putting on a false righteous front that made Luca want to gag.


    If that was the case, then why not rip the mask off and face reality?


    "This kid... does he really have no fear of death, or is he just that confident?" Ike asked.Milo, on the other hand, shook his head, his expression full ofplexity. "I can''t tell if he''s bluffing or if he really has the guts to back it up."


    Originally, in his mind, with the help of those nobles he had bought off, it would have been easy for Isaacs to seize the throne. But Luca, this sudden wildcard, hadpletely thrown his ns off course.


    Now the situation was slipping beyond his control.


    At the center of the hall, Leonie and Runne''s expressions fluctuated rapidly.


    They weren''t afraid of rebellion; they''d long been prepared for that possibility.


    But what they feared was this boy suddenly ascending to godhood again.


    If that happened, even if they all teamed up, they wouldn''t be able to defeat him.


    Though they knew the chances of that happening were slim, none of them were willing to gamble with their lives.


    The nobles exchanged nces, hesitating over whether or not to turn on Luca right then.


    Winston and Ziegfried had already ced their hands on their weapons, their eyes cold as they watched the scene unfold. If anyone dared to make a move, no matter who it was, they would make sure the price was paid.


    Lucia voiced her concern. "Luca is really pushing it. If they tear the mask off and turn hostile, he might not make it out of the pce alive."


    Sophia remained silent, her eyes shing as memories of Zenobia''s words echoed in her mind.


    The entire atmosphere in the hall had be tense.


    Some of the confused nobles anddies, who still didn''t fully understand what was going on, had gone pale.


    Just as the tension reached its peak, and the silence was nearly unbearable¡ª


    Clink.


    Luca ced the wine ss in his hand down on the table, then, under everyone''s watchful eyes, stood up.


    "A bunch of cowards," he sneered as he looked at Runne, Leonie, and the other hesitant nobles. His lips curled into a cold smile. "Since you''re too afraid to act... then I''ll step in!"


    Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a pitch-ck gleam flickered in Luca''s hand.


    The next instant, everyone in the room''s pupils shrank in shock.


    In Luca''s hand, there appeared an eerie, bizarre eye¡ªan eye unlike any seen before.


    The pitch-ck pupil reflected the faces of everyone in the room, with a faint purple glow swirling within it. Behind the pupil, long, blood-red veins twisted like grotesque nerves, creating a scene that was both eerie and unsettling.


    Distorted Eye!


    A terrifying, malevolent force suddenly descended upon the entire hall, causing everyone''s expressions to change at once.


    Transcendent-levura? This guy actually possesses a Transcendent-level artifact!


    "Not good!" Seeing this, Mond, who had been confident of his victory, suddenly turned pale.


    Without a second thought, he shot into the air, intending to flee.


    "Thinking of leaving now? Toote!" Luca sneered, without a hint of hesitation.


    With a thought, the Distorted Eyein his hand seemed toe alive, blinking slightly.


    Then, the pupil of the eye suddenly fixed on Mond!


    A rippling wave of power expanded rapidly from the pupil''s center.


    Buzz!A purple beam shot out like lightning.


    Striking with a terrifying speed toward Mond, who was trying to escape the hall.


    In the face of the Distorted Eye, Mond''s speed was as slow as a snail.


    In the blink of an eye, the purple beam was already behind him.


    It struck his body directly.


    In that instant!


    Time seemed to freeze!


    Mond''s body froze in midair, his face turning deathly pale, his eyes filled with disbelief.


    Then, in front of the horrified eyes of everyone present, his body began to undergo a strange transformation. His skin quickly turned a sickly gray, festering sores appeared all over him, and his hair started falling out.


    Next, his body began to swell irregrly, as if some invisible pump was inting him from within.


    "Ahhhh!" A chilling, anguished scream echoed throughout the hall. The excruciating pain caused Mond''s neck veins to bulge, his face contorting in agony, his eyes bulging, nearly popping out of their sockets!


    Under the terrified gaze of all present, the once imposing Duke Mond quickly transformed into a grotesque, bloated monster, his entire body covered in green liquid. His voice, too, became a horrifying, guttural growl.


    "Looks like it worked pretty well," Luca said, tossing the Distorted Eyein his hand, clearly pleased with his handiwork.


    "You¡­ What¡­ have you¡­ done to me¡­" Mond, now a monstrosity with tentacles for hands, clutched his own throat. His face twisted in pain and fear, his voice a rasping, unpleasant sound.


    "As you can see," Luca shrugged, chuckling lightly. "I didn''t think you were fit to stay human, so I gave you a new body."


    "Seems like it fits you quite well now, doesn''t it?"

 Chapter 203 The King Who Wins, the Bandit Who Loses! Fate Plundering! The Stars Reappear!

    The words were as grand as they could get.


    Even the princes and dukes couldn''t help but give the man a few extra nces.


    This guy is quite the character!


    "Keld!" Fratis'' face flushed bright red with anger.


    She red at the once-loyal royal general, about to scold him.


    But then she saw the calm expression on his face.


    There wasn''t even the slightest hint of guilt in his eyes; in fact, there was a trace of smugness.


    "You¡­ don''t tell me¡­" Fratis froze, realization dawning upon her. This had all been nned long ago.


    No matter what she said, Luca, and anyone supporting her, would be branded as rebels. Even if she was Alfred''s personally chosen heir, it wouldn''t matter. They had long since stopped caring.


    Fratis looked at Luca, only to see that his expression hadn''t changed in the slightest. It wasn''t just him¡ªZiegfried, Augustine, Winston, and the others shared the same indifference.


    Clearly, they had all known this moment woulde.


    "The victor is king, the loser is a bandit. That''s how it has always been, from the past to the present. Only the one who survives in the end can be called the winner." Luca reached out and gently grasped her slightly trembling hand. A strange glint flickered in his eyes as he smiled, "But don''t worry, because we will be the ones left standing."


    Fratis stared at him in a daze. For a brief moment, fragmented memories shed before her eyes¡ªmemories of the ball, where the young man had said something to her, though she couldn''t quite make it out... It seemed they had known each other before, but no matter how hard Fratis tried to recall, she couldn''t piece together more details.


    "Everyone, listen up!" At that moment, Keld suddenly drew his sword from his waist and pointed it toward Luca and the others.


    His voice was cold as he ordered, "Immediately kill the traitors led by Luca the Count. No matter the cost, we must rescue Her Majesty!"


    "Understood!!" The soldiers behind him roared in unison. Beneath their golden helmets, their eyes gleamed with cold murderous intent. They only took orders and didn''t care if they were killing nobles or generals¡ªanyone would do.


    "Keld, leave this to me." Knowing that battle was inevitable, Winston''s gaze turned icy. Bloodlight suddenly red on his spear.


    In an instant, blood-red magical runes quickly spread across his body, and a vast sea of bloodlust, as overwhelming as an ocean, surged, enveloping the entire pce hall.


    In the next instant, the stone b beneath Winston''s feet cracked with a loud bang! In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his original position, only to reappear directly in front of Keld.


    "Die!" Winston''s eyes were cold as ice. Without a single word of hesitation, his spear shot through the air like lightning, aimed directly at Keld''s head with ruthless precision!


    "Move!" Oleni and Runne quickly retreated, their eyes filled with wariness. A man''s reputation is as strong as his deeds, and Winston''s title as the War God had reverberated throughout the Clinton Empire, earned through real military exploits!


    However, Keld''s expression showed no sign of panic. Instead, he revealed a savage grin.


    "Hahaha! I''ve heard that the Empire''s War God, Winston Transcendent, has few equals. Today, let me see if you truly have such strength!"


    As his voice echoed, golden Battle Will surged around Keld''s body. His muscr arm rose abruptly, and his massive sword swung down violently toward the charging Winston.


    Boom! The moment the two forces collided, a powerful shockwave exploded outward!


    It was as if a hurricane had swept through, scattering food and furniture across the hall in all directions.


    "Everyone, attack!" Seeing Winston and Keld already engaged inbat, the others hesitated not for a second. Their aura surged as they moved directly toward Princes Leonie, Runne, and Isaacs.


    Second Prince Runne immediately waved his hand, shouting furiously, "Kill them!"


    Behind him, several high-ranking nobles from the noble faction had long been waiting. Superss experts shot forward almost simultaneously, intercepting Augustine, Evelyn, Ziegfried, and others mid-air.


    Boom! Boom! Boom! Several violent auras collided, and the entire royal pce hall was immediately thrown into chaos.


    Superss experts battling in such a ce was akin to throwing high explosives in a bathroom. In the blink of an eye, dozens of innocent nobles were caught in the chaos, instantly reduced to a bloody mess.


    "We are neutral! Let us go! We are innocent!" Hundreds of innocent nobles screamed in terror as they fled in panic.


    But unfortunately, the soldiers showed no intention of sparing them.


    Neutral?


    Only the dead are truly neutral.


    "Senior, teacher, take care of Fratis." As the battle officially erupted, Luca turned to Lucia and Sophia and said this before they could react.


    Without waiting for a response, his feet gleamed with silver light as he rushed toward the heart of the pce hall.


    "This guy just can''t stay out of these things!" Lucia gritted her teeth in frustration and immediately rushed to pull Luca back.


    But before she could take more than a few steps, Sophia called out to her.


    "Don''t worry about him, teacher." She nced deeply at Luca''s retreating figure and said, "Our priority is to protect Her Majesty."


    This level of battle was beyond Lucia''s ability to intervene. Even if she did try, it would be of no help, and could potentially slow things down.


    Lucia realized this herself. Despite her usual optimism, a sense of defeat welled up inside her.


    In such a situation, even high-tier individuals like herself were still too weak.


    The chaos in the pce hall continued. The sounds of pleading for mercy mixed with anguished cries, blood and severed limbs sttered everywhere. The walls, still stained with Mond''s blood, were once again covered with fresh blood from countless others.


    "What... what can I do..." Looking at the battlefield in the pce hall, Fratis showed fear in her eyes, but still mustered the courage to speak.


    "Your Majesty, just stay here." Sophia nced at her, her eyes showingplexity. Having experienced the events involving the Ancient Gods, everyone believed that the divine power within Fratis had long been depleted.


    But only she and a few others knew that this power had been lying dormant inside Fratis all along. That world-shattering power could erupt at any moment!


    Alfred had never been worried about Fratis managing the Clinton Empire, because, in the face of that power, almost no one could resist.


    The problem was that Fratis couldn''t control this power yet¡­


    As Sophia thought this.


    Her gaze suddenly caught a gleam of brilliant light shing through the hall.


    Though faint, it shone like a star, dazzling and radiant!


    Sophia froze for a moment, thinking she might have been seeing things.


    But when she looked again, her eyes widened, and shock shed across her face.


    "This... this is impossible?!" At the same time, gasps of astonishment rang out from all around the hall.


    A Superss Duke looked at the tall figure walking forward, his eyes filled with disbelief.


    Somehow, a golden glow surrounded Luca, radiating an aura that felt both unfamiliar and yet strangely familiar to everyone.


    It was the Star Power of the Dawn God Sect!


    "Dawn?!" The moment they felt the divine power and pressure that were almost identical to the Goddess of Dawn, everyone''s breath seemed to freeze.


    Thud!The fear brought on by the Goddess of Dawn surged back to the forefront of their minds. Several soldiers, unable to withstand the pressure, copsed to the ground. Their eyes, filled with terror, remained fixed on Luca.


    "It''s impossible! This can''t be!" The First Prince Leonie trembled as he looked at the figure in midair, surrounded by divine power. His face twitched in disbelief.


    The Goddess of Dawn had already fallen before them, and Fratis''s power had been dormant. This was supposed to be their best opportunity.


    But how could Luca possess the Star Power? When did he obtain it? How could he have the Star Power?!


    "What in this world is impossible?" Luca chuckled lightly, and the starlight around him grew stronger and stronger, until it gathered into a vast ocean of stars!


    Boom!


    A mighty divine presence suddenly descended!


    The heavens darkened, and the starry sky became visible!


    Countless stars shone brightly across the sky, grand and boundless, their brilliance overwhelming!


    Luca rose into the air, surrounded by an endless stream of stars. In his eyes appeared a strange symbol, resembling a crown made of stars¡ªidentical to the crown of the heavens!


    This was the professional skill of the Fate-Swapping Master: Fate Plundering!


    No one could have anticipated that he was holding such a Surpass the Conventionalskill!


    And the target of Luca''s power was clearly Fratis!


    Though her starry divine power couldn''t be used, her divine rank, tied to the stars, still remained.


    The ability of the Fate-Swapping Master was to replicate fates!


    "No wonder he dared to kill openly; turns out, he had the confidence¡­" Evelyn gave a bitter smile as she watched the figure in the air.


    The boy was far more clever than she had imagined. She hadn''t expected that, even in that dire situation, he was still hiding a trump card that could turn the tables!


    "Now then, who wants to die first?" Luca''s gaze lowered as he looked at the people below, his voice echoing throughout the entire hall.


    At the same time, streams of starlight behind him transformed into countless glowing arrows, aimed at the princes and all the rebellious nobles, a divine presence overwhelming the hall!


    Everyone who had arrows pointed at them turned ashen. They had already experienced how terrifying the power of the gods could be.


    Faced with such a presence, no one had the courage to continue fighting.


    "Stop him! Quickly, stop him!!" The Second Prince Runne, realizing the danger, panicked. He shoved a nearby noble aside and, without a second thought, turned to flee!


    It was obvious that Luca wouldn''t let them go. Rather than waiting to die here, it was better to run and perhaps have a chance of survival.


    "Run! Run quickly!" This thought immediately spread to everyone present. Soldiers and nobles alike discarded everything else and dashed toward the pce doors, fleeing for their lives.


    "Now you want to run¡­" Luca''s eyes flickered slightly, and dazzling starlight erupted around him. The starry arrows transformed into bolts of golden lightning, pouring down like a torrential storm!


    "Isn''t it a little toote for that?"

 Chapter 197 New Beginnings! Undercurrent! The Feast! The Wicked!

    A sh of white light appeared in the square of Dawn City, and Luca''s figure materialized.


    Susie''s family had already finished moving and had settled into their new vi.


    For the time being, there shouldn''t be any more problems.


    Next, Luca''s focus was on handling matters in Dawn City and clearing the obstacles for Fratis.


    Once Fratis ascended to the throne, Luca wouldn''t remain in Dawn City. Instead, he nned to head to Hain County in the Western Territory. His goal was to build a new force before the game''s arrival, and to elevate his own power to an even higher level.


    Therefore, Luca needed to make preparations for the future, to avoid any potential concerns once he moved on.


    He didn''t stay long and headed straight for the floating ind where Tia and the others were.


    On his way, Luca noticed that in just a single day, the city had already made considerable progress in its recovery.


    The streets, once riddled with craters, were now cleaned up. Themon folk and the authorities were busy rebuilding their homes. Dawn City had risen again, as had the floating ind.


    As the capital of the Clinton Empire, Dawn City was deeply rooted in history, and even after such a great cmity, it quickly revived with a renewed vigor.


    In addition, Luca saw some individuals wearing golden armbands. These people stood out among the wearymoners, looking tired and gaunt.


    Compared to the others'' sorrow, their eyes were filled with determination. Deep within their gazes still lingered a yearning for a better life.


    They were the first followers of the The Hope God Sect. Though few in number, they represented the vital spark for the early development of the sect. Find exclusive stories on mvl


    Upon spotting Luca, these followers were visibly moved.


    They wanted to approach him to express their gratitude but were hesitant, afraid of offending someone they regarded almost as a deity.


    Instead, they simply gazed at his retreating back, their eyes filled with gratitude from afar.


    A young child, no more than seven or eight, turned to the elderly man beside him and asked, "Grandpa, who is that person?"


    "That''s the one who''s shown us a new way forward,"the old man, his hair graying, smiled as he answered.


    "Is he stronger than you, Grandpa?"The child''s eyes sparkled with curiosity.


    In the child''s eyes, the old man was an all-powerful figure. So, how much more powerful could this man be?


    "It''s not a matter of strength¡­"The old man raised a hand, covered in wrinkles, and gently ruffled the child''s hair. "It''s that he gave us new life."


    This scene would have seemed quite strange to any outsiders.


    To them, the old man was speaking to empty air¡ªthere was no one standing before him.


    Luca walked through the streets and, after a short while, arrived at the floating ind.


    This ind, once controlled by the Phillips family, was now entirely under the control of The Hope God Sect.


    The original Phillips estate had been torn down, and the followers of the Hope God Sect, their arms adorned with golden cloth armbands, were busily working on the floating ind, personally constructing their church.


    Among them were the TiaMirasisters and followers of The Nightmare Cult, who also wore the same golden armbands.


    "Just buy these things, and remember, do it through proper channels," Tia instructed as she rubbed her forehead, her face showing a clear sign of exhaustion. Compared to the infamous cults, establishing an orthodox church was far more challenging than she had anticipated.


    "Sister, the Lord has returned," Mira said, tugging at her sleeve and nodding towards the direction where Luca wasing from.


    Upon hearing this, Tia turned around and immediately spotted Luca walking towards them. Her face lit up with surprise, and she quickly motioned for the group of followers to respectfully approach him, saying, "Lord."


    Luca gave a slight nod and asked, "Have there been any problems with the construction of the church? If the funds are insufficient, I can help arrange something."


    After looting the Phillips family, Luca had gained quite a bit of gold and was speaking with confidence.


    Tia shook her head. "Funds aren''t an issue. We''ve already taken over the Phillips family''s assets, which should be enough to support The Hope God Sectfor now."


    She paused for a moment before continuing, "However, the nobility is not pleased with the rise of a faction they cannot control. They''ve been spreading rumors that we are a cult, and many merchants in Dawn City are refusing to continue their previous partnerships with us."


    "Nobles? Just a bunch of parasites," Luca''s eyes shed with cold light. After thinking for a moment, he added, "Leave this matter to me. You don''t need to worry about it. What''s the current situation in Dawn City?"


    Tia answered honestly, "The royal family is already preparing for Fratis''s coronation, but the nobles are very dissatisfied with Emperor Alfred''s choice."


    "There are people secretly inciting the masses, gathering strength to usurp the throne. Others are scheming to make Princess Fratis a puppet ruler, creating even more chaos than before."


    Luca wasn''t surprised by this at all. It would be odd if these power yers weren''t making moves during such turbulent times.


    He asked, "Who exactly are the key yers?"


    Tia respectfully responded, "There are about five factions. The first is the united noble faction, followed by the eldest prince Leonie, the second prince Runne, and the fourth prince Isaacs. Then there are those who support Fratis''s ascension, including Princess Raphael, President Augustine, General Winston, and Duke Evelyn, among others."


    "Fourth prince Isaacs?" Luca furrowed his brow, thinking for a moment. He didn''t have much of an impression of this prince.


    Tia reminded him, "The fourth prince had no significant reputation under the suppression of the first and second princes, and he didn''t have any grand ambitions of his own. His sudden involvement in thepetition for the throne is believed to be due to support from the Via Empirebehind him."


    "The All-Beings Empirehasn''t shown any movement, and they are likely nning to remain neutral."


    "Via Empire¡­" Luca''s eyes flickered slightly.


    In his past life, Luca had been born in the Via Empire, so he was extremely familiar with the situation there. To put it simply, it was a technological empire dominated by capitalists.


    Wherever there was money, there were their shadows.


    Now that they had suddenly made a move, it was likely because they wanted to take advantage of the chaos and seize a profit from the Clinton Empire.


    "By the way¡­" Tia suddenly remembered something. She took a delicate, golden invitation from her Storage Ringand handed it to Luca. "Prince Ziegfried, the fifth prince, has returned from the military. Earlier, Butler Lawsoncame to personally deliver this invitation, asking the Lord to attend a banquet. Here''s the invitation."


    Luca took the invitation but didn''t open it. The contents of such invitations were hardly worth reading. He muttered to himself, "Prince Ziegfried, huh¡­"


    He was somewhat familiar with this person. Like Winston, Ziegfried was one of the three war godsof the Clinton Empire.


    In the future, the Clinton Empire, facing both internal and external turmoil, was overthrown. Ziegfried led thest remaining imperial army and fought fiercely on the extraterritorial battlefield, shedding rivers of blood. He even pressured the Abyssal Demon Realm''sdemon king into submission.


    Unfortunately, in the end, he died in battle, his body lost to the sands of time. He hadn''t expected to encounter him here.


    Tia, thinking Luca didn''t know Ziegfried, exined, "The fifth prince, Ziegfried, advocates for martial strength and has never shown much interest in the throne. However, his reputation in the military is immense.


    "If Princess Fratiscan win his support, she''ll have control over more than half of the empire''s military forces. But right now, it''s unclear who Ziegfried will back. This banquet will likely be the asion where he makes his decision."


    Luca pondered for a moment before replying to Tia, "Prepare everything for me. I''ll go and assess the situation over there."


    If Fratis couldn''t secure the throne, Luca couldn''t leave in peace.


    He would find a way to help Fratis win over this fifth prince.


    Coincidentally, he knew something quite important to Ziegfried that he could use as leverage. That, along with the chance to deal with the merchant issue, should be enough to help.


    "I''ll go right away." Tia acknowledged the order and left.


    Not long after, a blood-red steed, its body engulfed in mes, pulled a luxurious carriage as it galloped towards Luca.


    This was likely a carriage previously owned by the Phillips family, and it was a mode of transport that ordinary people wouldn''t dare to use.


    Luca had no such concerns, and he climbed into the carriage without hesitation.


    "Roar!" The blood-red steed let out a powerful roar, and as it galloped down the road, its fiery mane swirling in the air, the carriage lifted off the ground. It soared through the sky towards the royal pce in the heart of Dawn City.


    On the streets below, a few figures lurking in the shadows quietly slipped away to report to their masters.


    The fiery steed streaked across the sky like a shooting star.


    Soon, it arrived at the gates of the royal pce.


    Some of the guards, seeing the majestic carriage, hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to stop it or not.


    The carriage slowly came to a halt.


    A young man in a white robe with a headscarf descended from the carriage.


    The moment they saw Luca, several of the pce guards were taken aback.


    The head guard, an elderly man, quickly stepped forward, his voice trembling with excitement. "Count Luca, do you require me to guide you?"


    His voice wavered slightly from his excitement.


    The other guards looked at each other, their faces full of regret. They cursed themselves for not reacting faster. Luca''s image, seen flying above Dawn Citynot long ago, had been etched into the minds of countless people. If it weren''t for him, Dawn City might have ceased to exist by now.


    To have such a person in front of them, even without receiving any direct benefit, simply exchanging a few words would be enough for them to boast about for a long time.


    "No need. I can go by myself." Luca was not surprised by their change in attitude. After all, this world spoke thenguage of power. If he were just an ordinary person, he would have been chased away on the spot, receiving none of this respect.


    After entering the pce, Luca made his way directly to the grand hall.


    From a distance, he could already see the brightly lit hall, crowded with high-society figures.


    Noblemen, officials, and socialites, all dressed in fine clothes, chatted andughed, moving about in groups. Only those of notable status were present.


    "Why is hehere?" Many officials and nobles were shocked and fearful upon seeing Luca.


    The news of Luca seizing the Phillips family''s estatehad already spread among the nobles. The fates of Finnand Lyon, the father and son, were still fresh in everyone''s minds. Now, seeing Luca, many felt their scalp tingle with dread.


    This was a ruthless, unparalleled figure!

 Chapter 198 The New Beginning! The Undercurrent! The Banquet! The Fierce Ones!

    Luca stepped onto the tform, his eyes ignoring the gazes of others as he made his way towards the royal pce.


    At the sight of him, everyone instinctively parted to make way.


    "Invitation." Luca stopped just outside the hall, pulling out the invitation and handing it to the gatekeeper.


    "Y-yes..." The gatekeeper swallowed nervously, trembling as he took the invitation. After a quick nce, he immediately returned it with a respectful expression, his voice full of awe. "The invitation is valid. Count Luca, please enter."


    Luca nodded and walked into the hall. The sound of soft music filled the air, and the grand hall before him was a beacon of luxury. A red carpet stretched across the center, nked by rows of white tables,den with expensive foods and red wine.


    Well-dressed servants moved among the nobles anddies, offering the finest service.


    As soon as Luca entered the banquet hall, all eyes turned toward him.


    The previously lively atmosphere gradually quieted, until the silence was palpable¡ªso quiet one could hear a pin drop.


    Everyone''s gaze was fixed on the young man who walked in with calm confidence, their expressions a mix of emotions.


    Resentment, jealousy, fear, indifference¡ªbut none bore the gratitude that themon folk might have shown.


    Luca was the kind of person who could tantly defy the rules, and such people were not liked by the elite.


    Of course, where there were those who disliked him, there were also those who were more inclined to appreciate him.


    Just as the crowd fell silent, preparing to watch Luca navigate this awkward situation.


    Acarefree voice suddenly rang out."I went looking for you earlier, and here you are, showing up at this banquet."


    Turning toward the voice, Luca saw Marcel, wearing a colorful outfit, casually walking up with his hands in his pockets.


    Behind him followed a group of noblemen from the All-Beings Empire, also dressed in simrly garish colors. These were the noble robes of the All-Beings Empire, and the very fact that they wore them so infrequently was a clear indication of how unattractive these clothes were.


    "Got a minute to sit down?" Marcel gestured as he approached.


    Therge man Krikimmediately pulled out two bottles of strong liquor from his storage ring and handed them to a servant.


    Luca didn''t say much, merely nodding slightly before choosing a random seat.Compared to the refined elegance pursued by the Clinton Empire, the All-Beings Empireof the north had a more rugged and bold culture. The harsh environment there had led them to believe that strength was the ultimate truth.


    For those who held great power, even the worst of viins could earn their respect.


    However, these people didn''t have the best reputation on the Eternal Continent, often being derisively called "barbarians who eat raw flesh and drink blood." This was evident from the asional sneers the other nobles directed at them.


    But Luca held no particr bias against them, nor did he have the time to care about such things.


    Marcel, upon hearing Luca''s brief response, immediately broke into a smile.


    He nudged one of the men beside him with his elbow and raised an eyebrow. "See? I told you this kid would be to my liking."


    Krik gave Luca a disgusted look and said, "Stay away from me from now on."


    The group sat down. Servants poured the fine wine brought from the All-Beings Empirefor them.


    Luca raised his ss and took a sip.


    The taste was sharp, the sensation so pungent it felt like swallowing a me.


    Find exclusive stories on mvl


    He took another sip, his brows furrowing slightly.


    Something about this taste felt off...


    After a moment of contemtion, Luca ced the ss down and snapped his fingers.


    A spark shed through the air.


    Whoosh!


    Immediately, a bluish me ignited on the wine ss.


    Luca couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.


    This wasn''t wine! This was pure alcohol!


    Marcel, looking proud of himself, grinned. "How is it? This is the best liquor from our Empire. Even people with money from our Empire can''t easily get their hands on it!"


    Luca felt a sense of helplessness and could only nod in acknowledgment. "It''s... fine."


    The banquet hadn''t started yet, and the others in the pce continued their conversations andughter.


    Every so often, their gazes would shift to the table where Luca and Marcel were drinking.


    As the drinks flowed, Luca felt nothing, but Marcel''s face was turning red, resembling the color of a monkey''s bottom.


    He burped loudly, slinging his arm around Luca''s shoulders and nodding toward a nearby table full of nobles. With a mischievous grin, he said, "Who do you think might win over the Fifth Prince?"


    Luca followed Marcel''s gaze. The group was led by Duke Mond Stein, who was sitting with nobles loyal to the Second Prince.


    They sat together, some with their eyes closed, some nibbling on food, but none were speaking. They seemed to be waiting for something.


    "Doesn''t matter," Luca said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Even if the Fifth Prince didn''t n to support Fratis, it wouldn''t have much of an impact.


    With Fratis''s strength and potential, dealing with them was just a matter of time.


    Marcel couldn''t help but give him a thumbs up. "I admire people like you¡ªcapable and confident. Ever thought abouting to our All-Beings Empire? Once the Fourth King dies, I can guarantee you a position there."


