Felix's nose picked up that nasty smell. Even with all that perfume, the stink was impossible to miss. He zeroed in on a good-looking woman in her 20s, who was sitting with two guys and chowing down on barbecue. She looked like she was part of the group, but her eyes gave away her total lack of confidence. He snapped a quick photo and turned to Lindsay, who was already enjoying a fresh plate of barbecue. "You probably shouldn't eat too much. Aren't you afraid of putting on weight?" Lindsay just let out a devilish chuckle. "I'm one of those lucky people who never gain weight. My manager's just worried I'll wreck my voice. Most singers won't touch spicy food, and some won't even eat anything crunchy. "They're scared of some freak accident, but I couldn't care less." After Felix ordered some food, Lindsay finally felt satisfied with all the food she had. "I'm not going to let you buy me dinner for free. Come have lunch with me tomorrow. I've got a college buddy in Kashmere. She'
Felix said, "Maybe you should check out this video." Chloe was scared at first and was ready to scream for her friends. But when she saw her friends in the video, curiosity got the best of her, and she kept watching. As those nasty comments hit her ears, she saw the pure disgust in their eyes. Finally, she broke down. "You never really know people. It's best to just walk away from these young men." Chloe fought back tears as she glanced at the two young men, who were still chatting away. She muttered a quick thanks before heading in the opposite direction. Felix followed her and said, "I'm a traditional medicine practitioner. I can cure your body odor." What? Chloe looked totally shocked. As someone dealing with body odor, she knew how impossible it was to treat the condition. But her guard went up instantly. "I don't even know you. Stop following me." She knew better than to believe in free services from strangers. Even though Felix had just helped her, who knew what h
Felix asked, "Is your boss a Malevolent Phantom?" Hearing this, Reeco sneered. "Are you regretting what you've done? Too bad now. It won't help. But if you kneel and knock your head on the ground a few times, I might consider letting you go." A crisp sound rang out. Both young men collapsed to the ground while clutching one of their arms in pain, which was clearly broken. "Go ahead and send that Malevolent Phantom after me." Felix had figured it out. Whatever Malevolent Phantom they were talking about was probably just somebody's nickname. No actual Malevolent Phantom would be this brazen. Those Phantoms knew exactly how officials referred to them ever since they existed on this planet. Acting like this would be suicide. …The next day, Felix received a call from Marley at 10:00 am. "Mr. Zeller, the supplementary investigation is complete."Felix immediately perked up. This could determine the entire investigation's direction. "Were any of the dead victims known to have
Angie did not show any look of disdain to Felix, and she seemed like a nice woman. Felix replied, "You're right, Ms. Sinclair. I'll remember that." Just then, Lindsay arrived, and the atmosphere immediately became more lively. "Hey, one's my high school friend, and the other is my college friend. What a rare moment! Cheers!" After a while, Angie asked, "Lindsay, how's your entertainment career going?" Lindsay pouted. "Not great. Without a big-shot mentor as a middleman, breaking into two fields is tough. You know how it is." Angie looked sympathetic and helpless, sighing. "I can't really help with that. My dad might know some people in entertainment, but your fame is actually bigger than mine." Hearing this, Felix asked, "So, you want to do movies and TV?" Lindsay nodded. "Yeah, that's actually my dream. How fulfilling would that be to make a few films with great reviews? They might be remembered for hundreds of years! "Music's okay, but it's just sounds without a face.
