The bodies and limbs of the mall staff were trembling violently on the floor. When the two of them looked over again, the staff had all regrouped, rushing over once again.Were they indestructible like cockroaches? Felix and Esme began punching and kicking helplessly. Fortunately, they were both on solid ground. Otherwise, they would've tripped and fallen to their deaths.It took a bit of effort to finally disperse them all again. Having learned their lessons, they didn't dare to hesitate anymore and rushed up the stairs madly. Sure enough, the mall staff collected themselves and started moving much faster!It was coincidentally similar to the characteristics of Malevolent Phantoms. Was it just a coincidence or intentional? Felix pondered in his mind as they rushed through the emergency exit to the second floor with Esme. Finally, they reached the second floor of Orchard Square. The door behind them slammed shut—and there was pure silence. It was as if they were completely isolate
The large man—turned beautiful woman—left immediately without paying. Could the human skin she had taken off be payment? The saleswoman hung the human skin suit in replacement of the previous one."Let's find the entrance to the third floor," Felix said.Esme smiled bitterly, pointing to a sign not too far away. The sign said, "Customers who enter without purchasing will be regarded as 'undesirable customers.'"But how could they buy these "clothes"? They had to peel off their own skin and put on someone else's! This was more unacceptable than having their limbs sawn off on the first floor! All of a sudden, everything clicked in Felix's mind. Donna had mentioned that the third soul barrier was meant to collect soul essence. Could this be a way the Black Soul Scout collected them?Just then, the saleswoman who greeted them no longer had a kind smile. Instead, her eyes flashed green as her expression turned ugly. "Sir, madam, what do you mean by this? Are you choosing to be 'undesi
"Something's wrong," Felix muttered immediately. Esme pulled off the two charms and put it away. "I don't know what's going on yet, so I'll take the charms off first."Felix had no objections to this because he had already realized that Esme was just a tool created by the Black Soul Scout, or the soul barrier, to help him forward. With her, he was able to proceed to each floor. Otherwise, if he really thought about it, passing the first floor would be easy.But on the second floor, any ordinary person would've been killed immediately. When he understood this, he naturally knew that if he listened to Esme, he would definitely go through each floor and escape easily. This meant that he could definitely escape from this weird mall.The two of them walked through the emergency exit and once their eyes got used to the dark, they still couldn't find anyone. The entire room was in pure silence. "Should we find the next emergency exit?" Felix suggested. Esme quickly agreed. The two of
In the next moment, the floral dress wrapped itself around the body. Felix swore that he didn't blink, but the woman's body completely disappeared when the dress attached itself.It was like the body donned an invisibility cloak! No matter what this "disappearance" meant, Felix and Esme absolutely did not want to find out; even if it was just an illusion for Felix. In less than 30 seconds after the suit and dress left, a set of sportswear walked in. His voice sounded young. "Alas, it's the same as always everyday. There are no new items and I'm so tired of wearing them."The sportswear walked around the store, seeming to be inspecting each body closely before muttering something and leaving. When Felix saw that there was no one left in the store, he quickly spoke to Esme."What should we do? Hiding like this isn't ideal. Do you want to rush out and fight? We might even have a chance…"Esme shook her head slightly. "No! You saw it too! The bodies disappear as soon as the clothes t
As Felix looked at the various swarms of clothing rushing into the store, he had no time to think and decide. In his "final attempt" to escape, he closed his eyes desperately, letting the clothes swarm him.Felix had decided to take a gamble. Orchard Square had never reported a murder, after all. The Black Soul Scout had set up multiple soul barriers, making it complicated. It was definitely not for killing.Otherwise, wouldn't it be better to have done it from the start, or killed them in secret? Why did they have to go to a mall where people gather?When Felix opened his eyes again, he knew he had won his bet. At this moment, he was definitely still in Orchard Square. He was sitting on a bench and the customers who walked in and out were extremely normal.He turned to look at the time and it had been an hour since he had entered Orchard Square. Strangely, it lined up perfectly with the time he had spent in the illusion. As he glanced around, he noticed a few people sitting on cha
After some time had passed, Felix rode a rental bike to a parking spot near the rented house. After all, the show still needed to go on. At this point, his soul power had been fully restored.As for Xena, her soul must've improved as well. If he could successfully capture the Black Soul Scout, it would be like killing two birds with one stone! After paying off the bike and taking a few steps, Felix felt a dark energy coming toward him.The energy wasn't strong, but it was enough to make him trip. He didn't dodge or avoid it, just merely pretending that he didn't notice. When the dark energy reached him, his body felt unstable, falling straight to the ground."What the hell?" he muttered, getting up from the ground. He looked around but continued to walk forward helplessly.The Black Soul Scout was truly cautious. Even with three soul barriers, Felix was still being tested. Was it because of how he looked? Was this its final test?After entering the rental house, he turned on the t
Kingston's soul was covered in dense soul ties, and countless threads wove through his soul."I'm a Black Soul Scout, second to the White Soul Scout! I have many secrets up my sleeves. Do you really think you can get priceless information out of me, Felix? Stop your wishful thinking!" he sneered smugly."Maybe you think you're truly powerful, but these ties are all linked together! Just cutting one would crush my entire soul. In the end, you'll get nothing!"Felix had miscalculated. He didn't expect the Scarlet Lord to be so cunning."I'd advise you to let me go. Just because we're not confronting you head-on, doesn't mean we're afraid of you! There are reasons why we're not. But if you kill a Black Soul Scout like me, the Hall of Souls will definitely go to war with you!"As Kingston spoke, he felt like he had more and more control over the situation; like the tides were turning in his favor. "You've provoked the Ancient Sage, killing two of his Eight Guardians. Do you really t
Felix hadn't realized anything was wrong until he returned to Newtown that evening. He was totally stunned when he saw the scene before him. "What's going on here?" The massive living room was filled with beautiful women. Besides Eloise, Dahlia, and Karina, all his other fellow apprentices had somehow arrived. Including Nerissa, there were seven gorgeous women in total. Felix felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, and he felt nervous. After all, what man wouldn't feel uncomfortable with seven beautiful women giving him such suggestive looks? "Don't ask. It was all Aunt Cordelia who invited us here," Rosalie said with a mischievous smile before Cordelia stood up. "Alright, everyone, go get ready. Don't worry. Nerissa has already agreed, so I'll handle the rest of the arrangements." The women departed one by one, leaving behind a thoroughly confused Felix. "Mom, what are you trying to do?" Cordelia walked over and took Felix's hand. "You're not getting any younger, F
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