Honestly, Yvonne was very pretty. Even though she couldn't compare to Xena, she definitely had Wendy beat. Her figure was incredibly striking, especially when she was dressed head to toe in black."I don't think we've met before."Felix didn't recall ever knowing a woman named Yvonne.He glanced back at the gravestone, and Yvonne's voice turned a little wistful. "My entire four years of college were funded by Mr. Zeller Senior. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was like family to me. He was a good man, always humble about what he did. "I only recently found out who he was. But by then, it was already too late."A college student sponsored by his grandfather? Felix's brows relaxed. It made sense. His grandfather, Phillip Zeller, had always been generous, often helping kids from underprivileged areas. Sponsoring a college student wasn't out of character for him. "You seem to be doing pretty well for yourself now. I'm sure my grandpa would be proud."He walked over, pull
Felix couldn't believe it. He knew Jack's parents. Could they have been so influenced by the different cultures overseas after moving abroad that their mindset had changed? It seemed almost heartless."Let's not dwell on it," Jack said with a dismissive wave. "I may be broke now, but I've still got my skills. I passed the final interview for a new job, and I start tomorrow. Wish me luck, friend."They didn't need a lot of words between them. If Jack ever really needed help, Felix knew he'd come to him, and vice versa. That was just how their friendship worked over the years.But this time, Felix decided he would offer help quietly from behind the scenes. He wanted his friend to move on from the sadness his family had caused him as quickly as possible.Since Jack's first day on the job was the next day, and making a good impression was important, their plans to catch up that night were put on hold for another time.As Felix pulled up to his driveway in front of his villa, ready to
Hugo had the confidence to speak that way because he had the power to realize such a threat. The Lambert family was one of the most prominent families in Avesburgh, only a step behind the Kinsley family, the wealthiest in the city. Shutting down a small business like Warren's would be a simple matter for him.The shock on Warren's and Nattie's faces made it clear that they realized Hugo wasn't joking."Mr. Lambert, are you talking about Felix Zeller?" Nattie asked, lost in disbelief."What? Did I mispronounce something?"Nattie became anxious as Hugo confirmed his own statement. "If you've got a grudge against Felix, take it up with him! What does this have to do with us?"Hugo laughed. "What's this? Still trying to play innocent in front of me? I know exactly what your relationship with Felix is. When you want to take someone down, you hit where it hurts most. If I'm going to deal with Felix, of course I'm going to go after his weakest points."Hugo wasn't like the brainle
From the way Hugo spoke, it was clear that Kane's influence didn't carry much weight here. It seemed unlikely that Felix had any other tricks up his sleeve.…Meanwhile, Felix was standing in the front yard of his villa in Tabiner Bay, his face dark. He was staring at the group of a dozen people gathered just outside the gate."Felix! Pay up!""You finally showed your face! Time to settle your father's debts. It's only right for the son to pay what the father owes.""Damn! You disappeared for three years. Why didn't you just vanish forever?""Enough talking! Pay up already. I'm owed 600 grand. Start with mine!"These people had shown up out of nowhere, flooding in all at once, and not even the security guards could stop them."What gives you the right to come and harass me?" Felix asked, his eyes narrowing in anger.Back when his parents ran their business, they never had significant debts. In fact, they gave money to charity every year. How could they possibly owe money to th
In that moment, the responses came quickly."Ken Zeller""Carson Zeller""Bryan Zeller"Each name that was called out made Felix's disappointment deepen. They were all his father's siblings—his own relatives.Years ago, Matthew had handed the company over to them. And now, they were pulling this kind of stunt on their nephew? It was revolting beyond words."Are these debts something my father owed?" Felix asked coldly.No one dared to lie anymore."No, Mr. Zeller. The debts are from the current Zeller Group. They've been stalling on payments, and just yesterday, they told us to collect it from you. They said if we harass you for three days straight, they'll pay us back.""That's right. That's what happened!""Same for me."Felix waved them off dismissively. "Get lost."The group scrambled to leave, practically falling over themselves in their haste. Once they were gone, Felix turned to Stinger."Stinger, what did you find out?"Stinger, ever respectful, replied, "Zeller G