    "Pfft!" As soon as Marcel said that, a series of sprays of wine and apologetic murmurs erupted from the crowd.


    Everyone stared at Marcel like he was a madman.


    Did he even know what he was saying?


    Those were the four strongest kings of the All-Beings Empire! It wasn''t something he could just decide with a few words.


    After all, his father was only one of them.


    The All-Beings Empirenobles turned dark red with embarrassment.


    Holy crap, this guy was reckless!


    He was openly trying to steal from their own family, almost as if he wanted them dead faster!


    Luca, too, was a little surprised. He didn''t expect this guy to say anything and everything without a care.


    But he could tell¡ªwhile Marcel was definitely drunk, his attempt to win him over was sincere.


    Though the way he went about it...


    Luca nced over at the nobles, who were all stunned and wide-eyed. He couldn''t help but shake his head, wondering how Marcel even came up with this.


    "Cough, cough! He''s drunk. Please don''t take it personally," one of the All-Beings Empirepeople quickly stepped in, awkwardly trying to smooth things over.


    At the same time, Krik nudged Marcel and whispered urgently, "Your Highness, please stop talking like that! I don''t want to die yet!"


    However, Marcel seemed genuinely drunk. With bleary eyes, he looked at Luca, thumping his chest and shouting, "What nonsense! Who am I, Marcel? The Four Kings of our Empire all know my name! How could I possibly be talking nonsense?!"


    "I swear on the name of the Dragon Race¡­ as long as you''re willing toe with me, I swear... I''ll even offer you my sister''s hand in marriage! With your talent and strength, and our Dragon Race bloodline, if you just have a bunch of dragon offspring with her, we''ll take over the entire All-Beings Empire... Hahaha... oh, wait! What am I saying...!"


    As Marcel rambled on, Krik couldn''t take it anymore. He quickly covered Marcel''s mouth with his hand and awkwardly smiled at the others, saying, "Everyone, our prince has had a bit too much to drink. I apologize for the inconvenience, I''ll take him back to sober up."


    Without waiting for Marcel to struggle further, Krik hoisted him onto his shoulder and began striding toward the exit.


    The All-Beings Empirenobles looked deeply embarrassed, heads down as they quickly followed suit. Having such a master was a real test of their patience.


    As they left, the other nobles stared at the retreating group with strange expressions.


    No one had expected that, before the banquet had even officially begun, Marcel would already cause such a scene.


    In a corner of the room, a young man from Via Empire, sporting a buzz cut, frowned in confusion and muttered, "What is Marcel trying to do?"


    The chubby Milo, holding a chicken leg in one hand and picking his teeth with the other, squinted and grinned, "It''s nothing special. He''s just eyeing the potential and connections of that young man. He doesn''t want to get involved in Clinton Empire''s business, probably afraid of getting caught in the crossfire. But now, with Dawn City, it''s not up to him whether he gets involved or not. And he''s got a grudge against Ziegfried, so he probably wants to find a way to bow out early."


    The buzz-cut young man, Ike, gave a wry smile and said, "That guy really is as shameless as the rumors say. Probably only someone like Marcel would think of pulling a stunt like this."


    Milo shook his head,ughing. "Well, he doesn''t care about his reputation anyway. He might as well go all out. After all, if he''s already letting loose like a ck dragon, no one else can afford to drag All-Beings Empiredown with them."


    Just then, loud apuse suddenly rang out in the hall.


    Everyone looked up and saw a young man in armor walking into the banquet hall.


    Almost instantly, a thick, heavy scent of blood filled the entire room.


    Luca squinted slightly and looked the neer over. He was about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, handsome in a way that reminded Luca of Alfred. His face was cold, and there were three deep scars running from his forehead down to between his brows.


    Even though the wounds had long since healed, it was easy to tell how dangerous they had been, and the marks only added to his fierce and formidable aura.


    It was none other than the Fifth Prince of Clinton Empire, Ziegfried!


    Beside him were Princess Fratis, the Sixth Princess; Prince Leonie, the First Prince; Prince Runne, the Second Prince; Princess Raphael, the Third Princess; and further back, Duke Evelynand Chairman Augustine. Almost all the high-ranking figures from both the nobility and the royal family had arrived.


    Luca was not surprised by this. Unless there were exceptional circumstances, most national matters were decided in advance.


    If they were to wait until Fratis''s coronation day, it would mean everything had already been settled.


    After all, the coronation ceremony was just a formality; the real decisions about the throne and the future of the kingdom were being made today, at this banquet held in honor of the Fifth Prince.


    As soon as the group entered the hall, the nobles at the banquet immediately became overwhelmingly enthusiastic, flocking toward them.


    They all knew very well that these people were the true protagonists of today''s event.


    Luca''s gaze swept over the crowd, and finallynded on Fratis''s face, which appeared somewhat flustered.


    Compared to before, her expression was noticeably more worn-out.


    Though he knew that this wasn''t the same Fratisas the one he had once known, Luca still felt a pang of sympathy for her. After all, it was all that old man Alfred''s fault.


    But unfortunately, he was already dead. Could Luca go dig up his corpse? What would be the point of that?Luca drained the ss of strong liquor in his hand, feeling a surge of heat rise from his stomach to his chest.


    Slowly, he raised his gaze towards the First Princeand his group, a cold glint shing in his eyes.


    No matter what happened today, he would make sure to clean up all loose ends!

 Chapter 207 Heading to Haillan County! Marcels Deal! Superclass Warship!

    The next day at noon, with the zing sun high in the sky.


    Aluxurious flying ship lifted off from the Dawn City docks, heading westward.


    It was Luca and his party setting off.


    There were no grand farewells, no ceremonies.


    Aside from informing a few people, Luca didn''t linger.


    He left immediately with Sophia and a few guards, officially heading toward the Western Territory.


    For Luca, keeping a low profile was more appropriate than drawing attention. After everything that had happened in Dawn City, Luca guessed his portrait had probably been pinned to the desks of many powerful figures across the Eternal Continent.


    Letting others know his whereabouts could invite unwanted trouble along the way.


    If it was a Superss powerhouse, he could manage. Jormungandr could hold off most of them. But if some ancient Transcendent-level figure came looking for trouble, he''d be forced to fight.


    Although he still had some trump cards, like the Source Energy, resources were limited. Once they ran out, replenishing them could take a long time.


    So unless absolutely necessary, Luca didn''t want to stir up any more trouble.


    However, Luca didn''t expect what happened next.


    Barely half a day into the flight, trouble found him.


    The flying ship was intercepted mid-air.


    "Marcel! Why aren''t you returning to the All-Beings Empire and instead following me?" Luca stood on the gangnk, watching the All-Beings Empire warship unt its presence and couldn''t help butin.


    A few shadowy figures dropped from the warship onto the deck, and it was none other than Marcel and Krik.


    "No matter what, I did buy you a drink. Isn''t it a bit too rude to leave without saying goodbye?" Marcel said in his usual carefree manner, while Krik and the others instinctively moved a little further away from him.


    Luca sneered. "You didn''t say a word when you ran off at the banquet. Now you want to bring up the word ''friendship''?"


    "I was drunk, alright?" Marcel scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.


    Who would''ve thought that the kid was this strong and wiped out all the rebels by himself?


    If he had known, he would''ve made sure to stomp Milo''s old face in a few more times.


    Knowing Marcel''s temperament, Luca didn''t feel like arguing. He just said, "If you have something to say, spit it out. If not, leave. I still have to go to my territory, and I don''t have time to waste with you."


    Marcel was displeased and raised his head, saying, "What''s with this attitude? I, the great ck Dragon Marcel... Ugh!"


    Before he could finish his sentence, Krik quickly covered his mouth, silencing him.


    A noble from the All-Beings Empire, his legs trembling, smiled obsequiously at Luca. "Lord Luca, please don''t be angry. This one''s a bit out of his mind. Don''t pay him any mind."


    "We''re here to discuss a business deal with you," he added quickly, trying to steer the conversation in a more serious direction.


    "A business deal?" Luca nced at the enormous warship that had intercepted his vessel. "If you hadn''t said anything, I would have thought you were trying to rob me."


    The nobles shot Marcel a fierce re.


    If it hadn''t been for that idiot giving the order to intercept Luca''s ship, they wouldn''t have had to meet this way.


    "Come on in, then. Let me see what kind of business you want to talk about," Luca said with a cold grunt, turning toward the ship''s main hall.


    He already had a few guesses about their intentions. He was somewhat interested in the All-Beings Empire''s business dealings, and he was just putting on an act to make it easier to drive a hard bargainter.


    The nobles let out a long breath of relief, and Krik finally released Marcel''s mouth.


    Krik gave Marcel a stern warning. "Keep your mouth shut. We''re here to ask him for something, not to insult him."


    Marcel didn''t respond, but spat in disgust, grimacing. "Did you not wash your hands or something? Why do you smell so bad?"


    "Do I?" Krik sniffed his hands. "Probably just forgot to wash after scratching my feet."


    "You son of a¡ªUgh!" Marcel turned pale.


    Rushing to the side of the ship and leaning over the railing to puke uncontrobly.


    Luca waited in the hall for a few minutes, and when he saw Marcel again.


    He couldn''t help but notice the dragon looked a little off, clearly not in his usual state.


    "Uh, what happened to him?" Luca pointed at the limp and defeated-looking Marcel, feeling a bit puzzled.


    Krik chuckled. "Nothing serious. Just ate something bad."


    Ate something bad? What could possibly make someone of the Dragon Race¡ªwhose physique was practically indestructible¡ªget food poisoning?


    Luca nced at the barely-conscious Marcel but didn''t bother asking further. "Alright, enough with the nonsense. What kind of deal do you want to discuss?"


    Among the nobles, one of the chubbier figures carefully spoke up. "I''ve heard that Lord Luca''s territory is Hain County?"


    "Yes, it''s Hain County," Luca replied with a nod.


    Upon hearing this, the nobles exchanged nces, their eyes glimmering with evident excitement.


    "Hahaha, that''s great! That''s perfect!" The nobleughed loudly. "In that case, I''ll get straight to the point. Our All-Beings Empire is located in the far northern regions. The resources here are scarce, and the only area with somewhat essible sea trade routes is the coastal zone with lower temperatures."


    "Hain County is the trade hub of the western coast, and it''s also quite close, so we were wondering if Count Luca would be interested in a partnership with us?"


    After saying this, all the nobles, including Marcel, eagerly looked at Luca.


    The Clinton Empire is located in the southwest of the Eternal Continent, rich in resources, vastnds, and a thriving maritime trade.


    In contrast, the All-Beings Empire is situated in the northeastern part of the continent, bordering Via, Clinton, and several smaller nations. However, the climate there is harsh, with snow that never melts.


    Although the All-Beings Empire is rich in metals, gems, and other resources, food and textiles are extremely scarce. This is reflected in the fact that they use metal warships for transportation.


    Luca had already anticipated this situation and calmly replied, "The two countries should already have established trade routes. Whye to me now for a partnership? I haven''t even had the chance to visit my own territory yet."


    Marcel sneered, "It''s not that we didn''t want to work with others, but¡­ well, others already¡­"


    Cough!The noble quickly cleared his throat and shot Marcel a stern look.


    The others were baffled. How could someone as brilliant and powerful as the Dragon King have such an utterly useless son?


    Another noble spoke up respectfully, "The reason we''re seeking Count Luca''s cooperation is precisely because we recognize your potential. We believe it won''t be long before you gain control over a significant portion of Clinton''s territory."


    "Heh." Luca sneered. If he believed that, he''d be a fool.


    He stood up and said, "I don''t have time to waste. If you don''t want to discuss business, then leave."


    Just then, Sophia, who had been resting in the room, walked over, apanied by two maids.


    "What''s going on here?" She looked over at Marcel and the others, then turned her gaze to Luca with a questioning expression.


    "It''s nothing. They''re just here to see me off," Luca said casually.


    Sophia nced around at the now quieter room, and sensing it wasn''t the right time to talk business, nodded slightly. "When you''re done here,e find me. I need to discuss something with you."


    Luca nodded in acknowledgment. After Sophia left, Marcel shot a dissatisfied nce at the nobles and muttered, "You can''t fool this kid, so why waste your breath?"


    Then he turned to Luca, spread his hands, and said honestly, "The All-Beings Empire and the Clinton Empire do have trade routes, but the problem is, these routes are no longer in our hands¡­"


    After Marcel''s exnation, Luca finally understood the situation in the All-Beings Empire.


    The trade rtionship between the All-Beings Empire and the Clinton Empire had been established for many years without issue.


    However, recently, tensions between the four kings had been rising, leading to continuous instability.


    While the trade routes between the two empires hadn''t been severed, they were now controlled by the other three kings. If the Dragon King wanted resources, he had to spend a lot more money, and the resources avable to him were severely limited.


    Continuing like this definitely wouldn''t work. The main reason Marcel and his group came to the Clinton Empire this time was to solve this very problem. However, they hadn''t expected that the Clinton Empire was also facing both internal and external troubles.


    Fortunately, unlike their own empire, which had been dragging its feet for so long, the Clinton Empire hadpleted its reforms in a rtively short amount of time.


    After speaking, Marcel shrugged and said, "That''s the situation. The main reason we''re seeking your cooperation is because it carries the least risk."


    After all, anyone with half a brain could see that this kid''s connections in Clinton were incredibly strong now...


    Luca nodded slightly and asked, "What kind of deal are you proposing?"


    Marcel and the others froze for a moment upon hearing this.


    Before their eyes lit up with excitement.


    The fact that Luca responded this way meant that there was a real chance!


    Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Marcel quickly said, "Weapons, metals, gems, even warships! As long as you can provide enough food, wine, and cloth, we can sell you whatever you need!"


    He didn''t hesitate for a second,ying out his side''s most significant bargaining chips.


    Luca, on the other hand, immediately threw out his own demands: "In addition to equipment, metals, and materials, I also require magical-tech warships and ck Thorn warships."


    Magical-tech warships and ck Thorn warships?!As soon as he said this, everyone in the room gasped, staring at Luca in disbelief.


    Magical-tech warships were produced by the Via Empire, equipped with magical cannons capable of taking down Superss beings head-on. In the past, when the All-Beings Empire was short on metals, they had a close trade rtionship with Via, and the Dragon King had even managed to acquire a few of them.


    The ck Thorn warships, on the other hand, were a specialty of the All-Beings Empire, made from Superss-grade metal known as "Thorn ck Steel," which could even withstand a full-force strike from a Sky-level powerhouse. They were incredibly expensive to produce.


    Why would he need these two types of warships if he wasn''t nning on fighting?


    Could it be that he really wanted to rebel?


    Luca, however, paid no attention to their changing expressions. He calmly sipped his tea and said, "These two types of warships are my terms. If you agree, I can offer you trade deals on par with Via Empire''s prices for maritime trade."


    "If not, then we won''t discuss this matter further."


    The western seas were vast and full of unknown dangers. The warships were his capital for exploring the western seas.


    So no matter what, he had to get them.

 Chapter 200 Both Brothers Are Right! Apply Pressure! Your Majesty, Please Execute the Traitor Luca!

    At the same time, in the center of the hall where Fratis was located.


    The Crown Prince Leonie was gentlyforting her. "Fratis, we are all deeply saddened by the sudden death of Father, but with Dawn City facing such a great disaster and the people in panic, since His Majesty passed the throne to you before his death, you must take control of the situation. You have to pull yourself together!"


    "Big Brother is still so good at speaking in public," the Second Prince Runne snorted coldly, then turned to Fratis with a face full of deep sorrow. "Don''t worry, Sixth Sister. Now that Fifth Brother has returned, there won''t be any major chaos in the city. I''ve already arranged for people to handle the affairs of the city. You just need to stay by Father''s side and spend hisst moments with him."


    The Fourth Prince Isaacs hesitated for a moment, then said, "Both of you brothers are right!"


    Other nobles also chimed in, assuring Fratis that she didn''t need to worry about the matters in the city, as they would handle them, and that they would surely not disappoint thete emperor or his highness.


    The group disyed such loyalty that anyone unaware of the situation might have believed they were loyal ministers and generals, and that the future of the Clinton Empire was secure.


    To this, the Fifth Prince Ziegfried remained expressionless, having long grown ustomed to such behavior.


    "A bunch of scoundrels! Father''s body is still in the pce, and you''re acting like this¡ªdon''t you feel ashamed?" The Third Princess Raphael''s face was full of anger.


    This wasn''t about shouldering the national burden; they were clearly trying to strip Fratis of her power!


    The group immediately grew displeased.


    The Crown Prince Leonie''s expression darkened. "Raphael, what are you saying? We are sharing the pressure with Fratis, so why do you think it''s insincere?"


    The Second Prince Runne, with a sarcastic tone, added, "By your logic, should we just sit back and watch the people suffer in misery? Who''s the one with ulterior motives here, us or you?"


    The Fourth Prince Isaacs also wore a serious expression. "Both of you brothers are right!"


    Milo couldn''t help but cover his face. He thought to himself that it might have been better to choose someone else; this guy waspletely useless.


    The other nobles seized the opportunity to verbally attack Raphael, clearly waiting for her to lose herposure.


    Raphael found herself being relentlessly criticized by the crowd, her face flushed with anger, but she didn''t know how to respond.


    Fratis, on the other hand, was confused, not understanding why the originally harmonious atmosphere had suddenly turned so tense. Stay updated via §Þ??


    Augustine and the others furrowed their brows, about to step in to defend Raphael.


    At that moment, a voice suddenly called out, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have a suggestion."


    Everyone''s gaze turned toward Luca as he strode forward and said, "Since none of you have any ulterior motives, why not give the power you hold to Queen Her Majesty?"


    A mocking smile yed on his lips, and his eyes clearly showed the contempt he had for everyone present.


    "That bastard, what is he doing here?" the Second Prince Runne cursed under his breath, his eyes filled with wariness.


    The expressions of the others also shifted. Setting aside Luca''s current reputation in Dawn City, just his previous disy of divine power made it difficult for anyone to view him as an ordinary young man.


    No one dared to treat him lightly¡ªafter all, no one knew whether or not he still had hidden cards up his sleeve.


    "I wonder what Count Luca meant by that?" The Crown Prince Leonie''s face remained emotionless, pretending to be ignorant.


    Luca couldn''t help but admire the Crown Prince''s restraint.


    After all, this man was the one who had sworn vengeance on him for the death of his mother. To Luca''s surprise, the Crown Prince was still able to stay soposed in his presence.


    If it had been Luca, he thought to himself, he would have already unsheathed the Sr Divine Spear.


    "It''s quite simple," Luca said as he surveyed the nobles, his voice light with amusement. "The Empire is facing internal and external crises. Since all of you princes and nobles are so righteous, why not give up your seats and hand all the power back to Queen Her Majesty? Let her lead us through these troubled times."


    "After all, this should be the most beneficial course for both the country and the people, shouldn''t it?"


    The nobles'' faces twitched slightly. It was one thing to divide power, but to give Fratis sole authority? That would be like courting death.


    Duke Mond''s expression darkened as he calmly replied, "Count Luca, you''re joking. Perhaps you don''t quite understand politics. Her Majesty, the noble daughter, manages the kingdom''s affairs daily, and she hardly has the time to handle these trivial matters. Naturally, we, her trusted vassals, will take care of them."


    Luca smiled, "Oh, so that''s how it is. I thought you were trying to strip Her Majesty of her power. It seems I misunderstood you all."


    As soon as those words left his mouth, the atmosphere froze. Many of the nobles felt their hearts race, unable to believe that he had dared to say such a thing in public.


    "Haha..." Watching the frozen expressions of the crowd, Duchess Evelyn couldn''t help butugh out loud. Only Luca would have the audacity to break all the rules like this.


    The nobles'' faces turned a little darker. At this point, they could tell that Luca had onlye to stir the pot. Duke Mond let out a cold snort and said, "Count Luca, we are discussing important matters here. Please refrain from causing trouble."


    "You can worry for the country, so why can''t I?" Luca said, turning his gaze toward Fratis. "Your Majesty, what do you think?"


    Fratis blinked and replied, "Of course you can."


    Beforeing here, she had already learned quite a bit about Luca from Lucia and Evelyn.


    Although she didn''t understand why he was helping her, there was no doubt in her mind that Luca, the one who had saved both Dawn City and herself, was a good person¡ªa great hero.


    And those, like the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, who had been bullying her, were the bad guys¡ªgreedy individuals who wanted to steal the gifts herte father had left for her.


    Luca smiled and shrugged. "See? Her Majesty says I can participate. Are you telling me that your words are more powerful than the Queen''s?"


    His constant habit of puttingbels on people made Duke Mond and the several princes turn an rming shade of blue and white, their faces contorting with fury as they longed to silence this troublemaker once and for all.


    The Fifth Prince Ziegfried, however, found Luca rather amusing. Though he didn''t follow the rules, the way Luca hadpletely turned the situation around with just a few words was impressive.


    If it weren''t for the current setting, he wouldn''t mind striking up a friendship with this man.


    "This kid''s got some guts," Milo of the Via Empire remarked, eyeing Luca with interest.


    At first, he had thought Luca, like Marcel, would avoid getting involved in the internal struggles of the Clinton royal family. But to his surprise, the young man was headstrong, diving right in without hesitation.


    "He''s an unstable element," Ike said, his eyes fixed on Luca, a hint of caution in his gaze.


    Even Ike had been shaken by the battle over Dawn City. He didn''t want to test whether Luca still had that kind of power.


    Milo, understanding Ike''s concerns, wasn''t worried. He chuckled leisurely and said, "Don''t worry. That kind of power must have limitations, or else he wouldn''t be here."


    Ike thought about it for a moment and nodded in agreement.


    After all, beneath gods, everyone else was mere ants¡ªthere was no need to waste time here with these princes.


    Even if Luca could still use that power, what did it have to do with the Via Empire? It would only be the Clinton royal family who would suffer.


    Feeling reassured, Ike finally rxed.


    At this point, the Crown Prince Leonie suddenly spoke up. "Since Her Majesty has agreed, we naturally won''t say anything more. However, I do have something I''d like to ask Count Luca."


    All eyes turned to him, curious as to what he had to say.


    Luca remained calm and asked, "I wonder what the Crown Prince wishes to ask?"


    "No advice, really," Leonie said, his eyes shing coldly. "I simply heard that Count Luca raided the Phillips family, and also established a new sect. I just wanted to ask if these two things are true."


    As soon as the words were out, many people turned their eyes to Luca, their gazes turning somewhat yful. Lucia let out a sigh in her heart; it seemed that this matter was finally being brought out into the open.


    Luca ignored the looks from the others andzily swirled his wine in his ss. "So what if they are?"


    "So what?" Leonie had been waiting for this moment for a long time. He sneered and continued, "No matter what crimes the Phillips family may havemitted, you have no right to judge them! Moreover, the Empire''sws clearly state that any sects established without the Empire''s approval should be ssified as cults!"


    Having said that, Leonie turned toward Fratis, slightly bowing, and said with righteous indignation, "While Count Luca certainly saved all of Dawn City and performed great deeds, that is no excuse for him to disregard the Empire''sws! I ask Her Majesty to immediately issue a decree and execute Count Luca with the utmost punishment!"


    Hiss! At this, everyone in the room took a sharp breath.


    When the Crown Prince spoke, he didn''t hold back¡ªhis words were an outright deration to have Luca executed!


    Duke Mond Stein quickly reacted and earnestly said, "The Crown Prince is correct. Duke Lyon of the Phillips family dedicated his life to the Empire. Yet, he met a tragic end at Count Luca''s hands, and his entire family was looted without mercy."


    "If such a viin is not executed, it would be impossible to maintain order, Your Majesty!"


    The others exchanged strange looks upon hearing this. The notorious Lyon, who was regarded as a notorious viin, was now being portrayed by the Empire''s Duke as a loyal servant of the Empire.


    The Second Prince, Runne, also disyed a face full of sorrow. "The fact that he was able to loot the entire Phillips family this time makes it impossible to predict what he might do next. Whether for the sake of giving the people an exnation or maintaining the Empire''sws, we cannot allow such a person to roam free!"


    Finally, the Fourth Prince, Isaacs, spoke with righteous indignation, "My brothers are right! The tragedy of the Dawn God Sect is fresh in our minds, and we must not allow such an event to happen again!"

 Chapter 201 Turning Truth Upside Down! Distorted Eye! Since You Won’t Act, I Will!

    Seeing the way the situation was unfolding, the other nobles quickly joined in, redirecting their ire toward Luca, the Empire''s celebrated hero.


    In no time, the entire hall¡ªsave for Fratis''s supporters¡ªwas filled with the sound of nobles shouting usations and condemning Luca.


    Not only did they embellish the charges against him, but some even imed that Luca had overthrown the Dawn God Sect to destabilize the Empire and seize the throne for himself, painting him as a traitor whose very existence was an affront to justice. To hear them tell it, Luca''s death was the only way to restore bnce to the heavens.


    Witnessing this spectacle, even Fratis''s allies¡ªZiegfried, Augustine, Winston, and Evelyn¡ªfelt a chill run down their spines. These bastards must have been nning to use this opportunity to eliminate Luca all along!


    "Damn it!" Raphael gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with sorrow and rage.


    No matter what Luca might have done, the fact remained that he had saved Dawn City and was personally honored by Alfred as a hero of the Empire. And yet, mere moments after the king''s death, these people were already branding him as a criminal?


    Moreover, if Fratis were to yield to their demands now, even if she managed to ascend the throne, her reputation would suffer irreparable damage.


    It would only be a matter of time before she became nothing more than a puppet emperor.


    Everyone in her camp felt a mix of anger and deep despair.


    With such parasitic nobles holding power, how could the Clinton Empire avoid copse?


    Fratis pressed her lips together tightly, her expression heavy with sadness. She had always been proud of her country, but now she realized that those in power were nothing more than morally bankrupt scoundrels who twisted truth and falsehood without shame.


    Luca, in contrast, appeared calm. He understood that merits and honors only held value to those who acknowledged them; to others, they were nothing but a joke. Arguing with such people was a waste of breath.


    Fortunately, he had prepared for an oue like this.


    At that moment, Fratis suddenly straightened and, with a rare resolve, addressed the crowd: "Count Luca''s achievements are evident to all. The Dawn God Sect and the Phillips family were steeped in evil, their crimes unforgivable. I see no fault in his actions.


    "If any of you have an issue with that, then take it up with me."


    Her words left everyone, including Luca, momentarily stunned. No one had expected Fratis to speak up for him so firmly. In the eyes of most present, Fratis was little more than a naive child.


    Augustine and the others, who had been seething with frustration for a long time, finally spoke up in defense of Luca. Evelyn spoke in a deep voice: "What Her Majesty says is correct. The Phillips family and the Dawn God Sect colluded with monsters, massacring the Human Race. Their crimes are heinous."


    "Moreover, Luca did not indiscriminately kill innocents¡ªthis is not his crime!"


    Winston also stood up and said, "If Her Majesty has already given her approval, are you going to defy her will? Or have you all been disregarding Her Majesty from the very beginning?"


    True to form as a teacher, Winston wasted no time in leveling a major usation. For a moment, the First Prince Leonie and others were at a loss for words. They hadn''t expected Fratis''s supporters toe at them with such force.


    However, if they let go of this opportunity to suppress Luca, they wouldn''t know when the next one woulde. They certainly couldn''t afford to let him off so easily.


    The Duke Mond''s face darkened as he spoke: "General Winston, you are overstating things. Of course, we have always ced Her Majesty in our hearts. But Luca''s merits are undeniable, and his crimes are also a fact. If we don''t punish him, how can we maintain order?"


    Another Duke added, "What Duke Mond says is right. While death may be forgiven, lesser crimes cannot. Given Luca''s merits, I suggest we cancel his title, revoke hisnds in Hain County, and reduce him tomoner status."


    It was clear these people were like mad dogs, seizing the chance to take a bite out of Luca. Just as Augustine was rolling up his sleeves, ready for a fierce verbal battle with these nobles¡­


    Luca suddenly let out a coldugh and taunted, "Reduce me to amoner? Who do you think you are to decide that?"