Everyone looked at Felix, their eyes showing different reactions. "Felix, thanks for your good intentions. But sometimes, we just can't make things go the way we want them to." Lindsay quickly tried to smooth things over, knowing Felix meant well. But sometimes, well-meaning lies just would not cut it. Yet, Felix spoke again, "I know someone who can probably solve your current crisis. So, you really don't need to do something you don't want to do." Chad could not hold back anymore. He wondered what kind of friend Felix was to talk big so casually. "Listen up, you brat! The worst thing you can learn in life is bragging. For every lie you tell, you'll need a hundred to cover it up. Got it? "Stop giving Lindsay false hope. You're just making things worse." Angie frowned, too. Though she knew Felix meant well, how could this possibly help? "I wonder if Dreamscape could solve your problem." Dreamscape? The two who were about to leave turned back, their eyes filled with dis
Chad and Lindsay were absolutely sure that it was Dreamscape's voice. Felix asked, "Hey, do you know Lindsay?" "Yeah, she's quite good at singing. Her technique is solid, and she nails the emotional delivery. She's got a bright future ahead."Lindsay immediately covered her mouth and cried. If her comment was posted online, it would instantly boost her market value by tenfold or even hundredfold. After all, it was something Dreamscape had said. "So, here's the thing. Lindsay's my old friend, and her real dream is acting. I was wondering if you could help introduce her and help her make that dream happen." Chad was excited. Dreamscape might be just a singer, but her status in the entertainment world was unparalleled. Even a casual comment from her carried massive weight. "Sure, I'll send you my manager's number. Have Lindsay contact him. I'll put in a good word, but tell her not to forget her main gig—she really can sing." "Got it! Thanks, then. Bye!" After hanging up, th
It had only been one day since the A-tier Malevolent Phantom had last attacked. Was it losing its mind?Felix's face darkened. He didn't say a word. He just stood up and hung up the phone. "Sorry. I've got an urgent matter to handle." Normally, Angie would have thought this was incredibly rude. He had come asking for a favor, yet he was leaving so abruptly. But after what just happened, everything had changed. "Lindsay, did you really not know Dreamscape is Felix's cousin?" Lindsay gave a bitter smile. "Do I look like I know? Even if I did, I'm not the type to go begging for help." Her frustrated smile just deepened Angie's confusion. "Wow, you've just thrown me a major curveball! Felix has a connection like that, and I'm trying to find him a job? It's like teaching a professional chef how to boil water." But Lindsay saw things differently. "Angie, I can't say I know Felix super well. But from our school days and our recent encounters, I can vouch for his character. "The f
Felix nodded and said, "Exactly. Let's investigate quickly." Because of the Malevolent Phantoms, headquarters' main focus was now cases related to them. Regular cases were handed over to law enforcement so personnel could be mobilized incredibly fast. After leaving the scene, Felix went home to wait for the results. At sunset, Marley arrived. "You were right, Mr. Zeller. The young woman with the lingering fragrance definitely had body odor before her death." Felix got excited, reviewing the materials while asking, "Did you guys figure out why they were at the abandoned building?" That was the first crime scene, and Felix was sure of it. The fact that these people would go to such a remote location seemed suspicious. "Yes, we did. They would occasionally record videos about paranormal stuff. They go to scary places, then post online to gain attention and make some extra cash. "They had finished filming at the abandoned building and were probably preparing to leave when the
Felix had clearly found Holt's weak spot. These guys were so desperate to extend their lives that they turned the entire Aquamarinus into a breeding ground. Obviously, they were terrified of death. As long as there was even the slightest chance of survival, they'd take it.And sure enough, Holt immediately agreed. He pulled out some kind of device and flew off, clearly contacting his comrades."But even if I agreed," Holt said, "the three of us split up and searched in different directions. Even if they rush over, they won't make it until tomorrow."The fear in his eyes was obvious, so much so that Felix couldn't help but laugh."How interesting," Felix said. "You made a deal with the Ant Queen, right? Couldn't she at least give you something to help you move freely through Desolated Lands at night?"Holt shot him a bitter smile. "The Ant Queen's children—the soldier ants—are born hunters. That instinct can't be erased. And honestly, we've never needed to go out at night anyway."
Lumen flew out and quickly returned. Felix's expression eased completely, and with a step, he vanished from where he stood."Chasing me was fun last time, huh? Did you think it'd go the same this time?" he asked.When he reappeared, someone was already lying on the ground about ten yards ahead. It was a figure fully shrouded in a gray robe, a man named Holt Bovington.That was Felix holding back. Otherwise, Lumen's previous strike could've shattered Holt's soul on the spot."Felix Zeller? It really is you!" Holt's voice was full of shock. Whatever he'd planned to do was already too late. His soul had taken a devastating blow, and he no longer had the strength to fight."Yeah, it's me. Just like I suspected, you people really aren't all that strong when it comes to soul power."Felix had spared his life because he wanted answers."If you answer a few questions honestly, I'll let you live. Even with your soul badly damaged, I assume someone who knows about Nine Flames and Desolate
Three months later, deep within a mountain on Aquamarinus, a meeting was taking place. Who would've imagined palace-like structures hidden within the mountain itself?In one of the chambers, a sky-blue dome adorned the ceiling. Beneath it, three figures in gray robes sat cross-legged, their bodies cloaked in shadow. Their faces were completely obscured."I went to see the Ant Queen yesterday. There's definitely something wrong.""Enough with the vague talk. Be specific.""In just three months, the Ant Queen has lost millions of her children. Do you even understand what that means?"The atmosphere shifted as all three took a sharp breath. A long silence followed before one finally spoke, "Perhaps our earlier theory is right. Is someone hunting soldier ants in Desolated Lands at night?""It has to be. How else do you explain millions of casualties? At this rate, we're down to just a million soldier ants across the entire planet. If this keeps up, they'll be wiped out in a month. An