"It's funny, isn't it? I heard Felix also cut ties with Warren. Apparently, he managed to squeeze nearly 30 million dollars out of him, thanks to Uncle Matthew's old connections," Sabrina said with a smirk.Someone immediately chimed in with a laugh, "That's about as far as Felix's talents go. Warren must've been the fool here. If it were up to us, Felix wouldn't have gotten a single cent."At this point, Carson spoke up, "Enough of that. Get ready, everyone. The big shot I went to great lengths to invite is coming. After tonight, Zeller Group is going to soar to new heights!"The group eagerly moved toward the banquet hall's entrance, with Sabrina trailing behind. She leaned in toward Jolene curiously and whispered, "Mom, who's this big shot Uncle Carson is talking about?"Jolene smiled knowingly. "It's someone from the Kinsley family, the wealthiest family in the city. They're interested in investing in Zeller Group, and the deal is almost finalized. If all goes well, we'll be se
The Zellers froze for a moment. Then, they either burst out laughing or wore looks of disdain."Felix, you're kicking us out? On what grounds? With that foul mouth of yours?" one of them sneered.Seeing a crowd of guests gathering to watch, Carson decided to make his move. He was already in the right, so there was no reason to hold back."You're the one who started this, and as your uncle, I've been more than fair. You're the one who doesn't know how to appreciate kindness!" he snapped, raising his hand in command. "Get him out of here!"At his signal, a group of black-suited bodyguards rushed toward Felix, clearly prepared for this moment.Nearby, the spectators murmured among themselves."Felix? Isn't he Matthew's son?""Yeah, that's him. I heard he disappeared for three years, and now, he's back.""He's young and full of himself. He probably thinks he can reclaim what was once his, but does he really believe that's possible?""This kid doesn't get it. He didn't take over wh
Leo was shaking with rage, his whole body trembling as he pulled out his phone."Alright! Keep acting tough! You said my uncle bows to you, right? Fine! You're dead! No one's going to save you now!""Let me make the call."Before he could dial, Felix had already beaten him to it. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number, putting it on speaker."Yes, Felix," a woman's voice answered on the other end. "Do you have a cousin with the last name Mitchell?" Felix asked casually. "He seems pretty full of himself. I'll leave the rest to you—I don't want to see him again."Cousin? Wendy's voice suddenly grew cold. "Leo Mitchell! Is that you?"In an instant, the once-arrogant Leo turned into a meek kitten. "Wendy? Is that you?""Who else would it be? Haven't I told you to never mess with anyone named Felix? What? Did a horse kick you in the head, or have you gone deaf?"Leo swallowed hard, his eyes filled with fear. Wendy had indeed warned him, but how could he have known that some
It would be a lie to say that Lachlan wasn't surprised when he saw Felix. As an Orion, of course, he was aware of the entire situation.Felix was sent to Aquamarinus, a planet that was known for its deadliness.Even a genius would most likely die there. However, Felix succeeded in breaking through. Although his strength had been confirmed indirectly, Lachlan didn't take it seriously. He even told his family that there was no need to cheat.As long as he was there, Felix wouldn't be able to pass his level. Felix sneered, but didn't respond. They just met, and they were already mortal enemies. If they had a chance, they would've killed one another. So why should they even attempt to be civil?"Julius, nothing has happened yet, and you're already kissing his ass?" Lachlan laughed mockingly. Felix stayed silent, so Lachlan couldn't be bothered to mock him. Instead, Lachlan turned to Julius, who smiled."I don't need to report everything I do to you, Lachlan. Just worry about yours