    The crowd''s anger red at his words.


    "You little brat, watch your words!" Mond''s eyes glinted with cold fury, and in an instant, the pressure of a Superss peak expert descended on the hall.


    The atmosphere immediately shifted as everyone''s faces turned grim. It was only now that they remembered: Mond wasn''t just a Duke¡ªhe was a top-tier Superss powerhouse.


    "Mond, this is the royal pce. What exactly do you think you''re doing?" Augustine immediately stepped in front of Luca, speaking in a dark tone.


    Winston and Ziegfried''s expressions also soured. "If you intend to take action, you''d better consider the consequences," they warned.


    "I don''t need you to worry about that!" Mond sneered dismissively. He wasn''t even fazed by their threats. Since they hade here today, they had clearly prepared for the worst.


    He then turned his gaze back to Luca, his eyes narrowing. "You seem so confident. Is it because you''re counting on us being afraid of your hidden trump card, afraid to take action against you?"


    "So what if I do?" Luca smiled lightly, raising his gaze to meet the eyes of the top aristocrat in all of Clinton, showing no fear whatsoever. Instead, his eyes gleamed with pure defiance.


    These nobles hade here today with one goal: to pressure Fratis into abdicating the throne. Yet they acted all high and mighty, putting on a false righteous front that made Luca want to gag.


    If that was the case, then why not rip the mask off and face reality?


    "This kid... does he really have no fear of death, or is he just that confident?" Ike asked.Milo, on the other hand, shook his head, his expression full ofplexity. "I can''t tell if he''s bluffing or if he really has the guts to back it up."


    Originally, in his mind, with the help of those nobles he had bought off, it would have been easy for Isaacs to seize the throne. But Luca, this sudden wildcard, hadpletely thrown his ns off course.


    Now the situation was slipping beyond his control.


    At the center of the hall, Leonie and Runne''s expressions fluctuated rapidly.


    They weren''t afraid of rebellion; they''d long been prepared for that possibility.


    But what they feared was this boy suddenly ascending to godhood again.


    If that happened, even if they all teamed up, they wouldn''t be able to defeat him.


    Though they knew the chances of that happening were slim, none of them were willing to gamble with their lives.


    The nobles exchanged nces, hesitating over whether or not to turn on Luca right then.


    Winston and Ziegfried had already ced their hands on their weapons, their eyes cold as they watched the scene unfold. If anyone dared to make a move, no matter who it was, they would make sure the price was paid.


    Lucia voiced her concern. "Luca is really pushing it. If they tear the mask off and turn hostile, he might not make it out of the pce alive."


    Sophia remained silent, her eyes shing as memories of Zenobia''s words echoed in her mind.


    The entire atmosphere in the hall had be tense.


    Some of the confused nobles anddies, who still didn''t fully understand what was going on, had gone pale.


    Just as the tension reached its peak, and the silence was nearly unbearable¡ª


    Clink.


    Luca ced the wine ss in his hand down on the table, then, under everyone''s watchful eyes, stood up.


    "A bunch of cowards," he sneered as he looked at Runne, Leonie, and the other hesitant nobles. His lips curled into a cold smile. "Since you''re too afraid to act... then I''ll step in!"


    Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a pitch-ck gleam flickered in Luca''s hand.


    The next instant, everyone in the room''s pupils shrank in shock.


    In Luca''s hand, there appeared an eerie, bizarre eye¡ªan eye unlike any seen before.


    The pitch-ck pupil reflected the faces of everyone in the room, with a faint purple glow swirling within it. Behind the pupil, long, blood-red veins twisted like grotesque nerves, creating a scene that was both eerie and unsettling.


    Distorted Eye!


    A terrifying, malevolent force suddenly descended upon the entire hall, causing everyone''s expressions to change at once.


    Transcendent-levura? This guy actually possesses a Transcendent-level artifact!


    "Not good!" Seeing this, Mond, who had been confident of his victory, suddenly turned pale.


    Without a second thought, he shot into the air, intending to flee.


    "Thinking of leaving now? Toote!" Luca sneered, without a hint of hesitation.


    With a thought, the Distorted Eyein his hand seemed toe alive, blinking slightly.


    Then, the pupil of the eye suddenly fixed on Mond!


    A rippling wave of power expanded rapidly from the pupil''s center.


    Buzz!A purple beam shot out like lightning.


    Striking with a terrifying speed toward Mond, who was trying to escape the hall.


    In the face of the Distorted Eye, Mond''s speed was as slow as a snail.


    In the blink of an eye, the purple beam was already behind him.


    It struck his body directly.


    In that instant!


    Time seemed to freeze!


    Mond''s body froze in midair, his face turning deathly pale, his eyes filled with disbelief.


    Then, in front of the horrified eyes of everyone present, his body began to undergo a strange transformation. His skin quickly turned a sickly gray, festering sores appeared all over him, and his hair started falling out.


    Next, his body began to swell irregrly, as if some invisible pump was inting him from within.


    "Ahhhh!" A chilling, anguished scream echoed throughout the hall. The excruciating pain caused Mond''s neck veins to bulge, his face contorting in agony, his eyes bulging, nearly popping out of their sockets!


    Under the terrified gaze of all present, the once imposing Duke Mond quickly transformed into a grotesque, bloated monster, his entire body covered in green liquid. His voice, too, became a horrifying, guttural growl.


    "Looks like it worked pretty well," Luca said, tossing the Distorted Eyein his hand, clearly pleased with his handiwork.


    "You¡­ What¡­ have you¡­ done to me¡­" Mond, now a monstrosity with tentacles for hands, clutched his own throat. His face twisted in pain and fear, his voice a rasping, unpleasant sound.


    "As you can see," Luca shrugged, chuckling lightly. "I didn''t think you were fit to stay human, so I gave you a new body."


    "Seems like it fits you quite well now, doesn''t it?"

 Chapter 210 King of the Western Sea! Rampant Pirates! The Crusade!

    A girl at the front desk covered her mouth and said, "So this is Luca the Count. He looks so young and handsome! I wonder if he''s married yet?"


    Someone else chimed in sarcastically, "Did you not see the girl standing next to him¡­?"


    Another person frowned and asked, "Is it really true that he killed the Goddess of Dawn? Could that just be a rumor from Dawn City?"


    A nearby person shook his head and replied, "I''m not sure, but he definitely killed Duke Lyon. Otherwise, the Phillips family wouldn''t have pulled their people out."


    A coldugh rang out from another, "Ha! Whether it''s true or not, all those nobles and merchants are in for it this time."


    Hearing this, anger red in the eyes of others around them.


    Over the past few days, they had been relentlessly hassled by those nobles and merchants. Since the original staff members at the Lord''s Manor had been heavily reassigned or taken away.


    The remaining ones were under immense pressure.


    The workload had skyrocketed, and with the disruption caused by the nobility and merchants, the exhaustion was clear in the dark circles under their eyes.


    Now that Luca, the rightful Lord, had arrived, if his temperament was anything like the rumors suggested, they might finally get to vent their frustrations.


    Meanwhile.


    After passing through the stairs and the elegantly decorated hallways.


    Luca and his group soon arrived at the Lord''s office.


    However, before they could even enter the room.


    They heard the furious voice of an old man from inside.


    "That bastard Evans! How dare he extort us for ten million gold coins? Does he really think we can''t do anything to him here in Seaway City?" The man mmed his fists onto the table, shouting angrily.


    From within, another voice let out a bitterugh.


    "Well... actually, we can''t do anything to him..."


    Luca didn''t hurry to enter. He nced at Dacey, his eyes filled with curiosity.


    Seeing this, Dacey quickly whispered, "Evans is the leader of the ck Raven Pirates, a Supersspower, and one of the Kings of the Western Sea.


    "Just a few days ago, the youngest daughter of Marquis Gerald Barnes of the Western Territory, Ellie, came to visit, and she was unfortunately captured by him. Now, Seaway City is negotiating with him to release her."


    "Pirates extorting nobles..." Luca clicked his tongue. In just a few days without anyone keeping watch, the pirates had be so brazen.


    If they had dyed even a little longer, it was likely the entire city would have been turned into their breeding ground.


    With that thought, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.


    A luxurious office came into view, with a redwood desk in the center. Behind it sat an elderly man with graying hair, dressed in noble attire. He was furiously smashing objects, clearly in a state of rage.


    In addition to him, there was also a middle-aged man in the room with a hooked nose.


    At the sound of the door opening, both of their gazes turned toward it.


    The elderly man, whose temper was clearly vtile, didn''t even give the middle-aged woman a chance to speak. He immediately shouted, "Who let you in? Don''t you know that the Lord''s office is off-limits to outsiders? Get out of here!"


    "Lord Tark¡­" Dacey nced awkwardly at Luca, who was still expressionless, and then lowered her head to remind him, "Luca the Count has arrived."


    "Luca¡­ Luca the Count?!" Upon hearing this, the old man''s anger froze on his face, and the middle-aged man was equally startled.


    Their gazes turned back to Luca, and as they took a closer look, they saw that the young man''s features were gradually aligning with those in the image crystals.


    It really is him! The old man immediately sucked in a sharp breath.


    Thinking back to how he''d just shouted at the number one enemy of Clinton, he could feel a cold sweat break out on his forehead.


    Tark didn''t dare dy. He quickly stood up from behind the desk, trembling as he bowed to Luca. "I, Tark Blitz, pay my respects to the Count!"


    Others may not know what Luca had done after killing Lyon and Finn, but Tark was already well-aware from the reportsing from Dawn City. He knew exactly who this young man was and what he was capable of!


    After all, that was more than half of the Clinton Empire''s entire noble ss! In a single day, half of them had been ughtered by this young man!


    Even the royal family had been wiped out in the bloodbath!


    What was even more terrifying was that he hadn''t even been touched!


    The middle-aged man finally came to his senses, and his heart sank. He quickly bowed low and said with trembling voice, "Governor Nichs Davidson, I pay my respects to the Count."


    As he spoke, his voice shook, his face drained of color. He kept his head lowered, cursing Tark''s entire family in his mind.


    "Please rise. Now, tell me about the pirates from earlier," Luca said, not bothering to dwell on what had just happened. Instead, he turned to ask about what Tark had mentioned earlier.


    "Well, it''s not much¡­" Tark responded somewhat nervously, "It''s just that, without the protection of the Phillips familytely, the pirates in the sea have be somewhat uncontroble and have started raiding the merchant convoys that pass through."


    "The ck Crow Pirates, led by Evans Harry, raided a noble''s pleasure boat yesterday and demanded a ransom from us..."


    Tark began, his face turning red, even though he had been in the political game for years.


    After all, it was his mismanagement that led to this situation, and it had just so happened that his new superior had caught him right in the middle of it.


    It would be a lie to say that he wasn''t nervous.


    Luca sat back in the office chair, his expression calm. "Ransom from the officials? Are the pirates of the Western Sea really this bold?"


    "Uh..." Nichs and Tark exchanged a nce, unsure of how to respond. Because yes, the pirates of the Western Sea were indeed this audacious.


    Forget about marquises; even dukes were hardly a threat to them.


    The Western Sea was vast and boundless. After a killing spree, pirates could easily hide out on a small ind, change their appearance, and wait for the heat to die down. Once the coast was clear, they''d be back to their old ways.


    And this wasn''t the first time the ck Crow Pirates had extorted nobles.


    Before, under the protection of the Phillips family, they wouldn''t have dared to touch the major aristocrats, but they certainly went after the minor ones.


    However, this time was different. They had kidnapped the young daughter of the Western Territory Marquis, Gerald Barnes, and demanded a ransom of ten million gold coins.


    If they didn''t get it, they threatened to rape and then kill the noblewoman, dumping her body in the sea for the fish to feast on.


    When Marquis Gerald heard this, he immediately called Tark, cursing him out over the phone.


    He then gave a deadlymand: if he didn''t see his daughter by the time he arrived, Tark would join Evans in feeding the fish.


    The Western Territory''s Grand Marquis, Evelyn, was already on his way to the city and would likely arrive in a few days. That was why Tark was so furious.


    "A group of fools who don''t know their ce," Luca scoffed coldly. He then turned to Tark, who was still looking uneasy, and said calmly, "From now on, I am officially taking over the entire Bibo County.


    "Gather the men. We''re going to pay them a visit."


    After saying this, he didn''t spare another nce at the two men, and without hesitation, turned and walked out of the Lord''s office. Originally, Luca had nned to figure out how to establish his authority, intimidating the scoundrels in Seaway City and Hain County.


    But it seemed that Evans had conveniently walked right into his hands. If there was me to be ced, it could only fall on Evans for his bad luck.


    Sophia quickly followed him, leaving the two men in the office staring at each other in stunned silence.


    "This lord has quite the temper. He''s bound to offend a lot of people," Governor Nichs rubbed his temples, feeling a headacheing on.


    Dacey shook her head. "No need to worry. This lord has quite the background. Even if he turns the entire Western Sea upside down, it probably won''t matter."


    Tark gazed out toward the vast blue ocean and sighed, "It seems the tides in the Western Sea are about to change again."


    Outside the Lord''s office, following Luca''s orders, soldiers soon began to gather.


    Before long, a group of armored soldiers staggered into view.


    "Are these the defenders of Seaway City?" Luca pointed at the soldiers in front of him, all of whom were stumbling, their steps unsteady, and their faces wearing a look of arrogance.Luca''s face darkened immediately.


    These weren''t soldiers at all¡ªthese were pirates in armor!


    Tark, somewhat embarrassed, cleared his throat and said, "Seaway City was previously jointly managed by Phillips and the other major nobles."


    "After their people withdrew, these are the only soldiers left in Seaway City..."


    Luca was at a loss for words. So, it seemed that Seaway City had been hollowed out by the aristocrats, leaving behind nothing but an empty shell, a paper tiger.


    No wonder the pirates had be so audacious.


    Tark suggested, "If this won''t do, I can go to the nearby lord and ask for reinforcements."


    "Forget it, these will have to do," Luca waved his hand dismissively, no longer interested in the idea. After all, the oue of the battle wouldn''t be decided by these men.


    He turned to face the ragtag group of soldiers, his expression gradually calming. In a deep voice, he ordered, "Everyone, listen up! Prepare the ships immediately. We are setting out to hunt down the ck Crow Pirates led by Evans!


    "Whoever can bring me the head of Captain Evans, the First Mate, or the Second Mate, I''ll personally reward them with 10,000 gold coins!"


    As soon as these words left Luca''s mouth, the once listless soldiers suddenly seemed to be energized. They roared in unison, "We obey, Lord! We will surely bring back Evans'' dog head for you!"


    Luca couldn''t be bothered toment on these money-hungry soldiers. He simply waved his hand and said, "Follow me!"


    Soon, the news that Luca the Count had taken over Seaway City and was setting out to raid the ck Crow Pirates spread across Hain County.


    The entire Seaway City was thrown into an uproar. No one had expected that this young man, who had just arrived in Hain County, would make such a bold move on his first day.


    Of course, there were also many who were waiting for Luca to fail.


    Never mind Evans, who was at the level of Superss, even his First Mate, Bloody Jack, and Second Mate, One-Eyed Cameron, were high-level professionals.


    On top of that, the ck Crow Pirates had three high-tier ships. Given the current military strength of Seaway City, facing off against them head-on would be like courting disaster.

 Chapter 203 The King Who Wins, the Bandit Who Loses! Fate Plundering! The Stars Reappear!

    The words were as grand as they could get.


    Even the princes and dukes couldn''t help but give the man a few extra nces.


    This guy is quite the character!


    "Keld!" Fratis'' face flushed bright red with anger.


    She red at the once-loyal royal general, about to scold him.


    But then she saw the calm expression on his face.


    There wasn''t even the slightest hint of guilt in his eyes; in fact, there was a trace of smugness.


    "You¡­ don''t tell me¡­" Fratis froze, realization dawning upon her. This had all been nned long ago.


    No matter what she said, Luca, and anyone supporting her, would be branded as rebels. Even if she was Alfred''s personally chosen heir, it wouldn''t matter. They had long since stopped caring.


    Fratis looked at Luca, only to see that his expression hadn''t changed in the slightest. It wasn''t just him¡ªZiegfried, Augustine, Winston, and the others shared the same indifference.


    Clearly, they had all known this moment woulde.


    "The victor is king, the loser is a bandit. That''s how it has always been, from the past to the present. Only the one who survives in the end can be called the winner." Luca reached out and gently grasped her slightly trembling hand. A strange glint flickered in his eyes as he smiled, "But don''t worry, because we will be the ones left standing."


    Fratis stared at him in a daze. For a brief moment, fragmented memories shed before her eyes¡ªmemories of the ball, where the young man had said something to her, though she couldn''t quite make it out... It seemed they had known each other before, but no matter how hard Fratis tried to recall, she couldn''t piece together more details.


    "Everyone, listen up!" At that moment, Keld suddenly drew his sword from his waist and pointed it toward Luca and the others.


    His voice was cold as he ordered, "Immediately kill the traitors led by Luca the Count. No matter the cost, we must rescue Her Majesty!"


    "Understood!!" The soldiers behind him roared in unison. Beneath their golden helmets, their eyes gleamed with cold murderous intent. They only took orders and didn''t care if they were killing nobles or generals¡ªanyone would do.


    "Keld, leave this to me." Knowing that battle was inevitable, Winston''s gaze turned icy. Bloodlight suddenly red on his spear.


    In an instant, blood-red magical runes quickly spread across his body, and a vast sea of bloodlust, as overwhelming as an ocean, surged, enveloping the entire pce hall.


    In the next instant, the stone b beneath Winston''s feet cracked with a loud bang! In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his original position, only to reappear directly in front of Keld.


    "Die!" Winston''s eyes were cold as ice. Without a single word of hesitation, his spear shot through the air like lightning, aimed directly at Keld''s head with ruthless precision!


    "Move!" Oleni and Runne quickly retreated, their eyes filled with wariness. A man''s reputation is as strong as his deeds, and Winston''s title as the War God had reverberated throughout the Clinton Empire, earned through real military exploits!


    However, Keld''s expression showed no sign of panic. Instead, he revealed a savage grin.


    "Hahaha! I''ve heard that the Empire''s War God, Winston Transcendent, has few equals. Today, let me see if you truly have such strength!"


    As his voice echoed, golden Battle Will surged around Keld''s body. His muscr arm rose abruptly, and his massive sword swung down violently toward the charging Winston.


    Boom! The moment the two forces collided, a powerful shockwave exploded outward!


    It was as if a hurricane had swept through, scattering food and furniture across the hall in all directions.


    "Everyone, attack!" Seeing Winston and Keld already engaged inbat, the others hesitated not for a second. Their aura surged as they moved directly toward Princes Leonie, Runne, and Isaacs.


    Second Prince Runne immediately waved his hand, shouting furiously, "Kill them!"


    Behind him, several high-ranking nobles from the noble faction had long been waiting. Superss experts shot forward almost simultaneously, intercepting Augustine, Evelyn, Ziegfried, and others mid-air.


    Boom! Boom! Boom! Several violent auras collided, and the entire royal pce hall was immediately thrown into chaos.


    Superss experts battling in such a ce was akin to throwing high explosives in a bathroom. In the blink of an eye, dozens of innocent nobles were caught in the chaos, instantly reduced to a bloody mess.


    "We are neutral! Let us go! We are innocent!" Hundreds of innocent nobles screamed in terror as they fled in panic.


    But unfortunately, the soldiers showed no intention of sparing them.


    Neutral?


    Only the dead are truly neutral.


    "Senior, teacher, take care of Fratis." As the battle officially erupted, Luca turned to Lucia and Sophia and said this before they could react.


    Without waiting for a response, his feet gleamed with silver light as he rushed toward the heart of the pce hall.


    "This guy just can''t stay out of these things!" Lucia gritted her teeth in frustration and immediately rushed to pull Luca back.


    But before she could take more than a few steps, Sophia called out to her.


    "Don''t worry about him, teacher." She nced deeply at Luca''s retreating figure and said, "Our priority is to protect Her Majesty."


    This level of battle was beyond Lucia''s ability to intervene. Even if she did try, it would be of no help, and could potentially slow things down.


    Lucia realized this herself. Despite her usual optimism, a sense of defeat welled up inside her.


    In such a situation, even high-tier individuals like herself were still too weak.


    The chaos in the pce hall continued. The sounds of pleading for mercy mixed with anguished cries, blood and severed limbs sttered everywhere. The walls, still stained with Mond''s blood, were once again covered with fresh blood from countless others.


    "What... what can I do..." Looking at the battlefield in the pce hall, Fratis showed fear in her eyes, but still mustered the courage to speak.


    "Your Majesty, just stay here." Sophia nced at her, her eyes showingplexity. Having experienced the events involving the Ancient Gods, everyone believed that the divine power within Fratis had long been depleted.


    But only she and a few others knew that this power had been lying dormant inside Fratis all along. That world-shattering power could erupt at any moment!


    Alfred had never been worried about Fratis managing the Clinton Empire, because, in the face of that power, almost no one could resist.


    The problem was that Fratis couldn''t control this power yet¡­


    As Sophia thought this.


    Her gaze suddenly caught a gleam of brilliant light shing through the hall.


    Though faint, it shone like a star, dazzling and radiant!


    Sophia froze for a moment, thinking she might have been seeing things.


    But when she looked again, her eyes widened, and shock shed across her face.


    "This... this is impossible?!" At the same time, gasps of astonishment rang out from all around the hall.


    A Superss Duke looked at the tall figure walking forward, his eyes filled with disbelief.


    Somehow, a golden glow surrounded Luca, radiating an aura that felt both unfamiliar and yet strangely familiar to everyone.


    It was the Star Power of the Dawn God Sect!


    "Dawn?!" The moment they felt the divine power and pressure that were almost identical to the Goddess of Dawn, everyone''s breath seemed to freeze.


    Thud!The fear brought on by the Goddess of Dawn surged back to the forefront of their minds. Several soldiers, unable to withstand the pressure, copsed to the ground. Their eyes, filled with terror, remained fixed on Luca.


    "It''s impossible! This can''t be!" The First Prince Leonie trembled as he looked at the figure in midair, surrounded by divine power. His face twitched in disbelief.


    The Goddess of Dawn had already fallen before them, and Fratis''s power had been dormant. This was supposed to be their best opportunity.


    But how could Luca possess the Star Power? When did he obtain it? How could he have the Star Power?!


    "What in this world is impossible?" Luca chuckled lightly, and the starlight around him grew stronger and stronger, until it gathered into a vast ocean of stars!


    Boom!


    A mighty divine presence suddenly descended!


    The heavens darkened, and the starry sky became visible!


    Countless stars shone brightly across the sky, grand and boundless, their brilliance overwhelming!


    Luca rose into the air, surrounded by an endless stream of stars. In his eyes appeared a strange symbol, resembling a crown made of stars¡ªidentical to the crown of the heavens!


    This was the professional skill of the Fate-Swapping Master: Fate Plundering!


    No one could have anticipated that he was holding such a Surpass the Conventionalskill!


    And the target of Luca''s power was clearly Fratis!


    Though her starry divine power couldn''t be used, her divine rank, tied to the stars, still remained.


    The ability of the Fate-Swapping Master was to replicate fates!


    "No wonder he dared to kill openly; turns out, he had the confidence¡­" Evelyn gave a bitter smile as she watched the figure in the air.


    The boy was far more clever than she had imagined. She hadn''t expected that, even in that dire situation, he was still hiding a trump card that could turn the tables!


    "Now then, who wants to die first?" Luca''s gaze lowered as he looked at the people below, his voice echoing throughout the entire hall.


    At the same time, streams of starlight behind him transformed into countless glowing arrows, aimed at the princes and all the rebellious nobles, a divine presence overwhelming the hall!


    Everyone who had arrows pointed at them turned ashen. They had already experienced how terrifying the power of the gods could be.


    Faced with such a presence, no one had the courage to continue fighting.


    "Stop him! Quickly, stop him!!" The Second Prince Runne, realizing the danger, panicked. He shoved a nearby noble aside and, without a second thought, turned to flee!


    It was obvious that Luca wouldn''t let them go. Rather than waiting to die here, it was better to run and perhaps have a chance of survival.


    "Run! Run quickly!" This thought immediately spread to everyone present. Soldiers and nobles alike discarded everything else and dashed toward the pce doors, fleeing for their lives.


    "Now you want to run¡­" Luca''s eyes flickered slightly, and dazzling starlight erupted around him. The starry arrows transformed into bolts of golden lightning, pouring down like a torrential storm!


    "Isn''t it a little toote for that?"

 Chapter 212 Pirate Extermination! No Sympathy! Two Young Men!

    "You didn''t hear wrong, but he''s talking about pirates. What does that have to do with us?"


    The man crossed his arms, sneering at Luca. "Kid, are you still half-asleep? Who told you we''re pirates? We''rew-abiding citizens, do you understand what that means, huh?!"


    Beside him, a short man clutched his stomach,ughing loudly and without restraint. "Hahaha, this is too funny! The new city lord actually has a temper. His first day, and he wants to throw us all out of Seaway City?"


    "Ah, you really scared the life out of me!"


    A one-eyed woman, smoking a cigarette, jeered at Luca with a mocking smile. "Lord City Lord, you short of women? How about I go to the brothels in the Windflower Alley and find a few for you? How about I be your mother, huh? Hahaha!"


    The pirates burst out in raucousughter, as though they had heard the greatest joke.


    Every city lord of Hain County had wanted to exterminate them, yet here they still were.


    And those city lords? They''d already been reced countless times.


    The onlookers watching the newly appointed city lord couldn''t help but sigh.


    Looks like we have another useless fool in charge.


    A group of soldiers looked back and forth between Luca and the pirates, unsure whether they should follow orders. Deputy City Lord Tark and the governor, Nichs, exchanged nces, both seeing the bitterness in each other''s eyes.


    In their eyes, Luca, though well-intentioned, was just an ignorant, hot-headed youth. The thought of having to follow someone like him in the future filled them with dread.


    Dacey, the city lord''s secretary, stepped forward hesitantly, her face troubled. "Lord City Lord, we can''t just wipe them all out. There are too many pirates in the Western Sea."


    "And if we do kill them, the pirate groups behind them won''te after us directly, but they''ll take out their anger on the innocent vigers nearby¡­"


    When Evelyn and her husband ruled the Western Territory, they hadunched severalrge-scale pirate purges, but none of them had been particrly sessful.


    In fact, these attempts had only angered the desperate ouws, leading to significant losses in the Western Territory, and many civilians had died. If Luca insisted on this, it would be the ordinary people who would bear the brunt of the consequences, making it all for nothing.


    However, after hearing her words, Luca''s expression didn''t change. He turned to look at Tark, Nichs, and the soldiers, then calmly said, "I said kill them. Didn''t you hear me?"


    The crowd hesitated, looking at the young man. But when they met his eyes, they felt a chilling depth, as though staring into the vast ocean.


    In the calmness, it seemed as though dark currents were surging violently beneath the surface.


    At that moment, everyone felt a cold shiver down their spines.


    The soldiers gritted their teeth and began to draw their weapons.


    The sound of swords unsheathing rang out, the ng of steel on steel echoing in the air.


    A heavy, murderous atmosphere soon enveloped the street, and the surroundings grew eerily silent.


    The pirates, who had been mocking Luca just moments ago, suddenly fell silent.


    "Damn it, this brat''s serious! Run!" The pirates, realizing the gravity of the situation, felt a chill run down their spines. Without a second thought, they turned and bolted toward the crowd.


    Chaos erupted.


    Even the civilians, faces full of panic, began scattering in all directions, unwittingly aiding the pirates in their escape.


    As one pirate ran, he couldn''t resist shouting threats at Luca. "You little bastard! You''ve got guts! Daring to break the rules of the Western Sea! Just you wait! This won''t end here!"


    "Oh, I agree," Luca said, stretching out his hand with a calm smile. "This won''t end here. Come on out and enjoy this feast."


    The moment his words fell.


    The silver snake bracelet coiled around his wrist gleamed with a radiant, dreamlike glow.


    "Boom!"


    A streak of silver lightning shot skyward!