"I didn't expect you to be a doctor, too. Thanks," Myles said, but then suddenly froze. His mind started racing.Wait a minute! He took down a tiger of True Blood Realm. On top of that, he was extremely skilled in medicine. That could only mean…"You figured out who I am?" Felix asked with a smile, trying to put Myles at ease. Despite that, Myles couldn't hide his fear. "You're Felix Zeller?""That's right. Judging by your reaction, I take it I've become a traitor to The Recovery Association? Or maybe some kind of unforgivable villain?"The air grew a bit awkward, and Myles shot him a strained smile."Not exactly… It's just that you took down the Flame Monarch. That's kind of hard to wrap my head around."His expression shifted again."Actually, everyone's still pretty confused. When we woke up this morning, every city, town, and even the smallest villages received a message. Five days from now, the Flame Monarch is holding a Flame Ceremony."Felix paused, frowning. "What's t
With Lumen and Indigo attacking and the Infinite Shield defending, Felix held his ground. Occasionally, he cast minor spells that barely consumed any soul power. Even as the monsters surged toward him like a tidal wave, not one of them could so much as scratch him.Feeling the steady stream of energy flooding into him, Felix grinned. If things kept going like this, there was a high chance he'd break through to the next major soul realm—Soul Overlord Realm.If he could level up again during the elimination rounds, his odds of winning the whole thing would increase significantly. Especially since Soul Overlord Realm required soul enhancement, it was a whole different league compared to Aetherium Realm.Once he hit Soul Overlord Realm, he was confident he'd be able to go toe-to-toe in a soul battle with the powerful figure who had chased him during dusk.That guy didn't dare appear in Desolated Lands at night, which likely meant his soul wasn't strong. In that case, Felix might actual
The sun had already begun to set. After fleeing in a panic, Felix had no idea if there was even a single place ahead that could shield him from the coming darkness.A few minutes later, the presence chasing him within his domain disappeared. Logically, the pursuer should've caught up in less than ten minutes, but they gave up. Still, Felix didn't relax for a second. The darkness was about to fall, and that could only mean two things. Either the pursuer wasn't confident they could survive the desolate night themselves, or they assumed there was no flame nearby and Felix was as good as dead.Either way, this was the most dangerous moment yet.After sprinting several more miles, Felix finally stopped. All around him stretched a barren wasteland with no end in sight. Even though he had memorized maps to identify different areas, they were useless now. As darkness swallowed the land, all reference points vanished."Damn it! I guess I'll have to see for myself what the hell comes out i
When Eira and Luigi saw that Felix was determined to go through with it, they moved instantly. Appearing right in front of him, they dropped to their knees."Please, Felix! For the sake of all those innocent lives, stop.""If you're really set on taking this flame, then kill us first."Seeing the two of them so resolute, Felix hesitated. The lives of hundreds of thousands—maybe even millions—now hung in the balance, all dependent on one decision from him."I haven't known you for long," Eira continued. "But from the way you avenged the 200 people of Innswood Village, I know you're not someone who kills without reason. You'd never turn a blind eye to the lives of ordinary people. "Please show them mercy. They've already suffered enough."Tears streamed down her face. The purpose of The Recovery Association was clear—overthrow the Flame Monarch, destroy the Nine Flames, and return Aquamarinus to what it once was. However, when it came to principles and morals, they were unwaveri
Felix thought that Gerald's advice really was spot-on. If he hadn't achieved Extreme Mastery, he could still beat the Flame Monarch. However, his subsequent journey would have been difficult. Winning first place in the Rank-Ascending Competition to protect Earth would've been almost impossible.With a casual wave of Felix's hand, the Flame Monarch collapsed to the ground. Thankfully, no one was around to see it. Otherwise, they'd have been scared out of their minds.The most powerful being on Aquamarinus, the Flame Monarch, just got instantly wiped out by Felix. To Felix, it was like crushing an ant and required no effort at all."It's time to complete the mission," Felix said.Just like that, he vanished. His speed was insane because Nine Flames were all scattered far apart. Since travel was banned at night, he couldn't afford to waste even a second.Honestly, he was curious what it would be like to go out at night. However, after thinking it over, he decided it just wasn't worth
Under the sunlight, Innswood Village looked even lonelier. If it weren't for Felix standing in the open field, the place would've looked like a dead town. Soon, a sound broke through the silent air. A person stood 30 feet in front of Felix. It was the Flame Monarch, whom Felix had met once."I really thought you were a member of The Recovery Association and that you'd laid a trap here. But it turns out, you're really alone."Felix replied, "I am a member of The Recovery Association, but why do I need a trap to kill you?"Oh? A member of The Recovery Association? The Flame Monarch smiled. "You're really brave, you know. You're the first person in Aquamarinus who dares to face me like this. Even the leader of The Recovery Association had been in seclusion, trying to reach Heavenly Realm before facing me."I don't know where you get your confidence from."Initially, Felix wanted to attack immediately. But he still had questions to ask. "There are only the two of us here. Sinc