The seven trials of that night were the key to getting closer to the core of the S-tier Malevolent Phantom. If Felix missed this chance, there might not be another opportunity.When Felix remembered the little girl from the first trial, he felt a pang of regret. If he had known, he would have accepted the challenge immediately.With a snap of the gatekeeper's fingers, three figures appeared before him, leaving Felix frozen in place.That was because he knew those three people better than anyone else.One was his mother, Cordelia. Another was his wife, Nerissa. And the last was his younger sister, Melissa."What are you doing here, Felix?" Cordelia asked."Aren't we supposed to be on vacation? Honey, what's going on?" Nerissa questioned.Meanwhile, Melissa went even further. She threw herself into Felix's arms."You finally saved me! I was so scared… I wasn't hurt or anything, but losing my freedom was terrifying! Where's Ronan? Why didn't you save him too?"At first, Felix fel
Felix stared at Nerissa in shock. She clutched her stomach, her face twisted in excruciating pain.In the next moment, blood began to stream down her leg.The sight of it made Felix stumble backward several steps."No, that's impossible. It can't be…" he muttered.He felt like he was losing his mind. Could it all be real? Was Nerissa really pregnant with his child?"Why?" Nerissa sobbed. "I was planning to tell you this good news in person after our trip. We were going to have a baby. But now… now the baby is gone. Gone!"She collapsed onto the ground, weeping uncontrollably. Melissa stood frozen in fear, unable to say a word, while his mother, Cordelia, scolded him furiously.However, Felix barely registered any of it. After all, he had killed his own child. He destroyed his own flesh and blood with his bare hands.At that moment, he couldn't tell if he was trapped in reality or illusion. He was drowning in a sea of guilt.He failed to notice the anger meter on the screen ste
"What does this mean?" Felix asked.The gatekeeper only smiled, offering no hints at all.The cart was still there, fully stocked with torture tools, which meant he still had to inflict pain on someone.Felix frowned, deep in thought. Then, as if realizing something, he looked down at his own body. Since no one else had appeared, the target this time must be himself.With that thought, he lifted his right hand. A sickening crack echoed through the room as he snapped one of the fingers on his left hand.Since he had to hurt himself, there was no hesitation. This kind of pain was nothing compared to everything he'd been through. In fact, this final challenge felt like the easiest one yet.After breaking all five fingers, he broke his left arm. The bone pierced through the skin, grotesquely exposed to the air. Just looking at it was enough to make someone recoil in agony, but Felix remained unfazed. After all, this level of pain was insignificant to him.The screen showed that hi
There were seven original sins, later known as the seven deadly sins. They were pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust.The first trial Felix went through, the House of Indulgence, was clearly centered on lust. The second trial, the House of Wrath, was even more self-explanatory.With this sudden influx of information, he had learned the names of the remaining five trials, immediately making the connection to the Seven Sins.However, why did the S-tier Malevolent Phantom require someone to fully embody each of these sins?He recalled what Donna had said—an S-tier Malevolent Phantom teetering on the brink of soul collapse would instinctively seek self-preservation. The exact method was unclear, but perhaps by selecting humans who could reach the extreme limits of each sin, the spirit could consume their souls and stabilize itself. That was the most logical explanation for now."So if I clear four trials, I'll get to have dinner with the owner of Laurel Resort?"Tha
Upon hearing those words, the middle-aged man grinned proudly."Of course! I'm in charge of handling the kitchen and bathroom waste for Laurel Resort. Basically, I take out the slop. If the pay here wasn't so good, I wouldn't even bother coming once a day. I'd rather just lie around in my pigsty."Felix shook his head. He had to admit that he lost this round, fair and square. Competing in laziness with no mental preparation? Yeah, no chance of winning that.However, he did have a question. If this guy could create such a seamless illusion to catch him off guard, why hadn't the previous two stages used the same method? Was it possible that the S-tier Malevolent Phantom had its own unique interpretation of the seven deadly sins?Of course, that wasn't his problem to worry about. His job was just to get through the challenges."You have one chance to make up for it," the man offered.Felix declined immediately."No need. I give up."He wasn't stupid. After going through two trials
The voice carried undeniable authority and indescribable power. It felt only natural to kneel upon seeing the person. It was as if an instinctual urge to bow in reverence had been awakened.Felix looked up and saw a man dressed in a royal robe. The man exuded an overwhelming sense of majesty and looked just like an emperor from ancient times."Kneel? Who do you think you are?" Felix asked.His voice was calm, yet it rang out with unwavering conviction. To his surprise, the man in royal robes began to fade, disappearing entirely."Impressive. You passed the first test just like that."As the man vanished, Felix noticed a young man standing before him. His posture was casual, and he seemed almost lazy. However, the arrogance in his eyes was unmistakable."Welcome to House of Pride. I am its gatekeeper."According to religion, pride was the sin of those who held even God in contempt. Naturally, such people would think nothing of others, taking lives on nothing more than a whim."S
Passing the envy trial was pretty much out of the question for Felix. That left greed.When it came to desire, who didn't have it? No matter how powerful or wealthy someone was, there was always something or someone they longed for. Out of the remaining trials, greed seemed like the only one Felix had a real shot at passing.As he stepped into the sixth trial, a voice echoed in his ears, "Why does Lucas get to have everything? Is it just because his family has power and money? Humph! If I had that kind of background, I'd be even more respected than he is."Felix found himself wearing a school uniform, holding a chemistry textbook. He glanced at a boy nearby, surrounded by admiring classmates, and smiled."Don't overthink it. In the end, you have to rely on your own efforts. Our parents gave us life. That alone is the greatest treasure," Felix said."Tsk! You're just saying that. Your family's well-off, too, but compared to Lucas? Not even close. You expect me to believe you're not
Felix didn't hesitate. He grabbed Nerissa's hand. "The Lone Paragon is important to me, but how could it possibly compare to you?"As soon as the words left his mouth, the scene around him shifted. The familiar hall reappeared.He sighed. "I knew I wouldn't make it through."Felix let out a bitter laugh. In the end, he failed the final trial. It was a test that relied purely on his decision. Without external interference, it was impossible for him to pass. After all, he was never someone consumed by greed.Whether or not the Lone Paragon had a final piece left, choosing between it and Nerissa required no hesitation at all."You've failed. Leave now," the gatekeeper said.With no other choice, Felix walked away. He was just one step away from seeing the S-tier Malevolent Phantom. And yet, he had still fallen short.The moment he stepped out of the seventh trial, darkness engulfed him. Then, his eyes suddenly snapped open.He was still in his room. And outside, daylight had alrea
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