    A titanic pressure, as heavy as a mountain, descended upon all of Seaway City.


    Then, a voice¡ªdeep, resonant, and seemingly echoing from the depths of one''s soul¡ªresounded in the hearts of everyone in the city.


    "Thank you, Master!!"Jormungandr''s voice was filled with uncontainable joy, ted at the sudden opportunity.


    "What¡­ What is that?!" Countless people looked skyward, their pupils trembling in shock.


    Behind Luca, a massive silhouette emerged, blurring the line between reality and illusion. A colossal silver serpent rose to the heavens!


    Its body stretched hundreds of meters long, its silver-white scales glinting under the sunlight, reflecting a kaleidoscope of dazzling hues.


    A pair of amethyst eyes gazed down from above, surveying every person in the city with a cold, godlike detachment.


    The Lord of Dreams¡ªJormungandr!


    "A Superss monster?! That''s a Superss monster!" Tark''s head tilted upward, his eyes bulging as he stared at the sky-piercing python. His usualposure as deputy city lord evaporated, leaving him visibly shaken.


    Nichs, on the other hand, copsed onto the ground, trembling uncontrobly from a primal, overwhelming fear.


    Even though they had heard tales of Luca''s exploits in upending Dawn City, witnessing this firsthand left them in disbelief.


    A Superss monster¡ªa being so rare that even within the entirety of Clinton Empire, they could be counted on one hand¡ªwas serving a mere boy? If they hadn''t seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn''t have dared to believe it in their lifetimes.


    Not far away, Geo and his entourage, who hadn''t yet fled the area, also caught sight of the gargantuan silver serpent.


    Every one of them couldn''t help but suck in a cold breath.


    "This kid¡­ he actually has a Superss monster!" Geo muttered, his voice trembling as cold sweat dripped down his forehead.


    Inwardly, he couldn''t help but feel immense relief at the decision he''d made earlier.


    If he had foolishly escted the situation and torn things apart with Luca, he''d likely have been annihted on the spot!


    "Leave this to you. Don''t hurt any innocent people," Luca instructed, then turned to Tark and the soldiers. "Everyone, follow me onto the ship!"


    With that, he turned and headed straight for the warship.


    Initially, he had nned to test whether these soldiers were worth further training.


    But as expected, they didn''t disappoint him.


    Pathetically bad.


    "Don''t worry, Master, I''ll take care of this," Jormungandr''s violet eyes locked onto the pirates fleeing for their lives, and her purple tongue flicked over her lips.


    The mes of sin clinging to these pirates were as obvious as fireflies in the night, even from a distance. She could smell them from miles away.


    Tark, the others, and the soldiers snapped back to their senses, shivering in realization, and quickly followed after Luca.


    In the next moment, countless streaks of twilight light exploded behind them!


    Boom!!


    Illusory serpents, like arrows of light, cut through the sky and surged toward the fleeing pirates.


    Upon contact, these serpents fused into the pirates'' bodies.


    The pirates froze in ce, their bodies suddenly stiffened.


    Then, strange, worm-like creatures began writhing beneath their skin.


    "Ahhhhhhh!!!"


    The street was filled with agonizing screams.


    As the pirates writhed on the ground, tears and snot streaming down their faces. Pale, mist-like vapor escaped their orifices, only to be greedily absorbed by Jormungandr.Her eyes shone with contentment.


    Ah, it''s been so long since I had a proper meal.


    The remaining pirates, witnessing this horror, were so terrified they nearly wet themselves. With no more thoughts of fighting, they bolted toward the outskirts of Seaway City.


    But to Jormungandr, these pirates were no different frommbs to the ughter.


    Pirates hidden throughout Seaway City were dying by the dozens in the blink of an eye.


    Looking at the corpses of the pirates.


    Their eyes wide in terror and their faces contorted in pain, everyone felt a cold shiver run down their spines, their eyes filled with dread.


    No one had expected the new city lord to be this ruthless!


    "Master, are you really going to leave that monster unchecked? It won''t kill innocent people by mistake, will it?" Dacey asked, unable to hold back, her gaze falling on Luca, who was casually sipping tea on the gangway.


    "Jormungandr can see the memories in their souls, and so can I," Luca said, his eyes glinting with violet light as he stared at the wailing souls above. "Maybe, like in some fictional tales, some people might have been forced into piracy or acted out of ignorance. But among these six hundred seventy-two pirates, I haven''t seen one who''s truly innocent."


    Tark nodded in agreement. "Don''t show any mercy to pirates. They don''t deserve it."


    There are many ways to make money on the sea, and piracy is not the only one. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have explorers, bounty hunters, and adventurers as separate professions. A normal person would never choose to live by plundering civilians and the weak on the sea.


    At this moment, the screams in Seaway City gradually started to fade. When thest echoes vanished, a streak of light shot toward Luca, materializing into a silver serpent-shaped bracelet on his wrist.


    "Report, Master, the task isplete!" Jormungandr said, letting out a satisfied burp.


    Luca could feel her power had grown stronger, likely approaching the Transcendent level. It wouldn''t be long before she was fully restored.


    "Prepare to set sail," he said to the three who were staring at his wrist.


    Nics nodded and quickly went to give orders to the sailors and helmsman to lift the anchor and depart.


    At that moment, a young voice suddenly rang out from the dock.


    "Master, please take me with you!!"


    Luca''s ears perked up; the voice sounded familiar. He turned around and saw two young boys standing at the dock.


    One of them had seaweed-like hair, while the other was a strong young man with short red hair.


    "You''re... that kid from Southwind City?" Luca paused, thinking for a moment, and then recognized him. It was the boy he had saved back in Southwind City. He was surprised to see him here.


    "Yes, it''s me, Master Luca, it''s me!" Isaac said excitedly, waving his arms. He then noticed the ship was pulling away from the dock.


    "Master, wait for me!" Isaac, now anxious, took a step forward and was about to jump into the sea. Fortunately, the red-haired boy beside him was quick enough to grab him by the arm and pull him back.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 205 The Curtain Falls! The Deal! Absorbing the Primordial Crystal!

    Luca wasn''t particrly surprised by this.


    The power of the Ancient Gods and that of the deities were inherently repellent to each other. Fratis was able to contain both powers because her body had been altered by the Ancient Gods.


    Perhapster she could ask Zenobia for guidance on how to use them.


    That is, if she was willing to share¡­


    As these thoughts crossed his mind, the others arrived.


    Luca stored the shard of the Primordial Crystal away.


    The fate lines in his eyes gradually faded, and the divine power of the stars around him slowly dissipated.


    "Luca is amazing!" Fratis cheered, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. She was deeply thankful¡ªif not for his intervention, she couldn''t even imagine how things might have turned out.


    However, she couldn''t shake the feeling that the power he had just used seemed strangely familiar.


    "Such a young man!" The gaze of Ziegfried and the others toward Luca wasplex. This turmoil, which had been specifically aimed at Fratis, had barely begun, but it was already over.


    The power of the divine was far beyond their imagination. Superss beings in Luca''s hands couldn''t even stir up a ripple. In other words, if they had been in the same situation, they would likely have met the same fate as those who had just fallen.


    The others looked at the bloody, mangled body of Milo and the scattered magical mechanical parts, exchanging nces.


    Had it not been for Prince Isaacs begging for mercy and revealing Milo''s role, they would never have guessed that this seemingly inconspicuous man with thick brows and big eyes, who had always been in the background, had secretly interfered with Clinton''s political affairs.


    Luca paid no attention to their gazes. He addressed everyone: "Everyone, the First Prince and the other rebels have been eliminated. The remaining matters are up to you."


    "That''s right. The most important thing now is to deal with the aftermath." His reminder made everyone snap back to reality.


    Aside from Fratis, the royal family and nobility had been all but wiped out.


    Now, the major factions were left leaderless, making it the perfect time for a counterattack!


    With that thought in mind, they didn''t waste another moment.


    They quickly summoned their trusted subordinates and rushed toward the pce at full speed.


    Luca then turned to Sophia and said, "Sophia, could youe over for a moment? I have something I want to ask you about."


    The others were puzzled, but Sophia immediately understood. Luca probably wanted to ask Zenobia something. She nodded slightly.


    Ignoring the others'' gazes, the two of them found a quiet ce. Luca got straight to the point: "I just obtained a shard of the Primordial Crystal from that fat guy."


    "A shard of the Primordial Crystal?" Sophia''s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn''t expected that such a thing would be found on Milo, from the Via Empire. Does this mean that the Via Empire¡­


    As this thought crossed her mind, Sophia''s expression gradually grew serious.


    She didn''t dare take things lightly and immediately sent an inquiry to Zenobia in her mind.


    Momentster, a brilliant light emanated from the crystal ring on her hand.


    At the same time, a seductive voice echoed in Luca''s mind.


    Zenobia''s voice came through with a chuckle: "I know how to use this, but why would I tell you? Don''t you think too highly of yourself?"


    In response to her mockery, Luca''s face remained unchanged.


    He spoke slowly: "If you don''t want to tell me, I won''t force you. However, I was thinking of exchanging the whereabouts of the Celestial Pearl¡­"


    The moment the words Celestial Pearlleft his mouth, the voice in his ear grew sharp and piercing.


    Zenobia''s tone became urgent: "You''ve found the whereabouts of the Celestial Pearl?"


    "Did I say that?" Luca narrowed his eyes slightly, recognizing the hidden meanings in Zenobia''s voice. It seemed that after the Divine Cataclysm all those years ago, when Zenobia was cast into the abyss, she had indeed lost possession of the Celestial Pearl.


    Given this, the credibility of the information he had was even higher.


    "I''ll tell you how to absorb the Primordial Crystal if you tell me the lead on the Celestial Pearl," Zenobia proposed without hesitation.


    However, Luca''s lips curled into a cold smirk. He scoffed, "Do you take me for a fool? The premise of a trade is that the values must be equal. Do you think these two pieces of information hold equal value?"


    Forget the fact that the Primordial Crystalcould only be dropped by the Ancient Gods, and whether or not he would even have a chance to obtain it.


    Just this shard he had was nothing more than a fragment. How could it possiblypare to the Celestial Pearl, the treasure of the gods?


    Zenobia, the Lord of Sin and Desire, really thought she could deceive him like a child.


    "Then what kind of trade do you want?" Zenobia''s figure appeared in midair, her violet eyes glinting as she gazed at the young man before her. A murderous intent flickered in her gaze.


    A mere human dared to bargain with her¡ªhow audacious! She was the mistress of the divine, and he was simply an ant!


    Sophia sensed something and furrowed her brow, her voice cold. "You''d better keep those thoughts to yourself, or don''t me me for being impolite!"


    Luca nced at Zenobia and noticed her clenched teeth as she red at Sophia, but the murderous intent around her seemed to be quietly fading.


    Indeed, since Zenobia was bound to Sophia, it was clear she was under some sort of restriction. Otherwise, she would not have behaved so meekly. This gave Luca a bit more confidence.


    Luca pondered for a moment before speaking slowly: "If you tell me how to use the Primordial Crystal, I can take you with me to search for it."


    He didn''t know the full details about the Celestial Pearl, only that it was somewhere in the Western Sea. The exact location, however, was known only to the Via Empire.


    But even so, finding it wouldn''t be easy. If it were, they wouldn''t have dared to meddle in Via Empire''s political affairs.


    For Luca to get his hands on it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.


    Thus, he needed more help.


    Zenobia was by far the best candidate.


    Given the importance of the Celestial Pearl, she would likely stop at nothing to track down even the slightest clue.


    This way, he would gain an additional free enforcer.


    He could even have her assist in crafting and finding the potions that Fratis needed.


    It was truly a win-win situation.


    Even if Zenobiater realized he had deceived her, it wouldn''t matter.


    Because with Sophia''s shackles on her, they had the upper hand.


    Even if Zenobia was furious, she wouldn''t be able to do anything about it.


    "Damn human, you will pay for this!" Although Zenobia had figured out Luca''s n, she gritted her teeth in fury, wishing she could tear the ungrateful boy apart, y him alive, and crush his bones into dust.


    But in the end, she reluctantly agreed.


    Luca was right¡ªshe was indeed bound by Sophia, and the restrictions were far stronger and more inescapable than the ones Luca had ced on Jormungandr.


    This was a divine spell she had cast on herself all those years ago in an attempt to leave herself a slim chance of survival. With her current power, there was no way to break it.


    The only way to break these chains was through the power of the Celestial Pearl.


    So to her, this artifact was far more than just a treasure¡ªit was a necessity.


    She had to get it, no matter the cost.


    Seeing Zenobia agree, Luca felt a sense of relief. Dealing with a deity was never without its pressures. Even if her power was no longer as terrifying as it once was, dealing with him, a mere mortal, would still be as easy as swatting a fly. Fortunately, she had chosen topromise in the end.


    "Now, what should we do next?" Luca took out the shard of the Primordial Crystal from his storage ring, its seven-colored glow shimmering in the light as he looked toward Zenobia.


    Zenobia was in a foul mood, so much so that she didn''t even feel like speaking to Luca. With a wave of her hand, a surge of purple divine power shot out,nding directly on the shard of the Primordial Crystal.


    Immediately, the seven-colored crystal began to melt at a visible speed, transforming into a pool of liquid that rapidly merged with Luca''s body.


    Almost instantly, Luca felt an overwhelming force, like an ocean crashing into him, flooding his body with power. Chapter Your:


    Hiss!


    Luca sucked in a sharp breath. The torrent of power felt like a violent tsunami crashing against his blood and flesh, threatening to tear his body apart.


    With no preparation whatsoever, Luca had just enough time to curse before the intense pain, as if his very flesh were being torn apart, engulfed him.


    The game''s pain suppression mechanism seemed to have failed at this moment. His body''s protective instincts tried to make him faint, but the force continued to expand his body and divine soul.


    His senses became razor-sharp, and the pain was magnified to the extreme¡ªthis felt worse than death.


    [Ding! You have absorbed the "Primordial Crystal Shard" and gained 14 Source Power!]


    [Ding! You have absorbed the "Primordial Crystal Shard" and gained 27 Source Power!]


    [Ding! You have absorbed the "Primordial Crystal Shard" and gained 36 Source Power!]


    ...


    Game notifications popped up, but Luca didn''t notice them at all.


    His body trembled, his eyes bloodshot, and he couldn''t help but punch the ground.


    Boom!!The ground shook, and the stone tiles around him shattered as the immense force caused a deep, bottomless pit to form in the pce courtyard.


    Below the ground, Luca''s palm pressed against the earth, gritting his teeth as his skin visibly turned blood red.


    A stream of heat rose from his head, and he felt like a lobster being boiled alive.


    Though he could feel his strength increasing rapidly, if Luca had the choice to make again, he would absolutely notchoose to absorb this so-called Primordial Crystal!


    "Luca!" Above the pit, Sophia''s eyes shed with worry.


    She quickly turned to re at Zenobia, her killing intent palpable. "What did you do?!"


    Faced with Sophia''s questioning, Zenobia shrugged and said, "I didn''t do anything. He asked me to help him integrate the Primordial Crystal, and I just did as he asked. It''s just that..."


    Her lips curled into azy smirk. "It''s just that divine power and Source Power naturally repel each other. Forcing the absorption is almost like remaking his entire body, but this was his choice. You can''t me me."


    "You''d better pray nothing happens to him," Sophia''s chest heaved with icy fury. "Otherwise, I''ll make you pay."


    With that, ignoring Zenobia''s dark expression, Sophia jumped straight into the pit below.

 Chapter 206 Source Power! Breaking and Rebuilding! The Goddess of Hope!

    When Luca regained consciousness, he found a set of velvet nkets draped over him. The luxurious chambers around him felt vaguely familiar, and a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance lingered in the air.


    He quickly recognized it as Fratis''s room.


    "Master Luca has awakened! Quickly, inform Her Majesty the Queen!" A joyful voice came from the side.


    The maid who had been waiting noticed immediately that he had regained consciousness and hurriedly went out to report.


    "Finally, it''s over," Luca muttered, ignoring the maid beside him. He held his head as he sat up.


    Feeling like he had narrowly escaped death.


    The pain of having the Source Power wash through his body was no less than the agony of having his flesh and bones crushed repeatedly while conscious. Even with Luca''s endurance, it had been almost too much to bear.


    Fortunately, he had made it through.


    He was dressed in silk undergarments, and as he stepped down from the bed amid the maidens'' surprised exmations.


    Luca took a moment to calm his mind. He then used his mental energy to inspect his own body.What he discovered was striking.


    Within his blood and flesh, there seemed to be a hot current surging through him. Luca could clearly feel that his body was now brimming with boundless strength, and his entire being felt lighter, as though he had been reborn.


    There was no sense of difort whatsoever.


    Luca opened his status panel to take a look.


    The light shed briefly, and the virtual game interface appeared before him.


    [Name: Luca]


    [Level: LV 46]


    [Talent: Heaven''s Blessing Divine Body]


    [ss: Demonic Rune Mage, Witch Doctor, Dreamweaver, Fate-Swapping Master, zing Sunwalker]


    [Health: 860,000]


    [Mana: 1,230,000]


    [Divine Power: 109]


    [Source Power: 324]


    [Attack: 313,000 - 335,000]


    [Attributes: Strength: 36,000, Spirit: 45,000, Stamina: 21,000, Agility: 19,000]


    [Special: Charm 500, Perception 500, Aptitude 500, Luck 500]


    [Titles: Unrivaled in Elegance and Charm, Peerless Appearance, Dangerous Perception, Son of Luck, Master of Asceticism¡­]


    ...


    When Luca saw the numbers on the panel, even though he had prepared himself mentally, he couldn''t help but take a sharp breath.


    After absorbing the divine shard, his stats had not only increased several times over but his special attributes had also surged dramatically, all reaching a value of 500.


    What surprised Luca even more was that a new entry, "Source Power," had appeared on his panel. If "Divine Power" was the manifestation of a deity''s strength, then "Source Power" should likely be the power of the Ancient Gods.


    However, its exact function remained unclear to him.


    While Luca was deep in thought, the door to the room suddenly swung open.


    A group of people rushed in, their faces filled with excitement. Winston, Ziegfried, Evelyn, as well as Augustine, Selin, Lucia, and Fratis had all arrived.


    "You finally woke up!" Lucia hurried over and began examining him from head to toe. After confirming there was nothing wrong with him, she let out a long sigh of relief.


    "Why are all of you here?" Luca was surprised to see so many people. He hadn''t expected such a gathering.


    "We were just discussing matters in the great hall when the maid came in to tell us you were awake," Sophia exined.


    At that moment, Luca noticed that Fratis was also there. She was dressed in an incredibly luxurious golden royal robe and wore a magnificent golden crown adorned with jewels.


    Compared to her previous youthful demeanor, she now exuded an air of authority and nobility.


    "I''m relieved you''re alright," Fratis sighed in relief.


    When Luca heard that, he recalled how Fratis had been so terrified when he suddenly passed out a few days ago. It had worried her greatly.


    Chapter Experience:


    Luca looked at the royal robe Fratis was wearing, then smiled wryly at everyone and asked, "How long have I been asleep?"


    "Three days. The coronation ceremony just ended yesterday," Ziegfried, the fifth prince, answered. Then, with a hint of confusion, he asked, "What happened that day? Why did you suddenly faint?"


    Augustine also looked at him in surprise and said, "We thought something was wrong with your body. We had you checked multiple times, but there was nothing physically wrong."


    Sophia bit her lip and instinctively turned her head away. The past few days, she had been the most worried. If something had really happened to Luca, Sophia knew she would never be able to forgive herself.


    "It''s nothing, just a little ident while practicing a secret technique," Luca casually exined. He couldn''t exactly tell them that he had fainted from the overwhelming pain of absorbing the Source Crystal''s power.


    At that moment, Evelyn stepped forward and ced her palm on his wrist. After sensing his condition, her gaze suddenly became a little strange. "By the way, what exactly did you gain from this opportunity?"


    "Your strength now... I can''t even sense it anymore."


    The others, reminded by Evelyn''s words, also noticed something was off.


    Luca''s previous aura and vitality had been incredibly strong. Even from a distance, one could feel his presence.


    But now, it was as though he had be an ordinary person. Even though he stood right in front of them, none of them could detect any fluctuations in his energy. This left everyone in the room feeling a bit puzzled.


    As Luca was trying to figure out how to cover up his situation, Sophia suddenly spoke up, "It''s possible that Luca''s body hasn''t fully recovered yet. Let''s not disturb him, everyone. Let''s give him some rest and head out for now."


    Although everyone was curious, they didn''t press further. They exchanged a few words with Luca, reminding him to take care of himself and assuring him that matters in Dawn City were under control. Then, they left the royal chambers, leaving only Sophia and Lucia to stay and watch over him.


    "My body''s almost fully recovered; there''s no need to worry," Luca reassured the two women, before asking, "I wonder how things are going in Dawn City now?"


    "Thanks to you," Lucia said with a smile. "The First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Fourth Prince, along with the noble factions that supported them, have all been cleaned out. Their power and influence have beenpletely redistributed."


    "Yesterday, Fratis was crowned. Those nobles are all trembling, afraid of being held ountable for their actionster."


    "From now on, the Clinton Empire''s power structure will be reshuffled, and Dawn City is back in order. It''s like a rebirth after destruction."


    Luca felt a sense of relief hearing this. As long as things on Fratis'' side were settled, he no longer had any worries.


    After a moment of thought, Luca turned to Lucia and said, "I might need to head to the Western Sea soon. Do you want toe with us, teacher?"


    "Why are you going to the Western Sea?" Lucia asked, surprised. Sophia, on the other hand, seemed to have anticipated this and merely nodded.


    Although they didn''t know the exact location of the Celestial Pearl, it was certain that it was somewhere in the Western Sea. Coincidentally, Luca''s territory, Hain County, was also located there, so they had to make the trip.


    "We''re going to check on my territory," Luca exined. "It''s been a long time, and as the lord, I can''t just ignore it. I''m bringing you along to help guide me, teacher."


    Sophia, being the daughter of the Ryanthe Count, had received the best education from a young age and had the experience for such a task. Lucia didn''t think much of it and simply said, "Just make sure youe back soon. I won''t be joining you; the association and academy have been busy, and I need to help them manage things."


    She was, of course, referring to Augustine and Selin.


    Luca smiled, "Once things settle over there, we''lle back and take you with us, teacher. The Western Coast is a great ce to retire, even in the entire Eternal Continent."


    "Now you''re thinking about your teacher too? Guess you''ve still got a little conscience left," Lucia said, rolling her eyes, though her tone betrayed the smile she couldn''t quite suppress.


    ...


    The situation was smoothed over, and Luca''s health was no longer a concern. The little detour was soon behind them.


    After leaving the pce, Luca made his way to Dawn City and found Tia.


    "Master, are you nning to head to the Western Sea?" Tia, still recovering from the shock of Luca being fine, was caught off guard by the news, her eyes widening in surprise.


    Mira raised her hand, asking eagerly, "Can wee with you, Master?"


    The other high-ranking members of the Hope God Sect looked at him with eager expressions, hoping to continue following in his footsteps.


    "I''m afraid that''s not possible," Luca shook his head and smiled. "I''m going over there to handle some matters, and I likely won''t be returning until everything is taken care of. The exact timing is uncertain."


    "The Hope God Sect is still in its infancy. I''ve already spoken with Her Majesty the Queen, and as long as the sect doesn''t do anything evil or immoral, she won''t interfere with its development. She''s also agreed to establish the Hope God Sect as the new state religion."


    "This period is crucial for the Hope God Sect, and it''s more important that you remain here to support it."


    As he spoke, Luca''s hands glowed with the dreamlike power of Dreamweaving, which gradually coalesced into two gems.


    The gems shimmered with a mix of dreamlike and rainbow-colored light, so magnificent that they seemed to belong to another world entirely.


    "What is this...?" Tia and the others could sense a very strange power emanating from the gems.


    It was simr to Dreamweaving power, but it felt slightly different.


    "These are gems infused with dream power and a special kind of energy. You can call them ''Hope Gems,''" Luca casually exined.


    These two gems were created by Luca, merging his Dreamweaving power with Source Energy. After some experimentation, Luca discovered that one of the abilities of Source Energy was¡­


    Enhancement¡ªand it was enhancement with no side effects!


    Abilities enhanced by Source Energy would have much stronger effects, easily surpassing their previous potency by more than ten times!


    "Tia," Luca turned to her with a smile, "From today on, I appoint you as the first Hope Goddess of the Hope God Sect."


    "From now on, you will have full authority to manage the sect."


    As his words fell, the two Hope Gems slowly floated into the air.


    Onended in Tia''s hand, while the other merged into Mira''s forehead.


    Mira''s body trembled slightly, and her previously pale face began to regain some color. Vitality emanated from her as her form, which had only been a projection of illusion until now, quickly became solid under the influence of this power.


    The colorful lights intertwined, and the energy finally formed a strange symbol on her forehead¡ªan incredibly mystical sight!


    Everyone, including Tia, watched in stunned silence.


    They could all feel an unprecedented life force emanating from Mira!


    It wasn''t like the vitality of an ordinary human, but neither was it like anything they had seen before. It was somethingpletely different, almost like a new kind of being.


    "This feeling..." Mira stared at her hands in a daze, feeling as though some kind of restraint had been broken.


    The soul-binding shackles had vanished, leaving her with a profound sense of rebirth.


    Luca didn''t respond but instead gently patted Mira''s head.


    He smiled and said, "From today on, you are free."

 Chapter 207 Heading to Haillan County! Marcels Deal! Superclass Warship!

    The next day at noon, with the zing sun high in the sky.


    Aluxurious flying ship lifted off from the Dawn City docks, heading westward.


    It was Luca and his party setting off.


    There were no grand farewells, no ceremonies.


    Aside from informing a few people, Luca didn''t linger.


    He left immediately with Sophia and a few guards, officially heading toward the Western Territory.


    For Luca, keeping a low profile was more appropriate than drawing attention. After everything that had happened in Dawn City, Luca guessed his portrait had probably been pinned to the desks of many powerful figures across the Eternal Continent.


    Letting others know his whereabouts could invite unwanted trouble along the way.


    If it was a Superss powerhouse, he could manage. Jormungandr could hold off most of them. But if some ancient Transcendent-level figure came looking for trouble, he''d be forced to fight.


    Although he still had some trump cards, like the Source Energy, resources were limited. Once they ran out, replenishing them could take a long time.


    So unless absolutely necessary, Luca didn''t want to stir up any more trouble.


    However, Luca didn''t expect what happened next.


    Barely half a day into the flight, trouble found him.


    The flying ship was intercepted mid-air.


    "Marcel! Why aren''t you returning to the All-Beings Empire and instead following me?" Luca stood on the gangnk, watching the All-Beings Empire warship unt its presence and couldn''t help butin.


    A few shadowy figures dropped from the warship onto the deck, and it was none other than Marcel and Krik.


    "No matter what, I did buy you a drink. Isn''t it a bit too rude to leave without saying goodbye?" Marcel said in his usual carefree manner, while Krik and the others instinctively moved a little further away from him.


    Luca sneered. "You didn''t say a word when you ran off at the banquet. Now you want to bring up the word ''friendship''?"


    "I was drunk, alright?" Marcel scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.


    Who would''ve thought that the kid was this strong and wiped out all the rebels by himself?


    If he had known, he would''ve made sure to stomp Milo''s old face in a few more times.


    Knowing Marcel''s temperament, Luca didn''t feel like arguing. He just said, "If you have something to say, spit it out. If not, leave. I still have to go to my territory, and I don''t have time to waste with you."


    Marcel was displeased and raised his head, saying, "What''s with this attitude? I, the great ck Dragon Marcel... Ugh!"


    Before he could finish his sentence, Krik quickly covered his mouth, silencing him.


    A noble from the All-Beings Empire, his legs trembling, smiled obsequiously at Luca. "Lord Luca, please don''t be angry. This one''s a bit out of his mind. Don''t pay him any mind."


    "We''re here to discuss a business deal with you," he added quickly, trying to steer the conversation in a more serious direction.