This was something Felix hadn't thought of. The Orions had been too arrogant and thought their people could kill him, but they didn't anticipate the special conditions on Aquamarinus at night. If it wasn't due to that, Felix wasn't sure if he would still be alive now."Why are you telling me this?" Felix asked.Julius looked at him oddly. "My family, the Leachs, are on par with the Orions and developing fast. We don't want any conflicts with you or Earth, so tell me, why wouldn't I make friends with a strong man like you?"Since you can break out of Aquamarinus, you have the qualifications to win. At least for now, the champions of the elimination rounds in the Rank-Ascending Competition are extraordinary people."He continued, "I'm just offering help now. Once you succeed in the future, you can help me, right? I have nothing to lose, so why not try?"Felix understood his reasons. In this case, he was completely alone, and making acquaintances with the Leachs was good."How hard
As soon as Julius entered, Felix turned on the soundproof barrier and asked impatiently, "How do you know I'm from Earth?"Everyone here was a stranger, and the distance between each of their hometowns was over hundreds of thousands of miles. How could Julius tell where Felix was from so accurately?Julius looked a little helpless. "Your name is Felix, and your elimination match was on Aquamarinus. Of course, I know you're from Earth."Well, that was quite the redundant answer."No, listen to what I have to say."After motioning for Felix to sit down, Julius continued, "In the Rank-Ascending Competition, some people in power can actually cheat within the rules. Have you heard of the Orion family?"Before Felix could answer, Julius had already guessed the answer based on his gaze. "Heh, seems like Earth isn't as barbaric as everyone thought. Since you're familiar with the Orion family, it will make things easier for me."Well, you got the right information. The Orion family is th
The guide said, "This is where the selected contestants rest. The yard is huge and has everything you need. As long as you don't leave this yard, you're free to move around. I'll bring you to your room now."The yard looked huge, with fixtures of bridges and flowing rivers. Felix even passed by a fake mountain. It was large enough for hundreds of people to climb, standing thousands of feet tall and looked quite majestically.No one on Earth or Aquamarinus could have built such a luxurious residence. Felix could even see a bar and massage parlor, showing how indispensable technology was in the universe. His room was luxurious, around 2000 square feet, and was decorated with traditional but modern touches. "This is your room. I'll take my leave now, goodbye." The young man left with a bow. Felix turned around and stood on the patio. Outside his room was a large lake, with even fish swimming inside."A new neighbor? Did you just arrive today?" The sudden voice came from the patio
Felix arrived at the location of one of Nine Flames, where the guards instantly collapsed, their eyes rolling back as they fainted.By now, darkness had arrived. He walked forward without any hesitation, his right hand touching the flame.There was no need for any special tools. The flame simply vanished, and only Felix knew that it was absorbed in an instant by his Starmark.With the disappearance of the flames, people in many places immediately dropped to their knees.The light that should have lasted throughout the night vanished, and the darkness of Desolated Lands descended almost instantly. Every light went out in an instant.Screams echoed everywhere, and panic spread like wildfire. Even though their loved ones were close by, they couldn't see them with their eyes and could only communicate through voice.Scenes like this were unfolding in many places, even in Cloud City."It's really started," Eira said. She was in Cloud City. Although Luigi was standing on her left, h
Despite Thiago's murderous glare and overwhelming killing intent, Felix wasn't scared. In fact, it made him smile.Due to the unique trait of the Dragon Rebirth, his opponent had to harbor a true desire to kill him in order for Felix to grow stronger. Otherwise, it would all be meaningless. At least so far, everything was unfolding just as he expected.Meanwhile, Holt was silently praying like crazy as he lay on the ground. The battle had already begun, and his companion had understood his message. This was their only shot, however slim, at killing Felix.As time passed and the afternoon crept past 3:00 pm, his companion started to falter. His attacks were growing sluggish. He hadn't been injured, but he was clearly on the defensive now.Seeing this, Felix completely lost interest. Once his opponent lost the will to kill him, the Dragon Rebirth would no longer grow.Still, the battle wasn't for nothing. He'd made solid progress and was a little closer to becoming a Celestial Realm
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