When Felix returned to Canraville, Averill had already left. He woke up from a deep, satisfying nap at sunset.Just then, Xena arrived at his house. Felix asked, "Weren't you supposed to stay in Yartford for a few days?" Xena's expression was grim as she explained, "We discovered traces of human trafficking in Canraville. Though we only found about a dozen children at the scene, headquarters takes these cases very seriously and wants a thorough investigation, so I came back immediately." Felix feigned ignorance and responded with anger, "Human traffickers? Those bastards deserve to die."Xena studied Felix's face carefully. "Are you sure you don't know anything about this?""Why would I know anything?" Felix asked, puzzled.Xena leaned forward, noting that Felix's breathing and eyes remained steady. "The bodies showed evidence of acupuncture needles, and we can confirm they were tortured before death."Felix's expression turned wry. "Just because acupuncture needles were in
Axel also adopted an unusually serious demeanor. "I don't know, but I heard Mr. Uzziah has emerged from seclusion."The young man's eyes widened in surprise. "Mr. Uzziah? Wow, Uzziah hasn't shown his face in years!"If he's coming out now and summoning everyone, something big must be happening. Could it be due to the leadership shift in the Eight Great Martial Families?" Axel frowned and shook his head. "I doubt it. Mason is a prodigy, sure, but he's not yet a big enough deal to bring Uzziah out. He still has a long way to go."Despite being just one level below Mason, crossing the first threshold from Ultimate Mortal Realm to Innate Realm was a challenge that had defeated countless so-called geniuses, including Axel himself.Meanwhile, the Crayden elders were also speculating about the situation. "Sir, do you know what's going on?" one of them asked cautiously. At the head of the gathering stood Augustus, the current patriarch of the Crayden family, flanked by several elder
Augustus was stunned. Meanwhile, Axel wore a strange expression. He couldn't be mistaken. That man was undoubtedly Felix. It hadn't been long since he last saw him, so the memory was deeply etched in his mind."Axel, is this for real? He's way too young! How could someone like him make even Uzziah so wary? Damn! They even said the Craydens wouldn't step in to protect anyone who messes with him?"The young man beside him was visibly shaken. Frankly, most of the people around them felt the same. It would've made sense if Felix had been some ancient figure with decades of cultivation. However, unless Felix had discovered a fountain of eternal youth, he was just a young man."Holy—"Suddenly, Axel slapped himself, startling the young man beside him."Axel, what's wrong?"Axel suddenly broke into a wide grin, practically beaming with joy. "When I was a kid, a fortune teller told me that my 24th year would bring me great fortune. I guess he wasn't wrong!"If not for the need of prop
"Dad, if we keep stalling, there really won't be a way back." Axel suddenly appeared, prompting Augustus to frown. "Get out of my way!" Augustus said.He had only ever acknowledged Malcolm as his son. He had poured the most effort into Malcolm, who was also the most talented. His other children were nothing in his eyes. However, Axel didn't seem offended. "I have some rapport with Felix. I can go with Uzziah and smooth things over, and then you can step in afterward. I think we can still salvage this."Augustus fell silent, staring into Axel's eyes. For the first time, a grave realization dawned on him. "Alright. You'll come with me."…Meanwhile, Felix had just arrived at the small square inside Twilight Gardens of Canraville.Twilight Gardens was one of several botanical gardens in the city. Located on the outskirts, it wasn't as popular as the others. However, there was a steady flow of visitors because it provided free entry to its visitors.However, when Felix arrived, t
To be honest, Felix was truly taken aback.The Crayden family was one thing, but the fact that Nala could compel the Elders' Council to compromise was rather surprising."Do you know why the Elders' Council wants to kill me?" Felix asked.Nala answered candidly, "I don't know. It doesn't matter."Felix turned to the middle-aged man. "Are you really from the Elders' Council?"The middle-aged man, Noah Reed, grinned, as though Felix were nothing but an ant in his palm. If it weren't for Nala, Felix might have already been a corpse."Do you doubt my identity? Didn't you kill Dexter Grimshaw and Solomon Gill? And that little fireworks display in Azuria was quite unexpected. Do you think you can pull off something similar here in Dragonia?"Noah's knowledge of these events was proof enough of his association with the Elder's Council.Despite his irritation at being ignored, Tatum Crayden, the Crayden family's Third Elder, didn't dare voice his displeasure. It wasn't only because of
Noah had a clear perspective on the situation. Back in Azuria, the Elder's Council had sent two martial artists at the peak of Aetherial Realm to kill Felix. The outcome, though unexpected, ended with both being wiped out by missiles. That outcome alone proved a point: Felix wasn't their match, which was why he had to resort to such desperate measures.Since he was facing someone of Oceanus Realm, could Felix possibly escape alive? There was no way, especially now that Nala had walked away. It left him with no hope of survival. The outcome was set in stone.Just as Tatum was about to make a move, his phone suddenly rang. The ringtone was unique, reserved specifically for calls from the head of the Crayden family. If possible, it had to be answered. This was the rule.In the Crayden family, aside from the First Elder, all other elders were bound by the head of the Crayden family's orders. It was written in their ancestral laws. Otherwise, the head of the family would be nothing mor
"Since the Elder's Council sent you here, that must mean that you're no weakling among the Oceanus Realm masters, right?" Felix askedNoah chuckled. "You're sharp. I'm ranked first among all the Oceanus Realm-level masters in the Elder's Council! Are you trying to beg for mercy, kiddo? Sure. I'll make it quick for you."To his surprise, Felix smiled. Stretching his arms casually, he said, "Ever since I reached this level, I haven't had the chance to test just how much my body has transformed. You'll make a fine experiment."Gerald had once explained that the true terror of the Dragons Destroyer technique lay in its ability to transform the body. It would bring his body ever closer to the physical state of an ancient dragon.And what was an ancient dragon? The myths alone said enough. Its body was so fearsome that a mere flick of its tail could shatter mountains, and no weapon or technique could pierce its scales.From the moment Felix absorbed the first piece of a true dragon's sp
Alfie felt a stinging pain when Nala smacked the back of his head. He froze, utterly dumbfounded."When did I say such nonsense? Do you want me to hit you?" Nala asked.Rubbing the sore spot on his head, Alfie smirked. "It's over," he thought. "Lady Nala is absolutely serious this time."Five minutes later, Noah lay sprawled on the ground, struggling to get up. His body refused to obey, leaving him bruised and battered beyond recognition."Are… Are you really in Aetherial Realm?"He was utterly broken. Since stepping into Oceanus Realm, he had carried immense pride in his abilities. He wouldn't claim invincibility at his rank, but he always had absolute confidence in his strength.Yet, all that confidence had been shattered. If Felix had defeated him with some powerful technique or secret art, he could have accepted it. However, Felix had relied solely on raw physical strength. With no techniques, he had still beaten him to a pulp, leaving him on the verge of death. It was absurd
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