    "A business deal?" Luca nced at the enormous warship that had intercepted his vessel. "If you hadn''t said anything, I would have thought you were trying to rob me."


    The nobles shot Marcel a fierce re.


    If it hadn''t been for that idiot giving the order to intercept Luca''s ship, they wouldn''t have had to meet this way.


    "Come on in, then. Let me see what kind of business you want to talk about," Luca said with a cold grunt, turning toward the ship''s main hall.


    He already had a few guesses about their intentions. He was somewhat interested in the All-Beings Empire''s business dealings, and he was just putting on an act to make it easier to drive a hard bargainter.


    The nobles let out a long breath of relief, and Krik finally released Marcel''s mouth.


    Krik gave Marcel a stern warning. "Keep your mouth shut. We''re here to ask him for something, not to insult him."


    Marcel didn''t respond, but spat in disgust, grimacing. "Did you not wash your hands or something? Why do you smell so bad?"


    "Do I?" Krik sniffed his hands. "Probably just forgot to wash after scratching my feet."


    "You son of a¡ªUgh!" Marcel turned pale.


    Rushing to the side of the ship and leaning over the railing to puke uncontrobly.


    Luca waited in the hall for a few minutes, and when he saw Marcel again.


    He couldn''t help but notice the dragon looked a little off, clearly not in his usual state.


    "Uh, what happened to him?" Luca pointed at the limp and defeated-looking Marcel, feeling a bit puzzled.


    Krik chuckled. "Nothing serious. Just ate something bad."


    Ate something bad? What could possibly make someone of the Dragon Race¡ªwhose physique was practically indestructible¡ªget food poisoning?


    Luca nced at the barely-conscious Marcel but didn''t bother asking further. "Alright, enough with the nonsense. What kind of deal do you want to discuss?"


    Among the nobles, one of the chubbier figures carefully spoke up. "I''ve heard that Lord Luca''s territory is Hain County?"


    "Yes, it''s Hain County," Luca replied with a nod.


    Upon hearing this, the nobles exchanged nces, their eyes glimmering with evident excitement.


    "Hahaha, that''s great! That''s perfect!" The nobleughed loudly. "In that case, I''ll get straight to the point. Our All-Beings Empire is located in the far northern regions. The resources here are scarce, and the only area with somewhat essible sea trade routes is the coastal zone with lower temperatures."


    "Hain County is the trade hub of the western coast, and it''s also quite close, so we were wondering if Count Luca would be interested in a partnership with us?"


    After saying this, all the nobles, including Marcel, eagerly looked at Luca.


    The Clinton Empire is located in the southwest of the Eternal Continent, rich in resources, vastnds, and a thriving maritime trade.


    In contrast, the All-Beings Empire is situated in the northeastern part of the continent, bordering Via, Clinton, and several smaller nations. However, the climate there is harsh, with snow that never melts.


    Although the All-Beings Empire is rich in metals, gems, and other resources, food and textiles are extremely scarce. This is reflected in the fact that they use metal warships for transportation.


    Luca had already anticipated this situation and calmly replied, "The two countries should already have established trade routes. Whye to me now for a partnership? I haven''t even had the chance to visit my own territory yet."


    Marcel sneered, "It''s not that we didn''t want to work with others, but¡­ well, others already¡­"


    Cough!The noble quickly cleared his throat and shot Marcel a stern look.


    The others were baffled. How could someone as brilliant and powerful as the Dragon King have such an utterly useless son?


    Another noble spoke up respectfully, "The reason we''re seeking Count Luca''s cooperation is precisely because we recognize your potential. We believe it won''t be long before you gain control over a significant portion of Clinton''s territory."


    "Heh." Luca sneered. If he believed that, he''d be a fool.


    He stood up and said, "I don''t have time to waste. If you don''t want to discuss business, then leave."


    Just then, Sophia, who had been resting in the room, walked over, apanied by two maids.


    "What''s going on here?" She looked over at Marcel and the others, then turned her gaze to Luca with a questioning expression.


    "It''s nothing. They''re just here to see me off," Luca said casually.


    Sophia nced around at the now quieter room, and sensing it wasn''t the right time to talk business, nodded slightly. "When you''re done here,e find me. I need to discuss something with you."


    Luca nodded in acknowledgment. After Sophia left, Marcel shot a dissatisfied nce at the nobles and muttered, "You can''t fool this kid, so why waste your breath?"


    Then he turned to Luca, spread his hands, and said honestly, "The All-Beings Empire and the Clinton Empire do have trade routes, but the problem is, these routes are no longer in our hands¡­"


    After Marcel''s exnation, Luca finally understood the situation in the All-Beings Empire.


    The trade rtionship between the All-Beings Empire and the Clinton Empire had been established for many years without issue.


    However, recently, tensions between the four kings had been rising, leading to continuous instability.


    While the trade routes between the two empires hadn''t been severed, they were now controlled by the other three kings. If the Dragon King wanted resources, he had to spend a lot more money, and the resources avable to him were severely limited.


    Continuing like this definitely wouldn''t work. The main reason Marcel and his group came to the Clinton Empire this time was to solve this very problem. However, they hadn''t expected that the Clinton Empire was also facing both internal and external troubles.


    Fortunately, unlike their own empire, which had been dragging its feet for so long, the Clinton Empire hadpleted its reforms in a rtively short amount of time.


    After speaking, Marcel shrugged and said, "That''s the situation. The main reason we''re seeking your cooperation is because it carries the least risk."


    After all, anyone with half a brain could see that this kid''s connections in Clinton were incredibly strong now...


    Luca nodded slightly and asked, "What kind of deal are you proposing?"


    Marcel and the others froze for a moment upon hearing this.


    Before their eyes lit up with excitement.


    The fact that Luca responded this way meant that there was a real chance!


    Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Marcel quickly said, "Weapons, metals, gems, even warships! As long as you can provide enough food, wine, and cloth, we can sell you whatever you need!"


    He didn''t hesitate for a second,ying out his side''s most significant bargaining chips.


    Luca, on the other hand, immediately threw out his own demands: "In addition to equipment, metals, and materials, I also require magical-tech warships and ck Thorn warships."


    Magical-tech warships and ck Thorn warships?!As soon as he said this, everyone in the room gasped, staring at Luca in disbelief.


    Magical-tech warships were produced by the Via Empire, equipped with magical cannons capable of taking down Superss beings head-on. In the past, when the All-Beings Empire was short on metals, they had a close trade rtionship with Via, and the Dragon King had even managed to acquire a few of them.


    The ck Thorn warships, on the other hand, were a specialty of the All-Beings Empire, made from Superss-grade metal known as "Thorn ck Steel," which could even withstand a full-force strike from a Sky-level powerhouse. They were incredibly expensive to produce.


    Why would he need these two types of warships if he wasn''t nning on fighting?


    Could it be that he really wanted to rebel?


    Luca, however, paid no attention to their changing expressions. He calmly sipped his tea and said, "These two types of warships are my terms. If you agree, I can offer you trade deals on par with Via Empire''s prices for maritime trade."


    "If not, then we won''t discuss this matter further."


    The western seas were vast and full of unknown dangers. The warships were his capital for exploring the western seas.


    So no matter what, he had to get them.

 Chapter 208 Zenobias Subtle Moves! Silent Treatment! Seaway City!

    The ck warship cleared a path, flying towards the north.


    Luca stood on the deck, watching as the people from the All-Beings Empire left.


    Marcel had hesitated for a long time before ultimately not agreeing on the spot. He said he needed to consult with the Dragon King first.


    Luca knew that this wasn''t a decision he could make, so he wasn''t in a hurry.


    He told the other party that if there was any news, it could be sent to Seaway City in Hain County, where he would be staying at the lord''s mansion for the time being.


    Once the All-Beings Empire''s flying vessel hadpletely disappeared from sight, Luca turned and walked into the cabin.


    Not long after, he arrived outside Sophia''s room.


    He raised his hand and knocked on the door.


    With a creak, the door opened.


    Sophia was standing behind it, wearing a light blue nightgown, her delicate face expressionless.


    She nced at Luca, then turned and said, "Come in."


    Luca nodded slightly and stepped inside.


    The luxurious bedroom was dimly lit. Thick curtains were drawn over the windows, and only the magical bedsidemp cast a warm light, making the room seem somewhat intimate.


    However, the two people in the room clearly had no such intentions.


    Luca did not sit down but spoke directly, "I''m not sure why you called for me."


    "It''s about the Celestial Pearl," Sophia said while pouring tea.


    Luca instinctively nced at the blue crystal ring in her hand.


    Before he could speak, Sophia continued, "Don''t worry. Right now, it''s my time. Her Perception is blocked, so she can''t hear our conversation."


    "Your time?" Luca''s sharp mind caught the implication in her words. He furrowed his brow, an inexplicable bad feeling stirring in his chest.


    "Right now, we''re sharing one body. During the day, it''s mine; at night, it''s hers." Sophia turned around and handed him a steaming teacup.


    Her expression was calm, and her tone was as neutral as if she were simply saying that she had split a cake in half, not referring to her own body.


    Luca felt his heart tighten. He could easily guess why Sophia had ended up in this state¡­


    "What can I do to help?" Luca took the teacup from her, his gaze lingering on her. There was a hint of guilt in his eyes. After all, she was bearing the consequences for him.


    Sophia shook her head. "You don''t need to do anything. When I received the Ice Snow Goddess'' inheritance in the Divine Ruins Secret Realm, I triggered some divine spell."


    "Her divine soul took the opportunity to merge with my body. But this divine spell also restricts Zenobia, preventing her from doing anything harmful to me."


    "She''s currently unable to break this divine spell, so you don''t need to worry about my safety. The reason I asked you toe here is to remind you of something else."


    She looked at Luca seriously and said, "If, and I mean if, you really find the Celestial Pearl, make sure she doesn''t get her hands on it.


    "Ever since you gave her the Demon Box, Zenobia has been studying it non-stop.


    "Although I don''t know exactly what she intends to do with it, I''m certain it''s not good. If she gets hold of the Celestial Pearl and breaks free from her current limitations..."


    Sophia didn''t continue.


    Because something like this had already happened 100,000 years ago, and both the gods and the Divine Court paid the price for it.


    Even back then, when the gods were at their peak, it was a disaster. If Zenobia were to break free now, in this era of the Eternal Continent, it''s terrifying to imagine what would happen to the world.


    "I understand." Luca nodded. Even without Sophia''s warning, he would never give Zenobia the God-King''s treasureagain.


    If he did, even if the game hadn''t arrived yet, the two worlds would never return to peace.


    Although Zenobia had been betrayed by the Ancient Gods back then, it didn''t mean her power was any weaker than theirs.


    After all, this goddess of the Sin Domain was truly the Lord of the Abyss!


    As Luca was about to close the door after leaving the room, Sophia seemed to remember something.


    "Oh, and there''s one more thing," she said.


    Luca stopped in his tracks and looked at her in confusion.


    Sophia fiddled with her teacup and said, "Catherine''s ce of enlistment is not far from Hain County. In ourst letter, I mentioned that we''d be heading to Hain County soon.


    "She mighte to see us in a few days."


    Luca was momentarily stunned upon hearing this. He couldn''t help but picture the image of a tall, graceful woman with wine-red hair, standing tall with confidence.


    He had thought it would be a while before he would see her again, but it seemed that it would happen much sooner than expected.


    ...


    As time passed, the flying ship continued its journey westward, heading towards Hain County.


    The temperature grew hotter by the day, and the water elements in the air were several times higher than in other regions.


    From the sky, one could see vast stretches of lush, greennd dotted with many rivers andkes of various sizes.


    Among them, fishing boats were everywhere, looking like diligent ants at work.


    Not far from these areas were many fishing viges of all sizes. In the mornings, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of the viges, creating a more vibrant, rustic atmospherepared to Dawn City, which had a more solemn and quiet vibe.


    Standing on the deck, Luca could already spot Seaway City, nestled on thend. Beyond it, to the west,y the vast and boundless sea.


    The deep blue sea reflected the ring golden light of the sun, stretching endlessly beyond the horizon.


    The salty, humid sea breeze swept past, and Luca could already smell the distinctive fishy scent carried by the ocean air.


    If one wanted to put it more elegantly, one could simply call it the "scent of the sea."


    This was thergest sea area in the entire Eternal Continent¡ªthe Western Sea!


    "Finally, we''re here." Luca stretchedzily.


    Afaint smile appearing on his face.


    After days of flying aboard the ship, his routine had been nothing but crafting magic runes and sparring with Sophia.


    It felt dull and monotonous, like being stuck in prison.


    Such a peaceful, idle life was something Luca found hard to adapt to.


    Thankfully, they had finally reached their destination.


    At that moment, a cold voice suddenly rang out beside him.


    Causing his smile to freeze on his face.


    "We''ll have a match once we reach Hen City. This time, I won''t lose again," Sophia said, her arms crossed, her tone t.


    "Senior, how about we just skip it this time?" Luca turned his head stiffly, a bitter smile on his face.


    Although his level hadn''t yet reached the higher tiers, after several rounds of tempering and with his battle experience honed in the apocalypse, Luca''s strength was far beyond Sophia''s current level.


    Thus, in all their previous sparring sessions, Luca had always won decisively.


    This didn''t sit well with his proud senior.


    So, after every loss, she insisted on challenging Luca again. If she lost, she would keep going until she was utterly exhausted, copsing from fatigue before she would stop.


    Luca had considered letting her win once, but after Sophia had seen his true strength, she could immediately tell if he was holding back.


    If that happened, she would feel deeply humiliated and would turn her frustration into even more violent and self-destructive attacks.


    There was no way out¡ªLuca had to face her every time.


    These past few days, she had really worn him out, and he was desperate to take a break from the constant sparring.


    But Sophia clearly wasn''t nning to let him off the hook.


    She fixed him with her ice-blue gaze, her expression as cold as ever. She didn''t speak, just stared at him relentlessly, her eyes sharp like two arrows.


    After a while, Luca started to feel like ants were crawling all over his body. His face became ufortable, as though he were a guilty man caught in the act of a crime.


    "I surrender..." Luca held out for only a few minutes before finally giving in.


    He had no choice but to agree to his stubborn senior''s request. He knew if he didn''t, Sophia would keep staring at him like that, day in and day out. Luca had tried to resist before, but her persistence far exceeded his expectations.


    Now, was this considered emotional abuse? Luca couldn''t help but silentlyin to himself as he saw the satisfied expression returning to Sophia''s face.


    By this time, their flying ship was already approaching Seaway City. In the sky, countless other flying ships were either taking off ornding.


    From above, it was clear that the city was even more prosperous than the once-bustling Southwind City.


    Seaway City had an overall circryout, withrge drainage canals running through the center, wide enough to amodate several boats sailing side by side.


    Compared to the towering, grand structures of Dawn City, the buildings in Seaway City were lower and more delicate in design.


    The streets, paved with blue stone, were lined with white-walled, red-tiled stone lofts. The roofs were arched, better suited to withstand fierce winds and heavy rain.


    At the heart of the city stood an exquisite castle, which served as the Lord''s residence. Surrounding it was a thick defensive stone wall.


    Ships and merchant caravans, loaded with vast amounts of goods, made their way along the canals toward the city gates.


    They had to pass through inspection by the city guards before they could enter the city.


    When the flying ship finally settled at the dock.


    Luca and Sophia disembarked together.


    Ahead of them, a long line had already formed, filled with people waiting to have their identities and goods checked by the soldiers.


    Neither Luca nor Sophia revealed their true identities.


    Like everyone else, they presented their passes to enter Seaway City.


    As soon as they stepped out of the dock, a group of men dressed in gray cloth robes immediately surrounded them.


    Luca nced at them, quickly realizing they were a group of carriage drivers, but he didn''t pay them much attention.


    One of them, wearing a broad grin, enthusiastically approached them. "Where are you two fine folks heading? For just 20 copper coins, I can take you anywhere in Seaway City!"


    "20 copper coins? Old John, you''re shameless!" Another man nearby chimed in, pping his chest and confidently addressing Luca. "Young brother, take my carriage! For only 15 copper coins, I''ll get you where you need to go!"


    At that moment, others joined in, each touting their own offers. "My horse runs faster than yours!" "My carriage is morefortable!" "My price is lower than his!"


    Thepetition was fierce.


    Passersby who had stopped to watch couldn''t help but stare.


    Wondering why they weren''t getting such treatment.


    To be honest, anyone with a sharp eye could tell that these two young travelers, from their attire, appearance, and the aura they carried, were not ordinary.


    Especially the young woman in the blue dress.


    These carriage drivers had spent many years hanging around Seaway City''s docks.


    They had seen all sorts of people.


    But they could all agree on one thing.


    In their entire lives, they had never seen a girl as stunning as her.

 Chapter 209 Western Sea Gold Rush! The Lost Kingdom! The First Player!

    As for the young man beside her¡­


    With such a beautiful girl by his side, and apanied by several maidservants, it was clear he was no ordinary person either.


    In other words, just by offering them a ride, it was likely that one trip would equal several days'' worth of ie for the carriage drivers.


    How could they not be enthusiastic?


    "Too expensive, I can''t afford it," Luca rolled his eyes and dragged Sophia away.


    These guys were just trying to fleece him.


    Even if he had the money, he wasn''t about to be the fool in this transaction.


    Sophia nced at her hand but didn''t resist.


    She allowed Luca to pull her through the crowd.


    Behind them, the group of carriage drivers was left standing there, dumbfounded and filled with regret.


    Once they had moved away from the dock, Luca stopped at the side of the road and inquired about hiring a luxury carriage. He quickly found out that the fare to the Lord''s residence was only 3 copper coins.


    That bunch of scammers had tried to charge him five times that amount!


    Luca made a mental note to deal with the corruption in Seaway City once he took over the city''s affairs.


    With that, Luca rented two carriages.


    One for himself and Sophia.


    And the other for the maidservants.


    The group then headed toward the Lord''s residence in Seaway City.


    Meanwhile, near the dock¡­


    A young man with seaweed-like hair, dressed in rough gray cloth, a sack draped over his shoulder.


    Stood gazing at the direction the carriages had gone.


    "Isaac, what are you looking at?" A sturdy young man with short red hair pped him on the back.


    He quickly nced over at the foreman''s location and whispered, "Get to work! If that bastard notices you''re cking off again, he''ll cut your wages."


    Isaac remained silent, not responding.


    He slowly lowered the sack from his shoulder.


    Then, to the red-haired boy''s shock, he walked straight up to the foreman.


    "I''m quitting," Isaac said calmly.


    Without a second nce at the stunned faces of the others.


    He turned and headed straight for the center of Seaway City.


    His eyes sparkled with a fiery determination.


    The luxury carriage continued its journey. Along the road, shops of all kinds were scattered in an orderly fashion. There were nobles dressed in fine clothes, chatting andughing; there were also burly men shouting and waving their fists, spewing spit as they argued.


    At street corners, scantily dressed women boldly solicited customers, while scruffy beggars with shifty eyes were on the lookout for easy targets.


    Luca observed the city with great interest, noticing that although Seaway City appeared prosperous and extravagant on the surface, the underlying atmosphere was clearly one of violence and darkness.


    The streets were bustling with people¡ªmerchants, adventurers, orcs, bounty hunters, and countless others. There was a wide variety of individuals in the crowd.


    He even spotted a few pirates swaggering down the street. Most of them exuded a faint, or sometimes strong, scent of seawater and fish.


    The pedestrians, however, seemedpletely ustomed to it.


    This matched what he had learned previously.


    Port cities, while rich and thriving, were infamous for being hotbeds of crime and corruption.


    Seaway City, located at the crossroads of two great domains and close to the Western Sea, was naturally a haven for those who preferred to stay out of the public eye.


    The Western Sea was thergest ocean in the Eternal World, vast and seemingly endless, scattered with inds like countless stars in the sky.


    Countless countries, cities, pirate groups, and races were spread across the sea, forming a chaotic but thrivingwork of power.


    Beneath the waters of the Western Sea, there were also countless rare treasures and priceless artifacts hidden deep in the ocean''s depths.


    ording to legend, the Fourth Empire, Farenbain, was swallowed by a tsunami and now lies asleep somewhere at the bottom of the sea.


    Over the years, many sailors have searched for this lost kingdom, but none have ever found it.


    Yet, every year, countless treasure hunters venture into the depths of the Western Sea in search of hidden riches.


    In addition to the treasures lying at the ocean''s bottom, there is another reason why adventurers flock to these waters.ording to thews of the Clinton Empire.


    If a sailor discovers a living ind with valuable resources, they are entitled to 30% of itsnd and resource allocation, effectively bing the lord of the ind.


    It''s a chance to rise from obscurity to unimaginable wealth in an instant.


    In this vast sea, tales of sailors bing overnight millionaires after discovering a living ind aremon, and so are the reckless adventurers who risk their lives in pursuit of these riches.


    Seaway City, being one of the most prosperous cities near the Western Sea, naturally became a gathering ce for all these gold-seekers: sailors, bounty hunters, pirates, adventurers, and more.


    "Would you let go now?" A cold voice broke through Luca''s thoughts.


    Sophia was ring at him, her tone carrying a hint of frost, but there was a faint blush on her otherwise delicate face.


    Since Luca had grabbed her hand to pull her away from the crowd of carriage drivers, he hadn''t let go, clearly doing it on purpose.


    Luca snapped back to reality at her words. He turned his head and met Sophia''s angry and embarrassed gaze for a moment.


    He blinked once, then turned back as if he hadn''t heard a thing.


    His shamelessness was truly astonishing.


    Seeing that her hand was still firmly held, Sophia tugged twice, but couldn''t free herself.


    She pressed her lips together, finally giving up on struggling.


    She turned her head to look out the window, though the redness on her face only deepened.


    Passersby on the street caught a glimpse of the scene, and their eyes widened with awe, unable to hide their admiration. They thought to themselves that even the legendary goddesses must pale inparison.


    "God damn!" At that moment, a startled exmation suddenly rang out from the side of the road.


    Ben, dressed in leather armor, widened his eyes as he looked in the direction of the departing carriage. He turned to Ada beside him, excitedly saying, "Sister, did you see that? Did you see that?!"


    "It''s Sophia and Luca! They''ve finally arrived!"


    "I saw it. Why are you so excited?" Ada replied helplessly, giving him a nce.


    The reason they came to Seaway City was to wait for Luca.


    They hadn''t expected him to arrive so quickly.


    They had only just arrived a few days ago, and here he was already.


    "He''s my idol! And now he''s officially the top yer in Summer Country!" Ben''s face flushed with excitement, his words practically flying out as he spoke.


    The title of the top yer here was voted on by the forum members. With the massive stir Luca had caused recently, it was only natural that he became the top yer in Summer Country.


    Now, he had a certain level of fame worldwide.


    Countless people on the inte were trying to uncover his true identity, and some even offered billions to recruit Luca into their guilds.


    Unfortunately, any news about him seemed to sink without a trace, and no one could reach him.


    Seeing his idol, who had started out just like him in Riverfall City, rise so high and now encounter him again, Ben couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement.


    "It''s hard to imagine that he''s a yer just like us." Ada, looking at the defenses of the Lord''s Manor, also had aplex expression.


    Even she never imagined that Luca would make it to such a position...


    The carriage continued on its way.


    Before long, they arrived at the Lord''s Manor.


    It was more fitting to call it a castle than a manor. As they stood before the magnificent, scenic, and luxurious structure, even Luca couldn''t help but stare in awe.


    He had heard that Seaway City was extremely wealthy, but seeing it firsthand, he now understood just how extravagant the city really was¡ªit could rival the Howard family''s estate.


    Without stopping, Luca led Sophia and the maid toward the gates of the Lord''s Manor.


    The guards at the gate immediately stepped forward to block their path.


    "Sorry, but this is the Lord''s Manor of Seaway City. Outsiders are not allowed to enter at the moment," one of the guards said apologetically.


    Although they didn''t know who these young people were, it was clear from their attire that they were no ordinary individuals, so the guards'' attitude remained respectful.


    Before Luca came to Riverfall City, not many people knew him, so naturally, no one had been informed to greet him.


    He didn''t bother with any formalities. Instead, he pulled a golden medallion from his storage ring and handed it to the guards.


    The guards, still confused, hesitated at first. But when they saw the Clinton family crest and name carved into the medallion, their expressions changed drastically.


    "Y-You are..." one guard stammered, his hand trembling as he held the medallion.


    Other guards, who had gathered around to take a look, were equally shocked. They stared at Luca in disbelief.


    After a moment of stunned silence, they immediately dropped to one knee, bowing deeply and saying in unison, "We greet you, Lord Luca, the Count!"


    This medallion was personally issued by the royal pce ¡ª the Count''smedallion!


    It was engraved with Luca''s name and special enchantments, making it impossible to counterfeit.


    Luca didn''t want to waste any more time there. He said, "Let''s go. Take me inside to have a look."


    "Yes... Yes, my lord. We will take you in immediately," the guards responded respectfully, not daring to show any hesitation.


    They quickly led Luca, Sophia, and the maid into the Lord''s Manor and notified the other people inside.


    Even in Seaway City, rumors about this young man had circted.


    Now that they saw him in person, they were not only surprised at Luca''s youth but also couldn''t hide their excitement.


    After all, he was the hero who had saved all of Dawn City!


    Soon, they passed through the garden and the za, arriving at the main hall of the Lord''s Manor.


    The hall, decorated in a ssical and elegant style, greeted them. People wereing and going, handling various tasks.


    Luca took a quick nce around. Despite the fact that many of the staff had been reassigned due to the influence of Phillips and other nobles, there were still many people busy working in the hall.


    When they saw Luca enter, they simply looked at him with curiosity before quickly returning to their duties.


    It wasn''t until the guards found a short-haired middle-aged woman wearing sses and exined Luca''s identity that everyone realized who this young man was.


    The entire hall erupted in surprise, and everyone stared at Luca in shock.


    "You are... Luca the Count?" The middle-aged woman, Dacey White, walked briskly toward them. She looked at the young man before her. Though she tried to hide it, there was a hint of disbelief in her eyes.


    Although she had known that Luca the Count was very young, Dacey never imagined that this hero of the Clinton Empire, who had recently made waves across the empire, would be a mere teenager!


    Luca didn''t respond directly. He calmly said, "Take me to see the person in charge now."


    "Y-Yes, my lord!" Dacey quickly responded, not daring to show any sign of discontent. She immediately led Luca toward the Lord''s office.


    As they departed, the hall erupted into chaos.

 Chapter 210 King of the Western Sea! Rampant Pirates! The Crusade!

    A girl at the front desk covered her mouth and said, "So this is Luca the Count. He looks so young and handsome! I wonder if he''s married yet?"


    Someone else chimed in sarcastically, "Did you not see the girl standing next to him¡­?"


    Another person frowned and asked, "Is it really true that he killed the Goddess of Dawn? Could that just be a rumor from Dawn City?"


    A nearby person shook his head and replied, "I''m not sure, but he definitely killed Duke Lyon. Otherwise, the Phillips family wouldn''t have pulled their people out."


    A coldugh rang out from another, "Ha! Whether it''s true or not, all those nobles and merchants are in for it this time."


    Hearing this, anger red in the eyes of others around them.


    Over the past few days, they had been relentlessly hassled by those nobles and merchants. Since the original staff members at the Lord''s Manor had been heavily reassigned or taken away.


    The remaining ones were under immense pressure.


    The workload had skyrocketed, and with the disruption caused by the nobility and merchants, the exhaustion was clear in the dark circles under their eyes.


    Now that Luca, the rightful Lord, had arrived, if his temperament was anything like the rumors suggested, they might finally get to vent their frustrations.


    Meanwhile.


    After passing through the stairs and the elegantly decorated hallways.


    Luca and his group soon arrived at the Lord''s office.


    However, before they could even enter the room.


    They heard the furious voice of an old man from inside.


    "That bastard Evans! How dare he extort us for ten million gold coins? Does he really think we can''t do anything to him here in Seaway City?" The man mmed his fists onto the table, shouting angrily.


    From within, another voice let out a bitterugh.


    "Well... actually, we can''t do anything to him..."


