At that moment, Yvonne's expression suddenly became complex, as if she had something difficult to say. This piqued Felix's curiosity even more, making him wonder if the situation was not as simple as it seemed."Y-You just need to kneel before me and slap yourself twice. Then your Dragon Alliance status will be restored tomorrow," Yvonne stated, looking relieved after speaking.Yvonne figured her boss wanted to test Felix's pride and character as a man, but she could not understand why the kneeling had to be directed at her. Either way, whether Felix agreed or refused, whatever good impression he had of her would probably evaporate. Sure enough, Felix furrowed his brows and stared at Yvonne, making her nervous. He replied, "Yvonne, I didn't realize you were into that kind of thing. Thanks for trying to solve my problem! A man kneels to no one else except his mentor or seniors. Sorry, but that's a hard pass!"With that, Felix went inside, leaving Yvonne standing there alone.
Inside, a middle-aged man sat in a chair, missing his left arm and right leg. He was casually sipping from a bottle of liquor."Are you Gabriel Wade?" Dora began.But Felix nudged her aside and spoke up, "Hello, we're sorry to disturb you." The man took another swig and looked at Felix with amusement. "I'm just a cripple. Why are you being so polite?"Felix's expression was serious. "I always respect those who've fought on the battlefield."The man chuckled. "Well, well, you're an interesting one. You can sense the killer instinct in me, huh? Impressive." Felix had indeed noticed it as soon as they entered. This man had clearly seen combat, which explained his missing limbs."You're alright, kid. I'm Gabriel Wade. What brings you here? It's been years since anyone's come around. I'm curious," Gabriel said.Dora stayed quiet, letting Felix take the lead. "Mr. Wade, I know you have the Veilflower. I was wondering if you'd be willing to sell it to me. Name your price. I need the
Gabriel's words caught Zachary's attention. Zachary scoffed. "What a joke! A cripple with a big mouth. I wasn't raised to be scared of a guy like you."He took a drag from his cigarette and waved his hand dismissively. "Take out his other leg. Maybe then he'll understand the kind of attitude he should have when talking to me."Even Felix found Gabriel's claim about Xena a bit exaggerated, like he was just trying to scare them off. As one of Zachary's henchmen stepped forward to carry out the order, Felix moved in front of Gabriel. "This is a transaction, not an extortion. You're free to leave if you don't want to buy. There's no need for violence."Without waiting for Zachary's order, the man threw a punch at Felix. They were used to bullying others with Zachary, and anyone who dared to stand up to them had to be ready to face the consequences.A dull thud echoed through the room. Felix stood unharmed, while the attacker flew out the door, landing heavily on the ground. He tw
Felix knew he had to go through official channels to avoid unnecessary trouble. The morgue seemed like the best option, as there might be people willing to sell deceased bodies for the right price.Gabriel was stunned. He could not believe Felix had actually taken him seriously. "Are you making fun of me?"Felix shook his head. "The Veilflower is extremely important to me. I wouldn't joke about this, especially concerning your ability to move freely again."His medical skills made this possible, though it would be difficult and take considerable time. However, he was confident in his success rate."Get out!" Gabriel snapped, enraged despite Felix's serious expression. He grabbed another bottle of liquor from the table and started drinking."I'll go prepare now and come back before noon tomorrow. I promise you'll be back to normal," Felix assured him.Gabriel's face showed nothing but contempt. He could not be bothered to say anything more. He had consulted several master healers
If Zachary and Dora were still here, they would definitely be grateful for their early departure. Because if Gabriel wasn't lying, the person approaching now was Hector Downy, the Warlord of the East. Who would dare provoke him seeing that he was one of the top figures of Dragonia?Even Felix narrowed his eyes slightly and muttered, "The Warlord of the East?"Gabriel heard Felix, but he didn't have time to worry about the latter. He had already given him plenty of chances earlier. It was up to the warlord to decide how to handle things, which was beyond Gabriel's control.Hector stopped in his tracks. He was middle-aged, with a presence that made the air seem to go still, even though he wasn't intentionally exerting any pressure. His gaze was deep and intense, making the atmosphere tenser."Gabriel, what crime have you committed?"Gabriel didn't dare lift his head."I failed my mission. All my teammates perished, and only I managed to survive. That is my crime!"His sorrow was e
"Refreshing!" Inside a room, Hector and Felix had downed half a bottle of liquor in one go, and the smile on Hector's face grew even wider."It's always the best to drink with you, young man."Felix hadn't expected that the Veilflower Gabriel found was meant for the one and only Warlord of the East. He knew him because of Gerald. He'd met him more than once before. What left Felix speechless was how Gerald casually called him "Hector", as if his prestigious title meant nothing in Gerald's eyes.However, Felix couldn't do the same. He had to show respect by calling him "Mr. Downy". After all, the man was a hero who protected the nation.After hearing Felix's story, Hector furrowed his brows. "Do you need the Veilflower, too? That's going to be tough."The fact that even he found it difficult showed that the other person needing the Veilflower was equally important."Mr. Downy, about that old war hero you mentioned, did he fall ill?" Felix asked.Hector shook his head. "No
In the courtyard of Kane's estate, Stinger was tied to a large tree. His upper body was bare, while a whip lashed across his skin, leaving bloody marks one after another. Yet, Stinger refused to make a sound. Not far away, a middle-aged man sat in a grand armchair with his feet propped on the seat, his expression full of disdain. "Killing someone like Hunter is one thing. You can do that as you please. However, Stinger, what you should never have done is disrespect Lord Jamison."When the whipping stopped, Stinger glared fiercely."Skyler, cut the crap and stop pretending to be the good guy! Even if I didn't look down on Harold, do you think he wouldn't have come after me? When Lord Kane was around, you acted like a lackey. Are you acting so tough now just because you've found a new person to support you?"The middle-aged man, Skyler Stevens, chuckled."Let me tell you something. Lord Jamison is taking over Avesburgh's underground scene. It's not because Lord Kane's gone, but b
"Mr. Zeller, I'm sorry. I'm so useless!" Kneeling on the ground, Stinger looked up at Felix. Felix raised a hand. "You are indeed useless, but taking over a city's underground forces isn't something you can achieve with manpower and ruthlessness alone. You need a powerful person to back you up!"How did Kane manage it? It was all because he held the position of the deputy chief in Dragon Alliance, allowing him to act decisively without overthinking. "Now that things have reached this point, go ahead and do what you need to. I'll be your backer and back you up!"Since he was already involved, Felix wasn't interested in stepping back. People like Stinger could be quite useful in certain situations. Hearing this, Stinger became ecstatic. His hesitation and fear stemmed from lacking strong support. With Kane gone, he couldn't keep relying on him. It would be far too cowardly. With Felix's support, he could finally act without restraint. "Lord Jamison said he'll be here in half an
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