Felix let out a bitter laugh, thinking, "Aren't I just as guilty?"Overconfidence was a flaw, and today, he had fully realized it. He had already experienced Zara's perfection in his dreams, so he should have known how terrifyingly overwhelming her allure could be. Yet, here they were.Silas soon departed with his spirits crushed, leaving Felix to return to the villa. Sitting on the living room couch, he softly called out, "Karina."As expected, Karina appeared across from him, as if out of thin air."So, you've finally crossed that line?"Her tone was calm, not reflecting the turmoil that would typically accompany the eruption of the Twinshade Body."Yes," Felix admitted. "I overestimated myself. Karina, could you please contact Mr. Hoffman? Perhaps I don't have the right to claim responsibility for everything, but whatever consequences there are, I won't avoid them."Without another word, Karina dialed a number and, after a brief exchange, handed the phone to Felix."You br
Felix's hands trembled while holding his phone—his entire body was overcome with fear. He was so anxious he couldn't bring himself to press the answer button.In the end, it was Karina who stepped in, unable to watch him struggle any longer. She reached over and answered the call, putting it on speaker mode."Mr. Zeller, a chemical plant caught fire. So far, 35 fatalities have been confirmed."Felix felt a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, it was good news that this wasn't connected to Zara. However, it was bad news that over 30 lives had been consumed by the merciless flames."I understand. I'll transfer some money to you. Please make sure it's distributed to the families of the deceased," Felix said.Not knowing about the incident was one thing. Now that he knew, there was no way he could ignore it. Felix wasn't a saint, but he wasn't heartless either."By the way, Karina, what does Dahlia need me to do?" he asked.Karina handed him a piece of paper. "Donate ten million doll
"Don't worry, I'll contact the police immediately. We'll go together with them, and I'll bring all the necessary documents. No one will doubt us with both of us there," Dorian said.He genuinely admired Felix.As the manager of Concord Bank's branch in Gray City, Dorian had met more wealthy people than he could count. Most of them put on a polished act in public but often had less-than-noble motives behind closed doors. Even charity was usually just a way to reduce taxes or boost their public image. However, Felix was different. He didn't have to do this—especially for a small orphanage with no potential for fame. Yet here he was, determined to donate regardless.Even if Felix was not of his current status, Dorian would have gladly offered his help.When they returned to the orphanage, the director was utterly stunned. The old man began apologizing profusely."I'm so sorry, Mr. Zeller! I was narrow-minded for distrusting your kindness. Please forgive me!"Felix quickly stopped
Felix's expression turned a little strange. Could the security guard be one of those legendary hidden characters he only heard about in stories?"What kind of opportunity are you offering, sir?" Felix asked.The next moment, an overwhelming aura enveloped Felix."If you can casually donate ten million dollars, you must already be aware of the existence of Dragonia's most mysterious martial artists! I happen to be one of the top mentors among them. If you take me as your mentor, I'll teach you martial arts. Wouldn't that be the best?"Felix was truly stunned. This seemingly ordinary security guard turned out to be a Martial Saint-level expert. No matter how far they had fallen, figures of this caliber shouldn't end up as mere gatekeepers."There's no need, sir. I'm actually a martial artist myself."The older man frowned slightly but didn't push further."Fair enough. It seems fate isn't on our side. Young man, doing good deeds may not bring immediate results, but everything will
"Yes. Are you here to buy a car too?" Felix asked.Queenie nodded. "Yeah, the new pink Defender from Range Rover just came out. I'm planning to buy one.""Let's go in together! My friend's bestie works here as a sales rep. Of course, if you have someone you know here, that's fine too," Felix said.Queenie smiled and agreed, leaving Nelly speechless. Meeting such kind-hearted people made her feel that all the unpleasant things she had experienced before were worth it.The three of them entered the dealership, and Nelly's friend, Isabella Wells, who had already received the call, was waiting for them. She was a pretty girl with big waves in her hair, giving off a bright and cheerful vibe."Ladies first. Queenie, why don't you look at the Defender first?" Felix said.Queenie didn't hesitate. "Okay."The purchasing process went smoothly. Felix and Queenie were both straightforward people who didn't fuss over details. They paid the full amount without a second thought. Isabella was t
The middle-aged store manager's commanding presence was hard to ignore. When Isabella was suddenly called out by name, she froze on the spot. Nelly, standing nearby, also widened her eyes in shock.She had only heard of Kurt Gray once, and that was when she visited Felix's Tranquil Clinic. Even a tough guy like Huxley had been scared to death by him. Kurt was definitely someone extremely powerful.When did Isabella get to know him? Nelly had absolutely no idea."Nelly! What should I do? I… I was just bluffing. It was a casual chat with friends, saying that Mr. Gray was especially powerful and that no one dared to mess with him."Nelly didn't know what to do either. She knew Felix was familiar with Kurt, but why would he help now? Especially with so many people on the other side, stepping in carelessly could drag them all into trouble.Felix, standing off to the side, couldn't help but chuckle. It was amusing to see a young woman make such big claims. He didn't need to ask to kno
"Mr. Gray, I… I'm a subordinate of Jason," the group leader said."Get lost!"The simple command was delivered with such lethal force that it was like a bomb exploding. The group leader took two steps back in fear. As he quickly retreated, he said, "Yes, yes! Thank you, Mr. Gray!"In an instant, all the troublemakers scattered, and everyone in the store turned their attention to Isabella. Even her manager was left in utter shock.Isabella really did know Kurt. With just one phone call, she solved such a huge problem.Even Isabella herself couldn't believe it. She quickly ran over and handed the phone back to Felix."Thank you, Felix. I really don't know what I would have done without you."She wondered what kind of person Nelly's friend was, that he was even acquainted with Kurt Gray. On top of that, Kurt had even addressed him very respectfully.There were plenty of people who could afford a Range Rover, but only a few knew Kurt. The difference in status between the two grou
Inside a temporarily requisitioned shop opposite Tranquil Clinic, everyone wore tense expressions. Their disbelief was evident in their furrowed brows and doubtful gazes."Confirm the information again. I find it hard to believe," said a burly middle-aged man, his imposing presence hinting at years spent in a position of power.He was none other than the Warlord of Thunder, one of Dragonia's five mighty warlords, and a figure of immense authority and influence."The suspect currently holding a hostage in the clinic has claimed over the phone to be Candace, ranked as the Five of Hearts among the Thirteen Aces, a group of Super S-rank wanted criminals. It's still unclear whether the claim is genuine," Alistair reported.This was precisely why the Warlord of Thunder was skeptical. The Thirteen Aces, and not just any member but the fifth-ranked, appeared suddenly in a bustling city and personally called the authorities—it was absurd to the extreme.Xena, the Phoenix Warlord, was also
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