    Luca didn''t hurry to enter. He nced at Dacey, his eyes filled with curiosity.


    Seeing this, Dacey quickly whispered, "Evans is the leader of the ck Raven Pirates, a Supersspower, and one of the Kings of the Western Sea.


    "Just a few days ago, the youngest daughter of Marquis Gerald Barnes of the Western Territory, Ellie, came to visit, and she was unfortunately captured by him. Now, Seaway City is negotiating with him to release her."


    "Pirates extorting nobles..." Luca clicked his tongue. In just a few days without anyone keeping watch, the pirates had be so brazen.


    If they had dyed even a little longer, it was likely the entire city would have been turned into their breeding ground.


    With that thought, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.


    A luxurious office came into view, with a redwood desk in the center. Behind it sat an elderly man with graying hair, dressed in noble attire. He was furiously smashing objects, clearly in a state of rage.


    In addition to him, there was also a middle-aged man in the room with a hooked nose.


    At the sound of the door opening, both of their gazes turned toward it.


    The elderly man, whose temper was clearly vtile, didn''t even give the middle-aged woman a chance to speak. He immediately shouted, "Who let you in? Don''t you know that the Lord''s office is off-limits to outsiders? Get out of here!"


    "Lord Tark¡­" Dacey nced awkwardly at Luca, who was still expressionless, and then lowered her head to remind him, "Luca the Count has arrived."


    "Luca¡­ Luca the Count?!" Upon hearing this, the old man''s anger froze on his face, and the middle-aged man was equally startled.


    Their gazes turned back to Luca, and as they took a closer look, they saw that the young man''s features were gradually aligning with those in the image crystals.


    It really is him! The old man immediately sucked in a sharp breath.


    Thinking back to how he''d just shouted at the number one enemy of Clinton, he could feel a cold sweat break out on his forehead.


    Tark didn''t dare dy. He quickly stood up from behind the desk, trembling as he bowed to Luca. "I, Tark Blitz, pay my respects to the Count!"


    Others may not know what Luca had done after killing Lyon and Finn, but Tark was already well-aware from the reportsing from Dawn City. He knew exactly who this young man was and what he was capable of!


    After all, that was more than half of the Clinton Empire''s entire noble ss! In a single day, half of them had been ughtered by this young man!


    Even the royal family had been wiped out in the bloodbath!


    What was even more terrifying was that he hadn''t even been touched!


    The middle-aged man finally came to his senses, and his heart sank. He quickly bowed low and said with trembling voice, "Governor Nichs Davidson, I pay my respects to the Count."


    As he spoke, his voice shook, his face drained of color. He kept his head lowered, cursing Tark''s entire family in his mind.


    "Please rise. Now, tell me about the pirates from earlier," Luca said, not bothering to dwell on what had just happened. Instead, he turned to ask about what Tark had mentioned earlier.


    "Well, it''s not much¡­" Tark responded somewhat nervously, "It''s just that, without the protection of the Phillips familytely, the pirates in the sea have be somewhat uncontroble and have started raiding the merchant convoys that pass through."


    "The ck Crow Pirates, led by Evans Harry, raided a noble''s pleasure boat yesterday and demanded a ransom from us..."


    Tark began, his face turning red, even though he had been in the political game for years.


    After all, it was his mismanagement that led to this situation, and it had just so happened that his new superior had caught him right in the middle of it.


    It would be a lie to say that he wasn''t nervous.


    Luca sat back in the office chair, his expression calm. "Ransom from the officials? Are the pirates of the Western Sea really this bold?"


    "Uh..." Nichs and Tark exchanged a nce, unsure of how to respond. Because yes, the pirates of the Western Sea were indeed this audacious.


    Forget about marquises; even dukes were hardly a threat to them.


    The Western Sea was vast and boundless. After a killing spree, pirates could easily hide out on a small ind, change their appearance, and wait for the heat to die down. Once the coast was clear, they''d be back to their old ways.


    And this wasn''t the first time the ck Crow Pirates had extorted nobles.


    Before, under the protection of the Phillips family, they wouldn''t have dared to touch the major aristocrats, but they certainly went after the minor ones.


    However, this time was different. They had kidnapped the young daughter of the Western Territory Marquis, Gerald Barnes, and demanded a ransom of ten million gold coins.


    If they didn''t get it, they threatened to rape and then kill the noblewoman, dumping her body in the sea for the fish to feast on.


    When Marquis Gerald heard this, he immediately called Tark, cursing him out over the phone.


    He then gave a deadlymand: if he didn''t see his daughter by the time he arrived, Tark would join Evans in feeding the fish.


    The Western Territory''s Grand Marquis, Evelyn, was already on his way to the city and would likely arrive in a few days. That was why Tark was so furious.


    "A group of fools who don''t know their ce," Luca scoffed coldly. He then turned to Tark, who was still looking uneasy, and said calmly, "From now on, I am officially taking over the entire Bibo County.


    "Gather the men. We''re going to pay them a visit."


    After saying this, he didn''t spare another nce at the two men, and without hesitation, turned and walked out of the Lord''s office. Originally, Luca had nned to figure out how to establish his authority, intimidating the scoundrels in Seaway City and Hain County.


    But it seemed that Evans had conveniently walked right into his hands. If there was me to be ced, it could only fall on Evans for his bad luck.


    Sophia quickly followed him, leaving the two men in the office staring at each other in stunned silence.


    "This lord has quite the temper. He''s bound to offend a lot of people," Governor Nichs rubbed his temples, feeling a headacheing on.


    Dacey shook her head. "No need to worry. This lord has quite the background. Even if he turns the entire Western Sea upside down, it probably won''t matter."


    Tark gazed out toward the vast blue ocean and sighed, "It seems the tides in the Western Sea are about to change again."


    Outside the Lord''s office, following Luca''s orders, soldiers soon began to gather.


    Before long, a group of armored soldiers staggered into view.


    "Are these the defenders of Seaway City?" Luca pointed at the soldiers in front of him, all of whom were stumbling, their steps unsteady, and their faces wearing a look of arrogance.Luca''s face darkened immediately.


    These weren''t soldiers at all¡ªthese were pirates in armor!


    Tark, somewhat embarrassed, cleared his throat and said, "Seaway City was previously jointly managed by Phillips and the other major nobles."


    "After their people withdrew, these are the only soldiers left in Seaway City..."


    Luca was at a loss for words. So, it seemed that Seaway City had been hollowed out by the aristocrats, leaving behind nothing but an empty shell, a paper tiger.


    No wonder the pirates had be so audacious.


    Tark suggested, "If this won''t do, I can go to the nearby lord and ask for reinforcements."


    "Forget it, these will have to do," Luca waved his hand dismissively, no longer interested in the idea. After all, the oue of the battle wouldn''t be decided by these men.


    He turned to face the ragtag group of soldiers, his expression gradually calming. In a deep voice, he ordered, "Everyone, listen up! Prepare the ships immediately. We are setting out to hunt down the ck Crow Pirates led by Evans!


    "Whoever can bring me the head of Captain Evans, the First Mate, or the Second Mate, I''ll personally reward them with 10,000 gold coins!"


    As soon as these words left Luca''s mouth, the once listless soldiers suddenly seemed to be energized. They roared in unison, "We obey, Lord! We will surely bring back Evans'' dog head for you!"


    Luca couldn''t be bothered toment on these money-hungry soldiers. He simply waved his hand and said, "Follow me!"


    Soon, the news that Luca the Count had taken over Seaway City and was setting out to raid the ck Crow Pirates spread across Hain County.


    The entire Seaway City was thrown into an uproar. No one had expected that this young man, who had just arrived in Hain County, would make such a bold move on his first day.


    Of course, there were also many who were waiting for Luca to fail.


    Never mind Evans, who was at the level of Superss, even his First Mate, Bloody Jack, and Second Mate, One-Eyed Cameron, were high-level professionals.


    On top of that, the ck Crow Pirates had three high-tier ships. Given the current military strength of Seaway City, facing off against them head-on would be like courting disaster.

 Chapter 211 The Five Seas Chamber of Commerce! Not Interested! Throw Them All Out!

    Lucacould guess what these people were thinking. After all, if Seaway City had the ability to deal with these pirates, they wouldn''t just sit by and let them rampage without doing anything about it.


    But just because they couldn''t do anything, didn''t mean Luca was powerless.


    "A group of ants actually wants me, a King-level monster, to take action. What do you take me for?" Jormungandr hovered in the air, visibly annoyed that Luca had disturbed her sleep, grumbling incessantly.


    She was a legitimate Abyssal King, but now, in this human''s hands, she had be nothing more than a tool.


    Whenever he needed her, he''d call on her; otherwise, he couldn''t even be bothered to look her way. He was nothing but aplete jerk.


    Luca nced at Jormungandr, her cheeks puffed up in frustration, and smiled. "Didn''t you always want to eat something to replenish yourself? This time, I''ll let you eat as much as you want."


    "Are you serious?" Upon hearing this, Jormungandr''s eyes instantly lit up.


    Although her strength had already returned to the Superss level, if she kept hiding in the contract space to slowly recover, who knew how long it would take to return to her peak form?


    And Luca wouldn''t let her kill anyone, so during this time, Jormungandr had nearly gone crazy from theck of action.


    "Of course. This time, you can eat as much as you want." Luca nced at the pirates surrounding them and narrowed his eyes.


    He didn''t care what Hain County had been like before, and frankly, he couldn''t be bothered.


    Now that Hain County was his domain, he couldn''t guarantee he''d be able to govern it perfectly, but Luca could promise that, as long as he was here, no pirate would dare to invade any of its cities or towns.


    Just then, a group of elegantly dressed individuals suddenly blocked his path.


    The leader was a plump man with a handlebar mustache and a warm smile, wearing a specially tailored mage robe. Behind him, there were others who were equally well-dressed, including several nobles, even counts.


    "Can I help you?" Luca sized them up and had already guessed their identities.


    Deputy Mayor Tark whispered, "This is Geo Sack, the Vice President of the Five Seas Chamber of Commerce. Recently, they''ve been trying to take over the maritime trade in Hain County.


    "He''se in person, so he''s probably here to discuss this matter with you."


    As expected, no sooner had Tark finished speaking than Geo Sack got straight to the point: "I wonder if the Lord Mayor has some time to do some business?"


    "Not interested, move aside." Luca turned his gaze away. The Five Seas Chamber of Commerce wasn''t a local merchant guild from the Clinton Empire, but rather a multinational conglomerate spanning three great empires.


    Their headquarters was in the Via Empire. The merchants there were of a certain kind¡ªif they could squeeze out even a single coin, they would leave not a single copper behind. Ethics,w, humanity¡ªthose were long abandoned.


    While doing business with people like them could be profitable, the money was stained with too much blood, and hands would be dirty from handling it.


    Geo and the group of merchants froze for a moment upon hearing Luca''s words. They hadn''t expected him to reject them so decisively, without a hint of hesitation.


    Geo furrowed his brows, suppressing the anger rising within him, and forced a smile. "Lord Luca, perhaps you should reconsider. You haven''t even heard our terms yet. I''m sure once you do, you''ll¡ª"


    "I said, get out. Didn''t you hear me?" Luca interrupted him coldly before he could finish his sentence. His gaze hardened as he stared at Geo and the merchants, whose faces were turning from pale to red. "We know what you''re after."


    Luca''s tone grew colder. "Let me give you some advice: If you want to make money, do it honestly in Seaway City."


    "Otherwise, Milo will be your fate."


    At the mention of this name, the faces of Geo and the others instantly changed. "You know Lord Milo? What do you mean by that?" they asked, their voices tinged with disbelief.


    The news of Milo''s death had been intentionally suppressed by the people of Dawn City, and it hadn''t spread yet.


    Geo and the others, as of now, still had no idea that the once-prominent diplomatic minister had been reduced to a pile of broken flesh and parts.


    Luca wasn''t interested in exining any further.


    "We''re leaving." He waved his hand and motioned for his soldiers to follow him as they made their way toward the harbor, his expression as cold as ice.


    He didn''t know how the various factions had previously exchanged or divided their profits, but he understood who those profits came from.


    The nobles, draped in their human skins, looked all proper in their castles; the merchants, sipping blood wine atvish banquets, chatting andughing; the pirates, on their ships, devouring human flesh inrge bites.


    The leftover bones were ground into powder, mixed with mud and cement, and used to make bricks for building the city of Seaway. This, they called their prosperous world.


    And in the end? It was the ordinary people who died.


    When these people were full, perhaps they''d even mock: "A bunch of stubborn, foolish pigs! I gave you the opportunity to prove your worth and feed your families. You should be grateful to me!"


    Luca had long thought this world waspletely unreasonable.


    They ate people and still spoke so sanctimoniously about it. Damn it, they had no shame.


    Later, Luca realized that in this world, there was no real reason. If you wanted people to reason with you, you had to first raise your fist.


    Watching Luca''s retreating figure, Geo''s expression shifted through a range of emotions.


    "President, this brat is being far too arrogant. Should we teach him a lesson?" A count hurriedly stepped forward and suggested.


    However, Geo shot him a fierce re, replying, "If you want to die, don''t drag me into it."


    These nobles, perhaps too low-ranking to know, didn''t understand what kind ofmotion Luca had caused in Dawn City. But Geo knew all too well. Milo had sent word that this guy had killed Lyon and his son, Queen Matilda, and even the Goddess of Dawn God Sect, all in front of countless witnesses.


    Not to mention, even the current Empress had nearly been killed by his associates.


    Even now, Geo couldn''t understand why such a viin had been proimed an imperial hero and was now swaggering into Hain County to take up office.


    But one thing was undeniable: Luca was now one of the top, youngest, and most powerful figures in the Clinton Empire, and perhaps even the entire Eternal Continent.


    Many spected that he had used some forbidden secret technique back then.


    After a brief pause for thought, Geo spoke in a low voice: "The Chamber''s original n is on hold for now. When I return, I''ll report the matter to the president. We''ll see what the president decides, then we''ll act ordingly."


    "Report to the president?" The others were a little surprised at this.


    The president of the Five Seas Chamber of Commerce was named Rod Valvis, and not many people knew his name.


    But his other title was almost universally recognized across the Eternal Continent.


    The King of the Five Seas!


    Rod Valvis was the founder of the Five Seas Chamber, a widely acknowledged Transcendent-level powerhouse, and one of the eight ruling councilors of the Via Empire.


    A person who stood at the pinnacle of the continent, unmatched in power, wealth, and influence.


    One of the Via Empire''s own merchants hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Geo, is it really necessary to trouble the president over something like this?"


    Geo shook his head. "We''ve spent years searching for that thing. We can''t afford to be careless. And..."


    He paused, ncing toward the direction Luca had gone.


    For some reason.


    He had a strong feeling that this young man hade to the Western Sea for a reason, and it wouldn''t be long before he stirred up quite a bit of trouble¡­


    Luca and his soldiers made their way through the streets, moving quickly through the alleys.


    It wasn''t long before.


    They reached the docks by the coast.


    From a distance, they could already seerge ships lined up in neat rows.


    The ships were adorned with brilliant blue runes, exuding an aura of something extraordinary.


    Although the soldiers of Seaway City seemed somewhat disheartened, their ships were still impressive, equipped with magical cannons from the Via Empire and magic-powered engines. Even a high-ranking powerhouse would likely have a hard time breaking through these ships'' protective shields.


    In addition, there was a crowd gathered at the docks, murmuring as they watched the scene unfold.


    As they approached, the crowd began to whisper among themselves.


    Eyes turned toward Luca, the leader of the group. His presence sparked not only curiosity but also a mix of contempt and mockery.


    Luca looked around and was surprised to spot a number of pirates among the crowd.


    The hostile res directed at him were unmistakably from them.


    These bastards really don''t take me, their city lord, seriously!


    Luca''s lips curled into a slight smile. He suddenly stopped walking and ordered, "All soldiers, listen up!"


    His voice wasn''t loud, but it seemed to carry an unnatural force, resonating in everyone''s ears, as if it had been imbued with magic.


    The suddenmand caused over a thousand soldiers to halt in their tracks, turning to look in Luca''s direction.


    Even the onlookers stared at him in confusion.


    The young man pointed toward several pirates, who looked stunned, and spoke in a calm, indifferent tone, "From today on, I don''t want to see a single pirate near Seaway City. Throw them all out!"


    "If anyone dares to resist, they will be killed without mercy!"


    His voice wasposed and unruffled.


    Yet it felt like a bomb had exploded in the crowd.


    "What?!" The entire street erupted in astonishment!


    Even Tark, Nichs, and the others stared at him in shock, wondering if they had misheard.


    Forget about how many pirates were in Seaway City, and how much retaliation this could provoke¡ªjust rounding up these pirates was a problem in itself.


    After all, these beasts didn''t have any extra limbs. When stripped of their clothing, they looked no different from ordinary people. If it were that easy to clear out pirates, they would''ve done it long ago.


    Yet now, Luca seemed to believe he could simply get rid of them with just a handful of soldiers.


    Was he dreaming?


    Sophia nced at Luca, her expression calm, standing quietly behind him without saying a word.


    From what she knew of her junior, Luca''s sudden decision to purge the pirates likely had some deeper n behind it.


    From within the crowd, a burly man with curly hair and a scruffy beard raised his hand, pointing at his own nose.


    He looked around in confusion and said, "Hey, did you hear that? This brat said he''s going to throw us all out of Seaway City?"


    "Brothers, did I hear that right?"

 Chapter 212 Pirate Extermination! No Sympathy! Two Young Men!

    "You didn''t hear wrong, but he''s talking about pirates. What does that have to do with us?"


    The man crossed his arms, sneering at Luca. "Kid, are you still half-asleep? Who told you we''re pirates? We''rew-abiding citizens, do you understand what that means, huh?!"


    Beside him, a short man clutched his stomach,ughing loudly and without restraint. "Hahaha, this is too funny! The new city lord actually has a temper. His first day, and he wants to throw us all out of Seaway City?"


    "Ah, you really scared the life out of me!"


    A one-eyed woman, smoking a cigarette, jeered at Luca with a mocking smile. "Lord City Lord, you short of women? How about I go to the brothels in the Windflower Alley and find a few for you? How about I be your mother, huh? Hahaha!"


    The pirates burst out in raucousughter, as though they had heard the greatest joke.


    Every city lord of Hain County had wanted to exterminate them, yet here they still were.


    And those city lords? They''d already been reced countless times.


    The onlookers watching the newly appointed city lord couldn''t help but sigh.


    Looks like we have another useless fool in charge.


    A group of soldiers looked back and forth between Luca and the pirates, unsure whether they should follow orders. Deputy City Lord Tark and the governor, Nichs, exchanged nces, both seeing the bitterness in each other''s eyes.


    In their eyes, Luca, though well-intentioned, was just an ignorant, hot-headed youth. The thought of having to follow someone like him in the future filled them with dread.


    Dacey, the city lord''s secretary, stepped forward hesitantly, her face troubled. "Lord City Lord, we can''t just wipe them all out. There are too many pirates in the Western Sea."


    "And if we do kill them, the pirate groups behind them won''te after us directly, but they''ll take out their anger on the innocent vigers nearby¡­"


    When Evelyn and her husband ruled the Western Territory, they hadunched severalrge-scale pirate purges, but none of them had been particrly sessful.


    In fact, these attempts had only angered the desperate ouws, leading to significant losses in the Western Territory, and many civilians had died. If Luca insisted on this, it would be the ordinary people who would bear the brunt of the consequences, making it all for nothing.


    However, after hearing her words, Luca''s expression didn''t change. He turned to look at Tark, Nichs, and the soldiers, then calmly said, "I said kill them. Didn''t you hear me?"


    The crowd hesitated, looking at the young man. But when they met his eyes, they felt a chilling depth, as though staring into the vast ocean.


    In the calmness, it seemed as though dark currents were surging violently beneath the surface.


    At that moment, everyone felt a cold shiver down their spines.


    The soldiers gritted their teeth and began to draw their weapons.


    The sound of swords unsheathing rang out, the ng of steel on steel echoing in the air.


    A heavy, murderous atmosphere soon enveloped the street, and the surroundings grew eerily silent.


    The pirates, who had been mocking Luca just moments ago, suddenly fell silent.


    "Damn it, this brat''s serious! Run!" The pirates, realizing the gravity of the situation, felt a chill run down their spines. Without a second thought, they turned and bolted toward the crowd.


    Chaos erupted.


    Even the civilians, faces full of panic, began scattering in all directions, unwittingly aiding the pirates in their escape.


    As one pirate ran, he couldn''t resist shouting threats at Luca. "You little bastard! You''ve got guts! Daring to break the rules of the Western Sea! Just you wait! This won''t end here!"


    "Oh, I agree," Luca said, stretching out his hand with a calm smile. "This won''t end here. Come on out and enjoy this feast."


    The moment his words fell.


    The silver snake bracelet coiled around his wrist gleamed with a radiant, dreamlike glow.


    "Boom!"


    A streak of silver lightning shot skyward!


    A titanic pressure, as heavy as a mountain, descended upon all of Seaway City.


    Then, a voice¡ªdeep, resonant, and seemingly echoing from the depths of one''s soul¡ªresounded in the hearts of everyone in the city.


    "Thank you, Master!!"Jormungandr''s voice was filled with uncontainable joy, ted at the sudden opportunity.


    "What¡­ What is that?!" Countless people looked skyward, their pupils trembling in shock.


    Behind Luca, a massive silhouette emerged, blurring the line between reality and illusion. A colossal silver serpent rose to the heavens!


    Its body stretched hundreds of meters long, its silver-white scales glinting under the sunlight, reflecting a kaleidoscope of dazzling hues.


    A pair of amethyst eyes gazed down from above, surveying every person in the city with a cold, godlike detachment.


    The Lord of Dreams¡ªJormungandr!


    "A Superss monster?! That''s a Superss monster!" Tark''s head tilted upward, his eyes bulging as he stared at the sky-piercing python. His usualposure as deputy city lord evaporated, leaving him visibly shaken.


    Nichs, on the other hand, copsed onto the ground, trembling uncontrobly from a primal, overwhelming fear.


    Even though they had heard tales of Luca''s exploits in upending Dawn City, witnessing this firsthand left them in disbelief.


    A Superss monster¡ªa being so rare that even within the entirety of Clinton Empire, they could be counted on one hand¡ªwas serving a mere boy? If they hadn''t seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn''t have dared to believe it in their lifetimes.


    Not far away, Geo and his entourage, who hadn''t yet fled the area, also caught sight of the gargantuan silver serpent.


    Every one of them couldn''t help but suck in a cold breath.


    "This kid¡­ he actually has a Superss monster!" Geo muttered, his voice trembling as cold sweat dripped down his forehead.


    Inwardly, he couldn''t help but feel immense relief at the decision he''d made earlier.


    If he had foolishly escted the situation and torn things apart with Luca, he''d likely have been annihted on the spot!


    "Leave this to you. Don''t hurt any innocent people," Luca instructed, then turned to Tark and the soldiers. "Everyone, follow me onto the ship!"


    With that, he turned and headed straight for the warship.


    Initially, he had nned to test whether these soldiers were worth further training.


    But as expected, they didn''t disappoint him.


    Pathetically bad.


    "Don''t worry, Master, I''ll take care of this," Jormungandr''s violet eyes locked onto the pirates fleeing for their lives, and her purple tongue flicked over her lips.


    The mes of sin clinging to these pirates were as obvious as fireflies in the night, even from a distance. She could smell them from miles away.


    Tark, the others, and the soldiers snapped back to their senses, shivering in realization, and quickly followed after Luca.


    In the next moment, countless streaks of twilight light exploded behind them!


    Boom!!


    Illusory serpents, like arrows of light, cut through the sky and surged toward the fleeing pirates.


    Upon contact, these serpents fused into the pirates'' bodies.


    The pirates froze in ce, their bodies suddenly stiffened.


    Then, strange, worm-like creatures began writhing beneath their skin.


    "Ahhhhhhh!!!"


    The street was filled with agonizing screams.


    As the pirates writhed on the ground, tears and snot streaming down their faces. Pale, mist-like vapor escaped their orifices, only to be greedily absorbed by Jormungandr.Her eyes shone with contentment.


    Ah, it''s been so long since I had a proper meal.


    The remaining pirates, witnessing this horror, were so terrified they nearly wet themselves. With no more thoughts of fighting, they bolted toward the outskirts of Seaway City.


    But to Jormungandr, these pirates were no different frommbs to the ughter.


    Pirates hidden throughout Seaway City were dying by the dozens in the blink of an eye.


    Looking at the corpses of the pirates.


    Their eyes wide in terror and their faces contorted in pain, everyone felt a cold shiver run down their spines, their eyes filled with dread.


    No one had expected the new city lord to be this ruthless!


    "Master, are you really going to leave that monster unchecked? It won''t kill innocent people by mistake, will it?" Dacey asked, unable to hold back, her gaze falling on Luca, who was casually sipping tea on the gangway.


    "Jormungandr can see the memories in their souls, and so can I," Luca said, his eyes glinting with violet light as he stared at the wailing souls above. "Maybe, like in some fictional tales, some people might have been forced into piracy or acted out of ignorance. But among these six hundred seventy-two pirates, I haven''t seen one who''s truly innocent."


    Tark nodded in agreement. "Don''t show any mercy to pirates. They don''t deserve it."


    There are many ways to make money on the sea, and piracy is not the only one. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have explorers, bounty hunters, and adventurers as separate professions. A normal person would never choose to live by plundering civilians and the weak on the sea.


    At this moment, the screams in Seaway City gradually started to fade. When thest echoes vanished, a streak of light shot toward Luca, materializing into a silver serpent-shaped bracelet on his wrist.


    "Report, Master, the task isplete!" Jormungandr said, letting out a satisfied burp.


    Luca could feel her power had grown stronger, likely approaching the Transcendent level. It wouldn''t be long before she was fully restored.


    "Prepare to set sail," he said to the three who were staring at his wrist.


    Nics nodded and quickly went to give orders to the sailors and helmsman to lift the anchor and depart.


    At that moment, a young voice suddenly rang out from the dock.


    "Master, please take me with you!!"


    Luca''s ears perked up; the voice sounded familiar. He turned around and saw two young boys standing at the dock.


    One of them had seaweed-like hair, while the other was a strong young man with short red hair.


    "You''re... that kid from Southwind City?" Luca paused, thinking for a moment, and then recognized him. It was the boy he had saved back in Southwind City. He was surprised to see him here.


    "Yes, it''s me, Master Luca, it''s me!" Isaac said excitedly, waving his arms. He then noticed the ship was pulling away from the dock.


    "Master, wait for me!" Isaac, now anxious, took a step forward and was about to jump into the sea. Fortunately, the red-haired boy beside him was quick enough to grab him by the arm and pull him back.

 Chapter 214: Is It Pretty? If I Die, You Will Die Too! The Pet’s Arrival?.

    Chapter 214: Is It Pretty? If I Die, You Will Die Too! The Pet¡¯s Arrival?.


    "Achoo!" Luca rubbed his nose, staring at Sophia, who stood atop the iceberg like a goddess. He said, "Senior, I think we should stop for today. I''m catching a cold from the freezing weather."


    "Swoosh!" A sharp ice de answered him.


    Luca shifted slightly, and the de grazed his nose, slicing through the air before plunging into the sea behind him, sending up a spray of water. Before the water could even settle, it froze into a delicate ice flower.


    Just as Luca was about to turn around, a sh of blue light darted across the ice surface, and Sophia was already in front of him.


    Her eyes glimmered like water, her ice-blue hair flowing in the wind, sparkling with a faint glow under the sunlight.


    At the same time, the ice sword in her hand was brought down forcefully toward his head, gathering frost and radiating immense power.


    Luca sighed inwardly, and suddenly, silver light shed at his feet. In an instant, he disappeared, reappearing behind her.Sophia furrowed her brow, reacting swiftly. She twisted her wrist, reversing her grip on the sword and thrusting it toward Luca''s abdomen.


    But she struck only empty air.


    Realizing something was wrong, she tried to pull back, but suddenly felt a sharp pain at the back of her neck. Her vision went ck.


