Xena maintained her composure. "It's not him. How could it be? You think someone in Felix's condition would be worthy of me?" She stood to leave. "I'm sorry, but I've worked too hard to get where I am. When the Warlord of the East gives advice, I have to take it." Xena could not admit Felix was the reason. The first time she met Jaden, he had tried to kill Felix. Before, there might have been obstacles, but now Felix was just an ordinary person without martial arts skills. For Jaden, killing him would be like crushing an ant. She could not assign 24/7 protection to him, could she? Besides, Jaden had nearly achieved the level of Martial Emperor. He could literally kill Felix with a flick of his finger. How could she guard against that? Left alone in the private room, Jaden's expression darkened as he clenched his fists. He felt that he was being toyed with, though Xena had never actually promised him anything. "This must have something to do with Felix. I won't let you live
What a joke. How dare a mere leader of a bunch of car thieves disrespect one of the underworld's major players? Viper forced a nervous smile. "Mr. Luis, I… I wouldn't dare normally. But these are my boss' rules. I'll be in trouble if I don't follow them." Boss? Luis had never heard of Viper having a boss. "Who's your boss? Tell them to come here and repeat that!" Almost immediately, footsteps approached. A young man appeared while casually smoking a cigar. "Sure thing, Mr. Luis. I'm Viper's boss. Any problems with my policies?" Luis' eyes narrowed in surprise. "Pierce Langden?" Felix noticed Luis' wariness and asked, "Do you know him?" Luis nodded, whispering, "Pierce is the illegitimate son of Andrei Hawkins, the richest man in Canraville." The richest man in Canraville? Felix understood now what was happening. "Stand down," Felix instructed.Luis wanted to protest but stayed quiet. Truth was, he could not afford to offend Andrei. Even with his brother's help, they we
"Felix, I'm meeting Nessa's parents soon. If everything goes smoothly, we'll be handing out wedding invitations," Jack revealed.At the bar, Jack was grinning ear to ear. He was not getting any younger. To him, success in life meant both career and family. With his career already set, marriage was the logical next step. "Am I right, Nessa?" Vanessa smiled and replied, "Don't worry. I get to choose whoever I want to marry. My parents can't tell me what to do." Though there would certainly be some resistance, she was being truthful. Besides, everything would surely work out once Felix had given her that book of martial arts techniques. "I'm going to use the bathroom," Felix said. Beer always had a way of sending people to the bathroom. After finishing up and washing his hands, Felix was rounding the corner when someone blocked his path. Felix stepped aside, but the guy matched his movements and kept blocking him. From his swaying body and the heavy stench of alcohol, it was cl
Jack was still uneasy after hanging up. Then Vanessa asked with a grave look, "Are you sure you heard right? Did they say Crimson Sage Sect?" "Yeah! What's wrong? Do you know about them?" Vanessa's eyes showed a mix of emotions. "Crimson Sage Sect is an extremely powerful organization. Felix is in serious trouble this time." What? Jack did not know much about these matters, but his girlfriend was a martial artist, so he had to trust her judgment. "Damn it, let's go! We can't just sit here doing nothing!" The only thing he could do now was contact everyone he knew or tried to find out if Felix had any powerful connections they could reach out to. "Wait, Felix's phone is still on the table. I'll grab it," Vanessa said.When Vanessa came back, Felix's phone suddenly rang. Looking at the screen, she remarked puzzlingly, "Xena? Isn't that Dragonia's goddess of war? How does Felix know someone like that? No, it must be someone else with the same name." Jack did not care about th
Xena practically roared those words. Even Felix heard them clearly while sitting beside Jaden. He felt moved and surprised by how much she cared about him. Xena never ran from problems. Just as she had been firm in her previous stance, she was ready to face anything together now that she had decided to be with Felix. This only made Jaden angrier. The more she cared about Felix, the more it infuriated him. "Xena, do I need to remind you how your cousin Ted died and why your uncle Perry committed suicide? Have you forgotten all that? And now you're still protecting Felix, who's your enemy. I really don't understand what's going through your head." After Felix's warning last time, Xena investigated his claims and discovered that Ted had indeed tried to harm Felix a few times using vicious methods. He only failed because of Felix's strength. As for Perry, his overly indulgent parenting had led to all this. "Stop with the pointless talk. Are you releasing him or not?" Xena asked b
"Mr. Black, Ms. Morgan is here to see Jaden," a subordinate reported to Cecil.Zara? After seeing Cecil's nod, Jaden said, "Let her in."Her sudden visit at this hour gave Jaden an uneasy feeling. Zara greeted Cecil when she entered, "Mr. Black." Cecil said with a smile, "Zara, you must have urgent business at this hour. Go ahead, I won't leave." Hearing this, Zara turned to Jaden and got straight to the point, asking, "Jaden, would you please release Felix?" Jaden's expression darkened. Damn, was Felix some kind of celebrity? He had barely taken him, yet people already knew and were pleading for his release. "No way." A flash of disappointment crossed Zara's face as she continued, "You promised me you wouldn't clash with Felix again. Are you going to break your word to me too?" Shaking his head, Jaden replied seriously, "I'm not breaking my promise. This time, Felix killed one of our disciples from Crimson Sage Sect. As an elder of the sect, how could I stand and do nothin
In the big courtyard of Crimson Sage Sect, Felix stood on a raised platform. He was flanked by two sect elders who had clear orders to kill him at any suspicious movement. The thunderous sound of helicopter blades grew louder as it approached. Looking up, Felix guessed it must be Xena arriving. Even after her phone call with Jaden had proved futile, Xena still came to Crimson Sage Sect in person for Felix's sake. Whatever Jaden's plans were, this couldn't be good. As the helicopter landed in the courtyard, Xena emerged alone without any backup. Her eyes immediately found Felix, and she walked straight toward him. "You shouldn't have come," he said.Xena bit her lower lip but kept walking. "I don't need you telling me what to do. Keep quiet!" She feared Felix might say something that would further anger the sect members. Regardless of what really happened, they could not deny that a disciple from Crimson Sage Sect was dead. As she reached the platform, Jaden blocked her pa
"Do you really mean it?" Xena's eyes revealed nothing about what she was truly thinking.Jaden nodded. "Of course. Our sect leader and Supreme Elder are here as witnesses." Cecil added, "Indeed. Jaden brought him in, and according to our sect's rules, he has absolute authority over how he wants to deal with Felix." As Xena was about to speak, Felix cut in, "Get out of here, Xena! I don't need a woman sacrificing herself to save me." When Xena tried to respond, Felix roared with veins bulging in his neck, "Damn it! I said get out! Right now!" Xena finally turned to Felix and smiled. Her smile was so enchanting that everyone, including Jaden, was mesmerized. "There were many misunderstandings between us in the past. Even though I still believe I wasn't wrong, I've always felt bad about how things went. So let me do something meaningful for you this time." As her smile faded, Xena spoke softly, "Release Felix, and I'll marry you." "Release him!"Just as Jaden was savoring
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