    "I told you to finish quickly. Why didn''t you listen?" Luca muttered to himself as he reached out to catch her waist, preventing her from falling to the ground. He then skillfully lifted the unconscious senior in his arms.


    Silver light shed again beneath his feet, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared from the sea and reappeared in the hallway of the ship¡ªright where they had left earlier.


    "Luca, Sir, Miss Sophia... what happened to her?" Nichs happened to be passing by and, seeing their condition, was immediately surprised, thinking they had encountered some ident.


    "She''s fine. She just fainted," Luca casually exined before carrying Sophia back to her room. The two rooms were next to each other, so he wasn''t worried about finding it.


    Entering the room and turning on the lights, Luca ced Sophia on the bed and covered her with a nket. After a quick nce, he noticed herplexion was a little pale, likely from overexertion.


    Her naturally translucent skin appeared even more crystalline under the light, almost as if she were made of ss. A strand of hair clung to her face, and her brow was slightly furrowed, her expression showing a hint of fatigue. The usual coldness in her eyes was gone, reced with a trace of warmth. For the first time, she looked somewhat vulnerable.


    He reached out and gently brushed the strand of hair from her face. As he did so, his gaze involuntarily shifted.


    His eyes fell on the gentle curve of her chest, hidden beneath the covers.


    It wasn''trge, but it was firm and perky, so white it seemed to glow.


    He''d never really noticed it before¡­


    "Is it pretty?" A calm voice suddenly sounded in his ear. Luca instinctively nodded.


    When he came to his senses, he realized that Sophia had somehow woken up without him noticing.


    Her cold, beautiful eyes were now staring straight at him.


    "Yes, it''s pretty," Luca blinked, then quickly pulled the nket higher up to cover her chest, giving her an unapologetically cheeky smile. "Senior, you should rest early."


    As he turned and fled, he caught a glimpse of Sophia''s expression, her lips pursed and her gazeplicated.


    "Do you like this kid?"A sh of purple light appeared, and a figure identical to Sophia materialized in the room. The only difference was that her hair was purple, and the aura surrounding her waspletely different, far darker and more sinister.


    "Mm."Sophia responded calmly, without hesitation or embarrassment. She simply admitted it.


    "What''s so special about him? He looks decent, but without divine talent, he probably can''t evenpare to the lowest-level gods."


    Zenobia sat on the bed, her tone full of teasing.


    Sophia thought for a moment and then asked, somewhat puzzled, "Is there necessarily a connection between the two?"


    Zenobia didn''t reply immediately. She stared at Sophia for a while before slowly saying, "Did you tell him about my desire for the Celestial Pearl?"


    Sophia fell silent.


    "Idiot."Another cold voice rang out in the room.


    A sh of ck light, and a woman dressed in a ck gown appeared. She looked just like Sophia, but with an even colder demeanor¡ªone that radiated a deep, intrinsic indifference.


    The moment Sophia saw her, her eyes flickered. She said, "You''re not dead?"


    This woman was none other than Pandora, the Desire Demon from the Abyssal Demon Realm, who had been killed by Luca. She had died at his hands, but to Sophia''s surprise, she was now back in this world.


    Pandora sneered and said, "Do you really think so little of the power of ''Desire''? As long as the Abyssal Demon Realm''s core remains intact, I will be immortal!"


    Zenobia also curled her lips into a mocking smile, her eyes fixed on Pandora. She said, "If I can''t obtain the Celestial Pearl, you think you''ll have the freedom to live out your life with your little lover? Do you really believe that?"


    "You''ve forgotten, haven''t you? You''re nothing more than a divine soul I left behind all those years ago. When the Ancient Gods emerge from the Abyssal Realm, I will die, Pandora will die, and you will die as well."


    "We are one and the same. Help me, and you will have everything you desire. Help him, and what will you gain?"


    "Think carefully about the suffering and hardships we''ve endured, the torment the gods and the Ancient Gods inflicted upon us."


    "Do you really want to go through that again, Frost Cassiel?"


    Sophia frowned slightly. "That god died 100,000 years ago."


    "Stubborn fool!"Pandora scoffed, and her figure disappeared instantly, seemingly too tired to continue the conversation.


    Zenobia''s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before she said coldly, "I hope you really think about it. Otherwise, don''t me me for erasing your consciousness and making you vanish from this world forever."


    The next moment, Zenobia vanished as well, leaving the room silent once again, as if the two women had never been there at all. Everything felt like a mere illusion.


    Sophia stared out the window at the vast sea, lost in thought for a long time. Finally, she exhaled slowly and murmured, "Annoying."


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the real world¡­


    Luca had just returned to his room when a sharp, urgent rm sounded in his ears.


    His heart skipped a beat, and he thought something might have gone wrong in the real world.


    However, when he stepped out, he discovered that it was only Susie, excitedly tapping on his gaming pod.


    "Luca, Luca,e quickly!"Her face was flushed with excitement, her eyes sparkling as she eagerly beckoned him.


    "What are you looking at...?"Luca rubbed his brow, and only then did he notice the silver-white hamster in Susie''s hands. Its big, watery purple eyes were staring at him unblinkingly, and perched on its head was a tiny crown.


    "Holy crap! A monster!"Luca jumped, immediately sitting up in his gaming pod. He almost hurled a Divine me at it. The little hamster, startled, quickly burrowed into Susie''s already modest chest, leaving only its fluffy little backside exposed.


    "Eagle mouse?"Luca stared at the hamster''s rear for a moment before finally recognizing it. This was the same Elite eagle mouse he had seen before.


    It had appeared in the real world?!


    "Look, look! Doesn''t it look just like the little white one in the game? Even the crown is exactly the same!"Susie was overjoyed, eager to pull the eagle mouse out of her chest so Luca could get a better look.


    However, the little creature seemed to be traumatized and refused toe out, burying its head deeper into Susie''s chest.


    Luca''s lips twitched. He wanted to say, That''s your pet from the game. But the kind of monster aura it emitted left no room for mistake.


    However, he figured he''d end up exining for ages, so he simply asked, "Where did you find this eagle mouse?"


    Susie was still teasing the little creature, gently prodding it. "It was right by my bed. When I woke up from the game, I found it asleep on me. It scared the crap out of me at first."


    Luca''s eyes widened slightly. "Did youe across an Abyssal Node? You know, one of those rifts with a lot of monsters?"


    Susie paused for a moment, then replied, "Actually, I did. Didn''t you ask me to meet you in Seaway City? On the carriage ride, I passed through a town that was overrun by monsters. I overheard some nearby yers and PNC talking about a node appearing there. How did you know?"


    "That''s it then. This is the monster from your game."Luca said, understanding now, before exining further: "You must have gained the abilities from the game as well. yers who get close to an Abyssal Node often receive this kind of feedback."


    "Game feedback?"Sophia blinked, surprised. She had heard Luca mention this kind of feedback before, but she never expected it to happen to her.


    Luca grabbed the silver-white eagle mouse by the tail, pulling the overly curious and cowardly little creature out of Susie''s chest. The eagle mouse immediately started squeaking frantically."Stop squeaking. If you don''t, I''ll cook you,"Luca threatened.


    The eagle mouse immediately fell silent.


    "How did you get out of there?"Luca wondered aloud. These summoned creatures seemed a bit different from the typical yer feedback. He could feel it.


    This eagle mouse''s power was at least Diamond-level, and it was probably even stronger than him at the moment. That meant this eagle mouse had somehow brought its full in-game power into the real world, thanks to Susie''s summoning abilities!


    This eagle mouse''s power was at least Diamond-level, and it was probably even stronger than him at the moment. That meant this eagle mouse had somehow brought its full in-game power into the real world, thanks to Susie''s summoning abilities!


    Now that was interesting. Even with Luca''s current strength, he was still only mid-tier in the real world. Quagmire and the others were even weaker.


    But this eagle mouse? It had brought its full strength with it. Luca had never encountered anything like this, even with his two lifetimes of experience.


    A thought shed in his mind. If this was possible, maybe his own monster from the game could do the same. And not just any monster¡ªhe had a Transcendent-level King-ss monster!


    If he could somehow bring J?rmungandr, the stupid serpent, into the real world... wouldn''t he be invincible in the early stages of the game''s arrival?


    "Squeak squeak!!!"The white eagle mouse could understand Luca''s words. Many high-level monsters had intelligence on par with humans.


    However, after a lot of squeaking and pping around, Luca still couldn''t figure out what it was trying to say.


    In the end, Susie yed the role of trantor, exining what the little creature meant.


    And what it meant was¡­


    It had no idea either. It had just fallen asleep and woke up here.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 214: Is It Pretty? If I Die, You Will Die Too! The Pet’s Arrival?.

    Chapter 214: Is It Pretty? If I Die, You Will Die Too! The Pet¡¯s Arrival?.


    "Achoo!" Luca rubbed his nose, staring at Sophia, who stood atop the iceberg like a goddess. He said, "Senior, I think we should stop for today. I''m catching a cold from the freezing weather."


    "Swoosh!" A sharp ice de answered him.


    Luca shifted slightly, and the de grazed his nose, slicing through the air before plunging into the sea behind him, sending up a spray of water. Before the water could even settle, it froze into a delicate ice flower.


    Just as Luca was about to turn around, a sh of blue light darted across the ice surface, and Sophia was already in front of him.


    Her eyes glimmered like water, her ice-blue hair flowing in the wind, sparkling with a faint glow under the sunlight.


    At the same time, the ice sword in her hand was brought down forcefully toward his head, gathering frost and radiating immense power.


    Luca sighed inwardly, and suddenly, silver light shed at his feet. In an instant, he disappeared, reappearing behind her.Sophia furrowed her brow, reacting swiftly. She twisted her wrist, reversing her grip on the sword and thrusting it toward Luca''s abdomen.


    But she struck only empty air.


    Realizing something was wrong, she tried to pull back, but suddenly felt a sharp pain at the back of her neck. Her vision went ck.


    "I told you to finish quickly. Why didn''t you listen?" Luca muttered to himself as he reached out to catch her waist, preventing her from falling to the ground. He then skillfully lifted the unconscious senior in his arms.


    Silver light shed again beneath his feet, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared from the sea and reappeared in the hallway of the ship¡ªright where they had left earlier.


    "Luca, Sir, Miss Sophia... what happened to her?" Nichs happened to be passing by and, seeing their condition, was immediately surprised, thinking they had encountered some ident.


    "She''s fine. She just fainted," Luca casually exined before carrying Sophia back to her room. The two rooms were next to each other, so he wasn''t worried about finding it.


    Entering the room and turning on the lights, Luca ced Sophia on the bed and covered her with a nket. After a quick nce, he noticed herplexion was a little pale, likely from overexertion.


    Her naturally translucent skin appeared even more crystalline under the light, almost as if she were made of ss. A strand of hair clung to her face, and her brow was slightly furrowed, her expression showing a hint of fatigue. The usual coldness in her eyes was gone, reced with a trace of warmth. For the first time, she looked somewhat vulnerable.


    He reached out and gently brushed the strand of hair from her face. As he did so, his gaze involuntarily shifted.


    His eyes fell on the gentle curve of her chest, hidden beneath the covers.


    It wasn''trge, but it was firm and perky, so white it seemed to glow.


    He''d never really noticed it before¡­


    "Is it pretty?" A calm voice suddenly sounded in his ear. Luca instinctively nodded.


    When he came to his senses, he realized that Sophia had somehow woken up without him noticing.


    Her cold, beautiful eyes were now staring straight at him.


    "Yes, it''s pretty," Luca blinked, then quickly pulled the nket higher up to cover her chest, giving her an unapologetically cheeky smile. "Senior, you should rest early."


    As he turned and fled, he caught a glimpse of Sophia''s expression, her lips pursed and her gazeplicated.


    "Do you like this kid?"A sh of purple light appeared, and a figure identical to Sophia materialized in the room. The only difference was that her hair was purple, and the aura surrounding her waspletely different, far darker and more sinister.


    "Mm."Sophia responded calmly, without hesitation or embarrassment. She simply admitted it.


    "What''s so special about him? He looks decent, but without divine talent, he probably can''t evenpare to the lowest-level gods."


    Zenobia sat on the bed, her tone full of teasing.


    Sophia thought for a moment and then asked, somewhat puzzled, "Is there necessarily a connection between the two?"


    Zenobia didn''t reply immediately. She stared at Sophia for a while before slowly saying, "Did you tell him about my desire for the Celestial Pearl?"


    Sophia fell silent.


    "Idiot."Another cold voice rang out in the room.


    A sh of ck light, and a woman dressed in a ck gown appeared. She looked just like Sophia, but with an even colder demeanor¡ªone that radiated a deep, intrinsic indifference.


    The moment Sophia saw her, her eyes flickered. She said, "You''re not dead?"


    This woman was none other than Pandora, the Desire Demon from the Abyssal Demon Realm, who had been killed by Luca. She had died at his hands, but to Sophia''s surprise, she was now back in this world.


    Pandora sneered and said, "Do you really think so little of the power of ''Desire''? As long as the Abyssal Demon Realm''s core remains intact, I will be immortal!"


    Zenobia also curled her lips into a mocking smile, her eyes fixed on Pandora. She said, "If I can''t obtain the Celestial Pearl, you think you''ll have the freedom to live out your life with your little lover? Do you really believe that?"


    "You''ve forgotten, haven''t you? You''re nothing more than a divine soul I left behind all those years ago. When the Ancient Gods emerge from the Abyssal Realm, I will die, Pandora will die, and you will die as well."


    "We are one and the same. Help me, and you will have everything you desire. Help him, and what will you gain?"


    "Think carefully about the suffering and hardships we''ve endured, the torment the gods and the Ancient Gods inflicted upon us."


    "Do you really want to go through that again, Frost Cassiel?"


    Sophia frowned slightly. "That god died 100,000 years ago."


    "Stubborn fool!"Pandora scoffed, and her figure disappeared instantly, seemingly too tired to continue the conversation.


    Zenobia''s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before she said coldly, "I hope you really think about it. Otherwise, don''t me me for erasing your consciousness and making you vanish from this world forever."


    The next moment, Zenobia vanished as well, leaving the room silent once again, as if the two women had never been there at all. Everything felt like a mere illusion.


    Sophia stared out the window at the vast sea, lost in thought for a long time. Finally, she exhaled slowly and murmured, "Annoying."


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the real world¡­


    Luca had just returned to his room when a sharp, urgent rm sounded in his ears.


    His heart skipped a beat, and he thought something might have gone wrong in the real world.


    However, when he stepped out, he discovered that it was only Susie, excitedly tapping on his gaming pod.


    "Luca, Luca,e quickly!"Her face was flushed with excitement, her eyes sparkling as she eagerly beckoned him.


    "What are you looking at...?"Luca rubbed his brow, and only then did he notice the silver-white hamster in Susie''s hands. Its big, watery purple eyes were staring at him unblinkingly, and perched on its head was a tiny crown.


    "Holy crap! A monster!"Luca jumped, immediately sitting up in his gaming pod. He almost hurled a Divine me at it. The little hamster, startled, quickly burrowed into Susie''s already modest chest, leaving only its fluffy little backside exposed.


    "Eagle mouse?"Luca stared at the hamster''s rear for a moment before finally recognizing it. This was the same Elite eagle mouse he had seen before.


    It had appeared in the real world?!


    "Look, look! Doesn''t it look just like the little white one in the game? Even the crown is exactly the same!"Susie was overjoyed, eager to pull the eagle mouse out of her chest so Luca could get a better look.


    However, the little creature seemed to be traumatized and refused toe out, burying its head deeper into Susie''s chest.


    Luca''s lips twitched. He wanted to say, That''s your pet from the game. But the kind of monster aura it emitted left no room for mistake.


    However, he figured he''d end up exining for ages, so he simply asked, "Where did you find this eagle mouse?"


    Susie was still teasing the little creature, gently prodding it. "It was right by my bed. When I woke up from the game, I found it asleep on me. It scared the crap out of me at first."


    Luca''s eyes widened slightly. "Did youe across an Abyssal Node? You know, one of those rifts with a lot of monsters?"


    Susie paused for a moment, then replied, "Actually, I did. Didn''t you ask me to meet you in Seaway City? On the carriage ride, I passed through a town that was overrun by monsters. I overheard some nearby yers and PNC talking about a node appearing there. How did you know?"


    "That''s it then. This is the monster from your game."Luca said, understanding now, before exining further: "You must have gained the abilities from the game as well. yers who get close to an Abyssal Node often receive this kind of feedback."


    "Game feedback?"Sophia blinked, surprised. She had heard Luca mention this kind of feedback before, but she never expected it to happen to her.


    Luca grabbed the silver-white eagle mouse by the tail, pulling the overly curious and cowardly little creature out of Susie''s chest. The eagle mouse immediately started squeaking frantically."Stop squeaking. If you don''t, I''ll cook you,"Luca threatened.


    The eagle mouse immediately fell silent.


    "How did you get out of there?"Luca wondered aloud. These summoned creatures seemed a bit different from the typical yer feedback. He could feel it.


    This eagle mouse''s power was at least Diamond-level, and it was probably even stronger than him at the moment. That meant this eagle mouse had somehow brought its full in-game power into the real world, thanks to Susie''s summoning abilities!


    This eagle mouse''s power was at least Diamond-level, and it was probably even stronger than him at the moment. That meant this eagle mouse had somehow brought its full in-game power into the real world, thanks to Susie''s summoning abilities!


    Now that was interesting. Even with Luca''s current strength, he was still only mid-tier in the real world. Quagmire and the others were even weaker.


    But this eagle mouse? It had brought its full strength with it. Luca had never encountered anything like this, even with his two lifetimes of experience.


    A thought shed in his mind. If this was possible, maybe his own monster from the game could do the same. And not just any monster¡ªhe had a Transcendent-level King-ss monster!


    If he could somehow bring J?rmungandr, the stupid serpent, into the real world... wouldn''t he be invincible in the early stages of the game''s arrival?


    "Squeak squeak!!!"The white eagle mouse could understand Luca''s words. Many high-level monsters had intelligence on par with humans.


    However, after a lot of squeaking and pping around, Luca still couldn''t figure out what it was trying to say.


    In the end, Susie yed the role of trantor, exining what the little creature meant.


    And what it meant was¡­


    It had no idea either. It had just fallen asleep and woke up here.

 Chapter 215 Bug Exploit? The Sudden Assassination! Killing Branches!

    Luca''s lips twitched.


    He thought that perhaps the stupid hamster should just be cooked up.


    But after thinking it over for a moment, he had a rough idea of what was going on.


    Strictly speaking, Susie and her pet had probably encountered a bug in the game''s transition to reality.


    The Summoner ss, like the Demonic Rune Mage with their magic runes, had a fixed pet corresponding to each level. A level 10 Summoner would get a fixed pet, while temporary pets worked more like skills from other sses.


    This eagle mouse had been a fixed summon for Susie when she was still at a low level, which meant its skill level was also low.


    But in reality, the little creature was an actual Diamond-level monster.


    Unfortunately, this kind of bug wasn''t easy to replicate. After all, it wasn''tmon to run into a high-level monster that had been badly wounded, especially one that happened to be summoned while Susie was still a low-level yer.


    Luca had always thought Susie had a high luck attribute, and this situation only reinforced that. Her luck was absolutely off the charts.


    While Luca was pondering, Susie suddenly voiced her worry: "Luca, now that I''ve gained abilities from the game, will I end up mutating like you?"


    Mutating?


    What the hell was she talking about?


    Luca, his face full of ck lines, couldn''t help butment dryly on her sense of aesthetics. "Of course, you will. And you''ll end up looking just as ugly as the monsters in the game."


    "I don''t want that!" Susie''s face immediately turned pale, her expression turning pitiful, with tears welling up in her eyes. She looked just as helpless as the eagle mouse in her hands.


    "Are you two done ying around? Come out for dinner," came Zoey''s voice from outside, followed by the faint, mouth-watering smell of steak.


    "Looks like we''re having steak tonight." Luca clicked his tongue, dismissing the now-dejected Susie, who was pouting and looking forfort, and headed for the door.


    He walked down to the vi, and sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft glow on the gray istion coating. The light made it look like the outside was an unfinished building with no tiles. Suddenly, Luca felt like maybe his mom''s taste in aesthetics wasn''t so bad after all. The ones with the real issues in taste were probably him and his dad.


    Downstairs, Donald and Darabont were in short sleeves, grilling steaks, while Zoey and Sini were lounging by the poolside, soaking up the sun.


    "Where''s Susie?" Donald asked when he saw only Luca walking down.


    "Upstairs, reminiscing about her soon-to-be-past youth," Luca replied casually. He picked up a skewer of grilled meat and took a bite, only to quietly ce it back down again.


    "Speak inly!" Sini rolled her eyes in annoyance.


    Luca helplessly shrugged and said, "She''s worried about whether she''s going to turn into a monster in the future."


    Everyone exchanged confused looks.


    "What on earth is she on about¡­? I''ll go call her down." Zoey frowned and stood up, ready to go find Susie.


    Just as she was about to move.


    Ding.


    The doorbell rang.


    "Delivery?" Luca nced at the others.


    They all shrugged, signaling that the delivery wasn''t theirs.


    Ding-dong!


    The doorbell rang again.


    The rhythm was calm and unhurried. as if the person on the other side wasn''t in a rush.


    Luca furrowed his brow.


    They had only just moved in, and the only ones who knew where they were were probably people from Morning Star. It seemed unlikely anyone else would know.


    Still, to be cautious, he said, "Probably one of my friends. I''ll go check."


    The others didn''t think much of it and continued chatting.


    Luca walked towards the front door, stepping lightly along the edge of the pool.


    Just as he was about to grab the doorknob¡ª


    The doorbell rang again.


    Ding-dong!


    This time, Luca''s pupils suddenly contracted, and a chill ran down his spine. Every hair on his body stood on end.


    A powerful sense of danger mmed into him like a massive wave crashing down.


    "Danger!!!" A man and a woman''s voices sounded almost simultaneously, both ringing out in rm.


    Without thinking, Luca crossed his arms in front of his head, golden runes glowing across his forearms.


    "Boom!!"


    At the same time, a deafening explosion roared, and the specially-made alloy door was violently sted off its hinges!


    The door, propelled by a terrifying force, mmed into Luca''s body, and a zing fire instantly consumed his entire field of vision.


    Even with Luca''s exceptional physical condition, at that moment, he felt as if his internal organs had been violently shifted out of ce.


    In mid-air, he couldn''t hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood.


    What the hell?! TNT?!


    Luca was practically cursing in his mind. It was a miracle his body was strong enough, or else this bomb alone would have been enough to take his life.


    "Luca!!" Sini and Zoey, seeing Luca consumed by mes, nearly fainted from shock.


    Susie, on the balcony, covered her mouth in horror, her face turning as white as a sheet. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn''t make a sound.


    "Get them into the hidden room! Now!" Donald reacted swiftly. Reaching behind the flower bed, he grabbed two MK18 assault rifles, each equipped with a scope and muzzle suppressor.


    He tossed one rifle to Darabont, then kicked over some tables and chairs without hesitation, unleashing a rapid burst of fire into the mes.


    The sound of gunfire rang out continuously. Momentster, several pained screams pierced the air as the enemies drew closer, undeterred.


    "Move!" Darabont wasn''t the type to freeze in a critical moment. After grabbing the rifle, he quickly helped Sini and Zoey into the room, then pulled the switch on the wallmp and wooden chair, activating the hidden door.


    In a sh, he dashed up the stairs and lifted Susie off the balcony without a second thought, ignoring her desperate screams. He shoved all three women into the hidden room.


    The entire process took no more than two minutes. Before closing the door, Darabont even remembered to grab two grenades from behind the hidden room door. There wasn''t a moment of hesitation; his professionalism was on full disy.


    As the hidden door mmed shut, Darabont pressed against the wall, peering through the gap in the curtains. He saw the uninvited guests moving into his line of sight. Through the mes, several fully armed figures appeared. They were dressed in ck bulletproof gear, armed with heavy assault rifles. They were taking cover behind walls, not rushing forward but instead using their numerical advantage to suppress Donald with heavy fire.


    These people were well-trained, coordinated, and clearly not ordinary soldiers or assassins.


    "Is the target dead?" the leader of the group asked in a low voice. The others were trying to assess the situation, but with Darabont joining the fray, they couldn''t figure out Luca''s exact position.


    At the same time, the sharp sound of screams and sirens echoed through the neighborhood.


    This was Celephais'' vi district, and the police station was nearby. With all themotion, there was no way they hadn''t been alerted.


    If they could just hold out until the police arrived, it would be nearly impossible for these attackers to escape.


    The enemy, too, understood the urgency. Seeing they couldn''t take down Luca and the others quickly enough, the leader made a decisive call.


    "Retreat!" he ordered.


    Given the st from the close-range TNT explosion, there was no way Luca, even as a Morning Star yer, could have survived.


    The group exchanged nces and gave a subtle nod.


    One of them pulled a grenade from his waist, preparing to pull the pin and cover the others as they withdrew.


    "Pfft!"


    At that moment, the sound of a sharp de slicing through flesh rang out in their ears.


    Warm blood sprayed across the face of one of the assassins.


    The man froze, his hand instinctively clutching his neck, the grenade slipping from his fingers and ttering to the ground.


    They all froze, turning to look behind their fallenrade.


    To their shock, standing there was a young man covered in golden runes.


    His body battered with cuts and burns from the explosion and debris.


    Faintly visible on Luca''s chest was a massive bruise, and there was even blood at the corner of his mouth.


    But his eyes¡­ his eyes were like endless, brilliant stars¡ªcalm, deep as the ocean, without a hint of emotion.


    "He''s still alive?!" The others gasped in shock.


    The TNT explosion at close range hadn''t killed this young man?! What kind of monster was he?


    "What do you want, to die?" Luca slowly drew the weapon in his hand, allowing the body of the fallen assassin to crumple to the ground.


    His tone was t, yet it carried an undeniable murderous intent.


    It was then that the others saw it. The weapon in Luca''s hand was nothing more than a simple twig.


    The tip had been broken off into a sharp, deadly point, covered in blood, which flowed steadily and dripped onto the ground.


    This was the weapon with which he had killed one of their team members¡ªa man d in level four ballistic armor, fully armed?!


    The remaining assassins were stunned, their hands shaking as they instinctively raised their guns, aiming at Luca''s head.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang!!!


    The deafening sound of gunfire echoed throughout the entire vi district.


    In just a few seconds, their magazines had emptied entirely!


    "Quick, save him!" Darabont and Donald, inside the vi, both felt their hearts tighten.


    This kid was far too reckless. The people they were dealing with clearly weren''t ordinary assassins, and yet he had dared to charge in alone.


    There wasn''t time to dwell on this. They quickly moved toward the sound of the gunfire.


    However, by the time they reached the front door, the air outside had once again fallen into an eerie silence.


    The silence was unnerving.


    Making even their breathing careful and cautious.


    Darabont and Donald exchanged a nce and nodded.


    Darabont moved first, pressing against the wall as he crept forward, Donald following close behind.


    The two of them surged forward, side by side.


    But after just a few steps, their movements halted.


    When they saw the scene in front of them.


    Even these two men, who had witnessed their fair share of violence, both took in sharp breaths.


    His eyes were filled with disbelief.


    On thewn outside the gate, five or six bodiesy scattered about in various positions.


    Each of them had a weapon in hand, but none of them were breathing. They were all motionless on the ground.


    Each one had a blood-soaked hole in the center of their foreheads, the size of a finger.


    Luca stood at the center of the bodies, holding a twig in his hand. The ground around him was covered in blood, and his body was battered with wounds, yet he stood straight and unbowed.


    At the sound of their footsteps, he turned and looked at Donald and Darabont, who were frozen in ce.


    The two men clearly saw that a sharp, crimson glint shed in his golden eyes.


    In that moment, both Donald and Darabont felt it.


    Luca''s gaze toward them was cold¡ªemotionless, as if he were looking at two dead men.

 Chapter 216 This Slap is a Gift for You! My Time is Almost Up! Please, Mourn for Me!

    However, the feeling was fleeting.


    By the time they could react, the crimson hue in Luca''s eyes hadpletely vanished without a trace.


    "Hide. There''s a sniper," Luca said in a low voice, his gaze shifting toward a residential building over a kilometer away from the vi. His golden eyes glinted with light.


    In an instant, his pupils contracted. The scenery in front of him seemed to warp and change, focusing sharply as he peerlessly pierced through the kilometer of distance.


    On top of that building, he could clearly see the sniper, crouched down with a heavy sniper rifle, taking aim at their direction.


    The two locked eyes across the vast distance.


    The sniper, seeing those golden eyes in his scope, couldn''t help but feel a chill run down his spine.


    What a terrifying individual!


    To be able to detect his position from this far away using only Perception?!


    Without hesitation, he adjusted his aim and squeezed the trigger.


    No matter how powerful his opponent was, once the head was blown off, they were dead!


    The sniper rifle was the great equalizer!


    However, what happened next was something he couldn''t believe.


    Almost as soon as he pulled the trigger, Luca vanished from his position.


    The sniper hurriedly adjusted his scope, searching for Luca''s location, but found not a single trace.


    Where did he go?!


    The sniper was left dumbfounded. Having killed so many people in his career, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.


    Before the mission, they had been informed by their employer that the target was likely a top-level yer with Transcendent abilities.


    So, after the initial panic, the sniper quickly calmed himself.


    He made a swift decision, dismantling the entire sniper rifle into pieces and stuffing it into his carrying case. He then put on sunsses, quickly exited the building through the rear security passage, and left the area as fast as possible.


    He was one of the best professional assassins in the world. Failures like this were rare for him, but it wasn''t the first time he''d encountered them, so his mindset remained calm.


    What upied his mind now was whether he could return, pocket the payment intended for his teammate, and then demand some mentalpensation from that clueless employer.


    After all, the intel he''d received was far too vague. Had he known that his target was such a powerful individual, he wouldn''t havee even if they offered him two billion.


    Once out of the alley, he saw the busy crowd ahead.


    The sniper let out a breath of relief.


    As long as he blended into the crowd, he could make a safe escape.


    With this thought in mind, he took a step forward.


    But suddenly, a calm voice rang out from behind him, causing the assassin''s entire body to freeze, his eyes widening in disbelief beneath his sunsses.


    "You''re running a bit slowly, aren''t you?" Luca''s voice was smooth as he appeared behind the sniper. He pressed the twig against the sniper''s head, his lips curling into a cold, menacing smile.


    "How is that possible? How could you be so fast?!" The sniper''s forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat, his heart pounding in terror as though he had seen a ghost. He had chosen a spot that was over a thousand meters away from his target, and even if the opponent was as fast as ten seconds per hundred meters, it would take at least a minute to cover the distance. Yet, it took him less than 30 seconds to go from the rooftop to the ground.


    How could he possibly cross a thousand meters in such a short time and find him with such precision?!


    "You''re the kind of assassin who only knows how to deal with ordinary people. When ites to yers, you''re far from good enough," Luca said, as though he had sensed the sniper''s surprise. His voice remained calm.


    In the future, yers would level up, and a thousand-meter sniping shot would be a joke. In fact, the distance of an enemy''s movement skill was even greater. The truly top-tier snipers would wish they could shoot across half a continent to hit their target.


    And in the future, there was even one strange case where a sniper managed to kill a Superss yer with a cold shot from such a long distance, then escape without a trace. The story became famous worldwide.


    But the sniper in front of him didn''t even have the qualifications to bepared to such people.


    "Put down all your weapons and answer my questions. If I''m satisfied, maybe I''ll spare your life," Luca said, prodding the sniper''s head with the twig in his hand.


    He spoke indifferently, "Of course, you can also test if your gun is faster or my twig."


    The sniper hesitated for half a second.


    Then, decisively, he ced the suitcase down and began to remove all the weapons hidden on his body.


    Although the sniper hadn''t seen exactly how Luca had killed the other killers, he understood that Luca''s strength far exceeded his expectations. The sniper didn''t trust his own speed to shoot before Luca could puncture his skull.


    The sniper moved quickly, soon pulling out all of his weapons. A handgun, a knife, a revolver, a mini bomb, grenades, and various other items¡ªhe had arge collection of weaponry.


    Luca even spotted a bag of small balloons and a box of blue pills among the assortment.


    "Is this what you call being a killer?" Luca couldn''t help but sneer at the man. He then pocketed the small balloons and pills, just in case the sniper had something trick up his sleeve with those seemingly insignificant items. Better safe than sorry.


    "Who sent you to kill me?" Luca asked bluntly, getting straight to the point.


    The sniper hesitated for a second.


    p! A loud p rang out.


    And the sniper''s sunsses flew off his face, half of his face swelling up almost instantly.


    Luca snorted coldly, "I didn''t expect you to have some backbone. I''ll give you one more chance¡ªtell me, who sent you to kill me?"


    The sniper looked at the young man in front of him,pletely confused.


    He couldn''t understand when he had wasted his opportunity.


    Smack!


    Another pnded on his face.


    This time, the sniper''s lip was split open.


    Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.


    Luca sneered, "Good, good, good. No wonder you''re a professional killer, you''re not an ordinary person. Now I''ll give you onest chance¡ªtell me!"


    The sniper''s lip twitched, and he almost didn''t know how to curse anymore.


    Is this guy insane?!


    Seeing Luca raise his hand again.


    The sniper''s face tensed. He quickly put his hands over his head and blurted out, "It''s Celephais from the James Family! Celephais from the James Family! He offered 1 billion to hire six of us toe and kill you! It was him, don''t hit me anymore!"


    "Celephais, that son of a b*tch." Luca''s eyes shed coldly. Fortunately, they were in the safe house he had set up. If they were still staying in the previous house, even if he survived, Donald and Sini would definitely be dead.


    That bastard. I hadn''t even gone looking for trouble with him, and he came looking for me instead!


    At that moment, the sniper begged, "I''ve said it! Please, let me go. All the money is in the safe, I''ll give it to you! Everything, it''s all yours!"


    Smack!


    Luca pped him again, this time harder, knocking out two of his teeth and causing blood to pour from his ears.


    The sniper copsed to the ground, dazed, his face swollen like a pig''s. He wept bitterly, his words slurred, "Why... why are you... hitting me again..."


    "This p is a reward for you. At least you know how to be reasonable," Luca said, smiling.


    The sniper, hearing this, lifted his swollen face to look at Luca. His lips moved a few times, and then his eyes rolled back as he passed out cold.


    He actually fainted from sheer rage.


    "These days, the quality of assassins is appalling," Luca remarked, lifting the sniper''s head, ensuring he was deeply unconscious before pulling out his phone and dialing Coarmy''s number.


    The phone rang twice.


    As soon as it connected, Coarmy''s frantic voice came through.


    In the background, the sound of a police siren could be heard, suggesting he was likely in a car.


    He hurriedly said, "Kid, where are you? I just got word that the people we stationed near your ce have been killed¡ªthere are professional killersing after you! Be careful, don''t go outside!"


    Luca nced at the semi-conscious sniper on the ground and muttered, "So it turns out the cops in movies are alwayste not because the director wants to build dramatic tension or give the audience information, but because they just love showing upte..."


    "What? What are you rambling about? Did you hear what I just said?" Coarmy''s confused voice came through, sounding like he was still in the police car.


    Luca casually said, "Nothing much, I killed them all. You cane over to collect the bodies. Make sure you clean up thoroughly, don''t leave any traces for the police or the protagonists."


    He paused for a moment, ncing at therge bruise and burn mark on his chest where the skin had caved in. "By the way, call an ambnce for me. I''ve sustained serious injuries, my heart and lungs are both damaged. My time is short."


    Without waiting for Coarmy, who was on the other end of the line, to respond, Luca hung up the phone.


    ...


    Outside the military hospital in Celephais.


    A row of ck Mustangs rolled into the parking lot, followed by Quagmire, Donlow, Fuzzsir, Mnia, Coarmy, and the others, all dressed in ck uniforms. They stormed into the building with an imposing air.


    Upon hearing that Luca had been assassinated, seriously injured, and had internal organ damage, concern was written on everyone''s faces.


    "Please don''t let anything happen to him!" Donlow muttered, his eyes bloodshot, repeating the words over and over.


    The others also felt a weight pressing on their hearts.


    Soon, they arrived at the emergency room on the twelfth floor.


    As the elevator doors opened, they saw two families waiting at the end of the corridor.


    Darabont had a furrowed brow, Donald was smoking a cigarette by the window, his face tense, while Zoey, her eyes red and swollen, wasforting a tearful Sini.


    Susie, dressed in a thin nightgown, sat silently in the corner, her hair disheveled, her gaze vacant. She looked like a lifeless statue, drained of all emotion.


    Seeing this, Coarmy, as the leader, felt the need to offer some words offort to the families of the soldiers. But as he opened his mouth, he felt a lump in his throat, unable to speak a single word.


    Finally, he sighed deeply and said, "Please, ept my condolences."


    Luca... he was such a good kid. How could he be gone so soon? Heaven has no eyes!


    As he thought this, tears welled up at the corners of his eyes.


    Just as he finished speaking, Coarmy quickly realized something was wrong.


    The two families, all five members from each, were now staring at him with odd expressions.


    "Condolences?"

 Chapter 217 Reimbursement? Charge it to his account! The unlucky Coarmy! It’s my honor!

    Donald walked up to Coarmy with a grim expression.


    Even though Coarmy was a head taller than him.


    He couldn''t shake the immense sense of pressure he felt from the man standing before him.


    "Who told you my son is dead?" Donald red at Coarmy, his fists cracking with tension.


    If I told you, would you believe that your son himself said it?


    Coarmy''s lips moved, but the absurd words stayed unspoken.


    He was too stunned inside.


    Could it be that even with a crushed heart, that kid is still alive? Is he some kind of cockroach?


    And why does everyone act as if he''s on the verge of death?


    Quagmire and the others exchanged confused nces. They didn''t know how the rumor started, but somehow it spread that Luca was about to die.


    From the looks of it, however, his condition didn''t seem too serious.


    While they were pondering this, the door of the ICU, covered by thick istion curtains, was pushed open.


    A middle-aged doctor, wearing a mask and sses, stepped out and asked, "Who is the patient''s family member?"


    "I am!" "I am!" "I am!"¡­


    Sini, Donald, Darabont, Zoey, and Susie all raised their hands in unison.


    The group crowded around the doctor.


    The doctor rubbed his temples with some frustration and said, "Only one representative needs toe forward."


    Donald stepped forward, his face full of concern, and asked, "Doctor, how is my son doing now?"


    The middle-aged doctor replied, "For now, there''s no immediate threat to his life. This kid''s recovery and vitality are somewhat..."


    He paused to choose his words carefully and then said, "As strong as a cockroach."


    Sini immediately frowned and said, "What do you mean by that? Are you calling someone a cockroach?"


    The middle-aged doctor let out a wry smile and said, "It''s meant as apliment. I''ve been a doctor for over twenty years, but I''ve never seen such a strong recovery rate before."


    "If you''re interested, you can have him contact domestic medical research institutions. I''m sure someone will be interested in studying him. If any breakthroughse out of it, it could contribute to global medical progress..."


    As he spoke, the doctor began pulling business cards from his pocket.


    The gleam in his eyes, visible through his sses, radiated hope and a desire for the global advancement of medicine.


    Sini and Donald, of course, had no interest in letting their son be a test subject.


    After finally getting rid of the enthusiastic attending doctor, they saw Luca being wheeled out and transferred to a regr hospital room.


    He was dressed in a hospital gown, hisplexion normal. When he saw everyone, he even raised his hand in a friendly greeting and smiled, saying, "Hey, everyone''s here."


    Susie''s eyes reddened, and she immediately threw herself into his arms, crying loudly as she hugged Luca. The little eagle mouse was squashed and screeching in pain, while Luca gritted his teeth, clearly ufortable.


    Through her tears, she said, "I thought you were really going to die this time. You scared me to death..."


    Luca, though still grumbling, gave her a gentle look and, while stroking her soft, long hair, said, "Don''t worry, I''m fine."


    Seeing that Luca was okay and even had enough energy to bicker, the others all breathed a sigh of relief.


    The assassination attempt had been incredibly close. Luca had been just a door away from TNT. A regr person would''ve been torn to shreds in that instant, but now seeing him alive and well, everyone couldn''t help but marvel at how incredibly tough he was.


    Donlow pressed his lips together, his gaze shifting to the girl who was still in Luca''s embrace. A fleeting hint of envy appeared in his eyes.


    At that moment, Coarmy spoke, his tone irritated. "By the way, didn''t you say you were fatally injured? You don''t look so bad now."


    Luca shot him a puzzled look. "What, just because I''m severely injured I have to be on myst breath? Who made that rule?"


    At that point, the attending doctor, adjusting his sses, added, "This young man''s heart and internal organs were severely damaged. If it were an ordinary person, they''d probably be heading straight to the crematorium by now."


    [What?] Coarmy thought.


    Coarmy was momentarily speechless. "Alright, fine, as long as you''re okay. Mr. Drumph heard about what happened and is nning toe all the way from Kyoto to see you."


    He paused, his gaze turning cold. "Don''t worry, we''ll take care of this. Anyone who dares to hurt a member of Morning Star, even if they''re from the James Family, will have to be ready to face the consequences."


    At these words, everyone''s eyes shed with a cold, determined look.


    It didn''t matter how powerful the James Family was¡ªthis wouldn''t just be brushed aside.


    Luca chuckled. "Well, thanks in advance, then."


    Though he said that, in his heart, he had already made a decision.


    The next time he saw Celephais, he would personally settle the score!


    If someone came to kill you and you didn''t fight back.


    That wasn''t called having a big-picture perspective¡ªit was called being a coward.


    At that moment, Luca suddenly remembered something.


    He looked at Coarmy and asked, "By the way, does this mean I don''t need toplete this month''s Transcendent mission?"


    Coarmy smiled. "Of course, we at Morning Star aren''t some evil corporation that exploits its employees. Just focus on recovering in the hospital for now. You don''t need to worry about the Transcendent mission."


    Luca''s eyes brightened. "So... does that mean the organization will reimburse my medical expenses?"


    "You''re really getting cozy with this ''our organization'' thing," Luca thought, silently rolling his eyes.


    However, Coarmy still nodded and said, "Reimbursed, and you''ll get paid leave until you recover. After all, the benefits at Morning Star are... well, they''re known worldwide."


    Luca turned to the attending doctor and said, "Doctor, could you extend my stay in a deluxe VIP room for two more years? Charge it to his ount."


    As he spoke, he made sure the doctor knew exactly who to bill.


    Pointing at Coarmy''s nose.


    Paid leave with no work¡ªwhere else could you find such a goodpany?


    This was the perfect opportunity to milk it for all it was worth!


    Coarmy''s smile immediately froze on his face.


    Two years?!


    What, are you nning to live in the hospital from now on?


    Fuzzsir''s eyes suddenly lit up. "Luca, you''re a genius! Why didn''t I think of that?"


    "We can just retire in the hospital!"


    "Not only do we not have to work, but we also get health insurance, retirement benefits, and free meals and amodation!"


    The more he spoke, the more excited he became, his pale face flushing with color.


    Before anyone couldment on Fuzzsir''s apparent insanity, he suddenly pulled out a dagger from somewhere and, with a wild grin, shouted, "Hahaha! The good life is here! I''ming for it!"


    Without hesitation, he thrust the knife straight toward his own heart, and his movement was swift, decisive, and brutal.


    Everyone was caught off guard by Fuzzsir''s sudden craziness. Luca noticed what was happening but couldn''t react in time to stop him.


    "Are you out of your mind?!" Coarmy was livid.


    If you want to be a parasite, fine, but do you really have to aim for your heart? What kind of lunatic¡ª


    In the nick of time, Mnia reacted with lightning speed and pped Fuzzsir''s hand.


    The dagger flew out of his grip with a sharp ng.


    The impact was so strong that Mnia nearly used all her strength to knock it away. The knife zipped through the air like a bullet, narrowly missing Luca''s nose, before mming into his hospital bed and bouncing off.


    ng!


    Coarmy''s body stiffened.


    In an instant, the entire corridor fell into silence.


    Coarmy slowly turned his head and looked at his own backside.


    His face turned from white to red, then back to white again.


    He wanted to scream in pain and rage but remembered he was in a hospital.


    His face went from purple to ck, like he was going through a dramatic face-change¡ªtruly a sight to behold.


    Everyone else had to fight to keep fromughing, their lips twitching as they struggled to hold it in.


    This guy is seriously unlucky! How on earth did he manage to get caught up in this?


    "Fuzzsir!" Coarmy gritted his teeth, yanking the knife out. Blood sttered everywhere.


    Looking at Fuzzsir''s innocent expression, Coarmy''s eyes turned red with rage.


    Grinding his teeth, he spat each word out slowly, "You''re not working tomorrow! Go clean the headquarters!"


    Fuzzsir obediently replied, "Alright, boss."


    ¡­


    That night, the moon hung high in the sky.


    In avishly decorated penthouse in the center of Celephais.


    Nomadey, holding his phone, spoke excitedly, "Master Celephais, I can say with confidence¡ªLuca is definitely dead this time!"


    "I heard gunshots and explosions from his side, and I even made some inquiries with the police. Five people were confirmed dead. The police are currently hunting down the murderer, and the whole city is under lockdown."


    On the other end of the line, Celephais''s voice came through, cold and mocking.


    "Good. I was wondering why I hadn''t heard anything yet. I thought maybe something went wrong, but it turns out they were just hiding from the police."


    "Alright, you''ve done well. After this, you stick with me. Once I''m done with Susie, you can have your turn, however you want."


    Nomadey''s fist tightened instinctively, his expression shifting with anger.


    ording to the original deal, once Luca was dead, Susie was supposed to be his.


    But now this bastard had changed his mind halfway through, and that angered him beyond measure.


    "What? Do you have a problem with that? Or are you attached to the girl?" Though Celephais couldn''t see Nomadey, it seemed he guessed his current mood. His voice turned mocking as he narrowed his eyes.


    Nomadey was silent for a moment, then forced a smile back onto his face. "Master Celephais, you''re thinking too much. It''s just a woman. There''s no need to hesitate. Besides, it''s an honor to share a woman with you, Master Celephais."


    "As long as you understand," Celephais responded, clearly satisfied with Nomadey''s attitude. A dog should know how to act like a dog.


    Once the call ended, Nomadey''s expression instantly turned dark. He threw the phone across the room in a fit of rage.


    Bang! The phone, which had cost him thousands, was instantly reduced to a pile of scrap metal.


    He raged through the room, smashing things left and right, his face contorted with fury as he roared, "Damn you, bastard! How dare you think you''re worthy of being with Susie? Without that good family background, what the hell are you, Celephais?"

 Chapter 218 How should I thank you? Next, it’s you, Celephais! Fight to the bitter end!

    After venting his anger, the entire living room was left in ruins.


    "Yeah, having a good family background really makes you powerful," Nomadey said weakly, slumped on the sofa, a look of dejection on his face. "No matter how angry you get, what can you do to him?"


    "I can make him kneel and call me ''father,'' not kneel and serve him like a dog." A calm voice echoed through the living room.


    Nomadey jumped, startled.


    "Who''s there?" His face changed, and he immediately tried to get up. But as soon as he stood halfway, he froze. A cold de pressed against his neck, sending a chilling shiver through his spine.


    "Brother, if it''s money or something else you want, just say the word. Don''t hurt me. I beg you, just take the money and leave," he said, raising his hands in surrender and even closing his eyes in fear.


    "When you were chasing Susie, I didn''t see you being this spineless when I beat you up," Luca said, retracting the knife. He looked at the guy he''d known for three years, a mocking smile ying on his lips. "Three years have passed, and not only have you made no progress, but you''ve also thrown away whatever dignity and boundaries you had left."


    "Nomadey, you really are going backward in life."


    Nomadey had only found the voice familiar before, but now he recognized it.


    "Luca?! You''re still alive!!" His eyes flew open in shock. Staring at the face he would love to tear to pieces in his dreams, Nomadey''s expression turned to one of sheer terror.


    After all, that was the top-tier assassin team hired by the James Family with a billion-dor contract!


    And yet, despite all those people, they hadn''t managed to kill Luca?!


    Not only had they failed, but Luca had also found his way to Nomadey''s house!


    It didn''t take much to figure out that Luca had traced this back to him, seeking revenge for his involvement behind the scenes!


    "Because of you, I almost had my heart blown apart, and my family almost got killed," Luca said, picking up a bottle of red wine from the floor. The knife in his hand gleamed coldly.


    The top of the wine bottle slid off smoothly, its cut sharp and clean.


    Looking at the wide-eyed Nomadey, Luca smiled. "So, tell me, how should I thank you?"


    Nomadey, seeing Luca advancing, hastily stepped back. "Luca, this isn''t my fault! If you have the guts, go after Celephais! What do you want with me?!"


    Just as he was about to turn and run, he realized, with a sinking feeling, that he had backed himself into a corner.


    His face drained of color as he stared at Luca, who was drawing closer with every step. Pressing himself into the wall, Nomadey''s voice trembled. "Luca... you... don''t do anything rash! I warn you, this is a society governed by the rule ofw!"


    "If I die, you won''t escape either! Susie will still end up as Celephais''s ything, and you..."


    Before Nomadey could finish, Luca''s gaze shifted, and the cold light of the de shed in his hand.


    The sharp knife sliced through the air with such speed that no image of it even registered on Nomadey''s retina.


    Instantly, Nomadey felt a sharp pain in his wrist, as if it had been scratched by ss.


    He instinctively looked down, and his pupils dted in horror. A line of blood appeared on his wrist.


    Then, before his wide eyes, his hand slowly slid off.


    It finally fell to the ground.


    Nomadey stared at the severed hand lying on the floor, stunned for two seconds. Slowly, his mouth hung open, seemingly unable to believe what he was seeing.


    It wasn''t until the blood started pouring out of the wound like a fountain, spilling everywhere, that the pain hit him like a tidal wave. His pupils shook, and he let out an agonizing scream.


    "Ahhhhhh!!!"


    The sound of his wailing echoed through the night like a banshee''s cry!


    But it was blocked by a faint purple energy shield.


    Even if the entire house exploded, no one upstairs or downstairs would hear a single sound from within the room.


    "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!!" Nomadey cried out in pain, kneeling on the floor and clutching his severed arm, sobbing and writhing in agony.


    Luca watched indifferently, his expression emotionless, not a shred of pity in his eyes.


    He thought about what would happen if he had really died¡ªwhat would happen to his parents, his uncles and aunts, and Susie? What would be her fate?


    And Sophia, Fratis, and all those who depended on him to survive.


    Would their suffering be worse than Nomadey''s current situation? Would they cry even more heartbreakingly?


    Mercy in the apocalypse was a rare and noble thing, but it was alsoughable.


    Especially mercy toward your enemies.


    The intense pain sent shockwaves through Nomadey''s nerves, and the blood pooled around him, formingrge patches of crimson. After half a minute of screaming, his eyes rolled back, and he passed out in the bloodstained floor.


    Luca stepped on the severed arm with a firm stomp and, as Nomadey continued his pitiful screams, he slowly poured the red wine from the bottle onto the bleeding wound.


    "Everyone has to pay for their actions, myself included," Luca said, looking down at the twisted face of Nomadey, who now resembled something more like a squirming maggot. "However, the price I have to pay depends on the fact that you''re stronger than me."


    "Clearly, Nomadey, you don''t meet that criterion."


    Moonlight poured into the room, mixing with the red wine and blood that stained the floor. The screams and pleas for mercy formed a symphony in the night.


    Luca had never been hesitant to use the most vicious methods to torment his enemies, making sure they felt the greatest pain and malice before they died.


    Because it served as a constant reminder that if he ever lost, the people behind him would face the same fate.


    Feeling his life slipping away, Nomadey''s face twisted in agony. He wept, his voice cracking as he pleaded desperately, "Luca, save me! Save me! I know I was wrong! I really do, I don''t want to die! Please, Luca, save me!"


    "For the sake of our three years as ssmates! For the sake of us both liking Susie! Please! Please save me!"


    Luca said nothing.


    He just watched Nomadey struggle, beg, wail, curse, and regret, as his breath grew fainter and fainter.


    He watched his eyes widen in fear, unable to close, staring at him in terror.


    Finally, when Nomadey''s life hadpletely drained away, Luca knelt down beside his body, gently brushing his twisted face with his hand, closing his eyes for him.


    "Goodnight, old ssmate. I hope you have sweet dreams."


    Luca stood up and was about to leave when¡ª


    "Ding-ling-ling~ Ding-ling-ling~" The sound of a phone ringing suddenly broke the silence of the dark night.


    Luca paused, turning his head to look.


    In the darkness, a broken phone screen flickered faintly with light.


    The caller ID read "Master Celephais."


    Blood continued to trickle, soaking the phone.


    It was a phone worth over ten thousand¡ªclearly a high-quality one, as it hadn''t short-circuited or shut off despite being drenched in blood.


    "Hello? Nomadey, what the hell are you doing? Why are you taking so long to pick up? Do you have any idea how valuable my time is?" Celephais''s irritated voice immediately sted through the phone.


    "And another thing¡ªdidn''t you say Luca was dead? Why did I get news that the assassins died, but Luca was only injured?"


    "You can''t even handle something this simple. What good are you to me?"


    "Talk! Are you mute now?"


    Celephais ranted at the phone, but he received no response from Nomadey.


    "Hello? Hello! Damn it! What the hell are you doing?" Just as Celephais was about to hang up, a voice that sent a chill down his spine suddenly echoed from the phone.


    "He''s gone first. The next one is you, Celephais." Luca''s calm voice was unmistakable.


    "Luca?!" Celephais''s heart froze. "How is he at Nomadey''s ce?"


    "What do you mean, he''s gone first? Does that mean Nomadey is already...?"


    A cold shiver ran through Celephais''s body. The realization hit him hard¡ªonly a few hours had passed since Luca was supposedly assassinated.


    And now, Luca had already made his way into Nomadey''s house... and killed him.


    "Hahaha, you think I''m afraid of you? You''d better worry about yourself first! You''ve killed someone! You can forget about living the rest of your life outside of prison!" Celephais tried to mask his unease with a forceful tone, but after speaking for a while, there was still no response.


    He looked at his phone, only to realize that the call had been abruptly ended.


    Celephais''s face shifted through various expressions, and the ominous feeling gnawed at him, refusing to fade.


    Somehow, he had the unsettling sense that going after Luca had been the biggest mistake of his life.


    The worst part? He hadn''t even killed him!


    "Master, what''s going on?" The butler, drawn by the earliermotion, asked cautiously.


    "Nothing." Celephais waved a hand dismissively, then hesitated before adding, "Go to the family and ask for a few more special forces bodyguards. Also, check the dark web to see if any assassins are still taking jobs."


    "Are you not satisfied with the previous batch of people, sir?" The butler asked in surprise, noticing Celephais''s increasingly dark expression. He quickly realized the tension in the room and, understanding the situation, decided to change the subject. He paused, then added, "The people we hired before were the best killers on the dark web. If you want to find even better ones..."


    Though the butler didn''t finish his sentence, Celephais understood what he meant. The previous batch of assassins had cost him a billion, and if he wanted to hire even higher-level killers, the price would likely increase several times, or even tenfold.


    Spending such arge amount of money to take out a kid from a remote city¡­ if the James Family ever found out, he''d be theughingstock of the entire family.


    But Celephais didn''t care about that anymore.


    He nced at his phone again, his eyes growing cold. "The game is about to be reality. With the kind of enmity between us, there''s no chance for reconciliation. It''s either him dead or me dead."


    "I have no way topete with him in the game. If I don''t kill him now, once the game bes reality, there might never be another chance..."


    His fists clenched, and his voice turned ice-cold. "So no matter what the cost, Luca must die!"


    "I want to see if Luca really is invincible, impervious to knives and bullets, or if he''s just another man with a limited number of lives!"


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!